06.113
Pancharatra and Core: Narration by a different author; recap of the war; Virata's brother Shatanika killed;
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
एवं व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु भूयिष्ठमनुवर्तिषु। ब्रह्मलोकपराः सर्वे समपद्यन्त भारत ॥६-११३-१॥
O Bharata, in the arranged armies, most of those who followed were focused on attaining the world of Brahma.
न ह्यनीकमनीकेन समसज्जत सङ्कुले। न रथा रथिभिः सार्धं न पदाताः पदातिभिः ॥६-११३-२॥
The armies did not engage with each other in the confusion. Neither the chariots joined with the charioteers, nor did the foot soldiers with their counterparts.
अश्वा नाश्वैरयुध्यन्त न गजा गजयोधिभिः। महान्व्यतिकरो रौद्रः सेनयोः समपद्यत ॥६-११३-३॥
The horses did not engage in battle with other horses, nor did the elephants with the elephant warriors. A great and fierce conflict arose between the two armies.
नरनागरथेष्वेवं व्यवकीर्णेषु सर्वशः। क्षये तस्मिन्महारौद्रे निर्विशेषमजायत ॥६-११३-४॥
In that great and terrible destruction, men, elephants, and chariots were scattered everywhere indiscriminately.
ततः शल्यः कृपश्चैव चित्रसेनश्च भारत। दुःशासनो विकर्णश्च रथानास्थाय सत्वराः ॥ पाण्डवानां रणे शूरा ध्वजिनीं समकम्पयन् ॥६-११३-५॥
Then Śalya, Kṛpa, Citrasena, Duḥśāsana, and Vikarṇa quickly mounted their chariots and caused the Pāṇḍavas' army to tremble in battle, O Bhārata.
सा वध्यमाना समरे पाण्डुसेना महात्मभिः। त्रातारं नाध्यगच्छद्वै मज्जमानेव नौर्जले ॥६-११३-६॥
Pandu's army, being attacked in battle by the great souls, could not find a savior, just like a boat sinking in water.
यथा हि शैशिरः कालो गवां मर्माणि कृन्तति। तथा पाण्डुसुतानां वै भीष्मो मर्माण्यकृन्तत ॥६-११३-७॥
Just as the harsh winter affects the vital parts of cows, Bhishma struck at the vital points of the Pandavas.
अतीव तव सैन्यस्य पार्थेन च महात्मना। नगमेघप्रतीकाशाः पातिता बहुधा गजाः ॥६-११३-८॥
Arjuna, the great soul, has exceedingly felled many of your army's elephants, which resembled mountain clouds.
मृद्यमानाश्च दृश्यन्ते पार्थेन नरयूथपाः। इषुभिस्ताड्यमानाश्च नाराचैश्च सहस्रशः ॥६-११३-९॥
The leaders of men are seen being crushed by Arjuna and struck by countless arrows and iron arrows.
पेतुरार्तस्वरं कृत्वा तत्र तत्र महागजाः। आबद्धाभरणैः कायैर्निहतानां महात्मनाम् ॥६-११३-१०॥
The great elephants, adorned with ornaments, fell here and there with a distressed sound, among the bodies of the slain great souls.
छन्नमायोधनं रेजे शिरोभिश्च सकुण्डलैः। तस्मिन्नतिमहाभीमे राजन्वीरवरक्षये ॥ भीष्मे च युधि विक्रान्ते पाण्डवे च धनञ्जये ॥६-११३-११॥
In the fierce battle, the illusionary weapon shone covered with heads and earrings. O king, in that very terrible destruction of great heroes, Bhishma and the valiant Pandava, Dhananjaya (Arjuna), were present.
ते पराक्रान्तमालोक्य राजन्युधि पितामहम्। न न्यवर्तन्त कौरव्या ब्रह्मलोकपुरस्कृताः ॥६-११३-१२॥
Upon witnessing the bravery of their grandfather in battle, the Kauravas, guided by the ideals of Brahmaloka, did not retreat.
