The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 6.43: tricatvāriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

6.43.1

saṃjaya uvāca |
pūrvāhṇe tasya raudrasya yuddhamahno viśāṃ pate |
prāvartata mahāghoraṃ rājñāṃ dehāvakartanam || 1 ||

Sanjaya said, "On the forenoon of that awful day, O king, the terrible battle that mangled the bodies of (so many) kings commenced. And the loud shouts, resembling leonine roars of the Kurus and the Srinjayas, both desirous of victory in battle, made both the welkin and the earth resound therewith. And a tumultuous uproar was heard mingled with the flaps of leathern fences and the blare of conches. And many were the leonine roars that rose there of men shouting against one another. And, O bull of Bharata's race, the sound of bowstrings stretched by (hands cased in) fences, the heavy tread of infantry, the furious neigh of chargers, the falling of sticks and iron hooks (on the beads of elephants), the clash of weapons, the jingle of bells of elephants rushing against one another, and the clatter of cars resembling the roar of clouds, mingled together, produced a loud uproar making one's hair stand on end. And all the Kuru warriors, reckless of their very lives and with cruel intentions, rushed, with standards upraised, against the Pandavas. And Santanu's son himself, taking up a terrible bow that resembled the rod of Death, rushed, O king, on the field of battle, against Dhananjaya. And Arjuna also, endued with great energy, taking up the bow Gandiva celebrated overall the world, rushed, on the field of battle, against Ganga's son. And both those tigers among the Kurus became desirous of slaying each other.

6.43.2

kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca saṃgrāme vijigīṣatām |
siṃhānāmiva saṃhrādo divamurvīṃ ca nādayan || 2 ||

6.43.3

āsītkilakilāśabdastalaśaṅkharavaiḥ saha |
jajñire siṃhanādāśca śūrāṇāṃ pratigarjatām || 3 ||

6.43.4

talatrābhihatāścaiva jyāśabdā bharatarṣabha |
pattīnāṃ pādaśabdāśca vājināṃ ca mahāsvanāḥ || 4 ||

6.43.5

tottrāṅkuśanipātāśca āyudhānāṃ ca nisvanāḥ |
ghaṇṭāśabdāśca nāgānāmanyonyamabhidhāvatām || 5 ||

6.43.6

tasminsamudite śabde tumule lomaharṣaṇe |
babhūva rathanirghoṣaḥ parjanyaninadopamaḥ || 6 ||

6.43.7

te manaḥ krūramādhāya samabhityaktajīvitāḥ |
pāṇḍavānabhyavartanta sarva evocchritadhvajāḥ || 7 ||

6.43.8

svayaṃ śāṃtanavo rājannabhyadhāvaddhanaṃjayam |
pragṛhya kārmukaṃ ghoraṃ kāladaṇḍopamaṃ raṇe || 8 ||

6.43.9

arjuno'pi dhanurgṛhya gāṇḍīvaṃ lokaviśrutam |
abhyadhāvata tejasvī gāṅgeyaṃ raṇamūrdhani || 9 ||

6.43.10

tāvubhau kuruśārdūlau parasparavadhaiṣiṇau |
gāṅgeyastu raṇe pārthaṃ viddhvā nākampayadbalī |
tathaiva pāṇḍavo rājanbhīṣmaṃ nākampayadyudhi || 10 ||

The mighty son of Ganga however, piercing in battle the son of Pritha could not make him waver. And so, O king, the son of Pandu also could not make Bhishma waver in battle. And the mighty bowman Satyaki rushed against Kritavarman. And the battle between these two was fierce in the extreme and made the hair (of onlookers) stand on end. And Satyaki afflicted Kritavarman, and Kritavarman afflicted Satyaki, with loud shouts and each weakened the other. And pierced all over with arrows those mighty warriors shone like two blossoming Kinsukas in spring adorned with flowers. And the mighty bowman Abhimanyu battled with Vrihadvala. Soon, however, in that encounter, O king, the ruler of Kosala cut off the standard and overthrew the charioteer of Subhadra's son. The son of Subhadra then upon the overthrow of his charioteer, was filled with wrath and pierced Vrihadvala, O king, with nine shafts, and with a couple of sharp arrows that grinder of foes also cut off (Vrihadvala's) standard, and with one (more) cut off one of the protectors of his car-wheels and with the other his charioteer. And those chastisers of foes continued to weaken each other with sharp arrows. And Bhimasena struggled in battle with thy son Duryodhana, that mighty car-warrior, proud and inflated, who had injured (the sons of Pandu). Both of those foremost (princes) among the Kurus, are tigers among men and mighty car-warriors. And they covered each other, on the field of battle, with their arrowy showers.

