SHALYA PARVA: Chapter 19

The fight between Shakuni and Nakula and Sahadeva and other leaders

संजय उवाच पातिते युधि दुर्धर्षे मद्रराजे महारथे। तावकास्तव पुत्राश्च प्रायशो विमुखाऽभवन्॥
Sanjaya said Upon the destruction of that great king of Madra and great car-warrior, that invincible hero, (viz., Shalya) in battle, your troops and sons almost all fled away from the field.

वणिजो नावि भिन्नाया यथागाधेऽप्लवेऽर्णवे। अपारे पारमिच्छन्तो हते शूरे महात्मना॥
Indeed, upon the slaughter of that hero by the illustrious Yudhishthira, your troops were like ship-wrecked merchants on the deep ocean want to cross it.

मद्रराजे महाराज वित्रस्ताः शरविक्षताः। अनाथा नाथमिच्छन्तो मृगाः सिंहार्दिता इव॥
After the destruction of the Madra king, O monarch, you troops, filled with fear and wounded with arrows, were like men having none to help them and desirous of a protector or a herd of deer assailed by a lion.

वृषा यथा भग्नशृङ्गाः शीर्णदन्ता यथा गजाः। मध्याह्ने प्रत्यपायाम निर्जिताऽजातशत्रुणा॥
Like bulls deprive of their horns or elephants with tusks broken, your troops, defeated by Yudhishthira having no enemies, fled away at mid-day.

न संधातुमनीकानि न च राजन् पराक्रमे। आसीद् बुद्धिर्हते शल्ये भूयो योधस्य कस्यचित्॥
After the fall of Shalya, O king, none amongst your troops had the mind of either rallying the army or displaying his prowess.

भीष्मे द्रोणे च निहते सूतपुत्रे च भारत। यद् दुखं तव योधानां भयं चासीद् विशाम्पते॥
O king, we expressed that grief, which had been ours upon the fall of Bhishma, of Drone and of the Suta's son, O Bharata.

तद् भयं स च नः शोको भूय एवाभ्यवर्तत। निराशाच जये तस्मिन्हते शल्ये महारथे॥ हतप्रवीरा विध्वस्ता निकृत्ताश्च शितैः शरैः। मद्रराजे हते राजन् योधास्ते प्राद्रवन् भयात्॥
Giving up hopes of success upon the fall of the great car-warrior Shalya, the Kuru army, with its heroes slain and exceedingly confused, were killed with keen arrows. Upon the destruction of the Madra king, O monarch, your warriors all fled away in fear.

अश्वानन्ये गजानन्ये रथानन्ये महारथाः। आरुह्य जवसम्पन्नाः पादाताः प्राद्रवंस्तथा॥
Some on horse-back, some on elephants, some on cars, great car-warriors and footsoldiers, all fled away in fear.

द्विसाहस्राश्च मातङ्गा गिरिरूपाः प्रहारिणः। सम्प्राद्रवन् हते शल्ये अङ्कुशाङ्गुष्ठनोदिताः॥
Two thousand elephants, looking like hills and capable of smiting, fled away, after Shalya's fall, goaded with hooks and toes.

रणाद् भरतश्रेष्ठ तावकाः प्राद्रवन् दिशः। धावतश्चाप्यपश्याम श्वसमानाशराहतान्॥
Indeed chief of the Bharatas, your soldiers fled on all sides. Stuck with arrows, they were seen to run, breathing hard.

तान् प्रभग्नान् दुतान् दृष्ट्वा हतोत्साहान् पराजितान्। अभ्यवर्तन्त पञ्चालाः पाण्डवाश्च जयैषिणः॥
Beholding them defeated the Pandavas, filled with the desire of victory, pursued them.

बाणशब्दरवाश्चापि सिंहनादाश्च पुष्कलाः। शङ्खशब्दाश्च शूराणां दारुणः समपद्यत॥
The sound of arrows and the loud leonine roars and the blare of conchs, of heroic warriors were heard there,

दृष्ट्वा तु कौरवं सैन्यं भयत्रस्तं प्रविद्रुतम्। अन्योन्यं समभाषन्त पञ्चाला: पाण्डवैः सह॥ ते
Beholding the Kauravas agitated with fear and flying away, the Panchalas and the Pandavas addressed one another, saying.

