Kritavarman Defeats Yudhishthira

Verse 1 (7.166.1)

वर्तमाने तदा रौद्रे रात्रियुद्धे विशाम्पते । सर्वभूतक्षयकरे धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

vartamāne tadā raudre rātriyuddhe viśāmpate | sarvabhūtakṣayakare dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

While that dreadful night battle, which destroyed all creatures, went on, O lord of men, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma,

Verse 2 (7.166.2)

अब्रवीत्पाण्डवांश्चैव पाञ्चालांश्चैव सोमकान् । अभिद्रवत संयात द्रोणमेव जिघांसया ॥

abravītpāṇḍavāṃścaiva pāñcālāṃścaiva somakān | abhidravata saṃyāta droṇameva jighāṃsayā

said to the Pandavas, the Panchalas and the Somakas: "Rush forward, advance on Drona, intent on killing him."

Verse 3 (7.166.3)

राज्ञस्ते वचनाद्राजन्पाञ्चालाः सृञ्जयास्तथा । द्रोणमेवाभ्यवर्तन्त नदन्तो भैरवान्रवान् ॥

rājñaste vacanādrājanpāñcālāḥ sṛñjayāstathā | droṇamevābhyavartanta nadanto bhairavānravān

At that king's command, O king, the Panchalas and the Srinjayas advanced on Drona alone, uttering fearful roars.

Verse 4 (7.166.4)

तान्वयं प्रतिगर्जन्तः प्रत्युद्याताः स्म हर्षिताः । यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं यथासत्वं च संयुगे ॥

tānvayaṃ pratigarjantaḥ pratyudyātāḥ sma harṣitāḥ | yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ yathāsatvaṃ ca saṃyuge

We, roaring back at them, gladly went out to meet them, each according to his strength, his zeal and his courage in the fight.

Verse 5 (7.166.5)

कृतवर्मा तु हार्दिक्यो युधिष्ठिरमुपाद्रवत् । द्रोणं प्रति समायान्तं मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम् ॥

kṛtavarmā tu hārdikyo yudhiṣṭhiramupādravat | droṇaṃ prati samāyāntaṃ matto mattamiva dvipam

Kritavarman, son of Hridika, rushed at Yudhishthira as he came toward Drona, like a rutting elephant at another rutting elephant.

Verse 6 (7.166.6)

शैनेयं शरवर्षाणि विकिरन्तं समन्ततः । अभ्ययात्कौरवो राजन्भूरिः सङ्ग्राममूर्धनि ॥

śaineyaṃ śaravarṣāṇi vikirantaṃ samantataḥ | abhyayātkauravo rājanbhūriḥ saṅgrāmamūrdhani

As Shaineya (Satyaki) scattered showers of arrows on every side, Bhuri the Kaurava, O king, advanced against him at the head of the battle.

Verse 7 (7.166.7)

सहदेवमथायान्तं द्रोणप्रेप्सुं महारथम् । कर्णो वैकर्तनो राजन्वारयामास पाण्डवम् ॥

sahadevamathāyāntaṃ droṇaprepsuṃ mahāratham | karṇo vaikartano rājanvārayāmāsa pāṇḍavam

Karna Vaikartana, O king, held back Sahadeva, the great Pandava chariot-warrior, as he came on eager to reach Drona.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width joiner inside पाण्डवम्.

Verse 8 (7.166.8)

भीमसेनमथायान्तं व्यादितास्यामिवान्तकम् । स्वयं दुर्योधनो राजा प्रतीपं मृत्युमाव्रजत् ॥

bhīmasenamathāyāntaṃ vyāditāsyāmivāntakam | svayaṃ duryodhano rājā pratīpaṃ mṛtyumāvrajat

As Bhimasena came on like Death with gaping mouth, King Duryodhana himself went against him, face to face, as against death itself.

