07.140
Core and Pancharatra: Yudhishthira, setting the goal to kill Drona, leads the Pandava army from the front foot. One on one combat takes place between major warriors of both sides. Yudhishthira pierces the right arm of Kritavarma. Then Kritawarma manages to break the armour of Yudhishthira, making him retreat.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
वर्तमाने तथा रौद्रे रात्रियुद्धे विशां पते। सर्वभूतक्षयकरे धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥७-१४०-१॥
In the ongoing fierce night battle, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma and the lord of men, stands as the destroyer of all beings.
अब्रवीत्पाण्डवांश्चैव पाञ्चालांश्च ससोमकान्। अभ्यद्रवत गच्छध्वं द्रोणमेव जिघांसया ॥७-१४०-२॥
He instructed the Pandavas, Panchalas, and Somakas to advance towards Drona with the intention of killing him.
राज्ञस्ते वचनाद्राजन्पाञ्चालाः सोमकास्तथा। द्रोणमेवाभ्यवर्तन्त नदन्तो भैरवान्रवान् ॥७-१४०-३॥
Upon the king's command, O king, the Panchalas and the Somakas advanced towards Drona, making terrible roaring sounds.
तान्वयं प्रतिगर्जन्तः प्रत्युद्यातास्त्वमर्षिताः। यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं यथासत्त्वं च संयुगे ॥७-१४०-४॥
We, undeterred and roaring back, advanced to meet them with all our strength, enthusiasm, and courage in the battle.
कृतवर्मा च हार्दिक्यो युधिष्ठिरमुपाद्रवत्। द्रोणं प्रति जिघांसन्तं मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम् ॥७-१४०-५॥
Kritavarma and the son of Hridika attacked Yudhishthira, who was moving towards Drona with the intention to kill, like an intoxicated elephant.
शैनेयं शरवर्षाणि विकिरन्तं समन्ततः। अभ्ययात्कौरवो राजन्भूरिः सङ्ग्राममूर्धनि ॥७-१४०-६॥
Bhūri, the Kaurava warrior, advanced towards Śaineya, unleashing a barrage of arrows in every direction at the head of the battle, O king.
सहदेवमथायान्तं द्रोणप्रेप्सुं महारथम्। कर्णो वैकर्तनो राजन्वारयामास पाण्डवम् ॥७-१४०-७॥
Then, as Sahadeva, the great chariot-warrior, approached desiring to reach Drona, Karna, the son of Vikartana, stopped him, O king.
भीमसेनमथायान्तं व्यादितास्यमिवान्तकम्। स्वयं दुर्योधनो युद्धे प्रतीपं मृत्युमाव्रजत् ॥७-१४०-८॥
Then Bhimasena approached like death with his mouth wide open, and Duryodhana himself faced death in the battle.
नकुलं च युधां श्रेष्ठं सर्वयुद्धविशारदम्। शकुनिः सौबलो राजन्वारयामास सत्वरः ॥७-१४०-९॥
Shakuni, the son of Subala, quickly restrained Nakul, who was the best among warriors and an expert in all forms of warfare, O King.
शिखण्डिनमथायान्तं रथेन रथिनां वरम्। कृपो शारद्वतो राजन्वारयामास संयुगे ॥७-१४०-१०॥
Then, O king, Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, halted Shikhandin, the foremost among charioteers, as he approached in his chariot during the battle.
प्रतिविन्ध्यमथायान्तं मयूरसदृशैर्हयैः। दुःशासनो महाराज यत्तो यत्तमवारयत् ॥७-१४०-११॥
Duhshasana, O great king, attentively stopped Prativindhya, who was coming with horses that resembled peacocks.
भैमसेनिमथायान्तं मायाशतविशारदम्। अश्वत्थामा पितुर्मानं कुर्वाणः प्रत्यषेधयत् ॥७-१४०-१२॥
Ashwatthama, in respect for his father, stopped Bhimasena, who was advancing with great skill in numerous illusions.
द्रुपदं वृषसेनस्तु ससैन्यं सपदानुगम्। वारयामास समरे द्रोणप्रेप्सुं महारथम् ॥७-१४०-१३॥
Vṛṣasena, along with his army and followers, intercepted Drupada, who was eager to reach Drona, in the battlefield.
