06.015
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
kathaṁ kurūṇāmṛṣabho hato bhīṣmaḥ śikhaṇḍinā। kathaṁ rathāts nyapatatpitā me vāsavopamaḥ ॥6-15-1॥
How did Bhishma, the revered leader of the Kurus, meet his end at the hands of Shikhandi? How did my father, who was comparable to Indra, fall from his chariot?
katham āsaṃś ca me putrā hīnā bhīṣmeṇa sañjaya। balinā devakalpena gurvarthe brahmacāriṇā ॥6-15-2॥
Sanjaya, how did my sons, deprived by the powerful and god-like Bhishma, who was celibate for the sake of his teacher, fare?
tasmin hate mahāsattve maheṣvāse mahābale। mahārathe naravyāghre kimu āsīn manas tadā ॥6-15-3॥
When that great being, the mighty archer and warrior, who was like a tiger among men, was slain, what was the state of mind at that time?
ārtiḥ parā māviśati yataḥ śaṃsasi me hatam। kurūṇāmṛṣabhaṃ vīramakampyaṃ puruṣarṣabham ॥6-15-4॥
Supreme distress does not overcome me because you declare that my unshakable hero, the bull among the Kurus and the best among men, has been slain.
ke taṃ yāntamanuprayuḥ ke cāsyāsanpurogamāḥ। ke'tiṣṭhanke nyavartanta ke'bhyavartanta sañjaya ॥6-15-5॥
O Sanjaya, who followed him as he proceeded? Who were his leaders? Who stood firm, who retreated, and who advanced?
ke śūrā rathaśārdūlam acyutaṃ kṣatriyarṣabham। rathānīkaṃ gāhamānaṃ sahasā pṛṣṭhato'nvayuḥ ॥6-15-6॥
The heroes who suddenly followed Acyuta, known as the tiger among charioteers and the bull among Kshatriyas, entered the chariot army from behind.
yastamo'rka ivāpohanparasainyamamitrahā। sahasrarāśmipratimaḥ pareṣāṃ bhayamādadhat ॥ akarodduṣkaraṃ karma raṇe kauravaśāsanāt ॥6-15-7॥
He, who dispelled the darkness like the sun and destroyed the enemy forces, instilling fear like a thousand rays, accomplished a formidable task in the battle under the Kaurava's command.
grasamānam anīkāni ya enaṃ paryavārayan। kṛtinaṃ taṃ durādharṣaṃ samyagyāsyantamantike ॥ kathaṃ śāṃtanavaṃ yuddhe pāṇḍavāḥ pratyavārayan ॥6-15-8॥
The skilled and invincible warrior, who was devouring the troops surrounding him, approached properly near. How did the Pāṇḍavas counter the son of Śāṃtanu in battle?
nikṛntantamanīkāni śaradaṃṣṭraṃ tarasvinam। cāpavyāttānanaṃ ghoram asijihvaṃ durāsadam ॥6-15-9॥
The mighty one, with sharp teeth and a drawn bow, was cutting through the armies, terrible and unapproachable with a sword-like tongue.
atyanyān puruṣavyāghrān hrīmanta maparājitam। pātayāmāsa kaunteyaḥ kathaṃ tam ajitaṃ yudhi ॥6-15-10॥
The son of Kunti, Arjuna, brought down other great warriors who were modest and undefeated. How did he manage to defeat them in battle?
ugradhanmānamugreṣuṃ vartamānaṃ rathottame। pareṣāmuttamāṅgāni pracinvantaṃ śiteṣubhiḥ ॥6-15-11॥
The warrior, known for his fierce bow, stood in the finest chariot, targeting and piercing the heads of his enemies with his sharp arrows.
pāṇḍavānāṃ mahatsainyaṃ yaṃ dṛṣṭvodyantamāhave। kālāgnimiva durdharṣaṃ samaveṣṭata nityaśaḥ ॥6-15-12॥
Observing the formidable army of the Pandavas advancing in battle, akin to the unstoppable fire of doom, he perpetually encircled it.