Verse 9 (7.166.9)

नकुलं च युधां श्रेष्ठं सर्वयुद्धविशारदम् । शकुनिः सौबलो राजन्वारयामास सत्वरः ॥

nakulaṃ ca yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ sarvayuddhaviśāradam | śakuniḥ saubalo rājanvārayāmāsa satvaraḥ

Shakuni, Subala's son, O king, quickly held back Nakula, the best of fighters, skilled in every kind of warfare.

Verse 10 (7.166.10)

शिखण्डिनमथायान्तं रथेन रथिनां वरम् । कृपः शारद्वतो राजन्वारयामास संयुगे ॥

śikhaṇḍinamathāyāntaṃ rathena rathināṃ varam | kṛpaḥ śāradvato rājanvārayāmāsa saṃyuge

Kripa, son of Sharadvat, O king, held back Shikhandin, best of chariot-fighters, as he came on in his chariot.

Verse 11 (7.166.11)

प्रतिविन्ध्यमथायान्तं मयूरसदृशैर्हयैः । दुःशासनो महाराज यत्तो यत्तमवारयत् ॥

prativindhyamathāyāntaṃ mayūrasadṛśairhayaiḥ | duḥśāsano mahārāja yatto yattamavārayat

Dushasana, O great king, alert himself, held back the alert Pratividhya as he came on with horses like peacocks.

Verse 12 (7.166.12)

भैमसेनिमथायान्तं मायाशतविशारदम् । अश्वत्थामा महाराज राक्षसं प्रत्यषेधयत् ॥

bhaimasenimathāyāntaṃ māyāśataviśāradam | aśvatthāmā mahārāja rākṣasaṃ pratyaṣedhayat

Ashvatthama, O great king, held back the rakshasa Ghatotkacha, son of Bhimasena, skilled in a hundred illusions, as he came on.

Verse 13 (7.166.13)

द्रुपदं वृषसेनस्तु ससैन्यं सपदानुगम् । वारयामास समरे द्रोणप्रेप्सुं महारथम् ॥

drupadaṃ vṛṣasenastu sasainyaṃ sapadānugam | vārayāmāsa samare droṇaprepsuṃ mahāratham

Vrishasena held back Drupada, with his army and his followers, as he sought to reach Drona, the great chariot-warrior, in the battle.

Verse 14 (7.166.14)

विराटं द्रुतमायान्तं द्रोणस्य निधनं प्रति । मद्रराजः सुसङ्क्रुद्धो वारयामास भारत ॥

virāṭaṃ drutamāyāntaṃ droṇasya nidhanaṃ prati | madrarājaḥ susaṅkruddho vārayāmāsa bhārata

The king of Madra (Shalya), greatly enraged, held back Virata, O Bharata, as he hurried toward the death of Drona.

Verse 15 (7.166.15)

शतानीकमथायान्तं नाकुलिं रभसं रणे । चित्रसेनो रुरोधाशु शरैर्द्रोणपरीप्सया ॥

śatānīkamathāyāntaṃ nākuliṃ rabhasaṃ raṇe | citraseno rurodhāśu śarairdroṇaparīpsayā

Chitrasena, wishing to protect Drona, quickly checked with arrows Shatanika, Nakula's son, as he came on impetuously in the battle.

Verse 16 (7.166.16)

अर्जुनं च युधां श्रेष्ठं प्राद्रवन्तं महारथम् । अलायुधो महाराज राक्षसेन्द्रो न्यवारयत् ॥

arjunaṃ ca yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ prādravantaṃ mahāratham | alāyudho mahārāja rākṣasendro nyavārayat

Alayudha, the lord of the rakshasas, O great king, opposed Arjuna, best of fighters, as the great chariot-warrior advanced.

Note on the text: Word space restored in युधां श्रेष्ठं (joined in Wikisource; the same phrase is spaced in verse 9; CE yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ). Line 2 reads राक्षसेन्द्रो where CE has alambuso (the name; recension variant, kept).

Verse 17 (7.166.17)

तथा द्रोणं महेष्वासं निघ्नन्तं शात्रवान्रणे । धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ पाञ्चाल्यो हृष्टरूपमवारयत् ॥

tathā droṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ nighnantaṃ śātravānraṇe | dhṛṣṭadyumno'tha pāñcālyo hṛṣṭarūpamavārayat

And Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchala prince, checked Drona, the great archer, who looked exultant as he slew his enemies in the battle.

