07.138
Core and Pancharatra: In the pitch darkness, after Duryodhana takes the lead, both the armies light lamps and the fighting continues with the help of the lighted lamps.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
वर्तमाने तथा युद्धे घोररूपे भयावहे। तमसा संवृते लोके रजसा च महीपते ॥ नापश्यन्त रणे योधाः परस्परमवस्थिताः ॥७-१३८-१॥
In the current battle, which is terrifying and dreadful, shrouded in darkness and dust, O king, the warriors could not see each other standing on the battlefield.
अनुमानेन सञ्ज्ञाभिर्युद्धं तद्ववृते महत्। नरनागाश्वमथनं परमं लोमहर्षणम् ॥७-१३८-२॥
The great battle, marked by inference and signals, unfolded as a supreme and hair-raising conflict involving men, elephants, and horses.
द्रोणकर्णकृपा वीरा भीमपार्षतसात्यकाः। अन्योन्यं क्षोभयामासुः सैन्यानि नृपसत्तम ॥७-१३८-३॥
Drona, Karna, Kripa, along with the valiant Bhima, Parshata, and Satyaki, stirred each other's forces, O noble king.
वध्यमानानि सैन्यानि समन्तात्तैर्महारथैः। तमसा रजसा चैव समन्ताद्विप्रदुद्रुवुः ॥७-१३८-४॥
The armies, being slaughtered on all sides by the great charioteers, fled in all directions, overwhelmed by darkness and dust.
ते सर्वतो विद्रवन्तो योधा वित्रस्तचेतसः। अहन्यन्त महाराज धावमानाश्च संयुगे ॥७-१३८-५॥
The warriors, terrified and fleeing in all directions, were being slain in the battle, O great king, even as they ran.
महारथसहस्राणि जघ्नुरन्योन्यमाहवे। अन्धे तमसि मूढानि पुत्रस्य तव मन्त्रिते ॥७-१३८-६॥
Thousands of great charioteers fought and killed each other in the battle, blinded by darkness and ignorance, misled by the counsel of your son.
ततः सर्वाणि सैन्यानि सेनागोपाश्च भारत। व्यमुह्यन्त रणे तत्र तमसा संवृते सति ॥७-१३८-७॥
Then, O Bharata, all the armies and commanders were bewildered in the battle there, as they were enveloped by darkness.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
तेषां संलोड्यमानानां पाण्डवैर्निहतौजसाम्। अन्धे तमसि मग्नानामासीत्का वो मतिस्तदा ॥७-१३८-८॥
When they were being shaken by the Pandavas, their strength destroyed, and were immersed in blind darkness, what was your thought at that time?
कथं प्रकाशस्तेषां वा मम सैन्येषु वा पुनः। बभूव लोके तमसा तथा सञ्जय संवृते ॥७-१३८-९॥
O Sanjaya, how did it happen that either their light or my armies were once again enveloped in darkness in the world?
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
ततः सर्वाणि सैन्यानि हतशिष्टानि यानि वै। सेनागोप्तॄनथादिश्य पुनर्व्यूहमकल्पयत् ॥७-१३८-१०॥
Then, he instructed the army protectors and reorganized the formation with all the remaining forces.
द्रोणः पुरस्ताज्जघने तु शल्य; स्तथा द्रौणिः पार्श्वतः सौबलश्च। स्वयं तु सर्वाणि बलानि राज; न्राजाभ्ययाद्गोपयन्वै निशायाम् ॥७-१३८-११॥
Drona was positioned at the front, Shalya at the rear; similarly, Drauni was on the side along with Saubala. The king himself approached all the forces, ensuring their protection during the night.
उवाच सर्वांश्च पदातिसङ्घा; न्दुर्योधनः पार्थिव सान्त्वपूर्वम्। उत्सृज्य सर्वे परमायुधानि; गृह्णीत हस्तैर्ज्वलितान्प्रदीपान् ॥७-१३८-१२॥
King Duryodhana addressed all the infantry groups with a conciliatory tone, instructing them to lay down their supreme weapons and instead take up burning lamps in their hands.
ते चोदिताः पार्थिवसत्तमेन; ततः प्रहृष्टा जगृहुः प्रदीपान्। सा भूय एव ध्वजिनी विभक्ता; व्यरोचताग्निप्रभया निशायाम् ॥७-१३८-१३॥
Urged by the best of kings, they joyfully took up lamps. The army, once again divided, shone brightly with the light of fire during the night.
