None: Chapter 171

The fierce fight

संजय उवाच तस्मिन् सुतुमले युद्धे वर्तमाने भयावहे। धृष्टद्युम्नो महाराज द्रोणमेवाभ्यवर्तत॥
Sanjaya said Then, O mighty monarch, when the battle raged hot and furious Dhristadyumna rushed against Drona.

संदधानो धनुःश्रेष्ठं ज्यां विकर्षन् पुनः पुनः। अभ्यद्रवत द्रोणस्य रथं रुक्मविभूषितम्॥
Wielding his strong bow and twanging its string often and often, he rushed against Drona's chariot decked with golden trappings.

धृष्टद्युम्नमथायान्तं द्रोणस्यान्तचिकीर्षया। परिववर्महाराज पञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सह॥
And as Dhristadyumna rushed against Drona, O mighty monarch, the Panchalas together with the Pandavas surrounded him, with a view to put an end to Drona's life.

तथा परिवृतं दृष्व द्रोणमाचार्यसत्तमम्। पुत्रास्ते सर्वतो यत्ता ररक्षुर्दोणमाहवे॥
Then beholding that foremost of preceptors Drona, thus hemmed in on all sides, your sons, exerting their best, protected Drona in that battle.

बलार्णवौ ततस्तौ तु समेयातां निशामुखे। वातोधूतौ क्षुब्धसत्त्वौ भैरवौ सागरविव॥
Then those two sea of troops encountering each other at the dead of night resembled two dreadful sees agitated by the tempest with all the creatures within them dreadfully terrified.

ततो द्रोणं महाराज पाञ्चाल्यः पञ्चभिः शरैः। विव्याध हृदये तूर्णं सिंहनादं ननाद च॥
Thereafter, O king, the prince of the Panchalas quickly pierced Drona on the breast with five arrows and then uttered his war-cry.

तं द्रोणः पञ्चविंशत्या विद्ध्वा भारत संयुगे। चिच्छेदान्येन भल्लेन धनुरस्य महास्वनम् ॥
Thereupon, O Bharata, Drona piercing him with twenty-five shafts, cut-off his lustrous bow with another broad-headed shaft.

धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु निर्विद्धो द्रोणेन भरतर्षभ। उत्ससर्ज धनुस्तूर्णं संदश्य दशनच्छदम्॥
Pierced sore by Drona, Dhristadyumna, O foremost of the Bharatas, threw quickly aside the (severed) bow and bit his lips (in anger).

ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज धृष्टद्युम्नः प्रतापवान्। आददेऽन्यद् धनुःश्रेष्ठं द्रोणस्यान्तचिकीर्षया॥
Then, O mighty monarch, excited to his highest pitch of fury, the puissant Dhristadyumna grasped another strong bow, desirous of accomplishing Drona's destruction.

विकृष्य च धनुश्चित्रमाकर्णात् परवीरहा। द्रोणस्यान्तकरं घोरं व्यसृजत् सायकं ततः॥
That handsome warrior, the slayer of his foes, then drawing back the string of that bow to his cars, let go a dreadful shaft capable of achieving Drona's destruction.

स विसृष्टो बलवता शरो घोरो महामृधे। भासयामास तत् सैन्यं दिवाकर इवोदितः॥
In that terrible battle that shaft, shot by his strong arm, flooded the Kuru troops with its lustre like the risen sun.

तं तु दृष्ट्वा शरं घोरं देवगन्धर्वमानवाः। स्वस्त्यस्तु समरे राजन् द्रोणायेत्यब्रुवन् वचः॥
Beholding that dreadful shaft, o king, the Gods, the Danavas and the Gandharvas said these words viz., “May good betide Drona."

तं तु सायकमायान्तमाचार्यस्य रथं प्रति। कर्णो द्वादशधा राजंश्चिच्छेद कृतहस्तवत्॥
Then as that shaft coursed towards the chariot of Drona, Oking Karna like one endued with great lightness of hands, cut it off into twelve fragments.

च च्छिन्नो बहुधा राजन् सूतपुत्रेण धन्विना। निपपात शरस्तूर्णं निर्विषो भुजगो यथा॥
() king, that shaft of Dhristadyumna severed into numerous pieces, quickly fell down on the earth like, O sire, a snake without its poisonous fangs.

