06.115
Pancharatra and Core: Both sides withdrew from the battle that evening; Arjuna provides a pillow made of arrows to Bhishma; everyone departs after making arrangement to protect Bhishma, while he lies on the bed of arrows.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
katham āsaṃs tadā yodhā hīnā bhīṣmeṇa sañjaya। balinā devakalpena gurvarthe brahmacāriṇā ॥6-115-1॥
O Sanjaya, how were the warriors at that time, deprived of Bhishma, who was strong and god-like, and who remained celibate for the sake of his teacher?
tadaiva nihatānmanye kurūnanyāṃśca pārthivān। na prāharadyadā bhīṣmo ghṛṇitvādrupadātmaje ॥6-115-2॥
I believe that the Kurus and other kings were doomed when Bhishma refrained from attacking out of compassion for Drupada's daughter.
tato duḥkhataraṃ manye kimanyatprabhaviṣyati। yadadya pitaraṃ śrutvā nihataṃ mama durmateḥ ॥6-115-3॥
"Then I think, what could be more painful than this? Today, upon hearing that my father has been killed because of my evil-mindedness."
aśmasāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ mama sañjaya। śrutvā vinihataṃ bhīṣmaṃ śatadhā yan na dīryate ॥6-115-4॥
O Sanjaya, surely my heart is made of stone, for it does not shatter into a hundred pieces upon hearing of Bhishma's death.
punaḥ punarna mṛṣyāmi hataṃ devavrataṃ raṇe। na hato jāmadagnyena divyairastraiḥ sma yaḥ purā ॥6-115-5॥
Again and again, I cannot accept that Devavrata was killed in battle. He was not slain by Jamadagni's son with divine weapons, indeed, who once was.
yadadya nihatenājau bhīṣmeṇa jayamichatā। ceṣṭitam narasiṁhena tanme kathaya sañjaya ॥6-115-6॥
Sanjaya, tell me about the efforts made today by the lion among men, Bhishma, who was slain in battle, in his desire for victory.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
sāyāhne nyapatadbhūmau dhārtarāṣṭrānviṣādayan। pāñcālānāṃ dadaddharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ ॥6-115-7॥
In the evening, Bhishma, the elder of the Kuru dynasty and the grandfather, fell on the ground, causing sorrow to the sons of Dhritarashtra and giving joy to the Panchalas.
sa śete śaratalpastho medinīmaspṛśaṃstadā। bhīṣmo rathātprapatitaḥ pracyuto dharaṇītale ॥6-115-8॥
Bhishma lay on the bed of arrows, not touching the earth, having fallen from the chariot and dislodged onto the ground.
hā heti tumulaḥ śabdo bhūtānāṃ samapadyata। sīmāvṛkṣe nipatite kurūṇāṃ samitikṣaye ॥6-115-9॥
"Alas! A tumultuous sound arose from the beings like an arrow when the boundary tree fell, marking the end of the Kurus' battle."
ubhayor senayo rājan kṣatriyān bhayam āviśat। bhīṣmaṃ śantanavaṃ dṛṣṭvā viśīrṇa-kavaca-dhvajam ॥ kuravaḥ paryavartanta pāṇḍavāś ca viśāṃ pate ॥6-115-10॥
O king, upon seeing Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, with his armor and banner torn, fear gripped the warriors of both armies. Consequently, the Kurus retreated, and the Pandavas, O lord of the people, also withdrew.
khaṁ tamovṛtamāsīcca nāsīdbhānumataḥ prabhā। rarāsa pṛthivī caiva bhīṣme śāntanave hate ॥6-115-11॥
The sky was enveloped in darkness, devoid of sunlight. The earth shook as Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, was killed.
ayaṁ brahmavidāṁ śreṣṭho ayaṁ brahmavidāṁ gatiḥ। ityabhāṣanta bhūtāni śayānaṁ bharatarṣabham ॥6-115-12॥
The beings declared, 'This is the greatest among the knowers of Brahman, and the ultimate refuge for them,' as they observed the noble Bharata lying down.
