09.007
Core and Pancharatra: The Kauravas make a strategy to attack the Pandavas together, and not to face them one-on-one. The Kaurava formation has Shalya leading, Kritavarma protecting the left, Kripa protecting the right, Ashwatthama at the rear, and Duryodhana at the centre. Eleven thousand chariots on the Kaurava side, and six thousand chariots on the Pandavas side remained.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
व्यतीतायां रजन्यां तु राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। अब्रवीत्तावकान्सर्वान्संनह्यन्तां महारथाः ॥९-७-१॥
As the night ended, King Duryodhana instructed all his great warriors to get ready for battle.
राज्ञस्तु मतमाज्ञाय समनह्यत सा चमूः। अयोजयन्रथांस्तूर्णं पर्यधावंस्तथापरे ॥९-७-२॥
Upon understanding the king's decision, the army got ready. They swiftly harnessed the chariots, while others moved around accordingly.
अकल्प्यन्त च मातङ्गाः समनह्यन्त पत्तयः। हयानास्तरणोपेतांश्चक्रुरन्ये सहस्रशः ॥९-७-३॥
Elephants were prepared and chariots were yoked. Thousands of horses equipped with coverings were arranged by others.
वादित्राणां च निनदः प्रादुरासीद्विशां पते। बोधनार्थं हि योधानां सैन्यानां चाप्युदीर्यताम् ॥९-७-४॥
"O lord of the people, the sound of musical instruments arose to awaken the warriors and the armies. Let it be proclaimed."
ततो बलानि सर्वाणि सेनाशिष्टानि भारत। संनद्धान्येव ददृशुर्मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम् ॥९-७-५॥
Then, O Bharata, all the remaining forces of the army, fully equipped, saw death as they retreated.
शल्यं सेनापतिं कृत्वा मद्रराजं महारथाः। प्रविभज्य बलं सर्वमनीकेषु व्यवस्थिताः ॥९-७-६॥
The great warriors appointed Shalya as the commander and organized the entire army into divisions.
ततः सर्वे समागम्य पुत्रेण तव सैनिकाः। कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च द्रौणिः शल्योऽथ सौबलः ॥९-७-७॥
Then all your soldiers gathered together with your son, along with Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, Droṇa's son, Śalya, and Saubala.
अन्ये च पार्थिवाः शेषाः समयं चक्रिरे तदा। न न एकेन योद्धव्यं कथञ्चिदपि पाण्डवैः ॥९-७-८॥
The other remaining kings then agreed that the Pandavas should not be fought by any one of them in any manner.
यो ह्येकः पाण्डवैर्युध्येद्यो वा युध्यन्तमुत्सृजेत्। स पञ्चभिर्भवेद्युक्तः पातकैः सोपपातकैः ॥ अन्योन्यं परिरक्षद्भिर्योद्धव्यं सहितैश्च नः ॥९-७-९॥
The one who fights alone against the Pandavas or abandons a fighting ally would incur five major and minor sins. We must fight together, protecting each other.
एवं ते समयं कृत्वा सर्वे तत्र महारथाः। मद्रराजं पुरस्कृत्य तूर्णमभ्यद्रवन्परान् ॥९-७-१०॥
Thus, all the great warriors, having come to an agreement, placed the Madra king at the forefront and swiftly advanced towards the enemies.
तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्व्यूह्य सैन्यं महारणे। अभ्ययुः कौरवान्सर्वान्योत्स्यमानाः समन्ततः ॥९-७-११॥
In the same manner, O King, the Pandavas organized their forces in the great battle and advanced towards the Kauravas, prepared to engage in combat from every direction.
तद्बलं भरतश्रेष्ठ क्षुब्धार्णवसमस्वनम्। समुद्धूतार्णवाकारमुद्धूतरथकुञ्जरम् ॥९-७-१२॥
O best of the Bharatas, that army roared like an agitated ocean, resembling a turbulent sea with its chariots and elephants lifted high.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said:
द्रोणस्य भीष्मस्य च वै राधेयस्य च मे श्रुतम्। पातनं शंस मे भूयः शल्यस्याथ सुतस्य मे ॥९-७-१३॥
I have heard about the fall of Drona, Bhishma, and Radheya. Please tell me again about the fall of Shalya and then about my son.
कथं रणे हतः शल्यो धर्मराजेन सञ्जय। भीमेन च महाबाहुः पुत्रो दुर्योधनो मम ॥९-७-१४॥
O Sanjaya, how did Śalya get killed in the battle by Dharmaraja? And how did my son Duryodhana, the mighty-armed, fall by Bhima?
