द्रोणपर्व - Droṇaparva (चतुर्दश दिवसीय युद्धम् - भाग-४) – घटोत्कच वध:
अध्यायः – 14 ::Chapter-14 (Fourteenth day war – Part-4) – Ghatotkacha killed
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No. of Shlokas |
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सञ्जय उवाच॥ सैन्धवे निहते राजन्पुत्रस्तव सुयोधनः । अश्रुक्लिन्नमुखो दीनो निरुत्साहो द्विषज्जये ॥ 1॥ ततस्तत्सर्वमाचख्यौ कुरूणां वैशसं महत् । परान्विजयतश्चापि धार्तराष्ट्रान्निमज्जतः ॥ 2॥ अपरश्चापि दुर्धर्षः शिष्यस्ते सव्यसाचिना । अक्षौहिणीः सप्त हत्वा हतो राजा जयद्रथः ॥ 3॥ अस्मद्विजयकामानां सुहृदामुपकारिणाम् । गन्तास्मि कथमानृण्यं गतानां यमसादनम् ॥ 4॥ द्रोण उवाच॥ दुर्योधन किमेवं मां वाक्षरैरभिकृन्तसि । अजय्यं समरे नित्यं ब्रुवाणं सव्यसाचिनम् ॥ 5॥ एष त्वहमनीकानि प्रविशाम्यरिसूदन । रणाय महते राजंस्त्वया वाक्षल्यपीडितः ॥ 6॥ त्वं च दुर्योधन बलं यदि शक्नोषि धारय । रात्रावपि हि योत्स्यन्ते संरब्धाः कुरुसृञ्जयाः ॥ 7॥ सायाह्ने सैन्धवं हत्वा राज्ञा पार्थः समेत्य च । सात्यकिश्च महेष्वासो द्रोणमेवाभ्यधावताम् ॥ 8॥ तथा युधिष्ठिरस्तूर्णं भीमसेनश्च पाण्डवः । पृथक्चमूभ्यां संसक्तौ द्रोणमेवाभ्यधावताम् ॥ 9॥ तथैव नकुलो धीमान्सहदेवश्च दुर्जयः । धृष्टद्युम्नः शतानीको विराटश्च सकेकयः ॥ ॥ मत्स्याः शाल्वेयसेनाश्च द्रोणमेव ययुर्युधि ॥ 10॥ |
10 (890) |
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Sanjaya said, 'When the king of the Sindhus fell, your son Suyodhana's face was wet with tears, and he was overcome with sorrow. He went to Drona and told him about the massive slaughter of the Kurus, the enemy's victory, and the terrible disaster that had befallen the Dhartarashtras. Duryodhana said, "Another of your students, the unbeatable Arjuna, has killed seven Akshauhinis of soldiers and sent King Jayadratha to the land of Yama. How can I ever repay my debt to those allies who wanted me to win and always worked for my good, but have now died?"' Drona replied, 'Duryodhana, why do you wound me with words? I told you before that Arjuna cannot be defeated in battle. As for me, though your words wound me, I will charge into the enemy ranks and fight fiercely. If you can, go and protect those troops.' Both the Kurus and the Srinjayas are enraged and will fight even at night.' After killing the king of the Sindhus, Arjuna met with Yudhishthira and Satyaki, and then they both advanced towards Drona. Yudhishthira and Bhimasena, each leading a division of the army, quickly moved against Drona. Likewise, the clever Nakula, the invincible Sahadeva, Dhrishtadyumna with his division, Virata, and the king of the Salwas, all advanced against Drona in battle with a large force. |
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रक्ष्यमाणश्च बलिभिश्छादयामास सात्यकिम् । तं छाद्यमानं विशिखैर्दृष्ट्वा संनतपर्वभिः ॥ 1॥ धृष्टद्युम्नोऽभ्ययात्क्रुद्धः प्रगृह्य महतीं चमूम् ॥ । चण्डवाताभिसृष्टानामुदधीनामिव स्वनः । आसीद्राजन्बलौघानामन्योन्यमभिनिघ्नताम् ॥ 2॥ विव्याध सोमदत्तस्तु सात्वतं नवभिः शरैः । सात्यकिर्दशभिश्चैनमवधीत्कुरुपुङ्गवम् ॥ 3॥ सोऽतिविद्धो बलवता समरे दृढधन्वना । रथोपस्थं समासाद्य मुमोह गतचेतनः ॥ 4॥ तं विमूढं समालक्ष्य सारथिस्त्वरयान्वितः । अपोवाह रणाद्वीरं सोमदत्तं महारथम् ॥ 5॥ तं विसञ्ज्ञं समालोक्य युयुधानशरार्दितम् । द्रौणिरभ्यद्रवत्क्रुद्धः सात्वतं रणमूर्धनि ॥ 