JAYADRATHA-VADHA PARVA: Chapter 115

The slaughter of Jalasandha

संजय उवाच शृणुष्वैकमना राजन् यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। द्राव्यमाणे बलेतस्मिन् हार्दिक्येन महात्मना॥
Sanjaya said Hear, O king, with undivided attention, the reply to the questions you have asked me. When the Pandava troops had been routed by the illustrious son of Hridika.

लज्जयाऽवनते चापि प्रत्दृष्टैश्चापि तावकैः। द्वीपो य आसीत् पांडूनामगाधे गधामेच्छतां॥
When then Parthas had been shamefully humiliated and when your troops were filled with delight, it was Satyaki that became the protector of the Pandavas solicitous of protection, for the king was then in the fathomless depth of distress.

श्रुत्वा स निनदं भीमं तावकानां महाहवे। शैनेयस्त्वरितो राजन् कृतवर्माणमभ्ययात्॥
That hero viz., the grandson of Sini, hearing that fierce uproar of your army in that dreadful battle, quickly, O monarch, turned back and advanced against Kritavarman.

उवाच सारथिं तत्र क्रोधामर्षसमन्वितः। हार्दिक्याभिमुखं सूत कुरु मे रथमुत्तमम्॥
He filled with rage and fury said to the charioteer 0 Suta! Proceed my excellent chariot towards Hardikya.

कुरुते कदनं पश्य पाण्डुसैन्ये ह्यमर्षितः। एनं जित्वा पुनः सूत यास्यामि विजयं प्रति॥
Behold, he Angrily is crushing the army of Pandu. O Suta! I will come again with victory on them.

एवमुक्ते तु वचने सूतस्तस्य महामते। निमेषान्तरमात्रेण कृतवर्माणमभ्ययात्॥
Having said these words ) intelligent one! He proceeded towards Kritavarman in a moment.

कृतवर्मा तु हार्दिक्य: शैनेयं निशितैः शरैः। अवाकिरत्सुसंक्रुद्धस्ततोऽक्रुद्ध्यत्स सात्यकिः॥
Then Hridika's son Kritavarman inflamed with wrath, covered the grandson of Sini with clouds of whetted arrows. Thereupon Satyaki also became excited with rage.

अथाशु निशितं भल्लं शैनेयः कृतवर्मणः। प्रेषयामास समरे शरांश्च चतुरोऽपरान्॥
arrows Thereafter the grandson of Sini quickly sped at Kritavarman a whetted bhalla and four other shafts in that battle.

ते तस्य जजिरे ब्राहान् भल्लेनास्याच्छिद्धनुः। पृष्ठरक्षं तथा सूतमविध्यन्निशितैः शरैः॥
These slew the steeds of Kritavarman and his bow was cut-off by the bhalla. Thereafter Satyaki pierced his charioteer and the supporter of his rear, with numerous sharp arrows.

ततस्तं विरथं कृत्वा सात्यकिः सत्यविक्रमः। सेनामस्यार्दयामास शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः॥
Thereafter depriving Kritavarman of the use of his chariot, Satyaki of prowess incapable of being baffled, began to afflict his divisions with arrows of depressed knots.

अभज्यताथ पृतना शैनेयशरपीडिता। ततः प्रायात्स त्वरितः सात्यकिःसत्यविक्रमः॥
Afflicted with the arrows shot by the grandson of Sini, the army then began to break away. Then Satyaki of unbaffled prowess proceeded with great velocity.

शृणु राजन् यदकरोत् तव सैन्येषु वीर्यवान्। अतीत्य स महाराज द्रोणानीकमहार्णवम्॥
Hear, O king, what feats were achieved by that hero endued with great propwess, at the cost of your troops. O mighty monarch, passing through the ocean-like host of Drona.

पराजित्य तु संदृष्टः कृतवर्माणमाहवे। यन्तारमब्रवीच्छूरः शनैर्याहीत्यसंभ्रमम्॥
And vanquishing Kritavarman in battle, that hero Satyaki filled with joy, addressed his charioteer saying “Proceed slowly without fear.”

दृष्ट्वा तु तव तत् सैन्यं रथाश्वद्विपसंकुलम्। पदातिजनसंपूर्णमब्रवीत् सारर्थि पुनः॥
Then holding that army of yours teeming with car-warriors, horses, elephants and footsoldiers, he again addressed his charioteer sayingयदेतन्मेधसंकाशं द्रोणानीकस्य सव्यतः।

सुमहत् कुञ्जरानीकं यस्य रुक्मरथो मुखम्॥
'Yonder is the mighty division of elephants which you see on the left of Drona's host and which appears like a dark mass of clouds and which is headed by Rukmaratha;

एते हि बहवः सूत दुर्निवाराश्च संयुगे। दुर्योधनसमादिष्टा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः॥
O charioteer, they number many and are irresistible in battle. They have been deputed by Duryodhana to oppose me and are ready to cast off their lives any moment,

राजपुत्रा महेष्वासाः सर्वे विक्रान्तयोधिनः। त्रिगर्तानां रथोदाराः सुवर्णविकृतध्वजाः॥
They are mounted by princely combatants who are all great bowmen and capable of displaying great prowess in battle. Born in the Trigartta country, they are all illustrious carwarriors owning golden standards.

