srimahabharat - (Book 6) Bhishma Parva - chapters 55 to 65

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 55

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
      pratijñāte tu bhīṣmeṇa tasmin yuddhe sudāruṇe
      krodhito mama putreṇa duḥkhitena viśeṣataḥ
  2 bhīṣmaḥ kim akarot tatra pāṇḍaveyeṣu saṃjaya
      pitāmahe vā pāñcālās tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
  3 saṃjaya uvāca
      gatapūrvāhṇabhūyiṣṭhe tasminn ahani bhārata
      jayaṃ prāpteṣu hṛṣṭeṣu pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu
  4 sarvadharmaviśeṣajñaḥ pitā devavratas tava
      abhyayāj javanair aśvaiḥ pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm
      mahatyā senayā guptas tava putraiś ca sarvaśaḥ
  5 prāvartata tato yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
      asmākaṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdham anayāt tava bhārata
  6 dhanuṣāṃ kūjatāṃ tatra talānāṃ cābhihanyatām
      mahān samabhavac chabdo girīṇām iva dīryatām
  7 tiṣṭha sthito 'smi viddhy enaṃ nivartasva sthiro bhava
      sthito 'smi praharasveti śabdāḥ śrūyanta sarvaśaḥ
  8 kāñcaneṣu tanutreṣu kirīṭeṣu dhvajeṣu ca
      śilānām iva śaileṣu patitānām abhūt svanaḥ
  9 patitāny uttamāṅgāni bāhavaś ca vibhūṣitāḥ
      vyaceṣṭanta mahīṃ prāpya śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
  10 hṛtottamāṅgāḥ ke cit tu tathaivodyatakārmukāḥ
     pragṛhītāyudhāś cāpi tasthuḥ puruṣasattamāḥ
 11 prāvartata mahāvegā nadī rudhiravāhinī
     mātaṅgāṅgaśilāraudrā māṃsaśoṇitakardamā
 12 varāśvanaranāgānāṃ śarīraprabhavā tadā
     paralokārṇavamukhī gṛdhragomāyumodinī
 13 na dṛṣṭaṃ na śrutaṃ cāpi yuddham etādṛśaṃ nṛpa
     yathā tava sutānāṃ ca pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata
 14 nāsīd rathapathas tatra yodhair yudhi nipātitaiḥ
     gajaiś ca patitair nīlair giriśṛṅgair ivāvṛtam
 15 vikīrṇaiḥ kavacaiś citrair dhvajaiś chatraiś ca māriṣa
     śuśubhe tad raṇasthānaṃ śaradīva nabhastalam
 16 vinirbhinnāḥ śaraiḥ ke cid antapīḍāvikarṣiṇaḥ
     abhītāḥ samare śatrūn abhyadhāvanta daṃśitāḥ
 17 tāta bhrātaḥ sakhe bandho vayasya mama mātula
     mā māṃ parityajety anye cukruśuḥ patitā raṇe
 18 ādhāvābhyehi mā gaccha kiṃ bhīto 'si kva yāsyasi
     sthito 'haṃ samare mā bhair iti cānye vicukruśuḥ
 19 tatra bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo nityaṃ maṇḍalakārmukaḥ
     mumoca bāṇān dīptāgrān ahīn āśīviṣān iva
 20 śarair ekāyanīkurvan diśaḥ sarvā yatavrataḥ
     jaghāna pāṇḍavarathān ādiśyādiśya bhārata
 21 sa nṛtyan vai rathopasthe darśayan pāṇilāghavam
     alātacakravad rājaṃs tatra tatra sma dṛśyate
 22 tam ekaṃ samare śūraṃ pāṇḍavāḥ sṛñjayās tathā
     anekaśatasāhasraṃ samapaśyanta lāghavāt
 23 māyākṛtātmānam iva bhīṣmaṃ tatra sma menire
     pūrvasyāṃ diśi taṃ dṛṣṭvā pratīcyāṃ dadṛśur janāḥ
 24 udīcyāṃ cainam ālokya dakṣiṇasyāṃ punaḥ prabho
     evaṃ sa samare vīro gāṅgeyaḥ pratyadṛśyata
 25 na cainaṃ pāṇḍaveyānāṃ kaś cic chaknoti vīkṣitum
     viśikhān eva paśyanti bhīṣmacāpacyutān bahūn
 26 kurvāṇaṃ samare karma sūdayānaṃ ca vāhinīm
     vyākrośanta raṇe tatra vīrā bahuvidhaṃ bahu
     amānuṣeṇa rūpeṇa carantaṃ pitaraṃ tava
 27 śalabhā iva rājānaḥ patanti vidhicoditāḥ
     bhīṣmāgnim abhi saṃkruddhaṃ vināśāya sahasraśaḥ
 28 na hi moghaḥ śaraḥ kaś cid āsīd bhīṣmasya saṃyuge
     naranāgāśvakāyeṣu bahutvāl laghuvedhinaḥ
 29 bhinatty ekena bāṇena sumuktena patatriṇā
     gajakaṅkaṭasaṃnāhaṃ vajreṇevācalottamam
 30 dvau trīn api gajārohān piṇḍitān varmitān api
     nārācena sutīkṣṇena nijaghāna pitā tava
 31 yo yo bhīṣmaṃ naravyāghram abhyeti yudhi kaś cana
     muhūrtadṛṣṭaḥ sa mayā pātito bhuvi dṛśyate
 32 evaṃ sā dharmarājasya vadhyamānā mahācamūḥ
     bhīṣmeṇātulavīryeṇa vyaśīryata sahasradhā
 33 prakīryata mahāsenā śaravarṣābhitāpitā
     paśyato vāsudevasya pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ
 34 yatamānāpi te vīrā dravamāṇān mahārathān
     nāśaknuvan vārayituṃ bhīṣmabāṇaprapīḍitāḥ
 35 mahendrasamavīryeṇa vadhyamānā mahācamūḥ
     abhajyata mahārāja na ca dvau saha dhāvataḥ
 36 āviddhanaranāgāśvaṃ patitadhvajakūbaram
     anīkaṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ hāhābhūtam acetanam
 37 jaghānātra pitā putraṃ putraś ca pitaraṃ tathā
     priyaṃ sakhāyaṃ cākrande sakhā daivabalātkṛtaḥ
 38 vimucya kavacān anye pāṇḍuputrasya sainikāḥ
     prakīrya keśān dhāvantaḥ pratyadṛśyanta bhārata
 39 tad gokulam ivodbhrāntam udbhrāntarathayūthapam
     dadṛśe pāṇḍuputrasya sainyam ārtasvaraṃ tadā
 40 prabhajyamānaṃ tat sainyaṃ dṛṣṭvā devakinandanaḥ
     uvāca pārthaṃ bībhatsuṃ nigṛhya ratham uttamam
 41 ayaṃ sa kālaḥ saṃprāptaḥ pārtha yaḥ kāṅkṣitas tvayā
     praharāsmai naravyāghra na cen mohād vimuhyase
 42 yat tvayā kathitaṃ vīra purā rājñāṃ samāgame
     bhīṣmadroṇamukhān sarvān dhārtarāṣṭrasya sainikān
 43 sānubandhān haniṣyāmi ye māṃ yotsyanti saṃyuge
     iti tat kuru kaunteya satyaṃ vākyam ariṃdama
 44 bībhatso paśya sainyaṃ svaṃ bhajyamānaṃ samantataḥ
     dravataś ca mahīpālān sarvān yaudhiṣṭhire bale
 45 dṛṣṭvā hi samare bhīṣmaṃ vyāttānanam ivāntakam
     bhayārtāḥ saṃpraṇaśyanti siṃhaṃ kṣudramṛgā iva
 46 evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca vāsudevaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
     codayāśvān yato bhīṣmo vigāhyaitad balārṇavam
 47 tato 'śvān rajataprakhyāṃś codayām āsa māghavaḥ
     yato bhīṣmaratho rājan duṣprekṣyo raśmimān iva
 48 tatas tat punar āvṛttaṃ yudhiṣṭhirabalaṃ mahat
     dṛṣṭvā pārthaṃ mahābāhuṃ bhīṣmāyodyantam āhave
 49 tato bhīṣmaḥ kuruśreṣṭhaḥ siṃhavad vinadan muhuḥ
     dhanaṃjayarathaṃ tūrṇaṃ śaravarṣair avākirat
 50 kṣaṇena sa rathas tasya sahayaḥ sahasārathiḥ
     śaravarṣeṇa mahatā saṃchanno na prakāśate
 51 vāsudevas tv asaṃbhrānto dhairyam āsthāya sattvavān
     codayām āsa tān aśvān vitunnān bhīṣmasāyakaiḥ
 52 tataḥ pārtho dhanur gṛhya divyaṃ jaladanisvanam
     pātayām āsa bhīṣmasya dhanuś chittvā tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
 53 sa chinnadhanvā kauravyaḥ punar anyan mahad dhanuḥ
     nimeṣāntaramātreṇa sajyaṃ cakre pitā tava
 54 vicakarṣa tato dorbhyāṃ dhanur jaladanisvanam
     athāsya tad api kruddhaś ciccheda dhanur arjunaḥ
 55 tasya tat pūjayām āsa lāghavaṃ śaṃtanoḥ sutaḥ
     sādhu pārtha mahābāho sādhu bho pāṇḍunandana
 56 tvayy evaitad yuktarūpaṃ mahat karma dhanaṃjaya
     prīto 'smi sudṛḍhaṃ putra kuru yuddhaṃ mayā saha
 57 iti pārthaṃ praśasyātha pragṛhyānyan mahad dhanuḥ
     mumoca samare vīraḥ śarān pārtharathaṃ prati
 58 adarśayad vāsudevo hayayāne paraṃ balam
     moghān kurvañ śarāṃs tasya maṇḍalāny acaral laghu
 59 tathāpi bhīṣmaḥ sudṛḍhaṃ vāsudevadhanaṃjayau
     vivyādha niśitair bāṇaiḥ sarvagātreṣu māriṣa
 60 śuśubhāte naravyāghrau tau bhīṣmaśaravikṣatau
     govṛṣāv iva nardantau viṣāṇollikhitāṅkitau
 61 punaś cāpi susaṃkruddhaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     kṛṣṇayor yudhi saṃrabdho bhīṣmo vyāvārayad diśaḥ
 62 vārṣṇeyaṃ ca śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ kampayām āsa roṣitaḥ
     muhur abhyutsmayan bhīṣmaḥ prahasya svanavat tadā
 63 tataḥ kṛṣṇas tu samare dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmaparākramam
     saṃprekṣya ca mahābāhuḥ pārthasya mṛduyuddhatām
 64 bhīṣmaṃ ca śaravarṣāṇi sṛjantam aniśaṃ yudhi
     pratapantam ivādityaṃ madhyam āsādya senayoḥ
 65 varān varān vinighnantaṃ pāṇḍuputrasya sainikān
     yugāntam iva kurvāṇaṃ bhīṣmaṃ yaudhiṣṭhire bale
 66 amṛṣyamāṇo bhagavān keśavaḥ paravīrahā
     acintayad ameyātmā nāsti yaudhiṣṭhiraṃ balam
 67 ekāhnā hi raṇe bhīṣmo nāśayed devadānavān
     kim u pāṇḍusutān yuddhe sabalān sapadānugān
 68 dravate ca mahat sainyaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ
     ete ca kauravās tūrṇaṃ prabhagnān dṛśya somakān
     ādravanti raṇe hṛṣṭā harṣayantaḥ pitāmaham
 69 so 'haṃ bhīṣmaṃ nihanmy adya pāṇḍavārthāya daṃśitaḥ
     bhāram etaṃ vineṣyāmi pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
 70 arjuno 'pi śarais tīkṣṇair vadhyamāno hi saṃyuge
     kartavyaṃ nābhijānāti raṇe bhīṣmasya gauravāt
 71 tathā cintayatas tasya bhūya eva pitāmahaḥ
     preṣayām āsa saṃkruddhaḥ śarān pārtharathaṃ prati
 72 teṣāṃ bahutvād dhi bhṛśaṃ śarāṇāṃ; diśo 'tha sarvāḥ pihitā babhūvuḥ
     na cāntarikṣaṃ na diśo na bhūmir; na bhāskaro 'dṛśyata raśmimālī
     vavuś ca vātās tumulāḥ sadhūmā; diśaś ca sarvāḥ kṣubhitā babhūvuḥ
 73 droṇo vikarṇo 'tha jayadrathaś ca; bhūriśravāḥ kṛtavarmā kṛpaś ca
     śrutāyur ambaṣṭhapatiś ca rājā; vindānuvindau ca sudakṣiṇaś ca
 74 prācyāś ca sauvīragaṇāś ca sarve; vasātayaḥ kṣudrakamālavāś ca
     kirīṭinaṃ tvaramāṇābhisasrur; nideśagāḥ śāṃtanavasya rājñaḥ
 75 taṃ vājipādātarathaughajālair; anekasāhasraśatair dadarśa
     kirīṭinaṃ saṃparivāryamāṇaṃ; śiner naptā vāraṇayūthapaiś ca
 76 tatas tu dṛṣṭvārjunavāsudevau; padātināgāśvarathaiḥ samantāt
     abhidrutau śastrabhṛtāṃ variṣṭhau; śinipravīro 'bhisasāra tūrṇam
 77 sa tāny anīkāni mahādhanuṣmāñ; śinipravīraḥ sahasābhipatya
     cakāra sāhāyyam athārjunasya; viṣṇur yathā vṛtraniṣūdanasya
 78 viśīrṇanāgāśvarathadhvajaughaṃ; bhīṣmeṇa vitrāsitasarvayodham
     yudhiṣṭhirānīkam abhidravantaṃ; provāca saṃdṛśya śinipravīraḥ
 79 kva kṣatriyā yāsyatha naiṣa dharmaḥ; satāṃ purastāt kathitaḥ purāṇaiḥ
     mā svāṃ pratijñāṃ jahata pravīrāḥ; svaṃ vīradharmaṃ paripālayadhvam
 80 tān vāsavān antarajo niśamya; narendramukhyān dravataḥ samantāt
     pārthasya dṛṣṭvā mṛduyuddhatāṃ ca; bhīṣmaṃ ca saṃkhye samudīryamāṇam
 81 amṛṣyamāṇaḥ sa tato mahātmā; yaśasvinaṃ sarvadaśārhabhartā
     uvāca śaineyam abhipraśaṃsan; dṛṣṭvā kurūn āpatataḥ samantāt
 82 ye yānti yāntv eva śinipravīra; ye 'pi sthitāḥ sātvata te 'pi yāntu
     bhīṣmaṃ rathāt paśya nipātyamānaṃ; droṇaṃ ca saṃkhye sagaṇaṃ mayādya
 83 nāsau rathaḥ sātvata kauravāṇāṃ; kruddhasya mucyeta raṇe 'dya kaś cit
     tasmād ahaṃ gṛhya rathāṅgam ugraṃ; prāṇaṃ hariṣyāmi mahāvratasya
 84 nihatya bhīṣmaṃ sagaṇaṃ tathājau; droṇaṃ ca śaineya rathapravīram
     prītiṃ kariṣyāmi dhanaṃjayasya; rājñaś ca bhīmasya tathāśvinoś ca
 85 nihyatya sarvān dhṛtarāṣṭraputrāṃs; tatpakṣiṇo ye ca narendramukhyāḥ
     rājyena rājānam ajātaśatruṃ; saṃpādayiṣyāmy aham adya hṛṣṭaḥ
 86 tataḥ sunābhaṃ vasudevaputraḥ; sūryaprabhaṃ vajrasamaprabhāvam
     kṣurāntam udyamya bhujena cakraṃ; rathād avaplutya visṛjya vāhān
 87 saṃkampayan gāṃ caraṇair mahātmā; vegena kṛṣṇaḥ prasasāra bhīṣmam
     madāndham ājau samudīrṇadarpaḥ; siṃho jighāṃsann iva vāraṇendram
 88 so 'bhyadravad bhīṣmam anīkamadhye; kruddho mahendrāvarajaḥ pramāthī
     vyālambipītāntapaṭaś cakāśe; ghano yathā khe 'cirabhāpinaddhaḥ
 89 sudarśanaṃ cāsya rarāja śaures; tac cakrapadmaṃ subhujorunālam
     yathādipadmaṃ taruṇārkavarṇaṃ; rarāja nārāyaṇanābhijātam
 90 tat kṛṣṇakopodayasūryabuddhaṃ; kṣurāntatīkṣṇāgrasujātapatram
     tasyaiva dehorusaraḥ prarūḍhaṃ; rarāja nārāyaṇabāhunālam
 91 tam āttacakraṃ praṇadantam uccaiḥ; kruddhaṃ mahendrāvarajaṃ samīkṣya
     sarvāṇi bhūtāni bhṛśaṃ vineduḥ; kṣayaṃ kurūṇām iti cintayitvā
 92 sa vāsudevaḥ pragṛhīta cakraḥ; saṃvartayiṣyann iva jīvalokam
     abhyutpataṁl lokagurur babhāse; bhūtāni dhakṣyann iva kālavahniḥ
 93 tam āpatantaṃ pragṛhītacakraṃ; samīkṣya devaṃ dvipadāṃ variṣṭham
     asaṃbhramāt kārmukabāṇapāṇī; rathe sthitaḥ śāṃtanavo 'bhyuvāca
 94 ehy ehi deveśa jagannivāsa; namo 'stu te śārṅgarathāṅgapāṇe
     prasahya māṃ pātaya lokanātha; rathottamād bhūtaśaraṇya saṃkhye
 95 tvayā hatasyeha mamādya kṛṣṇa; śreyaḥ parasminn iha caiva loke
     saṃbhāvito 'smy andhakavṛṣṇinātha; lokais tribhir vīra tavābhiyānāt
 96 rathād avaplutya tatas tvarāvān; pārtho 'py anudrutya yadupravīram
     jagrāha pīnottamalambabāhuṃ; bāhvor hariṃ vyāyatapīnabāhuḥ
 97 nigṛhyamāṇaś ca tadādidevo; bhṛśaṃ saroṣaḥ kila nāma yogī
     ādāya vegena jagāma viṣṇur; jiṣṇuṃ mahāvāta ivaikavṛkṣam
 98 pārthas tu viṣṭabhya balena pādau; bhīṣmāntikaṃ tūrṇam abhidravantam
     balān nijagrāha kirīṭamālī; pade 'tha rājan daśame kathaṃ cit
 99 avasthitaṃ ca praṇipatya kṛṣṇaṃ; prīto 'rjunaḥ kāñcanacitramālī
     uvāca kopaṃ pratisaṃhareti; gatir bhavān keśava pāṇḍavānām
 100 na hāsyate karma yathāpratijñaṃ; putraiḥ śape keśava sodaraiś ca
    antaṃ kariṣyāmi yathā kurūṇāṃ; tvayāham indrānuja saṃprayuktaḥ
101 tataḥ pratijñāṃ samayaṃ ca tasmai; janārdanaḥ prītamanā niśamya
    sthitaḥ priye kauravasattamasya; rathaṃ sacakraḥ punar āruroha
102 sa tān abhīṣūn punar ādadānaḥ; pragṛhya śaṅkhaṃ dviṣatāṃ nihantā
    vinādayām āsa tato diśaś ca; sa pāñcajanyasya raveṇa śauriḥ
103 vyāviddhaniṣkāṅgadakuṇḍalaṃ taṃ; rajo vikīrṇāś cita pakṣma netram
    viśuddhadaṃṣṭraṃ pragṛhītaśaṅkhaṃ; vicukruśuḥ prekṣya kurupravīrāḥ
104 mṛdaṅgabherīpaṭahapraṇādā; nemisvanā dundubhinisvanāś ca
    sasiṃhanādāś ca babhūvur ugrāḥ; sarveṣv anīkeṣu tataḥ kurūṇām
105 gāṇḍīvaghoṣaḥ stanayitnukalpo; jagāma pārthasya nabho diśaś ca
    jagmuś ca bāṇā vimalāḥ prasannāḥ; sarvā diśaḥ pāṇḍavacāpamuktāḥ
106 taṃ kauravāṇām adhipo balena; bhīṣmeṇa bhūriśravasā ca sārdham
    abhyudyayāv udyatabāṇapāṇiḥ; kakṣaṃ didhakṣann iva dhūmaketuḥ
107 athārjunāya prajahāra bhallān; bhūriśravāḥ sapta suvarṇapuṅkhān
    duryodhanas tomaram ugravegaṃ; śalyo gadāṃ śāṃtanavaś ca śaktim
108 sa saptabhiḥ sapta śarapravekān; saṃvārya bhūriśravasā visṛṣṭān
    śitena duryodhanabāhumuktaṃ; kṣureṇa tat tomaram unmamātha
109 tataḥ śubhām āpatatīṃ sa śaktiṃ; vidyutprabhāṃ śāṃtanavena muktām
    gadāṃ ca madrādhipabāhumuktāṃ; dvābhyāṃ śarābhyāṃ nicakarta vīraḥ
110 tato bhujābhyāṃ balavad vikṛṣya; citraṃ dhanur gāṇḍivam aprameyam
    māhendram astraṃ vidhivat sughoraṃ; prāduścakārādbhutam antarikṣe
111 tenottamāstreṇa tato mahātmā; sarvāṇy anīkāni mahādhanuṣmān
    śaraughajālair vimalāgnivarṇair; nivārayām āsa kirīṭamālī
112 śilīmukhāḥ pārthadhanuḥpramuktā; rathān dhvajāgrāṇi dhanūṃṣi bāhūn
    nikṛtya dehān viviśuḥ pareṣāṃ; narendranāgendraturaṃgamāṇām
113 tato diśaś cānudiśaś ca pārthaḥ; śaraiḥ sudhārair niśitair vitatya
    gāṇḍīvaśabdena manāṃsi teṣāṃ; kirīṭamālī vyathayāṃ cakāra
114 tasmiṃs tathā ghoratame pravṛtte; śaṅkhasvanā dundubhinisvanāś ca
    antarhitā gāṇḍivanisvanena; bhabhūvur ugrāś ca raṇapraṇādāḥ
115 gāṇḍīvaśabdaṃ tam atho viditvā; virāṭarājapramukhā nṛvīrāḥ
    pāñcālarājo drupadaś ca vīras; taṃ deśam ājagmur adīnasattvāḥ
116 sarvāṇi sainyāni tu tāvakāni; yato yato gāṇḍivajaḥ praṇādaḥ
    tatas tataḥ saṃnatim eva jagmur; na taṃ pratīpo 'bhisasāra kaś cit
117 tasmin sughore nṛpasaṃprahāre; hatāḥ pravīrāḥ sarathāḥ sasūtāḥ
    gajāś ca nārācanipātataptā; mahāpatākāḥ śubharukmakakṣyāḥ
118 parītasattvāḥ sahasā nipetuḥ; kirīṭinā bhinnatanutrakāyāḥ
    dṛḍhāhatāḥ patribhir ugravegaiḥ; pārthena bhallair niśitaiḥ śitāgraiḥ
119 nikṛttayantrā nihatendrakīlā; dhvajā mahānto dhvajinīmukheṣu
    padātisaṃghāś ca rathāś ca saṃkhye; hayāś ca nāgāś ca dhanaṃjayena
120 bāṇāhatās tūrṇam apetasattvā; viṣṭabhya gātrāṇi nipetur urvyām
    aindreṇa tenāstravareṇa rājan; mahāhave bhinnatanutradehāḥ
121 tataḥ śaraughair niśitaiḥ kirīṭinā; nṛdehaśastrakṣatalohitodā
    nadī sughorā naradehaphenā; pravartitā tatra raṇājire vai
122 vegena sātīva pṛthupravāhā; prasusrutā bhairavārāvarūpā
    paretanāgāśvaśarīrarodhā; narāntramajjābhṛtamāṃsapaṅkā
123 prabhūtarakṣogaṇabhūtasevitā; śiraḥkapālākulakeśaśādvalā
    śarīrasaṃghātasahasravāhinī; viśīrṇanānākavacormisaṃkulā
124 narāśvanāgāsthinikṛttaśarkarā; vināśapātālavatī bhayāvahā
    tāṃ kaṅkamālāvṛtagṛdhrakahvaiḥ; kravyādasaṃghaiś ca tarakṣubhiś ca
125 upetakūlāṃ dadṛśuḥ samantāt; krūrāṃ mahāvaitaraṇīprakāśām
    pravartitām arjunabāṇasaṃghair; medovasāsṛkpravahāṃ subhīmām
126 te cedipāñcālakarūṣamatsyāḥ; pārthāś ca sarve sahitāḥ praṇeduḥ
    vitrāsya senāṃ dhvajinīpatīnāṃ; siṃho mṛgāṇām iva yūthasaṃghān
    vinedatus tāv atiharṣayuktau; gāṇḍīvadhanvā ca janārdanaś ca
127 tato raviṃ saṃhṛtaraśmijālaṃ; dṛṣṭvā bhṛśaṃ śastraparikṣatāṅgāḥ
    tad aindram astraṃ vitataṃ sughoram; asahyam udvīkṣya yugāntakalpam
128 athāpayānaṃ kuravaḥ sabhīṣmāḥ; sadroṇaduryodhanabāhlikāś ca
    cakrur niśāṃ saṃdhigatāṃ samīkṣya; vibhāvasor lohitarājiyuktām
129 avāpya kīrtiṃ ca yaśaś ca loke; vijitya śatrūṃś ca dhanaṃjayo 'pi
    yayau narendraiḥ saha sodaraiś ca; samāptakarmā śibiraṃ niśāyām
    tataḥ prajajñe tumulaḥ kurūṇāṃ; niśāmukhe ghorataraḥ praṇādaḥ
130 raṇe rathānām ayutaṃ nihatya; hatā gajāḥ saptaśatārjunena
    prācyāś ca sauvīragaṇāś ca sarve; nipātitāḥ kṣudrakamālavāś ca
    mahat kṛtaṃ karma dhanaṃjayena; kartuṃ yathā nārhati kaś cid anyaḥ
131 śrutāyur ambaṣṭhapatiś ca rājā; tathaiva durmarṣaṇacitrasenau
    droṇaḥ kṛpaḥ saindhavabāhlikau ca; bhūriśravāḥ śalyaśalau ca rājan
    svabāhuvīryeṇa jitāḥ sabhīṣmāḥ; kirīṭinā lokamahārathena
132 iti bruvantaḥ śibirāṇi jagmuḥ; sarve gaṇā bhārata ye tvadīyāḥ
    ulkāsahasraiś ca susaṃpradīptair; vibhrājamānaiś ca tathā pradīpaiḥ
    kirīṭivitrāsitasarvayodhā; cakre niveśaṃ dhvajinī kurūṇām