6॥ तमापतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य शैनेयस्य रथं प्रति । भैमसेनिः सुसङ्क्रुद्धः प्रत्यमित्रमवारयत् ॥ 7॥ लोहितार्द्रपताकं तमन्त्रमालाविभूषितम् । अष्टचक्रसमायुक्तमास्थाय विपुलं रथम् ॥ 8॥ शूलमुद्गरधारिण्या शैलपादपहस्तया । रक्षसां घोररूपाणामक्षौहिण्या समावृतः ॥ 9॥ तमुद्यतमहाचापं निशाम्य व्यथिता नृपाः । युगान्तकालसमये दण्डहस्तमिवान्तकम् ॥ 10॥ ततोऽश्मवृष्टिरत्यर्थमासीत्तत्र समन्ततः । सन्ध्याकालाधिकबलैः प्रमुक्ता राक्षसैः क्षितौ ॥ 11॥ आयसानि च चक्राणि भुशुण्ड्यः प्रासतोमराः । पतन्त्यविरलाः शूलाः शतघ्न्यः पट्टिशास्तथा ॥ 12॥ तदुग्रमतिरौद्रं च दृष्ट्वा युद्धं नराधिपाः । तनयास्तव कर्णश्च व्यथिताः प्राद्रवन्दिशः ॥ 13॥ तत्रैकोऽस्त्रबलश्लाघी द्रौणिर्मानी न विव्यथे । व्यधमच्च शरैर्मायां घटोत्कचविनिर्मिताम् ॥ 14॥ निहतायां तु मायायाममर्षी स घटोत्कचः । विससर्ज शरान्घोरांस्तेऽश्वत्थामानमाविशन् ॥ 15॥ भुजगा इव वेगेन वल्मीकं क्रोधमूर्छिताः । ते शरा रुधिराभ्यक्ता भित्त्वा शारद्वतीसुतम् । विविशुर्धरणीं शीघ्रा रुक्मपुङ्खाः शिलाशिताः ॥ 16॥ अश्वत्थामा तु सङ्क्रुद्धो लघुहस्तः प्रतापवान् । घटोत्कचमभिक्रुद्धं बिभेद दशभिः शरैः ॥ 17॥ घटोत्कचोऽतिविद्धस्तु द्रोणपुत्रेण मर्मसु । चक्रं शतसहस्रारमगृह्णाद्व्यथितो भृशम् ॥ 18॥ क्षुरान्तं बालसूर्याभं मणिवज्रविभूषितम् । अश्वत्थाम्नस्तु चिक्षेप भैमसेनिर्जिघांसया ॥ 19॥ वेगेन महता गच्छद्विक्षिप्तं द्रौणिना शरैः । अभाग्यस्येव सङ्कल्पस्तन्मोघं न्यपतद्भुवि ॥ 20॥ घटोत्कचस्ततस्तूर्णं दृष्ट्वा चक्रं निपातितम् । द्रौणिं प्राच्छादयद्बाणैः स्वर्भानुरिव भास्करम् ॥ 21॥ घटोत्कचसुतः श्रीमान्भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमः । रुरोध द्रौणिमायान्तं प्रभञ्जनमिवाद्रिराट् ॥ 22॥ पौत्रेण भीमसेनस्य शरैः सोऽञ्जनपर्वणा । बभौ मेघेन धाराभिर्गिरिर्मेरुरिवार्दितः ॥ 23॥ अश्वत्थामा त्वसम्भ्रान्तो रुद्रोपेन्द्रेन्द्रविक्रमः । ध्वजमेकेन बाणेन चिच्छेदाञ्जनपर्वणः ॥ 24॥ द्वाभ्यां तु रथयन्तारं त्रिभिश्चास्य त्रिवेणुकम् । धनुरेकेन चिच्छेद चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान् ॥ 25॥ विरथस्योद्यतं हस्ताद्धेमबिन्दुभिराचितम् । विशिखेन सुतीक्ष्णेन खड्गमस्य द्विधाकरोत् ॥ 26॥ गदा हेमाङ्गदा राजंस्तूर्णं हैडिम्बसूनुना । भ्राम्योत्क्षिप्ता शरैः सापि द्रौणिनाभ्याहतापतत् ॥ 27॥ ततोऽन्तरिक्षमुत्पत्य कालमेघ इवोन्नदन् । ववर्षाञ्जनपर्वा स द्रुमवर्षं नभस्तलात् ॥ 28 ॥ ततो मायाधरं द्रौणिर्घटोत्कचसुतं दिवि । मार्गणैरभिविव्याध घनं सूर्य इवांशुभिः ॥ 29॥ सोऽवतीर्य पुनस्तस्थौ रथे हेमपरिष्कृते । महीधर इवात्युच्चः श्रीमानञ्जनपर्वतः ॥ 30॥ तमयस्मयवर्माणं द्रौणिर्भीमात्मजात्मजम् । जघानाञ्जनपर्वाणं महेश्वर इवान्धकम् ॥ 31॥ अथ दृष्ट्वा हतं पुत्रमश्वत्थाम्ना महाबलम् । द्रौणेः सकाशमभ्येत्य रोषात्प्रचलिताङ्गदः ॥ 32॥ प्राह वाक्यमसम्भ्रान्तो वीरं शारद्वतीसुतम् । दहन्तं पाण्डवानीकं वनमग्निमिवोद्धतम् ॥ 33॥ तिष्ठ तिष्ठ न मे जीवन्द्रोणपुत्र गमिष्यसि । त्वामद्य निहनिष्यामि क्रौञ्चमग्निसुतो यथा ॥ 34॥ इत्युक्त्वा रोषताम्राक्षो राक्षसः सुमहाबलः । द्रौणिमभ्यद्रवत्क्रुद्धो गजेन्द्रमिव केसरी ॥ 35॥ रथाक्षमात्रैरिषुभिरभ्यवर्षद्घटोत्कचः । रथिनामृषभं द्रौणिं धाराभिरिव तोयदः ॥ 36॥ शरवृष्टिं शरैर्द्रौणिरप्राप्तां तां व्यशातयत् । ततोऽन्तरिक्षे बाणानां सङ्ग्रामोऽन्य इवाभवत् ॥ 37॥ अथास्त्रसङ्घर्षकृतैर्विस्फुलिङ्गैः समाबभौ । विभावरीमुखे व्योम खद्योतैरिव चित्रितम् ॥ 38॥ निशाम्य निहतां मायां द्रौणिना रणमानिना । घटोत्कचस्ततो मायां ससर्जान्तर्हितः पुनः ॥ 