14.085
गान्धारपराजयः
Defeat of Gandhara.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
शकुनेस्तु सुतो वीरो गान्धाराणां महारथः। प्रत्युद्ययौ गुडाकेशं सैन्येन महता वृतः ॥ हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्णेन पताकाध्वजमालिना ॥१४-८५-१॥
But the heroic son of Śakuni, the great charioteer of the Gandhāras, approached Guḍākeśa (Arjuna), surrounded by a great army filled with elephants, horses, and chariots, decked with rows of banners and standards. (14-85-1)
अमृष्यमाणास्ते योधा नृपतेः शकुनेर्वधम्। अभ्ययुः सहिताः पार्थं प्रगृहीतशरासनाः ॥१४-८५-२॥
Unable to bear the slaying of Śakuni, those warriors of the king, all together with bows in hand, approached Pārtha. (14-85-2)
तानुवाच स धर्मात्मा बीभत्सुरपराजितः। युधिष्ठिरस्य वचनं न च ते जगृहुर्हितम् ॥१४-८५-३॥
He, the righteous and unconquered Bībhatsu, spoke to them; but they did not accept the beneficial words of Yudhiṣṭhira. (14-85-3)
वार्यमाणास्तु पार्थेन सान्त्वपूर्वममर्षिताः। परिवार्य हयं जग्मुस्ततश्चुक्रोध पाण्डवः ॥१४-८५-४॥
But though restrained by Pārtha with conciliatory words, they became angry, and having surrounded the horse, went away; then the Pāṇḍava became angry. (14-85-4)
ततः शिरांसि दीप्ताग्रैस्तेषां चिच्छेद पाण्डवः। क्षुरैर्गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तैर्नातियत्नादिवार्जुनः ॥१४-८५-५॥
Then Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu, cut off their heads with blazing-tipped, razor-headed arrows shot from the Gāṇḍīva bow, almost without much effort. (14-85-5)
ते वध्यमानाः पार्थेन हयमुत्सृज्य सम्भ्रमात्। न्यवर्तन्त महाराज शरवर्षार्दिता भृशम् ॥१४-८५-६॥
O great king, as they were being struck down by Pārtha, they abandoned their horse in confusion and turned back, greatly afflicted by the showers of arrows. (14-85-6)
वितुद्यमानस्तैश्चापि गान्धारैः पाण्डवर्षभः। आदिश्यादिश्य तेजस्वी शिरांस्येषां न्यपातयत् ॥१४-८५-७॥
Though assaulted by them and also by the Gandharas, the powerful bull among the Pandavas repeatedly struck, and he cut off the heads of these foes. (14-85-7)
वध्यमानेषु तेष्वाजौ गान्धारेषु समन्ततः। स राजा शकुनेः पुत्रः पाण्डवं प्रत्यवारयत् ॥१४-८५-८॥
While the Gandharas were being slain on all sides in battle, he, the king, son of Shakuni, confronted the Pandava. (14-85-8)
तं युध्यमानं राजानं क्षत्रधर्मे व्यवस्थितम्। पार्थोऽब्रवीन्न मे वध्या राजानो राजशासनात् ॥ अलं युद्धेन ते वीर न तेऽस्त्यद्य पराजयः ॥१४-८५-९॥
Seeing the king who was fighting, steadfast in the kṣatriya duty, Pārtha said: "Kings are not to be slain by me by royal decree. Enough of battle for you, O hero—today there is no defeat for you." (14-85-9)
इत्युक्तस्तदनादृत्य वाक्यमज्ञानमोहितः। स शक्रसमकर्माणमवाकिरत सायकैः ॥१४-८५-१०॥
When thus addressed, he ignored those words, and, being deluded by ignorance, he showered arrows at the one whose actions were equal to Indra. (14-85-10)
तस्य पार्थः शिरस्त्राणमर्धचन्द्रेण पत्रिणा। अपाहरदसम्भ्रान्तो जयद्रथशिरो यथा ॥१४-८५-११॥
Pārtha (Arjuna), unagitated, removed his helmet with a half-moon-shaped arrow, just as he had previously cut off Jayadratha's head. (14-85-11)
