06.045
Core and Pancharatra: Death of Uttara, the son of Virata at the hands of Shalya; At midday, the warriors could not gaze upon Bhishma, the son of Pandu; The first day of war ends.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
gatapūrvāhṇabhūyiṣṭhe tasminnahani dāruṇe। vartamāne mahāraudre mahāvīravarakṣaye ॥6-45-1॥
On that dreadful day, mostly past morning, amidst the ongoing fierce destruction of the great heroes.
durmukhaḥ kṛtavarmā ca kṛpaḥ śalyo viviṁśatiḥ। bhīṣmaṁ jugupurāsādya tava putreṇa coditāḥ ॥6-45-2॥
Durmukha, Kritavarma, Kripa, Shalya, and Vivimshati, upon approaching Bhishma, protected him as they were urged by your son.
etair atirathair guptaḥ pañcabhir bharatarṣabha। pāṇḍavānām anīkāni vijagāhe mahārathaḥ ॥6-45-3॥
O best of the Bharatas, the great warrior, protected by these five great charioteers, entered the Pandavas' armies.
cedikāśikarūṣeṣu pāñcāleṣu ca bhārata। bhīṣmasya bahudhā tālaścaranketuradṛśyata ॥6-45-4॥
O Bharata, in the regions of Cedi, Kashi, Karusha, and Panchala, the banner of Bhishma was prominently visible, moving like a palm tree in various ways.
śirāṃsi ca tadā bhīṣmo bāhūṃścāpi sahāyudhān। nicakarta mahāvegairbhallaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ॥6-45-5॥
Then Bhishma swiftly severed the heads and arms that were armed, using arrows with curved blades.
nṛtyato rathamārgeṣu bhīṣmasya bharatarṣabha। kecidārtasvaraṃ cakrurnāgā marmaṇi tāḍitāḥ ॥6-45-6॥
As Bhishma danced on the chariot paths, O best of the Bharatas, some elephants cried out in pain when they were struck in their vital parts.
abhimanyuḥ susaṅkruddhaḥ piśaṅgaiḥ turagottamaiḥ। saṁyuktaṁ ratham āsthāya prāyād bhīṣmarathaṁ prati ॥6-45-7॥
Abhimanyu, filled with intense anger, mounted his chariot drawn by excellent tawny horses and advanced towards Bhishma's chariot.
jāmbūnadavicitreṇa karṇikāreṇa ketunā। abhyavarṣata bhīṣmaṃ ca tāṃścaiva rathasattamān ॥6-45-8॥
He, with a golden banner and a garland of karṇikāra flowers, showered Bhishma and the best of charioteers with arrows.
sa tālaketostīkṣṇena ketumāhatya patriṇā। bhīṣmeṇa yuyudhe vīrastasya cānucaraiḥ saha ॥6-45-9॥
Tālaketu, with his sharp arrow, struck the banner and engaged in battle with the heroic Bhīṣma, accompanied by his followers.
kṛtavarmāṇam ekena śalyaṃ pañcabhir āyasaiḥ। viddhvā navabhir ānarca chittāgraiḥ prapitāmaham ॥6-45-10॥
Kritavarma, using one arrow, pierced Shalya with five iron arrows; then, having pierced him with nine more, he honored the great-grandfather with sharp-pointed arrows.
pūrṇāyatavisṛṣṭena samyakpraṇihitena ca। dhvajamekena vivyādha jāmbūnadavibhūṣitam ॥6-45-11॥
He skillfully shot an arrow from his fully drawn bow, hitting the flag adorned with gold.
durmukhasya tu bhallena sarvāvaraṇabhedinā। jahāra sāratheḥ kāyācchiraḥ saṁnataparvaṇā ॥6-45-12॥
Durmukha, using an arrow that could pierce any armor, skillfully beheaded the charioteer.
