ततः स कदनं चक्रे रिपूणां द्रोणनन्दनः। युगान्ते सर्वभूतानां कालसृष्ट इवान्तकः॥
Sanjaya said Thereafter the son of Drona began to crush his foes like the Destroyer at the end of the Yuga slaughtering all creatures.
ध्वजदुमं शस्त्रशृङ्गं हतनागमहाशिलम्। अश्वकिंपुरुषाकीर्णं शरासनलतावृतम्॥ क्रव्यादपक्षिसंघुष्टं भूतयक्षगणाकुलम्। निहत्य शात्रवान् भल्लैः सोऽचिनोद् देहपर्वतम्॥
Slaying his foes with his broad-headed shafts, he caused a mountain by corpses, whose trees were constituted by standards, peaks by weapons, stones by slain elephants; which teemed with Kimpurusas formed by slain horses, which was covered with creepers constituted by bows, whose cranes constituted by flesh-cating animals, and which was full of birds formed by the ghosts.
ततो वेगेन महता विनद्य स नरर्षभः। प्रतिज्ञां श्रावयामास पुनरेव तवात्मजम्॥
Then, O foremost of the Bharatas, once more exclaiming aloud with great force, Ashvatthaman made your son to hear his vow.
यस्माद् युध्यन्तमाचार्य धर्मकञ्चुकमास्थितः। मुञ्च शस्रमिति प्राह कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः॥
"Inasmuch as Kunti's son Yudhishthira, disguised in the garb of righteousness, has spoken to the fighting Preceptor, saying 'lay you weapons aside.'
तस्मात् सम्पश्यतस्तस्य द्रावयिष्यामि वाहिनीम्। विद्राव्य सर्वान् हन्तास्मि जाल्मं पाझाल्यमेव तु॥
For that reason I shall crush his army even before his very eyes. Shattering the ranks of the hostile aimy I will slay the sinful son of the Panchala king
सर्वानेतान् हनिष्यामि यदि योत्स्यन्ति मा रणे। सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि परिवर्तय वाहिनीम्॥
I will slay them all in battle if they only face me in battle. This I speak to you for sooth. Let the army be rallied and return to the charge.
तच्छ्रुत्वा तव पुत्रसतु वाहिनीं पर्यवर्तयत्। सिंहनादेन महता व्यपोह्य सुमहद् भयम्॥
Hearing those words of Drona's son your son rallied the troops, having dispelled their fear by uttering a loud leonine shout.
ततः समागमो राजन् कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः। पुनरेवाभवत् तीव्रः पूर्णसागरयोरिव॥
Thereupon O king, once more a terrible encounter took place between the armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas, resembling the dashing of two oceans at full tide.
संरब्धा हि स्थिरीभूता द्रोणपुत्रेण कौरवाः। उदग्राः पाण्डुपञ्चाला द्रोणस्य निधनेन च॥
The Kouravas were rallied and incited with revenge by Drona's son, the Pandavas and Panchalas were also excited to fury by having slain the Preceptor Drona.
तेषां परमहृष्टानां जयमात्मनि पश्यताम्। संरब्धानां महावेगः प्रादुरासीद् विशाम्पते॥
The violence of tie collision was indeed very great collision that then took place on the field of battle between those warriors all of whom were filled with joy and rage and inspired with hopes of victory.
यथा शिलोच्चये शैलः सागरे सागरो यथा। प्रतिहन्येत राजेन्द्र तथाऽऽसन् कुरुपाण्डवाः॥
The collision between the Kurus and the Pandavas was like that between a mountain against a mountain or an ocean against an Ocean.
ततः शङ्खसहस्राणि भेरीणामयुतानि च। अवादयन्त संहृष्टाः कुरुपाण्डवसैनिकाः॥
Then the Kuru and the Pandava troops filled with delight struck up ten thousand Bheris and blew a thousand conches.
यथा निर्मथ्यमानस्य सागरस्य तु निःस्वनः। अभवत् तव सैन्यस्य सुमहानद्भुतोपमः॥
Like the deep roar of the ocean when it was churned, a tremendous din was then heard in those troops. son
प्रादुश्चक्रे ततो द्रौणिरस्त्रं नारायणं तदा। अभिसंधाय पाण्डूनां पञ्चालानां च वाहिनीम्॥
Thereafter Drona's invoked into existence the Narayana weapon and he aimed it at the armies of the Panchalas and the Pandavas.
प्रादुरासंस्ततो बाणा दीप्ताग्राः खे सहस्रशः। पाण्डवान् क्षपयिष्यन्तो दीप्तास्याः पन्नगा इव॥
Then thousands of arrows with blazing tips appeared in the welkin looking like snakes of fiery mouth, that continued to agitate the Pandavas.
