None: Chapter 155

The prowess displayed by Bhima

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे दुधेर्षे सृञ्जयानमितौजसि। अमृध्यमाणे संरब्धे का वोऽभूद् वै मतिस्तदा॥
Dhritarashtra said When, unable to bear (the destruction of the king of Sindhu), that one of unrivaled energy and difficult of being vanquished penetrated into the Srinjayas what became the state of) your mind? one

दुर्योधनं तथा पुत्रमुक्त्वा शास्त्रातिगं मम। यत् प्राविशदमेयात्मा किं पार्थः प्रत्यपद्यत॥
Having addressed my disobedient son Duryodhana thus, when that of immeasurable energy entered into the Pandava army) what did Partha do?

निहते सैन्धवे वीरे भूरिश्रवसि चैव ह। : यदाभ्यगान्महातेजाः पञ्चालानपराजित॥
(You say that) on the slaughter of the heroic king of Sindhu as well as of Bhurisrava that unvanquished one (i.e., Drona) endued with great energy rushed against the Srinjayas.

किममन्यत दुधेचे प्रविष्टे शत्रुतापने। दुर्योधनस्तु किं कृत्यं प्राप्तकालममन्यत॥
What did (Partha) think on that invincible scorcher of foes having so entered? What also did Duryodhana think as to the most proper step that he could adopt at that time?

के च तं वरदं वीरमन्वयुर्द्विजसत्तमम्। के चास्य पृष्ठतोऽगच्छन् वीराः शूरस्य युध्यतः॥
Who were they that followed the heroic bestower of boons, the foremost of the twiceborn ones? Who, O charioteer, were the warriors that remained behind that fighting hero?

के पुरस्तादवर्तन्त निघ्नतः शात्रवान् रणे। मन्येऽहं पाण्डवान् सर्वान् भारद्वाजशरार्दितान्॥
Who were they that fought in, his van when he was destroying the enemies? I think that afflicted with the darts of the of Bharadvaja, all the Pandavas.

शिशिरे कम्पमाना वै कृशा गाव इव प्रभो। प्रविश्य स महेष्वासः पञ्चालानरिमर्दनः। कथं नु पुरुषव्याघ्रः पञ्चत्वमुपजग्मिवान्॥
Like lean cows shivering in cold. Having entered into the Panchalas how that mighty wielder of bow, that grinder of foes and foremost of men came by his end?

सर्वेणु योधेषु च संगतेषु रात्रौ समेतेषु महारथेषु। संलोड्यमानेषु पृथग्बलेषु के वस्तदानीं मतिमन्त आसन्॥
When, on that night, all the soldiers joined together and (all) the mighty car-warriors, combined, were being separately crushed, (by ona), who, were the intelligent men among you, that were then present?

हतांश्चैव विषक्तांश्च पराभूतांश्च शंससि। रथिनो विरथांश्चैव कृतान् युद्धेषु मामकान्॥
son (You say) that, in the encounter. my soldiers were (either) killed, Driven away or defeated and that my car-warriors were deprived of their cars in the encounter.

तेषां संलोड्यमानानां पाण्डवैर्हतचेतसाम्। अन्धे तमसि मग्नानामभवत् का पतिस्तदा॥
Crushed and deprived of senses by the Pandavas and buried in blinding darkness (as they were), what was (the state of) their mind?

प्रहृष्टांश्चाप्युदग्रांश्च संतुष्टांश्चैव पाण्डवान्। शंससीहाप्रहृष्टांश्च विभ्रष्टांश्चैव मामकान्॥
You say that the Pandavas were full of joy and elated (with success) and that my partisans were cheerless, heartless and struck with terror,

कथमेषां तदा तत्र पार्थानामपलायिनाम्। प्रकाशमभवद् रात्रौ कथं कुरुषु संजय॥
How, O chariotecr, O Sanjaya or that (dark) night could you unretreating sons of Partha and the Kurus?

संजय उवाच रात्रियुद्धे तदा राजन् वर्तमाने सुदारुणे। द्रोणमभ्यद्रवन् सर्वे पाण्डवाः सह सोमकैः ॥
Sanjaya said Oking, when that greatly furious nocturnal battle was going on, all the Pandavas together with the Somakas rushed against Drona.

ततो द्रोण: केकयांश्च धृष्टद्युम्नस्य चात्मजान्। सम्प्रेषयत् प्रेतलोकं सर्वानिषुभिराशुगैः॥
But Drona, by means of his swift-going darts, sent the Kekayas and sons of Dhrishtadyumna to the region of the departed spirits.

तस्य प्रमुखतो राजन् येऽवर्तन्त महारथाः। तान् सर्वान् प्रेषयामास पितृलोकं स भारत॥
And Drona sent all those mighty carwarriors, those lords of earth who confronted hiin to the region of Pitris, O king.

प्रमनन्तं तदा वीरान् भारद्वाजं महारथम्। अभ्यवर्तत संक्रुद्धः शिबी राजा प्रतापवान्॥
Then the powerful king Sibi furiously advanced against the heroic son of Bharadvaja, was the mighty-car warrior Drona who engaged in crushing (the enemy).

तमापतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य पाण्डवानां महारथम्। विव्याध दशभिर्बाणैः सर्वपारशवैः शितैः॥
Secing the great car-warrior of the Pandavas advance, Drona pierced him with ten arrows made wholly of steel.

तं शिविः प्रतिविव्याध त्रिंशता निशितैः शरैः। सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन स्मयमानो न्यपातयत्॥
Sibi (too) pierced him (i.e., Drona) in return by thirty shafts adorned with the plumes of the Kanka (bird) and struck down his charioteer with a smile by a broad-headed shafts.

तस्य द्रोणो हयान् हत्वा सारथिं च महात्मनः। अथास्य सशिरस्त्राणं शिरः कायादपाहरत्॥
(On the other hand) Drona, having killed the horses as well as the charioteer of that highsouled one, severed his head, adorned with a diadem, from the body.

ततोऽस्य सारथिं क्षिप्रमन्यं दुर्योधनोऽदिशत्। स तेन संगृहीताश्वः पुनरभ्यद्रवद् रिपून्॥
Duryodhana then quickly ordered charioteer (to guide Drona's car). The reins of the) horses being taken by him, he (i.c., Drona) again proceeded against his foes.

कलिङ्गानामनीकेन कालिङ्गस्य सुतो रणे। पूर्वं पितृवघात् क्रुद्धो भीमसेनमुपाद्रवत्॥
Accompanied by the Kalinga forces the son of the king of Kalinga, excited with wrath for the destruction of his father by Bhimasena, rushed towards him.

स भीमं पञ्चभिर्विद्ध्वा पुनर्विव्याध सप्तभिः। विशोकं त्रिभिरानछेद् ध्वजमेकेन पत्रिणा॥
Having (first) pierced Bhima with five shafts and then again with seven, be struck Vishoka (Bhima's chariotcer) with three darts and his (i.e. Bhima's) standard with one.

कलिङ्गानां तु तं शूरं क्रुद्धं क्रुद्धो वृकोदरः। रथाद् रथमभिद्रुत्य मुष्टिनाभिजघान ह॥
Vrikodara, then fired with rage, leaped from (his own) car to that of the heroic prince of a : Kalinga, who also was (very) angry and killed him with blows from his fists.

तस्य मुष्टिहतस्याजौ पाण्डवेन बलीयसा। सर्वाण्यस्थीनि सहसा प्रापतन् वै पृथक् पृथक्॥
All the bones of that one (i.c., the Kalinga prince) thus boxed to death by the powerful Pandava, suddenly fell down on the ground separated from one another.

तं कर्णो भ्रातरश्चास्य नामृष्यन्त परंतप। ते भीमसेनं नाराचैर्जघ्नुराशीविषोपमैः॥
Karna and all the brothers (of the Kalinga prince) could not bear that act of the part of Bhimasena. They (therefore) struck him with keen darts (as fierce) as poisonous snakes.

ततः शत्रुरथं त्यक्त्वा भीमो ध्रुवरथं गतः। ध्रुवं चास्यन्तमनिशं मुष्टिना समपोथयत्॥
Bhima, then leaving the car of his enemy (i.e., dead Kalinga prince) made for the car of Dhruva and smashed Dhruva who was incessantly striking him, by a blow of his fist.

स तथा पाण्डुपुत्रेण बलिनाभिहतोऽपतत्। तं निहत्य महाराज भीमसेनो महाबलः॥
Thus struck by the powerful son of Pandu, he fell down (from his car). The highly powerful Bhimasena, Oking, after slaying him.

जयरातरथं प्राप्य मुहुः सिंह इवानदत्। जयरातमथाक्षिप्य नदन् सव्येन पाणिना॥
Got up to the car of Jayadratha and repeatedly sent forth leoninc roars. While roaring he hurled him down with his left hand.

तलेन नाशयामास कर्णस्यैवाग्रतः स्थितः। कर्णस्तु पाण्डवे शक्तिं काञ्चनीं समवासृजत्॥
And he (then) killed him with a slap in the very presence of Karna himself. Karna then shot a golden dart at that Pandava.

यतस्तामेव जग्राह प्रहसन् पाण्डुनन्दनः। कर्णायैव च दुर्धर्षश्चिक्षेपाजौ वृकोदरः॥
But the son of Pandu seized that (dart) with a smile. And in that encounter the invincible Vrikodara hurled that very dart of Karna.

तामापतन्ती चिच्छेद शकुनिस्तैलपायिना। एतत् कृत्वा महत् कर्म रणेऽद्भुपराक्रमः॥
(Then) Shakuni cut-off that dart while it was coming (towards Karna) by a shaft saturated with oil. Having performed such great exploits in battle, that one of marvellous prowess.

