10.008
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
tathā prayāte śibiraṃ droṇaputre mahārathe। kaccitkṛpaśca bhojaśca bhayārtau na nyavartatām ॥10-8-1॥
Thus, when Droṇa's son, the great chariot-warrior, had gone to the camp, did Kṛpa and Bhoja, stricken by fear, not turn back?
kaccinna vāritau kṣudrai rakṣibhirnopalakṣitau। asahyamiti vā matvā na nivṛttau mahārathau ॥10-8-2॥
Did the great warriors turn back, either because they were stopped by petty guards, or because they thought 'this is unbearable'?
kaccit pramathya śibiraṃ hatvā somaka-pāṇḍavān। duryodhanasya padavīṃ gatau paramikāṃ raṇe ॥10-8-3॥
Have you, after crushing the camp and killing the Somakas and Pāṇḍavas, reached Duryodhana's supreme path in battle?
pāñcālairvā vinihatau kaccinnāsvapatāṃ kṣitau। kaccittābhyāṃ kṛtaṃ karma tanmamācakṣva sañjaya ॥10-8-4॥
O Sañjaya, tell me whether the sons of Āsvapati have been slain by the Pāñcālas on the battlefield, or whether those two have accomplished their task.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tasmin prayāte śibiraṃ droṇaputre mahātmani। kṛpaś ca kṛtavarmā ca śibiradvāry atiṣṭhatām ॥10-8-5॥
After Drona's noble son left for the camp, Kṛpa and Kṛtavarmā remained standing at the entrance.
aśvatthāmā tu tau dṛṣṭvā yatnavantau mahārathau। prahṛṣṭaḥ śanakai rājan idaṃ vacanam abravīt ॥10-8-6॥
But Aśvatthāman, seeing those two great and diligent chariot-warriors, delighted, slowly said this speech, O king.
yattau bhavantau paryāptau sarvakṣatrasya nāśane। kiṃ punaryodhaśeṣasya prasuptasya viśeṣataḥ ॥10-8-7॥
Since you both are enough to destroy all the Kṣatriyas, how much more so the remaining sleeping warriors?
ahaṃ pravekṣye śibiraṃ cariṣyāmi ca kālavat। yathā na kaścidapi me jīvanmucyeta mānavaḥ ॥10-8-8॥
I will enter the camp and move about like Death itself, ensuring that not a single living man escapes me.
ity uktvā prāviśad drauṇiḥ pārthānāṃ śibiraṃ mahat। advāreṇābhyavaskandya vihāya bhayam ātmanaḥ ॥10-8-9॥
Having said this, Droṇa's son entered the great camp of the Pāṇḍavas through a side entrance, casting aside his own fear.
sa praviśya mahābāhuruddeśajñaś ca tasya ha | dhṛṣṭadyumnasya nilayaṃ śanakair abhyupāgamat ||10-8-10||
He, the mighty-armed and knower of the place, slowly entered and approached the abode of Dhṛṣṭadyumna.
te tu kṛtvā mahatkarma śrāntāś ca balavadraṇe। prasuptā vai suviśvastāḥ svasainyaparivāritāḥ ॥10-8-11॥
But after performing a great feat and being exhausted in the fierce battle, they fell asleep, completely at ease, surrounded by their own army.
atha praviśya tadveśma dhṛṣṭadyumnasya bhārata। pāñcālyaṃ śayane drauṇirapaśyatsuptamantikāt ॥10-8-12॥
Then, O Bhārata, after entering the mansion of Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Droṇa saw Pāñcālya sleeping on his bed nearby.
kṣaumāvadāte mahati spardhyāstaraṇasaṃvṛte। mālyapravarasaṃyukte dhūpaiś cūrṇaiś ca vāsite ॥10-8-13॥
The place was spread with white linen, covered by a splendid carpet, decorated with the finest garlands, and perfumed with incense and fragrant powders.
taṃ śayānaṃ mahātmānaṃ visrabdhamakutobhayam। prābodhayata pādena śayanasthaṃ mahīpate ॥10-8-14॥
O king, he awakened that great-souled, confident, and fearless one, who was lying on the bed, with his foot.
sa buddʰvā caraṇasparśam utthāya raṇadurmadaḥ। abhyajānad ameyātmā droṇaputraṃ mahāratham ॥10-8-15॥
Having realized, he, proud in battle, rose after touching the feet and approached Droṇa's son, the mighty chariot-warrior of immeasurable spirit.
tam utpatantaṃ śayanād aśvatthāmā mahābalaḥ। keśeṣv ālambya pāṇibhyāṃ niṣpipeṣa mahītale ॥10-8-16॥
The mighty Aśvatthāmā seized him by the hair as he rose from the bed and crushed him to the ground.
sa balāttena niṣpiṣṭaḥ sādhvasena ca bhārata। nidrayā caiva pāñcālyo nāśakacceṣṭituṃ tadā ॥10-8-17॥
O Bhārata, at that time, the son of Pāñcālī, crushed by him with force, fear, and sleep, was unable to move.
tamākramya tadā rājan-kaṇṭhe corasi cobhayoḥ| nadantaṃ visphurantaṃ ca paśumāramamārayat||10-8-18||
O king, then, having attacked him on both the neck and chest as he roared and struggled, he killed the animal at once.
tudannakhaistu sa drauṇiṃ nātivyaktaṃudāharat। ācāryaputra śastreṇa jahi mā mā ciraṃ kṛthāḥ ॥ tvatkṛte sukṛtāṃllokāngaccheyaṃ dvipadāṃ vara ॥10-8-19॥
With his nails digging in, he spoke indistinctly to Drona's son: "O teacher's son, kill me with your weapon, do not delay. For your sake, O best of men, may I attain the virtuous worlds."
