06.102
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tataḥ pitā tava kruddho niśitaiḥ sāyakottamaiḥ। ājaghāna raṇe pārthānsahasenānsamantataḥ ॥6-102-1॥
Then your father, in his anger, struck the sons of Pritha and their armies from all sides with his sharp and excellent arrows during the battle.
bhīmaṃ dvādaśabhirviddhvā sātyakiṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ। nakulaṃ ca tribhirbāṇaiḥ sahadevaṃ ca saptabhiḥ ॥6-102-2॥
The warrior pierced Bhima with twelve arrows, Satyaki with nine, Nakula with three, and Sahadeva with seven, demonstrating his prowess in battle.
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ dvādaśabhirbāhvorurasi cārpayat। dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tato viddhvā vinanāda mahābalaḥ ॥6-102-3॥
The mighty warrior struck Yudhishthira with twelve arrows on his arms and chest. Then, after piercing Dhrishtadyumna, he let out a mighty roar.
taṁ dvādaśārdhairnakulo mādhavaśca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ। dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca saptatyā bhīmasenaśca pañcabhiḥ ॥ yudhiṣṭhiro dvādaśabhiḥ pratyavidhyatpitāmaham ॥6-102-4॥
Nakula, Madhava, Dhrishtadyumna, Bhimasena, and Yudhishthira attacked the grandsire with their respective arrows, showing their prowess in battle.
droṇastu sātyakiṃ viddhvā bhīmasenamavidhyat। ekaikaṃ pañcabhirbāṇairyamadaṇḍopamaiḥ śitaiḥ ॥6-102-5॥
Drona, after striking Satyaki, shot Bhimasena with five sharp arrows that resembled the rod of Yama.
tau ca taṃ pratyavidhyetāṃ tribhistribhirajihmagaiḥ। tottrairiva mahānāgaṃ droṇaṃ brāhmaṇapuṅgavam ॥6-102-6॥
They both attacked Drona, the eminent Brahmin, with three straight-moving arrows, as if striking a great serpent with goads.
sauvīrāḥ kitavāḥ prācyāḥ pratīcyodīcyamālavāḥ। abhīṣāhāḥ śūrasenāḥ śibayo'tha vasātayaḥ ॥ saṅgrāme nājahurbhīṣmaṃ vadhyamānāḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥6-102-7॥
The warriors from Sauvīra, gamblers, and those from the east, west, north, Mālava, the fearless, Śūrasena, Śibi, and Vasāti stood by Bhīṣma in the battle, refusing to abandon him even as they were struck down by sharp arrows.
tathaivānye vadhyamānāḥ pāṇḍaveyairmahātmabhiḥ। pāṇḍavānabhyavartanta vividhāyudhapāṇayaḥ ॥ tathaiva pāṇḍavā rājanparivavruḥ pitāmaham ॥6-102-8॥
In the same manner, as others were being slain by the noble sons of Pandu, they advanced towards the Pandavas with an array of weapons in hand. Similarly, O King, the Pandavas encircled the grandsire.
sa samantātparivṛto rathaughairaparājitaḥ। gahane'gnirivotsṛṣṭaḥ prajajvāla dahanparān ॥6-102-9॥
He, unconquered and surrounded by chariots on all sides, blazed like a fire released in a dense forest, burning his enemies.
rathāgnyagāraścāpārcirasiśaktigadendhanaḥ। śarasphuliṅgo bhīṣmāgnirdadāha kṣatriyarṣabhān ॥6-102-10॥
The chariot became a chamber of fire, with the sword, spear, and mace as its unfading flames. The arrows were like sparks, and Bhishma's fire consumed the warrior chiefs.
suvarṇapuṅkhairiṣubhirgārdhrapakṣaiḥ sutejanaiḥ। karṇinālīkanārācaiśchādayāmāsa tadbalam ॥6-102-11॥
He showered the enemy's forces with a barrage of arrows, each adorned with golden and vulture feathers, sharp and deadly, covering them completely.
apātayaddhvajāṃścaiva rathinaśca śitaiḥ śaraiḥ। muṇḍatālavanānīva cakāra sa rathavrajān ॥6-102-12॥
He shot down the flags and charioteers with sharp arrows, making the groups of chariots resemble forests of palm trees.
