06.104
Pancharatra and Core: On the tenth day, while Arjuna held back all the charioteers, Shikandin advanced against Bhishma, who refused to fight.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
kathaṁ śikhaṇḍī gāṅgeyām abhyavartata saṁyuge। pāṇḍavāś ca tathā bhīṣmaṁ tan mamācakṣva sañjaya ॥6-104-1॥
Sañjaya, tell me how Śikhaṇḍī confronted Gāṅgeya in the battle, and how the Pāṇḍavas faced Bhīṣma.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tataḥ prabhāte vimale sūryasyodayanaṃ prati। vādyamānāsu bherīṣu mṛdaṅgeṣvānakeṣu ca ॥6-104-2॥
Then, in the clear morning, as the sun was about to rise, the sound of drums, mridangas, and anakas filled the air.
dhmāyatsu dadhivarṇeṣu jalajeṣu samantataḥ। śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya niryātāḥ pāṇḍavā yudhi ॥6-104-3॥
The Pandavas, having placed Shikhandi at the forefront, departed to battle, with the sound of conch shells echoing in the white waters all around.
kṛtvā vyūhaṃ mahārāja sarvaśatrunibarhaṇam। śikhaṇḍī sarvasainyānāmagra āsīdviśāṃ pate ॥6-104-4॥
Having formed the battle array, O great king, Shikhandi, the destroyer of all enemies, stood at the forefront of all the armies, O lord of men.
cakrarakṣau tatas tasya bhīmasenadhanañjayau। pṛṣṭhato draupadeyāś ca saubhadraś caiva vīryavān ॥6-104-5॥
Then, Bhimasena and Dhananjaya, the protectors of the wheel, stood behind him, accompanied by the sons of Draupadi and the valiant son of Subhadra.
sātyakiś cekitānaś ca teṣāṃ goptā mahārathaḥ। dhṛṣṭadyumnas tataḥ paścāt pāñcālair abhirakṣitaḥ ॥6-104-6॥
Satyaki and Chekitana, the great chariot-warrior, were their protectors. Then Dhrishtadyumna was protected by the Panchalas.
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā yamābhyāṃ sahitaḥ prabhuḥ। prayayau siṃhanādena nādayanbharatarṣabha ॥6-104-7॥
Then King Yudhishthira, along with his brothers, departed with a mighty roar, echoing like a lion, O great leader of the Bharatas.
virāṭastu tataḥ paścātsvena sainyena saṁvṛtaḥ। drupadaśca mahārāja tataḥ paścādupādravat ॥6-104-8॥
Virata, after being surrounded by his own army, then Drupada, O great king, attacked afterwards.
kekayā bhrātaraḥ pañca dhṛṣṭaketuśca vīryavān। jaghanaṃ pālayāmāsa pāṇḍusainyasya bhārata ॥6-104-9॥
The five Kekaya brothers, along with the valiant Dhṛṣṭaketu, safeguarded the rear of the Pandava forces, O Bharata.
evaṃ vyūhya mahatsainyaṃ pāṇḍavāstava vāhinīm। abhyadravanta saṅgrāme tyaktvā jīvitamātmanaḥ ॥6-104-10॥
The Pandavas, having strategically arranged their formidable army, launched an attack on your forces in the battle, ready to sacrifice their lives.
tathaiva kuravo rājanbhīṣmaṃ kṛtvā mahābalam। agrataḥ sarvasainyānāṃ prayayuḥ pāṇḍavānprati ॥6-104-11॥
Similarly, O king, the Kauravas, placing the mighty Bhishma at the forefront, advanced towards the Pandavas with all their forces.
putraistava durādharṣai rakṣitaḥ sumahābalaiḥ। tato droṇo maheṣvāsaḥ putraścāsya mahārathaḥ ॥6-104-12॥
Your invincible sons, protected by mighty warriors, were then accompanied by Droṇa, the great archer, and his son, a formidable chariot-warrior.
bhagadattastataḥ paścādgajānīkena saṁvṛtaḥ। kṛpaśca kṛtavarmā ca bhagadattamanuvratau ॥6-104-13॥
Then Bhagadatta, surrounded by his elephant division, was followed by Kṛpa and Kṛtavarmā, both devoted to him.
kāmbojarājo balavāṃstataḥ paścātsudakṣiṇaḥ। māgadhaśca jayatsenaḥ saubalaśca bṛhadbalaḥ ॥6-104-14॥
The strong King of Kamboja, followed by Sudakshina, Jayatsena of Magadha, and Brihadbala of Saubala.
tathetare maheṣvāsāḥ suśarmapramukhā nṛpāḥ। jaghanaṃ pālayāmāsustava sainyasya bhārata ॥6-104-15॥
In this way, other great archers, led by Susharma, took charge of protecting the rear of your army, O Bharata.
divase divase prāpte bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo yudhi। āsurānakarodvyūhānpaiśācānatha rākṣasān ॥6-104-16॥
As each day arrived, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, arranged the battle formations with demonic, fiendish, and monstrous strategies.
