Critical Edition
संजय उवाच गतपूर्वाह्णभूयिष्ठे तस्मिन्नहनि दारुणे वर्तमाने महारौद्रे महावीरवरक्षये
AI Translation: Sanjaya said When most of the day had passed in that terrible day, when the great slaughter of the best of heroes was taking place in the great battle,
दुर्मुखः कृतवर्मा च कृपः शल्यो विविंशतिः भीष्मं जुगुपुरासाद्य तव पुत्रेण चोदिताः
AI Translation: Duryodhana, Duhshasana, Duhshāsana, Duḥśalā, Duḥśalā, Duḥśalā, Duḥśalā, Duḥśalā, Duḥśalā, Duḥśalā, Duḥśal
एतैरतिरथैर्गुप्तः पञ्चभिर्भरतर्षभ पाण्डवानामनीकानि विजगाहे महारथः
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, protected by those five great car-warriors that great hero penetrated the Pandava army.
चेदिकाशिकरूषेषु पाञ्चालेषु च भारत भीष्मस्य बहुधा तालश्चरन्केतुरदृश्यत
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, the palmyra standard of Bhishma was seen to glide continuously through the Chedis, the Kashis, the Karushas and the Panchalas.
शिरांसि च तदा भीष्मो बाहूंश्चापि सहायुधान् निचकर्त महावेगैर्भल्लैः संनतपर्वभिः
M. N. Dutt: That hero (Bhishma) cut off the heads (of the foes) and their cars with yokes and standards with broad-headed, swifts and perfectly straight arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
6.45.5 For 5ab, S subst.: *145 धनूंषि रथिनां भीष्मः सोत्सेधानि शिरांसि च बाहूनपि तथा चोरून्रथांश्च विपुलध्वजान् After 5, S ins.: *146 एकैकेन तु मातङ्गा नाराचेन महात्मना ताडिताः सहसा जग्मुः पृथिवीं पर्वतोपमाः
नृत्यतो रथमार्गेषु भीष्मस्य भरतर्षभ केचिदार्तस्वरं चक्रुर्नागा मर्मणि ताडिताः
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, Bhishma seemed to dance on his car as it moved about. Some elephants vitally wounded by him, shrieked in great agony.
Supplementary Passages:
6.45.6 After 6ab, S ins.: *147 दुराधर्षस्तु शत्रूणां मनांसि समकम्पयत् हयांश्च सहयारोहान्पातयामास सायकैः स रथेन महेष्वासो विचरन्बहुधा बली मण्डलानि च वीथीश्च गोमूत्राणि च भारत अन्यांश्च सुबहून्मार्गान्रथेन रथकोविदः विस्मापयञ्शत्रुसंघान्व्यचरज्जाह्नवीसुतः
अभिमन्युः सुसंक्रुद्धः पिशङ्गैस्तुरगोत्तमैः संयुक्तं रथमास्थाय प्रायाद्भीष्मरथं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Abhimanyu angrily rushed towards Bhishma's car on his own car yoked with excellent horses of brown colour.
जाम्बूनदविचित्रेण कर्णिकारेण केतुना अभ्यवर्षत भीष्मं च तांश्चैव रथसत्तमान्
M. N. Dutt: And adorned with a standard decked with pure gold and resembling a Karnikara tree, he attacked Bhishma and those five foremost of car-warriors.
Supplementary Passages:
6.45.8 After 8ab, G2 ins.: *148 अभ्यवर्षच्छल्यमुखान्रथान्सतालकेतुना
स तालकेतोस्तीक्ष्णेन केतुमाहत्य पत्रिणा भीष्मेण युयुधे वीरस्तस्य चानुचरैः सह
M. N. Dutt: Striking with a sharp arrows the palmyra standard (of Bhishma) that hero fought with Bhishma and those others warriors who were protecting him.
