06.114
Pancharatra and Core: Shikhandi, protected by Arjuna, attacked Bhishma; Bhishma fell, and decides to sustain his life until the northern solstice arrived.
Sanjaya said:
Thus, all the Pāṇḍavas, placing Śikhaṇḍin at the forefront, surrounded Bhīṣma on all sides in the battle and pierced him.
Everywhere, there were deadly weapons, fierce spears, axes, hammers, clubs, javelins, and missiles.
O Bharata, all the Srinjayas together struck Bhishma in battle with arrows, golden-feathered ones, spears, javelins, iron arrows, calf-teeth arrows, and clubs.
Despite his armor being torn and being afflicted by many, Bhishma was not agitated even when his vital parts were being pierced.
He, with blazing arrows and a bow, whose weapons were like flames, spread like the wind. The rim roared and resounded with the emergence of the great weapon fire.
Bhishma, with his bright bow and great flame, became the great destroyer of heroes, like the fire at the end of an age, for his enemies.
Having descended between the groups of chariots, he emerged and was seen again moving among the kings.
Then, he swiftly moved past the king of the Pāñcālas and Dhṛṣṭaketu to reach the center of the Pāṇḍava army.
Then Satyaki, Bhima, Arjuna, Drupada, Virata, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, were all present.
He attacked these six with six arrows that had terrifying sounds, great speed, and could pierce the enemy's elephants, resembling the sun.
The great charioteers, having repelled his sharp arrows, vigorously attacked Bhishma with volleys of ten arrows each.
Shikhandi, in the battle, released arrows which swiftly pierced Bhishma. These arrows were golden-feathered and sharpened on stone.
Then, Arjuna, wearing his crown and filled with excitement, advanced towards Bhishma, placing Shikhandin in front, and cut off Bhishma's bow.
The great warriors, including Drona, Kritavarma, the Sindhu prince, and Jayadratha, could not tolerate the cutting of Bhishma's bow.
Bhūriśravāḥ, Śalaḥ, Śalyaḥ, Bhagadattaḥ, and these seven warriors, in extreme anger, charged towards Arjuna.
The great warriors, displaying their excellent divine weapons, launched a fierce and angry attack, covering the Pandavas completely.
The approaching sound of the warriors was heard towards Arjuna (Phalguna), resembling the tumultuous sound of oceans at the end of an era.
There was a tumultuous sound towards Arjuna's chariot, with cries of 'Slay, bring, seize, fight, also cut!'
Upon hearing the loud noise made by the Pandavas, the great warriors hurried to protect Arjuna, O best of the Bharatas.
Satyaki, Bhimasena, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, Virata, Drupada, and the demon Ghatotkacha were all present.
Abhimanyu and these seven warriors, filled with rage, quickly advanced bearing their bright bows.
A fierce and terrifying battle arose among them, O best of the Bharatas, resembling the battle between the gods and the demons.
Shikhandi, protected by Arjuna, attacked Bhishma, breaking his bow with ten arrows in the battle. He also struck down the charioteer with ten arrows and cut off the flag with one.
The son of Ganga took another more powerful bow, but Arjuna cut it too with three sharp arrows.
In this way, the Pāṇḍava, filled with rage, repeatedly drew his bow and severed the bow of Bhīṣma, demonstrating his prowess as Savyasāci, the mighty archer and vanquisher of enemies.
He, with his bow broken and in anger, licked his quiver and took up a spear capable of piercing even mountains.
In his anger, he hurled her towards Arjuna's chariot.
Upon seeing her coming like a blazing thunderbolt, the son of Pandu picked up five sharp arrows.
In his anger, Bhishma, with the strength of his arms, cut that weapon into five pieces using five arrows, O best of the Bharatas.
She fell, cut off by the enraged crowned one, like a hundred streams separated from a cluster of clouds.
Upon witnessing his power being cut, Bhishma, filled with rage, contemplated wisely in the battlefield as the conqueror of enemy cities.
I am capable of killing all the Pāṇḍavas with a single bow if the mighty Viṣvaksena is not their protector.
I have decided not to engage in battle with the Pandavas for two reasons: their invincibility and Shikhandi's femininity.
My father, pleased with me, granted me the boon of choosing the time of my death and invincibility in battle when he married Kali. Therefore, I believe it is the right time for my death.
Understanding the firm resolve of the illustrious Bhishma, the sages and the Vasus, who were present in the sky, addressed him.
Your determination, O hero, is greatly cherished by us. Please, O great archer, act on it and withdraw your mind from the battle.
At the conclusion of his speech, a gentle and fragrant breeze appeared, carrying with it auspiciousness and a light drizzle.
