08.037
Core and Pancharatra: Arjuna continues to fight Suśarman and Saṃśaptakas. The Trigartas surrounded Arjuna, resolved either to die or to achieve victory.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
वर्तमाने तदा युद्धे क्षत्रियाणां निमज्जने। गाण्डीवस्य महान्घोषः शुश्रुवे युधि मारिष ॥८-३७-१॥
During the ongoing battle, as the warriors were being submerged, the great sound of the Gandiva bow was heard, O noble one.
संशप्तकानां कदनमकरोद्यत्र पाण्डवः। कोसलानां तथा राजन्नारायणबलस्य च ॥८-३७-२॥
O king, the Pāṇḍava carried out the slaughter of the Saṃśaptakas, as well as the Kosalas and the Nārāyaṇa army.
संशप्तकास्तु समरे शरवृष्टिं समन्ततः। अपातयन्पार्थमूर्ध्नि जयगृद्धाः प्रमन्यवः ॥८-३७-३॥
The Trigartas, eager for victory and full of courage, launched a barrage of arrows from all directions at Arjuna's head during the battle.
तां वृष्टिं सहसा राजंस्तरसा धारयन्प्रभुः। व्यगाहत रणे पार्थो विनिघ्नन्रथिनां वरः ॥८-३७-४॥
Suddenly, O king, the lord held back the rain with great force. Arjuna, the best among charioteers, entered the battlefield, slaying his enemies.
निगृह्य तु रथानीकं कङ्कपत्रैः शिलाशितैः। आससाद रणे पार्थः सुशर्माणं महारथम् ॥८-३७-५॥
Arjuna, having restrained the chariot army with his stone-sharpened arrows, approached the great chariot-warrior Suśarman in the battle.
स तस्य शरवर्षाणि ववर्ष रथिनां वरः। तथा संशप्तकाश्चैव पार्थस्य समरे स्थिताः ॥८-३७-६॥
He, the best among charioteers, unleashed a shower of arrows. Likewise, the Saṃśaptakas stood firm in battle against Arjuna.
सुशर्मा तु ततः पार्थं विद्ध्वा नवभिराशुगैः। जनार्दनं त्रिभिर्बाणैरभ्यहन्दक्षिणे भुजे ॥ ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन केतुं विव्याध मारिष ॥८-३७-७॥
Suśarmā, after attacking Arjuna with nine swift arrows, struck Kṛṣṇa on the right arm with three arrows. Then, with another broad-headed arrow, he pierced the flag, O lord.
स वानरवरो राजन्विश्वकर्मकृतो महान्। ननाद सुमहन्नादं भीषयन्वै ननर्द च ॥८-३७-८॥
He, the best of monkeys, created by Vishvakarma, let out a great roar that was truly frightening, O king.
कपेस्तु निनदं श्रुत्वा सन्त्रस्ता तव वाहिनी। भयं विपुलमादाय निश्चेष्टा समपद्यत ॥८-३७-९॥
Upon hearing the monkey's sound, your army was struck with terror and became completely motionless, overwhelmed by great fear.
ततः सा शुशुभे सेना निश्चेष्टावस्थिता नृप। नानापुष्पसमाकीर्णं यथा चैत्ररथं वनम् ॥८-३७-१०॥
Then, O king, the army stood still, resplendent like the Caitraratha forest adorned with diverse flowers.
प्रतिलभ्य ततः सञ्ज्ञां योधास्ते कुरुसत्तम। अर्जुनं सिषिचुर्बाणैः पर्वतं जलदा इव ॥ परिवव्रुस्तदा सर्वे पाण्डवस्य महारथम् ॥८-३७-११॥
After regaining their senses, the warriors, O best of the Kurus, attacked Arjuna with arrows as clouds shower a mountain. Then, all of them surrounded the great chariot of the Pandava.
ते हयान्रथचक्रे च रथेषाश्चापि भारत। निगृह्य बलवत्तूर्णं सिंहनादमथानदन् ॥८-३७-१२॥
O Bharata, they held the horses, chariot wheels, and charioteers with great strength and speed, and then roared like a lion.
अपरे जगृहुश्चैव केशवस्य महाभुजौ। पार्थमन्ये महाराज रथस्थं जगृहुर्मुदा ॥८-३७-१३॥
Some others held the mighty arms of Keśava, while others, O great king, joyfully held Pārtha standing on the chariot.
