There were ten thousand elephants and two hundred chariots as well.
There were eight thousand horses and one million foot soldiers. Surrounded
by these warriors, shambara proceeded.
As he was proceeding for the battle, many kinds of meteors fell. Groups of
vultures roamed in the sky. The sky was filled with roaring clouds as if it
was evening.
The clouds roared with harsh sounds. There was lightning in the sky.
Jackals howled inauspiciously indicating terrible destruction of the army.
dhvajashIrShe.apatadgR^idhraH kA~nkShanvai dAnavAsR^ijam |
rathAgre patitashchAsya kabandho bhuvi dR^ishyate ||2-105-23
Vultures sat on the top of the flagstaffs desirous of drinking the blood of
the demons. Ahead of the chariot, headless bodies were seen on the earth.
chIchIkUchIti vAshAnti shambarasya rathopari |
svarbhAnugrasta AdityaH parighaiH pariveShTitaH ||2-105-24
Many birds flew over the chariot of shambara, chirping. The sun, surrounded
by iron clubs was eclipsed.
sphurate nayanaM chAsya savyaM bhayanivedanam |
bAhuH prakampate savyaH prAskhalanrathavAjinaH ||2-105-25
shambara's left eye wavered on its own, indicating fear. His left arm
trembled on its own. The horses of the chariot missed their steps.
dhvA~NkSho mUrdhni nipatitaH shambarasya surAriNaH |
vavarSha rudhiraM devaH sharkarA~NgAramishritam ||2-105-26
A crow sat on the head of shambara, the enemy of deva-s. The deva-s
showered blood mixed with gravel and coal.
ulkApAtasahasrANi nipetU raNamUrdhani |
pratodo nyapataddhastAtsAratherhayayAyinaH ||2-105-27
Thousands of meteors fell on the battlefield. The whip fell off the hands
of the charioteer, controlling the horses.
etAnachintayitvA tu utpAtAnsamupasthitAn |
prayayau shambaraH kruddhaH pradyumnavadhakA~NkShayA ||2-105-28
Desirous of killing pradyumna, angry shambara proceeded ahead without
giving a thought regarding the fall of meteors.
bherImR^ida~Ngasha~NkhAnAM paNavAnakadundubheH |
yugapannAdyamAnAnAM pR^ithivI samakampata ||2-105-29
All the musical instruments such as kettle drums (bherI), mR^ida~Nga,
conches, small drums (paNava), double drums (Anaka) and large kettle drums
(dundubhi) sounded together. With the huge sound, the earth started
trembling.
tena shabdena mahatA saMtrastA mR^igapakShiNaH |
samantAddudruvustasmAdbhayaviklavachetasaH ||2-105-30
With that great sound, the animals and birds were frightened. With their
minds terrified, they started to run away from that place.
raNamadhye sthitaH kArShNishchintayannidhanaM ripoH |
sainyaiH parivR^ito.asa~NkhyairyuddhAya kR^itanishchayaH ||2-105-31
kR^iShNa's son (pradyumna) was standing in the battle field thinking about
slaying the enemies. Surrounded by many armies, he firmly decided to
fight.
kruddhaH sharasahasreNa pradyumnaM samatADayat |
saMprAptAMshchaiva tAnbANAMshChichCheda kR^itahastavat ||2-105-32
Angry shambara shot thousands of arrows at pradyumna. pradyumna cut off all
those arrows with the speed of his hand.
pradyumno dhanurAdAya sharavarShaM mumocha ha |
tasminsainye na ko.apyasti yo na viddhaH shareNa vai ||2-105-33
pradyumna took up a bow and released a shower of arrows. No one was left in
that army (of shambara), who was not hit by an arrow.
pradyumnasharapAtena tatsainyaM vimukhIkR^itam |
shambarasya tathAbhyAshe sthitaM samhR^itya bhItavat ||2-105-34
That army was made to turn back by the shower of arrows released by
pradyumna. The army standing near shambara became terrified and left.
svabalaM vidrutaM dR^iShTvA shambaraH krodhamUrchChitaH |
Aj~nApayAmAsa tadA sachivAndAnaveshvaraH ||2-105-35
Seeing that his army has fled, shambara lost his mind due to anger. Then the
lord of demons (shambara) ordered his ministers:
gachChadhvaM manniyogena praharadhvaM ripoH sutam |
nopekShaNIyaH shatrurvai vadhyatAM kShiprameva vai ||2-105-36
(shambara said): Go and kill the son of the enemy as directed by me. We
cannot leave him. The enemy has to be killed quickly.
