08.038
Core and Pancharatra: Encounter between the Pandava and the Kaurava warriors: Kripa takes on Shikandin; Kritavarma fights Dhṛṣṭadyumna; Drona's son stopped Yudhishthira; Nakul and Sahadev were intercepted by Duryodhana's brothers. Kripa kills Suketu.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
कृतवर्मा कृपो द्रौणिः सूतपुत्रश्च मारिष। उलूकः सौबलश्चैव राजा च सह सोदरैः ॥८-३८-१॥
Kritavarma, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Karna, O King, Uluka, Shakuni, and the king with his brothers were present.
सीदमानां चमूं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुपुत्रभयार्दिताम्। समुज्जिहीर्षुर्वेगेन भिन्नां नावमिवार्णवे ॥८-३८-२॥
Seeing the army sinking and afflicted by the fear of the sons of Pandu, he desired to uplift it with speed, like a broken boat in the ocean.
ततो युद्धमतीवासीन्मुहूर्तमिव भारत। भीरूणां त्रासजननं शूराणां हर्षवर्धनम् ॥८-३८-३॥
Then the battle seemed to last only a moment, O Bharata, causing fear among the timid and increasing joy among the brave.
कृपेण शरवर्षाणि विप्रमुक्तानि संयुगे। सृञ्जयाः शातयामासुः शलभानां व्रजा इव ॥८-३८-४॥
In the battle, the showers of arrows released by Kṛpa were destroyed by the Sṛñjayas, just like swarms of locusts are scattered.
शिखण्डी तु ततः क्रुद्धो गौतमं त्वरितो ययौ। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि समन्तादेव ब्राह्मणे ॥८-३८-५॥
Shikhandi, in his anger, swiftly approached Gautama and unleashed a shower of arrows all around the Brahmin.
कृपस्तु शरवर्षं तद्विनिहत्य महास्त्रवित्। शिखण्डिनं रणे क्रुद्धो विव्याध दशभिः शरैः ॥८-३८-६॥
Kṛpa, the great wielder of weapons, destroyed the shower of arrows and angrily pierced Śikhaṇḍin in battle with ten arrows.
ततः शिखण्डी कुपीतः शरैः सप्तभिराहवे। कृपं विव्याध सुभृशं कङ्कपत्रैरजिह्मगैः ॥८-३८-७॥
Then, in the battle, Shikhandi, filled with rage, struck Kripa hard with seven straight-flying feathered arrows.
ततः कृपः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः सोऽतिविद्धो महारथः। व्यश्वसूतरथं चक्रे पार्षतं तु द्विजोत्तमः ॥८-३८-८॥
Then Kṛpa, a great warrior, skillfully shot sharp arrows, rendering the Pārṣata's chariot without horses and a charioteer.
हताश्वात्तु ततो यानादवप्लुत्य महारथः। चर्मखड्गे च सङ्गृह्य सत्वरं ब्राह्मणं ययौ ॥८-३८-९॥
The great chariot-warrior, after his horse was killed, jumped down from his vehicle, took hold of his shield and sword, and quickly approached the Brahmin.
तमापतन्तं सहसा शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। छादयामास समरे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥८-३८-१०॥
He suddenly covered the approaching enemy with arrows having bent joints in the battle; it seemed as if it was a wonderful sight.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम शिलानां प्लवनं यथा। निश्चेष्टो यद्रणे राजञ्शिखण्डी समतिष्ठत ॥८-३८-११॥
There, O king, we witnessed a marvelous sight: stones were floating as Shikhandi stood still in the battle.
कृपेण छादितं दृष्ट्वा नृपोत्तम शिखण्डिनम्। प्रत्युद्ययौ कृपं तूर्णं धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथः ॥८-३८-१२॥
Upon witnessing Śikhaṇḍin being covered by Kṛpa, the valiant Dhṛṣṭadyumna swiftly moved towards Kṛpa, O best of kings.
धृष्टद्युम्नं ततो यान्तं शारद्वतरथं प्रति। प्रतिजग्राह वेगेन कृतवर्मा महारथः ॥८-३८-१३॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, proceeding towards Śāradvata's chariot, was swiftly intercepted by the great charioteer Kṛtavarmā.
युधिष्ठिरमथायान्तं शारद्वतरथं प्रति। सपुत्रं सहसेनं च द्रोणपुत्रो न्यवारयत् ॥८-३८-१४॥
Drona's son stopped Yudhishthira, who was coming towards the chariot of Shardvata, along with his son and army.
