संजय उवाच अथ त्विदानीं तुमले विमर्दे द्विषद्भिरको बहुभिः समावृतः। महारणे सारथिमित्युवाच भीमश्चमूं वाहय धार्तराष्ट्रीम्॥
Sanjaya said In the thick of that awe-inspiring fray, Bhima, fighting single-handed, against tremendous odds, addressed his charioteer and said-"drive towards the centre of the Dhartarashtra force."
त्वं सारथे याहि जवेन वाहैनृयाम्येतान् धार्तराष्ट्रान् यमाय। संचोदितो भीमसेनेन चैवं स सारथिः पुत्रबलं त्वदीयम्॥ प्रायात् ततः सत्वरमुग्रवेगो यतो भीमस्तद् बलं गन्मुमैच्छत। ततोऽपरे नागरथाश्वपत्तिभिः प्रत्युद्ययुस्तं कुरवः समन्तात्॥
Spur your horses, O charioteer and I will hasten the departure of all these Dhartarashtras to the region occupied by the King of Death." The charioteer, being thus desired by Bhimasena, drove, at a furious speed, towards the spot against the whole hosts of your sons and from whence Bhima wished to fight them out and then, from all sides, a large retinue of Kaurava force, consisting of elephant and carwarriors and cavalry and infantry, hemmed him in.
भीमस्य वाहाण्यमुदारवेगं समन्ततो बाणगणैर्निजघ्नुः। ततः शरानापततो महात्मा चिच्छेद बाणैस्तपनीयपुखैः॥
And they all poured down their arrows on that best of chariots occupied by Bhima from every direction, whereupon the high-souled Bhima, with his own gold-feathered shafts, scattered to the winds, all those weapons hurled against him by his enemies.
ते वै निपेतुस्तपनीयपुङ्खा द्विधा त्रिधा भीमशरैर्निकृताः। ततो राजन् नगरथाश्वयूनां भीमहतानां वरराजमध्ये॥ घोरो निनादः प्रबभौ नरेन्द्र वजाहतानामिव पर्वतानाम्। ते वध्यमानाश्च नरेन्द्रमुख्या निर्भिद्यन्तो भीमशरप्रवेकैः॥ भीमं समन्तात् समरेऽभ्यरोहन् वृक्षं शकुन्ता इव जातपक्षाः। ततोऽभियाते तव सैन्ये स भीमः प्रादुश्चके वेगमनन्तवेगः॥ भूतान्तकृत काल इवात्तदण्डः। तस्यातिवेगस्य रणेऽतिवेगं नाशक्नुवन् वारयितुं त्वदीयाः॥ व्यात्ताननस्यापततो यथैव कालस्य काले हरतः प्रजा वै। ततो बलं भारत भारतानां प्रदह्यमानं समरे महात्मना॥ भीतं दिशोऽकीर्यत भीमनुन्नं महानिलेनाभ्रगणा यथैव। ततो धीमान् सारथिमबभीद् बली स भीमसेनः पुनरेव हृष्टः॥ सूताभिजानीहि स्वकान् परान् वा रथान् ध्वजांश्चापततः समेतान्। न्मा सैन्यं स्वं छादयिष्ये पृषत्कैः॥
And those gold-winged arrows of his enemies, thus broken into tatters of two or three fragments by the shafts of Bhima, fell upon the ground. Then, O King, there arose one long loud cry of woe from amidst the throng of those valiant chiefs of the Kshatriya race, as they, with their mounts of elephants and steeds and their chariots and body infantry, got afflicted with the arrows thrust hard by Bhima, like thunders rolling in mountains. Those pride of the Kshatriya race, being thus assailed by Bhima, and his powerful shafts smiting them hip and thigh, flew at him (Bhima) from every side of the plain, like the new-fledged family of the feathered tribes thickening around a tree. And as your troops fell back upon him, Bhima, of infinite prowess and strength, repulsed them with the full display of all his might, like the mighty King of Terrors, dealing destruction, at the end of time, with his mace, unto the creation. And your hosts, in that battle, could not repel the fearful impetuosity of Bhima, himself the personation of fire and fury, like the great Destroyer himself rushing, at the end of the cycle, with wide-open mouth for the extermination of all living beings. O Bharata, the whole troops, comprising the Bharata force, thus ruthlessly torn as under in battle, by the noble-minded Bhima, dispersed from the field in a state of panic, like a strong gust of wind scattering thick clouds in a tempest. Then the powerful Bhimasena, endowed with great sagacity, addressing his charioteer once more, said unto him in full glee. "Just know, O Suta, whether do all those chariots, which are advancing towards us, belong to our party, or to that of the enemy. As I, with this battle raging, can make no distinction between the two, see that I do not besiege my own hosts with my shafts.
