srimahabharat - (Book 6) Bhishma Parva - chapters 43 to 54

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 43

1 [s]
      pūrvāhṇe tasya raudrasya yuddham ahno viśāṃ pate
      prāvartata mahāghoraṃ rājñāṃ dehāvakartanam
  2 kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca saṃgrāme vijigīṣatām
      siṃhānām iva saṃhrādo divam urvīṃ ca nādayan
  3 āsīt kila kilā śabdas talaśaṅkharavaiḥ saha
      jajñire siṃhanādāś ca śūrāṇāṃ pratigarjatām
  4 talatrābhihatāś caiva jyāśabdā bharatarṣabha
      pattīnāṃ pādaśabdāś ca vājināṃ ca mahāsvanāḥ
  5 tottrāṅkuśa nipātāś ca āyudhānāṃ ca nisvanāḥ
      ghaṇṭā śabdāś ca nāgānām anyonyam abhidhāvatām
  6 tasmin samudite śabde tumule lomaharṣaṇe
      babhūva rathanirghoṣaḥ parjanyaninadopamaḥ
  7 te manaḥ krūram ādhāya samabhityaktajīvitāḥ
      pāṇḍavān abhyavartanta sarva evocchritadhvajāḥ
  8 svayaṃ śāṃtanavo rājann abhyadhāvad dhanaṃjayam
      pragṛhya kārmukaṃ ghoraṃ kāladaṇḍopamaṃ raṇe
  9 arjuno 'pi dhanur gṛhya gāṇḍīvaṃ lokaviśrutam
      abhyadhāvata tejasvī gāṅgeyaṃ raṇamūrdhani
  10 tāv ubhau kuruśārdūlau parasparavadhaiṣiṇau
     gāṅgeyas tu raṇe pārthaṃ viddhvā nākampayad balī
     tathaiva pāṇḍavo rājan bhīṣmaṃ nākampayad yudhi
 11 sātyakiś ca maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtavarmāṇam abhyayāt
     tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
 12 sātyakiḥ kṛtavarmāṇaṃ kṛtavarmā ca sātyakim
     ānarhatuḥ śarair ghorais takṣamāṇau parasparam
 13 tau śarācita sarvāṅgau śuśubhāte mahābalau
     vasante puṣpaśabalau puṣpitāv iva kuṃśukau
 14 abhimanyur maheṣvāso bṛhadbalam ayodhayat
     tataḥ kosalako rājā saubhadrasya viśāṃ pate
     dhvajaṃ ciccheda samare sārathiṃ ca nyapātayat
 15 saubhadras tu tataḥ kruddhaṃ pātite rathasārathau
     bṛhadbalaṃ mahārāja vivyādha navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 16 athāparābhyāṃ bhallābhyāṃ pītābhyām arimardanaḥ
     dhvajam ekena ciccheda pārṣṇim ekena sārathim
     anyonyaṃ ca śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ kruddhau rājaṃs tatakṣatuḥ
 17 māninaṃ samare dṛptaṃ kṛtavairaṃ mahāratham
     bhīmasenas tava sutaṃ duryodhanam ayodhayat
 18 tāv ubhau naraśārdūlau kurumukhyau mahābalau
     anyonyaṃ śaravarṣābhyāṃ vavṛṣāte raṇājire
 19 tau tu vīkṣya mahātmānau kṛtinau citrayodhinau
     vismayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ samapadyata bhārata
 20 duḥśāsanas tu nakulaṃ pratyudyāya mahāratham
     avidhyan niśitair bāṇair bahubhir marmabhedibhiḥ
 21 tasya mādrī sutaḥ ketuṃ sa śaraṃ ca śarāsanam
     ciccheda niśitair bāṇaiḥ prahasann iva bhārata
     athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samārdayat
 22 putras tu tava durdharṣo nakulasya mahāhave
     yugeṣāṃ cicchide bāṇair dhvajaṃ caiva nyapātayat
 23 durmukhaḥ sahadevaṃ tu pratyudyāya mahābalam
     vivyādha śaravarṣeṇa yatamānaṃ mahāhave
 24 sahadevas tato vīro durmukhasya mahāhave
     śareṇa bhṛśatīkṣṇena pātayām āsa sārathim
 25 tāv anyonyaṃ samāsādya samare yuddhadurmadau
     trāsayetāṃ śarair ghoraiḥ kṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇau
 26 yudhiṣṭhiraḥ svayaṃ rājā madrarājānam abhyayāt
     tasya madrādhipaś cāpaṃ dvidhā ciccheda māriṣa
 27 tad apāsya dhanuś chinnaṃ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     anyakārmukam ādāya vegavad balavattaram
 28 tato madreśvaraṃ rājā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     chādayām āsa saṃkruddhas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 29 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tato droṇam abhyadravata bhārata
     tasya droṇaḥ susaṃkruddhaḥ parāsu karaṇaṃ dṛḍham
     tridhā ciccheda samare yatamānasya kārmukam
 30 śaraṃ caiva mahāghoraṃ kāladaṇḍam ivāparam
     preṣayām āsa samare so 'sya kāye nyamajjata
 31 athānyad dhanur ādāya sāyakāṃś ca caturdaśa
     droṇaṃ drupadaputras tu prativivyādha saṃyuge
     tāv anyonyaṃ susaṃkruddhau cakratuḥ subhṛśaṃ raṇam
 32 saumadattiṃ raṇe śaṅkho rabhasaṃ rabhaso yudhi
     pratyudyayau mahārāja tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 33 tasya vai dakṣiṇaṃ vīro nirbibheda raṇe bhujam
     saumadattis tathā śaṅkhaṃ jatru deśe samāhanat
 34 tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate
     dṛptayoḥ samare tūrṇaṃ vṛtravāsavayor iva
 35 bāhlīkaṃ tu raṇe kruddhaṃ kruddha rūpo viśāṃ pate
     abhyadravad ameyātmā dhṛṣṭaketur mahārathaḥ
 36 bāhlīkas tu tato rājan dhṛṣṭaketum amarṣaṇam
     śarair bahubhir ānarcchat siṃhanādam athānadat
 37 cedirājas tu saṃkruddho bāhlīkaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     vivyādha samare tūrṇaṃ matto mattam iva dvipam
 38 tau tatra samare kruddhau nardantau ca muhur muhuḥ
     samīyatuḥ susaṃkruddhāv aṅgāraka budhāv iva
 39 rākṣasaṃ krūrakarmāṇaṃ krūrakarmā ghaṭotkacaḥ
     alambusaṃ pratyudiyād balaṃ śakra ivāhave
 40 ghaṭotkacas tu saṃkruddho rākṣasaṃ taṃ mahābalam
     navatyā sāyakais tīkṣṇair dārayām āsa bhārata
 41 alambusas tu samare bhaimaseniṃ mahābalam
     bahudhā vārayām āsa śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 42 vyabhrājetāṃ tatas tau tu saṃyuge śaravikṣatau
     yathā devāsure yuddhe balaśakrau mahābalau
 43 śikhaṇḍī samare rājan drauṇim abhyudyatau balī
     aśvatthāmā tataḥ kruddhaḥ śikhaṇḍinam avasthitam
 44 nārācena sutīkṣṇena bhṛśaṃ viddhvā vyakampayat
     śikhaṇḍy api tato rājan droṇaputram atāḍayat
 45 sāyakena supītena tīkṣṇena niśitena ca
     tau jaghnatus tadānyonyaṃ śarair bahuvidhair mṛdhe
 46 bhagadattaṃ raṇe śūraṃ virāṭo vāhinīpatiḥ
     abhyayāt tvarito rājaṃs tato yuddham avartata
 47 virāṭo bhagadattena śaravarṣeṇa tāḍitaḥ
     abhyavarṣat susaṃkruddho megho vṛṣṭyā ivācalam
 48 bhagadattas tatas tūrṇaṃ virāṭaṃ pṛthivīpatim
     chādayām āsa samare meghaḥ sūryam ivoditam
 49 bṛhat kṣatraṃ tu kaikeyaṃ kṛpaḥ śāradvato yayau
     taṃ kṛpaḥ śaravarṣeṇa chādayām āsa bhārata
 50 gautamaṃ kekayaḥ kruddhaḥ śaravṛṣṭyābhyapūrayat
     tāv anyonyaṃ hayān hatvā dhanuṣī vinikṛtya vai
 51 virathāv asiyuddhāya samīyatur amarṣaṇau
     tayos tad abhavad yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ sudāruṇam
 52 drupadas tu tato rājā saindhavaṃ vai jayadratham
     abhyudyayau saṃprahṛṣṭo hṛṣṭarūpaṃ paraṃtapa
 53 tataḥ saindhavako rājā drupadaṃ viśikhais tribhiḥ
     tāḍayām āsa samare sa ca taṃ pratyavidhyata
 54 tayoḥ samabhavad yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ sudāruṇam
     īkṣitṛprītijananaṃ śukrāṅgārakayor iva
 55 vikarṇas tu sutas tubhyaṃ suta somaṃ mahābalam
     abhyayāj javanair aśvais tato yuddham avartata
 56 vikarṇaḥ suta somaṃ tu viddhvā nākampayac charaiḥ
     suta somo vikarṇaṃ ca tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 57 suśarmāṇaṃ naravyāghraṃ cekitāno mahārathaḥ
     abhyadravat susaṃkruddhaḥ pāṇḍavārthe parākramī
 58 suśarmā tu mahārāja cekitānaṃ mahāratham
     mahatā śaravarṣeṇa vārayām āsa saṃyuge
 59 cekitāno 'pi saṃrabdhaḥ suśarmāṇaṃ mahāhave
     prācchādayat tam iṣubhir mahāmegha ivācalam
 60 śakuniḥ prativindhyaṃ tu parākrāntaṃ parākramī
     abhyadravata rājendra matto mattam iva dvipam
 61 yaudhiṣṭhiras tu saṃkruddhaḥ saubalaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     vyadārayata saṃgrāme maghavān iva dānavam
 62 śakuniḥ prativindhyaṃ tu pratividhyantam āhave
     vyadārayan mahāprājñaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 63 sudakṣiṇaṃ tu rājendra kāmbojānāṃ mahāratham
     śrutakarmā parākrāntam abhyadravata saṃyuge
 64 sudakṣiṇas tu samare sāhadeviṃ mahāratham
     viddhvā nākampayata vai mainākam iva parvatam
 65 śrutakarmā tataḥ kruddhaḥ kāmbojānāṃ mahāratham
     śarair bahubhir ānarchad darayann iva sarvaśaḥ
 66 irāvān atha saṃkruddhaḥ śrutāyuṣam amarṣaṇam
     pratyudyayau raṇe yatto yatta rūpataraṃ tataḥ
 67 ārjunis tasya samare hayān hatvā mahārathaḥ
     nanāda sumahan nādaṃ tat sainyaṃ pratyapūrayat
 68 śrutāyus tv atha saṃkruddhaḥ phālguneḥ samare hayān
     nijaghāna gadāgreṇa tato yuddham avartata
 69 vindānuvindāv āvantyau kuntibhojaṃ mahāratham
     sa senaṃ sa sutaṃ vīraṃ saṃsasajjatur āhave
 70 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma āvantyānāṃ parākramam
     yad ayudhyan sthirā bhūtvā mahatyā senayā saha
 71 anuvindas tu gadayā kuntibhojam atāḍayat
     kuntibhojas tatas tūrṇaṃ śaravrātair avākirat
 72 kuntibhojasutaś cāpi vindaṃ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ
     sa ca taṃ prativivyādha tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 73 kekayā bhrātaraḥ pañca gāndhārān pañca māriṣa
     sa sainyās te sa sainyāṃś ca yodhayām āsur āhave
 74 vīrabāhuś ca te putro vairāṭiṃ rathasattamam
     uttaraṃ yodhayām āsa vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     uttaraś cāpi taṃ ghoraṃ vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 75 cedirāṭ samare rājann ulūkaṃ samabhidravat
     ulūkaś cāpi taṃ bāṇair niśitair lomavāhibhiḥ
 76 tayor yuddhaṃ samabhavad ghorarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate
     dārayetāṃ susaṃkruddhāv anyonyam aparājitau
 77 evaṃ dvaṃdva sahasrāṇi rathavāraṇavājinām
     padātīnāṃ ca samare tava teṣāṃ ca saṃkulam
 78 muhūrtam iva tad yuddham āsīn madhuradarśanam
     tata unmattavad rājan na prājñāyata kiṃ cana
 79 gajo gajena samare rathī ca rathinaṃ yayau
     aśvo 'śvaṃ samabhipretya padātiś ca padātinam
 80 tato yuddhaṃ sudurdharṣaṃ vyākulaṃ samapadyata
     śūrāṇāṃ samare tatra samāsādya parasparam
 81 tatra devarṣayaḥ siddhāś cāraṇāś ca samāgatāḥ
     praikṣanta tad raṇaṃ ghoraṃ devāsuraraṇopamam
 82 tato danti sahasrāṇi rathānāṃ cāpi māriṣa
     aśvaughāḥ puruṣaughāś ca viparītaṃ samāyayuḥ
 83 tatra tatraiva dṛśyante rathavāraṇapattayaḥ
     sādinaś ca naravyāghra yudhyamānā muhur muhuḥ

SECTION XLIII

Sanjaya said,--"Beholding Dhananjaya then to take up once again (his) arrows and Gandiva, the mighty car-warriors (of the Pandava party) uttered a tremendous shout. And those heroes, viz., the Pandavas and the Somakas, and those who followed them, filled with joy, blew their sea-born conches. And drums, and Pesis, and Karkachas, and cow-horns were beaten and blown together, and the uproar made was very loud. And then, O ruler of men, there came the gods, with Gandharvas and the Pitris, and the hosts of Siddhas and Charanas, from desire of witnessing (the sight). And Rishis highly blessed came there in a body with him (Indra) of a hundred sacrifices at their head, for beholding that great slaughter. Then, O king, beholding the two armies, that looked like two oceans, ready for the encounter and continuously moving, the heroic king Yudhishthira, the Just, putting off his coat of mail and casting aside his excellent weapon and quickly descending from his car, with joined hands, proceeded on foot, eyeing the grandsire, with restrained speech, facing the east, towards the direction where the hostile host was (standing). 2 And
p. 99
seeing him proceed (thus), Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, speedily alighting from his car, followed him, accompanied by his (other) brothers. And the Lord Vasudeva also followed him behind. And the principal kings too (of his army), filled with anxiety, followed in the same path.
"Arjuna said, 'What is this act of thine, O king, that abandoning thy brothers, thou proceedest on foot, face eastwards, to the hostile host?'
"Bhimasena said, 'Where wilt thou go, O king of kings, having cast off thy coat of mail and weapons, towards the warriors of the foe cased in mail, and leaving thy brothers, O ruler of earth?'
"Nakula said, 'Thou art my eldest brother, O Bharata, (beholding) thee proceeding in this way, fear troubleth my bosom. Tell (us), whither wilt thou go?'
"Sahadeva said, 'When these hostile divisions, terrible and numerous, are here with whom we are to fight, whither dost thou go, O king, in the direction of our foes?'
Sanjaya continued, "Though thus addressed by his brothers, O son of Kuru's race, Yudhishthira of restrained speech said nothing but continued to proceed. Unto them (then), the high-souled Vasudeva of great wisdom smilingly said,--His object is known to me. Having paid his respects to all his superiors (such as) Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa, and Salya also, he will fight the foe. It is heard in histories of olden times that he who, having paid his respects according to the ordinance unto his preceptors, revered in years and his kinsmen, fighteth with those that are his superiors, is sure to obtain victory in battle. Even that is my opinion.--When Krishna was saying this, among the ranks of Dhritarashtra's son, a loud uproar of Alas, and Oh arose, but the other (army) remained perfectly still. Beholding Yudhishthira, the heroic warriors of Dhritarashtra's Son conversed with one another saying,--'This one is an infamous wretch of his race. It is plain that this king is coming in terror towards Bhishma's side. Yudhishthira, with his brothers, hath become a seeker after (Bhishma's) shelter. When Dhananjaya, however, is (his) protector, and Pandu's son Vrikodara, and Nakula, and Sahadeva also, why doth the (eldest) son of Pandu come (hither) in fear? Though celebrated in the world, this one, however, could never have been born in the Kshatriya order, since he is weak and his bosom is filled with fear (at the prospect) of battle.' Then those warriors all praised the Kauravas. And all of them, becoming rejoiced, with cheerful hearts waved their garments. And, O monarch, all the warriors there (then) censured Yudhishthira with all his brothers and along with Kesava too. Then the Kaurava army, having said Fie to Yudhishthira, soon again, O monarch, became perfectly still,--What will this king say? What will Bhishma say in reply? What will Bhima boastful of his powers in battle, (say), and what Krishna and Arjuna? What, indeed, hath (Yudhishthira) to say?--Great was the curiosity then, O king, of both the armies in respect of Yudhishthira. The king (meanwhile), penetrating the hostile array bristling with arrows and darts, proceeded quickly towards Bhishma, surrounded by his brothers. Seizing his feet with his two
p. 100
hands, the royal son of Pandu then said unto Santanu's son Bhishma who was there ready for battle, (these words).
"Yudhishthira said, 'I salute thee, O invincible one. With thee we will do battle. Grant (us) thy permission in that matter. Give (us) also (thy) blessing."
"Bhishma said, 'If, O lord of the earth, thou hadst not, in this battle come to me thus, I would have, O great king, cursed thee, O Bharata, for bringing about thy defeat. I am gratified (with thee), O son. Do battle, and obtain victory, O son of Pandu, What else may be desired by thee, obtain thou in battle. Solicit also the boon, O son of Pritha, which thou desirest to have from us. If it happens so, O great king, then defeat will not be thine. A man is the slave of wealth, but wealth is no one's slave. This is very true, O king. I have been bound by the Kauravas with (their) wealth. It is for this, O son of Kuru's race, that like a eunuch I am uttering these words, viz.,--Bound I am by the Kauravas with wealth. Battle excepted, what dost thou desire? 1'
"Yudhishthira said, 'O thou of great wisdom, do thou, desirous of my welfare, from day to day, consult my interests. Do battle, however for the sake of the Kauravas. Even this is always my prayer (to thee).'
"Bhishma said, 'O king, O son of Kuru's race, what aid can I render thee in this? I shall, of course, fight for (thy) foes. Tell me what thou hast to say.'
"Yudhishthira said, 'Therefore, O Sire, I ask thee, I bow to thee, O grandsire, how shall we, in battle, vanquish thee that art invincible? Tell me this that is for my benefit, if indeed, thou seest any good in it."
"Bhishma said, 'I do not, O son of Kunti, see the person who, even if he were the chief of the celestials himself, can defeat me in battle when I fight.'
"Yudhishthira said, 'My salutations to thee, O grandsire. Therefore, do I ask thee (this). Tell us how thy own death may be compassed by foes in battle.'
"Bhishma said, 'I do not see the person, O sire, who can vanquish me in battle. The time also of my death is not yet come to me once again."
Sanjaya continued,--"Then, O son of Kuru's race, Yudhishthira, once more saluting him, accepted Bhishma's words with a bend of his head. And that mighty-armed one then proceeded towards the car of the preceptor ( Drona) through the midst of all the soldiers who were eyeing him, accompanied by his brothers. Then saluting Drona and walking round him, the king spoke to that invincible warrior words that were for his own benefit. 2
p. 101
"Yudhishthira said, 'I ask thee, O invincible one, how I may fight without incurring sin, and how, with thy permission, O regenerate one, I may vanquish all my foes? 1
"Drona said, 'If, having resolved to fight, thou hadst not come to me (thus), I would have cursed thee. O king, for thy complete overthrow. I am, however, gratified, O Yudhishthira, and honoured by thee, O sinless one. I permit thee, fight and obtain victory. I will also fulfil thy wish. Say what thou hast to say. Under these circumstances, battle excepted, what dost thou wish? A man is the slave of wealth, but wealth is not one's slave. This is quite true, O king! Bound I have been with (their) wealth by the Kauravas! It is for this that like a eunuch I shall fight for the sake of the Kauravas. It is for this that like a eunuch I am uttering these words--Battle excepted, what dost thou wish? I shall fight for the sake of the Kauravas, but will pray for thy victory.' 2
"Yudhishthira said, 'Pray for my victory, O regenerate one, and counsel what is for my good. Fight, however, for the Kauravas. This is the boon solicited by me.'
"Drona said, 'Victory, O king, is certain for thee that hast Hari for thy counsellor. I (also) grant thee that thou wilt vanquish thy foes in battle. Thither where righteousness is, thither is Krishna, and thither where Krishna is, thither is victory. Go, fight, O son of Kunti! Ask me, what shall I say unto thee?'
"Yudhishthira said, 'I ask thee, O foremost of regenerate ones, listen to what I have to say. How shall we in battle vanquish thee that art invincible?'
"Drona said, 'As long as I will fight, so long victory can never be thine. (Therefore) O king, seek with thy brothers, for my speedy slaughter.'
"Yudhishthira said, 'Alas, for this, O thou of mighty arms, tell (us) the means of thy death. O preceptor, prostrating myself I ask thee this. (My) salutations to thee."
"Drona said, 'The foe, O sire, I see not who may slay me while standing in battle I am engaged in fight, with wrath excited, and scattering (my) arrowy showers continually. Except when addrest for death O king, having abandoned my arms and withdrawn (in Yoga meditation) from surrounding sights, none will be able to slay me. This that I tell thee is true. I also tell thee truly that I will cast off my arms in battle, having heard something very disagreeable from some one of credible speech.--'"
Sanjaya continued, "Hearing these words, O king, of the wise son of Bharadwaja, and honouring the preceptor, (Yudhishthira then) proceeded towards the son of Saradwat. And saluting Kripa and walking round him, O king, Yudhishthira, accomplished in speech, said these words unto that
p. 102
warrior of great valour.
"Yudhishthira said, 'Obtaining thy permission, O preceptor, I will fight without incurring sin, and permitted by thee, O sinless one, I will vanquish all (my) foes."
"Kripa said, 'If having resolved on fight, thou hadst not come to me (thus), I would have cursed thee, O king, for thy complete overthrow. A man is the slave of wealth, but wealth is no one's slave. This is very true, O king, and bound I have been with wealth by the Kauravas. I must, O king, fight for their sake. This is my opinion. I therefore, speak like a eunuch in asking thee,--Battle excepted, what dost thou desire?'
"Yudhishthira said, 'Alas, I ask thee, therefore., O preceptor, listen to my words.--Saying this, the king, greatly agitated and deprived of his sense, stood silent."
Sanjaya continued.--"Understanding, however, what he intended to say, Gautama (Kripa) replied to him, saying,--I am incapable of being slain, O king. Fight, and obtain victory. I am gratified with thy coming. Rising every day [from bed] I will pray for thy victory, O monarch. I say this to thee truly.--Hearing, O king, these words of Gautama, and paying him due honours, the king proceeded thither where the ruler of the Madra was. Saluting Salya and walking round him the king said unto that invincible warrior those words that were for his own benefit.
'Yudhishthira said,--'Obtaining thy permission, O invincible one, I will fight without incurring sin, and permitted by thee, O king, I will vanquish (my) valourous foes.' 1--
"Salya said, 'If, having resolved on fight, thou hadst not come to me (thus), I would have, O king, cursed thee for thy overthrow in battle. I am gratified (with thee) and honoured (by thee). Let it be as thou wishest. I grant thee permission, fight and obtain victory. Speak, O hero, for what hast thou any need? What shalt I give thee? Under these circumstances, O king, battle excepted, what dost thou desire? A man is the slave of wealth but wealth is no one's slave. This is true, O king. Bound I have been with wealth by the Kauravas, O nephew, it is for this that I am speaking to thee like a eunuch,--I will accomplish the desire thou mayst cherish. Battle excepted, what dost thou wish.'
"Yudhishthira said, 'Think, O king, daily of what is for my great good. Fight, according to thy pleasure, for the sake of the foe. This is the boon that I solicit.'
"Salya said, 'Under these circumstances, say, O best of kings what aid shall I render thee? I shall, of course, fight for the sake of (thy) enemy, for I have been made one of their party by the Kauravas with their wealth. 2
p. 103
"Yudhishthira said, 'Even that is my boon, O Salya, which was solicited by me during the preparations (for the fight). The energy of the Suta's son (Karna) should be weakened by thee in battle.'
"Salya said, 'This thy wish, O Yudhishthira, shall be accomplished, O son of Kunti. Go, fight according to thy pleasure. I shall look after thy victory."
'Sanjaya continued, "Having obtained the permission of his maternal uncle, the ruler of the Madra, the son of Kunti, surrounded by his brothers, came out of that vast army. Vasudeva then went to Radha's son on the field of battle. And the elder brother of Gada, for the sake of the Pandavas, then said to Karna,--It hath been heard by me, O Karna, that from hatred of Bhishma thou wilt not fight. Come to our side, O son of Radha, and (stay with us) as long as Bhishma is not slain. After Bhishma is slain, O son of Radha, thou mayst then again engage in battle on Duryodhana's side, if thou hast no preference for any of the parties.--'
"Karna said, 'I will not do anything that is disagreeable to Dhritarashtra's son, O Kesava. Devoted to Duryodhana's good, know that I have cast off my life (for him).--Hearing these words (of Karna), Krishna ceased, O Bharata, and reunited himself with the sons of Pandu headed by Yudhishthira. Then amid all the warriors the eldest son of Pandu, loudly exclaimed,--He who will choose us, him we shall choose for our ally!--Casting his eyes then upon them, Yuyutsu said these words, with a cheerful heart, unto Kunti's son king Yudhishthira the Just,--I will fight under thee in battle, for the sake of you all, with the sons of Dhritarashtra, if, O king, thou wilt accept me, sinless one.'
"Yudhishthira said, 'Come, come, all of us will fight with thy foolish brothers. O Yuyutsu, both Vasudeva and we all say to thee--I accept thee, O thou of mighty arms, fight for my cause. On thee rests, it seems, the thread of Dhritarashtra's line as also his funeral cake. O prince, O thou of great splendour, accept us that accept thee. The wrathful Duryodhana of wicked understanding will cease to live.'"
Sanjaya continued, 'Yuvutsu then, abandoning the Kurus thy sons, went over to the army of the Pandavas, with beat of drums and cymbals. Then king Yudhishthira of mighty arms, filled with joy, again put on his shining coat of mail of golden effulgence. And those bulls among men then mounted their respective cars. And they counter-arrayed their troops in battle-array as before. And they caused drums and cymbals in many hundreds to be sounded. And those bulls among men also set up diverse leonine roars. 1 And beholding those tigers among men, viz., the sons of Pandu, on their cars, the kings (on their side) with Dhrishtadyumna and others, once more set up shouts of joy. And beholding the nobility of the sons of Pandu who had paid due honour to those that were deserving of honour, all the kings there present applauded them highly. And the monarchs, talked with one another about the friendship, the compassion, and
p. 104
the kindness to kinsmen, displayed at the proper season by those high-souled personages. Excellent,--Excellent,--were the delightful words everywhere bruited about, coupled with eulogistic hymns about those famous men. And in consequence of this the minds and hearts of every one there were attracted towards them. And the Mlechchhas and the Aryas there who witnessed or heard of that behaviour of the sons of Pandu, all wept with choked voices. And those warriors then, endued with great energy, caused large drums and Pushkaras by hundreds upon hundreds to be sounded and also blew their conches all white as the milk of cows.'"

