09.008
Core and Pancharatra: The fierce river, filled with Kurus and Sṛñjayas, began to flow, bringing joy to the heroes and increasing fear among the fearful. As the army of the Kauravas was being slaughtered, they fled in all directions. Great cries of distress arose among the Kaurava warriors.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं कुरूणां भयवर्धनम्। सृञ्जयैः सह राजेन्द्र घोरं देवासुरोपमम् ॥९-८-१॥
Then a fearsome battle began between the Kurus and the Sṛñjayas, O king, resembling the battles of gods and demons.
नरा रथा गजौघाश्च सादिनश्च सहस्रशः। वाजिनश्च पराक्रान्ताः समाजग्मुः परस्परम् ॥९-८-२॥
Thousands of men, chariots, elephant troops, horsemen, and valiant horses gathered together.
नागानां भीमरूपाणां द्रवतां निस्वनो महान्। अश्रूयत यथा काले जलदानां नभस्तले ॥९-८-३॥
The terrifying sound of the serpents with dreadful forms melting away was heard, similar to the sound of clouds in the sky during the rainy season.
नागैरभ्याहताः केचित्सरथा रथिनोऽपतन्। व्यद्रवन्त रणे वीरा द्राव्यमाणा मदोत्कटैः ॥९-८-४॥
Struck by elephants, some charioteers fell along with their chariots. The heroes, overwhelmed by the intoxicated elephants, fled from the battlefield.
हयौघान्पादरक्षांश्च रथिनस्तत्र शिक्षिताः। शरैः सम्प्रेषयामासुः परलोकाय भारत ॥९-८-५॥
The skilled warriors, using their arrows, sent the horses and foot soldiers to the afterlife, O Bharata.
सादिनः शिक्षिता राजन्परिवार्य महारथान्। विचरन्तो रणेऽभ्यघ्नन्प्रासशक्त्यृष्टिभिस्तथा ॥९-८-६॥
The trained horsemen, O king, surrounded the great charioteers and moved through the battlefield, striking with spears, power, and arrows.
धन्विनः पुरुषाः केचित्संनिवार्य महारथान्। एकं बहव आसाद्य प्रेषयेयुर्यमक्षयम् ॥९-८-७॥
Some archers, having obstructed the great charioteers, would gather in numbers to send one to the abode of Yama.
नागं रथवरांश्चान्ये परिवार्य महारथाः। सोत्तरायुधिनं जघ्नुर्द्रवमाणा महारवम् ॥९-८-८॥
The great warriors surrounded the elephant and the best of chariots, and in the ensuing chaos, they killed Uttarāyudhinam amidst a great uproar.
तथा च रथिनं क्रुद्धं विकिरन्तं शरान्बहून्। नागा जघ्नुर्महाराज परिवार्य समन्ततः ॥९-८-९॥
Thus, O great king, the elephants surrounded and killed the angry charioteer who was scattering many arrows from all sides.
नागो नागमभिद्रुत्य रथी च रथिनं रणे। शक्तितोमरनाराचैर्निजघ्नुस्तत्र तत्र ह ॥९-८-१०॥
In the battle, the elephant charged at the elephant, and the charioteer at the charioteer, striking down with spears, javelins, and arrows at various places.
पादातानवमृद्नन्तो रथवारणवाजिनः। रणमध्ये व्यदृश्यन्त कुर्वन्तो महदाकुलम् ॥९-८-११॥
In the midst of the battle, foot soldiers were seen crushing chariots, elephants, and horses, creating great confusion.
हयाश्च पर्यधावन्त चामरैरुपशोभिताः। हंसा हिमवतः प्रस्थे पिबन्त इव मेदिनीम् ॥९-८-१२॥
The horses, adorned with fans, ran around. The swans on the Himalayan plateau appeared to be drinking the earth.
तेषां तु वाजिनां भूमिः खुरैश्चित्रा विशां पते। अशोभत यथा नारी करजक्षतविक्षता ॥९-८-१३॥
The ground, marked by the hooves of their horses, appeared to the lord of men like a woman who has been scratched and wounded by nails.
वाजिनां खुरशब्देन रथनेमिस्वनेन च। पत्तीनां चापि शब्देन नागानां बृंहितेन च ॥९-८-१४॥
The battlefield resounded with the sound of horses' hooves, chariot wheels, foot soldiers, and trumpeting elephants.
वादित्राणां च घोषेण शङ्खानां निस्वनेन च। अभवन्नादिता भूमिर्निर्घातैरिव भारत ॥९-८-१५॥
The earth echoed with the sounds of musical instruments and conches, resembling the rumbling of explosions, O Bharata.
धनुषां कूजमानानां निस्त्रिंशानां च दीप्यताम्। कवचानां प्रभाभिश्च न प्राज्ञायत किञ्चन ॥९-८-१६॥
The sound of the bows, the gleam of the swords, and the glow of the armors obscured everything from sight.
