07.171
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
bhīmasenaṃ samākīrṇaṃ dṛṣṭvāstreṇa dhanañjayaḥ। tejasaḥ pratighātārthaṃ vāruṇena samāvṛṇot ॥7-171-1॥
Upon seeing Bhimasena enveloped by the weapon, Dhananjaya used the Varuna weapon to counteract its energy.
nālakṣayata taṃ kaścidvāruṇāstreṇa saṃvṛtam। arjunasya laghutvācca saṃvṛtatvācca tejasaḥ ॥7-171-2॥
No one could see him because he was concealed by Varuna's weapon, and the lightness and covering of Arjuna's brilliance made him invisible.
sāśvasūtaratho bhīmo droṇaputrāstrasaṁvṛtaḥ। agnāvagniriva nyasto jvālāmālī sudurdṛśaḥ ॥7-171-3॥
Bhima, with his horses, charioteer, and chariot, was enveloped by the weapon of Drona's son, appearing like a fire placed within a fire, adorned with a garland of flames, and was difficult to behold.
yathā rātrikṣaye rājañjyotīṃṣyastagiriṃ prati। samāpetustathā bāṇā bhīmasenarathaṃ prati ॥7-171-4॥
O king, just as the lights move towards the western mountain at the end of the night, so did the arrows move towards Bhimasena's chariot.
sa hi bhīmo rathaścāsya hayāḥ sūtaśca māriṣa। saṁvṛtā droṇaputreṇa pāvakāntargatābhavan ॥7-171-5॥
Bhima, along with his chariot, horses, and charioteer, was engulfed by the fire conjured by Drona's son, O respected one.
yathā dagdhvā jagatkṛtsnaṃ samaye sacarācaram। gacchedagnirvibhorāsyaṃ tathāstraṃ bhīmamāvṛṇot ॥7-171-6॥
Just as the fire, after consuming the entire world with all its moving and non-moving beings, would enter the mouth of the Lord, so did the terrible weapon envelop everything.
sūryam agniḥ praviṣṭaḥ syād yathā ca agniṃ divākaraḥ। tathā praviṣṭaṃ tat tejo na prājñāyata kiñcana ॥7-171-7॥
Just as the sun enters the fire, so did that light enter and was not perceived at all.
vikīrṇamastraṃ taddṛṣṭvā tathā bhīmarathaṃ prati। udīryamāṇaṃ drauṇiṃ ca niṣpratidvaṃdvamāhave ॥7-171-8॥
Seeing the scattered weapon aimed at Bhima's chariot, and Drona's son being unchallenged in battle.
sarvasainyāni pāṇḍūnāṃ nyastaśastrāṇyacetasaḥ। yudhiṣṭhirapurogāṃśca vimukhāṃstānmāharathān ॥7-171-9॥
The armies of the Pandavas, having laid down their weapons and being unconscious, were led by Yudhishthira, and they turned away from those great warriors.
arjuno vāsudevaśca tvaramāṇau mahādyutī। avaplutya rathādvīrau bhīmamādravatāṃ tataḥ ॥7-171-10॥
Arjuna and Vasudeva, both of great splendor and hastening, jumped down from the chariot and rushed towards Bhima.
tatas taddroṇaputrasya tejo'strabalasambhavam। vigāhya tau subalinau māyayāviśatāṃ tadā ॥7-171-11॥
Then, those two mighty warriors, using illusion, entered the energy born from the power of Droṇa's son's weapons.
nyastaśastrau tatastau tu nādahadastrajo'nalaḥ। vāruṇāstraprayogācca vīryavatvācca kṛṣṇayoḥ ॥7-171-12॥
Then, the two Krishnas laid down their weapons, and the fire born of weapons was extinguished by the application of Varuna's weapon and their own prowess.
tataś cakṛṣatur bhīmaṃ tasya sarvāyudhāni ca। nārāyaṇāstraśāntyarthaṃ naranārāyaṇau balāt ॥7-171-13॥
Then, Nara and Narayana forcibly pulled Bhima and all his weapons to pacify the Narayana weapon.
apakṛṣyamāṇaḥ kaunteyo nadatyeva mahārathaḥ। vardhate caiva tadghoraṃ drauṇerastraṃ sudurjayam ॥7-171-14॥
As he is being drawn back, the son of Kunti, a great chariot-warrior, roars loudly. Meanwhile, the terrible weapon of Drona's son becomes increasingly difficult to overcome.