39॥ सोऽभवद्गिरिरत्युच्चः शिखरैस्तरुसङ्कटैः । शूलप्रासासिमुसलजलप्रस्रवणो महान् ॥ 40॥ तमञ्जनचयप्रख्यं द्रौणिर्दृष्ट्वा महीधरम् । प्रपतद्भिश्च बहुभिः शस्त्रसङ्घैर्न चुक्षुभे ॥ 41॥ ततः स्मयन्निव द्रौणिर्वज्रमस्त्रमुदीरयत् । स तेनास्त्रेण शैलेन्द्रः क्षिप्तः क्षिप्रमनश्यत ॥ 42॥ ततः स तोयदो भूत्वा नीलः सेन्द्रायुधो दिवि । अश्मवृष्टिभिरत्युग्रो द्रौणिमाच्छादयद्रणे ॥ 43॥ अथ सन्धाय वायव्यमस्त्रमस्त्रविदां वरः । व्यधमद्द्रोणतनयो नीलमेघं समुत्थितम् ॥ 44॥ स मार्गणगणैर्द्रौणिर्दिशः प्रच्छाद्य सर्वतः । शतं रथसहस्राणां जघान द्विपदां वरः ॥ 45॥ उपस्थितैस्ततो युद्धे राक्षसैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः । विषण्णमभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य पुत्रं ते द्रौणिरब्रवीत् ॥46॥ तिष्ठ दुर्योधनाद्य त्वं न कार्यः सम्भ्रमस्त्वया । सहैभिर्भ्रातृभिर्वीरैः पार्थिवैश्चेन्द्रविक्रमैः ॥ 47॥ निहनिष्याम्यमित्रांस्ते न तवास्ति पराजयः । सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि पर्याश्वासय वाहिनीम् ॥ 48॥ अथ प्रववृते युद्धं द्रौणिराक्षसयोर्मृधे । विभावर्यां सुतुमुलं शक्रप्रह्रादयोरिव ॥ 49॥ ततो घटोत्कचो बाणैर्दशभिर्गौतमीसुतम् । जघानोरसि सङ्क्रुद्धो विषाग्निप्रतिमैर्दृढैः ॥ 50॥ स तैरभ्याहतो गाढं शरैर्भीमसुतेरितैः । चचाल रथमध्यस्थो वातोद्धूत इव द्रुमः ॥ 51॥ भूयश्चाञ्जलिकेनास्य मार्गणेन महाप्रभम् । द्रौणिहस्तस्थितं चापं चिच्छेदाशु घटोत्कचः ॥ 52॥ ततोऽन्यद्द्रौणिरादाय धनुर्भारसहं महत् । ववर्ष विशिखांस्तीक्ष्णान्वारिधारा इवाम्बुदः ॥ 53॥ ततः शारद्वतीपुत्रः प्रेषयामास भारत । सुवर्णपुङ्खाञ्शत्रुघ्नान्खचरान्खचरान्प्रति ॥ 54॥ तद्बाणैरर्दितं यूथं रक्षसां पीनवक्षसाम् । सिंहैरिव बभौ मत्तं गजानामाकुलं कुलम् ॥ 55॥ विधम्य राक्षसान्बाणैः साश्वसूतरथान्विभुः । ददाह भगवान्वह्निर्भूतानीव युगक्षये ॥ 56॥ स दग्ध्वाक्षौहिणीं बाणैर्नैरृतान्रुरुचे भृशम् । पुरेव त्रिपुरं दग्ध्वा दिवि देवो महेश्वरः ॥ 57॥ युगान्ते सर्वभूतानि दग्ध्वेव वसुरुल्बणः । रराज जयतां श्रेष्ठो द्रोणपुत्रस्तवाहितान् ॥ 58॥ तेषु राजसहस्रेषु पाण्डवेयेषु भारत । नैनं निरीक्षितुं कश्चिच्छक्नोति द्रौणिमाहवे ॥ 59 ऋते घटोत्कचाद्वीराद्राक्षसेन्द्रान्महाबलात् । स पुनर्भरतश्रेष्ठ क्रोधाद्रक्तान्तलोचनः ॥60 तलं तलेन संहत्य संदश्य दशनच्छदम् ॥ स्वसूतमब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो द्रोणपुत्राय मां वह ॥ 61॥ स ययौ घोररूपेण तेन जैत्रपताकिना । द्वैरथं द्रोणपुत्रेण पुनरप्यरिसूदनः ॥ 62॥ स चिक्षेप ततः क्रुद्धो द्रोणपुत्राय राक्षसः । अष्टचक्रां महारौद्रामशनीं रुद्रनिर्मिताम् ॥ 63॥ तामवप्लुत्य जग्राह द्रौणिर्न्यस्य रथे धनुः । चिक्षेप चैनां तस्यैव स्यन्दनात्सोऽवपुप्लुवे ॥ 64॥ साश्वसूतध्वजं वाहं भस्म कृत्वा महाप्रभा । विवेश वसुधां भित्त्वा साशनिर्भृशदारुणा ॥ 65॥ द्रौणेस्तत्कर्म दृष्ट्वा तु सर्वभूतान्यपूजयन् । यदवप्लुत्य जग्राह घोरां शङ्करनिर्मिताम् ॥ 66॥ धृष्टद्युम्नरथं गत्वा भैमसेनिस्ततो नृप । मुमोच निशितान्बाणान्पुनर्द्रौणेर्महोरसि ॥ 67॥ धृष्टद्युम्नोऽप्यसम्भ्रान्तो मुमोचाशीविषोपमान् । सुवर्णपुङ्खान्विशिखान्द्रोणपुत्रस्य वक्षसि ॥ 68॥ ततो मुमोच नाराचान्द्रौणिस्ताभ्यां सहस्रशः । तावप्यग्निशिखाप्रख्यैर्जघ्नतुस्तस्य मार्गणान् ॥ 69॥ अतितीव्रमभूद्युद्धं तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः । योधानां प्रीतिजननं द्रौणेश्च भरतर्षभ ॥ 70॥ ततो रथसहस्रेण द्विरदानां शतैस्त्रिभिः । षड्भिर्वाजिसहस्रैश्च भीमस्तं देशमाव्रजत् ॥ 71॥ ततो भीमात्मजं रक्षो धृष्टद्युम्नं च सानुगम् । अयोधयत धर्मात्मा द्रौणिरक्लिष्टकर्मकृत् ॥ 