07.074
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
परिवर्तमाने त्वादित्ये तत्र सूर्यस्य रश्मिभिः। रजसा कीर्यमाणाश्च मन्दीभूताश्च सैनिकाः ॥७-७४-१॥
As the sun was setting, the soldiers there were scattered and weakened by the sun's rays and the dust.
तिष्ठतां युध्यमानानां पुनरावर्ततामपि। भज्यतां जयतां चैव जगाम तदहः शनैः ॥७-७४-२॥
The day slowly passed for those who were standing, fighting, returning, being broken, and conquering.
तथा तेषु विषक्तेषु सैन्येषु जयगृद्धिषु। अर्जुनो वासुदेवश्च सैन्धवायैव जग्मतुः ॥७-७४-३॥
In the midst of those armies, which were attached and eager for victory, Arjuna and Vasudeva proceeded directly to the Sindhu king.
रथमार्गप्रमाणं तु कौन्तेयो निशितैः शरैः। चकार तत्र पन्थानं ययौ येन जनार्दनः ॥७-७४-४॥
The son of Kunti, Arjuna, skillfully created a path with his sharp arrows, allowing Lord Krishna (Janardana) to proceed.
यत्र यत्र रथो याति पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः। तत्र तत्रैव दीर्यन्ते सेनास्तव विशां पते ॥७-७४-५॥
Wherever the chariot of the noble Pandava travels, there your armies are inevitably broken, O lord of the people.
रथशिक्षां तु दाशार्हो दर्शयामास वीर्यवान्। उत्तमाधममध्यानि मण्डलानि विदर्शयन् ॥७-७४-६॥
The powerful descendant of Daśārha demonstrated his skills in chariot-training by displaying various formations, ranging from the best to the worst, including the intermediate ones.
ते तु नामाङ्किताः पीताः कालज्वलनसंनिभाः। स्नायुनद्धाः सुपर्वाणः पृथवो दीर्घगामिनः ॥७-७४-७॥
They were marked with names, yellow in color, resembling the fire of time, bound with sinews, well-jointed, broad, and capable of traveling long distances.
वैणवायस्मयशराः स्वायता विविधाननाः। रुधिरं पतगैः सार्धं प्राणिनां पपुराहवे ॥७-७४-८॥
In the battle, long arrows made of bamboo and iron with various faces drank the blood of creatures along with the birds.
रथस्थितः क्रोशमात्रे यानस्यत्यर्जुनः शरान्। रथे क्रोशमतिक्रान्ते तस्य ते घ्नन्ति शात्रवान् ॥७-७४-९॥
Arjuna, standing on his chariot, releases arrows when he is within shouting distance. As the chariot moves beyond this distance, his arrows strike down the enemies.
तार्क्ष्यमारुतरंहोभिर्वाजिभिः साधुवाहिभिः। तथागच्छद्धृषीकेशः कृत्स्नं विस्मापयञ्जगत् ॥७-७४-१०॥
Krishna, with horses as swift as Garuda and the wind, proceeded, astonishing the entire world.
न तथा गच्छति रथस्तपनस्य विशां पते। नेन्द्रस्य न च रुद्रस्य नापि वैश्रवणस्य च ॥७-७४-११॥
O lord of the people, the chariot of the sun does not move in such a manner; neither does the chariot of Indra, nor of Rudra, nor even of Kubera.
नान्यस्य समरे राजन्गतपूर्वस्तथा रथः। यथा ययावर्जुनस्य मनोभिप्रायशीघ्रगः ॥७-७४-१२॥
O king, no other chariot in battle has ever moved as swiftly as Arjuna's, aligning perfectly with his intentions.
प्रविश्य तु रणे राजन्केशवः परवीरहा। सेनामध्ये हयांस्तूर्णं चोदयामास भारत ॥७-७४-१३॥
Keshava, the destroyer of enemy heroes, entered the battle and quickly urged the horses in the midst of the army, O king, descendant of Bharata.
ततस्तस्य रथौघस्य मध्यं प्राप्य हयोत्तमाः। कृच्छ्रेण रथमूहुस्तं क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमान्विताः ॥७-७४-१४॥
Then, the excellent horses, afflicted by hunger, thirst, and fatigue, managed to pull the chariot with great difficulty after reaching the middle of his chariot group.
क्षताश्च बहुभिः शस्त्रैर्युद्धशौण्डैरनेकशः। मण्डलानि विचित्राणि विचेरुस्ते मुहुर्मुहुः ॥७-७४-१५॥
The warriors, wounded by many weapons, repeatedly moved in various formations again and again.