Verse 18 (7.166.18)

तथाऽन्यान्पाण्डुपुत्राणां समायातान्महारथान् । तावका रथिनो राजन्वारयामासुरोजसा ॥

tathā'nyānpāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ samāyātānmahārathān | tāvakā rathino rājanvārayāmāsurojasā

So too the other great chariot-warriors among the sons of Pandu who came forward were held back with all their might by your chariot-fighters, O king.

Verse 19 (7.166.19)

गजारोहा गजैस्तूर्णं सन्निपत्य महामृधे । योधयन्तः स्म दृश्यन्ते शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

gajārohā gajaistūrṇaṃ sannipatya mahāmṛdhe | yodhayantaḥ sma dṛśyante śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

Elephant-riders, rushing together swiftly with their elephants in that great battle, were seen fighting by hundreds and by thousands.

Verse 20 (7.166.20)

निशीथे तुरगा राजन्द्रावयन्तः परस्परम् । समदृश्यन्त वेगेन पक्षवन्तो यथाऽद्रयः ॥

niśīthe turagā rājandrāvayantaḥ parasparam | samadṛśyanta vegena pakṣavanto yathā'drayaḥ

At midnight, O king, horses were seen charging at one another with speed, like mountains with wings.

Verse 21 (7.166.21)

सादिनः सादिभिः सार्धं प्रासशक्त्यृष्टिपाणयः । समागच्छन्महाराज विनदन्तः पृथक्पृथक् ॥

sādinaḥ sādibhiḥ sārdhaṃ prāsaśaktyṛṣṭipāṇayaḥ | samāgacchanmahārāja vinadantaḥ pṛthakpṛthak

Horsemen with javelins, spears and swords in their hands came together with horsemen, O great king, each roaring on his own.

Verse 22 (7.166.22)

नरास्तु बहवस्तत्र समाजग्मुः परस्परम् । गदाभिर्मुसलैश्चैव नानाशस्त्रैश्च संयुगे ॥

narāstu bahavastatra samājagmuḥ parasparam | gadābhirmusalaiścaiva nānāśastraiśca saṃyuge

Many men also came together there with maces, clubs and many other weapons in the battle.

Note on the text: Corrected गादाभिर्मुसलैः → गदाभिर्मुसलैः (misprint in Wikisource; a long ā is inserted; the critical edition reads gadābhir).

Verse 23 (7.166.23)

कृतवर्मा तु हार्दिक्यो धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् । वारयामास सङ्क्रुद्धो वेलेवोद्वृत्तमर्णवम् ॥

kṛtavarmā tu hārdikyo dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | vārayāmāsa saṅkruddho velevodvṛttamarṇavam

But Kritavarman, Hridika's son, in his rage held back Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, as the shore holds back the swollen sea.

Verse 24 (7.166.24)

युधिष्ठिरस्तु हार्दिक्यं विद्ध्वा पञ्चभिराशुगैः । पुनर्विव्याध विंशत्या तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥

yudhiṣṭhirastu hārdikyaṃ viddhvā pañcabhirāśugaiḥ | punarvivyādha viṃśatyā tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti cābravīt

Yudhishthira struck Hardikya with five swift arrows, pierced him again with twenty, and said, "Stand, stand!"

Note on the text: Corrected विद्व्वा → विद्ध्वा (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct ध्व is garbled; the critical edition reads viddhvā).

Verse 25 (7.166.25)

कृतवर्मा तु सङ्क्रुद्धो धर्मपुत्रस्य मारिष । धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन तं च विव्याध सप्तभिः ॥

kṛtavarmā tu saṅkruddho dharmaputrasya māriṣa | dhanuściccheda bhallena taṃ ca vivyādha saptabhiḥ

Kritavarman, enraged, O sir, cut the bow of Dharma's son with a broad-headed arrow and struck him with seven.

