08.039
Core and Pancharatra: Combined forces of the Pandavas attack Aśvatthāmā, and Yudhisthira advises Aśvatthāmā to do his Brahminical duties instead of engaging in war.
Sanjaya said:
Aśvatthāmā, upon seeing Yudhishthira being protected by Satyaki and the sons of Draupadi, along with other heroes, advanced with joy.
He scattered terrible arrows with golden feathers and stone-sharpened tips, demonstrating various paths for learning with the skill of a light-handed master.
Then, the master of weapons filled the sky with arrows empowered by divine weapon spells and surrounded Yudhishthira in the battle.
The battlefield was so densely covered with arrows by Drona's son that nothing could be seen; it was as if the entire battlefield had turned into arrows.
O best of the Bharatas, the network of arrows spread out in the sky, adorned with a golden network, shone like a magnificent canopy.
O king, the battle was enveloped by a brilliant network of arrows, resembling the shadow of a cloud, and the sky was filled with arrows.
There we witnessed a remarkable sight: an arrow, in such a form, did not fall to the ground, as we observed the valor of Drona's son.
Upon witnessing the agility of Droṇa's son, the great warriors were astonished, O great king, and none of the kings could bear to look back at him, as if he were the blazing sun.
Satyaki was striving, but Dharmaraja and Pandava, as well as the other armies, did not show valor.
As the army was being slaughtered, the sons of Draupadī, along with the great warriors Sātyaki, Dharmarāja, and the Pāñcālas, gathered together and, casting aside their dreadful fear of death, launched an attack on Aśvatthāmā.
Satyaki struck Drona's son with twenty-five arrows and then again with seven arrows adorned with gold.
Yudhishthira fought with seventy-three arrows, Prativindhya with seven, Shrutakarma with three arrows, but Shrutakirti with seven.
Sutasoma, along with nine others, and Śatānīka, with seven, along with many other heroes, attacked him from all sides.
He, extremely enraged, then, O king, breathing like a serpent, attacked Satyaki with twenty-five stone-tipped arrows.
Śrutakīrti was struck with nine arrows, Sutasoma with five; Śrutakarmā with eight, Prativindhya with three; Śatānīka with nine, and Dharmaputra with seven arrows.
Then, from that place, he struck the other warriors with two arrows. He also severed Śrutakīrti's bow with sharp arrows.
Then Śrutakīrti, the great charioteer, took another bow and pierced Drona's son with three sharp arrows, striking him with others.
Then, O great king, Drona's son covered the entire army and the kings on all sides with a shower of arrows, O descendant of Bharata.
Then, once more, the immeasurable-souled Drona's son, with a smile, severed the bow of Dharmaraja and struck him with three arrows.
Then, O king, the son of Dharma took up another great bow and pierced Ashwatthama, the son of Drona, with seventy arrows, causing him great pain in his arms and chest.
Satyaki, in his anger, cut down the bow of Ashwatthama, Drona's son, who was fiercely attacking in the battle, using a sharp crescent-shaped arrow, and then roared loudly in triumph.
Then, Drauṇi, the son of Droṇa, known for his might, swiftly caused the charioteer of Śaineya to fall from the chariot, as he wielded his power.
Then, the valiant son of Droṇa picked up another bow and showered arrows upon Satyaki, O Bharata.
His horses, with the charioteer and chariot fallen in battle, were seen running swiftly here and there, O Bharata.
Led by Yudhishthira, they swiftly attacked Drona's son, the best among warriors, by releasing sharp arrows.
Upon seeing them approach in their terrifying forms, the son of Droṇa, known as the scorcher of foes, smiled and accepted the challenge in the great battle.
Then, Drona's son, the great chariot warrior, burned the army's region in battle with hundreds of flaming arrows, just as fire would in a forest.
The strength of the Pandava, inflamed by Ashwatthama, was disturbed, O best of the Bharatas, like a river's mouth is agitated by a shark.
Upon witnessing the might of Droṇa's son, O great king, they believed that all the Pāṇḍavas had indeed been slain by him.
Yudhishthira, in a hurry, embraced Ashwatthama, the great warrior, and spoke to him with anger and impatience.
There is neither affection nor gratitude in you, as you, O tiger among men, intend to kill me today.
A Brahmin should engage in austerity, duty, charity, and study, while a Kshatriya should focus on archery. You are referred to as a Brahmin.
While you watch, O mighty-armed one, I shall defeat the Kauravas in battle. Engage in your duty in the war, for you are indeed a relative of a Brahmana.
Having been addressed in this way, O great king, the son of Droṇa, as if smiling, pondered over the appropriateness and did not say anything in response.
Without uttering a word, he then showered arrows upon Pāṇḍava in the battle, like the furious god of death, Antaka, envelops all beings.
At that time, O great one, Arjuna, being overwhelmed by Drona's son, quickly retreated, leaving the vast army behind.
After Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, had departed, the son of Drona stood there, O king, following the command of the great soul.
Then King Yudhishthira, leaving Drona's son behind in the great battle, advanced towards your army with the intent of performing a cruel act.
