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

The Sacred  Scripture of

 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

                                      Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
                                                        translated by
                                  Sreemaan Brahmasri  Kisari Mohan Ganguli 

 Bhishma Parva

Book 6

Book 6
Chapter 66

 

1 [s]
      akarot tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavas tadā
      bhīmasena bhayād icchan putrāṃs tārayituṃ tava
  2 pūrvāhṇe tan mahāraudraṃ rājñāṃ yuddham avartata
      kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca mukhyaśūra vināśanam
  3 tasminn ākulasaṃgrāme vartamāne mahābhaye
      abhavat tumulaḥ śabdaḥ saṃspṛśan gaganaṃ mahat
  4 nadadbhiś ca mahānāgair heṣamāṇaiś ca vājibhiḥ
      bherīśaṅkhaninādaiś ca tumulaḥ samapadyata
  5 yuyutsavas te vikrāntā vijayāya mahābalāḥ
      anyonyam abhigarjanto goṣṭheṣv iva maharṣabhāḥ
  6 śirasāṃ pātyamānānāṃ samare niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      aśmavṛṣṭir ivākāśe babhūva bharatarṣabha
  7 kuṇḍaloṣṇīṣa dhārīṇi jātarūpojjvalāni ca
      patitāni sma dṛśyante śirāṃsi bharatarṣabha
  8 viśikhonmathitair gātrair bāhubhiś ca sa kārmukaiḥ
      sa hastābharaṇaiś cānyair abhavac chāditā mahī
  9 kavacopahitair gātrair hastaiś ca samalaṃkṛtaiḥ
      mukhaiś ca candrasaṃkāśai raktāntanayanaiḥ śubhaiḥ
  10 gajavājimanuṣyāṇāṃ sarvagātraiś ca bhūpate
     āsīt sarvā samākīrṇā muhūrtena vasuṃdharā
 11 rajomeghaiś ca tumulaiḥ śastravidyut prakāśitaiḥ
     āyudhānāṃ ca nirghoṣaḥ stanayitnusamo 'bhavat
 12 sa saṃprahāras tumulaḥ kaṭukaḥ śoṇitodakaḥ
     prāvartata kurūṇāṃ ca pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata
 13 tasmin mahābhaye ghore tumule lomaharṣaṇe
     vavarṣuḥ śaravarṣāṇi kṣatriyā yuddhadurmadāḥ
 14 krośanti kuñjarās tatra śaravarṣa pratāpitāḥ
     tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca saṃyuge bharatottama
     aśvāś ca paryadhāvanta hatārohā diśo daśa
 15 utpatya nipatanty anye śaraghāta prapīḍitāḥ
     tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca yodhānāṃ bharatarṣabha
 16 aśvānāṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ ca rathānāṃ cātivartatām
     saṃghātāḥ sma pradṛśyante tatra tatra viśāṃ pate
 17 gadābhir asibhiḥ prāsair bāṇaiś ca nataparvabhiḥ
     jaghnuḥ parasparaṃ tatra kṣatriyāḥ kālacoditāḥ
 18 apare bāhubhir vīrā niyuddha kuśalā yudhi
     bahudhā samasajjanta āyasaiḥ parighair iva
 19 muṣṭibhir jānubhiś caiva talaiś caiva viśāṃ pate
     anyonyaṃ jaghnire vīrās tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
 20 virathā rathinaś cātra nistriṃśavaradhāriṇaḥ
     anyonyam abhidhāvanta parasparavadhaiṣiṇaḥ
 21 tato duryodhano rājā kaliṅgair bahubhir vṛtaḥ
     puraskṛtya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ pāṇḍavān abhyavartata
 22 tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ sarve parivārya vṛkodaram
     bhīṣmam abhyadravan kruddhā raṇe rabhasa vāhanāḥ

SECTION LXVI

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

Book 6
Chapter 67

1 [s]
      dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmeṇa saṃsaktān bhrātṝn anyāṃś ca pārthivān
      tam abhyadhāvad gāṅgeyam udyatāstro dhanaṃjayaḥ
  2 pāñcajanyasya nirghoṣaṃ dhanuṣo gāṇḍivasya ca
      dhvajaṃ ca dṛṣṭvā pārthasya sarvān no bhayam āviśat
  3 asajjamānaṃ vṛkṣeṣu dhūmaketum ivotthitam
      bahuvarṇaṃ ca citraṃ ca divyaṃ vānaralakṣaṇam
      apaśyāma mahārāja dhvajaṃ gāṇḍivadhanvanaḥ
  4 vidyutaṃ meghamadhyasthāṃ bhrājamānām ivāmbare
      dadṛśur gāṇḍivaṃ yodhā rukmapṛṣṭhaṃ mahārathe
  5 aśuśruma bhṛśaṃ cāsya śakrasyevābhigarjataḥ
      sughoraṃ talayoḥ śabdaṃ nighnatas tava vāhinīm
  6 caṇḍavāto yathā meghaḥ sa vidyut stanayitnumān
      diśaḥ saṃplāvayan sarvāḥ śaravarṣaiḥ samantataḥ
  7 abhyadhāvata gāṅgeyaṃ bhairavāstro dhanaṃjayaḥ
      diśaṃ prācīṃ pratīcīṃ ca na jānīmo 'stramohitāḥ
  8 kāṃdig bhūtāḥ śrāntapatrā hatāstrā hatacetasaḥ
      anyonyam abhisaṃśliṣya yodhās te bharatarṣabha
  9 bhīṣmam evābhilīyanta saha sarvais tavātmajaiḥ
      teṣām ārtāyanam abhūd bhīṣmaḥ śaṃtanavo raṇe
  10 samutpatanta vitrastā rathebhyo rathinas tadā
     sādinaś cāśvapṛṣṭhebhyo bhūmau cāpi padātayaḥ
 11 śrutvā gāṇḍīvanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ
     sarvasainyāni bhītāni vyavalīyanta bhārata
 12 atha kāmbojamukhyais tu bṛhadbhiḥ śīghragāmibhiḥ
     gopānāṃ bahusāhasrair balair govāsano vṛtaḥ
 13 madrasauvīragāndhārais trigartaiś ca viśāṃ pate
     sarvakāliṅgamukhyaiś ca kaliṅgādhipatir vṛtaḥ
 14 nāgā naragaṇaughāś ca duḥśāsana puraḥsarāḥ
     jayadrathaś ca nṛpatiḥ sahitaḥ sarvarājabhiḥ
 15 hayāroha varāś caiva tata putreṇa coditāḥ
     caturdaśasahasrāṇi saubalaṃ paryavārayan
 16 tatas te sahitāḥ sarve vibhaktarathavāhanāḥ
     pāṇḍavān samare jagmus tāvakā bharatarṣabha
 17 rathibhir vāraṇair aśvaiḥ padātaiś ca samīritam
     ghoram āyodhanaṃ jajñe mahābhrasadṛśaṃ rajaḥ
 18 tomaraprāsanārāca gajāśvarathayodhinām
     balena mahatā bhīṣmaḥ samasajjat kirīṭinā
 19 āvantyaḥ kāśirājena bhīmasenena saindhavaḥ
     ajātaśatrur madrāṇām ṛṣabheṇa yaśasvinā
     saha putraḥ sahāmātyaḥ śalyena samasajjata
 20 vikarṇaḥ sahadevena citrasenaḥ śikhaṇḍinā
     matsyā duryodhanaṃ jagmuḥ śakuniṃ ca viśāṃ pate
 21 drupadaś cekitānaś ca sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ
     droṇena samasajjanta saputreṇa mahātmanā
     kṛpaś ca kṛtavarmā ca dhṛṣṭaketum abhidrutau
 22 evaṃ prajavitāśvāni bhrāntanāgarathāni ca
     sainyāni samasajjanta prayuddhāni samantataḥ
 23 nirabhre vidyutas tīvrā diśaś ca rajasāvṛtāḥ
     prādurāsan maholkāś ca sa nirghātā viśāṃ pate
 24 pravavau ca mahāvātaḥ pāṃsuvarṣaṃ papāta ca
     nabhasy antardadhe sūryaḥ sainyena rajasāvṛtaḥ
 25 pramohaḥ sarvasattvānām atīva samapadyata
     rajasā cābhibhūtānām astrajālaiś ca tudyatām
 26 vīrabāhuviṣṛṣṭānāṃ sarvāvaraṇabhedinām
     saṃghātaḥ śarajālānāṃ tumulaḥ samapadyata
 27 prakāśaṃ cakrur ākāśaṃ yudyatāni bhujottamaiḥ
     nakṣatravimalābhāni śastrāṇi bharatarṣabha
 28 ārṣabhāṇi vicitrāṇi rukmajālāvṛtāni ca
     saṃpetur dikṣu sarvāsu carmāṇi bharatarṣabha
 29 sūryavarṇaiś ca nistriṃśaiḥ pātyamānāni sarvaśaḥ
     dikṣu sarvāsv adṛśyanta śarīrāṇi śirāṃsi ca
 30 bhagnacakrākṣa nīḍāś ca nipātitamahādhvajāḥ
     hatāśvāḥ pṛthivīṃ jagmus tatra tatra mahārathāḥ
 31 paripetur hayāś cātra ke cic chatrakṛtavraṇāḥ
     rathān viparikarṣanto hateṣu rathayodhiṣu
 32 śarāhatā bhinnadehā baddhayoktrā hayottamāḥ
     yugāni paryakarṣanta tatra tatra sma bhārata
 33 adṛśyanta sasūtāś ca sāśvāḥ sa rathayodhinaḥ
     ekena balinā rājan vāraṇena hatā rathāḥ
 34 gandhahastimadasrāvam āghrāya bahavo raṇe
     saṃnipāte balaughānāṃ vītam ādadire gajāḥ
 35 sa tomaramahāmātrair nipatadbhir gatāsubhiḥ
     babhūvāyodhanaṃ channaṃ nārācābhihatair gajaiḥ
 36 saṃnipāte balaughānāṃ preṣitair varavāraṇaiḥ
     nipetur yudhi saṃbhagnāḥ sa yodhāḥ sa dhvajā rathāḥ
 37 nāgarājopamair hastair nāgair ākṣipya saṃyuge
     vyadṛśyanta mahārāja saṃbhagnā rathakūbarāḥ
 38 viśīrṇarathajālāś ca keśeṣv ākṣipya dantibhiḥ
     drumaśākhā ivāvidhya niṣpiṣṭā rathino raṇe
 39 ratheṣu ca rathān yuddhe saṃsaktān varavāraṇāḥ
     vikarṣanto diśaḥ sarvāḥ saṃpetuḥ sarvaśabdagāḥ
 40 teṣāṃ tathā karṣatāṃ ca gajānāṃ rūpam ābabhau
     saraḥsu nalinī jālaṃ viṣaktam iva karṣatām
 41 evaṃ saṃchāditaṃ tatra babhūvāyodhanaṃ mahat
     sādibhiś ca padātaiś ca sa dhvajaiś ca mahārathaiḥ

SECTION LXVII

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

Book 6
Chapter 68

 1 [s]
      śikhaṇḍī saha matsyena virāṭena viśāṃ pate
      bhīṣmam āśu maheṣvāsam āsasāda sudurjayam
  2 droṇaṃ kṛpaṃ vikarṇaṃ ca maheṣvāsān mahābalān
      rājñaś cānyān raṇe śūrān bahūn ārchad dhanaṃjayaḥ
  3 saindhavaṃ ca maheṣvāsaṃ sāmātyaṃ saha bandhubhiḥ
      prācyāṃś ca dākṣiṇātyāṃś ca bhūmipān bhūmiparṣabha
  4 putraṃ ca te maheṣvāsaṃ duryodhanam amarṣaṇam
      duḥsahaṃ caiva samare bhīmaseno 'bhyavartata
  5 sahadevas tu śakunim ulūkaṃ ca mahāratham
      pitā putrau maheṣvāsāv abhyavartata durjayau
  6 yudhiṣṭhiro mahārāja gajānīkaṃ mahārathaḥ
      samavartata saṃgrāme putreṇa nikṛtas tava
  7 mādrīputras tu nakulaḥ śūraḥ saṃkrandano yudhi
      trigartānāṃ rathodāraiḥ samasajjata pāṇḍavaḥ
  8 abhyavartanta durdharṣāḥ samare śālva kekayān
      sātyakiś cekitānaś ca saubhadraś ca mahārathaḥ
  9 dhṛṣṭaketuś ca samare rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
      putrāṇāṃ te rathānīkaṃ pratyudyātāḥ sudurjayāḥ
  10 senāpatir ameyātmā dhṛṣṭadyumno mahābalaḥ
     droṇena samare rājan samiyāyendra karmaṇā
 11 evam ete maheṣvāsās tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
     sametya samare śūrāḥ saṃprahāraṃ pracakrire
 12 madhyaṃdina gate sūrye nabhasy ākulatāṃ gate
     kuravaḥ pāṇḍaveyāś ca nijaghnur itaretaram
 13 dhvajino hemacitrāṅgā vicaranto raṇājire
     sa patākā rathā rejur vaiyāghraparivāraṇāḥ
 14 sametānāṃ ca samare jigīṣūṇāṃ parasparam
     babhūva tumulaḥ śabdaḥ siṃhānām iva nardatām
 15 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma saṃprahāraṃ sudāruṇam
     yam akurvan raṇe vīrāḥ sṛñjayāḥ kurubhiḥ saha
 16 naiva khaṃ na diśo rājan na sūryaṃ śatrutāpana
     vidiśo vāpy apaśyāma śarair muktaiḥ samantataḥ
 17 śaktīnāṃ vimalāgrāṇāṃ tomarāṇāṃ tathāyatām
     nistriṃśānāṃ ca pītānāṃ nīlotpalanibhāḥ prabhāḥ
 18 kavacānāṃ vicitrāṇāṃ bhūṣaṇānāṃ prabhās tathā
     khaṃ diśaḥ pradiśaś caiva bhāsayām āsur ojasā
     virarāja tadā rājaṃs tatra tatra raṇāṅgaṇam
 19 rathasiṃhāsana vyāghrāḥ samāyāntaś ca saṃyuge
     virejuḥ samare rājan grahā iva nabhastale
 20 bhīṣmas tu rathināṃ śreṣṭho bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
     avārayata saṃkruddhaḥ sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ
 21 tato bhīṣma vinirmuktā rukmapuṅkhāḥ śilāśitāḥ
     abhyaghnan samare bhīmaṃ tailadhautāḥ sutejanāḥ
 22 tasya śaktiṃ mahāvegāṃ bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     kruddhāśīviṣasaṃkāśāṃ preṣayām āsa bhārata
 23 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā rukmadaṇḍāṃ durāsadām
     ciccheda samare bhīṣmaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 24 tato 'pareṇa bhallena pītena niśitena ca
     kārmukaṃ bhīmasenasya dvidhā ciccheda bhārata
 25 sātyakis tu tatas tūrṇaṃ bhīṣmam āsādya saṃyuge
     śarair bahubhir ānarchat pitaraṃ te janeśvara
 26 tataḥ saṃdhāya vai tīkṣṇaṃ śaraṃ paramadāruṇam
     vārṣṇeyasya rathād bhīṣmaḥ pātayām āsa sārathim
 27 tasyāśvāḥ pradrutā rājan nihate rathasārathau
     tena tenaiva dhāvanti manomārutaraṃhasaḥ
 28 tataḥ sarvasya sainyasya nisvanas tumulo 'bhavat
     hāhākāraś ca saṃjajñe pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
 29 abhidravata gṛhṇīta hayān yacchata dhāvata
     ity āsīt tumulaḥ śabdo yuyudhāna rathaṃ prati
 30 etasminn eva kāle tu bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavaḥ punaḥ
     vyahanat pāṇḍavīṃ senām āsurīm iva vṛtrahā
 31 te vadhyamānā bhīṣmeṇa pāñcālāḥ somakaiḥ saha
     āryāṃ yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā bhīṣmam evābhidudruvuḥ
 32 dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhāś cāpi pārthāḥ śāṃtanavaṃ raṇe
     abhyadhāvañ jigīṣantas tava putrasya vāhinīm
 33 tathaiva tāvakā rājan bhīṣmadroṇamukhāḥ parān
     abhyadhāvanta vegena tato yuddham avartata

SECTION LXVIII

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

Book 6
Chapter 69

 1 [s]
      virāṭo 'tha tribhir bāṇair bhīṣmam ārchan mahāratham
      vivyādha turagāṃś cāsya tribhir bāṇair mahārathaḥ
  2 taṃ pratyavidhyad daśabhir bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavaḥ śaraiḥ
      rukmapuṅkhair maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtahasto mahābalaḥ
  3 drauṇir gāṇḍīvadhanvānaṃ bhīma dhanvā mahārathaḥ
      avidhyad iṣubhiḥ ṣaḍbhir dṛḍhahastaḥ stanāntare
  4 kārmukaṃ tasya ciccheda phalgunaḥ paravīrahā
      avidhyac ca bhṛśaṃ tīkṣṇair patribhiḥ śatrukarśanaḥ
  5 so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya vegavat krodhamūrchitaḥ
      amṛṣyamāṇaḥ pārthena kārmukac chedam āhave
  6 avidhyat phalgunaṃ rājan navatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      vāsudevaṃ ca saptatyā vivyādha parameṣubhiḥ
  7 tataḥ krodhābhitāmrākṣaḥ saha kṛṣṇena phalgunaḥ
      dīrgham uṣṇaṃ ca niḥśvasya cintayitvā muhur muhuḥ
  8 dhanuḥ prapīḍya vāmena kareṇāmitrakarśanaḥ
      gāṇḍīvadhanvā saṃkruddhaḥ śitān saṃnataparvaṇaḥ
      jīvitāntakarān ghorān samādatta śilīmukhān
  9 tais tūrṇaṃ samare 'vidhyad drauṇiṃ balavatāṃ varam
      tasya te kavacaṃ bhittvā papuḥ śoṇitam āhave
  10 na vivyathe ca nirbhinno drauṇir gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
     tathaiva śaravarṣāṇi pratimuñcann avihvalaḥ
     tasthau sa samare rājaṃs trātum icchan mahāvratam
 11 tasya tat sumahat karma śaśaṃsuḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ
     yat kṛṣṇābhyāṃ sametābhyāṃ nāpatrapata saṃyuge
 12 sa hi nityam anīkeṣu yudhyate 'bhayam āsthitaḥ
     astragrāmaṃ sa saṃhāraṃ droṇāt prāpya sudurlabham
 13 mamāyam ācārya suto droṇasyātipriyaḥ sutaḥ
     brāhmaṇaś ca viśeṣeṇa mānanīyo mameti ca
 14 samāsthāya matiṃ vīro bībhatsuḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
     kṛpāṃ cakre rathaśreṣṭho bhāradvāja sutaṃ prati
 15 drauṇiṃ tyaktvā tato yuddhe kaunteyaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
     yuyudhe tāvakān nighnaṃs tvaramāṇaḥ parākramī
 16 duryodhanas tu daśabhir gārdhrapatraiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
     bhīmasenaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ rukmapuṅkhaiḥ samarpayat
 17 bhīmasenas tu saṃkruddhaḥ parāsu karaṇaṃ dṛḍham
     citraṃ kārmukam ādatta śarāṃś ca niśitān daśa
 18 ākarṇaprahitais tīkṣṇair vegitais tigmatejanaiḥ
     avidhyat tūrṇam avyagraḥ kururājaṃ mahorasi
 19 tasya kāñcanasūtras tu śaraiḥ parivṛto maṇiḥ
     rarājorasi vai sūryo grahair iva samāvṛtaḥ
 20 putras tu tava tejasvī bhīmasenena tāḍitaḥ
     nāmṛṣyata yathā nāgas talaśabdaṃ samīritam
 21 tataḥ śarair mahārāja rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
     bhīmaṃ vivyādha saṃkruddhas trāsayāno varūthinīm
 22 tau yudhyamānau samare bhṛśam anyonyavikṣatau
     putrau te devasaṃkāśau vyarocetāṃ mahābalau
 23 citrasenaṃ naravyāghraṃ saubhadraḥ paravīrahā
     avidhyad daśabhir bāṇaiḥ purumitraṃ ca saptabhiḥ
 24 satyavrataṃ ca saptatyā viddhvā śakrasamo yudhi
     nṛtyann iva raṇe vīra ārtiṃ naḥ samajījanat
 25 taṃ pratyavidyad daśabhiś citrasenaḥ śilīmukhaiḥ
     satyavrataś ca navabhiḥ puru pitraś ca saptabhiḥ
 26 sa viddho vikṣaran raktaṃ śatrusaṃvāraṇaṃ mahat
     ciccheda citrasenasya citraṃ kārmukam ārjuniḥ
     bhittvā cāsya tanutrāṇaṃ śareṇorasy atāḍayat
 27 tatas te tāvakā vīrā rājaputrā mahārathāḥ
     sametya yudhi saṃrabdhā vivyadhur niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     tāṃś ca sarvāñ śarais tīkṣṇair jaghāna paramāstravit
 28 tasya dṛṣṭvā tu tat karma parivavruḥ sutās tava
     dahantaṃ samare sainyaṃ tava kakṣaṃ yatholbaṇam
 29 apetaśiśire kāle samiddham iva pāvakaḥ
     atyarocata saubhadras tava sainyāni śātayan
 30 tat tasya caritaṃ dṛṣṭvā pautras tava viśāṃ pate
     lakṣmaṇo 'bhyapatat tūrṇaṃ sātvatī putram āhave
 31 abhimanyus tu saṃkruddho lakṣmaṇaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam
     vivyādha viśikhaiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ sārathiṃ ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
 32 tathaiva lakṣmaṇo rājan saubhadraṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     avidhyata mahārāja tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 33 tasyāśvāṃś caturo hatvā sārathiṃ ca mahābalaḥ
     abhyadravata saubhadro lakṣmaṇaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 34 hatāśve tu rathe tuṣṭhaṁl lakṣmaṇaḥ paravīrahā
     śaktiṃ cikṣepa saṃkruddhaḥ saubhadrasya rathaṃ prati
 35 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā ghorarūpāṃ durāsadām
     abhimanyuḥ śarais tīkṣṇaiś ciccheda bhujagopamām
 36 tataḥ svaratham āropya lakṣmaṇaṃ gautamas tadā
     apovāha rathenājau sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ
 37 tataḥ samākule tasmin vartamāne mahābhaye
     abhyadravañ jighāṃsantaḥ parasparavadhaiṣiṇaḥ
 38 tāvakāś ca maheṣvāsāḥ pāṇḍavāś ca mahārathāḥ
     juhvantaḥ samare prāṇān nijaghnur itaretaram
 39 muktakeśā vikavacā virathāś chinnakārmukāḥ
     bāhubhiḥ samayudhyanta sṛñjayāḥ kurubhiḥ saha
 40 tato bhīṣmo mahābāhuḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
     senāṃ jaghāna saṃkruddho divyair astrair mahābalaḥ
 41 hateśvarair gajair tatra narair aśvaiś ca pātitaiḥ
     rathibhiḥ sādibhiś caiva samāstīryata medinī