विराटं द्रुतमायान्तं द्रोणस्य निधनं प्रति। मद्रराजः सुसङ्क्रुद्धो वारयामास भारत ॥७-१४०-१४॥
Virata was swiftly approaching the place where Drona had fallen. The king of Madra, in great anger, stopped him, O Bharata.
शतानीकमथायान्तं नाकुलिं रभसं रणे। चित्रसेनो रुरोधाशु शरैर्द्रोणवधेप्सया ॥७-१४०-१५॥
Then Shatanika, the fierce son of Nakula, approached the battlefield, but Citrasena quickly blocked him with arrows, aiming to kill Drona.
अर्जुनं च युधां श्रेष्ठं प्राद्रवन्तं महारथम्। अलम्बुसो महाराज राक्षसेन्द्रो न्यवारयत् ॥७-१४०-१६॥
Arjuna, the best among warriors and a great chariot warrior, was fleeing. However, Alambusa, the king of demons, stopped him, O great king.
तथा द्रोणं महेष्वासं निघ्नन्तं शात्रवान्रणे। धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ पाञ्चाल्यो हृष्टरूपमवारयत् ॥७-१४०-१७॥
In the battle, as Droṇa, the great archer, was slaying his enemies, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the prince of the Pāñcālas, joyfully intervened and stopped him.
तथान्यान्पाण्डुपुत्राणां समायातान्महारथान्। तावका रथिनो राजन्वारयामासुरोजसा ॥७-१४०-१८॥
Thus, O king, your charioteers restrained the other great warriors of the Pandavas who had assembled, with their strength.
गजारोहा गजैस्तूर्णं संनिपत्य महामृधे। योधयन्तः स्म दृश्यन्ते शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥७-१४०-१९॥
The elephant-riders, having quickly assembled with their elephants in the great battle, were seen fighting in hundreds and thousands.
निशीथे तुरगा राजन्नाद्रवन्तः परस्परम्। समदृश्यन्त वेगेन पक्षवन्त इवाद्रयः ॥७-१४०-२०॥
At midnight, O king, the horses ran towards each other with such speed that they seemed like winged mountains.
सादिनः सादिभिः सार्धं प्रासशक्त्यृष्टिपाणयः। समागच्छन्महाराज विनदन्तः पृथक्पृथक् ॥७-१४०-२१॥
The horsemen, along with their riders, approached with javelins, spears, and lances in hand, shouting individually, O great king.
नरास्तु बहवस्तत्र समाजग्मुः परस्परम्। गदाभिर्मुसलैश्चैव नानाशस्त्रैश्च सङ्घशः ॥७-१४०-२२॥
Many men gathered there, confronting each other with maces, pestles, and various weapons in groups.
कृतवर्मा तु हार्दिक्यो धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्। वारयामास सङ्क्रुद्धो वेलेवोद्वृत्तमर्णवम् ॥७-१४०-२३॥
Kritavarma, the son of Hridika, angrily stopped Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, just as the shore holds back the overflowing ocean.
युधिष्ठिरस्तु हार्दिक्यं विद्ध्वा पञ्चभिराशुगैः। पुनर्विव्याध विंशत्या तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥७-१४०-२४॥
Yudhishthira, after striking Hardikya with five swift arrows, struck him again with twenty more and commanded him to "Stay, stay."
कृतवर्मा तु सङ्क्रुद्धो धर्मपुत्रस्य मारिष। धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन तं च विव्याध सप्तभिः ॥७-१४०-२५॥
Kritavarma, in his anger towards the son of Dharma, O lord, severed his bow with an arrow and struck him with seven arrows.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। हार्दिक्यं दशभिर्बाणैर्बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत् ॥७-१४०-२६॥
Then Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, took another bow and shot ten arrows into the arms and chest of Hardikya.
माधवस्तु रणे विद्धो धर्मपुत्रेण मारिष। प्राकम्पत च रोषेण सप्तभिश्चार्दयच्छरैः ॥७-१४०-२७॥
Madhava, though struck in battle by Yudhishthira, trembled with rage and retaliated with seven arrows.
तस्य पार्थो धनुश्छित्त्वा हस्तावापं निकृत्य च। प्राहिणोन्निशितान्बाणान्पञ्च राजञ्शिलाशितान् ॥७-१४०-२८॥
Arjuna cut off his bow and removed the quiver, then sent five sharp arrows that were stone-sharpened, O king.
