07.170
Sanjaya said:
Then, the son of Droṇa caused the destruction of his enemies, resembling Death itself, as if created by Time at the end of an era.
The battlefield was filled with flag-trees and weapon-peaks, with slain elephants and large stones scattered around. Horses and Kimpurushas were strewn everywhere, and bow-creepers covered the scene.
The place was filled with the noise of spear-wielding flesh-eaters and was crowded with groups of spirits and demigods. After slaying the enemies with arrows, he gathered the mountain of bodies.
Then, with great speed and a mighty roar, he, the bull among men, reiterated the vow to your son.
Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, seeing the teacher engaged in battle and clad in the armor of righteousness, commanded, "Release the weapon."
Therefore, as he watches, I will disperse his army. After dispersing it, I will indeed kill the sinful Panchala, but only in truth.
I promise you truly, if they dare to fight me in battle, I will slay them all. Turn back the army.
Upon hearing that, your son turned the army back with a mighty lion's roar, dispelling immense fear.
Then, O king, the encounter between the Kuru and Pandava armies once again became fierce, resembling the meeting of full oceans.
The Kauravas, motivated and strengthened by Drona's son, and the Pandavas and Panchalas, inspired by Drona's demise, were prepared for battle.
Seeing victory in themselves, the very delighted and excited ones experienced great speed on the battlefield.
O King, just as a rock on a mountain and the ocean in the ocean would be destroyed, so too were the Kurus and Pāṇḍavas rendered non-existent.
The Kuru and Pāṇḍava warriors, filled with joy, sounded thousands of conches and tens of thousands of drums.
Then, a very great and wonderful sound arose from that army, like the sound of the ocean being churned.
Then Drona's son released the Narayana weapon, targeting the Pandava and Panchala armies.
Thousands of arrows with blazing tips appeared in the sky, ready to devour the Pāṇḍavas, resembling serpents with fiery mouths.
O king, in the great battle, they covered the directions, the sky, and the army, just like the rays of the sun cover the world in an instant.
Thus, O king, other balls made of iron appeared, shining like lights in the clear sky.
In all directions, there were varied and deadly weapons, then fire-giving devices, discs and razor-edged circles that shone brightly.
O best of the Bharatas, upon seeing the sky filled with forms of weapons, the Pandavas, Panchalas, and Srinjayas became extremely disturbed.
As the great charioteers of the Pāṇḍavas engaged in battle, their weaponry grew stronger, O king.
The warriors, being killed by the weapon of Nārāyaṇa, were tormented as if they were being burned by fire from all directions in the battle.
"Just as the fire consumes the forest at the end of winter, so did that weapon of the Pandavas consume the army, O lord."
As the army was being overwhelmed by weapons, it was being destroyed, O lord. Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, was seized by great fear.
Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, observed the army fleeing in a state of unconsciousness and commented on Arjuna's neutrality.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, retreat with the Pāñcāla forces. Sātyaki, you too should return home, accompanied by the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas.
Vasudeva, being a righteous soul, will forgive himself. He is capable of instructing the world, let alone himself.
I advise all the armies that the battle should not be fought. I, along with my brothers, will enter the fire.
After overcoming the formidable battle represented by Bhishma and Drona, which was difficult for the timid to pass, Syami, along with his followers, settled in the water that was as small as the hoof-print of a cow.
"May his desire be quickly fulfilled towards me, of Bibhatsu. The teacher of good conduct has been felled by me in battle."
The young Saubhadra, unskilled in battles, was killed by many capable and cruel warriors, and was not protected.
Kṛṣṇā, who did not speak, went to the assembly with her son, neglected and in servitude, restraining herself.
The son of Dhritarashtra, desiring to kill, took advantage of the tired horses to protect Arjuna with armor and also to protect Jayadratha.
The Panchalas, led by Satyajit, were completely destroyed by the one who knew the Brahmastra, despite their efforts to resist.
We are being unrighteously exiled from the kingdom by someone, and despite our attempts to prevent it, we are compelled to follow that desire.
The one who was extremely friendly among us has been killed; therefore, I shall go to my death along with my relatives.
As the son of Kunti was speaking, the descendant of Dasharha quickly restrained the army with his arms and spoke these words.
Quickly place the weapons down and dismount from the vehicles. This strategy of counteraction has been set here by the great soul.
All the warriors descended from elephants, horses, and chariots to the ground. Thus, let not this weapon harm your unarmed men on the ground.
As the warriors continue to fight against the weapon strength, the Kauravas become increasingly stronger.
Those who lay down their weapons and descend from their vehicles will not be killed by this weapon in battle.
But those who even think of opposing this here, he will destroy them all, even if they have gone to the netherworld.
Upon hearing those words of Vāsudeva, O Bhārata, everyone prepared to release their arrows and weapons, both mentally and physically.
Then Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, noticing those eager to release their weapons, spoke these encouraging words, O king.
Weapons must not be released here by anyone in any manner. I will swiftly stop the weapon of Drona's son.
Then, with this heavy golden chariot, I will move through the battle like time itself, piercing the weapon of Drona's son.
There is truly no man here who matches my prowess, just as no other light matches the brilliance of the sun.
Behold my strong arms, resembling the king of serpents, capable of toppling even the snowy mountain.
I am the only one here among men who is as strong as ten thousand elephants, just as Indra is renowned as a rival among the gods in heaven.
Today, witness my prowess in battle as I stop the blazing and shining weapon of Drona's son with my strong arms and shoulders.
If there is no one to oppose Narayana's weapon, I will face it today in front of the Kurus and Pandavas.
After speaking thus, Bhima, the subduer of enemies, advanced towards Drona's son on a chariot that roared like a cloud and shone with the brilliance of the sun.
The son of Kunti, being swift and light, reached his target and covered him with a net of arrows in an instant.
Then, Drona's son, with a mocking laugh, addressed him with indifference and showered him with enchanted arrows that had blazing tips.
In the battle, Arjuna appeared as if he was enveloped by golden sparks, resembling serpents with fiery mouths spewing flames.
O king, his form in battle became like that of Bhimasena, resembling a mountain covered by fireflies at dusk.
The weapon of Droṇa's son was counteracted there. It grew, O great king, like a fire fanned by the wind.
Upon witnessing the formidable and growing weapon, a great fear engulfed Pandu's army, sparing only Bhima.
Then, all of them completely abandoned their weapons on the ground and descended from their chariots, elephants, and horses.
The weapons were thrown into them, and they fell from the vehicles. Then, that great strength of the weapon fell terribly on Bhima's head.
The beings, including the Pandavas, were crying out in distress, and at that moment, they saw Bhimasena enveloped in a radiant aura.
