धृतराष्ट्र उवाच बहूनि हि विचित्राणि द्वैस्थानि स्म संजय। पाण्डूनां मामकैः सार्धमश्रौषं तव जल्पतः॥
Dhritarashtra said I have heard, O Sanjaya as you have discoursed on, of the numerous and wonderful single combats fought between my warriors and those of the sons of Pandu.
न चैव मामकं किंचित् हृष्टं शंससि संजय। नित्यं पाण्डुसुतान् हृष्टानभग्नान् सम्प्रशंससि॥
But, O Sanjaya, you never speak of my soldiers being delightful (on such occasion). You always speak of the warriors of the Pandavas as cheerful and never routed.
वै जीयमानान् विमनसो मामकान् विगतौजसः। वदसे संयुगे सूत दिष्टमेतन्न संशयः॥
You always speak of my warriors as depressed in mind, vanquished and shorn of energy in battle. O Suta, indubitably all this is brought about by Destiny.
संजय उवाच यथाशक्तिं यथोत्साहं युद्धे चेष्टन्ति तावकाः। दर्शयानाः परं शक्त्या पौरुषं पुरुषर्षभ॥
Sanjaya said Your warriors strive in battle to the best of their strength and ardour, displaying, 0 foremost of the Bharatas, their manliness as much as possible.
गङ्गायाः सुरनद्या स्वादु भूत्वा यथोदकम्। महोदधेर्गुणाभ्यासाल्लवणत्वं निगच्छति॥
Even as the very tasteful water of the celestial river Ganga flowing into that of the mighty main, aitains saline properties.
तथा तत् पौरुषं राजंस्तावकानां परंतप। प्राप्य पाण्डुसुतान् वीरान् व्यर्थं भवति संयुगे॥
So also, O monarch, the mainlines of the illustrious warriors of your army opposed by that of the heroic sons of Pandu becomes baffled in battle.
घटमानान् यथाशक्ति कुर्वाणान् कर्म दुष्करम्। न दोषेण कुरुश्रेष्ठ कौरवान् गन्तुमर्हसि॥
It behaves you not, O foremost of the Kurus, to attribute blame to your own warriors, who exert themselves to the best of their inighty and achieve feats that are difficult of being done so.
तवापराधात् सुमहान् सपुत्रस्य विशाम्पते। पृथिव्याः प्रक्षयो घोरो यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनः॥
From your own fault, and from that of your son, ruler of men, this great and dreadful destruction ( of the creature of) the earth has come to pass, adding considerably to the population of Death's kingdom.
आत्मदोषात् समुत्पन्नं शोचितुं नार्हसे नृप। न हि रक्षन्ति राजान: सर्वथाऽत्रापि जीवितम्॥
It behooves your not. O king, to grieve for what has come to pass in consequence of your own faults. The kings do not pay any the least regard to their lives in this battle.
युद्धे सुकृतिनां लोकानिच्छन्तो वसुधाधिपाः। चमू विगाह्य युध्यन्ते नित्यं स्वर्गपरायणाः॥
The rulers of men (assembled on the filed), desire to attain to the regions of those that perform pious acts. always cherishing a desire for attaining paradise, they are fighting agitating the hostile army.
पूर्वाह्ने तु महाराज प्रावर्तत जनक्षयः। तं त्वमेकमना भूत्वा शृणु देवासुरोपमम्॥
That afternoon, O mighty monarch a great destruction of creatures took place. Hear of me, with singleness of attention of that battle that ras.
आवन्त्यौ तु महेष्वासौ महासेनौ महाबलौ। इरावन्तमभिप्रेक्ष्य समेयातां रणोत्कटौ॥
The two (royal) brothers from Avanti, both mighty bow-men, possessed of great might, and exceeding effulgence, and both formidable in battle, beholding Iravat, rushed at him.
तेषां प्रववृते युद्धं सुमहल्लोमहर्षणम्। इरावांस्तु सुसंक्रुद्धो भ्रातरौ देवरूपिणौ॥ विव्याध निशितैस्तूर्णं शरैःसंनतपर्वभिः। तावेनं प्रत्यविध्येतां समरे चित्रयोधिनौ॥
Then the combat that was fought between them was dreadful and horripilating. thereupon Iravat waxing wrath, quickly pierced those two brothers of godly presence, with straight knotted shafts of exceeding sharpness. those two warriors versed in diverse odes of warfare pierced Iravat in return, in that battle,
युध्यतां हि तथा राजन् विशेषो न व्यदृश्यत। यततां शत्रुनाशाय कृतप्रतिकृतैषिणाम्॥
As thcy fought on. O king, striking their best to slay their mutual foes and desirous of avenging what is done to one another, there could be found no distinction between them.
