09.014
Core and Pancharatra: King Yudhishthira along with Bhimasena, Satyaki, and Sahadeva launched an attack on the Madra king. Shalya performed an extraordinary feat by single-handedly taking on numerous opponents.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said.
दुर्योधनो महाराज धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। चक्रतुः सुमहद्युद्धं शरशक्तिसमाकुलम् ॥९-१४-१॥
Duryodhana, the great king, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata, engaged in a fierce battle filled with arrows and spears.
तयोरासन्महाराज शरधाराः सहस्रशः। अम्बुदानां यथा काले जलधाराः समन्ततः ॥९-१४-२॥
O great king, there were thousands of streams of arrows from them, just like the streams of water from clouds that occur all around in due time.
राजा तु पार्षतं विद्ध्वा शरैः पञ्चभिरायसैः। द्रोणहन्तारमुग्रेषुः पुनर्विव्याध सप्तभिः ॥९-१४-३॥
The king, a fierce archer, first struck Pārṣata with five iron arrows and then again targeted Drona's slayer with seven arrows.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु समरे बलवान्दृढविक्रमः। सप्तत्या विशिखानां वै दुर्योधनमपीडयत् ॥९-१४-४॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, known for his strength and unwavering courage, fiercely attacked Duryodhana in the battle with seventy arrows.
पीडितं प्रेक्ष्य राजानं सोदर्या भरतर्षभ। महत्या सेनया सार्धं परिवव्रुः स्म पार्षतम् ॥९-१४-५॥
Upon seeing the king in distress, the brothers, along with a large army, surrounded Pārṣata, O best of the Bharatas.
स तैः परिवृतः शूरैः सर्वतोऽतिरथैर्भृशम्। व्यचरत्समरे राजन्दर्शयन्हस्तलाघवम् ॥९-१४-६॥
Surrounded by valiant warriors and great charioteers on all sides, he skillfully maneuvered in the battle, O king, displaying his dexterity.
शिखण्डी कृतवर्माणं गौतमं च महारथम्। प्रभद्रकैः समायुक्तो योधयामास धन्विनौ ॥९-१४-७॥
Shikhandi, along with the Prabhadrakas, fought against the two archers, Kritavarma and Gautama, who were great chariot-warriors.
तत्रापि सुमहद्युद्धं घोररूपं विशां पते। प्राणान्सन्त्यजतां युद्धे प्राणद्यूताभिदेवने ॥९-१४-८॥
There was also a fierce and great battle, O lord of men, where warriors were sacrificing their lives in the dreadful game of life and death.
शल्यस्तु शरवर्षाणि विमुञ्चन्सर्वतोदिशम्। पाण्डवान्पीडयामास ससात्यकिवृकोदरान् ॥९-१४-९॥
Shalya unleashed a barrage of arrows from every direction, causing distress to the Pandavas, including Satyaki and Vrikodara (Bhima).
तथोभौ च यमौ युद्धे यमतुल्यपराक्रमौ। योधयामास राजेन्द्र वीर्येण च बलेन च ॥९-१४-१०॥
Thus, O king, both the Yamas, equal in prowess, engaged in battle with great strength and power.
शल्यसायकनुन्नानां पाण्डवानां महामृधे। त्रातारं नाध्यगच्छन्त केचित्तत्र महारथाः ॥९-१४-११॥
In the great battle, some of the great warriors among the Pandavas, pierced by arrows and darts, could not find a protector there.
ततस्तु नकुलः शूरो धर्मराजे प्रपीडिते। अभिदुद्राव वेगेन मातुलं माद्रिनन्दनः ॥९-१४-१२॥
At that moment, Nakula, known for his bravery and being the son of Madri, swiftly approached his uncle as Dharmaraja was in distress.
सञ्छाद्य समरे शल्यं नकुलः परवीरहा। विव्याध चैनं दशभिः स्मयमानः स्तनान्तरे ॥९-१४-१३॥
Nakula, the destroyer of enemy heroes, smilingly covered Śalya in battle and pierced him with ten arrows in the chest.
सर्वपारशवैर्बाणैः कर्मारपरिमार्जितैः। स्वर्णपुङ्खैः शिलाधौतैर्धनुर्यन्त्रप्रचोदितैः ॥९-१४-१४॥
The arrows, all with iron tips and polished by smiths, had golden feathers and were washed with stones, propelled by the mechanisms of bows.
