07.143
Core and Pancharatra: Battle between Nakula and Chitrasena, Duryodhana's brother, Nakula wins. Battle between Drupada and Karna's son Vṛṣasena, where Drupada faces defeat. Dushasana takes on Prativindya.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
शतानीकं शरैस्तूर्णं निर्दहन्तं चमूं तव। चित्रसेनस्तव सुतो वारयामास भारत ॥७-१४३-१॥
Shatanika was rapidly destroying your army with his arrows, but your son Chitrasena intervened and stopped him, O Bharata.
नाकुलिश्चित्रसेनं तु नाराचेनार्दयद्भृशम्। स च तं प्रतिविव्याध दशभिर्निशितैः शरैः ॥७-१४३-२॥
Nakula struck Citraseṇa deeply with an iron arrow, but Citraseṇa retaliated by shooting ten sharp arrows at him.
चित्रसेनो महाराज शतानीकं पुनर्युधि। नवभिर्निशितैर्बाणैराजघान स्तनान्तरे ॥७-१४३-३॥
Citraseṇa, the great king, once again attacked Śatānīka in the battle, hitting him in the chest with nine sharp arrows.
नाकुलिस्तस्य विशिखैर्वर्म संनतपर्वभिः। गात्रात्सञ्च्यावयामास तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥७-१४३-४॥
Nakul, with his arrows, removed the armor with bent joints from the body, and it seemed as if it was a wonderful feat.
सोऽपेतवर्मा पुत्रस्ते विरराज भृशं नृप। उत्सृज्य काले राजेन्द्र निर्मोकमिव पन्नगः ॥७-१४३-५॥
Your son, without his armor, shone brightly, O king, as he shed his skin like a snake in due course.
ततोऽस्य निशितैर्बाणैर्ध्वजं चिच्छेद नाकुलिः। धनुश्चैव महाराज यतमानस्य संयुगे ॥७-१४३-६॥
Then Nakula, with his sharp arrows, cut off the flag and the bow of the warrior who was striving in battle, O great king.
स छिन्नधन्वा समरे विवर्मा च महारथः। धनुरन्यन्महाराज जग्राहारिविदारणम् ॥७-१४३-७॥
He, the great chariot-warrior, though with a broken bow and without armor in battle, took another bow, O great king, to tear the enemy apart.
ततस्तूर्णं चित्रसेनो नाकुलिं नवभिः शरैः। विव्याध समरे क्रुद्धो भरतानां महारथः ॥७-१४३-८॥
Then, in a swift and angry move, Citrasena, the great chariot warrior of the Bharatas, struck Nakula with nine arrows during the battle.
शतानीकोऽथ सङ्क्रुद्धश्चित्रसेनस्य मारिष। जघान चतुरो वाहान्सारथिं च नरोत्तमः ॥७-१४३-९॥
Then, Shatānīka, in his anger, killed the four horses and the charioteer of Citrasena, O lord, demonstrating his prowess as the best of men.
अवप्लुत्य रथात्तस्माच्चित्रसेनो महारथः। नाकुलिं पञ्चविंशत्या शराणामार्दयद्बली ॥७-१४३-१०॥
Citrasena, the great warrior, leapt from his chariot and struck Nakula with twenty-five arrows, demonstrating his strength.
तस्य तत्कुर्वतः कर्म नकुलस्य सुतो रणे। अर्धचन्द्रेण चिच्छेद चापं रत्नविभूषितम् ॥७-१४३-११॥
While engaged in that action, Nakula's son cut off the jewel-adorned bow with a crescent-shaped arrow during the battle.
स छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः। आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं हार्दिक्यस्य महात्मनः ॥७-१४३-१२॥
He, having his bow broken, his chariot, horses, and charioteer slain, quickly mounted the chariot of the noble Hārdikya.
द्रुपदं तु सहानीकं द्रोणप्रेप्सुं महारथम्। वृषसेनोऽभ्ययात्तूर्णं किरञ्शरशतैस्तदा ॥७-१४३-१३॥
Vṛṣasena quickly approached Drupada, who was with his army and desiring to confront Drona, and scattered hundreds of arrows at that time.
यज्ञसेनस्तु समरे कर्णपुत्रं महारथम्। षष्ट्या शराणां विव्याध बाह्वोरुरसि चानघ ॥७-१४३-१४॥
Yajnasena, in the battle, struck Karna's son, the great chariot-warrior, with sixty arrows in his arms and chest, O sinless one.
