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.
Sanjaya said:
After the withdrawal of the forces, Śālva, the leader of the barbarian hordes, angrily advanced towards the mighty army of the Pāṇḍavas.
Having mounted a massive, mountain-like elephant resembling Airavata, the destroyer of enemy forces, he appeared proud and formidable.
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.
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.
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.
The Pāṇḍavas, along with the Somakas and Sṛñjayas, saw the elephant wandering all around, resembling the elephant of Lord Indra, surrounded by thousands.
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.
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.
Upon witnessing the swift destruction, all your chief warriors in battle honored the king there and blew their moon-like conches.
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.
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.
Upon suddenly seeing the approaching Panchala king in battle, the lion among kings quickly sent the elephant to kill the son of Drupada.
He swiftly approached the elephant and struck it with three sharp, shining arrows, polished by a smith, resembling the sun, and possessing fierce speed.
Then the great soul released five sharp arrows at the pot. The great elephant, struck by them in battle, turned back and fled swiftly.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Then the king showered arrows all around like the sun spreads its rays. Struck by these swift arrows, all the chariots fled from there.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