6.43.11

sātyakiśca maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtavarmāṇamabhyayāt |
tayoḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam || 11 ||

6.43.12

sātyakiḥ kṛtavarmāṇaṃ kṛtavarmā ca sātyakim |
ānarchatuḥ śarairghoraistakṣamāṇau parasparam || 12 ||

6.43.13

tau śarācitasarvāṅgau śuśubhāte mahābalau |
vasante puṣpaśabalau puṣpitāviva kiṃśukau || 13 ||

6.43.14

abhimanyurmaheṣvāso bṛhadbalamayodhayat |
tataḥ kosalako rājā saubhadrasya viśāṃ pate |
dhvajaṃ ciccheda samare sārathiṃ ca nyapātayat || 14 ||

6.43.15

saubhadrastu tataḥ kruddhaḥ pātite rathasārathau |
bṛhadbalaṃ mahārāja vivyādha navabhiḥ śaraiḥ || 15 ||

6.43.16

athāparābhyāṃ bhallābhyāṃ pītābhyāmarimardanaḥ |
dhvajamekena ciccheda pārṣṇimekena sārathim |
anyonyaṃ ca śaraistīkṣṇaiḥ kruddhau rājaṃstatakṣatuḥ || 16 ||

6.43.17

māninaṃ samare dṛptaṃ kṛtavairaṃ mahāratham |
bhīmasenastava sutaṃ duryodhanamayodhayat || 17 ||

6.43.18

tāvubhau naraśārdūlau kurumukhyau mahābalau |
anyonyaṃ śaravarṣābhyāṃ vavṛṣāte raṇājire || 18 ||

6.43.19

tau tu vīkṣya mahātmānau kṛtinau citrayodhinau |
vismayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ samapadyata bhārata || 19 ||

And beholding those high-souled and accomplished warriors conversant with all modes of warfare, all creatures were filled with amazement of Bharata. And Dussasana, rushing against that mighty car-warrior Nakula, pierced him with many sharp arrows capable of penetrating into the very vitals. The son of Madri, then, laughing the while, cut off, with sharp arrows (of his), adversary's standard and bow, and then he struck him with five and twenty small-headed arrows. Thy son, however, then, who can with difficulty be vanquished, slew in that fierce encounter the steeds of Nakula and cut off his standard. And Durmukha rushing against the mighty Sahadeva battling in that terrific encounter, pierced him with a shower of arrows. The heroic Sahadeva then, in that fearful battle, overthrew Durmukha's charioteer with an arrow of great sharpness. Both of them, irrepressible in fight, approaching each other in combat, and each attacking the other and desirous of warding off the other's attack, began to strike terror into each other with terrible shafts. And king Yudhishthira himself encountered the ruler of the Madras. The chief of the Madras then in his very sight cut off in twain Yudhishthira's bow. Thereupon the son of Kunti, throwing aside that broken bow, took up another that was stronger and capable of imparting a greater velocity. The king then, with straight arrows, covered the ruler of the Madras, and in great wrath said, 'wait, wait'.

6.43.20

duḥśāsanastu nakulaṃ pratyudyāya mahāratham |
avidhyanniśitairbāṇairbahubhirmarmabhedibhiḥ || 20 ||

6.43.21

tasya mādrīsutaḥ ketuṃ saśaraṃ ca śarāsanam |
ciccheda niśitairbāṇaiḥ prahasanniva bhārata |
athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samārdayat || 21 ||

6.43.22

putrastu tava durdharṣo nakulasya mahāhave |
yugeṣāṃ cicchide bāṇairdhvajaṃ caiva nyapātayat || 22 ||

6.43.23

durmukhaḥ sahadevaṃ tu pratyudyāya mahābalam |
vivyādha śaravarṣeṇa yatamānaṃ mahāhave || 23 ||

6.43.24

sahadevastato vīro durmukhasya mahāhave |
śareṇa bhṛśatīkṣṇena pātayāmāsa sārathim || 24 ||

6.43.25

tāvanyonyaṃ samāsādya samare yuddhadurmadau |
trāsayetāṃ śarairghoraiḥ kṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇau || 25 ||

6.43.26

yudhiṣṭhiraḥ svayaṃ rājā madrarājānamabhyayāt |
tasya madrādhipaścāpaṃ dvidhā ciccheda māriṣa || 26 ||

