09.021
Pancharatra and Core: The Pandavas, known for their great archery skills, approached the unconquered king in battle and advanced as aggressors.
Sanjaya said:
Your son, O great king, stood on the chariot as the best among charioteers, shining in battle with a might that was difficult to withstand, like the god Rudra.
The earth was covered with thousands of his arrows, and he showered the enemies with arrows as if they were streams pouring down on mountains.
In the great battle, there is no man among the Pāṇḍavas, whether on horse, elephant, or chariot, who remains unwounded by his arrows.
O Bharata, every warrior I see in battle, O lord of men, was indeed struck down by your son with arrows.
The army was obscured by the dust raised by its own movement, just as it was also covered by the arrows of the great warrior.
We witnessed the earth transformed into a battlefield of arrows, O king, by the swift-handed Duryodhana, the archer.
In the midst of thousands of warriors on both sides, I believed that Duryodhana was the only true warrior.
There, O Bharata, we witnessed the extraordinary prowess of your son, which even the united sons of Pritha could not overcome.
The great warrior, known as the bull among the Bharatas, struck Yudhishthira with a hundred arrows in the battle, Bhimasena with seventy, and Sahadeva with seven.
Nakula shot sixty-four arrows at Sātyaki, while Dhṛṣṭadyumna attacked with five arrows. He also targeted the sons of Draupadī with seven arrows and cut down Sahadeva's bow with three arrows, O great one.
The valiant son of Mādrī, having discarded his broken bow, seized another mighty bow and charged at the king. In the ensuing battle, he struck Duryodhana with ten arrows.
Nakula, the great archer, heroically attacked the king with nine dreadful arrows and let out a fierce roar.
Satyaki, along with the sons of Draupadi, Yudhishthira, and Bhimasena, attacked the king with their respective arrows, each contributing to the assault with precision and strength.
Despite being surrounded and attacked by groups of arrows from great warriors, O great king, the entire army stood still, watching.
All humans saw the great soul's lightness, dexterity, and strength, surpassing all beings.
The sons of Dhritarashtra, O King, after proceeding a little distance, returned without seeing the king, feeling distressed.
A terrible tumult arose among the attackers, just like the ocean is agitated during the rainy season at night.
The Pandavas, known for their great archery skills, approached the unconquered king in battle and advanced as aggressors.
Drona's son halted the furious Bhimasena in the battle. Then, O great king, as arrows were released in every direction, the warriors in the battle could not discern the directions or the sub-directions.
Both of them, O Bharata, were unbearable and engaged in cruel deeds. They fought in a terrible form, each desiring revenge, terrifying the entire world with their skin pierced by bowstrings.
Shakuni, the valiant warrior, attacked Yudhishthira in battle. After slaying his four horses, the powerful son of Subala let out a roar, causing all the armies to tremble.
During this time, the valiant Sahadeva, with his chariot, took away the undefeated king, the hero, from the battlefield.
Then, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, having mounted another chariot, pierced Shakuni with nine arrows and then again with five, and roared a great roar as the foremost of all archers.
The battle was both wonderful and terrifying, O gentle one, delighting the spectators and attended by celestial beings and sages.
Uluka, with his immeasurable soul, attacked the great archer Nakul, who was proud in battle, with showers of arrows from all sides.
Similarly, Nakula, the valiant son of Saubala, encircled his opponent in the battle with a formidable barrage of arrows from every direction.
The two heroes, noble sons and great warriors, were observed in battle, fighting each other, having committed offenses.
In the same way, Kritavarma shone while fighting Satyaki, the enemy tormentor, like Indra shines in battle, O king.
Duryodhana, after cutting the bow of Dhrishtadyumna in the battle, then pierced him with sharp arrows, leaving him disarmed.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, having taken up his supreme weapon in battle, engaged in combat with the king, witnessed by all the archers.
A great battle ensued between the two in the battlefield, O best of the Bharatas, resembling a clash between two mighty, intoxicated elephants.
Gautama, in his anger during the battle, struck the mighty sons of Draupadi with numerous heroic arrows that had curved joints.
His battle with them was as fierce and uncontrollable as the struggle of the senses with the soul, terrifying and boundless.
They tormented him as senses torment a fool, and he, in anger, fought them back in the battle.
Thus, O Bharata, the battle was astonishing with them together; rising repeatedly, just as the senses do for the embodied, O lord.
Men and elephants, horses and charioteers were all mixed together, creating a terrifying scene, O lord of men.
O great king, the battles were numerous and terrifying, as described by the lord.
The subduers of enemies, having approached each other in battle, engaged fiercely, piercing and killing in the great battle.
O king, the intense dust raised by their weapons was visible, stirred up by the wind and the galloping horses and others.
The dust raised by the chariot wheels and the breaths of the elephants, resembling the color of evening clouds, ascended to the sun's path.
The sun was obscured by the dust, losing its brightness, and the earth along with the valiant great charioteers became enveloped.
In a moment, it seemed as if everything became clear and dustless all around. On the battlefield soaked with the blood of heroes, O best of the Bharatas, the intense and terrible dust then subsided.
Then, O great king, I witnessed duel battles, O descendant of Bharata, which were as excellent as the eldest and very terrible at midday. There, O king of kings, the bright lights of armors were visible.
The sound of the falling arrows in the battle was as loud as a great bamboo forest burning all around.
