09.009
Core and Pancharatra: While King Madra faces the Pandavas alone, the rest of the Kaurava forces retreat. Nakula kills Chitrasena, Satyasena, and Suṣeṇa, sons of Karna.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tatprabhagnaṁ balaṁ dṛṣṭvā madrarājaḥ pratāpavān। uvāca sārathiṁ tūrṇaṁ codayāśvānmahājavān ॥9-9-1॥
Upon witnessing the disarray of his forces, the valiant king of Madra commanded his charioteer, "Drive the swift horses with haste."
eṣa tiṣṭhati vai rājā pāṇḍuputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। chatreṇa dhriyamāṇena pāṇḍureṇa virājatā ॥9-9-2॥
Here stands King Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, shining with a white umbrella held over him.
atra māṁ prāpaya kṣipraṁ paśya me sārthe balam। na samarthā hi me pārthāḥ sthātumadya puro yudhi ॥9-9-3॥
"Lead me quickly here, O charioteer, and see my strength. My sons of Pritha are not capable of standing before the enemy in battle today."
evamuktastataḥ prāyānmadrarājasya sārathiḥ। yatra rājā satyasandho dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥9-9-4॥
Having been thus addressed, the charioteer of the king of Madra then proceeded to the place where the truthful king, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, was present.
āpatantaṃ ca sahasā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahadbalam। dadhāraiko raṇe śalyo velevo'ddhṛtamarṇavam ॥9-9-5॥
Suddenly, as the great force of the Pandavas approached in battle, Shalya alone stood firm, like a shore holding back the ocean.
pāṇḍavānāṃ balaughastu śalyamāsādya māriṣa। vyatiṣṭhata tadā yuddhe sindhorvega ivācalam ॥9-9-6॥
The Pandavas' army, upon facing Shalya, stood firm in the battle, resembling the ocean's force against a mountain.
madrarājaṃ tu samare dṛṣṭvā yuddhāya viṣṭhitam। kuravaḥ saṃnyavartanta mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam ॥9-9-7॥
Upon seeing the Madra king ready for battle, the Kurus retreated, accepting death as their fate.
teṣu rājannivṛtteṣu vyūḍhānīkeṣu bhāgaśaḥ। prāvartata mahāraudraḥ saṅgrāmaḥ śoṇitodakaḥ ॥ samārchaccitrasenena nakulo yuddhadurmadaḥ ॥9-9-8॥
O king, when the armies were arranged in their respective formations, a fierce and bloody battle began. Nakula, filled with the fury of battle, was challenged by Citrasena.
tau parasparam āsādya citrakārmukadhāriṇau। meghāviva yathodvṛttau dakṣiṇottaravarṣiṇau ॥9-9-9॥
They both approached each other, bearing wonderful bows, like clouds rising and raining from the south and north.
śaratoyaiḥ siṣicatus tau parasparam āhave। nāntaraṃ tatra paśyāmi pāṇḍavas yetarasya vā ॥9-9-10॥
In the battle, both sides showered each other with arrows, making it impossible to distinguish between the Pandavas and their opponents.
ubhau kṛtāstrau balinau rathacaryāviśāradau। parasparavadhe yattau chidranveṣaṇatatparau ॥9-9-11॥
Both were skilled in weapons and strong, experts in chariotry, intent on killing each other, and eager to find weaknesses in their opponent.
citrasenastu bhallena pītena niśitena ca। nakulasya mahārāja muṣṭideśe'cchinaddhanuḥ ॥9-9-12॥
Citrasena skillfully severed Nakula's bow at the grip with a sharp, yellow arrow, demonstrating his prowess in battle, O great king.
athainaṁ chinnadhanvānaṁ rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ। tribhiḥ śarairasambhrānto lalāṭe vai samarpayat ॥9-9-13॥
Then, unperturbed, he placed three golden-feathered, stone-sharpened arrows on his forehead, even though his bow was broken.