धृष्टद्युम्नं ततः कर्णो विव्याध दशभिः शरै। पञ्चभिट्टैणपुत्रस्तुं स्वयं द्रोणस्तु सप्तभिः॥
In that battle, cutting off arrows with his own close-knotted shafts, Karna then began to pierce Dhristadyumna with sharp arrows.

शल्यश्च दशभिर्बाणैत्रिभिर्दुःशासनस्तथा। दुर्योधनस्तु विंशत्या शकुनिश्चापि पञ्चभिः॥
Drona's son pierced Dhristadyumna with five, Drona himself with five, Shalya with nine and Dushasana with three Vallas.

पाञ्चाल्यं त्वरयाविध्यन् सर्व एव महारथाः। स विद्धः सप्तभिवीरैर्दोणस्यार्थे महाहवे॥
Duryodhana pierced him with twenty and Shakuni with five arrows. Thus all the mighty car-warriors (of your army) quickly pierced the Panchala prince.

सर्वानसम्भ्रमाद् राजन् प्रत्यविद्ध्यत् त्रिभित्रिभिः। द्रोणं द्रौणिं च कर्णं च विव्याध च तवात्मजम्॥
Dhristadyumna was then pierced by the seven heroes who strove to protect Drona in battle. He also in his turn, pierced each of them with three shafts.

ते भिन्ना धन्विना तेन धृष्टद्युम्नं पुनर्मधे। विव्यधुः पञ्चभिस्तूर्णमेकैको रथिनां वरः॥
0 mighty monarch, with the greatest quickness, Dhristadyumna then pierced Drona, Karna, Drona's son and your son, in that terrible battle.

दुमसेनस्तु संक्रुद्धो राजन् विव्याध पत्रिणा। त्रिभिश्चान्यैःशरैस्तूर्णं तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्॥
Thus pierced by that bowman, your warriors again unitedly pierced Dhristadyumna in that battle, uttering terrible war-cries.

स तु तं प्रतिविव्याध त्रिभिस्तीक्ष्णैरजिह्मगैः। स्वर्णपुङ्खः शिलाधौतैः प्राणान्तकरणैर्युधि॥
Inflamed with fury, O king, Drumasena then pierced Dhristadyumna with an arrow and then again quickly piercing the latter with sharp shafts he said-"wait, wait."

भल्लेनान्येन तु पुनः सुवर्णोज्ज्वलकुण्डलम्। निचकत शिरः कायाद् द्रुमसेनस्य वीर्यवान्॥
Dhristadyumna pierced him in return with three sharp straight-flying arrows, winged with golden feathers, whetted on stone and capable of destroying life.

तच्छिरो न्यपतद् भूमौ संदष्टौष्ठपुटं रणे। महावातसमुद्भूतं पक्कं तालफलं यथा।॥
Next with another broad-headed shaft, he lopped off from Drumasena's trunk, his head graced with glimmering ear-rings of gold.

तान् स विद्ध्वा पुनर्योधान् वीरः सुनिशितैः शरैः। राधेयस्याच्छिनद् भल्लैः कार्मुकं चित्रयोधिनः॥
arrows on That head with its lips bitten, then fell on the field like a ripe palm-fruit thrown down by i a raging tempest.

न तु तन्ममृषे कर्णो धनुषश्छेदनं तथा। निकर्तनमिवात्युग्रं लाङ्गलस्य महाहरिः॥
Thereafter the heroic Dhristadyumna piercing his opponent warriors with wellshaprened shafts cut-off with broad-headed arrows, the bow of Radha's son versed in various modes of war-fare.

सोऽन्यद् धनुः समादाय क्रोधरक्तेक्षणःश्वसन्। अभ्यद्रवच्छरौघैस्तं धृष्टद्युम्नं महाबलम्॥
But Karna did not brook that severance of his bow even as a fierce lion does not brook the chopping off of its tail.

दृष्ट्वा कर्णं तु संरब्धं ते वीराः षड्रथर्षभाः। पाञ्चाल्यपुत्रं त्वरिता: परिवर्जिघांसया॥
Taking up another bow, with eyes red in rage and breathing fiercely, he poured a shower of the highly puissant Dhristadyumna.

