Arjuna Routs the Army; Bhima Defeats Shakuni

Verse 1 (8.81.1)

श्रुत्वा तु रथनिर्घोषं सिंहनादं च संयुगे । अर्जुनः प्राह गोविन्दं शीघ्रं वाहय वाजिनः ॥

śrutvā tu rathanirghoṣaṃ siṃhanādaṃ ca saṃyuge | arjunaḥ prāha govindaṃ śīghraṃ vāhaya vājinaḥ

Hearing the rumble of chariots and the lions' roar in the battle, Arjuna said to Govinda, "Drive the horses quickly."

Verse 2 (8.81.2)

अर्जुनस्य वचः श्रुत्वा गोविन्दोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत् । एष गच्छामि सुक्षिप्रं यत्र भीमो व्यवस्थितः ॥

arjunasya vacaḥ śrutvā govindo'rjunamabravīt | eṣa gacchāmi sukṣipraṃ yatra bhīmo vyavasthitaḥ

Hearing Arjuna's words, Govinda answered him, "Here I go, very swiftly, to where Bhima stands."

Verse 3 (8.81.3)

तं यान्तमश्वा हिमशङ्खवर्णाः । सुवर्णमुक्तामणिजालनद्धाः । जम्भं जिघांसुं प्रगृहीतवज्रं । हया यथा तत्र यथा वहंस्तदा ॥

taṃ yāntamaśvā himaśaṅkhavarṇāḥ | suvarṇamuktāmaṇijālanaddhāḥ | jambhaṃ jighāṃsuṃ pragṛhītavajraṃ | hayā yathā tatra yathā vahaṃstadā

As he went, horses white as snow or conch, covered with nets of gold, pearls and gems, bore him along, as horses once bore Indra, thunderbolt in hand, fiercely eager to slay Jambha.

Note on the text: Kept as printed: line 1 (तं यान्तमश्वा … नद्धाः, nominative) and line 4 (हया यथा तत्र यथा वहंस्तदा) differ from the critical edition 8.55.3 (āyāntam aśvair … naddhaiḥ, instrumental; line 4 jayāya devendram ivogramanyum). Line 4 reads as a corrupt or variant text, but no smallest fix gives the evident word, so it is left unchanged and translated by its sense.

Verse 4 (8.81.4)

रथाश्वमातङ्गपदातिसङ्घा । बाणस्वनैर्नेमिखुरस्वनैश्च । सन्नादयन्तो वसुधां दिशश्च । क्रुद्धा नृसिंहा जयमभ्युदीयुः ॥

rathāśvamātaṅgapadātisaṅghā | bāṇasvanairnemikhurasvanaiśca | sannādayanto vasudhāṃ diśaśca | kruddhā nṛsiṃhā jayamabhyudīyuḥ

Hosts of chariots, horses, elephants and foot-soldiers, filling the earth and the quarters with the din of arrows and the clatter of wheel-rims and hooves, rose up in rage, like lions among men, to win the victory.

Note on the text: Corrected अभ्युदीयः → अभ्युदीयुः (misprint in Wikisource; the third-person plural ending ु is dropped; the critical edition reads abhyudīyuḥ). The page prints four lines (8-81-4a–d), which are CE 8.55.4 (two lines of two pādas each).

Verse 5 (8.81.5)

तेषां च पार्थस्य च मारिषासीद् । देहासुपापक्षपणं सुयुद्धम् । त्रैलोक्यहेतोरसुरैर्यथासीद् । देवस्य विष्णोर्जयतां वरस्य ॥

teṣāṃ ca pārthasya ca māriṣāsīd | dehāsupāpakṣapaṇaṃ suyuddham | trailokyahetorasurairyathāsīd | devasya viṣṇorjayatāṃ varasya

Between them and Partha, O sire, there was a fine battle that destroyed bodies, life-breaths and sins, like the battle of the god Vishnu, best of conquerors, with the asuras for the sake of the three worlds.

Note on the text: Changed मारिषासी-- / द्देहासुपाप… → मारिषासीद् / देहासुपाप… and यथासी-- / द्देवस्य → यथासीद् / देवस्य (the page splits the sandhi across lines with a double hyphen (--); the consonant is moved to the end of the earlier line, the critical edition reading tadāsīd; dehāsu…, yathāsīd; devasya). Lines 1–2 differ from CE 8.55.5ab (mahat tadāsīd; dehāsupāpmakṣapaṇaṃ) in मारिष for mahat and पाप for pāpma; kept as recension readings. Four lines = CE 8.55.5.

Verse 6 (8.81.6)

तैरस्तमुच्चावचमायुधं तत् । एकः प्रचिच्छेद किरीटमाली । क्षुरार्धचन्द्रैर्निशितैश्च भल्लैः । शिरांसि तेषां बहुधा च बाहून् ॥

tairastamuccāvacamāyudhaṃ tat | ekaḥ praciccheda kirīṭamālī | kṣurārdhacandrairniśitaiśca bhallaiḥ | śirāṃsi teṣāṃ bahudhā ca bāhūn

Alone, the wearer of the diadem cut to pieces the weapons of every kind that they hurled, and with razor-headed arrows, crescent-headed arrows and sharp broad-headed shafts cut their heads and arms into many parts.

Note on the text: Changed त-- / देकः → तत् / एकः (the page splits तदेकः across lines with a double hyphen (--); the sandhi consonant is moved to the end of line 1). Line 3 reads भल्लैः where CE 8.55.6 has bāṇaiḥ (recension variant, kept). Four lines = CE 8.55.6.