ayaṁ pitaram ājñāya kāmārtaṁ śantanuṁ purā। ūrdhvaretasam ātmānaṁ cakāra puruṣarṣabhaḥ ॥6-115-13॥
This noble man, realizing his father Śantanu's plight due to desire, once chose to become celibate.
iti sma śaratalpasthaṃ bharatānāmamadhyamam। ṛṣayaḥ paryadhāvanta sahitāḥ siddhacāraṇaiḥ ॥6-115-14॥
Thus, the sages, along with the siddhas and charanas, gathered around the middle of the Bharatas, who was lying on the bed of arrows.
hate śāntanave bhīṣme bharatānāṃ pitāmahe। na kiñcitpratyapadyanta putrāstava ca bhārata ॥6-115-15॥
After the fall of Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu and the grandfather of the Bharatas, your sons, O Bhārata, gained nothing.
vivarṇavadanāścāsaṅgataśrīkāśca bhārata। atiṣṭhanvrīḍitāścaiva hriyā yuktā hyadhomukhāḥ ॥6-115-16॥
O Bhārata, they stood there with pale faces, having lost their splendor, feeling ashamed and modest, with their faces turned downwards.
pāṇḍavāśca jayaṃ labdhvā saṅgrāmaśirasi sthitāḥ। sarve dadhmurmahāśaṅkhānhemajālapariṣkṛtān ॥6-115-17॥
The Pandavas, having achieved victory, stood at the forefront of the battle and blew their great conches, which were beautifully adorned with golden nets.
bhṛśaṃ tūryaninādeṣu vādyamāneṣu cānagha। apaśyāma raṇe rājanbhīmasenaṃ mahābalam ॥ ākrīḍamānaṃ kaunteyaṃ harṣeṇa mahatā yutam ॥6-115-18॥
Amidst the intense sounds of musical instruments being played, O sinless one, we saw Bhimasena, the mighty son of Kunti, joyfully engaged in the battle, O king.
nihatya samare śatrūnmahābalasamanvitān। saṃmohaścāpi tumulaḥ kurūṇāmabhavattadā ॥6-115-19॥
After slaying the enemies who were endowed with great strength in battle, there was a great confusion and uproar among the Kurus at that time.
karṇaduryodhanau cāpi niḥśvasetāṃ muhurmuhuḥ। tathā nipatite bhīṣme kauravāṇāṃ dhurandhare ॥ hāhākāramabhūtsarvaṃ nirmaryādamavartata ॥6-115-20॥
Karna and Duryodhana sighed repeatedly. When Bhishma, the leader of the Kauravas, fell, there was an uproar everywhere, occurring without restraint.
dṛṣṭvā ca patitaṃ bhīṣmaṃ putro duḥśāsanastava। uttamaṃ javamāsthāya droṇānīkaṃ samādravat ॥6-115-21॥
Upon witnessing Bhishma's fall, your son Duhshasana swiftly advanced towards Drona's forces with great speed.
bhrātrā prasthāpito vīraḥ svenānīkena daṃśitaḥ। prayayau puruṣavyāghraḥ svasainyamabhicodayan ॥6-115-22॥
The hero, sent by his brother and urged by his own army, departed like a tiger among men, urging his own troops.
tamāyāntamabhiprekṣya kuravaḥ paryavārayan। duḥśāsanaṃ mahārāja kimayaṃ vakṣyatīti vai ॥6-115-23॥
Seeing him approach, the Kauravas surrounded Duhshasana. O great king, they wondered what he would say.
tato droṇāya nihataṃ bhīṣmamācaṣṭa kauravaḥ। droṇastadapriyaṃ śrutvā sahasā nyapatadrathāt ॥6-115-24॥
Then Kaurava informed Drona of Bhishma's death. Upon hearing this distressing news, Drona suddenly collapsed from his chariot.
sa sañjñāmupalabhyātha bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān। nivārayāmāsa tadā svānyanīkāni māriṣa ॥6-115-25॥
Having regained consciousness, the glorious Bharadvaja then restrained his own troops, O dear.
vinivṛttānkūrūndṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavāpi svasainikān। dūtaiḥ śīghrāśvasaṃyuktairavahārakārayan ॥6-115-26॥
Upon seeing the Kurus retreat, the Pandavas also ordered their soldiers to withdraw using messengers with swift horses.
