The Sacred Scripture of
great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:
The Mahabharata
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasatranslated by
Sreemaan Brahmasri Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Bhishma Parva
(book 6)
Book 6
Chapter 111
1 dhṛtarāṣṭra
uvāca
kathaṃ śāṃtanavo bhīṣmo daśame 'hani saṃjaya
ayudhyata mahāvīryaiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sahasṛñjayaiḥ
2 kuravaś ca kathaṃ yuddhe pāṇḍavān pratyavārayan
ācakṣva me mahāyuddhaṃ bhīṣmasyāhavaśobhinaḥ
3 saṃjaya uvāca
kuravaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ yathāyudhyanta bhārata
yathā ca tad abhūd yuddhaṃ tat te vakṣyāmi śṛṇvataḥ
4 preṣitāḥ paralokāya paramāstraiḥ kirīṭinā
ahany ahani saṃprāptās tāvakānāṃ rathavrajāḥ
5 yathāpratijñaṃ kauravyaḥ sa cāpi samitiṃjayaḥ
pārthānām akarod bhīṣmaḥ satataṃ samitikṣayam
6 kurubhiḥ sahitaṃ bhīṣmaṃ yudhyamānaṃ mahāratham
arjunaṃ ca sapāñcālyaṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃśayitā janāḥ
7 daśame 'hani tasmiṃs tu bhīṣmārjunasamāgame
avartata mahāraudraḥ satataṃ samitikṣayaḥ
8 tasminn ayutaśo rājan bhūyaś ca sa paraṃtapaḥ
bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo yodhāñ jaghāna paramāstravit
9 yeṣām ajñātakalpāni nāmagotrāṇi pārthiva
te hatās tatra bhīṣmeṇa śūrāḥ sarve 'nivartinaḥ
10 daśāhāni tatas taptvā bhīṣmaḥ pāṇḍavavāhinīm
niravidyata dharmātmā jīvitena paraṃtapaḥ
11 sa kṣipraṃ vadham anvicchann ātmano 'bhimukhaṃ raṇe
na hanyāṃ mānavaśreṣṭhān saṃgrāme 'bhimukhān iti
12 cintayitvā mahābāhuḥ pitā devavratas tava
abhyāśasthaṃ mahārāja pāṇḍavaṃ vākyam abravīt
13 yudhiṣṭhira mahāprājña sarvaśāstraviśārada
śṛṇu me vacanaṃ tāta dharmyaṃ svargyaṃ ca jalpataḥ
14 nirviṇṇo 'smi bhṛśaṃ tāta dehenānena bhārata
ghnataś ca me gataḥ kālaḥ subahūn prāṇino raṇe
15 tasmāt pārthaṃ purodhāya pāñcālān sṛñjayāṃs tathā
madvadhe kriyatāṃ yatno mama ced icchasi priyam
16 tasya tan matam ājñāya pāṇḍavaḥ satyadarśanaḥ
bhīṣmaṃ pratiyayau yattaḥ saṃgrāme saha sṛñjayaiḥ
17 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tato rājan pāṇḍavaś ca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
śrutvā bhīṣmasya tāṃ vācaṃ codayām āsatur balam
18 abhidravata yudhyadhvaṃ bhīṣmaṃ jayata saṃyuge
rakṣitāḥ satyasaṃdhena jiṣṇunā ripujiṣṇunā
19 ayaṃ cāpi maheṣvāsaḥ pārṣato vāhinīpatiḥ
bhīmasenaś ca samare pālayiṣyati vo dhruvam
20 na vai bhīṣmād bhayaṃ kiṃ cit kartavyaṃ yudhi sṛñjayāḥ
dhruvaṃ bhīṣmaṃ vijeṣyāmaḥ puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam
21 tathā tu samayaṃ kṛtvā daśame 'hani pāṇḍavāḥ
brahmalokaparā bhūtvā saṃjagmuḥ krodhamūrchitāḥ
22 śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam
bhīṣmasya pātane yatnaṃ paramaṃ te samāsthitāḥ
23 tatas tava sutādiṣṭā nānājanapadeśvarāḥ
droṇena sahaputreṇa sahasenā mahābalāḥ
24 duḥśāsanaś ca balavān saha sarvaiḥ sahodaraiḥ
bhīṣmaṃ samaramadhyasthaṃ pālayāṃ cakrire tadā
25 tatas tu tāvakāḥ śūrāḥ puraskṛtya yatavratam
śikhaṇḍipramukhān pārthān yodhayanti sma saṃyuge
26 cedibhiś ca sapāñcālaiḥ sahito vānaradhvajaḥ
yayau śāṃtanavaṃ bhīṣmaṃ puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam
27 droṇaputraṃ śiner naptā dhṛṣṭaketus tu pauravam
yudhāmanyuḥ sahāmātyaṃ duryodhanam ayodhayat
28 virāṭas tu sahānīkaḥ sahasenaṃ jayadratham
vṛddhakṣatrasya dāyādam āsasāda paraṃtapaḥ
29 madrarājaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ sahasainyaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
bhīmasenābhiguptaś ca nāgānīkam upādravat
30 apradhṛṣyam anāvāryaṃ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam
droṇaṃ prati yayau yattaḥ pāñcālyaḥ saha somakaiḥ
31 karṇikāradhvajaṃ cāpi siṃhaketur ariṃdamaḥ
pratyujjagāma saubhadraṃ rājaputro bṛhadbalaḥ
32 śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca putrās te pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam
rājabhiḥ samare sārdham abhipetur jighāṃsavaḥ
33 tasminn atimahābhīme senayor vai parākrame
saṃpradhāvatsv anīkeṣu medinī samakampata
34 tāny anīkāny anīkeṣu samasajjanta bhārata
tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca dṛṣṭvā śāṃtanavaṃ raṇe
35 tatas teṣāṃ prayatatām anyonyam abhidhāvatām
prādurāsīn mahāñ śabdo dikṣu sarvāsu bhārata
36 śaṅkhadundubhighoṣaiś ca vāraṇānāṃ ca bṛṃhitaiḥ
siṃhanādaiś ca sainyānāṃ dāruṇaḥ samapadyata
37 sā ca sarvanarendrāṇāṃ candrārkasadṛśī prabhā
vīrāṅgadakirīṭeṣu niṣprabhā samapadyata
38 rajomeghāś ca saṃjajñuḥ śastravidyudbhir āvṛtāḥ
dhanuṣāṃ caiva nirghoṣo dāruṇaḥ samapadyata
39 bāṇaśaṅkhapraṇādāś ca bherīṇāṃ ca mahāsvanāḥ
rathagoṣaś ca saṃjagmuḥ senayor ubhayor api
40 prāsaśaktyṛṣṭisaṃghaiś ca bāṇaughaiś ca samākulam
niṣprakāśam ivākāśaṃ senayoḥ samapadyata
41 anyonyaṃ rathinaḥ petur vājinaś ca mahāhave
kuñjarāḥ kuñjarāñ jaghnuḥ padātīṃś ca padātayaḥ
42 tad āsīt sumahad yuddhaṃ kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
bhīṣmahetor naravyāghra śyenayor āmiṣe yathā
43 tayoḥ samāgamo ghoro babhūva yudhi bhārata
anyonyasya vadhārthāya jigīṣūṇāṃ raṇājire
kathaṃ śāṃtanavo bhīṣmo daśame 'hani saṃjaya
ayudhyata mahāvīryaiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sahasṛñjayaiḥ
2 kuravaś ca kathaṃ yuddhe pāṇḍavān pratyavārayan
ācakṣva me mahāyuddhaṃ bhīṣmasyāhavaśobhinaḥ
3 saṃjaya uvāca
kuravaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ yathāyudhyanta bhārata
yathā ca tad abhūd yuddhaṃ tat te vakṣyāmi śṛṇvataḥ
4 preṣitāḥ paralokāya paramāstraiḥ kirīṭinā
ahany ahani saṃprāptās tāvakānāṃ rathavrajāḥ
5 yathāpratijñaṃ kauravyaḥ sa cāpi samitiṃjayaḥ
pārthānām akarod bhīṣmaḥ satataṃ samitikṣayam
6 kurubhiḥ sahitaṃ bhīṣmaṃ yudhyamānaṃ mahāratham
arjunaṃ ca sapāñcālyaṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃśayitā janāḥ
7 daśame 'hani tasmiṃs tu bhīṣmārjunasamāgame
avartata mahāraudraḥ satataṃ samitikṣayaḥ
8 tasminn ayutaśo rājan bhūyaś ca sa paraṃtapaḥ
bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo yodhāñ jaghāna paramāstravit
9 yeṣām ajñātakalpāni nāmagotrāṇi pārthiva
te hatās tatra bhīṣmeṇa śūrāḥ sarve 'nivartinaḥ
10 daśāhāni tatas taptvā bhīṣmaḥ pāṇḍavavāhinīm
niravidyata dharmātmā jīvitena paraṃtapaḥ
11 sa kṣipraṃ vadham anvicchann ātmano 'bhimukhaṃ raṇe
na hanyāṃ mānavaśreṣṭhān saṃgrāme 'bhimukhān iti
12 cintayitvā mahābāhuḥ pitā devavratas tava
abhyāśasthaṃ mahārāja pāṇḍavaṃ vākyam abravīt
13 yudhiṣṭhira mahāprājña sarvaśāstraviśārada
śṛṇu me vacanaṃ tāta dharmyaṃ svargyaṃ ca jalpataḥ
14 nirviṇṇo 'smi bhṛśaṃ tāta dehenānena bhārata
ghnataś ca me gataḥ kālaḥ subahūn prāṇino raṇe
15 tasmāt pārthaṃ purodhāya pāñcālān sṛñjayāṃs tathā
madvadhe kriyatāṃ yatno mama ced icchasi priyam
16 tasya tan matam ājñāya pāṇḍavaḥ satyadarśanaḥ
bhīṣmaṃ pratiyayau yattaḥ saṃgrāme saha sṛñjayaiḥ
17 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tato rājan pāṇḍavaś ca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
śrutvā bhīṣmasya tāṃ vācaṃ codayām āsatur balam
18 abhidravata yudhyadhvaṃ bhīṣmaṃ jayata saṃyuge
rakṣitāḥ satyasaṃdhena jiṣṇunā ripujiṣṇunā
19 ayaṃ cāpi maheṣvāsaḥ pārṣato vāhinīpatiḥ
bhīmasenaś ca samare pālayiṣyati vo dhruvam
20 na vai bhīṣmād bhayaṃ kiṃ cit kartavyaṃ yudhi sṛñjayāḥ
dhruvaṃ bhīṣmaṃ vijeṣyāmaḥ puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam
21 tathā tu samayaṃ kṛtvā daśame 'hani pāṇḍavāḥ
brahmalokaparā bhūtvā saṃjagmuḥ krodhamūrchitāḥ
22 śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam
bhīṣmasya pātane yatnaṃ paramaṃ te samāsthitāḥ
23 tatas tava sutādiṣṭā nānājanapadeśvarāḥ
droṇena sahaputreṇa sahasenā mahābalāḥ
24 duḥśāsanaś ca balavān saha sarvaiḥ sahodaraiḥ
bhīṣmaṃ samaramadhyasthaṃ pālayāṃ cakrire tadā
25 tatas tu tāvakāḥ śūrāḥ puraskṛtya yatavratam
śikhaṇḍipramukhān pārthān yodhayanti sma saṃyuge
26 cedibhiś ca sapāñcālaiḥ sahito vānaradhvajaḥ
yayau śāṃtanavaṃ bhīṣmaṃ puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam
27 droṇaputraṃ śiner naptā dhṛṣṭaketus tu pauravam
yudhāmanyuḥ sahāmātyaṃ duryodhanam ayodhayat
28 virāṭas tu sahānīkaḥ sahasenaṃ jayadratham
vṛddhakṣatrasya dāyādam āsasāda paraṃtapaḥ
29 madrarājaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ sahasainyaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
bhīmasenābhiguptaś ca nāgānīkam upādravat
30 apradhṛṣyam anāvāryaṃ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam
droṇaṃ prati yayau yattaḥ pāñcālyaḥ saha somakaiḥ
31 karṇikāradhvajaṃ cāpi siṃhaketur ariṃdamaḥ
pratyujjagāma saubhadraṃ rājaputro bṛhadbalaḥ
32 śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca putrās te pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam
rājabhiḥ samare sārdham abhipetur jighāṃsavaḥ
33 tasminn atimahābhīme senayor vai parākrame
saṃpradhāvatsv anīkeṣu medinī samakampata
34 tāny anīkāny anīkeṣu samasajjanta bhārata
tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca dṛṣṭvā śāṃtanavaṃ raṇe
35 tatas teṣāṃ prayatatām anyonyam abhidhāvatām
prādurāsīn mahāñ śabdo dikṣu sarvāsu bhārata
36 śaṅkhadundubhighoṣaiś ca vāraṇānāṃ ca bṛṃhitaiḥ
siṃhanādaiś ca sainyānāṃ dāruṇaḥ samapadyata
37 sā ca sarvanarendrāṇāṃ candrārkasadṛśī prabhā
vīrāṅgadakirīṭeṣu niṣprabhā samapadyata
38 rajomeghāś ca saṃjajñuḥ śastravidyudbhir āvṛtāḥ
dhanuṣāṃ caiva nirghoṣo dāruṇaḥ samapadyata
39 bāṇaśaṅkhapraṇādāś ca bherīṇāṃ ca mahāsvanāḥ
rathagoṣaś ca saṃjagmuḥ senayor ubhayor api
40 prāsaśaktyṛṣṭisaṃghaiś ca bāṇaughaiś ca samākulam
niṣprakāśam ivākāśaṃ senayoḥ samapadyata
41 anyonyaṃ rathinaḥ petur vājinaś ca mahāhave
kuñjarāḥ kuñjarāñ jaghnuḥ padātīṃś ca padātayaḥ
42 tad āsīt sumahad yuddhaṃ kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
bhīṣmahetor naravyāghra śyenayor āmiṣe yathā
43 tayoḥ samāgamo ghoro babhūva yudhi bhārata
anyonyasya vadhārthāya jigīṣūṇāṃ raṇājire
SECTION CXI
Sanjaya said, "Arjuna then, O king, beholding the prowess of Bhishma in battle, addressed Sikhandin saying, 'Proceed towards the grandsire. Thou shouldst not entertain the slightest fear of Bhishma today. Even I will throw him down from his excellent car by means of my sharp shafts'. Thus addressed by Partha, Sikhandin, O bull of Bharata's race, having heard those words, rushed at the son of Ganga. And so Dhrishtadyumna also, O king, and the mighty car-warrior Abhimanyu, having heard those words of Partha, joyfully rushed atp. 278
[paragraph continues] Bhishma. And old Virata and Drupada, and Kuntibhoja also, clad in mail, rushed at Bhishma in the very sight of thy son. And Nakula, Sahadeva, and the valiant king Yudhishthira also, and all the rest of the warriors, O monarch, rushed against Bhishma. As regards thy warriors O king, that rushed, according to the measure of their might and courage, against those mighty car-warriors (of the Pandava army) united together, listen to me as I speak (of them) unto thee. Like a young tiger attacking a bull, Chitrasena, O king, rushed against Chekitana who in that battle was proceeding for getting at Bhishma. Kritavarman, O king, resisted Dhrishtadyumna who had reached the presence of Bhishma and who was exerting himself with great activity and vigour in that battle. Somadatta's son, O monarch, with great activity, resisted Bhimasena excited with fury and desirous of slaying Bhishma. Similarly Vikarna, desirous of (protecting) Bhishma's life, resisted the brave Nakula who was scattering innumerable arrows around. And so, O king, Kripa the son of Saradwat, excited with rage, resisted Sahadeva proceeding towards Bhishma's car. And the mighty Durmukha rushed at that Rakshasa of cruel deeds, viz., the mighty son of Bhishmasena, desirous of Bhishma's slaughter. Thy son Duryodhana himself resisted Satyaki proceeding to battle. Sudakshina the ruler of the Kamavojas, O king, resisted Abhimanyu, O monarch, who was proceeding towards Bhishma's car. And Aswatthaman, O king, excited with rage, resisted old Virata and Drupada, those two chastisers of foes united together. And Bharadwaja's son, exerting himself with vigour in battle, resisted the eldest Pandava, that is to say, king Yudhishthira the just, who was desirous of Bhishma's death. And that great bowman, viz., Dussasana, in that battle, resisted Arjuna who was rushing with great speed, with Sikhandin before him, desirous of coming upon Bhishma, O monarch, and illuminating the ten quarters (with his bright weapons). And other warriors of thy army resisted in that great battle other mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas proceeding against Bhishma. Dhrishtadyumna, that mighty car-warrior, excited with rage, rushed against Bhishma alone and addressing the troops, repeatedly said in a loud voice, 'There, Arjuna, that delighter of Kuru's race, is proceeding against Bhishma in battle. Rush ye against Ganga's son. Be not afraid. Bhishma will not be able to attack you in battle. 1 Vasava himself cannot venture to fight with Arjuna in battle. What therefore, need be said of Bhishma who, though possessed of bravery in battle, is feeble and old." Hearing these words of their commander, the mighty car-warriors of the Pandava army, filled with joy, rushed towards the car of Ganga's son. Many foremost of men, however, of thy army cheerfully received and resisted those heroes coming towards Bhishma like impetuous mass of living energy. That mighty car-warrior, Dussasana, abandoning all fears, rushed against Dhananjaya, desirous of protecting the life of Bhishma. And so the heroic Pandavas also, O king, rushed in. battle against thy sons, those mighty car-warriors, stationed
p. 279
about Bhishma's car. And then, O king we beheld a highly wonderful incident, viz., that Partha, having proceeded as far as Dussasana's car, could not advance further. As the continent resists the surging sea, even so did thy son (Dussasana) resist the angry son of Pandu. Both of them were foremost of car-warriors. Both of them, O Bharata, were invincible. Both of them, in beauty and splendour, O Bharata, resembled the Sun or the Moon. Both of them were excited with wrath. And each of them desired to slay the other. And they encountered each other in dreadful battle like Maya and Sakra in days of old. And Dussasana, O king, in that battle pierced the son of Pandu with three shafts and Vasudeva with twenty. Then Arjuna, excited with rage upon beholding him of Vrishni's race thus afflicted, pierced Dussasana with a hundred shafts. These, penetrating through the latter's armour, drank his blood in that battle. Then Dussasana, excited with wrath, pierced Partha with five shafts. And once more, O chief of the Bharatas, he pierced Arjuna in the forehead with three sharp shafts. And with those shafts sticking to his forehead, the son of Pandu looked beautiful in that battle, like Meru, O king with its tall crests. That great bowman, viz., Partha, then thus deeply pierced by thy son wielding the bow, looked resplendent in that battle like a flowering Kinsuka. The son of Pandu then, excited with rage, afflicted Dussasana, like Rahu inflamed with rage on the fifteenth day of the lighted fortnight afflicting the Moon at full. Thus afflicted by that mighty warrior, thy son, O king, pierced Partha in that battle with many shafts whetted on stone and winged with the features of the Kanka bird. Then Partha, cutting off Dussasana's bow and splitting his car with three shafts, sped at him many fierce arrows resembling the darts of Death. Thy son, however, cut off all those shafts of Partha exerting himself with vigour before they could reach him. All this seemed highly wonderful. Then thy son pierced Partha with many shafts of great sharpness. Then Partha, excited with rage in that battle, placed on his bowstring a number of shafts whetted on stone and furnished with wings of gold and aiming them, sped them all at his foe. These, O king, penetrated the body of that high-souled warrior, like swans, O monarch, diving into a lake. Thus afflicted by the high-souled son of Pandu, thy son avoiding Partha, quickly proceeded to the car of Bhishma. Indeed, Bhishma then became an island unto him who was thus sinking into fathomless waters. Regaining consciousness then, thy son, O monarch, endued with heroism and prowess, once more began to resist Partha with sharp arrows like Purandara resisting (the Asura) Vritra. Of huge form, thy son began to pierce Arjuna, but the latter was scarcely pained (at all this)."
Book 6
Chapter 112
1 [s]
abhimanyur mahārāja tava putram ayodhayat
mahatyā senayā yukto bhīṣmahetoḥ parākramī
2 duryodhano raṇe kārṣṇiṃ navabhir nava parvabhiḥ
ājaghāna raṇe kruddhaḥ punaś cainaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
3 tasya śaktiṃ raṇe kārṣṇir mṛtyor ghorām iva svasām
preṣayām āsa saṃkruddho duryodhana rathaṃ prati
4 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā ghorarūpāṃ viśāṃ pate
dvidhā ciccheda te putraḥ kṣurapreṇa mahārathaḥ
5 tāṃ śaktiṃ patitāṃ dṛṣṭvā kārṣṇiḥ paramakopanaḥ
duryodhanaṃ tribhir bāṇair bāhvor urasi cārpayat
6 punaś cainaṃ śarair ghorair ājaghāna stanāntare
daśabhir bharataśreṣṭha duryodhanam amarṣaṇam
7 tad yuddham abhavad ghoraṃ citrarūpaṃ ca bhārata
īkṣitṛprītijananaṃ sarvapārthivapūjitam
8 bhīṣmasya nidhanārthāya pārthasya vijayāya ca
yuyudhāte raṇe vīrau saubhadra kurupuṃgavau
9 sātyakiṃ rabhasaṃ yuddhe drauṇir brāhmaṇapuṃgavaḥ
ājaghānorasi kruddho nārācena paraṃtapaḥ
10 śaineyo 'pi guroḥ putraṃ sarvamarmasu bhārata
atāḍayad ameyātmā navabhiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ
11 aśvatthāmā tu samare sātyakiṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
triṃśatā ca punas tūrṇaṃ bāhvor urasi cārpayat
12 so 'tividdho maheṣvāso droṇaputreṇa sātvataḥ
droṇaputraṃ tribhir bāṇair ājaghāna mahāyaśāḥ
13 pauravo dhṛṣṭaketuṃ ca śarair āsādya saṃyuge
bahudhā dārayāṃ cakre maheṣvāsaṃ mahāratham
14 tathaiva pauravaṃ yuddhe dhṛṣṭaketur mahārathaḥ
triṃśatā niśitair bāṇair vivyādha sumahābalaḥ
15 pauravas tu dhanuś chittvā dhṛṣṭaketor mahārathaḥ
nanāda balavan nādaṃ vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
16 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya pauravaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
ājaghāna mahārāja trisaptatyā śilīmukhaiḥ
17 tau tu tatra maheṣvāsau mahāmātrau mahārathau
mahatā śaravarṣeṇa parasparam avarṣatām
18 anyonyasya dhanuś chittvā hayān hatvā ca bhārata
virathāv asiyuddhāya saṃgatau tau mahārathau
19 ārṣabhe carmaṇī citre śatacandra pariṣkṛte
tārakā śatacitrau ca nistriṃśau sumahāprabhau
20 pragṛhya vimalau rājaṃs tāv anyonyam abhidrutau
vāśitā saṃgame yattau siṃhāv iva mahāvane
21 maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi gatapratyāgatāni ca
ceratur darśayantau ca prārthayantau parasparam
22 pauravo dhṛṣṭaketuṃ tu śaṅkhadeśe mahāsinā
tāḍayām āsa saṃkruddhas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
23 cedirājo 'pi samare pauravaṃ puruṣarṣabham
ājaghāna śitāgreṇa jatru deśe mahāsinā
24 tāv anyonyaṃ mahārāja samāsādya mahāhave
anyonyavegābhihatau nipetatur ariṃdamau
25 tataḥ svaratham āropya pauravaṃ tanayas tava
jayatseno rathe rājann apovāha raṇājirāt
26 dhṛṣṭaketuṃ ca samare mādrīputraḥ paraṃtapaḥ
apovāha raṇe rājan sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
27 citrasenaḥ suśarmāṇaṃ viddhvā navabhir āśugaiḥ
punar vivyādha taṃ ṣaṣṭyā punaś ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
28 suśarmā tu raṇe kruddhas tava putraṃ viśāṃ pate
daśabhir daśabhiś caiva vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
29 citrasenaś ca taṃ rājaṃs triṃśatā nataparvaṇām
ājaghāna raṇe kruddhaḥ sa ca taṃ pratyavidhyata
bhīṣmasya samare rājan yaśo mānaṃ ca vardhayan
30 saubhadro rājaputraṃ tu bṛhadbalam ayodhayat
ārjuniṃ kosalendras tu viddhvā pañcabhir āyasaiḥ
punar vivyādha viṃśatyā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
31 bṛhadbalaṃ ca saubhadro viddhvā navabhir āyasaiḥ
nākampayata saṃgrāme vivyādha ca punaḥ punaḥ
32 kausalyasya punaś cāpi dhanuś ciccheda phālguṇiḥ
ājaghāna śaraiś caiva triṃśatā kaṅkapatribhiḥ
33 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya rājaputro bṛhadbalaḥ
phālguṇiṃ samare kruddho vivyādhabahubhiḥ śaraiḥ
34 tayor yuddhaṃ samabhavad bhīṣmahetoḥ paraṃtapa
saṃrabdhayor mahārāja samare citrayodhinoḥ
yathā devāsure yuddhe maya vāsavayor abhūt
35 bhīmaseno gajānīkaṃ yodhayan bahv aśobhata
yathā śakro vajrapāṇir dārayan parvatottamān
36 te vadhyamānā bhīmena mātaṅgā girisaṃnibhāḥ
nipetur urvyāṃ sahitā nādayanto vasuṃdharām
37 girimātrā hi te nāgā bhinnāñjanacayopamāḥ
virejur vasudhāṃ prāpya vikīrṇā iva parvataḥ
38 yudhiṣṭhiro maheṣvāso madrarājānam āhave
mahatyā senayā guptaṃ pīḍayām āsa saṃgataḥ
39 madreśvaraś ca samare dharmaputraṃ mahāratham
pīḍayām āsa saṃrabdho bhīṣmahetoḥ parākramī
40 virāṭaṃ saindhavo rājā viddhvā saṃnataparvabhiḥ
navabhiḥ sāyakais tīkṣṇais triṃśatā punar ardayat
41 virāṭaś ca mahārāja saindhavaṃ vāhinīmukhe
triṃśatā niśitair bāṇair ājaghāna stanāntare
42 citrakārmukanistriṃśau citravarmāyudha dhvajau
rejatuś citrarūpau tau saṃgrāme matsyasaindhavau
43 droṇaḥ pāñcāla putreṇa samāgamya mahāraṇe
mahāsamudayaṃ cakre śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
44 tato droṇo mahārāja pārṣatasya mahad dhanuḥ
chittvā pañcāśateṣūṇāṃ pārṣataṃ samavidhyata
45 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya pārṣataḥ paravīrahā
droṇasya miṣato yuddhe preṣayām āsa sāyakān
46 tāñ śarāñ śarasaṃghais tu saṃnivārya mahārathaḥ
droṇo drupadaputrāya prāhiṇot pañca sāyakān
47 tasya kruddho mahārāja pārṣataḥ paravīrahā
droṇāya cikṣepa gadāṃ yamadaṇḍopamaṃ raṇe
48 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā hemapaṭṭa vibhūṣitām
śaraiḥ pañcāśatā droṇo vārayām āsa saṃyuge
49 sā chinnā bahudhā rājan droṇa cāpacyutaiḥ śaraiḥ
cūrṇīkṛtā viśīryantī papāta vasudhātale
50 gadāṃ vinihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā pārṣataḥ śatrusūdanaḥ
droṇāya śaktiṃ cikṣepa sarvapāraśavīṃ śubhām
51 tāṃ droṇo navabhir bāṇaiś ciccheda yudhi bhārata
pārṣataṃ ca maheṣvāsaṃ pīḍayām āsa saṃyuge
52 evam etan mahad yuddhaṃ droṇa pārṣatayor abhūt
bhīṣmaṃ prati mahārāja ghorarūpāṃ bhayānakam
53 arjunaḥ prāpya gāṅgeyaṃ pīḍayan niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
abhyadravata saṃyattaṃ vane mattam iva dvipam
54 pratyudyayau ca taṃ pārthaṃ bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān
tridhā bhinnena nāgena madāndhena mahābalaḥ
55 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā mahendra gajasaṃnibham
paraṃ yatnaṃ samāsthāya bībhatsuḥ pratyapadyata
56 tato gajagato rājā bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān
arjunaṃ śaravarṣeṇa vārayām āsa saṃyuge
57 arjunas tu raṇe nāgam āyāntaṃ rajatopamam
vimalair āyasais tīkṣṇair avidhyata mahāraṇe
58 śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca kaunteyo yāhi yāhīty acodayat
bhīṣmaṃ prati mahārāja jahy enam iti cābravīt
59 prāgjyotiṣas tato hitvā pāṇḍavaṃ pāṇḍupūrvaja
prayayau tvarito rājan drupadasya rathaṃ prati
60 tato 'rjuno mahārāja bhīṣmam abhyadravad drutam
śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya tato yuddham avartata
61 tatas te tāvakāḥ śūrāḥ pāṇḍavaṃ rabhasaṃ raṇe
sarve 'bhyadhāvan krośantas tad adbhutam ivābhavat
62 nānāvidhāny anīkāni putrāṇāṃ te janādhipa
arjuno vyadhamat kāle divīvābhrāṇi mārutaḥ
63 śikhaṇḍī tu samāsādya bharatānāṃ pitāmaham
iṣubhis tūrṇam avyagro bahubhiḥ sa samācinot
64 somakāṃś ca raṇe bhīṣmo jaghne pārtha padānugān
nyavārayata sainyaṃ ca pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ
65 rathāgnyagāraś cāpārcir asiśaktigadendhanaḥ
śarasaṃgha mahājvālaḥ kṣatriyān samare 'dahat
66 yathā hi sumahān agniḥ kakṣe carati sānilaḥ
tathā jajvāla bhīṣmo 'pi divyāny astrāṇy udīrayan
67 suvarṇapuṅkhair iṣubhiḥ śitaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
nādayan sa diśo bhīṣmaḥ pradiśaś ca mahāyaśāḥ
68 pātayan rathino rājan gajāṃś ca saha sādibhiḥ
muṇḍatālavanānīva cakāra sa rathavrajān
69 nirmanuṣyān rathān rājan gajān aśvāṃś ca saṃyuge
cakāra sa tadā bhīṣmaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
70 tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ
niśamya sarvato rājan samakampanta sainikāḥ
71 amoghā hy apatan bāṇāḥ pitus te manujeśvara
nāsajjanta śarīreṣu bhīṣmacāpacyutāḥ śarāḥ
72 nirmanuṣyān rathān rājan suyuktāñ javanair hayaiḥ
vātāyamānān paśyāma hriyamāṇān viśāṃ pate
73 cedikāśikarūṣāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa
mahārathāḥ samākhyātāḥ kulu putrās tanutyajaḥ
74 aparāvartinaḥ śūrāḥ suvarṇavikṛtadhvajāḥ
saṃgrāme bhīṣmam āsādya sa vājirathakuñjarāḥ
jagmus te paralokāya vyāditāsyam ivāntakam
75 na tatrāsīn mahārāja somakānāṃ mahārathaḥ
yaḥ saṃprāpya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ jīvite sma mano dadhe
76 tāṃś ca sarvān raṇe yodhān pretarājapuraṃ prati
nītān amanyanta janā dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasya vikramam
77 na kaś cid enaṃ samare pratyudyāti mahārathaḥ
ṛte pāṇḍusutaṃ vīraṃ śvetāśvaṃ kṛṣṇasārathim
śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca samare pāñcālyam amitaujasam
78 śikhaṇḍī tu raṇe bhīṣmam āsādya bharatarṣabha
daśabhir daśabhir bāṇair ājaghāna mahāhave
79 śikhaṇḍinaṃ tu gāṅgeyaḥ krodhadīptena cakṣuṣā
avaikṣata kaṭākṣeṇa nirdahann iva bhārata
80 strītvaṃ tat saṃsmaran rājan sarvalokasya paśyataḥ
na jaghāna raṇe bhīṣmaḥ sa ca taṃ nāvabuddhavān
81 arjunas tu mahārāja śikhaṇḍinam abhāṣata
abhitvarasva tvarito jahi cainaṃ pitāmaham
82 kiṃ te vivakṣayā vīra jahi bhīṣmaṃ mahāratham
na hy anyam anupaśyāmi kaṃ cid yaudhiṣṭhire bale
83 yaḥ śaktaḥ samare bhīṣmaṃ yodhayeta pitāmaham
ṛte tvāṃ puruṣavyāghra satyam etad bravīmi te
84 evam uktas tu pārthena śikhaṇḍī bharatarṣabha
śanair nānāvidhais tūrṇaṃ pitāmaham upādravat
85 acintayitvā tān bāṇān pitā devavratas tava
arjunaṃ samare kruddhaṃ vārayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
86 tathaiva ca camūṃ sarvāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ
apraiṣīt samare tīkṣṇaiḥ paralokāya māriṣa
87 tathaiva pāṇḍavā rājan sainyena mahatā vṛtāḥ
bhīṣmaṃ pracchādayām āsur meghā iva divākaram
88 sa samantāt parivṛto bhārato bharatarṣabha
nirdadāha raṇe śūrān vanaṃ vahnir iva jvalan
89 tatādbhutam apaśyāma tava putrasya pauruṣam
ayodhayata yat pārthaṃ jugopa ca yatavratam
90 karmaṇā tena samare tava putrasya dhanvinaḥ
duḥśāsanasya tutuṣuḥ sarve lokā mahātmanaḥ
91 yad ekaḥ samare pārthān sānugān samayodhayat
na cainaṃ pāṇḍavā yuddhe vāyarām āsur ulbaṇam
92 duḥśāsanena samare rathino virathī kṛtāḥ
sādinaś ca mahārāja dantinaś ca mahābalāḥ
93 vinirbhinnāḥ śarais tīkṣṇair nipetur dharaṇītale
śarāturās tathaivānye dantino vidrutā diśaḥ
94 yathāgnir indhanaṃ prāpya jvaled dīptārcir ulbaṇaḥ
tathā jajvāla putras te pāṇḍavān vai vinirdahan
95 taṃ bhārata mahāmātraṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ
jetuṃ notsahate kaś cin nāpy udyātuṃ kathaṃ cana
ṛte mahendra tanayaṃ śvetāśvaṃ kṛṣṇasārathim
96 sa hi taṃ samare rājan vijitya vijayo 'rjunaḥ
bhīṣmam evābhidudrāva sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ
97 vijitas tava putro 'pi bhīṣma bāhuvyapāśrayaḥ
punaḥ punaḥ samāśvasya prāyudhyata raṇotkaṭaḥ
arjunaṃ ca raṇe rājan yodhayan sa vyarājata
98 śikhaṇḍī tu raṇe rājan vivyādhaiva pitāmaham
śarair aśanisaṃsparśais tathā sarpaviṣopamaiḥ
99 na ca te 'sya rujaṃ cakruḥ pitus tava janeśvara
smayamānaś ca gāṅgeyas tān bāṇāñ jagṛhe tadā
100 uṣṇārtho hi naro yadvaj jaladhārāḥ patīcchati
tathā jagrāha gāṅgeyaḥ śaradhārāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
101 taṃ kṣatriyā mahārāja dadṛśur ghoram āhave
bhīṣmaṃ dahantaṃ sainyāni pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
102 tato 'bravīt tava sutaḥ sarvasainyāni māriṣa
abhidravata saṃgrāme phalgunaṃ sarvato rathaiḥ