बहवो बाहवश्छिन्ना नागराजकरोपमाः। उद्वेष्टन्ते विवेष्टन्ते वेगं कुर्वन्ति दारुणम् ॥९-८-१७॥
Many severed arms, resembling the hands of the king of serpents, uncoil and writhe, creating a terrifying speed.
शिरसां च महाराज पततां वसुधातले। च्युतानामिव तालेभ्यः फलानां श्रूयते स्वनः ॥९-८-१८॥
O great king, the sound of heads falling to the ground is like the sound of fruits dropping from palm trees.
शिरोभिः पतितैर्भाति रुधिरार्द्रैर्वसुन्धरा। तपनीयनिभैः काले नलिनैरिव भारत ॥९-८-१९॥
O Bharata, the earth appears as if adorned with fallen heads moistened with blood, resembling golden lotuses in due course.
उद्वृत्तनयनैस्तैस्तु गतसत्त्वैः सुविक्षतैः। व्यभ्राजत महाराज पुण्डरीकैरिवावृता ॥९-८-२०॥
The scene appeared, O great king, as if adorned with lotuses, with eyes protruding and souls departed, all well-wounded.
बाहुभिश्चन्दनादिग्धैः सकेयूरैर्महाधनैः। पतितैर्भाति राजेन्द्र मही शक्रध्वजैरिव ॥९-८-२१॥
The earth, adorned with fallen arms smeared with sandalwood and bracelets of great wealth, shines like the banners of Indra, O king.
ऊरुभिश्च नरेन्द्राणां विनिकृत्तैर्महाहवे। हस्तिहस्तोपमैरन्यैः संवृतं तद्रणाङ्गणम् ॥९-८-२२॥
The battlefield was covered with the severed thighs of kings, resembling the trunks of elephants, by others in the great battle.
कबन्धशतसङ्कीर्णं छत्रचामरशोभितम्। सेनावनं तच्छुशुभे वनं पुष्पाचितं यथा ॥९-८-२३॥
The army's camp, filled with numerous headless trunks and decorated with umbrellas and fly-whisks, appeared as splendid as a forest in full bloom.
तत्र योधा महाराज विचरन्तो ह्यभीतवत्। दृश्यन्ते रुधिराक्ताङ्गाः पुष्पिता इव किंशुकाः ॥९-८-२४॥
In that place, O great king, the warriors roam fearlessly, appearing as if their blood-smeared bodies are in full bloom like the Butea monosperma trees.
मातङ्गाश्चाप्यदृश्यन्त शरतोमरपीडिताः। पतन्तस्तत्र तत्रैव छिन्नाभ्रसदृशा रणे ॥९-८-२५॥
Elephants, afflicted by arrows and lances, were seen falling here and there in the battle, resembling torn clouds.
गजानीकं महाराज वध्यमानं महात्मभिः। व्यदीर्यत दिशः सर्वा वातनुन्ना घना इव ॥९-८-२६॥
O great king, the elephant-army was scattered in all directions by the great souls, like clouds driven by the wind.
ते गजा घनसङ्काशाः पेतुरुर्व्यां समन्ततः। वज्ररुग्णा इव बभुः पर्वता युगसङ्क्षये ॥९-८-२७॥
The elephants, resembling clouds, fell all around the ground. They appeared like mountains shattered by a thunderbolt at the end of an era.
हयानां सादिभिः सार्धं पतितानां महीतले। राशयः सम्प्रदृश्यन्ते गिरिमात्रास्ततस्ततः ॥९-८-२८॥
Heaps of fallen horses with their riders are seen scattered across the ground, appearing as large as mountains.
सञ्जज्ञे रणभूमौ तु परलोकवहा नदी। शोणितोदा रथावर्ता ध्वजवृक्षास्थिशर्करा ॥९-८-२९॥
A river emerged on the battlefield, leading souls to the afterlife, its waters red with blood, chariots swirling like whirlpools, flags standing like trees, and bones scattered like pebbles.
भुजनक्रा धनुःस्रोता हस्तिशैला हयोपला। मेदोमज्जाकर्दमिनी छत्रहंसा गदोडुपा ॥९-८-३०॥
The arm-eaters, bow-streams, elephant-mountains, horse-stones, fat-marrow-mud, umbrella-swans, and mace-moons are described in this verse.
कवचोष्णीषसञ्छन्ना पताकारुचिरद्रुमा। चक्रचक्रावलीजुष्टा त्रिवेणूदण्डकावृता ॥९-८-३१॥
The place was fortified with armor and turbans, decorated with beautiful flags and trees, and encircled by a series of discs and three bamboo staffs.
