6. Mahabharata - Bhishma Parva (महाभारत - भीष्मपर्वम्)
- by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa
(Reproduced BORI version of Mahabharata with English translation using AI for research.)
- 06.001
Core and Pancharatra: Facing east, gather the Pandavas and facing west, gather the Kauravas. Agree on the rules of engagement for a war. - 06.002
Pancharatra-Ext: Vyasa arrives on the scene, and as Dhritarashtra desires to hear about the war, grants divine vision to Sanjaya. Narrates the various omens showing the impending destruction. - 06.003
Pancharatra-Ext: Continued narration of bad omens by Vyasa to Dhritarashtra. - 06.004
Pancharatra-Ext: Vyasa tries to persuade Dhritarastra away from war. Dhritarashtra further inquires on omens of war. - 06.005
Library: Dhritarashtra enquires about the earth and earth dwellers. Sanjaya starts with the description of movable and immovable beings. - 06.006
Library: Description of the five elements and their manifestation. Then the Sudarshana island, visible in the moon's sphere. - 06.007
Library: Description of the six jewel mountains stretching out and submerged between the eastern and western oceans; four islands: Bhadrashva, Ketumala, Jambudvipa, and Bharata. - 06.008
Library: Description of the northern and eastern sides of Mount Meru and the Malyavan mountain. - 06.009
Library: Mountains, their inhabitants, and their life span. - 06.010
Library: Terrain, rivers, kingdoms, and tribes of India. - 06.011
Library: Epochs, life span, and characteristics of people.
- 06.041
Core and Pancharatra: Yudhisthira pays respect to the elders standing with the Kauravas and says he seeks an alliance with whomever wants to join the Pandavas. Yuyutsu leaves the Kauravas and joins the Pandava army. - 06.042
Core and Pancharatra: The war begins, and it is the shout of Bhimasena that overpowers all. - 06.043
Core and Pancharatra: The duet battle takes place among the prominent warriors on both sides. - 06.044
Core: In the intense battle, friends and relatives, kinsmen and allies, all fought together there, the Kurus with the Pandavas. - 06.045
Core and Pancharatra: Death of Uttara, the son of Virata at the hands of Shalya; At midday, the warriors could not gaze upon Bhishma, the son of Pandu; The first day of war ends. - 06.046
Pancharatra and Core: Yudhisthira consults with Krishna regarding the upper hand the Kauravas had on the first day. The next day, the Pandavas arrange themselves in Krauncha formation. - 06.047
Core and Pancharatra: Mahavyuha counter military formation by the Kauravas. The second day of war commences. - 06.048
Pancharatra and Core: Witnessing the extraordinary prowess of Arjuna and Bhishma, all creatures were struck with wonder on the battlefield. - 06.049
Core and Pancharatra: Drona and Drishtadyumna, two warriors stained with blood, shone brightly. When Dristadyumna loses his chariot, Bhima takes him away. - 06.050
Core and Pancharatra: Bhima, fierce and unstoppable, moved through the Kalinga battlefield - killed Kalinga's son Shakradeva, cut Bhānumant in half; killed Kalinga Śrutāyu with seven iron arrows; Satyadeva, Satya, Ketumanta were dispatched to the realm of Yama; 2700 Kalinga warriors killed; - 06.051
Pancharatra and Core: Late afternoon, a fight between Abhimanyu and Lakshmana; Kauravas retreat for the day, as Pandavas gain the upper hand. - 06.052
Core and Pancharatra: On the third day, battle starts with Bhishma forming the Garuda military formation; the Pandavas counter it with a crescent military formation. - 06.053
Pancharatra and Core: The armies fight each other in the intense battle. - 06.054
Core and Pancharatra: Bhima smashes Duryodhana, causing him to collapse in the chariot. Along with his charioteer, the Kaurava army retreats. Gaining consciousness, Duryodhana rebukes Bhishma for his weak leadership. - 06.055
Pancharatra and Core: In the afternoon, under the leadership of Bhishma, the Kaurava army rallies back, and the Pandava army is in disarray. Seeing Arjuna fighting mildly, Krishna picks up a discus. Later, Arjuna fights valiantly, and the Pandavas gain the upper hand. Third day comes to an end. - 06.056