हतानां वाजिनागानां रथानां च नरैः सह। उपरिष्टादतिक्रान्ताः शैलाभानां सहस्रशः ॥७-७४-१६॥
Thousands resembling mountains passed over the slain horses, elephants, chariots, and men.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरावावन्त्यौ भ्रातरौ नृप। सहसेनौ समार्छेतां पाण्डवं क्लान्तवाहनम् ॥७-७४-१७॥
During this time, the brave brothers from Avanti, accompanied by their army, approached the Pāṇḍava whose vehicle was weary.
तावर्जुनं चतुःषष्ट्या सप्तत्या च जनार्दनम्। शराणां च शतेनाश्वानविध्येतां मुदान्वितौ ॥७-७४-१८॥
They joyfully pierced the horses of Arjuna and Janardana with sixty-four and seventy arrows.
तावर्जुनो महाराज नवभिर्नतपर्वभिः। आजघान रणे क्रुद्धो मर्मज्ञो मर्मभेदिभिः ॥७-७४-१९॥
Then Arjuna, O great king, angrily struck in battle with nine arrows that bent at the joints, knowing the vital points to target.
ततस्तौ तु शरौघेण बीभत्सुं सहकेशवम्। आच्छादयेतां संरब्धौ सिंहनादं च नेदतुः ॥७-७४-२०॥
Then those two warriors, in their excitement, showered Arjuna and Krishna with a barrage of arrows and roared fiercely like lions.
तयोस्तु धनुषी चित्रे भल्लाभ्यां श्वेतवाहनः। चिच्छेद समरे तूर्णं ध्वजौ च कनकोज्ज्वलौ ॥७-७४-२१॥
Śvetavāhana swiftly severed the two magnificent bows and the two shining golden banners with his arrows during the battle.
अथान्ये धनुषी राजन्प्रगृह्य समरे तदा। पाण्डवं भृशसङ्क्रुद्धावर्दयामासतुः शरैः ॥७-७४-२२॥
Then, O king, others took up their bows in the battle and, being very angry, began to pierce the Pāṇḍava with arrows.
तयोस्तु भृशसङ्क्रुद्धः शराभ्यां पाण्डुनन्दनः। चिच्छेद धनुषी तूर्णं भूय एव धनञ्जयः ॥७-७४-२३॥
In his intense anger, the son of Pandu, Dhananjaya, swiftly cut the two bows again with his arrows.
तथान्यैर्विशिखैस्तूर्णं हेमपुङ्खैः शिलाशितैः। जघानाश्वान्सपदातांस्तथोभौ पार्ष्णिसारथी ॥७-७४-२४॥
Thus, with arrows having golden shafts sharpened with stones, he swiftly struck the horses, foot soldiers, and both charioteers at the rear.
ज्येष्ठस्य च शिरः कायात्क्षुरप्रेण न्यकृन्तत। स पपात हतः पृथ्व्यां वातरुग्ण इव द्रुमः ॥७-७४-२५॥
The head of the eldest was severed from his body by a razor. He fell to the ground, dead, like a tree broken by the wind.
विन्दं तु निहतं दृष्ट्वा अनुविन्दः प्रतापवान्। हताश्वं रथमुत्सृज्य गदां गृह्य महाबलः ॥७-७४-२६॥
Upon witnessing the fall of Vinda, the valiant Anuvinda, leaving behind his chariot with its dead horses, seized his mace, ready to fight.
अभ्यद्रवत सङ्ग्रामे भ्रातुर्वधमनुस्मरन्। गदया गदिनां श्रेष्ठो नृत्यन्निव महारथः ॥७-७४-२७॥
He charged into the battle, recalling his brother's death, wielding a mace, and appeared to dance like the greatest of chariot-warriors.
अनुविन्दस्तु गदया ललाटे मधुसूदनम्। स्पृष्ट्वा नाकम्पयत्क्रुद्धो मैनाकमिव पर्वतम् ॥७-७४-२८॥
Anuvinda struck Madhusudana on the forehead with a mace, but even in anger, he could not make him tremble, just as one cannot shake the steadfast Mainaka mountain.
तस्यार्जुनः शरैः षड्भिर्ग्रीवां पादौ भुजौ शिरः। निचकर्त स सञ्छिन्नः पपाताद्रिचयो यथा ॥७-७४-२९॥
Arjuna, with six arrows, severed his neck, feet, arms, and head, causing him to fall like a mountain.
