07.154
Pancharatra and Core: When the Kaurava army was in a state of distress, Karna was compelled to use the celestial weapon Vaijayanti, with which Ghatotkacha was killed.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
nihatyālāyudhaṃ rakṣaḥ prahṛṣṭātmā ghaṭotkacaḥ। nanāda vividhānnādānvāhinyāḥ pramukhe sthitaḥ ॥7-154-1॥
After killing the demon Alayudha, Ghatotkacha, filled with joy, stood at the forefront of the army and let out a variety of roars.
tasya taṁ tumulaṁ śabdaṁ śrutvā kuñjarakampanam। tāvakānāṁ mahārāja bhayamāsītsudāruṇam ॥7-154-2॥
Upon hearing that tumultuous sound that shook the elephants, your people, O great king, were seized with a profound and terrible fear.
alāyudhaviṣaktaṃ tu bhaimaseniṃ mahābalam। dṛṣṭvā karṇo mahābāhuḥ pāñcālānsamupādravat ॥7-154-3॥
Karna, with his mighty arms, attacked the Panchalas upon seeing the powerful Bhimasena aligned with Alayudha.
daśabhirdaśabhirbāṇairdhr̥ṣṭadyumnaśikhaṇḍinau। dr̥ḍhaiḥ pūrṇāyatotsr̥ṣṭairbibheda nataparvabhiḥ ॥7-154-4॥
Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi were struck by ten arrows each, which were firm and fully drawn, with bent joints.
tataḥ paramanārācairyudhāmanyuttamaujasau। sātyakiṃ ca rathodāraṃ kampayāmāsa mārgaṇaiḥ ॥7-154-5॥
Then, Yudhāmanyu, Uttamaujas, and Satyaki, the great chariot warrior, were shaken by the excellent arrows.
teṣām abhyasyatāṃ tatra sarveṣāṃ savyadakṣiṇam। maṇḍalānyeva cāpāni vyadṛśyanta janādhipa ॥7-154-6॥
As they practiced there, O ruler of men, circles of bows were clearly visible on both the left and right sides.
teṣāṃ jyātalanirghoṣo rathanemisvanaśca ha। meghānāmiva gharmānte babhūva tumulo niśi ॥7-154-7॥
The sounds of their bowstrings and chariot wheels were tumultuous at night, resembling the roar of clouds at the end of summer.
jyānemighoṣastanayitnumānvai; dhanustaḍinmaṇḍalaketuśṛṅgaḥ। śaraughavarṣākulavṛṣṭimāṃśca; saṅgrānameghaḥ sa babhūva rājan ॥7-154-8॥
The battlefield was filled with the thunderous sound of bows, resembling thunder and lightning. The arrows rained down like a storm, and the scene was like a battle cloud, O King.
taduddhataṁ śaila ivāprakampyo; varṣaṁ mahacchailasamānasāraḥ। vidhvaṁsayāmāsa raṇe narendra; vaikartanaḥ śatrugaṇāvamardī ॥7-154-9॥
The son of Vikartana, like an unshakeable mountain, destroyed the great rain of enemy forces in battle, O king, crushing the groups of enemies.
tato'tulairvajranipātakalpaiḥ; śitaiḥ śaraiḥ kāñcanacitrapuṅkhaiḥ। śatrūnvyapohatsamare mahātmā; vaikartanaḥ putrahite rataste ॥7-154-10॥
Then, the great Karna, devoted to the welfare of your son, used his sharp, thunderbolt-like arrows, adorned with golden feathers, to drive away the enemies in battle.
sañchinnabhinnadhvajinaśca ke cit; keciccharairarditabhinnadehāḥ। kecidvisūtā vihayāśca ke ci; dvaikartanenāśu kṛtā babhūvuḥ ॥7-154-11॥
Some flag-bearers were cut down and broken; some bodies were pierced and shattered by arrows. Some horses were scattered, and some were quickly dealt with by Dvaikartana.
avindamānāstvatha śarma saṅkhye; yaudhiṣṭhiraṃ te balamanvapadyan। tānprekṣya bhagnānvimukhīkṛtāṃśca; ghaṭotkaco roṣamatīva cakre ॥7-154-12॥
Unable to find peace in the battle, they sought the strength of Yudhishthira. Observing them shattered and demoralized, Ghatotkacha was filled with intense anger.