घण्णां योधप्रवीराणां तावकानां पुरस्कृतम्। मृत्योरास्यमनुप्राप्तं धृष्टद्युम्नममंस्महि॥
Then beholding Karna wrought up with rage, the other six heroic foremost car-warriors, quickly surrounded the son the Panchala king with a view to slay him in battle.

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु दाशार्हो विकिरछरान्। धृष्टद्युम्नं पराक्रान्तं सात्यकिः प्रत्यपद्यत॥
0 lord, the troops then considered Dhristadyumna to be already within the jaws of Death, as he was then confronted by the six foremost car-warriors of your army.

तमायान्तं महेष्वासं सात्यकिं युद्धदुर्मदम्। राधेयो दशभिर्बाणैः प्रत्यविध्यदजिह्मगैः॥
At this juncture, Satyaki that scion of the Dasarha race, advanced to the rescue of the puissant Dhristadyumna, shooting numerous arrows (in all directions).

तं सात्यकिर्महाराज विव्याध दशभिः शरैः। पश्यतां सर्ववीराणां मा गास्तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्॥
Beholding that Satvata warrior indomitable in battle advance, Radha's son pierced him in battle, with ten shafts.

स सात्यकेस्तु बलिनः कर्णस्य च महात्मनः। आसीत् समागमो राजन् बलिवासवयोरिव॥
Him, O mighty monarch, Satyaki pierced in return with ten shafts before the eyes of all the heroes present and said-'Fly not-stay.'

त्रासयन् स्थघोषेण क्षत्रियान् क्षत्रियर्षभः। राजीवलोचनं कर्णं सात्यकिः प्रत्यविध्यत॥
0 king, that encounter between the powerful Satyaki and the high-souled Karna looked like the encounter between Bali and Vasava.

कम्पयन्निव घोषेण धनुषो वसुधां बली। सूतपुत्रो महाराज सात्यकि प्रत्ययोधयत्॥
That foremost of the Kshatriyas Satyaki, then pierced the lotus-eyed Karna terrifying the Kshatriya warriors with the clatter of his car.

विपाठकर्णिनाराचैर्वत्सदन्तैः क्षुरैरपि। कर्णः शरशतैश्चापि शैनेयं प्रत्यविध्यत॥
On the other hand, O mighty monarch the puissant son of Suta fought on with Satyaki, causing the earth to tremble with the tremendous twang on his bow.

तथैव युद्ध्यमानोऽपि वृष्णीनां प्रवरो युधि। अभ्यवर्षच्छरैः कर्णं तद् युद्धमभवत् समम्॥
Karna then pierced that scion of Sini's race with Vipatkarnis, Narachas, Vatsadantas, Kshuras and hundreds of other kings of arrows.

तावकाश्च महाराज कर्णपुत्रश्च दंशितः। सात्यकि विव्यधुस्तूर्णं समन्तान्निशितैः शरैः॥
So also Yuyudhana that foremost of the Vrishni warriors, covered Karna with his shower of arrows. The combat was an equal one (in all respects).

अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य तेषां कर्णस्य वा विभो। अविद्ध्यत् सात्यकिः क्रुद्धो वृषसेनं स्तनान्तरे॥
Placing Karna in front of them, your sons then, O ruler of men, began to pierce Satyaki simultaneously with sharp arrows.

तेन बाणेन निर्विद्धो वृषसेनो विशाम्पते। न्यपतत् स रथे मूढो धनुरुत्सृज्य वीर्यवान्॥
Baffing their as well as Karna's weapons with those of his own, O lord, Satyaki quickly pierced Vrishasena on the centre of his chest.

ततः कर्णो हतं मत्वा वृषसेनं महारथम्। पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तः सात्यकिं प्रत्यपीड्यत्॥
Pierced with the shaft of Satyaki, the highly effulgent and puissant Vrishasena fell down on his car, losing hold of his bow.

पीड्यमानसतु कर्णेन युयुधानो महारथः। विव्याध बहुभिः कर्णं त्वरमाणः पुनः पुनः॥
Thereupon Karna taking Vrishasena the mighty car-warrior to be slain, was afflicted with grief on account of his son's death and began to afflict Satyaki.

स कर्णं दशभिर्विद्ध्वा वृषसेनं च सप्तभिः। स हस्तावापधनुषी तयोश्चिच्छेद सात्वतः॥
The mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana then afflicted sore by Karna, forcibly pierced Karna with numerous shafts over and over again.

