Bhishma-Vadha Parva — Slaughter of Iravat

Sanjaya said When, o king, that dreadful battle destructive of excellent heroes was thus raging, Subala's prosperous son Shakuni rushed against the Pandava hosts.

Also, O king, that slayer of foes, that son of Hridika, of the Satvata race, proceeded in battle against the Pandava divisions.

Several warriors of your army, with a mighty division of horses consisting of best animals of the Kamboja breed, of those born in lands watered by many rivers, of those belonging to Aratta, Mahi, Sindhu, and Vanayu, of those that were white-hued, of those born in mountains tracts, and of those exceedingly swift and endued with the fleetness of wind, and of those of the Tittiri breed, surrounded on all sides the Pandava army. With many steeds duly clad in mail and decked with caparisons of gold,

All best of their class, and fleet as the wind itself, the highly puissant son of the Pandava (Arjuna), of cheerful appearance and the slayer of his foes, rushed against that division of horses belonging to the enemy.

This prosperous son of Arjuna by name Iravat, endued with great prowess was begotten by the highly intelligent Partha (Arjuna) on the daughter of the sovereign of the Nagas.

Her husband having been slain by Suparna (Garuda), she was helpless and completely depressed in mind; she was then bestowed upon Arjuna by the illustrious Airavata.

As she came to him under the influence of desire, the son of Pritha accepted her as his wife. Thus it was that Arjuna's son was begotten upon another's wife.

This son of Arjuna was brought up in the regions of the Nagas, and was protected by his mother. He was abandoned by his wickedsouled uncle from his animosity for the son of Pritha.

Hearing that Arjuna Lad come to the regions of Indra, that handsome, highly puissant and accomplished Iravat of prowess that could not be baffled, hide to those regions.

That mighty-armed hero of infallible prowess, approaching his father did obeisance to him, duly folding his palms.

He introduced himself to the illustrious Arjuna saying-'I am your son Iravat, O lord, may good betide you.'

He also reminded Arjuna of the circumstances under which the latter met his mother. Then the of Pandu also remembered them a right.

Then in the mansion of the chief of the celestial, the son of Pritha embracing his son equal to him in his acquirements, was highly delighted.

Then that mighty-armed hero (Iravat), O king, was thus cheerfully commanded by Arjuna, in the celestial regions with regard to his own business (namely the impending war with the Kurus).

'O son, when the battle would take place, you should render us assistance. He then said 'yea' to the words of his father; and now that the hour has arrived, he also presented himself, Son

0 king, surrounded by parti-coloured horses, countless in number. Those horses caparisoned with trappings of gold and of diverse hues and great fleetness,

O king, suddenly appeared on the field like swans on the bosom of the mighty-main. Those horses encountering your division of fleetest steeds,

Struck one another with their chests and noses. Overthrown by their own impetuosity, O king, they began to fall down suddenly on the earth.

When those two horse divisions thus clashed against one another (and some fell down), a terrible sound, resembling that of Suparna's swoop was heard there.

So also, O mighty monarch, those who rode on these steeds nearing one another in that dreadful battle, fell upon slaughtering one another mercilessly.

When that general and dreadful encounter regard fiercely, the chargers of the two hosts, seized with panic, coursed wildly all over the field.

Warriors, mutilated with shafts, with their chargers slain, and themselves exhausted with was fatigue, began to perish, cutting one another with their swords.

Then when that horse-division considerably thinned and very few survived, O Bharata, the younger brothers of Subala's son (Shakuni), all endued with heroism, rode out in the van (of the hostile ranks).

On horses, the contract of whose dash was overthrowing like the vehemence of the wind, which were equal to the wind in fleetness, and which were all excellent chargers, well-broken and youthful.

Gaja, Gavaksha, Vrishabha, Charmavan, Arjava and Shuka, these six highly puissant heroes rode out of the mighty ranks the Kauravas,

Supported by Shakuni and their respective mighty divisions consisting of highly powerful warriors, themselves covered with amours, accomplished in battle, fierce in aspect and possessed of great strength.

