09.023
Pancharatra and Core: On this eighteenth day, Arjuna recounts the events of the war, the foolishness of Duryodhana, and destroys the remaining Kaurava army.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tasmiñśabde mṛdau jāte pāṇḍavairnihate bale। aśvaiḥ saptaśataiḥ śiṣṭairupāvartata saubalaḥ ॥9-23-1॥
In the midst of the soft sound that arose, with the army defeated by the Pandavas, Saubala retreated with seven hundred remaining horses.
sa yātvā vāhinīṃ tūrṇamabravīttvarayanyudhi। yudhyadhvamiti saṃhṛṣṭāḥ punaḥ punarariṃdamaḥ ॥ apṛcchatkṣatriyāṃstatra kva nu rājā mahārathaḥ ॥9-23-2॥
He went to the army quickly and urged them in battle, saying, "Fight!" The delighted subduer of enemies repeatedly asked the warriors there, "Where indeed is the king, the great chariot-warrior?"
śakunestu vacaḥ śrutvā ta ūcurbharatarṣabha। asau tiṣṭhati kauravyo raṇamadhye mahārathaḥ ॥9-23-3॥
Upon hearing Shakuni's words, they remarked, "O esteemed Bharata, the Kaurava stands valiantly in the center of the battlefield as a great warrior."
yatraitasumahacchatraṁ pūrṇacandrasamaprabham। yatraite satalatrāṇā rathāstiṣṭhanti daṁśitāḥ ॥9-23-4॥
Where this very large umbrella, shining like the full moon, is present; where these chariots with protective floors stand beautifully adorned.
yatraiṣa śabdastumulaḥ parjanyaninadopamaḥ। tatra gaccha drutaṃ rājaṃstato drakṣyasi kauravam ॥9-23-5॥
"Where there is this tumultuous sound resembling the roar of clouds, go there quickly, O king, and then you will see the Kaurava."
evamuktastu taiḥ śūraiḥ śakuniḥ saubalastadā। prayayau tatra yatrāsau putrastava narādhipa ॥ sarvataḥ saṁvṛto vīraiḥ samareṣvanivartibhiḥ ॥9-23-6॥
Upon being addressed by those valiant warriors, Shakuni, the son of Subala, proceeded to the place where your son was, O king, encircled by fearless warriors on all sides.
tato duryodhanaṁ dṛṣṭvā rathānīke vyavasthitam। sarathāṁstāvakānsarvānharṣayañśakunistataḥ ॥9-23-7॥
Then Shakuni, seeing Duryodhana arranged in the army of chariots, cheered all your charioteers.
duryodhanamidaṁ vākyaṁ hṛṣṭarūpo viśāṁ pate। kṛtakāryamivātmānaṁ manyamāno'bravīnnṛpam ॥9-23-8॥
Duryodhana, appearing joyful and considering himself as if he had accomplished his task, spoke these words to the king, the lord of the people.
jahi rājanrathānīkamaśvāḥ sarve jitā mayā। nātyaktvā jīvitaṃ saṅkhye śakyo jetuṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥9-23-9॥
O king, conquer the chariot army and horses; I have conquered them all. It is not possible to conquer Yudhishthira without sacrificing one's life in battle.
hate tasmin rathānīke pāṇḍavenābhipālite। gajān etān haniṣyāmaḥ padātīṁś cātarāṁs tathā ॥9-23-10॥
In the chariot army protected by the Pandava, having been killed, we shall also kill these elephants and other foot soldiers.
śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tasya tāvakā jayagṛddhinaḥ। javenābhyapatanhṛṣṭāḥ pāṇḍavānāmanīkinīm ॥9-23-11॥
Upon hearing his words, your men, filled with the desire for victory, joyfully rushed with great speed towards the Pandava army.
sarve vivṛtatūṇīrāḥ pragṛhītaśarāsanāḥ। śarāsanāni dhunvānāḥ siṃhanādaṃ pracakrire ॥9-23-12॥
All the warriors, with their quivers open and bows in hand, shook their bows and roared like lions.
tato jyātalanirghoṣaḥ punarāsīdviśāṃ pate। prādurāsīccharāṇāṃ ca sumuktānāṃ sudāruṇaḥ ॥9-23-13॥
Then, O lord of the people, the sound of the bowstring was heard once more, and the very terrible sound of well-released arrows emerged.
tānsamīpagatāndṛṣṭvā javenodyatakārmukān। uvāca devakīputraṃ kuntīputro dhanañjayaḥ ॥9-23-14॥
Upon seeing them swiftly approaching with their bows raised, Arjuna, the son of Kunti, spoke to Krishna, the son of Devaki.
codayāśvānasaṃbhrāntaḥ praviśaitadbalārṇavam। antamadya gamiṣyāmi śatrūṇāṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥9-23-15॥
"Urge the horses without fear and enter this vast army. Today, I shall bring an end to the enemies with my sharp arrows."
aṣṭādaśa dinānyadya yuddhasyāsya janārdana। vartamānasya mahataḥ samāsādya parasparam ॥9-23-16॥
O Janardana, today marks the eighteenth day of this great ongoing battle, where both sides have approached each other.
anantakalpā dhvajinī bhūtvā hyeṣāṃ mahātmanām। kṣayam adya gatā yuddhe paśya daivaṃ yathāvidham ॥9-23-17॥
The endless army of these great souls has indeed met its destruction in battle today; behold the fate as it unfolds.
samudrakalpaṃ tu balaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya mādhava। asmānāsādya sañjātaṃ goṣpadopamamacyuta ॥9-23-18॥
O Madhava, the vast strength of Dhritarashtra's sons diminishes to insignificance, like a cow's hoofprint, when it comes near us, O Acyuta.
hate bhīṣme ca saṁdadhyācchivaṁ syād iha mādhava। na ca tatkṛtavān mūḍho dhārtarāṣṭraḥ subāliśaḥ ॥9-23-19॥
O Madhava, when Bhishma was slain, it would have been wise to make peace here. However, the foolish and naive son of Dhritarashtra did not take that action.
uktaṁ bhīṣmeṇa yadvākyaṁ hitaṁ pathyaṁ ca mādhava। taccāpi nāsau kṛtavānvītabuddhiḥ suyodhanaḥ ॥9-23-20॥
Bhishma spoke words that were beneficial and wholesome, O Madhava, but Suyodhana, devoid of wisdom, did not follow them.
tasmiṁstu patite bhīṣme pracyute pṛthivītale। na jāne kāraṇaṁ kiṁ nu yena yuddhamavartata ॥9-23-21॥
When Bhishma fell on the earth, I do not know the reason why the battle continued.
mūḍhāṃstu sarvathā manye dhārtarāṣṭrānsubāliśān। patite śantanoḥ putre ye'kārṣuḥ saṃyugaṃ punaḥ ॥9-23-22॥
I consider the sons of Dhritarashtra to be utterly foolish and very immature, as they have once again engaged in battle after the fall of Shantanu's son.
anantaraṃ ca nihate droṇe brahmavidāṃ vare। rādheye ca vikarṇe ca naivāśāmyata vaiśasam ॥9-23-23॥
After the death of Droṇa, the esteemed knower of Brahman, and the fall of Radheya and Vikarna, the massacre continued unabated.
alpāvaśiṣṭe sainye'smin sūtaputre ca pātite। saputre vai naravyāghre naivāśāmyata vaiśasam ॥9-23-24॥
With the army almost gone and the son of a charioteer fallen, the tiger among men, along with his son, did not stop the violence.
