07.068
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
हते सुदक्षिणे राजन्वीरे चैव श्रुतायुधे। जवेनाभ्यद्रवन्पार्थं कुपिताः सैनिकास्तव ॥७-६८-१॥
O king, after Sudakshina and the hero Shrutayudha were killed, your soldiers, filled with anger, quickly rushed towards Arjuna.
अभीषाहाः शूरसेनाः शिबयोऽथ वसातयः। अभ्यवर्षंस्ततो राजञ्शरवर्षैर्धनञ्जयम् ॥७-६८-२॥
The warriors from the Śūrasenas, Śibis, and Vasātayas attacked Dhananjaya with a barrage of arrows, O king.
तेषां षष्टिशतानार्यान्प्रामथ्नात्पाण्डवः शरैः। ते स्म भीताः पलायन्त व्याघ्रात्क्षुद्रमृगा इव ॥७-६८-३॥
The Pāṇḍava, with his arrows, crushed six thousand noble warriors. Frightened, they fled like small animals from a tiger.
ते निवृत्य पुनः पार्थं सर्वतः पर्यवारयन्। रणे सपत्नान्निघ्नन्तं जिगीषन्तन्परान्युधि ॥७-६८-४॥
They returned and surrounded Arjuna from all sides in the battle, aiming to defeat the enemies and achieve victory over others in the war.
तेषामापततां तूर्णं गाण्डीवप्रेषितैः शरैः। शिरांसि पातयामास बाहूंश्चैव धनञ्जयः ॥७-६८-५॥
As they approached swiftly, Dhananjaya, with arrows shot from Gandiva, swiftly struck down their heads and arms.
शिरोभिः पतितैस्तत्र भूमिरासीन्निरन्तरा। अभ्रच्छायेव चैवासीद्ध्वाङ्क्षगृध्रवडैर्युधि ॥७-६८-६॥
The battlefield was strewn with fallen heads, resembling a continuous shadow of clouds, and was populated by vultures, eagles, and jackals.
तेषु तूत्साद्यमानेषु क्रोधामर्षसमन्वितौ। श्रुतायुश्चाच्युतायुश्च धनञ्जयमयुध्यताम् ॥७-६८-७॥
Amidst the destruction, Śrutāyu and Acyutāyu, filled with anger and intolerance, engaged in battle with Dhanañjaya.
बलिनौ स्पर्धिनौ वीरौ कुलजौ बाहुशालिनौ। तावेनं शरवर्षाणि सव्यदक्षिणमस्यताम् ॥७-६८-८॥
The strong and competitive heroes, noble-born and strong-armed, should shoot their arrows in showers from both the left and right sides.
त्वरायुक्तौ महाराज प्रार्थयानौ महद्यशः। अर्जुनस्य वधप्रेप्सू पुत्रार्थे तव धन्विनौ ॥७-६८-९॥
O great king, the archers, eager and swift, sought great fame and desired to kill Arjuna for the sake of your son.
तावर्जुनं सहस्रेण पत्रिणां नतपर्वणाम्। पूरयामासतुः क्रुद्धौ तडागं जलदौ यथा ॥७-६८-१०॥
In their anger, they showered a thousand bent-jointed arrows upon Arjuna, as clouds fill a lake with water.
श्रुतायुश्च ततः क्रुद्धस्तोमरेण धनञ्जयम्। आजघान रथश्रेष्ठः पीतेन निशितेन च ॥७-६८-११॥
Śrutayu, in his anger, struck Dhananjaya with a sharp yellow spear, being the best among charioteers.
सोऽतिविद्धो बलवता शत्रुणा शत्रुकर्शनः। आजगाम परं मोहं मोहयन्केशवं रणे ॥७-६८-१२॥
Pierced by the strong enemy, the destroyer of enemies fell into great confusion, bewildering Keshava on the battlefield.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सोऽच्युतायुर्महारथः। शूलेन भृशतीक्ष्णेन ताडयामास पाण्डवम् ॥७-६८-१३॥
At that moment, Acyutayu, a great warrior, attacked the Pāṇḍava with a very sharp spear.
क्षते क्षारं स हि ददौ पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः। पार्थोऽपि भृशसंविद्धो ध्वजयष्टिं समाश्रितः ॥७-६८-१४॥
When wounded, he indeed gave saline to the noble Pandava. Arjuna, though severely wounded, leaned on the flagstaff for support.