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata। anyonyaṃ nighnatāṃ rājanyamarāṣṭravivardhanam ॥6-104-17॥
Then the battle began between your forces and theirs, O Bharata, each striking the other, enhancing the royal kingdom.
arjunapramukhāḥ pārthāḥ puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam। bhīṣmaṃ yuddhe'bhyavartanta kiranto vividhāñśarān ॥6-104-18॥
The sons of Pritha, led by Arjuna, placed Shikhandi at the forefront and advanced towards Bhishma in the battle, showering a multitude of arrows.
tatra bhārata bhīmena pīḍitāstāvakāḥ śaraiḥ। rudhiraughapariklinnāḥ paralokaṃ yayustadā ॥6-104-19॥
At that time, O Bharata, your men, struck by Bhima's arrows and soaked in blood, departed to the afterlife.
nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sātyakiśca mahārathaḥ। tava sainyaṃ samāsādya pīḍayāmāsurojasā ॥6-104-20॥
Nakula, Sahadeva, and Satyaki, the great warriors, attacked your army with great force and caused significant distress.
te vadhyamānāḥ samare tāvakā bharatarṣabha। nāśaknuvanvārayituṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahadbalam ॥6-104-21॥
O best of the Bharatas, your men, being slaughtered in the battle, could not withstand the mighty force of the Pandavas.
tatastu tāvakaṃ sainyaṃ vadhyamānaṃ samantataḥ। samprādravaddiśo rājankālyamānaṃ mahārathaiḥ ॥6-104-22॥
Then, O king, your army, surrounded and being slain from all sides, fled in all directions, harassed by the great charioteers.
trātāraṃ nādhyagacchanta tāvakā bharatarṣabha। vadhyamānāḥ śitairbāṇaiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sahasṛñjayaiḥ ॥6-104-23॥
O best of the Bharatas, your men could not find a protector as they were being slain by the sharp arrows of the Pandavas and the Srinjayas.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
pīḍyamānaṃ balaṃ pārthairdṛṣṭvā bhīṣmaḥ parākramī। yadakārṣīdraṇe kruddhastanmamācakṣva sañjaya ॥6-104-24॥
Sanjaya, tell me what the valiant Bhishma did in the battle when he saw the army being oppressed by the sons of Pritha, in his anger.
kathaṁ vā pāṇḍavānyuddhe pratyudyātaḥ parantapaḥ। vinighnansomakānvīrāṁstanmamācakṣva sañjaya ॥6-104-25॥
O Sanjaya, tell me how the scorcher of foes, having advanced in battle, is slaying the heroic Somakas or the Pandavas.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
ācakṣe te mahārāja yadakārṣītpitāmahaḥ। pīḍite tava putrasya sainye pāṇḍavasṛñjayaiḥ ॥6-104-26॥
I will recount to you, O great king, the actions of the grandsire when your son's forces were besieged by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas.
prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ śūrāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ pāṇḍupūrvaja। abhyavartanta nighnantastava putrasya vāhinīm ॥6-104-27॥
The Pandavas, filled with joy and courage, moved forward, O elder of the Pandus, and began to destroy the army of your son.
taṁ vināśaṁ manuṣyendra naravāraṇavājinām। nāmṛṣyata tadā bhīṣmaḥ sainyaghātaṁ raṇe paraiḥ ॥6-104-28॥
Bhishma, witnessing the destruction of men, elephants, and horses, could not tolerate the slaughter of his army in battle by the enemies, O king of men.
sa pāṇḍavānmaheṣvāsaḥ pāñcālāṃśca sasṛñjayān। abhyadravata durdharṣastyaktvā jīvitamātmanaḥ ॥6-104-29॥
The formidable warrior, disregarding his own life, charged against the Pāṇḍavas, the Pāñcālas, and the Sṛñjayas.
