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गदायुद्धपर्वन् (gadAyuddhaparvan)

 
Monier Williams Cologne
English
गदा—युद्ध—पर्वन्
n.
=
 गदा-प्°.
Mahabharata
English
[Gadāyuddhaparvan (ºva)]
(“the section relating to the battle with maces”). Cf. Gadāparvan, Gadāyuddha. § 613: Requested by Dhṛtarāshṭra (), Sañjaya related: Duryodhana agreed to fight his foes, one at a time ()
Yudhishṭhira granted his request, adding that if he could slay even one of the five Pāṇḍavas he would remain king. Duryodhana rose from the lake and challenged the Pāṇḍavas ()
Yudhishṭhira taunted him with his unfair conduct in slaying Abhimanyu () (IX, 32). Kṛshṇa reproved Yudhishṭhira for his rashness in staking everything on the result of such a single combat with Duryodhana ()
Bhīmasena assured Kṛshṇa that Duryodhana would be no match for him in an encounter with the mace ()
Kṛshṇa applauded Bhīma, and exhorted him to slay Duryodhana ()
Sātyaki, etc. (), applauded Bhīma
Bhīma's boastful address () to Yudhishṭhira and Duryodhana
Duryodhana's dignified reply, applauded by the Pāṇḍavas and Sṛñjayas
the elephants began to grunt and the steeds to neigh
the weapons of the Pāṇḍavas blazed forth of their own accord (IX, 33).--§ 614: When the battle between Bhīma and Duryodhana was about to commence, Bala-Rāma (b), having heard that that battle between his two disciples was about to begin, came and was worshipped by the Pāṇḍavas, Kṛshṇa, etc. ()
he said that forty-two days had passed since he departed, having set out under the constellation Pushya and come back under the constellation Śravaṇa
he was clad in blue robes and of fair complexion. Then that dreadful encounter took place (IX, 34).--§ 615: Requested by Janamejaya (), Vaiśampāyana related how Bala-Rāma had determined upon and set out (under the constellation Maitra) on a pilgrimage to the tīrthas on the Sarasvatī (), having let the sacred fire be brought from Dvārakā and the priests, and having given away rich donations to everyone who wished for them, accompanied by priests, friends, brahmans, chariots, elephants, steeds, and servants, visiting all the sacred places along her course. In the course of his wanderings he at last came to Kurukshetra. Requested by Janamejaya (), Vaiśampāyana related the Baladevatīrthayātrā (q.v.) (IX, 35--54). Requested by Dhṛtarāshṭra, Sañjaya related: Beholding Bala-Rāma, Duryodhana rejoiced. According to the proposal of Bala-Rāma, Yudhishṭhira with his brothers and Duryodhana proceeded westwards to Samantapañcaka on the southern side of the Sarasvatī. D. and Cā. praised Duryodhana. Description of Bhīma and Duryodhana (). Duryodhana told Yudhishṭhira (who was standing among his brothers and Kṛshṇa and Rāma) to behold the battle, protected by the Kaikeyas, etc. (). That large assembly of kings sat down, as did also Bala-Rāma, who was worshipped by all around him. Bhīma and Duryodhana stood inciting each other with violent speeches (IX, 55). The dispute between the two heroes (). At last Duryodhana said, “What is the use of bragging? fight with me, ” and was applauded by the Somakas, etc. The elephants grunted aloud and the steeds neighed repeatedly
the weapons of the Pāṇḍavas blazed forth of their own accord (IX, 56). Description of the combat
D., G., and men wondered
the Pāṇḍavas and the Somakas feared
adopting the manœuvre called Kauśika, Duryodhana baffled Bhīma's mace
as Duryodhana once fell down to the earth, the Sṛñjayas cried aloud, so also did the Pāṇḍavas
Bhīmasena then had his coat of mail fractured and was prostrated on the ground, but rose, steadying himself with great effort (IX, 57). Arjuna inquired of Kṛshṇa about the relative merits of the two combatants
Kṛshṇa said that their training had been equal, but Bhīma was superior in strength
Duryodhana was superior in skill and had had more practice
by fighting fairly Bhīma would never succeed in winning, but by fighting unfairly he would surely be able to slay Duryodhana, just as the Asuras were vanquished by the gods, Virocana and Vṛtra by Indra with the aid of deception
“Bhīma has vowed to break the thighs of Duryodhana with his mace
let him accomplish that vow of his”
he censured Yudhishṭhira for his folly, and quoted a verse uttered by Uśanas
