Saturday, December 31, 2011

srimahabharat - (Book 6) Bhishma Parva - chapters 66 to 85

















The Sacred  Scripture of
 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

                                      Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
                                                        translated by

                                  Sreemaan Brahmasri  Kisari Mohan Ganguli 





 Bhishma Parva
Book 6

Book 6
Chapter 66


 

1 [s]
      akarot tumula yuddha bhīma śātanavas tadā
      bhīmasena bhayād icchan putrās tārayitu tava
  2 pūrvāhe tan mahāraudra rājñā yuddham avartata
      kurūāṇḍavānā ca mukhyaśūra vināśanam
  3 tasminn ākulasagrāme vartamāne mahābhaye
      abhavat tumula śabda saspśan gagana mahat
  4 nadadbhiś ca mahānāgair heamāaiś ca vājibhi
      bherīśakhaninādaiś ca tumula samapadyata
  5 yuyutsavas te vikrāntā vijayāya mahābalā
      anyonyam abhigarjanto goṣṭhev iva maharabhā
  6 śirasā pātyamānānā samare niśitai śarai
      aśmavṛṣṭir ivākāśe babhūva bharatarabha
  7 kuṇḍaloṣṇīa dhārīi jātarūpojjvalāni ca
      patitāni sma dśyante śirāsi bharatarabha
  8 viśikhonmathitair gātrair bāhubhiś ca sa kārmukai
      sa hastābharaaiś cānyair abhavac chāditā mahī
  9 kavacopahitair gātrair hastaiś ca samalaktai
      mukhaiś ca candrasakāśai raktāntanayanai śubhai
  10 gajavājimanuā sarvagātraiś ca bhūpate
     āsīt sarvā samākīrā muhūrtena vasudharā
 11 rajomeghaiś ca tumulai śastravidyut prakāśitai
     āyudhānā ca nirghoa stanayitnusamo 'bhavat
 12 sa saprahāras tumula kauka śoitodaka
     prāvartata kurūā ca pāṇḍavānā ca bhārata
 13 tasmin mahābhaye ghore tumule lomaharae
     vavaru śaravarāi katriyā yuddhadurmadā
 14 krośanti kuñjarās tatra śaravara pratāpitā
     tāvakānā pareā ca sayuge bharatottama
     aśvāś ca paryadhāvanta hatārohā diśo daśa
 15 utpatya nipatanty anye śaraghāta prapīitā
     tāvakānā pareā ca yodhānā bharatarabha
 16 aśvānā kuñjarāā ca rathānā cātivartatām
     saghātā sma pradśyante tatra tatra viśā pate
 17 gadābhir asibhi prāsair bāaiś ca nataparvabhi
     jaghnu paraspara tatra katriyā kālacoditā
 18 apare bāhubhir vīrā niyuddha kuśalā yudhi
     bahudhā samasajjanta āyasai parighair iva
 19 muṣṭibhir jānubhiś caiva talaiś caiva viśā pate
     anyonya jaghnire vīrās tāvakāṇḍavai saha
 20 virathā rathinaś cātra nistriśavaradhāria
     anyonyam abhidhāvanta parasparavadhaiia
 21 tato duryodhano rājā kaligair bahubhir vta
     purasktya rae bhīmaṇḍavān abhyavartata
 22 tathaiva pāṇḍavā sarve parivārya vkodaram
     bhīmam abhyadravan kruddhā rae rabhasa vāhanā





SECTION LXVI

"Bhishma said, 'Then that illustrious Deity, the Lord of the worlds, replied unto Brahma in a soft deep voice, saying,--'Through Yoga, O sire, all that is wished by thee is known to me. It will be even as thou wishest,--And saying this, he disappeared then and there. Then the gods, Rishis, and Gandharvas, filled with great wonder and curiosity all asked the Grandsire, saying,--'Who is that one, O Lord, that was worshipped by thy illustrious self with such humility and praised in such high words? We desire to hear,--Thus addressed, the illustrious Grandsire replied unto all the Gods, the regenerate Rishis, and the Gandharvas, in sweet words saying,--He who is called TAT, He who is Supreme, He who is existent at present and who will be for all time, He who is the highest Self, He who is the Soul of beings, and who is the great Lord, I was talking even with His ever-cheerful self, ye bulls among gods. The Lord of the Universe was solicited by me, for the good of the Universe, to take his birth among mankind in the family of Vasudeva. I said unto him,--For the slaughter of the Asuras take thy birth in the world of men!--Those Daityas and Rakshasas, of fierce form and great strength, that were slain in battle, have been born among men. Indeed, the illustrious and mighty Lord, taking birth in the human womb, will live on the Earth, accompanied by Nara. Those ancient and best of Rishis, viz., Nara and Narayana, are incapable of defeat in battle by even all the celestials united together. Of immeasurable effulgence, those Rishis viz., Nara and Narayana, when born together in the world of men, will not be known (as such) by fools. He, from whose Self, I, Brahman, the Lord of the whole Universe, have sprung that Vasudeva, that Supreme God of all the worlds, is worthy of your adoration. Endued with great energy, and bearing the conch, the discus, and the mace, he should never be disregarded as a man, ye best of deities. He is the Supreme Mystery, the Supreme refuge, the Supreme Brahma, and the Supreme glory. He is without decay, Unmanifest, and Eternal. He it is who hath been sung as Purusha, though none can comprehend him. The divine Artificer hath sung of him as the Supreme Energy, the Supreme Felicity, and the Supreme Truth. Therefore, the Lord Vasudeva of immeasurable prowess should never be disregarded as a man by all the Asuras and the gods with Indra at their head. That person of foolish understanding is called a wretch, who, from disregard, speaketh of Hrishikesa as only a man. People speak of him as one labouring under darkness who disregardeth Vasudeva, that Yogin of illustrious soul, for his entering into a human form. People speak of him as one labouring under darkness who knoweth not that Divine personage, that Soul of the mobile and the immobile creation, that one bearing the auspicious wheel (on his breast), that one of dazzling effulgence, that one from whose navel hath sprung the (primeval) lotus. He who disregardeth that wearer of the diadem and the Kaustuva gem, that dispeller of fears of his friends, that high-souled
p. 173
one, sinketh in thick darkness. Having known all these truths duly, that Lord of the worlds, viz., Vasudeva, should be adored by every one, ye best of gods.'--
"Bhishma continued,--Having said these words unto those gods and Rishis in days of yore, the illustrious Grandsire, dismissing them all, repaired to his own abode. And the gods and the Gandharvas, and the Munis and the Apsaras also, having listened to those words spoken by Brahman, were filled with delight and repaired to heaven. Even this was heard by me, O sire, from Rishis of cultured soul talking in their assembly, of Vasudeva, that ancient one. And O thou that art well-versed in scriptures, I heard this from Rama, the son of Jamadagni, and Markandeya of great wisdom, and Vyasa and Narada also. Having learnt all this and heard of the illustrious Vasudeva as the Eternal Lord, the Supreme God of all the worlds, and the great Master, from whom hath sprung Brahman himself, the Father of the Universe, why should not that Vasudeva be adored and worshipped by men? Forbidden wert thou before, O sire, by sages of cultured souls, (who said unto thee)--Never go to war with that Vasudeva armed with bow as also with the Pandavas,--This, from folly, thou couldst not apprehend. I regard thee therefore, as a wicked Rakshsa. Thou art, besides, enveloped in darkness. It is for this that thou hatest Govinda and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, for who else among men would hate the divine Nara and Narayana? It is for this, O king, that I say unto thee that this one is Eternal and Unfading, pervading the whole Universe, Unchanging, the Ruler, Creator and Upholder of all, and the truly Existent. He it is who upholdeth the three worlds. He is the Supreme Lord of all mobile and immobile creatures, and He is the great Master, He is warrior, He is Victory, He is Victor, and He is the Lord of all nature. O king, He is full of goodness and divested of all the qualities of Darkness and Passion. There, where Krishna is, there righteousness is; and there is victory where righteousness is. It is by the Yoga of his Supreme Excellence, and the Yoga of his Self, that the sons of Pandu, O king, are supported. Victory, therefore, will surely be theirs. He it is that always imparteth to the Pandavas and understanding endued with righteousness, and strength in battle; and He it is that always protecteth them from danger. He is the Eternal God, pervading all beings, and ever blessed. He, of whom thou hadst asked me, is known by the name of Vasudeva. He it is whom Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras, having distinctive features of their own, humbly serve and worship with restrained hearts and performing their own duties. He it is who, towards the close of the Dwapara Yuga and the beginning of the Kali Yuga, is sung of with Sankarshana, by believers with devotion. It is that Vasudeva that createth, Yuga after Yuga, the worlds of the gods and the mortals, all cities girt by the sea, and the region of human habitation.--"




Book 6
Chapter 67









1 [s]
      dṛṣṭvā bhīmea sasaktān bhrātn anyāś ca pārthivān
      tam abhyadhāvad gāgeyam udyatāstro dhanajaya
  2 pāñcajanyasya nirghoa dhanuo gāṇḍivasya ca
      dhvaja ca dṛṣṭvā pārthasya sarvān no bhayam āviśat
  3 asajjamāna vkeu dhūmaketum ivotthitam
      bahuvara ca citra ca divya vānaralakaam
      apaśyāma mahārāja dhvajaṇḍivadhanvana
  4 vidyuta meghamadhyasthā bhrājamānām ivāmbare
      dadśur gāṇḍiva yodhā rukmapṛṣṭha mahārathe
  5 aśuśruma bhśa cāsya śakrasyevābhigarjata
      sughora talayo śabda nighnatas tava vāhinīm
  6 caṇḍavāto yathā megha sa vidyut stanayitnumān
      diśa saplāvayan sarvā śaravarai samantata
  7 abhyadhāvata gāgeya bhairavāstro dhanajaya
      diśa prācī pratīcī ca na jānīmo 'stramohitā
  8dig bhūtā śrāntapatrā hatāstrā hatacetasa
      anyonyam abhisaśliya yodhās te bharatarabha
  9 bhīmam evābhilīyanta saha sarvais tavātmajai
      teām ārtāyanam abhūd bhīma śatanavo rae
  10 samutpatanta vitrastā rathebhyo rathinas tadā
     sādinaś cāśvapṛṣṭhebhyo bhūmau cāpi padātaya
 11 śrutvā gāṇḍīvanirghoa visphūrjitam ivāśane
     sarvasainyāni bhītāni vyavalīyanta bhārata
 12 atha kāmbojamukhyais tu bhadbhi śīghragāmibhi
     gopānā bahusāhasrair balair govāsano vta
 13 madrasauvīragāndhārais trigartaiś ca viśā pate
     sarvakāligamukhyaiś ca kaligādhipatir vta
 14 nāgā naragaaughāś ca duśāsana purasarā
     jayadrathaś ca npati sahita sarvarājabhi
 15 hayāroha varāś caiva tata putrea coditā
     caturdaśasahasrāi saubala paryavārayan
 16 tatas te sahitā sarve vibhaktarathavāhanā
     pāṇḍavān samare jagmus tāvakā bharatarabha
 17 rathibhir vāraair aśvai padātaiś ca samīritam
     ghoram āyodhana jajñe mahābhrasadśa raja
 18 tomaraprāsanārāca gajāśvarathayodhinām
     balena mahatā bhīma samasajjat kirīinā
 19 āvantya kāśirājena bhīmasenena saindhava
     ajātaśatrur madrāām ṛṣabhea yaśasvinā
     saha putra sahāmātya śalyena samasajjata
 20 vikara sahadevena citrasena śikhaṇḍinā
     matsyā duryodhana jagmu śakuni ca viśā pate
 21 drupadaś cekitānaś ca sātyakiś ca mahāratha
     droena samasajjanta saputrea mahātmanā
     kpaś ca ktavarmā ca dhṛṣṭaketum abhidrutau
 22 eva prajavitāśvāni bhrāntanāgarathāni ca
     sainyāni samasajjanta prayuddhāni samantata
 23 nirabhre vidyutas tīvrā diśaś ca rajasāv
     prādurāsan maholkāś ca sa nirghātā viśā pate
 24 pravavau ca mahāvātasuvara papāta ca
     nabhasy antardadhe sūrya sainyena rajasāvta
 25 pramoha sarvasattvānām atīva samapadyata
     rajasā cābhibhūtānām astrajālaiś ca tudyatām
 26 vīrabāhuviṣṛṣṭānā sarvāvaraabhedinām
     saghāta śarajālānā tumula samapadyata
 27 prakāśa cakrur ākāśa yudyatāni bhujottamai
     nakatravimalābhāni śastrāi bharatarabha
 28 ārabhāi vicitrāi rukmajālāvtāni ca
     sapetur diku sarvāsu carmāi bharatarabha
 29 sūryavaraiś ca nistriśai pātyamānāni sarvaśa
     diku sarvāsv adśyanta śarīrāi śirāsi ca
 30 bhagnacakrāka nīāś ca nipātitamahādhvajā
     hatāśvā pthivī jagmus tatra tatra mahārathā
 31 paripetur hayāś cātra ke cic chatraktavraā
     rathān viparikaranto hateu rathayodhiu
 32 śarāhatā bhinnadehā baddhayoktrā hayottamā
     yugāni paryakaranta tatra tatra sma bhārata
 33 adśyanta sasūtāś ca sāśvā sa rathayodhina
     ekena balinā rājan vāraena hatā rathā
 34 gandhahastimadasrāvam āghrāya bahavo rae
     sanipāte balaughānā vītam ādadire gajā
 35 sa tomaramahāmātrair nipatadbhir gatāsubhi
     babhūvāyodhana channa nārācābhihatair gajai
 36 sanipāte balaughānā preitair varavāraai
     nipetur yudhi sabhagnā sa yodhā sa dhvajā rathā
 37 nāgarājopamair hastair nāgair ākipya sayuge
     vyadśyanta mahārāja sabhagnā rathakūbarā
 38 viśīrarathajālāś ca keśev ākipya dantibhi
     drumaśākhā ivāvidhya nipiṣṭā rathino rae
 39 ratheu ca rathān yuddhe sasaktān varavāraā
     vikaranto diśa sarvā sapetu sarvaśabdagā
 40 teā tathā karatā ca gajānā rūpam ābabhau
     sarasu nalinī jāla viaktam iva karatām
 41 eva sachādita tatra babhūvāyodhana mahat
     sādibhiś ca padātaiś ca sa dhvajaiś ca mahārathai




SECTION LXVII

"Duryodhana said, 'In all the worlds Vasudeva is spoken of as the Supreme Being. I desire, O Grandsire, to know his origin and glory."
"Bhishma said, 'Vasudeva is the Supreme Being. He is the God of all Gods. None superior to him of eyes like lotus-petals is to be seen, O bull of Bharata's race. Markandeya speaketh of Govinda as the Most Wonderful and the Most high, as the All-being, as the All-soul, as the Highest soul, and as the Supreme male Being. Water, Air, and Fire,--these three were created by Him. That Divine Master and Lord of all the worlds created this Earth. That Supreme Being of illustrious soul laid himself down on the waters. And that Divine Being made up of all kinds of energy slept thereon in Yoga. From his mouth He created Fire, and from his breath, the Wind. Of unfading glory, He created from his mouth Speech and the Vedas. It was thus that he created first the Worlds and also the gods along with the diverse classes of Rishis. And he created decay and death also of all creatures, as well as birth and growth. He is Righteousness and of righteous soul. He is the giver of boons and the giver of all (our) wishes. He is the Actor and Action, and He is himself the Divine Master. 1 He first made the Past, the Present, and the Future; He is the Creator of the Universe. He is of illustrious soul; He is the Master possessed of unfading glory. He created Sankarshana, the First-born of all creatures. He created the divine Sesha who is known as Ananta and who upholdeth all creatures and the Earth with her mountains. Of Supreme Energy, He it is whom the regenerate ones know by Yoga meditation. Sprung from the secretions of his ear, the great Asura known by the name of Madhu, fierce and of fierce deeds and entertaining a fierce intent and about to destroy Brahman, was slain by that Supreme Being. And O sire, in consequence of Madhu's slaughter, the gods, the Danavas, and human beings, and Rishis, call Janardana the slayer of Madhu. He is the great Boar. He is the great Lion, and He is the Three-stepped Lord. 2 He is the Mother and the Father of all living creatures. There never was, nor will be, any superior to Him of eyes like lotus-petals. From His mouth He created the Brahmanas: and from His two arms the Kshatriyas, and from His thighs, O king, He created the Vaisyas, and from His feet He created the Sudras. One waiting dutifully on Him, observant of vows with ascetic austerities on days of the full-moon and the new-moon, is sure to obtain the Divine Kesava, that refuge of all embodied creatures that essence of Brahma and of Yoga. Kesava is the higher Energy,
p. 175
the Grandsire of all the worlds. Him, O king, the sages call Hrishikesa (the lord of the senses). Him also should all know as the Preceptor, the Father, and the Master. Inexhaustible regions (of blessedness) are won by him with whom Krishna is gratified. He also who, in a place of fear, seeketh the protection of Kesava, and he who frequently readeth this description, becometh happy and endued with every prosperity. Those men who attain to Krishna are never beguiled, Janardana always saveth those that are sunk in great terrors. Knowing this truly, O Bharata, Yudhishthira, with his whole soul, O king, hath sought the shelter of the highly blessed Kesava, the Lord of Yoga, and the Lord of the Earth."



Book 6
Chapter 68








 1 [s]
      śikhaṇḍī saha matsyena virāena viśā pate
      bhīmam āśu mahevāsam āsasāda sudurjayam
  2 droa kpa vikara ca mahevāsān mahābalān
      rājñaś cānyān rae śūrān bahūn ārchad dhanajaya
  3 saindhava ca mahevāsa sāmātya saha bandhubhi
      prācyāś ca dākiātyāś ca bhūmipān bhūmiparabha
  4 putra ca te mahevāsa duryodhanam amaraam
      dusaha caiva samare bhīmaseno 'bhyavartata
  5 sahadevas tu śakunim ulūka ca mahāratham
      pitā putrau mahevāsāv abhyavartata durjayau
  6 yudhiṣṭhiro mahārāja gajānīka mahāratha
      samavartata sagrāme putrea niktas tava
  7 mādrīputras tu nakula śūra sakrandano yudhi
      trigartānā rathodārai samasajjata pāṇḍava
  8 abhyavartanta durdharā samare śālva kekayān
      sātyakiś cekitānaś ca saubhadraś ca mahāratha
  9 dhṛṣṭaketuś ca samare rākasaś ca ghaotkaca
      putrāā te rathānīka pratyudyātā sudurjayā
  10 senāpatir ameyātmā dhṛṣṭadyumno mahābala
     droena samare rājan samiyāyendra karmaā
 11 evam ete mahevāsās tāvakāṇḍavai saha
     sametya samare śūrā saprahāra pracakrire
 12 madhyadina gate sūrye nabhasy ākulatā gate
     kuravaṇḍaveyāś ca nijaghnur itaretaram
 13 dhvajino hemacitrāgā vicaranto raājire
     sa patākā rathā rejur vaiyāghraparivāraā
 14 sametānā ca samare jigīūā parasparam
     babhūva tumula śabda sihānām iva nardatām
 15 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma saprahāra sudāruam
     yam akurvan rae vīrā sñjayā kurubhi saha
 16 naiva kha na diśo rājan na sūrya śatrutāpana
     vidiśo vāpy apaśyāma śarair muktai samantata
 17 śaktīnā vimalāgrāā tomarāā tathāyatām
     nistriśānā ca pītānā nīlotpalanibhā prabhā
 18 kavacānā vicitrāā bhūaānā prabhās tathā
     kha diśa pradiśaś caiva bhāsayām āsur ojasā
     virarāja tadā rājas tatra tatra raāgaam
 19 rathasihāsana vyāghrā samāyāntaś ca sayuge
     vireju samare rājan grahā iva nabhastale
 20 bhīmas tu rathinā śreṣṭho bhīmasena mahābalam
     avārayata sakruddha sarvasainyasya paśyata
 21 tato bhīma vinirmuktā rukmapukhā śilāśitā
     abhyaghnan samare bhīma tailadhautā sutejanā
 22 tasya śakti mahāvegā bhīmaseno mahābala
     kruddhāśīviasakāśā preayām āsa bhārata
 23 tām āpatantī sahasā rukmadaṇḍā durāsadām
     ciccheda samare bhīma śarai sanataparvabhi
 24 tato 'parea bhallena pītena niśitena ca
     kārmuka bhīmasenasya dvidhā ciccheda bhārata
 25 sātyakis tu tatas tūra bhīmam āsādya sayuge
     śarair bahubhir ānarchat pitara te janeśvara
 26 tata sadhāya vai tīkṣṇa śara paramadāruam
     vārṣṇeyasya rathād bhīma pātayām āsa sārathim
 27 tasyāśvā pradrutā rājan nihate rathasārathau
     tena tenaiva dhāvanti manomārutarahasa
 28 tata sarvasya sainyasya nisvanas tumulo 'bhavat
     hāhākāraś ca sajajñe pāṇḍavānā mahātmanām
 29 abhidravata ghīta hayān yacchata dhāvata
     ity āsīt tumula śabdo yuyudhāna ratha prati
 30 etasminn eva kāle tu bhīma śātanava puna
     vyahanat pāṇḍavī senām āsurīm iva vtrahā
 31 te vadhyamānā bhīmea pāñcālā somakai saha
     āryā yuddhe mati ktvā bhīmam evābhidudruvu
 32 dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhāś cāpi pārthā śātanava rae
     abhyadhāvañ jigīantas tava putrasya vāhinīm
 33 tathaiva tāvakā rājan bhīmadroamukhā parān
     abhyadhāvanta vegena tato yuddham avartata



SECTION LXVIII

"Bhishma said, 'Hear from me, O king, this hymn that was uttered by Brahman himself. This hymn was in days of old communicated by regenerate Rishis and the gods (to men) on Earth-Narada described thee as the Master and the Lord of the god of gods and all the Sadhyas and the celestials, and as one acquainted with the nature of the Creator of the worlds. Markandeya spoke of thee as the Past, the Present, and the Future, and the sacrifice of sacrifices, and the austerity of austerities. The illustrious Bhrigu said of thee that thou art the God of the gods, that thine is the ancient form of Vishnu. Dwaipayana said of thee that thou art Vasudeva of the Vasus, the establisher of Sakra, and the God of gods and all creatures. In days of old on the occasion of procreating creatures, the sages spoke of thee as Daksha, the Father of creation. Angiras said that thou art the creator of all beings. Devala said of thee that the unmanifest all is thy body, and the manifest is in thy mind, and that the gods are all the result of thy breath. 1 With thy heads is pervaded the heavens, and thy two arms support the Earth. In thy stomach are three worlds and thou art the Eternal Being. Even thus do men exalted by asceticism know thee. Thou art the Sat of Sat, with Rishis gratified with sight of Self. 2 With royal sages of liberal minds, never retreating from battle and having morality for their highest end, thou, O slayer of Madhu, art, the sole refuse. Even thus is that illustrious and Supreme Being, viz., Hari, adored and worshipped by Sanatkumar and other ascetics endued with Yoga. The truth about Kesava, O sire, is now narrated to thee, both in brief and detail. Turn thy heart in love to Kesava.'"
Sanjaya continued, "Hearing this sacred story, thy son, O great king,
p. 176
began to regard highly both Kesava and these mighty car-warriors, viz., the sons of Pandu. Then, O monarch, Bhishma the son of Santanu once more addressed thy son, saying, 'Thou hast now heard truly, O king, about the glory of the high-souled Kesava and of Nara about which thou hadst asked me. Thou hast also heard about the object for which both Nara and Narayana have taken their births among men. Thou hast also been told the reason why those heroes are invincible and have never been vanquished in battle, and why also, O king, the sons of Pandu are incapable of being slain in battle, by anybody. Krishna beareth great love for the illustrious sons of Pandu. It is for this, O king of kings, that I say, 'Let peace be made with the Pandavas.' Restraining thy passions enjoy thou the Earth with thy mighty brothers (around thee). By disregarding the divine Nara and Narayana, thou shalt certainly be destroyed. Having said these words, thy sire, became silent, O monarch, and dismissing the king, entered his tent. And the king also came back to his (own) tent, having worshipped the illustrious grandsire. And then, O bull of Bharata's race, he laid himself down on his white bed for passing the night in sleep."







