07.074
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
parivartamāne tvāditye tatra sūryasya raśmibhiḥ। rajasā kīryamāṇāśca mandībhūtāśca sainikāḥ ॥7-74-1॥
As the sun was setting, the soldiers there were scattered and weakened by the sun's rays and the dust.
tiṣṭhatāṃ yudhyamānānāṃ punarāvartatāmapi। bhajyatāṃ jayatāṃ caiva jagāma tadahaḥ śanaiḥ ॥7-74-2॥
The day slowly passed for those who were standing, fighting, returning, being broken, and conquering.
tathā teṣu viṣakteṣu sainyeṣu jayagṛddhiṣu। arjuno vāsudevaśca saindhavāyaiva jagmatuḥ ॥7-74-3॥
In the midst of those armies, which were attached and eager for victory, Arjuna and Vasudeva proceeded directly to the Sindhu king.
rathamārgapramāṇaṃ tu kaunteyo niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ। cakāra tatra panthānaṃ yayau yena janārdanaḥ ॥7-74-4॥
The son of Kunti, Arjuna, skillfully created a path with his sharp arrows, allowing Lord Krishna (Janardana) to proceed.
yatra yatra ratho yāti pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ। tatra tatraiva dīryante senāstava viśāṃ pate ॥7-74-5॥
Wherever the chariot of the noble Pandava travels, there your armies are inevitably broken, O lord of the people.
rathaśikṣāṃ tu dāśārho darśayāmāsa vīryavān। uttamādhamamadhyāni maṇḍalāni vidarśayan ॥7-74-6॥
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.
te tu nāmāṅkitāḥ pītāḥ kālajvalanasaṃnibhāḥ। snāyunaddhāḥ suparvāṇaḥ pṛthavo dīrghagāminaḥ ॥7-74-7॥
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.
vaiṇavāyasmayaśarāḥ svāyatā vividhānanāḥ। rudhiraṃ patagaiḥ sārdhaṃ prāṇināṃ papurāhave ॥7-74-8॥
In the battle, long arrows made of bamboo and iron with various faces drank the blood of creatures along with the birds.
rathasthitaḥ krośamātre yānasyatyarjunaḥ śarān। rathe krośamatikrānte tasya te ghnanti śātravān ॥7-74-9॥
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.
tārkṣyamārutaraṃhobhirvājibhiḥ sādhuvāhibhiḥ। tathāgacchaddhṛṣīkeśaḥ kṛtsnaṃ vismāpayañjagat ॥7-74-10॥
Krishna, with horses as swift as Garuda and the wind, proceeded, astonishing the entire world.
na tathā gacchati rathastapanasya viśāṃ pate। nendrasya na ca rudrasya nāpi vaiśravaṇasya ca ॥7-74-11॥
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.
nānyasya samare rājangatapūrvastathā rathaḥ। yathā yayāvarjunasya manobhiprāyaśīghragaḥ ॥7-74-12॥
O king, no other chariot in battle has ever moved as swiftly as Arjuna's, aligning perfectly with his intentions.
praviśya tu raṇe rājan keśavaḥ paravīrahā। senāmadhye hayāṃs tūrṇaṃ codayām āsa bhārata ॥7-74-13॥
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.
tatas tasya rathaughasya madhyaṃ prāpya hayottamāḥ। kṛcchreṇa ratham ūhus taṃ kṣutpipāsāśramānvitāḥ ॥7-74-14॥
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.
kṣatāśca bahubhiḥ śastrairyuddhaśauṇḍairanekaśaḥ। maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi viceruste muhurmuhuḥ ॥7-74-15॥
The warriors, wounded by many weapons, repeatedly moved in various formations again and again.
hatānāṃ vājināgānāṃ rathānāṃ ca naraiḥ saha। upariṣṭādatikrāntāḥ śailābhānāṃ sahasraśaḥ ॥7-74-16॥
Thousands resembling mountains passed over the slain horses, elephants, chariots, and men.
