08.055
Core and Pancharatra: Duryodhana's led attack on Bhima is a colossal failure. Initially, general destruction of the Duryodhana's army. Then Shakuni is forced to be rescued by Duryodhana himself. Then all his brothers flee and finally find refuge in Karna.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
śrutvā ca rathanirghoṣaṃ siṃhanādaṃ ca saṃyuge। arjunaḥ prāha govindaṃ śīghraṃ codaya vājinaḥ ॥8-55-1॥
Upon hearing the thunderous sound of the chariot and the lion's roar in the battlefield, Arjuna urged Govinda, "Drive the horses swiftly."
arjunasya vacaḥ śrutvā govindo'rjunamabravīt। eṣa gacchāmi sukṣipraṃ yatra bhīmo vyavasthitaḥ ॥8-55-2॥
Upon hearing Arjuna's words, Govinda replied to him, "I will swiftly go to where Bhima is."
āyāntamaśvairhimaśaṅkhavarṇaiḥ; suvarṇamuktāmaṇijālanaddhaiḥ। jambhaṃ jighāṃsuṃ pragṛhītavajraṃ; jayāya devendramivogramanyum ॥8-55-3॥
Indra, fierce in anger, came with snow-white horses adorned with gold, pearls, and jewels, holding his thunderbolt, intending to kill the demon Jambha for victory.
rathāśvamātaṅgapadātisaṅghā; bāṇasvanairnemikhurasvanaiśca। saṃnādayanto vasudhāṃ diśaśca; kruddhā nṛsiṃhā jayamabhyudīyuḥ ॥8-55-4॥
The chariots, horses, elephants, and foot-soldiers, accompanied by the sounds of arrows, wheels, and hooves, resounded through the earth and directions as the angry warriors advanced for victory.
teṣāṃ ca pārthasya mahattadāsī; ddehāsupāpmakṣapaṇaṃ suyuddham। trailokyahetorasurairyathāsī; ddevasya viṣṇorjayatāṃ varasya ॥8-55-5॥
For them and for Pārtha, that great battle was a righteous fight, destroying sin in bodies, just as it was for the sake of the three worlds by the demons, for the god Viṣṇu, the best among the victorious.
tairastamuccāvacamāyudhaugha; mekaḥ praciccheda kirīṭamālī। kṣurārdhacandrairniśitaiśca bāṇaiḥ; śirāṃsi teṣāṃ bahudhā ca bāhūn ॥8-55-6॥
By them, a flood of various weapons descended; one wearing a crown cut off their heads and arms in many ways with sharp, half-moon shaped razor arrows.
chatrāṇi vālavyajanāni ketū; naśvānrathānpattigaṇāndvipāṃśca। te petururvyāṃ bahudhā virūpā; vātaprabhagnāni yathā vanāni ॥8-55-7॥
The umbrellas, fans, banners, horses, chariots, infantry groups, and elephants fell to the ground in various disfigured forms, as if they were forests shattered by the wind.
suvarṇajālāvatatā mahāgajāḥ; savaijayantīdhvajayodhakalpitāḥ। suvarṇapuṅkhairiṣubhiḥ samācitā; ścakāśire prajvalitā yathācalāḥ ॥8-55-8॥
The great elephants, adorned with golden nets and equipped with Vaijayanti flags and warriors, were filled with golden-feathered arrows and shone brightly like blazing mountains.
vidārya nāgāṃśca rathāṃśca vājinaḥ; śarottamairvāsavavajrasaṃnibhaiḥ। drutaṃ yayau karṇajighāṃsayā tathā; yathā marutvānbalabhedane purā ॥8-55-9॥
Piercing through the elephants, chariots, and horses with arrows as powerful as Indra's thunderbolt, he swiftly advanced with the intent to kill Karṇa, just as the wind god once moved to break through the forces.