Book 6
Chapter 44

1 [s]
      rājañ śatasahasrāṇi tatra tatra tadā tadā
      nirmaryādaṃ prayuddhāni tat te vakṣyāmi bhārata
  2 na putraḥ pitaraṃ jajñe na pitā putram aurasam
      na bhrātā bhrātaraṃ tatra svasrīyaṃ na ca mātulaḥ
  3 mātulaṃ na ca svasrīyo na sakhāyaṃ sakhā tathā
      āviṣṭā iva yudhyante pāṇḍavāḥ kurubhiḥ saha
  4 rathānīkaṃ naravyāghrāḥ ke cid abhyapatan rathaiḥ
      abhajyanta yugair eva yugāni bharatarṣabha
  5 ratheṣāś ca ratheṣābhiḥ kūbarā rathakūbaraiḥ
      saṃhatā saṃhataiḥ ke cit parasparajighāṃsavaḥ
  6 na śekuś calituṃ ke cit saṃnipatya rathā rathaiḥ
      prabhinnās tu mahākāyāḥ saṃnipatya gajā gajaiḥ
  7 bahudhādārayan kruddhā viṣāṇair itaretaram
      sa tomarapatākaiś ca vāraṇāḥ paravāraṇaiḥ
  8 abhisṛtya mahārāja vegavadbhir mahāgajaiḥ
      dantair abhihatās tatra cukruśuḥ paramāturāḥ
  9 abhinītāś ca śikṣābhis tottrāṅkuśa samāhatāḥ
      suprabhinnāḥ prabhinnānāṃ saṃmukhābhimukhā yayuḥ
  10 prabhinnair api saṃsaktāḥ ke cit tatra mahāgajāḥ
     krauñcavan ninadaṃ muktvā prādravanta tatas tataḥ
 11 samyak praṇītā nāgāś ca prabhinnakaraṭā mukhāḥ
     ṛṣṭitomaranārācair nirviddhā varavāraṇāḥ
 12 vinedur bhinnamarmāṇo nipetuś ca gatāsavaḥ
     prādravanta diśaḥ ke cin nadanto bhairavān ravān
 13 gajānāṃ pādarakṣās tu vyūḍhoraskāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
     ṛṣṭibhiś ca dhanurbhiś ca vimalaiś ca paraśvadhaiḥ
 14 gadābhir musalaiś caiva bhiṇḍipālaiḥ sa tomaraiḥ
     āyasaiḥ parighaiś caiva nistriṃśair vimalaiḥ śitaiḥ
 15 pragṛhītaiḥ susaṃrabdhā dhāvamānās tatas tataḥ
     vyadṛśyanta mahārāja parasparajighāṃsavaḥ
 16 rājamānāś ca nistriṃśāḥ saṃsiktā naraśoṇitaiḥ
     pratyadṛśyanta śūrāṇām anyonyam abhidhāvatām
 17 avakṣiptāvadhūtānām asīnāṃ vīrabāhubhiḥ
     saṃjajñe tumulaḥ śabdaḥ patatāṃ paramarmasu
 18 gadāmusalarugṇānāṃ bhinnānāṃ ca varāsibhiḥ
     danti dantāv abhinnānāṃ mṛditānāṃ ca dantibhiḥ
 19 tatra tatra naraughāṇāṃ krośatām itaretaram
     śuśruvur dāruṇā vācaḥ pretānām iva bhārata
 20 hayair api hayārohāś cāmarāpīḍa dhāribhiḥ
     haṃsair iva mahāvegair anyonyam abhidudruvuḥ
 21 tair vimuktā mahāprāsā jāmbūnadavibhūṣaṇāḥ
     āśugā vimalās tīkṣṇāḥ saṃpetur bhujagopamāḥ
 22 aśvair agryajavaiḥ ke cid āplutya mahato rathān
     śirāṃsy ādadire vīrā rathinām aśvasādinaḥ
 23 bahūn api hayārohān bhallaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     rathī jaghāna saṃprāpya bāṇagocaram āgatān
 24 nagameghapratīkāśāś cākṣipya turagān gajāḥ
     pādair evāvamṛdnanta mattāḥ kanakabhūṣaṇāḥ
 25 pāṭyamāneṣu kumbheṣu pārśveṣv api ca vāraṇāḥ
     prāsair vinihatāḥ ke cid vineduḥ paramāturāḥ
 26 sāśvārohān hayān ke cid unmathya varavāraṇāḥ
     sahasā cikṣipus tatra saṃkule bhairave sati
 27 sāśvārohān viṣāṇāgrair utkṣipya turagān dvipāḥ
     rathaughān avamṛdnantaḥ sa dhvajān paricakramuḥ
 28 puṃstvād abhimadatvāc ca ke cid atra mahāgajāḥ
     sāśvārohān hayañ jaghnuḥ karaiḥ sa caraṇais tathā
 29 ke cid ākṣipya kariṇaḥ sāśvān api rathān karaiḥ
     vikarṣanto diśaḥ sarvāḥ samīyuḥ sarvaśabdagāḥ
 30 āśugā vimalās tīkṣṇāḥ saṃpetur bhujagopamāḥ
     narāśvakāyān nirbhidya lauhāni kavacāni ca
 31 nipetur vimalāḥ śaktyo vīrabāhubhir arpitāḥ
     maholkā pratimā ghorās tatra tatra viśāṃ pate
 32 dvīpicarmāvanaddhaiś ca vyāghracarma śayair api
     vikośair vimalaiḥ khaḍgair abhijaghnuḥ parān raṇe
 33 abhiplutam abhikruddham ekapārśvāvadāritam
     vidarśayantaḥ saṃpetuḥ khaḍgacarma paraśvadhaiḥ
 34 śaktibhir dāritāḥ ke cit saṃchinnāś ca paraśvadhaiḥ
     hastibhir mṛditāḥ ke cit kṣuṇṇāś cānye turaṃgamaiḥ
 35 rathanemi nikṛttāś ca nikṛttā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     vikrośanti narā rājaṃs tatra tatra sma bāndhavān
 36 putrān anye pitṝn anye bhrātṝṃś ca saha bāndhavaiḥ
     mātulān bhāgineyāṃś ca parān api ca saṃyuge
 37 vikīrṇāntrāḥ subahavo bhagnasakthāś ca bhārata
     bāhubhiḥ subhujācchinnaiḥ pārśveṣu ca vidāritāḥ
     krandantaḥ samadṛśyanta tṛṣitā jīvitepsavaḥ
 38 tṛṣṇā parigatāḥ ke cid alpasattvā viśāṃ pate
     bhūmau nipatitāḥ saṃkhye jalam eva yayācire
 39 rudhiraughapariklinnā kliśyamānāś ca bhārata
     vyanindan bhṛśam ātmānaṃ tava putrāṃś ca saṃgatān
 40 apare kṣatriyāḥ śūrāḥ kṛtavairāḥ parasparam
     naivaṃ śastraṃ vimuñcanti naiva krandanti māriṣa
     tarjayanti ca saṃhṛṣṭās tatra tatra parasparam
 41 nirdaśya daśanaiś cāpi krodhāt svadaśanac chadān
     bhrukuṭī kuṭilair vaktraiḥ prekṣante ca parasparam
 42 apare kliśyamānās tu vraṇārtāḥ śarapīḍitāḥ
     niṣkūjāḥ samapadyanta dṛḍhasattvā mahābalāḥ
 43 anye tu virathāḥ śūrā ratham anyasya saṃyuge
     prārthayānā nipatitāḥ saṃkṣuṇṇā varavāraṇaiḥ
     aśobhanta mahārāja puṣpitā iva kiṃśukāḥ
 44 saṃbabhūvur anīkeṣu bahavo bhairavasvanāḥ
     vartamāne mahābhīme tasmin vīravarakṣaye
 45 ahanat tu pitā putraṃ putraś ca pitaraṃ raṇe
     svasrīyo mātulaṃ cāpi svasrīyaṃ cāpi mātulaḥ
 46 sakhāyaṃ ca sakhā rājan saṃbandhī bāndhavaṃ tathā
     evaṃ yuyudhire tatra kuravaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
 47 vartamāne bhaye tasmin nirmaryāde mahāhave
     bhīṣmam āsādya pārthānāṃ vāhinī samakampata
 48 ketunā pañca tāreṇa tālena bharatarṣabha
     rājatena mahābāhur ucchritena mahārathe
     babhau bhīṣmas tadā rājaṃś candramā iva meruṇā

SECTION XLIV

Dhritarashtra said, 'When the divisions of both my side and the foe were thus arrayed, who struck first, the Kurus or the Pandavas?'
Sanjaya said, "Hearing those words of his (elder) brother, thy son Dussasana advanced with his troops, with Bhishma at their head, and the Pandavas also advanced with cheerful hearts, desiring battle with Bhishma, having Bhimasena at their head. Then leonine, shouts, and clamorous uproars and the noise of Krakachas, the blare of cow-horns, and the sound of drums and cymbals and tabors, arose in both armies. And the warriors of the foe rushed against us, and we also (rushed) against them with loud shouts. And the uproar (caused by this rush) was deafening. 1 The vast hosts of the Pandavas and the Dhartarashtras, in that awfully murderous encounter shook in consequence of that uproar of conches and cymbals, like forests shaken by the wind. 2 And the din made by those hosts teeming with kings, elephants, and steeds, rushing against one another in that evil hour, was as loud as that of oceans agitated by the tempest. And when that din, loud and causing the hair to stand on end, arose, the mighty-armed Bhimasena began to roar like a bull. And those roars of Bhimasena rose above the clamour of conches and drums, the grunts of elephants, and the leonine shouts of the combatants. Indeed, the shouts of Bhimasena transcended the noise made by the thousands of chargers neighing in (both) the armies. And hearing those shouts of Bhimasena who was roaring like the clouds, shouts that resembled the report of Sakra's thunder, thy warriors were filled with fear. And at those roars of the hero, the steeds and elephants all ejected urine and excreta like other animals at the roar of the lion. And roaring like a deep mass of clouds, and assuming an awful form, that hero frightened thy sons and fell upon them. 3 Thereupon the
p. 105
brothers, viz., thy sons Duryodhana, and Durmukha and Dussaha, and that mighty car-warrior Dussasana, and Durmarshana, O king, and Vivingsati, and Chitrasena, and the great car-warrior Vikarna and also Purumitra, and Jaya, and Bhoja, and the valorous son of Somadatta, shaking their splendid bows like masses of clouds exhibiting the lightning's flashes, and taking out (of their quivers) long arrows resembling snakes that have just cast off their sloughs, surrounded that mighty bowman rushing (towards them) covering him with flights of arrows like the clouds shrouding the sun. And the (five) sons of Draupadi, and the mighty car-warrior Saubhadra, 1 and Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, rushed against (those) Dhartarashtras, tearing them with whetted shafts like summits of mountains with the impetuous bolts of heaven. And in that first encounter characterised by the awful twang of bow-strings and their flapping against the leathern fences (of the warriors) 2 no combatant, either on thy side or that of the foe, turned back. And, O bull of Bharata's race, I beheld the lightness of hand of the disciples of Drona (in particular), who, shooting innumerable arrows, O king, always succeeded in hitting the mark. 3 And the twang of sounding bowstrings ceased not for a moment, and the blazing arrows shot through (the air) like meteors (falling) from the firmament. And all the other kings, O Bharata, stood like (silent) spectators witnessing that interesting and awful encounter of kinsmen. And then those mighty car-warriors, with wrath excited and remembering the injuries sustained at one another's hands, strove in battle, O king, challenging one another. And the two armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas, teeming with elephants, steeds and cars, looked exceedingly beautiful on the field of battle like painted figures on a canvas. And then the (other) kings all took up their bows. And the Sun himself was shrouded by the dust raised by the combatants. And they fell upon one another, at the heads of their (respective) troops, at the command of thy son. And the loud uproar made by the elephants and the chargers of those kings rushing to the combat, mingled with the leonine shouts of the combatants and the din made by the blare of conches and the sounds of drums. And the uproar of that ocean having arrows for its crocodiles, bows for its snakes, swords for its tortoises, and the forward leaps of the warriors for its tempest, resembled the din made by the (actual) ocean when agitated. And kings in thousands, commanded by Yudhishthira, with their (respective) troops fell upon the ranks of thy son. And the encounter between the combatants of the two hosts was fierce in the extreme. And no difference could be perceived between the combatants of our side or that of the foe, while battling, or retreating in broken array or rallying again to the fight. In that terrific
p. 106
and awful battle, thy father (Bhishma) shone, transcending that countless host.

Book 6
Chapter 45

 1 [s]
      gatapūrvāhṇabhūyiṣṭhe tasminn ahani dāruṇe
      vartamāne mahāraudre mahāvīra varakṣaye
  2 durmukhaḥ kṛtavarmā ca kṛpaḥ śalyo viviṃśatiḥ
      bhīṣmaṃ jugupur āsādya tava putreṇa coditāḥ
  3 etair atirathair guptaḥ pañcabhir bharatarṣabha
      pāṇḍavānām anīkāni vijagāhe mahārathaḥ
  4 cedikāśikarūṣeṣu pāñcāleṣu ca bhārata
      bhīṣmasya bahudhā tālaś caran ketur adṛśyata
  5 śirāṃsi ca tadā bhīṣmo bāhūṃś cāpi sahāyudhān
      nicakarta mahāvegair bhallaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
  6 nṛtyato rathamārgeṣu bhīṣmasya bharatarṣabha
      ke cid ārtasvaraṃ cakrur nāgā marmaṇi tāḍitāḥ
  7 abhimanyuḥ susaṃkruddhaḥ piśaṅgais turagottamaiḥ
      saṃyuktaṃ ratham āsthāya prāyād bhīṣmarathaṃ prati
  8 jāmbūnadavicitreṇa karṇikāreṇa ketunā
      abhyavarṣata bhīṣmaṃ ca tāṃś caiva rathasattamān
  9 sa tālaketos tīkṣṇena ketum āhatya patriṇā
      bhīṣmeṇa yuyudhe vīras tasya cānucaraiḥ saha
  10 kṛtavarmāṇam ekena śalyaṃ pañcabhir āyasaiḥ
     viddhvā navabhir ānarchac chitāgraiḥ prapitāmaham
 11 pūrṇāyatavisṛṣṭena samyak praṇihitena ca
     dhvajam ekena vivyādha jāmbūnadavibhūṣitam
 12 durmukhasya tu bhallena sarvāvaraṇabhedinā
     jahāra sāratheḥ kāyāc chiraḥ saṃnataparvaṇā
 13 dhanuś ciccheda bhallena kārtasvaravibhūṣitam
     kṛpasya niśitāgreṇa tāṃś ca tīkṣṇamukhaiḥ śaraiḥ
 14 jaghāna paramakruddho nṛtyann iva mahārathaḥ
     tasya lāghavam udvīkṣya tutuṣur devatā api
 15 labdhalakṣyatayā karṣṇeḥ sarve bhīṣma mukhā rathāḥ
     sattvavantam amanyanta sākṣād iva dhanaṃjayam
 16 tasya lāghavamārgastham alātasadṛśaprabham
     diśaḥ paryapatac cāpaṃ gāṇḍīvam iva ghoṣavat
 17 tam āsādya mahāvegair bhīṣmo navabhir āśugaiḥ
     vivyādha samare tūrṇam ārjuniṃ paravīrahā
 18 dhvajaṃ cāsya tribhir bhallaiś ciccheda paramaujasaḥ
     sārathiṃ ca tribhir bāṇair ajaghāna yatavrataḥ
 19 tathaiva kṛtavarmā ca kṛpaḥ śalyaś ca māriṣa
     viddhvā nākampayat kārṣṇiṃ mainākam iva parvatam
 20 sa taiḥ parivṛtaḥ śūro dhārtarāṣṭrair mahārathaiḥ
     vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi kārṣṇiḥ pañca rathān prati
 21 tatas teṣāṃ mahāstrāṇi saṃvārya śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ
     nanāda balavā kārṣṇir bhīṣmāya visṛjañ śarān
 22 tatrāsya sumahad rājan bāhvor balam adṛśyata
     yatamānasya samare bhīṣmam ardayataḥ śaraiḥ
 23 parākrāntasya tasyaiva bhīṣmo 'pi prāhiṇoc charān
     sa tāṃś ciccheda samare bhīṣmacāpacyutāñ śarān
 24 tato dhvajam amogheṣur bhīṣmasya navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     ciccheda samare vīras tata uccukruśur janāḥ
 25 sa rājato mahāskandhas tālo hemavibhūṣitaḥ
     saubhadra viśikhaiś chinnaḥ papāta bhuvi bhārata
 26 dhvajaṃ saubhadra viśikhaiḥ patitaṃ bharatarṣabha
     dṛṣṭvā bhīmo 'nadad dhṛṣṭaḥ saubhadram abhiharṣayan
 27 atha bhīṣmo mahāstrāṇi divyāni ca bahūni ca
     prāduścakre mahāraudraḥ kṣaṇe tasmin mahābalaḥ
 28 tataḥ śatasahasreṇa saubhadraṃ prapitāmahaḥ
     avākirad ameyātmā śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām
 29 tato daśa maheṣvāsāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ
     rakṣārtham abhyadhāvanta saubhadraṃ tvaritā rathaiḥ
 30 virāṭaḥ saha putreṇa dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
     bhīmaś ca kekayāś caiva sātyakiś ca viśāṃ pate
 31 javenāpatatāṃ teṣāṃ bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo raṇe
     pāñcālyaṃ tribhir ānarchat sātyakiṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 32 pūrṇāyatavisṛṣṭena kṣureṇa niśitena ca
     dhvajam ekana ciccheda bhīmasenasya patriṇā
 33 jāmbūnadamayaḥ ketuḥ kesarī narasattama
     papāta bhīmasenasya bhīṣmeṇa mathito rathāt
 34 bhīmasenas tribhir viddhvā bhīṣmaṃ śāṃtanavaṃ raṇe
     kṛpam ekena vivyādha kṛtavarmāṇam aṣṭabhiḥ
 35 pragṛhītāgra hastena vairāṭir api dantinā
     abhyadravata rājānaṃ madrādhipatim uttaraḥ
 36 tasya vāraṇarājasya javenāpatato rathī
     śalyo nivārayām āsa vegam apratimaṃ raṇe
 37 tasya kruddhaḥ sa nāgendro bṛhataḥ sādhu vāhinaḥ
     padā yugam adhiṣṭhāya jaghāna caturo hayān
 38 sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhan madrādhipatir āyasīm
     uttarānta karīṃ śaktiṃ cikṣepa bhujagopamām
 39 tayā bhinnatanu trāṇaḥ praviśya vipulaṃ tamaḥ
     sa papāta gajaskandhāt pramuktāṅkuśa tomaraḥ
 40 samādāya ca śalyo 'sim avaplutya rathottamāt
     vāraṇendrasya vikramya cicchedātha mahākaram
 41 bhinnamarmā śaravrātaiś chinnahastaḥ sa vāraṇaḥ
     bhīmam ārtasvaraṃ kṛtvā papāta ca mamāra ca
 42 etad īdṛśakaṃ kṛtvā madrarājo mahārathaḥ
     āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ bhāsvaraṃ kṛtavarmaṇaḥ
 43 uttaraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā vairāṭir bhrātaraṃ śubham
     kṛtavarmaṇā ca sahitaṃ dṛṣṭvā śalyam avasthitam
     śaṅkhaḥ krodhāt prajajvāla haviṣā havyavāḍ iva
 44 sa visphārya mahac cāpaṃ kārtasvaravibhūṣitam
     abhyadhāvaj jighāṃsan vai śalyaṃ madrādhipaṃ balī
 45 mahatā rathavaṃśena samantāt parivāritaḥ
     sṛjan bāṇamayaṃ varṣaṃ prāyāc chalya rathaṃ prati
 46 tam āpatantaṃ saṃprekṣya mattavāraṇavikramam
     tāvakānāṃ rathā sapta samantāt paryavārayan
     madrarājaṃ parīpsanto mṛtyor daṃṣṭrāntaraṃ gatam
 47 tato bhīṣmo mahābāhur vinadya jalado yathā
     tālamātraṃ dhanur gṛhya śaṅkham abhyadravad raṇe
 48 tam udyatam udīkṣyātha maheṣvāsaṃ mahābalam
     saṃtrastā pāṇḍavī senā vātavegahateva nauḥ
 49 tatrārjunaḥ saṃtvaritaḥ śaṅkhasyāsīt puraḥsaraḥ
     bhīṣmād rakṣyo 'yam adyeti tato yuddham avartata
 50 hāhākāro mahān āsīd yodhānāṃ yudhi yudhyatām
     tejas tejasi saṃpṛktam ity evaṃ vismayaṃ yayuḥ
 51 atha śalyo gadāpāṇir avatīrya mahārathāt
     śaṅkhasya caturo vāhān ahanad bharatarṣabha
 52 sa hatāśvād rathāt tūrṇaṃ khaḍgam ādāya vidrutaḥ
     bībhatsoḥ syandanaṃ prāpya tataḥ śāntim avindata
 53 tato bhīṣmarathāt tūrṇam utpatanti patatriṇaḥ
     yair antarikṣaṃ bhūmiś ca sarvataḥ samavastṛtam
 54 pāñcālān atha matsyāṃś ca kekayāṃś ca prabhadrakān
     bhīṣmaḥ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pātayām āsa mārgaṇaiḥ
 55 utsṛjya samare tūrṇaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ savyasācinam
     abhyadravata pāñcālyaṃ drupadaṃ senayā vṛtam
     priyaṃ saṃbandhinaṃ rājañ śarān avakiran bahūn
 56 agnineva pradagdhāni vanāni śiśirātyaye
     śaradagdhāny adṛśyanta sainyāni drupadasya ha
     atiṣṭhata raṇe bhīṣmo vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ
 57 madhyaṃdine yathādityaṃ tapantam iva tejasā
     na śekuḥ pāṇḍaveyasya yodhā bhīṣmaṃ nirīkṣitum
 58 vīkṣāṃ cakruḥ samantāt te pāṇḍavā bhayapīḍitāḥ
     trātāraṃ nādhyagacchanta gāvaḥ śītārditā iva
 59 hatavipradrute sainye nirutsāhe vimardite
     hāhākāro mahān āsīt pāṇḍusainyeṣu bhārata
 60 tato bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo nityaṃ maṇḍalakārmukaḥ
     mumoca bāṇān dīptāgrān ahīn āśīviṣān iva
 61 śarair ekāyanīkurvan diśaḥ sarvā yatavrataḥ
     jaghāna pāṇḍavarathān ādiśyādiśya bhārata
 62 tataḥ sainyeṣu bhagneṣu mathiteṣu ca sarvaśaḥ
     prāpte cāstaṃ dinakare na prājñāyata kiṃ cana
 63 bhīṣmaṃ ca samudīryantaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthā mahāhave
     avahāram akurvanta sainyānāṃ bharatarṣabha

