Who was Bhima and what did he look like?

Who was Bhima?

Bhima is one of the central figures in the Indian epic Mahabharata, known for his unmatched strength, fierce loyalty, and larger-than-life persona. He is the second of the five Pandava brothers, born to Queen Kunti through the blessings of the wind god, Vayu, which explains his immense physical power and invincible spirit.

Bhima facts

• Bhima is regarded as the strongest of the Pandavas, capable of defeating demons, lifting mountains, and uprooting trees.
• His insatiable hunger is legendary, earning him the nickname "Vrikodara" (wolf-bellied).
• Bhima was fiercely protective of his family, especially Draupadi, his shared wife with the other Pandavas.
• Known for his fiery temper, he was quick to retaliate against injustice but was also brave and compassionate.
• Bhima defeated several powerful demons, including Hidimba (whose sister, Hidimbi, he later married) and Bakasura, who terrorized villages.
• Bhima's most significant personal rivalry was with his cousin Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas. Bhima ultimately defeated Duryodhana in a brutal mace fight during the Kurukshetra War, breaking his thighs and fulfilling Draupadi’s vow of vengeance.
• During the Pandavas' 13-year exile, Bhima protected his family and performed heroic feats, including defeating Kichaka, a lustful commander who harassed Draupadi.
• Bhima was a key warrior in the Great War. He slew all 100 Kaurava brothers, including Dushasana, whose blood he drank to fulfill an oath to avenge Draupadi’s humiliation.
• Bhima is not only celebrated for his physical might but also for his unwavering sense of justice and his role in restoring dharma (righteousness) alongside his brothers and Krishna. His life serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, strength, and devotion to family.

What did Bhima look like?

Facial Features

• Bhima's face is rugged yet regal, marked by sharp cheekbones and a strong, angular jawline.
• His eyes burn with a fiery intensity, often compared to lightning flashing across the sky during a storm.
• His forehead bears the marks of a true Kshatriya warrior, radiating determination and fierce resolve.
• His thick, dark eyebrows frame his piercing gaze, adding to his commanding presence.
• His lips, firm and determined, curl into a smirk of confidence during battles.

Hair

• His hair is wild and flowing, cascading down his back in thick, untamed waves, much like the unyielding currents of a mighty river.
• Often tied loosely during combat, strands of his dark locks fly freely as he moves with unparalleled vigor.

Attire and Armor

• In battle, Bhima dons a gleaming golden breastplate adorned with intricate carvings of lions and tigers, symbolizing his ferocity and invulnerability.
• His armlets and anklets are studded with precious gems, their shine reflecting his noble lineage.
• A red silk dhoti flows around his powerful legs, tied with a golden belt that holds his weapons of destruction.
• He often carries a tiger-skin cloak draped across his shoulders, emphasizing his primal strength.

Weapons

• Bhima wields a massive iron mace (gada), his signature weapon, which he swings with effortless might. Its head is spiked and capable of pulverizing entire armies.
• He is also skilled with swords, spears, and bare-handed combat, capable of overpowering foes with sheer brute strength.

Aura and Demeanor

• Bhima’s presence is overwhelming—his very appearance strikes fear into the hearts of enemies.
• His laughter is deep and thunderous, echoing across the battlefield and demoralizing adversaries.
• Though his rage in battle is unstoppable, he is deeply loyal and protective, a gentle giant to his loved ones.
• His gait is purposeful and commanding, with each step shaking the ground like an earthquake.

Symbolism

• Bhima is often associated with the power of Vayu (the wind god), his celestial father. His movements are as swift and devastating as a storm, unstoppable in their force.
• His appetite, both for food and combat, is legendary. He is described as devouring immense quantities of food and enemies alike.

Expression in Battle

• In the heat of battle, Bhima’s eyes blaze like twin suns, his roars resounding like the crash of thunder.
• Blood stains his armor, and his mace swings like the arm of death, leaving destruction in its wake.
• Despite his fury, his focus remains sharp, and his sense of duty toward his family and dharma is unwavering.

The Praise of Bhimasena. The Lamentation of Duryodhana. (ch61)

CHAPTER 61
(Gadayuddha Parva ) -- Continued.

The Praise of Bhimasena. The Lamentation of Duryodhana

SYNOPSIS

After Duryodhana is struck down by Bhimasena in a fierce mace battle, Sanjaya recounts the reactions of the Pandavas, the Panchalas, and the Shrinjayas. They rejoice in their victory with celebratory roars, the blowing of conchs, and expressions of praise for Bhima, who is hailed for achieving an unparalleled feat by defeating the powerful Kuru king. Bhima's victory is compared to Indra slaying Vritra, and he is praised for avenging the injustices done to the Pandavas.

However, Krishna intervenes, advising restraint and discouraging harsh words against the fallen Duryodhana. He reminds the Pandavas of Duryodhana's past sins, including his refusal to share the kingdom, his role in various deceptions, and his mistreatment of Draupadi. Krishna emphasizes that Duryodhana’s downfall was the result of his own unrighteous actions and urges the victors to leave the battlefield.

Despite his injuries, Duryodhana rises partially and accuses Krishna of using deceit to secure victory, listing instances of unfair tactics employed against Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and himself. Krishna rebuts these accusations, highlighting Duryodhana’s own misdeeds, such as poisoning Bhima, attempting to burn the Pandavas alive, and orchestrating the unjust killing of Abhimanyu. Krishna asserts that Duryodhana’s death is a consequence of his own sins and greed.

In his final moments, Duryodhana declares his life a success, having enjoyed immense pleasures, governed the Earth, and attained the warrior’s ultimate goal of death in battle. He proudly proclaims that he is destined for heaven, leaving the Pandavas to live in sorrow in the mortal world.

As Duryodhana utters these words, celestial signs honor his death—flowers rain from the sky, divine musicians and dancers celebrate him, and a soothing breeze blows. These signs of divine approval embarrass the Pandavas, who feel ashamed. Krishna reassures them, explaining that their victory was only possible due to his strategic interventions, as the great warriors of the Kaurava side could not have been defeated in fair combat.

Krishna concludes by urging the Pandavas and their allies to rest and prepare for the next steps. The Pandavas, filled with renewed joy, blow their conchs triumphantly, marking the end of the great battle and the demise of Duryodhana.

CHAPTER 61

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
हतं दुर्योधनं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनेन संयुगे ।
पाण्डवा: सृञ्जयाश्चैव किमकुर्वत संजय ॥ १ ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
hataṃ duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena saṃyuge |
pāṇḍavā: sṛñjayāścaiva kimakurvata saṃjaya || 1 ||

Dhritarashtra said "Seeing Duryodhana struck down in battle by Bhimasena, what, O Sanjaya did the Pandavas and the Srinjayas do?"

संजय उवाच
हतं दुर्योधनं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनेन संयुगे ।
सिंहेनेव महाराज मत्तं वनगजं यथा ॥ २ ॥
प्रहृष्टमनसस्तत्र कृष्णेन सह पाण्डवाः ।
पञ्चाला सृञ्जयाश्चैव निहते कुरुनन्दने ॥ ३ ॥
आविद्ध्यन्नुत्तरीयाणि सिंहनादांश्च नेदिरे ।
नैतान् हर्षसमाविष्टानियं सेहे वसुंधरा ॥ ४ ॥

 
saṃjaya uvāca
hataṃ duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena saṃyuge |
siṃheneva mahārāja mattaṃ vanagajaṃ yathā || 2 ||
prahṛṣṭamanasastatra kṛṣṇena saha pāṇḍavāḥ |
pañcālā sṛñjayāścaiva nihate kurunandane || 3 ||
āviddhyannuttarīyāṇi siṃhanādāṃśca nedire |
naitān harṣasamāviṣṭāniyaṃ sehe vasuṃdharā || 4 ||

Sanjaya said

"Seeing Duryodhana killed by Bhimasena in battle, O king, like a wild elephant slain by a lion the Pandavas with Krishna were filled with joy upon the fall of the Kuru king. The Panchalas and the Shrinjayas also waved their upper garments (in the air) and sent up leonine roars. Even the Earth could not bear those rejoicing warriors.