upekShita iva vyAdhiH sharIraM nAshayeddhruvam |
tadeva durmatiH pApo vadhyatAM matpriyepsayA ||2-105-37
If the enemy is left free (not destroyed), he will quickly destroy our
bodies like a disease. Hence for my pleasure, kill this sinner, the one with
bad intellect.
tataste sachivAH kruddhAH shirasA gR^ihya shAsanam |
sharavarShaM vimu~nchantastvaritA nodayanrathAn ||2-105-38
(vaishampAyana continued: O janamejaya!) Then those ministers became
angry. They took the order on their head (accepted the order). The chariots
were quickly driven releasing a shower of arrows.
tAndR^iShTvA dhAvataH sa~Nkhye kruddho makaraketanaH |
chApamudyamya saMbhrAntastasthau pramukhato balI ||2-105-39
Seeing them fighting the battle fiercely, the one having fish on his flag,
(pradyumna) became angry. Powerful pradyumna took up his bow quickly and
stood facing the enemies.
durdharaM pa~nchaviMshatyA sharaiH sannataparvabhiH |
bibheda sumahAtejAH ketumAliM triShaShTibhiH ||2-105-40
saptatyA shatruhantAraM dvyashItyA tu pramardanam |
bibheda paramAmarShI rukmiNyA nandivardhanaH ||2-105-41
The one who increases the happiness of rukmiNI (pradyumna) became highly
angry and cut the body of durdhara with twenty five arrows, having blunt
head. The one with high splendor, (pradyumna) cut the body of ketumAli
with sixty three arrows, with seventy arrows he cut the body of shatruhanta
and with eightytwo arrows, he cut the body of pramardana.
tataste sachivAH kruddhAH pradyumnaM sharavR^iShTibhiH |
ekaikasho bibhedAjau ShaShTibhiH ShaShTibhiH sharaiH ||2-105-42
Then those ministers became angry. Each of them shot showers of sixty arrows
for cutting the body of pradyumna in the battle.
tAnaprAptA~nCharAnbANaishchichCheda makaradhvajaH |
The one having fish on his flag broke those arrows before they reached their
destination.
tato.ardhachandramAdAya durdharasya sa sArathim ||2-105-43
jaghAna pashyatAM rAj~nAM sarveShAM sainikasya vai |
Taking a weapon having the shape of half moon, pradyumna killed the
charioteer of durdhara as all the important soldiers of the army were
watching.
chaturbhiratha nArAchaiH suparvaiH ka~NkatejitaiH ||2-105-44
jaghAna chaturaH so.ashvAndurdharasya rathaM prati |
He killed the four horses of the chariot of durdhara with four arrows with a
sharp tip and decorated wings.
ekena yoktraM ChatraM cha dhvajamekena bandhuram ||2-105-45
ShaShTyA cha yugachakrAkShaM chichCheda makaradhvajaH |
With one arrow he cut off the rope, the umbrella and the flagstaff.
With one arrow he cut off the bandhura. The one having fish on his flag
(pradyumna) cut of the axle of the wheels of the chariot with sixty arrows.
athAparaM sharaM gR^ihya ka~NkapatraM sutejitam ||2-105-46
mumocha hR^idaye tasya durdharasyAnyajIvinaH |
He quickly took another sharp and powerful arrow furnished with feathers of
heron (ka~Nkapatra) and released the same at the heart of durdhara,
whose life was short.
sa gatAsurgatashrIko gatasattvo gataprabhaH ||2-105-47
nipapAta rathopasthAtkShINapuNya iva grahaH |
Losing his splendor, self, prosperity and life, he fell off from the
chariot, like a planet losing the benefits of its auspicious deeds.
durdhare nihate shUre dAnave dAnaveshvaraH ||2-105-48
ketumAlI sharavrAtairabhidudrAva kR^iShNajam |
When the valiant durdhara was killed, the demon, the lord of demons,
ketumAli, shot a group of arrows at the son of kR^iShNa.
pradyumnamatha sa~Nkruddho bhrukuTIbhIShaNAnAnaH ||2-105-49
kR^itvAbhyadhAvatsahasA tiShTha tiShTheti chAbravIt |
He became angry on pradyumna. He bent his eyebrows to terrify him. With his
terrible face, he ran towards pradyumna shouting halt! halt!
saMkruddhaH kR^iShNasUnustu sharavarShairavAkirat ||2-105-50
parvataM vAridhArAbhiH prAvR^iShIva yathA ghanaH |
Then the angry son of kR^iShNa (pradyumna) shot a shower of arrows like a
cloud showers water on a mountain in the rainy season.