इच्छन्तो निधनं युद्धे स्वर्गं कृत्वा परायणम्। पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त तस्मिन्वीरवरक्षये ॥६-११३-१३॥
The Pandavas, desiring to attain heaven by making death in battle their ultimate goal, advanced into that great slaughter of heroes.
पाण्डवापि महाराज स्मरन्तो विविधान्बहून्। क्लेशान्कृतान्सपुत्रेण त्वया पूर्वं नराधिप ॥६-११३-१४॥
O great king, the Pandavas also remember the many troubles you and your son caused them in the past.
भयं त्यक्त्वा रणे शूरा ब्रह्मलोकपुरस्कृताः। तावकांस्तव पुत्रांश्च योधयन्ति स्म हृष्टवत् ॥६-११३-१५॥
The heroes, having cast aside fear, and being honored by Brahmaloka, joyfully engage in battle with your sons and men.
सेनापतिस्तु समरे प्राह सेनां महारथः। अभिद्रवत गाङ्गेयं सोमकाः सृञ्जयैः सह ॥६-११३-१६॥
In the battle, the commander, a great chariot-warrior, instructed the army to attack Bhishma along with the Somakas and Srinjayas.
सेनापतिवचः श्रुत्वा सोमकाः सह सृञ्जयैः। अभ्यद्रवन्त गाङ्गेयं शस्त्रवृष्ट्या समन्ततः ॥६-११३-१७॥
Upon hearing the commander's words, the Somakas and the Sṛñjayas charged at Gāṅgeya, attacking with a barrage of weapons from every direction.
वध्यमानस्ततो राजन्पिता शान्तनवस्तव। अमर्षवशमापन्नो योधयामास सृञ्जयान् ॥६-११३-१८॥
Then, O king, your father, the son of Śāntanu, overwhelmed by anger, engaged in battle with the Sṛñjayas.
तस्य कीर्तिमतस्तात पुरा रामेण धीमता। सम्प्रदत्तास्त्रशिक्षा वै परानीकविनाशिनी ॥६-११३-१९॥
O dear, the illustrious one, formerly wise Rama imparted weapon training, indeed, which is the destroyer of enemy forces.
स तां शिक्षामधिष्ठाय कृत्वा परबलक्षयम्। अहन्यहनि पार्थानां वृद्धः कुरुपितामहः ॥ भीष्मो दश सहस्राणि जघान परवीरहा ॥६-११३-२०॥
Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, having undertaken that instruction, caused the destruction of the enemy's forces day by day, killing ten thousand of the sons of Pritha, proving himself as the slayer of enemy heroes.
तस्मिंस्तु दिवसे प्राप्ते दशमे भरतर्षभ। भीष्मेणैकेन मत्स्येषु पाञ्चालेषु च संयुगे ॥ गजाश्वममितं हत्वा हताः सप्त महारथाः ॥६-११३-२१॥
On the tenth day, O best of the Bharatas, Bhishma, single-handedly, in the battle among the Matsyas and Panchalas, killed countless elephants and horses, and seven great warriors were slain.
हत्वा पञ्च सहस्राणि रथिनां प्रपितामहः। नराणां च महायुद्धे सहस्राणि चतुर्दश ॥६-११३-२२॥
The great-grandfather killed five thousand charioteers and fourteen thousand men in the great battle.
तथा दन्तिसहस्रं च हयानामयुतं पुनः। शिक्षाबलेन निहतं पित्रा तव विशां पते ॥६-११३-२३॥
Thus, O lord of men, your father once again killed a thousand elephants and ten thousand horses by the power of his learning.
ततः सर्वमहीपानां क्षोभयित्वा वरूथिनीम्। विराटस्य प्रियो भ्राता शतानीको निपातितः ॥६-११३-२४॥
Then, after disturbing the armies of all the kings, Virata's beloved brother Shatanika was killed.
शतानीकं च समरे हत्वा भीष्मः प्रतापवान्। सहस्राणि महाराज राज्ञां भल्लैर्न्यपातयत् ॥६-११३-२५॥
The mighty Bhīṣma, after killing Śatānīka in the battle, brought down thousands of kings with his arrows, O great king.