103 bhīṣmo vaḥ samare sarvān palayiṣyati dharmavit
te bhayaṃ sumahat tvaktvā pāṇḍavān pratiyudhyata
104 eṣa tālena dīptena bhīṣmas tiṣṭhati pālayan
sarveṣāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ raṇe śarma ca varma ca
105 tridaśāpi samudyuktā nālaṃ bhīṣmaṃ samāsitum
kim u pārthā mahātmānaṃ martyabhūtās tathābalāḥ
tasmād dravata he yodhāḥ phalgunaṃ prāpya saṃyuge
106 aham adya raṇe yatto yodhayiṣyāmi phalgunam
sahitaḥ sarvato yattair bhavadbhir vasudhādhipāḥ
107 tac chrutvā tu vaco rājaṃs tava putrasya dhanvinaḥ
arjunaṃ prati saṃyattā balavanti mahārathāḥ
108 te videhāḥ kaliṅgāś ca dāśeraka gaṇaiḥ saha
abhipetur niṣādāś ca sauvīrāś ca mahāraṇe
109 bāhlikā daradāś caiva prācyodīcyāś ca mālavāḥ
abhīṣāhāḥ śūrasenāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ
110 śālvāśrayās trigartāś ca ambaṣṭhāḥ kekayaiḥ saha
abhipetū raṇe pārthaṃ pataṃgā iva pāvakam
111 sa tān sarvān sahānīkān mahārāja mahārathān
divyāny astrāṇi saṃcintya prasaṃdhāya dhanaṃjayaḥ
112 sa tair astrair mahāvegair dadāhāśu mahābalaḥ
śarapratāpair bībhatsuḥ pataṃgān iva pāvakaḥ
113 tasya bāṇasahasrāṇi sṛjato dṛḍhadhanvinaḥ
dīpyamānam ivākāśe gāṇḍīvaṃ samadṛśyata
114 te śarārtā mahārāja viprakīrṇarathadhvajāḥ
nābyavartanta rājānaḥ sahitā vānaradhvajam
115 sa dhvajā rathinaḥ petur hayārohā hayaiḥ saha
gajāḥ saha gajārohaiḥ kirīṭiśaratāḍitāḥ
116 tato 'rjuna bhujotsṛṣṭair āvṛtāsīd vasuṃdharā
vidravadbhiś ca bahudhā balai rājñāṃ samantataḥ
117 atha pārtho mahābāhur drāvayitvā varūthinīm
duḥśāsanāya samare preṣayām āsa sāyakān
118 te tu bhittvā tava sutaṃ duḥṣāsanam ayomukhāḥ
dharaṇīṃ viviśuḥ sarve valmīkam iva pannagāḥ
hayāṃś cāsya tato jaghne sārathiṃ canyapātayat
119 viviṃśatiṃ ca viṃśatyā virathaṃ kṛtavān prabho
ājaghāna bhṛśaṃ caiva pañcabhir nataparvabhiḥ
120 kṛpaṃ śalyaṃ vikarṇaṃ ca viddhvā bahubhir āyasaiḥ
cakāra virathāṃś caiva kaunteyaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ
121 evaṃ te virathāḥ pañca kṛpaḥ śalyaś ca māriṣa
duḥśāsano vikarṇaś ca tathaiva ca viviṃśatiḥ
saṃprādravanta samare nirjitāḥ savyasācinā
122 pūrvāhṇe tu tathā rājan parājitya mahārathān
prajajvāla raṇe pārtho vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ
123 tathaiva śaravarṣeṇa bhāskaro raśmivān iva
anyān api mahārāja pātayām āsa pārthivān
124 parāṅmukhī kṛtyatadā śaravarṣair mahārathān
prāvartayata saṃgrāme śoṇitodāṃ mahānadīm
madhyena kurusainyānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata
125 gajāś ca rathasaṃghāś ca bahudhā rathibhir hatāḥ
rathāś ca nihatā nāgair nāgā hayapadātibhiḥ
126 antarā chidhyamānāni śarīrāṇi śirāṃsi ca
nipetur dikṣu sarvāsu gajāśvarathayodhinām
127 channam āyodhanaṃ reje kuṇḍalāṅgada dhāribhiḥ
patitaiḥ pātyamānaiś ca rājaputrair mahārathaiḥ
128 rathanemi nikṛttāś ca gajaiś caivāvapothitāḥ
pādātāś cāpy adṛśyanta sāśvāḥ sahayasādinaḥ
129 gajāśvarathasaṃghāś ca paripetuḥ samantataḥ
viśīrṇāś ca rathā bhūmau bhagnacakrayugadhvajāḥ
130 tad gajāśvarathaughānāṃ rudhireṇa samukṣitam
channam āyodhanaṃ reje raktābhram iva śāradam
131 śvānaḥ kākāś ca gṛdhrāś ca vṛkā gomāyubhiḥ saha
praṇedur bhakṣyam āsādya vikṛtāś ca mṛgadvijāḥ
132 vavur bahuvidhāś caiva dikṣu sarvāsu mārutāḥ
dṛśyamāneṣu rakṣaḥsu bhūteṣu vinadatsu ca
133 kāñcanāni ca dāmāni patākāś ca mahādhanāḥ
dhūmāyamānā dṛśyante sahasā māruteritāḥ
134 śvetac chatrasahasrāṇi sa dhvajāś ca mahārathāḥ
vinikīrṇāḥ sma dṛśyante śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
sa patākāś ca mātaṅgā diśo jagmuḥ śarāturāḥ
135 kṣatriyāś ca manuṣyendra gadā śaktidhanurdharāḥ
samantato vyadṛśyanta patitā dharaṇītale
136 tato bhīṣmo mahārāja divyam astram udīrayan
abhyadhāvata kaunteyaṃ miṣatāṃ sarvadhanvinām
137 taṃ śikhaṇḍī raṇe yattam abhyadhāvata daṃśitaḥ
saṃjahāra tato bhīṣmas tad astraṃ pāvakopamam
138 etasminn eva kāle tu kaunteyaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ
nijaghne tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ mohayitvā pitāmaham
abhimanyur mahārāja tava putram ayodhayat
mahatyā senayā yukto bhīṣmahetoḥ parākramī
2 duryodhano raṇe kārṣṇiṃ navabhir nava parvabhiḥ
ājaghāna raṇe kruddhaḥ punaś cainaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
3 tasya śaktiṃ raṇe kārṣṇir mṛtyor ghorām iva svasām
preṣayām āsa saṃkruddho duryodhana rathaṃ prati
4 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā ghorarūpāṃ viśāṃ pate
dvidhā ciccheda te putraḥ kṣurapreṇa mahārathaḥ
5 tāṃ śaktiṃ patitāṃ dṛṣṭvā kārṣṇiḥ paramakopanaḥ
duryodhanaṃ tribhir bāṇair bāhvor urasi cārpayat
6 punaś cainaṃ śarair ghorair ājaghāna stanāntare
daśabhir bharataśreṣṭha duryodhanam amarṣaṇam
7 tad yuddham abhavad ghoraṃ citrarūpaṃ ca bhārata
īkṣitṛprītijananaṃ sarvapārthivapūjitam
8 bhīṣmasya nidhanārthāya pārthasya vijayāya ca
yuyudhāte raṇe vīrau saubhadra kurupuṃgavau
9 sātyakiṃ rabhasaṃ yuddhe drauṇir brāhmaṇapuṃgavaḥ
ājaghānorasi kruddho nārācena paraṃtapaḥ
10 śaineyo 'pi guroḥ putraṃ sarvamarmasu bhārata
atāḍayad ameyātmā navabhiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ
11 aśvatthāmā tu samare sātyakiṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
triṃśatā ca punas tūrṇaṃ bāhvor urasi cārpayat
12 so 'tividdho maheṣvāso droṇaputreṇa sātvataḥ
droṇaputraṃ tribhir bāṇair ājaghāna mahāyaśāḥ
13 pauravo dhṛṣṭaketuṃ ca śarair āsādya saṃyuge
bahudhā dārayāṃ cakre maheṣvāsaṃ mahāratham
14 tathaiva pauravaṃ yuddhe dhṛṣṭaketur mahārathaḥ
triṃśatā niśitair bāṇair vivyādha sumahābalaḥ
15 pauravas tu dhanuś chittvā dhṛṣṭaketor mahārathaḥ
nanāda balavan nādaṃ vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
16 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya pauravaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
ājaghāna mahārāja trisaptatyā śilīmukhaiḥ
17 tau tu tatra maheṣvāsau mahāmātrau mahārathau
mahatā śaravarṣeṇa parasparam avarṣatām
18 anyonyasya dhanuś chittvā hayān hatvā ca bhārata
virathāv asiyuddhāya saṃgatau tau mahārathau
19 ārṣabhe carmaṇī citre śatacandra pariṣkṛte
tārakā śatacitrau ca nistriṃśau sumahāprabhau
20 pragṛhya vimalau rājaṃs tāv anyonyam abhidrutau
vāśitā saṃgame yattau siṃhāv iva mahāvane
21 maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi gatapratyāgatāni ca
ceratur darśayantau ca prārthayantau parasparam
22 pauravo dhṛṣṭaketuṃ tu śaṅkhadeśe mahāsinā
tāḍayām āsa saṃkruddhas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
23 cedirājo 'pi samare pauravaṃ puruṣarṣabham
ājaghāna śitāgreṇa jatru deśe mahāsinā
24 tāv anyonyaṃ mahārāja samāsādya mahāhave
anyonyavegābhihatau nipetatur ariṃdamau
25 tataḥ svaratham āropya pauravaṃ tanayas tava
jayatseno rathe rājann apovāha raṇājirāt
26 dhṛṣṭaketuṃ ca samare mādrīputraḥ paraṃtapaḥ
apovāha raṇe rājan sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
27 citrasenaḥ suśarmāṇaṃ viddhvā navabhir āśugaiḥ
punar vivyādha taṃ ṣaṣṭyā punaś ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
28 suśarmā tu raṇe kruddhas tava putraṃ viśāṃ pate
daśabhir daśabhiś caiva vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
29 citrasenaś ca taṃ rājaṃs triṃśatā nataparvaṇām
ājaghāna raṇe kruddhaḥ sa ca taṃ pratyavidhyata
bhīṣmasya samare rājan yaśo mānaṃ ca vardhayan
30 saubhadro rājaputraṃ tu bṛhadbalam ayodhayat
ārjuniṃ kosalendras tu viddhvā pañcabhir āyasaiḥ
punar vivyādha viṃśatyā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
31 bṛhadbalaṃ ca saubhadro viddhvā navabhir āyasaiḥ
nākampayata saṃgrāme vivyādha ca punaḥ punaḥ
32 kausalyasya punaś cāpi dhanuś ciccheda phālguṇiḥ
ājaghāna śaraiś caiva triṃśatā kaṅkapatribhiḥ
33 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya rājaputro bṛhadbalaḥ
phālguṇiṃ samare kruddho vivyādhabahubhiḥ śaraiḥ
34 tayor yuddhaṃ samabhavad bhīṣmahetoḥ paraṃtapa
saṃrabdhayor mahārāja samare citrayodhinoḥ
yathā devāsure yuddhe maya vāsavayor abhūt
35 bhīmaseno gajānīkaṃ yodhayan bahv aśobhata
yathā śakro vajrapāṇir dārayan parvatottamān
36 te vadhyamānā bhīmena mātaṅgā girisaṃnibhāḥ
nipetur urvyāṃ sahitā nādayanto vasuṃdharām
37 girimātrā hi te nāgā bhinnāñjanacayopamāḥ
virejur vasudhāṃ prāpya vikīrṇā iva parvataḥ
38 yudhiṣṭhiro maheṣvāso madrarājānam āhave
mahatyā senayā guptaṃ pīḍayām āsa saṃgataḥ
39 madreśvaraś ca samare dharmaputraṃ mahāratham
pīḍayām āsa saṃrabdho bhīṣmahetoḥ parākramī
40 virāṭaṃ saindhavo rājā viddhvā saṃnataparvabhiḥ
navabhiḥ sāyakais tīkṣṇais triṃśatā punar ardayat
41 virāṭaś ca mahārāja saindhavaṃ vāhinīmukhe
triṃśatā niśitair bāṇair ājaghāna stanāntare
42 citrakārmukanistriṃśau citravarmāyudha dhvajau
rejatuś citrarūpau tau saṃgrāme matsyasaindhavau
43 droṇaḥ pāñcāla putreṇa samāgamya mahāraṇe
mahāsamudayaṃ cakre śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
44 tato droṇo mahārāja pārṣatasya mahad dhanuḥ
chittvā pañcāśateṣūṇāṃ pārṣataṃ samavidhyata
45 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya pārṣataḥ paravīrahā
droṇasya miṣato yuddhe preṣayām āsa sāyakān
46 tāñ śarāñ śarasaṃghais tu saṃnivārya mahārathaḥ
droṇo drupadaputrāya prāhiṇot pañca sāyakān
47 tasya kruddho mahārāja pārṣataḥ paravīrahā
droṇāya cikṣepa gadāṃ yamadaṇḍopamaṃ raṇe
48 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā hemapaṭṭa vibhūṣitām
śaraiḥ pañcāśatā droṇo vārayām āsa saṃyuge
49 sā chinnā bahudhā rājan droṇa cāpacyutaiḥ śaraiḥ
cūrṇīkṛtā viśīryantī papāta vasudhātale
50 gadāṃ vinihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā pārṣataḥ śatrusūdanaḥ
droṇāya śaktiṃ cikṣepa sarvapāraśavīṃ śubhām
51 tāṃ droṇo navabhir bāṇaiś ciccheda yudhi bhārata
pārṣataṃ ca maheṣvāsaṃ pīḍayām āsa saṃyuge
52 evam etan mahad yuddhaṃ droṇa pārṣatayor abhūt
bhīṣmaṃ prati mahārāja ghorarūpāṃ bhayānakam
53 arjunaḥ prāpya gāṅgeyaṃ pīḍayan niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
abhyadravata saṃyattaṃ vane mattam iva dvipam
54 pratyudyayau ca taṃ pārthaṃ bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān
tridhā bhinnena nāgena madāndhena mahābalaḥ
55 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā mahendra gajasaṃnibham
paraṃ yatnaṃ samāsthāya bībhatsuḥ pratyapadyata
56 tato gajagato rājā bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān
arjunaṃ śaravarṣeṇa vārayām āsa saṃyuge
57 arjunas tu raṇe nāgam āyāntaṃ rajatopamam
vimalair āyasais tīkṣṇair avidhyata mahāraṇe
58 śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca kaunteyo yāhi yāhīty acodayat
bhīṣmaṃ prati mahārāja jahy enam iti cābravīt
59 prāgjyotiṣas tato hitvā pāṇḍavaṃ pāṇḍupūrvaja
prayayau tvarito rājan drupadasya rathaṃ prati
60 tato 'rjuno mahārāja bhīṣmam abhyadravad drutam
śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya tato yuddham avartata
61 tatas te tāvakāḥ śūrāḥ pāṇḍavaṃ rabhasaṃ raṇe
sarve 'bhyadhāvan krośantas tad adbhutam ivābhavat
62 nānāvidhāny anīkāni putrāṇāṃ te janādhipa
arjuno vyadhamat kāle divīvābhrāṇi mārutaḥ
63 śikhaṇḍī tu samāsādya bharatānāṃ pitāmaham
iṣubhis tūrṇam avyagro bahubhiḥ sa samācinot
64 somakāṃś ca raṇe bhīṣmo jaghne pārtha padānugān
nyavārayata sainyaṃ ca pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ
65 rathāgnyagāraś cāpārcir asiśaktigadendhanaḥ
śarasaṃgha mahājvālaḥ kṣatriyān samare 'dahat
66 yathā hi sumahān agniḥ kakṣe carati sānilaḥ
tathā jajvāla bhīṣmo 'pi divyāny astrāṇy udīrayan
67 suvarṇapuṅkhair iṣubhiḥ śitaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
nādayan sa diśo bhīṣmaḥ pradiśaś ca mahāyaśāḥ
68 pātayan rathino rājan gajāṃś ca saha sādibhiḥ
muṇḍatālavanānīva cakāra sa rathavrajān
69 nirmanuṣyān rathān rājan gajān aśvāṃś ca saṃyuge
cakāra sa tadā bhīṣmaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
70 tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ
niśamya sarvato rājan samakampanta sainikāḥ
71 amoghā hy apatan bāṇāḥ pitus te manujeśvara
nāsajjanta śarīreṣu bhīṣmacāpacyutāḥ śarāḥ
72 nirmanuṣyān rathān rājan suyuktāñ javanair hayaiḥ
vātāyamānān paśyāma hriyamāṇān viśāṃ pate
73 cedikāśikarūṣāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa
mahārathāḥ samākhyātāḥ kulu putrās tanutyajaḥ
74 aparāvartinaḥ śūrāḥ suvarṇavikṛtadhvajāḥ
saṃgrāme bhīṣmam āsādya sa vājirathakuñjarāḥ
jagmus te paralokāya vyāditāsyam ivāntakam
75 na tatrāsīn mahārāja somakānāṃ mahārathaḥ
yaḥ saṃprāpya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ jīvite sma mano dadhe
76 tāṃś ca sarvān raṇe yodhān pretarājapuraṃ prati
nītān amanyanta janā dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasya vikramam
77 na kaś cid enaṃ samare pratyudyāti mahārathaḥ
ṛte pāṇḍusutaṃ vīraṃ śvetāśvaṃ kṛṣṇasārathim
śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca samare pāñcālyam amitaujasam
78 śikhaṇḍī tu raṇe bhīṣmam āsādya bharatarṣabha
daśabhir daśabhir bāṇair ājaghāna mahāhave
79 śikhaṇḍinaṃ tu gāṅgeyaḥ krodhadīptena cakṣuṣā
avaikṣata kaṭākṣeṇa nirdahann iva bhārata
80 strītvaṃ tat saṃsmaran rājan sarvalokasya paśyataḥ
na jaghāna raṇe bhīṣmaḥ sa ca taṃ nāvabuddhavān
81 arjunas tu mahārāja śikhaṇḍinam abhāṣata
abhitvarasva tvarito jahi cainaṃ pitāmaham
82 kiṃ te vivakṣayā vīra jahi bhīṣmaṃ mahāratham
na hy anyam anupaśyāmi kaṃ cid yaudhiṣṭhire bale
83 yaḥ śaktaḥ samare bhīṣmaṃ yodhayeta pitāmaham
ṛte tvāṃ puruṣavyāghra satyam etad bravīmi te
84 evam uktas tu pārthena śikhaṇḍī bharatarṣabha
śanair nānāvidhais tūrṇaṃ pitāmaham upādravat
85 acintayitvā tān bāṇān pitā devavratas tava
arjunaṃ samare kruddhaṃ vārayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
86 tathaiva ca camūṃ sarvāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ
apraiṣīt samare tīkṣṇaiḥ paralokāya māriṣa
87 tathaiva pāṇḍavā rājan sainyena mahatā vṛtāḥ
bhīṣmaṃ pracchādayām āsur meghā iva divākaram
88 sa samantāt parivṛto bhārato bharatarṣabha
nirdadāha raṇe śūrān vanaṃ vahnir iva jvalan
89 tatādbhutam apaśyāma tava putrasya pauruṣam
ayodhayata yat pārthaṃ jugopa ca yatavratam
90 karmaṇā tena samare tava putrasya dhanvinaḥ
duḥśāsanasya tutuṣuḥ sarve lokā mahātmanaḥ
91 yad ekaḥ samare pārthān sānugān samayodhayat
na cainaṃ pāṇḍavā yuddhe vāyarām āsur ulbaṇam
92 duḥśāsanena samare rathino virathī kṛtāḥ
sādinaś ca mahārāja dantinaś ca mahābalāḥ
93 vinirbhinnāḥ śarais tīkṣṇair nipetur dharaṇītale
śarāturās tathaivānye dantino vidrutā diśaḥ
94 yathāgnir indhanaṃ prāpya jvaled dīptārcir ulbaṇaḥ
tathā jajvāla putras te pāṇḍavān vai vinirdahan
95 taṃ bhārata mahāmātraṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ
jetuṃ notsahate kaś cin nāpy udyātuṃ kathaṃ cana
ṛte mahendra tanayaṃ śvetāśvaṃ kṛṣṇasārathim
96 sa hi taṃ samare rājan vijitya vijayo 'rjunaḥ
bhīṣmam evābhidudrāva sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ
97 vijitas tava putro 'pi bhīṣma bāhuvyapāśrayaḥ
punaḥ punaḥ samāśvasya prāyudhyata raṇotkaṭaḥ
arjunaṃ ca raṇe rājan yodhayan sa vyarājata
98 śikhaṇḍī tu raṇe rājan vivyādhaiva pitāmaham
śarair aśanisaṃsparśais tathā sarpaviṣopamaiḥ
99 na ca te 'sya rujaṃ cakruḥ pitus tava janeśvara
smayamānaś ca gāṅgeyas tān bāṇāñ jagṛhe tadā
100 uṣṇārtho hi naro yadvaj jaladhārāḥ patīcchati
tathā jagrāha gāṅgeyaḥ śaradhārāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
101 taṃ kṣatriyā mahārāja dadṛśur ghoram āhave
bhīṣmaṃ dahantaṃ sainyāni pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
102 tato 'bravīt tava sutaḥ sarvasainyāni māriṣa
abhidravata saṃgrāme phalgunaṃ sarvato rathaiḥ
103 bhīṣmo vaḥ samare sarvān palayiṣyati dharmavit
te bhayaṃ sumahat tvaktvā pāṇḍavān pratiyudhyata
104 eṣa tālena dīptena bhīṣmas tiṣṭhati pālayan
sarveṣāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ raṇe śarma ca varma ca
105 tridaśāpi samudyuktā nālaṃ bhīṣmaṃ samāsitum
kim u pārthā mahātmānaṃ martyabhūtās tathābalāḥ
tasmād dravata he yodhāḥ phalgunaṃ prāpya saṃyuge
106 aham adya raṇe yatto yodhayiṣyāmi phalgunam
sahitaḥ sarvato yattair bhavadbhir vasudhādhipāḥ
107 tac chrutvā tu vaco rājaṃs tava putrasya dhanvinaḥ
arjunaṃ prati saṃyattā balavanti mahārathāḥ
108 te videhāḥ kaliṅgāś ca dāśeraka gaṇaiḥ saha
abhipetur niṣādāś ca sauvīrāś ca mahāraṇe
109 bāhlikā daradāś caiva prācyodīcyāś ca mālavāḥ
abhīṣāhāḥ śūrasenāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ
110 śālvāśrayās trigartāś ca ambaṣṭhāḥ kekayaiḥ saha
abhipetū raṇe pārthaṃ pataṃgā iva pāvakam
111 sa tān sarvān sahānīkān mahārāja mahārathān
divyāny astrāṇi saṃcintya prasaṃdhāya dhanaṃjayaḥ
112 sa tair astrair mahāvegair dadāhāśu mahābalaḥ
śarapratāpair bībhatsuḥ pataṃgān iva pāvakaḥ
113 tasya bāṇasahasrāṇi sṛjato dṛḍhadhanvinaḥ
dīpyamānam ivākāśe gāṇḍīvaṃ samadṛśyata
114 te śarārtā mahārāja viprakīrṇarathadhvajāḥ
nābyavartanta rājānaḥ sahitā vānaradhvajam
115 sa dhvajā rathinaḥ petur hayārohā hayaiḥ saha
gajāḥ saha gajārohaiḥ kirīṭiśaratāḍitāḥ
116 tato 'rjuna bhujotsṛṣṭair āvṛtāsīd vasuṃdharā
vidravadbhiś ca bahudhā balai rājñāṃ samantataḥ
117 atha pārtho mahābāhur drāvayitvā varūthinīm
duḥśāsanāya samare preṣayām āsa sāyakān
118 te tu bhittvā tava sutaṃ duḥṣāsanam ayomukhāḥ
dharaṇīṃ viviśuḥ sarve valmīkam iva pannagāḥ
hayāṃś cāsya tato jaghne sārathiṃ canyapātayat
119 viviṃśatiṃ ca viṃśatyā virathaṃ kṛtavān prabho
ājaghāna bhṛśaṃ caiva pañcabhir nataparvabhiḥ
120 kṛpaṃ śalyaṃ vikarṇaṃ ca viddhvā bahubhir āyasaiḥ
cakāra virathāṃś caiva kaunteyaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ
121 evaṃ te virathāḥ pañca kṛpaḥ śalyaś ca māriṣa
duḥśāsano vikarṇaś ca tathaiva ca viviṃśatiḥ
saṃprādravanta samare nirjitāḥ savyasācinā
122 pūrvāhṇe tu tathā rājan parājitya mahārathān
prajajvāla raṇe pārtho vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ
123 tathaiva śaravarṣeṇa bhāskaro raśmivān iva
anyān api mahārāja pātayām āsa pārthivān
124 parāṅmukhī kṛtyatadā śaravarṣair mahārathān
prāvartayata saṃgrāme śoṇitodāṃ mahānadīm
madhyena kurusainyānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata
125 gajāś ca rathasaṃghāś ca bahudhā rathibhir hatāḥ
rathāś ca nihatā nāgair nāgā hayapadātibhiḥ
126 antarā chidhyamānāni śarīrāṇi śirāṃsi ca
nipetur dikṣu sarvāsu gajāśvarathayodhinām
127 channam āyodhanaṃ reje kuṇḍalāṅgada dhāribhiḥ
patitaiḥ pātyamānaiś ca rājaputrair mahārathaiḥ
128 rathanemi nikṛttāś ca gajaiś caivāvapothitāḥ
pādātāś cāpy adṛśyanta sāśvāḥ sahayasādinaḥ
129 gajāśvarathasaṃghāś ca paripetuḥ samantataḥ
viśīrṇāś ca rathā bhūmau bhagnacakrayugadhvajāḥ
130 tad gajāśvarathaughānāṃ rudhireṇa samukṣitam
channam āyodhanaṃ reje raktābhram iva śāradam
131 śvānaḥ kākāś ca gṛdhrāś ca vṛkā gomāyubhiḥ saha
praṇedur bhakṣyam āsādya vikṛtāś ca mṛgadvijāḥ
132 vavur bahuvidhāś caiva dikṣu sarvāsu mārutāḥ
dṛśyamāneṣu rakṣaḥsu bhūteṣu vinadatsu ca
133 kāñcanāni ca dāmāni patākāś ca mahādhanāḥ
dhūmāyamānā dṛśyante sahasā māruteritāḥ
134 śvetac chatrasahasrāṇi sa dhvajāś ca mahārathāḥ
vinikīrṇāḥ sma dṛśyante śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
sa patākāś ca mātaṅgā diśo jagmuḥ śarāturāḥ
135 kṣatriyāś ca manuṣyendra gadā śaktidhanurdharāḥ
samantato vyadṛśyanta patitā dharaṇītale
136 tato bhīṣmo mahārāja divyam astram udīrayan
abhyadhāvata kaunteyaṃ miṣatāṃ sarvadhanvinām
137 taṃ śikhaṇḍī raṇe yattam abhyadhāvata daṃśitaḥ
saṃjahāra tato bhīṣmas tad astraṃ pāvakopamam
138 etasminn eva kāle tu kaunteyaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ
nijaghne tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ mohayitvā pitāmaham
SECTION CXII
Sanjaya said, "The mighty bowman (Alamvusha) the son of Rishyasringa, in that battle, resisted Satyaki clad in mail and proceeding towards Bhishma. He of Madhu's race, however, O king, excited with wrath, pierced the Rakshasa with nine arrows, smiling the while, O Bharata. And so the Rakshasa also, O king, excited with wrath, afflicted him of Madhu's race, viz., that bull of Sini's line, with nine arrows. Then Sini's grandson, that slayer of hostile heroes, of Madhu's race, excited with rage, sped in that battle a profusion of arrows at the Rakshasa. Then that mighty-aimed Rakshasa pierced Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, with many sharp arrows, and uttered a loud shout. Then he of Madhu's race, endued with great energy, though deeply pierced by the Rakshasa in that battle, still, relying upon his prowess, laughed (at his wounds) and uttered loud roars. Then Bhagadatta, excited with rage, afflicted him of Madhu's race in that battle with many sharp arrows like a guide piercing a huge elephant with the hook. Then that foremost of car-warriors, viz., the grandson of Sini, abandoning the Rakshasa in battle, sped many straight shafts at the ruler of the Pragjyotishas. The ruler of the Pragjyotishas then, with a broad-headed arrow of great sharpness, displaying great lightness of hand, cut off, the large bow of Satyaki. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, excited with rage and taking up another bow of greater impetus, pierced Bhagadatta in that battle with many sharp arrows. That mighty bowman, viz., Bhagadatta, then deeply pierced, began to lick the corners of his mouth. And he then hurled at his foe, in that dreadful battle, a tough dart, made wholly of iron, decked with gold and stones of lapis lazuli, and fierce as the rod of Yama himself. Sped with the might of Bhagadatta's arm and coursing towards him impetuously, Satyaki, O king, cut that dart in twain by means of his shafts. Thereupon that dart fell down suddenly, like a great meteor shorn of its splendour. Beholding the dart baffled, thy son (Duryodhana), O monarch, surrounded him of Madhu's race with a large number of cars. And seeing that mighty car-warrior among the Vrishnis thus surrounded, Duryodhana, angrily addressing all his brothers, said, 'Take such steps, ye Kauravas, that Satyaki may not, in this battle, escape you and this large division of cars, with life. If he be slain, the vast host of the Pandavas may be regarded as slain also.' Accepting Duryodhana's words with the answer--So be it,--those mighty car-warriors fought with Sini's grandson in the view of Bhishma. The mighty ruler of the Kamvojas, in that battle, resisted Abhimanyu who was proceeding against Bhishma. The son of Arjuna, having pierced the king with many straight shafts, 1 once more pierced that monarch, O monarch, with four and sixty shafts. Sudakshina,p. 281
however, desirous of Bhishma's life, pierced Abhimanyu in that battle with five arrows and his charioteer with nine. And the battle that took place there, in consequence of the meeting of those two warriors, was fierce in the extreme. That grinder of foes Sikhandin, then rushed at the of Ganga. Old Virata and Drupada, those mighty car-warriors, both excited with rage, rushed to battle with Bhishma, resisting the large host of the Kauravas as they went. That best of car-warriors, viz., Aswatthaman, excited with rage, encountered both those warriors. Then commenced a battle, O Bharata, between him and them. Virata then, O chastiser of foes, struck, with broad-headed shafts, that mighty bowman and ornament of battle, viz., Drona's son, as the latter advanced against them. And Drupada also pierced him with three sharp shafts. Then the preceptor's soil, Aswatthaman, coming upon those mighty warriors thus striking him, viz., the brave Virata and Drupada both proceeding towards Bhishma, pierced them both with many shafts. Wonderful was the conduct that we then beheld of those two old warriors, inasmuch as they checked all those fierce shafts shot by Drona's son. Like an infuriate elephant in the forest rushing against an infuriate compeer, Kripa, the son of Saradwat, proceeded against Sahadeva who was advancing upon Bhishma. And Kripa, brave in battle, quickly struck that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Madri, with seventy shafts decked with gold. The son of Madri, however, cut Kripa's bow in twain by means of his shafts. And cutting off his bow, Sahadeva then pierced Kripa with nine arrows. Taking up then, in that battle, another bow capable of bearing a great strain Kripa, excited with rage and desirous of Bhishma's life, cheerfully struck Madri's son in that battle with ten shafts. And so the son of Pandu, in return, desirous of Bhishma's death, excited with rage, struck the wrathful Kripa in the chest (with many shafts). And then occurred there a terrible and fierce battle. That scorcher of foes, viz., Vikarna, desirous of saving the grandsire Bhishma, excited with rage in that battle, pierced Nakula with sixty arrows. Nakula also, deeply pierced by thy intelligent son, pierced Vikarna in return with seven and seventy shafts. There those two tigers among men, those two chastisers of foes, those two heroes, struck each other for the sake of Bhishma, like two bovine bulls in a fold. Thy son Durmukha, endued with great prowess, proceeded, for the sake of Bhishma, against Ghatotkacha advancing to battle and slaughtering thy army as he came. Hidimva's son, however, O king, excited with rage, struck Durmukha, that chastiser of foes, in the chest a straight shaft. The heroic Durmukha then, shouting cheerfully, pierced Bhimasena's son on the field of battle with sixty shafts of keen points. That mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Hridika resisted Dhrishtadyumna, that foremost of car-warriors, who was advancing to battle from desire of Bhishma's slaughter. The son of Prishata, however, having pierced Kritavarman with five shafts made wholly of iron, once more, struck him quickly in the centre of the chest fifty shafts. And similarly, O king, Prishata's son struck Kritavarman with nine sharp and blazing shaft, winged with the feathers of the Kanka bird. Encountering each other
p. 282
with great vigour, the battle that took place between them for Bhishma's sake was as fierce as that between Vritra and Vasava. Against Bhimasena who was advancing upon the mighty Bhishma, proceeded Bhurisravas with great speed, saying,--Wait, Wait,--And the son of Somadatta struck Bhima in the centre of the chest with an arrow of exceeding sharpness and golden wings in that battle. And the valiant Bhimasena, with that arrow on his chest, looked beautiful, O best of kings, like the Krauncha mountain in days of old with the dart of Skanda. And those two bulls among men, enraged in battle, shot at each other shafts brightly polished by their forgers and endued with effulgence of the Sun. Bhima, longing for Bhishma's death, fought with the mighty son of Somadatta, and the latter, desirous of Bhishma's victory, fought with the former, each carefully seeking to counteract the other's feats. Bharadwaja's son resisted Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, who, accompanied by a large force, was coming towards Bhishma. Hearing the rattle of Drona's car, O king, that resembled the roar of the clouds, the Prabhadrakas, O sire, began to tremble. That large force, of Pandu's son, resisted by Drona in battle, could not, exerting vigorously, advance even one step. Thy son Chitrasena, O king, resisted Chekitana of wrathful visage who was exerting vigorously for coming upon Bhishma. Possessed of great prowess and great dexterity of hand, that mighty car-warrior for the sake of Bhishma, battled with Chekitana, O Bharata, according to the utmost of his power. And Chekitana also fought with Chitrasena to the utmost of his power. And the battle that took place there in consequence of the meeting of those two warriors, was exceedingly fierce. As regards Arjuna, although he was resisted by all means, O Bharata, he still compelled thy son to turn back and then crushed thy troops. Dussasana however, to the utmost stretch of his power, began to resist Partha, wishing, O Bharata, to protect Bhishma. The army of thy son, O Bharata, undergoing such slaughter, began to be agitated here and there by many foremost car-warriors (of the Pandava)."
