Parva 2 Chapter 35: atha paṣchatriṁśo'dhyāyaḥ yādavamāgadhayuddham - The Yadava-ṁagadha Battle

vaiśampāyana said: All vṛṣṇi-s led by janārdana (kṛṣṇa) saw the kings camping in the small forests around mathura. tato hṛṣṭamanāḥ kṛṣṇo rāmaṁ vacanamabravīt | tvarate khalu kāryārtho devatānāṁ na saṁśayaḥ ||2-35-2 Then kṛṣṇa, with a joyful mind, spoke these words to balarāma: The mission of deva-s will be accomplished quickly. There is no doubt. yathāyaṁ saṁnikṛṣṭo hi jarāsaṁdho narādhipaḥ | lakṣyante hi dhvajāgrāṇi rathānāṁ vātaraṁhasām ||2-35-3 King jarāsaṁdha has come to us. The tips of the flags of the chariots are seen flapping in the wind./div etāni śaśikalpāni nṛpāṇāṁ vijigīṣatām | chatrāṇyārya virājante procchritāni sitāni ca ||2-35-4 O Brother! The parasols, white in colour like moon, of the kings seeking victory, are sparkling high in the sky./div aho nṛparathodagrā vimalāśchatrapaṅktayaḥ | abhivartanti naḥ śubhrā yathā khe haṁsapaṅktayaḥ ||2-35-5 Alas! The series of white parasols at the top of the chariots of the kings are coming towards us like a series of swans in the sky. kāle khalu nṛpaḥ prāpto jarāsaṁdho mahīpatiḥ | āvayoryuddhanikaṣaḥ prathamaḥ samarātithiḥ ||2-35-6 King jarāsaṁdha has come at the right time. He is the first opponent for us in this battle. ārya tiṣṭhāva sahitāvanuprāpte mahīpatau | yuddhāraṁbhaḥ prayoktavyo balaṁ tāvadvimṛśyatām ||2-35-7 Brother! Let us stay together as the king approaches. Let us start the battle and test their strength. evamuktvā tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ svasthaḥ saṁgrāmalālasaḥ | jarāsaṁdhabalaṁ prepsuścakāra baladarshanam ||2-35-8 Saying this, kṛṣṇa who was calm and keen to fight battles, viewed jarāsaṁdha's army to ascertain its strength. vīkṣamāṇaścha tānsarvānnṛpānyaduvaro'vyayaḥ | ātmanaivātmano vākyamuvāca hṛdi mantravit ||2-35-9 Looking at all the kings, the best among yādava-s (kṛṣṇa), the imperishable, skilled in counsel, spoke these words to himself in his mind. ime te pṛthivīpālāḥ pārthive vartmani sthitāḥ | ye vināśaṁ gamiṣyanti śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā ||2-35-10 These kings who are fixed in the path of kings will face destruction by actions seen in the scriptures. prokṣitānkhalvimānmanye mṛtyunā nṛpapuṅgavān | svargagāmīni cāpyeṣāṁ vapūṁṣi pracakāśire ||2-35-11 It is certain that death has sprinkled water on (formally accepted) these great kings. The bodies of these kings, proceeding to heaven, are dazzling. sthāne bhārapariśrāntā vasudheyaṁ divaṁ gatā | eṣāṁ nṛpāṇāṁ mukhyānāṁ balaughairabhipīḍitā ||2-35-12 It is appropriate that the earth, tired of the weight, went to heaven. She was suffering due to the vast armies of these principal kings. mahī nirantarā cheyaṁ balarāṣṭrābhisaṁvṛtā | svalpena khalu kālena vivivktaṁ pṛthivītalam ||2-35-13 bhaviṣyati narendraughaiḥ shatasho vinipātitaiḥ | (Note 1) The earth is full of kingdoms with armies. The surface of earth will become vacant within a short time by killing of hundreds of kings. vaiśampāyana uvāca jarāsaṁdhastataḥ kruddhaḥ prabhuḥ sarvamahīkṣitām ||2-35-14 vaiśampāyana said: jarāsaṁdha, lord of all the kings on earth, was angry. narādhipasahasraughairanuyāto mahādyutiḥ | vyāyatodagraturagaiḥ suyānaiḥ susamāhitaiḥ ||2-35-15 jarāsaṁdha of great splendour was accompanied by a group of thousands of kings. There were long and tall horses able to run as fast as the wind. rathaiḥ sāṁgrāmikairyuktairasaṅgagatibhiḥ kvachit | hemakakṣairmahāghaṇṭairvāraṇāirvāridopamaiḥ ||2-35-16 At some place, there were chariots ready for battle, able to