Book 6
Chapter 69





 1 [s]
      virāo 'tha tribhir bāair bhīmam ārchan mahāratham
      vivyādha turagāś cāsya tribhir bāair mahāratha
  2 ta pratyavidhyad daśabhir bhīma śātanava śarai
      rukmapukhair mahevāsa ktahasto mahābala
  3 drauir gāṇḍīvadhanvāna bhīma dhanvā mahāratha
      avidhyad iubhi abhir dṛḍhahasta stanāntare
  4 kārmuka tasya ciccheda phalguna paravīrahā
      avidhyac ca bhśa tīkṣṇair patribhi śatrukarśana
  5 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya vegavat krodhamūrchita
      amṛṣyamāa pārthena kārmukac chedam āhave
  6 avidhyat phalguna rājan navatyā niśitai śarai
      vāsudeva ca saptatyā vivyādha parameubhi
  7 tata krodhābhitāmrāka saha kṛṣṇena phalguna
      dīrgham uṣṇa ca niśvasya cintayitvā muhur muhu
  8 dhanu prapīya vāmena kareāmitrakarśana
      gāṇḍīvadhanvā sakruddha śitān sanataparvaa
      jīvitāntakarān ghorān samādatta śilīmukhān
  9 tais tūra samare 'vidhyad draui balavatā varam
      tasya te kavaca bhittvā papu śoitam āhave
  10 na vivyathe ca nirbhinno drauir gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
     tathaiva śaravarāi pratimuñcann avihvala
     tasthau sa samare rājas trātum icchan mahāvratam
 11 tasya tat sumahat karma śaśasu puruarabhā
     yat kṛṣṇābhyā sametābhyā nāpatrapata sayuge
 12 sa hi nityam anīkeu yudhyate 'bhayam āsthita
     astragrāma sa sahāra droāt prāpya sudurlabham
 13 mamāyam ācārya suto droasyātipriya suta
     brāhmaaś ca viśeea mānanīyo mameti ca
 14 samāsthāya mati vīro bībhatsu śatrutāpana
     k cakre rathaśreṣṭho bhāradvāja suta prati
 15 draui tyaktvā tato yuddhe kaunteya śatrutāpana
     yuyudhe tāvakān nighnas tvaramāa parākramī
 16 duryodhanas tu daśabhir gārdhrapatrai śilāśitai
     bhīmasena mahevāsa rukmapukhai samarpayat
 17 bhīmasenas tu sakruddha parāsu karaa dṛḍham
     citra kārmukam ādatta śarāś ca niśitān daśa
 18 ākaraprahitais tīkṣṇair vegitais tigmatejanai
     avidhyat tūram avyagra kururāja mahorasi
 19 tasya kāñcanasūtras tu śarai parivto mai
     rarājorasi vai sūryo grahair iva samāvta
 20 putras tu tava tejasvī bhīmasenena tāita
     nāmṛṣyata yathā nāgas talaśabda samīritam
 21 tata śarair mahārāja rukmapukhai śilāśitai
     bhīma vivyādha sakruddhas trāsayāno varūthinīm
 22 tau yudhyamānau samare bhśam anyonyavikatau
     putrau te devasakāśau vyarocetā mahābalau
 23 citrasena naravyāghra saubhadra paravīrahā
     avidhyad daśabhir bāai purumitra ca saptabhi
 24 satyavrata ca saptatyā viddhvā śakrasamo yudhi
     ntyann iva rae vīra ārti na samajījanat
 25 ta pratyavidyad daśabhiś citrasena śilīmukhai
     satyavrataś ca navabhi puru pitraś ca saptabhi
 26 sa viddho vikaran rakta śatrusavāraa mahat
     ciccheda citrasenasya citra kārmukam ārjuni
     bhittvā cāsya tanutrāa śareorasy atāayat
 27 tatas te tāvakā vīrā rājaputrā mahārathā
     sametya yudhi sarabdhā vivyadhur niśitai śarai
     tāś ca sarvāñ śarais tīkṣṇair jaghāna paramāstravit
 28 tasya dṛṣṭvā tu tat karma parivavru sutās tava
     dahanta samare sainya tava kaka yatholbaam
 29 apetaśiśire kāle samiddham iva pāvaka
     atyarocata saubhadras tava sainyāni śātayan
 30 tat tasya carita dṛṣṭvā pautras tava viśā pate
     lakmao 'bhyapatat tūra sātvatī putram āhave
 31 abhimanyus tu sakruddho lakmaa śubhalakaam
     vivyādha viśikhai abhi sārathi ca tribhi śarai
 32 tathaiva lakmao rājan saubhadra niśitai śarai
     avidhyata mahārāja tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 33 tasyāśvāś caturo hatvā sārathi ca mahābala
     abhyadravata saubhadro lakmaa niśitai śarai
 34 hatāśve tu rathe tuṣṭhal lakmaa paravīrahā
     śakti cikepa sakruddha saubhadrasya ratha prati
 35 tām āpatantī sahasā ghorarūpā durāsadām
     abhimanyu śarais tīkṣṇaiś ciccheda bhujagopamām
 36 tata svaratham āropya lakmaa gautamas tadā
     apovāha rathenājau sarvasainyasya paśyata
 37 tata samākule tasmin vartamāne mahābhaye
     abhyadravañ jighāsanta parasparavadhaiia
 38 tāvakāś ca mahevāsāṇḍavāś ca mahārathā
     juhvanta samare prāān nijaghnur itaretaram
 39 muktakeśā vikavacā virathāś chinnakārmukā
     bāhubhi samayudhyanta sñjayā kurubhi saha
 40 tato bhīmo mahābāhuṇḍavānā mahātmanām
     senā jaghāna sakruddho divyair astrair mahābala
 41 hateśvarair gajair tatra narair aśvaiś ca pātitai
     rathibhi sādibhiś caiva samāstīryata medinī



SECTION LXIX

Sanjaya said, "After the night had passed away and the sun had risen, the two armies, O king, approached each other for battle. Beholding each other, each rushed in united ranks towards the other excited with rage and desirous of vanquishing the other. And in consequence of thy evil policy, O king, the Pandavas and the Dhartarashtras thus rushed, cased in mail and forming battle-array, for striking each other. And the array that Bhishma protected from all sides, O king, was of the shape of a Makara1 And so the Pandavas also, O king, protected the array they had formed (of their troops). Then thy sire Devavrata, O great king, that foremost of car-warriors, proceeded in advance, supported by a large division of cars. And others, viz., car-warriors, infantry, elephants, and cavalry, all followed him, each stationed in the place allotted. And beholding them prepared for battle, the illustrious sons of Pandu arrayed their troops in that invincible and prince of arrays called the Syena2 And in the beak of that array shone Bhimasena of great strength. And in its two eyes were the invincible Sikhandin and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race. And in the head was the heroic Satyaki of prowess incapable of being baffled. And in its neck was Arjuna shaking his Gandiva. And in its left wing was the high-souled and blessed Drupada with his son and supported by an akshauhini of all forces. And the king of the Kekayas, owning an akshauhini, formed
p. 177
the right wing (of that array). And in its back were the sons of Draupadi, and Subhadra's son of great prowess. And in its tail was the heroic king Yudhishthira himself, of excellent prowess, supported by his twin brothers. Then in the battle (that ensued). Bhima, penetrating the Makara array (of the Kauravas) through its mouth, and approaching Bhishma, covered him with his shafts. Then in that great battle, Bhishma possessed of great prowess shot his mighty weapons, confounding the combatants of the Pandavas disposed in battle-array. And when the combatants (of the Pandava army) were thus confounded, Dhananjaya, speedily proceeding, pierced Bhishma at the van of battle with a thousand arrows. And counteracting, in that conflict, the weapons shot by Bhishma, Arjuna stood ready for the combat, supported by his own division filled with cheerfulness. 1 Then king Duryodhana, that foremost of mighty men, that great car-warrior, beholding that terrible carnage of his troops and remembering the slaughter of his brothers (on the previous day), came quickly towards Bharadwaja's son, and addressing him, said, 'O preceptor, O sinless one, thou art ever my well-wisher,--Relying on thee as also on the grandsire Bhishma, ourselves, hope to vanquish without doubt the very gods in battle, let alone the sons of Pandu that are destitute of energy and prowess. Blessed be thou, act in such away that the Pandavas may be slain. Thus addressed in battle by thy son, Drona penetrated into the Pandava array in the very sight of Satyaki. Then O Bharata, Satyaki checked the son of Bharadwaja, (and thereupon) ensued a battle that was fierce in its incidents and awful to behold. Then Bharadwaja's son excited with rage and endued with great prowess, as if smiling the while, pierced the grandson of Sini with ten shafts at his shoulder-joint. And Bhimasena also, excited with rage, pierced Bharadwaja's son (with many shafts), desirous of protecting Satyaki, O king, from Drona that foremost of all warriors. Then Drona and Bhishma, and Salya also, O sire, excited with rage, covered Bhimasena, in that battle, with their shafts. Thereupon Abhimanyu excited with wrath, and the sons of Draupadi, O sire, pierced with their sharp-pointed shafts all those warriors with upraised weapons. Then in that fierce battle, the great bowman Sikhandin rushed against those two mighty warriors, viz., Bhishma and Drona who, excited with rage, had (thus) fallen upon the Pandavas. Firmly grasping his bow whose twang resembled the roar of the clouds, that hero, shrouding the very Sun with his arrows, quickly covered his antagonists therewith. The grandsire of the Bharatas, however, getting Sikhandin before him, avoided him, remembering the femininity of his sex. Then, O king, urged by thy son, Drona rushed to battle, desirous of protecting Bhishma in that stress. Sikhandin, however, approaching Drona that foremost of all wielders of weapons, avoided, from fear, that warrior resembling the blazing fire that appears at the end of the Yuga.
p. 178
[paragraph continues] Then, O king, thy son with a large force, desirous of winning great glory, proceeded to protect Bhishma. And the Pandavas also proceeded, O king, firmly setting their hearts upon victory, and the battle then that took place between the combatants of both armies desirous of victory and fame, was fierce and highly wonderful, resembling that (in days of yore) between the gods and Danavas.



Book 6
Chapter 70






1 [s]
      atha rājan mahābāhu sātyakir yuddhadurmada
      vikṛṣya cāpa samare bhārasādhanam uttamam
  2 prāmuñcat pukhasayuktāñ śarān āśīviopamān
      prakāśa laghucitra ca darśayann astralāghavam
  3 tasya vikipataś cāpa śarān anyāś ca muñcata
      ādadānasya bhūyaś ca sadadhānasya cāparān
  4 kipataś ca śarān asya rae śatrūn vinighnata
      dadśe rūpam atyartha meghasyeva pravarata
  5 tam udīryantam ālokya rājā duryodhanas tata
      rathānām ayuta tasya preayām āsa bhārata
  6s tu sarvān mahevāsān sātyaki satyavikrama
      jaghāna paramevāso divyenāstrea vīryavān
  7 sa ktvā dārua karma praghītaśarāsana
      āsasāda tato vīro bhūriśravasam āhave
  8 sa hi sadśya senā yuyudhānena pātitam
      abhyadhāvata sakruddha kurūā kīrtivardhana
  9 indrāyudhasavara tat sa visphārya mahad dhanu
      vyasjad vajrasakāśāñ śarān āśīviopamān
      sahasraśo mahārāja darśayan pāilāghavam
  10 śarās tān mtyusasparśān sātyakes tu padānugā
     na viehus tadā rājan dudruvus te samantata
     vihāya samare rājan sātyaki yuddhadurmadam
 11 ta dṛṣṭvā yuyudhānasya sutā daśa mahābalā
     mahārathā samākhyātāś citravarmāyudha dhvajā
 12 samāsādya mahevāsa bhūriśravasam āhave
     ūcur sarve susarabdhā yūpaketu mahārae
 13 bho bho kaurava dāyāda sahāsmābhir mahābala
     ehi yudhyasva sagrāme samastai pthag eva vā
 14 asmān vā tva parājitya yaśa prāpnuhi sayuge
     vaya vā tvā parājitya prīti dāsyāmahe pitu
 15 evam uktas tadā śūrais tān uvāca mahābala
     vīryaślāghī naraśreṣṭhas tān dṛṣṭvā samupasthitān
 16 sādhv ida kathyate vīrā yad eva matir adya va
     yudhyadhva sahitā yattā nihaniyāmi vo rae
 17 evam uktā mahevāsās te vīrā kiprakāria
     mahatā śaravarea abhyavarann aridamam
 18 aparāhe mahārāja sagrāmas tumulo 'bhavat
     ekasya ca bahūnā ca sametānā raājire
 19 tam eka rathinā śreṣṭha śaravarair avākiran
     prāvṛṣīva mahāśaila siicur jaladā npa
 20 tais tu muktāñ śaraughās tān yamadaṇḍāśani prabhān
     asaprāptān asa prāptāś cicchedāśu mahāratha
 21 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma saumadatte parākramam
     yad eko bahubhir yuddhe samasajjad abhītavat
 22 visjya śaravṛṣṭi daśa rājan mahārathā
     parivārya mahābāhu nihantum upacakramu
 23 saumadattis tata kruddhas teā cāpāni bhārata
     ciccheda daśabhir bāair nimeea mahāratha
 24 athaiā chinnadhanuā bhallai sanataparvabhi
     ciccheda samare rājañ śirāsi niśitai śarai
     te hatā nyapatan bhūmau vajrabhagnā iva drumā
 25 tān dṛṣṭvā nihatān vīrān rae putrān mahābalān
     vārṣṇeyo vinadan rājan bhūriśravasam abhyayāt
 26 ratha rathena samare pīayitvā mahābalau
     tāv anyonyasya samare nihatya rathavājina
     virathāv abhivalgantau sameyātā mahārathau
 27 praghītamahākhagau tau carma varadhāriau
     śuśubhāte naravyāghrau yuddhāya samavasthitau
 28 tata sātyakim abhyetya nistriśavaradhāriam
     bhīmasenas tvaran rājan ratham āropayat tadā
 29 tavāpi tanayo rājan bhūriśravasam āhave
     āropayad ratha tūra paśyatā sarvadhanvinām
 30 tasmis tathā vartamāne rae bhīma mahāratham
     ayodhayanta sarabdhāṇḍavā bharatarabha
 31 lohitāyati cāditye tvaramāo dhanajaya
     pañcaviśatisāhasrān nijaghāna mahārathān
 32 te hi duryodhanādiṣṭās tadā pārtha nibarhae
     saprāpyaiva gatā nāśa śalabhā iva pāvakam
 33 tato matsyā kekayāś ca dhanurveda viśāradā
     parivavrus tadā pārtha saha putra mahāratham
 34 etasminn eva kāle tu sūrye 'stam upagacchati
     sarveām eva sainyānā pramoha samajāyata
 35 avahāra tataś cakre pitā devavratas tava
     sadhyākāle mahārāja sainyānā śrāntavāhana
 36ṇḍavānā kurūā ca parasparasamāgame
     te sene bhśasavigne yayatu sva niveśanam
 37 tata svaśibira gatvā nyaviśas tatra bhārata
     pāṇḍavā sñjayai sārdha kuravaś ca yathāvidhi




SECTION LXX

Sanjaya said, "Then Bhishma the son of Santanu fought fiercely, 1 desirous of protecting the sons from the fear of Bhimasena. And the battle that then took place between the kings of the Kaurava and the Pandava armies was awful in the extreme and destructive of great heroes. And in that general engagement, so fierce and terrible, tremendous was the din that arose, touching the very heavens. And in consequence of the shrieks of huge elephants and the neigh of steeds and the blare of conches and beat of drums, the uproar was deafening. Fighting for the sake of victory, the mighty combatants endued with great prowess roared at one another like bulls in a cow-pen. And heads cut off in that battle with keen-edged shafts, incessantly falling, created, O bull of Bharata's race, the appearance of a stony shower in the welkin. Indeed, O bull of Bharata's race, innumerable were the heads lying on the field of battle, decked with ear-rings and turbans and resplendent with ornaments of gold. And the earth was covered with limbs cut off with broad-headed shafts, with heads decked with ear-rings, and with arms adorned with ornaments. And in a moment the whole field was strewn over with bodies cased in mail, with arms decked with ornaments, with faces beautiful as the moon and having eyes with reddish corners, and with every limb, O king, of elephants, steeds and men. And the dust (raised by the warriors) looked like a thick cloud, and the bright implements of destruction, like flashes of lightning. And the noise made by the weapons resembled the roar of thunder. And that fierce and awful passage-at-arms, O Bharata, between the Kurus and the Pandavas caused a very river of blood to flow there. And in that terrible, fierce, and awful battle causing the hair stand on end, Kshatriya warriors incapable of defeat incessantly poured their arrowy showers. And the elephants of both thy army and the enemy's, afflicted with those arrowy showers, shrieked aloud and ran hither and thither in fury. And in consequence of (the twang of) bows, endued with great energy, of fierce and heroic warriors excited with fury, and of flapping of their bow-strings against their leathern
p. 179
fences, nothing could be distinguished. 1 And all over the field which looked like a lake of blood, headless trunks stood up, and the kings bent upon slaying their foes, rushed to battle. And brave warriors of immeasurable energy and possessed of arms resembling stout bludgeons, slew one another with arrows and darts and maces and scimitars. And elephants, pierced with arrows and deprived of riders to guide them with hooks, and steeds destitute of riders, wildly ran in all directions. And many warriors, O best of the Bharatas, belonging to both thy army and that of the foe, deeply pierced with shafts jumped up and fell down. And in that encounter between Bhima and Bhishma, heaps of arms and heads, as also of bows and maces and spiked clubs and hands and thighs, of legs and ornaments and bracelets, were seen lying over the field. And here and there over the field, O king, were seen large bodies of unretreating elephants and steeds and cars. And the Kshatriya warriors, urged on by fate, slew one another with maces, swords, lances, and straight shafts. And others endued with great heroism and accomplished in fight, encountered one another with their bare arms that resembled spiked clubs made of iron. And other heroic warriors of thy army, engaged with the combatants of the Pandava host, fought on slaying one another with clenched fists and knees, and slaps and blows, O king. And with the fallen and falling warriors and those weltering in agony on the ground, the field of battle everywhere became, O king, terrible to behold, and car-warriors, deprived of the cars and grasping excellent swords, rushed at one another, desirous of slaughter. Then king Duryodhana, surrounded by a large division of Kalingas, and placing Bhishma ahead, rushed towards the Pandavas. And so the Pandava combatants also, supporting Vrikodara, and owning fleet animals, rushed, excited with rage, against Bhishma."



Book 6
Chapter 71





1 [s]
      vihtya ca tato rājan sahitā kurupāṇḍavā
      vyatītāyā tu śarvaryā punar yuddhāya niryayu
  2 tatra śabdo mahān āsīt tava teā ca bhārata
      yujyatā rathamukhyānā kalpyatā caiva dantinām
  3 sanahyatā padātīnā hayānā caiva bhārata
      śakhadundubhinādaś ca tumula sarvato 'bhavat
  4 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā dhṛṣṭadyumnam abhāata
      vyūha vyūha mahābāho makara śatrutāpanam
  5 evam uktas tu pārthena dhṛṣṭadyumno mahāratha
      vyādideśa mahārāja rathino rathinā vara
  6 śiro 'bhūd drupadas tasya pāṇḍavaś ca dhanajaya
      cakuī sahadevaś ca nakulaś ca mahāratha
      tuṇḍam āsīn mahārāja bhīmaseno mahābala
  7 saubhadro draupadeyāś ca rākasaś ca ghaotkaca
      sātyakir dharmarājaś ca vyūha grīvā samāsthitā
  8 pṛṣṭham āsīn mahārāja virāo vāhinīpati
      dhṛṣṭadyumnena sahito mahatyā senayā vta
  9 kekayā bhrātara pañca vāma pārśva samāśritā
      dhṛṣṭaketur naravyāghra karakaraś ca vīryavān
      dakia pakam āśritya sthitā vyūhasya rakae
  10 pādayos tu mahārāja sthita śrīmān mahāratha
     kuntibhoja śatānīko mahatyā senayā vta
 11 śikhaṇḍī tu mahevāsa somakai savto balī
     irāvāś ca tata pucche makarasya vyavasthitau
 12 evam etan mahāvyūha vyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavā
     sūryodaye mahārāja punar yuddhāya daśitā
 13 kauravān abhyayus tūra hastyaśvarathapattibhi
     samucchritair dhvajaiś citrai śastraiś ca vimalai śitai
 14 vyūha dṛṣṭvā tu tat sainya pitā devavratas tava
     krauñcena mahatā rājan pratyavyūhata vāhinīm
 15 tasya tuṇḍe mahevāso bhāradvājo vyarocata
     aśvatthāmā kpaś caiva cakur āstā nareśvara
 16 ktavarmā tu sahita kāmbojāraṭṭa bāhlikai
     śirasy āsīn naraśreṣṭha śreṣṭha sarvadhanumatām
 17 grīvāyā śūrasenas tu tava putraś ca māria
     duryodhano mahārāja rājabhir bahubhir vta
 18 prāgjyotias tu sahito madrasauvīrakekayai
     urasy abhūn naraśreṣṭha mahatyā senayā vta
 19 svasenayā ca sahita suśarmā prasthalādhipa
     vāma paka samāśritya daśita samavasthita
 20 tuārā yavanāś caiva śakāś ca saha cūcupai
     dakia pakam āśritya sthitā vyūhasya bhārata
 21 śrutāyuś ca śatāyuś ca saumadattiś ca māria
     vyūhasya jaghane tasthū rakamāā parasparam
 22 tato yuddhāya sajagmuṇḍavā kauravai saha
     sūryodaye mahārāja tato yuddham abhūn mahat
 23 pratīyū rathino nāgān nāgāś ca rathino yayu
     hayārohā hayārohān rathinaś cāpi sādina
 24 sārathi ca rathī rājan kuñjarāś ca mahārae
     hastyārohā rathārohān rathinaś cāpi sādina
 25 rathina pattibhi sārdha sādinaś cāpi pattibhi
     anyonya samare rājan pratyadhāvann amaritā
 26 bhīmasenārjuna yamair guptā cānyair mahārathai
     śuśubhe pāṇḍavī senā nakatrair iva śarvarī
 27 tathā bhīma kpa droa śalya duryodhanādibhi
     tavāpi vibabhau senā grahair dyaur iva sav
 28 bhīmasenas tu kaunteyo droa dṛṣṭvā parākramī
     abhyayāj javanair aśvair bhāradvājasya vāhinīm
 29 droas tu samare kruddho bhīma navabhir āyasai
     vivyādha samare rājan marmāy uddiśya vīryavān
 30 dṛḍhāhatas tato bhīmo bhāradvājasya sayuge
     sārathi preayām āsa yamasya sadana prati
 31 sa saghya svaya vāhān bhāradvāja pratāpavān
     vyadhamat pāṇḍavī senā tūlarāśim ivānala
 32 te vadhyamānā droena bhīmea ca narottama
     sñjayā kekayai sārdha palāyanaparābhavan
 33 tathaiva tāvaka sainya bhīmārjunaparikatam
     muhyate tatra tatraiva samadeva varāganā
 34 abhidyetā tato vyūhau tasmin vīravarakaye
     āsīd vyatikaro ghoras tava teā ca bhārata
 35 tad adbhutam apaśyāma tāvakānā parai saha
     ekāyanagatā sarve yad ayudhyanta bhārata
 36 pratisavārya cāstrāi te 'nyonyasya viśā pate
     yuyudhuṇḍavāś caiva kauravāś ca mahārathā


SECTION LXXI

Sanjaya said, "Beholding his brothers and the other kings engaged in battle with Bhishma, Dhananjaya, with weapons upraised, rushed against the son of Ganga. Hearing the blare of Panchajanya and the twang of the bow Gandiva, and seeing also the standard of Pritha's son, a great fear entered our hearts. And the standard that we behold, O king, of the wielder of Gandiva bore the device of lion's tail and looked like a blazing mountain in the welkin. Beautiful and of celestial workmanship, it was variegated with diverse hues, and looking like a risen comet it could not be obstructed
p. 180
by trees. And in that great battle, the warriors beheld Gandiva, the back of whose staff was decked with pure gold, and which looked beautiful like a flash of lightning in the midst of a mass of clouds in the firmament. And while slaying the combatants of thy army, the shouts we heard uttered by Arjuna seemed to resemble the loud roars of Indra himself, and the slaps also of his palms were frightfully loud. Like a roaring mass of clouds charged with lightning and aided by a raging tempest, Arjuna incessantly poured his arrowy showers on all sides, completely shrouding the ten points of the compass. Dhananjaya then possessed of terrible weapons, quickly proceeded towards the son of Ganga. Deprived of four senses in consequence of his weapons, we could not then distinguish the East from the West. And thy warriors, then, O bull of Bharata's race,--their animals tired, steeds slain, and hearts depressed,--thoroughly confounded 1 and huddling close to one another, sought Bhishma's protection along with all thy sons. And in that battle Bhishma the son of Santanu became their protector. Struck with fear, car-warriors jumping down from their cars, cavalry soldiers jumping down from the backs of their steeds, and the foot-soldiers where they stood, all began to fall down on the earth. Hearing the twang of Gandiva that resembled the roar of the thunder, all thy warriors were struck with fear and seemed, O Bharata, to melt away. Then, O king, with many huge and fleet steeds of the Kamvoja breed, and surrounded by many thousand of Gopas with a large Gopayana force and supported by the Madras, the Sauviras, the Gandharas and the Trigartas, and surrounded by all the principal Kalingas, the king of the Kalingas, and king Jayadratha accompanied by all the kings and supported by a large force of diverse races with Dussasana at their head, and fourteen thousand principal horsemen, urged by thy son, surrounded the son of Suvala (for supporting him). Then in that battle, all the Pandavas, united together, and riding on separate cars and animals, began, O bull of Bharata's race, to slaughter thy troops. 2 And the dust raised by car-warriors and steeds and foot-soldiers, looking like a mass of clouds, made the field of battle exceedingly awful. And with a large force consisting of elephants, steeds and cars, and armed with lances and bearded darts and broad-headed shafts, Bhishma engaged in battle with the diadem decked (Arjuna). And the king of Avanti engaged with the ruler of Kasi, and the ruler of the Sindhus engaged with Bhimasena. And king Yudhishthira with his sons and counsellors engaged with Salya, the famous chief of the Madras. And Vikarna engaged with Sahadeva, and Chitrasena with Sikhandin. And the Matsyas, O king, engaged with Duryodhana, and Sakuni; and Drupada and Chekitana, and that mighty car-warrior Satyaki engaged in battle with the high-souled Drona aided by his son. And Kripa and Kritavarman both rushed against Dhrishtadyumna. And thus, all over the field, rushing bodies of horses, of elephants and cars, engaged with one another in battle. And although there
p. 181
were no clouds in the sky, yet flashes of lightning were seen. And all the points of the compass were covered with dust. And, O king, fierce meteors were seen failing with thundering noise. And violent winds blew and a shower of dust fell from above. And the sun, covered by the dust raised by the troops, disappeared in the firmament. And all the warriors, covered by that dust and battling with weapons, were deprived of their senses. And the sound made by weapons, all capable of penetrating through every armour and hurled from heroic arms, became a tremendous uproar. And, O bull of Bharata's race, weapons hurled from excellent arms and possessed of stellar brightness, illumined the whole welkin. And variegated shields made of bull's hides and embossed with gold were strewn, O bull of Bharata's race, all over the field. And heads and limbs were seen falling on all sides, cut off with swords and scimitars possessed of solar effulgence. And great car-warriors, the wheels, axles, and boxes of whose cars were broken, fell down on the ground, their steeds slain and their tall standards tumbling down. 1 And many car-warriors having been slain, their steeds, mangled with weapons, fell down as they ran dragging the cars (to which they were yoked). And, in many places over the field, excellent steeds, afflicted with arrows, with limbs mangled, and with their traces on, ran, dragging the car-yokes after them. And many car-warriors, with their charioteers and steeds, were seen, O king, to be crushed by single elephants endued with great strength. 2 And in that battle, in the midst of large forces, many elephants, scenting the odour of the temporal juice of their compeers, began to snuff the breeze repeatedly. And the whole field was strewn with slain elephants, deprived of life by means of broad-headed shafts and falling down with the wooden edifices and the guides on their backs. And many elephants, in, the midst of large forces crushed, with the standards and warriors on their backs, by huge compeers urged by their guides, fell down on the field. And many car-shafts, O king, were seen to be broken in that battle by huge elephants using their trunks, each of which resembled the trunk of the prince of elephants (called Airavata). And many car-warriors also, in that conflict, the Jalas of whose cars had been broken, were like branches of trees dragged down by tuskers, seized by the hair of their heads and, thrashed violently on the ground, were crushed into shapeless masses. And other huge elephants, dragging cars that were entangled with other cars, ran in all directions shrieking loudly. And those elephants, thus dragging those cars, looked like others of their species dragging lotus-stalks growing in lakes. And thus was that vast field of battle strewn over with cavalry soldiers and foot-soldiers and great car-warriors and standards."




