महाभारतम् — ८.१७

संजय उवाच ।

हस्तिभिस्तु महामात्रास्तव पुत्रेण चोदिताः ।
धृष्टद्युम्नं जिघांसन्तः क्रुद्धाः पार्षतमभ्ययुः ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya said Having been persuaded by your son, many elephant-warriors, riding upon their elephants and desiring to bring about his destruction, became highly enraged and marched against Dhristadyumna.

८.१७.२

प्राच्याश्च दाक्षिणात्याश्च प्रवीरा गजयोधिनः ।
अङ्गा वङ्गाश्च पुण्ड्राश्च मागधास्ताम्रलिप्तकाः ॥

M N Dutt Many foremost of clephant-warriors belonging to the tribes called the Easterners, the Southerners, the Angas, the Bangas, the Pundras, the Magadhas and the Tamaliptakas.

८.१७.३

मेकलाः कोशला मद्रा दशार्णा निषधास्तथा ।
गजयुद्धेषु कुशलाः कलिङ्गैः सह भारत ॥

M N Dutt And O descendant of the Bharata race, also belonging to the Mekalas, the Koshalas, the Madras, the Dasharnas and the Nishadhas, who were all very skillful in fighting on the back of elephants and who again, were accompanied by the Kalingas.

८.१७.४

शरतोमरनाराचैर्वृष्टिमन्त इवाम्बुदाः ।
सिषिचुस्ते ततः सर्वे पाञ्चालाचलमाहवे ॥

M N Dutt Began to pour forth showers of arrows, lances and broad-headed shafts, like the masses of clouds and also they all drenched the whole force of the Panchalas (with them) in that battle,

८.१७.५

तान्संमिमर्दिषुर्नागान्पार्ष्ण्यङ्गुष्ठाङ्कुशैर्भृशम् ।
पोथितान्पार्षतो बाणैर्नाराचैश्चाभ्यवीवृषत् ॥

M N Dutt He (Dhristadyumna) then dropped down showers of arrows and broad-headed shafts upon those elephants, that crushed down the enemies and also that were urged forward by their being deeply struck in the sides with heels, toes and hooks.

८.१७.६

एकैकं दशभिः षड्भिरष्टाभिरपि भारत ।
द्विरदानभिविव्याध क्षिप्तैर्गिरिनिभाञ्शरैः ।
प्रच्छाद्यमानो द्विरदैर्मेघैरिव दिवाकरः ॥

M N Dutt O descendant of the Bharata race, he (the Panchala chief) pierced every one of these elephants, that resembled mountains with ten, six or eight keen arrows.

८.१७.७

पर्यासुः पाण्डुपाञ्चाला नदन्तो निशितायुधाः ।
तान्नागानभिवर्षन्तो ज्यातन्त्रीशरनादितैः ॥

८.१७.८

नकुलः सहदेवश्च द्रौपदेयाः प्रभद्रकाः ।
सात्यकिश्च शिखण्डी च चेकितानश्च वीर्यवान् ॥

८.१७.९

ते म्लेच्छैः प्रेषिता नागा नरानश्वान्रथानपि ।
हस्तैराक्षिप्य ममृदुः पद्भिश्चाप्यतिमन्यवः ॥

M N Dutt Being driven by the Mlechchas, these elephants, highly enraged, had cast down the men, the horses and cars, with their trunks and crushed them with their feet.

८.१७.१०

बिभिदुश्च विषाणाग्रैः समाक्षिप्य च चिक्षिपुः ।
विषाणलग्नैश्चाप्यन्ये परिपेतुर्विभीषणाः ॥

M N Dutt Then they (the elephants) pierced them with the points of their tusks and having thrown them down shattered them. Others, again, being lifted up with their tusks, fell down upon the ground exciting great horror (in the spectators).

८.१७.११

प्रमुखे वर्तमानं तु द्विपं वङ्गस्य सात्यकिः ।
नाराचेनोग्रवेगेन भित्त्वा मर्मण्यपातयत् ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon Satyaki, after having pierced the elephant of the Vanga prince, that was standing before him, in the very vitals with a long arrows possessed of great impetuosity, hurled him down upon the ground).

८.१७.१२

तस्यावर्जितनागस्य द्विरदादुत्पतिष्यतः ।
नाराचेनाभिनद्वक्षः सोऽपतद्भुवि सात्यकेः ॥

M N Dutt Again, Satyaki had struck the chest of him (the rider of that elephant), whose body was not yet touched and who also fell down from his elephant, with a long shaft. Thus struck, he (the rider) fell upon the ground.

