The Fall of Duryodhana (ch58)

CHAPTER 58
(Gadayuddha Parva)-Continued.

The Fall of Duryodhana

SYNOPSIS

This passage from the Mahabharata describes the final mace duel between Bhima (Vrikodara) and Duryodhana (Suyodhana) at the end of the Kurukshetra War. It highlights the intensity of their battle, the strategies employed, and the moral ambiguities that arise in the pursuit of justice and vengeance.
Arjuna, observing the duel, asks Krishna to evaluate the two combatants. Krishna explains that while Bhima is physically stronger, Duryodhana possesses greater skill and years of rigorous training. Krishna also notes that a fair fight would likely favor Duryodhana, but Bhima's victory could only be assured through deception. Krishna reminds Arjuna of Bhima’s vow to break Duryodhana's thighs, made years earlier after Draupadi’s humiliation in the Kuru court. This moment calls for fulfilling that promise, even if it means bending the rules of mace combat.

As the duel progresses, both warriors display incredible skill and determination. They move in intricate patterns, their maces clashing with thunderous sounds that spark like lightning. The sheer ferocity of their strikes makes the ground tremble, and blood flows freely from their injuries. Each appears equally matched, trading blow for blow with neither willing to yield. Duryodhana, confident in his abilities, miscalculates Bhima’s resilience after landing a powerful strike. Believing his opponent weakened, he refrains from pressing his advantage, allowing Bhima to recover and prepare for a counterattack.

At this moment, Arjuna gestures to Bhima, pointing at Duryodhana’s thighs as a reminder of his vow. Understanding the signal, Bhima roars like a lion and executes a decisive maneuver. Duryodhana, attempting to evade Bhima’s attack by leaping into the air, exposes his thighs. Seizing the opportunity, Bhima delivers a crushing blow with his mace, shattering Duryodhana’s thighs and bringing him down. The strike, though effective, violates the established rules of mace combat, further deepening the ethical complexity of the battle.

Duryodhana’s fall unleashes apocalyptic omens. Fierce winds blow, the earth trembles, and blood rains from the skies. Lakes overflow, rivers flow backward, and unnatural phenomena terrify all who witness them. The Pandava army celebrates the victory, but the moment is tinged with unease, as even the gods and celestial beings recognize the moral weight of what has transpired.

This climactic duel encapsulates the dualities of war: strength versus skill, righteousness versus pragmatism, and justice versus revenge. It marks the end of Duryodhana’s reign and solidifies the Pandavas’ victory, but not without leaving questions about the cost of such triumphs.

CHAPTER 58

संजय उवाच
समुदीर्णं ततो दृष्ट्वा संग्रामें कुरुमुख्ययोः ।
अथाब्रवीदर्जुनस्तु वासुदेवं यशस्विनम् ॥ १ ॥
अनयोर्वीरयोर्युद्धे को ज्यायान् भवतो मतः ।
कस्य वा को गुणो भूयानेतद् वद जनार्दन ॥ २ ॥

 
saṃjaya uvāca
samudīrṇaṃ tato dṛṣṭvā saṃgrāmeṃ kurumukhyayoḥ |
athābravīdarjunastu vāsudevaṃ yaśasvinam || 1 ||
anayorvīrayoryuddhe ko jyāyān bhavato mataḥ |
kasya vā ko guṇo bhūyānetad vada janārdana || 2 ||

Sanjaya said

"Seeing that fight thus ranging between those two greatest heroes of Kuru's race, Arjuna said to Vasudeva, ' Who, in your superior between these two? What is their respective merit? Tell me this, O Janarddana!'-

वासुदेव उवाच
उपदेशोऽनयोस्तुल्यो भीमस्तु बलवत्तरः ।
कृती यत्नपरस्त्वेष धार्तराष्ट्रो वृकोदरात् ॥ ३ ॥

vāsudeva uvāca
upadeśo’nayostulyo bhīmastu balavattaraḥ |
kṛtī yatnaparastveṣa dhārtarāṣṭro vṛkodarāt || 3 ||

Vasudeva said

The instruction they received was equal. Bhima, however, is possessed of greater strength while Duryodhana possessed greater skill and worked harder.