sa viddho dAnavAmAtyaH pradyumnena dhanuShmatA ||2-105-51
chakramAdAya chikShepa pradyumnavadhakA~NkShayA |
That minister of the demon, the wielder of bows, (ketumAlI) on whom pradyumna
shot arrows, took a wheel and threw it, desiring to kill pradyumna.
taM tu prAptaM sahasrAraM kR^iShNachakrasamadyutim ||2-105-52
nipatyotpatya sahasA sarveShAmeva pashyatAm |
tenaiva tasya chichCheda ketumAleH shirastadA ||2-105-53
Seeing that chakra having one thousand spokes and having splendor equal to
the chakra of kR^iShNa approaching near him, pradyumna suddenly jumped and
caught hold of it. With the same chakra, he cut off the head of ketumAli,
as all were watching.
taddR^iShTvA karma vipulaM raukmiNeyasya devarAT |
vismayaM paramaM prAptaH sarvairdevagaNaiH saha ||2-105-54
Seeing the great task done by the son of rukmiNI (pradyumna) the king of
deva-s, indra and the entire group of all deva-s were struck by great
wonder.
gandharvApsarasashchaiva puShpavarShairavAkiran |
Then the gandharva-s and the divine women (apsaras) showered flowers.
ketumAliM hataM dR^iShTvA shatruhantA pramardanaH |
mahAbalasamUhena pradyumnamatha dudruve ||2-105-55
Seeing that ketumAli is killed, shatruhanta and pramardana, (the ministers
of shambara) ran towards pradyumna along with a great army.
te gadAM musalaM chakraM prAsatomarasAyakAn |
bhindipAlAnkuThArAMshcha bhAsvarAnkUTamudgarAn ||2-105-56
yugapatsa~NkShipanti sma vadhArthaM kR^iShNanandane |
They used the weapons mace (gada), club (musala), wheel (chakra)
lance (tomara), missile (sAyaka), short javelin (bhindipAla), axe
(kuThAra) and hammer (kUTamudgara) together to kill the son of kR^iShNa
(pradyumna).
so.api tAnyastrajAlAni shastrajAlairanekadhA ||2-105-57
chichCheda bahudhA vIro darshayanpANilAghavam |
The valiant pradyumna, exhibiting the speed of his hand, cut off these many
varieties of weapons by using a variety of weapons.
gajAnso.abhyahanatkruddho gajArohAnsahasrashaH ||2-105-58
rathAnsArathibhiH sArdhaM hayAMshchaiva mamarda ha |
pAtayaMstA~nCharavrAtairnAviddhaH kashchidIkShyate || 2-105-59
Angry pradyumna killed thousands of elephants along with those mounted on
them. He oppressed many chariots along with the charioteers and horses and
fell them by striking them hard. There was none left, without being shot at.
evaM sarvANi sainyAni mamantha makaradhvajaH |
nadIM prAvartayadghorAM shoNitAmbutara~NgiNIm ||2-105-60
The one having fish on his flag (pradyumna) oppressed the armies totally and
created a terrible river with waves of blood.
muktAhArormibahulAm vasAmedosthipa~NkinIm |
ChatradvIpasharAvartAm rathaiH pulinamaNDitAm||2-105-61
That river had many waves of garlands of pearls, with stains of marrow,
fat and bones decorated by islands of umbrellas, whirlpools of arrows
and the sand banks of chariots.
keyUrakuNDalAkUrmAM dhvajamatsyavibhUShitAm |
nAgagrAhavatIM raudrIM matsyakUrmavibhUShitAm ||2-105-62
That river was decorated with tortoises of bracelets and ear rings and
fishes of flagstaffs and currents of terrible elephants,
like a river decorated by fish and tortoises.
keshashaivalasa~nChannAM shroNisUtramR^iNAlikAm |
narAnanasupadmAM cha haMsachAmaravIjitAm ||2-105-63
That river sparkled with the garbage of hairs, lotus roots of strings worn
around the loins, beautiful lotus flowers of the faces of men and the swans
of chowries (of the warriors slain by pradyumna).
shirastimisamAkIrNAM shoNitaughapravartinIm |
nadIM dustaraNIM bhImAmana~Ngena pravartitAm ||2-105-64
Thus the one without limbs (kAma, pradyumna), created a huge river, difficult
to cross with currents of blood flowing, full of heads (of the slain
warriors) like whales (of the ocean).