SECTION LV

Sanjaya said, "When the forenoon of that day had passed away, O Bharata, and when the destruction of cars, elephants, steeds, foot-soldiers and horse-soldiers, proceeded on, the prince of Panchala engaged himself in battle with these three mighty car-warriors, viz., Drona's son, Salya, and the high-souled Kripa. And the mighty heir of Panchala's king with many sharp shafts, slew the steeds of Drona's son that were celebrated over all the world. Deprived then of his animals, Drona's son quickly getting up on Salya's car, showered his shafts on the hair of the Panchala king. And beholding Dhrishtadyumna engaged in battle with Drona's son, the son of Subhadra, O Bharata, quickly came up scattering his sharp arrows. And, O bull of Bharata's race, he pierced Salya with five and twenty, and Kripa with nine arrows, and Aswatthaman with eight. Drona's son, however, quickly pierced Arjuna's son with many winged arrows, and Salya pierced him with twelve, and Kripa with three sharp arrows. Thy grandson Lakshmana then, beholding Subhadra's son engaged in battle, rushed at him, excited with rage. And the battle commenced between them. And the son of Duryodhana, excited with rage, pierced Subhadra's son with sharp shafts in that combat. And that (feat), O king, seemed highly wonderful. The light-handed Abhimanyu then, O bull of Bharata's race, excited with rage, quickly pierced his cousin with five hundred arrows. Lakshmana also, with his shafts, then cut off his (cousin's) bow-staff at the middle, at which, O monarch, all the people sent forth a loud shout. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Subhadra, leaving aside that broken bow, took up another that was beautiful and tougher. 1 And thereupon those two bulls among men, thus engaged in combat and desirous of counteracting each other's feats, pierced each other with sharp shafts. King Duryodhana then, O monarch, beholding his mighty son thus afflicted
p. 141
by thy grandson (Abhimanyu), proceeded to that spot. And when thy son turned (towards that spot), all the kings surrounded the son of Arjuna on every side with crowds of cars. Incapable of being defeated in battle and equal in prowess unto Krishna himself, that hero, O king, thus surrounded by those heroes, was not agitated in the least. Then Dhananjaya, beholding Subhadra's son engaged in battle, rushed to that spot, excited with wrath, desirous of rescuing his own son. Thereupon the kings (on the Kuru side), headed by Bhishma and Drona and with cars, elephants and steeds, rushed impetuously at Savyasachin. Then a thick earthly dust, suddenly raised by foot-soldiers and steeds and cars and cavalry troopers, covering the sky appeared on the view. And those thousands of elephants and hundreds of kings, when they came within reach of Arjuna's arrows, were all unable to make any further advance. And all creatures there set up loud wails, and the points of the compass became dark. And then the transgression of the Kurus assumed a fierce and dreadful aspect as regards its consequences. Neither the welkin, nor the cardinal points of the compass nor the earth, nor the sun, could be distinguished, O best of men, in consequence of the arrows shot by Kiritin. 1 And many were the elephants there deprived of the standards (on their backs), and many car-warriors also, deprived of their steeds. And some leaders of car divisions were seen wandering, having abandoned their cars. And other car-warriors, deprived of their cars, were seen to wander hither and thither, weapon in hand and their arms graced with Angadas. And riders of steeds abandoning their steeds and of elephants abandoning their elephants from fear of Arjuna, O king, fled away in all directions. And kings were seen felled or falling from cars and elephants and steeds in consequence of Arjuna's shafts. And Arjuna, assuming a fierce countenance, cut off with his terrible shafts, the upraised arms of warriors, mace in grasp, and arms bearing swords, O king, or darts, or quivers, or shafts, or bows, or hooks, or standards, all over the field. And spiked maces broken in fragments, and mallets, O sire, and bearded darts, and short arrows, and swords also, in that battle, and sharp-edged battle-axes, and lances, O Bharata, and shields broken into pieces, and coats of mail also, O king, 2 and standards, and weapons of all kinds thrown away and umbrellas furnished with golden staves, and iron hooks also, O Bharata, and goads and whips, and traces also, O sire, were seen strewn over the field of battle in heaps. There was no man in thy army, O sire, who could advance against the heroic Arjuna in battle. Whoever, O king, advanced against Pritha's son in battle, pierced by sharp shafts was despatched to the other world. When all these combatants of thine broke had fled away, Arjuna and Vasudeva blew their excellent conches. Thy sire Devavrata then, beholding the (Kuru) host routed, smilingly addressed the heroic son of Bharadwaja in the battle and said, "This mighty and heroic son of Pandu, viz., Dhananjaya, accompanied by Krishna, is dealing
p. 142
with (our) troops as he alone is competent to deal with them. He is incapable of being vanquished in battle today by any means, judging by his form that we see now so like unto that of the Destroyer himself at the end of the Yuga. This vast host again (of ours) is incapable of being rallied. Behold, looking at one another, our troops are flying away. Yon Sun, robbing in every way the vision of the whole world, is about to reach that best of mountains called Asta. 1 For this, O bull among men, I think that the hour is come for the withdrawal (of the army). The warriors, who have all been tired and struck with panic, will never fight. Having said this unto Drona that best of preceptors, Bhishma, that mighty car-warrior, caused thy army to be withdrawn. And then when the sun set, the withdrawal of both thy army and theirs took place, O sire, and twilight set in."

Book 6
Chapter 56

 1 [s]
      vyuṣṭāṃ niśāṃ bhārata bhāratānām; anīkinināṃ pramukhe mahātmā
      yayau sapatnān prati jātakopo; vṛtaḥ samagreṇa balena bhīṣmaḥ
  2 taṃ droṇaduryodhanabāhlikāś ca; tathaiva durmarṣaṇacitrasenau
      jayadrathaś cātibalo balaughair; nṛpās tathānye 'nuyayuḥ samantāt
  3 sa tair mahadbhiś ca mahārathaiś; ca tejasvibhir vīryavadbhiś ca rājan
      rarāja rājottamarājamukhair; vṛtaḥ sa devair iva varja pāṇiḥ
  4 tasminn anīka pramukhe viṣaktā; dodhūyamānāś ca mahāpatākāḥ
      surakta pītāsita pāṇḍur ābhā; mahāgajaskandhagatā virejuḥ
  5 sā vāhinī śāṃtanavena rājñā; mahārathair vāraṇavājibhiś ca
      babhau sa vidyut stanayitnukalpā; jalāgame dyaur iva jātameghā
  6 tato raṇāyābhimukhī prayātā; praty arjunaṃ śāṃtanavābhiguptā
      senā mahogrā sahasā karūṇāṃ; vego yathā bhīma ivāpagāyāḥ
  7 taṃ vyālanānāvidha vigūḍha sāraṃ; gajāśvapādātarathaughapakṣam
      vyūhaṃ mahāmeghasamaṃ mahātmā; dadarśa durāt kapirājaketuḥ
  8 sa niryayau ketumatā rathena; nararṣabhaḥ śvetahayena vīraḥ
      varūthinā sainyamukhe mahātmā; vadhe dhṛtaḥ sarvasapatna yūnām
  9 sūpaskaraṃ sottara bandhureṣaṃ; yattaṃ yadūnām ṛṣabheṇa saṃkhye
      kapidhvajaṃ prekṣya viṣedur ājau; sahaiva putrais tava kauraveyāḥ
  10 prakarṣatā guptam udāyudhena; kirīṭinā lokamahārathena
     taṃ vyūha rājaṃ dadṛśus tvadīyāś; catuś caturvyāla sahasrakīrṇam
 11 yathā hi pūrve 'hani dharmarājñā vyūhaḥ; kṛtaḥ kauravanandanena
     tathā tathoddeśam upetya tasthuḥ; pāñcāla mukhyaiḥ saha cedimukhyāḥ
 12 tato mahāvegasamāhatāni; bherīsahasrāṇi vinedur ājau
     śaṅkhasvanā dundubhinisvanāś ca; sarveṣv anīkeṣu sasiṃhanādāḥ
 13 tataḥ sa bāṇāni mahāsvanāni; visphāryamāṇāni dhanūṃṣi vīraiḥ
     kṣaṇena bherī paṇavapraṇādān; antardadhuḥ śaṅkhamahāsvanāś ca
 14 tac chaṅkhaśabdāvṛtam antarikṣam; uddhuta bhauma drutareṇujālam
     mahāvitānāvatata prakāśam; ālokya vīrāḥ sahasābhipetuḥ
 15 rathī rathenābhihataḥ sasūtaḥ; papāta sāśvaḥ sa rathaḥ sa ketuḥ
     gajo gajenābhihataḥ papāta; padātinā cābhihataḥ padātiḥ
 16 āvartamānāny abhivartamānair; bāṇaiḥ kṣatāny adbhutadarśanāni
     prāsaiś ca khaḍgaiś ca samāhatāni; sadaśvavṛndāni sadaśvavṛndaiḥ
 17 suvarṇatārā gaṇabhūṣitāni; śarāvarāṇi prahitāni vīraiḥ
     vidāryamāṇāni paraśvadhaiś ca; prāsaiś ca khaḍgaiś ca nipetur urvyām
 18 gajair viṣāṇair varahastarugṇāḥ; ke cit sasūtā rathinaḥ prapetuḥ
     gajarṣabhāś cāpi ratharṣabheṇa; nipetire bāṇahatāḥ pṛthivyām
 19 gajaughavegoddhatasāditānāṃ; śrutvā niṣedur vasudhāṃ manuṣyāḥ
     ārtasvaraṃ sādipadātiyūnāṃ; viṣāṇa gātrāvara tāḍitānām
 20 saṃbhrāntanāgāśvarathe prasūte; mahābhaye sādipadāti yūnām
     mahārathaiḥ saṃparivāryamāṇaṃ; dadarśa bhīṣmaḥ kapirājaketum
 21 taṃ pañca tālocchritatālaketuḥ; sadaśvavegoddhata vīryayātaḥ
     mahāstra bāṇāśanidīptamārgaṃ; kirīṭinaṃ śāṃtanavo 'bhyadhāvat
 22 tathaiva śakra pratimānakalpam; indrātmajaṃ droṇa mukhābhisasruḥ
     kṛpaś ca śalyaś ca viviṃśatiś ca; duryodhanaḥ saumadattiś ca rājan
 23 tato rathānīka mukhād upetya; sarvāstravit kāñcanacitravarmā
     javena śūro 'bhisasāra sarvāṃs; tathārjunasyātra suto 'bhimanyuḥ
 24 teṣāṃ mahāstrāṇi mahārathānām; asaktakarmā vinihatya kārṣṇiḥ
     babhau mahāmantrahutārci mālī; sagodgataḥ san bhagavān ivāgniḥ
 25 tataḥ sa tūrṇaṃ rudhiroda phenāṃ; kṛtvā nadīṃ vaiśasane ripūṇām
     jagāma saubhadram atītya bhīṣmo; mahārathaṃ pārtham adīnasattvaḥ
 26 tataḥ prahasyādbhuta darśanena; gāṇḍīvanirhvāda mahāsvanena
     vipāṭha jālena mahāstra jālaṃ; vināśayām āsa kirīṭamālī
 27 tam uttamaṃ sarvadhanurdharāṇām; asaktakarmā kapirājaketuḥ
     bhīṣmaṃ mahātmābhivavarṣa tūrṇaṃ; śaraughajālair vimalaiś ca bhallaiḥ
 28 evaṃvidhaṃ kārmukabhīma nādam; adīnavat satpuruṣottamābhyām
     dadarśa lokaḥ kurusṛñjayāś ca; tad dvairathaṃ bhīṣma dhanaṃjayābhyām

SECTION LVI

Sanjaya said,--"When the night having passed away, the dawn came, Santanu's son Bhishma, that chastiser of foes, gave the order for the (Kuru) army to prepare for battle. And the son of Santanu, the old Kuru grandsire, desirous of victory to thy sons, formed that mighty array known after the name of Garuda. And on the beak of that Garuda was thy sire Devavrata himself. And its two eyes were Bharadwaja's son and Kritavarman of Satwata's race. And those renowned warriors, Aswatthaman and Kripa, supported by the Trigartas, the Matsyas, the Kekayas, and the Vatadhanas, were in its head. And Bhurisravas and Sala, and Salya and Bhagadatta, O sire, and the Madrakas, the Sindhu-Souviras, and they that were called the Pancha-nodas, together with Jayadratha, were placed on its neck. And on its back was king Duryodhana with all his followers. And Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and the Kamvojas with the Sakas, and the Surasenas, O sire, formed its tail, O great king. And the Magadhas and the Kalingas, with all the tribes of the Daserakas, accoutred in mail, formed the right wing of that array. And the Karushas, the Vikunjas, the Mundas, and the Kaundivrishas, with Vrithadvala, were stationed on the left wing. Then that chastiser of foes, Savyasachin, beholding the host disposed in battle-array, aided by Dhrishtadyumna, disposed his troops in counter-array. And in opposition to that array of thine, the son of Pandu formed fierce array after the form of the half-moon. And stationed on the right horn, Bhimasena shone surrounded by kings of diverse countries abundantly armed with various weapons. Next to him were those mighty car-warriors Virata and Drupada; and next to them was Nila armed with envenomed weapons. And next to
p. 143
[paragraph continues] Nila was the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtaketu, surrounded by the Chedis, the Kasis, the Karushas, and the Pauravas. And Dhrishtadyumna, and Sikhandin, with the Panchalas and the Prabhadrakas, and supported by other troops, were stationed in the middle, O Bharata, for battle. And thither also was king Yudhishthira the just, surrounded by his elephant division. And next to him were Satyaki, O king, and the five sons of Draupadi. And immediately next to them was Iravan. And next to him were Bhimasena's son (Ghatotkacha) and those mighty car-warriors, the Kekayas. And next, on the left horn (of that array), was that best of men, viz., he who had for his protector, Janardana--that protector of the whole Universe. It was thus that the Pandavas formed their mighty counter-array for the destruction of thy sons and of those who had sided with them. Then commenced the battle between thy troops and those of the foe striking one another, and in which cars and elephants mingled in the clash of combat. Large numbers of elephants and crowds of cars were seen everywhere, O king, to rush towards one another for purposes of slaughter. And the rattle of innumerable cars rushing (to join the fray), or engaged separately raised a loud uproar, mingling with the beat of drums. And the shouts of the heroic combatants belonging to thy army and theirs, O Bharata, slaying one another in that fierce encounter, reached the very heavens."

Book 6
Chapter 57

1 [s]
      drauṇir bhūriśravāḥ śalyaś citrasenaś ca māriṣa
      putraḥ sāmyamaneś caiva saubhadraṃ samayodhayan
  2 saṃsaktam atirejobhis tam ekaṃ dadṛśur janāḥ
      pañcabhir manujavyāghrair gajaiḥ siṃhaśiśuṃ yathā
  3 nābhilakṣyatayā kaś cin na śaurye na parākrame
      babhūva sadṛśaḥ kārṣṇer nāstre nāpi ca lāghave
  4 tathā tam ātmajaṃ yuddhe vikramantam ariṃdamam
      dṛṣṭvā pārtho raṇe yattaḥ siṃhanādam atho 'nadat
  5 pīḍayānaṃ ca tat sainyaṃ pautraṃ tava viśāṃ pate
      dṛṣṭvā tvadīyā rājendra samantāt paryavārayan
  6 dhvajinīṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ dīnaśatrur adīnavat
      pratyudyayau sa saubhadras tejasā ca balena ca
  7 tasya lāghavamārgastham ādityasadṛśaprabham
      vyadṛśyata mahac cāpaṃ samare yudhyataḥ paraiḥ
  8 sa drauṇim iṣuṇaikena viddhvā śalyaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ
      dhvajaṃ sāmyamaneś cāpi so 'ṣṭābhir apavarjayat
  9 rukmadaṇḍāṃ mahāśaktiṃ preṣitāṃ saumadattinā
      śitenoraga saṃkāśāṃ putriṇā vijahāra tām
  10 śalyasya ca mahāghorān asyataḥ śataśaḥ śarān
     nivāryārjuna dāyāto jaghāna samare hayān
 11 bhūriśravāś ca śalyaś ca drauṇiḥ sāmyamaniḥ śalaḥ
     nābhyavartanta saṃrabdhāḥ kārṣṇer bāhubalāśrayāt
 12 tatas trigartā rājendra madrāś ca saha kekayaiḥ
     pañcatriṃśati sāhasrās tava putreṇa coditāḥ
 13 dhanurvedavido mukhyā ajeyāḥ śatrubhir yudhi
     saha putraṃ jighāṃsantaṃ parivavruḥ kirīṭinam
 14 tau tu tatra pitā putrau parikṣiptau ratharṣabhau
     dadarśa rājan pāñcālyaḥ senāpatir amitrajit
 15 sa vāraṇarathaughānāṃ sahasrair bahubhir vṛtaḥ
     vājibhiḥ pattibhiś caiva vṛtaḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
 16 dhanur visphārya saṃkruddhaś codayitvā varūthinīm
     yayau tan madrakānīkaṃ kekayāṃś ca paraṃtapaḥ
 17 tena kīrtimatā guptam anīkaṃ dṛḍhadhanvanā
     prayukta rathanāgāśvaṃ yotsyamānam aśobhata
 18 so 'rjunaṃ pramukhe yāntaṃ pāñcālyaḥ kurunandana
     tribhiḥ śāradvataṃ bāṇair jatru deśe samarpayat
 19 tataḥ sa madrakān hatvā daśabhir daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     hṛṣṭa eko jaghānāśvaṃ bhallena kṛtavarmaṇaḥ
 20 damanaṃ cāpi dāyādaṃ pauravasya mahātmanaḥ
     jaghāna vipulāgreṇa nārācena paraṃtapaḥ
 21 tataḥ sāmyamaneḥ putraḥ pāñcālyaṃ yuddhadurmadam
     avidhyat triṃśatā bāṇair daśabhiś cāsya sārathim
 22 so 'tividdho maheṣvāsaḥ sṛkkiṇī parisaṃlihan
     bhallena bhṛśatīkṣṇena nicakartāsya kārmukam
 23 athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣipram eva samarpayat
     aśvāṃś cāsyāvadhīd rājann ubhau tau pārṣṇisārathī
 24 sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhan dadarśa bharatarṣabha
     putraḥ sāmyamaneḥ putraṃ pāñcālyasya mahātmanaḥ
 25 sa saṃgṛhya mahāghoraṃ nistriṃśavaram āyasam
     padātis tūrṇam abhyarchad rathasthaṃ drupadātmajam
 26 taṃ mahaugham ivāyāntaṃ khāt patantam ivoragam
     bhrāntāvaraṇa nistriṃśaṃ kālotsṛṣṭam ivāntakam
 27 dīpyantam iva śastrārcyā mattavāraṇavikramam
     apaśyan pāṇḍavās tatra dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
 28 tasya pāñcāla putras tu pratīpam abhidhāvataḥ
     śitanistriṃśahastasya śarāvaraṇa dhāriṇaḥ
 29 bāṇavegam atītasya rathābhyāśam upeyuṣaḥ
     tvaran senāpatiḥ kruddho bibheda gadayā śiraḥ
 30 tasya rājan sanistriṃśaṃ suprabhaṃ ca śarāvaram
     hatasya patato hastād vegena nyapatad bhuvi
 31 taṃ nihatya gadāgreṇa lebhe sa paramaṃ yaśaḥ
     putraḥ pāñcālarājasya mahātmā bhīmavikramaḥ
 32 tasmin hate maheṣvāse rājaputre mahārathe
     hāhākāro mahān āsīt tava sainyasya māriṣa
 33 tataḥ sāmyamaniḥ kruddho dṛṣṭvā nihatam ātmajam
     abhidudrāva vegena pāñcālyaṃ yuddhadurmadam
 34 tau tatra samare vīrau sametau rathināṃ varau
     dadṛśuḥ sarvarājānaḥ kuravaḥ pāṇḍavās tathā
 35 tataḥ sāmyamaniḥ kruddhaḥ pārṣataṃ paravīrahā
     ājaghāna tribhir bāṇais tottrair iva mahādvipam
 36 tathaiva pārṣataṃ śūraṃ śalyaḥ samitiśobhanaḥ
     ājaghānorasi kruddhas tato yuddham avartata