८.१७.१३

पुण्ड्रस्यापततो नागं चलन्तमिव पर्वतम् ।
सहदेवः प्रयत्नात्तैर्नाराचैर्व्यहनत्त्रिभिः ॥

M N Dutt Shahadeva, on the other hand, had struck the elephant of falling Pundra, that was moving like a mountain, with three long arrows, which were most excellently directed.

८.१७.१४

विपताकं वियन्तारं विवर्मध्वजजीवितम् ।
तं कृत्वा द्विरदं भूयः सहदेवोऽङ्गमभ्यगात् ॥

M N Dutt Then Shahadeva, after having deprived that elephant of his banners, driver, armour, standard and life, again advanced against the ruler of the Angas.

८.१७.१५

सहदेवं तु नकुलो वारयित्वाङ्गमार्दयत् ।
नाराचैर्यमदण्डाभैस्त्रिभिर्नागं शतेन च ॥

M N Dutt But Nakula, having forbidden Shahadeva (from advancement), himself crushed the chief of the Angas with three long shafts resembling the very rods of Death in appearance, as well as his elephant with hundred others.

८.१७.१६

दिवाकरकरप्रख्यानङ्गश्चिक्षेप तोमरान् ।
नकुलाय शतान्यष्टौ त्रिधैकैकं तु सोऽच्छिनत् ॥

M N Dutt The ruler of the Angas, on the other hand, had directed eight hundred lances, that were as resplendent as the rays of the sun, towards Nakula, who, again, shattered each of them into three pieces.

८.१७.१७

तथार्धचन्द्रेण शिरस्तस्य चिच्छेद पाण्डवः ।
स पपात हतो म्लेच्छस्तेनैव सह दन्तिना ॥

M N Dutt So again, the son of Pandu severed the head (of his antagonist) with a crescent shaped arrow. That Mlechchha, being thus cut-off, fell down with his elephant.

८.१७.१८

आचार्यपुत्रे निहते हस्तिशिक्षाविशारदे ।
अङ्गाः क्रुद्धा महामात्रा नागैर्नकुलमभ्ययुः ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon, when the princes powerful monarch, Satyaki on the other hand, having smiled and shrouded all the points of the horizon with a shower of arrows, closed with the two brothers, O descendant of the Bharata race. of the Angas, who was well versed in the knowledge of managing elephants, was thus slain, the highly enraged elephant-warriors of the Anga race, rushed against Nakula, riding upon their elephants.

८.१७.१९

चलत्पताकैः प्रमुखैर्हेमकक्ष्यातनुच्छदैः ।
मिमर्दिषन्तस्त्वरिताः प्रदीप्तैरिव पर्वतैः ॥

M N Dutt That were adorned with waving banners and also that were furnished with excellent mouths and that were decked with the housings made of gold and that were as resplendent as the blazing mountains; for, the warriors were most desirous of crushing him and all possessed of immense activity.

८.१७.२०

मेकलोत्कलकालिङ्गा निषादास्ताम्रलिप्तकाः ।
शरतोमरवर्षाणि विमुञ्चन्तो जिघांसवः ॥

M N Dutt The Mekalas, Utkalas, the Kalingas, the Nishadhas, the Tamraliptakas, who were all very willing to slaughter him, continued to pour forth showers of arrows and lance (upon Nakula).

८.१७.२१

तैश्छाद्यमानं नकुलं दिवाकरमिवाम्बुदैः ।
परि पेतुः सुसंरब्धाः पाण्डुपाञ्चालसोमकाः ॥

M N Dutt Then the highly enraged Pandus, Panchalas and Somakas proceeded most rapidly to rescue Nakula, who was closed with by those warriors, even as the sun is covered over with the masses of clouds.

८.१७.२२

ततस्तदभवद्युद्धं रथिनां हस्तिभिः सह ।
सृजतां शरवर्षाणि तोमरांश्च सहस्रशः ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon, the battle raged between the car-warriors, who were shooting showers of shafts and hurling down thousands of lances, (at the antagonists) and the heroes fighting from the back of elephant.

८.१७.२३

नागानां प्रस्फुटुः कुम्भा मर्माणि विविधानि च ।
दन्ताश्चैवातिविद्धानां नाराचैर्भूषणानि च ॥

M N Dutt The frontal globes and several other vitals, the tusks and the equipments of the elephants, that were deeply pierced with long shafts, were all shattered.