hayāṁś cāsya śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ preṣayām āsa mṛtyave. tathā dhvajaṁ sārathiṁ ca tribhis tribhir apātayat ॥9-9-14॥
He shot sharp arrows at the horses, sending them to their death. Similarly, he knocked down the flag and the charioteer with three arrows each.
sa śatrubhujanirmuktairlalāṭasthaistribhiḥ śaraiḥ। nakulaḥ śuśubhe rājaṃstriśṛṅga iva parvataḥ ॥9-9-15॥
Nakul, adorned with three arrows on his forehead, appeared majestic like a three-peaked mountain, O king.
sa chinnadhanvā virathaḥ khaḍgam ādāya carma ca। rathād avātarad vīraḥ śailāgrād iva kesarī ॥9-9-16॥
The hero, having his bow broken and chariot lost, took up his sword and shield and descended from the chariot like a lion from a mountain peak.
padbhyām āpatatas tasya śaravṛṣṭim avāsṛjat। nakulo'py agrasattāṃ vai carmaṇā laghuvikramaḥ ॥9-9-17॥
As he approached with his feet, he unleashed a shower of arrows. Nakula, swift in action, also took the lead with his shield.
citrasenarathaṃ prāpya citrayodhī jitaśramaḥ। āruroha mahābāhuḥ sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ ॥9-9-18॥
The mighty-armed warrior, having gained Citraseṇa's chariot and overcome fatigue, ascended it as the entire army watched.
sakuṇḍalaṃ samukuṭaṃ sunasaṃ svāyatekṣaṇam। citrasenaśiraḥ kāyādapāharata pāṇḍavaḥ ॥ sa papāta rathopasthādivākarasamaprabhaḥ ॥9-9-19॥
The Pāṇḍava beheaded Citraseṇa, whose head was adorned with earrings, a crown, a beautiful nose, and large eyes. Citraseṇa fell from the chariot, shining like the sun.
citrasenaṁ viśastaṁ tu dṛṣṭvā tatra mahārathāḥ। sādhuvādasvanāṁścakruḥ siṁhanādāṁśca puṣkalān ॥9-9-20॥
Upon witnessing the fall of Citrasena, the great warriors there erupted in praises and resounding lion-roars.
viśastaṃ bhrātaraṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇaputrau mahārathau। suṣeṇaḥ satyasenaśca muñcantau niśitāñśarān ॥9-9-21॥
Upon witnessing their brother slain, Karna's sons, the mighty warriors Suṣena and Satyasena, began to unleash sharp arrows.
tato'bhyadhāvatāṃ tūrṇaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ rathināṃ varam। jighāṃsantau yathā nāgaṃ vyāghrau rājanmahāvane ॥9-9-22॥
Then, O king, like two tigers in a great forest desiring to kill an elephant, they quickly ran towards the best of the charioteers, the Pāṇḍava.
tāv abhyadhāvatāṃ tīkṣṇau dvāv apy enaṃ mahāratham। śaraughān samyag asyantau jīmūtau salilaṃ yathā ॥9-9-23॥
The two sharp warriors rushed towards the great chariot, releasing a shower of arrows just as clouds release rain.
sa śaraiḥ sarvato viddhaḥ prahṛṣṭa iva pāṇḍavaḥ। anyatkārmukamādāya rathamāruhya vīryavān ॥ atiṣṭhata raṇe vīraḥ kruddharūpa ivāntakaḥ ॥9-9-24॥
Pierced from all sides by arrows, he appeared delighted like a Pāṇḍava. Taking another bow and ascending the chariot, the valiant hero stood in the battlefield, resembling Death in his wrathful form.
tasya tau bhrātarau rājañśaraiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ। rathaṁ viśakalīkartuṁ samārabdhau viśāṁ pate ॥9-9-25॥
His two brothers, O king, began to shatter the chariot with arrows having bent joints, O lord of men.