śrutāyuṣi hate śūre jalasandhe ca paurave। śrutāyudhe ca nṛpatau naivāśāmyata vaiśasam ॥9-23-25॥
The violence did not cease even after the heroic Śrutāyuṣ, Jalasandha, Paurava, and the king Śrutāyudha were killed.
bhūriśravasi śalye ca śālve caiva janārdana। āvantyeṣu ca vīreṣu naivāśāmyata vaiśasam ॥9-23-26॥
O Janardana, violence did not cease among Bhurishravas, Shalya, Shalva, and the Avanti warriors and heroes.
jayadrathe ca nihate rākṣase cāpyalāyudhe। bāhlike somadatte ca naivāśāmyata vaiśasam ॥9-23-27॥
The slaughter did not cease even after Jayadratha, the demon Alayudha, Bahlika, and Somadatta were slain.
bhagadatte hate śūre kāmboje ca sudakṣiṇe। duḥśāsane ca nihate naivāśāmyata vaiśasam ॥9-23-28॥
Even after the brave Bhagadatta and Kamboja Sudakshina were slain, and Duhshasana was killed, the violence did not cease.
dṛṣṭvā ca nihatāñ śūrān pṛthaṅmāṇḍalikān nṛpān। balinaś ca raṇe kṛṣṇa naivāśāmyata vaiśasam ॥9-23-29॥
Upon witnessing the separate slaughter of heroes, regional kings, and mighty kings in battle, Krishna did not stop the violence.
akṣauhiṇīpatīndṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena pātitān। mohādvā yadi vā lobhānnaivāśāmyata vaiśasam ॥9-23-30॥
Upon witnessing the leaders of the army divisions being struck down by Bhimasena, the violence did not cease, whether it was due to delusion or greed.
ko nu rājakule jātaḥ kauraveyo viśeṣataḥ। nirarthakaṃ mahadvairaṃ kuryādanyaḥ suyodhanāt ॥9-23-31॥
Who else, born in the royal family of the Kauravas, would engage in such a meaningless and great enmity other than Suyodhana?
guṇato'bhyadhikaṃ jñātvā balataḥ śauryato'pi vā। amūḍhaḥ ko nu yudhyeta jānanprājño hitāhitam ॥9-23-32॥
Who, being wise and understanding the difference between benefit and harm, would engage in a fight knowing someone is superior in qualities, strength, or valor?
yanna tasya mano hyāsīttvayoktasy hitaṃ vacaḥ। praśame pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ so'nyasya śṛṇuyātkatham ॥9-23-33॥
His mind was not on the beneficial words you spoke; how could he listen to another's words peacefully with the Pandavas?
yena śāntanavo bhīṣmo droṇo vidura eva ca। pratyākhyātāḥ śamasyārthe kiṃ nu tasyādya bheṣajam ॥9-23-34॥
By whom Bhishma, Drona, and Vidura were rejected for the sake of peace, what remedy does he have today?
maurkhyādyena pitā vṛddhaḥ pratyākhyāto janārdana। tathā mātā hitaṃ vākyaṃ bhāṣamāṇā hitaiṣiṇī ॥ pratyākhyātā hyasatkṛtya sa kasmai rocayedvacaḥ ॥9-23-35॥
Due to foolishness, Janardana rejected his old father. Similarly, he disrespected and rejected his mother, who was speaking beneficial words as a well-wisher. To whom would his words be pleasing?
kulāntakaraṇo vyaktaṃ jāta eṣa janārdana। tathāsya dṛśyate ceṣṭā nītiścaiva viśāṃ pate ॥ naiṣa dāsyati no rājyamiti me matiracyuta ॥9-23-36॥
O Janardana, the one who destroys families has clearly been born. His actions and policies are evident, O lord of men. I believe, O Acyuta, that he will not grant us the kingdom.
ukto'haṁ bahuśastāta vidureṇa mahātmanā। na jīvandāsyate bhāgaṁ dhārtarāṣṭraḥ kathañcana ॥9-23-37॥
I have been repeatedly informed by the wise Vidura, dear father, that Dhritarashtra's son will never give us our share while he is alive.
yāvatprāṇā dhamiṣyanti dhārtarāṣṭrasya mānada। tāvadyuṣmāsvapāpeṣu pracariṣyati pātakam ॥9-23-38॥
As long as Dhritarashtra's son is alive, O honorable one, sin will continue to spread among the innocent ones.
na sa yukto'nyathā jetumṛte yuddhena mādhava। ityabravītsadā māṃ hi viduraḥ satyadarśanaḥ ॥9-23-39॥
Vidura, known for his truthful vision, always told me, 'O Mādhava, he cannot be conquered by any means other than battle.'