दिशः खं च सैन्यं च समावृण्वन् महाहवे। मुहूर्ताद् भास्करस्येव लोके राजन् गभस्तयः॥
Those arrows, O king, like the rays of the Sun, in that terrible battle, covered all the quarters of heaven, the sky and the Pandava soldiers.
तथापरे द्योतमाना ज्योतीषीवामलाम्बरे। प्रादुरासन् महाराज कार्णायसमया गुडाः॥
Then, O ruler of earth, countless iron balls appeared there like lustrous orbs in the cloudless firmament.
चतुश्चक्रा द्विचक्राश्च शतघ्यो बहुला गदाः। चक्राणि च क्षुरान्तानि मण्डलानीव भास्वतः॥
Shataghnis of four or two wheels and a large number of maces and sharp-edged discs, effulgent like the sun also appeared there.
शस्राकृतिभिराकीर्णमतीव पुरुषर्षभ। दृष्ट्वान्तरिक्षमाविग्नाः पाण्डुपाञ्चालसृञ्जयाः॥
Then beholding the firmament densely covered by those weapons, O foremost of the Bharatas, the Pandavas, the Sanjaya and the Panchalas became exceedingly anxious.
यथा यथा ह्युयुध्यन्त पाण्डवानां महारथाः। तथा तथा तदस्रं वै व्यवर्धत जनाधिप॥
The weapon showed its exceeding strength in all those places, O ruler of men, where the great car-warriors of the Pandava hosts contended furiously.
वध्यमानास्तदास्त्रेण तेन नारायणेन वै। दह्यमानानलेनेव सर्वतोऽभ्यर्दिता रणे॥
Slaughtered by the Narayana weapon, as if burnt down by a raging fire, the troops of the Pandavas were greatly distressed in battle.
यथा हि शिशिरापाये दहेत् कक्षं हुताशनः। तथा तदस्रं पाण्डूनां ददाह ध्वजिनीं प्रभो॥
O lord, as fire consumes a heap of dry grass in summer, even so did that weapon begin to consume the army of the Pandavas.
आपूयर्ममाणेनास्त्रेण सैन्ये क्षीयति च प्रभो। जगाम परमं त्रासं धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः॥
The very virtuous king Yudhishthira was filled with fear, as his army became reduced in number and that weapon swelled in its fury.
द्रवमाणं तु तत् सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा विगतचेतनम्। मध्यस्थतां च पार्थस्य धर्मपुत्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्॥
Then behoiding the army broken and deprived of its senses and seeing the indifference of Partha, the very virtuous king Yudhishthira thus spokeधृष्टद्युम्न पलायस्व सह पाञ्चालसेनया।
सात्यके त्वं च गच्छस्व वृष्ण्यन्धकवृतो गृहान्॥
“Fly, O you Dhristadyumna, taking with you all the Panchala divisions; you also, Satyaki, go away with all Vrishnis and the Andhkas.
वासुदेवोऽपि धर्मात्मा करिष्यत्यात्मनः क्षमम्। श्रेयो ह्यपदिशत्येष लोकस्य किमुतात्मनः॥
The high-souled son of Vasudeva will look after his own safety. Indeed he is competent to protect all the worlds; what to speak of his own self; it is useless to give him advise.
संग्रामस्तु न कर्तव्यः सर्वसैन्यान् ब्रवीमि वः। अहं हि सह सौदर्येः प्रवेक्ष्ये हव्यवाहनम्॥
Ye soldiers, I command you to desist from the battle. I with my uterine brothers, am going to enter into a burning fire. was
भीष्मद्रोणार्णवं तीर्खा संग्रामे भीरुदुस्तरे। विमजिष्यामि सलिले सगणो द्रौणिगोष्पदे॥
In this war so dreadful to the timid, having crossed the oceans represented by Bhima and Drona, I shall now sink in the water contained in the vestige of a calf-foot represented by the son of Drona.
कामः सम्पद्यतामस्य बीभत्सोराशु मा प्रति। कल्याणवृत्तिराचार्यो मया युधि निपातितः॥
Let king Duryodhana today attain the fruition of his desires for I have slain the prcccptor who used to treat us so mercifully and like a friend.
येन बालः स सौभद्रो युद्धानामविशारदः। समर्थैर्बहुभिः क्रूरैर्घातितो नाभिपालितः॥
Indeed this preceptor with the help of other cruel warriors, slew and did not spare the son of Subhadra of tender years, who unacquainted with the modes of warfare.
येनामिब्रुवता प्रश्नं तथा कृष्णा सभां गता। उपेक्षिता सपुत्रेण दासभावं नियच्छती॥
This preceptor with his son remained indifferent, when Krishna, dragged into the open court and about to be made a slave, asked him to speak the truth in answer to her question.
