सात्यकि का युद्ध

Sanjaya said Then, O mighty monarch, Kshemadhurti, with numerous shafts pierced the advancing Brihatkshatra, that valorous prince of the Kekayas, on the breast.

Thereupon king Brihatkshatra, O monarch, desirous of breaking Drona's array, quickly pierced Kshemadhurti with ninety shafts of depressed knots.

Thereat Kshemadhurti excited the highest pitch of fury, cut-off the bow of the illustrious ruler of the Kekayas with a welltempered and well-sharpened arrow.

Then having cut-off his bow, he pierced that foremost wielder of the bow quickly in that battle with shafts of depressed knots.

After this Brihatkshatra smilingly taking up another bow deprived the mighty car-warrior Kshemadhurti of the use of his car, steed and charioteer.

Thereafter with a well-sharpened and welltempered arrow he severed from the trunk of that king his head graced with resplendent earrings. to

That head graced with curling locks and a beautiful diadem, suddenly cut-off, fell on the earth and shone like a meteor dropped down from the heavens.

Thus having slain his adversary, the mighty car-warrior Brihatkshatra became filled with delight; and he rushed quickly upon your troops, desirous of doing good to the Parthas.

The fierce bowman, Viradhanvan endued with great prowess, began, O Bharata, to oppose Dhristaketu proceeding against Drona.

Those two warriors, having arrows for their teeth and endued with activity, meeting each other began to strike each other with many thousand shafts.

Then those two foremost of inen fought on with each other like two elephant leaders in rut, in a deep wood.

Then those two heroes endued with great prowess fought with each other out of desire for slaying each other, like two ferocious tigers fighting inside a mountain cave.

That awful fight, O ruler of men, indeed became a sight to look at; and Siddhas and Charanas, by thousands witnessed it with eyes expanded in wonder.

Then, O Bharata, Viradhanva excited with rage smilingly cut-off the bow of Dhristaketu in twain with a broad-headed shaft.

Thereupon that mighty car-warrior the ruler of the Chedis, leaving aside the severed bow took up a huge lance of golden staff and iron head.

Then, O Bharata, balancing the lance of fierce energy with both his hands, he hurled it quickly at the car of Viradhanva.

Wounded sore with that lance capable of killing all creatures, the latter with his heart rent open, quickly fell down on the Earth from his car.

When that heroic and mighty car-warrior of the Trigarttas had been slain, O master, your army was completely broken and routed by the Pandavas.

Durmukha then hurled sixty shafts at Sahadeva and he uttered a loud war-cry defying in that battle that son of Pandu.

Thereupon the son of Madri excited with rage, smilingly pierced the advancing Durmukha, with many sharp arrows, the brother striking the brother.

Then beholding the mighty Durmukha fight with fury, Sahadeva struck him, O Bharata, with nine arrows.

Then that mighty hero, cutting off with a broad-headed shaft the standard of Durmukha, slew his four steeds with four arrows of great sharpness.

Then with another well-tempered and sharpened shaft, he severed the head of his charioteer from his trunk, head that was graced with effulgent ear-rings.

Cutting off with a sharp razor-headed arrow the mighty bow of the Kuru-descendant, Sahadeva pierced him with five arrows.

Thereupon the cheerless Durmukha leaving that chariot of which the horses had been slain, ascended, O king, upon the car of Niramitra.

Thereat the enraged Sahadeva, that slayer of hostile heroes, in that fierce battle, slew Niramitra with a broad-headed shaft, O prince.

Then Niramitra that son of the Trigartta king, fell down from the terrace of his car, afflicting your troops with woe.

Slaying him, the mighty-armed Sahadeva shone like Dasharatha's son Rama after he had killed the mighty Rakshasas Khara.

O ruler of men, beholding the son of their king, the mighty car-warrior Niramitra slain, the Trigarttas uttered loud cries of 'Oh and Alas.'

O king, Nakula then vanquished in a moment your son Vikarna of expanded eyes; that indeed seemed marvellous, Oking.

Then in the midst of the troops Vyaghradatta rendered Satyaki, his horses, charioteer and and standard, invisible, with numerous shafts of depressed knots.

Then the heroic grandson of Sini baffling those arrows like one accomplished in the art of fighting, felled with his arrows Vyaghradatta together with his horses, charioteer and standard.

Upon the fall of their prince the Magadhas, strive their best assailed Yuyudhana, O king.

Discharging arrows and Tomaras by thousands, as also Bhirdipalas, lancesi and mallets and bludgeons.

Those heroes fought on with the invincible Satvata hero, in battle. Then indomitable Satyaki, that foremost of men endued with great strength without the slightest difficulty, smiling the while vanquished the Magadhas and the few that survived, fled in all directions.

Beholding this, O master, your troops already afflicted with the shafts of Yuyudhana, broke and fled. Then that best of the descendants of Madhu's race, slaughtering in battle your warriors.

And stretching his mighty bow shone beautiful, endued as he was with great renown. Then, o king, the army routed by the illustrious Satvata hero.

Refused to return to the fight, frightened as they were by that mighty-armed hero. Thereat Drona, highly enraged, quickly casting his glance on Satyaki, himself rushed upon that hero of wonderful feat, incapable of being defeated.