08.054
Core and Pancharatra: Bhima is concerned that Yudhishthira has got separated and has gone deep into the battlefield. He takes stock of his weapon inventory and expresses his confidence in annihilating the army of Duryodhana's brothers.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
अथ त्विदानीं तुमुले विमर्दे; द्विषद्भिरेको बहुभिः समावृतः। महाभये सारथिमित्युवाच; भीमश्चमूं वारयन्धार्तराष्ट्रीम् ॥ त्वं सारथे याहि जवेन वाहै; र्नयाम्येतान्धार्तराष्ट्रान्यमाय ॥८-५४-१॥
Then, amidst the tumultuous battle, one surrounded by many enemies, in great fear, said to the charioteer. Bhima, halting the army of the sons of Dhritarashtra, instructed, "You, O charioteer, swiftly go with the horses; I will lead these sons of Dhritarashtra without deceit."
सञ्चोदितो भीमसेनेन चैवं; स सारथिः पुत्रबलं त्वदीयम्। प्रायात्ततः सारथिरुग्रवेगो; यतो भीमस्तद्बलं गन्तुमैच्छत् ॥८-५४-२॥
Urged by Bhimasena, the charioteer swiftly proceeded towards your son's army, heading to the place where Bhima wished to confront that force.
ततोऽपरे नागरथाश्वपत्तिभिः; प्रत्युद्ययुः कुरवस्तं समन्तात्। भीमस्य वाहाग्र्यमुदारवेगं; समन्ततो बाणगणैर्निजघ्नुः ॥८-५४-३॥
Then, the Kauravas, with their elephants, chariots, horses, and infantry, advanced from all sides towards Bhima. They attacked his foremost vehicle, which was of noble speed, from every direction with volleys of arrows.
ततः शरानापततो महात्मा; चिच्छेद बाणैस्तपनीयपुङ्खैः। ते वै निपेतुस्तपनीयपुङ्खा; द्विधा त्रिधा भीमशरैर्निकृत्ताः ॥८-५४-४॥
Then the great soul cut down the falling arrows with his golden-shafted arrows. Indeed, they fell, severed into two and three pieces by Bhima's arrows.
ततो राजन्नागरथाश्वयूनां; भीमाहतानां तव राजमध्ये। घोरो निनादः प्रबभौ नरेन्द्र; वज्राहतानामिव पर्वतानाम् ॥८-५४-५॥
Then, O king, a dreadful sound echoed among your ranks of elephants, chariots, horses, and troops, struck by Bhima, resembling the sound of mountains hit by a thunderbolt.
ते वध्यमानाश्च नरेन्द्रमुख्या; निर्भिन्ना वै भीमसेनप्रवेकैः। भीमं समन्तात्समरेऽध्यरोह; न्वृक्षं शकुन्ता इव पुष्पहेतोः ॥८-५४-६॥
The chiefs of men, being slain and pierced by the foremost warriors of Bhimasena, surrounded Bhima on all sides in the battle, like birds flocking to a tree for its flowers.
ततोऽभिपातं तव सैन्यमध्ये; प्रादुश्चक्रे वेगमिवात्तवेगः। यथान्तकाले क्षपयन्दिधक्षु; र्भूतान्तकृत्काल इवात्तदण्डः ॥८-५४-७॥
Then, in the midst of your army, an attack manifested with great speed, as if it were time itself at the end of the world, destroying everything in its path, like the destroyer of all beings, wielding a staff.
तस्यातिवेगस्य रणेऽतिवेगं; नाशक्नुवन्धारयितुं त्वदीयाः। व्यात्ताननस्यापततो यथैव; कालस्य काले हरतः प्रजा वै ॥८-५४-८॥
Your men could not withstand his immense speed in battle, just as no one can resist the inevitable passage of time that eventually claims all lives.
ततो बलं भारत भारतानां; प्रदह्यमानं समरे महात्मन्। भीतं दिशोऽकीर्यत भीमनुन्नं; महानिलेनाभ्रगणो यथैव ॥८-५४-९॥
Then, O Bharata, the army of the Bharatas, burning in the battle, was scattered in all directions by Bhima, just as clouds are driven by the great wind, O great one.
ततो धीमान्सारथिमब्रवीद्बली; स भीमसेनः पुनरेव हृष्टः। सूताभिजानीहि परान्स्वकान्वा; रथान्ध्वजांश्चापततः समेतान् ॥ युध्यन्नहं नाभिजानामि किं चि; न्मा सैन्यं स्वं छादयिष्ये पृषत्कैः ॥८-५४-१०॥
Then the wise and strong Bhimasena, joyful once more, addressed the charioteer: "O charioteer, discern the enemies or our own, the chariots and banners flying together. In the midst of battle, I cannot recognize anything; do not let your own army be covered with arrows."
