Arjuna Spares Ashvatthama; Abhimanyu Routs Lakshmana

Verse 1 (6.73.1)

विराटोऽथ त्रिभिर्बाणैर्भीष्ममार्च्छन्महारथम् । विव्याध तुरगांश्चास्य त्रिभिर्बाणैर्महारथः ॥

virāṭo'tha tribhirbāṇairbhīṣmamārcchanmahāratham | vivyādha turagāṃścāsya tribhirbāṇairmahārathaḥ

Then Virata struck Bhishma, the great chariot-warrior, with three arrows, and that great chariot-warrior pierced his horses too with three arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected विराटोऽय → विराटोऽथ (misprint in Wikisource; य for थ; the critical edition reads virāṭo 'tha) and तुरमांत्रास्य → तुरगांश्चास्य (misprint in Wikisource; म for ग and a garbled conjunct; the critical edition reads turagāṃś cāsya).

Verse 2 (6.73.2)

तं प्रत्यविध्यद्दशभिर्भीष्मः शान्तनवः शरैः । रुक्मपुङ्खैर्महेष्वासः कृतहस्तो महाबलः ॥

taṃ pratyavidhyaddaśabhirbhīṣmaḥ śāntanavaḥ śaraiḥ | rukmapuṅkhairmaheṣvāsaḥ kṛtahasto mahābalaḥ

Bhishma, son of Shantanu, the great archer of practised hand and great strength, pierced him in return with ten gold-feathered arrows.

Verse 3 (6.73.3)

द्रौणिर्गाण्डीवधन्वानं भीमधन्वा महारथः । अविध्यदिषुभिः षड्भिर्दृढहस्तः स्तनान्तरे ॥

drauṇirgāṇḍīvadhanvānaṃ bhīmadhanvā mahārathaḥ | avidhyadiṣubhiḥ ṣaḍbhirdṛḍhahastaḥ stanāntare

Drona's son, the great chariot-warrior of the terrible bow and firm hand, pierced the wielder of the Gandiva in the chest with six arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected षङ्भिर् → षड्भिर् (misprint in Wikisource; ङ for ड; the critical edition reads ṣaḍbhir).

Verse 4 (6.73.4)

कार्मुकं तस्य चिच्छेद फल्गुनः परवीरहा । अविध्यच्च भृशं तीक्ष्णैः पत्रिभिः शत्रुकर्शनः ॥

kārmukaṃ tasya ciccheda phalgunaḥ paravīrahā | avidhyacca bhṛśaṃ tīkṣṇaiḥ patribhiḥ śatrukarśanaḥ

Phalguna, slayer of enemy heroes, cut his bow, and that tormentor of foes pierced him deeply with sharp feathered shafts.

Verse 5 (6.73.5)

सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय वेगवान्क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । अमृष्यमाणः पार्थेन कार्मुकच्छेदमाहवे ॥

so'nyatkārmukamādāya vegavānkrodhamūrcchitaḥ | amṛṣyamāṇaḥ pārthena kārmukacchedamāhave

Taking up another bow, swift and beside himself with rage, unable to bear that Partha had cut his bow in battle,

Note on the text: वेगवान् for the critical edition's vegavat kept as a variant.

Verse 6 (6.73.6)

अविध्यत्फल्गुनं राजन्नवत्या निशितैः शरैः । वासुदेवं च सप्तत्या विव्याध परमेषुभिः ॥

avidhyatphalgunaṃ rājannavatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | vāsudevaṃ ca saptatyā vivyādha parameṣubhiḥ

he pierced Phalguna with ninety sharp arrows, O king, and pierced Vasudeva with seventy excellent shafts.

Verse 7 (6.73.7)

ततः क्रोधाभिताम्राक्षः कृष्णेन सह फल्गुनः । दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य चिन्तयित्वा पुनःपुनः ॥

tataḥ krodhābhitāmrākṣaḥ kṛṣṇena saha phalgunaḥ | dīrghamuṣṇaṃ ca niḥśvasya cintayitvā punaḥpunaḥ

Then Phalguna, his eyes red as copper with anger, together with Krishna, sighing long and hot and reflecting again and again,

Note on the text: पुनःपुनः for the critical edition's muhur muhuḥ kept as a variant.