72॥ तत्राद्भुततमं द्रौणिर्दर्शयामास विक्रमम् । अशक्यं कर्तुमन्येन सर्वभूतेषु भारत ॥ 73॥ निमेषान्तरमात्रेण साश्वसूतरथद्विपाम् । अक्षौहिणीं राक्षसानां शितैर्बाणैरशातयत् ॥ 74॥ मिषतो भीमसेनस्य हैडिम्बेः पार्षतस्य च । यमयोर्धर्मपुत्रस्य विजयस्याच्युतस्य च ॥ 75॥ निहत्य राक्षसान्बाणैर्द्रौणिर्हैडिम्बमार्दयत् । पुनरप्यतिसङ्क्रुद्धः सवृकोदरपार्षतान् । स नाराचगणैः पार्थान्द्रौणिर्विद्ध्वा महाबलः ॥ 76॥ जघान सुरथं नाम द्रुपदस्य सुतं विभुः । पुनः श्रुतञ्जयं नाम सुरथस्यानुजं रणे ॥ 77॥ बलानीकं जयानीकं जयाश्वं चाभिजघ्निवान् । श्रुताह्वयं च राजेन्द्र द्रौणिर्निन्ये यमक्षयम् ॥ 78॥ त्रिभिश्चान्यैः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः सुपुङ्खै रुक्ममालिनम् । शत्रुञ्जयं च बलिनं शक्रलोकं निनाय ह ॥ 79॥ जघान स पृषध्रं च चन्द्रदेवं च मानिनम् । कुन्तिभोजसुतांश्चाजौ दशभिर्दश जघ्निवान् ॥ 80॥ अश्वत्थामा सुसङ्क्रुद्धः सन्धायोग्रमजिह्मगम् । मुमोचाकर्णपूर्णेन धनुषा शरमुत्तमम् ॥ १३०॥ यमदण्डोपमं घोरमुद्दिश्याशु घटोत्कचम् ॥ 81॥ स भित्त्वा हृदयं तस्य राक्षसस्य महाशरः । विवेश वसुधां शीघ्रं सपुङ्खः पृथिवीपते ॥ 82॥ |
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Protected by valiant warriors, Somadatta cloaked Satyaki in a storm of arrows. Seeing Satyaki thus besieged, Dhrishtadyumna, consumed by rage, advanced with a formidable force. The clash of these great armies echoed like oceans churned by furious hurricanes. Somadatta struck Satyaki with nine arrows, but Satyaki retaliated, piercing the Kuru warrior with nine arrows of his own. Struck deeply by Satyaki's powerful shots, Somadatta collapsed on his chariot, losing consciousness. His driver swiftly carried the fallen hero, Somadatta, away from the battle. Seeing Somadatta incapacitated by Satyaki's assault, Drona charged in, seeking to kill the Yadu hero. But Pandava warriors, led by Yudhishthira, surrounded Satyaki to protect him from the advancing preceptor. A fierce battle erupted between Drona and the Pandavas, reminiscent of the struggle between Vali and the gods for dominion over the three realms. Bharadwaja's son, Drona, unleashed a torrent of arrows, shrouding the Pandava army and striking Yudhishthira. Drona pierced Satyaki with ten arrows, and Dhrishtadyumna with twenty. He struck Bhimasena with nine arrows, Nakula with five, Sahadeva with eight, and Sikhandin with a hundred. Each of Draupadi's five sons received five arrows from the mighty warrior. Virata was struck with eight arrows, and Drupada with ten. Yudhamanyu was hit with three arrows, and Uttamaujas with six. After striking many other warriors, Drona pressed on toward Yudhishthira. The troops of Pandu's son, decimated by Drona, scattered in terror, their cries filling the air. Witnessing the carnage wrought by Drona, Arjuna, son of Pritha, fueled by wrath, swiftly advanced toward the preceptor. Then, the hero from Dasarha's line spurred his steeds—white as silver, milk, a Kunda flower, or the moon—towards Drona's chariot. Bhimasena, seeing Arjuna advance on Drona, commanded his driver, 'Take me to Drona's ranks!' Hearing Bhima, Visoka drove their steeds, following closely behind Arjuna, the unerring archer. Seeing the two brothers