09.012
Pancharatra and Core: As Shalya displays his valour and tactics, Yudhishthira kills the Madra prince Chakraraksha.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said.
पीडिते धर्मराजे तु मद्रराजेन मारिष। सात्यकिर्भीमसेनश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ ॥ परिवार्य रथैः शल्यं पीडयामासुराहवे ॥९-१२-१॥
When Dharmaraja was troubled by the king of Madra, Satyaki, Bhimasena, and the sons of Madri, the Pandavas, encircled Shalya with their chariots and attacked him in the battle.
तमेकं बहुभिर्दृष्ट्वा पीड्यमानं महारथैः। साधुवादो महाञ्जज्ञे सिद्धाश्चासन्प्रहर्षिताः ॥ आश्चर्यमित्यभाषन्त मुनयश्चापि सङ्गताः ॥९-१२-२॥
When they saw him, the one being oppressed by many great charioteers, a great applause arose, and the perfected beings were delighted. The assembled sages also exclaimed in wonder.
भीमसेनो रणे शल्यं शल्यभूतं पराक्रमे। एकेन विद्ध्वा बाणेन पुनर्विव्याध सप्तभिः ॥९-१२-३॥
In the battle, Bhimasena pierced Shalya, who was a formidable obstacle, with one arrow and then struck him again with seven arrows.
सात्यकिश्च शतेनैनं धर्मपुत्रपरीप्सया। मद्रेश्वरमवाकीर्य सिंहनादमथानदत् ॥९-१२-४॥
Satyaki, with a force of a hundred warriors, protected Yudhishthira by overwhelming the king of Madra and then roared like a lion.
नकुलः पञ्चभिश्चैनं सहदेवश्च सप्तभिः। विद्ध्वा तं तु ततस्तूर्णं पुनर्विव्याध सप्तभिः ॥९-१२-५॥
Nakula and Sahadeva attacked him, Nakula with five arrows and Sahadeva with seven. Then, quickly, they pierced him again with seven arrows.
स तु शूरो रणे यत्तः पीडितस्तैर्महारथैः। विकृष्य कार्मुकं घोरं वेगघ्नं भारसाधनम् ॥९-१२-६॥
But he, the hero, though afflicted by those great charioteers, engaged in battle, drew his terrible and swift bow, capable of bearing great burdens.
सात्यकिं पञ्चविंशत्या शल्यो विव्याध मारिष। भीमसेनं त्रिसप्तत्या नकुलं सप्तभिस्तथा ॥९-१२-७॥
Shalya attacked Satyaki with twenty-five arrows, O lord; Bhimasena with seventy-three arrows, and Nakula with seven arrows as well.
ततः सविशिखं चापं सहदेवस्य धन्विनः। छित्त्वा भल्लेन समरे विव्याधैनं त्रिसप्तभिः ॥९-१२-८॥
Then, the archer Sahadeva's bow was cut with an arrow, and he was pierced in battle with twenty-one arrows.
सहदेवस्तु समरे मातुलं भूरिवर्चसम्। सज्यमन्यद्धनुः कृत्वा पञ्चभिः समताडयत् ॥ शरैराशीविषाकारैर्ज्वलज्ज्वलनसंनिभैः ॥९-१२-९॥
Sahadeva, in the battle, struck his uncle Bhūrivarcasam with another bow, using five arrows that were like snakes and resembled blazing fire.
सारथिं चास्य समरे शरेणानतपर्वणा। विव्याध भृशसङ्क्रुद्धस्तं च भूयस्त्रिभिः शरैः ॥९-१२-१०॥
The extremely enraged warrior pierced his charioteer in battle with a straight-shafted arrow, and then struck him again with three more arrows.
भीमसेनस्त्रिसप्तत्या सात्यकिर्नवभिः शरैः। धर्मराजस्तथा षष्ट्या गात्रे शल्यं समर्पयत् ॥९-१२-११॥
Bhimasena shot seventy-three arrows, Satyaki shot nine arrows, and Dharmaraja also shot sixty arrows, all targeting Shalya's body.
ततः शल्यो महाराज निर्विद्धस्तैर्महारथैः। सुस्राव रुधिरं गात्रैर्गैरिकं पर्वतो यथा ॥९-१२-१२॥
Then, O great king, Śalya, pierced by the great charioteers, bled from his limbs, the blood red like ochre, resembling a mountain.
तांश्च सर्वान्महेष्वासान्पञ्चभिः पञ्चभिः शरैः। विव्याध तरसा राजंस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥९-१२-१३॥
O king, he forcefully pierced all those great archers with five arrows each; it seemed as if a miracle had occurred.
ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन धर्मपुत्रस्य मारिष। धनुश्चिच्छेद समरे सज्यं स सुमहारथः ॥९-१२-१४॥
Then, O lord, the great chariot-warrior cut the bow of Dharmaputra in battle with another arrow.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय धर्मपुत्रो महारथः। साश्वसूतध्वजरथं शल्यं प्राच्छादयच्छरैः ॥९-१२-१५॥
Then, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma and a great chariot-warrior, took up another bow and showered Śalya, along with his horses, charioteer, flag, and chariot, with arrows.
