07.142
Pancharatra and Core: In the encounter between Sahadeva and Karna, Sahadeva is allowed to escape from Karna because of the promise given to Kunti. But Karna insults Sahadeva with harsh words. Battle begins between Shalya and Virata. Shalya kills Virata's brother Shatānīka. Facing defeat, Virata retreats. When Arjuna rallies the retreating Pandava army, demon Alambusa fights him, but in vain.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
सहदेवमथायान्तं द्रोणप्रेप्सुं विशां पते। कर्णो वैकर्तनो युद्धे वारयामास भारत ॥७-१४२-१॥
Then, as Sahadeva approached with the desire to confront Drona, Karna, the son of Vikartana, intercepted him in battle, O Bharata.
सहदेवस्तु राधेयं विद्ध्वा नवभिराशुगैः। पुनर्विव्याध दशभिर्निशितैर्नतपर्वभिः ॥७-१४२-२॥
Sahadeva, however, struck Radheya with nine swift arrows and then again pierced him with ten sharp, bent-jointed arrows.
तं कर्णः प्रतिविव्याध शतेन नतपर्वणाम्। सज्यं चास्य धनुः शीघ्रं चिच्छेद लघुहस्तवत् ॥७-१४२-३॥
Karna attacked him with a hundred arrows that had bent joints, and swiftly severed his strung bow as if he had a light hand.
ततोऽन्यद्धनुरादाय माद्रीपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। कर्णं विव्याध विंशत्या तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥७-१४२-४॥
Then, the valiant son of Mādri took another bow and pierced Karna with twenty arrows, which seemed quite astonishing.
तस्य कर्णो हयान्हत्वा शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन द्रुतं निन्ये यमक्षयम् ॥७-१४२-५॥
Karṇa, after slaying the horses with his curved arrows, swiftly dispatched the charioteer to the realm of Yama with a sharp arrow.
विरथः सहदेवस्तु खड्गं चर्म समाददे। तदप्यस्य शरैः कर्णो व्यधमत्प्रहसन्निव ॥७-१४२-६॥
Sahadeva, having lost his chariot, armed himself with a sword and shield. However, Karna, with a smile, shot arrows that pierced him.
ततो गुर्वीं महाघोरां हेमचित्रां महागदाम्। प्रेषयामास समरे वैकर्तनरथं प्रति ॥७-१४२-७॥
Then he hurled the massive, fearsome, gold-embellished mace at Karna's chariot during the battle.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा सहदेवप्रवेरिताम्। व्यष्टम्भयच्छरैः कर्णो भूमौ चैनामपातयत् ॥७-१४२-८॥
Karna, with his arrows, suddenly stopped her advance, who was sent by Sahadeva, and brought her down to the ground.
गदां विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा सहदेवस्त्वरान्वितः। शक्तिं चिक्षेप कर्णाय तामप्यस्याच्छिनच्छरैः ॥७-१४२-९॥
Upon witnessing the destruction of the mace, Sahadeva swiftly threw a spear at Karna, but Karna managed to cut it off with his arrows.
ससम्भ्रमस्ततस्तूर्णमवप्लुत्य रथोत्तमात्। सहदेवो महाराज दृष्ट्वा कर्णं व्यवस्थितम् ॥ रथचक्रं ततो गृह्य मुमोचाधिरथिं प्रति ॥७-१४२-१०॥
With great agitation, Sahadeva quickly jumped down from the excellent chariot. O great king, having seen Karna standing, he grabbed the chariot wheel and released it towards Adhiratha.
तमापतन्तं सहसा कालचक्रमिवोद्यतम्। शरैरनेकसाहस्रैरच्छिनत्सूतनन्दनः ॥७-१४२-११॥
The son of Suta swiftly intercepted the approaching figure, likened to the raised wheel of time, with a barrage of thousands of arrows.
तस्मिंस्तु वितथे चक्रे कृते तेन महात्मना। वार्यमाणश्च विशिखैः सहदेवो रणं जहौ ॥७-१४२-१२॥
In the false plan devised by the great soul, Sahadeva, obstructed by arrows, withdrew from the battle.
तमभिद्रुत्य राधेयो मुहूर्ताद्भरतर्षभ। अब्रवीत्प्रहसन्वाक्यं सहदेवं विशां पते ॥७-१४२-१३॥
Karna, after approaching him and waiting for a moment, spoke with a smile to Sahadeva, addressing him as the best of the Bharatas and lord of the people.
मा युध्यस्व रणे वीर विशिष्टै रथिभिः सह। सदृशैर्युध्य माद्रेय वचो मे मा विशङ्किथाः ॥७-१४२-१४॥
Do not engage in battle with those who are superior, O hero. Fight with those who are your equals, O son of Madri. Trust in my words and do not doubt them.