resolutely heading for Drona's division, mighty warriors from the Panchalas, Srinjayas, Matsyas, Chedis, Karushas, Kosalas, and Kaikeyas all followed suit, turning the battle fierce and terrifying. With two massive waves of chariots, Arjuna and Bhima stormed your army—Arjuna on the right, Bhima head-on. Seeing those tigerish men, Bhimasena and Arjuna, Dhrishtadyumna and the mighty Satyaki charged in after them. A tremendous roar erupted as the armies clashed, like tempest-lashed seas in fury. Aswatthaman, enraged by the death of Somadatta's son, charged at Satyaki, who was at the forefront. Seeing this, Bhimasena’s son, the giant Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, on a monstrous chariot of black iron covered in bear hides, rushed to protect Satyaki. The chariot was huge: thirty nalwas in height and width. Equipped with war machines and rattling like thunderclouds, it was pulled not by horses or elephants but by elephant-like beings, beneath a tall standard bearing a shrieking vulture with outstretched wings. Red flags and animal entrails adorned the vehicle, which rolled on eight massive wheels. Riding high, Ghatotkacha found himself encircled by a full Akshauhini of menacing Rakshasas, brandishing lances, heavy clubs, rocks, and uprooted trees. Seeing him advance, bow raised, like the mace-wielding Destroyer at the world's end, the enemy kings were seized with terror. The sight of the Rakshasa prince, Ghatotkacha, a mountain of dread, frightful, with terrible teeth and a fierce visage, arrow-like ears, prominent cheekbones, stiff, upright hair, awful eyes, sunken belly, a blazing, chasm-wide mouth, and a diadem, inspired fear in every creature. Jaws agape like the Destroyer's, radiating great power, he unnerved all foes. As he advanced, your son's army, gripped by fear, was thrown into turmoil, like the Ganga's currents whipped into wild eddies by a storm. Elephants, terrified by Ghatotkacha's leonine roar, emptied their bladders, and the kings trembled. The Rakshasas, empowered by the night, unleashed a dense shower of stones onto the battlefield, followed by a relentless barrage of iron wheels, Bhundis, darts, lances, spears, Sataghnis, and axes. Witnessing this fierce, terrifying onslaught, the kings, your sons, and even Karna, overwhelmed with pain, fled. Only Drona's arrogant son, ever boasting of his martial prowess, stood firm. He swiftly dispelled the illusion conjured by Ghatotkacha. With his illusion shattered, Ghatotkacha, enraged, unleashed a volley of fierce shafts at Ashwatthaman. They pierced Drona's son like venomous snakes swiftly penetrating an anthill, burying themselves, stained with blood, into the earth. The skilled and mighty Ashwatthaman, furious, retaliated, striking Ghatotkacha with ten arrows. Ghatotkacha, wounded deep in his vital spots by Drona's son and in great pain, seized a wheel with a thousand spokes, its edge razor-sharp, radiant as the rising sun, adorned with varied gems and diamonds. Intent on slaying, Bhimasena's son hurled it at Ashwatthaman. But as the wheel hurtled towards Drona's son, he shattered it