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.
Sanjaya said:
In the midst of the soft sound that arose, with the army defeated by the Pandavas, Saubala retreated with seven hundred remaining horses.
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?"
Upon hearing Shakuni's words, they remarked, "O esteemed Bharata, the Kaurava stands valiantly in the center of the battlefield as a great warrior."
Where this very large umbrella, shining like the full moon, is present; where these chariots with protective floors stand beautifully adorned.
"Where there is this tumultuous sound resembling the roar of clouds, go there quickly, O king, and then you will see the Kaurava."
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.
Then Shakuni, seeing Duryodhana arranged in the army of chariots, cheered all your charioteers.
Duryodhana, appearing joyful and considering himself as if he had accomplished his task, spoke these words to the king, the lord of the people.
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.
In the chariot army protected by the Pandava, having been killed, we shall also kill these elephants and other foot soldiers.
Upon hearing his words, your men, filled with the desire for victory, joyfully rushed with great speed towards the Pandava army.
All the warriors, with their quivers open and bows in hand, shook their bows and roared like lions.
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.
Upon seeing them swiftly approaching with their bows raised, Arjuna, the son of Kunti, spoke to Krishna, the son of Devaki.
"Urge the horses without fear and enter this vast army. Today, I shall bring an end to the enemies with my sharp arrows."
O Janardana, today marks the eighteenth day of this great ongoing battle, where both sides have approached each other.
The endless army of these great souls has indeed met its destruction in battle today; behold the fate as it unfolds.
O Madhava, the vast strength of Dhritarashtra's sons diminishes to insignificance, like a cow's hoofprint, when it comes near us, O Acyuta.
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.
Bhishma spoke words that were beneficial and wholesome, O Madhava, but Suyodhana, devoid of wisdom, did not follow them.
When Bhishma fell on the earth, I do not know the reason why the battle continued.
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.
After the death of Droṇa, the esteemed knower of Brahman, and the fall of Radheya and Vikarna, the massacre continued unabated.
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.
The violence did not cease even after the heroic Śrutāyuṣ, Jalasandha, Paurava, and the king Śrutāyudha were killed.
O Janardana, violence did not cease among Bhurishravas, Shalya, Shalva, and the Avanti warriors and heroes.
The slaughter did not cease even after Jayadratha, the demon Alayudha, Bahlika, and Somadatta were slain.
Even after the brave Bhagadatta and Kamboja Sudakshina were slain, and Duhshasana was killed, the violence did not cease.
Upon witnessing the separate slaughter of heroes, regional kings, and mighty kings in battle, Krishna did not stop the violence.
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.
Who else, born in the royal family of the Kauravas, would engage in such a meaningless and great enmity other than Suyodhana?
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?
His mind was not on the beneficial words you spoke; how could he listen to another's words peacefully with the Pandavas?
By whom Bhishma, Drona, and Vidura were rejected for the sake of peace, what remedy does he have today?
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?
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.
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.
As long as Dhritarashtra's son is alive, O honorable one, sin will continue to spread among the innocent ones.
Vidura, known for his truthful vision, always told me, 'O Mādhava, he cannot be conquered by any means other than battle.'
Today, I understand everything that the noble Vidura said about the wicked one's intentions.
The foolish person who, after hearing the beneficial advice from Jamadagni exactly as it was, disregarded it, is certainly facing destruction.
Many accomplished sages have indeed said that just after Suyodhana was born, having obtained this wicked one, the kshatriya race will meet its destruction.
O Janardana, this speech of theirs indeed expressed that the kings have greatly gone to destruction because of Duryodhana.
Today, O Mādhava, I will slay all the warriors in battle. With the Kshatriyas slain, the camp will quickly become empty.
He will arrange a battle for his own destruction by us. That will indeed mark the end of enmity, as inferred, O Mādhava.
Thus, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, I perceive, reflecting with my own wisdom, influenced by Vidura's words and the actions of the wicked one.
"Go to Bhārata, hero, while I slay the wicked Duryodhana and his army with sharp arrows in the battle."
Today, O Madhava, I will secure the welfare of Dharmaraja by defeating this weak army of Dhritarashtra's son in his presence.
Sanjaya said:
The descendant of the Daśārhas, holding a strong bow, was addressed by Arjuna and fearlessly entered the enemy's army in the battle.
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.
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.
The white horses, O king, driven by the descendant of Dasharha, carried Arjuna into battle and were seen everywhere in all directions.
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.
A great sound arose from the bent-tipped arrows as they were being covered by Arjuna's arrows in the battle.
The arrows shot from the Gandiva, as powerful as Indra's thunderbolt, fell to the ground without sticking to the bodies.
O lord of the people, the arrows fell in battle like sounding moths, having struck men, elephants, and horses.
The entire battlefield was shrouded with arrows shot from Gandiva, making it impossible to discern any direction or quarter.
The whole world was covered with arrows bearing Arjuna's name, adorned with golden feathers, cleansed with oil, and finely polished by craftsmen.
The Kauravas, like elephants scorched by fire, were being burned by Arjuna's sharp arrows and sat down in defeat.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