dhanuś ciccheda bhallena kārtsvaravibhūṣitam। kṛpasya niśitāgreṇa tāṃś ca tīkṣṇamukhaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥6-45-13॥
He cut the bow adorned with gold with an arrow, and Kṛpa's sharp-pointed arrows with sharp-faced ones.
jaghāna paramakruddho nṛtyanniva mahārathaḥ। tasya lāghavamudvīkṣya tutuṣurdevatā api ॥6-45-14॥
The great warrior, in his extreme anger, struck down his enemies as if he were dancing. Witnessing his agility, even the gods were pleased.
labdhalakṣyatayā karṣṇeḥ sarve bhīṣmamukhā rathāḥ। sattvavantamamanyanta sākṣādiva dhanañjayam ॥6-45-15॥
With their aim achieved, all the chariots led by Bhīṣma regarded Kṛṣṇa, who was endowed with strength, as if he were Arjuna himself.
tasya lāghavamārgasthamalātasadṛśaprabham। diśaḥ paryapataccāpaṃ gāṇḍīvamiva ghoṣavat ॥6-45-16॥
His bow, resembling the Gandiva, moved swiftly across the directions, shining like a firebrand and echoing with sound.
tamāsādya mahāvegairbhīṣmo navabhirāśugaiḥ। vivyādha samare tūrṇamārjuniṃ paravīrahā ॥6-45-17॥
Bhishma, with great speed, approached and quickly pierced Arjuna in battle with nine swift arrows, being the slayer of enemy heroes.
dhvajaṃ cāsya tribhirbhallaściccheda paramaujasaḥ। sārathiṃ ca tribhirbāṇairājaghāna yatavrataḥ ॥6-45-18॥
The disciplined warrior, with great energy, cut off the flag with three arrows and struck the charioteer with three arrows.
tathaiva kṛtavarmā ca kṛpaḥ śalyaśca māriṣa। viddhvā nākampayatkārṣṇiṃ mainākamiva parvatam ॥6-45-19॥
Similarly, Kritavarma, Kripa, and Shalya, O great one, attacked but could not shake Arjuna, just as the Mainaka mountain remains unshaken.
sa taiḥ parivṛtaḥ śūro dhārtarāṣṭrairmahārathaiḥ। vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi kārṣṇiḥ pañcarathānprati ॥6-45-20॥
Surrounded by the sons of Dhritarashtra and the great charioteers, the heroic Arjuna (Kārṣhṇi) showered a rain of arrows towards the five chariots.
tatasteṣāṃ mahāstrāṇi saṃvārya śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ। nanāda balavānkārṣṇirbhīṣmāya visṛjañśarān ॥6-45-21॥
Then, Arjuna, the mighty son of Kunti, countered the great weapons of the enemy with a shower of arrows and roared mightily as he released his arrows towards Bhīṣma.
tatrāsya sumahadrājanbāhvorbalamadṛśyata। yatamānasya samare bhīṣmamardayataḥ śaraiḥ ॥6-45-22॥
O King, there his immense strength of arms was evident as he relentlessly attacked Bhishma with arrows in the battle.
parākrāntasya tasyaiva bhīṣmo'pi prāhiṇoccharān। sa tāṁściccheda samare bhīṣmacāpathyutāñcharān ॥6-45-23॥
Bhishma, the valiant, sent arrows, but they were cut off in battle, released from his own bow.
tato dhvajamamogheṣurbhīṣmasya navabhiḥ śaraiḥ। ciccheda samare vīrastata uccukruśurjanāḥ ॥6-45-24॥
Then the unerring archer heroically cut off Bhishma's flag with nine arrows in the battle, and the people shouted in amazement.
sa rājato mahāskandhastālo hemavibhūṣitaḥ। saubhadraśikhaśchinnaḥ papāta bhuvi bhārata ॥6-45-25॥
The great palm tree, shining and adorned with gold, was struck down by Saubhadra's arrows and fell to the earth, O Bharata.