parikṛṣya sa senāṃ me daśarātramanīkaha। jagāmāstamivādityaḥ kṛtvā karma suduṣkaram ॥6-15-13॥
After drawing away my army for ten nights, he, the destroyer of forces, departed like the sun setting, having accomplished a very difficult task.
yaḥ sa śakra ivākṣayyaṃ varṣaṃ śaramayaṃ sṛjan। jaghāna yudhi yodhānāmarbudaṃ daśabhirdinaiḥ ॥6-15-14॥
He, like Indra, unleashed an unending storm of arrows and slew a hundred million warriors in the battle within ten days.
sa śete niṣṭananbhūmau vātarugṇa iva drumaḥ। mama durmantritenāsau yathā nārhaḥ sa bhārataḥ ॥6-15-15॥
He lies on the ground groaning like a tree broken by the wind. Due to my poor counsel, Bharata is in a state he does not deserve.
kathaṁ śāntanavaṁ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavānāmanīkinī। prahartumaśakattatra bhīṣmaṁ bhīmaparākramam ॥6-15-16॥
Upon seeing the formidable army of the Pāṇḍavas, Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu, known for his terrible prowess, found himself unable to launch an attack.
kathaṁ bhīṣmeṇa saṅgrāmamakurvanpāṇḍunandanāḥ। kathaṁ ca nājayadbhīṣmo droṇe jīvati sañjaya ॥6-15-17॥
Sanjaya, how did the sons of Pandu engage in battle with Bhishma, and how was it that Bhishma did not achieve victory while Drona was still alive?
kṛpe saṃnihite tatra bharadvājātmaje tathā। bhīṣmaḥ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kathaṃ sa nidhanaṃ gataḥ ॥6-15-18॥
In the presence of Kripa and the son of Bharadvaja, how did the great warrior Bhishma meet his end?
kathaṁ cātirathastena pāñcālyena śikhaṇḍinā। bhīṣmo vinihato yuddhe devairapi durutsahaḥ ॥6-15-19॥
How did the great warrior Bhishma, who was invincible even to the gods, fall in battle at the hands of Shikhandi, the prince of Panchala?
yaḥ spardhate raṇe nityaṃ jāmadagnyaṃ mahābalam। ajitaṃ jāmadagnyena śakratulyaparākramam ॥6-15-20॥
He who always challenges the mighty Jamadagni in battle, who remains unconquered by Jamadagni and is equal in valor to Indra.
taṃ hataṃ samare bhīṣmaṃ mahārathabalocitam। sañjayācakṣva me vīraṃ yena śarma na vidmahe ॥6-15-21॥
Sanjaya, please tell me about the hero who killed Bhishma in battle, a warrior worthy of a great chariot, and because of whom we find no peace.
māmakāḥ ke maheṣvāsā naājahuḥ sañjayācyutam। duryodhanasamādiṣṭāḥ ke vīrāḥ paryavārayan ॥6-15-22॥
My warriors, the great archers, remained steadfast with Sanjaya and Achyuta. Who are the heroes commanded by Duryodhana that encircled them?
yacchikhaṇḍimukhāḥ sarve pāṇḍavā bhīṣmamabhyayuḥ। kaccinna kuravo bhītāstatyajuḥ sañjayācyutam ॥6-15-23॥
When all the Pāṇḍavas led by Śikhaṇḍi approached Bhīṣma, did the Kurus, out of fear, abandon Sañjaya and Acyuta?
maurvīghoṣastanayitnuḥ pṛṣatkapṛṣato mahān। dhanurhvādamahāśabdo mahāmegha ivonnataḥ ॥6-15-24॥
The sound of the bowstring was like thunder, and the arrows fell like heavy rain. The bow roared with a mighty sound, towering like a great cloud.
yad abhyavarṣat kaunteyān sapāñcālān sasṛñjayān। nighnan pararathān vīro dānavān iva vajrabhṛt ॥6-15-25॥
When the hero attacked the sons of Kunti, along with the Panchalas and the Srinjayas, he destroyed the enemy chariots like Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, destroys the demons.