Book 6
Chapter 72





1 dhtarāṣṭra uvāca
      eva bahugua sainyam eva bahuvidha param
      vyūham eva yathāśāstram amogha caiva sajaya
  2 puṣṭam asmākam atyantam abhikāma ca na sadā
      prahvam avyasanopeta purastād dṛṣṭavikramam
  3 nātivddham abāla ca na kśa na ca pīvaram
      laghuvttāyataprāya sāragātram anāmayam
  4 āttasanāhaśastra ca bahuśastraparigraham
      asiyuddhe niyuddhe ca gadāyuddhe ca kovidam
  5 prāsarṣṭitomarev ājau parighev āyaseu ca
      bhiṇḍipāleu śaktīu musaleu ca sarvaśa
  6 kampaneu ca cāpeu kaapeu ca sarvaśa
      kepaīu ca citrāsu muṣṭiyuddheu kovidam
  7 aparoka ca vidyāsu vyāyāmeu ktaśramam
      śastragrahaavidyāsu sarvāsu pariniṣṭhitam
  8 ārohe paryavaskande sarae sāntaraplute
      samyakpraharae yāne vyapayāne ca kovidam
  9 nāgāśvarathayāneu bahuśa suparīkitam
      parīkya ca yathānyāya vetanenopapāditam
  10 na goṣṭhyā nopacārea na ca bandhunimittata
     na sauhdabalaiś cāpi nākulīnaparigrahai
 11 samddhajanam ārya ca tuṣṭasatktabāndhavam
     ktopakārabhūyiṣṭha yaśasvi ca manasvi ca
 12 sajayaiś ca narair mukhyair bahuśo mukhyakarmabhi
     lokapālopamais tāta pālita lokaviśrutai
 13 bahubhi katriyair gupta pthivyā lokasamatai
     asmān abhigatai kāmāt sabalai sapadānugai
 14 mahodadhim ivāpūram āpagābhi samantata
     apakai pakasakāśai rathair nāgaiś ca savtam
 15 nānāyodhajala bhīma vāhanormitaragiam
     kepayasigadāśaktiśaraprāsasamākulam
 16 dhvajabhūaasabādha ratnapaṭṭena sacitam
     vāhanai parisarpadbhir vāyuvegavikampitam
 17 apāram iva garjanta sāgarapratima mahat
     droabhīmābhisagupta gupta ca ktavarmaā
 18 kpaduśāsanābhyā ca jayadrathamukhais tathā
     bhagadattavikarābhyā drauisaubalabāhlikai
 19 gupta pravīrair lokasya sāravadbhir mahātmabhi
     yad ahanyata sagrāme diṣṭam etat purātanam
 20 naitādśa samudyoga dṛṣṭavanto 'tha mānuā
     ṛṣayo vā mahābhāgā purāā bhuvi sajaya
 21 īdśo hi balaughas tu yukta śastrāstrasapadā
     vadhyate yatra sagrāme kim anyad bhāgadheyata
 22 viparītam ida sarva pratibhāti sma sajaya
     yatredśa bala ghora nātarad yudhi pāṇḍavān
 23 atha vā pāṇḍavārthāya devās tatra samāgatā
     yudhyante māmaka sainya yad avadhyanta sajaya
 24 ukto hi vidureeha hita pathya ca sajaya
     na ca ghāti tan manda putro duryodhano mama
 25 tasya manye mati pūrva sarvajñasya mahātmana
     āsīd yathāgata tāta yena dṛṣṭam ida purā
 26 atha vā bhāvyam eva hi sajayaitena sarvathā
     purā dhātrā yathā sṛṣṭa tat tathā na tad anyathā


SECTION LXXII

Sanjaya said, "Sikhandin with Virata king of the Matsyas speedily approached Bhishma that invincible and mighty bowman. And Dhananjaya encountered Drona and Kripa, and Vikarna and many other kings, brave in battle, all mighty bowmen endued with great strength, as also that mighty bowman the ruler of the Sindhus supported by his friends and kinsmen and many kings of the west and the south also, O bull of Bharata's race. And Bhimasena proceeded against that mighty bowman, viz., thy vindictive son Duryodhana, and also against Dussaha. And Sahadeva proceeded against those invincible warriors, viz., Sakuni and that mighty car-warrior Uluka, those great bowmen, who were sire and son. And that mighty car-warrior Yudhishthira, deceitfully treated by thy son, proceeded in that battle, O king, against the elephant division (of the Kauravas). And that son of Pandu and Madri, viz., the heroic Nakula capable of wringing tears from the foe, engaged in battle with the excellent car-warriors of the Trigartas. And those invincible warriors, viz., Satyaki and Chekitana, and the mighty son of Subhadra, proceeded against Salya and the Kaikeyas. And Dhrishtaketu and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, both invincible in battle, proceeded against the car-division of thy sons. And that mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, that generalissimo (of the Pandava forces) of immeasurable soul, engaged in battle, O king, with Drona of fierce achievements. And it was thus that those heroic and mighty bowmen of thy army and the Pandavas, engaged in battle, began to strike one another. And when the sun had reached the meridian and the sky was brilliantly illumined by his rays, the Kauravas and the Pandavas began to slay one another. Then cars, furnished with standards from whose tops pennons were afloat, variegated with gold and covered with tiger-skins, looked beautiful as they moved on the field of battle. And the shouts of warriors engaged in battle from desire of vanquishing one another, became as loud as leonine roars. And that encounter which we beheld between the heroic Srinjayas and the Kurus, was fierce in the extreme and highly wonderful. And in consequence of the arrows shot all around, we could not, O king, distinguish, O chastiser of foes, the firmament, the sun and the cardinal and the subsidiary points of the compass. And the splendour, like that of the blue lotus, of darts with polished points, of bearded lances hurled (at the foe), of well-tempered sabres and scimitars, of variegated coats of mail and of the ornaments (on the persons of the warriors), illumined the welkin and the cardinal and the subsidiary points with its effulgence. And the field of battle in many places, O king, shone in consequence of the bodies of monarchs whose effulgence resembled that of the moon and the sun. And brave car-warriors, tigers among men shone in that battle, O king, like the planets in the firmament. And Bhishma, that foremost of car-warriors, excited with rage, checked the mighty Bhimasena in the very sight of the troops. And the impetuous
p. 183
shafts shot by Bhishma, furnished with golden wings, and whetted on stone, and rubbed with oil pierced Bhima in that battle. Then Bhimasena endued with great strength hurled at him, O Bharata, a dart of fierce impetuosity that resembled a wrathful snake. But Bhishma in that combat cut off with straight shafts that dart with staff made of gold and difficult of being borne, as it coursed impetuously towards him. And with another broad-headed shaft, sharp and well-tempered, he cut off Bhimasena's bow, O Bharata, into two parts. Then, O king, in that battle, Satyaki, coming quickly towards Bhishma, pierced thy sire with innumerable keen-edged and sharp-pointed shafts of fierce impetuosity shot from his bowstring drawn to the ear. Then Bhishma, aiming an exceedingly fierce shaft, felled the charioteer of the Vrishni hero from his box in the car. And when the charioteer of Satyaki's car was thus slain, his steeds, O king, bolted away. Endued with the speed of the tempest or the mind, they ran wild over the field. Then cries were uttered by the whole army which became a loud uproar. And exclamation of oh and alas arose from the high-souled warriors of the Pandava army. And those cries-said--Run, seize, check the horses, go in haste. And this uproar followed Yuyudhana's car. Meanwhile, Bhishma the son of Santanu began to slay the Pandava forces like Indra slaying the Danavas. But the Panchalas and the Somakas, though slain by Bhishma thus, forming yet a laudable resolution, rushed towards Bhishma. And other warriors of the Pandava army, headed by Dhrishtadyumna, and desirous of slaughtering the ranks of thy son, rushed towards Santanu's son in that battle. And so also, O king, the warriors of thy army, headed by Bhishma and Drona, impetuously rushed towards their foes. And thereupon another battle took place."



Book 6
Chapter 73






1 sajaya uvāca
      ātmadoāt tvayā rājan prāpta vyasanam īdśam
      na hi duryodhanas tāni paśyate bharatarabha
      yāni tva dṛṣṭavān rājan dharmasakarakārite
  2 tava doāt purā vtta dyūtam etad viśā pate
      tava doea yuddha ca pravtta saha pāṇḍavai
      tvam evādya phala bhukva ktvā kilbiam ātmanā
  3 ātmanā hi kta karma ātmanaivopabhujyate
      iha vā pretya vā rājas tvayā prāpta yathātatham
  4 tasmād rājan sthiro bhūtvā prāpyeda vyasana mahat
      śṛṇu yuddha yathāvtta śasato mama māria
  5 bhīmasenas tu niśitair bāair bhittvā mahācamūm
      āsasāda tato vīra sarvān duryodhanānujān
  6 duśāsana durviaha dusaha durmada jayam
      jayatsena vikara ca citrasena sudarśanam
  7 cārucitra suvarmāa dukara karam eva ca
      etān anyāś ca subahūn samīpasthān mahārathān
  8 dhārtarāṣṭrān susakruddhān dṛṣṭvā bhīmo mahābala
      bhīmea samare guptā praviveśa mahācamūm
  9 athāhvayanta te 'nyonyam aya prāpto vkodara
      jīvagrāha nighīmo vayam ena narādhipā
  10 sa tai parivta pārtho bhrātbhi ktaniścayai
     prajāsaharae sūrya krūrair iva mahāgrahai
 11 saprāpya madhya vyūhasya na bhīṇḍavam āviśat
     yathā devāsure yuddhe mahendra prāpya dānavān
 12 tata śatasahasrāi rathinā sarvaśa prabho
     chādayāna śarair ghorais tam ekam anuvavrire
 13 sa teā pravarān yodhān hastyaśvarathasādina
     jaghāna samare śūro dhārtarāṣṭrān acintayan
 14 teā vyavasita jñātvā bhīmaseno jighkatām
     samastānā vadhe rājan mati cakre mahāmanā
 15 tato ratha samutsjya gadām ādāya pāṇḍava
     jaghāna dhārtarāṣṭā ta balaughamahāravam
 16 bhīmasene praviṣṭe tu dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi pārata
     droam utsjya tarasā prayayau yatra saubala
 17 vidārya mahatī senā tāvakānā nararabha
     āsasāda ratha śūnya bhīmasenasya sayuge
 18 dṛṣṭvā viśoka samare bhīmasenasya sārathim
     dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja durmanā gatacetana
 19 apcchad bāpasaruddho nisvanā vācam īrayan
     mama prāai priyatama kva bhīma iti dukhita
 20 viśokas tam uvāceda dhṛṣṭadyumna ktāñjali
     sasthāpya mām iha balī pāṇḍaveya pratāpavān
 21 praviṣṭo dhārtarāṣṭām etad balamahāravam
     mām uktvā puruavyāghra prītiyuktam ida vaca
 22 pratipālaya mā sūta niyamyāśvān muhūrtakam
     yāvad etān nihanmy āśu ya ime madvadhodyatā
 23 tato dṛṣṭvā gadāhasta pradhāvanta mahābalam
     sarveām eva sainyānā sadhara samajāyata
 24 tasmis tu tumule yuddhe vartamāne bhayānake
     bhittvā rājan mahāvyūha praviveśa sakhā tava
 25 viśokasya vaca śrutvā dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi pārata
     pratyuvāca tata sūta raamadhye mahābala
 26 na hi me vidyate sūta jīvite 'dya prayojanam
     bhīmasena rae hitvā sneham utsjya pāṇḍavai
 27 yadi yāmi vinā bhīma ki katra vadiyati
     ekāyanagate bhīme mayi cāvasthite yudhi
 28 asvasti tasya kurvanti devā sāgnipurogamā
     ya sahāyān parityajya svastimān āvrajed ghān
 29 mama bhīma sakhā caiva sabandhī ca mahābala
     bhakto 'smān bhaktimāś cāha tam apy ariniūdanam
 30 so 'ha tatra gamiyāmi yatra yāto vkodara
     nighnanta mām arīn paśya dānavān iva vāsavam
 31 evam uktvā tato vīro yayau madhyena bhāratīm
     bhīmasenasya mārgeu gadāpramathitair gajai
 32 sa dadarśa tato bhīma dahanta ripuvāhinīm
     vāta vkān iva balāt prabhañjanta rae npān
 33 te hanyamānā samare rathina sādinas tathā
     pādātā dantinaś caiva cakrur ārtasvara mahat
 34 hāhākāraś ca sajajñe tava sainyasya māria
     vadhyato bhīmasenena ktinā citrayodhinā
 35 tata ktāstrās te sarve parivārya vkodaram
     abhītā samavartanta śastravṛṣṭyā samantata
 36 abhidruta śastrabh variṣṭha; samantataṇḍava lokavīrai
     sainyena ghorea susagatena; dṛṣṭvā balī pārato bhīmasenam
 37 athopagacchac charavikatāga; padātina krodhavia vamantam
     āśvāsayan pārato bhīmasena; gadāhasta kālam ivāntakāle
 38 niśalyam ena ca cakāra tūram; āropayac cātmaratha mahātmā
     bhśa parivajya ca bhīmasenam; āśvāsayām āsa ca śatrumadhye
 39 bhrātn athopetya tavāpi putras; tasmin vimarde mahati pravtte
     aya durātmā drupadasya putra; samāgato bhīmasenena sārdham
     ta yāta sarve sahitā nihantu; mā vo ripu prārthayatām anīkam
 40 śrutvā tu vākya tam amṛṣyamāā; jyeṣṭhājñayā coditā dhārtarāṣṭ
     vadhāya nipetur udāyudhās te; yugakaye ketavo yadvad ugrā
 41 praghya citrāi dhanūṃṣi vīrā; jyānemighoai pravikampayanta
     śarair avaran drupadasya putra; yathāmbudā bhūdhara vārijālai
     nihatya tāś cāpi śarai sutīkṣṇair; na vivyathe samare citrayodhī
 42 samabhyudīrāś ca tavātmajās tathā; niśāmya vīrān abhita sthitān rae
     jighāsur ugra drupadātmajo yuvā; pramohanāstra yuyuje mahāratha
     kruddho bhśa tava putreu rājan; daityeu yadvat samare mahendra
 43 tato vyamuhyanta rae nvīrā; pramohanāstrāhatabuddhisattvā
     pradudruvu kuravaś caiva sarve; savājināgā sarathā samantāt
     parītakālān iva naṣṭasajñān; mohopetās tava putrān niśamya
 44 etasminn eva kāle tu droa śastrabh vara
     drupada tribhir āsādya śarair vivyādha dāruai
 45 so 'tividdhas tadā rājan rae droena pārthiva
     apāyād drupado rājan pūrvavairam anusmaran
 46 jitvā tu drupada droa śakha dadhmau pratāpavān
     tasya śakhasvana śrutvā vitresu sarvasomakā
 47 atha śuśrāva tejasvī droa śastrabh vara
     pramohanāstrea rae mohitān ātmajās tava
 48 tato droo rājagddhī tvarito 'bhiyayau raāt
     tatrāpaśyan mahevāso bhāradvāja pratāpavān
     dhṛṣṭadyumna ca bhīma ca vicarantau mahārae
 49 mohāviṣṭāś ca te putrān apaśyat sa mahāratha
     tata prajñāstram ādāya mohanāstra vyaśātayat
 50 atha pratyāgataprāās tava putrā mahārathā
     punar yuddhāya samare prayayur bhīmapāratau
 51 tato yudhiṣṭhira prāha samāhūya svasainikān
     gacchantu padavī śaktyā bhīmapāratayor yudhi
 52 saubhadrapramukhā vīrā rathā dvādaśa daśitā
     pravttim adhigacchantu na hi śudhyati me mana
 53 ta eva samanujñātā śūrā vikrāntayodhina
     bāham ity evam uktvā tu sarve puruamānina
     madhyadinagate sūrye prayayu sarva eva hi
 54 kekayā draupadeyāś ca dhṛṣṭaketuś ca vīryavān
     abhimanyu purasktya mahatyā senayā v
 55 te ktvā samare vyūha sūcīmukham aridamā
     bibhidur dhārtarāṣṭā tad rathānīkam āhave
 56 tān prayātān mahevāsān abhimanyupurogamān
     bhīmasenabhayāviṣṭā dhṛṣṭadyumnavimohitā
 57 na sadhārayitu śaktā tava senā janādhipa
     madamūrchānvitātmāna pramadevādhvani sthitā
 58 te 'bhiyātā mahevāsā suvaraviktadhvajā
     parīpsanto 'bhyadhāvanta dhṛṣṭadyumnavkodarau
 59 tau ca dṛṣṭvā mahevāsān abhimanyupurogamān
     babhūvatur mudā yuktau nighnantau tava vāhinīm
 60 dṛṣṭvā ca sahasāyānta pāñcālyo gurum ātmana
     nāśasata vadha vīra putrāā tava pārata
 61 tato ratha samāropya kekayasya vkodaram
     abhyadhāvat susakruddho droam ivastrapāragam
 62 tasyābhipatatas tūra bhāradvāja pratāpavān
     kruddhaś ciccheda bhallena dhanu śatruniūdana
 63 anyāś ca śataśo bāān preayām āsa pārate
     duryodhanahitārthāya bhartpiṇḍam anusmaran
 64 athānyad dhanur ādāya pārata paravīrahā
     droa vivyādha saptatyā rukmapukhai śilāśitai
 65 tasya droa punaś cāpa cicchedāmitrakarśana
     hayāś ca caturas tūra caturbhi sāyakottamai
 66 vaivasvatakaya ghora preayām āsa vīryavān
     sārathi cāsya bhallena preayām āsa mtyave
 67 hatāśvāt sa rathāt tūram avaplutya mahāratha
     āruroha mahābāhur abhimanyor mahāratham
 68 tata sarathanāgāśvā samakampata vāhinī
     paśyato bhīmasenasya pāratasya ca paśyata
 69 tat prabhagna bala dṛṣṭvā droenāmitatejasā
     nāśaknuvan vārayitu samastās te mahārathā
 70 vadhyamāna tu tat sainya droena niśitai śarai
     vyabhramat tatra tatraiva kobhyamāa ivārava
 71 tathā dṛṣṭvā ca tat sainya jahṛṣe ca bala tava
     dṛṣṭvācārya ca sakruddha dahanta ripuvāhinīm
     cukruśu sarvato yodhā sādhu sādhv iti bhārata



SECTION LXXIII

Sanjaya said, "King Virata then pierced that mighty car-warrior, viz., Bhishma, with three shafts. And that great car-warrior pierced his (antagonist's) steeds also with three shafts furnished with golden wings. And that terrible bowman and mighty car-warrior of firm hand, viz., Drona's son, pierced with six shafts the wielder of Gandiva between his two breasts. Thereupon that grinder of foes, viz., Phalguni, that slayer of hostile heroes, cut off Aswatthaman's bow and deeply pierced him in return with five shafts. Deprived of his senses by anger, and unable to bear the cutting off of his bow in that battle, Drona's son, taking up another bow that was tougher, pierced Phalguni, O king, with ninety sharp-shafts, and Vasudeva also with seventy fierce arrows. Then, with eyes red in wrath, Phalguni, with Krishna, breathing long and hot breaths, reflected for a moment. Firmly grasping the bow with his left hand, that grinder of foes, viz., the wielder of
p. 184
gandiva excited with rage, fixed on his bowstring a number of fierce shafts, sharp and perfectly straight, and capable of taking (the foe's) life. And that foremost of mighty men speedily pierced Drona's son, in that battle, with those arrows. And those arrows, penetrating through his armour, drank his life-blood. But though thus pierced by the wielder of Gandiva, Drona's son wavered not. Shooting in return similar arrows at Partha, he stayed unperturbed, in that battle, desirous, O king, of protecting Bhishma of high vows. And that feat of his was applauded by the foremost warriors of the Kuru army, consisting, as it did, of his having encountered the two Krishnas united together. Indeed, Aswatthaman daily battled fearlessly amid the forces, having obtained from Drona all weapons with the methods also of their withdrawal. This one is the son of my preceptor. He is again the dear son of Drona. He is especially a Brahmana, and, therefore, worthy of my regard. Thinking so, that scorcher of foes, the heroic Vibhatsu, that foremost of car-warriors, showed mercy to the son of Bharadwaja. Avoiding the son of Drona, Kunti's son endued with great prowess and having white steeds (yoked unto his car), began to fight, displaying great quickness of arms and causing a great carnage of thy troops. Duryodhana then pierced that great bowman Bhima with ten shafts winged with vulturine feathers, adorned with gold, and whetted on stone. Thereupon Bhimasena, excited with wrath, took up a tough and well-adorned bow capable of taking the life of the foe, and also ten sharp shafts. And steadily aiming those sharp-pointed shafts of fierce energy and impetuous velocity, and drawing the bow-string to his ear, he deeply pierced the king of the Kurus in his wide chest. Thereupon the gem hanging on his breast on threads of gold, surrounded by those shafts, looked beautiful like the Sun in the firmament surrounded by the planets. Thy son, however, endued with great energy, thus struck by Bhimasena, could not bear it (coolly), like a snake unable to bear the sounds of a man's slap. Excited with wrath and desirous of protecting his army, he then pierced Bhima in return, O king, with many shafts whetted on stone and endued with golden wings. Thus struggling in battle and mangling each other fiercely, those two mighty sons of thine looked like a pair of celestials.
"That tiger among men and slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Subhadra, pierced Chitrasena with many sharp shafts and Purumitra also with seven shafts. And piercing Satyavrata too with seventy shafts, that hero resembling Indra himself in battle, began as it were to dance on the field, and caused us much pain. Chitrasena then pierced him in return with ten shafts, and Satyavrata with nine, and Purumitra with seven. Then the son of Arjuna, thus pierced, while yet covered with blood, cut off the large and beautiful bow of Chitrasena that was capable of checking foes. And cutting through his coat of mail he pierced his antagonist's breast with a shaft. Then the princes of thy army, all heroic and mighty car-warriors, excited with wrath and united together in that conflict, pierced him with sharp arrows. And Abhimanyu, acquainted with the mightiest weapons, smote them all with keen shafts. Beholding that feat of his, thy
p. 185
sons then surrounded the son of Arjuna, who was consuming thy army in that conflict like a swelling fire of blazing flames consuming a heap of dry grass in summer. And the son of Subhadra, while smiting thy troops (thus), seemed to glow in splendour. Seeing that conduct of his, thy grandson Lakshmana then, O monarch, quickly fell upon the son of Subhadra. Thereupon that mighty car-warrior Abhimanyu, excited with wrath, pierced Lakshmana graced with auspicious marks, as also his charioteer, with six sharp arrows. But Lakshmana also, O king, pierced Subhadra's son with many keen shafts. And that feat, O king, seemed to be highly wonderful. Then that mighty car-warrior, viz., Abhimanyu, slaying the four steeds as also the charioteer of Lakshmana with sharp shafts, rushed towards the latter. Thereupon Lakshmana, that slayer of hostile heroes, staying on that car of his whose steeds had been slain, and excited with wrath, hurled a dart towards the car of Subhadra's son. Abhimanyu, however, with his sharp arrows, cut off that irresistible dart of fierce mien, resembling a snake, and coming impetuously towards him. Then Kripa, taking Lakshmana up on his own car, bore him away from the conflict, in the very sight of all the troops. Then when that awful conflict became general, the combatants rushed against one another, desirous of taking another's life. And the mighty bowmen of thy army and the great car-warriors of the Pandava host, prepared to lay down their lives in battle, slew one another. With hair dishevelled, divested of their coats of mail, deprived of their cars, and their bows broken, the Srinjayas fought with the Kurus with their bare arms. Then the mighty-armed Bhishma, endued with great strength, and excited with wrath, slew with his celestial weapons the troops of the high-souled Pandavas. And the earth became covered with the fallen bodies of elephants deprived of their guides of men and steeds and car-warriors and cavalry-soldiers."




Book 6
Chapter 74








1 [s]
      tato duryodhano rājā mohāt pratyāgatas tadā
      śaravarai punar bhīma pratyavārayad acyutam
  2 ekībhūtā punaś caiva tava putrā mahārathā
      sametya samare bhīma yodhayām āsur udyatā
  3 bhīmaseno 'pi samare saprāpya svaratha puna
      samāruhya mahābāhur yayau yena tavātmaja
  4 praghya ca mahāvega parāsu karaa dṛḍham
      citra śarāsana sakhye śarair vivyādha te sutān
  5 tato duryodhano rājā bhīmasena mahābalam
      nārācena sutīkṣṇena bhśa marmay atāayat
  6 so 'tividdho mahevāsas tava putrea dhanvinā
      krodhasaraktanayano vegenotkipya kārmukam
  7 duryodhana tribhir bāair bāhvor urasi cārpayat
      sa tathābhihato rājā nācalad girirā iva
  8 tau dṛṣṭvā samare kruddhau vinighnantau parasparam
      duryodhanānujā sarve śūrā satyaktajīvitā
  9 sasmtya mantrita pūrva nigrahe bhīmakarmaa
      niścaya manasā ktvā nigrahītu pracakramu
  10 tān āpatata evājau bhīmaseno mahābala
     pratyudyayau mahārāja gaja pratigajān iva
 11 bhśa kruddhaś ca tejasvī nārācena samarpayat
     citrasena mahārāja tava putra mahāyaśā
 12 tathetarās tava sutās tāayām āsa bhārata
     śarair bahuvidhai sakhye rukmapukhai suvegitai
 13 tata sasthāpya samare svāny anīkāni sarvaśa
     abhimanyuprabhtayas te dvādaśa mahārathā
 14 preitā dharmarājena bhīmasenapadānugā
     pratyudyayur mahārāja tava putrān mahābalān
 15 dṛṣṭvā rathasthās tāñ śūrān sūryāgnisamatejasa
     sarvān eva mahevāsān bhrājamānāñ śriyā vtān
 16 mahāhave dīpyamānān suvarakavacojjvalān
     tatyaju samare bhīma tava putrā mahābalā
 17 tān nāmṛṣyata kaunteyo jīvamānā gatā iti
     anvīya ca puna sarvās tava putrān apīayat
 18 athābhimanyu samare bhīmasenena sagatam
     pāratena ca saprekya tava sainye mahārathā
 19 duryodhanaprabhtaya praghītaśarāsanā
     bhśam aśvai prajavitai prayayur yatra te rathā
 20 aparāhe tato rājan prāvartata mahān raa
     tāvakānā ca balinā pareā caiva bhārata
 21 abhimanyur vikarasya hayān hatvā mahājavān
     athaina pañcaviśatyā kudrakāā samācinot
 22 hatāśva ratham utsjya vikaras tu mahāratha
     āruroha ratha rājaś citrasenasya bhāsvaram
 23 sthitāv ekarathe tau tu bhrātarau kuruvardhanau
     ārjuni śarajālena chādayām āsa bhārata
 24 durjayo 'tha vikaraś ca kārṣṇi pañcabhir āyasai
     vivyādhāte na cākampat kārṣṇir merur ivācala
 25 duśāsanas tu samare kekayān pañca māria
     yodhayām āsa rājendra tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 26 draupadeyā rae kruddhā duryodhanam avārayan
     ekaikas tribhir ānarchat putra tava viśā pate
 27 putro 'pi tava durdharo draupadyās tanayān rae
     sāyakair niśitai rājann ājaghāna pthak pthak
 28 taiś cāpi viddha śuśubhe rudhirea samukita
     giriprasravaair yadvad girir dhātumimiśritai
 29 bhīmo 'pi samare rājan pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
     kālayām āsa balavān pāla paśugaān iva
 30 tato gāṇḍīvanirghoa prādurāsīd viśā pate
     dakiena varūthinyā pārthasyārīn vinighnata
 31 uttasthu samare tatra kabandhāni samantata
     kurūā cāpi sainyeu pāṇḍavānā ca bhārata
 32 śoitoda rathāvarta gajadvīpa hayormiam
     rathanaubhir naravyāghrā prateru sainyasāgaram
 33 chinnahastā vikavacā videhāś ca narottamā
     patitās tatra dśyante śataśo 'tha sahasraśa
 34 nihatair mattamātagai śoitaughapariplutai
     bhūr bhāti bharataśreṣṭha parvatair ācitā yathā
 35 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma tava teā ca bhārata
     na tatrāsīt pumān kaś cid yo yoddhu nābhikākati
 36 eva yuyudhire vīrā prārthayānā mahad yaśa
     tāvakāṇḍavai sārdhakamāā jaya yudhi



SECTION LXXIV

Sanjaya said, "Then, O king, the mighty-armed Satyaki invincible in battle, drawing in that conflict an excellent bow capable of bearing a great strain shot innumerable winged arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison, displaying his wonderful lightness of hand. And while slaying his foes in battle, so quickly did he draw the bow, take out his arrows, fix them on the bowstring, and letting them off throw them among the foe, that he then seemed to be a mass of clouds pouring a thick shower of rain. Beholding him then thus blazing up (like a swelling fire), king Duryodhana, O Bharata, despatched ten thousand cars against him. But that great bowman, Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled and possessed of great energy, slew with his celestial weapons all those mighty car-warriors.
p. 186
[paragraph continues] Having achieved, bow in hand, that fierce feat, that hero then approached Bhurisravas in battle. And Bhurisravas also, that enhancer of the fame of the Kurus, beholding the Dhartarashtra ranks thus felled by Yuyudhana, rushed in wrath against the latter. 1 Drawing his great bow which resembled that of Indra himself in hue, he shot thousands of shafts, O monarch, looking like snakes of virulent poison and possessed of the strength of the thunder, displaying his extreme lightness of hand. Thereupon the combatants that followed Satyaki, unable to bear those shafts of fatal touch, fled away, O king, in all directions, abandoning, O monarch, the invincible Satyaki in that conflict. Beholding this, the mighty sons of Yuyudhana, all mighty car-warriors of great renown, cased in excellent mail, bearing diverse arms, and possessing excellent standards, approaching that great bowman, viz., Bhurisravas, in battle, wrathfully addressed that warrior bearing on his standard the device of a sacrificial stake, and said these words, 'Listen, O kinsman of the Kauravas, O thou that art possessed of great strength, come, fight in battle with us, i.e., with either all of us jointly or with each of us separately. Vanquishing us in battle thou mayst win great renown, or ourselves, vanquishing thee, will have great gratification.' Thus addressed by them, that mighty hero endued with great strength and proud of his prowess, that foremost of men, beholding them before him, replied unto them, saying, 'Ye heroes, ye have said well. If such be now your wish, fight ye then all together with care. I shall slay all of you in battle.' Thus addressed by him, those heroic and mighty bowmen endued with great activity covered that chastiser of foes with a thick shower of arrows. And it was towards the afternoon, O king, that that dreadful battle took place between Bhurisravas alone on one side and the many united together on the other. And those ten heroes covered that single mighty car-warrior with showers of arrows like the clouds showering rain on a mountain cliff in the season of rains. That mighty car-warrior, however, cut off, those clouds of shafts shot by them resembling the fatal darts of Death or the very thunder in effulgence, before they could reach him. 2 They then, surrounding that mighty-armed warrior, endeavoured to slay him. But the son of Somadatta, excited with rage, cut off their bows, O Bharata, and then their heads, with sharp shafts. Thus slain, they fell down, O monarch, like mighty trees felled by the thunder. 3 Beholding then his mighty sons thus slain in battle, the Vrishni hero (Satyaki), O king, uttering a loud roar, rushed against Bhurisravas. And those mighty warriors then each pressed his car against the other. And each of them in that combat slew the
p. 187
other's car-steeds. And both deprived of their cars, those mighty warriors jumped down on the ground. And both taking up large scimitars and excellent shields encountered each other. And those tigers among men, stationed for the encounter, shone brightly. Then Bhimasena, O king, quickly coming up to Satyaki thus armed with an excellent scimitar, took him up on his own car. And thy son also, O monarch, speedily took up Bhurisravas on his car, in that battle, at the very sight of all the bowmen.
"Meanwhile, during the continuance of that battle, the Pandavas, O bull of Bharata's race, excited with wrath, fought with that mighty car-warrior Bhishma. And when the sun assumed a red hue, Dhananjaya exerting himself actively, slew five and twenty thousand great car-warriors. These, urged on by Duryodhana for slaying Partha, were thus completely destroyed before they could even come up to him, like insects on a blazing fire. Then the Matsyas and the Kekayas, all accomplished in the science of arms, surrounded that mighty car-warrior Partha as also his son (for supporting them). Just at that time the sun disappeared, and all the combatants seemed to be deprived of their senses. Then at twilight, O king, thy sire Devavrata, his animals having been tired, caused the troops to be withdrawn. And the troops of both the Pandavas and the Kurus, filled with fear and anxiety in course of that dreadful encounter, proceeded to their respective camps, the Pandavas with the Srinjayas and the Kauravas also rested for the night agreeably to the rules (of military science)."