अरीन्विशोकाभिनिरीक्ष्य सर्वतो; मनस्तु चिन्ता प्रदुनोति मे भृशम्। राजातुरो नागमद्यत्किरीटी; बहूनि दुःखान्यभिजातोऽस्मि सूत ॥८-५४-११॥
Having seen the enemies free from sorrow all around, my mind is greatly troubled by anxiety. The king, distressed and crowned, is destined to face many sorrows today, O charioteer.
एतद्दुःखं सारथे धर्मराजो; यन्मां हित्वा यातवाञ्शत्रुमध्ये। नैनं जीवन्नापि जानाम्यजीव; न्बीभत्सुं वा तन्ममाद्यातिदुःखम् ॥८-५४-१२॥
O charioteer, this is my great sorrow that Dharmaraja has left me and gone into the midst of enemies. I do not know whether he is alive or dead, or if he is in a horrible state. This is my first and greatest sorrow.
सोऽहं द्विषत्सैन्यमुदग्रकल्पं; विनाशयिष्ये परमप्रतीतः। एतान्निहत्याजिमध्ये समेता; न्प्रीतो भविष्यामि सह त्वयाद्य ॥८-५४-१३॥
"I am very confident that I will destroy the mighty army of enemies. Having slain these in the midst of battle, I will be pleased together with you today."
सर्वांस्तूणीरान्मार्गणान्वान्ववेक्ष्य; किं शिष्टं स्यात्सायकानां रथे मे। का वा जातिः किं प्रमाणं च तेषां; ज्ञात्वा व्यक्तं तन्ममाचक्ष्व सूत ॥८-५४-१४॥
After examining all the arrows in the quivers, tell me, O charioteer, what remains of the arrows in my chariot. What is their kind and measure? Knowing that clearly, please inform me.
विशोक उवाच॥
Viśoka said:
षण्मार्गणानामयुतानि वीर; क्षुराश्च भल्लाश्च तथायुताख्याः। नाराचानां द्वे सहस्रे तु वीर; त्रीण्येव च प्रदराणां च पार्थ ॥८-५४-१५॥
O hero, there are ten thousand arrows of six types, including razor-headed and broad-headed ones, known as ten thousand. Additionally, there are two thousand iron arrows and only three piercing arrows, O son of Pritha.
अस्त्यायुधं पाण्डवेयावशिष्टं; न यद्वहेच्छकटं षड्गवीयम्। एतद्विद्वन्मुञ्च सहस्रशोऽपि; गदासिबाहुद्रविणं च तेऽस्ति ॥८-५४-१६॥
There remains a weapon of the Pandavas that even a cart drawn by six oxen could not carry. O learned one, release this, for thousands of maces, swords, arms, and wealth are yours.
भीम उवाच॥
Bhima said:
सूताद्येमं पश्य भीमप्रमुक्तैः; सम्भिन्दद्भिः पार्थिवानाशुवेगैः। उग्रैर्बाणैराहवं घोररूपं; नष्टादित्यं मृत्युलोकेन तुल्यम् ॥८-५४-१७॥
Charioteer, behold this scene where Bhima's released arrows, swift and fierce, pierce through the kings. The battle is terrifying, resembling a world of death with the sun obscured.
अद्यैव तद्विदितं पार्थिवानां; भविष्यति आकुमारं च सूत। निमग्नो वा समरे भीमसेन; एकः कुरून्वा समरे विजेता ॥८-५४-१८॥
Today, O charioteer, the kings will know whether Bhimasena is overwhelmed in battle or stands alone as the victor over the Kauravas.
सर्वे सङ्ख्ये कुरवो निष्पतन्तु; मां वा लोकाः कीर्तयन्त्वाकुमारम्। सर्वानेकस्तानहं पातयिष्ये; ते वा सर्वे भीमसेनं तुदन्तु ॥८-५४-१९॥
Let all the Kurus fall in battle, or let the people praise me as a prince. Alone, I will make them all fall, or let them all strike Bhimasena.
