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.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
atha tvidānīṃ tumule vimarde; dviṣadbhireko bahubhiḥ samāvṛtaḥ। mahābhaye sārathimityuvāca; bhīmaścamūṃ vārayandhārtarāṣṭrīm ॥ tvaṃ sārathe yāhi javena vāhai; rnayāmyetāndhārtarāṣṭrānyamāya ॥8-54-1॥
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."
sañcodito bhīmasenena caivaṃ; sa sārathiḥ putrabalam tvadīyam। prāyāttataḥ sārathirugravego; yato bhīmastadbalaṃ gantumaicchat ॥8-54-2॥
Urged by Bhimasena, the charioteer swiftly proceeded towards your son's army, heading to the place where Bhima wished to confront that force.
tato'pare nāgarathāśvapattibhiḥ; pratyudyayuḥ kuravastaṃ samantāt। bhīmasya vāhāgryamudāravegaṃ; samantato bāṇagaṇairnijaghnuḥ ॥8-54-3॥
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.
tataḥ śarān āpatato mahātmā; ciccheda bāṇais tapanīya-puṅkhaiḥ। te vai nipetus tapanīya-puṅkhā; dvidhā tridhā bhīma-śarair nikṛttāḥ ॥8-54-4॥
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.
tato rājannāgarathaśvayūnāṃ; bhīmāhatānāṃ tava rājamadhye। ghorō ninādaḥ prababhau narendra; vajrāhatānāmiva parvatānām ॥8-54-5॥
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.
te vadhyamānāśca narendramukhyā; nirbhinnā vai bhīmasenapravekaiḥ। bhīmaṃ samantātsamare'dhyaroha; nvṛkṣaṃ śakuntā iva puṣpahetoḥ ॥8-54-6॥
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.
tato'bhipātaṃ tava sainyamadhye; prāduścakre vegamivāttavegaḥ। yathāntakāle kṣapayandidhakṣu; rbhūtāntakṛtkāla ivāttadaṇḍaḥ ॥8-54-7॥
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.
tasyātivegasya raṇe'tivegaṃ; nāśaknuvandhārayituṃ tvadīyāḥ। vyāttānanasyaapatato yathaiva; kālasya kāle harataḥ prajā vai ॥8-54-8॥
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.
tato balaṁ bhārata bhāratānāṁ; pradahyamānaṁ samare mahātman। bhītaṁ diśo'kīryata bhīmanunnaṁ; mahānilenābhragaṇo yathaiva ॥8-54-9॥
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.
tato dhīmānsārathimabravīdbalī; sa bhīmasenaḥ punareva hṛṣṭaḥ। sūtābhijānīhi parānsvakānvā; rathāndhvajāṃścāpatataḥ sametān ॥ yudhyannaham nābhijānāmi kiṃ ci; nmā sainyaṃ svaṃ chādayiṣye pṛṣatkaiḥ ॥8-54-10॥
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."
arīnviśokābhinirīkṣya sarvato; manastu cintā pradunoti me bhṛśam। rājāturo nāgamadyatkirīṭī; bahūni duḥkhānyabhijāto'smi sūta ॥8-54-11॥
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.
etadduḥkhaṃ sārthe dharmarājo; yanmāṃ hitvā yātavāñśatrumadhye। nainaṃ jīvannāpi jānāmyajīva; nbībhatsuṃ vā tanmamādyātiduḥkham ॥8-54-12॥
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.
so'haṁ dviṣatsainyamudagrakalpaṁ; vināśayiṣye paramapratītaḥ। etānnihatyājimadhye sametā; nprīto bhaviṣyāmi saha tvayādya ॥8-54-13॥
"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."
sarvāṃstūṇīrānmārgaṇānvānvavekṣya; kiṃ śiṣṭaṃ syātsāyakānāṃ rathe me। kā vā jātiḥ kiṃ pramāṇaṃ ca teṣāṃ; jñātvā vyaktaṃ tanmamācakṣva sūta ॥8-54-14॥
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.
viśoka uvāca॥
Viśoka said:
ṣaṇmārgaṇānāmayutāni vīra; kṣurāśca bhallāśca tathāyutākhyāḥ। nārācānāṃ dve sahasre tu vīra; trīṇyeva ca pradarāṇāṃ ca pārtha ॥8-54-15॥
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.
