07.135
Core and Pancharatra: Ashwatthama rebukes Duryodhana for suspecting him and his father. Then he takes on the fears Dhrustadyumna and gains an upper hand.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
duryodhanenaivamukto drauṇirāhavadurmadaḥ। pratyuvāca mahābāho yathā vadāsi kaurava ॥7-135-1॥
Drona's son, arrogant and addressed by Duryodhana, replied, "O mighty-armed one, as you say, Kaurava."
priyā hi pāṇḍavā nityaṃ mama cāpi pituśca me। tathaivāvāṃ priyau teṣāṃ na tu yuddhe kurūdvaha ॥ śaktitastāta yudhyāmastyaktvā prāṇānabhītavat ॥7-135-2॥
The Pandavas are always dear to me and my father. Similarly, we are dear to them, but not in battle, O Kuru leader. We fight to the best of our ability, dear, having abandoned our lives without fear.
ahaṁ karṇaśca śalyaśca kṛpo hārdikya eva ca। nimeṣātpāṇḍavīṁ senāṁ kṣapayema nṛpottama ॥7-135-3॥
I, along with Karṇa, Śalya, Kṛpa, and Hārdikya, can annihilate the Pāṇḍava army in an instant, O greatest of kings.
te cāpi kauravīṃ senāṃ nimeṣārdhātkurūdvaha। kṣapayeyurmahābāho na syāma yadi saṃyuge ॥7-135-4॥
They too, O descendant of Kuru, could annihilate the Kaurava army in an instant, O mighty-armed one, if we were not engaged in battle.
yudhyatāṃ pāṇḍavāñśaktyā teṣāṃ cāsmānyuyutsatām। tejastu teja āsādya praśamaṃ yāti bhārata ॥7-135-5॥
The brilliance of those fighting with the strength of the Pandavas and those desiring to fight us ultimately leads to peace, O Bharata.
aśakyā tarasā jetuṃ pāṇḍavānāmanīkinī। jīvatsu pāṇḍuputreṣu taddhi satyaṃ bravīmi te ॥7-135-6॥
"It is indeed impossible to conquer the army of the Pandavas by force as long as the sons of Pandu are alive. This is the truth I tell you."
ātmārthaṃ yudhyamānāste samarthāḥ pāṇḍunandanāḥ। kimarthaṃ tava sainyāni na haniṣyanti bhārata ॥7-135-7॥
The capable sons of Pandu are fighting for their own purpose. Why would your armies not kill, O Bharata?
tvaṁ hi lubdhatamo rājannikṛtijñaśca kaurava। sarvātiśaṅkī mānī ca tato'smānatiśaṅkase ॥7-135-8॥
"O King Kaurava, you are indeed the greediest and most deceitful, suspicious of everyone and proud, and therefore you suspect us."
ahaṁ tu yatnam āsthāya tvadarthe tyaktajīvitaḥ। eṣa gacchāmi saṅgrāmaṁ tvatkṛte kurunandana ॥7-135-9॥
I am making every effort for your sake, having given up my life. I am going to the battle for you, O joy of the Kurus.
yotsye'haṁ śatrubhiḥ sārdhaṁ jeṣyāmi ca varānvarān। pāñcālaiḥ saha yotsyāmi somakaiḥ kekayaistathā ॥ pāṇḍaveyaiśca saṅgrāme tvatpriyārthamariṁdama ॥7-135-10॥
I will engage in battle with the enemies and conquer the best of them. Alongside the Pāñcālas, I will fight with the Somakas and the Kekayas, and also with the sons of Pandu, all for your sake, O subduer of enemies.
adya madbāṇanirdagdhāḥ pāñcālāḥ somakāstathā। siṃhenevārdhitā gāvo vidraviṣyanti sarvataḥ ॥7-135-11॥
Today, the Panchalas and Somakas, scorched by my arrows, will scatter everywhere like cows chased by a lion.
adya dharmasuto rājā dṛṣṭvā mama parākramam। aśvatthāmamayaṃ lokaṃ maṃsyate saha somakaiḥ ॥7-135-12॥
Today, King Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, upon witnessing my valor, will regard Ashwatthama as the world itself, along with the Somakas.