तावन्ये धनुषी सज्ये कृत्वा शत्रुभयंकरे। युयुधानमविध्येतां समन्तान्निशितैः शरैः॥
Piercing Karna with ten and Vrishasena with five shafts, the Satvata hero then cut-off their bow as well as their gloves.

वर्तमाने तु संग्रामे तस्मिन् वीवरक्षये। अतीव शुश्रुवे राजन् गाण्डीवस्य महास्वनः॥
Thereupon they both having strung another pair of bows dreadful to the foe, began simultaneously to pierce Yuyudhana with sharp arrows.

श्रुत्वा तु स्थनिर्घोषं गाण्डीवस्य च निःश्वनम्। सूतपुत्रोऽब्रवीद् राजन् दुर्योधनमिदं वचः॥
When that dreadful destruction of heroes was progressing, O king, the terrible twang of the Gandiva bow was heard, arising above the din of battle.

एष सर्वां चमूं हत्वा मुख्यांश्चैव नरर्षभान्। पौरवांश्च महेष्वासो विक्षिपनुत्तमं धनुः॥
Having heard the sound of the Gandiva and the clatter of (Arjuna's) car, Oking Suta's son addressing Duryodhana said these wordsपार्थो विजयते तत्र गाण्डीवनिनदो महान्।

श्रूयते स्थघोषश्च वासवस्येव नर्दतः॥
This is the tremendous twang of the Gandiva bow, emitted by Arjuna, as he has slain our entire army, many foremost of men and numerous warriors of the Kurus.

करोति पाण्डवो व्यक्तं कर्मोपयिकमात्मनः। एषा विदार्यते राजन् बहुधा भारती चमूः॥
The clatter of his chariot is also heard, like the rumble of roaring clouds. Evidently the son of Pandu is achieving feats worthy of himself.

विप्रकीर्णान्यनेकानि न हि तिष्ठन्ति कर्हिचित्। वातेनेव समूद्धृतमभ्रजालं विदीर्यते॥
O mighty monarch, this son of Pritha will completely crush our mighty host. Many troops are already scattered and none stays on the field.

सव्यसाचिनमासाद्य भिन्ना नौरिव सागरे। द्रवतां योधमुख्यानां गाण्डीवप्रेषितैः शरैः॥
Our host is being shattered like risen masses of clouds by the raging tempest; encountering Savyasachin in battle, it is being split like a bark on a (rough) șea.

विद्धानां शतशो राजश्रूयते नि:स्वनो महान्। शृणु दुन्दुभिनिर्घोषमर्जुनस्य रथं प्रति॥
Hark, O king, the terrible wails of foremost warriors as they fly or fall in battle in consequence of shafts shot from the Gandiva bow.

निशीथे राजशार्दूल स्तनयित्नोरिवाम्बरे। हाहाकाररवांश्चैव सिंहनादांश्च पुष्कलान्॥
Hark, O foremost of monarchs, the roar of drums near Arjuna's chariot, resembling the rumble of clouds at the dead of night.

शृणु शब्दान् बहुविधानर्जुनस्य रथं प्रति। अयं मध्ये स्थितोऽस्माकं सात्यकिः सात्वतां वरः॥५३
Hear also, numerous sounds, cries of woe and alas and loud war-cries, near the chariot of Arjuna.

इह चेल्लभ्यते लक्ष्यं कृत्स्नाञ्जेष्यामहे परान्। एष पाञ्चालराजस्य पुत्रो द्रोणेन संगतः॥
But here in our middle stays Satyaki the foremost of the Satvatas; if this object o our aim could be smitten down, we might obtain victory over our foes.

सर्वतः संवृतो योधैः शूरैश्च रथसत्तमैः। सात्यकि यदि हन्याम धृष्टद्युम्नं च पार्षतम्॥
There the Panchala Prince surrounded on all sides by heroic and foremost of carwarriors, has engaged himself with Drona.

असंशयं महाराज ध्रुवो नो विजयो भवेत्। सौभद्रवदिमौ वीरौ परिवार्य महारथौ॥
If we can slay Satyaki and Prisata's son Dhristadyumna, then, O mighty monarch, undoubtedly victory will be ours.

