09.013
Pancharatra and Core: Ashwatthama kills Panchala warrior Suratha; as midday approached, Arjuna and Ashwatthama engaged in the battle.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said.
अर्जुनो द्रौणिना विद्धो युद्धे बहुभिरायसैः। तस्य चानुचरैः शूरैस्त्रिगर्तानां महारथैः ॥ द्रौणिं विव्याध समरे त्रिभिरेव शिलीमुखैः ॥९-१३-१॥
Arjuna was struck by Drona's son with numerous iron arrows in the battle. His valiant followers, the great charioteers of the Trigartas, retaliated by piercing Drona's son with just three arrows in the battle.
तथेतरान्महेष्वासान्द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां धनञ्जयः। भूयश्चैव महाबाहुः शरवर्षैरवाकिरत् ॥९-१३-२॥
Arjuna, the mighty-armed, once again showered the other great archers with arrows, two by two.
शरकण्टकितास्ते तु तावका भरतर्षभ। न जहुः समरे पार्थं वध्यमानाः शितैः शरैः ॥९-१३-३॥
Despite being pierced by sharp arrows and facing death, your warriors, O best of the Bharatas, did not abandon Arjuna in the battlefield.
तेऽर्जुनं रथवंशेन द्रोणपुत्रपुरोगमाः। अयोधयन्त समरे परिवार्य महारथाः ॥९-१३-४॥
The great warriors, led by Drona's son and with their chariots, surrounded and fought Arjuna in the battle.
तैस्तु क्षिप्ताः शरा राजन्कार्तस्वरविभूषिताः। अर्जुनस्य रथोपस्थं पूरयामासुरञ्जसा ॥९-१३-५॥
The arrows, adorned with gold and thrown by them, completely filled Arjuna's chariot seat, O king.
तथा कृष्णौ महेष्वासौ वृषभौ सर्वधन्विनाम्। शरैर्वीक्ष्य वितुन्नाङ्गौ प्रहृष्टौ युद्धदुर्मदौ ॥९-१३-६॥
Thus, Krishna and Arjuna, renowned as great archers and the foremost among warriors, felt a surge of joy and battle fervor upon witnessing their bodies pierced by arrows.
कूबरं रथचक्राणि ईषा योक्त्राणि चाभिभो। युगं चैवानुकर्षं च शरभूतमभूत्तदा ॥९-१३-७॥
O Lord, at that time, the axle, chariot wheels, pole, harnesses, yoke, and traces all transformed into an arrow.
नैतादृशं दृष्टपूर्वं राजन्नैव च नः श्रुतम्। यादृशं तत्र पार्थस्य तावकाः सम्प्रचक्रिरे ॥९-१३-८॥
"O king, we have never seen or heard anything like what your men did there with Arjuna."
स रथः सर्वतो भाति चित्रपुङ्खैः शितैः शरैः। उल्काशतैः सम्प्रदीप्तं विमानमिव भूतले ॥९-१३-९॥
The chariot, adorned with colorful feathers and sharp arrows, shines brightly on all sides, resembling an illuminated aerial car on the ground with hundreds of meteors.
ततोऽर्जुनो महाराज शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। अवाकिरत्तां पृतनां मेघो वृष्ट्या यथाचलम् ॥९-१३-१०॥
Then, O great king, Arjuna showered his arrows with bent joints upon the army, just as a cloud pours rain upon a mountain.
ते वध्यमानाः समरे पार्थनामाङ्कितैः शरैः। पार्थभूतममन्यन्त प्रेक्षमाणास्तथाविधम् ॥९-१३-११॥
Seeing the arrows marked with Arjuna's name striking them in battle, they believed it was Arjuna himself present in that form.
ततोऽद्भुतशरज्वालो धनुःशब्दानिलो महान्। सेनेन्धनं ददाहाशु तावकं पार्थपावकः ॥९-१३-१२॥
Then, the extraordinary flame of arrows, accompanied by the mighty wind of the bow's sound, swiftly consumed your army as if it were fuel, O Arjuna's fire.
चक्राणां पततां चैव युगानां च धरातले। तूणीराणां पताकानां ध्वजानां च रथैः सह ॥९-१३-१३॥
The wheels and yokes fell to the ground, along with quivers, banners, and flags, all together with the chariots.
ईषाणामनुकर्षाणां त्रिवेणूनां च भारत। अक्षाणामथ योक्त्राणां प्रतोदानां च सर्वशः ॥९-१३-१४॥
O Bharata, it refers to the reins, traces, triple reins, axles, yokes, and goads in their entirety.
शिरसां पततां चैव कुण्डलोष्णीषधारिणाम्। भुजानां च महाराज स्कन्धानां च समन्ततः ॥९-१३-१५॥
O great king, heads wearing earrings and turbans are falling, and arms and shoulders are scattered all around.