SECTION LVII

Sanjaya said, "After the ranks of thy army and theirs had been disposed in battle-array, that mighty car-warrior, Dhananjaya, felling in that conflict leaders of car-divisions with his arrows, caused a great carnage, O Bharata, among the car-ranks. The Dhartarashtras, (thus) slaughtered in battle by Pritha's son, like the Destroyer himself at the end of the Yuga, still fought perseveringly with the Pandavas. Desirous. of (winning) blazing glory and (bent upon) making death (the only ground for) a cessation of the fight, with minds undirected to anything else, they broke the Pandava ranks in many places and were also themselves broken. Then both the Pandava and the Kaurava troops broke, changed positions, and fled away. Nothing could be distinguished. An earthly dust arose, shrouding the very sun. And nobody there could distinguish, either the cardinal or the subsidiary directions. And everywhere the battle raged, O king, the combatants being guided by the indications afforded by colours, by watch-words, names and tribal distinctions. And the array of the Kauravas, O king, could not be broken, duly protected as it was by Bharadwaja's son, O sire. 1 And
p. 144
so the formidable array of the Pandava also, protected by Savyasachin, and well-guarded by Bhima, could not be broken. And the cars and elephants in close ranks, O king, of both the armies, and other combatants, coming out of their respective arrays, engaged in conflict. And in that fierce battle cavalry soldiers felled cavalry soldiers, with polished swords of sharp edges and long lances. And car-warriors, getting car-warriors (within reach) in that fierce conflict, felled them with shafts decked with golden wings. And elephant-riders, of thy side and theirs, felled large numbers of elephant-riders in close ranks, with broad-headed shafts and arrows and lances. And large bodies of infantry, inspired with wrath towards one another, cheerfully felled combatants of their own class with short arrows and battle-axes. And car-warriors, O king, getting elephant-riders (within reach) in that conflict, felled them along with their elephants. And elephant-riders similarly felled car-warriors. And, O bull of Bharata's race, the cavalry soldier with his lance felled the car-warrior in that conflict, and the car-warrior also felled the cavalry soldier. And both the armies the foot-soldier, felled the car-warrior in the combat, and the car-warrior felled the foot-soldiers, with sharp weapons. And elephant-riders felled horse-riders, and horse-riders felled warriors on the backs of elephants. And all this appeared exceedingly wonderful. And here and there foot-soldiers, were felled by foremost of elephant-riders, and elephant-riders were seen to be felled by the former. And bands of foot-soldiers, by hundreds and thousands, were seen to be felled by horse-riders and horse-riders by foot-soldiers. And strewn with broken standards and bows and lances and housings of elephants, and costly blankets and bearded darts, and maces, and clubs furnished with spikes, and Kampanas, and darts, and variegated coats of mail and Kunapas, and iron hooks, and polished scimitars, and shafts furnished with golden wings, the field, O best of Bharata's race, shone as if with floral wreaths. And the earth, miry with flesh and blood, became impassable with the bodies of men and steeds and elephants slain in that dreadful battle. And drenched with human blood, the earthy dust disappeared. And the cardinal points, all around, became perfectly clear, O Bharata. And innumerable headless trunks rose up all around indicating, O Bharata, of the destruction of the world. And in that terrible and awful battle, car-warriors were seen to run away in all directions. Then Bhishma and Drona, and Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sindhus and Purumitra, and Vikarna, and Sakuni the son of Suvala-these warriors invincible in battle and possessed of leonine prowess-staying in battle broke the ranks of the Pandavas. And so Bhimasena and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, and Satyaki, and Chekitana, and the sons of Draupadi, O Bharata, supported by all the kings (on their side), began to grind thy troops and thy sons stationed in battle, like the gods grinding the Danavas. And those bulls among Kshatriyas, striking one another in battle, became terrible to behold and covered with blood shone like Kinsukas. And the foremost warriors of both armies, vanquishing their opponents, looked, O king, like the planetary luminaries in the firmament. Then thy
p. 145
son Duryodhana, supported by a thousand cars, rushed to battle with the Pandavas and the Rakshasa. And so all the Pandavas, with a large body of combatants rushed in battle against those chastisers of foes, the heroic Bhishma and Drona. And the diadem-decked (Arjuna) also, excited with rage rushed against the foremost of kings. And Arjuna's son (Abhimanyu), and Satyaki, both advanced against the forces of Suvala's son. And then commenced once more a fearful battle, making the hair to stand on end, between thine and the enemy's troops both desirous of vanquishing each other."

Book 6
Chapter 58

1 dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
      daivam eva paraṃ manye pauruṣād api saṃjaya
      yat sainyaṃ mama putrasya pāṇḍusainyena vadhyate
  2 nityaṃ hi māmakāṃs tāta hatān eva hi śaṃsasi
      avyagrāṃś ca prahṛṣṭāṃś ca nityaṃ śaṃsasi pāṇḍavān
  3 hīnān puruṣakāreṇa māmakān adya saṃjaya
      patitān pātyamānāṃś ca hatān eva ca śaṃsasi
  4 yudhyamānān yathāśakti ghaṭamānāñ jayaṃ prati
      pāṇḍavā vijayanty eva jīyante caiva māmakāḥ
  5 so 'haṃ tīvrāṇi duḥkhāni duryodhanakṛtāni ca
      aśrauṣaṃ satataṃ tāta duḥsahāni bahūni ca
  6 tam upāyaṃ na paśyāmi jīyeran yena pāṇḍavāḥ
      māmakā vā jayaṃ yuddhe prāpnuyur yena saṃjaya
  7 saṃjaya uvāca
      kṣayaṃ manuṣyadehānāṃ gajavājirathakṣayam
      śṛṇu rājan sthiro bhūtvā tavaivāpanayo mahān
  8 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu śalyena pīḍito navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
      pīḍayām āsa saṃkruddho madrādhipatim āyasaiḥ
  9 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma pārṣatasya parākramam
      nyavārayata yat tūrṇaṃ śalyaṃ samitiśobhanam
  10 nāntaraṃ dadṛśe kaś cit tayoḥ saṃrabdhayo raṇe
     muhūrtam iva tad yuddhaṃ tayoḥ samam ivābhavat
 11 tataḥ śalyo mahārāja dhṛṣṭadyumnasya saṃyuge
     dhanuś ciccheda bhallena pītena niśitena ca
 12 athainaṃ śaravarṣeṇa chādayām āsa bhārata
     giriṃ jalāgame yadvaj jaladā jaladhāriṇaḥ
 13 abhimanyus tu saṃkruddho dhṛṣṭadyumne nipīḍite
     abhidudrāva vegena madrarājarathaṃ prati
 14 tato madrādhiparathaṃ kārṣṇiḥ prāpyātikopanaḥ
     ārtāyanim ameyātmā vivyādha viśikhais tribhiḥ
 15 tatas tu tāvakā rājan parīpsanto ''rjuniṃ raṇe
     madrarājarathaṃ tūrṇaṃ parivāryāvatasthire
 16 duryodhano vikarṇaś ca duḥśāsanaviviṃśatī
     durmarṣaṇo duḥsahaś ca citrasenaś ca durmukhaḥ
 17 satyavrataś ca bhadraṃ te purumitraś ca bhārata
     ete madrādhiparathaṃ pālayantaḥ sthitā raṇe
 18 tān bhīmasenaḥ saṃkruddho dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
     draupadeyābhimanyuś ca mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
 19 nānārūpāṇi śastrāṇi visṛjanto viśāṃ pate
     abhyavartanta saṃhṛṣṭāḥ parasparavadhaiṣiṇaḥ
     te vai samīyuḥ saṃgrāme rājan durmantrite tava
 20 tasmin dāśarathe yuddhe vartamāne bhayāvahe
     tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca prekṣakā rathino 'bhavan
 21 śastrāṇy anekarūpāṇi visṛjanto mahārathāḥ
     anyonyam abhinardantaḥ saṃprahāraṃ pracakrire
 22 te yattā jātasaṃrambhāḥ sarve 'nyonyaṃ jighāṃsavaḥ
     mahāstrāṇi vimuñcantaḥ samāpetur amarṣaṇāḥ
 23 duryodhanas tu saṃkruddho dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ mahāraṇe
     vivyādha niśitair bāṇaiś caturbhis tvarito bhṛśam
 24 durmarṣaṇaś ca viṃśatyā citrasenaś ca pañcabhiḥ
     durmukho navabhir bāṇair duḥsahaś cāpi saptabhiḥ
     viviṃśatiḥ pañcabhiś ca tribhir duḥśāsanas tathā
 25 tān pratyavidhyad rājendra pārṣataḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
     ekaikaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā darśayan pāṇilāghavam
 26 satyavrataṃ tu samare purumitraṃ ca bhārata
     abhimanyur avidhyat tau daśabhir daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 27 mādrīputrau tu samare mātulaṃ mātṛnandanau
     chādayetāṃ śaravrātais tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 28 tataḥ śalyo mahārāja svasrīyau rathināṃ varau
     śarair bahubhir ānarchat kṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇau
     chādyamānau tatas tau tu mādrīputrau na celatuḥ
 29 atha duryodhanaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     vidhitsuḥ kalahasyāntaṃ gadāṃ jagrāha pāṇḍavaḥ
 30 tam udyatagadaṃ dṛṣṭvā kailāsam iva śṛṅgiṇam
     bhīmasenaṃ mahābāhuṃ putrās te prādravan bhayāt
 31 duryodhanas tu saṃkruddho māgadhaṃ samacodayat
     anīkaṃ daśasāhasraṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ tarasvinām
     māgadhaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā bhīmasenaṃ samabhyayāt
 32 āpatantaṃ ca taṃ dṛṣṭvā gajānīkaṃ vṛkodaraḥ
     gadāpāṇir avārohad rathāt siṃha ivonnadan
 33 adrisāramayīṃ gurvīṃ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām
     abhyadhāvad gajānīkaṃ vyāditāsya ivāntakaḥ
 34 sa gajān gadayā nighnan vyacarat samare balī
     bhīmaseno mahābāhuḥ savajra iva vāsavaḥ
 35 tasya nādena mahatā manohṛdayakampinā
     vyatyaceṣṭanta saṃhatya gajā bhīmasya nardataḥ
 36 tatas tu draupadīputrāḥ saubhadraś ca mahārathaḥ
     nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
 37 pṛṣṭhaṃ bhīmasya rakṣantaḥ śaravarṣeṇa vāraṇān
     abhyadhāvanta varṣanto meghā iva girīn yathā
 38 kṣuraiḥ kṣuraprair bhallaiś ca pītair añjalikair api
     pātayantottamāṅgāni pāṇḍavā gajayodhinām
 39 śirobhiḥ prapatadbhiś ca bāhubhiś ca vibhūṣitaiḥ
     aśmavṛṣṭir ivābhāti pāṇibhiś ca sahāṅkuśaiḥ
 40 hṛtottamāṅgāḥ skandheṣu gajānāṃ gajayodhinaḥ
     adṛśyantācalāgreṣu drumā bhagnaśikhā iva
 41 dhṛṣṭadyumnahatān anyān apaśyāma mahāgajān
     patitān pātyamānāṃś ca pārṣatena mahātmanā
 42 māgadho 'tha mahīpālo gajam airāvaṇopamam
     preṣayām āsa samare saubhadrasya rathaṃ prati
 43 tam āpatantaṃ saṃprekṣya māgadhasya gajottamam
     jaghānaikeṣuṇā vīraḥ saubhadraḥ paravīrahā
 44 tasyāvarjitanāgasya kārṣṇiḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ
     rājño rajatapuṅkhena bhallenāpaharac chiraḥ
 45 vigāhya tad gajānīkaṃ bhīmaseno 'pi pāṇḍavaḥ
     vyacarat samare mṛdnan gajān indro girīn iva
 46 ekaprahārābhihatān bhīmasenena kuñjarān
     apaśyāma raṇe tasmin girīn vajrahatān iva
 47 bhagnadantān bhagnakaṭān bhagnasakthāṃś ca vāraṇān
     bhagnapṛṣṭhān bhagnakumbhān nihatān parvatopamān
 48 nadataḥ sīdataś cānyān vimukhān samare gajān
     vimūtrān bhagnasaṃvignāṃs tathā viśakṛto 'parān
 49 bhīmasenasya mārgeṣu gatāsūn parvatopamān
     apaśyāma hatān nāgān niṣṭanantas tathāpare
 50 vamanto rudhiraṃ cānye bhinnakumbhā mahāgajāḥ
     vihvalanto gatā bhūmiṃ śailā iva dharātale
 51 medorudhiradigdhāṅgo vasāmajjāsamukṣitaḥ
     vyacarat samare bhīmo daṇḍapāṇir ivāntakaḥ
 52 gajānāṃ rudhirāktāṃ tāṃ gadāṃ bibhrad vṛkodaraḥ
     ghoraḥ pratibhayaś cāsīt pinākīva pinākadhṛk
 53 nirmathyamānāḥ kruddhena bhīmasenena dantinaḥ
     sahasā prādravañ śiṣṭā mṛdnantas tava vāhinīm
 54 taṃ hi vīraṃ maheṣvāsāḥ saubhadrapramukhā rathāḥ
     paryarakṣanta yudhyantaṃ vajrāyudham ivāmarāḥ
 55 śoṇitāktāṃ gadāṃ bibhrad ukṣito gajaśoṇitaiḥ
     kṛtānta iva raudrātmā bhīmaseno vyadṛśyata
 56 vyāyacchamānaṃ gadayā dikṣu sarvāsu bhārata
     nṛtyamānam apaśyāma nṛtyantam iva śaṃkaram
 57 yamadaṇḍopamāṃ gurvīm indrāśanisamasvanām
     apaśyāma mahārāja raudrāṃ viśasanīṃ gadām
 58 vimiśrāṃ keśamajjābhiḥ pradigdhāṃ rudhireṇa ca
     pinākam iva rudrasya kruddhasyābhighnataḥ paśūn
 59 yathā paśūnāṃ saṃghātaṃ yaṣṭyā pālaḥ prakālayet
     tathā bhīmo gajānīkaṃ gadayā paryakālayat
 60 gadayā vadhyamānās te mārgaṇaiś ca samantataḥ
     svāny anīkāni mṛdnantaḥ prādravan kuñjarās tava
 61 mahāvāta ivābhrāṇi vidhamitvā sa vāraṇān
     atiṣṭhat tumule bhīmaḥ śmaśāna iva śūlabhṛt

SECTION LVIII

Sanjaya said, "Then those kings, excited with rage, beholding Phalguni in battle, surrounded him on all sides with many thousands of cars. And having, O Bharata surrounded him with multitudinous division of cars, they shrouded him from all sides with many thousands of shafts. And bright lances of sharp points, and maces, and clubs endued with spikes, and bearded darts and battle-axes, and mallets and bludgeons they hurled at Phalguni's car, excited with rage. And that shower of weapons approaching (towards him) like a flight of locusts, Pritha's son checked on all sides with his gold-decked arrows. And beholding there on that occasion the superhuman lightness of hand that Vibhatsu possessed, the gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Pisachas, the Uragas and the Rakshasas eulogised Phalguni, O king, saying,--'Excellent, Excellent.' And the heroic Gandharvas along with Suvala's son with a large force surrounded Satyaki and Abhimanyu. Then the brave warriors led by Suvala's son from anger, cut into pieces the excellent car of the Vrishni hero, with weapons of diverse kinds. And in course of that fierce conflict, Satyaki, abandoning that car of his, speedily mounted on Abhimanyu's car, O chastiser of foes. And those two, mounted on the same car, then began to speedily slaughter the army of Suvala's son with straight arrows of sharp points. And Drona and Bhishma, steadily struggling in battle, began to slaughter the division of king Yudhishthira the just, with sharp shafts furnished with the feathers of the Kanka bird. Then the son of Dharma and two other sons of Pandu by Madri, in the very sight of the whole army, began to grind the division of Drona. And the battle that took place there was fierce and awful, making the hair stand on end, like the terrible battle that took place between the gods and the Asuras in days of yore. And Bhimasena and Ghatotkacha, both achieved mighty feats. Then Duryodhana, approaching, checked them both. And the prowess we then beheld of Hidimva's son was exceedingly wonderful, insomuch that he fought in battle, O Bharata, transcending his very father. And Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, excited with
p. 146
wrath, pierced the vindictive Duryodhana in the breast, with an arrow, smiling the while. Then king Duryodhana, afflicted by the violence of that blow, sat down on the terrace of his car and swooned away. And his charioteer then, beholding him senseless, speedily bore him away, O king, from battle. And then the troops that supported Duryodhana broke and fled. And thereupon Bhima, smiting that Kuru army thus flying away in all directions, with sharp-pointed shafts, pursued it behind. And Prishata's son (Dhrishtadyumna), that foremost of warriors, and Pandu's son king Yudhishthira, the just, in the very sight, O Bharata, of both Drona and Ganga's son, slew their army with sharp shafts capable of slaying hostile forces. That host of thy son, thus flying away in battle, those mighty car-warriors. Bhishma and Drona were incapable of checking. For though attempted to be checked by Bhishma and the high-souled Drona, that host fled away in the very sight of Drona and Bhishma. And then when (those) thousand of car-warriors fled away in all directions, Subhadra's son and that bull of Sini's race, both stationed on the same car, began, O chastiser of foes, to slaughter the army of Suvala's son of battle. And Sini's grandson and that bull of Kuru's race looked resplendent like the sun and the moon when together in the firmament after the last lunation of the dark fortnight has passed away. And then Arjuna also, O king, excited with rage, showered arrows on thy army like the clouds pouring rain in torrents. And the Kaurava army, thus slaughtered in battle with the shafts of Partha, fled away, trembling in grief and fear. And beholding the army flying away, the mighty Bhishma and Drona, excited with rage and both desirous of Duryodhana's welfare sought to cheek it. Then king Duryodhana himself, comforting the combatants, checked that army, then flying away in all directions. And thereupon all the mighty Kshatriya car-warriors stopped, each at the spot where he saw thy son. And then others among the common soldiers, beholding them stop, stopped of their own accord, O king, from shame and desire of displaying their courage unto one another. And the impetuosity, O king, of that army thus rallied to the fight resembled that of the surging sea at the moment of the moon's rise. And king Duryodhana, beholding that army of his rallied for the fight, quickly repaired to Santanu's son Bhishma and said these words. 'O grandsire, listen to what I say, O Bharata. When, O son of Kuru, thou art alive, and Drona, that foremost of persons conversant with weapons, along with his son and with all our other friends (is alive), and then that mighty bowman Kripa also is alive, I do not regard it as at all creditable that my army should thus fly away. I do not regard the Pandavas to be, by any means, a match for thee or for Drona, in battle, or for Drona's son, or for Kripa. Without doubt, O grandsire, the sons of Pandu are being favoured by thee, inasmuch as thou forgivest, O hero, this slaughter of my army. Thou shouldst have told me, O king, before this battle took place, that thou wouldst not fight with the Pandavas. Hearing such words from thee, as also from the preceptor, O Bharata, I would then have, with Karna, reflected upon what course I should pursue. If I do not deserve to be abandoned by you two in battle, then,
p. 147
[paragraph continues] O bulls among men, do ye fight according to the measure of your prowess. Hearing these words, Bhishma, laughing repeatedly, and turning up his eyes in wrath, said to thy son, 'Many a time, O king, have I said unto thee words worthy of thy acceptance and fraught with thy good. The Pandavas are incapable of being vanquished in battle by the very gods with Vasava amongst them. That, however, which my aged self is capable of doing, I will do to the extent of my power, O best of kings, in this battle. Witness it now with thy kinsmen. Today, in the very sight of all, alone I shall check the sons of Pandu at the head of their troops and with all their kinsfolk.' Thus addressed by Bhishma, thy son, O king, filled with delight, caused conches to be blown and drums to be beaten. And the Pandavas also, O king, hearing that loud uproar, blew their conches, and caused their drums and cymbals to be played upon."

