08.012
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
yathā saṃśaptakaiḥ sārdham arjunasya abhavad raṇaḥ। anyeṣāṃ ca madīyānāṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ tad bravīhi me ॥8-12-1॥
Tell me about the battle that took place between Arjuna and the Saṃśaptakas, and also between my people and the Pāṇḍavas.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
śṛṇu rājanyathāvṛttaṃ saṅgrāmaṃ bruvato mama। vīrāṇāṃ śatrubhiḥ sārdhaṃ dehapāpmapraṇāśanam ॥8-12-2॥
"Listen, O king, to the account of the battle as I narrate it, where the sins of the bodies of heroes were destroyed along with their enemies."
pārthaḥ saṃśaptakagaṇaṃ praviśyārṇavasaṃnibham। vyakṣobhayadamitraghno mahāvāta ivārṇavam ॥8-12-3॥
Arjuna entered the ranks of the warriors sworn to die, resembling a vast ocean, and stirred them like a mighty wind stirs the sea.
śirāṃsyunmathya vīrāṇāṃ śitairbhallairdhanaṅjayaḥ। pūrṇacandrābhavaktrāṇi svakṣibhrūdaśanāni ca ॥ santastāra kṣitiṃ kṣipraṃ vinālairnalinairiva ॥8-12-4॥
Dhananjaya, having severed the heads of the warriors with his sharp arrows, swiftly covered the ground with their faces, eyes, eyebrows, and teeth, resembling stemless lotuses.
suvṛttānāyatānpuṣṭāṃścandanāgurubhūṣitān। sāyudhānsatanutrāṇānpañcāsyoragasaṃnibhān ॥ bāhūnkṣurairamitrāṇāṃ vicakartārjuno raṇe ॥८-१२-५॥
Arjuna, with his well-formed, elongated, and strong arms adorned with sandalwood and aloeswood, armed and resembling five-faced serpents, cut off the arms of his enemies with blades in the battle.
dhuryāndhuryatarānsūtāndhvajāṃścāpāni sāyakān। pāṇīnaratnīnasakṛdbhallaiściccheda pāṇḍavaḥ ॥8-12-6॥
The Pāṇḍava skillfully and repeatedly cut down the horses, superior horses, charioteers, flags, bows, arrows, hands, and jewels with his arrows.
dvipānhayānrathāṃścaiva sārohānarjuno raṇe। śarairanekasāhasrai rājanninye yamakṣayam ॥8-12-7॥
In the battle, Arjuna, with his countless arrows, sent elephants, horses, chariots, and their riders to the realm of Yama, O king.
taṃ pravīraṃ pratīyātā nardamānā iva ṛṣabhāḥ। vāśitārtham abhikruddhā huṅkṛtvā cābhidudruvuḥ ॥ nighnantam abhijaghnus te śaraiḥ śṛṅgair iva ṛṣabhāḥ ॥8-12-8॥
The mighty warriors, like enraged bulls, approached him with a roar, intent on killing. They charged at him, attacking with arrows as if they were bulls using their horns.
tasya teṣāṃ ca tadyuddhamabhavallomaharṣaṇam। trailokyavijaye yādṛgdaityānāṃ saha vajriṇā ॥8-12-9॥
Their battle was as terrifying as the conquest of the three worlds, fought alongside Indra against the demons.
astrairastrāṇi saṁvārya dviṣatāṁ sarvato'rjunaḥ। iṣubhirbahubhistūrṇaṁ viddhvā prāṇānrarāsa saḥ ॥8-12-10॥
Arjuna skillfully countered the enemy's weapons from all directions with his own, swiftly piercing them with numerous arrows, and then he roared in triumph.
chinnatriveṇucakrākṣānhatayodhāśvasārathīn। vidhvastāyudhatuṇīrānsamunmathitaketanān ॥8-12-11॥
The axles of the three-bamboo wheels were cut, the warriors, horses, and charioteers were killed. The weapons and quivers were destroyed, and the banners were completely shattered.