प्रयतामो महाराज निहन्तुं वृष्णिपार्षतौ। सव्यसाची पुरोऽभ्येति द्रोणानीकाय भारत॥
Impaling these two heroic and mighty carwarriors, the descendants of the Vrishni and the Prishata race respectively, like the son of Subhadra, we will, O king strive to slay them.

संसक्तं सात्यकिं ज्ञात्वा बहुभिः कुरुपुङ्गवैः। तत्र गच्छन्तु बहवः प्रवरा रथसत्तमाः॥
But yonder comes Savyasachin, O Bharata, towards this division of Drona knowing that Satyaki is here encountered by many foremost warriors of the Kurus.

यावत् पार्थो न जानाति सात्यकि बहुभिर्वृतम्। ते त्वरध्वं तथा शूराः शराणां मोक्षणे भृशम्॥
Let now a detachment of mighty and foremost car-warriors intercept Pritha's son, so that he may not advance to the rescue of Satyaki now surrounded by many.

तथा त्विह व्रजत्येष परलोकाय माधवः। तथा कुरु महाराज सुनीत्या सुप्रयुक्तया॥
Let those mighty heroes be quick in shooting their arrows, so that this scion of Madhu's race may be dispatch to the next world. a

कर्णस्य मतमास्थाय पुत्रस्ते प्राह सौबलम्। यथेन्द्रः समरे राजन् प्राह विष्णुं यशस्विनम्॥
Knowing this to be the opinion O, Karna, your son addressed Subala's son even as the highly illustrious Indra addressed Vishnu, on the field of battle.

वृतः सहस्रैर्दशभिर्गजानामनिवर्तिनाम्। रथैश्च दशसाहस्रेस्तूर्णं याहि धनंजयम्॥
"Supported by a host of ten thousand unretreating elephants and also by detachment of ten thousand car-warriors, do you proceed against Dhananjaya.

दुःशासनो दुर्विषहः सुबाहुर्दुष्प्रधर्षणः। एते त्वामनुयास्यन्ति पत्तिभिर्बहुभिर्वृताः॥
Dushasana Durvishaha, Subahu and Durshpradharshana these supported by numerous of infantry will follow you.

जहि कृष्णौ महाबाहो धर्मराजं च मातुल। नकुलं सहदेवं च भीमसेनं तथैव च॥
O my uncle, slay me those fierce bowmen, the two Krishnas the very virtuous king Yudhishthira and Nakula and Sahadeva and Pandu's son Bhimasena.

देवानामिव देवेन्द्र जयाशा त्वयि मे स्थिता। नहि मातुल कौन्तेयानसुरानिव पावकिः॥
My hopes of victory rest on you as those of the gods rest on their lord Indra. O uncle, slay the sons of Kunti, even as Pabaka's son slew the Asuras."

एवमुक्तो ययौ पार्थान् पुत्रेण तव सौबलः। महत्या सेनया सार्धं सह पुत्रैश्च ते विभो॥
Thus addressed and urged on by your son, he (Subala's son) covered in mail, proceeded against the sons of Pritha, being himself supported by your sons and a large army.

प्रियार्थं तव पुत्राणां दिक्षधुः पाण्डुनन्दनान्। ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तावकानां परैः सह॥
In order to please your son he proceeded to battle, desirous of consuming the sons of Pandu. Then commenced a terrible battle between your warriors and the foe.

प्रयाते सौबले राजन् पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्। बलेन महता युक्तः सूतपुत्रस्तु सात्वतम्॥ अभ्ययात् त्वरितो युद्धे किरशरशतान् बहून्। तथैव पार्थिवाः सर्वे सात्यकि पर्यवारयन्॥
When, O king, Subala's son had going against the (main) army of the Pandavas, the son of Suta supported by a mighty force, quickly rushed upon the Satvata hero in battle, shooting many hundreds of shafts. Your troops then gathering together encompassed Satyaki.

भारद्वाजस्ततो गत्वा धृष्टद्युम्नरथं प्रति। महद् युद्धं तदाऽऽसीत् तु द्रोणस्य निशि भारत। धृष्टद्युम्नेन वीरेण पञ्चालैश्च सहाद्भुतम्॥
The son of Bharadvaja also advancing against Dhristadyumna's car commenced at that night, O foremost of Bharatas, a most terrible and wonderful battle with the heroic Dhristadyumna and the Panchalas.