SECTION LXIX

Sanjaya said, "After the night had passed away and the sun had risen, the two armies, O king, approached each other for battle. Beholding each other, each rushed in united ranks towards the other excited with rage and desirous of vanquishing the other. And in consequence of thy evil policy, O king, the Pandavas and the Dhartarashtras thus rushed, cased in mail and forming battle-array, for striking each other. And the array that Bhishma protected from all sides, O king, was of the shape of a Makara. 1 And so the Pandavas also, O king, protected the array they had formed (of their troops). Then thy sire Devavrata, O great king, that foremost of car-warriors, proceeded in advance, supported by a large division of cars. And others, viz., car-warriors, infantry, elephants, and cavalry, all followed him, each stationed in the place allotted. And beholding them prepared for battle, the illustrious sons of Pandu arrayed their troops in that invincible and prince of arrays called the Syena. 2 And in the beak of that array shone Bhimasena of great strength. And in its two eyes were the invincible Sikhandin and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race. And in the head was the heroic Satyaki of prowess incapable of being baffled. And in its neck was Arjuna shaking his Gandiva. And in its left wing was the high-souled and blessed Drupada with his son and supported by an akshauhini of all forces. And the king of the Kekayas, owning an akshauhini, formed
p. 177
the right wing (of that array). And in its back were the sons of Draupadi, and Subhadra's son of great prowess. And in its tail was the heroic king Yudhishthira himself, of excellent prowess, supported by his twin brothers. Then in the battle (that ensued). Bhima, penetrating the Makara array (of the Kauravas) through its mouth, and approaching Bhishma, covered him with his shafts. Then in that great battle, Bhishma possessed of great prowess shot his mighty weapons, confounding the combatants of the Pandavas disposed in battle-array. And when the combatants (of the Pandava army) were thus confounded, Dhananjaya, speedily proceeding, pierced Bhishma at the van of battle with a thousand arrows. And counteracting, in that conflict, the weapons shot by Bhishma, Arjuna stood ready for the combat, supported by his own division filled with cheerfulness. 1 Then king Duryodhana, that foremost of mighty men, that great car-warrior, beholding that terrible carnage of his troops and remembering the slaughter of his brothers (on the previous day), came quickly towards Bharadwaja's son, and addressing him, said, 'O preceptor, O sinless one, thou art ever my well-wisher,--Relying on thee as also on the grandsire Bhishma, ourselves, hope to vanquish without doubt the very gods in battle, let alone the sons of Pandu that are destitute of energy and prowess. Blessed be thou, act in such away that the Pandavas may be slain. Thus addressed in battle by thy son, Drona penetrated into the Pandava array in the very sight of Satyaki. Then O Bharata, Satyaki checked the son of Bharadwaja, (and thereupon) ensued a battle that was fierce in its incidents and awful to behold. Then Bharadwaja's son excited with rage and endued with great prowess, as if smiling the while, pierced the grandson of Sini with ten shafts at his shoulder-joint. And Bhimasena also, excited with rage, pierced Bharadwaja's son (with many shafts), desirous of protecting Satyaki, O king, from Drona that foremost of all warriors. Then Drona and Bhishma, and Salya also, O sire, excited with rage, covered Bhimasena, in that battle, with their shafts. Thereupon Abhimanyu excited with wrath, and the sons of Draupadi, O sire, pierced with their sharp-pointed shafts all those warriors with upraised weapons. Then in that fierce battle, the great bowman Sikhandin rushed against those two mighty warriors, viz., Bhishma and Drona who, excited with rage, had (thus) fallen upon the Pandavas. Firmly grasping his bow whose twang resembled the roar of the clouds, that hero, shrouding the very Sun with his arrows, quickly covered his antagonists therewith. The grandsire of the Bharatas, however, getting Sikhandin before him, avoided him, remembering the femininity of his sex. Then, O king, urged by thy son, Drona rushed to battle, desirous of protecting Bhishma in that stress. Sikhandin, however, approaching Drona that foremost of all wielders of weapons, avoided, from fear, that warrior resembling the blazing fire that appears at the end of the Yuga.
p. 178
[paragraph continues] Then, O king, thy son with a large force, desirous of winning great glory, proceeded to protect Bhishma. And the Pandavas also proceeded, O king, firmly setting their hearts upon victory, and the battle then that took place between the combatants of both armies desirous of victory and fame, was fierce and highly wonderful, resembling that (in days of yore) between the gods and Danavas.

Book 6
Chapter 70

1 [s]
      atha rājan mahābāhuḥ sātyakir yuddhadurmadaḥ
      vikṛṣya cāpaṃ samare bhārasādhanam uttamam
  2 prāmuñcat puṅkhasaṃyuktāñ śarān āśīviṣopamān
      prakāśaṃ laghucitraṃ ca darśayann astralāghavam
  3 tasya vikṣipataś cāpaṃ śarān anyāṃś ca muñcataḥ
      ādadānasya bhūyaś ca saṃdadhānasya cāparān
  4 kṣipataś ca śarān asya raṇe śatrūn vinighnataḥ
      dadṛśe rūpam atyarthaṃ meghasyeva pravarṣataḥ
  5 tam udīryantam ālokya rājā duryodhanas tataḥ
      rathānām ayutaṃ tasya preṣayām āsa bhārata
  6 tāṃs tu sarvān maheṣvāsān sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
      jaghāna parameṣvāso divyenāstreṇa vīryavān
  7 sa kṛtvā dāruṇaṃ karma pragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ
      āsasāda tato vīro bhūriśravasam āhave
  8 sa hi saṃdṛśya senāṃ tāṃ yuyudhānena pātitam
      abhyadhāvata saṃkruddhaḥ kurūṇāṃ kīrtivardhanaḥ
  9 indrāyudhasavarṇaṃ tat sa visphārya mahad dhanuḥ
      vyasṛjad vajrasaṃkāśāñ śarān āśīviṣopamān
      sahasraśo mahārāja darśayan pāṇilāghavam
  10 śarāṃs tān mṛtyusaṃsparśān sātyakes tu padānugāḥ
     na viṣehus tadā rājan dudruvus te samantataḥ
     vihāya samare rājan sātyakiṃ yuddhadurmadam
 11 taṃ dṛṣṭvā yuyudhānasya sutā daśa mahābalāḥ
     mahārathāḥ samākhyātāś citravarmāyudha dhvajāḥ
 12 samāsādya maheṣvāsaṃ bhūriśravasam āhave
     ūcur sarve susaṃrabdhā yūpaketuṃ mahāraṇe
 13 bho bho kaurava dāyāda sahāsmābhir mahābala
     ehi yudhyasva saṃgrāme samastaiḥ pṛthag eva vā
 14 asmān vā tvaṃ parājitya yaśaḥ prāpnuhi saṃyuge
     vayaṃ vā tvāṃ parājitya prītiṃ dāsyāmahe pituḥ
 15 evam uktas tadā śūrais tān uvāca mahābalaḥ
     vīryaślāghī naraśreṣṭhas tān dṛṣṭvā samupasthitān
 16 sādhv idaṃ kathyate vīrā yad evaṃ matir adya vaḥ
     yudhyadhvaṃ sahitā yattā nihaniṣyāmi vo raṇe
 17 evam uktā maheṣvāsās te vīrāḥ kṣiprakāriṇaḥ
     mahatā śaravarṣeṇa abhyavarṣann ariṃdamam
 18 aparāhṇe mahārāja saṃgrāmas tumulo 'bhavat
     ekasya ca bahūnāṃ ca sametānāṃ raṇājire
 19 tam ekaṃ rathināṃ śreṣṭha śaravarṣair avākiran
     prāvṛṣīva mahāśailaṃ siṣicur jaladā nṛpa
 20 tais tu muktāñ śaraughāṃs tān yamadaṇḍāśani prabhān
     asaṃprāptān asaṃ prāptāṃś cicchedāśu mahārathaḥ
 21 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma saumadatteḥ parākramam
     yad eko bahubhir yuddhe samasajjad abhītavat
 22 visṛjya śaravṛṣṭiṃ tāṃ daśa rājan mahārathāḥ
     parivārya mahābāhuṃ nihantum upacakramuḥ
 23 saumadattis tataḥ kruddhas teṣāṃ cāpāni bhārata
     ciccheda daśabhir bāṇair nimeṣeṇa mahārathaḥ
 24 athaiṣāṃ chinnadhanuṣāṃ bhallaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     ciccheda samare rājañ śirāṃsi niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     te hatā nyapatan bhūmau vajrabhagnā iva drumāḥ
 25 tān dṛṣṭvā nihatān vīrān raṇe putrān mahābalān
     vārṣṇeyo vinadan rājan bhūriśravasam abhyayāt
 26 rathaṃ rathena samare pīḍayitvā mahābalau
     tāv anyonyasya samare nihatya rathavājinaḥ
     virathāv abhivalgantau sameyātāṃ mahārathau
 27 pragṛhītamahākhaḍgau tau carma varadhāriṇau
     śuśubhāte naravyāghrau yuddhāya samavasthitau
 28 tataḥ sātyakim abhyetya nistriṃśavaradhāriṇam
     bhīmasenas tvaran rājan ratham āropayat tadā
 29 tavāpi tanayo rājan bhūriśravasam āhave
     āropayad rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ paśyatāṃ sarvadhanvinām
 30 tasmiṃs tathā vartamāne raṇe bhīṣmaṃ mahāratham
     ayodhayanta saṃrabdhāḥ pāṇḍavā bharatarṣabha
 31 lohitāyati cāditye tvaramāṇo dhanaṃjayaḥ
     pañcaviṃśatisāhasrān nijaghāna mahārathān
 32 te hi duryodhanādiṣṭās tadā pārtha nibarhaṇe
     saṃprāpyaiva gatā nāśaṃ śalabhā iva pāvakam
 33 tato matsyāḥ kekayāś ca dhanurveda viśāradāḥ
     parivavrus tadā pārthaṃ saha putraṃ mahāratham
 34 etasminn eva kāle tu sūrye 'stam upagacchati
     sarveṣām eva sainyānāṃ pramohaḥ samajāyata
 35 avahāraṃ tataś cakre pitā devavratas tava
     saṃdhyākāle mahārāja sainyānāṃ śrāntavāhanaḥ
 36 pāṇḍavānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca parasparasamāgame
     te sene bhṛśasaṃvigne yayatuḥ svaṃ niveśanam
 37 tataḥ svaśibiraṃ gatvā nyaviśaṃs tatra bhārata
     pāṇḍavāḥ sṛñjayaiḥ sārdhaṃ kuravaś ca yathāvidhi

SECTION LXX

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

Book 6
Chapter 71

1 [s]
      vihṛtya ca tato rājan sahitāḥ kurupāṇḍavāḥ
      vyatītāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ punar yuddhāya niryayuḥ
  2 tatra śabdo mahān āsīt tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata
      yujyatāṃ rathamukhyānāṃ kalpyatāṃ caiva dantinām
  3 saṃnahyatāṃ padātīnāṃ hayānāṃ caiva bhārata
      śaṅkhadundubhinādaś ca tumulaḥ sarvato 'bhavat
  4 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā dhṛṣṭadyumnam abhāṣata
      vyūhaṃ vyūha mahābāho makaraṃ śatrutāpanam
  5 evam uktas tu pārthena dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ
      vyādideśa mahārāja rathino rathināṃ varaḥ
  6 śiro 'bhūd drupadas tasya pāṇḍavaś ca dhanaṃjayaḥ
      cakṣuṣī sahadevaś ca nakulaś ca mahārathaḥ
      tuṇḍam āsīn mahārāja bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
  7 saubhadro draupadeyāś ca rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
      sātyakir dharmarājaś ca vyūha grīvāṃ samāsthitāḥ
  8 pṛṣṭham āsīn mahārāja virāṭo vāhinīpatiḥ
      dhṛṣṭadyumnena sahito mahatyā senayā vṛtaḥ
  9 kekayā bhrātaraḥ pañca vāmaṃ pārśvaṃ samāśritāḥ
      dhṛṣṭaketur naravyāghraḥ karakarṣaś ca vīryavān
      dakṣiṇaṃ pakṣam āśritya sthitā vyūhasya rakṣaṇe
  10 pādayos tu mahārāja sthitaḥ śrīmān mahārathaḥ
     kuntibhojaḥ śatānīko mahatyā senayā vṛtaḥ
 11 śikhaṇḍī tu maheṣvāsaḥ somakaiḥ saṃvṛto balī
     irāvāṃś ca tataḥ pucche makarasya vyavasthitau
 12 evam etan mahāvyūhaṃ vyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavāḥ
     sūryodaye mahārāja punar yuddhāya daṃśitāḥ
 13 kauravān abhyayus tūrṇaṃ hastyaśvarathapattibhiḥ
     samucchritair dhvajaiś citraiḥ śastraiś ca vimalaiḥ śitaiḥ
 14 vyūhaṃ dṛṣṭvā tu tat sainyaṃ pitā devavratas tava
     krauñcena mahatā rājan pratyavyūhata vāhinīm
 15 tasya tuṇḍe maheṣvāso bhāradvājo vyarocata
     aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva cakṣur āstāṃ nareśvara
 16 kṛtavarmā tu sahitaḥ kāmbojāraṭṭa bāhlikaiḥ
     śirasy āsīn naraśreṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām
 17 grīvāyāṃ śūrasenas tu tava putraś ca māriṣa
     duryodhano mahārāja rājabhir bahubhir vṛtaḥ
 18 prāgjyotiṣas tu sahito madrasauvīrakekayaiḥ
     urasy abhūn naraśreṣṭha mahatyā senayā vṛtaḥ
 19 svasenayā ca sahitaḥ suśarmā prasthalādhipaḥ
     vāmaṃ pakṣaṃ samāśritya daṃśitaḥ samavasthitaḥ
 20 tuṣārā yavanāś caiva śakāś ca saha cūcupaiḥ
     dakṣiṇaṃ pakṣam āśritya sthitā vyūhasya bhārata
 21 śrutāyuś ca śatāyuś ca saumadattiś ca māriṣa
     vyūhasya jaghane tasthū rakṣamāṇāḥ parasparam
 22 tato yuddhāya saṃjagmuḥ pāṇḍavāḥ kauravaiḥ saha
     sūryodaye mahārāja tato yuddham abhūn mahat
 23 pratīyū rathino nāgān nāgāś ca rathino yayuḥ
     hayārohā hayārohān rathinaś cāpi sādinaḥ
 24 sārathiṃ ca rathī rājan kuñjarāṃś ca mahāraṇe
     hastyārohā rathārohān rathinaś cāpi sādinaḥ
 25 rathinaḥ pattibhiḥ sārdhaṃ sādinaś cāpi pattibhiḥ
     anyonyaṃ samare rājan pratyadhāvann amarṣitāḥ
 26 bhīmasenārjuna yamair guptā cānyair mahārathaiḥ
     śuśubhe pāṇḍavī senā nakṣatrair iva śarvarī
 27 tathā bhīṣma kṛpa droṇa śalya duryodhanādibhiḥ
     tavāpi vibabhau senā grahair dyaur iva saṃvṛtā
 28 bhīmasenas tu kaunteyo droṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā parākramī
     abhyayāj javanair aśvair bhāradvājasya vāhinīm
 29 droṇas tu samare kruddho bhīmaṃ navabhir āyasaiḥ
     vivyādha samare rājan marmāṇy uddiśya vīryavān
 30 dṛḍhāhatas tato bhīmo bhāradvājasya saṃyuge
     sārathiṃ preṣayām āsa yamasya sadanaṃ prati
 31 sa saṃgṛhya svayaṃ vāhān bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
     vyadhamat pāṇḍavīṃ senāṃ tūlarāśim ivānalaḥ
 32 te vadhyamānā droṇena bhīṣmeṇa ca narottama
     sṛñjayāḥ kekayaiḥ sārdhaṃ palāyanaparābhavan
 33 tathaiva tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ bhīmārjunaparikṣatam
     muhyate tatra tatraiva samadeva varāṅganā
 34 abhidyetāṃ tato vyūhau tasmin vīravarakṣaye
     āsīd vyatikaro ghoras tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata
 35 tad adbhutam apaśyāma tāvakānāṃ paraiḥ saha
     ekāyanagatāḥ sarve yad ayudhyanta bhārata
 36 pratisaṃvārya cāstrāṇi te 'nyonyasya viśāṃ pate
     yuyudhuḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kauravāś ca mahārathāḥ