Verse 8 (6.73.8)

धनुः प्रपीड्य वामेन करेणामित्रकर्शनः । गाण्डीवधन्वा संक्रुद्धः शितान्सन्नतपर्वणः ॥

dhanuḥ prapīḍya vāmena kareṇāmitrakarśanaḥ | gāṇḍīvadhanvā saṃkruddhaḥ śitānsannataparvaṇaḥ

pressing his bow with his left hand, the Gandiva-bowman, tamer of foes, in fury took up sharp arrows with smooth joints,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.69.8a–d.

Verse 9 (6.73.9)

जीवितान्तकरान्घोरान्समादत्त शिलीमुखान् । तैस्तूर्णं समरेऽविध्यद्रौणिं बलवतां वरः ॥

jīvitāntakarānghorānsamādatta śilīmukhān | taistūrṇaṃ samare'vidhyadrauṇiṃ balavatāṃ varaḥ

terrible shafts that bring life to its end; and with them the best of the mighty swiftly pierced Drona's son in the battle.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.69.8ef and line 2 its 6.69.9ab (बलवतां वरः, of Arjuna, for varam, of Drona's son, kept as a variant).

Verse 10 (6.73.10)

तस्य ते कवचं भित्त्वा पपुः शोणितमाहवे । न विव्यथे च निर्भिन्नो द्रौणिर्गाण्डीवधन्वना ॥

tasya te kavacaṃ bhittvā papuḥ śoṇitamāhave | na vivyathe ca nirbhinno drauṇirgāṇḍīvadhanvanā

Piercing his armour, they drank his blood in the battle; yet Drona's son, though pierced through by the Gandiva-bowman, did not waver.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.69.9cd and line 2 its 6.69.10ab.

Verse 11 (6.73.11)

तथैव च शरान्द्रौणिः प्रविमुञ्चन्नविह्वलः । तस्थौ च समरे राजंस्त्रातुमिच्छन्महाव्रतम् ॥

tathaiva ca śarāndrauṇiḥ pravimuñcannavihvalaḥ | tasthau ca samare rājaṃstrātumicchanmahāvratam

Loosing arrows in the same way, undismayed, he stood firm in the battle, O king, wishing to protect Bhishma of the great vow.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.69.10cd and ef (शरान् … प्रविमुञ्चन् and च for śaravarṣāṇi pratimuñcan and sa kept as variants).

Verse 12 (6.73.12)

तस्य तत्सुमहत्कर्म शशंसुः कुरुसत्तमाः । यत्कृष्णाभ्यां समेताभ्यामभ्यापतत संयुगे ॥

tasya tatsumahatkarma śaśaṃsuḥ kurusattamāḥ | yatkṛṣṇābhyāṃ sametābhyāmabhyāpatata saṃyuge

The best of the Kurus praised that great feat of his, that he fell upon the two Krishnas together in the battle.

Note on the text: कुरुसत्तमाः for the critical edition's puruṣarṣabhāḥ and अभ्यापतत ("fell upon") for nāpatrapata ("was not abashed") kept as variants.

Verse 13 (6.73.13)

स हि नित्यमनीकेषु युध्यतेऽभयमास्थितः । अस्त्रग्रामं ससंहारं द्रोणात्प्राप्य सुदुर्लभम् ॥

sa hi nityamanīkeṣu yudhyate'bhayamāsthitaḥ | astragrāmaṃ sasaṃhāraṃ droṇātprāpya sudurlabham

For he always fights fearlessly in the front of the ranks, having received from Drona the whole host of weapons, with the art of withdrawing them, which is so hard to obtain.

Note on the text: Corrected मास्तितः → मास्थितः (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ; the critical edition reads āsthitaḥ).