“Duryodhana has practised with the mace for full thirteen years.” Arjuna struck his own left thigh before the eyes of Bhīmasena, who understood the sign. As Duryodhana set his heart on the manœuvre called dvasthāna and jumped upwards, Bhīmasena hurled his mace at the thighs of Duryodhana and fractured them. Portents appeared
showers of blood and showers of dust were poured by Indra
a loud noise was made by Y., Rā., and Pś. (description of the portents)
the Pāñcālas and the Pāṇḍavas were filled with anxiety
D., G., Si., and Cā. went away (IX, 58). The Pāṇḍavas and Somakas rejoiced
Bhīmasena rebuked Duryodhana, and touched his head with his left foot, which was censured by Yudhishṭhira, who grieved for Duryodhana () (IX, 59)
Baladeva's wrath was excited upon seeing Duryodhana struck below the navel
he rushed on to slay Bhīma, but was seized and pacified by Kṛshṇa (). Baladeva praised Duryodhana and cursed Bhīmasena, and then ascended his chariot and proceeded towards Dvārakā. The Pāñcālas, etc. (), became dejected
Kṛshṇa and Yudhishṭhira, Bhīmasena, etc., and Duryodhana spoke about what had passed (IX, 80) (Kṛshṇa asking the Pāṇḍava warriors to forbear insulting Duryodhana
Duryodhana's angry reply to Kṛshṇa, charging him with every unfair act in course of the battle
Kṛshṇa reminded Duryodhana of his own evil acts, and referred to his miserable end as the inevitable consequence of those acts
Duryodhana's boast with reference to his end, which he pronounced to be most glorious) (). Celestial showers descended on Duryodhana's head
G., Aps., and Si. praised him. The Pāṇḍavas and Kṛshṇa became ashamed
but Kṛshṇa justified the use of unfair means for the slaughter of the Kuru warriors () (IX, 61). The Pāṇḍava warriors proceeded to the Kuru camp, which was entirely deserted ()
Kṛshṇa caused Arjuna to take down the Gāṇḍīva and his inexhaustible quivers, and then to dismount
then Kṛshṇa also dismounted
the celestial ape disappeared, and the chariot (burnt by Droṇa and Karṇa with the Brāhma weapon), with its steeds, etc., was reduced to ashes. Kṛshṇa congratulated Yudhishṭhira on his victory, and Yudhishṭhira attributed that victory to Kṛshṇa's power (). In the encampment of the Kurus they found great wealth
at Kṛshṇa's suggestion the Pāṇḍavas and Sātyaki resolved to pass the night at a spot outside the camp, on the banks of the Oghavatī. They then dispatched Kṛshṇa to Hāstinapura in order to pacify the wrath of Gāndhārī, and to comfort her and Dhṛtarāshṭra. He set out with Dāruka upon his chariot, yoked with Śaibya and Sugrīva (IX, 62). Asked by Janamejaya, Vaiśampāyana said that the reason why Yudhishṭhira sent Kṛshṇa to Hāstinapura was his fear that Gāndhārī, by means of her ascetic merit, should reduce the Pāṇḍavas to ashes, because Duryodhana had been slain unfairly ()
“Vyāsa will be there.” Kṛshṇa caused Dāruka to equip his chariot, and quickly set out for Hāstinapura. He arrived at Dhṛtarāshṭra's palace, where Vyāsa had arrived before him
he comforted Dhṛtarāshṭra () and Gāndhārī (), who said that her heart had again become steady (). Then Kṛshṇa came to know the evil that was meditated by Aśvatthāman, and suddenly took leave, requested by Dhṛtarāshṭra and Gāndhārī to protect the Pāṇḍavas, and proceeded with Dāruka. Vyāsa comforted Dhṛtarāshṭra. Kṛshṇa arrived at the camp and informed the Pāṇḍavas (IX, 63). Requested by Dhṛtarāshṭra, Sañjaya narrated the lamentations of Duryodhana while lying on the field with his thighs broken ()
he thought himself happy, and asked Sañjaya to bring his message to his parents and to Aśvatthāman, etc. () (“you should never place any confidence in the Pāṇḍavas”), and took leave of the messagebearers ()
he was confident that Cārvāka, the mendicant devotee, would avenge his death. Thousands of men, with eyes full of tears, fled away
the earth trembled, etc. The messengers went and informed Aśvatthāman and then went away (IX, 64). Aśvatthāman, etc. (), came to Duryodhana, who lay surrounded by carnivorous animals, etc. Aśvatthāman's lament and Duryodhana's reply ()
Aśvatthāman vowed to slay all the Pāñcālas
Duryodhana let Kṛpa install Aśvatthāman as the Kuru generalissimo
then they took leave of Duryodhana and left him alone (IX, 65).