महाभारतम् — ९.२२

संजय उवाच ।

वर्तमाने तथा युद्धे घोररूपे भयानके ।
अभज्यत बलं तत्र तव पुत्रस्य पाण्डवैः ॥

M N Dutt Sanjaya said During the progress of that terrible and awful battle, the army of your son were routed by the Pandavas.

९.२२.२

तांस्तु यत्नेन महता संनिवार्य महारथान् ।
पुत्रस्ते योधयामास पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् ॥

M N Dutt Rallying their great car-warriors however, with vigorous exertions, your sons continued to fight with the Pandava army.

९.२२.३

निवृत्ताः सहसा योधास्तव पुत्रप्रियैषिणः ।
संनिवृत्तेषु तेष्वेवं युद्धमासीत्सुदारुणम् ॥

M N Dutt The Kuru warriors, seeking your son's welfare, suddenly came back. Upon their return, the battle once more became fearful, between your warriors and those of the foe, resembling that between the gods and the Asuras in the days of yore. Neither amongst the enemies nor amongst your people was there a single warrior who fled away from the field.

९.२२.४

तावकानां परेषां च देवासुररणोपमम् ।
परेषां तव सैन्ये च नासीत्कश्चित्पराङ्मुखः ॥

M N Dutt The Kuru warriors, seeking your son's welfare, suddenly came back. Upon their return, the battle once more became fearful, between your warriors and those of the foe, resembling that between the gods and the Asuras in the days of yore. Neither amongst the enemies nor amongst your people was there a single warrior who fled away from the field.

९.२२.५

अनुमानेन युध्यन्ते संज्ञाभिश्च परस्परम् ।
तेषां क्षयो महानासीद्युध्यतामितरेतरम् ॥

M N Dutt The warriors fought, knowing one another by the names they uttered. A great onslaught took place there.

९.२२.६

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा क्रोधेन महता युतः ।
जिगीषमाणः संग्रामे धार्तराष्ट्रान्सराजकान् ॥

M N Dutt Filled with great anger and desirous of defeating the Dhartarashtras and their king in that battle, king Yudhishthira struck the son of Sharadvata with three gold winged arrows whetted on stone and next killed with four others the four horses of Kritavarman.

९.२२.७

त्रिभिः शारद्वतं विद्ध्वा रुक्मपुङ्खैः शिलाशितैः ।
चतुर्भिर्निजघानाश्वान्कल्याणान्कृतवर्मणः ॥

M N Dutt Filled with great anger and desirous of defeating the Dhartarashtras and their king in that battle, king Yudhishthira struck the son of Sharadvata with three gold winged arrows whetted on stone and next killed with four others the four horses of Kritavarman.

९.२२.८

अश्वत्थामा तु हार्दिक्यमपोवाह यशस्विनम् ।
अथ शारद्वतोऽष्टाभिः प्रत्यविध्यद्युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

M N Dutt Then Ashvatthaman carried away the celebrated son of Hridika. Sharadvat's son struck Yudhishthira in return with eight arrows.

९.२२.९

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा रथान्सप्तशतान्रणे ।
प्रेषयद्यत्र राजासौ धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

M N Dutt Then king Duryodhana sent seven hundred cars to the place where king Yudhishthira was fighting.

९.२२.१०

ते रथा रथिभिर्युक्ता मनोमारुतरंहसः ।
अभ्यद्रवन्त संग्रामे कौन्तेयस्य रथं प्रति ॥

M N Dutt Those cars, driven by excellent warriors and quick-coursing like the wind or thought, rushed in that battle against the car of Kunti's son.

९.२२.११

ते समन्तान्महाराज परिवार्य युधिष्ठिरम् ।
अदृश्यं सायकैश्चक्रुर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम् ॥

M N Dutt Encircling Yudhishthira on all sides they made him invisible with their arrows like clouds hiding the sun from the view.

९.२२.१२

नामृष्यन्त सुसंरब्धाः शिखण्डिप्रमुखा रथाः ।
रथैरग्र्यजवैर्युक्तैः किङ्किणीजालसंवृतैः ।
आजग्मुरभिरक्षन्तः कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

M N Dutt Desirous of rescuing Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, they came there on their cars possessed of great speed and adorned with rows of bells.

