06.105
Pancharatra and Core: Unable to withstand the Pandava army, Duryodhana urges Bhishma to move forward. Taking the opportunity, Bhishma calls on the Pandavas for a final encounter.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
कथं शिखण्डी गाङ्गेयमभ्यधावत्पितामहम्। पाञ्चाल्यः समरे क्रुद्धो धर्मात्मानं यतव्रतम् ॥६-१०५-१॥
In the battle, how did Śikhaṇḍī, the son of Drupada, approach the venerable Bhishma, the son of Ganga, who was steadfast in his vows and known for his righteousness, with anger?
केऽरक्षन्पाण्डवानीके शिखण्डिनमुदायुधम्। त्वरमाणास्त्वराकाले जिगीषन्तो महारथाः ॥६-१०५-२॥
The great warriors, eager for victory and acting swiftly, protected Śikhaṇḍin, who was armed and ready, within the Pāṇḍava army. Who among them did so?
कथं शान्तनवो भीष्मः स तस्मिन्दशमेऽहनि। अयुध्यत महावीर्यः पाण्डवैः सहसृञ्जयैः ॥६-१०५-३॥
On the tenth day, Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, a great warrior, engaged in battle with the Pāṇḍavas and the Sṛñjayas. How did this unfold?
न मृष्यामि रणे भीष्मं प्रत्युद्यातं शिखण्डिनम्। कच्चिन्न रथभङ्गोऽस्य धनुर्वाशीर्यतास्यतः ॥६-१०५-४॥
I cannot bear Bhishma confronting Shikhandi in battle. I hope his chariot or bow does not get destroyed by the shooter.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
नाशीर्यत धनुस्तस्य रथभङ्गो न चाप्यभूत्। युध्यमानस्य सङ्ग्रामे भीष्मस्य भरतर्षभ ॥ निघ्नतः समरे शत्रूञ्शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥६-१०५-५॥
O best of the Bharatas, while Bhishma was engaged in battle, his bow remained unbroken, and his chariot undamaged, as he struck down his enemies with well-crafted arrows.
अनेकशतसाहस्रास्तावकानां महारथाः। रथदन्तिगणा राजन्हयाश्चैव सुसज्जिताः ॥ अभ्यवर्तन्त युद्धाय पुरस्कृत्य पितामहम् ॥६-१०५-६॥
Many hundreds and thousands of your great charioteers, along with groups of chariots, elephants, horses, and others, well-equipped, advanced for battle with the grandsire leading them, O king.
यथाप्रतिज्ञं कौरव्य स चापि समितिञ्जयः। पार्थानामकरोद्भीष्मः सततं समितिक्षयम् ॥६-१०५-७॥
As he had promised, Bhishma, the conqueror of assemblies, relentlessly caused the downfall of the Pandavas' forces, O Kauravya.
युध्यमानं महेष्वासं विनिघ्नन्तं पराञ्शरैः। पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सार्धं सर्व एवाभ्यवारयन् ॥६-१०५-८॥
The great archer, while fighting and slaying enemies with arrows, was attacked by all the Panchalas and Pandavas together.
दशमेऽहनि सम्प्राप्ते तताप रिपुवाहिनीम्। कीर्यमाणां शितैर्बाणैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥६-१०५-९॥
On the tenth day, as the battle continued, the enemy army was tormented and scattered by sharp arrows, coming in hundreds and thousands.
न हि भीष्मं महेष्वासं पाण्डवाः पाण्डुपूर्वज। अशक्नुवन्रणे जेतुं पाशहस्तमिवान्तकम् ॥६-१०५-१०॥
The Pandavas could not defeat Bhishma, the great archer and elder brother of Pandu, in battle, as one cannot overcome Death, the noose-holder.
अथोपायान्महाराज सव्यसाची परन्तपः। त्रासयन्रथिनः सर्वान्बीभत्सुरपराजितः ॥६-१०५-११॥
Then, O great king, Arjuna, the mighty warrior known for his ambidexterity and undefeated prowess, struck fear into the hearts of all the charioteers.