कृतवर्माणमेकेन शल्यं पञ्चभिरायसैः विद्ध्वा नवभिरानर्छच्छिताग्रैः प्रपितामहम्
M. N. Dutt: Wounding Kritvarma with one arrow and Shalya with five, he weakened his great grandfather with nine arrows.
पूर्णायतविसृष्टेन सम्यक्प्रणिहितेन च ध्वजमेकेन विव्याध जाम्बूनदविभूषितम्
M. N. Dutt: With one arrow shot from his bow drawn to its fullest extent, he cut off (Bhishma's) standard adorned with gold,
दुर्मुखस्य तु भल्लेन सर्वावरणभेदिना जहार सारथेः कायाच्छिरः संनतपर्वणा
M. N. Dutt: With one broad-headed and straight arrow capable of penetrating every thing, he cut off the head of Durmukha's charioteer.
Supplementary Passages:
6.45.12 After 12, S ins.: *149 विविंशतिस्त्रिभिर्बाणैः सर्वावरणभेदिभिः
धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन कार्तस्वरविभूषितम् कृपस्य निशिताग्रेण तांश्च तीक्ष्णमुखैः शरैः
AI Translation: With a broad-headed arrow he cut through his bow, which was decorated with gold, And with sharp-pointed arrows he struck Kripa and the others in the face.
जघान परमक्रुद्धो नृत्यन्निव महारथः तस्य लाघवमुद्वीक्ष्य तुतुषुर्देवता अपि
AI Translation: The great chariot-warrior, dancing as it were, killed him in great anger. Even the gods were delighted at seeing his agility.
लब्धलक्ष्यतया कार्ष्णेः सर्वे भीष्ममुखा रथाः सत्त्ववन्तममन्यन्त साक्षादिव धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the great exactness of Abhimanyu's aim, all the car-warriors with Bhishma at their head, considered that he possessed the great capacity (of his father) Dhananjaya.
तस्य लाघवमार्गस्थमलातसदृशप्रभम् दिशः पर्यपतच्चापं गाण्डीवमिव घोषवत्
M. N. Dutt: His bow, sending forth sound like the twang of Gandiva while stretched and restretched, seemed to revolve like a circle of fire.
तमासाद्य महावेगैर्भीष्मो नवभिराशुगैः विव्याध समरे तूर्णमार्जुनिं परवीरहा
M. N. Dutt: Then that chastiser of foes, Bhishma rushing on him with great impetuosity, soon, wounded the son of Arjuna with nine arrows.
ध्वजं चास्य त्रिभिर्भल्लैश्चिच्छेद परमौजसः सारथिं च त्रिभिर्बाणैराजघान यतव्रतः
M. N. Dutt: He too with three broad-headed arrows cut off the standard of that greatly powerful warrior. Of rigid vows, Bhishma also struck his adversary's charioteer.
तथैव कृतवर्मा च कृपः शल्यश्च मारिष विद्ध्वा नाकम्पयत्कार्ष्णिं मैनाकमिव पर्वतम्
M. N. Dutt: O sire, Kritavarmana, Kripa and Shalya, piercing Arjuna's son, all failed to make him, waver for he stood firm like the Mainaka mountain.
Supplementary Passages:
6.45.19 After 19ab, S ins.: *150 विविंशतिस्तथा राजन्सर्वे विद्ध्वा महारथाः
स तैः परिवृतः शूरो धार्तराष्ट्रैर्महारथैः ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि कार्ष्णिः पञ्चरथान्प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Though surrounded by those greatest carwarriors of Dhritarashtra's army, the heroic son of Arjuna still showered, on those five carwarriors, a down pour of arrows.
ततस्तेषां महास्त्राणि संवार्य शरवृष्टिभिः ननाद बलवान्कार्ष्णिर्भीष्माय विसृजञ्शरान्
M. N. Dutt: Baffling their great weapons by a shower of arrows and pouring on Bhishma a shower of his arrows, the mighty son of Arjuna sent up a loud roar.
तत्रास्य सुमहद्राजन्बाह्वोर्बलमदृश्यत यतमानस्य समरे भीष्ममर्दयतः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: When he was thus struggling in the battle, and afflicting Bhishma with (his) arrows, the strength of his arms we saw then was very great.
पराक्रान्तस्य तस्यैव भीष्मोऽपि प्राहिणोच्छरान् स तांश्चिच्छेद समरे भीष्मचापच्युताञ्शरान्
M. N. Dutt: Possessed of such great power, Bhishma shot his arrows at him. But he (Abhimanyu) cut off in the fight all the arrows shot from Bhishma's bow.
ततो ध्वजममोघेषुर्भीष्मस्य नवभिः शरैः चिच्छेद समरे वीरस्तत उच्चुक्रुशुर्जनाः
M. N. Dutt: Then that brave bowman cut off with nine arrows, the standard of Bhishma in the great battle. When this great deed was done, the people sent forth a loud shout.
स राजतो महास्कन्धस्तालो हेमविभूषितः सौभद्रविशिखैश्छिन्नः पपात भुवि भारत
M. N. Dutt: Adorned with jewels and made of silver, that tall palmyra-deviced standard. 0 descendant of Bharata, cut off by the arrows of Subhadra's son, fell down on the ground.
ध्वजं सौभद्रविशिखैः पतितं भरतर्षभ दृष्ट्वा भीमोऽनदद्धृष्टः सौभद्रमभिहर्षयन्
M. N. Dutt: 0 best of the Bharata race, seeing that standard cut down by the arrows of Subhadra's son, the proud Bhishma sent up a loud shout to cheer up the son of Subhadra.
अथ भीष्मो महास्त्राणि दिव्यानि च बहूनि च प्रादुश्चक्रे महारौद्रः क्षणे तस्मिन्महाबलः
M. N. Dutt: Then in that great battle, the mighty Bhimasena caused many powerful celestial weapons to app-ear.
ततः शतसहस्रेण सौभद्रं प्रपितामहः अवाकिरदमेयात्मा शराणां नतपर्वणाम्
M. N. Dutt: The high-souled great grandsire (Bhishma) then covered Subhadra's son with thousands of arrows.
ततो दश महेष्वासाः पाण्डवानां महारथाः रक्षार्थमभ्यधावन्त सौभद्रं त्वरिता रथैः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon ten great bowmen and mighty car-warriors of the Pandava (army) soon rushed on their cars to protect the son of Subhadra.
विराटः सह पुत्रेण धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः भीमश्च केकयाश्चैव सात्यकिश्च विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: O king, these were Virata and his son, the descendant of Prishata, Dhrishtadyumna, Bhima, the five Kaikeya brothers, and Satyaki.
जवेनापततां तेषां भीष्मः शांतनवो रणे पाञ्चाल्यं त्रिभिरानर्छत्सात्यकिं निशितैः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: As they were rushing upon him with great impetuosity, the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, in that great battle, wounded the Panchala prices with three arrows and Satyaki with nine.
पूर्णायतविसृष्टेन क्षुरेण निशितेन च ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छेद भीमसेनस्य पत्रिणा
M. N. Dutt: With one winged arrow as sharp as a razor shot from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch, he cut off the standard of Bhimasena.
जाम्बूनदमयः केतुः केसरी नरसत्तम पपात भीमसेनस्य भीष्मेण मथितो रथात्
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of men, the lion-deviced standard of Bhimasena, made cf gold, being cut off by Bhishma, fell from the car.
भीमसेनस्त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा भीष्मं शांतनवं रणे कृपमेकेन विव्याध कृतवर्माणमष्टभिः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Bhima wounded the son of Shantanu with three arrows, Kripa with one and Kritavarman with eight.
प्रगृहीताग्रहस्तेन वैराटिरपि दन्तिना अभ्यद्रवत राजानं मद्राधिपतिमुत्तरः
M. N. Dutt: The son of Virata, Uttara, also riding on an elephant with upraised trunk attacked the king of Madra.
तस्य वारणराजस्य जवेनापततो रथी शल्यो निवारयामास वेगमप्रतिमं रणे
M. N. Dutt: But Shalya checked the great impetuosity of that foremost of elephants rushing towards his car.
तस्य क्रुद्धः स नागेन्द्रो बृहतः साधुवाहिनः पदा युगमधिष्ठाय जघान चतुरो हयान्
M. N. Dutt: But that foremost of elephants angrily placed his let on the yoke of (Shalya's) car and killed his four large and swift horses.
स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठन्मद्राधिपतिरायसीम् उत्तरान्तकरीं शक्तिं चिक्षेप भुजगोपमाम्
M. N. Dutt: The king of Madra,. staying on the car the horses of which had been killed, hurled an iron dart, which resembled a snake, in order to kill Uttara.