tamabravīd vāsudevaḥ kim idaṃ pāṇḍunandana। vāryamāṇo'pi kaunteya yadyuddhānna nivartase ॥7-171-15॥
Vasudeva questioned him, "What is this, O son of Pandu? Despite being restrained, O son of Kunti, if you do not desist from battle."
yadi yuddhena jeyāḥ syurime kauravanandanāḥ। vayamapyatra yudhyema tathā ceme nararṣabhāḥ ॥7-171-16॥
If these descendants of Kuru could be conquered by battle, we too would fight here, and so would these great warriors.
rathebhyaḥ tv avatīrṇāḥ tu sarva eva sma tāvakāḥ। tasmāt tvam api kaunteya rathāt tūrṇam apākrama ॥7-171-17॥
Your men had already descended from the chariots. Therefore, you too, O son of Kunti, should quickly get down from the chariot.
evamuktvā tataḥ kṛṣṇo rathādbhūmimapātayat। niḥśvasantaṃ yathā nāgaṃ krodhasaṃraktalocanam ॥7-171-18॥
After speaking thus, Krishna descended from the chariot to the ground, breathing heavily like an enraged elephant, his eyes red with anger.
yadāpakṛṣṭaḥ sa rathānnyāsitaścāyudhaṃ bhuvi। tato nārāyaṇāstraṃ tatpraśāntaṃ śatrutāpanam ॥7-171-19॥
When he was pulled from the chariot and the weapon was laid on the ground, the Narayana weapon, known for tormenting enemies, became calm.
tasminpraśānte vidhinā tadā tejasi duḥsahe। babhūvurvimalāḥ sarvā diśaḥ pradiśa eva ca ॥7-171-20॥
In that calm state, by the prescribed method, then in the unbearable splendor, all directions and sub-directions indeed became pure.
pravavuśca śivā vātāḥ praśāntā mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ। vāhanāni ca hṛṣṭāni yodhāśca manujeśvara ॥7-171-21॥
The auspicious winds blew gently, calming the animals and birds. The vehicles were in high spirits, and so were the warriors, O lord of men.
vyapoḍhe ca tato ghore tasmiṃstejasi bhārata। babhau bhīmo niśāpāye dhīmānsūrya ivoditaḥ ॥7-171-22॥
In the midst of that terrible radiance, Bhima appeared at night like the wise Sun rising, O Bharata.
hataśeṣaṃ balaṃ tatra pāṇḍavānāmatiṣṭhata। astravyuparamāddhṛṣṭaṃ tava putrajighāṃsayā ॥7-171-23॥
The remaining forces of the Pandavas stood there confidently, as the weapons had ceased, with the intent to kill your son.
vyavasthite bale tasminnastre pratihate tathā। duryodhano mahārāja droṇaputramathābravīt ॥7-171-24॥
With the army in position and the weapon thwarted, King Duryodhana then addressed Drona's son.
aśvatthāmanpunaḥ śīghramastrametatprayojaya। vyavasthitā hi pāñcālāḥ punareva jaya iṣiṇaḥ ॥7-171-25॥
Ashwatthaman, quickly use this weapon again. The Panchalas are indeed ready once more, eager for victory.
aśvatthāmā tathoktastu tava putreṇa māriṣa। sudīnamabhiniḥśvasya rājānamidamabravīt ॥7-171-26॥
Ashwatthama, addressed by your son, O venerable one, sighed deeply and said this to the king, feeling very sad.
naitadāvartate rājannastraṃ dvirnopapadyate। āvartayannihantyetatprayoktāraṃ na saṃśayaḥ ॥7-171-27॥
O king, this weapon does not return or occur twice. If it returns, it will undoubtedly kill the user.
eṣa cāstrapratīghātaṃ vāsudevaḥ prayuktavān। anyathā vihitaḥ saṅkhye vadhaḥ śatrorjanādhipa ॥7-171-28॥
Vasudeva employed this counteraction to the weapon. Otherwise, O king, the enemy's slaughter in battle was certain.
parājayo vā mṛtyurvā śreyo mṛtyurna nirjayaḥ। nirjitāścārayo hyete śastrotsargānmṛtopamāḥ ॥7-171-29॥
It is better to face defeat or death than to achieve victory. These enemies, once conquered, are as good as dead when they abandon their weapons.
duryodhana uvāca॥
Duryodhana said:
ācāryaputra yadyetaddvirastraṁ na prayujyate। anyairgurughnā vadhyantāmastrairastravidāṁ vara ॥7-171-30॥
O son of the teacher, if these two weapons are not used, then those who kill the teacher should be killed by others using weapons, O best among those skilled in weaponry.