6.43.27

tadapāsya dhanuśchinnaṃ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |
anyatkārmukamādāya vegavadbalavattaram || 27 ||

6.43.28

tato madreśvaraṃ rājā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ |
chādayāmāsa saṃkruddhastiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt || 28 ||

6.43.29

dhṛṣṭadyumnastato droṇamabhyadravata bhārata |
tasya droṇaḥ susaṃkruddhaḥ parāsukaraṇaṃ dṛḍham |
tridhā ciccheda samare yatamānasya kārmukam || 29 ||

And Dhrishtadyumna, O Bharata rushed against Drona. And Drona, then, in great wrath, cut off in that encounter the hard bow of the high-souled prince of Panchala that was capable of always taking the lives of foes. And at the same time he shot in that conflict a terrible arrow that was like a second rod of Death. And the arrow shot penetrated the body of the prince. Taking up then another bow and fourteen arrows, the son of Drupada pierced Drona in that encounter. And enraged with each other, they battled on fiercely. And the impetuous Sankha encountered Somadatta's son who was equally impetuous in battle and addressed him, O king, saying 'wait, wait'. And that hero then pierced his (adversary's) right arm in that combat. And thereupon the son of Somadatta struck Sankha on the shoulders. And the battle that ensued between those two proud heroes, O king, soon became as terrible as a combat between the gods and the Danavas. And that mighty car-warrior Dhrishtaketu of immeasurable soul, with wrath excited, rushed in battle, O king, against Valhika, the very embodiment of wrath. Valhika, then, O king, setting up a leonine roar, weakened the wrathful Dhrishtaketu with innumerable arrows. The king of the Chedis, however, exceedingly provoked, quickly pierced Valhika in that encounter with nine arrows. Like an infuriate elephant against an infuriate elephant, in that combat they roared against each other repeatedly, both exceedingly enraged.

6.43.30

śaraṃ caiva mahāghoraṃ kāladaṇḍamivāparam |
preṣayāmāsa samare so'sya kāye nyamajjata || 30 ||

6.43.31

athānyaddhanurādāya sāyakāṃśca caturdaśa |
droṇaṃ drupadaputrastu prativivyādha saṃyuge |
tāvanyonyaṃ susaṃkruddhau cakratuḥ subhṛśaṃ raṇam || 31 ||

6.43.32

saumadattiṃ raṇe śaṅkho rabhasaṃ rabhaso yudhi |
pratyudyayau mahārāja tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt || 32 ||

6.43.33

tasya vai dakṣiṇaṃ vīro nirbibheda raṇe bhujam |
saumadattistathā śaṅkhaṃ jatrudeśe samāhanat || 33 ||

6.43.34

tayoḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate |
dṛptayoḥ samare tūrṇaṃ vṛtravāsavayoriva || 34 ||

6.43.35

bāhlīkaṃ tu raṇe kruddhaṃ kruddharūpo viśāṃ pate |
abhyadravadameyātmā dhṛṣṭaketurmahārathaḥ || 35 ||

6.43.36

bāhlīkastu tato rājandhṛṣṭaketumamarṣaṇam |
śarairbahubhirānarchatsiṃhanādamathānadat || 36 ||

6.43.37

cedirājastu saṃkruddho bāhlīkaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ |
vivyādha samare tūrṇaṃ matto mattamiva dvipam || 37 ||

6.43.38

tau tatra samare kruddhau nardantau ca muhurmuhuḥ |
samīyatuḥ susaṃkruddhāvaṅgārakabudhāviva || 38 ||

And they encountered each other with great wrath and looked like the planets Angaraka and Sukra. And Ghatotkacha of cruel deeds encountered the Rakshasa Alamvusha of cruel deeds like Sakra (encountering) Vala in battle. And Ghatotkacha, O Bharata, pierced that infuriate and powerful Rakshasa with ninety keen-edged shafts. And Alamvusha also in that combat pierced the mighty son of Bhimasena in many places with straight arrows (of his). And mangled with arrows they shone in that encounter like the mighty Sakra and the powerful Vala in the combat (of old) between the celestials and the Asuras. The powerful Sikhandin, O king, rushed against Drona's son, Aswatthaman, however deeply piercing the angry Sikhandin stationed (before him) with a keen-edged shaft, caused him to tremble, Sikhandin also, O king, smote Drona's son with a sharp-whetted shaft of excellent temper. And they continued in that encounter to strike each other with various kinds of arrows. And against the heroic Bhagadatta in battle, Virata, the commander of a large division, rushed impetuously, O king, and then commenced (their) combat. Virata, exceedingly provoked, poured on Bhagadatta an arrowy shower like, O Bharata, the clouds showering rain on the mountain breast. But Bhagadatta, that lord of the earth, speedily enveloped Virata in that encounter (with arrows) like the clouds enveloping the risen sun. Kripa, the son of Saradwat, rushed against Vrihadkshatra, the ruler of the Kaikeyas.