भीमसेनस्तु धर्मेण युद्ध्यमानो न जेष्यति ।
अन्यायेन तु युध्यन् वै हन्यादेव सुयोधनम् ॥ ४ ॥

bhīmasenastu dharmeṇa yuddhyamāno na jeṣyati |
anyāyena tu yudhyan vai hanyādeva suyodhanam || 4 ||

If he were to fight fairly, Bhimasena would never succeed in gaining victory. If he fights unfairly, he will surely be able to kill Duryodhana.

मायया निर्जिता देवैरसुरा इति नः श्रुतम् ।
विरोचनस्तु शक्रेण मायया निर्जितः स वै ॥ ५ ॥

māyayā nirjitā devairasurā iti naḥ śrutam |
virocanastu śakreṇa māyayā nirjitaḥ sa vai || 5 ||

The Asuras were defeated by the gods deceptively. We have heard this. Virochana was defeated by Shakra with the aid of deception.

मायया चाक्षिपत् तेजो वृत्रस्य बलसूदनः ।
तस्मान्मायामयं भीम आतिष्ठतु पराक्रमम् ॥ ६ ॥

māyayā cākṣipat tejo vṛtrasya balasūdanaḥ |
tasmānmāyāmayaṃ bhīma ātiṣṭhatu parākramam || 6 ||

The destroyer of Vala deprived Vritra of his energy by an act of deception. Therefore, let Bhimasena put forth his prowess, through deception!

प्रतिज्ञातं च भीमेन द्यूतकाले धनंजय |
ऊरू भेत्स्यामि ते संख्ये गदयेति सुयोधनम् ॥ ७ ॥

pratijñātaṃ ca bhīmena dyūtakāle dhanaṃjaya |
ūrū bhetsyāmi te saṃkhye gadayeti suyodhanam || 7 ||

At the time of the gambling, O Dhananjaya, Bhima promised to break the thighs of Suyodhana with his mace in battle.

सोऽयं प्रतिज्ञां तां चापि पालयत्वरिकर्षणः ।
मायाविनं तु राजानं माययैव निकृन्ततु ॥ ८ ॥

so’yaṃ pratijñāṃ tāṃ cāpi pālayatvarikarṣaṇaḥ |
māyāvinaṃ tu rājānaṃ māyayaiva nikṛntatu || 8 ||

Let this destroyer of foes, therefore, fulfill his vow. Let him, deceptively kill the Kuru king who is made of deception!

यद्येष बलमास्थाय न्यायेन प्रहरिष्यति ।
विषमस्थस्ततो राजा भविष्यति युधिष्ठिरः ॥ ९ ॥

yadyeṣa balamāsthāya nyāyena prahariṣyati |
viṣamasthastato rājā bhaviṣyati yudhiṣṭhiraḥ || 9 ||

If depending upon his might alone, Bhima were to fight fairly, King Yudhishthira would meet with great peril.

पुनरेव तु वक्ष्यामि पाण्डवेय निबोध मे ।
धर्मराजापराधेन भयं नः पुनरागतम् ॥ १० ॥

punareva tu vakṣyāmi pāṇḍaveya nibodha me |
dharmarājāparādhena bhayaṃ naḥ punarāgatam || 10 ||

I tell you again, O son of Pandu, listen to me! It is through the fault of King Yudhishthira alone that danger has once more befallen us.

 
कृत्वा हि सुमहत् कर्म हत्वा भीष्ममुखान् कुरून् ।
जयः प्राप्तो यशः प्राग्र्यं वैरं च प्रतियातितम् ॥ ११॥

kṛtvā hi sumahat karma hatvā bhīṣmamukhān kurūn |
jayaḥ prāpto yaśaḥ prāgryaṃ vairaṃ ca pratiyātitam || 11||

Having performed great feats by the destruction of Bhishma and the other Kurus, the king had gained victory and glory and had almost terminated the hostilities.