sañchinnayoktraraśmīkānvitriveṇūnvikūbarān। vidhvastabandhurayugānviśastāyudhamanḍalān ॥ rathānviśakalīkurvanmahābhrāṇīva mārutaḥ ॥8-12-12॥
The wind, resembling great clouds, dismantles the chariots with severed yokes and reins, broken axles, shattered bodies, and destroyed beautiful chariots, scattering the circles of slaughtered weapons.
vismāpayanprekṣaṇīyaṃ dviṣātāṃ bhayavardhanam। mahārathasahasrasya samaṃ karmārjuno'karot ॥8-12-13॥
Arjuna performed a remarkable feat that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying to his enemies, equivalent to the might of a thousand great chariots.
siddhadevarṣisaṅghāśca cāraṇāścaiva tuṣṭuvuḥ। devadundubhayo neduḥ puṣpavarṣāṇi cāpatan ॥ keśavārjunayormūrdhni prāha vākcāśarīriṇī ॥8-12-14॥
The assemblies of perfected beings, divine sages, and celestial singers praised them. Divine drums resounded, and flowers showered down upon the heads of Keshava and Arjuna. A bodiless voice spoke.
candrārkānilavahnīnāṃ kāntidīptibaladyutīḥ। yau sadā bibhraturvīrau tāvimau keśavārjunau ॥8-12-15॥
The two heroes, Keshava and Arjuna, always bear the brilliance, splendor, strength, and radiance of the moon, sun, wind, and fire.
brahmeśānāvivājayyau vīrāvekarathe sthitau। sarvabhūtavarau vīrau naranārāyaṇāvubhau ॥8-12-16॥
Brahma and Shiva, the inseparable heroes, stood together in one chariot, being the best among all beings, as the heroes Nara and Narayana.
ityetanmahadāścaryaṃ dṛṣṭvā śrutvā ca bhārata। aśvatthāmā susaṃyattaḥ kṛṣṇāvabhyadravadraṇe ॥8-12-17॥
Upon witnessing and hearing of this great wonder, Aśvatthāmā, fully prepared, charged at the two Krishnas in the battlefield, O Bhārata.
atha pāṇḍavam asyantaṃ yamakālāntakāñ śarān। seṣuṇā pāṇinā āhūya hasan drauṇir athābravīt ॥8-12-18॥
Then, with a smile, Drauṇi called out to Pāṇḍava, who was launching arrows as deadly as Yama, Kāla, and Antaka, using his hand with an arrow, and spoke.
yadi māṃ manyase vīra prāptamarhamivātithim। tataḥ sarvātmanādya tvaṃ yuddhātithyaṃ prayaccha me ॥8-12-19॥
If you regard me as a worthy guest, O hero, then today, with all your heart, grant me the honor of battle.
evamācāryaputreṇa samāhūto yuyutsayā। bahu mene'rjuno''tmānamidaṃ cāha janārdanam ॥8-12-20॥
Thus, called by the teacher's son with the desire to fight, Arjuna thought highly of himself and spoke to Janardana.
saṃśaptakāśca me vadhyā drauṇirāhvayate ca mām। yadatrānantaraṃ prāptaṃ praśādhi tvaṃ mahābhuja ॥8-12-21॥
The warriors sworn to fight to the death and my enemies are to be slain; Drona's son challenges me. You, O mighty-armed one, must command what is to be done next.
evamukto'vahatpārthaṃ kṛṣṇo droṇātmajāntikam। jaitreṇa vidhināhūtaṃ vāyurindramivādhvare ॥8-12-22॥
Upon being instructed, Krishna transported Arjuna to the vicinity of Drona's son, as the wind summons Indra during the ritual.
tamāmantryaikamanasā keśavo drauṇimabravīt। aśvatthāmansthiro bhūtvā praharāśu sahasva ca ॥8-12-23॥
Keshava, with a focused mind, addressed Drona's son, saying, "Ashwatthaman, remain steady, attack swiftly, and endure the challenges."
nirveṣṭuṃ bhartṛpiṇḍaṃ hi kālo'yamupajīvinām। sūkṣmo vivādo viprāṇāṃ sthūlau kṣātrau jayājayau ॥8-12-24॥
"This is indeed the time for dependents to distribute the master's share. The learned engage in subtle disputes, while warriors face the tangible outcomes of victory and defeat."