तया भिन्नतनुत्राणः प्रविश्य विपुलं तमः स पपात गजस्कन्धात्प्रमुक्ताङ्कुशतोमरः
M. N. Dutt: His armour being cut through by the dart, he lost consciousness and fell from the elephant, the hook and the lance also fell loosened from his grasp.
समादाय च शल्योऽसिमवप्लुत्य रथोत्तमात् वारणेन्द्रस्य विक्रम्य चिच्छेदाथ महाकरम्
M. N. Dutt: Shalya then took up his sword and jumping down from his excellent car, he with great force cut off the large trunk of that great elephant.
भिन्नमर्मा शरव्रातैश्छिन्नहस्तः स वारणः भीममार्तस्वरं कृत्वा पपात च ममार च
M. N. Dutt: His armour pierced all over with a shower of arrows and his trunk cut off, that elephant sent forth a loud shriek. He then fell down and expired.
एतदीदृशकं कृत्वा मद्रराजो महारथः आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं भास्वरं कृतवर्मणः
M. N. Dutt: O king, performing this great feat, the Madra king soon got the of Kritavarman.
उत्तरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा वैराटिर्भ्रातरं शुभम् कृतवर्मणा च सहितं दृष्ट्वा शल्यमवस्थितम् शङ्खः क्रोधात्प्रजज्वाल हविषा हव्यवाडिव
AI Translation: Seeing his brother Uttarā's son killed, and seeing Kripa and the son of Drona, and seeing Shalya standing with Kritavarman, Shanku blazed with anger like a fire with oblations.
स विस्फार्य महच्चापं कार्तस्वरविभूषितम् अभ्यधावज्जिघांसन्वै शल्यं मद्राधिपं बली
AI Translation: Having drawn his great bow, adorned with gold, the powerful one ran towards Shalya, the king of Madra, desiring to kill him.
महता रथवंशेन समन्तात्परिवारितः सृजन्बाणमयं वर्षं प्रायाच्छल्यरथं प्रति
AI Translation: Surrounded on all sides by a great army of chariots, He released a rain of arrows and went towards Shalya's chariot.
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य मत्तवारणविक्रमम् तावकानां रथाः सप्त समन्तात्पर्यवारयन् मद्रराजं परीप्सन्तो मृत्योर्दंष्ट्रान्तरं गतम्
M. N. Dutt: Pouring a shower of arrows. Shankha rushed towards the car of Shalya. Seeing him advance like a mad elephant, seven great carwarriors on your side surrounded him in order to rescue the Madra king who was almost within the jaws of death.
ततो भीष्मो महाबाहुर्विनद्य जलदो यथा तालमात्रं धनुर्गृह्य शङ्खमभ्यद्रवद्रणे
M. N. Dutt: The long armed Bhishma challenged in reciprocation with his voice thundering like clouds, picked up a bow measuring four hands length and attacked on Shankha in the battlefield.
तमुद्यतमुदीक्ष्याथ महेष्वासं महाबलम् संत्रस्ता पाण्डवी सेना वातवेगहतेव नौः
M. N. Dutt: The Pandavas' army shivered like a boat dwindling due to strong wind when it saw mighty archer Bhishma ready to fight fiercely. Seeing that great car-warrior and great bowman thus rush (towards) Shankha, the Pandava army began to tremble like a boat tossed by the tempest.
तत्रार्जुनः संत्वरितः शङ्खस्यासीत्पुरःसरः भीष्माद्रक्ष्योऽयमद्येति ततो युद्धमवर्तत
AI Translation: There, Arjuna was in front of the conch shell, hurrying. "Then the battle began, thinking, ""He should be protected from Bhishma today."""
हाहाकारो महानासीद्योधानां युधि युध्यताम् तेजस्तेजसि संपृक्तमित्येवं विस्मयं ययुः
AI Translation: There was a great cry of "Alas!" among the warriors fighting in battle. They were amazed, thinking, "The power is mixed with power."
अथ शल्यो गदापाणिरवतीर्य महारथात् शङ्खस्य चतुरो वाहानहनद्भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, then Shalya jumped down from his large car with his mace in hand, and killed the four horses of Shankha's car.
