09.019
Core and Pancharatra: The elephant army of King Shalva attacks the Pandavas. Dhrishtadyumna kills the elephant on which the King Shaalva was riding, while Satyaki kills the falling King.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
संनिवृत्ते बलौघे तु शाल्वो म्लेच्छगणाधिपः। अभ्यवर्तत सङ्क्रुद्धः पाण्डूनां सुमहद्बलम् ॥९-१९-१॥
After the withdrawal of the forces, Śālva, the leader of the barbarian hordes, angrily advanced towards the mighty army of the Pāṇḍavas.
आस्थाय सुमहानागं प्रभिन्नं पर्वतोपमम्। दृप्तमैरावतप्रख्यममित्रगणमर्दनम् ॥९-१९-२॥
Having mounted a massive, mountain-like elephant resembling Airavata, the destroyer of enemy forces, he appeared proud and formidable.
योऽसौ महाभद्रकुलप्रसूतः; सुपूजितो धार्तराष्ट्रेण नित्यम्। सुकल्पितः शास्त्रविनिश्चयज्ञैः; सदोपवाह्यः समरेषु राजन् ॥९-१९-३॥
He, who is born in a great noble family and is always honored by Dhritarashtra, is well-prepared by those knowledgeable in scriptures and is always ready to be carried into battles, O king.
तमास्थितो राजवरो बभूव; यथोदयस्थः सविता क्षपान्ते। स तेन नागप्रवरेण राज; न्नभ्युद्ययौ पाण्डुसुतान्समन्तात् ॥ शितैः पृषत्कैर्विददार चापि; महेन्द्रवज्रप्रतिमैः सुघोरैः ॥९-१९-४॥
The excellent king stood firm, resembling the rising sun at the end of the night. With the help of the noble elephant, he advanced towards the sons of Pandu from all directions, striking them with sharp and dreadful arrows akin to Indra's thunderbolt.
ततः शरान्वै सृजतो महारणे; योधांश्च राजन्नयतो यमाय। नास्यान्तरं ददृशुः स्वे परे वा; यथा पुरा वज्रधरस्य दैत्याः ॥९-१९-५॥
Then, O king, as he released arrows in the great battle, leading the warriors to Yama, neither his own side nor the enemies could see a gap, just as the demons could not see a gap in the wielder of the thunderbolt in the past.
ते पाण्डवाः सोमकाः सृञ्जयाश्च; तमेव नागं ददृशुः समन्तात्। सहस्रशो वै विचरन्तमेकं; यथा महेन्द्रस्य गजं समीपे ॥९-१९-६॥
The Pāṇḍavas, along with the Somakas and Sṛñjayas, saw the elephant wandering all around, resembling the elephant of Lord Indra, surrounded by thousands.
संद्राव्यमाणं तु बलं परेषां; परीतकल्पं विबभौ समन्तात्। नैवावतस्थे समरे भृशं भया; द्विमर्दमानं तु परस्परं तदा ॥९-१९-७॥
The enemies' strength was dissipating, appearing as if surrounded, shining all around. They did not stand firm in battle due to great fear; instead, they were engaged in mutual combat at that time.
ततः प्रभग्ना सहसा महाचमूः; सा पाण्डवी तेन नराधिपेन। दिशश्चतस्रः सहसा प्रधाविता; गजेन्द्रवेगं तमपारयन्ती ॥९-१९-८॥
Then, the great army of the Pandavas was suddenly broken by that king. The four directions scattered swiftly, unable to withstand the speed of an elephant.
दृष्ट्वा च तां वेगवता प्रभग्नां; सर्वे त्वदीया युधि योधमुख्याः। अपूजयंस्तत्र नराधिपं तं; दध्मुश्च शङ्खाञ्शशिसंनिकाशान् ॥९-१९-९॥
Upon witnessing the swift destruction, all your chief warriors in battle honored the king there and blew their moon-like conches.
श्रुत्वा निनादं त्वथ कौरवाणां; हर्षाद्विमुक्तं सह शङ्खशब्दैः। सेनापतिः पाण्डवसृञ्जयानां; पाञ्चालपुत्रो न ममर्ष रोषात् ॥९-१९-१०॥
Upon hearing the joyful sound of the Kauravas accompanied by conch shells, the commander of the Pandavas and Srinjayas, the son of Panchala, could not contain his anger.
ततस्तु तं वै द्विरदं महात्मा; प्रत्युद्ययौ त्वरमाणो जयाय। जम्भो यथा शक्रसमागमे वै; नागेन्द्रमैरावणमिन्द्रवाह्यम् ॥९-१९-११॥
Then, the great soul hastened towards that elephant for victory, just as Jambha approached Airavata, the king of elephants and Indra's vehicle, during his meeting with Indra.
तमापतन्तं सहसा तु दृष्ट्वा; पाञ्चालराजं युधि राजसिंहः। तं वै द्विपं प्रेषयामास तूर्णं; वधाय राजन्द्रुपदात्मजस्य ॥९-१९-१२॥
Upon suddenly seeing the approaching Panchala king in battle, the lion among kings quickly sent the elephant to kill the son of Drupada.
स तं द्विपं सहसाभ्यापतन्त; मविध्यदर्कप्रतिमैः पृषत्कैः। कर्मारधौतैर्निशितैर्ज्वलद्भि; र्नाराचमुख्यैस्त्रिभिरुग्रवेगैः ॥९-१९-१३॥
He swiftly approached the elephant and struck it with three sharp, shining arrows, polished by a smith, resembling the sun, and possessing fierce speed.