अथैनं धनुषोऽग्रेण तुदन्भूयोऽब्रवीद्वचः। एषोऽर्जुनो रणे यत्तो युध्यते कुरुभिः सह ॥ तत्र गच्छस्व माद्रेय गृहं वा यदि मन्यसे ॥७-१४२-१५॥
Then, piercing him with the tip of the bow, he spoke again: "This is Arjuna, engaged in battle, fighting alongside the Kauravas. Go there, O son of Madri, or go home if you wish."
एवमुक्त्वा तु तं कर्णो रथेन रथिनां वरः। प्रायात्पाञ्चालपाण्डूनां सैन्यानि प्रहसन्निव ॥७-१४२-१६॥
After speaking thus, Karna, the greatest among charioteers, left with a smile towards the armies of the Panchalas and Pandavas.
वधप्राप्तं तु माद्रेयं नावधीत्समरेऽरिहा। कुन्त्याः स्मृत्वा वचो राजन्सत्यसन्धो महारथः ॥७-१४२-१७॥
O king, the great charioteer, true to his promise, did not kill the son of Madri, who was destined to be killed, in battle, remembering the words of Kunti.
सहदेवस्ततो राजन्विमनाः शरपीडितः। कर्णवाक्षल्यतप्तश्च जीवितान्निरविद्यत ॥७-१४२-१८॥
Sahadeva, feeling distressed and tormented by the arrows and harsh words of Karna, became disillusioned with life, O King.
आरुरोह रथं चापि पाञ्चाल्यस्य महात्मनः। जनमेजयस्य समरे त्वरायुक्तो महारथः ॥७-१४२-१९॥
The great chariot-warrior, with speed, ascended the chariot of the noble son of Pāñcāla, Janamejaya, in the battle.
विराटं सहसेनं तु द्रोणार्थे द्रुतमागतम्। मद्रराजः शरौघेण छादयामास धन्विनम् ॥७-१४२-२०॥
Virata, along with his army, quickly arrived for Drona. However, the king of Madra covered the archer with a shower of arrows.
तयोः समभवद्युद्धं समरे दृढधन्विनोः। यादृशं ह्यभवद्राजञ्जम्भवासवयोः पुरा ॥७-१४२-२१॥
A battle took place between the strong archers, just as it had happened in the past between Jambha and Indra, O king.
मद्रराजो महाराज विराटं वाहिनीपतिम्। आजघ्ने त्वरितं तीक्ष्णैः शतेन नतपर्वणाम् ॥७-१४२-२२॥
The great King of Madra swiftly struck Virata, the commander of the army, with a hundred sharp, bent-jointed arrows.
प्रतिविव्याध तं राजा नवभिर्निशितैः शरैः। पुनश्चैव त्रिसप्तत्या भूयश्चैव शतेन ह ॥७-१४२-२३॥
The king struck him with nine sharp arrows, then again with seventy-three, and furthermore with a hundred.
तस्य मद्राधिपो हत्वा चतुरो रथवाजिनः। सूतं ध्वजं च समरे रथोपस्थादपातयत् ॥७-१४२-२४॥
The king of Madra, after slaying four horses of the chariot, made the charioteer and the flag fall from the chariot seat during the battle.
हताश्वात्तु रथात्तूर्णमवप्लुत्य महारथः। तस्थौ विस्फारयंश्चापं विमुञ्चंश्च शिताञ्शरान् ॥७-१४२-२५॥
The great warrior quickly jumped down from the chariot with its destroyed horses, stood firm, stretching his bow and releasing sharp arrows.
शतानीकस्ततो दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरं हतवाहनम्। रथेनाभ्यपतत्तूर्णं सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः ॥७-१४२-२६॥
Śatānīka, upon seeing his brother's vehicle destroyed, quickly rushed forward in his chariot as everyone watched.
शतानीकमथायान्तं मद्रराजो महामृधे। विशिखैर्बहुभिर्विद्ध्वा ततो निन्ये यमक्षयम् ॥७-१४२-२७॥
Then, in the great battle, the king of Madra pierced Shatānīka with many arrows and sent him to the abode of Yama.
तस्मिंस्तु निहते वीरे विराटो रथसत्तमः। आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं तमेव ध्वजमालिनम् ॥७-१४२-२८॥
But when the hero was slain, Virata, the best of charioteers, quickly ascended the chariot adorned with a banner.
ततो विस्फार्य नयने क्रोधाद्द्विगुणविक्रमः। मद्रराजरथं तूर्णं छादयामास पत्रिभिः ॥७-१४२-२९॥
Then, in a fit of anger, he opened his eyes wide, doubled his strength, and swiftly covered the chariot of the Madra king with arrows.
ततो मद्राधिपः क्रुद्धः शतेन नतपर्वणाम्। आजघानोरसि दृढं विराटं वाहिनीपतिम् ॥७-१४२-३०॥
Then the enraged king of Madra struck Virata, the commander of the army, firmly on the chest with a hundred bent arrows.
