05.183
Pancharatra-Ext: Battle continues for 23 days with ups and downs!
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma spoke:
ततः प्रभाते राजेन्द्र सूर्ये विमल उद्गते। भार्गवस्य मया सार्धं पुनर्युद्धमवर्तत ॥५-१८३-१॥
Then, in the morning, O King, when the pure sun had risen, I engaged in battle once more with Bhārgava.
ततो भ्रान्ते रथे तिष्ठन्रामः प्रहरतां वरः। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि मयि शक्र इवाचले ॥५-१८३-२॥
Then, as the chariot was in disarray, Rama, the greatest among warriors, stood firm and unleashed a torrent of arrows upon me, akin to how Indra would rain upon a mountain.
तेन सूतो मम सुहृच्छरवर्षेण ताडितः। निपपात रथोपस्थे मनो मम विषादयन् ॥५-१८३-३॥
My friend, the charioteer, was struck by a shower of arrows by him and fell onto the chariot seat, causing me great distress.
ततः सूतः स मेऽत्यर्थं कश्मलं प्राविशन्महत्। पृथिव्यां च शराघातान्निपपात मुमोह च ॥५-१८३-४॥
Then the charioteer, overwhelmed by great confusion, fell to the ground due to the impact of the arrows and lost consciousness.
ततः सूतोऽजहात्प्राणान्रामबाणप्रपीडितः। मुहूर्तादिव राजेन्द्र मां च भीराविशत्तदा ॥५-१८३-५॥
Then, O King, the charioteer, struck by Rama's arrow, gave up his life. In that moment, fear seemed to enter me.
ततः सूते हते राजन्क्षिपतस्तस्य मे शरान्। प्रमत्तमनसो रामः प्राहिणोन्मृत्युसंमितान् ॥५-१८३-६॥
Then, O king, when the charioteer was killed, Rama, in his distraction, sent forth my arrows, which were as deadly as death itself.
ततः सूतव्यसनिनं विप्लुतं मां स भार्गवः। शरेणाभ्यहनद्गाढं विकृष्य बलवद्धनुः ॥५-१८३-७॥
Then Bhārgava, with his powerful bow, drew it back and struck me deeply with an arrow, while I was distressed and afflicted by the charioteer.
स मे जत्र्वन्तरे राजन्निपत्य रुधिराशनः। मयैव सह राजेन्द्र जगाम वसुधातलम् ॥५-१८३-८॥
He, my bloodthirsty companion, fell in the midst of the battle and went to the earth with me, O king of kings.
मत्वा तु निहतं रामस्ततो मां भरतर्षभ। मेघवद्व्यनदच्चोच्चैर्जहृषे च पुनः पुनः ॥५-१८३-९॥
Rama, believing that I was slain, O best of the Bharatas, roared loudly like a thunderous cloud and rejoiced repeatedly.
तथा तु पतिते राजन्मयि रामो मुदा युतः। उदक्रोशन्महानादं सह तैरनुयायिभिः ॥५-१८३-१०॥
Thus, when I fell, O king, Rama, filled with joy, shouted loudly along with his followers.
मम तत्राभवन्ये तु कौरवाः पार्श्वतः स्थिताः। आगता ये च युद्धं तज्जनास्तत्र दिदृक्षवः ॥ आर्तिं परमिकां जग्मुस्ते तदा मयि पातिते ॥५-१८३-११॥
My Kauravas stood beside me there. Those who came for the battle, eager to witness, were deeply distressed when I fell.
ततोऽपश्यं पातितो राजसिंह; द्विजानष्टौ सूर्यहुताशनाभान्। ते मां समन्तात्परिवार्य तस्थुः; स्वबाहुभिः परिगृह्याजिमध्ये ॥५-१८३-१२॥
Then I saw the fallen royal lion; eight Brahmins, radiant like the sun and fire. They surrounded me completely, standing with their arms embracing me in the middle of the battlefield.
रक्ष्यमाणश्च तैर्विप्रैर्नाहं भूमिमुपास्पृशम्। अन्तरिक्षे स्थितो ह्यस्मि तैर्विप्रैर्बान्धवैरिव ॥ स्वपन्निवान्तरिक्षे च जलबिन्दुभिरुक्षितः ॥५-१८३-१३॥
Protected by the sages, I did not touch the ground. I am indeed situated in the sky by them, as if by relatives, as if sleeping in the sky and sprinkled by drops of water.
