Droṇaparva Chapter -8 (Thirteenth day war

द्रोणपर्व - Droṇaparva (त्रयोदश दिवसीय युद्धम् - भाग-२)

अध्यायः – 8 ::Chapter-8 (Thirteenth day war – Part-2)

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
सञ्जय उवाच॥ तां प्रभग्नां चमूं दृष्ट्वा सौभद्रेणामितौजसा । दुर्योधनो भृशं क्रुद्धः स्वयं सौभद्रमभ्ययात् ॥ 1॥ ततो राजानमावृत्तं सौभद्रं प्रति संयुगे । दृष्ट्वा द्रोणोऽब्रवीद्योधान्पर्याप्नुत नराधिपम् ॥ 2॥ पुराभिमन्युर्लक्ष्यं नः पश्यतां हन्ति वीर्यवान् । तमाद्रवत मा भैष्ट क्षिप्रं रक्षत कौरवम् ॥ 3॥ ततः कृतज्ञा बलिनः सुहृदो जितकाशिनः । त्रास्यमाना भयाद्वीरं परिवव्रुस्तवात्मजम् ॥ 4॥ द्रोणो द्रौणिः कृपः कर्णः कृतवर्मा च सौबलः । बृहद्बलो मद्रराजो भूरिर्भूरिश्रवाः शलः ॥ 5॥ पौरवो वृषसेनश्च विसृजन्तः शिताञ्शरान् । सौभद्रं शरवर्षेण महता समवाकिरन् ॥ 6॥ संमोहयित्वा तमथ दुर्योधनममोचयन् । आस्याद्ग्रासमिवाक्षिप्तं ममृषे नार्जुनात्मजः ॥ 7॥ ताञ्शरौघेण महता साश्वसूतान्महारथान् । विमुखीकृत्य सौभद्रः सिंहनादमथानदत् ॥ 8॥ तस्य नादं ततः श्रुत्वा सिंहस्येवामिषैषिणः । नामृष्यन्त सुसंरब्धाः पुनर्द्रोणमुखा रथाः ॥ 9॥ त एनं कोष्ठकीकृत्य रथवंशेन मारिष । व्यसृजन्निषुजालानि नानालिङ्गानि सङ्घशः ॥ 10॥ तान्यन्तरिक्षे चिच्छेद पौत्रस्तव शितैः शरैः । तांश्चैव प्रतिविव्याध तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥ 11॥ ततस्ते कोपितास्तेन शरैराशीविषोपमैः । परिवव्रुर्जिघांसन्तः सौभद्रमपलायिनम् ॥ 12॥ समुद्रमिव पर्यस्तं त्वदीयं तद्बलार्णवम् । अभिमन्युर्दधारैको वेलेव मकरालयम् ॥ 13॥ शूराणां युध्यमानानां निघ्नतामितरेतरम् । अभिमन्योः परेषां च नासीत्कश्चित्पराङ्मुखः ॥ 14॥ तस्मिंस्तु घोरे सङ्ग्रामे वर्तमाने भयङ्करे । दुःसहो नवभिर्बाणैरभिमन्युमविध्यत ॥ 15॥ दुःशासनो द्वादशभिः कृपः शारद्वतस्त्रिभिः । द्रोणस्तु सप्तदशभिः शरैराशीविषोपमैः ॥ 16॥ विविंशतिस्तु विंशत्या कृतवर्मा च सप्तभिः । बृहद्बलस्तथाष्टाभिरश्वत्थामा च सप्तभिः ॥ 17॥ भूरिश्रवास्त्रिभिर्बाणैर्मद्रेशः षड्भिराशुगैः । द्वाभ्यां शराभ्यां शकुनिस्त्रिभिर्दुर्योधनो नृपः ॥ 18॥ स तु तान्प्रतिविव्याध त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरजिह्मगैः । नृत्यन्निव महाराज चापहस्तः प्रतापवान् ॥ 19॥ सोऽतिक्रुद्धो महेष्वासैरभिमन्युरजिह्मगैः । शरमादत्त कर्णाय परकायावभेदनम् ॥ 20॥ तस्य भित्त्वा तनुत्राणं देहं निर्भिद्य चाशुगः । प्राविशद्धरणीं राजन्वल्मीकमिव पन्नगः ॥ 21॥ स तेनातिप्रहारेण व्यथितो विह्वलन्निव । सञ्चचाल रणे कर्णः क्षितिकम्पे यथाचलः ॥ 22॥ शल्यं च बाणवर्षेण समीपस्थमवाकिरत् । उदक्रोशन्महाबाहुस्तव सैन्यानि भीषयन् ॥ 23॥ ततः स विद्धोऽस्त्रविदा मर्मभिद्भिरजिह्मगैः । शल्यो राजन्रथोपस्थे निषसाद मुमोह च ॥ 24॥ तं हि विद्धं तथा दृष्ट्वा सौभद्रेण यशस्विना । सम्प्राद्रवच्चमूः सर्वा भारद्वाजस्य पश्यतः ॥ 25॥ अथाब्रवीन्महाप्राज्ञो भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् । हर्षेणोत्फुल्लनयनः कृपमाभाष्य सत्वरम् ॥ 26॥ घट्टयन्निव मर्माणि तव पुत्रस्य मारिष । अभिमन्युं रणे दृष्ट्वा तदा रणविशारदम् ॥ 27॥ एष गच्छति सौभद्रः पार्थानामग्रतो युवा । नन्दयन्सुहृदः सर्वान्राजानं च युधिष्ठिरम् ॥ 28॥ नकुलं सहदेवं च भीमसेनं च पाण्डवम् । बन्धून्सम्बन्धिनश्चान्यान्मध्यस्थान्सुहृदस्तथा ॥ 29॥ नास्य युद्धे समं मन्ये कञ्चिदन्यं धनुर्धरम् । इच्छन्हन्यादिमां सेनां किमर्थमपि नेच्छति ॥ 30॥ द्रोणस्य प्रीतिसंयुक्तं श्रुत्वा वाक्यं तवात्मजः । आर्जुनिं प्रति सङ्क्रुद्धो द्रोणं दृष्ट्वा स्मयन्निव ॥ 31॥ अथ दुर्योधनः कर्णमब्रवीद्बाह्लिकं कृपम् । दुःसासनं मद्रराजं तांस्तांश्चान्यान्महारथान् ॥ 32॥ सर्वमूर्धावसिक्तानामाचार्यो ब्रह्मवित्तमः । अर्जुनस्य सुतं मूढं नाभिहन्तुमिहेच्छति ॥ 33॥ न ह्यस्य समरे मुच्येदन्तकोऽप्याततायिनः । किमङ्ग पुनरेवान्यो मर्त्यः सत्यं ब्रवीमि वः ॥ 34॥ अर्जुनस्य सुतं त्वेष शिष्यत्वादभिरक्षति । पुत्राः शिष्याश्च दयितास्तदपत्यं च धर्मिणाम् ॥ 35॥ संरक्ष्यमाणो द्रोणेन मन्यते वीर्यमात्मनः । आत्मसम्भावितो मूढस्तं प्रमथ्नीत माचिरम् ॥ 36॥ एवमुक्तास्तु ते राज्ञा सात्वतीपुत्रमभ्ययुः । संरब्धास्तं जिघांसन्तो भारद्वाजस्य पश्यतः ॥ 37॥	37 (486)