tvayi hyastrāṇi divyāni yathā syustryambake tathā। icchato na hi te mucyetkruddhasyāpi puraṁdaraḥ ॥7-171-31॥
O three-eyed one, divine weapons may reside in you, and even if Indra himself wishes, he cannot release you when you are angry.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
tasminnastre pratihate droṇe copadhinā hate। tathā duryodhanenokto drauṇiḥ kimakarotpunaḥ ॥7-171-32॥
When the weapon was countered and Droṇa was deceitfully killed, Duryodhana asked Aśvatthāmā what he would do next.
dṛṣṭvā pārthāṃśca saṅgrāme yuddhāya samavasthitān। nārāyaṇāstranirmuktāṃścarataḥ pṛtanāmukhe ॥7-171-33॥
Upon seeing the sons of Pritha ready for battle and the Narayana weapon unleashed, advancing at the forefront of the army.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
jānanpituḥ sa nidhanaṃ siṃhalāṅgūlaketanaḥ। sakrodho bhayamutsṛjya abhidudrāva pārṣatam ॥7-171-34॥
Upon learning of his father's demise, the one with the lion-tailed banner, filled with anger and casting aside fear, charged towards Pārṣata.
abhidrutya ca vimśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ nararṣabhaḥ। pañcabhis cātivegena vivyādha puruṣarṣabham ॥7-171-35॥
The bull among men, having charged with twenty small ones, swiftly pierced the bull among men with five.
dhṛṣṭadyumnastato rājañjvalantamiva pāvakam। droṇaputraṃ triṣaṣṭyā tu rājanvivyādha patriṇām ॥7-171-36॥
Then Dhṛṣṭadyumna, O king, attacked Drona's son, who was blazing like fire, with sixty-three arrows.
sārathiṃ cāsya viṃśatyā svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ। hayāṃśca caturo'vidhyaccaturbhirniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥7-171-37॥
He struck down the charioteer with twenty arrows that had golden feathers and were sharpened on stone, and also hit the four horses with four sharp arrows.
viddhvā viddhvānadaddrauṇiḥ kampayanniva medinīm। ādadatsarvalokasya prāṇāniva mahāraṇe ॥7-171-38॥
Having pierced through, Drona's son roared, shaking the earth as if he was taking away the lives of all beings in the great battle.
pārṣatastu balī rājankṛtāstraḥ kṛtaniśramaḥ। drauṇimevābhidudrāva kṛtvā mṛtyuṃ nivartanam ॥7-171-39॥
The strong son of Prishata, skilled in weapons and having exerted himself, rushed towards Drona's son, determined to defy death, O king.
tato bāṇamayaṃ varṣaṃ droṇaputrasya mūrdhani। avāsṛjadameyātmā pāñcālyo rathināṃ varaḥ ॥7-171-40॥
Then the son of Panchala, known for his immeasurable soul and being the best among charioteers, unleashed a torrent of arrows upon the head of Droṇa's son.
taṁ drauṇiḥ samare kruddhaśchādayāmāsa patribhiḥ। vivyādha cainaṁ daśabhiḥ piturvadhamanusmaran ॥7-171-41॥
In the battle, Drona's son, filled with rage, covered his opponent with arrows and struck him ten times, recalling the slaying of his father.
dvābhyāṃ ca suvikṛṣṭābhyāṃ kṣurābhyāṃ dhvajakārmuke। chittvā pāñcālarājasya drauṇiranyaiḥ samārdayat ॥7-171-42॥
Drona's son, using two well-sharpened razors, cut down the flag and bow of the king of Panchala and attacked along with others.
vyaśvasūtarathaṃ cainaṃ drauṇiścakre mahāhave। tasya cānucarānsarvānkruddhaḥ prācchādayaccharaiḥ ॥7-171-43॥
In the great battle, Drona's son made this, the chariot of Vyashvasu. In his anger, he covered all his followers with arrows.
pradrudrāva tataḥ sainyaṃ pāñcālānāṃ viśāṃ pate। sambhrāntarūpamārtaṃ ca śaravarṣaparikṣatam ॥7-171-44॥
The army of the Pāñcālas, overwhelmed by a barrage of arrows, fled in confusion and distress, O lord of the people.
