घटोत्कच-वध पर्व — युधिष्ठिरको पछि हट्नु

Sanjaya said When, O lord of the earth, that terrific nocturnal battle, destructive of all the creatures, was raging, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, spoke to the (other) Pandavas and the united Panchalas and Somakas, O monarch, for the destruction of men, cars and elephants, "make a rush upon Drona only in order to slay him."

In obedience to the commands of the king, the Panchalas as well as the Srinjayas O monarch, sending forth thundering roars, rushed against Drona alone.

We two, on our part, roaring in return and filled with wrath, rushed against them, in battle, to the full measure of our prowess, enthusiasm and courage.

Kritavarman, the son of Hridika, rushed against Yudhishthira as he was advancing against Drona like a mad elephant against its infuriate rival.

(Similarly), O king, Bhuri, the crusher (of his foes) in battle who belonged to the Kuru party rushed against the grandson of Sini (as he came forward) scattering showers of arrows on all sides.

Again, O king, Karna, the son of Vikartana, checked that mighty car-warriors Sahadeva, the son of Pandu, as he, actuated with the desire of taking Drona, was advancing (against him).

Duryodhana himself rushed against Bhimasena, the foremost of car-warriors, in that engagement, who was advancing on his car (against Drona) like the grim Destroyer.

Shakuni, the son of Subala, O king, quickly opposed Nakula, the best of warriors and skilled in every (sort of) battle.

Similarly, in that encounter, Kripa, the son of Saradvata, opposed Shikhandi, the foremost of car-warriors, (who was) advancing on his car, Oking.

In like manner, . great monarch, Dushasana, with utmost exertions, checked Prativindhya, who was resolutely advancing (on his car drawn by) heroes, (beautiful) as peacocks.

Similarly, O mighty monarch, Ashvatthama checked the career of the son of Bhimasena, viz., the Rakshasa (Ghatotkacha) skilled in a hundred sorts of illusions.

In that engagement Vrishasena resisted the highly puissant Drupada, (who) accompanied by his troops and retainers, (advanced forward) with the desire of slaying Drona.

0 Bharata, O great monarch, the king of Madra, inflamed with rage, opposed Virata who was advancing quickly for slaying Drona.

Similarly, in that encounter, Chitrasena, with showers of arrows, checked the impetuous Sataneeka the son of Nakula, as he was advancing for the purpose of taking the life of Drona.

O great king, Alambusha, the lord of the Rakshasas, resisted the rapid career of the mighty car-warrior Arjuna, the foremost of warriors.

Then Dhristadyumna, the son of the Panchala king, gladly resisted the mighty bowman Drona (who was) destroying his enemies.

Similarly, o king, your car-warriors energetically opposed other great car-warriors of the sons of Pandu, who were advancing (Against Drona).

Hundreds and thousands of warriors, mounted on elephants, speedily encountering riders on elephants in that great engagement, began to fight with and crush one another.

O king, at dead of night, horses, rushing furiously against one another, looked like mountains endued with wings.

O mighty monarch, taking up lances, darts and swords in their hands and sending forth loud shouts, horsemen closed with horsemen.

There (on the field of battle) large numbers of men destroyed one another in heaps, by means of maces, short clubs and several other weapons.

Kritavarma, the son of Hridika, inflamed with rage, resisted Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, as the place between the high and the low tide-marks (resists) the ocean.

Yudhishthira, also piercing the son of Hridika with five darts and again piercing him with twenty (more), said-"wait, wait."

O worshipful sire, Kritavarma too, fired with rage, cut-off the bow of the Dharmaraja with a broad-headed dart and then pierced him with seven (arrows).

Then that mighty car-warrior, that is, the son of Dharma, taking up another bow, struck the son of Hridika on the arms and the chest with ten arrows.

Pierced in (that) battle by the son of Dharma, O worshipful sire, the descendant of Madhu (i.e. Kritavarma) trembled in ire and (then) afflicted (Yudhishthira) with seven arrows.

The son of Pritha (however), cutting off his bow and armlet, shot at him, O king, five keen and broad-headed shafts sharpened on stone.

Penetrating through his precious armour ornamented with gold, those fierce shafts entered into the earth like snakes (entering into) ant-hill.

Taking up another bow in the twinkling of an eye, he pierced the son of Pandu with six and again with ten arrows.

Then that Pandava, of immeasurable soul, placing his mighty bow on the car, hurled at him (i.e. Kritavarman) a dart (fierce) as a snake.

Hurled by the son of Pandu that formidable (dart) ornamented with gold, penetrating through the right arm (of Kritavarma) entered into the bottom of the earth.

In the meantime, the son of Pritha, taking up his mighty bow covered the son of Hridika with straight shafts.

Then there (on the field of battle) that hero, that foremost car-warrior among the Vrishnis, within half the time of the twinkling of an eye, deprived Yudhishthira of his horse, driver and car.

Then the eldest son of Pandu took up a sword and shield. But the descendant of Madhu cut-off those two with sharpened and broad headed shafts in that battle.

Thereupon, taking up a formidable lance furnished with a golden handle, (Yudhishthira) hurled it, quickly in that engagement, against the high-souled son of Hridika.

(But) the light-handed son of Hridika, as if with a smile, cut-off into two parts, that (formidable lance), as it, hurled by the hand of Yudhishthira careered impetuously along.

Then, in that encounter, he covered the son of Dharma with hundreds of shafts; (and then), inflamed with ire he cut-off the armour of (Yudhishthira) with showers of arrows.

Cut off into a hundred fragments with the arrows of the son of Hridika, (the armour of Yudhishthira) ornamented with gold, fell down, scattered in that battle, O monarch (from its body) like a cluster of stars (dropping from) the sky.

With his coat of mail cut-off, deprived of his car and afflicted with the arrows of Krigavarma, Yudhishthira the son of Dharma, quickly withdrew from (the field of) battle.

Having defeated Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, the mighty car-warrior Kritavarma again engaged himself in protecting the carwheels of Drona.