Book 6
Chapter 59

1 [s]
      tasmin hate gajānīke putro duryodhanas tava
      bhīmasenaṃ ghnatety evaṃ sava sainyāny acodayat
  2 tataḥ sarvāṇy anīkāni tava putrasya śāsanāt
      abhyadravan bhīmasenaṃ nadantaṃ bhairavān ravān
  3 taṃ balaugham aparyantaṃ devair api durutsaham
      āpatantaṃ suduṣpāraṃ samudram iva parvaṇi
  4 rathanāgāśvakalilaṃ śaṅkhadundubhināditam
      athānantam apāraṃ ca narendra stimitahradam
  5 taṃ bhīmasenaḥ samare mahodadhim ivāparam
      senāsāgaram akṣobhyaṃ veleva samavārayat
  6 tad āścaryam apaśyāma śraddheyam api cādbhutam
      bhīmasenasya samare rājan karmātimānuṣam
  7 udīrṇāṃ pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ sāśvāṃ sa rathakuñjarām
      asaṃbhramaṃ bhīmaseno gadayā samatāḍayat
  8 sa saṃvārya balaughāṃs tān gadayā rathināṃ varaḥ
      atiṣṭhat tumule bhīmo girir merur ivācalaḥ
  9 tasmin sutumule ghore kāle paramadāruṇe
      bhrātaraś caiva putrāś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
  10 draupadeyābhimanyuś ca śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ
     na prājahan bhīmasenaṃ bhaye jāte mahābalam
 11 tataḥ śaikyāyasīṃ gurvīṃ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām
     avadhīt tāvakān yodhān daṇḍapāṇir ivāntakaḥ
     pothayan rathavṛndāni vājivṛndāni cābhibhūḥ
 12 vyacarat samare bhīmo yugāṅge pāvako yathā
     vinighnan samare sarvān yugānte kālavad vibhuḥ
 13 ūruvegena saṃkarṣan rathajālāni pāṇḍavaḥ
     pramardayan gajān sarvān naḍvalānīva kuñjaraḥ
 14 mṛdnan rathebhyo rathino gajebhyo gajayodhinaḥ
     sādinaś cāśvapṛṣṭhebhyo bhūmau caiva padātinaḥ
 15 tatra tatra hataiś cāpi manuṣyagajavājibhiḥ
     raṇāṅgaṇaṃ tad abhavan mṛtyor āghata saṃnibham
 16 pinākam iva rudrasya kruddhasyābhighnataḥ paśūn
     yamadaṇḍopamām ugrām indrāśanisamasvanām
     dadṛśur bhīmasenasya raudrāṃ viśasanīṃ gadām
 17 āvidhyato gadāṃ tasya kaunteyasya mahātmanaḥ
     babhau rūpaṃ mahāghoraṃ kālasyeva yugakṣaye
 18 taṃ tathā mahatīṃ senāṃ drāvayantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
     dṛṣṭvā mṛtyum ivāyāntaṃ sarve vimanaso 'bhavan
 19 yato yataḥ prekṣate sma gadām udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ
     tena tena sma dīryante sarvasainyāni bhārata
 20 pradārayantaṃ sainyāni balaughenāparājitam
     grasamānam anīkāni vyāditāsyam ivāntakam
 21 taṃ tathā bhīmakarmāṇaṃ pragṛhītamahāgadam
     dṛṣṭvā vṛkodaraṃ bhīṣmaḥ sahasaiva samabhyayāt
 22 mahatā meghaghoṣeṇa rathenādityavarcasā
     chādayañ śaravarṣeṇa parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān
 23 tam āyāntaṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā vyāttānanam ivāntakam
     bhīṣmaṃ bhīmo mahābāhuḥ pratyudīyād amarṣaṇaḥ
 24 tasmin kṣaṇe sātyakiḥ satyasaṃdhaḥ; śinipravīro 'bhyapatat pitāmaham
     nighnann amitrān dhanuṣā dṛḍhena; sa kampayaṃs tava putrasya senām
 25 taṃ yāntam aśvai rajataprakāśaiḥ; śarān dhamantaṃ dhanuṣā dṛḍhena
     nāśaknuvan vārayituṃ tadānīṃ; sarve gaṇā bhārata ye tvadīyāḥ
 26 avidhyad enaṃ niśitaiḥ śarāgrair; alambuso rājavarārśyaśṛṅgiḥ
     taṃ vai caturbhiḥ pratividhya vīro; naptā śiner abhyapatad rathena
 27 anvāgataṃ vṛṣṇivaraṃ niśamya; madhye ripūṇāṃ parivartamānam
     prāvartayantaṃ kurupuṃgavāṃś ca; punaḥ punaś ca praṇadantam ājau
 28 nāśaknuvan vārayituṃ variṣṭhaṃ; madhyandine sūryam ivātapantam
     na tatra kaś cinn aviṣaṇṇa āsīd; ṛte rājan somadattasya putrāt
 29 sa hy ādadāno dhanur ugravegaṃ; bhūriśravā bhārata saumadattiḥ
     dṛṣṭvā rathān svān vyapanīyamānān; pratyudyayau sātyakiṃ yoddhum icchan

SECTION LIX

Dhritarashtra said, "After that dreadful vow had been made in battle by Bhishma enraged by the words of my son, what, O Sanjaya, did Bhishma do unto the sons of Pandu or what did the Panchalas do unto the grandsire? Tell it all unto me, O Sanjaya."
Sanjaya said, "After the forenoon of that day, O Bharata, had passed away, and the sun in his westward course had passed a portion of his path, and after the high-souled Pandavas had won the victory, thy sire Devavrata, conversant with the distinction of all codes of morality, rushed carried by the fleetest steeds, towards the army of the Pandavas, protected by a large force and by all thy sons. Then, O Bharata, in consequence of thy sinful policy, commenced a dreadful battle, making the hair stand on end, between ourselves and the Pandavas. And the twang of bows, the flapping of bowstrings against the leathern fences (casing the hands of the bowman), mingling together, made a loud uproar resembling that of splitting hills. Stay--Here I stand,--Know this one,--Turn back,--Stand,--I wait for thee--Strike,--these were the words heard everywhere. And the sound of falling coats of mail made of gold, of crowns and diadems, and of standards resembled the sound of falling stones on a stony ground. And heads, and arms decked with ornaments, falling by hundreds and thousands upon the ground moved in convulsions. And some brave combatants, with heads severed from their trunks, continued to stand weapons in grasp or armed with drawn bow. And a dreadful river of blood began to flow there, of impetuous current, miry with flesh and blood, and with the bodies of (dead) elephants for its (sub-aqueous) rocks. Flowing from the bodies of steeds, men, and elephants, and delightful to vultures and jackals, it ran towards the ocean represented by the next world. A battle such as that, O king,
p. 148
which (then) took place between thy sons, O Bharata, and the Pandavas, was never seen or heard before. And in consequence of the bodies of combatants slain in that conflict, cars could not make their way. And the field of battle in consequence of the bodies of slain elephants seemed to be strewn over with blue crests of hills. And the field of battle, strewn with variegated coats of mail and turbans, O sire, looked beautiful like the firmament autumn. And some combatants were seen who, though severely wounded, yet rushed cheerfully and proudly upon the foe in battle. And many, fallen on the field of battle, cried aloud, saying--'O father, O brother, O friend, O kinsman, O companion, O maternal uncle, do not abandon me.'--And others cried aloud, saying,--'Come! Come thou here! Why art thou frightened? Where dost thou go? I stand in battle, do not be afraid.' And in that combat Bhishma, the son of Santanu, with bow incessantly drawn to a circle, shot shafts of blazing points, resembling snakes of virulent poison. And shooting continuous line of arrows in all directions, that hero of rigid vows smote the Pandava car-warriors naming each beforehand, O Bharata. And displaying his extreme lightness of hands, and dancing (as it were) along the track of his car, he seemed, O king, to be present everywhere like a circle of fire. And in consequence of the lightness of his movements, the Pandavas in that battle, along with the Srinjayas, beheld that hero, though really alone, as multiplied a thousand-fold. And every one there regarded Bhishma as having multiplied his self by illusion. Having seen him now on the east, the next moment they saw him on the west. And so having seen him on the north, the next moment they saw him on the south. And the son of Ganga was thus seen fighting in that battle. And there was no one amongst the Pandavas capable of even looking at him. What they all saw were only the innumerable shafts shot from his bow. And heroic warriors, beholding him achieve such feats in battle, and (thus) slaughtering their ranks, uttered many lamentations. And, kings in thousands came in contact with thy sire, thus coursing over the field in a superhuman way, and fell upon that fire represented by the enraged Bhishma like flights of senseless insects (upon a blazing fire) for their own destruction. Not a single shaft of that light-handed warrior was futile, falling upon the bodies of men, elephants, and steeds, in consequence of the numbers (opposed to him). With a single straight shaft shot in that battle, he despatched a single elephant like hill riven by the thunderbolt. Two or three elephant-riders at a time, cased in mail and standing together, thy sire pierced with one shaft of sharp point. Whoever approached Bhishma, that tiger among men, in battle, seen for a moment was, next beheld to fall down on the ground. And that vast host of king Yudhishthira the just, thus slaughtered by Bhishma of incomparable prowess, gave way in a thousand directions. And afflicted with that arrowy shower, the vast army began to tremble in the very presence of Vasudeva and the high-souled Partha. And although the heroic leaders of the Pandava army made great efforts, yet they could not check the flight of (even) the great car-warriors of their side afflicted with the shafts of Bhishma. The prowess,
p. 149
in consequence of which that vast army was routed, was equal to that of the chief of the gods himself. And that army was so completely routed, O great king, that no two persons could be seen together. And cars and elephants and steeds were pierced all over, and standards and shafts of cars were strewn over the field. And the army of the sons of Pandu uttered cries of oh and alas, and became deprived of senses. And the sire struck the son and the son struck the sire; and friend challenged the dearest of friends to battle as if under the influence of fate. And others amongst the combatants of Pandu's son were seen, O Bharata, to run away, throwing aside their coats of mail, and with dishevelled hair. And the army of the sons of Pandu, indulging in loud wails, including the very leaders of their best of car-warriors, was seen to be as confounded as a very herd of kine. The delighter of the Yadavas then, beholding that army thus routed, said unto Partha, stopping that best of cars (which he guided), these words, 'The hour is now come, O Partha, which was desired by thee. Strike Bhishma, O tiger among men, else, thou wilt lose the senses. O hero, formerly, in the conclave of kings, thou hadst said,--'I will slay all the warriors of Dhritarashtra's sons, headed by Bhishma and Drona--all in fact, who will fight with me in battle'. O son of Kunti, O chastiser of foes, make those words of thine true. Behold, O Vibhatsu, this army of thine is being routed on all sides. Behold, the kings in Yudhishthira's host are all flying away, seeing Bhishma in battle, who looketh like the Destroyer himself with wide-open mouth. Afflicted with fear, they are making themselves scarce like the weaker animals at sight of the lion. Thus addressed, Dhananjaya replied unto Vasudeva, saying, 'Plunging through this sea of the hostile host, urge on the steeds to where Bhishma is. I will throw down that invincible warrior, the reverend Kuru grandsire'. Then Madhava urged those steeds of silvery hue to where, O king, the car of Bhishma was, that car which, like the very sun, was incapable of being gazed at. And beholding the mighty-armed Partha thus rushing to an encounter with Bhishma, the mighty army of Yudhisthira rallied for battle. Then Bhishma, that foremost of warriors amongst the Kurus, repeatedly roaring like a lion, quickly covered Dhananjaya's car with an arrowy shower. In a moment that car of his, with standard and charioteer, became invisible, shrouded with that arrowy downpour. Vasudeva, however, endued with great might fearlessly and summoning all his patience, began to guide those steeds mangled by Bhishma's shafts. Then Partha, taking up his celestial bow whose twang resembled the roar of the clouds, caused Bhishma's bow to drop down, cutting it off with his keen shafts. The Kuru warrior, thy sire, seeing his bow cut off, took up another and stringed it within the twinkling of the eye. And he stretched that bow whose twang resembled the roar of the clouds, with his two hands. But Arjuna, excited with wrath, cut off that bow also of his. Then the son of Santanu applauded that lightness of hand (displayed by Arjuna), saying--Excellent, O Partha, O thou of mighty arms, excellent, O son of Pandu. O Dhananjaya, such a mighty feat is, indeed, worthy of thee. I have been pleased with thee. Fight hard with
p. 150
me, O son. And having applauded Partha thus, and taking up another large bow, that hero shot his shafts at Partha's car. And Vasudeva then displayed his great skill in the guiding of chariot, for he baffled those shafts of his, by guiding the car in quick circles. Then, O sire, Bhishma with great strength pierced both Vasudeva and Dhananjaya with keen shafts all over their bodies. And mangled by those shafts of Bhishma, those two tigers among men looked like two roaring bulls with the scratches of horns on their bodies. And once again, excited with rage, Bhishma covered the two Krishnas on all sides with shafts in hundreds and thousands. And with those keen shafts of his, the enraged Bhishma caused him of Vrishni's race to shiver. And laughing loudly he also made Krishna to wonder. Then the mighty-armed Krishna, beholding the prowess of Bhishma in battle as also the mildness with which Arjuna fought, and seeing that Bhishma was creating incessant showers of arrows in that conflict and looked like the all-consuming Sun himself in the midst of the two armies, and marking besides, that that hero was slaying the foremost of combatants in Yudhishthira's host and causing a havoc in that army as if the hour of dissolution had come,--the adorable Kesava, that slayer of hosts, endued with immeasurable soul--unable to bear what he saw, thought that Yudhishthira's army could not survive that slaughter.--In a single day Bhishma can slaughter all the Daityas and the Danavas. With how much ease then can he slay in battle the sons of Pandu with all their troops and followers. The vast army of the illustrious son of Pandu is again flying away. And the Kauravas also beholding the Somakas routed, are rushing to battle cheerfully, gladdening the grandsire. Accoutred in mail, even I will stay Bhishma to-day for the sake of the Pandavas. This burthen of the high-souled Pandavas even I will lighten. As regards Arjuna, though struck in battle with keen shafts, he knoweth not what he should do, from respect for Bhishma,--And while Krishna was reflecting thus the grandsire, excited with wrath, once again shot his shafts at Partha's car. And in consequence of very great number of those arrows all the points of the compass became entirely shrouded. And neither the welkin nor the quarters nor the earth nor the sun himself of brilliant rays, could be seen. And the winds that blew seemed to be mixed with smoke, and all the points of the compass seemed to be agitated. And Drona, and Vikarna, and Jayadratha, and Bhurisrava, and Kritavarman, and Kripa, and Srutayush and the ruler of the Amvashtas and Vinda and Anuvinda, Sudakshina and the westerners, and the diverse tribes of the Sauviras, the Vasatis, and the Kshudrakas, and the Malavas, all these, at the command of the royal son of Santanu, quickly approached Kiritin for battle. And the grandson of Sini saw that Kiritin was surrounded by many hundreds of horse, and infantry, and cars, and mighty elephants. And beholding both Vasudeva and Arjuna thus encompassed by infantry and elephants and horses and cars, on all sides, that foremost of all bearers of arms, viz., the chief of the Sinis, quickly proceeded to that spot. And that foremost of bowmen, the chief of the Sinis, quickly rushing at those troops, came to Arjuna's side like Vishnu
p. 151
coming to the aid of the slayer of Vritra. And that foremost warrior of Sini's race cheerfully said unto Yudhishthira's host all the combatants of which had been frightened by Bhishma and whose elephants, steeds, cars, and numberless standards had been mangled and broken into pieces, and which was flying away from the field, these words, 'Ye Kshatriyas, where do ye go? This is not the duty of the righteous as hath been declared by the ancients. Ye foremost of heroes, do not violate your pledges. Observe your own duties as heroes'. Beholding that those foremost of kings were flying together from the field of battle, and marking the mildness with which Partha fought, and beholding also that Bhishma was exerting himself very powerfully in battle, and that the Kurus were rushing from all sides, the younger brother of Vasava, the high-souled protector of all the Dasarhas, unable to bear it all, addressed the renowned grandson of Sini, and applauding him, said,--'O hero of Sini's race, they that are retreating, are, indeed, retreating. They that are yet staying, O thou of the Satwata race, let them also go away. Behold, I will soon throw Bhishma down from his car, and Drona also in battle, with all their followers. There is none in the Kuru host, O thou of the Satwata race, who is able to escape my angry self. Therefore, taking up my fierce discus, I will slay Bhishma of high vows. And slaying in battle those two foremost of car-warriors, viz., Bhishma along with his followers and Drona also, O grandson of Sini, I will gladden Dhananjaya, and the king, and Bhima, and the twin Aswins. And slaying all the sons of Dhritarashtra and all those foremost of kings who have embraced their side, I will joyfully furnish king Ajatasatru with a kingdom today.' Saying this, Vasudeva's son, abandoning (the reins of) the steeds, jumped down from the car, whirling with his (right) arm his discus of beautiful nave with edge sharp as a razor, effulgent as the sun and possessed of force equal to that of a thousand bolts of heaven. And making the earth tremble under his tread, the high-souled Krishna rushed impetuously towards Bhishma. And that grinder of foes, the younger brother of the chief of the gods, excited with wrath, rushed towards Bhishma staying in the midst of his troops, like a lion from desire of slaying upon a prince of elephants blinded with fury and staying proudly for the attack. And the end of his yellow garments waving in the air looked like a cloud charged with lightning in the sky. And that lotus of a discus called Sudarsana, having for its stalk the beautiful arm of Saurin, looked as beautiful as the primeval lotus, bright as the morning sun, which sprung from the navel of Narayana. And Krishna's wrath was the morning sun that caused that lotus to blow. And the beautiful leaves of that lotus were as sharp as the edge of a razor. And Krishna's body was the beautiful lake, and his (right) arm the stalk springing therefrom, upon which that lotus shone. And beholding the younger brother of Mahendra, excited with wrath and roaring loudly and armed with that discus, all creatures set out a loud wail, thinking that the destruction of the Kurus was at hand. And armed with his discus Vasudeva looked like the Samvarta fire that appears at the end of the Yuga for consuming the world. And the preceptor
p. 152
of the universe blazed up like a fierce comet risen for consuming all creatures. And beholding that foremost of bipeds, that divine personage, advancing armed with the discus, Santanu's son stationed on his car, bow and arrow in hand, fearlessly said, 'Come, Come, O Lord of the gods, O thou that hast the universe for thy abode. I bow to thee, O thou that art armed with mace, sword and Saranga. O lord of the universe, forcibly throw me down from this excellent car, O thou that art the refuge of all creatures in this battle. Slain here by thee, O Krishna, great will be my good fortune both in this world and the next. Great is the respect thou payest me, O Lord of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas. My dignity will be celebrated in the three worlds.' Hearing these words of Santanu's son, Krishna rushing impetuously towards him said, 'Thou art the root of this great slaughter on earth. Thou wilt behold Duryodhana slain to-day. A wise minister who treadeth in the path of righteousness should restrain a king that is addicted to the evil of gambling. That wretch again of his race who transgresseth duty should be abandoned as one whose intelligence hath been misdirected by destiny.--The royal Bhishma, hearing these words, replied unto the chief of the Yadus, saying,--Destiny is all powerful. The Yadus, for their benefit, had abandoned Kansa. I said this to the king (Dhritarashtra) but he minded it not. The listener that hath no benefit to receive becometh, for (his own) misery, of perverted understanding through (the influence of destiny).' Meanwhile, jumping down from his car, Partha, himself of massive and long arms, quickly ran on foot after that chief of Yadu's race possessed of massive and long arms, and seized him by his two hands. That first of all gods devoted in self, Krishna, was excited with rage. And therefore, though thus seized, Vishnu forcibly dragged Jishnu after him, like a tempest bearing away a single tree. The high-souled Partha, however, seizing them with great force his legs as he was proceeding at a quick pace towards Bhishma, succeeded, O king, in stopping him with difficulty at the tenth step. And when Krishna stopped, decked as he was with a beautiful garland of gold, cheerfully bowed down to him and said, 'Quell this wrath of thine. Thou art the refuge of the Pandavas, O Kesava. I swear, O Kesava, by my sons and uterine brothers that I will not withdraw from the acts to which I have pledged myself. O younger brother of Indra, at thy command I will certainly annihilate the Kurus.' Hearing that promise and oath of his, Janardana became gratified. And ever engaged as he was in doing what was agreeable to Arjuna--that best of the Kurus.--he once more, discus on arm, mounted on his car. And that slayer of foes once more took up those reins (that he had abandoned), and taking up his conch called Panchajanya, Saurin filled all the points of the compass and the welkin with its blare. And thereupon beholding Krishna decked with necklace and Angada and ear-rings, with curved eye-lashes smeared with dust, and with teeth of perfect whiteness, once more take up his conch the Kuru heroes uttered a loud cry. And the sound of cymbals and drums and kettle-drums, and the rattle of car-wheels and the noise of smaller drums, mingling with those leonine shouts, set forth from all the ranks of the Kurus, became a
p. 153
fierce uproar. And the twang of Partha's Gandiva, resembling the roll of the thunder, filled the welkin and all the quarters. And shot from the bow of Pandu's son, bright and blazing shafts proceeded in all directions. Then the Kuru king, with a large force, and with Bhishma and Bhurisravas also, arrow in hand, and resembling a comet risen for consuming a constellation, rushed against him. And Bhurisravas hurled at Arjuna seven javelins furnished with wings of gold, and Duryodhana a lance of fierce impetuosity, and Salya a mace, and Santanu's son a dart. Thereupon, Arjuna, baffling with seven shafts the seven javelins, fleet as arrows, shot by Bhurisravas, cut off with another keen-edged shaft the lance hurled from Duryodhana's arm. And the blazing dart coming towards him--effulgent as lightning--hurled by Santanu's son, and the mace hurled from the arm of the ruler of the Madras, that hero cut off with two (other) shafts. Then drawing with his two hands and with great force his beautiful bow Gandiva of immeasurable energy, he invoked with proper mantras the highly wonderful and terrible Mahendra weapon and caused it to appear in the welkin. And with that mighty weapon producing profuse showers of arrows endued with the effulgence of the blazing fire, that high-souled and mighty bowman, decked with diadem and garland of gold, checked the entire Kaurava host. And those shafts from Partha's bow, cutting off the arms, bows, standard-tops, and cars, penetrated into the bodies of the kings and of the huge elephants and steeds of the foe. And filling the cardinal and the subsidiary directions with those sharp and terrible shafts of his, Pritha's son decked with diadem and garland of gold, agitated the hearts of his foes by means of the twang of Gandiva. And in that awful passage at arms, the blare of conches and beat of drums and the deep rattle of cars were all silenced by the twang of Gandiva. And ascertaining that twang to be of Gandiva, king Virata and other heroes among men, and the brave Drupada, the king of the Panchalas, all proceeded to that spot with undepressed hearts. And all thy combatants stood, struck with fear, each at the spot where he heard that twang of Gandiva. And none amongst them ventured to proceed to that place whence that sound was heard. And in that awful slaughter of kings, heroic combatants were slain and car-warriors with those that guided their cars. And elephants with resplendent housings of gold and gorgeous standards (on their backs), afflicted with broad-headed shafts failing upon them, suddenly fell down, deprived of life and their bodies mangled by Kiritin. And forcibly struck by Partha with his winged arrows of great impetuosity and broad-headed shafts of keen-edge and points, the standards of innumerable kings stationed at the heads of their yantras and Indrajalas were cut off. 1 And bands of infantry and car-warriors, in that battle, and steeds and elephants, fell fast on the field, their limbs paralysed, or themselves speedily deprived of life, affected by Dhananjaya with those shafts. And, O king, many were the
p. 154
warriors who in that terrible conflict had their coats of mail and bodies cut through by that mighty weapon called after the name of Indra. And with those terrible and sharp shafts of his, Kiritin caused an awful river to run on the field of battle, having for its waters the blood flowing from the mangled bodies of the combatants and having for its froth their fat. And its current was broad and ran fiercely. And the bodies of elephants and steeds despatched to the other world formed its banks. And its mire consisted of the entrails, the marrow, and the flesh of human beings, and prodigious Rakshasas formed the (tall) trees (standing on its banks). And the crowns of human heads in profusion, covered with hair, formed its (floating) mess, and heaps of human bodies, forming its sandbanks, caused the current to flow in a thousand directions. And the coats of mail strewn all over formed its hard pebbles. And its banks were infested by large number of jackals and wolves and cranes and vultures and crowds of Rakshasas, and packs of hyenas. And they that were alive beheld that terrible river of current consisting of fat, marrow, and blood, caused by the arrowy showers of Arjuna--that embodiment of (man's) cruelty--to look like the great Vaitarani. 1 And beholding the foremost warriors of that army of the Kurus thus slain by Phalguni, the Chedis, the Panchalas, the Kurushas, the Matsyas, and all the combatants of the Pandava side, those foremost of men, elated with victory, together set up a loud shout for frightening the Kaurava warriors. And they uttered that cry indicative of victory, beholding the foremost combatants of the (Kuru) army, the very troops protected by mighty leaders of divisions, thus slain by Kiritin, that terror of foes, who frightened them like a lion frightening herds of smaller animals. And then the bearer of Gandiva himself, and Janardana both filled with delight, uttered loud roars. And the Kurus, with Bhishma, and Drona and Duryodhana and Valhika, exceedingly mangled by the weapons (of Arjuna), beholding the sun withdraw his rays, and seeing also that awful and irresistible weapon called after the name of Indra spread out and causing (as it were) the end of the Yuga to appear, withdraw their forces for the nightly rest. And that foremost of men, Dhananjaya also, having achieved a great feat and won great renown by crushing his foes, and beholding the sun assume a red hue and the evening twilight to set in, and having completed his work, retired with his uterine brothers to the camp for nightly rest. Then when darkness was about to set in, there arose among the Kuru troops a great and terrible uproar. And all said, 'In today's battle Arjuna hath slain ten thousand car-warriors, and full seven hundred elephants. And all the westerners, and the diverse tribes of the Sauviras, and the Kshudrakas and the Malavas, have all been slain. The feat achieved by Dhananjaya is a mighty one. None else is competent to achieve it. Srutayush, the ruler of the Amvashtas, and Durmarshana, and Chitrasena, and Drona, and Kripa, and the ruler of the Sindhus, and Valhika, and Bhurisravas, and Salya, and Sala, O king, and other warriors by hundreds
p. 155
united together, along with Bhishma himself, have on battle, by the prowess of his own arms, been vanquished today by the angry son of Pritha, viz., Kiritin, that one mighty car-warrior in the world.' Talking thus, O Bharata, all the warriors of thy side went to their tents from the field of battle. And all the combatants of the Kuru army frightened by Kiritin, then entered their tents illumined by thousands of torches, and beautified by innumerable lamps.

