08.035
Core and Pancharatra: Duryodhana orders his brothers to attack Bhima, in-order to protect Karna. But eleven of them are killed by Bhima. Though Karna wanted to help, was held back by Satyaki.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said:
सुदुष्करमिदं कर्म कृतं भीमेन सञ्जय। येन कर्णो महाबाहू रथोपस्थे निपातितः ॥८-३५-१॥
Sanjaya, Bhima accomplished the formidable task of felling the mighty-armed Karna on the chariot seat.
कर्णो ह्येको रणे हन्ता सृञ्जयान्पाण्डवैः सह। इति दुर्योधनः सूत प्राब्रवीन्मां मुहुर्मुहुः ॥८-३५-२॥
Duryodhana repeatedly told me, O charioteer, that Karna alone is the slayer of the Srinjayas and the Pandavas in battle.
पराजितं तु राधेयं दृष्ट्वा भीमेन संयुगे। ततः परं किमकरोत्पुत्रो दुर्योधनो मम ॥८-३५-३॥
Upon witnessing Radheya's defeat at the hands of Bhima in the battle, what actions did my son Duryodhana take next?
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
विभ्रान्तं प्रेक्ष्य राधेयं सूतपुत्रं महाहवे। महत्या सेनया राजन्सोदर्यान्समभाषत ॥८-३५-४॥
Seeing Karna, the son of Radha, bewildered in the great battle, O king, he addressed his brothers with a mighty army.
शीघ्रं गच्छत भद्रं वो राधेयं परिरक्षत। भीमसेनभयागाधे मज्जन्तं व्यसनार्णवे ॥८-३५-५॥
Quickly go and protect your noble Radheya, who is drowning in the deep ocean of troubles and the fear of Bhimasena.
ते तु राज्ञा समादिष्टा भीमसेनजिघांसवः। अभ्यवर्तन्त सङ्क्रुद्धाः पतङ्गा इव पावकम् ॥८-३५-६॥
Ordered by the king, they, enraged and intent on killing Bhimasena, advanced like moths drawn to a flame.
श्रुतायुर्दुर्धरः क्राथो विवित्सुर्विकटः समः। निषङ्गी कवची पाशी तथा नन्दोपनन्दकौ ॥८-३५-७॥
Śrutāyu, Durdhara, Krātha, Vivitsu, Vikaṭa, Sama, Niṣaṅgī, Kavacī, Pāśī, along with Nanda and Upananda, were present.
दुष्प्रधर्षः सुबाहुश्च वातवेगसुवर्चसौ। धनुर्ग्राहो दुर्मदश्च तथा सत्त्वसमः सहः ॥८-३५-८॥
He is difficult to attack, with strong arms, swift as the wind and radiant. He wields a bow, is proud, and is also equal in strength and enduring.
एते रथैः परिवृता वीर्यवन्तो महाबलाः। भीमसेनं समासाद्य समन्तात्पर्यवारयन् ॥ ते व्यमुञ्चञ्शरव्रातान्नानालिङ्गान्समन्ततः ॥८-३५-९॥
The mighty and valiant warriors, encircled by chariots, approached Bhimasena from all directions and surrounded him. They unleashed volleys of arrows of various kinds from every direction.
स तैरभ्यर्द्यमानस्तु भीमसेनो महाबलः। तेषामापततां क्षिप्रं सुतानां ते नराधिप ॥ रथैः पञ्चाशता सार्धं पञ्चाशन्न्यहनद्रथान् ॥८-३५-१०॥
Mighty Bhimasena, though being attacked by them, quickly struck down fifty and a half of your sons' chariots, O king.
विवित्सोस्तु ततः क्रुद्धो भल्लेनापाहरच्छिरः। सकुण्डलशिरस्त्राणं पूर्णचन्द्रोपमं तदा ॥ भीमेन च महाराज स पपात हतो भुवि ॥८-३५-११॥
In his wrath, Bhima severed Vivitsa's head with an arrow, the head adorned with earrings and a helmet, shining like the full moon. O great king, Vivitsa fell dead on the ground.
तं दृष्ट्वा निहतं शूरं भ्रातरः सर्वतः प्रभो। अभ्यद्रवन्त समरे भीमं भीमपराक्रमम् ॥८-३५-१२॥
Upon seeing the fallen hero, the brothers, from all directions, rushed towards Bhima, who was of formidable strength, in the battlefield, O lord.
ततोऽपराभ्यां भल्लाभ्यां पुत्रयोस्ते महाहवे। जहार समरे प्राणान्भीमो भीमपराक्रमः ॥८-३५-१३॥
Then, with his formidable prowess, Bhima used two other arrows to take the lives of your sons in the great battle.