ये च केचन पार्थानामभियाता धनञ्जयम्। राजानो भीष्ममासाद्य गतास्ते यमसादनम् ॥६-११३-२६॥
The kings who attacked the sons of Pṛthā and Dhanañjaya, upon approaching Bhīṣma, met their end at the abode of Yama.
एवं दश दिशो भीष्मः शरजालैः समन्ततः। अतीत्य सेनां पार्थानामवतस्थे चमूमुखे ॥६-११३-२७॥
Bhishma, surrounded by a barrage of arrows, advanced through the ten directions and positioned himself at the forefront of the Pandavas' army formation.
स कृत्वा सुमहत्कर्म तस्मिन्वै दशमेऽहनि। सेनयोरन्तरे तिष्ठन्प्रगृहीतशरासनः ॥६-११३-२८॥
On the tenth day, he stood between the armies, having accomplished a great feat, holding his bow at the ready.
न चैनं पार्थिवा राजञ्शेकुः केचिन्निरीक्षितुम्। मध्यं प्राप्तं यथा ग्रीष्मे तपन्तं भास्करं दिवि ॥६-११३-२९॥
O king, none of the kings were able to look at him, just as no one can gaze at the sun shining in the sky at midday during summer.
यथा दैत्यचमूं शक्रस्तापयामास संयुगे। तथा भीष्मः पाण्डवेयांस्तापयामास भारत ॥६-११३-३०॥
In the battle, just as Indra tormented the army of demons, similarly, Bhishma tormented the Pandavas, O Bharata.
तथा च तं पराक्रान्तमालोक्य मधुसूदनः। उवाच देवकीपुत्रः प्रीयमाणो धनञ्जयम् ॥६-११३-३१॥
Madhusudana, the son of Devaki, was pleased to see the valiant Dhananjaya and spoke to him.
एष शान्तनवो भीष्मः सेनयोरन्तरे स्थितः। नानिहत्य बलादेनं विजयस्ते भविष्यति ॥६-११३-३२॥
This is Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu, standing between the armies. Without defeating him by force, victory will not be yours.
यत्तः संस्तम्भयस्वैनं यत्रैषा भिद्यते चमूः। न हि भीष्मशरानन्यः सोढुमुत्सहते विभो ॥६-११३-३३॥
Therefore, hold this position where the army is breaking, for no one else can withstand Bhishma's arrows, O lord.
ततस्तस्मिन्क्षणे राजंश्चोदितो वानरध्वजः। सध्वजं सरथं साश्वं भीष्ममन्तर्दधे शरैः ॥६-११३-३४॥
Then, O king, at that moment, the warrior with the monkey banner, upon being urged, concealed Bhishma along with his banner, chariot, and horses using arrows.
स चापि कुरुमुख्यानामृषभः पाण्डवेरितान्। शरव्रातैः शरव्रातान्बहुधा विदुधाव तान् ॥६-११३-३५॥
He, the leader among the Kurus, was driven by the Pandavas. He scattered the volleys of arrows in various ways.
तेन पाञ्चालराजश्च धृष्टकेतुश्च वीर्यवान्। पाण्डवो भीमसेनश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः ॥६-११३-३६॥
By him, the valiant king of the Pāñcālas, Dhṛṣṭaketu, along with the Pāṇḍava Bhīmasena and Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata, were present.
यमौ च चेकितानश्च केकयाः पञ्च चैव ह। सात्यकिश्च महाराज सौभद्रोऽथ घटोत्कचः ॥६-११३-३७॥
The two sons of Yama, Cekitana, the five Kekayas, Satyaki, the son of Subhadra, and Ghatotkacha were present, O great king.
द्रौपदेयाः शिखण्डी च कुन्तिभोजश्च वीर्यवान्। सुशर्मा च विराटश्च पाण्डवेया महाबलाः ॥६-११३-३८॥
The sons of Draupadī, along with Śikhaṇḍī, Kuntibhoja, Suśarmā, Virāṭa, and the mighty sons of Pāṇḍu, were present.