Book 6
Chapter 60

1 [s]
      tato bhūriśravā rājan sātyakiṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
      avidhyad bhṛśasaṃkruddhas tottrair iva mahādvipam
  2 kauravaṃ sātyakiś caiva śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
      avākirad ameyātmā sarvalokasya paśyataḥ
  3 tato duyodhano rājā sodaryaiḥ parivāritaḥ
      saumadattiṃ raṇe yattaḥ samantāt paryavārayat
  4 tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ sarve sātyakiṃ rabhasaṃ raṇe
      parivārya sthitāḥ saṃkhye samantāt sumahaujasaḥ
  5 bhīmasenas tu saṃkruddho gadām udyamya bhārata
      duryodhanamukhān sarvān putrāṃs te paryavārayat
  6 rathair anekasāhasraiḥ krodhāmarṣasamanvitaḥ
      nandakas tava putras tu bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
      vivyādha niśitaiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ kaṅkapatraiḥ śilāśitaiḥ
  7 duryodhanas tu samare bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
      ājaghānorasi kruddho mārgaṇair niśitais tribhiḥ
  8 tato bhīmo mahābāhuḥ svarathaṃ sumahābalaḥ
      āruroha rataḥ śreṣṭhaṃ viśokaṃ cedam abravīt
  9 ete mahārathāḥ śūrā dhārtarāṣṭrā mahābalāḥ
      mām eva bhṛśasaṃkruddhā hantum abhyudyatā yudhi
  10 etān adya haniṣyāmi paśyatas te na saṃśayaḥ
     tasmān mamāśvān saṃgrāme yattaḥ saṃyaccha sārathe
 11 evam uktvā tataḥ pārthaḥ putraṃ duryodhanaṃ tava
     vivyādha daśabhis tīkṣṇaiḥ śaraiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ
     nandakaṃ ca tribhir bāṇaiḥ patyavidhyat stanāntare
 12 taṃ tu duryodhanaḥ ṣaṣṭyā viddhvā bhīmaṃ mahābalam
     tribhir anyaiḥ suniśitair viśokaṃ pratyavidhyata
 13 bhīmasya ca raṇe rājan dhanuś cicheda bhāsvaram
     muṣṭideśe śarais tīkṣṇais tribhī rājā hasann iva
 14 bhīmas tu prekṣya yantāraṃ viśokaṃ saṃyuge tadā
     pīḍitaṃ viśikhais tīkṣṇais tava putreṇa dhanvinā
 15 amṛṣyamāṇaḥ saṃkruddho dhanur divyaṃ parāmṛśat
     putrasya te mahārāja vadhārthaṃ bharatarṣabha
 16 samādatta ca saṃrabdhaḥ kṣurapraṃ lomavāhinam
     tena ciccheda nṛpater bhīmaḥ kārmukam uttamam
 17 so 'pavidhya dhanuś chinnaṃ krodhena prajvalann iva
     anyat kārmukam ādatta sa tvaraṃ vegavattaram
 18 saṃdhatta viśikhaṃ ghoraṃ kālamṛtyusamaprabham
     tenājaghāna saṃkruddho bhīmasenaṃ stanāntare
 19 sa gāḍhaviddho vyathitaḥ syandanopastha āviśat
     sa niṣaṇṇo rathopasthe mūrchām abhijagāma ha
 20 taṃ dṛṣṭvā vyathitaṃ bhīmam abhimanyupurogamāḥ
     nāmṛṣyanta maheṣvāsāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ
 21 tatas tu tumulāṃ vṛṣṭiṃ śastrāṇāṃ tigmatejasām
     pātayām āsur avyagrāḥ putrasya tava mūrdhani
 22 pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     duryodhanaṃ tribhir viddhvā punar vivyādha pañcabhiḥ
 23 śalyaṃ ca pañcaviṃśatyā śarair vivyādha pāṇḍavaḥ
     rukmapuṅkhair maheṣvāsaḥ sa viddho vyapayād raṇāt
 24 pratyudyayus tato bhīmaṃ tava putrāś caturdaśa
     senāpatiḥ suṣeṇaś ca jalasaṃdhaḥ sulocanaḥ
 25 ugro bhīma ratho bhīmo bhīma bāhur alolupaḥ
     durmukho duṣpradharṣaś ca vivitsur vikaṭaḥ samaḥ
 26 visṛjanto bahūn bāṇān krodhasaṃraktalocanāḥ
     bhīmasenam abhidrutya vivyadhuḥ sahitā bhṛśam
 27 putrāṃs tu tava saṃprekṣya bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     sṛkkiṇī vilihan vīraḥ paśumadhye vṛko yathā
     senāpateḥ kṣurapreṇa śiraś ciccheda pāṇḍavaḥ
 28 jalasaṃdhaṃ vinirbhidya so 'nayad yamasādanam
     suṣeṇaṃ ca tato hatvā preṣayām āsa mṛtyave
 29 ugrasya sa śirastrāṇaṃ śiraś candropamaṃ bhuvi
     pātayām āsa bhallena kuṇḍalābhyāṃ vibhūṣitam
 30 bhīma bāhuṃ ca saptatyā sāśvaketuṃ sa sārathim
     nināya samare bhīmaḥ paralokāya māriṣa
 31 bhīmaṃ bhīma rathaṃ cobhau bhīmaseno hasann iva
     bhrātarau rabhasau rājann anayad yamasādanam
 32 tataḥ sulocanaṃ bhīmaḥ kṣurapreṇa mahāmṛdhe
     miṣatāṃ sarvasainyānām anayad yamasādanam
 33 putrās tu tava taṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasena parākramam
     śeṣā ye 'nye 'bhavaṃs tatra te bhīmasya bhayārditāḥ
     vipradrutā diśo rājan vadhyamānā mahātmanā
 34 tato 'bravīc chāṃtanavaḥ sarvān eva mahārathān
     eṣa bhīmo raṇe kruddho dhārtarāṣṭrān mahārathān
 35 yathā prāgryān yathā jyeṣṭhān yathā śūrāṃś ca saṃgatān
     nipātayaty ugradhanvā taṃ pramathnīta pārthivāḥ
 36 evam uktās tataḥ sarve dhārtarāṣṭrasya sainikāḥ
     abhyadravanta saṃkruddhā bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
 37 bhagadattaḥ prabhinnena kuñjareṇa viśāṃ pate
     apatat sahasā tatra yatra bhīmo vyavasthitaḥ
 38 āpatann eva ca raṇe bhīmasenaṃ śilāśitaiḥ
     adṛśyaṃ samare cakre jīmūta iva bhāskaram
 39 abhimanyumukhās tatra nāmṛṣyanta mahārathāḥ
     bhīmasyācchādanaṃ saṃkhye svabāhubalam āśritāḥ
 40 ta enaṃ śaravarṣeṇa samantāt paryavārayan
     gajaṃ ca śaravṛṣṭyā taṃ bibhidus te samantataḥ
 41 sa śastravṛṣṭyābhihataḥ prādravad dviguṇaṃ padam
     prāgjyotiṣa gajo rājan nānā liṅgaiḥ sutejanaiḥ
 42 saṃjātarudhirotpīḍaḥ prekṣaṇīyo 'bhavad raṇe
     gabhastibhir ivārkasya saṃsyūto jalado mahān
 43 sa codito madasrāvī bhagadattena vāraṇaḥ
     abhyadhāvata tān sarvān kālotsṛṣṭa ivāntakaḥ
     dviguṇaṃ javam āsthāya kampayaṃś caraṇair mahīm
 44 tasya tat sumahad rūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā sarve mahārathāḥ
     asahyaṃ manyamānās te nātipramanaso 'bhavan
 45 tatas tu nṛpatiḥ kruddho bhīmasenaṃ stanāntare
     ājaghāna naravyāghra śareṇa nataparvaṇā
 46 so 'tividdho maheṣvāsas tena rājñā mahārathaḥ
     mūrchayābhiparītāṅgo dhvajayaṣṭim upāśritaḥ
 47 tāṃs tu bhītān samālakṣya bhīmasenaṃ ca mūrchitam
     nanāda balavan nādaṃ bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān
 48 tato ghaṭotkaco rājan prekṣya bhīmaṃ tathāgatam
     saṃkruddho rākṣaso ghoras tatraivāntaradhīyata
 49 sa kṛtvā dāruṇāṃ māyāṃ bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhinīm
     adṛśyata nimeṣārdhād ghorarūpaṃ samāśritaḥ
 50 airāvataṃ samāruhya svayaṃ māyāmayaṃ kṛtam
     tasya cānye 'pi din nāgā babhūvur anuyāyinaḥ
 51 añjano vāmanaś caiva mahāpadmaś ca suprabhaḥ
     traya ete mahānāgā rākṣasaiḥ samadhiṣṭhitāḥ
 52 mahākāyās tridhā rājan prasravanto madaṃ bahu
     tejo vīryabalopetā mahābalaparākramāḥ
 53 ghaṭotkacas tu svaṃ nāgaṃ codayām āsa taṃ tataḥ
     sa gajaṃ bhagadattaṃ tu hantukāmaḥ paraṃtapaḥ
 54 te cānye coditā nāgā rākṣasais tair mahābalaiḥ
     paripetuḥ susaṃrabdhāś caturdaṃṣṭrāś caturdiśam
     bhagadattasya taṃ nāgaṃ viṣāṇais te 'bhyapīḍayan
 55 saṃpīḍyamānas tair nāgair vedanārtaḥ śarāturaḥ
     so 'nadat sumahānādam indrāśanisamasvanam
 56 tasya taṃ nadato nādaṃ sughoraṃ bhīmanisvanam
     śrutvā bhīṣmo 'bravīd droṇaṃ rājānaṃ ca suyodhanam
 57 eṣa yudhyati saṃgrāme haiḍimbena durātmanā
     bhagadatto maheṣvāsaḥ kṛcchreṇa parivartate
 58 rākṣasaś ca mahāmāyaḥ sa ca rājātikopanaḥ
     tau sametau mahāvīryau kālamṛtyusamāv ubhau
 59 śrūyate hy eṣa hṛṣṭānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahāsvanaḥ
     hastinaś caiva sumahān bhītasya ruvato dhvaniḥ
 60 tatra gacchāma bhadraṃ vo rājānaṃ parirakṣitum
     arakṣyamāṇaḥ samare kṣipraṃ prāṇān vimokṣyate
 61 te tvaradhvaṃ mahāvīryāḥ kiṃ cireṇa prayāmahe
     mahān hi vartate raudraḥ saṃgrāmo lomaharṣaṇaḥ
 62 bhaktaś ca kulaputraś ca śūraś ca pṛtanā patiḥ
     yuktaṃ tasya paritrāṇaṃ kartum asmābhir acyutāḥ
 63 bhīṣmasya tad vacaḥ śrutvā bhāradvājapurogamāḥ
     sahitāḥ sarvarājāno bhagadatta parīpsayā
     uttamaṃ javam āsthāya prayayur yatra so 'bhavat
 64 tān prayātān samālokya yudhiṣṭhirapurogamāḥ
     pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān
 65 tāny anīkāny athālokya rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān
     nanāda sumahānādaṃ visphoṭam aśaner iva
 66 tasya taṃ ninadaṃ śrutvā dṛṣṭvā nāgāṃś ca yudhyataḥ
     bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo bhūyo bhāradvājam abhāṣata
 67 na rocate me saṃgrāmo haiḍimbena durātmanā
     balavīryasamāviṣṭaḥ sa sahāyaś ca sāṃpratam
 68 naiṣa śakyo yudhā jetum api vajrabhṛtā svayam
     labdhalakṣyaḥ prahārī ca vayaṃ ca śrāntavāhanāḥ
     pāñcālaiḥ pāṇḍaveyaiś ca divasaṃ kṣatavikṣatāḥ
 69 tan na me rocate yuddhaṃ pāṇḍavair jitakāśibhiḥ
     ghuṣyatām avahāro 'dya śvo yotsyāmaḥ paraiḥ saha
 70 pitāmahavacaḥ śrutvā tathā cakruḥ sma kauravāḥ
     upāyenāpayānaṃ te ghaṭotkaca bhayārditāḥ
 71 kauraveṣu nivṛtteṣu pāṇḍavā jitakāśinaḥ
     siṃhanādam akurvanta śaṅkhaveṇusvanaiḥ saha
 72 evaṃ tad abhavad yuddhaṃ divasaṃ bharatarṣabha
     pāṇḍavānāṃ kurūṇāṃ ca puraskṛtya ghaṭotkacam
 73 kauravās tu tato rājan prayayuḥ śibiraṃ svakam
     vrīḍamānā niśākāle pāṇḍaveyaiḥ parājitāḥ
 74 śaravikṣata gātrāś ca pāṇḍuputrā mahārathāḥ
     yuddhe sumanaso bhūtvā śibirāyaiva jagmire
 75 puraskṛtya mahārāja bhīmasena ghaṭotkacau
     pūjayantas tadānyonyaṃ mudā paramayā yutāḥ
 76 nadanto vividhān nādāṃs tūryasvanavimiśritān
     siṃhanādāṃś ca kurvāṇā vimiśrāñ śaṅkhanisvanaiḥ
 77 vinadanto mahātmānaḥ kampayantaś ca medinīm
     ghaṭṭayantaś ca marmāṇi tava putrasya māriṣa
     prayātāḥ śibirāyaiva niśākāle paraṃtapāḥ
 78 duryodhanas tu nṛpatir dīno bhrātṛvadhena ca
     muhūrtaṃ cintayām āsa bāṣpaśokasamākulaḥ
 79 tataḥ kṛtvā vidhiṃ sarvaṃ śibirasya yathāvidhi
     pradadhyau śokasaṃtapto bhrātṛvyasanakarśitaḥ

SECTION LX

Sanjaya said,--"When the night passed away, O Bharata, the high-souled Bhishma, with wrath engendered, supported by a large force, and stationed at the head of the Bharata army, proceeded against the foe. And Drona and Duryodhana and Valhika, and also Durmarshana and Chitrasena, the mighty Jayadratha, and other royal warriors, supported by large divisions accompanied, surrounding him all sides. And surrounded by those great and mighty car-warriors endued with great prowess and energy, O king, he shone, O best of monarchs, in the midst of those foremost of royal warriors, like the chief of the celestials in the midst of the gods. And the magnificent standards on the backs of the elephants stationed in front of those ranks, of diverse colours, viz., red, yellow, black and brown, waving in the air, looked exceedingly beautiful. And that army with the royal son of Santanu and other mighty car-warriors and with elephants and steeds, looked resplendent like a mass of clouds charged with lightning, or like the firmament, in the season of rains, with gathering clouds. 1 And then the fierce army of the Kurus, bent on battle and protected by Santanu's son, rushed impetuously towards Arjuna like the fierce current of the ocean-going Ganga. 2 Pervaded by diverse kinds of forces possessed of great strength, and having in its wings elephants, steeds, infantry, and cars in profusion, that array the high-souled (Arjuna) having the prince of apes on his banner beheld from a distance to resemble a mighty mass of clouds. 3 That high-souled hero, that bull among men, upon his car furnished with tall standard and unto which were yoked white steeds, at the head of his (own) division and surrounded by a mighty force, proceeded against the whole hostile army. And all the Kauravas with thy sons, beholding that ape-bannered (warrior) with his excellent standard and handsome car-shaft wrapped (in costly cover), accompanied by that bull
p. 156
of Yadu's race, his charioteer in battle, were filled with dismay. And thy army beheld that best of arrays, which was protected by that mighty car-warrior of the world, viz., Kiritin, with weapons upraised to have at each of its corners four thousand elephants. Like the array which was formed on the day before by that best of Kurus viz., king Yudhishthira the just, and like of which had never been seen or heard before by human beings, was this one of today (that the Pandavas formed). Then on the field of battle thousand of drums were loudly beaten, and there arose from all the divisions the loud blare of conches and the notes of trumpets and many leonine shouts. Then (innumerable) bows of loud twang, stretched by heroic warriors with shaft fixed on the bowstrings, and the blare of conches, silenced that uproar of drums and cymbals. And the entire welkin filled with that blare of conches was diffused with an earthly dust that made it wonderful to behold. And with that dust the sky looked as if a vast canopy were spread overhead. And beholding that canopy the brave warriors all rushed impetuously (to battle). And car-warriors, struck by car-warriors, were overthrown with charioteers, steeds, cars, and standards. And elephants, struck by elephants, fell down, and foot-soldiers struck by foot-soldiers. And rushing horsemen, struck down by rushing horsemen with lances and swords, fell down with frightful countenances. And all this seemed exceedingly wonderful. And excellent shields decked with golden stars and possessed of solar effulgence, broken by (strokes of) battle-axes, lances and swords dropped on the field. 1 And many car-warriors mangled and bruised by the tusks and the strong trunks of elephants, fell down with their charioteers. And many bulls among car-warriors struck by bulls among car-warriors with their shafts, fell down on the ground. And many persons hearing the wails of horsemen and foot-soldiers struck with the tusks and other limbs of elephants or crushed by the impetus of those huge creatures rushing in close ranks, fell down on the field of battle. 2
"Then when cavalry and foot-soldiers were falling fast, and elephants and steeds and cars were flying away in fear, Bhishma, surrounded by many mighty car-warriors, obtained sight of him who had the prince of apes on his standard. And the palmyra-bannered warrior, viz. the son of Santanu, having five palmyras on his standard, then rushed against the diadem-decked (Arjuna) whose car, in consequence of the fleetness of the excellent steeds attached to it was endued with wonderful energy and which blazed like the very lightning in consequence of the energy of his mighty weapons. And so against that son of Indra who was like unto Indra himself, rushed many (other) warriors headed by Drona and Kripa and Salya and Vivinsati and Duryodhana and also Somadatta's son, O king. Then the heroic Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, conversant with all weapons
p. 157
and cased in a handsome and golden coat of mail, rushing out of the ranks, quickly proceeded against all those warriors. And that son of Krishna of feats incapable of being borne, baffling the mighty weapons of all those warriors of great strength, looked resplendent like the adorable Agni himself, on the sacrificial altar, of blazing flames, invoked with high mantras. Then Bhishma of mighty energy, creating in that battle a very river whose waters were the blood of foes, and quickly avoiding Subhadra's son, encountered that mighty car-warrior, viz., Partha himself. Then Arjuna decked with diadem and garlands with his Gandiva of wonderful mien and twang loud as the roar of the thunder, shooting showers of arrows, baffled that shower of mighty weapons (shot by Bhishma). And that high-souled warrior having the prince of apes on his banner, of feats incapable of being borne, then poured in return upon Bhishma, that best of all wielders of bows a shower of sharp-edged arrows and polished shafts of broad heads. And so thy troops also beheld that shower of mighty weapons shot by him who had the prince of apes on his banner, opposed and dispersed by Bhishma like the maker of day dispelling (the gloom of night). And the Kurus and the Srinjayas, and all the people there, beheld that single combat between those two foremost of men, viz., Bhishma and Dhananjaya, proceeding thus steadily and thus distinguished by the terrible twang of the bows of both."