with his arrows, and it fell uselessly, like the dashed hopes of a luckless man. Seeing his wheel fail, Ghatotkacha swiftly shrouded Drona's son with his shafts, like Rahu swallowing the sun. Meanwhile, Ghatotkacha's son, radiant and dark as antimony, checked Drona's advancing son like the mountain king (Meru) halting the wind. Struck by showers of arrows from Bhimasena's grandson, the brave Anjanaparvan, Ashwatthaman resembled Mount Meru weathering a torrent of rain. Then Aswatthaman, whose might rivaled Rudra or Upendra, flew into a rage. He severed Anjanaparvan's standard with a single arrow. He felled the two drivers with two more, and his Trivenuka with three others. With another arrow, he cut the Rakshasa's bow in half, and with four more, he struck down the four steeds. Anjanaparvan, now without a chariot, brandished a scimitar, but Aswatthaman cleaved it in two with a sharp arrow, rending the gold-starred blade in the Rakshasa's grasp. Then, the grandson of Hidimva, my king, spun a gold-adorned mace and hurled it at Aswatthaman, but Drona's son shattered it with his arrows causing it to fall harmlessly to the earth. Anjanaparvan, rose into the sky and roared like thunder, raining down trees. Like the sun piercing clouds with its rays, Aswatthaman pierced Ghatotkacha's son, that master of illusions, as he soared through the sky. Infused with great energy, the Rakshasa plunged down once more upon his gold-decked chariot, resembling a majestic, dark hill on the earth. Then Drona’s son slew Bhima’s son, Anjanaparvan, encased in iron armor, just as Mahadeva had slain the Asura Andhaka long ago. Witnessing his mighty son's demise at the hands of Aswatthaman, Ghatotkacha fearlessly approached Drona's son and addressed the heroic offspring of Saradwata’s daughter, who was consuming the Pandava troops like a raging inferno: "Ghatotkacha warns you, Drona's son! You will not escape me alive! Today, I shall slay you as Agni's son slew Krauncha." With eyes ablaze like molten copper, the enraged Rakshasa charged at Drona's son, like a lion attacking an elephant prince. Ghatotkacha unleashed a torrent of arrows, each the size of a chariot axle, pelting Drona's son like a storm. However, Drona's son intercepted the onslaught with his own arrows before they could reach him, creating a battle that appeared to unfold in the heavens between the shafts of the combatants. The night sky shimmered with sparks caused by the clashing weapons, resembling a swarm of fireflies. Seeing that his illusion had been dispelled by Drona's son, Ghatotkacha, proud of his battle prowess, vanished once more, conjuring another illusion: a towering mountain teeming with cliffs and trees, its fountains spewing spears, lances, swords, and heavy clubs. Drona's son remained unfazed by this mountain of darkness with countless weapons raining down upon him. He invoked the Vajra weapon, and the mountain was instantly shattered. The Rakshasa, transforming into a dark mass of clouds adorned with rainbows, unleashed a furious storm of stones and rocks upon Drona's son. But Aswatthaman, a master of