08.008
Sanjaya said:
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.
In the great battle, the elephants, chariots, horses, and foot soldiers launched a supreme attack, annihilating the sins associated with the body.
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.
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.
The extended and stretched arms, with their weapons and bracelets, fell severed, as if the mighty warriors were defeated in battle.
The earth then appears to shine with red palms, resembling fierce serpents with five mouths that have been struck by Garuda.
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.
In the battle, hundreds of heroes were struck down by others wielding heavy maces, clubs, and pestles, falling to those who were even braver.
In that extremely chaotic situation, chariots were struck down by other chariots, intoxicated elephants by other intoxicated elephants, and horsemen by other horsemen.
Chariots, excellent chariots, elephants, horse riders, and infantry lie slain in battle, with horse riders and foot soldiers lying down.
Chariots, horses, and foot soldiers are accompanied by elephants and chariots, while elephants and foot soldiers are accompanied by horses, men, and chariots.
A great slaughter was carried out by the chariots, horses, elephants, and men, using their hands, feet, weapons, and chariots.
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.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, the sons of Draupadī, the Prabhadrakas, Sātyaki, and Cekitāna were together with the Dravidian soldiers.
The Pandyas, Cholas, and Keralas, supported by great wealth, are described as broad-chested, long-armed, tall, and handsome.
They are oppressors with red teeth, possessing the strength of intoxicated elephants, adorned in garments of various colors, and smeared with fragrant powders.
O king, those with restrained minds, holding nooses in their hands, stood in the army, preventing obstacles and facing each other equally in death.
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.
Then, once again, the brave warriors from the Cedis, Panchalas, Kekayas, Karushas, Kosalas, Kashis, and Magadhas charged forward.
Their chariots, elephants, and excellent foot soldiers, filled with joy and making various sounds, are dancing and laughing.
Vrikodara (Bhima), surrounded by chief ministers, reached the center of your great army's elephant fortress.
He, the best and very fierce elephant, appeared properly arranged, like the foremost abode of the eastern mountain with the risen sun.
His iron armor, adorned with the finest jewels, shone as brightly as the starry autumn sky.
He, adorned with a beautiful crown and armed with a spear and javelin, moved with the brilliance of the midday sun, scorching his enemies.
Upon seeing the elephant from afar, Kṣemadhūrti, who was standing near it, called out and ran towards it with increasing joy.
A fierce battle arose between the two, resembling a chance encounter between two mighty elephants, akin to the great trees of the mountains.
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.
The two serpents, having withdrawn, moved around in circles and then seized their bows to strike each other.
With whistling and bursting sounds, and the noise of arrows all around, they thrilled the people and roared like lions.
With their hands raised, those two skilled warriors, each on an elephant with flags fluttering in the wind, engaged in a mighty battle.
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.
Then Kṣemadhūrti, with a spear, swiftly pierced Bhīma in the chest, roaring alongside six others.
Bhimasena appeared resplendent, his body adorned with spears, his form blazing with anger like the sun with its seven horses and clouds.
Then Bhima, with a sun-like brilliance and steady determination, hurled the spear with great effort towards the enemy.
Then the lord of Kulūta, having stretched his bow, shot ten arrows to cut the spear and powerfully pierced the Pāṇḍava.
Then, the Pandava, in a frenzy, took up his bow and, with a sound like thunder, tormented the enemy's elephant with his arrows.
The elephant, overwhelmed by Bhimasena's arrows in battle, could not stand as it was restrained, much like a cloud scattered by the wind.
The king of serpents charged towards her like Bhimasena's elephant, resembling a cloud driven by a strong wind.
Kṣemadhūrti, turning back his elephant, carefully shot arrows at the charging Bhīmasena and his elephant.
Then, the noble warrior skillfully used a razor to cut the enemy's bow and tormented the serpent-like foe.
Then Kṣemadhūrti attacked Bhima with a sharp weapon and killed his elephant by shooting arrows into all its vital parts.
Once, after the serpent fell, Bhimasena jumped down and stood on the ground, smashing the enemy's serpent with his mace.
Therefore, Kṣemadhūrti fled from the crushed elephant. As he approached with a raised sword, Vṛkodara struck him with a mace.
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.
Upon witnessing the death of the renowned king of the Kulutas, your army, filled with distress, fled, O esteemed Bharata.