āsthāya taṃ kāñcanaratnacitraṃ; rathottamaṃ siṃha ivonnanāda। vaikartanaṃ karṇamupetya cāpi; vivyādha vajrapratimaiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ ॥7-154-13॥
Mounted on the splendid chariot decorated with gold and jewels, he roared like a lion. Then, approaching Karna, he struck him with arrows that resembled thunderbolts.
tau karṇinārācaśilīmukhaiśca; nālīkadaṇḍaiśca savatsadantaiḥ। varāhakarṇaiḥ saviṣāṇaśṛṅgaiḥ; kṣurapravarṣaiśca vinedatuḥ kham ॥7-154-14॥
The two warriors filled the sky with a barrage of sharp-pointed arrows, reed shafts, calf teeth, boar ears, horned tips, and razor showers, creating a formidable spectacle.
tadbāṇadhārāvṛtamantarikṣaṃ; tiryaggatābhiḥ samare rarāja। suvarṇapuṅkhajvalitaprabhābhi; rvicitrapuṣpābhiriva srajābhiḥ ॥7-154-15॥
The sky, filled with streams of arrows moving crosswise, shone in the battle with the radiance of golden-feathered, blazing arrows, resembling garlands of varied flowers.
samaṁ hi tāvapratimaprabhāvā; vanyonyamājaghnaturuttamāstraiḥ। tayorhi vīrottamayorna kaści; ddadarśa tasminsamare viśeṣam ॥7-154-16॥
Indeed, those two warriors of unmatched prowess fought each other with the best of weapons, and no one could discern any difference between them in that battle.
atīva taccitramatīva rūpaṃ; babhūva yuddhaṃ ravibhīmasūnvoḥ। samākulaṃ śastranipātaghoraṃ; divīva rāhvaṃśumatoḥ prataptam ॥7-154-17॥
The battle was extremely wonderful and beautiful; it became chaotic and terrifying with the fall of weapons, resembling the heated celestial battle between Rahu and the Sun's radiant sons in the sky.
ghaṭotkaco yadā karṇaṃ na viśeṣayate nṛpa। tadā prāduścakārogramastramastravidāṃ varaḥ ॥7-154-18॥
When Ghatotkacha could not distinguish Karna, O king, he then manifested a fierce weapon, being the best among those who know weapons.
tenāstreṇa hayānpūrvaṃ hatvā karṇasya rākṣasaḥ। sārathiṃ caiva haiḍimbaḥ kṣipramantaradhīyata ॥7-154-19॥
Using that weapon, the demon Hidimba first killed Karna's horses and the charioteer, then quickly vanished.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
tathā hy antarhite tasmin kūṭayodhini rākṣase। māmakaiḥ pratipannaṃ yat tan mamācakṣva sañjaya ॥7-154-20॥
Thus, when that deceptive warrior demon was hidden, tell me, Sanjaya, what my men did.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
antarhitaṁ rākṣasaṁ taṁ viditvā; samprākrośankuravaḥ sarva eva। kathaṁ nāyaṁ rākṣasaḥ kūṭayodhī; hanyātkarṇaṁ samare'dṛśyamānaḥ ॥7-154-21॥
Realizing that the demon was concealed, the entire Kuru army exclaimed: "How could this deceptive warrior, who remains unseen, slay Karṇa in the battle?"
tataḥ karṇo laghucitrāstrayodhī; sarvā diśo vyāvṛṇodbāṇajālaiḥ। na vai kiñcidvyāpatattatra bhūtaṃ; tamobhūte sāyakairantarikṣe ॥7-154-22॥
Then Karna, the skilled warrior with bright weapons, covered all directions with a barrage of arrows. Indeed, nothing could move there, as everything was shrouded in darkness by the arrows in the sky.
na cādadāno na ca saṁdadhāno; na ceṣudhī spṛśamānaḥ karāgraiḥ। adṛśyadvai lāghavātsūtaputraḥ; sarvaṁ bāṇaiśchādayāno'ntarikṣam ॥7-154-23॥
The son of a charioteer, without taking or fixing arrows, nor touching the quiver with his fingertips, was seen due to his agility, covering the entire sky with arrows.