Book 6
Chapter 113
1 [s]
evaṃ vyūḍheṣv anīkeṣu bhūyiṣṭham anuvartiṣu
brahmalokaparāḥ sarve samapadyanta bhārata
2 na hy anīkam anīkena samasajjata saṃkule
na rathā rathibhiḥ sārdhaṃ na padātāḥ padātibhiḥ
3 aśvā nāśvair ayudhyanta na gajā gajayodhibhiḥ
mahān vyatikaro raudraḥ senayoḥ samapadyata
4 naranāgaratheṣv evaṃ vyavakīrṇeṣu sarvaśaḥ
kṣaye tasmin mahāraudre nirviśeṣam ajāyata
5 tataḥ śalyaḥ kṛpaś caiva citrasenaś ca bhārata
duḥśāsano vikarṇaś ca rathān āsthāya sa tvarāḥ
pāṇḍavānāṃ raṇe śūrā dhvajinīṃ samakampayan
6 sā vadhyamānā samare pāṇḍusenā mahātmabhiḥ
trātāraṃ nādhyagacchad vai majjamāneva nair jale
7 yathā hi śaiśiraḥ kālo gavāṃ marmāṇi kṛntati
tathā pāṇḍusutānāṃ vai bhīṣmo marmāṇy akṛntata
8 atīva tava sainyasya pārthena ca mahātmanā
nagameghapratīkāśāḥ patitā bahudhā gajāḥ
9 mṛdyamānāś ca dṛśyante pārthena narayūthapāḥ
iṣubhis tāḍyamānāś ca nārācaiś ca sahasraśaḥ
10 petur ārtasvaraṃ kṛtvā tatra tatra mahāgajāḥ
ābaddhābharaṇaiḥ kāyair nihatānāṃ mahātmanām
11 channam āyodhanaṃ reje śirobhiś ca sakuṇḍalaiḥ
tasminn atimahābhīme rājan vīravarakṣaye
bhīṣme ca yudhi vikrānte pāṇḍave ca dhanaṃjaye
12 te parākrāntam ālokya rājan yudhi pitāmaham
na nyavartanta kauravyā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ
13 icchanto nidhanaṃ yuddhe svargaṃ kṛtvā parāyaṇam
pāṇḍavān abhyavartanta tasmin vīravarakṣaye
14 pāṇḍavāpi mahārāja smaranto vividhān bahūn
kleśān kṛtān saputreṇa tvayā pūrvaṃ narādhipa
15 bhayaṃ tyaktvā raṇe śūrā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ
tāvakāṃs tava putrāṃś ca yodhayanti sma hṛṣṭavat
16 senāpatis tu samare prāha senāṃ mahārathaḥ
abhidravata gāṅgeyaṃ somakāḥ sṛñjayaiḥ saha
17 senāpativacaḥ śrutvā somakāḥ saha sṛñjayaiḥ
abhyadravanta gāṅgeyaṃ śastravṛṣṭyā samantataḥ
18 vadhyamānas tato rājan pitā śāṃtanavas tava
amarṣavaśam āpanno yodhayām āsa sṛñjayān
19 tasya kīrtimatas tāta purā rāṇema dhīmatā
saṃpradattāstra śikṣā vai parānīka vināśinī
20 sa tāṃ śikṣām adhiṣṭhāya kṛtvā parabalakṣayam
ahany ahani pārthānāṃ vṛddhaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ
bhīṣmo daśasahasrāṇi jaghāna paravīrahā
21 tasmiṃs tu divase prāpte daśame bharatarṣabha
bhīṣmeṇaikena matsyeṣu pāñcāleṣu ca saṃyuge
gajāśvam amitaṃ hatvā hatāḥ sapta mahārathāḥ
22 hatvā pañca sahasrāṇi rathināṃ prapitāmahaḥ
narāṇāṃ ca mahāyuddhe sahasrāṇi caturdaśa
23 tathā danti sahasraṃ ca hayānām ayutaṃ punaḥ
śikṣā balena nihataṃ pitrā tava viśāṃ pate
24 tataḥ sarvamahīpānāṃ kṣobhayitvā varūthinīm
virāṭasya priyo bhrātā śatānīko nipātitaḥ
25 śatānīkaṃ ca samare hatvā bhīṣmaḥ pratāpavān
sahasrāṇi mahārāja rājñāṃ bhallair nyapātayat
26 ye ca ke cana pārthānām abhiyātā dhanaṃjayam
rājāno bhīṣmam āsādya gatās te yamasādanam
27 evaṃ daśa diśo bhīṣmaḥ śarajālaiḥ samantataḥ
atītya senāṃ pārthānām avatasthe camūmukhe
28 sa kṛtā sumahat karma tasmin vai daśame 'hani
senayor antare tiṣṭhan pragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ
29 na cainaṃ pāthivā rājañ śekuḥ ke cin nirīkṣitum
madhyaṃ prāptaṃ yathā grīṣme tapantaṃ bhāskaraṃ divi
30 yathā daitya camūṃ śakras tāpayām āsa saṃyuge
tathā bhīṣmaḥ pāṇḍaveyāṃs tāpayām āsa bhārata
31 tathā ca taṃ parākrāntam ālokya madhusūdanaḥ
uvāca devakīputraḥ prīyamāṇo dhanaṃjayam
32 eṣa śāṃtanavo bhīṣmaḥ senayor antare sthitaḥ
nānihatya balād enaṃ vijayas te bhaviṣyati
33 yattaḥ saṃstambhayasvainaṃ yatraiṣā bhidyate camūḥ
na hi bhīṣma śarān anyaḥ soḍhum utsahate vibho
34 tatas tasmin kṣaṇe rājaṃś codito vānaradhvajaḥ
sa dhvajaṃ sa rathaṃ sāśvaṃ bhīṣmam antardadhe śaraiḥ
35 sa cāpi kurumukhyānām ṛṣabhaḥ pāṇḍaveritān
śaravrātaiḥ śaravrātān bahudhā vidudhāva tān
36 tena pāñcālarājaś ca dhṛṣṭaketuś ca vīryavān
pāṇḍavo bhīmasenaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
37 yamau ca cekitānaś ca kekayāḥ pañca caiva ha
sātyakiś ca mahārāja saubhadro 'tha ghaṭotkacaḥ
38 draupadeyāḥ śikhaṇḍī ca kuntibhojaś ca vīryavān
suśarmā ca virāṭaś ca pāṇḍaveyā mahābalāḥ
39 eta cānye ca bahavaḥ pīḍitā bhīṣmasāyakaiḥ
samuddhṛtāḥ phalgunena nimagnāḥ śokasāgare
40 tataḥ śikhaṇḍī vegena pragṛhya paramāyudham
bhīṣmam evābhidudrāva rakṣyamāṇaḥ kirīṭinā
41 tato 'syānucarān hatva sarvān raṇavibhāgavit
bhīṣmam evābhidudrāva bībhatsur aparājitaḥ
42 sātyakiś cekitānaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
virāṭo drupadaś caiva mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
dudruvur bhīṣmam evājau rakṣitā dṛḍhadhanvanā
43 abhimanyuś ca samare draupadyāḥ pañca cātmajāḥ
dudruvuḥ samare bhīṣmaṃ samudyatamahāyudhāḥ
44 te sarve dṛḍhadhanvānaḥ saṃyugeṣv apalāyinaḥ
bahudhā bhīṣmam ānarchan mārgaṇaiḥ kṛtamārgaṇāḥ
45 vidhūya tān bāṇagaṇān ye muktāḥ pārthivottamaiḥ
pāṇḍavānām adīnātmā vyagāhata varūthinīm
kṛtvā śaravighātaṃ ca krīḍann iva pitāmahaḥ
46 nābhisaṃdhatta pāñcālyaṃ smayamāno muhur muhuḥ
strītvaṃ tasyānusaṃsmṛtya bhīṣmo bāṇāñ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
jaghāna drupadānīke rathān sapta mahārathaḥ
47 tataḥ kila kilā śabdaḥ kṣaṇena samapadyata
matsyapāñcāla cedīnāṃ tam ekam abhidhāvatām
48 te varāśvarathavrātair vāraṇaiḥ sa padātibhiḥ
tam ekaṃ chādayām āsur meghā iva divākaram
bhīṣmaṃ bhāgirathī putraṃ pratapantaṃ raṇe ripūn
49 tatas tasya ca teṣāṃ ca yuddhe devāsuropame
kirīṭī bhīṣmam ānarchat puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam
evaṃ vyūḍheṣv anīkeṣu bhūyiṣṭham anuvartiṣu
brahmalokaparāḥ sarve samapadyanta bhārata
2 na hy anīkam anīkena samasajjata saṃkule
na rathā rathibhiḥ sārdhaṃ na padātāḥ padātibhiḥ
3 aśvā nāśvair ayudhyanta na gajā gajayodhibhiḥ
mahān vyatikaro raudraḥ senayoḥ samapadyata
4 naranāgaratheṣv evaṃ vyavakīrṇeṣu sarvaśaḥ
kṣaye tasmin mahāraudre nirviśeṣam ajāyata
5 tataḥ śalyaḥ kṛpaś caiva citrasenaś ca bhārata
duḥśāsano vikarṇaś ca rathān āsthāya sa tvarāḥ
pāṇḍavānāṃ raṇe śūrā dhvajinīṃ samakampayan
6 sā vadhyamānā samare pāṇḍusenā mahātmabhiḥ
trātāraṃ nādhyagacchad vai majjamāneva nair jale
7 yathā hi śaiśiraḥ kālo gavāṃ marmāṇi kṛntati
tathā pāṇḍusutānāṃ vai bhīṣmo marmāṇy akṛntata
8 atīva tava sainyasya pārthena ca mahātmanā
nagameghapratīkāśāḥ patitā bahudhā gajāḥ
9 mṛdyamānāś ca dṛśyante pārthena narayūthapāḥ
iṣubhis tāḍyamānāś ca nārācaiś ca sahasraśaḥ
10 petur ārtasvaraṃ kṛtvā tatra tatra mahāgajāḥ
ābaddhābharaṇaiḥ kāyair nihatānāṃ mahātmanām
11 channam āyodhanaṃ reje śirobhiś ca sakuṇḍalaiḥ
tasminn atimahābhīme rājan vīravarakṣaye
bhīṣme ca yudhi vikrānte pāṇḍave ca dhanaṃjaye
12 te parākrāntam ālokya rājan yudhi pitāmaham
na nyavartanta kauravyā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ
13 icchanto nidhanaṃ yuddhe svargaṃ kṛtvā parāyaṇam
pāṇḍavān abhyavartanta tasmin vīravarakṣaye
14 pāṇḍavāpi mahārāja smaranto vividhān bahūn
kleśān kṛtān saputreṇa tvayā pūrvaṃ narādhipa
15 bhayaṃ tyaktvā raṇe śūrā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ
tāvakāṃs tava putrāṃś ca yodhayanti sma hṛṣṭavat
16 senāpatis tu samare prāha senāṃ mahārathaḥ
abhidravata gāṅgeyaṃ somakāḥ sṛñjayaiḥ saha
17 senāpativacaḥ śrutvā somakāḥ saha sṛñjayaiḥ
abhyadravanta gāṅgeyaṃ śastravṛṣṭyā samantataḥ
18 vadhyamānas tato rājan pitā śāṃtanavas tava
amarṣavaśam āpanno yodhayām āsa sṛñjayān
19 tasya kīrtimatas tāta purā rāṇema dhīmatā
saṃpradattāstra śikṣā vai parānīka vināśinī
20 sa tāṃ śikṣām adhiṣṭhāya kṛtvā parabalakṣayam
ahany ahani pārthānāṃ vṛddhaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ
bhīṣmo daśasahasrāṇi jaghāna paravīrahā
21 tasmiṃs tu divase prāpte daśame bharatarṣabha
bhīṣmeṇaikena matsyeṣu pāñcāleṣu ca saṃyuge
gajāśvam amitaṃ hatvā hatāḥ sapta mahārathāḥ
22 hatvā pañca sahasrāṇi rathināṃ prapitāmahaḥ
narāṇāṃ ca mahāyuddhe sahasrāṇi caturdaśa
23 tathā danti sahasraṃ ca hayānām ayutaṃ punaḥ
śikṣā balena nihataṃ pitrā tava viśāṃ pate
24 tataḥ sarvamahīpānāṃ kṣobhayitvā varūthinīm
virāṭasya priyo bhrātā śatānīko nipātitaḥ
25 śatānīkaṃ ca samare hatvā bhīṣmaḥ pratāpavān
sahasrāṇi mahārāja rājñāṃ bhallair nyapātayat
26 ye ca ke cana pārthānām abhiyātā dhanaṃjayam
rājāno bhīṣmam āsādya gatās te yamasādanam
27 evaṃ daśa diśo bhīṣmaḥ śarajālaiḥ samantataḥ
atītya senāṃ pārthānām avatasthe camūmukhe
28 sa kṛtā sumahat karma tasmin vai daśame 'hani
senayor antare tiṣṭhan pragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ
29 na cainaṃ pāthivā rājañ śekuḥ ke cin nirīkṣitum
madhyaṃ prāptaṃ yathā grīṣme tapantaṃ bhāskaraṃ divi
30 yathā daitya camūṃ śakras tāpayām āsa saṃyuge
tathā bhīṣmaḥ pāṇḍaveyāṃs tāpayām āsa bhārata
31 tathā ca taṃ parākrāntam ālokya madhusūdanaḥ
uvāca devakīputraḥ prīyamāṇo dhanaṃjayam
32 eṣa śāṃtanavo bhīṣmaḥ senayor antare sthitaḥ
nānihatya balād enaṃ vijayas te bhaviṣyati
33 yattaḥ saṃstambhayasvainaṃ yatraiṣā bhidyate camūḥ
na hi bhīṣma śarān anyaḥ soḍhum utsahate vibho
34 tatas tasmin kṣaṇe rājaṃś codito vānaradhvajaḥ
sa dhvajaṃ sa rathaṃ sāśvaṃ bhīṣmam antardadhe śaraiḥ
35 sa cāpi kurumukhyānām ṛṣabhaḥ pāṇḍaveritān
śaravrātaiḥ śaravrātān bahudhā vidudhāva tān
36 tena pāñcālarājaś ca dhṛṣṭaketuś ca vīryavān
pāṇḍavo bhīmasenaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
37 yamau ca cekitānaś ca kekayāḥ pañca caiva ha
sātyakiś ca mahārāja saubhadro 'tha ghaṭotkacaḥ
38 draupadeyāḥ śikhaṇḍī ca kuntibhojaś ca vīryavān
suśarmā ca virāṭaś ca pāṇḍaveyā mahābalāḥ
39 eta cānye ca bahavaḥ pīḍitā bhīṣmasāyakaiḥ
samuddhṛtāḥ phalgunena nimagnāḥ śokasāgare
40 tataḥ śikhaṇḍī vegena pragṛhya paramāyudham
bhīṣmam evābhidudrāva rakṣyamāṇaḥ kirīṭinā
41 tato 'syānucarān hatva sarvān raṇavibhāgavit
bhīṣmam evābhidudrāva bībhatsur aparājitaḥ
42 sātyakiś cekitānaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
virāṭo drupadaś caiva mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
dudruvur bhīṣmam evājau rakṣitā dṛḍhadhanvanā
43 abhimanyuś ca samare draupadyāḥ pañca cātmajāḥ
dudruvuḥ samare bhīṣmaṃ samudyatamahāyudhāḥ
44 te sarve dṛḍhadhanvānaḥ saṃyugeṣv apalāyinaḥ
bahudhā bhīṣmam ānarchan mārgaṇaiḥ kṛtamārgaṇāḥ
45 vidhūya tān bāṇagaṇān ye muktāḥ pārthivottamaiḥ
pāṇḍavānām adīnātmā vyagāhata varūthinīm
kṛtvā śaravighātaṃ ca krīḍann iva pitāmahaḥ
46 nābhisaṃdhatta pāñcālyaṃ smayamāno muhur muhuḥ
strītvaṃ tasyānusaṃsmṛtya bhīṣmo bāṇāñ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
jaghāna drupadānīke rathān sapta mahārathaḥ
47 tataḥ kila kilā śabdaḥ kṣaṇena samapadyata
matsyapāñcāla cedīnāṃ tam ekam abhidhāvatām
48 te varāśvarathavrātair vāraṇaiḥ sa padātibhiḥ
tam ekaṃ chādayām āsur meghā iva divākaram
bhīṣmaṃ bhāgirathī putraṃ pratapantaṃ raṇe ripūn
49 tatas tasya ca teṣāṃ ca yuddhe devāsuropame
kirīṭī bhīṣmam ānarchat puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam
SECTION CXIII
Sanjaya said, "The heroic Drona, that great bowman endued with the prowess of an infuriate elephant, that foremost of men possessed of great might, taking up his large bow which was capable of checking even an infuriate elephant, and shaking it (in his hands), was engaged in afflicting the Pandava ranks, having penetrated into their midst. That valiant warrior acquainted with every omen, beholding the omens on all sides, addressed his son who also was scorching the hostile ranks and said these words, 'This is that day, O son, on which the mighty Partha, desirous of slaying Bhishma in battle, will exert himself to the best of his might. My arrowsp. 283
are coming out (of the quiver, of their own accord). My bow seems to yawn. My weapon seems unwilling to obey my behests, and my heart also is cheerless. Animals and birds are uttering fearful and incessant cries. Vultures seem to disappear beneath the feet of the Bharata troops. The Sun himself seems to have lost hue. The quarters are all ablaze. The Earth seems to shriek, inspire fear, and tremble everywhere. Kankas, and vultures, and cranes are frequently crying. Jackals are uttering inauspicious and fierce yells foreboding great danger. Large meteors seem to fall from the centre of the solar disc. The constellation called Parigha, with a trunkless form, appeareth around the Sun. The solar and the lunar discs have become awful, foreboding great danger to Kshatriyas about the mangling of their bodies. The idols of the Kuru king in his temples tremble and laugh and dance and weep. The illustrious Moon riseth with his horns downward. The bodies of the kings belonging to the Kuru army all seem to be pale, and though clad in mail, are shorn of splendour. The loud blare of Panchajanya and the twang of Gandiva are heard on all sides of both the armies. Without doubt, Arjuna, relying upon his great weapons and avoiding other warriors will advance upon the grandsire. The pores of my body are contracting, and my heart also is depressed, thinking, O mighty-armed one, of the encounter between Bhishma and Arjuna. Keeping on his fore the Panchala prince of sinful soul and conversant with deceit, Partha is proceeding towards Bhishma for battle. Bhishma said before that he would not slay Sikhandin. By the Creator had that one been made female, though through chance he subsequently became a male person. That mighty son of Yajnasena is also an inauspicious omen (by himself). The son of the Ocean-going (Ganga) will not strike that person of inauspicious self. Thinking of this, viz., that Arjuna, excited with wrath, is about to fall upon the aged Kuru grandsire, my heart is exceedingly depressed. The wrath of Yudhishthira, an encounter between Bhishma and Arjuna in battle, and an endeavour like this (of the shooting of weapons) by myself,--these (three) are certainly fraught with great harm to creatures. Arjuna is endued with great energy; he is powerful, brave, accomplished in weapons, and possessed of valour that is very active. Capable of shooting his arrows to a great distance and shooting them with force, he is, besides, acquainted with omens, Endued with great might and intelligence, and above fatigue, that foremost of warriors is incapable of defeat by the very gods with Vasava at their head. The son of Pandu possesses terrible weapons and is ever victorious in battle. Avoiding his path, go thou to battle (for Bhishma's victory) O thou of rigid vows. 1 Today in this dreadful battle thou wilt behold a great carnage. The beautiful and costly coats of mail, decked with gold, of brave warriors will be pierced with straight shafts. And the tops of standards, and bearded javelins, and bows, and bright lances of sharp points, and darts bright with gold, and the standards on the backs of elephants, will all be cut off by Kiritin
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in wrath. O son, this is not the time when dependants should take care of their lives. Go to battle, keeping heaven before thee, and for the sake of fame and victory. There, the ape-bannered (Arjuna) crosseth on his car the river of battle that is awful and incapable of being easily crossed, and hath cars, elephants, and steeds, for its eddies. Regard for Brahmanas, self-restraint, liberality, asceticism, and noble conduct, are seen in Yudhishthira alone who hath for his brothers Dhananjaya, and the mighty Bhimasena, and the twin sons of Madri by Pandu, and who hath Vasudeva of the Vrishni race for his protector. The wrath, born of grief, of that Yudhishthira whose body hath been purified by the flames of penance, directed to the wicked-souled son of Dhritarashtra, is consuming this Bharata host. There cometh Partha, having Vasudeva for his protector, checking (as he cometh) this entire Dhartarashtra army. Behold, Kiritin is agitating this host like a large whale agitating the vast sea of crested waves. Hark, cries of distress and woe are heard in the van of the army. Go, encounter the heir of the Panchala king. As for myself, I will proceed against Yudhishthira. The heart of king Yudhishthira's very strong array is difficult of access. Inaccessible as the interior of the sea, it is guarded on all sides by Atirathas. Satyaki, and Abhimanyu and Dhrishtadyumna, and Vrikodara, and the twins, even these are protecting that ruler of men, viz., king Yudhishthira. Dark as the younger brother of Indra, and risen like a tall Sala, behold Abhimanyu advancing at the head of the (Pandava) host, like a second Phalguna! Take up thy mighty weapons, and with thy large bow in hand proceed against the royal son of Prishata (viz., Sikhandin), and against Vrikodara. Who is there that doth not wish his dear son to live for many years? Keeping the duties of a Kshatriya, however, before me, I am engaging thee (to this task). So Bhishma also, in this battle, is consuming the mighty host of the Pandavas. O son, he is, in battle, equal to Yama or Varuna himself.'"