tasyāvyaktāṃ tu tāṃ vācaṃ saṃśrutya drauṇir abravīt। ācāryaghātināṃ lokā na santi kulapāṃsana ॥ tasmāc chastreṇa nidhanaṃ na tvam arhasi durmate ॥10-8-20॥
But when Aśvatthāma heard his indistinct words, he said: 'Those who slay their teacher have no place in the worlds, O defiler of the family. Therefore, O evil-minded one, you do not deserve an honorable death by weapon.'
evaṃ bruvāṇas taṃ vīraṃ siṃho mattam iva dvipam। marmasv abhyavadhīt kruddhaḥ pādāṣṭhīlaiḥ sudāruṇaiḥ ॥10-8-21॥
Thus, as he was speaking, the lion, enraged, struck the hero in his vital parts with his very terrible, bone-hard feet, just as an intoxicated elephant would.
tasya vīrasya śabdena māryamāṇasya veśmani। abudhyanta mahārāja striyo ye cāsya rakṣiṇaḥ ॥10-8-22॥
O great king, the sound of that hero being beaten in the house woke up the women and his guards.
te dṛṣṭvā varṣmavantaṃ tamatimānuṣavikramam। bhūtameva vyavasyanto na sma pravyāharanbhayāt ॥10-8-23॥
Seeing him with his huge form and superhuman strength, they thought he was some supernatural being and, out of fear, did not utter a word.
taṃ tu tenābhyupāyena gamayitvā yamakṣayam। adhyatiṣṭhat sa tejasvī rathaṃ prāpya sudarśanam ॥10-8-24॥
But, having sent him to Yama's abode by that means, the radiant one stood after reaching the beautiful chariot.
sa tasya bhavanād rājan niṣkramya anādayan diśaḥ। rathena śibiraṃ prāyāt jighāṃsuḥ dviṣataḥ balī ॥10-8-25॥
O king, the mighty one came out of his house, making the directions resound, and went to the camp in his chariot, intent on destroying his enemies.
apakrānte tatas tasmin droṇaputre mahārathe। saha tai rakṣibhiḥ sarvaiḥ praṇedur yoṣitas tadā ॥10-8-26॥
When Drona's son, the great chariot-warrior, had departed, all the women, along with all the guards, wailed together at that moment.
rājānaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā bhṛśaṃ śokaparāyaṇāḥ। vyākrośan kṣatriyāḥ sarve dhṛṣṭadyumnasya bhārata ॥10-8-27॥
O Bhārata, when the king was seen slain, all the warriors of Dhṛṣṭadyumna, overwhelmed with grief, cried out loudly.
tāsāṃ tu tena śabdena samīpe kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ। kṣipraṃ ca samanahyanta kim etad iti cābruvan ॥10-8-28॥
But hearing that sound, the foremost of the Kṣatriyas nearby quickly yoked their chariots and said, "What is this?"
striyastu rājan vitrastā bhāradvājaṃ nirīkṣya tam। abruvan dīna-kaṇṭhena kṣipram ādravateti vai ॥10-8-29॥
But, O king, the frightened women, seeing Bhāradvāja, said to him in distressed voices, "Quickly, run!"
rākṣaso vā manuṣyo vā nainaṃ jānīmahe vayam। hatvā pāñcālarājaṃ yo rathamāruhya tiṣṭhati ॥10-8-30॥
We do not know whether he is a demon or a human. He who stands on the chariot after killing the king of the Pāñcālas.
tatas te yodha-mukhyās taṃ sahasā paryavārayan। sa tān āpatataḥ sarvān rudrāstreṇa vyapothayat ॥10-8-31॥
Then the chief warriors suddenly surrounded him, but he struck down all those who rushed at him with the Rudra weapon. "10-8-31"
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca hatvā sa tāṃścaivāsya padānugān। apaśyacchayane suptamuttamaujasamantike ॥10-8-32॥
After killing Dhṛṣṭadyumna and his followers, he saw Uttamaujas sleeping on a bed close by.
tam apy ākrāmya pādena kaṇṭhe ca urasi ca aujasā| tathaiva mārayām āsa vinardantam ariṃ-damam ॥10-8-33॥
He too, having stepped on him with his foot on the neck and chest with force, began to kill him in the same way, while roaring, the subduer of enemies.
yudhāmanyus tu samprāpto matvā taṃ rakṣasā hatam। gadām udyamya vegena hṛdi drauṇim atāḍayat ॥10-8-34॥
But Yudhāmanyu, upon arriving and believing him to have been slain by the demon, swiftly raised his mace and struck Drona's son on the chest.
tam abhidrutya jagrāha kṣitau ca enam apātayat। visphurantaṃ ca paśuvat tathaiva enam amārayat॥10-8-35॥
He rushed at him, seized him, threw him to the ground, and as he struggled, killed him just like a beast.
tathā sa vīro hatvā taṃ tato'nyān samupādravat। saṃsuptān eva rājendra tatra tatra mahārathān ॥ sphurato vepamānāṃś ca śamiteva paśūn makhe ॥10-8-36॥
Thus, the hero, after slaying him, attacked the others. O king, he subdued the great chariot-warriors, who were sleeping, trembling, and shaking here and there, just as animals are subdued in a sacrifice.
tato nistriṃśam ādāya jaghānānyān pṛthag-janān। bhāgaśo vicaran mārgān asi-yuddha-viśāradaḥ ॥10-8-37॥
Then, taking up his sword, he moved along the paths, skillfully killing various people, for he was an expert in sword-fighting.
tathaiva gulme samprekṣya śayānān madhyagaulmīkān। śrāntān nyastāyudhān sarvān kṣaṇenaiva vyapothayat॥10-8-38॥
In the same way, he saw the Gaulmakas lying in the middle of the camp, exhausted and having set aside their weapons, and struck them all down in an instant.
yodhān aśvān dvipāṁś caiva prācchinat sa varāsinā। rudhirokṣita-sarvāṅgaḥ kāla-sṛṣṭa ivāntakaḥ ॥10-8-39॥
He cut down warriors, horses, and elephants with his excellent sword; his entire body was smeared with blood, looking like the destroyer created by Time.
