व्यासेनैवमथोक्तस्तु धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। स्वयं कर्णवधाद् वीरो निवृत्तो भरतर्षभ॥
Sanjaya said Thus spoken to by Vyasa the very virtuous king Yudhishthira, endued with heroism, desisted himself from slaughtering Karna, O foremost of the Bharatas.
घटोत्कचे तु निहते सूतपुत्रेण तां निशाम्। दुःखामर्षवशं प्राप्तो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः॥
Upon the slaughter of Ghatotkacha during that night by Suta's Karna, king Yudhishthira was overwhelmed with grief and wrath.
दृष्ट्वा भीमेन महतीं वार्यमाणां चमू तव। धृष्टद्युम्नमुवाचेदं कुम्भयोनि निवारय॥
Then beholding your vast host resisted by Bhima himself, he, addressing Dhistadyumna said, 'Hold the pot-born Drona in check.'
त्वं हि द्रोणविनाशाय समुत्पन्नो हुताशनात्। सशरः कवची खड्गी धन्वी च परतापनः॥
O afflicter of your foes, it was for the express purpose of slaying Drona, that you Sprang out of fire, armed with a bow and arrows and a sword and cased in a coat of mail.
अभिद्रव रणे हृष्टो मा च ते भीः कथंचन। जनमेजयः शिखण्डी च दौर्मुखिश्च यशोधरः॥
Cheerfully assail Drona in battle. You have nothing to be afraid of. Let also Janamejaya, Siklandin and Durmukha's son and Jasadhara,
अभिद्रवन्तु संहष्टाः कुम्भयोनि समन्ततः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च द्रौपदेयाः प्रभद्रकाः॥
Wrathfully assail thc pot-born Drona from all sides. Nakula and Sahadeva, the son of Draupadi and the Pravadrakas.
दुपदश्च विराटश्च पुत्रभ्रातृसमन्वितौ। सात्यकि: केकयाश्चैव पाण्डवश्च धनंजयः॥
And Drupada and Virata accompanied by their sons and brothers and Satyaki and the Kekayas, the Pandavas and Dhananjaya.
अभिद्रवन्तु वेगेन कुम्भयोनिवधेप्सया। तथैव रथिनः सर्वे हस्त्यश्वं यच किञ्चन॥
Let, the inspired with the desire for achieving the slaughter of Bharadvaja's son, assail him from all sides. So also, let all the other car-warriors and clephant riders and horsemen.
पदाताश्च रणे द्रोणं पातयन्तु महारथम्। तथाऽऽज्ञप्तास्तु ते सर्वे पाण्डवेन महात्मना॥
And foot soldiers strive to overthrow that mighty car-warrior Drona in battle.” Thus commanded by the illustrious son of Pandu (Yudhishthira).
अभ्यद्रवन्त वेगेन कुम्भयोनिवधेप्सया। आगच्छतस्तान् सहसा सर्वोद्योगेन पाण्डवान्॥
Assailed the pot-born Drona with a view to defeat him. Then as the Pandavas rushed with great impetuosity and force.
प्रतिजग्राह समरे द्रोणः शस्रभृतां वरः। ततो दुर्योधनो राजा सर्वोद्योगेन पाण्डवान्॥ अभ्यद्रवत् सुसंक्रुद्ध इच्छन् द्रोणस्य जीवितम्। ततः प्रववृते युद्धं आन्तवाहनसैनिकम्॥ पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च गर्जतामितरेतरम्। निद्रान्धास्ते महाराज परिश्रान्ताश्च संयुगे॥
Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, received them (duly) in battle. Thereupon king Duryodhana. with all efforts, assailed the Pandavas excited as he was with rage and solicitous of protecting Drona's life. Then ensued the battle between the troops of the Kurus and the Pandavas whose animals were exhausted as they challenged one another furiously. Deprived of sleep and fatigued in battle, O mighty monarch.
नाभ्यपद्यन्त समरे काञ्चिच्चेष्टां महारथाः। त्रियामा रजनी चैषा घोररूपा भयानका॥
The mighty car-warriors knew not what to do. That night consisting of three Yamas, hedious and dreadful.
सहस्रयामप्रतिमा बभूव प्राणहारिणी। वध्यतां च तथा तेषां क्षतानां च विशेषतः॥
And destructive of many lives, appeared to them to consist of a thousand Yamas. While they were being thus slain and mangled by another.
