Arjuna Routs the Kauravas; Sunset Ends the Sixteenth Day

Verse 1 (8.21.1)

ततः कर्णं पुरस्कृत्य त्वदीया युद्धदुर्मदाः । पुनरावृत्य सङ्ग्रामं चक्रुर्देवासुरोपमम् ॥

tataḥ karṇaṃ puraskṛtya tvadīyā yuddhadurmadāḥ | punarāvṛtya saṅgrāmaṃ cakrurdevāsuropamam

Then your warriors, drunk with battle, put Karna at their head, turned back, and renewed the fight, which was like the war of the gods and asuras.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्वदुर्मदाः → युद्धदुर्मदाः (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध, a broken conjunct).

Verse 2 (8.21.2)

द्विरदनररथाश्वशङ्खशब्दैः । परिहृषिता विविधैश्च शस्त्रपातैः । द्विरदरथपदातिसादिसङ्घाः । परिकुपिताभिमुखाः प्रजघ्निरे ते ॥

dviradanararathāśvaśaṅkhaśabdaiḥ | parihṛṣitā vividhaiśca śastrapātaiḥ | dviradarathapadātisādisaṅghāḥ | parikupitābhimukhāḥ prajaghnire te

Thrilled by the din of elephants, men, chariots, horses and conches and by the falling of weapons of every kind, the massed elephants, chariots, foot-soldiers and horsemen, enraged, faced one another and struck.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.2ab and 2cd, which the CE prints as two lines of two pādas each). Wikisource's third line differs from CE (सादिसङ्घाः for sārthavāhāḥ, परिकुपिताभिमुखाः for paripatitābhimukhāḥ); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 3 (8.21.3)

शितपरश्वथसासिपट्टसैर् । इषुभिरनेकविधैश्च सूदिताः । द्विरदरथहया महाहवे । वरपुरुषैः पुरुषाश्च वाहनैः ॥

śitaparaśvathasāsipaṭṭasair | iṣubhiranekavidhaiśca sūditāḥ | dviradarathahayā mahāhave | varapuruṣaiḥ puruṣāśca vāhanaiḥ

In the great battle, elephants, chariots and horses were cut down by their foes with sharp axes, swords, pattisas and arrows of many kinds, and men by the best of men and by their mounts.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.3ab and 3cd). The page splits a sandhi across lines 1 and 2 (पट्टसै-- / रिषुभिः, with a double hyphen); written here with the sandhi र् moved to the end of line 1 (पट्टसैर् । इषुभिः), as the critical edition prints it (paṭṭiśair; iṣubhir).

Verse 4 (8.21.4)

कमलदिनकरेन्दुसन्निभैः । सितदशनैः सुमुखाक्षिनासिकैः । रुचिरमकुटकुण्डलैर्मही । पुरुषशिरोभिरुपस्तृता बभौ ॥

kamaladinakarendusannibhaiḥ | sitadaśanaiḥ sumukhākṣināsikaiḥ | ruciramakuṭakuṇḍalairmahī | puruṣaśirobhirupastṛtā babhau

The earth shone, strewn with the heads of men, like lotuses, suns and moons, with white teeth, fair faces, eyes and noses, and splendid crowns and earrings.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.4ab and 4cd).

Verse 5 (8.21.5)

परिघमुसलशक्तितौमरैर् । नखरभुशुण्डिगदाशतैर्हताः । द्विरदनरहयाः सहस्रशो । रुधिरनदीप्रवहास्तदाऽभवन् ॥

parighamusalaśaktitaumarair | nakharabhuśuṇḍigadāśatairhatāḥ | dviradanarahayāḥ sahasraśo | rudhiranadīpravahāstadā'bhavan

Elephants, men and horses, struck down by the thousand with iron bars, pestles, spears, lances, claw-weapons, bhushundis and hundreds of maces, became rivers flowing with blood.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.5ab and 5cd). The page splits a sandhi across lines 1 and 2 (तौमरै-- / र्नख, with a double hyphen); written here with the sandhi र् moved to the end of line 1 (तौमरैर् । नख), as the critical edition prints it (tomarair; nakhara…). Wikisource has हताः for CE drutāḥ; a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 6 (8.21.6)