तौ धरामन्वपद्येतां वातरुग्णाविव द्रुमौ। विकटश्च समश्चोभौ देवगर्भसमौ नृप ॥८-३५-१४॥
O king, they both descended to the earth like trees broken by the wind, appearing both huge and equal, resembling celestial beings.
ततस्तु त्वरितो भीमः क्राथं निन्ये यमक्षयम्। नाराचेन सुतीक्ष्णेन स हतो न्यपतद्भुवि ॥८-३५-१५॥
Then, with great speed, Bhima sent Kratha to the realm of Yama. Struck by a sharp arrow, he fell lifeless to the ground.
हाहाकारस्ततस्तीव्रः सम्बभूव जनेश्वर। वध्यमानेषु ते राजंस्तदा पुत्रेषु धन्विषु ॥८-३५-१६॥
An intense uproar arose among the people when your sons, the archers, were being slain, O king.
तेषां संलुलिते सैन्ये भीमसेनो महाबलः। नन्दोपनन्दौ समरे प्रापयद्यमसादनम् ॥८-३५-१७॥
In the midst of the shattered army, the mighty Bhimasena sent Nanda and Upananda to the realm of Yama during the battle.
ततस्ते प्राद्रवन्भीताः पुत्रास्ते विह्वलीकृताः। भीमसेनं रणे दृष्ट्वा कालान्तकयमोपमम् ॥८-३५-१८॥
Then, the terrified sons, overwhelmed with fear, fled upon seeing Bhimasena in the battlefield, who appeared like the very embodiment of death.
पुत्रांस्ते निहतान्दृष्ट्वा सूतपुत्रो महामनाः। हंसवर्णान्हयान्भूयः प्राहिणोद्यत्र पाण्डवः ॥८-३५-१९॥
Upon witnessing the death of your sons, the noble-minded son of a charioteer dispatched white horses once more to the location of the Pandava.
ते प्रेषिता महाराज मद्रराजेन वाजिनः। भीमसेनरथं प्राप्य समसज्जन्त वेगिताः ॥८-३५-२०॥
The horses, dispatched by the king of Madra, swiftly reached and were harnessed to Bhimasena's chariot, O great king.
स संनिपातस्तुमुलो घोररूपो विशां पते। आसीद्रौद्रो महाराज कर्णपाण्डवयोर्मृधे ॥८-३५-२१॥
The tumultuous and terrifying clash, O lord of the people, was fierce, O great king, during the battle between Karna and the Pandavas.
दृष्ट्वा मम महाराज तौ समेतौ महारथौ। आसीद्बुद्धिः कथं नूनमेतदद्य भविष्यति ॥८-३५-२२॥
O great king, having seen those two great charioteers assembled, I thought: how indeed will this happen today?
ततो मुहूर्ताद्राजेन्द्र नातिकृच्छ्राद्धसन्निव। विरथं भीमकर्माणं भीमं कर्णश्चकार ह ॥८-३५-२३॥
Then, O King, after a moment, Karna, with apparent ease and a smile, made the mighty Bhima lose his chariot.
विरथो भरतश्रेष्ठः प्रहसन्ननिलोपमः। गदाहस्तो महाबाहुरपतत्स्यन्दनोत्तमात् ॥८-३५-२४॥
The best of the Bharatas, smiling and swift as the wind, descended from his excellent chariot, mace in hand, showcasing his mighty arms.
नागान्सप्तशतान्राजन्नीषादन्तान्प्रहारिणः। व्यधमत्सहसा भीमः क्रुद्धरूपः परन्तपः ॥८-३५-२५॥
Bhima, in his wrathful form, suddenly attacked and destroyed seven hundred elephants with sharp tusks, O king, demonstrating his fierce power.
दन्तवेष्टेषु नेत्रेषु कम्भेषु स कटेषु च। मर्मस्वपि च मर्मज्ञो निनदन्व्यधमद्भृशम् ॥८-३५-२६॥
He, knowing the vital points, roared and pierced violently in the teeth, eyes, shoulders, hips, and vital parts.
ततस्ते प्राद्रवन्भीताः प्रतीपं प्रहिताः पुनः। महामात्रैस्तमावव्रुर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम् ॥८-३५-२७॥
Then, in fear, they ran away again in the opposite direction as sent. The ministers surrounded him like clouds enveloping the sun.
तान्स सप्तशतान्नागान्सारोहायुधकेतनान्। भूमिष्ठो गदया जघ्ने शरन्मेघानिवानिलः ॥८-३५-२८॥
Standing firmly on the ground, he struck down the seven hundred elephants with their riders, weapons, and banners, just as the wind disperses autumn clouds.
ततः सुबलपुत्रस्य नागानतिबलान्पुनः। पोथयामास कौन्तेयो द्वापञ्चाशतमाहवे ॥८-३५-२९॥
Then the son of Kunti once again crushed the fifty-two mighty elephants of Subala's son in the battle.
