गोहरण पर्व — अर्जुनले उत्तरलाई कौरवहरूको परिचय दिन्छन्

Vaishampayana said After the son of Radha had fled away fi the battle-field all other heroes, headed Duryodhana attacked Arjuna with respective detachments.

Like the bank (obstructing the surging) deep he withstood the various well-arranged divisions of the army falling upon him with arrows.

Then smiling, the foremost of car-warriors Bibhatsu, the son of Kunti, having white, steeds, advanced (towards them) displaying celestials weapons.

Partha soon filled the ten quarters with arrows shot from his Gandiva bow as the sun covers the earth with its rays.

Of the chariots, horses, elephants and coats of mail there was not space measuring even two fingers that was nor pierced with shafts.

On account of his cleverly handling the celestials weapons, the training of his horses, the skill of Uttara and the coursing of his weapons.

And seeing him endued with energy prowess and quick motion people began to adore Vishnu like fire burning at the time of the universal dissolution.

None amongst the enemies could look at Arjuna shining like the burning fire. Assailed by the shafts of Arjuna the various divisions of the army appeared.

Like the newly risen clouds on a mountain, filled with the rays of the sun or like the gioves of the Ashoka trees covered with full blown flowers.

Thus assailed by Partha's shafts the army appeared, O Bharata, like a garland from which the withered but golden flowers drop down.

The wind carried away to the sky the umbrellas and the flags. Terrified at the destruction of their own species and having their reins cut off by Partha's arrows the horses, taking with them, portions of cars, fled away in different directions. Struck on their ears, ribs, tusks, the lower lips and other vital parts the elephants began to drop down in the battle-field. Filled in no time with the dead elephants of the Kurus the earth looked like the sky filled with black clouds. As the blazing fire burns up all mobile and immobile, at the time of the universal dissolution, so did Partha, O king, consume the enemies in battle. Then with the power of all his weapons, the twang of his bow and superhuman cries of the creatures stationed on his Flag-staff.

And the dreadful yell of the monkey, Bibhatsu struck terror into the hearts of Duryodhana's soldiers. A highly powerful repressor of enemies as he was, he had already crushed to the ground the strength of the hostile heroes.

He all on a sudden from behind attacked the army with a net of sharpened arrows like birds ordered (by fowlers).

Arjuna covered the entire sky with blooddrinking arrows. As the fierce rays of the sun are within a small vessel. O king, those numberless shafts of his were in the sky. They could see once his car only when brought near.

And no sooner they saw him he felled them from the chariot with their horses. As his arrows were not impeded by the bodies of his enemies.

So the car of Bibhatsu was not obstructed by the army of the enemy. He, with great force, began to agitate the army of the enemy.

Like the thousand headed serpent Vasuki sporting in the great ocean. As Kiriti continually shot his arrows such was the twang of his bow, going above every sound that the like of if was never heard by creatures. The elephants, that were there with their bodies thickly covered with arrows, looked like black clouds filled with the rays of the sun. Moving in all directions and shooting arrows right and left Arjuna's bow was always seen in the battle like a circle.

The arrows of the holder of the Gandiva bow never fell upon anything except the aim as the eye does not fall upon anything except what is beautiful. As the passage for a thousand of elephants is made of itself when they simultaneously pass through a forest so the track of the chariot of Kiritin was made out. Greatly assailed by Partha the enemies thought, “Desirous of securing victory to Partha forsooth, Indra, in the company of all the immortals, is destroying us."

They also took Vijaya, who was making a dreadful havoc all round, to be Death himself, who in the guise of Arjuna, was putting an end to all creatures around. And wounded by Partha the bodies of the Kuru soldiers were distressed like those slain by Partha by his superhuman deed. He sundered the heads of the enemies like the tops of Oshadhis.

The Kurus lost all their energy in fear of Arjuna. Uprooted by Arjuna wind, the trees of the Arjuna's enemies reddened the earth with purple secretions. And with the dust saturated with blood and raised up by the wind the rays of the sun were greatly reddened. The sky with the sun being reddened soon appeared like the evening.

Even the sun ceases to pour its rays when he sets but the son of Pandu did not cease to discharge his arrows. In the battle that hero of incomprehensible energy assailed with celestials weapons all the heroic and leading bow men. He discharged seventy arrows, sharp as razors at Drona, Twelve at Dushasana and three at Kirpa, the son of Sharadvata.

That slayer of hostile heroes pierced with six shafts Bhishma, the son of Shantanu and the king Duryodhana with hundred and Karna in the car with a bearded shaft.

When that great bowman Karna expert in the use of all weapons, was thus pierced and his steeds, chariot and charioteer destroyed, his army were routed.

Beholding the army thus routed and with a view to decipher Partha intention the son of Virata addressed Partha in the battle-field saying:

O Partha, stationed on this beautiful car with myself as charioteer, towards what division of the army shall I go?

Arjuna said O Uttara, the hero, whom you see before, clad in a coat of tiger-skin, on a car with blue flag drawn by red horses, is Kripa-and there is the van of his army. Do you take me there. I shall show that great bowman my light handedness in the use of weapons.

That hero, on whose flag is the emblem of a beautiful golden water pot, is the preceptor Drona-the foremost of the wielders of all weapons.

He is ever worshipful to me as well as to other heroes. Do you cheerfully go round him the foremost of the Kuru warriors.

I shall salute him there for such is the ever abiding duty. If Drona at first strikes my body. I shall strike him then and he will not be angry for it. Near him at whose flag the mark of a bow is seen.

Is the preceptor's son, the mighty carwarrior Ashvathama, who is always worthy of my respect as well as other heroes.

When you meet his car stop again and again. That warrior on the car clad in a golden coat of mail.

Who stands there surrounded by the third portion of the army, the flower (of the entire army) on whose flag is the emblem of an elephant on the ground of gold,

Is the son of Dhritarashtra, the graceful king Duryodhana. O hero, take before him this car that is capable of destroying other cars of the enemies.

The king is irrepressible in battle and capable of grinding (enemies); in lightness of hand he is regarded as the foremost amongst the disciples of Drona.

I shall in battle show him my superior light handedness in the discharge of arrows. That warrior, on whose flag is the emblem of a strong rope for binding elephants, is Karna, the son of Vikartana, already known to you. When you come near the car of the wicked-souled son of Radha

Be you very careful for he always challenges me to fight. That hero, whose flag is blue and on which is the emblem of five stars and who, powerful as he is, waits on his car with a huge bow in his hands with gloves and on whose car is placed a Flag-staff variegated with the sun and stars.

And over whose head is an umbrella of pure white and who stands at the head of a great collection of cars with diverse flags and pennons

Like the sun before the collection of clouds and whose golden coat of mail looks like the sun or moon

And who with golden crest pains me greatly, is Shantanu's son Bhishma, our grandfather.

Always treated with regal prosperity he is a follower of Duryodhana. You should approach him last for he will never injure me.

While fighting with him you should carefully restrain your horses. Thus addressed by him the son of Virata carefully drove Savyasachi's car, O king, to where Kripa stood in anticipation of the battle.