ततस्तौ निहतौ दृष्ट्वा तयो राजन्पदानुगाः। अभ्यद्रवन्त सङ्क्रुद्धाः किरन्तः शतशः शरान् ॥७-७४-३०॥
Upon witnessing the death of those two, their followers, filled with rage, charged forward, releasing hundreds of arrows, O king.
तानर्जुनः शरैस्तूर्णं निहत्य भरतर्षभ। व्यरोचत यथा वह्निर्दावं दग्ध्वा हिमात्यये ॥७-७४-३१॥
Arjuna swiftly defeated them with his arrows, shining brilliantly like a fire that has consumed a forest at winter's end.
तयोः सेनामतिक्रम्य कृच्छ्रान्निर्याद्धनञ्जयः। विबभौ जलदान्भित्त्वा दिवाकर इवोदितः ॥७-७४-३२॥
Arjuna, having struggled through their army, emerged and shone like the rising sun piercing through the clouds.
तं दृष्ट्वा कुरवस्त्रस्ताः प्रहृष्टाश्चाभवन्पुनः। अभ्यवर्षंस्तदा पार्थं समन्ताद्भरतर्षभ ॥७-७४-३३॥
Upon seeing him, the Kauravas, both terrified and elated, regrouped and launched an attack on Arjuna from all directions, O best of the Bharatas.
श्रान्तं चैनं समालक्ष्य ज्ञात्वा दूरे च सैन्धवम्। सिंहनादेन महता सर्वतः पर्यवारयन् ॥७-७४-३४॥
Seeing him tired and recognizing the horse from afar, they surrounded him from all sides with a mighty roar like that of a lion.
तांस्तु दृष्ट्वा सुसंरब्धानुत्स्मयन्पुरुषर्षभः। शनकैरिव दाशार्हमर्जुनो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥७-७४-३५॥
Upon seeing them very agitated, Arjuna, the best of men, smiled and slowly spoke to Dāśārha.
शरार्दिताश्च ग्लानाश्च हया दूरे च सैन्धवः। किमिहानन्तरं कार्यं ज्यायिष्ठं तव रोचते ॥७-७४-३६॥
The wounded and exhausted horses are far away, and the Sindhu is distant. What do you think is the most important task to do here next?
ब्रूहि कृष्ण यथातत्त्वं त्वं हि प्राज्ञतमः सदा। भवन्नेत्रा रणे शत्रून्विजेष्यन्तीह पाण्डवाः ॥७-७४-३७॥
Krishna, please tell the truth as it is, for you are always the wisest. With your guidance, the Pandavas will defeat their enemies in the battle here.
मम त्वनन्तरं कृत्यं यद्वै तत्संनिबोध मे। हयान्विमुच्य हि सुखं विशल्यान्कुरु माधव ॥७-७४-३८॥
"Understand my duty that follows, O Madhava. Release the horses and make them comfortable and unharmed."
एवमुक्तस्तु पार्थेन केशवः प्रत्युवाच तम्। ममाप्येतन्मतं पार्थ यदिदं ते प्रभाषितम् ॥७-७४-३९॥
Keśava replied to Pārtha, saying that he agreed with what Pārtha had expressed.
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said:
अहमावारयिष्यामि सर्वसैन्यानि केशव। त्वमप्यत्र यथान्यायं कुरु कार्यमनन्तरम् ॥७-७४-४०॥
I will hold back all the armies, O Keśava. You should also perform your duty here immediately as is appropriate.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
सोऽवतीर्य रथोपस्थादसम्भ्रान्तो धनञ्जयः। गाण्डीवं धनुरादाय तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः ॥७-७४-४१॥
Arjuna, calm and composed, descended from the chariot, took up his Gandiva bow, and stood firm like a mountain.
तमभ्यधावन्क्रोशन्तः क्षत्रिया जयकाङ्क्षिणः। इदं छिद्रमिति ज्ञात्वा धरणीस्थं धनञ्जयम् ॥७-७४-४२॥
The warriors, eager for victory, rushed towards Dhananjaya (Arjuna) who was on the ground, recognizing this as an opportunity.
तमेकं रथवंशेन महता पर्यवारयन्। विकर्षन्तश्च चापानि विसृजन्तश्च सायकान् ॥७-७४-४३॥
They encircled him with a mighty chariot force, pulling their bows and shooting arrows.
अस्त्राणि च विचित्राणि क्रुद्धास्तत्र व्यदर्शयन्। छादयन्तः शरैः पार्थं मेघा इव दिवाकरम् ॥७-७४-४४॥
The angry warriors displayed various weapons there, covering Arjuna with arrows like clouds cover the sun.
