07.097
Dhritarashtra said:
Having crushed the great army, Arjuna, the son of Śini, was advancing. What did your shameless sons do, Sañjaya?
How did these warriors, desiring to die, maintain their courage in battle after witnessing the deeds of Śaineya, comparable to those of Arjuna?
"What will the warriors say when they are defeated in the midst of the army? And how did the greatly renowned Satyaki get overcome in battle?"
Sanjaya, tell me truly how my sons are faring there, and how Satyaki advanced in the battle.
"Dear father, it is truly astonishing to hear from you about the battle where one faces many enemies, indeed by great charioteers."
I believe that it is unfortunate for the sons, as they were slain in battle by the noble Sātvata.
Sanjaya, my army is not enough to face the wrath of Yuyudhana alone. Let all the Pandavas stand together.
Having defeated the skilled and arrogant Droṇa in battle, just as a lion slays herds of animals, the slayer will similarly slay my sons.
Yuyudhāna, despite being accompanied by many heroes like Kṛtavarmā in battle, was unable to kill him, the best among men.
Arjuna did not engage in a battle there like the one fought by the illustrious grandson of Shini.
Sanjaya said:
O King, because of your ill-advised actions and those of Duryodhana, listen carefully to what I am going to tell you, O Bharata.
They returned once more, having united the sworn warriors, with a supreme resolve in battle, following the command of your son.
Three thousand warriors led by Duryodhana, including Śakas, Kāmbojas, Bāhlīkas, Yavanas, and Pāradas.
The Kuṇindas, Taṅgaṇāmbaṣṭhas, Paiśācas, and Samandaras charged at Śaineya with the same recklessness as moths drawn to a flame.
The chariots of the mountain dwellers and the stone warriors, five hundred heroes, O king, advanced towards Shainya.
Then, there were a thousand chariots, a hundred great chariots, a thousand elephants, and two thousand horses.
The great charioteers released various showers of arrows and attacked Śaineya, accompanied by countless infantry.
Duḥśāsana, while urging everyone to kill him, surrounded Sātyaki, O great king Bhārata.
There we witnessed the remarkable feat of Śaineya, who, unperturbed, fought alone against many.
He completely destroyed the entire force of chariots, elephants, horsemen, and all the robbers.
There, the wheels were shattered and broken by mighty weapons, and the axles were broken in many ways with yokes and shafts.
The earth was littered with the remains of battle: crushed humps, fallen flags, armors, and even the immortals.
O Bhārata, the earth was adorned with garlands, ornaments, clothes, and decorations, resembling the sky adorned with planets.
O Bharata, the best elephants, resembling mountains, born in the families of Anjana and Vamana, as well as in the families of Supratika and Mahapadma, have fallen.
In the family of Airāvata and in other families as well, many excellent elephants have been born, O king, and now lie slain.
Satyaki, in that battle, defeated the forest tribes, the mountain people, the Kambojas, the Rattabahlikas, and the finest horses, O king.
The son of Śini, Satyaki, killed hundreds and thousands of soldiers from various regions and castes there.
As the robbers were being destroyed, Duḥśāsana addressed them, urging them to return and fight, questioning why they were fleeing despite their ignorance of righteousness.
Having observed all of them, your son Duḥśāsana urged the stone warriors, the heroic mountain dwellers, to action.
Satyaki, though skilled in stone battles, is unaware of this. Kill this battle enthusiast who is ignorant of stone battles.
In the same way, all the Kurus, who are not experts in stone battle, are attacking. Do not fear, Satyaki will not reach you.
Then, the mountain dwellers, resembling young elephants, stood with stones raised, eager for the death of Yuyudhana.
Others, who were also incited by your son and desired to kill Sātvata, blocked all directions to prevent escape.
As they attacked, desiring to engage in a stone battle, Satyaki aimed and sent thirty arrows.
The best of the Shinis shattered the tumultuous hailstorm sent by the mountain tribes with his serpent-like arrows.
The armies, overwhelmed and in distress, were mostly being killed by those shining stone fragments, resembling swarms of glow-worms, O lord.
Then, O king, five hundred brave warriors, who were holding large rocks, fell to the ground with their arms severed.
The stone warriors killed many thousands of heroes who were striving and standing, and it seemed as if it was a wonder.
Then again, there was a rain of stones all around, accompanied by goat-faced beings, wielding iron and spear hands, along with Daradas and Khaśataṅgaṇas.
The mighty Satyaki, observing, retaliated with arrows against the attacks thrown by the Ambasthas and the Kunindas.
O king, as the mountains were being shattered in the sky by sharp arrows, the sound caused elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers to flee.
The humans and birds, covered with stone-dust, were unable to stand, as if stung by bees.
The blood-stained elephants, with their heads shattered, turned back towards Yuyudhana's chariot on the battlefield, leaving behind those who had been killed.
Then, O great one, a dreadful noise emerged from your forces, akin to the ocean being agitated by Mādhava.
Upon hearing the tumultuous sound, Droṇa addressed his charioteer, saying: "This is the mighty warrior of the Sātvatas, enraged in the battlefield."
He tears apart the army in various ways and moves through the battle like time itself. Charioteer, guide the chariot to where this tumultuous sound is heard.
Yuyudhana has certainly arrived with his stone warriors. As a result, all the charioteers are being swiftly carried away by the fleeing horses.
The wounded, without weapons and armor, fall here and there. The charioteers are unable to control the horses amidst the chaos.
Thus spoke the wise son of Bharadvaja, O king, and then the charioteer replied to Drona, the greatest among the wielders of weapons.
O long-lived one, behold the Kaurava army fleeing in all directions. Observe the warriors scattered in battle, running hither and thither.
The heroes, the Panchalas, along with the Pandavas, are fleeing in all directions, intent on killing you.
"Here, perform your duty at the right time, O subduer of enemies. Whether you stay or go, Satyaki has already gone far."
As Bhāradvāja was speaking in this manner, O gentle one, Śaineya appeared, destroying various chariots.
As they were being slaughtered in battle by Yuyudhana, your soldiers abandoned Yuyudhana's chariot and fled towards Drona's army.
Those by whom Duḥśāsana had previously turned back with chariots, being frightened, all of them ran towards Drona's chariot.