iṣvastrasāgaraṃ ghoraṃ bāṇagrāhaṃ durāsadam। kārmukormiṇamakṣayyamadvīpaṃ samare'plavam ॥ gadāsimakarāvartaṃ hayagrāhaṃ gajākulam ॥
The battlefield was like a terrifying ocean, filled with arrows and weapons, where arrows were like crocodiles and bows like waves. It was inexhaustible, without islands or boats, and in the midst of battle, clubs and swords formed whirlpools, horses were like crocodiles, and it was teeming with elephants.
hayāngajānpadātāṃśca rathāṃśca tarasā bahūn। nimajjayantaṃ samare paravīrāpahāriṇam ॥6-15-27॥
The destroyer of enemy heroes swiftly submerged many horses, elephants, foot soldiers, and chariots in the battle.
vidahyamānaṃ kopena tejasā ca parantapam। veleva makarāvāsaṃ ke vīrāḥ paryavārayan ॥6-15-28॥
The heroes, like the shore surrounding the abode of crocodiles, surrounded the scorcher of foes who was burning with anger and energy.
bhīṣmo yadakarotkarma samare sañjayārihā। duryodhanahitārthāya ke tadāsya puro'bhavan ॥6-15-29॥
O Sanjaya, who were those that stood in front of Bhishma, who performed heroic deeds in battle for the sake of Duryodhana?
ke'rakṣandakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ। pṛṣṭhataḥ ke parānvīrā upāsedhanyatavratāḥ ॥6-15-30॥
Who guarded the right wheel of Bhishma, the one with immeasurable energy? And who were the valiant warriors that approached the enemies from behind, steadfast in their vows?
ke purastādavartanta rakṣanto bhīṣmamantike। ke'rakṣannutaraṃ cakraṃ vīrā vīrasya yudhyataḥ ॥6-15-31॥
Who stood in front protecting Bhishma closely? Who left the rear formation of the hero unprotected during the battle?
vāme cakre vartamānāḥ ke'ghnansaṃjaya sṛñjayān। sametāgramanīkeṣu ke'bhyarakṣandurāsadam ॥6-15-32॥
On the left side of the circle, who were present and striking, O Sanjaya, were the Srinjayas; in the assembled front ranks, who were protecting the invincible.
pārśvataḥ ke'bhyavartanta gacchanto durgamāṃ gatim। samūhe ke parān vīrān pratyayudhyanta sañjaya ॥6-15-33॥
Who approached from the side, proceeding on a difficult path? In the group, who were the heroes fighting against the enemies, O Sanjaya?
rakṣyamāṇaḥ kathaṃ vīrairgopyamānāśca tena te। durjayānāmanīkāni nājayaṃstarasā yudhi ॥6-15-34॥
Despite being protected by heroes and guarded by him, they could not conquer the invincible armies by force in battle.
sarvalokeśvarasyeva parameṣṭhiprajāpateḥ। kathaṃ prahartumapi te śekuḥ sañjaya pāṇḍavāḥ ॥6-15-35॥
O Sañjaya, how could the Pāṇḍavas even think of attacking someone as supreme as the lord of all worlds, the ultimate creator?
yasmin dvīpe samāśritya yudhyanti kuravaḥ paraiḥ। taṃ nimagnaṃ naravyāghraṃ bhīṣmaṃ śaṃsasi sañjaya ॥6-15-36॥
In the island where the Kurus have taken refuge and are fighting against their enemies, you, O Sanjaya, speak of the fallen Bhishma, the tiger among men.
yasya vīrye samāśvasya mama putro bṛhadbalaḥ। na pāṇḍavānagaṇayatkathaṃ sa nihataḥ paraiḥ ॥6-15-37॥
Relying on his valor, my son Brihadbala did not regard the Pandavas; how then was he killed by others?
yaḥ purā vibudhaiḥ sendraiḥ sāhāyye yuddhadurmadaḥ। kāṅkṣito dānavānghnadbhiḥ pitā mama mahāvrataḥ ॥6-15-38॥
My father, who was once sought by the wise and Indra for help in battle and was arrogant in battle, is a man of great vows and a slayer of demons.
