09.011
Pancharatra and Core: Duryodhana kills Chekitana; the fight between Shalya and Yudhisthira commences; Yudhisthira gains the upper hand by cutting down the flagpole of Shalya.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said.
patitaṁ prekṣya yantāraṁ śalyaḥ sarvāyasīṁ gadām। ādāya tarasā rājaṁstasthau giririvācalaḥ ॥9-11-1॥
Upon witnessing the fall of the charioteer, Śalya quickly grabbed the iron mace and stood firm like a mountain, O king.
taṁ dīptam iva kālāgniṁ pāśahastam ivāntakam। saśṛṅgam iva kailāsaṁ savajram iva vāsavam ॥9-11-2॥
He appeared blazing like the fire of destruction, holding a noose like death; with peaks like Mount Kailasa and wielding a thunderbolt like Indra.
saśūlamiva harya kṣaṃ vane mattamiva dvipam। javenābhyapatadbhīmaḥ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām ॥9-11-3॥
Bhima, wielding his mighty mace, charged forward with the speed of a lion armed with a spear in the forest, resembling an intoxicated elephant.
tataḥ śaṅkhapraṇādaśca tūryāṇāṃ ca sahasraśaḥ। siṃhanādaśca sañjajñe śūrāṇāṃ harṣavardhanaḥ ॥9-11-4॥
Then, the sound of conches and thousands of musical instruments, along with the lion's roar, arose, enhancing the joy of the heroes.
prekṣantaḥ sarvataḥ tau hi yodhā yodhamahādvipau। tāvakāśca pare caiva sādhu sādhvityathābruvan ॥9-11-5॥
The warriors, both yours and others, looked everywhere at those two warrior-elephants and exclaimed, 'Well done, well done!'
na hi madrādhipādanyo rāmādvā yadunandanāt। soḍhumutsahate vegaṃ bhīmasenasya saṃyuge ॥9-11-6॥
Indeed, no one other than the king of Madra, Rāma, or the delight of the Yadus can withstand Bhīmasena's force in battle.
tathā madrādhipasyāpi gadāvegaṃ mahātmanaḥ। soḍhumutsahate nānyo yodho yudhi vṛkodarāt ॥9-11-7॥
Thus, no other warrior in the battle can withstand the force of the mace from the great soul, the king of Madra, except Vrikodara.
tau vṛṣāv iva nardantau maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ। āvalgitau gadāhastau madrarājavṛkodarau ॥9-11-8॥
The Madra king and Vrikodara, with maces in hand, moved around energetically like bellowing bulls, making circles.
maṇḍalāvartamārgeṣu gadāviharaṇeṣu ca। nirviśeṣamabhūdyuddhaṃ tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ ॥9-11-9॥
In the circular paths and during the mace wielding, an indistinguishable battle occurred between those two lion-like warriors.
taptahemamayaiḥ śubhrairbabhūva bhayavardhanī। agnijvālairivāviddhā paṭṭaiḥ śalyasya sā gadā ॥9-11-10॥
The mace of Śalya, adorned with bright golden strips, seemed to increase fear as if it was pierced with flames of fire.
tathaiva carato mārgānmaṇḍaleṣu mahātmanaḥ। vidyudabhrapratīkāśā bhīmasya śuśubhe gadā ॥9-11-11॥
In the same manner, as the great soul moved through the paths and circles, Bhima's mace shone brilliantly, resembling the lightning in the clouds.
tāḍitā madrarājena bhīmasya gadayā gadā। dīpyamāneva vai rājansasṛje pāvakārciṣaḥ ॥9-11-12॥
The mace, struck by the king of Madra with Bhima's mace, blazed like fire and emitted flames, O king.
tathā bhīmena śalyasya tāḍitā gadayā gadā। aṅgāravarṣaṃ mumuce tadadbhutamivābhavat ॥9-11-13॥
Thus, when Bhima struck Shalya's mace with his own, it released a shower of embers, appearing as if something wonderful had happened.
dantairiva mahānāgau śṛṅgairiva maharṣabhau। tottrairiva tadānyonyaṃ gadāgrābhyāṃ nijaghnatuḥ ॥9-11-14॥
The two warriors, like great elephants with their tusks and great bulls with their horns, attacked each other fiercely with the tips of their maces, as if driven by goads.
tau gadāni-hatair gātraiḥ kṣaṇena rudhira-okṣitau। prekṣaṇīyatarāv āstāṃ puṣpitāv iva kiṃśukau ॥9-11-15॥
The two, struck by maces, were instantly covered in blood, appearing even more beautiful, like blossomed Butea monosperma trees.
gadayā madrarājena savyadakṣiṇamāhataḥ। bhīmaseno mahābāhurna cacālācalo yathā ॥9-11-16॥
Bhimasena, the mighty-armed, was struck left and right by the king of Madra with a mace, yet he stood firm, unmoving like a mountain.
tathā bhīmagadāvegaistāḍyamāno muhurmuhuḥ। śalyo na vivyathe rājandantinevāhato giriḥ ॥9-11-17॥
In this way, despite being repeatedly struck by the force of Bhima's mace, Shalya remained unshaken, O king, just like a mountain remains unmoved when struck by an elephant.