अरीन् विशोकाभिनिरीक्ष्य सर्वतो मनस्तु चिन्ता प्रदुनोति मे भृशम्। राजाऽऽतुरो नागमद् यत् किरीटी बहूनि दुःखान्यभियातोऽस्मि सूत॥
I am greatly mortified, O Vishoka, to see around me these leaders of war in hostile array and also with the sight of their cars and the tops of their standards. The king lies wounded and the diadem-decked Arjuna is not yet come to take the field. All these, O Suta, are preying heavily on me.
एतद् दुःखं सारथे धर्मराजो यन्मां हित्वा यातवाशत्रुमध्ये। नैनं जीवं नाद्य जानाम्यजीवं बीभत्सुं वा तन्ममाद्यातिदुःखम्॥
O charioteer, that the pious king Yudhishthira should have gone away from the field, leading me alone in the midst of the enemy, is in itself hear-rending. Then again I am quite in the dark as to his fate. Nor do I know whether Vibhatsu is still alive or not. All these add to my grief.
सोऽहं द्विषत्सैन्यमुदग्रकल्पं विनाशयिष्ये परमप्रतीतः। एतत्रिहत्याजिमध्ये समेतं प्रीतो भविष्यामि सह त्वयाद्य॥
And though dejected and disspirited, I will play the hell with all these troops inspite of their strength. And thus making the vast army in hostile array pay the penalty in the wager of battle, let me rejoice with you today.
सर्वांस्तूणान् सायकानामवेक्ष्य किं शिष्टं स्यात् सायकानां रथे मे। का वा जातिः किं प्रमाणं च तेषां ज्ञात्वा व्यक्तं तत् समाचक्ष्व सूत॥
O Suta, examine closely all the quivers of my arrows and see the numbers still left and then let me know decidedly the quantity and variety of each.”
विशोक उवाच षण्मार्गणानामयुतानि वीर क्षुराश्च भल्लाश्च तथायुताख्याः। नाराचानां द्वे सहस्रे च वीर त्रीण्येव च प्रदराणां स्म पार्थ॥
Vishoka said Being thus addressed, Vishoka replied-"O hero, you have full sixty thousand arrows still left, while your shafts, both razor-shaped and broad-pointed, number ten thousand each. O hero, you have still two thousand cloth-yard shafts, while the Pradaras, O Partha, number three thousand.
अस्तायुधं पाण्डवेयावशिष्टं न यद् वहेच्छकटं षड्गवीयम्। एतद् विद्वन् मुञ्च सहस्रशोऽपि गदासिबाहुद्रविणं च तेऽस्ति॥ प्रासाश्च मुद्गरा शक्तयस्तोमराश्च मा भैषीस्त्वं सङ्ख्यादायुधानाम्॥
To speak candidly, O son of Pandu, the quantity that is still left is quite unmanageable even by half-a-dozen bullocks, if placed on carts. O skillful one, throw off your weapons in no measured number, for your maces, swords and scimitars, as also your lances darts and spears and other weapons of the arms, number thousands upon thousands. So be of good cheer and pray do not be misapprehensive of your weapons running short."
भीमसेन उवाच सूताद्यैनं पश्य भीमप्रयुक्तैः संछिन्दद्धिः पार्थिवानां सुवेगैः। छन्नं बाणैराहवं घोररूपं नष्टादित्यं मृत्युलोकेन तुल्यम्॥
Bhima said Mark, O Suta, in this day's fearful engagement the plains will present the aspect of the dismal regions, of Death, when the field will be shrouded with thick sets of my irresistible arrows, furiously let loose from off my bow, tearing into pieces the entire body of the trainbands of my enemy and making the Sun, as it were, disappear from view.
अद्यैतद् वै विदितं पार्थिवानां भविष्यति ह्याकुमारं च सूत। निमग्नो वा समरे भीमसेन एकः कुरून् वा समरे व्यजैषीत्॥
Today, O Suta, it will be known to all the Kshatriyas, even unto the last generation, that either Bhimasena has given himself up in battle, or, singly, he has got the better of all the Kurus.