अद्य राजा सत्यधृतिर्हतामित्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अद्य दुर्योधनो हीनो दीप्ताया नृपतिश्रियः॥
To day the truthful king Yudhishthira, had defeated his enemies. Today Duryodhana has been divested of his splendour and royal prosperity.

अद्य श्रुत्वा हतं पुत्रं धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। विह्वलः पतितो भूमौ किल्विषं प्रतिपद्यताम्॥
Today, hearing of his son's death, Dhritarashtra, that king of men, will lose consciousness, lie down on the Earth and feel the keenest pain.

अद्य जानातु कौन्तेयं समर्थं सर्वधन्विनाम्। अद्यात्मानं च दुर्मेधा गर्हयिष्यति पापकृत्॥
Let him know today that the son of Kunti is the most powerful of all bowmen. Today that sinful and wicked-hearted king will blame his own self.

अद्य क्षत्तुर्वचः सत्यं स्मरतां ब्रुवतो हितम्। अद्यप्रभृति पार्थं च प्रेष्यभूत इवाचरन्॥ विजानातु नृपो दुःखं यत् प्राप्तं पाण्डुनन्दनैः।
Let him recollect today the time and wholesome words of Vidura. Let him from this day wait upon the Parthas as their slave. Let that king today feel the grief that had been experienced by the sons of Pandu.

अद्य कृष्णस्य माहात्म्यं विजानातु महीपतिः॥ अद्यार्जुनधनुर्घोषं घोरं जानातु संयुगे। अस्त्राणां च बलं सर्वं बाह्वोश्च बलमाहवे॥
Let that king know today the greatness of Krishna. Let him hear today the terrible twang of Arjuna's bow in battle, as also the force of all his weapons and the strength of his arms in fight.

अद्य ज्ञास्यति भीमस्य बलं घोरं महात्मनः। हते दुर्योधने युद्धे शक्रेणेवासुरे बले॥
Today he will know the dreadful power of the great Bhima when Duryodhana will be slain in battle like the Asura Vali by Indra.

पार्षतः॥ यत् कृतं भीमसेनेन दुःशासनवधे तदा। नान्यः कर्तास्ति लोकेऽस्मिनृते भीमान्महाबलात्॥
Except Bhima there is none else in this world that can achieve that which Bhima accomplished by killing Dushasana.

अद्य श्रेष्ठस्य जानीतां पाण्डवस्य पराक्रमम्। मद्रराजं हतं श्रुत्वा देवैरपि सुदुःसहम्॥
Hearing of the death of the ruler of the Madras who was incapable of defeat by the very celestials, that king will know the prowess of Yudhishthira.

अद्य ज्ञास्यति संग्रामे माद्रीपुत्रौ सुदुःसहौ। निहते सौबले वीरे प्रवीरेषु च सर्वशः॥
After the destruction of the heroic son of Subala and of all the Gandharas he will know the strength, in battle of the two sons of Madri by Pandu.

कथं जयो न तेषां स्याद् येषां योद्धा धनंजयः। सात्यकिर्भीमसेनश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च द्रौपद्यास्तनयाः पञ्च माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ। शिखण्डी च महेष्वासो राजा चैव युधिष्ठिरः॥
Why will they not be victorious who have Dhananjaya for their warrior, as also Satyaki and Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata and the five sons of Draupadi and the Iwo sons of and the great bowman Shikhandin and king Yudhishthira.

येषां च जगतीनाथो नाथः कृष्णो जनार्दनः। कथं तेषाहं जयो न स्याद् येषां धर्मो व्यपाश्रयः॥
Why will they be not victorious who have for their protector Krishna, called Janardana, the protector of the universe? Why will they not be victorious who are righteous?

