SHALYA PARVA: Chapter 11

Shalya strikes the Pandavas who in return strike him. Kritavarma and Kripa go to help Shalya. The fight between various Kuru and Pandava leaders

संजय उवाच तस्मिन् विलुलिते सैन्ये वध्यमाने परस्परम्। द्रवमाणेषु योधेषु विद्रवत्सु च दन्तिषु॥ कूजतां स्तनतां चैव पदातीनां महाहवे। निहतेषु महाराज हयेषु बहुधा तदा॥ प्रक्षये दारुणे घोरे संहारे सर्वदेहिनाम्। नानाशस्त्रसमावाये व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपे॥ हर्षणे युद्धशौण्डानां भीरूणां भयवर्धने। गाहमानेषु योधेषु परस्परवधैषिषु॥ प्राणादाने महाघोरे वर्तमाने दुरोदरे। संग्रामे घोररूपे तु यमराष्ट्रविवर्धने॥ पाण्डवास्तावकं सैन्यं व्यदमन्निशितैः शरै। तथैव तावका योधा जघ्नुः पाण्डवसैनिकान्॥
Sanjaya said When the troops, killed by one another, were thus agitated, when many of the heroes took to their heels and the elephants sent up loud roars, when the infantry in that dreadful battle began to shout and cry aloud, when the horse, O king, ran in various directions, when the slaughter became dreadful, when a terrible onslaught of creatures took place, when various weapons clashed with one another, when car and elephants were mixed up, when heroes were delighted and cowards became afraid-when warriors encountered. One another in order to kill them-on that awful occasion of carnage, that increased the denizens of Yama's kingdom, the Pandavas killed your troops with keen arrows and similarly your troops slew those of the Pandavas.

तस्मिंतथा वर्तमाने युद्धे भीरुभयावहे। पूर्वाह्ने चापि सम्प्राप्ते भास्करोदयनं प्रति॥ लब्धलक्षाः परे राजन् रक्षितास्तु महात्मना। अयोधयंस्तव बलं मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्॥
During that awe-inspiring battle, during the progress of the battle faught about the hour of sin-rise, the Pandava heroes, of good aim, protected by the high-souled Yudhishthira, fought with your forces, making death itself their goal.

बलिभिः पाण्डवैर्दृप्तैर्लब्धलक्षैः प्रहारिभिः। कौरव्यसीदत्पृतना मृगीवाग्निसमाकुला॥
The Kuru army, Kuru chief, encountering the proud and powerful Pandavas skilled in striking and of sure aim, became weakened and agitated like a herd of she-deer frightened at a forest fire.

तां दृष्ट्वा सीदती सेनां पङ्के गामिव दुर्बलाम्। उजिहीर्षुस्तदा शल्यः प्रायात् पाण्डुसुतान् प्रति॥
Seeing that army weakened and helpless like a cow sunk in mire, Shalya, desirous of rescuing it, proceeded against the Pandavas army.

मद्रराजः सुसंक्रद्धो गृहीत्वा धनुरुत्तमम्। अभ्यद्रवत संग्रामे पाण्डवानाततायिनः॥
Enraged the king of the Madras, taking up an excellent bow, rushed for battle against the Pandavas.

पाण्डवा अपि भूपाल समरे जितकाशिनः। मद्रराजं समासाद्य बिभिदुर्निशितैः शरैः॥
The Pandavas also, O king, in that battle, filled with the desire of victory, proceeded against the king of the Madras and struck him with keen arrows.

ततः शरशतैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मद्रराजो महारथः। अर्दयामास तां सेनां धर्मराजस्य पश्यतः॥
The powerful king of the Madras struck that army with showers of keen arrows before the very eyes of the righteous king.

प्रादुरासन् निमित्तानि नानारूपाण्यनेकशः। चचाल शब्दं कुर्वाणा मही चापि सपर्वता।॥
The Earth, with her mountains, shook, making a loud noise.

सदण्डशूला दीप्तायाः शीर्यमाणाः समन्ततः। उल्का भूमिं दिवः पेतुराहत्य रविमण्डलम्॥
Meteors, keen pointed and bright like lances, dropped on Earth from the sky piercing the air.

मृगाश्च महिषाश्चापि पक्षिणश्च विशाम्पते। अपसव्यं तदा चक्रुः सेनां ते बहुशो नृप॥
Large numbers of deer and buffaloes and birds, O king, passed by the left of your army.

भृगुसूनुधरापुत्रौ शशिजेन समन्वितौ। चरमं पाण्डुपुत्राणां पुरस्तात् सर्वभूभुजाम्॥
The planets Venus and Mars in conjunction with Mercury, appeared at the back of the Pandavas and at the front of all the Kauravas.

शस्त्राग्रेष्वभवज्ज्वाला नेत्राण्याहत्य वर्षती। शिरःस्वलीयन्त भृशं काकोलूकाश्च केतुषु॥
Blazing flames came out from the points of weapons, dazzling the eyes of the warriors. Crows and owls sat upon the heads of the combatants and on the and on the tops of their standards.

ततस्तद्युद्धमत्युग्रमभवत् सहचारिणाम्। तथा सर्वाण्यनीकानि संनिपत्य जनाधिप॥
Then a fierce encounter took place between the Kauravas and the Pandavas assembled together in large bodies.

अभ्ययुः कौरवा राजन् पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्। शल्यस्तु शरवर्षेण वर्षन्निव सहस्रदृक्॥
Then O king, the Kauravas, collecting all their detachments, rushed against the Pandavas.

अभ्यवर्षत धर्मात्मा कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्। भीमसेनं शरैश्चापि रुक्मपुत्रैः शिलाशितैः॥
Shalya, who never knew depression, then poured showers of arrows on Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, like the thousand-eyed Indra pouring rain in torrents.

द्रौपदेयांस्तथा सर्वान् माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ। धृष्टद्युम्नं च शैनेयं शिखण्डिनमथापि च॥ एकैकं दशभिर्बाणैर्विव्याध स महाबलः। ततोऽसृजद् बाणवर्षं धर्मान्ते मघवानिव॥
He struck Bhimasena, the five sons of Draupadi, the two sons of Madri by Pandu, Dhrishtadyumna, the grand-son of Shini, Shikhandin each with ten gold-winged arrows whetted on stone. Then he, the great powerful wounded every one by ten arrows. Indeed, he began to discharge his arrows like Indra pouring rain at the close of the summer season.

ततः प्रभद्रका राजन् सोमकाश्च सहस्रशः। पतिताः पात्यमानाश्च दृश्यन्ते शल्यसायकैः॥
Then the Prabhadrakas, O king and the Somakas, where killed by thousands by Shalya's arrows.

भ्रमराणामिव वाताः शलभानामिव व्रजाः। हादिन्य इव मेघेभ्यः शल्यस्य न्यपतशराः॥
The arrows of Shalya, as swarms of becs or fights of locusts, were seen to fall, like thunder bolts from the clouds.

द्विरदास्तुरगाश्चार्ताः पत्तयो रथिनस्तथा। शल्यस्य बाणैरपतन् बभ्रमुळनदंस्तथा॥
Elephants and horses and foot-soldiers and car-warriors, assailed with Shalya's arrows, fell down or strayed away bewailing loudly.

आविष्ट इव मद्रेशो मन्युना पौरुषेण च। प्राच्छादयदरीन् संख्ये कालसृष्ट इवान्तकः॥ विनर्दमानो मद्रेशो मेघह्रादो महाबलः।
Beside himself with rage the ruler of the Madras covered his foes in that battle like the Destroyer at the end of the cycle.

सा वध्यमाना शल्येन पाण्डवानामनीकिनी॥ अजातशत्रु कौन्तेयमभ्यधावद् युधिष्ठिरमा।
The Pandava army, thus killed by Shalya, ran towards Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti.

तां सम्पर्य ततः संख्ये लघुहस्तः शितैः शरैः॥ बाणवर्षेण महता युधिष्ठिरमताडयत्।
Light-handed Shalya, having in that battle struck them with whetted arrows, began to assail Yudhishthira with a down-pour of arrows.

तमापतन्तं पत्त्यश्वैः क्रुद्धो राजा युधिष्ठिरः॥ अवारयच्छरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्महाद्विपमिवाङ्कुशैः।
Beholding Shalya rushing towards him with horse and foot, king Yudhishthira, worked up with wrath, checked him with sharp arrows, even as an infuriate elephant is checked with iron-hooks.

तस्य शल्यः शरं घोरं मुमोचासीविषोपमम्॥ स निर्भिद्य महात्मानं वेगेनाभ्यपतच गाम्।
Then Shalya shot a dreadful arrow at Yudhishthira that resembled a a snake of dreadful venom. Piercing through the highsouled son of Kunti, that arrow quickly dropped down the Earth.

ततो वृकोदरः क्रुद्धः शल्यं विव्याध सप्तभिः॥ पञ्चभिः सहदेवस्तु नकुलो दशभिः शरैः।
Then Vrikodara, enraged, pierced Shalya with seven arrows and Sahadeva pierced him with five and Nakula with ten.

