10.013
Core and Pancharatra: Krishna goes looking for Bhima, along with Yudhisthira and Arjuna. Bhima finds Ashwatthama along with Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Ashwatthama, scared, without much thought, releases the divine weapon against the Pandavas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
एवमुक्त्वा युधां श्रेष्ठः सर्वयादवनन्दनः। सर्वायुधवरोपेतमारुरोह महारथम् ॥ युक्तं परमकाम्बोजैस्तुरगैर्हेममालिभिः ॥१०-१३-१॥
Having spoken thus, the foremost among warriors, the joy of all the Yadavas, mounted his great chariot, which was fitted with all the best weapons and yoked to the finest Kamboja horses adorned with golden garlands.
आदित्योदयवर्णस्य धुरं रथवरस्य तु। दक्षिणामवहत्सैन्यः सुग्रीवः सव्यतोऽवहत् ॥ पार्ष्णिवाहौ तु तस्यास्तां मेघपुष्पबलाहकौ ॥१०-१३-२॥
The yoke of the excellent chariot was of the color of sunrise; Sainya drew the right side, Sugriva the left, and Meghapushpa and Balāhaka were the rear drivers of his chariot.
विश्वकर्मकृता दिव्या नानारत्नविभूषिता। उच्छ्रितेव रथे माया ध्वजयष्टिरदृश्यत ॥१०-१३-३॥
A divine flagstaff, crafted by Viśvakarman and adorned with many jewels, appeared to rise on the chariot as if by magic.
वैनतेयः स्थितस्तस्यां प्रभामण्डलरश्मिवान्। तस्य सत्यवतः केतुर्भुजगारिरदृश्यत ॥१०-१३-४॥
Garuda, the son of Vinatā, stood there shining with a halo of light. The banner of Satyavata, marked by the enemy of serpents (Garuda), became visible.
अन्वारोहद्धृषीकेशः केतुः सर्वधनुष्मताम्। अर्जुनः सत्यकर्मा च कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥१०-१३-५॥
Dhṛṣīkeśa (Krishna), the foremost among all bowmen, ascended; along with Arjuna, who was truthful in action, and Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus.
अशोभेतां महात्मानौ दाशार्हमभितः स्थितौ। रथस्थं शार्ङ्गधन्वानमश्विनाविव वासवम् ॥१०-१३-६॥
The two noble heroes, standing on either side of Krishna, shone like the twin Aśvins flanking Indra, as the wielder of the Śārṅga bow stood upon his chariot.
तावुपारोप्य दाशार्हः स्यन्दनं लोकपूजितम्। प्रतोदेन जवोपेतान्परमाश्वानचोदयत् ॥१०-१३-७॥
Krishna, the descendant of the Dasharha, mounted the two onto the chariot honored by the world and, with his whip, urged the excellent, swift horses onward.
ते हयाः सहसोत्पेतुर्गृहीत्वा स्यन्दनोत्तमम्। आस्थितं पाण्डवेयाभ्यां यदूनामृषभेण च ॥१०-१३-८॥
The horses suddenly leapt forward, drawing the excellent chariot that was occupied by the two Pandavas and the chief of the Yadus.
वहतां शार्ङ्गधन्वानमश्वानां शीघ्रगामिनाम्। प्रादुरासीन्महाञ्शब्दः पक्षिणां पततामिव ॥१०-१३-९॥
A great sound arose from the swift-moving horses carrying the Śārṅga-bow wielders, like the sound of birds in flight.
ते समार्छन्नरव्याघ्राः क्षणेन भरतर्षभ। भीमसेनं महेष्वासं समनुद्रुत्य वेगिताः ॥१०-१३-१०॥
O bull among the Bharatas, those tigers among men swiftly pursued and surrounded Bhimasena, the mighty archer, in an instant.
क्रोधदीप्तं तु कौन्तेयं द्विषदर्थे समुद्यतम्। नाशक्नुवन्वारयितुं समेत्यापि महारथाः ॥१०-१३-११॥
But when the son of Kunti rose up, inflamed with anger against the enemy, even the great chariot-warriors, though assembled together, could not restrain him.
स तेषां प्रेक्षतामेव श्रीमतां दृढधन्विनाम्। ययौ भागिरथीकच्छं हरिभिर्भृशवेगितैः ॥ यत्र स्म श्रूयते द्रौणिः पुत्रहन्ता महात्मनाम् ॥१०-१३-१२॥
He, observed by those illustrious and mighty archers, went to the bank of the Bhagirathi with his swift horses, to the place where Aśvatthāman, the slayer of the sons of the noble ones, is said to be.
स ददर्श महात्मानमुदकान्ते यशस्विनम्। कृष्णद्वैपायनं व्यासमासीनमृषिभिः सह ॥१०-१३-१३॥
He saw the illustrious sage Vyāsa, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, sitting at the water's edge surrounded by sages.
तं चैव क्रूरकर्माणं घृताक्तं कुशचीरिणम्। रजसा ध्वस्तकेशान्तं ददर्श द्रौणिमन्तिके ॥१०-१३-१४॥
He saw Drona's son nearby, cruel in his deeds, smeared with ghee, wearing a garment of kusa grass, his hair ends disheveled and covered in dust.
तमभ्यधावत्कौन्तेयः प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः। भीमसेनो महाबाहुस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥१०-१३-१५॥
The son of Kunti seized his bow and arrows and rushed at him; Bhimasena, the mighty-armed, called out, "Stand, stand!"
स दृष्ट्वा भीमधन्वानं प्रगृहीतशरासनम्। भ्रातरौ पृष्ठतश्चास्य जनार्दनरथे स्थितौ ॥१०-१३-१६॥
He saw Bhīma, armed with his great bow, with his two brothers standing behind him on Janārdana's chariot.
व्यथितात्माभवद्द्रौणिः प्राप्तं चेदममन्यत ॥१०-१३-१६॥
Drauṇi, the son of Droṇa, became distressed, thinking, "If this has been attained."
स तद्दिव्यमदीनात्मा परमास्त्रमचिन्तयत्। जग्राह च स चैषीकां द्रौणिः सव्येन पाणिना ॥ स तामापदमासाद्य दिव्यमस्त्रमुदीरयत् ॥१०-१३-१७॥
He, undaunted in spirit, contemplated the supreme divine weapon. Then Droṇa's son took up the dart with his left hand. Upon encountering that calamity, he released the celestial weapon.
अमृष्यमाणस्ताञ्शूरान्दिव्यायुधधरान्स्थितान्। अपाण्डवायेति रुषा व्यसृजद्दारुणं वचः ॥१०-१३-१८॥
Unable to tolerate the sight of those heroic warriors bearing divine weapons, he angrily spoke harsh words, declaring, "Let it be against the Pāṇḍavas."
इत्युक्त्वा राजशार्दूल द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। सर्वलोकप्रमोहार्थं तदस्त्रं प्रमुमोच ह ॥१०-१३-१९॥
After saying this, O best of kings, the valiant son of Droṇa released that weapon for the bewilderment of all the worlds.
ततस्तस्यामिषीकायां पावकः समजायत। प्रधक्ष्यन्निव लोकांस्त्रीन्कालान्तकयमोपमः ॥१०-१३-२०॥
Then, fire arose in that reed, as if it would consume the three worlds, resembling Yama at the end of time.