Book 6
Chapter 114
1 saṃjaya uvāca
evaṃ te paṇḍavāḥ sarve puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam
vivyadhuḥ samare bhīṣmaṃ parivārya samantataḥ
2 śataghnībhiḥ sughorābhiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ saparaśvadhaiḥ
mudgarair musalaiḥ prāsaiḥ kṣepaṇībhiś ca sarvaśaḥ
3 śaraiḥ kanakapuṅkhaiś ca śaktitomarakampanaiḥ
nārācair vatsadantaiś ca bhuśuṇḍībhiś ca bhārata
atāḍayan raṇe bhīṣme sahitāḥ sarvasṛñjayāḥ
4 sa viśīrṇātanutrāṇaḥ pīḍito bahubhis tadā
vivyathe naiva gāṅgeyo bhidyamāneṣu marmasu
5 sa dīptaśaracāpārcir astraprasṛtamārutaḥ
neminirhrādasaṃnādo mahāstrodayapāvakaḥ
6 citracāpamahājvālo vīrakṣayamahendhanaḥ
yugāntāgnisamo bhīṣmaḥ pareṣāṃ samapadyata
7 nipatya rathasaṃghānām antareṇa viniḥsṛtaḥ
dṛśyate sma narendrāṇāṃ punar madhyagataś caran
8 tataḥ pāñcālarājaṃ ca dhṛṣṭaketum atītya ca
pāṇḍavānīkinīmadhyam āsasāda sa vegitaḥ
9 tataḥ sātyakibhīmau ca pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam
drupadaṃ ca virāṭaṃ ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pārṣatam
10 bhīmaghoṣair mahāvegair vairivāraṇabhedibhiḥ
ṣaḍ etān ṣaḍbhir ānarchad bhāskarapratimaiḥ śaraiḥ
11 tasya te niśitān bāṇān saṃnivārya mahārathāḥ
daśabhir daśabhir bhīṣmam ardayām āsur ojasā
12 śikhaṇḍī tu raṇe bāṇān yān mumoca mahāvrate
te bhīṣmaṃ viviśus tūrṇaṃ svarṇapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
13 tataḥ kirīṭī saṃrabdho bhīṣmam evābhyavartata
śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya dhanuś cāsya samācchinat
14 bhīṣmasya dhanuṣaś chedaṃ nāmṛṣyanta mahārathāḥ
droṇaś ca kṛtavarmā ca saindhavaś ca jayadrathaḥ
15 bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ śalyo bhagadattas tathaiva ca
saptaite paramakruddhāḥ kirīṭinam abhidrutāḥ
16 uttamāstrāṇi divyāni darśayanto mahārathāḥ
abhipetur bhṛśaṃ kruddhāś chādayanta sma pāṇḍavān
17 teṣām āpatatāṃ śabdaḥ śuśruve phalgunaṃ prati
udvṛttānāṃ yathā śabdaḥ samudrāṇāṃ yugakṣaye
18 hatānayata gṛhṇīta yudhyatāpi ca kṛntata
ity āsīt tumulaḥ śabdaḥ phalgunasya rathaṃ prati
19 taṃ śabdaṃ tumulaṃ śrutvā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ
abhyadhāvan parīpsantaḥ phalgunaṃ bharatarṣabha
20 sātyakir bhīmasenaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
virāṭadrupadau cobhau rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
21 abhimanyuś ca saṃkruddhaḥ saptaite krodhamūrchitāḥ
samabhyadhāvaṃs tvaritāś citrakārmukadhāriṇaḥ
22 teṣāṃ samabhavad yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
saṃgrāme bharataśreṣṭha devānāṃ dānavair iva
23 śikhaṇḍī tu rathaśreṣṭho rakṣyamāṇaḥ kirīṭinā
avidhyad daśabhir bhīṣmaṃ chinnadhanvānam āhave
sārathiṃ daśabhiś cāsya dhvajaṃ caikena cicchide
24 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya gāṅgeyo vegavattaram
tad apy asya śitair bhallais tribhiś ciccheda phalgunaḥ
25 evaṃ sa pāṇḍavaḥ kruddha āttam āttaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
dhanur bhīṣmasya ciccheda savyasācī paraṃtapaḥ
26 sa cchinnadhanvā saṃkruddhaḥ sṛkkiṇī parisaṃlihan
śaktiṃ jagrāha saṃkruddho girīṇām api dāraṇīm
tāṃ ca cikṣepa saṃkruddhaḥ phalgunasya rathaṃ prati
27 tām āpatantīṃ saṃprekṣya jvalantīm aśanīm iva
samādatta śitān bhallān pañca pāṇḍavanandanaḥ
28 tasya ciccheda tāṃ śaktiṃ pañcadhā pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ
saṃkruddho bharataśreṣṭha bhīṣmabāhubaleritām
29 sā papāta paricchinnā saṃkruddhena kirīṭinā
meghavṛndaparibhraṣṭā vicchinneva śatahradā
30 chinnāṃ tāṃ śaktim ālokya bhīṣmaḥ krodhasamanvitaḥ
acintayad raṇe vīro buddhyā parapuraṃjayaḥ
31 śakto 'haṃ dhanuṣaikena nihantuṃ sarvapāṇḍavān
yady eṣāṃ na bhaved goptā viṣvakseno mahābalaḥ
32 kāraṇadvayam āsthāya nāhaṃ yotsyāmi pāṇḍavaiḥ
avadhyatvāc ca pāṇḍūnāṃ strībhāvāc ca śikhaṇḍinaḥ
33 pitrā tuṣṭena me pūrvaṃ yadā kālīm udāvahat
svacchandamaraṇaṃ dattam avadhyatvaṃ raṇe tathā
tasmān mṛtyum ahaṃ manye prāptakālam ivātmanaḥ
34 evaṃ jñātvā vyavasitaṃ bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ
ṛṣayo vasavaś caiva viyatsthā bhīṣmam abruvan
35 yat te vyavasitaṃ vīra asmākaṃ sumahat priyam
tat kuruṣva maheṣvāsa yuddhād buddhiṃ nivartaya
36 tasya vākyasya nidhane prādur āsīc chivo 'nilaḥ
anulomaḥ sugandhī ca pṛṣataiś ca samanvitaḥ
37 devadundubhayaś caiva saṃpraṇedur mahāsvanāḥ
papāta puṣpavṛṣṭiś ca bhīṣmasyopari pārthiva
38 na ca tac chuśruve kaś cit teṣāṃ saṃvadatāṃ nṛpa
ṛte bhīṣmaṃ mahābāhuṃ māṃ cāpi munitejasā
39 saṃbhramaś ca mahān āsīt tridaśānāṃ viśāṃ pate
patiṣyati rathād bhīṣme sarvalokapriye tadā
40 iti devagaṇānāṃ ca śrutvā vākyaṃ mahāmanāḥ
tataḥ śāṃtanavo bhīṣmo bībhatsuṃ nābhyavartata
bhidyamānaḥ śitair bāṇaiḥ sarvāvaraṇabhedibhiḥ
41 śikhaṇḍī tu mahārāja bharatānāṃ pitāmaham
ājaghānorasi kruddho navabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
42 sa tenābhihataḥ saṃkhye bhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ
nākampata mahārāja kṣitikampe yathācalaḥ
43 tataḥ prahasya bībhatsur vyākṣipan gāṇḍivaṃ dhanuḥ
gāṅgeyaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samarpayat
44 punaḥ śaraśatenaivaṃ tvaramāṇo dhanaṃjayaḥ
sarvagātreṣu saṃkruddhaḥ sarvamarmasv atāḍayat
45 evam anyair api bhṛśaṃ vadhyamāno mahāraṇe
na cakrus te rujaṃ tasya rukmapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
46 tataḥ kirīṭī saṃrabdho bhīṣmam evābhyavartata
śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya dhanuś cāsya samācchinat
47 athainaṃ daśabhir viddhvā dhvajam ekena cicchide
sārathiṃ viśikhaiś cāsya daśabhiḥ samakampayat
48 so 'nyat kārmukam ādatta gāṅgeyo balavattaram
tad apy asya śitair bhallais tridhā tribhir upānudat
nimeṣāntaramātreṇa āttam āttaṃ mahāraṇe
49 evam asya dhanūṃṣy ājau ciccheda subahūny api
tataḥ śāṃtanavo bhīṣmo bībhatsuṃ nābhyavartata
50 athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samardayat
so 'tividdho maheṣvāso duḥśāsanam abhāṣata
51 eṣa pārtho raṇe kruddhaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ
śarair anekasāhasrair mām evābhyasate raṇe
52 na caiṣa śakyaḥ samare jetuṃ vajrabhṛtā api
na cāpi sahitā vīrā devadānavarākṣasāḥ
māṃ caiva śaktā nirjetuṃ kim u martyāḥ sudurbalāḥ
53 evaṃ tayoḥ saṃvadatoḥ phalguno niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya bhīṣmaṃ vivyādha saṃyuge
54 tato duḥśāsanaṃ bhūyaḥ smayamāno 'bhyabhāṣata
atividdhaḥ śitair bāṇair bhṛśaṃ gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
55 vajrāśanisamasparśāḥ śitāgrāḥ saṃpraveśitāḥ
vimuktā avyavacchinnā neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
56 nikṛntamānā marmāṇi dṛḍhāvaraṇabhedinaḥ
musalānīva me ghnanti neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
57 brahmadaṇḍasamasparśā vajravegā durāsadāḥ
mama prāṇān ārujanti neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
58 bhujagā iva saṃkruddhā lelihānā viṣolbaṇāḥ
mamāviśanti marmāṇi neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
59 nāśayantīva me prāṇān yamadūtā ivāhitāḥ
gadāparighasaṃsparśā neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
60 kṛntanti mama gātrāṇi māghamāse gavām iva
arjunasya ime bāṇā neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
61 sarve hy api na me duḥkhaṃ kuryur anye narādhipāḥ
vīraṃ gaṇḍīvadhanvānam ṛte jiṣṇuṃ kapidhvajam
62 iti bruvañ śāṃtanavo didhakṣur iva pāṇḍavam
saviṣphuliṅgāṃ dīptāgrāṃ śaktiṃ cikṣepa bhārata
63 tām asya viśikhaiś chittvā tridhā tribhir apātayat
paśyatāṃ kuruvīrāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ tatra bhārata
64 carmāthādatta gāṅgeyo jātarūpapariṣkṛtam
khaḍgaṃ cānyataraṃ prepsur mṛtyor agre jayāya vā
65 tasya tac chatadhā carma vyadhamad daṃśitātmanaḥ
rathād anavarūḍhasya tad adbhutam ivābhavat
66 vinadyoccaiḥ siṃha iva svāny anīkāny acodayat
abhidravata gāṅgeyaṃ māṃ vo 'stu bhayam aṇv api
67 atha te tomaraiḥ prāsair bāṇaughaiś ca samantataḥ
paṭṭiśaiś ca sanistriṃśair nānāpraharaṇais tathā
68 vatsadantaiś ca bhallaiś ca tam ekam abhidudruvuḥ
siṃhanādas tato ghoraḥ pāṇḍavānām ajāyata
69 tathaiva tava putrāś ca rājan bhīṣmajayaiṣiṇaḥ
tam ekam abhyavartanta siṃhanādāṃś ca nedire
70 tatrāsīt tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ tāvakānāṃ paraiḥ saha
daśame 'hani rājendra bhīṣmārjunasamāgame
71 āsīd gāṅga ivāvarto muhūrtam udadher iva
sainyānāṃ yudhyamānānāṃ nighnatām itaretaram
72 agamyarūpā pṛthivī śoṇitāktā tadābhavat
samaṃ ca viṣamaṃ caiva na prājñāyata kiṃ cana
73 yodhānām ayutaṃ hatvā tasmin sa daśame 'hani
atiṣṭhad āhave bhīṣmo bhidyamāneṣu marmasu
74 tataḥ senāmukhe tasmin sthitaḥ pārtho dhanaṃjayaḥ
madhyena kurusainyānāṃ drāvayām āsa vāhinīm
75 vayaṃ śvetahayād bhītāḥ kuntīputrād dhanaṃjayāt
pīḍyamānāḥ śitaiḥ śastraiḥ pradravāma mahāraṇāt
76 sauvīrāḥ kitavāḥ prācyāḥ pratīcyodīcyamālavāḥ
abhīṣāhāḥ śūrasenāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ
77 śālvāśrayās trigartāś ca ambaṣṭhāḥ kekayaiḥ saha
dvādaśaite janapadāḥ śarārtā vraṇapīḍitāḥ
saṃgrāme na jahur bhīṣmaṃ yudhyamānaṃ kirīṭinā
78 tatas tam ekaṃ bahavaḥ parivārya samantataḥ
parikālya kurūn sarvāñ śaravarṣair avākiran
79 nipātayata gṛhṇīta vidhyatātha ca karṣata
ity āsīt tumulaḥ śabdo rājan bhīṣmarathaṃ prati
80 abhihatya śaraughais taṃ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
na tasyāsīd anirbhinnaṃ gātreṣv aṅgulamātrakam
81 evaṃvibho tava pitā śarair viśakalī kṛtaḥ
śitāgraiḥ phalgunenājau prākśirāḥ prāpatad rathāt
kiṃciccheṣe dinakare putrāṇāṃ tava paśyatām
82 hāheti divi devānāṃ pārthivānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
patamāne rathād bhīṣme babhūva sumahān svanaḥ
83 taṃ patantam abhiprekṣya mahātmānaṃ pitāmaham
saha bhīṣmeṇa sarveṣāṃ prāpatan hṛdayāni naḥ
84 sa papāta mahābāhur vasudhām anunādayan
indradhvaja ivotsṛṣṭaḥ ketuḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām
dharaṇīṃ nāspṛśac cāpi śarasaṃghaiḥ samācitaḥ
85 śaratalpe maheṣvāsaṃ śayānaṃ puruṣarṣabham
rathāt prapatitaṃ cainaṃ divyo bhāvaḥ samāviśat
86 abhyavarṣata parjanyaḥ prākampata ca medinī
patan sa dadṛśe cāpi kharvitaṃ ca divākaram
87 saṃjñāṃ caivālabhad vīraḥ kālaṃ saṃcintya bhārata
antarikṣe ca śuśrāva divyāṃ vācaṃ samantataḥ
88 kathaṃ mahātmā gāṅgeyaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
kālaṃ kartā naravyāghraḥ saṃprāpte dakṣiṇāyane
89 sthito 'smīti ca gāṅgeyas tac chrutvā vākyam abravīt
dhārayām āsa ca prāṇān patito 'pi hi bhūtale
uttarāyaṇam anvicchan bhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ
90 tasya tan matam ājñāya gaṅgā himavataḥ sutā
maharṣīn haṃsarūpeṇa preṣayām āsa tatra vai
91 tataḥ saṃpātino haṃsās tvaritā mānasaukasaḥ
ājagmuḥ sahitā draṣṭuṃ bhīṣmaṃ kurupitāmaham
yatra śete naraśreṣṭhaḥ śaratalpe pitāmahaḥ
92 te tu bhīṣmaṃ samāsādya munayo haṃsarūpiṇaḥ
apaśyañ śaratalpasthaṃ bhīṣmaṃ kurupitāmaham
93 te taṃ dṛṣṭvā mahātmānaṃ kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam
gāṅgeyaṃ bharataśreṣṭhaṃ dakṣiṇena ca bhāskaram
94 itaretaram āmantrya prāhus tatra manīṣiṇaḥ
bhīṣma eva mahātmā san saṃsthātā dakṣiṇāyane
95 ity uktvā prasthitān haṃsān dakṣiṇām abhito diśam
saṃprekṣya vai mahābuddhiś cintayitvā ca bhārata
96 tān abravīc chāṃtanavo nāhaṃ gantā kathaṃ cana
dakṣiṇāvṛtta āditya etan mama manaiḥ sthitam
97 gamiṣyāmi svakaṃ sthānam āsīd yan me purātanam
udagāvṛtta āditye haṃsāḥ satyaṃ bravīmi vaḥ
98 dhārayiṣyāmy ahaṃ prāṇān uttarāyaṇakāṅkṣayā
aiśvaryabhūtaḥ prāṇānām utsarge niyato hy aham
tasmāt prāṇān dhārayiṣye mumūrṣur udagāyane
99 yaś ca datto varo mahyaṃ pitrā tena mahātmanā
chandato mṛtyur ity evaṃ tasya cāstu varas tathā
100 dhārayiṣye tataḥ prāṇān utsarge niyate sati
ity uktvā tāṃs tadā haṃsān aśeta śaratalpagaḥ
101 evaṃ kurūṇāṃ patite śṛṅge bhīṣme mahaujasi
pāṇḍavāḥ sṛñjayāś caiva siṃhanādaṃ pracakrire
102 tasmin hate mahāsattve bharatānām amadhyame
na kiṃ cit pratyapadyanta putrās te bharatarṣabha
saṃmohaś caiva tumulaḥ kurūṇām abhavat tadā
103 nṛpā duryodhanamukhā niḥśvasya rurudus tataḥ
viṣādāc ca ciraṃ kālam atiṣṭhan vigatendriyāḥ
104 dadhyuś caiva mahārāja na yuddhe dadhire manaḥ
ūrugrāhagṛhītāś ca nābhyadhāvanta pāṇḍavān
105 avadhye śaṃtanoḥ putre hate bhīṣme mahaujasi
abhāvaḥ sumahān rājan kurūn āgād atandritaḥ
106 hatapravīrāś ca vayaṃ nikṛttāś ca śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
kartavyaṃ nābhijānīmo nirjitāḥ savyasācinā
107 pāṇḍavās tu jayaṃ labdhvā paratra ca parāṃ gatim
sarve dadhmur mahāśaṅkhāñ śūrāḥ parighabāhavaḥ
somakāś ca sapañcālāḥ prāhṛṣyanta janeśvara
108 tatas tūryasahasreṣu nadatsu sumahābalaḥ
āsphoṭayām āsa bhṛśaṃ bhīmaseno nanarta ca
109 senayor ubhayoś cāpi gāṅgeye vinipātite
saṃnyasya vīrāḥ śastrāṇi prādhyāyanta samantataḥ
110 prākrośan prāpataṃś cānye jagmur mohaṃ tathāpare
kṣatraṃ cānye 'bhyanindanta bhīṣmaṃ caike 'bhyapūjayan
111 ṛṣayaḥ pitaraś caiva praśaśaṃsur mahāvratam
bharatānāṃ ca ye pūrve te cainaṃ praśaśaṃsire
112 mahopaniṣadaṃ caiva yogam āsthāya vīryavān
japañ śāṃtanavo dhīmān kālākāṅkṣī sthito 'bhavat
evaṃ te paṇḍavāḥ sarve puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam
vivyadhuḥ samare bhīṣmaṃ parivārya samantataḥ
2 śataghnībhiḥ sughorābhiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ saparaśvadhaiḥ
mudgarair musalaiḥ prāsaiḥ kṣepaṇībhiś ca sarvaśaḥ
3 śaraiḥ kanakapuṅkhaiś ca śaktitomarakampanaiḥ
nārācair vatsadantaiś ca bhuśuṇḍībhiś ca bhārata
atāḍayan raṇe bhīṣme sahitāḥ sarvasṛñjayāḥ
4 sa viśīrṇātanutrāṇaḥ pīḍito bahubhis tadā
vivyathe naiva gāṅgeyo bhidyamāneṣu marmasu
5 sa dīptaśaracāpārcir astraprasṛtamārutaḥ
neminirhrādasaṃnādo mahāstrodayapāvakaḥ
6 citracāpamahājvālo vīrakṣayamahendhanaḥ
yugāntāgnisamo bhīṣmaḥ pareṣāṃ samapadyata
7 nipatya rathasaṃghānām antareṇa viniḥsṛtaḥ
dṛśyate sma narendrāṇāṃ punar madhyagataś caran
8 tataḥ pāñcālarājaṃ ca dhṛṣṭaketum atītya ca
pāṇḍavānīkinīmadhyam āsasāda sa vegitaḥ
9 tataḥ sātyakibhīmau ca pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam
drupadaṃ ca virāṭaṃ ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pārṣatam
10 bhīmaghoṣair mahāvegair vairivāraṇabhedibhiḥ
ṣaḍ etān ṣaḍbhir ānarchad bhāskarapratimaiḥ śaraiḥ
11 tasya te niśitān bāṇān saṃnivārya mahārathāḥ
daśabhir daśabhir bhīṣmam ardayām āsur ojasā
12 śikhaṇḍī tu raṇe bāṇān yān mumoca mahāvrate
te bhīṣmaṃ viviśus tūrṇaṃ svarṇapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
13 tataḥ kirīṭī saṃrabdho bhīṣmam evābhyavartata
śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya dhanuś cāsya samācchinat
14 bhīṣmasya dhanuṣaś chedaṃ nāmṛṣyanta mahārathāḥ
droṇaś ca kṛtavarmā ca saindhavaś ca jayadrathaḥ
15 bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ śalyo bhagadattas tathaiva ca
saptaite paramakruddhāḥ kirīṭinam abhidrutāḥ
16 uttamāstrāṇi divyāni darśayanto mahārathāḥ
abhipetur bhṛśaṃ kruddhāś chādayanta sma pāṇḍavān
17 teṣām āpatatāṃ śabdaḥ śuśruve phalgunaṃ prati
udvṛttānāṃ yathā śabdaḥ samudrāṇāṃ yugakṣaye
18 hatānayata gṛhṇīta yudhyatāpi ca kṛntata
ity āsīt tumulaḥ śabdaḥ phalgunasya rathaṃ prati
19 taṃ śabdaṃ tumulaṃ śrutvā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ
abhyadhāvan parīpsantaḥ phalgunaṃ bharatarṣabha
20 sātyakir bhīmasenaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
virāṭadrupadau cobhau rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
21 abhimanyuś ca saṃkruddhaḥ saptaite krodhamūrchitāḥ
samabhyadhāvaṃs tvaritāś citrakārmukadhāriṇaḥ
22 teṣāṃ samabhavad yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
saṃgrāme bharataśreṣṭha devānāṃ dānavair iva
23 śikhaṇḍī tu rathaśreṣṭho rakṣyamāṇaḥ kirīṭinā
avidhyad daśabhir bhīṣmaṃ chinnadhanvānam āhave
sārathiṃ daśabhiś cāsya dhvajaṃ caikena cicchide
24 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya gāṅgeyo vegavattaram
tad apy asya śitair bhallais tribhiś ciccheda phalgunaḥ
25 evaṃ sa pāṇḍavaḥ kruddha āttam āttaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
dhanur bhīṣmasya ciccheda savyasācī paraṃtapaḥ
26 sa cchinnadhanvā saṃkruddhaḥ sṛkkiṇī parisaṃlihan
śaktiṃ jagrāha saṃkruddho girīṇām api dāraṇīm
tāṃ ca cikṣepa saṃkruddhaḥ phalgunasya rathaṃ prati
27 tām āpatantīṃ saṃprekṣya jvalantīm aśanīm iva
samādatta śitān bhallān pañca pāṇḍavanandanaḥ
28 tasya ciccheda tāṃ śaktiṃ pañcadhā pañcabhiḥ śaraiḥ
saṃkruddho bharataśreṣṭha bhīṣmabāhubaleritām
29 sā papāta paricchinnā saṃkruddhena kirīṭinā
meghavṛndaparibhraṣṭā vicchinneva śatahradā
30 chinnāṃ tāṃ śaktim ālokya bhīṣmaḥ krodhasamanvitaḥ
acintayad raṇe vīro buddhyā parapuraṃjayaḥ
31 śakto 'haṃ dhanuṣaikena nihantuṃ sarvapāṇḍavān
yady eṣāṃ na bhaved goptā viṣvakseno mahābalaḥ
32 kāraṇadvayam āsthāya nāhaṃ yotsyāmi pāṇḍavaiḥ
avadhyatvāc ca pāṇḍūnāṃ strībhāvāc ca śikhaṇḍinaḥ
33 pitrā tuṣṭena me pūrvaṃ yadā kālīm udāvahat
svacchandamaraṇaṃ dattam avadhyatvaṃ raṇe tathā
tasmān mṛtyum ahaṃ manye prāptakālam ivātmanaḥ
34 evaṃ jñātvā vyavasitaṃ bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ
ṛṣayo vasavaś caiva viyatsthā bhīṣmam abruvan
35 yat te vyavasitaṃ vīra asmākaṃ sumahat priyam
tat kuruṣva maheṣvāsa yuddhād buddhiṃ nivartaya
36 tasya vākyasya nidhane prādur āsīc chivo 'nilaḥ
anulomaḥ sugandhī ca pṛṣataiś ca samanvitaḥ
37 devadundubhayaś caiva saṃpraṇedur mahāsvanāḥ
papāta puṣpavṛṣṭiś ca bhīṣmasyopari pārthiva
38 na ca tac chuśruve kaś cit teṣāṃ saṃvadatāṃ nṛpa
ṛte bhīṣmaṃ mahābāhuṃ māṃ cāpi munitejasā
39 saṃbhramaś ca mahān āsīt tridaśānāṃ viśāṃ pate
patiṣyati rathād bhīṣme sarvalokapriye tadā
40 iti devagaṇānāṃ ca śrutvā vākyaṃ mahāmanāḥ
tataḥ śāṃtanavo bhīṣmo bībhatsuṃ nābhyavartata
bhidyamānaḥ śitair bāṇaiḥ sarvāvaraṇabhedibhiḥ
41 śikhaṇḍī tu mahārāja bharatānāṃ pitāmaham
ājaghānorasi kruddho navabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
42 sa tenābhihataḥ saṃkhye bhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ
nākampata mahārāja kṣitikampe yathācalaḥ
43 tataḥ prahasya bībhatsur vyākṣipan gāṇḍivaṃ dhanuḥ
gāṅgeyaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samarpayat
44 punaḥ śaraśatenaivaṃ tvaramāṇo dhanaṃjayaḥ
sarvagātreṣu saṃkruddhaḥ sarvamarmasv atāḍayat
45 evam anyair api bhṛśaṃ vadhyamāno mahāraṇe
na cakrus te rujaṃ tasya rukmapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
46 tataḥ kirīṭī saṃrabdho bhīṣmam evābhyavartata
śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya dhanuś cāsya samācchinat
47 athainaṃ daśabhir viddhvā dhvajam ekena cicchide
sārathiṃ viśikhaiś cāsya daśabhiḥ samakampayat
48 so 'nyat kārmukam ādatta gāṅgeyo balavattaram
tad apy asya śitair bhallais tridhā tribhir upānudat
nimeṣāntaramātreṇa āttam āttaṃ mahāraṇe
49 evam asya dhanūṃṣy ājau ciccheda subahūny api
tataḥ śāṃtanavo bhīṣmo bībhatsuṃ nābhyavartata
50 athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samardayat
so 'tividdho maheṣvāso duḥśāsanam abhāṣata
51 eṣa pārtho raṇe kruddhaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ
śarair anekasāhasrair mām evābhyasate raṇe
52 na caiṣa śakyaḥ samare jetuṃ vajrabhṛtā api
na cāpi sahitā vīrā devadānavarākṣasāḥ
māṃ caiva śaktā nirjetuṃ kim u martyāḥ sudurbalāḥ
53 evaṃ tayoḥ saṃvadatoḥ phalguno niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya bhīṣmaṃ vivyādha saṃyuge
54 tato duḥśāsanaṃ bhūyaḥ smayamāno 'bhyabhāṣata
atividdhaḥ śitair bāṇair bhṛśaṃ gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
55 vajrāśanisamasparśāḥ śitāgrāḥ saṃpraveśitāḥ
vimuktā avyavacchinnā neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
56 nikṛntamānā marmāṇi dṛḍhāvaraṇabhedinaḥ
musalānīva me ghnanti neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
57 brahmadaṇḍasamasparśā vajravegā durāsadāḥ
mama prāṇān ārujanti neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
58 bhujagā iva saṃkruddhā lelihānā viṣolbaṇāḥ
mamāviśanti marmāṇi neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
59 nāśayantīva me prāṇān yamadūtā ivāhitāḥ
gadāparighasaṃsparśā neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
60 kṛntanti mama gātrāṇi māghamāse gavām iva
arjunasya ime bāṇā neme bāṇāḥ śikhaṇḍinaḥ
61 sarve hy api na me duḥkhaṃ kuryur anye narādhipāḥ
vīraṃ gaṇḍīvadhanvānam ṛte jiṣṇuṃ kapidhvajam
62 iti bruvañ śāṃtanavo didhakṣur iva pāṇḍavam
saviṣphuliṅgāṃ dīptāgrāṃ śaktiṃ cikṣepa bhārata
63 tām asya viśikhaiś chittvā tridhā tribhir apātayat
paśyatāṃ kuruvīrāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ tatra bhārata
64 carmāthādatta gāṅgeyo jātarūpapariṣkṛtam
khaḍgaṃ cānyataraṃ prepsur mṛtyor agre jayāya vā
65 tasya tac chatadhā carma vyadhamad daṃśitātmanaḥ
rathād anavarūḍhasya tad adbhutam ivābhavat
66 vinadyoccaiḥ siṃha iva svāny anīkāny acodayat
abhidravata gāṅgeyaṃ māṃ vo 'stu bhayam aṇv api
67 atha te tomaraiḥ prāsair bāṇaughaiś ca samantataḥ
paṭṭiśaiś ca sanistriṃśair nānāpraharaṇais tathā
68 vatsadantaiś ca bhallaiś ca tam ekam abhidudruvuḥ
siṃhanādas tato ghoraḥ pāṇḍavānām ajāyata
69 tathaiva tava putrāś ca rājan bhīṣmajayaiṣiṇaḥ
tam ekam abhyavartanta siṃhanādāṃś ca nedire
70 tatrāsīt tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ tāvakānāṃ paraiḥ saha
daśame 'hani rājendra bhīṣmārjunasamāgame
71 āsīd gāṅga ivāvarto muhūrtam udadher iva
sainyānāṃ yudhyamānānāṃ nighnatām itaretaram
72 agamyarūpā pṛthivī śoṇitāktā tadābhavat
samaṃ ca viṣamaṃ caiva na prājñāyata kiṃ cana
73 yodhānām ayutaṃ hatvā tasmin sa daśame 'hani
atiṣṭhad āhave bhīṣmo bhidyamāneṣu marmasu
74 tataḥ senāmukhe tasmin sthitaḥ pārtho dhanaṃjayaḥ
madhyena kurusainyānāṃ drāvayām āsa vāhinīm
75 vayaṃ śvetahayād bhītāḥ kuntīputrād dhanaṃjayāt
pīḍyamānāḥ śitaiḥ śastraiḥ pradravāma mahāraṇāt
76 sauvīrāḥ kitavāḥ prācyāḥ pratīcyodīcyamālavāḥ
abhīṣāhāḥ śūrasenāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ
77 śālvāśrayās trigartāś ca ambaṣṭhāḥ kekayaiḥ saha
dvādaśaite janapadāḥ śarārtā vraṇapīḍitāḥ
saṃgrāme na jahur bhīṣmaṃ yudhyamānaṃ kirīṭinā
78 tatas tam ekaṃ bahavaḥ parivārya samantataḥ
parikālya kurūn sarvāñ śaravarṣair avākiran
79 nipātayata gṛhṇīta vidhyatātha ca karṣata
ity āsīt tumulaḥ śabdo rājan bhīṣmarathaṃ prati
80 abhihatya śaraughais taṃ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
na tasyāsīd anirbhinnaṃ gātreṣv aṅgulamātrakam
81 evaṃvibho tava pitā śarair viśakalī kṛtaḥ
śitāgraiḥ phalgunenājau prākśirāḥ prāpatad rathāt
kiṃciccheṣe dinakare putrāṇāṃ tava paśyatām
82 hāheti divi devānāṃ pārthivānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
patamāne rathād bhīṣme babhūva sumahān svanaḥ
83 taṃ patantam abhiprekṣya mahātmānaṃ pitāmaham
saha bhīṣmeṇa sarveṣāṃ prāpatan hṛdayāni naḥ
84 sa papāta mahābāhur vasudhām anunādayan
indradhvaja ivotsṛṣṭaḥ ketuḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām
dharaṇīṃ nāspṛśac cāpi śarasaṃghaiḥ samācitaḥ
85 śaratalpe maheṣvāsaṃ śayānaṃ puruṣarṣabham
rathāt prapatitaṃ cainaṃ divyo bhāvaḥ samāviśat
86 abhyavarṣata parjanyaḥ prākampata ca medinī
patan sa dadṛśe cāpi kharvitaṃ ca divākaram
87 saṃjñāṃ caivālabhad vīraḥ kālaṃ saṃcintya bhārata
antarikṣe ca śuśrāva divyāṃ vācaṃ samantataḥ
88 kathaṃ mahātmā gāṅgeyaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
kālaṃ kartā naravyāghraḥ saṃprāpte dakṣiṇāyane
89 sthito 'smīti ca gāṅgeyas tac chrutvā vākyam abravīt
dhārayām āsa ca prāṇān patito 'pi hi bhūtale
uttarāyaṇam anvicchan bhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ
90 tasya tan matam ājñāya gaṅgā himavataḥ sutā
maharṣīn haṃsarūpeṇa preṣayām āsa tatra vai
91 tataḥ saṃpātino haṃsās tvaritā mānasaukasaḥ
ājagmuḥ sahitā draṣṭuṃ bhīṣmaṃ kurupitāmaham
yatra śete naraśreṣṭhaḥ śaratalpe pitāmahaḥ
92 te tu bhīṣmaṃ samāsādya munayo haṃsarūpiṇaḥ
apaśyañ śaratalpasthaṃ bhīṣmaṃ kurupitāmaham
93 te taṃ dṛṣṭvā mahātmānaṃ kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam
gāṅgeyaṃ bharataśreṣṭhaṃ dakṣiṇena ca bhāskaram
94 itaretaram āmantrya prāhus tatra manīṣiṇaḥ
bhīṣma eva mahātmā san saṃsthātā dakṣiṇāyane
95 ity uktvā prasthitān haṃsān dakṣiṇām abhito diśam
saṃprekṣya vai mahābuddhiś cintayitvā ca bhārata
96 tān abravīc chāṃtanavo nāhaṃ gantā kathaṃ cana
dakṣiṇāvṛtta āditya etan mama manaiḥ sthitam
97 gamiṣyāmi svakaṃ sthānam āsīd yan me purātanam
udagāvṛtta āditye haṃsāḥ satyaṃ bravīmi vaḥ
98 dhārayiṣyāmy ahaṃ prāṇān uttarāyaṇakāṅkṣayā
aiśvaryabhūtaḥ prāṇānām utsarge niyato hy aham
tasmāt prāṇān dhārayiṣye mumūrṣur udagāyane
99 yaś ca datto varo mahyaṃ pitrā tena mahātmanā
chandato mṛtyur ity evaṃ tasya cāstu varas tathā
100 dhārayiṣye tataḥ prāṇān utsarge niyate sati
ity uktvā tāṃs tadā haṃsān aśeta śaratalpagaḥ
101 evaṃ kurūṇāṃ patite śṛṅge bhīṣme mahaujasi
pāṇḍavāḥ sṛñjayāś caiva siṃhanādaṃ pracakrire
102 tasmin hate mahāsattve bharatānām amadhyame
na kiṃ cit pratyapadyanta putrās te bharatarṣabha
saṃmohaś caiva tumulaḥ kurūṇām abhavat tadā
103 nṛpā duryodhanamukhā niḥśvasya rurudus tataḥ
viṣādāc ca ciraṃ kālam atiṣṭhan vigatendriyāḥ
104 dadhyuś caiva mahārāja na yuddhe dadhire manaḥ
ūrugrāhagṛhītāś ca nābhyadhāvanta pāṇḍavān
105 avadhye śaṃtanoḥ putre hate bhīṣme mahaujasi
abhāvaḥ sumahān rājan kurūn āgād atandritaḥ
106 hatapravīrāś ca vayaṃ nikṛttāś ca śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
kartavyaṃ nābhijānīmo nirjitāḥ savyasācinā
107 pāṇḍavās tu jayaṃ labdhvā paratra ca parāṃ gatim
sarve dadhmur mahāśaṅkhāñ śūrāḥ parighabāhavaḥ
somakāś ca sapañcālāḥ prāhṛṣyanta janeśvara
108 tatas tūryasahasreṣu nadatsu sumahābalaḥ
āsphoṭayām āsa bhṛśaṃ bhīmaseno nanarta ca
109 senayor ubhayoś cāpi gāṅgeye vinipātite
saṃnyasya vīrāḥ śastrāṇi prādhyāyanta samantataḥ
110 prākrośan prāpataṃś cānye jagmur mohaṃ tathāpare
kṣatraṃ cānye 'bhyanindanta bhīṣmaṃ caike 'bhyapūjayan
111 ṛṣayaḥ pitaraś caiva praśaśaṃsur mahāvratam
bharatānāṃ ca ye pūrve te cainaṃ praśaśaṃsire
112 mahopaniṣadaṃ caiva yogam āsthāya vīryavān
japañ śāṃtanavo dhīmān kālākāṅkṣī sthito 'bhavat
SECTION CXIV
Sanjaya said, "Hearing these words of the high-souled Drona, Bhagadatta and Kripa and Salya and Kritavarman, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Jayadratha the ruler of the Sindhus, and Chitrasena and Vikarna and Durmarshana and others, these ten warriors of thy army, supported by a large host consisting of many nationalities, fought with Bhimasena, desirous of winning high renown in the battle for Bhishma's sake. And Salya struck Bhima with nine arrows, and Kritavarman struck him with three, and Kripa with nine. And Chitrasena and Vikarna and Bhagadatta, O sire, each struck him with ten arrows. And the ruler of the Sindhus struck him with three, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti each struck him with five arrows. And Duryodhana struck that son of Pandu with twenty sharpp. 285
arrows. Bhimasena, O king, pierced in return every one of those kings, those foremost of men in the world, those mighty car-warriors of the Dhartarashtra army, one after another. The brave Pandava, that slayer of hostile heroes, pierced Salya with seven arrows, and Kritavarman with eight. And he cut off Kripa's bow with arrow fixed thereon, O Bharata, in the middle, dividing it in twain. And after thus cutting off his bow, he pierced Kripa once more with seven arrows. And he struck Vinda and Anuvinda with three arrows each. And he pierced Durmarshana with twenty arrows, and Chitrasena with five, and Vikarna with ten, and Jayadratha with five. And once more striking the ruler of the Sindhus with three arrows, he uttered a loud shout, filled with joy. Then Gautama, that foremost of car-warriors, taking up another bow, angrily pierced Bhima with ten sharp shafts. Pierced with those ten shafts like a huge elephant with the hook, the valiant Bhimasena, O king, filled with wrath, struck Gautama in that battle with many shafts. Possessed of the splendour of Yama himself, as he appears at the end of the Yuga, Bhimasena then, with three arrows, despatched unto Death's domain the steeds of the ruler of the Sindhus as also his charioteer. Thereupon that mighty car-warrior, (viz., Jayadratha), quickly jumping down from that car whose steeds had been slain, shot in that battle many sharp-pointed shafts at Bhimasena. Then, O sire, with a couple of broad-headed arrows, he cut off, O chief of the Bharatas, the bow of the high-souled king of the Sindhus in the middle. His bow cut off, himself deprived of car, his steeds and charioteer slain, Jayadratha then, O king, quickly mounted on the car of Chitrasena. Indeed, the son of Pandu achieved in that battle a most wonderful feat, for piercing all those mighty car-warriors and holding them in check, he deprived, O sire, the ruler of the Sindhus of his car in the very sight of all the army. Salya could not brook to see the prowess that Bhimasena displayed, for saying unto him,--Wait, Wait,--he aimed some sharp arrows well-polished by the forger's hands, and pierced Bhima therewith in that battle. And Kripa and Kritavarman and the valiant Bhagadatta, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Chitrasena, and Durmarshana, and Vikarna, and the valiant ruler of the Sindhus also, in that battle,--These chastisers of foes, all quickly pierced Bhima for the sake of Salya. Bhima then pierced each of them in return with five arrows. And he pierced Salya then with seventy arrows and once more with ten. And Salya then pierced him with nine arrows and once more with five. And he pierced Bhimasena's charioteer also, deep in his vitals, with a broad-headed arrow. The valiant Bhimasena then, beholding his charioteer Visoka deeply pierced, sped three arrows at the arms and chest of the ruler of Madras. And as regards the other great bowmen, he pierced each of them in that battle With three straight arrows, and then uttered a loud roar like that of a lion. Each of those great bowmen then, exerting himself with vigour, deeply Pierced that son of Pandu skilled in battle, with three arrows in his vitals. That mighty bowman viz., Bhimasena, though pierced deeply, trembled not (but stood still) like a mountain drenched with torrents of rain by
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showering clouds. Then that mighty car-warrior of the Pandavas, filled with wrath, that celebrated hero, deeply, pierced the ruler of the Madras with three arrows. And he pierced the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, O king, in that battle, with a hundred arrows. Of great renown, he then pierced Kripa with many arrows, and then, displaying great dexterity, he cut off with a keen-edged shaft the bow, with arrow fixed thereon, of the high-souled Kritavarman. Then Kritavarman, that scorcher of foes, taking up another bow, struck Vrikodara between his eyebrows with a long arrow. Bhima, however, in that battle, having pierced Salya with nine arrows made wholly of iron, and Bhagadatta with three, and Kritavarman with eight, pierced each of the others with Gautama at their head, with two arrows. Those warriors also, in return, pierced him, O king, with sharp-pointed shafts. Though thus afflicted by those mighty car-warriors with all kinds of weapons, yet, regarding them all as straw, he coursed on the field without any anxiety. Those foremost of car-warriors (on the other hand), with great coolness, sped at Bhima sharp-pointed arrows by hundreds and thousands. The heroic and mighty Bhagadatta then, in that battle, hurled at him a dart of fierce impetuosity furnished with a golden staff. And the Sindhu king, of strong arms, hurled at him a lance and an axe. And Kripa, O king, hurled at him a Sataghni, and Salya an arrow. And the other great bowmen each sped at him five arrows with great force. The son of the Wind-god then cut off, with a sharp shaft, that lance in twain. And he cut off that axe also with three shafts, as if it were a sesame stalk. And with five shafts winged with the feathers of the Kanka bird, he cut that Sataghni into fragments. That mighty car-warrior then, having cut off the arrow sped by the ruler of the Madras, forcibly cut off the dart sped by Bhagadatta in that battle. As regards the other fierce shafts, Bhimasena, proud of his feats in battle, cut them each into three fragments by means of his own straight shafts. And he struck each of those great bowmen also with three shafts. Then Dhananjaya, during the progress of that dreadful battle, beholding the mighty car-warrior Bhima striking the foe and battling (against many) with his arrows, came thither on his car. Then those bulls among men, of thy army, beholding those two high-souled sons of Pandu together, gave up all hopes of victory. Then Arjuna, desirous of slaying Bhishma, placing Sikhandin before him, approached Bhima who had been fighting with those great car-warriors and fell upon those fierce combatants, numbering ten, of thy army, O Bharata. Then Vibhatsu, desirous of doing what was agreeable to Bhima, pierced all those warriors, O king, who had been battling with Bhima. Then king Duryodhana urged Susarman, for the destruction of both Arjuna and Bhimasena, saying, 'O Susarman, go thou quickly supported by a large force. Slay those two sons of Pandu, viz., Dhananjaya and Vrikodara.' Hearing these words of his, the Trigarta king who ruled the country called Prasthala, quickly rushed in battle upon those two bowmen, viz., Bhima and Dhananjaya, and surrounded them both by many thousands of cars. Then commenced a fierce battle between Arjuna and the foe."