तदेवं विजय: प्राप्तः पुनः संशयितः कृतः ।
अबुद्धिरेषा महती धर्मराजस्य पाण्डव ॥ १२ ॥
यदेकविजये युद्धं पाणितं घोरमीद्दशम् ।
सुयोधनः कृती वीर एकायनगतस्तथा।। १३ ।।

tadevaṃ vijaya: prāptaḥ punaḥ saṃśayitaḥ kṛtaḥ |
abuddhireṣā mahatī dharmarājasya pāṇḍava || 12 ||
yadekavijaye yuddhaṃ pāṇitaṃ ghoramīddaśam |
suyodhanaḥ kṛtī vīra ekāyanagatastathā|| 13 ||

Having thus gained the victory, he pleased himself once more in a doubtful and perilous situation. This has been a great mistake on the part of Yudhishthira, O Pandava since he has made the result of the battle depend upon the victory or the defeat of only one warrior! Suyodhana is an expert, he is a hero; he is of firm determination.

अपि चोशनसा गीत: श्रूयतेऽयं पुरातनः ।
श्लोकस्तत्त्वार्थसहितस्तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥ १४ ॥

api cośanasā gīta: śrūyate’yaṃ purātanaḥ |
ślokastattvārthasahitastanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu || 14 ||

We have all heard the old verse uttered by Ushanas. Hear I recite it to you with its true sense and meaning!

पुनरावर्तमानानां भग्नानां जीवितैषिणाम् ।
भेतव्यपरिशेषाणामेकायनगता हि ते ॥ १५ ॥

punarāvartamānānāṃ bhagnānāṃ jīvitaiṣiṇām |
bhetavyapariśeṣāṇāmekāyanagatā hi te || 15 ||

The remnant of hostile force routed and flying away for life that really and come back to the fight, should always be feared, for they are of fixed determination and singleness of purpose!

साहसोत्पतितानां च निराशानां च जीविते ।
न शक्यमग्रतः स्थातुं शक्रेणापि धनंजय ॥ १६ ॥

sāhasotpatitānāṃ ca nirāśānāṃ ca jīvite |
na śakyamagrataḥ sthātuṃ śakreṇāpi dhanaṃjaya || 16 ||

Shakra himself O Dhananjaya, cannot stand before them who rush in fury, giving up all hopes of life.

सुयोधनमिमं भग्नं हतसैन्यं हृदं गतम् ।
पराजितं वनप्रेप्सुं निराशं राज्यलम्भने ॥ १७॥
को वेष संयुगे प्राज्ञः पुनर्द्वन्द्वे समाह्वयेत् ।
अपि नो निर्जितं राज्यं न हरेत सुयोधनः ॥ १८ ॥

suyodhanamimaṃ bhagnaṃ hatasainyaṃ hṛdaṃ gatam |
parājitaṃ vanaprepsuṃ nirāśaṃ rājyalambhane || 17||
ko veṣa saṃyuge prājñaḥ punardvandve samāhvayet |
api no nirjitaṃ rājyaṃ na hareta suyodhanaḥ || 18 ||

This Suyodhana had been routed and fled. All his troops had been slain. He had entered the lake. He had been defeated, and, therefore, he had wished to retire into the forest, having given up all hope of retaining his kingdom. What wise man is there, that would challenge such a person to a single-combat?

यस्त्रयोदशवर्षाणि गदया कृतनिश्रमः । 

चरत्यूर्ध्वं च तिर्यक् च भीमसेनजिघांसया ॥ १९ ॥

yastrayodaśavarṣāṇi gadayā kṛtaniśramaḥ |
caratyūrdhvaṃ ca tiryak ca bhīmasenajighāṃsayā || 19 ||

I do not know whether Duryodhana will regain the kingdom that had already become ours! For a full thirteen years, he practiced with the mace with great firmness. Even now, for filling Bhimasena, he jumps up and down.

