04.059
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tataḥ śāntanavo bhīṣmo durādharṣaḥ pratāpavān। vadhyamāneṣu yodheṣu dhanañjayam upādravat॥04-59-1॥
Then Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, who was difficult to assail and possessed of great splendour, attacked Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) as the warriors were being slain. (04-59-1)
pragṛhya kārmukaśreṣṭhaṃ jātarūpapariṣkṛtam। śarān-ādāya tīkṣṇāgrān marmabhedapramāthinaḥ ॥04-59-2॥
Having taken up the finest bow adorned with refined gold, and having also taken arrows with sharp points, piercers of vital spots. (04-59-2)
pāṇḍureṇātapatreṇa dhriyamāṇena mūrdhani। śuśubhe sa naravyāghro giriḥ sūryodaye yathā ॥04-59-3॥
He, the tiger among men, with a white parasol held over his head, shone like a mountain at sunrise. (04-59-3)
pradhamāya śaṅkhaṃ gāṅgeyo dhārtarāṣṭrān praharṣayan। pradakṣiṇam upāvṛtya bībhatsuṃ samavārayat ॥04-59-4॥
After blowing the conch, Bhīṣma (the son of Gaṅgā), gladdening the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, turned to the right and blocked Arjuna (Bībhatsu). (04-59-4)
tam udvīkṣya tathā yāntam kaunteyaḥ paravīra-hā। pratyagṛhṇāt prahṛṣṭātmā dhārā-dharam iva acalaḥ॥04-59-5॥
Seeing him thus approaching, Kunti's son, the destroyer of enemy heroes, with a rejoicing heart, received him, steadfast as a mountain. (04-59-5)
tato bhīṣmaḥ śarānaṣṭau dhvaje pārthasya vīryavān। samaparyanmahāvegāñśvasamānānivoragān॥04-59-6॥
Then Bhishma, mighty in valor, shot eight arrows at Arjuna’s banner, swift as hissing serpents. (04-59-6)
te dhvajaṃ pāṇḍuputrasya samāsādya patatriṇaḥ। jvalantaḥ kapim ājaghnuḥ dhvajāgranilayāṃś ca tān ॥04-59-7॥
The blazing birds, approaching the banner of the son of Pāṇḍu, struck the monkey and those residing at the top of the banner. (04-59-7)
tato bhallena mahatā pṛthudhāreṇa pāṇḍavaḥ। chatraṃ ciccheda bhīṣmasya tūrṇaṃ tadapatad bhuvi॥04-59-8॥
Then Pāṇḍava, with a great broad-headed arrow, quickly cut off Bhīṣma's umbrella, and it fell to the ground. (04-59-8)
dhvajaṃ caiva asya kaunteyaḥ śaraiḥ abhyahanad dṛḍham। śīghrakṛt rathavāhān ca tathā ubhau pārṣṇisārathī ॥04-59-9॥
Kaunteya (the son of Kunti) struck firmly with arrows his banner and, likewise, the quick-acting chariot-drivers, both the heel-charioteers. (04-59-9)
tayostadabhavadyuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam। bhīṣmasya saha pārthena balivāsavayoriva ॥04-59-10॥
There arose between those two a battle, terrible and hair-raising, between Bhīṣma and Pārtha, like that between Bali and Indra. (04-59-10)
bhallairbhallāḥ samāgamya bhīṣmapāṇḍavayoryudhi। antarikṣe vyārajanta khadyotāḥ prāvṛṣīva hi॥04-59-11॥
Arrows, having come together in the battle between Bhīṣma and the Pāṇḍavas, shone in the sky like fireflies in the rainy season. (04-59-11)
agni-cakram-iva āviddham savya-dakṣiṇam asyataḥ। gāṇḍīvam abhavat rājan pārthasya sṛjataḥ śarān॥04-59-12॥
O king, as Partha released arrows, his Gandiva bow, whirling left and right, looked like a wheel of fire. (04-59-12)
sa taiḥ sañchādayāmāsa bhīṣmaṃ śaraśataiḥ śitaiḥ। parvataṃ vāridhārābhiśchādayanniva toyadaḥ॥04-59-13॥
He then covered Bhīṣma with hundreds of sharp arrows, just as a cloud covers a mountain with streams of water. (04-59-13)
tāṃ sa velām ivoddhūtāṃ śaravṛṣṭiṃ samutthitām। vyadhamatsāyakairbhīṣmo arjunaṃ saṃnivārayat॥04-59-14॥
Bhīṣma was restraining Arjuna by repelling that shower of arrows, risen like a surging flood, with his own arrows. (04-59-14)
tatastāni nikṛttāni śarajālāni bhāgaśaḥ| samare'bhivyaśīryanta phalgunasya rathaṃ prati ॥04-59-15॥
Then, those severed clusters of arrows were scattered in portions in the battle, towards Arjuna's chariot. (04-59-15)
tataḥ kanakapuṁkhānāṃ śaravṛṣṭiṃ samutthitām। pāṇḍavasya rathāttūrṇaṃ śalabhānāmivāyatim ॥ vyadhamattāṃ punastāsya bhīṣmaḥ śaraśataiḥ śitaiḥ ॥04-59-16॥