6.43.39

rākṣasaṃ krūrakarmāṇaṃ krūrakarmā ghaṭotkacaḥ |
alambusaṃ pratyudiyādbalaṃ śakra ivāhave || 39 ||

6.43.40

ghaṭotkacastu saṃkruddho rākṣasaṃ taṃ mahābalam |
navatyā sāyakaistīkṣṇairdārayāmāsa bhārata || 40 ||

6.43.41

alambusastu samare bhaimaseniṃ mahābalam |
bahudhā vārayāmāsa śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ || 41 ||

6.43.42

vyabhrājetāṃ tatastau tu saṃyuge śaravikṣatau |
yathā devāsure yuddhe balaśakrau mahābalau || 42 ||

6.43.43

śikhaṇḍī samare rājandrauṇimabhyudyayau balī |
aśvatthāmā tataḥ kruddhaḥ śikhaṇḍinamavasthitam || 43 ||

6.43.44

nārācena sutīkṣṇena bhṛśaṃ viddhvā vyakampayat |
śikhaṇḍyapi tato rājandroṇaputramatāḍayat || 44 ||

6.43.45

sāyakena supītena tīkṣṇena niśitena ca |
tau jaghnatustadānyonyaṃ śarairbahuvidhairmṛdhe || 45 ||

6.43.46

bhagadattaṃ raṇe śūraṃ virāṭo vāhinīpatiḥ |
abhyayāttvarito rājaṃstato yuddhamavartata || 46 ||

6.43.47

virāṭo bhagadattena śaravarṣeṇa tāḍitaḥ |
abhyavarṣatsusaṃkruddho megho vṛṣṭyā ivācalam || 47 ||

6.43.48

bhagadattastatastūrṇaṃ virāṭaṃ pṛthivīpatim |
chādayāmāsa samare meghaḥ sūryamivoditam || 48 ||

6.43.49

bṛhatkṣatraṃ tu kaikeyaṃ kṛpaḥ śāradvato yayau |
taṃ kṛpaḥ śaravarṣeṇa chādayāmāsa bhārata || 49 ||

6.43.50

gautamaṃ kekayaḥ kruddhaḥ śaravṛṣṭyābhyapūrayat |
tāvanyonyaṃ hayānhatvā dhanuṣī vinikṛtya vai || 50 ||

And Kripa, O Bharata, enveloped him with a shower of arrows. Vrihadkshatra also shrouded the infuriate son of Gautama with an arrowy downpour. And those warriors, then, having slain each other's steeds and cut off each other's bows, were both deprived of their cars. And exceedingly enraged, they then approached each other for fighting with their swords. And the combat which then took place between them was terrible in aspect and unparalleled. That chastiser of foes, king Drupada, then, in great wrath rushed against Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sindhus, cheerfully waiting (for battle). The ruler of the Sindhus pierced Drupada in that combat with three shafts, and Drupada pierced him in return. And the battle that took place between them was terrible and fierce, and productive of satisfaction in the hearts of all the spectators and resembling a conflict between the planets Sukra and Angaraka. And Vikarna, son to thee, with fleet steeds, rushed against the mighty Sutasoma and the combat between them commenced. Vikarna, however, although he pierced Sutasoma with many arrows, failed to make him waver. Neither could Sutasoma make Vikarna waver. And that appeared wonderful (to all). And against Susarman, that mighty car-warrior and tiger among men, viz., Chekitana of great prowess, rushed in exceeding wrath for the sake of the Pandavas. And Susarman also, O great king, in that encounter checked the advance of that mighty car-warrior Chekitana with plentiful shower of arrows.

