Mahabharata 6.74: catuḥ saptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ

6.74.1

saṃjaya uvāca |
tato duryodhano rājā mohātpratyāgatastadā |
śaravarṣaiḥ punarbhīmaṃ pratyavārayadacyutam || 1 ||

Sanjaya said, "Then king Duryodhana, regaining his senses, once more began to resist Bhima with showers of arrows. And once more those mighty car-warriors viz., thy sons, united together, began to fight valiantly with Bhimasena. And Bhimasena also of mighty arms during that battle, having got his car, ascended it and proceeded to the spot where thy sons were. And taking up a strong and very tough bow adorned with gold and capable of taking the lives of foes he pierced thy sons in that conflict, with his shafts. Then king Duryodhana struck the mighty Bhimasena at the very vitals with a long shaft of exceeding sharpness. Then that mighty bowman, pierced thus deeply by thy son, bow in hand, forcibly drawing his own with eyes red in wrath, struck Duryodhana in his two arms and the breast with three shafts. But struck thus, O king, he moved not, like a prince of mountains. Beholding then those two heroes excited with rage and smiting each other, the younger brothers of Duryodhana, all of whom were heroes prepared to lay down their lives, remembering their previously formed scheme of afflicting Vrikodara of terrible deeds, set about firmly resolved, for smiting him down. And as they fell upon him in battle, Bhimasena of great strength rushed against them, O king, like an elephant rushing against an attacking compeer. Excited with fury and endued with great energy, that celebrated hero then, O king, afflicted thy son Chitrasena with a long arrow. And as regards thy other sons, that descendant of Bharata smote them all in that battle, with diverse kinds of shafts furnished with wings of gold and endued with great impetus. Then king Yudhishthira the just, disposing all his own divisions properly despatched twelve mighty car-warriors including Abhimanyu and others to follow Bhimasena behind. Those, O king, all proceeded against those mighty car-warriors, viz., thy sons. Beholding those heroes on their cars, resembling the Sun himself or the fire in splendour-those great bowmen of blazing effulgence and superb beauty, looking resplendent in that dreadful conflict with ornaments of gold,--thy mighty sons abandoned Bhima (with whom they had been fighting). The sons of Kunti, however, could not bear the sight of their abandoning the conflict alive."

Sanjaya said, "Then king Duryodhana, regaining his senses, once more began to resist Bhima with showers of arrows. And once more those mighty car-warriors viz., thy sons, united together, began to fight valiantly with Bhimasena. And Bhimasena also of mighty arms during that battle, having got his car, ascended it and proceeded to the spot where thy sons were. And taking up a strong and very tough bow adorned with gold and capable of taking the lives of foes he pierced thy sons in that conflict, with his shafts. Then king Duryodhana struck the mighty Bhimasena at the very vitals with a long shaft of exceeding sharpness. Then that mighty bowman, pierced thus deeply by thy son, bow in hand, forcibly drawing his own with eyes red in wrath, struck Duryodhana in his two arms and the breast with three shafts. But struck thus, O king, he moved not, like a prince of mountains. Beholding then those two heroes excited with rage and smiting each other, the younger brothers of Duryodhana, all of whom were heroes prepared to lay down their lives, remembering their previously formed scheme of afflicting Vrikodara of terrible deeds, set about firmly resolved, for smiting him down. And as they fell upon him in battle, Bhimasena of great strength rushed against them, O king, like an elephant rushing against an attacking compeer. Excited with fury and endued with great energy, that celebrated hero then, O king, afflicted thy son Chitrasena with a long arrow. And as regards thy other sons, that descendant of Bharata smote them all in that battle, with diverse kinds of shafts furnished with wings of gold and endued with great impetus. Then king Yudhishthira the just, disposing all his own divisions properly despatched twelve mighty car-warriors including Abhimanyu and others to follow Bhimasena behind. Those, O king, all proceeded against those mighty car-warriors, viz., thy sons. Beholding those heroes on their cars, resembling the Sun himself or the fire in splendour-those great bowmen of blazing effulgence and superb beauty, looking resplendent in that dreadful conflict with ornaments of gold,--thy mighty sons abandoned Bhima (with whom they had been fighting). The sons of Kunti, however, could not bear the sight of their abandoning the conflict alive."