प्रहतरथनराश्वकुञ्जरं । प्रतिभयदर्शनमुल्बणव्रणम् । तदहितहतमाबभौ बलं । पितृपतिराष्ट्रमिव प्रजाक्षये ॥

prahatarathanarāśvakuñjaraṃ | pratibhayadarśanamulbaṇavraṇam | tadahitahatamābabhau balaṃ | pitṛpatirāṣṭramiva prajākṣaye

That army, with its chariots, men, horses and elephants slain, fearful to look upon and covered in gaping wounds, struck down by its enemies, looked like the kingdom of the lord of the dead at the destruction of creatures.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.6ab and 6cd). Wikisource's wording differs from CE (similarity 0.873); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 7 (8.21.7)

अथ तव नरदेव सैनिकास् । तव च सुताः सुरसूनुसन्निभाः । अमितबलपुरः सरा रणे । कुरुवृषभाः शिनिपुत्रमभ्ययुः ॥

atha tava naradeva sainikās | tava ca sutāḥ surasūnusannibhāḥ | amitabalapuraḥ sarā raṇe | kuruvṛṣabhāḥ śiniputramabhyayuḥ

Then, O king, your soldiers and your sons, bulls of the Kurus, godlike, with the host of immensely strong warriors going before them, advanced on the son of Shini in the battle.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.7ab and 7cd). The page splits a sandhi across lines 1 and 2 (सैनिका-- / स्तव, with a double hyphen); written here with the sandhi स् moved to the end of line 1 (सैनिकास् । तव), as the critical edition prints it (sainikās; tava).

Verse 8 (8.21.8)

तदतिरुधिरभीममाबभौ । पुरुषवराश्वरथद्विपाकुलम् । लवणजलसमुद्धतस्वनं । बलमसुरामरसैन्यसप्रभम् ॥

tadatirudhirabhīmamābabhau | puruṣavarāśvarathadvipākulam | lavaṇajalasamuddhatasvanaṃ | balamasurāmarasainyasaprabham

That army, dreadful with blood and crowded with the best of men, horses, chariots and elephants, roared like the swollen salt sea and shone like the host of the asuras and the immortals.

Note on the text: Corrected लवणजलसमुद्वतस्वनं → लवणजलसमुद्धतस्वनं (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध, a broken conjunct; CE samuddhata). Four lines (CE 8.21.8ab and 8cd). Wikisource's wording differs slightly from CE (similarity 0.898); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 9 (8.21.9)

सुरपतिसमविक्रमस्ततस् । त्रिदशवरावरजोपमं युधि । दिनकरकिरणप्रभैः पृषत्कै । रवितनयोऽभ्यहनच्छिनिप्रवीरम् ॥

surapatisamavikramastatas | tridaśavarāvarajopamaṃ yudhi | dinakarakiraṇaprabhaiḥ pṛṣatkai | ravitanayo'bhyahanacchinipravīram

Then Karna, the son of the Sun, whose prowess matched the lord of the gods, struck with arrows bright as the rays of the sun the hero of the Shinis, who in the fight was like the younger brother of the chief of the gods.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.9ab and 9cd). The page splits a sandhi across lines 1 and 2 (विक्रमस्तत-- / स्त्रिदश, with a double hyphen); written here with the sandhi स् moved to the end of line 1 (विक्रमस्ततस् । त्रिदश), as the critical edition prints it (vikramas tatas; tridaśa).

Verse 10 (8.21.10)

तमपि सरथवाजिसारथिं । शिनिवृषभो विविधैः शरैस्त्वरन् । भुजगविषसमप्रभै रणे । पुरुषवरं समवास्तृणोत्तदा ॥

tamapi sarathavājisārathiṃ | śinivṛṣabho vividhaiḥ śaraistvaran | bhujagaviṣasamaprabhai raṇe | puruṣavaraṃ samavāstṛṇottadā

In turn the bull of the Shinis quickly covered that best of men, with his chariot, horses and charioteer, in arrows of many kinds, bright as serpent venom.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.10ab and 10cd).

