07.045
Pancharatra and Core: Abhimanyu kills Duryodhana's son Lakshmana; Angered Duryodhana orders his warriors to surround Abhimanyu.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke.
यथा वदसि मे सूत एकस्य बहुभिः सह। सङ्ग्रामं तुमुलं घोरं जयं चैव महात्मनः ॥७-४५-१॥
As you describe, my charioteer, there is a fierce and terrible battle of one against many, and indeed the victory belongs to the great soul.
अश्रद्धेयमिवाश्चर्यं सौभद्रस्याथ विक्रमम्। किं तु नात्यद्भुतं तेषां येषां धर्मो व्यपाश्रयः ॥७-४५-२॥
The valor of Saubhadra seems unbelievable and astonishing, yet it is not too surprising for those whose foundation is in righteousness.
दुर्योधनेऽथ विमुखे राजपुत्रशते हते। सौभद्रे प्रतिपत्तिं कां प्रत्यपद्यन्त मामकाः ॥७-४५-३॥
When Duryodhana was disheartened and a hundred princes were slain, what course of action did my people take concerning Abhimanyu?
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said.
संशुष्कास्याश्चलन्नेत्राः प्रस्विन्ना लोमहर्षिणः। पलायनकृतोत्साहा निरुत्साहा द्विषज्जये ॥७-४५-४॥
With dry mouths and moving eyes, sweating and horripilating, they were eager to flee, yet disheartened in their victory over the enemy.
हतान्भ्रातॄन्पितॄन्पुत्रान्सुहृत्सम्बन्धिबान्धवान्। उत्सृज्योत्सृज्य समियुस्त्वरयन्तो हयद्विपान् ॥७-४५-५॥
Leaving behind their slain brothers, fathers, sons, friends, relatives, and kinsmen, they hurriedly gathered the horses and elephants.
तान्प्रभग्नांस्तथा दृष्ट्वा द्रोणो द्रौणिर्बृहद्बलः। कृपो दुर्योधनः कर्णः कृतवर्माथ सौबलः ॥७-४५-६॥
Upon seeing their forces broken, Drona, Drauni, Brihadbala, Kripa, Duryodhana, Karna, Kritavarma, and Saubala were concerned.
अभिद्रुताः सुसङ्क्रुद्धाः सौभद्रमपराजितम्। तेऽपि पौत्रेण ते राजन्प्रायशो विमुखीकृताः ॥७-४५-७॥
The attackers, though very angry, were mostly defeated by the unconquered son of Subhadra, O king.
एकस्तु सुखसंवृद्धो बाल्याद्दर्पाच्च निर्भयः। इष्वस्त्रविन्महातेजा लक्ष्मणोऽऽर्जुनिमभ्ययात् ॥७-४५-८॥
Lakshmana, who was prosperous and fearless from childhood due to pride, and greatly skilled in archery, approached Arjuna.
तमन्वगेवास्य पिता पुत्रगृद्धी न्यवर्तत। अनु दुर्योधनं चान्ये न्यवर्तन्त महारथाः ॥७-४५-९॥
His father, eager for his son, followed him and returned. After Duryodhana, other great warriors also returned.
तं तेऽभिषिषिचुर्बाणैर्मेघा गिरिमिवाम्बुभिः। स च तान्प्रममाथैको विष्वग्वातो यथाम्बुदान् ॥७-४५-१०॥
They showered him with arrows as clouds pour water on a mountain. Yet, he alone scattered them like the wind scatters clouds.
पौत्रं तु तव दुर्धर्षं लक्ष्मणं प्रियदर्शनम्। पितुः समीपे तिष्ठन्तं शूरमुद्यतकार्मुकम् ॥७-४५-११॥
Your grandson Lakshmana, who is invincible and pleasing to the eye, stands heroically near his father with his bow raised.
अत्यन्तसुखसंवृद्धं धनेश्वरसुतोपमम्। आससाद रणे कार्ष्णिर्मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम् ॥७-४५-१२॥
Kārṣhṇi, who was extremely happy and prosperous like the son of a wealthy man, approached the battlefield like an intoxicated elephant.
लक्ष्मणेन तु सङ्गम्य सौभद्रः परवीरहा। शरैः सुनिशितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पितः ॥७-४५-१३॥
The son of Subhadra, a destroyer of enemy heroes, was struck on his arms and chest with sharp, well-sharpened arrows by Lakshmana.
सङ्क्रुद्धो वै महाबाहुर्दण्डाहत इवोरगः। पौत्रस्तव महाराज तव पौत्रमभाषत ॥७-४५-१४॥
The mighty-armed one, in his anger, like a serpent struck by a stick, spoke to your grandson, O great king.
