06.106
Core and Pancharatra: All the Pandavas' army attacked Bhishma, with the understanding that Arjuna would fight Bhishma keeping Shikandin at the front. Each of the Pandava warriors was restrained by counter-warriors from the Kaurava side. Arjuna was unable to surpass Duḥśāsana's chariot for a while;
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
arjunastu raṇe rājandṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasya vikramam। śikhaṇḍinamathovāca samabhyehi pitāmaham ॥6-106-1॥
Arjuna, witnessing the might of Bhishma on the battlefield, instructed Shikhandi, 'Go towards the grandsire,' O King.
na cāpi bhīstvayā kāryā bhīṣmādadya kathañcana। ahamenaṃ śaraistīkṣṇaiḥ pātayiṣye rathottamāt ॥6-106-2॥
Do not be afraid of Bhishma today in any way. I will bring him down with sharp arrows from the best chariot.
evamuktastu pārthena śikhaṇḍī bharatarṣabha। abhyadravata gāṅgeyaṃ śrutvā pārthasya bhāṣitam ॥6-106-3॥
Upon hearing Pārtha's words, Śikhaṇḍī, the valiant warrior, charged at Gāṅgeya, O esteemed descendant of Bharata.
dhṛṣṭadyumnastathā rājansaubhadraśca mahārathaḥ। hṛṣṭāvādravatāṃ bhīṣmaṃ śrutvā pārthasya bhāṣitam ॥6-106-4॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna and the son of Subhadra, both great warriors, joyfully rushed towards Bhishma after hearing the words of Partha, O king.
virāṭadrupadau vṛddhau kuntibhojaśca daṃśitaḥ। abhyadravata gāṅgeyaṃ putrasya tava paśyataḥ ॥6-106-5॥
Virata, Drupada, and the aged Kuntibhoja, having been pierced, attacked Bhishma, the son of Ganga, while your son was watching.
nakulaḥ sahadevaśca dharmarājaśca vīryavān। tathetarāṇi sainyāni sarvāṇyeva viśāṃ pate ॥ samādravanta gāṅgeyaṃ śrutvā pārthasya bhāṣitam ॥6-106-6॥
Nakula, Sahadeva, and the valiant Dharmaraja, along with all the other armies, rushed towards Bhishma upon hearing Partha's words, O lord of men.
pratyudyayustāvakāśca sametāstānmāharathān। yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu ॥6-106-7॥
Your men advanced towards the great charioteers, assembling with all their ability and enthusiasm. Listen as I speak of this.
citraseno mahārāja cekitānaṃ samabhyayāt। bhīṣmaprepsuṃ raṇe yāntaṃ vṛṣaṃ vyāghraśiśuryathā ॥6-106-8॥
King Citrasena approached Cekitana, who was eager to confront Bhishma in battle, just as a tiger cub approaches a bull.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ mahārāja bhīṣmāntikamupāgatam। tvaramāṇo raṇe yattaṃ kṛtavarmā nyavārayat ॥6-106-9॥
O great king, Dhṛṣṭadyumna approached near Bhīṣma. In the battle, the swift and attentive Kṛtavarmā restrained him.
bhīmasenaṃ susaṅkruddhaṃ gāṅgeyasya vadhaiṣiṇam। tvaramāṇo mahārāja saumadattirnyavārayat ॥6-106-10॥
Bhimasena, in his intense anger and desire to kill Bhishma, was quickly restrained by Saumadatti, O great king.
tathaiva nakulaṃ vīraṃ kirantaṃ sāyakānbahūn। vikarṇo vārayāmāsa icchanbhīṣmasya jīvitam ॥6-106-11॥
Similarly, Vikarna stopped the brave Nakula, who was discharging numerous arrows, in an attempt to save Bhishma's life.
sahadevaṁ tathā yāntaṁ yattaṁ bhīṣmarathaṁ prati। vārayāmāsa saṅkruddhaḥ kṛpaḥ śāradvato yudhi ॥6-106-12॥
Sahadeva, moving with determination towards Bhishma's chariot, was stopped by the enraged Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, during the battle.
rākṣasaṃ krūrakarmāṇaṃ bhaimaseniṃ mahābalam। bhīṣmasya nidhanaṃ prepsuṃ durmukho'bhyadravadbalī ॥6-106-13॥
Durmukha, the strong demon known for his cruel deeds and great strength, attacked, desiring the death of Bhishma, the son of Bhimasena.
sātyakiṃ samare kruddhamārśyaśṛṅgiravārayat। abhimanyuṃ mahārāja yāntaṃ bhīṣmarathaṃ prati ॥ sudakṣiṇo mahārāja kāmbojaḥ pratyavārayat ॥6-106-14॥
In the battle, the enraged Arshyashringa stopped Satyaki. O great king, Sudakshina of the Kamboja clan countered Abhimanyu as he was heading towards Bhishma's chariot.