Verse 11 (8.21.11)

शिनिवृषभशरैर्निपीडितं । तव सुहृदो वसुषेणमभ्ययुः । त्वरितमतिरथा रथर्षभं । द्विरदरथाश्वपदातिभिः सह ॥

śinivṛṣabhaśarairnipīḍitaṃ | tava suhṛdo vasuṣeṇamabhyayuḥ | tvaritamatirathā ratharṣabhaṃ | dviradarathāśvapadātibhiḥ saha

Tormented by the arrows of the bull of the Shinis, your friends, great chariot-warriors, hurried to Vasusena, the best of charioteers, with elephants, chariots, horses and foot-soldiers.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.11ab and 11cd).

Verse 12 (8.21.12)

तदुदधिनिभमाद्रवद्बलं । त्वरिततरैः समभिद्रुतं परैः । द्रुपदसुतमुखैस्तदाऽभवत् । पुरुषरथाश्वगजक्षयो महान् ॥

tadudadhinibhamādravadbalaṃ | tvaritataraiḥ samabhidrutaṃ paraiḥ | drupadasutamukhaistadā'bhavat | puruṣarathāśvagajakṣayo mahān

That host, like the ocean, surged forward, and, swiftly assailed by enemies led by the sons of Drupada, suffered a great destruction of men, chariots, horses and elephants.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.12ab and 12cd). Wikisource's wording differs from CE (similarity 0.876; CE line 3 reads drupadasutasakhas tadākarot); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 13 (8.21.13)

अथ पुरुषवरौ कृताह्निकौ । भवमभिपूज्य यथाविधि प्रभुम् । अरिवधकृतनिश्चयौ द्रुतं । तव बलमर्जुनकेशवौ सृतौ ॥

atha puruṣavarau kṛtāhnikau | bhavamabhipūjya yathāvidhi prabhum | arivadhakṛtaniścayau drutaṃ | tava balamarjunakeśavau sṛtau

Then Arjuna and Keshava, those two best of men, having performed their daily rites and duly worshipped the lord Bhava, resolved on slaying their foes, swiftly came to your army.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.13ab and 13cd).

Verse 14 (8.21.14)

जलदनिनदनिःस्वनं रथं । पवनविधूतपताककेतनम् । सितहयमुपयान्तमन्तिकं । कृतमनसो ददृशुस्तदाऽरयः ॥

jaladaninadaniḥsvanaṃ rathaṃ | pavanavidhūtapatākaketanam | sitahayamupayāntamantikaṃ | kṛtamanaso dadṛśustadā'rayaḥ

Their enemies, with minds made up, saw that chariot coming near, rumbling like thundercloud, its banner and pennant stirred by the wind, drawn by white horses.

Note on the text: Four lines (CE 8.21.14ab and 14cd). Wikisource has कृतमनसः where CE reads hṛtamanasaḥ; a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept. The CE star passage 8.21.14d*0184_01–04 (on Bhima) is not in Wikisource.

Verse 15 (8.21.15)

अथ विष्फार्य गाण्डीवं रथे नृत्यन्निवार्जुनः । शरसम्बाधमकरोत्खं दिशः प्रदिशस्तथा ॥

atha viṣphārya gāṇḍīvaṃ rathe nṛtyannivārjunaḥ | śarasambādhamakarotkhaṃ diśaḥ pradiśastathā

Then Arjuna, twanging the Gandiva, as though dancing upon his chariot, crowded the sky and all the quarters and intermediate quarters with arrows.

Verse 16 (8.21.16)

रथान्विमानप्रतिमान्मज्जयन्सायुधध्वजान् । ससारथींस्तदा बाणैरभ्राणीवानिलोऽवधीत् ॥

rathānvimānapratimānmajjayansāyudhadhvajān | sasārathīṃstadā bāṇairabhrāṇīvānilo'vadhīt

With his arrows he destroyed the chariots, like celestial cars, along with their weapons, banners and charioteers, as the wind destroys clouds.