SECTION LXXI

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

Book 6
Chapter 72

1 dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
      evaṃ bahuguṇaṃ sainyam evaṃ bahuvidhaṃ param
      vyūḍham evaṃ yathāśāstram amoghaṃ caiva saṃjaya
  2 puṣṭam asmākam atyantam abhikāmaṃ ca naḥ sadā
      prahvam avyasanopetaṃ purastād dṛṣṭavikramam
  3 nātivṛddham abālaṃ ca na kṛśaṃ na ca pīvaram
      laghuvṛttāyataprāyaṃ sāragātram anāmayam
  4 āttasaṃnāhaśastraṃ ca bahuśastraparigraham
      asiyuddhe niyuddhe ca gadāyuddhe ca kovidam
  5 prāsarṣṭitomareṣv ājau parigheṣv āyaseṣu ca
      bhiṇḍipāleṣu śaktīṣu musaleṣu ca sarvaśaḥ
  6 kampaneṣu ca cāpeṣu kaṇapeṣu ca sarvaśaḥ
      kṣepaṇīṣu ca citrāsu muṣṭiyuddheṣu kovidam
  7 aparokṣaṃ ca vidyāsu vyāyāmeṣu kṛtaśramam
      śastragrahaṇavidyāsu sarvāsu pariniṣṭhitam
  8 ārohe paryavaskande saraṇe sāntaraplute
      samyakpraharaṇe yāne vyapayāne ca kovidam
  9 nāgāśvarathayāneṣu bahuśaḥ suparīkṣitam
      parīkṣya ca yathānyāyaṃ vetanenopapāditam
  10 na goṣṭhyā nopacāreṇa na ca bandhunimittataḥ
     na sauhṛdabalaiś cāpi nākulīnaparigrahaiḥ
 11 samṛddhajanam āryaṃ ca tuṣṭasatkṛtabāndhavam
     kṛtopakārabhūyiṣṭhaṃ yaśasvi ca manasvi ca
 12 sajayaiś ca narair mukhyair bahuśo mukhyakarmabhiḥ
     lokapālopamais tāta pālitaṃ lokaviśrutaiḥ
 13 bahubhiḥ kṣatriyair guptaṃ pṛthivyāṃ lokasaṃmataiḥ
     asmān abhigataiḥ kāmāt sabalaiḥ sapadānugaiḥ
 14 mahodadhim ivāpūrṇam āpagābhiḥ samantataḥ
     apakṣaiḥ pakṣasaṃkāśai rathair nāgaiś ca saṃvṛtam
 15 nānāyodhajalaṃ bhīmaṃ vāhanormitaraṅgiṇam
     kṣepaṇyasigadāśaktiśaraprāsasamākulam
 16 dhvajabhūṣaṇasaṃbādhaṃ ratnapaṭṭena saṃcitam
     vāhanaiḥ parisarpadbhir vāyuvegavikampitam
 17 apāram iva garjantaṃ sāgarapratimaṃ mahat
     droṇabhīṣmābhisaṃguptaṃ guptaṃ ca kṛtavarmaṇā
 18 kṛpaduḥśāsanābhyāṃ ca jayadrathamukhais tathā
     bhagadattavikarṇābhyāṃ drauṇisaubalabāhlikaiḥ
 19 guptaṃ pravīrair lokasya sāravadbhir mahātmabhiḥ
     yad ahanyata saṃgrāme diṣṭam etat purātanam
 20 naitādṛśaṃ samudyogaṃ dṛṣṭavanto 'tha mānuṣāḥ
     ṛṣayo vā mahābhāgāḥ purāṇā bhuvi saṃjaya
 21 īdṛśo hi balaughas tu yuktaḥ śastrāstrasaṃpadā
     vadhyate yatra saṃgrāme kim anyad bhāgadheyataḥ
 22 viparītam idaṃ sarvaṃ pratibhāti sma saṃjaya
     yatredṛśaṃ balaṃ ghoraṃ nātarad yudhi pāṇḍavān
 23 atha vā pāṇḍavārthāya devās tatra samāgatāḥ
     yudhyante māmakaṃ sainyaṃ yad avadhyanta saṃjaya
 24 ukto hi vidureṇeha hitaṃ pathyaṃ ca saṃjaya
     na ca gṛhṇāti tan mandaḥ putro duryodhano mama
 25 tasya manye matiḥ pūrvaṃ sarvajñasya mahātmanaḥ
     āsīd yathāgataṃ tāta yena dṛṣṭam idaṃ purā
 26 atha vā bhāvyam evaṃ hi saṃjayaitena sarvathā
     purā dhātrā yathā sṛṣṭaṃ tat tathā na tad anyathā

SECTION LXXII

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

Book 6
Chapter 73

1 saṃjaya uvāca
      ātmadoṣāt tvayā rājan prāptaṃ vyasanam īdṛśam
      na hi duryodhanas tāni paśyate bharatarṣabha
      yāni tvaṃ dṛṣṭavān rājan dharmasaṃkarakārite
  2 tava doṣāt purā vṛttaṃ dyūtam etad viśāṃ pate
      tava doṣeṇa yuddhaṃ ca pravṛttaṃ saha pāṇḍavaiḥ
      tvam evādya phalaṃ bhuṅkṣva kṛtvā kilbiṣam ātmanā
  3 ātmanā hi kṛtaṃ karma ātmanaivopabhujyate
      iha vā pretya vā rājaṃs tvayā prāptaṃ yathātatham
  4 tasmād rājan sthiro bhūtvā prāpyedaṃ vyasanaṃ mahat
      śṛṇu yuddhaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ śaṃsato mama māriṣa
  5 bhīmasenas tu niśitair bāṇair bhittvā mahācamūm
      āsasāda tato vīraḥ sarvān duryodhanānujān
  6 duḥśāsanaṃ durviṣahaṃ duḥsahaṃ durmadaṃ jayam
      jayatsenaṃ vikarṇaṃ ca citrasenaṃ sudarśanam
  7 cārucitraṃ suvarmāṇaṃ duṣkarṇaṃ karṇam eva ca
      etān anyāṃś ca subahūn samīpasthān mahārathān
  8 dhārtarāṣṭrān susaṃkruddhān dṛṣṭvā bhīmo mahābalaḥ
      bhīṣmeṇa samare guptāṃ praviveśa mahācamūm
  9 athāhvayanta te 'nyonyam ayaṃ prāpto vṛkodaraḥ
      jīvagrāhaṃ nigṛhṇīmo vayam enaṃ narādhipāḥ
  10 sa taiḥ parivṛtaḥ pārtho bhrātṛbhiḥ kṛtaniścayaiḥ
     prajāsaṃharaṇe sūryaḥ krūrair iva mahāgrahaiḥ
 11 saṃprāpya madhyaṃ vyūhasya na bhīḥ pāṇḍavam āviśat
     yathā devāsure yuddhe mahendraḥ prāpya dānavān
 12 tataḥ śatasahasrāṇi rathināṃ sarvaśaḥ prabho
     chādayānaṃ śarair ghorais tam ekam anuvavrire
 13 sa teṣāṃ pravarān yodhān hastyaśvarathasādinaḥ
     jaghāna samare śūro dhārtarāṣṭrān acintayan
 14 teṣāṃ vyavasitaṃ jñātvā bhīmaseno jighṛkṣatām
     samastānāṃ vadhe rājan matiṃ cakre mahāmanāḥ
 15 tato rathaṃ samutsṛjya gadām ādāya pāṇḍavaḥ
     jaghāna dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ taṃ balaughamahārṇavam
 16 bhīmasene praviṣṭe tu dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi pārṣataḥ
     droṇam utsṛjya tarasā prayayau yatra saubalaḥ
 17 vidārya mahatīṃ senāṃ tāvakānāṃ nararṣabhaḥ
     āsasāda rathaṃ śūnyaṃ bhīmasenasya saṃyuge
 18 dṛṣṭvā viśokaṃ samare bhīmasenasya sārathim
     dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja durmanā gatacetanaḥ
 19 apṛcchad bāṣpasaṃruddho nisvanāṃ vācam īrayan
     mama prāṇaiḥ priyatamaḥ kva bhīma iti duḥkhitaḥ
 20 viśokas tam uvācedaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ kṛtāñjaliḥ
     saṃsthāpya mām iha balī pāṇḍaveyaḥ pratāpavān
 21 praviṣṭo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇām etad balamahārṇavam
     mām uktvā puruṣavyāghra prītiyuktam idaṃ vacaḥ
 22 pratipālaya māṃ sūta niyamyāśvān muhūrtakam
     yāvad etān nihanmy āśu ya ime madvadhodyatāḥ
 23 tato dṛṣṭvā gadāhastaṃ pradhāvantaṃ mahābalam
     sarveṣām eva sainyānāṃ saṃdharṣaḥ samajāyata
 24 tasmiṃs tu tumule yuddhe vartamāne bhayānake
     bhittvā rājan mahāvyūhaṃ praviveśa sakhā tava
 25 viśokasya vacaḥ śrutvā dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi pārṣataḥ
     pratyuvāca tataḥ sūtaṃ raṇamadhye mahābalaḥ
 26 na hi me vidyate sūta jīvite 'dya prayojanam
     bhīmasenaṃ raṇe hitvā sneham utsṛjya pāṇḍavaiḥ
 27 yadi yāmi vinā bhīmaṃ kiṃ māṃ kṣatraṃ vadiṣyati
     ekāyanagate bhīme mayi cāvasthite yudhi
 28 asvasti tasya kurvanti devāḥ sāgnipurogamāḥ
     yaḥ sahāyān parityajya svastimān āvrajed gṛhān
 29 mama bhīmaḥ sakhā caiva saṃbandhī ca mahābalaḥ
     bhakto 'smān bhaktimāṃś cāhaṃ tam apy ariniṣūdanam
 30 so 'haṃ tatra gamiṣyāmi yatra yāto vṛkodaraḥ
     nighnantaṃ mām arīn paśya dānavān iva vāsavam
 31 evam uktvā tato vīro yayau madhyena bhāratīm
     bhīmasenasya mārgeṣu gadāpramathitair gajaiḥ
 32 sa dadarśa tato bhīmaṃ dahantaṃ ripuvāhinīm
     vātaṃ vṛkṣān iva balāt prabhañjantaṃ raṇe nṛpān
 33 te hanyamānāḥ samare rathinaḥ sādinas tathā
     pādātā dantinaś caiva cakrur ārtasvaraṃ mahat
 34 hāhākāraś ca saṃjajñe tava sainyasya māriṣa
     vadhyato bhīmasenena kṛtinā citrayodhinā
 35 tataḥ kṛtāstrās te sarve parivārya vṛkodaram
     abhītāḥ samavartanta śastravṛṣṭyā samantataḥ
 36 abhidrutaṃ śastrabhṛtāṃ variṣṭhaṃ; samantataḥ pāṇḍavaṃ lokavīraiḥ
     sainyena ghoreṇa susaṃgatena; dṛṣṭvā balī pārṣato bhīmasenam
 37 athopagacchac charavikṣatāṅgaṃ; padātinaṃ krodhaviṣaṃ vamantam
     āśvāsayan pārṣato bhīmasenaṃ; gadāhastaṃ kālam ivāntakāle
 38 niḥśalyam enaṃ ca cakāra tūrṇam; āropayac cātmarathaṃ mahātmā
     bhṛśaṃ pariṣvajya ca bhīmasenam; āśvāsayām āsa ca śatrumadhye
 39 bhrātṝn athopetya tavāpi putras; tasmin vimarde mahati pravṛtte
     ayaṃ durātmā drupadasya putraḥ; samāgato bhīmasenena sārdham
     taṃ yāta sarve sahitā nihantuṃ; mā vo ripuḥ prārthayatām anīkam
 40 śrutvā tu vākyaṃ tam amṛṣyamāṇā; jyeṣṭhājñayā coditā dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ
     vadhāya niṣpetur udāyudhās te; yugakṣaye ketavo yadvad ugrāḥ
 41 pragṛhya citrāṇi dhanūṃṣi vīrā; jyānemighoṣaiḥ pravikampayantaḥ
     śarair avarṣan drupadasya putraṃ; yathāmbudā bhūdharaṃ vārijālaiḥ
     nihatya tāṃś cāpi śaraiḥ sutīkṣṇair; na vivyathe samare citrayodhī
 42 samabhyudīrṇāṃś ca tavātmajāṃs tathā; niśāmya vīrān abhitaḥ sthitān raṇe
     jighāṃsur ugraṃ drupadātmajo yuvā; pramohanāstraṃ yuyuje mahārathaḥ
     kruddho bhṛśaṃ tava putreṣu rājan; daityeṣu yadvat samare mahendraḥ
 43 tato vyamuhyanta raṇe nṛvīrāḥ; pramohanāstrāhatabuddhisattvāḥ
     pradudruvuḥ kuravaś caiva sarve; savājināgāḥ sarathāḥ samantāt
     parītakālān iva naṣṭasaṃjñān; mohopetāṃs tava putrān niśamya
 44 etasminn eva kāle tu droṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
     drupadaṃ tribhir āsādya śarair vivyādha dāruṇaiḥ
 45 so 'tividdhas tadā rājan raṇe droṇena pārthivaḥ
     apāyād drupado rājan pūrvavairam anusmaran
 46 jitvā tu drupadaṃ droṇaḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān
     tasya śaṅkhasvanaṃ śrutvā vitresuḥ sarvasomakāḥ
 47 atha śuśrāva tejasvī droṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
     pramohanāstreṇa raṇe mohitān ātmajāṃs tava
 48 tato droṇo rājagṛddhī tvarito 'bhiyayau raṇāt
     tatrāpaśyan maheṣvāso bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
     dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca bhīmaṃ ca vicarantau mahāraṇe
 49 mohāviṣṭāṃś ca te putrān apaśyat sa mahārathaḥ
     tataḥ prajñāstram ādāya mohanāstraṃ vyaśātayat
 50 atha pratyāgataprāṇās tava putrā mahārathāḥ
     punar yuddhāya samare prayayur bhīmapārṣatau
 51 tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prāha samāhūya svasainikān
     gacchantu padavīṃ śaktyā bhīmapārṣatayor yudhi
 52 saubhadrapramukhā vīrā rathā dvādaśa daṃśitāḥ
     pravṛttim adhigacchantu na hi śudhyati me manaḥ
 53 ta evaṃ samanujñātāḥ śūrā vikrāntayodhinaḥ
     bāḍham ity evam uktvā tu sarve puruṣamāninaḥ
     madhyaṃdinagate sūrye prayayuḥ sarva eva hi
 54 kekayā draupadeyāś ca dhṛṣṭaketuś ca vīryavān
     abhimanyuṃ puraskṛtya mahatyā senayā vṛtāḥ
 55 te kṛtvā samare vyūhaṃ sūcīmukham ariṃdamāḥ
     bibhidur dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ tad rathānīkam āhave
 56 tān prayātān maheṣvāsān abhimanyupurogamān
     bhīmasenabhayāviṣṭā dhṛṣṭadyumnavimohitā
 57 na saṃdhārayituṃ śaktā tava senā janādhipa
     madamūrchānvitātmānaṃ pramadevādhvani sthitā
 58 te 'bhiyātā maheṣvāsāḥ suvarṇavikṛtadhvajāḥ
     parīpsanto 'bhyadhāvanta dhṛṣṭadyumnavṛkodarau
 59 tau ca dṛṣṭvā maheṣvāsān abhimanyupurogamān
     babhūvatur mudā yuktau nighnantau tava vāhinīm
 60 dṛṣṭvā ca sahasāyāntaṃ pāñcālyo gurum ātmanaḥ
     nāśaṃsata vadhaṃ vīraḥ putrāṇāṃ tava pārṣataḥ
 61 tato rathaṃ samāropya kekayasya vṛkodaram
     abhyadhāvat susaṃkruddho droṇam iṣvastrapāragam
 62 tasyābhipatatas tūrṇaṃ bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
     kruddhaś ciccheda bhallena dhanuḥ śatruniṣūdanaḥ
 63 anyāṃś ca śataśo bāṇān preṣayām āsa pārṣate
     duryodhanahitārthāya bhartṛpiṇḍam anusmaran
 64 athānyad dhanur ādāya pārṣataḥ paravīrahā
     droṇaṃ vivyādha saptatyā rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
 65 tasya droṇaḥ punaś cāpaṃ cicchedāmitrakarśanaḥ
     hayāṃś ca caturas tūrṇaṃ caturbhiḥ sāyakottamaiḥ
 66 vaivasvatakṣayaṃ ghoraṃ preṣayām āsa vīryavān
     sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena preṣayām āsa mṛtyave
 67 hatāśvāt sa rathāt tūrṇam avaplutya mahārathaḥ
     āruroha mahābāhur abhimanyor mahāratham
 68 tataḥ sarathanāgāśvā samakampata vāhinī
     paśyato bhīmasenasya pārṣatasya ca paśyataḥ
 69 tat prabhagnaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā droṇenāmitatejasā
     nāśaknuvan vārayituṃ samastās te mahārathāḥ
 70 vadhyamānaṃ tu tat sainyaṃ droṇena niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     vyabhramat tatra tatraiva kṣobhyamāṇa ivārṇavaḥ
 71 tathā dṛṣṭvā ca tat sainyaṃ jahṛṣe ca balaṃ tava
     dṛṣṭvācāryaṃ ca saṃkruddhaṃ dahantaṃ ripuvāhinīm
     cukruśuḥ sarvato yodhāḥ sādhu sādhv iti bhārata

SECTION LXXIII

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

Book 6
Chapter 74

1 [s]
      tato duryodhano rājā mohāt pratyāgatas tadā
      śaravarṣaiḥ punar bhīmaṃ pratyavārayad acyutam
  2 ekībhūtāḥ punaś caiva tava putrā mahārathāḥ
      sametya samare bhīmaṃ yodhayām āsur udyatāḥ
  3 bhīmaseno 'pi samare saṃprāpya svarathaṃ punaḥ
      samāruhya mahābāhur yayau yena tavātmajaḥ
  4 pragṛhya ca mahāvegaṃ parāsu karaṇaṃ dṛḍham
      citraṃ śarāsanaṃ saṃkhye śarair vivyādha te sutān
  5 tato duryodhano rājā bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
      nārācena sutīkṣṇena bhṛśaṃ marmaṇy atāḍayat
  6 so 'tividdho maheṣvāsas tava putreṇa dhanvinā
      krodhasaṃraktanayano vegenotkṣipya kārmukam
  7 duryodhanaṃ tribhir bāṇair bāhvor urasi cārpayat
      sa tathābhihato rājā nācalad girirāḍ iva
  8 tau dṛṣṭvā samare kruddhau vinighnantau parasparam
      duryodhanānujāḥ sarve śūrāḥ saṃtyaktajīvitāḥ
  9 saṃsmṛtya mantritaṃ pūrvaṃ nigrahe bhīmakarmaṇaḥ
      niścayaṃ manasā kṛtvā nigrahītuṃ pracakramuḥ
  10 tān āpatata evājau bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     pratyudyayau mahārāja gajaḥ pratigajān iva
 11 bhṛśaṃ kruddhaś ca tejasvī nārācena samarpayat
     citrasenaṃ mahārāja tava putraṃ mahāyaśāḥ
 12 tathetarāṃs tava sutāṃs tāḍayām āsa bhārata
     śarair bahuvidhaiḥ saṃkhye rukmapuṅkhaiḥ suvegitaiḥ
 13 tataḥ saṃsthāpya samare svāny anīkāni sarvaśaḥ
     abhimanyuprabhṛtayas te dvādaśa mahārathāḥ
 14 preṣitā dharmarājena bhīmasenapadānugāḥ
     pratyudyayur mahārāja tava putrān mahābalān
 15 dṛṣṭvā rathasthāṃs tāñ śūrān sūryāgnisamatejasaḥ
     sarvān eva maheṣvāsān bhrājamānāñ śriyā vṛtān
 16 mahāhave dīpyamānān suvarṇakavacojjvalān
     tatyajuḥ samare bhīmaṃ tava putrā mahābalāḥ
 17 tān nāmṛṣyata kaunteyo jīvamānā gatā iti
     anvīya ca punaḥ sarvāṃs tava putrān apīḍayat
 18 athābhimanyuṃ samare bhīmasenena saṃgatam
     pārṣatena ca saṃprekṣya tava sainye mahārathāḥ
 19 duryodhanaprabhṛtayaḥ pragṛhītaśarāsanāḥ
     bhṛśam aśvaiḥ prajavitaiḥ prayayur yatra te rathāḥ
 20 aparāhṇe tato rājan prāvartata mahān raṇaḥ
     tāvakānāṃ ca balināṃ pareṣāṃ caiva bhārata
 21 abhimanyur vikarṇasya hayān hatvā mahājavān
     athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samācinot
 22 hatāśvaṃ ratham utsṛjya vikarṇas tu mahārathaḥ
     āruroha rathaṃ rājaṃś citrasenasya bhāsvaram
 23 sthitāv ekarathe tau tu bhrātarau kuruvardhanau
     ārjuniḥ śarajālena chādayām āsa bhārata
 24 durjayo 'tha vikarṇaś ca kārṣṇiṃ pañcabhir āyasaiḥ
     vivyādhāte na cākampat kārṣṇir merur ivācalaḥ
 25 duḥśāsanas tu samare kekayān pañca māriṣa
     yodhayām āsa rājendra tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 26 draupadeyā raṇe kruddhā duryodhanam avārayan
     ekaikas tribhir ānarchat putraṃ tava viśāṃ pate
 27 putro 'pi tava durdharṣo draupadyās tanayān raṇe
     sāyakair niśitai rājann ājaghāna pṛthak pṛthak
 28 taiś cāpi viddhaḥ śuśubhe rudhireṇa samukṣitaḥ
     giriprasravaṇair yadvad girir dhātumimiśritaiḥ
 29 bhīṣmo 'pi samare rājan pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
     kālayām āsa balavān pālaḥ paśugaṇān iva
 30 tato gāṇḍīvanirghoṣaḥ prādurāsīd viśāṃ pate
     dakṣiṇena varūthinyāḥ pārthasyārīn vinighnataḥ
 31 uttasthuḥ samare tatra kabandhāni samantataḥ
     kurūṇāṃ cāpi sainyeṣu pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata
 32 śoṇitodaṃ rathāvartaṃ gajadvīpaṃ hayormiṇam
     rathanaubhir naravyāghrāḥ prateruḥ sainyasāgaram
 33 chinnahastā vikavacā videhāś ca narottamāḥ
     patitās tatra dṛśyante śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 34 nihatair mattamātaṅgaiḥ śoṇitaughapariplutaiḥ
     bhūr bhāti bharataśreṣṭha parvatair ācitā yathā
 35 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata
     na tatrāsīt pumān kaś cid yo yoddhuṃ nābhikāṅkṣati
 36 evaṃ yuyudhire vīrāḥ prārthayānā mahad yaśaḥ
     tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ kāṅkṣamāṇā jayaṃ yudhi

