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.
Sanjaya said:
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.
The Panchalas and the Kurus were engaged in battle with each other, consecrated to the great kingdom of Yama, the other world.
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.
A fierce and bloody battle began among the charioteers, who fought together, killing one another.
O great king, the elephants, in their rage and intoxication, approached each other and tore apart with their tusks.
In the fierce battle, the horsemen attacked their opponents with javelins, spears, and axes, seeking great glory.
O mighty-armed one, the warriors, in their hundreds, armed with weapons, were always ready to hurt each other in battle, O king.
O gentle one, we have learned about the names, lineages, and families of the Panchalas along with the Kurus through hearing.
In the battle, the warriors fearlessly engaged with each other, sending their foes to the afterlife with arrows, spears, and axes.
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.
Fearless Duryodhana, amidst the battle with the Pandavas, boldly entered the army, O great king.
Grieving deeply over the death of Saindhava, he resolved to die and charged into the enemy's forces.
Your son advanced towards the Pandavas' army, making a sound with the chariot's noise, as if shaking the earth.
The tumultuous clash between his and their forces, O Bharata, became the great cause of destruction for all the armies.
Just as the sun shines brightly at midday with its rays, so does your son shine in the midst of battle with his arrows.
The Pandavas could not face the Bharata in battle; they were eager to flee and lacked enthusiasm in defeating their enemies.
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.
Your men have not accomplished in battle what your son, the king, has achieved, O lord of the people.
Your son's actions in battle caused the Pandava army to be shaken, much like a blooming lotus is disturbed by an elephant.
The brilliance of your son caused the Pandava army to wither like a lotus pond deprived of water, wind, and sunlight.
Upon witnessing the destruction of the Pandava army by your son, O Bharata, the Panchalas, led by Bhimasena, launched an attack.
He attacked Bhimasena with ten arrows, Madri's sons with three each, Virata and Drupada with six, and Shikhandi with a hundred.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, accompanied by seventy warriors, and Dharmaputra, with seven, along with the Kekayas and the Cedis, attacked with numerous sharp arrows.
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.
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.
The eldest Pāṇḍava, with his great gold-backed bow, struck down his enemies, cutting it into three with two arrows, O lord.
He pierced him with ten sharp arrows, and having shattered his vital parts, they all fell to the ground.
Then the joyful warriors gathered around Yudhishthira, just as the gods once gathered around Indra after the slaying of Vritra.
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.
Then, O King, there arose a great clamor from the Pāñcāla armies, as the rejoicing ones all around exclaimed, "The king is slain!"
The fierce sound of arrows echoed through the battlefield, O gentle one. Then, Droṇa swiftly appeared on the scene of the battle.
Joyful Duryodhana, firmly holding his bow, approached the Pāṇḍava king, challenging him to stand and fight.
The Panchalas, eager for power, swiftly approached. Drona, intent on safeguarding the Kurus' best, met them like the sun disperses storm-driven clouds.
Then, O king, a great and glorious battle ensued between your forces and the enemies, both eager for combat.