Breaking through that invincible cavalry division of Iravat, desirous of victory and longing for paradise and endued with great strength,

Those Gandhara heroes formidable in battle cheerfully penetrated into it. Thereupon the highly puissant Iravat, beholding them very delightful,

Thus commanded his own warriors adorned with wonderful ornaments and weapons, saying 'Adopt such measures by which these warriors of Dhritarashtra's son may all be destroyed with their weapons and vehicles. Saying 'Yes,' all those warriors belonging to Iravat,

Slew in battle that division of your army difficult of being conquered by the enemy. Beholding their division crushed by the division of Iravat,

The sons of Subala not tolerating it is battle, rushing at Iravat, surrounded him on sides.

Piercing Iravat with sharp lances and urging their warriors against him, those heroes careered over the field creating a great confusion.

Then Iravat pierced with sharp lances by those high-souled warriors and covered with blood that was trickling down from his wounds, appeared like an elephant pierced with the hook.

Single-handed as he was, he was smitten sore by many, on his chest, his back, and his flanks; but o king he flinched not in consequence of his great patience.

Thereupon Iravat, conqueror of hostile cities, waxing worth, piercing all of them with whetted shafts, deprived them of their senses.

Then drawing out all those lances from his own body, that subduer of enemies wounded the sons of Subala in battle even with those very lances.

Then drawing his sharp saber and holding his buckler, he (Iravat) quickly ran on foot desirous of slaying the sons of Subala, in that battle.

Then all those sons of Subala regaining consciousness, possessed by rage, once more rushed towards Iravat.

Iravat also proud of his strength, and displaying the lightness of his hands by whirling his sword, rushed against all those sons of Subala.

Those sons of Subala, riding on fleet chargers could find no opportunity for striking Iravat moving as he was with great agility.

Then beholding Iravat standing on foot on the ground, those warriors surrounding him close, endeavored to capture him.

once more Then Iravat, that slayer of foes, beholding them very near to himself, with his sword, cut off their right and left arms (lit: with which they wielded their swords and their bows respectively), and also mutilated their bodies.

Their weapons and their hands furnished with these, fell down on earth, and they themselves deprived of life and with their bodies mangled, fell down dead.

Only Vrishabha, O mighty monarch, with his body mangled with wounds, escaped, with difficulty, alive from that most terrible combat destructive of heroes.

Then your son Duryodhana beholding all those heroes crushed, waxing worth, said these words unto the Rakshasa of fearful appearance,

That fierce bowman, that subduer of foes, that one of great illusive energies, viz., Alambusha the son of Rishyashringa, who was the enemy of Bhimasena, in consequence of the latter's slaughter of Vaka.

'Behold O hero, how this puissant son of Arjuna, versed in illusions, has done me this terrible wrong in the shape of destroying my forces?

You are also, O sire, capable of going every where at your unrestrained will and are also versed in all weapons of illusion; you are moreover the sworn enemy of Pritha's son; so slay me this one in battle.' Sworn

Saying 'yea' (to Duryodhana's words), that Rakshasas of terrible appearance rushed, uttering his war-cries, to the spot where the youthful son of Arjuna was.

Alambusha was supported by the heroic lancers of his own division, all accomplished in smiting and well-mounted, skillful in fight, bearing resplendent lances.

He was desirous, O king, of slaying in battle the highly puissant Iravat, along with the two thousands excellent cavalry that survived the recent conflict.

The most agile and puissant Iravat also, that slayer of enemies, waxing worth began to resist the Rakshasa who was desirous of slaying him.

That Rakshasa (Alambusha) endued with great strength, beholding Iravat make towards himself, speedily began to put forth his illusions.

He then created, as many illusive chargers, all mounted by fierce Rakshasas, bearing in their hands lances and battle axes.

These two thousand well-disciplined smiters, advancing with wrath. and encountering Iravat's division, were both speedily dispatched to the regions of the departed.

When both the divisions of Iravat and Alambusha were slain in battle, those two heroes, both formidable in battle, encountered each other like Indra and Vritra.

Seeing that Rakshasa invincible in battle make towards himself, the highly puissant Iravat, exited with wrath, began to resist him;

And when the former had come very near to him, with his sword he cut off that wicked one's bow and shafts into five fragments each.

Seeing his bow severed, he speedily mounted on the sky, confounding as it were with his illusive powers Iravat who was greatly excited with rage.