९.२२.१३

ततः प्रववृते रौद्रः संग्रामः शोणितोदकः ।
पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनः ॥

M N Dutt Then took place an awful battle, in which blood flowed as water, between the Pandavas and the Kurus, that increased the denizens of Yama's region.

९.२२.१४

रथान्सप्तशतान्हत्वा कुरूणामाततायिनाम् ।
पाण्डवाः सह पाञ्चालैः पुनरेवाभ्यवारयन् ॥

M N Dutt Killing those seven hundred hostile carwarriors of the Kuru army, the Pandavas and the Panchalas once more resisted (the whole Kuru ariny).

९.२२.१५

तत्र युद्धं महच्चासीत्तव पुत्रस्य पाण्डवैः ।
न च नस्तादृशं दृष्टं नैव चापि परिश्रुतम् ॥

M N Dutt There took place a fierce encounter between your son and the Pandavas. We had never before seen or heard of its like.

९.२२.१६

वर्तमाने तथा युद्धे निर्मर्यादे समन्ततः ।
वध्यमानेषु योधेषु तावकेष्वितरेषु च ॥

M N Dutt During the onset of that battle in which no consideration was shown by any party for another and while the warriors of your army and those of the foe were being killed quickly, the coinbatants were all shouting and blowing their conchs. The bowmen were roaring and uttering loud noises of diverse kinds.

९.२२.१७

निनदत्सु च योधेषु शङ्खवर्यैश्च पूरितैः ।
उत्कृष्टैः सिंहनादैश्च गर्जितेन च धन्विनाम् ॥

M N Dutt During the onset of that battle in which no consideration was shown by any party for another and while the warriors of your army and those of the foe were being killed quickly, the coinbatants were all shouting and blowing their conchs. The bowmen were roaring and uttering loud noises of diverse kinds.

९.२२.१८

अतिप्रवृद्धे युद्धे च छिद्यमानेषु मर्मसु ।
धावमानेषु योधेषु जयगृद्धिषु मारिष ॥

M N Dutt The very vitals of the combatants were being struck, during that fight and the troops, O sire, desirous of victory, were rushing with speed.

९.२२.१९

संहारे सर्वतो जाते पृथिव्यां शोकसंभवे ।
बह्वीनामुत्तमस्त्रीणां सीमन्तोद्धरणे तथा ॥

M N Dutt Everything on carth was under-going ai woeful destruction, during that battle when numberless ladies of birth and beauty were being made widows.

९.२२.२०

निर्मर्यादे तथा युद्धे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे ।
प्रादुरासन्विनाशाय तदोत्पाताः सुदारुणाः ।
चचाल शब्दं कुर्वाणा सपर्वतवना मही ॥

M N Dutt During the progress of that fierce encounter in which the warriors fought without any consideration for friends and foes, evil omens appeared, presaging the destruction of everything.

९.२२.२१

सदण्डाः सोल्मुका राजञ्शीर्यमाणाः समन्ततः ।
उल्काः पेतुर्दिवो भूमावाहत्य रविमण्डलम् ॥

M N Dutt The earth, with her mountains and forests, shook making a loud noise. Meteors, like burning brands equipt with handles, dropped from the sky, O king, on every side of the earth as if from the solar disc.

९.२२.२२

विष्वग्वाताः प्रादुरासन्नीचैः शर्करवर्षिणः ।
अश्रूणि मुमुचुर्नागा वेपथुश्चास्पृशद्भृशम् ॥

M N Dutt There blew a hurricane on all sides, carrying away hard pebbles along its lower course. The elephants shed profuse tears and trembled greatly.

९.२२.२३

एतान्घोराननादृत्य समुत्पातान्सुदारुणान् ।
पुनर्युद्धाय संमन्त्र्य क्षत्रियास्तस्थुरव्यथाः ।
रमणीये कुरुक्षेत्रे पुण्ये स्वर्गं यियासवः ॥

M N Dutt Disregarding all those fierce and awful omens, the Kshatriyas, consulting with one another, cheerfully stood on the field of Kurukshetra, desirous of going to heaven.

