वासुदेव उवाच श्रुतवानस्मि वार्ष्णेय संग्रामं परमाद्भुतम्। नराणां वदतां तत्र कथं वा तेषु नित्यशः॥
Vasudeva said O you of Vrishni's race, I have repeatedly heard men speaking of the wonderful battle.
त्वं तु प्रत्यक्षदर्शी च रूपज्ञश्च महाभुजा तस्मात् प्रब्रूहि संग्रामं याथातथ्येन मेऽनघ॥
You however, O mighty-armed one, have seen it with your own eyes. Do you, therefore, O sinless one, describe the battle in full.
यथा तदभवद् युद्धं पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। भीष्मकर्णकृपद्रोणशल्यादिभिरनुत्तमम्॥ अन्येषां क्षत्रियाणां च कृतास्त्राणामनेकशः। नानावेषाकृतिमतां नानादेशनिवासिनाम्॥
Indeed, tell me how that battle took place between the great Pandavas and Bhishma and Karna and Kripa and Drona and Shalya and others, between, in fact, numerous other Kshatriyas well-skilled in arms, differing from one another in conduct and dress and coming from various kingdoms.
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्तः पुण्डरीकाक्षः पित्रा मातुस्तदन्तिके। शशंस कुरुवीराणां संग्रामे निधनं यथा।॥
Vaishmpayana said Thus addressed by his father, he having eyes like lotus-petals, described, in the presence of his mother also, how the Kaurava heroes had been killed in battle.
अत्युद्धतानि कर्माणि क्षत्रियाणां महात्मनाम्। बहुलत्वान्न संख्यातुं शक्यान्यब्दशतैरपि॥
Vasudeva said-The feats were highly wonderful which were achieved by those great Kshatriyas. On account of their large number, they are incapable of being described in even hundreds of years.
प्राधान्यतस्तु गदतः समासेनैव मे शृणु। कर्माणि पृथिवीशानां यथावदमरधुते॥
I shall, however, mention only the foremost of them. Do you listen, therefore, to me as I mention in brief those feats won by the kings of Earth, O you of godlike splendour.
भीष्मः सेनापतिरभूदेकादशचभूपतिः। कौरव्यः कौरवेन्द्राणां देवानामिव वासवः॥
Bhishma of Kuru's race became the Commander-in-chief, having eleven divisions of the Kaurava princes under his command, like Vasava of the celestial forces.
शिखण्डी पाण्डुपुत्राणां नेता सप्तचमूपतिः। बभूव रक्षितो धीमान् श्रीमता सत्यसाचिना॥
Highly intelligent Shikhandin, protected by the blessed Arjuna, became the leader of the seven divisions of the sons of Pandu.
तेषां तदभवद् युद्धं दशाहानि महात्मनाम्। कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च सुमहल्लोमहर्षणम्॥
The battle betwcen the Kurus and the Pandavas went on for ten days. It was so dreadful as to make one's hair stand erect.
तत: शिखण्डी गाङ्गेयं युध्यमानं महाहवे। जघान बहुभिर्बाणैः सह गाण्डीवधन्वना॥
Then Shikhandin, in great battle, hciped by the holder of Gandiva, killed, with innumerable arrows, the son of Ganga, fighting bravely.
अकरोत् स ततः कालं शरतल्पगतो मुनिः। अयनं दक्षिणं हित्वा सम्प्राप्ते चोत्तरायणे॥
Lying on abcd of arrows, Bhishma waited like an ascetic till the sun leaving his southwards path entered on his northerly course when that hero died.
ततः सेनापतिरभूद् द्रोणोऽस्त्रविदुषां वरः। प्रवीरः कौरवेन्द्रस्य काव्यो दैत्यपतेरिव॥
Then Drona, that foremost of all persons conversant with arms, that greatest of men under Duryodhana, like Kavya himself of the lord of the Daityas, became the Commanderin-chief.
अक्षौहिणीभिः शिष्टाभिर्नवभिर्द्विजसत्तमः। संवृतः समरश्लाघी गुप्तः कृपवृषादिभिः॥
That foremost of twice-born persons, ever boasting of his prowess in battle, was supported by the residue of the Kaurava-army consisting then of nine Akshauhinis, and protected by Kripa and Vrisha and others.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्त्वभून्नेता पाण्डवानां महास्त्रवित्। गुप्तो भीमेन मेधावी मित्रेण वरुणो यथा॥
Dhrishtadyumna familiar with many powerful weapons, and gifted with great intelligence, became became the leader of the Pandavas. He was protected by Bhima like Varuna protected by Mitra.
स च सेनापरिवृतो द्रोणप्रेप्सुर्महामनाः। पितुर्निकारान् संस्मृत्य रणे कर्माकरोन्महत्॥
That great hero, always desirous of comparing his strength with Drona, supported by the Pandava-army, and recollecting the wrongs inflicted (by Drona) on his father (Drupada, the king of the Panchalas) performed great feats in battlc.
तस्मिंस्ते पृथिवीपाला द्रोणपार्षतसंगरे। नानादिगागता वीराः प्रायशो निधनं गताः॥
In that battle between Drona and the son of Prishata, the kings assembled from various realms were nearly rooted out.
दिनानि पञ्च तद् युद्धमभूत् परमदारुणम् ततो द्रोणः परिश्रान्तो धृष्टद्युम्नवशं गतः॥
That furious battle lasted for five days. At the conclusion of that period, Drona, exhausted, succumbed to Dhrishtadyumna.