Book 6
Chapter 115
1 dhṛtarāṣṭra
uvāca
katham āsaṃs tadā yodhā hīnā bhīṣmeṇa saṃjaya
balinā devakalpena gurvarthe brahmacāriṇā
2 tadaiva nihatān manye kurūn anyāṃś ca pārthivān
na prāharad yadā bhīṣmo ghṛṇitvād drupadātmaje
3 tato duḥkhataraṃ manye kim anyat prabhaviṣyati
yad adya pitaraṃ śrutvā nihataṃ mama durmateḥ
4 aśmasāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ mama saṃjaya
śrutvā vinihataṃ bhīṣmaṃ śatadhā yan na dīryate
5 punaḥ punar na mṛṣyāmi hataṃ devavrataṃ raṇe
na hato jāmadagnyena divyair astraiḥ sma yaḥ purā
6 yad adya nihatenājau bhīṣmeṇa jayam icchatā
ceṣṭitaṃ narasiṃhena tan me kathaya saṃjaya
7 saṃjaya uvāca
sāyāhne nyapatad bhūmau dhārtarāṣṭrān viṣādayan
pāñcālānāṃ dadad dharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
8 sa śete śaratalpastho medinīm aspṛśaṃs tadā
bhīṣmo rathāt prapatitaḥ pracyuto dharaṇītale
9 hāheti tumulaḥ śabdo bhūtānāṃ samapadyata
sīmāvṛkṣe nipatite kurūṇāṃ samitikṣaye
10 ubhayoḥ senayo rājan kṣatriyān bhayam āviśat
bhīṣmaṃ śaṃtanavaṃ dṛṣṭvā viśīrṇakavacadhvajam
kuravaḥ paryavartanta pāṇḍavāś ca viśāṃ pate
11 khaṃ tamovṛtam āsīc ca nāsīd bhānumataḥ prabhā
rarāsa pṛthivī caiva bhīṣme śāṃtanave hate
12 ayaṃ brahmavidāṃ śreṣṭho ayaṃ brahmavidāṃ gatiḥ
ity abhāṣanta bhūtāni śayānaṃ bharatarṣabham
13 ayaṃ pitaram ājñāya kāmārtaṃ śaṃtanuṃ purā
ūrdhvaretasam ātmānaṃ cakāra puruṣarṣabhaḥ
14 iti sma śaratalpasthaṃ bharatānām amadhyamam
ṛṣayaḥ paryadhāvanta sahitāḥ siddhacāraṇaiḥ
15 hate śāṃtanave bhīṣme bharatānāṃ pitāmahe
na kiṃ cit pratyapadyanta putrās tava ca bhārata
16 vivarṇavadanāś cāsan gataśrīkāś ca bhārata
atiṣṭhan vrīḍitāś caiva hriyā yuktā hy adhomukhāḥ
17 pāṇḍavāś ca jayaṃ labdhvā saṃgrāmaśirasi sthitāḥ
sarve dadhmur mahāśaṅkhān hemajālapariṣkṛtān
18 bhṛśaṃ tūryaninādeṣu vādyamāneṣu cānagha
apaśyāma raṇe rājan bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
ākrīḍamānaṃ kaunteyaṃ harṣeṇa mahatā yutam
19 nihatya samare śatrūn mahābalasamanvitān
saṃmohaś cāpi tumulaḥ kurūṇām abhavat tadā
20 karṇaduryodhanau cāpi niḥśvasetāṃ muhur muhuḥ
tathā nipatite bhīṣme kauravāṇāṃ dhuraṃdhare
hāhākāram abhūt sarvaṃ nirmaryādam avartata
21 dṛṣṭvā ca patitaṃ bhīṣmaṃ putro duḥśāsanas tava
uttamaṃ javam āsthāya droṇānīkaṃ samādravat
22 bhrātrā prasthāpito vīraḥ svenānīkena daṃśitaḥ
prayayau puruṣavyāghraḥ svasainyam abhicodayan
23 tam āyāntam abhiprekṣya kuravaḥ paryavārayan
duḥśāsanaṃ mahārāja kim ayaṃ vakṣyatīti vai
24 tato droṇāya nihataṃ bhīṣmam ācaṣṭa kauravaḥ
droṇas tad apriyaṃ śrutvā sahasā nyapatad rathāt
25 sa saṃjñām upalabhyātha bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
nivārayām āsa tadā svāny anīkāni māriṣa
26 vinivṛttān kurūn dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavāpi svasainikān
dūtaiḥ śīghrāśvasaṃyuktair avahāram akārayan
27 vinivṛtteṣu sainyeṣu pāramparyeṇa sarvaśaḥ
vimuktakavacāḥ sarve bhīṣmam īyur narādhipāḥ
28 vyupāramya tato yuddhād yodhāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
upatasthur mahātmānaṃ prajāpatim ivāmarāḥ
29 te tu bhīṣmaṃ samāsādya śayānaṃ bharatarṣabham
abhivādya vyatiṣṭhanta pāṇḍavāḥ kurubhiḥ saha
30 atha pāṇḍūn kurūṃś caiva praṇipatyāgrataḥ sthitān
abhyabhāṣata dharmātmā bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavas tadā
31 svāgataṃ vo mahābhāgāḥ svāgataṃ vo mahārathāḥ
tuṣyāmi darśanāc cāhaṃ yuṣmākam amaropamāḥ
32 abhinandya sa tān evaṃ śirasā lambatābravīt
śiro me lambate 'tyartham upadhānaṃ pradīyatām
33 tato nṛpāḥ samājahrus tanūni ca mṛdūni ca
upadhānāni mukhyāni naicchat tāni pitāmahaḥ
34 abravīc ca naravyāghraḥ prahasann iva tān nṛpān
naitāni vīraśayyāsu yuktarūpāṇi pārthivāḥ
35 tato vīkṣya naraśreṣṭham abhyabhāṣata pāṇḍavam
dhanaṃjayaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ sarvalokamahāratham
36 dhanaṃjaya mahābāho śiraso me 'sya lambataḥ
dīyatām upadhānaṃ vai yad yuktam iha manyase
37 sa saṃnyasya mahac cāpam abhivādya pitāmaham
netrābhyām aśrupūrṇābhyām idaṃ vacanam abravīt
38 ājñāpaya kuruśreṣṭha sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ vara
preṣyo 'haṃ tava durdharṣa kriyatāṃ kiṃ pitāmaha
39 tam abravīc chāṃtanavaḥ śiro me tāta lambate
upadhānaṃ kuruśreṣṭha phalgunopanayasva me
śayanasyānurūpaṃ hi śīghraṃ vīra prayaccha me
40 tvaṃ hi pārtha mahābāho śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām
kṣatradharmasya vettā ca buddhisattvaguṇānvitaḥ
41 phalgunas tu tathety uktvā vyavasāyapurojavaḥ
pragṛhyāmantrya gāṇḍīvaṃ śarāṃś ca nataparvaṇaḥ
42 anumānya mahātmānaṃ bharatānām amadhyamam
tribhis tīkṣṇair mahāvegair udagṛhṇāc chiraḥ śaraiḥ
43 abhiprāye tu vidite dharmātmā savyasācinā
atuṣyad bharataśreṣṭho bhīṣmo dharmārthatattvavit
44 upadhānena dattena pratyanandad dhanaṃjayam
kuntīputraṃ yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ suhṛdāṃ prītivardhanam
45 anurūpaṃ śayānasya pāṇḍavopahitaṃ tvayā
yady anyathā pravartethāḥ śapeyaṃ tvām ahaṃ ruṣā
46 evam etan mahābāho dharmeṣu pariniṣṭhitam
svaptavyaṃ kṣatriyeṇājau śaratalpagatena vai
47 evam uktvā tu bībhatsuṃ sarvāṃs tān abravīd vacaḥ
rājñaś ca rājaputrāṃś ca pāṇḍavenābhi saṃsthitān
48 śayeyam asyāṃ śayyāyāṃ yāvad āvartanaṃ raveḥ
ye tadā pārayiṣyanti te māṃ drakṣyanti vai nṛpāḥ
49 diśaṃ vaiśravaṇākrāntāṃ yadā gantā divākaraḥ
arciṣmān pratapaṁl lokān rathenottamatejasā
vimoṣkye 'haṃ tadā prāṇān suhṛdaḥ supriyān api
50 parikhā khanyatām atra mamāvasadane nṛpāḥ
upāsiṣye vivasvantam evaṃ śaraśatācitaḥ
upāramadhvaṃ saṃgrāmād vairāṇy utsṛjya pārthivāḥ
51 upātiṣṭhann atho vaidyāḥ śalyoddharaṇakovidāḥ
sarvopakaraṇair yuktāḥ kuśalās te suśikṣitāḥ
52 tān dṛṣṭvā jāhnavīputraḥ provāca vacanaṃ tadā
dattadeyā visṛjyantāṃ pūjayitvā cikitsakāḥ
53 evaṃgate na hīdānīṃ vaidyaiḥ kāryam ihāsti me
kṣatradharmapraśastāṃ hi prāpto 'smi paramāṃ gatim
54 naiṣa dharmo mahīpālāḥ śaratalpagatasya me
etair eva śaraiś cāhaṃ dagdhavyo 'nte narādhipāḥ
55 tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya putro duryodhanas tava
vaidyān visarjayām āsa pūjayitvā yathārhataḥ
56 tatas te vismayaṃ jagmur nānājanapadeśvarāḥ
sthitiṃ dharme parāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ
57 upadhānaṃ tato dattvā pitus tava janeśvara
sahitāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ sarve kuravaś ca mahārathāḥ
58 upagamya mahātmānaṃ śayānaṃ śayane śubhe
te 'bhivādya tato bhīṣmaṃ kṛtvā cābhipradakṣiṇam
59 vidhāya rakṣāṃ bhīṣmasya sarva eva samantataḥ
vīrāḥ svaśibirāṇy eva dhyāyantaḥ paramāturāḥ
niveśāyābhyupāgacchan sāyāhne rudhirokṣitāḥ
60 niviṣṭān pāṇḍavāṃś cāpi prīyamāṇān mahārathān
bhīṣmasya patanād dhṛṣṭān upagamya mahārathān
uvāca yādavaḥ kāle dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
61 diṣṭyā jayasi kauravya diṣṭyā bhīṣmo nipātitaḥ
avadhyo mānuṣair eṣa satyasaṃdho mahārathaḥ
62 atha vā daivataiḥ pārtha sarvaśastrāstrapāragaḥ
tvāṃ tu cakṣurhaṇaṃ prāpya dagdho ghoreṇa cakṣuṣā
63 evam ukto dharmarājaḥ pratyuvāca janārdanam
tava prasādād vijayaḥ krodhāt tava parājayaḥ
tvaṃ hi naḥ śaraṇaṃ kṛṣṇa bhaktānām abhayaṃkaraḥ
64 anāścaryo jayas teṣāṃ yeṣāṃ tvam asi keśava
raṣkitā samare nityaṃ nityaṃ cāpi hite rataḥ
sarvathā tvāṃ samāsādya nāścaryam iti me matiḥ
65 evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca smayamāno janārdanaḥ
tvayy evaitad yuktarūpaṃ vacanaṃ pārthivottama
katham āsaṃs tadā yodhā hīnā bhīṣmeṇa saṃjaya
balinā devakalpena gurvarthe brahmacāriṇā
2 tadaiva nihatān manye kurūn anyāṃś ca pārthivān
na prāharad yadā bhīṣmo ghṛṇitvād drupadātmaje
3 tato duḥkhataraṃ manye kim anyat prabhaviṣyati
yad adya pitaraṃ śrutvā nihataṃ mama durmateḥ
4 aśmasāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ mama saṃjaya
śrutvā vinihataṃ bhīṣmaṃ śatadhā yan na dīryate
5 punaḥ punar na mṛṣyāmi hataṃ devavrataṃ raṇe
na hato jāmadagnyena divyair astraiḥ sma yaḥ purā
6 yad adya nihatenājau bhīṣmeṇa jayam icchatā
ceṣṭitaṃ narasiṃhena tan me kathaya saṃjaya
7 saṃjaya uvāca
sāyāhne nyapatad bhūmau dhārtarāṣṭrān viṣādayan
pāñcālānāṃ dadad dharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
8 sa śete śaratalpastho medinīm aspṛśaṃs tadā
bhīṣmo rathāt prapatitaḥ pracyuto dharaṇītale
9 hāheti tumulaḥ śabdo bhūtānāṃ samapadyata
sīmāvṛkṣe nipatite kurūṇāṃ samitikṣaye
10 ubhayoḥ senayo rājan kṣatriyān bhayam āviśat
bhīṣmaṃ śaṃtanavaṃ dṛṣṭvā viśīrṇakavacadhvajam
kuravaḥ paryavartanta pāṇḍavāś ca viśāṃ pate
11 khaṃ tamovṛtam āsīc ca nāsīd bhānumataḥ prabhā
rarāsa pṛthivī caiva bhīṣme śāṃtanave hate
12 ayaṃ brahmavidāṃ śreṣṭho ayaṃ brahmavidāṃ gatiḥ
ity abhāṣanta bhūtāni śayānaṃ bharatarṣabham
13 ayaṃ pitaram ājñāya kāmārtaṃ śaṃtanuṃ purā
ūrdhvaretasam ātmānaṃ cakāra puruṣarṣabhaḥ
14 iti sma śaratalpasthaṃ bharatānām amadhyamam
ṛṣayaḥ paryadhāvanta sahitāḥ siddhacāraṇaiḥ
15 hate śāṃtanave bhīṣme bharatānāṃ pitāmahe
na kiṃ cit pratyapadyanta putrās tava ca bhārata
16 vivarṇavadanāś cāsan gataśrīkāś ca bhārata
atiṣṭhan vrīḍitāś caiva hriyā yuktā hy adhomukhāḥ
17 pāṇḍavāś ca jayaṃ labdhvā saṃgrāmaśirasi sthitāḥ
sarve dadhmur mahāśaṅkhān hemajālapariṣkṛtān
18 bhṛśaṃ tūryaninādeṣu vādyamāneṣu cānagha
apaśyāma raṇe rājan bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
ākrīḍamānaṃ kaunteyaṃ harṣeṇa mahatā yutam
19 nihatya samare śatrūn mahābalasamanvitān
saṃmohaś cāpi tumulaḥ kurūṇām abhavat tadā
20 karṇaduryodhanau cāpi niḥśvasetāṃ muhur muhuḥ
tathā nipatite bhīṣme kauravāṇāṃ dhuraṃdhare
hāhākāram abhūt sarvaṃ nirmaryādam avartata
21 dṛṣṭvā ca patitaṃ bhīṣmaṃ putro duḥśāsanas tava
uttamaṃ javam āsthāya droṇānīkaṃ samādravat
22 bhrātrā prasthāpito vīraḥ svenānīkena daṃśitaḥ
prayayau puruṣavyāghraḥ svasainyam abhicodayan
23 tam āyāntam abhiprekṣya kuravaḥ paryavārayan
duḥśāsanaṃ mahārāja kim ayaṃ vakṣyatīti vai
24 tato droṇāya nihataṃ bhīṣmam ācaṣṭa kauravaḥ
droṇas tad apriyaṃ śrutvā sahasā nyapatad rathāt
25 sa saṃjñām upalabhyātha bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
nivārayām āsa tadā svāny anīkāni māriṣa
26 vinivṛttān kurūn dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavāpi svasainikān
dūtaiḥ śīghrāśvasaṃyuktair avahāram akārayan
27 vinivṛtteṣu sainyeṣu pāramparyeṇa sarvaśaḥ
vimuktakavacāḥ sarve bhīṣmam īyur narādhipāḥ
28 vyupāramya tato yuddhād yodhāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
upatasthur mahātmānaṃ prajāpatim ivāmarāḥ
29 te tu bhīṣmaṃ samāsādya śayānaṃ bharatarṣabham
abhivādya vyatiṣṭhanta pāṇḍavāḥ kurubhiḥ saha
30 atha pāṇḍūn kurūṃś caiva praṇipatyāgrataḥ sthitān
abhyabhāṣata dharmātmā bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavas tadā
31 svāgataṃ vo mahābhāgāḥ svāgataṃ vo mahārathāḥ
tuṣyāmi darśanāc cāhaṃ yuṣmākam amaropamāḥ
32 abhinandya sa tān evaṃ śirasā lambatābravīt
śiro me lambate 'tyartham upadhānaṃ pradīyatām
33 tato nṛpāḥ samājahrus tanūni ca mṛdūni ca
upadhānāni mukhyāni naicchat tāni pitāmahaḥ
34 abravīc ca naravyāghraḥ prahasann iva tān nṛpān
naitāni vīraśayyāsu yuktarūpāṇi pārthivāḥ
35 tato vīkṣya naraśreṣṭham abhyabhāṣata pāṇḍavam
dhanaṃjayaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ sarvalokamahāratham
36 dhanaṃjaya mahābāho śiraso me 'sya lambataḥ
dīyatām upadhānaṃ vai yad yuktam iha manyase
37 sa saṃnyasya mahac cāpam abhivādya pitāmaham
netrābhyām aśrupūrṇābhyām idaṃ vacanam abravīt
38 ājñāpaya kuruśreṣṭha sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ vara
preṣyo 'haṃ tava durdharṣa kriyatāṃ kiṃ pitāmaha
39 tam abravīc chāṃtanavaḥ śiro me tāta lambate
upadhānaṃ kuruśreṣṭha phalgunopanayasva me
śayanasyānurūpaṃ hi śīghraṃ vīra prayaccha me
40 tvaṃ hi pārtha mahābāho śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām
kṣatradharmasya vettā ca buddhisattvaguṇānvitaḥ
41 phalgunas tu tathety uktvā vyavasāyapurojavaḥ
pragṛhyāmantrya gāṇḍīvaṃ śarāṃś ca nataparvaṇaḥ
42 anumānya mahātmānaṃ bharatānām amadhyamam
tribhis tīkṣṇair mahāvegair udagṛhṇāc chiraḥ śaraiḥ
43 abhiprāye tu vidite dharmātmā savyasācinā
atuṣyad bharataśreṣṭho bhīṣmo dharmārthatattvavit
44 upadhānena dattena pratyanandad dhanaṃjayam
kuntīputraṃ yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ suhṛdāṃ prītivardhanam
45 anurūpaṃ śayānasya pāṇḍavopahitaṃ tvayā
yady anyathā pravartethāḥ śapeyaṃ tvām ahaṃ ruṣā
46 evam etan mahābāho dharmeṣu pariniṣṭhitam
svaptavyaṃ kṣatriyeṇājau śaratalpagatena vai
47 evam uktvā tu bībhatsuṃ sarvāṃs tān abravīd vacaḥ
rājñaś ca rājaputrāṃś ca pāṇḍavenābhi saṃsthitān
48 śayeyam asyāṃ śayyāyāṃ yāvad āvartanaṃ raveḥ
ye tadā pārayiṣyanti te māṃ drakṣyanti vai nṛpāḥ
49 diśaṃ vaiśravaṇākrāntāṃ yadā gantā divākaraḥ
arciṣmān pratapaṁl lokān rathenottamatejasā
vimoṣkye 'haṃ tadā prāṇān suhṛdaḥ supriyān api
50 parikhā khanyatām atra mamāvasadane nṛpāḥ
upāsiṣye vivasvantam evaṃ śaraśatācitaḥ
upāramadhvaṃ saṃgrāmād vairāṇy utsṛjya pārthivāḥ
51 upātiṣṭhann atho vaidyāḥ śalyoddharaṇakovidāḥ
sarvopakaraṇair yuktāḥ kuśalās te suśikṣitāḥ
52 tān dṛṣṭvā jāhnavīputraḥ provāca vacanaṃ tadā
dattadeyā visṛjyantāṃ pūjayitvā cikitsakāḥ
53 evaṃgate na hīdānīṃ vaidyaiḥ kāryam ihāsti me
kṣatradharmapraśastāṃ hi prāpto 'smi paramāṃ gatim
54 naiṣa dharmo mahīpālāḥ śaratalpagatasya me
etair eva śaraiś cāhaṃ dagdhavyo 'nte narādhipāḥ
55 tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya putro duryodhanas tava
vaidyān visarjayām āsa pūjayitvā yathārhataḥ
56 tatas te vismayaṃ jagmur nānājanapadeśvarāḥ
sthitiṃ dharme parāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ
57 upadhānaṃ tato dattvā pitus tava janeśvara
sahitāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ sarve kuravaś ca mahārathāḥ
58 upagamya mahātmānaṃ śayānaṃ śayane śubhe
te 'bhivādya tato bhīṣmaṃ kṛtvā cābhipradakṣiṇam
59 vidhāya rakṣāṃ bhīṣmasya sarva eva samantataḥ
vīrāḥ svaśibirāṇy eva dhyāyantaḥ paramāturāḥ
niveśāyābhyupāgacchan sāyāhne rudhirokṣitāḥ
60 niviṣṭān pāṇḍavāṃś cāpi prīyamāṇān mahārathān
bhīṣmasya patanād dhṛṣṭān upagamya mahārathān
uvāca yādavaḥ kāle dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
61 diṣṭyā jayasi kauravya diṣṭyā bhīṣmo nipātitaḥ
avadhyo mānuṣair eṣa satyasaṃdho mahārathaḥ
62 atha vā daivataiḥ pārtha sarvaśastrāstrapāragaḥ
tvāṃ tu cakṣurhaṇaṃ prāpya dagdho ghoreṇa cakṣuṣā
63 evam ukto dharmarājaḥ pratyuvāca janārdanam
tava prasādād vijayaḥ krodhāt tava parājayaḥ
tvaṃ hi naḥ śaraṇaṃ kṛṣṇa bhaktānām abhayaṃkaraḥ
64 anāścaryo jayas teṣāṃ yeṣāṃ tvam asi keśava
raṣkitā samare nityaṃ nityaṃ cāpi hite rataḥ
sarvathā tvāṃ samāsādya nāścaryam iti me matiḥ
65 evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca smayamāno janārdanaḥ
tvayy evaitad yuktarūpaṃ vacanaṃ pārthivottama
SECTION CXV
Sanjaya said, "Arjuna covered with his straight shafts the mighty car-warrior Salya who was struggling vigorously in battle. And he pierced Susarman and Kripa with three arrows each. And in that battle the Atiratha Arjuna, afflicting thy host, struck the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, and Jayadratha the king of the Sindhus, and Chitrasena, and Vikarna, and Kritavarman, and Durmarshana, O monarch, and those two mighty car-warriors, viz., the princes of Avanti, each with three arrows winged with the feathers of the Kanka and the peacock. Jayadratha, staying on the car of Chitrasena, pierced Partha (in return), O Bharata, and then, without loss of time, Bhima also, with his shafts. And Salya, and that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Kripa, both pierced Jishnu, O monarch, with diverse arrows capable of penetrating into the very vitals. Thy sons headed by Chitrasena, O king, each quickly pierced Arjuna and Bhimasena in that battle, O sire, with five sharp shafts. Those two foremost of car-warriors however, viz., those sons of Kunti, those bulls of Bharata's race, began in that battle to afflict the mighty host of the Trigartas. Susarman (in return) pierced Partha with nine swift arrows, and uttered a loud shout frightening the vast host (of the Pandavas). And other heroic car-warriors pierced Bhimasena and Dhananjaya with many straight-going arrows of keen points and golden wings. Amid these car-warriors, however, those two bulls of Bharata's race, viz., the two sons of Kunti, those great car-warriors, looked exceedingly beautiful. And they seemed to sport amid them like two furious lions amid a herd of kine. Cutting off in various ways the bows and arrows of many brave warriors in that battle, those two heroes felled the heads of combatants by hundreds upon hundreds. Innumerable cars were broken, and steeds by hundreds were slain, and many elephants, along with their riders, were laid low on the field in that dreadful battle. And car-warriors and horsemen and elephant-riders in large numbers, O king, deprived of life were seen moving in convulsions all over the field. And the earth was covered with slain elephants and foot-soldiers in large bands, and steeds deprived of life, and cars broken in diverse ways. And the prowess we beheld there of Partha was highly wonderful, in as much as holding in check all those heroes, that mighty warrior caused a great slaughter. Kripa, and Kritavarman, and Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sindhus, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti,--these did not forsake the battle. Then that great bowman Bhima, and that mighty car-warrior Arjuna, began in that battle to rout the fierce host of the Kauravas. The kings (in that army) quickly sped at Dhananjaya's car myriads upon myriads and millions upon millions of arrows furnished with peacock feathers. Partha, however, checking those arrows by means of his own arrowy showers, began to send those mighty car-warriors to Yama's abode. The great car-warrior Salya then, excited with wrath and as if sporting in that battle, struck Parthap. 288
in the chest with some straight shafts of broad heads. Partha then, cutting off by means of five shafts Salya's bow and leathern fence, pierced the latter deeply in the very vitals with many arrows of keen points. Taking up another bow capable of bearing a great strain, the ruler of the Madras then furiously attacked Jishnu with three arrows, O king, and Vasudeva with five. And he struck Bhimasena in the arms and the chest with nine arrows. Then Drona, O king, and that mighty car-warrior, viz., the ruler of the Magadhas, commanded by Duryodhana, both came to that spot where those two mighty car-warriors, viz., Partha and Bhimasena, were slaughtering the mighty host of the Kuru king. Jayatsena (the king of the Magadhas) then, O bull of Bharata's race pierced Bhima, that wielder of awful weapons in battle, with eight sharp arrows. Bhima, however, pierced him (in return) with ten arrows, and once more with five. And with another broad-headed shaft he felled Jayatsena's charioteer from his niche in the car. The steeds (of his car), no longer restrained, ran wildly in all directions and thus carried away the ruler of the Magadhas (from battle) in the sight of all the troops. Meanwhile Drona, noticing an opening, pierced Bhimasena, O bull of Bharata's race, with eight keen shafts furnished with heads shaped after the frog's mouth. Bhima, however, ever delighting in battle, pierced the preceptor, who was worthy of paternal reverence, with five broad-headed arrows, and then, O Bharata, with sixty. Arjuna, again piercing Susarman with a large number of arrows made (wholly) of iron, destroyed his troops like the tempest destroying mighty masses of clouds. Then Bhishma, and the king (viz., Duryodhana), and Vrihadvala, the ruler of the Kosalas, excited with rage, advanced upon Bhimasena and Dhananjaya. At this, the heroic warriors of the Pandava army, and Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, rushed in battle against Bhishma who was advancing like Death himself with wide-open mouth. Sikhandin also, sighting the grandsire of the Bharatas, was filled with joy and rushed at him, abandoning all fear of the mighty car-warrior. Then all the Parthas with Yudhishthira at their head, placing Sikhandin in the van, and uniting with the Srinjayas, fought with Bhishma in battle. And similarly all the warriors of thy army, placing Bhishma of regulated vows in their van, fought in battle with all the Parthas headed by Sikhandin. The battle then that commenced there between the Kauravas and the sons of Pandu for the sake of Bhishma's victory or victory over Bhishma, was exceedingly terrible. Indeed, in that game of battle, played for the sake of victory or the reverse, Bhishma, O monarch, became the stake on which the victory of thy army depended. Then Dhrishtadyumna, O king, commanded all the troops, saying, 'Rush against the son of Ganga. Do not fear, ye best of car-warriors. Hearing those words of their generalissimo, the army of the Pandavas quickly advanced against Bhishma, ready to lay down their lives in that dreadful battle. Bhishma then, that foremost of car-warriors, received that large host rushing towards him, like the continent receiving the surging sea."