dhvajaṃ saubhadra-viśikhaiḥ patitaṃ bharatarṣabha। dṛṣṭvā bhīmo'nadad dhṛṣṭaḥ saubhadram abhiharṣayan ॥6-45-26॥
Upon witnessing the flag struck down by Saubhadra's arrows, the mighty Bhima let out a bold roar, bringing joy to Saubhadra.
atha bhīṣmo mahāstrāṇi divyāni ca bahūni ca। prāduścakre mahāraudraḥ kṣaṇe tasminmahābalaḥ ॥6-45-27॥
At that moment, the mighty Bhishma unleashed many great and divine weapons, which were extremely fierce.
tataḥ śatasahasreṇa saubhadraṃ prapitāmahaḥ। avākiradameyātmā śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām ॥6-45-28॥
Then the great-grandfather, possessing an immeasurable soul, showered a hundred thousand bent-jointed arrows upon Saubhadra.
tato daśa maheṣvāsāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ। rakṣārthamabhyadhāvanta saubhadraṃ tvaritā rathaiḥ ॥6-45-29॥
Then ten great archers, the mighty charioteers of the Pandavas, swiftly rushed with their chariots to protect Abhimanyu.
virāṭaḥ saha putreṇa dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ। bhīmaśca kekayāścaiva sātyakiśca viśāṃ pate ॥6-45-30॥
Virata, along with his son, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, Bhima, the Kekayas, and Satyaki, were present, O lord of men.
javenāpatatāṃ teṣāṃ bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo raṇe। pāñcālyaṃ tribhirānarchatsātyakiṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥6-45-31॥
With great speed, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, attacked in the battle, piercing Panchalya and Satyaki with three sharp arrows.
pūrṇāyatavisṛṣṭena kṣureṇa niśitena ca। dhvajamekena ciccheda bhīmasenasya patriṇā ॥6-45-32॥
He skillfully cut off Bhimasena's flag with a sharp arrow released from a fully drawn bow.
jāmbūnadamayaḥ ketuḥ kesarī narasattama। papāta bhīmasenasya bhīṣmeṇa mathito rathāt ॥6-45-33॥
The golden flag, shaped like a lion, fell from Bhimasena's chariot, having been struck by Bhishma, O best of men.
bhīmasenastribhirviddhvā bhīṣmaṃ śāṃtanavaṃ raṇe। kṛpamekena vivyādha kṛtavarmāṇamaṣṭabhiḥ ॥6-45-34॥
In the battle, Bhimasena shot three arrows at Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, and then pierced Kripa with one arrow and Kritavarma with eight arrows.
pragṛhītāgrahastena vairāṭirapi dantinā। abhyadravata rājānaṃ madrādhipatimuttaraḥ ॥6-45-35॥
Uttara, the son of Virata, holding the forehand, charged at the king of Madra with his elephant.
tasya vāraṇarājasya javenāpātato rathī। śalyo nivārayāmāsa vegamapratimaṃ raṇe ॥6-45-36॥
Shalya, the charioteer of the king of elephants, swiftly approached and restrained the unmatched speed in the battle.
tasya kruddhaḥ sa nāgendro bṛhataḥ sādhuvāhinaḥ। padā yugamadhiṣṭhāya jaghāna caturo hayān ॥6-45-37॥
The angry king of serpents, with great strength, mounted the yoke and struck down the four horses of the noble chariot.
sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhan madrādhipatirāyasīm। uttarāntakarīṃ śaktiṃ cikṣepa bhujagopamām ॥6-45-38॥
The king of Madras, standing in his chariot with its horses slain, hurled an iron spear that was like a serpent, bringing an end.
tayā bhinnatanutrāṇaḥ praviśya vipulaṃ tamaḥ। sa papāta gajaskandhātpramuktāṅkuśatomaraḥ ॥6-45-39॥
He, whose armor was shattered by her, entered the vast darkness and fell from the elephant's back, dropping his goad and spear.