visphuradbhis ca tair drauṇir nistriṃśasya udyamena ca | ākṣepena tathaiva asya tridha raktokṣitaḥ abhavat ॥10-8-40॥
By the quivering and the raising of the sword by Drona's son, and by the brandishing in the same way, his body became smeared with blood in three places.
tasya lohitasiktasya dīptakhaḍgasya yudhyataḥ। amānuṣa ivākāro babhau paramabhīṣaṇaḥ ॥10-8-41॥
He, fighting with a shining sword soaked in blood, appeared most terrifying, with an appearance like that of a non-human.
ye tv ajāgrata kauravya te'pi śabdena mohitāḥ. nirīkṣyamāṇā anyonyaṃ drauṇiṃ dṛṣṭvā pravivyathuḥ ॥10-8-42॥
O Kaurava, those who were not alert were also deluded by the sound; seeing Drauni, they looked at each other and became agitated.
tadrūpaṃ tasya te dṛṣṭvā kṣatriyāḥ śatrukarśanāḥ। rākṣasaṃ manyamānās taṃ nayanāni nyamīlayan ॥10-8-43॥
When the warriors, who were tormentors of enemies, saw that form of his, they thought him to be a demon and closed their eyes.
sa ghorarūpo vyacarat kālavaj chibire tataḥ। apaśyad draupadī-putrān avaśiṣṭāṃś ca somakān ॥10-8-44॥
He, in a terrifying form, roamed the camp like Death itself. Then he saw the sons of Draupadī and the surviving Somakas.
tena śabdena vitrastā dhanur-hastā mahārathāḥ। dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ hataṃ śrutvā draupadeyā viśāṃ pate ॥ avākirañ śara-vrātair bhāradvājam abhītavat ॥10-8-45॥
O lord of kings, when the great chariot-warriors with bows in hand heard that Dhṛṣṭadyumna was slain by that sound, the sons of Draupadī, undaunted, showered Aśvatthāma (the son of Bhāradvāja) with volleys of arrows.
tatas tena ninādena samprabuddhāḥ prabhadrakāḥ। śilīmukhaiḥ śikhaṇḍī ca droṇaputraṃ samārdayan ॥10-8-46॥
Then, awakened by that sound, the Prabhadrakas and Śikhaṇḍī attacked the son of Droṇa with arrows.
bhāradvājastu tāndṛṣṭvā śaravarṣāṇi varṣataḥ। nanāda balavannādaṃ jighāṃsustānsudurjayān ॥10-8-47॥
But Bharadvaja, seeing them raining showers of arrows, let out a mighty roar, wishing to slay those who were very difficult to conquer.
tataḥ paramasaṅkruddhaḥ pitur vadham anusmaran। avaruhya rathopasthāt tvaramāṇo'bhidudruve ॥10-8-48॥
Then, filled with intense rage and recalling his father's death, he quickly got down from the chariot and rushed forward.
sahasracandraṃ vipulaṃ gṛhītvā carma saṃyuge। khaḍgaṃ ca vipulaṃ divyaṃ jātarūpapariṣkṛtam ॥ draupadeyānabhidrutya khaḍgena vyacaradbali ॥10-8-49॥
He took up a large shield shining like a thousand moons in the battle, and a great divine sword adorned with gold. Rushing at the sons of Draupadi, the mighty warrior moved about wielding his sword.
tataḥ sa naraśārdūlaḥ prativindhyaṃ tamāhave। kukṣideśe'vadhīdrājansa hato nyapatad bhuvi ॥10-8-50॥
Then that tiger among men struck Prativindhya in the abdomen during the battle, O king, and when he was slain, he fell to the ground.
prāsena viddhvā drauṇiṃ tu sutasomaḥ pratāpavān। punaścāsiṃ samudyamya droṇaputramupādravat ॥10-8-51॥
Sutasoma, the valiant, struck Drona's son with his sword, and then, raising his sword again, attacked Drona's son once more.
sutasomasya sāsiṃ tu bāhuṃ chittvā nararṣabhaḥ। punar abhyahanat pārśve sa bhinnahṛdayo'patat ॥10-8-52॥
The mighty warrior cut off Sutasoma's arm with his sword and struck him again on the side; with his heart broken, he fell to the ground.
nākulistu śatānīko rathacakreṇa vīryavān। dorbhyām utkṣipya vegena vakṣasy enam atāḍayat ॥10-8-53॥
But the mighty Śatānīka, son of Nakula, lifted the chariot wheel with both arms and struck him forcefully on the chest.
atāḍayacchatānīkaṃ muktacakraṃ dvijastu saḥ। sa vihvalo yayau bhūmiṃ tato'syāpāharacchiraḥ ॥10-8-54॥
The Brāhmaṇa struck Śatānīka with the released discus. Śatānīka, overwhelmed, fell to the ground; then the Brāhmaṇa cut off his head.