केशवस्तु तदा बाहू विधुन्वन्रणमूर्धनि। पातयामास तान्सर्वान्दुष्टहस्तीव हस्तिनः ॥८-३७-१४॥
Keshava, at that time, shook his arms in the battlefield and made all of them fall, just like a wicked elephant would do to other elephants.
ततः क्रुद्धो रणे पार्थः संवृतस्तैर्महारथैः। निगृहीतं रथं दृष्ट्वा केशवं चाप्यभिद्रुतम् ॥ रथारूढांश्च सुबहून्पदातींश्चाप्यपातयत् ॥८-३७-१५॥
Then, in the battle, an enraged Arjuna, surrounded by great charioteers, saw his chariot seized and Krishna being attacked. In response, he caused many charioteers and foot soldiers to fall.
आसन्नांश्च ततो योधाञ्शरैरासन्नयोधिभिः। च्यावयामास समरे केशवं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥८-३७-१६॥
Then the nearby warriors, using arrows, displaced the near ones in battle, and said this to Keshava.
पश्य कृष्ण महाबाहो संशप्तकगणान्मया। कुर्वाणान्दारुणं कर्म वध्यमानान्सहस्रशः ॥८-३७-१७॥
Behold, O mighty-armed Krishna, the group of warriors sworn to fight to the death, engaged in terrible deeds, being slain by me in their thousands.
रथबन्धमिमं घोरं पृथिव्यां नास्ति कश्चन। यः सहेत पुमाँल्लोके मदन्यो यदुपुङ्गव ॥८-३७-१८॥
O chief of Yadus, there is no one else in the world who can endure this formidable chariot-binding other than myself.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा बीभत्सुर्देवदत्तमथाधमत्। पाञ्चजन्यं च कृष्णोऽपि पूरयन्निव रोदसी ॥८-३७-१९॥
Thus, having spoken in this way, Arjuna (Bibhatsu) blew his conch named Devadatta. Krishna, on the other hand, blew his conch named Panchajanya, as if filling the entire universe.
तं तु शङ्खस्वनं श्रुत्वा संशप्तकवरूथिनी। सञ्चचाल महाराज वित्रस्ता चाभवद्भृशम् ॥८-३७-२०॥
Upon hearing the sound of the conch, the army of the Saṁśaptakas trembled and became very frightened, O great king.
पदबन्धं ततश्चक्रे पाण्डवः परवीरहा। नागमस्त्रं महाराज सम्प्रोदीर्य मुहुर्मुहुः ॥८-३७-२१॥
Then the Pāṇḍava, known for defeating enemy warriors, formed a strategic formation. O great king, he repeatedly unleashed the serpent weapon.
यानुद्दिश्य रणे पार्थः पदबन्धं चकार ह। ते बद्धाः पदबन्धेन पाण्डवेन महात्मना ॥ निश्चेष्टा अभवन्राजन्नश्मसारमया इव ॥८-३७-२२॥
Arjuna devised a tactic in battle for which those bound by it, by the great-souled Pandava, became motionless, O king, as if they were made of stone.
निश्चेष्टांस्तु ततो योधानवधीत्पाण्डुनन्दनः। यथेन्द्रः समरे दैत्यांस्तारकस्य वधे पुरा ॥८-३७-२३॥
The son of Pandu then killed the motionless warriors, just as Indra had done in the ancient battle with the demons during Taraka's slaying.
ते वध्यमानाः समरे मुमुचुस्तं रथोत्तमम्। आयुधानि च सर्वाणि विस्रष्टुमुपचक्रमुः ॥८-३७-२४॥
While being attacked in battle, they released the excellent chariot and began to unleash all their weapons.
ततः सुशर्मा राजेन्द्र गृहीतां वीक्ष्य वाहिनीम्। सौपर्णमस्त्रं त्वरितः प्रादुश्चक्रे महारथः ॥८-३७-२५॥
Then, O King, Susharma, upon seeing his army captured, quickly deployed the Sauparna weapon, revealing his prowess as a great chariot-warrior.
