08.008
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
te sene'nyonyamāsādya prahṛṣṭāśvanaradvipe। bṛhatyau samprajahrāte devāsuracamūpame ॥8-8-1॥
The two great armies, filled with joy and mounted on horses, men, and elephants, approached each other and engaged in a battle that was comparable to the legendary battles between the gods and demons.
tato gajā rathāścāśvāḥ pattayaśca mahāhave। samprahāraṃ paraṃ cakrurdehapāpmapraṇāśanam ॥8-8-2॥
In the great battle, the elephants, chariots, horses, and foot soldiers launched a supreme attack, annihilating the sins associated with the body.
pūrṇacandrārkapadmānāṃ kāntitviḍgandhataḥ samaiḥ। uttamāṅgairnṛsiṃhānāṃ nṛsiṃhāstastarumahīm ॥8-8-3॥
The lions, possessing the beauty, splendor, and fragrance akin to that of the full moon, sun, and lotuses, majestically roamed the earth with their noble presence.
ardhacandrais tathā bhallaiḥ kṣuraprair asipaṭṭiśaiḥ। paraśvadhaiś cāpy akṛntann uttamāṅgāni yudhyatām ॥8-8-4॥
They used various weapons like crescent-shaped, broad-headed, and razor-headed arrows, along with swords, spears, and battle-axes, to decapitate the warriors engaged in battle.
vyāyatāyatabāhūnāṃ vyāyatāyatabāhubhiḥ। vyāyatā bāhavaḥ petuśchinnamuṣṭyāyudhāṅgadāḥ ॥8-8-5॥
The extended and stretched arms, with their weapons and bracelets, fell severed, as if the mighty warriors were defeated in battle.
taiḥ sphuradbhirmahī bhāti raktāṅgulitalaistadā। garuḍaprahatairugraiḥ pañcāsyairiva pannagaiḥ ॥8-8-6॥
The earth then appears to shine with red palms, resembling fierce serpents with five mouths that have been struck by Garuda.
hayasyandananāgebhyaḥ peturvīrā dviṣaddhatāḥ। vimānebhyo yathā kṣīṇe puṇye svargasadastathā ॥8-8-7॥
The valiant warriors, defeated by their foes, descended from their horses, chariots, and elephants, akin to how one descends from the heavenly realms when their accumulated merit is depleted.
gadābhiranyairgurvībhiḥ parighairmusalairapi। pothitāḥ śataśaḥ peturvīrā vīratarai raṇe ॥8-8-8॥
In the battle, hundreds of heroes were struck down by others wielding heavy maces, clubs, and pestles, falling to those who were even braver.
rathā rathairvinihatā mattā mattairdvipairdvipāḥ। sādinaḥ sādibhiścaiva tasminparamasaṅkule ॥8-8-9॥
In that extremely chaotic situation, chariots were struck down by other chariots, intoxicated elephants by other intoxicated elephants, and horsemen by other horsemen.
rathā vararathairnāgairaśvārōhāśca pattibhiḥ। aśvārōhaiḥ padātāśca nihatā yudhi śēratē ॥8-8-10॥
Chariots, excellent chariots, elephants, horse riders, and infantry lie slain in battle, with horse riders and foot soldiers lying down.
rathāśvapattayo nāgai rathairnāgāśca pattayaḥ। rathapattidvipāścāśvairnṛbhiścāśvarathadvipāḥ ॥8-8-11॥
Chariots, horses, and foot soldiers are accompanied by elephants and chariots, while elephants and foot soldiers are accompanied by horses, men, and chariots.
rathāśvebhanarāṇāṃ ca narāśvebharathaiḥ kṛtam। pāṇipādaiśca śastraiśca rathaiśca kadanaṃ mahat ॥8-8-12॥
A great slaughter was carried out by the chariots, horses, elephants, and men, using their hands, feet, weapons, and chariots.
tathā tasmin bale śūrair vadhyamāne hate'pi ca। asmān abhyāgaman pārthā vṛkodara-purogamāḥ ॥8-8-13॥
In that situation, as the brave warriors were being slain and the army was being destroyed, the sons of Pṛthā, led by Bhīma, approached us.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca draupadeyāḥ prabhadrakāḥ। sātyakiścekitānaśca drāviḍaiḥ sainikaiḥ saha ॥8-8-14॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, the sons of Draupadī, the Prabhadrakas, Sātyaki, and Cekitāna were together with the Dravidian soldiers.
bhṛtā vittena mahatā pāṇḍyāścaurdrāḥ sakeralāḥ। vyūḍhoraskā dīrghabhujāḥ prāṃśavaḥ priyadarśanāḥ ॥8-8-15॥
The Pandyas, Cholas, and Keralas, supported by great wealth, are described as broad-chested, long-armed, tall, and handsome.