yasmiñ jāte mahāvīrye śantanur lokaśaṅkare। śokaṃ duḥkhaṃ ca dainyaṃ ca prājahāt putralakṣmaṇi ॥6-15-39॥
When the mighty son Lakṣmaṇa was born, Śantanu, the benefactor of the world, abandoned all sorrow, grief, and misery.
prajñā parāyaṇaṃ tajjñaṃ saddharmanirataṃ śucim। vedavedāṅgatattvajñaṃ kathaṃ śaṃsasi me hatam ॥6-15-40॥
How can you say that my wise and pure expert, who is dedicated to true dharma and knowledgeable in the Vedas and Vedangas, has been killed?
sarvāstravinayopetaṃ dāntaṃ śāntaṃ manasvinam। hataṃ śāntanavaṃ śrutvā manye śeṣaṃ balaṃ hatam ॥6-15-41॥
Having heard of the fall of Bhishma, who was endowed with humility towards all weapons, restrained, peaceful, and wise, I believe the remaining strength is also gone.
dharmādadharmo balavānsamprāpta iti me matiḥ। yatra vṛddhaṃ guruṃ hatvā rājyamicchanti pāṇḍavāḥ ॥6-15-42॥
In my opinion, unrighteousness has gained strength from righteousness, as the Pandavas seek the kingdom after killing the revered elder.
jāmadaghnyaḥ purā rāmaḥ sarvāstravidanuttamaḥ। ambārthamudyataḥ saṅkhye bhīṣmeṇa yudhi nirjitaḥ ॥6-15-43॥
Once upon a time, the son of Jamadagni, Rama, who was the unsurpassed master of all weapons, was ready to fight for Amba but was defeated by Bhishma in battle.
tam indrasamakarmāṇaṃ kakudaṃ sarvadhanvinām। hataṃ śaṃsasi bhīṣmaṃ me kiṃ nu duḥkham ataḥ param ॥6-15-44॥
You tell me that Bhishma, the greatest of all archers and equal to Indra in his deeds, has been slain. What could be a greater sorrow for me than this?
asakṛtkṣatriyavrātāḥ saṅkhye yena vinirjitāḥ। jāmadagnyastathā rāmaḥ paravīranighātinā ॥6-15-45॥
Jamadagni's son, Rama, who repeatedly conquered groups of warriors in battle, was the slayer of enemy heroes.
tasmānnūnaṃ mahāvīryādbhārgavādyuddhadurmadāt। tejovīryabalairbhūyāñśikhaṇḍī drupadātmajaḥ ॥6-15-46॥
Therefore, it is certain that Śikhaṇḍī, the son of Drupada, surpasses in brilliance, heroism, and strength due to the great heroism of Bhārgava and his arrogance in battle.
yaḥ śūraṃ kṛtinaṃ yuddhe sarvaśāstraviśāradam। paramāstravidaṃ vīraṃ jaghāna bharatarṣabham ॥6-15-47॥
He who killed the heroic and skillful warrior, expert in all scriptures and supreme weapons, the bull among the Bharatas, in battle.
ke vīrās tam amitraghnam anvayuḥ śatru-saṁsadi। śaṁsa me tad yathā vṛttaṁ yuddhaṁ bhīṣmasya pāṇḍavaiḥ ॥6-15-48॥
Who were the heroes that accompanied the mighty Bhishma in the assembly of enemies? Please narrate to me how the battle between Bhishma and the Pandavas unfolded.
yoṣeva hatavīrā me senā putrasya sañjaya। agopamiva codbhrāntaṃ gokulaṃ tadbalaṃ mama ॥6-15-49॥
O Sanjaya, my army is in disarray, like a woman who has lost her protectors, and like a cowherd without a guardian, it is bewildered and scattered.
pauruṣaṃ sarvalokasya paraṃ yasya mahāhave। parāsikte ca vastasmin katham āsīn manas tadā ॥6-15-50॥
In the great battle, when everything was drenched, how was the mind of the one whose supreme manliness was recognized by all the worlds?