Core and Pancharatra: The fourth day of battle begins with the same formation as the previous day. Bhishma is in no mood to relent, having been rebuked the previous day by Duryodhana. Arjuna comes face-to-face with him. - 06.057
Pancharatra and Core: Abhimanyu and Arjuna fight together. Son of Sāṃyamani killed by Dushtadyumna. - 06.058
Core and Pancharatra: Encounter between Dhristadyumna and Shalya; urged by Duryodhana Magadha elephant army attacks Bhima; Bhima single handed annihilates the entire army. - 06.059
Core and Pancharatra: Seeing the uncontrollable Bhima, Bhishma advances, but is stopped by Satyaki. No one was able to stop the best of warriors, who shone like the sun at midday. - 06.060
Core and Pancharatra: Duryodhana and Bhima face each other, and momentarily Bhima becomes unconscious. Bhima kills the army of Duryodhana's 14 brothers. When Bhima loses consciousness momentarily hit by Bhagadatta, Ghatotkacha comes to his support. Fearing Ghatotkacha, the Kaurava army retreats for the day, accepting defeat. - 06.061
Core and Pancharatra: Dhritarastra lamenting asks what is the secret behind the victory of the Pandavas. Bhishma narrates an episode of the Gods, where Lord Brahma goes to Lord Narayana with praise. - 06.062
Pancharatra and Core: Bhishma explains the secret behind Arjuna and Vasudeva as Nara and Narayana. - 06.063
Pancharatra: On further inquiry, Bhishma explains the Pancharatra philosophy to Duryodhana. - 06.064
Pancharatra: After further elaboration of the Pancharatra by Bhishma, Duryodhana retires to bed that night. - 06.065
Core and Pancharatra: On the fifth day, Bhishma arranged the army in crocodile formation, seeing Pandavas in an unconquerable eagle formation. - 06.066
Core and Pancharatra: In the forenoon, a very terrible battle occurred between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. - 06.067
Core and Pancharatra: The battlefield was strewn with lifeless bodies as Arjuna and Bhishma fought each other. - 06.068
Core and Pancharatra: An encounter takes place between Bhishma and Bhima, where Bhima's bow is cut off by Bhishma. - 06.069
Pancharatra and Core: Encounter between Arjuna and Ashwatthama, Duryodhana and Bhima, Abhimanyu and Lalkshmana. - 06.070
Core and Pancharatra: The great battle involving Saumadatta and Bhūriśravas. Fifth day comes to an end. - 06.071
Core and Pancharatra: The sixth-day battle begins with the Makara formation of the Pandava army. The Kauravs make a formidable Krauncha counter-formation. - 06.072
Core and Pancharatra: Dhritarashtra laments the fate of his son's army, despite its being groomed and managed effectively. - 06.073
Core and Pancharatra: Bhima enters the Kaurava formation, leaving behind his chariot. Drushtadymna follows and takes Bhima on his chariot. He makes the Kaurava army retreat through the delusion weapon. Then Drona discharges a wisdom weapon to counter it. Abhimanyu and 11 others pierce the Kaurava army formation with a needle pointed formation, instructed by Yudhisthira. By afternoon, Drona is successful in defending the Pandava attack. - 06.074
Core and Pancharatra: Encounter between Bhima and Duryodhana; between Bhishma and Arjuna; - 06.075
Core and Pancharatra: Duryodhana faces defeat from Bhima. Abhimanyu encounters Vikarna. Satanika encounters Dushkarna. The days' war ends. - 06.076
Core and Pancharatra: Listening to Duryodhana's whining and complaint Bhishma assured him of his full effort. He asks to mobilize the entire Kaurava army for next day. - 06.077
Core and Pancharatra: Special medicine was administered to Duryodhana to heal his wounds. Yudhishthira, observing the fierce circular formation, arranged his troops into a diamond formation on the seventh day of the war. - 06.078
Core and Pancharatra: Suśarman was defeated by the noble Pāṇḍava; Drona kills Virata's son Shankha; encounter between Shikhandi and Ashwatthama, Satyaki and Alambusa, Dhrishtadyumna and Duryadhana, Bhima and Kritavarma. - 06.079