virāṭadrupadau vṛddhau sametāvarimardanau। aśvatthāmā tataḥ kruddho vārayāmāsa bhārata ॥6-106-15॥
Virata and Drupada, both old and united as enemy crushers, were then restrained by the angry Ashwatthama, O Bharata.
tathā pāṇḍusutaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ bhīṣmasya vadhakāṅkṣiṇam। bhāradvājo raṇe yatto dharmaputramavārayat ॥6-106-16॥
Bharadvaja, with full intent in the battle, stopped the eldest son of Pandu, who was eager to kill Bhishma.
arjunaṁ rabhasaṁ yuddhe puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam। bhīṣmaprepsuṁ mahārāja tāpayantaṁ diśo daśa ॥ duḥśāsano maheṣvāso vārayāmāsa saṁyuge ॥6-106-17॥
O great king, Duhshasana, the great archer, restrained fierce Arjuna and Shikhandi, who were desiring Bhishma and tormenting the ten directions in battle.
anye ca tāvakā yodhāḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathān। bhīṣmāyābhimukhaṃ yātānvārayāmāsurāhave ॥6-106-18॥
In the battle, your other warriors stopped the great charioteers of the Pāṇḍavas who were advancing towards Bhīṣma.
dhṛṣṭadyumnastu sainyāni prākrośata punaḥ punaḥ। abhidravata saṁrabdhā bhīṣmamekaṁ mahābalam ॥6-106-19॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna repeatedly urged his troops to attack the mighty Bhīṣma with great enthusiasm.
eṣo'rjuno raṇe bhīṣmaṃ prayāti kurunandanaḥ। abhidravata mā bhaiṣṭa bhīṣmo na prāpsyate hi vaḥ ॥6-106-20॥
Arjuna, the descendant of Kuru, is approaching Bhishma in battle. Charge forward without fear, for Bhishma will not reach you.
arjunaṁ samare yoddhuṁ notsahetāpi vāsavaḥ। kimu bhīṣmo raṇe vīrā gatasattvo'lpajīvitaḥ ॥6-106-21॥
Even Indra cannot fight Arjuna in battle; how can Bhishma, who is weak and nearing the end of his life, do so?
iti senāpateḥ śrutvā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ। abhyadravanta saṃhṛṣṭā gāṅgeyasya rathaṃ prati ॥6-106-22॥
Upon hearing the general, the Pandavas' great warriors joyfully charged towards Bhishma's chariot.
āgacchatas tān samare vāryoghān prabalān iva। nyavārayanta saṃhṛṣṭās tāvakāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ ॥6-106-23॥
Your men, joyful and strong like bulls among men, blocked the approaching strong streams in battle.
duḥśāsano mahārāja bhayaṃ tyaktvā mahārathaḥ। bhīṣmasya jīvitakāṅkṣī dhanañjayamupādravat ॥6-106-24॥
Duhshasana, the great chariot-warrior, cast aside his fear and, eager to protect Bhishma's life, advanced towards Arjuna, O great king.
tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ śūrā gāṅgeyasya rathaṃ prati। abhyadravanta saṅgrāme tava putrānmahārathān ॥6-106-25॥
In the same manner, the valiant Pandavas charged towards the chariot of Bhishma, the son of Ganga, in the battlefield, confronting your sons, the mighty warriors.
tatrādbhutamapaśyāma citrarūpaṃ viśāṃ pate। duḥśāsanarathaṃ prāpto yatpārtho nātyavartata ॥6-106-26॥
There, O lord of men, we witnessed a marvelous and strange sight. Arjuna could not surpass Duḥśāsana's chariot.
yathā vārayate velā kṣubhitaṃ vai mahārṇavam। tathaiva pāṇḍavaṃ kruddhaṃ tava putro nyavārayat ॥6-106-27॥
Just as the shore holds back the turbulent ocean, your son held back the furious Pāṇḍava.
ubhau hi rathināṃ śreṣṭhāvubhau bhārata durjayau। ubhau candrārkasadṛśau kāntyā dīptyā ca bhārata ॥6-106-28॥
Both of them are the best among charioteers and are invincible, O Bharata. They both shine like the moon and the sun in their beauty and splendor, O Bharata.
tau tathā jāta-saṁrambhāv anyonya-vadha-kāṅkṣiṇau। samīyatur mahāsaṅkhye maya-śakrau yathā purā ॥6-106-29॥
They, filled with rage and eager to destroy each other, came together in the great battle, just as Maya and Shakra did in the past.
duḥśāsano mahārāja pāṇḍavaṃ viśikhaistribhiḥ। vāsudevaṃ ca viṃśatyā tāḍayāmāsa saṃyuge ॥6-106-30॥
Duḥśāsana, O great king, attacked Pāṇḍava with three arrows and Vāsudeva with twenty during the battle.