Then Bhīṣma, with sharp hundreds of arrows, again dispersed that shower of golden-feathered arrows quickly arisen from the chariot of the Pāṇḍava, like the continuous flight of moths. (04-59-16)
tataste kuravaḥ sarve sādhu sādhviti cābruvan। duṣkaraṃ kṛtavānbhīṣmo yadarjunamayodhayat ॥04-59-17॥
Then all the Kurus said, "Well done, well done," for Bhīṣma has accomplished something difficult, namely, that he fought with Arjuna. (04-59-17)
balavāṁs taruṇo dakṣaḥ kṣiprakārī ca pāṇḍavaḥ। ko'nyaḥ samarthaḥ pārthasya vegaṁ dhārayituṁ raṇe॥04-59-18॥
Arjuna is strong, youthful, skilful and quick to act; who else is capable of withstanding the speed of Pārtha in battle? (04-59-18)
ṛte śāntanavād bhīṣmāt kṛṣṇād vā devakīsutāt। ācāryapravarād vā api bhāradwājān mahābalāt॥04-59-19॥
Except from Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, or from Kṛṣṇa, son of Devakī, or even from the foremost teacher, the greatly powerful descendant of Bharadvāja. (04-59-19)
astrair astrāṇi saṁvārya krīḍataḥ puruṣarṣabhau. cakṣūṁṣi sarvabhūtānāṁ mohayantau mahābalau ॥04-59-20॥
The two mighty ones, best among men, sporting and warding off weapons with missiles, bewildered the eyes of all beings. (04-59-20)
prājāpatyaṃ tathaiva indram āgneyaṃ ca sudāruṇam। kauberaṃ vāruṇaṃ caiva yāmyaṃ vāyavyam eva ca ॥ prayuñjānau mahātmānau samare tau viceratuḥ ॥04-59-21॥
The two great-souled ones, employing the weapons of Prajāpati, as well as those of Indra, Agni, the very fierce one, Kubera, Varuṇa, Yama, and Vāyu, moved about in battle. (04-59-21)
vismitānyatha bhūtāni tau dṛṣṭvā saṃyuge tadā. sādhu pārtha mahābāho sādhu bhīṣmeti cābruvan ॥04-59-22॥
Then, when those two were seen in battle, the beings, astonished, exclaimed at that time, ‘Well done, O Pārtha, O mighty-armed, well done, O Bhīṣma,’ and so they spoke. (04-59-22)
nedaṁ yuktaṁ manuṣyeṣu yo'yaṁ sandṛśyate mahān। mahāstrāṇāṁ samprayogaḥ samare bhīṣmapārthayoḥ ॥04-59-23॥
This great employment of mighty weapons in battle between Bhishma and Partha is not proper among men. (04-59-23)
evaṁ sarvāstraviduṣor astrayuddham avartata. atha jiṣṇur upāvṛtya pṛthudhāreṇa kārmukam ॥ cakarta bhīṣmasya tadā jātarūpapariṣkṛtam ॥04-59-24॥
Thus, between the two warriors skilled in all weapons, a battle of missiles took place. Then Jiṣṇu (Arjuna), drawing back his broad-stringed bow, cut off Bhīṣma’s bow, which was adorned with pure gold. (04-59-24)
nimeṣāntaramātreṇa bhīṣmo'nyatkārmukaṃ raṇe. samādāya mahābāhuḥ sajyaṃ cakre mahābalaḥ ॥ śarāṃś ca subahūn kruddho mumocāśu dhanañjaye ॥04-59-25॥
In the blink of an eye, Bhishma, exceedingly strong and mighty-armed, took up another bow in battle, strung it, and, in anger, quickly released a great many arrows at Dhananjaya (Arjuna). (04-59-25)
arjuno'pi śarāṃś citrān bhīṣmāya niśitān bahūn। cikṣepa sumahātejās tathā bhīṣmaś ca pāṇḍave ॥04-59-26॥
Arjuna, who was of great splendor, also discharged many sharp and varied arrows at Bhishma; likewise, Bhishma did the same towards Pandava (Arjuna). (04-59-26)
tayor divyāstra-viduṣor asyator aniśaṃ śarān। na viśeṣas tadā rājan lakṣyate sma mahātmanoḥ ॥04-59-27॥
O King, at that time, as those two great souls who knew divine weapons continuously shot arrows, no distinction could be perceived between them. (04-59-27)
athāvṛṇod daśa diśaḥ śarair atirathas tadā। kirīṭamālī kaunteyaḥ śūraḥ śāntanavas tathā ॥04-59-28॥
Then, at that time, the great chariot-warrior, the crowned son of Kunti, Arjuna, covered the ten directions with arrows; and so also did the son of Śāntanu, Bhishma. (04-59-28)
atīva pāṇḍavo bhīṣmaṁ bhīṣmaścātīva pāṇḍavam। babhūva tasminsaṅgrāme rājanloke tadadbhutam॥04-59-29॥
Arjuna attacked Bhīṣma with extraordinary vigor, and Bhīṣma likewise attacked Arjuna with great force; O king, that scene in that battle was truly wonderful in the world. (04-59-29)
