07.128
Core and Pancharatra: While Duryodhana is successful in his assault initially, the Pandavas led from the front by Yudhisthira start destroying the Kaurava army, especially the great Ghatotkacha.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
तदुदीर्णगजाश्वौघं बलं तव जनाधिप। पाण्डुसेनामभिद्रुत्य योधयामास सर्वतः ॥७-१२८-१॥
Your mighty army, O ruler of men, with its exalted multitude of elephants and horses, attacked Pandu's forces and fought fiercely on all sides.
पाञ्चालाः कुरवश्चैव योधयन्तः परस्परम्। यमराष्ट्राय महते परलोकाय दीक्षिताः ॥७-१२८-२॥
The Panchalas and the Kurus were engaged in battle with each other, consecrated to the great kingdom of Yama, the other world.
शूराः शूरैः समागम्य शरतोमरशक्तिभिः। विव्यधुः समरे तूर्णं निन्युश्चैव यमक्षयम् ॥७-१२८-३॥
The heroes, having gathered with other heroes and armed with arrows, spears, and weapons, swiftly pierced their enemies in battle and sent them to the abode of Yama.
रथिनां रथिभिः सार्धं रुधिरस्रावि दारुणम्। प्रावर्तत महद्युद्धं निघ्नतामितरेतरम् ॥७-१२८-४॥
A fierce and bloody battle began among the charioteers, who fought together, killing one another.
वारणाश्च महाराज समासाद्य परस्परम्। विषाणैर्दारयामासुः सङ्क्रुद्धाश्च मदोत्कटाः ॥७-१२८-५॥
O great king, the elephants, in their rage and intoxication, approached each other and tore apart with their tusks.
हयारोहान्हयारोहाः प्रासशक्तिपरश्वधैः। बिभिदुस्तुमुले युद्धे प्रार्थयन्तो महद्यशः ॥७-१२८-६॥
In the fierce battle, the horsemen attacked their opponents with javelins, spears, and axes, seeking great glory.
पत्तयश्च महाबाहो शतशः शस्त्रपाणयः। अन्योन्यमार्दयन्राजन्नित्ययत्ताः पराक्रमे ॥७-१२८-७॥
O mighty-armed one, the warriors, in their hundreds, armed with weapons, were always ready to hurt each other in battle, O king.
गोत्राणां नामधेयानां कुलानां चैव मारिष। श्रवणाद्धि विजानीमः पाञ्चालान्कुरुभिः सह ॥७-१२८-८॥
O gentle one, we have learned about the names, lineages, and families of the Panchalas along with the Kurus through hearing.
अन्योन्यं समरे योधाः शरशक्तिपरश्वधैः। प्रेषयन्परलोकाय विचरन्तो ह्यभीतवत् ॥७-१२८-९॥
In the battle, the warriors fearlessly engaged with each other, sending their foes to the afterlife with arrows, spears, and axes.
शरैर्दश दिशो राजंस्तेषां मुक्तैः सहस्रशः। न भ्राजन्त यथापूर्वं भास्करेऽस्तं गतेऽपि च ॥७-१२८-१०॥
O king, the ten directions were filled with thousands of arrows released by them. They did not shine as they used to, even after the sun had set.
तथा प्रयुध्यमानेषु पाण्डवेयेषु निर्भयः। दुर्योधनो महाराज व्यवगाहत तद्बलम् ॥७-१२८-११॥
Fearless Duryodhana, amidst the battle with the Pandavas, boldly entered the army, O great king.
सैन्धवस्य वधेनैव भृशं दुःखसमन्वितः। मर्तव्यमिति सञ्चिन्त्य प्राविशत्तु द्विषद्बलम् ॥७-१२८-१२॥
Grieving deeply over the death of Saindhava, he resolved to die and charged into the enemy's forces.
नादयन्रथघोषेण कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम्। अभ्यवर्तत पुत्रस्ते पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् ॥७-१२८-१३॥
Your son advanced towards the Pandavas' army, making a sound with the chariot's noise, as if shaking the earth.
स संनिपातस्तुमुलस्तस्य तेषां च भारत। अभवत्सर्वसैन्यानामभावकरणो महान् ॥७-१२८-१४॥
The tumultuous clash between his and their forces, O Bharata, became the great cause of destruction for all the armies.
मध्यंदिनगतं सूर्यं प्रतपन्तं गभस्तिभिः। तथा तव सुतं मध्ये प्रतपन्तं शरोर्मिभिः ॥७-१२८-१५॥
Just as the sun shines brightly at midday with its rays, so does your son shine in the midst of battle with his arrows.
न शेकुर्भारतं युद्धे पाण्डवाः समवेक्षितुम्। पलायने कृतोत्साहा निरुत्साहा द्विषज्जये ॥७-१२८-१६॥
The Pandavas could not face the Bharata in battle; they were eager to flee and lacked enthusiasm in defeating their enemies.
पर्यधावन्त पाञ्चाला वध्यमाना महात्मना। रुक्मपुङ्खैः प्रसन्नाग्रैस्तव पुत्रेण धन्विना ॥ अर्द्यमानाः शरैस्तूर्णं न्यपतन्पाण्डुसैनिकाः ॥७-१२८-१७॥
The Panchalas, being attacked by the great soul with golden and sharp-pointed arrows by your son, the archer, ran around. The Pandava soldiers, afflicted by the arrows, quickly fell down.
न तादृशं रणे कर्म कृतवन्तस्तु तावकाः। यादृशं कृतवान्राजा पुत्रस्तव विशां पते ॥७-१२८-१८॥
Your men have not accomplished in battle what your son, the king, has achieved, O lord of the people.
