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Core and Pancharatra: The battlefield was strewn with lifeless bodies as Arjuna and Bhishma fought each other.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
दृष्ट्वा भीष्मेण संसक्तान्भ्रातॄनन्यांश्च पार्थिवान्। तमभ्यधावद्गाङ्गेयमुद्यतास्त्रो धनञ्जयः ॥६-६७-१॥
Upon witnessing his brothers and other kings being engaged by Bhishma, Arjuna, with his weapon raised, charged towards Bhishma, the son of Ganga.
पाञ्चजन्यस्य निर्घोषं धनुषो गाण्डिवस्य च। ध्वजं च दृष्ट्वा पार्थस्य सर्वान्नो भयमाविशत् ॥६-६७-२॥
The sound of Pāñcajanya and the bow Gāṇḍiva, along with the sight of Arjuna's flag, instilled fear in all of us.
असज्जमानं वृक्षेषु धूमकेतुमिवोत्थितम्। बहुवर्णं च चित्रं च दिव्यं वानरलक्षणम् ॥ अपश्याम महाराज ध्वजं गाण्डिवधन्वनः ॥६-६७-३॥
O great king, we saw the flag of Arjuna, hanging on the trees like a comet, multicolored, wonderful, and with a divine monkey emblem.
विद्युतं मेघमध्यस्थां भ्राजमानामिवाम्बरे। ददृशुर्गाण्डिवं योधा रुक्मपृष्ठं महारथे ॥६-६७-४॥
The warriors beheld the Gandiva bow, gleaming like lightning amidst the clouds in the sky, mounted on the great chariot with its golden back.
अशुश्रुम भृशं चास्य शक्रस्येवाभिगर्जतः। सुघोरं तलयोः शब्दं निघ्नतस्तव वाहिनीम् ॥६-६७-५॥
We heard a very loud and terrifying sound, like the roar of Indra, as the palms struck your army.
चण्डवातो यथा मेघः सविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुमान्। दिशः सम्प्लावयन्सर्वाः शरवर्षैः समन्ततः ॥६-६७-६॥
The fierce wind, accompanied by lightning and thunder, inundates all directions with a rain of arrows from all sides.
अभ्यधावत गाङ्गेयं भैरवास्त्रो धनञ्जयः। दिशं प्राचीं प्रतीचीं च न जानीमोऽस्त्रमोहिताः ॥६-६७-७॥
Arjuna, wielding a fierce weapon, charged at Bhishma, the son of Ganga. The weapon's power left us confused, unable to discern east from west.
कांदिग्भूताः श्रान्तपत्रा हतास्त्रा हतचेतसः। अन्योन्यमभिसंश्लिष्य योधास्ते भरतर्षभ ॥६-६७-८॥
The warriors, exhausted and trembling, with their weapons lost and consciousness fading, embraced each other, O noble Bharata.
भीष्ममेवाभिलीयन्त सह सर्वैस्तवात्मजैः। तेषामार्तायनमभूद्भीष्मः शन्तनवो रणे ॥६-६७-९॥
Bhishma, along with all your sons, was absorbed in the battle. Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, became their refuge in the battle.
समुत्पतन्त वित्रस्ता रथेभ्यो रथिनस्तदा। सादिनश्चाश्वपृष्ठेभ्यो भूमौ चापि पदातयः ॥६-६७-१०॥
The charioteers, frightened, jumped from their chariots, while the horsemen dismounted from their horses, and the foot soldiers stood on the ground.
श्रुत्वा गाण्डीवनिर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशनेः। सर्वसैन्यानि भीतानि व्यवलीयन्त भारत ॥६-६७-११॥
Upon hearing the terrifying sound of Arjuna's Gandiva bow, which resembled the crack of thunder, all the troops were struck with fear and dispersed, O descendant of Bharata.
अथ काम्बोजमुख्यैस्तु बृहद्भिः शीघ्रगामिभिः। गोपानां बहुसाहस्रैर्बलैर्गोवासनो वृतः ॥६-६७-१२॥
Then, he was surrounded by the great and swift-moving chiefs of the Kambojas, along with many thousands of cowherds and their forces, all wearing cowhides.
मद्रसौवीरगान्धारैस्त्रिगर्तैश्च विशां पते। सर्वकालिङ्गमुख्यैश्च कलिङ्गाधिपतिर्वृतः ॥६-६७-१३॥
O lord of the people, you are surrounded by the Madras, Sauvīras, Gandharas, Trigartas, and all the chief Kalingas, including the lord of Kalinga.