6.43.51

virathāvasiyuddhāya samīyaturamarṣaṇau |
tayostadabhavadyuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ sudāruṇam || 51 ||

6.43.52

drupadastu tato rājā saindhavaṃ vai jayadratham |
abhyudyayau saṃprahṛṣṭo hṛṣṭarūpaṃ paraṃtapa || 52 ||

6.43.53

tataḥ saindhavako rājā drupadaṃ viśikhaistribhiḥ |
tāḍayāmāsa samare sa ca taṃ pratyavidhyata || 53 ||

6.43.54

tayoḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ sudāruṇam |
īkṣitṛprītijananaṃ śukrāṅgārakayoriva || 54 ||

6.43.55

vikarṇastu sutastubhyaṃ sutasomaṃ mahābalam |
abhyayājjavanairaśvaistato yuddhamavartata || 55 ||

6.43.56

vikarṇaḥ sutasomaṃ tu viddhvā nākampayaccharaiḥ |
sutasomo vikarṇaṃ ca tadadbhutamivābhavat || 56 ||

6.43.57

suśarmāṇaṃ naravyāghraṃ cekitāno mahārathaḥ |
abhyadravatsusaṃkruddhaḥ pāṇḍavārthe parākramī || 57 ||

6.43.58

suśarmā tu mahārāja cekitānaṃ mahāratham |
mahatā śaravarṣeṇa vārayāmāsa saṃyuge || 58 ||

6.43.59

cekitāno'pi saṃrabdhaḥ suśarmāṇaṃ mahāhave |
prācchādayattamiṣubhirmahāmegha ivācalam || 59 ||

And Chekitana also, greatly provoked, showered on Susarman, in that terrible conflict, a shower of arrows like a mighty mass of clouds showering rain on the mountain breast. And Sakuni, endued with great prowess, rushed, O king, against Prativindhya of great prowess, like a lion against an infuriate elephant. Thereupon the son of Yudhishthira, in exceeding wrath, mangled Suvala's son in that combat, with sharp arrows, like Maghavat (mangling) a Danava. And Sakuni also, in that fierce conflict, pierced Prativindhya in return and mangled that warrior of great intelligence with straight arrows. And Srutakarman rushed in battle, O great king, against that mighty car-warrior Sudakshina of great prowess, the ruler of the Kamvojas. Sudakshina, however, O great king, piercing that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Sahadeva, failed to make him waver (for he stood) like the Mainaka mountain (against the assaults of Indra). Thereupon Srutakarman, exceedingly provoked, weakened that mighty car-warrior of the Kamvojas with innumerable arrows and mangled him in every part of his body. And Iravan, that chastiser of foes, in great wrath and exerting carefully, rushed in battle against the wrathful Srutayush. The powerful son of Arjuna, that mighty car-warrior, then slaying the steeds of his adversary, set up a loud roar, and thereupon, O king, all the warriors (who saw the feat) praised him greatly.

6.43.60

śakuniḥ prativindhyaṃ tu parākrāntaṃ parākramī |
abhyadravata rājendra matto mattamiva dvipam || 60 ||

6.43.61

yaudhiṣṭhirastu saṃkruddhaḥ saubalaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |
vyadārayata saṃgrāme maghavāniva dānavam || 61 ||

6.43.62

śakuniḥ prativindhyaṃ tu pratividhyantamāhave |
vyadārayanmahāprājñaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ || 62 ||

6.43.63

sudakṣiṇaṃ tu rājendra kāmbojānāṃ mahāratham |
śrutakarmā parākrāntamabhyadravata saṃyuge || 63 ||

6.43.64

sudakṣiṇastu samare sāhadeviṃ mahāratham |
viddhvā nākampayata vai mainākamiva parvatam || 64 ||

6.43.65

śrutakarmā tataḥ kruddhaḥ kāmbojānāṃ mahāratham |
śarairbahubhirānarchaddārayanniva sarvaśaḥ || 65 ||

6.43.66

irāvānatha saṃkruddhaḥ śrutāyuṣamamarṣaṇam |
pratyudyayau raṇe yatto yattarūpataraṃ tataḥ || 66 ||

6.43.67

ārjunistasya samare hayānhatvā mahārathaḥ |
nanāda sumahannādaṃ tatsainyaṃ pratyapūrayat || 67 ||

6.43.68

śrutāyustvatha saṃkruddhaḥ phālguneḥ samare hayān |
nijaghāna gadāgreṇa tato yuddhamavartata || 68 ||

And Srutasena also, exceedingly provoked, slew in that conflict the steeds of Falguni's son with a powerful mace, and the battle between them continued. And Vinda and Anuvinda, those two princes of Avanti, approached in battle that mighty car-warrior the heroic Kuntibhoja at the head of his troops accompanied by his son. And wonderful was the prowess we beheld of those two princes on that occasion, for they fought on very cooly though battling with a large body of troops. And Anuvinda hurled a mace at Kuntibhoja, but Kuntibhoja quickly covered him with a shower of arrows. And the son of Kuntibhoja pierced Vinda with many arrows, and the latter also pierced him in return. And the combat (between them) looked very wonderful. And the Kekaya brothers, O sire, at the head of their troops, encountered in battle the five Gandhara princes with their troops. And thy son Viravahu battled with that best of car-warriors Uttara, the son of Virata and pierced him with nine arrows. And Uttara also pierced that hero with sharp-edged arrows. And the ruler of the Chedis, O king, rushed in battle against Uluka. And he pierced Uluka with a shower of arrows, and Uluka also pierced him with sharp arrows furnished with excellent wing. And the combat that took place between them, O king, was fierce in the extreme, for unable to vanquish each other, they mangled each other terribly.

6.43.69

vindānuvindāvāvantyau kuntibhojaṃ mahāratham |
sasenaṃ sasutaṃ vīraṃ saṃsasajjaturāhave || 69 ||

6.43.70

tatrādbhutamapaśyāma āvantyānāṃ parākramam |
yadayudhyansthirā bhūtvā mahatyā senayā saha || 70 ||

6.43.71

anuvindastu gadayā kuntibhojamatāḍayat |
kuntibhojastatastūrṇaṃ śaravrātairavākirat || 71 ||

6.43.72

kuntibhojasutaścāpi vindaṃ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ |
sa ca taṃ prativivyādha tadadbhutamivābhavat || 72 ||

6.43.73

kekayā bhrātaraḥ pañca gāndhārānpañca māriṣa |
sasainyāste sasainyāṃśca yodhayāmāsurāhave || 73 ||

6.43.74

vīrabāhuśca te putro vairāṭiṃ rathasattamam |
uttaraṃ yodhayāmāsa vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |
uttaraścāpi taṃ dhīraṃ vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ || 74 ||

6.43.75

cedirāṭsamare rājannulūkaṃ samabhidravat |
ulūkaścāpi taṃ bāṇairniśitairlomavāhibhiḥ || 75 ||

6.43.76

tayoryuddhaṃ samabhavadghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate |
dārayetāṃ susaṃkruddhāvanyonyamaparājitau || 76 ||

6.43.77

evaṃ dvaṃdvasahasrāṇi rathavāraṇavājinām |
padātīnāṃ ca samare tava teṣāṃ ca saṃkulam || 77 ||

And thus in that general engagement thousands of single combats took place between men on car, warriors on elephants and horsemen, and foot-soldiers, of their side and thine. For a short while only that engagement offered a beautiful sight. Soon, however, O king, it became furious and nothing could be discovered. In the battle (that ensued) elephants rushed against elephants, car-warriors against car-warriors, steed against steed and foot-soldier against foot-soldier. The conflict then became confused and fierce in the extreme, of heroes rushing against each other in the melee. And the celestial Rishi, and Siddhas and Charanas, that were present there, beheld that terrific battle to resemble the combat of the gods and the Asuras. And elephants in thousands, and cars also in thousands, and vast bodies of infantry, O sire, seemed to alter their character. And, O tiger among men, it was seen that cars and elephants and steeds and infantry fought with each other repeatedly on the same places.

6.43.78

muhūrtamiva tadyuddhamāsīnmadhuradarśanam |
tata unmattavadrājanna prājñāyata kiṃcana || 78 ||

6.43.79

gajo gajena samare rathī ca rathinaṃ yayau |
aśvo'śvaṃ samabhipretya padātiśca padātinam || 79 ||

6.43.80

tato yuddhaṃ sudurdharṣaṃ vyākulaṃ samapadyata |
śūrāṇāṃ samare tatra samāsādya parasparam || 80 ||

6.43.81

tatra devarṣayaḥ siddhāścāraṇāśca samāgatāḥ |
praikṣanta tadraṇaṃ ghoraṃ devāsuraraṇopamam || 81 ||

6.43.82

tato dantisahasrāṇi rathānāṃ cāpi māriṣa |
aśvaughāḥ puruṣaughāśca viparītaṃ samāyayuḥ || 82 ||

6.43.83

tatra tatraiva dṛśyante rathavāraṇapattayaḥ |
sādinaśca naravyāghra yudhyamānā muhurmuhuḥ || 83 ||