07.065
Dhritarashtra spoke:
In the broken front of the army, being slaughtered by Arjuna, who were the heroes that faced Arjuna in the battle?
Alas, they have entered the forest formation with futile determinations, standing by Drona, they appear fearless at the rampart.
Sanjaya said:
Thus, when Arjuna shattered your army, then, with its heroes slain and enthusiasm destroyed, it was the moment of retreat.
As Indra continuously struck with his excellent arrows, no one in that battle was able to see Arjuna.
Then, O king, your son, upon seeing the army arrive in such a manner, Duḥśāsana, in great anger, advanced towards Arjuna to engage in battle.
He was adorned with a magnificent golden armor and a helmet, showcasing his heroism and intense valor.
Duḥśāsana, with his great army of elephants, seemed to cover the earth as if devouring it, O great king, and surrounded Savyasācin.
The battlefield resounded with the sound of elephant bells, the roar of conches, the twang of bowstrings, and the noise of elephants.
The earth, directions, and sky were enveloped by a sound. For a moment, he became terrifying and fierce.
Seeing them fall swiftly, urged on by goads, with their trunks hanging down, excited, like mountains with wings.
With a mighty roar, Dhananjaya, the man-lion, scattered the enemy's elephant forces all around with his arrows.
Arjuna, with the ferocity of a crocodile, entered the elephant army, much like a great ocean wave stirred by the wind.
Arjuna, the conqueror of enemy cities, appeared everywhere in all directions like the sun beyond the limit at the end of the burning age.
The sounds of hooves and horses, the noise of wheels, the loud cries, the twang of bowstrings, and the sounds of Devadatta and Gandiva filled the air.
The serpents, struck by Arjuna's arrows that felt like the touch of serpents, became slower and unconscious.
The elephants were struck by sharp arrows shot from the Gandiva bow in battle, numbering in many hundreds and thousands, and were hit in all their parts.
After making a great shout, those being killed by Arjuna, the crowned one, fell continuously to the ground like mountains with their wings severed.
In another part of the battlefield, elephants bound by their tusks and placed in pots and mats were repeatedly crying out like curlews as they were struck by arrows.
The crowned warrior severed the heads of men riding on elephants with his arrows that had bent joints.
Arjuna created a scene where the heads adorned with earrings fell to the ground like clusters of lotuses, presenting a grim offering.
Humans, bound by machines and without armor, wounded and smeared with blood, were wandering in the battle among elephants, appearing to hang on desperately.
Some were struck down by a single well-aimed arrow from the bird, and two or three of them fell to the ground.
He severed the Mauri bow, the bow-banner, the yokes, axles, and the charioteers with his curved-tipped arrows.
Arjuna is seen dancing with his bow, neither stringing it, nor shooting, nor releasing, nor lifting it, but moving in a circle.
Pierced by arrows and vomiting blood from their mouths, other elephants fall to the ground in a moment.
O great king, countless headless bodies were seen rising all around in that great confusion.
In the battle, arms equipped with bows, finger-guards, swords, and armors were seen severed, adorned with golden ornaments.
The chariots, equipped with strong bases, axles, and poles, had their wheels shattered, axles broken, and yokes damaged in many ways.
The area was scattered with armor, bows, and arrows, as well as garlands, ornaments, clothes, and fallen great banners.
The earth appeared dreadful there, covered with the bodies of slain elephants, horses, and warriors.
Seeing Duhshasana's forces being slain by Arjuna, the troops, along with their leader, fled in distress, O great king.
Frightened and afflicted by arrows, Duḥśāsana, along with his army, sought Droṇa's protection and moved towards the cart formation.