पुनः स्वरथमास्थाय दुद्राव तव वाहिनीम्। तमायान्तं जिघांसन्तं भीमं क्रुद्धमिवान्तकम्॥
Returned to his own car and (then) rushed against your troops. When Bhima desirous of staying (your troops), was (thus) advancing furiously like the (grim) destroyer himself.

न्यवारयन् महाबाहुं तव पुत्रा विशाम्पते। महता शरवर्षेण च्छादयन्तो महारथाः॥
Your mighty armed-sons, those great carwarriors tried to check his career by enveloping him with mighty showers of arrows.

दुर्मदस्य ततो भीमः प्रहसन्निव संयुगे। सारथिं च हयांश्चैव शर्निन्ये यमक्षयम्॥
Then Bhima, with a smile, sent the charioteer and the steeds of Durmada in that battle to the abode of Yama with his shafts.

दुर्मदस्तु ततो यानं दुष्कर्णस्यावचक्रमे। तावेकरथमारूढौ भ्रातरौ परतापनौ॥
Durmada then got to the car of Duskarna. Those two brothers, the tormentors of foes, mounted on the same car.

संग्रामशिरसो मध्ये भीमं द्वावप्यधावताम्। यथाम्बुपतिमित्रौ हि तारकं दैत्यसत्तमम्॥
Both rushed against Bhima in the van of the battle, as the lord of the water (i.e. Varuna) (had rushed against) Taraka, the foremost of the Daitayas (in days of yore).

ततस्तु दुर्मदश्चैव दुष्कर्णश्च तवात्मजौ। रथमेकं समारुह्य भीमं बाणैरविध्यताम्॥
Then your sons Durmada and Duskarna ascending the same car pierced Bhima with arrows.

ततः कर्णस्य मिषतो द्रौणे दुर्योधनस्य च। कृपस्य सोमदत्तस्य बाहीकस्य च पाण्डवः॥
Then in the very sight of Karna and Duryodhana and in that of Kripa, Somadatta and Balhika, the Pandava,

दुर्मदस्य च वीरस्य दुष्कर्णस्य च तं रथम्। पादप्रहारेण धरां प्रावेशयदरिंदमः॥
That chastiser of foes, buried the car of the heroic Durmada and that of Duskarna into the earth with the stroke of his foot.

ततः सुतौ ते बलिनौ शूरौ दुष्कर्णदुर्मदौ। मुष्टिनाऽऽहत्य संक्रुद्धो ममर्द च ननर्द च॥
Then striking furiously with the blows of his fits those two heroic and powerful sons of yours, Duskama and Durmada, he crushed them (therewith) and sent forth thundering shouts.

ततो हाहाकृते सैन्ये दृष्ट्वा भीमं नृपाऽब्रुवन्। रुद्रोऽयं भीमरूपेण धार्तराष्ट्रेषु युध्यति॥
Then your troops began to wail aloud and the kings seeing Bhima, said. "He is Rudra himself who assuming the shape of a Bhima is fighting with the troops of Dhritarashtra.”

एवमुक्त्वा पलायन्ते सर्वे भारत पार्थिवाः। विसंज्ञा वाहयन् वाहान् न च द्वौ सह धावतः॥
0 Bharata, saying this, all the kings deprived, (as it were) of their senses and urging the animals (on which they rode), fled away (from the field) and no two then (so great was their terror) did run together.

ततो बले भृशलुलिते निशामुखे। सुपूजितो नृपवृषभैर्वृकोदरः। महाबल: कमलविबुद्धलोचनो युधिष्ठिरं नृपतिमपूजयद् बली॥
The army (of the Kurus) being thus greatly crushed, in that night, the heroic and highly powerful Vrikodara, endued with full blown lotus-like eyes, being highly complemented by (many) foremost of kings, paid his regards to king Yudhishthira.

ततो यमौ दुपदविराटकेकया युधिष्ठिरश्चापि परां मुदं ययुः। वृकोदरं भृशमनुपूजयंश्च ते यथान्धके प्रतिनिहते हरं सुराः॥
Then the twins (i.e., Nakula and Sahadeva), Drupada, Virata and the Kekayas as well as Yudhishthira experienced a great joy and paid high complements to Vrikodara as the celestials paid to Hara after the slaughter of Andhaka by him.

ततः सुतास्ते वरुणात्मजोपमा रुषान्विताः सह गुरुणा महात्मना। वृकोदरं सरथपदातिकुञ्जरा युयुत्सवो भृशमभिपर्यवारयन्॥
Then your sons resembling those of Varuna filled with wrath and eager for battle led by (their) high-souled preceptor surrounded on all sides Vrikodara by cars foot-soldiers and clephants.

ततोऽभवत् तिमिरघनैरिवावृते महाभये भयदमतीव दारुणम्। निशामुखे वृकबलगृध्रमोदनं महात्मनां नृपवर युद्धमद्भुतम्॥
Then, O best of kings, on that dreadful night enveloped with darkness thick as clouds, there took place, between those high-souled ones, an awe-inspiring and terrible battle delightful to wolves, crows and vultures.