08.036
Core and Pancharatra: On the battlefield filled with arrows and spears, crowded with groups of carnivorous beings, the heroes moved around, showcasing their valour. During the fierce and terrible battle, the Kaurava army was in despair, like a boat broken in the ocean.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
क्षत्रियास्ते महाराज परस्परवधैषिणः। अन्योन्यं समरे जघ्नुः कृतवैराः परस्परम् ॥८-३६-१॥
The warriors, O great king, intent on mutual destruction, fought and killed each other in battle, having become enemies.
रथौघाश्च हयौघाश्च नरौघाश्च समन्ततः। गजौघाश्च महाराज संसक्ताः स्म परस्परम् ॥८-३६-२॥
O great king, chariots, horses, men, and elephants were all entangled with each other in every direction.
गदानां परिघाणां च कणपानां च सर्पताम्। प्रासानां भिण्डिपालानां भुशुण्डीनां च सर्वशः ॥८-३६-३॥
The entire collection of clubs, iron bars, skulls, serpents, spears, javelins, and slings.
सम्पातं चान्वपश्याम सङ्ग्रामे भृशदारुणे। शलभा इव सम्पेतुः समन्ताच्छरवृष्टयः ॥८-३६-४॥
In the fierce battle, we observed the showers of arrows falling all around like locusts.
नागा नागान्समासाद्य व्यधमन्त परस्परम्। हया हयांश्च समरे रथिनो रथिनस्तथा ॥ पत्तयः पत्तिसङ्घैश्च हयसङ्घैर्हयास्तथा ॥८-३६-५॥
Elephants approached and struck each other. Horses and charioteers fought in battle, as did foot soldiers with groups of foot soldiers and horses.
पत्तयो रथमातङ्गान्रथा हस्त्यश्वमेव च। नागाश्च समरे त्र्यङ्गं ममृदुः शीघ्रगा नृप ॥८-३६-६॥
O king, the foot soldiers, chariots, elephants, horses, and serpents swiftly crushed the threefold army in battle.
पततां तत्र शूराणां क्रोशतां च परस्परम्। घोरमायोधनं जज्ञे पशूनां वैशसं यथा ॥८-३६-७॥
There, the heroes fell and shouted at each other, as a terrible battle arose, resembling the slaughter of animals.
रुधिरेण समास्तीर्णा भाति भारत मेदिनी। शक्रगोपगणाकीर्णा प्रावृषीव यथा धरा ॥८-३६-८॥
The land of India appears blood-stained and is scattered with Indra's guards, resembling the earth during the monsoon season.
यथा वा वाससी शुक्ले महारजनरञ्जिते। बिभृयाद्युवतिः श्यामा तद्वदासीद्वसुन्धरा ॥ मांसशोणितचित्रेव शातकौम्भमयीव च ॥८-३६-९॥
The earth appeared like a young dark woman wearing white garments dyed with red, variegated with flesh and blood, and as if made of gold.
छिन्नानां चोत्तमाङ्गानां बाहूनां चोरुभिः सह। कुण्डलानां प्रविद्धानां भूषणानां च भारत ॥८-३६-१०॥
O Bharata, there were severed heads and arms along with thighs, scattered earrings and ornaments.
निष्काणामधिसूत्राणां शरीराणां च धन्विनाम्। वर्मणां सपताकानां सङ्घास्तत्रापतन्भुवि ॥८-३६-११॥
The groups of ornaments, strings, bodies, and archers, along with armors with flags, fell there on the ground.
गजान्गजाः समासाद्य विषाणाग्रैरदारयन्। विषाणाभिहतास्ते च भ्राजन्ते द्विरदा यथा ॥८-३६-१२॥
The elephants approached and tore apart with the tips of their tusks. Struck by the tusks, they shone like elephants.
रुधिरेणावसिक्ताङ्गा गैरिकप्रस्रवा इव। यथा भ्राजन्ति स्यन्दन्तः पर्वता धातुमण्डिताः ॥८-३६-१३॥
The mountains, adorned with minerals, shine and flow like streams of red ochre, with their limbs smeared with blood.