tataḥ sa puruṣavyāghraḥ sūtasainyamariṃdama। praviveśa mahābāhurmakaraḥ sāgaraṃ yathā ॥8-55-10॥
Then the mighty-armed hero, known as the tiger among men and subduer of enemies, entered the charioteer's army just as a crocodile enters the ocean.
taṁ dṛṣṭvā tāvakā rājanrathapattisamanvitāḥ। gajāśvasādibahulāḥ pāṇḍavaṁ samupādravan ॥8-55-11॥
Upon seeing him, your forces, O king, with chariots, infantry, elephants, and horses, launched an attack on the Pandava.
tatrābhidravatāṃ pārthamārāvaḥ sumahānabhūt। sāgarasyeva mattasya yathā syātsalilasvanaḥ ॥8-55-12॥
There arose a tremendous roar from those charging towards Arjuna, akin to the sound of a turbulent ocean.
te tu taṁ puruṣavyāghraṁ vyāghrā iva mahārathāḥ। abhyadravanta saṅgrāme tyaktvā prāṇakṛtaṁ bhayam ॥8-55-13॥
But they, the great warriors, charged at him, the tiger among men, in the battle, casting aside the fear for their lives.
teṣām āpatatāṃ tatra śaravarṣāṇi muñcatām। arjuno vyadhamat sainyaṃ mahāvāto ghanān iva ॥8-55-14॥
As they attacked, releasing showers of arrows, Arjuna scattered the army like a great wind scatters clouds.
te'rjunaṃ sahitā bhūtvā rathavaṃśaiḥ prahāriṇaḥ। abhiyāya maheṣvāsā vivyadhurniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥8-55-15॥
The great archers, having gathered together with their chariots, approached Arjuna and struck him with sharp arrows.
tato'rjunaḥ sahasrāṇi rathavāraṇavājinām। preṣayāmāsa viśikhairyamasya sadanaṃ prati ॥8-55-16॥
Then Arjuna dispatched thousands of chariots, elephants, and horses with arrows towards Yama's abode.
te vadhyamānāḥ samare pārthacāpyutaiḥ śaraiḥ। tatra tatra sma līyante bhaye jāte mahārathāḥ ॥8-55-17॥
The great warriors, struck by Arjuna's arrows in battle, scatter in fear, disappearing here and there.
teṣāṃ catuḥśatānvīrānyatamānānmahārathān। arjuno niśitairbāṇairanayadyamasādanam ॥8-55-18॥
Arjuna, with his sharp arrows, sent four hundred of their striving great charioteer heroes to the abode of Yama.
te vadhyamānāḥ samare nānāliṅgaiḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ। arjunaṃ samabhityajya dudruvurvai diśo bhayāt ॥8-55-19॥
"They, attacked in battle by various sharp arrows and signs, abandoned Arjuna and fled in all directions out of fear."
teṣāṃ śabdo mahānāsīddravatāṃ vāhinīmukhe। mahaughasyeva bhadraṃ te girimāsādya dīryataḥ ॥8-55-20॥
The sound of their army was immense as it advanced like a great flood, auspiciously reaching the mountain and bursting forth.
tāṃ tu senāṃ bhṛśaṃ viddhvā drāvayitvārjunaḥ śaraiḥ। prāyādabhimukhaḥ pārthaḥ sūtānīkāni māriṣa ॥8-55-21॥
Arjuna, after severely piercing the army with his arrows, advanced towards the charioteers, O lord.
tasya śabdo mahān āsīt parān abhimukhasya vai। garuḍasya iva patataḥ pannagārthe yathā purā ॥8-55-22॥
His sound was mighty as he faced the others, just like Garuda flying for the serpent's cause in ancient times.
taṁ tu śabdama bhiśrutya bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ। babhūva paramaprītaḥ pārthadarśanalālasaḥ ॥8-55-23॥
Upon hearing that sound, the mighty Bhimasena was filled with great joy, longing to see Arjuna.