 
एनं चेन महाबाहुरन्यायेन हनिष्यति ।
एष वः कौरवो राजा धार्तराष्ट्रो भविष्यति ॥ २० ॥
धनंजयस्तु श्रुत्वैतत् केशवस्य महात्मनः ।
प्रेक्षतो भीमसेनस्य सव्यमूरुमताडयत् ॥ २१ ॥

enaṃ cena mahābāhuranyāyena haniṣyati |
eṣa vaḥ kauravo rājā dhārtarāṣṭro bhaviṣyati || 20 ||
dhanaṃjayastu śrutvaitat keśavasya mahātmanaḥ |
prekṣato bhīmasenasya savyamūrumatāḍayat || 21 ||

If the mighty-armed Bhima does not kill him unfairly, the son of Dhritarashtra will surely retain kingdom!'-Having heard those words of the great Keshava, Dhananjaya struck his left thigh before the gaze of Bhimasena.

 
गृह्य संज्ञां ततो भीमो गदया व्यचरद् रणे ।
मण्डलानि विचित्राणि यमकानीतराणि च ॥ २२ ॥

gṛhya saṃjñāṃ tato bhīmo gadayā vyacarad raṇe |
maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi yamakānītarāṇi ca || 22 ||

Understanding that sign, Bhima began to move about with his uplifted mace making many kinds of manoeuvres.

दक्षिणं मण्डलं सव्यं गोमूत्रकमथापि च।
व्यचरत् पाण्डवो राजन्नरिं सम्मोहयन्निव ॥ २३ ॥

dakṣiṇaṃ maṇḍalaṃ savyaṃ gomūtrakamathāpi ca|
vyacarat pāṇḍavo rājannariṃ sammohayanniva || 23 ||

Sometimes adopting the right Mandala, sometimes the left Mandala, and sometimes Gomutraka, the son of Pandu began to move about, O king, stupefying his foe.

तथैव तव पुत्रोऽपि गदामार्गविशारदः ।
व्यचरल्लघु चित्रं च भीमसेनजिघांसया ॥ २४॥

tathaiva tava putro’pi gadāmārgaviśāradaḥ |
vyacarallaghu citraṃ ca bhīmasenajighāṃsayā || 24 ||

Likewise, your son O king, who was adept in the mace fight, moved about beautifully and with great activity, for killing Bhimasena.

आधुन्वन्तो गदे घोरे चन्दनागरुरूषिते ।
वैरस्यान्तं परीप्सन्तौ रणे क्रुद्धाविवान्तकौ ॥ २५ ॥

ādhunvanto gade ghore candanāgarurūṣite |
vairasyāntaṃ parīpsantau raṇe kruddhāvivāntakau || 25 ||

Whirling their terrible maces which were smeared with sandal paste and other unguents, the two heroes, desirous of terminating their hostilities, moved about in that battle like two angry Yamas.

अन्योन्यं तौ जिघांसन्तौ प्रवीरौ पुरुषर्षभौ ।
युयुधाते गरुत्मन्तौ तथा नागामिषैषिणौ ॥ २६ ॥

anyonyaṃ tau jighāṃsantau pravīrau puruṣarṣabhau |
yuyudhāte garutmantau tathā nāgāmiṣaiṣiṇau || 26 ||

Desirous of killing each other, those two best of men, possessed of great heroism, fought like two Garudas desirous of catching the same snake.

मण्डलानि विचित्राणि चरतोर्नृपभीमयोः ।
गदासम्पात जास्तत्र प्रजज्ञुः पावकार्चिषः ॥ २७॥

maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi caratornṛpabhīmayoḥ |
gadāsampāta jāstatra prajajñuḥ pāvakārciṣaḥ || 27 ||

While the king and Bhima moved about in beautiful circles, their maces clashed, which created sparks of fire.

समं प्रहरतोस्तत्र शूरयोर्बलिनोर्मृधे ।
क्षुब्धयोर्वायुना राजन् द्वयोरिव समुद्रयोः ॥ २८ ॥

samaṃ praharatostatra śūrayorbalinormṛdhe |
kṣubdhayorvāyunā rājan dvayoriva samudrayoḥ || 28 ||

Those two heroic and powerful warriors struck each other equally in that battle. They then resembled, O king, two oceans agitated by the tempest.

