07.144
Core and Pancharatra: Intense battle between Shakuni and Nakula where finally unconscious Shakuni is taken away. Shikandin fights Kripa and faces defeat. In the night, their own people and others killed each other without any limits. The battle was terrible and frightening.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
नकुलं रभसं युद्धे निघ्नन्तं वाहिनीं तव। अभ्ययात्सौबलः क्रुद्धस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥७-१४४-१॥
Nakula was fiercely attacking your army in the battle. Saubala, in anger, approached him and said, "Stop, stop."
कृतवैरौ तु तौ वीरावन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणौ। शरैः पूर्णायतोत्सृष्टैरन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः ॥७-१४४-२॥
The two heroes, having enmity and desiring to kill each other, attacked each other with arrows that were fully drawn and released.
यथैव सौबलः क्षिप्रं शरवर्षाणि मुञ्चति। तथैव नकुलो राजञ्शिक्षां संदर्शयन्युधि ॥७-१४४-३॥
Just as Saubala swiftly releases volleys of arrows, Nakula, O king, shows his skill in battle.
तावुभौ समरे शूरौ शरकण्टकिनौ तदा। व्यराजेतां महाराज कण्टकैरिव शाल्मली ॥७-१४४-४॥
Those two heroes, in the midst of battle, appeared resplendent, O great king, like a silk-cotton tree adorned with thorns of arrows.
सुजिह्मं प्रेक्षमाणौ च राजन्विवृतलोचनौ। क्रोधसंरक्तनयनौ निर्दहन्तौ परस्परम् ॥७-१४४-५॥
O king, they looked at each other with wide-open, bloodshot eyes, filled with anger, as if they were burning each other.
स्यालस्तु तव सङ्क्रुद्धो माद्रीपुत्रं हसन्निव। कर्णिनैकेन विव्याध हृदये निशितेन ह ॥७-१४४-६॥
But your brother-in-law, in anger, seemed to smile as he pierced Mādri's son in the heart with a single sharp arrow.
नकुलस्तु भृशं विद्धः स्यालेन तव धन्विना। निषसाद रथोपस्थे कश्मलं चैनमाविशत् ॥७-१४४-७॥
Nakul, severely injured by your brother-in-law, the archer, sat down on the chariot seat, and was overtaken by faintness.
अत्यन्तवैरिणं दृप्तं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुं तथागतम्। ननाद शकुनी राजंस्तपान्ते जलदो यथा ॥७-१४४-८॥
Upon seeing the arrogant and extreme enemy thus arrived, the bird roared, O king, just like a cloud does at the end of summer.
प्रतिलभ्य ततः सञ्ज्ञां नकुलः पाण्डुनन्दनः। अभ्ययात्सौबलं भूयो व्यात्तानन इवान्तकः ॥७-१४४-९॥
Nakula, the son of Pandu, having regained his senses, approached Saubala once more, resembling death with his mouth wide open.
सङ्क्रुद्धः शकुनिं षष्ट्या विव्याध भरतर्षभ। पुनश्चैव शतेनैव नाराचानां स्तनान्तरे ॥७-१४४-१०॥
The enraged bull of the Bharatas struck Shakuni with sixty arrows, and then once more with a hundred arrows in the chest.
ततोऽस्य सशरं चापं मुष्टिदेशे स चिच्छिदे। ध्वजं च त्वरितं छित्त्वा रथाद्भूमावपातयत् ॥७-१४४-११॥
Then he swiftly cut off his bowstring with an arrow at the grip, and quickly severed the flag, causing it to fall from the chariot to the ground.
सोऽतिविद्धो महाराज रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। तं विसञ्ज्ञं निपतितं दृष्ट्वा स्यालं तवानघ ॥ अपोवाह रथेनाशु सारथिर्ध्वजिनीमुखात् ॥७-१४४-१२॥
Pierced deeply, the great king sat on the chariot seat. Observing the unconscious and fallen brother-in-law, the charioteer swiftly carried him away from the army's front.
ततः सञ्चुक्रुशुः पार्था ये च तेषां पदानुगाः। निर्जित्य च रणे शत्रून्नकुलः शत्रुतापनः ॥ अब्रवीत्सारथिं क्रुद्धो द्रोणानीकाय मां वह ॥७-१४४-१३॥
Then the sons of Pritha and their followers shouted in triumph. After defeating the enemies in battle, Nakul, known for tormenting his foes, angrily instructed his charioteer, "Take me to Drona's army."