dṛṣṭvā ca vimukhānyodhāndhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pīḍitam। śaineyo'codayattūrṇaṃ raṇaṃ drauṇirathaṃ prati ॥7-171-45॥
Seeing the warriors disheartened and Dhṛṣṭadyumna afflicted, Śaineya quickly urged them towards the battle against Aśvatthāmā's chariot.
aṣṭabhirniśitaiścaiva so'śvatthāmānamārdayat। viṃśatyā punarāhatya nānārūpairamarṣaṇam ॥ vivyādha ca tathā sūtaṃ caturbhiścaturo hayān ॥7-171-46॥
He attacked Aśvatthāmā with eight sharp arrows. Then, striking again with twenty arrows of various forms, he wounded the intolerant one. He also pierced the charioteer and four horses with four arrows.
so'tividdho maheṣvāso nānāliṅgairamarṣaṇaḥ। yuyudhānena vai drauṇiḥ prahasanvākyamabravīt ॥7-171-47॥
Drona's son, deeply pierced and marked, yet impatient, smiled and spoke to Yuyudhana.
śaineyābhyavapattiṃ te jānāmyācāryaghātinaḥ। na tvenaṃ trāsyasi mayā grastamātmānameva ca ॥7-171-48॥
I am aware of your approach, O slayer of the teacher, but you will not be able to frighten him, as he is already seized by me, and indeed, you yourself are also caught.
evamuktvārkaraśmyābhaṃ suparvāṇaṃ śarottamam। vyasṛjatsātvate drauṇirvajraṃ vṛtre yathā hariḥ ॥7-171-49॥
After speaking in this manner, Aśvatthāman launched the finest arrow, shining like the sun's rays, towards Sātvata (Krishna), just as Indra hurled his thunderbolt at Vṛtra.
sa taṃ nirbhidya tenāstaḥ sāyakaḥ saśarāvaram। viveśa vasudhāṃ bhittvā śvasanbilamivoragaḥ ॥7-171-50॥
He pierced through that, and the arrow with its quiver entered the earth, penetrating it and breathing like a serpent entering a hole.
sa bhinnakavacaḥ śūrastotrārdita iva dvipaḥ। vimucya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ bhūrivraṇaparisravaḥ ॥7-171-51॥
He, with his armor shattered and heroic spirit, was pierced by arrows like an elephant. Having released his bow and arrows, he bled from numerous wounds.
sīdanrudhirasiktaśca rathopastha upāviśat। sūtenāpahṛtastūrṇaṃ droṇaputrādrathāntaram ॥7-171-52॥
He sat blood-soaked on the chariot seat, quickly taken away by the charioteer from Drona's son to another chariot.
athānyena supuṅkhena śareṇa nataparvaṇā। ājaghāna bhruvormadhye dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ parantapaḥ ॥7-171-53॥
Then, the warrior, known for scorching his foes, struck Dhṛṣṭadyumna right in the middle of his eyebrows with another well-feathered arrow that had a bent joint.
sa pūrvamatividdhaśca bhṛśaṃ paścācca pīḍitaḥ. sasāda yudhi pāñcālyo vyapāśrayata ca dhvajam ॥7-171-54॥
The son of Panchala, having been deeply pierced before and greatly afflicted afterwards, collapsed in battle and took refuge in the flag.
taṃ mattam iva siṃhena rājan kuñjaram arditam। javenābhyadravañ śūrāḥ pañca pāṇḍavato rathāḥ ॥7-171-55॥
O king, the five heroic chariots of the Pandavas rushed with great speed, like a lion attacking an intoxicated elephant.
kirīṭī bhīmasenaśca vṛddhakṣatraśca pauravaḥ। yuvārājaśca cedīnāṃ mālavaśca sudarśanaḥ ॥ pañcabhiḥ pañcabhirbāṇairabhyaghnansarvataḥ samam ॥7-171-56॥
Arjuna, Bhimasena, Vriddhakshatra, Paurava, Yuvraja of the Chedis, Malava, and Sudarsana attacked from all directions with five arrows each, maintaining an equal assault.