āgamiṣyati nirvedaṃ dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। dṛṣṭvā vinihatānsankhye pāñcālānsomakaiḥ saha ॥7-135-13॥
Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, will become dispassionate after witnessing the slaughter of the Panchalas and Somakas in the battle.
ye māṁ yuddhe'bhiyotsyanti tān haniṣyāmi bhārata। na hi te vīra mucyeran madbāhvantaramāgatāḥ ॥7-135-14॥
"O Bharata, those who dare to challenge me in battle, I shall slay them. Indeed, once they come within the reach of my arms, those heroes will not escape."
evamuktvā mahābāhuḥ putraṃ duryodhanaṃ tava। abhyavartata yuddhāya drāvayansarvadhanvinaḥ ॥ cikīrṣustava putrāṇāṃ priyaṃ prāṇabhṛtāṃ varaḥ ॥7-135-15॥
Thus, having spoken, the mighty-armed warrior advanced your son Duryodhana to the battlefield, driving away all the archers, with the intent to fulfill the wishes of your sons, the best among living beings.
tato'bravītsakaikeyānpāñcālāngautamīsutaḥ। praharadhvamitaḥ sarve mama gātre mahārathāḥ ॥ sthirībhūtāśca yudhyadhvaṃ darśayanto'stralāghavam ॥7-135-16॥
Then the son of Gautami addressed the Kaikeyas and the Panchalas, urging them to attack from that position, all the great warriors, upon his body. He encouraged them to remain steadfast and demonstrate their skill in weaponry.
evamuktāstu te sarve śastravṛṣṭimapātayan। drauṇiṃ prati mahārāja jalaṃ jaladharā iva ॥7-135-17॥
Having been addressed in this manner, all the warriors unleashed a torrent of weapons upon Aśvatthāmā, resembling clouds pouring down rain, O great king.
tānnihatya śarāndrauṇirdaśa vīrānapothayat। pramukhe pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnasya cābhibho ॥7-135-18॥
Drona's son, having slain them with arrows, crushed ten heroes before the Pandavas and Dhrishtadyumna, O lord.
te hanyamānāḥ samare pāñcālāḥ sṛñjayāstathā। parityajya raṇe drauṇiṃ vyadravanta diśo daśa ॥7-135-19॥
The Panchalas and the Srinjayas, being slaughtered in the battle, abandoned Drona's son and fled in all directions.
tāndṛṣṭvā dravataḥ śūrānpāñcālānsahasomakān। dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja drauṇimabhyadravadyudhi ॥7-135-20॥
Upon seeing the heroic Panchalas and Somakas fleeing, Dhrishtadyumna, O great king, charged at Drona's son in the battle.
tataḥ kāñcanacitrāṇāṃ sajalāmbudanādinām। vṛtaḥ śatena śūrāṇāṃ rathānāmanivartinām ॥7-135-21॥
Then, he was surrounded by a hundred chariots of brave warriors, all golden and echoing like thunderous rain clouds, unwavering in their advance.
putraḥ pāñcālarājasya dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ। drauṇimityabravīdvākyaṃ dṛṣṭvā yodhānnipātitān ॥7-135-22॥
Dhrishtadyumna, the son of the king of Panchala and a great chariot-warrior, addressed Drona's son with these words upon seeing the fallen warriors.
ācāryaputra durbuddhe kimanyairnihatāistava। samāgaccha mayā sārdhaṁ yadi śūro'si saṁyuge ॥ ahaṁ tvāṁ nihaniṣyāmi tiṣṭhedānīṁ mamāgrataḥ ॥7-135-23॥
"Son of the teacher, evil-minded one, why do you let others kill for you? Come and face me if you are truly heroic in battle. I will kill you; stand now before me."
tatastamācāryasutaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān। marmabhidbhiḥ śaraistīkṣṇairjaghāna bharatarṣabha ॥7-135-24॥
Then the powerful Dhṛṣṭadyumna killed the teacher's son with sharp arrows, O best of the Bharatas.
te tu paṅktīkṛtā drauṇiṃ śarā viviśurāśugāḥ। rukmapuṅkhāḥ prasannāgrāḥ sarvakāyāvadāraṇāḥ ॥ madhvarthina ivoddāmā bhramarāḥ puṣpitaṃ drumam ॥7-135-25॥
The swift arrows, arranged in a line, pierced through Drona's son entirely, much like unrestrained bees seeking honey enter a blossoming tree.
so'tividdho bhṛśaṃ kruddhaḥ padākrānta ivoragaḥ। mānī drauṇirasambhrānto bāṇapāṇirabhāṣata ॥7-135-26॥
Deeply wounded and furious, like a serpent trampled underfoot, the proud Ashwatthama, son of Drona, remained calm and spoke with an arrow in his hand.