ततः सुपर्णाः सम्पेतुर्भक्षयन्तो भुजङ्गमान्। ते वै विदुद्रुवुर्नागा दृष्ट्वा तान्खचरान्नृप ॥८-३७-२६॥
Then, O king, the Suparnas flew down and began devouring the serpents. Seeing the birds, the snakes fled in fear.
बभौ बलं तद्विमुक्तं पदबन्धाद्विशां पते। मेघवृन्दाद्यथा मुक्तो भास्करस्तापयन्प्रजाः ॥८-३७-२७॥
The strength, once freed from its constraints, shone brightly, O lord of the people, just as the sun, emerging from a cluster of clouds, warms the earth and its creatures.
विप्रमुक्तास्तु ते योधाः फल्गुनस्य रथं प्रति। ससृजुर्बाणसङ्घांश्च शस्त्रसङ्घांश्च मारिष ॥८-३७-२८॥
The released warriors aimed their volleys of arrows and weapons at Arjuna's chariot, dear one.
तां महास्त्रमयीं वृष्टिं सञ्छिद्य शरवृष्टिभिः। व्यवातिष्ठत्ततो योधान्वासविः परवीरहा ॥८-३७-२९॥
The son of Vāsava (Indra), known as the destroyer of enemy heroes, stood firm among the warriors after cutting through the great weapon-formed shower with his own showers of arrows.
सुशर्मा तु ततो राजन्बाणेनानतपर्वणा। अर्जुनं हृदये विद्ध्वा विव्याधान्यैस्त्रिभिः शरैः ॥ स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ॥८-३७-३०॥
Susharma, however, then, O king, struck Arjuna in the heart with an arrow that had a bent joint and pierced him with three other arrows. Deeply wounded and distressed, Arjuna sat down on the chariot seat.
प्रतिलभ्य ततः सञ्ज्ञां श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथिः। ऐन्द्रमस्त्रममेयात्मा प्रादुश्चक्रे त्वरान्वितः ॥ ततो बाणसहस्राणि समुत्पन्नानि मारिष ॥८-३७-३१॥
Upon regaining consciousness, Śvetāśva, Kṛṣṇa's charioteer, quickly manifested Indra's weapon. Then, O gentle one, thousands of arrows appeared.
सर्वदिक्षु व्यदृश्यन्त सूदयन्तो नृप द्विपान्। हयान्रथांश्च समरे शस्त्रैः शतसहस्रशः ॥८-३७-३२॥
In every direction, O king, elephants, horses, and chariots were being slaughtered in the battle by weapons in their hundreds of thousands.
वध्यमाने ततः सैन्ये विपुला भीः समाविशत्। संशप्तकगणानां च गोपालानां च भारत ॥ न हि कश्चित्पुमांस्तत्र योऽर्जुनं प्रत्ययुध्यत ॥८-३७-३३॥
As the army was being slain, a great fear gripped the Saṃśaptaka groups and the cowherds, O Bhārata. Indeed, no man there dared to fight against Arjuna.
पश्यतां तत्र वीराणामहन्यत महद्बलम्। हन्यमानमपश्यंश्च निश्चेष्टाः स्म पराक्रमे ॥८-३७-३४॥
The observers there witnessed the great strength of the heroes being struck down. They saw the slaughter and stood motionless in the battle.
अयुतं तत्र योधानां हत्वा पाण्डुसुतो रणे। व्यभ्राजत रणे राजन्विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन् ॥८-३७-३५॥
The son of Pandu, having slain ten thousand warriors there, shone in the battle, O king, like a blazing fire without smoke.
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि यानि शिष्टानि भारत। रथानामयुतं चैव त्रिसाहस्राश्च दन्तिनः ॥८-३७-३६॥
O Bharata, there are fourteen thousand remaining, including ten thousand chariots and three thousand elephants.
ततः संशप्तका भूयः परिवव्रुर्धनञ्जयम्। मर्तव्यमिति निश्चित्य जयं वापि निवर्तनम् ॥८-३७-३७॥
Then the Trigartas once more surrounded Arjuna, resolved to either die or achieve victory, or even to return.
तत्र युद्धं महद्ध्यासीत्तावकानां विशां पते। शूरेण बलिना सार्धं पाण्डवेन किरीटिना ॥८-३७-३८॥
There was a great battle, O lord of the people, between your forces and the Pandava Arjuna, who was both heroic and strong.