नकुलं सहदेवं च त्वरमाणौ महारथौ। प्रतिजग्राह ते पुत्रः शरवर्षेण वारयन् ॥८-३८-१५॥
Nakul and Sahadev, the great warriors, hurriedly approached and were intercepted by your son, who warded them off with a shower of arrows.
भीमसेनं करूषांश्च केकयान्सहसृञ्जयान्। कर्णो वैकर्तनो युद्धे वारयामास भारत ॥८-३८-१६॥
Karna, the son of Vikartana, stopped Bhimasena, the Karushas, the Kekayas, and the Srinjayas in the battle, O Bharata.
शिखण्डिनस्ततो बाणान्कृपः शारद्वतो युधि। प्राहिणोत्त्वरया युक्तो दिधक्षुरिव मारिष ॥८-३८-१७॥
Then Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, swiftly sent arrows in battle, as if desiring to burn, O great one.
ताञ्शरान्प्रेषितांस्तेन समन्ताद्धेमभूषणान्। चिच्छेद खड्गमाविध्य भ्रामयंश्च पुनः पुनः ॥८-३८-१८॥
He skillfully cut down the arrows sent towards him, which were adorned with gold ornaments, by wielding and whirling his sword repeatedly.
शतचन्द्रं ततश्चर्म गौतमः पार्षतस्य ह। व्यधमत्सायकैस्तूर्णं तत उच्चुक्रुशुर्जनाः ॥८-३८-१९॥
Gautama swiftly pierced Parshata's shield, which was like a hundred moons, with his arrows, causing the people to shout in amazement.
स विचर्मा महाराज खड्गपाणिरुपाद्रवत्। कृपस्य वशमापन्नो मृत्योरास्यमिवातुरः ॥८-३८-२०॥
The great king, without armor and with a sword in hand, attacked, falling under Kṛpa's control, as if distressed and facing death.
शारद्वतशरैर्ग्रस्तं क्लिश्यमानं महाबलम्। चित्रकेतुसुतो राजन्सुकेतुस्त्वरितो ययौ ॥८-३८-२१॥
O king, Suketu, the son of Citraketu, swiftly went, being seized and tormented by Sharadvata's arrows, despite his great strength.
विकिरन्ब्राह्मणं युद्धे बहुभिर्निशितैः शरैः। अभ्यापतदमेयात्मा गौतमस्य रथं प्रति ॥८-३८-२२॥
The immeasurable soul, scattering the Brahmin with many sharp arrows in battle, attacked towards Gautama's chariot.
दृष्ट्वाविषह्यं तं युद्धे ब्राह्मणं चरितव्रतम्। अपयातस्ततस्तूर्णं शिखण्डी राजसत्तम ॥८-३८-२३॥
Upon witnessing the formidable Brahmin who had maintained his vows in the battle, Shikhandi swiftly withdrew, O esteemed king.
सुकेतुस्तु ततो राजन्गौतमं नवभिः शरैः। विद्ध्वा विव्याध सप्तत्या पुनश्चैनं त्रिभिः शरैः ॥८-३८-२४॥
Suketu, however, then pierced Gautama with nine arrows, and again with seventy and three arrows, O king.
अथास्य सशरं चापं पुनश्चिच्छेद मारिष। सारथिं च शरेणास्य भृशं मर्मण्यताडयत् ॥८-३८-२५॥
Then, O dear, he once again cut off his bow with an arrow and struck his charioteer hard in the vital parts with an arrow.
गौतमस्तु ततः क्रुद्धो धनुर्गृह्य नवं दृढम्। सुकेतुं त्रिंशता बाणैः सर्वमर्मस्वताडयत् ॥८-३८-२६॥
Gautama, in his anger, took up a new, strong bow and struck Suketu with thirty arrows, hitting all his vital points.
स विह्वलितसर्वाङ्गः प्रचचाल रथोत्तमे। भूमिचाले यथा वृक्षश्चलत्याकम्पितो भृशम् ॥८-३८-२७॥
He, with all his limbs agitated, trembled on the excellent chariot, just as a tree shakes greatly when the earth quakes.
चलतस्तस्य कायात्तु शिरो ज्वलितकुण्डलम्। सोष्णीषं सशिरस्त्राणं क्षुरप्रेणान्वपातयत् ॥८-३८-२८॥
As he moved, his head, adorned with blazing earrings, along with the turban and helmet, was severed by a razor.