ततः सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य तावकस्य विशां पते। सिंहनादो महानासीद्धतं मत्वा धनञ्जयम् ॥७-६८-१५॥
Then, O lord of the people, a great roar like that of a lion arose from all your troops, believing that Dhananjaya (Arjuna) had been slain.
कृष्णश्च भृशसन्तप्तो दृष्ट्वा पार्थं विचेतसम्। आश्वासयत्सुहृद्याभिर्वाग्भिस्तत्र धनञ्जयम् ॥७-६८-१६॥
Krishna, seeing Arjuna unconscious and deeply aggrieved, consoled him there with kind words.
ततस्तौ रथिनां श्रेष्ठौ लब्धलक्षौ धनञ्जयम्। वासुदेवं च वार्ष्णेयं शरवर्षैः समन्ततः ॥७-६८-१७॥
Then, those two foremost charioteers, having achieved their objective, surrounded Arjuna (Dhananjaya) and Krishna (Vasudeva), the descendant of Vrishni, with a barrage of arrows from every direction.
सचक्रकूबररथं साश्वध्वजपताकिनम्। अदृश्यं चक्रतुर्युद्धे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥७-६८-१८॥
In the battle, they made the chariot with wheels, axles, horses, flags, and banners invisible; it appeared as a wonder.
प्रत्याश्वस्तस्तु बीभत्सुः शनकैरिव भारत। प्रेतराजपुरं प्राप्य पुनः प्रत्यागतो यथा ॥७-६८-१९॥
Reassured, Bibhatsu (Arjuna) slowly returned as if he had reached the city of the king of the dead, O Bharata.
सञ्छन्नं शरजालेन रथं दृष्ट्वा सकेशवम्। शत्रू चाभिमुखौ दृष्ट्वा दीप्यमानाविवानलौ ॥७-६८-२०॥
Seeing the chariot covered with a net of arrows along with Keshava, and the enemies facing them, shining like blazing fires.
प्रादुश्चक्रे ततः पार्थः शाक्रमस्त्रं महारथः। तस्मादासन्सहस्राणि शराणां नतपर्वणाम् ॥७-६८-२१॥
Arjuna, the great warrior, then manifested Indra's weapon, and from it emerged thousands of bent-jointed arrows.
ते जघ्नुस्तौ महेष्वासौ ताभ्यां सृष्टांश्च सायकान्। विचेरुराकाशगताः पार्थबाणविदारिताः ॥७-६८-२२॥
They killed those two great archers with arrows released by them. Pierced by Arjuna's arrows, they moved through the sky.
प्रतिहत्य शरांस्तूर्णं शरवेगेन पाण्डवः। प्रतस्थे तत्र तत्रैव योधयन्वै महारथान् ॥७-६८-२३॥
The son of Pandu swiftly countered the arrows and set out to fight the great charioteers at that very place.
तौ च फल्गुनबाणौघैर्विबाहुशिरसौ कृतौ। वसुधामन्वपद्येतां वातनुन्नाविव द्रुमौ ॥७-६८-२४॥
They fell to the ground, their arms and heads severed by Arjuna's arrows, resembling trees felled by the wind.
श्रुतायुषश्च निधनं वधश्चैवाच्युतायुषः। लोकविस्मापनमभूत्समुद्रस्येव शोषणम् ॥७-६८-२५॥
The demise of Śrutāyuṣa and Acyutāyuṣa was a marvel to the world, akin to the ocean drying up.
तयोः पदानुगान्हत्वा पुनः पञ्चशतान्रथान्। अभ्यगाद्भारतीं सेनां निघ्नन्पार्थो वरान्वरान् ॥७-६८-२६॥
Arjuna, having slain the followers and five hundred chariots, approached the Bharata army, slaying the best of the heroes.
श्रुतायुषं च निहतं प्रेक्ष्य चैवाच्युतायुषम्। अयुतायुश्च सङ्क्रुद्धो दीर्घायुश्चैव भारत ॥७-६८-२७॥
O Bharata, upon seeing Śrutayush slain and Acyutayush, Ayutayush became enraged, along with Dirghayush.
पुत्रौ तयोर्नरश्रेष्ठौ कौन्तेयं प्रतिजग्मतुः। किरन्तौ विविधान्बाणान्पितृव्यसनकर्शितौ ॥७-६८-२८॥
The sons of the two, the best among men, Kunti's son, returned, showering various arrows, afflicted by the sorrow of their father.
