09.057
Pancharatra and Core: Signalled by Arjuna, Bhima breaks the thigh of Duryodhana.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said.
samudīrṇaṃ tato dṛṣṭvā saṅgrāmaṃ kurumukhyayoḥ। athābravīdarjunastu vāsudevaṃ yaśasvinam ॥9-57-1॥
Upon witnessing the battle that had arisen among the chief Kurus, Arjuna addressed the illustrious Vasudeva.
anayorvīrayoryuddhe ko jyāyānbhavato mataḥ। kasya vā ko guṇo bhūyānetadvada janārdana ॥9-57-2॥
O Janardana, tell me who you consider greater in battle between these two heroes, or whose qualities are superior.
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vasudeva said.
upadeśo'nayostulyo bhīmastu balavattaraḥ। kṛtayatnatarastveṣa dhārtarāṣṭro vṛkodarāt ॥9-57-3॥
The teachings of both are the same, but Bhima is stronger. However, this son of Dhritarashtra is more diligent than Vrikodara.
bhīmasenastu dharmeṇa yudhyamāno na jeṣyati। anyāyena tu yudhyanvai hanyādeṣa suyodhanam ॥9-57-4॥
Bhimasena, when fighting righteously, will not win. However, if he fights unjustly, he would indeed kill Suyodhana.
māyayā nirjitā devair asurā iti naḥ śrutam। virocanaś ca śakreṇa māyayā nirjitaḥ sakhe ॥9-57-5॥
We have heard that the gods conquered the demons through illusion. Similarly, Virocana was also defeated by Shakra using illusion, my friend.
māyayā cākṣipattejo vṛtrasya balasūdanaḥ ॥9-57-5॥
By his illusion, Vṛtra's energy was cast aside, O destroyer of the enemy's strength.
pratijñātaṃ tu bhīmena dyūtakāle dhanañjaya। ūrū bhetsyāmi te saṅkhye gadayeti suyodhanam ॥9-57-6॥
Bhima promised during the game, "O Dhananjaya, I will break your thighs with my mace in battle," addressing Suyodhana.
so'yaṁ pratijñāṁ tāṁ cāpi pārayitvārikarṣaṇaḥ। māyāvinaṁ ca rājānaṁ māyayaiva nikṛntatu ॥9-57-7॥
Arjuna, having fulfilled his vow, should use his own deceptive powers to defeat the deceitful king.
yadyeṣa balamāsthāya nyāyena prahariṣyati। viṣamasthastato rājā bhaviṣyati yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥9-57-8॥
If he relies on his strength and acts justly, then King Yudhishthira will find himself in a difficult situation.
punareva ca vakṣyāmi pāṇḍavedaṃ nibodha me। dharmarājāparādhena bhayaṃ naḥ punarāgatam ॥9-57-9॥
"Once again, I will tell you, O Pāṇḍava, listen to me. Due to Dharmarāja's mistake, fear has returned to us."
kṛtvā hi sumahatkarma hatvā bhīṣmamukhānkurūn। jayaḥ prāpto yaśaścāgryaṃ vairaṃ ca pratiyātitam ॥ tadevaṃ vijayaḥ prāptaḥ punaḥ saṃśayitaḥ kṛtaḥ ॥9-57-10॥
After performing a great deed by slaying Bhishma and the Kuru warriors, victory was achieved, bringing foremost fame and removing enmity. However, this victory was again put into doubt.
abuddhireṣā mahatī dharmarājasya pāṇḍava। yadekavijaye yuddhaṃ paṇitaṃ kṛtamīdṛśam ॥ suyodhanaḥ kṛtī vīra ekāyanagatastathā ॥9-57-11॥
O Pandava, this is a great lack of wisdom on the part of Dharmaraja, that such a battle was wagered for a single victory. Suyodhana, the skillful hero, remains single-minded in his approach.
api cośanasā gītaḥ śrūyate'yaṃ purātanaḥ। ślokastattvārthasahitastanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu ॥9-57-12॥
"Also, hear from me this ancient verse sung by Uśanas, which is heard with the meaning of the truth."
punarāvartamānānāṃ bhagnānāṃ jīvitaiṣiṇām। bhetavyamariśeṣāṇāmekāyanagatā hi te ॥9-57-13॥
The returning, broken ones who desire life should fear the remaining enemies, for they have indeed gone to one refuge.
