06.100
Core and Pancharatra: Despite being repeatedly restrained by Susharman the Kaurava soldiers did not hold their ground; Drona overpowered Drupada, making him retreat; Bhishma charged directly ahead; the Pandavas surrounded Bhishma to restrain his advance.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
अर्जुनस्तु नरव्याघ्र सुशर्मप्रमुखान्नृपान्। अनयत्प्रेतराजस्य भवनं सायकैः शितैः ॥६-१००-१॥
Arjuna, known as the tiger among men, defeated the kings led by Susharma and sent them to the abode of Yama, the god of death, using his sharp arrows.
सुशर्मापि ततो बाणैः पार्थं विव्याध संयुगे। वासुदेवं च सप्तत्या पार्थं च नवभिः पुनः ॥६-१००-२॥
Suśarman, in the battle, attacked Arjuna with his arrows. He also struck Krishna with seventy arrows and then targeted Arjuna again with nine arrows.
तान्निवार्य शरौघेण शक्रसूनुर्महारथः। सुशर्मणो रणे योधान्प्राहिणोद्यमसादनम् ॥६-१००-३॥
Indra's son, the great charioteer, skillfully warded off the warriors of Susharma with a shower of arrows, sending them to the abode of Yama in the battle.
ते वध्यमानाः पार्थेन कालेनेव युगक्षये। व्यद्रवन्त रणे राजन्भये जाते महारथाः ॥६-१००-४॥
The great warriors, being slain by Arjuna, fled the battlefield in fear, O king, as if it were the end of an era.
उत्सृज्य तुरगान्केचिद्रथान्केचिच्च मारिष। गजानन्ये समुत्सृज्य प्राद्रवन्त दिशो दश ॥६-१००-५॥
Some abandoned their horses, others their chariots, and yet others, O lord, completely abandoned their elephants and fled in all directions.
अपरे तुद्यमानास्तु वाजिनागरथा रणात्। त्वरया परया युक्ताः प्राद्रवन्त विशां पते ॥६-१००-६॥
Others, though being attacked, quickly fled from the battlefield with their horses and chariots, O lord of men.
पादाताश्चापि शस्त्राणि समुत्सृज्य महारणे। निरपेक्षा व्यधावन्त तेन तेन स्म भारत ॥६-१००-७॥
In the great battle, the foot-soldiers, indifferent to everything, abandoned their weapons and fled in all directions, O Bharata.
वार्यमाणाः स्म बहुशस्त्रैगर्तेन सुशर्मणा। तथान्यैः पार्थिवश्रेष्ठैर्न व्यतिष्ठन्त संयुगे ॥६-१००-८॥
Despite being repeatedly restrained by Trigarta Susharman and other eminent kings, they did not hold their ground in the battle.
तद्बलं प्रद्रुतं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव। पुरस्कृत्य रणे भीष्मं सर्वसैन्यपुरस्कृतम् ॥६-१००-९॥
Upon seeing his army fleeing, your son Duryodhana placed Bhishma at the forefront in the battle, leading the entire army.
सर्वोद्योगेन महता धनञ्जयमुपाद्रवत्। त्रिगर्ताधिपतेरर्थे जीवितस्य विशां पते ॥६-१००-१०॥
With all his might, he attacked Arjuna for the sake of the life of the king of Trigarta, O lord of the people.
स एकः समरे तस्थौ किरन्बहुविधाञ्शरान्। भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैः शेषा विप्रद्रुता नराः ॥६-१००-११॥
He stood alone in the battle, scattering various arrows. Together with all his brothers, the remaining men fled.
तथैव पण्डवा राजन्सर्वोद्योगेन दंशिताः। प्रययुः फल्गुनार्थाय यत्र भीष्मो व्यवस्थितः ॥६-१००-१२॥
In the same manner, O king, the Pandavas, motivated by all efforts, proceeded to the place where Bhishma was positioned for the sake of Arjuna.
जानन्तोऽपि रणे शौर्यं घोरं गाण्डीवधन्वनः। हाहाकारकृतोत्साहा भीष्मं जग्मुः समन्ततः ॥६-१००-१३॥
Despite knowing the formidable valor of Arjuna, who wields the Gandiva bow, the warriors, spurred by the tumult, surrounded Bhishma from all sides.
ततस्तालध्वजः शूरः पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्। छादयामास समरे शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥६-१००-१४॥
Then the heroic Tāladhvaja covered the Pāṇḍavas' army in the battle with his arrows that had bent joints.
एकीभूतास्ततः सर्वे कुरवः पाण्डवैः सह। अयुध्यन्त महाराज मध्यं प्राप्ते दिवाकरे ॥६-१००-१५॥
O great king, then all the Kurus united with the Pandavas and fought together when the sun was at its zenith.
सात्यकिः कृतवर्माणं विद्ध्वा पञ्चभिरायसैः। अतिष्ठदाहवे शूरः किरन्बाणान्सहस्रशः ॥६-१००-१६॥
Satyaki, demonstrating his valor, pierced Kritavarma with five iron arrows and stood heroically in the battle, releasing thousands of arrows.
तथैव द्रुपदो राजा द्रोणं विद्ध्वा शितैः शरैः। पुनर्विव्याध सप्तत्या सारथिं चास्य सप्तभिः ॥६-१००-१७॥
Similarly, King Drupada attacked Drona with sharp arrows and then targeted his charioteer with seventy arrows and seven more.
भीमसेनस्तु राजानं बाह्लिकं प्रपितामहम्। विद्ध्वानदन्महानादं शार्दूल इव कानने ॥६-१००-१८॥
Bhimasena, after striking King Bahlika, the great-grandfather, let out a mighty roar, resembling a tiger in the forest.
