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.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
kṣatriyāste mahārāja parasparavadha iṣiṇaḥ। anyonyaṃ samare jaghnuḥ kṛtavairāḥ parasparam ॥8-36-1॥
The warriors, O great king, intent on mutual destruction, fought and killed each other in battle, having become enemies.
rathaughāśca hayaughāśca naraughāśca samantataḥ। gajaughāśca mahārāja saṁsaktāḥ sma parasparam ॥8-36-2॥
O great king, chariots, horses, men, and elephants were all entangled with each other in every direction.
gadānāṃ parighāṇāṃ ca kaṇapānāṃ ca sarpatām। prāsānāṃ bhiṇḍipālānāṃ bhuśuṇḍīnāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ॥8-36-3॥
The entire collection of clubs, iron bars, skulls, serpents, spears, javelins, and slings.
sampātaṃ cānvapaśyāma saṅgrāme bhṛśadāruṇe। śalabhā iva sampetuḥ samantāccharavṛṣṭayaḥ ॥8-36-4॥
In the fierce battle, we observed the showers of arrows falling all around like locusts.
nāgā nāgānsamāsādya vyadhamanta parasparam। hayā hayāṃśca samare rathino rathinastathā ॥ pattayaḥ pattisaṅghaiśca hayasaṅghairhayāstathā ॥8-36-5॥
Elephants approached and struck each other. Horses and charioteers fought in battle, as did foot soldiers with groups of foot soldiers and horses.
pattayo rathamātaṅgānrathā hastyaśvameva ca। nāgāśca samare tryaṅgaṃ mamṛduḥ śīghragā nṛpa ॥8-36-6॥
O king, the foot soldiers, chariots, elephants, horses, and serpents swiftly crushed the threefold army in battle.
patatāṃ tatra śūrāṇāṃ krośatāṃ ca parasparam। ghoramāyodhanaṃ jajñe paśūnāṃ vaiśasaṃ yathā ॥8-36-7॥
There, the heroes fell and shouted at each other, as a terrible battle arose, resembling the slaughter of animals.
rudhireṇa samāstīrṇā bhāti bhārata medinī। śakragopagaṇākīrṇā prāvṛṣīva yathā dharā ॥8-36-8॥
The land of India appears blood-stained and is scattered with Indra's guards, resembling the earth during the monsoon season.
yathā vā vāsasī śukle mahārajanarañjite। bibhṛyādyuvatiḥ śyāmā tadvadāsīdvasundharā ॥ māṃsaśoṇitacitrevā śātakaumbhamayīva ca ॥8-36-9॥
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.
chinnānāṃ cottamāṅgānāṃ bāhūnāṃ corubhiḥ saha। kuṇḍalānāṃ praviddhānāṃ bhūṣaṇānāṃ ca bhārata ॥8-36-10॥
O Bharata, there were severed heads and arms along with thighs, scattered earrings and ornaments.
niṣkāṇāmadhisūtrāṇāṃ śarīrāṇāṃ ca dhanvinām। varmaṇāṃ sapatākānāṃ saṅghāstatrapatanbhuvi ॥8-36-11॥
The groups of ornaments, strings, bodies, and archers, along with armors with flags, fell there on the ground.
gajāngajāḥ samāsādya viṣāṇāgrairadārayan। viṣāṇābhihatāste ca bhrājante dviradā yathā ॥8-36-12॥
The elephants approached and tore apart with the tips of their tusks. Struck by the tusks, they shone like elephants.
rudhireṇāvasiktāṅgā gairikaprasravā iva। yathā bhrājanti syandantaḥ parvatā dhātumaṇḍitāḥ ॥8-36-13॥
The mountains, adorned with minerals, shine and flow like streams of red ochre, with their limbs smeared with blood.
tomarāngajibhirmuktānpratīpānāsthitānbahūn। hastairviceruste nāgā babhañjuścapare tathā ॥8-36-14॥
Spears were released by elephants standing in opposition. Many elephants moved with their trunks, breaking through, while others did the same.
nārācaiśchinnavarmāṇo bhrājante sma gajottamāḥ। himāgame mahārāja vyabhrā iva mahīdharāḥ ॥8-36-15॥
The excellent elephants, with their armors broken by arrows, shone brightly, O great king, like mountains without clouds in the winter season.
śaraiḥ kanakapuṅkhaistu citā rejur gajottamāḥ। ulkābhiḥ sampradīptāgrāḥ parvatā iva māriṣa ॥8-36-16॥
The magnificent elephants, decorated with golden-feathered arrows, appeared resplendent like mountains with their tips ablaze with torches, O dear.
kecidabhyāhatā nāgā nāgairnaganibhā bhuvi। nipetuḥ samare tasminpakṣavanta ivādrayaḥ ॥8-36-17॥
In that battle, some elephants, resembling mountains, were struck by other elephants and fell to the ground as if they were winged mountains.
apare prādravannāgāḥ śalyārtā vraṇapīḍitāḥ। pratimānaiśca kumbhaiśca petururvyāṃ mahāhave ॥8-36-18॥
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.
niṣeduḥ siṃhavaccānye nadanto bhairavānravān। mamluśca bahavo rājaṃścukūjuścāpare tathā ॥8-36-19॥
Some sat down like lions, others roared with terrifying sounds. Many withered, O king, and others cried out in such a manner.