Verse 14 (6.73.14)

ममैष आचार्यसुतो द्रोणस्यापि प्रियः सुतः । ब्राह्मणश्च विशेषेण माननीयो ममेति च ॥

mamaiṣa ācāryasuto droṇasyāpi priyaḥ sutaḥ | brāhmaṇaśca viśeṣeṇa mānanīyo mameti ca

"He is my teacher's son, and Drona's beloved son besides; he is a brahmin too, and above all worthy of my honour":

Note on the text: ममैष and द्रोणस्यापि प्रियः for the critical edition's mamāyam and droṇasyātipriyaḥ kept as variants. Arjuna's unspoken reflection, so it stays with the narrator.

Verse 15 (6.73.15)

समास्थाय मतिं वीरो बीभत्सुः शत्रुतापनः । कृपां चक्रे रथश्रेष्ठो भारद्वाजसुतं प्रति ॥

samāsthāya matiṃ vīro bībhatsuḥ śatrutāpanaḥ | kṛpāṃ cakre rathaśreṣṭho bhāradvājasutaṃ prati

setting his mind on this, the hero Bibhatsu, scorcher of foes and best of chariot-warriors, took pity on the son of Bharadvaja's line.

Note on the text: Corrected समास्थआय → समास्थाय (misprint in Wikisource; a stray independent vowel अ) and सत्रुतापनः → शत्रुतापनः (misprint in Wikisource; स for श); the critical edition reads samāsthāya … śatrutāpanaḥ.

Verse 16 (6.73.16)

द्रौणिं त्यक्त्वा ततो युद्धे कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः । युयुधे तावकान्निघ्नंस्त्वरमाणः पराक्रमी ॥

drauṇiṃ tyaktvā tato yuddhe kaunteyaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ | yuyudhe tāvakānnighnaṃstvaramāṇaḥ parākramī

Leaving Drona's son, then, Kunti's son of the white horses fought on in the battle, swiftly slaying your men, full of valour.

Note on the text: श्वेतवाहनः for the critical edition's śatrutāpanaḥ kept as a variant.

Verse 17 (6.73.17)

दुर्योधनस्तु दशभिर्गार्ध्रपत्रैः शिलाशितैः । भीमसेनं महेष्वासं रुक्मपुङ्खैः समार्पयत् ॥

duryodhanastu daśabhirgārdhrapatraiḥ śilāśitaiḥ | bhīmasenaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ rukmapuṅkhaiḥ samārpayat

Duryodhana struck the great archer Bhimasena with ten gold-feathered arrows, fletched with vulture plumes and whetted on stone.

Verse 18 (6.73.18)

भीमसेनः सुसंक्रुद्धः परासुकरणं दृढम् । चित्रं कार्मुकमादत्त शरांश्च निशितान्दश ॥

bhīmasenaḥ susaṃkruddhaḥ parāsukaraṇaṃ dṛḍham | citraṃ kārmukamādatta śarāṃśca niśitāndaśa

Bhimasena, in great fury, took up a strong and ornate bow that could take life, and ten sharp arrows.

Verse 19 (6.73.19)

आकर्णप्रहितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्वेगवद्भिरजिह्मगैः । अविध्यत्तूर्णमव्यग्रः कुरुराजं महोरसि ॥

ākarṇaprahitaistīkṣṇairvegavadbhirajihmagaiḥ | avidhyattūrṇamavyagraḥ kururājaṃ mahorasi

With these keen, swift, straight-flying arrows drawn back to the ear, he quickly and calmly pierced the Kuru king in his broad chest.

Note on the text: वेगवद्भिरजिह्मगैः for the critical edition's vegitais tigmatejanaiḥ kept as a variant.

Verse 20 (6.73.20)

तस्य काञ्चनसूत्रस्थः शरैः संछादितो मणिः । रराजोरसि खे सूर्यो ग्रहैरिव समावृतः ॥

tasya kāñcanasūtrasthaḥ śaraiḥ saṃchādito maṇiḥ | rarājorasi khe sūryo grahairiva samāvṛtaḥ

The jewel hanging on his golden thread, covered over with arrows, shone on his chest like the sun in the sky ringed by planets.