SECTION LXXIV

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

Book 6
Chapter 75

 1 [s]
      tato duryodhano rājā lohitāyati bhāskare
      saṃgrāmarabhaso bhīmaṃ hantukāmo 'bhyadhāvata
  2 tam āyāntam abhiprekṣya nṛvīraṃ dṛḍhavairiṇam
      bhīmasenaḥ susaṃkruddha idaṃ vacanam abravīt
  3 ayaṃ sa kālaḥ saṃprāpto varṣapūgābhikāṅkṣitaḥ
      adya tvāṃ nihaniṣyāmi yadi notsṛjase raṇam
  4 adya kuntyāḥ parikleṣaṃ vanavāsaṃ ca kṛtsnaśaḥ
      draupadyāś ca parikleśaṃ praṇotsyāmi hate tvayi
  5 yat tvaṃ durodaro bhūtvā pāṇḍavān avamanyase
      tasya pāpasya gāndhāre paśya vyasanam āgatam
  6 karṇasya matam ājñāya saubalasya ca yat purā
      acintyapāṇḍavān kāmād yatheṣṭaṃ kṛtavān asi
  7 yācamānaṃ ca yan mohād dāśārham avamanyase
      ulūkasya samādeśaṃ yad dadāsi ca hṛṣṭavat
  8 adya tvā nihaniṣyāmi sānubandhaṃ sa bāndhavam
      samīkariṣye tat pāpaṃ yat purā kṛtavān asi
  9 evam uktvā dhanur ghoraṃ vikṛṣyodbhrāmya cāsakṛt
      samādāya śarān ghorān mahāśani samaprabhān
  10 ṣaḍviṃśat tarasā kruddho mumocāśu suyodhane
     jvalitāgniśikhākārān vajrakalpān ajihmagān
 11 tato 'sya kārmukaṃ dvābhyāṃ sūtaṃ dvābhyāṃ ca vivyadhe
     caturbhir aśvāñ javanān anayad yamasādanam
 12 dvābhyāṃ ca suvikṛṣṭābhyāṃ śarābhyām arimardanaḥ
     chatraṃ ciccheda samare rājñas tasya rathottamāt
 13 tribhiś ca tasya ciccheda jvalantaṃ dhvajam uttamam
     chittvā taṃ ca nanādoccais tava putrasya paśyataḥ
 14 rathāc ca sa dhvajaḥ śrīmān nānāratnavibhūṣitaḥ
     papāta sahasā bhūmiṃ vidyuj jaladharād iva
 15 jvalantaṃ sūryasaṃkāśaṃ nāgaṃ maṇimayaṃ śubham
     dhvajaṃ kurupateś chinnaṃ dadṛśuḥ sarvapārthivāḥ
 16 athainaṃ daśabhir bāṇais tottrair iva mahāgajam
     ājaghāna raṇe bhīmaḥ smayann iva mahārathaḥ
 17 tatas tu rājā sindhūnāṃ rathaśreṣṭho jayadrathaḥ
     duryodhanasya jagrāha pārṣṇisatpuruṣocitām
 18 kṛpaś ca rathināṃ śreṣṭha kauravyam amitaujasam
     āropayad rathaṃ rājan duryodhanam amarṣaṇam
 19 sa gāḍhaviddho vyathito bhīmasenena saṃyuge
     niṣasāda rathopasthe rājā duryodhanas tadā
 20 parivārya tato bhīmaṃ hantukāmo jayadrathaḥ
     rathair anekasāhasrair bhīmasyāvārayad diśaḥ
 21 dhṛṣṭaketus tato rājann abhimanyuś ca vīryavān
     kekayā draupadeyāś ca tava putrān ayodhayan
 22 citrasenaḥ sucitraś ca citrāśvaś citradarśanaḥ
     cāru citraḥ sucāruś ca tathā nandopanandakau
 23 aṣṭāv ete maheṣvāsāḥ sukumārā yaśasvinaḥ
     abhimanyurathaṃ rājan samantāt paryavārayan
 24 ājaghāna tatas tūrṇam abhimanyur mahāmanāḥ
     ekaikaṃ pañcabhir viddhvā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     vajramṛtyupratīkāśair vicitrāyudha niḥsṛtaiḥ
 25 amṛṣyamāṇās te sarve saubhadraṃ rathasattamam
     vavarṣur mārgaṇais tīkṣṇair giriṃ merum ivāmbudāḥ
 26 sa pīḍyamānaḥ samare kṛtāstro yuddhadurmadaḥ
     abhimanyur mahārāja tāvakān samakampayat
     yathā devāsure yuddhe vajrapāṇir mahāsurān
 27 vikarṇasya tato bhallān preṣayām āsa bhārata
     caturdaśa rathaśreṣṭho ghorān āśīviṣopamān
     dhvajaṃ sūtaṃ hayāṃś cāsya chittvā nṛtyann ivāhave
 28 punaś cānyāñ śarān pītān akuṇṭhāgrāñ śilāśitān
     preṣayām āsa saubhadro vikarṇāya mahābalaḥ
 29 te vikarṇaṃ samāsādya kaṅkabarhiṇa vāsasaḥ
     bhittvā dehaṃ gatā bhūmiṃ jvalanta iva pannagāḥ
 30 te śarā hemapuṅkhāgrā vyadṛśyanta mahītale
     vikarṇa rudhiraklinnā vamanta iva śoṇitam
 31 vikarṇaṃ vīkṣya nirbhinnaṃ tasyaivānye sahodarāḥ
     abhyadravanta samare saubhadrapramukhān rathān
 32 abhiyātvā tathaivāśu rathasthān sūryavarcasaḥ
     avidhyan samare 'nyonyaṃ saṃrabdhā yuddhadurmadāḥ
 33 durmukhaḥ śrutakarmāṇaṃ viddhvā saptabhir āśugaiḥ
     dhvajam ekena ciccheda sārathiṃ cāsya saptabhiḥ
 34 aśvāñ jāmbūnadair jālaiḥ pracchannān vātaraṃhasaḥ
     jaghāna ṣaḍbhir āsādya sārathiṃ cābhyapātayat
 35 sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhañ śrutakarmā mahāratha
     śaktiṃ cikṣepa saṃkruddho maholkāṃ jvalitām iva
 36 sā durmukhasya vipulaṃ varma bhittvā yaśasvinaḥ
     vidārya prāviśad bhūmiṃ dīpyamānā sutejanā
 37 taṃ dṛṣṭvā virathaṃ tatra suta somo mahābalaḥ
     paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ ratham āropayat svakam
 38 śrutakīrtis tathā vīro jayatsenaṃ sutaṃ tava
     abhyayāt samare rājan hantukāmo yaśasvinam
 39 tasya vikṣipataś cāpaṃ śrutakīrtir mahātmanaḥ
     ciccheda samare rājañ jayatsenaḥ sutas tava
     kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena prahasann iva bhārata
 40 taṃ dṛṣṭvā chinnadhanvānaṃ śatānīkaḥ sahodaram
     abhyapadyata tejasvī siṃhavad vinadan muhuḥ
 41 śatānīkas tu samare dṛḍhaṃ visphārya kārmukam
     vivyādha daśabhis tūrṇaṃ jayatsenaṃ śilīmukhaiḥ
 42 athānyena sutīkṣṇena sarvāvaraṇabhedinā
     śatānīko jayatsenaṃ vivyādha hṛdaye bhṛśam
 43 tathā tasmin vartamāne duṣkarṇo bhrātur antike
     ciccheda samare cāpaṃ nākuleḥ krodhamūrchitaḥ
 44 athānyad dhanur ādāya bhārasādhanam uttamam
     samādatta śitān bāṇāñ śatānīko mahābalaḥ
 45 tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cāmantrya duṣkarṇaṃ bhrātur agrataḥ
     mumoca niśitān bāṇāñ jvalitān pannagān iva
 46 tato 'sya dhanur ekena dvābhyāṃ sūtaṃ ca māriṣa
     ciccheda samare tūrṇaṃ taṃ ca vivyādha saptabhiḥ
 47 aśvān manojavāṃś cāsya kalmāṣān vītakalmaṣaḥ
     jaghāna niśitais tūrṇaṃ sarvān dvādaśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 48 athāpareṇa bhallena sumuktena nipātinā
     duṣkarṇaṃ samare kruddho vivyādha hṛdaye bhṛśam
 49 duṣkarṇaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā pañca rājan mahārathāḥ
     jighāṃsantaḥ śatānīkaṃ sarvataḥ paryavārayan
 50 chādyamānaṃ śaravrātaiḥ śatānīkaṃ yaśasvinam
     abhyadhāvanta saṃrabdhāḥ kekayāḥ pañca sodarāḥ
 51 tān abhyāpatataḥ prekṣya tava putrā mahārathāḥ
     pratyudyayur mahārāja gajā iva mahāgajān
 52 durmukho durjayaś caiva tathā durmarṣaṇo yuvā
     śatruṃjayaḥ śatrusahaḥ sarve kruddhā yaśasvinaḥ
     pratyudyātā mahārāja kekayān bhrātaraḥ samam
 53 rathair nagarasaṃkāśair hayair yuktair manojavaiḥ
     nānāvarṇavicitrābhiḥ patākābhir alaṃkṛtaiḥ
 54 vaca cāpadharā vīrā vicitrakavaca dhvajāḥ
     viviśus te paraṃ sainyaṃ siṃhā iva vanād vanam
 55 teṣāṃ sutumulaṃ yuddhavyatiṣakta raha dvipam
     avartata mahāraudraṃ nighnatām itaretaram
     anyonyāgaḥ kṛtāṃ rājan yama rāṣṭravivardhanam
 56 muhūrtāstamite sūrye cakrur yuddhaṃ sudāruṇam
     rathinaḥ sādinaś caiva vyakīryanta sahasraśaḥ
 57 tataḥ śāṃtanavaḥ kruddhaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     nāśayām āsa senāṃ vai bhīṣmas teṣāṃ mahātmanām
     pāñcālānāṃ ca sainyāni śarair ninye yamakṣayam
 58 evaṃ bhittvā maheṣvāsaḥ pāṇḍavānām anīkinām
     kṛtvāvahāraṃ sainyānāṃ yayau svaśibiraṃ nṛpa
 59 dharmarājo 'pi saṃprekṣya dhṛṣṭadyumna vṛkodarau
     mūrdhni caitāv upāghrāya saṃhṛṣṭaḥ śibiraṃ yayau

SECTION LXXV

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

Book 6
Chapter 76

1 [s]
      atha śūrā mahārāja parasparakṛtāgasaḥ
      jagmuḥ svaśibirāṇy eva rudhireṇa samukṣitāḥ
  2 viśramya ca yathānyāyaṃ pūjayitvā parasparam
      saṃnadhāḥ samadṛśyanta bhūyo yuddhacikīrṣayā
  3 tatas tava suto rājaṃś cintayābhipariplutaḥ
      visravac choṇitāktāṅgaḥ papracchedaṃ pitāmaham
  4 sainyāni raudrāṇi bhayānakāni; vyūḍhāni samyag bahula dhvajāni
      vidārya hatvā ca nipīḍya śūrās; te pāṇḍavānāṃ tvaritā rathaughāḥ
  5 saṃmohya sarvān yudhi kīrtimanto; vyūhaṃ ca taṃ makaraṃ vajrakalpam
      praviśya bhīmena nibarhito 'smi; ghoraiḥ śarair mṛtyudaṇḍaprakāśaiḥ
  6 kruddhaṃ tam udvīkṣya bhayena rājan; saṃmūrchito nālabhaṃ śāntim adya
      icche prasādāt tava satyasaṃgha; prāptuṃ jayaṃ pāṇḍaveyāṃś ca hantum
  7 tenaivam uktaḥ prahasan mahātmā; duryodhanaṃ jātamanyuṃ viditvā
      taṃ pratyuvācāvimanā manasvī; gaṅgāsutaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ variṣṭhaḥ
  8 pareṇa yatnena vigāhya senāṃ; sarvātmanāhaṃ tava rājaputra
      icchāmi dātuṃ vijayaṃ sukhaṃ ca; na cātmānaṃ chādaye 'haṃ tvadarthe
  9 ete tu raudrā bahavo mahārathā; yaśasvinaḥ śūratamāḥ kṛtāstrāḥ
      ye pāṇḍavānāṃ samare sahāyā; jitaklamāḥ krodhaviṣaṃ vamanti
  10 te neha śakyāḥ sahasā vijetuṃ; vīryonnaddhāḥ kṛtavairās tvayā ca
     ahaṃ hy etān pratiyotsyāmi rājan; sarvātmanā jīvitaṃ tyajya vīra
 11 raṇe tavārthāya mahānubhāva; na jīvitaṃ rakṣyatamaṃ mamādya
     sarvāṃs tavārthāya sa deva daityāṁl; lokān daheyaṃ kim u śatrūṃs taveha
 12 tat pāṇḍavān yodhayiṣyāmi rājan; priyaṃ ca te sarvam ahaṃ kariṣye
     śrutvaiva caitat paramapratīto; duryodhanaḥ prītimanā babhūva
 13 sarvāṇi sainyāni tataḥ prahṛṣṭo; nirgacchatety āha nṛpāṃś ca sarvān
     tad ājñayā tāni viniryayur drutaṃ; rathāśvapādātagajāyutāni
 14 praharṣayuktāni tu tāni rājan; mahānti nānāvidha śastravanti
     sthitāni nāgāśvapadātimanti; virejur ājau tava rājan balāni
 15 vṛndaiḥ sthitāś cāpi susaṃprayuktāś; cakāśire danti gaṇāḥ samantāt
     śastrāstravidbhir naradeva yodhair; adhiṣṭhitāḥ sainyagaṇās tvadīyāḥ
 16 rathaiś ca pādātagajāśvasaṃghaiḥ; prayādbhir ājau vidhivat praṇunnaiḥ
     samuddhataṃ vai taruṇārkavarṇaṃ; rajo babhau chādayat sūryaraśmīn
 17 rejuḥ patākā rathadanta saṃsthā; vāteritā bhrāmyamāṇāḥ samantāt
     nānā raṅgāḥ samare tatra rājan; meghair yuktā vidyutaḥ khe yathaiva
 18 dhanūṃṣi visphārayatāṃ nṛpāṇāṃ; babhūva śabdas tumulo 'tighoraḥ
     vimathyato devamahāsuraughair; yathārṇavasyādi yuge tadānīm
 19 tad ugranādaṃ bahurūpavarṇaṃ; tavātmajānāṃ samudīrṇam eva
     babhūva sainyaṃ ripusainyahantṛ; yugāntameghaughanibhaṃ tadānīm