yāṁ na saṅkṣamase mohādivyāṁ pārthasya satkriyām। tāmāptumicchanyudhyasva sthiro bhūtvādya pāṇḍavam ॥8-12-25॥
O Pandava, today, being steady, fight to obtain that divine honor of Partha which you are unable to achieve due to delusion.
ityukto vāsudevena tathetyuktvā dvijottamaḥ। vivyādha keśavaṃ ṣaṣṭyā nārācairarjunaṃ tribhiḥ ॥8-12-26॥
Upon being addressed by Vāsudeva, the best of the twice-born responded accordingly and attacked Keśava with sixty iron arrows and Arjuna with three.
tasyārjunaḥ susaṅkruddhastribhirbhallaiḥ śarāsanam। cicchedāthānyadādatta drauṇirghorataraṃ dhanuḥ ॥8-12-27॥
Arjuna, in great anger, cut the bow with three arrows. Then, Drona's son took up another, more formidable bow.
sajyaṁ kṛtvā nimeṣāttadvivyādhārjunakeśavau। tribhiḥ śarairvāsudevaṁ sahasreṇa ca pāṇḍavam ॥8-12-28॥
In an instant, having prepared his bowstring, he shot three arrows at Arjuna and Keshava, and a thousand at Vasudeva and Pandava.
tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi prayutānyarbudāni ca। sasṛje drauṇirāyastaḥ sanstabhya ca raṇe'rjunam ॥8-12-29॥
Then, Aśvatthāmā, with great effort, released countless arrows to hold Arjuna at bay in the battle.
iṣudherdhanuṣo jyāyā aṅgulībhyaśca māriṣa। bāhvoḥ karābhyāmuraso vadanaghrāṇanetrataḥ ॥8-12-30॥
O dear, from the quiver, bow, string, fingers, arms, hands, chest, face, nose, and eyes.
karṇābhyāṃ śiraso'ṅgebhyo lomavartmabhya eva ca। rathadhvajebhyaśca śarā niṣpeturbrahmavādinaḥ ॥8-12-31॥
Arrows emerged from the ears, head, limbs, hair-follicles, and even from the chariot-banners, O Brahmanas.
śarajālena mahatā viddhvā keśavapāṇḍavau। nanāda mudito drauṇirmahāmeghaughanisvanaḥ ॥8-12-32॥
Drauni, filled with joy, roared thunderously after piercing Keshava and Pandava with a massive volley of arrows, resembling the sound of a mighty storm cloud.
tasya nānadataḥ śrutvā pāṇḍavo'cyutamabravīt। paśya mādhava daurātmyaṃ droṇaputrasya māṃ prati ॥8-12-33॥
Upon hearing his roar, the Pandava said to Krishna, "Look, O Madhava, at the malice of Drona's son towards me."
vadha-prāptau manyate nau praveśya śaraveśmani। eṣo'sya hanmi saṅkalpaṃ śikṣayā ca balena ca ॥8-12-34॥
In the face of a death sentence, he believes we have entered the realm of arrows. I will break his resolve through both instruction and strength.
aśvatthāmnaḥ śarānastāṃśchittvaikaikaṃ tridhā tridhā। vyadhamadbharataśreṣṭho nīhāramiva mārutaḥ ॥8-12-35॥
O best of the Bharatas, you cut each of Ashwatthama's arrows into three and dispersed them as the wind disperses the mist.
tataḥ saṃśaptakānbhūyaḥ sāśvasūtarathadvipān। dhvajapattigaṇānugrairbāṇairvivyādha pāṇḍavaḥ ॥8-12-36॥
Then the Pāṇḍava once more attacked the Saṃśaptakas, along with their horses, charioteers, elephants, flags, infantry, and troops, using fierce arrows.
ye ye dadṛśire tatra yadyadrūpaṃ yathā yathā। te te tattaccharairvyāptaṃ menire''tmānameva ca ॥8-12-37॥
Those who saw whatever forms were there, perceived themselves as being pervaded by those very arrows.
te gāṇḍīvapraṇuditā nānārūpāḥ patatriṇaḥ। krośe sāgre sthitānghnanti dvipāṃśca puruṣānraṇe ॥8-12-38॥
The birds, transformed into various forms and struck by the Gandiva bow, attack and kill the elephants and men who are positioned at the forefront within a cry's distance in the battle.