Verse 26 (7.166.26)

अथान्यद्धनुरादाय धर्मपुत्रो महारथः । हार्दिक्यं दशभिर्बाणैर्बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत् ॥

athānyaddhanurādāya dharmaputro mahārathaḥ | hārdikyaṃ daśabhirbāṇairbāhvorurasi cārpayat

Then taking up another bow, the mighty Dharma's son shot Hardikya with ten arrows in the arms and in the chest.

Verse 27 (7.166.27)

माधवस्तु रणे विद्धो धर्मपुत्रेण मारिष । प्राकम्पत च रोषेण सप्तभिश्चार्दयच्छरैः ॥

mādhavastu raṇe viddho dharmaputreṇa māriṣa | prākampata ca roṣeṇa saptabhiścārdayaccharaiḥ

The Madhava (Kritavarman), pierced in battle by Dharma's son, O sir, trembled with fury and struck back with seven arrows.

Verse 28 (7.166.28)

तस्य पार्थो धनुश्छित्त्वा हस्तावापं निकृत्य च । प्राहिणोन्निशितान्बाणान्पञ्च राजञ्छिलाशितान् ॥

tasya pārtho dhanuśchittvā hastāvāpaṃ nikṛtya ca | prāhiṇonniśitānbāṇānpañca rājañchilāśitān

Partha (Yudhishthira) cut his bow and sliced off his hand-guard, and sent five whetted arrows, sharpened on stone, at him, O king.

Verse 29 (7.166.29)

ते तस्य कवचं भित्त्वा हेमचित्रं महाधनम् । प्राविशन्धरणीं भित्त्वा वल्मीकमिव पन्नगाः ॥

te tasya kavacaṃ bhittvā hemacitraṃ mahādhanam | prāviśandharaṇīṃ bhittvā valmīkamiva pannagāḥ

They pierced his golden-streaked, costly armour and entered the earth, as snakes enter an anthill.

Verse 30 (7.166.30)

अक्ष्णोर्निमेषमात्रेण सोऽन्यदादाय कार्मुकम् । विव्याध पाण्डवं षष्ट्या सूतं च नवभिः शरैः ॥

akṣṇornimeṣamātreṇa so'nyadādāya kārmukam | vivyādha pāṇḍavaṃ ṣaṣṭyā sūtaṃ ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ

In the blink of an eye he took another bow and pierced the Pandava with sixty arrows and his charioteer with nine.

Verse 31 (7.166.31)

तस्य शक्तिममेयात्मा पाण्डवो भुजगोपमाम् । चिक्षेप भरतश्रेष्ठ रथे न्यस्य महद्धनुः ॥

tasya śaktimameyātmā pāṇḍavo bhujagopamām | cikṣepa bharataśreṣṭha rathe nyasya mahaddhanuḥ

Then the Pandava of immeasurable spirit, laying his great bow down in the chariot, hurled at him a spear like a serpent, O best of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Corrected भरश्रेष्ठ → भरतश्रेष्ठ (misprint in Wikisource; the syllable त is dropped; the critical edition reads bharataśreṣṭha).

Verse 32 (7.166.32)

सा हेमचित्रा महती पाण्डवेयेन प्रेरिता । निर्भिद्य दक्षिणं बाहुं प्राविशद्धरणीतलम् ॥

sā hemacitrā mahatī pāṇḍaveyena preritā | nirbhidya dakṣiṇaṃ bāhuṃ prāviśaddharaṇītalam

That great golden-streaked spear, hurled by the Pandava, pierced his right arm and entered the ground.

Verse 33 (7.166.33)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु गृह्य पार्थः पुनर्धनुः । हार्दिक्यं छादयामास शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः ॥

etasminneva kāle tu gṛhya pārthaḥ punardhanuḥ | hārdikyaṃ chādayāmāsa śaraiḥ sannataparvabhiḥ

At that very moment Partha, taking up his bow again, covered Hardikya with arrows with smooth joints.