tataḥ prahasya nakulaś caturbhiś caturo raṇe। jaghāna niśitais tīkṣṇaiḥ satyasesnasya vājinaḥ ॥9-9-26॥
Then, with a smile, Nakula slew the four horses of Satyasena in the battle using four sharp and keen weapons.
tataḥ sandhāya nārācaṃ rukmapuṅkhaṃ śilāśitam। dhanuściccheda rājendra satyasenasyapāṇḍavaḥ ॥9-9-27॥
Then the Pandava, having fixed a golden-feathered, stone-sharpened arrow, cut the bow of Satyasena, O king.
athānyaṃ ratham āsthāya dhanur ādāya cāparam। satyāsenaḥ suṣeṇaś ca pāṇḍavaṃ paryadhāvatām ॥9-9-28॥
Then Satyasena and Suṣeṇa, having mounted another chariot and armed with another bow, rushed towards the Pāṇḍava.
avidyattāvasambhrāntau mādrīputraḥ pratāpavān। dvābhyāṃ dvābhyāṃ mahārāja śarābhyāṃ raṇamūrdhani ॥9-9-29॥
The valiant son of Madri, unperturbed, struck those two with two arrows each at the forefront of the battle, O great king.
suṣeṇastu tataḥ kruddhaḥ pāṇḍavasya mahaddhanuḥ। ciccheda prahasanyuddhe kṣurapreṇa mahārathaḥ ॥9-9-30॥
Suṣena, in a fit of anger, skillfully severed the great bow of the Pāṇḍava with a razor-sharp arrow during the battle, laughing as he did so.
athānyaddhanurādāya nakulaḥ krodhamūrchitaḥ। suṣeṇaṃ pañcabhirviddhvā dhvajamekena cicchide ॥9-9-31॥
Then Nakul, in a fit of rage, took another bow and shot five arrows at Sushena, cutting off his flag with one.
satyasenasya ca dhanurhastāvāpaṃ ca māriṣa। ciccheda tarasā yuddhe tata uccukruśurjanāḥ ॥9-9-32॥
In the battle, O great one, he forcefully cut off Satyasena's bow and quiver. Then, the people shouted in amazement.
athānyaddhanurādāya vegaghnaṃ bhārasādhanam। śaraiḥ sañchādayāmāsa samantātpāṇḍunandanam ॥9-9-33॥
Then, he took another swift and powerful bow and covered the son of Pandu with arrows from all sides.
saṁnivārya tu tānbāṇānnakulaḥ paravīrahā। satyāsenaṁ suṣeṇaṁ ca dvābhyāṁ dvābhyāmavidhyat ॥9-9-34॥
Nakula, known for his prowess in battle, skillfully deflected the incoming arrows and struck down Satyasena and Suṣeṇa with two arrows each, showcasing his combat expertise.
tāvenaṃ pratyavidhyetāṃ pṛthakpṛthagajihmagaiḥ। sārathiṃ cāsya rājendra śarairvivyadhatuḥ śitaiḥ ॥9-9-35॥
The two warriors attacked him with precision, each arrow flying straight and true. O king, they also targeted and struck his charioteer with their sharp arrows.
satyaseno ratheṣāṃ tu nakulasya dhanustathā। pṛthakṣarābhyāṃ ciccheda kṛtahastaḥ pratāpavān ॥9-9-36॥
Satyasena, the valiant and skillful warrior, cut the bow of Nakula's chariot with two arrows.
sa rathe'tirathastiṣṭhanrathaśaktiṃ parāmṛśat। svarṇadaṇḍāmakuṇṭhāgrāṃ tailadhautāṃ sunirmalām ॥9-9-37॥
The great warrior stood on the chariot and touched the chariot weapon, which had a golden handle, was sharp-pointed, oil-polished, and very clean.
lelihānām iva vibho nāgakanyāṃ mahāviṣām। samudyamya ca cikṣepa satyasenasyasaṃyuge ॥9-9-38॥
The lord, like a serpent maiden with great poison, raised and threw in the battle of Satyasena.