nirmanuṣyān rathān rājan gajān aśvāṃś ca saṃyuge। akarot sa mahābāhuḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ ॥6-102-13॥
O king, the mighty-armed hero, the best among all weapon-bearers, made the chariots, elephants, and horses devoid of men in the battle.
tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitamivāśaneḥ। niśamya sarvabhūtāni samakampanta bhārata ॥6-102-14॥
Hearing the sound of the bowstring, which was like the crack of thunder, all creatures trembled, O Bharata.
amoghā hyapatanbāṇāḥ pituste bharatarṣabha। nāsajjanta tanutreṣu bhīṣmacāpyutāḥ śarāḥ ॥6-102-15॥
O best of the Bharatas, the arrows released from Bhishma's bow, though unfailing, did not stick in the bodies as they fell.
hatavīrānrathānrājansaṃyuktāñjavanairhayaiḥ। apaśyāma mahārāja hriyamāṇānraṇājire ॥6-102-16॥
O great king, we witnessed the slain heroes and the chariots, which were yoked with swift horses, being carried away on the battlefield.
cedikāśikarūṣāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa। mahārathāḥ samākhyātāḥ kulaputrāstanutyajaḥ ॥ aparāvartinaḥ sarve suvarṇavikṛtadhvajāḥ ॥6-102-17॥
Fourteen thousand great charioteers from the Cedis, Kashis, and Karushas, known for their valor, hailed from noble families, and were willing to sacrifice their lives. They never retreated and carried banners adorned with gold.
saṅgrāme bhīṣmam āsādya vyāditāsyam ivāntakam। nimagnāḥ paralokāya savājirathakuñjarāḥ ॥6-102-18॥
In the battle, as they approached Bhishma, who appeared like death with an open mouth, they were engulfed and sent to the other world along with their horses, chariots, and elephants.
bhagnākṣopaskarān kāṃścid bhagnacakrāṃś ca sarvaśaḥ। apaśyāma rathān rājañ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥6-102-19॥
O king, we observed chariots with broken axles and wheels scattered everywhere, numbering in the hundreds and thousands.
savarūthai rathairbhagnai rathibhiśca nipātitaiḥ। śaraiḥ sukavacaiśchinnaiḥ paṭṭiśaiśca viśāṃ pate ॥6-102-20॥
O lord, the battlefield was filled with broken chariots and charioteers who were felled. Arrows and swords cut through the good armor of men.
gadābhirmusalaiścaiva nistriṁśaiśca śilīmukhaiḥ। anukarṣairupāsaṅgaiścakrairbhagnaiça māriṣa ॥6-102-21॥
O lord, the battlefield was filled with maces, pestles, swords, arrows, pulling devices, grappling hooks, and broken wheels.
bāhubhiḥ kārmukaiḥ khaḍgaiḥ śirobhiśca sakuṇḍalaiḥ। talatrairaṅgulitraiśca dhvajaiśca vinipātitaiḥ ॥ cāpaiśca bahudhā chinnaiḥ samāstīryata medinī ॥6-102-22॥
The battlefield was strewn with severed arms, bows, swords, heads adorned with earrings, shields, finger-guards, and fallen banners, along with bows cut in various ways, covering the earth entirely.
hatarohā gajā rājanhayāśca hatasādinaḥ। paripeturdrutaṃ tatra śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥6-102-23॥
Elephants and royal horses, whose riders were slain, ran swiftly around there in hundreds and thousands.
yatamānāś ca te vīrā dravamāṇān mahārathān। nāśaknuvan vārayituṃ bhīṣmabāṇaprapīḍitān ॥6-102-24॥
The heroes, despite their efforts, could not stop the great charioteers who were fleeing, being afflicted by Bhishma's arrows.
mahendrasamavīryeṇa vadhyamānā mahācamūḥ। abhajyata mahārāja na ca dvau saha dhāvataḥ ॥6-102-25॥
The great army was shattered by a force as mighty as Indra's, O great king, and not even two soldiers were seen fleeing together.