धनूंष्यन्ते व्याक्षिपन्त ज्याश्चाप्यन्ये तथाऽक्षिपन् ।
ये महाशङ्खान् जघ्नुश्च दुन्दुभीन् ॥ ५ ॥

dhanūṃṣyante vyākṣipanta jyāścāpyanye tathā’kṣipan |
ye mahāśaṅkhān jaghnuśca dundubhīn || 5 ||

Some stretched their bows; others drew their bowstrings. Some blew their huge conchs; others beat their drums.

चिक्रीडुश्च तथैवान्ये जहसुश्च तवाहिताः ।
अब्रुवंश्चासकृद् वीरा भीमसेनमिदं वचः ॥ ६ ॥
दुष्करं भवता कर्म रणेऽद्य सुमहत् कृतम् ।
कौरवेन्द्रं रणे हत्वा गदयाऽतिकृतश्रमम् ॥७॥
इन्द्रेणेव हि वृत्रस्य वधं परमसंयुगे ।
त्वया कृतममन्यन्त शत्रोर्वधमिमं जनाः ॥ ८ ॥

cikrīḍuśca tathaivānye jahasuśca tavāhitāḥ |
abruvaṃścāsakṛd vīrā bhīmasenamidaṃ vacaḥ || 6 ||
duṣkaraṃ bhavatā karma raṇe’dya sumahat kṛtam |
kauravendraṃ raṇe hatvā gadayā’tikṛtaśramam ||7||
indreṇeva hi vṛtrasya vadhaṃ paramasaṃyuge |
tvayā kṛtamamanyanta śatrorvadhamimaṃ janāḥ || 8 ||

Some sported and jumped about others laughed aloud. Many heroes repeatedly said these words to Bhimasena- 'Highly difficult and great has been the feat that you have performed today in battle, by having struck down the Kuru king, himself a great warrior, with your mace! This slaughter of your enemy is considered like that of Vritra by Indra himself!

चरन्तं विविधान् मार्गान् मण्डलानि च सर्वशः ।
दुर्योधनमिमं शूरं कोऽन्यो हन्याद् वृकोदरात् ॥ ९ ॥

carantaṃ vividhān mārgān maṇḍalāni ca sarvaśaḥ |
duryodhanamimaṃ śūraṃ ko’nyo hanyād vṛkodarāt || 9 ||

Who else, but you, O Vrikodara, could kill the heroic Duryodhana while moving about in various ways and performing various maneuvers?

वैरस्य च गतः पारं त्वमिहान्यैः सुदुर्गमम् ।
अशक्यमेतदन्येन सम्पादयितुमीदृशम् ॥ १० ॥

vairasya ca gataḥ pāraṃ tvamihānyaiḥ sudurgamam |
aśakyametadanyena sampādayitumīdṛśam || 10 ||

You have brought these hostilities, to a close which none could do! This feat of yours is incapable of being done by any other warrior!

कुञ्जरेणेव मत्तेन वीर संग्राममूर्धनि ।
दुर्योधनशिरो दिष्ट्या पादेन मृदितं त्वया ॥ ११॥

kuñjareṇeva mattena vīra saṃgrāmamūrdhani |
duryodhanaśiro diṣṭyā pādena mṛditaṃ tvayā || 11||

By good luck, you have, O hero, like an infuriate elephant, crushed with your foot the head of Duryodhana on the field of battle!

 
सिंहेन महिषस्येव कृत्वा सङ्गरमुत्तमम् ।
दुःशासनस्य रुधिरं दिष्ट्या पीतं त्वयानघ ॥ १२ ॥

siṃhena mahiṣasyeva kṛtvā saṅgaramuttamam |
duḥśāsanasya rudhiraṃ diṣṭyā pītaṃ tvayānagha || 12 ||

By good luck, O sinless one, you have quaffed the blood of Dussasana on the field of battle!

ये विप्रकुर्वन् राजान् धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् ।
मूर्ध्नि तेषां कृतः पादो दिष्ट्या ते स्वेन कर्मणा ॥ १३ ॥

ye viprakurvan rājān dharmātmānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram |
mūrdhni teṣāṃ kṛtaḥ pādo diṣṭyā te svena karmaṇā || 13 ||

By good luck, you have by your energy, placed your foot on the head of all those that had injured the just king Yudhishthira!

अमित्राणामधिष्ठानाद् वधाद् दुर्योधनस्य च ।
भीम दिष्ट्या पृथिव्यां ते प्रथितं सुमहद् यशः ॥ १४ ॥

amitrāṇāmadhiṣṭhānād vadhād duryodhanasya ca |
bhīma diṣṭyā pṛthivyāṃ te prathitaṃ sumahad yaśaḥ || 14 ||

For your having defeated the foes and having slain Duryodhana, by good luck, O Bhima, your fame has extended over the whole world.

एवं नूनं हते वृत्रे शक्रं नन्दन्ति वन्दिनः ।
तथा त्वां निहतामित्रं वयं नन्दाम भारत ॥ १५ ॥

evaṃ nūnaṃ hate vṛtre śakraṃ nandanti vandinaḥ |
tathā tvāṃ nihatāmitraṃ vayaṃ nandāma bhārata || 15 ||

Bards and eulogists praised Shakra after the fall of Vritra as we are now applauding you, O Bharata, after the fall of your foes.

दुर्योधनवधे यानि रोमाणि हृषितानि नः ।
अद्यापि न विकृष्यन्ते तानि तद् विद्धि भारत ॥ १६ ॥
इत्यब्रुवन् भीमसेनं वातिकास्तत्र सङ्गताः ।

duryodhanavadhe yāni romāṇi hṛṣitāni naḥ |
adyāpi na vikṛṣyante tāni tad viddhi bhārata || 16 ||
ityabruvan bhīmasenaṃ vātikāstatra saṅgatāḥ |

Know O Bharata, that the joy we felt upon the fall of Duryodhana has not yet decreased the least.' The assembled eulogists on that occasion addressed to Bhimasena these words.

 
तान् हृष्टान् पुरुषव्याघ्रान् पञ्चालान् पाण्डवैः सह ॥ १७ ॥
ब्रुवतोऽसदृशं तत्र प्रोवाच मधुसूदनः ।
न न्याय्यं निहतं शत्रुं भूयो हन्तुं नराधिपाः ॥ १८ ॥
असकृद् वाग्भिरुग्राभिर्निहतो ह्येष मन्दधीः ।

tān hṛṣṭān puruṣavyāghrān pañcālān pāṇḍavaiḥ saha || 17 ||
bruvato’sadṛśaṃ tatra provāca madhusūdanaḥ |
na nyāyyaṃ nihataṃ śatruṃ bhūyo hantuṃ narādhipāḥ || 18 ||
asakṛd vāgbhirugrābhirnihato hyeṣa mandadhīḥ |

Whilst, viz., Panchalas and the Pandavas, all filled with joy were thus expressing themselves, the slayer of Madhu addressed them, saying- `Ye kings, it is not becoming to kill a slain fe with such cruel words repeatedly. This wicked man has already been slain.

