06.113
Pancharatra and Core: Narration by a different author; recap of the war; Virata's brother Shatanika killed;
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
evaṃ vyūḍheṣvanīkeṣu bhūyiṣṭhamanuvartiṣu। brahmalokaparāḥ sarve samapadyanta bhārata ॥6-113-1॥
O Bharata, in the arranged armies, most of those who followed were focused on attaining the world of Brahma.
na hyanīkamanīkena samasajjata saṅkule। na rathā rathibhiḥ sārdhaṃ na padātāḥ padātibhiḥ ॥6-113-2॥
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.
aśvā nāśvairayudhyanta na gajā gajayodhibhiḥ। mahānvyatikaro raudraḥ senayoḥ samapadyata ॥6-113-3॥
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.
naranāgaratheṣvevaṃ vyavakīrṇeṣu sarvaśaḥ। kṣaye tasminmahāraudre nirviśeṣamajāyata ॥6-113-4॥
In that great and terrible destruction, men, elephants, and chariots were scattered everywhere indiscriminately.
tataḥ śalyaḥ kṛpaścaiva citrasenaśca bhārata। duḥśāsano vikarṇaśca rathānāsthāya satvarāḥ ॥ pāṇḍavānāṃ raṇe śūrā dhvajinīṃ samakampayan ॥6-113-5॥
Then Śalya, Kṛpa, Citrasena, Duḥśāsana, and Vikarṇa quickly mounted their chariots and caused the Pāṇḍavas' army to tremble in battle, O Bhārata.
sā vadhyamānā samare pāṇḍusenā mahātmabhiḥ। trātāraṃ nādhyagacchadvai majjamāneva naurjale ॥6-113-6॥
Pandu's army, being attacked in battle by the great souls, could not find a savior, just like a boat sinking in water.
yathā hi śaiśiraḥ kālo gavāṃ marmāṇi kṛntati। tathā pāṇḍusutānāṃ vai bhīṣmo marmāṇyakṛntata ॥6-113-7॥
Just as the harsh winter affects the vital parts of cows, Bhishma struck at the vital points of the Pandavas.
atīva tava sainyasya pārthena ca mahātmanā। nagameghapratīkāśāḥ pātitā bahudhā gajāḥ ॥6-113-8॥
Arjuna, the great soul, has exceedingly felled many of your army's elephants, which resembled mountain clouds.
mṛdyamānāśca dṛśyante pārthena narayūthapāḥ। iṣubhistāḍyamānāśca nārācaiśca sahasraśaḥ ॥6-113-9॥
The leaders of men are seen being crushed by Arjuna and struck by countless arrows and iron arrows.
peturārtasvaraṃ kṛtvā tatra tatra mahāgajāḥ। ābaddhābharaṇaiḥ kāyairnihatānāṃ mahātmanām ॥6-113-10॥
The great elephants, adorned with ornaments, fell here and there with a distressed sound, among the bodies of the slain great souls.
channamāyodhanaṃ reje śirobhiśca sakuṇḍalaiḥ। tasminnatimahābhīme rājanvīravarakṣaye ॥ bhīṣme ca yudhi vikrānte pāṇḍave ca dhanañjaye ॥6-113-11॥
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.
te parākrāntamālokya rājanyudhi pitāmaham। na nyavartanta kauravyā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ ॥6-113-12॥
Upon witnessing the bravery of their grandfather in battle, the Kauravas, guided by the ideals of Brahmaloka, did not retreat.
icchanto nidhanam yuddhe svargam kṛtvā parāyaṇam। pāṇḍavānabhyavartanta tasminvīravarakṣaye ॥6-113-13॥
The Pandavas, desiring to attain heaven by making death in battle their ultimate goal, advanced into that great slaughter of heroes.
pāṇḍavāpi mahārāja smaranto vividhānbahūn। kleśānkṛtānsaputreṇa tvayā pūrvaṃ narādhipa ॥6-113-14॥
O great king, the Pandavas also remember the many troubles you and your son caused them in the past.
bhayaṃ tyaktvā raṇe śūrā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ। tāvakāṃstava putrāṃśca yodhayanti sma hṛṣṭavat ॥6-113-15॥
The heroes, having cast aside fear, and being honored by Brahmaloka, joyfully engage in battle with your sons and men.
senāpatistu samare prāha senāṃ mahārathaḥ। abhidravata gāṅgeyaṃ somakāḥ sṛñjayaiḥ saha ॥6-113-16॥
In the battle, the commander, a great chariot-warrior, instructed the army to attack Bhishma along with the Somakas and Srinjayas.