आशास्तारः कर्म चाप्युत्तमं वा; तन्मे देवाः केवलं साधयन्तु। आयात्विहाद्यार्जुनः शत्रुघाती; शक्रस्तूर्णं यज्ञ इवोपहूतः ॥८-५४-२०॥
"May those who desire actions, whether they are excellent or not, have the gods accomplish them for me alone. Let Arjuna, the slayer of enemies, arrive here today, like Indra swiftly summoned to a sacrifice."
ईक्षस्वैतां भारतीं दीर्यमाणा; मेते कस्माद्विद्रवन्ते नरेन्द्राः। व्यक्तं धीमान्सव्यसाची नराग्र्यः; सैन्यं ह्येतच्छादयत्याशु बाणैः ॥८-५४-२१॥
"Look at this army of the Bharatas being scattered; why are these kings fleeing? Clearly, the wise Arjuna, the foremost of men, is quickly covering this army with his arrows."
पश्य ध्वजांश्च द्रवतो विशोक; नागान्हयान्पत्तिसङ्घांश्च सङ्ख्ये। रथान्विशीर्णाञ्शरशक्तिताडिता; न्पश्यस्वैतान्रथिनश्चैव सूत ॥८-५४-२२॥
Observe, O untroubled one, the flags running, the elephants, horses, and infantry groups in the battle. Notice the chariots broken and struck by arrows and spears; see these charioteers as well, O charioteer.
आपूर्यते कौरवी चाप्यभीक्ष्णं; सेना ह्यसौ सुभृशं हन्यमाना। धनञ्जयस्याशनितुल्यवेगै; र्ग्रस्ता शरैर्बर्हिसुवर्णवाजैः ॥८-५४-२३॥
The Kaurava army is constantly replenished, yet it is being severely struck by Dhananjaya's arrows, which move with the speed of thunderbolts and have golden wings.
एते द्रवन्ति स्म रथाश्वनागाः; पदातिसङ्घानवमर्दयन्तः। संमुह्यमानाः कौरवाः सर्व एव; द्रवन्ति नागा इव दावभीताः ॥ हाहाकृताश्चैव रणे विशोक; मुञ्चन्ति नादान्विपुलान्गजेन्द्राः ॥८-५४-२४॥
The chariots, horses, and elephants are rushing forward, trampling the groups of foot soldiers. The Kauravas, bewildered, are fleeing like elephants terrified by a forest fire. In the battle, the elephant lords, crying out, release great sounds without sorrow.
विशोक उवाच॥
Viśoka said:
सर्वे कामाः पाण्डव ते समृद्धाः; कपिध्वजो दृश्यते हस्तिसैन्ये। नीलाद्धनाद्विद्युतमुच्चरन्तीं; तथापश्यं विस्फुरद्वै धनुस्तत् ॥८-५४-२५॥
"O Pandava, all your desires are fulfilled; the monkey-banner is visible in the elephant army. I saw lightning rising from the blue and the wealth, and that bow vibrating."
कपिर्ह्यसौ वीक्ष्यते सर्वतो वै; ध्वजाग्रमारुह्य धनञ्जयस्य। दिवाकराभो मणिरेष दिव्यो; विभ्राजते चैव किरीटसंस्थः ॥८-५४-२६॥
The monkey is clearly visible everywhere, having climbed to the top of Dhananjaya's flag. This divine gem, resembling the sun, shines brightly, positioned on the crown.
पार्श्वे भीमं पाण्डुराभ्रप्रकाशं; पश्येमं त्वं देवदत्तं सुघोषम्। अभीशुहस्तस्य जनार्दनस्य; विगाहमानस्य चमूं परेषाम् ॥८-५४-२७॥
Beside Bhima, who appears like a white cloud, see this Devadatta Sughosha. Janardana, with his strong arm, is entering the enemy's army.
रविप्रभं वज्रनाभं क्षुरान्तं; पार्श्वे स्थितं पश्य जनार्दनस्य। चक्रं यशो वर्धयत्केशवस्य; सदार्चितं यदुभिः पश्य वीर ॥८-५४-२८॥
Behold the radiant discus of Janardana, with its thunderbolt-like hub and sharp edges, enhancing the glory of Keshava. It is always worshipped by the Yadus. Look, O hero.
भीम उवाच॥
Bhima said:
ददामि ते ग्रामवरांश्चतुर्दश; प्रियाख्याने सारथे सुप्रसन्नः। दसीशतं चापि रथांश्च विंशतिं; यदर्जुनं वेदयसे विशोक ॥८-५४-२९॥
I am very pleased, O charioteer, to give you fourteen excellent villages, a hundred servants, and twenty chariots, as you know Arjuna without sorrow.