śuśruve dikṣu sarvāsu tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ। gadānipātasaṃhrādo vajrayoriva nisvanaḥ ॥9-11-18॥
The thunderous clash of maces falling echoed in all directions, reminiscent of the mighty roar of thunderbolts, as if heralding the presence of those two lion-hearted warriors.
nivṛtya tu mahāvīryau samucchritagadāvubhau। punarantaramārgasthau maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ ॥9-11-19॥
After withdrawing, the two great heroes, both wielding their maces high, once again stood in the inner path and moved around in circles.
athābhyetya padānyaṣṭau saṃnipāto'bhavattayoḥ। udyamya lohadaṇḍābhyāmatimānuṣakarmaṇoḥ ॥9-11-20॥
Then, as they approached, the two engaged in a meeting of eight steps, raising their iron rods for a superhuman feat.
prārthayanau tadānyo'nyam maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ। kriyāviśeṣaṃ kṛtinau darśayāmāsatustadā ॥9-11-21॥
The two accomplished ones, while praying, wandered around in circles, demonstrating their special actions.
athodyamya gade ghore saśṛṅgāviva parvatau। tāvājaghnaturanyonyaṃ yathā bhūmicale'calau ॥9-11-22॥
Then, lifting their dreadful maces, they clashed with each other like two immovable mountains during an earthquake.
tau parasparavegācca gadābhyāṃ ca bhṛśāhatau। yugapatpetaturvīrāvubhāvindradhvajāviva ॥9-11-23॥
The two heroes, struck hard by each other's force and maces, fell simultaneously like the banners of Indra.
ubhayoḥ senayor vīrās tadā hāhākṛto'bhavan। bhṛśaṃ marmaṇy abhihatāv ubhāv āstāṃ suvihr̥valau ॥9-11-24॥
The heroes of both armies cried out in distress at that time. Both were severely struck in their vital parts and were deeply agitated.
tataḥ sagadamāropya madrāṇāmṛṣabhaṃ rathe। apovāha kṛpaḥ śalyaṃ tūrṇamāyodhanādapi ॥9-11-25॥
Then Kṛpa, placing Śalya, the bull of the Madras, on the chariot, quickly carried him away from the battlefield.
kṣībavadvihvalatvāttu nimeṣātpunarutthitaḥ। bhīmaseno gadāpāṇiḥ samāhvayata madrapam ॥9-11-26॥
Bhimasena, appearing bewildered as if intoxicated, quickly regained his composure and challenged the king of Madra with his mace in hand.
tatastu tāvakāḥ śūrā nānāśastrasamāyutāḥ। nānāvāditraśabdena pāṇḍusenāmayodhayān ॥9-11-27॥
Then, your valiant warriors, armed with diverse weapons, launched an attack on the Pandava army, accompanied by the sounds of various musical instruments.
bhujāvucchritya śastraṃ ca śabdena mahatā tataḥ। abhyadravanmahārāja duryodhanapurogamāḥ ॥9-11-28॥
Raising their arms and weapons, they charged with a great sound, led by Duryodhana, O great king.
tadanīkam abhiprekṣya tatas te pāṇḍunandanāḥ। prayayuḥ siṃhanādena duryodhanavadhepsayā ॥9-11-29॥
Upon observing the army, the sons of Pandu, with the intent to kill Duryodhana, advanced with a roar like that of a lion.
teṣām āpatatāṃ tūrṇaṃ putras te bharatarṣabha। prāsena cekitānaṃ vai vivyādha hṛdaye bhṛśam ॥9-11-30॥
As they attacked swiftly, your son, O best of the Bharatas, struck Cekitana deeply in the heart with a spear.
sa papāta rathopasthe tava putreṇa tāḍitaḥ। rudhiraughapariklinnḥ praviśya vipulaṃ tamaḥ ॥9-11-31॥
He fell onto the seat of the chariot, struck by your son, drenched in blood, and entered into a deep darkness.