senāpativacaḥ śrutvā somakāḥ saha sṛñjayaiḥ। abhyadravanta gāṅgeyaṃ śastravṛṣṭyā samantataḥ ॥6-113-17॥
Upon hearing the commander's words, the Somakas and the Sṛñjayas charged at Gāṅgeya, attacking with a barrage of weapons from every direction.
vadhyamānastato rājanpitā śāntanavastava। amarṣavaśamāpanno yodhayāmāsa sṛñjayān ॥6-113-18॥
Then, O king, your father, the son of Śāntanu, overwhelmed by anger, engaged in battle with the Sṛñjayas.
tasya kīrtimatastāta purā rāmeṇa dhīmatā। sampradattāstraśikṣā vai parānīkavināśinī ॥6-113-19॥
O dear, the illustrious one, formerly wise Rama imparted weapon training, indeed, which is the destroyer of enemy forces.
sa tāṃ śikṣāmadhiṣṭhāya kṛtvā parabalakṣayam। ahanyahani pārthānāṃ vṛddhaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ ॥ bhīṣmo daśa sahasrāṇi jaghāna paravīrahā ॥6-113-20॥
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.
tasmiṁstu divase prāpte daśame bharatarṣabha। bhīṣmeṇaikena matsyeṣu pāñcāleṣu ca saṁyuge ॥ gajāśvamamitaṁ hatvā hatāḥ sapta mahārathāḥ ॥6-113-21॥
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.
hatvā pañca sahasrāṇi rathināṃ prapitāmahaḥ। narāṇāṃ ca mahāyuddhe sahasrāṇi caturdaśa ॥6-113-22॥
The great-grandfather killed five thousand charioteers and fourteen thousand men in the great battle.
tathā dantisaḥasraṃ ca hayānāmayutaṃ punaḥ। śikṣābalena nihataṃ pitrā tava viśāṃ pate ॥6-113-23॥
Thus, O lord of men, your father once again killed a thousand elephants and ten thousand horses by the power of his learning.
tataḥ sarvamahīpānām kṣobhayitvā varūthinīm। virāṭasya priyo bhrātā śatānīko nipātitaḥ ॥6-113-24॥
Then, after disturbing the armies of all the kings, Virata's beloved brother Shatanika was killed.
śatānīkaṃ ca samare hatvā bhīṣmaḥ pratāpavān। sahasrāṇi mahārāja rājñāṃ bhallairnyapātayat ॥6-113-25॥
The mighty Bhīṣma, after killing Śatānīka in the battle, brought down thousands of kings with his arrows, O great king.
ye ca kecana pārthānām abhiyātā dhanañjayam। rājāno bhīṣmam āsādya gatās te yamasādanam ॥6-113-26॥
The kings who attacked the sons of Pṛthā and Dhanañjaya, upon approaching Bhīṣma, met their end at the abode of Yama.
evaṁ daśa diśo bhīṣmaḥ śarajālaiḥ samantataḥ। atītya senāṁ pārthānāmavatasṭhe camūmukhe ॥6-113-27॥
Bhishma, surrounded by a barrage of arrows, advanced through the ten directions and positioned himself at the forefront of the Pandavas' army formation.
sa kṛtvā sumahatkarma tasminvai daśame'ahani। senayorantare tiṣṭhanpragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ ॥6-113-28॥
On the tenth day, he stood between the armies, having accomplished a great feat, holding his bow at the ready.
na cainaṃ pārthivā rājañśekuḥ kecinnirīkṣitum। madhyaṃ prāptaṃ yathā grīṣme tapantaṃ bhāskaraṃ divi ॥6-113-29॥
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.
yathā daityacamūṃ śakrastāpayāmāsa saṃyuge। tathā bhīṣmaḥ pāṇḍaveyāṃstāpayāmāsa bhārata ॥6-113-30॥
In the battle, just as Indra tormented the army of demons, similarly, Bhishma tormented the Pandavas, O Bharata.
tathā ca taṃ parākrāntamālokya madhusūdanaḥ। uvāca devakīputraḥ prīyamāṇo dhanañjayam ॥6-113-31॥
Madhusudana, the son of Devaki, was pleased to see the valiant Dhananjaya and spoke to him.
eṣa śāntanavo bhīṣmaḥ senayorantare sthitaḥ। nānihatya balādenaṃ vijayaste bhaviṣyati ॥6-113-32॥
This is Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu, standing between the armies. Without defeating him by force, victory will not be yours.
yattaḥ sanstambhayasvainaṃ yatraiṣā bhidyate camūḥ। na hi bhīṣmaśarānanyaḥ soḍhumutsahate vibho ॥6-113-33॥
Therefore, hold this position where the army is breaking, for no one else can withstand Bhishma's arrows, O lord.