अभ्यद्रवन्त वेगेन क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभम्। रथसिंहं रथोदाराः सिंहं मत्ता इव द्विपाः ॥७-७४-४५॥
The warriors, like intoxicated elephants, charged swiftly at the best among warriors, the lion among charioteers.
तत्र पार्थस्य भुजयोर्महद्बलमदृश्यत। यत्क्रुद्धो बहुलाः सेनाः सर्वतः समवारयत् ॥७-७४-४६॥
There, the immense strength of Arjuna's arms was evident as he, in his fury, held back the numerous armies surrounding him.
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य द्विषतां सर्वतो विभुः। इषुभिर्बहुभिस्तूर्णं सर्वानेव समावृणोत् ॥७-७४-४७॥
The omnipresent, having countered the enemies' weapons from all sides with his own, swiftly covered them all with numerous arrows.
तत्रान्तरिक्षे बाणानां प्रगाढानां विशां पते। सङ्घर्षेण महार्चिष्मान्पावकः समजायत ॥७-७४-४८॥
In the sky, O lord of men, a great blazing fire arose from the friction of the deep arrows.
तत्र तत्र महेष्वासैः श्वसद्भिः शोणितोक्षितैः। हयैर्नागैश्च सम्भिन्नैर्नदद्भिश्चारिकर्शनैः ॥७-७४-४९॥
In various places, great archers, breathing heavily and smeared with blood, were seen with horses and elephants, broken and roaring along with charioteers.
संरब्धैश्चारिभिर्वीरैः प्रार्थयद्भिर्जयं मृधे। एकस्थैर्बहुभिः क्रुद्धैरूष्मेव समजायत ॥७-७४-५०॥
Eager warriors and heroes, united and many, sought victory in battle with anger, and their collective force rose like heat.
शरोर्मिणं ध्वजावर्तं नागनक्रं दुरत्ययम्। पदातिमत्स्यकलिलं शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिस्वनम् ॥७-७४-५१॥
The battlefield was like an ocean of arrows, with flags swirling like whirlpools, serpents and crocodiles making it difficult to cross, teeming with foot-soldiers and fish, and echoing with the sounds of conches and drums.
असङ्ख्येयमपारं च रजोऽऽभीलमतीव च। उष्णीषकमठच्छन्नं पताकाफेनमालिनम् ॥७-७४-५२॥
The scene is filled with innumerable and boundless dust, extremely dense, covered with a turban, and adorned with flags and foam garlands.
रथसागरमक्षोभ्यं मातङ्गाङ्गशिलाचितम्। वेलाभूतस्तदा पार्थः पत्रिभिः समवारयत् ॥७-७४-५३॥
Arjuna, with his arrows, restrained the unshakable ocean of chariots, which was covered with the bodies of elephants and rocks, thus forming a shore.
ततो जनार्दनः सङ्ख्ये प्रियं पुरुषसत्तमम्। असम्भ्रान्तो महाबाहुरर्जुनं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥७-७४-५४॥
Then, in the midst of the battle, Janardana, the mighty-armed and unperturbed, addressed Arjuna, the best of men, with words of affection.
उदपानमिहाश्वानां नालमस्ति रणेऽर्जुन। परीप्सन्ते जलं चेमे पेयं न त्ववगाहनम् ॥७-७४-५५॥
Arjuna, in this battle, there is no water-trough for the horses. They desire water to drink, not for immersion.
इदमस्तीत्यसम्भ्रान्तो ब्रुवन्नस्त्रेण मेदिनीम्। अभिहत्यार्जुनश्चक्रे वाजिपानं सरः शुभम् ॥७-७४-५६॥
Arjuna, unperturbed, declared 'This is it,' and struck the earth with his weapon, creating an auspicious lake for horses to drink from.
शरवंशं शरस्थूणं शराच्छादनमद्भुतम्। शरवेश्माकरोत्पार्थस्त्वष्टेवाद्भुतकर्मकृत् ॥७-७४-५७॥
Arjuna, like the divine architect Tvashta, created a marvelous structure with a fence, pillars, and covering all made of arrows.
ततः प्रहस्य गोविन्दः साधु साध्वित्यथाब्रवीत्। शरवेश्मनि पार्थेन कृते तस्मिन्महारणे ॥७-७४-५८॥
Then, with a smile, Govinda praised Partha, saying "Well done, well done," in the great battle where Partha had created an abode of arrows.