dhṛṣṭadyumna sthiro bhūtvā muhūrtaṃ pratipālaya। yāvattvāṃ niśitairbāṇaiḥ preṣayāmi yamakṣayam ॥7-135-27॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, stand firm and wait for a moment until I send you to the realm of Yama with my sharp arrows.
drauṇirevamathābhāṣya pārṣataṃ paravīrahā। chādayāmāsa bāṇaughaiḥ samantāllaghuhastavat ॥7-135-28॥
Drona's son, after addressing the son of Prishata, who was a formidable warrior, skillfully enveloped him with a barrage of arrows from every direction, as if he had nimble hands.
sa chādyamānaḥ samare drauṇinā yuddhadurmadaḥ। drauṇiṃ pāñcālatanayo vāgbhirātarjayattadā ॥7-135-29॥
The son of Panchala, though being overwhelmed in battle by Drona's son, arrogantly threatened him with words at that time.
na jānīṣe pratijñāṃ me viprotpattiṃ tathaiva ca। droṇaṃ hatvā kila mayā hantavyastvaṃ sudurmate ॥ tatastvāhaṃ na hanmyadya droṇe jīvati saṃyuge ॥7-135-30॥
You are unaware of my vow and the origin of the Brahmin. Indeed, after killing Drona, you, with your wicked mind, are destined to be killed by me. Therefore, I will not kill you today as long as Drona is alive in the battle.
imāṃ tu rajanīṃ prāptāmaprabhātāṃ sudurmate। nihatya pitaraṃ te'dya tatastvāmapi saṃyuge ॥ neṣyāmi mṛtyulokāyetyevaṃ me manasi sthitam ॥7-135-31॥
This night has come without dawn, O wicked-minded one. Today, after killing your father, I will also send you to the world of the dead in battle. This is my firm resolve.
yaste pārtheṣu vidveṣo yā bhaktiḥ kauraveṣu ca। tāṃ darśaya sthiro bhūtvā na me jīvanvimokṣyase ॥7-135-32॥
Show your hatred towards the sons of Pṛthā and your devotion to the Kauravas, and remain steady, for you will not be released alive by me.
yo hi brāhmaṇyamutṣṛjya kṣatradharmarato dvijaḥ। sa vadhyaḥ sarvalokasya yathā tvaṃ puruṣādhama ॥7-135-33॥
A Brahmin who forsakes his Brahminhood and engages in the duties of a Kshatriya is deserving of death by all people, just as you are, the worst among men.
ityuktaḥ paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ pārṣatena dvijottamaḥ। krodhamāhārayattīvraṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt ॥7-135-34॥
Upon hearing these harsh words from Pārṣata, the revered sage became intensely angry and commanded, "Stay, stay."
nirdahanniva cakṣurbhyāṃ pārṣataṃ so'bhyaivaikṣata। chādayāmāsa ca śarairniḥśvasanpannago yathā ॥7-135-35॥
He gazed at Pārṣata with eyes that seemed to burn, and enveloped him in arrows, breathing heavily like a serpent.
sa chādyamānaḥ samare drauṇinā rājasattama। sarvapāñcālasenābhiḥ saṃvṛto rathasattamaḥ ॥7-135-36॥
In the battle, he was covered by Drona's son and surrounded by all the Panchala forces, O best of kings and charioteers.
nākampata mahābāhuḥ svadhairyaṃ samupāśritaḥ। sāyakāṃścaiva vividhānaśvatthāmni mumoca ha ॥7-135-37॥
The mighty-armed warrior, relying on his own courage, did not waver. He released a variety of arrows at Ashvatthaman.
tau punaḥ saṃnyavartetāṃ prāṇadyūtapare raṇe। nivārayantau bāṇaughaiḥ parasparamamarṣiṇau ॥ utsṛjantau maheṣvāsau śaravṛṣṭīḥ samantataḥ ॥7-135-38॥
The two warriors, once more engaged in the deadly game of battle, turned back, restraining each other with torrents of arrows, intolerant of one another, as they released showers of arrows in every direction, being great archers.
drauṇipārṣatayoryuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayānakam। dṛṣṭvā sampūjayāmāsuḥ siddhacāraṇavātikāḥ ॥7-135-39॥
Upon witnessing the dreadful and fearsome battle between Ashwatthama, the son of Drona, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, the celestial beings, including siddhas, charanas, and vatikas, offered their praises.