Verse 34 (7.166.34)

ततस्तु समरे शूरो वृष्णीनां प्रवरो रथी । व्यश्वसूतरथं चक्रे निमेषार्धाद्युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

tatastu samare śūro vṛṣṇīnāṃ pravaro rathī | vyaśvasūtarathaṃ cakre nimeṣārdhādyudhiṣṭhiram

Then the hero of the Vrishnis, the best of chariot-fighters, in half a moment left Yudhishthira without horses, charioteer or chariot.

Note on the text: Corrected व्यश्चसूतरथं → व्यश्वसूतरथं (misprint in Wikisource; च for व; the critical edition reads vyaśvasūtarathaṃ).

Verse 35 (7.166.35)

ततस्तु पाण्डवो ज्येष्ठः खड्गं चर्म समाददे । तदस्य निशितैर्बाणैर्व्यधमन्माधवो रणे ॥

tatastu pāṇḍavo jyeṣṭhaḥ khaḍgaṃ carma samādade | tadasya niśitairbāṇairvyadhamanmādhavo raṇe

Then the eldest Pandava took up sword and shield, but Madhava shattered them in the battle with sharp arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गं → खड्गं (misprint in Wikisource; ङ्ग for ड्ग; the critical edition reads khaḍga).

Verse 36 (7.166.36)

तोमरं तु ततो गृह्य स्वर्णदण्डं दुरासदम् । प्रैषयत्समरे तूर्णं हार्दिक्यस्य युधिष्ठिरः ॥

tomaraṃ tu tato gṛhya svarṇadaṇḍaṃ durāsadam | praiṣayatsamare tūrṇaṃ hārdikyasya yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Then Yudhishthira took a javelin with a golden shaft, hard to withstand, and quickly hurled it at Hardikya in the battle.

Verse 37 (7.166.37)

तमापतन्तं सहसा धर्मराजभुजच्युतम् । द्विधा चिच्छेद हार्दिक्यः कृतहस्तः स्मयन्निव ॥

tamāpatantaṃ sahasā dharmarājabhujacyutam | dvidhā ciccheda hārdikyaḥ kṛtahastaḥ smayanniva

As it came suddenly, hurled from the arm of the king of righteousness, Hardikya, skilled of hand, cut it in two, smiling as it were.

Verse 38 (7.166.38)

ततः शरशतेनाजौ धर्मपुत्रमवाकिरत् । कवचं चास्य सङ्क्रुद्धः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैरदारयत् ॥

tataḥ śaraśatenājau dharmaputramavākirat | kavacaṃ cāsya saṅkruddhaḥ śaraistīkṣṇairadārayat

Then he covered the son of Dharma with a hundred arrows in the battle, and in his rage tore through his armour with sharp arrows.

Verse 39 (7.166.39)

हार्दिक्यशरसञ्छन्नं कवचं तन्महाधनम् । व्यशीर्यत रणे राजंस्ताराजालमिवाम्बरात् ॥

hārdikyaśarasañchannaṃ kavacaṃ tanmahādhanam | vyaśīryata raṇe rājaṃstārājālamivāmbarāt

That costly armour, shattered by Hardikya's arrows, fell apart in the battle, O king, like a net of stars from the sky.

Verse 40 (7.166.40)

स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथः शीर्णवर्मा शरार्दितः । अपायासीद्रणात्तूर्णं धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

sa cchinnadhanvā virathaḥ śīrṇavarmā śarārditaḥ | apāyāsīdraṇāttūrṇaṃ dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

With his bow cut, chariotless, his armour shattered, tormented by arrows, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, quickly left the battle.

Verse 41 (7.166.41)

कृतवर्मा तु निर्जित्य धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् । पुनर्द्रोणस्य जुगुपे चक्रमेव महात्मनः ॥

kṛtavarmā tu nirjitya dharmātmānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | punardroṇasya jugupe cakrameva mahātmanaḥ

Having defeated the righteous-souled Yudhishthira, Kritavarman again guarded the wheel of the great-souled Drona.