pāṇḍavena hatāḥ śūrā bhīṣmasya ratharakṣiṇaḥ। śerate sma tadā rājan kaunteyasya abhito ratham॥04-59-30॥
O king, the heroes who protected Bhīṣma's chariot and were slain by Pāṇḍava then lay all around the chariot of the son of Kunti. (04-59-30)
tato gāṇḍīva-nirmuktā niramitraṃ cikīrṣavaḥ। āgacchan puṅkha-saṃśliṣṭāḥ śveta-vāhana-patriṇaḥ॥04-59-31॥
Then, the arrows released from the Gāṇḍīva bow, joined with their feathers, aiming at the one without enemies, and wishing to accomplish their purpose, came forth from the quiver of the white-horsed one. (04-59-31)
niṣpatanto rathāt tasya dhautā hairaṇyavāsasaḥ। ākāśe samadṛśyanta haṃsānām iva paṅktayaḥ॥04-59-32॥
The cleansed ones, adorned in golden garments, emerging from his chariot, appeared in the sky like rows of swans. (04-59-32)
tasya taddivyam astraṃ hi pragāḍhaṃ citram asyataḥ। prekṣante sma antarikṣasthāḥ sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ ॥04-59-33॥
All the gods together with Indra, who were dwelling in the sky, gazed at that deep and wonderful divine weapon as he released it. (04-59-33)
taddṛṣṭvā paramaprīto gandharvaś citram adbhutam। śaśaṁsa devarājāya citrasenaḥ pratāpavān॥ 04-59-34॥
Seeing that marvel, the Gandharva Citrasena, greatly gladdened and valiant, praised the wonderful sight to the king of gods. (04-59-34)
paśyemānarinirdārāṁsaṁsaktāniva gacchataḥ। citrarūpamidaṁ jiṣṇordivyamastramudīryataḥ॥04-59-35॥
O enemy, let us see these beings, torn asunder yet appearing to cling together as they move, as the wondrous form of the victorious one's divine weapon is being discharged. (04-59-35)
nedaṁ manuṣyāḥ śraddadhyur na hīdaṁ teṣu vidyate. paurāṇānāṁ mahāstrāṇāṁ vicitro'yaṁ samāgamaḥ ॥04-59-36॥
Men would not believe this; indeed, this does not exist among them. This wondrous conjunction of the ancient great weapons (is unique). (04-59-36)
madhyandina-gataṁ sūryaṁ pratapantam ivāmbare। na śaknuvanti sainyāni pāṇḍavaṁ prativīkṣitum ॥04-59-37॥
Just as the midday sun shines intensely in the sky, so the armies are not able to look upon Pandava. (04-59-37)
ubhau viśrutakarmāṇāv ubhau yuddhaviśāradau। ubhau sadṛśakarmāṇāv ubhau yudhi durāsadau ॥04-59-38॥
Both have renowned deeds; both are skilled in battle; both perform similar deeds; both are hard to withstand in battle. (04-59-38)
ity-ukto devarājas tu pārtha-bhīṣma-samāgamam। pūjayām āsa divyena puṣpavarṣeṇa bhārata ॥04-59-39॥
Thus addressed, O Bhārata, the king of the gods honored the meeting of Pārtha and Bhīṣma with a divine shower of flowers. (04-59-39)
tato bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo vāme pārśve samarpyat। asyataḥ pratisandhāya vivṛtaṃ savyasācinaḥ ॥04-59-40॥
Then Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, placed it on the left side while Arjuna (Savyasācin) was shooting, having aimed at his exposed part. (04-59-40)
tataḥ prahasya bībhatsuḥ pṛthudhāreṇa kārmukam। nyakṛntad gārdhrapatreṇa bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ॥04-59-41॥
Then, smiling, Bībhatsu (Arjuna) cut down Bhīṣma’s broad bow with a vulture-feathered arrow. (04-59-41)
athainaṃ daśabhirbāṇaiḥ pratyavidhyat stanāntare। yatamānaṃ parākrāntaṃ kuntī-putro dhanañjayaḥ ॥04-59-42॥
Then Dhanañjaya, the son of Kuntī, pierced that valiant and striving one in the region of the chest with ten arrows. (04-59-42)
sa pīḍito mahābāhur gṛhītvā rathakūbaram. gāṅgeyo yudhi durdharṣas tasthau dīrgham ivāturaḥ ॥04-59-43॥
Though afflicted, the mighty-armed son of the Ganga seized the chariot-yoke, and, hard to conquer in battle, stood for a long time as if he were ill. (04-59-43)
taṃ visañjñam apovāha saṃyantā rathavājinām। upadeśam anusmṛtya rakṣamāṇo mahāratham ॥04-59-44॥
The charioteer of the chariot-horses, remembering the instruction, carried away the unconscious great chariot-warrior, protecting him. (04-59-44)