शल्यस्तु पीडितस्तेन स्वस्रीयेण महात्मना। नकुलं पीडयामास पत्रिभिर्नतपर्वभिः ॥९-१४-१५॥
Shalya, though afflicted by his noble brother-in-law, attacked Nakula with arrows that had bent joints.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा भीमसेनोऽथ सात्यकिः। सहदेवश्च माद्रेयो मद्रराजमुपाद्रवन् ॥९-१४-१६॥
Then King Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Satyaki, and Sahadeva, the son of Madri, launched an attack on the Madra king.
तानापतत एवाशु पूरयानान्रथस्वनैः। दिशश्च प्रदिशश्चैव कम्पयानांश्च मेदिनीम् ॥ प्रतिजग्राह समरे सेनापतिरमित्रजित् ॥९-१४-१७॥
As they approached swiftly, the sounds of chariots filled the air, shaking the directions, sub-directions, and the earth. The general Amitrajit received them in battle.
युधिष्ठिरं त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा भीमसेनं च सप्तभिः। सात्यकिं च शतेनाजौ सहदेवं त्रिभिः शरैः ॥९-१४-१८॥
In the battle, Yudhishthira was pierced with three arrows, Bhimasena with seven, Satyaki with a hundred, and Sahadeva with three arrows.
ततस्तु सशरं चापं नकुलस्य महात्मनः। मद्रेश्वरः क्षुरप्रेण तदा चिच्छेद मारिष ॥ तदशीर्यत विच्छिन्नं धनुः शल्यस्य सायकैः ॥९-१४-१९॥
Then, the king of Madra, using a razor-sharp arrow, cut off the bow of the great-souled Nakula, O lord. The bow of Shalya was shattered and broken by arrows.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय माद्रीपुत्रो महारथः। मद्रराजरथं तूर्णं पूरयामास पत्रिभिः ॥९-१४-२०॥
Then, the great warrior, the son of Mādrī, swiftly took another bow and filled the chariot of the Madra king with arrows.
युधिष्ठिरस्तु मद्रेशं सहदेवश्च मारिष। दशभिर्दशभिर्बाणैरुरस्येनमविध्यताम् ॥९-१४-२१॥
Yudhishthira and Sahadeva, O lord, both attacked the Madra king with ten arrows each, striking him on the chest.
भीमसेनस्ततः षष्ट्या सात्यकिर्नवभिः शरैः। मद्रराजमभिद्रुत्य जघ्नतुः कङ्कपत्रिभिः ॥९-१४-२२॥
Then Bhimasena, with sixty arrows, and Satyaki, with nine arrows, attacked and killed the king of Madra with feathered arrows.
मद्रराजस्ततः क्रुद्धः सात्यकिं नवभिः शरैः। विव्याध भूयः सप्तत्या शराणां नतपर्वणाम् ॥९-१४-२३॥
The king of Madra, in his anger, attacked Satyaki with nine arrows, and then followed up with seventy more bent-jointed arrows.
अथास्य सशरं चापं मुष्टौ चिच्छेद मारिष। हयांश्च चतुरः सङ्ख्ये प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे ॥९-१४-२४॥
Then, O dear, he severed his bow along with the arrows in his hand and dispatched the four horses to their death in the battle.
विरथं सात्यकिं कृत्वा मद्रराजो महाबलः। विशिखानां शतेनैनमाजघान समन्ततः ॥९-१४-२५॥
The mighty king of Madra, having deprived Satyaki of his chariot, struck him from all sides with a hundred arrows.
माद्रीपुत्रौ तु संरब्धौ भीमसेनं च पाण्डवम्। युधिष्ठिरं च कौरव्य विव्याध दशभिः शरैः ॥९-१४-२६॥
The sons of Madri, in their excitement, attacked Bhimasena, Pandava, and Yudhishthira with ten arrows, O Kaurava.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम मद्रराजस्य पौरुषम्। यदेनं सहिताः पार्था नाभ्यवर्तन्त संयुगे ॥९-१४-२७॥
There we witnessed the extraordinary valor of the king of Madra, which was so formidable that even the sons of Pritha, united, could not challenge him in battle.
