07.120
Dhritarashtra said:
In that situation, when Bhūrishravas, the Kaurava, was killed, please narrate to me how the battle resumed, O Sanjaya.
Sanjaya said:
O Bharata, when Bhurishravas had departed to the other world, mighty-armed Arjuna pierced Vasudeva.
"Krishna, urge the horses swiftly towards where King Jayadratha is, for the sun is hastening to set, O mighty-armed one."
O tiger among men, this great task undertaken by me is indeed protected by the great charioteers of the Kuru army.
"O Krishna, just as the sun never sets and words become truth, drive the horses so that I can kill Jayadratha."
Then Krishna, the mighty-armed, drove the silver-like horses towards Jayadratha's chariot.
As he departed with his unfailing arrows, the leaders of the army, hastening like swift rising ones, approached, O great king.
Duryodhana, Karna, Vrishasena, the King of Madra, Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Saindhava were all present.
Arjuna, known as Bibhatsu, approached and stood in front of Jayadratha, his eyes blazing with anger, as if he could burn him with his gaze.
Then King Duryodhana quickly spoke to Karna, observing Arjuna advancing towards Jayadratha's chariot.
This is the time for battle, O son of Vikartana. Show your strength, O great soul, so that Jayadratha is not slain by Arjuna in the battle. Therefore, O Karna, act accordingly.
O hero among men, use the remaining daylight to destroy the enemy with showers of arrows. By the end of the day, O best among men, our victory over Karna is assured.
As the salt is being protected, at the time of sunset, the son of Kunti, who has made a false promise, will enter the fire.
O giver of honor, without Arjuna, his brothers and followers would indeed not be able to survive even for a moment on this earth.
O Karna, we shall enjoy this earth, which has been destroyed by the sons of Pandu and is now devoid of obstacles like mountains and forests.
Arjuna, afflicted by fate and confused, made a vow in battle without knowing what was right or wrong, O giver of honor.
Certainly, it seems that the Pandava with the crown has made this vow for his own destruction, aiming at the killing of Karna and Jayadratha.
Arjuna, the son of Radha, wonders how he can continue to live, O invincible one, when the sun has not yet set, and he must kill the Saindhava king.
Jayadratha was protected by the king of Madra, Kṛpa, and the great soul. How could Arjuna kill him in the battlefield?
Arjuna, driven by time, wonders how he will reach Jayadratha, who is being protected by Drona's son, myself, and Duhshasana.
Many heroes are fighting, and the sun is setting. I fear that Arjuna will not be able to reach Jayadratha, O giver of honor.
Karna, you must join me and other great warriors in battle, making every effort to fight against Arjuna.
Upon being addressed in this manner by your son, O great one, Karna (Radheya) replied to Duryodhana, the foremost of the Kurus, with these words.
The hero Bhimasena, with his firm aim and skill in archery, greatly agitated the enemy in battle with repeated showers of arrows.
"I must stand," I declare, standing firm in the battle now, O giver of honor. Not a single limb of mine trembles, despite being tormented by the arrows of battle.
I will indeed fight with all my might in the battle, O king, so that the chief of the Pandavas will not slay Saindhava.
The hero Savyasachi Dhananjaya, while fighting and shooting sharp arrows, will achieve victory over Saindhava.
"O descendant of Kuru, I shall always perform the duty that is beneficial and within my power. Victory is ultimately determined by divine will."
Today, I will engage in battle with Arjuna, relying on my own strength and courage. For your sake, O great warrior, victory is destined.
Today, O best of the Kurus, let all beings witness the dreadful and hair-raising battle between my side and Arjuna's.
As Karna and the Kauravas were engaged in conversation on the battlefield, Arjuna attacked and decimated your forces with his sharp arrows.
In the battle, he severed the arms of the brave warriors who never retreat, using weapons with sharp points, making them appear like iron clubs and elephant trunks.
The mighty-armed warrior severed heads, trunks of elephants, necks of horses, and wheels of chariots all around using his sharp arrows.
Bibhatsu, with his skill, severed the blood-smeared horse-riders who were holding javelins and lances, cutting each one into two or even three parts with his sharp razors.
Horses, elephants, and their chiefs fell in thousands, along with flags, umbrellas, bows, fans, and heads.
Arjuna, like a forest fire, quickly burned through your army, leaving the earth soaked with blood.
After defeating most of the warriors, the strong and invincible Saindhava, truly powerful, approached your army.
The fearsome warrior, guarded by Bhimasena and Sātvata, appeared radiant, O esteemed Bharata, as if he were a blazing fire.
Seeing him in that position, your valor-approved great archers could not tolerate Arjuna, who is a bull among men.
Duryodhana, Karna, Vrishasena, the King of Madra, Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Saindhava were all present.
Eager to support Saindhava, they surrounded the crowned warrior, who danced along the chariot paths to the sound of bowstrings.
All the fearless and skilled warriors surrounded Arjuna, who was an expert in battle, as if they were facing death itself with an open mouth.
Having placed the salt behind them, they desired to kill Arjuna and Acyuta, wishing for the sunset as the sun reddened.
They stretched their bows with arms resembling the coils of serpents and released hundreds of arrows that shone like the rays of the sun towards Arjuna.
Arjuna, filled with the fervor of battle, skillfully cut down the proud warriors into pieces and pierced them in the battlefield.
The warrior with the lion-tailed banner, demonstrating his own strength, the son of Śāradvatī, halted Arjuna, O king.
He, after striking Arjuna with ten arrows and Krishna with seven, stood firm on the chariot paths, guarding Jayadratha.