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा माद्रीपुत्रस्य धीमतः। प्रायात्तेन रणे राजन्येन द्रोणोऽन्वयुध्यत ॥७-१४४-१४॥
Upon hearing the words of the wise son of Mādrī, Droṇa, the warrior, departed to engage in battle.
शिखण्डिनं तु समरे द्रोणप्रेप्सुं विशां पते। कृपः शारद्वतो यत्तः प्रत्युद्गच्छत्सुवेगितः ॥७-१४४-१५॥
In the battle, Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, swiftly moved against Shikhandin, who was eager to confront Drona, O lord of men.
गौतमं द्रुतमायान्तं द्रोणान्तिकमरिंदमम्। विव्याध नवभिर्भल्लैः शिखण्डी प्रहसन्निव ॥७-१४४-१६॥
Śikhaṇḍī, with a smile, swiftly shot nine arrows at Gautama, who was approaching near Droṇa, the subduer of enemies.
तमाचार्यो महाराज विद्ध्वा पञ्चभिराशुगैः। पुनर्विव्याध विंशत्या पुत्राणां प्रियकृत्तव ॥७-१४४-१७॥
The teacher, O great king, first struck him with five swift arrows and then again targeted the beloved sons with twenty arrows.
महद्युद्धं तयोरासीद्घोररूपं विशां पते। यथा देवासुरे युद्धे शम्बरामरराजयोः ॥७-१४४-१८॥
A fierce and great battle occurred between the two, reminiscent of the legendary battles between gods and demons, specifically between Śambara and the king of the gods.
शरजालावृतं व्योम चक्रतुस्तौ महारथौ। प्रकृत्या घोररूपं तदासीद्घोरतरं पुनः ॥७-१४४-१९॥
The two great charioteers created a sky covered with a net of arrows. By nature, it was a terrifying sight, and it became even more dreadful.
रात्रिश्च भरतश्रेष्ठ योधानां युद्धशालिनाम्। कालरात्रिनिभा ह्यासीद्घोररूपा भयावहा ॥७-१४४-२०॥
The night, O best of the Bharatas, was terrifying and dreadful, resembling the night of destruction, as it enveloped the warriors engaged in battle.
शिखण्डी तु महाराज गौतमस्य महद्धनुः। अर्धचन्द्रेण चिच्छेद सज्यं सविशिखं तदा ॥७-१४४-२१॥
Shikhandi, O great king, using a crescent-shaped arrow, cut off the great bow of Gautama, which was strung and equipped with an arrow, at that moment.
तस्य क्रुद्धः कृपो राजञ्शक्तिं चिक्षेप दारुणाम्। स्वर्णदण्डामकुण्ठाग्रां कर्मारपरिमार्जिताम् ॥७-१४४-२२॥
In his anger, Kṛpa, O king, hurled a dreadful spear with a golden shaft, sharp-pointed and polished by a smith.
तामापतन्तीं चिच्छेद शिखण्डी बहुभिः शरैः। सापतन्मेदिनीं दीप्ता भासयन्ती महाप्रभा ॥७-१४४-२३॥
As Shikhandi attacked with numerous arrows, she fell to the ground, her brilliance illuminating the earth with a great light.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय गौतमो रथिनां वरः। प्राच्छादयच्छितैर्बाणैर्महाराज शिखण्डिनम् ॥७-१४४-२४॥
Then Gautama, the foremost among charioteers, took another bow and showered Shikhandi with sharp arrows, O great king.
स छाद्यमानः समरे गौतमेन यशस्विना। व्यषीदत रथोपस्थे शिखण्डी रथिनां वरः ॥७-१४४-२५॥
Śikhaṇḍī, the best of charioteers, was overwhelmed in battle by the illustrious Gautama and became despondent on his chariot seat.
सीदन्तं चैनमालोक्य कृपः शारद्वतो युधि। आजघ्ने बहुभिर्बाणैर्जिघांसन्निव भारत ॥७-१४४-२६॥
Seeing him collapsing in battle, Kṛpa, the son of Śaradvat, attacked with many arrows, as if intending to kill, O Bhārata.
विमुखं तं रणे दृष्ट्वा याज्ञसेनिं महारथम्। पाञ्चालाः सोमकाश्चैव परिवव्रुः समन्ततः ॥७-१४४-२७॥
Upon seeing Yajnaseni, the great chariot-warrior, turn away in battle, the Panchalas and the Somakas surrounded him from all directions.
