Mb083. The Third Of The Battle Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

In eagle formation Kauravas,
In crescent formation Pandavas,
On the third day they arrayed
Their armies like this stayed.

For the day, began the battle,
Each one sounded his bugle.
Arrows flew from quivers.
Blood flowed like rivers.

The chariots moved forward.
Horses and elephants followed.
Their march raised the dust,
That went up the sky in a gust.

Arjuna's continuous attack,
The Kauravas once did break.
Against Abhimanyu and Satyaki,
A large force led Sakuni.

His forces they crushed,
And back he was pushed.
Drona backed by Bhisma,
Both attacked Yudhisthira.

To his support came Nakula,
And his brother Sahadeva.
Along with his son Ghatotkacha,
Bhima attacked Duryodhana.

Duryodhana was hurt,
By a Bhima's shaft
He was taken out
Safely in his chariot.

In his short absence,
Bhima took a chance,
And he created havoc.
Kaurava armies ran in panic.

Back when Duryodhana came,
On Bhisma he threw the blame,
Drona and Bhisma were too soft,
That helped Pandavas' assault.

"To prevent the war I tried,
But it's you who decided.
I'm doing my best. I'm old."
Bhima smiled and told.

Stung by Duryodhana's reproach,
He made a devilish approach,
That Pandavas had never seen,
Such a monster in the scene.

Pandavas' army broke down,
Hither and thither they ran.
Face to face Arjuna came,
But Bhisma he didn't harm,

Krishna waited no longer.
He took His discus in anger,
To severe Bhisma's head,
Towards him He ran ahead.

"Oh Krishna, I bow to you.
To kill me, I invite you.
By you, if I'm to be slain,
It'll be my good fortune."

Everyone there wondered,
When Bhisma surrendered,
But behind ran Arjuna
To stop and tell Krishna.

"Break not your vow,
Oh Krishna, let me now
Seriously act.See how
I fight with my bow."

Like this Arjuna's prayed.
His devotee, He obeyed.
Even after the sun set,
Arjuna continued his fight.

He inflicted such damage,
That boosted his image,
Before all the warriors,
Including elders and seniors.