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणा राजन्नब्रुवन्परिगृह्य माम्। मा भैरिति समं सर्वे स्वस्ति तेऽस्त्विति चासकृत् ॥५-१८३-१४॥
Then the brāhmaṇas, O king, embraced me and said, "Do not fear." Together, they all repeatedly wished me well-being.
ततस्तेषामहं वाग्भिस्तर्पितः सहसोत्थितः। मातरं सरितां श्रेष्ठामपश्यं रथमास्थिताम् ॥५-१८३-१५॥
Then, pleased by their words, I suddenly stood up and saw the revered mother of rivers seated in a chariot.
हयाश्च मे सङ्गृहीतास्तया वै; महानद्या संयति कौरवेन्द्र। पादौ जनन्याः प्रतिपूज्य चाहं; तथार्ष्टिषेणं रथमभ्यरोहम् ॥५-१८३-१६॥
The horses were taken by her near the great river during the battle, O king of the Kurus. After worshipping my mother's feet, I ascended Arshthisena's chariot.
ररक्ष सा मम रथं हयांश्चोपस्कराणि च। तामहं प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा पुनरेव व्यसर्जयम् ॥५-१८३-१७॥
She protected my chariot, horses, and equipment. Then, with folded hands, I respectfully sent her off once more.
ततोऽहं स्वयमुद्यम्य हयांस्तान्वातरंहसः। अयुध्यं जामदग्न्येन निवृत्तेऽहनि भारत ॥५-१८३-१८॥
Then I personally mounted those swift horses and fought with Jamadagni's son on the day of return, O Bharata.
ततोऽहं भरतश्रेष्ठ वेगवन्तं महाबलम्। अमुञ्चं समरे बाणं रामाय हृदयच्छिदम् ॥५-१८३-१९॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, I released a swift and powerful arrow in the battle aimed at Rama, piercing his heart.
ततो जगाम वसुधां बाणवेगप्रपीडितः। जानुभ्यां धनुरुत्सृज्य रामो मोहवशं गतः ॥५-१८३-२०॥
Then, struck by the swift arrows, Rama fell to the ground on his knees, dropping his bow, overwhelmed by delusion.
ततस्तस्मिन्निपतिते रामे भूरिसहस्रदे। आवव्रुर्जलदा व्योम क्षरन्तो रुधिरं बहु ॥५-१८३-२१॥
Then, when Rama had fallen, numerous clouds covered the sky, pouring down a great amount of blood.
उल्काश्च शतशः पेतुः सनिर्घाताः सकम्पनाः। अर्कं च सहसा दीप्तं स्वर्भानुरभिसंवृणोत् ॥५-१८३-२२॥
Meteors fell in hundreds accompanied by thunder and tremors. Suddenly, Rahu covered the blazing sun.
ववुश्च वाताः परुषाश्चलिता च वसुन्धरा। गृध्रा बडाश्च कङ्काश्च परिपेतुर्मुदा युताः ॥५-१८३-२३॥
The winds blew fiercely, causing the earth to tremble. Vultures, herons, and cranes joyfully circled the sky.
दीप्तायां दिशि गोमायुर्दारुणं मुहुरुन्नदत्। अनाहता दुन्दुभयो विनेदुर्भृशनिस्वनाः ॥५-१८३-२४॥
In the blazing direction, a jackal howled terribly and repeatedly, while the unstruck drums resounded with a great sound.
एतदौत्पातिकं घोरमासीद्भरतसत्तम। विसञ्ज्ञकल्पे धरणीं गते रामे महात्मनि ॥५-१८३-२५॥
This ominous and terrible event took place, O best of the Bharatas, when the great soul Rama had descended to the earth in a state of unconsciousness.
ततो रविर्मन्दमरीचिमण्डलो; जगामास्तं पांसुपुञ्जावगाढः। निशा व्यगाहत्सुखशीतमारुता; ततो युद्धं प्रत्यवहारयावः ॥५-१८३-२६॥
As the sun, with its dim circle of rays, set into the dusty horizon, the night arrived with a gentle and cool breeze, prompting us to withdraw from the battle.
एवं राजन्नवहारो बभूव; ततः पुनर्विमलेऽभूत्सुघोरम्। काल्यं काल्यं विंशतिं वै दिनानि; तथैव चान्यानि दिनानि त्रीणि ॥५-१८३-२७॥
Thus, O king, a new feast took place; then again, in the clear sky, it became very terrible. Morning after morning, for twenty days, and similarly for another three days.
