09.024
Core and Pancharatra: Facing defeat with Drushtadyumna, Duryodhana goes to Shakuni. Duryodhana goes missing. Ashwatthama, Kripa, Kritaverma, and Shakuni leave the battlefield. Satyaki and Dhṛṣṭadyumna destroy the fleeing Kaurava army.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
अस्यतां यतमानानां शूराणामनिवर्तिनाम्। सङ्कल्पमकरोन्मोघं गाण्डीवेन धनञ्जयः ॥९-२४-१॥
Dhananjaya, with his Gandiva bow, thwarted the resolve of the valiant warriors who were relentlessly attacking and never retreating.
इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्शानविषह्यान्महौजसः। विसृजन्दृश्यते बाणान्धारा मुञ्चन्निवाम्बुदः ॥९-२४-२॥
He is seen releasing arrows with a touch as powerful as Indra's thunderbolt, irresistible and full of great energy, like a cloud releasing a stream of rain.
तत्सैन्यं भरतश्रेष्ठ वध्यमानं किरीटिना। सम्प्रदुद्राव सङ्ग्रामात्तव पुत्रस्य पश्यतः ॥९-२४-३॥
O best of the Bharatas, while your son was watching, his army, being slaughtered by Arjuna, fled from the battlefield.
हतधुर्या रथाः केचिद्धतसूतास्तथापरे। भग्नाक्षयुगचक्रेषाः केचिदासन्विशां पते ॥९-२४-४॥
O lord of men, some chariots had broken yokes, some had slain charioteers, and others had broken axles, yokes, and wheels.
अन्येषां सायकाः क्षीणास्तथान्ये शरपीडिताः। अक्षता युगपत्केचित्प्राद्रवन्भयपीडिताः ॥९-२४-५॥
The arrows of some were exhausted, while others were wounded by arrows. Some, who were unharmed, fled all at once, driven by fear.
केचित्पुत्रानुपादाय हतभूयिष्ठवाहनाः। विचुक्रुशुः पितॄनन्ये सहायानपरे पुनः ॥९-२४-६॥
Some people, having taken their sons, lamented over their fathers, while others mourned their companions, and yet others grieved over their vehicles, most of which were destroyed.
बान्धवांश्च नरव्याघ्र भ्रातॄन्सम्बन्धिनस्तथा। दुद्रुवुः केचिदुत्सृज्य तत्र तत्र विशां पते ॥९-२४-७॥
O tiger among men, some relatives, brothers, and kinsmen fled, abandoning their positions here and there, O lord of men.
बहवोऽत्र भृशं विद्धा मुह्यमाना महारथाः। निष्टनन्तः स्म दृश्यन्ते पार्थबाणहता नराः ॥९-२४-८॥
Many great warriors, severely wounded and fainting, are seen here groaning, struck by Arjuna's arrows.
तानन्ये रथमारोप्य समाश्वास्य मुहूर्तकम्। विश्रान्ताश्च वितृष्णाश्च पुनर्युद्धाय जग्मिरे ॥९-२४-९॥
After mounting them on the chariot and consoling them briefly, they rested and refreshed themselves before heading back to the battle.
तानपास्य गताः केचित्पुनरेव युयुत्सवः। कुर्वन्तस्तव पुत्रस्य शासनं युद्धदुर्मदाः ॥९-२४-१०॥
"Having abandoned them, some departed, but others, eager for battle, followed your son's command, filled with battle arrogance."
पानीयमपरे पीत्वा पर्याश्वास्य च वाहनम्। वर्माणि च समारोप्य केचिद्भरतसत्तम ॥९-२४-११॥
Some others, O best of the Bharatas, drank water, rested, and then mounted their vehicles and armors.
समाश्वास्यापरे भ्रातॄन्निक्षिप्य शिबिरेऽपि च। पुत्रानन्ये पितॄनन्ये पुनर्युद्धमरोचयन् ॥९-२४-१२॥
After consoling some brothers and placing them in the camp, others, along with sons and fathers, agreed to resume the battle.
सज्जयित्वा रथान्केचिद्यथामुख्यं विशां पते। आप्लुत्य पाण्डवानीकं पुनर्युद्धमरोचयन् ॥९-२४-१३॥
Some warriors, having prepared their chariots as per the chief's orders, entered the Pandava army and desired to fight again, O lord of men.
ते शूराः किङ्किणीजालैः समाच्छन्ना बभासिरे। त्रैलोक्यविजये युक्ता यथा दैतेयदानवाः ॥९-२४-१४॥
The heroes, adorned with networks of bells, shone brilliantly as they engaged in the conquest of the three worlds, resembling the mighty Daityas and Danavas.