महाधनैराभरणैश्च दिव्यैः; शस्त्रैः प्रदीप्तैरभिसम्पतद्भिः। क्षणेन सर्वे विहिताः प्रदीपा; व्यदीपयंश्च ध्वजिनीं तदाशु ॥७-१३८-१४॥
In a moment, all the divine ornaments and shining weapons, along with great wealth, were arranged and illuminated the army quickly.
सर्वास्तु सेना व्यतिसेव्यमानाः; पदातिभिः पावकतैलहस्तैः। प्रकाश्यमाना ददृशुर्निशायां; यथान्तरिक्षे जलदास्तडिद्भिः ॥७-१३८-१५॥
All the armies were surrounded by foot soldiers carrying fire-oil in their hands, illuminating the night like clouds lit by lightning in the sky.
प्रकाशितायां तु तथा ध्वजिन्यां; द्रोणोऽग्निकल्पः प्रतपन्समन्तात्। रराज राजेन्द्र सुवर्णवर्मा; मध्यं गतः सूर्य इवांशुमाली ॥७-१३८-१६॥
In the illuminated army, Drona, blazing fiercely like a fire, shone brightly, O king, like the radiant sun in the midst with his golden armor.
जाम्बूनदेष्वाभरणेषु चैव; निष्केषु शुद्धेषु शरावरेषु। पीतेषु शस्त्रेषु च पावकस्य; प्रतिप्रभास्तत्र ततो बभूवुः ॥७-१३८-१७॥
The ornaments, made of pure gold and other materials, shone brightly like fire, and everything there became resplendent.
गदाश्च शैक्याः परिघाश्च शुभ्रा; रथेषु शक्त्यश्च विवर्तमानाः। प्रतिप्रभा रश्मिभिराजमीढ; पुनः पुनः सञ्जनयन्ति दीप्ताः ॥७-१३८-१८॥
The maces and clubs made of iron, along with bright spears moving around on the chariots, shine with rays, O king, repeatedly producing brilliance.
छत्राणि बालव्यजनानुषङ्गा; दीप्ता महोल्काश्च तथैव राजन्। व्याघूर्णमानाश्च सुवर्णमाला; व्यायच्छतां तत्र तदा विरेजुः ॥७-१३८-१९॥
O king, there were umbrellas with fans, shining torches, and swinging golden garlands being spread, all of which shone brightly.
शस्त्रप्रभाभिश्च विराजमानं; दीपप्रभाभिश्च तदा बलं तत्। प्रकाशितं चाभरणप्रभाभि; र्भृशं प्रकाशं नृपते बभूव ॥७-१३८-२०॥
The strength, adorned with the radiance of weapons and lamps, shone brightly, and with the brilliance of ornaments, it became greatly luminous, O king.
पीतानि शस्त्राण्यसृगुक्षितानि; वीरावधूतानि तनुद्रुहाणि। दीप्तां प्रभां प्राजनयन्त तत्र; तपात्यये विद्युदिवान्तरिक्षे ॥७-१३८-२१॥
The blood-smeared, yellowed weapons, shaken by heroes and destructive to bodies, emitted a brilliant light there, resembling lightning in the sky at the end of the heat.
प्रकम्पितानामभिघातवेगै; रभिघ्नतां चापततां जवेन। वक्त्राण्यशोभन्त तदा नराणां; वाय्वीरितानीव महाम्बुजानि ॥७-१३८-२२॥
The faces of the men, shaken by the force of the impact and swiftly falling, shone like great lotuses swayed by the wind.
महावने दाव इव प्रदीप्ते; यथा प्रभा भास्करस्यापि नश्येत्। तथा तवासीद्ध्वजिनी प्रदीप्ता; महाभये भारत भीमरूपा ॥७-१३८-२३॥
In the great forest, like a blazing forest fire, even the light of the sun would disappear. Similarly, your army was blazing, O Bharata, in great fear, taking on a terrifying form.
तत्सम्प्रदीप्तं बलमस्मदीयं; निशाम्य पार्थास्त्वरितास्तथैव। सर्वेषु सैन्येषु पदातिसङ्घा; नचोदयंस्तेऽथ चक्रुः प्रदीपान् ॥७-१३८-२४॥
Upon hearing of our blazing strength, the sons of Pritha hurriedly responded in kind. In all the armies, the infantry groups did not advance, but then they lit the lamps.