पुत्रेण तव सा सेना पाण्डवी मथिता रणे। नलिनी द्विरदेनेव समन्तात्फुल्लपङ्कजा ॥७-१२८-१९॥
Your son's actions in battle caused the Pandava army to be shaken, much like a blooming lotus is disturbed by an elephant.
क्षीणतोयानिलार्काभ्यां हतत्विडिव पद्मिनी। बभूव पाण्डवी सेना तव पुत्रस्य तेजसा ॥७-१२८-२०॥
The brilliance of your son caused the Pandava army to wither like a lotus pond deprived of water, wind, and sunlight.
पाण्डुसेनां हतां दृष्ट्वा तव पुत्रेण भारत। भीमसेनपुरोगास्तु पाञ्चालाः समुपाद्रवन् ॥७-१२८-२१॥
Upon witnessing the destruction of the Pandava army by your son, O Bharata, the Panchalas, led by Bhimasena, launched an attack.
स भीमसेनं दशभिर्माद्रीपुत्रौ त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः। विराटद्रुपदौ षड्भिः शतेन च शिखण्डिनम् ॥७-१२८-२२॥
He attacked Bhimasena with ten arrows, Madri's sons with three each, Virata and Drupada with six, and Shikhandi with a hundred.
धृष्टद्युम्नं च सप्तत्या धर्मपुत्रं च सप्तभिः। केकयांश्चैव चेदींश्च बहुभिर्निशितैः शरैः ॥७-१२८-२३॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, accompanied by seventy warriors, and Dharmaputra, with seven, along with the Kekayas and the Cedis, attacked with numerous sharp arrows.
सात्वतं पञ्चभिर्विद्ध्वा द्रौपदेयांस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः। घटोत्कचं च समरे विद्ध्वा सिंह इवानदत् ॥७-१२८-२४॥
After striking Satyaki with five arrows, the sons of Draupadi with three arrows each, and Ghatotkacha in the battle, he roared like a lion, showcasing his might and valor.
शतशश्चापरान्योधान्सद्विपाश्वरथान्रणे। शरैरवचकर्तोग्रैः क्रुद्धोऽन्तक इव प्रजाः ॥७-१२८-२५॥
In the battle, he, like the god of death, angrily cut down hundreds of other warriors along with their elephants, horses, and chariots using fierce arrows.
तस्य तान्निघ्नतः शत्रून्रुक्मपृष्ठं महद्धनुः। भल्लाभ्यां पाण्डवो ज्येष्ठस्त्रिधा चिच्छेद मारिष ॥७-१२८-२६॥
The eldest Pāṇḍava, with his great gold-backed bow, struck down his enemies, cutting it into three with two arrows, O lord.
विव्याध चैनं दशभिः सम्यगस्तैः शितैः शरैः। मर्माणि भित्त्वा ते सर्वे सम्भग्नाः क्षितिमाविशन् ॥७-१२८-२७॥
He pierced him with ten sharp arrows, and having shattered his vital parts, they all fell to the ground.
ततः प्रमुदिता योधाः परिवव्रुर्युधिष्ठिरम्। वृत्रहत्यै यथा देवाः परिवव्रुः पुरंदरम् ॥७-१२८-२८॥
Then the joyful warriors gathered around Yudhishthira, just as the gods once gathered around Indra after the slaying of Vritra.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा तव पुत्रस्य मारिष। शरं परमदुर्वारं प्रेषयामास संयुगे ॥ स तेन भृशसंविद्धो निषसाद रथोत्तमे ॥७-१२८-२९॥
Then King Yudhishthira, O venerable one, sent a powerful arrow towards your son in the battle, causing him to sit down heavily on his magnificent chariot after being struck.
ततः पाञ्चालसैन्यानां भृशमासीद्रवो महान्। हतो राजेति राजेन्द्र मुदितानां समन्ततः ॥७-१२८-३०॥
Then, O King, there arose a great clamor from the Pāñcāla armies, as the rejoicing ones all around exclaimed, "The king is slain!"
बाणशब्दरवश्चोग्रः शुश्रुवे तत्र मारिष। अथ द्रोणो द्रुतं तत्र प्रत्यदृश्यत संयुगे ॥७-१२८-३१॥
The fierce sound of arrows echoed through the battlefield, O gentle one. Then, Droṇa swiftly appeared on the scene of the battle.
हृष्टो दुर्योधनश्चापि दृढमादाय कार्मुकम्। तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति राजानं ब्रुवन्पाण्डवमभ्ययात् ॥७-१२८-३२॥
Joyful Duryodhana, firmly holding his bow, approached the Pāṇḍava king, challenging him to stand and fight.
प्रत्युद्ययुस्तं त्वरिताः पाञ्चाला राजगृद्धिनः। तान्द्रोणः प्रतिजग्राह परीप्सन्कुरुसत्तमम् ॥ चण्डवातोद्धतान्मेघान्निघ्नन्रश्मिमुचो यथा ॥७-१२८-३३॥
The Panchalas, eager for power, swiftly approached. Drona, intent on safeguarding the Kurus' best, met them like the sun disperses storm-driven clouds.
ततो राजन्महानासीत्सङ्ग्रामो भूरिवर्धनः। तावकानां परेषां च समेतानां युयुत्सया ॥७-१२८-३४॥
Then, O king, a great and glorious battle ensued between your forces and the enemies, both eager for combat.