jīvite'pyadya sāmarthyaṃ kimivāsmāsu sañjaya। ghātayitvā mahāvīryaṃ pitaraṃ lokadhārmikam ॥6-15-51॥
O Sañjaya, even today, what strength remains in us after having slain the great hero, our father, who was the upholder of the world's righteousness?
agādhe salile magnāṃ nāvaṃ dṛṣṭveva pāragāḥ। bhīṣme hate bhṛśaṃ duḥkhānmanye śocanti putrakāḥ ॥6-15-52॥
Seeing the boat immersed in the unfathomable waters, those who have crossed over, like the sons lamenting greatly after Bhishma was slain, are filled with sorrow.
adrisāramayaṁ nūnaṁ sudṛḍhaṁ hṛdayaṁ mama। yacchrutvā puruṣavyāghraṁ hataṁ bhīṣmaṁ na dīryate ॥6-15-53॥
Indeed, my heart must be very strong, like it is made of mountain essence, as it does not break upon hearing that the great warrior Bhishma, the tiger among men, has been slain.
yasminnastraṁ ca medhā ca nītiśca bharatarṣabhe। aprameyāṇi durdharṣe kathaṁ sa nihato yudhi ॥6-15-54॥
O best of the Bharatas, how could he, in whom weaponry, intelligence, and policy were immeasurable and invincible, be slain in battle?
na cāstreṇa na śauryeṇa tapasā medhayā na ca। na dhṛtyā na punastyāgānmṛtyoḥ kaścidvimucyate ॥6-15-55॥
No one is freed from death by weapons, valor, penance, intelligence, determination, or even by renunciation.
kālo nūnaṃ mahāvīryaḥ sarvalokaduratyayaḥ। yatra śāntanavaṃ bhīṣmaṃ hataṃ śaṃsasi sañjaya ॥6-15-56॥
Indeed, time is powerful and insurmountable by all beings; it is where you, Sañjaya, report the fall of Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu.
putraśokābhisantapto mahadduḥkhamacintayan। āśaṁse'haṁ purā trāṇaṁ bhīṣmācchantanunandanāt ॥6-15-57॥
Overwhelmed by the grief of losing my son, I was deeply pondering my great sorrow and had once hoped for protection from Bhishma, the descendant of Shantanu.
yadādityamivāpaśyatpatitaṃ bhuvi sañjaya। duryodhanaḥ śāntanavaṃ kiṃ tadā pratyapadyata ॥6-15-58॥
Sanjaya, when Duryodhana saw Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, fallen on the battlefield like the sun, what was his reaction?
nāhaṃ sveṣāṃ pareṣāṃ vā buddhyā sañjaya cintayan। śeṣaṃ kiñcitprapaśyāmi pratyanīke mahīkṣitām ॥6-15-59॥
Sanjaya, I do not see anything remaining of my own or others by intelligence in the opposite army of the kings.
dāruṇaḥ kṣatradharmo'yamṛṣibhiḥ sampradarśitaḥ। yatra śāntanavaṃ hatvā rājyamicchanti pāṇḍavāḥ ॥6-15-60॥
The sages have shown this harsh duty of warriors, where the Pandavas seek the kingdom after slaying Santanu's son.
vayaṁ vā rājyamicchāmo ghātayitvā pitāmaham। kṣatradharme sthitāḥ pārthā nāparādhyanti putrakāḥ ॥6-15-61॥
We desire the kingdom even if it means killing the grandfather. The sons of Pṛthā, situated in their warrior duty, do not commit a crime, O sons.
etadāryeṇa kartavyaṃ kṛcchrāsvāpatsu sañjaya। parākramaḥ paraṃ śaktyā tacca tasminpratiṣṭhitam ॥6-15-62॥
O Sañjaya, it is the duty of the noble to act in times of difficulty and calamity. Valor, when combined with supreme power, is firmly established in such circumstances.