अर्धरात्रिः समाजज्ञे निद्रान्धानां विशेषतः। सर्वे ह्यासन् निरुत्साहाः क्षत्रिया दीनचेतसः॥
And while their eyes were being closed in sleep, mid-night set in. Then every one became depressed and their spirits became low.
तव चैव परेषां च गताम्रा विगतेषवः। ते तदापारयन्तश्च ह्रीमन्तश्च विशेषतः॥
Your troops as well as those of the enemy had their supply of weapons exhausted by that time. Passing the time thus the combatants, of both the armies, endued with modesty and energy.
स्वधर्ममनुपश्यन्तो न जहुः स्वामनीकिनीम्। अस्राण्यन्ये समुत्सृज्य निद्रान्धाः शेरते जनाः॥
And observant of the duties of their order, did not desert their divisions. Others again, oppressed with sleep, left their weapons aside and laid themselves down on the field.
रथेष्वन्ये गजेष्वन्ये हयेष्वन्ये च भारत। निद्रान्धा नो बुबुधिरे काञ्चिच्चेष्टां नराधिप॥
Oppressed with sleep, some again laid themselves down on the back of elephants or on that of horses or on their chariots, O Bharata and O foremost of men, they were deprived of all moving powers.
तानन्ये समरे योधाः प्रेषयन्तो यमक्षयम्। स्वप्नायमानांस्त्वपरे परानतिविचेतसः॥ आत्मानं समरे जघ्नुः स्वानेव च परानपि। नानावाचो विमुञ्चन्तो निद्रान्धास्ते महारणे॥
Other warriors, that were awake in that battle, dispatched these to Yama's abode; others again, deprived of their senses in sleep and dreaming, slew their own comrades as also their opponents, regarding every one as their foes. Indeed they fought on in that fierce battle uttering dreadful exclamations.
अस्माकं च महाराज परेभ्यो बहवो जनाः। योद्धव्यमिति तिष्ठन्तो निद्रासंरक्तलोचनाः॥
Many again of your army, thinking that they should continue to fight with the foe, stood, O king, on the field of battle although their eyes were heavy with sleep.
संसर्पन्तो रणे केचिन्निद्रान्धास्ते तथा परान्। जनुः शूरा रणे शूरांस्तस्मिस्तमसि दारुणे॥
Some heroic warriors, during that hour of darkness, though blind with sleep, yet gliding along the field, slew one another in that battle.
हन्यमानमथात्मानं परेभ्यो बहवो जनाः। नाभ्यजानन्त समरे निद्रया मोहिता भृशम्॥
Many of the enemy, entirely confounded in sleep, were slain without being conscious of the strokes that put an end to their existence.
तेषामेतादृशी चेष्टां विज्ञाय पुरुषर्षभः। उवाच वाक्यं बीभत्सुरुच्चैः संनादयन् दिशः॥
Then, O foremost of men, beholding this plight of the soldiers, Vibhatsu exclaiming to the top of his voice, said these words.
श्रान्ता भवन्तो निद्रान्धाः सर्व एव सवाहनाः। तमसा च वृते सैनये रजसा बहुलेन च॥
"You all are fatigued and oppressed with drowsiness; and your animals also are so. Both the armes are enveloped with darkness and clouds of dust.
ते यूयं यदि मन्यध्वमुपारमत सैनिकाः। निमीलयत चात्रैव रणभूमौ मुहूर्तकम्॥
O soldiers, if you like you may desist from the fight. Close your eyes, here on the field, only for a moment.
ततो विनिद्रा विश्रान्ताश्चन्द्रमस्युदिते पुनः। संसाधयिष्यथान्योन्यं संग्रामं कुरुपाण्डवाः॥
Then when the moon arises ye Kurus and the Pandavas, having taken rest and shaken off your fatigue, you may again meet one another in battle for securing paradise."
तद् वचः सर्वधर्मज्ञा धार्मिकस्य विशाम्पते। अरोचयन्त सैन्यानि तथा चान्योन्यमब्रुवन्॥
Hearing these word of the virtuous Arjuna, the pious warriors of the Kuru army agreed to follow up the former's suggestion and addressing one another.
चुक्रुशुः कर्ण कर्णेति तथा दुर्योधनेति च। उपारमत पाण्डूनां विरता हि वरुथिनी॥
Loudly said "O Karna, (king, Duryodhana, desist from fighting. The Pandava host has ceased to strike us."