Verse 7 (8.81.7)

छत्राणि वालव्यजनानि केतून् । अश्वान्रथान्पत्तिगणान्द्विपांश्च । ते पेतुरुर्व्यां बहुधा विकृत्ता । वातप्रणुन्नानि यथा वनानि ॥

chatrāṇi vālavyajanāni ketūn | aśvānrathānpattigaṇāndvipāṃśca | te petururvyāṃ bahudhā vikṛttā | vātapraṇunnāni yathā vanāni

Umbrellas, yak-tail fans, banners, horses, chariots, bands of foot-soldiers and elephants, cut to pieces, fell to the ground like forests struck down by the wind.

Note on the text: Changed केतू-- / नश्वान् → केतून् / अश्वान् (the page splits the sandhi केतूनश्वान् across lines with a double hyphen (--); the न् is moved to the end of line 1). Four lines = CE 8.55.7 (विकृत्ता for virūpā, वातप्रणुन्नानि for vātaprabhagnāni are recension variants, kept).

Verse 8 (8.81.8)

सुवर्णजालावनता महागजाः । सवैजयन्तीध्वजयोधकल्पिताः । सुवर्णपुङ्खैरिषुभिः समाचिताः । चकाशिरे प्रज्वलिता यथाचलाः ॥

suvarṇajālāvanatā mahāgajāḥ | savaijayantīdhvajayodhakalpitāḥ | suvarṇapuṅkhairiṣubhiḥ samācitāḥ | cakāśire prajvalitā yathācalāḥ

Great elephants hung with nets of gold, decked with pennants and carrying warriors, covered all over with arrows of golden feathers, gleamed like blazing mountains.

Note on the text: Corrected सुवर्णपुङ्घैः → सुवर्णपुङ्खैः (misprint in Wikisource; घ for ख; the critical edition reads suvarṇapuṅkhair). Changed समाचिता-- / शकाशिरे → समाचिताः / चकाशिरे (the page splits समाचिताश्चकाशिरे across lines with a double hyphen (--) and prints the second part as शकाशिरे, dropping the च of the conjunct and the first letter; written here with the word-final visarga resolved, the critical edition reading samācitāś; cakāśire). Four lines = CE 8.55.8.

Verse 9 (8.81.9)

विदार्य नागाश्वरथान्धनञ्जयः । शरोत्तमैर्वासववज्रसन्निभैः । द्रुतं ययौ कर्णजिघांसया तथा । यथा मरुत्वान्बलभेदने पुरा ॥

vidārya nāgāśvarathāndhanañjayaḥ | śarottamairvāsavavajrasannibhaiḥ | drutaṃ yayau karṇajighāṃsayā tathā | yathā marutvānbalabhedane purā

Splitting elephants, horses and chariots with the best of arrows, which were like Indra's thunderbolt, Dhananjaya sped swiftly toward Karna, eager to kill him, as Indra once went forth to slay Bala.

Note on the text: Corrected धञ्जयः → धनञ्जयः (misprint in Wikisource; the syllable न is dropped). Lines differ from CE 8.55.9 in line 1 (…नागाश्वरथान् vs nāgāṃś ca rathāṃś ca vājinaḥ); kept as a recension reading. Four lines = CE 8.55.9.

Verse 10 (8.81.10)

ततः स पुरुषव्याघ्रस्तव सैन्यमरिन्दमः । प्रविवेश महाबाहुर्मकरः सागरं यथा ॥

tataḥ sa puruṣavyāghrastava sainyamarindamaḥ | praviveśa mahābāhurmakaraḥ sāgaraṃ yathā

Then that tiger among men, tormentor of foes, mighty-armed, entered your army as a sea-monster enters the ocean.

Verse 11 (8.81.11)

तं हृष्टास्तावका राजन्रथपत्तिसमन्विताः । गजाश्वसादिबहुलाः पाण्डवं समुपाद्रवन् ॥

taṃ hṛṣṭāstāvakā rājanrathapattisamanvitāḥ | gajāśvasādibahulāḥ pāṇḍavaṃ samupādravan

Seeing him, O king, your delighted troops, with chariots and foot-soldiers, and many elephants and horsemen, rushed upon the Pandava.

Verse 12 (8.81.12)

तेषामापततां पार्थमारावः सुमहानभूत् । सागरस्येव क्षुब्धस्य यथा स्यात्सलिलस्वनः ॥

teṣāmāpatatāṃ pārthamārāvaḥ sumahānabhūt | sāgarasyeva kṣubdhasya yathā syātsalilasvanaḥ

As they rushed at Partha, a tremendous clamour arose, like the roar of water in a stormy ocean.

Verse 13 (8.81.13)

ते तु तं पुरुषव्याघ्रं व्याघ्रा इव महारथाः । अभ्यद्रवन्त सङ्ग्रामे त्यक्त्वा प्राणकृतं भयम् ॥

te tu taṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ vyāghrā iva mahārathāḥ | abhyadravanta saṅgrāme tyaktvā prāṇakṛtaṃ bhayam

Those great charioteers, like tigers, rushed in the battle at that tiger among men, casting off the fear that comes from concern for life.

Verse 14 (8.81.14)

तेषामापततां तत्र शरवर्षाणि मुञ्चताम् । अर्जुनो व्यधमत्सैन्यं महावातो घनानिव ॥

teṣāmāpatatāṃ tatra śaravarṣāṇi muñcatām | arjuno vyadhamatsainyaṃ mahāvāto ghanāniva

As they charged and showered arrows, Arjuna scattered their army as a great wind scatters clouds.

Verse 15 (8.81.15)

तेऽर्जुनं सहिता भूत्वा रथवंशैः प्रहारिणः । अभियाय महेष्वासा विव्यधुर्निशितैः शरैः ॥

te'rjunaṃ sahitā bhūtvā rathavaṃśaiḥ prahāriṇaḥ | abhiyāya maheṣvāsā vivyadhurniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Banding together, those great archers, fierce strikers with their lines of chariots, came up to Arjuna and pierced him with sharp arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected ग्रहारिणः → प्रहारिणः (misprint in Wikisource; ग for प; the critical edition reads prahāriṇaḥ). The critical edition has the star passage 8.55.15d*0838 (eleven lines on weapons and kings) after this verse; it is not in Wikisource.