advance without stop. There were elephants, comparable to rain clouds, decorated with bells and golden chains. mahāmātrottamārūḍhaiḥ kalpitai raṇakovidaiḥ | svārūḍhaiḥ sādibhiryuktaiḥ preṁkhamāṇaiḥ pravalgitaiḥ ||2-35-17 Mahouts skilled in battle, were mounted upon the elephants. There were many soldiers mounted on horses which were swift and could jump high. vājibhirmeghasaṅkāśaiḥ plavadbhiriva pattibhiḥ | khaḍgacharmadharodagraiḥ pattibhirbalināṁ varaiḥ ||2-35-18 The horses were fast like wind. The powerful, best, infantry was ready to leap, holding swords and shields. sahasrasaṅkhyāsaṁyuktairutpatadbhirivoragaiḥ | evaṁ caturvidhaiḥ sainyaiḥ kaṁpamānairivāmbudaiḥ ||2-35-19 There were thousands of soldiers (causing fear) like falling snakes. In this manner the four divisions of the army, vibrating like rain clouds, approached. nṛpaḥ prayāto balavāṣjarāsaṁdho dhṛtavrataḥ | sa rathairmeghanirghoṣairgajaiścha madasaṁyutaiḥ ||2-35-20 The powerful king jarāsaṁdha, determined (to defeat the enemy) arrived along with chariots roaring like clouds and excited elephants. heṣamāṇaiścha turagaiḥ kṣveḍamānaiścha pattibhiḥ | nādayāno diśaḥ sarvāstasyāḥ puryā vanāni ca ||2-35-21 The sounds of neighing of the horses and the shouting of the infantry, filled all the directions, the city and the forests. sa rājā sāgarākāraḥ sasainyaḥ pratyadṛśyata | tadbalaṁ pṛthivīśānāṁ hṛṣṭayodhajanākulam ||2-35-22 (Note 2) The king along with his army, appeared like a vast ocean. The army of the kings was with soldiers, experts in battle. kṣveḍitāsphoṭitaravaṁ meghasainyamivābabhau | Due to roaring and clapping (of the soldiers) that army, shone like an army of clouds. rathaiḥ pavanasaṁpātairgajaiścha jaladopamaiḥ | turagaishcha javopetaiḥ pattibhiḥ khagamopamaiḥ ||2-35-23 with chariots moving fast like winds, elephants like rain clouds, horses riding fast, infantry like (flocks of) birds, vimiśraṁ sarvato bhāti mattadvipasamākulam | gharmānte sāgaragataṁ yathābhrapaṭalaṁ tathā ||2-35-24 with a mixture of all these, the army with excited elephants sparkled, like the clouds reaching the ocean during the rainy season. sabalāste mahīpālā jarāsaṁdhapurogamāḥ | parivārya purīṁ sarve niveśāyopacakrire ||2-35-25 The kings lead by jarāsaṁdha, along with their army, surrounded the city and prepared to camp there. babhau tasya niviṣṭasya phalaśrīḥ shibirasya vai | śuklaparyantapūrṇāsya yathā rūpaṁ mahodadheḥ ||2-35-26 The rows of tents (made by the army) shone like a vast ocean complete with a white border. vītarātre tataḥ kāle samuttasthurmahīkṣitaḥ | ārohaṇārthaṁ puryāste samīyuryuddhalālasāḥ ||2-35-27 When the night passed, the kings got up early in the morning. They were keen to fight the battle to conquer the city. samavāyīkṛtāḥ sarve yamunāmanu te nṛpāḥ | niviṣṭā mantrayāmāsuryuddhakālakutūhalāḥ ||2-35-28 All the kings assembled near yamunā. Sitting there, the kings, made plans waiting for an opportunity to fight. teśām sutumulaḥ śabdaḥ śuśruve pṛthivīkṣitām | yugānte bhidyamānānāṁ sāgarāṇāmiva svanaḥ ||2-35-29 The loud roaring of the kings (and their army) could be heard, like the sound of oceans split during the end of the era (yuga). teṣāṁ sakaṣchukoṣṇīṣāḥ sthavirā vetrapāṇayaḥ | cherurmā śabda ityevaṁ vadanto rājaśāsanāt ||2-35-30 The macebearers, wearing jacket and turban, moved everywhere asking the soldiers to keep silence as per the royal order. tasya rūpaṁ balasyāsīnniḥśabdastimitasya vai | līnamīnagrahasyeva niḥśabdasya yathodadheḥ ||2-35-31 The entire army standing silent sparkled brightly, like a silent ocean, not agitated by the