05.153
Pancharatra-Core: Duryodhana appoints Bhishma to lead Kaurava army, and Karna stays away as per Bhishma's condition.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
tataḥ śāntanavaṃ bhīṣmaṃ prāñjalirdhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ. saha sarvairmahīpālairidaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥5-153-1॥
Then, Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son, with folded hands, addressed Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, in the presence of all the kings.
ṛte senāpraṇetāraṃ pṛtanā sumahatyapi। dīryate yuddhamāsādya pipīlikapuṭaṃ yathā ॥5-153-2॥
Without its leader, even a very large army scatters in battle, just as an ant-hill would.
na hi jātu dvayorbuddhiḥ samā bhavati karhicit। śauryaṃ ca nāma netṝṇāṃ spardhate ca parasparam ॥5-153-3॥
Indeed, the intellect of two people is never the same at any time. The valor of leaders always competes with each other.
śrūyate ca mahāprājña haihayānamitaujasaḥ। abhyayurbrahmaṇāḥ sarve samucchritakuśadhvajāḥ ॥5-153-4॥
It is said, O wise one, that all the Brāhmaṇas, holding high the Kuśa grass, approached the powerful Haihayas.
tānanvayustadā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāścaiva pitāmaha। ekatastu trayo varṇā ekataḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ ॥5-153-5॥
At that time, O grandfather, the Vaishyas and Shudras followed them. On one side stood the three castes, while on the other were the noble Kshatriyas.
te sma yuddheṣvabhajyanta trayo varṇāḥ punaḥ punaḥ। kṣatriyāstu jayantyeva bahulaṃ caikato balam ॥5-153-6॥
In battles, the three classes were repeatedly broken, but the Kshatriyas always emerged victorious, amassing great strength on one side.
tataste kṣatriyāneva papracchurdvijasattamāḥ। tebhyaḥ śaśaṃsurdharmajñā yāthātathyaṃ pitāmaha ॥5-153-7॥
Then the best of the twice-born asked the Kshatriyas, and those who knew dharma told them the truth, O grandfather.
vayamekasya śṛṇumo mahābuddhimato raṇe। bhavantastu pṛthaksarve svabuddhivaśavartinaḥ ॥5-153-8॥
We heed the counsel of a wise leader in battle, while you all act independently, guided by your own judgment.
tataste brāhmaṇāścakrurekaṃ senāpatiṃ dvijam। nayeṣu kuśalaṃ śūramajayaṇkṣatriyāṃstataḥ ॥5-153-9॥
Then the Brahmins appointed a Brahmin as the general, who was skilled in strategies and bravery, and he defeated the Kshatriyas.
evaṃ ye kuśalaṃ śūraṃ hite sthitamakalmaṣam। senāpatiṃ prakurvanti te jayanti raṇe ripūn ॥5-153-10॥
Those who appoint a skilled and brave general who stands blamelessly for the welfare, they achieve victory over their enemies in battle.
bhavānuśanasā tulyo hitaiṣī ca sadā mama। asaṃhāryaḥ sthito dharme sa naḥ senāpatirbhava ॥5-153-11॥
May you, like Bhṛgu's son, always be my equal and well-wisher, invincible and steadfast in righteousness, become our general.
raśmīvatām ivādityo vīrudhām iva candramāḥ। kubera iva yakṣāṇāṃ marutām iva vāsavaḥ ॥5-153-12॥
Just as the sun is supreme among those with rays, the moon among plants, Kubera among the Yakshas, so is Indra among the Maruts.
parvatānāṃ yathā meruḥ suparṇaḥ patatāmiva। kumāra iva bhūtānāṃ vasūnāmiva havyavāṭ ॥5-153-13॥
Just as Meru is the foremost among mountains, Suparna among birds, Kumara among beings, and fire among the Vasus.
bhavatā hi vayaṃ guptāḥ śakreṇeva divaukasaḥ। anādhṛṣyā bhaviṣyāmastridaśānāmapi dhruvam ॥5-153-14॥
Indeed, we are protected by you like the gods are by Indra. We shall certainly become unassailable, even by the gods.
prayātu no bhavānagre devānāmiva pāvakiḥ। vayaṃ tvāmanuyāsyāmaḥ saurabheyā ivarṣabham ॥5-153-15॥
May you lead us like the fire leads the gods. We will follow you as the Saurabheyas follow their bull.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma spoke:
evam etan mahābāho yathā vadasi bhārata। yathaiva hi bhavanto me tathaiva mama pāṇḍavāḥ ॥5-153-16॥
O mighty-armed one, as you say, O descendant of Bharata, indeed, just as you are mine, so are my Pāṇḍavas.
api caiva maya śreyo vācyaṃ teṣāṃ narādhipa। yoddhavyaṃ tu tavārthāya yathā sa samayaḥ kṛtaḥ ॥5-153-17॥
O king, it is indeed better for me to speak of their virtues. However, the battle must be fought for your purpose, as per the agreement made.
na tu paśyāmi yoddhāramātmanaḥ sadṛśaṃ bhuvi। ṛte tasmānnaravyāghrātkuntīputrāddhanañjayāt ॥5-153-18॥
However, I do not see any warrior on earth who is equal to me, except for Arjuna, the son of Kunti, who is like a tiger among men.