āśīviṣābhairviṃśadbhiḥ pañcabhiścāpi tāñśaraiḥ। ciccheda yugapaddrāuṇiḥ pañcaviṃśatisāyakān ॥7-171-57॥
Drona's son, with twenty-five serpent-like arrows, simultaneously cut through those arrows.
saptabhiśca śitairbāṇaiḥ pauravaṃ drauṇirārdayat। mālavaṃ tribhirekena pārthaṃ ṣaḍbhirvṛkodaram ॥7-171-58॥
Drauni attacked Paurava with seven sharp arrows, Malava with three, Partha with one, and Vrikodara with six.
tataste vivyadhuḥ sarve drauṇiṃ rājanmahārathāḥ। yugapacca pṛthakcaiva rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ ॥7-171-59॥
Then, O king, all the great charioteers attacked Drona's son at once and individually with arrows that had golden tips and were sharpened on stone.
yuvarājastu viṃśatyā drauṇiṃ vivyādha patriṇām। pārthaśca punaraṣṭābhistathā sarve tribhistribhiḥ ॥7-171-60॥
The prince shot twenty arrows at Drona's son, while Arjuna shot eight, and all others shot three each.
tato'rjunaṁ ṣaḍbhirathājaghāna; drauṇāyanirdaśabhirvāsudevam। bhīmaṁ daśārdhairyuvarājaṁ caturbhi; rdvābhyāṁ chittvā kārmukaṁ ca dhvajaṁ ca ॥ punaḥ pārthaṁ śaravarṣeṇa viddhvā; drauṇirghoraṁ siṁhanādaṁ nanāda ॥7-171-61॥
Then, Drona's son attacked Arjuna with six arrows, Vasudeva with ten, Bhima with ten and a half, and the prince with four, cutting the bow and the banner with two arrows. Again, after piercing Partha with a shower of arrows, Drona's son let out a terrible lion's roar.
tasyāsyataḥ suniśitānpītadhārā; ndrauṇeḥ śarānpṛṣṭhataścāgrataśca। dharā viyaddyuḥ pradiśo diśaśca; channā bāṇairabhavanghorarūpaiḥ ॥7-171-62॥
As Drona's son released his well-sharpened, yellow-tipped arrows from all directions, the entire earth and sky were filled with these terrible-looking arrows, creating a fearsome sight.
āsīnasya svarathaṃ tūgratejāḥ; sudarśanasyaindraketuprakāśau। bhujau śiraścendrasamānavīrya; stribhiḥ śarairyugapatsañcakarta ॥7-171-63॥
The fierce warrior, with three arrows, simultaneously severed the arms and head of the seated Sudarshana, whose chariot shone like Indra's banner and whose strength was comparable to that of Indra.
sa pauravaṁ rathaśaktyā nihatya; chittvā rathaṁ tilaśaścāpi bāṇaiḥ। chittvā'sya bāhū varacandanāktau; bhallena kāyācchira uccakarta ॥7-171-64॥
He struck down the descendant of Puru with the power of his chariot, cutting the chariot into pieces with arrows. Then, he severed his arms, which were smeared with excellent sandalwood paste, and finally, with a broad-headed arrow, he severed the head from the body.
yuvānam indīvaradāmavarṇaṁ; cedipriyaṁ yuvārājaṁ prahasya। bāṇais tvarāvāñ jvalitāgnikalpai; viddhvā prādān mṛtyave sāśvasūtam ॥7-171-65॥
The young man, beloved of the Cedi prince, adorned with a garland of blue lotuses, smiling, swiftly shot arrows like blazing fire, delivering death to his enemies along with his horse and charioteer.
tānnihatya raṇe vīro droṇaputro yudhāṃ patiḥ। dadhmau pramuditaḥ śaṅkhaṃ bṛhantamaparājitaḥ ॥7-171-66॥
After defeating them in battle, the valiant son of Droṇa, the leader of the warriors, joyfully blew his mighty and invincible conch.
tataḥ sarve ca pāñcālā bhīmasenaśca pāṇḍavaḥ। dhṛṣṭadyumnarathaṃ bhītāstyaktvā samprādravandiśaḥ ॥7-171-67॥
Then, in fear, all the Panchalas, along with Bhimasena and Pandava, abandoned Dhrishtadyumna's chariot and fled in all directions.
tān prabhagnāṃs tathā drauṇiḥ pṛṣṭhato vikirañ śaraiḥ। abhyavartata vegena kālavat pāṇḍuvāhinīm ॥7-171-68॥
Drona's son, Ashwatthama, attacked the scattered Pandava army from behind with a swift and relentless shower of arrows, resembling the unstoppable force of time.
te vadhyamānāḥ samare droṇaputreṇa kṣatriyāḥ। droṇaputraṃ bhayādrājandikṣu sarvāsu menire ॥7-171-69॥
The warriors, being slain in battle by Drona's son, were terrified and thought of him everywhere, O king.
