06.099
Core and Pancharatra: At noon, battle took place between Bhishma and the Somakas, i.e. Virata and Drupada armies; mass carnage of both the armies followed.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
madhyāhne tu mahārāja saṅgrāmaḥ samapadyata। lokakṣayakaro raudro bhīṣmasya saha somakaiḥ ॥6-99-1॥
At noon, a fierce and devastating battle took place between Bhishma and the Somakas, O great king.
gāṅgeyo rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pāṇḍavānāmanīkinīm। vyadhamanniśitairbāṇaiḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥6-99-2॥
The son of Ganga, Bhishma, the greatest among charioteers, attacked the Pandava army with his sharp arrows, sending them in hundreds and thousands.
saṁmamarda ca tatsainyaṁ pitā devavratas tava। dhānyānām iva lūnānāṁ prakaraṁ gogaṇā iva ॥6-99-3॥
Your father Devavrata crushed that army as effortlessly as one would trample a heap of cut grains or a herd of cows.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca virāṭo drupadastathā। bhīṣmamāsādya samare śarairjaghnurmahāratham ॥6-99-4॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, Virāṭa, and Drupada attacked Bhīṣma in the battle and killed the great warrior with their arrows.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tato viddhvā virāṭaṃ ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ। drupadasya ca nārācaṃ preṣayāmāsa bhārata ॥6-99-5॥
Then, O Bhārata, he shot three arrows at Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Virāṭa, and sent an iron arrow towards Drupada.
tena viddhā maheṣvāsā bhīṣmeṇāmitrakarśinā। cukrudhuḥ samare rājanpādaspṛṣṭā ivoragāḥ ॥6-99-6॥
O king, the great archers, pierced and tormented by Bhishma, became furious in the battle, like serpents that have been trampled upon.
śikhaṇḍī taṃ ca vivyādha bharatānāṃ pitāmaham। strīmayaṃ manasā dhyātvā nāsmai prāharadacyutaḥ ॥6-99-7॥
Shikhandi attacked Bhishma, the grandfather of the Bharatas. However, considering him to be womanly in mind, Krishna (Acyuta) refrained from striking him.
dhṛṣṭadyumnastu samare krodhādagniriva jvalan। pitāmahaṃ tribhirbāṇairbāhvorurasi cārpayat ॥6-99-8॥
In the battle, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, burning with anger like fire, shot three arrows into the arms and chest of the grandsire.
drupadaḥ pañcaviṃśatyā virāṭo daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ। śikhaṇḍī pañcaviṃśatyā bhīṣmaṃ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ ॥6-99-9॥
Drupada, Virata, and Shikhandi attacked Bhishma with a barrage of arrows, each contributing their share to the assault.
so'tividdho mahārāja bhīṣmaḥ saṅkhye mahātmabhiḥ। vasante puṣpaśabalo raktāśoka ivābabhau ॥6-99-10॥
The great king Bhishma, struck by noble warriors in battle, stood out like a red Ashoka tree in full bloom during spring.
tānpratyavidhyadgāṅgeyatribhiḥtribhirajihmagaiḥ। drupadasya ca bhallena dhanuściccheda māriṣa ॥6-99-11॥
The son of Ganga shot three straight-flying arrows at them and cut the bow of Drupada with an arrow, O lord.
so'nyatkārmukamādāya bhīṣmaṃ vivyādha pañcabhiḥ। sārathiṃ ca tribhirbāṇaiḥ suśitai raṇamūrdhani ॥6-99-12॥
He picked up another bow and shot Bhishma with five arrows and the charioteer with three sharp arrows at the forefront of the battle.
tato bhīmo mahārāja draupadyāḥ pañca cātmajāḥ। kekayā bhrātaraḥ pañca sātyakiścaiva sātvataḥ ॥6-99-13॥
Then, O great king, Bhima, the five sons of Draupadi, the five Kekaya brothers, and Satyaki, the Satvata, were present.
abhyadravanta gāṅgeyaṃ yudhiṣṭhirahitepsayā। rirakṣiṣantaḥ pāñcālyaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhanraṇe ॥6-99-14॥
In the battle, they charged at Bhishma, the son of Ganga, with the intent to harm Yudhishthira, while aiming to protect the Panchala prince, led by Dhrishtadyumna.
tathaiva tāvakāḥ sarve bhīṣmarakṣārthamudyatāḥ। pratyudyayuḥ pāṇḍusenāṃ sahasainyā narādhipa ॥6-99-15॥
Similarly, all your warriors, ready to protect Bhishma, moved forward against the Pandava forces with their troops, O king.
