Chapter 57 - The description of Mahabharata war

CHAPTER LVII Sri Mahadeva said To reduce the burden of the earth Krsna, the black one appointing all his soldiers to help the sons of Dhrtrastra himself came with Satyaki to the sons of Pandus. The kings from various countries came forward to help Pandus and Kurus. No such assembly of Ksetriyas was witnessed in the past nor at present or expected in future. (1-3) The Kuruksetra the sacred Ksetra of Dharma was covered with elephants horses and cavalary coming from different states. (4) Beholding the arrangement which would causes the destruction of the world the noble minded ones headed by Bhisma prevented Suyodhana. (5) Lord Vyasa, well versed in all scriptures coming there prevailed upon Dhrtarastra along with his sons again and again to desist from it. (6) The king, being bound by the chain of death, did not accept it and started war depending on Karnas advice. (7) Then the sons of Dhrtarastra accompanied with their ministers set out for war with the sound of conch, drum, etc resounding the earth with the axle sound of chariots. (8) Marking them approaching for war the great warriors of the Pandavas roared like lions again and again. (9) "

350 The sound resounded the earth as well as the atmosphere, attracted the mind and vigour of the sons of Dhratarastra. (10) Then the king, the son of Dharma, saluting the superiors like Bhisma, Drona etc who were present in the war field individually being permitted by them entered in to his own chariot. (11) Then all Pandavas getting down from chariots eulogised goddess Ambika for the victory in war. (12) Pandavas said O Katyayani, whose lotus feet were worshipped by gods, who is responsible for the creation, preservation and destruction of the world, O goddess the destroyer of Pracanda, the wife of Tripurari, the abolisher of distress in the world, O Durga be merciful. (13) You are the destroyer of wicked demons, the perplexer of wicked, the remover of sorrow, O unthinkable form, he who remembers always in this world does not feel the terrible sorrows. (14) O the mother of the world, saluting you Brhma created, Visnu preserved and Sambhu destroyed. At times you create, nowrish and destroy out of your illusion. There is nothing which can cause your destruction by people. (15) O the abollisher of sorrows, those who remember you in the battle field, the arrows of the opposite side do not pierce into their bodies but their arrow pierces into the body of enemy and

351 takes their lives. O the destroyer of the lord of the demon, he who eulogises you in the battle field, the enemies look him as their god of death. To whom you bestow victory. The BrahmaKsyara comes from his mouth only, on whom you bestow victory. (16 & 17) O supreme godless, those, who come for your shelter out of fear, do not fear here and hereafter but afraid of them the wicked run out far away being terrified. (18) In the past in the battle of gods and demons the king of gods praying you, killed the demons. Rama also killed the whole Raksasa race in that way. So without your worship victory will not be attained here. That is why I pray you the bestower of victory, the only adorable of the world receptacle of the creation whose feet are served by Hari and Viranci. Due to your favour you bestow me victory so that killing the enemies in the war I will attain victory. (19 & 20) Sri Mahadeva said Being eulogised by the noble minded Pandavas the mother goddess gladly offering boons want out in the atmosphere. (21) Devi said Due to my favour you, destroying the enemies in the war, will get your kingdom again and again without enemies. (22) To lighten the burden of the earth and for your victory I have been born out of my own pleasure as Vasudeva. (23)

352 Staying at Phalguni's chariot having large monkey flag in the form of Vasudeva I will protect you. (24) The people in the world who eulogise me with this stotra with devotion, I always bestow victory for them nodoubt. (25) Sri Mahadeva said Attaining such boon the warriors, sons of Pandu thought of their victory in war. (26) Then again riding on their chariots well furnished with gold accepting armour blew their conch individually. (27) Vasudeva staying at the chariot of warrior Arjuna blew the great Pancajanya conch loudly again and again. (28) By that sound the earth trembled and the whole creation was disturbed the son of Dhirtarastra along with their soldiers looked pale. (29) Bhisma, the greatest warrior of the world was their captain. Karna due to the zealousy with Bhisma was standing without arms and ammunitions. (30) In front of the Pandu soldiers Vrkodara was standing like a Naga with soldiers as if the god of death. (31) O great sage the war continued for ten days by Bhisma O Narada he himself killed a Arbuda Pandu soldiers and many others by the

353 soldiers of Dhrtarastra. The sons of Pandu killed many more number of soldiers of the son of Dhrtarastra with their valour. (32 & 33) During the last part of the tenth day war Bhisma was killed by Sikhandi with the great weapon of Dhananjaya. (34) The warriors like Karna etc making Drona as general fought severely for five days. In that war the son of Subhadra a great warrior was killed by the soldiers of Duyodhana in a illigal war. Then the great valorous, Arjuna promised, killed Jayadratha in the afternoon with his terrible weapons. Thus the war continued by Karna for two days and the demon king Ghatotkaca was killed and the monkey banner of the Pandavas was destroyed in the war by Karna many other kings of both the sides died fighting each other in the war. The king Yudhisthira, the son of Dharma killed Salya in the war by his terrible weapons. Then the war took place between Doyodhana and Bhima sena by club desiring to conquor each other. Then Doryathana was killed by Bhima with his Gada. (36-44) Many other warriors like Dusasana etc were also killed by the noble-minded earlier in the war. (45) Then at night the unconquorable Durstadyumna along with the five sons of Drupadi was nocharnally slaughtered by the son of Biaraivaja (46)

354 1 Then by Arjuna, Asvathama, and Krpacarya those were alive in previous war were killed with his arrows. (47) Thus in the war of eighteen days eighteen Aksauhimi soldiers from were killed both camp. (48) The warrior sons of Pandava along with Vasudeva performed the funeral rites of the dead kings and soldiers. (49) In the eighth day of bright fortnight in the month of Magha Bhisma gave up his life and due to the favour of the mother goddess Partha enjoyed the kingdom. (50) Here ends the fifty seventh chapter called the description of Mahabharata war of Sri Mahabhagavata Purana.