Core and Pancharatra: Dhritarashtra asks why the Pandavas always seem to have the upper hand. Sanjaya says it is because of his defects. Encounter between Iravan and the two brothers of Avanti, Anuvinda and Vinda; between Haiḍimba and Bhagadatta; between Nakula, Sahadeva and Shalya; - 06.080
Core and Pancharatra: As the sun reached its zenith, King Yudhishthira defeated Shrutayush; Cekitana encountered Gautama; Abhimanyu encountered Citrasena, Vikarna, and Durmarshana; - 06.081
Core and Pancharatra: Arjuna is surrounded by Trigartas. Remaining Pandava brothers attack Bhishma. Yudhisthira rebukes Shikandin for not exerting; Duryodhana's brother Citraseṇa killed by Bhima? - 06.082
Core and Pancharatra: Encounter between Yudhisthira and Bhishma; Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Sātyaki with Avanti brothers, Drona with Panchalas. The day comes to an end. - 06.083
Core and Pancharatra: Bhishma's "terrifying ocean with waves" military formation on the eighth day of war. Dhrishtadhymna forms the fierce horn-shaped counter-military formation. - 06.084
Core and Pancharatra: No one was able to stand against Bhishma except Bhimasena. Bhima kills (Sunabha, Panditaka, Kuṇḍadhāra, Pandita, Viśālākṣa, Mahodara, Adityaketu and Bahvāśina) eight brothers of Duryodhana. Duryodhana goes to Bhishma and rebukes him, saying he is mild on the Pandavas. - 06.085
Core and Pancharatra: In the afternoon, commanded by Yudhisthira, Pandava army attacks Bhishma with the intent to kill him. Drona torments Shrinjayas. Bhima goes after the elephant army. Nakula and Sahadeva go after the cavalry. - 06.086
Pancharatra and Core: Background regarding Iravan, the serpent sun of Arjuna, who fights on the side of Arjuna; Encounter between Śakuni and Gavaksha, Vrishaka, Charmavan, Arjava, and Shuka, led by Iravan; All sons of Shakuni are slaughtered; Encounter between Baka's son Arshyashringa and Iravan filled with illusion, where Iravan finally succumbs; - 06.087
Core and Pancharatra: Knowing brother Iravana's death, Ghatotkacha becomes uncontrollable; intense battle between Ghatotkacha and Duryodhana. - 06.088
Core and Pancharatra: Drona along with other Kaurava warriors comes to the rescue of Duryodhana; the combined Kaurava forces face defeat in front of great Ghatotkacha. - 06.089
Core and Pancharatra: Yudhisthira sends Bhima to support Ghatotkacha, causing Duryodhana to retreat; what followed was a great destruction where the great army of Dhritarashtra's sons was mostly dispirited. - 06.090
Core and Pancharatra: Duryodhana along with Ashwatthama make one final attempt to attack Bhima, but supported by Ghatotkacha and Abhimanyu, the Pandavas are victorious as the day comes to an end. - 06.091
Pancharatra and Core: Supratika and Bhagadatta immediately attack Ghatotkacha and Bhima, requested by Duryodhana as per the advice of Bhishma. But they encounter defeat against Bhima and Ghatotkacha. - 06.092
Pancharatra and Core: Lamentation by Arjuna on the cruel effects of war, on the loss of Iravana. Recap of the day's events. - 06.093
Core and Pancharatra: Advised by Karna, Duryodhana goes to Bhishma's camp and requests him to step down, so that Karna can takepart in the war. - 06.094
Pancharatra and Core: Bhishma speaks calmy though angry; gives examples to substantiate the strength of the Pandavas; assures he will fight the battle tomorrow that will be remembered forever. - 06.095
Core and Pancharatra: On the ninth day, the Kauravas form a formidable military formation with Bhishma at the forefront, making protection of Bhishma their primary aim, and also to ensure Shikandin and Arjuna don't come in front of him. Pandvas form a counter formation, with the placing Shikandin in front of Bhishma as their primary objective. - 06.096
Pancharatra and Core: The encounter begins with Abhimanyu attacking the Kaurava army and Duryodhana sending Arshyashringa to keep Abhimanyu engaged, so that Bhishma could attack the rest of the Pandavas. Alambusha's encounter with the five Pandava sons. - 06.097
Core and Pancharatra: The demon Alambusha is killed, and the Kaurava army starts retreating, when Bhishma surrounds Abhimanyu. In his support come Arjuna and the rest of the Pandava army. Great encounter between Satyaki and Drona along with his son. Ashvatthama is defeated by Satyaki, and Arjuna takes on Drona. - 06.098