bhallaiśchinnāḥ karāḥ petuḥ kariṇāṃ madakarṣiṇām। chinnā yathā paraśubhiḥ pravṛddhāḥ śaradi drumāḥ ॥8-12-39॥
The intoxicated elephants had their trunks severed by arrows, falling like trees that are cut down by axes in the autumn season.
paścāttu śailavatpetuste gajāḥ saha sādibhiḥ। vajrivajrapramathitā yathaivādricayāstathā ॥8-12-40॥
Afterwards, the elephants with their riders fell like rocks, smashed by Indra's thunderbolt, just as mountain peaks would fall.
gandharvanagarākārānvidhivatkalpitānrathān। vinītajavanānyuktānāsthitānyuddhadurmadān ॥8-12-41॥
The chariots, resembling the city of celestial beings, were properly constructed and equipped with trained and swift horses, occupied by warriors who were arrogant and ready for battle.
śarairviśakalīkurvanamitrānabhyavīvṛṣat। alaṅkṛtānaśvasādīnpatttīṃścāhandhanañjayaḥ ॥8-12-42॥
Dhananjaya, with his arrows, shattered and attacked the enemies. He struck the adorned horses, other animals, and foot soldiers.
dhanañjayayugāntārkaḥ saṃśaptakamahārṇavam। vyaśoṣayata duḥśoṣaṃ tīvraiḥ śaragabhastibhiḥ ॥8-12-43॥
Arjuna, resembling the sun at the end of an era, dried up the formidable ocean of the Trigartas with his intense arrows, which was otherwise difficult to dry.
punardrauṇimahāśailaṃ nārācaiḥ sūryasaṃnibhaiḥ। nirbibheda mahāvegāistvaranvajrīva parvatam ॥8-12-44॥
Once more, Drona's son, akin to a towering mountain, was struck by iron arrows that shone like the sun, with immense speed, as if Indra's thunderbolt was rushing towards a mountain.
tamācāryasutaḥ kruddhaḥ sāśvayantāramāśugaiḥ। yuyutsurnāśakadyoddhuṃ pārthastāntarācchinat ॥8-12-45॥
The son of the teacher, filled with anger and accompanied by his swift charioteer, wanted to fight but was unable to engage Arjuna in battle; instead, he cut them off from within.
tataḥ paramasaṅkruddhaḥ kāṇḍakośānavāsṛjat। aśvatthāmābhirūpāya gṛhānatithaye yathā ॥8-12-46॥
Then, in extreme anger, he released the missiles for Ashwatthama, as if they were houses for a guest.
atha saṃśaptakāṃstyaktvā pāṇḍavo drauṇimabhyayāt। apāṅkteyamiva tyaktvā dātā pāṅkteyamarthinam ॥8-12-47॥
Then, leaving the Trigartas behind, the Pandava went towards Drona's son, just as a benefactor leaves the unworthy and approaches the worthy seeker.
tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṁ śukrāṅgirasavarcasoḥ। nakṣatramabhito vyomni śukrāṅgirasayoriva ॥8-12-48॥
Then a battle arose between the brilliance of Shukra and Angiras, resembling stars surrounding the sky, like Shukra and Angiras.
santāpayantāv anyonyaṃ dīptaiḥ śaragabhastibhiḥ। lokatrāsakarāv āstāṃ vimārgasthau grahāv iva ॥8-12-49॥
They were like planets gone astray, causing fear to the world, heating each other with their blazing arrow rays.
tato'vidhyadbhruvormadhye nārācenārjuno bhṛśam। sa tena vibabhau drauṇirūrdhvaraśmiryathā raviḥ ॥8-12-50॥
Then Arjuna, with great force, pierced the space between the eyebrows with an arrow. As a result, Drona's son shone brilliantly, resembling the sun with its upward rays.
atha kṛṣṇau śaraśatairaśvatthāmnārditau bhṛśam। saraśmijālanikarau yugāntārkāvivāsatuḥ ॥8-12-51॥
Then Krishna and Arjuna, severely struck by Ashwatthama's hundreds of arrows, stood firm, resembling the sun at the end of the age with their radiant rays.
