Droṇaparva Chapter -4 (Twelfth day war – Part-1)

 

द्रोणपर्व - Droṇaparva (द्वादश दिवसीय युद्धम् - भाग-१)

अध्यायः – 4  ::Chapter-4 (Twelfth day war – Part-1)

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
सञ्जय उवाच॥ ते सेने शिबिरं गत्वा न्यविशेतां विशां पते । यथाभागं यथान्यायं यथागुल्मं च सर्वशः ॥ 1॥ कृत्वावहारं सैन्यानां द्रोणः परमदुर्मनाः । दुर्योधनमभिप्रेक्ष्य सव्रीडमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ 2॥ उक्तमेतन्मया पूर्वं न तिष्ठति धनञ्जये । शक्यो ग्रहीतुं सङ्ग्रामे देवैरपि युधिष्ठिरः ॥ 3॥ इति तद्वः प्रयततां कृतं पार्थेन संयुगे । मातिशङ्कीर्वचो मह्यमजेयौ कृष्णपाण्डवौ ॥ 4॥ अपनीते तु योगेन केनचिच्छ्वेतवाहने । तत एष्यति ते राजन्वशमद्य युधिष्ठिरः ॥ 5॥ कश्चिदाह्वयतां सङ्ख्ये देशमन्यं प्रकर्षतु । तमजित्वा तु कौन्तेयो न निवर्तेत्कथञ्चन ॥ 6॥ एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शून्ये धर्मराजमहं नृप । ग्रहीष्यामि चमूं भित्त्वा धृष्टद्युम्नस्य पश्यतः ॥ 7॥ अर्जुनेन विहीनस्तु यदि नोत्सृजते रणम् । मामुपायान्तमालोक्य गृहीतमिति विद्धि तम् ॥ 8॥ एवं ते सहसा राजन्धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् । समानेष्यामि सगणं वशमद्य न संशयः ॥ 9॥ यदि तिष्ठति सङ्ग्रामे मुहूर्तमपि पाण्डवः । अथापयाति सङ्ग्रामाद्विजयात्तद्विशिष्यते ॥ 10॥ द्रोणस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा त्रिगर्ताधिपतिस्ततः । भ्रातृभिः सहितो राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 11॥ वयं विनिकृता राजन्सदा गाण्डीवधन्वना । अनागःस्वपि चागस्कृदस्मासु भरतर्षभ ॥ 12॥ ते वयं स्मरमाणास्तान्विनिकारान्पृथग्विधान् । क्रोधाग्निना दह्यमाना न शेमहि सदा निशाः ॥ 13॥ स नो दिव्यास्त्रसम्पन्नश्चक्षुर्विषयमागतः । कर्तारः स्म वयं सर्वं यच्चिकीर्षाम हृद्गतम् ॥ 14॥ भवतश्च प्रियं यत्स्यादस्माकं च यशस्करम् । वयमेनं हनिष्यामो निकृष्यायोधनाद्बहिः ॥ 15॥ अद्यास्त्वनर्जुना भूमिरत्रिगर्ताथ वा पुनः । सत्यं ते प्रतिजानीमो नैतन्मिथ्या भविष्यति ॥ 16॥ एवं सत्यरथश्चोक्त्वा सत्यधर्मा च भारत । सत्यवर्मा च सत्येषुः सत्यकर्मा तथैव च ॥ 17॥ सहिता भ्रातरः पञ्च रथानामयुतेन च । न्यवर्तन्त महाराज कृत्वा शपथमाहवे ॥ 18॥ मालवास्तुण्डिकेराश्च रथानामयुतैस्त्रिभिः । सुशर्मा च नरव्याघ्रस्त्रिगर्तः प्रस्थलाधिपः ॥ 19॥ माचेल्लकैर्ललित्थैश्च सहितो मद्रकैरपि । रथानामयुतेनैव सोऽशपद्भ्रातृभिः सह ॥ 20॥ नानाजनपदेभ्यश्च रथानामयुतं पुनः । समुत्थितं विशिष्टानां संशपार्थमुपागतम् ॥ 21॥ ततो ज्वलनमादाय हुत्वा सर्वे पृथक्पृथक् । जगृहुः कुशचीराणि चित्राणि कवचानि च ॥ 22॥ ते च बद्धतनुत्राणा घृताक्ताः कुशचीरिणः । मौर्वीमेखलिनो वीराः सहस्रशतदक्षिणाः ॥ 23॥ ब्राह्मणांस्तर्पयित्वा च निष्कान्दत्त्वा पृथक्पृथक् । गाश्च वासांसि च पुनः समाभाष्य परस्परम् ॥ 24॥ प्रज्वाल्य कृष्णवर्त्मानमुपागम्य रणे व्रतम् । तस्मिन्नग्नौ तदा चक्रुः प्रतिज्ञां दृढनिश्चयाः ॥ 25॥ शृण्वतां सर्वभूतानामुच्चैर्वाचः स्म मेनिरे । धृत्वा धनञ्जयवधे प्रतिज्ञां चापि चक्रिरे ॥ 26॥ यदि त्वसुकरं लोके कर्म कुर्याम संयुगे । इष्टान्पुण्यकृतां लोकान्प्राप्नुयाम न संशयः ॥ 27॥ एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजंस्तेऽभ्यवर्तन्त संयुगे । आह्वयन्तोऽर्जुनं वीराः पितृजुष्टां दिशं प्रति ॥ 28॥ आहूतस्तैर्नरव्याघ्रैः पार्थः परपुरञ्जयः । धर्मराजमिदं वाक्यमपदान्तरमब्रवीत् ॥ 29॥ आहूतो न निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम् । संशप्तकाश्च मां राजन्नाह्वयन्ति पुनः पुनः ॥ 