Sanjaya said, 'Seeing his army scattered by Subhadra's immensely powerful son, Duryodhana, enraged, charged forward himself. Witnessing the king's return to face Subhadra's son, Drona told the Kaurava warriors, 'Save the king! Before our eyes, the valiant Abhimanyu is striking down everyone he targets. Rush against him without fear and protect the Kuru king!' Many loyal and mighty warriors, devoted to Duryodhana and usually victorious, but now filled with fear, surrounded your son. Drona, his son, Kripa, Karna, Kritavarman, Subala's son Brihadbala, the Madra king, Bhuri, Bhurisravas, Sala, Paurava, and Vrishasena, using sharp arrows, halted Subhadra's son with a barrage. Overwhelmed by this storm of arrows, they rescued Duryodhana. Arjuna's son, however, wouldn't allow his prey to be snatched away. He unleashed a torrent of arrows, forcing back the mighty car-warriors, their charioteers, and steeds. Then, Subhadra's son roared like a lion. Hearing that roar, like a hungry lion's growl, the enraged car-warriors, led by Drona, couldn't bear it. They hemmed him in, surrounding him with a vast array of chariots, and unleashed a diverse hail of arrows. Yet, the grandson severed them in the sky with sharp shafts before they could reach him, then pierced each of them. His feat was astonishing! Provoked by his snake-venom-like arrows, that relentless son of Subhadra was surrounded, their intent to slay him.'. Yet, that sea of Kaurava troops, O bull of Bharata's line, Arjuna’s son alone held at bay with his arrows, like land defying the ocean’s surge. Among those heroes locked in combat—Abhimanyu and his warrior against them all—none retreated. In that fierce battle, Duhsaha struck Abhimanyu with nine arrows, Duhsasana with twelve, Kripa with three. Drona pierced him with seventeen venomous, serpent-like shafts, Vivinsati with seventy, Kritavarman with seven. Vrihadvala struck with eight, Aswatthaman with seven, Bhurisrava with three, and the Madra king with six. Shakuni shot two, and Duryodhana, three. Yet, the valiant Abhimanyu, O king, as if dancing on his chariot, countered each warrior with three arrows. Overwhelmed by the great archers' relentless assault, Abhimanyu unleashed arrows at Karna, potent enough to pierce any armour. One arrow pierced Karna’s mail and body, sinking into the earth like a serpent burrowing into an anthill. Deeply wounded, Karna felt immense pain and was helpless, trembling like a mountain in an earthquake. He then showered Shalya, who was close by, with a dense barrage of arrows. The mighty warrior roared, terrifying your troops. Meanwhile, Salya, struck by Abhimanyu’s precise arrows that penetrated his vitals, collapsed onto his chariot’s seat, unconscious. Seeing Shalya wounded by Subhadra’s famed son, the troops fled before the very eyes of Drona. Seeing that warrior, skilled in battle, Bharadwaja's wise son, eyes gleaming with joy, quickly approached Kripa. He addressed him, his words seemingly crushing your son's spirit, Bharata: 'There comes Subhadra's youthful son, leading the Parthas, delighting