tato'rjunaḥ sarvatodhāramastra; mavāsṛjadvāsudevābhiguptaḥ। drauṇāyaniṃ cābhyahanatpṛṣatkai; rvajrāgnivaivasvatadaṇḍakalpaiḥ ॥8-12-52॥
Then Arjuna, under the protection of Vasudeva, unleashed a barrage of weapons from all directions, striking Drona's son with arrows that were as powerful as thunderbolts, fire, and the rod of Vaivasvata.
sa keśavaṁ cārjunaṁ cātitejā; vivyādha marmasvatiraudrakarmā। bāṇaiḥ sumuktairatitīvravegai; ryairāhato mṛtyurapi vyatheta ॥8-12-53॥
The very powerful warrior pierced Keshava and Arjuna in their vital parts with arrows that were released with such intense speed and precision that even death itself would tremble.
drauṇeriṣūnarjunaḥ saṃnivārya; vyāyacchatastaddviguṇaiḥ supuṅkhaiḥ। taṃ sāśvasūtadhvajamekavīra; māvṛtya saṃśaptakasainyamārchat ॥8-12-54॥
Arjuna skillfully repelled Drona's arrows and responded with twice as many well-feathered arrows. The lone hero, with his horse, charioteer, and banner, surrounded and attacked the Saṃśaptaka army.
dhanūṃṣi bāṇāni śudhīrdhanurjyāḥ; pāṇīn bhujān pāṇigataṃ ca śastram. chatrāṇi ketūṃs turagān athaiṣāṃ; vastrāṇi mālyāny atha bhūṣaṇāni ॥8-12-55॥
The bows, arrows, quivers, and bowstrings; the hands, arms, and weapons held in hand. The umbrellas, banners, horses, and their garments, garlands, and ornaments are described.
carmāṇi varmāṇi manorathāṃśca; priyāṇi sarvāṇi śirāṃsi caiva। ciccheda pārtho dviṣatāṃ pramuktai; rbāṇaiḥ sthitānāmaparāṅmukhānām ॥8-12-56॥
Arjuna, with his released arrows, cut off the skins, armors, desires, and all the dear heads of the enemies who were standing turned away.
sukalpitāḥ syandanavājināgāḥ; samāsthitāḥ kṛtayatnairnṛvīraiḥ। pārtheritairbāṇagaṇairnirastā; staireva sārdhaṃ nṛvarairnipetuḥ ॥8-12-57॥
The well-arranged chariots, horses, and elephants, positioned by the heroes with great effort, were driven away by the groups of arrows dispatched by Arjuna; they fell down together with the best of men.
padmārkapūrṇendusamānanāni; kirīṭamālāmukuṭotkaṭāni। bhallārdhacandrakṣurahiṃsitāni; prapetururvyāṃ nṛśirāṃsyajasram ॥8-12-58॥
The faces, resembling lotus, sun, and full moon, adorned with prominent crowns, garlands, and diadems, were injured by arrows and half-moon shaped razors, causing the heads of men to continuously fall on the earth.
atha dvipairdevapatidvipābhai; rdevāridarpolbaṇamanyudarpaiḥ। kaliṅgavaṅgāṅganiṣādavīrā; jighāṁsavaḥ pāṇḍavamabhyadhāvan ॥8-12-59॥
Then, the heroes from Kalinga, Vanga, Anga, and Nishada, mounted on elephants resembling those of the lord of gods, driven by intense pride and anger, charged at the Pandava with the intent to kill.
teṣāṃ dvipānāṃ vicakarta pārtho; varmāṇi marmāṇi karānniyantṝn। dhvajāḥ patākāśca tataḥ prapetu; rvajrāhatānīva gireḥ śirāṃsi ॥8-12-60॥
Arjuna, with his skill, dismantled the elephants' defenses, cutting through their armors, vital points, and the hands of their drivers. Consequently, the flags and banners toppled as if the peaks of a mountain were struck by a thunderbolt.
