Chapter 14 - Story of the Mahābhārata

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Agni said:

1-3. The armies of Yudhiṣṭhira and Duryodhana went to Kurukṣetra. Having seen Bhīṣma, Droṇa and others, (Arjuna said) that he would not fight with his preceptors. The Lord (Kṛṣṇa) said to Pārtha (Arjuna), “You need not worry about Bhīṣma and prominent men. The bodies are perishable. But the soul does not perish. This soul is the supreme Brahman. You know that (by realizing that), ‘I am Brahman’ Being neutral towards success and defeat and as a yogin you protect the duties of a king.”

4-6. Being told thus by Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna fought (the battle). He sounded drums remaining in the chariot. Bhīṣma was the first commander for the army of Duryodhana. And Śikhaṇḍi (was the commander) for the Pāṇḍavas. There was a fight between these two armies. (The armies) of the son of Dhṛta-rāṣṭra along with Bhīṣma killed the armies of Pāṇḍavas. The Pāṇḍavas in the company of Śikhaṇḍī^[1] and others killed (the army) of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. The battle between the armies of Kurus and Pāṇḍavas was similar (to the battle) between devas and asuras.

7-10. It was (a cause) for the growth of delight of the devas in the heavens who were watching it. For ten days Bhīṣma destroyed the army of Pāṇḍavas with astras. On the tenth day Arjuna showered arrows on the valiant Bhīṣma. On the words of Drupada, Śikhaṇḍī^[2] showered astras just as a cloud would do. The elephants, horses, chariots and infantry were brought down by the astras (of the two armies) mutually. Bhīṣma, able to die at his own will, after having shown the mode of war and being told by the Vasus (a class of deities), was remaining in the bed of arrows awaiting to reach Vasuloka, and for the (commencement of the) summer solstice all the while remaining contemplating on Viṣṇu and praising Him.

11. As Duryodhana was grief-stricken, Droṇa became the Commander. As the army of Pāṇḍavas was jubilant, Dhṛṣṭadyumna (was made) the Commander.

12. There was a fierce battle between the two which made the domain of Yama (the god of death) extensive. Virāṭa, Drupada and others were drowned in the ocean of (arrows of) Droṇa.

13. The huge army of Duryodhana (consisted of) elephant, horse, chariot and infantry. Droṇa became just like Kāla (death himself) for the (army) headed by Dhṛṣṭadyumna.

14- 15. When it was proclaimed that Aśvatthāman was killed, Droṇa abandoned his astras. Overcome by the arrow of Dhṛṣṭadyumna he fell on the earth on the fifth day, (himself being) unassailable and after having killed many warriors. As Duryodhana was grief-stricken, Karṇa became the commander.

16. And Arjuna (became the commander) of the Pāṇḍava forces. There was combat between them, between weapons and weapons, very fierce and resembling a war between devas and asuras.

17. In the war known as the Karṇārjuna, Karṇa killed the enemies with his arrows. On the second day, Karṇa was killed by Arjuna.

18. Śalya fought for a day and Yudhiṣṭhira killed him. Suyodhana (Duryodhana), whose army had been destroyed, fought with Bhīmasena.

19. Having killed many men (in their army) (he) challenged Bhīmasena. Bhīmasena killed him, who was attacking with the mace.

20-21. (Bhīmasena) killed his brothers with his mace. On that eighteenth day, in the night, the very strong Aśvatthāman killed the sleeping army of Pāṇḍavas of the extent of an akṣauhiṇī, the Pāñcālas and the sons of Draupadī. He also killed Dhṛṣṭadyumna.

22. Then Arjuna seized his crest-jewel with an arrow (and gave it) to that Draupadī who had lost her sons and was lamenting

23. Hari (Kṛṣṇa) revived (all of them) who were burnt by the arrows of Aśvatthāman. That embryo of Uttarā became a king (known as) Parīkṣit.

24. Kṛtavarman, Kṛpa and Drauṇi (son of Droṇa) (Aśvatthāman) survived in the battle. The five Pāṇḍavas, Sātyaki and Kṛṣṇa survived and none else.

25-26. Then that Yudhiṣṭhira having pacified the grief-stricken women, in the company of Bhīma and others, having done the obsequies for the killed warriors and having offered. waters and money and after having heard the peace-yielding dharmas, the royal duties, dharma relating to final emancipation, dharma relating to charity, became a king.

27. The destroyer of his enemy (Yudhiṣṭhira) gave away charities to the brahmins at the Aśvamedha (sacrifice). Having heard about the destruction of Yādavas^[3] caused by the club and having installed Parīkṣit in the kingdom, (he) reached heavens along with the brothers.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Śikhaṇḍī, son of Drupada, was at first a woman known as Śikhaṇḍini and was later transformed into a man and was known as Śikhaṇḍīn. M.Bh. V. xci.

[2]:

Bhīṣma had pledged not to fight against eunuchs. As Arjuna had Śikhaṇḍī as his charioteer, it was easy for him to kill Bhīṣma as Bhīṣma would not fight against Śikhaṇḍī, a woman transformed into a man.

[3]:

This alludes to the curse of sages when the Yādava boys dressed up Sāmba, son of Jāmbavatī, as a woman and requested sages to tell what kind of child would be born to her. The sages cursed that an iron mace would be born. When it happened accordingly, the mace was powdered and thrown into the sea. They were washed ashore and later grew into reeds. The Yādavas under the influence of liquor quarrelled with each other and destroyed themselves by beating with the uprooted reeds. See Vi.P. V. xxvii. 9-10; M.Bh.  XVI. i. 15-22.