SECTION LXXVI

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

Book 6
Chapter 77

 1 [s]
      athātmajaṃ tava punar gāṅgeyo dhyānam āsthitam
      abravīd bharataśreṣṭhaḥ saṃpraharṣakaraṃ vacaḥ
  2 ahaṃ droṇaś ca śalyaś ca kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ
      aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca somadatto 'tha saindhavaḥ
  3 vindānuvindāv āvantyau bāhlikaḥ saha bāhlikaiḥ
      trigartarājaś ca balī māgadhaś ca sudurjayaḥ
  4 bṛhadbalaś ca kausalyaś citraseno viviṃśatiḥ
      rathāś ca bahusāhasrāḥ śobhamānā mahādhvajāḥ
  5 devajāś ca hayā rājan svārūḍhā hayasādibhiḥ
      gajendrāś ca mahodvṛttāḥ prabhinnakaraṭā mukhāḥ
  6 padātāś ca tathā śūrā nānāpraharaṇāyudhāḥ
      nānādeśasamutpannās tvadarthe yoddhum udyatāḥ
  7 ete cānye ca bahavas tvadarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ
      devān api raṇe jetuṃ samarthā iti me matiḥ
  8 avaśyaṃ tu mayā rājaṃs tava vācyaṃ hitaṃ sadā
      aśakyāḥ pāṇḍavā jetuṃ devair api sa vāsavaiḥ
      vāsudevasahāyāś ca mahendrasamavikramāḥ
  9 sarvathāhaṃ tu rājendra kariṣye vacanaṃ tava
      pāṇḍavān vā raṇe jeṣye māṃ vā jeṣyanti pāṇḍavāḥ
  10 evam uktvā dadau cāsmai viśalyakaraṇīṃ śubhām
     oṣadhīṃ vīryasaṃpannāṃ viśalyaś cābhavat tadā
 11 tataḥ prabhāte vimale svenānīkena vīryavān
     avyūhata svayaṃ vyūhaṃ bhīṣmo vyūha viśāradaḥ
 12 maṇḍalaṃ manujaśreṣṭha nānāśastrasamākulam
     saṃpūrṇaṃ yodhamukhyaiś ca tathā danti padātibhiḥ
 13 rathair anekasāhasraiḥ samantāt parivāritam
     aśvabṛndair mahadbhiś ca ṛṣṭitomaradhāribhiḥ
 14 nāge nāge rathā sapta sapta cāśvā rathe rathe
     anv aśvaṃ daśa dhānuṣkā dhānuṣke sapta carmiṇaḥ
 15 evaṃ vyūhaṃ mahārāja tava sainyaṃ mahārathaiḥ
     sthitaṃ raṇāya mahate bhīṣmeṇa yudhi pālitam
 16 daśāśvānāṃ sahasrāṇi dantināṃ ca tathaiva ca
     rathānām ayutaṃ cāpi putrāś ca tava daṃśitāḥ
     citrasenādayaḥ śūrā abhyarakṣan pitāmaham
 17 rakṣyamāṇaś ca taiḥ śūrair gopyamānāś ca tena te
     saṃnaddhāḥ samadṛśyanta rājānaś ca mahābalāḥ
 18 duryodhanas tu samare daṃśito ratham āsthitaḥ
     vyabhrājata śriyā juṣṭo yathā śakras triviṣṭape
 19 tataḥ śabdo mahān āsīt putrāṇāṃ tava bhārata
     rathagoṣaś ca tumulo vāditrāṇāṃ ca nisvanaḥ
 20 bhīṣmeṇa dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ vyūḍhaḥ pratyaṅmukho yudhi
     maṇḍalaḥ sumahāvyūho durbhedyo 'mitraghātinam
     sarvataḥ śuśubhe rājan raṇe 'rīṇāṃ durāsadaḥ
 21 maṇḍalaṃ tu samālokya vyūhaṃ paramadāruṇam
     svayaṃ yudhiṣṭhiro rājā vyūhaṃ vajram athākarot
 22 tathā vyūḍheṣv anīkeṣu yathāsthānam avasthitāḥ
     rathinaḥ sādinaś caiva siṃhanādam athānadan
 23 bibhitsavas tato vyūhaṃ niryayur yuddhakāṅkṣiṇaḥ
     itaretarataḥ śūrāḥ saha sainyāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
 24 bhāradvājo yayau matsyaṃ drauṇiś cāpi śikhaṇḍinam
     svayaṃ duryodhano rājā pārṣataṃ samupādravat
 25 nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca rājan madreśam īyatuḥ
     vindānuvindāv āvantyāv irāvantam abhidrutau
 26 sarve nṛpās tu samare dhanaṃjayam ayodhayan
     bhīmaseno raṇe yatto hārdikyaṃ samavārayat
 27 citrasenaṃ vikarṇaṃ ca tathā durmarṣaṇaṃ vibho
     ārjuniḥ samare rājaṃs tava putrān ayodhayat
 28 prāgjyotiṣaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ haiḍimbo rākṣasottamaḥ
     abhidudrāva vegena matto mattam iva dvipam
 29 alambusas tato rājan sātyakiṃ yuddhadurmadam
     sa sainyaṃ samare kruddho rākṣasaḥ samabhidravat
 30 bhūriśravā raṇe yatto dhṛṣṭaketum ayodhayat
     śrutāyuṣaṃ tu rājānaṃ dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 31 cekitānas tu samare kṛpam evānyvayodhayat
     śeṣāḥ pratiyayur yattā bhīmam eva mahāratham
 32 tato rājasahasrāṇi parivavrur dhanaṃjayam
     śaktitomaranārācagadāparighapāṇayaḥ
 33 arjuno 'tha bhṛśaṃ kruddho vārṣṇeyam idam abravīt
     paśya mādhava sainyāni dhārtarāṣṭrasya saṃyuge
     vyūḍhāni vyūha viduṣā gāṅgeyena mahātmanā
 34 yuddhābhikāmāñ śūrāṃś ca paśya mādhava daṃśitān
     trigartarājaṃ sahitaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ paśya keśava
 35 adyaitān pātayiṣyāmi paśyatas te janārdana
     ya ime māṃ yaduśreṣṭha yoddhukāmā raṇājire
 36 evam uktvā tu kaunteyo dhanurjyām avamṛjya ca
     vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi narādhipa gaṇān prati
 37 te 'pi taṃ parameṣvāsāḥ śaravarṣair apūrayan
     taḍāgam iva dhārābhir yathā prāvṛṣi toyadā
 38 hāhākāro mahān āsīt tava sainyaviśāṃ pate
     chādyamānau bhṛśaṃ kṛṣṇau śarair dṛṣṭvā mahāraṇe
 39 devā devarṣayaś caiva gandharvāś ca mahoragāḥ
     vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmur dṛṭvā kṛṣṇau tathāgatau
 40 tataḥ kruddho 'rjuno rājann aindram astram udīrayat
     tatrādbhutam apaśyāma vijayasya parākramam
 41 śastravṛṣṭiṃ parair muktāṃ śaraughair yad avārayat
     na ca tatrāpy anirbhinnaḥ kaś cid āsīd viśāṃ pate
 42 teṣāṃ rājasahasrāṇāṃ hayānāṃ dantināṃ tathā
     dvābhyāṃ tribhiḥ śaraiś cānyān pārtho vivyādha māriṣa
 43 te hanyamānāḥ pārthena bhīṣmaṃ śāṃtanavaṃ yayuḥ
     agādhe majjamānānāṃ bhīṣmas trātābhavat tadā
 44 āpatadbhis tu tais tatra prabhagnaṃ tāvakaṃ balam
     saṃcukṣubhe mahārāja vātair iva mahārṇavaḥ

SECTION LXXVII

Sanjaya said, "Thou hast, O king, in consequence of thy own fault, been overtaken by this calamity. O bull of Bharata's race, the faults which thou, O monarch, hadst seen in that unrighteous course of conduct (towards the Pandavas), were not seen by Duryodhana. It was through thy fault, O king, that the match at dice had taken place. And it is through thy fault that this battle hath taken place with the Pandavas. Having committed a sin, do thou, therefore, reap the fruit of that sin of thine. One reapeth the fruit of acts perpetrated by one's own self. Do thou, therefore, O king, reap the fruit of thy own acts both here and hereafter. Therefore, O monarch, though overtaken by this calamity, be calm still, and listen, O sire, to the (account of the) battle as I recite it.
"The heroic Bhimasena, having with his sharp shafts broken thy mighty array, then came upon all the younger brothers of Duryodhana.
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[paragraph continues] The mighty Bhima, beholding Dussasana and Durvisaha and Dussaha and Durmada and Jaya, and Jayasena and Vikarna and Chitrasena and Sudarsana, and Charuchitra and Suvarman and Duskarna and Karna, and many other mighty car-warriors, excited with rage, of the Dhartarashtra host near enough to himself, penetrated into (thy) mighty array that was protected by Bhishma in that battle. Then, beholding him in their midst, all those warriors said, 'Ye kings, let us take this one's life'!--Thereupon that son of Pritha was surrounded by those cousins of his who were firmly resolved (to take his life). And Bhima then resembled Surya himself of fierce splendour surrounded by the mighty planets of evil nature, at the time of the universal destruction. And although the son of Pandu was there in the very midst of the (Kaurava) array, yet fear entered not his heart, as it did not that of Indra while surrounded by the Danavas in the fierce battle of old between the celestials and the Asuras. Then thousands of car-warriors armed with all weapons and fully prepared for battle overwhelmed his single self with terrible shafts. Thereupon the heroic Bhima, disregarding the sons of Dhritarashtra, slew in that conflict many foremost warriors (of the Kaurava army) fighting from cars or upon the back of elephants and steeds. And ascertaining the purpose harboured by those cousins of his who were bent upon his destruction, the mighty Bhima set his heart upon slaying them all. Then leaving his car and taking up his mace, the son of Pandu began to smite that very sea of Dhartarashtra troops.
"Then when Bhimasena thus penetrated the Dhartarashtra host, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, forsaking Drona (with whom he had been engaged), quickly proceeded to the spot where Suvala's son was stationed. That bull among men, baffling countless warriors of thy army, came upon the empty car of Bhimasena in that battle. And beholding in that conflict Visoka, the charioteer of Bhimasena, Dhrishtadyumna, O king, became exceedingly cheerless and almost deprived of his senses. With voice choked in tears, and sighing as he spoke, he asked Visoka, in grief, saying, 'Where is Bhima who is dear to me as my life itself?' Visoka then, joining his hands, replied unto Dhrishtadyumna saying, 'The mighty son of Pandu, endued with great strength, ordering me to wait for him here, hath alone penetrated into the Dhartarashtra host that resembleth the very ocean. That tiger among men very cheerfully said unto me these words--'Wait for me, O charioteer, restraining the steeds for a short space of time, that is, till I slay those that are bent upon my destruction.--Beholding then the mighty Bhima rushing mace in hand, all our troops (that supported him) became filled with delight. Then in this fierce and terrible battle, O prince, thy friend, breaking the mighty array (of the foe), hath penetrated into it. Hearing these words of Visoka, Prishata's son Dhrishtadyumna, endued with great strength, said unto the charioteer these words on the field of battle. 'What need have I today of life itself, if forgetting my affection for the Pandavas, I forsake Bhima in battle? If I return today without Bhima, what will the Kshatriyas say of me? What
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will they say of me when they will learn that while I was on the field Bhima penetrated alone into the hostile array making a single opening in it? The gods with Indra at their head visit him with evil who, forsaking his comrades in battle, returneth home unhurt! The mighty Bhima again is my friend and kinsman. He is devoted to me, and I also am devoted to that slayer of foes. Therefore, I will go thither, whither Bhima hath gone. Behold me slaying the foe like Vasava slaying the Danavas.' Having said this, the heroic Dhrishtadyumna, O Bharata, proceeded through the midst of the foe, along the tracks opened by Bhimasena and marked by elephants crushed with his mace. He then obtained sight of Bhimasena consuming the hostile ranks or felling Kshatriya warriors like the tempest devastating rows of trees. And car-warriors and horsemen and foot-soldiers and tuskers, while thus slaughtered by him, uttered loud cries of woe. And cries of ah and alas arose from thy troops, O sire, while they were slaughtered by the victorious Bhima accomplished in all moods of warfare. Then the Kaurava warriors all accomplished in arms, surrounding Vrikodara on all sides, fearlessly poured upon him their arrowy showers at the same time. Then the mighty son of Prishata, beholding that foremost of all wielders of weapons, that celebrated hero, viz., the son of Pandu, thus attacked on all sides by fierce ranks of foes in close array, mangled with shafts, treading the field on foot, and vomiting the poison of his wrath, mace in hand and looking like the Destroyer himself at the hour of the universal dissolution, quickly approached him and comforted him by his presence. And taking him upon his car, and plucking the arrows off from all his limbs, and embracing him warmly, the high-souled son of Prishata comforted Bhimasena in the very midst of the foe. Then thy son, in that terrible conflict, quickly coming up to his brothers, said unto them, 'This son of Drupada of wicked soul, is now united with Bhimasena. Let us all approach him together for slaying him. Let not the foe seek our ranks (for battle).' Hearing these words, the Dhartarashtras, thus urged on by the command of their eldest brother and unable to put up (with the foe), quickly rushed, with upraised weapons, for slaying Dhrishtadyumna like fierce comets at the hour of the universal dissolution. Taking up their beautiful bows, those heroes, making the very earth shiver with the twang of their bowstring and the rattle of their car-wheels, showered shafts on Drupada's son, like the clouds covering the mountain-breast with torrents of rain. But that hero conversant with all modes of warfare, though thus struck with sharp arrows in that battle, did not waver. On the other hand, that mighty car-warrior, the youthful son of Drupada, beholding those heroic sons of thine staying before him in battle and exerting themselves to their utmost being desirous of slaying them applied that fierce weapon called Pramohana and engaged with thy sons, O king, like Indra with the Danavas in battle. Then those heroic warriors were deprived of their senses, their minds and strength afflicted by the Pramohana weapon. And the Kauravas fled away in all directions, with their steeds and elephants and cars, beholding those sons of thine deprived of their senses in a swoon like
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those whose hours had come. And at that time Drona, the foremost of all wielders of weapons, approaching Drupada, pierced him with three fierce shafts. And that monarch then, O king, viz., Drupada, deeply pierced by Drona, left the battle, O Bharata, remembering his former hostility (with Bharadwaja's son). Thereupon Drona endued with great prowess having thus vanquished Drupada, blew his conch. And hearing the blare of his conch, all the Somakas were struck with fear. Then Drona, possessed of great energy, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, heard of thy sons being deprived of their senses in battle with the Pramohana weapon. Then the son of Bharadwaja, desirous of rescuing the princes, speedily left that part of the field where he was and proceeded to the place where thy sons were. And that mighty bowman viz., Bharadwaja's son of great prowess, there beheld Dhrishtadyumna and Bhima careering through the field in that dreadful conflict. And that mighty car-warrior beheld thy sons deprived of their senses. Taking up then the weapon called Prajna, he neutralised the Pramohana weapon (that Dhrishtadyumna had shot). Then thy sons those mighty car-warriors, when their senses returned, once more proceeded to battle with Bhima and Prishata's son. Then Yudhishthira, addressing his own troops said, 'Let twelve brave car-warriors cased in mail and headed by Subhadra's son, follow, to the utmost of their might, the track of Bhima and Prishata's son in battle. Let intelligence be had (of those two warriors). My heart is very uneasy.' Thus ordered by the king, those heroes possessed of great prowess in battle and proud of their manliness, saying 'Yes,' all proceeded forward when the sun had reached the meridian. And those chastisers of foes then, viz., the Kaikeyas and the sons of Draupadi, and Dhrishtaketu of great prowess, supported by a large force and with Abhimanyu at their head, and disposing themselves in the array called Suchimukha, 1 penetrated into that car-division of the Dhartarashtras in battle. And thy troops, O king, struck with the fear of Bhimasena and deprived of their senses by Dhrishtadyumna, were unable to resist (the rush of) those mighty bowmen headed by Abhimanyu. And they were quite helpless, like a lady in the streets. And those mighty bowmen with standards variegated with gold cutting through (the Kaurava ranks), proceeded with great speed for rescuing Dhrishtadyumna and Vrikodara. And the latter, beholding those mighty bowmen headed by Abhimanyu, became filled with delight and continued to smite down thy ranks. And the heroic prince of Panchala, viz., the son of Prishata, seeing meanwhile his preceptor advancing towards him with great speed, no longer wished to compass the death of thy sons. Causing Vrikodara then to be taken up on the car of the king of the Kaikeyas, he rushed in great wrath against Drona accomplished in arrow and all weapons. And that slayer of foes, viz., the valiant son of Bharadwaja, excited with rage, cut off with a broad-headed shaft the bow of Prishata's son who was rushing
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towards him with impetuosity. And remembering the bread he had eaten of his master and desirous of doing good to Duryodhana, he also sped hundreds of shafts after Prishata's son. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Prishata, taking up another bow, pierced Drona with seventy shafts whetted on stone and furnished with wings of gold. Then that grinder of foes, viz., Drona, once more cut off his bow, and despatched his four steeds to Yama's abode with four excellent arrows, and also slew his charioteer, O Bharata, with a broad-headed shaft. Then that mighty car-warrior of strong arms, viz., Dhrishtadyumna, quickly descending from that car whose steeds had been slain, ascended the great car of Abhimanyu. Then Drona caused the Pandava army consisting of cars, elephants, and steeds, to tremble, in the very sight of Bhimasena and the intelligent son of Prishata. Beholding then that army thus broken by Drona of immeasurable energy, all those mighty car-warriors were incapable of checking its flight. And that army, thus slaughtered by Drona with his sharp shafts, began to move in eddies there, like the agitated sea. And beholding the (Pandava) army in that condition, thy troops were filled with delight. And seeing the preceptor excited with rage and thus consuming the ranks of the foe, all thy warriors, O Bharata, set up loud shouts and uttered exclamations in praise of Drona."

Book 6
Chapter 78

1 saṃjaya uvāca
      tathā pravṛtte saṃgrāme nivṛtte ca suśarmaṇi
      prabhagneṣu ca vīreṣu pāṇḍavena mahātmanā
  2 kṣubhyamāṇe bale tūrṇaṃ sāgarapratime tava
      pratyudyāte ca gāṅgeye tvaritaṃ vijayaṃ prati
  3 dṛṣṭvā duryodhano rājan raṇe pārthasya vikramam
      tvaramāṇaḥ samabhyetya sarvāṃs tān abravīn nṛpān
  4 teṣāṃ ca pramukhe śūraṃ suśarmāṇaṃ mahābalam
      madhye sarvasya sainyasya bhṛśaṃ saṃharṣayan vacaḥ
  5 eṣa bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo yoddhukāmo dhanaṃjayam
      sarvātmanā kuruśreṣṭhas tyaktvā jīvitam ātmanaḥ
  6 taṃ prayāntaṃ parānīkaṃ sarvasainyena bhāratam
      saṃyattāḥ samare sarve pālayadhvaṃ pitāmaham
  7 bāḍham ity evam uktvā tu tāny anīkāni sarvaśaḥ
      narendrāṇāṃ mahārāja samājagmuḥ pitāmaham
  8 tataḥ prayātaḥ sahasā bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo 'rjunam
      raṇe bhāratam āyāntam āsasāda mahābalam
  9 mahāśvetāśvayuktena bhīma vānaraketunā
      mahatā meghanādena rathenāti virājata
  10 samare sarvasainyānām upayātaṃ dhanaṃjayam
     abhavat tumulo nādo bhayād dṛṣṭvā kirīṭinam
 11 abhīśu hastaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ ca dṛṣṭvādityam ivāparam
     madhyaṃdina gataṃ saṃkhye na śekuḥ prativīkṣitum
 12 tathā śāṃtanavaṃ bhīṣmaṃ śvetāśvaṃ śvetakārmukam
     na śekuḥ pāṇḍavā draṣṭuṃ śvetagraham ivoditam
 13 sa sarvataḥ parivṛtas trigartaiḥ sumahātmabhiḥ
     bhrātṛbhis tava putraiś ca tathānyaiś ca mahārathaiḥ
 14 bhāradvājas tu samare matsyaṃ vivyādha patriṇā
     dhvajaṃ cāsya śareṇājau dhanuś caikena cicchide
 15 tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ virāṭo vāhinīpatiḥ
     anyad ādatta vegena dhanur bhārasahaṃ dṛḍham
     śarāṃś cāśīviṣākārāñ jvalitān pannagān iva
 16 droṇaṃ tribhiḥ pravivyādha caturbhiś cāsya vājinaḥ
     dhvajam ekena vivyādha sārathiṃ cāsya pañcabhiḥ
     dhanur ekeṣuṇāvidhyat tatrākrudhyad dvijarṣabhaḥ
 17 tasya droṇo 'vadhīd aśvāñ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     aṣṭābhir bharataśreṣṭha sūtam ekena patriṇā
 18 sa hatāśvād avaplutya syandanād dhatasārathiḥ
     āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ śaṅkhasya rathināṃ varaḥ
 19 tatas tu tau pitā putrau bhāradvājaṃ rathe sthitau
     mahatā śaravarṣeṇa vārayām āsatur balāt
 20 bhāradvājas tataḥ kruddhaḥ śaram āśīviṣopamam
     cikṣepa samare tūrṇaṃ śaṅkhaṃ prati janeśvara
 21 sa tasya hṛdayaṃ bhittvā pītvā śoṇitam āhave
     jagāma dharaṇiṃ bāṇo lohitārdrīkṛtacchaviḥ
 22 sa papāta rathāt tūrṇaṃ bhāradvājaśarāhataḥ
     dhanus tyaktvā śarāṃś caiva pitur eva samīpataḥ
 23 hataṃ svam ātmajaṃ dṛṣṭvā virāṭaḥ prādravad bhayāt
     utsṛjya samare droṇaṃ vyāttānanam ivāntakam
 24 bhāradvājas tatas tūrṇaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahācamūm
     dārayām āsa samare śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 25 śikhaṇḍy api mahārāja drauṇim āsādya saṃyuge
     ājaghāna bhruvor madhye nārācais tribhir āśugaiḥ
 26 sa babhau naraśārdūlo lalāṭe saṃsthitais tribhiḥ
     śikharaiḥ kāñcanamayair merus tribhir ivocchritaiḥ
 27 aśvatthāmā tataḥ kruddho nimeṣārdhāc chikhaṇḍinaḥ
     sūtaṃ dhvajam atho rājaṃs turagān āyudhaṃ tathā
     śarair bahubhir uddiśya pātayām āsa saṃyuge
 28 sa hatāśvād avaplutya rathād vai rathināṃ varaḥ
     khaḍgam ādāya niśitaṃ vimalaṃ ca śarāvaram
     śyenavad vyacarat kruddhaḥ śikhaṇḍī śatrutāpanaḥ
 29 sa khaḍgasya mahārāja caratas tasya saṃyuge
     nāntaraṃ dadṛśe drauṇis tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 30 tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi bahūni bharatarṣabha
     preṣayām āsa samare drauṇiḥ paramakopanaḥ
 31 tām āpatantīṃ samare śaravṛṣṭiṃ sudāruṇām
     asinā tīkṣṇadhāreṇa ciccheda balināṃ varaḥ
 32 tato 'sya vimalaṃ drauṇiḥ śatacandraṃ manoramam
     carmācchinad asiṃ cāsya khaṇḍayām āsa saṃyuge
     śitaiḥ subahuśo rājaṃs taṃ ca vivyādha patribhiḥ
 33 śikhaṇḍī tu tataḥ khaḍgaṃ khaṇḍitaṃ tena sāyakaiḥ
     āvidhya vyasṛjat tūrṇaṃ jvalantam iva pannagam
 34 tam āpatantaṃ sahasā kālānalasamaprabham
     ciccheda samare drauṇir darśayan pāṇilāghavam
     śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca vivyādha śarair bahubhir āyasaiḥ
 35 śikhaṇḍī tu bhṛśaṃ rājaṃs tāḍyamānaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ mādhavasya mahātmanaḥ
 36 sātyakis tu tataḥ kruddho rākṣasaṃ krūram āhave
     alambusaṃ śarair ghorair vivyādha balināṃ balī
 37 rākṣasendras tatas tasya dhanuś ciccheda bhārata
     ardhacandreṇa samare taṃ ca vivyādha sāyakaiḥ
     māyāṃ ca rākṣasīṃ kṛtvā śaravarṣair avākirat
 38 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma śaineyasya parākramam
     nāsaṃbhramad yat samare vadhyamānaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 39 aindram astraṃ ca vārṣṇeyo yojayām āsa bhārata
     vijayād yad anuprāptaṃ mādhavena yaśasvinā
 40 tad astraṃ bhasmasāt kṛtvā māyāṃ tāṃ rākṣasīṃ tadā
     alambusaṃ śarair ghorair abhyākirata sarvaśaḥ
     parvataṃ vāridhārābhiḥ prāvṛṣīva balāhakaḥ
 41 tat tathā pīḍitaṃ tena mādhavena mahātmanā
     pradudrāva bhayād rakṣo hitvā sātyakim āhave
 42 tam ajeyaṃ rākṣasendraṃ saṃkhye maghavatā api
     śaineyaḥ prāṇadaj jitvā yodhānāṃ tava paśyatām
 43 nyahanat tāvakāṃś cāpi sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
     niśitair bahubhir bāṇais te 'dravanta bhayārditāḥ
 44 etasminn eva kāle tu drupadasyātmajo balī
     dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja tava putraṃ janeśvaram
     chādayām āsa samare śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 45 saṃchādyamāno viśikhair dhṛṣṭadyumnena bhārata
     vivyathe na ca rājendra tava putro janeśvaraḥ
 46 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca samare tūrṇaṃ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ
     ṣaṣṭyā ca triṃśatā caiva tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 47 tasya senāpatiḥ kruddho dhanuś ciccheda māriṣa
     hayāṃś ca caturaḥ śīghraṃ nijaghāna mahārathaḥ
     śaraiś cainaṃ suniśitaiḥ kṣipraṃ vivyādha saptabhiḥ
 48 sa hatāśvān mahābāhur avaplutya rathād balī
     padātir asim udyamya prādravat pārṣataṃ prati
 49 śakunis taṃ samabhyetya rājagṛddhī mahābalaḥ
     rājānaṃ sarvalokasya ratham āropayat svakam
 50 tato nṛpaṃ parājitya pārṣataḥ paravīrahā
     nyahanat tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ vajrapāṇir ivāsuram
 51 kṛtavarmā raṇe bhīmaṃ śarair ārcchan mahāratham
     pracchādayām āsa ca taṃ mahāmegho raviṃ yathā
 52 tataḥ prahasya samare bhīmasenaḥ paraṃtapaḥ
     preṣayām āsa saṃkruddhaḥ sāyakān kṛtavarmaṇe
 53 tair ardyamāno 'tirathaḥ sātvataḥ śastrakovidaḥ
     nākampata mahārāja bhīmaṃ cārchac chitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 54 tasyāśvāṃś caturo hatvā bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     sārathiṃ pātayām āsa dhvajaṃ ca supariṣkṛtam
 55 śarair bahuvidhaiś cainam ācinot paravīharā
     śakalīkṛtasarvāṅgaḥ śvāvidvat samadṛśyata
 56 hatāśvāt tu rathāt tūrṇaṃ vṛṣakasya rathaṃ yayau
     syālasya te mahārāja tava putrasya paśyataḥ
 57 bhīmaseno 'pi saṃkruddhas tava sainyam upādravat
     nijaghāna ca saṃkruddho daṇḍapāṇir ivāntakaḥ