duShprekShAM durgamAM raudrAM hInatejaH sudustarAm |
shastragrAhavatIM ghorAM yamarAShTravivarddhinIm ||2-105-65
That river was difficult to be seen, difficult to travel, terrible,
difficult to cross for those without splendor, decorated by the currents of
terrible weapons, which prospered the kingdom of the god of death.
tatra rukmisutaH shrImAnviloDayati dhanvinaH |
shatruhantAramAshritya sharAnabhyakiranbahUn ||2-105-66
There the auspicious son of rukmiNi who agitates the wielders of bows, shot
many arrows at shatruhanta (minister of shambara).
shatruhantA punaH kruddho mumocha sharamuttamam |
pradyumnasya samAsAdya hR^idaye nipapAta ha ||2-105-67
shatruhanta, again became angry and released a best arrow aimed at pradyumna.
The arrow struck pradyumna at his heart.
sa viddhastena bANena pradyumno na vyakampata |
shaktiM jagrAha balavA~nChatruhantre mumUrShave ||2-105-68
Struck by that arrow, pradyumna did not even tremble. Powerful pradyumna
took up shakti, a spear aimed at shatruhanta, whose death was approaching.
sA kShiptA raukmiNeyena shaktirjvAlAkulA raNe |
papAta hR^idayaM bhittvA shakrAshanisamasvanA ||2-105-69
That blazing spear released by the son of rukmiNI in the battle, struck
shartuhanta, splitting his heart with a sound equal to the lightning of
shakra (indra).
sa bhinnahR^ichcha srastA~Ngo muktamarmAsthibandhanaH |
papAta rudhirodgArI shatruhantA mahAbalaH ||2-105-70
The highly powerful shatruhanta, fell down dead, spilling blood, all his
limbs and soft bones broken, his heart split.
patitaM shatruhantAraM dR^iShTvA tasthau pramardanaH |
jagrAha musalaM so.atha vachanaM chedamAdade ||2-105-71
pramardana, seeing shatruhanta falling down dead, took up his club and
spoke the following words:
tiShTha kiM prAkR^itairebhiH kariShyasi raNapriyaH |
mAM yodhayasva durbuddhe tatastvaM na bhaviShyasi ||2-105-72
(pramardana said): Halt! What are you, who likes battles, doing to
ordinary people? O the one with bad intellect! Fight with me. Then you will
not live any more.
vR^iShNivaMshakule jAtaH shatrurasmatpitA tava |
putraM hantAsmyahaM tasya tato.asau nihato bhavet ||2-105-73
Your father born in the race of vR^iShNi-s is our enemy. We shall kill
his son. He will become equal to dead then.
mR^itena tena durbuddhe sarvadevakShayo bhavet |
daiteyA dAnavAH sarve modantAm hatashatravaH ||2-105-74
O the one with bad intellect! When he is dead, all the deva-s will be
destroyed. All the demons will be happy, with the death of their enemies.
hate tvayi mamAstreNa tvatsamutthaishcha shoNitaiH |
shambarasya tu putrANAM karomyudakasatkriyAM ||2-105-75
After killing you with my arrow, I will perform the funeral rites of the
sons of shambara, with the blood of your body.
adya sA bhIShmakasutA karuNaM vilapiShayati |
nihataM tvAm cha shrutvaiva yauvanasthaM gatAyuSham ||2-105-76
Now the daughter of bhIShmaka (rukmiNI) will lament miserably hearing that
you are killed in your youth, ending your life.
sa te pitA chakradharo niShphalAsho bhaviShyati |
hataM tvAM sa viditvAtha prANAMstyakShyati mandadhIH ||2-105-77
Your father, who holds the chakra, will become one with all his hopes
fruitless. The one with slow intellect, will abandon his life, knowing that
you are killed.
ityuktvA parigheNAshu tADayadrukmiNIsutam |
(vaishampAyana continued: O janamejaya!) Saying this, he struck the son of
rukmiNI with an iron club.
tADito hi mahAtejA raukmiNeyaH pratApavAn ||2-105-78
dorbhyAmutkShipya tasyaiva rathaM mahyAM vyachUrNayat |
The son of rukmiNI (pradyumna), the one with great splendor who was struck,
struck back with his arms and reduced his chariot to dust.
so.avaplutya rathAttasmAtpadAtiravatasthivAn ||2-105-79
tAM gadAM gR^ihya sahasA raukmiNeyamupAdravat |
He (pramardana) jumped out from the chariot. Standing on his feet, he took up
his mace and ran suddenly towards the son of rukmiNI (pradyumna).