तयोः प्रहरतोस्तुल्यं मत्तकुञ्जरयोरिव ।
गदानिर्घातसंहृादः प्रहाराणामजायत॥ २९ ॥

tayoḥ praharatostulyaṃ mattakuñjarayoriva |
gadānirghātasaṃhṛādaḥ prahārāṇāmajāyata|| 29 ||

Striking each other equally like two infuriate elephants, their clashing maces produced sounds like peals of thunder.

तस्मिंस्तदा सम्प्रहारे दारुणे संकुले भृशम्।
उभावपि परिश्रान्तौ युध्यमानावरिंदमौ ॥ ३० ॥

tasmiṃstadā samprahāre dāruṇe saṃkule bhṛśam|
ubhāvapi pariśrāntau yudhyamānāvariṃdamau || 30 ||

During the onset of that dreadful battle, both those chastisers of foes, while fighting became exhausted.

तौ मुहूर्तं समाश्वस्य पुनरेव परंतप ।

अभ्यहारयतां क्रुद्धो प्रगृह्य महती गदे ॥ ३१ ॥

tau muhūrtaṃ samāśvasya punareva paraṃtapa |
abhyahārayatāṃ kruddho pragṛhya mahatī gade || 31 ||

Having rested for a while, those two destroyers of foes, filled with rage and uplifting their maces, once more began to fight with each other.

तयोः समभवद् युद्धं घोररूपमसंवृतम् ।
गदानिपातै राजेन्द्र तक्षतोर्वै परस्परम् ॥ ३२ ॥

tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ ghorarūpamasaṃvṛtam |
gadānipātai rājendra takṣatorvai parasparam || 32 ||

When, O king, by the repeated falls of their maces, they wounded each other, the battle became exceedingly dreadful and perfectly unrestrained.

समरे प्रद्रुतौ तौ तु वृषभाक्षौ तरस्विनौ ।
अन्योन्यं जघ्नतुर्वीरौ पङ्कस्थौ महिषाविव ॥ ३३ ॥

samare pradrutau tau tu vṛṣabhākṣau tarasvinau |
anyonyaṃ jaghnaturvīrau paṅkasthau mahiṣāviva || 33 ||

Rushing at each other in that fight, those two heroes, having eyes like those of bulls and gifted with great activity, struck each other fiercely like two buffaloes in the mire.

 
जर्जरीकृतसर्वाङ्गौ रुधिरेणाभिसम्प्लुतौ ।
दद्दशाते हिमवति पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ ॥ ३४ ॥

jarjarīkṛtasarvāṅgau rudhireṇābhisamplutau |
daddaśāte himavati puṣpitāviva kiṃśukau || 34 ||

All their limbs wounded and bruised, and bathed in blood from head to foot, they looked like a couple of Kinshukas on the breast of Himavat.

दुर्योधनस्तु पार्थेन विवरे सम्प्रदर्शिते ।
ईषदुन्मिषमाणस्तु सहसा प्रससार ॥ ३५॥

duryodhanastu pārthena vivare sampradarśite |
īṣadunmiṣamāṇastu sahasā prasasāra || 35 ||

During the onset of the fight, when Vrikodara, seemed to give Duryodhana an opportunity, the latter, smiling a little, advanced.

तमभ्यागतं प्राज्ञो रणे प्रेक्ष्य वृकोदरः ।
अवाक्षिपद् गदां तस्मिन् वेगेन महता बली ॥ ३६॥

 
tamabhyāgataṃ prājño raṇe prekṣya vṛkodaraḥ |
avākṣipad gadāṃ tasmin vegena mahatā balī || 36 ||

Well-skilled in battle, the powerful Vrikodara, seeing his adversary come up, suddenly hurled his mace at him.