तदैवैष हतः पापो यदैव निरपत्रपः ॥ १९ ॥
लुब्धः पापसहायश्च सुहृदां शासनातिगः ।
बहुशो विदुरद्रोणकृपगाङ्गेयसृजयैः॥२०॥
पाण्डुभ्य: प्रार्थ्यमानोऽपि पित्र्यमंशं न दत्तवान् ।

tadaivaiṣa hataḥ pāpo yadaiva nirapatrapaḥ || 19 ||
lubdhaḥ pāpasahāyaśca suhṛdāṃ śāsanātigaḥ |
bahuśo viduradroṇakṛpagāṅgeyasṛjayaiḥ || 20 ||
pāṇḍubhya: prārthyamāno’pi pitryamaṃśaṃ na dattavān |

This sinful, shameless, and covetous wretch, surrounded by sinful counselors and ever malignant of the advice of wise friends, encountered his death even then when he refused, though repeatedly urged to the contrary by Vidura, Drona, Kripa, and Sanjaya, to give to the sons of Pandu their paternal share in the kingdom which they had begged of him.

नैष योग्योऽद्य मित्रं वा शत्रुर्वा पुरुषाधमः ॥ २१॥
किमनेनातिभुग्नेन वाग्भिः काष्ठसधर्मणा ।

naiṣa yogyo’dya mitraṃ vā śatrurvā puruṣādhamaḥ || 21||
kimanenātibhugnena vāgbhiḥ kāṣṭhasadharmaṇā |

This wretch is not to be regarded either as a friend or an enemy! What use in using harsh words to him who has now become a piece of wood?

रथेष्वारोहत क्षिप्रं गच्छामो वसुधाधिपाः ॥ २२ ॥
दिष्ट्या हतोऽयं पापात्मा सामात्यज्ञातिबान्धवः ।
इति श्रुत्वा त्वधिक्षेपं कृष्णाद् दुर्योधनो नृपः ॥ २३ ॥
अमर्षवशमापन्न उदतिष्ठद् विशाम्पते ।
स्फिग्देशेनोपविष्टः स दोर्भ्यां विष्टभ्य मेदिनीम् ॥ २४ ॥

ratheṣvārohata kṣipraṃ gacchāmo vasudhādhipāḥ || 22 ||
diṣṭyā hato’yaṃ pāpātmā sāmātyajñātibāndhavaḥ |
iti śrutvā tvadhikṣepaṃ kṛṣṇād duryodhano nṛpaḥ || 23 ||
amarṣavaśamāpanna udatiṣṭhad viśāmpate |
sphigdeśenopaviṣṭaḥ sa dorbhyāṃ viṣṭabhya medinīm || 24 ||

Get your cars quickly, you kings, for we should leave this place! By good luck, this sinful wretch has been killed with his counselors and kinsmen and friends.' Thus chastised by Krishna, King Duryodhana, O king, gave way to wrath and endeavored to rise.

दृष्टिं भ्रूसङ्कटां कृत्वा वासुदेवो न्यपातयत् ।
अर्धोन्नतशरीरस्य रूपमासीन्नृपस्य तु ॥ २५॥

dṛṣṭiṃ bhrūsaṅkaṭāṃ kṛtvā vāsudevo nyapātayat |
ardhonnataśarīrasya rūpamāsīnnṛpasya tu || 25 ||

Sitting on his haunches and supporting himself on his two arms, he contracted his eyebrows and looked angrily at Vasudeva.

क्रुद्धस्याशीविषस्येव च्छिन्नपुच्छस्य भारत ।
प्राणान्तकारिणी घोरां वेदनामप्यचिन्तयन् ॥ २६ ॥

 
kruddhasyāśīviṣasyeva cchinnapucchasya bhārata |
prāṇāntakāriṇī ghorāṃ vedanāmapyacintayan || 26 ||

Duryodhana whose body was half raised, looked like a poisonous snake, O Bharata, shorn of its tail.

दुर्योधनो वासुदेवं वाग्भिरुग्राभिरार्दयत् ।
कंसदासस्य दायाद न ते लज्जाऽस्त्यनेन वै ॥ २७॥
अधर्मेण गदायुद्धे यदहं विनिपातितः ।
ऊरू भिन्धीति भीमस्य स्मृतिं मिथ्या प्रयच्छता ॥ २८ ॥
किं न विज्ञातमेतन्मे यदर्जुनमवोचथाः ।

duryodhano vāsudevaṃ vāgbhirugrābhirārdayat |
kaṃsadāsasya dāyāda na te lajjā’styanena vai || 27||
adharmeṇa gadāyuddhe yadahaṃ vinipātitaḥ |
ūrū bhindhīti bhīmasya smṛtiṃ mithyā prayacchatā || 28 ||
kiṃ na vijñātametanme yadarjunamavocathāḥ |

Forgetting his poignant and unbearable pains, Duryodhana began to assail Vasudeva with keen and bitter words. O son of Kansa's slave, it seems you have no shame, for you have forgotten that I have been struck down most unfairly, according to the rules of mace-fighting? It was you who unfairly caused this act by reminding Bhima about the breaking of my thighs. Do you think I did not mark it when Arjuna (under your advice) hinted at it to Bhima?

घातयित्वा महीपालानृजुयुद्धान् सहस्रशः॥२९॥
जिह्यैरुपायैर्बहुभिर्न ते लज्जा न ते घृणा ।

ghātayitvā mahīpālānṛjuyuddhān sahasraśaḥ||29||
jihyairupāyairbahubhirna te lajjā na te ghṛṇā |

Having destroyed thousands of kings, who always fought fairly through various kinds of unfair means, do you not feel any shame or abhorrence for those acts?

 
अहन्यहनि शूराणां कुर्वाणः कदनं महत् ॥ ३० ॥
शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य घातितस्ते पितामहः ।

ahanyahani śūrāṇāṃ kurvāṇaḥ kadanaṃ mahat || 30 ||
śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya ghātitaste pitāmahaḥ |

Having daily bought about a great carnage of heroic warriors, you, at last, caused the grandsire to be slain by placing Shikhandin to the front.

अश्वत्थाम्नः सनामानं हत्वा नागं सुदुर्मते ॥ ३१॥
आचार्यो न्यासितः शस्त्रं किं तन्त्र विदितं मया ।

aśvatthāmnaḥ sanāmānaṃ hatvā nāgaṃ sudurmate || 31||
ācāryo nyāsitaḥ śastraṃ kiṃ tantra viditaṃ mayā |

Having again caused an elephant of the same name of Ashvatthama to be killed, O you of vicious principle, you made the preceptor lay aside his weapons. Do you think that this is now known to me?

स चानेन नृशंसेन धृष्टद्युम्नेन वीर्यवान् ॥ ३२ ॥
पात्यमानस्त्वया दृष्टो न चैनं त्वमवारयः ।

sa cānena nṛśaṃsena dhṛṣṭadyumnena vīryavān || 32 ||
pātyamānastvayā dṛṣṭo na cainaṃ tvamavārayaḥ |

While again that brave hero was about to be killed by this cruel Dhristadyumna, you did not dissuade the latter!

वधार्थं पाण्डपुत्रस्य 'याचितां शक्तिमेव च ॥ ३३ ॥
घटोत्कचे व्यंसयतः कस्त्वत्तः पापकृत्तमः ।

vadhārthaṃ pāṇḍaputrasya 'yācitāṃ śaktimeva ca || 33 ||
ghaṭotkace vyaṃsayataḥ kastvattaḥ pāpakṛttamaḥ |

The dart that had been begged (of Shakra as a boon) by Karna for the destruction of Arjuna, was baffled by you through Ghatotkacha! Who is there that is more sinful than you?