स च्छाद्यमानः समरे धर्मपुत्रस्य सायकैः। युधिष्ठिरमथाविध्यद्दशभिर्निशितैः शरैः ॥९-१२-१६॥
He was being covered by the arrows of the son of Dharma in the battle, and then he pierced Yudhishthira with ten sharp arrows.
सात्यकिस्तु ततः क्रुद्धो धर्मपुत्रे शरार्दिते। मद्राणामधिपं शूरं शरौघैः समवारयत् ॥९-१२-१७॥
Satyaki, angered by seeing Dharmaputra afflicted by arrows, confronted the heroic king of the Madras with a barrage of arrows.
स सात्यकेः प्रचिच्छेद क्षुरप्रेण महद्धनुः। भीमसेनमुखांस्तांश्च त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरताडयत् ॥९-१२-१८॥
He severed Satyaki's great bow with a razor-sharp arrow and struck Bhimasena and his companions with three arrows each.
तस्य क्रुद्धो महाराज सात्यकिः सत्यविक्रमः। तोमरं प्रेषयामास स्वर्णदण्डं महाधनम् ॥९-१२-१९॥
The great king Satyaki, known for his true valor, in his anger, sent forth a highly valuable spear adorned with a golden shaft.
भीमसेनोऽथ नाराचं ज्वलन्तमिव पन्नगम्। नकुलः समरे शक्तिं सहदेवो गदां शुभाम् ॥ धर्मराजः शतघ्नीं तु जिघांसुः शल्यमाहवे ॥९-१२-२०॥
Then Bhimasena took a blazing arrow resembling a serpent, Nakula wielded a spear in the battle, Sahadeva held an auspicious mace, and Dharmaraja, desiring to kill, aimed a missile at Shalya in the battle.
तानापतत एवाशु पञ्चानां वै भुजच्युतान्। सात्यकिप्रहितं शल्यो भल्लैश्चिच्छेद तोमरम् ॥९-१२-२१॥
As they quickly approached, the five spears discharged from the arms, sent by Satyaki, were cut off by Shalya with his arrows.
भीमेन प्रहितं चापि शरं कनकभूषणम्। द्विधा चिच्छेद समरे कृतहस्तः प्रतापवान् ॥९-१२-२२॥
The mighty and skilled warrior cut the golden-adorned arrow sent by Bhima into two during the battle.
नकुलप्रेषितां शक्तिं हेमदण्डां भयावहाम्। गदां च सहदेवेन शरौघैः समवारयत् ॥९-१२-२३॥
Sahadeva warded off the fearsome spear with a golden shaft sent by Nakula and the mace using a multitude of arrows.
शराभ्यां च शतघ्नीं तां राज्ञश्चिच्छेद भारत। पश्यतां पाण्डुपुत्राणां सिंहनादं ननाद च ॥ नामृष्यत्तं तु शैनेयः शत्रोर्विजयमाहवे ॥९-१२-२४॥
With arrows and a mighty weapon, the king's weapon was cut off, O Bharata, as the sons of Pandu watched. The lion's roar echoed, but the son of Sini could not tolerate the enemy's victory in battle.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय सात्यकिः क्रोधमूर्छितः। द्वाभ्यां मद्रेश्वरं विद्ध्वा सारथिं च त्रिभिः शरैः ॥९-१२-२५॥
Then Satyaki, in a fit of rage, picked up another bow and shot two arrows at the Madra king and three at the charioteer.
ततः शल्यो महाराज सर्वांस्तान्दशभिः शरैः। विव्याध सुभृशं क्रुद्धस्तोत्त्रैरिव महाद्विपान् ॥९-१२-२६॥
Then, O great king, Śalya, in his anger, fiercely pierced all of them with ten arrows, just as one would goad great elephants.
ते वार्यमाणाः समरे मद्रराज्ञा महारथाः। न शेकुः प्रमुखे स्थातुं तस्य शत्रुनिषूदनाः ॥९-१२-२७॥
The great charioteers, although restrained by the king of Madra in battle, could not stand against his formidable warriors who were destroyers of enemies.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा दृष्ट्वा शल्यस्य विक्रमम्। निहतान्पाण्डवान्मेने पाञ्चालानथ सृञ्जयान् ॥९-१२-२८॥
Then King Duryodhana, observing Shalya's valor, believed that the Pandavas, Panchalas, and Srinjayas had been defeated.
ततो राजन्महाबाहुर्भीमसेनः प्रतापवान्। सन्त्यज्य मनसा प्राणान्मद्राधिपमयोधयत् ॥९-१२-२९॥
Then, O King, the mighty-armed and valiant Bhimasena, resolved to sacrifice his life, engaged in battle with the king of Madra.