द्रौपदेयाश्च शत्रुघ्नं शूरमार्तायनिं शरैः॥ अभ्यवर्षन् महाराज मेघा इव महीधरम्।
The five sons of Draupadi poured upon that heroic and impetuous Artayani, showers of arrows like clouds pouring rain upon a mountain.

ततो दृष्ट्वा वार्यमाणं शल्यं पार्थैः समन्ततः॥ कृतवर्मा कृपश्चैव संक्रुद्धावभ्यधावताम्।
Beholding Shalya struck by the Parthas on every side, both Kritavarman and Kripa proceeded in anger there.

उलूकश्च महावीर्यः शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः॥ समागम्याथ शनकैरश्वत्थामा महाबलः। तव पुत्राश्च कात्स्येन जुगुपुः शल्यमाहवे॥
The generally energetic Uluka, Shakuni, the son of Subala and the great car-warrior Ashvatthaman smiling and all your sons protected Shalya every way in that battle.

भीमसेनं त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा कृतवर्मा शिलीमुखैः। बाणवर्षेण महता क्रुद्धरूपमवारयत्॥
Piercing Bhimasena with three arrows Kritavarman, discharging a mass of arrows, checked that warrior who was as if the personification of wrath.

धृष्टद्युम्नं ततः क्रुद्धो बाणवधैरपीडयत्। द्रौपदेयांश्च शकुनिर्यमौ च द्रौणिरभ्ययात्॥
Excited with anger, Kripa struck Dhrishtadyumna with numberless arrows. Shakuni rushed against the sons of Draupadi and Ashvathaman against the twins.

दुर्योधनो युधां श्रेष्ठ आहवे केशवार्जुनौ। समभ्ययादुग्रतेजाः शरैश्चाप्यहनद् बली॥
That foremost of warriors, the energetic Duryodhana, rushed in that battle, against Keshava and Arjuna and struck them both with many arrows.

एवं द्वन्द्वशतान्यासंस्त्वदीयानां परैः सह। घोररूपाणि चित्राणि तत्र तत्र विशाम्पते॥
Thus hundreds of dreadful encounters, O king, took place between your ariny and the enemy, on the various parts of the field.

ऋक्षवर्णाञ्जघानाश्वान् भोजो भीमस्य संयुगे। सोऽवतीर्य रथोपस्थाद्धताश्वात् पाण्डुनन्दनः॥ कालो दण्डमिवोद्यम्य गदापाणिरयुध्यत।
The chief of the Bhojas then killed he brown horses of Bhimasena's car in that encounter. The son of Pandu, deprived of his horses, alighting from his car, began to fight with his mace, like the Destroyer himself with his uplifted bludgeon.

प्रमुखे सहदेवस्य जघानाश्वान् स मद्रराट्॥ ततः शल्यस्य तनयं सहदेवोऽसिनावधीत्।
The king of the Madras then killed the horses of Sahadeva before his eyes and then Sahadeva killed Shalya's son with his sword.

गौतमः पुनराचार्यो धृष्टद्युम्नमयोधयत्॥ असम्भ्रान्तमसम्भ्रान्तो यत्नवान् यत्नवत्तरम्।
The preceptor Gautama again fought with Dhristadyumna, both trying their level best.

द्रौपदेयांस्तथा वीरानैकैकं दशभिः शरैः॥ अविद्ध्यदाचार्यसुतो नातिक्रुद्धो हसन्निव।
The preceptor's son Ashvatthama, not excited with anger and as if smiling in that battle, struck each of the five heroic sons of Draupadi with ten arrows.

पुनश्च भीमसेनस्य जघानाश्वांस्तथाऽऽहवे॥ सोऽवतीर्य रथातूर्णं हताश्वः पाण्डुनन्दनः।, कालो दण्डमिवोद्यम्य गदां क्रुद्धो महाबलः॥ पोथयामास तुरगान् रथं च कृतवर्मणः। कृतवर्मा त्ववप्लुत्य रथात् तस्मादपाक्रमात्॥
Again the horses of Bhimasena were killed in that battle. He then quickly got down from his car, took up his mace like the Destroyer his rod in anger and crushed the horses of Kritavarman's car, Jumping down from his chariot Kritavarman fled away.

शल्योऽपि राजन् संक्रुद्धो निघ्नन् सोमकपाण्डवान्। पुनरेव शितैर्बाणैयुधिष्ठिरमपीडयत्॥
Shalya also excited with anger, O king, killed many Somakas and Pandavas and once more assailed Yudhishthira with many sharp arrows.

