भगदत्त का युद्ध

Sanjaya said Upon Partha's desire for advancing against the division of Drona, Krishna urged his steeds covered with golden caparisons, fleet as the mind and white in hue.

Beholding that foremost of the Kurus make towards his brothers afflicted sore by Drona, king Susarman with his brothers followed him, desirous of battle.

The invincible Arjuna owning white steeds then thus addressed Krishna Krishna saying:-'O Achyuta, this Susarman assisted by his brother challenges me (to fight).

O slayer of foes, on the other hand, the ranks of my troops are being shattered, (by Drona); today my mind is undecided in its purposes, which is caused by the Samshaptakas.

Shall I slay the Samshaptakas or shall I save my own army afflicted by the foe. Know this to be what I am thinking of; tell me what would be beneficial for me?

Thus spoken to, the descendant of the Dasharhas (viz., Krishna), turned the car and drove the son of Pandu to the spot whence the ruler of the Trigarttas was summoning Arjuna.

Thereat Arjuna piercing Susarman with seven swift-coursing arrows, cut down his standard, bow and chariot with a couple a razor-sharp arrows.

Then with six swift-flying arrows Partha speedily dispatched to the mansion of Death the brother of the ruler of the Trigarttas, with his steeds and charioteers.

Thereat Susarman, aiming at Arjuna, hurled an iron dart resembling a snake and he threw a lance at the son of Vasudeva.

Having cut down the dart with three shafts and the lance also with another three, Arjuna compelled Susarman to turn back, depriving him of his senses my means of an arrowy down-pour.

None among your host ventured to oppose him, O monarch, as he came looking fierce and showering arrows like Vasava pouring rain.

Then Dhananjaya advanced slaying all the mighty car-warriors of the Kauravas, with his arrows, just as fire advances consuming heaps of straw and fuel.

Like the touch of fire, people were unable to bear the unbearablc impetuosity of that intelligent son of Kunti.

The son of Pandu overwhelming with his arrowy showers the hostile host, made, O monarch, towards the rulers of the Pragjyotisas, like Suparna pouncing down (upon his prey).

Then the ever-victorious Arjuna held in his grasp the bow, that was prolific of benefit for the sinless Pandavas and that was capable of enhancing the grief of the enemy in battle, for the destruction of the Kshatriyas, brought about, O king, by your son's recourse to the deceitful fame at dice.

Then, () monarch, your troops being thus agitated by the son of Pritha, was broken like a frail bark grounded on a rock.

Thereupon, ten thousand bowmen, brave and inflamed with a fierce determination for battle and disregardful of victory or defeat, turned upon (Arjuna).

With their hearts shorn of fear, those mighty warriors completely encompassed him. Thereat Partha capable of bearing all burdens how heavy sover, took up that burden in that battle.

Then Partha began to crush your forces just as an infuriatc elephant of six years of age, with rent temples crushes and tears an assemblage of lotus plants.

When the troops were being thus crushed, Bhagadatta, the ruler of men, riding on the selfsame elephant, rushed suddenly at Dhananjaya.

Thereupon Dhananjaya that foremost of men, received him. (Bhagadatta), opposing him with his car. Then a fierce encounter raged between that car and that elephant.

Riding their and elephant respectively which were equipped according to the rules of the military science, those two heroes Dhananjaya and Bhagadatta careered through the field of battle.

Then staying on his elephant that resembled a mass of clouds, the mighty down-pour of arrows, like Indra showering rain.

Then the son of Vasava (Arjuna) endued with prowess, cut-off with his arrowy showers, the arrows of Bhagadatta, before they could even reach him.

Oll car Then, O sire, the king of the Pragjyotisas, baffling that shower of arrows, pierced the mighty-armed son of Pritha, as also Krishna, with his arrows.

Thereafter covering Krishna and Partha with a thick net-work of arrows, Bhagadatta urged his elephant towards them in order to slay them.

Thereat beholding that infuriate elephant make towards themselves like Death himself, Janardana with swiftness moved his car in a manner as to leave the elephant on the left.

Thus Dhananjaya, though he got an opportunity of slaying that mighty elephant and its rider from the right side, yet did not avail himself of it, recollecting the laws of fair combat.

The elephant, O sire, trampling down upon other elephants, cars and steeds, sent them all to the regions of Death. Thereat Dhananjaya was inflamed with wrath.