सिंहवद्विनदन्नुच्चैर्धनुर्ज्यां विक्षिपन्मुहुः। शरौघान्विसृजन्पार्थो व्यचरत्कालवद्रणे ॥६-१०५-१२॥
Arjuna, roaring like a lion and twanging his bowstring repeatedly, released a torrent of arrows and moved through the battlefield with the unstoppable force of time.
तस्य शब्देन वित्रस्तास्तावका भरतर्षभ। सिंहस्येव मृगा राजन्व्यद्रवन्त महाभयात् ॥६-१०५-१३॥
Hearing his roar, your people, O best of the Bharatas, were terrified like deer before a lion and fled in great fear, O king.
जयन्तं पाण्डवं दृष्ट्वा त्वत्सैन्यं चाभिपीडितम्। दुर्योधनस्ततो भीष्ममब्रवीद्भृशपीडितः ॥६-१०५-१४॥
Upon witnessing the victorious Pāṇḍava and the distress of his own forces, Duryodhana, deeply troubled, addressed Bhīṣma.
एष पाण्डुसुतस्तात श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथिः। दहते मामकान्सर्वान्कृष्णवर्त्मेव काननम् ॥६-१०५-१५॥
This dear son of Pandu, with his chariot drawn by white horses and Krishna as his charioteer, is devastating all my men as a forest is consumed by a fire along Krishna's path.
पश्य सैन्यानि गाङ्गेय द्रवमाणानि सर्वशः। पाण्डवेन युधां श्रेष्ठ काल्यमानानि संयुगे ॥६-१०५-१६॥
Behold, O son of Ganga, the armies are fleeing in all directions, driven by the best of warriors, Pandava, in the battle.
यथा पशुगणान्पालः सङ्कालयति कानने। तथेदं मामकं सैन्यं काल्यते शत्रुतापन ॥६-१०५-१७॥
"Just as a herdsman gathers his animals in the forest, my army is being assembled, O tormentor of enemies."
धनञ्जयशरैर्भग्नं द्रवमाणमितस्ततः। भीमो ह्येष दुराधर्षो विद्रावयति मे बलम् ॥६-१०५-१८॥
Arjuna's arrows have shattered my army, causing them to flee in all directions. Indeed, the formidable Bhima is dispersing my troops.
सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ। अभिमन्युश्च विक्रान्तो वाहिनीं दहते मम ॥६-१०५-१९॥
Satyaki, Chekitana, the sons of Madri, the Pandavas, and the valiant Abhimanyu are fiercely attacking my army.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तथा शूरो राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः। व्यद्रावयेतां सहसा सैन्यं मम महाबलौ ॥६-१०५-२०॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna and the heroic demon Ghaṭotkaca, both mighty warriors, suddenly caused my army to flee.
वध्यमानस्य सैन्यस्य सर्वैरेतैर्महाबलैः। नान्यां गतिं प्रपश्यामि स्थाने युद्धे च भारत ॥६-१०५-२१॥
O Bharata, as the army is being slain by all these mighty warriors, I see no other course of action either in position or in battle.
ऋते त्वां पुरुषव्याघ्र देवतुल्यपराक्रम। पर्याप्तश्च भवान्क्षिप्रं पीडितानां गतिर्भव ॥६-१०५-२२॥
Without you, O tiger among men, whose valor is equal to that of the gods, you alone are sufficient and swiftly become the refuge for those who are afflicted.
एवमुक्तो महाराज पिता देवव्रतस्तव। चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः ॥ तव सन्धारयन्पुत्रमब्रवीच्छन्तनोः सुतः ॥६-१०५-२३॥
Upon being addressed in this manner, O great king, your father Devavrata, after contemplating for a moment and making a firm decision, spoke to your son, the son of Shantanu.
दुर्योधन विजानीहि स्थिरो भव विशां पते। पूर्वकालं तव मया प्रतिज्ञातं महाबल ॥६-१०५-२४॥
Duryodhana, be aware and stay firm, O lord of the people. I had promised you earlier, O mighty one.
