09.022
Core and Pancharatra: As Yudhishthira himself leads the charge, the Pandavas gain the upper hand as Duryodhana retreats. Shakuni, the only one left with a large army attacks from the back. Yudhishthira instructs Sahadeva to kill Shakuni, and Shakuni is forced to retreat.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
vartamāne tathā yuddhe ghorarūpe bhayānake। abhajyata balaṃ tatra tava putrasya pāṇḍavaiḥ ॥9-22-1॥
In the ongoing fierce and terrifying battle, the forces of your son were shattered there by the Pandavas.
tāṃstu yatnena mahatā saṃnivārya mahārathān। putraste yodhayāmāsa pāṇḍavānāmanīkinīm ॥9-22-2॥
Your son, with great effort, restrained the great charioteers and engaged in battle with the Pandavas' army.
nivṛttāḥ sahasā yodhāstava putrapriyaiṣiṇaḥ। saṃnivṛtteṣu teṣvevaṃ yuddhamāsītsudāruṇam ॥9-22-3॥
The warriors, who suddenly withdrew, were desiring the welfare of your son. When they returned, the battle among them was very fierce.
tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca devāsuraraṇopamam। pareṣāṃ tava sainye ca nāsītkaścitparāṅmukhaḥ ॥9-22-4॥
In the battle resembling that of gods and demons, no one in either your army or the army of others turned away.
anumānena yudhyante sañjñābhiśca parasparam। teṣāṃ kṣayo mahānāsīdyudhyatāmitaretaram ॥9-22-5॥
By inference and signals, they engaged in battle with each other. Their mutual destruction was immense as they continued to fight one another.
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā krodhena mahatā yutaḥ। jigīṣamāṇaḥ saṅgrāme dhārtarāṣṭrānsarājakān ॥9-22-6॥
Then King Yudhishthira, filled with immense anger, prepared for battle against the Dhartarashtras and their allied kings.
tribhiḥ śāradvataṃ viddhvā rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ। caturbhirnijaghānāśvānkalyāṇānkṛtavarmaṇaḥ ॥9-22-7॥
With three golden-shafted, stone-sharpened arrows, he pierced Śāradvata and with four arrows, he killed the auspicious horses of Kṛtavarman.
aśvatthāmā tu hārdikyama-povāha yaśasvinam। atha śāradvato'ṣṭābhiḥ pratyavidhyadyudhiṣṭhiram ॥9-22-8॥
Ashwatthama carried away the renowned Hardikya, and then Sharadvata struck Yudhishthira with eight arrows.
tato duryodhano rājā rathānsaptaśatānraṇe। preṣayadyatra rājāsau dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥9-22-9॥
Then King Duryodhana sent seven hundred chariots to the battlefield where King Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, was present.
te rathā rathibhiryuktā manomārutaraṃhasaḥ। abhyadravanta saṅgrāme kaunteyasya rathaṃ prati ॥9-22-10॥
The chariots, driven by skilled charioteers, sped swiftly like the mind and wind towards Arjuna's chariot in the battlefield.
te samantānmahārāja parivārya yudhiṣṭhiram। adṛśyaṃ sāyakaiścakrurmeghā iva divākaram ॥9-22-11॥
The warriors surrounded Yudhishthira from all sides, making him invisible with their arrows, just as clouds cover the sun.
nāmṛṣyanta susaṁrabdhāḥ śikhaṇḍipramukhā rathāḥ। rathairagryajavairyuktaiḥ kiṅkiṇījālasaṁvṛtaiḥ ॥ ājagmurabhirakṣantaḥ kuntīputraṁ yudhiṣṭhiram ॥9-22-12॥
The chariots, led by Śikhaṇḍi and filled with warriors who were very enraged and intolerant, arrived swiftly with their horses, covered in a network of bells, to protect Kunti's son, Yudhishthira.
tataḥ pravavṛte raudraḥ saṅgrāmaḥ śoṇitodakaḥ। pāṇḍavānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca yamarāṣṭravivardhanaḥ ॥9-22-13॥
Then a fierce and bloody battle began between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, increasing the realm of Yama.
rathān saptaśatān hatvā kurūṇām ātatāyinām। pāṇḍavāḥ saha pāñcālaiḥ punar evābhyavārayan ॥9-22-14॥
The Pandavas, together with the Panchalas, launched another attack after having slain seven hundred chariots of the aggressive Kurus.