इरावांस्तु ततो राजन्ननुविन्दस्य सायकैः। चतुरभिश्चतुरो वाहाननयद् यमसादनम्॥
Then in that conflict, Iravat, O king's with four arrows, dispatched the four steeds of Anuvinda to the regions of Death.
भल्लाभ्यां च सुतीक्ष्णाभ्यां धनुः केतुं च मारिष। चिच्छेद समरे राजस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥
Also, O sire, with a couple of keen-aged broad-headed arrows, the former cut off the standard and bow of the latter in that battle. all this, O king, seemed to be wonderful.
त्यक्त्वानुविन्दोऽथ रथं विन्दस्य रथमास्थितः। धनुर्गृहीत्वा परमं भारसाधनमुत्तमम्॥
Thereupon Anuvinda leaving his own car, ascended that of Vinda; thereafter he grasped an excellent bow of great toughness and capable of bearing a great strain.
तावेकस्थो रणे वीरावावन्त्यौ रथिनां वरौ। शरान् मुमुग्रतुस्तूर्णमिरावति महात्मनि॥
Then those two foremost of car-warriors endued with heroism and riding on one and the same car, both belonging to the country of Avanti, began to shower incessantly arrows on the high-souled Iravat.
ताभ्यां मुक्ता महावेगाः शराः काञ्चनभूषणाः। दिवाकरपथं प्राप्य च्छादयामासुरम्बरम्॥
Shot by them both, swift-fiying arrows decked with gold, intercepting the rays of the orb of the day, (literally) covered the sky.
इरावांस्तु रणे क्रुद्धो भ्रातरौ तौ महारथौ। ववर्ष शरवर्षेण सारथिं चाप्यपातयत्॥
Thereupon, inflamed with wrath, Iravat poured an arrow downpour on the two brothers both mighty car-warriors; and he felled their charioteer.
तस्मिंस्तु पतिते भूमौ गतसत्त्वे तु सारथौ! रथः प्रदुद्राव दिशः समुद्घान्तहयस्ततः॥
When deprived of life, the charioteer fell down on the earth, the chariot was dragged in all directions in consequence of its horses being unrestrained.
तौ स जित्वा महाराज नागराजसुतासुतः। पौरुषं ख्यापयंस्तूर्णं व्यधमत् तव वाहिनीम्॥
Obtaining victory, O monarch, over the two brothers, the son of the daughter of the king of the Nagas displaying his inanliness, began speedily to spread havoc among your soldiers.
सा वध्यमाना समरे धार्तराष्ट्री महाचमूः। वेगान् बहुविधांश्चक्रे विषं पीत्वेव मानवः॥
This slaughtered in battle, the mighty army of the sons of Dhritarashtra performed various movements like a man reeling through the effects of poisoning.
हैडिम्बो राक्षसेन्द्रस्तु भगदत्तं समाद्रवत्। रथेनादित्यवर्णेन सध्वजेन महाबलः॥
Then the on of Hidimba, the foremost of the Rakshasas endued with great strength, riding on his chariot of solar has and furnished with a standard, rushed against Bhagadatta.
ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजा नागराज समास्थितः। यथा वज्रधरः पूर्वं संग्रामे तारकामये॥
Thereupon the ruler of the Pragjyotishas mounted on his princes of elephants like the wielder of the thunder bolt mounting on his Airavat in the days of yore at the time of the battle caused by the insult offered by Taraka.
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वा ऋषयश्च समागताः। विशेषं न स्म विविदुईडिम्बभगदत्तयोः॥
Then there came the celestial along with the Gandharvas and the sages. They were unable to find out any destruction between the son of Hidimba and Bhagadatta.
यथा सुरपतिः शक्रस्त्रासयामास दानवान्। तथैव समरे राजा द्रावयामास पाण्डवान्॥
As the lord of the celestial (Indra) waxing worth had struck terror into the hearts of the Danavas, so did also the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, O king, in that battle frighten and crush the Pandava troops.