anīkāni vinighnantaṃ hrīmantamaparājitam। kathaṃ śāntanavaṃ tāta pāṇḍuputrā nyapātayan ॥6-15-63॥
O father, how did the sons of Pandu manage to bring down the modest and undefeated son of Śantanu, who was vanquishing armies?
kathaṁ yuktānyanīkāni kathaṁ yuddhaṁ mahātmabhiḥ। kathaṁ vā nihato bhīṣmaḥ pitā sañjaya me paraiḥ ॥6-15-64॥
Sanjaya, tell me how the armies were arranged and how the battle was fought by the great warriors. Also, how was my father Bhishma killed by others?
duryodhanaśca karṇaśca śakuniścāpi saubalaḥ। duḥśāsanaśca kitavo hate bhīṣme kimabruvan ॥6-15-65॥
Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni, the son of Subala, and Duhshasana, the gambler, wondered what to say upon the fall of Bhishma.
yaccharīrairupastīrṇāṃ naravāraṇavājinām। śaraśaktigadākhaḍgatomarākṣāṃ bhayāvahām ॥6-15-66॥
The battlefield was a terrifying sight, strewn with the bodies of men, elephants, and horses, and filled with the menace of arrows, spears, maces, swords, lances, and glaring eyes.
prāviśankitavā mandāḥ sabhāṃ yudhi durāsadām। prāṇadyūte pratibhaye ke'dīvyanta nararṣabhāḥ ॥6-15-67॥
The slow-witted gamblers, formidable in battle, entered the assembly and played the gamble of life in fear; they were the bulls among men.
ke'jayanke jitāstatra hṛtalakṣā nipātitāḥ। anye bhīṣmācchāntanavāttanmamācakṣva sañjaya ॥6-15-68॥
Who were the victors and who were vanquished there? Who were robbed of their wealth and who were slain? Tell me all this, O Sanjaya, from Bhishma, from Shantanava.
na hi me śāntirastīha yudhi devavrataṃ hatam। pitaraṃ bhīmakarmāṇaṃ śrutvā me duḥkhamāviśat ॥6-15-69॥
I have no peace here, as I have heard that Devavrata, my father known for his terrible deeds, has been slain in battle, and sorrow has overtaken me.
ārtim me hṛdaye rūḍhāṃ mahatīṃ putrakāritām। tvaṃ siñcansarpiṣevāgnimuddīpayasi sañjaya ॥6-15-70॥
Sanjaya, you intensify the great distress in my heart caused by my son, just as one would intensify a fire by pouring ghee on it.
mahāntaṃ bhāramudyamya viśrutaṃ sārvalaukikam। dṛṣṭvā vinihataṃ bhīṣmaṃ manye śocanti putrakāḥ ॥6-15-71॥
The sons, having taken on a great and renowned burden known to all, now lament upon seeing Bhishma slain.
śroṣyāmi tāni duḥkhāni duryodhanakṛtānyaham। tasmānme sarvamācakṣva yadvṛttaṃ tatra sañjaya ॥6-15-72॥
I am eager to hear about the sorrows caused by Duryodhana. Therefore, Sanjaya, please narrate to me everything that transpired there.
saṅgrāme pṛthivīśānāṃ mandasyābuddhisambhavam। apanītaṃ sunītaṃ vā tanmamācakṣva sañjaya ॥6-15-73॥
In the battle, tell me, Sanjaya, whether the actions of the lords of the earth, born out of ignorance of the slow-witted, were removed or well-guided.
yat kṛtaṃ tatra bhīṣmeṇa saṅgrāme jayamicchatā। tejoyuktaṃ kṛtāstreṇa śaṃsa taccāpy aśeṣataḥ ॥6-15-74॥
Tell me completely what Bhishma did there in the battle, desiring victory, full of energy and with weapons.
yathā tadabhavadyuddhaṃ kurupāṇḍavasenayoḥ। krameṇa yena yasmiṃśca kāle yacca yathā ca tat ॥6-15-75॥
The battle between the Kuru and Pandava armies happened in a sequence, detailing the time and manner in which it occurred.