Yudhishthira, Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhimasena, all his kin, in-laws, and even the neutral spectators. I see no archer his equal. Had he the will, he could destroy this vast army, but for some reason, he holds back.' Hearing Drona's pleased words, your son, enraged at Abhimanyu, glared at Drona, a faint smile on his face. Duryodhana addressed Karna, King Balhika, Duhsasana, the ruler of Madras, and many other powerful warriors, saying, 'The esteemed Drona, a master of Kshatriya lore and wise in Brahmanic austerities, hesitates to strike down Arjuna's son due to some delusion. No one, not even Death himself, can survive an encounter with Drona in battle. He protects this youth because he is Arjuna's son, and Arjuna is Drona's disciple. Good people always cherish disciples, sons, and grandsons. Protected by Drona, Arjuna's young son wrongly believes himself invincible. So, quickly crush him!' Hearing this, those warriors, filled with rage and eager to kill their enemy, charged at Subhadra's son right before Drona's eyes.
सञ्जय उवाच॥ शरविक्षतगात्रस्तु प्रत्यमित्रमवस्थितम् । अभिमन्युः स्मयन्धीमान्दुःशासनमथाब्रवीत् ॥ 1॥ दिष्ट्या पश्यामि सङ्ग्रामे मानिनं शत्रुमागतम् । निष्ठुरं त्यक्तधर्माणमाक्रोशनपरायणम् ॥ 2॥ यत्सभायां त्वया राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य शृण्वतः । कोपितः परुषैर्वाक्यैर्धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥ जयोन्मत्तेन भीमश्च बह्वबद्धं प्रभाषता ॥ 3॥ परवित्तापहारस्य क्रोधस्याप्रशमस्य च । लोभस्य ज्ञाननाशस्य द्रोहस्यात्याहितस्य च ॥ 4॥ पितॄणां मम राज्यस्य हरणस्योग्रधन्विनाम् । तत्त्वामिदमनुप्राप्तं तत्कोपाद्वै महात्मनाम् ॥ 5॥ सद्यश्चोग्रमधर्मस्य फलं प्राप्नुहि दुर्मते । शासितास्म्यद्य ते बाणैः सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥ 6॥ अद्याहमनृणस्तस्य कोपस्य भविता रणे । अमर्षितायाः कृष्णायाः काङ्क्षितस्य च मे पितुः ॥ 7॥ अद्य कौरव्य भीमस्य भवितास्म्यनृणो युधि । न हि मे मोक्ष्यसे जीवन्यदि नोत्सृजसे रणम् ॥ 8॥ एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुर्बाणं दुःशासनान्तकम् । संदधे परवीरघ्नः कालाग्न्यनिलवर्चसम् ॥ 9॥ तस्योरस्तूर्णमासाद्य जत्रुदेशे विभिद्य तम् । अथैनं पञ्चविंशत्या पुनश्चैव समर्पयत् ॥ 10॥ स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् । दुःशासनो महाराज कश्मलं चाविशन्महत् ॥ 11॥ सारथिस्त्वरमाणस्तु दुःशासनमचेतसम् । रणमध्यादपोवाह सौभद्रशरपीडितम् ॥ 12॥ दुर्योधनो महाराज राधेयमिदमब्रवीत् । पश्य दुःशासनं वीरमभिमन्युवशं गतम् ॥ 13॥ प्रतपन्तमिवादित्यं निघ्नन्तं शात्रवान्रणे । सौभद्रमुद्यतास्त्रातुमभिधावन्ति पाण्डवाः ॥ 14॥ ततः कर्णः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैरभिमन्युं दुरासदम् । अभ्यवर्षत सङ्क्रुद्धः पुत्रस्य हितकृत्तव ॥ 15॥ तस्य चानुचरांस्तीक्ष्णैर्विव्याध परमेषुभिः । अवज्ञापूर्वकं वीरः सौभद्रस्य रणाजिरे ॥ 16॥ अभिमन्युस्तु राधेयं त्रिसप्तत्या शिलीमुखैः । अविध्यत्त्वरितो राजन्द्रोणं प्रेप्सुर्महामनाः ॥ 17॥ तं तदा नाशकत्कश्चिद्द्रोणाद्वारयितुं रणे । आरुजन्तं रथश्रेष्ठान्वज्रहस्तमिवासुरान् ॥ 18॥ स ध्वजं कार्मुकं चास्य छित्त्वा भूमौ न्यपातयत् ॥ 19॥ ततः कृच्छ्रगतं कर्णं दृष्ट्वा कर्णादनन्तरः । सौभद्रमभ्ययात्तूर्णं दृढमुद्यम्य कार्मुकम् ॥ 20॥ सोऽभिगर्जन्धनुष्पाणिर्ज्यां विकर्षन्पुनः पुनः । तयोर्महात्मनोस्तूर्णं रथान्तरमवापतत् ॥ 21॥ तस्याभिमन्युरायम्य स्मयन्नेकेन पत्रिणा । शिरः प्रच्यावयामास स रथात्प्रापतद्भुवि ॥ 22 कर्णिकारमिवोद्धूतं वातेन मथितं नगात् । भ्रातरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा राजन्कर्णो व्यथां ययौ ॥ 23 विमुखीकृत्य कर्णं तु सौभद्रः कङ्कपत्रिभिः । अन्यानपि महेष्वासांस्तूर्णमेवाभिदुद्रुवे ॥ 24॥	24 (510)