Book 6
Chapter 116
1 saṃjaya uvāca
vyuṣṭāyāṃ tu mahārāja rajanyāṃ sarvapārthivāḥ
pāṇḍavā dhārtarāṣṭrāś ca abhijagmuḥ pitāmaham
2 taṃ vīraśayane vīraṃ śayānaṃ kurusattamam
abhivādyopatasthur vai kṣatriyāḥ kṣatriyarṣabham
3 kanyāś candanacūrṇaiś ca lājair mālyaiś ca sarvaśaḥ
striyo bālās tathā vṛddhāḥ prekṣakāś ca pṛthagjanāḥ
samabhyayuḥ śāṃtanavaṃ bhūtānīva tamonudam
4 tūryāṇi gaṇikā vārās tathaiva naṭanartakāḥ
upānṛtyañ jaguś caiva vṛddhaṃ kurupitāmaham
5 upāramya ca yuddhebhyaḥ saṃnāhān vipramucya ca
āyudhāni ca nikṣipya sahitāḥ kurupāṇḍavāḥ
6 anvāsata durādharṣaṃ devavratam ariṃdamam
anyonyaṃ prītimantas te yathāpūrvaṃ yathāvayaḥ
7 sā pārthivaśatākīrṇā samitir bhīṣmaśobhitā
śuśubhe bhāratī dīptā divīvādityamaṇḍalam
8 vibabhau ca nṛpāṇāṃ sā pitāmaham upāsatām
devānām iva deveśaṃ pitāmaham upāsatām
9 bhīṣmas tu vedanāṃ dhairyān nigṛhya bharatarṣabha
abhitaptaḥ śaraiś caiva nātihṛṣṭamanābravīt
10 śarābhitaptakāyo 'haṃ śarasaṃtāpamūrchitaḥ
pānīyam abhikāṅkṣe 'haṃ rājñas tān pratyabhāṣata
11 tatas te kṣatriyā rājan samājahruḥ samantataḥ
bhakṣyān uccāvacāṃs tatra vārikumbhāṃś ca śītalān
12 upanītaṃ ca tad dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo 'bravīt
nādya tāta mayā śakyaṃ bhogān kāṃś cana mānuṣān
13 upabhoktuṃ manuṣyebhyaḥ śaraśayyāgate hy aham
pratīkṣamāṇas tiṣṭhāmi nivṛttiṃ śaśisūryayoḥ
14 evam uktvā śāṃtanavo dīnavāk sarvapārthivān
dhanaṃjayaṃ mahābāhum abhyabhāṣata bhārata
15 athopetya mahābāhur abhivādya pitāmaham
atiṣṭhat prāñjaliḥ prahvaḥ kiṃ karomīti cābravīt
16 taṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavaṃ rājann abhivādyāgrataḥ sthitam
abhyabhāṣata dharmātmā bhīṣmaḥ prīto dhanaṃjayam
17 dahyate 'daḥ śarīraṃ me saṃsyūto 'smi maheṣubhiḥ
marmāṇi paridūyante vadanaṃ mama śuṣyati
18 hlādanārthaṃ śarīrasya prayacchāpo mamārjuna
tvaṃ hi śakto maheṣvāsa dātum ambho yathāvidhi
19 arjunas tu tathety uktvā ratham āruhya vīryavān
adhijyaṃ balavat kṛtvā gāṇḍīvaṃ vyākṣipad dhanuḥ
20 tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ
vitresuḥ sarvabhūtāni śrutvā sarve ca pārthivāḥ
21 tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā rathena rathināṃ varaḥ
śayānaṃ bharataśreṣṭhaṃ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam
22 saṃdhāya ca śaraṃ dīptam abhimantrya mahāyaśāḥ
parjanyāstreṇa saṃyojya sarvalokasya paśyataḥ
avidhyat pṛthivīṃ pārthaḥ pārśve bhīṣmasya dakṣiṇe
23 utpapāta tato dhārā vimalā vāriṇaḥ śivā
śītasyāmṛtakalpasya divyagandharasasya ca
24 atarpayat tataḥ pārthaḥ śītayā vāridhārayā
bhīṣmaṃ kurūṇām ṛṣabhaṃ divyakarmaparākramaḥ
25 karmaṇā tena pārthasya śakraṣyeva vikurvataḥ
vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmus tatas te vasudhādhipāḥ
26 tat karma prekṣya bībhatsor atimānuṣam adbhutam
saṃprāvepanta kuravo gāvaḥ śītārditā iva
27 vismayāc cottarīyāṇi vyāvidhyan sarvato nṛpāḥ
śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣais tumulaṃ sarvato 'bhavat
28 tṛptaṃ śāṃtanavaś cāpi rājan bībhatsum abravīt
sarvapārthivavīrāṇāṃ saṃnidhau pūjayann iva
29 naitac citraṃ mahābāho tvayi kauravanandana
kathito nāradenāsi pūrvarṣir amitadyutiḥ
30 vāsudevasahāyas tvaṃ mahat karma kariṣyasi
yan notsahati devendraḥ saha devair api dhruvam
31 vidus tvāṃ nidhanaṃ pārtha sarvakṣatrasya tadvidaḥ
dhanurdharāṇām ekas tvaṃ pṛthivyāṃ pravaro nṛṣu
32 manuṣyā jagati śreṣṭhāḥ pakṣiṇāṃ garuḍo varaḥ
sarasāṃ sāgaraḥ śreṣṭho gaur variṣṭhā catuṣpadām
33 ādityas tejasāṃ śreṣṭho girīṇāṃ himavān varaḥ
jātīnāṃ brāhmaṇaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhas tvam asi dhanvinām
34 na vai śrutaṃ dhārtarāṣṭreṇa vākyaṃ; saṃbodhyamānaṃ vidureṇa caiva
droṇena rāmeṇa janārdanena; muhur muhuḥ saṃjayenāpi coktam
35 parītabuddhir hi visaṃjñakalpo; duryodhano nābhyanandad vaco me
sa śeṣyate vai nihataś cirāya; śāstātigo bhīmabalābhibhūtaḥ
36 tataḥ śrutvā tad vacaḥ kauravendro; duryodhano dīnamanā babhūva
tam abravīc chāṃtanavo 'bhivīkṣya; nibodha rājan bhava vītamanyuḥ
37 dṛṣṭaṃ duryodhanedaṃ te yathā pārthena dhīmatā
jalasya dhārā janitā śītasyāmṛtagandhinaḥ
etasya kartā loke 'smin nānyaḥ kaś cana vidyate
38 āgneyaṃ vāruṇaṃ saumyaṃ vāyavyam atha vaiṣṇavam
aindraṃ pāśupataṃ brāhmaṃ pārameṣṭhyaṃ prajāpateḥ
dhātus tvaṣṭuś ca savitur divyāny astrāṇi sarvaśaḥ
39 sarvasmin mānuṣe loke vetty eko hi dhanaṃjayaḥ
kṛṣṇo vā devakīputro nānyo vai veda kaś cana
na śakyāḥ pāṇḍavās tāta yuddhe jetuṃ kathaṃ cana
40 amānuṣāṇi karmāṇi yasyaitāni mahātmanaḥ
tena sattvavatā saṃkhye śūreṇāhavaśobhinā
kṛtinā samare rājan saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
41 yāvat kṛṣṇo mahābāhuḥ svādhīnaḥ kurusaṃsadi
tāvat pārthena śūreṇa saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
42 yāvac camūṃ na te śeṣāṃ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
nāśayaty arjunas tāvat saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
43 yāvat tiṣṭhanti samare hataśeṣāḥ sahodarāḥ
nṛpāś ca bahavo rājaṃs tāvat saṃdhiḥ prayujyatām
44 na nirdahati te yāvat krodhadīptekṣaṇaś camūm
yudhiṣṭhiro hi tāvad vai saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
45 nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
yāvac camūṃ mahārāja nāśayanti na sarvaśaḥ
tāvat te pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ saubhrātraṃ tāta rocatām
46 yuddhaṃ madantam evāstu tāta saṃśāmya pāṇḍavaiḥ
etat te rocatāṃ vākyaṃ yad ukto 'si mayānagha
etat kṣemam ahaṃ manye tava caiva kulasya ca
47 tyaktvā manyum upaśāmyasva pārthaiḥ; paryāptam etad yat kṛtaṃ phalgunena
bhīṣmasyāntād astu vaḥ sauhṛdaṃ vā; saṃpraśleṣaḥ sādhu rājan prasīda
48 rājyasyārdhaṃ dīyatāṃ pāṇḍavānām; indraprasthaṃ dharmarājo 'nuśāstu
mā mitradhruk pārthivānāṃ jaghanyaḥ; pāpāṃ kīrtiṃ prāpsyase kauravendra
49 mamāvasānāc chāntir astu prajānāṃ; saṃgacchantāṃ pārthivāḥ prītimantaḥ
pitā putraṃ mātulaṃ bhāgineyo; bhrātā caiva bhrātaraṃ praitu rājan
50 na ced evaṃ prāptakālaṃ vaco me; mohāviṣṭaḥ pratipatsyasy abuddhyā
bhīṣmasyāntād etadantāḥ stha sarve; satyām etāṃ bhāratīm īrayāmi
51 etad vākyaṃ sauhṛdād āpageyo; madhye rājñāṃ bhārataṃ śrāvayitvā
tūṣṇīm āsīc chalyasaṃtaptamarmā; yatvātmānaṃ vedanāṃ saṃnigṛhya
vyuṣṭāyāṃ tu mahārāja rajanyāṃ sarvapārthivāḥ
pāṇḍavā dhārtarāṣṭrāś ca abhijagmuḥ pitāmaham
2 taṃ vīraśayane vīraṃ śayānaṃ kurusattamam
abhivādyopatasthur vai kṣatriyāḥ kṣatriyarṣabham
3 kanyāś candanacūrṇaiś ca lājair mālyaiś ca sarvaśaḥ
striyo bālās tathā vṛddhāḥ prekṣakāś ca pṛthagjanāḥ
samabhyayuḥ śāṃtanavaṃ bhūtānīva tamonudam
4 tūryāṇi gaṇikā vārās tathaiva naṭanartakāḥ
upānṛtyañ jaguś caiva vṛddhaṃ kurupitāmaham
5 upāramya ca yuddhebhyaḥ saṃnāhān vipramucya ca
āyudhāni ca nikṣipya sahitāḥ kurupāṇḍavāḥ
6 anvāsata durādharṣaṃ devavratam ariṃdamam
anyonyaṃ prītimantas te yathāpūrvaṃ yathāvayaḥ
7 sā pārthivaśatākīrṇā samitir bhīṣmaśobhitā
śuśubhe bhāratī dīptā divīvādityamaṇḍalam
8 vibabhau ca nṛpāṇāṃ sā pitāmaham upāsatām
devānām iva deveśaṃ pitāmaham upāsatām
9 bhīṣmas tu vedanāṃ dhairyān nigṛhya bharatarṣabha
abhitaptaḥ śaraiś caiva nātihṛṣṭamanābravīt
10 śarābhitaptakāyo 'haṃ śarasaṃtāpamūrchitaḥ
pānīyam abhikāṅkṣe 'haṃ rājñas tān pratyabhāṣata
11 tatas te kṣatriyā rājan samājahruḥ samantataḥ
bhakṣyān uccāvacāṃs tatra vārikumbhāṃś ca śītalān
12 upanītaṃ ca tad dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo 'bravīt
nādya tāta mayā śakyaṃ bhogān kāṃś cana mānuṣān
13 upabhoktuṃ manuṣyebhyaḥ śaraśayyāgate hy aham
pratīkṣamāṇas tiṣṭhāmi nivṛttiṃ śaśisūryayoḥ
14 evam uktvā śāṃtanavo dīnavāk sarvapārthivān
dhanaṃjayaṃ mahābāhum abhyabhāṣata bhārata
15 athopetya mahābāhur abhivādya pitāmaham
atiṣṭhat prāñjaliḥ prahvaḥ kiṃ karomīti cābravīt
16 taṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavaṃ rājann abhivādyāgrataḥ sthitam
abhyabhāṣata dharmātmā bhīṣmaḥ prīto dhanaṃjayam
17 dahyate 'daḥ śarīraṃ me saṃsyūto 'smi maheṣubhiḥ
marmāṇi paridūyante vadanaṃ mama śuṣyati
18 hlādanārthaṃ śarīrasya prayacchāpo mamārjuna
tvaṃ hi śakto maheṣvāsa dātum ambho yathāvidhi
19 arjunas tu tathety uktvā ratham āruhya vīryavān
adhijyaṃ balavat kṛtvā gāṇḍīvaṃ vyākṣipad dhanuḥ
20 tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ
vitresuḥ sarvabhūtāni śrutvā sarve ca pārthivāḥ
21 tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā rathena rathināṃ varaḥ
śayānaṃ bharataśreṣṭhaṃ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam
22 saṃdhāya ca śaraṃ dīptam abhimantrya mahāyaśāḥ
parjanyāstreṇa saṃyojya sarvalokasya paśyataḥ
avidhyat pṛthivīṃ pārthaḥ pārśve bhīṣmasya dakṣiṇe
23 utpapāta tato dhārā vimalā vāriṇaḥ śivā
śītasyāmṛtakalpasya divyagandharasasya ca
24 atarpayat tataḥ pārthaḥ śītayā vāridhārayā
bhīṣmaṃ kurūṇām ṛṣabhaṃ divyakarmaparākramaḥ
25 karmaṇā tena pārthasya śakraṣyeva vikurvataḥ
vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmus tatas te vasudhādhipāḥ
26 tat karma prekṣya bībhatsor atimānuṣam adbhutam
saṃprāvepanta kuravo gāvaḥ śītārditā iva
27 vismayāc cottarīyāṇi vyāvidhyan sarvato nṛpāḥ
śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣais tumulaṃ sarvato 'bhavat
28 tṛptaṃ śāṃtanavaś cāpi rājan bībhatsum abravīt
sarvapārthivavīrāṇāṃ saṃnidhau pūjayann iva
29 naitac citraṃ mahābāho tvayi kauravanandana
kathito nāradenāsi pūrvarṣir amitadyutiḥ
30 vāsudevasahāyas tvaṃ mahat karma kariṣyasi
yan notsahati devendraḥ saha devair api dhruvam
31 vidus tvāṃ nidhanaṃ pārtha sarvakṣatrasya tadvidaḥ
dhanurdharāṇām ekas tvaṃ pṛthivyāṃ pravaro nṛṣu
32 manuṣyā jagati śreṣṭhāḥ pakṣiṇāṃ garuḍo varaḥ
sarasāṃ sāgaraḥ śreṣṭho gaur variṣṭhā catuṣpadām
33 ādityas tejasāṃ śreṣṭho girīṇāṃ himavān varaḥ
jātīnāṃ brāhmaṇaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhas tvam asi dhanvinām
34 na vai śrutaṃ dhārtarāṣṭreṇa vākyaṃ; saṃbodhyamānaṃ vidureṇa caiva
droṇena rāmeṇa janārdanena; muhur muhuḥ saṃjayenāpi coktam
35 parītabuddhir hi visaṃjñakalpo; duryodhano nābhyanandad vaco me
sa śeṣyate vai nihataś cirāya; śāstātigo bhīmabalābhibhūtaḥ
36 tataḥ śrutvā tad vacaḥ kauravendro; duryodhano dīnamanā babhūva
tam abravīc chāṃtanavo 'bhivīkṣya; nibodha rājan bhava vītamanyuḥ
37 dṛṣṭaṃ duryodhanedaṃ te yathā pārthena dhīmatā
jalasya dhārā janitā śītasyāmṛtagandhinaḥ
etasya kartā loke 'smin nānyaḥ kaś cana vidyate
38 āgneyaṃ vāruṇaṃ saumyaṃ vāyavyam atha vaiṣṇavam
aindraṃ pāśupataṃ brāhmaṃ pārameṣṭhyaṃ prajāpateḥ
dhātus tvaṣṭuś ca savitur divyāny astrāṇi sarvaśaḥ
39 sarvasmin mānuṣe loke vetty eko hi dhanaṃjayaḥ
kṛṣṇo vā devakīputro nānyo vai veda kaś cana
na śakyāḥ pāṇḍavās tāta yuddhe jetuṃ kathaṃ cana
40 amānuṣāṇi karmāṇi yasyaitāni mahātmanaḥ
tena sattvavatā saṃkhye śūreṇāhavaśobhinā
kṛtinā samare rājan saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
41 yāvat kṛṣṇo mahābāhuḥ svādhīnaḥ kurusaṃsadi
tāvat pārthena śūreṇa saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
42 yāvac camūṃ na te śeṣāṃ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
nāśayaty arjunas tāvat saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
43 yāvat tiṣṭhanti samare hataśeṣāḥ sahodarāḥ
nṛpāś ca bahavo rājaṃs tāvat saṃdhiḥ prayujyatām
44 na nirdahati te yāvat krodhadīptekṣaṇaś camūm
yudhiṣṭhiro hi tāvad vai saṃdhis te tāta yujyatām
45 nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
yāvac camūṃ mahārāja nāśayanti na sarvaśaḥ
tāvat te pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ saubhrātraṃ tāta rocatām
46 yuddhaṃ madantam evāstu tāta saṃśāmya pāṇḍavaiḥ
etat te rocatāṃ vākyaṃ yad ukto 'si mayānagha
etat kṣemam ahaṃ manye tava caiva kulasya ca
47 tyaktvā manyum upaśāmyasva pārthaiḥ; paryāptam etad yat kṛtaṃ phalgunena
bhīṣmasyāntād astu vaḥ sauhṛdaṃ vā; saṃpraśleṣaḥ sādhu rājan prasīda
48 rājyasyārdhaṃ dīyatāṃ pāṇḍavānām; indraprasthaṃ dharmarājo 'nuśāstu
mā mitradhruk pārthivānāṃ jaghanyaḥ; pāpāṃ kīrtiṃ prāpsyase kauravendra
49 mamāvasānāc chāntir astu prajānāṃ; saṃgacchantāṃ pārthivāḥ prītimantaḥ
pitā putraṃ mātulaṃ bhāgineyo; bhrātā caiva bhrātaraṃ praitu rājan
50 na ced evaṃ prāptakālaṃ vaco me; mohāviṣṭaḥ pratipatsyasy abuddhyā
bhīṣmasyāntād etadantāḥ stha sarve; satyām etāṃ bhāratīm īrayāmi
51 etad vākyaṃ sauhṛdād āpageyo; madhye rājñāṃ bhārataṃ śrāvayitvā
tūṣṇīm āsīc chalyasaṃtaptamarmā; yatvātmānaṃ vedanāṃ saṃnigṛhya
SECTION CXVI
Dhritarashtra said, "How, O Sanjaya, did Santanu's son Bhishma of mighty energy fight on the tenth day of battle, with the Pandavas and the Srinjayas? How also did the Kurus resist the Pandavas in battle? Describe to me the great battle fought by Bhishma, that ornament of battle."Sanjaya said, "I will presently describe to thee, O Bharata, how the Kauravas fought with the Pandavas, and how that battle took place. Day after day many mighty car-warriors of thy army, excited with wrath, were despatched to the other world by the diadem-decked (Arjuna) with his great weapons. The ever-victorious Kuru warrior Bhishma also, agreeably to his vow, always caused a great carnage among the Partha army. O chastiser of foes, beholding Bhishma, fighting at the head of the Kurus, and Arjuna also fighting at the head of the Panchalas, we could not say truly on which side the victory would declare itself. On the tenth day of battle, when Bhishma and Arjuna encountered each other, awful was the carnage that took place. On that day, O scorcher of foes, Santanu's son, Bhishma, conversant with high and mighty weapons, repeatedly slew thousands upon thousands of warriors. Many, O Bharata, whose names and families were not known, but who, endued with great bravery, were unretreating from battle, were on that day slain by Bhishma. Scorching the Pandava army for ten days, Bhishma of virtuous soul, gave up all desire of protecting his life. Wishing his own slaughter presently at the head of his troops,--No more shall I slay large numbers of foremost of warriors.--thought thy mighty-armed sire Devavrata. And seeing Yudhishthira near him, O king, he addressed him, saying, 'O Yudhishthira, O thou of great wisdom, O thou that art acquainted with every branch of learning, listen to these righteous and heaven-leading words, O sire, that I say. O Bharata, I no longer desire to protect, O sire, this body of mine. I have passed much time in slaying large numbers of men in battle. If thou wishest to do what is agreeable to me, strive to slay me, placing Partha with the Panchalas and the Srinjayas at thy van'. Ascertaining this to be his intention, king Yudhishthira of true sight proceeded to battle with the Srinjayas (for his support). Then Dhrishtadyumna, O king, and Pandu's son Yudhishthira, having heard those words of Bhishma urged their array on. And Yudhishthira said, 'Advance! Fight! Vanquish Bhishma in battle. Ye all will be protected by that conqueror of foes, viz., Jishnu of unbaffled aim. And this great bowman, this generalissimo (of our forces), viz., the son of Prishata, as also Bhima, will assuredly protect you. Ye Srinjayas, entertain no fear today of Bhishma in battle. Without doubt, we will vanquish Bhishma today, placing Sikhandin in our van'. Having, on the tenth day of battle, made such a vow, the Pandavas, resolved to (conquer or) go to heaven, advanced, blinded by rage, with Sikhandin and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu to the fore. And
p. 290
they made the most vigorous efforts for the overthrow of Bhishma. Then diverse kings, of great might, urged by thy son, and accompanied by Drona and his son and a large force, and the mighty Dussasana at the head of all his uterine brothers, proceeded towards Bhishma staying in the midst of that battle. Then those brave warriors of thy army, placing Bhishma of high vows in their van, battled with the Parthas headed by Sikhandin. Supported by the Chedis and the Panchalas, the ape-bannered Arjuna, placing Sikhandin ahead, proceeded towards Bhishma, the son of Santanu. And the grandson of Sini battled with Drona's son, and Dhrishtaketu with the descendant of Puru, and Yudhamanyu with thy son Duryodhana at the head of his followers. And Virata, at the head of his forces, encountered Jayadratha supported by his own troops. And Vardhakshatra's heir, O chastiser of foes, encountered thy son Chitrasena armed with excellent bow and arrows. 1 And Yudhishthira proceeded against the mighty bowman Salya at the head of his troops. And Bhimasena, well-protected, proceeded against the elephant-division (of the Kaurava army). And Dhrishtadyumna, the prince of Panchala, excited with fury and accompanied by his brothers, proceeded against Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, invincible, and irresistible. That chastiser of foes, viz., prince Vrihadvala, bearing on his standard the device of the lion, proceeded against Subhadra's son whose standard bore the device of the Karnikara flower. Thy sons, accompanied by many kings, proceeded against Sikhandin and Dhananjaya the son of Pritha, from desire of slaughtering both of them. When the combatants of both armies rushed against each other with awful prowess, the earth shook (under their tread). Beholding Santanu's son in battle, the divisions of thy army and of the foe, O Bharata, became mingled with one another. Tremendous was the din, O Bharata, that arose there of those warriors burning with rage and rushing against each other. And it was heard on all sides, O king. With the blare of conchs and the leonine shouts of the soldiers, the uproar became awful. The splendour, equal to that of either the Sun or the Moon, of bracelets and diadems of all the heroic kings, became dimmed. And the dust that rose looked like a cloud, the flash of bright weapons constituting its lightning. And the twang of bows, the whiz of arrows, the blare of conchs, the loud beat of drums, and the rattle of cars, of both the armies, constituted the fierce roar of those clouds. And the welkin, over the field of battle, in consequence of the bearded darts, the javelins, the swords and showers of arrows of both armies, was darkened. And car-warriors, and horsemen felled horsemen, in that dreadful battle. And elephants killed elephants, and foot-soldiers slew foot-soldiers. And the battle that took place there for Bhishma's sake, between the Kurus and
p. 291
the Pandavas, O tiger among men, was fierce in the extreme, like that between two hawks for a piece of flesh. Engaged in battle, that encounter between those combatants desirous of slaughtering and vanquishing one another, was extremely dreadful."