ततः सेनापतिरभूत् कर्णो दौर्योधने बले। अक्षौहिणीभिः शिष्टाभिर्वृतः पञ्चभिराहवे॥
After that, Karna became the Cominanderin-chief of Duryodhana's forces. He was supported in battle by the residue of the Kaurava-army which numbered five Akshauhinis.
तिस्रस्तु पाण्डुपुत्राणां चम्वो बीभत्सुपालिताः। हतप्रवीरभूयिष्ठा बभूवुः समवस्थिताः॥
Of the sons of Pandu, there were then three Akshauhinis. After the destruction of innumerable heroes, protected by Arjuna, they came to battle.
ततः पार्थं समासाद्य पतङ्ग इव पावकम्। पञ्चत्वमगमत् सौतिर्द्वितीयेऽहनि दारुणः॥
The Suta's son Karna, though a dreadful warrior, encountering Partha, came to his end on the second day, like an insect encountering a burning fire.
हते कर्णे तु कौरव्या निरुत्साहा हतौजसः। अक्षौहिणीभिस्तिसृभिर्मद्रेशं पर्यवारयन्॥
After the fall of Karna, the Kauravas became dispirited, and lost all energy. Numbering three Akshaushinis, they gathered round the king of the Madras.
हतवाहनभूयिष्ठाः पाण्डवाऽपि युधिष्ठिरम्। अक्षौहिण्या निरुत्साहाः शिष्टया पर्यवारयन्॥
Having lost many car-warriors and elephants and horsemen, the residue of the Pandava army, numbering one Akshauhini and overtaken with depression, supported by Yudhishthira.
अवधीन्मद्रराजानं कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः। तस्मिंस्तदादिवसे कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम्॥
The Kuru king Yudhishthira, in the battle that took place, accomplished the most difficult feats and killed, before half the day was over, the king of the Madras.
हते शल्ये तु शकुनि सहदेवो महात्मनाः। आहर्तारं कलेस्तस्य जघानामितविक्रमः॥
After the fall of Shalya, the great Sahadeva, of immeasurable prowess, killed Shakuni the man who had brought about the quarrel.
निहते शकुनौ राजा धार्तराष्ट्रः सुदुर्मनाः। आपाक्रामद् गदापाणिर्हतभूयिष्ठसैनिकः॥
After the fall of Shakuni, the royal son of Dhritarashtra, whose army had suffered an extensive carnage and who on that account had become greatly dispirited, fled from the field, armed with his mace.
तमन्वधावत् संक्रुद्धो भीमसेनः प्रतापवान्। हृदे द्वैपायने चापि सलिलस्थं ददर्श तम्॥
Then Bhimasena of great prowess, filled with anger, pursued him and discovered him within the waters of the Dvaipayana lake.
हतशिष्टेन सैन्येन समन्तात् पर्यवार्य तम्। अथोपविविशुर्हष्टा हृदस्थं पञ्च पाण्डवाः॥
With the residue of their army, the Pandavas surrounded the lake and, filled with joy, met Duryodhana concealed within the waters.
विगाह्य सलिलं त्वाशु बाग्बाणै शविक्षतः। उत्थाय स गदापाणियुद्धाय समुपस्थितः॥
Their wordy arrows, penetrating through the waters, pierced Duryodhana. Rising up from the lake, the latter approached the Pandavas, armed with his mace, desirous of battle.
ततः स निहतो राजा धार्तराष्ट्रो महारणे। भीमसेनेन विक्रम्य पश्यतां पृथिवीक्षिताम्॥
Then, in the great battle that took place, the royal son of Dhritarashtra was killed by Bhimasena, displayed his great prowess, in the presence of many kings.
ततस्तत् पाण्डवं सैन्यं प्रसुप्तं शिबिरे निशि। निहतं द्रोणपुत्रेण पितुर्वधममृष्यता॥
After this the residue of the Pandava-army, as it slept in the camp, was killed at night time by Drona's son who was unable to put up with the destruction of his father (at the hands of Dhrishtadyumna).
हतपुत्रा हतबला हतमित्रा मया सह। युयुधानसहायेन पञ्च शिष्टास्तु पाण्डवाः॥
Their sons killed, their forces killed, their friends killed, only the five sons of Pandu, are alive with myself and Yuyudhana.
सहैव कृपभोजाभ्यां द्रौणियुद्धादमुच्यत। युयुत्सुश्चापि कौरव्यो मुक्तः पाण्डवसंश्रयात्॥
With Kripa and and the Bhoja prince Kritavarman, the son of Drona represents the unkilled residuc of the Kaurava-army. Dhritarashtra's son Yuyutsu also has escaped slaughter on account of his having adopted the side of the Pandavas.
निहते कौरवेन्द्रे तु सानुबन्धे सुयोधने। विदुरः संजयश्चैव धर्मराजमुपस्थितौ॥
Upon the destruction of the Kaurava-king Suyodhana with all his followers and allies, Vidura and Sanjaya have come to the presence of king Yudhishthira the just.
एवं तदभवद् युद्धमहान्यष्टादश प्रभो। यत्र ते पृथिवीपाला निहताः स्वर्गमावसन्॥
Thus did that battle take place, O lord, for eighteen days. Many kings of Earth, killed therein, have ascended the celestial region.
वैशम्पायन उवाच शृण्वतां तु महाराज कथां तां लोमहर्षणाम्। दुःखशोकपरिक्लेशा वृष्णीनामभवंस्तदा।॥
Vaishampayana continued : The Vrishnis, as they heard, O king, that dreadful account became filled with grief and sorrow and pain.