Verse 16 (8.81.16)

ततोऽर्जुनः सहस्राणि रथवारणवाजिनाम् । प्रेषयामास विशिखैर्यमस्य सदनं प्रति ॥

tato'rjunaḥ sahasrāṇi rathavāraṇavājinām | preṣayāmāsa viśikhairyamasya sadanaṃ prati

Then with his arrows Arjuna sent thousands of chariots, elephants and horses to the abode of Yama.

Verse 17 (8.81.17)

ते वध्यमानाः समरे पार्थचापच्युतैः शरैः । तत्रतत्र स्म लीयन्ते भये जाते महारथाः ॥

te vadhyamānāḥ samare pārthacāpacyutaiḥ śaraiḥ | tatratatra sma līyante bhaye jāte mahārathāḥ

Struck down in the battle by the arrows loosed from Partha's bow, those great charioteers, seized by fear, hid themselves here and there.

Verse 18 (8.81.18)

तेषां चतुःशतान्वीरान्यतमानान्महारथान् । अर्जुनो निशितैर्बाणैरनयद्यमसादनम् ॥

teṣāṃ catuḥśatānvīrānyatamānānmahārathān | arjuno niśitairbāṇairanayadyamasādanam

Of those great charioteers who were striving hard, Arjuna led four hundred heroes to Yama's abode with sharp arrows.

Verse 19 (8.81.19)

ते वध्यमानाः समरे नानालिङ्गैः शितैः शरैः । अर्जुनं समभित्यज्य दुद्रुवुर्वै दिशो दश ॥

te vadhyamānāḥ samare nānāliṅgaiḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | arjunaṃ samabhityajya dudruvurvai diśo daśa

Struck in the battle by sharp arrows of many kinds, they abandoned Arjuna and fled in the ten directions.

Verse 20 (8.81.20)

तेषां शब्दो महानासीद्द्रवतां वाहिनीमुखे । मेघौघस्येव भद्रं ते गिरिमासाद्य दीर्यतः ॥

teṣāṃ śabdo mahānāsīddravatāṃ vāhinīmukhe | meghaughasyeva bhadraṃ te girimāsādya dīryataḥ

As they fled at the head of the host, a great noise rose from them, like the roar of a mass of clouds, may good befall you, splitting as it strikes a mountain.

Verse 21 (8.81.21)

तां तु सेनां भृशं विद्ध्वा द्रावयित्वाऽर्जुनः शरैः । प्रायादभिमुखः पार्थः सूतानीकं हि मारिष ॥

tāṃ tu senāṃ bhṛśaṃ viddhvā drāvayitvā'rjunaḥ śaraiḥ | prāyādabhimukhaḥ pārthaḥ sūtānīkaṃ hi māriṣa

Having deeply pierced that army and driven it off with arrows, Partha Arjuna advanced, O sire, toward the host of the charioteer's son.

Verse 22 (8.81.22)

तस्य शब्दो महानासीत्परानभिमुखस्य वै । गरुडस्येव पततः पन्नगार्थे यथा पुरा ॥

tasya śabdo mahānāsītparānabhimukhasya vai | garuḍasyeva patataḥ pannagārthe yathā purā

As he advanced upon his enemies, a great noise rose from him, like that of Garuda swooping down in ancient days for the sake of the serpents.

Verse 23 (8.81.23)

तं तु शब्दमभिश्रुत्य भीमसेनो महाबलः । बभूव परमप्रीतः पार्थदर्शनलालसः ॥

taṃ tu śabdamabhiśrutya bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ | babhūva paramaprītaḥ pārthadarśanalālasaḥ

Hearing that sound, mighty Bhimasena became exceedingly glad, longing to see Partha.

Verse 24 (8.81.24)

श्रुत्वैव पार्थमायान्तं भीमसेनः प्रतापवान् । त्यक्त्वा प्राणान्महाराज सेनां तव ममर्द ह ॥

śrutvaiva pārthamāyāntaṃ bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān | tyaktvā prāṇānmahārāja senāṃ tava mamarda ha

As soon as he heard that Partha was coming, glorious Bhimasena, O great king, cast away all care for his life and crushed your army.

Verse 25 (8.81.25)

स वायुवीर्यप्रतिमो वायुवेगसमो जवे । वायुवद्व्यचरद्भीमो वायुपुत्रः प्रतापवान् ॥

sa vāyuvīryapratimo vāyuvegasamo jave | vāyuvadvyacaradbhīmo vāyuputraḥ pratāpavān

Equal to the wind in strength and like the wind in speed, Bhima, the glorious son of the Wind, ranged about like the wind itself.

Verse 26 (8.81.26)

तेनाद्यमाना राजेन्द्र सेना तव विशाम्पते । व्यभ्रश्यत महाराज भिन्ना नौरिव सागरे ॥

tenādyamānā rājendra senā tava viśāmpate | vyabhraśyata mahārāja bhinnā nauriva sāgare

Ground down by him, O king of kings, O lord of the people, your army, O great king, fell apart like a shattered ship at sea.

Note on the text: तेनाद्यमाना (“being devoured”) kept as a valid word; the critical edition reads tenārdyamānā (“being tormented”), and व्यभ्रश्यत for vyabhrāmyata.

Verse 27 (8.81.27)

तां तु सेनां तदा भीमो दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम् । शरैरवचकर्तोग्रैः प्रेषयिष्यन्यमक्षयम् ॥

tāṃ tu senāṃ tadā bhīmo darśayanpāṇilāghavam | śarairavacakartograiḥ preṣayiṣyanyamakṣayam

Then Bhima, showing his quickness of hand, cut that army to pieces with fierce arrows, intending to send them to Yama's realm.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रेपयिष्यन् → प्रेषयिष्यन् (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition reads preṣayiṣyan). The critical edition has the star passage 8.55.27b*0840 (nine lines on Bhima’s fighting) inside this verse; it is not in Wikisource.