aquatic animals. niḥśabdastimite tasminyogādiva mahārṇave | jarāsaṁdho bṛhadvākyaṁ bṛhaspatirivādade ||2-35-32 As the army in full harness, remained silent like a vast ocean, jarāsaṁdha spoke these elaborate words like bṛhaspati: śīghraṁ samabhivartantāṁ balāni pṛthivīkṣitām | sarvato nagarī cheyaṁ janaughaiḥ parivāryatām ||2-35-33 The army of the kings shall quickly conquer the city. Groups of people shall surround the city everywhere. aśmayantrāṇi yujyantāṁ kṣepaṇīyāścha mudgarāḥ | kāryā bhūmiḥ samā sarvā jalaughaishcha pariplutā | ūrdhvaṁ cāpā nivāhyantāṁ prāsā vai tomarāstathā ||2-35-34 You can use stone pelting machines, oars and iron clubs. Level all the land and drain all water. Keep your bows, knives and spears ready (for the battle). dāryatāṁ caiva ṭaṅkādyaiḥ khanitraishcha purī drutam | nṛpāścha yuddhamārgajṣā vinyasyantāmadūrataḥ ||2-35-35 Using weapons such as spade, shovel etc., this city shall be quickly smashed. Kings who are experts in fighting, shall be deployed not too far. adyaprabhṛti sainyairme purīrodhaḥ pravartyatām | From today, my army shall begin to blockade the city. yāvadetau raṇe gopau vasudevasutāvubhau || 2-35-36 saṅkarṣaṇaṁ ca kṛṣṇaṁ ca ghātayāmi śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | ākāśamapi bāṇaughairniḥsaṁpātaṁ yathā bhavet ||2-35-37 In the battle, I will kill these gopa-s, the two sons of vasudeva, saṅkarṣaṇa and kṛṣṇa with sharp arrows, in a way so that even the sky is filled with arrows, without any space. mayānuśiṣṭāstiṣṭhantu purībhūmiṣu bhūmipāḥ | teṣu teṣvavakāśeṣu śīghramāruhyatāṁ purī ||2-35-38 Let the kings designated by me, entering the city, position themselves in the land of the city, at the allocated places immediately. madraḥ kaliṅgādhipatiśchekitānaḥ sabāhlikaḥ | kāśmīrarājo gonardaḥ karūṣādhipatistathā ||2-35-39 king of madra, king of kaliṅga, chekitāna, bāhlika, gonarda the king of kāśmīra and the king of karūṣa, drumaḥ kiṁpuruṣaścaiva pārvatīyo hyanāmayaḥ | nagaryāḥ paśchimaṁ dvāraṁ śīghramārodhayantviti ||2-35-40 druma and the king of kiṁpuruṣa, anāmaya the king of mountainous regions, shall block the western entrance of the city immediately. pauravo vaiṇudāriścha vaidarbhaḥ somakastathā | rukmī ca bhojādhipatiḥ sūryākṣaścha samālavaḥ ||2-35-41 (The kings) veṇudāri of puru dynasty, vidharbha, somaka, rukmi, the king of bhoja, sūryākṣa the king of mālava, vindānuvindāvāvantyau dantavaktrashcha vīryavān | cāgaliḥ puramitrashcha virāṭaścha mahīpatiḥ ||2-35-42 vinda and anuvinda of avanti, the valiant dantavaktra, cāgali, puramitra and the king virāṭa, kauravyo mālavaścaiva śatadhanvā vidūrathaḥ | bhūriśravāstrigartaścha bāṇaḥ paṣchanadastathā ||2-35-43 kauravya, mālava, śatadhanvā, vidūratha, bhūriśrva, trigarta, bāṇa and paṣchanada uttaraṁ nagaradvāramete durgasahā nṛpāḥ | āruhya cābhimardantāṁ vajrapratimagauravāḥ || 2-35-44 who are as tough as vajra (diamond) shall attack and pound the fortified northern entrance of the city. ulūkaḥ kaitavashcaiva vīraścāṁśumataḥ sutaḥ | ekalavyo bṛhatkṣatraḥ kṣatradharmā jayadrathaḥ ||2-35-45 ulūka, kaitava, the valiant son of aṁśumān, ekalavya, bṛhatkṣatra, kṣatradharma, jayadratha, uttamaujāścha shalyashcha kauravāḥ kaikayāstathā | vaidisho vāmadevaścha sāṅkṛtiścha sinīpatiḥ ||2-35-46 uttamauja, shalya, kauravā, kaikayā, vaidisha, vāmadeva, sāṅkṛti, the king of sini, pūrvaṁ nagaranirvyūhameteṣvāyattamastu naḥ | dārayanto vidhāvantu vātā iva balāhakān ||2-35-47 shall conquer the eastern entrance of the city. Let them attack the city, splitting it like a powerful wind splits the rain clouds. ahaṁ ca