छिन्नहस्तः प्रायगतस्तथा भूरिश्रवा बली ॥ ३४ ॥
त्वयाऽभिसृष्टेन हतः शैनेयेन महात्मना ।

chinnahastaḥ prāyagatastathā bhūriśravā balī || 34 ||
tvayā’bhisṛṣṭena hataḥ śaineyena mahātmanā |

Likewise, powerful Bhurishravas, with one of his arms cut off while observing the Praya vow, was caused to be slain by you through the great Satyaki.

कुर्वाणश्चोत्तमं कर्म कर्णः पार्थजिगीषया ॥ ३५ ॥
व्यंसनेनाश्वसेनस्य पन्नगेन्द्रस्य वै पुनः ।

kurvāṇaścottamaṃ karma karṇaḥ pārthajigīṣayā || 35 ||
vyaṃsanenāśvasenasya pannagendrasya vai punaḥ |

Karna had done a great feat in defeating Partha. You frustrated the object of Ashvasena, the son of that prince of snakes (viz., Takshaka).

पुनश्च पतिते चक्रे व्यसनार्तः पराजितः ॥ ३६ ॥
पातितः समरे कर्णश्चक्रव्यग्रोऽग्रणीर्नृणाम्।

punaśca patite cakre vyasanārtaḥ parājitaḥ || 36 ||
pātitaḥ samare karṇaścakravyagro’graṇīrnṛṇām|

When again the wheel of Karna's car sank in the mire and Karna was assisted with calamity and almost defeated on that account, and when, he became anxious to free his wheel-you caused that Karna to be then slain!

 
यदि मां चापि कर्णं च भीष्मद्रोणौ च संयुतौ ॥ ३७ ॥
ऋजुना प्रतियुध्येथा न ते स्याद् विजयो ध्रुवम् ।

yadi māṃ cāpi karṇaṃ ca bhīṣmadroṇau ca saṃyutau || 37 ||
ṛjunā pratiyudhyethā na te syād vijayo dhruvam |

If he had fought me and Karna and Bhisma and Drona by fair means, victory then, forsooth, would never have been yours.

 
त्वया पुनरनार्येण जिह्ममार्गेण पार्थिवाः ॥ ३८ ॥
स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठन्तो वयं चान्ये च घातिताः ।

tvayā punaranāryeṇa jihmamārgeṇa pārthivāḥ || 38 ||
svadharmamanutiṣṭhanto vayaṃ cānye ca ghātitāḥ |

By adopting the most wily and unfair means you have caused the death of many kings observant of the duties of their order and of ourselves as well.'

वासुदेव उवाच
हतस्त्वमसि गान्धारे सभ्रातृसुतबान्धवः ॥ ३९॥
सगणः ससुहृचैव पापं मार्गमनुष्ठितः ।

vāsudeva uvāca
hatastvamasi gāndhāre sabhrātṛsutabāndhavaḥ || 39||
sagaṇaḥ sasuhṛcaiva pāpaṃ mārgamanuṣṭhitaḥ |

Vasudeva said

You, O son of Gandhari, have been killed with your brothers, sons, kinsmen, friends, and followers, for the sinful path you followed.

 
तवैव दुष्कृतैर्वीरौ भीष्मद्रोणौ निपातितौ ॥ ४० ॥
कर्णश्च निहतः संख्ये तव शीलानुवर्तकः ।

tavaiva duṣkṛtairvīrau bhīṣmadroṇau nipātitau || 40 ||
karṇaśca nihataḥ saṃkhye tava śīlānuvartakaḥ |

Through your deeds, those two heroes, viz., Bhishma and Drona, have been killed. Karna has been slain for having followed your conduct!

याच्यमानं मया मूढ पित्र्यमंशं न दित्ससि ॥ ४१ ॥
पाण्डवेभ्यः स्वराज्यं च लोभाच्छकुनिनिश्चयात्।

yācyamānaṃ mayā mūḍha pitryamaṃśaṃ na ditsasi || 41 ||
pāṇḍavebhyaḥ svarājyaṃ ca lobhācchakuniniścayāt|

As requested by me, O fool, you did not, from avarice, give the Pandavas their paternal share, under the advice of Shakuni.

विषं ते भीमसेनाय दत्तं सर्वे च पाण्डवाः ॥ ४२ ॥
प्रदीपिता जतुगृहे मात्रा सह सुदुर्मते ।

viṣaṃ te bhīmasenāya dattaṃ sarve ca pāṇḍavāḥ || 42 ||
pradīpitā jatugṛhe mātrā saha sudurmate |

You gave poison to Bhimasena! You, O wicked man, tried to burn all the Pandavas with their mother at the palace of lace!

सभायां याज्ञसेनी च कृष्टा द्यूते रजस्वला ॥ ४३ ॥
तदैव तावद् दुष्टात्मन् वध्यस्त्वं निरपत्रप |

sabhāyāṃ yājñasenī ca kṛṣṭā dyūte rajasvalā || 43 ||
tadaiva tāvad duṣṭātman vadhyastvaṃ nirapatrapa |

While gambling, you insulted the daughter of Yajnasena, while in her season, in assembly! Shameless as you are, you should have been killed there and then!

अनक्षज्ञं च धर्मज्ञं सौबलेनाक्षवेदिना ॥ ४४ ॥
निकृत्या यत् पराजैषीस्तस्मादसि हतो रणे ।

anakṣajñaṃ ca dharmajñaṃ saubalenākṣavedinā || 44 ||
nikṛtyā yat parājaiṣīstasmādasi hato raṇe |

Through Subala's son an expert in dice, you unfairly defeated the virtuous Yudhishthira who was unskilled in gambling! For that are you killed.

जयद्रथेन पापेन यत् कृष्णा केशिता वने ॥ ४५ ॥
यातेषु मृगयां चैव तृणबिन्दोरथाश्रमम् ।

jayadrathena pāpena yat kṛṣṇā keśitā vane || 45 ||
yāteṣu mṛgayāṃ caiva tṛṇabindorathāśramam |

Through the sinful Jayadratha again, Krishna was on another occasion insulted when the Pandavas, her lords, had gone out hunting towards the hermitage of Trinavindu!

अभिमन्युश्च यद् बाल एको बहुभिराहवे । ४६ ॥
त्वदोषैर्निहतः पाप तस्मादसि हतो रणे ।

abhimanyuśca yad bāla eko bahubhirāhave | 46 ||
tvadoṣairnihataḥ pāpa tasmādasi hato raṇe |

Causing Abhimanyu, who was a child and alone, to be surrounded by many, you did kill that hero. For this sin, O sinful wretch, you are slain!

यान्यकार्याणि चास्माकं कृतानीति प्रभाषसे॥४७॥
वैये तवात्यर्थं सर्वं हि तदनुष्ठितम् ।

yānyakāryāṇi cāsmākaṃ kṛtānīti prabhāṣase||47||
vaiye tavātyarthaṃ sarvaṃ hi tadanuṣṭhitam |

All those sinful deeds which you attribute to us have in reality been perpetrated by you in consequence of your sinful nature!

 
बृहस्पतेरुशनसो नोपदेशः श्रुतस्त्वया ॥ ४८ ॥
वृद्धा नोपासिताश्चैव हितं वाक्यं न ते श्रुतम् ।

bṛhaspateruśanaso nopadeśaḥ śrutastvayā || 48 ||
vṛddhā nopāsitāścaiva hitaṃ vākyaṃ na te śrutam |

You had never listened to the advice of Brihaspati and Ushanas! You had never respected the old! You had never heard the beneficial words!