भीष्मं द्रोणं च कर्णं च मद्रराजानमेव च। तथान्यान् नृपतीन् वीराशतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥ कोऽन्यः शक्तो रणे जेतुमृते पार्थाद् युधिष्ठिरात्। यस्य नाथो हृषीकेशः सदा सत्ययशोनिधिः॥
Who else than Yudhishthira the son of Pritha, who has Hrishikesha, the refuge of justice and glory for his protector, is competent to defeat in battle Bhishma, Drona and Karna and the king of the Madras and the other kings by hundreds and thousands.

इत्येवं वदमानास्ते हर्षेण महता युता। प्रभग्नांस्तावकान्योधान् संहृष्टा पृष्ठतोऽन्वयुः॥
Saying these words and filled with joy, the Srinjayas pursued your soldiers in that battle who had been exceedingly wounded with arrows. as

धनंजयो रथानीकमभ्यवर्तत वीर्यवान्। माद्रीपुत्रौ च शकुनिं सात्यक्श्चि महारथः॥
Then Dhananjaya proceeded against the car-division of the foe. The two sons of Madri and the great car-warrior Satyaki proceeded against Shakuni.

तान् प्रेक्ष्य द्रवतः सर्वान् भीमसेनभयार्दितान्। दुर्योधनस्तदा सूतमब्रवीद् विजयाय च॥ मामतिक्रमते पार्थो धनुष्याणिमवस्थितम्। जघने सर्वसैन्यानां ममाश्वान् प्रतिपादय॥
Beholding them all flying quickly in fear of Bhimasena, Duryodhana, if smiling, addressed his driver, saying-Partha, who is there with his bow, is going before me. Take my horses to the back of the army.

जघने युध्यमानं हि कौन्तेयो मां समन्ततः। नोत्सहेदभ्यतिक्रान्तुं वेलामिव महोदधिः॥
Like the ocean that cannot go beyond its continents, Kunti's son Dhananjaya will never dare go before me if I stand in the fear.

पश्य सैन्यं महत् सूत पाण्डवैः समभिद्रुतम्। सैन्यरेणुं समुद्भूतं पश्यस्वैनं समन्ततः॥
Look, O driver, at this vast army that is pursued by the Pandavas! Behold this cloud of dust that has arisen on all sides on account of the motion of the troops.

सिंहनादांश्च बहुशः शृणु घोरान् भयावहान्। तस्माद् याहि शनैः सूत जघनं परिपालय॥
Hear, those various leonine roars that are so awful and loud. Therefore, O driver, move slowly and wait in the rear.

मयि स्थिते च समरे निरुद्धेषु च पाण्डुषु। पुनरावर्तते तूर्णं मामकं बलमोजसा॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा तव पुत्रस्य शूरार्यसदृशं वचः। सारथिहेमसंछन्नाशनैरश्वानचोदयत्॥
If I stay in battle and fight the Pandavas, my army, O driver, will rally and fight again vigorously. Hearing these words of your son becoming a hero and a man of honour, the driver slowly drove his horses adorned with gold trappings.

गजाश्वरथिभित्नास्त्यक्तात्मानः पदातयः। एकविंशतिसाहस्राः संयुगायावतस्थिरे॥
One and twenty thousand foot-soldiers, deprived of elephants and horses and carwarriors and who were ready to lose their lives, still stood for battle.

नानादेशसमुद्भूता नानानगरवासिनः। अवस्थितास्तदा योधाः प्रार्थयन्तो महद् यशः॥
Born in different countries and coming from different towns, those warriors maintained their ground, desirous of gaining great fame.

तेषामापततां तत्र संहृष्टानां परस्परम्। सम्पर्दः सुमहाञ्जज्ञे घोररूपो भयानकः ॥
The clash of those rushing warriors elated with joy was loud and exceedingly terrible.

भीमसेनस्तदा राजन् धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। बलेन चतुरङ्गेण नानादेश्यानवारयत्॥
Then Bhimasena, O king and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, opposed them with four-fold forces.