tatastasminkṣaṇe rājaṃścodito vānaradhvajaḥ। sadhvajaṃ sarathaṃ sāśvaṃ bhīṣmamantardadhe śaraiḥ ॥6-113-34॥
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.
sa cāpi kurumukhyānāmṛṣabhaḥ pāṇḍaveritān। śaravrātaiḥ śaravrātānbahudhā vidudhāva tān ॥6-113-35॥
He, the leader among the Kurus, was driven by the Pandavas. He scattered the volleys of arrows in various ways.
tena pāñcālarājaśca dhṛṣṭaketuśca vīryavān। pāṇḍavo bhīmasenaśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ ॥6-113-36॥
By him, the valiant king of the Pāñcālas, Dhṛṣṭaketu, along with the Pāṇḍava Bhīmasena and Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata, were present.
yamau ca cekitānaśca kekayāḥ pañca caiva ha। sātyakiśca mahārāja saubhadro'tha ghaṭotkacaḥ ॥6-113-37॥
The two sons of Yama, Cekitana, the five Kekayas, Satyaki, the son of Subhadra, and Ghatotkacha were present, O great king.
drau̥padeyāḥ śikhaṇḍī ca kuntibhojaśca vīryavān। suśarmā ca virāṭaśca pāṇḍaveyā mahābalāḥ ॥6-113-38॥
The sons of Draupadī, along with Śikhaṇḍī, Kuntibhoja, Suśarmā, Virāṭa, and the mighty sons of Pāṇḍu, were present.
ete cānye ca bahavaḥ pīḍitā bhīṣmasāyakaiḥ। samuddhṛtāḥ phalgunena nimagnāḥ śokasāgare ॥6-113-39॥
These and many others, who were afflicted by Bhishma's arrows, were rescued by Arjuna as they were immersed in the ocean of sorrow.
tataḥ śikhaṇḍī vegena pragṛhya paramāyudham। bhīṣmamevābhidudrāva rakṣyamāṇaḥ kirīṭinā ॥6-113-40॥
Then Shikhandi, wielding his supreme weapon, charged at Bhishma with great speed, under the protection of Arjuna.
tato'syānucarānhatvā sarvānraṇavibhāgavit। bhīṣmamevābhidudrāva bībhatsuraparājitaḥ ॥6-113-41॥
Then Bibhatsu, the unconquered, after slaying all his followers, charged directly at Bhishma, the master of battle strategies.
sātyakiś cekitānaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ। virāṭo drupadaś caiva mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau ॥ dudruvur bhīṣmam evājau rakṣitā dṛḍhadhanvanā ॥ 6-113-42॥
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.
abhimanyuśca samare draupadyāḥ pañca cātmajāḥ। dudruvuḥ samare bhīṣmaṃ samudyatamahāyudhāḥ ॥6-113-43॥
Abhimanyu and the five sons of Draupadi charged towards Bhishma in the battle, wielding their mighty weapons.
te sarve dṛḍhadhanvānaḥ saṃyugeṣvapalāyinaḥ। bahudhā bhīṣmamānarcanmārgaṇaiḥ kṛtamārgaṇāḥ ॥6-113-44॥
All of them, equipped with strong bows and unwavering in battles, honored Bhishma in various ways by creating a path with their arrows.
vidhūya tānbāṇagaṇānye muktāḥ pārthivottamaiḥ। pāṇḍavānāmadīnĀtmā vyagāhata varūthinīm ॥ kṛtvā śaravighātaṃ ca krīḍanniva pitāmahaḥ ॥6-113-45॥
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.
nābhisandhatta pāñcālyaṃ smayamāno muhurmuhuḥ। strītvaṃ tasyānusaṃsmṛtya bhīṣmo bāṇāñśikhaṇḍinaḥ ॥ jaghāna drupadānīke rathānsapta mahārathaḥ ॥6-113-46॥
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.
tataḥ kilakilāśabdaḥ kṣaṇena samapadyata। matsyapāñcālacedīnāṃ tamekamabhidhāvatām ॥6-113-47॥
Then, suddenly, a loud noise erupted as the Matsyas, Panchalas, and Chedis rushed towards him in unison.
te varāśvarathavrātairvāraṇaiḥ sapadātibhiḥ। tamekaṃ chādayāmāsurmeghā iva divākaram ॥ bhīṣmaṃ bhāgīrathīputraṃ pratapantaṃ raṇe ripūn ॥6-113-48॥
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.
tatas tasya ca teṣāṃ ca yuddhe devāsuropame। kirīṭī bhīṣmam ānarṣat puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam ॥6-113-49॥
Then, in the battle that was like the one between gods and demons, Arjuna, with Shikhandi in front, attacked Bhishma.