āviddharathanāgāśvaṃ patitadhvajakūbaram। anīkaṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ hāhābhūtamacetanam ॥6-102-26॥
The army of the Pandavas, with their chariots, elephants, and horses struck down, and their flags and banners fallen, was in a state of panic and unconsciousness.
jaghānātra pitā putraṃ putraśca pitaraṃ tathā। priyaṃ sakhāyaṃ cākrande sakhā daivabalātkṛtaḥ ॥6-102-27॥
In this situation, the father killed his son, and the son also killed his father. A dear friend lamented to another friend, compelled by divine intervention.
vimucya kavacānanye pāṇḍuputrasya sainikāḥ। prakīrya keśāndhāvantaḥ pratyadṛśyanta bhārata ॥6-102-28॥
The soldiers of the Pandavas, having thrown away their armors and with disheveled hair, were seen fleeing, O Bharata.
tadgokulamivodbhrāntamudbhrāntarathakuñjaram। dadṛśe pāṇḍuputrasya sainyamārtasvaraṃ tadā ॥6-102-29॥
At that time, the army of the Pandava appeared like a disturbed cowherd village, with chariots and elephants in disarray, and was seen making distressed sounds.
prahajyamānaṃ sainyaṃ tu dṛṣṭvā yādavanandanaḥ। uvāca pārthaṃ bībhatsuṃ nigṛhya rathamuttamam ॥6-102-30॥
Upon witnessing the army in disarray, Krishna, the descendant of Yadu, addressed Arjuna, known for his fearlessness, while firmly holding the reins of the splendid chariot.
ayaṁ sa kālaḥ samprāptaḥ pārtha yaḥ kāṅkṣitastava। praharāsmai naravyāghra na cenmohātpramuhyase ॥6-102-31॥
The awaited moment has come, O Arjuna, which you have longed for. Attack him, O great warrior, unless you are bewildered by delusion.
yatpurā kathitaṃ vīra tvayā rājñāṃ samāgame। virāṭanagare pārtha sañjayasya samīpataḥ ॥6-102-32॥
O hero, what you had said earlier in the assembly of kings near Sanjaya in the city of Virata, O son of Pritha.
bhīṣmadroṇamukhānsarvāndhārtarāṣṭrasya sainikān। sānubandhān haniṣyāmi ye māṃ yotsyanti saṃyuge ॥6-102-33॥
I will defeat Bhishma, Drona, and all the soldiers of Dhritarashtra, along with their followers, who dare to fight me in the battle.
iti tat kuru kaunteya satyaṁ vākyam ariṁdama। kṣatra-dharmam anusmṛtya yudhyasva bharatarṣabha ॥6-102-34॥
"Thus, O son of Kunti, subduer of enemies, remember your duty as a warrior and fight, O best of the Bharatas."
ityukto vāsudevena tiryagdṛṣṭiradhomukhaḥ। akāma iva bībhatsuridaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥6-102-35॥
Having been addressed by Vāsudeva, with his gaze averted and head lowered, as if unwilling and disgusted, he spoke these words.
avadhyānāṃ vadhaṃ kṛtvā rājyaṃ vā narakottaram। duḥkhāni vanavāse vā kiṃ nu me sukṛtaṃ bhavet ॥6-102-36॥
What good deed could I have done if I have killed the innocent, gained a kingdom, or endured the sufferings of living in the forest?
codayāśvānyato bhīṣmaḥ kariṣye vacanaṃ tava। pātayiṣyāmi durdharṣaṃ vṛddhaṃ kurupitāmaham ॥6-102-37॥
Urge the horses towards Bhishma; I will fulfill your command. I will bring down the invincible, aged grandfather of the Kuru dynasty.
tato'śvān rajataprakhyāṃś codayāmāsa mādhavaḥ। yato bhīṣmas tato rājanduṣprekṣyo raśmivān iva ॥6-102-38॥
Then Madhava urged the silver-like horses forward. Where Bhishma was, it was hard to look, like the sun, O King.
tatastatpunarāvṛttaṃ yudhiṣṭhirabalaṃ mahat। dṛṣṭvā pārthaṃ mahābāhuṃ bhīṣmāyodyantamāhave ॥6-102-39॥
Then, seeing the great army of Yudhishthira return, Arjuna, the mighty-armed, prepared to fight against Bhishma in the battle.