śaraughaiḥ pūrayantau tāv ākāśaṃ pradiśas tathā। alakṣyau samayudhyetāṃ mahat kṛtvā śarais tamaḥ ॥7-135-40॥
With showers of arrows, those two warriors filled the sky and all directions, rendering themselves invisible as they engaged in battle, creating an immense darkness with their arrows.
nṛtyamānāv iva raṇe maṇḍalīkṛtakārmukau। parasparavadhe yattau parasparajayaiṣiṇau ॥7-135-41॥
The two warriors, as if dancing in the battlefield with their bows drawn in a circle, were eager to kill each other, each desiring victory over the other.
ayudhyetāṃ mahābāhū citraṃ laghu ca suṣṭhu ca। sampūjyamānau samare yodhamukhyaiḥ sahasraśaḥ ॥7-135-42॥
The mighty-armed warriors fought with great skill and agility, being honored by thousands of chief warriors in battle.
tau prayuddhau raṇe dṛṣṭvā vane vanyau gajāviva। ubhayoḥ senayorharṣastumulaḥ samapadyata ॥7-135-43॥
Upon seeing those two fight in the forest like wild elephants, both armies were filled with tumultuous joy.
siṃhanādaravāścāsandadhmuḥ śaṅkhāṃśca māriṣa। vāditrāṇyabhyavādyanta śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥7-135-44॥
The sounds of lion roars echoed, and conches were blown, O gentle one. Musical instruments played in hundreds and then in thousands, creating a grand symphony.
tasmiṁstu tumule yuddhe bhīrūṇāṁ bhayavardhane। muhūrtamiva tadyuddhaṁ samarūpaṁ tadābhavat ॥7-135-45॥
In that tumultuous battle, which heightened the fear of the timid, for a brief moment, the battle appeared evenly matched.
tato drauṇirmahārāja pārṣatasya mahātmanaḥ। dhvajaṃ dhanustathā chatramubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī ॥ sūtamaśvāṃśca caturo nihatvābhyadravadraṇe ॥7-135-46॥
Then Aśvatthāmā, O great king, destroyed the flag, bow, umbrella, and both the charioteer and horses of the noble son of Pṛṣata, and charged into the battle.
pāñcālāṁścaiva tānsarvānbāṇaiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ। vyadrāvayadameyātmā śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥7-135-47॥
The immeasurable soul scattered all the Panchalas with his arrows, which had curved joints, in hundreds and thousands.
tataḥ pravivyathe senā pāṇḍavī bharatarṣabha। dṛṣṭvā drauṇermahatkarma vāsavasyeva saṃyuge ॥7-135-48॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, the Pandava army was thrown into confusion upon witnessing the mighty feat of Drona's son, akin to that of Indra in battle.
śatena ca śataṃ hatvā pāñcālānāṃ mahārathaḥ। tribhiśca niśitairbāṇairhatvā trīnvai mahārathān ॥7-135-49॥
The great chariot-warrior killed a hundred of the Pāñcālas with a hundred (arrows), and with three sharp arrows, he indeed killed three great chariot-warriors.
drauṇirdrupadaputrasya phalgunasya ca paśyataḥ। nāśayāmāsa pāñcālānbhūyiṣṭhaṃ ye vyavasthitāḥ ॥7-135-50॥
Aśvatthāmā, in the presence of Drupada's son and Arjuna, destroyed most of the Pāñcālas who were positioned there.
te vadhyamānāḥ pāñcālāḥ samare saha sṛñjayaiḥ। agacchandrauṇimutsṛjya viprakīrṇarathadhvajāḥ ॥7-135-51॥
The Panchalas, along with the Srinjayas, were being defeated in battle and retreated towards Drona's son, abandoning their scattered chariot banners.
sa jitvā samare śatrūndroṇaputro mahārathaḥ। nanāda sumahānādaṃ tapānte jalado yathā ॥7-135-52॥
The son of Droṇa, a great charioteer, having conquered his enemies in battle, roared loudly like a cloud at the end of summer.
sa nihatya bahūñśūrānaśvatthāmā vyarocata। yugānte sarvabhūtāni bhasma kṛtveva pāvakaḥ ॥7-135-53॥
Ashwatthama, having killed many warriors, shone brilliantly like a fire that has turned all beings to ashes at the end of an era.
sampūjyamāno yudhi kauraveyai; rvijitya saṅkhye'rigaṇānsahasraśaḥ। vyarocata droṇasutaḥ pratāpavā; nyathā surendro'rigaṇānnihatya ॥7-135-54॥
The valiant son of Drona, honored by the Kauravas in battle, shone brilliantly after conquering thousands of enemy hosts in the battlefield, just as Indra, the king of gods, shines after defeating his foes.