लोभेनातिबलेन त्वं तृष्णया च वशीकृतः ॥ ४९॥
कृतवानस्यकार्याणि विपाकस्तस्य भुज्यताम् ।

lobhenātibalena tvaṃ tṛṣṇayā ca vaśīkṛtaḥ || 49||
kṛtavānasyakāryāṇi vipākastasya bhujyatām |

Possessed by ungovernable covetousness and thirst for gain, you committed many unrighteous acts. Suffer now the consequences thereof.

दुर्योधन उवाच
अधीतं विधिवद् दत्तं भूः प्रशास्ता ससागरा ॥ ५० ॥
मूर्ध्नि स्थितममित्राणां को नु स्वन्ततरो मया ।

 
duryodhana uvāca
adhītaṃ vidhivad dattaṃ bhūḥ praśāstā sasāgarā || 50 ||
mūrdhni sthitamamitrāṇāṃ ko nu svantataro mayā |

Duryodhana said

I have made various studies, made presents according to the ordinance, governed the wide Earth with her seas, and trumpeted over the heads of my fees. Who is there so fortunate as myself?

यदिष्टं क्षत्रबन्धूनां स्वधर्ममनुपश्यताम्॥ ५१ ॥
तदिदं निधनं प्राप्तं को नु स्वन्ततरो मया ।

yadiṣṭaṃ kṣatrabandhūnāṃ svadharmamanupaśyatām|| 51 ||
tadidaṃ nidhanaṃ prāptaṃ ko nu svantataro mayā |

That end again which is sought by Kshatriya observant of the duties of their order, viz., death in battle, I have also met with mine. Who, therefore, is so fortunate as myself?

देवार्हा मानुषा भोगाः प्राप्ता असुलभा नृपैः ॥ ५२ ॥
ऐश्वर्यं चोत्तमं प्राप्तः को नु स्वन्ततरो मया । नु

devārhā mānuṣā bhogāḥ prāptā asulabhā nṛpaiḥ || 52 ||
aiśvaryaṃ cottamaṃ prāptaḥ ko nu svantataro mayā |

I have enjoyed pleasures, such as were worthy of the very gods and such as could with difficulty, be obtained by other kings. I have attained the highest prosperity. Who then is so fortunate as myself?

ससुहृत् सानुगश्चैव स्वर्गं गन्ताहमच्युत । ५३ ॥
यूयं निहतसंकल्पाः शोचन्तो वर्तयिष्यथ ।।

sasuhṛt sānugaścaiva svargaṃ gantāhamacyuta | 53 ||
yūyaṃ nihatasaṃkalpāḥ śocanto vartayiṣyatha ||

With all my well-wishers, and my younger brothers, I am going to heaven! As regards yourselves, with your baffled purposes and racked with grief, live you in this unhappy world.

संजय उवाच
अस्य वाक्यस्य निधने कुरुराजस्य धीमतः ॥ ५४ ॥
अपतत् सुमहद् वर्षं पुष्पाणां पुण्यगन्धिनाम्।
अवादयन्त गन्धर्वा वादित्रं सुमनोहरम् ॥ ५५ ॥
जगुश्चाप्सरसो राज्ञो यशः सम्बद्धमेव च।
सिद्धाश्च मुमुचुर्वाचः साधु साध्विति पार्थिव ॥ ५६॥
ववौ च सुरभिर्वायुः पुण्यगन्धो मृदुः सुखः ।
व्यराजंश्च दिशः सर्वा नभो वैदूर्यसंनिभम् ॥ ५७ ॥

 
saṃjaya uvāca
asya vākyasya nidhane kururājasya dhīmataḥ || 54 ||
apatat sumahad varṣaṃ puṣpāṇāṃ puṇyagandhinām|
avādayanta gandharvā vāditraṃ sumanoharam || 55 ||
jaguścāpsaraso rājño yaśaḥ sambaddhameva ca|
siddhāśca mumucurvācaḥ sādhu sādhviti pārthiva || 56||
vavau ca surabhirvāyuḥ puṇyagandho mṛduḥ sukhaḥ |
vyarājaṃśca diśaḥ sarvā nabho vaidūryasaṃnibham || 57 ||

Sanjaya continued

After the intelligent king of the Kurus, had said these words, a thick shower of fragrant flowers dropped from the sky. The Gandharvas beat many charming musical instruments. The Apsaras in a chorus sang the glory of King Duryodhana. The Siddhas cried- Praise to King Duryodhana! Sweet and delicious breezes mildly blew on all sides. All the quarters became clear and the firmament looked blue as the lapis lazuli.

अत्यद्भुतानि ते दृष्ट्वा वासुदेवपुरोगमाः ।
दुर्योधनस्य पूजां तु दृष्ट्वा व्रीडामुपागमन् ॥ ५८ ॥

atyadbhutāni te dṛṣṭvā vāsudevapurogamāḥ |
duryodhanasya pūjāṃ tu dṛṣṭvā vrīḍāmupāgaman || 58 ||

Beholding these good signs, and this worship offered to Duryodhana, the Pandavas, with Vasudeva at their head, were put to shame.

हतांश्चाधर्मतः श्रुत्वा शोकार्ताः शुशुचुर्हि ते ।
भीष्मं द्रोणं तथा कर्णं भूरिश्रवसमेव च ॥ ५९ ॥

hatāṃścādharmataḥ śrutvā śokārtāḥ śuśucurhi te |
bhīṣmaṃ droṇaṃ tathā karṇaṃ bhūriśravasameva ca || 59 ||

Hearing the invisible voice the Bhishma and Drona and Karna and Bhurishravas were killed unfairly, they were afflicted with remorse and wept in grief.

तांस्तु चिन्तापरान् दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवान् दीनचेतसः ।
प्रोवाचेदं वचः कृष्णो मेघदुन्दुभिनिः स्वनः ॥६०॥
नैष शक्योऽतिशीघ्रास्त्रस्ते च सर्वे महारथाः ।
ऋजुयुद्धेन विक्रान्ता हन्तुं युष्माभिराहवे ॥६१॥

tāṃstu cintāparān dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavān dīnacetasaḥ |
provācedaṃ vacaḥ kṛṣṇo meghadundubhiniḥ svanaḥ || 60 ||
naiṣa śakyo’tiśīghrāstraste ca sarve mahārathāḥ |
ṛjuyuddhena vikrāntā hantuṃ yuṣmābhirāhave || 61 ||

Seeing the Pandavas stricken with anxiety and grief. Krishna addressed them in a voice as deep as that of the clouds or the drum, saying "All of them were great car-warriors and quick hands in weapons! If you had displayed all your prowess, even then you could never have killed them in battle by a fair fight.

नैष शक्यः कदाचित् तु हन्तु धर्मेण पार्थिवः ।
ते वा भीष्ममुखाः सर्वे महेष्वासा महारथाः ॥ ६२ ॥

naiṣa śakyaḥ kadācit tu hantu dharmeṇa pārthivaḥ |
te vā bhīṣmamukhāḥ sarve maheṣvāsā mahārathāḥ || 62 ||

King Duryodhana also could never be killed in a fair fight! The same is the case with all those powerful car-warriors led by Bhishma.