tatra yuddhaṁ mahaccāsīttava putrasya pāṇḍavaiḥ। na ca nastādṛśaṁ dṛṣṭaṁ naiva cāpi pariśrutam ॥9-22-15॥
There was a great battle between your son and the Pandavas. We have neither seen nor heard of such a thing.
vartamāne tathā yuddhe nirmaryāde samantataḥ। vadhyamāneṣu yodheṣu tāvakeṣvitareṣu ca ॥9-22-16॥
In the ongoing battle, without any rules, warriors on both sides, yours and others, are being killed all around.
ninadatsu ca yodheṣu śaṅkhavaryaśca pūritaiḥ। utkṛṣṭaiḥ siṃhanādaiśca garjitena ca dhanvinām ॥9-22-17॥
The warriors were sounding with excellent conches, filled with the roars of lions and the roaring of the archers.
atipravṛddhe yuddhe ca chidyamāneṣu marmasu। dhāvamāneṣu yodheṣu jayagṛddhiṣu māriṣa ॥9-22-18॥
O great one, in the intense battle, as the vital points were being cut and the warriors were running, eager for victory.
saṃhāre sarvato jāte pṛthivyāṃ śokasambhave। bahvīnāmuttamastrīṇāṃ sīmanto'ddharaṇe tathā ॥9-22-19॥
During the destruction, when sorrow arose everywhere on earth, many noble women also parted their hair.
nirmaryāde tathā yuddhe vartamāne sudāruṇe। prādurāsanvināśāya tadotpātāḥ sudāruṇāḥ ॥ cacāla śabdaṃ kurvāṇā saparvatanā mahī ॥9-22-20॥
In the limitless and ongoing fierce battle, dreadful omens appeared to signal destruction. The earth, along with its mountains and forests, trembled and echoed with sound.
sadaṇḍāḥ solmukā rājañśīryamāṇāḥ samantataḥ। ulkāḥ peturdivo bhūmāvāhatya ravimaṇḍalam ॥9-22-21॥
O king, meteors with staffs and flames fell from the sky, striking the sun's orbit and scattering all around on the earth.
viṣvagvātāḥ prādurāsannīcaiḥ śarkaravarṣiṇaḥ। aśrūṇi mumucurnāgā vepathuścāspṛśadbhṛśam ॥9-22-22॥
Winds blew chaotically, descending with gravel rain. Serpents shed tears, trembling intensely.
etānghorānanādṛtya samutpātānsudāruṇān। punaryuddhāya saṃmantrya kṣatriyāstasthuravyathāḥ ॥ ramaṇīye kurukṣetre puṇye svargaṃ yiyāsavaḥ ॥9-22-23॥
Ignoring the dreadful omens, the fearless warriors stood ready for battle once more in the sacred land of Kurukshetra, eager to attain heaven.
tato gāndhārarājasya putraḥ śakunirabravīt। yudhyadhvamagrato yāvatpṛṣṭhato hanmi pāṇḍavān ॥9-22-24॥
Shakuni, the son of the Gandhara king, instructed to engage in battle from the front while he would attack the Pandavas from the rear.
tato naḥ samprayātānāṃ madrayodhāstarasvinaḥ। hṛṣṭāḥ kilakilāśabdamakurvantāpare tathā ॥9-22-25॥
Then our swift Madra warriors, who had departed, joyfully made a clamor, and others did the same.
asmāṁstu punarāsādya labdhalakṣā durāsadāḥ। śarāsanāni dhunvantaḥ śaravarṣairavākiran ॥9-22-26॥
The formidable warriors, having regained their target, approached us again and wielded their bows, showering us with arrows.
tato hataṃ paraistatra madrarājabalaṃ tadā। duryodhanabalaṃ dṛṣṭvā punarāsītparāṅmukham ॥9-22-27॥
At that time, the Madra king's forces were defeated by others there. Seeing this, Duryodhana's army turned away once more.
gāndhārarājastu punarvākyamāha tato balī। nivartadhvamadharmajñā yudhyadhvaṃ kiṃ sṛtena vaḥ ॥9-22-28॥
The King of Gandhara, strong and resolute, addressed them again, urging them to turn back and fight instead of fleeing, questioning their understanding of righteousness.
anīkaṁ daśasāhasramaśvānāṁ bharatarṣabha। āsīdgāndhārarājasya vimalaprāsayodhinām ॥9-22-29॥
O best of the Bharatas, the king of Gandhara had an army of ten thousand horses, manned by warriors wielding clear spears.
