08.059
Pancharatra and Core: The combined strength of Bhima and Arjuna foils the attack of the Kaurava army strategized by Karna.
Sanjaya said:
As Arjuna, bearing the monkey-banner, advanced with great speed on his horses, ninety chariots of the Kuru heroes rushed towards him for battle. The warriors, fierce as tigers, encircled Arjuna, the tiger among men, on the battlefield.
Krishna dispatched the swift white horses, adorned with gold and covered with a net of pearls, towards Karna's chariot.
Then, as Karna's chariot advanced, slaying enemies, Dhananjaya was struck by showers of arrows from the chariots of the Samsaptakas.
Arjuna swiftly killed all those ninety warriors, who were advancing with chariots and had their flags lowered, using his sharp arrows.
They fell from the sky, slain by Arjuna's diverse arrows, along with their celestial vehicles, just as celestial beings fall from heaven when their accumulated merit is exhausted.
Then, O esteemed Kuru, the fearless Kurus, accompanied by chariots, elephants, and horses, advanced towards Arjuna, the best among the Bharatas.
Dhananjaya faced the great army of your sons, with his weapon still unreleased, rising like a magnificent elephant in the battle.
The great archers of the Kuru dynasty showered the son of Kuru with a barrage of spears, clubs, javelins, maces, swords, and arrows.
The Pāṇḍava, with his arrows, dispelled the weapon-rain of the Kurus, much like the sun dispels darkness with its rays.
Then, by the command of your son, the barbarians, positioned with thirteen hundred intoxicated elephants, launched an attack on Arjuna from the flank.
Arjuna, standing on his chariot, was tormented by a barrage of arrows, darts, iron arrows, spears, javelins, missiles, maces, and clubs.
Arjuna, with a smile, deftly intercepted and cut down the barrage of weapons launched by the Yavanas mounted on elephants, using his sharp crescent-shaped arrows.
Then he attacked all those elephants, adorned with various marks and flags, along with their riders, as if striking mountains with thunderbolts.
The great serpents, adorned with golden-feathered arrows and golden garlands, were slain and fell like mountains with flames of fire.
Then, O lord of the people, the great sound of Gandiva arose, mingling with the roars and cries of men, elephants, and horses.
The elephants were killed, O king, and they fled in all directions. The horses, whose riders were killed, ran around in all ten directions.
O great king, thousands of chariots without charioteers and horses appeared like the city of Gandharvas.
O great king, the horsemen are seen running here and there, struck down by Arjuna's arrows.
In that moment, the strength of the Pandava's arms was revealed, as he single-handedly conquered horsemen, elephants, and chariots in battle.
Then, O best of the Bharatas, Bhimasena saw the crowned one surrounded by a great force with three divisions, O king.
Leaving behind the remnants and abandoning some of your chariots, O king, he rushed swiftly towards Arjuna's chariot.
Then that army, mostly defeated and distressed, fled. Upon seeing Arjuna, Bhima went towards his brother.
In the great battle, Arjuna killed the remaining swift horses, while Bhima, with his mace in hand, unperturbedly scattered them.
It was like the night of destruction, extremely fierce, devouring men, elephants, and horses, and tearing apart the city's ramparts, towers, and gates, presenting an extremely terrible sight.
Then Bhima, with great speed, hurled his mace upon the men, elephants, and horses, causing great destruction by killing many horses and horsemen, O lord.
The Pāṇḍava, with his mace, struck down the armored men and horses made of bronze and iron, causing a loud noise as they fell, lifeless.
After slaying the elephant army, the mighty Bhimasena mounted his chariot once more and followed Arjuna from behind.
The great army, mostly turned away and dispirited, was hanging around, O great king, mostly surrounded by weapons.
Arjuna, observing the unsteady and delayed army, showered them with arrows that tormented their lives.
Then, in the great battle, a loud wailing arose from the Kurus as Arjuna's arrows took the lives of their chariots, horses, and elephants.
The army, making a loud noise, stood intensely as they merged with each other. Then, like a firebrand wheel, your army whirled around.
Your army, blazing and with its cover cut by arrows, was soaked in its own blood, resembling a blooming ashoka forest.
Upon witnessing the valiant Arjuna there, all the Kurus lost hope in Karna's survival.
The Kauravas, realizing the unstoppable barrage of arrows from Arjuna in the battle, retreated, defeated by him who wields the Gandiva bow.
In the battle, they left Arjuna and, being struck by arrows, fled in all directions in fear, calling out to Karna.
Pārtha, the son of Pritha, charged at them, releasing numerous arrows, encouraging the Pandava warriors led by Bhimasena.
Your sons, O great king, approached Karna's chariot. In their dire situation, Karna became their refuge.
O great king, the Kurus, like serpents without venom, sought refuge in Karna alone, fearing the mighty archer who wielded the Gandiva bow.
O Bharata, just as all beings are afraid of death and take refuge in righteousness, so do those who are engaged in actions.
Thus, O king, your sons, fearing the great-souled Pandava, approached Karna, the great archer.
Karna, seeing those around him soaked in blood and afflicted by arrows in uneven places, reassured them by saying, "Do not fear," and also addressed me.
Seeing his forces broken by Arjuna, Karna stood firm, stretching his bow with the intent to kill. He then rushed again towards the Panchalas, under the watchful eyes of Arjuna.
Then, in an instant, the kings, their eyes bloodshot, rained arrows upon Karna as clouds pour upon a mountain.
Then, O sir, thousands of arrows released by Karna took the lives of the Panchalas, O best among the living beings.
Then a great battle ensued, O lord of the Pāñcālas, where the son of a charioteer killed the enemy slayers for the sake of his friends.
