05.166
Pancharatra-core: Bhishma upon enquiry describes the strength of five Pandavas.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
समुद्यतोऽयं भारो मे सुमहान्सागरोपमः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सङ्ग्रामे वर्षपूगाभिचिन्तितः ॥५-१६६-१॥
This immense burden of mine, comparable to an ocean, has been prepared for the battle of Dhritarashtra's son, having been contemplated over many years.
तस्मिन्नभ्यागते काले प्रतप्ते लोमहर्षणे। मिथोभेदो न मे कार्यस्तेन जीवसि सूतज ॥५-१६६-२॥
At that intense and thrilling moment, it is not my duty to cause division; thus, you live, O son of a charioteer.
न ह्यहं नाद्य विक्रम्य स्थविरोऽपि शिशोस्तव। युद्धश्रद्धां रणे छिन्द्यां जीवितस्य च सूतज ॥५-१६६-३॥
For even though I am old, I would not today, having attacked, destroy your child's faith in battle and life, O son of Suta.
जामदग्न्येन रामेण महास्त्राणि प्रमुञ्चता। न मे व्यथाभवत्काचित्त्वं तु मे किं करिष्यसि ॥५-१६६-४॥
When Rama, the son of Jamadagni, released his great weapons, I felt no pain at all; but what can you do to me?
कामं नैतत्प्रशंसन्ति सन्तोऽऽत्मबलसंस्तवम्। वक्ष्यामि तु त्वां सन्तप्तो निहीन कुलपांसन ॥५-१६६-५॥
The wise do not commend self-praise of one's own strength. However, in my distress, I must speak to you, who are a disgrace to your lineage.
समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं काशिराज्ञः स्वयंवरे। निर्जित्यैकरथेनैव यत्कन्यास्तरसा हृताः ॥५-१६६-६॥
In the self-choice ceremony of the king of Kashi, all the assembled kings and warriors were defeated by a single chariot, and the daughters were forcibly taken away.
ईदृशानां सहस्राणि विशिष्टानामथो पुनः। मयैकेन निरस्तानि ससैन्यानि रणाजिरे ॥५-१६६-७॥
Thousands of such distinguished warriors, along with their armies, were defeated by me alone in the battlefield.
त्वां प्राप्य वैरपुरुषं कुरूणामनयो महान्। उपस्थितो विनाशाय यतस्व पुरुषो भव ॥५-१६६-८॥
Having encountered you, the enemy of the Kuru, a great misfortune has arisen, strive to be a man for the sake of destruction.
युध्यस्व पार्थं समरे येन विस्पर्धसे सह। द्रक्ष्यामि त्वां विनिर्मुक्तमस्माद्युद्धात्सुदुर्मते ॥५-१६६-९॥
Engage in the battle, O son of Pritha, against those you compete with. I shall witness you being liberated from this conflict, O one with a wicked mind.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya spoke.
तमुवाच ततो राजा धार्तराष्ट्रो महामनाः। मामवेक्षस्व गाङ्गेय कार्यं हि महदुद्यतम् ॥५-१६६-१०॥
Then the wise King Dhritarashtra addressed him, 'O son of Ganga, please consider me, as a significant task is indeed underway.'
चिन्त्यतामिदमेवाग्रे मम निःश्रेयसं परम्। उभावपि भवन्तौ मे महत्कर्म करिष्यतः ॥५-१६६-११॥
Let this be considered first as my supreme ultimate good. Both of you will accomplish my great task.
भूयश्च श्रोतुमिच्छामि परेषां रथसत्तमान्। ये चैवातिरथास्तत्र तथैव रथयूथपाः ॥५-१६६-१२॥
I wish to hear once more about the best charioteers among others, those who are considered great charioteers there, as well as the leaders of the chariots.
बलाबलममित्राणां श्रोतुमिच्छामि कौरव। प्रभातायां रजन्यां वै इदं युद्धं भविष्यति ॥५-१६६-१३॥
O Kaurava, I wish to know the strengths and weaknesses of the enemies. This battle is indeed set to take place at dawn.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
एते रथास्ते सङ्ख्यातास्तथैवातिरथा नृप। य चाप्यर्धरथा राजन्पाण्डवानामतः शृणु ॥५-१६६-१४॥
O King, these chariots and those counted as great charioteers, as well as those who are half-charioteers, are of the Pandavas. Therefore, listen.