Book 6
Chapter 117
1
[s]
tatas te pārthivāḥ sarve jagmuḥ svān ālayān punaḥ
tūṣṇīṃbhūte mahārāje bhīṣme śaṃtanunandane
2 śrutvā tu nihataṃ bhīṣmaṃ rādheyaḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
īṣad āgatasaṃtrāsas tvarayopajagāma ha
3 sa dadarśa mahātmānaṃ śaratalpagataṃ tadā
janma śayyā gataṃ devaṃ kārttikeyam iva prabhum
4 nimīlitākṣaṃ taṃ vīraṃ sāśrukaṇṭhas tadā vṛṣaḥ
abhyetya pādayos tasya nipapāta mahādyutiḥ
5 rādheyo 'haṃ kuruśreṣṭha nityaṃ cāṣki gatas tava
dveṣyo 'tyantam anāgāḥ sann iti cainam uvāca ha
6 tac chrutvā kuruvṛddhaḥ sabalāt saṃvṛtta locanaḥ
śanair udvīkṣya sa sneham idaṃ vacanam abravīt
7 rahitaṃ dhiṣṇyam ālokya samutsārya ca rakṣiṇaḥ
piteva putraṃ gāṅgeyaḥ pariṣvajyaika bāhunā
8 ehy ehi me vipratīpa spardhase tvaṃ mayā saha
yadi māṃ nābhigacchethā na te śreyo bhaved dhruvam
9 kaunteyas tvaṃ na rādheyo vidito nāradān mama
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanāc caiva keśavāc ca na saṃśayaḥ
10 na ca dveṣo 'sti me tāta tvayi satyaṃ bravīmi te
tejovadhanimittaṃ tu paruṣāṇy aham uktavān
11 akasmāt pāṇḍavān hi tvaṃ dviṣasīti matir mama
yenāsi bahuṣo rūkṣaṃ coditaḥ sūryanandana
12 jānāmi samare vīryaṃ śatrubhir duḥsahaṃ tava
brahmaṇyatāṃ ca śauryaṃ ca dāne ca paramāṃ gatim
13 na tvayā sadṛśaḥ kaś cit puruṣeṣv amaropama
kulabhedaṃ ca matvāhaṃ sadā paruṣam uktavān
14 iṣvaste bhārasaṃdhāne lāghave 'strabale tathā
sadṛśaḥ phalgunenāsi kṛṣṇena ca mahātmanā
15 karṇa rājapuraṃ gatvā tvayaikena dhanuṣmatā
tasyārthe kururājasya rājāno mṛditā yudhi
16 tathā ca balavān rājā jalā saṃdho durāsadaḥ
samare samaraślāghī tvayā na sadṛśo 'bhavat
17 brahmaṇyaḥ satyavādī ca tejasārka ivāparaḥ
devagarbho 'jitaḥ saṃkhye manuṣyair adhiko bhuvi
18 vyapanīto 'dya manyur me yas tvāṃ prati purā kṛtaḥ
daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa na śakyam ativartitum
19 sodaryāḥ pāṇḍavā vīrā bhrātaras te 'risūdana
saṃgaccha tair mahābāho mama ced icchasi priyam
20 mayā bhavatu nirvṛttaṃ vairam ādityanandana
pṛthivyāṃ sarvarājāno bhavantv adya nirāmayāḥ
21 [karṇa]
jānāmy ahaṃ mahāprājña sarvam etan na saṃśayaḥ
yathā vadasi durdharṣa kaunteyo 'haṃ na sūtajaḥ
22 avakīrṇas tv ahaṃ kuntyā sūtena ca vivardhitaḥ
bhuktvā duryodhanaiśvaryaṃ na mithyā kartum utsahe
23 vasu caiva śarīraṃ ca yad udāraṃ tathā yaśaḥ
sarvaṃ duryodhanasyārthe tyaktaṃ me bhūridakṣiṇa
kopitāḥ pāṇḍavā nityaṃ mayāśritya suyodhanam
24 avaśya bhāvī vai yo 'rtho na sa śakyonivartitum
daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa ko nivartitum utsahet
25 pṛthivī kṣayaśaṃsīni nimittāni pitāmaha
bhavadbhir upalabdhāni kathitāni ca saṃsadi
26 pāṇḍavā vāsudevaś ca viditā mama sarvaśaḥ
ajeyāḥ puruṣair anyair iti tāṃś cotsahāmahe
27 anujānīṣva māṃ tāta yuddhe prītamanāḥ sadā
anujñātas tvayā vīra yudhyeyam iti me matiḥ
28 duruktaṃ vipratīpaṃ vā saṃrambhāc cāpalāt tathā
yan mayāpakṛtaṃ kiṃ cit tad anukṣantum arhasi
29 [bhs]
na cec chakyam athotsraṣṭuṃ vairam etat sudāruṇam
anujānāmi karṇa tvāṃ yudhyasva svargakāmyayā
30 vimanyur gatasaṃrambhaḥ kuru karma nṛpasya hi
yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ satāṃ vṛtteṣu vṛttavān
31 ahaṃ tvām anujānāmi yad icchasi tad āpnuhi
kṣatradharmajitāṁl lokān saṃprāpsyasi na saṃśayaḥ
32 yudhyasva nirahaṃkāro balavīrya vyapāśrayaḥ
dharmo hi yuddhāc chreyo 'nyat kṣatriyasya na vidyate
33 praśame hi kṛto yatnaḥ sucirāt suciraṃ mayā
na caiva śakitaḥ kartuṃ yato dharmas tato jayaḥ
34 [s]
evaṃ bruvantaṃ gāṅgeyam abhivādya prasādya ca
rādheyo ratham āruhya prāyāt tava sutaṃ prati
tatas te pārthivāḥ sarve jagmuḥ svān ālayān punaḥ
tūṣṇīṃbhūte mahārāje bhīṣme śaṃtanunandane
2 śrutvā tu nihataṃ bhīṣmaṃ rādheyaḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
īṣad āgatasaṃtrāsas tvarayopajagāma ha
3 sa dadarśa mahātmānaṃ śaratalpagataṃ tadā
janma śayyā gataṃ devaṃ kārttikeyam iva prabhum
4 nimīlitākṣaṃ taṃ vīraṃ sāśrukaṇṭhas tadā vṛṣaḥ
abhyetya pādayos tasya nipapāta mahādyutiḥ
5 rādheyo 'haṃ kuruśreṣṭha nityaṃ cāṣki gatas tava
dveṣyo 'tyantam anāgāḥ sann iti cainam uvāca ha
6 tac chrutvā kuruvṛddhaḥ sabalāt saṃvṛtta locanaḥ
śanair udvīkṣya sa sneham idaṃ vacanam abravīt
7 rahitaṃ dhiṣṇyam ālokya samutsārya ca rakṣiṇaḥ
piteva putraṃ gāṅgeyaḥ pariṣvajyaika bāhunā
8 ehy ehi me vipratīpa spardhase tvaṃ mayā saha
yadi māṃ nābhigacchethā na te śreyo bhaved dhruvam
9 kaunteyas tvaṃ na rādheyo vidito nāradān mama
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanāc caiva keśavāc ca na saṃśayaḥ
10 na ca dveṣo 'sti me tāta tvayi satyaṃ bravīmi te
tejovadhanimittaṃ tu paruṣāṇy aham uktavān
11 akasmāt pāṇḍavān hi tvaṃ dviṣasīti matir mama
yenāsi bahuṣo rūkṣaṃ coditaḥ sūryanandana
12 jānāmi samare vīryaṃ śatrubhir duḥsahaṃ tava
brahmaṇyatāṃ ca śauryaṃ ca dāne ca paramāṃ gatim
13 na tvayā sadṛśaḥ kaś cit puruṣeṣv amaropama
kulabhedaṃ ca matvāhaṃ sadā paruṣam uktavān
14 iṣvaste bhārasaṃdhāne lāghave 'strabale tathā
sadṛśaḥ phalgunenāsi kṛṣṇena ca mahātmanā
15 karṇa rājapuraṃ gatvā tvayaikena dhanuṣmatā
tasyārthe kururājasya rājāno mṛditā yudhi
16 tathā ca balavān rājā jalā saṃdho durāsadaḥ
samare samaraślāghī tvayā na sadṛśo 'bhavat
17 brahmaṇyaḥ satyavādī ca tejasārka ivāparaḥ
devagarbho 'jitaḥ saṃkhye manuṣyair adhiko bhuvi
18 vyapanīto 'dya manyur me yas tvāṃ prati purā kṛtaḥ
daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa na śakyam ativartitum
19 sodaryāḥ pāṇḍavā vīrā bhrātaras te 'risūdana
saṃgaccha tair mahābāho mama ced icchasi priyam
20 mayā bhavatu nirvṛttaṃ vairam ādityanandana
pṛthivyāṃ sarvarājāno bhavantv adya nirāmayāḥ
21 [karṇa]
jānāmy ahaṃ mahāprājña sarvam etan na saṃśayaḥ
yathā vadasi durdharṣa kaunteyo 'haṃ na sūtajaḥ
22 avakīrṇas tv ahaṃ kuntyā sūtena ca vivardhitaḥ
bhuktvā duryodhanaiśvaryaṃ na mithyā kartum utsahe
23 vasu caiva śarīraṃ ca yad udāraṃ tathā yaśaḥ
sarvaṃ duryodhanasyārthe tyaktaṃ me bhūridakṣiṇa
kopitāḥ pāṇḍavā nityaṃ mayāśritya suyodhanam
24 avaśya bhāvī vai yo 'rtho na sa śakyonivartitum
daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa ko nivartitum utsahet
25 pṛthivī kṣayaśaṃsīni nimittāni pitāmaha
bhavadbhir upalabdhāni kathitāni ca saṃsadi
26 pāṇḍavā vāsudevaś ca viditā mama sarvaśaḥ
ajeyāḥ puruṣair anyair iti tāṃś cotsahāmahe
27 anujānīṣva māṃ tāta yuddhe prītamanāḥ sadā
anujñātas tvayā vīra yudhyeyam iti me matiḥ
28 duruktaṃ vipratīpaṃ vā saṃrambhāc cāpalāt tathā
yan mayāpakṛtaṃ kiṃ cit tad anukṣantum arhasi
29 [bhs]
na cec chakyam athotsraṣṭuṃ vairam etat sudāruṇam
anujānāmi karṇa tvāṃ yudhyasva svargakāmyayā
30 vimanyur gatasaṃrambhaḥ kuru karma nṛpasya hi
yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ satāṃ vṛtteṣu vṛttavān
31 ahaṃ tvām anujānāmi yad icchasi tad āpnuhi
kṣatradharmajitāṁl lokān saṃprāpsyasi na saṃśayaḥ
32 yudhyasva nirahaṃkāro balavīrya vyapāśrayaḥ
dharmo hi yuddhāc chreyo 'nyat kṣatriyasya na vidyate
33 praśame hi kṛto yatnaḥ sucirāt suciraṃ mayā
na caiva śakitaḥ kartuṃ yato dharmas tato jayaḥ
34 [s]
evaṃ bruvantaṃ gāṅgeyam abhivādya prasādya ca
rādheyo ratham āruhya prāyāt tava sutaṃ prati
SECTION CXVII
Sanjaya said, "Abhimanyu, O king, displaying his prowess for the sake of Bhishma, fought with thy son who was supported by a large force. Then Duryodhana, excited with wrath, struck Abhimanyu in the chest with rune straight arrows, and once more with three. Then in that battle, Arjuna's son, inflamed with wrath, hurled at Duryodhana's car a terrible dart resembling the rod of Death himself. Thy son, however, that mighty car-warrior, O king, with a broad-headed arrow of great sharpness, cut off in twain that dart of terrible force coursing towards him with great speed. Beholding that dart of his drop down on the earth, Arjuna's wrathful son pierced Duryodhana with three shafts in his arms and chest. And once more, O Chief of the Bharatas, that mighty car-warrior of Bharata's race struck the Kuru king with ten fierce shafts in the centre of his chest. And the battle, O Bharata, that took place between those two heroes, viz., Subhadra's son, and that bull of Kuru's race, the former fighting for compassing Bhishma's death and the latter for Arjuna's defeat, was fierce and interesting to behold, and gratifying to the senses, and was applauded by all the kings. That bull among Brahmanas and chastiser of foes, viz., the son of Drona, excited with wrath in that battle, forcibly struck Satyaki in the chest with fierce arrow. The grandson of Sini also, that hero of immeasurable soul, struck the preceptor's son in every vital limbs with nine shafts winged with the feathers of the Kanka bird. Aswatthaman then, in that battle, struck Satyaki (in return) with nine shafts, and once more, quickly, with thirty, in his arms and chest. Then that great bowman Of the Satwata race, possessed of great fame, deeply pierced by Drona's son, pierced the latter (in return) with arrows. The mighty car-warrior Paurava, covering Dhrishtaketu in that battle with his shafts, mangled that great bowman exceedingly. The mighty car-warrior Dhrishtaketu, endued with great strength, quickly pierced the former with thirty arrows. Then the mighty car-warrior Paurava cut off Dhrishtaketu's bow, and uttering a loud shout, pierced him with whetted shafts. Dhrishtaketu then taking up another bow, pierced Paurava, O king, with three and seventy shafts of great sharpness. Those two great bowmen and mighty car-warriors, both of gigantic stature, pierced each other with showers of arrows. Each succeeded in cutting off the other's bow, and each slew the other's steeds. And both of them, thus deprived of their cars, thenp. 292
encountered each other in a battle with swords. And each took up a beautiful shield made of bull's hide and docked with a hundred moons and graced with a hundred stars. And each of them also took up a polished sword of brilliant lustre. And thus equipt, they rushed, O king at each other, like two lions in the deep forest, both seeking the companionship of the same lioness in her season. They wheeled in beautiful circles, advanced and retreated, and displayed other movements, seeking to strike each other. Then Paurava, excited with wrath, addressed Dhrishtaketu, saying--Wait, Wait,--and struck him on the frontal bone with that large scimitar of his. The king of the Chedis also, in that battle, struck Paurava, that bull among men, on his shoulder-joint, with his large scimitar of sharp edge. Those two repressors of foes thus encountering each other in dreadful battle and thus striking each other, O king, both fell down on the field. Then thy son Jayatsena, taking Paurava up on his car, removed him from the field of battle on that vehicle. And as regards Dhrishtaketu, the valiant and heroic Sahadeva, the son of Madri, possessed of great prowess, bore him away from the field.
"Chitrasena, having pierced Susarman with many arrows made wholly of iron, once more pierced him with sixty arrows and once more with nine. Susarman, however, excited with wrath in battle, pierced thy son, O king, with hundreds of arrows. Chitrasena then, O monarch, excited with rage, pierced his adversary with thirty straight shafts. Susarman, however, pierced Chitrasena again in return. 1
"In that battle for the destruction of Bhishma, Subhadra's son, enhancing his fame and honour, fought with prince Vrihadvala, putting forth his prowess for aiding (his sire) Partha and then proceeded towards Bhishma's front. The ruler of the Kosalas, having pierced the son of Arjuna with five shafts made of iron, once more pierced him with twenty straight shafts. Then the son of Subhadra pierced the ruler of Kosalas with eight shafts made wholly of iron. He succeeded not, however, in making the ruler of the Kosalas to tremble, and, therefore, he once more pierced him with many arrows. And Phalguni's son then cut off Vrihadvala's bow, and struck him again with thirty arrows winged with feathers of the Kanka bird. Prince Vrihadvala then, taking up another bow, angrily pierced the son of Phalguni in that battle with many arrows. Verily, O scorcher of foes, the battle, for Bhishma's sake, that took place between them, both excited with rage and both conversant with every mode of fight, was like the encounter of Vali and Vasava in days of old on the occasion of the battle between the gods and the Asuras.
"Bhimasena, fighting against the elephant-division, looked highly resplendent like Sakra armed with the thunder after splitting large
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mountains. 1 Indeed, elephants, huge as hills, slaughtered by Bhimasena in battle, fell down in numbers on the field, filling the earth with their shrieks. Resembling massive heaps of antimony, and of mountain-like proportions, those elephants with frontal globes split open, lying prostrate on the earth, seemed like mountains strewn over the earth's surface. The mighty bowman Yudhishthira, protected by a large force, afflicted the ruler of the Madras, encountering him in that dreadful battle. The ruler of the Madras, in return, displaying his prowess for the sake of Bhishma, afflicted the son of Dharma, that mighty car-warrior, in battle. The king of Sindhus, having pierced Virata with nine straight arrows of keen points, once more struck him with thirty. Virata, however, O king, that commander of a large division, struck Jayadratha in the centre of his chest with thirty shafts of keen points. The ruler of the Matsyas and the ruler of the Sindhus, both armed with beautiful bows and beautiful scimitars, both decked with handsome coats of mail and weapons and standards, and both of beautiful forms looked resplendent in that battle.
"Drona, encountering Dhrishtadyumna the prince of the Panchalas in dreadful battle, fought fiercely with his straight shafts. Then Drona, O king, having cut off the large bow of Prishata's son, pierced him deeply with fifty arrows. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Prishata, taking up another bow, sped at Drona who was contending with him, many arrows. The mighty car-warrior Drona however, cut off all those arrows, striking them with his own. And then Drona sped at Drupada's son five fierce shafts. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Prishata, excited with rage, hurled at Drona in that battle a mace resembling the rod of Death himself. Drona however, with fifty arrows checked that mace decked with gold as it coursed impetuously towards him. Thereupon that mace, cut into fragments, O king, by those shafts shot from Drona's bow, fell down on the earth. Then that scorcher of foes, viz., the son of Prishata, beholding his mace baffled, hurled at Drona an excellent dart made wholly of iron. Drona, however, O Bharata, cut that dart with nine shafts in that battle and then afflicted that great bowman, viz., the son of Prishata. Thus took place, O king, that fierce and awful battle between Drona and the son of Prishata, for the sake of Bhishma.
"Arjuna, getting at the son of Ganga, afflicted him with many arrows of keen points, and rushed at him like an infuriate elephant in the forest upon another. King Bhagadatta, however, of great prowess then rushed at Arjuna, and checked his course in battle with showers of arrows. Arjuna then, in that dreadful battle, pierced Bhagadatta's elephant coming towards him, with many polished arrows of iron, that were all bright as silver and furnished with keen points. The son of Kunti, meanwhile, O king, urged Sikhandin, saying,--Proceed, proceed, towards Bhishma, and slay him!--Then, O elder brother of Pandu, the ruler of Pragjyotishas,
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abandoning that son of Pandu, quickly proceeded, O king, against the car of Drupada. Then Arjuna, O monarch, speedily proceeded towards Bhishma, placing Sikhandin ahead. And then there took place a fierce battle, for all the brave combatants of thy army rushed with great vigour against Arjuna, uttering loud shouts. And all this seemed extremely wonderful. Like the wind dispersing in the summer masses of clouds in the welkin, Arjuna dispersed, O king, all those diverse divisions of thy sons. Sikhandin, however, without any anxiety, coming up at the grandsire of the Bharatas, quickly pierced him with great many arrows. As regards Bhishma, his car was then his fire-chamber. His bow was the flame of that fire. And swords I and darts and maces constituted the fuel of that fire. And the showers of arrows he shot were the blazing sparks of that fire with which he was then consuming Kshatriyas in that battle. As a raging conflagration with constant supply of fuel, wandereth amid masses of dry grass when aided by the wind, so did Bhishma blaze up with his flames, scattering his celestial weapons. And the Kuru hero slew the Somakas that followed Partha in that battle. Indeed that mighty car-warrior checked also the other forces of Arjuna, by means of his straight and whetted shafts furnished with wings of gold. Filling in that dreadful battle all the points of the compass, cardinal and subsidiary, with his leonine shouts, Bhishma felled many car-warriors, O king, (from their cars) and many steeds along with their riders. And he caused large bodies of cars to look like forests of palmyras shorn of their leafy heads. That foremost of all wielders of weapons, in that battle, deprived cars and steeds and elephants, of their riders. Hearing the twang of his bow and the slap of his palms, both resembling the roll of the thunder, the troops, O king, trembled all over the field. The shafts, O chief of men, of thy sire were never bootless as they fell. Indeed, shot from Bhishma's bow they never fell only touching the bodies of the foe (but pierced them through in every case). We saw crowds of cars, O king, deprived of riders, but unto which were yoked fleet steeds, dragged on all sides with the speed of the wind. Full fourteen thousand great car-warriors of noble parentage, prepared to lay down their lives, unretreating and brave, and possessed of standards decked with gold, belonging to the Chedis, the Kasis, and the Karushas, approaching Bhishma, that hero who resembled the Destroyer himself with wide-open mouth, were despatched to the other world, with their steeds, cars and elephants. There was not, O king, a single great car-warrior among the Somakas, who, having approached Bhishma in that battle, returned with life from that engagement. Beholding Bhishma's prowess, people regarded all those warriors (who approached him) as already despatched to the abode of the king of the Dead. Indeed, no car-warrior ventured to approach Bhishma in battle, except the heroic Arjuna having white steeds (yoked unto his car) and owning Krishna for his charioteer, and Sikhandin, the prince of Panchala, of immeasurable energy."
SECTION CXVIII
Sanjaya said,--Sikhandin, O bull among men, approaching Bhishma in battle, struck him in the centre of the chest with ten broad-headed arrows The son of Ganga, however, O Bharata, only looked at Sikhandin with wrath and as if consuming the Panchala prince with that look. Remembering his femininity, O king, Bhishma, in the very sight of all, struck him not. Sikhandin, however, understood it not. Then Arjuna, O monarch, addressed Sikhandin, saying,--'Rush quickly and slay the grandsire. What needst thou say, O hero? Slay the mighty car-warrior Bhishma. I do not see any other warrior in Yudhishthira's army who is competent to fight with Bhishma in battle, save thee, O tiger among men. I say this truly.' Thus addressed by Partha, Sikhandin, O bull of Bharata's race, quickly covered the grandsire with diverse kinds of weapons. Disregarding those shafts, thy sire Devavrata began, with his shafts, to check the angry Arjuna only in that battle. And that mighty car-warrior, O sire, began also to despatch, with his shafts of keen points, the whole army of the Pandavas to the other world. The Pandavas also, O king, after the same manner, supported by their vast host, began to overwhelm Bhishma like the clouds covering the maker of day. O bull of Bharata's race, surrounded on all sides, that Bharata hero consumed many brave warriors in that battle like a raging conflagration in the forest (consuming numberless trees). The prowess that we then beheld there of thy son (Dussasana) was wonderful, inasmuch as he battled with Partha and protected the grandsire at the same time. With that feat of thy son Dussasana, that illustrious bowman, all the people there were highly gratified. Alone he battled with all the Pandavas having Arjuna amongst them; and he fought with such vigour that the Pandavas were unable to resist him. Many car-warriors were in that battle deprived of their cars by Dussasana. And many mighty bowmen on horseback and many mighty-warriors, elephants, pierced with Dussasana's keen shafts, fell down on the earth. And many elephants, afflicted with his shafts, ran away in all directions. As a fire fiercely blazeth forth with bright flames when fed with fuel, so did thy son blaze forth, consuming the Pandava host. And no car-warrior, O Bharata, of the Pandava host ventured to vanquish or even proceed against that warrior of gigantic proportions, save Indra's son (Arjuna) owning white steeds and having Krishna for his charioteer. Then Arjuna also called Vijaya, vanquishing Dussasana in battle, O king, in the very sight of all the troops, proceeded against Bhishma. Though vanquished, thy son, however, relying upon the might of Bhishma's arms, repeatedly comforted his own side and battled with the Pandavas with great fierceness. Arjuna, O king, fighting with his foes in that battle, looked exceedingly resplendent. 1 Then Sikhandin, in that battle, O king, piercedp. 296
the grandsire with many arrows whose touch resembled that of the bolts of heaven and which were as fatal as the poison of the snake. These arrows, however, O monarch, caused thy sire little pain, for the son of Ganga received them laughingly. Indeed, as a person afflicted with heat cheerfully receives torrents of rain, even so did the son of Ganga received those arrows of Sikhandin. And the Kshatriyas there, O king, beheld Bhishma in that great battle as a being of fierce visage who was incessantly consuming the troops of the high-souled Pandavas.
"Then thy son (Duryodhana), addressing all his warriors, said unto them, 'Rush ye against Phalguni from all sides. Bhishma, acquainted with the duties of a commander, will protect you'. Thus addressed, the Kaurava troops casting off all fear, fought with the Pandavas. (And once more, Duryodhana said unto them). 'With his tall standard bearing the device of the golden palmyra, Bhishma stayeth, protecting the honour and the armour of all the Dhartarashtra warriors. The very gods, striving vigorously, cannot vanquish the illustrious and mighty Bhishma. What need be said, therefore, of the Parthas who are mortals? Therefore, ye warriors, fly not away from the field, getting Phalguni for a foe. I myself, striving vigorously, will today fight with the Pandavas.. uniting with all of you, ye lords of earth, exerting yourselves actively.' Hearing these words, O monarch, of thy son with bow in hand, many mighty combatants, excited with rage, belonging to the Videhas, the Kalingas, and the diverse tribes of the Daserkas, fell upon Phalguni. And many combatants also, belonging to the Nishadas, the Sauviras, the Valhikas, the Daradas, the Westerners, the Northerners, the Malavas, the Abhighatas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, the Vasatis, the Salwas, the Sakas, the Trigartas, the Amvashthas, and the Kekayas, similarly fell upon Partha, like flights of insects upon a fire. The mighty Dhananjaya, otherwise called Vibhatsu, then, O monarch, calling to mind diverse celestial weapons and aiming them at those great car-warriors at the heads of their respective divisions, 1 quickly consumed them all, by means of those weapons of great force, like fire consuming a flight of insects. And while that firm bowman was (by means of his celestial weapons) creating thousands upon thousands of arrows, his Gandiva looked highly resplendent in the welkin. Then those Kshatriyas, O monarch, afflicted with those arrows with their tall standards torn and overthrown, could not even together, approach the ape-bannered (Partha). Car-warriors fell down with their standards, and horsemen with their horses, and elephant-riders with their elephants, attacked by Kiritin with his shafts. And the earth was soon covered all on all sides with the retreating troops of those kings, routed in consequence of the shafts shot from Arjuna's arms. Partha then, O monarch, having routed the Kaurava army, sped many arrows at Dussasana. Those arrows with iron heads, piercing thy son Dussasana through, all entered the earth like snakes
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through ant-hills. Arjuna then slew Dussasana's steeds and then felled his charioteer. And the lord Arjuna, with twenty shafts, deprived Vivingsati of his car, and struck him five straight shafts. And piercing Kripa and Vikarna and Salya with many arrows made wholly of iron, Kunti's son owning white steeds deprived all of them of their cars. Thus deprived of their cars and vanquished in battle by Savyasachin, Kripa and Salya, O sire, and Dussasana, and Vikarna and Vivingsati, all fled away. Having vanquished those mighty car-warriors, O chief of the Bharatas, in the forenoon, Partha blazed up in that battle like a smokeless conflagration. Scattering his shafts all around like the Sun shedding rays of light, Partha felled many other kings, O monarch. Making those mighty car-warriors turn their backs upon the field by means of his arrowy showers, Arjuna caused a large river of bloody current to flow in that battle between the hosts of the Kurus and the Pandavas, O Bharata. Large numbers of elephants and steeds and car-warriors were slain by car-warriors. And many were the car-warriors slain by elephants, and many also were the steeds slain by foot-soldiers. And the bodies of many elephant-riders and horsemen and car-warriors, cut off in the middle, as also their heads, fell down on every part of the field. And the field of battle, O king, was strewn with (slain) princes,--mighty car-warriors,--falling or fallen, decked with ear-rings and bracelets. And it was also strewn with the bodies of many warriors cut off by car-wheels, or trodden down by elephants. And foot-soldiers ran away, and horsemen also with their horses. And many elephants and car-warriors fell down on all sides. And many cars, with wheels and yokes and standards broken, lay scattered all about on the field. And the field of battle, dyed with the gore of large numbers of elephants, steeds, and car-warriors, looked beautiful like a red cloud, in the autumnal sky. Dogs, and crows, and vultures, and wolves, and jackals, and many other frightful beasts and birds, set up loud howls, at the sight of the food that lay before them. Diverse kinds of winds blew along all directions. And Rakshasas and evil spirits were seen there, uttering loud roars. And strings, embroidered with gold, and costly banners, were seen to wave, moved by the wind. And thousands of umbrellas and great cars with standards attached to them, were seen lying scattered about on the field. Then Bhishma, O king, invoking a celestial weapon, rushed at the son of Kunti, in the very sight of all the bowmen. Thereupon Sikhandin, clad in mail, rushed at Bhishma who was dashing towards Arjuna. At this, Bhishma withdrew that weapon resembling fire (in effulgence and energy). Meanwhile Kunti's son owning white steeds slaughtered thy troops, confounding the grandsire. 1"
SECTION CXIX
Sanjaya said, "When the combatants of both armies, strong in number, were thus disposed in battle array, all those unretreating heroes, O Bharata, set their heart upon the region of Brahma. 1 In course of the general engagement that followed, the same class of combatants did not fight with the same class of combatants. Car-warriors fought not with car-warriors, or foot-soldiers with foot-soldiers, or horsemen with horsemen, or elephant-warriors with elephant-warriors. On the other hand, O monarch, the combatants fought with one another like mad men. Great and dreadful was the calamity that overtook both the armies. In that fierce slaughter when elephants and men spread themselves on the field, all distinctions between them ceased, for they fought indiscriminately."Then Salya and Kripa, and Chitrasena, O Bharata, and Dussasana, and Vikarna, those heroes mounted on their bright cars, caused the Pandava host to tremble. Slaughtered in battle by those high-souled warriors, the Pandava army began to reel in diverse ways, O king, like a boat on the waters tossed by the wind. As the wintry cold cuts kine to the quick, so did Bhishma cut the sons of Pandu to the quick. As regards thy army also, many elephants, looking like newly-risen clouds, were felled by the illustrious Partha. And many foremost of warriors too were seen to be crushed by that hero. And struck with arrows and long shafts in thousands, many huge elephants fell down, uttering frightful shrieks of pain. And the field of battle looked beautiful, strewn with the bodies, still decked with ornaments of high-souled warriors deprived of life and with heads still decked with ear-rings. And in that battle, O king, which was destructive of great heroes, when Bhishma and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu put forth their prowess, thy sons, O monarch, beholding the grandsire exert himself vigorously, approached him, with all their troops placed ahead. Desirous of laying down their lives in battle and making heaven itself their goal, they approached the Pandavas in that battle, which was fraught with great carnage. The brave Pandavas also, O king, bearing in mind the many injuries of diverse kinds inflicted upon them before by thee and thy son, O monarch, and casting off all fear, and eager to win the highest heavens, cheerfully fought with thy son and the other warriors of thy army.
"Then the generalissimo of the Pandava army, viz., the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, addressing his soldiers, said, 'Ye Somakas, accompanied by the Srinjayas, rush ye at Ganga's son.' Hearing those words of their commander the Somakas and the Srinjayas, though afflicted with showers of arrows, rushed at the son of Ganga. Thus attacked, O king, thy sire Bhishma, influenced by wrath, began to fight with the Srinjayas.
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[paragraph continues] In days of old, O sire, the intelligent Rama had imparted to Bhishma of glorious achievements that instruction in weapons which was so destructive of hostile ranks. Relying on that instruction and causing a great havoc among the troops of the foe, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the old Kuru grandsire Bhishma, day after day, slew ten thousand warriors of the Ratha. On the tenth day, however, O bull of Bharata's race, Bhishma, single-handed, slew ten thousand elephants. And then he slew seven great car-warriors among the Matsyas and the Panchalas. In addition to all this, in that dreadful battle five thousand foot-soldiers, and one thousand tuskers, and ten thousand steeds, were also slain by thy sire, O king, through skill acquired by education. Then having thinned the ranks of all the kings, he slew Satanika, the dear brother of Virata. And the valiant Bhishma, having slain Satanika in battle, felled, O king, full one thousand Kshatriyas with his broad-headed shafts. Besides these, all the Kshatriyas of the Pandava army who followed Dhananjaya, as soon as they approached Bhishma, had to go to Yama's abode. Covering the Pandava host from every side with showers of arrows, Bhishma stayed in battle at the head of the Kaurava army. Achieving the most glorious feats on the tenth day, as he stayed between the two armies, bow in hand, none of the kings, O monarch, could even look at him, for he then resembled the hot mid-day Sun in the summer sky. As Sakra scorched the Daitya host in battle, even so, O Bharata, did Bhishma scorch the Pandava host. Beholding him thus put forth his prowess, the slayer of Madhu, viz., the son of Devaki, cheerfully addressing Dhananjaya, said, 'There, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, stayeth between the two armies. Slaying him by putting forth thy might, thou mayst win victory. There, at that spot, whence he breaketh our ranks, check him, putting forth thy strength. O lord, none else, save thee, ventureth to bear the arrows of Bhishma. Thus urged, the ape-bannered Arjuna at that moment made Bhishma with his car, steeds, and standard, invisible by means of his arrows. That bull, however, among the foremost of Kurus, by means of his own arrowy showers, pierced those showers of shafts shot by the son of Pandu. Then the king of the Panchalas the valiant Dhrishtaketu, Bhimasena the son of Pandu, Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), Chekitana, and the five Kaikaya brothers, and the mighty-armed Satyaki and Subhadra's son, and Ghatotkacha, and the (five) sons of Draupadi, and Sikhandin, and the valiant Kuntibhoja, and Susarman, and Virata, these and many other powerful warriors of the Pandava army, afflicted by the shafts of Bhishma, seemed to sink in an ocean of grief, Phalguni, however, rescued them all. Then Sikhandin, taking up a mighty weapon and protected by Kiritin, rushed impetuously towards Bhishma alone. The unvanquished Vibhatsu then, knowing what should be done after what, slew all those that followed Bhishma, and then himself rushed at him. And Satyaki, and Chekitana, and Dhristadyumna of Prishata's race, and Virata, and Drupada, and the twin sons of Madri by Pandu, all protected by that firm bowman (viz., Arjuna) rushed against Bhishma alone in that battle. And Abhimanyu, and the five sons of Draupadi also,
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with mighty weapons upraised, rushed against Bhishma in battle. All those firm bowmen, unretreating from battle, pierced Bhishma in diverse parts of his body with well-aimed shafts. Disregarding all those shafts, large in number, shot by those foremost of princes belonging to the Pandava host, Bhishma of undepressed soul penetrated into the Pandava ranks. And the grandsire baffled all those arrows, as if sporting the while. Frequently looking at Sikhandin the prince of the Panchalas with a laugh, he aimed not a single arrow at him, recollecting his femininity. On the other hand, he slew seven great car-warriors belonging to Drupada's division. Then confused cries of woe soon arose amongst the Matsyas, the Panchalas, and the Chedis, who were together rushing at that single hero. With large numbers of foot-soldiers and steeds and cars, and with showers of arrows, O scorcher of foes, they overwhelmed that single warrior, viz., Bhishma the son of Bhagirathi, that scorcher of foes, like the clouds overwhelming the maker of day. Then in that battle between him and them, which resembled the battle between the gods and the Asuras in days of old, the diadem-decked (Arjuna), placing Sikhandin before him, pierced Bhishma (repeatedly).'