sa pāṇḍavānāṃ pravarānpañca rājanmahārathān। āttaśastrānraṇe yattānvārayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ ॥ nārācairvatsadantaiśca śitairañjalikaistathā ॥6-104-30॥
O King, he restrained the five foremost great charioteers of the Pandavas, who were armed and ready for battle, using various kinds of arrows including iron, calf-tooth, sharp, and Anjalika arrows.
nijaghne samare kruddho hastyaśvamamitaṃ bahuḥ। rathino'pātayadrājanrathebhyaḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ ॥6-104-31॥
In the battle, the enraged warrior, like a bull among men, slew countless elephants and horses. O king, he brought down many charioteers from their chariots.
sādinaścāśvapṛṣṭhebhyaḥ padātīṃśca samāgatān। gajarohāngajebhyaśca pareṣāṃ vidadhadbhayam ॥6-104-32॥
The horsemen and foot soldiers gathered, while the elephant riders on their elephants instilled fear among the enemies.
tamekaṃ samare bhīṣmaṃ tvaramāṇaṃ mahāratham। pāṇḍavāḥ samavartanta vajrapāṇimivāsurāḥ ॥6-104-33॥
The Pandavas, seeing Bhishma rushing into battle as a great chariot-warrior, turned against him like demons would against the mighty Vajrapani.
śakrāśanisamasparśān vimuñcan niśitāñ śarān। dikṣv adṛśyata sarvāsu ghoraṃ sandhārayan vapuḥ ॥6-104-34॥
He was seen releasing sharp arrows that had the touch of Indra's thunderbolt, and his terrible form was visible in all directions.
maṇḍalīkṛtamevā'sya nityaṃ dhanuradṛśyata। saṅgrāme yudhyamānasya śakracāpanibhaṃ mahat ॥6-104-35॥
In battle, his bow was always seen in a circular form, resembling the great bow of Indra.
taddṛṣṭvā samare karma tava putrā viśāṃ pate। vismayaṃ paramaṃ prāptāḥ pitāmahamapūjayan ॥6-104-36॥
Upon witnessing that act in the battlefield, your sons, O lord of the people, were filled with great wonder and paid homage to the grandsire.
pārthā vimanaso bhūtvā praikṣanta pitaraṃ tava। yudhyamānaṃ raṇe śūraṃ vipracittimivāmarāḥ ॥ na cainaṃ vārayāmāsurvyāttānanamivāntakam ॥6-104-37॥
The sons of Pritha, disheartened, watched your father, a hero fighting in battle like Vipracitti among the gods. They did not stop him, as if he were death itself with an open mouth.
daśame'hani samprāpte rathānīkaṃ śikhaṇḍinaḥ। adahanniśitairbāṇaiḥ kṛṣṇavartmeva kānanam ॥6-104-38॥
On the tenth day, Shikhandi's chariot army arrived and burned fiercely with sharp arrows, resembling a forest set ablaze along a dark path.
taṁ śikhaṇḍī tribhirbāṇairabhyavidhyatstanāntare। āśīviṣamiva kruddhaṁ kālasṛṣṭamivāntakam ॥6-104-39॥
Shikhandi attacked him fiercely with three arrows in the chest, resembling an enraged serpent, as if he were death incarnate, created by time.
sa tenātibhṛśaṃ viddhaḥ prekṣya bhīṣmaḥ śikhaṇḍinam। anicchannapi saṅkruddhaḥ prahasannidamabravīt ॥6-104-40॥
Even though unwilling, Bhishma, having been excessively pierced by Shikhandi, looked at him with anger and, smiling, said this.
kāmam abhyasa vā mā vā na tvāṃ yotsye kathaṃcana। yaiva hi tvaṃ kṛtā dhātrā saiva hi tvaṃ śikhaṇḍinī ॥6-104-41॥
"Do as you please, whether you practice or not, I shall not fight you in any way. You are indeed created by the creator as Shikhandini."
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā śikhaṇḍī krodhamūrchitaḥ। uvāca bhīṣmaṃ samare sṛkkiṇī parilelihan ॥6-104-42॥
Upon hearing those words, Shikhandi, filled with rage, addressed Bhishma on the battlefield, while licking his bowstring.
jānāmi tvāṃ mahābāho kṣatriyāṇāṃ kṣayaṅkaram। mayā śrutaṃ ca te yuddhaṃ jāmadagnyena vai saha ॥6-104-43॥
I recognize you, O mighty-armed hero, as the annihilator of the Kshatriya race. I have also heard about your confrontation with Parashurama, the son of Jamadagni.