tato māyāṃ vihitāmantarikṣe; ghorāṃ bhīmāṃ dāruṇāṃ rākṣasena। sampaśyāmo lohitābhraprakāśāṃ; dedīpyantīmagniśikhāmivogrām ॥7-154-24॥
Then we observe a terrifying illusion in the sky, crafted by the demon, appearing like a red cloud and blazing like a fierce flame.
tatas tasyā vidyutaḥ prādur āsa; nn ulkāś cāpi jvalitāḥ kauravendra। ghoṣaś cānyaḥ prādur āsīt sughoraḥ; sahasraśo nadatāṃ dundubhīnām ॥7-154-25॥
Then lightning appeared from her, and blazing meteors as well, O king of the Kauravas. Another very terrible sound arose, like thousands of drums resounding.
tataḥ śarāḥ prāpatan rukmapuṅkhāḥ; śaktyaḥ prāsā musalānyāyudhāni। paraśvadhāstailadhautāśca khaḍgāḥ; pradīptāgrāḥ paṭṭiśāstomarāśca ॥7-154-26॥
Then, arrows with golden feathers fell, followed by spears, javelins, clubs, and other weapons. Battle-axes and oil-polished swords with blazing tips, along with lances and pikes, descended.
mayūkhinaḥ parighā lohabaddhā; gadāścitrāḥ śitadhārāśca śūlāḥ। gurvyo gadā hemapaṭṭāvanaddhāḥ; śataghnyaśca prādurāsansamantāt ॥7-154-27॥
Radiant iron clubs bound with iron, varied maces, and sharp-edged spears appeared all around. Heavy maces bound with gold bands and hundred-killers were present everywhere.
mahāśilāścāpataṃstatra tatra; sahasraśaḥ sāśanayaḥ savajrāḥ। cakrāṇi cānekaśatakṣurāṇi; prādurbabhūvurjvalanaprabhāṇi ॥7-154-28॥
Great rocks fell there in thousands, accompanied by thunderbolts and numerous hundreds of razors, appearing brilliant like fire.
tāṃ śakti-pāṣāṇa-paraśvadhānāṃ; prāsāsi-vajrāśani-mudgarāṇām। vṛṣṭiṃ viśālāṃ jvalitāṃ patantīṃ; karṇaḥ śaraughairna śaśāka hantum ॥7-154-29॥
Karna could not stop the massive and fiery rain of weapons, including power, stones, axes, javelins, swords, thunderbolts, lightning, and clubs, that was falling down.
śarāhatānāṃ patatāṃ hayānāṃ; vajrāhatānāṃ patatāṃ gajānām। śilāhatānāṃ ca mahārathānāṃ; mahānninādaḥ patatāṃ babhūva ॥7-154-30॥
A tremendous noise arose from the falling of horses struck by arrows, elephants struck by thunderbolts, and great chariots struck by rocks.
subhīmanānāvidhaśastrapātai; rghaṭotkacenābhihataṃ samantāt. dauryodhanaṃ tadbalamārtarūpa; māvartamānaṃ dadṛśe bhramantam ॥7-154-31॥
Duryodhana's army, attacked from all sides by Ghatotkacha with a terrifying array of weapons, appeared to be in a state of distress, moving and wandering aimlessly.
hāhākṛtaṃ samparivartamānaṃ; saṃlīyamānaṃ ca viṣaṇṇarūpam। te tvāryabhāvātpuruṣapravīrāḥ; parāṅmukhā na babhūvustadānīm ॥7-154-32॥
The valiant men, despite the distress and dejection surrounding them, did not turn away due to their noble nature.
tāṃ rākṣasīṃ ghoratarāṃ subhīmāṃ; vṛṣṭiṃ mahāśastramayīṃ patantīm। dṛṣṭvā balaughāṃśca nipātyamānā; nmahadbhayaṃ tava putrānviveśa ॥7-154-33॥
Upon witnessing the terrifying demoness and the dreadful rain of mighty weapons descending, along with the forces being struck down, a profound fear gripped your sons.