balena tena vikramya vartamāne janakṣaye। pṛṣṭhataḥ pāṇḍavānīkamabhyaghnanniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥9-22-30॥
By their strength, they attacked the Pandava army from behind with sharp arrows during the ongoing destruction of people.
tadabhramiva vātena kṣipyamāṇaṃ samantataḥ। abhajyata mahārāja pāṇḍūnāṃ sumahadbalam ॥9-22-31॥
O great king, the mighty army of the Pandavas was shattered like a cloud driven by the wind in all directions.
tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prekṣya bhagnaṃ svabalamantikāt। abhyacodayadavyagraḥ sahadevaṃ mahābalam ॥9-22-32॥
Then Yudhishthira, observing his army broken nearby, calmly encouraged the mighty Sahadeva.
asau subalaputro no jaghanaṁ pīḍya daṁśitaḥ। senāṁ nisūdayantyeṣa paśya pāṇḍava durmatim ॥9-22-33॥
This son of Subala has attacked our rear and is causing destruction. Look, O Pandava, at this evil-minded one who is devastating the army.
gaccha tvaṁ draupadeyāśca śakuniṁ saubalaṁ jahi। rathānīkamahaṁ rakṣye pāñcālasahito'nagha ॥9-22-34॥
"Go, you and the sons of Draupadi, and slay Shakuni, the son of Subala. I will protect the chariot division along with the Panchalas, O sinless one."
gacchantu kuñjarāḥ sarve vājinaśca saha tvayā। pādātāśca trisāhasrāḥ śakuniṃ saubalaṃ jahi ॥9-22-35॥
"Let all the elephants, horses, and three thousand foot soldiers accompany you. Defeat Shakuni, the son of Subala."
tato gajāḥ saptaśatāścāpapāṇibhirāsthitāḥ। pañca cāśvasahasrāṇi sahadevaśca vīryavān ॥9-22-36॥
Then, seven hundred elephants with bow-wielding hands were stationed, along with five thousand horses, and the valiant Sahadeva.
pādātāś ca trisāhasrā draupadeyāś ca sarvaśaḥ। raṇe hy abhyadravaṃs te tu śakuniṃ yuddhadurmadam ॥9-22-37॥
Three thousand foot-soldiers and all the sons of Draupadi attacked Shakuni, who was arrogant in battle.
tatastu saubalo rājannabhyatikramya pāṇḍavān। jaghāna pṛṣṭhataḥ senāṃ jayagṛdhraḥ pratāpavān ॥9-22-38॥
Then, O king, the son of Subala, eager for victory and powerful, surpassed the Pandavas and struck the army from behind.
aśvarohāstu saṁrabdhāḥ pāṇḍavānāṁ tarasvinām। prāviśansaubalānīkamabhyatikramya tānrathān ॥9-22-39॥
The energetic horsemen of the Pandavas, in their excitement, entered the army of Saubala, surpassing the chariots.
te tatra sā-dinaḥ śūrāḥ saubalasya mahad-balam। gaja-madhye'vatiṣṭhantaḥ śara-varṣairavākiran ॥9-22-40॥
The heroic horsemen of Saubala's great army stood amidst the elephants and rained down showers of arrows on their enemies.
tadudyatagadāprāsamakāpuruṣasevitam। prāvartata mahadyuddhaṃ rājandurmantrite tava ॥9-22-41॥
The great war, attended by warriors wielding maces and spears, commenced, O king, as a result of your poor counsel.
upāramanta jyāśabdāḥ prekṣakā rathino'bhavan। na hi sveṣāṃ pareṣāṃ vā viśeṣaḥ pratyadṛśyata ॥9-22-42॥
The sounds of the bows stopped, and the spectators turned into charioteers. Indeed, no difference was visible between their own people and others.
śūrabāhuvisṛṣṭānāṃ śaktīnāṃ bharatarṣabha। jyotiṣāmiva sampātamapaśyankurupāṇḍavāḥ ॥9-22-43॥
O best of the Bharatas, the Kurus and Pandavas witnessed the fall of the mighty weapons released by the heroic warriors, resembling the fall of celestial bodies.