आर्जुनिश्चित्रसेनेन विद्धो बहुभिराशुगैः। चित्रसेनं त्रिभिर्बाणैर्विव्याध हृदये भृशम् ॥६-१००-१९॥
Arjuna, struck by many swift arrows from Citrasena, retaliated by deeply piercing Citrasena's heart with three arrows.
समागतौ तौ तु रणे महामात्रौ व्यरोचताम्। यथा दिवि महाघोरौ राजन्बुधशनैश्चरौ ॥६-१००-२०॥
The two great warriors, having come together in battle, shone brightly like the fierce planets Mercury and Saturn in the sky, O king.
तस्याश्वांश्चतुरो हत्वा सूतं च नवभिः शरैः। ननाद बलवन्नादं सौभद्रः परवीरहा ॥६-१००-२१॥
Saubhadra, the valiant son of Subhadra, after slaying the four horses and the charioteer with nine arrows, let out a powerful roar, striking fear into the hearts of his enemies.
हताश्वात्तु रथात्तूर्णमवप्लुत्य महारथः। आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं दुर्मुखस्य विशां पते ॥६-१००-२२॥
The great warrior, having quickly jumped down from the destroyed chariot, ascended Durmukha's chariot swiftly, O lord of the people.
द्रोणश्च द्रुपदं विद्ध्वा शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। सारथिं चास्य विव्याध त्वरमाणः पराक्रमी ॥६-१००-२३॥
Drona, in his might, swiftly shot arrows with curved joints at Drupada and his charioteer.
पीड्यमानस्ततो राजा द्रुपदो वाहिनीमुखे। अपायाज्जवनैरश्वैः पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन् ॥६-१००-२४॥
King Drupada, feeling oppressed, left the front of the army swiftly on horses, recalling the old enmity.
भीमसेनस्तु राजानं मुहूर्तादिव बाह्लिकम्। व्यश्वसूतरथं चक्रे सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥६-१००-२५॥
Bhimasena swiftly rendered King Bahlika without his horse, charioteer, and chariot, as if in an instant, while the entire army watched.
ससम्भ्रमो महाराज संशयं परमं गतः। अवप्लुत्य ततो वाहाद्बाह्लिकः पुरुषोत्तमः ॥ आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं लक्ष्मणस्य महारथः ॥६-१००-२६॥
With great agitation, O great king, Bahlika, the best among men, jumped down from his vehicle and quickly ascended Lakshmana's chariot, the great chariot warrior, filled with doubt.
सात्यकिः कृतवर्माणं वारयित्वा महारथः। शरैर्बहुविधै राजन्नाससाद पितामहम् ॥६-१००-२७॥
Satyaki, after successfully repelling Kritavarma, the great chariot-warrior, approached the grandsire with a variety of arrows, O king.
स विद्ध्वा भारतं षष्ट्या निशितैर्लोमवाहिभिः। ननर्तेव रथोपस्थे विधुन्वानो महद्धनुः ॥६-१००-२८॥
After piercing Bharata with sixty sharp and terrifying arrows, he danced on the chariot seat, brandishing his mighty bow.
तस्यायसीं महाशक्तिं चिक्षेपाथ पितामहः। हेमचित्रां महावेगां नागकन्योपमां शुभाम् ॥६-१००-२९॥
Then the grandsire hurled his mighty iron weapon, adorned with golden hues, swift as a serpent maiden, and auspicious.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा मृत्युकल्पां सुतेजनाम्। ध्वंसयामास वार्ष्णेयो लाघवेन महायशाः ॥६-१००-३०॥
The descendant of Vṛṣṇi, renowned for his great fame, swiftly destroyed her as she approached suddenly like death with great speed.
अनासाद्य तु वार्ष्णेयं शक्तिः परमदारुणा। न्यपतद्धरणीपृष्ठे महोल्केव गतप्रभा ॥६-१००-३१॥
The fierce spear, failing to reach the descendant of Vṛṣṇi, fell to the ground like a great meteor that had lost its brilliance.
वार्ष्णेयस्तु ततो राजन्स्वां शक्तिं घोरदर्शनाम्। वेगवद्गृह्य चिक्षेप पितामहरथं प्रति ॥६-१००-३२॥
Krishna, with great speed, took his own terrifying spear and hurled it towards Bhishma's chariot, O king.
वार्ष्णेयभुजवेगेन प्रणुन्ना सा महाहवे। अभिदुद्राव वेगेन कालरात्रिर्यथा नरम् ॥६-१००-३३॥
Propelled by the force of Krishna's arm, she charged into the great battle with the swiftness of Kalaratri approaching a man.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा द्विधा चिच्छेद भारत। क्षुरप्राभ्यां सुतीक्ष्णाभ्यां सान्वकीर्यत भूतले ॥६-१००-३४॥
O Bharata, he swiftly cut her into two with his sharp arrows, causing her to fall scattered on the ground.
छित्त्वा तु शक्तिं गाङ्गेयः सात्यकिं नवभिः शरैः। आजघानोरसि क्रुद्धः प्रहसञ्शत्रुकर्शनः ॥६-१००-३५॥
Bhishma, the son of Ganga, cut off Satyaki's weapon and, with a smile, angrily struck him on the chest with nine arrows, tormenting his enemy.
ततः सरथनागाश्वाः पाण्डवाः पाण्डुपूर्वज। परिवव्रू रणे भीष्मं माधवत्राणकारणात् ॥६-१००-३६॥
Then, the Pandavas, led by the elder brother of Pandu, surrounded Bhishma in battle with their chariots, elephants, and horses, aiming to protect Madhava.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम्। पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च समरे विजयैषिणाम् ॥६-१००-३७॥
Then a fierce and terrifying battle began between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, both eager for victory.