samādāya ca śalyo'simavaplutya rathottamāt। vāraṇendrasya vikramya cicchedātha mahākarm ॥6-45-40॥
Śalya, taking his sword, leapt from his magnificent chariot, approached the mighty elephant lord, and severed its great trunk.
bhinnamarmā śaravrātaiśchinnahastaḥ sa vāraṇaḥ। bhīmāmārtasvaraṃ kṛtvā papāta ca mamāra ca ॥6-45-41॥
The elephant, struck by numerous arrows and with its trunk severed, let out a terrifying cry of pain before collapsing and dying.
etadīdṛśakaṃ kṛtvā madrarājo mahārathaḥ। āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ bhāsvaraṃ kṛtavarmaṇaḥ ॥6-45-42॥
After accomplishing such a feat, the king of Madra, a renowned chariot-warrior, swiftly mounted the radiant chariot belonging to Kṛtavarma.
uttaraṁ nihataṁ dṛṣṭvā vairāṭirbhrātaraṁ śubham। kṛtavarmaṇā ca sahitaṁ dṛṣṭvā śalyamavasthitam ॥ śaṅkhaḥ krodhātprajajvāla haviṣā havyavāḍiva ॥6-45-43॥
Upon witnessing the death of Uttara, the son of Virata, along with his noble brother and Kritavarma standing beside Shalya, Shankha was inflamed with rage, resembling a sacrificial fire fed with offerings.
sa visphārya mahaccāpaṃ kārtsvaravibhūṣitam। abhyadhāvajjighāṃsanvai śalyaṃ madrādhipaṃ balī ॥6-45-44॥
He stretched his great bow, adorned with gold, and rushed towards Shalya, the king of Madras, with the intent to kill.
mahatā rathavaṃśena samantātparivāritaḥ। sṛjanbāṇamayaṃ varṣaṃ prāyācchalyarathaṃ prati ॥6-45-45॥
He was surrounded by the great chariot army on all sides and proceeded towards Shalya's chariot, unleashing a shower of arrows.
tamāpatantaṃ samprekṣya mattavāraṇavikramam। tāvakānāṃ rathāḥ sapta samantātparyavārayan ॥ madrarājaṃ parīpsanto mṛtyordaṃṣṭrāntaraṃ gatam ॥6-45-46॥
Seeing him coming with the power of a mad elephant, seven of your chariots surrounded the king of Madra from all directions, trying to save him from the jaws of death.
tato bhīṣmo mahābāhurvinadya jalado yathā। tālamātraṃ dhanurgṛhya śaṅkhamabhyadravadraṇe ॥6-45-47॥
Then, mighty-armed Bhishma, roaring like a thunderous cloud, took up his bow and conch and advanced onto the battlefield.
tamudyatamudīkṣyātha maheṣvāsaṃ mahābalam। santrastā pāṇḍavī senā vātavegahateva nauḥ ॥6-45-48॥
Upon seeing the mighty and great archer raised, the Pandava army was terrified, as if they were a boat struck by a strong wind.
tatrārjunaḥ santvaritaḥ śaṅkhasyāsītpuraḥsaraḥ। bhīṣmādrakṣyo'yamadyeti tato yuddhamavartata ॥6-45-49॥
There, Arjuna, in his haste, was at the forefront with his conch. Today, this must be protected from Bhishma, thus the battle commenced.
hāhākāro mahān āsīd yodhānāṃ yudhi yudhyatām। tejas tejasi sampṛktam ityevaṃ vismayaṃ yayuḥ ॥6-45-50॥
There was a great uproar among the warriors fighting in the battle. The brilliance of their energies intermingled, and thus they were filled with wonder.
atha śalyo gadāpāṇiravatīrya mahārathāt। śaṅkhasya caturo vāhānahanadbharatarṣabha ॥6-45-51॥
Then Śalya, wielding a mace, descended from his grand chariot and slew the four horses of Shankha, O esteemed Bharata.