मयानेकैरुपायैस्तु मायायोगेन चासकृत्।
हतास्ते सर्व एवाजौ भवतां हितमिच्छता ॥ ६३ ॥

mayānekairupāyaistu māyāyogena cāsakṛt|
hatāste sarva evājau bhavatāṃ hitamicchatā || 63 ||

For doing you good, I repeatedly applied my illusory powers and caused them to be killed by various means in battle.

यदि नैवंविधं जातु कुर्यां जिह्ममहं रणे ।
कुतो वो विजयो भूयः कुतो राज्यं कुतो धनम् ॥ ६४ ॥

yadi naivaṃvidhaṃ jātu kuryāṃ jihmamahaṃ raṇe |
kuto vo vijayo bhūyaḥ kuto rājyaṃ kuto dhanam || 64 ||

If I had not adopted such deceitful ways in battle, you would never have been victorious, nor could have gained kingdom or wealth.

 
ते हि सर्वे महात्मानश्चत्वारोऽतिरथा भुवि ।
न शक्या धर्मतो हन्तुं लोकपालैरपि स्वयम् ॥ ६५ ॥

te hi sarve mahātmānaścatvāro’tirathā bhuvi |
na śakyā dharmato hantuṃ lokapālairapi svayam || 65 ||

Those four were very great warriors and regarded as Atirathas in the world. The very Regents of the Earth could not kill them in a fair fight.

तथैवायं गदापाणिर्धार्तराष्ट्रो गतक्रमः ।
न शक्यो धर्मतो हन्तुं कालेनापीह दण्डिना ॥ ६६ ॥

tathaivāyaṃ gadāpāṇirdhārtarāṣṭro gatakramaḥ |
na śakyo dharmato hantuṃ kālenāpīha daṇḍinā || 66 ||

Likewise, the son of Dhritarashtra, when armed with the mace, could not be killed in a fair fight by Yama himself, armed with his bludgeon.

न च वो हृदि कर्तव्यं यदयं घातितो रिपुः ।
मिथ्यावध्यास्तथोपायैर्बहवः शत्रवोऽधिकाः ॥ ६७॥

na ca vo hṛdi kartavyaṃ yadayaṃ ghātito ripuḥ |
mithyāvadhyāstathopāyairbahavaḥ śatravo’dhikāḥ || 67||

Ye should not mind that this enemy of yours has been killed deceitfully. When the number of one's enemies becomes great, then destruction should be brought about by wily ways.

पूर्वैरनुगतो मार्गो देवैरसुरघातिभिः ।
सद्भिश्चानुगतः पन्थाः स सर्वैरनुगम्यते ॥ ६८ ॥

pūrvairanugato mārgo devairasuraghātibhiḥ |
sadbhiścānugataḥ panthāḥ sa sarvairanugamyate || 68 ||

The gods themselves, in killing the Asuras, have followed by the celestials, may be followed by all.

कृतकृत्याश्च सायाह्ने निवासं रोचयामहे ।
साश्वनागरथाः सर्वे विश्रमामो नराधिपाः ॥ ६९ ॥

kṛtakṛtyāśca sāyāhne nivāsaṃ rocayāmahe |
sāśvanāgarathāḥ sarve viśramāmo narādhipāḥ || 69 ||

We have been crowned with success. It is evening. We had better retire to our tents. Let us all, you kings, take rest, with our horses and elephants and cars!'

वासुदेववचः श्रुत्वा तदानीं पाण्डवैः सह ।
पञ्चाला भृशसंहृष्टा विनेदुः सिंहसंघवत् ॥ ७० ॥

vāsudevavacaḥ śrutvā tadānīṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha |
pañcālā bhṛśasaṃhṛṣṭā vineduḥ siṃhasaṃghavat || 70 ||

Hearing these words of Vasudeva, the Pandavas and the Panchalas filled with joy, roared like many lions.

ततः प्राध्मापयञ्शङ्खान् पाञ्चजन्यं च माधवः ।
हृष्टा दुर्योधनं दृष्ट्वा निहतं पुरुषर्षभ ।। ७१ ।।

tataḥ prādhmāpayañśaṅkhān pāñcajanyaṃ ca mādhavaḥ |
hṛṣṭā duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā nihataṃ puruṣarṣabha || 71 ||

All of them blew their conchs and Madhava himself blew his Panchajanya, seeing Duryodhana struck down in battle.'

Bhima Tries to Crush Duryodhana's Head With His Foot (ch 59)

CHAPTER 59
(Gadayuddha Parva ) -- Continued.

Bhima Tries to Crush Duryodhana's Head With His Foot and Yudhishthira Prevents Him

SYNOPSIS

The passage vividly captures the aftermath of Duryodhana’s brutal defeat by Bhima in the Mahabharata. Struck down in combat, Duryodhana lies on the battlefield like a fallen titan. Bhima, consumed by rage and vengeance, mocks him for his past crimes, especially the humiliation of Draupadi. With scornful words, he places his foot on Duryodhana’s head, taunting him for once calling the Pandavas “cows.” Bhima declares their revenge complete, boasting of the annihilation of the Kauravas. His actions, however, draw disapproval from allies who find such behavior dishonorable, even against an enemy.

Yudhishthira intervenes to chastise Bhima. He condemns his brother’s disrespect, reminding him that Duryodhana, for all his faults, was still a king, a kinsman, and a fallen warrior deserving dignity in death. Turning to the dying Duryodhana, Yudhishthira does not offer comfort but delivers a cold reckoning, blaming his greed and pride for the war and the destruction of his family. He makes it clear that Duryodhana’s suffering is self-inflicted, the result of his own hubris.

Yet Yudhishthira reveals the bitter truth: the Pandavas are the real wretches. Their so-called victory has left them miserable survivors in a ruined world. They must endure the agony of living with the deaths of their loved ones and face the grief-stricken widows of their families and allies. Duryodhana’s death is enviable, granting him escape, while the Pandavas are cursed to live on, burdened by the devastating cost of war. The passage closes with Yudhishthira lamenting the futility of revenge, the inevitability of destiny, and the hollow triumph of their shattered victory.

CHAPTER 59

संजय उवाच
तं पातितं ततो दृष्ट्वा महाशालमिवोद्गतम् ।
प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे दद्दशुस्तत्र पाण्डवाः ॥ १ ॥
उन्मत्तमिव मातङ्ग सिंहेन विनिपातितम् ।
दद्दशुर्हष्टरोमाणः सर्वे ते चापि सोमकाः ॥ २ ॥

 
saṃjaya uvāca
taṃ pātitaṃ tato dṛṣṭvā mahāśālamivodgatam |
prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ sarve daddaśustatra pāṇḍavāḥ || 1 ||
unmattamiva mātaṅga siṃhena vinipātitam |
daddaśurhaṣṭaromāṇaḥ sarve te cāpi somakāḥ || 2 ||

Sanjaya said

Seeing Duryodhana struck down on Earth like a gigantic Shala uprooted by the storm, the Pandavas were filled with delight. The Somakas also saw, with their hair standing erect, the Kuru king felled upon the Earth, like an infuriated elephant felled by a lion.