Verse 28 (8.81.28)

तत्र भारत भीमस्य बलं दृष्ट्वातिमानुषम् । व्यत्रस्यन्त रणे योधाः कालस्येव युगक्षये ॥

tatra bhārata bhīmasya balaṃ dṛṣṭvātimānuṣam | vyatrasyanta raṇe yodhāḥ kālasyeva yugakṣaye

Seeing Bhima's superhuman strength there, O Bharata, the warriors in the battle trembled as before Time at the end of the age.

Verse 29 (8.81.29)

तथाऽर्दितान्भीमबलान्भीमसेनेन भारत । दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनो राजा इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

tathā'rditānbhīmabalānbhīmasenena bhārata | dṛṣṭvā duryodhano rājā idaṃ vacanamabravīt

Seeing his strong warriors tormented in this way by Bhimasena, O Bharata, King Duryodhana spoke these words.

Verse 30 (8.81.30)

सैनिकांश्च महेष्वासान्योधांश्च भरतर्षभ । समादिशन्रणे सर्वान्हत भीममिति स्म ह ॥

sainikāṃśca maheṣvāsānyodhāṃśca bharatarṣabha | samādiśanraṇe sarvānhata bhīmamiti sma ha

And he ordered the soldiers, the great archers and all the warriors in the battle, O best of the Bharatas: "Kill Bhima!"

Note on the text: Narration of the order; lines 1–2 = CE 8.55.30a and 30c; the third line of the critical edition’s three-line verse (30e) is verse 31 here.

Verse 31 (8.81.31)

तस्मिन्हते हतं मन्ये पाण्डुसैन्यमशेषतः ॥

tasminhate hataṃ manye pāṇḍusainyamaśeṣataḥ

"When he is slain, I consider the whole army of the Pandavas slain."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana (no heading is printed): the line is wholly his spoken order. = the third line (8.55.30e) of the critical edition’s three-line verse 8.55.30, which Wikisource divides as verses 30 and 31; the critical edition reads sarvasainyam (“the whole army”) for पाण्डुसैन्यम्.

Verse 32 (8.81.32)

प्रतिगृह्य च तामाज्ञां तव पुत्रस्य पार्थिवाः । भीमं प्रच्छादयामासुः शरवर्षैः समन्ततः ॥

pratigṛhya ca tāmājñāṃ tava putrasya pārthivāḥ | bhīmaṃ pracchādayāmāsuḥ śaravarṣaiḥ samantataḥ

Accepting that command of your son, the kings covered Bhima on every side with showers of arrows.

Note on the text: The critical edition has the star passage 8.55.31d*0841 (one line) after this verse; it is not in Wikisource.

Verse 33 (8.81.33)

गजाश्च बहुला राजन्नराश्च जयगृद्धिनः । रथे स्थिताश्च राजेन्द्र परिवव्रुर्वृकोदरम् ॥

gajāśca bahulā rājannarāśca jayagṛddhinaḥ | rathe sthitāśca rājendra parivavrurvṛkodaram

Many elephants, O king, and men eager for victory, and those standing in chariots, O king of kings, surrounded Vrikodara.

Verse 34 (8.81.34)

स तैः परिवृतः शूरैः शूरो राजन्समन्ततः । शुशुभे भरतश्रेष्ठो नक्षत्रैरिव चन्द्रमाः ॥

sa taiḥ parivṛtaḥ śūraiḥ śūro rājansamantataḥ | śuśubhe bharataśreṣṭho nakṣatrairiva candramāḥ

Surrounded on every side by those heroes, that hero, best of the Bharatas, shone, O king, like the moon among the stars.

Verse 35 (8.81.35)

परिवेषी यथा सोमः परिपूर्णो विराजते । स रराज तथा सङ्ख्ये दर्शनीयो नरोत्तमः । निर्विशेषो महाराज विजयेनैव संयुगे ॥

pariveṣī yathā somaḥ paripūrṇo virājate | sa rarāja tathā saṅkhye darśanīyo narottamaḥ | nirviśeṣo mahārāja vijayenaiva saṃyuge

As the full moon shines in its halo, so did that foremost of men, a sight worth seeing, shine in the battle, O great king, no different from victory itself in the fight.

Note on the text: Line 1 (परिवेषी यथा सोमः परिपूर्णो विराजते) is the critical edition’s star passage 8.55.33d*0842_01; lines 2–3 = CE 8.55.34 (nirviśeṣaṃ … yathā hi vijayas tathā; Wikisource reads निर्विशेषो महाराज विजयेनैव संयुगे, kept). ce_ref cites the main-text verse.

Verse 36 (8.81.36)

तस्य ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे शरवृष्टिं समासृजन् । क्रोधरक्तेक्षणाः शूरा हन्तुकामा वृकोदरम् ॥

tasya te pārthivāḥ sarve śaravṛṣṭiṃ samāsṛjan | krodharaktekṣaṇāḥ śūrā hantukāmā vṛkodaram

All those kings, their eyes red with anger, bold and eager to kill Vrikodara, loosed a rain of arrows upon him.

Verse 37 (8.81.37)

तां विदार्य महासेनां शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः । निश्चक्राम रणाद्भीमो मत्स्यो जालादिवाम्भसि ॥

tāṃ vidārya mahāsenāṃ śaraiḥ sannataparvabhiḥ | niścakrāma raṇādbhīmo matsyo jālādivāmbhasi

Breaking through that great army with arrows of straight joints, Bhima came out of the battle like a fish from a net into the water.