SECTION XLV

Sanjaya said, "On the forenoon of that awful day, O king, the terrible battle that mangled the bodies of (so many) kings commenced. And the loud shouts, resembling leonine roars of the Kurus and the Srinjayas, both desirous of victory in battle, made both the welkin and the earth resound therewith. And a tumultuous uproar was heard mingled with the flaps of leathern fences and the blare of conches. And many were the leonine roars that rose there of men shouting against one another. And, O bull of Bharata's race, the sound of bowstrings stretched by (hands cased in) fences, the heavy tread of infantry, the furious neigh of chargers, the falling of sticks and iron hooks (on the beads of elephants), the clash of weapons, the jingle of bells of elephants rushing against one another, and the clatter of cars resembling the roar of clouds, mingled together, produced a loud uproar making one's hair stand on end. And all the Kuru warriors, reckless of their very lives and with cruel intentions, rushed, with standards upraised, against the Pandavas. And Santanu's son himself, taking up a terrible bow that resembled the rod of Death, rushed, O king, on the field of battle, against Dhananjaya. And Arjuna also, endued with great energy, taking up the bow Gandiva celebrated overall the world, rushed, on the field of battle, against Ganga's son. And both those tigers among the Kurus became desirous of slaying each other. The mighty son of Ganga however, piercing in battle the son of Pritha could not make him waver. And so, O king, the son of Pandu also could not make Bhishma waver in battle. And the mighty bowman Satyaki rushed against Kritavarman. And the battle between these two was fierce in the extreme and made the hair (of onlookers) stand on end. And Satyaki afflicted Kritavarman, and Kritavarman afflicted Satyaki, with loud shouts and each weakened the other. And pierced all over with arrows those mighty warriors shone like two blossoming Kinsukas in spring adorned with flowers. And the mighty bowman Abhimanyu battled with Vrihadvala. Soon, however, in that encounter, O king, the ruler of Kosala cut off the standard and overthrew the charioteer of Subhadra's son. The son of Subhadra then upon the overthrow of his charioteer, was filled with wrath and pierced Vrihadvala, O king, with nine shafts, and with a couple of sharp arrows that grinder of foes also cut off (Vrihadvala's) standard, and with one (more) cut off one of the protectors of his car-wheels and with the other his charioteer. 1 And those chastisers
p. 107
of foes continued to weaken each other with sharp arrows. And Bhimasena struggled in battle with thy son Duryodhana, that mighty car-warrior, proud and inflated, who had injured (the sons of Pandu). Both of those foremost (princes) among the Kurus, are tigers among men and mighty car-warriors. And they covered each other, on the field of battle, with their arrowy showers. And beholding those high-souled and accomplished warriors conversant with all modes of warfare, all creatures were filled with amazement of Bharata. And Dussasana, rushing against that mighty car-warrior Nakula, pierced him with many sharp arrows capable of penetrating into the very vitals. The son of Madri, then, laughing the while, cut off, with sharp arrows (of his), adversary's standard and bow, and then he struck him with five and twenty small-headed arrows. Thy son, however, then, who can with difficulty be vanquished, slew in that fierce encounter the steeds of Nakula and cut off his standard. And Durmukha rushing against the mighty Sahadeva battling in that terrific encounter, pierced him with a shower of arrows. The heroic Sahadeva then, in that fearful battle, overthrew Durmukha's charioteer with an arrow of great sharpness. Both of them, irrepressible in fight, approaching each other in combat, and each attacking the other and desirous of warding off the other's attack, began to strike terror into each other with terrible shafts. And king Yudhishthira himself encountered the ruler of the Madras. The chief of the Madras then in his very sight cut off in twain Yudhishthira's bow. Thereupon the son of Kunti, throwing aside that broken bow, took up another that was stronger and capable of imparting a greater velocity. The king then, with straight arrows, covered the ruler of the Madras, and in great wrath said, 'wait, wait'. And Dhrishtadyumna, O Bharata rushed against Drona. And Drona, then, in great wrath, cut off in that encounter the hard bow of the high-souled prince of Panchala that was capable of always taking the lives of foes. And at the same time he shot in that conflict a terrible arrow that was like a second rod of Death. And the arrow shot penetrated the body of the prince. Taking up then another bow and fourteen arrows, the son of Drupada pierced Drona in that encounter. And enraged with each other, they battled on fiercely. And the impetuous Sankha encountered Somadatta's son who was equally impetuous in battle and addressed him, O king, saying 'wait, wait'. And that hero then pierced his (adversary's) right arm in that combat. And thereupon the son of Somadatta struck Sankha on the shoulders. And the battle that ensued between those two proud heroes, O king, soon became as terrible as a combat between the gods and the Danavas. And that mighty car-warrior Dhrishtaketu of immeasurable soul, with wrath excited, rushed in battle, O king, against Valhika, the very embodiment of wrath. Valhika, then, O king, setting up a leonine roar, weakened the wrathful Dhrishtaketu with innumerable arrows. The king of the Chedis, however, exceedingly provoked, quickly pierced Valhika in that encounter with nine arrows. Like an infuriate elephant against an infuriate elephant, in that combat they roared against each other repeatedly, both exceedingly enraged. And they encountered
p. 108
each other with great wrath and looked like the planets Angaraka and Sukra. 1 And Ghatotkacha of cruel deeds encountered the Rakshasa Alamvusha of cruel deeds like Sakra (encountering) Vala in battle. And Ghatotkacha, O Bharata, pierced that infuriate and powerful Rakshasa with ninety keen-edged shafts. And Alamvusha also in that combat pierced the mighty son of Bhimasena in many places with straight arrows (of his). And mangled with arrows they shone in that encounter like the mighty Sakra and the powerful Vala in the combat (of old) between the celestials and the Asuras. The powerful Sikhandin, O king, rushed against Drona's son, Aswatthaman, however deeply piercing the angry Sikhandin stationed (before him) with a keen-edged shaft, caused him to tremble, Sikhandin also, O king, smote Drona's son with a sharp-whetted shaft of excellent temper. And they continued in that encounter to strike each other with various kinds of arrows. And against the heroic Bhagadatta in battle, Virata, the commander of a large division, rushed impetuously, O king, and then commenced (their) combat. Virata, exceedingly provoked, poured on Bhagadatta an arrowy shower like, O Bharata, the clouds showering rain on the mountain breast. But Bhagadatta, that lord of the earth, speedily enveloped Virata in that encounter (with arrows) like the clouds enveloping the risen sun. Kripa, the son of Saradwat, rushed against Vrihadkshatra, the ruler of the Kaikeyas. And Kripa, O Bharata, enveloped him with a shower of arrows. Vrihadkshatra also shrouded the infuriate son of Gautama with an arrowy downpour. And those warriors, then, having slain each other's steeds and cut off each other's bows, were both deprived of their cars. And exceedingly enraged, they then approached each other for fighting with their swords. And the combat which then took place between them was terrible in aspect and unparalleled. That chastiser of foes, king Drupada, then, in great wrath rushed against Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sindhus, cheerfully waiting (for battle). The ruler of the Sindhus pierced Drupada in that combat with three shafts, and Drupada pierced him in return. And the battle that took place between them was terrible and fierce, and productive of satisfaction in the hearts of all the spectators and resembling a conflict between the planets Sukra and Angaraka. And Vikarna, son to thee, with fleet steeds, rushed against the mighty Sutasoma and the combat between them commenced. Vikarna, however, although he pierced Sutasoma with many arrows, failed to make him waver. Neither could Sutasoma make Vikarna waver. And that appeared wonderful (to all). And against Susarman, that mighty car-warrior and tiger among men, viz., Chekitana of great prowess, rushed in exceeding wrath for the sake of the Pandavas. And Susarman also, O great king, in that encounter checked the advance of that mighty car-warrior Chekitana with plentiful shower of arrows. And Chekitana also, greatly provoked, showered on Susarman, in that terrible conflict, a shower of arrows like a mighty mass of clouds showering rain on the mountain
p. 109
breast. And Sakuni, endued with great prowess, rushed, O king, against Prativindhya 1 of great prowess, like a lion against an infuriate elephant. Thereupon the son of Yudhishthira, in exceeding wrath, mangled Suvala's son in that combat, with sharp arrows, like Maghavat 2 (mangling) a Danava. And Sakuni also, in that fierce conflict, pierced Prativindhya in return and mangled that warrior of great intelligence with straight arrows. And Srutakarman rushed in battle, O great king, against that mighty car-warrior Sudakshina of great prowess, the ruler of the Kamvojas. Sudakshina, however, O great king, piercing that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Sahadeva, failed to make him waver (for he stood) like the Mainaka mountain (against the assaults of Indra). Thereupon Srutakarman, exceedingly provoked, weakened that mighty car-warrior of the Kamvojas with innumerable arrows and mangled him in every part of his body. And Iravan, that chastiser of foes, in great wrath and exerting carefully, rushed in battle against the wrathful Srutayush. The powerful son of Arjuna, that mighty car-warrior, then slaying the steeds of his adversary, set up a loud roar, and thereupon, O king, all the warriors (who saw the feat) praised him greatly. And Srutasena also, exceedingly provoked, slew in that conflict the steeds of Falguni's son with a powerful mace, and the battle between them continued. And Vinda and Anuvinda, those two princes of Avanti, approached in battle that mighty car-warrior the heroic Kuntibhoja at the head of his troops accompanied by his son. And wonderful was the prowess we beheld of those two princes on that occasion, for they fought on very cooly though battling with a large body of troops. And Anuvinda hurled a mace at Kuntibhoja, but Kuntibhoja quickly covered him with a shower of arrows. And the son of Kuntibhoja pierced Vinda with many arrows, and the latter also pierced him in return. And the combat (between them) looked very wonderful. And the Kekaya brothers, O sire, at the head of their troops, encountered in battle the five Gandhara princes with their troops. And thy son Viravahu battled with that best of car-warriors Uttara, the son of Virata and pierced him with nine arrows. And Uttara also pierced that hero with sharp-edged arrows. And the ruler of the Chedis, O king, rushed in battle against Uluka. And he pierced Uluka with a shower of arrows, and Uluka also pierced him with sharp arrows furnished with excellent wing. And the combat that took place between them, O king, was fierce in the extreme, for unable to vanquish each other, they mangled each other terribly. And thus in that general engagement thousands of single combats took place between men on car, warriors on elephants and horsemen, and foot-soldiers, of their side and thine. For a short while only that engagement offered a beautiful sight. Soon, however, O king, it became furious and nothing could be discovered. In the battle (that ensued) elephants rushed against elephants, car-warriors against car-warriors, steed against steed and foot-soldier
p. 110
against foot-soldier. The conflict then became confused and fierce in the extreme, of heroes rushing against each other in the melee. And the celestial Rishi, and Siddhas and Charanas, that were present there, beheld that terrific battle to resemble the combat of the gods and the Asuras. And elephants in thousands, and cars also in thousands, and vast bodies of infantry, O sire, seemed to alter their character. 1 And, O tiger among men, it was seen that cars and elephants and steeds and infantry fought with each other repeatedly on the same places. 2

Book 6
Chapter 46

1 [s]
      kṛte 'vahāre sainyānāṃ prathame bharatarṣabha
      bhīṣme ca yudhi saṃrabdhe hṛṣṭe duryodhane tathā
  2 dharmarājas tatas tūrṇam abhigamya janārdanam
      bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitaḥ sarvaiḥ sarvaiś caiva janeśvaraiḥ
  3 śucā paramayā yuktaś cintayānaḥ parājayam
      vārṣṇeyam abravīd rājan dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasya vikramam
  4 kṛṣṇa paśya maheṣvāsaṃ bhīṣmaṃ bhīmaparākramam
      śarair dahantaṃ sainyaṃ me grīṣme kakṣam ivānalam
  5 katham enaṃ mahātmānāṃ śakṣyāmaḥ prativīkṣitum
      lelihyamānaṃ sainyaṃ me haviṣmantam ivānalam
  6 etaṃ hi puruṣavyāghraṃ dhanuṣmantaṃ mahābalam
      dṛṣṭvā vipradrutaṃ sainyaṃ madīyaṃ mārgaṇāhatam
  7 śakyo jetuṃ yamaḥ kruddho vajrapāṇiś ca saṃyuge
      varuṇaḥ pāśabhṛc cāpi kubero vā gadādharaḥ
  8 na tu bhīṣmo mahātejāḥ śakyo jetuṃ mahābalaḥ
      so 'ham evaṃgate magno bhīṣmāgādha jale 'lpavaḥ
  9 ātmano buddhidaurbalyād bhīṣmam āsādya keśava
      vanaṃ yāsyāmi govinda śreyo me tatra jīvitum
  10 na tv imān pṛthivīpālān dātuṃ bhīṣmāya mṛtyave
     kṣapayiṣyati senāṃ me kṛṣṇa bhīṣmo mahāstravit
 11 yathānalaṃ prajvalitaṃ pataṃgāḥ samabhidrutāḥ
     vināśāyaiva gacchanti tathā me sainiko janaḥ
 12 kṣayaṃ nīto 'smi vārṣṇeya rājyahetoḥ parākramī
     bhrātaraś caiva me vīrāḥ karśitāḥ śarapīḍitāḥ
 13 mṛt kṛte bhrātṛsauhārdād rājyād bhraṣṭās tathā sukhāt
     jīvitaṃ bahu manye 'haṃ jīvitaṃ hy adya durlabham
 14 jīvitasya hi śeṣeṇa tapas tapsyāmi duścaram
     na ghātayiṣyāmi raṇe mitrāṇīmāni keśava
 15 rathān me bahusāhasrān divyair astrair mahābalaḥ
     ghātayaty aniśaṃ bhīṣmaḥ pravarāṇāṃ prahāriṇām
 16 kiṃ nu kṛtvā kṛtaṃ me syād brūhi mādhava māciram
     madhyastham iva paśyāmi samare savyasācinam
 17 eko bhīmaḥ paraṃ śaktyā yudhyaty eṣa mahābhujaḥ
     kevalaṃ bāhuvīryeṇa kṣatradharmam anusmaran
 18 gadayā vīra ghātinyā yathotsāhaṃ mahāmanāḥ
     karoty asukaraṃ karma gajāśvarathapattiṣu
 19 nālam eṣa kṣayaṃ kartuṃ parasainyasya māriṣa
     ārjavenaiva yuddhena vīra varṣaśatair api
 20 eko 'stravit sakhā te 'yaṃ so 'py asmān samupekṣate
     nirdahyamānān bhīṣmeṇa droṇena ca mahātmanā
 21 divyāny astrāṇi bhīṣmasya droṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ
     dhakṣyanti kṣatriyān sarvān prayuktāni punaḥ punaḥ
 22 kṛṣṇa bhīṣmaḥ susaṃrabdhaḥ sahitaḥ sarvapārthivaiḥ
     kṣapayiṣyati no nūnaṃ yādṛśo 'sya parākramaḥ
 23 sa tvaṃ paśya maheṣvāsaṃ yogīṣvara mahāratham
     yo bhīṣmaṃ śamayet saṃkhye dāvāgniṃ jalado yathā
 24 tava prasādād govinda pāṇḍavā nihatadviṣaḥ
     svarājyam anusaṃprāptā modiṣyanti sa bāndhavāḥ
 25 evam uktvā tataḥ pārtho dhyāyann āste mahāmanāḥ
     ciram antar manā bhūtvā śokopahatacetanaḥ
 26 śokārtaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ jñātvā duḥkhena hatacetasam
     abravīt tatra govindo harṣayan sarvapāṇḍavān
 27 mā śuco bharataśreṣṭha na tvaṃ śocitum arhasi
     yasya te bhrātaraḥ śūrāḥ sarvalokasya dhanvinaḥ
 28 ahaṃ ca priyakṛd rājan sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ
     virāṭadrupadau vṛddhau dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
 29 tathaiva sabalāḥ sarve rājāno rājasattama
     tvatprasādaṃ pratīkṣante tvad bhaktāś ca viśāṃ pate
 30 eṣa te pārṣato nityaṃ hitakāmaḥ priye rataḥ
     senāpatyam anuprāpto dhṛṣṭadyumno mahābalaḥ
     śikhaṇḍī ca mahābāho bhīṣmasya nidhanaṃ kila
 31 etac chrutvā tato rājā dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ mahāratham
     abravīt samitau tasyāṃ vāsudevasya śṛṇvataḥ
 32 dhṛṣṭadyumna nibodhedaṃ yat tvā vakṣyāmi māriṣa
     nātikramyaṃ bhavet tac ca vacanaṃ mama bhāṣitam
 33 bhavān senāpatir mahyaṃ vāsudevena saṃmataḥ
     kārttikeyo yathā nityaṃ devānām abhavat purā
     tathā tvam api pāṇḍūnāṃ senānīḥ puruṣarṣabha
 34 sa tvaṃ puruṣaśārdūla vikramya jahi kauravān
     ahaṃ ca tvānuyāsyāmi bhīmaḥ kṛṣṇaś ca māriṣa
 35 mādrīputrau ca sahitau draupadeyāś ca daṃśitāḥ
     ye cānye pṛthivīpālāḥ pradhānāḥ puruṣarṣabha
 36 tata uddharṣayan sarvān dhṛṣṭadyumno 'bhyabhāṣata
     ahaṃ droṇāntakaḥ pārtha vihitaḥ śambhunā purā
 37 raṇe bhīṣmaṃ tathā droṇaṃ kṛpaṃ śalyaṃ jayadratham
     sarvān adya raṇe dṛptān pratiyotsyāmi pārthiva
 38 athotkruṣṭaṃ maheṣvāsaiḥ pāṇḍavair yuddhadurmadaiḥ
     samudyate pārthivendra pārṣate śatrusūdane
 39 tam abravīt tataḥ pārthaḥ pārṣataṃ pṛtanā patim
     vyūhaḥ krauñcāruṇo nāma sarvaśatrunibarhaṇaḥ
 40 yaṃ bṛhaspatir indrāya tadā devāsure 'bravīt
     taṃ yathāvat prativyūha parānīka vināśanam
     adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ rājānaḥ paśyantu kurubhiḥ saha
 41 tathoktaḥ sa nṛdevena viṣṇur vajrabhṛtā iva
     prabhāte sarvasainyānām agre cakre dhanaṃjayam
 42 ādityapathagaḥ ketus tasyādbhuta manoramaḥ
     śāsanāt puruhūtasya nirmito viśvakarmaṇā
 43 indrāyudhasavarṇābhiḥ patākābhir alaṃkṛtaḥ
     ākāśaga ivākāśe gandharvanagaropamaḥ
     nṛtyamāna ivābhāti rathacaryāsu māriṣa
 44 tena ratnavatā pārthaḥ sa ca gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
     babhūva paramopetaḥ svayambhūr iva bhānunā
 45 śiro 'bhūd drupado rājā mahatyā senayā vṛtaḥ
     kuntibhojaś ca caidyaś ca cakṣuṣy āstāṃ janeśvara
 46 dāśārṇakāḥ prayāgāś ca dāśreraka gaṇaiḥ saha
     anūpagāḥ kirātāś ca grīvāyāṃ bharatarṣabha
 47 paṭac caraiś ca huṇḍaiś ca rājan pauravakais tathā
     niṣādaiḥ sahitaś cāpi pṛṣṭham āsīd yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
 48 pakṣau tu bhīmasenaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
     draupadeyābhimanyuś ca sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ
 49 piśācā daradāś caiva puṇḍrāḥ kuṇḍī viṣaiḥ saha
     maḍakā kaḍakāś caiva taṅgaṇāḥ parapaṅgaṇāḥ
 50 bāhlikās tittirāś caiva colāḥ pāṇḍyāś ca bhārata
     ete janapadā rājan dakṣiṇaṃ pakṣam āśritāḥ
 51 agniveṣyā jagat tuṇḍā paladāśāś ca bhārata
     śabarās tumbupāś caiva vatsāś ca saha nākulaiḥ
     nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca vāmaṃ pārśvaṃ samāśritāḥ
 52 rathānām ayutaṃ pakṣau śiraś ca niyutaṃ tathā
     pṛṣṭham arbudam evāsīt sahasrāṇi ca viṃśatiḥ
     grīvāyāṃ niyutaṃ cāpi sahasrāṇi ca saptatiḥ
 53 pakṣakoṭiprapakṣeṣu pakṣānteṣu ca vāraṇāḥ
     jagmuḥ parivṛtā rājaṃś calanta iva parvatāḥ
 54 jaghanaṃ pālayām āsa virāṭaḥ saha kekayaiḥ
     kāśirājaś ca śaibyaś ca rathānām ayutais tribhiḥ
 55 evam etaṃ mahāvyūhaṃ vyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavāḥ
     sūryodayanam icchantaḥ sthitā yuddhāya daṃśitāḥ
 56 teṣām ādityavarṇāni vimalāni mahānti ca
     śvetac chatrāṇy aśobhanta vāraṇeṣu ratheṣu ca

SECTION XLVI

Sanjaya said,--"O king, I will now describe to thee the combats of hundreds and thousands of foot-soldiers. O Bharata, in utter forgetfulness of all consideration due to others. There the son recognised not the sire, the sire (recognised not) the son of his loins, the brother (recognised not) the brother, the sister's son (recognised not) the maternal uncle. The maternal uncle (recognised not) the sister's son, the friend not the friend. The Pandavas and the Kurus fought as if they were possessed by demons. Some tigers among men, fell with cars into pieces. And the shafts of cars broke clashing against shafts, and the spikes of car-yokes against spikes of car-yokes. And some (warriors) united together encountered others that were united together, all desirous of taking one another's life-And some cars, obstructed by cars, were unable to move. And huge-bodied elephants with rent temples, falling upon huge elephants, angrily tore one another in many places with their tusks. Others, O king, encountering impetuous and huge ones of their species with arched edifices and standards (on their backs) and trained to the fight struck with their tusks, shrieked in great agony. 3 Disciplined by training and urged on by pikes and hooks, elephants not in rut rushed straight against those that were in rut. 4 And some huge elephants, encountering compeers in rut, ran, uttering cries
p. 111
like those of cranes, in all directions. And many huge elephants, well-trained, and with juice trickling down from rent temples and mouth, mangle with swords, lances, and arrows, and pierced in their vital parts, shrieked aloud and falling down expired. And some, uttering frightful cries, ran in all directions. The foot-soldiers that protected the elephants, endued with broad chests, and capable of smiting effectually, with wrath excited, and armed with pikes and bows, and bright battle-axes, and with maces and clubs, and short arrows, and lances, and with shafts, and stout bludgeons mounted with iron spikes and swords, well-grasped of the brightest polish, ran hither and thither, O king, and seemed resolved to take one another's life. And the sabres of brave combatants rushing against one another steeped in human blood, seemed to shine brightly. And the whiz of swords whirled and made to descend by heroic arms and falling upon the vital parts (of the bodies) of foes, became very loud. And the heart-ending wails of combatants in multitudinous hosts, crushed with maces and clubs, and cut off with well-tempered swords, and pierced with the tusks of elephants, and grained by tuskers, calling upon one another, were heard, O Bharata, to resemble the wails of those that are doomed to hell. And horsemen, on chargers of exceeding speed and furnished with outstretched tails resembling (the Plumes of) swans, rushed against one another. And hurled by them, long-bearded darts adorned with pure gold, fleet, and polished, and sharp-pointed, fell like snakes. 1 And some heroic horsemen, on coursers of speed, leaping high, cut off the heads of car-warriors from their cars. 2 And (here and there) a car-warrior, getting bodies of cavalry within shooting distance, slew many with straight shafts furnished with heads. And many infuriate elephants adorned with trapping of gold, and looking like newly-risen clouds, throwing down steed, crushed them with their own legs. And some elephants struck on their frontal globes and flanks, and mangled by means of lances, shrieked aloud in great agony. And many huge elephants, in the bewildering of the melee, crushing steeds with their riders, threw them down. And some elephants, overthrowing with the points of their tusks, steeds with their riders, wandered, crushing cars with their standards. And some huge male elephants, from excess of energy and with the temporal juice gushing down in large quantities, slew steeds along with their riders by means of their trunks and legs. Fleet arrows polished and sharp-pointed and resembling snakes fell upon the heads, the temples, the flanks, and the limbs of elephants. And polished javelins of terrible mien, and looking like large meteoric flashes, hurled by heroic arms, felt hither and thither, O king, piercing through the bodies of men and horses, and cutting through coats of mail. And many taking out their polished sabres from sheaths made of the skins of leopards and tigers, slew the combatants opposed to them in battle. And many warriors, though themselves attacked and had the flanks of their bodies cut open, yet angrily
p. 112
fell upon (their foes) with swords, shields and battle-axes. And some elephants dragging down and overthrowing cars with their steeds by means of their trunks, began to wander in all directions, guided by the cries of those behind them. And hither and thither some pierced by javelins, and some cut asunder by battle-axes, and some crushed by elephants and others trod down by horses, and some cut by car-wheels, and some by axes, loudly called upon their kinsmen, O king. And some called upon their sons, and some upon their sires, and some upon brother and kinsmen. And some called upon their maternal uncles, and some upon their sister's sons. And some called upon others, on the field of battle. And a very large number of combatants, O Bharata, lost their weapons, or had their thighs broken. And other with arms torn off or sides pierced or cut open, were seen to wail aloud, from desire of life. And some, endued with little strength, tortured by thirst, O king, and lying on the field of battle on the bare ground, asked for water. And some, weltering in pools of blood and excessively weakened, O Bharata, greatly censured themselves and thy sons assembled together for battle. And there were brave Kshatriyas, who having injured one another, did not abandon their weapons or set up any wails, O sire, On the other hand, lying in those places where they lay, roared with joyful hearts, and biting from wrath with their teeth their own lips, looked at one another with faces rendered fierce in consequence of the contraction of their eyebrows. And others endued with great strength and tenacity in great pain, afflicted by arrows and smarting under their wounds, remained perfectly silent. And other heroic car-warriors, deprived, in the encounter, of their own cars and thrown down and wounded by huge elephants, asked to be taken up on the cars of others. And many, O king, looked beautiful in their wounds like blossoming Kinsukas. And in all the divisions were heard terrific cries, countless in number. And in that awful combat destructive of heroes, the sire slew the son, the son slew the sire, the sister's son slew the maternal uncle, the maternal uncle slew the sister's son, friend slew friend, and relatives slew kinsmen. Even thus the slaughter took place in that encounter of the Kurus with the Pandavas. And in that frightful and terrible battle in which no consideration was shown (by anybody for anybody), the divisions of the Pandavas, approaching Bhishma, began to waver. And, O bull of Bharata's race, the mighty-armed Bhishma, O king, with his standard which was made of silver and graced with the device of the palmyra with five stars, setting upon his great car, shone like the lunar orb under the peak of Meru."