SECTION LXXVIII

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

Book 6
Chapter 79

 1 [dhṛ]
      bahūnīha vicitrāṇi dvairathāni sma saṃjaya
      pāṇḍūnāṃ māmakaiḥ sārdham aśrauṣaṃ tava jalpataḥ
  2 na caiva māmakaṃ kaṃ cid dhṛṣṭaṃ śaṃsasi saṃjaya
      nityaṃ pāṇḍusutān hṛṣṭān abhagnāṃś caiva śaṃsasi
  3 jīyamānān vimanaso māmakān vigataujasaḥ
      vadase saṃyuge sūta diṣṭam etad asaṃśayam
  4 [s]
      yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ yuddhe ceṣṭanti tāvakāḥ
      darśayānāḥ paraṃ śaktyā pauruṣaṃ puruṣarṣabha
  5 gaṅgāyāḥ suranadyā vai svādu bhūtaṃ yathodakam
      mahodadhi guṇābhyāsāl lavaṇatvaṃ nigacchati
  6 tathā tat pauruṣaṃ rājaṃs tāvakānāṃ mahātmanām
      prāpya pāṇḍusutān vīrān vyarthaṃ bhavati saṃyuge
  7 ghaṭamānān yathāśakti kurvāṇān karma duṣkaram
      na doṣeṇa kuruśreṣṭha kauravān gantum arhasi
  8 tavāparādhāt sumahān saputrasya viśāṃ pate
      pṛthivyāḥ prakṣayo ghoro yama rāṣṭravivardhanaḥ
  9 ātmadoṣāt samutpannaṃ śocituṃ nārhase nṛpa
      na hi rakṣanti rājānaḥ sarvārthān nāpi jīvitam
  10 yuddhe sukṛtināṃ lokān icchanto vasudhādhipāḥ
     camūṃ vigāhya yudhyante nityaṃ svargaparāyaṇāḥ
 11 pūrvāhṇe tu mahārāja prāvartata janakṣayaḥ
     tan mamaikamanā bhūtvā śṛṇu devāsuropamam
 12 āvantyau tu maheṣvāsau mahātmānau mahābalau
     irāvantam abhiprekṣya sameyātāṃ raṇotkaṭau
     teṣāṃ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
 13 irāvāṃs tu susaṃkruddho bhrātarau devarūpiṇau
     vivyādha niśitais tūrṇaṃ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     tāv enaṃ pratyavidhyetāṃ samare citrayodhinau
 14 yudhyatāṃ hi tathā rājan viśeṣo na vyadṛśyata
     yatatāṃ śatrunāśāya kṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇām
 15 irāvāṃs tu tato rājann anuvindasya sāyakaiḥ
     caturbhiś caturo vāhān anayad yamasādanam
 16 bhallābhyāṃ ca sutīkṣṇābhyāṃ dhanuḥ ketuṃ ca māriṣa
     ciccheda samare rājaṃs tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 17 tyaktvānuvindo 'tha rathaṃ vindasya ratham āsthitaḥ
     dhanur gṛhītvā navamaṃ bhārasādhanam uttamam
 18 tāv ekasthau raṇe vīrāv āvantyau rathināṃ varau
     śarān mumucatus tūrṇam irāvati mahātmani
 19 tābhyāṃ muktā mahāvegāḥ śarāḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ
     divākarapathaṃ prāpya chādayām āsur ambaram
 20 irāvāṃs tu tataḥ kruddho bhrātarau tau mahārathau
     vavarṣa śaravarṣeṇa sārathiṃ cāpy apātayat
 21 tasmin nipatite bhūmau gatasattve 'tha sārathau
     rathaḥ pradudrāva diśaḥ samudbhrānta hayas tataḥ
 22 tau sa jitvā mahārāja nāgarājasutā sutaḥ
     pauruṣaṃ khyāpayaṃs tūrṇaṃ vyadhamat tava vāhinīm
 23 sā vadhyamānā samare dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamūḥ
     vegān bahuvidhāṃś cakre viṣaṃ pītveva mānavaḥ
 24 haiḍimbo rākṣasendras tu bhagadattaṃ samādravat
     rathenādityavarṇena sa dhvajena mahābalaḥ
 25 tataḥ prāgjyotiṣo rājā nāgarājaṃ samāsthitaḥ
     yathā vajradharaḥ pūrvaṃ saṃgrame tārakāmaye
 26 tatar devāḥ sa gandharvā ṛṣayaś ca samāgatāḥ
     viśeṣaṃ na sma vividur haiḍimba bhagadattayoḥ
 27 yathā surapatiḥ śakras trāsayām āsa dānavān
     tathaiva samare rājaṃs trāsayām āsa pāṇḍavān
 28 tena vidrāvyamāṇās te pāṇḍavāḥ sarvatodiśam
     trātāraṃ nābhyavindanta sveṣv anīkeṣu bhārata
 29 bhaimaseniṃ rathasthaṃ tu tatrāpaśyāma bhārata
     śeṣā vimanaso bhūtvā prādravanta mahārathāḥ
 30 nivṛtteṣu tu pāṇḍūnāṃ punaḥ sainyeṣu bhārata
     āsīn niṣṭānako ghoras tava sainyeṣu saṃyuge
 31 ghaṭotkacas tato rājan bhagadattaṃ mahāraṇe
     śaraiḥ pracchādayām āsa meruṃ girim ivāmbudaḥ
 32 nihatya tāñ śarān rājā rākṣasasya dhanuścyutān
     bhaimaseniṃ raṇe tūrṇaṃ sarvamarmasv atāḍayat
 33 sa tāḍyamāno bahubhiḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     na vivyathe rākṣasendro bhidyamāna ivācalaḥ
 34 tasya prāgjyotiṣaḥ kruddhas tomarān sa caturdaśa
     preṣayām āsa samare tāṃś ca ciccheda rākṣasaḥ
 35 sa tāṃś chittvā mahābāhus tomarān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     bhagadattaṃ ca vivyādha saptatyā kaṅkapatribhiḥ
 36 tataḥ prāgjyotiṣo rājan prahasann iva bhārata
     tasyāśvāṃś caturaḥ saṃkhye pātayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
 37 sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhan rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān
     śaktiṃ cikṣepa vegena prāgjyotiṣa gajaṃ prati
 38 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā hemadaṇḍāṃ suveginām
     tridhā ciccheda nṛpatiḥ sā vyakīryata medinīm
 39 śaktiṃ vinihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā haiḍimbaḥ prādravad bhayāt
     yathendrasya raṇāt pūrvaṃ namucir daitya sattamaḥ
 40 taṃ vijitya raṇe śūraṃ vikrāntaṃ khyātapauruṣam
     ajeyaṃ samare rājan yamena varuṇena ca
 41 pāṇḍavīṃ samare senāṃ saṃmamarda sa kuñjaraḥ
     yathā vanagajo rājan mṛdgaṃś carati padminīm
 42 madreśvaras tu samare yamābhyāṃ saha saṃgataḥ
     svasrīyau chādayāṃ cakre śaraughaiḥ pāṇḍunandanau
 43 sahadevas tu samare mātulaṃ vīkṣya saṃgatam
     avārayac charaugheṇa megho yadvad divākaram
 44 chādyamānaḥ śaraugheṇa hṛṣṭarūpataro 'bhavat
     tayoś cāpy abhavat prītir atulā mātṛkāraṇāt
 45 tataḥ prahasya samare nakulasya mahārathaḥ
     aśvān vai caturo rājaṃś caturbhiḥ sāyakottamaiḥ
     preṣayām āsa samare yamasya sadanaṃ prati
 46 hayāśvāt tu rathāt tūrṇam avaplutya mahārathaḥ
     āruroha tato hānaṃ bhrātur eva yaśasvinaḥ
 47 ekasthau tu raṇe śūrau dṛḍhe vikṣipya kārmuke
     madrarājarathaṃ kruddhau chādayām āsatuḥ kṣaṇāt
 48 sa cchādyamāno bahubhiḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     svasrīyābhyāṃ naravyāghro nākampata yathācalaḥ
     prahasann iva tāṃ cāpi śaravṛṣṭiṃ jaghāna ha
 49 sahadevas tataḥ kruddhaḥ śaram udyamya vīryavān
     madrarājam abhiprekṣya preṣayām āsa bhārata
 50 sa śaraḥ preṣitas tena garutmān iva vegavān
     madrarājaṃ vinirbhidya nipapāta mahītale
 51 sa gāḍhaviddho vyathito rathopasthe mahārathaḥ
     niṣasāda mahārāja kaśmalaṃ ca jagāma ha
 52 taṃ visaṃjñaṃ nipatitaṃ sūtaḥ saṃprekṣya saṃyuge
     apovāha rathenājau yamābhyām abhipīḍitam
 53 dṛṭṣvā madreśvara rathaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ parāṅmukham
     sarve vimanaso bhūtvā nedam astīty acintayan
 54 nirjitya mātulaṃ saṃkhye mādrīputrau mahārathau
     dadhmatur muditau śaṅkhau siṃhanādaṃ vinedatuḥ
 55 abhidudruvatur hṛṣṭau tava sainyaṃ viśāṃ pate
     yathā daitya camūṃ rājann indropendrāv ivāmarau

SECTION LXXIX

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

Book 6
Chapter 80

  1 [s]
      tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā madhyaṃ prāpte divākare
      śrutāyuṣam abhiprekṣya codayām āsa vājinaḥ
  2 abhyadhāvat tato rājā śrutāyuṣam ariṃdamam
      vinighnan sāyakais tīkṣṇair navabhir nataparvabhiḥ
  3 sa saṃvārya raṇe rājā preṣitān dharmasūnunā
      śarān sapta maheṣvāsaḥ kaunteyāya samarpayat
  4 te tasya kavacaṃ bhittvā papuḥ śoṇitam āhave
      asūn iva vicinvanto dehe tasya mahātmanaḥ
  5 pāṇḍavas tubhṛśaṃ viddhas tena rājñā mahātmanā
      raṇe varāhakarṇena rājānaṃ hṛdi vivyadhe
  6 athāpareṇa bhallena ketuṃ tasya mahātmanaḥ
      rathaśreṣṭho rathāt tūrṇaṃ bhūmau pārtho nyapātayat
  7 ketuṃ nipatitaṃ dṛṣṭvā śrutāyuḥ sa tu pārthivaḥ
      pāṇḍavaṃ viśikhais tīkṣṇai rājan vivyādha saptabhiḥ
  8 tataḥ krodhāt prajajvāla dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
      yathā yugānte bhūtāni dhakṣyann iva hutāśanaḥ
  9 kruddhaṃ tu pāṇḍavaṃ dṛṣṭvā devagandharvarākṣasaḥ
      pravivyathur mahārāja vyākulaṃ cāpy abhūj jagat
  10 sarveṣāṃ caiva bhūtānām idam āsīn manogatam
     trīṁl lokān adya saṃkruddho nṛpo 'yaṃ dhakṣyatīti vai
 11 ṛṣayaś caiva devāś ca cakruḥ svastyayanaṃ mahat
     lokānāṃ nṛpa śānty arthaṃ krodhite pāṇḍave tadā
 12 sa ca krodhasamāviṣṭaḥ sṛkkiṇī parilelihan
     dadhārātma vapur ghoraṃ yugāntādityasaṃnibham
 13 tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāni tāvakāni viśāṃ pate
     nirāśāny abhavaṃs tatra jīvitaṃ prati bhārata
 14 sa tu dhairyeṇa taṃ kopaṃ saṃnivārya mahāyaśāḥ
     śrutāyuṣaḥ praciccheda muṣṭideśe mahad dhanuḥ
 15 athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ nārācena stanāntare
     nirbibheda raṇe rājā sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ
 16 sa tvaraṃ caraṇe rājaṃs tasya vāhān mahātmanaḥ
     nijaghāna śaraiḥ kṣipraṃ sūtaṃ ca sumahābalaḥ
 17 hatāśvaṃ tu rathaṃ tyaktvā dṛṣṭvā rājñas tu pauruṣam
     vipradudrāva vegena śrutāyuḥ samare tadā
 18 tasmiñ jite maheṣvāse dharmaputreṇa saṃyuge
     duryodhana balaṃ rājan sarvam āsīt parāṅmukham
 19 etat kṛtvā mahārāja dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     vyāttānano yathākālas tava sainyaṃ jaghāna ha
 20 cekitānas tu vārṣṇeyo gautamaṃ rathināṃ varam
     prekṣatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ chādayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
 21 saṃnivārya śarāṃs tāṃs tu kṛpaḥ śāradvato yudhi
     cekitānaṃ raṇe yattaṃ rājan vivyādha patribhiḥ
 22 athāpareṇa bhallena dhanuś ciccheda māriṣa
     sārathiṃ cāsya samare kṣiprahasto nyapātayat
     hayāṃś cāsyāvadhīd rājann ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī
 23 so 'vaplutya rathāt tūrṇaṃ gadāṃ jagrāha sātvataḥ
     sa tayā vīra ghātinyā gadayā gadināṃ varaḥ
     gautamasya hayān hatvā sārathiṃ ca nyapātayat
 24 bhūmiṣṭho gautamas tasya śarāṃś cikṣepa ṣoḍaśa
     te śarāḥ sātvataṃ bhittvā prāviśanta dharātalam
 25 cekitānas tataḥ kruddhaḥ punaś cikṣepa tāṃ gadām
     gautamasya vadhākāṅkṣī vṛtrasyeva puraṃdaraḥ
 26 tām āpatantīṃ vimalām aśmagarbhāṃ mahāgadām
     śarair anekasāhasrair vārayām āsa gautamaḥ
 27 cekitānas tataḥ khaḍgaṃ kośād uddhṛtya bhārata
     lāghavaṃ param āsthāya gautamaṃ samupādravat
 28 gautamo 'pi dhanus tyaktvā pragṛhyāsiṃ susaṃśitam
     vegena mahatā rājaṃś cekitānam upādravat
 29 tāv ubhau balasaṃpannau nistriṃśavaradhāriṇau
     nistriṃśābhyāṃ sutīkṣṇābhyām anyonyaṃ saṃtatakṣatuḥ
 30 nistriṃśavegābhihatau tatas tau puruṣarṣabhau
     dharaṇīṃ samanuprāptau sarvabhūtaniṣevitām
     mūrchayābhiparītāṅgau vyāyāmena ca mohitau
 31 tato 'bhyadhāvad vegena karakarṣaḥ suhṛt tayā
     cekitānaṃ tathā bhūtaṃ dṛṣṭvā samaradurmadam
     ratham āropayac cainaṃ sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ
 32 tathaiva śakuniḥ śūraḥ syālas tava viśāṃ pate
     āropayad rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ gautamaṃ rathināṃ varam
 33 saumadattiṃ tathā kruddho dhṛṣṭaketur mahābalaḥ
     navatyā sāyakaiḥ kṣipraṃ rājan vivyādha vakṣasi
 34 saumadattir uraḥsthair tair bhṛśaṃ bāṇair aśobhata
     madhyaṃ dine mahārāja raśmibhis tapano yathā
 35 bhūriśravās tu samare dhṛṣṭaketuṃ mahāratham
     hatasūta hayaṃ cakre virathaṃ sāyakottamaiḥ
 36 virathaṃ cainam ālokya hatāśvaṃ hatasārathim
     mahatā śaravarṣeṇa chādayām āsa saṃyuge
 37 sa ca taṃ ratham utsṛjya dhṛṣṭaketur mahāmanāḥ
     āruroha tato yānaṃ śatānīkasya māriṣa
 38 citraseno vikarṇaś ca rājan durmarṣaṇas tathā
     rathino hemasaṃnāhāḥ saubhadram abhidudruvuḥ
 39 abhimanyos tatas tais tu ghoraṃ yuddham avartata
     śarīrasya yathā rājan vātapitta kaphais tribhiḥ
 40 virathāṃs tava putrāṃs tu kṛtvā rājan mahāhave
     na jaghāna naravyāghraḥ smaran bhīma vacas tadā
 41 tato rājñāṃ bahuśatair gajāśvarathayāyibhiḥ
     saṃvṛtaṃ samare bhīṣmaṃ devair api durāsadam
 42 prayāntaṃ śīghram udvīkṣya paritrātuṃ sutāṃs tava
     abhimanyuṃ samuddiśya bālam ekaṃ mahāratham
     vāsudevam uvācedaṃ kaunteyaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ
 43 codayāśvān hṛṣīkeśa yatraite bahulā rathāḥ
     ete hi bahavaḥ śūrā kṛtāstrā yuddhadurmadāḥ
     yathā na hanyur naḥ senāṃ tathā mādhava codaya
 44 evam uktaḥ sa vārṣṇeyaḥ kaunteyenāmitaujasā
     rathaṃ śvetahayair yuktaṃ preṣayām āsa saṃyuge
 45 niṣṭānako mahān āsīt tava sainyasya māriṣa
     yad arjuna raṇe kruddhaḥ saṃyātas tāvakān prati
 46 samāsādya tu kaunteyo rājñas tān bhīṣmarakṣiṇaḥ
     suśarmāṇam atho rājann idaṃ vacanam abravīt
 47 jānāmi tvāṃ yudhi śreṣṭham atyantaṃ pūrvavairiṇam
     paryāyasyādya saṃprāptaṃ phalaṃ paśya sudāruṇam
     adya te darśayiṣyāmi pūrvapretān pitāmahān
 48 evaṃ saṃjalpatas tasya bībhatsoḥ śatrughātinaḥ
     śrutvāpi paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ suśarmā rathayūthapaḥ
     na caivam abravīt kiṃ cic chubhaṃ vā yadi vāśubham
 49 abhi gatvārjunaṃ vīraṃ rājabhir bahubhir vṛtaḥ
     purastāt pṛṣṭhataś caiva pārśvataś caiva sarvataḥ
 50 parivāryārjunaṃ saṃkhye tava putraiḥ sahānagha
     śaraiḥ saṃchādayām āsa meghair iva divākaram
 51 tataḥ pravṛttaḥ sumahān saṃgrāmaḥ śoṇitodakaḥ
     tāvakānāṃ ca samare pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata

SECTION LXXX

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

 

Book 6
Chapter 81

 1 [s]
      sa tudyamānas tu śarair dhanaṃjayaḥ; padā hato nāga iva śvasan balī
      bāṇena bāṇena mahārathānāṃ; ciccheda cāpāni raṇe prasahya
  2 saṃchidya cāpāni ca tāni rājñāṃ; teṣāṃ raṇe vīryavatāṃ kṣaṇena
      vivyādha bāṇair yugapan mahātmā; niḥśeṣatāṃ teṣv atha manyamānaḥ
  3 nipetur ājau rudhirapradigdhās; te tāḍitāḥ śakrasutena rājan
      vibhinnagātrāḥ patitottamāṅgā; gatāsavaś chinnatanutra kāyāḥ
  4 mahīṃ gatāḥ pārtha balābhibhūtā; vicitrarūpā yugapad vineśuḥ
      dṛṣṭvā hatāṃs tān yudhi rājaputrāṃs; trigartarājaḥ prayayau kṣaṇena
  5 teṣāṃ rathānām atha pṛṣṭhagopā; dvātriṃśad anye 'byapatanta pārtham
      tathaiva te saṃparivārya vārthaṃ; vikṛṣya cāpāni mahāravāṇi
      avīvṛṣan bāṇamahaughavṛṣṭyā; yathā giriṃ toyadharā jalaughaiḥ
  6 saṃpīḍya mānas tu śaraughavṛṣṭyā; dhanaṃjayas tān yudhi jātaroṣaḥ
      ṣaṣṭyā śaraiḥ saṃyati tailadhautair; jaghāna tān apy atha pṛṣṭhagopān
  7 ṣaṣṭiṃ rathāṃs tān avajitya saṃkhye; dhanaṃjayaḥ prītamanā yaśasvī
      athātvarad bhīṣma vadhāya jiṣṇur; balāni rājñāṃ samare nihatya
  8 trigartarājo nihatān samīkṣya; mahārathāṃs tān atha bandhuvargān
      raṇe puraskṛtya narādhipāṃs tāñ; jagāma pārthaṃ tvarito vadhāya
  9 abhidrutaṃ cāstrabhṛtāṃ variṣṭhaṃ; dhanaṃjayaṃ vīkṣya śikhaṇḍimukhyāḥ
      abhyudyayus te śitaśastrahastā; rirakṣiṣanto ratham arjunasya
  10 pārtho 'pi tān āpatataḥ samīkṣya; trigartarājñā sahitān nṛvīrān
     vidhvaṃsayitvā samare dhanuṣmān; gāṇḍīvamuktair niśitaiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ
     bhīṣmaṃ yiyāsur yudhi saṃdadarśa; duryodhanaṃ saindhavādīṃś ca rājñaḥ
 11 āvārayiṣṇūn abhisaṃprayāya; muhūrtam āyodhya balena vīraḥ
     utsṛjya rājānam anantavīryo; jayadrathādīṃś ca nṛpān mahaujāḥ
     yayau tato bhīmabalo manasvī; gāṅgeyam ājau śaracāpa pāṇiḥ
 12 yudhiṣṭhiraś cograbalo mahātmā; samāyayau tvarito jātakopaḥ
     madrādhipaṃ samabhityajya saṃkhye; svabhāgam āptaṃ tam ananta kīrtiḥ
     sārdhaṃ sa mādrī suta bhīmasenair; bhīṣmaṃ yayau śāṃtanavaṃ raṇāya
 13 taiḥ saṃprayuktaḥ sa mahārathāgryair; gaṅgāsutaḥ samare citrayodhī
     na vivyathe śāṃtanavo mahātmā; samāgataiḥ pāṇḍusutaiḥ samastaiḥ
 14 athaitya rājā yudhi satyasaṃdho; jayadratho 'tyugra balo manasvī
     ciccheda cāpāni mahārathānāṃ; prasahya teṣāṃ dhanuṣā vareṇa
 15 yudhiṣṭhiraṃ bhīmasenaṃ yamau ca; pārthaṃ tathā yudhi saṃjātakopaḥ
     duryodhanaḥ krodhaviṣo mahātmā; jaghāna bāṇair anala prakāśaiḥ
 16 kṛpeṇa śalyena śalena caiva; tathā vibho citrasenena cājau
     viddhāḥ śarais te 'tivivṛddhakopair; devā yathā daitya gaṇaiḥ sametaiḥ
 17 chinnāyudhaṃ śāṃtanavena rājā; śikhaṇḍinaṃ prekṣya ca jātakopaḥ
     ajātaśatruḥ samare mahātmā; śikhaṇḍinaṃ kruddha uvāca vākyam
 18 uktvā tathā tvaṃ pitur agrato mām; ahaṃ haniṣyāmi mahāvrataṃ tam
     bhīṣmaṃ śaraughair vimalārka varṇaiḥ; satyaṃ vadāmīti kṛtā pratijñā
 19 tvayā na caināṃ saphalāṃ karoṣi; devavrataṃ yan na nihaṃsi yuddhe
     mithyāpratijño bhava mā nṛvīra; rakṣasva dharmaṃ ca kulaṃ yaśaś ca
 20 prekṣasva bhīṣmaṃ yudhi bhīmavegaṃ; sarvāṃs tapantaṃ mama sainyasaṃghān
     śaraughajālair atitigma tejaiḥ; kālaṃ yathā mṛtyukṛtaṃ kṣaṇena
 21 nikṛttacāpaḥ samarānapekṣaḥ; parājitaḥ śāṃtanavena rājñā
     vihāya bandhūn atha sodarāṃś ca; kva yāsyase nānurūpaṃ tavedam
 22 dṛṣṭvā hi bhīṣmaṃ tam anantavīryaṃ; bhagnaṃ ca sainyaṃ dravamāṇam evam
     bhīto 'si nūnaṃ drupadasya putra; tathā hi te mukhavarṇo 'prahṛṣṭaḥ
 23 ājñāyamāne 'pi dhanaṃjayena; mahāhave saṃprasakte nṛvīra
     kathaṃ hi bhīṣmāt prathitaḥ pṛthivyāṃ; bhayaṃ tvam adya prakaroṣi vīra
 24 sa dharmarājasya vaco niśamya; rūkṣākṣaraṃ vipralāpānubaddham
     pratyādeśaṃ manyamāno mahātmā; pratatvare bhīṣma vadhāya rājan
 25 tam āpatantaṃ mahatā javena; śikhaṇḍinaṃ bhīṣmam abhidravantam
     āvārayām āsa hi śalya enaṃ; śastreṇa ghoreṇa sudurjayena
 26 sa cāpi dṛṣṭvā samudīryamāṇam; astraṃ yugāntāgnisamaprabhāvam
     nāsau vyamuhyad drupadasya putro; rājan mahendrapratimaprabhāvaḥ
 27 tasthau ca tatraiva mahādhanuṣmāñ; śarais tad astraṃ pratibādhamānaḥ
     athādade vāruṇam anyad astraṃ; śikhaṇḍy athograṃ pratighātāya tasya
     tad astram astreṇa vidāryamāṇaṃ; svasthāḥ surā dadṛśuḥ pārthivāś ca
 28 bhīṣmaṃ tu rājan samare mahātmā; dhanuḥ sucitraṃ dhvajam eva cāpi
     chittvānadat pāṇḍusutasya vīro; yudhiṣṭhirasyājamīḍhasya rājñaḥ
 29 tataḥ samutsṛjya dhanuḥ sa bāṇaṃ; yudhiṣṭhiraṃ vīkṣya bhayābhibhūtam
     gadāṃ pragṛhyābhipapāta saṃkhye; jayadrathaṃ bhīmasenaḥ padātiḥ
 30 tam āpatantaṃ mahatā javena; jayadrathaḥ sagadaṃ bhīmasenam
     vivyādha ghorair yamadaṇḍakalpaiḥ; śitaiḥ śaraiḥ pañcaśataiḥ samantāt
 31 acintayitvā sa śarāṃs tarasvī; vṛkodaraḥ krodhaparīta cetāḥ
     jaghāna vāhān samare samastān; āraṭṭajān sindhurājasya saṃkhye
 32 tato 'bhivīkṣyāpratima prabhāvas; tavātmajas tvaramāṇo rathena
     abhyāyayau bhīmasenaṃ nihantuṃ; samudyatāstraḥ surarājakalpaḥ
 33 bhīmo 'py athainaṃ sahasā vinadya; pratyaudyayau gadayā tarjamānaḥ
     samudyatāṃ tāṃ yamadaṇḍakalpāṃ; dṛṣṭvā gadāṃ te kuravaḥ samantāt
 34 vihāya sarve tava putram ugraṃ pātaṃ; gadāyāḥ parihartu kāmāḥ
     apakrāntās tumule saṃvimarde; sudāruṇe bhārata mohanīye
 35 amūḍha cetās tv atha citraseno; mahāgadām āpatantīṃ nirīkṣya
     rathaṃ samutsṛjya padātir ājau; pragṛhya khaḍgaṃ vimalaṃ ca carma
     avaplutaḥ siṃha ivācalāgrāñ; jagāma cānyaṃ bhuvi bhūmideśam
 36 gadāpi sā prāpya rathaṃ sucitraṃ; sāśvaṃ sasūtaṃ vinihatya saṃkhye
     jagāma bhūmiṃ jvalitā maholkā; bhraṣṭāmbarād gām iva saṃpatantī
 37 āścaryabhūtaṃ sumahat tvadīyā; dṛṣṭvaiva tad bhārata saṃprahṛṣṭāḥ
     sarve vineduḥ sahitāḥ samantāt; pupūjire tava putraṃ sa sainyāḥ

SECTION LXXXI

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

Book 6
Chapter 82

 1 [s]
      virathaṃ taṃ samāsādya citrasenaṃ manasvinam
      ratham āropayām āsa vikarṇas tanayas tava
  2 tasmiṃs tathā vartamāne tumule saṃkule bhṛśam
      bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavas tūrṇaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat
  3 tataḥ sarathanāgāśvāḥ samakampanta sṛñjayāḥ
      mṛtyor āsyam anuprāptaṃ menire ca yudhiṣṭhiram
  4 yidhiṣṭhiro 'pi kauravya yamābhyāṃ sahitaḥ prabhuḥ
      maheṣvāsaṃ naravyāghraṃ bhīṣmaṃ śāṃtanavaṃ yayau
  5 tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi pramuñcan pāṇḍavo yudhi
      bhīṣmaṃ saṃchādayām āsa yathā megho divākaram
  6 tena samyak praṇītāni śarajālāni bhārata
      patijagrāha gāṅgeyaḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
  7 tathaiva śarajālāni bhīṣmeṇāstāni māriṣa
      ākāśe samadṛśyanta khagamānāṃ vrajā iva
  8 nimeṣārdhāc ca kauneyaṃ bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo yudhi
      adṛśyaṃ samare cakre śarajālena bhāgaśaḥ
  9 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā kauravyasya mahātmanaḥ
      nārācaṃ preṣayām āsa kruddha āśīviṣopamam
  10 asaṃprāptaṃ tatas taṃ tu kṣurapreṇa mahārathaḥ
     ciccheda samare rājan bhīṣmas tasya dhanuścyutam
 11 taṃ tu chittvā raṇe bhīṣmo nārācaṃ kālasaṃmitam
     nijaghne kauravendrasya hayān kāñcanabhūṣaṇān
 12 hatāśvaṃ tu rathaṃ tyaktvā dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ nakulasya mahātmanaḥ
 13 yamāv api susaṃkruddhaḥ samāsādya raṇe tadā
     śaraiḥ saṃchādayām āsa bhīṣmaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ
 14 tau tu dṛṣṭvā mahārāja bhīṣmabāṇaprapīḍitau
     jagāmātha parāṃ cintāṃ bhīṣmasya vadhakāṅkṣayā
 15 tato yudhiṣṭhiro vaśyān rājñas tān samacodayat
     bhīṣmaṃ śāṃtanavaṃ sarve nihateti suhṛdgaṇān
 16 tatas te pārthivāḥ sarve śrutvā pārthasya bhāṣitam
     mahatā rathavaṃśena parivavruḥ pitāmaham
 17 sa samantāt parivṛtaḥ pitā devavratas tava
     cikrīda dhanuṣā rājan pātayāno mahārathān
 18 taṃ carantaṃ raṇe pārthā dadṛśuḥ kauravaṃ yudhi
     mṛgamadhyaṃ praviśyeva yathā siṃhaśiśuṃ vane
 19 tarjayānaṃ raṇe śūrāṃs trāsayānaṃ ca sāyakaiḥ
     dṛṣṭvā tresur mahārāja siṃhaṃ mṛgagaṇā iva
 20 raṇe bharata siṃhasya dadṛśuḥ kṣatriyā gatim
     agner vāyusahāyasya yathā kakṣaṃ didhakṣataḥ
 21 śirāṃsi rathināṃ bhīṣmaḥ pātayām āsa saṃyuge
     tālebhya iva pakvāni phalāni kuśalo naraḥ
 22 patadbhiś ca mahārāja śirobhir dharaṇītale
     babhūva tumulaḥ śabdaḥ patatām aśmanām iva
 23 tasmiṃs tu tumule yuddhe vartamāne sudāruṇe
     sarveṣām eva sainyānām āsīd vyatikaro mahān
 24 bhinneṣu teṣu vyūheṣu kṣatriyā itaretaram
     ekam ekaṃ samāhūya yuddhāyaivopatasthire
 25 śikhaṇḍī tu samāsādya bharatānāṃ pitāmaham
     abhidudrāva vegena tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 26 anādṛtya tato bhīṣmas taṃ śikhaṇḍinam āhave
     prayayau sṛñjayān kruddhaḥ strītvaṃ cintya śikhaṇḍinaḥ
 27 sṛñjayās tu tato hṛṣṭā dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmaṃ mahāratham
     siṃhanādān bahuvidhāṃś cakruḥ śaṅkhavimiśritān
 28 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ vyatiṣakta rathadvipam
     aparāṃ diśam āsthāya sthite savitari prabho
 29 dhṛṣṭadyumno 'tha pāñcālyaḥ sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ
     pīḍayantau bhṛśaṃ sainyaṃ śaktitomaravṛṣṭibhiḥ
     śastraiś ca bahubhī rājañ jaghnatus tāvakān raṇe
 30 te hanyamānāḥ samare tāvakāḥ puruṣarṣabha
     āryāṃ yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā na tyajanti sma saṃyugam
     yathotsāhaṃ ca samare jaghnur lokaṃ mahārathāḥ
 31 tatrākrando mahān āsīt tāvakānāṃ mahātmanām
     vadhyatāṃ samare rājan pārṣatena mahātmanā
 32 taṃ śrutvā ninadaṃ ghoraṃ tāvakānāṃ mahārathau
     vindānuvindāv āvantyau pārṣataṃ patyupasthitau
 33 tau tasya turagān hatvā tvaramāṇau mahārathau
     chādayām āsatur ubhau śaravarṣeṇa pārṣatam
 34 avaplutyātha pāñcālyo rathāt tūrṇaṃ mahābalaḥ
     āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ sātyakeḥ sumahātmanaḥ
 35 tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā mahatyā senayā vṛtaḥ
     āvantyau samare kruddhāv abhyayāt sa paraṃtapau
 36 tathaiva tava putro 'pi sarvodyogena māriṣa
     vindānuvindāv āvantyau parivāryopatasthivān
 37 arjunaś cāpi saṃkruddhaḥ kṣatriyān kṣatriyarṣabha
     ayodhayata saṃgrāme varja pāṇir ivāsurān
 38 droṇaś ca samare kruddhaḥ putrasya priyakṛt tava
     vyadhamat sarvapāñcālāṃs tūlarāśim ivānalaḥ
 39 duryodhana purogās tu putrās tava viśāṃ pate
     parivārya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ yuyudhuḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
 40 tato duryodhano rājā lohitāyati bhāskare
     abravīt tāvakān sarvāṃs tvaradhvam iti bhārata
 41 yudhyatāṃ tu tathā teṣāṃ kurvatāṃ karma duṣkaram
     astaṃ girim athārūḍhe na prakāśati bhāskare
 42 prāvartata nadī ghorā śoṇitaughataraṅgiṇī
     gomāyugaṇasaṃkīrṇā kṣaṇena rajanī mukhe
 43 śivābhir aśivābhiś ca ruvadbhir bhairavaṃ ravam
     ghoram āyodhanaṃ jajñe bhūtasaṃgha samākulam
 44 rākṣasāś ca piśācāś ca tathānye piśitāśanāḥ
     samantato vyadṛśyanta śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 45 arjuno 'tha suśarmādīn rājñas tān sapadānugān
     vijitya pṛtanā madhye yayau svaśibiraṃ prati
 46 yudhiṣṭhiro 'pi kauravyo bhrātṛbhyāṃ sahitas tadā
     yayau svaśibiraṃ rājā niśāyāṃ senayā vṛtaḥ
 47 bhīmaseno 'pi rājendra duryodhanamukhān rathān
     avajitya tataḥ saṃkhye yayau svaśibiraṃ prati
 48 duryodhano 'pi nṛpatiḥ parivārya mahāraṇe
     bhīṣmaṃ śāṃtanavaṃ tūrṇaṃ prayātaḥ śibiraṃ prati
 49 droṇo drauṇiḥ kṛpaḥ śalyaḥ kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ
     parivārya camūṃ sarvāṃ prayayuḥ śibiraṃ prati
 50 tathaiva sātyakī rājan dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
     parivārya raṇe yodhān yayatuḥ śibiraṃ prati
 51 evam ete mahārāja tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
     paryavartanta sahitā niśākāle paraṃtapāḥ
 52 tataḥ svaśibiraṃ gatvā pāṇḍavāḥ kuravas tathā
     nyaviśanta mahārāja pūjayantaḥ parasparam
 53 rakṣāṃ kṛtvātmanaḥ śūrā nyasya gulmān yathāvidhi
     apanīya ca śalyāṃs te snātvā ca vividhair jalaiḥ
 54 kṛtasvastyayanāḥ sarve saṃstūyantaś ca bandibhiḥ
     gītavāditraśabdena vyakrīḍanta yaśasvinaḥ
 55 muhūrtam iva tat sarvam abhavat svargasaṃnibham
     na hi yuddhakathāṃ kāṃ cit tatra cakrur mahārathāḥ
 56 te prasupte bale tatra pariśrānta jane nṛpa
     hastyaśvabahule rājan prekṣaṇīye babhūvatuḥ

