09.010
Core and Pancharatra: While the morale of the Karuava army is low, King Shalya makes a brave attempt to attack Yudhisthira. But Sahadeva kills his son, and Bhima takes on Shalya and makes him chariot less, forcing him to retreat.
Sanjaya said:
In that chaotic army, as soldiers were being slain by one another, warriors began to flee and the elephants trumpeted.
In the great battle, the foot soldiers were sounding and roaring. O great king, then the horses were fleeing in many directions.
In the dreadful destruction that arose during the annihilation of all living beings, the battlefield was filled with various weapons and intermingled chariots and elephants.
In the midst of the battle, the war-experts were delighted, while the fearful ones were increasingly afraid, as the warriors were immersed in the desire for mutual killing.
In the act of taking life, amidst the very terrible and ongoing dreadful situation, in the battle with its terrible form, Yama's kingdom is expanding.
The Pandavas attacked your army with sharp arrows, causing chaos. In return, your warriors also killed the soldiers of the Pandavas.
In that ongoing battle, which was both fearful and frightening, as the morning arrived, it was towards the rising of the sun.
Having achieved their objective, others, O king, protected by the great soul, fought against your army, causing death to retreat.
The Kaurava army, overwhelmed by the strong and proud Pandavas who had achieved their goals, was sinking like a deer surrounded by fire.
Upon seeing the army sinking in the mud like a weak cow, Shalya, desiring to uplift it, proceeded towards the Pandava forces.
The King of Madra, in his anger, seized his best bow and charged at the Pandava warriors in the battle.
The Pandavas, O great king, were victorious over Kashi and, having approached the king of Madra in battle, pierced him with sharp arrows.
Then the mighty king of Madra, with his sharp arrows, pierced the army of Yudhishthira as he watched on.
Then, O king, numerous various forms appeared, and the earth, along with its mountains, shook, making a sound.
Meteors with rods and spears and blazing tips fell from the sky, striking the sun's orb and scattering all around the earth.
O lord of the people, deer, buffaloes, and birds moved the army in an anticlockwise direction many times, O king.
Then that very fierce battle among the groups ensued. Thus, having assembled all the armies, O king, the Kauravas approached the army of the Pandavas.
Shalya, with the prowess of Indra, relentlessly attacked Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, with a barrage of arrows, showing no signs of retreat.
Bhimasena, along with the sons of Draupadi and Madri, was struck by arrows with golden feathers and sharpened on stone.
The mighty warrior pierced Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śaineya, and Śikhaṇḍin each with ten arrows. Then, like Indra releasing rain at the end of summer, he unleashed a shower of arrows.
Then, O King, thousands of Prabhadrakas and Somakas were seen falling and being struck by arrows.
The arrows of Shalya fell like swarms of bees, like groups of moths, and like thunder from the clouds.
Elephants, horses, foot soldiers, and charioteers were distressed and fell down, wandered, and roared due to Śalya's arrows.
The king of Madra, as if possessed by anger and valor, covered his enemies in battle like a force of time, resembling death itself. Roaring mightily, he sounded like thunderous clouds.
The army of the Pāṇḍavas, under attack by Śalya, moved swiftly towards Yudhiṣṭhira, known as Ajātaśatru, the son of Kunti.
After offering her, the quick-handed warrior attacked Yudhishthira fiercely in the battle with sharp arrows and a great volley of arrows.
The angry King Yudhishthira blocked the advancing forces of infantry and horses with his sharp arrows, just as one would control a mad elephant with goads.
Śalya released a terrible arrow resembling a snake. It struck the noble one and swiftly fell to the ground.
Then, in anger, Vrikodara pierced Shalya with seven arrows. Sahadeva, however, struck with five, and Nakula with ten arrows.
The sons of Draupadi, along with Shatrughna, the brave son of Martāya, attacked the fortunate one with arrows, resembling clouds pouring rain on a mountain.
Upon witnessing Śalya being besieged from all directions by the sons of Pṛthā, the enraged Kṛtavarmā and Kṛpa charged forward.
Uluka, the bird, and Shakuni, the son of Subala, were smiling slowly. Ashwatthama, the great warrior, along with your sons, completely protected Shalya in the battle.
Kritavarma pierced Bhimasena with three arrows and restrained his furious form with a great shower of arrows.
Kṛpa, in his anger, showered arrows upon Dhṛṣṭadyumna, causing him great distress. Meanwhile, Śakuni and Aśvatthāmā launched an attack on the sons of Draupadī and the twin brothers.
Duryodhana, with his fierce energy, approached the best warriors, Keshava and Arjuna, in battle and attacked them with his powerful arrows.
Thus, O lord of men, there were numerous duels between your forces and others, displaying terrible and varied forms, in various places.
Bhoja killed the deer-colored horses of Bhima in battle. Then, having descended from the chariot with his horses slain, the son of Pandu, wielding a mace, fought fiercely, raising it as if it were the staff of time.
In the forefront, Sahadeva slew the horses and the king of Madra. Then, Sahadeva, with his sword, killed Shalya's son.
Gautama, the teacher, once again engaged in battle with Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Both were unperturbed and diligent, with Gautama being even more diligent.
The son of the teacher, seemingly smiling and not overly angry, shot ten arrows at each of the sons of Draupadi and the other heroes.
Even in his anger, Śalya continued to attack the Somakas and Pāṇḍavas, and once again, he targeted Yudhiṣṭhira with his sharp arrows.
Bhima, filled with rage in the battle, bit his lips in anger and, with the intent to destroy, took up his mace with great might.
It was like the rod of Yama, raised as if it were the night of destruction, bringing death to elephants, horses, and men.
The object appeared as if it was surrounded by a golden band, blazing like a meteor; it was icy and resembled a very fierce serpent, akin to a thunderbolt made of iron.
The tongue, smeared with sandalwood, aloeswood, and mud, resembles a desired woman; while smeared with fat, marrow, and blood, it resembles the tongue of Yama.
Under the influence of loud bell sounds, it was like the thunderbolt of Indra, released in the form of a snake and also smeared with elephant ichor.
She who causes fear in enemy armies and brings delight to her own, renowned in the world of men for splitting mountain peaks.
In the abode of Kailasa, Bali, the friend of Lord Shiva, was invited by Arjuna, the son of Kunti, who was the angry lord of Alaka.
The mighty one, angry for the sake of Mandara, killed many arrogant illusionists in the abode of Kubera, despite being restrained by many, and remained dear to Draupadi.
The mighty-armed warrior, having lifted that eight-cornered, heavy mass of gems and jewels like a thunderbolt, attacked Śalya in the battle.
With his mace, the battle-skilled warrior, accompanied by a terrible sound, smashed Śalya's four swift horses.
Then, in the heat of battle, the enraged Śalya thrust his spear into the broad chest, piercing through the armor, and the roaring hero advanced.
Bhima, remaining calm, lifted the spear and struck the charioteer of the Madra king in the heart.
He, with his armor shattered and vomiting blood, terrified and miserable, fell forward, while the king of Madra retreated.
Śalya, astonished by the counteraction, took up his mace and courageously faced the enemy.
Then the cheerful sons of Pritha honored Bhimasena. Witnessing his effortless and terrible act in battle.