८.१७.२४

तेषामष्टौ महानागांश्चतुःषष्ट्या सुतेजनैः ।
सहदेवो जघानाशु ते पेतुः सह सादिभिः ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon Shahadeva had most rapidly slaughtered eight of the gigantic elephants with sixty-four arrows, possessed of great impetuosity. On that, they all fell down along with their riders.

८.१७.२५

अञ्जोगतिभिरायम्य प्रयत्नाद्धनुरुत्तमम् ।
नाराचैरहनन्नागान्नकुलः कुरुनन्दन ॥

M N Dutt Nakula also, who was the darling of his family, after having lifted up the foremost of his bow with great care, had slaughtered innumerable elephants with straight shafts.

८.१७.२६

ततः शैनेयपाञ्चाल्यौ द्रौपदेयाः प्रभद्रकाः ।
शिखण्डी च महानागान्सिषिचुः शरवृष्टिभिः ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon the chief of the Panchalas, the grandson of Shini, the son of Draupadi, the Provodrakas and Shikhandin, poured forth showers of arrows upon those huge elephants.

८.१७.२७

ते पाण्डुयोधाम्बुधरैः शत्रुद्विरदपर्वताः ।
बाणवर्षैर्हताः पेतुर्वज्रवर्षैरिवाचलाः ॥

M N Dutt Having been killed with the torrents of shafts by such clouds as the Pandu warriors, those hills of elephants belonging to the foes, fell down; even as the mountains are struck down by the falling of thunders.

८.१७.२८

एवं हत्वा तव गजांस्ते पाण्डुनरकुञ्जराः ।
द्रुतं सेनामवैक्षन्त भिन्नकूलामिवापगाम् ॥

M N Dutt Having thus slaughtered your elephants, those foremost of car-warriors, belonging to the side of the Pandavas, looked at the army (on your side), that was running away from the field like a river, flowing down a shore other than where it took its rise.

८.१७.२९

ते तां सेनामवालोक्य पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैनिकाः ।
विक्षोभयित्वा च पुनः कर्णमेवाभिदुद्रुवुः ॥

M N Dutt Those warriors, belonging to the side of the son of Pandu, after having first agitated that army and again having afflicted, proceeded most rapidly against Karna.

८.१७.३०

सहदेवं ततः क्रुद्धं दहन्तं तव वाहिनीम् ।
दुःशासनो महाराज भ्राता भ्रातरमभ्ययात् ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya said O great monarch, Dushasana rushed against Shahadeva, that is, brother against brother, who was highly enraged and blasted your army.

८.१७.३१

तौ समेतौ महायुद्धे दृष्ट्वा तत्र नराधिपाः ।
सिंहनादरवांश्चक्रुर्वासांस्यादुधुवुश्च ह ॥

M N Dutt In the field of battle, the mighty carwarriors, seeing those two thus engaged in a encounter, began to uiter shouts resembling the roars of lions and to wave their cloths.

८.१७.३२

ततो भारत क्रुद्धेन तव पुत्रेण धन्विना ।
पाण्डुपुत्रस्त्रिभिर्बाणैर्वक्षस्यभिहतो बली ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon, O descendant of the Bharata race, the most powerful son of Pandu was decply struck in the chest with three shafts by the bowman, your son, who was highly enraged.

८.१७.३३

सहदेवस्ततो राजन्नाराचेन तवात्मजम् ।
विद्ध्वा विव्याध सप्तत्या सारथिं च त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः ॥

M N Dutt Then, O monarch, Shahadeva, after having first pierced your son, again struck him with seventy shafts, as well as his charioteer with threc others.

८.१७.३४

दुःशासनस्तदा राजंश्छित्त्वा चापं महाहवे ।
सहदेवं त्रिसप्तत्या बाह्वोरुरसि चार्दयत् ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon, O king, Dushasana, after having severed his bow in that dreadful battle, struck Shahadeva with seventy-three arrows both in the arms and the chest.

८.१७.३५

सहदेवस्ततः क्रुद्धः खड्गं गृह्य महाहवे ।
व्याविध्यत युधां श्रेष्ठः श्रीमांस्तव सुतं प्रति ॥

८.१७.३६

समार्गणगणं चापं छित्त्वा तस्य महानसिः ।
निपपात ततो भूमौ च्युतः सर्प इवाम्बरात् ॥

M N Dutt Thus having severed his (Dusasana's) bow along with its string and arrow, then that fearful sword fell down upon the earth, even as a snake falls down from heaven upon the ground.

