05.180
Pancharatra-Ext: Bhargava refuses to listen to Goddess Ganga, and in the battle that follows, day one comes to an end.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma spoke:
तमहं स्मयन्निव रणे प्रत्यभाषं व्यवस्थितम्। भूमिष्ठं नोत्सहे योद्धुं भवन्तं रथमास्थितः ॥५-१८०-१॥
I, with a smile as if in battle, replied to him who was standing on the ground: 'I cannot fight you while you are mounted on a chariot.'
आरोह स्यन्दनं वीर कवचं च महाभुज। बधान समरे राम यदि योद्धुं मयेच्छसि ॥५-१८०-२॥
O mighty-armed hero, ascend the chariot and put on your armor in the battle, Rama, if you wish to fight with me.
ततो मामब्रवीद्रामः स्मयमानो रणाजिरे। रथो मे मेदिनी भीष्म वाहा वेदाः सदश्ववत् ॥५-१८०-३॥
Then Rama, with a smile, said to me on the battlefield: "My chariot is the earth, Bhishma is the horses, and the Vedas are like noble steeds."
सूतो मे मातरिश्वा वै कवचं वेदमातरः। सुसंवीतो रणे ताभिर्योत्स्येऽहं कुरुनन्दन ॥५-१८०-४॥
My charioteer, Mātariśvā, who is indeed knowledgeable in the Vedas, will equip me with armor. Well-prepared, I shall fight in the battle alongside them, O joy of the Kurus.
एवं ब्रुवाणो गान्धारे रामो मां सत्यविक्रमः। शरव्रातेन महता सर्वतः पर्यवारयत् ॥५-१८०-५॥
Rama, known for his true prowess, addressed Gandhari and surrounded me with a great number of arrows from every direction.
ततोऽपश्यं जामदग्न्यं रथे दिव्ये व्यवस्थितम्। सर्वायुधधरे श्रीमत्यद्भुतोपमदर्शने ॥५-१८०-६॥
Then I saw Jamadagnya on the divine chariot, equipped with all weapons, looking glorious and of a wonderful appearance.
मनसा विहिते पुण्ये विस्तीर्णे नगरोपमे। दिव्याश्वयुजि संनद्धे काञ्चनेन विभूषिते ॥५-१८०-७॥
By the mind, a vast and auspicious place like a city was established, equipped with divine horses and adorned with gold.
ध्वजेन च महाबाहो सोमालङ्कृतलक्ष्मणा। धनुर्धरो बद्धतूणो बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रवान् ॥५-१८०-८॥
O mighty-armed one, adorned with the beauty of the moon, you stand with a flag, bearing a bow, with a quiver tied, and wearing gloves made of lizard skin.
सारथ्यं कृतवांस्तत्र युयुत्सोरकृतव्रणः। सखा वेदविदत्यन्तं दयितो भार्गवस्य ह ॥५-१८०-९॥
The unwounded one, a dear friend and a profound knower of the Vedas, took up the role of charioteer there for the eager warrior, being extremely beloved by Bhārgava.
आह्वयानः स मां युद्धे मनो हर्षयतीव मे। पुनः पुनरभिक्रोशन्नभियाहीति भार्गवः ॥५-१८०-१०॥
Bhārgava, repeatedly calling me to battle, seems to invigorate my spirit by shouting, 'Come forward!'
तमादित्यमिवोद्यन्तमनाधृष्यं महाबलम्। क्षत्रियान्तकरं राममेकमेकः समासदम् ॥५-१८०-११॥
He approached Rama, who was like the rising sun, unassailable and of great strength, the sole destroyer of warriors.
ततोऽहं बाणपातेषु त्रिषु वाहान्निगृह्य वै। अवतीर्य धनुर्न्यस्य पदातिरृषिसत्तमम् ॥५-१८०-१२॥
Then, O best of sages, I restrained the chariots within the range of arrows, descended and placed my bow, standing on foot.
अभ्यगच्छं तदा राममर्चिष्यन्द्विजसत्तमम्। अभिवाद्य चैनं विधिवदब्रुवं वाक्यमुत्तमम् ॥५-१८०-१३॥
Then I approached Rama, the best among the twice-born, worshipped him, and after saluting him properly, I spoke words of great excellence.