Book 6
Chapter 75



 1 [s]
      tato duryodhano rājā lohitāyati bhāskare
      sagrāmarabhaso bhīma hantukāmo 'bhyadhāvata
  2 tam āyāntam abhiprekya nvīra dṛḍhavairiam
      bhīmasena susakruddha ida vacanam abravīt
  3 aya sa kāla saprāpto varapūgābhikākita
      adya tvā nihaniyāmi yadi notsjase raam
  4 adya kuntyā pariklea vanavāsa ca ktsnaśa
      draupadyāś ca parikleśa praotsyāmi hate tvayi
  5 yat tva durodaro bhūtvā pāṇḍavān avamanyase
      tasya pāpasya gāndhāre paśya vyasanam āgatam
  6 karasya matam ājñāya saubalasya ca yat purā
      acintyapāṇḍavān kāmād yatheṣṭa ktavān asi
  7 yācamāna ca yan mohād dāśārham avamanyase
      ulūkasya samādeśa yad dadāsi ca hṛṣṭavat
  8 adya tvā nihaniyāmi sānubandha sa bāndhavam
      samīkariye tat pāpa yat purā ktavān asi
  9 evam uktvā dhanur ghora vikṛṣyodbhrāmya cāsakt
      samādāya śarān ghorān mahāśani samaprabhān
  10 aviśat tarasā kruddho mumocāśu suyodhane
     jvalitāgniśikhākārān vajrakalpān ajihmagān
 11 tato 'sya kārmuka dvābhyā sūta dvābhyā ca vivyadhe
     caturbhir aśvāñ javanān anayad yamasādanam
 12 dvābhyā ca suvikṛṣṭābhyā śarābhyām arimardana
     chatra ciccheda samare rājñas tasya rathottamāt
 13 tribhiś ca tasya ciccheda jvalanta dhvajam uttamam
     chittvā ta ca nanādoccais tava putrasya paśyata
 14 rathāc ca sa dhvaja śrīmān nānāratnavibhūita
     papāta sahasā bhūmi vidyuj jaladharād iva
 15 jvalanta sūryasakāśa nāga maimaya śubham
     dhvaja kurupateś chinna dadśu sarvapārthivā
 16 athaina daśabhir bāais tottrair iva mahāgajam
     ājaghāna rae bhīma smayann iva mahāratha
 17 tatas tu rājā sindhūnā rathaśreṣṭho jayadratha
     duryodhanasya jagrāha pārṣṇisatpuruocitām
 18 kpaś ca rathinā śreṣṭha kauravyam amitaujasam
     āropayad ratha rājan duryodhanam amaraam
 19 sa gāhaviddho vyathito bhīmasenena sayuge
     niasāda rathopasthe rājā duryodhanas tadā
 20 parivārya tato bhīma hantukāmo jayadratha
     rathair anekasāhasrair bhīmasyāvārayad diśa
 21 dhṛṣṭaketus tato rājann abhimanyuś ca vīryavān
     kekayā draupadeyāś ca tava putrān ayodhayan
 22 citrasena sucitraś ca citrāśvaś citradarśana
     cāru citra sucāruś ca tathā nandopanandakau
 23 aṣṭāv ete mahevāsā sukumārā yaśasvina
     abhimanyuratha rājan samantāt paryavārayan
 24 ājaghāna tatas tūram abhimanyur mahāmanā
     ekaika pañcabhir viddhvā śarai sanataparvabhi
     vajramtyupratīkāśair vicitrāyudha nistai
 25 amṛṣyamāās te sarve saubhadra rathasattamam
     vavarur mārgaais tīkṣṇair giri merum ivāmbudā
 26 sa pīyamāna samare ktāstro yuddhadurmada
     abhimanyur mahārāja tāvakān samakampayat
     yathā devāsure yuddhe vajrapāir mahāsurān
 27 vikarasya tato bhallān preayām āsa bhārata
     caturdaśa rathaśreṣṭho ghorān āśīviopamān
     dhvaja sūta hayāś cāsya chittvā ntyann ivāhave
 28 punaś cānyāñ śarān pītān akuṇṭhāgrāñ śilāśitān
     preayām āsa saubhadro vikarāya mahābala
 29 te vikara samāsādya kakabarhia vāsasa
     bhittvā deha gatā bhūmi jvalanta iva pannagā
 30 te śarā hemapukhāgrā vyadśyanta mahītale
     vikara rudhiraklinnā vamanta iva śoitam
 31 vikara vīkya nirbhinna tasyaivānye sahodarā
     abhyadravanta samare saubhadrapramukhān rathān
 32 abhiyātvā tathaivāśu rathasthān sūryavarcasa
     avidhyan samare 'nyonya sarabdhā yuddhadurmadā
 33 durmukha śrutakarmāa viddhvā saptabhir āśugai
     dhvajam ekena ciccheda sārathi cāsya saptabhi
 34 aśvāñ jāmbūnadair jālai pracchannān vātarahasa
     jaghāna abhir āsādya sārathi cābhyapātayat
 35 sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhañ śrutakarmā mahāratha
     śakti cikepa sakruddho maholkā jvalitām iva
 36 sā durmukhasya vipula varma bhittvā yaśasvina
     vidārya prāviśad bhūmi dīpyamānā sutejanā
 37 ta dṛṣṭvā viratha tatra suta somo mahābala
     paśyatā sarvasainyānā ratham āropayat svakam
 38 śrutakīrtis tathā vīro jayatsena suta tava
     abhyayāt samare rājan hantukāmo yaśasvinam
 39 tasya vikipataś cāpa śrutakīrtir mahātmana
     ciccheda samare rājañ jayatsena sutas tava
     kuraprea sutīkṣṇena prahasann iva bhārata
 40 ta dṛṣṭvā chinnadhanvāna śatānīka sahodaram
     abhyapadyata tejasvī sihavad vinadan muhu
 41 śatānīkas tu samare dṛḍha visphārya kārmukam
     vivyādha daśabhis tūra jayatsena śilīmukhai
 42 athānyena sutīkṣṇena sarvāvaraabhedinā
     śatānīko jayatsena vivyādha hdaye bhśam
 43 tathā tasmin vartamāne dukaro bhrātur antike
     ciccheda samare cāpa nākule krodhamūrchita
 44 athānyad dhanur ādāya bhārasādhanam uttamam
     samādatta śitān bāāñ śatānīko mahābala
 45 tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cāmantrya dukara bhrātur agrata
     mumoca niśitān bāāñ jvalitān pannagān iva
 46 tato 'sya dhanur ekena dvābhyā sūta ca māria
     ciccheda samare tūra ta ca vivyādha saptabhi
 47 aśvān manojavāś cāsya kalmāān vītakalmaa
     jaghāna niśitais tūra sarvān dvādaśabhi śarai
 48 athāparea bhallena sumuktena nipātinā
     dukara samare kruddho vivyādha hdaye bhśam
 49 dukara nihata dṛṣṭvā pañca rājan mahārathā
     jighāsanta śatānīka sarvata paryavārayan
 50 chādyamāna śaravrātai śatānīka yaśasvinam
     abhyadhāvanta sarabdhā kekayā pañca sodarā
 51 tān abhyāpatata prekya tava putrā mahārathā
     pratyudyayur mahārāja gajā iva mahāgajān
 52 durmukho durjayaś caiva tathā durmarao yuvā
     śatrujaya śatrusaha sarve kruddhā yaśasvina
     pratyudyātā mahārāja kekayān bhrātara samam
 53 rathair nagarasakāśair hayair yuktair manojavai
     nānāvaravicitrābhi patākābhir alaktai
 54 vaca cāpadharā vīrā vicitrakavaca dhvajā
     viviśus te para sainya sihā iva vanād vanam
 55 teā sutumula yuddhavyatiakta raha dvipam
     avartata mahāraudra nighnatām itaretaram
     anyonyāga k rājan yama rāṣṭravivardhanam
 56 muhūrtāstamite sūrye cakrur yuddha sudāruam
     rathina sādinaś caiva vyakīryanta sahasraśa
 57 tata śātanava kruddha śarai sanataparvabhi
     nāśayām āsa senā vai bhīmas teā mahātmanām
     pāñcālānā ca sainyāni śarair ninye yamakayam
 58 eva bhittvā mahevāsaṇḍavānām anīkinām
     ktvāvahāra sainyānā yayau svaśibira npa
 59 dharmarājo 'pi saprekya dhṛṣṭadyumna vkodarau
     mūrdhni caitāv upāghrāya sahṛṣṭa śibira yayau





SECTION LXXV

Sanjaya said, "Having rested for a while, O king, both the Kurus and the Pandavas, after the night had passed away, once more went out for battle. And then loud was the uproar, O king, that arose of mighty car-warriors as they prepared for battle, and of tuskers as these were being equipped for the conflict, and of infantry as they put on their armour, and of steeds also, O Bharata. And the blare of conches and the beat of drums became deafening in all parts of the field. Then king Yudhishthira addressed Dhrishtadyumna and said, 'O mighty-armed one, dispose the troops in the array called Makara that scorcheth the foe.' Thus addressed by Pritha's son, that mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, that foremost of combatants on cars, issued the order, O great king, to the car-warriors, (for forming the Makara array). Drupada, and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, formed the head of that array, and Sahadeva and that mighty car-warrior Nakula formed its two eyes. And the mighty Bhimasena formed its beak. And Subhadra's son, and the sons of Draupadi and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, and Satyaki, and king Yudhishthira the just, were stationed in its neck. And king Virata that commander of a large division, formed
p. 188
its back, supported by Dhrishtadyumna and a large force. And the five Kekaya brothers consisted its left wing, and that tiger among men, viz., Dhrishtaketu, and Chekitana of great prowess, stationed in the right wing, stood for protecting that array. And its two feet, O monarch, were constituted by that mighty car-warrior the blessed Kuntibhoja, and Satanika, supported by a large force. And that great bowman, the mighty Sikhandin, surrounded by the Somakas, and Iravat, were stationed in the tail of that Makara array. And having, O Bharata, formed their great array, the Pandavas, O monarch, equipped in mail at dawn, again stood for battle. And with elephants and steeds and cars and infantry, and with standards upraised and umbrellas set up, and armed with bright, whetted weapons, they quickly proceeded against the Kauravas.
"Then thy sire Devavrata, beholding the (Pandava) army thus arrayed, disposed his army, O king, in counter-array after the form of a huge crane. And in its beak was Bharadwaja's son (Drona). And Aswatthaman and Kripa, O monarch, formed its two eyes. And that foremost, of all bowmen, viz., Kritavarman, united with the ruler of the Kamvojas and with the Valhikas was stationed, O king, in its head. And in its neck. O Bharata, were Surasena, and thy son Duryodhana, O king, surrounded by many kings. And the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, united with the Madras, the Sauviras, and the Kekayas, and surrounded by a large force, was stationed, O king, in its breasts. And Susarman the king of Prasthala, accompanied by his own troops, stood, accoutred in mail, in the left wing. And the Tusharas, the Yavanas and the Sakas, along with the Chulikas, stood in the right wing, O Bharata, of that array. And Srutayush and Sataytish and Somadatta's son, O sire, were stationed in the rear of that array protecting one another.
"Then the Pandavas, O king, rushed against the Kauravas for battle. The sun, O Bharata, had risen when the battle commenced. And elephants proceeded against elephants. And horsemen rushed against horsemen, car-warriors against car-warriors, O king, and against elephants also, in that dreadful conflict. And car-men rushed against riders of elephants, and riders of elephants against horsemen. And car-warriors engaged with foot-soldiers, and cavalry with infantry. And all the warriors, O king, excited with wrath, rushed against one another in battle. And the Pandava army, protected by Bhimasena and Arjuna and the twins, looked beautiful like the night decorated with stars. And thy army also, with Bhishma and Kripa and Drona and Salya and Duryodhana, and others, shone like the firmament spangled with the planets. And Bhimasena the son of Kunti, endued with great prowess, beholding Drona rushed against the division of Bharadwaja's son, borne by his steeds of great fleetness. Then Drona, excited with wrath in that conflict and endued with great energy, pierced Bhima with nine shafts made wholly of iron, aiming his vital limbs. Deeply pierced by Bharadwaja's son in that conflict, Bhima despatched Drona's charioteer to the region of Yama. Thereupon the son of Bharadwaja, endued with great prowess, himself restraining his steeds, began to consume the Pandava army like fire consuming a heap of cotton. And while thus
p. 189
slaughtered, O king, by Drona and Bhishma, the Srinjayas along with the Kekayas took to flight. And so thy troops also, mangled by Bhima and Arjuna, became deprived of their senses as they stood, like a beautiful female in her pride. And in that conflict destructive of heroes great was the distress, O Bharata, that befell both thy army and theirs. And we beheld the wonderful sight, O Bharata, of the troops fighting with one another regardless of their lives. 1 And the Pandavas and the Kauravas, O king, in that conflict, fought with one another counteracting one another's weapons."


Book 6
Chapter 76





1 [s]
      atha śūrā mahārāja parasparaktāgasa
      jagmu svaśibirāy eva rudhirea samukitā
  2 viśramya ca yathānyāya pūjayitvā parasparam
      sanadhā samadśyanta bhūyo yuddhacikīrayā
  3 tatas tava suto rājaś cintayābhiparipluta
      visravac choitāktāga papraccheda pitāmaham
  4 sainyāni raudrāi bhayānakāni; vyūhāni samyag bahula dhvajāni
      vidārya hatvā ca nipīya śūrās; te pāṇḍavānā tvaritā rathaughā
  5 samohya sarvān yudhi kīrtimanto; vyūha ca ta makara vajrakalpam
      praviśya bhīmena nibarhito 'smi; ghorai śarair mtyudaṇḍaprakāśai
  6 kruddha tam udvīkya bhayena rājan; samūrchito nālabha śāntim adya
      icche prasādāt tava satyasagha; prāptu jayaṇḍaveyāś ca hantum
  7 tenaivam ukta prahasan mahātmā; duryodhana jātamanyu viditvā
      ta pratyuvācāvimanā manasvī; gagāsuta śastrabh variṣṭha
  8 parea yatnena vigāhya senā; sarvātmanāha tava rājaputra
      icchāmi dātu vijaya sukha ca; na cātmāna chādaye 'ha tvadarthe
  9 ete tu raudrā bahavo mahārathā; yaśasvina śūratamā ktāstrā
      ye pāṇḍavānā samare sahāyā; jitaklamā krodhavia vamanti
  10 te neha śakyā sahasā vijetu; vīryonnaddhā ktavairās tvayā ca
     aha hy etān pratiyotsyāmi rājan; sarvātmanā jīvita tyajya vīra
 11 rae tavārthāya mahānubhāva; na jīvita rakyatama mamādya
     sarvās tavārthāya sa deva daityāl; lokān daheya kim u śatrūs taveha
 12 tat pāṇḍavān yodhayiyāmi rājan; priya ca te sarvam aha kariye
     śrutvaiva caitat paramapratīto; duryodhana prītimanā babhūva
 13 sarvāi sainyāni tata prahṛṣṭo; nirgacchatety āha nś ca sarvān
     tad ājñayā tāni viniryayur druta; rathāśvapādātagajāyutāni
 14 praharayuktāni tu tāni rājan; mahānti nānāvidha śastravanti
     sthitāni nāgāśvapadātimanti; virejur ājau tava rājan balāni
 15 vndai sthitāś cāpi susaprayuktāś; cakāśire danti gaā samantāt
     śastrāstravidbhir naradeva yodhair; adhiṣṭhitā sainyagaās tvadīyā
 16 rathaiś ca pādātagajāśvasaghai; prayādbhir ājau vidhivat praunnai
     samuddhata vai taruārkavara; rajo babhau chādayat sūryaraśmīn
 17 reju patākā rathadanta sasthā; vāteritā bhrāmyamāā samantāt
     nānā ra samare tatra rājan; meghair yuktā vidyuta khe yathaiva
 18 dhanūṃṣi visphārayatā nā; babhūva śabdas tumulo 'tighora
     vimathyato devamahāsuraughair; yathāravasyādi yuge tadānīm
 19 tad ugranāda bahurūpavara; tavātmajānā samudīram eva
     babhūva sainya ripusainyahant; yugāntameghaughanibha tadānīm





SECTION LXXVI

Dhritarashtra said, "Our army is possessed of many excellencies, consisting of diverse forces, its efficiency is great. It is again arrayed according to the rules of science and, therefore, ought to be irresistible. It is attached to us exceedingly, and always devoted to us. It is submissive, and free from the faults of drunkenness and licentiousness. Its prowess had before been tested. The soldiers are neither very old nor very young. They are neither lean nor corpulent. Of active habits, of well-developed and strong frames, they are free from disease. They are cased in mail and well-equipped with arms. They are exercised in every kind of weapons. They are skilled in encounters with swords, with bare arms, and with maces. They are well-exercised in lances, sabres, and darts, as also in iron clubs, short arrows, javelins and mallets. They are devoted to all kinds of armed exercises, and are adepts in mounting upon and descending from the backs of elephants, in moving forward and stepping back, in smiting effectually, in marching and retreating. Many a time have they been tested in the management of elephants and steeds and cars. Having been examined duly they have been entertained on pay, and not for the sake of lineage, nor from favour nor from relationship, nor from strength of attachments, nor from connections of birth and blood. They are all respectable and honest, and their kinsmen have been well-treated and gratified by us. We have done them many good offices. They are, besides, all renowned men and endued with great mental vigour. O son, they are again protected by many foremost of men endued with great activity, and of famous achievements, resembling the very Regents of the world and renowned over the whole earth. Innumerable Kshatriyas, respected throughout the world, and who have of their own will sided us with their forces and followers also protect them. Indeed, our army is like the vast ocean filled with the water of innumerable rivers running from all directions.
p. 190
[paragraph continues] It abounds with elephants, and with cars which though destitute of wings, yet resemble the winged tenants of the air. Vast numbers of combatants constitute the waters of that ocean, and the steeds and other animals constitute its terrible waves. Innumerable swords and maces and darts and arrows and lances constitute the oars (piled on that ocean). Abounding with standards and ornaments and adorned with cloth inlaid with gold and gems, the rushing steeds and elephants constitute the winds agitating it into fury. Our host, therefore, really resembles the vast, shoreless ocean roaring in rage. And that host is protected by Drona and Bhishma and by Kritavarman and Kripa and Dussasana, and others headed by Jayadratha. It is also protected by Bhagadatta and Vikarna by Drona's son, and Suvala's son, and Valhika and by many other mighty and high-souled heroes of the world. That our army should yet be slaughtered in battle is due only to predestined fate, O Sanjaya. Neither men nor highly blessed Rishis of old ever beheld such preparations (for battle) on earth before. That so large an army, mustered according to science, and attached (to us) by wealth, should yet be slaughtered in battle, alas, what can it be but the result of Destiny? O Sanjaya, all these seem to be unnatural. Indeed Vidura had often said what was both beneficial and desirable. But my wicked son Duryodhana would not accept it. I believe that high-souled and well-knowing person had foreseen all that is now happening and hence the counsel he gave. 1 Or, O Sanjaya, all these, in all its details, had been pre-arranged by Him, for that which is ordained by the Creator must happen as ordained and cannot be otherwise."

Book 6
Chapter 77








 1 [s]
      athātmaja tava punar gāgeyo dhyānam āsthitam
      abravīd bharataśreṣṭha sapraharakara vaca
  2 aha droaś ca śalyaś ca ktavarmā ca sātvata
      aśvatthāmā vikaraś ca somadatto 'tha saindhava
  3 vindānuvindāv āvantyau bāhlika saha bāhlikai
      trigartarājaś ca balī māgadhaś ca sudurjaya
  4 bhadbalaś ca kausalyaś citraseno viviśati
      rathāś ca bahusāhasrā śobhamānā mahādhvajā
  5 devajāś ca hayā rājan svārūhā hayasādibhi
      gajendrāś ca mahodvttā prabhinnakaraā mukhā
  6 padātāś ca tathā śūrā nānāpraharaāyudhā
      nānādeśasamutpannās tvadarthe yoddhum udyatā
  7 ete cānye ca bahavas tvadarthe tyaktajīvitā
      devān api rae jetu samarthā iti me mati
  8 avaśya tu mayā rājas tava vācya hita sadā
      aśakyāṇḍavā jetu devair api sa vāsavai
      vāsudevasahāyāś ca mahendrasamavikramā
  9 sarvathāha tu rājendra kariye vacana tava
      pāṇḍavān vā rae jeye mā vā jeyanti pāṇḍavā
  10 evam uktvā dadau cāsmai viśalyakaraī śubhām
     oadhī vīryasapannā viśalyaś cābhavat tadā
 11 tata prabhāte vimale svenānīkena vīryavān
     avyūhata svaya vyūha bhīmo vyūha viśārada
 12 maṇḍala manujaśreṣṭha nānāśastrasamākulam
     sapūra yodhamukhyaiś ca tathā danti padātibhi
 13 rathair anekasāhasrai samantāt parivāritam
     aśvabndair mahadbhiś ca ṛṣṭitomaradhāribhi
 14 nāge nāge rathā sapta sapta cāśvā rathe rathe
     anv aśva daśa dhānukā dhānuke sapta carmia
 15 eva vyūha mahārāja tava sainya mahārathai
     sthita raāya mahate bhīmea yudhi pālitam
 16 daśāśvānā sahasrāi dantinā ca tathaiva ca
     rathānām ayuta cāpi putrāś ca tava daśitā
     citrasenādaya śūrā abhyarakan pitāmaham
 17 rakyamāaś ca tai śūrair gopyamānāś ca tena te
     sanaddhā samadśyanta rājānaś ca mahābalā
 18 duryodhanas tu samare daśito ratham āsthita
     vyabhrājata śriyā juṣṭo yathā śakras triviṣṭape
 19 tata śabdo mahān āsīt putrāā tava bhārata
     rathagoaś ca tumulo vāditrāā ca nisvana
 20 bhīmea dhārtarāṣṭā vyūha pratyamukho yudhi
     maṇḍala sumahāvyūho durbhedyo 'mitraghātinam
     sarvata śuśubhe rājan rae 'rīā durāsada
 21 maṇḍala tu samālokya vyūha paramadāruam
     svaya yudhiṣṭhiro rājā vyūha vajram athākarot
 22 tathā vyūhev anīkeu yathāsthānam avasthitā
     rathina sādinaś caiva sihanādam athānadan
 23 bibhitsavas tato vyūha niryayur yuddhakākia
     itaretarata śūrā saha sainyā prahāria
 24 bhāradvājo yayau matsya drauiś cāpi śikhaṇḍinam
     svaya duryodhano rājā pārata samupādravat
 25 nakula sahadevaś ca rājan madreśam īyatu
     vindānuvindāv āvantyāv irāvantam abhidrutau
 26 sarve npās tu samare dhanajayam ayodhayan
     bhīmaseno rae yatto hārdikya samavārayat
 27 citrasena vikara ca tathā durmaraa vibho
     ārjuni samare rājas tava putrān ayodhayat
 28 prāgjyotia mahevāsa haiimbo rākasottama
     abhidudrāva vegena matto mattam iva dvipam
 29 alambusas tato rājan sātyaki yuddhadurmadam
     sa sainya samare kruddho rākasa samabhidravat
 30 bhūriśravā rae yatto dhṛṣṭaketum ayodhayat
     śrutāyua tu rājāna dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhira
 31 cekitānas tu samare kpam evānyvayodhayat
     śeā pratiyayur yattā bhīmam eva mahāratham
 32 tato rājasahasrāi parivavrur dhanajayam
     śaktitomaranārācagadāparighapāaya
 33 arjuno 'tha bhśa kruddho vārṣṇeyam idam abravīt
     paśya mādhava sainyāni dhārtarāṣṭrasya sayuge
     vyūhāni vyūha viduā gāgeyena mahātmanā
 34 yuddhābhikāmāñ śūrāś ca paśya mādhava daśitān
     trigartarāja sahita bhrātbhi paśya keśava
 35 adyaitān pātayiyāmi paśyatas te janārdana
     ya ime mā yaduśreṣṭha yoddhukāmā raājire
 36 evam uktvā tu kaunteyo dhanurjyām avamjya ca
     vavara śaravarāi narādhipa gaān prati
 37 te 'pi ta paramevāsā śaravarair apūrayan
     taāgam iva dhārābhir yathā prāvṛṣi toyadā
 38 hāhākāro mahān āsīt tava sainyaviśā pate
     chādyamānau bhśa kṛṣṇau śarair dṛṣṭvā mahārae
 39 devā devarayaś caiva gandharvāś ca mahoragā
     vismaya parama jagmur dṛṭvā kṛṣṇau tathāgatau
 40 tata kruddho 'rjuno rājann aindram astram udīrayat
     tatrādbhutam apaśyāma vijayasya parākramam
 41 śastravṛṣṭi parair muktā śaraughair yad avārayat
     na ca tatrāpy anirbhinna kaś cid āsīd viśā pate
 42 teā rājasahasrāā hayānā dantinā tathā
     dvābhyā tribhi śaraiś cānyān pārtho vivyādha māria
 43 te hanyamānā pārthena bhīma śātanava yayu
     agādhe majjamānānā bhīmas trātābhavat tadā
 44 āpatadbhis tu tais tatra prabhagna tāvaka balam
     sacukubhe mahārāja vātair iva mahārava



