06.068
Core and Pancharatra: An encounter takes place between Bhishma and Bhima, where Bhima's bow is cut off by Bhishma.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
शिखण्डी सह मत्स्येन विराटेन विशां पते। भीष्ममाशु महेष्वासमाससाद सुदुर्जयम् ॥६-६८-१॥
Shikhandi, along with Matsya and Virata, quickly approached the formidable Bhishma, the great archer, O lord of men.
द्रोणं कृपं विकर्णं च महेष्वासान्महाबलान्। राज्ञश्चान्यान्रणे शूरान्बहूनार्छद्धनञ्जयः ॥६-६८-२॥
Dhananjaya worshipped many heroes in battle, including Drona, Kripa, Vikarna, and other mighty kings and great archers.
सैन्धवं च महेष्वासं सामात्यं सह बन्धुभिः। प्राच्यांश्च दाक्षिणात्यांश्च भूमिपान्भूमिपर्षभ ॥६-६८-३॥
The Sindhu king, known for his archery skills, accompanied by his ministers and relatives, as well as the kings from the eastern and southern regions, O bull among kings.
पुत्रं च ते महेष्वासं दुर्योधनममर्षणम्। दुःसहं चैव समरे भीमसेनोऽभ्यवर्तत ॥६-६८-४॥
Your son, Duryodhana, the great archer, who is impatient and hard to withstand, was indeed confronted by Bhimasena in the battle.
सहदेवस्तु शकुनिमुलूकं च महारथम्। पितापुत्रौ महेष्वासावभ्यवर्तत दुर्जयौ ॥६-६८-५॥
Sahadeva, however, confronted Śakuni and Uluka, the formidable chariot-warriors, who were father and son, and known as great archers, in a battle that was hard to win.
युधिष्ठिरो महाराज गजानीकं महारथः। समवर्तत सङ्ग्रामे पुत्रेण निकृतस्तव ॥६-६८-६॥
Yudhishthira, the noble king and mighty charioteer, was caught in the battle, deceived by your son.
माद्रीपुत्रस्तु नकुलः शूरः सङ्क्रन्दनो युधि। त्रिगर्तानां रथोदारैः समसज्जत पाण्डवः ॥६-६८-७॥
Nakula, the son of Mādrī, bravely engaged in battle against the formidable chariots of the Trigartas.
अभ्यवर्तन्त दुर्धर्षाः समरे शाल्वकेकयान्। सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च सौभद्रश्च महारथः ॥६-६८-८॥
The invincible warriors, including Sātyaki, Cekitāna, and Saubhadra, advanced in battle against the Śālvas and Kekayas, demonstrating their prowess as great chariot-warriors.
धृष्टकेतुश्च समरे राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः। पुत्राणां ते रथानीकं प्रत्युद्याताः सुदुर्जयाः ॥६-६८-९॥
Dhritaketu and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha advanced in battle with the chariot army of the sons, who were very difficult to conquer.
सेनापतिरमेयात्मा धृष्टद्युम्नो महाबलः। द्रोणेन समरे राजन्समियायेन्द्रकर्मणा ॥६-६८-१०॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the commander with immense strength and an immeasurable soul, confronted Droṇa in the battlefield, O king, performing deeds akin to those of Indra.
एवमेते महेष्वासास्तावकाः पाण्डवैः सह। समेत्य समरे शूराः सम्प्रहारं प्रचक्रिरे ॥६-६८-११॥
Thus, these great archers, your warriors, along with the Pandavas, gathered in the battlefield and bravely initiated the attack.
मध्यंदिनगते सूर्ये नभस्याकुलतां गते। कुरवः पाण्डवेयाश्च निजघ्नुरितरेतरम् ॥६-६८-१२॥
At midday, as the sun set and the sky turned tumultuous, the Kurus and the Pandavas engaged in mutual destruction.
ध्वजिनो हेमचित्राङ्गा विचरन्तो रणाजिरे। सपताका रथा रेजुर्वैयाघ्रपरिवारणाः ॥६-६८-१३॥
The flag-bearers, adorned with gold and colorful bodies, moved around the battlefield. The chariots, decorated with flags, shone brightly with tiger-like coverings.
समेतानां च समरे जिगीषूणां परस्परम्। बभूव तुमुलः शब्दः सिंहानामिव नर्दताम् ॥६-६८-१४॥
In the battlefield, those assembled who desired victory created a tumultuous sound, akin to the roaring of lions.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम सम्प्रहारं सुदारुणम्। यमकुर्वन्रणे वीराः सृञ्जयाः कुरुभिः सह ॥६-६८-१५॥
There we witnessed a remarkable and extremely fierce battle, where the brave warriors, the Sṛñjayas, fought alongside the Kurus.
नैव खं न दिशो राजन्न सूर्यं शत्रुतापन। विदिशो वाप्यपश्याम शरैर्मुक्तैः समन्ततः ॥६-६८-१६॥
O king, we could not see the sky, the directions, or the sun, which scorches enemies, nor the intermediate directions, as arrows were released all around.
