6. Mahabharata - Bhishma Parva (महाभारत - भीष्मपर्वम्)
06.110
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
अर्जुनस्तु रणे शल्यं यतमानं महारथम्। छादयामास समरे शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥६-११०-१॥
Arjuna, in the battle, skillfully covered the great warrior Śalya, who was striving hard, with his arrows that had bent joints.
सुशर्माणं कृपं चैव त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरविध्यत। प्राग्ज्योतिषं च समरे सैन्धवं च जयद्रथम् ॥६-११०-२॥
He struck Suśarman, Kṛpa, and others with three arrows each, including Prāgjyotiṣa, Saindhava, and Jayadratha in the battle.
चित्रसेनं विकर्णं च कृतवर्माणमेव च। दुर्मर्षणं च राजेन्द्र आवन्त्यौ च महारथौ ॥६-११०-३॥
O King, Citrasena, Vikarna, Kritavarma, Durmarshana, and the two Avanti princes, all great chariot-warriors, are present.
एकैकं त्रिभिरानर्छत्कङ्कबर्हिणवाजितैः। शरैरतिरथो युद्धे पीडयन्वाहिनीं तव ॥६-११०-४॥
The great chariot-warrior, in the battle, tormented your army by piercing each one with three arrows adorned with peacock feathers.
जयद्रथो रणे पार्थं भित्त्वा भारत सायकैः। भीमं विव्याध तरसा चित्रसेनरथे स्थितः ॥६-११०-५॥
Jayadratha, positioned in Citraseṇa's chariot, attacked Arjuna with arrows in the battle, O Bharata, and forcefully struck Bhima.
शल्यश्च समरे जिष्णुं कृपश्च रथिनां वरः। विव्यधाते महाबाहुं बहुधा मर्मभेदिभिः ॥६-११०-६॥
In the battle, Śalya and Kṛpa, the foremost among charioteers, attacked the mighty-armed Arjuna from various directions with arrows that could pierce vital points.
चित्रसेनादयश्चैव पुत्रास्तव विशां पते। पञ्चभिः पञ्चभिस्तूर्णं संयुगे निशितैः शरैः ॥ आजघ्नुरर्जुनं सङ्ख्ये भीमसेनं च मारिष ॥६-११०-७॥
Citrasena and others, your sons, O lord, quickly attacked Arjuna and Bhimasena in the battle with sharp arrows, each using five arrows.
तौ तत्र रथिनां श्रेष्ठौ कौन्तेयौ भरतर्षभौ। अपीडयेतां समरे त्रिगर्तानां महद्बलम् ॥६-११०-८॥
The two sons of Kunti, esteemed as the best among charioteers and revered as the foremost of the Bharatas, valiantly subdued the formidable forces of the Trigartas in the battle.
सुशर्मापि रणे पार्थं विद्ध्वा बहुभिरायसैः। ननाद बलवन्नादं नादयन्वै नभस्तलम् ॥६-११०-९॥
Suśarmā, in the battle, pierced Arjuna with numerous iron arrows and roared mightily, making the sky resound.
अन्ये च रथिनः शूरा भीमसेनधनञ्जयौ। विव्यधुर्निशितैर्बाणै रुक्मपुङ्खैरजिह्मगैः ॥६-११०-१०॥
Other heroic charioteers attacked Bhimasena and Dhananjaya with sharp, straight-flying arrows with golden shafts.
तेषां तु रथिनां मध्ये कौन्तेयौ रथिनां वरौ। क्रीडमानौ रथोदारौ चित्ररूपौ व्यरोचताम् ॥ आमिषेप्सू गवां मध्ये सिंहाविव बलोत्कटौ ॥६-११०-११॥
Among the charioteers, the sons of Kunti, the best among them, stood out with their grand chariots and wonderful appearance, shining like mighty lions among cows eager for flesh.
छित्त्वा धनूंषि वीराणां शरांश्च बहुधा रणे। पातयामासतुर्वीरौ शिरांसि शतशो नृणाम् ॥६-११०-१२॥
In the battle, having severed the bows and arrows of the warriors in various ways, the two heroes made the heads of men fall in hundreds.
रथाश्च बहवो भग्ना हयाश्च शतशो हताः। गजाश्च सगजारोहाः पेतुरुर्व्यां महामृधे ॥६-११०-१३॥
Many chariots were broken, hundreds of horses were killed, and elephants along with their riders fell to the ground in the great battle.
रथिनः सादिनश्चैव तत्र तत्र निसूदिताः। दृश्यन्ते बहुधा राजन्वेष्टमानाः समन्ततः ॥६-११०-१४॥
O king, charioteers and horsemen are seen slain everywhere, writhing in various ways all around.