तथा विक्रोशमानस्य फाल्गुनस्य ततस्ततः। उपारमत पाण्डूनां सेना तव च भारत॥
Then, () Bharata, when Arjuna loudly uttered those words the Pandavas and your troop desisted from the fight.
तामस्य वाचं देवाश्च ऋषयश्च महात्मनः। सर्वसैन्यानि चाक्षुद्रां प्रहृष्टाः प्रत्यपूजयन्॥
Those generous words of the illustrious Arjuna were highly applauded by the Rishis, the celestials and the highly delighted soldiers.
तत् सम्पूज्य वचोऽक्रूरं सर्वसैन्यानि भारत। मुहूर्तमखपन् राजश्रान्तानि भरतर्षभ॥
Then applauding those noble words of Arjuna, O Bharata, O foremost of men, the fatigued troop laid themselves down only for a moment.
सा तु सम्प्राप्य विश्रामं ध्वजिनी तव भारत। सुखमाप्तवती वीरमर्जुनं प्रत्यपूजयत्॥
Then that army of yours, O Bharata, joyful at the prespect of sleep and rest, sincerely blessed Arjuna sayingत्वयि वेदास्तथास्राणि त्वयि बुद्धिपराक्रमौ।
धर्मस्त्वयि महाबाहो दया भूतेषु चानघ॥
"In you there are the knowledge of the Vedas and the weapons. In you there are intelligence and might. In you there are virtue, compassion for all creatures, O mighty-armed and sinless one.
यचाश्वस्तास्तवेच्छामः शर्म पार्थ तदस्तु ते। मनसश्च प्रियानर्थान् वीर क्षिप्रमवाप्नुहि॥
As we have been comforted by you, we wish you well, O Partha. May you reap prosperity soon and may you get, O brave hero, those objects and that are dear to your heart."
इति ते तं नरव्याघ्र प्रशंसन्तो महारथाः। निद्रया समवाक्षिप्तास्तूष्णीमासन् विशाम्पते॥
Thus, O foremost of men, those mighty carwarriors, while praising Partha, thus were stupefied by sleep and soon became silent, O ruler of men.
अश्वपृष्ठेषु चाप्यन्ये रथनीडेषु चापरे। गजस्कन्धगताश्चान्ये शेरते चापरे क्षितौ॥
Some laid themselves down on the back of horses, some on the elephants, some on the carterraces and some on the bare earth only.
सायुधाः सगदाश्चैव सखगाः सपरश्वधाः। सप्रासकवचाश्चान्ये नराः सुप्ताः पृथक् पृथक्॥
Others soldiers, well-armed and with maces, swords, axes and lances in grasp and covered with coats of mail, laid themselves down separately.
गजास्ते पन्नगाभोगैर्हस्तै रेणुगुण्ठितः। निद्राधा वसुधां चक्रुना॑णनिःश्वासशीतलाम्॥
Elephants, having trunks resembling the tapering bodies of serpents and adorned with the dust of the field, oppressed with sleep, began to make the carth's surface cool with breaths.
सुप्ताः शुशुभिरे तत्र निःश्वसन्तो महीतले। विकीर्णा गिरयो यद्वन्निःश्वसद्भिर्महोरगैः॥
The elephants, as they breathed on the ground, appeared beautiful like mountains (scattered over the field of battle) on which mighty serpents hissed.
समां च विषमां चक्रुः खुरागैर्विकृतां महीम्। हयाः काञ्चनयोक्त्रास्ते केसरालम्बिभिर्युगैः॥
Steeds, in trappings of gold and with manes flowing down their yokes, began to paw and make the ground uneven with their hoops.
सुषुपुस्तत्र राजेन्द्र युक्ता वाहेषु सर्वशः। एवं हयाश्च नागाश्च योधाश्च भरतर्षभ। युद्धाद् विरम्य सुषुपुः श्रमेण महतान्विता॥
Thus O foremost of kings, every body slept there with the animal he rode. Steeds and clephants and soldiers, ( foremost of the Bharatas.
तत् तथा निद्रया भग्नमबोधं प्रास्वपद् भृशम्। कुशलैः शिल्पिभिय॑स्तं पटे चित्रमिवाद्भुतम्॥
Exhausted with exertion, slept on the field desisting from the battle. That sleeping host, deprived of senses and plunged in sleep, appeared beautiful like a charming picture painted on canvas by a skillful artist.