Verse 17 (8.21.17)

गजान्गजप्रयन्तॄंश्च वैजयन्त्यायुधध्वजान् । सादिनोऽश्वांश्च पत्तींश्च शरैर्निन्ये यमक्षयम् ॥

gajāngajaprayantṝṃśca vaijayantyāyudhadhvajān | sādino'śvāṃśca pattīṃśca śarairninye yamakṣayam

Elephants and their drivers, with their pennants, weapons and banners, horsemen and horses, and foot-soldiers, he sent with his arrows to the abode of Yama.

Verse 18 (8.21.18)

तमन्तकमिव क्रुद्धमनिवार्यं महारथम् । दुर्योधनोऽभ्ययादेको निघ्नन्बाणैरजिह्मगैः ॥

tamantakamiva kruddhamanivāryaṃ mahāratham | duryodhano'bhyayādeko nighnanbāṇairajihmagaiḥ

Duryodhana alone advanced against him, that irresistible great chariot-warrior, angry as Death, striking with straight-flying arrows.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording differs from CE 8.21.18 (similarity 0.893); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 19 (8.21.19)

तस्यार्जुनो धनुः सूतमश्वान्केतुं च सायकैः । हत्वा सप्तभिरेकेन च्छत्रं चिच्छेद पत्रिणा ॥

tasyārjuno dhanuḥ sūtamaśvānketuṃ ca sāyakaiḥ | hatvā saptabhirekena cchatraṃ ciccheda patriṇā

Arjuna, with seven arrows, destroyed his bow, charioteer, horses and banner, and with one more shaft cut his parasol.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording differs from CE 8.21.19 (similarity 0.843); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 20 (8.21.20)

नवमं च समाधाय व्यसृजत्प्राणघातिनम् । दुर्योधनायेषुवरं तं द्रौणिः सप्तधाऽच्छिनत् ॥

navamaṃ ca samādhāya vyasṛjatprāṇaghātinam | duryodhanāyeṣuvaraṃ taṃ drauṇiḥ saptadhā'cchinat

Taking up a ninth, he let it fly at Duryodhana, a fine arrow that would end his life; Drona's son cut that arrow into seven pieces.

Verse 21 (8.21.21)

ततो द्रौणेर्धनुश्छित्वा हत्वा चाश्वरथाञ्शरैः । कृपस्यापि तदत्युग्रं धनुश्चिच्छेद पाण्डवः ॥

tato drauṇerdhanuśchitvā hatvā cāśvarathāñśaraiḥ | kṛpasyāpi tadatyugraṃ dhanuściccheda pāṇḍavaḥ

Then the Pandava cut Drona's son's bow and slew his horses and chariot with arrows, and cut Kripa's terrible bow as well.

Verse 22 (8.21.22)

हार्दिक्यस्य धनुश्छित्त्वा ध्वजं चाश्वांस्तदाऽवधीत् । दुःशासनस्येष्वसनं छित्त्वा राधेयमभ्ययात् ॥

hārdikyasya dhanuśchittvā dhvajaṃ cāśvāṃstadā'vadhīt | duḥśāsanasyeṣvasanaṃ chittvā rādheyamabhyayāt

Having cut the bow of Hardikya (Kritavarma), he killed his banner and horses, and having cut Duhshasana's bow, he went against Radheya (Karna).

Verse 23 (8.21.23)

अथ सात्यकिमुत्सृज्य त्वरन्कर्णोऽर्जुनं त्रिभिः । विद्ध्वा विव्याध विंशत्या कृष्णं पार्थं पुनःपुनः ॥

atha sātyakimutsṛjya tvarankarṇo'rjunaṃ tribhiḥ | viddhvā vivyādha viṃśatyā kṛṣṇaṃ pārthaṃ punaḥpunaḥ

Then Karna, quickly leaving Satyaki, struck Arjuna with three arrows, and having struck him pierced Krishna with twenty and Partha again and again.

Note on the text: Corrected विद्व्वा → विद्ध्वा (misprint in Wikisource; व्व for ध्व, a broken conjunct; CE viddhvā). Wikisource's wording differs from CE 8.21.23 (similarity 0.899); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 24 (8.21.24)

न ग्लानिरासीत्कर्णस्य क्षिपतः सायकान्बहून् । रणे विनिघ्नतः शत्रून्क्रुद्धस्येव शतक्रतोः ॥

na glānirāsītkarṇasya kṣipataḥ sāyakānbahūn | raṇe vinighnataḥ śatrūnkruddhasyeva śatakratoḥ

As he shot his many arrows, striking down his foes in the battle like angered Indra, Karna felt no weariness.