Book 6
Chapter 61

1 [dhṛ]
      bhayaṃ me sumahaj jātaṃ vismayaś caiva saṃjaya
      śrutvā pāṇḍukumārāṇāṃ karma devaiḥ suduṣkaram
  2 putrāṇāṃ ca parābhavaṃ śrutvā saṃjaya sarvaśaḥ
      cintā me mahatī sūta bhaviṣyati kathaṃ tv iti
  3 dhruvaṃ vidura vākyāni dhakṣyanti hṛdayaṃ mama
      yathā hi dṛśyate sarvaṃ daivayogena saṃjaya
  4 yatra bhīṣma mukhāñ śūrān astrajñān yodhasattamān
      pāṇḍavānām anīkāni yodhayanti prahāriṇaḥ
  5 kenāvadhyā mahātmānaḥ pāṇḍuputrā mahābalāḥ
      kena dattavarās tāta kiṃ vā jñānaṃ vidanti te
      yena kṣayaṃ na gacchanti divi tārāgaṇā iva
  6 punaḥ punar na mṛṣyāmi hataṃ sainyaṃ sma pāṇḍavaiḥ
      mayy eva daṇḍaḥ patati daivāt paramadāruṇaḥ
  7 yathāvadhyāḥ pāṇḍusutā yathā vadhyāś ca me sutāḥ
      etan me sarvam ācakṣva yathātattvena saṃjaya
  8 na hi pāraṃ prapaśyāmi duḥkhasyāsya kathaṃ cana
      samudrasyeva mahato bhujābhyāṃ prataran naraḥ
  9 putrāṇāṃ vyasanaṃ manye dhruvaṃ prāptaṃ sudāruṇam
      ghātayiṣyati me putrān sarvān bhīmo na saṃśayaḥ
  10 na hi paśyāmi taṃ vīraṃ yo me rakṣet sutān raṇe
     dhruvaṃ vināśaḥ samare putrāṇāṃ mama saṃjaya
 11 tasmān me kāraṇaṃ sūta yuktiṃ caiva viśeṣataḥ
     pṛcchato 'dya yathātattvaṃ sarvam ākhyātum arhasi
 12 duryodhano 'pi yac cakre dṛṣṭvā svān vimukhān raṇe
     bhīṣmadroṇau kṛpaś caiva saubaleyo jayadrathaḥ
     drauṇir vāpi maheṣvāso vikarṇo vā mahābalaḥ
 13 niścayo vāpi kas teṣāṃ tadā hy āsīn mahātmanām
     vimukheṣu mahāprājña mama putreṣu saṃjaya
 14 [s]
     śṛṇu rājann avahitaḥ śrutvā caivāvadhāraya
     naiva mantrakṛtaṃ kiṃ cin naiva māyāṃ tathāvidhām
     na vai vibhīṣikāṃ kāṃ cid rājan kurvanti pāṇḍavāḥ
 15 yudhyanti te yathānyāyaṃ śaktimantaś ca saṃyuge
     dharmeṇa sarvakāryāṇi kīrtitānīti bhārata
     ārabhante sadā pārthāḥ prārthayānā mahad yaśaḥ
 16 na te yuddhān nivartante dharmopetā mahābalāḥ
     śriyā paramayā yuktā yato dharmas tato jayaḥ
     tenāvadhyā raṇe pārthā jaya yuktāś ca pārthiva
 17 tava putrā durātmānaḥ pāpeṣv abhiratāḥ sadā
     niṣṭhurā hīnakarmāṇas tena hīyanti saṃyuge
 18 subahūni nṛśaṃsāni putrais tava janeśvara
     nikṛtānīha pāṇḍūnāṃ nīcair iva yathā naraiḥ
 19 sarvaṃ ca tad anādṛtya putrāṇāṃ tava kilbiṣam
     sāpahnavāḥ sadaivāsan pāṇḍavāḥ pāṇḍupūrvaja
     na cainān bahu manyante putrās tava viśāṃ pate
 20 tasya pāpasya satataṃ kriyamāṇasya karmaṇaḥ
     saṃprāptaṃ sumahad ghoraṃ phalaṃ kiṃ pākasaṃnibham
     sa tad bhuṅkṣva mahārāja saputraḥ sa suhṛjjanaḥ
 21 nāvabudhyasi yad rājan vāryamāṇaḥ suhṛjjanaiḥ
     vidureṇātha bhīṣmeṇa droṇena ca mahātmanā
 22 tathā mayā cāpy asakṛd vāryamāṇo na gṛhṇasi
     vākyaṃ hitaṃ ca pathyaṃ ca martyaḥ pathyam ivauṣadham
     putrāṇāṃ matam āsthāya jitān manyasi pāṇḍavān
 23 śṛṇu bhūyo yathātattvaṃ yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi
     kāraṇaṃ bharataśreṣṭha pāṇḍavānāṃ jayaṃ prati
     tat te 'haṃ kathayiṣyāmi yathā śrutam ariṃdama
 24 duryodhanena saṃpṛṣṭa etam arthaṃ pitāmahaḥ
     dṛṣṭvā bhrātṝn raṇe sarvān nirjitān sumahārathān
 25 śokasaṃmūḍhahṛdayo niśākāle sma kauravaḥ
     pitāmahaṃ mahāprājñaṃ vinayenopagamya ha
     yad abravīt sutas te 'sau tan me śṛṇu janeśvara
 26 [dur]
     tvaṃ ca droṇaś ca śalyaś ca kṛpo drauṇis tathaiva ca
     kṛtavarmā ca hārdikyaḥ kāmbojaś ca sudakṣiṇaḥ
 27 bhūriśravā vikarṇaś ca bhagadattaś ca vīryavān
     mahārathāḥ samākhyātāḥ kulaputrās tanutyajaḥ
 28 trayāṇām api lokānāṃ paryāptā iti me matiḥ
     pāṇḍavānāṃ samastāś ca na tiṣṭhanti parākrame
 29 tatra me saṃśayo jātas tan mamācakṣva pṛcchataḥ
     yaṃ samāśritya kaunteya jayanty asmān pade pade
 30 [bhs]
     śṛṇu rājan vaco mahyaṃ yat tvāṃ vakṣyāmi kaurava
     bahuśaś ca mamokto 'si na ca me tattvayā kṛtam
 31 kriyatāṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ śamo bharatasattama
     etat kṣamam ahaṃ manye pṛthivyās tava cābhibho
 32 bhuñjemāṃ pṛthivīṃ rājan bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitaḥ sukhī
     durhṛdas tāpayan sarvān nandayaṃś cāpi bāndhavān
 33 na ca me krośatas tāta śrutavān asi vai purā
     tad idaṃ samanuprāptaṃ yat pāṇḍūn avamanyase
 34 yaś ca hetur avadhyatve teṣām akliṣṭakarmaṇām
     taṃ śṛṇuṣva mahārāja mama kīrtayataḥ prabho
 35 nāsti lokeṣu tad bhūtaṃ bhavitā no bhaviṣyati
     yo jayet pāṇḍavān saṃkhye pālitāñ śārṅgadhanvanā
 36 yat tu me kathitaṃ tāta munibhir bhāvitātmabhiḥ
     purāṇagītaṃ dharmajña tac chṛṇuṣva yathātatham
 37 purā kila surāḥ sarve ṛṣayaś ca samāgatāḥ
     pitāmaham upāseduḥ parvate gandhamādane
 38 madhye teṣāṃ samāsīnaḥ prajāpatir apaśyata
     vimānaṃ jājvalad bhāsā sthitaṃ pravaram ambare
 39 dhyānenāvedya taṃ brahmā kṛtvā ca niyato 'ñjalim
     namaś cakāra hṛṣṭātmā paramaṃ parameśvaram
 40 ṛṣayas tv atha devāś ca dṛṣṭvā brahmāṇam utthitam
     sthitāḥ prājñalayaḥ sarve paśyanto mahad adbhutam
 41 yathāvac ca tam abhyarcya brahmā brahmavidāṃ varaḥ
     jagāda jagataḥ sraṣṭā paraṃ param adharmavit
 42 viśvāvasur viśvamūrtir viśveśo; viṣvakseno viśvakarmā vaśīca
     viśveśvaro vāsudevo 'si tasmād; yogātmānaṃ daivataṃ tvām upaimi
 43 jaya viśvamahādeva jaya lokahite rata
     jaya yogīśvara vibho jaya yogaparāvara
 44 padmagarbhaviśālākṣa jaya lokeśvareśvara
     bhūtabhavya bhavan nātha jaya saumyātmajātmaja
 45 asaṃkhyeyaguṇājeya jaya sarvaparāyaṇa
     nārāyaṇa suduṣpāra jaya śārṅgadhanurdhara
 46 sarvaguhya guṇopeta viśvamūrte nirāmaya
     viśveśvara mahābāho jaya lokārtha tatpara
 47 mahoragavarāhādya hari keśavibho jaya
     hari vāsaviśāmīśa viśvāvāsāmitāvyaya
 48 vyaktāvyaktāmita sthānaniyatendriya sendriya
     asaṃkhyeyātma bhāvajña jaya gambhīrakāmada
 49 ananta viditaprajña nityaṃ bhūtavibhāvana
     kṛtakāryakṛtaprajña dharmajña vijayājaya
 50 guhyātman sarvabhūtātman sphuṭasaṃbhūta saṃbhava
     bhūtārtha tattvalokeśa jaya bhūtavibhāvana
 51 ātmayone mahābhāga kalpasaṃkṣepa tatpara
     udbhāvana manodbhāva jaya brahma janapriya
 52 nisarga sargābhirata kāmeśa parameśvara
     amṛtodbhava sadbhāva yugāgre vijayaprada
 53 prajāpatipate deva padmanābha mahābala
     ātmabhūtamahābhūtakarmātmañ jaya karmada
 54 pādau tava dharā devī diśo bāhur divaṃ śiraḥ
     mūrtis te 'haṃ surāḥ kāyaś candrādityau ca cakṣuṣī
 55 balaṃ tapaś ca satyaṃ ca dharmaḥ kāmātmajaḥ prabho
     tejo 'gniḥ pavanaḥ śvāsa āpas te svedasaṃbhavāḥ
 56 aśvinau śravaṇī nityaṃ devī jihvā sarasvatī
     vedāḥ saṃskāraniṣṭhā hi tvayīdaṃ jagad āśritam
 57 na saṃkhyāṃ na parīmāṇaṃ na tejo na parākramam
     na balaṃ yogayogīśa jānīmas te na saṃbhavam
 58 tvad bhaktiniratā deva niyamais tvā samāhitāḥ
     arcayāmaḥ sadā viṣṇo parameśaṃ maheśvaram
 59 ṛṣayo devagandharvā yakṣarākṣasa pannagāḥ
     piśācā mānuṣāś caiva mṛgapakṣisarīsṛpāḥ
 60 evamādi mayā sṛṣṭaṃ pṛthivyāṃ tvatprasādajam
     padmanābha viśālākṣa kṛṣṇa duḥsvapnanāśana
 61 tvaṃ gatiḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ tvaṃ netā tvaṃ jagan mukham
     tvatprasādena deveśa sukhino vibudhāḥ sadā
 62 pṛthivī nirbhayā deva tvatprasādāt sadābhavat
     tasmād deva viśālākṣa yaduvaṃśavivardhanaḥ
 63 dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya daiteyānāṃ vadhāya ca
     jagato dhāraṇārthāya vijñāpyaṃ kuru me prabho
 64 yad etat paramaṃ guhyaṃ tvatprasādamayaṃ vibho
     vāsudevaṃ tad etat te mayodgītaṃ yathātatham
 65 sṛṣṭvā saṃkarṣaṇaṃ devaṃ svayam ātmānam ātmanā
     kṛṣṇa tvam ātmanāsrākṣīḥ pradyumnaṃ cātmasaṃbhavam
 66 pradyumnāc cāniruddhaṃ tvaṃ yaṃ vidur viṣṇum avyayam
     aniruddho 'sṛjan māṃ vai brahmāṇaṃ lokadhāriṇam
 67 vāsudevamayaḥ so 'haṃ tvayaivāsmi vinirmitaḥ
     vibhajya bhāgaśo ''tmānaṃ vraja mānuṣatāṃ vibho
 68 tatrāsuravadhaṃ kṛtvā sarvalokasukhāya vai
     dharmaṃ sthāpya yaśaḥ prāpya yogaṃ prāpsyasi tattvataḥ
 69 tvāṃ hi brahmarṣayo loke devāś cāmitravikrama
     tais taiś ca nāmabhir bhaktā gāyanti paramātmakam
 70 sthitāś ca sarve tvayi bhūtasaṃghāḥ; kṛtvāśrayaṃ tvāṃ varadaṃ subāho
     anādimadhyāntam apārayogaṃ; lokasya setuṃ pravadanti viprāḥ

SECTION LXI

Sanjaya said, "And Drona's son, and Bhurisravas, and Chitrasena, O sire, and the son of Samyamani also, all fought with Subhadra's son. And while fighting alone with five tigers among men, people beheld him possessed of exceeding energy, like a young lion fighting with five elephants. And no one among them equalled Krishna's son in sureness of aim, in bravery, in prowess, in lightness of hand or in knowledge of weapons. And beholding his son, that chastiser of foes thus struggling and displaying his prowess in battle, Partha set up a leonine roar. And seeing thy grandson, O king, thus afflicting thy host, thy warriors, O monarch, surrounded him on all sides. Then that smiter of foes, the son of Subhadra, depending upon his prowess and might, advanced with undepressed heart against the Dhartarashtra host. And while battling with the foe in that conflict, his mighty bow endued with the effulgence of the sun, was seen by all to be incessantly stretched for striking. And piercing the son of Drona with one shaft, and Salya with five, he overthrew the standard of Samyamani's son with eight shafts. And with another sharp-edged arrow he cut off the mighty dart of golden staff, resembling a snake, that was hurled at him by Somadatta's son. And the heir of Arjuna,
p. 158
baffling in the very sight of Salya, his hundreds of terrible shafts, slew his four steeds. Thereupon Bhurisravas, and Salya, and Drona's son and Samyamani, and Sala struck with the fear at the strength of arms displayed by Krishna's son could not stay before him. Then, O great king, the Trigartas and the Madras, with the Kekayas, numbering five and twenty thousand urged by thy son, all of whom were foremost of men accomplished in the science of arms and who were incapable of defeat by foes in battle, surrounded Kiritin with his son for slaying them both. Then, O king, that vanquisher of foes, the commander of the Pandava army, the prince of the Panchalas, beheld the cars of the father and the son (thus) surrounded (by the foe). Supported by many thousands of elephants and cars, and by hundred thousands of cavalry and infantry, and stretching his bow in great wrath he advanced against that division of the Madras and the Kekayas, O chastiser of foes, leading his troops with him. And that division (of the Pandava army), protected by that renowned and firm bowman, and consisting of cars, elephants, and cavalry, looked resplendent as it advanced for the encounter. And while proceeding towards Arjuna, that perpetuator of Panchala's race struck Saradwat's son on his shoulder-joint with three arrows. And piercing the Madrakas then with ten sharp shafts, he speedily slew the protector of Kritavarman's rear. And that chastiser of foes then, with a shaft of broad head, slew Damana, the heir of the high-souled Paurava. Then the son of Samyamani pierced the Panchala prince incapable of defeat in the battle with ten shafts, and his charioteer also with ten shafts. Then that mighty bowman, (thus) severely pierced, licked with his tongue the corners of his mouth, and cut off his enemy's bow with a broad-headed shaft of excessive sharpness. And soon the prince of Panchala afflicted his foe with five and twenty arrows, and then slew his steeds, O king, and then both the protectors of his wings. Then, O bull of Bharata's race, Samyamani's son, standing on that car whose steeds were slain, looked at the son of the renowned king of the Panchalas. Then taking up a terrible scimitar of the best kind, made of steel, Samyamani's son walking on foot, approached Drupada's son staying on his car. And the Pandavas, soldiers and Dhrishtadyumna also of Prishata's race beheld him coming like a wave and resembling a snake fallen from the skies. And he whirled his sword and looked like the sun and advanced with the tread of an infuriate elephant. The prince of Panchala then, excited with rage, quickly taking up a mace, smashed the head of Samyamani's son thus advancing towards him, sharp-edged scimitar in grasp and shield in hand, as soon as the latter, having crossed the shooting distance, was near enough to his adversary's car. And then, O king, while falling down deprived of life, his blazing scimitar and shield, loosened from his grasp, fell down with his body on the ground. And the high-souled son of the Panchala king, of terrible prowess, having slain his foe with his mace, won great renown. And when that prince, that mighty car-warrior and great bowman, was (thus) slain, loud cries of oh and alas arose among thy troops, O sire. Then Samyamani, excited with rage upon beholding his own son slain, impetuously rushed
p. 159
towards the prince of Panchala who was incapable of defeat in battle. And all the kings of both the Kuru and the Pandava armies beheld those two princes and foremost of car-warriors engaged in battle. Then that slayer of hostile heroes Samyamani, excited with wrath, struck Prishata's son with three shafts like (the conductor of an elephant striking) a mighty elephant with hooks. And so Salya also, that ornament of assemblies, excited with wrath, struck the heroic son of Prishata on his breast. And then commenced (another) battle (there)."

Book 6
Chapter 62

1 [bhs]
      tataḥ sa bhagavān devo lokānāṃ parameśvaraḥ
      brahmāṇaṃ pratyuvācedaṃ snigdhagambhīrayā girā
  2 viditaṃ tāta yogān me sarvam etat tavepsitam
      tathā tad bhavitety uktvā tatraivāntaradhīyata
  3 tato devarṣigandharvā vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ
      kautūhalaparāḥ sarve pitāmaham athābruvan
  4 ko nv ayaṃ yo bhagavatā praṇamya vinayād vibho
      vāgbhiḥ stuto variṣṭhābhiḥ śrotum icchāma taṃ vayam
  5 evam uktas tu bhagavān pratyuvāca pitāmahaḥ
      devabrahmarṣigandharvān sarvān madhurayā girā
  6 yat tatparaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ ca bhavitavyaṃ ca yat param
      bhūtātmā yaḥ prabhuś caiva brahma yac ca paraṃ padam
  7 tenāsmi kṛtasaṃvādaḥ prasannena surarṣabhāḥ
      jagato 'nugrahārthāya yācito me jagatpatiḥ
  8 mānuṣaṃ lokam ātiṣṭha vāsudeva iti śrutaḥ
      asurāṇāṃ vadhārthāya saṃbhavasva mahītale
  9 saṃgrāme nihatā ye te daityadānavarākṣasāḥ
      ta ime nṛṣu saṃbhūtā ghorarūpā mahābalāḥ
  10 teṣāṃ vadhārthaṃ bhagavān nareṇa sahito vaśī
     mānuṣīṃ yonim āsthāya cariṣyati mahītale
 11 naranārāyaṇau yau tau purāṇāv ṛṣisattamau
     sahitau mānuṣe loke saṃbhūtāv amitadyutī
 12 ajeyau samare yattau sahitāv amarair api
     mūḍhās tv etau na jānanti naranārāyaṇāv ṛṣī
 13 tasyāham ātmajo brahmā sarvasya jagataḥ patiḥ
     vāsudevo 'rcanīyo vaḥ sarvalokamaheśvaraḥ
 14 tathā manuṣyo 'yam iti kadā cit surasattamāḥ
     nāvajñeyo mahāvīryaḥ śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ
 15 etat paramakaṃ guhyam etat paramakaṃ yaśaḥ
     etat paramakaṃ brahma etat paramakaṃ yaśaḥ
 16 etad akṣaram avyaktam etat tac chāśvataṃ mahat
     etat puruṣasaṃjñaṃ vai gīyate jñāyate na ca
 17 etat paramakaṃ teja etat paramakaṃ sukham
     etat paramakaṃ satyaṃ kīrtitaṃ viśvakarmaṇā
 18 tasmāt sarvaiḥ suraiḥ sendrair lokaiś cāmitavikramaḥ
     nāvajñeyo vāsudevo mānuṣo 'yam iti prabhuḥ
 19 yaś ca mānuṣamātro 'yam iti brūyāt sumandadhīḥ
     hṛṣīkeśam avajñānāt tam āhuḥ puruṣādhamam
 20 yoginaṃ taṃ mahātmānaṃ praviṣṭaṃ mānuṣīṃ tanum
     avamanyed vāsudevaṃ tam āhus tāmasaṃ janāḥ
 21 devaṃ carācarātmānaṃ śrīvatsāṅkaṃ suvarcasam
     padmanābhaṃ na jānāti tam āhus tāmasaṃ janāḥ
 22 kirīṭakaustubha dharaṃ mitrāṇām abhayaṃkaram
     avajānan mahātmānaṃ ghore tamasi majjati
 23 evaṃ viditvā tattvārthaṃ lokānām īśvareśvaraḥ
     vāsudevo namaḥ kāryaḥ sarvalokaiḥ surottamāḥ
 24 evam uktvā sa bhagavān sarvān devagaṇān purā
     visṛjya sarvalokātmā jagāma bhavanaṃ svakam
 25 tato devāḥ sa gandharvā munayo 'psaraso 'pi ca
     kathāṃ tāṃ brahmaṇā gītāṃ śrutvā prītā divaṃ yayuḥ
 26 etac chrutaṃ mayā tāta ṛṣīṇāṃ bhāvitātmanā
     vāsudevaṃ kathayatāṃ samavāye purātanam
 27 jāmadagnyasya rāmasya mārkaṇḍeyasya dhīmataḥ
     vyāsa nāradayoś cāpi śrutaṃ śrutaviśārada
 28 etam arthaṃ ca vijñāya śrutvā ca prabhum avyayam
     vāsudevaṃ mahātmānaṃ lokānām īśvareśvaram
 29 yasyāsāv ātmajo brahmā sarvasya jagataḥ pitā
     kathaṃ na vāsudevo 'yam arcyaś cejyaś ca mānavaiḥ
 30 vārito 'si purā tāta munibhir vedapāragaiḥ
     mā gaccha saṃyugaṃ tena vāsudevena dhīmatā
     mā pāṇḍavaiḥ sārtham iti tac ca mohān na budhyase
 31 manye tvāṃ rākṣasaṃ krūraṃ tathā cāsi tamovṛtaḥ
     yasmād dviṣasi govindaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam
     naranārāyaṇau devau nānyo dviṣyād dhi mānavaḥ
 32 tasmād bravīmi te rājann eṣa vai śāśvato 'vyayaḥ
     sarvalokamayo nityaḥ śāstā dhātā dharo dhruvaḥ
 33 lokān dhārayate yas trīṃś carācaraguruḥ prabhuḥ
     yoddhā jayaś ca jetā ca sarvaprakṛtir īśvaraḥ
 34 rājan sattvamayo hy eṣa tamo rāgavivarjitaḥ
     yataḥ kṛṣṇas tato dharmo yato dharmas tato jayaḥ
 35 tasya māhātmya yogena yogenātmana eva ca
     dhṛtāḥ pāṇḍusutā rājañ jayaś caiṣāṃ bhaviṣyati
 36 śreyo yuktāṃ sadā buddhiṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ dadhāti yaḥ
     balaṃ caiva raṇe nityaṃ bhayebhyaś caiva rakṣati
 37 sa eṣa śāśvato devaḥ sarvaguhyamayaḥ śivaḥ
     vāsudeva iti jñeyo yan māṃ pṛcchasi bhārata
 38 brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyair vaiśyaiḥ śūdraiś ca kṛtalakṣaṇaiḥ
     sevyate 'bhyarcyate caiva nityayuktaiḥ svakarmabhiḥ
 39 dvāparasya yugasyānte ādau kaliyugasya ca
     sātvataṃ vidhim āsthāya gītaḥ saṃkarṣaṇena yaḥ
 40 sa eṣa sarvāsuramartyalokaṃ; samudrakakṣyāntaritāḥ purīś ca
     yuge yuge mānuṣaṃ caiva vāsaṃ; punaḥ punaḥ sṛjate vāsudevaḥ