Core and Pancharatra: Duryodhana sends Susharman, king of Trigartha's to fight Arjuna; later Vindā, Anuvindā, the two princes of Avanti, along with Bahlika obstructed Arjuna; Bhagadatta and Śrutāyu, with their elephant army, obstructed Bhīma's path; Bhūriśravāḥ, Śalaḥ, and Saubalaḥ, stopped the sons of Mādrī; Bhishma along with other soldiers encircled Yudhishthira completely; Bhima breaks the ranks of elephant army and makes the Kaurava army to retreat. - 06.099
Core and Pancharatra: At noon, battle took place between Bhishma and the Somakas, i.e. Virata and Drupada armies; mass carnage of both the armies followed. - 06.100
Core and Pancharatra: Despite being repeatedly restrained by Susharman the Kaurava soldiers did not hold their ground; Drona overpowered Drupada, making him retreat; Bhishma charged directly ahead; the Pandavas surrounded Bhishma to restrain his advance. - 06.101
Core and Pancharatra: Duryodhana sends Duḥśāsana along with his army to give cover to Bhishma; Duryodhana also dispatches ten thousand skilled horse riders to obstruct the Pandavas; Under Yudhisthira's leadership, the Pandavas emerged victorious, tackling the horse riders; Seeing this, Duryodhana sends Shalya; Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva rush to support Yudhisthira. - 06.102
Pancharatra and Core: The Pandavas, with their chariots, elephants, and horses struck down by Bhishma, were in a state of panic; while Yudhishthira retreated, Arjuna faced Bhishma head on, urged by Krishna; Seeing mild Arjuna Krishna takes up arms against Bhishma, only to be pestered by Arjuna; As the sun set, Pandu's army sought relief. - 06.103
Pancharatra and Core: The Pandavas visit Bhishma that night, and as per his advice, plan to attack him keeping Shikandin in front. - 06.104
Pancharatra and Core: On the tenth day, while Arjuna held back all the charioteers, Shikandin advanced against Bhishma, who refused to fight. - 06.105
Pancharatra and Core: Unable to withstand the Pandava army, Duryodhana urges Bhishma to move forward. Taking the opportunity, Bhishma calls on the Pandavas for a final encounter. - 06.106
Core and Pancharatra: All the Pandavas' army attacked Bhishma, with the understanding that Arjuna would fight Bhishma keeping Shikandin at the front. Each of the Pandava warriors was restrained by counter-warriors from the Kaurava side. Arjuna was unable to surpass Duḥśāsana's chariot for a while; - 06.107
Core and Pancharatra: Attack from every side of the Pandava side with the intent to kill Bhishma was restrained by the Kauravas, but was thoroughly shaken. - 06.108
Pancharatra and Core: Drona speaks of the bad omen everywhere, indicating harm to Bhishma. To guard Ashvatthama, Drona asks him to avoid Arjuna; he goes to Yudhisthira, while sends his son to Dhrishtadyumna. - 06.109
Core and Pancharatra: Bhima single-handedly withstood the onslaught of Salya, Kritavarma, Bhagadatta, and Kripa; Duryodhana dispatched Susharman to engage with Arjuna. - 06.110
Core and Pancharatra: While Arjuna and Bhima are jointly restraining the Kaurava army, Yudhisthira with the rest of his army engages with Bhishma with Shikandin at the forefront. - 06.111
Pancharatra and Core: Slightly different version of the agreement between Yudhishthira and Bhishma with a varied version of day ten recap till now. - 06.112
Pancharatra and Core: Recap of the war till now, by a different author, with Arjuna at the centre. - 06.113
Pancharatra and Core: Narration by a different author; recap of the war; Virata's brother Shatanika killed; - 06.114
Pancharatra and Core: Shikhandi, protected by Arjuna, attacked Bhishma; Bhishma fell, and decides to sustain his life until the northern solstice arrived. - 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. - 06.116
Pancharatra and Core: The next morning, Arjuna creates a continuous spring to provide water to Bhishma, who advises both sides to cease hostilities. - 06.117
Pancharatra and Core: Karna visits Bhishma and takes his blessings to engage in war.