Note on the text: Corresponds to the CE star passage 8.21.23d*0185_01–02 (na glānir āsīt karṇasya kṣipataḥ sāyakān bahūn / raṇe vinighnataḥ śatrūn kruddhasyeva śatakratoḥ). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 25 (8.21.25)

अथ सात्यकिरागत्य कर्णं विद्ध्वा शितैः शरैः । नवत्या नवभिश्चोग्रैः शतेन पुनरार्पयत् ॥

atha sātyakirāgatya karṇaṃ viddhvā śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | navatyā navabhiścograiḥ śatena punarārpayat

Then Satyaki came up and struck Karna with sharp arrows, wounding him again with ninety, with nine fierce arrows, and with a hundred.

Note on the text: Corrected विद्द्वा → विद्ध्वा (misprint in Wikisource; द्द्व for द्ध्व, a broken conjunct; CE viddhvā). Wikisource reads आर्पयत् where CE has ārdayat; a recension variant (arpayat, "struck"), Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 26 (8.21.26)

ततः प्रवीराः पार्थानां सर्वे कर्णमपीडयन् । युधामन्युः शिखण्डी च द्रौपदेयाः प्रभद्रकाः ॥

tataḥ pravīrāḥ pārthānāṃ sarve karṇamapīḍayan | yudhāmanyuḥ śikhaṇḍī ca draupadeyāḥ prabhadrakāḥ

Then all the foremost heroes of the Pandavas pressed hard on Karna: Yudhamanyu, Shikhandi, the sons of Draupadi, the Prabhadrakas,

Verse 27 (8.21.27)

उत्तमौजा युयुत्सुश्च यमौ पार्षत एव च । चेदिकारूषमात्स्यानां केकयानां च यद्बलं ॥

uttamaujā yuyutsuśca yamau pārṣata eva ca | cedikārūṣamātsyānāṃ kekayānāṃ ca yadbalaṃ

Uttamaujas, Yuyutsu, the twins, Parshata (Dhrishtadyumna), and whatever force there was of the Chedis, Karushas, Matsyas and Kekayas,

Note on the text: Corrected चेदिकारूशमात्स्यानां → चेदिकारूषमात्स्यानां (misprint in Wikisource; श for ष in the name of the Karushas; CE kārūṣa). Corresponds to CE 8.21.26a and 26c. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 28 (8.21.28)

चेकितानश्च बलवान्धर्मराजश्च सुव्रतः । एते रथाश्वद्विरदैः पत्तिभिश्चोग्रविक्रमैः ॥

cekitānaśca balavāndharmarājaśca suvrataḥ | ete rathāśvadviradaiḥ pattibhiścogravikramaiḥ

and the mighty Chekitana, and Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) of firm vows — these, with chariots, horses, elephants and fierce-fighting foot-soldiers,

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 8.21.26e and line 2 to CE 8.21.27a. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 29 (8.21.29)

परिवार्य रणे कर्णं नानाशस्त्रैरवाकिरन् । भाषन्तो वाग्भिरुग्राभिः सर्वे कर्णवधे धृताः ॥

parivārya raṇe karṇaṃ nānāśastrairavākiran | bhāṣanto vāgbhirugrābhiḥ sarve karṇavadhe dhṛtāḥ

surrounded Karna in the battle and showered him with weapons of many kinds, all of them shouting fierce words, set on the slaying of Karna.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 8.21.27c and 27e. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 30 (8.21.30)

तां शस्त्रवृष्टिं बहुधा कर्णश्छित्त्वा शितैः शरैः । अपोवाहास्त्रवीर्येण द्रुमं भङ्क्त्वेव मारुतः ॥

tāṃ śastravṛṣṭiṃ bahudhā karṇaśchittvā śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | apovāhāstravīryeṇa drumaṃ bhaṅktveva mārutaḥ