नागा नरगणौघाश्च दुःशासनपुरःसराः। जयद्रथश्च नृपतिः सहितः सर्वराजभिः ॥६-६७-१४॥
The serpents and multitudes of men, led by Duḥśāsana, along with Jayadratha and the king, were accompanied by all the kings.
हयारोहवराश्चैव तव पुत्रेण चोदिताः। चतुर्दश सहस्राणि सौबलं पर्यवारयन् ॥६-६७-१५॥
Fourteen thousand excellent horsemen, urged by your son, surrounded Saubala.
ततस्ते सहिताः सर्वे विभक्तरथवाहनाः। पाण्डवान्समरे जग्मुस्तावका भरतर्षभ ॥६-६७-१६॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, your forces, all together with their divided chariots and vehicles, advanced towards the Pandavas in battle.
रथिभिर्वारणैरश्वैः पदातैश्च समीरितम्। घोरमायोधनं जज्ञे महाभ्रसदृशं रजः ॥६-६७-१७॥
The dust raised by the charioteers, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers created a scene resembling a great cloud, marking the onset of a fierce battle.
तोमरप्रासनाराचगजाश्वरथयोधिनाम्। बलेन महता भीष्मः समसज्जत्किरीटिना ॥६-६७-१८॥
Bhishma, with his great army of warriors armed with spears, javelins, and arrows, along with elephants, horses, and chariots, engaged in battle with Arjuna.
आवन्त्यः काशिराजेन भीमसेनेन सैन्धवः। अजातशत्रुर्मद्राणामृषभेण यशस्विना ॥ सहपुत्रः सहामात्यः शल्येन समसज्जत ॥६-६७-१९॥
The forces of Avanti, led by the king of Kashi, Bhimasena, and Sindhu, along with Ajatashatru of the Madras, Rishabha, and the illustrious Shalya, engaged in battle with their sons and ministers.
विकर्णः सहदेवेन चित्रसेनः शिखण्डिना। मत्स्या दुर्योधनं जग्मुः शकुनिं च विशां पते ॥६-६७-२०॥
Vikarna, along with Sahadeva, Citrasena, and Shikhandi, the Matsyas approached Duryodhana and Shakuni, O lord of the people.
द्रुपदश्चेकितानश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः। द्रोणेन समसज्जन्त सपुत्रेण महात्मना ॥ कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च धृष्टकेतुमभिद्रुतौ ॥६-६७-२१॥
Drupada, Cekitana, and Satyaki, the great chariot-warrior, were aligned in battle by the noble Drona along with his son. Meanwhile, Kripa and Kritavarma launched an attack on Dhrishtaketu.
एवं प्रजविताश्वानि भ्रान्तनागरथानि च। सैन्यानि समसज्जन्त प्रयुद्धानि समन्ततः ॥६-६७-२२॥
Thus, the swift horses and whirling chariots were assembled, and the armies were prepared for battle on all sides.
निरभ्रे विद्युतस्तीव्रा दिशश्च रजसावृताः। प्रादुरासन्महोल्काश्च सनिर्घाता विशां पते ॥६-६७-२३॥
O lord of the people, intense lightnings flashed in the cloudless sky, and the directions were covered with dust. Great meteors accompanied by thunder appeared.
प्रववौ च महावातः पांसुवर्षं पपात च। नभस्यन्तर्दधे सूर्यः सैन्येन रजसावृतः ॥६-६७-२४॥
A great wind blew, and a shower of dust fell. The sun was obscured in the sky, shrouded by the dust stirred up by the army.
प्रमोहः सर्वसत्त्वानामतीव समपद्यत। रजसा चाभिभूतानामस्त्रजालैश्च तुद्यताम् ॥६-६७-२५॥
An intense delusion overcame all beings, as they were overwhelmed by passion and struck by a barrage of weapons.
वीरबाहुविसृष्टानां सर्वावरणभेदिनाम्। सङ्घातः शरजालानां तुमुलः समपद्यत ॥६-६७-२६॥
A tumultuous mass of arrows, released by the arms of heroes and piercing through all defenses, ensued.