आगम्य सहसा केचिद्रथैः स्वर्णविभूषितैः। पाण्डवानामनीकेषु धृष्टद्युम्नमयोधयन् ॥९-२४-१५॥
Suddenly, some warriors arrived with chariots adorned with gold and engaged in battle with Dhrishtadyumna in the Pandavas' armies.
धृष्टद्युम्नोऽपि पाञ्चाल्यः शिखण्डी च महारथः। नाकुलिश्च शतानीको रथानीकमयोधयन् ॥९-२४-१६॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pāñcāla, along with Śikhaṇḍī, the great chariot-warrior, Nakula, and Śatānīka, engaged in battle against the army of chariots.
पाञ्चाल्यस्तु ततः क्रुद्धः सैन्येन महता वृतः। अभ्यद्रवत्सुसंरब्धस्तावकान्हन्तुमुद्यतः ॥९-२४-१७॥
The son of Drupada, in great anger and surrounded by a large army, attacked your men with the intent to kill.
ततस्त्वापततस्तस्य तव पुत्रो जनाधिप। बाणसङ्घाननेकान्वै प्रेषयामास भारत ॥९-२४-१८॥
Then, as the battle approached, your son, the ruler, sent forth numerous volleys of arrows, O Bharata.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्ततो राजंस्तव पुत्रेण धन्विना। नाराचैर्बहुभिः क्षिप्रं बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पितः ॥९-२४-१९॥
Then, O king, Dhṛṣṭadyumna was swiftly struck on his arms and chest by the many arrows of your son, the archer.
सोऽतिविद्धो महेष्वासस्तोत्त्रार्दित इव द्विपः। तस्याश्वांश्चतुरो बाणैः प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे ॥ सारथेश्चास्य भल्लेन शिरः कायादपाहरत् ॥९-२४-२०॥
The great archer, deeply pierced, was like an elephant tormented by a goad. He sent his four horses to their death with arrows and severed the head of the charioteer from his body with a spear.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा पृष्ठमारुह्य वाजिनः। अपाक्रामद्धतरथो नातिदूरमरिंदमः ॥९-२४-२१॥
Then King Duryodhana mounted the horse and departed with his charioteer, not going very far, O subduer of enemies.
दृष्ट्वा तु हतविक्रान्तं स्वमनीकं महाबलः। तव पुत्रो महाराज प्रययौ यत्र सौबलः ॥९-२४-२२॥
Upon witnessing the defeat of his valiant soldiers, your mighty son, O great king, proceeded to where Saubala was.
ततो रथेषु भग्नेषु त्रिसाहस्रा महाद्विपाः। पाण्डवान्रथिनः पञ्च समन्तात्पर्यवारयन् ॥९-२४-२३॥
Then, three thousand mighty elephants surrounded the five Pandava charioteers amidst the broken chariots.
ते वृताः समरे पञ्च गजानीकेन भारत। अशोभन्त नरव्याघ्रा ग्रहा व्याप्ता घनैरिव ॥९-२४-२४॥
In the battle, those tiger-like warriors, surrounded by five divisions of elephants, shone brilliantly, O Bharata, like planets enveloped by clouds.
ततोऽर्जुनो महाराज लब्धलक्षो महाभुजः। विनिर्ययौ रथेनैव श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथिः ॥९-२४-२५॥
Then Arjuna, the mighty-armed, having achieved his objective, set out on his chariot driven by white horses, with Krishna as his charioteer, O great king.
तैः समन्तात्परिवृतः कुञ्जरैः पर्वतोपमैः। नाराचैर्विमलैस्तीक्ष्णैर्गजानीकमपोथयत् ॥९-२४-२६॥
He was surrounded by elephants that were like mountains, and he smashed the elephant army with sharp, pure arrows.
तत्रैकबाणनिहतानपश्याम महागजान्। पतितान्पात्यमानांश्च विभिन्नान्सव्यसाचिना ॥९-२४-२७॥
There, we observed the great elephants, struck down by a single arrow, lying fallen and scattered, felled by Arjuna.
भीमसेनस्तु तान्दृष्ट्वा नागान्मत्तगजोपमः। करेण गृह्य महतीं गदामभ्यपतद्बली ॥ अवप्लुत्य रथात्तूर्णं दण्डपाणिरिवान्तकः ॥९-२४-२८॥
Bhimasena, upon seeing the elephants, like a mad elephant himself, seized a great mace with his hand and rushed forward with great strength, quickly jumping down from the chariot like Yama, the god of death, wielding a staff.