तावर्जुनो मुहूर्तेन शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। प्रेषयत्परमक्रुद्धो यमस्य सदनं प्रति ॥७-६८-२९॥
In a moment, Arjuna, extremely angry, sent his arrows with bent joints towards the abode of Yama.
लोडयन्तमनीकानि द्विपं पद्मसरो यथा। नाशक्नुवन्वारयितुं पार्थं क्षत्रियपुङ्गवाः ॥७-६८-३०॥
The warrior chiefs could not stop Arjuna, who was shaking the troops like an elephant shakes a lotus-lake.
अङ्गास्तु गजवारेण पाण्डवं पर्यवारयन्। क्रुद्धाः सहस्रशो राजञ्शिखिता हस्तिसादिनः ॥७-६८-३१॥
The Angas, with their division of elephants, surrounded the Pāṇḍava. Thousands of angry elephant riders, adorned and ready, encircled him, O king.
दुर्योधनसमादिष्टाः कुञ्जरैः पर्वतोपमैः। प्राच्याश्च दाक्षिणात्याश्च कलिङ्गप्रमुखा नृपाः ॥७-६८-३२॥
The kings from the eastern and southern regions, led by Kalinga, were commanded by Duryodhana and accompanied by elephants resembling mountains.
तेषामापततां शीघ्रं गाण्डीवप्रेषितैः शरैः। निचकर्त शिरांस्युग्रौ बाहूनपि सुभूषणान् ॥७-६८-३३॥
As they approached swiftly, their fierce heads and well-adorned arms were severed by arrows shot from Gandiva.
तैः शिरोभिर्मही कीर्णा बाहुभिश्च सहाङ्गदैः। बभौ कनकपाषाणा भुजगैरिव संवृता ॥७-६८-३४॥
The earth was strewn with their heads and arms adorned with bracelets, resembling golden rocks enveloped by serpents.
बाहवो विशिखैश्छिन्नाः शिरांस्युन्मथितानि च। च्यवमानान्यदृश्यन्त द्रुमेभ्य इव पक्षिणः ॥७-६८-३५॥
Arms severed by arrows and heads smashed were seen falling like birds from trees.
शरैः सहस्रशो विद्धा द्विपाः प्रस्रुतशोणिताः। व्यदृश्यन्ताद्रयः काले गैरिकाम्बुस्रवा इव ॥७-६८-३६॥
The elephants, pierced by thousands of arrows and bleeding profusely, appeared like mountains oozing red liquid over time.
निहताः शेरते स्मान्ये बीभत्सोर्निशितैः शरैः। गजपृष्ठगता म्लेच्छा नानाविकृतदर्शनाः ॥७-६८-३७॥
The foreigners of various distorted appearances, mounted on elephants, lie killed by the sharp arrows of the terrible one.
नानावेषधरा राजन्नानाशस्त्रौघसंवृताः। रुधिरेणानुलिप्ताङ्गा भान्ति चित्रैः शरैर्हताः ॥७-६८-३८॥
O king, those wearing various attires and covered with a multitude of weapons, smeared with blood, appear striking as they are hit by variegated arrows.
शोणितं निर्वमन्ति स्म द्विपाः पार्थशराहताः। सहस्रशश्छिन्नगात्राः सारोहाः सपदानुगाः ॥७-६८-३९॥
The elephants, struck by Arjuna's arrows, poured out blood as they moved, their limbs severed, accompanied by their riders and followers, numbering in thousands.
चुक्रुशुश्च निपेतुश्च बभ्रमुश्चापरे दिशः। भृशं त्रस्ताश्च बहुधा स्वानेन ममृदुर्गजाः ॥ सान्तरायुधिका मत्ता द्विपास्तीक्ष्णविषोपमाः ॥७-६८-४०॥
The elephants, greatly frightened by the sound, cried out, fell down, and wandered in different directions. Intoxicated and armed, they were like sharp poison.
विदन्त्यसुरमायां ये सुघोरा घोरचक्षुषः। यवनाः पारदाश्चैव शकाश्च सुनिकैः सह ॥७-६८-४१॥
The Yavanas, Paradas, and Sakas, known for their fierce and terrible eyes, are aware of the demon's illusion, and they are together with the Sunikas.
