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.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
vyatītāyāṃ rajanyāṃ tu rājā duryodhanastadā। abravīttāvakānsarvānsanahyantāṃ mahārathāḥ ॥9-7-1॥
As the night ended, King Duryodhana instructed all his great warriors to get ready for battle.
rājñastu matamājñāya samnahyata sā camūḥ। ayojayanrathāṃstūrṇaṃ paryadhāvaṃstathāpare ॥9-7-2॥
Upon understanding the king's decision, the army got ready. They swiftly harnessed the chariots, while others moved around accordingly.
akalpyanta ca mātaṅgāḥ samanahyanta pattayaḥ। hayānāstaraṇopetāṃścakruranye sahasraśaḥ ॥9-7-3॥
Elephants were prepared and chariots were yoked. Thousands of horses equipped with coverings were arranged by others.
vāditrāṇāṃ ca ninadaḥ prādurāsīdviśāṃ pate। bodhanārthaṃ hi yodhānāṃ sainyānāṃ cāpyudīryatām ॥9-7-4॥
"O lord of the people, the sound of musical instruments arose to awaken the warriors and the armies. Let it be proclaimed."
tato balāni sarvāṇi senāśiṣṭāni bhārata। saṃnaddhānyeva dadṛśurmṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam ॥9-7-5॥
Then, O Bharata, all the remaining forces of the army, fully equipped, saw death as they retreated.
śalyaṃ senāpatiṃ kṛtvā madrarājaṃ mahārathāḥ। pravibhajya balaṃ sarvamanīkeṣu vyavasthitāḥ ॥9-7-6॥
The great warriors appointed Shalya as the commander and organized the entire army into divisions.
tataḥ sarve samāgamya putreṇa tava sainikāḥ। kṛpaśca kṛtavarmā ca drauṇiḥ śalyo'tha saubalaḥ ॥9-7-7॥
Then all your soldiers gathered together with your son, along with Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, Droṇa's son, Śalya, and Saubala.
anye ca pārthivāḥ śeṣāḥ samayaṃ cakrire tadā। na na ekena yoddhavyaṃ kathaṃcidapi pāṇḍavaiḥ ॥9-7-8॥
The other remaining kings then agreed that the Pandavas should not be fought by any one of them in any manner.
yo hyekaḥ pāṇḍavairyudhyedyo vā yudhyantamutsṛjet। sa pañcabhirbhavedyuktaḥ pātakaiḥ sopapātakaiḥ ॥ anyonyaṃ parirakṣadbhiryoddhavyaṃ sahitaiśca naḥ ॥9-7-9॥
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.
evaṃ te samayaṃ kṛtvā sarve tatra mahārathāḥ। madrarājaṃ puraskṛtya tūrṇamabhyadravanparān ॥9-7-10॥
Thus, all the great warriors, having come to an agreement, placed the Madra king at the forefront and swiftly advanced towards the enemies.
tathaiva pāṇḍavā rājanvyūhya sainyaṃ mahāraṇe। abhyayuḥ kauravānsarvānyotsyamānāḥ samantataḥ ॥9-7-11॥
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.
tad-balaṁ bharata-śreṣṭha kṣubdhārṇava-samasvanam। samuddhūtārṇavākāramuddhūta-ratha-kuñjaram ॥9-7-12॥
O best of the Bharatas, that army roared like an agitated ocean, resembling a turbulent sea with its chariots and elephants lifted high.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
droṇasya bhīṣmasya ca vai rādheyasya ca me śrutam। pātanaṃ śaṃsa me bhūyaḥ śalyasyātha sutasya me ॥9-7-13॥
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.
kathaṁ raṇe hataḥ śalyo dharmarājena sañjaya। bhīmena ca mahābāhuḥ putro duryodhano mama ॥9-7-14॥
O Sanjaya, how did Śalya get killed in the battle by Dharmaraja? And how did my son Duryodhana, the mighty-armed, fall by Bhima?