आक्षिपन्तं तु तं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रस्तव विशाम्पते।
अवासर्पत्ततः स्थानात् सा मोघा न्यपतद् भुवि ॥ ३७॥

ākṣipantaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā putrastava viśāmpate|
avāsarpattataḥ sthānāt sā moghā nyapatad bhuvi || 37||

Seeing the mace thrown at him, your son, O king, moved away from that place at which the weapon fell baffled.

मोक्षयित्वा प्रहारं तं सुतस्तव सुसम्भ्रमात्।
भीमसेनं त गदया प्राहरत् कुरुसत्तम ॥ ३८॥

mokṣayitvā prahāraṃ taṃ sutastava susambhramāt|
bhīmasenaṃ ta gadayā prāharat kurusattama || 38||

Having warded off that blow, your son, that foremost one of Kuru's race, quickly struck Bhimasena with his weapon.

तस्य विस्यन्दमानेन रुधिरेणामितौजसः ।
प्रहारगुरुपाताच मूछेंव समजायत ।। ३९ ।।

tasya visyandamānena rudhireṇāmitaujasaḥ |
prahāragurupātāca mūcheṃva samajāyata || 39 ||

A large quantity of blood being, drawn by that blow, as also owing to its violence, Bhimasena became stupefied.

दुर्योधनो न तं वेद पीडितं पाण्डवं रणे ।
धारयामास भीमोऽपि शरीरमतिपीडितम् ॥ ४० ॥

duryodhano na taṃ veda pīḍitaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ raṇe |
dhārayāmāsa bhīmo’pi śarīramatipīḍitam || 40 ||

Duryodhana, however, could not perceive that Pandu's son was so afflicted at that moment. Though deeply afflicted, Bhima kept himself, summoning all his patience.

अमन्यत स्थितं ह्येनं प्रहरिष्यन्तमाहवे ।
अतो न प्राहरत् तस्मै पुनरेव तवात्मजः ॥ ४१ ॥

amanyata sthitaṃ hyenaṃ prahariṣyantamāhave |
ato na prāharat tasmai punareva tavātmajaḥ || 41 ||

Duryodhana, therefore, thought that he was all right and ready to return the blow. It was, therefore, that your son did not then strike him again.

ततो मुहूर्तमाश्वस्य दुर्योधनमुपस्थितम् ।
वेगेनाभ्यपद् राजन् भीमसेनः प्रतापवान् ॥ ४२ ॥

tato muhūrtamāśvasya duryodhanamupasthitam |
vegenābhyapad rājan bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān || 42 ||

Having taken rest for a little while, the brave Bhimasena rushed furiously, O king, at Duryodhana who was standing near.

तमापतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य संरब्धममितौजसम् ।
मोघमस्य प्रहारं तं चिकीर्षुर्भरतर्षभ ॥ ४३ ॥
अवस्थाने मतिं कृत्वा पुत्रस्तव महामनाः ।
इयेषोत्पतितुं राजञ्छलयिष्यन् वृकोदरम्॥४४॥

tamāpatantaṃ samprekṣya saṃrabdhamamitaujasam |
moghamasya prahāraṃ taṃ cikīrṣurbharatarṣabha || 43 ||
avasthāne matiṃ kṛtvā putrastava mahāmanāḥ |
iyeṣotpatituṃ rājañchalayiṣyan vṛkodaram||44||

Seeing the energetic Bhimasena, filled with rage and rushing towards him your high-souled so, O Bharata's chief, desiring to thwart his blow, thought of showing the maneuver called Avasthana. He, therefore, desired to jump upwards, O king, for beguiling Vrikodara.

अबुद्ध्यद् भीमसेनस्तु राज्ञस्तस्य चिकीर्षितम् ।
अथास्य समभिद्रुत्य समुत्क्रुश्य च सिंहवत् ॥ ४५ ॥
सृत्या वञ्चयतो राजन् पुनरेवोत्पतिष्यतः ।
ऊरुभ्यां प्राहिणोद् राजन् गदां वेगेन पाण्डवः ॥ ४६॥

abuddhyad bhīmasenastu rājñastasya cikīrṣitam |
athāsya samabhidrutya samutkruśya ca siṃhavat || 45 ||
sṛtyā vañcayato rājan punarevotpatiṣyataḥ |
ūrubhyāṃ prāhiṇod rājan gadāṃ vegena pāṇḍavaḥ || 46||

Bhimasena fully understood the object of his opponent. Rushing at him, with a loud leonine roar, he fiercely dropped his mace at the thighs of the Kuru king, as the latter had jumped up for making the first aim useless.