sa hi veda mahābāhur divyāny astrāṇi sarvaśaḥ। na tu māṃ vivṛto yuddhe jātu yudhyeta pāṇḍavaḥ ॥5-153-19॥
The mighty-armed one indeed knows all the divine weapons, but the Pāṇḍava would never dare to fight me openly in battle.
ahaṃ sa ca kṣaṇenaiva nirmanuṣyamidaṃ jagat. kuryāṃ śastrabalenaiva sasurāsurarākṣasam ॥5-153-20॥
In a moment, I and he would make this world devoid of humans by the power of weapons, along with gods, demons, and ogres.
na tvevotsādanīyā me pāṇḍoḥ putrā narādhipa। tasmādyodhān haniṣyāmi prayogeṇāyutaṃ sadā ॥5-153-21॥
O king, my sons of Pandu are not to be destroyed. Therefore, I will always slay ten thousand warriors by application.
evameṣāṃ kariṣyāmi nidhanaṃ kurunandana। na cet te māṃ haniṣyanti pūrvameva samāgame ॥5-153-22॥
Thus, O descendant of Kuru, I will destroy them if they do not kill me first in the battle.
senāpatistvahaṃ rājansamayenāpareṇa te। bhaviṣyāmi yathākāmaṃ tanme śrotumihārhasi ॥5-153-23॥
O King, I will become your general by another agreement as desired. You should hear that here.
karṇo vā yudhyatāṃ pūrvamahaṃ vā pṛthivīpate। spardhate hi sadātyarthaṃ sūtaputro mayā raṇe ॥5-153-24॥
O lord of the earth, either Karna or I am the foremost among the warriors. The son of a charioteer always competes with me excessively in battle.
karṇa uvāca॥
Karna spoke:
nāhaṃ jīvati gāṅgeye yotsye rājankathaṃcana। hate bhīṣme tu yotsyāmi saha gāṇḍīvadhanvanā ॥5-153-25॥
I will not engage in battle while Bhīṣma, the son of Ganga, is alive, O king. However, I will join the fight alongside Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, once Bhīṣma is slain.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana spoke:
tataḥ senāpatiṃ cakre vidhivadbhūridakṣiṇam। dhṛtarāṣṭrātmajo bhīṣmaṃ so'bhiṣikto vyarocata ॥5-153-26॥
Then, the son of Dhritarashtra appointed Bhishma as the general with due ceremony and many gifts. Bhishma, once consecrated, shone brightly.
tato bherīśca śaṅkhāṃśca śataśaścaiva puṣkarān। vādayāmāsuravyagrāḥ puruṣā rājaśāsanāt ॥5-153-27॥
Then, by the king's command, the men eagerly played drums, conches, and hundreds of kettledrums.
siṃhanādāś ca vividhā vāhanānāṃ ca nisvanāḥ। prādurāsannabhre ca varṣaṃ rudhirakardamam ॥5-153-28॥
The roars of lions and various sounds of vehicles emerged, and in the clear sky, there was a rain of blood and mud.
nirghātāḥ pṛthivīkampā gajabṛṃhitanisvanāḥ. āsaṃśca sarvayodhānāṃ pātayanto manāṃsyuta ॥5-153-29॥
The thunderous sounds, earthquakes, and roars of elephants were causing all the warriors to lose heart.
vāśaś cāpy aśarīriṇyo divaś colkāḥ prapedire। śivāś ca bhayavedinyo nedur dīptasvarā bhṛśam ॥5-153-30॥
Bodiless voices were heard from the sky and meteors fell. Jackals, sensing fear, howled intensely with loud voices.
senāpatye yadā rājā gāṅgeyama'bhisiktavān। tadaitānyugrarūpāṇi abhavañśataśo nṛpa ॥5-153-31॥
When the king appointed Bhishma, the son of Ganga, as the general, numerous terrible forms appeared, O king.
tataḥ senāpatiṃ kṛtvā bhīṣmaṃ parabalārdanam। vācayitvā dvijaśreṣṭhānniṣkairgobhiśca bhūriśaḥ ॥5-153-32॥
Then, Bhishma was appointed as the general, known for crushing enemies, and after reciting to the best of the twice-born, he was gifted abundantly with ornaments and cows.
vardhamāno jayāśīrbhirniryayau sainikairvṛtaḥ। āpageyaṃ puraskṛtya bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitastadā ॥ skandhāvāreṇa mahatā kurukṣetraṃ jagāma ha ॥5-153-33॥
He, growing with victorious blessings and surrounded by soldiers, departed. Then, having placed the river in front and together with his brothers, he went to Kurukshetra with a great army.
parikramya kurukṣetraṃ karṇena saha kauravaḥ। śibiraṃ māpayāmāsa same deśe narādhipaḥ ॥5-153-34॥
The Kaurava king, along with Karna, circled Kurukshetra and set up camp in a flat area.
madhurānūṣare deśe prabhūtayavasendhane। yathaiva hāstinapuraṃ tadvacchibiramābabhau ॥5-153-35॥
The camp appeared in the delightful region, rich in barley and fuel, resembling Hastinapura.