teṣu prarugṇeṣu gurostanūjaṃ; bāṇaiḥ kirīṭī navasūryavarṇaiḥ। pracchādayāmāsa mahābhrajālai; rvāyuḥ samudyuktamivāṃśumantam ॥8-12-61॥
In the midst of the wounded, Arjuna, the son of the teacher, covered the sky with arrows like a new sun, as if the wind was engaged with a great mass of clouds, obscuring the sun.
tato'rjuneṣūniṣubhirnirāsya; drauṇiḥ śarairarjunavāsudevau। pracchādayitva divi candrasūryau; nanāda so'mbhoda ivātapānte ॥8-12-62॥
Then, Drona's son repelled Arjuna's arrows with his own and covered Arjuna and Vasudeva with arrows. He roared in the sky like a cloud at the end of the summer heat.
tamarjunastāṁśca punastvadīyā; nabhyarditastairavikṛttaśastraiḥ। bāṇāndhakāraṁ sahasaiva kṛtvā; vivyādha sarvāniṣubhiḥ supuṅkhaiḥ ॥8-12-63॥
Arjuna, undeterred by your men whose weapons remained unbroken, swiftly cast a veil of darkness with his arrows and struck all with precision-guided shafts.
nāpyādadatsaṃdadhannaiva muñca; nbāṇānraṇe'dṛśyata savyasācī। hatāṃśca nāgāṃsturagānpadātī; nsaṃsyūtadehāndadṛśū rathāṃśca ॥8-12-64॥
Arjuna, known as Savyasachi, was not seen taking, fixing, or releasing arrows in the battle. Instead, the battlefield was filled with the sight of slain elephants, horses, foot soldiers, and chariots, with bodies pierced.
sandhāya nārācavarāndaśāśu; drauṇistvarannekamivotsasarja. teṣāṃ ca pañcārjunamabhyavidhya; npañcācyutaṃ nirbibhiduḥ sumuktāḥ ॥8-12-65॥
Drona's son, having swiftly fixed ten of the finest arrows, released them as if they were one. Out of these, five struck Arjuna and five pierced Acyuta (Krishna) with precision.
tairāhatau sarvamanuṣyamukhyā; vasṛkkṣarantau dhanadendrakalpau। samāptavidyena yathābhibhūtau; hatau svidetau kimu menire'nye ॥8-12-66॥
Struck by them, the chief among all humans, bleeding like Kubera and Indra, were overcome by complete knowledge and killed; what then did others think of these two?
athārjunaṃ prāha daśārhanāthaḥ; pramādyase kiṃ jahi yodhametam। kuryāddhi doṣaṃ samupekṣito'sau; kaṣṭo bhavedvyādhirivākriyāvān ॥8-12-67॥
Then the lord of the Dasharhas said to Arjuna, "Why are you negligent? Slay this warrior. If he is overlooked, he may indeed cause harm, like a disease that becomes difficult to treat."
tatheti coktvācyutamapramādī; drauṇiṃ prayatnādiṣubhistatakṣa। chittvāśvaraśmīṃsturagānavidhya; tte taṃ raṇādūhuratīva dūram ॥8-12-68॥
After addressing Krishna, the unfailing one, he skillfully struck Drona's son with arrows. Cutting the reins of the horses, they swiftly carried him far away from the battlefield.
āvṛtya neyeṣa punastu yuddhaṁ; pārthena sārdhaṁ matimānvimṛśya। jānañjayaṁ niyataṁ vṛṣṇivīre; dhanañjaye cāṅgirasāṁ variṣṭhaḥ ॥8-12-69॥
Having surrounded, he desired to lead again to battle; together with Arjuna, the wise one, having considered. Knowing victory was certain among the Vrishni heroes, in Dhananjaya and the foremost of the Angiras.
pratīpakāye tu raṇādaśvatthāmni hṛte hayaiḥ। mantrauṣadhikriyādānairvyādhau dehādivāhṛte ॥8-12-70॥
Ashvatthaman was taken away from the battle by the horses to the opposing side. Through mantras and medicinal actions, he was brought back as if recovering from a disease, like a body being restored.
saṁśaptakānabhimukhau prayātau keśavārjunau। vātoddhūtapatākena syandanenaughanādinā ॥8-12-71॥
Keshava and Arjuna advanced towards the Samsaptakas, confronting them with their chariot, which had flags fluttering in the wind and made a roaring sound.