tato bhīṣmaḥ kuruśreṣṭhaḥ siṃhavadvinadanmuḥ। dhanañjayarathaṃ śīghraṃ śaravarṣairavākirat ॥6-102-40॥
Then Bhishma, the greatest of the Kurus, roared like a lion and swiftly showered Arjuna's chariot with arrows.
kṣaṇena sa rathastasya sahayaḥ sahasārathiḥ। śaravarṣeṇa mahatā na prājñāyata kiñcana ॥6-102-41॥
In an instant, his chariot along with the horses and charioteer disappeared under a heavy barrage of arrows.
vāsudevastvasambhrānto dhairyamāsthāya sātvataḥ। codayāmāsa tānaśvānvitunnānbhīṣmasāyakaiḥ ॥6-102-42॥
Vasudeva, the descendant of Sātvata, remained unperturbed and, with courage, urged the horses that were pierced by Bhishma's arrows.
tataḥ pārtho dhanur gṛhya divyaṃ jaladanisvanam। pātayāmāsa bhīṣmasya dhanuśchittvā śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ॥6-102-43॥
Then Arjuna took up his divine bow, which roared like thunder, and with sharp arrows, he cut down Bhishma's bow.
sa chinnadhanvā kauravyaḥ punaranyanmahaddhanuḥ। nimeṣāntaramātreṇa sajyaṃ cakre pitā tava ॥6-102-44॥
Your father, the descendant of Kuru, whose bow was broken, quickly strung another great bow in an instant.
vicakarṣa tato dorbhyāṃ dhanurjaladanisvanam। athāsya tadapi kruddhaściccheda dhanurarjunaḥ ॥6-102-45॥
Then he drew the bow with his arms, making a sound like thunder. Arjuna, in his anger, then cut off that bow as well.
tasya tatpūjayāmāsa lāghavaṃ śantanoḥ sutaḥ। sādhu pārtha mahābāho sādhu kuntīsuteti ca ॥6-102-46॥
The son of Śantanu admired the lightness. 'Well done, Pārtha, mighty-armed one, well done, son of Kunti,' he said:
samābhāṣyainamaparaṃ pragṛhya uciraṃ dhanuḥ। mumoca samare bhīṣmaḥ śarānpārtharathaṃ prati ॥6-102-47॥
Bhishma, after addressing him, took another beautiful bow and released arrows towards Arjuna's chariot in the battle.
adarśayadvāsudevo hayayāne paraṃ balam। moghānkurvañśarāṃstasya maṇḍalāni vidarśayan ॥6-102-48॥
Vasudeva demonstrated his supreme strength on the chariot by rendering the enemy's arrows ineffective and showcasing strategic formations.
śuśubhāte naravyāghrau bhīṣmapārthau śarakṣatau। govṛṣāviva saṁrabdhau viṣāṇollikhitāṅkitau ॥6-102-49॥
Bhishma and Arjuna, renowned warriors, stood out on the battlefield, their bodies marked by arrows, resembling two fierce bulls ready for battle.
vāsudevastu samprekṣya pārthasya mṛduyuddhatām। bhīṣmaṃ ca śaravarṣāṇi sṛjantamaniśaṃ yudhi ॥6-102-50॥
Vasudeva observed the gentle approach of Partha in battle and Bhishma's relentless shower of arrows.
pratapantamivādityaṃ madhyamāsādya senayoḥ। varānvarānvinighnantaṃ pāṇḍuputrasya sainikān ॥6-102-51॥
The warriors of the son of Pandu, shining like the sun, reached the middle of the armies and began slaying the heroes.
yugāntamiva kurvāṇaṃ bhīṣmaṃ yaudhiṣṭhire bale। nāmṛṣyata mahābāhurmādhavaḥ paravīrahā ॥6-102-52॥
Krishna, with his mighty arms, could not tolerate Bhishma causing devastation akin to the end of an era in Yudhishthira's forces.