Book 6
Chapter 47

1 [s]
      krauñcaṃ tato mahāvyūham abhedyaṃ tanayas tava
      vyūḍhaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahāghoraṃ pārthenāmita tejasā
  2 ācāryam upasaṃgamya kṛpaṃ śalyaṃ ca māriṣa
      saumadattiṃ vikarṇaṃ ca aśvatthāmānam eva ca
  3 duḥśāsanādīn bhrātṝṃś ca sa sarvān eva bhārata
      anyāṃś ca subahūñ śūrān yuddhāya samupāgatān
  4 prāhedaṃ vacanaṃ kāle harṣayaṃs tanayas tava
      nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve śastrāstravedinaḥ
  5 ekaikaśaḥ samarthāhi yūyaṃ sarve mahārathāḥ
      pāṇḍuputrān raṇe hantuṃ sa sainyān kim u saṃhatāḥ
  6 aparyāptaṃ tad asmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam
      paryāptaṃ tv idam eteṣāṃ balaṃ pārthiva sattamāḥ
  7 saṃsthānāḥ śūrasenāś ca veṇikāḥ kukurās tathā
      ārevakās trigartāś ca madrakā yavanās tathā
  8 śatruṃjayena sahitās tathā duḥśāsanena ca
      vikarṇena ca vīreṇa tathā nandopanandakaiḥ
  9 citrasenena sahitāḥ sahitāḥ pāṇibhadrakaiḥ
      bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu saha sainyapuraskṛtāḥ
  10 tato droṇaś ca bhīṣmaś ca tava putraś ca māriṣa
     avyūhanta mahāvyūhaṃ pāṇḍūnāṃ pratibādhane
 11 bhīṣmaḥ sainyena mahatā samantāt parivāritaḥ
     yayau prakarṣan mahatīṃ vāhinīṃ surarāḍ iva
 12 tam anvayān maheṣvāso bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
     kuntalaiś ca daśārṇaiś ca māgadhaiś ca viśāṃ pate
 13 vidarbhair mekalaiś caiva karṇaprāvaraṇair api
     sahitāḥ sarvasainyena bhīṣmam āhavaśobhinam
 14 gāndhārāḥ sindhusauvīrāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ
     śakuniś ca svasainyena bhāradvājam apālayat
 15 tato duryodhano rājā sahitaḥ sarvasodaraiḥ
     aśvātakair vikarṇaiś ca tathā śarmila kosalaiḥ
 16 daradaiś cūcupaiś caiva tathā kṣudrakamālavaiḥ
     abhyarakṣata saṃhṛṣṭaḥ saubaleyasya vāhinīm
 17 bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ śalyo bhagadattaś ca māriṣa
     vindānuvindāv āvantyau vāmaṃ pārśvam apālayan
 18 saumadattiḥ suśarmā ca kāmbojaś ca sudakṣiṇaḥ
     śatāyuś ca śrutāyuś ca dakṣiṇaṃ pārśvam āsthitāḥ
 19 aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ
     mahatyā senayā sārdhaṃ senā pṛṣṭhe vyavasthitāḥ
 20 pṛṣṭhagopās tu tasyāsan nānādeśyā janeśvarāḥ
     ketumān vasu dānaś ca putraḥ kāśyasya cābhibhūḥ
 21 tatas te tāvakāḥ sarve hṛṣṭā yuddhāya bhārata
     dadhmuḥ śaṅkhān mudā yuktāḥ siṃhanādāṃś ca nādayan
 22 teṣāṃ śrutvā tu hṛṣṭānāṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
     siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān
 23 tataḥ śaṅkhāś ca bheryaś ca peśyaś ca vividhāḥ paraiḥ
     ānakāś cābhyahanyanta sa śabdas tumulo 'bhavat
 24 tataḥ śvetair hayair yukte mahati syandane sthitau
     pradadhmatuḥ śaṅkhavarau hemaratnapariṣkṛtau
 25 pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
     pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ
 26 anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau
 27 kāśirājaś ca śaibyaś ca śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ
     dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaś ca sātyakiś ca mahāyaśāḥ
 28 pāñcālyaś ca maheṣvāso draupadyāḥ pañca cātmajāḥ
     sarve dadhmur mahāśaṅkhān siṃhanādāṃś ca nedire
 29 sa ghoṣaḥ sumahāṃs tatra vīrais taiḥ samudīritaḥ
     nabhaś ca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayat
 30 evam ete mahārāja prahṛṣṭāḥ kurupāṇḍavāḥ
     punar yuddhāya saṃjagmus tāpayānāḥ parasparam

SECTION XLVII

Sanjaya said,--"After the great part of the forenoon of that awful day had worn out, in that terrific engagement, O king, that was (so) destructive
p. 113
of foremost of men 1, Durmukha and Kritavarman, and Kripa, and Salya, and Vivinsati, urged by thy son, approached Bhishma and began to protect him. And protected by those five mighty car-warriors. O bull of Bharata's race, that great car-warrior penetrated the Pandava host. And the palmyra standard of Bhishma was seen to glide continually, O Bharata, through the Chedis, the Kasis, the Karushas, and the Panchalas. And that hero, with broad-headed shafts of great swiftness which were again perfectly straight, cut off the heads (of foes) and their cars with yokes and standards. And, O bull of Bharata's race, Bhishma seemed to dance on his car as it coursed along its track. And some elephants, struck (by him) in their vital parts, shrieked in agony. Then Abhimanyu in great wrath, stationed on his car unto which were yoked excellent steeds of a tawny hue, rushed towards Bhishma's car. And with his standard adorned with pure gold and resembling a Karnikara tree, he approached Bhishma and those (five) foremost of car-warriors. And striking with a keen-edged shaft the standard of the palmyra-bannered (warrior), that hero engaged in battle with Bhishma and those other car-warriors that protected him. 2 Piercing Kritavarman with one arrow, and Salya with five, he weakened his great-grandsire with nine arrows. And with one arrow well shot from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch, he cut off (his adversary's) standard adorned with pure gold. And with one broad-headed shaft capable of penetrating every cover, which was perfectly straight, he cut off from his body the head of Durmukha's charioteer. And with another keen-edged arrow he cut in twain the gold-decked bow of Kripa. And them also, with many sharp-pointed shafts, that mighty car-warrior smote in great wrath, seeming to dance (the while). And beholding his lightness of hand, the very gods were gratified. And in consequence of Abhimanyu's sureness of aim, all the car-warriors headed by Bhishma regarded him to be possessed of the capacity of Dhananjaya himself. 3 And his bow, emitting a twang like that of Gandiva, while stretched and re-stretched, seemed to revolve like a circle of fire. 4 Bhishma then, that slayer of hostile heroes, rushing on him impetuously, speedily pierced the son of Arjuna in that combat with nine arrows. And he also, with three broad-headed shafts, cut off the standard of that warrior of great energy. Of rigid vows, Bhishma also struck his (adversary's) charioteer. And Kritavarman, and Kripa, and Salya also, O sire, piercing Arjuna's son, all failed to make him waver, for he stood firm like the Mainaka mountain. And the heroic son of Arjuna, though surrounded by those mighty car-warriors of the Dhartarashtra army, still showered on those five car-warriors arrowy
p. 114
downpours. And baffling their mighty weapons by his arrowy showers, and pouring on Bhishma his shafts, the powerful son of Arjuna set up loud shout. And struggling in the battle thus and afflicting Bhishma with (his) arrows, the strength we saw of his arms then was very great. But though endued with such prowess Bhishma also shot his arrows at him. But he cut off in that combat the arrows shot from Bhishma's bow. And then that heroic warrior of arrows that were never lost, cut off with nine arrows, in that combat, the standard of Bhishma. And at that feat the people there set up a loud shout. Decked with jewels and made of silver, that tall standard bearing the device of the palmyra, cut off, O Bharata, by the shafts of Subhadra's son, fell down on the earth. And beholding, O bull of Bharata's race, that standard failing in consequence of the shafts of Subhadra's son, the proud Bhima set up a loud shout for cheering the son of Subhadra. Then in fierce combat, the mighty Bhishma caused many celestial weapons of great efficacy to appear. And the great grandsire of immeasurable soul then covered Subhadra's son with thousands of arrows. And at this, ten great bowmen and mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, quickly rushed on their cars for protecting the son of Subhadra. And those were Virata with his son, and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, and Bhima, the five Kekaya brothers, and Satyaki also, O king. And as they were falling upon him with great impetuosity, Bhishma the son of Santanu, in that conflict, pierced the prince of Panchala with three arrows, and Satyaki with ten. And with one winged arrow, whetted and sharp-edged as a razor, and shot from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch, he cut off the standard of Bhimasena. And, O best of men, the standard of Bhimasena, made of gold and bearing the device of a lion, cut off by Bhishma, fell from the car. And Bhima then, piercing Santanu's son Bhishma in that combat with three arrows, pierced Kripa with one, and Kritavarman with eight. And Uttara also, the son of Virata, on a tusker with upraised trunk, rushed against the ruler of the Madras. Salya, however, succeeded in checking the unparalleled impetuosity of that prince of elephants rushing quickly towards his car. That prince of elephants, in great wrath, placing his leg upon the yoke of (Salya's) car, killed his four large steeds of excellent speed. The ruler of the Madras then, staying on that car whose steeds had been slain, hurled a dart, all made of iron, and resembling a snake, for slaying Uttara outright. The latter's coat of mail being cut through by that dart, he became totally deprived of his senses and fell down from his elephant's neck, with the hook and the lance loosened from his grasp. And Salya then, taking up his sword and jumping down from his excellent car, and putting forth his prowess, cut off the large trunk of that prince of elephants. His coat of mail pierced all over with a shower of arrows, and his trunk cut off, that elephant uttered a loud shriek and fell down and expired. Achieving such a feat, O king, the ruler of the Madras speedily mounted on the splendid car of Kritavarman. And beholding his brother Uttara slain and seeing Salya staying with Kritavarman, Virata's son Sweta blazed up in wrath, like fire (blazing up) with clarified butter. And that mighty warrior, stretching
p. 115
his large bow that resembled the bow of Sakra himself, rushed with the desire of slaying Salya the ruler of the Madras. Surrounded on all sides with a mighty division of cars, he advanced towards Salya's car pouring an arrowy shower. And beholding him rush to the fight with prowess equal to that of an infuriate elephant, seven car-warriors of thy side surrounded him on all sides, desirous of protecting the ruler of Madras who seemed to be already within the jaws of Death. And those seven warriors were Vrihadvala the ruler of the Kosalas, and Jayatsena of Magadha, and Rukmaratha, O king, who was the valourous son of Salya, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Sudakshina the king of the Kamvojas, and Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sindhus and the kinsman of Vrihadkshatra. And the stretched bows of those high-souled warriors, decorated with diverse colours, looked like the lightning's flashes in the clouds. And they all poured on Sweta's head ceaseless showers of arrows like the clouds tossed by the wind dropping rain on the mountain breast on the expiry of summer. That mighty bowman and commander of the forces, enraged at this, with seven broad-headed arrows of great impetuosity, struck their bows, and then continued to grind them. And those bows we saw were cut off, O Bharata, and thereupon they all took up, within half the time taken up in a wink of the eye, other bows. And they then shot at Sweta seven arrows. And once again that mighty-armed warrior of immeasurable soul, with seven fleet shafts, cut off those (other) bows of these bowmen. Those warriors then, whose large bows had been cut off, those mighty car-warriors swelling (with rage), grasping (seven) darts, set up a loud shout. And, O chief of the Bharatas, they hurled those seven darts at Sweta's car. And those blazing darts which coursed (through the air) like large meteors, with the sound of thunder, were all cut off, before they could reach him, that warrior conversant with mighty weapons, by means of seven broad-headed arrows. Then taking up an arrow capable of penetrating into every part of the body, he shot it, O chief of the Bharatas, at Rukmaratha. And that mighty arrow, surpassing (the force of) the thunder-bolt, penetrated into the latter's body. Then, O king, forcibly struck by that arrow, Rukmaratha sat down on the terrace of his car and fell into a deadly swoon. His charioteer then, without betraying any fear, bore him away, senseless and in a swoon, in the very sight of all. Then taking up six other (arrows) adorned with gold, the mighty-armed Sweta cut off the standard-tops of his six adversaries. And that chastiser of foes then, piercing their steeds and charioteers also, and covering those six warriors themselves with ceaseless shafts, proceeded towards the car of Salya. And beholding that generalissimo of the (Pandava) forces proceeding quickly towards Salya's car, a loud uproar of oh and alas arose in thy army, O Bharata. Then thy mighty son, with Bhishma at the head, and supported by heroic warriors and many troops, proceeded towards Sweta's car. 1 And he (thus) rescued the ruler of the
p. 116
[paragraph continues] Madras who had already entered the jaws of Death. And then commenced a battle, terrific and making the hair stand on end, between thy troops and those of the enemy, in which cars and elephants all got mixed up in confusion. And upon Subhadra's son and Bhimasena, and that mighty car-warrior Satyaki, and upon the ruler of the Kekayas, and Virata, and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishatas' race, and upon the Chedi troops, the old Kuru grandsire poured showers of arrows. 1

Book 6
Chapter 48

1 [dhṛ]
      evaṃ vyūḍheṣv anīkeṣu māmakeṣv itareṣu ca
      kathaṃ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhāḥ saṃprahāraṃ pracakrire
  2 [s]
      samaṃ vyūḍheṣv anīkeṣu saṃnaddhā ruciradhvajāḥ
      apāram iva saṃdṛśya sāgarapratimaṃ balam
  3 teṣāṃ madhye sthito rājā putro duryodhanas tava
      abravīt tāvakān sarvān yudhyadhvam iti daṃśitāḥ
  4 te manaḥ krūram āsthāya samabhityaktajīvitāḥ
      pāṇḍavān abhyavartanta sarva evocchritadhvajāḥ
  5 tato yuddhaṃ samabhavat tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
      tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca vyatiṣakta rathadvipam
  6 muktās tu rathibhir bāṇā rukmapuṅkhāḥ sutejanāḥ
      saṃnipetur akuṇṭhāgrā nāgeṣu ca hayeṣu ca
  7 tathā pravṛtte saṃgrāme dhanur udyamya daṃśitaḥ
      abhipatya mahābāhur bhīṣmo bhīmaparākramaḥ
  8 saubhadre bhīmasene ca śauneye ca mahārathe
      kekaye ca virāte ca dhṛṣṭadyumne ca pārṣate
  9 eteṣu naravīreṣu cedimatsyeṣu cābhitaḥ
      vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi vṛddhaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ
  10 prākampata mahāvyūhas tasmin vīra samāgame
     sarveṣām eva sainyānām āsīd vyatikaro mahān
 11 sādita dhvajanāgāś ca hatapravara vājinaḥ
     viprayātarathānīkāḥ samapadyanta pāṇḍavāḥ
 12 arjunas tu naravyāghro dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmaṃ mahāratham
     vārṣṇeyam abravīt kruddho yāhi yatra pitāmahaḥ
 13 eṣa bhīṣmaḥ susaṃkruddho vārṣṇeya mama vāhinīm
     nāśayiṣyati suvyaktaṃ duryodhana hite rataḥ
 14 eṣa droṇaḥ kṛpaḥ śalyo vikarṇaś ca janārdana
     dhārtarāṣṭrāś ca sahitā duryodhana purogamāḥ
 15 pāñcālān nihaniṣyanti rakṣitā dṛḍhadhanvanā
     so 'haṃ bhīṣmaṃ gamiṣyāmi sainyahetor janārdana
 16 tam abravīd vāsudevo yatto bhava dhanaṃjaya
     eṣa tvā prāpaye vīra pitāmaha rathaṃ prati
 17 evam uktvā tataḥ śaurī rathaṃ taṃ lokaviśrutam
     prāpayām āsa bhīṣmāya rathaṃ prati janeśvara
 18 cañcad bahu patākena balākā varṇavājinā
     samucchritamahābhīma nadad vānaraketunā
     mahatā meghanādena rathenādityavarcasā
 19 vinighnan kauravānīkaṃ śūrasenāṃś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     āyāc charān nudañ śīghraṃ suhṛc choṣa vināśanaḥ
 20 tam āpatantaṃ vegena prabhinnam iva vāraṇam
     trāsayānaṃ raṇe śūrān pātayantaṃ ca sāyakaiḥ
 21 saindhava pramukhair guptaḥ prācya sauvīrakekayaiḥ
     sahasā pratyudīyāya bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo 'rjunam
 22 ko hi gāṇḍīvadhanvānam anyaḥ kurupitāmahāt
     droṇa vaikartanābhyāṃ vā rathaḥ saṃyātum arhati
 23 tato bhīṣmo mahārāja kauravāṇāṃ pitāmahaḥ
     arjunaṃ sapta saptatyā nārācānāṃ samāvṛṇot
 24 droṇaś ca pañcaviṃśatyā kṛpaḥ pañcāśatā śaraiḥ
     duryodhanaś catuḥṣaṣṭyā śalyaś ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
 25 saindhavo navabhiś cāpi śakuniś cāpi pañcabhiḥ
     vikarṇo daśabhir bhallai rājan vivyādha pāṇḍavam
 26 sa tair viddho maheṣvāsaḥ samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     na vivyathe mahābāhur bhidyamāna ivācalaḥ
 27 sa bhīṣmaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṛpaṃ ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     droṇaṃ ṣaṣṭyā naravyāghro vikarṇaṃ ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
 28 ārtāyaniṃ tribhir bāṇai rājānaṃ cāpi pañcabhiḥ
     pratyavidhyad ameyātmā kirīṭī bharatarṣabha
 29 taṃ sātyakir virāṭaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
     draupadeyābhimanyuś ca parivavrur dhanaṃjayam
 30 tato droṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ gāṅgeyasya priye ratam
     abhyavarṣata pāñcālyaḥ saṃyuktaḥ saha somakaiḥ
 31 bhīṣmas tu rathināṃ śreṣṭhas tūrṇaṃ vivyādha pāṇḍavam
     aśītyā niśitair bāṇais tato 'krośanta tāvakāḥ
 32 teṣāṃ tu ninadaṃ śrutvā prahṛṣṭānāṃ prahṛṣṭavat
     praviveśa tato madhyaṃ rathasiṃhaḥ pratāpavān
 33 teṣāṃ tu rathasiṃhānāṃ madhyaṃ prāpya dhanaṃjayaḥ
     cikrīḍa dhanuṣā rājaṁl lakṣyaṃ kṛtvā mahārathān
 34 tato duryodhano rājā bhīṣmam āha janeśvaraḥ
     pīḍyamānaṃ svakaṃ sainyaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthena saṃyuge
 35 eṣa pāṇḍusutas tāta kṛṣṇena sahito balī
     yatatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ mūlaṃ naḥ parikṛntati
     tvayi jīvati gāṅgeye droṇe ca rathināṃ vare
 36 tvatkṛte hy eṣa karṇo 'pi nyastaśastro mahārathaḥ
     na yudhyati raṇe pārthaṃ hitakāmaḥ sadā mama
 37 sa tathā kuru gāṅgeya yathā hanyeta phalgunaḥ
     evam uktas tato rājan pitā devavratas tava
     dhik kṣatradharmam ity uktvā yayau pārtharathaṃ prati
 38 ubhau śvetahayau rājan saṃsaktau dṛśyapārthivāḥ
     siṃhanādān bhṛśaṃ cakruḥ śaṅkhaśabdāṃś ca bhārata
 39 drauṇir duryodhanaś caiva vikarṇaś ca tavātmajaḥ
     parivārya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ sthitā yuddhāya māriṣa
 40 tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ sarve parivārya dhanaṃjayam
     sthitā yuddhāya mahate tato yuddham avartata
 41 gāṅgeyas tu raṇe pārtham ānarchan navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     tam arjunaḥ pratyavidhyad daśabhir marma vedhibhiḥ
 42 tataḥ śarasahasreṇa suprayuktena pāṇḍavaḥ
     arjunaḥ samaraślāghī bhīṣmasyāvārayad diśaḥ
 43 śarajālaṃ tatas tat tu śarajālena kaurava
     vārayām āsa pārthasya bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavas tathā
 44 ubhau paramasaṃhṛṣṭāv ubhau yuddhābhinandinau
     nirviśeṣam ayudhyetāṃ kṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇau
 45 bhīṣma cāpavimuktāni śarajālāni saṃdhaśaḥ
     śīryamāṇāny adṛśyanta bhinnāny arjuna sāyakaiḥ
 46 tathaivārjuna muktāni śarajālāni bhāgaśaḥ
     gāṅgeya śaranunnāni nyapatanta mahītale
 47 arjunaḥ pañcaviṃśatyā bhīṣmam ārcchac chitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     bhīṣmo 'pi samare pārthaṃ vivyādha triṃśatā śaraiḥ
 48 anyonyasya hayān viddhvā dhvajau ca sumahābalau
     ratheṣāṃ rathacakre ca cikrīḍatur ariṃdamau
 49 tataḥ kruddho mahārāja bhīṣmaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ
     vāsudevaṃ tribhir bāṇair ājaghāna stanāntare
 50 bhīṣmacāpacyutair bāṇair nirviddho madhusūdanaḥ
     virarāja raṇe rājan sa puṣpa iva kiṃśukaḥ
 51 tato 'rjuno bhṛśaṃ kruddho nirviddhaṃ prekṣya mādhavam
     gāṅgeya sārathiṃ saṃkhye nirbibheda tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
 52 yatamānau tu tau vīrāv anyonyasya vadhaṃ prati
     nāśaknutāṃ tadānyonyam abhisaṃdhātum āhave
 53 maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi gatapratyāgatāni ca
     adarśayetāṃ bahudhā sūta sāmarthya lāghavāt
 54 antaraṃ ca prahāreṣu tarkayantau mahārathau
     rājann antaramārgasthau sthitāv āstāṃ muhur muhuḥ
 55 ubhau siṃharavonmiśraṃ śaṅkhaśabdaṃ pracakratuḥ
     tathaiva cāpanirghoṣaṃ cakratus tau mahārathau
 56 tayoḥ śaṅkhapraṇādena rathanemi svanena ca
     dāritā sahasā bhūmiś cakampa ca nanāda ca
 57 na tayor antaraṃ kaś cid dadṛśe bharatarṣabha
     balinau samare śūrāv anyonyasadṛśāv ubhau
 58 cihnamātreṇa bhīṣmaṃ tu prajajñus tatra kauravāḥ
     tathā pāṇḍusutāḥ pārthaṃ cihnamātreṇa jajñire
 59 tayor nṛvarayo rājan dṛśyatādṛk parākramam
     vismayaṃ sarvabhūtāni jagmur bhārata saṃyuge
 60 na tayor vivaraṃ kaś cid raṇe paśyati bhārata
     dharme sthitasya hi yathā na kaś cid vṛjinaṃ kva cit
 61 ubhau hi śarajālena tāv adṛśyau babhūvatuḥ
     prakāśau ca punas tūrṇaṃ babhūvatur ubhau raṇe
 62 tatra devāḥ sa gandharvāś cāraṇāś ca saharṣibhiḥ
     anyonyaṃ pratyabhāṣanta tayor dṛṣṭvā parākramam
 63 na śakyau yudhi saṃrabdhau jetum etau mahārathau
     sa devāsuragandharvair lokair api kathaṃ cana
 64 āścaryabhūtaṃ lokeṣu yuddham etan mahādbhutam
     naitādṛśāni yuddhāni bhaviṣyanti kathaṃ cana
 65 nāpi śakyo raṇe jetuṃ bhīṣmaḥ pārthena dhīmatā
     sadhanuś ca rathasthaś ca pravapan sāyakān raṇe
 66 tathaiva pāṇḍavaṃ yuddhe devair api durāsadam
     na vijetuṃ raṇe bhīṣma utsaheta dhanurdharam
 67 iti sma vācaḥ śrūyante proccarantyas tatas tataḥ
     gāṅgeyārjunayoḥ saṃkhye stavayuktā viśāṃ pate
 68 tvadīyās tu tato yodhāḥ pāṇḍaveyāś ca bhārata
     anyonyaṃ samare jaghnus tayos tatra parākrame
 69 śitadhārais tathā khaḍgair vimalaiś ca paraśvadhaiḥ
     śarair anyaiś ca bahubhiḥ śastrair nānāvidhair yudhi
     ubhayoḥ senayor vīrā nyakṛntanta parasparam
 70 vartamāne tathā ghore tasmin yuddhe sudāruṇe
     droṇa pāñcālyayo rājan mahān āsīt samāgamaḥ