suyodhanam imaṁ bhagnaṁ hatasainyaṁ hradaṁ gatam। parājitaṁ vanaprepsuṁ nirāśaṁ rājyalambhane ॥9-57-14॥
Suyodhana, broken and with his army defeated, has gone to the lake. He is defeated and desires the forest, hopeless in obtaining the kingdom.
ko nveṣa saṃyuge prājñaḥ punardvaṃdve samāhvayet। api vo nirjitaṃ rājyaṃ na haret suyodhanaḥ ॥9-57-15॥
Who is the wise person who would challenge again in a duel in battle? Even if your kingdom is conquered, Suyodhana would not take it away.
yastrayo-daśa-varṣāṇi gadayā kṛta-niśramaḥ। caratyūrdhvaṃ ca tiryakca bhīmasena-jighāṃsayā ॥9-57-16॥
He who, after thirteen years of exhausting practice with the mace, moves both upwards and sideways with the intent to kill Bhimasena.
evaṃ cenna mahābāhuranyāyena haniṣyati। eṣa vaḥ kauravo rājā dhārtarāṣṭro bhaviṣyati ॥9-57-17॥
If the mighty-armed one does not act unjustly, then this Kaurava king, your Dhritarashtra's son, will ascend to the throne.
dhanañjayastu śrutvaitatkeśavasya mahātmanaḥ। prekṣato bhīmasenasya hastenorumatāḍayat ॥9-57-18॥
Arjuna, upon hearing these words from the noble Keshava, struck his own thigh with his hand as Bhimasena looked on.
gṛhya sañjñāṃ tato bhīmo gadayā vyacaradraṇe। maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi yamakānītarāṇi ca ॥9-57-19॥
Upon receiving the signal, Bhima wielded his mace and moved through the battlefield, creating intricate and diverse formations, both paired and singular.
dakṣiṇaṃ maṇḍalaṃ savyaṃ gomūtrakamathāpi ca। vyacaratpāṇḍavo rājannariṃ saṃmohayanniva ॥9-57-20॥
The Pāṇḍava moved in a counterclockwise circle to the south, resembling the flow of cow's urine, and in doing so, seemed to bewilder the enemy, O king.
tathaiva tava putro'pi gadāmārgaviśāradaḥ। vyacarallaghu citraṃ ca bhīmasenajighāṃsayā ॥9-57-21॥
Similarly, your son, skilled in mace fighting, swiftly and skillfully maneuvered with the intent to kill Bhimasena.
ādhunvantau gade ghore candanāgarurūṣite। vairasyāntaṃ parīpsantau raṇe kruddhāvivāntakau ॥9-57-22॥
Wielding terrible maces smeared with sandalwood and aloeswood, they were like destroyers in battle, desiring the end of enmity.
anyonyam tau jighāṁsantau pravīrau puruṣarṣabhau। yuyudhāte garutmantau yathā nāgāmiṣaiṣiṇau ॥9-57-23॥
The two mighty warriors, like bulls among men, fought fiercely against each other, just as Garuda would hunt for snake prey.
maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi carator nṛpabhīmayoḥ। gadāsampātajās tatra prajajñuḥ pāvakārciṣaḥ ॥9-57-24॥
As the king and Bhima moved, varied circles were formed, and from the clash of their maces, fiery flames arose.
samaṃ praharatostatra śūrayorbalinormṛdhe। kṣubdhayorvāyunā rājandvayoriva samudrayoḥ ॥9-57-25॥
O king, there the battle between the strong heroes was as fierce as the agitation of the two oceans by the wind.
tayoḥ praharatostulyaṃ mattakuñjarayoriva। gadānirghātasaṃhrādaḥ prahārāṇāmajāyata ॥9-57-26॥
The thunderous clash of their strikes was akin to the roar of intoxicated elephants.
tasmiṁstadā samprahāre dāruṇe saṅkule bhṛśam। ubhāvapi pariśrāntau yudhyamānāvariṁdamau ॥9-57-27॥
In that fierce and chaotic battle, both warriors, exhausted and relentless, continued to fight, subduing their enemies.
tau muhūrtaṃ samāśvasya punareva parantapau। abhyahārayatāṃ kruddhau pragṛhya mahatī gade ॥9-57-28॥
Those two warriors, after resting for a moment, once again, the scorchers of foes, angrily took up their great maces and advanced.
tayoḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ ghorarūpamasanvṛtam। gadānipātai rājendra takṣatorvai parasparam ॥9-57-29॥
A fierce and unrestrained battle arose between them, O king, as they struck each other with maces.
vyāyāmapradrutau tau tu vṛṣabhākṣau tarasvinau। anyonyaṃ jaghnaturvīrau paṅkasthau mahiṣāviva ॥9-57-30॥
The two swift and bull-eyed warriors, engaged in their exercise, clashed with each other like buffaloes fighting in the mud.
jarjarīkṛtasarvāṅgau rudhireṇābhisamplutau। dadṛśāte himavati puṣpitāviva kiṃśukau ॥9-57-31॥
They appeared in the Himalayas, worn out and covered in blood, resembling blooming Butea monosperma trees.
duryodhanena pārthastu vivare sampradarśite। īṣadutsmayamānastu sahasā prasasāra ha ॥9-57-32॥
Arjuna was shown the cave by Duryodhana. However, with a slight smile, he suddenly rushed forward.
tamabhyāśagataṃ prājño raṇe prekṣya vṛkodaraḥ। avākṣipadgadāṃ tasmai vegena mahatā balī ॥9-57-33॥
Vrikodara, the wise one, seeing the opponent approach in battle, hurled his mace at him with great speed and strength.
avakṣepaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā putrastava viśāṃ pate। apāsarpattataḥ sthānātsā moghā nyapatadbhuvi ॥9-57-34॥
Upon witnessing the reproach, your son, O lord of the people, retreated from that place, and she fell to the ground in vain.
mokṣayitvā prahāraṃ taṃ sutastava sa sambhramāt। bhīmasenaṃ ca gadayā prāharatkuru-sattamaḥ ॥9-57-35॥
In a state of confusion, your son released the attack and struck Bhimasena with a mace, O best of the Kurus.
tasya viṣyandamānena rudhireṇāmitaujasaḥ। prahāragurupātācca mūrcheva samajāyata ॥9-57-36॥
His immense energy was flowing with blood, and it seemed as if fainting arose due to the heavy strike and fall.
duryodhanastaṃ ca veda pīḍitaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ raṇe। dhārayāmāsa bhīmo'pi śarīramatipīḍitam ॥9-57-37॥
Duryodhana recognized the suffering Pāṇḍava in the battle, while Bhīma also endured with his greatly afflicted body.
amanya ta sthitaṃ hy enaṃ prahariṣyantam āhave। ato na prāharat tasmai punar eva tavātmajaḥ ॥9-57-38॥
He perceived that this one was standing ready to strike in battle; hence, your son refrained from attacking him again.
tato muhūrtam āśvasya duryodhanam avasthitam। vegenābhyadravad rājan bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān ॥9-57-39॥
After a brief rest, the mighty Bhimasena swiftly charged at the standing Duryodhana, O king.
tamāpatantaṃ samprekṣya saṃrabdhamamitaujasam। moghamasya prahāraṃ taṃ cikīrṣurbharatarṣabha ॥9-57-40॥
Seeing him approach with great energy and excitement, O best of the Bharatas, he wished to render his attack futile.
avasthāne matiṁ kṛtvā putrastava mahāmanāḥ। iyeṣotpattituṁ rājaṁśchalayiṣyanvṛkodaram ॥9-57-41॥
Your great-minded son, having made up his mind in position, desired to rise to deceive Vrikodara, O king.
abudhyadbhīmasenastadrājñastasya cikīrṣitam। athāsya samabhidrutya samutkramya ca siṃhavat ॥9-57-42॥
Bhimasena realized the king's intention and, like a lion, he rushed and leaped into action.
sr̥tyā vañcayato rājanpunarevotpatiṣyataḥ। ūrubhyāṃ prāhiṇodrājangadāṃ vegena pāṇḍavaḥ ॥9-57-43॥
O king, the Pandava, with great speed, deceived and sent the mace again as he was about to leap with his thighs.
sā vajraniṣpeṣasamā prahitā bhīmakarmaṇā। ūrū duryodhanasyātha babhañja priyadarśanau ॥9-57-44॥
She, with the force of a thunderbolt, struck by Bhima's mighty act, then broke the beautiful thighs of Duryodhana.