āpīḍino raktadantā mattamātaṅgavikramāḥ। nānāvirāgavasanā gandhacūrṇāvacūrṇitāḥ ॥8-8-16॥
They are oppressors with red teeth, possessing the strength of intoxicated elephants, adorned in garments of various colors, and smeared with fragrant powders.
baddhāsayaḥ pāśahastā vāraṇaprativāraṇāḥ। samānamṛtyavo rājannanīkasthāḥ parasparam ॥8-8-17॥
O king, those with restrained minds, holding nooses in their hands, stood in the army, preventing obstacles and facing each other equally in death.
kalāpinaścāpahastā dīrghakeśāḥ priyāhavāḥ। pattayaḥ sātyakerandhrā ghorarūpaparākramāḥ ॥8-8-18॥
The archers with bows in hand, long-haired and fond of battle, were the infantry of Satyaki, including the Andhras, who were terrible in form and valor.
athāpare punaḥ śūrāścedipāñcālakekayāḥ। karūṣāḥ kosalāḥ kāśyā māgadhāścāpi dudruvuḥ ॥8-8-19॥
Then, once again, the brave warriors from the Cedis, Panchalas, Kekayas, Karushas, Kosalas, Kashis, and Magadhas charged forward.
teṣāṃ rathāśca nāgāśca pravarāścāpi pattayaḥ। nānāvidharavairhṛṣṭā nṛtyanti ca hasanti ca ॥8-8-20॥
Their chariots, elephants, and excellent foot soldiers, filled with joy and making various sounds, are dancing and laughing.
tasya sainyasya mahato mahāmātravarairvṛtaḥ। madhyaṃ vṛkodaro'bhyāgāttvadīyaṃ nāgadhūrghataḥ ॥8-8-21॥
Vrikodara (Bhima), surrounded by chief ministers, reached the center of your great army's elephant fortress.
sa nāgapravaro'tyugro vidhivatkalpito babhau। udayādryagryabhavanaṃ yathābhyuditabhāskaram ॥8-8-22॥
He, the best and very fierce elephant, appeared properly arranged, like the foremost abode of the eastern mountain with the risen sun.
tasyāyasaṃ varmavaraṃ vararatnavibhūṣitam। tārodbhāsasya nabhasaḥ śāradasya samatviṣam ॥8-8-23॥
His iron armor, adorned with the finest jewels, shone as brightly as the starry autumn sky.
sa tomaraprāsakaraścārumauliḥ svalaṅkṛtaḥ। caranmadhyaṃdinārkābhatejasā vyadaharipūn ॥8-8-24॥
He, adorned with a beautiful crown and armed with a spear and javelin, moved with the brilliance of the midday sun, scorching his enemies.
taṁ dṛṣṭvā dviradaṁ dūrātkṣemadhūrtirdvipasthitaḥ। āhvayāno'bhidudrāva pramanāḥ pramanastaram ॥8-8-25॥
Upon seeing the elephant from afar, Kṣemadhūrti, who was standing near it, called out and ran towards it with increasing joy.
tayoḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ dvipayorugrarūpayoḥ। yadṛcchayā drumavatormahāparvatayoriva ॥8-8-26॥
A fierce battle arose between the two, resembling a chance encounter between two mighty elephants, akin to the great trees of the mountains.
saṁsaktanāgau tau vīrau tomarairitaretaram। balavatsūryaraśmyābhairbhittvā bhittvā vinedatuḥ ॥8-8-27॥
The two heroic elephants, entangled with each other, roared mightily as they pierced each other with their spears, like the sun's rays piercing through.
vyapasṛtya tu nāgābhyāṃ maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ। pragṛhya caiva dhanuṣī jaghnaturvai parasparam ॥8-8-28॥
The two serpents, having withdrawn, moved around in circles and then seized their bows to strike each other.
kṣveḍitāsphoṭitaravairbāṇaśabdaiśca sarvaśaḥ। tau janānharṣayitvā ca siṃhanādānpracakratuḥ ॥8-8-29॥
With whistling and bursting sounds, and the noise of arrows all around, they thrilled the people and roared like lions.
samudyatakarābhyām tau dvipābhyām kṛtināvubhau। vātodhūtapatakābhyām yuyudhāte mahābalau ॥8-8-30॥
With their hands raised, those two skilled warriors, each on an elephant with flags fluttering in the wind, engaged in a mighty battle.