स हताश्वाद्रथात्तूर्णं खड्गमादाय विद्रुतः बीभत्सोः स्यन्दनं प्राप्य ततः शान्तिमविन्दत
M. N. Dutt: Shankha leaped down from his car thus deprived of its horses, and taking a sword, he ran towards the car of Vibhatsu. He then got on it and once more was at his ease.
ततो भीष्मरथात्तूर्णमुत्पतन्ति पतत्रिणः यैरन्तरिक्षं भूमिश्च सर्वतः समवस्तृतम्
M. N. Dutt: There was shot from Bhishma's innumerable arrows with which both the sky and the earth were covered.
Supplementary Passages:
6.45.53 After 53, Ś1 ins. (cf. 54a, 55b): *151 पाञ्चालानथ मत्स्यं च द्रुपदं सेनया वृतम्
पाञ्चालानथ मत्स्यांश्च केकयांश्च प्रभद्रकान् भीष्मः प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठः पातयामास मार्गणैः
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of heroes, Bhishma killed with his arrows innumerable troops of the Panchalas, the Matasya's, the Kaikeyas and the Prabhadraka hosts.
उत्सृज्य समरे तूर्णं पाण्डवं सव्यसाचिनम् अभ्यद्रवत पाञ्चाल्यं द्रुपदं सेनया वृतम् प्रियं संबन्धिनं राजञ्शरानवकिरन्बहून्
M. N. Dutt: Abandoning the battle with the son of Pandu viz., Savyasachin (Arjuna), Bhishima rushed towards Drupada, the Panchala king, who stood surrounded by his troops.
अग्निनेव प्रदग्धानि वनानि शिशिरात्यये शरदग्धान्यदृश्यन्त सैन्यानि द्रुपदस्य ह अतिष्ठत रणे भीष्मो विधूम इव पावकः
M. N. Dutt: As a forest in consumed by fire at the end of winter, so were the troops of Drupada scen to be consumed (by Bhishma). Bhishina stood in that battle like a blazing fire without smoke, or like the sun at mid-day, scorching every thing around. The Pandava troops could not even look at Bhishma.
मध्यंदिने यथादित्यं तपन्तमिव तेजसा न शेकुः पाण्डवेयस्य योधा भीष्मं निरीक्षितुम्
AI Translation: At midday, as if the sun were shining with its brilliance, the warriors of the Pandavas were unable to look at Bhishma.
वीक्षां चक्रुः समन्तात्ते पाण्डवा भयपीडिताः त्रातारं नाध्यगच्छन्त गावः शीतार्दिता इव
M. N. Dutt: Afflicted with fear, the Pandava troops looked around, and not finding any protector, they appeared like a herd of kine afflicted with cold.
Supplementary Passages:
6.45.58 After 58, Dn2 D4 ins.: *152 सा तु यौधिष्ठिरी सेना गाङ्गेयशरपीडिता सिंहेनेव विनिर्भिन्ना शुक्ला गौरिव गोपतेः
हतविप्रद्रुते सैन्ये निरुत्साहे विमर्दिते हाहाकारो महानासीत्पाण्डुसैन्येषु भारत
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, being slaughtered in great numbers and crushed when retreating, the Pandava troops cried “Oh” and “Alas”.
ततो भीष्मः शांतनवो नित्यं मण्डलकार्मुकः मुमोच बाणान्दीप्ताग्रानहीनाशीविषानिव
AI Translation: Then Bhishma, Shāntanava, always with a circular bow, released arrows with sharp tips like snakes without poison.
शरैरेकायनीकुर्वन्दिशः सर्वा यतव्रतः जघान पाण्डवरथानादिश्यादिश्य भारत
AI Translation: Making the directions one-way with arrows, he, restrained in his vows, Slew the Pandava chariots, O descendant of Bharata.
ततः सैन्येषु भग्नेषु मथितेषु च सर्वशः प्राप्ते चास्तं दिनकरे न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
M. N. Dutt: When the Pandava troops were thus routed and crushed all over the field, the sun set, the night came, and nothing could be seen.
भीष्मं च समुदीर्यन्तं दृष्ट्वा पार्था महाहवे अवहारमकुर्वन्त सैन्यानां भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, seeing Bhishma still proudly standing in battle, the sons of Pritha withdrew their forces.