अथान्यं रथमास्थाय सात्यकिः सत्यविक्रमः। पीडितान्पाण्डवान्दृष्ट्वा मद्रराजवशं गतान् ॥ अभिदुद्राव वेगेन मद्राणामधिपं बली ॥९-१४-२८॥
Then, Satyaki, known for his true prowess, mounted another chariot and, seeing the Pāṇḍavas afflicted and under the control of the Madra king, swiftly rushed towards the strong lord of the Madras.
आपतन्तं रथं तस्य शल्यः समितिशोभनः। प्रत्युद्ययौ रथेनैव मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम् ॥९-१४-२९॥
Shalya, renowned for his prowess in battle, drove his chariot forward to meet the oncoming chariot, resembling an intoxicated elephant in his approach.
स संनिपातस्तुमुलो बभूवाद्भुतदर्शनः। सात्यकेश्चैव शूरस्य मद्राणामधिपस्य च ॥ यादृशो वै पुरा वृत्तः शम्बरामरराजयोः ॥९-१४-३०॥
The tumultuous battle was a wondrous sight, involving Satyaki, the hero, and the ruler of the Madras, reminiscent of the ancient conflict between Shambara and the divine kings.
सात्यकिः प्रेक्ष्य समरे मद्रराजं व्यवस्थितम्। विव्याध दशभिर्बाणैस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥९-१४-३१॥
Satyaki, upon seeing the Madra king ready in battle, shot ten arrows at him and commanded, "Stay, stay."
मद्रराजस्तु सुभृशं विद्धस्तेन महात्मना। सात्यकिं प्रतिविव्याध चित्रपुङ्खैः शितैः शरैः ॥९-१४-३२॥
The King of Madra, though severely wounded by the noble warrior, retaliated by piercing Satyaki with sharp, variegated-feathered arrows.
ततः पार्था महेष्वासाः सात्वताभिसृतं नृपम्। अभ्यद्रवन्रथैस्तूर्णं मातुलं वधकाम्यया ॥९-१४-३३॥
Then the sons of Pṛthā, who were great archers, swiftly approached the king, accompanied by the Sātvatas, with their chariots, intending to kill their maternal uncle.
तत आसीत्परामर्दस्तुमुलः शोणितोदकः। शूराणां युध्यमानानां सिंहानामिव नर्दताम् ॥९-१४-३४॥
Then there was a tumultuous and great slaughter, with rivers of blood flowing, as the heroes fought fiercely, roaring like lions.
तेषामासीन्महाराज व्यतिक्षेपः परस्परम्। सिंहानामामिषेप्सूनां कूजतामिव संयुगे ॥९-१४-३५॥
O great king, among them there was a mutual conflict, resembling lions roaring in battle, eager for prey.
तेषां बाणसहस्रौघैराकीर्णा वसुधाभवत्। अन्तरिक्षं च सहसा बाणभूतमभूत्तदा ॥९-१४-३६॥
Their earth was covered by thousands of arrows, and suddenly the sky was filled with arrows at that time.
शरान्धकारं बहुधा कृतं तत्र समन्ततः। अभ्रच्छायेव सञ्जज्ञे शरैर्मुक्तैर्महात्मभिः ॥९-१४-३७॥
The great souls released arrows that created a pervasive darkness, resembling the shadow of a cloud.
तत्र राजञ्शरैर्मुक्तैर्निर्मुक्तैरिव पन्नगैः। स्वर्णपुङ्खैः प्रकाशद्भिर्व्यरोचन्त दिशस्तथा ॥९-१४-३८॥
There, O king, the directions shone with arrows that appeared like freed serpents, their golden shafts gleaming.
तत्राद्भुतं परं चक्रे शल्यः शत्रुनिबर्हणः। यदेकः समरे शूरो योधयामास वै बहून् ॥९-१४-३९॥
In that place, Shalya, known for his prowess in defeating enemies, performed an extraordinary feat by single-handedly taking on numerous opponents in the battle.
मद्रराजभुजोत्सृष्टैः कङ्कबर्हिणवाजितैः। सम्पतद्भिः शरैर्घोरैरवाकीर्यत मेदिनी ॥९-१४-४०॥
The earth was covered with terrible arrows that fell, adorned with vultures and peacocks, released by the arms of the king of Madra.
तत्र शल्यरथं राजन्विचरन्तं महाहवे। अपश्याम यथा पूर्वं शक्रस्यासुरसङ्क्षये ॥९-१४-४१॥
There, O king, we observed Śalya's chariot maneuvering through the great battle, reminiscent of the past when Indra destroyed the demons.