SECTION LXXXII

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

Book 6
Chapter 83

1 [s]
      pariṇāmya niśāṃ tāṃ tu sukhasuptā janeśvarāḥ
      kuravaḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva punar yuddhāya niryayuḥ
  2 tataḥ śabdo mahān āsīt senayor ubhayor api
      nirgacchamānayor saṃkhye sāgarapratimo mahān
  3 tato duryodhano rājā citraseno viviṃśatiḥ
      bhīṣmaś ca rathināṃ śreṣṭho bhāradvājaś ca vai dvijaḥ
  4 ekībhūtāḥ susaṃyattāḥ kauravāṇāṃ mahācamūḥ
      vyūhāya vidadhū rājan pāṇḍavān prati daṃśitāḥ
  5 bhīṣmaḥ kṛtvā mahāvyūhaṃ pitā tava viśāṃ pate
      sāgarapratimaṃ ghoraṃ vāhanormitaraṅgiṇam
  6 agrataḥ sarvasainyānāṃ bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo yayau
      mālavair dākṣiṇātyaiś ca āvantyaiś ca samanvitaḥ
  7 tato 'nantaram evāsīd bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
      pulindaiḥ pāradaiś caiva tathā kṣudrakamālavaiḥ
  8 droṇād anantaraṃ yatto bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān
      māgadhaiś ca kaliṅgaiś ca piśācaiś ca viśāṃ pate
  9 prāgjyotiṣād anu nṛpaḥ kausalyo 'tha bṛhadbalaḥ
      mekalais traipuraiś caiva cicchilaiś ca samanvitaḥ
  10 bṛhadbalāt tataḥ śūras trigartaḥ prasthalādhipaḥ
     kāmbojair bahubhiḥ sārdhaṃ yavanaiś ca sahasraśaḥ
 11 drauṇis tu rabhasaḥ śūras trigartād anu bhārata
     prayayau siṃhanādena nādayāno dharātalam
 12 tathā sarveṇa sainyena rājā duryodhanas tadā
     drauṇer anantaraṃ prāyāt sodaryaiḥ parivāritaḥ
 13 duryodhanād anu kṛpas tataḥ śāradvato yayau
     evam eṣa mahāvyūhaḥ prayayau sāgaropamaḥ
 14 rejus tatra patākāś ca śvetac chatrāṇi cābhibho
     aṅgadāny atha citrāṇi mahārhāṇi dhanūṃṣi ca
 15 taṃ tu dṛṣṭvā mahāvyūhaṃ tāvakānāṃ mahārathaḥ
     yudhiṣṭhiro 'bravīt tūrṇaṃ pārṣataṃ pṛtanā patim
 16 paśya vyūhaṃ maheṣvāsa nirmitaṃ sāgaropamam
     prativyūhaṃ tvam api hi kuru pārṣata māciram
 17 tataḥ sa pārṣataḥ śūro vyūhaṃ cakre sudāruṇam
     śṛṅgāṭalaṃ mahārāja paravyūhavināśanam
 18 śṛṅgebhyo bhīmasenaś ca sātyaktiś ca mahārathaḥ
     rathair anekasāhasrais tathā hayapadātibhiḥ
 19 nābhyām abhūn naraśreṣṭhaḥ śvetāśvo vānaradhvajaḥ
     madhye yudhiṣṭhiro rājā mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
 20 athetare maheṣvāsāḥ saha sainyā narādhipāḥ
     vyūhaṃ taṃ pūrayām āsur vyūha śāstraviśāradāḥ
 21 abhimanyus tataḥ paścād virāṭaś ca mahārathaḥ
     draupadeyāś ca saṃhṛṣṭā rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
 22 evam etaṃ mahāvyūhaṃ vyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavāḥ
     atiṣṭhan samare śūrā yoddhukāmā jayaiṣiṇaḥ
 23 bherīśabdāś ca tumulā vimiśrāḥ śaṅkhanisvanaiḥ
     kṣveḍitāsphoṭitotkruṣṭaiḥ subhīmāḥ sarvatodiśam
 24 tataḥ śūrāḥ samāsādya samare te parasparam
     netrair animiśai rājann avaikṣanta prakopitāḥ
 25 manobhis te manuṣyendra pūrvaṃ yodhāḥ parasparam
     yuddhāya samavartanta samāhūyetaretaram
 26 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayāvaham
     tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca nighnatām itaretaram
 27 nārācā niśitāḥ saṃkhye saṃpatanti sma bhārata
     vyāttānanā bhayakarā uragā iva saṃghaśaḥ
 28 niṣpetur vimalāḥ śaktyas tailadhautāḥ sutejanāḥ
     ambudebhyo yathā rājan bhrājamānāḥ śatahradāh
 29 gadāś ca vimalaiḥ paṭṭaiḥ pinaddhāḥ svarṇabhūṣitāḥ
     patantyas tatra dṛśyante giriśṛṅgopamāḥ śubhāḥ
     nistriṃśāś ca vyarājanta vimalāmbarasaṃnibhāḥ
 30 ārṣabhāṇi ca carmāṇi śatacandrāṇi bhārata
     aśobhanta raṇe rājan patamānāni sarvaśaḥ
 31 te 'nyonyaṃ samare sene yudhyamāne narādhipa
     aśobhetāṃ yathā daitya deva sene samudyate
     abhyadravanta samare te 'nyonyaṃ vai samantataḥ
 32 rathās tu rathibhis tūrṇaṃ preṣitāḥ paramāhave
     yugair yugāni saṃśliṣya yuyudhuḥ pārthivarṣabhāḥ
 33 dantināṃ yudhyamānānāṃ saṃgharṣāt pāvako 'bhavat
     danteṣu bharataśreṣṭha sa dhūmaḥ sarvatodiśam
 34 prāsair abhihatāḥ ke cid gajayodhāḥ samantataḥ
     patamānāḥ sma dṛśyante giriśṛṅgān nagā iva
 35 pādātāś cāpy adṛśyanta nighnanto hi parasparam
     citrarūpadharāḥ śūrā nakharaprāsayodhinaḥ
 36 anyonyaṃ te samāsādya kurupāṇḍavasainikāḥ
     śastrair nānāvidhair ghorai raṇe ninyur yamakṣayam
 37 tataḥ śāṃtanavo bhīṣmo rathaghoṣeṇa nādayan
     abhyāgamad raṇe pāṇḍūn dhanuḥ śabdena mohayan
 38 pāṇḍavānāṃ rathāś cāpi nadanto bhairavasvanam
     abhyadravanta saṃyattā dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ
 39 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata
     narāśvarathanāgānāṃ vyatiṣaktaṃ parasparam

SECTION LXXXIII

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

Book 6
Chapter 84

1 [s]
      bhīṣmaṃ tu samare kruddhaṃ pratapantaṃ samantataḥ
      na śekuḥ pāṇḍavā draṣṭuṃ tapantam iva bhāskaram
  2 tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāni dharmaputrasya śāsanāt
      abhyadravanta gāṅgeyaṃ mardayantaṃ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
  3 sa tu bhīṣmo raṇaślāghī somakān saha sṛñjayān
      pāñcālāṃś ca maheṣvāsān pātayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
  4 te vadhyamānā bhīṣmeṇa pāñcālāḥ somakaiḥ saha
      bhīṣmam evābhyayus tūrṇaṃ tyaktvā mṛtyukṛtaṃ bhayam
  5 sa teṣāṃ rathināṃ vīro bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo yudhi
      ciccheda sahasā rājan bāhūn atha śirāṃsi ca
  6 virathān rathinaś cakre pitā devavratas tava
      patitāny uttamāṅgāni hayebhyo hayasādinām
  7 nirmanuṣyāṃś ca mātaṅgāñ śayānān parvatopamān
      apaśyāma mahārāja bhīṣmāstreṇa pramohitān
  8 na tatrāsīt pumān kaś cit pāṇḍavānāṃ viśāṃ pate
      anyatra rathināṃ śreṣṭhād bhīmasenān mahābalāt
  9 sa hi bhīṣmaṃ samāsādya tāḍayām āsa saṃyuge
      tato niṣṭānako ghoro bhīṣma bhīmaṃ samāgame
  10 babhūva sarvasainyānāṃ ghorarūpo bhayānakaḥ
     tathaiva pāṇḍavā hṛṣṭāḥ siṃhanādam athānadan
 11 tato duryodhano rājā sodaryaiḥ parivāritaḥ
     bhīṣmaṃ jugopa samare vartamāne janakṣaye
 12 bhīmas tu sārathiṃ hatvā bhīṣmasya rathināṃ varaḥ
     vidrutāśve rathe tasmin dravamāṇe samantataḥ
     sunābhasya śareṇāśu śiraś ciccheda cārihā
 13 kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena sa hato nyapatad bhuvi
     hate tasmin mahārāja tava putre mahārathe
     nāmṛṣyanta raṇe śūrāḥ sodaryāḥ sapta saṃyuge
 14 ādityaketur bahv āśīkuṇḍa dhāro mahodaraḥ
     aparājitaḥ paṇḍitako viśālākṣaḥ sudurjayaḥ
 15 pāṇḍavaṃ citrasaṃnāhā vicitrakavaca dhvajāḥ
     abhyadravanta saṃgrāme yoddhukāmārimardanāḥ
 16 mahodaras tu samare bhīmaṃ vivyādha patribhiḥ
     navabhir vajrasaṃkāśair namuciṃ vṛtrahā yathā
 17 ādityaketuḥ saptatyā bahv āśīcāpi pañcabhiḥ
     navatyā kuṇḍa dhāras tu viśālākṣaś ca saptabhiḥ
 18 aparājito mahārāja parājiṣṇur mahārathaḥ
     śarair bahubhir ānarchad bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
 19 raṇe paṇḍitakaś cainaṃ tribhir bāṇaiḥ samardayat
     sa tan na mamṛṣe bhīmaḥ śatrubhir vadham āhave
 20 dhanuḥ prapīḍya vāmena kareṇāmitrakarśanaḥ
     śiraś ciccheda samare śareṇa nataparvaṇā
 21 aparājitasya sunasaṃ tava putrasya saṃyuge
     parājitasya bhīmena nipapāta śiromahīm
 22 athāpareṇa bhallena kuṇḍa dhāraṃ mahāratham
     prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya sarvalokasya paśyataḥ
 23 tataḥ punar ameyātmā prasaṃdhāya śilīmukham
     preṣayām āsa samare paṇḍitaṃ prati bhārata
 24 sa śaraḥ paṇḍitaṃ hatvā viveśa dharaṇītalam
     yathā naraṃ nihatyāśu bhujagaḥ kālacoditaḥ
 25 viśālākṣa śiraś chittvā pātayām āsa bhūtale
     tribhiḥ śarair adīnātmā smaran kleśaṃ purātanam
 26 mahodaraṃ maheṣvāsaṃ nārācena stanāntare
     vivyādha samare rājan sa hato nyapatad bhuvi
 27 ādityaketoḥ ketuṃ ca chittvā bāṇena saṃyuge
     bhallena bhṛśatīkṣṇena śiraś ciccheda cārihā
 28 bahv āśinaṃ tato bhīmaḥ śareṇa nataparvaṇā
     preṣayām āsa saṃkruddho yamasya sadanaṃ prati
 29 pradudruvus tatas te 'nye putrās tava viśāṃ pate
     manyamānā hi tat satyaṃ sabhāyāṃ tasya bhāṣitam
 30 tato duryodhano rājā bhrātṛvyasanakarśitaḥ
     abravīt tāvakān yodhān bhīmo 'yaṃ yudhi vadhyatām
 31 evam eta maheṣvāsāḥ putrās tava viśāṃ pate
     bhrātṝn saṃdṛśya nihatān prāsmaraṃs te hi tad vacaḥ
 32 yad uktavān mahāprājñaḥ kṣattā hitam anāmayam
     tad idaṃ samanuprāptaṃ vacanaṃ divyadarśinaḥ
 33 lobhamohasamāviṣṭaḥ putra prītyā janādhipa
     na budhyase purā yat tat tathyam uktaṃ vaco mahat
 34 tathaiva hi vadhārthāya putrāṇāṃ pāṇḍavo balī
     nūnaṃ jāto mahābāhur yathā hanti sma kauravān
 35 tato duryodhano rājā bhīṣmam āsādya māriṣa
     duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭo vilalāpātikarśitaḥ
 36 nihatā bhrātaraḥ śūrā bhīmasenena me yudhi
     yatamānās tathānye 'pi hanyante sarvasainikāḥ
 37 bhavāṃś ca madhyasthatayā nityam asmān upekṣate
     so 'haṃ kāpatham ārūḍhaḥ paśya daivam idaṃ mama
 38 etac chrutvā vacaḥ krūraṃ pitā devavratas tava
     duryodhanam idaṃ vākyam abravīt sāśrulocanam
 39 uktam etan mayā pūrvaṃ droṇena vidureṇa ca
     gāndhāryā ca yaśasvinyā tattvaṃ tāta na buddhavān
 40 samayaś ca mayā pūrvaṃ kṛto vaḥ śatrukarśana
     nāhaṃ yudhi vimoktavyo nāpy ācāryaḥ kathaṃ cana
 41 yaṃ yaṃ hi dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ bhīmo drakṣyati saṃyuge
     haniṣyati raṇe taṃ taṃ satyam etad bravīmi te
 42 sa tvaṃ rājan sthiro bhūtvā dṛḍhāṃ kṛtvā raṇe matim
     yodhayasva raṇe pārthān svargaṃ kṛtvā parāyaṇam
 43 na śakyāḥ pāṇḍavā jetuṃ sendrair api surāsuraiḥ
     tasmād yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā sthirāṃ yudhyasva bhārata

SECTION LXXXIV

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

Book 6
Chapter 85

1 [dhṛ]
      dṛṣṭvā mama hatān putrān bahūn ekena saṃśaya
      bhīṣmo droṇaḥ kṛpaś caiva kim akurvata saṃyuge
  2 ahany ahani me putrāḥ kṣayaṃ gacchanti saṃjaya
      manye 'haṃ sarvathā sūta daivenaupahatā bhṛśam
  3 yatra me tanayāḥ sarve jīyante na jayanty uta
      yatra bhīṣmasya droṇasya kṛpasya ca mahātmanaḥ
  4 saumadatteś ca vīrasya bhagadattasya cobhayoḥ
      aśvatthāmnas tathā tāta śūrāṇāṃ sumahātmanām
  5 anyeṣāṃ caiva vīrāṇāṃ madhyagās tanayā mama
      yad ahanyanta saṃgrāme kim anyad bhāgadheyataḥ
  6 na hi duryodhano mandaḥ purā proktam abudhyata
      vāryamāṇo mayā tāta bhīṣmeṇa vidureṇa ca
  7 gāndhāryā caiva durmedhāḥ satataṃ hitakāmyayā
      nāvabudhyat purā mohāt tasya prāptam idaṃ phalam
  8 yad bhīmasenaḥ samare putrān mama vicetasaḥ
      ahany ahani saṃkruddho nayate yamasādanam
  9 [s]
      idaṃ tat samanuprāptaṃ kṣattur vacanam uttamam
      na buddhavān asi vibho procyamānaṃ hitaṃ tadā
  10 nivāraya sutān dyūtāt pāṇḍavān mā druheti ca
     suhṛdāṃ hitakāmānāṃ bruvatāṃ tat tad eva ca
 11 na śuśrūṣasi yad vākyaṃ martyaḥ pathyam ivauṣadham
     tad eva tvām anuprāptaṃ vacanaṃ sādhu bhāṣitam
 12 vidura droṇa bhīṣmāṇāṃ tathānyeṣāṃ hitaiṣiṇām
     akṛtvā vacanaṃ pathyaṃ kṣayaṃ gacchanti kauravāḥ
 13 tad etat samatikrāntaṃ pūrvam eva viśāṃ pate
     tasmān me śṛṇu tattvena yathā yuddham avartata
 14 madhyāhne sumahāraudraḥ saṃgrāmaḥ samapadyata
     lokakṣayakaro rājaṃs tan me nigadataḥ śṛṇu
 15 tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāni dharmaputrasya śāsanāt
     saṃrabdhāny abhyadhāvanta bhīṣmam eva jighāṃsayā
 16 dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ
     yuktānīkā mahārāja bhīṣmam eva samabhyayuḥ
 17 arjuno draupadeyāś ca cekitānaś ca saṃyuge
     druyodhana samādiṣṭān rājñaḥ sarvān samabhyayuḥ
 18 abhimanyus tathā vīro haiḍimbaś ca mahārathaḥ
     bhīmasenaś ca saṃkruddhas te 'bhyadhāvanta kauravān
 19 tridhā bhūtair avadhyanta pāṇḍavaiḥ kauravā yudhi
     tathaiva kaurave rājann avadhyanta pare raṇe
 20 droṇas tu rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ somakān sṛñjayaiḥ saha
     abhyadravata saṃkruddhaḥ preṣayiṣyan yamakṣayam
 21 tatrākrando mahān āsīt sṛñjayānāṃ mahātmanām
     vadhyatāṃ samare rājan bhāradvājena dhanvinā
 22 droṇena nihatās tatra kṣatriyā bahavo raṇe
     viveṣṭantaḥ sma dṛśyante vyādhikliṣṭā narā iva
 23 kūjatāṃ krandatāṃ caiva stanatāṃ caiva saṃyuge
     aniśaṃ śrūyate śabdaḥ kṣut kṛśānāṃ nṛṇām iva
 24 tathaiva kauraveyāṇāṃ bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     cakāra kadanaṃ ghoraṃ kruddhaḥ kāla ivāparaḥ
 25 vadhyatāṃ tatra sainyānām anyonyena mahāraṇe
     prāvartata nadī ghorā rudhiraughapravāhinī
 26 sa saṃgrāmo mahārāja ghorarūpo 'bhavan mahān
     kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yama rāṣṭravivardhanaḥ
 27 tato bhīmo raṇe kruddho rabhasaś ca viśeṣataḥ
     gajānīkaṃ samāsādya preṣayām āsa mṛtyave
 28 tatra bhārata bhīmena nārācābhihatā gajāḥ
     petuḥ seduś ca neduś ca diśaś ca paribabhramuḥ
 29 chinnahastā mahānāgāś chinnapādāś ca māriṣa
     krauñcavad vyanadan bhītāḥ pṛthivīm adhiśiśyire
 30 nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca hayānīkam abhidrutau
     te hayāḥ kāñcanāpīḍā rukmabhāṇḍa paricchadāḥ
     vadhyamānā vyadṛśyanta śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 31 patadbhiś ca hayai rājan samāstīryata medinī
     nirjihvairś ca śvasadbhiś ca kūjadbhiś ca gatāsubhiḥ
     hayair babhau naraśreṣṭha nānārūpadharair dharā
 32 arjunena hataiḥ saṃkhye tathā bhārata vājibhiḥ
     prababhau vasudhā ghorā tatra tatra viśāṃ pate
 33 rathair bhagnair dhvajaiś chinnaiś chatraiś ca sumahāprabhaiḥ
     hārair niṣkaiḥ sa keyūraiḥ śirobhiś ca sakuṇḍalaiḥ
 34 uṣṇīṣair apaviddhaiś ca patākābhiś ca sarvaṣaḥ
     anukarṣaiḥ śubhau rājan yoktraiś cavyasuraśmibhih
     saṃchannā vasudhā bhāti vasante kusumair iva
 35 evam eṣa kṣayo vṛttaḥ pāṇḍūnām api bhārata
     kruddhe śāṃtanave bhīṣme droṇe ca rathasattame
 36 aśvatthāmni kṛpe caiva tathaiva kṛtavarmaṇi
     tathetareṣu kruddheṣu tāvakānām api kṣayaḥ

SECTION LXXXV

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

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