SECTION LXXVII

Sanjaya said, "Thou hast, O king, in consequence of thy own fault, been overtaken by this calamity. O bull of Bharata's race, the faults which thou, O monarch, hadst seen in that unrighteous course of conduct (towards the Pandavas), were not seen by Duryodhana. It was through thy fault, O king, that the match at dice had taken place. And it is through thy fault that this battle hath taken place with the Pandavas. Having committed a sin, do thou, therefore, reap the fruit of that sin of thine. One reapeth the fruit of acts perpetrated by one's own self. Do thou, therefore, O king, reap the fruit of thy own acts both here and hereafter. Therefore, O monarch, though overtaken by this calamity, be calm still, and listen, O sire, to the (account of the) battle as I recite it.
"The heroic Bhimasena, having with his sharp shafts broken thy mighty array, then came upon all the younger brothers of Duryodhana.
p. 191
[paragraph continues] The mighty Bhima, beholding Dussasana and Durvisaha and Dussaha and Durmada and Jaya, and Jayasena and Vikarna and Chitrasena and Sudarsana, and Charuchitra and Suvarman and Duskarna and Karna, and many other mighty car-warriors, excited with rage, of the Dhartarashtra host near enough to himself, penetrated into (thy) mighty array that was protected by Bhishma in that battle. Then, beholding him in their midst, all those warriors said, 'Ye kings, let us take this one's life'!--Thereupon that son of Pritha was surrounded by those cousins of his who were firmly resolved (to take his life). And Bhima then resembled Surya himself of fierce splendour surrounded by the mighty planets of evil nature, at the time of the universal destruction. And although the son of Pandu was there in the very midst of the (Kaurava) array, yet fear entered not his heart, as it did not that of Indra while surrounded by the Danavas in the fierce battle of old between the celestials and the Asuras. Then thousands of car-warriors armed with all weapons and fully prepared for battle overwhelmed his single self with terrible shafts. Thereupon the heroic Bhima, disregarding the sons of Dhritarashtra, slew in that conflict many foremost warriors (of the Kaurava army) fighting from cars or upon the back of elephants and steeds. And ascertaining the purpose harboured by those cousins of his who were bent upon his destruction, the mighty Bhima set his heart upon slaying them all. Then leaving his car and taking up his mace, the son of Pandu began to smite that very sea of Dhartarashtra troops.
"Then when Bhimasena thus penetrated the Dhartarashtra host, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, forsaking Drona (with whom he had been engaged), quickly proceeded to the spot where Suvala's son was stationed. That bull among men, baffling countless warriors of thy army, came upon the empty car of Bhimasena in that battle. And beholding in that conflict Visoka, the charioteer of Bhimasena, Dhrishtadyumna, O king, became exceedingly cheerless and almost deprived of his senses. With voice choked in tears, and sighing as he spoke, he asked Visoka, in grief, saying, 'Where is Bhima who is dear to me as my life itself?' Visoka then, joining his hands, replied unto Dhrishtadyumna saying, 'The mighty son of Pandu, endued with great strength, ordering me to wait for him here, hath alone penetrated into the Dhartarashtra host that resembleth the very ocean. That tiger among men very cheerfully said unto me these words--'Wait for me, O charioteer, restraining the steeds for a short space of time, that is, till I slay those that are bent upon my destruction.--Beholding then the mighty Bhima rushing mace in hand, all our troops (that supported him) became filled with delight. Then in this fierce and terrible battle, O prince, thy friend, breaking the mighty array (of the foe), hath penetrated into it. Hearing these words of Visoka, Prishata's son Dhrishtadyumna, endued with great strength, said unto the charioteer these words on the field of battle. 'What need have I today of life itself, if forgetting my affection for the Pandavas, I forsake Bhima in battle? If I return today without Bhima, what will the Kshatriyas say of me? What
p. 192
will they say of me when they will learn that while I was on the field Bhima penetrated alone into the hostile array making a single opening in it? The gods with Indra at their head visit him with evil who, forsaking his comrades in battle, returneth home unhurt! The mighty Bhima again is my friend and kinsman. He is devoted to me, and I also am devoted to that slayer of foes. Therefore, I will go thither, whither Bhima hath gone. Behold me slaying the foe like Vasava slaying the Danavas.' Having said this, the heroic Dhrishtadyumna, O Bharata, proceeded through the midst of the foe, along the tracks opened by Bhimasena and marked by elephants crushed with his mace. He then obtained sight of Bhimasena consuming the hostile ranks or felling Kshatriya warriors like the tempest devastating rows of trees. And car-warriors and horsemen and foot-soldiers and tuskers, while thus slaughtered by him, uttered loud cries of woe. And cries of ah and alas arose from thy troops, O sire, while they were slaughtered by the victorious Bhima accomplished in all moods of warfare. Then the Kaurava warriors all accomplished in arms, surrounding Vrikodara on all sides, fearlessly poured upon him their arrowy showers at the same time. Then the mighty son of Prishata, beholding that foremost of all wielders of weapons, that celebrated hero, viz., the son of Pandu, thus attacked on all sides by fierce ranks of foes in close array, mangled with shafts, treading the field on foot, and vomiting the poison of his wrath, mace in hand and looking like the Destroyer himself at the hour of the universal dissolution, quickly approached him and comforted him by his presence. And taking him upon his car, and plucking the arrows off from all his limbs, and embracing him warmly, the high-souled son of Prishata comforted Bhimasena in the very midst of the foe. Then thy son, in that terrible conflict, quickly coming up to his brothers, said unto them, 'This son of Drupada of wicked soul, is now united with Bhimasena. Let us all approach him together for slaying him. Let not the foe seek our ranks (for battle).' Hearing these words, the Dhartarashtras, thus urged on by the command of their eldest brother and unable to put up (with the foe), quickly rushed, with upraised weapons, for slaying Dhrishtadyumna like fierce comets at the hour of the universal dissolution. Taking up their beautiful bows, those heroes, making the very earth shiver with the twang of their bowstring and the rattle of their car-wheels, showered shafts on Drupada's son, like the clouds covering the mountain-breast with torrents of rain. But that hero conversant with all modes of warfare, though thus struck with sharp arrows in that battle, did not waver. On the other hand, that mighty car-warrior, the youthful son of Drupada, beholding those heroic sons of thine staying before him in battle and exerting themselves to their utmost being desirous of slaying them applied that fierce weapon called Pramohana and engaged with thy sons, O king, like Indra with the Danavas in battle. Then those heroic warriors were deprived of their senses, their minds and strength afflicted by the Pramohana weapon. And the Kauravas fled away in all directions, with their steeds and elephants and cars, beholding those sons of thine deprived of their senses in a swoon like
p. 193
those whose hours had come. And at that time Drona, the foremost of all wielders of weapons, approaching Drupada, pierced him with three fierce shafts. And that monarch then, O king, viz., Drupada, deeply pierced by Drona, left the battle, O Bharata, remembering his former hostility (with Bharadwaja's son). Thereupon Drona endued with great prowess having thus vanquished Drupada, blew his conch. And hearing the blare of his conch, all the Somakas were struck with fear. Then Drona, possessed of great energy, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, heard of thy sons being deprived of their senses in battle with the Pramohana weapon. Then the son of Bharadwaja, desirous of rescuing the princes, speedily left that part of the field where he was and proceeded to the place where thy sons were. And that mighty bowman viz., Bharadwaja's son of great prowess, there beheld Dhrishtadyumna and Bhima careering through the field in that dreadful conflict. And that mighty car-warrior beheld thy sons deprived of their senses. Taking up then the weapon called Prajna, he neutralised the Pramohana weapon (that Dhrishtadyumna had shot). Then thy sons those mighty car-warriors, when their senses returned, once more proceeded to battle with Bhima and Prishata's son. Then Yudhishthira, addressing his own troops said, 'Let twelve brave car-warriors cased in mail and headed by Subhadra's son, follow, to the utmost of their might, the track of Bhima and Prishata's son in battle. Let intelligence be had (of those two warriors). My heart is very uneasy.' Thus ordered by the king, those heroes possessed of great prowess in battle and proud of their manliness, saying 'Yes,' all proceeded forward when the sun had reached the meridian. And those chastisers of foes then, viz., the Kaikeyas and the sons of Draupadi, and Dhrishtaketu of great prowess, supported by a large force and with Abhimanyu at their head, and disposing themselves in the array called Suchimukha1 penetrated into that car-division of the Dhartarashtras in battle. And thy troops, O king, struck with the fear of Bhimasena and deprived of their senses by Dhrishtadyumna, were unable to resist (the rush of) those mighty bowmen headed by Abhimanyu. And they were quite helpless, like a lady in the streets. And those mighty bowmen with standards variegated with gold cutting through (the Kaurava ranks), proceeded with great speed for rescuing Dhrishtadyumna and Vrikodara. And the latter, beholding those mighty bowmen headed by Abhimanyu, became filled with delight and continued to smite down thy ranks. And the heroic prince of Panchala, viz., the son of Prishata, seeing meanwhile his preceptor advancing towards him with great speed, no longer wished to compass the death of thy sons. Causing Vrikodara then to be taken up on the car of the king of the Kaikeyas, he rushed in great wrath against Drona accomplished in arrow and all weapons. And that slayer of foes, viz., the valiant son of Bharadwaja, excited with rage, cut off with a broad-headed shaft the bow of Prishata's son who was rushing
p. 194
towards him with impetuosity. And remembering the bread he had eaten of his master and desirous of doing good to Duryodhana, he also sped hundreds of shafts after Prishata's son. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Prishata, taking up another bow, pierced Drona with seventy shafts whetted on stone and furnished with wings of gold. Then that grinder of foes, viz., Drona, once more cut off his bow, and despatched his four steeds to Yama's abode with four excellent arrows, and also slew his charioteer, O Bharata, with a broad-headed shaft. Then that mighty car-warrior of strong arms, viz., Dhrishtadyumna, quickly descending from that car whose steeds had been slain, ascended the great car of Abhimanyu. Then Drona caused the Pandava army consisting of cars, elephants, and steeds, to tremble, in the very sight of Bhimasena and the intelligent son of Prishata. Beholding then that army thus broken by Drona of immeasurable energy, all those mighty car-warriors were incapable of checking its flight. And that army, thus slaughtered by Drona with his sharp shafts, began to move in eddies there, like the agitated sea. And beholding the (Pandava) army in that condition, thy troops were filled with delight. And seeing the preceptor excited with rage and thus consuming the ranks of the foe, all thy warriors, O Bharata, set up loud shouts and uttered exclamations in praise of Drona."




Book 6
Chapter 78







1 sajaya uvāca
      tathā pravtte sagrāme nivtte ca suśarmai
      prabhagneu ca vīreu pāṇḍavena mahātmanā
  2 kubhyamāe bale tūra sāgarapratime tava
      pratyudyāte ca gāgeye tvarita vijaya prati
  3 dṛṣṭvā duryodhano rājan rae pārthasya vikramam
      tvaramāa samabhyetya sarvās tān abravīn npān
  4 teā ca pramukhe śūra suśarmāa mahābalam
      madhye sarvasya sainyasya bhśa saharayan vaca
  5 ea bhīma śātanavo yoddhukāmo dhanajayam
      sarvātmanā kuruśreṣṭhas tyaktvā jīvitam ātmana
  6 ta prayānta parānīka sarvasainyena bhāratam
      sayattā samare sarve pālayadhva pitāmaham
  7ham ity evam uktvā tu tāny anīkāni sarvaśa
      narendrāā mahārāja samājagmu pitāmaham
  8 tata prayāta sahasā bhīma śātanavo 'rjunam
      rae bhāratam āyāntam āsasāda mahābalam
  9 mahāśvetāśvayuktena bhīma vānaraketunā
      mahatā meghanādena rathenāti virājata
  10 samare sarvasainyānām upayāta dhanajayam
     abhavat tumulo nādo bhayād dṛṣṭvā kirīinam
 11 abhīśu hasta kṛṣṇa ca dṛṣṭvādityam ivāparam
     madhyadina gata sakhye na śeku prativīkitum
 12 tathā śātanava bhīma śvetāśva śvetakārmukam
     na śekuṇḍavā draṣṭu śvetagraham ivoditam
 13 sa sarvata parivtas trigartai sumahātmabhi
     bhrātbhis tava putraiś ca tathānyaiś ca mahārathai
 14 bhāradvājas tu samare matsya vivyādha patriā
     dhvaja cāsya śareājau dhanuś caikena cicchide
 15 tad apāsya dhanuś chinna virāo vāhinīpati
     anyad ādatta vegena dhanur bhārasaha dṛḍham
     śarāś cāśīviākārāñ jvalitān pannagān iva
 16 droa tribhi pravivyādha caturbhiś cāsya vājina
     dhvajam ekena vivyādha sārathi cāsya pañcabhi
     dhanur ekeuāvidhyat tatrākrudhyad dvijarabha
 17 tasya droo 'vadhīd aśvāñ śarai sanataparvabhi
     aṣṭābhir bharataśreṣṭha sūtam ekena patriā
 18 sa hatāśvād avaplutya syandanād dhatasārathi
     āruroha ratha tūra śakhasya rathinā vara
 19 tatas tu tau pitā putrau bhāradvāja rathe sthitau
     mahatā śaravarea vārayām āsatur balāt
 20 bhāradvājas tata kruddha śaram āśīviopamam
     cikepa samare tūra śakha prati janeśvara
 21 sa tasya hdaya bhittvā pītvā śoitam āhave
     jagāma dharaio lohitārdrīktacchavi
 22 sa papāta rathāt tūra bhāradvājaśarāhata
     dhanus tyaktvā śarāś caiva pitur eva samīpata
 23 hata svam ātmaja dṛṣṭvā virāa prādravad bhayāt
     utsjya samare droa vyāttānanam ivāntakam
 24 bhāradvājas tatas tūraṇḍavānā mahācamūm
     dārayām āsa samare śataśo 'tha sahasraśa
 25 śikhaṇḍy api mahārāja drauim āsādya sayuge
     ājaghāna bhruvor madhye nārācais tribhir āśugai
 26 sa babhau naraśārdūlo lalāe sasthitais tribhi
     śikharai kāñcanamayair merus tribhir ivocchritai
 27 aśvatthāmā tata kruddho nimeārdhāc chikhaṇḍina
     sūta dhvajam atho rājas turagān āyudha tathā
     śarair bahubhir uddiśya pātayām āsa sayuge
 28 sa hatāśvād avaplutya rathād vai rathinā vara
     khagam ādāya niśita vimala ca śarāvaram
     śyenavad vyacarat kruddha śikhaṇḍī śatrutāpana
 29 sa khagasya mahārāja caratas tasya sayuge
     nāntara dadśe drauis tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 30 tata śarasahasrāi bahūni bharatarabha
     preayām āsa samare draui paramakopana
 31 tām āpatantī samare śaravṛṣṭi sudāruām
     asinā tīkṣṇadhārea ciccheda balinā vara
 32 tato 'sya vimala draui śatacandra manoramam
     carmācchinad asi cāsya khaṇḍayām āsa sayuge
     śitai subahuśo rājas ta ca vivyādha patribhi
 33 śikhaṇḍī tu tata khaga khaṇḍita tena sāyakai
     āvidhya vyasjat tūra jvalantam iva pannagam
 34 tam āpatanta sahasā kālānalasamaprabham
     ciccheda samare drauir darśayan pāilāghavam
     śikhaṇḍina ca vivyādha śarair bahubhir āyasai
 35 śikhaṇḍī tu bhśa rājas tāyamāna śitai śarai
     āruroha ratha tūra mādhavasya mahātmana
 36 sātyakis tu tata kruddho rākasa krūram āhave
     alambusa śarair ghorair vivyādha balinā balī
 37 rākasendras tatas tasya dhanuś ciccheda bhārata
     ardhacandrea samare ta ca vivyādha sāyakai
     māyā ca rākasī ktvā śaravarair avākirat
 38 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma śaineyasya parākramam
     nāsabhramad yat samare vadhyamāna śitai śarai
 39 aindram astra ca vārṣṇeyo yojayām āsa bhārata
     vijayād yad anuprāpta mādhavena yaśasvinā
 40 tad astra bhasmasāt ktvā māyā rākasī tadā
     alambusa śarair ghorair abhyākirata sarvaśa
     parvata vāridhārābhi prāvṛṣīva balāhaka
 41 tat tathā pīita tena mādhavena mahātmanā
     pradudrāva bhayād rako hitvā sātyakim āhave
 42 tam ajeya rākasendra sakhye maghavatā api
     śaineya prāadaj jitvā yodhānā tava paśyatām
 43 nyahanat tāvakāś cāpi sātyaki satyavikrama
     niśitair bahubhir bāais te 'dravanta bhayārditā
 44 etasminn eva kāle tu drupadasyātmajo balī
     dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja tava putra janeśvaram
     chādayām āsa samare śarai sanataparvabhi
 45 sachādyamāno viśikhair dhṛṣṭadyumnena bhārata
     vivyathe na ca rājendra tava putro janeśvara
 46 dhṛṣṭadyumna ca samare tūra vivyādha sāyakai
     aṣṭyā ca triśatā caiva tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 47 tasya senāpati kruddho dhanuś ciccheda māria
     hayāś ca catura śīghra nijaghāna mahāratha
     śaraiś caina suniśitai kipra vivyādha saptabhi
 48 sa hatāśvān mahābāhur avaplutya rathād balī
     padātir asim udyamya prādravat pārata prati
 49 śakunis ta samabhyetya rājagddhī mahābala
     rājāna sarvalokasya ratham āropayat svakam
 50 tato npa parājitya pārata paravīrahā
     nyahanat tāvaka sainya vajrapāir ivāsuram
 51 ktavarmā rae bhīma śarair ārcchan mahāratham
     pracchādayām āsa ca ta mahāmegho ravi yathā
 52 tata prahasya samare bhīmasena paratapa
     preayām āsa sakruddha sāyakān ktavarmae
 53 tair ardyamāno 'tiratha sātvata śastrakovida
     nākampata mahārāja bhīma cārchac chitai śarai
 54 tasyāśvāś caturo hatvā bhīmaseno mahābala
     sārathi pātayām āsa dhvaja ca supariktam
 55 śarair bahuvidhaiś cainam ācinot paravīharā
     śakalīktasarvāga śvāvidvat samadśyata
 56 hatāśvāt tu rathāt tūra vṛṣakasya ratha yayau
     syālasya te mahārāja tava putrasya paśyata
 57 bhīmaseno 'pi sakruddhas tava sainyam upādravat
     nijaghāna ca sakruddho daṇḍapāir ivāntaka


SECTION LXXVIII

Sanjaya said, "Then king Duryodhana, regaining his senses, once more began to resist Bhima with showers of arrows. And once more those mighty car-warriors viz., thy sons, united together, began to fight valiantly with Bhimasena. And Bhimasena also of mighty arms during that battle, having got his car, ascended it and proceeded to the spot where thy sons were. And taking up a strong and very tough bow adorned with gold and capable of taking the lives of foes he pierced thy sons in that conflict, with his shafts. Then king Duryodhana struck the mighty Bhimasena at the very vitals with a long shaft of exceeding sharpness. Then that mighty bowman, pierced thus deeply by thy son, bow in hand, forcibly drawing his own with eyes red in wrath, struck Duryodhana in his two arms and the breast with three shafts. But struck thus, O king, he moved not, like a prince of mountains. Beholding then those two heroes excited with rage and smiting each other, the younger brothers of Duryodhana, all of whom were heroes prepared to lay down their lives, remembering their previously formed scheme of afflicting Vrikodara of terrible deeds, set about firmly resolved, for smiting him down. And as they fell upon him in battle, Bhimasena of great strength rushed against
p. 195
them, O king, like an elephant rushing against an attacking compeer. Excited with fury and endued with great energy, that celebrated hero then, O king, afflicted thy son Chitrasena with a long arrow. And as regards thy other sons, that descendant of Bharata smote them all in that battle, with diverse kinds of shafts furnished with wings of gold and endued with great impetus. Then king Yudhishthira the just, disposing all his own divisions properly despatched twelve mighty car-warriors including Abhimanyu and others to follow Bhimasena behind. Those, O king, all proceeded against those mighty car-warriors, viz., thy sons. Beholding those heroes on their cars, resembling the Sun himself or the fire in splendour-those great bowmen of blazing effulgence and superb beauty, looking resplendent in that dreadful conflict with ornaments of gold,--thy mighty sons abandoned Bhima (with whom they had been fighting). The sons of Kunti, however, could not bear the sight of their abandoning the conflict alive."






Book 6
Chapter 79






 1 [dh]
      bahūnīha vicitrāi dvairathāni sma sajaya
      pāṇḍūnā māmakai sārdham aśraua tava jalpata
  2 na caiva māmaka ka cid dhṛṣṭa śasasi sajaya
      nityaṇḍusutān hṛṣṭān abhagnāś caiva śasasi
  3 jīyamānān vimanaso māmakān vigataujasa
      vadase sayuge sūta diṣṭam etad asaśayam
  4 [s]
      yathāśakti yathotsāha yuddhe ceṣṭanti tāvakā
      darśayānā para śaktyā paurua puruarabha
  5 gagāyā suranadyā vai svādu bhūta yathodakam
      mahodadhi guābhyāsāl lavaatva nigacchati
  6 tathā tat paurua rājas tāvakānā mahātmanām
      prāpya pāṇḍusutān vīrān vyartha bhavati sayuge
  7 ghaamānān yathāśakti kurvāān karma dukaram
      na doea kuruśreṣṭha kauravān gantum arhasi
  8 tavāparādhāt sumahān saputrasya viśā pate
      pthivyā prakayo ghoro yama rāṣṭravivardhana
  9 ātmadoāt samutpanna śocitu nārhase npa
      na hi rakanti rājāna sarvārthān nāpi jīvitam
  10 yuddhe suktinā lokān icchanto vasudhādhipā
     camū vigāhya yudhyante nitya svargaparāyaā
 11 pūrvāhe tu mahārāja prāvartata janakaya
     tan mamaikamanā bhūtvā śṛṇu devāsuropamam
 12 āvantyau tu mahevāsau mahātmānau mahābalau
     irāvantam abhiprekya sameyātā raotkaau
     teā pravavte yuddha tumula lomaharaam
 13 irāvās tu susakruddho bhrātarau devarūpiau
     vivyādha niśitais tūra śarai sanataparvabhi
     tāv ena pratyavidhyetā samare citrayodhinau
 14 yudhyatā hi tathā rājan viśeo na vyadśyata
     yatatā śatrunāśāya ktapratiktaiiām
 15 irāvās tu tato rājann anuvindasya sāyakai
     caturbhiś caturo vāhān anayad yamasādanam
 16 bhallābhyā ca sutīkṣṇābhyā dhanu ketu ca māria
     ciccheda samare rājas tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 17 tyaktvānuvindo 'tha ratha vindasya ratham āsthita
     dhanur ghītvā navama bhārasādhanam uttamam
 18 tāv ekasthau rae vīrāv āvantyau rathinā varau
     śarān mumucatus tūram irāvati mahātmani
 19 tābhyā muktā mahāvegā śarā kāñcanabhūaā
     divākarapatha prāpya chādayām āsur ambaram
 20 irāvās tu tata kruddho bhrātarau tau mahārathau
     vavara śaravarea sārathi cāpy apātayat
 21 tasmin nipatite bhūmau gatasattve 'tha sārathau
     ratha pradudrāva diśa samudbhrānta hayas tata
 22 tau sa jitvā mahārāja nāgarājasutā suta
     paurua khyāpayas tūra vyadhamat tava vāhinīm
 23 sā vadhyamānā samare dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamū
     vegān bahuvidhāś cakre via pītveva mānava
 24 haiimbo rākasendras tu bhagadatta samādravat
     rathenādityavarena sa dhvajena mahābala
 25 tata prāgjyotio rājā nāgarāja samāsthita
     yathā vajradhara pūrva sagrame tārakāmaye
 26 tatar devā sa gandharvā ṛṣayaś ca samāgatā
     viśea na sma vividur haiimba bhagadattayo
 27 yathā surapati śakras trāsayām āsa dānavān
     tathaiva samare rājas trāsayām āsa pāṇḍavān
 28 tena vidrāvyamāās te pāṇḍavā sarvatodiśam
     trātāra nābhyavindanta svev anīkeu bhārata
 29 bhaimaseni rathastha tu tatrāpaśyāma bhārata
     śeā vimanaso bhūtvā prādravanta mahārathā
 30 nivtteu tu pāṇḍūnā puna sainyeu bhārata
     āsīn niṣṭānako ghoras tava sainyeu sayuge
 31 ghaotkacas tato rājan bhagadatta mahārae
     śarai pracchādayām āsa meru girim ivāmbuda
 32 nihatya tāñ śarān rājā rākasasya dhanuścyutān
     bhaimaseni rae tūra sarvamarmasv atāayat
 33 sa tāyamāno bahubhi śarai sanataparvabhi
     na vivyathe rākasendro bhidyamāna ivācala
 34 tasya prāgjyotia kruddhas tomarān sa caturdaśa
     preayām āsa samare tāś ca ciccheda rākasa
 35 sa tāś chittvā mahābāhus tomarān niśitai śarai
     bhagadatta ca vivyādha saptatyā kakapatribhi
 36 tata prāgjyotio rājan prahasann iva bhārata
     tasyāśvāś catura sakhye pātayām āsa sāyakai
 37 sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhan rākasendra pratāpavān
     śakti cikepa vegena prāgjyotia gaja prati
 38 tām āpatantī sahasā hemadaṇḍā suveginām
     tridhā ciccheda npati sā vyakīryata medinīm
 39 śakti vinihatā dṛṣṭvā haiimba prādravad bhayāt
     yathendrasya raāt pūrva namucir daitya sattama
 40 ta vijitya rae śūra vikrānta khyātapauruam
     ajeya samare rājan yamena varuena ca
 41ṇḍavī samare senā samamarda sa kuñjara
     yathā vanagajo rājan mdgaś carati padminīm
 42 madreśvaras tu samare yamābhyā saha sagata
     svasrīyau chādayā cakre śaraughaiṇḍunandanau
 43 sahadevas tu samare mātula vīkya sagatam
     avārayac charaughea megho yadvad divākaram
 44 chādyamāna śaraughea hṛṣṭarūpataro 'bhavat
     tayoś cāpy abhavat prītir atulā mātkāraāt
 45 tata prahasya samare nakulasya mahāratha
     aśvān vai caturo rājaś caturbhi sāyakottamai
     preayām āsa samare yamasya sadana prati
 46 hayāśvāt tu rathāt tūram avaplutya mahāratha
     āruroha tato hāna bhrātur eva yaśasvina
 47 ekasthau tu rae śūrau dṛḍhe vikipya kārmuke
     madrarājaratha kruddhau chādayām āsatu kaāt
 48 sa cchādyamāno bahubhi śarai sanataparvabhi
     svasrīyābhyā naravyāghro nākampata yathācala
     prahasann iva tā cāpi śaravṛṣṭi jaghāna ha
 49 sahadevas tata kruddha śaram udyamya vīryavān
     madrarājam abhiprekya preayām āsa bhārata
 50 sa śara preitas tena garutmān iva vegavān
     madrarāja vinirbhidya nipapāta mahītale
 51 sa gāhaviddho vyathito rathopasthe mahāratha
     niasāda mahārāja kaśmala ca jagāma ha
 52 ta visajña nipatita sūta saprekya sayuge
     apovāha rathenājau yamābhyām abhipīitam
 53 dṛṭṣvā madreśvara ratha dhārtarāṣṭ parāmukham
     sarve vimanaso bhūtvā nedam astīty acintayan
 54 nirjitya mātula sakhye mādrīputrau mahārathau
     dadhmatur muditau śakhau sihanāda vinedatu
 55 abhidudruvatur hṛṣṭau tava sainya viśā pate
     yathā daitya camū rājann indropendrāv ivāmarau