daradashcaiva cedirājaścha vīryavān | dakṣiṇaṁ nagaradvāraṁ pālayāmaḥ sudaṁśitāḥ ||2-35-48 I, darada, the valiant king of chedi, fully armed, shall take care of (attack) the southern entrance of the city. evameṣā purī kṣipraṁ samantādveṣṭitā balaiḥ | vajrāvapātaviṣamaṁ prāpnotu tumulaṁ bhayam ||2-35-49 Being surrounded by the army from all sides in this way, the city will suffer a shock as though struck by thunderbolt. gadino ye gadābhiste parighaiḥ parighāyudhāḥ | apare vividhaiḥ śastrairdārayantu purīmimām ||2-35-50 Let mace fighters with maces and club fighters with clubs and others with other weapons attack the city. adyaiva nagarī hyeṣā viṣamocchayasaṅkaṭā | kāryā bhūmisamā sarvā bhavadbhirvasudhādhipaiḥ ||2-35-51 Today itself, you, the kings of lands, shall reduce this city of complex buildings to a plain land. (Note 3) caturaṅgabalairvyūhya jarāsaṁdho vyavasthitaḥ | athābhyayādyadūnkruddhaiḥ saha sarvairnarādhipaiḥ ||2-35-52 Angry jarāsaṁdha, assembled four divisions of his army and attacked the yādava-s, along with all the kings. pratijagmurdaśārhāstaṁ vyūḍhānīkāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | tadyuddhamabhavadghoraṁ teṣāṁ devāsuropamam | The dāśārha-s (yādava-s) assembled the forces and counter-attacked. A fierce battle, equal to the battle of deva-s and asura-s occurred between them. alpānāṁ bahubhiḥ sārdhaṁ vyatiṣaktarathadvipam ||2-34-53 The yādava-s, less in number, fought with many soldiers, combined with elephants and chariots. nagarānnissṛtau dṛṣṭvā vasudevasutāvubhau | kṣubhitaṁ nṛvarānīkaṁ trastasaṁmūḍhavāhanam ||2-35-54 vasudeva's two sons (kṛṣṇa and balarāma) were seen coming out of the city. The army of the kings became agitated and vehicles (along with drivers) trembled with fear. rathasthau daṁśitau caiva ceratustatra yādavau | makarāviva saṁrabdhau samudrakṣobhaṇāvubhau ||2-35-55 The yādava-s, (kṛṣṇa and balarāma) fully armed, moved in chariots. The two looked like two crocodiles agitating the ocean. tayoḥ prayudhyatoḥ saṅkhye matirāsīnmahātmanoḥ | āyudhānāṁ purāṇānāmādānakṛtalakṣaṇā ||2-35-56 The great souls about to fight the battle, had a desire to use their ancient weapons. tataḥ khānnipatanti sma divyānyāhavasaṁplave | lelihānāni dīptāni mahānti sudṛḍhāni ca ||2-35-57 Then divine weapons fell down from the sky in the battle field. The weapons were ready to use, bright, best and strong. kravyādairanuyātāni mūrtimanti bṛhanti ca | tṛṣitānyāhave bhoktuṁ nṛpamāṁsāni vai bhṛśam ||2-35-58 The weapons, greatly personified, were followed by raw flesh etc. The weapons were keen to relish the flesh of kings in the battle. divyasragdhāmadhārīṇi trāsayanti ca khecarān | prabhayā bhāsamānāni patamānāni cāmbarāt ||2-35-59 The weapons capable of trembling even the aerial beings, were decorated with divine flower garlands. They fell from the sky sparkling with their brightness. halam saṁvartakaṁ nāma saunandaṁ musalaṁ tathā | dhanuṣāṁ pravaraṁ śārṅgaṁ gadā kaumodakī tathā ||2-35-60 The plough (halam) named saṁvartaka, the club (musala) named saunandaṁ, the great bow śārṅgaṁ and the mace (gada), kaumodaki. catvāryetāni tejāṁsi viṣṇupraharaṇāni ca | tābhyāṁ samavatīrṇāni yādavābhyāṁ mahāmṛdhe ||2-35-61 All these four splendorous weapons of viṣṇu arrived for (assisting) the yādava-s in the great battle. jagrāha prathamaṁ rāmo lalāmapratimaṁ halam | sarpantamiva sarpendraṁ divyamālākulaṁ mṛdhe ||2-35-62 With his right hand, rāma (balarāma) picked up the plough looking like a flagstaff, adorned with divine garlands coiling like the king of snakes around it, for the battle. saunandaṁ ca tataḥ śrīmānnirānandakaraṁ dviṣām | savyena sātvatāṁ śreṣṭho jagrāha musalottamam ||2-35-63 Then, with his left hand, the great among sātvata (balarāma), picked up the best club (musala) saunandaṁ, which causes distress to the enemies. darśanīyaṁ ca lokeṣu dhanurjaladaniḥsvanam | nāmnā śārṅgamiti khyātaṁ kṛṣṇo jagrāha vīryavān ||2-35-64 The valiant kṛṣṇa, picked up the bow named śārṅgaṁ, famous and fascinating to be seen in the worlds, capable of producing a sound of the thunder of rain clouds. devairnigaditārthasya gadā tasyāpare kare | nikṣiptā kumudākṣasya nāmnā kaumodakīti sā ||2-35-65 With his other hand, kumudākṣa (kṛṣṇa), to whom the gods assigned their work, picked up the mace named kaumodakī. tau sapraharaṇau vīrau sākṣādviṣṇutanūpamau | samare rāmagovindau ripūṁstānpratyayuddhyatām ||2-35-66 The two valiant heroes, rāma (balarāma) and govinda (kṛṣṇa), appearing as powerful as viṣṇu himself, started fighting with their enemies. sāyudhapragrahau vīrau tāvanyonyāśrayāvubhau | pūrvajānujasaṁjṣau tau rāmagovindalakṣaṇau ||2-35-67 The two fully armed heroes were equal to each other. They, rāma (balarāma) and govinda (kṛṣṇa), were elder and younger brothers. dviṣatsu pratikurvāṇau parākrāntau yatheshvarau | viceraturyathā devau vasudevasutāvubhau ||2-35-68 The two sons of vasudeva, similar to gods, roamed freely in the battle field, attacking their enemies. halamudyamya rāmastu sarpendramiva kopitaḥ | cacāra samare vīro vidviṣāmantako yathā ||2-35-69 Angry and valiant rāma, picking up the plough (halam), equal to the king of snakes roamed in the battle field, like the god of death to the enemies. vikarṣanrathavṛṁdāni kṣatriyāṇāṁ mahātmanām | cakāra roṣaṁ saphalaṁ nāgeṣu ca hayeṣu ca ||2-35-70 Pulling the chariots of the kṣatriya kings with great souls, he showed his anger among the elephants and horses. kunjarā.ṇllāṁgalakṣiptānmusalākṣepatāḍitān | rāmo virājansamare nirmamantha yathācalān ||2-35-71 rāma (balarāma) governed the battle like a mountain, attacking the elephants by pulling them with his plough (halam) and beating with his club (musala). te vadhyamānā rāmeṇa rane kṣatriyapuṁgavāḥ | jarāsanṁdhāntikaṁ bhītāḥ samarātpratijagmire ||2-35-72 The leaders of the kṣatrya-s (kings) terrified to death by rāma in the battle, approached jarāsaṁdha with fear. tānuvāca jarāsaṁdhaḥ kṣatradharme vyavasthitaḥ | dhigetāṁ kṣatravṛttiṁ vaḥ samare kātarātmanām ||2-35-73 jarāsaṁdha, fixed in the duty of kṣatriya-s, told them: Getting afraid to fight the battle is a shame to you, followers of kṣatradharma. parāvṛttasya samare virathasya palāyataḥ | bhrūṇahatyāmivāsahyāṁ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ ||2-35-74 The wise men say that those who run away from the battle field, losing their chariots are equal to the killers of embryos. bhītāḥ kasmānnivartadhvaṁ dhigetāṁ kṣatravṛttitām | kṣipraṁ sarve nivartadhvaṁ mama vākyena choditāḥ ||2-35-75 The duty of kṣatriya-s is a shame to you. Why are you running away from fight, getting afraid? Listen to my words and return quickly to the battle field. atha vā tiṣṭhata rathaiḥ prekṣakāḥ samavasthitāḥ | yāvadetau raṇe gopau preṣayāmi yamakṣayam ||2-35-76 Otherwise, sitting on your chariots, watch as I proceed to send these gopa-s to the land of death in the battle. tataste kṣatriyāḥ sarve jarāsaṁdhena noditāḥ | sṛjantaḥ śarajālāni hṛṣṭā yoddhuṁ vyavasthitāḥ ||2-35-77 Then all those kṣatriya-s (kings), inspired by jarāsaṁdha, ready to fight, started showering arrows, happily. te hayaiḥ kāṣchanāpīḍai rathaiścāṁbudanādibhiḥ | nādaiścāmbudasaṁṅkāśairmahāmātraprachoditaiḥ ||2-35-78 The horses were decorated with gold, chariots roared in the battle like rain clouds, elephants thundered like rain clouds, prompted by the mahouts. satanutrāḥ sanistriṁśāḥ sapatākāyudhadhvajāḥ | svāropitadhanuṣmantaḥ satūṇīrāḥ satomarāḥ ||2-35-79 The soldiers were with swords, wearing jackets, holding flags and weapons, bows ready to shoot arrows, quivers and lances. sacchatrāḥ sādinaścaiva cārucāmaravījitāḥ | rane te'dhigatā rejuḥ syandanasthā mahīkṣitaḥ ||2-35-80 The kings were having parasols over their heads. They were fanned with plumes. The kings on the chariots, sparkled in the battle. te yuddharāgā rathino vyāgāhanta yudhāṁ varāḥ | gadābhiścaiva gurvībhiḥ kṣepaṇīyaiścha mudgaraiḥ ||2-35-81 The kings riding the chariots were experts in fighting. They were having the best maces, oars and hammers. etasminnantare tatra devānāṁ nandivardhanaḥ | suparṇadhvajamāsthāya kṛṣṇastu rathamuttamam ||2-35-82 Meanwhile, kṛṣṇa, who increases the happiness of the gods, arrived riding in a prominent chariot with garuḍa on the flag. samabhyayājjarāsaṁdhaṁ śarairvivyādha cāṣṭabhiḥ | sārathiṁ cāsya vivyādha paṣchabhirniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||2-35-83 kṛṣṇa shot eight arrows towards jarāsaṁdha. He killed his charioteer with five arrows. jaghāna turagāṁścājau yatamānasya vīryavān | taṁ kṛcchragatamājṣāya citraseno mahārathaḥ ||2-35-84 Valiant kṛṣṇa killed his horses. Seeing jarāsaṁdha in danger, the great chariot fighter citrasena senānīḥ kaishikashcaiva kṛṣṇaṁ vividhatuḥ śaraiḥ | tribhirvivyādha saṁsaktaṁ baladevaṁ ca kaiśikaḥ ||2-35-85 and the chief of army kaushika shot arrows towards kṛṣṇa. kaushika shot three arrows towards baladeva (balarāma). baladevo dhanuścāsya bhallenājau dvidhākarot | javenābhyardayachcāpi tānarīṣcharavṛṣṭibhiḥ ||2-35-86 shooting a special arrow (bhalla), baladeva (balarāma) split his bow in two pieces. Shooting showers of arrows, balarāma oppressed the enemies. bahubhirbahudhā vīrānsamantātsvarṇabhūṣaṇaiḥ | taṁ citrasenaḥ saṁrabdho vivyādha navabhiḥ śaraiḥ ||2-35-87 He oppressed his valiant heroes decorated with gold in many ways. citrasena, getting angry, shot nine arrows on him. kaiśikaḥ paṣchabhiścāpi jarāsaṁdhaścha saptabhiḥ | tribhistribhishcha narācaistānbibheda janārdanaḥ ||2-35-88 kaushika shot five arrows and jarāsaṁdha shot seven. janārdana (kṛṣṇa) shooting three iron arrows each, wounded them. paṣchabhiḥ paṣchabhiścaiva baladevaḥ shitaih śaraiḥ | Also baladeva (balarāma) shot five sharp arrows each. rathaṁ chaivāsya ciccheda citrasenasya vīryavān | baladevo dhanuścāsya bhallenājau dvidhākarot ||2-35-89 Valiant balarāma broke the chariot of citrasena by shooting arrows. With a special arrow (bhalla), balarāma split his bow in two pieces. sa ccinnadhanvā viratho gadāmādāya vīryavān | abhyadhāvatsusaṁrabdho jighāṁsurmusalāyudham ||2-35-90 The valiant citrasena whose bow was split and whose chariot was broken, became angry and took up a mace and attacked balarāma whose weapon was musala (club). sisṛkṣatastu nārācāṁścitrasenavadhaiṣiṇaḥ | dhanuściccheda rāmasya jarāsaṁdho mahābalaḥ ||2-35-91 Powerful jarāsaṁdha broke the bow of rāma (balarāma) who was shooting iron arrows to kll citrasena. gadayā ca jaghānāśvānkrodhātsa magadheśvaraḥ | rāmaṁ cābhyadravadvīro jarāsaṁdho mahābalaḥ ||2-35-92 The angry lord of magadha (jarāsaṁdha) killed the horses with a mace. The powerful jarāsaṁdha turned his attention to balarāma. ādāya musalaṁ rāmo jarāsaṁdhamupādravat | tayostadyuddhamabhavatparasparavadhaiṣiṇoḥ ||2-35-93 balarāma took his musala (club) and attacked jarāsaṁdha. There was a battle between them who wished to kill each other. citrasenastu saṁsaktaṁ dṛṣṭvā rāmeṇa māgadham | rathamanyaṁ samāruhya jarāsaṁdhamavārayat ||2-35-94 Seeing māgadha (jarāsaṁdha) engaged in war with balarāma, citrasena arrived in a different chariot and tried to stop the king from fighting. tato balena mahatā gajānīkena cāpyatha | ubhayorantare tābhyāṁ saṅkulaṁ samapadyata ||2-35-95 Then a great army of elephants arrived. A terrible battle took place between them. tataḥ sainyena mahatā jarāsaṁdho'bhisaṁvṛtaḥ | rāmakṛṣṇāgragānbhojānāsasāda mahābalaḥ ||2-35-96 Then the powerful jarāsaṁdha, supported by a great army, fought with bhoja-s led by balarāma and kṛṣṇa. tatra prakṣubhitasyeva sāgarasya mahāsvanaḥ | prādurbabhūva tumulaḥ senayorubhayorapi ||22-35-97 There huge sounds could be heard as both the armies, similar to a great ocean, were fully agitated. veṇubherīmṛdaṅgānāṁ śaṅkhānāṁ ca sahasraśaḥ | ubhayoḥ senayo rājanprādurāsīnmahāsvanaḥ ||2-35-98 (vaiśaṁpāyana said) O king (janamejaya)! Huge sounds could be heard in both armies due to the playing of thousands of flutes, drums, mṛdaṅga-s and conches. kṣveḍītāsphoṭitotkruṣṭaistumulaḥ sarvato'bhavat | utpapāta rajaścāpi khuranemisamuddhatam ||2-35-99 Due to the soldiers roaring and clapping their hands, there were huge sounds all over. The sky was filled with dust rising from the hooves of the horses and the wheels of the chariots. samudyatamahāśastrāḥ pragṛhītaśarāsanāḥ | anyonyamabhigarjantaḥ śūrāstatrāvatasthire ||2-35-100 Valiant soldiers armed with weapons, holding bows in their hands fought against each other. rathinaḥ sādinaścaiva pattayashcha sahsraśaḥ | gajāścātibalāstatra samutpetuḥ samantataḥ ||2-35-101 Thousands of soldiers riding on chariots, cavalry, infantry and mighty elephants ran against each other and fought. sa sannipātastumulastyaktvā prāṇānavartata | vṛṣṇibhiḥ saha yodhānāṁ jarāsaṁdhasya dāruṇaḥ ||2-35-102 A terrible battle took place between the soldiers of jarāsaṁdha and vṛṣṇi-s resulting in a great commotion and loss of life. tataḥ śiniranādhṛṣṭirbabhrurvipṛthurāhukaḥ | baladevaṁ puraskṛtya sainyasyārddhena daṁśitāḥ ||2-35-103 Then shini, adhṛṣṭi, babhru, vipṛthu and Ahuka, led by baladeva (balarāma) fully armed, along with half the army, dakṣiṇaṁ pakṣamāseduḥ shatrusainyasya bhārata | O bhārata (janamejaya)! attacked the south side of the enemy's army. pālitaṁ cedirājena jarāsaṁdhena vā vibho ||2-35-104 udīcyaiścha mahāvīryaiḥ śalyaśālvādibhirnṛpaiḥ | O Lord (janamejaya)! That army was protected by the king of chedi and jarāsaṁdha and also by the great valiant northern kings, shalya and sālva. sṛjantaḥ śaravarṣāṇi samabhityaktajīvitāḥ ||2-35-105 Terrified and leaving their hopes to live, the yādav-s showered a rain of arrows. avagāhaḥ pṛthuḥ kaṅkaḥ shatadyumno vidūrathaḥ | hṛṣīkeśaṁ puraskṛtya sainyasyārddhena damśitāḥ ||2-35-106 avagāha, pṛ+thu, kaṅka, shatadyumna and vidūratha with kṛṣṇa (hṛṣīkeśa) in the front, fully armed, along with half the army bhīṣmakeṇābhiguptaścha rukmiṇā ca mahātmanā | attacked the portion protected by bhīṣmaka and the great soul rukmi. devakenāpi rājendra tathā madreśvareṇa ca ||2-35-107 prācyaiścha dākṣiṇātyaiścha guptavīryabalānvitaiḥ | The lord of kings devaka and the lord of mādra, the easterners and the southerners, protected the portions with powerful armies. teṣāṁ ca yuddhamabhavatsamabhityaktajīvitam | śaktyṛṣṭiprāsabānaughānsṛjatāmaśanisvanān ||2-35-108 Between them also a terrible battle occurred, leading to loss of life, showering lances. spears, knives