etasminnantare vīrāvāvantyau bhrātarau nṛpa। sahasenau samārchetāṃ pāṇḍavaṃ klāntavāhanam ॥7-74-17॥
During this time, the brave brothers from Avanti, accompanied by their army, approached the Pāṇḍava whose vehicle was weary.
tāvarjunaṃ catuḥṣaṣṭyā saptatyā ca janārdanam। śarāṇāṃ ca śatenāśvānavidhyetāṃ mudānvitau ॥7-74-18॥
They joyfully pierced the horses of Arjuna and Janardana with sixty-four and seventy arrows.
tāvarjuno mahārāja navabhirnataparvabhiḥ। ājaghāna raṇe kruddho marmajño marmabhedibhiḥ ॥7-74-19॥
Then Arjuna, O great king, angrily struck in battle with nine arrows that bent at the joints, knowing the vital points to target.
tatastau tu śaraughena bībhatsuṃ sahakeśavam। ācchādayetāṃ saṃrabdhau siṃhanādaṃ ca nedatuḥ ॥7-74-20॥
Then those two warriors, in their excitement, showered Arjuna and Krishna with a barrage of arrows and roared fiercely like lions.
tayostu dhanuṣī citre bhallābhyāṃ śvetavāhanaḥ। ciccheda samare tūrṇaṃ dhvajau ca kanakojjvalau ॥7-74-21॥
Śvetavāhana swiftly severed the two magnificent bows and the two shining golden banners with his arrows during the battle.
athānye dhanuṣī rājanpragṛhya samare tadā। pāṇḍavaṃ bhṛśasaṅkruddhāvardayāmāsatuḥ śaraiḥ ॥7-74-22॥
Then, O king, others took up their bows in the battle and, being very angry, began to pierce the Pāṇḍava with arrows.
tayostu bhṛśasaṅkruddhaḥ śarābhyāṃ pāṇḍunandanaḥ। ciccheda dhanuṣī tūrṇaṃ bhūya eva dhanañjayaḥ ॥7-74-23॥
In his intense anger, the son of Pandu, Dhananjaya, swiftly cut the two bows again with his arrows.
tathānyairviśikhaistūrṇaṃ hemapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ। jaghānāśvānsapadātāṃstathobhau pārṣṇisārathī ॥7-74-24॥
Thus, with arrows having golden shafts sharpened with stones, he swiftly struck the horses, foot soldiers, and both charioteers at the rear.
jyeṣṭhasya ca śiraḥ kāyātkṣurapreṇa nyakṛntata। sa papāta hataḥ pṛthvyāṃ vātarugṇa iva drumaḥ ॥7-74-25॥
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.
vindaṃ tu nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā anuvindaḥ pratāpavān। hatāśvaṃ rathamutsṛjya gadāṃ gṛhya mahābalaḥ ॥7-74-26॥
Upon witnessing the fall of Vinda, the valiant Anuvinda, leaving behind his chariot with its dead horses, seized his mace, ready to fight.
abhyadravata saṅgrāme bhrāturvadhamanusmaran। gadayā gadināṃ śreṣṭho nṛtyanniva mahārathaḥ ॥7-74-27॥
He charged into the battle, recalling his brother's death, wielding a mace, and appeared to dance like the greatest of chariot-warriors.
anuvindastu gadayā lalāṭe madhusūdanam। spṛṣṭvā nākampayatkruddho mainākamiva parvatam ॥7-74-28॥
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.
tasyārjunaḥ śaraiḥ ṣaḍbhirgrīvāṃ pādau bhujau śiraḥ। nicakarta sa sañchinnaḥ papātādrisayo yathā ॥7-74-29॥
Arjuna, with six arrows, severed his neck, feet, arms, and head, causing him to fall like a mountain.
tatastau nihatau dṛṣṭvā tayo rājanpadānugāḥ। abhyadravanta saṅkruddhāḥ kirantaḥ śataśaḥ śarān ॥7-74-30॥
Upon witnessing the death of those two, their followers, filled with rage, charged forward, releasing hundreds of arrows, O king.