मामेवाभिमुखा वीरा योत्स्यमाना व्यवस्थिताः। अत्र मां प्रापय क्षिप्रमश्वांश्चोदय सारथे॥
Those brave combatants with their faces turned towards me, are waiting for me desirous of battling with me. O charioteer drive the horses, quickly take me to that spot.

त्रिगर्तेः सह योत्स्यामि भारद्वाजस्य पश्यतः। ततः प्रायाच्छनैःसूतः सात्वतस्य मते स्थितः॥
Before the very eyes of the son of Bharadvaja, I shall fight with the Trigarttas. Then that charioteer obedient to the behests of that hero of the Satvata race, began to proceed as directed.

रथेनादित्यवर्णेन भास्वरेण पताकिना। तमूहुः सारथेवश्य वल्गमाना हयोत्तमाः॥
The excellent steeds obedient to the reins of the charioteer, then bore Satyaki to the battle, on an effulgent chariot decked with standards and looking the solar disc.

वायुवेगसमाः संख्ये कुन्देन्दुरजप्रभाः। आपतन्तं रणे तं तु शंखवणैर्हयोत्तमैः॥
The steeds yoked to Satyaki's car resembled the wind in fleetness and were of the effulgence of silver or the moon or the lotus. Then as Satyaki advanced in battle being borne be excellent steeds of the hue of conch-shells.

परिवयुस्ततः शूरा गजीनीकेन सर्वतः। किरन्तो विधिधास्तीक्ष्णान् सायकान् लघुवेधिनः॥
The brave Kaurava warriors surrounded him with their elephant division, shooting sharp arrows of various kinds, all capable of penetrating through everything.

सात्वतो निशितैर्बाणैर्गजानीकमयोधयत्। पर्वतानिव वर्षेण तपान्ते जलदो महान्॥
Satyaki of the Satvata race then fought on with that elephant division, discharging many whetted shafts; and he covered it with his arrows like clouds at the end of summer covering the mountain-breast with torrents of rain.

वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शर्वध्यमानाः शरैर्गजाः। प्राद्रवन् रणमुत्सृज्य शिनिवीरसमीरितैः॥ :॥
Wounded with arrows resembling in touch the thunderbolt of Indra shot by the heroic grandson of Sini, those elephants began to fly away leaving the field of battle.

शीर्णदन्ता विरुधिरा भिन्नमस्तकपिण्डिकाः। विशीर्णकर्णास्यकरा विनियन्तृपताकिनः॥
With their tusks broken, bodies drenched with blood, heads and frontal globes rent open and ears, faces and trunks cut-off and themselves deprived of their drivers and standards.

संभिन्नमर्मघण्टाश्च विनिकृत्तमहाध्वजाः। हतारोहा दिशो राजन् भेजिरे भ्रष्टकंवला:॥
With their skin lacerated their bells broken and their mighty standards cut-off and blankets thrown off, those elephants, O king, having none to ride them, began to fly away in all directions.

रुवन्तो विविधान्नदान जलदोपमनि:स्वना। नाराचैर्वत्सदन्तैश्च भल्लैरञ्जलिकैस्तथा॥
They uttered various yells and roars that resembled the rumble of rain clouds. With Narachas, with Vatsadants, with Vallas, with Anja-likas.

क्षुरप्रैरर्धचन्दैश्च सात्वतेन विदारिताः। क्षरन्तोऽसृक् तथा मूत्रं पुरीषं च प्रदुद्रुवुः॥
With Kshurapras and cresscet-shaped arrows, they were then ript open by that hero of the Satvata race. Discharging urine and excreta and shedding blood copiously, they then began to fly away.

बभ्रमुश्चस्खलुश्चान्ये पेतुर्मम्लुस्तथाऽपरे। एवं तत् कुञ्जरानीकं युयुधानेन पीडितम्॥
Some then began to roll about, some limped, some fell down and some became pale and cheerless. Thus that elephant division afflicted by Yuyudhana.

शरैरग्न्यर्कसंकाशैः प्रदुद्राव समन्ततः। तस्मिन्हते गजानीके जलसन्धो महाबलः॥
With his arrows that resembled the sun or the fire, began to fly away in all directions. When that elephant division was being thus slaughtered, the highly powerful Jalasandha.