तस्य भीमो रणे क्रुद्धः संदश्य दशनच्छदम्। विनाशायाभिसंधाय गजामादाय वीर्यवान्॥
Then biting his lips and beside himself with range, the valiant Bhima took up his mace in that battle and aimed it at Shalya for killing him.

यमदण्डप्रतीकाशां कालरात्रिमिवोद्यताम्। गजवाजिमनुष्याणां देहान्तकरणीमपि॥
It resembled the very rod of Yama, in the death-night and was destructive of the lives of elephants and horses and human beings.

हेमपट्टपरिक्षिप्तामुल्कां प्रज्वलितामिव। शैक्यां व्यालीमिवात्युग्रां वज्रकल्पामयोमयीम्॥
It was coated with a cloth of gold, looked like a burning meteor, furnished with a sling, was fierce as a she-snake, hard as thunder and made entirely of iron.

चन्दनागुरुपङ्काक्तां प्रमदामीप्सितामिव। वसामेदोपदिग्धाङ्गी जिह्वां वैवस्वतीमिव॥
It was smeared with sandal-paste and other unguents like a desirable lady, pasted with marrow and fat and blood and reseinbled the very tongue of Yama.

पटुघण्टाशतरवां वासवीमशनीमिव। निर्मुक्ताशीविषाकारां पृक्तां गजमदैरपि॥
It produced sounds on account of the bells attached to it, like unto the thunder of Indra. It resembled in shape a dreadful serpent that had just cast off its slough, soaked with the temporal juice of elephants.

त्रासनी सर्वभूतानां स्वसैन्यपरिहर्षिणीम्। मनष्यलोके विख्यातां गिरिशृङ्गविदारणीम्॥
It inspired the enemies with terror and the friends with joy. It was celebrated in the world and capable or riving mountain summits.

यया कैलासभवने महेश्वरसखं वली। आह्वयामास युद्धाय भीमसेनो महाबलः॥
With this mace, the powerful son of Kunti had, in Kailasa, challenged the enraged Lord of Alaka, the friend of Maheshvara.

यया मायामयान् दृप्तान् सुबहून् धनदालये। जघान गुह्यकान् क्रुद्धो नदन् पार्थो महाबलः॥ निवार्यमाणो बहुभिद्रौपद्याः प्रियमास्थितः।
With this weapon Bhima, though resisted by many, had in anger killed a large number of proud Guhyakas endued with powers of illusion on the mount Gandhamadana for the sake of procuring Mandara flowers for Draupadi.

तां वज्रमणिरत्नौघकल्मषां वज्रगौरवाम्॥ समुद्यम्य महाबाहुः शल्यमभ्यपतद् रणे।
Taking up that mace which was set with diamonds and other gems, eight-sided and celebrated as Indra's thunder-the mightyarmed son of Pandu now ruslied against Shalya.

गदया युद्धकुशलस्तया दारुणनादया॥ पोथयामास शल्यस्य चतुरोऽश्वान् महाजवान्।
With that mace of dreadful sound Bhima, skilled in battle, crushed the four quickcoursing horses of Shalya.

ततः शल्यो रणे क्रुद्धः पीने वक्षसि तोमरम्॥ निचखान नदन वीरो वर्म भित्वा च सोऽभ्ययात्।
Then heroic Shalya, worked up with wrath, in that battle, hurled a lance at the broad chest of Bhima and sent fourth a loud war-cry. That lance, cutting through the cost of mail of Pandu's son, entered into his person.

वृकोदरस्त्वसम्भ्रान्तस्तमेवोद्धृत्य तोमरम्॥ यन्तारं मद्रराज्य निर्बिभेद ततो हृदि।
However taking out the weapon fearless Vrikodara struck therewith the driver of Shalya on the chest.

स भिन्नमर्मा रुधिरं वमन् वित्रस्तमानसः॥ पपाताभिमुखो दीनो मद्रराजस्त्वपाक्रमत्।
Cut to the quick, the driver, vomiting blood, fell down with a trembling heart. At this the king of the Madras got down from his car and looked at Bhiina in depression.

कृतप्रतिकृतं दृष्ट्वा शल्यो विस्मितमानसः॥ गदामाश्रित्य धर्मात्मा प्रत्यमित्रमवैक्षत।
Beholding his own attempt thus thwarted, Shalya was struck with wonder. Of quiescent soul, the king of the Madras took up his mace and began to eye his enemy.

ततः सुमनसः पार्था भीमसेनमपूजयन्। ते दृष्टा कर्म संग्रामे घोरमकिष्टकर्मणः॥
Beholding that terrible fear of his in battle, the Parthas joyfully worshipped Bhima of untiring energy.