cekitānaṃ hataṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ। prasaktam abhyavarṣanta śaravarṣāṇi bhāgaśaḥ ॥9-11-32॥
Upon witnessing the fall of Chekitana, the great charioteers of the Pandavas launched a concentrated barrage of arrows in various directions.
tāvakānāmanīkeṣu pāṇḍavā jitakāśinaḥ। vyacaranta mahārāja prekṣaṇīyāḥ samantataḥ ॥9-11-33॥
In your armies, O great king, the Pandavas, having conquered the Kashi, moved admirably in all directions.
kṛpaśca kṛtavarmā ca saubalaśca mahābalaḥ। ayodhayandharmarājaṃ madrarājapuraskṛtāḥ ॥9-11-34॥
Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, and the mighty Saubala, led by the Madra king, engaged in battle with Dharmarāja.
bhāradvājasya hantāraṃ bhūrivīryaparākramam। duryodhano mahārāja dhṛṣṭadyumnamayodhayat ॥9-11-35॥
Duryodhana, the great king, engaged in battle with Dhṛṣṭadyumna, known for his great strength and valor, and the slayer of Bhāradvāja.
trisāhasrā rathā rājanstava putreṇa coditāḥ। ayodhayanta vijayaṃ droṇaputrapuraskṛtāḥ ॥9-11-36॥
Three thousand chariots, O king, driven by your son, engaged in battle for victory, led by Drona's son.
vijaye dhṛtasaṅkalpāḥ samabhityaktajīvitāḥ। prāviśaṃstāvakā rājanhaṃsā iva mahatsaraḥ ॥9-11-37॥
In their quest for victory, your men, O king, were so firmly resolved that they entered the battlefield as if they were swans gracefully entering a vast lake, having completely abandoned any regard for their lives.
tato yuddham abhūd ghoraṃ parasparavadha iṣiṇām। anyonyavadha saṃyuktam anyonyaprīti vardhanam ॥9-11-38॥
Then a fierce battle took place among those desiring mutual destruction, which paradoxically increased their affection for one another.
tasminpravṛtte saṅgrāme rājanvīravarakṣaye। anileneritaṃ ghoramuttasthau pārthivaṃ rajaḥ ॥9-11-39॥
In that battle that had commenced, O king, the destruction of the best heroes took place, and a terrible dust arose, stirred by the wind.
śravaṇānnāmadheyānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca kīrtanāt। parasparaṃ vijānīmo ye cāyudhyannabhītavat ॥9-11-40॥
By hearing and glorifying the names of the Pāṇḍavas, we recognize each other as those who fought without fear.
tadrajaḥ puruṣavyāghra śoṇitena praśāmitam। diśaśca vimalā jajñustasminrajasi śāmite ॥9-11-41॥
The dust was settled by the blood, O tiger among men. The directions became clear when the dust was settled.
tathā pravṛtte saṅgrāme ghorarūpe bhayānake। tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca nāsītkaścitparāṅmukhaḥ ॥9-11-42॥
In the terrifying and dreadful battle that ensued, no one turned away, whether from your side or the enemies.
brahmalokaparā bhūtvā prārthayanto jayaṃ yudhi। suyuddhena parākrāntā narāḥ svargamabhīpsavaḥ ॥9-11-43॥
The men, aspiring for Brahmaloka, became valiant and prayed for victory in battle, desiring heaven through fair fight.
bhartṛpiṇḍavimokṣārthaṃ bhartṛkāryaviniścitāḥ। svargasaṃsaktamanaso yodhā yuyudhire tadā ॥9-11-44॥
The warriors, determined to fulfill their duty towards their husbands by ensuring the liberation of their funeral offerings, fought with minds set on reaching heaven.
nānārūpāṇi śastrāṇi visṛjanto mahārathāḥ। anyonyamabhigarjantaḥ praharantaḥ parasparam ॥9-11-45॥
The great charioteers released various forms of weapons, roaring and attacking each other in the battle.
hata vidhyata gṛhṇīta praharadhvaṃ nikṛntata। iti sma vācaḥ śrūyante tava teṣāṃ ca vai bale ॥9-11-46॥
The words 'Strike, pierce, seize, attack, cut' are indeed heard in your and their army.
tataḥ śalyo mahārāja dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram। vivyādha niśitairbāṇairhantukāmo mahāratham ॥9-11-47॥
Then Śalya, the great king, attacked Dharmaraja Yudhishthira with sharp arrows, intending to kill the great chariot-warrior.