SECTION XLVIII

Dhritarashtra said,--"When that great bowman Sweta proceeded towards Salya's car, what did the Kauravas and the Pandavas do, O Sanjaya? And what also did Bhishma the son of Santanu do? Tell me who ask thee, all this."
Sanjaya said,--"O king, hundreds and thousands of bulls among Kshatriyas, all brave and mighty car-warriors, placing the generalissimo Sweta in the van, and displaying their strength. O Bharata, unto thy royal son and with Sikhandin also at their head, desired to rescue (Sweta). And those mighty car-warriors rushed towards Bhishma's car decked with gold desirous of slaying that foremost of warriors. And the battle that ensued then was terrible. I shall describe to thee that wonderful and terrific battle as it occurred between thy troops and those of the enemy. The son of Santanu made the terraces of many cars empty, (for) that best of car-warriors showering (his) arrows, cut off many heads. Endued with energy equal to that of the Sun himself, he shrouded the very Sun with his arrows. And he removed his enemies from around him in that combat like the rising Sun dispelling the darkness around. And in that battle, O king, arrows were shot by him in hundreds and thousands that were powerful and possessed of great impetuosity and that took in that conflict the lives of numberless Kshatriyas. And in that combat he felled heads, by hundreds, of heroic warriors, O king, and elephants cased in thorny mail, like summits of mountains (felled) by heaven's bolt. And cars, O king, were seen to mingle with cars. A car might be seen upon another car, and a steed upon
p. 117
another steed. And impetuous chargers, O king, bore hither and thither heroic riders in the prime of youth, slain and hanging (from their saddles) with their bows (still in their grasp). 1 With swords and quivers attached (to their persons) and coats of mail loosened (from their bodies), hundreds of warriors, deprived of life, lay on the ground, sleeping on beds (worthy) of heroes. Rushing against one another, falling down and rising up again and rushing again having risen up, the combatants fought hand to hand. Afflicted by one another, many rolled on the field of battle. Infuriate elephants rushed hither and thither, and car-warriors by hundreds were slain. And car-warriors, along with their cars, were crushed on all sides. And some warriors fell upon his car, slain by another with arrows. And a mighty car-warrior might be seen to fall down from high, his charioteer (also) having been slain. A thick dust arose, and thereupon unto the warrior struggling in battle, the twang of the (hostile) bow indicated the struggling adversary before. From the pressure also on their bodies, combatants guessed their foes. And the warriors, O king, fought on with arrows, guided by the sound of bow-strings and (hostile) division. The very hiss of the arrows shot by the combatants at one another could not be heard. And so loud was the sound of drums, that it seemed to pierce the ears. And in that tumultuous uproar making the hair stand on end, the name of the combatant uttered in the battle, while displaying his prowess, could not be heard. The sire could not recognise the son of his loins. One of the wheels being broken, or the yoke being torn off or one of the steeds being slain, the brave car-warrior was overthrown from his car, along with his charioteer, by means of straight arrows. And thus many heroic warriors, deprived of their cars, were seen to fly away. 2 He who was slain had cut off; he who was not slain, was struck at the very vitals: but unstruck there was none, when Bhishma attacked the foe. And in that terrific battle, Sweta caused a great slaughter of the Kurus. And he slew many noble princes by hundreds upon hundreds. 3 And he cut off, by means of his arrows, the heads of car-warriors by hundreds upon hundreds, and (their) arms decked with Angadas, and (their) bows all around. And car-warriors and car-wheels and others that were on cars, and the cars themselves, and standards both small and costly, O king, and large bodies of horses, and crowds of cars, and crowds of men, O Bharata's race, were destroyed by Sweta. Ourselves, from fear of Sweta, abandoning (Bhishma) that best of car-warriors, left the battle retreating to the rear and, therefore, do we (now) behold your lordship. And all the Kurus, O son of Kuru's race, beyond the range of arrows, and abandoning Bhishma the son of Santanu, in that battle, stood (as spectators though) armed for the combat. Cheerful in the hour of (universal) cheerlessness, that tiger among men Bhishma, alone of our army, in that terrible
p. 118
battle stood immovable like the mountain Meru. Taking the lives (of the foe) like the Sun at close of winter, he stood resplendent with the golden rays (of his car) like the Sun himself with his rays. And that great bowman shot clouds of arrows and struck down the Asuras. 1 And while being slaughtered by Bhishma in that dreadful combat, those warriors breaking away from their ranks, they all fled from him, as if from a fire fed by fuel. 2 Encountering the single warrior (Sweta), that slayer of foes, Bhishma, was the only one (amongst us) who was cheerful and whole. Devoted to the welfare of Duryodhana, he began to consume the Pandava (warrior). Reckless of his very life which is difficult of being cast off, and abandoning all fear he slaughtered, O king, the Pandava army in that fierce conflict. 3 And beholding the generalissimo (Sweta) smiting the (Dhartarashtra) divisions, thy father Bhishma, called also Devavrata, impetuously rushed against him. Thereupon, Sweta covered Bhishma with an extensive net-work of arrows. And Bhishma also covered Sweta with a flight of arrows. And roaring like a couple of bulls, they rushed, like two infuriate elephants of gigantic size or two raging tigers, against each other. Baffling each other's weapons by means of their weapons, those bulls among men, viz., Bhishma and Sweta fought with each other, desirous of taking each other's life. In one single day Bhishma, infuriate with anger, could consume the Pandava army with his arrows, if Sweta did not protect it. Beholding the grandsire then turned off by Sweta, the Pandavas were filled with joy, while thy son became cheerless. Duryodhana then, with wrath excited and surrounded by many kings, rushed with his troops against the Pandava host in battle. Then Sweta, abandoning the son of Ganga, slaughtered thy son's host with great impetuosity like the wind (uprooting) trees with violence. And the son of Virata, senseless with wrath, having routed thy army, advanced (once more), O king, to the place where Bhishma was stationed. And those two high-souled and mighty warriors then, both blazing with their arrows, battled with each other like Vritra and Vasava (of old), desirous, O king, of slaying each other. Drawing (his) bow to the fullest stretch, Sweta pierced Bhishma with seven arrows. The valourous (Bhishma) then, putting forth his prowess, quickly checked his foe's valour, like an infuriate elephant checking an infuriate compeer. And Sweta then, that delighter of Kshatriyas struck Bhishma, and Bhishma the son of Santanu also pierced him in return with ten arrows. And though pierced by him (thus), that mighty warrior stood still like a mountain. And Sweta again pierced Santanu's son with five and twenty straight arrows, at which all wondered. Then smiling and licking with his tongue the corners of his mouth, Sweta in that combat cut off Bhishma's bow into ten fragments with ten arrows. Then aiming a plumed arrow
p. 119
made wholly of iron, (Sweta) crushed the palmyra on the top of the standard of the high-souled (Bhishma). And beholding the standard of Bhishma cut down, thy sons thought that Bhishma was slain, having succumbed to Sweta. And the Pandavas also filled with delight, blew their conches all around. And beholding the palmyra standard of the high-souled Bhishma laid low, Duryodhana, from wrath, urged his own army to the battle. And they all began very carefully to protect Bhishma who 'was in great distress. Unto them, also unto those that stood (idle) spectators, the king said,--Either Sweta will die (today), or Bhishma the son of Santanu. I say this truly. Hearing the words of the king, the mighty car-warriors speedily with four kinds of forces, advanced protecting the son of Ganga. And Valhika and Kritavarman, and Kripa, and Salya also, O Bharata, and the son of Jarasandha, and Vikarna, and Chitrasena, and Vivinsati, with great speed, when speed was so necessary, surrounding him on all sides, poured on Sweta ceaseless showers of arrows. That mighty warrior then, of immeasurable soul, quickly checked those angry warriors by means of sharp arrows, displaying his own lightness of hand. And checking them all like a lion and a multitude of elephants, Sweta then cut off Bhishma's bow with thick shower of arrows. Then Bhishma the son of Santanu, taking up another bow in that battle, pierced Sweta, O king, with arrows furnished with feathers of Kanka bird. Then the commander (of the Pandava army), with wrath excited, pierced Bhishma in that encounter O king, with a great many shafts in the very sight of all. Beholding Bhishma, that foremost of heroes in all the world, checked in battle by Sweta, the king (Duryodhana) became greatly troubled, and great also became the distress of thy whole army. And beholding the heroic Bhishma checked and mangled by Sweta with his arrows, all thought that Bhishma, having succumbed to Sweta, was slain by him. Then thy sire Devavrata, yielding to anger, and beholding his (own) standard overthrown and the (Dhartarashtra) army checked, shot a great many arrows, O king, at Sweta. Sweta, however, that foremost of car-warriors, baffling all those arrows of Bhishma, once more cut off, with a broad-headed shaft, thy sire's bow. Throwing aside that bow, O king, Ganga's son, senseless with anger, taking up another bow larger and stronger, and aiming seven large broad-headed arrows whetted on stone, slew with four arrows the four steeds of the generalissimo Sweta, cut off his standard with two and with the seventh shaft that warrior of great prowess, exceedingly provoked, cut off his charioteer's head. Thereupon, that mighty car-warrior, jumping down from his car whose steeds and charioteer had been slain 1, and yielding to the influence of wrath, became exceedingly troubled. The grandsire, beholding Sweta that foremost of car-warriors, deprived of car, began to smite him on all sides with showers of arrows. And
p. 120
smitten in that combat with arrows shot from Bhishma's bow, Sweta, leaving his bow on his (abandoned) car took up a dart decked with gold and taking up that terrible and fierce dart 1 which resembled the fatal rod of Death and was capable of slaying Death's self. Sweta then, in great wrath, addressed Bhishma the son of Santanu in that combat, saying,--Wait a little, and behold me, O best of men,--And having said this unto Bhishma in battle, that great bowman of exceeding prowess and immeasurable soul, hurled the dart resembling a snake, displaying his valour for the sake of the Pandavas and desiring to achieve thy evil. Then loud cries of oh and alas arose among thy sons, O king, upon beholding that terrible dart resembling the rod of Death in splendour. And hurled from Sweta's arms, (that dart), resembling a snake that had just cast off its slough, fell with great force, O king, like a large meteor from the firmament. Thy sire Devavrata then, O king, without the slightest fear, with eight sharp and winged arrows, cut off into nine fragments, that dart decked with pure gold and which seemed to be covered with flames of fire, as it coursed ablaze through the air. All thy troops then, O bull of Bharata's race, set up loud shouts of joy. The son of Virata, however, beholding his dart cut off into fragments, became senseless with anger, and like one whose heart was overcome by (the arrival of) his hour, could not settle what to do. Deprived of his senses by anger, O king, the son of Virata, then, smiling, joyfully took up a mace for Bhishma's slaughter, with eyes red in wrath, and resembling a second Yama armed with mace, he rushed against Bhishma like a swollen torrent against the rocks. Regarding his impetuosity as incapable of cheek, Bhishma endued with great prowess and conversant with the might (of others), suddenly alighted on the ground for warding off that blow. Sweta then, O king, whirling in wrath that heavy mace, hurled it on Bhishma's car like the god Maheswara. 2 And in consequence of that mace intended for Bhishma's destruction, that car was reduced to ashes, with standard, and charioteer, and steeds and shaft. Beholding Bhishma, that foremost of car-warriors, become a combatant on foot, many car-warriors, viz., Salya and others, speedily rushed (to his rescue). Mounting then upon another car, and cheerlessly stretching his bow, Bhishma slowly advanced towards Sweta, seeing that foremost of car-warriors. Meanwhile, Bhishma heard a loud voice uttered in the skies, that was celestial and fraught with his own good. (And the voice said).--'O, Bhishma, O thou of mighty arms, strive without losing a moment. Even this is the hour fixed by the Creator of the Universe for success over this one'. Hearing those words uttered by the celestial messenger, Bhishma, filled with joy, set his heart upon Sweta's destruction. And beholding that foremost of car-warriors, Sweta become a combatant on foot, many mighty car-warriors (of the Pandava side) rushed unitedly (to his rescue).
p. 121
[paragraph continues] (They were) Satyaki, and Bhimasena, and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race; and the (five) Kekaya brothers, and Dhrishtaketu and Abhimanyu of great energy. And beholding them rushing (to the rescue), with Drona and Salya and Kripa that hero of immeasurable soul (Bhishma) checked them all like the mountain resisting the force of the wind. And when all the high-souled warriors of the Pandava side were (thus) held in check, Sweta, taking up a sword cut off Bhishma's bow. Casting aside that bow, the grandsire, quickly made up his mind for Sweta's destruction, having heard the words of the celestial messenger. Though baffled (by Sweta), thy sire Devavrata then that mighty car-warrior quickly taking up another bow that resembled the bow of Sakra himself in splendour, stringed it in a moment. Then thy sire, O chief of the Bharatas, beholding that mighty car-warrior Sweta, though the latter was then surrounded by those tigers among men with Bhimasena at their head,--(thy sire) the son of Ganga-advanced steadily for the sake of the generalissimo Sweta alone. Beholding Bhishma advance, Bhimasena of great prowess pierced him with sixty shafts. But that mighty car-warrior, thy sire Devavrata, checking both Bhimasena and Abhimanyu and other car-warriors with terrible shafts, struck him with three straight arrows. And the grandsire of the Bharatas also struck Satyaki, in that combat, with a hundred arrows, and Dhrishtadyumna with twenty and the Kekaya brothers with five. And checking all those great bowmen with terrible arrows, thy sire Devavrata advanced towards Sweta alone. Then taking out an arrow resembling Death's self and capable of bearing a great strain and incapable of being resisted, the powerful Bhishma placed it on his bowstring. And that shaft, furnished with wings and duly endued with the force of the Brahma weapon, was seen by the gods and Gandharvas and Pisachas and Uragas, and Rakshasas. And that shaft, of splendour like that of a blazing fire, piercing through his coat of mail (passed through his body and) struck into the earth, with a flash like that of heaven's bolt. Like the Sun when speedily retiring to his western chambers taking along with him the rays of light, even thus that shaft passed out of Sweta's body, bearing away with itself his life. Thus slain in battle by Bhishma, we beheld that tiger among men fall down like the loosened crest of a mountain. And all the mighty car-warriors of the Kshatriya race belonging to the Pandava side indulged in lamentations. Thy sons, however, and all the Kurus, were filled with delight. Then, O king, beholding Sweta overthrown, Dussasana danced in joy over the field in accompaniment With the loud music of conches and drums. And when that great bowman was slain by Bhishma, that ornament of battle, the mighty bowmen (of the Pandava side) with Sikhandin at their head, trembled in fear. Then when their commander was slain, Dhananjaya, O king, and he of Vrishni's race, slowly withdrew the troops (for their nightly rest). And then, O Bharata, the withdrawal took place of both theirs and thine, while thine and theirs were frequently setting up loud roars. And the mighty car-warriors of the Parthas entered (their quarters) cheerlessly, thinking, O chastiser of foes, of that awful
p. 122
slaughter in single combat (of their commander)."

Book 6
Chapter 49

1 [dhṛ]
      kathaṃ droṇo maheṣvāsaḥ pāñcālyaś cāpi pārṣataḥ
      raṇe samīyatur yattau tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya
  2 diṣṭam eva paraṃ manye pauruṣād api saṃjaya
      yatra śāṃtanavo bhīṣmo nātarad yudhi pāṇḍavam
  3 bhīṣmo hi samare kruddho hanyāl lokāṃś carācarān
      sa kathaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ yuddhe nātarat saṃjayaujasā
  4 [s]
      śṛṇu rājan sthiro bhūtvā yuddham etat sudāruṇam
      na śakyaḥ pāṇḍavo jetuṃ devair api sa vāsavaiḥ
  5 droṇas tu niśitair bāṇair dhṛṣṭadyumnam ayodhayat
      sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena rathanīḍād apātayat
  6 tasyātha caturo vāhāṃś caturbhiḥ sāyakottamaiḥ
      pīḍayām āsa saṃkruddho dhṛṣṭadyumnasya māriṣa
  7 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tato droṇaṃ navatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      vivyādha prahasan vīras tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
  8 tataḥ punar ameyātmā bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
      śaraiḥ pracchādayām āsa dhṛṣṭadyumnam amarṣaṇam
  9 ādade ca śaraṃ ghoraṃ pārṣatasya vadhaṃ prati
      śakrāśanisamasparśaṃ mṛtyudaṇḍam ivāparam
  10 hāhākāro mahān āsīt sarvasainyasya bhārata
     tam iṣuṃ saṃdhitaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhāradvājena saṃyuge
 11 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma dhṛṣṭadyumnasya pauruṣam
     yad ekaḥ samare vīras tasthau girir ivācalaḥ
 12 taṃ ca dīptaṃ śaraṃ ghoram āyāntaṃ mṛtyum ātmanaḥ
     ciccheda śaravṛṣṭiṃ ca bhāradvāje mumoca ha
 13 tata uccukruśuḥ sarve pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha
     dhṛṣṭadyumnena tat karmakṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā suduṣkaram
 14 tataḥ śaktiṃ mahāvegāṃ svarṇavaiḍūrya bhūṣitām
     droṇasya nidhanākāṅkṣī cikṣepa sa parākramī
 15 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā śaktiṃ kanakabhūṣaṇām
     tridhā cikṣepa samare bhāradvājo hasann iva
 16 śaktiṃ vinihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān
     vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi droṇaṃ prati janeśvara
 17 śaravarṣaṃ tatas taṃ tu saṃnivārya mahāyaśāḥ
     droṇo drupadaputrasya madhye ciccheda kārmukam
 18 sa chinnadhanvā samare gadāṃ gurvīṃ mahāyaśāḥ
     droṇāya preṣayām āsa girisāramayīṃ balī
 19 sā gadā vegavan muktā prāyād droṇa jighāṃsayā
     tatrādbhutam apaśyāma bhāradvājasya vikramam
 20 lāghavād vyaṃsayām āsa gadāṃ hemavibhūṣitām
     vyaṃsayitvā gadāṃ tāṃ ca preṣayām āsa pārṣate
 21 bhallān suniśitān pītān svarṇapuṅkhāñ śilāśitān
     te tasya kavacaṃ bhittvā papuḥ śoṇitam āhave
 22 athānyad dhanur ādāya dhṛṣṭadyumne mahāmanāḥ
     droṇaṃ yudhi parākramya śarair vivyādha pañcabhiḥ
 23 rudhirāktau tatas tau tu śuśubhāte nararṣabhau
     vasanta samaye rājan puṣpitāv iva kuṃśukau
 24 amarṣitas tato rājan parākramya camūmukhe
     droṇo drupadaputrasya punaś ciccheda kārmukam
 25 athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     avākirad ameyātmā vṛṣṭyā megha ivācalam
 26 sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena rathanīḍād apātayat
     athāsya caturo vāhāṃś caturbhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
 27 pātayām āsa samare siṃhanādaṃ nanāda ca
     tato 'pareṇa bhallena hastāc cāpam athācchinat
 28 sa chinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ
     gadāpāṇir avārohat khyāpayan pauruṣaṃ mahat
 29 tām asya viśikhais tūrṇaṃ pātayām āsa bhārata
     rathād anavarūḍhasya tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 30 tataḥ sa vipulaṃ carma śatacandraṃ ca bhānumat
     khaḍgaṃ ca vipulaṃ divyaṃ pragṛhya subhujo balī
 31 abhidudrāva vegena droṇasya vadhakāṅkṣayā
     āmiṣārthī yathā siṃho vane mattam iva dvipam
 32 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma bhāradvājasya pauruṣam
     lāghavaṃ cāstrayogaṃ ca balaṃ bāhvoś ca bhārata
 33 yad enaṃ śaravarṣeṇa vārayām āsa pārṣatam
     na śaśāka tato gantuṃ balavān api saṃyuge
 34 tatra sthitam apaśyāma dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ mahāratham
     vārayāṇaṃ śaraughāṃś ca carmaṇā kṛtahastavat
 35 tato bhīmo mahābāhuḥ sahasābhyapatad balī
     sāhāyyakārī samare pārṣatasya mahātmanaḥ
 36 sa droṇaṃ niśitair bāṇai rājan vivyādha saptabhiḥ
     pārṣataṃ ca tadā tūrṇam anyam āropayad ratham
 37 tato duryodhano rājā kaliṅgaṃ samacodayat
     sainyena mahatā yuktaṃ bhāradvājasya rakṣaṇe
 38 tataḥ sā mahatī senā kaliṅgānāṃ janeśvara
     bhīmam abhyudyayau tūrṇaṃ tava putrasya śāsanāt
 39 pāñcālyam abhisaṃtyajya droṇo 'pi rathināṃ varaḥ
     virāṭadrupadau vṛddhau yodhayām āsa saṃgatau
     dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi samare dharmarājaṃ samabhyayāt
 40 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
     kaliṅgānāṃ ca samare bhīmasya ca mahātmanaḥ
     jagataḥ prakṣaya karaṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayānakam

SECTION XLIX

Dhritarashtra said, "When the generalissimo Sweta, O son, was slain in battle by the enemy, what did those mighty bowmen, the Panchalas with the Pandavas, do? Hearing their commander Sweta slain, what happened between those that strove for his sake and their foes that retreated before them? O Sanjaya, hearing of our victory, (thy) words please my heart? Nor doth my heart feel any shame in remembering our transgression. 1 The old chief of Kuru's race is ever cheerful and devoted (to us). (As regards Duryodhana), having provoked hostilities with that intelligent son of his uncle, he sought at one time the protection of the sons of Pandu in consequence of his anxiety and fear due to Yudhishthira. At that time, abandoning everything he lived in misery. In consequence of the prowess of the sons of Pandu, and everywhere receiving checks--having placed himself amid entanglements--from his enemies Duryodhana had (for some time) recourse to honourable behaviour. Formerly that wicked-minded king had placed himself under their protection. Why, therefore, O Sanjaya, hath Sweta who was devoted to Yudhishthira, been slain. Indeed, this narrow-minded prince, with all his prospects, hath been hurled to the nether regions by a number of wretches. Bhishma liked not the war, nor even did the preceptor. 2 Nor Kripa, nor Gandhari liked it. O Sanjaya, nor do I like it, nor Vasudeva of Vrishni's race, nor that just king the son of Pandu; nor Bhima, nor Arjuna, nor those bulls among men, the twins (liked it.) Always forbidden by me, by Gandhari, by Vidura, by Rama the son of Jamadagni, and by the high-souled Vyasa also, the wicked-minded and sinful Duryodhana, with Dussasana, O Sanjaya, always following the counsels of Karna and Suvala's son, behaved maliciously towards the Pandavas. I
p. 123
think, O Sanjaya, that he has fallen into great distress. After the slaughter of Sweta and the victory of Bhishma what did Partha, excited with rage, do in battle accompanied by Krishna? Indeed, it is from Arjuna that my fears arise, and those fears, O Sanjaya, cannot be dispelled. He, Dhananjaya. the son of Kunti, is brave and endued with great activity. I think, with his arrows he will cut into fragments the bodies of his enemies. The son of Indra, and in battle equal unto Upendra the younger brother of Indra, a warrior whose wrath and purposes are never futile, alas, beholding him what becomes the state of your minds? Brave, acquainted with Vedas, resembling the fire and the Sun in splendour, and possessing a knowledge of the Aindra weapon, that warrior of immeasurable soul is ever victorious when he falleth upon the foe? His weapons always falling upon the foe with the force of the thunderbolt and his arms wonderfully quick in drawing the bowstring, the son of Kunti is a mighty car-warrior. The formidable son of Drupada also, O Sanjaya, is endued with great wisdom. What, indeed, did Dhristadyumna do when Sweta was slain in battle? I think that in consequence of the wrongs they sustained of old, and of the slaughter of their commander, the hearts of the high-souled Pandavas blazed up. Thinking of their wrath I am never at my ease, by day or by night, on account of Duryodhana. How did the great battle take place? Tell me all about it, O Sanjaya.
Sanjaya said, "Hear, O king, quietly about thy transgressions. It behoveth thee not to impute the fruit to Duryodhana. As is the construction of an embankment when the waters have disappeared, so is thy understanding, or, it is like the digging of a well when house is on fire. 1 When, after the forenoon had passed away, the commander Sweta was, O Bharata, slain by Bhishma in that fierce conflict, Virata's son Sankha, that grinder of hostile ranks ever delighting in battle, beholding Salya stationed with Kritavarman (on his car), suddenly blazed up with wrath, like fire with clarified butter. That mighty warrior, stretching his large bow that resembled the bow of Indra himself, rushed with the desire of slaying the ruler of the Madras in battle, himself supported on all sides by a large division of cars. And Sankha, causing an arrowy downpour rushed towards the car on which Salya was. And beholding him advancing like an infuriate elephant, seven mighty car-warriors of thy side surrounded him--desirous of rescuing the ruler of the Madras already within the jaws of death. Then the mighty-armed Bhishma, roaring like the very clouds, and taking up a bow full six cubits long, rushed towards Sankha in battle. And beholding that mighty car-warrior and great bowman thus rushing, the Pandava host began to tremble like a boat tossed by a violence of the tempest. Then Arjuna, quickly advancing, placed himself in front of Sankha, thinking that Sankha should, then be protected from Bhishma. And then the combat commenced between Bhishma and Arjuna. And loud cries of oh and alas arose among the warriors engaged in battle. And one force seemed to
p. 124
merge into another force. And thus all were filled with wonder. 1 Then Salya, mace in hand, alighting from his large car, slew, O bull of Bharata's race, the four steeds of Sankha. Jumping down from his car thus deprived of steeds, and taking a sword, Sankha ran towards Vibhatsu's car and (mounting on it) was once more at his ease. And then there fell from Bhishma's car innumerable arrows by which were covered the entire welkin and the earth. And that foremost of smiters, Bhishma, slaughtered with his arrows the Panchala, the Matsya, the Kekaya, and the Prabhadraka host. And soon abandoning in that battle, Pandu's son (Arjuna) capable of drawing the bow with even his left hand, Bhishma rushed towards Drupada, the king of the Panchalas, surrounded by his host. And he soon covered his dear relative with innumerable arrows. Like a forest consumed by fire at the end of winter, the troops of Drupada were seen to be consumed. And Bhishma stood in that battle like a blazing fire without smoke, or like the Sun himself at midday scorching everything around with his heat. The combatants of the Pandavas were not able to even look at Bhishma. And afflicted with fear, the Pandava host cast its eyes around, and not beholding any protector, looked like a herd of kine afflicted by cold. Slaughtered or retreating in despondence being crushed the while, loud cries, O Bharata, of oh and alas arose among the troops of the Pandavas. Then Bhishma the son of Santanu, with bow always drawn to a circle, shot therefrom blazing arrows that resembled virulent poison. And creating continuous lines of arrows in all directions, that hero of rigid vows slew Pandava car-warriors, naming each, O Bharata, beforehand. And then when the troops of the Pandavas were routed and crushed all over the field, the sun set and nothing could be seen. And then beholding Bhishma, O bull of Bharata's race, proudly standing in battle, the Parthas withdrew their forces (for nightly rest)."