tatsarvam adya jānāmi vyavasāyaṃ durātmanaḥ। yad uktaṃ vacanaṃ tena vidureṇa mahātmanā ॥9-23-40॥
Today, I understand everything that the noble Vidura said about the wicked one's intentions.
yo hi śrutvā vacaḥ pathyaṃ jāmadagnyādyathātatham। avāmanyata durbuddhirdhruvaṃ nāśamukhe sthitaḥ ॥9-23-41॥
The foolish person who, after hearing the beneficial advice from Jamadagni exactly as it was, disregarded it, is certainly facing destruction.
uktaṁ hi bahubhiḥ siddhairjātamātre suyodhane। enaṁ prāpya durātmānaṁ kṣayaṁ kṣatraṁ gamiṣyati ॥9-23-42॥
Many accomplished sages have indeed said that just after Suyodhana was born, having obtained this wicked one, the kshatriya race will meet its destruction.
tadidaṁ vacanaṁ teṣāṁ niruktaṁ vai janārdana। kṣayaṁ yātā hi rājāno duryodhanakṛte bhṛśam ॥9-23-43॥
O Janardana, this speech of theirs indeed expressed that the kings have greatly gone to destruction because of Duryodhana.
so'dya sarvānraṇe yodhānnihaniṣyāmi mādhava। kṣatriyeṣu hateṣvāśu śūnye ca śibire kṛte ॥9-23-44॥
Today, O Mādhava, I will slay all the warriors in battle. With the Kshatriyas slain, the camp will quickly become empty.
vadhāya cātmano'smābhiḥ saṃyugaṃ rocayiṣyati। tadantaṃ hi bhavedvairamanumānena mādhava ॥9-23-45॥
He will arrange a battle for his own destruction by us. That will indeed mark the end of enmity, as inferred, O Mādhava.
evaṁ paśyāmi vārṣṇeya cintayanprajñayā svayā। vidurasya ca vākyena ceṣṭayā ca durātmanaḥ ॥9-23-46॥
Thus, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, I perceive, reflecting with my own wisdom, influenced by Vidura's words and the actions of the wicked one.
saṁyāhi bhāratīṁ vīra yāvaddhanmi śitaiḥ śaraiḥ। duryodhanaṁ durātmānaṁ vāhinīṁ cāsya saṁyuge ॥9-23-47॥
"Go to Bhārata, hero, while I slay the wicked Duryodhana and his army with sharp arrows in the battle."
kṣemamadya kariṣyāmi dharmarājasya mādhava। hatvaitaddurbalaṃ sainyaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya paśyataḥ ॥9-23-48॥
Today, O Madhava, I will secure the welfare of Dharmaraja by defeating this weak army of Dhritarashtra's son in his presence.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
abhīśuhasto dāśārhastathoktaḥ savyasācinā। tadbalaughamamitrāṇāmabhītaḥ prāviśadraṇe ॥9-23-49॥
The descendant of the Daśārhas, holding a strong bow, was addressed by Arjuna and fearlessly entered the enemy's army in the battle.
śarāsanavaraṃ ghoraṃ śaktikaṇṭakasaṃvṛtam। gadāparighapanthānaṃ rathanāgamahādrumam ॥9-23-50॥
A formidable scene with an excellent bow, terrifying and covered with spear points, resembling a path filled with maces and iron clubs, and a great tree formed by chariots and elephants.
hayapattilatākīrṇaṃ gāhamāno mahāyaśāḥ। vyacarat tatra govindo rathenātipātākinā ॥9-23-51॥
Govinda, the greatly renowned, entered the area filled with horses, foot soldiers, and creepers, and moved there with his chariot adorned with a great banner.
te hayāḥ pāṇḍurā rājanvahanto'rjunamāhave। dikṣu sarvāsvadṛśyanta dāśārheṇa pracoditāḥ ॥9-23-52॥
The white horses, O king, driven by the descendant of Dasharha, carried Arjuna into battle and were seen everywhere in all directions.