Verse 38 (8.81.38)

हत्वा दशसहस्राणि गजानामनिवर्तिनाम् । नृणां शतसहस्रे द्वे द्वे शते चैव भारत ॥

hatvā daśasahasrāṇi gajānāmanivartinām | nṛṇāṃ śatasahasre dve dve śate caiva bhārata

Having slain ten thousand elephants that never turn back, and two hundred thousand two hundred men, O Bharata,

Verse 39 (8.81.39)

पञ्च चाश्वसहस्राणि रथानां शतमेव च । हत्वा प्रास्यन्दयद्भीमो नदीं शोणितवाहिनीम् ॥

pañca cāśvasahasrāṇi rathānāṃ śatameva ca | hatvā prāsyandayadbhīmo nadīṃ śoṇitavāhinīm

and five thousand horses and a hundred chariots, Bhima set flowing a river of blood.

Verse 40 (8.81.40)

शोणितोदां रथावर्तां हस्तिग्राहसमाकुलाम् । नरमीनाश्वनक्रान्तां केशशैवलशाद्वलाम् ॥

śoṇitodāṃ rathāvartāṃ hastigrāhasamākulām | naramīnāśvanakrāntāṃ keśaśaivalaśādvalām

Its water was blood, its whirlpools were chariots; it was thick with elephants as its crocodiles, with men for its fish and horses for its sea-beasts, and its moss and grass were hair.

Verse 41 (8.81.41)

सञ्छिन्नभुजनागेन्द्रां बहुरत्नापहारिणीम् । ऊरुग्राहां मज्जपङ्कां शीर्षोपलसमावृताम् ॥

sañchinnabhujanāgendrāṃ bahuratnāpahāriṇīm | ūrugrāhāṃ majjapaṅkāṃ śīrṣopalasamāvṛtām

It was strewn with severed arms and great elephants and swept away many jewels; thighs were its crocodiles, marrow its mud, and it was covered with heads for stones.

Verse 42 (8.81.42)

धनुःकाशां शरावापां गदापरिघकेतनाम् । हंसछत्रध्वजोपेतामुष्णीषवरफेनिलाम् ॥

dhanuḥkāśāṃ śarāvāpāṃ gadāparighaketanām | haṃsachatradhvajopetāmuṣṇīṣavaraphenilām

Bows were its reeds, scattered arrows its sowing, clubs and iron bars its banners; it was adorned with swan-white parasols and standards, and fine turbans were its foam.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 8.55.41ab; line 2 (हंसछत्रध्वजोपेताम् उष्णीषवरफेनिलाम्) is the star passage 8.55.41b*0843_01, which the critical edition prints in the main apparatus.

Verse 43 (8.81.43)

हारपद्माकरां चैव भूमिरेणूर्मिमालिनीम् । आर्यवृत्तवतीं सङ्ख्ये सुतरां भीरुदुस्तराम् ॥

hārapadmākarāṃ caiva bhūmireṇūrmimālinīm | āryavṛttavatīṃ saṅkhye sutarāṃ bhīrudustarām

Necklaces were its lotus-beds, and a garland of waves of earth-dust ran along it; keeping to the noble course in the battle, it was easy to cross for the brave but impassable for the timid.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition’s main text: both lines are star passages 8.55.41b*0843_02 and *0843_03. ce_ref is null.

Verse 44 (8.81.44)

योधग्राहवतीं सङ्ख्ये वहन्तीं पितृसादनम् । क्षणेन पुरुषव्याघ्रः प्रावर्तयत निम्नगाम् ॥

yodhagrāhavatīṃ saṅkhye vahantīṃ pitṛsādanam | kṣaṇena puruṣavyāghraḥ prāvartayata nimnagām

With warriors for its crocodiles, flowing toward the abode of the fathers, that river the tiger among men set rolling in an instant.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 8.55.41cd (yodhavrātavatīṃ; Wikisource reads योधग्राहवतीं, a recension variant, kept); line 2 = CE 8.55.42a.

Verse 45 (8.81.45)

यथा वैतरणीमुग्रां दुस्तरामकृतात्मभिः । तथा दुस्तरणीं घोरां भीरूणां भयवर्धनीम् ॥

yathā vaitaraṇīmugrāṃ dustarāmakṛtātmabhiḥ | tathā dustaraṇīṃ ghorāṃ bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhanīm

As the dreadful Vaitarani is hard to cross for those of unpurified souls, so was that dreadful river hard to cross, increasing the fear of the timid.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 8.55.42cd; line 2 (तथा दुस्तरणीं घोरां भीरूणां भयवर्धनीम्) is the star passage 8.55.42d*0844_01.

Verse 46 (8.81.46)

यतोयतः पाण्डवेयः प्रविष्टो रथसत्तमः । ततस्ततः प्रापतन्वै योधाः शतसहस्रशः ॥

yatoyataḥ pāṇḍaveyaḥ praviṣṭo rathasattamaḥ | tatastataḥ prāpatanvai yodhāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ

Wherever the Pandava, best of charioteers, entered, there warriors fell by hundreds of thousands.

Verse 47 (8.81.47)

एवं दृष्ट्वा कृतं कर्म भीमसेनेन संयुगे । दुर्योधनो महाराज शकुनिं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

evaṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛtaṃ karma bhīmasenena saṃyuge | duryodhano mahārāja śakuniṃ vākyamabravīt

Seeing what Bhimasena had done in the battle, O great king, Duryodhana said these words to Shakuni:

Verse 48 (8.81.48)

जहि मातुल सङ्ग्रामे भीमसेनं महाबलम् । अस्मिञ्जिते जितं मन्ये पाण्डवेयं महाबलम् ॥

jahi mātula saṅgrāme bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam | asmiñjite jitaṃ manye pāṇḍaveyaṃ mahābalam

"Kill the mighty Bhimasena in battle, uncle. When he is conquered, I consider the mighty Pandavas conquered."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana (no heading is printed): the verse is wholly his speech to Shakuni.

