06.065
Core and Pancharatra: On the fifth day, Bhishma arranged the army in crocodile formation, seeing Pandavas in an unconquerable eagle formation.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
व्युषितायां च शर्वर्यामुदिते च दिवाकरे। उभे सेने महाराज युद्धायैव समीयतुः ॥६-६५-१॥
At dawn, as the sun rose, both armies gathered for battle, O great king.
अभ्यधावंश्च सङ्क्रुद्धाः परस्परजिगीषवः। ते सर्वे सहिता युद्धे समालोक्य परस्परम् ॥६-६५-२॥
They all, filled with anger and desire to conquer one another, rushed together into battle, seeing each other.
पाण्डवा धार्तराष्ट्राश्च राजन्दुर्मन्त्रिते तव। व्यूहौ च व्यूह्य संरब्धाः सम्प्रयुद्धाः प्रहारिणः ॥६-६५-३॥
O King, both the Pandavas and the sons of Dhritarashtra, following your ill-advised counsel, arranged their battle formations and, filled with excitement, engaged in combat, striking fiercely.
अरक्षन्मकरव्यूहं भीष्मो राजन्समन्ततः। तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्नरक्षन्व्यूहमात्मनः ॥६-६५-४॥
Bhishma, O king, arranged the crocodile formation with protection on all sides. Similarly, the Pandavas, O king, protected their own formation.
स निर्ययौ रथानीकं पिता देवव्रतस्तव। महता रथवंशेन संवृतो रथिनां वरः ॥६-६५-५॥
Your father, Devavrata, set out with the chariot army, surrounded by the finest charioteers, being the best among them.
इतरेतरमन्वीयुर्यथाभागमवस्थिताः। रथिनः पत्तयश्चैव दन्तिनः सादिनस्तथा ॥६-६५-६॥
The charioteers, infantry, elephants, and horsemen were arranged in their respective divisions, following one another in an orderly manner.
तान्दृष्ट्वा प्रोद्यतान्सङ्ख्ये पाण्डवाश्च यशस्विनः। श्येनेन व्यूहराजेन तेनाजय्येन संयुगे ॥६-६५-७॥
Upon seeing the glorious Pandavas rising in the battle, arranged in the unconquerable eagle formation, they were prepared for the fight.
अशोभत मुखे तस्य भीमसेनो महाबलः। नेत्रे शिखण्डी दुर्धर्षो धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः ॥६-६५-८॥
In his face shone the mighty Bhimasena; in his eyes, the invincible Shikhandi; and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, was present.
शीर्षं तस्याभवद्वीरः सात्यकिः सत्यविक्रमः। विधुन्वन्गाण्डिवं पार्थो ग्रीवायामभवत्तदा ॥६-६५-९॥
The heroic Satyaki, known for his true valor, stood at the head, while Arjuna, wielding the Gandiva bow, was positioned at the neck at that time.
अक्षौहिण्या समग्रा या वामपक्षोऽभवत्तदा। महात्मा द्रुपदः श्रीमान्सह पुत्रेण संयुगे ॥६-६५-१०॥
The entire army on the left side was led by the noble Drupada, who, along with his son, engaged in the battle.
दक्षिणश्चाभवत्पक्षः कैकेयोऽक्षौहिणीपतिः। पृष्ठतो द्रौपदेयाश्च सौभद्रश्चापि वीर्यवान् ॥६-६५-११॥
The southern side was led by the Kaikeya, the commander of the army. Behind them were the sons of Draupadi and the brave son of Subhadra.
पृष्ठे समभवच्छ्रीमान्स्वयं राजा युधिष्ठिरः। भ्रातृभ्यां सहितो धीमान्यमाभ्यां चारुविक्रमः ॥६-६५-१२॥
King Yudhishthira himself appeared behind, accompanied by his wise brothers and the valorous twins.
प्रविश्य तु रणे भीमो मकरं मुखतस्तदा। भीष्ममासाद्य सङ्ग्रामे छादयामास सायकैः ॥६-६५-१३॥
Bhima entered the battlefield and, like a crocodile attacking from the front, approached Bhishma and showered him with arrows.
ततो भीष्मो महास्त्राणि पातयामास भारत। मोहयन्पाण्डुपुत्राणां व्यूढं सैन्यं महाहवे ॥६-६५-१४॥
Then Bhishma, in the great battle, discharged mighty weapons, confusing the well-arranged army of the Pandavas, O Bharata.
संमुह्यति तदा सैन्ये त्वरमाणो धनञ्जयः। भीष्मं शरसहस्रेण विव्याध रणमूर्धनि ॥६-६५-१५॥
Then, as the army was confused, the hastening Arjuna pierced Bhishma with thousands of arrows at the forefront of the battle.
परिसंवार्य चास्त्राणि भीष्ममुक्तानि संयुगे। स्वेनानीकेन हृष्टेन युद्धाय समवस्थितः ॥६-६५-१६॥
After successfully defending against the weapons launched by Bhishma in the battle, he confidently positioned himself with his enthusiastic army, ready to fight.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा भारद्वाजमभाषत। पूर्वं दृष्ट्वा वधं घोरं बलस्य बलिनां वरः ॥ भ्रातॄणां च वधं युद्धे स्मरमाणो महारथः ॥६-६५-१७॥
Then King Duryodhana addressed Bharadvaja, recalling the terrible slaughter of the army and the brothers in battle, as he was the best among the strong and a great chariot warrior.