तेन विद्राव्यमाणास्ते पाण्डवाः सर्वतो दिशम्। त्रातारं नाभ्यगच्छन्तः स्वेष्वनीकेषु भारत॥
Thus routed by hiin on all directions, the Pandava troops, O Bharata, did not find, in their whole host, an one competent to save them.
भैमसेनि रथस्थं तु तत्रापश्याम भारत। शेषा विमनसो भूत्वा प्राद्रवन्त महारथाः॥
We then only beheld the son of Bhimasena (Ghatotkacha), O Bharata riding on his car the rest of the car-warriors, with minds distracted (with fear) had fled (in all directions.
निवृत्तेषु तु पाण्डूनां पुनः सैन्येषु भारत। आसीनिष्ठानका घोरस्तत सैन्यस्य संयुगे॥
Then, O Bharata, when the Pandava forces rallied, a dreadful and fierce roar was sent up by your troops in that battle.
घटोत्कचस्ततो राजन् भगदत्त महारणे। शरैः प्रच्छादयामास मेरुं गिरिमिवाम्बुदः॥
Thereupon, O mighty monarch, in the fierce engagement that commenced Ghatotkacha covered Bhagadatta with a shower of arrows, like a rain cloud covering the Meru mountain with a downpour of rain.
निहत्य ताशरान् राजा राक्षसस्य धनुश्च्युतान्। भैमसेनि रणे तूर्णं सर्वमर्मस्वताडयत्॥
Then king Bhagadatta, severing those arrows shot from the bow of the Rakshasas, in that combat quickly pierced the son of Bhimasena in all his vital parts.
स ताड्यमानो बहुभिः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। न विव्यथे राक्षसेन्द्रो भिद्यमान इवाचलः॥
Wounded with innumerable this straight jointed shafts, that foremost of the Rakshusas did not fight, (but stood firm) like a mountain though cleft open.
तस्य प्राग्ज्योतिषः क्रुद्धस्तोमरांश्च चतुर्दश। प्रेषयामास समरे ताश्चिच्छेद स राक्षसः॥
The ruler of the Pragjyotishas inflamed with rage, in that battle sped fourteen Tomaras against the Rakshasas, who (easily) cut them off.
स तांश्छित्त्वा महाबाहुस्तोमरान् निशितैः शरैः। भगदत्तं च विव्याध सप्तत्या कङ्कपत्रिभिः॥
Then that Rakshasa of mighty arms cutting off those Tomaras, pierced Bhagadatta with seventy shafts of exceeding sharpness, all resembling the thunderbolt of Heaven.
ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजा प्रहसन्निव भारत। तस्याश्वांश्चतुरः संख्ये पातयामास सायकैः॥
Thereupon the king of the Pragjyotishas, in that combat, as if smiling, dispatched, O Bharata, to death the four horses of the Rakshasas.
स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठन् राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्। शक्तिं चिक्षेप वेगेन प्राग्ज्योतिषगजं प्रति॥
Standing on his car of which the steeds were slain, that foremost of the Rakshasas endued with prowess hurled at the elephants of Bhagadatta, s Shakti, with great force.
तामापतन्ती सहसा हेमदण्डां सुवेगिनीम्। त्रिधा चिच्छेद नृपतिः सा व्यकीर्यत मेदिनीम्॥
Then the ruler of the Pragjyotishas cut off that Shakti falling with great veheinence and furnished with a golden staff, into three splinters and the Shakti fell shattered on the ground.
शक्तिं विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा हैडिम्बः प्राद्रवद् भयात्। यथेन्द्रस्य रणात् पूर्वं नमुचिर्दैत्यसत्तमः॥
seeing his Shakti splintered into pieces, the son of Hidimba fled out of fear like Namuchi the foremost of the Daityas flying, in the days of yore, from the fight with Indra.
तं विजित्य रणे शूरं विक्रान्तं ख्यातपौरुषम्। अजेयं समरे वीरं यमेन वरुणेन च॥
Obtaining victory, O king, in battle over that heroic and highly powerful Rakshasa of illustrious renown who is incapable of being vanquished evü by the god of Death and Varuna themselves.
पाण्डवीं समरे सेनां सम्ममर्द स कुञ्जरः। यथा वनगजो राजन् मृनश्चरति पद्मिनीम्॥
Bhagadatta riding on his elephants crushed in that battle, the troops of the Pandavas, even like a wild elephants, that roves, O king, trampling lotus stems (underneath its huge feet).