tasya pārtho mahārāja nārācānvai caturdaśa। marmāṇyuddiśya marmajño nicakhāna hasanniva ॥9-11-48॥
Arjuna, the son of Pritha, skillfully shot fourteen iron arrows at the vital points, appearing to smile, O great king.
taṁ vārya pāṇḍavaṁ bāṇair hantukāmo mahāyaśāḥ। vivyādha samare kruddho bahubhiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ ॥9-11-49॥
The greatly renowned warrior, in his anger, stopped Pāṇḍava and pierced him in battle with many feathered arrows, desiring to kill him.
atha bhūyo mahārāja śareṇa nataparvaṇā। yudhiṣṭhiraṃ samājaghne sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ ॥9-11-50॥
Then again, O great king, he struck Yudhishthira with an arrow with bent joints while the entire army watched.
dharmarājo'pi saṅkruddho madrarājaṃ mahāyaśāḥ। vivyādha niśitairbāṇaiḥ kaṅkabarhiṇavājitaiḥ ॥9-11-51॥
The illustrious King Yudhishthira, in his anger, shot sharp arrows adorned with peacock feathers at the King of Madra.
candrasenaṁ ca saptatyā sūtaṁ ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ। drumasenaṁ catuḥṣaṣṭyā nijaghāna mahārathaḥ ॥9-11-52॥
The great chariot-warrior struck down Candrasena with seventy arrows, Sūta with nine, and Drumasena with sixty-four.
cakrarakṣe hate śalyaḥ pāṇḍavena mahātmanā। nijaghāna tato rājaṃścedīnvai pañcaviṃśatim ॥9-11-53॥
After the protector of the wheel was slain by the great-souled Pāṇḍava, Śalya then killed twenty-five of the Cedis, O king.
sātyakiṁ pañcaviṁśatyā bhīmasenaṁ ca pañcabhiḥ। mādrīputrau śatenājau vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥9-11-54॥
Satyaki pierced with twenty-five arrows, Bhimasena with five, and the sons of Madri with a hundred sharp arrows in battle.
evaṃ vicaratastasya saṅgrāme rājasattama। sampreṣayacchitānpārthaḥ śarānāśīviṣopamān ॥9-11-55॥
As Arjuna moved through the battlefield, he unleashed arrows as deadly as venomous serpents, O esteemed king.
dhvajāgraṃ cāsya samare kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। pramukhe vartamānasya bhallenāpaharadrathāt ॥9-11-56॥
In the battle, Kunti's son Yudhishthira, standing in front, took away the flag-top of his opponent's chariot with an arrow.
pāṇḍuputreṇa vai tasya ketuṃ chinnaṃ mahātmanā। nipatantamapaśyāma giriśṛṅgamivāhatam ॥9-11-57॥
The son of Pandu, with his great soul, cut down his banner. We saw it fall like a mountain peak that had been struck.
dhvajaṁ nipatitaṁ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavaṁ ca vyavasthitam। saṅkruddho madrarājo'bhūccharavarṣaṁ mumoca ha ॥9-11-58॥
Upon seeing the fallen flag and the poised Pāṇḍava, the furious Madra king unleashed a shower of arrows.
śalyaḥ sāyakavarṣeṇa parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān। abhyavarṣadameyātmā kṣatriyaṃ kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ ॥9-11-59॥
Shalya, with his immeasurable spirit, showered arrows like Parjanya, the rain god, pouring rain upon the warrior, the best among warriors.
sātyakiṁ bhīmasenaṁ ca mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau। ekaikaṁ pañcabhirviddhvā yudhiṣṭhiramapīḍayat ॥9-11-60॥
Satyaki, Bhimasena, and the sons of Madri, the Pandavas, each shot five arrows and tormented Yudhishthira.
tato bāṇamayaṃ jālaṃ vitataṃ pāṇḍavorasi। apaśyāma mahārāja meghajālamivodgatam ॥9-11-61॥
Then, O great king, we saw a net made of arrows spread across the chest of Pandava, resembling a rising cloud net.
tasya śalyo raṇe kruddho bāṇaiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ। diśaḥ pracchādayāmāsa pradiśaśca mahārathaḥ ॥9-11-62॥
In the battle, the great chariot warrior Śalya, in his anger, covered all directions and regions with his arrows that had bent joints.
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā bāṇajālena pīḍitaḥ। babhūva hṛtavikrānto jambho vṛtrahaṇā yathā ॥9-11-63॥
Then King Yudhishthira was overwhelmed by the barrage of arrows and lost his courage, just as Jambha was subdued by Indra, the slayer of Vritra.