एते चान्ये च बहवः पीडिता भीष्मसायकैः। समुद्धृताः फल्गुनेन निमग्नाः शोकसागरे ॥६-११३-३९॥
These and many others, who were afflicted by Bhishma's arrows, were rescued by Arjuna as they were immersed in the ocean of sorrow.
ततः शिखण्डी वेगेन प्रगृह्य परमायुधम्। भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्राव रक्ष्यमाणः किरीटिना ॥६-११३-४०॥
Then Shikhandi, wielding his supreme weapon, charged at Bhishma with great speed, under the protection of Arjuna.
ततोऽस्यानुचरान्हत्वा सर्वान्रणविभागवित्। भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्राव बीभत्सुरपराजितः ॥६-११३-४१॥
Then Bibhatsu, the unconquered, after slaying all his followers, charged directly at Bhishma, the master of battle strategies.
सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। विराटो द्रुपदश्चैव माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ ॥ दुद्रुवुर्भीष्ममेवाजौ रक्षिता दृढधन्वना ॥६-११३-४२॥
Satyaki, Chekitana, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, Virata, Drupada, the sons of Madri, and the Pandavas all charged towards Bhishma in the battle, under the protection of the one with a strong bow.
अभिमन्युश्च समरे द्रौपद्याः पञ्च चात्मजाः। दुद्रुवुः समरे भीष्मं समुद्यतमहायुधाः ॥६-११३-४३॥
Abhimanyu and the five sons of Draupadi charged towards Bhishma in the battle, wielding their mighty weapons.
ते सर्वे दृढधन्वानः संयुगेष्वपलायिनः। बहुधा भीष्ममानर्छन्मार्गणैः कृतमार्गणाः ॥६-११३-४४॥
All of them, equipped with strong bows and unwavering in battles, honored Bhishma in various ways by creating a path with their arrows.
विधूय तान्बाणगणान्ये मुक्ताः पार्थिवोत्तमैः। पाण्डवानामदीनात्मा व्यगाहत वरूथिनीम् ॥ कृत्वा शरविघातं च क्रीडन्निव पितामहः ॥६-११३-४५॥
The undaunted soul of the Pandavas, having shaken off those groups of arrows released by the best of kings, entered the army, creating an obstruction with arrows, as if he were playing, like the grandsire.
नाभिसन्धत्त पाञ्चाल्यं स्मयमानो मुहुर्मुहुः। स्त्रीत्वं तस्यानुसंस्मृत्य भीष्मो बाणाञ्शिखण्डिनः ॥ जघान द्रुपदानीके रथान्सप्त महारथः ॥६-११३-४६॥
Bhishma, smiling repeatedly and recalling Shikhandi's womanhood, refrained from aiming at the Panchala and instead used Shikhandi's arrows to kill seven great chariot warriors in Drupada's army.
ततः किलकिलाशब्दः क्षणेन समपद्यत। मत्स्यपाञ्चालचेदीनां तमेकमभिधावताम् ॥६-११३-४७॥
Then, suddenly, a loud noise erupted as the Matsyas, Panchalas, and Chedis rushed towards him in unison.
ते वराश्वरथव्रातैर्वारणैः सपदातिभिः। तमेकं छादयामासुर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम् ॥ भीष्मं भागीरथीपुत्रं प्रतपन्तं रणे रिपून् ॥६-११३-४८॥
They surrounded Bhishma, the son of Bhagirathi, with their excellent horses, chariots, elephants, and foot soldiers, like clouds enveloping the sun, as he shone in battle against his enemies.
ततस्तस्य च तेषां च युद्धे देवासुरोपमे। किरीटी भीष्ममानर्छत्पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम् ॥६-११३-४९॥
Then, in the battle that was like the one between gods and demons, Arjuna, with Shikhandi in front, attacked Bhishma.