ते क्षत्रियाः कुण्डलिनो युवानः परस्परं सायकविक्षताङ्गाः। कुम्भेषु लीना: सुषुपुर्गजानां कुचेषु लग्ना इव कामिनीनाम्॥
Then those Kshatriyas all youthful and graced with earnings, mangled with one another's shaft-wounds, lying down on the back of clephants slept as if lying on the breasts of beautiful ladies.
ततः कुमुदनाथेन कामिनीगण्डपाण्डुना। नेत्रानन्देन चन्द्रेण माहेन्द्री दिगलङ्कता॥
Then the moon, that delighter of the eye and lord of the lilies of hue white as the cheeks of a youthful damsel, rose beautifying the quarter presided over by Indra himself.
दशशताक्षककुब्दरिनिःसृतः किरणकेसरभासुरपिञ्जरः। तिमिरवारणयूथविदारण: समुदियादुदयाचलकेसरी॥
Indeed like a lion of the Udaya mountain with beams constituting his manes of glittering yellow, he issued out of his cave in the cast, dispelling the palpable darkness of night, resembling a large herd of elephants.
हरवृषोत्तमगात्रसमद्युतिः स्मरशरासनपूर्णसमप्रभः। नववधूस्मितचारुमनोहरः प्रविसृतः कुमुदाकरबान्धवः॥
That lover of all lilies, bright as the body of Mahadeva's excellent bull, full-arched and radiant the bow of cupid and delightful and charming as the smile on the lips of bashful bride shone in the sky.
ततो मुहूर्ताद् भगवान् पुरस्ताच्छशलक्षणः। अरुणं दर्शयामास ग्रसन् ज्योतिः प्रभाः प्रभुः॥
Soon that Divine Lord having the hare for the emblem showed himself reddish, shedding brighter beams around.
अरुणस्य तु तस्यानु जातरूपसमप्रभम्। रश्मिजालं महचन्द्रो मन्दं मन्दमवासृजत्॥
After this, the moon seemed to spread gradually a bright halo of far-reaching light that resembled the glamour of gold.
उत्सारयन्तः प्रभया तमस्ते चन्द्ररश्मयः। पर्यगच्छञ्छनैः सर्वा दिशः खंच क्षिति तथा॥
Then the rays of that lustrous orb, dispelling the gloom of night gradually spread themselves on the earth, the welkin and the directions of the compass.
ततो मुहूर्ताद भुवनं ज्योतिर्भूतमिवाभवत्। अप्रख्यमप्रकाशं च जगामाशु तमस्तथा॥
Then within a moment the world was flooded with a stream of light and the palpable cnvelop of gloom soon fled away.
प्रतिप्रकाशिते लोके दिवाभूते निशाकरे। विचेसन विचेस्श्च राजन् नक्तञ्चरास्ततः॥
When the world was illumined almost to the light of day. O king, some of the nightrangers began to rove about whils: hers desisted from doing so.
बोध्यमानं तु तत् सैन्यं राजंश्चन्द्रस्य रश्मिभिः । बुबुधे शतपत्राणां वनं सूर्यांशुभिर्यथा॥
Then, O king, all the troops were awakened by the beams of the moon like louses blown by the rays of the sun.
यथा चन्द्रोदयोद्भूतः क्षुभितः सागरोऽभवत्। तथा चन्द्रोदयोद्भूतः स बभूव बलार्णवः॥
Just as the ocean swells in consequence of the rising of the moon so that ocean of troops swelled at the rising of the moon.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं पुनरेव विशाम्पते। लोके लोकविनाशाय परं लोकमभीप्सताम्॥
Thereupon, O ruler of men, once more the battle between men desirous of getting heaven raged, a battle that was destructive of the world of creatures.
यथा चन्द्रोदयोद्भूतः क्षुभितः सागरोऽभवत्। तथा चन्द्रोदयोद्भूतः स बभूव बलार्णवः॥
Just as the ocean swells in consequence of the rising of the moon so that ocean of troops swelled at the rising of the moon.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं पुनरेव विशाम्पते। लोके लोकविनाशाय परं लोकमभीप्सताम्॥
Thereupon, O ruler of men, once more the battle between men desirous of getting heaven raged, a battle that was destructive of the world of creatures.