śrutakarmā tu parighaṃ gṛhītvā samatāḍayat। abhidrutya tato drauṇiṃ savye sa phalake bhṛśam ॥10-8-55॥
Śrutakarmā, however, seized his iron club and struck. Then, rushing towards Aśvatthāma, he struck violently on the left side of his shield.
sa tu taṃ śrutakarmāṇamāsye jaghne varāsinā। sa hato nyapatadbhūmau vimūḍho vikṛtānanaḥ ॥10-8-56॥
But he struck him, who had performed Vedic rites, in the mouth with a superior sword. Slain, he fell to the ground, bewildered and with a distorted face.
tena śabdena vīras tu śrutakīrtir mahādhanuḥ। aśvatthāmānam āsādya śaravarṣair avākirat ॥10-8-57॥
Hearing that sound, the heroic Śrutakīrti, a mighty archer, approached Aśvatthāman and showered him with arrows.
tasyāpi śaravarṣāṇi carmaṇā prativārya saḥ। sakuṇḍalaṃ śiraḥ kāyādbhrajāmanamapāharat ॥10-8-58॥
He too, warding off the showers of arrows with his shield, cut off the shining head with earrings from the body.
tato bhīṣma-nihantā taṃ saha sarvaiḥ prabhadrakaiḥ। ahanatsarvato vīraṃ nānā-praharaṇairbalī ॥ śilīmukhena cāpyenaṃ bhruvor-madhye samārdayat ॥10-8-59॥
Then the slayer of Bhishma, together with all the Prabhadrakas, attacked the mighty hero from every side with many weapons. He also pierced him in the middle of the eyebrows with a shilīmukha arrow.
sa tu krodhasamāviṣṭo droṇaputro mahābalaḥ। śikhaṇḍinaṃ samāsādya dvidhā ciccheda so'sinā ॥10-8-60॥
But the mighty son of Droṇa, overcome with rage, approached Śikhaṇḍin and cut him in two with his sword.
śikhaṇḍinaṃ tato hatvā krodhāviṣṭaḥ parantapaḥ। prabhadrakagaṇān sarvān abhidudrāva vegavān॥ yac ca śiṣṭaṃ virāṭasya balaṃ tac ca samādravat॥10-8-61॥
Then, after killing Shikhandin, the furious scorcher of foes swiftly attacked all the Prabhadraka troops. He also charged at the remaining forces of Virata.
drupadasya ca putrāṇāṃ pautrāṇāṃ suhṛdām api। cakāra kadanaṃ ghoraṃ dṛṣṭvā dṛṣṭvā mahābalaḥ ॥10-8-62॥
The mighty warrior, seeing again and again the sons, grandsons, and friends of Drupada, wrought terrible slaughter among them.
anyān anyāṁś ca puruṣān abhisṛtyābhisṛtya ca। nyakṛntad asinā drauṇir asimārgaviśāradaḥ ॥10-8-63॥
Drauṇi, the son of Droṇa and an expert swordsman, repeatedly approached various men and cut them down with his sword.
kālīṃ raktāsyanayanāṃ raktamālyānulepanām। raktāmbaradharāmekāṃ pāśahastāṃ śikhaṇḍinīm ॥10-8-64॥
I bow to Kālī, who has a red mouth and eyes, is adorned with red garlands and unguents, wears red garments, is unique, holds a noose in her hand, and is crested.
dadṛśuḥ kālarātriṃ te smayamānām avasthitām। narāśvakuñjarān pāśair baddhvā ghoraiḥ pratasthuṣīm॥ harantīṃ vividhān pretān pāśabaddhān vimūrdhajān॥10-8-65॥
They saw Kālarātrī, the night of destruction, standing and smiling, having bound men, horses, and elephants with terrible nooses, setting out, carrying away various corpses bound by nooses, their hair disheveled.
svapne suptān nayantīṃ tāṃ rātriṣv anyāsu māriṣa। dadṛśur yodha-mukhyās te ghnantaṃ drauṇiṃ ca nityadā ॥10-8-66॥
O dear, in dreams on various nights, the chief warriors saw her leading the sleeping ones and always saw Aśvatthāman being killed.
yataḥ pravṛttaḥ saṅgrāmaḥ kuru-pāṇḍava-senayoḥ। tataḥ prabhṛti tāṃ kṛtyām apaśyan drauṇim eva ca ॥10-8-67॥
From the moment the battle between the Kuru and Pāṇḍava armies began, from then on, they saw that Kṛtyā and Drauṇi alone.
tāṃs tu daivahatān pūrvaṃ paścād drauṇir nyapātayat। trāsayan sarvabhūtāni vinadan bhairavān ravān॥10-8-68॥
But Aśvatthāma, after those struck by fate had fallen before, felled them, terrifying all beings as he roared with fearful cries.
tadanusmṛtya te vīrā darśanaṃ paurvakālikam। idaṃ tadityamanyanta daivenopanipīḍitāḥ ॥10-8-69॥
Recalling that, the heroes believed the vision was from earlier times; feeling oppressed by fate, they thought, "This is that."
tatasten ninādena pratyabudhyanta dhanvinaḥ। śibire pāṇḍaveyānāṃ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥10-8-70॥
Then, awakened by that sound, hundreds and thousands of archers in the camp of the Pandavas rose from their sleep.
so'cchinat kasyacit pādau jaghanaṃ caiva kasyacit। kāṃścid bibheda pārśveṣu kālasṛṣṭa ivāntakaḥ॥10-8-71॥
He severed the feet of one, the hip of another, and pierced some in the sides, like Death himself sent by Time.
atyugrapratipiṣṭaiś ca nadadbhiś ca bhṛśāturaiḥ। gajāśvamathitaiś cānyair mahī kīrṇābhavat prabho ॥10-8-72॥
O lord, the earth was covered with the bodies of those who were very fierce, trampled, roaring in pain, greatly distressed, and others crushed by elephants and horses.
krośatāṃ kim idaṃ ko'yaṃ kiṃ śabdaḥ kiṃ nu kiṃ kṛtam। evaṃ teṣāṃ tadā drauṇir antakaḥ samapadyata ॥10-8-73॥
As those people cried out, "What is this? Who is this? What is that sound? What has happened?"—at that moment, among them, Aśvatthāma became their destroyer.
apetaśastrasannāhān saṁrabdhān pāṇḍusṛñjayān। prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya drauṇiḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ ॥10-8-74॥
The son of Droṇa, the best among warriors, sent the enraged Pāṇḍavas and Sṛñjayas, who were deprived of their weapons and armour, to the world of death.
tatas tac-chastra-vitrastā utpatanto bhayāturāḥ। nidrāndhā naṣṭasañjñāś ca tatra tatra nililiyire॥10-8-75॥
Then, terrified by those weapons, they jumped up in fear, blinded by sleep and having lost their senses, and hid themselves here and there.