weapons, retaliated with the Vayavya weapon, obliterating the dark cloud that loomed in the sky. Drona's son, a formidable warrior, blanketed the entire horizon with his arrows, decimating a hundred thousand chariot warriors, dismaying Duryodhana. Drona's son reassured him, saying, 'Fear not, Duryodhana! Stand aside with your valiant brothers and these mighty kings. I will vanquish our enemies; you shall not face defeat. Have faith! Encourage your troops.' Meanwhile, the battle between the Rakshasas and Drona's son raged fiercely like the ancient conflict between Sakra and Prahlada. Ghatotkacha, consumed with fury, struck Drona's son in the chest with ten potent, venomous arrows. Staggered by Bhimasena's son's attack, Aswatthaman faltered on his chariot, like a towering tree swaying in a storm. Ghatotkacha swiftly severed Drona's son's radiant bow with a broad-headed arrow. Aswatthaman seized another resilient bow, unleashing a torrent of sharp arrows like a cloud unleashing torrential rain. The son of Saradwat's daughter, O Bharata, launched numerous sky-piercing, enemy-slaying gold-winged arrows towards the Rakshasa soaring in the sky. The Rakshasas, broad-chested warriors, were overwhelmed by Aswatthaman's arrows, resembling a herd of enraged elephants beset by lions. Devouring the Rakshasas, their steeds, drivers, and elephants with his relentless arrows, he blazed like the revered Agni consuming all creation at the end of time. Having consumed an entire Akshauhini of Rakshasa troops with his arrows, Aswatthaman shone brilliantly, like the divine Maheswara in the heavens after the destruction of the triple city. Drona's son, a supreme victor, incinerated your enemies, shining like the Yuga-fire that consumes all at the world's end. Enraged, Ghatotkacha spurred his massive Rakshasa army: 'Kill Drona's son!' The fearsome Rakshasas, with sharp teeth, huge faces, and blazing eyes, obeyed. Their roars filled the earth as they charged Aswatthaman with diverse weapons, thirsting for his blood. Hundreds of darts, spiked maces, and fiery lances rained down relentlessly upon Aswatthaman's head. But Drona's son, fearless, shattered that storm of weapons with his sharp, thunderbolt-like arrows. Then, invoking mantras, he unleashed golden-winged weapons, slaughtering countless Rakshasas. The broad-chested Rakshasa force recoiled, like elephants scattered by attacking lions. The fury drove the mighty Rakshasas to retaliate. Drona's son displayed incredible prowess, an unmatched feat, single-handedly burning down the Rakshasa army with his blazing arrows, before the eyes of their prince. Consuming the Rakshasa force, Drona's son blazed like the Samvartaka fire at the Yuga's end. Among the kings and Pandavas, only the mighty Rakshasa prince, Ghatotkacha, dared to even look upon Drona's son as he decimated their ranks with venomous snake-like arrows. The Rakshasa, eyes rolling with rage, struck his palms, bit his lip, and ordered his driver: 'Take me to Drona's son!' Riding his formidable, banner-adorned chariot, the foe-slayer advanced for single combat against Drona's son. With a