 
सा वज्रनिष्पेषसमा प्रहिता भीमकर्मणा ।
ऊरू दुर्योधनस्याथ बभञ्ज प्रियदर्शनी ॥ ४७ ॥

sā vajraniṣpeṣasamā prahitā bhīmakarmaṇā |
ūrū duryodhanasyātha babhañja priyadarśanī || 47 ||

That mace, strong, like thunder and hurled by Bhima broke the two handsome thighs of Duryodhana.

स पपात नरव्याघ्रो वसुधामनुनादयन् ।
भग्नोरुर्भीमसेनेन पुत्रस्तव महीपते ॥ ४८ ॥

sa papāta naravyāghro vasudhāmanunādayan |
bhagnorurbhīmasenena putrastava mahīpate || 48 ||

That foremost of men, viz., your son after his thighs had been broken by Bhimasena, fell down resounding the Earth.

ववुर्वाता: सनिर्घाताः पांशुवर्षं पपात च ।
चचाल पृथिवी चापि सवृक्षक्षुपपर्वता ॥ ४९ ॥

vavurvātā: sanirghātāḥ pāṃśuvarṣaṃ papāta ca |
cacāla pṛthivī cāpi savṛkṣakṣupaparvatā || 49 ||

Fierce winds began to blow, with loud sounds, Showers of dust dropped. The Earth, with her trees and mountains, began to tremble.

 
तस्मिन् निपतिते वीरे पत्यौ सर्वमहीक्षिताम् ।
महास्वना पुनर्दीता सनिर्घाता भयंकरी ॥ ५० ॥
पपात चोल्का महती पतिते पृथिवीपतौ ।

tasmin nipatite vīre patyau sarvamahīkṣitām |
mahāsvanā punardītā sanirghātā bhayaṃkarī || 50 ||
papāta colkā mahatī patite pṛthivīpatau |

Upon the fall of that hero who was the head of all kings, fierce and fiery winds blew with a loud noise and with thunder falling frequently. When that lord of Earth fell, large meteors dropped down from the welkin.

तथा शोणितवर्षं च पांशुवर्षं च भारत ।। ५१ ।।

ववर्ष मघवांस्तत्र तव पुत्रे निपातिते ।

tathā śoṇitavarṣaṃ ca pāṃśuvarṣaṃ ca bhārata || 51 ||
vavarṣa maghavāṃstatra tava putre nipātite |

Bloody and dusty showers, fell, O Bharata! These were poured by Indra, upon the fall of your son.

यक्षाणां राक्षसानां च पिशाचानां तथैव च ॥ ५२ ॥

अन्तरिक्षे महानादः श्रूयते भतरर्षभ ।

yakṣāṇāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca piśācānāṃ tathaiva ca || 52 ||
antarikṣe mahānādaḥ śrūyate bhatararṣabha |

A loud noise was heard, O Bharata's chief, in the sky, caused by the Yakshas, Rakshasas, and the Pishachas.

तेन शब्देन घोरेण मृगाणामथ पक्षिणाम् ॥ ५३ ॥
जज्ञे घोरतरः शब्दो बहूनां सर्वतोदिशम् ।

tena śabdena ghoreṇa mṛgāṇāmatha pakṣiṇām || 53 ||
jajñe ghorataraḥ śabdo bahūnāṃ sarvatodiśam |

At the terrible sound, thousands of beasts and birds began to yell hideously on every side.