30॥ एष च भ्रातृभिः सार्धं सुशर्माह्वयते रणे । वधाय सगणस्यास्य मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ॥ 31॥ नैतच्छक्नोमि संसोढुमाह्वानं पुरुषर्षभ । सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि हतान्विद्धि परान्युधि ॥ 32॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥ श्रुतमेतत्त्वया तात यद्द्रोणस्य चिकीर्षितम् । यथा तदनृतं तस्य भवेत्तद्वत्समाचर ॥ 33॥ द्रोणो हि बलवाञ्शूरः कृतास्त्रश्च जितश्रमः । प्रतिज्ञातं च तेनैतद्ग्रहणं मे महारथ ॥ 34॥ अर्जुन उवाच॥ अयं वै सत्यजिद्राजन्नद्य ते रक्षिता युधि । ध्रियमाणे हि पाञ्चाल्ये नाचार्यः काममाप्स्यति ॥ 35॥ हते तु पुरुषव्याघ्रे रणे सत्यजिति प्रभो । सर्वैरपि समेतैर्वा न स्थातव्यं कथञ्चन ॥ 36॥ सञ्जय उवाच॥ अनुज्ञातस्ततो राज्ञा परिष्वक्तश्च फल्गुनः । प्रेम्णा दृष्टश्च बहुधा आशिषा च प्रयोजितः ॥ 37॥ विहायैनं ततः पार्थस्त्रिगर्तान्प्रत्ययाद्बली । क्षुधितः क्षुद्विघातार्थं सिंहो मृगगणानिव ॥ 38॥	38 (219)
" Sanjaya said, 'The soldiers from both armies returned to their camps, setting up their quarters, O king, as per their ranks and divisions. After gathering the troops, Drona, feeling deeply troubled, looked at Duryodhana and expressed his concerns: 'I warned you that when Dhananjaya is with Yudhishthira, he cannot be defeated in battle, not even by the gods. Even though all of you attacked him, Partha thwarted all your efforts. Do not doubt my words—Krishna and Pandu's son, Arjuna, are unbeatable. However, if we can somehow lure Arjuna away from Yudhishthira, then Yudhishthira, O king, will easily fall under your control.  Let someone challenge Arjuna in battle and draw him to another part of the battlefield. Kunti's son won’t return until he has vanquished his opponent. In the meantime, with Arjuna absent, I will capture King Yudhishthira, penetrating the Pandava lines right in front of Dhrishtadyumna. I assure you, O king, I will bring Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, along with his followers, under control. If that son of Pandu stands before me for even a moment in battle, I will take him prisoner from the field. This would be a greater achievement than defeating the entire Pandava army.''  " Sanjaya continued, 'Hearing Drona’s words, the leader of the Trigartas said to the king, along with his brothers: 'We, O king, are constantly humiliated by the wielder of Gandiva! Though we have done him no harm, he has always brought us suffering. Remembering all the ways we have been insulted, our anger burns deep, and we find no rest at night. Thankfully, Arjuna, armed and ready, will face us. Therefore, what we desire in our hearts, we are determined to achieve now, something that will please you and bring us honour. We will either defeat him today or perish trying! Let the land be rid of either Arjuna or the Trigartas; we swear this before you. This vow will be true.' And Satyaratha, Satyavarman, Satyavrata, Satyeshu, and Satyakarman echoed this sentiment.  