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः। परिवार्य तदा शल्यं समन्ताद्व्यकिरञ्शरैः ॥९-१२-३०॥
Nakula, Sahadeva, and Satyaki, the great warriors, surrounded Shalya from all directions and showered him with arrows.
स चतुर्भिर्महेष्वासैः पाण्डवानां महारथैः। वृतस्तान्योधयामास मद्रराजः प्रतापवान् ॥९-१२-३१॥
The powerful king of Madra, surrounded by four great archers and the great charioteers of the Pandavas, engaged them in battle.
तस्य धर्मसुतो राजन्क्षुरप्रेण महाहवे। चक्ररक्षं जघानाशु मद्रराजस्य पार्थिव ॥९-१२-३२॥
In the great battle, the son of Dharma swiftly killed Chakraraksha, the prince of the king of Madra, with a razor-sharp weapon, O king.
तस्मिंस्तु निहते शूरे चक्ररक्षे महारथे। मद्रराजोऽतिबलवान्सैनिकानास्तृणोच्छरैः ॥९-१२-३३॥
But when the heroic Chakraraksha, the great charioteer, was slain, the very powerful king of Madra covered the soldiers with arrows.
समाच्छन्नांस्ततस्तांस्तु राजन्वीक्ष्य स सैनिकान्। चिन्तयामास समरे धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥९-१२-३४॥
Then, O king, seeing those soldiers covered, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira pondered over the situation in the battle.
कथं नु न भवेत्सत्यं तन्माधववचो महत्। न हि क्रुद्धो रणे राजा क्षपयेत बलं मम ॥९-१२-३५॥
"How could the great words of Madhava not be true? Surely, when the king is angry in battle, he would not destroy my army."
ततः सरथनागाश्वाः पाण्डवाः पाण्डुपूर्वज। मद्रेश्वरं समासेदुः पीडयन्तः समन्ततः ॥९-१२-३६॥
Then, the Pandavas, along with their chariots, elephants, and horses, and led by the elder brother of Pandu, surrounded and harassed the king of Madra from all directions.
नानाशस्त्रौघबहुलां शस्त्रवृष्टिं समुत्थिताम्। व्यधमत्समरे राजन्महाभ्राणीव मारुतः ॥९-१२-३७॥
O king, the wind dispersed the abundant flood of various weapons that had arisen in battle, just as it would disperse great clouds.
ततः कनकपुङ्खां तां शल्यक्षिप्तां वियद्गताम्। शरवृष्टिमपश्याम शलभानामिवाततिम् ॥९-१२-३८॥
Then we observed the golden-feathered arrows, shot into the sky, appearing like a swarm of locusts.
ते शरा मद्रराजेन प्रेषिता रणमूर्धनि। सम्पतन्तः स्म दृश्यन्ते शलभानां व्रजा इव ॥९-१२-३९॥
The arrows dispatched by the king of Madra are observed descending upon the battlefield like swarms of locusts.
मद्रराजधनुर्मुक्तैः शरैः कनकभूषणैः। निरन्तरमिवाकाशं सम्बभूव जनाधिप ॥९-१२-४०॥
The king of Madra released arrows adorned with golden ornaments, making the sky appear continuously filled.
न पाण्डवानां नास्माकं तत्र कश्चिद्व्यदृश्यत। बाणान्धकारे महति कृते तत्र महाभये ॥९-१२-४१॥
In the great darkness created by the arrows, neither the Pandavas nor we could see anyone there, and it caused great fear.
मद्रराजेन बलिना लाघवाच्छरवृष्टिभिः। लोड्यमानं तथा दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवानां बलार्णवम् ॥ विस्मयं परमं जग्मुर्देवगन्धर्वदानवाः ॥९-१२-४२॥
The gods, Gandharvas, and Danavas were utterly amazed to see the ocean of strength of the Pandavas being agitated by the strong king of Madra with swift showers of arrows.
स तु तान्सर्वतो यत्ताञ्शरैः सम्पीड्य मारिष। धर्मराजमवच्छाद्य सिंहवद्व्यनदन्मुहुः ॥९-१२-४३॥
But he, like a lion, roared repeatedly after oppressing them from all sides with arrows and covering Dharmaraja, O gentle one.
ते छन्नाः समरे तेन पाण्डवानां महारथाः। न शेकुस्तं तदा युद्धे प्रत्युद्यातुं महारथम् ॥९-१२-४४॥
The great charioteers of the Pāṇḍavas were unable to counter the great charioteer in battle, as they were covered by him.
धर्मराजपुरोगास्तु भीमसेनमुखा रथाः। न जहुः समरे शूरं शल्यमाहवशोभिनम् ॥९-१२-४५॥
The chariots led by Yudhishthira, with Bhimasena at the forefront, bravely faced Shalya, who was resplendent in the battle.