हतैर्गजपदात्योघैर्वाजिभिश्च निसूदितैः। रथैश्च बहुधा भग्नैः समास्तीर्यत मेदिनी ॥६-११०-१५॥
The battlefield was strewn with the bodies of elephants, foot soldiers, horses, and chariots, all slain and broken in various ways, covering the earth entirely.
छत्रैश्च बहुधा छिन्नैर्ध्वजैश्च विनिपातितैः। अङ्कुशैरपविद्धैश्च परिस्तोमैश्च भारत ॥६-११०-१६॥
O Bharata, the scene was filled with broken umbrellas, fallen flags, discarded hooks, and praises in many ways.
केयूरैरङ्गदैर्हारै राङ्कवैर्मृदितैस्तथा। उष्णीषैरपविद्धैश्च चामरव्यजनैरपि ॥६-११०-१७॥
The armlets, bracelets, necklaces, and rings were crushed; the turbans were thrown away, and the yak-tail fans were also scattered.
तत्र तत्रापविद्धैश्च बाहुभिश्चन्दनोक्षितैः। ऊरुभिश्च नरेन्द्राणां समास्तीर्यत मेदिनी ॥६-११०-१८॥
In various places, the earth was entirely covered with the discarded arms smeared with sandalwood and the thighs of kings.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम रणे पार्थस्य विक्रमम्। शरैः संवार्य तान्वीरान्निजघान बलं तव ॥६-११०-१९॥
In that battle, we witnessed the extraordinary prowess of Arjuna. He skillfully blocked those warriors with his arrows and destroyed your army.
पुत्रस्तु तव तं दृष्ट्वा भीमार्जुनसमागमम्। गाङ्गेयस्य रथाभ्याशमुपजग्मे महाभये ॥६-११०-२०॥
Your son, upon witnessing the encounter between Bhima and Arjuna, approached the vicinity of Bhishma's chariot, overwhelmed by fear.
कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च सैन्धवश्च जयद्रथः। विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यावाजग्मुः संयुगं तदा ॥६-११०-२१॥
Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, Saindhava, Jayadratha, and Vindānuvinda of Avanti came to the battle at that time.
ततो भीमो महेष्वासः फल्गुनश्च महारथः। कौरवाणां चमूं घोरां भृशं दुद्रुवतू रणे ॥६-११०-२२॥
Then Bhima and Arjuna, both great warriors, fiercely charged at the formidable Kaurava army on the battlefield.
ततो बर्हिणवाजानामयुतान्यर्बुदानि च। धनञ्जयरथे तूर्णं पातयन्ति स्म संयुगे ॥६-११०-२३॥
Then, in the battle, countless peacocks swiftly descended upon the chariot of Dhananjaya.
ततस्ताञ्शरजालेन संनिवार्य महारथान्। पार्थः समन्तात्समरे प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे ॥६-११०-२४॥
Arjuna, skillfully using a net of arrows, blocked the great charioteers and sent them to their demise in the battle from every direction.
शल्यस्तु समरे जिष्णुं क्रीडन्निव महारथः। आजघानोरसि क्रुद्धो भल्लैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥६-११०-२५॥
In the battle, Shalya, the great chariot-warrior, angrily struck Arjuna on the chest with well-jointed arrows, as if he were merely playing.
तस्य पार्थो धनुश्छित्त्वा हस्तावापं च पञ्चभिः। अथैनं सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्भृशं विव्याध मर्मणि ॥६-११०-२६॥
Arjuna skillfully severed his bow and handhold with five arrows, then struck him deeply in his vital parts with sharp arrows.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय समरे भारसाधनम्। मद्रेश्वरो रणे जिष्णुं ताडयामास रोषितः ॥६-११०-२७॥
Then, the king of Madra, filled with anger, took another bow and struck Arjuna in the battlefield, bearing the burden of the fight.
त्रिभिः शरैर्महाराज वासुदेवं च पञ्चभिः। भीमसेनं च नवभिर्बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत् ॥६-११०-२८॥
O great king, he struck Vasudeva with three arrows, Bhimasena with five, and placed nine in their arms and chest.
ततो द्रोणो महाराज मागधश्च महारथः। दुर्योधनसमादिष्टौ तं देशमुपजग्मतुः ॥६-११०-२९॥
Then Droṇa and the king of Magadha, both great warriors, commanded by Duryodhana, arrived at that location, O great king.
यत्र पार्थो महाराज भीमसेनश्च पाण्डवः। कौरव्यस्य महासेनां जघ्नतुस्तौ महारथौ ॥६-११०-३०॥
In that place, O great king, Arjuna and Bhimasena, the Pandava heroes, defeated the vast army of the Kauravas, showcasing their prowess as mighty warriors.
जयत्सेनस्तु समरे भीमं भीमायुधं युवा। विव्याध निशितैर्बाणैरष्टभिर्भरतर्षभ ॥६-११०-३१॥
Jayatsena, the young warrior, fiercely attacked Bhima, the mighty warrior, with eight sharp arrows in the battle, O bull among the Bharatas.
