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.
Sanjaya said:
Kritavarma, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Karna, O King, Uluka, Shakuni, and the king with his brothers were present.
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.
Then the battle seemed to last only a moment, O Bharata, causing fear among the timid and increasing joy among the brave.
In the battle, the showers of arrows released by Kṛpa were destroyed by the Sṛñjayas, just like swarms of locusts are scattered.
Shikhandi, in his anger, swiftly approached Gautama and unleashed a shower of arrows all around the Brahmin.
Kṛpa, the great wielder of weapons, destroyed the shower of arrows and angrily pierced Śikhaṇḍin in battle with ten arrows.
Then, in the battle, Shikhandi, filled with rage, struck Kripa hard with seven straight-flying feathered arrows.
Then Kṛpa, a great warrior, skillfully shot sharp arrows, rendering the Pārṣata's chariot without horses and a charioteer.
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.
He suddenly covered the approaching enemy with arrows having bent joints in the battle; it seemed as if it was a wonderful sight.
There, O king, we witnessed a marvelous sight: stones were floating as Shikhandi stood still in the battle.
Upon witnessing Śikhaṇḍin being covered by Kṛpa, the valiant Dhṛṣṭadyumna swiftly moved towards Kṛpa, O best of kings.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, proceeding towards Śāradvata's chariot, was swiftly intercepted by the great charioteer Kṛtavarmā.
Drona's son stopped Yudhishthira, who was coming towards the chariot of Shardvata, along with his son and army.
Nakul and Sahadev, the great warriors, hurriedly approached and were intercepted by your son, who warded them off with a shower of arrows.
Karna, the son of Vikartana, stopped Bhimasena, the Karushas, the Kekayas, and the Srinjayas in the battle, O Bharata.
Then Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, swiftly sent arrows in battle, as if desiring to burn, O great one.
He skillfully cut down the arrows sent towards him, which were adorned with gold ornaments, by wielding and whirling his sword repeatedly.
Gautama swiftly pierced Parshata's shield, which was like a hundred moons, with his arrows, causing the people to shout in amazement.
The great king, without armor and with a sword in hand, attacked, falling under Kṛpa's control, as if distressed and facing death.
O king, Suketu, the son of Citraketu, swiftly went, being seized and tormented by Sharadvata's arrows, despite his great strength.
The immeasurable soul, scattering the Brahmin with many sharp arrows in battle, attacked towards Gautama's chariot.
Upon witnessing the formidable Brahmin who had maintained his vows in the battle, Shikhandi swiftly withdrew, O esteemed king.
Suketu, however, then pierced Gautama with nine arrows, and again with seventy and three arrows, O king.
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.
Gautama, in his anger, took up a new, strong bow and struck Suketu with thirty arrows, hitting all his vital points.
He, with all his limbs agitated, trembled on the excellent chariot, just as a tree shakes greatly when the earth quakes.
As he moved, his head, adorned with blazing earrings, along with the turban and helmet, was severed by a razor.
The head fell to the ground as if it were prey snatched by a hawk. Then, his body followed, descending to the earth.
O great king, when he was killed, his terrified followers left Gautama in the battlefield and fled in all ten directions.
In the battle, the mighty Kṛtavarmā boldly obstructed Dhṛṣṭadyumna and said, "Stay, stay," to the son of Pṛṣata.
O king, a fierce battle took place between the Vṛṣṇis and Pārṣatas on the battlefield, resembling a fight between hawks and vultures over prey.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, in his anger, struck Hārdikya with nine arrows on the chest, causing torment to Hṛdika's son.
Kritavarma was struck hard in the battle by Parshata, but he retaliated by covering Parshata, his chariot, and horses with a shower of arrows.
O king, Dhrishtadyumna is hidden by his chariot and cannot be seen, just as the sun is obscured by clouds during the rainy season.
O king, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, though wounded, shone in the battle after scattering that group of arrows with his arrows adorned with golden ornaments.
Then, the son of Prishata, in his anger, unleashed a fierce barrage of weapons upon Kritavarma, the commander of the army, as he approached.
Hārdikya suddenly dispersed that continuous rain of weapons with many thousands of arrows in the battle.
Upon witnessing the fierce and overwhelming shower of weapons in the battle, the son of Prishata approached Kritavarma and halted his advance.
He swiftly sent his charioteer to the abode of Yama with a sharp-edged arrow, and the charioteer, being struck, fell from the chariot.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, being strong, defeated the great chariot warrior enemy and quickly halted the Kauravas in battle using his arrows.
Then your warriors attacked Dhṛṣṭadyumna with a lion's roar, and the battle began.