जिघांसुर्धार्तराष्ट्रश्च श्रान्तेष्वश्वेषु फाल्गुनम्। कवचेन तथा गुप्तो रक्षार्थं सैन्धवस्य च॥
This preceptor gave an impenetrable armour to Duryodhana, when all other warriors were worn out with fatigue, in order that the latter may slay Phalguna and effect the protection of Jayadratha.
येन ब्रह्मास्रविदुषा पञ्चालाः सत्यजिन्मुखाः। कुर्वाणा मजये यत्न समूला विनिपातिताः॥
Indeed this preceptor with his Brahma weapon exterminated that whole Panchala division under Satyajit, who had been entering to bestow victory on me.
येन प्रव्राज्यमानाच राज्याद् वयमधर्मतः। निवार्यमाणा नु वयं नानुयातास्तदैषिणः॥
Indeed this preceptor did not with-hold his permission though solicited to do so by our friends, when despoiled of our kingdom we were on the point of being exiled into the woods.
योऽसावत्यन्तमस्मासु कुर्वाणः सौहृदं परम्। हतस्तदर्थे मरणं गमिष्यामि सबान्धवः॥
Alas, such a well-wishing friend of ours who did us many good turns has been slain by us. For his sake I shall with all my relatives embrace death."
एवं ब्रुवति कौन्तेये दाशार्हस्त्वरितस्ततः। निवार्य सैन्यं बाहुभ्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
When the son of Kunti was thus speaking, the scion of the Dasaratha race, Krishna, forbidding the troops with the waive of his
शीघ्रं न्यस्यत शस्त्राणि वाहेभ्यश्चावरोहत। एष योगोऽत्र विहितः प्रतिषेधे महात्मना॥
“Quickly throw aside your weapons and come down from your vehicles; even this is the means ordained by the high-souled Narayana, for baffling this weapon.
द्विपाश्वस्यन्दनेभ्यश्च क्षितिं सर्वेऽवरोहत। एवमेतन्न वो हन्यादस्त्रं भूमौ निरायुधान्॥
All of you quickly alight from the elephants, horses and chariots in the ground. Thus when you stand in earth laying aside your arms this weapon will not slay you.
यथा यथा हि युध्यन्ते योधा ह्यस्रमिदं प्रति। तथा तथा भवन्त्येते कौरवा बलवत्तराः॥
Whatever you shall contend in battle for checking the force of this weapon, in all those places the Kouravas will become more powerful than
निक्षेपस्यन्ति च शस्राणि वाहनेभ्योऽवरुह्य ये। तान्नैतदत्रं संग्रामे निहनिष्यति मानवान्॥
Those men, on the other hand, who will thrown down their weapons and alight form their vehicles, will not be slain by this weapon. yourselves.
ये त्वेतत्प्रतियोत्स्यन्ति मनसापीह केचन। निहनिष्यति तान् सर्वान् रसातलगतानपि॥
Those who will even think of contending against this weapon will be slain by it, even if he takes shelter within the bowels of the earth."
ते वचस्तस्य तच्छ्रुत्वा वासुदेवस्य भारत। ईषुः सर्वे समुत्स्रष्टुं मनोभिः करणेन च॥
Hearing those words of Vasudeva, O Bharata, all the Pandava warriors laid their weapons aside and discarded all thoughts of battle from their mind.
तत उत्स्स्रष्टुकामांस्तानस्राण्यालक्ष्य पाण्डवः। भीमसेनोऽब्रवीद् राजन्निदं संहर्षयन् वचः॥
But Bhimasena the son of Pandu, beholding the Pandavas about to abandon their weapons had thus spoken, O king, gladdening the hearts of all.
न कथंचन शस्राणि मोक्तव्यानीह केनचित्। अहमावारयिष्यामि द्रोणपुत्रास्रमाशुगैः॥
None should throw his weapons aside. I shall check the weapon of Drona's son with my swift-flying arrows.
गदयाप्यनया गुा हेमविग्रहया रणे। कालवत् प्रहरिष्यामि द्रौणेरस्त्रं विशातयन्॥
Or armed with this heavy mace adorned with gold I shall career on the field of battle like Death himself, quelling the weapons of Drona's son.
न हि मे विक्रमे तुल्यः कश्चिदस्ति पुमानिह। यथैव सवितुस्तुल्यं ज्योतिरन्यन्न विद्यते॥
Just as no luminary is equal to the Sun in effulgence, so there is no man equal to me in prowess and strength.
पश्यतेमौ हि मे बाहू नागराजकरोपमौ। समर्थौ पर्वतस्यापि शैशिरस्य निपातने॥
Look at my strong arms like the trunks of the foremost of elephants. They are capable of pulling down the crests of the Himavat mountain.