Note on the text: सूत्रस्थः … संछादितो and खे for the critical edition's sūtras tu … parivṛto and vai kept as variants.

Verse 21 (6.73.21)

पुत्रस्तु तव तेजस्वी भीमसेनेन ताडितः । नामृष्यत यथा नागस्तलशब्दं मदोत्कटः ॥

putrastu tava tejasvī bhīmasenena tāḍitaḥ | nāmṛṣyata yathā nāgastalaśabdaṃ madotkaṭaḥ

Your spirited son, struck by Bhimasena, could not bear it, as an elephant in rut cannot bear the clap of a hand.

Note on the text: Corrected ताडित → ताडितः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga; the critical edition reads tāḍitaḥ). मदोत्कटः for the critical edition's samīritam kept as a variant.

Verse 22 (6.73.22)

ततः शरैर्महाराज रुक्मपुङ्खैः शिलाशितैः । भीमं विव्याध संक्रुद्धस्त्रासयानो वरूथिनीम् ॥

tataḥ śarairmahārāja rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ | bhīmaṃ vivyādha saṃkruddhastrāsayāno varūthinīm

Then, O great king, in fury he pierced Bhima with gold-feathered arrows whetted on stone, striking terror into the host.

Verse 23 (6.73.23)

तौ युध्यमानौ समरे भृशमन्योन्यविक्षतौ । पुत्रौ ते देवसंकाशौ व्यरोचेतां महाबलौ ॥

tau yudhyamānau samare bhṛśamanyonyavikṣatau | putrau te devasaṃkāśau vyarocetāṃ mahābalau

Those two, fighting in battle and sorely wounded by each other, both sons of your house, godlike and mighty, shone brightly.

Verse 24 (6.73.24)

चित्रसेनं नरव्याघ्रं सौभद्रः परवीरहा । अविध्यद्दशभिर्बाणैः पुरुमित्रं च सप्तभिः ॥

citrasenaṃ naravyāghraṃ saubhadraḥ paravīrahā | avidhyaddaśabhirbāṇaiḥ purumitraṃ ca saptabhiḥ

Subhadra's son, slayer of enemy heroes, pierced Chitrasena, a tiger among men, with ten arrows and Purumitra with seven;

Verse 25 (6.73.25)

सत्यव्रतं च सप्तत्या विद्ध्वा शक्रसमो युधि । नृत्यन्निव रणे वीर आर्तिं नः समजीजनत् ॥

satyavrataṃ ca saptatyā viddhvā śakrasamo yudhi | nṛtyanniva raṇe vīra ārtiṃ naḥ samajījanat

and piercing Satyavrata with seventy, like Shakra in battle, the hero seemed to dance upon the field and filled us with distress.

Verse 26 (6.73.26)

तं प्रत्यविध्यद्दशभिश्चित्रसेनः शिलीमुखैः । सत्यव्रतश्च नवभिः पुरुमित्रश्च सप्तभिः ॥

taṃ pratyavidhyaddaśabhiścitrasenaḥ śilīmukhaiḥ | satyavrataśca navabhiḥ purumitraśca saptabhiḥ

Chitrasena pierced him back with ten arrows, Satyavrata with nine and Purumitra with seven.

Verse 27 (6.73.27)

स विद्धो विक्षरन्रक्तं शत्रुसंवारणं महत् । चिच्छेद चित्रसेनस्य चित्रं कार्मुकमार्जुनिः ॥

sa viddho vikṣaranraktaṃ śatrusaṃvāraṇaṃ mahat | ciccheda citrasenasya citraṃ kārmukamārjuniḥ

Pierced and streaming blood, Arjuna's son cut Chitrasena's great and ornate bow, the bow that held off his foes,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.69.26a–d.