mighty roar, the Rakshasa hurled a celestial Asani, adorned with eight bells, at Drona's son. Drona's son, however, leaping from his chariot after leaving his bow there, grabbed it and hurled it back at Ghatotkacha. Ghatotkacha, in turn, quickly jumped down from his own chariot. The formidable Asani, radiant and dazzling, reduced the Rakshasa's vehicle with its horses, drivers, and banner to ashes, then plunged into the earth, piercing right through it. Seeing Drona's son's feat of jumping down and seizing that terrible Asani of divine make, everyone applauded. Proceeding towards Dhrishtadyumna's chariot, Bhimasena's son picked up a mighty bow resembling Indra's own and unleashed a volley of sharp arrows at Drona's illustrious son. Dhrishtadyumna also fearlessly shot many high-quality arrows, tipped with gold and resembling venomous snakes, at Aswatthaman's chest. Then Drona's son retaliated with a rain of arrows and long shafts. However, Ghatotkacha and Dhrishtadyumna intercepted and nullified Aswatthaman's arrows with their own, which burned like fire. The battle between those two lions among men (Ghatotkacha on one side) and Drona's son (on the other) grew extremely fierce, delighting all the warriors. Then, accompanied by a thousand chariots, three hundred elephants, and six thousand horses, Bhimasena arrived at the scene. Drona's virtuous son, tireless and skilled, continued to fight Bhima's heroic son and Dhrishtadyumna, supported by their troops. Drona's son displayed extraordinary prowess, accomplishing feats that were beyond the reach of any other being. In the blink of an eye, he decimated an entire Akshauhini of Rakshasa troops with their horses, drivers, chariots, and elephants, right before the eyes of Bhimasena, Hidimva's son, Prishata's son, the twins, Dharma's son, Vijaya, and Achyuta. Having slain the Rakshasas, Drona's son then began to target Hidimva's son with arrows. Enraged once more, Drona's powerful son pierced the mighty chariot-warriors, including the Parthas, Vrikodara, and the sons of Prishata, and killed Suratha, one of Drupada's sons. He then killed Suratha's younger brother, Satrunjaya, in battle. Following that, he slew Valanika, Jayanika, and Jaya. With a sharp arrow and a mighty roar, Drona's son killed Prishdhra, and then the proud Chandrasena. With ten arrows, he felled the ten sons of Kuntibhoja. Drona's son then sent Srutayus to the abode of Yama. With three more keen arrows, beautifully fletched and red-tipped, he dispatched the powerful Satrunjaya to Indra's realm. Then Aswatthaman, filled with rage, notched a deadly, straight arrow onto his bowstring. Drawing the string to his ear, he swiftly released that fierce and potent arrow, resembling Death's rod, aiming at Ghatotkacha. The mighty arrow, adorned with beautiful feathers, pierced through the Rakshasa's chest and plunged deep into the earth. Ghatotkacha fell dead in his chariot. |
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इति श्री जयसंहिते द्रोणपर्वणि चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः॥
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