छत्राणां व्यजनैः सार्धं मुकुटानां च राशयः। समदृश्यन्त पार्थस्य रथमार्गेषु भारत ॥९-१३-१६॥
O Bharata, on the paths of Partha's chariots, heaps of umbrellas, fans, and crowns were visible.
अगम्यरूपा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा। बभूव भरतश्रेष्ठ रुद्रस्याक्रीडनं यथा ॥ भीरूणां त्रासजननी शूराणां हर्षवर्धनी ॥९-१३-१७॥
The earth transformed into a terrifying battlefield, filled with flesh and blood, resembling the playground of Rudra, instilling fear in the timid and boosting the courage of the brave, O best of the Bharatas.
हत्वा तु समरे पार्थः सहस्रे द्वे परन्तप। रथानां सवरूथानां विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन् ॥९-१३-१८॥
Arjuna, the son of Pritha, having slain two thousand chariots with their riders in the battle, shone like a fire without smoke.
यथा हि भगवानग्निर्जगद्दग्ध्वा चराचरम्। विधूमो दृश्यते राजंस्तथा पार्थो महारथः ॥९-१३-१९॥
"Just as the fire, after consuming the entire world, both moving and non-moving, appears without smoke, O king, so does Arjuna, the great warrior, stand."
द्रौणिस्तु समरे दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवस्य पराक्रमम्। रथेनातिपताकेन पाण्डवं प्रत्यवारयत् ॥९-१३-२०॥
Drona's son, upon witnessing the valor of the Pandava in battle, blocked him with a chariot adorned with a grand flag.
तावुभौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ श्वेताश्वौ धन्विनां वरौ। समीयतुस्तदा तूर्णं परस्परवधैषिणौ ॥९-१३-२१॥
Those two warriors, both exceptional among men and archers, with their white horses, swiftly approached each other with the intent to kill.
तयोरासीन्महाराज बाणवर्षं सुदारुणम्। जीमूतानां यथा वृष्टिस्तपान्ते भरतर्षभ ॥९-१३-२२॥
O great king, there was a fierce shower of arrows between them, resembling the rain from clouds at the end of summer, O best of the Bharatas.
अन्योन्यस्पर्धिनौ तौ तु शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। ततक्षतुर्मृधेऽन्योन्यं शृङ्गाभ्यां वृषभाविव ॥९-१३-२३॥
The two, vying against each other, struck one another in the battle with arrows that had curved joints, much like bulls clashing with their horns.
तयोर्युद्धं महाराज चिरं सममिवाभवत्। अस्त्राणां सङ्गमश्चैव घोरस्तत्राभवन्महान् ॥९-१३-२४॥
O great king, the battle between the two lasted for a long time and appeared to be evenly matched. There was a terrible and great clash of weapons there.
ततोऽर्जुनं द्वादशभी रुक्मपुङ्खैः सुतेजनैः। वासुदेवं च दशभिर्द्रौणिर्विव्याध भारत ॥९-१३-२५॥
Then Drauni attacked Arjuna with twelve well-sharpened, golden-feathered arrows and also targeted Vasudeva with ten arrows, O Bharata.
ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सुर्व्याक्षिपद्गाण्डिवं धनुः। मानयित्वा मुहूर्तं च गुरुपुत्रं महाहवे ॥९-१३-२६॥
Then, with a smile, Arjuna, also known as Bibhatsu, stretched his Gandiva bow, paying respect to the teacher's son for a moment during the great battle.
व्यश्वसूतरथं चक्रे सव्यसाची महारथः। मृदुपूर्वं ततश्चैनं त्रिभिर्विव्याध सायकैः ॥९-१३-२७॥
The great warrior Arjuna, known as Savyasachi, skillfully made his charioteer guide the horses gently and then pierced his opponent with three arrows.
हताश्वे तु रथे तिष्ठन्द्रोणपुत्रस्त्वयस्मयम्। मुसलं पाण्डुपुत्राय चिक्षेप परिघोपमम् ॥९-१३-२८॥
Standing on the chariot whose horses were slain, the son of Droṇa, with a smile directed at you, hurled a club resembling a mace towards the son of Pandu.
तमापतन्तं सहसा हेमपट्टविभूषितम्। चिच्छेद सप्तधा वीरः पार्थः शत्रुनिबर्हणः ॥९-१३-२९॥
Arjuna, the valiant hero, swiftly severed the approaching enemy, who was adorned with a golden cloth, into seven parts.
स च्छिन्नं मुसलं दृष्ट्वा द्रौणिः परमकोपनः। आददे परिघं घोरं नगेन्द्रशिखरोपमम् ॥ चिक्षेप चैव पार्थाय द्रौणिर्युद्धविशारदः ॥९-१३-३०॥
Seeing the broken club, Drona's son, filled with extreme rage, picked up a terrifying mace resembling a mountain peak and hurled it at Arjuna, showcasing his expertise in warfare.