śrutvaiva pārtham āyāntaṃ bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān। tyaktvā prāṇān mahārāja senāṃ tava mamarda ha ॥8-55-24॥
Upon hearing of Arjuna's approach, the mighty Bhimasena, disregarding his own life, fiercely attacked and crushed your army, O great king.
sa vāyuvegapratimo vāyuvegasamo jave। vāyuvadvyacaradbhīmo vāyuputraḥ pratāpavān ॥8-55-25॥
Bhima, the mighty son of Vayu, moved with a speed comparable to the wind, matching its swiftness.
tenārdyamānā rājendra senā tava viśāṃ pate। vyabhrāmyata mahārāja bhinnā nauriva sāgare ॥8-55-26॥
O King, your army was tormented by him and became bewildered, like a ship broken in the ocean, O great king.
tāṃ tu senāṃ tadā bhīmo darśayanpāṇilāghavam। śarairavacakartograiḥ preṣayiṣyanyamakṣayam ॥8-55-27॥
At that time, Bhima demonstrated his skill by fiercely cutting down the army with his arrows, aiming to send them to the eternal abode of Yama.
tatra bhārata bhīmasya balaṁ dṛṣṭvātimānuṣam। vyatrasyanta raṇe yodhāḥ kālasyeva yugakṣaye ॥8-55-28॥
O Bharata, upon witnessing Bhima's extraordinary strength, the warriors in the battle were as frightened as if it were the end of an era.
tathārditānbhīmabalānbhīmasenena bhārata। dṛṣṭvā duryodhano rājā idaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥8-55-29॥
Seeing the warriors of Bhima's strength afflicted by Bhimasena, King Duryodhana addressed these words, O Bharata.
sainikāns maheṣvāso yodhāṃśca bharatarṣabha। samādiśadraṇe sarvānhata bhīmamiti sma ha ॥ tasminhate hataṃ manye sarvasainyamaśeṣataḥ ॥8-55-30॥
He commanded all the soldiers, great archers, and warriors in the battle, saying, 'Bhima is killed,' O best of the Bharatas. With him being killed, I think the entire army is completely destroyed.
pratigṛhya ca tām ājñāṃ tava putrasya pārthivāḥ। bhīmaṃ pracchādayām āsuḥ śaravarṣaiḥ samantataḥ ॥8-55-31॥
Upon receiving the command from your son, the kings surrounded Bhima and attacked him with a barrage of arrows from every direction.
gajāś ca bahulā rājannarāś ca jayagṛddhinaḥ। rathā hayāś ca rājendra parivavrurvṛkodaram ॥8-55-32॥
Elephants, numerous men eager for victory, chariots, and horses surrounded Vrikodara, O king.
sa taiḥ parivṛtaḥ śūraiḥ śūro rājansamantataḥ। śuśubhe bharataśreṣṭha nakṣatrairiva candramāḥ ॥8-55-33॥
O best of the Bharatas, he, the hero, surrounded by those heroes, shone all around like the moon among the stars, O king.
sa rarāja tathā saṅkhye darśanīyo narottamaḥ। nirviśeṣaṃ mahārāja yathā hi vijayastathā ॥8-55-34॥
He appeared splendid in the battlefield, looking handsome and distinguished as the best among men, without any distinction, O great king, just as Vijaya did.
tatra te pārthivāḥ sarve śaravṛṣṭīḥ samāsṛjan। krodharaktekṣaṇāḥ krūrā hantukāmā vṛkodaram ॥8-55-35॥
There, all the kings, with eyes red from anger and fierce in their intent, released showers of arrows, desiring to kill Vrikodara (Bhima).
sa vidārya mahāsenāṃ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ। niścakrāma raṇādbhīmo matsyo jālādivāmbhasi ॥8-55-36॥
Bhima, having pierced the great army with his arrows, emerged from the battle like a fish escaping from a net in the water.
hatvā daśa sahasrāṇi gajānāmanivartinām। nṛṇāṃ śatasahasre dve dve śate caiva bhārata ॥8-55-37॥
O Bhārata, having slain ten thousand elephants that do not retreat, and two hundred thousand men.
pañca cāśvasahasrāṇi rathānāṃ śatameva ca। hatvā prāsyandayadbhīmo nadīṃ śoṇitakardamām ॥8-55-38॥
Bhima, having slain thousands of horses and a hundred chariots, caused a river to flow, muddy with blood.