ṛṣṭibhirvimalābhiśca tatra tatra viśāṃ pate। sampatantībhirākāśamāvṛtaṃ bahvaśobhata ॥9-22-44॥
O lord of men, the sky, covered with flying spears and pure ones here and there, was shining brightly.
prāsānāṃ patatāṃ rājanrūpamāsītsamantataḥ। śalabhānāmivākāśe tadā bharatasattama ॥9-22-45॥
O best of the Bharatas, at that time, the scene of the falling spears all around was like moths in the sky, O king.
rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgā vipraviddhairniyantṛbhiḥ। hayāḥ paripatanti sma śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥9-22-46॥
The horses, covered in blood and abandoned by their charioteers, were running wildly in hundreds and thousands.
anyonyaparipiṣṭāśca samāsādya parasparam। avikṣatāḥ sma dṛśyante vamanto rudhiraṃ mukhaiḥ ॥9-22-47॥
The warriors, having approached each other and crushed one another, appear unwounded, yet are seen vomiting blood from their mouths.
tato'bhavattamo ghoraṃ sainyena rajasā vṛte। tānapākrāmato'drākṣaṃ tasmāddeśādariṃdamān ॥ aśvānrājanmanuṣyāṃśca rajasā saṃvṛte sati ॥9-22-48॥
Then a terrible darkness arose, enveloped by the dust from the army. I saw the enemies retreating from that place. O king, both the horses and men were shrouded in dust.
bhūmau nipatitāścānye vamanto rudhiraṃ bahuḥ। keśākeśisamālagnā na śekuśceṣṭituṃ janāḥ ॥9-22-49॥
On the ground lay others who had fallen, vomiting much blood, their hair entangled with each other's, unable to move.
anyonyamaśvapṛṣṭhebhyo vikarṣanto mahābalāḥ। mallā iva samāsādya nijaghnuritaretaram ॥ aśvaiśca vyapakṛṣyanta bahavo'tra gatāsavaḥ ॥9-22-50॥
The mighty warriors, like wrestlers, pulled each other from the backs of horses and struck one another. Many were dragged away by horses and lay lifeless on the battlefield.
bhūmau nipatitāścānye bahavo vijayaiṣiṇaḥ। tatra tatra vyadṛśyanta puruṣāḥ śūramāninaḥ ॥9-22-51॥
On the battlefield, many other warriors who desired victory were seen fallen on the ground, boasting of their heroism here and there.
rakto'kṣitaiś chinnabhujair apakṛṣṭaśiroruhaiḥ। vyadṛśyata mahī kīrṇā śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥9-22-52॥
The earth appeared covered with countless severed arms and hair, drenched in blood, scattered in hundreds and thousands.
dūraṁ na śakyaṁ tatrāsīd gantum aśvena kenacit। sāśvārōhair hatair aśvair āvṛtē vasudhātalē ॥9-22-53॥
It was impossible for anyone to reach there by horse, as the ground was strewn with the bodies of slain horses and their riders.
rudhirokṣitasaṃnāhairāttaśastrairudāyudhaiḥ। nānāpraharaṇairghoraiḥ parasparavadhaiṣibhiḥ ॥ susaṃnikṛṣṭaiḥ saṅgrāme hatabhūyiṣṭhasainikaiḥ ॥9-22-54॥
In the battle, soldiers with armor smeared with blood, wielding various terrible weapons, were engaged in mutual slaughter, with most of them killed.
sa muhūrtaṃ tato yuddhvā saubalo'tha viśāṃ pate। ṣaṭsahasrairhayaiḥ śiṣṭairapāyācchakunistataḥ ॥9-22-55॥
After fighting for a moment, Saubala, with six thousand remaining horses, departed, O lord of men.
tathaiva pāṇḍavānīkaṃ rudhireṇa samukṣitam। ṣaṭsahasrairhayaiḥ śiṣṭairapāyācchrāntavāhanam ॥9-22-56॥
Similarly, the Pandava army, covered in blood, retreated with six thousand remaining horses and exhausted vehicles.
aśvarohāstu pāṇḍūnā-mabruvanrudhirokṣitāḥ। susaṃnikṛṣṭāḥ saṅgrāme bhūyiṣṭhaṃ tyaktajīvitāḥ ॥9-22-57॥
The horsemen of the Pandavas, covered in blood, remarked that in the battle, most had lost their lives.
neha śakyaṃ rathairyoddhuṃ kuta eva mahāgajaiḥ। rathāneva rathā yāntu kuñjarāḥ kuñjarānapi ॥9-22-58॥
In this context, it is not feasible to engage in battle using chariots, let alone with mighty elephants. Let the chariots confront other chariots, and elephants face other elephants as well.