and arrows along with loud sounds. sātyakiścitrakaḥ śyāmo yuyudhānaścha vīryavān | rājādhidevo mṛduraḥ shvaphalkashcha mahārathaḥ ||2-35-109 sātyaki, citraka, śyāma, the valiant yuyudhāna, rājādideva, mṛdura and the great chariot fighter shvaphalka, satrājiccha prasenashcha balena mahatā vṛtāḥ | vyūhasya pakṣaṁ te sarve pratīyurdviṣatāṁ mṛdhe ||2-35-110 satrājit and prasena, along with powerful armies, attacked the enemy's armies in the battle. vyūhasyārddhaṁ samāsedurmṛdureṇābhirakṣitam | rājabhiścāpi bahubhirvaiṇudārimukhaiḥ saha ||2-35-111 veṇudhāri and others attacked in the middle of the army, which was protected by mṛdura along with many other kings. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi mathuroparodhe yuddhavarṇane paṣchatriṁśo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the the thirty-fifth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, the yādava-māgadha battle. (Note 1) The harivaṁśa vol.ī, critically edited by P.L. Vaidya, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona (1969) has, on page No.513, footnotes, the following line (T 1,3, G 1,3,5, M4) evaṁ cintayatastasya kṛṣṇasyādbhutakarmaṇaḥ kṛṣṇa, who performs wonderful actions thought in this manner. The ṁalayalam translation of this line is given on page 440, sloka 14, bhāṣābhārataṁ, vol 6, translation by kuṣṣikkuṭṭan taṁpurān, DC.Books, Kottayam (2007) (Note 2) The harivaṁśa vol.ī, critically edited by P.L. Vaidya, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona (1969) has, on page No.514, footnotes, after the first line of śloka 22, the following line (T 1,3 , G 3,5 , M, G ( ed )) akṣauhiṇyā ca viṁśatyā anuyāto narādhipaḥ The king was accompanied by twentyone akṣauhiṇis. The ṁalayalam translation of this line is given on page 441, sloka 22, bhāṣābhārataṁ, vol 6, translation by kuṣṣikkuṭṭan taṁpurān, DC.Books, Kottayam (2007) (Note 3) The harivaṁśa vol.ī, critically edited by P.L. Vaidya, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona (1969) has, on page No.514, footnotes, after śloka 51, the following line (T 1,3 , G 3,5 , G (ed)) evamuktvā jarāsaṁdhaḥ śakratulyaparākrama saying this, jarāsaṁdha, valiant equal to śakra (indra) The ṁalayalam translation of this line is given on page 443, śloka 5, bhāṣābhārataṁ, vol 6, translation by kuṣṣikkuṭṭan taṁpurān, DC.Books, Kottayam (2007). nīlakaṇṭha commentary paṣchatrīṁśe tvathādhyāye mathurāmetya māgadhaḥ | rurodha nagaraṁ sainyaiścaturaṅgairitīyate || 1 || · 2-35-1 mathuretyādi | · 2-35-6 nikaṣa svarṇanikaṣavadbalābalanirṇayahetuḥ || · 2-35-7 balaṁ pareṣāṁ sainyaṁ gatāyuḥ cirāyurveti vimṛśyatāṁ vicāraṇīyamityarthaḥ || · 2-35-10 pārthive pṛthivīsthajanayobhye mṛtyumārge ityarthaḥ || · 2-35-11 prokṣitānyajṣapaśuvadāsannamṛtyūn || · 2-35-12 sthāne yuktaṁ asyāḥ bhārāvataraṇamityarthaḥ | yataḥ iyaṁ divaṁ gatā divisthaṁ brahmāṇaṁ prati śaraṇaṁ gatā || · 2-35-13 viviktaṁ nirjanam || · 2-35-16 hemakakṣaiḥ suvarṇaśṛṅkhalaiḥ || · 2-35-18 preṅkhamāṇaiḥ kūrdamānaiḥ || · 2-35-21 vanāni ca nādayānaḥ || · 2-35-24 vimiśraṁ sainyamiti śeṣaḥ || · 2-35-25 niveśyāya sthānaparigrahāya || · 2-35-26 shibirasya senāgṛhasys paṭamayasya jātyābhiprāyamekavacanam || · 2-35-30 sakaṣchukoṣṇīṣāḥ pratīhārāḥ || · 2-35-32 yogāt vṛttinirodhāt || · 2-35-34 prāsāḥ hastakṣepyamallaḥ | ūrdhvaṁ durge prākāropari nivāhyantāṁ prāpayantu || · 2-35-37 niḥsaṁpātaṁ kīlitāmiva || · 2-35-44 durgasahā durgayuddhaṁ kartuṁ kṣamāḥ || · 2-35-61 tābhyāṁ tayorathe || · 2-35-62 lalāmapratimaṁ dhvajavaducchritaṁ "lalāmaṁ lāṣchane dhvaje" iti medinī || iti harivaṁśe ṭīkāyāṁ paṣchtriṁśo'dhyāyaḥ ||