भीममेवाभ्यवर्तन्त रणेऽन्ये तु पदातयः। प्रक्ष्वेड्यास्फोट्य संहृष्टा वीरलोकं यियासवः॥
Other foot-soldiers, all actuated with the desire of victory, proceeded against Bhima, uttering loud cries and slapping their armpits, by the desire of going to heaven.

आसाद्य भीमसेनं संरब्धा युद्धदुर्मदाः। धार्तराष्ट्रा विनेदुर्हि नान्यामकथयन् कथाम्॥ परिवार्य रणे भीमं निजघ्नुस्ते समन्ततः।
Filled with rage and invincible in battle those heroes, belonging to your party, approached Bhimasena and cried aloud. They then spoke not to one another. Encircling Bhima in that battle, they began to strike him from all sides.

स वध्यमानः समरे पदातिगणसंवृतः॥ न चचाल ततः स्थानान्मैनाक इव पर्वतः। तु
Encircled by that huge body of infantry and struck by them in that battle Bhima did not stir from where he stood are remained motionless like the Mainaka mountain.

ते तु क्रुद्धा महाराज पाण्डवस्य महारथम्॥ निग्रहीतुं प्रवृत्ता हि योधांश्चान्यानवारयन्।
His antagonists meanwhile, filled with rage, O monarch, tried to assail that great car-warrior of the Pandavas and opposed other combatants (that tried to rescue him).

अक्रुध्यत रणे भीमस्तैस्तदा पर्यवस्थितैः॥ सोऽवतीर्य रथात् तूर्णं पदातिः समवस्थितः।
Encountered by those warriors, Bhima became furious. And quickly getting down from his car, he proceeded on foot against them.

जातरूपप्रतिच्छन्नां प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम्॥ अवधीत् तावकान् योधान् दण्डपाणिरिवान्तकः।
Taking up his massive mace adorned with gold, he began to kill your soldiers like the destroyer himself armed with his club.

विप्रहीणरथाश्वांस्तानवधीत् पुरुषर्षभः॥ एकविंशतिसाहस्रान् पदातीन् समपोथयत्।
The mighty Bhiina, with his mace, crushed those twenty one thousand foot-soldiers who deprived of cars and horses and elephants.

हत्वा तत् पुरुषानीकं भीमः सत्यपराक्रमः॥ धृष्टद्युम्नं पुरस्कृत्य नचिरात् प्रत्यदृश्यत।
Having killed that strong army 3hima, of great prowess, showed himself with Dhrishtadyumna in his front.

पादाता निहता भूमौ शिश्यिरे रुधिरोक्षिताः॥ सम्भग्ना इव वातेन कर्णिकाराः सुपुष्पिताः।
The foot-soldiers, of your party thus slain, lay down on the ground, bathed in blood, like Karnikaras with their flowers struck down by a storm.

नानाशस्त्रसमायुक्ता नानाकुण्डलधारिणः॥ नानाजात्या हतास्तत्र नानादेशसमागताः।
Adorned with garlands made of various kinds of flowers and with diverse kinds of earrings, those combatants of various races, who were had come from various kingdoms, lay down on the field, lifeless.

पताकाध्वजसंछन्नं पदातीनां महद् बलम्॥ निकृत्तं विबभौ रौद्रं घोररूपं भयावहम्।
Covered with banners and standards, that large army of foot-soldiers looked fierce and terrible and lay prostrate on the field.

युधिष्ठिरपुरोगाश्च सहसैन्या महारथाः॥ अभ्यधावन् महात्मानं पुत्रं दुर्योधन तव।
The great car-warriors, with their followers, that fought under Yudhishthira, all pursued you illustrious son Duryodhana.

ते सर्वे तावकान् दृष्ट्वा महेष्वासा: पराङ्मुखान्। नात्यवर्तन्त ते पुत्रं वेलेव मकरालयम्।
Beholding your troops turn away from the battle, those great bowmen proceeded against Duryodhana, but they could not overcome him even as the ocean cannot go beyond its continents.