ūrustambhagṛhītāś ca kaśmalābhihataujasaḥ। vinadanto bhṛśaṃ trastāḥ saṃnyapeṣan parasparam ॥10-8-76॥
Their thighs paralyzed and their strength sapped by faintness, they cried out in terror and pressed against one another.
tato rathaṃ punardrauṇirāsthito bhīmanisvanam। dhanuṣpāṇiḥ śarairanyānpreṣayadvai yamakṣayam ॥10-8-77॥
Then Aśvatthāman, son of Droṇa, once again mounted his fearsome-sounding chariot, and, bow in hand, sent others to their death with his arrows.
punarutpatataḥ kāṃścid dūrād api narottamān। śūrān sampatataś ca anyān kālarātryai nyavedayat ॥10-8-78॥
Again, he delivered some of the best men, even those at a distance who were rising, and other rushing heroes, into the hands of the goddess of death (Kālarātri).
tathaiva syandanāgreṇa pramathans vidhāvati. śaravarṣaiś ca vividhair avarṣac chātravāṃs tataḥ ॥10-8-79॥
In the same manner, he rushed forward with the front of his chariot, crushing as he went; then he showered various kinds of arrows upon the warriors.
punaś ca suvicitreṇa śatacandreṇa carmaṇā। tena cākāśavarṇena tad ācarata so'sinā ॥10-8-80॥
Again, he performed that act with a very variegated hide adorned with a hundred moons and with a sky-colored one, using a sword.
tathā sa śibiraṃ teṣāṃ drauṇir āhavadurmadaḥ। vyakṣobhayata rājendra mahāhradam iva dvipaḥ ॥10-8-81॥
Thus, O king, the son of Droṇa, proud in battle, stirred up their camp like an elephant stirs a great lake.
utpetus tena śabdena yodhā rājan vicetasaḥ। nidrārtāś ca bhayārtāś ca vyadhāvanta tataḥ tataḥ ॥10-8-82॥
O king, startled by that sound, the confused warriors, some drowsy and some terrified, sprang up and scattered in all directions.
visvaraṃ cukruśuś cānye bahv-abaddhaṃ tathā avadan। na ca sma pratipadyante śastrāṇi vasanāni ca ॥10-8-83॥
Others cried out in discordant voices, and many spoke irrelevant things; they did not accept the weapons and clothes.
vimuktakeśāś cāpy anye nābhyajānann parasparam। utpatantaḥ pare bhītāḥ kecit tatra tathābhraman ॥ purīṣam asṛjan kecit kecin mūtraṃ prasusruvuḥ ॥10-8-84॥
With their hair disheveled, some did not recognize each other. Some, terrified, jumped about, while others wandered there in confusion. Some discharged excrement, and some let urine flow.
bandhanāni ca rājendra sañchidya turagā dvi-pāḥ। samaṃ paryapataṃś cānye kurvanto mahad-ākulam ॥10-8-85॥
O King, after breaking their bonds, the horses and elephants ran about together, while others created great confusion.
tatra kecinnarā bhītā vyalīyanta mahītale। tathaiva tānnipatitaāna piṃṣan gajavājinaḥ ॥10-8-86॥
There, some men, terrified, vanished into the ground. Likewise, those who had fallen were trampled by elephants and horses.
tasmiṃs tathā vartamāne rakṣāṃsi puruṣarṣabha। tṛptāni vyanadann uccair mudā bharatasattama ॥10-8-87॥
O best of the Bharatas, in that situation, the demons, being satisfied, cried out loudly with joy, O best of men.
sa śabdaḥ prerito rājan bhūta-saṅghaiḥ mudā yutaiḥ। apūrayad diśaḥ sarvā divaṃ ca api mahāsvanaḥ ॥10-8-88॥
O king, that great sound, joyfully raised by the assembled beings, filled all directions and even the sky.
teṣām ārtasvaraṃ śrutvā vitrastā gajavājinaḥ। muktāḥ paryapatan rājān mṛdnantaḥ śibire janam ॥10-8-89॥
Hearing their cries of distress, O king, the terrified elephants and horses broke loose and ran about the camp, trampling people as they went.
taistatra paridhāvadbhiścaraṇodīritaṃ rajaḥ। akaroṣchibire teṣāṃ rajanyāṃ dviguṇaṃ tamaḥ ॥10-8-90॥
There, the dust raised by the feet of those running around made the darkness in their camp at night twice as dense.
tasmiṁs tamasi sañjāte pramūḍhāḥ sarvato janāḥ। nājānan pitarah putrān bhrātṝn bhrātara eva ca ॥10-8-91॥
When that darkness arose, people everywhere were bewildered; they did not recognize their fathers, sons, or even their own brothers.
gajā gajāntikramya nirmanuṣyā hayā hayān। atāḍayaṃstathābhañjaṃstathāmṛdnaṃśca bhārata ॥10-8-92॥
O Bhārata, the elephants, after passing over other elephants, and the riderless horses, struck, broke, and crushed others in this way.
te bhagnāḥ prapatantaś ca nighnantaś ca parasparam। nyapātayanta ca parān pātayitvā tathāpi śan ॥10-8-93॥
Though broken, they fell and struck each other, and even after having brought down their enemies, they continued to fall quietly.
vicetasaḥ sanidrāś ca tamasā cāvṛtā narāḥ। jaghnuḥ svān eva tatrātha kālenābhipracoditāḥ ॥10-8-94॥
The men, rendered unconscious and sleepy, shrouded in darkness, were driven by fate to kill their own people there.
tyaktvā dvārāṇi ca dvāḥsthās tathā gulmāṁś ca gaulmīkāḥ। prādravanta yathāśakti kāndiśīkā vicetasaḥ॥10-8-95॥
The gatekeepers, guards, and Gaulmikas abandoned their posts and fled as best as they could, while the Kandishikas, confused, also ran away.