आचार्य सततं त्वं हि हितकामो ममानघ। वयं हि त्वां समाश्रित्य भीष्मं चैव पितामहम् ॥६-६५-१८॥
O teacher, you are always my well-wisher, sinless one. We have relied upon you and grandfather Bhishma.
देवानपि रणे जेतुं प्रार्थयामो न संशयः। किमु पाण्डुसुतान्युद्धे हीनवीर्यपराक्रमान् ॥६-६५-१९॥
We have no doubt in our desire to conquer even the gods in battle. What then of the sons of Pandu, who are deficient in strength and valor in battle?
एवमुक्तस्ततो द्रोणस्तव पुत्रेण मारिष। अभिनत्पाण्डवानीकं प्रेक्षमाणस्य सात्यकेः ॥६-६५-२०॥
Upon being addressed in this manner, Droṇa, your son, O sir, attacked the Pāṇḍava army while Sātyaki was watching.
सात्यकिस्तु तदा द्रोणं वारयामास भारत। ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् ॥६-६५-२१॥
Satyaki then stopped Drona, O Bharata, and a fierce and terrifying battle ensued.
शैनेयं तु रणे क्रुद्धो भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। अविध्यन्निशितैर्बाणैर्जत्रुदेशे हसन्निव ॥६-६५-२२॥
In the battle, the mighty and angry son of Bharadvāja pierced the son of Śini in the collar region with sharp arrows, seemingly with a smile.
भीमसेनस्ततः क्रुद्धो भारद्वाजमविध्यत। संरक्षन्सात्यकिं राजन्द्रोणाच्छस्त्रभृतां वरात् ॥६-६५-२३॥
Then, in his anger, Bhimasena pierced Bharadvaja to protect Satyaki, O king, from Drona, the best among the wielders of weapons.
ततो द्रोणश्च भीष्मश्च तथा शल्यश्च मारिष। भीमसेनं रणे क्रुद्धाश्छादयां चक्रिरे शरैः ॥६-६५-२४॥
Then Droṇa, Bhīṣma, and Śalya, in their anger, showered Bhīmasena with arrows on the battlefield, O great one.
तत्राभिमन्युः सङ्क्रुद्धो द्रौपदेयाश्च मारिष। विव्यधुर्निशितैर्बाणैः सर्वांस्तानुद्यतायुधान् ॥६-६५-२५॥
In that place, Abhimanyu and the sons of Draupadi, being angry, O lord, attacked all those with raised weapons with their sharp arrows.
भीष्मद्रोणौ च सङ्क्रुद्धावापतन्तौ महाबलौ। प्रत्युद्ययौ शिखण्डी तु महेष्वासो महाहवे ॥६-६५-२६॥
In the great battle, the mighty and enraged Bhishma and Drona were attacking, but Shikhandi, the great archer, advanced to confront them.
प्रगृह्य बलवद्वीरो धनुर्जलदनिस्वनम्। अभ्यवर्षच्छरैस्तूर्णं छादयानो दिवाकरम् ॥६-६५-२७॥
The hero, seizing his mighty bow, made a thunderous sound like a cloud and swiftly released arrows, obscuring the sun.
शिखण्डिनं समासाद्य भरतानां पितामहः। अवर्जयत सङ्ग्रामे स्त्रीत्वं तस्यानुसंस्मरन् ॥६-६५-२८॥
Upon approaching Shikhandi, the grandfather of the Bharatas refrained from fighting, recalling Shikhandi's past as a woman.
ततो द्रोणो महाराज अभ्यद्रवत तं रणे। रक्षमाणस्ततो भीष्मं तव पुत्रेण चोदितः ॥६-६५-२९॥
Then Droṇa, urged by your son, attacked in the battle to protect Bhīṣma, O great king.
शिखण्डी तु समासाद्य द्रोणं शस्त्रभृतां वरम्। अवर्जयत सङ्ग्रामे युगान्ताग्निमिवोल्बणम् ॥६-६५-३०॥
Shikhandi approached Drona, the greatest among warriors, and engaged him in battle with the intensity of a cataclysmic fire.
ततो बलेन महता पुत्रस्तव विशां पते। जुगोप भीष्ममासाद्य प्रार्थयानो महद्यशः ॥६-६५-३१॥
Then, your son, with great strength, approached and protected Bhishma, seeking great fame, O lord of the people.
तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्पुरस्कृत्य धनञ्जयम्। भीष्ममेवाभ्यवर्तन्त जये कृत्वा दृढां मतिम् ॥६-६५-३२॥
In the same manner, O king, the Pandavas, led by Dhananjaya (Arjuna), moved towards Bhishma with a strong determination to win.
तद्युद्धमभवद्घोरं देवानां दानवैरिव। जयं च काङ्क्षतां नित्यं यशश्च परमाद्भुतम् ॥६-६५-३३॥
The battle was fierce, akin to the eternal struggle between gods and demons, with both sides perpetually seeking victory and unparalleled glory.