वृषसेनस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धो यज्ञसेनं रथे स्थितम्। बहुभिः सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैराजघान स्तनान्तरे ॥७-१४३-१५॥
Vṛṣasena, in his anger, attacked Yajñasena, who was standing on the chariot, with numerous sharp arrows, hitting him in the chest.
तावुभौ शरनुन्नाङ्गौ शरकण्टकिनौ रणे। व्यभ्राजेतां महाराज श्वाविधौ शललैरिव ॥७-१४३-१६॥
O great king, those two warriors, both pierced and covered with arrows, shone in the battlefield like a pair of hunting dogs with spears.
रुक्मपुङ्खैरजिह्माग्रैः शरैश्छिन्नतनुच्छदौ। रुधिरौघपरिक्लिन्नौ व्यभ्राजेतां महामृधे ॥७-१४३-१७॥
In the great battle, the thin cover was cut by golden-feathered, straight-pointed arrows, and soaked with a stream of blood, they shone brilliantly.
तपनीयनिभौ चित्रौ कल्पवृक्षाविवाद्भुतौ। किंशुकाविव चोत्फुल्लौ व्यकाशेतां रणाजिरे ॥७-१४३-१८॥
They appeared in the battlefield, shining like golden, bright and wonderful wish-fulfilling trees, and like fully blossomed Butea trees.
वृषसेनस्ततो राजन्नवभिर्द्रुपदं शरैः। विद्ध्वा विव्याध सप्तत्या पुनश्चान्यैस्त्रिभिः शरैः ॥७-१४३-१९॥
Then Vṛṣasena, O king, struck Drupada with nine arrows, and then again with seventy and three more arrows.
ततः शरसहस्राणि विमुञ्चन्विबभौ तदा। कर्णपुत्रो महाराज वर्षमाण इवाम्बुदः ॥७-१४३-२०॥
Then, Karna's son, releasing thousands of arrows, appeared majestic, O great king, like a rain-bearing cloud.
ततस्तु द्रुपदानीकं शरैश्छिन्नतनुच्छदम्। सम्प्राद्रवद्रणे राजन्निशीथे भैरवे सति ॥७-१४३-२१॥
Then, O king, the army of Drupada, having been cut and scattered by arrows, fled the battlefield at the terrifying midnight.
प्रदीपैर्हि परित्यक्तैर्ज्वलद्भिस्तैः समन्ततः। व्यराजत मही राजन्वीताभ्रा द्यौरिव ग्रहैः ॥७-१४३-२२॥
The earth, surrounded by the abandoned and burning lamps all around, shone brightly, O king, like a cloudless sky filled with stars.
तथाङ्गदैर्निपतितैर्व्यराजत वसुन्धरा। प्रावृट्काले महाराज विद्युद्भिरिव तोयदः ॥७-१४३-२३॥
"O great king, during the rainy season, the earth appeared resplendent with fallen bracelets, much like a cloud adorned with lightning."
ततः कर्णसुतत्रस्ताः सोमका विप्रदुद्रुवुः। यथेन्द्रभयवित्रस्ता दानवास्तारकामये ॥७-१४३-२४॥
Then, the Somakas, terrified by Karna's son, fled just as the demons did in fear of Indra during the battle with Taraka.
तेनार्द्यमानाः समरे द्रवमाणाश्च सोमकाः। व्यराजन्त महाराज प्रदीपैरवभासिताः ॥७-१४३-२५॥
The Somakas, being afflicted in battle and fleeing, shone brightly illuminated by the lamps, O great king.
तांस्तु निर्जित्य समरे कर्णपुत्रो व्यरोचत। मध्यंदिनमनुप्राप्तो घर्मांशुरिव भारत ॥७-१४३-२६॥
Karna's son, having defeated them in battle, shone brightly like the midday sun, O Bharata.
तेषु राजसहस्रेषु तावकेषु परेषु च। एक एव ज्वलंस्तस्थौ वृषसेनः प्रतापवान् ॥७-१४३-२७॥
Among the thousands of kings, both yours and others, Vṛṣasena alone stood out, shining and mighty.
