07.051
Pancharatra and Core: Listening to Yudhisthira, Arjuna vows to kill Jayadratha before the next day's sun sets, else he will enter the blazing fire.
Yudhishthira spoke:
When you, O mighty-armed, went towards the Saṃśaptaka army, the teacher made a great effort to capture me.
We chose Drona to lead our entire army, arrayed and counter-arrayed against the chariot army, striving thus in battle.
Despite being restrained by the charioteers and protected by me, he swiftly attacked us, causing torment with his sharp arrows.
They are so oppressed by Droṇa that they cannot even look back at his army in battle, let alone break it.
We, all unmatched in valor, addressed you, dear father, saying, "O lord, break the formation."
He, being urged by us, like a powerful horse, began to bear that unbearable burden.
He, equipped with the instruction of your weapon and strength, entered that army like a young Garuda would enter the ocean.
They followed us, the hero, the son of Satyavati, into battle, desiring to enter the army by the same path he did.
Then the insignificant king of Sindhu, Jayadratha, empowered by Rudra's boon, held us all back.
Then Drona, Kripa, Karna, Drauni, Brihadbala, and Kritavarma surrounded Saubhadra with six chariots.
The young warrior, though surrounded by all the great warriors in battle and striving with all his might, was ultimately deprived of his chariot by many.
Then Duhshasana, having been deprived of his chariot by them, quickly engaged in battle, filled with great doubt due to fate.
He, however, after slaying thousands of elephants, horses, chariots, riders, and a hundred of the foremost princes along with many unseen heroes, stood victorious.
Brihadbala and the king, having used heavenly means in battle, indeed met their end. Then, the supremely righteous soul attained his destined end.
This much indeed has happened, increasing our grief. And thus, the tiger among men has attained the heavenly world.
Sanjaya said:
Upon hearing the words spoken by Dharmaraja, Arjuna, overwhelmed with distress, exclaimed 'Alas, son!' and collapsed to the ground.
All, with dejected faces, surrounded Dhananjaya. They looked at each other with unblinking, miserable eyes.
Indra, having regained his senses, was filled with rage and trembled as if he had a fever, breathing heavily over and over.
Crushing his hand in his own, breathing heavily with tear-filled eyes, he looked around like a madman and spoke these words.
I assure you truly, tomorrow I will kill Jayadratha. If he does not, out of fear of death, abandon the sons of Dhritarashtra.
And he should not seek refuge in us, Krishna, or the Supreme Person. O great king, tomorrow I will slay Jayadratha.
I, who have forgotten the friendship and committed the sin of killing the boy, am the slayer of Jayadratha tomorrow, which pleases Dhritarashtra's son.
I will cover with arrows those who protect him in battle and those who will fight me, including the heroes Droṇa and Kṛpa.
O best among men, if I do not act in this battle, I will not attain the worlds of the virtuous, which are respected by the brave.
The worlds of those who kill their mothers, those who also kill their fathers, those who go to the teacher's wife, and those who are deceitful.
Those who harbor envy towards the virtuous, those who slander, those who embezzle, and those who betray trust are all condemned.
The worlds of those who have previously enjoyed a woman, who are blasphemers and sinful, who have killed brahmins and cows, are described.
If I do not reach the fortunate Jayadratha by day, then I would reach those who eat milk-rice, barley-food, vegetables, porridge, thick-gruel, cakes, and meats in vain.
One who excessively disrespects a resolute or distinguished scholar of the Vedas, goes to the elders, saints, and teachers.
If one touches a Brahmin, a cow, or fire with the foot, or releases phlegm, excrement, or urine in water, they would follow a terrible path, unless they are blessed like Jayadratha.
The fate of those who are naked, bathing, barren guests, bribe-takers, liars, deceivers, self-stealers, and false accusers is described.
If I do not share with the petty, who are observed by servants and dependents of sons and wives, and who eat fine food, I would go to that terrible state, not the blessed state of Jayadratha.
A person who abandons someone who has taken refuge or a good person engaged in those words, does not support them, and criticizes the benefactor, is considered cruel-hearted.
A person who refrains from giving a funeral offering to a deserving neighbor but gives it to an undeserving one is considered to be of low character, akin to a low-born husband.
A drunkard who breaks boundaries, is ungrateful, and criticizes his brothers; I will quickly follow their path unless blessed Jayadratha intervenes.
Those who have strayed from righteousness and others not mentioned here by me, and those mentioned, may quickly find their path. If I do not kill Jayadratha by tomorrow morning, this night will be in vain.
Listen to my promise once more: if the sun sets while this sinner remains unharmed, I shall enter the blazing fire right here.
Neither demons, gods, humans, birds, serpents, ancestors, night wanderers, nor Brahma, gods, or sages, whether moving or non-moving, are capable of protecting my enemy, even if it is supreme.
If the foremost enters the netherworld, or even the sky, the city of gods, or the city of Diti, then at dawn, I shall fiercely attack and remove the enemy's head with hundreds of arrows.
After speaking thus, he threw aside the Gandiva bow, both left and right. The sound of the bow, surpassing all others, reached the sky.
After Arjuna made his vow, Janardana blew the Panchajanya conch, and in response, the angry Dhananjaya blew his Devadatta conch.
The Panchajanya conch, blown by the breath of Acyuta, emitted a sound so profound that it shook the entire universe, including the netherworld, sky, and the guardians of the directions, as if signaling the end of an era.
Then, the sounds of musical instruments and the lion-like roars of the Pandavas echoed all around, as pledged by the great soul.