शूराणां हर्षजननी भीरूणां भयवर्धिनी। प्रावर्तत नदी रौद्रा कुरुसृञ्जयसङ्कुला ॥९-८-३२॥
The fierce river, filled with Kurus and Sṛñjayas, began to flow, bringing joy to the heroes and increasing fear among the fearful.
तां नदीं पितृलोकाय वहन्तीमतिभैरवाम्। तेरुर्वाहननौभिस्ते शूराः परिघबाहवः ॥९-८-३३॥
The heroes, with arms as strong as iron bars, crossed the very terrifying river that carried souls to the world of ancestors, using their vehicles and boats.
वर्तमाने तथा युद्धे निर्मर्यादे विशां पते। चतुरङ्गक्षये घोरे पूर्वं देवासुरोपमे ॥९-८-३४॥
In the current battle, O lord of men, which is without rules and as terrible as the battle between gods and demons, the fourfold army faces destruction.
अक्रोशन्बान्धवानन्ये तत्र तत्र परन्तप। क्रोशद्भिर्बान्धवैश्चान्ये भयार्ता न निवर्तिरे ॥९-८-३५॥
In the midst of the battlefield, others called out to their kin in various places, O Arjuna. Some, overwhelmed by fear, did not turn back with their weeping relatives.
निर्मर्यादे तथा युद्धे वर्तमाने भयानके। अर्जुनो भीमसेनश्च मोहयां चक्रतुः परान् ॥९-८-३६॥
In the terrifying and boundless battle that was ongoing, Arjuna and Bhimasena caused confusion among their enemies.
सा वध्यमाना महती सेना तव जनाधिप। अमुह्यत्तत्र तत्रैव योषिन्मदवशादिव ॥९-८-३७॥
As your great army was being slaughtered, O ruler of people, it became bewildered right there, as if under the influence of intoxication.
मोहयित्वा च तां सेनां भीमसेनधनञ्जयौ। दध्मतुर्वारिजौ तत्र सिंहनादं च नेदतुः ॥९-८-३८॥
After confusing the enemy forces, Bhimasena and Dhananjaya blew their conches and roared like lions, asserting their dominance on the battlefield.
श्रुत्वैव तु महाशब्दं धृष्टद्युम्नशिखण्डिनौ। धर्मराजं पुरस्कृत्य मद्रराजमभिद्रुतौ ॥९-८-३९॥
Upon hearing the great noise, Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin, with Dharmaraja leading, charged at the Madra king.
तत्राश्चर्यमपश्याम घोररूपं विशां पते। शल्येन सङ्गताः शूरा यदयुध्यन्त भागशः ॥९-८-४०॥
There, O lord of men, we witnessed a wondrous and terrible sight. The heroes, aligned with Śalya, engaged in battle in separate divisions.
माद्रीपुत्रौ सरभसौ कृतास्त्रौ युद्धदुर्मदौ। अभ्ययातां त्वरायुक्तौ जिगीषन्तौ बलं तव ॥९-८-४१॥
The impetuous sons of Madri, skilled in weaponry and arrogant in battle, swiftly approached your army with the desire to conquer.
ततो न्यवर्तत बलं तावकं भरतर्षभ। शरैः प्रणुन्नं बहुधा पाण्डवैर्जितकाशिभिः ॥९-८-४२॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, your army retreated, being struck in various ways by the arrows of the Pandavas who had conquered Kāśi.
वध्यमाना चमूः सा तु पुत्राणां प्रेक्षतां तव। भेजे दिशो महाराज प्रणुन्ना दृढधन्विभिः ॥ हाहाकारो महाञ्जज्ञे योधानां तव भारत ॥९-८-४३॥
As the army of your sons was being slaughtered, they fled in all directions while being watched, O great king, driven by the strong archers. Great cries of distress arose among your warriors, O Bharata.
तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति वागासीद्द्रावितानां महात्मनाम्। क्षत्रियाणां तदान्योन्यं संयुगे जयमिच्छताम् ॥ आद्रवन्नेव भग्नास्ते पाण्डवैस्तव सैनिकाः ॥९-८-४४॥
The routed great warriors, desiring victory, were telling each other to "stay, stay" in the battle. However, your soldiers, broken by the Pandavas, fled.
त्यक्त्वा युद्धे प्रियान्पुत्रान्भ्रातॄनथ पितामहान्। मातुलान्भागिनेयांश्च तथा सम्बन्धिबान्धवान् ॥९-८-४५॥
In the battle, having forsaken dear sons, brothers, grandfathers, uncles, nephews, and other relatives and kinsmen.
हयान्द्विपांस्त्वरयन्तो योधा जग्मुः समन्ततः। आत्मत्राणकृतोत्साहास्तावका भरतर्षभ ॥९-८-४६॥
The warriors, urging the horses and elephants, moved all around with enthusiasm for self-protection, O best of the Bharatas.