सोऽतिविद्धो महाराज रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। कश्मलं चाविशत्तीव्रं विराटो भरतर्षभ ॥ सारथिस्तमपोवाह समरे शरविक्षतम् ॥७-१४२-३१॥
The great king, deeply pierced by arrows, sat down on the chariot seat. Virata, the bull among the Bharatas, was overcome by intense faintness and distress. His charioteer carried him away from the battlefield, as he was severely wounded by arrows.
ततः सा महती सेना प्राद्रवन्निशि भारत। वध्यमाना शरशतैः शल्येनाहवशोभिना ॥७-१४२-३२॥
Then, O Bharata, that great army fled during the night, being struck down by hundreds of arrows from Śalya, who shone in battle.
तां दृष्ट्वा विद्रुतां सेनां वासुदेवधनञ्जयौ। प्रायातां तत्र राजेन्द्र यत्र शल्यो व्यवस्थितः ॥७-१४२-३३॥
Upon witnessing the retreat of the army, Vasudeva and Dhananjaya moved to the location where King Shalya was stationed.
तौ तु प्रत्युद्ययौ राजन्राक्षसेन्द्रो ह्यलम्बुसः। अष्टचक्रसमायुक्तमास्थाय प्रवरं रथम् ॥७-१४२-३४॥
The two of them, indeed, O king, the demon king Alambusa, went forth having mounted the excellent chariot equipped with eight wheels.
तुरङ्गममुखैर्युक्तं पिशाचैर्घोरदर्शनैः। लोहितार्द्रपताकं तं रक्तमाल्यविभूषितम् ॥ कार्ष्णायसमयं घोरमृक्षचर्मावृतं महत् ॥७-१४२-३५॥
The great chariot, joined with horse faces and terrible-looking demons, adorned with blood-soaked banners and red garlands, made of black iron and covered with bear skin, appeared fearsome.
रौद्रेण चित्रपक्षेण विवृताक्षेण कूजता। ध्वजेनोच्छ्रिततुण्डेन गृध्रराजेन राजता ॥७-१४२-३६॥
The king of vultures, with fierce and variegated wings, open eyes, and cawing, shone with a flag and uplifted beak.
स बभौ राक्षसो राजन्भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमः। रुरोधार्जुनमायान्तं प्रभञ्जनमिवाद्रिराट् ॥ किरन्बाणगणान्राजञ्शतशोऽर्जुनमूर्धनि ॥७-१४२-३७॥
The demon appeared as a mass of broken collyrium, O king, and blocked Arjuna, who was approaching like the wind, as a mountain king would. He showered hundreds of arrows upon Arjuna's head, O king.
अतितीव्रमभूद्युद्धं नरराक्षसयोर्मृधे। द्रष्टॄणां प्रीतिजननं सर्वेषां भरतर्षभ ॥७-१४२-३८॥
A fierce battle took place between humans and demons, delighting all the onlookers, O best of the Bharatas.
तमर्जुनः शतेनैव पत्रिणामभ्यताडयत्। नवभिश्च शितैर्बाणैश्चिच्छेद ध्वजमुच्छ्रितम् ॥७-१४२-३९॥
Arjuna, using a hundred arrows, struck fiercely and then cut down the raised flag with nine sharp arrows.
सारथिं च त्रिभिर्बाणैस्त्रिभिरेव त्रिवेणुकम्। धनुरेकेन चिच्छेद चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान् ॥ विरथस्योद्यतं खड्गं शरेणास्य द्विधाच्छिनत् ॥७-१४२-४०॥
He struck the charioteer with three arrows and the threefold flute with three arrows. With one arrow, he cut the bow, and with four arrows, he cut the four horses. He then cut the raised sword of the chariotless warrior in two with an arrow.
अथैनं निशितैर्बाणैश्चतुर्भिर्भरतर्षभ। पार्थोऽर्दयद्राक्षसेन्द्रं स विद्धः प्राद्रवद्भयात् ॥७-१४२-४१॥
Then Arjuna, the best of the Bharatas, struck the demon lord with four sharp arrows, causing him to flee in fear.
तं विजित्यार्जुनस्तूर्णं द्रोणान्तिकमुपाययौ। किरञ्शरगणान्राजन्नरवारणवाजिषु ॥७-१४२-४२॥
After defeating his opponents, Arjuna swiftly moved towards Drona, releasing a barrage of arrows upon the warriors, elephants, and horses, O king.
वध्यमाना महाराज पाण्डवेन यशस्विना। सैनिका न्यपतन्नुर्व्यां वातनुन्ना इव द्रुमाः ॥७-१४२-४३॥
The soldiers, being slain by the glorious Pandava, fell to the ground like trees felled by the wind, O great king.
तेषु तूत्साद्यमानेषु फल्गुनेन महात्मना। सम्प्राद्रवद्बलं सर्वं पुत्राणां ते विशां पते ॥७-१४२-४४॥
As Arjuna, the great soul, destroyed them, the entire army of your sons, O lord of the people, fled.