sā tasya hṛdayaṃ saṅkhye bibheda śatadhā nṛpa। sa papāta rathādbhūmau gatasattvo'lpacetanaḥ ॥9-9-39॥
She struck his heart in the battle, shattering it into a hundred pieces, O king. He fell from the chariot to the ground, devoid of life and consciousness.
bhrātaraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā suṣeṇaḥ krodhamūrchitaḥ। abhyavarṣaccharais tūrṇaṃ padātiṃ pāṇḍunandanam ॥9-9-40॥
Upon witnessing his brother's death, Suṣeṇa, filled with rage, swiftly attacked the foot-soldier, the son of Pāṇḍu, with a barrage of arrows.
nakulaṁ virathaṁ dṛṣṭvā draupadeyo mahābalaḥ। sutasomo'bhidudrāva parīpsanpitaraṁ raṇe ॥9-9-41॥
Upon seeing Nakul without his chariot, the powerful son of Draupadi, Sutasoma, hurried to safeguard his father on the battlefield.
tato'dhiruhya nakulaḥ sutasomasya taṃ ratham। śuśubhe bharataśreṣṭho giristha iva kesarī॥
Then Nakula, having ascended the chariot of Sutasoma, shone like a lion dwelling on a mountain, being the best of the Bharatas.
tāvubhau śaravarṣābhyāṃ samāsādya parasparam। parasparavadhe yatnaṃ cakratuḥ sumahārathau ॥9-9-43॥
The two great charioteers, having approached each other with showers of arrows, made efforts to kill each other.
suṣeṇastu tataḥ kruddhaḥ pāṇḍavaṃ viśikhaistribhiḥ। sutasomaṃ ca viṃśatyā bāhvorurasi cārpayat ॥9-9-44॥
Suṣeṇa, in his anger, then shot three arrows at Pāṇḍava and twenty at Sutasoma, striking them in the arms and chest.
tataḥ kruddho mahārāja nakulaḥ paravīrahā। śaraistasya diśaḥ sarvāśchādayāmāsa vīryavān ॥9-9-45॥
Then, the valiant Nakula, filled with anger, covered all directions with his arrows, demonstrating his prowess as a great king and destroyer of enemy heroes.
tato gṛhītvā tīkṣṇāgramardhacandraṃ sutejanam। sa vegayuktaṃ cikṣepa karṇaputrasya saṃyuge ॥9-9-46॥
Then, he swiftly took the sharp-pointed, crescent-shaped, well-feathered arrow and hurled it at Karna's son during the battle.
tasya tena śiraḥ kāyājjahāra nṛpasattama। paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ tadadbhutamivābhavat ॥9-9-47॥
By him, the head was severed from the body, O best of kings, while all the armies watched; it seemed like a marvel.
sa hataḥ prāpatadrājannakulena mahātmanā। nadīvegādivārugṇastīrajaḥ pādapo mahān ॥9-9-48॥
He was killed and fell, O king, by the great soul Nakula, like a great tree uprooted from the riverbank by the force of the river.
karṇaputravadhaṁ dṛṣṭvā nakulasya ca vikramam। pradudrāva bhayātsenā tāvakī bharatarṣabha ॥9-9-49॥
Upon witnessing the death of Karna's son and Nakula's bravery, your army retreated in fear, O esteemed Bharata.
tāṃ tu senāṃ mahārāja madrarājaḥ pratāpavān। apālayadraṇe śūraḥ senāpatirariṃdamaḥ ॥9-9-50॥
The powerful king of Madra, a heroic general and subduer of enemies, protected that army in battle, O great king.
vibhīstasthau mahārāja vyavasthāpya ca vāhinīm। siṃhanādaṃ bhṛśaṃ kṛtvā dhanuḥśabdaṃ ca dāruṇam ॥9-9-51॥
Vibhishana, having arranged the army, stood firm and made a terrible sound with his bow, accompanied by an intense lion's roar, O great king.
