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.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
suduṣkaramidaṃ karma kṛtaṃ bhīmena sañjaya। yena karṇo mahābāhū rathopasthe nipātitaḥ ॥8-35-1॥
Sanjaya, Bhima accomplished the formidable task of felling the mighty-armed Karna on the chariot seat.
karṇo hyeko raṇe hantā sṛñjayān pāṇḍavaiḥ saha। iti duryodhanaḥ sūta prābravīn māṃ muhur muhuḥ ॥8-35-2॥
Duryodhana repeatedly told me, O charioteer, that Karna alone is the slayer of the Srinjayas and the Pandavas in battle.
parājitaṃ tu rādheyaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmena saṃyuge। tataḥ paraṃ kimakarotputro duryodhano mama ॥8-35-3॥
Upon witnessing Radheya's defeat at the hands of Bhima in the battle, what actions did my son Duryodhana take next?
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
vibhrāntaṃ prekṣya rādheyaṃ sūtaputraṃ mahāhave। mahatyā senayā rājansodaryānsamabhāṣata ॥8-35-4॥
Seeing Karna, the son of Radha, bewildered in the great battle, O king, he addressed his brothers with a mighty army.
śīghraṃ gacchata bhadraṃ vo rādheyaṃ parirakṣata। bhīmasenabhayāgādhe majjantaṃ vyasanārṇave ॥8-35-5॥
Quickly go and protect your noble Radheya, who is drowning in the deep ocean of troubles and the fear of Bhimasena.
te tu rājñā samādiṣṭā bhīmasenajighāṃsavaḥ। abhyavartanta saṅkruddhāḥ pataṅgā iva pāvakam ॥8-35-6॥
Ordered by the king, they, enraged and intent on killing Bhimasena, advanced like moths drawn to a flame.
śrutāyurdurdharaḥ krātho vivitsurvikaṭaḥ samaḥ। niṣaṅgī kavacī pāśī tathā nandopanandakau ॥8-35-7॥
Śrutāyu, Durdhara, Krātha, Vivitsu, Vikaṭa, Sama, Niṣaṅgī, Kavacī, Pāśī, along with Nanda and Upananda, were present.
duṣpradharṣaḥ subāhuśca vātavegasuvarcasau। dhanurgrāho durmadaśca tathā sattvasamaḥ sahaḥ ॥8-35-8॥
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.
ete rathaiḥ parivṛtā vīryavanto mahābalāḥ। bhīmasenaṃ samāsādya samantātparyavārayan ॥ te vyamuñcañśaravrātānnānāliṅgānsamantataḥ ॥8-35-9॥
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.
sa tairabhyardyamānastu bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ। teṣāmāpatatāṃ kṣipraṃ sutānāṃ te narādhipa ॥ rathaiḥ pañcāśatā sārdhaṃ pañcāśannyahanadrathān ॥8-35-10॥
Mighty Bhimasena, though being attacked by them, quickly struck down fifty and a half of your sons' chariots, O king.
vivitsostu tataḥ kruddho bhallenāpāharacchiraḥ। sakuṇḍalaśirastrāṇaṃ pūrṇacandropamaṃ tadā ॥ bhīmena ca mahārāja sa papāta hato bhuvi ॥8-35-11॥
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.
taṁ dṛṣṭvā nihataṁ śūraṁ bhrātaraḥ sarvataḥ prabho। abhyadravanta samare bhīmaṁ bhīmaparākramam ॥8-35-12॥
Upon seeing the fallen hero, the brothers, from all directions, rushed towards Bhima, who was of formidable strength, in the battlefield, O lord.
tato'parābhyāṃ bhallābhyāṃ putrayoste mahāhave। jahāra samare prāṇānbhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ ॥8-35-13॥
Then, with his formidable prowess, Bhima used two other arrows to take the lives of your sons in the great battle.
tau dharāmanvapadyetāṃ vātarugṇāviva drumau। vikaṭaśca samaścobhau devagarbhasamau nṛpa ॥8-35-14॥
O king, they both descended to the earth like trees broken by the wind, appearing both huge and equal, resembling celestial beings.
tatastu tvarito bhīmaḥ krāthaṃ ninye yamakṣayam। nārācena sutīkṣṇena sa hato nyapatadbhuvi ॥8-35-15॥
Then, with great speed, Bhima sent Kratha to the realm of Yama. Struck by a sharp arrow, he fell lifeless to the ground.