SECTION LXII

Dhritarashtra said,--"I regard destiny to be superior to exertion, O Sanjaya, inasmuch as the army of my son is continually slaughtered by the army of the Pandavas. Thou always speakest, O suta, of my troops as being slaughtered, and thou always speakest of the Pandavas as both unslain and cheerful. Indeed, O Sanjaya, thou speakest of mine as deprived of manliness, felled and falling, and slaughtered, although they are battling to the best of their powers and striving hard for victory. Thou always speakest to me of the Pandavas as obtaining victory and mine as becoming weaker and weaker. O child, I am incessantly hearing of countless cause of unbearable and poignant grief on account of Duryodhana's doing. I do not see, O Sanjaya, the means by which the Pandavas, may be weakened and sons of mine may obtain the victory in battle.
Sanjaya said, "This mighty evil hath proceeded from thee, O king. Listen now with patience to the great slaughter of men, elephants, steeds and car-warriors. Dhrishtadyumna, afflicted by Salya with nine shafts, afflicted in return the ruler of Madras with many shafts made of steel. And then we beheld the prowess of Prishata's son to be highly wonderful inasmuch as he speedily checked Salya that ornament of assemblies. The battle between them lasted for only a short space of time. While angrily engaged in combat, none beheld even a moment's rest taken by any of them. Then, O king, Salya in that battle cut off Dhrishtadyumna's bow with a broad-headed shaft of sharp edge and excellent temper. And he also covered him, O Bharata, with a shower of arrows like rain charged clouds pouring their drops on the mountain breast during the season of rains. And while Dhrishtadyumna was being thus afflicted, Abhimanyu, excited with wrath, rushed impetuously towards the car of the ruler of the Madras. Then the wrathful son of Krishna, of immeasurable soul, obtaining the car of the ruler of the Madras (within shooting distance), pierced Artayani with three sharp shafts. 1 Then the warriors of thy army, O king, desirous of opposing the son of
p. 160
[paragraph continues] Arjuna in battle, speedily surrounded the car of the ruler of Madras. And Duryodhana, and Vikarna, and Dussasana, and Vivinsati and Durmarshana, and Dussala, and Chitrasena, and Durmukha, and Satyabrata, blessed be thou, and Purumitra, O Bharata,--these, protecting the car of the ruler of the Madras, stationed themselves there. Then Bhimasena, excited with wrath, and Dhrishtadyumna. of Prishata's race, and the five sons of Draupadi, and Abhimanyu, and the twin sons of Madri and Pandu,--these ten opposed those ten warriors of the Dhritarashtra army shooting, O king, diverse kinds of weapons. And they approached and encountered one another in battle desirous of slaying one another, in consequence, O king, of thy wicked policy. And when those ten car-warriors, excited with wrath, engaged with the ten others in that awful battle, the other car-warriors of both thy army and of the foe all stood as spectators. And those mighty car-warriors, shooting diverse kinds of weapons and roaring at one another, smote one another fiercely. With wrath engendered in their breasts, desirous of slaying one another, they uttered fierce shouts, challenging one another. And jealous of one another, O king, those kinsfolk united together, encountered one another wrathfully, shooting mighty weapons. And wonderful to say, Duryodhana, excited with rage, pierced Dhrishtadyumna in that battle with four sharp shafts. And Durmarshana pierced him with twenty, and Chitrasena with five, and Durmukha with nine, and Dussaha with seven, and Vivinsati with five, and Dussasana with three shafts. Then, O great king, that scorcher of foes, viz., Prishata's son, pierced each of them in return with five and twenty shafts, displaying his lightness of hand. And Abhimanyu, O Bharata, pierced Satyavrata and Purumitra each with ten shafts. Then the son of Madri, those delighters of their mother, covered their uncle with showers of sharp arrows. And all this seemed wonderful. Then, O monarch, Salya covered his nephews, those two foremost of car-warriors desirous of counteracting their uncle's feats, with arrows, but the sons of Madri wavered not. Then the mighty Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, beholding Duryodhana and desirous of ending the strife, took up his mace. And beholding the mighty-armed Bhimasena with upraised mace and looking like the crested Kailasa mount, thy sons fled away in terror. Duryodhana, however, excited with wrath, urged the Magadha division consisting of ten thousand elephants of great activity. Accompanied by that elephant division and placing the ruler of Magadha before him, king Duryodhana advanced towards Bhimasena. Beholding that elephant division advancing towards him, Vrikodara, mace in hand, jumped down from his car, uttering a loud roar like that of a lion. And armed with that mighty mace which was endued with great weight and strength of adamant, he rushed towards that elephant division, like the Destroyer himself with wide open mouth. And the mighty-armed Bhimasena endued with great strength, slaying elephants with his mace, wandered over the field, like the slayer of Vritra among the Danava host. And with the loud shouts of the roaring Bhima, shouts that made the mind and the heart to tremble with fear, the elephants, crouching close, lost all
p. 161
power of motion. Then the sons of Draupadi, and that mighty car-warrior, the son of Subhadra, and Nakula and Sahadeva, and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, protecting Bhima's rear, rushed behind him, checking all by scattering their arrowy showers like the very clouds pouring rain on the mountain breast. And those Pandava warriors struck off the heads of their foes battling from the backs of elephants, with well-tempered and keen-edged shafts of diverse forms. 1 And the heads (of elephant-riders), and arms decked with ornaments, and hands with iron-hooks in grasp, falling fast, resembled a stony shower. And the headless trunk of elephant-riders on the necks of the beasts they rode, looked like headless trees on mountain summits. And we beheld mighty elephants felled and falling, slain by Dhrishtadyumna, the high-souled son of Prishata. Then the ruler of the Magadhas, in that battle, urged his elephant resembling Airavata himself, towards the car of Subhadra's son. Beholding that mighty elephant advancing towards him, that slayer of hostile heroes, the brave son of Subhadra, slew it with a single shaft. And when the ruler of the Magadhas was thus deprived of his elephant, that conqueror of hostile cities viz., the son of Krishna, then struck off that king's head with a broad-headed shaft with silver wings. And Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, having penetrated that elephant division, began to wander over the field, crushing those beasts around him like Indra himself crushing the mountains. And we beheld elephants slain in that battle by Bhimasena, each with only one stroke (of his mace), like hills riven by thunder. And many elephants, huge as hills, were slain there, having their tusks broken or temples, or bones, or backs, or frontal globes. And others, O king, deprived of life, lay there with foaming mouths. And many mighty elephants, with frontal globes completely smashed, vomited large quantities of blood. And some, from fear, laid themselves down on the ground like (so many) hillocks. And smeared with the fat and blood (of elephants) and almost bathed in their marrow, Bhima wandered over the field like the Destroyer himself, club in hand. And Vrikodara, whirling that mace of his which was wet with the blood of elephants, became terrible and awful to behold, like the wielder of Pinaka armed with Pinaka. 2 And those huge tuskers, while (thus) crushed by the angry Bhima, suddenly fled away, afflicted, crushing thy own ranks. And these mighty bowmen and car-warriors, headed by Subhadra's son (all the while) protected that battling hero whirling his gory mace 3 wet with the blood of elephants, like the celestials protecting the wielder of the thunder-bolt. Of terrible soul, Bhimasena then looked like the Destroyer. himself. Indeed, O Bharata, putting forth his strength on all sides, mace in arms, we beheld Bhimasena then to resemble Sankara himself dancing (at the end of the Yuga), and his fierce, heavy, and sounding
p. 162
mace to resemble the club of Yama and possessed of the sound of Indra's bolt. And that gory mace of his, smeared with marrow and hair, resembled (also) the angry Rudra's Pinaka while he is engaged in destroying all creatures. As a herdsman chastises his herd of cattle with a goad, so did Bhima smite that elephant division with that mace of his. And while thus slaughtered by Bhima with his mace and with shafts (by those that protected his rear), the elephants ran on all sides, crushing the cars of thy own army. Then driving away those elephants from the field like a mighty wind driving away masses of clouds, Bhima stood there like wielder of the trident on a crematorium."

Book 6
Chapter 63

1 [dur]
      vāsudevo mahad bhūtaṃ sarvalokeṣu kathyate
      tasyāgamaṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ ca jñātum icche pitāmaha
  2 [bhs]
      vāsudevo mahad bhūtaṃ saṃbhūtaṃ saha daivataiḥ
      na paraṃ puṇḍarīkākṣād dṛśyate bharatarṣabha
      mārkaṇḍeyaś ca govindaṃ kathayaty adbhutaṃ mahat
  3 sarvabhūtāni bhūtātmā mahātmā puruṣottamaḥ
      āpo vāyuś ca tejaś ca trayam etad akalpayat
  4 sa sṛṣṭvā pṛthivīṃ devaḥ sarvalokeśvaraḥ prabhuḥ
      apsu vai śayanaṃ cakre mahātmā puruṣottamaḥ
      sarvatoyamayo devo yogāt suṣvāpa tatra ha
  5 mukhataḥ so 'gnim asṛjat prāṇād vāyum athāpi ca
      sarasvatīṃ ca vedāṃś ca manasaḥ sasṛje 'cyutaḥ
  6 eṣa lokān sasarjādau devāṃś carṣigaṇaiḥ saha
      nidhanaṃ caiva mṛtyuṃ ca prajānāṃ prabhavo 'vyayaḥ
  7 eṣa dharmaś ca dharmajño varadaḥ sarvakāmadaḥ
      eṣa kartā ca kāryaṃ ca pūrvadevaḥ svayaṃprabhuḥ
  8 bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ bhaviṣyac ca pūrvam etad akalpayat
      ubhe saṃdhye diśaḥ khaṃ ca niyamaṃ ca janārdanaḥ
  9 ṛṣīṃś caiva hi govindas tapaś caivānu kalpayat
      sraṣṭāraṃ jagataś cāpi mahātmā prabhur avyayaḥ
  10 agrajaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ saṃkarṣaṇam akalpayat
     śeṣaṃ cākalpayad devam anantam iti yaṃ viduḥ
 11 yo dhārayati bhūtāni dharāṃ cemāṃ sa parvatām
     dhyānayogena viprāś ca taṃ vadanti mahaujasam
 12 karṇa srota udbhavaṃ cāpi madhuṃ nāma mahāsuram
     tam ugram ugrakarmāṇam ugrāṃ buddhiṃ samāsthitam
     brahmaṇo 'pacitiṃ kurvañ jaghāna puruṣottamaḥ
 13 tasya tāta vadhād eva devadānava mānavāḥ
     madhusūdanam ity āhur ṛṣayaś ca janārdanam
     varāhaś caiva siṃhaś ca trivikrama gatiḥ prabhuḥ
 14 eṣa mātā pitā caiva sarveṣāṃ prāṇināṃ hariḥ
     paraṃ hi puṇḍarīkākṣān na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati
 15 mukhato 'sṛjad brāhmaṇān bāhubhyāṃ kṣatriyāṃs tathā
     vaiśyāṃś cāpy uruto rājañ śūdrān padbhyāṃ tathaiva ca
     tapasā niyato devo nidhānaṃ sarvadehinām
 16 brahmabhūtam amāvāsyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ tathaiva ca
     yogabhūtaṃ paricaran keśavaṃ mahad āpnuyāt
 17 keśavaḥ paramaṃ tejaḥ sarvalokapitāmahaḥ
     evam āhur hṛṣīkeśaṃ munayo vai narādhipa
 18 evam enaṃ vijānīhi ācāryaṃ pitaraṃ gurum
     kṛṣṇo yasya prasīdeta lokās tenākṣayā jitāḥ
 19 yaś caivainaṃ bhayasthāne keśavaṃ śaraṇaṃ vrajet
     sadā naraḥ paṭhaṃś cedaṃ svastimān sa sukhī bhavet
 20 ye ca kṛṣṇaṃ prapadyante te na muhyanti mānavāḥ
     bhaye mahati ye magnāḥ pāti nityaṃ janārdanaḥ
 21 etad yudhiṣṭhiro jñātvā yāthātathyena bhārata
     sarvātmanā mahātmānaṃ keśavaṃ jagad īśvaram
     prapannaḥ śaraṇaṃ rājan yogānām īśvaraṃ prabhum

SECTION LXIII

Sanjaya said, "When that elephant division was exterminated, thy son Duryodhana urged his entire army, commanding the warriors to slay Bhimasena. Then the entire army at the command of thy son, rushed towards Bhimasena who was uttering fierce shouts. That vast and unlimited host difficult of being borne by the very gods, incapable of being crossed like the surging sea on the day of full moon or new moon, abounding with cars, elephants, and steeds, resounding with the blare of conches and the beat of drums, numbering untold foot-soldiers and car-warriors, and shrouded by the dust (raised), that very sea of hostile troops incapable of being agitated, thus coming towards him, Bhimasena checked in battle, O king, like the bank resisting the ocean. That feat, O king, which we beheld, of Bhimasena the high-souled son of Pandu, was exceedingly wonderful and superhuman. With his mace, he fearlessly checked all those kings angrily rushing towards him, with their steeds and cars, and elephants. Checking that vast force with mace, that foremost of mighty men, Bhima, stood in that fierce melee, immovable as the mountain Meru. And in that dreadful, fierce, and terrific encounter his brother and sons and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, and the sons of Draupadi and Abhimanyu, and the unvanquished Sikhandin--these mighty warriors,--did not abandon him from fear. Taking up his massive and weighty mace made of Saika iron, he rushed towards the warriors of thy army like the Destroyer himself, armed with his club. And pressing crowds of cars and crowds of horsemen down into the earth, Bhima wandered over the field like the fire at the end of the Yuga. And Pandu's son of infinite prowess crushing crowds of cars with the impetus of his thighs and slaying thy warriors in battle, wandered like the Destroyer himself at the end of the Yuga. And he began to grind thy troops with the greatest ease like an elephant crushing a forest of reeds. And dragging car-warriors down from their cars, and warriors fighting from the backs of heroes, and foot soldiers as they stood on the ground,
p. 163
in the army of thy son, the mighty-armed Bhimasena slew them all with his mace like the wind crushing trees by its force. And that mace of his, slaying elephants and steeds, became smeared with fat, marrow, flesh, and blood, and looked exceedingly terrible. And with the bodies of slain men and cavalry lying scattered about, the field of battle wore the appearance of the abode of Yama. And the terrible and slaughtering mace of Bhimasena, resembling the fierce bludgeon of Death and endued with the effulgence of Indra's bolt, looked like Pinaka of the angry Rudra while destroying living creatures. Indeed, that mace of the high-souled son of Kunti, who was slaying all around, looked fiercely resplendent like the bludgeon of the Destroyer himself at the time of the universal dissolution. And beholding him thus routing that large army repeatedly and advancing like Death's self, all the warriors became cheerless. Withersoever the son of Pandu, raising his mace, cast his eyes, in consequence of his look alone, O Bharata, all the troops there seemed to melt away. Beholding Vrikodara of terrible deeds, thus routing the army and unvanquished by even so large a force and devouring the (hostile) division like the Destroyer himself with wide-open mouth, Bhimasena speedily came towards him, on his car of solar effulgence and rattle loud as that of the clouds, (shrouding the welkin) with his arrowy showers like a vapoury canopy charged with rain. Then the mighty-armed Bhimasena, beholding Bhishma thus advancing like the Destroyer himself with wide-open mouth, rushed towards him, excited with wrath. At that moment, that foremost hero of Sini's race viz., Satyaki of sure aim, fell upon the grandsire, slaying his enemies (along the way) with his firm bow and causing thy son's army to tremble. And all the combatants who belonged to thy army were then, O Bharata, unable to impede the progress of that hero thus advancing with his steeds of silvery hue and scattering his sharp shafts furnished with handsome wings. At that time the Rakshasa Alamvusha (only) succeeded in piercing him with ten shafts. But piercing Alamvusha in return with four shafts, the grandson of Sini proceeded on his car. Beholding that hero of Vrishni's race thus advancing and rolling (as it were) through the very midst of his enemies, and checking (as he proceeded) the foremost of Kuru warriors, and repeatedly uttering loud shouts in that battle, thy warriors then like masses of clouds pouring rain in torrents on the mountain breast, showered their arrowy downpours on him. They were, however, incapable of impeding the progress of that hero who looked like the noon-day sun in his glory. And there was none who was not then cheerless, save Somadatta's son, O king, and Bhurisravas, the son of Somadatta, O Bharata, beholding the car-warriors of his own side driven away, rushed against Satyaki from desire of battle, taking up his bow of fierce impetus."

Book 6
Chapter 64

1 [bhs]
      śṛṇu cedaṃ mahārāja brahmabhūtastavaṃ mama
      brahmarṣibhiś ca devaiś ca yaḥ purā kathito bhuvi
  2 sādhyānām api devānāṃ devadeveśvaraḥ prabhuḥ
      lokabhāvana bhāvajña iti tvāṃ nārado 'bravīt
      bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ ca mārkaṇḍeyo 'bhyuvāca ha
  3 yajñānāṃ caiva yajñaṃ tvāṃ tapaś ca tapasām api
      devānām api devaṃ ca tvām āha bhagavān bhṛguḥ
      purāṇe bhairavaṃ rūpaṃ viṣṇo bhūtapate ti vai
  4 vāsudevo vasūnāṃ tvaṃ śakraṃ sthāpayitā tathā
      devadevo 'si devānām iti dvaipāyano 'bravīt
  5 pūrve prajā nisargeṣu dakṣam āhuḥ prajāpatim
      sraṣṭāraṃ sarvabhūtānām aṅgirās tvāṃ tato 'bravīt
  6 avyaktaṃ te śarīrotthaṃ vyaktaṃ te manasi sthitam
      devā vāk saṃbhavāś ceti devalas tv asito 'bravīt
  7 śirasā te divaṃ vyāptaṃ bāhubhyāṃ pṛthivī dhṛtā
      jaṭharaṃ te trayo lokāḥ puruṣo 'si sanātanaḥ
  8 evaṃ tvām abhijānanti tapasā bhavitā narāḥ
      ātmadarśanatṛptānām ṛṣīṇāṃ cāpi sattamaḥ
  9 rājarṣīṇām udārāṇām āhaveṣv anivartinām
      sarvadharmapradhānānāṃ tvaṃ gatir madhusūdana
  10 eṣa te vistaras tāta saṃkṣepaś ca prakīrtitaḥ
     keśavasya yathātattvaṃ suprīto bhava keśave
 11 [s]
     puṇyaṃ śrutvaitad ākhyānaṃ mahārāja sutas tava
     keśavaṃ bahu mene sa pāṇḍavāṃś ca mahārathān
 12 tam abravīn mahārāja bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavaḥ punaḥ
     māhātmyaṃ te śrutaṃ rājan keśavasya mahātmanaḥ
 13 narasya ca yathātattvaṃ yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi
     yadarthaṃ nṛṣu saṃbhūtau naranārāyaṇāv ubhau
 14 avadhyau ca yathā vīrau saṃyugeṣv aparājitau
     yathā ca pāṇḍavā rājann agamyā yudhi kasya cit
 15 prītimān hi dṛḍhaṃ kṛṣṇaḥ pāṇḍaveṣu yaśasviṣu
     tasmād bravīmi rājendra śamo bhavatu pāṇḍavaiḥ
 16 pṛthivīṃ bhuṅkṣva sahito bhrātṛbhir balibhir vaśī
     naranārāyaṇau devāv avajñāya naśiṣyasi
 17 evam uktvā tava pitā tūṣṇīm āsīd viśāṃ pate
     vyasarjayac ca rājānaṃ śayanaṃ ca viveśa ha
 18 rājāpi śibiraṃ prāyāt praṇipatya mahātmane
     śiśye ca śayane śubhre tāṃ rātriṃ bharatarṣabha