तद्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं जग्मुर्गान्धाराः सर्व एव ते। इच्छता तेन न हतो राजेत्यपि च ते विदुः ॥१४-८५-१२॥
Having seen that, the Gandharas all indeed were filled with wonder. They also knew that the king had not been killed by the one who wished (to kill him). (14-85-12)
गान्धारराजपुत्रस्तु पलायनकृतक्षणः। बभौ तैरेव सहितस्त्रस्तैः क्षुद्रमृगैरिव ॥१४-८५-१३॥
But the son of the king of Gandhāra, having seized the opportunity to flee, appeared together with those same frightened ones, just like (being) with small animals. (14-85-13)
तेषां तु तरसा पार्थस्तत्रैव परिधावताम्। विजहारोत्तमाङ्गानि भल्लैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥१४-८५-१४॥
But Pārtha (Arjuna), with speed, right there, cut off the heads of those who were running about with his curved, jointed arrows. (14-85-14)
उच्छ्रितांस्तु भुजान्केचिन्नाबुध्यन्त शरैर्हृतान्। शरैर्गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तैः पृथुभिः पार्थचोदितैः ॥१४-८५-१५॥
However, some did not realize that their upraised arms had been severed by the broad arrows released from the Gāṇḍīva, discharged by Pārtha. (14-85-15)
सम्भ्रान्तनरनागाश्वमथ तद्विद्रुतं बलम्। हतविध्वस्तभूयिष्ठमावर्तत मुहुर्मुहुः ॥१४-८५-१६॥
That army, agitated with men, elephants, and horses, fleeing and mostly slain and scattered, kept returning again and again. (14-85-16)
न ह्यदृश्यन्त वीरस्य केचिदग्रेऽग्र्यकर्मणः। रिपवः पात्यमाना वै ये सहेयुर्महाशरान् ॥१४-८५-१७॥
Truly, none could be seen in the forefront of the heroic one of noble deeds; the enemies being struck — who could withstand his mighty arrows? (14-85-17)
ततो गान्धारराजस्य मन्त्रिवृद्धपुरःसरा। जननी निर्ययौ भीता पुरस्कृत्यार्घ्यमुत्तमम् ॥१४-८५-१८॥
Then the mother of the king of Gandhara, escorted by the minister and elders, went out fearfully, placing in front the best offering of hospitality (arghya). (14-85-18)
सा न्यवारयदव्यग्रा तं पुत्रं युद्धदुर्मदम्। प्रसादयामास च तं जिष्णुमक्लिष्टकारिणम् ॥१४-८५-१९॥
She, remaining unperturbed, restrained that son who was intoxicated by battle, and she also sought to appease that victorious one who accomplished deeds without hardship. (14-85-19)
तां पूजयित्वा कौन्तेयः प्रसादमकरोत्तदा। शकुनेश्चापि तनयं सान्त्वयन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥१४-८५-२०॥
Having honored her, the son of Kunti then showed favor. Consoling even the son of Śakuni, he said this. (14-85-20)
न मे प्रियं महाबाहो यत्ते बुद्धिरियं कृता। प्रतियोद्धुममित्रघ्न भ्रातैव त्वं ममानघ ॥१४-८५-२१॥
O mighty-armed, this resolve of yours, to fight against me, is not dear to me; O destroyer of foes, you are indeed my brother, O sinless one. (14-85-21)
गान्धारीं मातरं स्मृत्वा धृतराष्ट्रकृतेन च। तेन जीवसि राजंस्त्वं निहतास्त्वनुगास्तव ॥१४-८५-२२॥
O king, having remembered Gāndhārī, your mother, and through the act done for Dhṛtarāṣṭra, it is by that you remain alive, while your followers, who are yours, have been slain. (14-85-22)
मैवं भूः शाम्यतां वैरं मा ते भूद्बुद्धिरीदृशी। आगन्तव्यं परां चैत्रीमश्वमेधे नृपस्य नः ॥१४-८५-२३॥
Do not be so; let the enmity be pacified. Do not harbor such thoughts. You must come to the great Caitra horse-sacrifice of our king. (14-85-23)