तदद्भुतमपश्याम तव पुत्रस्य पौरुषम्॥ यदेकं सहिताः पार्था न शेकुरतिवर्तितुम्।
The prowess of your son was highly wonderful, since all the Parthas, in a body, could not transgress his single self.

नातिदूरापयातं तु कृतबुद्धिं पलायने॥ दुर्योधनः स्वकं सैन्यमब्रवीद् भृशविक्षतम्। न तं देशं प्रपश्यामि पृथिव्यां पर्वतेषु च॥ यत्र यातान्न वा हन्युः पाण्डवाः किं सृतेन वः।
Addressing his own army which had not fled far but which, wounded with arrows, were bent upon flying, Then Duryodhana said these words: "I do not see a place on plain or mountain, where if you fly, the Pandavas will not pursue and kill you. What is the use of flight?

अल्पं च बलमेतेषां कृष्णौ च भृशविक्षतौ॥ यदि सर्वेऽत्र तिष्ठामो ध्रुवं नो विजयो भवेत्।
The army of the Pandavas had been reduced in nuinbers. The two Krishnas are greatly wounded. If all of us make a stand, we will surely acquire victory.

विप्रयातास्तु वो भिन्नान् पाण्डवाः कृतविप्रियाः॥ अनुसृत्य हनिष्यन्ति श्रेयानः समरे वधः।
If you fly away, in confusion, the sinful Pandavas will pursue you and kill you. If on the other hand we made a bold stand, it will do us good.

शृण्वन्तु क्षत्रियाः सर्वे यावन्तोऽत्र समागताः॥ यदा शूरं च भीरुं च मारयत्यन्तकः सदा। को नु मूढो न युध्येत पुरुषः क्षत्रियो ध्रुवम्॥
Listen, all you Kshatriyas that are here. When Dcath always kills heroes and cowards alike what man is there so foolish that, calling himself a Kshatriya, will not fight.

श्रेयो नो भीमसेनस्य क्रुद्धस्याभिमुखे स्थितम्। सुखः सांग्रामिको मृत्युः क्षत्रधर्मेण युध्यताम्॥
It will be to our interest if we stay before the angry Bhimasena. Death in battle, while fighting in pursuance of the Kshatriya practices, leads to happiness.

म]नावश्यमर्तव्यं गृहेष्वपि कदाचन। युध्यत: क्षत्रधर्मेण मृत्युरेष सनातनः॥ हत्वेह सुखमाप्नोति हतः प्रेत्य महत् फलम्। न युद्धधर्माच्छ्रेयान् वै पन्थाः स्वर्गस्य कौरवाः॥ अचिरेणैव ताँल्लोकान् हतो युद्धे समश्नुते। श्रुत्वा तद् वचनं तस्य पूजयित्वा च पार्थिवाः॥ पुनरेवाभ्यवर्तन्त पाण्डवानाततायिनः।
Gaining victory, one obtains happiness here. If killed, one reaps great fruits in the other world. You Kauravas, there is no better path to heaven than that of battle. Killed in battle, you will in no time obtain all those regions of blessedness.” Hearing those words of his and applauding them highly, the Kuru kings once more rushed against the Pandavas for fighting with them.

तानापतत एवाशु व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः॥ प्रत्युद्ययुस्तदा पार्था जयगृद्धाः प्रमन्यवः।
Seeing them advancing quickly the Parthas, arrayed in order of battle, skilled in smiting, worked up with rage and filled with the desire of victory, proceeded against them.

धनंजयो रथेनाजावभ्यवर्तत वीर्यवान्॥ विश्रुतं त्रिषु लोकेषु व्याक्षिपन् गाण्डिवं धनुः।
Stretching his bow Gandiva celebrated over the three worlds, the brave Dhananjaya proceeded on his car against the foe.

माद्रीपुत्रौ च शकुनि सात्यकिश्च महाबलः॥ जवेनाभ्यपतन् हृष्टा यत्ता वै तावकं बलम्॥
The two sons of Madri and Satyaki rushed against Shakuni and the other Pandava heroes smilingly proceeded against your army.