तमन्तकमिव क्रुद्धं परिघं प्रेक्ष्य पाण्डवः। अर्जुनस्त्वरितो जघ्ने पञ्चभिः सायकोत्तमैः ॥९-१३-३१॥
Upon seeing the furious club that resembled death itself, Arjuna, the Pāṇḍava, swiftly struck with five of his finest arrows.
स च्छिन्नः पतितो भूमौ पार्थबाणैर्महाहवे। दारयन्पृथिवीन्द्राणां मनः शब्देन भारत ॥९-१३-३२॥
He was cut down and fell to the ground by Arjuna's arrows in the great battle, causing distress to the minds of the kings of the earth with the sound, O Bharata.
ततोऽपरैस्त्रिभिर्बाणैर्द्रौणिं विव्याध पाण्डवः। सोऽतिविद्धो बलवता पार्थेन सुमहाबलः ॥ न सम्भ्रान्तस्तदा द्रौणिः पौरुषे स्वे व्यवस्थितः ॥९-१३-३३॥
Then the Pandava, with the help of others, struck Drona's son with three arrows. Despite being deeply pierced by the mighty Arjuna, Drona's son, who was very powerful, remained unshaken and stood firm in his valor.
सुधर्मा तु ततो राजन्भारद्वाजं महारथम्। अवाकिरच्छरव्रातैः सर्वक्षत्रस्य पश्यतः ॥९-१३-३४॥
Sudharma, however, at that moment, O king, showered Bharadvaja, the great chariot-warrior, with volleys of arrows as all the warriors looked on.
ततस्तु सुरथोऽप्याजौ पाञ्चालानां महारथः। रथेन मेघघोषेण द्रौणिमेवाभ्यधावत ॥९-१३-३५॥
Then Suratha, a great chariot-warrior of the Pāñcālas, charged at Drauṇi in battle with his chariot Meghaghoṣa.
विकर्षन्वै धनुः श्रेष्ठं सर्वभारसहं दृढम्। ज्वलनाशीविषनिभैः शरैश्चैनमवाकिरत् ॥९-१३-३६॥
He drew the excellent bow, strong enough to bear all weights, and covered him with arrows that resembled fire and poisonous snakes.
सुरथं तु ततः क्रुद्धमापतन्तं महारथम्। चुकोप समरे द्रौणिर्दण्डाहत इवोरगः ॥९-१३-३७॥
Suratha, in his anger, approached the great chariot. In the battle, Drona's son became furious, like a serpent struck by a stick.
त्रिशिखां भ्रुकुटीं कृत्वा सृक्किणी परिलेलिहन्। उद्वीक्ष्य सुरथं रोषाद्धनुर्ज्यामवमृज्य च ॥ मुमोच तीक्ष्णं नाराचं यमदण्डसमद्युतिम् ॥९-१३-३८॥
With a fierce expression, he glared at Suratha, licked his lips in anger, and after adjusting his bowstring, he shot a sharp arrow that shone like the staff of Yama.
स तस्य हृदयं भित्त्वा प्रविवेशातिवेगतः। शक्राशनिरिवोत्सृष्टा विदार्य धरणीतलम् ॥९-१३-३९॥
He pierced his heart and entered with immense speed, like a thunderbolt of Indra released, splitting the surface of the earth.
ततस्तं पतितं भूमौ नाराचेन समाहतम्। वज्रेणेव यथा शृङ्गं पर्वतस्य महाधनम् ॥९-१३-४०॥
Then he fell to the ground, struck by an iron arrow, like a mountain peak hit by a thunderbolt.
तस्मिंस्तु निहते वीरे द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं तमेव रथिनां वरः ॥९-१३-४१॥
But in that situation, the valiant son of Drona, having been slain, quickly ascended the chariot, being the best among charioteers.
ततः सज्जो महाराज द्रौणिराहवदुर्मदः। अर्जुनं योधयामास संशप्तकवृतो रणे ॥९-१३-४२॥
Then, the proud son of Drona, ready for battle, engaged Arjuna in combat, surrounded by the Samsaptakas on the battlefield.
तत्र युद्धं महच्चासीदर्जुनस्य परैः सह। मध्यंदिनगते सूर्ये यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनम् ॥९-१३-४३॥
At midday, a great battle took place between Arjuna and his enemies, as the sun reached its zenith, expanding the realm of Yama.
तत्राश्चर्यमपश्याम दृष्ट्वा तेषां पराक्रमम्। यदेको युगपद्वीरान्समयोधयदर्जुनः ॥९-१३-४४॥
There we witnessed an astonishing sight, observing their valor, as Arjuna alone simultaneously engaged in battle with the heroes.
विमर्दस्तु महानासीदर्जुनस्य परैः सह। शतक्रतोर्यथा पूर्वं महत्या दैत्यसेनया ॥९-१३-४५॥
The battle that Arjuna faced with his enemies was as intense as the one Indra had previously with the formidable army of demons.