Book 6
Chapter 50

1 [dhṛ]
      tathā pratisamādiṣṭaḥ kaliṅgo vāhinīpatiḥ
      katham adbhutakarmāṇaṃ bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
  2 carantaṃ gadayā vīraṃ daṇḍapāṇim ivāntakam
      yodhayām āsa samare kaliṅgaḥ saha senayā
  3 [s]
      putreṇa tava rājendra sa tathokto mahābalaḥ
      mahatyā senayā guptaḥ prāyād bhīma rathaṃ prati
  4 tām āpatantīṃ sahasā kaliṅgānāṃ mahācamūm
      rathanāgāśvakalilāṃ pragṛhītamahāyudhām
  5 bhīmasenaḥ kaliṅgānām ārchad bhārata vāhinīm
      ketumantaṃ ca naiṣādim āyāntaṃ saha cedibhiḥ
  6 tataḥ śrutāyuḥ saṃkruddho rājñā ketumatā saha
      āsasāda raṇe bhīmaṃ vyūḍhānīkeṣu cediṣu
  7 rathair anekasāhasraiḥ kaliṅgānāṃ janādhipaḥ
      ayutena gajānāṃ ca niṣādaiḥ saha ketumān
      bhīmasenaṃ raṇe rājan samantāt paryavārayat
  8 cedimatsya karūṣāś ca bhīmasenapurogamāḥ
      abhyavartanta sahasā niṣādān saha rājabhiḥ
  9 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayānakam
      prajānan na ca yodhān svān parasparajighāṃsayā
  10 ghoram āsīt tato yuddhaṃ bhīmasya sahasā paraiḥ
     yathendrasya mahārāja mahatyā daitya senayā
 11 tasya sainyasya saṃgrāme yudhyamānasya bhārata
     babhūva sumahāñ śabdaḥ sāgarasyeva garjataḥ
 12 anyonyasya tadā yodhā nikṛntanto viśāṃ pate
     mahīṃ cakruś citāṃ sarvāṃ śaśaśoṇitasaṃnibhām
 13 yodhāṃś ca svā parān vāpi nābhyajānaj jighāṃsayā
     svān apy ādadate svāś ca śūrāḥ samaradurjayāḥ
 14 vimardaḥ sumahān āsīd alpānāṃ bahubhiḥ saha
     kaliṅgaiḥ saha cedīnāṃ niṣādaiś ca viśāṃ pate
 15 kṛtvā puruṣakāraṃ tu yathāśakti mahābalāḥ
     bhīmasenaṃ parityajya saṃnyavartanta cedayaḥ
 16 sarvaiḥ kaliṅgair āsannaḥ saṃnivṛtteṣu cediṣu
     svabāhubalam āsthāya na nyavartata pāṇḍavaḥ
 17 na cacāla rathopasthād bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     śitair avākiran bāṇaiḥ kaliṅgānāṃ varūthinīm
 18 kaliṅgas tu maheṣvāsaḥ putraś cāsya mahārathaḥ
     śakradeva iti khyāto jaghnatuḥ pāṇḍavaṃ śaraiḥ
 19 tato bhīmo mahābāhur vidhunvan ruciraṃ dhanuḥ
     yodhayām āsa kāliṅgān svabāhubalam āśritaḥ
 20 śakradevas tu samare visṛjan sāyakān bahūn
     aśvāñ jaghāna samare bhīmasenasya sāyakaiḥ
     vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi tapānte jalado yathā
 21 hatāśve tu rathe tiṣṭhan bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
     śakradevāya cikṣepa sarvaśaikyāyasīṃ gadām
 22 sa tayā nihato rājan kaliṅgasya suto rathāt
     sa dhvajaḥ saha sūtena jagāma dharaṇītalam
 23 hatam ātmasutaṃ dṛṣṭvā kaliṅgānāṃ janādhipaḥ
     rathair anekasāhasrair bhimasyāvārayad diśaḥ
 24 tato bhīmo mahābāhur gurvīṃ tyaktvā mahāgadām
     udbabarhātha nistriṃśaṃ cikīrṣuḥ karma dāruṇam
 25 carma cāpratimaṃ rājann ārṣabhaṃ puruṣarṣabha
     nakṣatair ardhacandraiś ca śātakumbhamayaiś citam
 26 kaliṅgas tu tataḥ kruddho dhanurjyām avamṛjya ha
     pragṛhya ca śaraṃ ghoram ekaṃ sarpaviṣopamam
     prāhiṇod bhīmasenāya vadhākāṅkṣī janeśvaraḥ
 27 tam āpatantaṃ vegena preritaṃ niśitaṃ śaram
     bhīmaseno dvidhā rājaṃś ciccheda vipulāsinā
     udakrośac ca saṃhṛṣṭas trāsayāno varūthinīm
 28 kaliṅgas tu tataḥ kruddho bhīmasenāya saṃyuge
     tomarān prāhiṇoc chīghraṃ caturdaśa śilāśitān
 29 tān aprāptān mahābāhuḥ khagatān eva pāṇḍavaḥ
     ciccheda sahasā rājann asaṃbhrānto varāsinā
 30 nikṛtya tu raṇe bhīmas tomarān vai caturdaśa
     bhānumantam abhiprekṣya prādravat puruṣarṣabhaḥ
 31 bhānumāṃs tu tato bhīmaṃ śaravarṣeṇa chādayan
     nanāda balavan nādaṃ nādayāno nabhastalam
 32 na taṃ sa mamṛṣe bhīmaḥ siṃhanādaṃ mahāraṇe
     tataḥ svareṇa mahatā vinanāda mahāsvanam
 33 tena śabdena vitrastā kaliṅgānāṃ varūthinī
     na bhīmaṃ samare mene mānuṣaṃ bharatarṣabha
 34 tato bhīmo mahārāja naditvā vipulaṃ svanam
     sāsir vegād avaplutya dantābhyāṃ vāraṇottamam
 35 āruroha tato madhyaṃ nāgarājasya māriṣa
     khaḍgena pṛthunā madhye bhānumantam ato 'cchinat
 36 so 'ntarāyudhinaṃ hatvā rājaputram ariṃdamaḥ
     gurubhārasaha skandhe nāgasyāsim apātayat
 37 chinnaskandhaḥ sa vinadan papāta gajayūthapaḥ
     ārugṇaḥ sindhuvegena sānumān iva parvataḥ
 38 tatas tasmād avaplutya gajād bhārata bhārataḥ
     khaḍgapāṇir adīnātmā atiṣṭhad bhuvi daṃśitaḥ
 39 sa cacāra bahūn mārgān abhītaḥ pātayan gajān
     agnicakram ivāviddhaṃ sarvataḥ pratyadṛśyata
 40 aśvavṛndeṣu nāgeṣu rathānīkeṣu cābhibhūḥ
     padātīnāṃ ca saṃgheṣu vinighnañ śoṇitokṣitaḥ
     śyenavad vyacarad bhīmo raṇe ripubalotkaṭaḥ
 41 chindaṃs teṣāṃ śarīrāṇi śirāṃsi ca mahājavaḥ
     khaḍgena śitadhāreṇa saṃyuge gaya yodhinām
 42 padātir ekaḥ saṃkruddhaḥ śatrūṇāṃ bhayavardhanaḥ
     mohayām āsa ca tadā kālānta ka yamopamaḥ
 43 mūḍhāś ca te tam evājau vinadantaḥ samādravan
     sāsim uttamavegena vicarantaṃ mahāraṇe
 44 nikṛtya rathinām ājau ratheśāś ca yugāni ca
     jaghāna rathinaś cāpi balavān arimardanaḥ
 45 bhīmasenaś caran mārgān subahūn pratyadṛśyata
     bhrāntam udbhrāntam āviddham āplutaṃ prasṛtaṃ sṛtam
     saṃpātaṃ samudīryaṃ ca darśayām āsa pāṇḍavaḥ
 46 ke cid agrāsinā chinnāḥ pāṇḍavena mahātmanā
     vinedur bhinnamarmāṇo nipetuś ca gatāsavaḥ
 47 chinnadantā grahas tāś ca bhinnakumbhās tathāpare
     viyodhāḥ svāny anīkāni jaghnur bhārata vāraṇāḥ
     nipetur urvyāṃ ca tathā vinadanto mahāravān
 48 chinnāṃś ca tomarāṃś cāpān mahāmātraśirāṃsi ca
     paristomāni citrāṇi kakṣyāś ca kanakojjvalāḥ
 49 graiveyāṇy atha śaktīś ca patākāḥ kaṇapāṃs tathā
     tūṇīrāṇy atha yantrāṇi vicitrāṇi dhanūṃṣi ca
 50 agnikuṇḍāni śubhrāṇi tottrāṃś caivāṅkuśaiḥ saha
     ghaṇṭāś ca vividhā rājan hemagarbhāṃs tsarūn api
     patataḥ patitāṃś caiva paśyāmaḥ saha sādibhiḥ
 51 chinnagātrāvara karair nihataiś cāpi vāraṇaiḥ
     āsīt tasmin samāstīrṇā patitair bhūnagair iva
 52 vimṛdyaivaṃ mahānāgān mamardāśvān nararṣabhaḥ
     aśvārohavarāṃś cāpi pātayām āsa bhārata
     tad ghoram abhavad yuddhaṃ tasya teṣāṃ ca bhārata
 53 khalīnāny atha yoktrāṇi kaśāś ca kanakojjvalāḥ
     paristomāś ca prāsāś ca ṛṣṭayaś ca mahādhanāḥ
 54 kavacāny atha carmāṇi citrāṇy āstaraṇāni ca
     tatra tatrāpaviddhāni vyadṛśyanta mahāhave
 55 protha yantrair vicitraiś ca śastraiś ca vimalais tathā
     sacakre vasudhāṃ kīrṇāṃ śabalaiḥ kusumair iva
 56 āplutya rathinaḥ kāṃś cit parāmṛśya mahābalaḥ
     pātayām āsa khaḍgena sa dhvajān api pāṇḍavaḥ
 57 muhur utpatato dikṣu dhāvataś ca yaśasvinaḥ
     mārgāṃś ca carataś citrān vyasmayanta raṇe janāḥ
 58 nijaghāna padā kāṃś cid ākṣipyānyān apothayat
     khaḍgenānyāṃś ca ciccheda nādenānyāṃś ca bhīṣayan
 59 ūruvegena cāpy anyān pātayām āsa bhūtale
     apare cainam ālokya bhayāt pañcatvam āgatāḥ
 60 evaṃ sā bahulā senā kaliṅgānāṃ tarasvinām
     parivārya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ bhīmasenam upādravat
 61 tataḥ kaliṅga sainyānāṃ pramukhe bharatarṣabha
     śrutāyuṣam abhiprekṣya bhīmasenaḥ samabhyayāt
 62 tam āyāntam abhiprekṣya kaliṅgo navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     bhīmasenam ameyātmā pratyavidhyat stanāntare
 63 kaliṅga bāṇābhihatas tottrārdita iva dviṣaḥ
     bhīmasenaḥ prajajvāla krodhenāgnir ivendhanaiḥ
 64 athāśokaḥ samādāya rathaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam
     bhīmaṃ saṃpādayām āsa rathena rathasārathiḥ
 65 tam āruhya rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ kaunteyaḥ śatrusūdanaḥ
     kaliṅgam abhidudrāva tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
 66 tataḥ śrutāyur balavān bhīmāya niśitāñ śarān
     preṣayām āsa saṃkruddho darśayan pāṇilāghavam
 67 sa kārmukavarotsṛṣṭair navabhir niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     samāhato bhṛśaṃ rājan kaliṅgena mahāyaśāḥ
     saṃcukrudhe bhṛśaṃ bhīmo daṇḍāhata ivoragaḥ
 68 kruddhaś ca cāpam āyamya balavad balināṃ varaḥ
     kaliṅgam avadhīt pārtho bhīmaḥ saptabhir āyasaiḥ
 69 kṣurābhyāṃ cakrarakṣau ca kaliṅgasya mahābalau
     satyadevaṃ ca satyaṃ ca prāhiṇod yamasādanam
 70 tataḥ punar ameyātmā nārācair niśitais tribhiḥ
     ketumantaṃ raṇe bhīmo 'gamayad yamasādanam
 71 tataḥ kaliṅgāḥ saṃkruddhā bhīmasenam amarṣaṇam
     anīkair bahusāhasraiḥ kṣatriyāḥ samavārayan
 72 tataḥ śaktigadā khaḍgatomararṣṭi paraśvadhaiḥ
     kaliṅgāś ca tato rājan bhīmasenam avākiran
 73 saṃnivārya sa tāṃ ghorāṃ śaravṛṣṭiṃ samutthitām
     gadām ādāya tarasā pariplutya mahābalaḥ
     bhīmaḥ saptaśatān vīrān anayad yamasādanam
 74 punaś caiva dvisāhasrān kaliṅgān arimardanaḥ
     prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 75 evaṃ sa tāny anīkāni kaliṅgānāṃ punaḥ punaḥ
     bibheda samare vīraḥ prekṣya bhīṣmaṃ mahāvratam
 76 hatārohāś ca mātaṅgāḥ pāṇḍavena mahātmanā
     viprajagmur anīkeṣu meghā vātahatā iva
     mṛdantaḥ svāny anīkāni vinadantaḥ śarāturāḥ
 77 tato bhīmo mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhaṃ prādhmāpayad balī
     sarvakāliṅgasainyānāṃ manāṃsi samakampayat
 78 mohaś cāpi kaliṅgānām āviveśa paraṃtapa
     prākampanta ca sainyāni vāhanāni ca sarvaśaḥ
 79 bhīmena samare rājan gajendreṇeva sarvataḥ
     mārgān bahūn vicaratā dhāvatā ca tatas tataḥ
     muhur utpatatā caiva saṃmohaḥ samajāyata
 80 bhīmasena bhayatrastaṃ sainyaṃ ca samakampata
     kṣobhyamāṇam asaṃbādhaṃ prāheṇeva mahat saraḥ
 81 trāsiteṣu ca vīreṣu bhīmenādbhuta karmaṇā
     punarāvartamāneṣu vidravatsu ca saṃghaśaḥ
 82 sarvakāliṅgayodheṣu pāṇḍūnāṃ dhvajinīpatiḥ
     abravīt svāny anīkāni yudhyadhvam iti pārṣataḥ
 83 senāpativacaḥ śrutvā śikhaṇḍipramukhā gaṇāḥ
     bhīmam evābhyavartanta rathānīkaiḥ prahāribhiḥ
 84 dharmarājaś ca tān sarvān upajagrāha pāṇḍavaḥ
     mahatā meghavarṇena nāgānīkena pṛṣṭhataḥ
 85 evaṃ saṃcodya sarvāṇi svāny anīkāni pārṣataḥ
     bhīmasenasya jagrāha pārṣṇiṃ satpuruṣocitām
 86 na hi pāñcālarājasya loke kaś cana vidyate
     bhīma sātyakayor anyaḥ prāṇebhyaḥ priyakṛttamaḥ
 87 so 'paśyat taṃ kaliṅgeṣu carantam arisūdanam
     bhīmasenaṃ mahābāhuṃ pārṣataḥ paravīrahā
 88 nanarda bahudhā rājan hṛṣṭaś cāsīt paraṃtapaḥ
     śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau ca samare siṃhanādaṃ nanāda ca
 89 sa ca pārāvatāśvasya rathe hemapariṣkṛte
     kovidāradhvajaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenaḥ samāśvasat
 90 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā kaliṅgaiḥ samabhidrutam
     bhīmasenam ameyātmā trāṇāyājau samabhyayāt
 91 tau dūrāt sātyakir dṛṣṭvā dhṛṣṭadyumnavṛkodarau
     kaliṅgān samare vīrau yodhayantau manasvinau
 92 sa tatra gatvā śaineyo javena jayatāṃ varaḥ
     pārtha pārṣatayoḥ pārṣṇiṃ jagrāha puruṣarṣabhaḥ
 93 sa kṛtvā kadanaṃ tatra pragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ
     āsthito raudram ātmānaṃ jaghāna samare parān
 94 kaliṅga prabhavāṃ caiva māṃsaśoṇitakardamām
     rudhirasyandinīṃ tatra bhīmaḥ prāvartayan nadīm
 95 antareṇa kaliṅgānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca vāhinīm
     saṃtatāra sudustārāṃ bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ
 96 bhīmasenaṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā prākrośaṃs tāvakā nṛpa
     kālo 'yaṃ bhīmarūpeṇa kaliṅgaiḥ saha yudhyate
 97 tataḥ śāṃtanavo bhīṣmaḥ śrutvā taṃ ninadaṃ raṇe
     abhyayāt tvarito bhīmaṃ vyūḍhānīkaḥ samantataḥ
 98 taṃ sātyakir bhīmaseno dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
     abhyadravanta bhīṣmasya rathaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam
 99 parivārya ca te sarve gāṅgeyaṃ rabhasaṃ raṇe
     tribhis tribhiḥ śarair ghorair bhīṣmam ānarchur añjasā
 100 pratyavidhyata tān sarvān pitā devavratas tava
    yatamānān maheṣvāsāṃs tribhis tribhir ajihmagaiḥ
101 tataḥ śarasahasreṇa saṃnivārya mahārathān
    hayān kāñcanasaṃnāhān bhīmasya nyahanac charaiḥ
102 hatāśve tu rathe tiṣṭhan bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān
    śaktiṃ cikṣepa tarasā gāṅgeyasya rathaṃ prati
103 aprāptām eva tāṃ śaktiṃ pitā devavratas tava
    tridhā ciccheda samare sā pṛthivyām aśīryata
104 tataḥ śaikyāyasīṃ gurvīṃ pragṛhya balavad gadām
    bhīmaseno rathā tūrṇaṃ pupluve manujarṣabha
105 sātyako 'pi tatas tūrṇaṃ bhīmasya priyakāmyayā
    sārathiṃ kuruvṛddhasya pātayām āsa sāyakaiḥ
106 bhīṣmas tu nihate tasmin sārathau rathināṃ varaḥ
    vātāyamānais tair aśvair apanīto raṇājirāt
107 bhīmasenas tato rājann apanīte mahāvrate
    prajajvāla yathā vahnir dahan kakṣam ivaidhitaḥ
108 sa hatvā sarvakāliṅgān senā madhye vyatiṣṭhata
    nainam abhyutsahan ke cit tāvakā bharatarṣabha
109 dhṛṣṭadyumnas tam āropya svarathe rathināṃ varaḥ
    paśyatāṃ sarvasainyānām apovāha yaśasvinam
110 saṃpūjyamānaḥ pāñcālyair matsyaiś ca bharatarṣabha
    dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ pariṣvajya sameyād atha sātyakim
111 athābravīd bhīmasenaṃ sātyakiḥ satyavikramaḥ
    praharṣayan yaduvyāghro dhṛṣṭadyumnasya paśyataḥ
112 diṣṭyā kaliṅga rājaś ca rājaputraś ca ketumān
    śakradevaś ca kāliṅgaḥ kaliṅgāś ca mṛdhe hatāḥ
113 svabāhubalavīryeṇa nāgāśvarathasaṃkulaḥ
    mahāvyūhaḥ kaliṅgānām ekena mṛditas tvayā
114 evam uktvā śiner naptā dīrghabāhur ariṃdamaḥ
    rathād ratham abhidrutya paryaṣvajata pāṇḍavam
115 tataḥ svaratham āruhya punar eva mahārathaḥ
    tāvakān avadhīt kruddho bhīmasya balam ādadhat

SECTION L

Sanjaya said, "When the troops, O bull of Bharata's race, were withdrawn on the first day, and when Duryodhana was filled with delight upon (beholding) Bhishma excited with wrath in battle, king Yudhisthira the just, speedily repaired unto Janardana, accompanied by all his brothers and all the kings (on his side). Filled with great grief thinking of his defeat, and beholding Bhishma's prowess, O king, he addressed that scion of Vrishni's race, saying, 'Behold, O Krishna, that mighty bowman Bhishma of terrible prowess. He consumes with his arrow my troops like fire (consuming)
p. 125
dry grass. How shall we even look at that high-souled (warrior) who is licking up my troops like fire fed with clarified butter? Beholding; that tiger among men, that mighty warrior armed with the bow, my troops fly away, afflicted with arrows. Enraged Yama himself, or He armed with the thunder, or even Varuna noose in hand, or Kuvera armed with mace, may be vanquished in battle but the mighty car-warrior Bhishma, of great energy is incapable of being vanquished. Such being the case, I am sinking in the fathomless ocean represented by Bhishma, without a boat (to rescue me). 1 In consequence, O Kesava, of the weakness of my understanding, having obtained Bhishma (for a foe in battle), I shall, O Govinda, retire into woods. To live there is preferable to devoting these lords of earth to Death in the form of Bhishma. Conversant with mighty weapons, Bhishma, O Krishna, will annihilate my army. As insects rush into the blazing fire for their own destruction, the combatants of my army are even so. In putting forth prowess for the sake of kingdom, O thou of Vrishni's race, I am being led to destruction. My heroic brothers also are pained and afflicted with arrows for my sake, having been deprived of both sovereignty and happiness in consequence of their love for their eldest brother. We regard life very highly, for, under these circumstances, life is too precious (to be sacrificed). During the remainder of my days I will practise the severest of ascetic austerities. I will not, O Kesava, cause these friends of mine to be slain. 2 The mighty Bhishma incessantly stays, with his celestial weapon, many thousands of my car-warriors who are foremost of smiters. Tell me, O Madhava, without delay, what should be done that might do me good. As regards Arjuna, I see that he is an indifferent spectator in this battle. Endued with great might, this Bhima alone, remembering Kshatriya duties, fighteth putting forth the prowess of his arms and to the utmost of his power. With his hero-slaying mace, this high-souled (warrior), to the full measure of his powers, achieveth the most difficult feats upon foot-soldiers and steeds and cars and elephants. This hero, however, is incapable, O sire, of destroying in fair fight the hostile host in even a century. This thy friend (Arjuna) alone (amongst) is conversant with (mighty) weapons. He, however, beholding us consumed by Bhishma and the high-souled Drona, looketh indifferently on us. The celestial weapons of Bhishma and the high-souled Drona, incessantly applied, are consuming all the Kshatriyas. O Krishna, such is his prowess, that Bhishma, with wrath excited, aided by the kings (on his side), will, without doubt annihilate us. O Lord of Yoga, look for that great bowman, that mighty car-warrior, who will give Bhishma his quietus like rain-charged clouds quenching a forest conflagration. (Then) through thy grace, O Govinda, the son of Pandu, their foes being slain, will, after recovery of their kingdom, be happy with their kinsmen.
p. 126
"Having said this, the high-souled son of Pritha, with heart afflicted by grief and mind turned within, remained silent for a long while in a reflected mood. Beholding the son of Pandu stricken with grief and deprived of his senses by sorrow, Govinda then gladdening all the Pandavas said, 'Do not grieve, O chief of the Bharatas. It behoveth thee not to grieve, when thy brothers are all heroes and renowned bowmen in the world. I also am employed in doing thee good, as also that mighty car-warrior Satyaki and Virata and Drupada, both reverend in years, and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's line. And so also, O best of kings, all these monarchs with their (respective) troops are expectant of thy favour and devoted to thee, O king. This mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race placed in command of thy army is always desirous of thy welfare and engaged in doing that which is agreeable to thee, as also this Sikhandin, O thou of mighty arms, who is certainly the slayer of Bhishma. Hearing these words, the king (Yudhishthira), said, unto that mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, in that very assembly and in the hearing of Vasudeva, these words, O Dhrishtadyumna, mark these words that I say unto thee, O thou of Prishata's line. The words uttered by me should not be transgressed. Approved by Vasudeva, thou hast been the commander of our forces. As Kartikeya, in days of old, was ever the commander of the celestial host, so also art thou, O bull among men, the commander of the Pandava host. Putting forth thy prowess, O tiger among men, slay the Kauravas. I will follow thee, and Bhima, and Krishna also, O sire, and the sons of Madri united together, and the sons of Draupadi accoutred in mail, and all the other foremost of kings, O bull among men. Then gladdening (the listeners) Dhrishtadyumna said, 'Ordained of old by Sambhu himself, I am, O son of Pritha, the slayer of Drona. I shall now fight in battle against Bhishma, and Drona and Kripa and Salya and Jayadratha and all the proud monarchs (on the Kuru side)'. When that foremost of princes, that slayer of foes, the son of Prishata, said this defiantly, the Pandava warriors, endued with great energy and incapable of being defeated in battle, all set up a loud shout. And then Pritha's son Yudhishthira said unto the commander of his army, the son of Prishata, (these words), 'An array known by the name of Krauncharuma, that is destructive of all foes, and that was spoken of by Vrihaspati unto Indra in days of old when the gods and the Asuras fought,--that array destructive of hostile divisions, do thou form. Unseen before, the kings behold it, along with the Kurus.' Thus addressed by that god among men, like Vishnu addressed by the wielder of the thunderbolt, 1 he (Dhrishtadyumna), when morning dawned, placed Dhananjaya in the van of the whole army. And Dhananjaya's standard, created at Indra's command by the celestial artificer, while moving through the skies, seemed wonderfully beautiful. Decked with banners bearing hues resembling
p. 127
those of Indra's bow, 1 coursing through the air like a ranger of the skies, and looking like the fleeting edifice of vapour in the welkin, it seemed, O sire to glide dancingly along the track of the car (to which it was attached). And the bearer of Gandiva with that (standard) graced with gems, and that standard itself with the bearer of Gandiva, looked highly adorned, like the Self-create with the Sun (and the Sun with the Self-create). 2 And king Drupada, surrounded by a large number of troops, became the head (of that array). And the two kings Kuntibhoja and Saivya became its two eyes. And the ruler of the Dasarnas, and the Prayagas, with the Daserakas, and the Anupakas, and the Kiratas were placed in its neck, O bull of Bharata's race. And Yudhishthira, O king, with the Patachcharas, the Hunas, the Pauravakas and the Nishadas, became its two wings, so also the Pisachas, with the Kundavishas, and the Mandakas, the Ladakas, the Tanganas, and the Uddras, O Bharata, and the Saravas, the Tumbhumas, the Vatsas, and the Nakulas. And Nakula and Sahadeva placed themselves on the left wing. And on the joints of the wings were placed ten thousand cars and on the head a hundred thousand, and on the back a hundred millions and twenty thousand and on the neck a hundred and seventy thousand. And on the joints of the wings, the wings and the extremities of the wings proceeded elephants in large bodies, looking, O king, like blazing mountains. And the rear was protected by Virata aided by the Kekayas, and the ruler of Kasi and the king of the Chedis, with thirty thousand cars. 3 Forming, O Bharata, their mighty array thus, the Pandavas, expectant of sunrise, waited for battle, all cased in armour. And their white umbrellas, clean and costly, and brilliant as the sun, shone resplendent on their elephants and cars." 4