Then, the best among the Kauravas, all of them great warriors, surrounded him from every direction with a formidable chariot division.
They stretched their bows and released arrows, protecting the Sindhu prince as commanded by the son.
There, the might of Arjuna's arms was evident, along with the endless supply of arrows from his bow, Gāṇḍiva.
He skillfully countered the weapons of Drona's son and Sharadvata's son, offering each one with nine arrows.
Aśvatthāmā attacked him with twenty-five arrows, Vṛṣasena with seven, Duryodhana with twenty, and Karṇa and Śalya with three each.
They surrounded him from all sides, roaring and piercing repeatedly, while shaking their bows.
The great charioteers, eager for sunset, quickly formed a circle of chariots from all directions, hastening their pace.
They roared and shook their bows, pouring terrible arrows on him like clouds showering water on a mountain.
The heroes, with arms like iron bars, displayed the great divine weapons there on the limbs of Dhananjaya, O king.
After defeating most of the warriors, the mighty one approached your army; it was the invincible Saindhava, known for his true strength.
Karna, in the battle, swiftly blocked the attack with arrows in front of Bhimasena and Satyaki, O King Bharata.
Arjuna, the mighty-armed, struck Karna, the son of a charioteer, with ten arrows in the battlefield as the entire army watched.
Satyaki pierced Karna with three arrows, O great one. Bhimasena also struck with three, and then Arjuna with seven.
Karna, the great chariot-warrior, struck them with sixty arrows repeatedly. O king, that battle involved Karna fighting against many warriors together.
There, O sir, we witnessed an astonishing feat by the charioteer's son: a single enraged warrior in battle encircled three chariots.
Arjuna, known for his mighty arms, attacked Karna, the son of Vikartana, in the battle, hitting him at all vital points with hundreds of arrows.
The valiant son of the charioteer, with his entire body smeared in blood, shot fifty arrows at Arjuna. Witnessing his agility, Arjuna could not bear it in the battle.
Then Arjuna, the heroic Dhananjaya, swiftly cut the bow and pierced him in the chest with nine arrows.
Arjuna, with the intent to kill, swiftly hurled his sun-like shining arrow in the battle at the opportune moment.
Drona's son swiftly cut off the approaching arrow with a sharp crescent-shaped arrow, causing it to fall to the ground.
Then, the valiant Karna, son of a charioteer, took another bow and, with the intent to retaliate, showered Arjuna with countless arrows, demonstrating his prowess as a formidable enemy slayer.
The two warriors, resembling roaring bulls and lion-like men, were great charioteers who filled the sky with a multitude of arrows. Invisible to each other, they continued to strike one another with showers of arrows.
Arjuna and Karna were threatening each other, saying, 'I am Arjuna, stand still, you are Karna, stand still, Phalguna.' In this way, they pierced each other with harsh words.
The two heroes fought in the battle with remarkable speed and skill, becoming a sight to behold in the gathering of all warriors.
O great king, being praised by groups of perfected beings and bards in the battle, they fought each other with the desire to kill.
Then Duryodhana, O King, addressed your men, urging them to be vigilant and protect Radheya, as he would not return without defeating Arjuna in battle, thus spoke the mighty warrior to me.
During this time, O king, witnessing Karna's prowess, he shot arrows that reached the ears, sending Karna's four horses to the realm of death with four supreme arrows.
He shot the charioteer from the chariot with an arrow and covered him with arrows while your son watched.
He was overwhelmed in battle, his horses and charioteer slain, and confused by a barrage of arrows, he could not decide what to do.
Seeing him without a chariot, Ashwatthama, O great king, mounted his own chariot and engaged Arjuna in battle once more.
The King of Madra pierced the son of Kunti with thirty arrows, while Śāradvata attacked Vasudeva with twenty arrows. Dhanañjaya struck with twelve arrows.
Sindhuraja and Vrishasena, with their respective four and seven warriors, separately attacked and pierced Krishna and Arjuna, O great king.
In the same manner, Arjuna, the son of Kunti, attacked and pierced the son of Drona with sixty-four arrows and the king of Madra with a hundred arrows.
Arjuna fiercely attacked Jayadratha with ten arrows, Vṛṣasena with three, and Kṛpa with twenty, and then let out a triumphant roar.
They, wishing to thwart the vow, along with your forces, swiftly advanced towards Arjuna, known as Dhananjaya.
Then Arjuna unleashed a formidable weapon that terrified the sons of Dhritarashtra. In response, the Kauravas moved towards Arjuna, the son of Pandu, with their magnificent chariots, showering him with arrows.
Then, in that tumultuous and dreadful situation, O Bharata, the prince adorned with a crown was not bewildered, having obtained his composure, and continued to release arrows.
Arjuna, desiring the kingdom and recalling the hardships endured over twelve years, released arrows from his Gandiva bow, covering all directions with his immeasurable might.
A blazing meteor appeared in the sky; many birds fell dead. With a tawny bowstring and a crown, the angry warrior kills his enemies with a goat.
The illustrious warrior, adorned with a crown and renowned for his great fame, wielded his bow and arrows to conquer armies. Riding on the finest horses and elephants, he struck down the valiant heroes of the Kuru clan with his arrows.
The kings, armed with heavy maces, iron clubs, axes, and spears, along with great and terrifying weapons, suddenly charged towards Arjuna in the battle.
The great archer heroically turned those agitated forces, complete with chariots, horses, elephants, and infantry, into enhancers of Yama's kingdom, as their weapons and lives were destroyed in battle.