सर्वे संख्ये कुरवो निष्पतन्तु मां वा लोकाः कीर्तयन्त्वाकुमारम्। सर्वानेकस्तानहं पातयिष्ये ते वा सर्वे भीमसेनं तुदन्तु॥
Today, either let the Kauravas fall in battle, or, let all the world sound my death knell. Alone, encountering them all, I will either overmatch them, or, let them, all combined, put an extinguisher upon Bhimasena.
आशास्तारः कर्म चाप्युत्तमं ये तन्मे देवाः केवलं साधयन्तु। आयात्विहाद्यार्जुनः शस्त्रघाती शकस्तूर्णं यज्ञ इवोपहूतः॥
May the guardian angels, who further the course of all righteous action, shower down their blessing on me; and let Arjuna, the victor of enemies, come here speedily (to my relief), like the invoked Sakra appearing in the sacrificial ground.
मेते कस्माद् विद्रवन्ते नरेन्द्राः। व्यक्तं धीमान् सव्यसाची नराग्र्यः सैन्यं ह्येतच्छादयात्याशु बाणैः॥
Look there and see the disbanded Bharata force! Why are all these chiefs taking to their flight. Surely it seems to me inevitable that Savyasachin, that best of human beings has been shrouding that force with a heavy downpour of his arrows.
पश्य ध्वजांश्च द्रवतो विशोक नागान् हयान् पत्तिसंघांश्च संख्ये। रथान् विकीर्णाशरशक्तिताडितान् पश्यस्वैतान् रथिनश्चैव सूत॥
Look there, O Vishoka, (and see how) the mounted soldiers riding on their steeds or elephants and standard-bearers and footsoldiers and beating their retreat. Look, also, at these war-chariots, (and see how) they with their warriors on, are getting scattered by the darts, shafts and arrows, O Suta.
आपूर्यते कौरवी चाप्यभीक्ष्णं सेना ह्यसौ सुभृशं हन्यमाना। प्रेस्ता शरैः काञ्चनबर्हिबाजैः॥
Charged with the gold-winged and peacock-feathered arrows of Dhananjaya and bursting like the bolts from the blue, those Kaurava forces, falling fast in numbers, as often swell the ranks of their file.
एते द्रवन्ति स रथाश्वनागाः पदातिसङ्घातिमर्दयन्तः। सम्मुह्यमानाः कौरवाः सर्व एव द्रवन्ति नागा इव दाहभीताः२६॥ हाहाकृताश्चैव रणे विशोक मुञ्चन्ति नादान् विपुलान् गजेन्द्राः॥
Those steed yoked on war-chariots and elephants trampling down the vast array of foot-soldiers are fleeting away. In sooth, the whole host of the Kauravas, seized with consternation, are beating a hasty retreat, as do the terrified elephants in the midst of a flaming forest. The elephants are roaring furiously in the field and their savage cries, O Vishoka, make, one and all, utter cries of woe and alas!'
विशोक उवाच किं भीम नैनं त्वमिहाशृणोषि विस्फारितं गाण्डिवस्यातिघोरम्। क्रुद्धेन पार्थेन विकृष्यतोऽद्य कचिन्नेमौ तव की विनष्टौ॥
Vishoka said Can't you, O Bhima, hear the awful sound of the Gandiva? (or), have those ears of yours lost their sensibility from the effects of the thunder produced by Partha, while out stretching it with fire and fury?
सर्वे कामाः पाण्डव ते समृद्धाः कपिसी दृश्यते हस्तिसैन्ये। नीलाद घनाद् विद्युतमुचरन्तीं तथा पश्य विस्फुरन्ती धनुाम्॥
All your wishes, O son of Pandu, have been gratified, yonder is seen the standard of Ape (of Arjuna) wafting aloft. Look there the bowstring (of Gandiva) is emitting incessantly rays of light, like the flashes of lightning from amidst the blue regions of ethereal space.
कपिसौ वीक्षते सर्वतो वै ध्वजाग्रमारुद्य धनंजयस्य। वित्रासयन् रिपुसघान् विमर्दे बिभेम्यस्मादात्मनैवाभिवीक्ष्य॥
That Ape wafting aloft from the standard of Dhananjaya, is seen to strike terror, all along the line of the enemy, (and to speak freely) even I myself am stricken with awe at that (august) sight.