९.२२.२४

ततो गान्धारराजस्य पुत्रः शकुनिरब्रवीत् ।
युध्यध्वमग्रतो यावत्पृष्ठतो हन्मि पाण्डवान् ॥

M N Dutt Then Shakuni, the son of the Gandhara king, said-"Fight you all in front! I, however, will kill the Pandavas from behind!”_-Then the active Madraka warriors, amongst those on our side that were advancing, were filled with joy and uttered various cries. Others also did the same.

९.२२.२५

ततो नः संप्रयातानां मद्रयोधास्तरस्विनः ।
हृष्टाः किलकिलाशब्दमकुर्वन्तापरे तथा ॥

M N Dutt Then, whilst we were proceeding, the active Pandavas, in a body, completed the slaughter of the Madrakas and filled with delight, sent up joyous shouts.

९.२२.२६

अस्मांस्तु पुनरासाद्य लब्धलक्षा दुरासदाः ।
शरासनानि धुन्वन्तः शरवर्षैरवाकिरन् ॥

M N Dutt The invincible and sure-armed Pandavas, once more coming against us, shook their bows and enshrouded us with showers of arrows.

९.२२.२७

ततो हतं परैस्तत्र मद्रराजबलं तदा ।
दुर्योधनबलं दृष्ट्वा पुनरासीत्पराङ्मुखम् ॥

M N Dutt Seeing then that large force of the Madra king killed as also their heroic king the entire army of Duryodhana once more fled away from the field.

९.२२.२८

गान्धारराजस्तु पुनर्वाक्यमाह ततो बली ।
निवर्तध्वमधर्मज्ञा युध्यध्वं किं सृतेन वः ॥

M N Dutt The might king of the Gandharas, however, once more said these words-"Stop, you sinful wretches, fight with the foe. What use is there of fight.” At that time, O foremost of Bharata's race, the king of the Gandharas had full ten thousand horsemen capable of fighting with bright lances.

९.२२.२९

अनीकं दशसाहस्रमश्वानां भरतर्षभ ।
आसीद्गान्धारराजस्य विमलप्रासयोधिनाम् ॥

९.२२.३०

बलेन तेन विक्रम्य वर्तमाने जनक्षये ।
पृष्ठतः पाण्डवानीकमभ्यघ्नन्निशितैः शरैः ॥

M N Dutt During the onset of that great carnage, Shakuni, aided by the force, displayed his valor and assailed the Pandava army at the rear, killing it with his keen arrows.

९.२२.३१

तदभ्रमिव वातेन क्षिप्यमाणं समन्ततः ।
अभज्यत महाराज पाण्डूनां सुमहद्बलम् ॥

M N Dutt The huge force of the Pandus then, O king, were dispersed even as a mass of clouds of all sides by a powerful wind.

९.२२.३२

ततो युधिष्ठिरः प्रेक्ष्य भग्नं स्वबलमन्तिकात् ।
अभ्यचोदयदव्यग्रः सहदेवं महाबलम् ॥

M N Dutt Then beholding his own army rouled, Yudhishthira coolly urged the mighty Sahadeva, saying-"Yonder the son of Subala, afflicting our rear, stands clad in mail. He kills our forces. Behold that wicked man, O son of Pandu.

९.२२.३३

असौ सुबलपुत्रो नो जघनं पीड्य दंशितः ।
सेनां निसूदयन्त्येष पश्य पाण्डव दुर्मतिम् ॥

M N Dutt Then beholding his own army rouled, Yudhishthira coolly urged the mighty Sahadeva, saying-"Yonder the son of Subala, afflicting our rear, stands clad in mail. He kills our forces. Behold that wicked man, O son of Pandu.

९.२२.३४

गच्छ त्वं द्रौपदेयाश्च शकुनिं सौबलं जहि ।
रथानीकमहं रक्ष्ये पाञ्चालसहितोऽनघ ॥

M N Dutt Helped by the sons of Draupadi proceed towards him and kill Shakuni, the son of Subala. Supported by the Panchalas, O sinless one, I will meanwhile kill the car-force of the enemy.