Verse 49 (8.81.49)

ततः प्रायान्महाराज सौबलेयः प्रतापवान् । रणाय महते युक्तो भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः ॥

tataḥ prāyānmahārāja saubaleyaḥ pratāpavān | raṇāya mahate yukto bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ

Then, O great king, the glorious son of Subala set out, intent on a great battle and surrounded by his brothers.

Verse 50 (8.81.50)

स समासाद्य सङ्ग्रामे भीमं भीमपराक्रमम् । वारयामास तं वीरो वेलेव मकरालयम् ॥

sa samāsādya saṅgrāme bhīmaṃ bhīmaparākramam | vārayāmāsa taṃ vīro veleva makarālayam

Reaching Bhima of fearful valour in the battle, that hero checked him as the shore checks the ocean.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 = CE 8.55.47a and 47c, where the critical edition has a three-line verse; its third line (47e) is the first line of verse 51 here.

Verse 51 (8.81.51)

सन्न्यवर्तत तं भीमो वार्यमाणः शितैः शरैः । शकुनिस्तस्य राजेन्द्र वामपार्श्वे स्तनान्तरे । प्रेषयामास नाराचान्रुक्मपुङ्खाञ्शिलाशितान् ॥

sannyavartata taṃ bhīmo vāryamāṇaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | śakunistasya rājendra vāmapārśve stanāntare | preṣayāmāsa nārācānrukmapuṅkhāñśilāśitān

Held back by the sharp arrows, Bhima turned back against him. Shakuni, O king of kings, sent iron arrows with golden feathers, whetted on stone, into his left side between the breasts.

Note on the text: Line 1 (सन्न्यवर्तत …) = CE 8.55.47e (sa nyavartata …); lines 2–3 = CE 8.55.48 (vāme pārśve; preṣayām āsa nārācān rukmapuṅkhāñ). ce_ref names the verse holding the first line. सन्न्यवर्तत kept as printed. The critical edition has the star line 8.55.47f*0846_01 after 47e; it is not in Wikisource.

Verse 52 (8.81.52)

वर्म भित्त्वा तु ते घोराः पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः । न्यमज्जन्त महाराज कङ्कबर्हिणवाससः ॥

varma bhittvā tu te ghorāḥ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ | nyamajjanta mahārāja kaṅkabarhiṇavāsasaḥ

Piercing the armour of the great-souled Pandava, those dreadful arrows, feathered with heron and peacock plumes, sank in, O great king.

Note on the text: Corrected न्यम़ञ्जन्त → न्यमज्जन्त (misprint in Wikisource; a stray nukta and ञ्ज for ज्ज; the critical edition reads nyamajjanta). Line 1 differs from CE 8.55.49a (…तु ते घोराः पाण्डवस्य vs varma bhittvā tu sauvarṇaṃ bāṇās tasya); kept as a recension reading.

Verse 53 (8.81.53)

सोऽतिविद्धो रणे भीमः शरं रुक्मविभूषितम् । प्रेषयामास स रुषा सौबलं प्रति भारत ॥

so'tividdho raṇe bhīmaḥ śaraṃ rukmavibhūṣitam | preṣayāmāsa sa ruṣā saubalaṃ prati bhārata

Sorely pierced in the battle, Bhima angrily sent a gold-adorned arrow at Shakuni, O Bharata.

Verse 54 (8.81.54)

तमायान्तं शरं घोरं शकुनिः शत्रुतापनः । चिच्छेद सप्तधा राजन्कृतहस्तो महाबलः ॥

tamāyāntaṃ śaraṃ ghoraṃ śakuniḥ śatrutāpanaḥ | ciccheda saptadhā rājankṛtahasto mahābalaḥ

Shakuni, tormentor of foes, quick of hand and mighty, cut that dreadful arrow as it came into seven pieces, O king.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads सप्तधा; the critical edition reads śatadhā (recension variant, kept).

Verse 55 (8.81.55)

तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ भीमः क्रुद्धो विशाम्पते । धनुश्छिच्छेद भल्लेन सौबलस्य हसन्निव ॥

tasminnipatite bhūmau bhīmaḥ kruddho viśāmpate | dhanuśchiccheda bhallena saubalasya hasanniva

When it had fallen to the ground, Bhima, enraged, O lord of the people, smiling as it were, cut Saubala's bow with a broad-headed arrow.

Verse 56 (8.81.56)

तदपास्य धनुश्छिन्नं सौबलेयः प्रतापवान् । अन्यदादाय वेगेन धनुर्भल्लांश्च षोडश । तैस्तस्य तु महाराज भल्लैः सन्नतपर्वभिः ॥

tadapāsya dhanuśchinnaṃ saubaleyaḥ pratāpavān | anyadādāya vegena dhanurbhallāṃśca ṣoḍaśa | taistasya tu mahārāja bhallaiḥ sannataparvabhiḥ

Casting aside that broken bow, the glorious son of Subala swiftly took another bow and sixteen broad-headed arrows, and with those arrows with straight joints, O great king,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 8.55.53a, 53c and 54a (a three-line verse here; Wikisource divides CE 53–54 differently).

Verse 57 (8.81.57)

द्वाभ्यां स सारथिं ह्यार्च्छद्भीमं सप्तभिरेव च । ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छेद द्वाभ्यां छत्रं विशाम्पते । चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहान्विव्याध सुबलात्मजः ॥

dvābhyāṃ sa sārathiṃ hyārcchadbhīmaṃ saptabhireva ca | dhvajamekena ciccheda dvābhyāṃ chatraṃ viśāmpate | caturbhiścaturo vāhānvivyādha subalātmajaḥ

the son of Subala struck the charioteer with two and Bhima with seven, cut the banner with one and the umbrella with two, O lord, and with four pierced the four horses.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 8.55.54c, with different counts (Wikisource: two arrows at the charioteer, seven at Bhima; critical edition: four, five); lines 2–3 = CE 8.55.55a and 55c (छत्रं द्वाभ्यां for chatraṃ dvābhyāṃ). Kept as printed. The critical edition has the star passage 8.55.55d*0847 (four lines of Duryodhana’s cheering) after 55cd; it is not in Wikisource.