Book 6
Chapter 51

 1 [s]
      gatāparāhṇabhūyiṣṭhe tasminn ahani bhārata
      rathanāgāśvapattīnāṃ sādināṃ ca mahākṣaye
  2 droṇaputreṇa śalyena kṛpeṇa ca mahātmanā
      samasajjata pāñcālyas tribhir etair mahārathaiḥ
  3 sa lokaviditān aśvān nijaghāna mahābalaḥ
      drauṇeḥ pāñcāla dāyādaḥ śitair daśabhir āśugaiḥ
  4 tataḥ śalya rathaṃ tūrṇam āsthāya hatavāhanaḥ
      drauṇiḥ pāñcāla dāyādam abhyavarṣad atheṣubhiḥ
  5 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tu saṃsaktaṃ drauṇinā dṛśya bhārata
      saubhadre 'bhyapatat tūrṇaṃ vikiran niśitāñ śarān
  6 sa śalyaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṛpaṃ ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
      aśvatthāmānam aṣṭābhir vivyādha puruṣarṣabha
  7 ārjuniṃ tu tatas tūrṇaṃ drauṇir vivyādha patriṇā
      śalyo dvādaśabhiś caiva kṛpaś ca niśitais tribhiḥ
  8 lakṣmaṇas tava pautras tu tava pautram avasthitam
      abhyavartata saṃhṛṣṭas tato yuddham avartata
  9 dauryodhanis tu saṃkruddhaḥ saubhadraṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ
      vivyādha samare rājaṃs tad adbhutam ivābhavat
  10 abhimanyus tu saṃkruddho bhrātaraṃ bharatarṣabha
     śaraiḥ pañcāśatā rājan kṣiprahasto 'bhyavidhyata
 11 lakṣmaṇo 'pi tatas tasya dhanuś ciccheda patriṇā
     muṣṭideśe mahārāja tata uccukruśur janāḥ
 12 tad vihāya dhanuś chinnaṃ saubhadraḥ paravīrahā
     anyad ādattavāṃś citraṃ kārmukaṃ vegavattaram
 13 tau tatra samare hṛṣṭau kṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇau
     anyonyaṃ viśikhais tīkṣṇair jaghnatuḥ puruṣarṣabhau
 14 tato duryodhano rājā dṛṣṭvā putraṃ mahāratham
     pīḍitaṃ tava pautreṇa prāyāt tatra janeśvaraḥ
 15 saṃnivṛtte tava sute sarva eva janādhipāḥ
     ārjuniṃ rathavaṃśena samantāt paryavārayan
 16 sa taiḥ parivṛtaḥ śūraiḥ śūro yudhi sudurjayaiḥ
     na sma vivyathate rājan kṛṣṇa tulyaparākramaḥ
 17 saubhadram atha saṃsaktaṃ tatra dṛṣṭvā dhanaṃjayaḥ
     abhidudrāva saṃkruddhas trātukāmaḥ svam ātmajam
 18 tataḥ sarathanāgāśvā bhīṣmadroṇapurogamāḥ
     abhyavartanta rājānaḥ sahitāḥ savyasācinam
 19 uddhūtaṃ sahasā bhaumaṃ nāgāśvarathasādibhiḥ
     divākarapathaṃ prāpya rajas tīvram adṛśyata
 20 tāni nāgasahasrāṇi bhūmipāla śatāni ca
     tasya bāṇapathaṃ prāpya nābhyavartanta sarvaśaḥ
 21 praṇeduḥ sarvabhūtāni babhūvus timirā diśaḥ
     kurūṇām anayas tīvraḥ samadṛśyata dāruṇaḥ
 22 nāpy antarikṣaṃ na diśo na bhūmir na ca bhāskaraḥ
     prajajñe bharataśreṣṭha śarasaṃghaiḥ kirīṭinaḥ
 23 sādita dhvajanāgās tu hatāśvā rathino bhṛśam
     vipradruta rathāḥ ke cid dṛśyante rathayūthapāḥ
 24 virathā rathinaś cānye dhāvamānāḥ samantataḥ
     tatra tatraiva dṛśyante sāyudhāḥ sāṅgadair bhujaiḥ
 25 hayārohā hayāṃs tyaktvā gajārohāś ca dantinaḥ
     arjunasya bhayād rājan samantād vipradudruvuḥ
 26 rathebhyaś ca gajebhyaś ca hayebhyaś ca narādhipāḥ
     patitāḥ pātyamānāś ca dṛśyante 'rjuna tāḍitāḥ
 27 sagadān udyatān bāhūn sa khaḍgāṃś ca viśāṃ pate
     sa prāsāṃś ca sa tūṇīrān sa śarān sa śarāsanān
 28 sāṅkuśān sa patākāṃś ca tatra tatrārjuno nṛṇām
     nicakarta śarair ugrai raudraṃ bibhrad vapus tadā
 29 parighāṇāṃ pravṛddhānāṃ mudgarāṇāṃ ca māriṣa
     prāsānāṃ bhiṇḍipālānāṃ nistriṃśānāṃ ca saṃyuge
 30 paraśvadhānāṃ tīkṣṇānāṃ tomarāṇāṃ ca bhārata
     varmaṇāṃ cāpaviddhānāṃ kavacānāṃ ca bhūtale
 31 dhvajānāṃ carmaṇāṃ caiva vyajanānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
     chatrāṇāṃ hemadaṇḍānāṃ cāmarāṇāṃ ca bhārata
 32 pratodānāṃ kaśānāṃ ca yoktrāṇāṃ caiva māriṣa
     rāśayaś cātra dṛśyante vinikīrṇā raṇakṣitau
 33 nāsīt tatra pumān kaś cit tava sainyasya bhārata
     yo 'rjunaṃ samare śūraṃ pratyudyāyāt kathaṃ cana
 34 yo yo hi samare pārthaṃ patyudyāti viśāṃ pate
     sa sa vai viśikhais tīkṣṇaiḥ paralokāya nīyate
 35 teṣu vidravamāṇeṣu tava yodheṣu sarvaśaḥ
     arjuno vāsudevaś ca dadhmatur vārijottamau
 36 tat prabhagnaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā pitā devavratas tava
     abravīt samare śūraṃ bhāradvājaṃ smayann iva
 37 eṣa pāṇḍusuto vīraḥ kṛṣṇena sahito balī
     tathā karoti sainyāni yathā kuryād dhanaṃjayaḥ
 38 na hy eṣa samare śakyo jetum adya kathaṃ cana
     yathāsya dṛśyate rūpaṃ kālāntakayamopamam
 39 na nivartayituṃ cāpi śakyeyaṃ mahatī camūḥ
     anyonyaprekṣayā paśya dravatīyaṃ varūthinī
 40 eṣa cāstaṃ giriśreṣṭhaṃ bhānumān pratipadyate
     vapūṃṣi sarvalokasya saṃharann iva sarvathā
 41 tatrāvahāraṃ saṃprāptaṃ manye 'haṃ puruṣarṣabha
     śrāntā bhītāś ca no yodhā na yotsyanti kathaṃ cana
 42 evam uktvā tato bhīṣmo droṇam ācārya sattamam
     avahāram atho cakre tāvakānāṃ mahārathaḥ
 43 tato 'vahāraḥ sainyānāṃ tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata
     astaṃ gacchati sūrye 'bhūt saṃdhyākāle ca vartati

SECTION LI

Sanjaya said, "Beholding the mighty and terrible array called Krauncha formed by Pandu's son of immeasurable energy, thy son,
p. 128
approaching the preceptor, and Kripa, and Salya, O sire, and Somadatta's son, and Vikarna, and Aswatthaman also, and all his brothers too, headed by Dussasana, O Bharata, and other immeasurable heroes assembled there for battle, said these timely words, gladdening them all, 'Armed with various kinds of weapons, ye all are conversant with the meaning of the scriptures. Ye mighty car-warriors, each of you is singly capable of slaying in battle the sons of Pandu with their troops. How much more then, when ye are united together. Our host, therefore, which is protected by Bhishma, is immeasurable, while that host of theirs, which is protected by Bhima, is measurable. 1 Let the Samsthanas, the Surasenas, the Venikas, the Kukkuras, the Rechakas, the Trigartas, the Madrakas, the Yavanas, with Satrunjayas, and Dussasana, and that excellent hero Vikarna, and Nanda and Upanandaka, and Chitrasena, along with the Manibhadrakas, protect Bhishma with their (respective) troops,'--Then Bhishma and Drona and thy sons, O sire, formed a mighty array for resisting that of the Parthas. And Bhishma, surrounded by a large body of troops, advanced, leading a mighty army, like the chief of the celestials himself. And that mighty bowman, the son of Bharadwaja, endued with great energy, followed him with the Kuntalas, the Dasarnas, and the Magadhas, O king, and with the Vidarbhas, the Melakas, the Karnas, and the Pravaranas also. And the Gandharas, the Sindhusauviras, the Sivis and the Vasatis with all their combatants also, (followed) Bhishma, that ornament of battle, and Sakuni, with all his troops protected the son of Bharadwaja. And then king Duryodhana, united with all his brothers, with the Aswalakas, the Vikarnas, the Vamanas, the Kosalas, the Daradas, the Vrikas, as also the Kshudrakas and the Malavas advanced cheerfully against the Pandava host. And Bhurisravas, and Sala, and Salya, and Bhagadatta, O sire, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, protected the left flank. And Somadatta, and Susarman, and Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kamvojas and Satayus, and Srutayus, were on the right flank. And Aswatthaman, and Kripa, and Kritavarman of Satwata's race, with a very large division of the troops, were, stationed at the rear of the army. And behind them were the rulers of many provinces, and Ketumat, and Vasudana, and the powerful son of the king of Kasi. Then all the troops on thy side cheerfully waiting for battle, O Bharata, blew their conches with great pleasure, and set up leonine roars. And hearing the shouts of those (combatants) filled with delight the venerable Kuru grandsire, endued with great prowess, uttering a leonine roar, blew his conch. Thereupon, conches and drums and diverse kinds of Pesis and cymbals, were sounded at once by others, and the noise made became a loud uproar. And Madhava and Arjuna, both stationed on a great car unto which were yoked white steeds, blew their excellent conches decked with gold and jewels. And Hrishikesa blew the conch called Panchajanya, and Dhananjaya (that called)
p. 129
[paragraph continues] Devadatta. And Vrikodara of terrible deeds blew the huge conch called Paundra. And Kunti's son king Yudhishthira blew the conch called Anantavijaya, while Nakula and Sahadeva (those conches called) Sughosa and Manipushpaka. 1 And the ruler of Kasi, and Saivya, and Sikhandin the mighty car-warrior, and Dhrishtadyumna, and Virata, and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, and that great bowman the king of the Panchalas, and the five sons of Draupadi, all blew their large conches and set up leonine roars. And that great uproar uttered there by those heroes, loudly reverberated through both the earth and the welkin. Thus, O great king, the Kurus and the Pandavas, both filled with delight, advanced against each other for battling again, and scorching each other thus."

Book 6
Chapter 52

1 [s]
      prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavas tataḥ
      anīkānyānusaṃyāne vyādideśātha bhārata
  2 gāruḍaṃ ca mahāvyūhaṃ cakre śāṃtanavas tadā
      putrāṇāṃ te jayākāṅkṣī bhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ
  3 garuḍasya svayaṃ tuṇḍe pitā devavratas tava
      cakṣuṣī ca bharadvājaḥ kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ
  4 aśvatthāmā kṛpaś caiva śīrṣam āstāṃ yaśasvinau
      trigartair matsyakaikeyair vāṭadhānaiś ca saṃyutau
  5 bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ śalyo bhagadattaś ca māriṣa
      madrakāḥ sindhusauvīrās tathā pañca nadāś ca ye
  6 jayadrathena sahitā grīvāyāṃ saṃniveśitāḥ
      pṛṣṭhe duryodhano rājā sodaraiḥ sānugair vṛtaḥ
  7 vindānuvindāv āvantyau kāmbojaś ca śakaiḥ saha
      puccham āsan mahārāja śūrasenāś ca sarvaśaḥ
  8 māgadhāś ca kaliṅgāś ca dāśeraka gaṇaiḥ saha
      dakṣiṇaṃ pakṣam āsādya sthitā vyūhasya daṃśitāḥ
  9 kānanāś ca vikuñjāś ca muktāḥ puṇḍrāviṣas tathā
      bṛhadbalena sahitā vāmaṃ pakṣam upāśritāḥ
  10 vyūḍhaṃ dṛṣṭvā tu tat sainyaṃ savyasācī paraṃtapaḥ
     dhṛṣṭadyumnena sahitaḥ pratyavyūhata saṃyuge
     ardhacandreṇa vyūhena vyūhaṃ tam atidāruṇam
 11 dakṣiṇaṃ śṛṅgam āsthāya bhīmaseno vyarocata
     nānāśastraughasaṃpannair nānādeśyair nṛpair vṛtaḥ
 12 tad anv eva virāṭaś ca drupadaś ca mahārathaḥ
     tadanantaram evāsīn nīlo līlāyudhaiḥ saha
 13 nīlād anantaraṃ caiva dhṛṣṭaketur mahārathaḥ
     cedikāśikarūṣaiś ca pauravaiś cābhisaṃvṛtaḥ
 14 dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca pāñcālāś ca prabhadrakāḥ
     madhye sainyasya mahataḥ sthitā yuddhāya bhārata
 15 tathaiva dharmarājo 'pi gajānīkena saṃvṛtaḥ
     tatas tu sātyakī rājan draupadyāḥ pañca cātmajāḥ
 16 abhimanyus tatas tūrṇam irāvāṃś ca tataḥ param
     bhaimasenis tato rājan kekayāś ca mahārathāḥ
 17 tato 'bhūd dvipadāṃ śreṣṭho vāmaṃ pārśvam upāśritaḥ
     sarvasya jagato goptā goptā yasya janārdanaḥ
 18 evam etan mahāvyūhaṃ pratyavyūhanta pāṇḍavāḥ
     vadhārthaṃ tava putrāṇāṃ tatpakṣaṃ ye ca saṃgatāḥ
 19 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ vyatiṣakta rathadvipam
     tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca nighnatām itaretaram
 20 hayaughāś ca rathaughāś ca tatra tatra viśāṃ pate
     saṃpatantaḥ sma dṛśyante nighnamānāḥ parasparam
 21 dhāvatāṃ ca rathaughānāṃ nighnatāṃ ca pṛthak pṛthak
     babhūva tumulaḥ śabdo vimiśro dundubhisvanaiḥ
 22 divaspṛn naravīrāṇāṃ nighnatām itaretaram
     saṃprahāre sutumule tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata

SECTION LII

Dhritarashtra said, "When mine and the hostile hosts were thus formed into battle array, how did the foremost of smiters begin to strike?"
Sanjaya said, "When all the divisions were thus arrayed, the combatants waited, each cased in mail, and with their beautiful standards all upraised. And beholding the (Kuru) host that resembled the limitless ocean, thy son Duryodhana, O king, stationed within it, said unto all the combatants on thy side, 'Cased in mail (as ye are), begin ye the fight'. The combatants then, entertaining cruel intentions, and abandoning their very lives, all rushed against the Pandavas, with standards upraised. The battle that took place then was fierce and made the hair stand on end. And the cars and elephants all got mixed together. And shafts with beautiful feathers, and endued with great energy and sharp points, shot by car-warriors fell upon elephants and horses. And when the battle began in this way, the venerable Kuru grandsire, the mighty-armed Bhishma of terrible prowess, cased in mail, taking up his bow, and approaching them, showered an arrowy downpour on the heroic son of Subhadra, and the mighty car-warrior Arjuna, and the ruler of the Kekayas and Virata, and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, as also upon the Chedi and the Matsya warriors. And that mighty array (of the Pandavas) wavered at the onset of that hero. And terrific was the encounter that took place between all the combatants. And horse-men and car-warriors and foremost of steeds fell fast. And the car-divisions of the Pandavas began to fly away. Then that tiger among men, Arjuna, beholding that mighty car-warrior Bhishma, angrily said unto him of Vrishni's race. 'Proceed to the place where the grandsire is. O thou of Vrishni's race, it is evident that this Bhishma, with wrath excited, will annihilate for Duryodhana's benefit my host. And this
p. 130
[paragraph continues] Drona, and Kripa and Salya and Vikarna, O Janardana, united with Dhritarashtra's sons headed by Duryodhana, and protected by this firm bowman, will slaughter the Panchalas. Even I, therefore, shall stay Bhishma for the sake of my troops, O Janardana.' Unto him Vasudeva then said, 'Be careful, O Dhananjaya, for I will soon take thee, O hero, towards the grandsire's car.' Having said this, O king, Saurin took that car, which was celebrated over the world, before the car of Bhishma. With numerous banners all waving, with steeds looking handsome like a flight of (white) cranes, with standard upraised on which was the ape roaring fiercely, upon his large car of solar effulgence and whose rattle resembled roar of the clouds, slaughtering the Kaurava divisions and the Surasenas also, the son of Pandu, that enhancer of the joys of friends speedily came to the encounter. Him (thus) rushing impetuously like an infuriate elephant and (thus) frightening in a battle brave combatants and felling them with his shafts, Bhishma the son of Santanu, protected by the warriors headed by Saindhava and by the combatants of the East and the Sauviras and the Kekayas, encountered with great impetuosity. Who else save the Kuru grandsire and those car-warriors, viz., Drona and Vikartana's son (Karna), are capable of advancing in battle against the bearer of the bow called Gandiva? Then, O great king, Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kauravas, struck Arjuna with seventy-seven arrows and Drona (struck him) with five and twenty, and Kripa with fifty, and Duryodhana with four and sixty, and Salya with nine arrows; and Drona's son, that tiger among men, with sixty, and Vikarna with three arrows; and Saindhava with nine and Sakuni with five. And Artayani O king, pierced Pandu's son with three broad-headed arrows. And (though) pierced on all sides by them with sharp arrows, that great bowman, 1 that mighty-armed (warrior), wavered not like mountain that is pierced (with arrows). Thereupon he, the diadem-decked, of immeasurable soul, O bull of Bharata's race, in return pierced Bhishma with five and twenty, and Kripa with nine arrows, and Drona with sixty, O tiger among men, and Vikarna with three arrows; and Artayani with three arrows, and the king (Duryodhana) also with five. And then Satyaki, and Virata and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, and the sons of Draupadi, and Abhimanyu, all surrounded him, (proceeding to his support). Then the prince of the Panchalas, supported by the Somakas, advanced towards the great bowman Drona who was engaged in seeking the welfare of Ganga's son. Then Bhishma, that foremost of car-warriors, speedily pierced the son of Pandu with eighty sharp arrows, upon which the combatants on thy side were much gratified. Hearing the shouts of those lions among car-warriors, Dhananjaya, endued with great prowess, then cheerfully entered into the midst of those lions among car-warriors and sported with his bow, O king, (successively) aiming those mighty car-warriors. Then that ruler of men, king Duryodhana, said unto Bhishma, beholding his own troops (thus)
p. 131
afflicted in battle by the son of Pritha. 'This mighty son of Pandu, O sire, accompanied by Krishna, felling all our troops, cutteth down our roots, even though thou, O son of Ganga, and that foremost of car-warriors, Drona, are alive. O monarch, it is for thee only that this Karna, laying aside his weapons, doth not fight with the sons of Pritha in battle (though) he is ever a well-wisher of mine, Do, therefore, that, O son of Ganga by which Phalguni may be slain. 'Thus addressed, O king, thy sire Devavrata, saying, 'Fie to Kshatriya usage', then proceeded towards Partha's car. And all the kings, O monarch, seeing both those warriors with white steeds yoked unto their cars stationed (for battle), set up loud leonine roars, and also blew their conches, O sire. And Drona's son and Duryodhana, and thy son Vikarna, surrounding Bhishma in that combat, stood, O sire, for battle. And so all the Pandavas, surrounding Dhananjaya, stood for fierce conflict. And the battle then commenced. And the son of Ganga pierced Partha in that combat with nine shafts. And Arjuna pierced him in return with ten shafts penetrating into the very vitals. Then, with a thousand arrows, well shot, Pandu's son Arjuna, famed for his skill in battle, shrouded Bhishma on all sides. That arrowy net, however, of Partha, O king, Bhishma the son of Santanu baffled with an arrowy net (of his own). And both well-pleased, and both delighting in battle, fought with each other without each gaining any advantage over the other, and each desirous of counteracting the other's feats. And the successive flights of arrows shot from Bhishma's bow were seen to be dispersed by the shafts of Arjuna. And so the flights of arrows shot by Arjuna, cut off by the arrows of Ganga's son, all fell down on the ground. And Arjuna pierced Bhishma with five and twenty arrows of sharp points. And Bhishma, too, in that combat, pierced Partha in return with nine arrows. And those two mighty warriors, those chastisers of foes, piercing each other's steeds, and also the shafts and the wheels of each other's cars, began to sport. Then, O king, Bhishma, that foremost of smiters, struck Vasudeva between his two breasts with three arrows. And the slayer of Madhu, struck with those shafts shot from Bhishma's bow, shone in that battle, O king, like a flowering Kinsuka. Then Arjuna, indignant at seeing Madhava, pierced in that combat the charioteer of Ganga's son with three arrows. And both heroes, striving with each other against each other's car, succeeded not in taking aim at each other in the combat. And in consequence of the ability and dexterity of the charioteers of both those warriors, both displayed, O king, beautiful circles and advancings and retreatings in respect of their moving cars. And, O monarch, seeing the opportunity to strike, they frequently changed positions, O king, for obtaining what they sought. And both the heroes blew their conches, mingling that blare with their leonine roars. And those mighty car-warriors twang their bows, both in the same manner. And with the blare of their conches and the rattle of their car-wheels, the very Earth was suddenly rent. And it began to tremble and produce subterranean noises. And nobody, O bull of Bharata's race, could detect any latches in either of them. Both of them was possessed
p. 132
of great might and great courage in battle, each was other's match. And by (the sight of) his standard alone, the Kauravas could approach him (for aid). And so the Pandavas approached Pritha's son (for aid), guided by his standard only. And beholding, O king, prowess thus displayed by those two foremost of men, O Bharata, all creatures (present) in that battle were filled with wonder. And none, O Bharata, observed any difference between the two, just as none finds any transgression in a person observant of morality. And both of them (at times) became perfectly invisible in consequence of clouds of arrows. And soon enough both of them in that battle became visible. And the gods with Gandharvas and the Charanas, and the great Rishis beholding their prowess, said unto one another. These mighty car-warriors when excited with rage, are incapable of ever being vanquished in battle by all the worlds with the gods, the Asuras and the Gandharvas. This highly wonderful battle would be wonderful in all the worlds. Indeed, a battle such as this will never take place again. Bhishma is incapable of being conquered in combat by Pritha's son of great intelligence, showering his arrows in battle, with bow and car and steeds. So also that great bowman, the son of Pandu, incapable of being vanquished in battle by the very gods, Bhishma is not competent to conquer in combat. As long as the world itself will last, so long will this battle continue equally. We heard these words, O king, fraught with the praise of Ganga's son and Arjuna in battle bruited about there. And while those two were engaged in displaying their prowess, other warriors of thy side and of the Pandavas, O Bharata, slew one another in battle, with sharp-edged scimitars, and polished battle-axes, and innumerable arrows, and diverse kinds of weapons. And the brave combatants of both armies cut one another down, while that terrible and murderous conflict lasted. And the encounter also, O king, that took place between Drona and the prince of the Panchalas, was awful."

Book 6
Chapter 53

1 [s]
      tato vyūḍheṣv anīkeṣu tāvakeṣv itareṣu ca
      dhanaṃjayo rathānīkam avadhīt tava bhārata
      śarair atiratho yuddhe pātayan rathayūthapān
  2 te vadhyamānāḥ pārthena kāleneva yugakṣaye
      dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe yattāḥ pāṇḍavān pratyayodhayan
      prārthayānā yaśo dīptaṃ mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam
  3 ekāgramanaso bhūtvā pāṇḍavānāṃ varūthinīm
      babhañjur bahuśo rājaṃs te cābhajyanta saṃyuge
  4 dravadbhir atha bhagnaiś ca parivartadbhir eva ca
      pāṇḍavaiḥ kauravaiś caiva na prajñāyata kiṃ cana
  5 udatiṣṭhad rajo bhaumaṃ chādayānaṃ divākaram
      diśaḥ pratidiśo vāpi tatra jajñuḥ kathaṃ cana
  6 anumānena saṃjñābhir nāmagotraiś ca saṃyuge
      vartate sma tadā yuddhaṃ tatra tatra viśāṃ pate
  7 na vyūho bhidyate tatra kauravāṇāṃ kathaṃ cana
      rakṣitaḥ satyasaṃdhena bhāradvājena dhīmatā
  8 tathaiva pāṇḍaveyānāṃ rakṣitaḥ savyasācinā
      nābhidhyata mahāvyūho bhīmena ca surakṣitaḥ
  9 senāgrād abhiniṣpatya prāyudhyaṃs tatra mānavāḥ
      ubhayoḥ senayo rājan vyatiṣakta rathadvipāḥ
  10 hayārohair hayārohāḥ pātyante sma mahāhave
     ṛṣṭibhir vimalāgrābhiḥ prāsair api ca saṃyuge
 11 rathī ratninam āsādya śaraiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ
     pātayām āsa samare tasminn atibhayaṃ kare
 12 gajārohā gajārohān nārācaśaratomaraiḥ
     saṃsaktāḥ pātayām āsus tava teṣāṃ ca saṃghaśaḥ
 13 pattisaṃghā raṇe pattīn bhiṇḍipāla paraśvadhaiḥ
     nyapātayanta saṃhṛṣṭāḥ parasparakṛtāgasaḥ
 14 padātī rathinaṃ saṃkhye rathī cāpi padātinam
     nyapātayac chitaiḥ śastraiḥ senayor ubhayor api
 15 gajārohā hayārohān pātayāṃ cakrire tadā
     hayārohā gajasthāṃś ca tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 16 gajāroha varaiś cāpi tatra tatra padātayaḥ
     pātitāḥ samadṛśyanta taiś cāpi gajayodhinaḥ
 17 pattisaṃghā hayārohaiḥ sādisaṃghāś ca pattibhiḥ
     pātyamānā vyadṛśyanta śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
 18 dhvajais tatrāpaviddhaiś ca kārmukais tomarais tathā
     prāsais tathā gadābhiś ca parighaiḥ kampanais tathā
 19 śaktibhiḥ kavacaiś citraiḥ kaṇapair aṅkuśair api
     nistriṃśair vimalaiś cāpi svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śarais tathā
 20 paristomaiḥ kuthābhiś ca kambalaiś ca mahādhanaiḥ
     bhūr bhāti bharataśreṣṭha sragdāmair iva citritā
 21 narāśvakāyaiḥ patitair dantibhiś ca mahāhave
     agamyarūpā pṛthivī māṃsaśoṇitakardamā
 22 praśaśāma rajo bhaumaṃ vyukṣitaṃ raṇaśoṇitaiḥ
     diśaś ca vimalāḥ sarvāḥ saṃbabhūvur janeśvara
 23 utthitāny agaṇeyāni kabandhāni samantataḥ
     cihnabhūtāni jagato vināśārthāya bhārata
 24 tasmin yuddhe mahāraudre vartamāne sudāruṇe
     pratyadṛśyanta rathino dhāvamānāḥ samantataḥ
 25 tato droṇaś ca bhīṣmaś ca saindhavaś ca jayadrathaḥ
     purumitro vikarṇaś ca śakuniś cāpi saubalaḥ
 26 ete samaradurdharṣāḥ siṃhatulyaparākramāḥ
     pāṇḍavānām anīkāni babhañjuḥ sma punaḥ punaḥ
 27 tathaiva bhīmaseno 'pi rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ
     sātyakiś cekitānaś ca draupadeyāś ca bhārata
 28 tāvakāṃs tava putrāṃś ca sahitān sarvarājabhiḥ
     drāvayām āsur ājau te tridaśā dānavān iva
 29 tathā te samare 'nyonyaṃ nighnantaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ
     raktokṣitā ghorarūpā virejur dānavā iva
 30 vinirjitya ripūn vīrāḥ senayor ubhayor api
     vyadṛśyanta mahāmātrā grahā iva nabhastale
 31 tato rathasahasreṇa putro duryodhanas tava
     abhyayāt pāṇḍavān yuddhe rākṣasaṃ ca ghaṭotkacam
 32 tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ sarve mahatyā senayā saha
     droṇa bhīṣmau raṇe śūrau pratyudyayur ariṃdamau
 33 kirīṭī tu yayau kruddhaḥ samarthān pārthivottamān
     ārjuniḥ sātyakiś caiva yayatuḥ saubalaṃ balam
 34 tataḥ pravavṛte bhūyaḥ saṃgrāmo lomaharṣaṇaḥ
     tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca samare vijigīṣatām

SECTION LIII

Dhritarashtra said, "Tell me, O Sanjaya, how that great bowman Drona and the Panchala prince of Prishata's race encounter each other in battle, each striving his best. I regard destiny to be superior, O Sanjaya, to exertion, when Santanu's son Bhishma (even) could not escape Pandu's son in battle. Indeed, Bhishma, when enraged in battle could destroy all mobile and immobile creatures, why, O Sanjaya, could he not then by his prowess, escape the son of Pandu in battle?"
Sanjaya said, 'Listen, O king, quietly to this terrific battle. The son of Pandu is incapable of being vanquished by the very gods with Vasava. Drona with diverse arrows pierced Dhrishtadyumna and felled the latter's
p. 133
charioteer from his niche in the car. 1 And, O sire, the enraged hero also afflicted Dhrishtadyumna's four steeds with four excellent shafts. And the heroic Dhrishtadyumna too pierced Drona in the combat with nine sharp arrows and addressed him, saying, 'Wait--Wait'. 'Then, again, Bharadwaja's son of great prowess and immeasurable soul, covered with his arrows the wrathful Dhrishtadyumna. And he took up a dreadful arrow for the destruction of Prishata's son whose force resembled that of Sakra's bolt and which was like a second rod of death. And beholding that arrow aimed by Bharadwaja in battle, loud cries of oh and alas arose, O Bharata, among all the combatants. And then we beheld the wonderful prowess of Dhrishtadyumna insomuch that the hero stood alone, immovable like a mountain. And he cut off that terrible and blazing arrow coming towards him like his own Death, and also showered an arrowy downpour on Bharadwaja's son. And beholding that difficult feat achieved by Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchalas with the Pandavas, filled with delight, set up loud shouts. And that prince, endued with great prowess, desirous of slaying Drona hurled at him a dart of great impetuosity, decked with gold and stones of lapis lazuli. Thereupon the son of Bharadwaja, smiling the while, cut off into three fragments that dart decked with gold that was coming towards him impetuously. Beholding his dart thus baffled, Dhrishtadyumna of great prowess rained arrowy downpours on Drona, O king. Then that mighty car-warrior Drona, baffling that arrowy shower, cut off when the opportunity presented, the bow of Drupada's son. His bow (thus) cut off in the combat, that mighty warrior of great fame hurled at Drona a heavy mace endued with the strength of the mountain. And hurled from his hands, that mace coursed through the air for Drona's destruction. And then we beheld the wonderful prowess of Bharadwaja's son. By (the) lightness (of his car's motion), he baffled that mace decked with gold, and having baffled it, he shot at Prishata's son many shafts of sharp edge, well-tempered, furnished with golden wings, and whetted on stone. And these, penetrating through Prishata's coat of mail, drank his blood in that battle. Then the high-souled Dhrishtadyumna, taking up another bow, and putting forth his prowess pierced Drona in that encounter with five shafts. And then those two bulls among men, both covered with blood, looked beautiful like two blossoming Kinsukas in spring variegated with flowers. Then, O king, excited with wrath and putting forth his prowess at the head of his division, Drona once more cut off the bow of Drupada's son. And then that hero of immeasurable soul covered that warrior whose bow was cut off, with innumerable straight arrows like the clouds showering rain on a mountain. And he also felled his foe's charioteer from his niche in the car. And his four steeds, too, with four sharp arrows, Drona felled in that combat that set up a leonine roar. And with another shaft he cut off the leathern fence that cased Dhrishtadyumna's hand. His bow cut off, deprived of car, his steeds slain, and charioteer overthrown, the prince
p. 134
of Panchala alighted from his car, mace in hand, displaying great prowess. But before he could come down from his car, O Bharata, Drona with his shafts cut off that mace into fragments. This feat seemed wonderful to us. And then the mighty prince of the Panchalas of strong arms, taking a large and beautiful shield decked with a hundred moons, and a large scimitar of beautiful make, rushed impetuously from desire of slaying Drona, like a hungry lion in the forest towards an infuriate elephant. Then wonderful was the prowess that we behold of Bharadwaja's son, and his lightness (of hand) in the use of weapons, as also the strength of his arms, O Bharata, in as much as, alone, he checked Prishata's son with a shower of arrows. And although possessed of great might in battle, he was unable to proceed further. And we behold the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna staying where he did and warding off those clouds of arrows with his shield, using his arms with great dexterity. Then the mighty-armed Bhima endued with great strength quickly came there, desirous of aiding in battle the high-souled son of Prishata. And he pierced Drona, O king, with seven sharp-pointed arrows, and speedily caused Prishata's son to be taken up on another car. Then king Duryodhana urged the ruler of the Kalingas supported by a large division, for the protection of Bharadwaja's son. Then that terrible and mighty division of the Kalingas, O ruler of men, rushed against Bhima at the command of thy son. And Drona then, that foremost of car-warriors, abandoning the prince of Panchala, encountered Virata and Drupada together. And Dhrishtadyumna also proceeded to support king Yudhishthira in battle. And then commenced a fierce battle, making the hair stand on end, between the Kalingas and the high-souled Bhima, a battle that was destructive of the universe, terrific, and awful."