Thereupon mounting on the sky, that unapproachable hero Iravat, versed in all duty and capable of assuming any from at will, confounding with his illusive powers that Rakshasa, cut off the latter's limbs in that battle. Thus was that foremost of Rakshasas cut into pieces again and again.

But, O mighty monarch, Alambusha was again born anew, in the fullness of his youth. Illusion is natural with them (the Rakshasas) and their age and appearance are the result of their will. son

Thus the limbs of the Rakshasa again and again cut to pieces, appeared very beautiful. Thereupon the enraged Iravat repeatedly cut that Rakshasa endued with great strength with his battle axe of exceeding sharpness. Cut like a tree by that powerful Iravat, that heroic.

Rakshasa uttered a dreadful roar; that created a terrible sound. Cut with the strokes of the battle-axes, the Rakshasa shed blood profusely.

Thereafter that of Rishyashringa possessed of great strength, beholding his puissant antagonist blaze forth in that battle, became inflamed with fury and put forth his own powers in that battle.

Assuming a dreadful and prodigious form he tried to capture the son of Arjuna, namely the illustrious Iravat.

In the very thick of the fright, before the very eyes of all the combatants, seeing that; illusion forth by that wicked-souled Rakshasa,

Iravat, highly excited with rage, himself began to create great illusions. Then when that unreceding hero was over-whelmed with rage in that battle,

A Naga related to him through his mother came to his support; surrounded on all side by numerous Nagas, O king, in that battle,

That Naga, assumed a prodigious form mighty like that of Ananta himself. Thereafter with those innumerable and diverse kinds of Nagas, he covered the Rakshasa.

Thus surrounded by the Nagas, that foremost of the Rakshasas, reflecting for a while, assumed the form of Garuda and devoured all those serpents.

What that Naga, related to him through his mother's side had been thus devoured through the illusive powers of Alambusha, Iravat became confounded and the Rakshasa slew him with his sword.

Then that Rakshasa felled on the earth the head of Iravat graced with earrings and a diadem, and effulgent like the moon or the lotus.

When that heroic son of Arjuna had been slain by the Rakshasa, the sons of Dhritarashtra with all their partisan kings, were relieved of their anxiety.

In that great and dreadful battle between those two armics, awful was the carnage that then took place.

Horses and elephants, and foot-soldiers, mixing with one another, was siain by the tuskers; and car-warriors, and horse-soldiers, and tuskers were also slain in that battle by foot-soldiers.

Then, O king, in that dreadful engagement, divisions of foot-soldiers and car-warriors and numerous horses, belonging to your as well as their (Pandavas) host, were slain by carwarriors.

Meanwhile Arjuna also unaware the fate of the son of his lions, slew that battle those heroic kings who were engaged in supporting Bhishma.

Thereafter, O monarch, your warriors and the Srinjayas, by thousands, gave up their lives in battle slaying one another.

Car-warrior, with disheveled hair, with their arrows, swords, and bows severed, fought on with their naked arms meeting one another.

The highly powerful Bhishma also show in that battle mighty car-warriors with shafts capable of penetrating into the very vitals, agitating the whole host of the Pandavas.

By him (Bhishma) many warriors and tuskers, and horse-soldiers and car-warriors and steeds of Yudhisthira's army, were slain.

In that battle, O Bharata, we beheld the prowess of Bhishma, of Bhimasena and also, O Bharata, of the son of Prishata. The battle that mighty bowmen of the Satvata race namely Satyaki, fought, was indeed very fierce.

Beholding the prowess of Drona, the Pandavas were seized with terror. Singlehanded can this Drona slay us in battle with all our soldiers; what to speak of him when he is supported by a large body of warriors of worldspread renown.

Even these were the words that the sons of Pritha said, O monarch, when o foremost of the Bharatas, they were greatly afflicted by him in that fierce fight.

All the heroes endued with great strength, of those two armies, did not give or take quarter; they fought on as if possessed by Rakshasas or evil spirits.

And, O sire, the bowmen of your army and those belonging to the army of the Pandavas, were all excited to the highest pitch of fury. We indeed did not then find any one pay the least heed to his life in that battle destructive of heroes, and that resembled the fight of the Daityas themselves.