These five brothers gathered, with ten thousand chariots, before Duryodhana, pledging their oath on the battlefield. Accompanied by the Malavas and Tundikeras with their thousand chariots, and the fierce Susarman, leader of Prasthala, along with allies from various regions—each bringing another ten thousand chariots—they came forward to take the oath. Preparing for the vow, they brought fire and gathered ropes, Kusa grass, and fine armour. Clad in armour, anointed in clarified butter, wearing robes of Kusa grass, using their bow-strings as belts, these heroes honoured the Brahmanas with gifts of gold, cattle, and clothing. Then, sharing loving words and igniting the fires, they took their vow for battle.  In front of those blazing fires, they resolutely made their vow. After speaking, O king, those brave warriors proceeded to battle, calling for Arjuna to join them on the southern side of the field. That fierce warrior, known for conquering enemy cities, Arjuna, promptly replied to King Yudhishthira the Just: 'When called, I never retreat. This is my unwavering pledge. These men, sworn to win or die, summon me to a great battle, O king.  This Susarman and his brothers have challenged me. I must ask your permission to defeat him and his followers. O strongest of men, I cannot ignore this challenge. Truly, these enemies are as good as defeated already.' Yudhishthira responded, 'You have heard, my child, about Drona’s intentions clearly. You must act in a manner that thwarts his plans. Drona is powerful, a hero skilled in combat and tireless. Even he has vowed to capture me.'  " Arjuna said, 'Today, Satyajit will be your shield in battle, O king. As long as he lives, our mentor will not achieve his goal. But if this brave warrior, Satyajit, falls in battle, you should not stay on the battlefield even if surrounded by our whole army.' 'Sanjaya continued, 'King Yudhishthira granted Arjuna his request and embraced him with affection, offering him various blessings. After ensuring Yudhishthira's safety, the mighty Arjuna charged at the Trigartas like a hungry lion stalking its prey.'
सञ्जय उवाच॥ ततः संशप्तका राजन्समे देशे व्यवस्थिताः । व्यूह्यानीकं रथैरेव चन्द्रार्धाख्यं मुदान्विताः ॥ 1॥ ते किरीटिनमायान्तं दृष्ट्वा हर्षेण मारिष । उदक्रोशन्नरव्याघ्राः शब्देन महता तदा ॥ 2॥ तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ता संशप्तकवरूथिनी । निश्चेष्टावस्थिता सङ्क्ये अश्मसारमयी यथा ॥ 3॥ उपलभ्य च ते सञ्ज्ञामवस्थाप्य च वाहिनीम् । युगपत्पाण्डुपुत्राय चिक्षिपुः कङ्कपत्रिणः ॥ 4॥ तान्यर्जुनः सहस्राणि दश पञ्चैव चाशुगैः । अनागतान्येव शरैश्चिच्छेदाशुपराक्रमः ॥ 5॥ तांस्तु सर्वान्पृथग्बाणैर्वानरप्रवरध्वजः । प्रत्यविध्यद्ध्वजांश्चैषां भल्लैश्चिच्छेद काञ्चनान् ॥ 6॥ सुधन्वनो धनुश्छित्त्वा हयान्वै न्यवधीच्छरैः । अथास्य सशिरस्त्राणं शिरः कायादपाहरत् ॥ 7॥ तस्मिंस्तु पतिते वीरे त्रस्तास्तस्य पदानुगाः । व्यद्रवन्त भयाद्भीता येन दौर्योधनं बलम् ॥ 8॥ ततो जघान सङ्क्रुद्धो वासविस्तां महाचमूम् । शरजालैरविच्छिन्नैस्तमः सूर्य इवांशुभिः ॥ 9॥ ततस्त्रिगर्तराट्क्रुद्धस्तानुवाच महारथान् । अलं द्रुतेन वः शूरा न भयं कर्तुमर्हथ ॥ 10॥ शप्त्वा तु शपथान्घोरान्सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः । गत्वा दौर्योधनं सैन्यं किं वै वक्ष्यथ मुख्यगाः ॥ 11॥ नावहास्याः कथं लोके कर्मणानेन संयुगे । भवेम सहिताः सर्वे निवर्तध्वं यथाबलम् ॥ 12॥ एवमुक्तास्तु ते राजन्नुदक्रोशन्मुहुर्मुहुः । शङ्खांश्च दध्मिरे वीरा हर्षयन्तः परस्परम् ॥ 13॥ ततस्ते संन्यवर्तन्त संशप्तकगणाः पुनः । नारायणाश्च गोपालाः कृत्वा मृत्युं निवर्तनम् ॥ 14॥ दृष्ट्वा तु संनिवृत्तांस्तान्संशप्तकगणान्पुनः । वासुदेवं महात्मानमर्जुनः समभाषत ॥ 15॥ चोदयाश्वान्हृषीकेश संशप्तकगणान्प्रति । नैते हास्यन्ति सङ्ग्रामं जीवन्त इति मे मतिः ॥ 16॥ अथ नारायणाः क्रुद्धा विविधायुधपाणयः । छादयन्तः शरव्रातैः परिवव्रुर्धनञ्जयम् ॥ 17॥ अदृश्यं च मुहूर्तेन चक्रुस्ते भरतर्षभ । कृष्णेन सहितं युद्धे कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम् ॥ 18 क्रुद्धस्तु फल्गुनः सङ्ख्ये द्विगुणीकृतविक्रमः । गाण्डीवमुपसंमृज्य तूर्णं जग्राह संयुगे ॥ 19 अथास्त्रमरिसङ्घघ्नं त्वाष्ट्रमभ्यस्यदर्जुनः । ततो रूपसहस्राणि प्रादुरासन्पृथक्पृथक् ॥ 20॥ आत्मनः प्रतिरूपैस्तैर्नानारूपैर्विमोहिताः । अन्योन्यमर्जुनं मत्वा स्वमात्मानं च जघ्निरे ॥ 21॥ अयमर्जुनोऽयं गोविन्द इमौ यादवपाण्डवौ । इति ब्रुवाणाः संमूढा जघ्नुरन्योन्यमाहवे ॥ 24॥ मोहिताः परमास्त्रेण क्षयं जग्मुः परस्परम् । अशोभन्त रणे योधाः पुष्पिता इव किंशुकाः ॥ 25॥ ततः शरसहस्राणि तैर्विमुक्तानि भस्मसात् । कृत्वा तदस्त्रं तान्वीराननयद्यमसादनम् ॥ 26॥ अथ प्रहस्य बीभत्सुर्ललित्थान्मालवानपि । माचेल्लकांस्त्रिगर्तांश्च यौधेयांश्चार्दयच्छरैः ॥ 27॥ ते वध्यमाना वीरेण क्षत्रियाः कालचोदिताः । व्यसृजञ्शरवर्षाणि पार्थे नानाविधानि च ॥ 28॥ ततो नैवार्जुनस्तत्र न रथो न च केशवः । प्रत्यदृश्यत घोरेण शरवर्षेण संवृतः ॥ 29॥ भेरीमृदङ्गशङ्खांश्च दध्मुर्वीराः सहस्रशः । सिंहनादरवांश्चोग्रांश्चक्रिरे तत्र मारिष ॥ 30॥ ततः प्रसिष्विदे कृष्णः खिन्नश्चार्जुनमब्रवीत् । क्वासि पार्थ न पश्ये त्वां कच्चिज्जीवसि शत्रुहन् ॥ 31॥ तस्य तं मानुषं भावं भावज्ञोऽऽज्ञाय पाण्डवः । वायव्यास्त्रेण तैरस्तां शरवृष्टिमपाहरत् ॥ 32॥ ततः संशप्तकव्रातान्साश्वद्विपरथायुधान् । उवाह भगवान्वायुः शुष्कपर्णचयानिव ॥ 33॥ उह्यमानास्तु ते राजन्बह्वशोभन्त वायुना । प्रडीनाः पक्षिणः काले वृक्षेभ्य इव मारिष ॥ 34॥ तांस्तथा व्याकुलीकृत्य त्वरमाणो धनञ्जयः । जघान निशितैर्बाणैः सहस्राणि शतानि च ॥ 35॥	35 (254)
"Sanjaya said, 'The Samsaptakas, filled with joy, took their positions on a flat field, arranging their chariots in a half-moon shape. When these fierce warriors saw Arjuna, crowned with a diadem, approach, they were overjoyed and shouted loudly. Arjuna then faced the ranks of the Trigartas in battle, raised his golden conch named Devadatta, and blew it powerfully, its sound echoing in all directions. The Samsaptaka charioteers froze in place, as if turned to stone, terrified by the blast. Their animals stood wide-eyed, with necks and ears stiff, unable to move; they even urinated and bled from their mouths.   Once they regained their wits and arranged their ranks, they unleashed a volley of arrows at the son of Pandu. But Arjuna, quick as lightning, deflected thousands of those arrows with just ten of his own. He also broke Sudhanwan's bow and killed his horses, finally severing the warrior's head, still adorned with a turban. At the sight of their fallen leader, his men panicked and fled to Duryodhana's forces. Then, filled with fury, Vasava's son struck down the mighty host with relentless showers of arrows, just as the sun dispels darkness with its continuous light.'