स विजित्य रणे शूरान्सोमकानां महारथान्। जगाम त्वरितस्तत्र यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः ॥७-१४३-२८॥
After defeating the valiant warriors and great charioteers of the Somakas in battle, he swiftly proceeded to the place where King Yudhishthira was present.
प्रतिविन्ध्यमथ क्रुद्धं प्रदहन्तं रणे रिपून्। दुःशासनस्तव सुतः प्रत्युद्गच्छन्महारथः ॥७-१४३-२९॥
Then, Duḥśāsana, your son, the great chariot-warrior, confronted Prativindhya, who was fiercely attacking the enemies in the battle.
तयोः समागमो राजंश्चित्ररूपो बभूव ह। व्यपेतजलदे व्योम्नि बुधभार्गवयोरिव ॥७-१४३-३०॥
The meeting of those two, O king, was indeed wonderful, like the conjunction of Mercury and Venus in a clear sky.
प्रतिविन्ध्यं तु समरे कुर्वाणं कर्म दुष्करम्। दुःशासनस्त्रिभिर्बाणैर्ललाटे समविध्यत ॥७-१४३-३१॥
Prativindhya, engaged in a challenging task during the battle, was struck on the forehead by Duhshasana with three arrows.
सोऽतिविद्धो बलवता पुत्रेण तव धन्विना। विरराज महाबाहुः सशृङ्ग इव पर्वतः ॥७-१४३-३२॥
He, having been deeply pierced by your strong son who is an archer, shone with his mighty arms like a mountain with peaks.
दुःशासनं तु समरे प्रतिविन्ध्यो महारथः। नवभिः सायकैर्विद्ध्वा पुनर्विव्याध सप्तभिः ॥७-१४३-३३॥
In the battle, Prativindhya, a great chariot warrior, struck Duhshasana with nine arrows and then pierced him again with seven more.
तत्र भारत पुत्रस्ते कृतवान्कर्म दुष्करम्। प्रतिविन्ध्यहयानुग्रैः पातयामास यच्छरैः ॥७-१४३-३४॥
In that place, O Bhārata, your son accomplished a formidable task. He brought down the powerful horses of Prativindhya with his arrows.
सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन ध्वजं च समपातयत्। रथं च शतशो राजन्व्यधमत्तस्य धन्विनः ॥७-१४३-३५॥
He shot down the charioteer and the flag with an arrow, and pierced the chariot of the archer hundreds of times, O king.
पताकाश्च स तूणीरान्रश्मीन्योक्त्राणि चाभिभो। चिच्छेद तिलशः क्रुद्धः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥७-१४३-३६॥
In his anger, he skillfully severed the flags, quivers, reins, and yokes into tiny pieces using arrows with curved joints, O mighty one.
विरथः स तु धर्मात्मा धनुष्पाणिरवस्थितः। अयोधयत्तव सुतं किरञ्शरशतान्बहून् ॥७-१४३-३७॥
Without his chariot, the righteous warrior stood firm with his bow and engaged your son in battle, unleashing a torrent of arrows.
क्षुरप्रेण धनुस्तस्य चिच्छेद कृतहस्तवत्। अथैनं दशभिर्भल्लैश्छिन्नधन्वानमार्दयत् ॥७-१४३-३८॥
He skillfully cut off his opponent's bow with a razor-sharp arrow. Then, using ten arrows, he tormented the opponent whose bow had been severed.
तं दृष्ट्वा विरथं तत्र भ्रातरोऽस्य महारथाः। अन्ववर्तन्त वेगेन महत्या सेनया सह ॥७-१४३-३९॥
Seeing him without his chariot there, his brothers, the great warriors, quickly followed with a large army.
आप्लुतः स ततो यानं सुतसोमस्य भास्वरम्। धनुर्गृह्य महाराज विव्याध तनयं तव ॥७-१४३-४०॥
Drenched, he then took the shining chariot of Sutasoma and, O great king, pierced your son with the bow.
ततस्तु तावकाः सर्वे परिवार्य सुतं तव। अभ्यवर्तन्त सङ्ग्रामे महत्या सेनया वृताः ॥७-१४३-४१॥
Then, all your men, surrounding your son, advanced into the battle with a great army.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तव तेषां च भारत। निशीथे दारुणे काले यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनम् ॥७-१४३-४२॥
Then, O Bharata, the battle began between your forces and theirs at the dreadful hour of midnight, expanding the realm of Yama.