हत्वा दश सहस्राणि क्षत्रियाणां महात्मनाम्। सङ्ग्रामाद्व्यपयातव्यमेतत्कर्म ममाह्निकम् ॥ इति तत्कृतवांश्चाहं यथोक्तं भरतर्षभ ॥६-१०५-२५॥
O best of the Bharatas, having slain ten thousand noble Kshatriyas, I must retreat from the battle as this is my daily duty. Thus, I have acted as instructed.
अद्य चापि महत्कर्म प्रकरिष्ये महाहवे। अहं वा निहतः शेष्ये हनिष्ये वाद्य पाण्डवान् ॥६-१०५-२६॥
Today, I will engage in a significant act in the grand battle. Either I will be slain or I will slay the Pandavas.
अद्य ते पुरुषव्याघ्र प्रतिमोक्ष्ये ऋणं महत्। भर्तृपिण्डकृतं राजन्निहतः पृतनामुखे ॥६-१०५-२७॥
Today, O tiger among men, I will repay the great debt incurred by your husband, O king, who was slain at the forefront of the battle.
इत्युक्त्वा भरतश्रेष्ठः क्षत्रियान्प्रतपञ्शरैः। आससाद दुराधर्षः पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् ॥६-१०५-२८॥
Having declared thus, the noble Bharata, fierce with his arrows, advanced towards the formidable army of the Pandavas.
अनीकमध्ये तिष्ठन्तं गाङ्गेयं भरतर्षभ। आशीविषमिव क्रुद्धं पाण्डवाः पर्यवारयन् ॥६-१०५-२९॥
The Pandavas surrounded Bhishma, the son of Ganga, who was standing in the midst of the army, appearing like an angry serpent, O best of the Bharatas.
दशमेऽहनि तस्मिंस्तु दर्शयञ्शक्तिमात्मनः। राजञ्शतसहस्राणि सोऽवधीत्कुरुनन्दन ॥६-१०५-३०॥
On the tenth day, the warrior displayed his might and slew hundreds of thousands, O king, descendant of Kuru.
पञ्चालानां च ये श्रेष्ठा राजपुत्रा महाबलाः। तेषामादत्त तेजांसि जलं सूर्य इवांशुभिः ॥६-१०५-३१॥
The sun, with its rays, absorbed the splendor of the mighty princes of the Panchalas, much like it absorbs water.
हत्वा दश सहस्राणि कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम्। सारोहाणां महाराज हयानां चायुतं पुनः ॥६-१०५-३२॥
O great king, having slain ten thousand mighty elephants with riders and ten thousand horses once more.
पूर्णे शतसहस्रे द्वे पदातीनां नरोत्तमः। प्रजज्वाल रणे भीष्मो विधूम इव पावकः ॥६-१०५-३३॥
Bhishma, the best among men, blazed in battle like a smokeless fire, with two hundred thousand foot soldiers.
न चैनं पाण्डवेयानां केचिच्छेकुर्निरीक्षितुम्। उत्तरं मार्गमास्थाय तपन्तमिव भास्करम् ॥६-१०५-३४॥
None of the Pandavas were able to gaze upon him as he took the northern path, shining like the sun.
ते पाण्डवेयाः संरब्धा महेष्वासेन पीडिताः। वधायाभ्यद्रवन्भीष्मं सृञ्जयाश्च महारथाः ॥६-१०५-३५॥
The sons of Pandu, filled with excitement and troubled by the great archer, advanced towards Bhishma with the intent to kill, accompanied by the Srinjayas and the great charioteers.
स युध्यमानो बहुभिर्भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा। अवकीर्णो महाबाहुः शैलो मेघैरिवासितैः ॥६-१०५-३६॥
At that time, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, was engaged in battle with many warriors. He appeared like a mighty mountain covered with dark clouds.
पुत्रास्तु तव गाङ्गेयं समन्तात्पर्यवारयन्। महत्या सेनया सार्धं ततो युद्धमवर्तत ॥६-१०५-३७॥
Your sons surrounded Bhishma, the son of Ganga, on all sides with a great army, and then the battle commenced.