गोयोनिप्रभवा म्लेच्छाः कालकल्पाः प्रहारिणः। दार्वाभिसारा दरदाः पुण्ड्राश्च सह बाह्लिकैः ॥७-६८-४२॥
The barbarians born of cow lineage, resembling death and strikers, came from the regions of Darva, including the Daradas and Puṇḍras, along with the Bāhlikas.
न ते स्म शक्याः सङ्ख्यातुं व्राताः शतसहस्रशः। वृष्टिस्तथाविधा ह्यासीच्छलभानामिवायतिः ॥७-६८-४३॥
The groups were so numerous, in hundreds of thousands, that they could not be counted; it was like a vast rain of locusts.
अभ्रच्छायामिव शरैः सैन्ये कृत्वा धनञ्जयः। मुण्डार्धमुण्डजटिलानशुचीञ्जटिलाननान् ॥ म्लेच्छानशातयत्सर्वान्समेतानस्त्रमायया ॥७-६८-४४॥
Dhananjaya, with his arrows, created an illusion over the army like a cloud's shadow and destroyed all the gathered barbarians and various unclean ascetics using his mystical weaponry.
शरैश्च शतशो विद्धास्ते सङ्घाः सङ्घचारिणः। प्राद्रवन्त रणे भीता गिरिगह्वरवासिनः ॥७-६८-४५॥
The groups, pierced by hundreds of arrows, fled the battlefield in fear, as they were dwellers of mountain caves.
गजाश्वसादिम्लेच्छानां पतितानां शतैः शरैः। वडाः कङ्का वृका भूमावपिबन्रुधिरं मुदा ॥७-६८-४६॥
Bats, herons, and wolves joyfully drank the blood of fallen elephants, horses, and other barbarians, struck down by hundreds of arrows, on the ground.
पत्त्यश्वरथनागैश्च प्रच्छन्नकृतसङ्क्रमाम्। शरवर्षप्लवां घोरां केशशैवलशाड्वलाम् ॥ प्रावर्तयन्नदीमुग्रां शोणितौघतरङ्गिणीम् ॥७-६८-४७॥
The river, obscured by foot-soldiers, horses, chariots, and elephants, became a crossing. It was dreadful, filled with a torrent of arrows, hair, weeds, and grass. It turned into a fierce river with waves of blood.
शिरस्त्राणक्षुद्रमत्स्यां युगान्ते कालसम्भृताम्। अकरोद्गजसम्बाधां नदीमुत्तरशोणिताम् ॥ देहेभ्यो राजपुत्राणां नागाश्वरथसादिनाम् ॥७-६८-४८॥
At the end of the era, a river filled with elephants and small fish, turned bloody by time, was formed from the bodies of princes, serpents, horses, and chariots.
यथा स्थलं च निम्नं च न स्याद्वर्षति वासवे। तथासीत्पृथिवी सर्वा शोणितेन परिप्लुता ॥७-६८-४९॥
Just as high and low grounds are indistinguishable when Indra pours rain, so was the entire earth flooded with blood.
षट्सहस्रान्वरान्वीरान्पुनर्दशशतान्वरान्। प्राहिणोन्मृत्युलोकाय क्षत्रियान्क्षत्रियर्षभः ॥७-६८-५०॥
The best among the Kshatriyas sent six thousand heroic warriors and another thousand to the realm of the dead.
शरैः सहस्रशो विद्धा विधिवत्कल्पिता द्विपाः। शेरते भूमिमासाद्य शैला वज्रहता इव ॥७-६८-५१॥
The elephants, struck by thousands of arrows and properly arranged, lie on the ground like mountains hit by thunderbolts.
स वाजिरथमातङ्गान्निघ्नन्व्यचरदर्जुनः। प्रभिन्न इव मातङ्गो मृद्नन्नडवनं यथा ॥७-६८-५२॥
Arjuna moved through the battlefield, striking down horses, chariots, and elephants, like a rampaging elephant crushing everything in its path.
भूरिद्रुमलतागुल्मं शुष्केन्धनतृणोलपम्। निर्दहेदनलोऽरण्यं यथा वायुसमीरितः ॥७-६८-५३॥
The fire, when fanned by the wind, consumes the forest filled with numerous trees, creepers, bushes, dry wood, grass, and leaves.