vipranaṣṭāś ca te'nyonyaṃ nājānanta tadā vibho। krośantas tāta putreti daivopahatacetasaḥ ॥10-8-96॥
O lord, separated from each other, they did not recognize one another at that time. Crying out, "O father! O son!" their minds were overcome by fate.
palāyatāṃ diśasteṣāṃ svānapyutsṛjya bāndhavān। gotranāmabhiranyonyamākrandanta tato janāḥ ॥10-8-97॥
The people, abandoning even their own relatives, fled in all directions, calling out to each other by their family names.
hāhākāraṃ ca kurvāṇāḥ pṛthivyāṃ śerate pare। tānbuddhvā raṇamatto'sau droṇaputro vyapothayat ॥10-8-98॥
The others, making cries of distress, lay on the earth. Seeing them, Droṇa's son, maddened by battle, struck them down.
tatrāpare vadhyamānā muhurmuhuracetasaḥ। śibirānniṣpatanti sma kṣatriyā bhayapīḍitāḥ ॥10-8-99॥
There, other warriors, repeatedly unconscious and being slain, were coming out of the camp, afflicted by fear.
tāṃs tu niṣpatatas trastāñ śibirāñ jīvitaiṣiṇaḥ। kṛtavarmā kṛpaś caiva dvāradeśe nijaghnatuḥ ॥10-8-100॥
But as they were fleeing terrified from the camps, seeking to save their lives, Kritavarma and Kripa killed them at the gate.
viśa-stray-antra-kavacāt mukta-keśān kṛtāñjalīn। vepamānān kṣitau bhītān naiva kāṃścid amuñcatām॥10-8-101॥
They did not release any of those who, with weapons, restraints, and armor, with loosened hair and joined palms, were trembling in fear on the ground.
nāmuçyata tayoḥ kaścinn niṣkrāntaḥ śibirād bahiḥ। kṛpasya ca mahārāja hārdikyasya ca durmateḥ ॥10-8-102॥
O great king, none of those two, Kṛpa and Hārdikya, the evil-minded, went out from the camp.
bhūyaś caiva cikīrṣantau droṇaputrasya tau priyam। triṣu deśeṣu dadatuḥ śibir asya hutāśanam ॥10-8-103॥
Again, wishing to please Drona's son, the two of them set fire to the camp in three places.
tataḥ prakāśe śibire khaḍgena pitṛnandanaḥ। aśvatthāmā mahārāja vyacarat kṛtahastavat ॥10-8-104॥
Then, O King, at dawn in the camp, Aśvatthāmā, the son of his father, moved about with a sword like one whose purpose was accomplished.
kāṃścid āpatato vīrān aparāṃś ca pradhāvataḥ। vyayojayata khaḍgena prāṇair dvijavaro narān ॥10-8-105॥
The noble Brahmin struck down some heroes who attacked and others who fled, taking their lives with his sword.
kāṃścid yodhān sa khaḍgena madhye sañchidya vīryavān। apātayad droṇasutaḥ saṃrabdhaḥ tilakāṇḍavat ॥10-8-106॥
Enraged, the valiant son of Droṇa cut down some warriors in the midst with his sword, causing them to fall like sesame stalks.
vinadadbhir bhṛśāyastair narāśva-viradottamaiḥ। patitair abhavat kīrṇā medinī bharatarṣabha ॥10-8-107॥
O best of the Bharatas, the earth was strewn with the fallen, roaring, and severely wounded foremost men, horses, and elephants.
mānuṣāṇāṃ sahasreṣu hateṣu patiteṣu ca। udatiṣṭhan kabandhāni bahūny utthāya cāpatan ॥10-8-108॥
Among thousands of men, among the slain and the fallen, many headless bodies rose up and, after rising, fell down again.
sāyudhān sāṅgadān bāhūn nicakarta śirāṃsi ca। hasti-hasta-upamān ūrūn hastān pādāṃś ca bhārata ॥10-8-109॥
O Bhārata, he cut off the arms adorned with weapons and ornaments, the heads, the thighs resembling the trunks of elephants, as well as the hands and feet.
pṛṣṭhacchinnāñ śiraśchinnān pārśvacchinnāṃs tathāparān| samāsādyākarod drauṇiḥ kāṃścid cāpi parāṅmukhān ॥10-8-110॥
Drauṇi (Aśvatthāma), having approached, struck down some with their backs, heads, or sides cut, and others as well, including some who were turned away.
madhyakāyān narān anyāṁś ca ciccheda anyāṁś ca karṇataḥ। aṁsadeśe nihatya anyān kāye prāveśayat śiraḥ ॥10-8-111॥
He split some men in half at the waist, others he cut from the ear, and after striking some in the shoulder, he inserted their heads into their bodies.
evaṃ vicaratas tasya nighnataḥ subahūn narān। tamasā rajanī ghorā babhau dāruṇadarśanā ॥10-8-112॥
Thus, as he wandered about killing many men, the dreadful night, terrifying in appearance, set in, shrouded in darkness.
kiñcit-prāṇaiś ca puruṣaiḥ hataiś ca anyaiḥ sahasraśaḥ| bahunā ca gaja-aśvena bhūḥ abhūt bhīma-darśanā ॥10-8-113॥
The earth, covered with the bodies of men, slain by the thousands, along with many elephants and horses, became a terrible sight.
yakṣarakṣaḥ-samākīrṇe rathāśva-dvipad-āruṇe। kruddhena droṇaputreṇa sañchinnāḥ prāpatan bhuvi॥10-8-114॥
In the field crowded with yakṣas and rākṣasas, and reddened by chariots, horses, and elephants, those who were cut down by the furious son of Droṇa fell to the ground.