SECTION LXXIX

Sanjaya said, "Then Abhimanyu, accompanied by Bhimasena pursuing thy sons, afflicted them all. Then the mighty car-warriors of thy army, including Duryodhana and others, beholding Abhimanyu and Bhimasena united with Prishata's son in the midst of the (Kauravas) troops, took up their bows, and borne by their fleet steeds rushed to the spot where those warriors were. And on that afternoon, O king, a dreadful conflict took place between the mighty combatants of thy army and those of the foe, O Bharata. And Abhimanyu, having, in that fierce battle, slain the steeds of Vikarna, pierced the latter with five and twenty small arrows. Then that mighty car-warrior, Vikarna, abandoning that car whose steeds had been slain, mounted on the resplendent car, O king, of Chitrasena. Then thus stationed on the same car, viz., those two brothers of Kuru's race, the son of Arjuna covered, O Bharata, with showers of arrows. Then Durjaya and Vikarna pierced Abhimanyu with five shafts made wholly of iron. Abhimanyu however, shook not in the least but stood firm like the mountain Meru. Dussasana in that battle, O sire, fought with the five Kekaya brothers. All these, O great king, seemed exceedingly wonderful. The sons of Draupadi, excited with rage, resisted Duryodhana in that battle. And each of them, O king, pierced thy son with three shafts. Thy son also, invincible in battle, pierced each of the sons of Draupadi, O monarch, with sharp shafts. And pierced by them (in return) and bathed in blood, he shone like a hill with rillets of water mixed with red-chalk (gliding down its breast). And the mighty Bhishma also, in that battle, O king, afflicted the Pandava army like a herdsman belabouring his herd. Then, O monarch, the twang of Gandiva was heard, of Partha, who was engaged in slaughtering the foe on the right of the army.
p. 196
And in that part of the field headless trunks stood up by thousands, amongst the troops, O Bharata, of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas. And the field of battle resembled an ocean whose water was blood, and whose eddies were the shafts (shot by the combatants). And the elephants constituted the islands of that ocean, and the steeds its waves. And cars constituted the boats by which brave men crossed it. And many brave combatants, with arms cut off, divested of armour, and hideously mutilated, were seen lying there in hundreds and thousands. And with the bodies of infuriate elephants deprived of life and bathed in blood, the field of battle. O Bharata, looked as if strewn with hills. And the wonderful sight we saw there, O Bharata, was that neither in their army nor in thine was a single person that was unwilling to fight. And thus, O monarch, did those brave warriors, of both thy army and the Pandavas, fight, seeking glory and desirous of victory."


Book 6
Chapter 80





  1 [s]
      tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā madhya prāpte divākare
      śrutāyuam abhiprekya codayām āsa vājina
  2 abhyadhāvat tato rājā śrutāyuam aridamam
      vinighnan sāyakais tīkṣṇair navabhir nataparvabhi
  3 sa savārya rae rājā preitān dharmasūnunā
      śarān sapta mahevāsa kaunteyāya samarpayat
  4 te tasya kavaca bhittvā papu śoitam āhave
      asūn iva vicinvanto dehe tasya mahātmana
  5ṇḍavas tubhśa viddhas tena rājñā mahātmanā
      rae varāhakarena rājāna hdi vivyadhe
  6 athāparea bhallena ketu tasya mahātmana
      rathaśreṣṭho rathāt tūra bhūmau pārtho nyapātayat
  7 ketu nipatita dṛṣṭvā śrutāyu sa tu pārthiva
      pāṇḍava viśikhais tīkṣṇai rājan vivyādha saptabhi
  8 tata krodhāt prajajvāla dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhira
      yathā yugānte bhūtāni dhakyann iva hutāśana
  9 kruddha tu pāṇḍava dṛṣṭvā devagandharvarākasa
      pravivyathur mahārāja vyākula cāpy abhūj jagat
  10 sarveā caiva bhūtānām idam āsīn manogatam
     trīl lokān adya sakruddho npo 'ya dhakyatīti vai
 11 ṛṣayaś caiva devāś ca cakru svastyayana mahat
     lokānā npa śānty artha krodhite pāṇḍave tadā
 12 sa ca krodhasamāviṣṭa skkiī parilelihan
     dadhārātma vapur ghora yugāntādityasanibham
 13 tata sarvāi sainyāni tāvakāni viśā pate
     nirāśāny abhavas tatra jīvita prati bhārata
 14 sa tu dhairyea ta kopa sanivārya mahāyaśā
     śrutāyua praciccheda muṣṭideśe mahad dhanu
 15 athaina chinnadhanvāna nārācena stanāntare
     nirbibheda rae rājā sarvasainyasya paśyata
 16 sa tvara carae rājas tasya vāhān mahātmana
     nijaghāna śarai kipra sūta ca sumahābala
 17 hatāśva tu ratha tyaktvā dṛṣṭvā rājñas tu pauruam
     vipradudrāva vegena śrutāyu samare tadā
 18 tasmiñ jite mahevāse dharmaputrea sayuge
     duryodhana bala rājan sarvam āsīt parāmukham
 19 etat ktvā mahārāja dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhira
     vyāttānano yathākālas tava sainya jaghāna ha
 20 cekitānas tu vārṣṇeyo gautama rathinā varam
     prekatā sarvasainyānā chādayām āsa sāyakai
 21 sanivārya śarās tās tu kpa śāradvato yudhi
     cekitāna rae yatta rājan vivyādha patribhi
 22 athāparea bhallena dhanuś ciccheda māria
     sārathi cāsya samare kiprahasto nyapātayat
     hayāś cāsyāvadhīd rājann ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī
 23 so 'vaplutya rathāt tūra gadā jagrāha sātvata
     sa tayā vīra ghātinyā gadayā gadinā vara
     gautamasya hayān hatvā sārathi ca nyapātayat
 24 bhūmiṣṭho gautamas tasya śarāś cikepa oaśa
     te śarā sātvata bhittvā prāviśanta dharātalam
 25 cekitānas tata kruddha punaś cikepa tā gadām
     gautamasya vadhākākī vtrasyeva puradara
 26 tām āpatantī vimalām aśmagarbhā mahāgadām
     śarair anekasāhasrair vārayām āsa gautama
 27 cekitānas tata khaga kośād uddhtya bhārata
     lāghava param āsthāya gautama samupādravat
 28 gautamo 'pi dhanus tyaktvā praghyāsi susaśitam
     vegena mahatā rājaś cekitānam upādravat
 29 tāv ubhau balasapannau nistriśavaradhāriau
     nistriśābhyā sutīkṣṇābhyām anyonya satatakatu
 30 nistriśavegābhihatau tatas tau puruarabhau
     dharaī samanuprāptau sarvabhūtanievitām
     mūrchayābhiparītāgau vyāyāmena ca mohitau
 31 tato 'bhyadhāvad vegena karakara suht tayā
     cekitāna tathā bhūta dṛṣṭvā samaradurmadam
     ratham āropayac caina sarvasainyasya paśyata
 32 tathaiva śakuni śūra syālas tava viśā pate
     āropayad ratha tūra gautama rathinā varam
 33 saumadatti tathā kruddho dhṛṣṭaketur mahābala
     navatyā sāyakai kipra rājan vivyādha vakasi
 34 saumadattir urasthair tair bhśaair aśobhata
     madhya dine mahārāja raśmibhis tapano yathā
 35 bhūriśravās tu samare dhṛṣṭaketu mahāratham
     hatasūta haya cakre viratha sāyakottamai
 36 viratha cainam ālokya hatāśva hatasārathim
     mahatā śaravarea chādayām āsa sayuge
 37 sa ca ta ratham utsjya dhṛṣṭaketur mahāmanā
     āruroha tato yāna śatānīkasya māria
 38 citraseno vikaraś ca rājan durmaraas tathā
     rathino hemasanāhā saubhadram abhidudruvu
 39 abhimanyos tatas tais tu ghora yuddham avartata
     śarīrasya yathā rājan vātapitta kaphais tribhi
 40 virathās tava putrās tu ktvā rājan mahāhave
     na jaghāna naravyāghra smaran bhīma vacas tadā
 41 tato rājñā bahuśatair gajāśvarathayāyibhi
     savta samare bhīma devair api durāsadam
 42 prayānta śīghram udvīkya paritrātu sutās tava
     abhimanyu samuddiśya bālam eka mahāratham
     vāsudevam uvāceda kaunteya śvetavāhana
 43 codayāśvān hṛṣīkeśa yatraite bahulā rathā
     ete hi bahava śūrā ktāstrā yuddhadurmadā
     yathā na hanyur na senā tathā mādhava codaya
 44 evam ukta sa vārṣṇeya kaunteyenāmitaujasā
     ratha śvetahayair yukta preayām āsa sayuge
 45 niṣṭānako mahān āsīt tava sainyasya māria
     yad arjuna rae kruddha sayātas tāvakān prati
 46 samāsādya tu kaunteyo rājñas tān bhīmarakia
     suśarmāam atho rājann ida vacanam abravīt
 47 jānāmi tvā yudhi śreṣṭham atyanta pūrvavairiam
     paryāyasyādya saprāpta phala paśya sudāruam
     adya te darśayiyāmi pūrvapretān pitāmahān
 48 eva sajalpatas tasya bībhatso śatrughātina
     śrutvāpi parua vākya suśarmā rathayūthapa
     na caivam abravīt ki cic chubha vā yadi vāśubham
 49 abhi gatvārjuna vīra rājabhir bahubhir vta
     purastāt pṛṣṭhataś caiva pārśvataś caiva sarvata
 50 parivāryārjuna sakhye tava putrai sahānagha
     śarai sachādayām āsa meghair iva divākaram
 51 tata pravtta sumahān sagrāma śoitodaka
     tāvakānā ca samare pāṇḍavānā ca bhārata





SECTION LXXX

Sanjaya said, "Then when the sun assumed a red hue, king Duryodhana, desirous of battle, rushed towards Bhima from desire of slaying him. Beholding that heroic warrior cherishing deep animosity (thus) coming towards him, Bhimasena, excited with great wrath, said these words,--'That hour hath come which I have desired for so many years. I will slay thee to-day if thou dost not abandon the battle. Slaying thee I shall today dispel the sorrows of Kunti as also of Draupadi and the woes that were ours during our exile in the woods. Filled with pride, thou hadst formerly humiliated the sons of Pandu. Behold, O son of Gandhari, the dire fruit of that sinful behaviour. Following the counsels of Karna as also of Suvala's son, and recking the Pandavas little, thou hadst formerly behaved towards them as thou hadst hinted. Thou hadst also disregarded Krishna who begged thee (for peace). With a joyous heart didst thou despatch Uluka (to us) with thy messages. For all these, I shall slay thee to-day with all thy kinsmen, and thus avenge all those offences of thine of former days.' Having said these words, Bhima bending his bow and stretching it repeatedly, and taking up a number of terrible shafts whose effulgence resembled that of the lightning itself, and filled with wrath, quickly sped six and thirty of them at Duryodhana. And those shafts resembled the flames of a blazing fire, and coursed straight with the force of the thunder-bolt. And then he pierced Duryodhana's bow with two shafts, and his charioteer with two. And with four shafts he despatched Duryodhana's (four) steeds to the regions of Yama. And that grinder of foes then, with two shafts shot with great force, cut off in that battle the king's umbrella from his excellent car. And with three other shafts
p. 197
he cut off his handsome and blazing standard. And having cut it off, he uttered a loud shout in the very sight of thy son. And that beautiful standard of the latter, decked with diverse gems, suddenly fell down on the earth from his car like a flash of lightning from the clouds. And all the kings beheld that beautiful standard of the Kuru king, bearing the device of an elephant, decked with gems, and blazing like the sun, fell down cut off (by Bhimasena). And that mighty car-warrior, viz., Bhima, then pierced Duryodhana in that battle, smiling the while, with ten shafts like a guide piercing a mighty elephant with the hook. Then that foremost of car-warriors, viz., the mighty king of the Sindhus, supported by many brave warriors, placed himself on the flank of Duryodhana. And then that great car-warrior, viz., Kripa, O king, caused the vindictive Duryodhana, that son of Kuru's race, of immeasurable energy, to mount on his own car. Then king Duryodhana, deeply pierced by Bhimasena and feeling great pain, sat down on the terrace of that car. Then Jayadratha, desirous of slaying Bhima, surrounded him on all sides with several thousands of cars. Then, O king, Dhrishtaketu and Abhimanyu of great energy, and the Kekayas, and the sons of Draupadi, all encountered thy sons. And the high-souled Abhimanyu smote them all, piercing each with five straight shafts, resembling the bolts of heaven or Death's selves, shot from his excellent bow. Thereupon, all of them, unable to bear it (coolly), showered on that foremost of car-warriors, viz., the son of Subhadra, a perfect down-pour of sharp shafts like rain-charged clouds pouring rain on the breast of the mountains of Meru. But Abhimanyu, that invisible warrior accomplished in arms, thus afflicted by them in battle, caused all thy sons, O king, to tremble like the wielder of the thunder-bolt causing the mighty Asuras to tremble in the battle between the celestials and the latter. Then that foremost of car-warriors, O Bharata, shot fourteen broad-headed shafts, fierce and looking like snakes of virulent poison, at Vikarna. Endued with great prowess and as if dancing in that battle, he felled with those shafts the standard of Vikarna from his car and slew also his charioteer and steeds. Then that mighty car-warrior, the son of Subhadra, again sped at Vikarna many other arrows that were well-tempered, straight-going, and capable of penetrating every armour. And those arrows furnished with feathers of the kanka bird, coming at Vikarna and passing through his body, entered the earth, like hissing snakes. And those arrows, with wings and points decked with gold, bathed in Vikarna's blood, seemed to vomit blood on the earth. Beholding Vikarna thus pierced, his other uterine brothers rushed, in that battle, against those car-warriors headed by Subhadra's son. And when these invincible warriors upon their (own) cars came upon those combatants (of the Pandava army) resplendent like so many suns and staying on their cars both began to pierce one another.. And Durmukha, having pierced Srutakarman with five shafts, cut off the latter's standard with a single shaft and then pierced his charioteer with seven. And advancing closer, he slew with half a dozen shafts his foe's steeds, fleet as the wind and cased in golden armour, and then
p. 198
felled his charioteer. Srutakarman, however, staying on that car of his, the steeds of which had been slain, hurled in great wrath a dart blazing like a fierce meteor. That dart, blazing with effulgence, passing through the renowned Durmukha's hard coat of mail, penetrated into the earth. Meanwhile the mighty Sutasoma beholding Srutakarman deprived of his car, caused him to mount upon his own car in the very sight of all the troops. The heroic Srutakirti rushed against thy son Jayatsena in that battle, desirous, O king, of slaying that renowned warrior. Then thy son Jayatsena, O king, with a sharp arrow having a horse-shoe head, smiling the while, cut off the bow of the high-souled Srutakirti as the latter came along stretching it in his hands. Then Satanika, beholding his uterine brother's bow cut off, endued as he was with great valour, quickly came at that spot repeatedly roaring like a lion. And Satanika, drawing his bow in that battle with great force, speedily pierced Jayatsena with ten shafts, and uttered a loud shout like an infuriate elephant. And with another arrow of sharp point and capable of penetrating every armour, Satanika deeply pierced Jayatsena in the chest. Just at that time, Dushkarna who was near his brother. (Jayatsena) infuriate with anger, cut off Satanika's bow and arrow. Then the mighty Satanika taking up another excellent bow capable of bearing a great strain, aimed many sharp shafts. And addressing Dushkarna in the presence of his brother (Jayatsena), saying--'Wait', 'Wait',--he sped at him those sharp and blazing shafts resembling so many snakes. And then he speedily cut off Dushkarna's bow with one arrow, and slew his charioteer, O sire, with two, and then pierced Dushkarna himself with seven arrows. And that spotless warrior then with a dozen sharp shafts slew all the steeds of Dushkarna that were fleet as the mind and of variegated hue. And then with another broad-headed arrow, well-aimed and capable of coursing swiftly, Satanika, excited with great wrath deeply pierced Dushkarna in the chest. And thereupon the latter fell down on the earth like a tree struck with lightning. Beholding Dushkarna slain, five mighty car-warriors, O king, surrounded Satanika on all sides, from desire of slaying him. And they struck the renowned Satanika with showers of arrows. Then the five Kekaya brothers, excited with wrath, approached (Satanika for rescuing him). Beholding the latter coming upon them, thy sons--those mighty car-warriors,--rushed towards them like elephants rushing against mighty elephants. (These amongst thy sons, viz.,) Durmukha and Durjaya and the youthful Durmarshana and Satranjaya and Satrusha, all renowned warriors, excited with rage, proceeded, O king, against the (five) Kekaya brothers. On their cars that resembled (fortified) towns, unto which were yoked steeds decked with ornaments, and which were graced with beautiful standards of variegated hue, those heroes wielding excellent bows and cased in beautiful coats of mail and owning excellent standards, entered the hostile army like lions entering one forest from another. Smiting one another, fierce and terrific was the battle that ensued between them and the foe, in which cars and elephants got entangled with one another. Cherishing
p. 199
feelings of hostility towards one another, the terrible battle in which they took part lasted for a short space of time about sunset, increasing the population of Yama's kingdom. And car-warriors and horsemen by thousands were strewn over the field. And Bhishma the son of Santanu excited with wrath, began to slaughter the troops of the high-souled Pandavas with his straight shafts. And with his arrows he began to despatch the combatants of the Panchalas to the domains of Yama. And the grandsire, having thus broken the ranks of the Pandavas at last withdrew his troops and retired, O king, to his encampment. And king Yudhishthira also, beholding both Dhrishtadyumna and Vrikodara, smelt their heads, and filled with joy, retired to his tents."




 


Book 6
Chapter 81




 1 [s]
      sa tudyamānas tu śarair dhanajaya; padā hato nāga iva śvasan balī
      bāena bāena mahārathānā; ciccheda cāpāni rae prasahya
  2 sachidya cāpāni ca tāni rājñā; teā rae vīryavatā kaena
      vivyādha bāair yugapan mahātmā; niśeatā tev atha manyamāna
  3 nipetur ājau rudhirapradigdhās; te tāitā śakrasutena rājan
      vibhinnagātrā patitottamāgā; gatāsavaś chinnatanutra kāyā
  4 mahī gatā pārtha balābhibhūtā; vicitrarūpā yugapad vineśu
      dṛṣṭvā hatās tān yudhi rājaputrās; trigartarāja prayayau kaena
  5 teā rathānām atha pṛṣṭhagopā; dvātriśad anye 'byapatanta pārtham
      tathaiva te saparivārya vārtha; vikṛṣya cāpāni mahāravāi
      avīvṛṣan bāamahaughavṛṣṭyā; yathā giri toyadharā jalaughai
  6 saya mānas tu śaraughavṛṣṭyā; dhanajayas tān yudhi jātaroa
      aṣṭyā śarai sayati tailadhautair; jaghāna tān apy atha pṛṣṭhagopān
  7 aṣṭi rathās tān avajitya sakhye; dhanajaya prītamanā yaśasvī
      athātvarad bhīma vadhāya jiṣṇur; balāni rājñā samare nihatya
  8 trigartarājo nihatān samīkya; mahārathās tān atha bandhuvargān
      rae purasktya narādhipās tāñ; jagāma pārtha tvarito vadhāya
  9 abhidruta cāstrabh variṣṭha; dhanajaya vīkya śikhaṇḍimukhyā
      abhyudyayus te śitaśastrahastā; rirakianto ratham arjunasya
  10 pārtho 'pi tān āpatata samīkya; trigartarājñā sahitān nvīrān
     vidhvasayitvā samare dhanumān; gāṇḍīvamuktair niśitai pṛṣatkai
     bhīma yiyāsur yudhi sadadarśa; duryodhana saindhavādīś ca rājña
 11 āvārayiṣṇūn abhisaprayāya; muhūrtam āyodhya balena vīra
     utsjya rājānam anantavīryo; jayadrathādīś ca npān mahaujā
     yayau tato bhīmabalo manasvī; gāgeyam ājau śaracāpa pāi
 12 yudhiṣṭhiraś cograbalo mahātmā; samāyayau tvarito jātakopa
     madrādhipa samabhityajya sakhye; svabhāgam āpta tam ananta kīrti
     sārdha sa mādrī suta bhīmasenair; bhīma yayau śātanava raāya
 13 tai saprayukta sa mahārathāgryair; gagāsuta samare citrayodhī
     na vivyathe śātanavo mahātmā; samāgataiṇḍusutai samastai
 14 athaitya rājā yudhi satyasadho; jayadratho 'tyugra balo manasvī
     ciccheda cāpāni mahārathānā; prasahya teā dhanuā varea
 15 yudhiṣṭhira bhīmasena yamau ca; pārtha tathā yudhi sajātakopa
     duryodhana krodhavio mahātmā; jaghāna bāair anala prakāśai
 16 kpea śalyena śalena caiva; tathā vibho citrasenena cājau
     viddhā śarais te 'tivivddhakopair; devā yathā daitya gaai sametai
 17 chinnāyudha śātanavena rājā; śikhaṇḍina prekya ca jātakopa
     ajātaśatru samare mahātmā; śikhaṇḍina kruddha uvāca vākyam
 18 uktvā tathā tva pitur agrato mām; aha haniyāmi mahāvrata tam
     bhīma śaraughair vimalārka varai; satya vadāmīti ktā pratijñā
 19 tvayā na cainā saphalā karoi; devavrata yan na nihasi yuddhe
     mithyāpratijño bhava mā nvīra; rakasva dharma ca kula yaśaś ca
 20 prekasva bhīma yudhi bhīmavega; sarvās tapanta mama sainyasaghān
     śaraughajālair atitigma tejai; kāla yathā mtyukta kaena
 21 nikttacāpa samarānapeka; parājita śātanavena rājñā
     vihāya bandhūn atha sodarāś ca; kva yāsyase nānurūpa tavedam
 22 dṛṣṭvā hi bhīma tam anantavīrya; bhagna ca sainya dravamāam evam
     bhīto 'si nūna drupadasya putra; tathā hi te mukhavaro 'prahṛṣṭa
 23 ājñāyamāne 'pi dhanajayena; mahāhave saprasakte nvīra
     katha hi bhīmāt prathita pthivyā; bhaya tvam adya prakaroi vīra
 24 sa dharmarājasya vaco niśamya; rūkākara vipralāpānubaddham
     pratyādeśa manyamāno mahātmā; pratatvare bhīma vadhāya rājan
 25 tam āpatanta mahatā javena; śikhaṇḍina bhīmam abhidravantam
     āvārayām āsa hi śalya ena; śastrea ghorea sudurjayena
 26 sa cāpi dṛṣṭvā samudīryamāam; astra yugāntāgnisamaprabhāvam
     nāsau vyamuhyad drupadasya putro; rājan mahendrapratimaprabhāva
 27 tasthau ca tatraiva mahādhanumāñ; śarais tad astra pratibādhamāna
     athādade vāruam anyad astra; śikhaṇḍy athogra pratighātāya tasya
     tad astram astrea vidāryamāa; svasthā surā dadśu pārthivāś ca
 28 bhīma tu rājan samare mahātmā; dhanu sucitra dhvajam eva cāpi
     chittvānadat pāṇḍusutasya vīro; yudhiṣṭhirasyājamīhasya rājña
 29 tata samutsjya dhanu sa bāa; yudhiṣṭhira vīkya bhayābhibhūtam
     gadā praghyābhipapāta sakhye; jayadratha bhīmasena padāti
 30 tam āpatanta mahatā javena; jayadratha sagada bhīmasenam
     vivyādha ghorair yamadaṇḍakalpai; śitai śarai pañcaśatai samantāt
 31 acintayitvā sa śarās tarasvī; vkodara krodhaparīta cetā
     jaghāna vāhān samare samastān; āraṭṭajān sindhurājasya sakhye
 32 tato 'bhivīkyāpratima prabhāvas; tavātmajas tvaramāo rathena
     abhyāyayau bhīmasena nihantu; samudyatāstra surarājakalpa
 33 bhīmo 'py athaina sahasā vinadya; pratyaudyayau gadayā tarjamāna
     samudyatā yamadaṇḍakalpā; dṛṣṭvā gadā te kurava samantāt
 34 vihāya sarve tava putram ugra pāta; gadāyā parihartu kāmā
     apakrāntās tumule savimarde; sudārue bhārata mohanīye
 35 amūha cetās tv atha citraseno; mahāgadām āpatantī nirīkya
     ratha samutsjya padātir ājau; praghya khaga vimala ca carma
     avapluta siha ivācalāgrāñ; jagāma cānya bhuvi bhūmideśam
 36 gadāpi sā prāpya ratha sucitra; sāśva sasūta vinihatya sakhye
     jagāma bhūmi jvalitā maholkā; bhraṣṭāmbarād gām iva sapatantī
 37 āścaryabhūta sumahat tvadīyā; dṛṣṭvaiva tad bhārata saprahṛṣṭā
     sarve vinedu sahitā samantāt; pupūjire tava putra sa sainyā