hayāśca nihatā bāṇaiḥ svarṇabhāṇḍaparicchadāḥ। niṣeduścaiva mamluśca babhramuśca diśo daśa ॥8-36-20॥
The horses, adorned with golden trappings, were struck by arrows. They sat down, exhausted, and wandered aimlessly in all directions.
apare kṛṣyamāṇāśca viveṣṭanto mahītale। bhāvānbahuvidhāṃścakrustāḍitāḥ śaratomaraiḥ ॥8-36-21॥
Others, dragged and writhing on the ground, displayed various emotions as they were struck by arrows and spears.
narāstu nihatā bhūmau kūjantastatra māriṣaḥ। dṛṣṭvā ca bāndhavānanye pitṝnanye pitāmahān ॥8-36-22॥
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.
dhāvamānān parāṁś caiva dṛṣṭvā anye tatra bhārata। gotranāmāni khyātāni śaśaṁsur itaretaram ॥8-36-23॥
Seeing others running there, O Bharata, they praised each other's famous family names.
teṣāṃ chinnā mahārāja bhujāḥ kanakabhūṣaṇāḥ। udveṣṭante viveṣṭante patante cotpatanti ca ॥8-36-24॥
O great king, their severed arms, adorned with golden ornaments, are unwinding, writhing, falling, and springing up in various directions.
nipatanti tathā bhūmau sphuranti ca sahasraśaḥ। vegāṃścānye raṇe cakruḥ sphuranta iva pannagāḥ ॥8-36-25॥
Thousands fell to the ground, quivering, while others in battle moved with the speed and quivering of serpents.
te bhujā bhogibhogābhāścandānāktā viśāṃ pate। lohitārdrā bhṛśaṃ rejustanīyadhvajā iva ॥8-36-26॥
Their arms, smeared with sandalwood and resembling the enjoyment of serpents, shone intensely red and moist, like golden flags, O lord of men.
vartamāne tathā ghore saṅkule sarvatodiśam। avijñātāḥ sma yudhyante vinighnantaḥ parasparam ॥8-36-27॥
In the present time, in a terrible and confused state everywhere, unknown people are fighting and killing each other.
bhaumena rajasā kīrṇe śastrasampātasaṅkule। naiva sve na pare rājanvyajñāyanta tamovṛte ॥8-36-28॥
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.
tathā tadabhavadyuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayānakam। śoṇitodā mahānadyaḥ prasasrustatra cāsakṛt ॥8-36-29॥
Thus, the battle became terrifying and dreadful, with great rivers of blood flowing there continuously.
śīrṣapāṣāṇasañchannāḥ keśaśaivalaśādvalāḥ। asthisaṅghātasaṅkīrṇā dhanuḥśaravarottamāḥ ॥8-36-30॥
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.
māṁsakardamapaṅkāśca śoṇitaughāḥ sudāruṇāḥ। nadīḥ pravartayāmāsuryamarāṣṭravivardhanīḥ ॥8-36-31॥
The rivers, filled with flesh, mud, slime, and streams of blood, were very terrible and nourished the kingdom of Yama.
tā nadyo ghorarūpāśca nayantyo yamasādanam। avagāḍhā majjayantyaḥ kṣatrasyājanayanbhayam ॥8-36-32॥
The terrifying rivers, leading to the realm of Yama, engulfed and drowned the warriors, instilling fear among them.
kravyādānāṃ naravyāghra nardatāṃ tatra tatra ha। ghoramāyodhanaṃ jajñe pretarājapuropamam ॥8-36-33॥
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.
utthitānyagaṇeyāni kabandhāni samantataḥ। nṛtyanti vai bhūtagaṇāḥ santṛptā māṃsaśoṇitaiḥ ॥8-36-34॥
Countless headless bodies have risen all around, and the spirits, satisfied with flesh and blood, dance in delight.
pītvā ca śoṇitaṃ tatra vasāṃ pītvā ca bhārata। medomajjāvasātṛptāstṛptā māṃsasya caiva hi ॥ dhāvamānāśca dṛśyante kākagṛdhrabalāstathā ॥8-36-35॥
"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."
śūrāstu samare rājanbhayaṃ tyaktvā sudustyajam। yodhavratasamākhyātāścakruḥ karmāṇyabhītavat ॥8-36-36॥
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.
śaraśaktisamākīrṇe kravyādagaṇasaṅkule। vyacaranta gaṇaiḥ śūrāḥ khyāpayantaḥ svapauruṣam ॥8-36-37॥
In the battlefield filled with arrows and spears, crowded with groups of carnivorous beings, the heroes moved around, showcasing their valor.
anyonyaṁ śrāvayanti sma nāmagotrāṇi bhārata। pitṛnāmāni ca raṇe gotranāmāni cābhitaḥ ॥8-36-38॥
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.
śrāvayanto hi bahavas tatra yodhā viśāṃ pate। anyonyam avamṛdnantaḥ śaktitomarapaṭṭiśaiḥ ॥8-36-39॥
Indeed, many warriors there, O lord of men, were making each other hear, crushing with spears, javelins, and swords.
vartamāne tadā yuddhe ghorarūpe sudāruṇe। vyaṣīdatkauravī senā bhinnā nauriva sāgare ॥8-36-40॥
In the present moment, during the fierce and terrible battle, the Kaurava army was in despair, like a boat broken in the ocean.