tatrāsītsumahadyuddhaṃ tava teṣāṃ ca saṅkulam। narāśvarathanāgānāṃ yamarāṣṭravivardhanam ॥6-99-16॥
There was a great and chaotic battle between your forces and theirs, involving men, horses, chariots, and elephants, which increased the realm of Yama.
rathī rathinam āsādya prāhiṇod yamasādanam। tathetarān samāsādya naranāgāśvasādinaḥ ॥6-99-17॥
The charioteer approached another charioteer and sent him to the realm of Yama. Similarly, he approached others, including riders of men, elephants, and horses.
anayan paralokāya śaraiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ। astraiś ca vividhair ghorais tatra tatra viśāṁ pate ॥6-99-18॥
O lord of men, they were leading others to the other world with arrows having bent joints and with various terrible weapons, here and there.
rathāśca rathibhirhīnā hatasārathayastathā। vipradrutāśvāḥ samare diśo jagmuḥ samantataḥ ॥6-99-19॥
The chariots, having lost their warriors and charioteers, with horses running away, scattered in all directions on the battlefield.
mardamānā narānrājanhayāṃśca subahūnraṇe। vātāyamānā dṛśyante gandharvanagaropamāḥ ॥6-99-20॥
O king, many men and horses are seen being crushed and flying in battle, resembling celestial cities.
rathinaś ca rathair hīnā varmiṇas tejasā yutāḥ। kuṇḍaloṣṇīṣiṇaḥ sarve niṣkāṅgadavibhūṣitāḥ ॥6-99-21॥
The warriors, though deprived of their chariots, were armored and endowed with brilliance. They were all adorned with earrings, turbans, necklaces, and armlets.
devaputrasamā rūpe śaurye śakrasamā yudhi। ṛddhyā vaiśravaṇaṃ cāti nayena ca bṛhaspatim ॥6-99-22॥
He was as beautiful as the son of a god, as valiant as Indra in battle; in prosperity, he surpassed Kubera, and in policy, he excelled Brihaspati.
sarvalokeśvarāḥ śūrāstatra tatra viśāṃ pate। vipradrutā vyadṛśyanta prākṛtā iva mānavāḥ ॥6-99-23॥
The lords of all worlds and heroes were seen fleeing in all directions, O lord of men, appearing like ordinary humans.
dantinaś ca naraśreṣṭha vihīnā varasādibhiḥ। mṛdnantaḥ svāny anīkāni sampetuḥ sarvaśabdagāḥ ॥6-99-24॥
The elephants, O best of men, without their excellent riders and others, trampled their own troops and rushed forward, making a cacophony of sounds.
varmabhiś cāmaraiś chatraiḥ patākābhiś ca māriṣa। kakṣyābhir atha tottraiś ca ghaṇṭābhis tomarais tathā ॥6-99-25॥
O dear, the chariot was adorned with armors, yak-tail fans, parasols, flags, girdles, goads, bells, and lances.
viśīrṇairvipradhāvanto dṛśyante sma diśo daśa। nagameghapratīkāśairjaladodayanisvanaiḥ ॥6-99-26॥
The ten directions appeared chaotic, with scattered movements and sounds resembling rising clouds and mountains.
tathaiva dantibhirhīnāngajarohānviśāṃ pate। pradhāvanto'nvapaśyāma tava teṣāṃ ca saṅkule ॥6-99-27॥
O lord of men, similarly, we observed your elephant riders, who were without their elephants, running amidst the crowd.
nānādeśasamutthāṃśca turagānhemabhūṣitān। vātāyamānāndrākṣaṃ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥6-99-28॥
I beheld numerous horses from various regions, richly adorned with gold, galloping in their hundreds and thousands.
aśvārōhān hatairaśvair gṛhītāsīn samantataḥ। dravamāṇān apaśyāma drāvyamāṇāṁś ca saṁyugē ॥6-99-29॥
In the battle, we observed horsemen being captured all around, with horses killed, some fleeing and others being chased.
gajo gajaṃ samāsādya dravamāṇaṃ mahāraṇe। yayau vimṛdnaṃstarasā padātīnvājinastathā ॥6-99-30॥
In the great battle, the elephant charged at the fleeing elephant, swiftly trampling the foot soldiers and horses.
tathaiva ca rathān rājan saṁmamarda raṇe gajaḥ। rathaś caiva samāsādya padātiṁ turagaṁ tathā ॥6-99-31॥
In the same manner, O king, the elephant crushed the chariots in battle. Similarly, the chariot, upon reaching, attacked the foot-soldier and the horse.
vyamṛdnātsamare rājaṃsturagāṃśca narānraṇe। evaṃ te bahudhā rājanpramṛdnantaḥ parasparam ॥6-99-32॥
In the battle, O king, both horses and men are crushed. Thus, in many ways, they crush each other, O king.
tasminraudre tathā yuddhe vartamāne mahābhaye। prāvartata nadī ghorā śoṇitāntrataraṅgiṇī ॥6-99-33॥
In the midst of that fierce and terrifying battle, a dreadful river emerged, filled with waves of blood and entrails.
asthisañcayasaṅghāṭā keśaśaivalaśādvalā। rathahradā śarāvartā hayamīnā durāsadā ॥6-99-34॥
The battlefield was filled with heaps of bones and masses of hair, resembling water-weeds and grass. It was like pools filled with chariots and whirlpools of arrows, with horses and fish making it difficult to approach.