Karna cut that rain of weapons in many ways with sharp arrows and swept it away by the power of his missile, as the wind breaks a tree and carries it off.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording differs from CE 8.21.28 (similarity 0.741); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 31 (8.21.31)

रथिनः समहामात्रान्गजानश्वान्ससादिनः । पत्तिव्रातांश्च सङ्क्रुद्धो निघ्नन्कर्णो व्यदृश्यत ॥

rathinaḥ samahāmātrāngajānaśvānsasādinaḥ | pattivrātāṃśca saṅkruddho nighnankarṇo vyadṛśyata

Enraged, Karna was seen slaying chariot-warriors, elephants with their drivers, horses with their riders, and bands of foot-soldiers.

Note on the text: Corrected सङ्क्रुद्वो → सङ्क्रुद्धो (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध, a broken conjunct).

Verse 32 (8.21.32)

तद्वध्यमानं पाण्डूनां बलं कर्णास्त्रतेजसा । विशस्त्रपत्रदेहासु प्राय आसीत्पराङ्मुखम् ॥

tadvadhyamānaṃ pāṇḍūnāṃ balaṃ karṇāstratejasā | viśastrapatradehāsu prāya āsītparāṅmukham

Cut down by the blaze of Karna's missiles, the Pandava army, its weapons lost and its bodies and lives struck by arrows, for the most part turned away from the fight.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording of line 2 (विशस्त्रपत्रदेहासु) differs from CE 8.21.30 (viśastrakṣatadehaṃ ca); the compound is intelligible as it stands, so it is kept and the sense is uncertain.

Verse 33 (8.21.33)

अथ कर्णास्त्रमस्त्रेण प्रतिहत्यार्जुनः स्मयन् । दिशं खं चैव भूमिं च प्रावृणोच्छरवृष्टिभिः ॥

atha karṇāstramastreṇa pratihatyārjunaḥ smayan | diśaṃ khaṃ caiva bhūmiṃ ca prāvṛṇoccharavṛṣṭibhiḥ

Then Arjuna, smiling, countered Karna's missile with a missile and covered the quarters, the sky and the earth with showers of arrows.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads स्मयन् where CE has svayam; a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 34 (8.21.34)

मुसलानीव सम्पेतुः परिघा इव चेषवः । शतघ्न्य इव चाप्यन्ये वज्राण्युग्राणि चापरे ॥

musalānīva sampetuḥ parighā iva ceṣavaḥ | śataghnya iva cāpyanye vajrāṇyugrāṇi cāpare

The arrows fell like pestles, like iron bars, others like shataghnis, and others like fierce thunderbolts.

Verse 35 (8.21.35)

तैर्वध्यमानं तत्सैन्यं सपत्त्यश्वरथद्विपम् । निमीलिताक्षमत्यर्थं बभ्राम च ननाद च ॥

tairvadhyamānaṃ tatsainyaṃ sapattyaśvarathadvipam | nimīlitākṣamatyarthaṃ babhrāma ca nanāda ca

Battered by them, that army, with its foot, horses, chariots and elephants, eyes tightly shut, reeled about and cried out.

Verse 36 (8.21.36)

निष्कैवल्यं तदा युद्धं प्रापुरश्वनरद्विपाः । हन्यमानाः शरैरार्तास्तदा भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः ॥

niṣkaivalyaṃ tadā yuddhaṃ prāpuraśvanaradvipāḥ | hanyamānāḥ śarairārtāstadā bhītāḥ pradudruvuḥ

Horses, men and elephants met a battle in which death was certain; struck by arrows, afflicted and terrified, they fled.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्वं → युद्धं (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध, a broken conjunct). Wikisource's wording differs from CE 8.21.34 (similarity 0.877); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 37 (8.21.37)

त्वदीयानां तदा युद्धे संसक्तानां जयैषिणाम् । गिरिमस्तं समासाद्य प्रत्यपद्यत भानुमान् ॥

tvadīyānāṃ tadā yuddhe saṃsaktānāṃ jayaiṣiṇām | girimastaṃ samāsādya pratyapadyata bhānumān

While your men, eager for victory, were locked in the fight, the sun reached the western mountain and set.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्वे → युद्धे (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध, a broken conjunct).