The divine drums resounded with a mighty sound, and a shower of flowers fell upon Bhishma, the king.
O king, none among them heard the conversation except for the mighty-armed Bhishma and myself, thanks to the sage's brilliance.
O lord of the people, there was great confusion among the gods when Bhishma, who was dear to all worlds, was about to fall from his chariot.
Upon hearing the words of the gods, the wise Bhishma, son of Śantanu, refrained from advancing towards Arjuna as he was being struck by sharp arrows that could pierce any armor.
Shikhandi, in his anger, struck the grandsire Bhishma, the elder of the Bharatas, on the chest with nine sharp arrows, O great king.
Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, was struck in battle but did not waver, O great king, just as a mountain remains unmoved during an earthquake.
Then, with a smile, Arjuna, known as Bibhatsu, stretched his Gandiva bow and shot twenty-five small arrows at Bhishma, the son of Ganga.
Arjuna, in his haste and anger, struck his opponent with a hundred arrows, targeting all limbs and vital parts.
Despite being fiercely attacked by others in the great battle, the golden-feathered, stone-sharpened arrows did not cause him any pain.
Then, Arjuna, wearing a crown and filled with excitement, advanced towards Bhishma, keeping Shikhandi in front, and cut off Bhishma's bow.
Then, he pierced him with ten arrows and cut off his flag with one. He also shook his charioteer with ten arrows.
The son of Ganga took another, stronger bow, but even that was shattered into three pieces by his sharp arrows in an instant during the great battle.
In this way, he severed many of his bows in battle. Then, Bhishma, the son of Śantanu, refrained from advancing towards Arjuna.
Then, having been pierced by twenty-five small arrows, the great archer spoke to Duḥśāsana.
The son of Pritha, a great warrior of the Pandavas, is angrily attacking me in the battle with countless arrows.
Even the wielder of the thunderbolt cannot conquer this in battle, nor can the combined heroes, gods, demons, and ogres defeat me. How then can the very weak mortals?
As the conversation between the two continued, Arjuna, using sharp arrows and having Shikhandi lead, struck Bhishma during the battle.
Then, with a smile, he spoke to Duḥśāsana, who had been severely wounded by the sharp arrows of Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow.
The arrows of Shikhandi, with a touch like a thunderbolt, sharp and pointed, have been released and inserted without interruption; these are not ordinary.
The arrows of Shikhandi, like clubs, strike me, cutting through vital parts and piercing strong covers, but they are not effective.
The arrows of Shikhandi, possessing the touch equal to Brahma's staff and the speed of a thunderbolt, remain unapproachable and do not harm my life.
The poisonous serpents, like angry ones licking, enter my vitals; these are not the arrows of Śikhaṇḍin.
The arrows of Shikhandi, as if they were messengers of Yama, seem to be destroying my life forces, yet they do not touch the mace and iron club.
In the month of Magha, my limbs are being cut like those of cows. These arrows belong to Arjuna, not to Shikhandi.
None of the other kings would cause me sorrow, except for the heroic Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, with the monkey banner.
As he spoke, the son of Śantanu, in his desire to destroy the Pāṇḍava, threw a spear that blazed with sparks, O Bhārata.
He skillfully divided it into three parts with his arrows and brought it down in front of all the Kuru warriors, O Bhārata.
The son of Ganga then took a golden-adorned shield and another sword, seeking either death or victory in the face of battle.
His armor was shattered into a hundred pieces by his own furious spirit. It seemed like a miracle to him, as he remained standing on the chariot.
Roaring loudly like a lion, he urged his troops to attack Bhishma, the son of Ganga, saying, "Let there be no fear in you, not even a little."
Then they surrounded with spears, lances, showers of arrows, swords, scimitars, and various weapons from all sides.
The warriors, armed with calf-teeth and arrows, charged at him alone. Then, a dreadful lion's roar emerged from the Pandavas.
Similarly, your sons, O king, eager for Bhishma's victory, advanced towards him alone, roaring like lions.
On the tenth day, O King, a fierce battle took place between your forces and the enemies during the encounter between Bhishma and Arjuna.
For a moment, the armies clashed like a whirlpool in the Ganges, resembling the ocean, as they fought and killed each other.
The earth took on an incomprehensible form, stained with blood. Nothing, whether level or uneven, could be perceived at all.
On the tenth day, after slaying ten thousand warriors, Bhishma stood firm in the battle, even as his vital points were being pierced.
Then, Arjuna, standing at the forefront of the army, dispersed the forces through the center of the Kuru armies.
We were terrified by Arjuna, the son of Kunti, who rides the white horse, and being oppressed by his sharp weapons, we fled from the great battle.