6.74.2

ekībhūtāḥ punaścaiva tava putrā mahārathāḥ |
sametya samare bhīmaṃ yodhayāmāsurudyatāḥ || 2 ||

6.74.3

bhīmaseno'pi samare saṃprāpya svarathaṃ punaḥ |
samāruhya mahābāhuryayau yena tavātmajaḥ || 3 ||

6.74.4

pragṛhya ca mahāvegaṃ parāsukaraṇaṃ dṛḍham |
citraṃ śarāsanaṃ saṃkhye śarairvivyādha te sutān || 4 ||

6.74.5

tato duryodhano rājā bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam |
nārācena sutīkṣṇena bhṛśaṃ marmaṇyatāḍayat || 5 ||

6.74.6

so'tividdho maheṣvāsastava putreṇa dhanvinā |
krodhasaṃraktanayano vegenotkṣipya kārmukam || 6 ||

6.74.7

duryodhanaṃ tribhirbāṇairbāhvorurasi cārpayat |
sa tathābhihato rājā nācaladgirirāḍiva || 7 ||

6.74.8

tau dṛṣṭvā samare kruddhau vinighnantau parasparam |
duryodhanānujāḥ sarve śūrāḥ saṃtyaktajīvitāḥ || 8 ||

6.74.9

saṃsmṛtya mantritaṃ pūrvaṃ nigrahe bhīmakarmaṇaḥ |
niścayaṃ manasā kṛtvā nigrahītuṃ pracakramuḥ || 9 ||

6.74.10

tānāpatata evājau bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ |
pratyudyayau mahārāja gajaḥ pratigajāniva || 10 ||

6.74.11

bhṛśaṃ kruddhaśca tejasvī nārācena samarpayat |
citrasenaṃ mahārāja tava putraṃ mahāyaśāḥ || 11 ||

6.74.12

tathetarāṃstava sutāṃstāḍayāmāsa bhārata |
śarairbahuvidhaiḥ saṃkhye rukmapuṅkhaiḥ suvegitaiḥ || 12 ||

6.74.13

tataḥ saṃsthāpya samare svānyanīkāni sarvaśaḥ |
abhimanyuprabhṛtayaste dvādaśa mahārathāḥ || 13 ||

6.74.14

preṣitā dharmarājena bhīmasenapadānugāḥ |
pratyudyayurmahārāja tava putrānmahābalān || 14 ||

6.74.15

dṛṣṭvā rathasthāṃstāñśūrānsūryāgnisamatejasaḥ |
sarvāneva maheṣvāsānbhrājamānāñśriyā vṛtān || 15 ||

6.74.16

mahāhave dīpyamānānsuvarṇakavacojjvalān |
tatyajuḥ samare bhīmaṃ tava putrā mahābalāḥ || 16 ||

6.74.17

tānnāmṛṣyata kaunteyo jīvamānā gatā iti |
anvīya ca punaḥ sarvāṃstava putrānapīḍayat || 17 ||