vinivṛtteṣu sainyeṣu pāramparyeṇa sarvaśaḥ। vimuktakavacāḥ sarve bhīṣmamīyurnarādhipāḥ ॥6-115-27॥
After the armies had completely withdrawn in succession, all the kings, having removed their armor, approached Bhishma.
vyupāramya tato yuddhādyodhāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ। upatasthurmahātmānaṃ prajāpativivāmarāḥ ॥6-115-28॥
After ceasing from the battle, the warriors in their hundreds of thousands approached the great soul, akin to how the immortals approach the lord of all creatures.
te tu bhīṣmaṃ samāsādya śayānaṃ bharatarṣabham। abhivādya vyatiṣṭhanta pāṇḍavāḥ kurubhiḥ saha ॥6-115-29॥
The Pandavas, along with the Kauravas, approached Bhishma, who was lying down, and after saluting him, they stood there.
atha pāṇḍūnkurūṃścaiva praṇipatyāgrataḥ sthitān। abhyabhāṣata dharmātmā bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavastadā ॥6-115-30॥
Then, Bhishma, the virtuous son of Shantanu, respectfully addressed the Pandavas and Kauravas who were standing before him.
svāgataṃ vo mahābhāgāḥ svāgataṃ vo mahārathāḥ। tuṣyāmi darśanāccāhaṃ yuṣmākamamaropamāḥ ॥6-115-31॥
"Welcome, illustrious ones, welcome, great charioteers. I am delighted to see you, who are comparable to the gods."
abhinandya sa tānevaṃ śirasā lambatābravīt। śiro me lambate'tyarthamupadhānaṃ pradīyatām ॥6-115-32॥
After respectfully greeting them with his head bowed, he said: "My head is hanging too much; please provide a pillow."
tato nṛpāḥ samājahrustanūni ca mṛdūni ca। upadhānāni mukhyāni naicchattāni pitāmahaḥ ॥6-115-33॥
Then the kings gathered the bodies and soft cushions, the chief ones that the grandfather desired.
abravīcca naravyāghraḥ prahasanniva tānnṛpān। naitāni vīraśayyāsu yuktarūpāṇi pārthivāḥ ॥6-115-34॥
The tiger among men, smiling as if, said to those kings: "These beds are not suitable for heroes, O kings."
tato vīkṣya naraśreṣṭhamabhyabhāṣata pāṇḍavam। dhanañjayaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ sarvalokamaharatham ॥6-115-35॥
Then, seeing the best among men, he spoke to Arjuna, the long-armed hero, the great chariot-warrior revered by all worlds.
dhanañjaya mahābāho śiraso me'sya lambataḥ। dīyatāmupadhānaṃ vai yadyuktamiha manyase ॥6-115-36॥
O mighty-armed Dhananjaya, if you think it appropriate, please provide a pillow for my hanging head.
sa saṃnyasya mahaccāpamabhivādya pitāmaham। netrābhyāmaśrupūrṇābhyāmidaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥6-115-37॥
He laid down his great bow, saluted his grandfather, and with tears in his eyes, he spoke:
ājñāpaya kuruśreṣṭha sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ vara। preṣyo'haṃ tava durdharṣa kriyatāṃ kiṃ pitāmaha ॥6-115-38॥
O best of the Kurus and foremost among all weapon-bearers, command me. I am your invincible servant. What should be done, O grandfather?
tamabravīcchāntanavaḥ śiro me tāta lambate। upadhānaṃ kuruśreṣṭha phalgunopanayasva me ॥ śayanasyānurūpaṃ hi śīghraṃ vīra prayaccha me ॥6-115-39॥
Śāntanu's son addressed him, saying, "Father, my head is hanging down. Please, O best of the Kurus, bring me a pillow, Arjuna. Quickly provide me with one that is suitable for the bed, O hero."
tvaṁ hi pārtha mahābāho śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām। kṣatradharmasya vettā ca buddhisattvaguṇānvitaḥ ॥6-115-40॥
O son of Pritha, you are indeed the best among all bowmen, mighty-armed and knowledgeable in the duties of a warrior, endowed with intelligence and strength.