विभ्राजते चातिमात्रं किरीटं विचित्रमेतच्च धनंजयस्य। दिवाकराभो मणिरेष दिव्यो विभ्राजते चैव किरीटसंस्थः॥
There, the resplendent beauty of Dhananjaya's diadem is shedding its effulgence brightly and the bright luster of the gem-studded on it. Sparkling with the radiancy of the Sun, is looking much more resplendent.
पार्श्वे भीमं पाण्डुराभ्रप्रकाशं पश्यस्व शङ्ख देवदत्त सुघोषम्। अभीषुहस्तस्य जनार्दनस्य विगाहमानस्य चमूं परेषाम्॥
Alongside him, behold, there, his conch Devadatta to thundering blare and resembling a white sheet of cloud. Behold there, Janaradana, reins in hand, making his way into the centre of the hostile divisions.
रविप्रभं वज्रनाभं क्षुरान्तं पार्थे स्थितं पश्य जनार्दनस्य। चक्रं यशोवर्धनं केशवस्य सदार्चितं यदुभिः पश्य वीर॥
Behold, there, O hero, by the side of Janardana his discus, radiant like the Sun, nave like thunder and sharp like razor-that discus which enhances the fame of Keshava and which is always worshipped by the Yadus. son
महाद्विपानां सरलट्ठमोपमाः करा निकृत्ताः प्रपतन्त्यमी क्षुरैः। किरीटिना तेन पुनः ससादिनः शरैर्निकृत्ताः कुलिशैरिवाद्रयः॥
There, large trunks of huge elephants, resembling the lofty yew trees, dissevered by Kiritin are falling fast. There, also, huge elephants and their riders, pierced with shafts all through, are falling down like mountains riven with thunder.
तथैव कृष्णस्य च पाञ्चजन्यं महार्हमेतं द्विजराजवर्णम्। कौन्तेय पश्योरसि कौस्तुभं च जाज्वल्यमानं विजया स्त्रजं च॥
Behold, there, O of Kunti, the Panchajanya (conch) of Krishna, resplendent like the moon, the Kaustabha, (pearl) dazzling on his breasts and his garland of victory.
ध्रुवं रथाय्यः समुपैति पार्थो विद्रावयन् सैन्यमिदं परेषाम्। हयैर्महाहै रथिनां वरिष्ठः॥
There cannot be any mistake in the fact that Partha, the glory of car-warriors-the best and foremost of them, carried by those precious steeds of his, the best of their kind, and in color as white as the white clouds of the sky, with Krishna as their driver, is rushing in the field, routing the enemy all through.
विदारितान् पश्य पतन्त्यमी यथा। तवानुजेनामरराज तेजसा महावनानीव सुपर्णवायुना॥
Behold there, your younger, resembling in energy the deity of the celestials, is piercing with his shafts those cars, steeds and bands of foot-soldiers and they are falling down as if a forest over-thrown by the tempest caused by the wings of Garuda.
चतुःशतान् पश्य रथानिमान् हतान् सवाजिसूतान् समरे किरीटिना। महेषुभिः सप्तशतानि दन्तिनां पदातिसादींश्च रथाननेकशः॥
Behold, Kiritin, with his powerful shafts, to outstrip in battle four hundred car-warriors with their steeds and drivers and seven hundred elephants, as also numberless infantry and cavalry.
अयं समभ्येति तवान्तिकं बली निघ्नन् कुरूंचित्र इव ग्रहोऽर्जुनः। समृद्धकामोऽसि हतास्तवाहिता बलं तवायुश्च चिराय वर्धताम्॥
Shedding his effulgence like the constellation of Chirta, the all-powered Arjuna, after having massacred the Kuru forces, is speeding towards you. All your wishes have been gratified-your enemies, thrown overboard. May your prowess and the span of your life continue to increase for ever and ever.
भीमसेन उवाच ददानि ते ग्रामवरांश्चतुर्दश प्रियाख्याने सारथे सुप्रसन्नः। दासीशतं चापि रथांश्च विंशति यदर्जुनं वेदयसे विशोक॥
Bhima said For this welcome news, O charioteer, with unfeigned pleasure I grant you fourteen choice villages; and O Vishoka, as you bring me the tidings of Arjuna, I also present you a hundred female slaves and twenty chariots.