Sanjaya said, "Then Abhimanyu, accompanied by Bhimasena pursuing thy sons, afflicted them all. Then the mighty car-warriors of thy army, including Duryodhana and others, beholding Abhimanyu and Bhimasena united with Prishata's son in the midst of the (Kauravas) troops, took up their bows, and borne by their fleet steeds rushed to the spot where those warriors were. And on that afternoon, O king, a dreadful conflict took place between the mighty combatants of thy army and those of the foe, O Bharata. And Abhimanyu, having, in that fierce battle, slain the steeds of Vikarna, pierced the latter with five and twenty small arrows. Then that mighty car-warrior, Vikarna, abandoning that car whose steeds had been slain, mounted on the resplendent car, O king, of Chitrasena. Then thus stationed on the same car, viz., those two brothers of Kuru's race, the son of Arjuna covered, O Bharata, with showers of arrows. Then Durjaya and Vikarna pierced Abhimanyu with five shafts made wholly of iron. Abhimanyu however, shook not in the least but stood firm like the mountain Meru. Dussasana in that battle, O sire, fought with the five Kekaya brothers. All these, O great king, seemed exceedingly wonderful. The sons of Draupadi, excited with rage, resisted Duryodhana in that battle. And each of them, O king, pierced thy son with three shafts. Thy son also, invincible in battle, pierced each of the sons of Draupadi, O monarch, with sharp shafts. And pierced by them (in return) and bathed in blood, he shone like a hill with rillets of water mixed with red-chalk (gliding down its breast). And the mighty Bhishma also, in that battle, O king, afflicted the Pandava army like a herdsman belabouring his herd. Then, O monarch, the twang of Gandiva was heard, of Partha, who was engaged in slaughtering the foe on the right of the army.

Sanjaya said, "Then Abhimanyu, accompanied by Bhimasena pursuing thy sons, afflicted them all. Then the mighty car-warriors of thy army, including Duryodhana and others, beholding Abhimanyu and Bhimasena united with Prishata's son in the midst of the (Kauravas) troops, took up their bows, and borne by their fleet steeds rushed to the spot where those warriors were. And on that afternoon, O king, a dreadful conflict took place between the mighty combatants of thy army and those of the foe, O Bharata. And Abhimanyu, having, in that fierce battle, slain the steeds of Vikarna, pierced the latter with five and twenty small arrows. Then that mighty car-warrior, Vikarna, abandoning that car whose steeds had been slain, mounted on the resplendent car, O king, of Chitrasena. Then thus stationed on the same car, viz., those two brothers of Kuru's race, the son of Arjuna covered, O Bharata, with showers of arrows. Then Durjaya and Vikarna pierced Abhimanyu with five shafts made wholly of iron. Abhimanyu however, shook not in the least but stood firm like the mountain Meru. Dussasana in that battle, O sire, fought with the five Kekaya brothers. All these, O great king, seemed exceedingly wonderful. The sons of Draupadi, excited with rage, resisted Duryodhana in that battle. And each of them, O king, pierced thy son with three shafts. Thy son also, invincible in battle, pierced each of the sons of Draupadi, O monarch, with sharp shafts. And pierced by them (in return) and bathed in blood, he shone like a hill with rillets of water mixed with red-chalk (gliding down its breast). And the mighty Bhishma also, in that battle, O king, afflicted the Pandava army like a herdsman belabouring his herd. Then, O monarch, the twang of Gandiva was heard, of Partha, who was engaged in slaughtering the foe on the right of the army.

And in that part of the field headless trunks stood up by thousands, amongst the troops, O Bharata, of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas. And the field of battle resembled an ocean whose water was blood, and whose eddies were the shafts (shot by the combatants). And the elephants constituted the islands of that ocean, and the steeds its waves. And cars constituted the boats by which brave men crossed it. And many brave combatants, with arms cut off, divested of armour, and hideously mutilated, were seen lying there in hundreds and thousands. And with the bodies of infuriate elephants deprived of life and bathed in blood, the field of battle. O Bharata, looked as if strewn with hills. And the wonderful sight we saw there, O Bharata, was that neither in their army nor in thine was a single person that was unwilling to fight. And thus, O monarch, did those brave warriors, of both thy army and the Pandavas, fight, seeking glory and desirous of victory."