ततोऽपरान्पञ्च शितान्महात्मा; नाराचमुख्यान्विससर्ज कुम्भे। स तैस्तु विद्धः परमद्विपो रणे; तदा परावृत्य भृशं प्रदुद्रुवे ॥९-१९-१४॥
Then the great soul released five sharp arrows at the pot. The great elephant, struck by them in battle, turned back and fled swiftly.
तं नागराजं सहसा प्रणुन्नं; विद्राव्यमाणं च निगृह्य शाल्वः। तोत्त्राङ्कुशैः प्रेषयामास तूर्णं; पाञ्चालराजस्य रथं प्रदिश्य ॥९-१९-१५॥
Shalva quickly directed the serpent king, who was suddenly pushed and being driven away, towards the chariot of the Panchala king using goads and hooks.
दृष्ट्वापतन्तं सहसा तु नागं; धृष्टद्युम्नः स्वरथाच्छीघ्रमेव। गदां प्रगृह्याशु जवेन वीरो; भूमिं प्रपन्नो भयविह्वलाङ्गः ॥९-१९-१६॥
Upon seeing the serpent suddenly falling, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, in fear, quickly took his mace and descended swiftly from his chariot to the ground, his limbs trembling.
स तं रथं हेमविभूषिताङ्गं; साश्वं ससूतं सहसा विमृद्य। उत्क्षिप्य हस्तेन तदा महाद्विपो; विपोथयामास वसुन्धरातले ॥९-१९-१७॥
He suddenly crushed the gold-adorned chariot with its horses and charioteer, then lifted it with his hand, and the great elephant smashed it onto the ground.
पाञ्चालराजस्य सुतं स दृष्ट्वा; तदार्दितं नागवरेण तेन। तमभ्यधावत्सहसा जवेन; भीमः शिखण्डी च शिनेश्च नप्ता ॥९-१९-१८॥
Upon seeing the son of the king of Panchala being attacked by the great serpent, Bhima, Shikhandi, and the grandson of Shini quickly rushed to his aid.
शरैश्च वेगं सहसा निगृह्य; तस्याभितोऽभ्यापततो गजस्य। स सङ्गृहीतो रथिभिर्गजो वै; चचाल तैर्वार्यमाणश्च सङ्ख्ये ॥९-१९-१९॥
The charioteers suddenly restrained the speed of the approaching elephant with arrows. The elephant, captured by the charioteers, moved as it was being restrained by them in the battle.
ततः पृषत्कान्प्रववर्ष राजा; सूर्यो यथा रश्मिजालं समन्तात्। तेनाशुगैर्वध्यमाना रथौघाः; प्रदुद्रुवुस्तत्र ततस्तु सर्वे ॥९-१९-२०॥
Then the king showered arrows all around like the sun spreads its rays. Struck by these swift arrows, all the chariots fled from there.
तत्कर्म शाल्वस्य समीक्ष्य सर्वे; पाञ्चालमत्स्या नृप सृञ्जयाश्च। हाहाकारैर्नादयन्तः स्म युद्धे; द्विपं समन्ताद्रुरुधुर्नराग्र्याः ॥९-१९-२१॥
Seeing the actions of Śālva, all the Pāñcālas, Matsyas, kings, and Sṛñjayas, with loud cries, surrounded the elephant from all sides in the battle, resounding with the cries of excellent men.
पाञ्चालराजस्त्वरितस्तु शूरो; गदां प्रगृह्याचलशृङ्गकल्पाम्। असम्भ्रमं भारत शत्रुघाती; जवेन वीरोऽनुससार नागम् ॥९-१९-२२॥
The swift and heroic King of Panchala, holding a mace resembling a mountain peak, pursued the elephant with unwavering determination and speed, O Bharata, the destroyer of enemies.
ततोऽथ नागं धरणीधराभं; मदं स्रवन्तं जलदप्रकाशम्। गदां समाविध्य भृशं जघान; पाञ्चालराजस्य सुतस्तरस्वी ॥९-१९-२३॥
Then, the mighty son of the king of Panchala, with great strength, wielded his mace and struck the elephant, which resembled a mountain and had a cloud-like appearance with flowing intoxication.
स भिन्नकुम्भः सहसा विनद्य; मुखात्प्रभूतं क्षतजं विमुञ्चन्। पपात नागो धरणीधराभः; क्षितिप्रकम्पाच्चलितो यथाद्रिः ॥९-१९-२४॥
The elephant, resembling a mountain, suddenly roared and released a great amount of blood from its mouth as it fell, shaken by the tremor of the earth, much like a mountain would.
निपात्यमाने तु तदा गजेन्द्रे; हाहाकृते तव पुत्रस्य सैन्ये। स शाल्वराजस्य शिनिप्रवीरो; जहार भल्लेन शिरः शितेन ॥९-१९-२५॥
As the mighty elephant was being brought down, cries of alarm echoed through your son's forces. The valiant warrior from the Śini lineage, serving under King Śālva, swiftly decapitated the enemy with a keen arrow.
हृतोत्तमाङ्गो युधि सात्वतेन; पपात भूमौ सह नागराज्ञा। यथाद्रिशृङ्गं सुमहत्प्रणुन्नं; वज्रेण देवाधिपचोदितेन ॥९-१९-२६॥
In the battle, with his best limb seized by Sātvata, he fell to the ground along with the serpent king, just like a great mountain peak is struck down by the thunderbolt wielded by the lord of the gods.