pratiyāto hi śakuniḥ svamanīkamavasthitaḥ। na punaḥ saubalo rājā yuddhamabhyāgamiṣyati ॥9-22-59॥
Shakuni has returned to his own army and is stationed there. King Saubala will not come to the battle again.
tatastu draupadeyāśca te ca mattā mahādvipāḥ। prayayuryatra pāñcālyo dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ ॥9-22-60॥
Then, the sons of Draupadi and the intoxicated great elephants proceeded to where Dhrishtadyumna, the great chariot-warrior and son of Panchala, was.
sahadevo'pi kauravya rajomeghe samutthite। ekākī prayayau tatra yatra rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥9-22-61॥
Sahadeva, too, O Kauravya, went alone to the place where King Yudhishthira was, as the dust cloud arose.
tatasteṣu prayāteṣu śakuniḥ saubalaḥ punaḥ। pārśvato'byahanatkrodhho dhṛṣṭadyumnasya vāhinīm ॥9-22-62॥
After they had left, Shakuni, Subala's son, once more launched an angry assault on Dhrishtadyumna's forces from the flank.
tatpunastumulaṃ yuddhaṃ prāṇāṃstyaktvābhyavartata। tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca parasparavadhaiṣiṇām ॥9-22-63॥
Then again, the fierce battle resumed as both your people and the enemies, having abandoned their lives, sought mutual destruction.
te hyanyonyamavekṣanta tasminvīrasamāgame। yodhāḥ paryapatanrājañśataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥9-22-64॥
In that heroic assembly, they looked at each other. O king, warriors fell by the hundreds and then by the thousands.
asibhiś chidyamānānāṃ śirasāṃ lokasaṅkṣaye। prādur āsīn mahāśabdas tālānāṃ patatām iva ॥9-22-65॥
As swords cut off heads during the destruction of the world, a great sound arose, resembling the sound of falling trees.
vimuktānāṃ śarīrāṇāṃ bhinnānāṃ patatāṃ bhuvi। sāyudhānāṃ ca bāhūnāmurūṇāṃ ca viśāṃ pate ॥ āsīṭkaṭakaṭāśabdaḥ sumahānromaharṣaṇaḥ ॥9-22-66॥
As the liberated bodies, broken and falling on the ground with weapons, arms, and thighs, there arose a very great and hair-raising rattling sound, O lord of men.
nighnanto niśitaiḥ śastrairbhrātṝnputrānsakhīnapi। yodhāḥ paripatanti sma yathāmiṣakṛte khagāḥ ॥9-22-67॥
The warriors, killing their brothers, sons, and friends with sharp weapons, fell like birds do for the sake of meat.
anyonyaṃ pratisaṃrabdhāḥ samāsādya parasparam। ahaṃ pūrvamahaṃ pūrvamiti nyaghnansahasraśaḥ ॥9-22-68॥
They attacked each other fiercely, and as they approached one another, they shouted, "I first, I first," and thus they killed by the thousands.
saṅghātairāsanabhraṣṭairaśvārōhairgatāsubhiḥ। hayāḥ paripatanti sma śataśō'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥9-22-69॥
Due to the collisions, the horse riders were dislodged from their seats and lay lifeless, while the horses ran around in hundreds and thousands.
sphuratāṃ pratipiṣṭānāmaśvānāṃ śīghrasāriṇām। stanatāṃ ca manuṣyāṇāṃ saṃnaddhānāṃ viśāṃ pate ॥9-22-70॥
O lord of the people, there are quivering, trampled horses that move swiftly, and roaring, armored men.
śaktyṛṣṭiprāsaśabdaśca tumulaḥ samajāyata। bhindatāṃ paramarmāṇi rājandurmantrite tava ॥9-22-71॥
O king, the tumultuous noise of spears, javelins, and lances arose, striking the vital parts, as a result of your poor counsel.