यत्तः संप्रापयन्नागं रजताश्वरथं प्रति। रुक्मवर्मधरः शूरस्तपनीयांगदः शुचिः॥
With great force goaded the elephant he rode to words the car of Yuyudhana yoked with steeds of argentine hue. That hero then covered in a golden coat of mail, adorned with golden Angadas and purified.

कुण्डली मुकुटी खड्गी रक्तचन्दनरूषितः। शिरसा धारयन् दीप्तां तपनीयमी स्रजम्॥
And graced with Kundalas and a diadem and armed with a sword and anointed with red sandal paste and wearing round his head an effulgent garland of gold.

उरसा धारयन्निष्कं कण्ठसूत्रं च भास्वरम्। चापं च रुक्मविकृतं विधुन्वन् गजमूर्धनि॥
And bearing on his breast a Niska hanging by a lustrous chain round the neck and stretching his golden bow sitting on the back the elephants.

अशोभत महाराज सविद्युदिव तोयदः। तमापतन्तं सहसा मागधस्य गजोत्तमम्॥
Appeared as beautiful, O mighty, monarch, as a mass of clouds surcharged with lightning. Then that elephant of the Magadha king, that king was advancing with fury.

सात्यकिर्वारयामास वेलेव मकरालयम्। नागं निवारितं दृष्ट्वा शैनेयस्य शरोत्तमैः॥
Satyaki checked like the continent resisting the surging waves of the sea. Then beholding the career of his elephant checked by the excellent arrows shot by Sini's grandson.

अक्रुद्ध्यत रणे राजन् जलसंधो महाबलः। ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज मार्गणै रसाधनैः॥ अविध्यत शिनेः पौत्रं जलसन्धो महोरसि। ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन च॥
The highly puissant Jalasandha, O king, became greatly enraged. Then O mighty monarch excited with rage, Jalasandha pierced with tough arrows the grandson Sini on his broad breast. Thereafter with a bhalla, well whetted and tempered.

अस्यतो वृष्णिवीरस्य निचकर्त शरासनम्। सात्यकि छिन्नधन्वानं प्रहसन्निव भारत॥ अविध्यन्मागधो वीरः पञ्चभिर्निशितैः शरैः। स विद्धो बहुभिबाणैर्जलसन्धेन वीर्यवान्॥
He cut-off the bow of that Vrishni hero (Satyaki). Then O Bharata, the heroic ruler of the Magadhas pierced with five sharp arrows, Satyaki whose bow had been burst open. Then that highly powerful Satyaki being thus pierced with numerous arrows by Jalasandha.

नाकम्पत महाबाहुस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्। अचिन्तयन् वै स शरान्नात्यर्थं सम्भ्रभावली॥
Did not tremble in the least; that indeed appeared wonderful. Then that powerful hero thought fearlessly of the shafts he should use.

धनुरन्यत् समादाय तिष्ठ तिष्ठेत्युवाच ह। एतावदुक्त्वा शैनेयो जनसन्धं महोरसि॥
Then taking up another bow he said-wait. Having spoken these two words only, the grandson of Sini pierced Jalasandha on his broad chest.

विव्याध पष्ट्या सुभृशं शराणां प्रहसन्निव। क्षुरप्रेण सुतीक्ष्णेन मुष्टिदेशे महद्धनुः॥ जलसंधस्य चिच्छेद विव्याध च त्रिभिः शरैः। जलसंधस्तु तत्त्यक्त्वा सशरं वै शरासनम्॥
arrows. With a group of sixty arrows, smiling all the while. Then with a razor-headed arrow of great sharpness, he cut-off the mighty bow of Jalasandha and then pierced him with three shafts, thereat Jalasandha casting off that severed bow and the arrows fixed on its string.

तोमरं व्यसृजत्तूर्णं सात्यकिं प्रति मारिष स निर्भिद्य भुजं सव्यं माधवस्य महारणे॥
Quickly hurled a Tomara at Satyaki O sire. That Tomora piercing through the left arm of the illustrious Madhava in that battle.

अभ्यगाद्धरणी घोरः श्वसन्निव महोरगः। निर्भिन्ने तु भुजे सव्ये सात्यकिः सत्यविक्रमः॥
Entered the earth, like a mighty and dreadful snake breathing fiercely. When his left arm had been thus pierced Satyaki of prowess incapable of being baffled.

त्रिंशद्भिर्विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णैर्जलसन्धमताडयत्। प्रगृह्य तु ततः खां जलसन्धो महाबलः॥
Wounded Jalasandha with thirty extremely sharp Thereupon the mighty Jalasandha grasped a sword.