astyāyudhaṃ pāṇḍaveyāvaśiṣṭaṃ; na yadvahécchakaṭaṃ ṣaḍgavīyam। etadvidvanmuñca sahasraśo'pi; gadāsibāhudraviṇaṃ ca te'sti ॥8-54-16॥
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.
bhīma uvāca॥
Bhima said:
sūtādyemaṃ paśya bhīmapramuktaiḥ; sambhindadbhiḥ pārthivānāśuvegaiḥ। ugrairbāṇairāhavaṃ ghorarūpaṃ; naṣṭādityaṃ mṛtyulokena tulyam ॥8-54-17॥
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.
adyaiva tadviditaṁ pārthivānāṁ; bhaviṣyati ākumāraṁ ca sūta। nimagno vā samare bhīmasena; ekaḥ kurūnvā samare vijetā ॥8-54-18॥
Today, O charioteer, the kings will know whether Bhimasena is overwhelmed in battle or stands alone as the victor over the Kauravas.
sarve saṅkhye kuravo niṣpatantu; māṃ vā lokāḥ kīrtayantvākumārām। sarvānekastānahaṃ pātayiṣye; te vā sarve bhīmasenaṃ tudantu ॥8-54-19॥
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.
āśāstāraḥ karma cāpyuttamaṃ vā; tanme devāḥ kevalaṃ sādhayantu. āyātvihādyārjunaḥ śatrughātī; śakrastūrṇaṃ yajña ivopahūtaḥ ॥8-54-20॥
"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."
īkṣasvaitāṃ bhāratīṃ dīryamāṇā; mete kasmādvidravante narendrāḥ। vyaktaṃ dhīmānsavyasācī narāgryaḥ; sainyaṃ hyetacchādayatyāśu bāṇaiḥ ॥8-54-21॥
"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."
paśya dhvajāṃśca dravato viśoka; nāgānhayānpattisaṅghāṃśca saṅkhye। rathānviśīrṇāñśaraśaktitāḍitā; npaśyasvaitānrathinaścaiva sūta ॥8-54-22॥
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.
āpūryate kauravī cāpyabhīkṣṇaṁ; senā hyasau subhṛśaṁ hanyamānā. dhanañjayasyaśanitulyavegai; rgrastā śarairbarhisuvarṇavājaiḥ ॥8-54-23॥
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.
ete dravanti sma rathāśvanāgāḥ; padātisaṅghānavamardayantaḥ। saṃmuhyamānāḥ kauravāḥ sarva eva; dravanti nāgā iva dāvabhītāḥ ॥ hāhākṛtāścaiva raṇe viśoka; muñcanti nādānvipulāngajendrāḥ ॥8-54-24॥
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.
viśoka uvāca॥
Viśoka said:
sarve kāmāḥ pāṇḍava te samṛddhāḥ; kapidhvajo dṛśyate hastisainye। nīlāddhanādvidyutamuccarantīṃ; tathāpaśyaṃ visphuradvai dhanustat ॥8-54-25॥
"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."
kapirhyasau vīkṣyate sarvato vai; dhvajāgramāruhya dhanañjayasya। divākarābho maṇireṣa divyo; vibhrājate caiva kirīṭasaṃsthaḥ ॥8-54-26॥
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.
pārśve bhīmaṃ pāṇḍurābhraprakāśaṃ; paśyemaṃ tvaṃ devadattaṃ sughoṣam। abhīśuhastasya janārdanasya; vigāhamānasya camūṃ pareṣām ॥8-54-27॥
Beside Bhima, who appears like a white cloud, see this Devadatta Sughosha. Janardana, with his strong arm, is entering the enemy's army.
raviprabhaṁ vajranābhaṁ kṣurāntaṁ; pārśve sthitaṁ paśya janārdanasya। cakraṁ yaśo vardhayatkeśavasya; sadārcitaṁ yadubhiḥ paśya vīra ॥8-54-28॥
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.
bhīma uvāca॥
Bhima said:
dadāmi te grāmavarāṁścaturdaśa; priyākhyāne sārthe suprasannaḥ। dasīśataṁ cāpi rathāṁśca viṁśatiṁ; yadarjunaṁ vedayase viśoka ॥8-54-29॥
I am very pleased, O charioteer, to give you fourteen excellent villages, a hundred servants, and twenty chariots, as you know Arjuna without sorrow.