tataḥ prāyādrathenājau savyasācī parantapaḥ। kirañśaraśatāṃstīkṣṇānvāridhārā ivāmbudaḥ ॥9-23-53॥
Then Arjuna, known as Savyasachi and the scorcher of foes, rode into battle on his chariot, releasing hundreds of sharp arrows, resembling streams of water pouring from a cloud.
prādurāsīn mahāñ śabdaḥ śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām। iṣubhiś chādyamānānāṃ samare savyasācinā ॥9-23-54॥
A great sound arose from the bent-tipped arrows as they were being covered by Arjuna's arrows in the battle.
asajjantastanutreṣu śaraughāḥ prāpatanbhuvi। indrāśanisamasparśā gāṇḍīvapreṣitāḥ śarāḥ ॥9-23-55॥
The arrows shot from the Gandiva, as powerful as Indra's thunderbolt, fell to the ground without sticking to the bodies.
narānnāgānsamāhatya hayāṃścāpi viśāṃ pate। apatanta raṇe bāṇāḥ pataṅgā iva ghoṣiṇaḥ ॥9-23-56॥
O lord of the people, the arrows fell in battle like sounding moths, having struck men, elephants, and horses.
āsītsarvamavacchannaṃ gāṇḍīvapreṣitaiḥ śaraiḥ। na prājñāyanta samare diśo vā pradiśo'pi vā ॥9-23-57॥
The entire battlefield was shrouded with arrows shot from Gandiva, making it impossible to discern any direction or quarter.
sarvamāsījagatpūrṇaṃ pārthanāmāṅkitaiḥ śaraiḥ। rukmapuṅkhaistailadhautaiḥ karmāraparimārjitaiḥ ॥9-23-58॥
The whole world was covered with arrows bearing Arjuna's name, adorned with golden feathers, cleansed with oil, and finely polished by craftsmen.
te dahyamānāḥ pārthena pāvakeneva kuñjarāḥ। samāsīdanta kauravyā vadhyamānāḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥9-23-59॥
The Kauravas, like elephants scorched by fire, were being burned by Arjuna's sharp arrows and sat down in defeat.
śaracāpadharaḥ pārthaḥ prajvalanniva bhārata। dadāha samare yodhānkakṣamaghniriva jvalan ॥9-23-60॥
Arjuna, blazing like a fire with his bow and arrows, scorched the warriors on the battlefield as a forest fire would, O descendant of Bharata.
yathā vanānte vanapairvisṛṣṭaḥ; kakṣaṃ dahetkṛṣṇagatiḥ saghoṣaḥ। bhūridrumaṃ śuṣkalatāvitānaṃ; bhṛśaṃ samṛddho jvalanaḥ pratāpī ॥9-23-61॥
In the forest, when released by the forest-dwellers, the fire with its blackened path and noise would intensely burn the underbrush, many trees, and dried creepers, being abundant and fierce.
evaṃ sa nārācagaṇapratāpī; śarārciruccāvacatigmatejāḥ। dadāha sarvāṃ tava putrasenā; mamṛṣyamāṇastarasa tarasvī ॥9-23-62॥
Thus, the mighty warrior, intolerant and forceful, with the splendor of numerous sharp and bright arrows like flames, burned the entire army of your sons.
tasyeṣavaḥ prāṇaharāḥ sumuktā; nāsajjanvai varmasu rukmapuṅkhāḥ। na ca dvitīyaṃ pramumoca bāṇaṃ; nare haye vā paramadvipe vā ॥9-23-63॥
His arrows, deadly and perfectly aimed, did not lodge in the armors, being golden-feathered. He did not need to release a second arrow at any man, horse, or mighty elephant.
anekarūpākṛtibhirhi bāṇai; mahārathānīkamanupraviśya। sa eva ekastava putrasenāṃ; jaghāna daityāniva vajrapāṇiḥ ॥9-23-64॥
With many forms and shapes of arrows, he alone entered the army of great chariot-warriors and slayed your son's army like Vajrapani slayed the demons.