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
क्षयं मनुष्यदेहानां रथनागाश्वसङ्क्षयम्। शृणु राजन्स्थिरो भूत्वा सङ्ग्रामं शंसतो मम ॥९-७-१५॥
O king, listen to my account of the battle, steadfastly, as I describe the destruction of human bodies, chariots, elephants, and horses.
आशा बलवती राजन्पुत्राणां तेऽभवत्तदा। हते भीष्मे च द्रोणे च सूतपुत्रे च पातिते ॥ शल्यः पार्थान्रणे सर्वान्निहनिष्यति मारिष ॥९-७-१६॥
O king, at that time, your sons' hope became strong. With Bhishma, Drona, and Karna fallen, Shalya will destroy all the sons of Pandu in battle, O lord.
तामाशां हृदये कृत्वा समाश्वास्य च भारत। मद्रराजं च समरे समाश्रित्य महारथम् ॥ नाथवन्तमथात्मानममन्यत सुतस्तव ॥९-७-१७॥
After placing that hope in his heart and consoling himself, O Bharata, your son relied on the Madra king, the great chariot warrior, in battle, and then considered himself protected.
यदा कर्णे हते पार्थाः सिंहनादं प्रचक्रिरे। तदा राजन्धार्तराष्ट्रानाविवेश महद्भयम् ॥९-७-१८॥
When Karna was killed, the sons of Pritha roared like lions. At that moment, O king, the Dhartarashtras were overcome with great fear.
तान्समाश्वास्य तु तदा मद्रराजः प्रतापवान्। व्यूह्य व्यूहं महाराज सर्वतोभद्रमृद्धिमत् ॥९-७-१९॥
The glorious king of Madra, after consoling them, arranged the all-auspicious and prosperous formation, O great king.
प्रत्युद्यातो रणे पार्थान्मद्रराजः प्रतापवान्। विधुन्वन्कार्मुकं चित्रं भारघ्नं वेगवत्तरम् ॥९-७-२०॥
The valiant king of Madra advanced into battle against the Pandavas, wielding a remarkable and powerful bow with great speed.
रथप्रवरमास्थाय सैन्धवाश्वं महारथः। तस्य सीता महाराज रथस्थाशोभयद्रथम् ॥९-७-२१॥
The great warrior mounted the best chariot with Sindhu horses, and Sita, standing on the chariot, adorned it, O great king.
स तेन संवृतो वीरो रथेनामित्रकर्शनः। तस्थौ शूरो महाराज पुत्राणां ते भयप्रणुत् ॥९-७-२२॥
The hero, surrounded by the chariot and known as the tormentor of enemies, stood bravely, O great king, dispelling the fear of your sons.
प्रयाणे मद्रराजोऽभून्मुखं व्यूहस्य दंशितः। मद्रकैः सहितो वीरैः कर्णपुत्रैश्च दुर्जयैः ॥९-७-२३॥
During the march, the king of Madra took the lead of the formation, adorned with the Madras and accompanied by the heroic and invincible sons of Karna.
सव्येऽभूत्कृतवर्मा च त्रिगर्तैः परिवारितः। गौतमो दक्षिणे पार्श्वे शकैश्च यवनैः सह ॥९-७-२४॥
On the left, Kritavarma was surrounded by the Trigartas, while Gautama was on the right side with the Shakas and the Yavanas.
अश्वत्थामा पृष्ठतोऽभूत्काम्बोजैः परिवारितः। दुर्योधनोऽभवन्मध्ये रक्षितः कुरुपुङ्गवैः ॥९-७-२५॥
Ashwatthama was at the rear, encircled by the Kambojas, while Duryodhana was in the center, safeguarded by the foremost of the Kurus.
हयानीकेन महता सौबलश्चापि संवृतः। प्रययौ सर्वसैन्येन कैतव्यश्च महारथः ॥९-७-२६॥
Saubala, surrounded by the great cavalry, departed with all his army, along with Kaitavya, the great chariot-warrior.
पाण्डवाश्च महेष्वासा व्यूह्य सैन्यमरिंदमाः। त्रिधा भूत्वा महाराज तव सैन्यमुपाद्रवन् ॥९-७-२७॥
The Pandavas, known for their exceptional archery skills and ability to subdue enemies, strategically arranged their forces and launched an attack on your army in three divisions, O great king.
धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च सात्यकिश्च महारथः। शल्यस्य वाहिनीं तूर्णमभिदुद्रुवुराहवे ॥९-७-२८॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, and Sātyaki, the great chariot-warrior, swiftly attacked Śalya's forces in the battle.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा स्वेनानीकेन संवृतः। शल्यमेवाभिदुद्राव जिघांसुर्भरतर्षभ ॥९-७-२९॥
Then King Yudhishthira, with his army surrounding him, charged at Shalya with the intent to kill, O esteemed one among the Bharatas.