ते तस्य कवचं भित्त्वा हेमचित्रं महाधनम्। प्राविशन्धरणीमुग्रा वल्मीकमिव पन्नगाः ॥७-१४०-२९॥
They fiercely pierced his golden-adorned armor and entered the earth, like serpents entering an anthill.
अक्ष्णोर्निमेषमात्रेण सोऽन्यदादाय कार्मुकम्। विव्याध पाण्डवं षष्ट्या सूतं च नवभिः शरैः ॥७-१४०-३०॥
In the blink of an eye, he swiftly grabbed another bow and shot sixty arrows at the Pāṇḍava and nine arrows at the charioteer.
तस्य शक्तिममेयात्मा पाण्डवो भुजगोपमाम्। चिक्षेप भरतश्रेष्ठ रथे न्यस्य महद्धनुः ॥७-१४०-३१॥
The son of Pandu, with an immeasurable soul, hurled his spear, which was like a serpent, onto the chariot, O best of the Bharatas, after placing his great bow.
सा हेमचित्रा महती पाण्डवेन प्रवेरिता। निर्भिद्य दक्षिणं बाहुं प्राविशद्धरणीतलम् ॥७-१४०-३२॥
The great golden-colored arrow, launched by Pandava, pierced through the right arm and entered the earth's surface.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु गृह्य पार्थः पुनर्धनुः। हार्दिक्यं छादयामास शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥७-१४०-३३॥
At that moment, Arjuna picked up his bow once more and showered Kritavarma with a barrage of curved arrows.
ततस्तु समरे शूरो वृष्णीनां प्रवरो रथी। व्यश्वसूतरथं चक्रे निमेषार्धाद्युधिष्ठिरम् ॥७-१४०-३४॥
Then, in the battle, the valiant hero, the foremost of the Vṛṣṇis, transformed Yudhiṣṭhira's chariot, making it devoid of horses and charioteer in the blink of an eye.
ततस्तु पाण्डवो ज्येष्ठः खड्गचर्म समाददे। तदस्य निशितैर्बाणैर्व्यधमन्माधवो रणे ॥७-१४०-३५॥
Then the eldest of the Pāṇḍavas took up his sword and shield, but Mādhava pierced it with sharp arrows in the battle.
तोमरं तु ततो गृह्य स्वर्णदण्डं दुरासदम्। प्रेषयत्समरे तूर्णं हार्दिक्यस्य युधिष्ठिरः ॥७-१४०-३६॥
Yudhishthira, taking the formidable spear with a golden shaft, swiftly hurled it in the battle towards Hārdikya.
तमापतन्तं सहसा धर्मराजभुजच्युतम्। द्विधा चिच्छेद हार्दिक्यः कृतहस्तः स्मयन्निव ॥७-१४०-३७॥
Hardikya, with a ready hand and a smile, suddenly cut the approaching figure, who had fallen from Dharmaraja's arm, into two.
ततः शरशतेनाजौ धर्मपुत्रमवाकिरत्। कवचं चास्य सङ्क्रुद्धः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैरदारयत् ॥७-१४०-३८॥
Then, in the battle, he showered hundreds of arrows on Dharmaputra. In his anger, he pierced his armor with sharp arrows.
हार्दिक्यशरसञ्छिन्नं कवचं तन्महात्मनः। व्यशीर्यत रणे राजंस्ताराजालमिवाम्बरात् ॥७-१४०-३९॥
The armor of the great soul was shattered in battle by Hardikya's arrow, resembling a net of stars falling from the sky, O king.
स छिन्नधन्वा विरथः शीर्णवर्मा शरार्दितः। अपायासीद्रणात्तूर्णं धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥७-१४०-४०॥
Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, with his bow broken, chariot lost, armor shattered, and pierced by arrows, quickly retreated from the battlefield.
कृतवर्मा तु निर्जित्य धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्। पुनर्द्रोणस्य जुगुपे चक्रमेव महाबलः ॥७-१४०-४१॥
Kritavarma, after defeating Dharmaputra Yudhishthira, once again protected Drona's wheel, showcasing his great strength.