शक्तीनां विमलाग्राणां तोमराणां तथास्यताम्। निस्त्रिंशानां च पीतानां नीलोत्पलनिभाः प्रभाः ॥६-६८-१७॥
The glows of the weapons, including spears with pure tips, javelins, and swords, appeared yellow like blue lotuses as they were being hurled.
कवचानां विचित्राणां भूषणानां प्रभास्तथा। खं दिशः प्रदिशश्चैव भासयामासुरोजसा ॥ विरराज तदा राजंस्तत्र तत्र रणाङ्गणम् ॥६-६८-१८॥
The battlefield was illuminated by the brilliance of the various armors and ornaments, lighting up the sky and all directions with their energy. It was a magnificent sight, O king, as the battlefield shone brilliantly.
रथसिंहासनव्याघ्राः समायान्तश्च संयुगे। विरेजुः समरे राजन्ग्रहा इव नभस्तले ॥६-६८-१९॥
The warriors, fierce as tigers on their chariot thrones, approached the battlefield and shone like planets in the sky, O king.
भीष्मस्तु रथिनां श्रेष्ठो भीमसेनं महाबलम्। अवारयत सङ्क्रुद्धः सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥६-६८-२०॥
Bhishma, known as the best among charioteers, angrily halted the powerful Bhimasena in full view of the entire army.
ततो भीष्मविनिर्मुक्ता रुक्मपुङ्खाः शिलाशिताः। अभ्यघ्नन्समरे भीमं तैलधौताः सुतेजनाः ॥६-६८-२१॥
Then, the well-crafted arrows with golden feathers, sharpened on stone and released by Bhishma, struck Bhima in the battle, having been washed in oil.
तस्य शक्तिं महावेगां भीमसेनो महाबलः। क्रुद्धाशीविषसङ्काशां प्रेषयामास भारत ॥६-६८-२२॥
In his fury, the mighty Bhimasena hurled his swift spear, resembling an enraged serpent, towards the enemy, O Bharata.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा रुक्मदण्डां दुरासदाम्। चिच्छेद समरे भीष्मः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥६-६८-२३॥
In the battle, Bhishma swiftly intercepted her approach, who was formidable and armed with a golden staff, using his well-jointed arrows.
ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन च। कार्मुकं भीमसेनस्य द्विधा चिच्छेद भारत ॥६-६८-२४॥
Then, another sharp yellow arrow cut Bhimasena's bow into two, O Bharata.
सात्यकिस्तु ततस्तूर्णं भीष्ममासाद्य संयुगे। शरैर्बहुभिरानर्छत्पितरं ते जनेश्वर ॥६-६८-२५॥
Satyaki swiftly approached Bhishma in the battle and honored your father with numerous arrows, O king.
ततः सन्धाय वै तीक्ष्णं शरं परमदारुणम्। वार्ष्णेयस्य रथाद्भीष्मः पातयामास सारथिम् ॥६-६८-२६॥
Then Bhishma, having aimed a sharp and deadly arrow, struck down the charioteer of Krishna's chariot.
तस्याश्वाः प्रद्रुता राजन्निहते रथसारथौ। तेन तेनैव धावन्ति मनोमारुतरंहसः ॥६-६८-२७॥
O king, his horses, with the charioteer slain, ran swiftly, driven by the very force of mind and wind.
ततः सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य निस्वनस्तुमुलोऽभवत्। हाहाकारश्च सञ्जज्ञे पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् ॥६-६८-२८॥
Then a tumultuous sound arose from the entire army, and cries of distress were heard from the noble Pandavas.
अभिद्रवत गृह्णीत हयान्यच्छत धावत। इत्यासीत्तुमुलः शब्दो युयुधानरथं प्रति ॥६-६८-२९॥
There was a loud and tumultuous sound as the command was given to charge, seize the horses, restrain them, and run towards Yuyudhana's chariot.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु भीष्मः शान्तनवः पुनः। व्यहनत्पाण्डवीं सेनामासुरीमिव वृत्रहा ॥६-६८-३०॥
At that moment, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, once more attacked the Pandava army with the ferocity of the god Indra defeating the demon Vritra.
ते वध्यमाना भीष्मेण पाञ्चालाः सोमकैः सह। आर्यां युद्धे मतिं कृत्वा भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्रुवुः ॥६-६८-३१॥
The Panchalas and the Somakas, though being slain by Bhishma, resolved nobly in battle and rushed towards Bhishma alone.
धृष्टद्युम्नमुखाश्चापि पार्थाः शान्तनवं रणे। अभ्यधावञ्जिगीषन्तस्तव पुत्रस्य वाहिनीम् ॥६-६८-३२॥
Led by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the sons of Pṛthā, including Arjuna, charged at Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, in the battle, eager to defeat your son's forces.
तथैव तावका राजन्भीष्मद्रोणमुखाः परान्। अभ्यधावन्त वेगेन ततो युद्धमवर्तत ॥६-६८-३३॥
In the same manner, your warriors, led by Bhishma and Drona, swiftly charged at the enemies, and thus the battle began.