९.२२.३५

गच्छन्तु कुञ्जराः सर्वे वाजिनश्च सह त्वया ।
पादाताश्च त्रिसाहस्राः शकुनिं सौबलं जहि ॥

९.२२.३६

ततो गजाः सप्तशताश्चापपाणिभिरास्थिताः ।
पञ्च चाश्वसहस्राणि सहदेवश्च वीर्यवान् ॥

९.२२.३७

पादाताश्च त्रिसाहस्रा द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः ।
रणे ह्यभ्यद्रवंस्ते तु शकुनिं युद्धदुर्मदम् ॥

९.२२.३८

ततस्तु सौबलो राजन्नभ्यतिक्रम्य पाण्डवान् ।
जघान पृष्ठतः सेनां जयगृध्रः प्रतापवान् ॥

M N Dutt However, O king, overpowering the Pandavas and longing for victory, Subala's son, of great valour, began to slay their forces from the back.

९.२२.३९

अश्वारोहास्तु संरब्धाः पाण्डवानां तरस्विनाम् ।
प्राविशन्सौबलानीकमभ्यतिक्रम्य तान्रथान् ॥

M N Dutt The horsemen, beside themselves with rage, of the Pandavas penetrated the division of Subala's son, overpowering the latter's carwarriors.

९.२२.४०

ते तत्र सादिनः शूराः सौबलस्य महद्बलम् ।
गजमध्येऽवतिष्ठन्तः शरवर्षैरवाकिरन् ॥

M N Dutt Those heroic horsemen, staying in the midst of their own elephants, enshrouded the large host of Subala's son with showers of arrows.

९.२२.४१

तदुद्यतगदाप्रासमकापुरुषसेवितम् ।
प्रावर्तत महद्युद्धं राजन्दुर्मन्त्रिते तव ॥

M N Dutt On account of your evil counsels, O king, a dreadful battle took place in which maces and lances were used and in which heroes only took part.

९.२२.४२

उपारमन्त ज्याशब्दाः प्रेक्षका रथिनोऽभवन् ।
न हि स्वेषां परेषां वा विशेषः प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥

M N Dutt The twang of bows was no longer heard there, for all the car-warriors stood there as spectators. At that time no difference could be seen between the opposing parties.

९.२२.४३

शूरबाहुविसृष्टानां शक्तीनां भरतर्षभ ।
ज्योतिषामिव संपातमपश्यन्कुरुपाण्डवाः ॥

M N Dutt Both the Kurus and the Pandavas, O foremost of Bharatas, saw the darts, shot off heroic arms, pass like meteors through the sky.

९.२२.४४

ऋष्टिभिर्विमलाभिश्च तत्र तत्र विशां पते ।
संपतन्तीभिराकाशमावृतं बह्वशोभत ॥

M N Dutt The entire sky, O king, covered with falling and bright sword, appeared highly beautiful.

९.२२.४५

प्रासानां पततां राजन्रूपमासीत्समन्ततः ।
शलभानामिवाकाशे तदा भरतसत्तम ॥

M N Dutt The view presented, O best of the Bharatas, by the lances hurled all around, was like that of swarms of locusts in the sky.

९.२२.४६

रुधिरोक्षितसर्वाङ्गा विप्रविद्धैर्नियन्तृभिः ।
हयाः परिपतन्ति स्म शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

M N Dutt Horses, with limbs covered with blood on account of wounds inflicted by horsemen themselves struck with arrows, dropped down on all sides in hundreds and thousands.

९.२२.४७

अन्योन्यपरिपिष्टाश्च समासाद्य परस्परम् ।
अविक्षताः स्म दृश्यन्ते वमन्तो रुधिरं मुखैः ॥

M N Dutt They all remained huddled together. many of them were wounded and many vomited blood. A thick darkness set in there when the troops were covered with a cloud of dust.

९.२२.४८

ततोऽभवत्तमो घोरं सैन्येन रजसा वृते ।
तानपाक्रमतोऽद्राक्षं तस्माद्देशादरिंदमान् ।
अश्वान्राजन्मनुष्यांश्च रजसा संवृते सति ॥

M N Dutt When that darkness covered everything, O king, we saw those brave heroes, horses and men move away from that spot.

९.२२.४९

भूमौ निपतिताश्चान्ये वमन्तो रुधिरं बहु ।
केशाकेशिसमालग्ना न शेकुश्चेष्टितुं जनाः ॥