तथैव तव पुत्राश्च परिवव्रुर्द्विजोत्तमम्। महत्या सेनया सार्धं ततो युद्धमभूत्पुनः ॥७-१४४-२८॥
In the same manner, your sons, along with a great army, surrounded the best of the twice-born, and then the battle resumed.
रथानां च रणे राजन्नन्योन्यमभिधावताम्। बभूव तुमुलः शब्दो मेघानां नदतामिव ॥७-१४४-२९॥
O king, in the battle, as the chariots rushed towards each other, there arose a tumultuous sound akin to the roaring of clouds.
द्रवतां सादिनां चैव गजानां च विशां पते। अन्योन्यमभितो राजन्क्रूरमायोधनं बभौ ॥७-१४४-३०॥
O lord of the people, the fierce battle between the charging horsemen and elephants unfolded all around, O king.
पत्तीनां द्रवतां चैव पदशब्देन मेदिनी। अकम्पत महाराज भयत्रस्तेव चाङ्गना ॥७-१४४-३१॥
The earth shook with the sound of footsteps as if the leaves were flowing, O great king, like a frightened woman.
रथा रथान्समासाद्य प्रद्रुता वेगवत्तरम्। न्यगृह्णन्बहवो राजञ्शलभान्वायसा इव ॥७-१४४-३२॥
The chariots, having approached the other chariots, rushed with great speed; many restrained them, O king, like crows restrain grasshoppers.
तथा गजान्प्रभिन्नांश्च सुप्रभिन्ना महागजाः। तस्मिन्नेव पदे यत्ता निगृह्णन्ति स्म भारत ॥७-१४४-३३॥
In that place, O Bhārata, the great elephants, both broken and well-broken, were restrained with effort.
सादी सादिनमासाद्य पदाती च पदातिनम्। समासाद्य रणेऽन्योन्यं संरब्धा नातिचक्रमुः ॥७-१४४-३४॥
The attackers and foot-soldiers, having approached each other in battle, did not overstep their bounds, being excited.
धावतां द्रवतां चैव पुनरावर्ततामपि। बभूव तत्र सैन्यानां शब्दः सुतुमुलो निशि ॥७-१४४-३५॥
At night, there was a very loud noise from the armies, made by those who were running, fleeing, and returning again.
दीप्यमानाः प्रदीपाश्च रथवारणवाजिषु। अदृश्यन्त महाराज महोल्का इव खाच्च्युताः ॥७-१४४-३६॥
The shining lamps on the chariots, elephants, and horses appeared, O great king, like meteors falling from the sky.
सा निशा भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रदीपैरवभासिता। दिवसप्रतिमा राजन्बभूव रणमूर्धनि ॥७-१४४-३७॥
The night was so brightly lit with lamps that it appeared like day on the battlefield, O best of Bharatas, O king.
आदित्येन यथा व्याप्तं तमो लोके प्रणश्यति। तथा नष्टं तमो घोरं दीपैर्दीप्तैरलङ्कृतम् ॥७-१४४-३८॥
Just as the darkness in the world is dispelled by the sun, so too is the terrible darkness dispelled by bright and adorned lamps.
शस्त्राणां कवचानां च मणीनां च महात्मनाम्। अन्तर्दधुः प्रभाः सर्वा दीपैस्तैरवभासिताः ॥७-१४४-३९॥
The brilliance of the weapons, armors, and jewels of the great souls vanished, as they were illuminated by the lamps.
तस्मिन्कोलाहले युद्धे वर्तमाने निशामुखे। अवधीत्समरे पुत्रं पिता भरतसत्तम ॥७-१४४-४०॥
During the tumultuous battle at nightfall, a father killed his son in the battlefield, O noble Bharata.
पुत्रश्च पितरं मोहात्सखायं च सखा तथा। सम्बन्धिनं च सम्बन्धी स्वस्रीयं चापि मातुलः ॥७-१४४-४१॥
Due to delusion, a son considers his father as a friend, a relative as another relative, and a sister's son as a maternal uncle.
स्वे स्वान्परे परांश्चापि निजघ्नुरितरेतरम्। निर्मर्यादमभूद्युद्धं रात्रौ घोरं भयावहम् ॥७-१४४-४२॥
In the night, their own people and others killed each other without any limits. The battle was terrible and frightening.