phalgunastu tathetyuktvā vyavasāyapurojavaḥ। pragṛhyāmantrya gāṇḍīvaṃ śarāṃśca nataparvaṇaḥ ॥6-115-41॥
Arjuna, with determination, spoke thus and swiftly took up the Gandiva bow and arrows, addressing them with respect.
anumānya mahātmānaṃ bharatānāmamadhyamam। tribhistīkṣṇairmahāvegairudagṛhṇācchiraḥ śaraiḥ ॥6-115-42॥
After paying respects to the noble one of the Bharatas, he swiftly captured the head with three sharp arrows.
abhiprāye tu vidite dharmātmā savyasācinā। atuṣyadbharataśreṣṭho bhīṣmo dharmārthatattvavit ॥6-115-43॥
When Arjuna, the righteous soul, understood the intention, Bhishma, the best among the Bharatas and knower of the truth of dharma and artha, felt pleased.
upadhānena dattena pratyanandaddhanañjayam। kuntīputraṃ yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ suhṛdāṃ prītivardhanam ॥6-115-44॥
With the seat offered, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, was greeted as the best among warriors and a joy to his friends.
anurūpaṃ śayānasya pāṇḍavopahitaṃ tvayā। yadyanyathā pravartethāḥ śapeyaṃ tvāmahaṃ ruṣā ॥6-115-45॥
The arrangement made by you for the sleeping Pandava is appropriate. If you act otherwise, I will curse you in anger.
evam etan mahābāho dharmeṣu pariniṣṭhitam। svaptavyaṃ kṣatriyeṇājau śaratalpagatena vai ॥6-115-46॥
Thus, O mighty-armed one, it is established in the duties that a warrior should sleep on the battlefield, indeed, lying on the bed of arrows.
evamuktvā tu bībhatsuṃ sarvāṃstānabravīdvacaḥ। rājñaśca rājaputrāṃśca pāṇḍavenābhi saṃsthitān ॥6-115-47॥
Thus, having spoken, Bibhatsu addressed all those standing by the king and the princes, through Pandava.
śayeyamasyāṃ śayyāyāṃ yāvadāvartanaṃ raveḥ। ye tadā pārayiṣyanti te māṃ drakṣyanti vai nṛpāḥ ॥6-115-48॥
I will lie on this bed until the sun returns. Those who succeed at that time will indeed see me, the kings.
diśaṃ vaiśravaṇākrāntāṃ yadā gantā divākaraḥ। arciṣmānpratapaँllokānrathenottamatejasā ॥ vimokṣye'haṃ tadā prāṇānsuhṛdaḥ supriyānapi ॥6-115-49॥
When the sun, with its radiant brilliance, moves towards the direction ruled by Kubera, I will then relinquish my life and that of my beloved friends.
parikhā khanyatāmatra mamāvasadane nṛpāḥ। upāsiṣye vivasvantamevaṃ śaraśatācitaḥ ॥ upāramadhvaṃ saṅgrāmādvairāṇyutsṛjya pārthivāḥ ॥6-115-50॥
O kings, let a trench be dug here at my residence. I shall worship the Sun in this manner, covered with hundreds of arrows. Cease the battle and abandon enmities, O princes.
upātiṣṭhannatho vaidyāḥ śalyoddharaṇakovidāḥ। sarvopakaraṇairyuktāḥ kuśalāste suśikṣitāḥ ॥6-115-51॥
Then the well-trained and skilled physicians, who were experts in surgical extraction, approached with all their instruments.
tāndṛṣṭvā jāhnavīputraḥ provāca vacanaṃ tadā। dattadeyā visṛjyantāṃ pūjayitvā cikitsakāḥ ॥6-115-52॥
Upon seeing them, the son of Jahnavi spoke: "Release those who have been given after honoring them, O physicians."
evaṅgate na hīdānīṃ vaidyaiḥ kāryamihāsti me। kṣatradharmapraśastāṃ hi prāpto'smi paramāṃ gatim ॥6-115-53॥
"Now that things have come to this, there is no need for physicians here for me. I have indeed attained the supreme state of the glorious kshatriya duty."