hāhākārastatastīvraḥ sambabhūva janeśvara। vadhyamāneṣu te rājaṃstadā putreṣu dhanviṣu ॥8-35-16॥
An intense uproar arose among the people when your sons, the archers, were being slain, O king.
teṣāṃ saṃlulite sainye bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ। nandopananadau samare prāpayadyamasādanam ॥8-35-17॥
In the midst of the shattered army, the mighty Bhimasena sent Nanda and Upananda to the realm of Yama during the battle.
tataste prādravanbhītāḥ putrāste vihvalīkṛtāḥ। bhīmasenaṃ raṇe dṛṣṭvā kālāntakayamopamam ॥8-35-18॥
Then, the terrified sons, overwhelmed with fear, fled upon seeing Bhimasena in the battlefield, who appeared like the very embodiment of death.
putrāṁste nihatāndṛṣṭvā sūtaputro mahāmanāḥ। haṁsavarṇānhayānbhūyaḥ prāhiṇodyatra pāṇḍavaḥ ॥8-35-19॥
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.
te preṣitā mahārāja madrarājena vājinaḥ। bhīmasenarathaṃ prāpya samasajjanta vegitāḥ ॥8-35-20॥
The horses, dispatched by the king of Madra, swiftly reached and were harnessed to Bhimasena's chariot, O great king.
sa saṁnipātastumulo ghorarūpo viśāṁ pate। āsīdraudro mahārāja karṇapāṇḍavayormṛdhe ॥8-35-21॥
The tumultuous and terrifying clash, O lord of the people, was fierce, O great king, during the battle between Karna and the Pandavas.
dṛṣṭvā mama mahārāja tau sametau mahārathau। āsīdbuddhiḥ kathaṃ nūnametadadya bhaviṣyati ॥8-35-22॥
O great king, having seen those two great charioteers assembled, I thought: how indeed will this happen today?
tato muhūrtādrājendra nātikṛcchrāddhasanniva। virathaṃ bhīmakarmāṇaṃ bhīmaṃ karṇaścakāra ha ॥8-35-23॥
Then, O King, after a moment, Karna, with apparent ease and a smile, made the mighty Bhima lose his chariot.
viratho bharataśreṣṭhaḥ prahasannnilopamaḥ। gadāhasto mahābāhurapatatsyandanottamāt ॥8-35-24॥
The best of the Bharatas, smiling and swift as the wind, descended from his excellent chariot, mace in hand, showcasing his mighty arms.
nāgānsaptaśatānrājannīṣādantānprahāriṇaḥ। vyadhamatsahasā bhīmaḥ kruddharūpaḥ parantapaḥ ॥8-35-25॥
Bhima, in his wrathful form, suddenly attacked and destroyed seven hundred elephants with sharp tusks, O king, demonstrating his fierce power.
dantaveṣṭeṣu netreṣu kambheṣu sa kaṭeṣu ca। marmasvapi ca marmajño ninadanvyadhamadbhr̥śam ॥8-35-26॥
He, knowing the vital points, roared and pierced violently in the teeth, eyes, shoulders, hips, and vital parts.
tataste prādravanbhītāḥ pratīpaṃ prahitāḥ punaḥ। mahāmātraistamāvavrummeghā iva divākaram ॥8-35-27॥
Then, in fear, they ran away again in the opposite direction as sent. The ministers surrounded him like clouds enveloping the sun.
tāns saptaśatānnāgānsārohāyudhaketanān। bhūmiṣṭho gadayā jaghne śaranmeghānivānilaḥ ॥8-35-28॥
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.
tataḥ subalaputrasya nāgān atibalān punaḥ। pothayām āsa kaunteyo dvāpañcāśatam āhave ॥8-35-29॥
Then the son of Kunti once again crushed the fifty-two mighty elephants of Subala's son in the battle.
tathā rathaśataṃ sāgraṃ pattīṃśca śataśo'parān। nyahanatpāṇḍavo yuddhe tāpayaṃstava vāhinīm ॥8-35-30॥
In this way, the Pāṇḍava destroyed more than a hundred chariots and numerous other foot soldiers in the battle, causing distress to your forces.