यदि कौतूहलं तेऽद्य पाण्डवानां बले नृप। रथसङ्ख्यां महाबाहो सहैभिर्वसुधाधिपैः ॥५-१६६-१५॥
If you are curious today, O king, about the strength of the Pandavas, O mighty-armed one, along with the number of chariots and the lords of the earth.
स्वयं राजा रथोदारः पाण्डवः कुन्तिनन्दनः। अग्निवत्समरे तात चरिष्यति न संशयः ॥५-१६६-१६॥
The king himself, the great charioteer, the Pandava, son of Kunti, will act like fire in battle, dear father, without a doubt.
भीमसेनस्तु राजेन्द्र रथोऽष्टगुणसंमितः। नागायुतबलो मानी तेजसा न स मानुषः ॥५-१६६-१७॥
O King, Bhimasena's chariot is extraordinary, possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants. Proud and radiant, he is beyond human.
माद्रीपुत्रौ तु रथिनौ द्वावेव पुरुषर्षभौ। अश्विनाविव रूपेण तेजसा च समन्वितौ ॥५-१६६-१८॥
The sons of Madri, Nakula and Sahadeva, were two charioteers, exceptional among men, like the Ashvins in form and brilliance.
एते चमूमुखगताः स्मरन्तः क्लेशमात्मनः। रुद्रवत्प्रचरिष्यन्ति तत्र मे नास्ति संशयः ॥५-१६६-१९॥
There is no doubt in my mind that these warriors, at the forefront of the army, will act like Rudra, remembering their own suffering.
सर्व एव महात्मानः शालस्कन्धा इवोद्गताः। प्रादेशेनाधिकाः पुम्भिरन्यैस्ते च प्रमाणतः ॥५-१६६-२०॥
All of them are truly great souls, standing tall like the trunks of trees, surpassing other men in stature and size.
सिंहसंहननाः सर्वे पाण्डुपुत्रा महाबलाः। चरितब्रह्मचर्याश्च सर्वे चातितपस्विनः ॥५-१६६-२१॥
All the sons of Pandu are strong and mighty like lions, having practiced celibacy and being great ascetics.
ह्रीमन्तः पुरुषव्याघ्रा व्याघ्रा इव बलोत्कटाः। जवे प्रहारे संमर्दे सर्व एवातिमानुषाः ॥ सर्वे जितमहीपाला दिग्जये भरतर्षभ ॥५-१६६-२२॥
O best of the Bharatas, these respected men are like tigers, mighty and superhuman in speed, attack, and battle. They are all conquerors of kings in their conquest of the directions.
न चैषां पुरुषाः केचिदायुधानि गदाः शरान्। विषहन्ति सदा कर्तुमधिज्यान्यपि कौरव ॥ उद्यन्तुं वा गदां गुर्वीं शरान्वापि प्रकर्षितुम् ॥५-१६६-२३॥
O Kaurava, none of these men can always bear weapons like maces and arrows, nor can they string them, raise them, or even draw heavy maces and arrows.
जवे लक्ष्यस्य हरणे भोज्ये पांसुविकर्षणे। बालैरपि भवन्तस्तैः सर्व एव विशेषिताः ॥५-१६६-२४॥
Even in activities like speed, taking away targets, eating, and dragging sand, you are distinguished by all those children.
ते ते सैन्यं समासाद्य व्याघ्रा इव बलोत्कटाः। विध्वंसयिष्यन्ति रणे मा स्म तैः सह सङ्गमः ॥५-१६६-२५॥
They, like mighty tigers, will attack and destroy the army in battle; do not engage with them.
एकैकशस्ते सङ्ग्रामे हन्युः सर्वान्महीक्षितः। प्रत्यक्षं तव राजेन्द्र राजसूये यथाभवत् ॥५-१६६-२६॥
One by one, they defeated all the kings in battle right before your eyes, O King, just as it happened during the Rājasūya sacrifice.