Verse 58 (8.81.58)

ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज भीमसेनः प्रतापवान् । शक्तिं चिक्षेप समरे रुक्मदण्डामयस्मयीम् ॥

tataḥ kruddho mahārāja bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān | śaktiṃ cikṣepa samare rukmadaṇḍāmayasmayīm

Then, O great king, glorious Bhimasena, enraged, hurled in the battle an iron spear with a golden shaft.

Note on the text: The critical edition has a four-line star passage 8.55.58d*0848 (Bhima wards off the spear and shoots Shakuni) after CE 8.55.58; it is not in Wikisource.

Verse 59 (8.81.59)

सा भीमभुजनिर्मुक्ता नागजिह्वेव चञ्चला । निपपात रणे तूर्णं सौबलस्य महात्मनः ॥

sā bhīmabhujanirmuktā nāgajihveva cañcalā | nipapāta raṇe tūrṇaṃ saubalasya mahātmanaḥ

Released from Bhima's arm, flickering like a serpent's tongue, it swiftly fell upon the great-souled son of Subala in the battle.

Note on the text: Corrected नागजिह्वेन → नागजिह्वेव (misprint in Wikisource; न for व; the critical edition reads nāgajihveva, “like a serpent’s tongue”). Line 2 रणे for CE rathe; kept.

Verse 60 (8.81.60)

ततस्तामेव संगृह्य शक्तिं कनकभूषणाम् । भीमसेनाय चिक्षेप क्रुद्धरूपो विशाम्पते ॥

tatastāmeva saṃgṛhya śaktiṃ kanakabhūṣaṇām | bhīmasenāya cikṣepa kruddharūpo viśāmpate

Then Shakuni caught up that very spear, adorned with gold, and, wearing a look of rage, O lord of the people, hurled it at Bhimasena.

Verse 61 (8.81.61)

सा निर्भिद्य भुजं सव्यं पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः । निपपात तदा भूमौ यथा विद्युन्नभश्च्युता ॥

sā nirbhidya bhujaṃ savyaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ | nipapāta tadā bhūmau yathā vidyunnabhaścyutā

Piercing the left arm of the great-souled Pandava, it fell then to the ground like lightning fallen from the sky.

Verse 62 (8.81.62)

अथोत्क्रुष्टं महाराज धार्तराष्ट्रैः समन्ततः । न तु तं ममृषे भीमः सिंहनादं तरस्विनाम् ॥

athotkruṣṭaṃ mahārāja dhārtarāṣṭraiḥ samantataḥ | na tu taṃ mamṛṣe bhīmaḥ siṃhanādaṃ tarasvinām

Then, O great king, the sons of Dhritarashtra raised a shout on every side; but Bhima could not bear that lion-roar of the mighty.

Verse 63 (8.81.63)

अन्यद्गृह्य धनुः सज्यं त्वरमाणो महाबलः । मुहूर्तादिव राजेन्द्र च्छादयामास सायकैः । सौबलस्य बलं सङ्ख्ये त्यक्त्वा नादं महाबलः ॥

anyadgṛhya dhanuḥ sajyaṃ tvaramāṇo mahābalaḥ | muhūrtādiva rājendra cchādayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ | saubalasya balaṃ saṅkhye tyaktvā nādaṃ mahābalaḥ

Taking another strung bow in haste, the mighty one, in a moment as it were, O king of kings, covered Saubala's force in the battle with arrows, loosing a roar.

Note on the text: The three lines = CE 8.55.61a, 61c, 61e (त्यक्त्वा नादं for tyaktvātmānaṃ; kept).

Verse 64 (8.81.64)

तस्याश्वांश्चतुरो हत्वा सूतं चैव विशाम्पते । ध्वजं चिच्छेद भल्लेन त्वरमाणः पराक्रमी ॥

tasyāśvāṃścaturo hatvā sūtaṃ caiva viśāmpate | dhvajaṃ ciccheda bhallena tvaramāṇaḥ parākramī

Having killed his four horses and his charioteer, O lord, he hurriedly cut down his banner with a broad-headed arrow, the valiant one.

Verse 65 (8.81.65)

हताश्वं रथमुत्सृज्य त्वरमाणो नरोत्तमः । तस्थौ विस्फारयंश्चापं क्रोधरक्तेक्षणः श्वसन् ॥

hatāśvaṃ rathamutsṛjya tvaramāṇo narottamaḥ | tasthau visphārayaṃścāpaṃ krodharaktekṣaṇaḥ śvasan

Leaving his horseless chariot, that best of men stood in haste, stretching his bow, his eyes red with rage, breathing hard.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 8.55.63a and 63c; the third line of the critical edition’s three-line verse (63e) is verse 66 here.

Verse 66 (8.81.66)

शरैश्च बहुधा राजन्भीममार्च्छत्समन्ततः ॥

śaraiśca bahudhā rājanbhīmamārcchatsamantataḥ

And with arrows, in many ways, O king, he struck Bhima on every side.

Note on the text: A one-line verse in Wikisource (8-81-66a): = the third line (8.55.63e) of the critical edition’s three-line verse 8.55.63, whose subject is Shakuni, who has left his chariot. Kept as printed.

Verse 67 (8.81.67)

प्रतिहत्य तु वेगेन भीमसेनः प्रतापवान् । धनुश्चिच्छेद सङ्क्रुद्धो विव्याध च शितैः शरैः ॥

pratihatya tu vegena bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān | dhanuściccheda saṅkruddho vivyādha ca śitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Warding them off swiftly, glorious Bhimasena, enraged, cut his bow and pierced him with sharp arrows.