सुदृष्टः क्रियतां लोको अमुं लोकं गमिष्यसि। पश्यतां बान्धवानां त्वां नयामि यमसादनम् ॥७-४५-१५॥
"Let the world be well-seen and done; you will go to this world. I lead you to the abode of Yama, in the presence of your relatives who are watching."
एवमुक्त्वा ततो भल्लं सौभद्रः परवीरहा। उद्बबर्ह महाबाहुर्निर्मुक्तोरगसंनिभम् ॥७-४५-१६॥
After speaking thus, the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, destroyer of enemies, raised his arrow, resembling a released serpent.
स तस्य भुजनिर्मुक्तो लक्ष्मणस्य सुदर्शनम्। सुनसं सुभ्रु केशान्तं शिरोऽहार्षीत्सकुण्डलम् ॥ लक्ष्मणं निहतं दृष्ट्वा हा हेत्युच्चुक्रुशुर्जनाः ॥७-४५-१७॥
He severed the beautiful head of Lakshmana from his body, which had a charming nose, lovely eyebrows, and adorned with earrings. Upon seeing Lakshmana slain, the people cried out in despair, 'Alas, what a tragedy!'
ततो दुर्योधनः क्रुद्धः प्रिये पुत्रे निपातिते। हतैनमिति चुक्रोश क्षत्रियान्क्षत्रियर्षभः ॥७-४५-१८॥
Then, in anger, Duryodhana, the best among the warriors, cried out to the other warriors, "Kill him, for my dear son has fallen."
ततो द्रोणः कृपः कर्णो द्रोणपुत्रो बृहद्बलः। कृतवर्मा च हार्दिक्यः षड्रथाः पर्यवारयन् ॥७-४५-१९॥
Then Drona, Kripa, Karna, Ashwatthama (son of Drona), Brihadbala, Kritavarma, and the son of Hridika surrounded the enemy with six chariots.
स तान्विद्ध्वा शितैर्बाणैर्विमुखीकृत्य चार्जुनिः। वेगेनाभ्यपतत्क्रुद्धः सैन्धवस्य महद्बलम् ॥७-४५-२०॥
Arjuna, in his anger, swiftly attacked the great army of Saindhava after piercing them with sharp arrows and making them turn away.
आवव्रुस्तस्य पन्थानं गजानीकेन दंशिताः। कलिङ्गाश्च निषादाश्च क्राथपुत्रश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ तत्प्रसक्तमिवात्यर्थं युद्धमासीद्विशां पते ॥७-४५-२१॥
The path was obstructed by the elephant army, and the Kalingas, Nishadas, along with the valiant son of Kratha, were fiercely engaged. The battle was exceedingly intense, O lord of men.
ततस्तत्कुञ्जरानीकं व्यधमद्धृष्टमार्जुनिः। यथा विवान्नित्यगतिर्जलदाञ्शतशोऽम्बरे ॥७-४५-२२॥
Then the bold Arjuna scattered the elephant army, just as the wind with its eternal movement scatters hundreds of clouds in the sky.
ततः क्राथः शरव्रातैरार्जुनिं समवाकिरत्। अथेतरे संनिवृत्ताः पुनर्द्रोणमुखा रथाः ॥ परमास्त्राणि धुन्वानाः सौभद्रमभिदुद्रुवुः ॥७-४५-२३॥
Then Kratha showered Arjuna with volleys of arrows. Meanwhile, others, led by Drona, returned and, wielding supreme weapons, charged towards Abhimanyu.
तान्निवार्यार्जुनिर्बाणैः क्राथपुत्रमथार्दयत्। शरौघेणाप्रमेयेण त्वरमाणो जिघांसया ॥७-४५-२४॥
Arjuna, after repelling them, swiftly pierced Kratha's son with countless arrows, intending to kill.
सधनुर्बाणकेयूरौ बाहू समुकुटं शिरः। छत्रं ध्वजं नियन्तारमश्वांश्चास्य न्यपातयत् ॥७-४५-२५॥
He struck down his enemies, including their bows, armlets, arms, crowns, heads, umbrellas, flags, charioteers, and horses.
कुलशीलश्रुतबलैः कीर्त्या चास्त्रबलेन च। युक्ते तस्मिन्हते वीराः प्रायशो विमुखाभवन् ॥७-४५-२६॥
When he, endowed with family heritage, character, learning, fame, and the strength of weapons, was slain, the heroes mostly lost heart.