 
ये तत्र वाजिनः शेषा गजाश्च मनुजैः सह ॥ ५४ ॥
मुमुचुस्ते महानादं तव पुत्रे निपातिते ।
भेरीशङ्खमृदङ्गानामभवच स्वनो महान् ॥ ५५ ॥

ye tatra vājinaḥ śeṣā gajāśca manujaiḥ saha || 54 ||
mumucuste mahānādaṃ tava putre nipātite |
bherīśaṅkhamṛdaṅgānāmabhavaca svano mahān || 55 ||

Those horses, elephants, and men, forming the remnant of the Pandava's army, uttered loud cries when your son fell. Loud blare of conchs and the peal of drums and cymbals were heard.

अन्तर्भूमिगतश्चैव तव पुत्रे निपातिते ।
बहुपादैर्बहुभुजैः कबन्धैर्घोरदर्शनैः ॥ ५६ ॥
नृत्यद्भिर्भयदैर्व्याप्ता दिशस्तत्राभवन् नृप ।

antarbhūmigataścaiva tava putre nipātite |
bahupādairbahubhujaiḥ kabandhairghoradarśanaiḥ || 56 ||
nṛtyadbhirbhayadairvyāptā diśastatrābhavan nṛpa |

A terrific noise seemed to come from the very bowels of the earth. Upon the fall of your son, O king, headless beings or dreadful appearance, possessed of many legs and many arms, and striking terror to all creatures, began to dance and cover the earth on all sides.

ध्वजवन्तोऽस्त्रवन्तश्च शस्त्रवन्तस्तथैव च ॥ ५७॥
प्राकम्पन्त ततो राजंस्तव पुत्रे निपातिते ।

dhvajavanto’stravantaśca śastravantastathaiva ca || 57||
prākampanta tato rājaṃstava putre nipātite |

Warriors, O king, who stood with standards or weapons in their arms, began to tremble, O king when your son fell.

ह्रदाः कूपाश्च रुधिरमुद्वेमुर्नृपसत्तम ॥ ५८ ॥
नद्यश्च सुमहावेगाः प्रतिस्त्रोतोवहाऽभवन् ।

hradāḥ kūpāśca rudhiramudvemurnṛpasattama || 58 ||
nadyaśca sumahāvegāḥ pratistrotovahā’bhavan |

Lakes and wells, O best of kings, vomited forth blood. Swift-coursing rivers flowed in opposite directions.

पुँल्लिङ्गा इव नार्यस्तु स्त्रीलिङ्गाः पुरुषाभवन् ॥५९॥
दुर्योधने तदा राजन् पतिते तनये तव ।

puṁlliṅgā iva nāryastu strīliṅgāḥ puruṣābhavan ||59||
duryodhane tadā rājan patite tanaye tava |

Women seemed to look like men, and men like women when your son Duryodhana fell.

 
दृष्ट्वा तानद्भुतोत्पातान् पञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सह ॥ ६०॥
आविग्नमनसः सर्वे बभूवुर्भरतर्षभ ।

dṛṣṭvā tānadbhutotpātān pañcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha || 60||
āvignamanasaḥ sarve babhūvurbharatarṣabha |

Seeing those wonderful portents, the Panchalas and the Pandavas, O Bharata's chief, were filled with anxiety.

ययुर्देवा यथाकामं गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा । ६१ ।।
कथयन्तोऽद्भुतं युद्धं सुतयोस्तव भारत ।

yayurdevā yathākāmaṃ gandharvāpsarasastathā | 61 ||
kathayanto’dbhutaṃ yuddhaṃ sutayostava bhārata |

The gods and Gandharvas went away to their wished-for regions, taking and discoursing on that wonderful battle between your sons.

तथैव सिद्धा राजेन्द्र तथा वातिकचारणाः ।
नरसिंह प्रशंसन्तौ विप्रजग्मुर्यथागतम् ॥ ६२ ॥

tathaiva siddhā rājendra tathā vātikacāraṇāḥ |
narasiṃha praśaṃsantau viprajagmuryathāgatam || 62 ||

Similarly, the Siddhas and the quick-coursing Charanas went to those places from which they had come, praising these two best of men.