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
kṣayaṃ manuṣyadehānāṃ rathanāgāśvasaṅkṣayam। śṛṇu rājansthiro bhūtvā saṅgrāmaṃ śaṃsato mama ॥9-7-15॥
O king, listen to my account of the battle, steadfastly, as I describe the destruction of human bodies, chariots, elephants, and horses.
āśā balavatī rājanputrāṇāṃ te'bhavattadā। hate bhīṣme ca droṇe ca sūtaputre ca pātite ॥ śalyaḥ pārthānraṇe sarvānnihaniṣyati māriṣa ॥9-7-16॥
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.
tām āśāṁ hṛdaye kṛtvā samāśvāsya ca bhārata। madrarājaṁ ca samare samāśritya mahāratham॥ nāthavantam atha ātmānam amanyata sutas tava॥ 9-7-17॥
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.
yadā karṇe hate pārthāḥ siṃhanādaṃ pracakrire। tadā rājan dhārtarāṣṭrān āviveśa mahadbhayam ॥9-7-18॥
When Karna was killed, the sons of Pritha roared like lions. At that moment, O king, the Dhartarashtras were overcome with great fear.
tānsamāśvāsya tu tadā madrarājaḥ pratāpavān। vyūhya vyūhaṃ mahārāja sarvatobhadramṛddhimat ॥9-7-19॥
The glorious king of Madra, after consoling them, arranged the all-auspicious and prosperous formation, O great king.
pratyudyāto raṇe pārthānmadrarājaḥ pratāpavān। vidhunvankārmukaṃ citraṃ bhāraghnaṃ vegavattaram ॥9-7-20॥
The valiant king of Madra advanced into battle against the Pandavas, wielding a remarkable and powerful bow with great speed.
rathapravaramāsthāya saindhavāśvaṃ mahārathaḥ। tasya sītā mahārāja rathasthāśobhayadratham ॥9-7-21॥
The great warrior mounted the best chariot with Sindhu horses, and Sita, standing on the chariot, adorned it, O great king.
sa tena saṁvṛto vīro rathenāmitrakarṣaṇaḥ। tasthau śūro mahārāja putrāṇāṁ te bhayapraṇut ॥9-7-22॥
The hero, surrounded by the chariot and known as the tormentor of enemies, stood bravely, O great king, dispelling the fear of your sons.
prayāṇe madrarājo'bhūnmukhaṃ vyūhasya daṃśitaḥ। madrakaiḥ sahito vīraiḥ karṇaputraaiśca durjayaaiḥ ॥9-7-23॥
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.
savye'bhūtkṛtavarmā ca trigartaiḥ parivāritaḥ। gautamo dakṣiṇe pārśve śakaiśca yavanaiḥ saha ॥9-7-24॥
On the left, Kritavarma was surrounded by the Trigartas, while Gautama was on the right side with the Shakas and the Yavanas.
aśvatthāmā pṛṣṭhato'bhūtkāmbojaiḥ parivāritaḥ। duryodhano'bhavanmadhye rakṣitaḥ kurupuṅgavaiḥ ॥9-7-25॥
Ashwatthama was at the rear, encircled by the Kambojas, while Duryodhana was in the center, safeguarded by the foremost of the Kurus.
hayānīkena mahatā saubalaścāpi saṁvṛtaḥ। prayayau sarvasainyena kaitavyaśca mahārathaḥ ॥9-7-26॥
Saubala, surrounded by the great cavalry, departed with all his army, along with Kaitavya, the great chariot-warrior.
pāṇḍavāśca maheṣvāsā vyūhya sainyamariṃdamāḥ। tridhā bhūtvā mahārāja tava sainyamupādravan ॥9-7-27॥
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.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca sātyakiśca mahārathaḥ। śalyasya vāhinīṃ tūrṇamabhidudruvurāhave ॥9-7-28॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, and Sātyaki, the great chariot-warrior, swiftly attacked Śalya's forces in the battle.