tānarjunaḥ śaraistūrṇaṃ nihatya bharatarṣabha। vyarocata yathā vahnirdāvaṃ dagdhvā himātyaye ॥7-74-31॥
Arjuna swiftly defeated them with his arrows, shining brilliantly like a fire that has consumed a forest at winter's end.
tayoḥ senām atikramya kṛcchrān niryād dhanañjayaḥ। vibabhau jaladān bhittvā divākara iva uditaḥ ॥7-74-32॥
Arjuna, having struggled through their army, emerged and shone like the rising sun piercing through the clouds.
taṁ dṛṣṭvā kuravastrastāḥ prahṛṣṭāścābhavanpunaḥ। abhyavarṣaṁstadā pārthaṁ samantādbharatarṣabha ॥7-74-33॥
Upon seeing him, the Kauravas, both terrified and elated, regrouped and launched an attack on Arjuna from all directions, O best of the Bharatas.
śrāntaṃ cainaṃ samālakṣya jñātvā dūre ca saindhavam। siṃhanādena mahatā sarvataḥ paryavārayan ॥7-74-34॥
Seeing him tired and recognizing the horse from afar, they surrounded him from all sides with a mighty roar like that of a lion.
tāṁs tu dṛṣṭvā susaṁrabdhān utsmayan puruṣarṣabhaḥ। śanakair iva dāśārham arjuno vākyam abravīt ॥7-74-35॥
Upon seeing them very agitated, Arjuna, the best of men, smiled and slowly spoke to Dāśārha.
śarārditāśca glānāśca hayā dūre ca saindhavaḥ। kimihānantaraṃ kāryaṃ jyāyiṣṭhaṃ tava rocate ॥7-74-36॥
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?
brūhi kṛṣṇa yathātattvaṃ tvaṃ hi prājñatamaḥ sadā। bhavannetrā raṇe śatrūnvijeṣyantīha pāṇḍavāḥ ॥7-74-37॥
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.
mama tvanantaraṃ kṛtyaṃ yadvai tatsaṃnibodha me। hayānvimucya hi sukhaṃ viśalyānkuru mādhava ॥7-74-38॥
"Understand my duty that follows, O Madhava. Release the horses and make them comfortable and unharmed."
evamuktastu pārthena keśavaḥ pratyuvāca tam। mamāpyetanmataṃ pārtha yadidaṃ te prabhāṣitam ॥7-74-39॥
Keśava replied to Pārtha, saying that he agreed with what Pārtha had expressed.
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said:
aham āvārayiṣyāmi sarvasainyāni keśava। tvam apy atra yathānyāyaṃ kuru kāryam anantaram ॥7-74-40॥
I will hold back all the armies, O Keśava. You should also perform your duty here immediately as is appropriate.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
so'vatīrya rathopasthādasambhrānto dhanañjayaḥ। gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanurādāya tasthau giririvācalaḥ ॥7-74-41॥
Arjuna, calm and composed, descended from the chariot, took up his Gandiva bow, and stood firm like a mountain.
tam abhyadhāvan krośantaḥ kṣatriyā jayakāṅkṣiṇaḥ। idaṃ chidram iti jñātvā dharaṇīsthaṃ dhanañjayam ॥7-74-42॥
The warriors, eager for victory, rushed towards Dhananjaya (Arjuna) who was on the ground, recognizing this as an opportunity.
tamekaṁ rathavaṁśena mahatā paryavārayan। vikarṣantaśca cāpāni visṛjantaśca sāyakān ॥7-74-43॥
They encircled him with a mighty chariot force, pulling their bows and shooting arrows.
astrāṇi ca vicitrāṇi kruddhāstatra vyadarśayan। chādayantaḥ śaraiḥ pārthaṃ meghā iva divākaram ॥7-74-44॥
The angry warriors displayed various weapons there, covering Arjuna with arrows like clouds cover the sun.