SECTION LXXXI

Sanjaya said, "Then those heroes, O king, who cherished feelings of hostility towards one another, retired to their tents, their persons covered with blood. Having rested for a while agreeably to rule, and praising one another (for the feats of the day), they were again seen clad in mail, desirous of battle. Then thy son, O king, overwhelmed with anxiety and covered with blood trickling down (from his wounds), asked the grandsire, saying. 1 'Our troops are fierce and terrible and carry innumerable standards. They are, again, arrayed properly. Yet the brave and mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, having penetrated (into our array) and afflicted and slaughtered (our troops), escaped unhurt. 2 Confounding us all, they have won great fame in battle. Bhima again, having penetrated into our Makara array which was strong as the thunder-bolt, afflicted me with his terrible shafts each resembling the rod of Death. Beholding him excited with wrath, O king, I was deprived of my senses. Even now I cannot regain my peace of mind. Through thy grace, O thou that art firm in truth, I desire to obtain victory and slay the sons of Pandu.' Thus addressed by him, the high-souled son of Ganga, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, endued with great mental energy, understanding that Duryodhana was possessed by grief replied unto him, laughing the while though cheerless, saying, 3 'Penetrating into (their) army with the utmost exertions and with my whole soul, O prince,
p. 200
[paragraph continues] I wish to give thee victory and joy. For thy sake I do not at all dissemble. They that have become the allies of the Pandavas in this battle are fierce and numerous. Mighty car-warriors of great renown, they are exceedingly brave and accomplished in arms. Incapable of being fatigued, they vomit forth their wrath. Cherishing feelings of animosity towards thee, and swelling with prowess, they are not capable of being defeated easily. I will, however, O king, contend against those heroes with my whole soul and throwing away my very life. For thy sake, in battle, O thou of great glory, my life itself shall today be recklessly exposed. For thy sake I would consume all the worlds with the celestials and the Daityas, let alone thy foes here. I will, O king, fight with those Pandavas, and do all that is agreeable to thee. Hearing these words, Duryodhana became inspired with great confidence and his heart was filled with delight. And cheerfully he ordered all the troops, and all the kings, (in his army) saying, Advance. And at that command, O king, his army consisting of cars, steeds, foot-soldiers, and elephants, began to advance. And that large force. O king, armed with diverse kinds of weapons, was exceedingly cheerful. And that army of thine, O monarch, consisting of elephants, steeds, and foot-soldiers, on the field of battle, looked exceedingly beautiful. And huge tuskers, stationed in large bodies, and skilfully urged, looked resplendent on the field all around. And many royal combatants accomplished in diverse weapons were seen in the midst of thy troops. And the dust, red as the morning sun, raised by those cars and foot-soldiers and elephants and steeds in large bodies as they were duly moved over the field, looked beautiful, shrouding the rays of the sun. And the many-coloured banners stationed on cars and elephants, waving in the air and moving along the welkin, looked beautiful like flashes of lightning amid the clouds. And loud and fierce was the uproar made by the twang of the bows stretched by the kings, resembling the roar of the ocean while churned in the Krita age by the gods and the great Asuras. And that army of thy sons, looking so proud, consisting of (combatants of) diverse hues and shapes, shouting so fiercely, and capable of slaying hostile warriors, then looked like those masses of clouds that appear at the end of the Yuga1'"




Book 6
Chapter 82





 1 [s]
      viratha ta samāsādya citrasena manasvinam
      ratham āropayām āsa vikaras tanayas tava
  2 tasmis tathā vartamāne tumule sakule bhśam
      bhīma śātanavas tūra yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat
  3 tata sarathanāgāśvā samakampanta sñjayā
      mtyor āsyam anuprāpta menire ca yudhiṣṭhiram
  4 yidhiṣṭhiro 'pi kauravya yamābhyā sahita prabhu
      mahevāsa naravyāghra bhīma śātanava yayau
  5 tata śarasahasrāi pramuñcan pāṇḍavo yudhi
      bhīma sachādayām āsa yathā megho divākaram
  6 tena samyak praītāni śarajālāni bhārata
      patijagrāha gāgeya śataśo 'tha sahasraśa
  7 tathaiva śarajālāni bhīmeāstāni māria
      ākāśe samadśyanta khagamānā vrajā iva
  8 nimeārdhāc ca kauneya bhīma śātanavo yudhi
      adśya samare cakre śarajālena bhāgaśa
  9 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā kauravyasya mahātmana
      nārāca preayām āsa kruddha āśīviopamam
  10 asaprāpta tatas ta tu kuraprea mahāratha
     ciccheda samare rājan bhīmas tasya dhanuścyutam
 11 ta tu chittvā rae bhīmo nārāca kālasamitam
     nijaghne kauravendrasya hayān kāñcanabhūaān
 12 hatāśva tu ratha tyaktvā dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhira
     āruroha ratha tūra nakulasya mahātmana
 13 yamāv api susakruddha samāsādya rae tadā
     śarai sachādayām āsa bhīma parapurajaya
 14 tau tu dṛṣṭvā mahārāja bhīmabāaprapīitau
     jagāmātha parā cintā bhīmasya vadhakākayā
 15 tato yudhiṣṭhiro vaśyān rājñas tān samacodayat
     bhīma śātanava sarve nihateti suhdgaān
 16 tatas te pārthivā sarve śrutvā pārthasya bhāitam
     mahatā rathavaśena parivavru pitāmaham
 17 sa samantāt parivta pitā devavratas tava
     cikrīda dhanuā rājan pātayāno mahārathān
 18 ta caranta rae pārthā dadśu kaurava yudhi
     mgamadhya praviśyeva yathā sihaśiśu vane
 19 tarjayāna rae śūrās trāsayāna ca sāyakai
     dṛṣṭvā tresur mahārāja siha mgagaā iva
 20 rae bharata sihasya dadśu katriyā gatim
     agner vāyusahāyasya yathā kaka didhakata
 21 śirāsi rathinā bhīma pātayām āsa sayuge
     tālebhya iva pakvāni phalāni kuśalo nara
 22 patadbhiś ca mahārāja śirobhir dharaītale
     babhūva tumula śabda patatām aśmanām iva
 23 tasmis tu tumule yuddhe vartamāne sudārue
     sarveām eva sainyānām āsīd vyatikaro mahān
 24 bhinneu teu vyūheu katriyā itaretaram
     ekam eka samāhūya yuddhāyaivopatasthire
 25 śikhaṇḍī tu samāsādya bharatānā pitāmaham
     abhidudrāva vegena tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 26 anādtya tato bhīmas ta śikhaṇḍinam āhave
     prayayau sñjayān kruddha strītva cintya śikhaṇḍina
 27 sñjayās tu tato hṛṣṭā dṛṣṭvā bhīma mahāratham
     sihanādān bahuvidhāś cakru śakhavimiśritān
 28 tata pravavte yuddha vyatiakta rathadvipam
     aparā diśam āsthāya sthite savitari prabho
 29 dhṛṣṭadyumno 'tha pāñcālya sātyakiś ca mahāratha
     pīayantau bhśa sainya śaktitomaravṛṣṭibhi
     śastraiś ca bahubhī rājañ jaghnatus tāvakān rae
 30 te hanyamānā samare tāvakā puruarabha
     āryā yuddhe mati ktvā na tyajanti sma sayugam
     yathotsāha ca samare jaghnur loka mahārathā
 31 tatrākrando mahān āsīt tāvakānā mahātmanām
     vadhyatā samare rājan pāratena mahātmanā
 32 ta śrutvā ninada ghora tāvakānā mahārathau
     vindānuvindāv āvantyau pārata patyupasthitau
 33 tau tasya turagān hatvā tvaramāau mahārathau
     chādayām āsatur ubhau śaravarea pāratam
 34 avaplutyātha pāñcālyo rathāt tūra mahābala
     āruroha ratha tūra sātyake sumahātmana
 35 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā mahatyā senayā vta
     āvantyau samare kruddhāv abhyayāt sa paratapau
 36 tathaiva tava putro 'pi sarvodyogena māria
     vindānuvindāv āvantyau parivāryopatasthivān
 37 arjunaś cāpi sakruddha katriyān katriyarabha
     ayodhayata sagrāme varja pāir ivāsurān
 38 droaś ca samare kruddha putrasya priyakt tava
     vyadhamat sarvapāñcālās tūlarāśim ivānala
 39 duryodhana purogās tu putrās tava viśā pate
     parivārya rae bhīma yuyudhuṇḍavai saha
 40 tato duryodhano rājā lohitāyati bhāskare
     abravīt tāvakān sarvās tvaradhvam iti bhārata
 41 yudhyatā tu tathā teā kurvatā karma dukaram
     asta girim athārūhe na prakāśati bhāskare
 42 prāvartata nadī ghorā śoitaughataragiī
     gomāyugaasakīrā kaena rajanī mukhe
 43 śivābhir aśivābhiś ca ruvadbhir bhairava ravam
     ghoram āyodhana jajñe bhūtasagha samākulam
 44 rākasāś ca piśācāś ca tathānye piśitāśanā
     samantato vyadśyanta śataśo 'tha sahasraśa
 45 arjuno 'tha suśarmādīn rājñas tān sapadānugān
     vijitya ptanā madhye yayau svaśibira prati
 46 yudhiṣṭhiro 'pi kauravyo bhrātbhyā sahitas tadā
     yayau svaśibira rājā niśāyā senayā vta
 47 bhīmaseno 'pi rājendra duryodhanamukhān rathān
     avajitya tata sakhye yayau svaśibira prati
 48 duryodhano 'pi npati parivārya mahārae
     bhīma śātanava tūra prayāta śibira prati
 49 droo draui kpa śalya ktavarmā ca sātvata
     parivārya camū sarvā prayayu śibira prati
 50 tathaiva sātyakī rājan dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārata
     parivārya rae yodhān yayatu śibira prati
 51 evam ete mahārāja tāvakāṇḍavai saha
     paryavartanta sahitā niśākāle paratapā
 52 tata svaśibira gatvā pāṇḍavā kuravas tathā
     nyaviśanta mahārāja pūjayanta parasparam
 53 rakā ktvātmana śūrā nyasya gulmān yathāvidhi
     apanīya ca śalyās te snātvā ca vividhair jalai
 54 ktasvastyayanā sarve sastūyantaś ca bandibhi
     gītavāditraśabdena vyakrīanta yaśasvina
 55 muhūrtam iva tat sarvam abhavat svargasanibham
     na hi yuddhakathā cit tatra cakrur mahārathā
 56 te prasupte bale tatra pariśrānta jane npa
     hastyaśvabahule rājan prekaīye babhūvatu


SECTION LXXXII

Sanjaya said, "O chief of the Bharatas, Ganga's son, once more addressing thy son who was plunged in thought, told him these delightful
p. 201
words, 'Myself and Drona and Salya and Kritavarman of Satwata's race, and Aswatthaman and Vikarna and Bhagadatta and Suvala's son and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Valhika with the Valhikas, 1 and the mighty king of the Trigartas and the invincible ruler of the Magadhas, Vrihadvala the king of the Kosalas, and Chitrasena and Vivingsati and many thousands of car-warriors graced with tall standards, a large number of country-born steeds well-mounted with excellent horse-soldiers and many infuriate elephants of large size with temporal juice issuing from their mouths and cheeks, and many brave foot-soldiers armed with diverse weapons and born in diverse realms, are all prepared to do battle for thy sake. 2 These, and many others ready for thy sake to lay down their lives, are, as I think, competent to vanquish the very gods in battle. I should, however, always tell thee, O king, what is for thy good. The Pandavas are incapable of being vanquished by the very gods with Vasava. They have Vasudeva for their ally and are equal to Mahendra himself in prowess. As regards myself, I shall, however, always do thy bidding. Either I shall vanquish the Pandavas in battle or they will vanquish me. Having said these words, the grandsire gave him an excellent herb of great efficacy for healing his wounds. And therewith thy son was cured of his wounds. Then at dawn when the sky was clear, the valiant Bhishma, that foremost of men well-versed in all kinds of array, himself disposed his troops in that array called Mandala bristling with weapons. And it abounded with foremost of warriors and with tuskers and foot-soldiers. And it was surrounded on all sides with many thousands of cars, and with large bodies of horsemen armed with swords and lances. Near unto every elephant were placed seven cars, and near unto every car were placed seven horsemen. And behind every horseman were placed seven bowmen, and behind every bowman were seven combatants with shields. And thus, O king, thy army, arrayed by mighty car-warriors, stood for fierce battle, protected by Bhishma. And ten thousand horses, and as many elephants, and ten thousand cars, and thy sons, all equipped in mail, viz., the heroic Chitrasena and others, protected the grandsire. And it was seen that Bhishma was protected by those brave warriors, and those princes themselves of great strength, accoutred in mail, were (in their turn) protected by him. And Duryodhana accoutred in mail sat upon his car on the field, and possessed of every grace, looked resplendent like Sakra himself in heaven. Then, O Bharata, loud were the shouts uttered by thy sons and deafening the clatter of cars and the uproar of musical instruments. That mighty and impenetrable array of those slayer of foes, viz., the Dhartarashtras (in the form called) Mandala, (thus) arrayed by Bhishma, began to proceed, facing the west. Incapable of being defeated by enemies, it looked beautiful in every point. Beholding
p. 202
then the array called Mandala that was exceedingly fierce, king Yudhishthira himself disposed his troops in the array called Vajra. And when the divisions were thus arrayed, car-warriors and horsemen, stationed in their proper places, uttered leonine shouts. Accompanied by their respective forces, the brave warriors of both armies, well versed in smiting, and longing for battle, proceeded, desirous of breaking each other's array. And Bharadwaja's son proceeded against the king of the Matsyas, and his son (Aswatthaman) against Sikhandin. And king Duryodhana himself rushed against the son of Prishata. And Nakula and Sahadeva went forth against the king of the Madras. And Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti proceeded against Iravat. And many kings together battled with Dhananjaya. And Bhimasena, exerting himself well, opposed the son of Hridika in battle. And possessed of great prowess, (Abhimanyu) the son of Arjuna, fought in battle, O king, against the sons Chitrasena and Vikarna, and Durmarshana. And Hidimva's son, that prince of the Rakshasas, rushed against that mighty bowman, the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, like one infuriate elephant against another. And the Rakshasa Alamvusha, O king, excited with wrath, rushed in battle against the invincible Satyaki in the midst of his followers. And Bhurisravas, exerting himself greatly, fought against Dhrishtaketu. And Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, proceeded against king Srutayush. And Chekitana in that battle fought against Kripa. And others (among the Kuru warriors), exerting themselves powerfully, proceeded against that mighty car-warrior Bhima. And thousands of (other) kings surrounded Dhananjaya, with darts, lances, arrows, maces, and spiked clubs in their hands. Then Arjuna, excited with great wrath, addressing him of Vrishni's race, said, 'Behold, O Madhava, the Dhartarashtra troops in battle, arrayed by the high-souled son of Ganga, acquainted with every kind of array. Behold, O Madhava, those brave warriors, countless in number, and desirous of battle (with me). Behold, O Kesava, the ruler of the Trigartas with his brothers. 1 This very day I shall slay them all, O Janardana, before thy eyes,--them, that is, O foremost of the Yadus, who, longing for battle (with me), are on the field.' Having said these words, the son of Kunti, rubbing his bowstring, showered his arrows on that multitude of kings. And those great bowmen also, poured on him thick showers of arrows, like clouds that fill a lake with torrents of rain in the rainy season. And loud shouts were heard in thy army, O monarch, when in that great battle the two Krishnas were seen covered with thick showers of arrows. And the gods, the celestial Rishis, and the Gandharvas with the Uragas, beholding the two Krishnas in that state, were filled with great wonder. Then Arjuna, O king, excited with wrath, invoked the Aindra weapon. And then the prowess we beheld of Vijaya seemed to be highly wonderful insomuch that those showers of weapons shot by his foes were
p. 203
checked by his myriads of arrows. And there among those thousands of kings and steeds and elephants, was none, O king, that was not wounded. And others, O sire, the son of Pritha pierced, each with two or three arrows. And while being thus struck by Pritha, they sought the protection of Bhishma, the son of Santanu. But Bhishma then became the rescuer of those warriors who were like men sinking in the fathomless deep. And in consequence of those warriors thus flying away and mixing with thy troops, thy broken ranks, O king, were agitated like the vast deep with a tempest."




Book 6
Chapter 83








1 [s]
      pariāmya niśā tu sukhasuptā janeśvarā
      kuravaṇḍavāś caiva punar yuddhāya niryayu
  2 tata śabdo mahān āsīt senayor ubhayor api
      nirgacchamānayor sakhye sāgarapratimo mahān
  3 tato duryodhano rājā citraseno viviśati
      bhīmaś ca rathinā śreṣṭho bhāradvājaś ca vai dvija
  4 ekībhūtā susayattā kauravāā mahācamū
      vyūhāya vidadhū rājan pāṇḍavān prati daśitā
  5 bhīma ktvā mahāvyūha pitā tava viśā pate
      sāgarapratima ghora vāhanormitaragiam
  6 agrata sarvasainyānā bhīma śātanavo yayau
      mālavair dākiātyaiś ca āvantyaiś ca samanvita
  7 tato 'nantaram evāsīd bhāradvāja pratāpavān
      pulindai pāradaiś caiva tathā kudrakamālavai
  8 droād anantara yatto bhagadatta pratāpavān
      māgadhaiś ca kaligaiś ca piśācaiś ca viśā pate
  9 prāgjyotiād anu npa kausalyo 'tha bhadbala
      mekalais traipuraiś caiva cicchilaiś ca samanvita
  10 bhadbalāt tata śūras trigarta prasthalādhipa
     kāmbojair bahubhi sārdha yavanaiś ca sahasraśa
 11 drauis tu rabhasa śūras trigartād anu bhārata
     prayayau sihanādena nādayāno dharātalam
 12 tathā sarvea sainyena rājā duryodhanas tadā
     drauer anantara prāyāt sodaryai parivārita
 13 duryodhanād anu kpas tata śāradvato yayau
     evam ea mahāvyūha prayayau sāgaropama
 14 rejus tatra patākāś ca śvetac chatrāi cābhibho
     agadāny atha citrāi mahārhāi dhanūṃṣi ca
 15 ta tu dṛṣṭvā mahāvyūha tāvakānā mahāratha
     yudhiṣṭhiro 'bravīt tūra pārata ptanā patim
 16 paśya vyūha mahevāsa nirmita sāgaropamam
     prativyūha tvam api hi kuru pārata māciram
 17 tata sa pārata śūro vyūha cakre sudāruam
     śṛṅala mahārāja paravyūhavināśanam
 18 śṛṅgebhyo bhīmasenaś ca sātyaktiś ca mahāratha
     rathair anekasāhasrais tathā hayapadātibhi
 19 nābhyām abhūn naraśreṣṭha śvetāśvo vānaradhvaja
     madhye yudhiṣṭhiro rājā mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
 20 athetare mahevāsā saha sainyā narādhipā
     vyūha ta pūrayām āsur vyūha śāstraviśāradā
 21 abhimanyus tata paścād virāaś ca mahāratha
     draupadeyāś ca sahṛṣṭā rākasaś ca ghaotkaca
 22 evam eta mahāvyūha vyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavā
     atiṣṭhan samare śūrā yoddhukāmā jayaiia
 23 bherīśabdāś ca tumulā vimiśrā śakhanisvanai
     kveitāsphoitotkruṣṭai subhīmā sarvatodiśam
 24 tata śūrā samāsādya samare te parasparam
     netrair animiśai rājann avaikanta prakopitā
 25 manobhis te manuyendra pūrva yodhā parasparam
     yuddhāya samavartanta samāhūyetaretaram
 26 tata pravavte yuddha ghorarūpa bhayāvaham
     tāvakānā pareā ca nighnatām itaretaram
 27 nārācā niśitā sakhye sapatanti sma bhārata
     vyāttānanā bhayakarā uragā iva saghaśa
 28 nipetur vimalā śaktyas tailadhautā sutejanā
     ambudebhyo yathā rājan bhrājamānā śatahradāh
 29 gadāś ca vimalai paṭṭai pinaddhā svarabhūitā
     patantyas tatra dśyante giriśṛṅgopamā śubhā
     nistriśāś ca vyarājanta vimalāmbarasanibhā
 30 ārabhāi ca carmāi śatacandrāi bhārata
     aśobhanta rae rājan patamānāni sarvaśa
 31 te 'nyonya samare sene yudhyamāne narādhipa
     aśobhetā yathā daitya deva sene samudyate
     abhyadravanta samare te 'nyonya vai samantata
 32 rathās tu rathibhis tūra preitā paramāhave
     yugair yugāni saśliya yuyudhu pārthivarabhā
 33 dantinā yudhyamānānā sagharāt pāvako 'bhavat
     danteu bharataśreṣṭha sa dhūma sarvatodiśam
 34 prāsair abhihatā ke cid gajayodhā samantata
     patamānā sma dśyante giriśṛṅgān nagā iva
 35 pādātāś cāpy adśyanta nighnanto hi parasparam
     citrarūpadharā śūrā nakharaprāsayodhina
 36 anyonya te samāsādya kurupāṇḍavasainikā
     śastrair nānāvidhair ghorai rae ninyur yamakayam
 37 tata śātanavo bhīmo rathaghoea nādayan
     abhyāgamad rae pāṇḍūn dhanu śabdena mohayan
 38ṇḍavānā rathāś cāpi nadanto bhairavasvanam
     abhyadravanta sayattā dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamā
 39 tata pravavte yuddha tava teā ca bhārata
     narāśvarathanāgānā vyatiakta parasparam




SECTION LXXXIII

Sanjaya said, "And when the battle was thus raging and after Susarman had ceased fighting, and the (other) heroic warriors (of the Kuru army) had been routed by the high-souled son of Pandu; after, indeed, thy army, resembling the very ocean, had become quickly agitated and the son of Ganga had speedily proceeded against the car of Vijaya, king Duryodhana, beholding the prowess of Partha in battle, quickly proceeded towards those kings, and addressing them as also the heroic and mighty Susarman stationed in their van, said in their midst these words, gladdening them all, 'This Bhishma, the son of Santanu, this foremost one among the Kurus, reckless of his very life, is desirous of fighting with his whole soul against Dhananjaya. Exerting your best, ye all, united together, and accompanied by your troops, protect in battle the grandsire, of Bharata's race, who is proceeding against the hostile army.' Saying, 'Yes,' all those divisions, belonging to those kings, O monarch, proceeded, following the grandsire. Then the mighty Bhishma, the son of Santanu, (thus rushing to battle), speedily came upon Arjuna of Bharata's race who also had been coming towards him, on his exceedingly resplendent and large car unto which were yoked white steeds and upon which was set up his standard bearing the fierce ape, and whose rattle resembled the deep roll of the clouds. And thy entire army, beholding the diadem-decked Dhananjaya, thus coming to battle, uttered, from fear, many loud exclamations. And beholding Krishna, reins in hand, and looking like the mid-day sun in splendour, thy troops could not gaze at him. And so also the Pandavas were incapable of looking at Santanu's son Bhishma of white steeds and white bow and resembling the planet Sukra risen in the firmament. And the latter was surrounded on all sides by the high-souled warriors of the Trigartas headed by their king with his brothers and sons, and by many other mighty car-warriors.
"Meanwhile, Bharadwaja's son pierced with his winged arrows the king of the Matsyas in battle. And in that combat he cut off the latter's standard with one shaft, and his bow also with another. Then Virata,
p. 204
the commander of a large division, leaving aside that bow thus cut off, quickly took up another that was strong and capable of bearing a great strain. And he also took up a number of blazing arrows that resembled snakes of virulent poison. And he pierced Drona in return with three (of these) and his (four) steeds with four. And then he pierced Drona's standard with one arrow, and his charioteer with five. And he also pierced Drona's bow with one arrow, and (at all this) that bull among Brahmanas became highly angry. Then Drona slew Virata's steeds with eight straight shafts, and then his charioteer, O chief of the Bharatas, with one shaft. His charioteer having been slain, Virata jumped down from his car whose steeds also had been killed. And then that foremost of car-warriors speedily mounted upon the car of (his son) Sankha. Then sire and son, staying on the same car, began with great might to resist the son of Bharadwaja with a thick shower of arrows. Then the mighty son of Bharadwaja, excited with wrath, quickly shot at Sankha in that encounter, an arrow resembling a snake of virulent poison. And that arrow, piercing through Sankha's breast and drinking his blood, fell upon the earth, wet and smeared with gore. Struck with that arrow of Bharadwaja's son, Sankha speedily fell down from his car, his bow and arrows loosened from his grasp in the very presence of his sire. And beholding his son slain, Virata fled from fear, avoiding Drona in battle, who resembled Death's self with gasping mouth. The son of Bharadwaja then, without losing a moment, checked the mighty host of the Pandavas resisting combatants by hundreds and thousands.
"Sikhandin also, O king, getting at Drona's son in that battle, struck the latter between his brows with three swiftly coursing shafts. And that tiger among men, viz., Aswatthaman, pierced with those shafts looked beautiful like the mountain Meru with its three tall golden crests. Then, O king, Aswatthaman excited with rage, and within half the time taken up by a wink of the eye, overthrew in that battle Sikhandin's charioteer and standard and steeds and weapons, covering them with myriads of shafts. Then that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Sikhandin, that scorcher of foes, jumping down from that car whose steeds had been slain, and taking up a sharp and polished scimitar and a shield, excited with rage, moved on the field with great activity like a hawk. And while moving with great activity, O king, on the field sword in hand, the son of Drona failed to find an opportunity (for striking him). And all this seemed highly wonderful. And then, O bull of Bharata's race, the highly wrathful son of Drona sent after Sikhandin in that battle many thousands of shafts. But Sikhandin, that foremost of mighty men, with his sharp sword cut that fierce shower of arrows coming towards him. Then the son of Drona cut into pieces that resplendent and beautiful shield decked with a hundred moons and then that sword also of Sikhandin. And he pierced the latter's person also, O king, with a large number of winged arrows. Then Sikhandin, whirling the fragment (in his hand) of that sword of his which had been cut off by Aswatthaman with his arrows and which resembled a blazing
p. 205
snake, quickly hurled it at him. The son of Drona however, displaying in that battle the lightness of his arms, cut off that (broken blade) coming impetuously towards him and resembling in splendour the fire that blazeth forth at the end of the Yuga. And he pierced Sikhandin himself with innumerable arrows made of iron. Then Sikhandin, O King, exceedingly afflicted with those whetted arrows, speedily mounted on the car of (Satyaki) that high-souled scion of Madhu's race. Then Satyaki, excited with rage, pierced in that battle, with his terrible shafts the cruel Rakshasa Alamvusha on all sides. That prince of Rakshasas then, O Bharata, cut off in that combat Satyaki's bow with a crescent-shaped arrow and pierced Satyaki also with many shafts. And creating by his Rakshasa powers an illusion, he covered Satyaki with showers of arrows. But wonderful was the prowess that we then beheld of the grandson of Sini, inasmuch as struck with those whetted shafts he betrayed no fear. On the other hand, O Bharata, that son of Vrishni's race applied (with Mantras) the Aindra weapon, which that illustrious hero of Madhu's race had obtained from Vijaya. 1 That weapon, consuming into ashes that Demoniac illusion, covered Alamvusha all over with terrible shafts, like a mass of clouds covering the mountain-breast with torrents of rain in the rainy season. Thereupon the Rakshasa, thus afflicted by that hero of Madhu's race, fled away in fear, avoiding Satyaki in battle. Then the grandson of Sini, having vanquished that prince of Rakshasas who was incapable of being vanquished by Maghavat himself, uttered a loud roar in the very sight of all thy troops. And Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, then began to slay thy troops with innumerable shafts whereupon the latter fled away in fear.
"Meanwhile, O monarch, Dhrishtadyumna, the mighty son of Drupada, covered thy royal son in battle with innumerable straight shafts. While, however, O Bharata, Dhrishtadyumna was thus shrouding him with his shafts, thy royal son was neither agitated nor struck with fear. On the other hand, he speedily pierced Dhrishtadyumna in that battle (first) with sixty and (then) with thirty shafts. And all these seemed highly wonderful. Then the commander of the Pandava army, O Bharata, excited with wrath cut off his bow. And that mighty car-warrior then slew in that combat the four steeds of thy son, and also pierced him with seven shafts of the keenest points. Thereupon (thy son), that mighty-armed warrior endued with great strength, jumping down from that car whose steeds had been slain, ran on foot, with an upraised sabre, towards the son of Prishata. Then the mighty Sakuni, devoted to the king, quickly coming to that spot, caused thy royal son to mount on his own car in the very sight of all. Then that slayer of foes, the son of Prishata, having vanquished the king, began to slaughter thy troops like the wielder of the thunder-bolt slaughtering the Asuras.
"Kritavarman, in that battle, covered with his arrows that mighty
p. 206
car-warrior Bhima. Indeed, he overwhelmed the latter entirely, like a mighty mass of clouds shrouding the sun. Then that chastiser of foes viz., Bhimasena, excited with wrath, and laughing the while, sped some shafts at Kritavarman. Struck therewith, that Atiratha of the Satwata race, excelling all in might, trembled not, O king, but (instead) pierced Bhima (in return) with many sharp arrows. Then the mighty Bhimasena, slaying the four steeds of Kritavarman, felled the latter's charioteer, and then his beautiful standard. And that slayer of hostile heroes (viz., Bhima) then pierced Kritavarman himself with many shafts of diverse kinds. And Kritavarman, pierced all over, seemed to be excessively mangled in every limb. Then from that car whose steeds had been slain, Kritavarman quickly went to the car of Vrishaka, in the very sight, O king, of both Salya and thy son. And Bhimasena. excited with rage, began to afflict thy troops. Goaded to fury, he began to slay them, like the destroyer himself armed with his club."