mātṝr anye pitṝn anye bhrātṝn anye vicukruśuḥ। kecid ūcur na tat kruddhair dhārtarāṣṭraiḥ kṛtaṃ raṇe ॥10-8-115॥
Some cried out for their mothers, others for their fathers, and others for their brothers. Some said, "This was not done in battle by the enraged sons of Dhritarashtra."
yatkṛtaṃ naḥ prasuptānāṃ rakṣobhiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ. asāṃnidhyāddhi pārthānāmidaṃ naḥ kadanaṃ kṛtam ॥10-8-116॥
This slaughter was inflicted upon us by the cruel demons while we were asleep, and it happened because the sons of Pṛthā were not present.
na devāsuragandharvair na yakṣair na ca rākṣasaiḥ। śakyo vijetuṃ kaunteyo goptā yasya janārdanaḥ ॥10-8-117॥
The son of Kunti, protected by Janardana (Krishna), cannot be conquered by gods, asuras, gandharvas, yakṣas, or rākṣasas.
brahmaṇyaḥ satyavāg-dāntaḥ sarvabhūtānukampakaḥ। na ca suptaṃ pramattaṃ vā nyastaśastraṃ kṛtāñjalim ॥ dhāvantaṃ muktakeśaṃ vā hanti pārtho dhanañjayaḥ ॥10-8-118॥
Arjuna, known as Dhanañjaya and Pārtha, is devoted to Brahman, speaks the truth, is self-controlled, and compassionate to all beings; he does not kill anyone who is asleep, careless, has laid down their weapons, has joined their palms in supplication, is running away, or has loosened hair.
tad idaṃ naḥ kṛtaṃ ghoraṃ rakṣobhiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ। iti lālapyamānāḥ sma śerate bahavo janāḥ॥10-8-119॥
Many people, lamenting, lay down saying, "This terrible deed has been done to us by the cruel demons."
stanatāṃ ca manuṣyāṇāmapareṣāṃ ca kūjatām। tato muhūrtātp rāśāmyat sa śabdaḥ tumulo mahān ॥10-8-120॥
The tumultuous and great sound of groaning men and cooing others subsided after a moment.
śoṇitavyatiṣiktāyāṃ vasudhāyāṃ ca bhūmipa। tadrajas-tumulaṃ ghoraṃ kṣaṇenāntaradhīyata ॥10-8-121॥
O king, on the earth that was sprinkled with blood, the dense and terrible dust vanished in an instant.
saṁveṣṭamānān udvignān nirutsāhān sahasraśaḥ। nyapātayan narān kruddhaḥ paśūn paśupatir yathā ॥10-8-122॥
In his anger, he struck down thousands of men who were writhing, distressed, and dispirited, just as the lord of beasts would strike down animals.
anyonyaṃ sampariṣvajya śayānān dravato'parān| saṃlīnān yudhyamānāṃś ca sarvān drauṇir apothayat ॥10-8-123॥
Aśvatthāma struck down everyone—those lying together, those fleeing, those hiding, and those still fighting—without exception.
dahyamānā hutāśena vadhyamānāś ca tena te। parasparaṃ tadā yodhā ananyam asādanam ॥10-8-124॥
Burned by fire and slain by him, at that time the warriors did not approach each other at all.
tasyā rajanyāstvardhena pāṇḍavānāṃ mahadbalam। gamayāmāsa rājendra drauṇiryamaniveśanam ॥10-8-125॥
O king, during half of that night, Aśvatthāman (the son of Droṇa) sent the great army of the Pāṇḍavas to the abode of Yama (i.e., killed them all).
niśācarāṇāṃ sattvānāṃ sa rātrir harṣavardhinī। āsīn naragajāśvānāṃ raudrī kṣayakarī bhṛśam ॥10-8-126॥
That night brought great joy to the night-wanderers, but was dreadful and destructive for men, elephants, and horses.
tatrādṛśyanta rakṣāṃsi piśācāś ca pṛthag-vidhāḥ। khādanto nara-māṃsāni pibantaḥ śoṇitāni ca ॥10-8-127॥
There, various kinds of demons and flesh-eating spirits were seen, eating human flesh and drinking blood.
karālāḥ piṅgalā raudrāḥ śailadantā rajasvalāḥ. jaṭilā dīrghasakthāś ca pañcapādā mahodarāḥ ॥10-8-128॥
They were terrible-faced, tawny, fierce, with mountain-like teeth, menstruating, matted-haired, long-thighed, five-footed, and big-bellied.
paścādaṅgulayo rūkṣā virūpā bhairavasvanāḥ। ghaṭajanavo'tihrasvāśca nīlakaṇṭhā vibhīṣaṇāḥ ॥10-8-129॥
After that, their fingers were rough and deformed, their voices terrifying; they had pot-shaped jaws, were very short, blue-throated, and frightful in appearance.
saputradhārāḥ sukrūrā durdarśanasunirghṛṇāḥ। vividhāni ca rūpāṇi tatrādṛśyanta rakṣasām ॥10-8-130॥
There, the demons, along with their sons and wives, appeared in various forms—very cruel, dreadful to look at, and utterly merciless.
pītvā ca śoṇitaṃ hṛṣṭāḥ prānṛtyan gaṇaśo 'pare। idaṃ varam idaṃ medhyam idaṃ svādv iti ca abruvan ॥10-8-131॥
After drinking the blood, delighted, others danced in groups and said, "This is excellent, this is pure, this is sweet."
medomajjāsthiraktānāṃ vasānāṃ ca bhṛśāsitāḥ। paramāṃsāni khādantaḥ kravyādā māṃsajīvinaḥ ॥10-8-132॥
Flesh-eaters, who live on meat, eat the fat, marrow, bones, blood, and grease, and excessively consume the flesh of others.
vasāṃ cāpyapare pītvā paryadhāvanvikukṣilāḥ। nānāvaktrāstathā raudrāḥ kravyādāḥ piśitāśinaḥ ॥10-8-133॥
And others, after drinking fat, ran about with swollen bellies; they were terrible, with many mouths, flesh-eaters and devourers of meat.