Book 6
Chapter 54

1 [s]
      tatas te pārthivāḥ kruddhāḥ phalgunaṃ vīkṣya saṃyuge
      rathair anekasāhasraiḥ samantāt paryavārayan
  2 athainaṃ rathavṛndena koṣṭakī kṛtyabhārata
      śaraiḥ subahu sāhasraiḥ samantād abhyavārayan
  3 śaktīś ca vimalās tīkṣṇā gadāś ca parighaiḥ saha
      prāsān paraśvadhāṃś caiva mudgarān musalān api
      cikṣipuḥ samare kruddhāḥ phalgunasya rathaṃ prati
  4 śastrāṇām atha tāṃ vṛṣṭiṃ śalabhānām ivāyatim
      rurodha sarvataḥ pārthaḥ śaraiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ
  5 tatra tal lāghavaṃ dṛṣṭvā bībhatsor atimānuṣam
      devadānavagandharvāḥ piśācoragarākṣasāḥ
      sādhu sādhv iti rājendra phalgunaṃ pratyapūjayan
  6 sātyakiṃ cābhimanyuṃ ca mahatyā senayā saha
      gāndhārāḥ samare śūrā rurudhuḥ saha saubalāḥ
  7 tatra saubalakāḥ kruddhā vārṣṇeyasya rathottamam
      tilaśaś cicchiduḥ krodhāc chastrair nānāvidhair yudhi
  8 sātyakis tu rathaṃ tyaktvā vartamāne mahābhaye
      abhimanyo rathaṃ tūrṇam āruroha paraṃtapaḥ
  9 tāv ekarathasaṃyuktau saubaleyasya vāhinīm
      vyadhametāṃ śitais tūrṇaṃ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
  10 droṇa bhīṣmau raṇe yattau dharmarājasya vāhinīm
     nāśayetāṃ śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ kaṅkapatra paricchadaiḥ
 11 tato dharmasuto rājā mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
     miṣatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ droṇānīkam upādravan
 12 tatrāsīt sumahad yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
     yathā devāsuraṃ yuddhaṃ pūrvam āsīt sudāruṇam
 13 kurvāṇau tu mahat karma bhīmasena ghaṭotkacau
     duryodhanas tato 'bhyetya tāv ubhāv abhyavārayat
 14 tatrādbhutam apaśyāma haiḍimbasya parākramam
     atītya pitaraṃ yuddhe yad ayudhyata bhārata
 15 bhīmasenas tu saṃkruddho duryodhanam amarṣaṇam
     hṛdy avidhyat pṛṣatkena prahasann iva pāṇḍavaḥ
 16 tato duryodhano rājā prahāra varamohitaḥ
     niṣasāda rathopasthe kaśmalaṃ ca jagāma ha
 17 taṃ visaṃ jñam atho jñātvā tvaramāṇo 'sya sārathiḥ
     apovāha raṇād rājaṃs tataḥ sainyam abhidyata
 18 tatas tāṃ kauravīṃ senāṃ dravamāṇāṃ samantataḥ
     nighnan bhīmaḥ śarais tīkṣṇair anuvavrāja pṛṣṭhataḥ
 19 pārṣataś ca rataḥ śreṣṭho dharmaputraś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     droṇasya paśyataḥ sainyaṃ gāṅgeyasya ca paśyataḥ
     jaghnatur viśikhais tīkṣṇaiḥ parānīka viśātanaiḥ
 20 dravamāṇaṃ tu tat sainyaṃ tava putrasya saṃyuge
     nāśaknutāṃ vārayituṃ bhīṣmadroṇau mahārathau
 21 vāryamāṇaṃ hi bhīṣmeṇa droṇena ca viśāṃ pate
     vidravaty eva tat sainyaṃ paśyator droṇa bhīṣmayoḥ
 22 tato rathasahasreṣu vidravatsu tatas tataḥ
     tāv āsthitāv ekarathaṃ saubhadra śinipuṃgavau
     saubalīṃ samare senāṃ śātayetāṃ samantataḥ
 23 śuśubhāte tadā tau tu śaineya kurupuṃgavau
     amāvāsyāṃ gatau yadvat somasūryau nabhastale
 24 arjunas tu tataḥ kruddhas tava sainyaṃ viśāṃ pate
     vavarṣa śaravarṣeṇa dhārābhir iva toyadaḥ
 25 vadhyamānaṃ tatas tat tu śaraiḥ pārthasya saṃyuge
     dudrāva kauravaṃ sainyaṃ viṣādabhayakampitam
 26 dravatas tān samālokya bhīṣmadroṇau mahārathau
     nyavārayetāṃ saṃrabdhau duryodhanahitaiṣiṇau
 27 tato duryodhano rājā samāśvasya viśāṃ pate
     nyavartayata tat sainyaṃ dravamāṇaṃ samantataḥ
 28 yatra yatra sutaṃ tubhyaṃ yo yaḥ paśyati bhārata
     tatra tatra nyavartanta kṣatriyāṇāṃ mahārathāḥ
 29 tān nivṛttān samīkṣyaiva tato 'nye 'pītare janāḥ
     anyonyaspardhayā rājaṁl lajjayānye 'vatasthire
 30 punarāvartatāṃ teṣāṃ vega āsīd viśāṃ pate
     pūryataḥ sāgarasyeva candrasyodayanaṃ prati
 31 saṃnivṛttāṃs tatas tāṃs tu dṛṣṭvā rājā suyodhanaḥ
     abravīt tvarito gatvā bhīṣmaṃ śāṃtanavaṃ vacaḥ
 32 pitāmaha nibodhedaṃ yat tvā vakṣyāmi bhārata
     nānurūpam ahaṃ manye tvayi jīvati kaurava
 33 droṇe cāstravidāṃ śreṣṭhe saputre sa suhṛjjane
     kṛpe caiva maheṣvāse dravatīyaṃ varūthinī
 34 na pāṇḍavāḥ pratibalās tava rājan kathaṃ cana
     tathā droṇasya saṃgrāme drauṇeś caiva kṛpasya ca
 35 anugrāhyāḥ pāṇḍusutā nūnaṃ tava pitāmaha
     yathemāṃ kṣamase vīravadhyamānāṃ varūthinīm
 36 so 'smi vācyas tvayā rājan pūrvam eva samāgame
     na yotsye pāṇḍavān saṃkhye nāpi pārṣata sātyakī
 37 śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tubhyam ācāryasya kṛpasya ca
     karṇena sahitaḥ kṛtyaṃ cintayānas tadaiva hi
 38 yadi nāhaṃ parityājyo yuvābhyām iha saṃyuge
     vikrameṇānurūpeṇa yudhyetāṃ puruṣarṣabhau
 39 etac chrutvā vaco bhīṣmaḥ prahasan vai muhur muhuḥ
     abravīt tanayaṃ tubhyaṃ krodhād udvṛtya cakṣuṣī
 40 bahuśo hi mayā rājaṃs tathyam uktaṃ hitaṃ vacaḥ
     ajeyāḥ pāṇḍavā yuddhe devair api sa vāsavaiḥ
 41 yat tu śakyaṃ mayā kartuṃ vṛddhenādya nṛpottama
     kariṣyāmi yathāśakti prekṣedānīṃ sa bāndhavaḥ
 42 adya pāṇḍusutān sarvān sa sainyān saha bandhubhiḥ
     miṣato vārayiṣyāmi sarvalokasya paśyataḥ
 43 evam ukte tu bhīṣmeṇa putrās tava janeśvara
     dadhmuḥ śaṅkhān mudā yuktā bherīś ca jaghnire bhṛśam
 44 pāṇḍavāpi tato rājañ śrutvā taṃ ninadaṃ mahat
     dadhmuḥ śaṅkhāṃś ca bherīś ca murajāṃś ca vyanādayan

SECTION LIV

Dhritarashtra said, "How did the ruler of the Kalingas, that commander of a large division, urged by my son, and supported by his troops, fight in battle with the mighty Bhimasena of wonderful feats, that hero wandering over the field of battle with his mace like Death himself club in hand?"
Sanjaya said, "Thus urged by thy son, O great king, the mighty king of the Kalingas, accompanied by a large army advanced towards Bhima's car. And Bhimasena, then, O Bharata, supported by the Chedis, rushed towards that large and mighty army of the Kalingas, abounding with cars, steeds, and elephants, and armed with mighty weapons, and advancing towards him with Ketumat, the son of the king of the Nishadas. And Srutayus also, excited with wrath, accoutred in
p. 135
mail, followed by his troops in battle-array, and, accompanied by king Ketumat, came before Bhima in battle. And the ruler of the Kalingas with many thousands of cars, and Ketumat with ten thousand elephants and the Nishadas, surrounded Bhimasena, O king, on all sides. Then the Chedis, the Matsyas, and Karushas, with Bhimasena at their head, with many kings impetuously rushed against the Nishadas. And then commenced the battle, fierce and terrible, between the warriors rushing at one another from desire of slaughter. And terrific was the battle that suddenly took place between Bhima and his foes, resembling the battle, O great king, between Indra and the mighty host of Diti's sons. And loud became the uproar, O Bharata, of that mighty army struggling in battle, that resembled the sound of the roaring ocean. And the combatants, O king, cutting one another, made the whole field resemble a crematorium strewn with flesh and blood. And combatants, impelled by the desire of slaughter could not distinguish friend from foe. And those brave warriors, incapable of being easily defeated in battle, even began to strike down their own friend. And terrific was the collision that took place between the few and many, between the Chedis (on the one side) and the Kalingas and the Nishadas, O king, (on the other). Displaying their manliness to the best of their power, the mighty Chedis, abandoning Bhimasena, turned back, and when the Chedis ceased to follow him, the son of Pandu, encountering all the Kalingas, did not turn back, depending upon the might of his own arms. Indeed, the mighty Bhimasena moved not, but from the terrace of his car covered the division of the Kalingas with showers of sharp arrows. Then that mighty bowman, the king of the Kalingas, and that car-warrior, his son known by the name of Sakradeva, both began to strike the son of Pandu with their shafts. And the mighty-armed Bhima, shaking his beautiful bow, and depending on the might of his own arms, fought with Kalinga, and Sakradeva, shooting in that battle innumerable arrows, slew Bhimasena's steeds with them. And beholding that chastiser of foes Bhimasena deprived of his car, Sakradeva rushed at him, shooting sharp arrows. And upon Bhimasena, O great king, the mighty Sakradeva showered arrowy downpours like the clouds after summer is gone. But the mighty Bhimasena, staying on his car whose steeds had been slain, hurled at Sakradeva a mace made of the hardest iron. And slain by that mace, O king, the son of the ruler of the Kalingas, from his car, fell down on the ground, with his standard and charioteer. Then that mighty car-warrior, the king of the Kalingas beholding his own son slain, surrounded Bhima on all sides with many thousands of cars. Then the mighty-armed Bhima endued with great strength, abandoning mace, took up a scimitar, desirous of achieving a fierce feat. And that bull among men also took up, O king, crescents made of gold. And the ruler of the Kalingas also, excited with wrath, and rubbing his bowstring, and taking up a terrible arrow (deadly) as poison of the snake, shot it at Bhimasena, desirous at that monarch was of slaying (the Pandava). That sharp arrow, thus shot and coursing impetuously, Bhimasena, O king, cut in twain with his
p. 136
huge sword. And filled with delight he set up a loud shout, terrifying the troops. And the ruler of the Kalingas, excited with rage in that combat with Bhimasena, quickly hurled at him fourteen bearded darts whetted on stone. The mighty-armed son of Pandu, however, with that best of scimitars, fearlessly cut into fragments in a trice, O king, those darts while coursing through the welkin and before they could reach him. And having in that battle (thus) cut off those fourteen darts Bhima, that bull among men, beholding Bhanumat, rushed at him. Bhanumat then covered Bhima with a shower of arrows, and set up a loud shout, making the welkin resound with it. Bhima, however, in that fierce battle, could not bear that leonine shout. Himself endued with a loud voice, he also shouted very loudly. And at these shouts of his, the army of the Kalingas became filled with fear. In that battle they no longer regarded Bhima, O bull among men, as a human being. Then, O great king, having uttered a loud shout, Bhima, sword in hand impetuously jumping on (Bhanumat's) excellent elephant aided by the latter's tusks, gained, O sire, the back of that prince of tuskers, and with his huge sword cut Bhanumat, dividing him in the middle. That chastiser of foes, then, having (thus) slain in battle the prince of the Kalingas, next 1 made his sword which was capable of bearing a great strain, to descend upon the neck of that elephant. His head cut off, that prince of elephants fell down with a loud roar, like a crested mountain (whose base is) eaten away by the impetuous (surges of the) sea. And jumping down, O Bharata, from that failing elephant, the prince of Bharata's race, of undepressed soul, stood on the ground, sword in hand and accoutred in mail (as before). And felling numerous elephants on all sides, he wandered (over the field), making many paths (for himself). And then he seemed to be like a moving wheel of fire slaughtering whole divisions of cavalry, of elephants, and cars, and large bodies of infantry. And that lord among men, the mighty Bhima, was seen to move over the field with the activity of the hawk, quickly cutting off in that battle, with his sharp-edged sword, their bodies and heads, as also those of the combatants on elephant. And combatant on foot, excited with rage, all alone, and like Yama at the season of universal dissolution, he struck terror into his foes and confounded those brave warriors. Only they that were senseless rushed with loud shouts at him wandering in that great battle with impetuosity, sword in hand. And that grinder of foes, endued with great strength, cutting off the shafts and yokes of warriors on their cars, slew those warriors also. And Bhimasena was seen, O Bharata, to display diverse kinds of motions there. He wheeled about, and whirled about on high, and, made side-thrusts, and jumped forward, and ran above, and leapt high. And, O Bharata, he was also seen to rush forward and rush upward. And some mangled by the high-souled son of Pandu by means of his excellent sword, shrieked aloud, struck at their vitals or fell down deprived of life. And many elephants, O Bharata, some with trunks and
p. 137
the extremities of their tusks cut off, and others having their temporal globes cut open, deprived of riders, slew their own ranks and fell down uttering loud cries. And broken lances, O king, and the head of elephant drivers, and beautiful housings of elephants, and chords resplendent with gold, and collars, and darts and mallets and quivers, diverse kinds of machines, and beautiful bows, short arrows with polished heads, with hooks and iron crows for guiding elephants, bells of diverse shape, and hilts decked with gold, were seen by us falling down or (already) fallen along with riders of steeds. And with elephants (lying down) having the fore parts and hind parts of their bodies and their trunks cut off, or entirely slain, the field seemed to be strewn with fallen cliffs. That bull among men, having thus crushed the huge elephants, next crushed the steeds also. And, O Bharata, that hero also felled the foremost of cavalry soldiers. And the battle, O sire, that took place between him and them was fierce in the extreme. And hilts and traces, and saddle girths resplendent with gold, and covers for the back of steeds, and bearded darts, and costly swords, and coats of mail, and shields, and beautiful ornaments, were seen by us strewn over the ground in that great battle. And he caused the earth to be strewn over (with blood) as if it were variegated with lilies. And the mighty son of Pandu, jumping high and dragging some car-warriors down with his sword felled them along with (their) standards. Frequently jumping up or rushing on all sides, that hero endued with great activity, wandering along many routes, caused the combatants to be amazed. And some he slew by his legs, and dragging down others he pressed them down under the earth. And others he cut off with his sword, and others he frightened with his roars. And others he threw down on the ground by the force of his thighs (as he ran). And others, beholding him, fled away in terror. It was thus that that vast force of the Kalingas endued with great activity, surrounding the terrible Bhimasena in battle, rushed at him. Then, O bull of Bharata's race, beholding Srutayush at the head of Kalinga troops, Bhimasena rushed at him. And seeing him advancing the ruler of the Kalingas, of immeasurable soul, pierced Bhimasena between his breasts with nine arrows. Struck with those shafts shot by the ruler of the Kalingas, like an elephant pierced with the hook, Bhimasena blazed up with wrath like fire fed with fuel. Then Asoka, that best of charioteers, bringing a car decked with gold, caused Bhima to mount on it. And thereupon that slayer of foes, the son of Kunti, speedily mounted on that car. And then he rushed at the ruler of the Kalingas, saying,--'Wait, Wait'. And then the mighty Srutayush excited with wrath, shot at Bhima many sharp arrows, displaying his lightness of hand, and that mighty warrior, Bhima, forcibly struck with those nine sharp arrows shot by Kalinga from his excellent bow, yielded to great wrath, O king, like a snake struck with a rod. Then that foremost of mighty men, Bhima, the son of Pritha, excited with rage and drawing his bow with great strength, slew the ruler of the Kalingas with seven shafts made wholly of iron. And with two shafts he slew the two mighty protectors of the car-wheels of Kalinga. And he also despatched
p. 138
[paragraph continues] Satyadeva and Satya to the abode of Yama. Of immeasurable soul, Bhima also, with many sharp arrows and long shafts, caused Ketumat to repair unto Yama's abode. Then the Kshatriyas of the Kalinga country, excited with rage and supported by many thousands of combatants, encountered the wrathful Bhimasena in battle. And armed with darts and maces and scimitars and lances and swords and battle-axes, the Kalingas, O king, hundreds upon hundreds surrounded Bhimasena. Baffling that risen shower of arrows, that mighty warrior then took up his mace and jumped down (from his car) with great speed. 1 And Bhima then despatched seven hundred heroes to Yama's abode. And that grinder of foes despatched, in addition, two thousand Kalingas to the region of death. And that feat seemed highly wonderful. And it was thus that the heroic Bhima of terrible prowess repeatedly felled in battle large bands of the Kalingas. And elephants deprived by Pandu's son, in that battle, of their riders, and afflicted with arrows wandered on the field, treading down their own ranks and uttering loud roars like masses of clouds driven by the wind. Then the mighty-armed Bhima, scimitar in hand, and filled with delight, blew his conch of terrible loudness. And with that blare he caused the hearts of all the Kalinga troops to quake with fear. And, O chastiser of foes, all the Kalingas seemed at the same time to be deprived of their senses. And all the combatants and all the animals shook with terror. And in consequence of Bhimasena wandering in that battle through many paths or rushing on all sides like a prince of elephants, or frequently jumping up, a trance seemed to be engendered there that deprived his foes of their senses. And the whole (Kalinga) army shook with terror of Bhimasena, like a large lake agitated by an alligator. And struck with panic in consequence of Bhima of wonderful achievements, all the Kalinga combatants fled away in all directions. When, however, they were rallied again, the commander of the Pandava army (Dhrishtadyumna), O Bharata, ordered his own troops, saying,--'Fight'. Hearing the words of their commander, many leaders (of the Pandava army) headed by Sikhandin approached Bhima, supported by many car-divisions accomplished in smiting. And Pandu's son, king Yudhishthira the just, followed all of them with a large elephant force of the colour of the clouds. And thus urging all his divisions, the son of Prishata, surrounded by many excellent warriors, took upon himself the protection of one of the wings of Bhimasena. 2 There exists nobody on earth, save Bhima and Satyaki, who to the prince of the Panchalas is dearer than his very life. That slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Prishata, beheld the mighty-armed Bhimasena, that slayer of foes, wandering among the Kalingas. He set up many shouts, O king, and was filled with delight, O chastiser of foes. Indeed, he blew his conch in battle and uttered a leonine roar. And Bhimasena also, beholding
p. 139
the red standard of Dhrishtadyumna on his car decked with gold and unto which were yoked steeds white as pigeons, became comforted. 1 And Dhrishtadyumna of immeasurable soul, beholding Bhimasena encountered by the Kalingas rushed to the battle for his rescue. And both those heroes. Dhrishtadyumna and Vrikodara, endued with great energy, beholding Satyaki at a distance, furiously encountered the Kalingas in battle. And that bull among men, the grand son of Sini, that foremost of victorious warriors, quickly advancing to the spot took up the wing of both Bhima and Prishata's son. Bow in hand creating a great havoc there and making himself fierce in the extreme, he began to slay the enemy in battle. And Bhima caused a river to flow there of bloody current, mingled with the blood and flesh of the warriors born in Kalinga. And beholding Bhimasena then, the troops cried aloud, O king, saying. 'This is Death himself that is fighting in Bhima's shape with the Kalingas.' Then Santanu's son Bhishma, hearing those cries in battle, quickly proceeded towards Bhima, himself surrounded on all sides with combatants in army. Thereupon, Satyaki and Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, rushed towards that car of Bhima decked with gold. And all of them quickly surrounding Ganga's son in battle, pierced Bhishma, each with three terrible shafts, without losing a moment. Thy sire Devavrata, however, in return pierced each of those mighty bowmen striving (in battle) with three straight shafts. And checking those mighty car-warriors, with thousands of arrows he Slew with his shafts the steeds of Bhima decked with golden armour. Bhima, however, endued with great energy, staying on that car whose steeds had been slain, with great impetuosity hurled a dart at Bhishma's car. Thy sire Devavrata then, in that battle, cut off that dart in twain before it could reach him, and thereupon it fell down on the earth. Then that bull among men, Bhimasena, taking up a heavy and mighty mace made of Saikya iron speedily jumped down from his car. And Dhrishtadyumna quickly taking up that foremost of car-warriors on his own car, took away, in the very sight of all the combatants, that renowned warrior. And Satyaki then from desire of doing what was agreeable to Bhima, felled with his shaft the charioteer of the reverend Kuru grand-sire. Upon his charioteer being slain, that foremost of car-warriors, Bhishma, was borne away from the field of battle by his steeds with the speed of the wind. And when that mighty car-warrior was (thus) taken away from the field, Bhimasena then, O monarch, blazed up like a mighty fire while consuming dry grass. And slaying all the Kalingas, he stayed in the midst of the troops, and none, O bull of Bharata's race, of thy side ventured to withstand him. And worshipped by the Panchalas and the Matsyas, O bull of Bharata's race, he embraced Dhrishtadyumna and then approached Satyaki. And Satyaki, the tiger among the Yadus, of prowess incapable of being baffled, then gladdening Bhimasena, said unto him, in the presence of Dhrishtadyumna, (these words). 'By good luck the king of the Kalingas, and
p. 140
[paragraph continues] Ketumat, the prince of the Kalingas, and Sakradeva also of that country and all the Kalingas, have been slain in battle. With the might and prowess of thy arms, by thee alone, hath been crushed the very large division of the Kalingas that abounded with elephants and steeds and cars, and with noble warriors, and heroic combatants.' Having said this, the long-armed grandson of Sini, that chastiser of foes, quickly getting upon his car, embraced the son of Pandu. And then that mighty car-warrior, coming back to his own car, began to slay thy troops excited with rage and strengthening (the hands of) Bhima.

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