utsṛjya rajataprakhyānhayānpārthasya māriṣaḥ। kruddho nāma mahāyogī prachaskanda mahārathāt ॥ abhidudrāva bhīṣmaṃ sa bhujapraharaṇo balī ॥6-102-53॥
O great one, the mighty yogi, in his anger, abandoned Arjuna's silver-like horses, leapt from the chariot, and with his arms as weapons, charged towards Bhishma.
pratodapāṇistejasvī siṃhavadvinadanmuḥ। dārayanniva padbhyāṃ sa jagatīṃ jagatīśvaraḥ ॥6-102-54॥
The brilliant lord of the earth, with a goad in hand, roared repeatedly like a lion, as if he was tearing apart the earth with his feet.
krodhatāmrekṣaṇaḥ kṛṣṇo jighāṃsuramitadyutiḥ। grasanniva ca cetāṃsi tāvakānāṃ mahāhave ॥6-102-55॥
Krishna, his eyes red with anger and possessing immeasurable splendor, seemed intent on destroying, as if consuming the minds of your people in the great battle.
dṛṣṭvā mādhavamākrande bhīṣmāyodyantamāhave। hato bhīṣmo hato bhīṣma iti tatra sma sainikāḥ ॥ krośantaḥ prādravansarve vāsudevabhayānnarāḥ ॥6-102-56॥
Upon seeing Madhava lamenting for Bhishma rising in battle, the soldiers exclaimed, "Bhishma is killed, Bhishma is killed," and all the men fled in fear of Vasudeva.
pītakauśeyasaṁvīto maṇiśyāmo janārdanaḥ। śuśubhe vidravanbhīṣmaṁ vidyunmālī yathāmbudaḥ ॥6-102-57॥
Janardana, dressed in yellow silk and dark as a gem, shone brilliantly as he fled from Bhishma, resembling a cloud adorned with lightning.
sa siṃha iva mātaṅgaṃ yūtharṣabha iva ṛṣabham। abhidudrāva tejasvī vinadanyādavarṣabhaḥ ॥6-102-58॥
The glorious Yadava hero charged forward like a lion attacking an elephant, roaring like the leader of a herd confronting a bull.
tam āpatantaṃ samprekṣya puṇḍarīkākṣam āhave। asambhramaṃ raṇe bhīṣmo vicakarṣa mahad dhanuḥ ॥ uvāca cainaṃ govindam asambhrāntena cetasā ॥6-102-59॥
Seeing him approach, the lotus-eyed Krishna in the battle, Bhishma, without any confusion, drew his great bow and spoke to Govinda with a calm mind.
ehyehi puṇḍarīkākṣa devadeva namo'stu te। māmadya sātvatapreṣṭha pātayasva mahāhave ॥6-102-60॥
"Come, come, O lotus-eyed god of gods, salutations to you. Today, O best of the Sātvatas, let me fall in the great battle."
tvayā hi deva saṅgrāme hatasyāpi mamānagha। śreya eva paraṃ kṛṣṇa loke'muṣminnihaiva ca ॥ sambhāvito'smi govinda trailokyenādya saṃyuge ॥6-102-61॥
O Krishna, even if I am slain in battle by you, O sinless one, it is certainly better for me, both in this world and the next. Today, O Govinda, I am honored by the three worlds in this battle.
anvageva tataḥ pārthastamanudrutya keśavam। nijagrāha mahābāhurbāhubhyāṃ parigṛhya vai ॥6-102-62॥
Arjuna, with his mighty arms, chased and caught Krishna, embracing him firmly.
nigṛhyamāṇaḥ pārthena kṛṣṇo rājīvalocanaḥ। jagāma cainamādāya vegena puruṣottamaḥ ॥6-102-63॥
Krishna, the lotus-eyed, was restrained by Arjuna, yet he swiftly went and took him, the supreme person.
pārthastu viṣṭabhya balāccaraṇau paravīrahā। nijaghrāha hṛṣīkeśaṃ kathaṃciddaśame pade ॥6-102-64॥
Arjuna, the mighty warrior, somehow managed to steady himself and seize Krishna at the tenth step, despite the challenges.
tata enam uvāca ārtaḥ krodha-paryākula-īkṣaṇam। niḥśvasantaṃ yathā nāgam arjunaḥ para-vīra-hā ॥6-102-65॥
Arjuna, overwhelmed with anger and breathing heavily like a serpent, addressed him with distress.
nivartasva mahābāho nānṛtaṃ kartumarhasi। yattvayā kathitaṃ pūrvaṃ na yotsyāmīti keśava ॥6-102-66॥
O mighty-armed one, turn back; you should not commit falsehood. You had previously declared, "I will not fight," O Keśava.
mithyāvādīti lokastvāṃ kathayiṣyati mādhava। mama eṣa bhāraḥ sarvo hi haniṣyāmi yatavratam ॥6-102-67॥
O Mādhava, people will call you a liar. I will indeed destroy all this burden with determination.