naiṣa dharmo mahīpālāḥ śaratalpagatasya me। etaireva śaraiścāhaṃ dagdhavyo'nte narādhipāḥ ॥6-115-54॥
O kings, it is not my duty, while lying on this bed of arrows, to be burnt by anything other than these arrows at the end.
tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya putro duryodhanastava। vaidyānvisarjayāmāsa pūjayitvā yathārhataḥ ॥6-115-55॥
Upon hearing those words, your son Duryodhana dismissed the physicians after duly honoring them.
tataste vismayaṃ jagmurnānājanapadeśvarāḥ। sthitiṃ dharme parāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ ॥6-115-56॥
Then the lords from various regions were amazed upon witnessing the supreme adherence to dharma by Bhishma, who possessed immeasurable splendor.
upadhānaṃ tato dattvā pitustava janeśvara। sahitāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ sarve kuravaśca mahārathāḥ ॥6-115-57॥
Then, O lord of the people, after providing a pillow to your father, all the Pandavas and Kauravas, the great warriors, gathered together.
upagamya mahātmānaṃ śayānaṃ śayane śubhe। te'bhivādya tato bhīṣmaṃ kṛtvā cābhipradaxiṇam ॥6-115-58॥
They approached the great soul Bhishma, who was lying on an auspicious bed, saluted him, and then performed circumambulation.
vidhāya rakṣāṃ bhīṣmasya sarva eva samantataḥ। vīrāḥ svaśibirāṇyeva dhyāyantaḥ paramāturāḥ ॥ niveśāyābhyupāgacchansāyāhne rudhirokṣitāḥ ॥6-115-59॥
After ensuring Bhishma's protection on all sides, the warriors, deeply troubled, returned to their camps in the evening, bloodstained and seeking rest.
niviṣṭānpāṇḍavāṃścāpi prīyamāṇānmahārathān। bhīṣmasya patanāddhṛṣṭānupagamya mahārathān ॥ uvāca yādavaḥ kāle dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram ॥6-115-60॥
The Pāṇḍavas, along with the pleased great warriors, were seated. After the fall of Bhīṣma, the bold Yādava approached the great warriors and spoke to Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira at that time.
diṣṭyā jayasi kauravya diṣṭyā bhīṣmo nipātitaḥ। avadhyo mānuṣaireṣa satyasandho mahārathaḥ ॥6-115-61॥
"O descendant of Kuru, by good fortune you have conquered; by good fortune, Bhishma, who was invincible to men and a truthful great chariot-warrior, has fallen."
atha vā daivataiḥ pārtha sarvaśastrāstrapāragaḥ। tvāṃ tu cakṣurhaṇaṃ prāpya dagdho ghoreṇa cakṣuṣā ॥6-115-62॥
O son of Pritha, even if you have mastered all weapons and missiles, you are burnt by the terrible eye, having obtained the destroying eye, by the gods.
evamukto dharmarājaḥ pratyuvāca janārdanam। tava prasādād vijayaḥ krodhāt tava parājayaḥ ॥ tvaṃ hi naḥ śaraṇaṃ kṛṣṇa bhaktānām abhayaṅkaraḥ ॥6-115-63॥
Thus addressed, Dharmaraja replied to Janardana: "Victory comes from your grace, and defeat from your anger. You are truly our refuge, Krishna, the protector who grants fearlessness to your devotees."
anāścaryo jayasteṣāṃ yeṣāṃ tvamasi keśava। raṣkitā samare nityaṃ nityaṃ cāpi hite rataḥ ॥ sarvathā tvāṃ samāsādya nāścaryamiti me matiḥ ॥6-115-64॥
It is not surprising that those who have you, O Keśava, as their protector in battle, always engaged in their welfare, achieve victory. In every way, having you, there is no wonder, this is my belief.
evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca smayamāno janārdanaḥ। tvayyevaitadyuktarūpaṃ vacanaṃ pārthivottama ॥6-115-65॥
Janardana, with a smile, replied to the words spoken: "Indeed, O best of kings, this speech is fitting for you."