śramābhibhūtāḥ saṁrabdhāḥ śrāntavāhāḥ pipāsitāḥ। vikṣatāśca śitaiḥ śastrairabhyavartanta tāvakāḥ ॥9-22-72॥
Your men, though overcome by fatigue and thirst, with tired mounts and wounded by sharp weapons, advanced with excitement.
mattā rudhiragandhena bahavo'tra vicetasaḥ। jaghnuḥ parān svakāṁścaiva prāptānprāptānanantarān ॥9-22-73॥
Intoxicated by the smell of blood, many here lost their senses and killed both others and their own, those who came immediately after.
bahavaś ca gataprāṇāḥ kṣatriyā jayagṛddhinaḥ। bhūmāv abhyapatan rājañ śaravṛṣṭibhir āvṛtāḥ ॥9-22-74॥
Many warriors, eager for victory, fell lifeless to the ground, O king, covered by a rain of arrows.
vṛkagṛdhraśṛgālānāṃ tumule modane'ahani। āsīdbalakṣayo ghorastava putrasya paśyataḥ ॥9-22-75॥
On that tumultuous day of celebration for wolves, vultures, and jackals, a terrible destruction of strength occurred as your son watched.
narāśvakāyasañchannā bhūmirāsīdviśāṃ pate। rudhirodakacitrā ca bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhinī ॥9-22-76॥
The battlefield was strewn with the bodies of men and horses, creating a terrifying scene for the onlookers. The ground, stained with blood and water, heightened the fear among the timid.
asibhiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūlaistakṣamāṇāḥ punaḥ punaḥ। tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva nābhyavartanta bhārata ॥9-22-77॥
O Bhārata, your men and the Pāṇḍavas, wielding swords, spears, and pikes, continued to fight relentlessly without retreating.
praharanto yathāśakti yāvatprāṇasya dhāraṇam। yodhāḥ paripatanti sma vamanto rudhiraṃ vraṇaiḥ ॥9-22-78॥
The warriors, striking with all their might as long as they could sustain life, eventually fell, vomiting blood from their wounds.
śiro gṛhītvā keśeṣu kabandhaḥ samadṛśyata। udyamya niśitaṃ khaḍgaṃ rudhireṇa samukṣitam ॥9-22-79॥
The headless trunk appeared, holding the head by the hair. It raised a sharp sword that was smeared with blood.
athotthiteṣu bahuṣu kabandheṣu janādhipa। tathā rudhiragandhena yodhāḥ kaśmalamāviśan ॥9-22-80॥
Then, O king, as many headless trunks arose, the warriors were overcome by the smell of blood and fainted.
mandībhūte tataḥ śabde pāṇḍavānāṃ mahadbalam। alpāvaśiṣṭaisturagairabhyavartata saubalaḥ ॥9-22-81॥
As the noise died down, the great army of the Pandavas, with only a few horses left, advanced towards Saubala.
tato'bhyadhāvaṃstvaritāḥ pāṇḍavā jayagṛddhinaḥ। padātayaśca nāgāśca sādinaścodyatāyudhāḥ ॥9-22-82॥
Then the Pāṇḍavas, eager for victory, swiftly advanced with their infantry, elephants, and cavalry, all brandishing their weapons.
koṣṭakīkṛtya cāpyenaṃ parikṣipya ca sarvaśaḥ। śastrairnānāvidhairjaghnuryuddhapāraṃ titīrṣavaḥ ॥9-22-83॥
They completely encircled and surrounded him, striking with various weapons, as they sought to overcome the end of the battle.
tvadīyāstāṃstu samprekṣya sarvataḥ samabhidrutān। sāśvapattidviparathāḥ pāṇḍavānabhidudruvuḥ ॥9-22-84॥
Upon seeing your forces being attacked from all directions, the troops, along with horses, infantry, elephants, and chariots, charged towards the Pandavas.
kecitpadātayaḥ padbhirmuṣṭibhiśca parasparam। nijaghnuḥ samare śūrāḥ kṣīṇaśastrāstato'patan ॥9-22-85॥
Some foot soldiers, having exhausted their weapons, resorted to fighting with their feet and fists in the battle, and then the heroes fell.
rathebhyo rathinaḥ peturdvipebhyo hastisādinaḥ। vimānebhya iva bhraṣṭāḥ siddhāḥ puṇyakṣayādyathā ॥9-22-86॥
The charioteers fell from their chariots, and the elephant riders from their elephants, just as perfected beings fall from their aerial cars when their merits are depleted.
evam anyonyam āyastā yodhā jaghnur mahāmṛdhe। pitṝn bhrātṝn vayasyāṃś ca putrān api tathāpare ॥9-22-87॥
In this way, the warriors, engaged in mutual combat, killed fathers, brothers, friends, and sons in the great battle; others did the same.
evam āsīd amaryādaṃ yuddhaṃ bharatasattama। prāsāsibāṇakalile vartamāne sudāruṇe ॥9-22-88॥
Thus, O best of the Bharatas, the unrestrained and very terrible battle was taking place amidst spears, swords, and arrows.