pratāpyamānaṃ sūryeṇa bhīmena ca mahātmanā। tava sainyaṃ sañcuko ca carma vahnigataṃ yathā ॥8-35-31॥
Your army, scorched by the sun and the mighty Bhima, shrank like skin exposed to fire.
te bhīmabhayasantrastāstāvakā bharatarṣabha। vihāya samare bhīmaṃ dudruvurvai diśo daśa ॥8-35-32॥
Terrified by Bhima, your soldiers, O best of the Bharatas, fled in all directions, abandoning Bhima in the battlefield.
rathāḥ pañcaśatāścānye hrādinaścarmavarminaḥ। bhīmamabhyadravaṃstūrṇaṃ śarapūgaiḥ samantataḥ ॥8-35-33॥
Five hundred other roaring chariots, clad in leather armor, swiftly attacked Bhima from all directions with volleys of arrows.
tānsasūtarathānsarvānsapatākadhvajāyudhān। pothayāmāsa gadayā bhīmo viṣṇurivāsurān ॥8-35-34॥
Bhima, like Vishnu vanquishing demons, smashed all those chariots along with their charioteers, banners, flags, and weapons with his mace.
tataḥ śakuninirdiṣṭāḥ sā dinaḥ śūrasaṃmatāḥ। trisāhasrā yayurbhīmaṃ śaktyṛṣṭiprāsapāṇayaḥ ॥8-35-35॥
Then, as indicated by Shakuni, three thousand horsemen, esteemed by heroes, advanced towards Bhima, armed with spears, javelins, and lances.
tānpratyudgamya yavanānaśvārōhānvarārihā। vicaranvividhānmārgānghātayāmāsa pōthayan ॥8-35-36॥
The great enemy slayer approached the Yavana horse riders, moving through various paths, and killed and crushed them.
teṣām āsīn mahāñ śabdas tāḍitānāṃ ca sārvaśaḥ। asibhiś chidyamānānāṃ naḍānām iva bhārata ॥8-35-37॥
O Bhārata, there was a great sound everywhere of them being struck, like reeds being cut by swords.
evaṁ subalaputrasya trisāhasrān hayottamān। hatvānyaṁ rathamāsthāya kruddho rādheyamabhyayāt ॥8-35-38॥
Thus, after killing the three thousand finest horses of Subala's son, he mounted another chariot in anger and approached Radheya.
karṇo'pi samare rājan dharmaputram ariṃdamam। śaraiḥ pracchādayām āsa sārathiṃ cāpy apātayat ॥8-35-39॥
Karna, in the battle, O King, covered Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma and subduer of enemies, with arrows and also knocked down his charioteer.
tataḥ sampradrutaṃ saṅkhye rathaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahārathaḥ। anvadhāvatkiranbāṇaiḥ kaṅkapatrairajihmagaiḥ ॥8-35-40॥
Then the great warrior, seeing the chariot fleeing in battle, chased it, showering it with straight-flying feathered arrows.
rājānam abhi dhāvantaṃ śarair āvṛtya rodasī। kruddhaḥ pracchādayām āsa śarajālena mārutiḥ ॥8-35-41॥
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.
saṁnivṛttastatastūrṇaṁ rādheyaḥ śatrukarśanaḥ। bhīmaṁ pracchādayāmāsa samantānniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥8-35-42॥
Then Radheya, known for tormenting his enemies, swiftly returned and surrounded Bhima with a barrage of sharp arrows.
bhīmasenarathavyagraṃ karṇaṃ bhārata sātyakiḥ। abhyardayadameyātmā pārṣṇigrahaṇakāraṇāt ॥ abhyavartata karṇastamardito'pi śarairbhṛśam ॥8-35-43॥
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.
tāvanyonyaṃ samāsādya vṛṣabhau sarvadhanvinām। visṛjantau śarāṃścitrānvibhrājetāṃ manasvinau ॥8-35-44॥
Those two spirited warriors, like bulls among all archers, approached each other and shone brightly as they released their varied arrows.
tābhyāṃ viyati rājendra vitataṃ bhīmadarśanam। krauñcapṛṣṭhāruṇaṃ raudraṃ bāṇajālaṃ vyadṛśyata ॥8-35-45॥
O King, in the sky, a terrifying and fierce network of arrows, crimson like the back of a heron, was seen by those two.