८.१७.३७

अथान्यद्धनुरादाय सहदेवः प्रतापवान् ।
दुःशासनाय चिक्षेप बाणमन्तकरं ततः ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon Shahadeva, possessed of immerise prowess, having taken up another bow, hurled at Dushasana a shaft, capable of bringing about death.

८.१७.३८

तमापतन्तं विशिखं यमदण्डोपमत्विषम् ।
खड्गेन शितधारेण द्विधा चिच्छेद कौरवः ॥

M N Dutt Then the son of Kuru had severed into two fragments, with his keen-edged sword, that shaft, which was as resplendent as the very rod of Death himself, directed towards him.

८.१७.३९

तमापतन्तं सहसा निस्त्रिंशं निशितैः शरैः ।
पातयामास समरे सहदेवो हसन्निव ॥

M N Dutt On the other hand, Shahadeva, as if laughing, had suddenly thrown down that sword with keen arrows, that was directed towards him.

८.१७.४०

ततो बाणांश्चतुःषष्टिं तव पुत्रो महारणे ।
सहदेवरथे तूर्णं पातयामास भारत ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon, O descendant of the Bharata race, your son most rapidly directed sixty-four arrows against the car of Shahadeva, in that dreadful battle.

८.१७.४१

ताञ्शरान्समरे राजन्वेगेनापततो बहून् ।
एकैकं पञ्चभिर्बाणैः सहदेवो न्यकृन्तत ॥

M N Dutt Then Shahadeva, O monarch, cut-off every one of these innumerable arrows, that were falling with speed (upon him) with five shafts of his own in that battle.

८.१७.४२

स निवार्य महाबाणांस्तव पुत्रेण प्रेषितान् ।
अथास्मै सुबहून्बाणान्माद्रीपुत्रः समाचिनोत् ॥

M N Dutt Having thus restrained those powerful arrows, shot by your son, he (Shahadeva) sent away innumerable shafts against him (his antagonist) in that dreadful battle.

८.१७.४३

ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज सहदेवः प्रतापवान् ।
समाधत्त शरं घोरं मृत्युकालान्तकोपमम् ।
विकृष्य बलवच्चापं तव पुत्राय सोऽसृजत् ॥

M N Dutt O mighty monarch, the most powerful Shahadeva, being highly enraged at this, fixed an arrow on his bow, that was as deadly as Death himself.

८.१७.४४

स तं निर्भिद्य वेगेन भित्त्वा च कवचं महत् ।
प्राविशद्धरणीं राजन्वल्मीकमिव पन्नगः ।
ततः स मुमुहे राजंस्तव पुत्रो महारथः ॥

M N Dutt Then having stretched his bow with great force, he shot that arrow at your son. O monarch, that shaft, after having successively pierced with great force through his body and his strong armour, itself entered into the earth, even as the snakes enter into the ant-hill. Thereupon, O king, your son, that mighty carwarrior, became senseless.

८.१७.४५

मूढं चैनं समालक्ष्य सारथिस्त्वरितो रथम् ।
अपोवाह भृशं त्रस्तो वध्यमानं शितैः शरैः ॥

M N Dutt Having seen him thus senseless and himself being deeply struck with sharp arrows, his charioteer with great rapidity carried away the car.

८.१७.४६

पराजित्य रणे तं तु पाण्डवः पाण्डुपूर्वज ।
दुर्योधनबलं हृष्टः प्रामथद्वै समन्ततः ॥

M N Dutt Having defeated that Kuru warrior in battle, the son of Pandu looked at the army of Duryodhana and crushed it on all sides.

८.१७.४७

पिपीलिकापुटं राजन्यथामृद्नान्नरो रुषा ।
तथा सा कौरवी सेना मृदिता तेन भारत ॥

M N Dutt O descendant of the Bharata race, O monarch, that force belonging to the Kurus was crushed by the son of Pandu, even as a swarm of ants is crushed to death by a man with great rage.

८.१७.४८

नकुलं रभसं युद्धे दारयन्तं वरूथिनीम् ।
कर्णो वैकर्तनो राजन्वारयामास वै तदा ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya said O monarch, Karna the son of Vikartana, indeed, restrained with great rage Nakula, who was destroying and dispersing the army (belonging to the Kurus) in that battle.

८.१७.४९

नकुलश्च तदा कर्णं प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ।
चिरस्य बत दृष्टोऽहं दैवतैः सौम्यचक्षुषा ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon, Nakula smilingly uttered these words of Karna-'I am, after a long while and through the kindness of the celestials, seen by you.

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