योत्स्ये त्वया रणे राम विशिष्टेनाधिकेन च। गुरुणा धर्मशीलेन जयमाशास्स्व मे विभो ॥५-१८०-१४॥
O Rama, I will engage in battle with you, accompanied by those who are distinguished, superior, venerable, and virtuous. You can hope for my victory, O lord.
राम उवाच॥
Rama spoke:
एवमेतत्कुरुश्रेष्ठ कर्तव्यं भूतिमिच्छता। धर्मो ह्येष महाबाहो विशिष्टैः सह युध्यताम् ॥५-१८०-१५॥
Thus, O best of the Kurus, if you desire prosperity, you must perform this duty. Indeed, O mighty-armed one, this is righteousness, and it should be pursued in the company of the distinguished.
शपेयं त्वां न चेदेवमागच्छेथा विशां पते। युध्यस्व त्वं रणे यत्तो धैर्यमालम्ब्य कौरव ॥५-१८०-१६॥
I would swear an oath to you, if you do not come in this manner, O lord of men. Prepare yourself and fight in the battle with courage, O Kaurava.
न तु ते जयमाशासे त्वां हि जेतुमहं स्थितः। गच्छ युध्यस्व धर्मेण प्रीतोऽस्मि चरितेन ते ॥५-१८०-१७॥
However, I do not expect you to win, as I am here to defeat you. Proceed and fight righteously; I am satisfied with your behavior.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma spoke:
ततोऽहं तं नमस्कृत्य रथमारुह्य सत्वरः। प्राध्मापयं रणे शङ्खं पुनर्हेमविभूषितम् ॥५-१८०-१८॥
Then, after saluting him, I quickly climbed into the chariot and blew the conch adorned with gold once more in the battle.
ततो युद्धं समभवन्मम तस्य च भारत। दिवसान्सुबहून्राजन्परस्परजिगीषया ॥५-१८०-१९॥
Then a battle ensued between my forces and his, O Bharata, lasting many days, driven by mutual ambition to conquer, O king.
स मे तस्मिन्रणे पूर्वं प्राहरत्कङ्कपत्रिभिः। षष्ट्या शतैश्च नवभिः शराणामग्निवर्चसाम् ॥५-१८०-२०॥
He was the first to attack me in that battle with arrows adorned with peacock feathers, totaling sixty-nine hundred, all shining like fire.
चत्वारस्तेन मे वाहाः सूतश्चैव विशां पते। प्रतिरुद्धास्तथैवाहं समरे दंशितः स्थितः ॥५-१८०-२१॥
O lord of men, my four horses and the charioteer are blocked by him, and I am standing wounded in the battle.
नमस्कृत्य च देवेभ्यो ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च भारत। तमहं स्मयन्निव रणे प्रत्यभाषं व्यवस्थितम् ॥५-१८०-२२॥
O Bharata, after saluting the gods and Brahmins, I replied to him in the battle, smiling as if I was standing firm.
आचार्यता मानिता मे निर्मर्यादे ह्यपि त्वयि। भूयस्तु शृणु मे ब्रह्मन्सम्पदं धर्मसङ्ग्रहे ॥५-१८०-२३॥
I hold respect for teachers in high regard, even in you who are without boundaries. But listen again, O Brahman, to my wealth in the collection of dharma.
ये ते वेदाः शरीरस्था ब्राह्मण्यं यच्च ते महत्। तपश्च सुमहत्तप्तं न तेभ्यः प्रहराम्यहम् ॥५-१८०-२४॥
I do not strike at the Vedas residing in your body, nor at your great Brahmanhood or the immense penance you have performed.
प्रहरे क्षत्रधर्मस्य यं त्वं राम समास्थितः। ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियत्वं हि याति शस्त्रसमुद्यमात् ॥५-१८०-२५॥
In battle, you, Rama, have engaged in the duty of a warrior; indeed, a Brahmin attains the status of a warrior by wielding weapons.
पश्य मे धनुषो वीर्यं पश्य बाह्वोर्बलं च मे। एष ते कार्मुकं वीर द्विधा कुर्मि ससायकम् ॥५-१८०-२६॥
Behold the power of my bow and the might of my arms. O hero, I shall break your bow into two along with its arrows.