divyaśca te prabhāvo'yaṃ sa mayā bahuśaḥ śrutaḥ। jānannapi prabhāvaṃ te yotsye'dyāhaṃ tvayā saha ॥6-104-44॥
I have often heard of your divine power. Even knowing your power, today I will fight with you.
pāṇḍavānāṃ priyaṃ kurvannātmanaśca narottama। adya tvā yodhayiṣyāmi raṇe puruṣasattama ॥6-104-45॥
O best of men, acting in the interest of the Pandavas and oneself, today I shall engage you in battle, O noblest among men.
dhruvaṁ ca tvā haniṣyāmi śape satyena te'grataḥ। etacchrutvā vaco mahyaṁ yatkṣamaṁ tatsamācara ॥6-104-46॥
"I swear by truth, I will certainly kill you right in front of you. After hearing these words, do what you find appropriate."
kāmam abhyasa vā mā vā na me jīvan vimokṣyase। sudṛṣṭaḥ kriyatāṃ bhīṣma loko'yaṃ samitiñjaya ॥6-104-47॥
"Do as you wish, practice or not, you will not attain liberation while alive. Let it be well-understood, Bhishma, this world, O victor of assemblies."
evamuktvā tato bhīṣmaṃ pañcabhirnataparvabhiḥ। avidhyata raṇe rājanpraṇunnaṃ vākyasāyakaiḥ ॥6-104-48॥
After speaking thus, Bhishma was then struck in battle by five bent-jointed arrows, O king, and was driven back by the force of words.
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā savyasācī parantapaḥ। kālo'yamiti sañcintya śikhaṇḍinamacodayat ॥6-104-49॥
Upon hearing those words, Arjuna, the mighty warrior, realized it was the opportune moment and encouraged Shikhandi to act.
ahaṁ tvāmanuyāsyāmi parānvidrāvayañśaraiḥ। abhidrava susaṁrabdho bhīṣmaṁ bhīmaparākramam ॥6-104-50॥
I will follow you, scattering the enemies with my arrows. Charge at Bhishma with great fury and mighty prowess.
na hi te saṃyuge pīḍāṃ śaktaḥ kartuṃ mahābalaḥ। tasmādadya mahābāho vīra bhīṣmamabhidrava ॥6-104-51॥
Your great strength cannot cause harm in battle. Therefore, mighty-armed hero, attack Bhishma today.
ahatvā samare bhīṣmaṁ yadi yāsyasi māriṣa। avahāsyo'sya lokasya bhaviṣyasi mayā saha ॥6-104-52॥
If you do not kill Bhishma in battle and choose to leave, O honorable one, you and I will be ridiculed by the world.
nāvahāsyā yathā vīra bhavema paramāhave। tathā kuru raṇe yatnaṃ sādhayasva pitāmaham ॥6-104-53॥
Let us not be mocked as heroes in the great battle; therefore, strive in the battle to achieve victory over the grandfather.
ahaṁ te rakṣaṇaṁ yuddhe kariṣyāmi parantapa। vārayanrathinaḥ sarvānsādhayasva pitāmaham ॥6-104-54॥
I will protect you in battle, O Parantapa. While I hold back all the charioteers, you must accomplish the task concerning the grandfather.
droṇaṁ ca droṇaputraṁ ca kṛpaṁ cātha suyodhanam। citrasenaṁ vikarṇaṁ ca saindhavaṁ ca jayadratham ॥6-104-55॥
Drona, Drona's son, Kripa, Suyodhana, Citrasena, Vikarna, Saindhava, and Jayadratha were all present.
vindānuvindāvāvantyau kāmbojaṃ ca sudakṣiṇam। bhagadattaṃ tathā śūraṃ māgadhaṃ ca mahāratham ॥6-104-56॥
Vindānuvinda of Avanti, Kāmboja, Sudakshina, Bhagadatta, and the heroic Magadha were all great chariot-warriors.
saumadattiṃ raṇe śūramārśyaśṛṅgiṃ ca rākṣasam। trigartarājaṃ ca raṇe saha sarvairmahārathaiḥ ॥ ahamāvārayiṣyāmi veleva makarālayam ॥6-104-57॥
I will stand against Saumadatti, the brave demon Arshyashringa, and the king of Trigarta in battle, along with all the great charioteers, just as a shore holds back the ocean.
kurūṁśca sahitānsarvānye caiṣāṁ sainikāḥ sthitāḥ। nivārayiṣyāmi raṇe sādhayasva pitāmaham ॥6-104-58॥
I will stop all the Kurus and their soldiers standing here in battle; you must achieve your goal concerning the grandfather.