Verse 38 (8.21.38)

तमसा च महाराज रजसा च विशेषतः । न किञ्चित्प्रत्यपश्याम शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम् ॥

tamasā ca mahārāja rajasā ca viśeṣataḥ | na kiñcitpratyapaśyāma śubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham

Then, O great king, with darkness and above all dust, we could see nothing at all, good or bad.

Verse 39 (8.21.39)

ते त्रस्यन्तो महेष्वासा रात्रियुद्धस्य भारत । अपयानं ततश्चक्रुः सहिताः सर्वयोधिभिः ॥

te trasyanto maheṣvāsā rātriyuddhasya bhārata | apayānaṃ tataścakruḥ sahitāḥ sarvayodhibhiḥ

Afraid of a battle by night, O Bharata, those great archers withdrew together with all the warriors.

Note on the text: Corrected रात्रियुद्वस्य → रात्रियुद्धस्य (misprint in Wikisource; द्व for द्ध, a broken conjunct).

Verse 40 (8.21.40)

कौरवेष्वपयातेषु तदा राजन्दिनक्षये । जयं सुमनसः प्राप्य पार्थाः स्वशिबिरं ययुः ॥

kauraveṣvapayāteṣu tadā rājandinakṣaye | jayaṃ sumanasaḥ prāpya pārthāḥ svaśibiraṃ yayuḥ

When the Kauravas had gone, O king, at the close of day, the Parthas, glad at their victory, went to their own camp.

Verse 41 (8.21.41)

वादित्रशब्दैर्विविधैः सिंहनादैः सगर्जितैः । परानवहसन्तश्च स्तुवन्तश्चाच्युतार्जुनौ ॥

vāditraśabdairvividhaiḥ siṃhanādaiḥ sagarjitaiḥ | parānavahasantaśca stuvantaścācyutārjunau

With the sound of many instruments, lion-roars and bellowing, laughing at their enemies and praising Achyuta and Arjuna,

Note on the text: Corrected परानुवहन्तश्च → परानवहसन्तश्च (misprint in Wikisource; a lost akshara and a stray vowel sign; the sense "laughing at the enemy" is confirmed by CE parān avahasantaś ca). Wikisource's wording of line 1 differs from CE 8.21.39 (nartitaiḥ for सगर्जितैः); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 42 (8.21.42)

कृतेऽवहारे तैर्वीरैः सैनिकाः सर्व एव ते । आशीर्वाचः पाण्डवेषु प्रायुञ्जन्त नरेश्वराः ॥

kṛte'vahāre tairvīraiḥ sainikāḥ sarva eva te | āśīrvācaḥ pāṇḍaveṣu prāyuñjanta nareśvarāḥ

when those heroes had called off the fighting, all the soldiers, those lords of men, pronounced blessings upon the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording differs slightly from CE 8.21.40 (similarity 0.877); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 43 (8.21.43)

ततः कृतेऽवहारे च प्रहृष्टास्तत्र पाण्डवाः । निशायां शिबिरं गत्वा न्यवसन्त नरेश्वराः ॥

tataḥ kṛte'vahāre ca prahṛṣṭāstatra pāṇḍavāḥ | niśāyāṃ śibiraṃ gatvā nyavasanta nareśvarāḥ

After the withdrawal, the delighted Pandavas went to their camp for the night, and those lords of men settled down.

Verse 44 (8.21.44)

ततो रक्षः पिशाचाश्च श्वापदाश्चैव सङ्घशः । जग्मुरायोधनं घोरं रुद्रस्याक्रीडसन्निभम् ॥

tato rakṣaḥ piśācāśca śvāpadāścaiva saṅghaśaḥ | jagmurāyodhanaṃ ghoraṃ rudrasyākrīḍasannibham

Then rakshasas, pishachas and beasts of prey went in droves to that dreadful battlefield, which was like the playground of Rudra.

Note on the text: Wikisource's wording differs from CE 8.21.42 (similarity 0.78: CE has yakṣarakṣaḥpiśācāś ca śvāpadāni ca); a recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept.