08.045
Pancharatra and Core: Arjuna overpowers Ashwatthama; the Kaurava army retreats in panic; requested by Duryodhana, Karna releases the Bhargava weapon, uprooting Pandava army; Arjuna and Krishna go to see the injured Yudhisthira, leaving the Samsaptakas in the hands of Bhima.
Sanjaya said:
Drona's son was surrounded by a great number of chariots. Suddenly, O King, he was attacked where the king was positioned.
Arjuna, the hero with Krishna's aid, suddenly held back the approaching enemy like the shore holds back the ocean.
Then, the powerful son of Drona, in his anger, covered Arjuna and Vasudeva with arrows.
Then, when Krishna was covered, the great warriors there were utterly amazed and looked at the Kurus.
Arjuna, however, then crafted a divine weapon, smiling as if amused. That weapon was restrained in battle by the Brahmin, O Bharata.
In the battle, whatever weapon Pāṇḍava used with the intent to kill, Droṇa's son, the great archer, neutralized it.
In the terrifying weapon-battle that was ongoing, O king, we saw Drona's son, his mouth wide open, resembling death itself.
He covered all directions and intermediate directions with his crooked-moving arrows and then pierced Vasudeva's right arm with three arrows.
Then Arjuna, after slaying all the horses of the great warrior, turned the battlefield into a river of blood.
The charioteers, struck down by Arjuna's arrows, fell from their chariots. The horses, with their harnesses loosened, ran wildly in all directions.
Upon witnessing Arjuna's actions, the son of Droṇa, renowned for his prowess in battle, unleashed a barrage of sharp arrows upon Kṛṣṇa from every direction.
Then, O great king, Drona's son aimed and struck Arjuna in the chest with an arrow during the battle.
Pierced severely in battle by Droṇa's son, he took a terrible club and hurled it back at him, O Bhārata.
As the golden-adorned club approached, Drona's son swiftly cut it down, causing the people to cry out in surprise.
He fell to the ground in many ways, shattered by the arrows of Bhāradvāja, like a mountain would be by the wind, O king.
Then Arjuna, in the battle, struck Drona's son with ten arrows and removed his charioteer from the chariot seat with a sharp arrow.
He gathered himself and covered Krishna's chariots with arrows. There, we witnessed the remarkable and swift prowess of Drona's son.
He provided horses and engaged in battle with Arjuna. In that battle, O king, all the warriors honored him.
When Arjuna was attacked in battle by Drona's son, he skillfully cut off the reins of the chariot horses with sharp arrows, securing victory.
The horses, overwhelmed by the swift arrows, fled. Then, once more, the sound of your army arose, O Bharata.
The Pandavas, after achieving victory, launched an attack on your army from every direction, shooting sharp arrows in their quest for triumph.
O great king, the great army of Dhritarashtra's sons was repeatedly shattered by the victorious Pandavas and their heroic warriors.
O great king, behold your sons, the distinguished warriors, along with Śakuni, the son of Subala, and the noble Karṇa.
The great army, though restrained by your sons, O lord of people, could not hold its ground in battle as it was being attacked from all directions.
Then, O great king, your sons' mighty army, in fear and fleeing in all directions, became disordered.
The son of a charioteer continuously shouted "Stay, stay," but the army, being slaughtered by the great warriors, did not hold its ground.
Then, O great king, upon seeing the Kaurava army, which had been defeated by the Pandavas and the forces of Kashi, fleeing in all directions.
Then Duryodhana, with a tone of affection, said to Karna, "Look, Karna, how the army is severely troubled by the Pandavas."
"In you, everything stands firm out of fear and flees in all directions. Knowing this, O mighty-armed one, act accordingly, O conqueror of foes."
Thousands of warriors are calling out to you, O best of men, as they are being driven away by the Pandavas in battle, O hero.
Upon hearing these words of Duryodhana, Radheya, the son of a charioteer, addressed the Madra king with great speech.
"Behold the might of my arms and the power of my weapons, O lord of the people. Today, I shall vanquish all the Panchalas in battle along with the Pandavas. Drive the chariot, O tiger among men, with auspiciousness, O lord of the people."
Thus, having spoken, the powerful son of a charioteer, took up the ancient and best bow named Vijaya, strung it, and cleaned it repeatedly, O great king.
The one with an immeasurable soul, having restrained his own warriors with truth and an oath, employed the powerful Bhargava weapon.
Then, O king, countless sharp arrows emerged in the great battle.
The Pandava army was completely obscured by the blazing and terrifying presence of vultures and the cries of peacocks, making it entirely invisible.
A great uproar arose among the Pāñcālas, O lord of the people, as they were afflicted by the powerful Bhārgava's weapon in the battle.
O king, elephants and men were falling by the thousands, along with chariots and horses all around, O tiger among men.