तं भीमो दशभिर्विद्ध्वा पुनर्विव्याध सप्तभिः। सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन रथनीडादपाहरत् ॥६-११०-३२॥
Bhima struck him with ten arrows and then again with seven, and removed his charioteer from the chariot seat with an arrow.
उद्भ्रान्तैस्तुरगैः सोऽथ द्रवमाणैः समन्ततः। मागधोऽपहृतो राजा सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥६-११०-३३॥
The king of Magadha was taken away by the agitated horses running in all directions, as the entire army watched helplessly.
द्रोणस्तु विवरं लब्ध्वा भीमसेनं शिलीमुखैः। विव्याध बाणैः सुशितैः पञ्चषष्ट्या तमायसैः ॥६-११०-३४॥
Drona, finding an opening, shot sixty-five sharp iron arrows at Bhimasena.
तं भीमः समरश्लाघी गुरुं पितृसमं रणे। विव्याध नवभिर्भल्लैस्तथा षष्ट्या च भारत ॥६-११०-३५॥
Bhima, known for his prowess in battle, struck his revered teacher, who was like a father to him, with nine arrows and then with sixty more, O Bharata.
अर्जुनस्तु सुशर्माणं विद्ध्वा बहुभिरायसैः। व्यधमत्तस्य तत्सैन्यं महाभ्राणि यथानिलः ॥६-११०-३६॥
Arjuna, with his skillful archery, pierced Suśarman with numerous iron arrows, scattering his army as the wind scatters great clouds.
ततो भीष्मश्च राजा च सौबलश्च बृहद्बलः। अभ्यद्रवन्त सङ्क्रुद्धा भीमसेनधनञ्जयौ ॥६-११०-३७॥
Then Bhishma, the king, Saubala, and Brihadbala, in their anger, attacked Bhimasena and Dhananjaya.
तथैव पाण्डवाः शूरा धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। अभ्यद्रवन्रणे भीष्मं व्यादितास्यमिवान्तकम् ॥६-११०-३८॥
In the same manner, the valiant Pandavas, along with Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, charged at Bhishma in the battlefield, resembling death with its mouth wide open.
शिखण्डी तु समासाद्य भारतानां पितामहम्। अभ्यद्रवत संहृष्टो भयं त्यक्त्वा यतव्रतम् ॥६-११०-३९॥
Shikhandi, casting aside his fear and firm in his vow, approached and attacked the revered grandfather of the Bharatas with great elation.
युधिष्ठिरमुखाः पार्थाः पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्। अयोधयन्रणे भीष्मं संहताः सह सृञ्जयैः ॥६-११०-४०॥
Led by Yudhishthira, the sons of Pritha, with Shikhandi at the forefront, engaged Bhishma in battle alongside the Srinjayas.
तथैव तावकाः सर्वे पुरस्कृत्य यतव्रतम्। शिखण्डिप्रमुखान्पार्थान्योधयन्ति स्म संयुगे ॥६-११०-४१॥
Similarly, all your warriors, led by Shikhandi and others with firm vows, engage in battle against the sons of Pritha.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं कौरवाणां भयावहम्। तत्र पाण्डुसुतैः सार्धं भीष्मस्य विजयं प्रति ॥६-११०-४२॥
Then a terrible battle began for the Kauravas. There, they fought alongside the sons of Pandu towards Bhishma's victory.
तावकानां रणे भीष्मो ग्लह आसीद्विशां पते। तत्र हि द्यूतमायातं विजयायेतराय वा ॥६-११०-४३॥
In the battle, Bhishma became a point of contention among your men, O lord. Indeed, it was like a gamble, whether for victory or for the other side.
धृष्टद्युम्नो महाराज सर्वसैन्यान्यचोदयत्। अभिद्रवत गाङ्गेयं मा भैष्ट नरसत्तमाः ॥६-११०-४४॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the great king, commanded all the troops to charge at Gāṅgeya, assuring them not to fear, as they were the best among men.
सेनापतिवचः श्रुत्वा पाण्डवानां वरूथिनी। भीष्ममेवाभ्ययात्तूर्णं प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा महाहवे ॥६-११०-४५॥
Upon hearing the commander's words, the Pandava army swiftly advanced towards Bhishma, ready to sacrifice their lives in the great battle.
भीष्मोऽपि रथिनां श्रेष्ठः प्रतिजग्राह तां चमूम्। आपतन्तीं महाराज वेलामिव महोदधिः ॥६-११०-४६॥
Bhishma, the greatest among charioteers, faced the advancing army like the ocean meets the shore, O great king.

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ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय। मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमय। ॐ शान्ति: शान्ति: शान्ति: ॥ - बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् 1.3.28
"Ōm! Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality. Let there be peace, peace, and peace. Ōm!" - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28

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