tāv anyonyasya dhanuṣī chittvānyonyaṃ vinedatuḥ। śaktitomaravarṣeṇa prāvṛṇmeghāv ivāmbubhiḥ ॥8-8-31॥
They both cut each other's bows and then roared at each other, unleashing a shower of spears and javelins, resembling monsoon clouds pouring rain.
kṣemadhūrtistadā bhīmaṃ tomareṇa stanāntare। nirbibheda tu vegena ṣaḍbhiścāpyaparairnadan ॥8-8-32॥
Then Kṣemadhūrti, with a spear, swiftly pierced Bhīma in the chest, roaring alongside six others.
sa bhīmasenaḥ śuśubhe tomarairaṅgamāśritaiḥ। krodhadīptavapurmeghaiḥ saptasaptirivāṃśumān ॥8-8-33॥
Bhimasena appeared resplendent, his body adorned with spears, his form blazing with anger like the sun with its seven horses and clouds.
tato bhāskaravarṇābham añjogatimayasmayam। sasarja tomaraṃ bhīmaḥ pratyamitrāya yatnavān ॥8-8-34॥
Then Bhima, with a sun-like brilliance and steady determination, hurled the spear with great effort towards the enemy.
tataḥ kulūtādhipatiścāpamāyamya sāyakaiḥ। daśabhistomaraṃ chittvā śaktyā vivyādha pāṇḍavam ॥8-8-35॥
Then the lord of Kulūta, having stretched his bow, shot ten arrows to cut the spear and powerfully pierced the Pāṇḍava.
atha kārmukam ādāya mahājaladanisvanam। ripor abhyardayan nāgam unmadaḥ pāṇḍavaḥ śaraiḥ ॥8-8-36॥
Then, the Pandava, in a frenzy, took up his bow and, with a sound like thunder, tormented the enemy's elephant with his arrows.
sa śaraughārdito nāgo bhīmasenena saṃyuge। nigṛhyamāṇo nātiṣṭhadvātadhvasta ivāmbudaḥ ॥8-8-37॥
The elephant, overwhelmed by Bhimasena's arrows in battle, could not stand as it was restrained, much like a cloud scattered by the wind.
tām abhyadhāvad dviradaṃ bhīmasenasya nāgarāṭ। mahāvāteritaṃ meghaṃ vātoddhūta ivāmbudaḥ ॥8-8-38॥
The king of serpents charged towards her like Bhimasena's elephant, resembling a cloud driven by a strong wind.
saṁnivartyātmano nāgaṁ kṣemadhūrtiḥ prayatnataḥ। vivyādhābhidrutaṁ bāṇairbhīmasenaṁ sakuñjaram ॥8-8-39॥
Kṣemadhūrti, turning back his elephant, carefully shot arrows at the charging Bhīmasena and his elephant.
tataḥ sādhuvisṛṣṭena kṣureṇa puruṣarṣabhaḥ। chittvā śarāsanaṃ śatrornāgamāmitramārdayat ॥8-8-40॥
Then, the noble warrior skillfully used a razor to cut the enemy's bow and tormented the serpent-like foe.
tataḥ khajākayā bhīmaṃ kṣemadhūrtiḥ parābhinat. jaghāna cāsya dviradaṃ nārācaiḥ sarvamarmaṣu ॥8-8-41॥
Then Kṣemadhūrti attacked Bhima with a sharp weapon and killed his elephant by shooting arrows into all its vital parts.
purā nāgasya patanādavaplutya sthito mahīm। bhīmaseno ripornāgaṃ gadayā samapothayat ॥8-8-42॥
Once, after the serpent fell, Bhimasena jumped down and stood on the ground, smashing the enemy's serpent with his mace.
tasmāt pramathitān nāgāt kṣemadhūrtim avadrutam। udyatāsim upāyāntaṃ gadayā ahan vṛkodaraḥ ॥8-8-43॥
Therefore, Kṣemadhūrti fled from the crushed elephant. As he approached with a raised sword, Vṛkodara struck him with a mace.
sa papāta hataḥ sāsiḥ vyasuḥ svam abhito dvipam। vajraprarugṇam acalam siṃho vajrahato yathā ॥8-8-44॥
He fell, slain with his sword, lifeless near his own elephant, like a lion struck by a thunderbolt, resembling a mountain shattered by a thunderbolt.
nihataṁ nṛpatiṁ dṛṣṭvā kulūtānāṁ yaśaskaram। prādravadvyathitā senā tvadīyā bharatarṣabha ॥8-8-45॥
Upon witnessing the death of the renowned king of the Kulutas, your army, filled with distress, fled, O esteemed Bharata.