tāvakāḥ samare rājanrakṣitā dṛḍhadhanvanā। pratyudyayurarātīṃste samantādvigatavyathāḥ ॥9-9-52॥
Your soldiers, O king, protected by the strong archer, fearlessly advanced against the enemies from all directions.
madrarājaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ parivārya samantataḥ। sthitā rājanmahāsenā yoddhukāmāḥ samantataḥ ॥9-9-53॥
The great army surrounded the Madra king, a great archer, from all directions, standing ready to fight, O king.
sātyakirbhīmasenaśca mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau। yudhiṣṭhiraṃ puraskṛtya hrīniṣedhamariṃdamam ॥9-9-54॥
Satyaki, Bhimasena, and the sons of Madri, the Pandavas, placed Yudhishthira, the subduer of enemies, at the forefront with modesty and restraint.
parivārya raṇe vīrāḥ siṃhanādaṃ pracakrire। bāṇaśabdaravāṃścogrānkṣveḍāṃśca vividhāndadhuḥ ॥9-9-55॥
Surrounding the battlefield, the heroes roared like lions and created fierce sounds of arrows and various whistling noises.
tathaiva tāvakāḥ sarve madrādhipatimañjasā। parivārya susaṁrabdhāḥ punaryuddhamarocayan ॥9-9-56॥
In the same way, all your men, having easily surrounded the king of Madras, were very enraged and approved the battle once more.
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhanam। tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam ॥9-9-57॥
Then a battle began, which increased the fear among the fearful, leading to death and retreat for both your forces and the enemies.
yathā devāsuraṃ yuddhaṃ pūrvamāsīdviśāṃ pate। abhītānāṃ tathā rājanyamarāṣṭravivardhanam ॥9-9-58॥
"Just as there was a battle between the gods and demons in the past, O lord of the people, so too is the prosperity of the fearless kings and the immortal kingdom."
tataḥ kapidhvajo rājanhatvā saṃśaptakānraṇe। abhyadravata tāṃ senāṃ kauravīṃ pāṇḍunandanaḥ ॥9-9-59॥
Then, O king, Arjuna, the one with the monkey banner, after defeating the Trigartas in battle, charged towards the Kaurava army.
tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ śeṣā dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ। abhyadhāvanta tāṃ senāṃ visṛjantaḥ śitāñśarān ॥9-9-60॥
In the same manner, the remaining Pandavas, led by Dhrishtadyumna, charged at the army, shooting sharp arrows.
pāṇḍavairavakīrṇānāṃ saṃmohaḥ samajāyata। na ca jajñuranīkāni diśo vā pradiśastathā ॥9-9-61॥
A state of confusion emerged among those scattered by the Pandavas. They could not recognize the troops, the directions, or the quarters.
āpūryamāṇā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ pāṇḍavacoditaiḥ। hatapravīrā vidhvastā kīryamāṇā samantataḥ ॥ kauravyavadhyata camūḥ pāṇḍuputrairmahārathaiḥ ॥9-9-62॥
The Kaurava army, filled with sharp arrows urged by the Pandavas, was being decimated by the sons of Pandu, the great charioteers, as slain heroes lay scattered all around.
tathaiva pāṇḍavī senā śarai rājansamantataḥ। raṇe' hanyata putraiste śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥9-9-63॥
In the same manner, O king, the Pandava army was attacked by your sons with arrows from all sides in the battle, first by hundreds and then by thousands.
te sene bhṛśasantapte vadhyamāne parasparam। vyākule samapadyetāṃ varṣāsu saritāviva ॥9-9-64॥
The armies, greatly afflicted and killing each other, became confused like rivers during the rainy season.
āviveśa tatastīvraṃ tāvakānāṃ mahadbhayam। pāṇḍavānāṃ ca rājendra tathābhūte mahāhave ॥9-9-65॥
Then, O King, a great and intense fear gripped both your side and the Pandavas in the midst of the great battle.