śivāśca vaiśvānaradīptajihvāḥ; subhīmanādāḥ śataśo nadantyaḥ। rakṣogaṇānnardataścābhivīkṣya; narendrayodhā vyathitā babhūvuḥ ॥7-154-34॥
The auspicious beings, with tongues blazing like fire and making terrifying sounds, roared in hundreds. Observing the roaring demon groups, the king's warriors became distressed.
te dīptajihvānatīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrā; vibhīṣaṇāḥ śailanikāśakāyāḥ। nabhogatāḥ śaktiviṣaktahastā; meghā vyamuñcanniva vṛṣṭimārgam ॥7-154-35॥
They, terrifying with blazing tongues and sharp teeth, moved through the sky with bodies like mountains, wielding weapons in their hands, like clouds releasing rain.
tairāhatāste śaraśaktiśūlai; rgadābhirugraiḥ parighaiśca dīptaiḥ। vajraiḥ pinākairaśaniprārai; ścakraiḥ śataghnunmathitāśca petuḥ ॥7-154-36॥
Struck by them with arrows, spears, tridents, fierce maces, blazing clubs, thunderbolts, bows, thunderbolt strikes, and discs, crushed by hundred-killers, they fell to the ground.
huḍā bhuśuṇḍyo'śmaguḍāḥ śataghnyaḥ; sthūṇāśca kārṣṇāyasapaṭṭanaddhāḥ। avākiraṃstava putrasya sainyaṃ; tathā raudraṃ kaśmalaṃ prādurāsīt ॥7-154-37॥
Catapults, slingshots, stone missiles, and deadly weapons rained down upon your son's army, causing a terrible confusion to arise.
niṣkīrṇāntrā vihatairuttamāṅgaiḥ; sambhagnāṅgāḥ śerate tatra śūrāḥ। bhinnā hayāḥ kuñjarāścāvabhagnāḥ; sañcūrṇitāścaiva rathāḥ śilābhiḥ ॥7-154-38॥
The battlefield is strewn with the bodies of heroes whose entrails are torn out and heads smashed. Horses and elephants lie broken and crushed, while chariots are shattered by rocks.
evaṁ mahacchastravarṣaṁ sṛjanta; ste yātudhānā bhuvi ghorarūpāḥ। māyāḥ sṛṣṭāstatra ghaṭotkacena; nāmuñcanvai yācamānaṁ na bhītam ॥7-154-39॥
Thus, the demons with terrifying forms on earth created a great rain of weapons and illusions through Ghatotkacha, who did not release the begging one, nor was he afraid.
tasmin ghore kuruvīrāvamarde; kālotsṛṣṭe kṣatriyāṇām abhāve। te vai bhagnāḥ sahasā vyadravanta; prākrośantaḥ kauravāḥ sarva eva ॥7-154-40॥
In that dreadful battle of the Kuru heroes, when the time had come for the Kshatriyas to be absent, all the Kauravas, broken and suddenly fleeing, cried out.
palāyadhvaṃ kuravo naitadasti; sendrā devā ghnanti naḥ pāṇḍavārthe. tathā teṣāṃ majjatāṃ bhāratānāṃ; na sma dvīpastatra kaścidbabhūva ॥7-154-41॥
"Flee, O Kurus, for this is not the place; the gods, along with Indra, are slaying us for the Pandavas' cause. Thus, as the Bharatas were drowning, there was indeed no island there."
tasminsaṅkrande tumule vartamāne; sainye bhagne līyamāne kurūṇām। anīkānāṃ pravibhāge'prakāśe; na jñāyante kuravo netare vā ॥7-154-42॥
In the midst of that tumultuous uproar, as the army of the Kurus was breaking and disappearing, amidst the division of troops in the darkness, neither the Kurus nor others could be recognized.
nirmaryāde vidrave ghorarūpe; sarvā diśaḥ prekṣamāṇāḥ sma śūnyāḥ। tāṃ śastravṛṣṭimurasā gāhamānaṃ; karṇaṃ caikaṃ tatra rājannapaśyam ॥7-154-43॥
In a terrifying form, without boundaries, all directions seemed empty as they observed. O king, I saw Karna there, entering the rain of weapons with his chest.