sa papāta naravyāghro vasudhāmanunādayan। bhagnorurbhīmasenena putrastava mahīpate ॥9-57-45॥
He, the tiger among men, fell to the ground, making the earth resound. Your son, O king, with his thigh broken by Bhimasena.
vavurvātāḥ sanirghātāḥ pāṃsuvarṣaṃ papāta ca। cacāla pṛthivī cāpi savṛkṣakṣupaparvatā ॥9-57-46॥
The winds blew fiercely with thunder, causing dust to rain down. The earth trembled, along with the trees, bushes, and mountains.
tasminnipatite vīre patyau sarvamahīkṣitām। mahāsvanā punardīptā sanirghātā bhayaṅkarī ॥ papāta colkā mahatī patite pṛthivīpatau ॥9-57-47॥
When the hero, the lord of all earthly kings, fell, a loud and blazing meteor, accompanied by thunder, fearfully fell again upon the earth.
tathā śoṇitavarṣaṃ ca pāṃsuvarṣaṃ ca bhārata। vavarṣa maghavāṃstatra tava putre nipātite ॥9-57-48॥
Thus, O Bhārata, when your son was slain, there was a rain of blood and dust, sent by Indra.
yakṣāṇāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca piśācānāṃ tathaiva ca। antarikṣe mahānādaḥ śrūyate bharatarṣabha ॥9-57-49॥
A great sound is heard in the sky, belonging to the Yakshas, Rakshasas, and Pisachas, O noble Bharata.
tena śabdena ghoreṇa mṛgāṇāmatha pakṣiṇām। jajñe ghoratamaḥ śabdo bahūnāṃ sarvatodiśam ॥9-57-50॥
By that terrible sound, a most dreadful noise arose from the animals and birds, echoing in all directions.
ye tatra vājinaḥ śeṣā gajāśca manujaiḥ saha। mumucuste mahānādaṃ tava putre nipātite ॥9-57-51॥
When your son fell, those remaining horses, elephants, and men there together released a great sound.
bherīśaṅkhamṛdaṅgānām abhavac ca svano mahān। antarbhūmigataś caiva tava putre nipātite ॥9-57-52॥
The sound of drums, conches, and mṛdaṅgas echoed greatly. Indeed, your son has fallen within the underground.
bahupādairbahubhujaiḥ kabandhairghoradarśanaiḥ। nṛtyadbhirbhayadairvyāptā diśastatrābhavannṛpa ॥9-57-53॥
O king, the directions there were filled with terrifying figures having many feet and arms, headless trunks, dancing and causing fear.
dhvajavanto'stravantaśca śastravantastathaiva ca। prākampanta tato rājanstava putre nipātite ॥9-57-54॥
The warriors, adorned with flags, weapons, and arms, trembled in fear, O king, when your son was slain.
hradāḥ kūpāśca rudhiramudvemurnṛpasattama। nadyaśca sumahāvegāḥ pratisrotovahābhavan ॥9-57-55॥
O best of kings, the lakes and wells overflowed with blood, and the rivers, with great speed, flowed against their natural course.
pulliṅgā iva nāryastu strīliṅgāḥ puruṣābhavan। duryodhane tadā rājanpatite tanaye tava ॥9-57-56॥
The women, who were like men, became men themselves. Then, O king, when your son Duryodhana fell.
dṛṣṭvā tānadbhutotpātānpāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha। āvignamanasaḥ sarve babhūvurbharatarṣabha ॥9-57-57॥
Upon witnessing those extraordinary omens, the Pāñcālas, along with the Pāṇḍavas, remained calm and composed, O esteemed descendant of Bharata.
yayurdevā yathākāmaṃ gandharvāpsarasastathā। kathayanto'dbhutaṃ yuddhaṃ sutayostava bhārata ॥9-57-58॥
The gods, along with the Gandharvas and Apsaras, departed as they wished, discussing the marvelous battle of your sons, O Bharata.
tathaiva siddhā rājendra tathā vātikacāraṇāḥ। narasiṃhau praśaṃsantau viprajagmur yathāgatam ॥9-57-59॥
In the same manner, O King, the perfected beings and wandering minstrels praised the two Narasimhas and departed the way they had come.