 
ततो दुर्योधनं हत्वा भीमसेनः प्रतापवान् ।
पातितं कौरवेन्द्रं तमुपगम्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३ ॥
गौरिति पुरा मन्द द्रौपदीमेकवाससम् ।
यत् सभायां हसन्नस्मांस्तदा वदसि दुर्मते ॥ ४ ॥
तस्यावहासस्य फलमद्य त्वं समवाप्नुहि ।
एवमुक्त्वा स वामेन पदा मौलिमुपास्पृशत् ॥ ५ ॥
शिरश्च राजसिंहस्य पादेन समलोडयत् ।

tato duryodhanaṃ hatvā bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān |
pātitaṃ kauravendraṃ tamupagamyedamabravīt || 3 ||
gauriti purā manda draupadīmekavāsasam |
yat sabhāyāṃ hasannasmāṃstadā vadasi durmate || 4 ||
tasyāvahāsasya phalamadya tvaṃ samavāpnuhi |
evamuktvā sa vāmena padā maulimupāspṛśat || 5 ||
śiraśca rājasiṃhasya pādena samaloḍayat |

Having struck Duryodhana down the brave Bhimasena, approaching the Kuru chief, addressed him, saying – O wretch, formerly laughing at Draupadi who had no cloth in the assembly, you, O fool, called us Cows. Bear now the consequences of that insult. Saying so, he struck the head of his fallen foe, with his left foot. Indeed, he struck the head of that best of kings with his foot.

तथैवः क्रोधसंरक्तो भीमः परबलार्दनः ॥ ६ ॥
पुनरेवाब्रवीद्वाक्यं यत् तच्छृणु नराधिप ।
येऽस्मान् पुरोपनृत्यन्त मूढा गौरिति गौरिति ॥ ७ ॥
तान् वयं प्रतिनृत्यामः पुनर्गौरिति गौरिति ।
नास्माकं निकृतिर्वह्निर्नाक्षद्यूतं न वञ्चना ।
स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य प्रबाधामो वयं रिपून् ॥ ८ ॥
सोऽवाप्य वैरस्य परस्य पारं वृकोदरः प्राह शनैः प्रहस्य |
युधिष्ठिरं केशवसृजयांश्च धनंजय माद्रवतीसुतौ च ॥ ९ ॥

tathaivaḥ krodhasaṃrakto bhīmaḥ parabalārdanaḥ || 6 ||
punarevābravīdvākyaṃ yat tacchṛṇu narādhipa |
ye’smān puropanṛtyanta mūḍhā gauriti gauriti || 7 ||
tān vayaṃ pratinṛtyāmaḥ punargauriti gauriti |
nāsmākaṃ nikṛtirvahnirnākṣadyūtaṃ na vañcanā |
svabāhubalamāśritya prabādhāmo vayaṃ ripūn || 8 ||
so’vāpya vairasya parasya pāraṃ vṛkodaraḥ prāha śanaiḥ prahasya |
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ keśavasṛjayāṃśca dhanaṃjaya mādravatīsutau ca || 9 ||

With eyes reddened in wrath, Bhimasena, that grinder of hostile armies, once more said these words. Listen to them, O king, we will now dance and call them Cows!--who formerly insulted us by calling us so. We have no deceipt, no fire, no match at dice, no deception! Depending upon the strength of our own arms we resist and check our foes! — Having brought those fierce hostilities to a close, Vrikodara once more slowly and laughingly said these words unto Yudhisthira and Keshava and the Shrinjayas and Dhananjaya and the two sons of Madri.

 
रजस्वलां द्रौपदीमानयन् ये चाप्यकुर्वन्त सदस्यवस्त्राम्।
तान् पश्यध्वं पाण्डवैर्धार्तराष्ट्रान् रणे हतांस्तपसा याज्ञसेन्याः ॥ १० ॥

rajasvalāṃ draupadīmānayan ye cāpyakurvanta sadasyavastrām|
tān paśyadhvaṃ pāṇḍavairdhārtarāṣṭrān raṇe hatāṃstapasā yājñasenyāḥ || 10 ||

Let them who had dragged Draupadi, while she was in her period, into the assembly, and had made her necked there, behold those Dhartarashtras slain in battle by the Pandavas through the ascetic penances of Yajnasena's daughter.

ये नः पुरा षण्डतिलानवोचन् क्रूरा राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः ।
ते नो हताः सगणाः सानुबन्धाः कामं स्वर्गं नरकं वा पतामः ॥ ११ ॥
पुनश्च राज्ञः पतितस्य भूमौ सतां गदां स्कन्धगतां प्रगृह्य ।
वामेन पादेन शिरः प्रमृद्य दुर्योधनं नैकृतिकं न्यवोचत् ॥ १२ ॥

ye naḥ purā ṣaṇḍatilānavocan krūrā rājño dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ |
te no hatāḥ sagaṇāḥ sānubandhāḥ kāmaṃ svargaṃ narakaṃ vā patāmaḥ || 11 ||
punaśca rājñaḥ patitasya bhūmau satāṃ gadāṃ skandhagatāṃ pragṛhya |
vāmena pādena śiraḥ pramṛdya duryodhanaṃ naikṛtikaṃ nyavocat || 12 ||

Those wicked sons of King Dhritarashtra who had called us Sesame seeds without kernel have all been killed by us with their relatives and followers! It is a matter of no consequence whether we go to heaven or hell! —– Once more, uplifting the mace that was on his shoulders he struck with his left, foot the head of the king who was lying on Earth, and addressed the deceitful Duryodhana.

हृष्टेन राजन् कुरुसत्तमस्य क्षुद्रात्मना भीमसेनेन पादम् ।
दृष्ट्वा कृतं मूर्धनि नाभ्यनन्दन् धर्मात्मानः सोमकानां प्रबर्हाः ॥ १३ ॥

hṛṣṭena rājan kurusattamasya kṣudrātmanā bhīmasenena pādam |
dṛṣṭvā kṛtaṃ mūrdhani nābhyanandan dharmātmānaḥ somakānāṃ prabarhāḥ || 13 ||

Seeing the foot of the rejoicing but mean Bhimasena placed upon the head of that foremost one Kuru's race, many of the leading warriors among the Somakas did not a all approve of it.

तव पुत्रं तथा हत्वा कत्थमानं वृकोदरम् ।
नृत्यमानं च बहुशो धर्मराजोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥ १४ ॥
गतोऽसि वैरस्यानृण्यं प्रतिज्ञा पूरिता त्वया ।
शुभेनाथाशुभेनैव कर्मणा विरमाधुना ॥ १५ ॥

tava putraṃ tathā hatvā katthamānaṃ vṛkodaram |
nṛtyamānaṃ ca bahuśo dharmarājo’bravīdidam || 14 ||
gato’si vairasyānṛṇyaṃ pratijñā pūritā tvayā |
śubhenāthāśubhenaiva karmaṇā viramādhunā || 15 ||

After having stuck down your son, while Vrikodara was thus vaunting and dancing madly, King Yudhisthira said to him - `You have wreaked your vengeance (on Duryodhana) and gained your ends by means fair or foul! Cease now, O Bhima.

मा शिरोऽस्य पदा मादर्मा धर्मस्तेऽतिगो भवेत् ।
राजा ज्ञातिर्हतश्चायं नैतन्याय्यं तवानघ ॥ १६ ॥

mā śiro’sya padā mādarmā dharmaste’tigo bhavet |
rājā jñātirhataścāyaṃ naitanyāyyaṃ tavānagha || 16 ||

Do not crush his head with your foot! Do not act sinfully! Duryodhana is a king! He is, again, your kinsman! He has fallen! Your conduct, O sinless one, is not becoming.

एकादशचमूनाथं कुरूणामधिपं तथा ।
मा स्प्राक्षीर्भीम पादेन राजानं ज्ञातिमेव च ॥ १७ ॥

ekādaśacamūnāthaṃ kurūṇāmadhipaṃ tathā |
mā sprākṣīrbhīma pādena rājānaṃ jñātimeva ca || 17 ||

Duryodhana was the lord of eleven Akshauhinis of troops. He was the king of the Kurus! Do not, O Bhima, strike a king and a kinsman with your foot!