द्रौपद्याश्च परिक्लेशं द्यूते च परुषा गिरः। ते संस्मरन्तः सङ्ग्रामे विचरिष्यन्ति कालवत् ॥५-१६६-२७॥
Recalling the suffering of Draupadi and the harsh words spoken during the dice game, they will fight in the battle with the inevitability of time.
लोहिताक्षो गुडाकेशो नारायणसहायवान्। उभयोः सेनयोर्वीर रथो नास्तीह तादृशः ॥५-१६६-२८॥
Arjuna, the red-eyed warrior with Narayana as his ally, stands unmatched in both armies; no chariot like his exists here.
न हि देवेषु वा पूर्वं दानवेषूरगेषु वा। राक्षसेष्वथ यक्षेषु नरेषु कुत एव तु ॥५-१६६-२९॥
There was no one before among gods, demons, serpents, ogres, yakshas, or men.
भूतोऽथ वा भविष्यो वा रथः कश्चिन्मया श्रुतः। समायुक्तो महाराज यथा पार्थस्य धीमतः ॥५-१६६-३०॥
O great king, I have heard of a chariot, either from the past or the future, that is equipped like that of the wise Arjuna.
वासुदेवश्च संयन्ता योद्धा चैव धनञ्जयः। गाण्डीवं च धनुर्दिव्यं ते चाश्वा वातरंहसः ॥५-१६६-३१॥
Vasudeva was the charioteer and Dhananjaya the warrior, wielding the divine bow Gandiva, with horses that were as swift as the wind.
अभेद्यं कवचं दिव्यमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी। अस्त्रग्रामश्च माहेन्द्रो रौद्रः कौबेर एव च ॥५-१६६-३२॥
The divine armor that cannot be penetrated, the inexhaustible great arrows, and the collection of weapons belonging to Indra, Rudra, and Kubera.
याम्यश्च वारुणश्चैव गदाश्चोग्रप्रदर्शनाः। वज्रादीनि च मुख्यानि नानाप्रहरणानि वै ॥५-१६६-३३॥
The maces of Yama and Varuna, fierce in display, along with thunderbolts and other principal weapons, are indeed various.
दानवानां सहस्राणि हिरण्यपुरवासिनाम्। हतान्येकरथेनाजौ कस्तस्य सदृशो रथः ॥५-१६६-३४॥
Thousands of demons from Hiranyapura were slain by a single chariot in battle; who can match his chariot?
एष हन्याद्धि संरम्भी बलवान्सत्यविक्रमः। तव सेनां महाबाहुः स्वां चैव परिपालयन् ॥५-१६६-३५॥
This mighty-armed warrior, truly powerful and impetuous, would indeed destroy your army while safeguarding his own.
अहं चैनं प्रत्युदियामाचार्यो वा धनञ्जयम्। न तृतीयोऽस्ति राजेन्द्र सेनयोरुभयोरपि ॥ य एनं शरवर्षाणि वर्षन्तमुदियाद्रथी ॥५-१६६-३६॥
I and this one would confront, either the teacher or Dhananjaya. There is no third person, O king, in both the armies, who would confront this warrior showering arrows.
जीमूत इव घर्मान्ते महावातसमीरितः। समायुक्तस्तु कौन्तेयो वासुदेवसहायवान् ॥ तरुणश्च कृती चैव जीर्णावावामुभावपि ॥५-१६६-३७॥
Like a cloud driven by strong winds at the end of summer, Arjuna, the son of Kunti, united with Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, is young and accomplished, while we both are indeed old.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु भीष्मस्य राज्ञां दध्वंसिरे तदा। काञ्चनाङ्गदिनः पीना भुजाश्चन्दनरूषिताः ॥५-१६६-३८॥
Upon hearing this, the kings associated with Bhishma were deeply distressed. Their strong arms, adorned with golden armlets, were anointed with sandalwood paste.
मनोभिः सह सावेगैः संस्मृत्य च पुरातनम्। सामर्थ्यं पाण्डवेयानां यथाप्रत्यक्षदर्शनात् ॥५-१६६-३९॥
With excitement in their minds, they recalled the ancient strength of the Pandavas as if they had seen it directly.