tayaiva gadayA kAmaH pramardanamapothayat ||2-105-80
hate pramardane daitye dR^iShTvA sarve pradudruvuH |
With that mace, kAma (pradyumna) oppressed pramardana. Seeing that the demon
pramardana was killed, all ran away.
na shaktAH pramukhe sthAtuM siMhatrAsAdgajA iva ||2-105-81
They were unable to maintain their position, like the elephants terrified by
lions.
sArameyaM yathA dR^iShTvAvigaNe vai palAyate |
tathA senA viShIdantI pradyumnasya bhayArditA ||2-105-82
The army, depressed due to the fear of pradyumna, ran away like a herd
of sheep running away, seeing a dog.
kShatajA digdhavastrA vai muktakeshA vishobhanA |
rajasvaleva yuvatiH senA samavagUhate ||2-105-83
Like a young woman in her menstrual period, the army left the battle field,
with blood on their clothes, their hair untied and losing their luster.
madanasharavibhinnA sainikAnabyayAyAd-
yuvatisadR^ishaveShA sAdvasaiH pIDyamAnA |
ratisamaramashaktA vIkShituM sochChasantI
svagR^ihagamanakAmA nechChate sthAtumatra ||2-105-84
Split by the arrows shot by kAma (pradyumna), that army did not come forward,
like a young woman being distressed most, unable to maintain her position
in the war of amorous enjoyment (like kAma and his wife rati), sighs and
tries to go back to her own house. The army did not wish to maintain its
stand in the battle.
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi
shambarasainyabha~Ngo nAma pa~nchAdhikashatatamo.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the one hundred and fifth chapter of viShNuparva,
harivamsha, khila of mahAbhArata, liquidation of shambara army.
nIlakaNTha commentary
## Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachaadran_ksr @ yahoo.ca,
January 19, 2009
Note 1: verse 22, line 1: paruShaM is correct. purushaM is out of place.
2: From verse 68 to End, gangavishnu edition has been followed.
However, for
consistency, the following changes have been made:
(a) sandhi, in verse 68
(b) musalam, in verse 71
(c) gatAyuSham , in verse 76##
Further proof-read by Gilles Schaufelberger, schaufel @ wanadoo.fr
If you find any errors compared to Chitrashala Press edition,
send corrections to A. Harindranath harindranath_a @ yahoo.com
Translated to English by A. Purushothaman [purushothaman_avaroth @
yahoo.com] and A. Harindranath
12th June 2011##
- 2-105-1 tata iti ||
- 2-105-3 sarvamasyate kShipyate.aneneti sarvAstraM tachcha
taddhanushcha tasmAt ||
- 2-105-5 ana~Nga pradyumnaH ||
- 2-105-7 samayudhyata ekatvamArShaM yuddhaM kR^itavantaH ||
- 2-105-12 R^iShyAH mR^igavisheShA steShAM sahasreNa ||
- 2-105-13 pa~NktibhaktibhiH dashabhishchitrabhAgaiH uparyupari
koShTakaurvirAjitaM shobhamAnam ||
- 2-105-22 nirghAtaH ashaniH patat apatat | saMkAlayan kShapayan
||
- 2-105-23 gR^idhra dAnavAsR^ijaM dAnavaraktaM ||
- 2-105-24 vAshanti pakShiNa iti sheShaH ||
- 2-105-26 surAriNaH devashatroH ||
- 2-105-31 asa~NkhyaiH saMkhyAtumayogyaiH |
atiprasiddhanAmabhirityarthaH ||
- 2-105-40 bibheda bibhiduH ||
- 2-105-44 parvairityadantatvamArSham ||
- 2-105-66 tatra dhanvinaH dhanurdharAn viloDayati mathnAti ||
- 2-105-73 asmAt asmAkam ||
- 2-105-76 bhIShmakasutA rukmiNI ||
- 2-105-78 tADayat atADayat ||
- 2-105-79 rathamevotkShipya chUrNayat ||
- 2-105-80 tAM prasiddhaM tayaiva ripuprayuktaiva ||
2-105-82 aviti chChedaH ||
- 2-105-83 vishobhanA srakchandanapatralekhAdirahitA samavagUhate
dehaM sa~Nkochayati ||
- 2-105-84 sAddhvasaiH nirdayakArmukaiH ratimiva samaraM ratisamaraM
pakShe ratiM samara iveti vigrahaH
iti shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAM pa~nchAdikashatatamo.adhyAyaH ||