प्रकाशं चक्रुराकाशमुद्यतानि भुजोत्तमैः। नक्षत्रविमलाभानि शस्त्राणि भरतर्षभ ॥६-६७-२७॥
The warriors, with their mighty arms, raised their weapons, illuminating the sky like the pure stars, O noble Bharata.
आर्षभाणि विचित्राणि रुक्मजालावृतानि च। सम्पेतुर्दिक्षु सर्वासु चर्माणि भरतर्षभ ॥६-६७-२८॥
O bull among the Bharatas, the variegated skins, covered with golden nets, flew everywhere in all directions.
सूर्यवर्णैश्च निस्त्रिंशैः पात्यमानानि सर्वशः। दिक्षु सर्वास्वदृश्यन्त शरीराणि शिरांसि च ॥६-६७-२९॥
Bodies and heads, shining like the sun and being thrown by swords, were visible in every direction.
भग्नचक्राक्षनीडाश्च निपातितमहाध्वजाः। हताश्वाः पृथिवीं जग्मुस्तत्र तत्र महारथाः ॥६-६७-३०॥
The great charioteers, with their broken wheels, axles, and nests, and their great banners felled, along with their horses killed, fell to the earth here and there.
परिपेतुर्हयाश्चात्र केचिच्छस्त्रकृतव्रणाः। रथान्विपरिकर्षन्तो हतेषु रथयोधिषु ॥६-६७-३१॥
The horses, wounded by weapons, ran around the battlefield, dragging the chariots as the chariot warriors lay slain.
शराहता भिन्नदेहा बद्धयोक्त्रा हयोत्तमाः। युगानि पर्यकर्षन्त तत्र तत्र स्म भारत ॥६-६७-३२॥
The excellent horses, struck by arrows and with broken bodies, were dragging their yokes here and there, O Bharata, as they struggled in the battle.
अदृश्यन्त ससूताश्च साश्वाः सरथयोधिनः। एकेन बलिना राजन्वारणेन हता रथाः ॥६-६७-३३॥
O king, the chariots along with their charioteers, horses, and warriors were seen destroyed by a powerful elephant.
गन्धहस्तिमदस्रावमाघ्राय बहवो रणे। संनिपाते बलौघानां वीतमाददिरे गजाः ॥६-६७-३४॥
In the battle, many elephants, having smelled the fragrance of the intoxicating exudation of other elephants, joined the assembly of the multitude of forces.
सतोमरमहामात्रैर्निपतद्भिर्गतासुभिः। बभूवायोधनं छन्नं नाराचाभिहतैर्गजैः ॥६-६७-३५॥
The battlefield was strewn with lifeless bodies of great ministers and spears, and was covered with arrows that were struck by elephants.
संनिपाते बलौघानां प्रेषितैर्वरवारणैः। निपेतुर्युधि सम्भग्नाः सयोधाः सध्वजा रथाः ॥६-६७-३६॥
In the assembly of the multitude of forces, the chariots, sent by excellent elephants, fell down shattered in battle, along with their warriors and flags.
नागराजोपमैर्हस्तैर्नागैराक्षिप्य संयुगे। व्यदृश्यन्त महाराज सम्भग्ना रथकूबराः ॥६-६७-३७॥
O great king, the chariot poles, broken and scattered, were seen in the battle, thrown by hands as powerful as the king of serpents.
विशीर्णरथजालाश्च केशेष्वाक्षिप्य दन्तिभिः। द्रुमशाखा इवाविध्य निष्पिष्टा रथिनो रणे ॥६-६७-३८॥
In the battle, the charioteers were crushed as the shattered nets of chariots were thrown into their hair by elephants, resembling branches of trees being struck.
रथेषु च रथान्युद्धे संसक्तान्वरवारणाः। विकर्षन्तो दिशः सर्वाः सम्पेतुः सर्वशब्दगाः ॥६-६७-३९॥
In the battle, the excellent elephants, engaged with the chariots, dragged them in all directions, creating a cacophony of sounds.
तेषां तथा कर्षतां च गजानां रूपमाबभौ। सरःसु नलिनीजालं विषक्तमिव कर्षताम् ॥६-६७-४०॥
The scene of the elephants pulling was as captivating as a network of lotuses entangled in the lakes.
एवं सञ्छादितं तत्र बभूवायोधनं महत्। सादिभिश्च पदातैश्च सध्वजैश्च महारथैः ॥६-६७-४१॥
Thus, the great battlefield there was covered with riders, foot soldiers, banners, and great chariots.