तथा रथशतं साग्रं पत्तींश्च शतशोऽपरान्। न्यहनत्पाण्डवो युद्धे तापयंस्तव वाहिनीम् ॥८-३५-३०॥
In this way, the Pāṇḍava destroyed more than a hundred chariots and numerous other foot soldiers in the battle, causing distress to your forces.
प्रताप्यमानं सूर्येण भीमेन च महात्मना। तव सैन्यं सञ्चुकोच चर्म वह्निगतं यथा ॥८-३५-३१॥
Your army, scorched by the sun and the mighty Bhima, shrank like skin exposed to fire.
ते भीमभयसन्त्रस्तास्तावका भरतर्षभ। विहाय समरे भीमं दुद्रुवुर्वै दिशो दश ॥८-३५-३२॥
Terrified by Bhima, your soldiers, O best of the Bharatas, fled in all directions, abandoning Bhima in the battlefield.
रथाः पञ्चशताश्चान्ये ह्रादिनश्चर्मवर्मिणः। भीममभ्यद्रवंस्तूर्णं शरपूगैः समन्ततः ॥८-३५-३३॥
Five hundred other roaring chariots, clad in leather armor, swiftly attacked Bhima from all directions with volleys of arrows.
तान्ससूतरथान्सर्वान्सपताकाध्वजायुधान्। पोथयामास गदया भीमो विष्णुरिवासुरान् ॥८-३५-३४॥
Bhima, like Vishnu vanquishing demons, smashed all those chariots along with their charioteers, banners, flags, and weapons with his mace.
ततः शकुनिनिर्दिष्टाः सादिनः शूरसंमताः। त्रिसाहस्रा ययुर्भीमं शक्त्यृष्टिप्रासपाणयः ॥८-३५-३५॥
Then, as indicated by Shakuni, three thousand horsemen, esteemed by heroes, advanced towards Bhima, armed with spears, javelins, and lances.
तान्प्रत्युद्गम्य यवनानश्वारोहान्वरारिहा। विचरन्विविधान्मार्गान्घातयामास पोथयन् ॥८-३५-३६॥
The great enemy slayer approached the Yavana horse riders, moving through various paths, and killed and crushed them.
तेषामासीन्महाञ्शब्दस्ताडितानां च सार्वशः। असिभिश्छिद्यमानानां नडानामिव भारत ॥८-३५-३७॥
O Bhārata, there was a great sound everywhere of them being struck, like reeds being cut by swords.
एवं सुबलपुत्रस्य त्रिसाहस्रान्हयोत्तमान्। हत्वान्यं रथमास्थाय क्रुद्धो राधेयमभ्ययात् ॥८-३५-३८॥
Thus, after killing the three thousand finest horses of Subala's son, he mounted another chariot in anger and approached Radheya.
कर्णोऽपि समरे राजन्धर्मपुत्रमरिंदमम्। शरैः प्रच्छादयामास सारथिं चाप्यपातयत् ॥८-३५-३९॥
Karna, in the battle, O King, covered Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma and subduer of enemies, with arrows and also knocked down his charioteer.
ततः सम्प्रद्रुतं सङ्ख्ये रथं दृष्ट्वा महारथः। अन्वधावत्किरन्बाणैः कङ्कपत्रैरजिह्मगैः ॥८-३५-४०॥
Then the great warrior, seeing the chariot fleeing in battle, chased it, showering it with straight-flying feathered arrows.
राजानमभि धावन्तं शरैरावृत्य रोदसी। क्रुद्धः प्रच्छादयामास शरजालेन मारुतिः ॥८-३५-४१॥
The angry Hanuman, son of the wind, charged towards the king, enveloping the sky and earth with arrows, and shrouded him in a net of arrows.
संनिवृत्तस्ततस्तूर्णं राधेयः शत्रुकर्शनः। भीमं प्रच्छादयामास समन्तान्निशितैः शरैः ॥८-३५-४२॥
Then Radheya, known for tormenting his enemies, swiftly returned and surrounded Bhima with a barrage of sharp arrows.
भीमसेनरथव्यग्रं कर्णं भारत सात्यकिः। अभ्यर्दयदमेयात्मा पार्ष्णिग्रहणकारणात् ॥ अभ्यवर्तत कर्णस्तमर्दितोऽपि शरैर्भृशम् ॥८-३५-४३॥
Satyaki, with his immeasurable soul, attacked Karna, who was absorbed in Bhimasena's chariot, O Bharata, to seize the rear. Despite being severely afflicted by arrows, Karna turned back.