हतबन्धुर्हतामात्यो भ्रष्टसैन्यो हतो मृधे ।
सर्वाकारेण शोच्योऽयं नावहास्योऽयमीश्वरः ॥ १८ ॥

hatabandhurhatāmātyo bhraṣṭasainyo hato mṛdhe |
sarvākāreṇa śocyo’yaṃ nāvahāsyo’yamīśvaraḥ || 18 ||

His relatives are killed! His friends and counselors are all slain! His troops have been destroyed! He has been struck down in battle! He is to be pitied in every respect! He deserves not to be insulted, remember that he is a king!

विध्वस्तोऽयं हतामात्यो हतभ्राता हतप्रजः ।
उत्सन्नपिण्डो भ्राता च नैतन्याय्यं कृतं त्वया ॥ १९ ॥

vidhvasto’yaṃ hatāmātyo hatabhrātā hataprajaḥ |
utsannapiṇḍo bhrātā ca naitanyāyyaṃ kṛtaṃ tvayā || 19 ||

He is ruined! His friends and kinsmen have been killed! His brothers have been slain! His sons too have been killed! His funeral cake has been taken away! He is our brother! Your conduct towards him is not proper!

धार्मिको भीमसेनोऽसावित्याहुस्त्वां पुरा जनाः ।
स कस्माद् भीमसेन त्वं राजानमधितिष्ठसि ॥ २० ॥
इत्युक्त्वा भीमसेनं तु साश्रुकण्ठो युधिष्ठिरः ।
उपसृत्याब्रवीद् दीनो दुर्योधनमरिंदमम् ॥ २१ ॥
तात मन्युर्न ते कार्यो नात्मा शोच्यस्त्वया तथा ।
नूनं पूर्वकृतं कर्म सुघोरमनुभूयते ॥ २२ ॥

dhārmiko bhīmaseno’sāvityāhustvāṃ purā janāḥ |
sa kasmād bhīmasena tvaṃ rājānamadhitiṣṭhasi || 20 ||
ityuktvā bhīmasenaṃ tu sāśrukaṇṭho yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |
upasṛtyābravīd dīno duryodhanamariṃdamam || 21 ||
tāta manyurna te kāryo nātmā śocyastvayā tathā |
nūnaṃ pūrvakṛtaṃ karma sughoramanubhūyate || 22 ||

Bhimasena is a righteous man! People used to say this before of thee! Why then, O Bhimasena, do you insult the king in this way?' Saying this to Bhimasena, Yudhishthira, with a voice suppressed with tears, and afflicted with sorrows approached Duryodhana, and said to him. 'O brother, you should not give way to anger nor grieve for yourself! Forsooth, you suffer the dreadful consequences of your former acts!

धात्रोपदिष्टं विषमं नूनं फलमसंस्कृतम् ।
यद् वयं त्वां जिघांसामस्त्वं चास्मान् कुरुसत्तम ॥ २३ ॥

 
dhātropadiṣṭaṃ viṣamaṃ nūnaṃ phalamasaṃskṛtam |
yad vayaṃ tvāṃ jighāṃsāmastvaṃ cāsmān kurusattama || 23 ||

Forsooth, this sad and woeful result had been ordained the Creator himself, viz., that we should harm you and you should injure us, O foremost one of Kuru's race!

आत्मनो ह्यपराधेन महद् व्यसनमीदृशम् ।
प्राप्तवानसि यल्लोभान्मदाद् बाल्याच्च भारत ॥ २४ ॥

 
ātmano hyaparādhena mahad vyasanamīdṛśam |
prāptavānasi yallobhānmadād bālyācca bhārata || 24 ||

Through thy fault, avarice pride, and folly this great calamity has befallen you, O Bharata!

घातयित्वा वयस्यांश्च भ्रातॄनथ पितॄंस्तथा ।
पुत्रान् पौत्रांस्तथा चान्यांस्ततोऽसि निधनं गतः ।। २५ ।

ghātayitvā vayasyāṃśca bhrātṝnatha pitṝṃstathā |
putrān pautrāṃstathā cānyāṃstato’si nidhanaṃ gataḥ || 25 |

Having brought about the death of your companions and brothers and sires and sons and grandsons and others you now meet with your death!

तवापराधदस्माभिर्भ्रातरस्ते निपातिताः ।
निहता ज्ञातयश्चापि दिष्टं मन्ये दुरत्ययम् ॥ २६ ॥

tavāparādhadasmābhirbhrātaraste nipātitāḥ |
nihatā jñātayaścāpi diṣṭaṃ manye duratyayam || 26 ||

For your folly, your brothers, mighty car-warriors all, and your kinsmen, have been killed by us! I think all this is the work of irresistible Destiny!

आत्मा न शोचनीयस्ते श्लाघ्यो मृत्युस्तवानघ ।
वयमेवाधुना शोच्याः सर्वावस्थासु कौरव ॥ २७ ॥
कृपणं वर्तयिष्यामस्तैर्हीना बन्धुभिः प्रियैः ।

ātmā na śocanīyaste ślāghyo mṛtyustavānagha |
vayamevādhunā śocyāḥ sarvāvasthāsu kaurava || 27 ||
kṛpaṇaṃ vartayiṣyāmastairhīnā bandhubhiḥ priyaiḥ |

You are not to be pitied! On the other hand, your death, O sinless one, is enviable! It is we that are objects of pity, O Kaurava! We shall have to carry on a miserable existence, shorn of all our dear friends and kinsmen!

भ्रातॄणां चैव पुत्राणां तथा वै शोकविह्वलाः ॥ २८ ॥
कथं द्रक्ष्यामि विधवा वधूः शोकपरिप्लुताः ।

bhrātṝṇāṃ caiva putrāṇāṃ tathā vai śokavihvalāḥ || 28 ||
kathaṃ drakṣyāmi vidhavā vadhūḥ śokapariplutāḥ |

Alas, how shall I see the widows, of my brothers and sons and grandsons, all overwhelmed with grief and stricken down with sorrow.

त्वमेकः सुस्थितो राजन् स्वर्गे ते निलयो ध्रुवः ॥ २९ ॥
वयं नरकसंज्ञं वै दुःखं प्राप्स्याम दारुणम् ।

tvamekaḥ susthito rājan svarge te nilayo dhruvaḥ || 29 ||
vayaṃ narakasaṃjñaṃ vai duḥkhaṃ prāpsyāma dāruṇam |

You are, O king, departing from this world! You will surely go to heaven! We are, on the other hand, creatures of hell, and shall continue to suffer the bitterest grief!

स्नुषाश्च प्रस्नुषाश्चैव धृतराष्ट्रस्य विह्वलाः ।
गयिष्यन्ति नो नूनं विधवाः शोककर्शिताः ॥ ३० ॥

snuṣāśca prasnuṣāścaiva dhṛtarāṣṭrasya vihvalāḥ |
gayiṣyanti no nūnaṃ vidhavāḥ śokakarśitāḥ || 30 ||

The wives of Dhritarashtra's sons and grandsons stricken with grief will, forsooth, curse us all!'

संजय उवाच
एवमुक्त्वा सुदुःखार्तो निशश्वास स पार्थिवः ।
विललाप चिरं चापि धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥ ३१ ॥

saṃjaya uvāca
evamuktvā suduḥkhārto niśaśvāsa sa pārthivaḥ |
vilalāpa ciraṃ cāpi dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ || 31 ||

Saying these words, Dharma's son Yudhishthira, deeply afflicted with grief, began to sigh heavily and bewail."

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.