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.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
vartamāne tathā yuddhe ghorarūpe bhayāvahe। tamasā saṁvṛte loke rajasā ca mahīpate ॥ nāpaśyanta raṇe yodhāḥ parasparamavasthitāḥ ॥7-138-1॥
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.
anumānena sañjñābhiryuddhaṃ tadvavṛte mahat। naranāgāśvamathanaṃ paramaṃ lomaharṣaṇam ॥7-138-2॥
The great battle, marked by inference and signals, unfolded as a supreme and hair-raising conflict involving men, elephants, and horses.
droṇakarṇakṛpā vīrā bhīmapārṣatasātyakāḥ। anyonyaṃ kṣobhayāmāsuḥ sainyāni nṛpasattama ॥7-138-3॥
Drona, Karna, Kripa, along with the valiant Bhima, Parshata, and Satyaki, stirred each other's forces, O noble king.
vadhyamānāni sainyāni samantāttairmahārathaiḥ। tamasā rajasā caiva samantādvipradudruvuḥ ॥7-138-4॥
The armies, being slaughtered on all sides by the great charioteers, fled in all directions, overwhelmed by darkness and dust.
te sarvato vidravanto yodhā vitrastacetasaḥ। ahanyanta mahārāja dhāvamānāśca saṃyuge ॥7-138-5॥
The warriors, terrified and fleeing in all directions, were being slain in the battle, O great king, even as they ran.
mahārathasahasrāṇi jaghnuranyonyamāhave। andhe tamasi mūḍhāni putrasya tava mantrite ॥7-138-6॥
Thousands of great charioteers fought and killed each other in the battle, blinded by darkness and ignorance, misled by the counsel of your son.
tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāni senāgopāśca bhārata। vyamuhyanta raṇe tatra tamasā saṁvṛte sati ॥7-138-7॥
Then, O Bharata, all the armies and commanders were bewildered in the battle there, as they were enveloped by darkness.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
teṣāṃ saṃloḍyamānānāṃ pāṇḍavairnihataujasām। andhe tamasi magnānāmāsītkā vo matistadā ॥7-138-8॥
When they were being shaken by the Pandavas, their strength destroyed, and were immersed in blind darkness, what was your thought at that time?
kathaṁ prakāśasteṣāṁ vā mama sainyeṣu vā punaḥ। babhūva loke tamasā tathā sañjaya saṁvṛte ॥7-138-9॥
O Sanjaya, how did it happen that either their light or my armies were once again enveloped in darkness in the world?
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāṇi hataśiṣṭāṇi yāni vai। senāgoptr̥nathādiśya punarvyūhamakalpayat ॥7-138-10॥
Then, he instructed the army protectors and reorganized the formation with all the remaining forces.
droṇaḥ purastājjaghane tu śalya; stathā drauṇiḥ pārśvataḥ saubalaśca। svayaṃ tu sarvāṇi balāni rāja; nrājābhyayādgopayanvai niśāyām ॥7-138-11॥
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.
uvāca sarvāṁśca padātisaṅghā; nduryodhanaḥ pārthiva sāntvapūrvam। utsṛjya sarve paramāyudhāni; gṛhṇīta hastairjvalitānpradīpān ॥7-138-12॥
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.
te coditāḥ pārthivasattamena; tataḥ prahṛṣṭā jagṛhuḥ pradīpān। sā bhūya eva dhvajinī vibhaktā; vyarocatāgniprabhayā niśāyām ॥7-138-13॥
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.
mahādhanairābharaṇaiśca divyaiḥ; śastraiḥ pradīptairabhisampatadbhiḥ। kṣaṇena sarve vihitāḥ pradīpā; vyadīpayaṃśca dhvajinīṃ tadāśu ॥7-138-14॥
In a moment, all the divine ornaments and shining weapons, along with great wealth, were arranged and illuminated the army quickly.
sarvāstu senā vyatisevyamānāḥ; padātibhiḥ pāvakatailahastaiḥ। prakāśyamānā dadṛśurniśāyāṃ; yathāntarikṣe jaladāstaḍidbhiḥ ॥7-138-15॥
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.
prakāśitāyāṃ tu tathā dhvajinyāṃ; droṇo'gnikalpaḥ pratapansamantāt। rarāja rājendra suvarṇavarmā; madhyaṃ gataḥ sūrya ivāṃśumālī ॥7-138-16॥
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.
jāmbūnadeṣvābharaṇeṣu caiva; niṣkeṣu śuddheṣu śarāvareṣu। pīteṣu śastreṣu ca pāvakasya; pratiprabhāstatra tato babhūvuḥ ॥7-138-17॥
The ornaments, made of pure gold and other materials, shone brightly like fire, and everything there became resplendent.
gadāś ca śaikyāḥ parighāś ca śubhrā; ratheṣu śaktyaś ca vivartamānāḥ। pratiprabhā raśmibhir ājamīḍha; punaḥ punaḥ sañjanayanti dīptāḥ ॥7-138-18॥
The maces and clubs made of iron, along with bright spears moving around on the chariots, shine with rays, O king, repeatedly producing brilliance.
chatrāṇi bālavayajanānuṣaṅgā; dīptā maholkāśca tathaiva rājan। vyāghūrṇamānāśca suvarṇamālā; vyāyacchatāṃ tatra tadā virejuḥ ॥7-138-19॥
O king, there were umbrellas with fans, shining torches, and swinging golden garlands being spread, all of which shone brightly.