तस्याहं निशितं भल्लं प्राहिण्वं भरतर्षभ। तेनास्य धनुषः कोटिश्छिन्ना भूमिमथागमत् ॥५-१८०-२७॥
I shot a sharp arrow, O best of the Bharatas, which cut off the end of his bow and it fell to the ground.
नव चापि पृषत्कानां शतानि नतपर्वणाम्। प्राहिण्वं कङ्कपत्राणां जामदग्न्यरथं प्रति ॥५-१८०-२८॥
Nine hundred arrows with bent joints and peacock feathers were also sent towards the chariot of Jamadagni's son.
काये विषक्तास्तु तदा वायुनाभिसमीरिताः। चेलुः क्षरन्तो रुधिरं नागा इव च ते शराः ॥५-१८०-२९॥
The arrows, attached to the body, were then driven by the wind, moving and oozing blood like serpents.
क्षतजोक्षितसर्वाङ्गः क्षरन्स रुधिरं व्रणैः। बभौ रामस्तदा राजन्मेरुर्धातूनिवोत्सृजन् ॥५-१८०-३०॥
Rama, with his entire body smeared in blood and blood flowing from his wounds, shone like the mountain Meru emitting its minerals, O king.
हेमन्तान्तेऽशोक इव रक्तस्तबकमण्डितः। बभौ रामस्तदा राजन्क्वचित्किंशुकसंनिभः ॥५-१८०-३१॥
At the end of winter, Rama appeared splendid, adorned with red clusters like the Ashoka tree, and at times resembling the Kimshuka tree, O king.
ततोऽन्यद्धनुरादाय रामः क्रोधसमन्वितः। हेमपुङ्खान्सुनिशिताञ्शरांस्तान्हि ववर्ष सः ॥५-१८०-३२॥
Then Rama, filled with anger, took another bow and showered those well-sharpened, golden-feathered arrows.
ते समासाद्य मां रौद्रा बहुधा मर्मभेदिनः। अकम्पयन्महावेगाः सर्पानलविषोपमाः ॥५-१८०-३३॥
They approached me fiercely in many ways, piercing my vital parts, and shook me with great speed, like serpents with the potency of fire and poison.
ततोऽहं समवष्टभ्य पुनरात्मानमाहवे। शतसङ्ख्यैः शरैः क्रुद्धस्तदा राममवाकिरम् ॥५-१८०-३४॥
Then, regaining my composure in the battle, I angrily showered Rama with hundreds of arrows.
स तैरग्न्यर्कसङ्काशैः शरैराशीविषोपमैः। शितैरभ्यर्दितो रामो मन्दचेता इवाभवत् ॥५-१८०-३५॥
Rama, struck by arrows that shone like fire and the sun and were as deadly as poisonous snakes, seemed to become dull-minded.
ततोऽहं कृपयाविष्टो विनिन्द्यात्मानमात्मना। धिग्धिगित्यब्रुवं युद्धं क्षत्रं च भरतर्षभ ॥५-१८०-३६॥
Then, filled with compassion, I reproached myself, lamenting about the battle and the warrior class, O best of the Bharatas.
असकृच्चाब्रुवं राजञ्शोकवेगपरिप्लुतः। अहो बत कृतं पापं मयेदं क्षत्रकर्मणा ॥५-१८०-३७॥
Overwhelmed by grief, I repeatedly said, "O king, alas, indeed, I have committed this sin due to my duty as a warrior."
गुरुर्द्विजातिर्धर्मात्मा यदेवं पीडितः शरैः। ततो न प्राहरं भूयो जामदग्न्याय भारत ॥५-१८०-३८॥
O Bharata, as the teacher, the twice-born, and the righteous soul was thus afflicted by arrows, I refrained from striking again at Jamadagni's son.
अथावताप्य पृथिवीं पूषा दिवससङ्क्षये। जगामास्तं सहस्रांशुस्ततो युद्धमुपारमत् ॥५-१८०-३९॥
Then, after heating the earth, the sun, known as the thousand-rayed one, set at the end of the day, and the battle came to an end.