SECTION CXX
Sanjaya said, "Thus all the Pandavas, placing Sikhandin before them pierced Bhishma in that battle repeatedly surrounding him on all sides. And all the Srinjayas, uniting together, struck him with dreadful Sataghnis, and spiked maces, and battle-axes, and mallets, and short thick clubs, and bearded darts, and other missiles, and arrows furnished with golden wing, and darts and lances and kampanas; and with long shafts, and arrows furnished with heads shaped like the calf-tooth, and rockets. Thus afflicted by many, his coat of mail was pierced everywhere. But though pierced in every vital part, Bhishma felt no pain. On the other hand, he then seemed to his enemies to resemble in appearance the (all-destructive) fire that rises at the end of Yuga. His bow and arrows constituted the blazing flames (of that fire). The flight of his weapons constituted its (friendly) breeze. The rattle of his car-wheels constituted its heat and mighty weapons constituted its splendour. His beautiful bow formed its fierce tongue, and the bodies of heroic warriors, its profuse fuel. And Bhishma was seen to roll through the midst of crowds of cars belonging to those kings, or to come out (of the press) at times, or course once more through their midst. Then, disregarding the king of the Panchalas and Dhrishtaketu, he penetrated, O monarch, into the midst of the Pandava army. He then pierced the six Pandava warriors, viz., Satyaki, and Bhima, and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, and Drupada, and Virata, and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, with many excellent arrows of great sharpness and dreadful whizz and exceedingp. 301
impetuosity, and capable of piercing through every kind of armour. Those mighty car-warriors, however, checking those keen shafts, afflicted Bhishma with great force, each of them striking him with ten shafts. Those mighty shafts, whetted on stone and furnished with golden wings, which the great car-warrior Sikhandin shot, quickly penetrated into Bhishma's body. Then the diadem-decked (Arjuna), excited with wrath, and placing Sikhandin ahead rushed at Bhishma and cut off the latter's bow. Thereupon mighty car-warriors, seven in number, viz., Drona and Kritavarman, and Jayadratha the ruler of the Sindhus, and Bhurisravas, and Sala, and Salya, and Bhagadatta could not brook that act of Arjuna. Inflamed with rage, they rushed at him. Indeed, those mighty car-warriors, invoking into existence celestial weapons, fell with great wrath upon that son of Pandu, and covered him with their arrows. And as they rushed towards Phalguni's car, the noise made by them was heard to resemble that made by the ocean itself when it swelleth in rage at the end of the Yuga, Kill, Bring up (our forces), Take, Pierce, Cut off, this was the furious uproar heard about Phalguni's car. Hearing that furious uproar, the mighty car-warriors of the Pandava army rushed forward, O bull of Bharata's race, for protecting Arjuna. They were Satyaki, and Bhimasena, and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, and both Virata and Drupada, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, and the wrathful Abhimanyu. These seven, inflamed with rage, and armed with excellent bows, rushed with great speed. And the battle that took place between these and the Kaurava warriors was fierce, making the hair stand on end, and resembling O chief of the Bharatas, the battle of the gods with the Danavas. Sikhandin, however, that foremost of car-warriors, protected in the battle by the diadem-decked (Arjuna), pierced Bhishma, in that encounter, with ten shafts after the latter's bow had been cut off. And he struck Bhishma's charioteer with other shafts, and cut off the latter's standard with one shaft. Then the son of Ganga took up another bow that was tougher. That even was cut off by Phalguni with three sharp shafts. Indeed, that chastiser of foes, viz., Arjuna, who was capable of drawing the bow with even his left hand, excited with rage, one after another, cut off all the bows that Bhishma took up. Then Bhishma, whose bows were thus cut off, excited with rage, and licking the corners of his mouth, took up a dart that was capable of riving a hill. In rage he hurled it at Phalguni's car. Beholding its course towards him like the blazing bolt of heaven, the delighter of the Pandavas fixed five sharp broad-headed arrows (on his bow-string). And with those five arrows, O chief of the Bharatas, the angry Arjuna cut off into five fragments that dart hurled from Bhishma's arms. Thus cut off by the angry Arjuna, that dart then fell down like a flash of lightning separated from a mass of clouds. Beholding his dart cut off, Bhishma became filled with rage. That hero, that subjugator of hostile cities, then began to reflect. And he said unto himself, 'With only a single bow I could slay all the Pandavas, if the mighty Vishnu himself had not been their protector. For two reasons, however, I will not fight with the Pandavas, viz., their unslayableness, and the femininity
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of Sikhandin. Formerly, when my sire wedded Kali, he pleased (with me) gave me two boons, viz., that I should be incapable of being slain in battle, and that my death should depend on my own choice. I should, however, now wish my own death, this being the proper hour.' Ascertaining this to be the resolve of Bhishma of immeasurable energy, the Rishis and the Vasus stationed in the firmament, said, 'That which hath been resolved by thee is approved by us also, O son! Act according to thy resolution, O king. Withdraw thy heart from battle.' On the conclusion, of those words, fragrant and auspicious breeze charged with particles of water, began to blow along a natural direction. 1 And celestial cymbals of loud sounds began to beat. And a flowery shower fell upon Bhishma, O sire. The words spoken by the Rishis and the Vasus, however, O king, were not heard by any one save Bhishma himself. I also heard them, through the power conferred on me by the Muni. Great was the grief, O monarch, that filled the hearts of the celestials at the thought of Bhishma, that favourite of all the worlds, falling down from his car. Having listened to these words of the celestials, Santanu's son Bhishma of great ascetic merit rushed out at Vibhatsu, even though he was then being pierced with sharp arrows capable of penetrating through every armour. Then Sikhandin, O king, excited with rage, struck the grandsire of the Bharatas in the chest with nine sharp arrows. The Kuru grandsire Bhishma, however, though struck by him in battle, thus, trembled not, O monarch, but remained unmoved like a mountain during an earthquake. Then Vibhatsu, drawing his bow Gandiva with a laugh, pierced the son of Ganga with five and twenty arrows. And once more, Dhananjaya, with great speed and excited with wrath struck him in every vital part with hundreds of arrows. Thus pierced by others, also with thousands of arrows, the mighty car-warrior Bhishma pierced those others in return with great speed. And as regards the arrows shot by those warriors, Bhishma, possessed of prowess in battle that was incapable of being baffled, equally checked them all with his own straight arrows. Those arrows, however, endued with wings of gold and whetted on stone, which the mighty car-warrior Sikhandin shot in that battle, scarcely caused Bhishma any pain. Then the diadem-decked (Arjuna), excited with rage and placing Sikhandin to the fore, approached Bhishma (nearer) and once more cut off his bow. And then piercing Bhishma with ten arrows, he cut off the latter's standard with one. And striking Bhishma's chariot with ten arrows, Arjuna caused him to tremble. The son of Ganga then took up another bow that was stronger. Within, however, the twinkling of an eye, as soon, in fact, as it was taken up, Arjuna cut that bow also into three fragments with three broad-headed shafts. And thus the son of Pandu cut off in that battle even all the bows of Bhishma. After that, Bhishma the son of Santanu, no longer desired to battle with Arjuna. The latter,
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however, then pierced him with five and twenty arrows. That great bowman, thus pierced greatly, then addressed Dussasana, and skid, 'Behold, Partha, that great car-warrior of the Pandavas, excited with wrath in battle, pierceth me alone with many thousands of arrows. He is incapable of being vanquished in battle by the wielder of the thunder-bolt himself. As regards myself also, O hero, the very gods, Danavas and Rakshasas united together, are incapable of vanquishing me. What I shall say then of mighty car-warriors among men?' While Bhishma was thus speaking to Dussasana, Phalguni with sharp shafts, and placing Sikhandin to the fore, pierced Bhishma in that battle. Then Bhishma, deeply and excessively pierced by the wielder of Gandiva with keen-pointed shafts, once more addressed Dussasana with a smile and said, 'These arrows coursing towards me in one continuous line, whose touch resembleth that of heaven's bolt, have been shot by Arjuna. These are not Sikhandin's. Cutting me to the quick, piercing through even my hard coat of mail, and striking me with the force of mushalas, these arrows are not Sikhandin's. Of touch as hard as that of the Brahmana's rod (of chastisement), 1 and of impetus unbearable as that of the thunder-bolt, these arrows are afflicting my vital forces. These are not Sikhandin's. Of the touch of maces and spiked bludgeons, those arrows are destroying my vital forces like messengers of Death commissioned (by the grim king himself). These are not Sikhandin's. Like angry snakes of virulent poison, projecting their tongues out, these are penetrating into my vitals. These are not Sikhandin's--these that cut me to the quick like the cold of winter cutting kine to the quick. Save the heroic wielder of Gandiva, viz., the ape-bannered Jishnu, even all other kings united together cannot cause me pain. Saying these words, Bhishma, the valiant son of Santanu, as if for the object of consuming the Pandavas, hurled a dart at Partha. Partha, however, caused that dart to drop down, cutting it into three fragments with three shafts, in the very sight, O Bharata, of all the Kuru heroes of thy army. Desirous of obtaining either death or victory, the son of Ganga then took up a sword and a shield decked with gold. Before, however, he could come down from his car, Arjuna cut off by means of his arrows, that shield into a hundred fragments. And that feat of his seemed exceedingly wonderful. Then the king Yudhishthira urged his own troops, saying, 'Rush ye at Ganga's son. Do not entertain the slightest fear'. Then, armed with bearded darts, and lances, and arrows, from all sides, with axes, and excellent scimitars, and long shafts of great sharpness, with calf-toothed arrows, and broad-headed shafts, they all rushed at that single warrior. Then arose from among the Pandava host a loud shout. Then thy sons also, O king,
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desirous of Bhishma's victory, surrounded him and uttered leonine shouts. Fierce was the battle fought there between thy troops and those of the enemy on that the tenth day, O king, when Bhishma and Arjuna met together. Like unto the vortex that occurs at the spot where the Ganga meets the Ocean, for a short while a vortex occurred there where the troops of both armies met and struck one another down. And the Earth, wet with gore, assumed a fierce form. And the even and the uneven spots on her surface could no longer be distinguished. Although Bhishma was pierced in all his vital limbs, yet on that the tenth day he stayed (calmly) in battle, having slain ten thousand warriors. Then that great bowman, Partha, stationed at the head of his troops, broke the centre of the Kuru army. Ourselves then, afraid of Kunti's son Dhananjaya having white steeds attached to his car, and afflicted by him with polished weapons, fled away from the battle. The Sauviras, the Kitavas, the Easterners, the Westerners, the Northerners, the Malavas, the Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, the Vasatis, the Salwas, the Sayas, the Trigartas, the Amvashthas, and the Kaikeyas. 1--these and many other illustrious warriors,--afflicted with arrows and pained by their wounds, abandoned Bhishma in that battle while he was fighting with the diadem-decked (Arjuna). Then a great many warriors, surrounding that single warrior on all sides, defeated the Kurus (that protected him) and covered him with shower of arrows. Throw down, Seize, Fight, Cut into pieces,--this was the furious uproar, O king, heard in the vicinity of Bhishma's car. Having slain in that battle, O monarch, (his foes) by hundreds and thousands, there was not in Bhishma's body space of even two fingers' breadth that was not pierced with arrows. Thus was thy sire mangled with arrows of keen points by Phalguni in that battle. And then he fell down from his car with his head to the east, a little before sunset, in the very sight of thy sons. And while Bhishma fell, loud cries of alas and oh, O Bharata, were heard in the welkin uttered by the celestials and the kings of the earth. And beholding the high-souled grandsire falling down (from his car), the hearts of all of us fell with him. That foremost of all bowmen, that mighty-armed hero, fell down, like an uprooted standard of Indra, making the earth tremble the while. 2 Pierced all over with arrows, his body touched not the ground. At that moment, O bull of Bharata's race, a divine nature took possession of that great bowman lying on a bed of arrows. The clouds poured a (cool) shower (over him) and the Earth trembled. While falling he had marked that the Sun was then in the southern solstice. That hero, therefore, permitted not his senses to depart, thinking of that (inauspicious) season (of death). And all around in the welkin he heard celestial voices saying, 'Why, Oh why, should Ganga's son, that foremost of all warriors of weapons,
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yield up his life during the southern declension?' Hearing these words, the son of Ganga answered, 'I am alive!' Although fallen upon the earth, the Kuru grandsire Bhishma, expectant of the northern declension, suffered not his life to depart. Ascertaining that to be his resolve, Ganga, the daughter of Himavat, sent unto him the great Rishis in swanlike form. Then those Rishis in the forms of swans inhabiting the Manasa lake, quickly rose up, and came together, for obtaining a sight of the Kuru grandsire Bhishma, to that spot where that foremost of men was lying on his bed of arrows. Then those Rishis in swanlike forms, coming to Bhishma, beheld that perpetuator of Kuru's race lying on his bed of arrows. Beholding that high-souled son of Ganga, that chief of the Bharatas, they walked round him, and the Sun being then in the southern solstice, they said, addressing one another, these words, 'Being a high-souled person, why should Bhishma pass out (of the world) during the southern declension?' Having said these words, those swans went away, proceeding towards the southern direction. Endued with great intelligence, Bhishma, O Bharata. beholding them, reflected for a moment. And the son of Santanu then said unto them. 'I will never pass out (of the world) as long as the Sun is in the southern solstice. Even this is my resolve. I will proceed to my own ancient abode when the Sun reacheth the northern solstice. Ye swans, I tell you this truly. Expectant of the northern declension I will hold my life. Since I have the fullest control over the yielding up of my life, I will, therefore, hold life, expectant of death during the northern declension. The boon that was granted to me by my illustrious sire, to the effect that my death would depend on my own wish O, let that boon become true. I will hold my life, since I have control in the matter of laying it down.' Having said these words to those swans, he continued to lie down on his bed of arrows.
"When that crest of the Kuru race, viz., Bhishma of great energy, fell down, the Pandavas and the Srinjayas uttered leonine shouts. When the grandsire of the Bharatas who was endued with great might was overthrown, thy son, O bull of Bharata's race, knew not what to do. And all the Kurus were entirely deprived of their senses. And the Kurus headed by Kripa, and Duryodhana, sighed and wept. And from grief they remained for a long while deprived of their senses. And they remained perfectly still, O monarch, without setting their hearts on battle. As if seized by thighs, they stood motionless, without proceeding against the Pandavas. When Santanu's son Bhishma of mighty energy, who was (regarded as) unslayable, was slain, all of us thought that the destruction of the Kuru king was at hand. 1 Vanquished by Savyasachin, with our foremost heroes slain, and ourselves mangled with sharp arrows, we knew not what to do. And the heroic Pandavas possessed of massive arms that looked like spiked maces, having obtained the victory and won a highly blessed state in the other
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world, 1 all blew their great conches. And the Somakas and the Panchalas all rejoiced, O king. Then when thousands of trumpets were blown, the mighty Bhimasena slapped his arm-pits and uttered loud shouts. When the all-powerful son of Ganga was slain, the heroic warriors of both armies, laying down their weapons, began to reflect thoughtfully. And some uttered loud shrieks and some fled away, and some were deprived of their senses. And some censured the practices of the Kshatriya order and some applauded Bhishma. And the Rishis and the Pitris all applauded Bhishma of high vows. And the deceased ancestors of the Bharatas also praised Bhishma. Meanwhile the valiant and intelligent Bhishma, the son of Santanu, having recourse to that Yoga which is taught in the great Upanishads and engaged in mental prayers, remained quiet, expectant of his hour."
SECTION CXXI
Dhritarashtra said, 'Alas, what was the state of (my) warriors, O Sanjaya, when they were deprived of the mighty and god-like Bhishma who had become a Brahmacharin for the sake of his reverend sire? Even then I regarded the Kurus and all the others as slain by the Pandavas when Bhishma, despising the son of Drupada, struck him not. Wretch that I am, also, I hear today of my sire's slaughter. What can be a heavier sorrow than this? My heart assuredly, O Sanjaya, is made of adamant, since it breaketh not into a hundred fragments on hearing of Bhishma's death! Tell me, O thou of excellent vows, what was done by that lion among the Kurus, viz., the victory-desiring Bhishma when he was slain in battle. I cannot at all brook it that Devavrata should be slain in battle. Alas, he that was not slain by Jamadagni's son himself in days of old by means of even his celestial weapons, alas, he hath now been slain by Drupada's son Sikhandin, the prince of Panchala!--'Sanjaya said,--"Slain in the evening the Kuru grandsire Bhishma saddened the Dhartarashtras and delighted the Panchalas. Falling down on the earth, he lay on his bed of arrows without however, touching the earth with his body. Indeed, when Bhishma, thrown down from his car fell upon the surface of the earth, cries of Oh and Alas were heard among all creatures. When that boundary-tree of the Kurus, viz., the ever victorious Bhishma, fell down, fear entered the hearts, O king, of the Kshatriyas of both the armies. Beholding Bhishma, the son of Santanu, with his standard overthrown and his armour cut open, both the Kurus and the Pandavas were inspired, O monarch, with sentiments of cheerlessness. And
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the welkin was enveloped with a gloom and the Sun himself became dim. The Earth seemed to utter loud shrieks when the son of Santanu was slain. This one is the foremost of those conversant with the Vedas! This one is the best of those that are conversant with the Vedas!--Even thus did creatures speak of that bull among men as he lay (on his bed of arrows).This one, formerly, ascertaining his sire Santanu to be afflicted by Kama, this bull among men, resolved to draw up his vital steed!--Even thus did the Rishis together with the Siddhas and the Charanas said of that foremost one of the Bharatas as he lay on his bed of arrows. When Santanu's son Bhishma, the grandsire of the Bharatas, was slain, thy sons, O sire, knew not what to do. Their faces wore an expression of grief. The splendour of their countenances seemed to abandon them, O Bharata! All of them stood in shame, hanging down their heads. The Pandavas, on the other hand, having, won the victory, stood at the head of their ranks. And they all blew their large conchs decked with gold. And when in consequence of their joys thousands of trumpets, O sinless one, were blown there, we beheld O monarch, the mighty Bhimasena, the son of Kunti, sporting in great glee, having quickly slain many hostile warriors endued with great strength. And a great swoon overtook all the Kurus. And Karna and Duryodhana repeatedly drew long breaths. When the Kuru grandsire Bhishma fell down, thus, cries of sorrow were heard all round, and the greatest confusion prevailed (among the Kuru army). Beholding Bhishma fallen, thy son Dussasana, with great speed, entered the division commanded by Drona. That hero, clad in mail and at the head of his own troops, had been placed by his elder brother (for the protection of Bhishma). That tiger among men now came, plunging the troops he had commanded into grief. Beholding him coming towards them, the Kauravas surrounded prince Dussasana, desirous, O monarch, of hearing what he had to say. Then Dussasana of Kuru's race informed Drona of Bhishma's slaughter. Drona then, hearing those evil tidings, suddenly fell down from his car. Then the valiant son of Bharadwaja, quickly recovering his senses, forbade the Kuru army, sire, to continue the fight. Beholding the Kurus desist from battle, the Pandavas also, through messengers on fleet horses, forbade their orders, ceased to fight, the kings of both armies, putting off their armour, all repaired to Bhishma. Desisting from the fight, thousands of (other) warriors then, proceeded towards the high-souled Bhishma like the celestials towards the Lord of all creatures. Approaching Bhishma who was then, O bull of Bharata's race, lying (on his bed of arrows), the Pandavas and the Kurus stood there, having offered him their salutations. Then Santanu's son Bhishma of righteous soul addressed the Pandavas and the Kurus who having reverenced him thus, stood before him. And he said,--Welcome to you, ye highly blessed ones! Welcome to you, ye mighty car-warriors! Gratified am I with your sight, ye that are the equals of the very gods.--Thus addressing them with his head hanging down, he once more said,--'My head is hanging down greatly. Let a pillow be given to me!--The kings (standing there) then fetched many excellent pillows that were
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very soft and made of very delicate fabrics. The grandsire, however, desired them not. That tiger among men then said unto those kings with a laugh,--These, ye kings, do not become a hero's bed.--Beholding them that foremost of men, that mightiest of car-warriors in all the worlds, viz., the mighty-armed Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, he said,--O Dhananjaya, O thou of mighty arms, my head hangeth down, O sire! Give me a pillow such as thou regardest to be fit!--'"
SECTION CXXIII
"Sanjaya said,--'After the night had passed away, O monarch, all the kings, the Pandavas and the Dhartarashtras, repaired to the grandsire, Those Kshatriyas then saluted that bull of their order, that foremost one among the Kurus, that hero lying on a hero's bed, and stood in his presence. Maidens by thousands, having repaired to that place, gently showered over Santanu's son powdered sandal wood and fried paddy, and garlands of flowers. And women and old men and children, and ordinary spectators, all approached Santanu's son like creatures of the world desirous of beholding the Sun. And trumpets by hundreds and thousands, and actors, and mimes, and skilled mechanics also came to the aged Kuru grandsire. And ceasing to fight, putting aside their coats of mail, and lying aside their weapons, the Kurus and the Pandavas, united together, came to the invincible Devavrata, that chastiser of foes. And they were assembled together as in days of old, and cheerfully addressed one another according to their respective ages. And that conclave full of Bharata kings by hundreds and adorned with Bhishma, looked beautiful and blazing like a conclave of the gods in heaven. And that conclave of kings engaged in honouring the son of Ganga looked as beautiful as a conclave of the celestials engaged in adorning their Lord, viz., the Grandsire (Brahman). Bhishma, however, O bull of Bharata's race, suppressing his agonies with fortitude though burning with the arrows (still sticking to his body), was sighing like a snake. His body burning with these arrows, and himself nearly deprived of his senses in consequence of his weapon-wounds, Bhishma cast his eyes on those kings and asked for water. Then those Kshatriyas, O king, brought thither excellent viands and several vessels of cold water. Beholding that water brought for him, Santanu's son said,--I cannot, O sire, now use any article of human enjoyment! I am removed from the pale of humanity. I am lying on a bed of arrows. I am staying here, expecting only the return of the Moon and the Sun! Having spoken these words and thereby rebuked those kings, O Bharata, he said,--I wish to see Arjuna!--The mighty-armed Arjuna then came there, and reverentially saluting the grandsire stood with joined hands, and said,--What shall I do?--Beholding then that son of Pandu, O monarch, thus standing before him after having offered him respectful salutations, Bhishma of righteous soul cheerfully addressed Dhananjaya, saying,--Covered all over with thy shafts, my body is burning greatly! All the vital parts of my body are in agony. My mouth is dry. Staying as I am with body afflicted with agony, give me water, O Arjuna! Thou art a great bowman! Thou art capable of giving me water duly!--The valiant Arjuna then saying,--So be it,--mounted on his car, and striking his Gandiva with force, began to stretch it. Hearing the twang of his bow and the slap of his palms which resembled the roar of the thunder, the troops and the kings were all inspired with fear. Then that foremost of car-warriors, mounted on his car, circumambulated that prostratep. 311
chief of the Bharatas, that foremost of all wielders of weapons. Aiming then a blazing arrow, after having inspired it with Mantras and identified it with the Parjanya weapon, in the very sight of the entire army, the son of Pandu, viz., Partha, pierced the Earth a little to the south of where Bhishma lay. Then there arose a jet of water that was pure, and auspicious, and cool, and that resembling the nectar itself, was of celestial scent and taste. And with that cool jet of water Partha gratified Bhishma, that bull among the Kurus, of godlike deeds and prowess. And at that feat of Partha who resembled Sakra himself in his acts, all those rulers of Earth were filled with great wonder. And beholding that feat of Vibhatsu implying superhuman prowess, the Kurus trembled like kine afflicted with cold. And from wonder all the kings there present waved their garments (in the air). And loud was the blare of conchs and the beat of drums that were then heard all over the field. And Santanu's son, his thirst quenched, then addressed Jishnu, O monarch, and said, applauding him highly in the presence of all those kings, these words, viz.,--O thou of mighty arms, this is not wonderful in thee, O son of Kuru's race! O thou of immeasurable effulgence, even Narada spoke of thee as an ancient Rishi! Indeed, with Vasudeva as thy ally, thou wilt achieve many mighty feats which the chief of the celestials himself with all the gods, of a certainty, will not venture to achieve! They that have knowledge of such things know thee to be the destroyer of the whole Kshatriya race! Thou art the one bowman among the bowmen of the world! Thou art the foremost among men. As human beings are, in this world, foremost of all creatures, as Garuda is the foremost of all winged creatures; as the Ocean is the foremost among all receptacles of water and the cow among all quadrupeds; as the Sun is the foremost amongst all luminous bodies and Himavat among all mountains; as the Brahmana is the foremost among all castes, art thou the foremost of all bowmen! Dhritarashtra's son (Duryodhana) listened not to the words repeatedly spoken by me and Vidura and Drona and Rama and Janardana and also by Sanjaya. Reft of his senses, like unto an idiot, Duryodhana placed no reliance on those utterances. Past all instructions, he will certainly have to lie down for ever, overwhelmed by the might of Bhima!--Hearing these words of his, the Kuru king Duryodhana became of cheerless heart. Eyeing him, Santanu's son said,--Listen, O king! Abandon thy wrath! Thou hast seen, O Duryodhana how the intelligent Partha created that jet of cool and nectar-scented water! There is none else in this world capable of achieving such feat. The weapons appertaining to Agni, Varuna, Soma, Vayu, and Vishnu, as also those appertaining to Indra, Pasupati, and Paramesthi, and those of Prajapati, Dhatri, Tashtri, Savitri, and Vivaswat, all these are known to Dhananjaya alone in this world of men! Krishna, the son of Devaki, also knoweth them. But there is none else here that knoweth them. This son of Pandu, O sire, is incapable of being defeated in battle by even the gods and the Asuras together. The feats of this high-souled one are superhuman. With that truthful hero, that ornament of battle, that warrior accomplished in fight,
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let peace, O king, be soon made! As long as the mighty-armed Krishna is not possessed by wrath, O chief of the Kurus, it is fit, O sire, that peace should be made with the heroic Parthas! As long as this remnant of thy brothers is not slain, let peace, O monarch, be made! As long as Yudhishthira with eyes burning in wrath doth not consume thy troops in battle, let peace, O sire, be made! As long as Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Bhimasena, the sons of Pandu, do not, O monarch, exterminate thy army, it seems to me that friendly relations should be restored between thee and the heroic Pandavas! Let this battle end with my death, O sire! Make peace with the Pandavas, Let these words that are uttered to thee by me be acceptable to thee, O sinless one! Even this is what I regard to be beneficial both for thyself and the race (itself of Kuru)! Abandoning thy wrath, let peace be made with Parthas. What Phalguni hath already done is sufficient. Let friendly relations be restored with the death of Bhishma! Let this remnant (of warriors) live! Relent, O king! Let half the kingdom be given to the Pandavas. Let king Yudhishthira the just, go to Indraprastha. O chief of the Kurus, do not achieve a sinful notoriety among the kings of the earth by incurring the reproach of meanness, becoming a fomentor of intestine dissensions! Let peace come to all with my death! Let these rulers of earth, cheerfully mix with one another! Let sire get back the son, let sister's son get back the maternal uncle! If from want of understanding and possessed by folly thou dost not harken to those timely words of mine thou wilt have to repent greatly! What I say is true. Therefore, desist even now! Having, from affection, said these words unto Duryodhana in the midst of the kings, the son of the ocean-going (Ganga) became silent. Though his vital limbs were burning with the arrow-wounds, yet, prevailing over his agonies, he applied himself to yoga.
"Sanjaya continued--'Having heard these beneficial and peaceful words fraught with both virtue and profit, thy son, however, accepted them not, like a dying man refusing medicine."
SECTION CXXIV
"Sanjaya said,--'After Santanu's son Bhishma, O monarch, had become silent, all those rulers of earth, there present, then returned to their respective quarters. Hearing of Bhishma's slaughter that bull among men, viz., Radha's son (Karna), partially inspired with fear quickly came there. He beheld that illustrious hero lying on his bed of reeds. Then Vrisha (Karna) endued with great glory, with voice choked in tears, approaching that hero lying with eyes closed, fell at his feet. And he said,--O chief of the Kurus, I am Radha's son, who while before thy eyes, was everywhere looked upon by thee with hate!--Hearing these words, the aged chief of the Kurus,p. 313
the son of Ganga, whose eyes were covered with film slowly raising his eyelids, and causing the guards to be removed, and seeing the place deserted by all, embraced Karna with one arm, like a sire embracing his son, and said these words with great affection:--Come, come! Thou art an opponent of mine who always challengest comparison with me! If thou hadst not come to me, without doubt, it would not have been well with thee! Thou art Kunti's son, not Radha's! Nor is Adhiratha thy father! O thou of mighty arms, I heard all this about thee from Narada as also from Krishna-Dwaipayana! Without doubt, all this is true! I tell thee truly, O son, that I bear thee no malice! It was only for abating thy energy that I used to say such harsh words to thee! O thou of excellent vows without any reason thou speakest ill of all the Pandavas! Sinfully didst thou come into the world. It is for this that thy heart hath been such. Through pride, and owning also to thy companionship with the low, thy heart hateth even persons of merit! It is for this that I spoke such harsh words about thee in the Kuru camp! I know thy prowess in battle, which can with difficulty be borne on earth by foes! I know also thy regard for Brahmanas. thy courage, and thy great attachment to alms-giving! O thou that resemblest a very god, amongst men there is none like thee! For fear of intestine dissensions I always spoke harsh words about thee. In bowmanship, in aiming weapon, in lightness of hand and in strength of weapons, thou art equal to Phalguni himself, or the high-souled Krishna! O Karna, proceeding to the city of Kasi, alone with thy bow, thou hadst crushed the kings in battle for procuring a bride for the Kuru king! The mighty and invincible king Jarasandha also, ever boastful of his prowess in battle, could not become thy match in fight! Thou art devoted to Brahmanas; thou always fightest fairly! In energy and strength, thou art equal to a child of the celestials and certainly much superior to men. The wrath I cherished against thee is gone. Destiny is incapable of being avoided by exertion. O slayer of foes, the heroic sons of Pandu are thy uterine brothers! If thou wishest to do what is agreeable to me, unite with them, O thou of mighty arms! O son of Surya, let these hostilities end with me! Let all the kings of Earth be to-day freed from danger!--
"'Karna said I know this, O thou of mighty arms! All this without doubt, is (as thou sayest)! As thou tellest me, O, Bhishma, I am Kunti's son, and not the son of a Suta! I was, however, abandoned by Kunti, and I have been reared by a Suta. Having (so long) enjoyed the wealth of Duryodhana, I dare not falsify it now. Like Vasudeva's son who is firmly resolved for the sake of the Pandavas, I also, O thou that makest profuse presents to Brahmanas, am prepared to cast away my possessions, my body itself, my children, and my wife, for Duryodhana's sake! Death from disease, O thou of Kuru's race, doth not become a Kshatriya! Relying upon Suyodhana I have always offended the Pandavas! This affairs is destined to take its course. It is incapable of being prevented. Who was there that would venture to overcome Destiny by exertion? Various omens indicating the destruction of the Earth. O grandsire, were noticed by thee
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and declared in the assembly. It is well known to me that the son of Pandu, and Vasudeva, are incapable of being conquered by other men. Even with them we venture to fight! I will vanquish the son of Pandu in battle! Even this is my firm resolve! I am not capable, of casting off this fierce animosity (that I cherish against the Pandavas)! With a cheerful heart, and keeping the duties of my order before my eye, I will contend against Dhananjaya. Firmly resolved that I am on battle, grant me thy permission, O hero! I will fight. Even this is my wish. It behoveth thee to forgive me also any harsh words that I may have at any time uttered against thee or any act that I may have done against thee from anger or inconsiderateness!--"
"'Bhishma said,--If, indeed, thou art unable to cast off this fierce animosity, I permit thee, O Karna! Fight, moved by the desire of heaven! Without anger and without vindictiveness, serve thou the king according to thy power and according to thy courage and observant of the conduct of the righteous! Have then my permission, O Karna! Obtain thou that which thou seekest! Through Dhananjaya thou wilt obtain all those regions (hereafter) which are capable of being had by fulfilling the duties of a Kshatriya! Freed from pride, and relying on thy (own) might and energy, engage in battle, since a Kshatriya cannot have a (source of) greater happiness than a righteous battle. For a long while I made great efforts for bringing about peace! But I succeeded not, O Karna, in the task! Truly do I say this unto thee!--"
"'Sanjaya continued,--'After the son of Ganga had said this, Radha's son (Karna) having saluted Bhishma and obtained his forgiveness, got up on his car and proceeded towards (the quarters of) thy son.'
The End of Bhishma Parva
(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguliji for the collection)
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