Sanjaya said, 'Then wise Abhimanyu, though wounded by arrows, faced Duhsasana with a smile, saying, 'It's my luck to see you, a boastful, cruel, and unrighteous hero, before me in battle. In the Kuru assembly, before King Dhritarashtra, you angered Yudhishthira with harsh words. You relied on deceitful dice and Subala's son's skill, and spewed wild words at Bhima! Now, you'll face the consequence of provoking such noble souls! You evil-minded one, prepare to reap what you sowed by stealing from others, your anger, your hatred of peace, your greed, your ignorance, your fighting with kin, your injustice, and depriving my fearsome warrior fathers of their kingdom, all fuelled by your own vile temper. Today, I'll punish you with my arrows before the entire army. I shall unleash the wrath I hold against you. I shall repay my debt to furious Draupadi and my father, who always sought to punish you. Kaurava, today I'll also settle my debt to Bhima. You won't escape with your life unless you flee this battle!'' Having spoken these words, that mighty-armed warrior, the destroyer of enemy heroes, aimed an arrow possessing the brilliance of Yama, Agni, or the Wind-god, capable of sending Duhsasana to the next world. Swiftly reaching Duhsasana's chest, that arrow struck his shoulder joint and pierced his body completely, like a snake entering an anthill. Abhimanyu then struck him again with twenty-five fiery arrows, drawn fully back on his bow. Deeply wounded and in great pain, Duhsasana collapsed onto his chariot's platform, overcome by a swoon, O king. Afflicted by the arrows of Subhadra's son and losing his senses, Duhsasana was quickly driven away from the battle by his charioteer. Duryodhana, O monarch, said to Karna, son of Radha, 'Behold, the heroic Duhsasana, like the blazing sun, who was previously vanquishing the foe in battle, has now fallen to Abhimanyu. The enraged Pandavas, fierce as mighty lions, are rushing towards us, eager to save Subhadra's son.' Addressed thus, Karna angrily showered sharp arrows upon the invincible Abhimanyu, wanting to aid your son. The heroic Karna, seemingly in contempt, also pierced Abhimanyu's followers on the battlefield with many excellent, sharp arrows. However, the noble Abhimanyu, O king, wishing to attack Drona, swiftly struck Radha's son with seventy-three arrows. No chariot-warrior in your army could halt Abhimanyu's advance towards Drona, the son of Indra's son, who was afflicting all the leading chariot-warriors of the Kaurava army. Imbued with immense valour and daring, he swiftly, with a single arrow, severed Karna's bow and banner, casting them to the ground. Seeing Karna falter, his younger brother, straining his bow with might, aggressively advanced upon Subhadra's son. With deafening roars, bow in hand, and repeatedly drawing the string, he interposed himself between those renowned warriors. Then Abhimanyu, powerfully bending his bow and smirking, with a fletched arrow, decapitated his foe. The head, cut off, plummeted to the earth. Witnessing his brother slain, like a Karnikara tree toppled from a mountain peak by a gale, Karna, your majesty, was overwhelmed with grief. Simultaneously, Subhadra's son, forcing Karna to retreat with his arrows, charged towards the other mighty archers.