śoṇitodāṃ rathāvartāṃ hastigrāhasamākulām। naramīnāmaśvanakrāṃ keśaśaivalaśādvalām ॥8-55-39॥
The battlefield was a gruesome sight, with waters turned red with blood, chariots swirling like whirlpools, and filled with elephants and crocodiles. It was a chaotic scene with men, fish, horses, crocodiles, hair, seaweed, and grassy patches scattered all around.
sañchinnabhujanāgendrāṃ bahuratnāpahāriṇīm। ūrugrāhāṃ majjapaṅkāṃ śīropalasamākulām ॥8-55-40॥
The great serpent with severed arms, who steals many gems, is like a crocodile on the thigh, filled with marrow and mud, and its head is filled with stones.
dhanuṣkāśāṃ śarāvāpāṃ gadāparighaketanām। yodhavrātavatīṃ saṅkhye vahantīṃ yamasādanam ॥8-55-41॥
The army, adorned with bows, quivers, and banners of maces and bars, carried groups of warriors into the battlefield, leading them to the abode of Yama.
kṣaṇena puruṣavyāghraḥ prāvartayata nimnagām। yathā vaitarṇīmugrāṃ dustarāmakṛtātmabhiḥ ॥8-55-42॥
In an instant, the hero initiated the flow of the river, resembling the formidable Vaitarani, which is hard to cross for those who are not self-disciplined.
yato yataḥ pāṇḍaveyaḥ pravṛtto rathasattamaḥ। tatastato'pātayata yodhāñśatasahasraśaḥ ॥8-55-43॥
Wherever the son of Pandu, the best among charioteers, went into action, he brought down hundreds and thousands of warriors.
evaṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛtaṃ karma bhīmasenena saṃyuge। duryodhano mahārāja śakuniṃ vākyamabravīt ॥8-55-44॥
Upon witnessing the deeds performed by Bhimasena in the battle, Duryodhana addressed Shakuni, saying, "O great king, here are my words."
jaya mātula saṅgrāme bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam। asmiñjite jitaṃ manye pāṇḍaveyaṃ mahābalam ॥8-55-45॥
"Victory to my uncle in battle, Bhimasena the mighty. In this victory, I believe the son of Pandu has proven his might."
tataḥ prāyānmahārāja saubaleyaḥ pratāpavān। raṇāya mahate yukto bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ ॥8-55-46॥
Then, O great king, the powerful son of Subala, prepared for the great battle, departed, accompanied by his brothers.
sa samāsādya saṅgrāme bhīmaṃ bhīmaparākramam। vārayāmāsa taṃ vīro veleva makarālayam ॥ sa nyavartata taṃ bhīmo vāryamāṇaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥8-55-47॥
He approached Bhima, who was of terrible prowess, in battle and restrained him like the shore restrains the sea, which is the abode of crocodiles. Bhima, being restrained by sharp arrows, turned back.