.  The king of the Trigartas, filled with rage, spoke to the fierce warriors, saying, 'Do not flee, brave heroes! There is no need to be afraid. After taking such bold steps in front of all the troops, what can you say to the leaders of Duryodhana's army? Won’t we invite scorn for such cowardice in battle? So halt, and fight with all your might.' Inspired by his words, those heroes shouted loudly and blew their conchs, lifting each other’s spirits. The Samsaptakas then returned to the battlefield with the Narayana cow-herds, determined to face even Death itself. Sanjaya continued, '  Seeing the Samsaptakas return, Arjuna spoke to the noble Vasudeva, saying, 'Drive the horses toward the Samsaptakas, O Hrishikesa. They won’t leave the battle alive. The Narayanas, filled with fury and equipped with various weapons, surrounded Arjuna, showering him with arrows. Soon, Kunti's son, Dhananjaya, along with Krishna, became completely hidden in the chaos of battle. Phalguni, ignited with rage, summoned his strength, swiftly prepared his bow, and gripped Gandiva tightly for the fight.'  Then he unleashed the weapon named Tvashtra, capable of defeating many enemies at once. Immediately, countless versions of Arjuna and Vasudeva appeared before them. Confused by these numerous images of Arjuna, the soldiers began to attack each other, each believing the other to be Arjuna. "This is Arjuna!" "This is Govinda!" "They are the sons of Pandu and he belongs to the Yadu lineage!" Shouting such phrases, and losing their grip on reality, they turned on each other in the battle. Stricken by that powerful weapon, they fought amongst themselves. Those warriors, while clashing, resembled vibrant Kinsuka flowers. Consumed by their own arrows, that mighty weapon sent many heroes to the realm of Yama. Then Bibhatsu, laughing, struck down the Lalithya, the Malava, the Mavellaka, and the Trigarta warriors with his arrows. As these Kshatriyas, driven by fate, fell to this hero, they showered Partha with arrows of every kind. Overwhelmed by this onslaught, neither Arjuna, his chariot, nor Kesava were visible any longer.  The heroes sounded their conch shells and played their drums and cymbals in great numbers, letting out powerful roars, my lord! Then Krishna, soaked in sweat and feeling weak, called out to Arjuna, saying, 'Where are you, O Partha? I can't see you. Are you alive, O enemy slayer?' Hearing this, Dhananjaya quickly countered the arrow storm from his adversaries with the Vayavya weapon. The mighty deity Vayu swept away countless Samsaptakas along with their horses, elephants, chariots, and weapons, as if they were mere dry leaves. Carried off by the wind, they appeared beautiful, like flocks of birds taking flight from the trees. Then Dhananjaya, having unsettled them, swiftly struck down hundreds and thousands of foes with his sharp arrows.

 

इति श्री जयसंहिते  द्रोणपर्वणि चतुर्थोऽद्यायः॥

 

Droṇaparva Chapter- 3

Droṇaparva Chapter- 5