08.020
Dhritarashtra said:
I, Sanjaya, heard of the very intense and unbearable sorrows, and the destruction of my many sons.
Thus, you tell me that the war is ongoing. However, O charioteer, I firmly believe that the Kauravas are not present.
Duryodhana was left without a chariot in the great battle. How did Dharmaputra or the king manage in that situation?
In the afternoon, how did the battle become so intense and thrilling? Please tell me the truth about it, as you are knowledgeable, Sanjaya.
Sanjaya said:
Your son, O lord of the people, engaged in the armies and fighting in parts, ascended another chariot.
Duryodhana, filled with great anger like a venomous serpent, upon seeing Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, instructed his charioteer to quickly proceed, saying, "Go, go," O Bharata.
"Take me quickly to where the Pāṇḍava is, O charioteer, where the king, adorned and holding an umbrella, shines."
The charioteer, upon the king's command, directed the finest chariot towards Yudhishthira amidst the battle.
Then Yudhishthira, in a state of anger and agitation like a fierce bull, commanded his charioteer to proceed to where Suyodhana was.
The two heroic brothers, who were excellent charioteers, met and, being of great valor and prepared for battle, eagerly engaged each other with arrows in the fight.
Then King Duryodhana, O sir, severed the bow of the virtuous in battle with a stone-sharpened arrow. Enraged by this, Yudhishthira could not tolerate the act and prepared to retaliate.
The son of Dharma, with eyes inflamed by anger, discarded his broken bow and took up another one, standing at the forefront of the army.
Duryodhana's flag and bow were severed. Then, seizing another bow, he retaliated against the Pandava.
They, like two enraged lions, released showers of arrows at each other, driven by the desire to defeat one another.
The two great charioteers, roaring like bulls, struck each other and moved while looking at each other.
Then, O great king, they shone at each other with well-made wounds, as if they were blooming Butea trees, having fully drawn and released their weapons.
Then, O king, there were terrifying lion roars repeatedly, along with the sounds of clapping and the bowstring in the great battle.
The two excellent chariots made the sound of conch roars and fiercely pressed against each other, O great king.
Then, in his wrath, King Yudhishthira, with the speed and force of a thunderbolt, struck your son on the chest with three arrows, making a formidable impact.
Your son swiftly struck the king with five sharp arrows adorned with golden feathers and sharpened on stone.
Then King Duryodhana hurled a powerful weapon, O Bharata, which was all-pervading and sharp, resembling a great meteor.
Dharmaraja swiftly intercepted her approach with three stone-sharpened arrows and then pierced him with seven arrows.
Then, a great cloud, along with the golden staff, fell down, shining like a great meteor and resembling a flame.
Seeing the power destroyed, your son, O lord of the people, attacked Yudhishthira with nine sharp arrows.
He, deeply wounded and a leader among the strong, who torments his enemies, quickly took an arrow aiming at Duryodhana.
The mighty king, filled with anger, took the fierce bow and arrow and shot it with great valor.
The arrow struck your son, the great warrior, causing him to be bewildered, and then it fell to the ground.
Then, in his anger, Duryodhana swiftly raised his mace and charged towards the Pāṇḍava, intending to bring an end to the conflict.
Dharmaraja sent a mighty weapon to your son, appearing like a dark-blue mace raised in hand, resembling death itself; it shone with great speed, like a blazing meteor.
Standing on the chariot, he was struck by her arrow, which penetrated his armor in the great battle; deeply disturbed, he fell and lost consciousness.
Then Kritavarma quickly came and approached your son, the king, who was deeply immersed in sorrow.
Bhima, wielding a grand mace embellished with gold, charged swiftly at Kritavarma in the battle. Thus, the battle ensued between your forces and the enemies.