śakunistasya rājendra vāme pārśve stanāntare। preṣayāmāsa nārācānrukmapuṅkhāñśilāśitān ॥8-55-48॥
Shakuni, O king, sent stone-sharpened, golden-feathered arrows to the left side, between the breasts.
varma bhittvā tu sauvarṇaṃ bāṇāstasya mahātmanaḥ। nyamajjanta mahārāja kaṅkabarhiṇavāsasaḥ ॥8-55-49॥
The arrows pierced through the golden armor of the great soul and sank, O great king, adorned with peacock feathers.
so'tividdho raṇe bhīmaḥ śaraṃ hemavibhūṣitam। preṣayāmāsa sahasā saubalaṃ prati bhārata ॥8-55-50॥
Bhima, deeply wounded in the battle, suddenly shot a gold-adorned arrow at Saubala, O Bharata.
tamāyāntaṃ śaraṃ ghoraṃ śakuniḥ śatrutāpanaḥ। ciccheda śatadhā rājankṛtahasto mahābalaḥ ॥8-55-51॥
Shakuni, known for tormenting his enemies, skillfully cut the terrible arrow approaching him into a hundred pieces, O king.
tasminnipatite bhūmau bhīmaḥ kruddho viśāṃ pate। dhanuściccheda bhallena saubalasya hasanniva ॥8-55-52॥
When he fell on the ground, Bhima, in anger, cut the bow of Saubala with an arrow, as if he was smiling, O lord of men.
tadapāsya dhanuśchinnaṃ saubale yaḥ pratāpavān। anyadādatta vegena dhanurbhallāṃśca ṣoḍaśa ॥8-55-53॥
The valiant son of Subala, having discarded the broken bow, swiftly took another bow and sixteen arrows.
taistasya tu mahārāja bhallaiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ। caturbhiḥ sārathiṁ hyārcchadbhīmaṁ pañcabhireva ca ॥8-55-54॥
O great king, they pierced his charioteer with four arrows having bent joints, and Bhima with five arrows.
dhvajamekena ciccheda chatraṁ dvābhyāṁ viśāṁ pate। caturbhiścaturo vāhānvivyādha subalātmajaḥ ॥8-55-55॥
The son of Subala cut down the flag with one arrow and the umbrella with two, O lord of men. He pierced four horses with four arrows.
tataḥ kruddho mahārāja bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān। śaktiṃ cikṣepa samare rukmadaṇḍāmayasmayīm ॥8-55-56॥
Then the mighty King Bhimasena, filled with anger, hurled his spear with a golden shaft during the battle.
sā bhīmabhujanirmuktā nāgajihveva cañcalā। nipapāta rathe tūrṇaṃ saubalasya mahātmanaḥ ॥8-55-57॥
She, having been released from Bhima's embrace, fell swiftly onto the chariot of the noble Saubala, as restless as a serpent's tongue.
tatastāmeva saṅgṛhya śaktiṃ kanakabhūṣaṇām। bhīmasenāya cikṣepa kruddharūpo viśāṃ pate ॥8-55-58॥
Then, in a fit of anger, he grabbed the golden-adorned spear and threw it at Bhimasena, O lord of men.
sā nirbhidya bhujaṃ savyaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ। papāta ca tato bhūmau yathā vidyunnabhaścyutā ॥8-55-59॥
She pierced the left arm of the noble Pandava and then fell to the ground like a bolt of lightning from the sky.
athotkruṣṭaṃ mahārāja dhārtarāṣṭraiḥ samantataḥ। na tu taṃ mamṛṣe bhīmaḥ siṃhanādaṃ tarasvinām ॥8-55-60॥
Then, O great king, the sons of Dhritarashtra shouted all around, but Bhima could not tolerate the mighty lion's roar.
sa saṅgṛhya dhanuḥ sajyaṃ tvaramāṇo mahārathaḥ। muhūrtādiva rājendra chādayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ ॥ saubalasya balaṃ saṅkhye tyaktvātmānaṃ mahābalaḥ ॥8-55-61॥
The great chariot-warrior, in his haste, took up his bow, strung it, and in a moment, O king, covered the army of Saubala with arrows in battle, abandoning himself in the process, showing his might.
tasyāśvāṃścaturo hatvā sūtaṃ caiva viśāṃ pate। dhvajaṃ ciccheda bhallena tvaramāṇaḥ parākramī ॥8-55-62॥
The valiant warrior, in his haste, killed the four horses and the charioteer, and then cut down the banner with an arrow, O lord of men.