ayutāni ca tatrāsan prayutāni arbūdāni ca। rakṣasāṃ ghorarūpāṇāṃ mahatāṃ krūrakarmaṇām ॥10-8-134॥
There were tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions of rākṣasas there—great beings of terrible appearance and cruel deeds.
muditānāṃ vitṛptānāṃ tasmin mahati vaiśase। sametāni bahūni āsan bhūtāni ca janādhipa॥10-8-135॥
O king, in that great massacre, many beings who were joyful and satisfied had gathered together.
pratyūṣakāle śibirāt pratigantum iyeṣa saḥ। nṛśoṇitāvasiktasya drauṇer āsīd asitsaruḥ॥ pāṇinā saha saṃśliṣṭa ekībhūta iva prabho॥10-8-136॥
At dawn, he wished to return from the camp. The sword of Drona's son, drenched in human blood, seemed as if it had become one with his hand, O lord.
sa niḥśeṣānarīn kṛtvā virarāja janakṣaye। yugānte sarvabhūtāni bhasma kṛtveva pāvakaḥ ॥10-8-137॥
He destroyed all his enemies and stood out amidst the destruction of people, just as fire shines after reducing all beings to ashes at the end of an age.
yathāpratijñaṃ tatkarma kṛtvā drauṇāyaniḥ prabho। durgamāṃ padavīṃ kṛtvā pitur āsīd gatajvaraḥ ॥10-8-138॥
O lord, the son of Droṇa, having fulfilled his vow and accomplished that deed, took the difficult path of his father and became free from anxiety.
yathaiva saṃsuptajane śibire prāviśan niśi। tathaiva hatvā niḥśabde niścakrāma nararṣabhaḥ ॥10-8-139॥
Just as he had entered the camp at night while everyone was asleep, so too, after killing (his target), the great man departed silently.
niṣkramya śibirāttasmāttābhyāṃ saṅgamya vīryavān। ācakhyau karma tatsarvaṃ hṛṣṭaḥ saṃharṣayanvibho ॥10-8-140॥
The mighty one came out from the camp, met those two, and joyfully reported all that had happened, delighting them, O lord.
tāvapyācakhyatustasmai priyaṃ priyakarau tadā। pāñcālānsṛñjayāṃścaiva vinikṛttānsahasraśaḥ ॥ prītyā coccairudakrośaṃstathaivāsphoṭayaṃstalān ॥10-8-141॥
At that time, the two of them told him the pleasing news that the Pāñcālas and Sṛñjayas had been slain by the thousands. Out of joy, they shouted loudly and clapped their hands.
evaṃvidhā hi sā rātriḥ somakānāṃ janakṣaye। prasuptānāṃ pramattānām āsīt subhṛśa-dāruṇā ॥10-8-142॥
That night, during the destruction of the Somakas, was extremely terrible for those who were sleeping and careless.
asaṃśayaṃ hi kālasya paryāyo duratikramaḥ। tādṛśā nihatā yatra kṛtvāsmākaṃ janakṣayam ॥10-8-143॥
Undoubtedly, the course of time is inescapable; it is where such ones were slain, having brought about the destruction of our people.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra said:
prāgeva sumahatkarma drauṇir etan mahārathaḥ। nākarod īdṛśaṃ kasmān matputravijaye dhṛtaḥ ॥10-8-144॥
Earlier, this mighty chariot-warrior, the son of Droṇa, did not perform such a great feat; why was he so determined for my son's victory?
atha kasmāddhate kṣatre karmedaṃ kṛtavānasau। droṇaputro maheṣvāsastanme śaṃsitumarhasi ॥10-8-145॥
Now, please tell me for what reason the son of Droṇa, the great archer, performed this action in your kṣatriya lineage.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
teṣāṃ nūnaṃ bhayānnāsau kṛtavān kurunandana। asāṃnidhyāddhi pārthānāṃ keśavasya ca dhīmataḥ ॥10-8-146॥
O joy of the Kurus, certainly he did not do this out of fear of them; rather, it was because the sons of Pṛthā and the wise Keśava were absent.
sātyakeś cāpi karmedaṃ droṇaputreṇa sādhitam। na hi teṣāṃ samakṣaṃ tān hanyād api marutpatiḥ ॥10-8-147॥
The son of Droṇa accomplished this deed against Satyaki as well. Indeed, even Indra himself could not have slain them in their presence.
etad-īdṛśakaṃ vṛttaṃ rājan supta-jane vibho। tato janakṣayaṃ kṛtvā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātyayam॥ diṣṭyā diṣṭyeti cānyonyaṃ sametyo curmahārathāḥ॥10-8-148॥
O king, such a thing happened while everyone was asleep, O lord. Then, after causing the destruction of people, a great disaster befell the Pāṇḍavas. The great warriors, meeting each other, said, 'By fortune, by fortune.'
paryaṣvajattato drauṇistābhyāṃ ca pratinanditaḥ। idaṃ harṣācca sumahadādade vākyamuttamam ॥10-8-149॥
Then Aśvatthāman, Drona's son, embraced them, and after being warmly greeted, he joyfully spoke these excellent words.
pāñcālā nihatāḥ sarve draupadeyāś ca sarvaśaḥ. somakā matsyaśeṣāś ca sarve vinihatā mayā ॥10-8-150॥
All the Pāñcālas and the sons of Draupadī have been completely slain; the Somakas and all the remaining Matsyas have also been destroyed by me.
idānīṃ kṛtakṛtyāḥ sma yāma tatraiva māciram। yadi jīvati no rājā tasmai śaṃsāmahe priyam ॥10-8-151॥
Now that we have fulfilled our duty, let us go there at once and not delay. If our king is alive, let us convey the good news to him.