Verse 28 (6.73.28)

भित्त्वा चास्य तनुत्राणं शरेणोरस्यताडयत् । ततस्ते तावका वीरा राजपुत्रा महारथाः ॥

bhittvā cāsya tanutrāṇaṃ śareṇorasyatāḍayat | tataste tāvakā vīrā rājaputrā mahārathāḥ

and piercing his body armour, struck him in the chest with an arrow. Then those heroes of yours, princes and great chariot-warriors,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.69.26ef and line 2 its 6.69.27ab.

Verse 29 (6.73.29)

समेत्य युधि संरब्धा विव्यधुर्निशितैः शरैः । तांश्च सर्वाञ्शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्जघान परमास्त्रवित् ॥

sametya yudhi saṃrabdhā vivyadhurniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | tāṃśca sarvāñśaraistīkṣṇairjaghāna paramāstravit

closing in together in the fight, enraged, pierced him with sharp arrows; and the master of the highest weapons struck them all with keen arrows.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.69.27cd and ef.

Verse 30 (6.73.30)

तस्य दृष्ट्वा तु तत्कर्म परिवव्रुः सुतास्तव । दहन्तं समरे सैन्यं वने कक्षं यथोल्बणम् ॥

tasya dṛṣṭvā tu tatkarma parivavruḥ sutāstava | dahantaṃ samare sainyaṃ vane kakṣaṃ yatholbaṇam

Seeing that feat of his, your sons surrounded him as he burned up your army in battle, like a fierce fire burning dry brush in a forest,

Note on the text: वने for the critical edition's tava kept as a variant.

Verse 31 (6.73.31)

अपेतशिशिरे काले समिद्धमिव पावकम् । अत्यरोचत सौभद्रस्तव सैन्यानि नाशयन् ॥

apetaśiśire kāle samiddhamiva pāvakam | atyarocata saubhadrastava sainyāni nāśayan

like a blazing fire in the season when the cold has gone; and Subhadra's son outshone them all, destroying your forces.

Note on the text: पावकम् and नाशयन् for the critical edition's pāvakaḥ and śātayan kept as variants.

Verse 32 (6.73.32)

तत्तस्य चरितं दृष्ट्वा पौत्रस्तव विशांपते । लक्ष्मणोऽभ्यपतत्तूर्णं सात्वतीपुत्रमाहवे ॥

tattasya caritaṃ dṛṣṭvā pautrastava viśāṃpate | lakṣmaṇo'bhyapatattūrṇaṃ sātvatīputramāhave

Seeing what he had done, your grandson Lakshmana, O lord of the people, quickly fell upon the son of the Satvata lady in the battle.

Note on the text: Corrected सात्तीपुत्रम् → सात्वतीपुत्रम् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped व; the page's own footnote reads सात्वतीपुत्रं अभिमन्युम्, and the critical edition sātvatīputram).

Verse 33 (6.73.33)

अभिमन्युस्तु संक्रुद्धो लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम् । विव्याध निशितैः षड्भिः सारथिं च त्रिभिः शरैः ॥

abhimanyustu saṃkruddho lakṣmaṇaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam | vivyādha niśitaiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ sārathiṃ ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ

Abhimanyu in fury pierced Lakshmana, who bore auspicious marks, with six sharp arrows, and his charioteer with three.

Note on the text: Corrected षङभिः → षड्भिः (misprint in Wikisource; ङ for ड्; the critical edition reads ṣaḍbhiḥ). निशितैः for the critical edition's viśikhaiḥ kept as a variant.

Verse 34 (6.73.34)

तथैव लक्ष्मणो राजन्सौभद्रं निशितैः शरैः । अविध्यत महाराज तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

tathaiva lakṣmaṇo rājansaubhadraṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | avidhyata mahārāja tadadbhutamivābhavat

Likewise Lakshmana, O king, pierced Subhadra's son with sharp arrows, O great king; it seemed a marvel.

Verse 35 (6.73.35)

तस्याश्वांश्चतुरो हत्वा सारथिं च महाबलः । अभ्यद्रवत सौभद्रो लक्ष्मणं निशितैः शरैः ॥

tasyāśvāṃścaturo hatvā sārathiṃ ca mahābalaḥ | abhyadravata saubhadro lakṣmaṇaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

The mighty son of Subhadra killed his four horses and his charioteer and rushed at Lakshmana with sharp arrows.