tato'rjuno jātamanyurvārṣṇeyaṃ vīkṣya pīḍitam। duḥśāsanaṃ śatenājau nārācānāṃ samārpayat ॥ te tasya kavacaṃ bhittvā papuḥ śoṇitamāhave ॥6-106-31॥
Seeing Vārṣṇeya afflicted, Arjuna, filled with rage, attacked Duḥśāsana with hundreds of arrows in the battle. The arrows pierced through his armor, and they drank his blood on the battlefield.
duḥśāsanastataḥ kruddhaḥ pārthaṃ vivyādha pañcabhiḥ। lalāṭe bharataśreṣṭha śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ॥6-106-32॥
In his anger, Duḥśāsana then shot five arrows at Arjuna's forehead, O best of the Bharatas, with arrows that had well-bent joints.
lalāṭasthaistu tairbāṇaiḥ śuśubhe pāṇḍavottamaḥ। yathā merurmahārāja śṛṅgairatyarthamucchritaiḥ ॥6-106-33॥
The best of the Pandavas shone with the arrows placed on his forehead, just like the great mountain Meru shines with its exceedingly high peaks, O great king.
so'tividdho maheṣvāsaḥ putreṇa tava dhanvinā। vyarājata raṇe pārthaḥ kiṃśukaḥ puṣpavāniva ॥6-106-34॥
Arjuna, the great archer, though deeply pierced by your son, shone in the battlefield like a blossoming Kimshuka tree.
duḥśāsanaṃ tataḥ kruddhaḥ pīḍayāmāsa pāṇḍavaḥ। parvaṇīva susaṅkruddho rāhurugro niśākarm ॥6-106-35॥
Then the enraged Pandava attacked Duhshasana with great fury, just as the fierce Rahu, in his wrath, seizes the moon during the full moon night.
pīḍyamāno balavatā putrastava viśāṃ pate। vivyādha samare pārthaṃ kaṅkapatraiḥ śilāśitaiḥ ॥6-106-36॥
Your son, being oppressed by the strong, pierced Arjuna in battle with stone-sharpened arrows, O lord of men.
tasya pārtho dhanuśchittvā tvaramāṇaḥ parākramī। ājaghāna tataḥ paścātputraṃ te navabhiḥ śaraiḥ ॥6-106-37॥
Arjuna, the valiant son of Pandu, swiftly cut off the bow and struck your son from behind with nine arrows.
so'nyatkārmukamādāya bhīṣmasya pramukhe sthitaḥ। arjunaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā bāhvorurasi cārpayat ॥6-106-38॥
He took another bow and stood in front of Bhishma, placing twenty-five arrows on Arjuna's chest and arms.
tasya kruddho mahārāja pāṇḍavaḥ śatrukarśanaḥ। apraiṣīdviśikhānghorānyamadaṇḍopamānbahūn ॥6-106-39॥
In his anger, the great king Pāṇḍava, known for tormenting his enemies, sent forth numerous terrible arrows, akin to the rod of Yama.
aprāptāneva tānbāṇāṃściccheda tanayastava। yatamānasya pārthasya tadadbhutamivābhavat ॥ pārthaṃ ca niśitairbāṇairavidhyattanayastava ॥6-106-40॥
Your son intercepted the arrows before they could reach, which seemed miraculous to the striving Partha. Additionally, your son struck Partha with sharp arrows.
tataḥ kruddho raṇe pārthaḥ śarānsandhāya kārmuke। preṣayāmāsa samare svarṇapuṅkhāñśilāśitān ॥6-106-41॥
Then, in his anger during the battle, Arjuna placed the arrows on his bow and sent forth the golden-feathered, stone-sharpened arrows into the fray.
nyamajjaṃste mahārāja tasya kāye mahātmanaḥ। yathā haṃsā mahārāja taḍāgaṃ prāpya bhārata ॥6-106-42॥
O great king, they sank into his body, just as swans enter a lake, O descendant of Bharata.
pīḍitaścaiva putraste pāṇḍavena mahātmanā। hitvā pārthaṃ raṇe tūrṇaṃ bhīṣmasya rathamāśrayat ॥ agādhe majjatastasya dvīpo bhīṣmo'bhavattadā ॥6-106-43॥
Your son, afflicted by the great Pandava, quickly left Partha in battle and took refuge in Bhishma's chariot. At that time, as he was sinking into the unfathomable, Bhishma became his island.
pratilabhya tataḥ sañjñāṃ putrastava viśāṃ pate। avārayattataḥ śūro bhūya eva parākramī ॥6-106-44॥
Having regained consciousness, your son, O lord of the people, once again stood heroically and valiantly to obstruct.
śaraiḥ suniśitaiḥ pārthaṃ yathā vṛtraḥ puraṃdaram। nirbibheda mahāvīryo vivyathe naiva cārjunāt ॥6-106-45॥
The mighty hero, with his well-sharpened arrows, pierced Arjuna just as Vṛtra once pierced Indra; however, Arjuna remained unshaken.