गजे गजे सप्त कृताः प्रदीपा; रथे रथे चैव दश प्रदीपाः। द्वावश्वपृष्ठे परिपार्श्वतोऽन्ये; ध्वजेषु चान्ये जघनेषु चान्ये ॥७-१३८-२५॥
Seven lamps are placed on each elephant, and ten on each chariot. Two lamps are on the horse's back, others on the sides, and some on the flags and rear.
सेनासु सर्वासु च पार्श्वतोऽन्ये; पश्चात्पुरस्ताच्च समन्ततश्च। मध्ये तथान्ये ज्वलिताग्निहस्ताः; सेनाद्वयेऽपि स्म नरा विचेरुः ॥७-१३८-२६॥
In all the armies, there were others on the sides, behind, in front, and all around. In the middle, others with blazing fire in their hands moved among both armies.
सर्वेषु सैन्येषु पदातिसङ्घा; व्यामिश्रिता हस्तिरथाश्ववृन्दैः। मध्ये तथान्ये ज्वलिताग्निहस्ता; व्यदीपयन्पाण्डुसुतस्य सेनाम् ॥७-१३८-२७॥
In all the armies, the infantry groups were mixed with elephants, chariots, and horse groups. In the middle, others with blazing fire in their hands illuminated the army of the son of Pandu.
तेन प्रदीप्तेन तथा प्रदीप्तं; बलं तदासीद्बलवद्बलेन। भाः कुर्वता भानुमता ग्रहेण; दिवाकरेणाग्निरिवाभितप्तः ॥७-१३८-२८॥
The strength was intensely illuminated by the sun and the planet, akin to being burned by fire.
तयोः प्रभाः पृथिवीमन्तरिक्षं; सर्वा व्यतिक्रम्य दिशश्च वृद्धाः। तेन प्रकाशेन भृशं प्रकाशं; बभूव तेषां तव चैव सैन्यम् ॥७-१३८-२९॥
The lights of those two spread across the earth, sky, and all directions, growing in intensity. By that brilliance, both their army and yours shone brightly.
तेन प्रकाशेन दिवङ्गमेन; सम्बोधिता देवगणाश्च राजन्। गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घाः; समागमन्नप्सरसश्च सर्वाः ॥७-१३८-३०॥
By that celestial light, the gods were addressed, O king. Assemblies of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, and Siddhas gathered, and all the Apsaras came together.
तद्देवगन्धर्वसमाकुलं च; यक्षासुरेन्द्राप्सरसां गणैश्च। हतैश्च वीरैर्दिवमारुहद्भि; रायोधनं दिव्यकल्पं बभूव ॥७-१३८-३१॥
The scene was filled with gods, celestial musicians, yakshas, demons, Indra, and apsaras, and as the slain heroes ascended to heaven, it transformed into a divine battlefield.
रथाश्वनागाकुलदीपदीप्तं; संरब्धयोधाहतविद्रुताश्वम्। महद्बलं व्यूढरथाश्वनागं; सुरासुरव्यूहसमं बभूव ॥७-१३८-३२॥
The great army, filled with chariots, horses, and elephants, shone brightly. The excited warriors and the struck, fleeing horses made it resemble the formations of gods and demons.
तच्छक्तिसङ्घाकुलचण्डवातं; महारथाभ्रं रथवाजिघोषम्। शस्त्रौघवर्षं रुधिराम्बुधारं; निशि प्रवृत्तं नरदेवयुद्धम् ॥७-१३८-३३॥
In the night, the fierce wind filled with groups of powers, the great chariot cloud, and the sound of chariot horses marked the commencement of the battle of kings, with a rain of weapon floods and streams of blood.
तस्मिन्महाग्निप्रतिमो महात्मा; सन्तापयन्पाण्डवान्विप्रमुख्यः। गभस्तिभिर्मध्यगतो यथार्को; वर्षात्यये तद्वदभून्नरेन्द्र ॥७-१३८-३४॥
In that situation, the great soul, resembling a great fire, tormented the Pandavas. Like the sun situated in the middle with its rays at the end of the rainy season, the king emerged similarly.