naiva sūryaprabhāṁ khaṁ vā na diśaḥ pradiśaḥ kutaḥ। prājñāsiṣma vayaṁ tābhyāṁ śarairmuktaiḥ sahasraśaḥ ॥8-35-46॥
We were unable to see the sunlight, the sky, or any directions due to the thousands of arrows released by them.
madhyāhne tapato rājanbhāskarasya mahāprabhāḥ। hṛtāḥ sarvāḥ śaraughaistaiḥ karṇamādhavayostadā ॥8-35-47॥
At noon, O king, the brilliant rays of the sun were obscured by the shower of arrows from Karna and Madhava.
saubalaṁ kṛtavarmāṇaṁ drauṇimādhirathiṁ kṛpam। saṁsaktān-pāṇḍavair-dṛṣṭvā nivṛttāḥ kuravaḥ punaḥ ॥8-35-48॥
Upon witnessing Saubala, Kritavarma, Ashwatthama (Drona's son), Karna, and Kripa engaged in battle with the Pandavas, the Kauravas decided to retreat once more.
teṣām āpatatāṃ śabdas tīvra āsīd viśāṃ pate। uddhūtānāṃ yathā vṛṣṭyā sāgarāṇāṃ bhayāvahaḥ ॥8-35-49॥
The sound of their attack was intense and terrifying, O lord of the people, like the roar of oceans agitated by a storm.
te sene bhṛśasaṁvigne dṛṣṭvānyonyaṁ mahāraṇe। harṣeṇa mahatā yukte parigṛhya parasparam ॥8-35-50॥
The armies, greatly agitated, saw each other in the great battle and, filled with great joy, they embraced each other.
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṁ madhyaṁ prāpte divākare। yādṛśaṁ na kadāciddhi dṛṣṭapūrvaṁ na ca śrutam ॥8-35-51॥
Then, as the sun reached its zenith, a battle commenced, the likes of which had never been seen or heard before.
balaughastu samāsādya balaughaṃ sahasā raṇe। upāsarpata vegena jalaugha iva sāgaram ॥8-35-52॥
"But the mighty force, having suddenly approached the other mighty force in battle, advanced swiftly like a torrent of water towards the ocean."
āsīnninādaḥ sumahānbalaughānāṃ parasparam। garjatāṃ sāgaraughāṇāṃ yathā syānnisvano mahān ॥8-35-53॥
There was a tremendous noise as the mighty armies clashed with each other, resembling the roaring of ocean waves, creating a great sound.
te tu sene samāsādya vegavatyau parasparam। ekībhāvamanuprāpte nadyāviva samāgame ॥8-35-54॥
The two swift armies approached each other and united, like rivers coming together.
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate। kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca lipsatāṃ sumahadyaśaḥ ॥8-35-55॥
Then the battle of a terrible form commenced, O lord of men, between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, who were desiring great fame.
kurūṇāṃ garjatāṃ tatra avicchedakṛtā giraḥ। śrūyante vividhā rājannāmānyuddiśya bhārata ॥8-35-56॥
O King, O Bharata, the voices of the Kurus, roaring without interruption, are heard there, mentioning various names.
yasya yaddhi raṇe nyaṅgaṃ pitṛto mātṛto'pi vā। karmataḥ śīlato vāpi sa tacchrāvayate yudhi ॥8-35-57॥
In battle, one reveals the defects inherited from father, mother, actions, or character.
tāndṛṣṭvā samare śūrāṁstarjayānānparasparam। abhavanme matī rājannaiṣāmastīti jīvitam ॥8-35-58॥
Upon witnessing the heroes threatening each other in battle, I realized, O king, that these men have no chance of survival.
teṣāṃ dṛṣṭvā tu kruddhānāṃ vapūṃṣyamitatejasām। abhavanme bhayaṃ tīvraṃ kathametadbhaviṣyati ॥8-35-59॥
Seeing their angry forms of immeasurable splendor, I was struck with intense fear; how will this turn out?
tataste pāṇḍavā rājankauravāśca mahārathāḥ। tatakṣuḥ sāyakaistīkṣṇairnighnanto hi parasparam ॥8-35-60॥
Then, O king, the great warriors, the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas, engaged in fierce battle, striking each other with sharp arrows.