Verse 36 (6.73.36)

हताश्वे तु रथे तिष्ठँल्लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा । शक्तिं चिक्षेप संक्रुद्धः सौभद्रस्य रथं प्रति ॥

hatāśve tu rathe tiṣṭham̐llakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā | śaktiṃ cikṣepa saṃkruddhaḥ saubhadrasya rathaṃ prati

Standing in his chariot whose horses were slain, Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, in fury hurled a spear at the chariot of Subhadra's son.

Verse 37 (6.73.37)

तामापतन्तीं सहसा घोररूपां दुरासदाम् । अभिमन्युः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैश्चिच्छेद भुजगोपमाम् ॥

tāmāpatantīṃ sahasā ghorarūpāṃ durāsadām | abhimanyuḥ śaraistīkṣṇaiściccheda bhujagopamām

As it came suddenly flying, dreadful in form, hard to withstand and like a serpent, Abhimanyu cut it down with sharp arrows.

Verse 38 (6.73.38)

ततः स्वरथमारोप्य लक्ष्मणं गौतमस्तदा । अपोवाह रथेनाजौ सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥

tataḥ svarathamāropya lakṣmaṇaṃ gautamastadā | apovāha rathenājau sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ

Then Gautama took Lakshmana up into his own chariot and carried him away from the fight in it while the whole army looked on.

Verse 39 (6.73.39)

ततः समाकुले तस्मिन्वर्तमाने महाभये । अभ्यद्रवञ्जिघांसन्तः परस्परवधैषिणः ॥

tataḥ samākule tasminvartamāne mahābhaye | abhyadravañjighāṃsantaḥ parasparavadhaiṣiṇaḥ

Then, in that confused and terrifying fight, they rushed at one another, eager to kill, each seeking the other's death:

Verse 40 (6.73.40)

तावकाश्च महेष्वासाः पाण्डवाश्च महारथाः । जुह्वन्तः समरे प्राणान्निजघ्नुरितरेतरम् ॥

tāvakāśca maheṣvāsāḥ pāṇḍavāśca mahārathāḥ | juhvantaḥ samare prāṇānnijaghnuritaretaram

your great archers and the Pandavas' great chariot-warriors, offering up their lives in battle as in a sacrifice, struck one another down.

Verse 41 (6.73.41)

मुक्तकेशा विकवचा विरथाश्छिन्नकार्मुकाः । बाहुभिः समयुध्यन्त सृञ्जयाः कुरुभिः सह ॥

muktakeśā vikavacā virathāśchinnakārmukāḥ | bāhubhiḥ samayudhyanta sṛñjayāḥ kurubhiḥ saha

With hair loosened, armour lost, chariots gone and bows cut, the Srinjayas fought the Kurus with their bare arms.

Note on the text: Corrected बाहुभइः → बाहुभिः (misprint in Wikisource; the independent vowel इ for the sign ि; the critical edition reads bāhubhiḥ).

Verse 42 (6.73.42)

ततो भीष्मो महाबाहुः पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् । सेनां जघान संक्रुद्धो दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्महाबलः ॥

tato bhīṣmo mahābāhuḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām | senāṃ jaghāna saṃkruddho divyairastrairmahābalaḥ

Then mighty-armed Bhishma, of great strength, in fury slaughtered the army of the high-souled Pandavas with celestial weapons.

Verse 43 (6.73.43)

हतेश्वरैर्गजैस्तत्र नरैरश्वैश्च पातितैः । रथिभिः सादिभिश्चैव समास्तीर्यत मेदिनी ॥

hateśvarairgajaistatra narairaśvaiśca pātitaiḥ | rathibhiḥ sādibhiścaiva samāstīryata medinī

The earth there was strewn with elephants whose riders had been slain, with men and horses struck down, with chariot-warriors and with horsemen.