रणभूमिको दर्शन गराउनु

Dhritarashtra said When the warriors on their side and mine remained thus on the field of battle, what did Bhima do? Tell me, this O Sanjaya.

Sanjaya said When Bhimasena was made carless by Karna, he was tormented with the words poignant as a dart, of the latter. Now under the influence of passion he said these words of Phalguna.

"O Dhananjaya, in your very presence, Karna has repeatedly said to me-(you are) a eunuch, fool, child, glutton, (you are) unable to endure (the fury of) battle. He, that would tell me so, would be my victim. O Bharata, he (Karna) has said to me these words (and therefore, he must be slain by me),

I have made this vow jointly with you, O mighty armed one. O son of Kunti undoubtedly, as they (these vows) are to you so they are to me.

Remember, O best of men, my words and fulfill them (i.e., the vows). O Dhananjaya, act in such a way that they may prove true.”

Thus addressed by Bhima, Arjuna of matchless prowess, coming up to Karna in that battle, said to him (thus):

"O Karna, O son of a charioteer, you are of false sight, you praise your ownself, you are of wicked intelligence. Hear what I tell you now.

Warriors either meet with victory or defeat in battle. O son of Radha, even these two are uncertain. Even when Vasava himself fights, the case is not otherwise.

You where (ere long) made carless and deprived of energy by Yujudhana and were nearly dead. Knowing, however, that I have sworn to slay you he only defeated but spared your life.

By freak of fate, you succeeded in making Bhimasena carless. (And) you have committed a sin by abusing Bhima, O son of Radha.

Men, that are heroic, virtuous and most exalted, having defeated an enemy, neither! boast of themselves with harsh words, nor indulge in abusive language.

O son of a charioteer, weak in intellect as you are, you have made use of these words. Again, the (abusive) epithets that you have hurled against the fighting Bhimasena, endued with prowess, heroic and ever devoted to righteousness, are not true. In the very sight of the whole army of Keshava and myself.

You were several times, in battle, deprived of your car by Bhimasena. But the son of Pandu did never utter any harsh words to you.

As you have indulged in many harsh words against Vrikodara and as you have jointly with others, killed the son of Subhadra, when I was not present.

You will, therefore, very soon feel the consequences of your offense. () wicked minded one, it was for your own destruction that you cut-off his bow.

It is for this reason, O fool, that I will slay you together with your attendants, forces and beast of burden. Now (while yet there is time) perform what you ought to do, because a great calamity is hanging over you.

I swear truly by my bow that I will slay, in your very sight, Vrishasena and will destroy all those other kings, who through cloudiness of intellect will oppose me in battle. Fool, unwise and self-conceited that you are, the wicked Duryodhana will give way to lamentations seeing you slain on the field of battle. Arjuna having promised to kill the son of Karna.

There arose a great and tumultuous uproar among the car-warriors. And at the time of that dreadful battle.

The thousand-rayed (deity) with his rays dimmed entered into the setting hill. Then stationed at the head of the battle, O king, Hrishikesa.

Embraced Vibhatsu, who had fulfilled his promise and addressed him thus-"O Jishnu, it is by good fortune that you have been able to accomplish your great vow.

It is by good luck, again that you have slain the wretch Vridhakshatra together with his son. O Bharata, even the general of the celestials, if engaged with the force of Dhritarashtra.

In battle, would be quite stupefied. O Jishnu, there is no doubt of this. Even on reflection, I do not find any individual in the (three) words.

Capable of encountering these forces, besides you, O most valiant of men. Numerous lords of the earth, endowed with great prowess and either equal or superior to you, have, at the command of Dhritarashtra assembled together. (But) those (warriors). clad in armour, could not withstand your wrathful self in battle.

Your strength and prowess, (therefore), resemble those of Rudra or Shakra. No one is capable of displaying so much prowess in battle.