तमुद्यतगदं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवानां महारथम्। वित्रेसुस्तावकाः सैन्याः शकृन्मूत्रं प्रसुस्रुवुः ॥ आविग्नं च बलं सर्वं गदाहस्ते वृकोदरे ॥९-२४-२९॥
Upon seeing the raised mace and the great chariot of the Pandavas, your soldiers were so terrified that they lost control of their bowels. The entire force was disturbed by Bhima, who stood with a mace in hand.
गदया भीमसेनेन भिन्नकुम्भान्रजस्वलान्। धावमानानपश्याम कुञ्जरान्पर्वतोपमान् ॥९-२४-३०॥
We saw elephants with broken tusks and blood-stained, running like mountains, struck by Bhimasena with his mace.
प्रधाव्य कुञ्जरास्ते तु भीमसेनगदाहताः। पेतुरार्तस्वरं कृत्वा छिन्नपक्षा इवाद्रयः ॥९-२४-३१॥
The elephants, after running, were struck by Bhimasena's mace and fell down, crying out in distress, like mountains with their wings broken.
तान्भिन्नकुम्भान्सुबहून्द्रवमाणानितस्ततः। पतमानांश्च सम्प्रेक्ष्य वित्रेसुस्तव सैनिकाः ॥९-२४-३२॥
Your soldiers were terrified upon seeing the many broken pots flowing here and there and falling.
युधिष्ठिरोऽपि सङ्क्रुद्धो माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ। गृध्रपक्षैः शितैर्बाणैर्जघ्नुर्वै गजयोधिनः ॥९-२४-३३॥
Yudhishthira, along with the sons of Madri, the Pandavas, in their anger, used sharp, vulture-feathered arrows to kill the elephant warriors.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु समरे पराजित्य नराधिपम्। अपक्रान्ते तव सुते हयपृष्ठं समाश्रिते ॥९-२४-३४॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna defeated the king in battle, and as your son retreated, he took refuge on horseback.
दृष्ट्वा च पाण्डवान्सर्वान्कुञ्जरैः परिवारितान्। धृष्टद्युम्नो महाराज सह सर्वैः प्रभद्रकैः ॥ पुत्रः पाञ्चालराजस्य जिघांसुः कुञ्जरान्ययौ ॥९-२४-३५॥
Upon seeing all the Pandavas surrounded by elephants, Dhrishtadyumna, along with all the Prabhadrakas, the son of the king of the Panchalas, went forth with the intent to kill the elephants, O great king.
अदृष्ट्वा तु रथानीके दुर्योधनमरिंदमम्। अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः ॥ अपृच्छन्क्षत्रियांस्तत्र क्व नु दुर्योधनो गतः ॥९-२४-३६॥
Not finding Duryodhana, the subduer of enemies, in the army, Ashwatthama, Kripa, and Kritavarma, along with Satyaki, inquired of the warriors present, "Where indeed has Duryodhana gone?"
अपश्यमाना राजानं वर्तमाने जनक्षये। मन्वाना निहतं तत्र तव पुत्रं महारथाः ॥ विषण्णवदना भूत्वा पर्यपृच्छन्त ते सुतम् ॥९-२४-३७॥
Seeing the king amidst the ongoing destruction, the great warriors, thinking that your son was slain there, with despondent faces, asked your son.
आहुः केचिद्धते सूते प्रयातो यत्र सौबलः। अपरे त्वब्रुवंस्तत्र क्षत्रिया भृशविक्षताः ॥९-२४-३८॥
Some people said that when Sūta was killed, Saubala left the place. However, others mentioned that the Kshatriyas were severely injured there.
दुर्योधनेन किं कार्यं द्रक्ष्यध्वं यदि जीवति। युध्यध्वं सहिताः सर्वे किं वो राजा करिष्यति ॥९-२४-३९॥
Duryodhana has given you a task to see if he survives. Fight together, all of you, and see what your king will do.
ते क्षत्रियाः क्षतैर्गात्रैर्हतभूयिष्ठवाहनाः। शरैः सम्पीड्यमानाश्च नातिव्यक्तमिवाब्रुवन् ॥९-२४-४०॥
The warriors, with their bodies wounded and most of their vehicles destroyed, were being oppressed by arrows and spoke as if their words were not clear.
इदं सर्वं बलं हन्मो येन स्म परिवारिताः। एते सर्वे गजान्हत्वा उपयान्ति स्म पाण्डवाः ॥९-२४-४१॥
The Pandavas, having destroyed all the elephants by whom they were surrounded, approach with their strength intact.
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषामश्वत्थामा महाबलः। हित्वा पाञ्चालराजस्य तदनीकं दुरुत्सहम् ॥९-२४-४२॥
Upon hearing their words, the mighty Aśvatthāmā decided to leave the formidable army of the Pāñcāla king.
कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च प्रययुर्यत्र सौबलः। रथानीकं परित्यज्य शूराः सुदृढधन्विनः ॥९-२४-४३॥
Kṛpa and Kṛtavarmā, along with Saubala, left the chariot army behind, as they were heroes and mighty archers.
ततस्तेषु प्रयातेषु धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः। आययुः पाण्डवा राजन्विनिघ्नन्तः स्म तावकान् ॥९-२४-४४॥
Then, after they had departed, led by Dhrishtadyumna, the Pandavas arrived, O king, and began to slay your men.
दृष्ट्वा तु तानापततः सम्प्रहृष्टान्महारथान्। पराक्रान्तांस्ततो वीरान्निराशाञ्जीविते तदा ॥ विवर्णमुखभूयिष्ठमभवत्तावकं बलम् ॥९-२४-४५॥
Upon seeing the approaching elated great charioteers, the valiant heroes, who were despairing of life, your army mostly became pale-faced.
परिक्षीणायुधान्दृष्ट्वा तानहं परिवारितान्। राजन्बलेन द्व्यङ्गेन त्यक्त्वा जीवितमात्मनः ॥९-२४-४६॥
Seeing them with their weapons depleted, I found myself surrounded. O king, with a crippled body and by force, I abandoned my own life.
आत्मनापञ्चमोऽयुध्यं पाञ्चालस्य बलेन ह। तस्मिन्देशे व्यवस्थाप्य यत्र शारद्वतः स्थितः ॥९-२४-४७॥
The fifth one, by himself, did not fight with the force of the Pāñcāla. He was stationed in that place where Śāradvata stood.
सम्प्रयुद्धा वयं पञ्च किरीटिशरपीडिताः। धृष्टद्युम्नं महानीकं तत्र नोऽभूद्रणो महान् ॥ जितास्तेन वयं सर्वे व्यपयाम रणात्ततः ॥९-२४-४८॥
We five were engaged in battle and were afflicted by Arjuna's arrows. There, Dhṛṣṭadyumna's great army was our significant battle. Conquered by him, we all retreated from the battle thereafter.
अथापश्यं सात्यकिं तमुपायान्तं महारथम्। रथैश्चतुःशतैर्वीरो मां चाभ्यद्रवदाहवे ॥९-२४-४९॥
Then I saw Satyaki, the great chariot-warrior, approaching with four hundred chariots, and the hero attacked me in the battle.
धृष्टद्युम्नादहं मुक्तः कथञ्चिच्छ्रान्तवाहनः। पतितो माधवानीकं दुष्कृती नरकं यथा ॥ तत्र युद्धमभूद्घोरं मुहूर्तमतिदारुणम् ॥९-२४-५०॥
I was somehow released from Dhrishtadyumna with my weary vehicle and fell into the army of Madhava, like a sinner falling into hell. There, a terrible and very fierce battle took place for a moment.
सात्यकिस्तु महाबाहुर्मम हत्वा परिच्छदम्। जीवग्राहमगृह्णान्मां मूर्छितं पतितं भुवि ॥९-२४-५१॥
Satyaki, the mighty-armed warrior, after defeating my retinue, took me captive while I was unconscious and lying on the ground.
ततो मुहूर्तादिव तद्गजानीकमवध्यत। गदया भीमसेनेन नाराचैरर्जुनेन च ॥९-२४-५२॥
Then, in what seemed like an instant, Bhimasena and Arjuna destroyed the elephant army, Bhimasena using his mace and Arjuna his arrows.
प्रतिपिष्टैर्महानागैः समन्तात्पर्वतोपमैः। नातिप्रसिद्धेव गतिः पाण्डवानामजायत ॥९-२४-५३॥
The Pandavas' movement seemed obscure, as if they were surrounded and crushed by great serpents resembling mountains.
रथमार्गांस्ततश्चक्रे भीमसेनो महाबलः। पाण्डवानां महाराज व्यपकर्षन्महागजान् ॥९-२४-५४॥
Then, O great king, the mighty Bhimasena cleared the chariot paths by dragging away the great elephants of the Pandavas.
अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः। अपश्यन्तो रथानीके दुर्योधनमरिंदमम् ॥ राजानं मृगयामासुस्तव पुत्रं महारथम् ॥९-२४-५५॥
Ashwatthama, Kripa, Kritavarma, and Satyaki, upon seeing Duryodhana, the subduer of enemies, in the battlefield, searched for your son, the great chariot-warrior king.
परित्यज्य च पाञ्चालं प्रयाता यत्र सौबलः। राज्ञोऽदर्शनसंविग्ना वर्तमाने जनक्षये ॥९-२४-५६॥
Having left Panchala, where Saubala had gone, they were distressed by the king's disappearance amidst the ongoing destruction of people.
