05.164
Pancharatra-core: Bhishma continues his description of the Kaurava army.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
śakunirmātulaste'sau ratha eko narādhipaḥ। prasajya pāṇḍavairvairaṃ yotsyate nātra saṃśayaḥ ॥5-164-1॥
Shakuni, your uncle, will undoubtedly engage in battle with the Pandavas, as he is the sole king on the chariot.
etasya sainyā durdharṣāḥ samare'pratiyāyinaḥ। vikṛtāyudhabhūyiṣṭhā vāyuvegasamā jave ॥5-164-2॥
The armies of this are invincible and face no opposition in battle. They are mostly equipped with various weapons and are as swift as the wind.
droṇaputro maheṣvāsaḥ sarveṣāmati dhanvinām। samare citrayodhī ca dṛḍhāstraśca mahārathaḥ ॥5-164-3॥
The son of Droṇa, Ashwatthama, was a great archer, known for his exceptional skills among all archers. In battle, he was a remarkable warrior, steadfast in his use of weapons, and considered a great chariot-warrior.
etasya hi mahārāja yathā gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ। śarāsanādvinirmuktāḥ saṃsaktā yānti sāyakāḥ ॥5-164-4॥
O great king, just as the arrows released from the Gandiva bow go swiftly to their target, so too...
naiṣa śakyo mayā vīraḥ saṅkhyātuṃ rathasattamaḥ। nirdahedapi lokāṃstrīnicchanneṣa mahāyaśāḥ ॥5-164-5॥
This hero, the best among charioteers, is beyond my ability to count. If he wishes, this greatly renowned one could even burn the three worlds.
krodhas tejaś ca tapasā sambhṛto''śramavāsinā। droṇenānugṛhītaś ca divyair astrair udāradhīḥ ॥5-164-6॥
The noble-minded one, whose anger and energy were accumulated through penance by the hermit, was favored by Droṇa with divine weapons.
doṣastvasya mahāneko yenaiṣa bharatarṣabha। na me ratho nātiratho mataḥ pārthivasattama ॥5-164-7॥
O best of the Bharatas, his one great fault is that my chariot is not considered that of a great charioteer, O best of kings.
jīvitaṃ priyamatyarthamāyuṣkāmaḥ sadā dvijaḥ। na hyasya sadṛśaḥ kaścidubhayōḥ senayōrapi ॥5-164-8॥
Life is extremely dear to a Brahmin who always desires longevity. Indeed, there is no one like him in both armies.
hanyādekarathenaiva devānāmapi vāhinīm। vapuṣmāṃstalaghoṣeṇa sphoṭayedapi parvatān ॥5-164-9॥
Even with a single chariot, he might destroy the army of the gods; a powerful person might even shatter mountains with just a clap of his hand.
asaṅkhyeyaguṇo vīraḥ prahartā dāruṇadyutiḥ। daṇḍapāṇirivāsahyaḥ kālavatpracariṣyati ॥5-164-10॥
He, possessing innumerable qualities, a hero and a fierce striker, will move like the unstoppable force of time, wielding a staff and being unbearable in his might.
yugāntāgnisamaḥ krodhe siṃhagrīvo mahāmatiḥ। eṣa bhārata yuddhasya pṛṣṭhaṃ saṃśamayiṣyati ॥5-164-11॥
In his wrath, like the fire at the end of an age, with the neck of a lion and great wisdom, he will bring peace to the aftermath of the Bharata war.
pitā tvasya mahātejā vṛddho'pi yuvabhirvaraḥ। raṇe karma mahatkartā tatra me nāsti saṃśayaḥ ॥5-164-12॥
Your father, though aged, is exceptionally powerful and stands out among the young. In battle, he performs great deeds, and I have no doubt about it.
astravegāniloddhūtaḥ senākakṣendhanotthitaḥ। pāṇḍuputrasya sainyāni pradhakṣyati jaye dhṛtaḥ ॥5-164-13॥
The weapon, driven by the wind's speed and arising like fuel in the midst of the army, is set to burn the armies of the Pandava, ensuring victory.
rathayūthapayūthānāṃ yūthapaḥ sa nararṣabhaḥ। bhāradvājātmajaḥ kartā karma tīvraṃ hitāya vaḥ ॥5-164-14॥
The son of Bharadvaja, a distinguished leader among the charioteers, is committed to performing intense actions for your benefit.
sarvamūrdhābhiṣiktānāmācāryaḥ sthaviro guruḥ। gacchedantaṃ sṛñjayānāṃ priyastvasya dhanañjayaḥ ॥5-164-15॥
The revered teacher and elder of all the crowned heads should proceed to the end of the Sṛñjayas, but Dhanañjaya remains dear to him.
naiṣa jātu maheṣvāsaḥ pārtham akliṣṭakāriṇam। hanyād ācāryakaṃ dīptaṃ saṃsmṛtya guṇanirjitam ॥5-164-16॥
This great archer would never kill Arjuna, the son of Pritha, who acts effortlessly, remembering the brilliant teacher who is conquered by virtues.