O king, the earth trembled due to the slain warriors, and thereafter, the entire great army of the Pandavas became distressed.
Karna, standing alone as the best among warriors, shone brilliantly like a smokeless fire, burning his enemies, truly a tiger among men and a scorcher of foes.
The Panchalas and the Cedis, being slaughtered by Karna, were bewildered and scattered like elephants caught in a forest fire. They cried out in distress, O tiger among men, just as they had before, O best of men.
Upon hearing the cries of the frightened in the midst of battle, and seeing them running in all directions, O king, there arose a great wail, as if from ghosts in a deluge.
O Māriṣa, upon witnessing the slaughter by the son of Sūta, all creatures, including those of lower species, were struck with terror.
The Sṛñjayas, being slaughtered in battle by Karna, the son of a charioteer, repeatedly called out to Arjuna and Krishna, much like the unconscious souls in the city of the dead call out to Yama, the lord of death.
Then Dhanañjaya, the son of Kuntī, addressed Vāsudeva, expressing his fear upon seeing the dreadful Bhārgava weapon there.
Behold, O mighty-armed Krishna, the power of Bhargava's weapon. This weapon is invincible in battle.
O Krishna, behold the son of a charioteer, who is enraged and stands like Yama in the great battle, performing heroic and terrible deeds.
He urges the horses sharply and keeps looking at me repeatedly. Yet, I do not see Karna fleeing from the battlefield.
A living man experiences both victory and defeat in battle. However, O Hṛṣīkeśa, for the one who is conquered, there is only death; how can there be victory?
Then Janardana, wishing to meet Yudhishthira and make Karna understand through the effort of battle, proceeded on his way, O great one.
Krishna, deeply troubled, spoke to Arjuna, "After consoling him, O best of the Kurus, you will then slay Karna."
Then, by the order of Keshava (Krishna), Dhananjaya (Arjuna) quickly went by chariot to see the king who was afflicted by arrows in the battle.
While going, the son of Kunti, eager to see Yudhishthira, observed the army but did not find his elder brother there.
After engaging in battle, O Bharata, the son of Kunti was ultimately defeated by the son of Drona, who was as unbearable as the wielder of the thunderbolt, in the battlefield, by the son of Bhrigu.
After defeating Drona's son, the great archer Arjuna, who had performed a noble and difficult deed, looked upon his own army, remaining invincible to his enemies.
Arjuna, standing at the forefront of the army and fighting, encouraged the heroes with his famous words, making his own chariots steadfast in the battle formation.
Seeing the crowned one, the eldest brother Ajamīḍha quickly approached Bhima in battle and said, "O king, what is the news of the king here?"
Bhima said:
Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, has left this place. If somehow he survives the injuries inflicted by Karna's arrow.
Arjuna said:
Therefore, you should quickly leave from here to inform about the Kuru king. It is certain that the king, having been severely wounded by Karna's arrows, has gone to the camp.
The mighty warrior, who was severely pierced by Drona during the battle that commenced at night, stood there awaiting victory until he was indeed slain by Drona.
The foremost of the Pandavas has been cast into doubt today by the great warrior Karna in battle. Bhima, go quickly today to find out about him; I will hold back the host of enemies.
Bhima said:
"You alone, O great one, understand the actions of the king, the best of the Bharatas. If I, Arjuna, were to go there, the heroes would claim that I am fearful."
Arjuna then addressed Bhimasena, stating that the Samsaptakas were positioned against him as his opposing force. He expressed that without defeating them, he could not withdraw from the assembly of enemies.
Then Bhimasena addressed Arjuna, saying, "O hero of the Kurus, with confidence in my own strength, I will take on all the Samsaptakas in battle; you proceed, O Dhananjaya."
Upon hearing the harsh words of Bhimasena, spoken among enemies, he then addressed the best of the Vrishnis, intending to approach the foremost of the Kurus.
"O Hrishikesha, drive the horses into this ocean of chariots. I desire to see King Ajatashatru, O Keshava."
Then, the chief, always worthy of respect, urged the horses and said to Bhima: "This is not surprising, your deed today, hero; we shall go and conquer the enemy groups, Bhima."
Then Hṛṣīkeśa swiftly went to King Yudhiṣṭhira, riding horses that were as fast as Garuḍa.
O King, having placed Bhimasena, the subduer of enemies, in the opposite army and instructed Vrikodara towards the battle.
Then the two mighty warriors went to the king, who was lying alone, descended from their chariot, and bowed to the feet of the righteous king.
Seeing those two great warriors safe, they joyfully approached Krishna, just as the Ashvins approach Indra.
The king, like Vivasvan welcoming the Ashvins, welcomed those two as the teacher welcomed Indra and Vishnu after the great demon Jambha was slain.
Believing that Karṇa was slain, King Yudhishthira, filled with joy and emotion, spoke with a pleased voice to the scorcher of foes.