śīrṣopalasamākīrṇā hastigrāhasamākulā। kavacoṣṇīṣaphenāḍhyā dhanurdvīpāsikacchapā ॥6-99-35॥
The area was strewn with head-sized stones and teemed with elephants and crocodiles. It was filled with armor, turbans, and foam, and was dotted with bows, islands, swords, and turtles.
patākādhvajavṛkṣāḍhyā martyakūlāpahāriṇī। kravyādasaṅghasaṅkīrṇā yamarāṣṭravivardhinī ॥6-99-36॥
The land, adorned with flags, banners, and trees, is a destroyer of mortal families, teeming with groups of carnivorous beings, and enhances the kingdom of Yama.
tāṁ nadīṁ kṣatriyāḥ śūrā hayanāgarathaplavaiḥ। praterurbahavo rājanbhayaṁ tyaktvā mahāhave ॥6-99-37॥
O king, many brave warriors crossed that river using horses, elephants, chariots, and rafts, leaving behind their fear in the great battle.
apovāha raṇe bhīrūnkaśmalenābhisaṁvṛtān। yathā vaitaraṇī pretānpretarājapuraṁ prati ॥6-99-38॥
In the battle, he carried away those who were fearful and fainted, just as the river Vaitarani carries the souls of the dead towards the city of Yama, the king of the dead.
prākrośan kṣatriyās tatra dṛṣṭvā tad vaiśasaṃ mahat। duryodhanāparādhena kṣayaṃ gacchanti kauravāḥ ॥6-99-39॥
The warriors cried out in anguish upon witnessing the great slaughter. Due to Duryodhana's fault, the Kauravas are facing destruction.
guṇavatsu kathaṁ dveṣaṁ dhārtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ। kṛtavān pāṇḍuputreṣu pāpātmā lobhamohitaḥ ॥6-99-40॥
How could the son of Dhritarashtra, the king, who was blinded by greed and wickedness, harbor hatred towards the virtuous sons of Pandu?
evaṁ bahuvidhā vācaḥ śrūyante smātra bhārata। pāṇḍavastavasaṁyuktāḥ putrāṇāṁ te sudāruṇāḥ ॥6-99-41॥
Thus, O Bharata, various terrible words were indeed heard here, spoken by your sons allied with the Pandavas.
tā niśamya tadā vācaḥ sarvayodhairudāhṛtāḥ। āgaskṛtsarvalokasya putro duryodhanastava ॥6-99-42॥
Upon hearing the words spoken by all the warriors, your son Duryodhana, who has offended the entire world, reacted.
bhīṣmaṃ droṇaṃ kṛpaṃ caiva śalyaṃ covāca bhārata। yudhyadhvamanahaṅkārāḥ kiṃ ciraṃ kuruteti ca ॥6-99-43॥
O Bharata, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and Shalya were addressed, saying: "Fight without pride; why do you delay so long?"
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha। akṣadyūtakṛtaṃ rājansughoraṃ vaiśasaṃ tadā ॥6-99-44॥
Then, O king, a very terrible battle ensued between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, instigated by the dice game, leading to great destruction.
yatpurā na nigṛhṇīṣe vāryamāṇo mahātmabhiḥ। vaicitravīrya tasyedaṃ phalaṃ paśya tathāvidham ॥6-99-45॥
O son of Vicitravīrya, behold the consequences of your past actions, which you did not heed despite the warnings of the wise.
na hi pāṇḍusutā rājan sasaṃnyāḥ sapadānugāḥ। rakṣanti samare prāṇān kauravā vā viśāṃ pate ॥6-99-46॥
O king, neither the sons of Pandu nor the Kauravas, along with their armies and followers, protect their lives in battle, O lord of the people.
etasmātkāraṇādghoro vartate sma janakṣayaḥ। daivādvā puruṣavyāghra tava cāpanayānnṛpa ॥6-99-47॥
Due to this reason, a terrible destruction of people has indeed occurred. It might be due to fate or perhaps because of your actions, O noble king, O tiger among men.