As you have singly shown this day. O tormentor of foes, when the wicked-souled Karna together with his followers shall be vanquished (by you) I will thus.

o destroyer of Madhu, you are (ever) concerned in our welfare and we are always) at your enemy." Arjuna then replied to him (thus)-"O Madhava, through your favour, I have fulfilled the vow, which even by the celestials can with difficulty be performed. O Keshava, it is no wonder that they, who have you for their lord, will win the victory. Through your favour Yudhishthira will recover the entire earth. O descendant of Vrishnis, (as) all this is due to your power, (so) O lord, this victory is yours. O destroyer of Madhu, you are (ever) concerned in our welfare wand we are (always) at your service.” Thus spoken to Krishna with a smile, slowly guided the steeds and showed to Partha the greatly cruel field of battle.

Krishna said Longing for either victory or great renown, (many) heroic kings, struck dead by your shafts, are lying on earth.

Their weapons and ornaments lie scattered (all over the battle-field); their horses, elephants and cars are killed and shattered; and with their armour perforated and cut-off they are reduced to a woeful plight.

Some (of them) are already deal and some are still alive; and those lords of men whose life is extinct look live on account of their great splendour.

Look! the earth is entirely filled with their gold-winged shafts, their weapons of various kinds, their beasts of burden and with their arims.

(Behold) O Bharata, the earth became with armours, necklaces of gold, heads decked with ear-rings, head-gears and diadems, floral wreaths, gems worn on the crown, Kanthasutras, Angadas, lustrous collars of gold and with various other variegated ornaments;

(And with) Anukarshas and quivers, standards and flags and Upaskaras and Adhisthanas, shafts and crests of cars.

With broken wheels and many variegated cars, yokes and trappings of horses, bow and arrows.

With elephants' trappings, Kudhas, Parighas and Ankushas, maces and Brindipalas, arrow-cases, spiked maces and Parasvadhas.

With Pashas and Tomaras, Kuntas and clubs, Sataghness and Bhusandees, swords and battle-axes.

With Musalas and clubs, maces and Kunapas, whips decked with gold, O the most exalted of the Bharatas.

With the bells and many other ornaments of the best of elephants, garlands, various ornaments and costly dresses.

(With all these lying scattered all over the field of battle), the earth looks resplendent like the autumnal sky studded with planets and stars. Those lords of Earth who have sacrificed their live for his sake.

Lie slumbering on the earth and embracing her like a beloved wife. These elephants resembling mountain-peaks and huge Airavat.

Are shedding a profusion of blood through the openings caused by weapons, as mountains discharge through the caves streams of liquid chalk.

Behold! struck down on the earth by your arrows, these (elephants) are writhing in agonies. Behold! the steeds also, adorned with golden trappings, are lying on the ground.

Behold, O Partha, O lord, these cars resembling the city of the Gandharvas, with their lords slain and their standards, banners and Akshas cut to pieces, deprived of their wheels and charioteers, with their yokes cut to pieces, with broken shafts and crests and looking (splendid) like the celestial vehicles.

Hundreds and thousands of foot-soldiers, O hero, are lying slain (on the ground) in a pool of blood wielding their bows and shields.

Clasping the earth with all their limbs and with their hair smeared with dust. Behold, O mighty-armed one, these warriors with their bodies mangled by your arrows.

O best of men, behold also the surface of the earth with dead elephants and horses and (broken) cars, muddy with a profusion of blood, fat and rotten flesh, affording delight to night of blood, fat the rotten flesh, affording delight to night-wanderers, dogs, wolves and Pisachas and dreadful to look at.

O lord, that foremost of the celestials, the performer of a hundred sacrifices who slay in great battle the Daytas and the Danavas and yourself only are capable of achieving such a fame-enhancing and glorious feat.

Sanjaya said Krishna, thus showing the field of battle to Kiriti (i.e., Arjuna who wore a coronet) blew his conch Panchajanya before the gladdened army (of the Pandavas).

Janardana, the destroyer of foes, having (thus) shown to Kiriti the field of battle, speedily came over to the Pandavas Ajatastru (i.e., Yudhishthira who had no enemy) and informed him of destruction of Jayadratha.