हार्दिक्यं तु महेष्वासमर्जुनः शत्रुपूगहा। संशप्तकगणांश्चैव वेगतोऽभिविदुद्रुवे ॥९-७-३०॥
Arjuna, the great archer and destroyer of enemy multitudes, swiftly charged towards the groups of the Saṃśaptakas, targeting Hārdikya.
गौतमं भीमसेनो वै सोमकाश्च महारथाः। अभ्यद्रवन्त राजेन्द्र जिघांसन्तः परान्युधि ॥९-७-३१॥
Gautama, Bhimasena, and the Somakas, all great warriors, attacked the enemies in battle, O king, with the intent to kill.
माद्रीपुत्रौ तु शकुनिमुलूकं च महारथौ। ससैन्यौ सहसेनौ तावुपतस्थतुराहवे ॥९-७-३२॥
The sons of Madri, Shakuni and Uluka, the great warriors, stood ready for battle with their armies and forces.
तथैवायुतशो योधास्तावकाः पाण्डवान्रणे। अभ्यद्रवन्त सङ्क्रुद्धा विविधायुधपाणयः ॥९-७-३३॥
In the same manner, your warriors, in their thousands, furiously charged at the Pandavas on the battlefield, wielding a variety of weapons.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said:
हते भीष्मे महेष्वासे द्रोणे कर्णे महारथे। कुरुष्वल्पावशिष्टेषु पाण्डवेषु च संयुगे ॥९-७-३४॥
With the great warriors Bhishma, Drona, and Karna slain, and only a few of the Kurus and Pandavas remaining, the battle continued.
सुसंरब्धेषु पार्थेषु पराक्रान्तेषु सञ्जय। मामकानां परेषां च किं शिष्टमभवद्बलम् ॥९-७-३५॥
O Sanjaya, among the eager sons of Pritha and the valiant, what strength remained of my people and the others?
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
यथा वयं परे राजन्युद्धाय समवस्थिताः। यावच्चासीद्बलं शिष्टं सङ्ग्रामे तन्निबोध मे ॥९-७-३६॥
O King, as we and others are arrayed for battle, understand from me what strength remained in the battle.
एकादश सहस्राणि रथानां भरतर्षभ। दश दन्तिसहस्राणि सप्त चैव शतानि च ॥९-७-३७॥
O best of the Bharatas, there are eleven thousand chariots, ten thousand elephants, and seven hundred more.
पूर्णे शतसहस्रे द्वे हयानां भरतर्षभ। नरकोट्यस्तथा तिस्रो बलमेतत्तवाभवत् ॥९-७-३८॥
O best of the Bharatas, your strength consisted of two hundred thousand horses and three crores of human beings.
रथानां षट्सहस्राणि षट्सहस्राश्च कुञ्जराः। दश चाश्वसहस्राणि पत्तिकोटी च भारत ॥९-७-३९॥
O Bharata, there are six thousand chariots, six thousand elephants, ten thousand horses, and a crore of infantry.
एतद्बलं पाण्डवानामभवच्छेषमाहवे। एत एव समाजग्मुर्युद्धाय भरतर्षभ ॥९-७-४०॥
The strength of the Pandavas was what remained in the battle. Indeed, they arrived for the battle, O best of the Bharatas.
एवं विभज्य राजेन्द्र मद्रराजमते स्थिताः। पाण्डवान्प्रत्युदीयाम जयगृद्धाः प्रमन्यवः ॥९-७-४१॥
Thus, O King, following the counsel of the King of Madra, we stand ready to advance towards the Pandavas, eager for victory and filled with enthusiasm.
तथैव पाण्डवाः शूराः समरे जितकाशिनः। उपयाता नरव्याघ्राः पाञ्चालाश्च यशस्विनः ॥९-७-४२॥
In the same way, the Pandavas, known as heroes in battle, having conquered the Kashi, arrived along with the glorious Panchalas, who are like tigers among men.
एवमेते बलौघेन परस्परवधैषिणः। उपयाता नरव्याघ्राः पूर्वां सन्ध्यां प्रति प्रभो ॥९-७-४३॥
Thus, O lord, these mighty warriors, eager to destroy each other, approached the early twilight like tigers.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं भयानकम्। तावकानां परेषां च निघ्नतामितरेतरम् ॥९-७-४४॥
Then a terrifying and dreadful battle began between your forces and the enemies, with both sides slaughtering each other.