सैन्यारण्यं तव तथा कृष्णानिलसमीरितः। शरार्चिरदहत्क्रुद्धः पाण्डवाग्निर्धनञ्जयः ॥७-६८-५४॥
Dhanañjaya, the Pāṇḍava, in his anger, burned the forest of the army with the flame of his arrows, blown by the dark wind.
शून्यान्कुर्वन्रथोपस्थान्मानवैः संस्तरन्महीम्। प्रानृत्यदिव सम्बाधे चापहस्तो धनञ्जयः ॥७-६८-५५॥
Dhananjaya, with bow in hand, made the chariot seats empty by men and covered the earth, dancing as if in a crowd.
वज्रकल्पैः शरैर्भूमिं कुर्वन्नुत्तरशोणिताम्। प्राविशद्भारतीं सेनां सङ्क्रुद्धो वै धनञ्जयः ॥ तं श्रुतायुस्तथाम्बष्ठो व्रजमानं न्यवारयत् ॥७-६८-५६॥
Dhananjaya, in his anger, entered the Bharata army, making the earth red with blood with his thunderbolt-like arrows. Shrutayu and Ambashtha stopped his advance.
तस्यार्जुनः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः कङ्कपत्रपरिच्छदैः। न्यपातयद्धयाञ्शीघ्रं यतमानस्य मारिष ॥ धनुश्चास्यापरैश्छित्त्वा शरैः पार्थो विचक्रमे ॥७-६८-५७॥
Arjuna swiftly brought down the horses of the opponent with his sharp, vulture-feathered arrows, O noble one. Then, having severed his bow with other arrows, Pārtha advanced.
अम्बष्ठस्तु गदां गृह्य क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणः। आससाद रणे पार्थं केशवं च महारथम् ॥७-६८-५८॥
Ambaṣṭha, with his eyes filled with rage, wielded his mace and advanced towards Arjuna and Krishna, the great chariot-warrior, in the battlefield.
ततः स प्रहसन्वीरो गदामुद्यम्य भारत। रथमावार्य गदया केशवं समताडयत् ॥७-६८-५९॥
Then, the valiant hero, with a smile, raised his mace and, blocking the chariot, struck Keśava, O Bharata.
गदया ताडितं दृष्ट्वा केशवं परवीरहा। अर्जुनो भृशसङ्क्रुद्धः सोऽम्बष्ठं प्रति भारत ॥७-६८-६०॥
Upon witnessing Keshava being struck by a mace, Arjuna, the destroyer of enemy heroes, became intensely angry and directed his wrath towards Ambaṣṭha, O Bharata.
ततः शरैर्हेमपुङ्खैः सगदं रथिनां वरम्। छादयामास समरे मेघः सूर्यमिवोदितम् ॥७-६८-६१॥
Then, in the battle, he covered the best of charioteers and their chariot with golden-feathered arrows, just as a cloud covers the rising sun.
ततोऽपरैः शरैश्चापि गदां तस्य महात्मनः। अचूर्णयत्तदा पार्थस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥७-६८-६२॥
Then Arjuna, with other arrows, smashed the mace of the great soul, and it appeared as if it was a wonderful feat.
अथ तां पतितां दृष्ट्वा गृह्यान्यां महतीं गदाम्। अर्जुनं वासुदेवं च पुनः पुनरताडयत् ॥७-६८-६३॥
Then, seeing her fallen, he picked up another great mace and repeatedly struck Arjuna and Vasudeva.
तस्यार्जुनः क्षुरप्राभ्यां सगदावुद्यतौ भुजौ। चिच्छेदेन्द्रध्वजाकारौ शिरश्चान्येन पत्रिणा ॥७-६८-६४॥
Arjuna, with his sharp arrows, severed the arms that were raised with a mace, and with another arrow, he cut off the head, resembling Indra's flag.
स पपात हतो राजन्वसुधामनुनादयन्। इन्द्रध्वज इवोत्सृष्टो यन्त्रनिर्मुक्तबन्धनः ॥७-६८-६५॥
He fell to the ground, O king, with a resounding crash, like Indra's banner released from the bondage of the machine.
रथानीकावगाढश्च वारणाश्वशतैर्वृतः। सोऽदृश्यत तदा पार्थो घनैः सूर्य इवावृतः ॥७-६८-६६॥
Arjuna, immersed in the army of chariots and surrounded by hundreds of elephants and horses, appeared like the sun obscured by clouds.