SECTION LXIV

Sanjaya said, "Then, O king, Bhurisravas, excited with great wrath, pierced Satyaki with nine arrows like the conductor of an elephant piercing an elephant with the iron hook. Satyaki also, of immeasurable soul, in the very sight of all the troops, pierced the Kaurava warrior with nine shafts. Then king Duryodhana, accompanied by his uterine brothers, surrounded Somadatta's son thus striving in battle. Similarly the Pandavas also, of great energy, quickly surrounding Satyaki in that battle took up their positions around him. And Bhimasena, excited with wrath, and with mace upraised, O Bharata, encountered all thy sons headed by Duryodhana. With many thousands of cars, and excited with wrath and vindictiveness, thy son Nandaka pierced Bhimasena of great might with keen-edged and sharp-pointed shafts whetted on stone and winged with the feathers of the kanka bird. Then Duryodhana, O king, in that great battle, excited with wrath, struck Bhimasena in the breast with nine shafts. Then the mighty-armed Bhima of great strength mounted on his own excellent car and addressing (his charioteer) Visoka, said, 'These heroic and mighty sons of Dhritarashtra, all great car-warriors, are exceedingly angry with me and desirous of slaying me in battle. I will slay all these today in thy sight, without doubt. Therefore, O charioteer, guide my steed in battle with care.' Having said this, O monarch, Pritha's son pierced thy son with sharp-pointed arrows decked with gold. And he pierced Nandaka in return with three arrows between his two breasts. Then Duryodhana having pierced the mighty Bhima with six arrows pierced Visoka in return with three other sharp arrows. And Duryodhana, O king, as if smiling the while, with three other sharp arrows cut off at the grasp the resplendent bow of Bhima in that battle. Bhima then, that bull among men, beholding his charioteer Visoka afflicted, in that conflict, with sharp shafts by thy son armed with the bow, and unable to bear it, drew another excellent bow, excited with wrath, for the destruction of thy son, O monarch. And excited with great wrath, he also took up an arrow with horse-shoe head and furnished with excellent wings. And with that (arrow) Bhima cut off the excellent bow of the king. Then thy son, excited to the highest pitch of fury, leaving that broken bow aside, speedily took up another that was tougher. And aiming a terrible shaft blazing as Death's rod, the Kuru king, excited with rage struck Bhimasena between his two breasts. Deeply pierced therewith, and greatly pained, he sat down on the terrace of his car. And while seated on the terrace of his car, he swooned away. Beholding Bhima thus unmanned, the illustrious and mighty car-warriors of the Pandava army, headed by Abhimanyu could not bear it. And those warriors then, with great steadiness, showered on thy sons' head a thick down-pour of fierce shafts. Then the mighty Bhimasena, regaining consciousness, pierced Duryodhana at first with those shafts and then with five. And that mighty bowman the son of Pandu then pierced Salya with
p. 165
five and twenty shafts furnished with golden wings. And pierced therewith, Salya was borne away from the battle. Then thy fourteen sons, viz., Senapati, Sushena, Jalasandha, Sulochana, Ugra, Bhimaratha, Bhima, Viravahu, Aolupa, Durmukha, Dushpradarsha, Vivitsu, Vikata, and Sama, then encountered Bhimasena in battle. United together they rushed against Bhimasena, and with eyes red in wrath, showering countless arrows, they pierced him deeply. Then the heroic and mighty Bhimasena of strong arms, beholding thy sons, licking the corners of his mouth like a wolf in the midst of smaller creatures, fell upon them with the impetuosity of Garuda. And the son of Pandu then cut off the head of Senapati with a shaft having a horse-shoe head. And with delighted soul and laughing the while, that mighty-armed warrior, piercing Jalasandha with three arrows, despatched him to Yama's abode. And next, smiting Sushena, he sent him to the presence of Death's self. And with a single broad-headed shaft he felled on the ground the head, handsome as the moon, of Ugra, decked with turban and adorned with ear-rings. And in that battle, Pandu's son Bhima, with seventy shafts, despatched Viravahu to the other world with his steeds and standard and charioteer. And smiling the while, O king, Bhimasena quickly despatched both the brothers Bhima and Bhimaratha also to Yama's abode. And then in that great battle in the very sight of all the troops, with an arrow of horse-shoe head Bhima despatched Sulochana also to Death's domain. Then the rest of thy sons that were there, O king, beholding the prowess of Bhimasena and while thus being struck by that illustrious warrior, all fled from battle from fear of Bhima. Then Santanu's son, addressing all the mighty car-warriors (of his army) said, 'That fierce bowman, Bhima, excited with wrath in battle, is slaying the mighty sons of Dhritarashtra and other heroic car-warriors united together, whatever their knowledge of weapons, and whatever their bravery. Therefore, seize ye all that son of Pandu'. Thus addressed, all the troops of the Dhritarashtra army, excited with rage, rushed towards Bhimasena endued with great might, And Bhagadatta, O king, on his elephant of rent temples, suddenly rushed thither where Bhimasena was stationed. And thither to the combat, he shrouded Bhima with his shafts whetted on stone so as to make him completely invisible, like the clouds covering the sun. Those mighty car-warriors, however, (of the Pandava army), relying on the prowess of their own arms, could not bear that shrouding of Bhima (with the arrowy showers of Bhagadatta). They, therefore, surrounding Bhagadatta on all sides, poured on him their arrowy down-pours. And they pierced his elephant also with showers of shafts. And struck by all those mighty car-warriors with showers of fierce shafts of diverse kinds that elephant, O king, of the ruler of the Pragjyotishas with blood trickling down his body, became beautiful to behold on the field of battle like a mass of clouds tinged with the rays of the sun. And that elephant with temporal juice trickling down urged by Bhagadatta, like the Destroyer, ran with double his former speed, shaking the very earth with his tread. Then all
p. 166
those mighty car-warriors, beholding that terrible mien of the animal, and regarding it irresistible, became cheerless. Then king Bhagadatta, that tiger among men, excited with rage, struck Bhimasena between his two breasts with a straight shaft. Deeply pierced by the king with that shaft, that great bowman and mighty car-warrior, with limbs deprived of sensation in consequence of a swoon, sat down on his car, holding his flagstaff. And beholding those mighty car-warriors terrified and Bhimasena in a swoon, Bhagadatta of great prowess uttered a loud roar. Then, O king, that terrible Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, beholding Bhima in that state, became excited with rage and there and then disappeared from the view. And creating a terrible illusion enhancing the fears of the timid, he reappeared in a moment assuming a fierce form. Himself riding on an Airavata created by his powers of illusion, the other Dik-elephants, viz., Anjana, Vamana, and Mahapadma of blazing glory, followed him. And those three mighty elephants, ridden by Rakshasas, were of huge form, with juice profusely trickling down in three lines, and endued with great speed and prowess. Then Ghatotkacha urged his own elephant to battle, desirous, O chastiser of foes, of slaying Bhagadatta with his elephant. And those other elephants, excited with fury and each endued with four tusks, urged by Rakshasas of great strength, fell from all sides upon Bhagadatta's elephant and afflicted him with their tusks. And the elephant of Bhagadatta, thus afflicted by those elephants, (already) struck with arrows and feeling great pain, uttered loud cries that resembled the thunder of Indra. And hearing those terrible and loud cries of that roaring elephant, Bhishma, addressing Drona, Suyodhana and all the kings, said, 'The mighty bowman Bhagadatta is battling with the wicked-souled son of Hidimva, and hath fallen into great distress. That Rakshasa is of huge form, and the king also is very wrathful. Engaged in battle, they would certainly prove each other's death. Loud shouts were also heard of the rejoicing Pandavas, and the cries of agony of (king Bhagadatta's) terrified elephant. Blessed be ye, let us all go there for rescuing the king, for, if left unprotected, in battle, he will soon give up his life. Ye warriors of great energy, do, as I bid, even now. Ye sinless ones, make no delay. The combat deepens and becometh fierce, making the hair to stand on end. That commander of a division is high-born, endued with great bravery, and devoted to us. Ye warriors of unfading glory, it is meet that his rescue should be effected by us.' Hearing these words of Bhishma, all the kings (of the Kuru army), headed by Bharadwaja's son, desirous of rescuing Bhagadatta, proceeded with great speed to where the ruler of the Pragjyotishas was. And beholding the enemy advancing, the Panchalas with the Pandavas, headed by Yudhishthira, pursued them behind. Then that prince of Rakshasas, endued with great prowess, beholding that division (of the enemy) advance, uttered a fierce roar, deep as that of thunder. Hearing that roar of his and beholding those battling elephants, Santanu's son Bhishma once again addressed Bharadwaja's son and said, 'I do not like to fight (to-day) with the wicked-souled son of Hidimva. Endued with
p. 167
great might and energy, he is at present well-supported. He is incapable of being vanquished now by the wielder of the thunder-bolt himself. Of sureness of aim, he is a great smiter. As regards ourselves, our animals are tired (today). We have also been greatly mangled by Panchalas and the Pandavas. I do not like fresh encounter with the victorious Pandavas. Let the withdrawal of our army, therefore, be proclaimed today. Tomorrow we will fight with the foe.' Hearing these words of the grandsire, the Kauravas, afflicted with the fear of Ghatotkacha, and availing of the advent of night as a pretext, gladly did what the grandsire said. And after the Kauravas had withdrawn, the Pandavas, crowned with victory uttered leonine roars, mingling them with the blare of conches and the notes of pipes. Thus did the battle take place that day, O Bharata, between the Kurus and the Pandavas headed by Ghatotkacha. And the Kauravas also, vanquished by the Pandavas and overcome with shame, retired to their own tents when night came. And those mighty car-warriors, the sons of Pandu, their bodies mangled with shafts and themselves filled with (the result of) the battle, proceeded, O king, towards their encampment, with Bhimasena and Ghatotkacha, O monarch, at their head. And filled with great joy, O king, they worshipped those heroes. And they uttered diverse kinds of shouts which were mingled with the notes of trumpets. And those high-souled warriors shouted making the very earth tremble therewith, and grinding as it were, O sire, the hearts of thy sons. And it was thus that those chastisers of foes, when night came, proceeded towards their tents. And king Duryodhana, cheerless at the death of his brothers, passed some time in thoughtfulness, overcome with grief and tears. Then making all the arrangements for his camp according to the rules (of military science), he began to pass the hours in meditation, scorched with grief and afflicted with sorrow on account of his (slain) brothers."

Book 6
Chapter 65

1 [s]
      vyuṣitāyāṃ ca śarvaryām udite ca divākare
      ubhe sene mahārāja yuddhāyaiva samīyatuḥ
  2 abhyadhāvaṃś ca saṃkruddhāḥ parasparajigīṣavaḥ
      te sarve sahitā yuddhe samālokya parasparam
  3 pāṇḍavā dhārtarāṣṭrāś ca rājan durmantrite tava
      vyūhau ca vyūhya saṃrabdhāḥ saṃprayuddhāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
  4 arakṣan makaravyūhaṃ bhīṣmo rājan samantataḥ
      tathaiva pāṇḍavā rājann arakṣan vyūham ātmanaḥ
  5 sa niryayau rathānīkaṃ pitā devavratas tava
      mahatā rathavaṃśena saṃvṛto rathināṃ varaḥ
  6 itaretaram anvīyur yathābhāgam avasthitāḥ
      rathinaḥ pattayaś caiva dantinaḥ sādinas tathā
  7 tān dṛṣṭvā prodyatān saṃkhye pāṇḍavāś ca yaśasvinaḥ
      śyenena vyūha rājena tenājayyena saṃyuge
  8 aśobhata mukhe tasya bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
      netre śikhaṇḍī durdharṣe dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
  9 śīrṣaṃ tasyābhavad vīraḥ sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
      vidhunvan gāṇḍivaṃ pārtho grīvāyām abhavat tadā
  10 akṣauhiṇyā samagrā yā vāmapakṣo 'bhavat tadā
     mahātmā drupadaḥ śrīmān saha putreṇa saṃyuge
 11 dakṣiṇaś cābhavat pakṣaḥ kaikeyo 'kṣauhiṇīpatiḥ
     pṛṣṭhato draupadeyāś ca saubhadraś cāpi vīryavān
 12 pṛṣṭhe samabhavac chrīmān svayaṃ rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     bhrātṛbhyāṃ sahito dhīmān yamābhyāṃ cāru vikramaḥ
 13 praviśya tu raṇe bhīmo makaraṃ mukhatas tadā
     bhīṣmam āsādya saṃgrāme chādayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
 14 tato bhīṣmo mahāstrāṇi pātayām āsa bhārata
     mohayan pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ vyūḍhaṃ sainyaṃ mahāhave
 15 saṃmuhyati tadā sainye tvaramāṇo dhanaṃjayaḥ
     bhīṣmaṃ śarasahasreṇa vivyādha raṇamūrdhani
 16 parisaṃvārya cāstrāṇi bhīṣma muktāni saṃyuge
     svenānīkena hṛṣṭena yuddhāya samavasthitaḥ
 17 tato duryodhano rājā bhāradvājam abhāṣata
     pūrvaṃ dṛṣṭvā vadhaṃ ghoraṃ balasya balināṃ varaḥ
     bhrātṝṇāṃ ca vadhaṃ yuddhe smaramāṇo mahārathaḥ
 18 ācārya satataṃ tvaṃ hi hitakāmo mamānagha
     vayaṃ hi tvāṃ samāśritya bhīṣmaṃ caiva pitāmaham
 19 devān api raṇe jetuṃ prārthayāmo na saṃśayaḥ
     kim u pāṇḍusutān yuddhe hīnavīryaparākramān
 20 evam uktas tato droṇas tava putreṇa māriṣa
     abhinat pāṇḍavānīkaṃ prekṣamāṇasya sātyakeḥ
 21 sātyakis tu tadā droṇaṃ vārayām āsa bhārata
     tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
 22 śaineyaṃ tu raṇe kruddho bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
     avidhyan niśitair bāṇair jatru deśe hasann iva
 23 bhīmasenas tataḥ kruddho bhāradvājam avidhyata
     saṃrakṣan sātyakiṃ rājan droṇāc chastrabhṛtāṃ varāt
 24 tato droṇaś ca bhīṣmaś ca tathā śalyaś ca māriṣa
     bhīmasenaṃ raṇe kruddhāś chādayāṃ cakrire śaraiḥ
 25 tatrābhimanyuḥ saṃkruddho draupadeyāś ca māriṣa
     vivyadhur niśitair bāṇaiḥ sarvāṃs tān udyatāyudhān
 26 bhīṣmadroṇau ca saṃkruddhāv āpatantau mahābalau
     pratyudyayau śikhaṇḍī tu maheṣvāso mahāhave
 27 pragṛhya balavad vīro dhanur jaladanisvanam
     abhyavarṣac charais tūrṇaṃ chādayāno divākaram
 28 śikhaṇḍinaṃ samāsādya bharatānāṃ pitāmahaḥ
     avarjayata saṃgrāme strītvaṃ tasyānusaṃsmaran
 29 tato droṇo mahārāja abhyadravata taṃ raṇe
     rakṣamāṇas tato bhīṣmaṃ tava putreṇa coditaḥ
 30 śikhaṇḍī tu samāsādya droṇaṃ śastrabhṛtāṃ varam
     avarjayata saṃgrāme yugāntāgnim ivolbaṇam
 31 tato balena mahatā putras tava viśāṃ pate
     jugopa bhīṣmam āsādya prārthayāno mahad yaśaḥ
 32 tathaiva pāṇḍavā rājan puraskṛtya dhanaṃjayam
     bhīṣmam evābhyavartanta jaye kṛtvā dṛḍhāṃ matim
 33 tad yuddham abhavad ghoraṃ devānāṃ dānavair iva
     jayaṃ ca kāṅkṣatāṃ nityaṃ yaśaś ca paramādbhutam

SECTION LXV

Dhritarashtra said, 'Hearing of those feats of the sons of Pandu which are incapable of being achieved by the gods themselves, my heart, O Sanjaya, is filled with fear and wonder. Hearing also of the humiliation of my sons in every way, great hath been my anxiety as to the consequence that will ensue. The words uttered by Vidura will, no doubt, consume my heart. Everything that hath happened seemeth to be due to Destiny, O Sanjaya. The combatants of the Pandava army are encountering and smiting those best of warriors having Bhishma for their head, those heroes conversant with every weapon. What ascetic penances have been performed by the high-souled and mighty sons of Pandu, what boon hath they
p. 168
obtained, O son, or what science is known to them, in consequence of which, like the stars in the firmament, they are undergoing no diminution? I cannot bear it that my army should be repeatedly slaughtered by the Pandavas. The divine chastisement, highly severe, both fallen on me alone. Tell me everything truly, O Sanjaya, about that for which the sons of Pandu have become unslayable and mine slayable. I do not see the other shore of this (sea of) distress. 1 I am like a man desirous of crossing the vastly deep ocean with my two arms alone. I certainly think that a great calamity hath overtaken my sons. Without doubt, Bhima will slay all my sons. I do not see that hero who is able to protect my sons in battle. The death of my sons in this battle, O Sanjaya, is certain. It behoveth thee, therefore, O Suta, to tell me, who asketh thee, everything about the true cause of all these. Beholding his own troops retreating from battle, what did Duryodhana do? And what old Bhishma and Drona, and Kripa, and Suvala's son, and Jayadratha, and that mighty bowman, viz., Drona's son and Vikarna of great strength do? When also, O thou of great wisdom, my sons turned back from the fight, what O Sanjaya, became the resolve of those high-souled warriors?"
Sanjaya said, "Listen, O king, with attention, and having listened, let it go to thy heart. Nothing (in this) is the result of incantation, nothing the result of illusion of any king. Nor have the sons of Pandu created any new terrors. They are endued with might; and they are fighting by fair means in this battle. Desirous of high fame, the sons of Pritha always do every act, including even the support of their lives, agreeably to the way of morality. Endued with every kind of prosperity, and possessed of great strength, they never desist from battle, keeping their eyes on righteousness. And victory is there where righteousness is. It is for this, O king, that the sons of Pritha are unslayable in battle and always victorious. Thy sons are of wicked souls and are addicted to sinfulness. They are cruel and wedded to mean acts. It is for this that they are being weakened in battle. Thy sons, O king, like despicable men, did many cruel and deceitful acts to the sons of Pandu. Disregarding, however, all those offences of thy sons, the sons of Pandu always concealed those acts, O elder brother of Pandu. Thy sons also, O king, on numerous occasions humiliated the Pandavas. Let them now reap the terrible fruit, like poison, of that persistent course of sinfulness. 2 That fruit should be enjoyed by thee also, O king, with thy sons and kinsmen, since thou, O king, could not be awakened even though counselled by thy well-wishers. Repeatedly forbidden by Vidura, by Bhishma, by the high-souled Drona, and by myself also thou didst not understand, rejecting our words intended for thy good and worthy of thy acceptance, like a sick man rejecting the medicine prescribed. Accepting the views of thy sons thou hadst regarded the Pandavas as already vanquished. Listen again, O king, to what thou
p. 169
hast asked me, viz., the true cause, O chief of the Bharatas, of the victory of the Pandavas. I will tell thee whit I have heard, O chastiser of foes. Duryodhana had asked the grandsire this very question. Beholding his brothers, all mighty car-warriors, vanquished in battle, thy son Duryodhana, O Kaurava, with heart confounded with grief, repairing with humility during the night to the grandsire possessed of great wisdom, asked him this question. Listen to me, O monarch, about it all.
"Duryodhana said, 'Drona and thou, and Salya, and Kripa, and Drona's son, and Kritavarman the son of Hridika, and Sudakshina the ruler of the Kamvojas, and Bhurisravas, and Vikarna, and Bhagadatta of exceeding prowess, are all regarded as mighty car-warriors. All of these, again, are high-born, and prepared to throw away their lives in battle. It is my opinion that these are a match for even the three worlds (united together). Even all the warriors of the Pandava army (united together) cannot bear your prowess. A doubt has arisen in my mind. Explain it to me who enquireth of thee. Who it is, relying on whom the Pandavas are vanquishing us repeatedly.'
"Bhishma said, 'Listen, O king, to the words that I will speak unto thee, O thou of Kuru's race. Frequently wert thou addressed by me to the same effect but thou didst not do what I said. Let peace be made with the Pandavas, O best of the Bharatas. I regard this to be beneficial both to the world and thee, O lord. Enjoy this earth, O king, with thy brothers and be happy, gratifying all thy well-wishers and delighting thy kinsfolk. Although I cried myself hoarse before this, thou didst not yet listen to me, O sire. Thou hadst always disregarded the sons of Pandu. The effect of all that hath now overtaken thee. Listen also, O king, from me as I speak of it, O Lord, to the reason why the Pandavas, whose achievements tire them not, are unslayable. 1 There is not, was not, will not be, the being in all the worlds who would or will be able to vanquish the sons of Pandu who are all protected by the wielder of Saranga. Listen truly, O thou that art conversant with morality, to that ancient history which was recited to me by sages of souls under control. In days of yore, all the celestials and the Rishis, united together, waited reverentially on the Grandsire upon the mountains of Gandhamadana. And the Lord of all creatures, seated at his case in their midst, beheld an excellent car stationed in the firmament, blazing with effulgence. Having ascertained (everything about it) by meditation, joining his hands with restrained heart, Brahman, with delighted soul, made his salutations to the highest Divine Being. And the Rishis and the celestials, beholding in the firmament (the form thus) displayed, all stood up with joined hands, their eyes fixed on that wonder of wonders. Worshipping him duly, Brahma, the foremost of all conversant with Brahman, the Creator of the universe,
p. 170
acquainted with the highest morality, uttered these high words: Thou art the Glory of the Universe for thy form. Thou art the Lord of the Universe. O thou whose protection extendeth through the whole Universe, O thou that hath the Universe for thy work, O thou that hath thy soul under control, Thou art the Supreme Master of the Universe. Thou art Vasudeva. Therefore, I seek refuge in Thee that art the soul of Yoga and the highest Divinity. Victory to Thee that art the Supreme God of the Universe. Victory to Thee that art ever employed in the good of the worlds. Victory to Thee that art the Lord of Yoga. Thee that art all-powerful. Victory to Thee that art prior, and subsequent to Yoga. Having the lotus springing from thy navel, and having large expansive eyes, victory to Thee that art Lord of Lords of the Universe. O Lord of the Past, the Present, and the Future, victory to Thee that art the embodiment of gentleness. Thee that art the sun of suns. O thou that art the receptacle of untold attributes, victory to Thee that art the refuge of all things. Thou art Narayana, thou art incapable of being understood, victory to Thee that art the wielder of the bow called Saranga. Victory to Thee that art endued with every attribute, O thou that hast the Universe for thy form, O thou that art ever hale. O Lord of the Universe, O thou of mighty arms, victory to Thee that art always ready for benefitting the worlds. O great Snake, O huge Boar, O first Cause, O thou of tawny locks, victory to Thee that art Almighty. O thou of yellow robes, O Lord of the cardinal and the subsidiary points of the compass, O thou that hast the Universe for thy abode, O thou that art Infinite, O thou that hast no decay, O thou that art the Manifest, O thou that art the Unmanifest, O thou that art the immeasurable Space, O thou that hast all thy senses under control, O thou that always achievest what is good, O thou that art immeasurable, O thou that alone knowest thy own nature, victory to Thee that art deep, O thou that art the giver of all wishes, O thou that art without end, O thou that art known as Brahma, O thou that art Eternal, O thou that art the Creator of all creatures, O thou that art ever successful, O thou whose acts always display wisdom, O thou that art conversant with morality, O thou that givest victory, O thou of mysterious Self, O thou that art the Soul of all Yoga, O thou that art the Cause of everything that hath sprung into existence, O thou that art the knowledge of the selves of all beings, O Lord of the worlds, victory to thee that art the Creator of all beings. O thou that hath thyself for thy origin, O thou that art highly blessed, O thou that art the Destroyer of everything, O thou that art the inspirer of all mental thoughts, victory to Thee that art dear to all conversant with Brahma. O thou that art busy in creation and destruction, O controller of all wishes, O Supreme Lord, O thou that art the Cause of Amrita, O thou that art All-existent, O thou that art the first that appears at the end of the Yuga, O thou that art the giver of victory, O Divine Lord of the Lord of all creatures, O thou that hast the lotus springing from thy navel, O thou of mighty strength, O thou that art sprung from Thyself, O thou that art the great elements in their primeval state, O thou that art the soul
p. 171
of all (religious) rites, victory to Thee that givest all. The goddess Earth represents thy two feet, the cardinal and the subsidiary directions thy arms, and the heavens thy head. I am thy form, the celestials constitute thy limbs, and the Sun, the moon are thy two eyes. Ascetic austerities and Truth born of morality and (religious) rites, constitute thy strength. Fire is thy energy, the wind is thy breath, and the waters have sprung from thy sweat. The twins Aswins constitute thy ears, and the goddess Saraswati is thy tongue. The Vedas are thy Knowledge, and upon thee resteth this Universe. O Lord of Yoga and Yogins, we do not know thy extent, thy measure, thy energy, thy prowess, thy might, thy origin. O God, O Vishnu, filled with devotion in thee, and depending upon thee with vows and observances, we ever worship Thee as the highest Lord, the God of gods. The Rishis, the gods, Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Pannagas, the Pisachas, human beings, beasts, birds, reptiles,--all these were created by me on Earth through Thy grace. O thou having the lotus springing from thy navel, O thou of large expansive eyes, O Krishna, O Dispeller of all woe, Thou art the Refuge of all creatures, and Thou art their Guide. Thou hast the Universe for thy mouth. Through thy grace, O Lord of the gods, the gods are ever happy. Through thy grace the Earth hath always been freed from terrors. Therefore, O thou of large eyes, take birth in the race of Yadu. 1 For the sake of establishing righteousness, for slaying the sons of Diti, and for upholding the Universe, do what I have said, O Lord. O Vasudeva, that which is thy supreme mystery, that, O Lord hath been sung by me through Thy grace. Having created the divine Sankarshana out of thy own Self by Thyself, thou didst then, O Krishna, create Thyself as Pradyumna born of thyself. From Pradyumna thou didst then create Aniruddha who is known as the eternal Vishnu. And it was Aniruddha who created me as Brahma, the upholder of the Universe. Created out of Vasudeva's essence I have, therefore, been created by thee. Dividing Thyself into portions, take birth, O Lord, among human beings. And slaughtering the Asuras there for happiness of all the worlds, and establishing righteousness, and winning renown, Thou wilt again truly attain to Yoga. The regenerate Rishis on Earth and the gods, O thou of infinite prowess, devoted to thee, sing of thy wonderous Self under those names that belong to thee. O thou of excellent arms, all classes of creatures rest on thee, having taken refuge in Thee, thou giver of boons. The regenerate ones sing Thee as the world's bridge, having no beginning, middle and end, and as possessed of unlimited Yoga.'"

 

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