तोमरान्गजिभिर्मुक्तान्प्रतीपानास्थितान्बहून्। हस्तैर्विचेरुस्ते नागा बभञ्जुश्चापरे तथा ॥८-३६-१४॥
Spears were released by elephants standing in opposition. Many elephants moved with their trunks, breaking through, while others did the same.
नाराचैश्छिन्नवर्माणो भ्राजन्ते स्म गजोत्तमाः। हिमागमे महाराज व्यभ्रा इव महीधराः ॥८-३६-१५॥
The excellent elephants, with their armors broken by arrows, shone brightly, O great king, like mountains without clouds in the winter season.
शरैः कनकपुङ्खैस्तु चिता रेजुर्गजोत्तमाः। उल्काभिः सम्प्रदीप्ताग्राः पर्वता इव मारिष ॥८-३६-१६॥
The magnificent elephants, decorated with golden-feathered arrows, appeared resplendent like mountains with their tips ablaze with torches, O dear.
केचिदभ्याहता नागा नागैर्नगनिभा भुवि। निपेतुः समरे तस्मिन्पक्षवन्त इवाद्रयः ॥८-३६-१७॥
In that battle, some elephants, resembling mountains, were struck by other elephants and fell to the ground as if they were winged mountains.
अपरे प्राद्रवन्नागाः शल्यार्ता व्रणपीडिताः। प्रतिमानैश्च कुम्भैश्च पेतुरुर्व्यां महाहवे ॥८-३६-१८॥
In the great battle, other elephants, wounded by arrows and afflicted by wounds, ran away and fell on the ground along with statues and pots.
निषेदुः सिंहवच्चान्ये नदन्तो भैरवान्रवान्। मम्लुश्च बहवो राजंश्चुकूजुश्चापरे तथा ॥८-३६-१९॥
Some sat down like lions, others roared with terrifying sounds. Many withered, O king, and others cried out in such a manner.
हयाश्च निहता बाणैः स्वर्णभाण्डपरिच्छदाः। निषेदुश्चैव मम्लुश्च बभ्रमुश्च दिशो दश ॥८-३६-२०॥
The horses, adorned with golden trappings, were struck by arrows. They sat down, exhausted, and wandered aimlessly in all directions.
अपरे कृष्यमाणाश्च विवेष्टन्तो महीतले। भावान्बहुविधांश्चक्रुस्ताडिताः शरतोमरैः ॥८-३६-२१॥
Others, dragged and writhing on the ground, displayed various emotions as they were struck by arrows and spears.
नरास्तु निहता भूमौ कूजन्तस्तत्र मारिष। दृष्ट्वा च बान्धवानन्ये पितॄनन्ये पितामहान् ॥८-३६-२२॥
The men were lying dead on the ground, crying out, O gentle one. Upon seeing this, some recognized their relatives, while others saw their fathers and grandfathers.
धावमानान्परांश्चैव दृष्ट्वान्ये तत्र भारत। गोत्रनामानि ख्यातानि शशंसुरितरेतरम् ॥८-३६-२३॥
Seeing others running there, O Bharata, they praised each other's famous family names.
तेषां छिन्ना महाराज भुजाः कनकभूषणाः। उद्वेष्टन्ते विवेष्टन्ते पतन्ते चोत्पतन्ति च ॥८-३६-२४॥
O great king, their severed arms, adorned with golden ornaments, are unwinding, writhing, falling, and springing up in various directions.
निपतन्ति तथा भूमौ स्फुरन्ति च सहस्रशः। वेगांश्चान्ये रणे चक्रुः स्फुरन्त इव पन्नगाः ॥८-३६-२५॥
Thousands fell to the ground, quivering, while others in battle moved with the speed and quivering of serpents.
ते भुजा भोगिभोगाभाश्चन्दनाक्ता विशां पते। लोहितार्द्रा भृशं रेजुस्तपनीयध्वजा इव ॥८-३६-२६॥
Their arms, smeared with sandalwood and resembling the enjoyment of serpents, shone intensely red and moist, like golden flags, O lord of men.
वर्तमाने तथा घोरे सङ्कुले सर्वतोदिशम्। अविज्ञाताः स्म युध्यन्ते विनिघ्नन्तः परस्परम् ॥८-३६-२७॥
In the present time, in a terrible and confused state everywhere, unknown people are fighting and killing each other.