tato bāṇairāvṛṇodantarikṣaṁ; divyāṁ māyāṁ yodhayanrākṣasasya। hrīmānkurvanduṣkaramāryakarma; naivāmuhyatsaṁyuge sūtaputraḥ ॥7-154-44॥
Then, the charioteer's son, with arrows, covered the sky, fighting against the divine illusion of the demon. Despite performing the difficult and noble deeds, he remained composed and was not confused in the battle.
tato bhītāḥ samudaikṣanta karṇaṁ; rājansarve saindhavā bāhlikāśca। asaṁmohaṁ pūjayanto'sya saṅkhye; sampaśyanto vijayaṁ rākṣasasya ॥7-154-45॥
Then, in fear, all the Sindhus and Bahlika people looked at Karna, O king, honoring his clarity in battle and witnessing the demon's victory.
tenotsṛṣṭā cakrayuktā śataghni; samaṃ sarvāṃścaturo'śvāñjaghāna। te jānubhirjagatīmanvapadya; ngatāsavo nirdaśanākṣijihvāḥ ॥7-154-46॥
The hundred-killer weapon, equipped with wheels, was released by him and it simultaneously killed all four horses. They fell to the ground on their knees, lifeless, with their teeth, eyes, and tongues missing.
tato hatāśvād avaruhya vāhā; dantarmanāḥ kuruṣu prādravatsu। divye cāstre māyayā vadhyamāne; naivāmuhyac cintayan prāptakālam ॥7-154-47॥
Then, the charioteer, having descended from the slain horses, remained resolute in mind even as the Kurus fled and the divine weapon was being nullified by illusion, not losing composure while contemplating the opportune moment.
tato'bruvankuravaḥ sarva eva; karṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā ghorarūpāṃ ca māyām। śaktyā rakṣo jahi karṇādya tūrṇaṃ; naśyantyete kuravo dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ ॥7-154-48॥
Then all the Kurus, upon seeing Karna and the terrible illusion, said: 'Quickly use your power to slay the demon from Karna; otherwise, these sons of Dhritarashtra, the Kurus, will perish.'
kariṣyataḥ kiṃ ca no bhīmapārthau; tapantamenaṃ jahi rakṣo niśīthe। yo naḥ saṅgrāmādghorarūpādvimucye; tsa naḥ pārthānsamare yodhayeta ॥7-154-49॥
What will Bhima and Arjuna do for us? Kill this demon burning at night. He who releases us from the terrible form of battle, may he fight the sons of Pritha in battle.
tasmādenaṃ rākṣasaṃ ghorarūpaṃ; jahi śaktyā dattayā vāsavena। mā kauravāḥ sarva evendrakalpā; rātrimukhe karṇa neśuḥ sayodhāḥ ॥7-154-50॥
Therefore, use the weapon given by Indra to slay this terrible demon. Do not let the Kauravas, who are all like Indra, enter with their warriors at the onset of night.
sa vadhyamāno rakṣasā vai niśīthe; dṛṣṭvā rājannaśyamānaṁ balaṁ ca। mahacca śrutvā ninadaṁ kauravāṇāṁ; matiṁ dadhre śaktimokṣāya karṇaḥ ॥7-154-51॥
At midnight, as he was being attacked by the demon, Karna saw the army being destroyed and heard the great sound of the Kauravas. He resolved to release his weapon.
sa vai kruddhaḥ siṃha ivātyamarṣī; nāmarṣayatpratighātaṃ raṇe tam। śaktiṃ śreṣṭhāṃ vaijayantīmasahyāṃ; samādade tasya vadhaṃ cikīrṣan ॥7-154-52॥
He, extremely angry and intolerant like a lion, could not tolerate the opposition in battle from him. Desiring to kill him, he took up the best and unbearable weapon, Vaijayanti.
yāsau rājannihitā varṣapūgā; nvadhāyājau satkṛtā phalgunasya। yāṃ vai prādātsūtaputrāya śakraḥ; śaktiṃ śreṣṭhāṃ kuṇḍalābhyāṃ nimāya ॥7-154-53॥
O King, that weapon which was placed for many years and honored in the battle of Arjuna, was indeed given by Indra to Karna, the best weapon fashioned with earrings.