Book 6
Chapter 84










1 [s]
      bhīma tu samare kruddha pratapanta samantata
      na śekuṇḍavā draṣṭu tapantam iva bhāskaram
  2 tata sarvāi sainyāni dharmaputrasya śāsanāt
      abhyadravanta gāgeya mardayanta śitai śarai
  3 sa tu bhīmo raaślāghī somakān saha sñjayān
      pāñcālāś ca mahevāsān pātayām āsa sāyakai
  4 te vadhyamānā bhīmea pāñcālā somakai saha
      bhīmam evābhyayus tūra tyaktvā mtyukta bhayam
  5 sa teā rathinā vīro bhīma śātanavo yudhi
      ciccheda sahasā rājan bāhūn atha śirāsi ca
  6 virathān rathinaś cakre pitā devavratas tava
      patitāny uttamāgāni hayebhyo hayasādinām
  7 nirmanuś ca mātagāñ śayānān parvatopamān
      apaśyāma mahārāja bhīmāstrea pramohitān
  8 na tatrāsīt pumān kaś cit pāṇḍavānā viśā pate
      anyatra rathinā śreṣṭhād bhīmasenān mahābalāt
  9 sa hi bhīma samāsādya tāayām āsa sayuge
      tato niṣṭānako ghoro bhīma bhīma samāgame
  10 babhūva sarvasainyānā ghorarūpo bhayānaka
     tathaiva pāṇḍavā hṛṣṭā sihanādam athānadan
 11 tato duryodhano rājā sodaryai parivārita
     bhīma jugopa samare vartamāne janakaye
 12 bhīmas tu sārathi hatvā bhīmasya rathinā vara
     vidrutāśve rathe tasmin dravamāe samantata
     sunābhasya śareāśu śiraś ciccheda cārihā
 13 kuraprea sutīkṣṇena sa hato nyapatad bhuvi
     hate tasmin mahārāja tava putre mahārathe
     nāmṛṣyanta rae śūrā sodaryā sapta sayuge
 14 ādityaketur bahv āśīkuṇḍa dhāro mahodara
     aparājita paṇḍitako viśālāka sudurjaya
 15ṇḍava citrasanāhā vicitrakavaca dhvajā
     abhyadravanta sagrāme yoddhukāmārimardanā
 16 mahodaras tu samare bhīma vivyādha patribhi
     navabhir vajrasakāśair namuci vtrahā yathā
 17 ādityaketu saptatyā bahv āśīcāpi pañcabhi
     navatyā kuṇḍa dhāras tu viśālākaś ca saptabhi
 18 aparājito mahārāja parājiṣṇur mahāratha
     śarair bahubhir ānarchad bhīmasena mahābalam
 19 rae paṇḍitakaś caina tribhir bāai samardayat
     sa tan na mamṛṣe bhīma śatrubhir vadham āhave
 20 dhanu prapīya vāmena kareāmitrakarśana
     śiraś ciccheda samare śarea nataparvaā
 21 aparājitasya sunasa tava putrasya sayuge
     parājitasya bhīmena nipapāta śiromahīm
 22 athāparea bhallena kuṇḍa dhāra mahāratham
     prāhion mtyulokāya sarvalokasya paśyata
 23 tata punar ameyātmā prasadhāya śilīmukham
     preayām āsa samare paṇḍita prati bhārata
 24 sa śara paṇḍita hatvā viveśa dharaītalam
     yathā nara nihatyāśu bhujaga kālacodita
 25 viśālāka śiraś chittvā pātayām āsa bhūtale
     tribhi śarair adīnātmā smaran kleśa purātanam
 26 mahodara mahevāsa nārācena stanāntare
     vivyādha samare rājan sa hato nyapatad bhuvi
 27 ādityaketo ketu ca chittvā bāena sayuge
     bhallena bhśatīkṣṇena śiraś ciccheda cārihā
 28 bahv āśina tato bhīma śarea nataparvaā
     preayām āsa sakruddho yamasya sadana prati
 29 pradudruvus tatas te 'nye putrās tava viśā pate
     manyamānā hi tat satya sabhāyā tasya bhāitam
 30 tato duryodhano rājā bhrātvyasanakarśita
     abravīt tāvakān yodhān bhīmo 'ya yudhi vadhyatām
 31 evam eta mahevāsā putrās tava viśā pate
     bhrātn sadśya nihatān prāsmaras te hi tad vaca
 32 yad uktavān mahāprājña kattā hitam anāmayam
     tad ida samanuprāpta vacana divyadarśina
 33 lobhamohasamāviṣṭa putra prītyā janādhipa
     na budhyase purā yat tat tathyam ukta vaco mahat
 34 tathaiva hi vadhārthāya putrāāṇḍavo balī
     nūna jāto mahābāhur yathā hanti sma kauravān
 35 tato duryodhano rājā bhīmam āsādya māria
     dukhena mahatāviṣṭo vilalāpātikarśita
 36 nihatā bhrātara śūrā bhīmasenena me yudhi
     yatamānās tathānye 'pi hanyante sarvasainikā
 37 bhavāś ca madhyasthatayā nityam asmān upekate
     so 'ha kāpatham ārūha paśya daivam ida mama
 38 etac chrutvā vaca krūra pitā devavratas tava
     duryodhanam ida vākyam abravīt sāśrulocanam
 39 uktam etan mayā pūrva droena vidurea ca
     gāndhāryā ca yaśasvinyā tattva tāta na buddhavān
 40 samayaś ca mayā pūrva kto va śatrukarśana
     nāha yudhi vimoktavyo nāpy ācārya katha cana
 41 ya ya hi dhārtarāṣṭā bhīmo drakyati sayuge
     haniyati rae ta ta satyam etad bravīmi te
 42 sa tva rājan sthiro bhūtvā dṛḍ ktvā rae matim
     yodhayasva rae pārthān svarga ktvā parāyaam
 43 na śakyāṇḍavā jetu sendrair api surāsurai
     tasmād yuddhe mati ktvā sthirā yudhyasva bhārata


SECTION LXXXIV

Dhritarashtra said, "Many and wonderful, O Sanjaya, were the single combats I hear thee speak of between the Pandavas and my warriors. Thou speakest not, however, O Sanjaya, of any one of my side having been cheerful (on such occasions). Thou always speakest of the sons of Pandu as cheerful and never routed, O Suta and thou speakest of mine as cheerless, deprived of energy, and constantly vanquished in battle. All this, without doubt, is Destiny."
Sanjaya said, "Thy men, O bull of Bharata's race, exert themselves according to the measure of their might and courage, and display their valour to the utmost extent of their strength. As contact with the properties of the ocean make the sweet waters of the celestial stream Ganga brakish, so the valour, O king, of the illustrious warriors of thy army coming in contact with the heroic sons of Pandu in battle, becometh futile. Exerting themselves according to their might, and achieving the most difficult feats, thou shouldst not, O chief of the Kurus, find fault with thy troops. O monarch, this great and awful destruction of the world, swelling the (population of the) domains of Yama, hath arisen from thy misconduct and that of thy sons. It behoveth thee not, O king, to grieve for what hath arisen from thy own fault. Kings do not always in this world protect their lives. These rulers of Earth, desirous of winning by battle the regions of the righteous, daily fight, penetrating into (hostile) divisions, with heaven only for their aim.
"On the forenoon of that day, O king, great was the carnage that ensued, resembling what occurred in the battle between the gods and
p. 207
the Asuras (of old). Listen to it, O monarch, with undivided attention. The two princes of Avanti, those great bowmen endued with exceeding might, those excellent warriors fierce in battle, beholding Iravat, advanced against him. The battle that took place between them was fierce, making the hair stand on end. Then Iravat, excited with rage, quickly pierced those two brothers of celestial forms with many sharp and straight shafts. Those two, however, conversant with all modes of warfare, pierced him in return in that battle. Struggling their best to slaughter the foe, and desirous of counteracting each other's feats, no distinction, O king, could be observed between them as they fought. Iravat then, O monarch, with four shafts, despatched the four steeds of Anuvinda to the abode of Yama. And with a couple of sharp, broad-headed shafts, O sire, he cut off the bow and standard also of Anuvinda. And this feat, O king, seemed highly wonderful. Then Anuvinda, leaving his own car, mounted on the car of Vinda. Taking up an excellent and strong bow capable of bearing a great strain, Anuvinda, as also his brother Vinda, those foremost of car-warriors hailing from Avanti, both stationed on the same car, quickly shot many shafts at the high-souled Iravat. Shot by them, those shafts of great impetuosity decked with gold, while coursing through the air, covered the welkin. 1 Then Iravat, excited with rage, showered on those mighty car-warriors, those two brothers (of Avanti) his arrowy down-pours, and felled their charioteer. When the charioteer, deprived of life, fell down on the ground, the horses, no longer restrained, ran away with car. Having vanquished those two warriors, that daughter's son of the king of the Nagas, displaying his prowess, then began to consume with great activity thy ranks. Then that mighty Dhartarashtra host, while thus slaughtered in battle, began to reel in many directions like a person who hath drunk poison.
"That prince of Rakshasa, the mighty son of Hidimva, on his car of solar effulgence furnished with a standard, rushed against Bhagadatta. The ruler of the Pragjyotishas was stationed on his prince of elephants like the wielder of the thunder-bolt in days of old in the battle occasioned by the ravishment of Taraka. The gods, the Gandharvas, and the Rishis had all come there. They could not, however, notice any distinction between Hidimva's son and Bhagadatta. As the chief of the celestials, excited with wrath, had inspired the Danavas with fear, so did Bhagadatta, O king, frightened the Pandava warriors. And the warriors of the Pandava army, frightened by him on all sides, failed, O Bharata, to find among their ranks any protector. We beheld however, O Bharata, the son of Bhimasena there, on his car. The other mighty car-warriors fled away with cheerless hearts. When, however, O Bharata, he troops of the Pandavas rallied, in the battle that then ensued an awful uproar arose among thy troops. Then Ghatotkatcha, O king, in that dreadful battle, covered Bhagadatta with his arrows like the clouds pouring rain on the breast of Meru. Baffling all
p. 208
those arrows shot from the Rakshasa's bow, the king quickly struck the son of Bhimasena in all his vital limbs. That prince of the Rakshasa, however, though struck with innumerable straight shafts, wavered not at all (but stood still) like a mountain pierced (with shafts). Then the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, excited with wrath, hurled in that combat fourteen lances, all of which, however, were cut off by the Rakshasa. Cutting off by means of his sharp shafts those lances, the mighty-armed Rakshasa pierced Bhagadatta with seventy shafts, each resembling the thunder-bolt in force. Then the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, laughing the while, O Bharata, despatched in that combat the four steeds of the Rakshasa to Death's domain. The prince of the Rakshasas, however, of great valour, staying on that car whose steeds had been slain, hurled with great force a dart at the elephant of the ruler of the Pragjyotishas. King Bhagadatta then cut off that swift dart furnished with a staff of gold and coursing impetuously towards him into three fragments, and thereupon it fell down on the ground. Beholding his dart cut off, the son of Hidimva fled from fear like Namuchi, that foremost of the Daityas, in days of old, from battle with Indra. Having vanquished in battle that hero of great valour and renowned prowess, who, O king, cannot be vanquished in battle by Yama himself or Varuna, king Bhagadatta with his elephant began to crush down the troops of the Pandavas like a wild elephant. O king, crushing as he treads the lotus-stalks (in a lake).
"The ruler of the Madras engaged in battle with his sister's sons, the twins. And the overwhelmed those sons of Pandu with clouds of arrows. Then Sahadeva, beholding his maternal uncle, engaged in battle (with him), covered him with arrows like the clouds covering the maker of day. Covered with those clouds of arrows, the ruler of the Madras wore a delighted expression, and the twins also felt great delight for the sake of their mother. 1 Then Salya, that mighty car-warrior, smiting effectively in that battle, despatched with four excellent shafts, O king, the four steeds of Nakula to the abode of Yama. Nakula then, that mighty car-warrior, quickly jumping down from that car whose steeds had been slain, mounted upon the vehicle of his renowned brother. Stationed then on the same car, those two heroes, both fierce in battle, and both excited with rage, began to shroud the car of the ruler of Madras, (with heir arrows), drawing their bows with great strength. But that tiger among men, though thus covered by his sister's sons with innumerable straight arrows shook not in the least (but stood immovable) like a hill. Laughing the while, he smote them (in return) with showers of arrows. Then Sahadeva of great prowess, O Bharata, excited with wrath, took up a (powerful) shaft, and rushing at the ruler of the Madras, shot it at him 2. That shaft endued with the
p. 209
impetuosity of Garuda himself, shot by him, pierced the ruler of the Madras through, and fell on the earth. Thereupon that mighty car-warrior, deeply pierced and greatly pained, sat down. O king, on the terrace of his car, and went into a swoon. Beholding him (thus) afflicted by the twins, deprived of consciousness, and prostrated (on his car), his charioteer bore him away on his vehicle over the field. Seeing the car of the ruler of the Madras retreating (from battle) the Dhartarashtras all became cheerless and thought it was all over with him. 1 Then those mighty car-warriors, viz., the two sons of Madri, having vanquished in battle their maternal uncle, cheerfully blew their conches and uttered leonine roars. And then they rushed joyfully, O king, towards thy forces like the gods Indra and Upendra, O monarch, towards the Daitya host."



Book 6
Chapter 85




1 [dh]
      dṛṣṭvā mama hatān putrān bahūn ekena saśaya
      bhīmo droa kpaś caiva kim akurvata sayuge
  2 ahany ahani me putrā kaya gacchanti sajaya
      manye 'ha sarvathā sūta daivenaupahatā bhśam
  3 yatra me tanayā sarve jīyante na jayanty uta
      yatra bhīmasya droasya kpasya ca mahātmana
  4 saumadatteś ca vīrasya bhagadattasya cobhayo
      aśvatthāmnas tathā tāta śūrāā sumahātmanām
  5 anyeā caiva vīrāā madhyagās tanayā mama
      yad ahanyanta sagrāme kim anyad bhāgadheyata
  6 na hi duryodhano manda purā proktam abudhyata
      vāryamāo mayā tāta bhīmea vidurea ca
  7 gāndhāryā caiva durmedhā satata hitakāmyayā
      nāvabudhyat purā mohāt tasya prāptam ida phalam
  8 yad bhīmasena samare putrān mama vicetasa
      ahany ahani sakruddho nayate yamasādanam
  9 [s]
      ida tat samanuprāpta kattur vacanam uttamam
      na buddhavān asi vibho procyamāna hita tadā
  10 nivāraya sutān dyūtāt pāṇḍavān mā druheti ca
     suh hitakāmānā bruvatā tat tad eva ca
 11 na śuśrūasi yad vākya martya pathyam ivauadham
     tad eva tvām anuprāpta vacana sādhu bhāitam
 12 vidura droa bhīā tathānyeā hitaiiām
     aktvā vacana pathya kaya gacchanti kauravā
 13 tad etat samatikrānta pūrvam eva viśā pate
     tasmān me śṛṇu tattvena yathā yuddham avartata
 14 madhyāhne sumahāraudra sagrāma samapadyata
     lokakayakaro rājas tan me nigadata śṛṇu
 15 tata sarvāi sainyāni dharmaputrasya śāsanāt
     sarabdhāny abhyadhāvanta bhīmam eva jighāsayā
 16 dhṛṣṭadyumna śikhaṇḍī ca sātyakiś ca mahāratha
     yuktānīkā mahārāja bhīmam eva samabhyayu
 17 arjuno draupadeyāś ca cekitānaś ca sayuge
     druyodhana samādiṣṭān rājña sarvān samabhyayu
 18 abhimanyus tathā vīro haiimbaś ca mahāratha
     bhīmasenaś ca sakruddhas te 'bhyadhāvanta kauravān
 19 tridhā bhūtair avadhyanta pāṇḍavai kauravā yudhi
     tathaiva kaurave rājann avadhyanta pare rae
 20 droas tu rathinā śreṣṭha somakān sñjayai saha
     abhyadravata sakruddha preayiyan yamakayam
 21 tatrākrando mahān āsīt sñjayānā mahātmanām
     vadhyatā samare rājan bhāradvājena dhanvinā
 22 droena nihatās tatra katriyā bahavo rae
     viveṣṭanta sma dśyante vyādhikliṣṭā narā iva
 23 kūjatā krandatā caiva stanatā caiva sayuge
     aniśa śrūyate śabda kut kśānā nṛṇām iva
 24 tathaiva kauraveyāā bhīmaseno mahābala
     cakāra kadana ghora kruddha kāla ivāpara
 25 vadhyatā tatra sainyānām anyonyena mahārae
     prāvartata nadī ghorā rudhiraughapravāhinī
 26 sa sagrāmo mahārāja ghorarūpo 'bhavan mahān
     kurūāṇḍavānā ca yama rāṣṭravivardhana
 27 tato bhīmo rae kruddho rabhasaś ca viśeata
     gajānīka samāsādya preayām āsa mtyave
 28 tatra bhārata bhīmena nārācābhihatā gajā
     petu seduś ca neduś ca diśaś ca paribabhramu
 29 chinnahastā mahānāgāś chinnapādāś ca māria
     krauñcavad vyanadan bhītā pthivīm adhiśiśyire
 30 nakula sahadevaś ca hayānīkam abhidrutau
     te hayā kāñcanāpīā rukmabhāṇḍa paricchadā
     vadhyamānā vyadśyanta śataśo 'tha sahasraśa
 31 patadbhiś ca hayai rājan samāstīryata medinī
     nirjihvairś ca śvasadbhiś ca kūjadbhiś ca gatāsubhi
     hayair babhau naraśreṣṭha nānārūpadharair dharā
 32 arjunena hatai sakhye tathā bhārata vājibhi
     prababhau vasudhā ghorā tatra tatra viśā pate
 33 rathair bhagnair dhvajaiś chinnaiś chatraiś ca sumahāprabhai
     hārair nikai sa keyūrai śirobhiś ca sakuṇḍalai
 34 uṣṇīair apaviddhaiś ca patākābhiś ca sarvaa
     anukarai śubhau rājan yoktraiś cavyasuraśmibhih
     sachannā vasudhā bhāti vasante kusumair iva
 35 evam ea kayo vttaṇḍūnām api bhārata
     kruddhe śātanave bhīme droe ca rathasattame
 36 aśvatthāmni kpe caiva tathaiva ktavarmai
     tathetareu kruddheu tāvakānām api kaya


SECTION LXXXV

Sanjaya said, "Then when the sun attained the meridian, king Yudhishthira, beholding Srutayush, urged on his steeds. And the king rushed at Srutayush, that chastiser of foes, striking him with nine straight shafts of keen points. That great bowman, viz., king Srutayush then, checking in that battle those arrows shot by the son of Pandu, struck Yudhishthira with seven shafts. These penetrating through his armour, drank his blood in that battle, as if sucking the very vital energies dwelling in the body of that high-souled one. 2 The son of Pandu then, though deeply pierced by that high-souled king, pierced king Srutayush (in return), at the latter's heart, with an arrow shaped as the boar's ear. And that foremost of car-warriors, viz., the son of Pritha, with another broad-headed arrow, quickly felled on the earth the standard of the high-souled Srutayush from his car. Beholding his standard overthrown, king Srutayush then, O monarch, pierced the son of Pandu with seven sharp shafts. Thereupon Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, blazed up with wrath, like the fire that blazeth forth at the end of the Yuga for consuming creatures. Beholding the son of Pandu excited with rage, the gods, the Gandharvas, and the Rakshasas, trembled, O king, and the universe became agitated. And even this was the thought that arose in the minds of all creatures, viz., that that king, excited with rage, would that day consume the three worlds. Indeed, when the son of Pandu was thus excited with wrath, the Rishis and the celestials prayed for the peace of the world. Filled with wrath and frequently licking the corners of his mouth, Yudhishthira assumed a terrible expression looking like the sun that riseth at the end of the Yuga. Then all thy warriors,
p. 210
[paragraph continues] O king, became hopeless of their lives, O Bharata. Checking, however, that wrath with patience, that great bowman endued with high renown then cut off Srutayush's bow at the grasp. And then, in the very sight of all the troops, the king in that battle pierced Srutayush whose bow had been cut off, with a long arrow in the centre of the chest. And the mighty Yudhishthira then, O king, speedily slew with his arrows the steeds of Srutayush and then, without losing a moment, his charioteer. Beholding the prowess of the king, Srutayush leaving that car whose steeds had been slain, quickly fled away from battle. After that great bowman had been vanquished in combat by the son of Dharma, all the troops of Duryodhana, O king, turned their faces. Having, O monarch, achieved this feat, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, began to slay thy troops like Death himself with wide-open mouth.
"Chekitana of the Vrishni race, in the very sight of all the troops, covered with his shafts Gautama, that foremost of car-warriors. Baffling all those arrows, Kripa the son of Saradwat, pierced Chekitana in return who was fighting with great care, O king, with arrows in that battle. Then, O Bharata, with another broad-headed arrow he cut off Chekitana's bow, and endued with great lightness of hand, he also felled with another broad-headed arrow the former's charioteer. Kripa then, O monarch, slew Chekitana's steeds, as also both the warriors that protected the latter's wings. Then Chekitana of the Satwata race, quickly jumped down from his car, and took up a mace. The foremost of all wielders of the mace, Chekitana, with that hero-slaying mace of his, slew the steeds of Gautama and then felled his charioteer. Then Gautama, standing on the ground, shot sixteen arrows at Chekitana. Those arrows, piercing through that hero of the Satwata race, entered the earth. Thereat, Chekitana excited with rage, once more hurled his mace, desirous of slaying Gautama, like Purandara desirous of slaying Vritra. Then Gautama with many thousands of arrows checked that huge mace, endued with the strength of adamant, that was coursing towards him. Then Chekitana, O Bharata, drawing his sabre from the sheath, rushed with great speed towards Gautama. Thereupon Gautama also, throwing away his bow, and taking up a polished sabre, rushed with great speed towards Chekitana. Both of them possessed of great strength, and both armed with excellent sabres, began to strike each other with those sharp-edged weapons of theirs. Then those bulls among men, struck with the force of each other's sabres, fell down on the earth, that (common) element of all creatures. Exhausted by the efforts they had made, the limbs of both were motionless in a swoon. Then Karakarsha impelled by friendship, quickly rushed to that spot. And that invincible warrior, beholding Chekitana in that plight, took him up on his car in the very sight of all troops. And so also the brave Sakuni, thy brother-in-law, O monarch, speedily caused Gautama, that foremost of car-warriors, to mount on his car.
"The mighty Dhrishtaketu, excited with wrath, speedily pierced the son of Somadatta, O king, with ninety shafts in the chest. And the son
p. 211
of Somadatta looked highly resplendent with those shafts on his chest, like the sun, O king, with his rays at mid-day. Bhurisravas, however, in that battle, with his excellent shafts, deprived Dhrishtaketu, that mighty car-warrior, of his car, slaying his charioteer and steeds. And beholding him deprived of his car, and his steeds and charioteer slain, Bhurisravas covered Dhrishtaketu in that combat with a thick shower of arrows. The high-souled Dhrishtaketu then. O sire, abandoning that car of his, mounted upon the vehicle of Satanika. Chitrasena, and Vikarna, O king, and also Durmarshana,--these car-warriors cased in golden mail,--all rushed against the son of Subhadra. Then a fierce battle took place between Abhimanyu and those warriors, like the battle of the body, O king, with wind, bile, and phlegm. 1 That tiger among men, however, (viz., Abhimanyu), having, O king, deprived thy sons of their cars, slew them not, remembering Bhima's words. 2 Then during the progress of the fight, Kunti's son (Arjuna), of white steeds, beholding Bhishma, who was incapable of being vanquished by very gods, proceeding to rescue thy sons in view of Abhimanyu--a boy and alone though a mighty car-warrior, addressed Vasudeva and said these words, 'Urge the steeds, O Hrishikesa, to that spot where are those numerous car-warriors. They are many in number, brave, accomplished in arms, invincible in battle. Guide the horses so, O Madhava, that the foe may not be able to slay our troops.' Thus urged by Kunti's son of immeasurable energy, he of Vrishni's race then drove that car, unto which were yoked white steeds, to battle. When Arjuna, excited with rage, thus proceeded towards thy army, a loud uproar, O sire, arose among thy troops. 3 The son of Kunti then, having come up to those kings that were protecting Bhishma, (first) addressed Susarman, O king, and said these words, 'I know thee to be foremost in battle, and a dire enemy (of ours) of old. Behold to-day the terrible fruit of that evil behaviour (of thine). 4 I will today cause thee to visit the manes of thy ancestors.' That leader of car-divisions, Susarman, however, hearing these harsh words uttered by that slayer of foes viz., Vibhatsu, told him nothing (in reply), well or ill. (But) approaching the heroic Arjuna, with a large number of kings in his train, and surrounding him in that battle, he covered him aided by thy sons, O sinless one, with arrows from all sides, viz., front, rear, and flanks, like the clouds covering the maker of day. Then, O Bharata, a dreadful battle took place between thy army and the Pandavas, in which blood ran like water."






(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguliji for the collection )

No comments:

Post a Comment