09.026
Core and Pancharatra: Finally, Arjuna kills Susharman, the Trigarta King. Bhima kills Sudarshana, one more son of Dhritarastra.
Sanjaya said:
Duryodhana, the great king, and Sudarsha, your son, were standing among the horses in the battle, having survived the slaughter.
Then, Lord Krishna, the son of Devaki, seeing Duryodhana positioned among the horses, spoke to Arjuna, the son of Kunti, also known as Dhananjaya.
The enemies were mostly defeated, and the relatives were safeguarded. After taking Sanjaya with him, the best of the Shinis returned.
Nakul and Sahadev, though exhausted, continued to fight valiantly in the battle against the wicked followers of Dhritarashtra's sons, O Bharata.
Having left Suyodhana, these three warriors, Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, and Drauṇi, stand ready as great chariot-warriors.
The Panchala prince stands here, resplendent with supreme glory, having defeated Duryodhana's forces along with all the Prabhadrakas.
Duryodhana, standing among the horses, is repeatedly looking around with an umbrella held over him, O son of Pritha.
"Having strategically positioned all the forces in the battlefield, by killing this one with sharp arrows, you will achieve your mission."
Upon witnessing the destruction of the elephant-army and your arrival, O subduer of enemies, ensure that Suyodhana is slain before these forces flee.
"Let someone quickly go to the land of the Panchalas and bring him back. O dear, this exhausted sinner should not be released."
The son of Dhritarashtra, having slain all your forces in battle and believing he has defeated the sons of Pandu, takes on a grand appearance.
Seeing his own forces slain and harassed by the Pandavas, the king will surely enter the battle, seeking his own death.
Upon hearing this, Arjuna spoke to Krishna: "O Krishna, all the sons of Dhritarashtra have been slain by Bhima, O giver of honor. As long as these two remain standing, today they shall not be."
Bhishma, Drona, Karna, the son of Vikartana, the king of Madra Shalya, Krishna, and Jayadratha have all been slain.
Five hundred horses remain of Shakuni, the son of Subala, and only two hundred chariots remain, O Janardana. There are also a hundred elephants with some extra, and three thousand infantry.
Ashwatthama, Kripa, the king of Trigarta, Uluka, Shakuni, Kritavarma, and the Satvata were all present.
O Madhava, this was the remaining strength of Dhritarashtra's sons. Indeed, liberation from time does not exist for anyone on earth.
Thus, with the army defeated, behold Duryodhana standing firm. Today, indeed, the great king will have his enemies vanquished.
I believe that none of my enemies will be spared. O Krishna, today in battle, those fierce warriors who do not laugh will all be slain by me, even if they are not human.
Today, in the battle, being very angry, I will end the king's long wakefulness by bringing down Gandhara with sharp arrows.
"Indeed, the wicked Saubala deceitfully took away the gems in the assembly during the game; I shall reclaim them again."
"Today, all the women of Nagapura will come to know, having heard that their husbands and sons have been slain in battle by the Pandavas."
Today, all actions will indeed be completed by Krishna. Duryodhana will abandon his radiant prosperity and life today.
O Krishna, if he does not retreat from the battle out of fear, then know, O descendant of Vrishni, that the son of Dhritarashtra is already slain and is very foolish.
"O subduer of enemies, my group of horses is indeed unable to bear the sound of the bowstring. Proceed until I have slain the enemy."
Upon being addressed in this manner by the illustrious son of Pāṇḍu, the descendant of the Daśārhas drove the horses towards Duryodhana's forces, O King.
Upon observing the army, the three mighty warriors, Bhimasena, Arjuna, and Sahadeva, prepared themselves and set forth with a roar like that of a lion, intent on slaying Duryodhana, O great one.
Seeing all the assembled warriors with their bows raised, Saubala swiftly attacked the Pandavas, perceiving them as aggressors in the battle.
Sudarshana, your son, approached Bhimasena. Susharma and Shakuni fought with Arjuna, the crowned one. Your son, mounted on a horse, approached Sahadeva.
Then, your son quickly and effortlessly struck Sahadeva on the head with a spear, O king.
He sat down on the chariot seat, struck by your son, his entire body covered in blood, breathing heavily like a serpent.
After regaining his senses, Sahadeva, filled with anger, attacked Duryodhana with a barrage of sharp arrows.
Arjuna, the son of Kunti, bravely fought in the battle and cut off the heads of the warriors from their horses' backs.
At that time, Arjuna, with his numerous arrows, dispersed the army. After bringing down all the horses of the Trigartas, he proceeded towards the chariots.
Then the great warriors of the Trigartas, having united, showered Arjuna and Vasudeva with arrows.
The greatly renowned warrior, having attacked the true deeds with a sharp weapon, then cut off the yoke of his chariot, O son of Pandu.
The greatly renowned one, smiling and adorned with heated earrings, cut off the head with a stone-sharpened razor, O lord.
Then, he took the arrows from the warriors as they watched, just like a lion in the forest, O king, who is eager to devour its prey.
After killing him, Arjuna then pierced Susharma with three arrows and destroyed all the gold-adorned chariots.
Then Arjuna, hastening, released the sharp poison of his long-contained anger towards the lord of Prasthala.
Arjuna, the best among the Bharatas, filled his quiver with a hundred arrows and then struck the enemy's vehicles with precision.
Then, as if smiling, he swiftly shot a sharp arrow resembling Yama's rod at Suśarman.
The arrow, filled with the archer's wrath, was sent forth and struck Suśarman, piercing his heart in the midst of battle.
The lifeless king fell to the ground, bringing joy to the Pandavas and distress to your people.
After slaying Suśarman in the battle, he annihilated his sons, the great warriors, numbering seven, eight, and thirty, with arrows.
Then the great chariot warrior, having slain all the followers with his sharp arrows, approached the remnants of Bharata's army.
In the battle, Bhima, in his anger, made your son Sudarshana disappear with his arrows, as if he was smiling, O ruler of the people.
Then, with a smile of anger, he severed the head from the body using a very sharp weapon. The slain one fell to the ground.
But when the hero was slain, his followers then surrounded Bhima in battle, showering sharp arrows.
Then, Vrikodara (Bhima), with his sharp arrows that felt like Indra's thunderbolt, covered the entire army. In a moment, Bhima struck down the foremost of the Bharatas.
As the mighty commanders were being destroyed, they approached Bhimasena and fought, O Bharata. The Pandava showered all of them with terrible arrows.
Similarly, your warriors, O king, surrounded the great Pandava warriors with a massive barrage of arrows from all sides.
The entire situation became distressing for both the Pandavas and your side, as the sons of Pandu and the enemies were eager to engage in battle.
There, O king, the warriors from both armies fell, having struck each other, lamenting for their relatives.