तच्छिरः प्रापतद्भूमौ श्येनाहृतमिवामिषम्। ततोऽस्य कायो वसुधां पश्चात्प्राप तदा च्युतः ॥८-३८-२९॥
The head fell to the ground as if it were prey snatched by a hawk. Then, his body followed, descending to the earth.
तस्मिन्हते महाराज त्रस्तास्तस्य पदानुगाः। गौतमं समरे त्यक्त्वा दुद्रुवुस्ते दिशो दश ॥८-३८-३०॥
O great king, when he was killed, his terrified followers left Gautama in the battlefield and fled in all ten directions.
धृष्टद्युम्नं तु समरे संनिवार्य महाबलः। कृतवर्माब्रवीद्धृष्टस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति पार्षतम् ॥८-३८-३१॥
In the battle, the mighty Kṛtavarmā boldly obstructed Dhṛṣṭadyumna and said, "Stay, stay," to the son of Pṛṣata.
तदभूत्तुमुलं युद्धं वृष्णिपार्षतयो रणे। आमिषार्थे यथा युद्धं श्येनयोर्गृद्धयोर्नृप ॥८-३८-३२॥
O king, a fierce battle took place between the Vṛṣṇis and Pārṣatas on the battlefield, resembling a fight between hawks and vultures over prey.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु समरे हार्दिक्यं नवभिः शरैः। आजघानोरसि क्रुद्धः पीडयन्हृदिकात्मजम् ॥८-३८-३३॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, in his anger, struck Hārdikya with nine arrows on the chest, causing torment to Hṛdika's son.
कृतवर्मा तु समरे पार्षतेन दृढाहतः। पार्षतं सरथं साश्वं छादयामास सायकैः ॥८-३८-३४॥
Kritavarma was struck hard in the battle by Parshata, but he retaliated by covering Parshata, his chariot, and horses with a shower of arrows.
सरथश्छादितो राजन्धृष्टद्युम्नो न दृश्यते। मेघैरिव परिच्छन्नो भास्करो जलदागमे ॥८-३८-३५॥
O king, Dhrishtadyumna is hidden by his chariot and cannot be seen, just as the sun is obscured by clouds during the rainy season.
विधूय तं बाणगणं शरैः कनकभूषणैः। व्यरोचत रणे राजन्धृष्टद्युम्नः कृतव्रणः ॥८-३८-३६॥
O king, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, though wounded, shone in the battle after scattering that group of arrows with his arrows adorned with golden ornaments.
ततस्तु पार्षतः क्रुद्धः शस्त्रवृष्टिं सुदारुणाम्। कृतवर्माणमासाद्य व्यसृजत्पृतनापतिः ॥८-३८-३७॥
Then, the son of Prishata, in his anger, unleashed a fierce barrage of weapons upon Kritavarma, the commander of the army, as he approached.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा शस्त्रवृष्टिं निरन्तराम्। शरैरनेकसाहस्रैर्हार्दिक्यो व्यधमद्युधि ॥८-३८-३८॥
Hārdikya suddenly dispersed that continuous rain of weapons with many thousands of arrows in the battle.
दृष्ट्वा तु दारितां युद्धे शस्त्रवृष्टिं दुरुत्तराम्। कृतवर्माणमभ्येत्य वारयामास पार्षतः ॥८-३८-३९॥
Upon witnessing the fierce and overwhelming shower of weapons in the battle, the son of Prishata approached Kritavarma and halted his advance.
सारथिं चास्य तरसा प्राहिणोद्यमसादनम्। भल्लेन शितधारेण स हतः प्रापतद्रथात् ॥८-३८-४०॥
He swiftly sent his charioteer to the abode of Yama with a sharp-edged arrow, and the charioteer, being struck, fell from the chariot.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु बलवाञ्जित्वा शत्रुं महारथम्। कौरवान्समरे तूर्णं वारयामास सायकैः ॥८-३८-४१॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, being strong, defeated the great chariot warrior enemy and quickly halted the Kauravas in battle using his arrows.
ततस्ते तावका योधा धृष्टद्युम्नमुपाद्रवन्। सिंहनादरवं कृत्वा ततो युद्धमवर्तत ॥८-३८-४२॥
Then your warriors attacked Dhṛṣṭadyumna with a lion's roar, and the battle began.