śastraprabhābhiśca virājamānaṃ; dīpaprabhābhiśca tadā balaṃ tat। prakāśitaṃ cābharaṇaprabhābhi; rbhr̥śaṃ prakāśaṃ nṛpate babhūva ॥7-138-20॥
The strength, adorned with the radiance of weapons and lamps, shone brightly, and with the brilliance of ornaments, it became greatly luminous, O king.
pītāni śastrāṇyasṛgukṣitāni; vīrāvadhūtāni tanudruhāṇi। dīptāṃ prabhāṃ prājanayanta tatra; tapātyaye vidyudivāntarikṣe ॥7-138-21॥
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.
prakampitānāmabhighātavegai; rabhighnatāṃ cāpatatāṃ javena। vaktrāṇyaśobhanta tadā narāṇāṃ; vāyvīritānīva mahāmbujāni ॥7-138-22॥
The faces of the men, shaken by the force of the impact and swiftly falling, shone like great lotuses swayed by the wind.
mahāvane dāva iva pradīpte; yathā prabhā bhāskarasya api naśyet। tathā tava āsīt dhvajinī pradīptā; mahābhaye bhārata bhīmarūpā ॥7-138-23॥
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.
tatsampradīptaṃ balamasmadīyaṃ; niśāmya pārthāstvaritāstathaiva। sarveṣu sainyeṣu padātisaṅghā; nacodayaṃste'tha cakruḥ pradīpān ॥7-138-24॥
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.
gaje gaje sapta kṛtāḥ pradīpā; rathe rathe caiva daśa pradīpāḥ। dvāvaśvapṛṣṭhe paripārśvato'nye; dhvajeṣu cānye jaghaneṣu cānye ॥7-138-25॥
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.
senāsu sarvāsu ca pārśvato'nye; paścātpurastācca samantataśca। madhye tathānye jvalitāgnihastāḥ; senādvaye'pi sma narā viceruḥ ॥7-138-26॥
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.
sarveṣu sainyeṣu padātisaṅghā; vyāmiśritā hastirathāśvavṛndaiḥ। madhye tathānye jvalitāgnihastā; vyadīpayantpāṇḍusutasya senām ॥7-138-27॥
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.
tena pradīptena tathā pradīptaṁ; balaṁ tadāsīdbalavadbalena। bhāḥ kurvatā bhānumatā graheṇa; divākareṇāgnirivābhitaptaḥ ॥7-138-28॥
The strength was intensely illuminated by the sun and the planet, akin to being burned by fire.
tayoḥ prabhāḥ pṛthivīmantariikṣaṁ; sarvā vyatikramya diśaśca vṛddhāḥ। tena prakāśena bhṛśaṁ prakāśaṁ; babhūva teṣāṁ tava caiva sainyam ॥7-138-29॥
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.
tena prakāśena divaṅgamena; sambodhitā devagaṇāśca rājan। gandharvayakṣāsurasiddhasaṅghāḥ; samāgamannapsarasaśca sarvāḥ ॥7-138-30॥
By that celestial light, the gods were addressed, O king. Assemblies of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, and Siddhas gathered, and all the Apsaras came together.
taddevagandharvasamākulaṃ ca; yakṣāsurendrāpsarasāṃ gaṇaiśca। hataiśca vīrairdivamāruhadbhi; rāyodhanaṃ divyakalpaṃ babhūva ॥7-138-31॥
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.
rathāśvanāgākuladīpadīptaṁ; saṁrabdhayodhāhatavidrutāśvam। mahadbalam vyūḍharathāśvanāgaṁ; surāsuravyūhasamaṁ babhūva ॥7-138-32॥
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.
tacchaktisaṅghākulacaṇḍavātaṁ; mahārathābhraṁ rathavājighoṣam। śastraughavarṣaṁ rudhirāmbudhāraṁ; niśi pravṛttaṁ naradevayuddham ॥7-138-33॥
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.
tasminmahāgnipratimo mahātmā; santāpayanpāṇḍavānvipramukhyaḥ। gabhastibhirmadhyagato yathārko; varṣātyaye tadvadabhūnnarendra ॥7-138-34॥
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.