नागायुतसमप्राणो ह्यहमेको नरेष्विह। शको यथाप्रतिद्वन्द्वो दिवि देवेषु विश्रुतः॥
Among men, I am I am the only person possessed of the strength of ten thousand elephants, Like Shakra among the gods in heaven, I am known to be matchless on earth.
अद्य पश्यत मे वीर्यं बाह्वोः पीनांसयोर्युधि। ज्वलमानस्य दीप्तस्य द्रौणेरस्त्रस्य वारणे॥
Today you shall behold the strength of my arms and my expanded chest, when I shall exert in resisting the effulgent and burning weapon of Drona's son.
यदि नारायणास्रस्य प्रतियोद्धा न विद्यते। अद्यैतत् प्रतियोत्स्यामि पश्यत्सु कुरुपाण्डुषु॥
If there is none who can venture to contend against the Narayana weapon, let then the Kurus and the Pandavas behold how I shall quell that weapon.
अर्जुनार्जुन बीभत्सो न न्यस्यं गाण्डिवं त्वया। शशाङ्कस्येव ते पङ्को नैर्मल्यं पातयिष्यति॥
O Arjuna, O Arjuna, O Vibhatsu, it befits you not to lay aside your Gandiva-bow; then from yourself the halo of glory will be gone, like that of moon leaving it."
अर्जुन उवाच भीम नारायणस्त्रे मे गोषु च ब्राह्मणेषु च। एतेषु गाण्डिवं न्यस्यमेतद्धि व्रतमुत्तमम्॥
Arjuna said O Bhima, my great vow is that I shall not use the Gandiva-bow against Brahmanas the kine and the Narayana weapon and against these I shall lay it aside.
संजय उवाच एवमुक्तस्ततो भीमो द्रोणपुत्रमरिंदमम्। अभ्ययान्मेघघोषेण रथेनादित्यवर्चसा॥
Sanjaya said Thus spoken to, Bhima, that subduer of foes, rushed against Drona's son on a chariot whose clatter resembled the roll of thunder and whose effulgence out-vied that of the Sun.
य एनमिषुजालेन लघुत्वाच्छीघ्रविक्रमः। निमेषमात्रेणासाद्य कुन्तीपुत्रोऽभ्यवाकिरत्॥
Endued with great activity and prowess, the son of Kunti possessed as he was of extreme lightness of hands, succeeded in covering Drona's son with a net-work of arrows, within the twinkling of the eye.
ततो द्रौणिः प्रहस्यैनं द्रवन्तमभिभाष्य च। अवाकिरत् प्रदीप्ताग्रैः शरैस्तैरभिमन्त्रितैः॥
Thereupon Drona's son smilingly eyeing the rushing Bhima, challenged him and then covered him with arrows of keen points and inspired with Mantras.
पन्नगैरिव दीप्तास्यैर्वमद्भिर्व्वलनं रणे। अवकीर्णोऽभवत् पार्थः स्फुलिङ्गैरिव काञ्चनैः॥
Then Pritha's son shrouded with those shafts, of blazing points like the mouths of snakes, capable of penetrating to the very vitals, looked as if covered with speaks of gold.
तस्य रूपमभूद् राजन् भीमसेनस्य संयुगे। खद्योतैरावृतस्येव पर्वतस्य दिनक्षये॥
Then O king, the appearance of Bhimasena became like that of a mountain surrounded by the fire-flies at the close of day.
तदस्रं द्रोणपुत्रस्य तस्मिन् प्रतिसमस्यति। अवर्धत महाराज यथाग्निरनिलोद्धतः॥
That weapon of Drona's son directed against Bhimasena, swelled in fury like a conflagration assisted by the wind.
विवर्धमानमालक्ष्य तदा भीमविक्रमम्। पाण्डुसैन्यमृते भीमं समहद् भयमाविशत्॥
Beholding that weapon of great energy increasing in its fury, the troops of the Pandavas were filled with fear with the exception of Bhima.
ततः शस्त्राणि ते सर्वे अवारोहन रथेभ्यश्च हस्त्यश्वेभ्यश्च सवशः॥
Thereupon laying aside their celestial weapons on the ground they alighted on all sides from their cars and their horses.
तेषु निक्षिप्तशस्त्रेषु वाहनेभ्यश्च्युतेषु च। तदस्रवीर्यं विपुलं भीममूर्धन्यथापतत्॥ समुत्सृज्य महीतले।
Thus when they had thrown their weapons down and when they had alighted from their vehicles and horses, that weapon of immense energy flew towards the head of Bhima.
हाहाकृतानि भूतानि पाण्डवाश्च विशेषतः। भीमसेनमपश्यन्त तेजसा संवृतं तथा॥
All creatures cried Oh and Alas and specially the Pandavas did so, at the sight of Bhimasena wrapt in the effulgence of that weapons.