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.
Sanjaya said:
The warriors, O great king, intent on mutual destruction, fought and killed each other in battle, having become enemies.
O great king, chariots, horses, men, and elephants were all entangled with each other in every direction.
The entire collection of clubs, iron bars, skulls, serpents, spears, javelins, and slings.
In the fierce battle, we observed the showers of arrows falling all around like locusts.
Elephants approached and struck each other. Horses and charioteers fought in battle, as did foot soldiers with groups of foot soldiers and horses.
O king, the foot soldiers, chariots, elephants, horses, and serpents swiftly crushed the threefold army in battle.
There, the heroes fell and shouted at each other, as a terrible battle arose, resembling the slaughter of animals.
The land of India appears blood-stained and is scattered with Indra's guards, resembling the earth during the monsoon season.
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.
O Bharata, there were severed heads and arms along with thighs, scattered earrings and ornaments.
The groups of ornaments, strings, bodies, and archers, along with armors with flags, fell there on the ground.
The elephants approached and tore apart with the tips of their tusks. Struck by the tusks, they shone like elephants.
The mountains, adorned with minerals, shine and flow like streams of red ochre, with their limbs smeared with blood.
Spears were released by elephants standing in opposition. Many elephants moved with their trunks, breaking through, while others did the same.
The excellent elephants, with their armors broken by arrows, shone brightly, O great king, like mountains without clouds in the winter season.
The magnificent elephants, decorated with golden-feathered arrows, appeared resplendent like mountains with their tips ablaze with torches, O dear.
In that battle, some elephants, resembling mountains, were struck by other elephants and fell to the ground as if they were winged mountains.
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.
Some sat down like lions, others roared with terrifying sounds. Many withered, O king, and others cried out in such a manner.
The horses, adorned with golden trappings, were struck by arrows. They sat down, exhausted, and wandered aimlessly in all directions.
Others, dragged and writhing on the ground, displayed various emotions as they were struck by arrows and spears.
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.
Seeing others running there, O Bharata, they praised each other's famous family names.
O great king, their severed arms, adorned with golden ornaments, are unwinding, writhing, falling, and springing up in various directions.
Thousands fell to the ground, quivering, while others in battle moved with the speed and quivering of serpents.
Their arms, smeared with sandalwood and resembling the enjoyment of serpents, shone intensely red and moist, like golden flags, O lord of men.
In the present time, in a terrible and confused state everywhere, unknown people are fighting and killing each other.
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.
Thus, the battle became terrifying and dreadful, with great rivers of blood flowing there continuously.
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.
The rivers, filled with flesh, mud, slime, and streams of blood, were very terrible and nourished the kingdom of Yama.
The terrifying rivers, leading to the realm of Yama, engulfed and drowned the warriors, instilling fear among them.
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.
Countless headless bodies have risen all around, and the spirits, satisfied with flesh and blood, dance in delight.
"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."
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.
In the battlefield filled with arrows and spears, crowded with groups of carnivorous beings, the heroes moved around, showcasing their valor.
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.
Indeed, many warriors there, O lord of men, were making each other hear, crushing with spears, javelins, and swords.
In the present moment, during the fierce and terrible battle, the Kaurava army was in despair, like a boat broken in the ocean.