Verse 68 (8.81.68)

सोऽतिविद्धो बलवता शत्रुणा शत्रुकर्शनः । निपपात तदा भूमौ किञ्चित्प्राणो नराधिपः ॥

so'tividdho balavatā śatruṇā śatrukarśanaḥ | nipapāta tadā bhūmau kiñcitprāṇo narādhipaḥ

Sorely pierced by that strong enemy, the lord of men, himself a destroyer of foes, fell to the ground with scarcely any life left.

Verse 69 (8.81.69)

ततस्तं विह्वलं ज्ञात्वा पुत्रस्तव विशाम्पते । अपोवाह रथेनाजौ भीमसेनस्य पश्यतः ॥

tatastaṃ vihvalaṃ jñātvā putrastava viśāmpate | apovāha rathenājau bhīmasenasya paśyataḥ

Then, knowing him stunned, your son, O lord of the people, carried him away in his chariot from the battle while Bhimasena looked on.

Verse 70 (8.81.70)

शकुनिं विह्वलं दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्राः पराङ्मुखाः । प्रदुद्रुवुर्दिशो भीता भीमसेनभयात्प्रभो ॥

śakuniṃ vihvalaṃ dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ parāṅmukhāḥ | pradudruvurdiśo bhītā bhīmasenabhayātprabho

Seeing Shakuni stunned, the sons of Dhritarashtra turned away and fled in all directions, frightened, in fear of Bhimasena, O lord.

Note on the text: Differs from CE 8.55.67 (rathasthe tu naravyāghre dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ parāṅmukhāḥ; pradudruvur diśo bhītā bhīmāj jāte mahābhaye): the half-lines are rewritten (शकुनिं विह्वलं दृष्ट्वा … भीमसेनभयात्प्रभो). Kept as printed; ce_ref cites the matching verse.

Verse 71 (8.81.71)

सौबले निर्जिते राजन्भीमसेनेन धन्विना । भयेन महताऽऽविष्टः पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव । अपायाज्जवनैरश्वैः सापेक्षो मातुलं प्रति ॥

saubale nirjite rājanbhīmasenena dhanvinā | bhayena mahatā''viṣṭaḥ putro duryodhanastava | apāyājjavanairaśvaiḥ sāpekṣo mātulaṃ prati

When Saubala was defeated by Bhimasena the archer, O king, your son Duryodhana, seized by great fear, fled with swift horses, anxious for his uncle.

Verse 72 (8.81.72)

पराङ्मुखं तु राजानं दृष्ट्वा सैन्यानि भारत । विप्रजग्मुः समुत्सृज्य द्वैरथानि समन्ततः ॥

parāṅmukhaṃ tu rājānaṃ dṛṣṭvā sainyāni bhārata | viprajagmuḥ samutsṛjya dvairathāni samantataḥ

Seeing the king turn away, the armies, O Bharata, abandoned their chariot duels and scattered on every side.

Verse 73 (8.81.73)

तान्दृष्ट्वा विद्रुतान्सर्वान्धार्तराष्ट्रान्पराङ्मुखान् । जवेनाभ्यापतद्भीमः किरञ्शरशतान्बहून् ॥

tāndṛṣṭvā vidrutānsarvāndhārtarāṣṭrānparāṅmukhān | javenābhyāpatadbhīmaḥ kirañśaraśatānbahūn

Seeing all the sons of Dhritarashtra routed and turned away, Bhima swiftly fell upon them, scattering many hundreds of arrows.

Verse 74 (8.81.74)

ते वध्यमाना भीमेन धार्तराष्ट्राः पराङ्मुखाः । कर्णमासाद्य समरे स्थिता राजन्समन्ततः ॥

te vadhyamānā bhīmena dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ parāṅmukhāḥ | karṇamāsādya samare sthitā rājansamantataḥ

Struck down by Bhima, the sons of Dhritarashtra, their backs turned, came to Karna in the battle and stood there, O king, on every side.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 8.55.71a and 71c.

Verse 75 (8.81.75)

स हि तेषां महावीर्यो द्वीपोऽभूत्सुमहाबलः । भिन्ननौका यथा राजन्द्वीपमासाद्य निर्वृताः ॥

sa hi teṣāṃ mahāvīryo dvīpo'bhūtsumahābalaḥ | bhinnanaukā yathā rājandvīpamāsādya nirvṛtāḥ

For them that mighty man of great valour became an island, as, O king, men from a wrecked ship are comforted on reaching an island;

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 8.55.71e; line 2 = CE 8.55.72a. ce_ref names the verse holding the first line.

Verse 76 (8.81.76)

भवन्ति पुरुषव्याघ्र नाविकाः कालपर्यये । तथा कर्णं समासाद्य तावकाः पुरुषर्षभ ॥

bhavanti puruṣavyāghra nāvikāḥ kālaparyaye | tathā karṇaṃ samāsādya tāvakāḥ puruṣarṣabha

so are sailors, O tiger among men, in the hour of ruin; and so your men, O bull among men, on reaching Karna,

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 8.55.72c; line 2 = CE 8.55.73a. ce_ref names the verse holding the first line. The critical edition has the star line 8.55.73b*0849_01 after this; it is not in Wikisource.

Verse 77 (8.81.77)

समाश्वस्ताः स्थिता राजन्सम्प्रहृष्टाः परस्परम् । समाजग्मुश्च युद्धाय मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम् ॥

samāśvastāḥ sthitā rājansamprahṛṣṭāḥ parasparam | samājagmuśca yuddhāya mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam

took heart and stood there, O king, delighted with one another, and came together again for the fight, resolved that only death should turn them back.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 8.55.73c and 73e. The page ends with the colophon (adhyaya 81); nothing follows it.