6.74.18

athābhimanyuṃ samare bhīmasenena saṃgatam |
pārṣatena ca saṃprekṣya tava sainye mahārathāḥ || 18 ||

6.74.19

duryodhanaprabhṛtayaḥ pragṛhītaśarāsanāḥ |
bhṛśamaśvaiḥ prajavitaiḥ prayayuryatra te rathāḥ || 19 ||

6.74.20

aparāhṇe tato rājanprāvartata mahānraṇaḥ |
tāvakānāṃ ca balināṃ pareṣāṃ caiva bhārata || 20 ||

6.74.21

abhimanyurvikarṇasya hayānhatvā mahājavān |
athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samācinot || 21 ||

6.74.22

hatāśvaṃ rathamutsṛjya vikarṇastu mahārathaḥ |
āruroha rathaṃ rājaṃścitrasenasya bhāsvaram || 22 ||

6.74.23

sthitāvekarathe tau tu bhrātarau kuruvardhanau |
ārjuniḥ śarajālena chādayāmāsa bhārata || 23 ||

6.74.24

durjayo'tha vikarṇaśca kārṣṇiṃ pañcabhirāyasaiḥ |
vivyadhāte na cākampatkārṣṇirmerurivācalaḥ || 24 ||

6.74.25

duḥśāsanastu samare kekayānpañca māriṣa |
yodhayāmāsa rājendra tadadbhutamivābhavat || 25 ||

6.74.26

draupadeyā raṇe kruddhā duryodhanamavārayan |
ekaikastribhirānarchatputraṃ tava viśāṃ pate || 26 ||

6.74.27

putro'pi tava durdharṣo draupadyāstanayānraṇe |
sāyakairniśitai rājannājaghāna pṛthakpṛthak || 27 ||

6.74.28

taiścāpi viddhaḥ śuśubhe rudhireṇa samukṣitaḥ |
giriprasravaṇairyadvadgirirdhātuvimiśritaiḥ || 28 ||

6.74.29

bhīṣmo'pi samare rājanpāṇḍavānāmanīkinīm |
kālayāmāsa balavānpālaḥ paśugaṇāniva || 29 ||

6.74.30

tato gāṇḍīvanirghoṣaḥ prādurāsīdviśāṃ pate |
dakṣiṇena varūthinyāḥ pārthasyārīnvinighnataḥ || 30 ||

6.74.31

uttasthuḥ samare tatra kabandhāni samantataḥ |
kurūṇāṃ cāpi sainyeṣu pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata || 31 ||

And in that part of the field headless trunks stood up by thousands, amongst the troops, O Bharata, of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas. And the field of battle resembled an ocean whose water was blood, and whose eddies were the shafts (shot by the combatants). And the elephants constituted the islands of that ocean, and the steeds its waves. And cars constituted the boats by which brave men crossed it. And many brave combatants, with arms cut off, divested of armour, and hideously mutilated, were seen lying there in hundreds and thousands. And with the bodies of infuriate elephants deprived of life and bathed in blood, the field of battle. O Bharata, looked as if strewn with hills. And the wonderful sight we saw there, O Bharata, was that neither in their army nor in thine was a single person that was unwilling to fight. And thus, O monarch, did those brave warriors, of both thy army and the Pandavas, fight, seeking glory and desirous of victory."

6.74.32

śoṇitodaṃ rathāvartaṃ gajadvīpaṃ hayormiṇam |
rathanaubhirnaravyāghrāḥ prateruḥ sainyasāgaram || 32 ||

6.74.33

chinnahastā vikavacā videhāśca narottamāḥ |
patitāstatra dṛśyante śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ || 33 ||

6.74.34

nihatairmattamātaṅgaiḥ śoṇitaughapariplutaiḥ |
bhūrbhāti bharataśreṣṭha parvatairācitā yathā || 34 ||

6.74.35

tatrādbhutamapaśyāma tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata |
na tatrāsītpumānkaścidyo yoddhuṃ nābhikāṅkṣati || 35 ||

6.74.36

evaṃ yuyudhire vīrāḥ prārthayānā mahadyaśaḥ |
tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ kāṅkṣamāṇā jayaṃ yudhi || 36 ||