hatāśvaṃ ratham utsṛjya tvaramāṇo narottamaḥ। tasthau visphārayaṃś cāpaṃ krodharaktekṣaṇaḥ śvasan ॥ śaraiś ca bahudhā rājan bhīm am ārcchat samantataḥ ॥8-55-63॥
The best of men, having lost his horses, abandoned his chariot and stood there hastily, stretching his bow with eyes red in anger, breathing heavily. O king, he attacked Bhima with numerous arrows from all directions.
pratihaty tu vegena bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān। dhanuściccheda saṅkruddho vivyādha ca śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥8-55-64॥
But having struck with speed, the powerful Bhimasena, in his rage, cut off the bow and pierced with sharp arrows.
so'tividdho balavatā śatruṇā śatrukarśanaḥ। nipapāta tato bhūmau kiñcitprāṇo narādhipa ॥8-55-65॥
The king, who was a destroyer of foes, was severely pierced by the mighty enemy and then fell to the ground, barely alive.
tatastaṁ vihvalaṁ jñātvā putrastava viśāṁ pate। apovāha rathenājau bhīmasenasya paśyataḥ ॥8-55-66॥
Then, realizing his distress, your son, O lord, took him away in a chariot during the battle as Bhimasena watched.
rathasthe tu naravyāghre dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ parāṅmukhāḥ। pradudruvurdiśo bhītā bhīmājjāte mahābhaye ॥8-55-67॥
When Bhima, the tiger among men, was seated on the chariot, the sons of Dhritarashtra, overwhelmed by great fear, turned away and fled in all directions.
saubale nirjite rājanbhīmasenena dhanvinā। bhayena mahatā bhagnaḥ putro duryodhanastava ॥ apāyājjavanairaśvaiḥ sāpekṣo mātulaṃ prati ॥8-55-68॥
O king, when the Saubala was defeated by Bhimasena, your son Duryodhana, overwhelmed by great fear, fled swiftly on horses towards his uncle seeking refuge.
parāṅmukhaṃ tu rājānaṃ dṛṣṭvā sainyāni bhārata। viprajagmuḥ samutsṛjya dvairathāni samantataḥ ॥8-55-69॥
Upon seeing the king turn away, the armies, O Bharata, dispersed, leaving their duels behind everywhere.
tāndṛṣṭvātirathānsarvāndhārtarāṣṭrānparāṅmukhān। javenābhyapatadbhīmaḥ kirañśaraśatānbahūn ॥8-55-70॥
Upon seeing all the great charioteers, the sons of Dhritarashtra, turning away, Bhima swiftly charged forward, scattering numerous arrows.
te vadhyamānā bhīmena dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ parāṅmukhāḥ। karṇamāsādya samare sthitā rājansamantataḥ ॥ sa hi teṣāṃ mahāvīryo dvīpo'bhūtsumahābalaḥ ॥8-55-71॥
The sons of Dhritarashtra, being defeated by Bhima, turned away and gathered around Karna in the battle, O king. Karna, with his great heroism and immense strength, became their refuge.
bhinnanaukā yathā rājandvīpamāsādya nirvṛtāḥ। bhavanti puruṣavyāghra nāvikāḥ kālaparyaye ॥8-55-72॥
"O king, just as broken boats find contentment upon reaching an island, so do the sailors, who are like tigers among men, find peace in due course of time."
tathā karṇaṃ samāsādya tāvakā bharatarṣabha। samāśvastāḥ sthitā rājansamprahṛṣṭāḥ parasparam ॥ samājagmuśca yuddhāya mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam ॥8-55-73॥
Thus, having approached Karna, your men, O best of the Bharatas, stood reassured and delighted with each other. They gathered for battle, having resolved to face death as the outcome.