भौमेन रजसा कीर्णे शस्त्रसम्पातसङ्कुले। नैव स्वे न परे राजन्व्यज्ञायन्त तमोवृते ॥८-३६-२८॥
O King, in the battlefield covered by dust and crowded with falling weapons, neither one's own men nor the enemies could be recognized as everything was enveloped in darkness.
तथा तदभवद्युद्धं घोररूपं भयानकम्। शोणितोदा महानद्यः प्रसस्रुस्तत्र चासकृत् ॥८-३६-२९॥
Thus, the battle became terrifying and dreadful, with great rivers of blood flowing there continuously.
शीर्षपाषाणसञ्छन्नाः केशशैवलशाद्वलाः। अस्थिसङ्घातसङ्कीर्णा धनुःशरवरोत्तमाः ॥८-३६-३०॥
The place was covered with stones on the head, entangled with hair, moss, and grass, and mixed with masses of bones, it was the best among the excellent bows and arrows.
मांसकर्दमपङ्काश्च शोणितौघाः सुदारुणाः। नदीः प्रवर्तयामासुर्यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनीः ॥८-३६-३१॥
The rivers, filled with flesh, mud, slime, and streams of blood, were very terrible and nourished the kingdom of Yama.
ता नद्यो घोररूपाश्च नयन्त्यो यमसादनम्। अवगाढा मज्जयन्त्यः क्षत्रस्याजनयन्भयम् ॥८-३६-३२॥
The terrifying rivers, leading to the realm of Yama, engulfed and drowned the warriors, instilling fear among them.
क्रव्यादानां नरव्याघ्र नर्दतां तत्र तत्र ह। घोरमायोधनं जज्ञे प्रेतराजपुरोपमम् ॥८-३६-३३॥
The fierce battle, resembling the city of the king of the dead, arose among the roaring flesh-eaters and the tiger among men, here and there.
उत्थितान्यगणेयानि कबन्धानि समन्ततः। नृत्यन्ति वै भूतगणाः सन्तृप्ता मांसशोणितैः ॥८-३६-३४॥
Countless headless bodies have risen all around, and the spirits, satisfied with flesh and blood, dance in delight.
पीत्वा च शोणितं तत्र वसां पीत्वा च भारत। मेदोमज्जावसातृप्तास्तृप्ता मांसस्य चैव हि ॥ धावमानाश्च दृश्यन्ते काकगृध्रबलास्तथा ॥८-३६-३५॥
"Having drunk blood and fat there, O Bhārata, they are seen running with the strength of crows and vultures, satisfied with fat, marrow, and flesh, indeed satisfied with flesh."
शूरास्तु समरे राजन्भयं त्यक्त्वा सुदुस्त्यजम्। योधव्रतसमाख्याताश्चक्रुः कर्माण्यभीतवत् ॥८-३६-३६॥
O king, the heroes in battle, known for their warrior vows, abandoned the fear that is very difficult to abandon and performed their deeds fearlessly.
शरशक्तिसमाकीर्णे क्रव्यादगणसङ्कुले। व्यचरन्त गणैः शूराः ख्यापयन्तः स्वपौरुषम् ॥८-३६-३७॥
In the battlefield filled with arrows and spears, crowded with groups of carnivorous beings, the heroes moved around, showcasing their valor.
अन्योन्यं श्रावयन्ति स्म नामगोत्राणि भारत। पितृनामानि च रणे गोत्रनामानि चाभितः ॥८-३६-३८॥
In the battle, they called out to each other the names and lineages, O Bharata, including the names of their ancestors and their lineage names all around.
श्रावयन्तो हि बहवस्तत्र योधा विशां पते। अन्योन्यमवमृद्नन्तः शक्तितोमरपट्टिशैः ॥८-३६-३९॥
Indeed, many warriors there, O lord of men, were making each other hear, crushing with spears, javelins, and swords.
वर्तमाने तदा युद्धे घोररूपे सुदारुणे। व्यषीदत्कौरवी सेना भिन्ना नौरिव सागरे ॥८-३६-४०॥
In the present moment, during the fierce and terrible battle, the Kaurava army was in despair, like a boat broken in the ocean.