आर्षभं चर्म च महच्छतचन्द्रकसंङ्कुलम्। आविध्य च ततः खङ्गं सात्वतायोत्ससर्ज ह॥
And a shield made of bull's hide and decked with a hundred moons. Then whirling that sword in the air, he let it go towards the grandson of Sini.

शैनेयस्य धनुश्छित्त्वा स खगोन्यपतन्मर्हाम्। अलातचक्रवश्चैव व्यरोचत महीं गतः॥
Cutting off the bow of Sini's grandson, that sword then fell on the ground; and lying on the surface of the earth, it then appeared beautiful like a circle of fire.

अथान्यद्धनुरादाय सर्वकायावदारणम्। शालस्कन्धप्रतीकाशमिन्द्राशनिसमस्वनम्॥
Then taking up another bow capable of piercing all kinds of things, large as a Sala offshoot and emitting twang resembling the rumble of Indra's thunder.

विस्फार्य विव्यधे क्रुद्धो जलसन्धं शरेण ह। तत: साभरणौ बाहू क्षुराभ्यां माधवोत्तमः॥
race

सात्यकिर्जलसन्धस्य चिच्छेद प्रहसन्निव। तौ बाहू परिधप्रख्यौ पेततुर्गजसत्तमात्॥
Satyaki inflamed with rage, began to stretch it; and then he pierced Jalasandha with the shafts shot from that bow. Then Satyaki that illustrious descendant of Madhu's smilingly cut-off the two arms of Jalasandha, decked with various ornaments. Then those arms resembling two bludgeons were seen to fall down from the back of the elephant,

वसुन्धराधरद्धष्टौ पञ्चशीर्षाविवोरगौ। ततः सुदंष्ट्र सुमहश्चारुकुण्डलमण्डितम्॥ क्षुरेणास्य तृतीयेन शिरश्चिच्छेद सात्यकिः। तत्पातितशिरोबाहुकबन्धं भीमदर्शनम्॥
Like a couple of five-hooded snakes dropping down from a mountain. Then with another razor-headed arrow Satyaki lopped off his adversary head graced with beautiful teeth and with a pair of charming ear-rings. The headless and armless trunk of dreadful aspect.

द्विरदं जलसन्धस्य रुधिरेणाभ्यषिञ्चत। जलसन्धं निहत्याजौ त्वरयाणस्तु सात्वतः॥
Then drenched Jalasandha's elephant with blood. Having slain Jalasandha in battle, he of the Satvata race speedily.

विमां पातयामास गजस्कन्धाद्विशांपते। रुधिरेणावसिक्तांगो जलसन्धस्य कुञ्जरः॥
Brought down the wooden structure from the back of that elephant. O king, steeped in blood, that elephant of Jalasandha.

विलम्बमानमवहत् संश्लिष्टं परग्रासनम्। शरादितः सात्वतेन मर्दमान: स्ववाहिनीम्॥
Bore that precious seat hanging down from its back. Afflicted with the shafts of the Satvata hero, the huge animal crushed the ranks of its own party.

घोरमार्तस्वरं कृत्वा विदुद्राव महागजः। हाराकारो महानीसीत्तव सैन्यस्य मारिष॥
As it careered wildly uttering fierce yells of agony. Then, O sire, loud lamentations arose in the ranks of your soldiers.

जलसन्धं हतं दृष्ट्वा वृष्णीनामृषभेण तु। विमुखाश्चाभ्यधावन्त तव योधाः समन्ततः॥
At the sight of Jalasandha slain by that foremost pf the Vrishnis. Your troops then turning away their faces began to fly away in all directions.

पलायनकृतोत्साहा निरुत्साहा द्विषजये। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजन् द्रोणः शस्त्रभृतां वरः॥
But hopeless of obtaining victory over the foe they immediately after resolved to fight to the bitter end. Meanwhile, Drona that foremost of all wielders of bow,

अभ्यायञ्जवनैरश्चैर्युयुधानं महारथम्। तमुदीर्णं तथा दृष्ट्वा शैनेयं नरपुङ्गवाः॥
Approached the mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana, born by his flect steeds. Many best warriors of the Kuru host, then beholding the grandson of Sini inspired (with pride and fury).

द्रोणेनैव सह क्रुद्धाः सात्यकिं समुपाद्रवन्। ततः प्रववृते युद्धं कुरुणां सात्वतस्य च। द्रोणस्य च रणे राजन् घोरं देवासुरोपमम्॥
Rushed at him in rage, accompanied by Drona himself. Then, O king, there ensued a fight between the Kurus headed by Drona on one side and Yuyudhana on the other, that resembled the dreadful battle that was fought in days gone by, between the Gods and the Asuras.