abhyadravanta vegena kṣatriyāḥ kṣatriyarṣabham। rathasiṃhaṃ rathodārāḥ siṃhaṃ mattā iva dvipāḥ ॥7-74-45॥
The warriors, like intoxicated elephants, charged swiftly at the best among warriors, the lion among charioteers.
tatra pārthasya bhujayormahadbalamadṛśyata। yatkruddho bahulāḥ senāḥ sarvataḥ samavārayat ॥7-74-46॥
There, the immense strength of Arjuna's arms was evident as he, in his fury, held back the numerous armies surrounding him.
astrairastrāṇi saṁvārya dviṣatāṁ sarvato vibhuḥ। iṣubhirbahubhistūrṇaṁ sarvāneva samāvṛṇot ॥7-74-47॥
The omnipresent, having countered the enemies' weapons from all sides with his own, swiftly covered them all with numerous arrows.
tatrāntarikṣe bāṇānāṃ pragāḍhānāṃ viśāṃ pate। saṅgharṣeṇa mahārciṣmānpāvakaḥ samajāyata ॥7-74-48॥
In the sky, O lord of men, a great blazing fire arose from the friction of the deep arrows.
tatra tatra maheṣvāsaiḥ śvasadbhiḥ śoṇitokṣitaiḥ। hayairnāgaiśca sambhinnairnadadbhiścārikarṣaṇaiḥ ॥7-74-49॥
In various places, great archers, breathing heavily and smeared with blood, were seen with horses and elephants, broken and roaring along with charioteers.
saṁrabdhaiś cāribhir vīraiḥ prārthayadbhiḥ jayaṁ mṛdhe। ekasthair bahubhiḥ kruddhair ūṣmaiva samajāyata ॥7-74-50॥
Eager warriors and heroes, united and many, sought victory in battle with anger, and their collective force rose like heat.
śarormiṇaṃ dhvajāvartaṃ nāganakraṃ duratyayam। padātimatsyakalilaṃ śaṅkhadundubhinisvanam ॥7-74-51॥
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.
asaṅkhyeyamapāraṃ ca rajo''bhīlamatīva ca। uṣṇīṣakamaṭhacchannaṃ patākāphenamālinam ॥7-74-52॥
The scene is filled with innumerable and boundless dust, extremely dense, covered with a turban, and adorned with flags and foam garlands.
rathasāgaramakṣobhyaṃ mātaṅgāṅgaśilācitam। velābhūtastadā pārthaḥ patribhiḥ samavārayat ॥7-74-53॥
Arjuna, with his arrows, restrained the unshakable ocean of chariots, which was covered with the bodies of elephants and rocks, thus forming a shore.
tato janārdanaḥ saṅkhye priyaṃ puruṣasattamam। asambhrānto mahābāhurarjunaṃ vākyamabravīt ॥7-74-54॥
Then, in the midst of the battle, Janardana, the mighty-armed and unperturbed, addressed Arjuna, the best of men, with words of affection.
udapānamihāśvānāṃ nālamasti raṇe'rjuna। parīpsante jalaṃ ceme peyaṃ na tvavagāhanam ॥7-74-55॥
Arjuna, in this battle, there is no water-trough for the horses. They desire water to drink, not for immersion.
idamastītyasambhrānto bruvannastreṇa medinīm। abhihatyārjunaścakre vājipānaṃ saraḥ śubham ॥7-74-56॥
Arjuna, unperturbed, declared 'This is it,' and struck the earth with his weapon, creating an auspicious lake for horses to drink from.
śaravaṃśaṃ śarasthūṇaṃ śarācchādanamadbhutam। śaraveśmākarotpārthastvaṣṭevādbhutakarmakṛt ॥7-74-57॥
Arjuna, like the divine architect Tvashta, created a marvelous structure with a fence, pillars, and covering all made of arrows.
tataḥ prahasya govindaḥ sādhu sādhvityathābravīt। śaraveśmani pārthena kṛte tasminmahāraṇe ॥7-74-58॥
Then, with a smile, Govinda praised Partha, saying "Well done, well done," in the great battle where Partha had created an abode of arrows.