The verse lists various groups of people, including the Sauvīras, gamblers, easterners, westerners, northerners, Mālavas, fearless ones, Śūrasenas, Śibis, and Vasātis.
The twelve nations, including those dwelling in Śālva, Trigartas, and Ambashṭhas, along with the Kekayas, though afflicted by arrows and wounded, did not abandon Bhishma as he fought with Arjuna in the battle.
Then many warriors surrounded him from all sides and attacked all the Kurus with showers of arrows, covering them completely.
There was a loud and chaotic noise as the warriors shouted to strike down, seize, pierce, and drag towards Bhishma's chariot, O king.
After being struck by countless showers of arrows, there wasn't a single spot on his body, even as small as a finger's breadth, that remained unpierced.
Thus, O lord, your father was torn apart by the sharp-pointed arrows of Phalguna in battle and fell from the chariot. While your sons were watching, a little of the sun remained.
As Bhishma fell from his chariot, there was a great sound everywhere, like the lamentations of gods and kings in heaven.
Seeing the great soul, our grandfather, falling along with Bhishma, all our hearts sank.
The mighty-armed warrior fell to the ground with a resounding crash, like the banner of Indra released, symbolizing the flag of all archers. However, he did not touch the earth, as he was covered with a multitude of arrows.
As he lay on the bed of arrows, the great archer, a bull among men, having fallen from his chariot, was enveloped by a divine state.
The cloud poured rain, causing the earth to tremble. As it fell, the sun appeared to be obscured.
The hero, having contemplated the time, regained consciousness, O Bharata, and heard a divine voice from all directions in the sky.
How did the noble Bhishma, son of Ganga and the greatest of warriors, choose to act as the southern solstice approached?
Bhishma, the son of Ganga, after hearing those words, said, "I am standing." Even though he had fallen on the ground, he held his breaths, seeking the northern solstice. Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, awaited the Uttarayana.
Understanding his intention, Ganga, the daughter of Himavat, sent the great sages there in the form of a swan.
Then the swans from Lake Manasa, flying swiftly together, came to see Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, who lay on the bed of arrows, the revered elder.
The sages, taking the form of swans, approached Bhishma and saw him lying on his bed of arrows, the revered grandsire of the Kuru dynasty.
They saw the great soul, performed circumambulation, and honored the son of Ganga, the best of the Bharatas, by facing south and the sun.
The wise ones, addressing each other, said there that Bhishma, being a great soul, would depart during the southern solstice.
Having spoken thus, the swans set out towards the south. Observing with great wisdom, he contemplated, O Bhārata.
The son of Śantanu declared to them that he would not depart under any circumstances when the sun turns south; this decision was firmly set in his mind.
I will return to my ancient abode when the sun turns north. I speak the truth to you, O swans.
I will sustain my life forces with the hope of the northern course. Being endowed with power, I am indeed resolute in the release of life forces. Hence, I will maintain my life forces, wishing to pass away during the northern course.
The boon granted to me by my father, the noble soul, is that I can choose the time of my death. Thus, let this boon be fulfilled as such.
Bhishma, lying on the bed of arrows, declared that he would hold his life force until the right time, and then lay down the swans, symbolizing his readiness to depart from the world.
When the mighty Bhishma, the pinnacle of the Kurus, fell, the Pandavas and the Srinjayas roared like lions in triumph.
When that great being, the middle of the Bharatas, was slain, the sons, O best of the Bharatas, did not obtain anything. Then, confusion and uproar indeed arose among the Kurus.
The kings, led by Duryodhana, sighed and wept. In their despair, they stood senseless for a long time.
The warriors, overwhelmed by fear, decided not to engage in battle and refrained from confronting the Pandavas, O great king.
When the invincible Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu and of great energy, was slain, a profound absence descended upon the Kurus, O king, with relentless force.
We, the slain heroes, struck down by sharp arrows, are at a loss for what to do, having been defeated by Arjuna.
The Pandavas, after achieving victory and reaching the supreme state in the afterlife, blew their mighty conches. The heroes with arms like iron clubs, along with the Somakas and Panchalas, rejoiced, O lord of men.
Then, amidst the sound of thousands of musical instruments, the mighty Bhimasena shouted loudly and danced with great intensity.
The heroes of both armies, having laid down their weapons, meditated all around the fallen Ganges.
Some cried out and fell down, others went into confusion; some criticized the warriors, while others worshipped Bhishma.
The sages and ancestors praised the great vow, and the former Bharatas also praised it.
The wise and powerful son of Shantanu, engaged in the great Upanishad and yoga, continued his recitations, awaiting the end.
