घटोत्कच-वध पर्व — घोर युद्ध

Sanjaya said Then all those royal warriors of your army all indomitable in battle, furiously rushed against Yuyudhana's chariot, unable to brook his feats.

Those warriors then surrounded on all sides the Satvata hero, with duly-equipped chariots decked with gold and gems and with horsemen and elephants.

Having thus impaled the Satvata hero, all those mighty warriors filled the directions of the compass with the echo of their war-cries.

Then those mighty heroes, desirous of achieving the slaughter of that scion of Madhu's race, began to pour showers of sharp arrows on Satyaki of infallible prowess.

Beholding then those heroes make towards himself in fury, that slayer of hostile heroes, that mighty-armed grandson of Shini, received them with a copious discharge of arrows.

Then that mighty bowman, the heroic Satyaki of indomitable prowess, began to lop off the heads of his foes with fierce shafts of depressed knots.

That scion of Madhu's race then severed with his razor-edged arrows, the trunks of elephants, the necks of horses and the arms of warriors decked with brace-lets.

The earth then over-strewn with shattered yak-tails and white umbrellas, looked, O king, as beautiful as the star-bespangled firmament,

Thus when they were being thus slaughtered by Yuyudhana in battle, O Bharata, a tumultuous uproar was heard there like the yell or bewailing of ghosts.

With that terrible uproar the earth was filled and the night appeared to be more hideous and more frightful.

Beholding the army routed and afflicted by the arrows of Yuyudhana and hearing in that nightly darkness that tremendous and horripilating uproar.

Your son that foremost of car-warrior, O king, addressing his charioteer thus repeatedly spoke-"Drive, drive the steeds to the spot whence this tumult is proceeding.”

Then inspired by him that charioteer proceeded those excellent horses to the car of Yuyudhana. Then that resolute bowman that indefatigable warrior, king Duryodhana versed in various modes of warfare and endued with great lightness of hands, rushed upon Yuyudhana.

Thereupon the scion of Madhu's race pierced Duryodhana with twelve shafts shot from a full-drawn bow and capable of drinking the blood and mangling the skin.

Duryodhana then pierced as before with those arrows of Shini's grandsons, angrily pierced the latter with ten shafts in return.

Meanwhile the battle that was being fought between the Panchalas and your troops, presented a wonderful and harming aspect.

O Bharata, then the grandson of Shini, worked up with rage, pierced your mighty son with a group of eighty shafts on the chest.

Thereafter that slayer of foes dispatched to the abode of Death the horses of Duryodhana and he also felled quickly the charioteer of the latter.

O ruler of men, remaining in that steedless car, your son began to discharge sharp arrows towards the car of Shini's grandson.

Then like one endued with great lightness of hands, Shinis' grandson, O king, cut-off the group of fifty arrows shot by your son in that battle.

The descendant of Madhu's race then cutoff the mighty bow of your son near the grasp, with broad-headed arrows shot with great force.

Deprived of his car and his bow, that lord, that ruler of all men, quickly ascended the resplendent car of Kritavarman.

When Duryodhana had been compelled to turn his face away from the battle, the grandson of Shini in that night began to crush your troops, O ruler of men.

O king, meanwhile Shakuni surrounding Arjuna on all sides with countless cars and thousands of elephants.

And an equal number of horses, began furiously to assault him. His troops then began to discharge many celestial weapons against Arjuna.

Those Kshatriyas then urged on by fate fought on with Arjuna. Arjuna however singlehandedly checked those thousands of chariots, elephants and horses and finally compelled them to turn back. Then Subala's son with eyes coppery in rage and excited to the highest pitch of fury, pierced with twenty shafts that slayer of foes namely the puissant Arjuna. Then again he impeded the course of Arjuna's mighty car with a group of hundred arrows.

Him, O Bharata, Arjuna pierced in battle with a set of twenty shafts and other mighty bowmen of his division with three shafts each.

O monarch, baffling the countless shafts shot by his foes, Dhananjaya slew the warriors of your army with excellent shafts charged with the force of the thunder.

The earth then covered over with loppedoff arms and thousands of mangled bodies, appeared beautiful as if covered over with charming flowers.

Strewn over with heads of Kshatriyasheads that were decked with diadems and graced with handsome noses and beautiful earrings and nether lips bit in anger and wide open eyes, heads that were graced with collars and crowned with gems and which while life was in them spoke salutary words, the earth looked beautiful as if strewn with hillocks covered with Champaka flowers.

Then Vibhatsu on fierce energy having achieved that dreadful feat once more pierced Sakuni with five arrows of depressed knots.

He then angrily pierced Uluka in that battle with his arrows. Thus having pierced Uluka even before the very eyes of Subala's son, Arjuna.

Uttered a mighty roar that filled the earth with its echo. Thereafter that son of the foremost of celestials, cut-off the bow of Sakuni with his arrows.

And dispatched the latter's four steeds to the kingdom of Death. Thereupon, O foremost of the Bharatas, jumping down from his chariot, the son of Subala.

Quickly ascended the car of Uluka. Then those two mighty car-warriors, sire and son, riding on the same chariot.

Began to shower arrows on Pritha's son, like two risen clouds showering rain on the mountain-breast. Thereafter, . mighty monarch, Pandu's son piercing them both with shafts.

Began to crush your troops by hundreds and thousands. Just as masses of clouds are torn as under by a violent storm.

So, O ruler of men, your troops were then routed and dispersed by Arjuna. O foremost of the Bharatas, then the troops of your army carnaged during that night.

Fled in fear in all directions looking at one another; some left behind their horses, others urged them to the top of their speed.

They then fled away in great fright in that darkness of night. O foremost of the Bharatas, defeating your troops in battle.

Vasudeva and Dhananjaya began to blow their conchs. Meanwhile Dhristadyumna, 0 king, piercing Drona with three shafts.

Quickly cut-off the latter's bowstring with a short arrow; thereupon Drona that crusher of hostile Kshatriyas, throwing that bow down on the ground.

Took up another bow of greater force and toughness; then Drona piercing Dhistadyumna with seven swift-flying arrows.

Pierced the latter's charioteer, O foremost of the Bharatas, with five arrows. Then the mighty car-warrior Dhistadyumna checking Drona by means of his arrows.

Began to agitate the Kaurava host like Indra agitating the Asura host. O sire when the troops of your son were thus being carnaged.

A dreadful river of boldly currents began to flow between the two armies, carrying with it slain men horses and elephants.

Like, O monarch, the river Vaitarani carrying creatures to the abode of Death. Then the puissant Dhristadyumna completely routing that army of your son.

Shone resplendent like Shakra in the midst of the celestial hosts. Thereafter Dhristadyumna and Sikhandin blew their mighty conchs;

So did also the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and Yuyudhana, the Pandu's son Vrikodara. Having vanquished thousands of energetic kings of your army.

The Pandavas ever attended with victory uttered dreadful war-cries, even before the eyes of your son and Karna and the heroic Drona and the son of Drona, O ruler of men.