तावन्योन्यं समासाद्य वृषभौ सर्वधन्विनाम्। विसृजन्तौ शरांश्चित्रान्विभ्राजेतां मनस्विनौ ॥८-३५-४४॥
Those two spirited warriors, like bulls among all archers, approached each other and shone brightly as they released their varied arrows.
ताभ्यां वियति राजेन्द्र विततं भीमदर्शनम्। क्रौञ्चपृष्ठारुणं रौद्रं बाणजालं व्यदृश्यत ॥८-३५-४५॥
O King, in the sky, a terrifying and fierce network of arrows, crimson like the back of a heron, was seen by those two.
नैव सूर्यप्रभां खं वा न दिशः प्रदिशः कुतः। प्राज्ञासिष्म वयं ताभ्यां शरैर्मुक्तैः सहस्रशः ॥८-३५-४६॥
We were unable to see the sunlight, the sky, or any directions due to the thousands of arrows released by them.
मध्याह्ने तपतो राजन्भास्करस्य महाप्रभाः। हृताः सर्वाः शरौघैस्तैः कर्णमाधवयोस्तदा ॥८-३५-४७॥
At noon, O king, the brilliant rays of the sun were obscured by the shower of arrows from Karna and Madhava.
सौबलं कृतवर्माणं द्रौणिमाधिरथिं कृपम्। संसक्तान्पाण्डवैर्दृष्ट्वा निवृत्ताः कुरवः पुनः ॥८-३५-४८॥
Upon witnessing Saubala, Kritavarma, Ashwatthama (Drona's son), Karna, and Kripa engaged in battle with the Pandavas, the Kauravas decided to retreat once more.
तेषामापततां शब्दस्तीव्र आसीद्विशां पते। उद्धूतानां यथा वृष्ट्या सागराणां भयावहः ॥८-३५-४९॥
The sound of their attack was intense and terrifying, O lord of the people, like the roar of oceans agitated by a storm.
ते सेने भृशसंविग्ने दृष्ट्वान्योन्यं महारणे। हर्षेण महता युक्ते परिगृह्य परस्परम् ॥८-३५-५०॥
The armies, greatly agitated, saw each other in the great battle and, filled with great joy, they embraced each other.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं मध्यं प्राप्ते दिवाकरे। यादृशं न कदाचिद्धि दृष्टपूर्वं न च श्रुतम् ॥८-३५-५१॥
Then, as the sun reached its zenith, a battle commenced, the likes of which had never been seen or heard before.
बलौघस्तु समासाद्य बलौघं सहसा रणे। उपासर्पत वेगेन जलौघ इव सागरम् ॥८-३५-५२॥
"But the mighty force, having suddenly approached the other mighty force in battle, advanced swiftly like a torrent of water towards the ocean."
आसीन्निनादः सुमहान्बलौघानां परस्परम्। गर्जतां सागरौघाणां यथा स्यान्निस्वनो महान् ॥८-३५-५३॥
There was a tremendous noise as the mighty armies clashed with each other, resembling the roaring of ocean waves, creating a great sound.
ते तु सेने समासाद्य वेगवत्यौ परस्परम्। एकीभावमनुप्राप्ते नद्याविव समागमे ॥८-३५-५४॥
The two swift armies approached each other and united, like rivers coming together.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं विशां पते। कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च लिप्सतां सुमहद्यशः ॥८-३५-५५॥
Then the battle of a terrible form commenced, O lord of men, between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, who were desiring great fame.
कुरूणां गर्जतां तत्र अविच्छेदकृता गिरः। श्रूयन्ते विविधा राजन्नामान्युद्दिश्य भारत ॥८-३५-५६॥
O King, O Bharata, the voices of the Kurus, roaring without interruption, are heard there, mentioning various names.
यस्य यद्धि रणे न्यङ्गं पितृतो मातृतोऽपि वा। कर्मतः शीलतो वापि स तच्छ्रावयते युधि ॥८-३५-५७॥
In battle, one reveals the defects inherited from father, mother, actions, or character.
तान्दृष्ट्वा समरे शूरांस्तर्जयानान्परस्परम्। अभवन्मे मती राजन्नैषामस्तीति जीवितम् ॥८-३५-५८॥
Upon witnessing the heroes threatening each other in battle, I realized, O king, that these men have no chance of survival.
तेषां दृष्ट्वा तु क्रुद्धानां वपूंष्यमिततेजसाम्। अभवन्मे भयं तीव्रं कथमेतद्भविष्यति ॥८-३५-५९॥
Seeing their angry forms of immeasurable splendor, I was struck with intense fear; how will this turn out?
ततस्ते पाण्डवा राजन्कौरवाश्च महारथाः। ततक्षुः सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्निघ्नन्तो हि परस्परम् ॥८-३५-६०॥
Then, O king, the great warriors, the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas, engaged in fierce battle, striking each other with sharp arrows.