tāṃ vai śaktiṃ lelihānāṃ pradīptāṃ; pāśairyuktāmantakasyeva rātrim। mṛtyoḥ svasāraṃ jvalitāmivolkāṃ; vaikartanaḥ prāhiṇodrākṣasāya ॥7-154-54॥
Vaikartana sent that blazing weapon, equipped with nooses, resembling the night of death, like a burning meteor, to the demon.
tāmuttamāṃ parakāyāpahantrīṃ; dṛṣṭvā sauterbāhusaṃsthāṃ jvalantīm। bhītaṃ rakṣo vipradudrāva rāj; nkṛtvātmānaṃ vindhyapādapramāṇam ॥7-154-55॥
Upon seeing her, the formidable destroyer of others, blazing on Sauti's arm, the terrified demon fled, O king, shrinking himself to the size of the Vindhya's foot.
dṛṣṭvā śaktiṃ karṇabāhvantarasthāṃ; nedurbhūtānyantarikṣe narendra। vavurvātāstumulāścāpi rāja; nsanirghātā cāśānirgāṃ jagāma ॥7-154-56॥
Upon witnessing the power within Karna's arm, the celestial beings roared in the sky, O king. The winds blew tumultuously, accompanied by thunder and lightning, and descended to the earth.
sā tāṃ māyāṃ bhasma kṛtvā jvalantī; bhittvā gāḍhaṃ hṛdayaṃ rākṣasasya. ūrdhvaṃ yayau dīpyamānā niśāyāṃ; nakṣatrāṇāmantarāṇyāviśantī ॥7-154-57॥
She destroyed the illusion by turning it into ashes and pierced the demon's heart deeply. Then, shining brightly, she ascended into the night sky, moving through the spaces between the stars.
yuddhvā citrairvividhaiḥ śastrapūgai; rdivyairvīro mānuṣai rākṣasaiśca। nadannādānvividhānbhairavāṃśca; prāṇāniṣṭāṃstyājitaḥ śakraśaktyā ॥7-154-58॥
The divine hero, having fought with various groups of weapons alongside humans and demons, roaring terrifying sounds, abandoned the desired lives by the power of Indra.
idaṁ cānyaccitramāścaryarūpaṁ; cakārāsau karma śatrukṣayāya। tasmin kāle śaktinirbhinnamarmā; babhau rājanmeghaśailaprakāśaḥ ॥7-154-59॥
This and another astonishing act was performed by him for the destruction of his enemies. At that moment, with his vital parts pierced by the spear, he shone brilliantly, O king, like a cloud and a mountain.
tato'ntarikṣādapatadgatāsuḥ; sa rākṣasendro bhuvi bhinnadehaḥ। avākṣirāḥ stabdhagātro vijihvo; ghaṭotkaco mahadāsthāya rūpam ॥7-154-60॥
Then, the lifeless lord of demons fell from the sky to the ground with his body shattered. Ghatotkacha, head down, with stiff limbs and without a tongue, assumed a great form.
sa tadrūpaṃ bhairavaṃ bhīmakarmā; bhīmaṃ kṛtvā bhaimaseniḥ papāta। hato'py evaṃ tava sainyekadeśa; mapothayat kauravān bhīṣayāṇaḥ ॥7-154-61॥
He, in that terrifying form, performed terrible deeds and, having done Bhima's act, the son of Bhimasena fell. Even when slain, a part of your army crushed the Kauravas, instilling fear in them.
tato miśrāḥ prāṇadansiṃhanādaiḥ; bheryaḥ śaṅkhā murajāścānakāśca। dagdhāṃ māyāṃ nihataṃ rākṣasaṃ ca; dṛṣṭvā hṛṣṭāḥ prāṇadankauraveyāḥ ॥7-154-62॥
Then, the Kauravas, joyful upon seeing the burnt illusion and the slain demon, roared with a mixture of lion-roars, drums, conches, kettledrums, and small drums.
tataḥ karṇaḥ kurubhiḥ pūjyamānaḥ; yathā śakro vṛtravadhē marudbhiḥ। anvārūḍhastava putraṃ rathasthaṃ; hṛṣṭaścāpi prāviśatsvaṃ sa sainyam ॥7-154-63॥
Then Karna, honored by the Kauravas like Indra by the Maruts during Vritra's slaying, ascended your son on the chariot and joyfully returned to his army.