मद्रेश्वरस्तु समरे यमाभ्यां समसज्जत। स्वस्त्रीयौ छादयांचक्रे शरौः पाण्डुनन्दनौ॥
The ruler of the Madra encountered in battle the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva. He covered his two nephews, both sons of Pandu, with an arrow down pour.
सहदेवस्तु समरे मातुलं दृश्य संगतम्। अवारयच्छरौघेण मेघो यद्वद् दिवाकरम्॥
Sahadeva finding himself encountered by his uncle in battle, shrouded him with a network of arrows, like clouds shrouding the solar orb.
छाद्यमानः शरौघेण हृष्टरूपतरोऽभवत्। तयोश्चाप्यभवत् प्रीतिरतुला मातृकारणात्॥
Shrouded by that net-work of shafts the Madra king wore an appearance indicative of joy the twins also were greatly delighted for the sake of their mother.
ततः प्रहस्य समरे नकुलस्य महारथः। अश्वांश्च चतुरो रांजश्चतुर्भिः सायकोत्तमैः॥ प्रेषयामास समरे यमस्य सदनं प्रति। हताश्वात् तु रथात् तूर्णमवप्लुत्य महारथः॥
Thereafter in that combat, that mighty carwarriors the Madra king, O king, with four excellent arrows dispatched smilingly Nakula's four steeds to the monsoon of Death. Then that mighty car-warrior Nakula jumping down from his car of which the horses were slain.
आरुरोह ततो यानं भ्रातुरेव यशस्विनः। एकस्थौ तु रणे शूरो दृढे विक्षिप्य कार्मुकौ॥
Ascended the vehicle of his illustrious brother. Then in that battle the heroic, mounted on the same car, stretching their touch bows,
मद्रराजरथं तूर्णं छादयामासतुः क्षणात्। स छाद्यमानो बहुभिः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः॥
Waxing irascible and becoming formidable in battle, covered the king of the Madras (with shafts). Covered with innumerable straightjointed arrows.
स्वस्त्रीयाभ्यां नरव्याघ्रो नाकम्पत यथाऽचलः। प्रहसन्निव तां चापि शस्त्रवृष्टिं जघान ह॥
Shot by his nephews, that foremost of men (the Madra king) moved not, but stood still even like a mountain; then as if smiling, he baffled that shower of arrows.
सहदेवस्ततः क्रुद्धः शरमुद्गृह्य वीर्यवान्। पद्रराजमभिप्रेक्ष्य प्रेषयामास भारत।॥
Thereupon the highly powerful Sahadeva, inflamed with wrath, grasping a dare, rushed at the ruler of Madras and then hurled it at him, O Bharata.
स शरः प्रेषितस्तेन गरुडानिलवेगवान्। मद्रराजं विनिर्भिद्य निपपात महीतले॥
That dare shot by him and coursing swiftly like the Garuda himself, penetrating through the body of the Madra king, fell down on earth.
स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो रथोपस्थे महारथः। निषसाद महाराज कश्मलं च जगाम ह॥
Thus deeply pierced, and smarting with pain, that mighty car-warrior squatted down on the terrace of his car, and O mighty monarch he was overwhelmed with a swoon.
तं विसंज्ञं निपतितं सूतः सम्प्रेक्ष्य संयुगे। अपोवाह रथेनाजौ यमाभ्यामभिपीडितम्॥
In that battle, seeing him (the Madra king) i senseless and fallen on the car and afflicted by the twins, his charioteer drove him on his vehicle away from the field of battle.
दृष्ट्वा मद्रेश्वररथं धार्तराष्ट्राः पराङ्मुखम्। सर्वे विमनसो भूत्वा नेदमस्तीत्यचिन्तयन्॥
The sons of Dhritarashtra beholding the car of the ruler of the Madras turn away from the field, were all depressed in mind and thought that he was no longer alive.
निर्जित्य मातुलं संख्ये माद्रीपुत्रौ महारथौ। दध्मतुर्मुदितौ शङ्खौ सिंहनादं च नेदतुः॥
Obtaining victory in battle, over their uncle, the sons of Madri, greatly delighted blew their conchs and roared out their war cries.
अभिदुद्रुवतुर्हष्टौ तव सैन्यं विशाम्पते। यथा दैत्यचमूं राजन्निन्द्रोपेन्द्राविवामरौ॥
Thereafter filled with delight, they rushed against your host, O ruler of men, like the immortals Indra and Upendra, O king, rushing against the host of the Daityas.