sa hatāśvādrathāttūrṇaṃ khaḍgamādāya vidrutaḥ। bībhatsoḥ syandanaṃ prāpya tataḥ śāntimavindata ॥6-45-52॥
He quickly took a sword from the chariot with the slain horses and fled. Upon reaching Arjuna's chariot, he found peace.
tato bhīṣmarathāttūrṇamutpatanti patatriṇaḥ। yairantarikṣaṃ bhūmiśca sarvataḥ samavastr̥tam ॥6-45-53॥
Then, from Bhishma's chariot, birds swiftly take flight, covering the sky and earth all around.
pāñcālānatha matsyāṃśca kekayāṃśca prabhadrakān। bhīṣmaḥ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pātayāmāsa mārgaṇaiḥ ॥6-45-54॥
Bhishma, the greatest among warriors, struck down the Panchalas, Matsyas, Kekayas, and Prabhadrakas with his arrows.
utsṛjya samare tūrṇaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ savyasācinam। abhyadravata pāñcālyaṃ drupadaṃ senayā vṛtam ॥ priyaṃ sambandhinaṃ rājañśarānavakiranbahūn ॥6-45-55॥
Leaving the Pāṇḍava, Arjuna, quickly in the battlefield, he charged towards Drupada, the king of Pāñcāla, who was surrounded by his army, and showered many arrows on his dear relative, O king.
agnineva pradagdhāni vanāni śiśirātyaye। śaradagdhānyadṛśyanta sainyāni drupadasya ha ॥ atiṣṭhata raṇe bhīṣmo vidhūma iva pāvakaḥ ॥6-45-56॥
The armies of Drupada, scorched by the autumn like forests by fire at winter's end, were visible. Bhishma stood in the battle like a smokeless fire.
madhyaṁdine yathādityaṁ tapantamiva tejasā। na śekuḥ pāṇḍaveyasya yodhā bhīṣmaṁ nirīkṣitum ॥6-45-57॥
At midday, the warriors could not gaze upon Bhishma, the son of Pandu, as he shone with the brilliance of the sun.
vīkṣāṃ cakruḥ samantātte pāṇḍavā bhayapīḍitāḥ। trātāraṃ nādhyagacchanta gāvaḥ śītārditā iva ॥6-45-58॥
The Pandavas, gripped by fear, looked all around for a savior but found none, much like cows suffering from the cold.
hatavipradrute sainye nirutsāhe vimardite। hāhākāro mahān āsīt pāṇḍusainyeṣu bhārata ॥6-45-59॥
O Bharata, in the army that was killed, scattered, dispirited, and crushed, there was a great uproar among the Pandava forces.
tato bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo nityaṃ maṇḍalakārmukaḥ। mumoca bāṇāndīptāgrānahīnāśīviṣāniva ॥6-45-60॥
Then Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, always wielding a circular bow, released arrows with blazing tips, resembling venomous snakes.
śarair ekāyanīkurvan diśaḥ sarvā yatavrataḥ। jaghāna pāṇḍavarathān ādiśyādiśya bhārata ॥6-45-61॥
With his arrows, the disciplined warrior made all directions one and destroyed the Pandava chariots, repeatedly pointing them out, O Bharata.
tataḥ sainyeṣu bhagneṣu mathiteṣu ca sarvaśaḥ। prāpte cāstaṃ dinakare na prājñāyata kiñcana ॥6-45-62॥
Then, when the armies were completely broken and crushed, and the sun had set, nothing was visible.
bhīṣmaṃ ca samudīryantaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthā mahāhave। avahārakurvanta sainyānāṃ bharatarṣabha ॥6-45-63॥
O best of the Bharatas, having seen Bhishma loudly uttering in the great battle, the sons of Pritha retreated their armies.