ślāghatyeṣa sadā vīraḥ pārthasya guṇavistaraiḥ। putrādabhyadhikaṃ caiva bhāradvājo'nupaśyati ॥5-164-17॥
This hero always praises the qualities of Partha; Bharadvaja sees him as more than a son.
hanyādekarathenaiva devagandharvadānavān। ekībhūtānapi raṇe divyairastraiḥ pratāpavān ॥5-164-18॥
The glorious one, with a single chariot, might indeed slay gods, gandharvas, and demons, even if they are united in battle with divine weapons.
pauravo rājaśārdūlastava rājanmahārathaḥ। mato mama ratho vīra paravīrarathārujaḥ ॥5-164-19॥
O king, the descendant of Puru, a tiger among kings, is regarded by me as a great chariot-warrior, a hero who destroys enemy heroes.
svena sainyena sahitaḥ pratapañśatruvāhinīm। pradhakṣyati sa pāñcālānkakṣaṃ kṛṣṇagatiryathā ॥5-164-20॥
With his own army, he will destroy the enemy forces of the Panchalas, just as Krishna would burn a forest.
satyavrato rathavaro rājaputro mahārathaḥ। tava rājanripubale kālavatpracariṣyati ॥5-164-21॥
Satyavrata, the best of charioteers and a great warrior prince, will move through your enemy's army like time itself, O king.
etasya yodhā rājendra vicitrakavacāyudhāḥ। vicariṣyanti saṅgrāme nighnantaḥ śātravāṃstava ॥5-164-22॥
O King, the warriors with diverse armor and weapons will engage in battle, defeating your enemies.
vṛṣaseno rathāgryaste karṇaputro mahārathaḥ। pradhakṣyati ripūṇāṃ te balāni balināṃ varaḥ ॥5-164-23॥
Vṛṣasena, the son of Karṇa and a great warrior, who is the foremost among charioteers, will destroy the forces of your enemies, being the best among the strong.
jalasandho mahātejā rājanrathavarastava। tyakṣyate samare prāṇānmāgadhaḥ paravīrahā ॥5-164-24॥
Jalasandha, the greatly powerful king and the best of your charioteers, will sacrifice his life in battle, O Magadha, slayer of enemy heroes.
eṣa yotsyati saṅgrāme gajaskandhaviśāradaḥ। rathena vā mahābāhuḥ kṣapayañśatruvāhinīm ॥5-164-25॥
This mighty-armed warrior, skilled in riding elephants, will fight in the battle, either with a chariot or by destroying the enemy forces.
ratha eṣa mahārāja mato mama nararṣabhaḥ। tvadarthe tyakṣyati prāṇānsaha sainyo mahāraṇe ॥5-164-26॥
This chariot, O great king, which I consider as my champion among men, will lay down lives along with the army for your cause in the great battle.
eṣa vikrāntayodhī ca citrayodhī ca saṅgare। vītabhīścāpi te rājañśātravaiḥ saha yotsyate ॥5-164-27॥
This valiant and skilled warrior will fight fearlessly in battle alongside your enemies, O king.
bāhlīko'tirathaścaiva samare cānivartitā। mama rājanmato yuddhe śūro vaivasvatopamaḥ ॥5-164-28॥
Bahlika, a great chariot-warrior, who never retreats in battle, is considered by me, O king, to be a hero in war, comparable to Yama.
na hyeṣa samaraṃ prāpya nivarteta kathaṃcana। yathā satatago rājannābhihatya parānraṇe ॥5-164-29॥
O king, once he enters the battle, he will not return without defeating his enemies, as he is always determined in battle.
senāpatirmahārāja satyavāṃste mahārathaḥ। raṇeṣvadbhutakarmā ca rathaḥ pararathārujaḥ ॥5-164-30॥
The commander, O great king, your truthful and mighty chariot-warrior, performs extraordinary feats in battles and is known for destroying enemy chariots.
etasya samaraṁ dṛṣṭvā na vyathāsti kathañcana। utsmayannabhyupaiṭyeṣa parānrathapathe sthitān ॥5-164-31॥
Upon witnessing this battle, he feels no distress whatsoever. With a smile, he advances towards the enemies positioned on the chariot path.
eṣa cāriṣu vikrāntaḥ karma satpuruṣocitam। kartā vimarde sumahattvadarthe puruṣottamaḥ ॥5-164-32॥
This valiant warrior, best among men, acts nobly in battle for a great cause.
alāyudho rākṣasendraḥ krūrakarmā mahābalaḥ। haniṣyati parānrājanpūrvavairamanusmaran ॥5-164-33॥
Alayudha, the mighty and cruel king of demons, will destroy the enemies, O king, as he recalls the old enmity.
eṣa rākṣasasainyānāṃ sarveṣāṃ rathasattamaḥ। māyāvī dṛḍhavairaśca samare vicariṣyati ॥5-164-34॥
This charioteer, the best among all in the demon armies, known for his deception and firm enmity, will maneuver through the battlefield.
prāgjyotiṣādhipo vīro bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān। gajāṅkuśadharaśreṣṭho rathe caiva viśāradaḥ ॥5-164-35॥
Bhagadatta, the mighty lord of Prāgjyotiṣa, was a hero and the best among those who wield the elephant goad, and he was also skilled in chariot warfare.
etena yuddham abhavat purā gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ। divasān subahūn rājan ubhayoḥ jayagṛddhinoḥ ॥5-164-36॥
By this, a battle took place long ago involving the wielder of the Gandiva bow, lasting many days, O king, between both parties eager for victory.
tataḥ sakhāyaṃ gāndhāre mānayanpākaśāsanam। akarotsaṃvidaṃ tena pāṇḍavena mahātmanā ॥5-164-37॥
Then, in Gandhara, the friend honored Pākaśāsana (Indra) and made an agreement with him, the noble Pandava.
eṣa yotsyati saṅgrāme gajaskandhaviśāradaḥ। airāvatagato rājā devānāmiva vāsavaḥ ॥5-164-38॥
This warrior, skilled in riding elephants and mounted on Airavata, will fight in the battle like Indra, the king of the gods.