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā svenānīkena saṁvṛtaḥ। śalyamevābhidudrāva jighāṁsurbharatarṣabha ॥9-7-29॥
Then King Yudhishthira, with his army surrounding him, charged at Shalya with the intent to kill, O esteemed one among the Bharatas.
hārdikyaṃ tu maheṣvāsamarjunaḥ śatrupūgahā। saṃśaptakagaṇāṃścaiva vegato'bhividudruve ॥9-7-30॥
Arjuna, the great archer and destroyer of enemy multitudes, swiftly charged towards the groups of the Saṃśaptakas, targeting Hārdikya.
gautamaṁ bhīmaseno vai somakāśca mahārathāḥ। abhyadravanta rājendra jighāṁsantaḥ parānyudhi ॥9-7-31॥
Gautama, Bhimasena, and the Somakas, all great warriors, attacked the enemies in battle, O king, with the intent to kill.
mādrīputrau tu śakunimulūkaṃ ca mahārathau। sasainyau sahasenau tāvupatasthaturāhave ॥9-7-32॥
The sons of Madri, Shakuni and Uluka, the great warriors, stood ready for battle with their armies and forces.
tathaivāyutaśo yodhāstāvakāḥ pāṇḍavānraṇe। abhyadravanta saṅkruddhā vividhāyudhapāṇayaḥ ॥9-7-33॥
In the same manner, your warriors, in their thousands, furiously charged at the Pandavas on the battlefield, wielding a variety of weapons.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
hate bhīṣme maheṣvāse droṇe karṇe mahārathe। kuruṣvalpāvaśiṣṭeṣu pāṇḍaveṣu ca saṃyuge ॥9-7-34॥
With the great warriors Bhishma, Drona, and Karna slain, and only a few of the Kurus and Pandavas remaining, the battle continued.
susaṁrabdheṣu pārtheṣu parākrānteṣu sañjaya। māmakānāṁ pareṣāṁ ca kiṁ śiṣṭamabhavadbalam ॥9-7-35॥
O Sanjaya, among the eager sons of Pritha and the valiant, what strength remained of my people and the others?
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
yathā vayaṃ pare rājanyuddhāya samavasthitāḥ। yāvaccāsīdbalaṃ śiṣṭaṃ saṅgrāme tannibodha me ॥9-7-36॥
O King, as we and others are arrayed for battle, understand from me what strength remained in the battle.
ekādaśa sahasrāṇi rathānāṃ bharatarṣabha। daśa dantisahasrāṇi sapta caiva śatāni ca ॥9-7-37॥
O best of the Bharatas, there are eleven thousand chariots, ten thousand elephants, and seven hundred more.
pūrṇe śatasahasre dve hayānāṃ bharatarṣabha। narakoṭyastathā tisro balametattavābhavat ॥9-7-38॥
O best of the Bharatas, your strength consisted of two hundred thousand horses and three crores of human beings.
rathānāṃ ṣaṭsahasrāṇi ṣaṭsahasrāśca kuñjarāḥ। daśa cāśvasahasrāṇi pattikoṭī ca bhārata ॥9-7-39॥
O Bharata, there are six thousand chariots, six thousand elephants, ten thousand horses, and a crore of infantry.
etad-balaṁ pāṇḍavānām abhavat śeṣam āhave। eta eva samājagmur yuddhāya bharatarṣabha ॥9-7-40॥
The strength of the Pandavas was what remained in the battle. Indeed, they arrived for the battle, O best of the Bharatas.
evaṃ vibhajya rājendra madrarājamate sthitāḥ। pāṇḍavānpratyudīyāma jayagṛddhāḥ pramanyavaḥ ॥9-7-41॥
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.
tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ śūrāḥ samare jitakāśinaḥ। upayātā naravyāghrāḥ pāñcālāśca yaśasvinaḥ ॥9-7-42॥
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.
evam ete balaughena parasparavadhaiṣiṇaḥ। upayātā naravyāghrāḥ pūrvāṃ sandhyāṃ prati prabho ॥9-7-43॥
Thus, O lord, these mighty warriors, eager to destroy each other, approached the early twilight like tigers.
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayānakam। tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca nighnatāmitaretaram ॥9-7-44॥
Then a terrifying and dreadful battle began between your forces and the enemies, with both sides slaughtering each other.