śape mādhava sakhyena satyena sukṛtena ca। antaṃ yathā gamiṣyāmi śatrūṇāṃ śatrukarśana ॥6-102-68॥
I swear, O Mādhava, by our friendship, truth, and good deeds, that I will bring an end to the enemies, O destroyer of foes.
adyaiva paśya durdharṣaṃ pātyamānaṃ mahāvratam। tārāpatimivāpūrṇamantakāle yadṛcchayā ॥6-102-69॥
"Today itself, witness the invincible being brought down, like the lord of stars not full at the end of time, by mere chance."
mādhavastu vacaḥ śrutvā phalgunasya mahātmanaḥ। nakiñciduktvā sakrodha āruroha rathaṃ punaḥ ॥6-102-70॥
Madhava listened to the words of the noble Phalguna and, without uttering a word, climbed back onto the chariot in anger.
tau rathasthau naravyāghrau bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavaḥ punaḥ। vavarṣa śaravarṣeṇa megho vṛṣṭyā yathācalau ॥6-102-71॥
Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, once again showered a rain of arrows from his chariot, like a cloud pouring rain, upon the two mighty warriors who stood firm like mountains.
prāṇāṃścādatta yodhānāṃ pitā devavratas tava। gabhastibhirivādityastejāṃsi śiśirātyaye ॥6-102-72॥
Devavrata, your father, took the lives of the warriors, just as the sun diminishes the brilliance of the world with its rays at the end of winter.
yathā kurūṇāṃ sainyāni babhañja yudhi pāṇḍavaḥ। tathā pāṇḍavasainyāni babhañja yudhi te pitā ॥6-102-73॥
In the battle, just as the Pandava shattered the armies of the Kurus, your father similarly shattered the Pandava armies.
hatavidrutasainyāstu nirutsāhā vicetasaḥ। nirīkṣituṃ na śekuste bhīṣmamapratimaṃ raṇe ॥ madhyaṃ gatamivādityaṃ pratapantaṃ svatejasā ॥6-102-74॥
The armies, having been killed and scattered, were left dispirited and bewildered. They could not even look at Bhishma, who was incomparable in battle, shining with his own brilliance like the sun at its zenith.
te vadhyamānā bhīṣmeṇa kāleneva yugakṣaye। vīkṣāṃ cakrurmahārāja pāṇḍavā bhayapīḍitāḥ ॥6-102-75॥
The Pandavas, afflicted by fear, were being killed by Bhishma as if it were the end of an era, O great king.
trātāraṃ nādhyagacchanta gāvaḥ paṅkagatā iva। pipīlikā iva kṣuṇṇā durbalā balinā raṇe ॥6-102-76॥
The cows, like ants crushed and weak, could not find a protector, as if stuck in mud, overwhelmed by the strong in battle.
mahārathaṃ bhārata duṣpradharṣaṃ; śaraughiṇaṃ pratapantaṃ narendrān। bhīṣmaṃ na śekuḥ prativīkṣituṃ te; śarārciṣaṃ sūryamivātapantam ॥6-102-77॥
O Bharata, the great chariot-warrior Bhishma, invincible and showering arrows, was burning the kings. They were unable to look at him, as he was blazing like the sun with his arrow flames.
vimṛdnatasya tu pāṇḍusenā; mastaṃ jagāmātha sahasraraśmiḥ। tato balānāṃ śramakarśitānāṃ; mano'vahāraṃ prati sambabhūva ॥6-102-78॥
As the sun set, Pandu's army, though initially crushing his forces, became exhausted and sought relief from their fatigue.
