Critical Edition
संजय उवाच कृतेऽवहारे सैन्यानां प्रथमे भरतर्षभ भीष्मे च युधि संरब्धे हृष्टे दुर्योधने तथा
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O best of the Bharata race, when the troops were withdrawn on the first day (of battle) and when Duryodhana was exceedingly glad in seeing Bhishma angry in the field of battle.
धर्मराजस्ततस्तूर्णमभिगम्य जनार्दनम् भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैः सर्वैश्चैव जनेश्वरैः
M. N. Dutt: Dharmaraja Yudhishthira soon went to Janardana with all his brothers and with all the kings of his side.
शुचा परमया युक्तश्चिन्तयानः पराजयम् वार्ष्णेयमब्रवीद्राजन्दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्य विक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: Being greatly afflicted with the defeat and seeing Bhishma's prowess, O king, he thus spoke to the Vrishni chief (Krishna).
कृष्ण पश्य महेष्वासं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम् शरैर्दहन्तं सैन्यं मे ग्रीष्मे कक्षमिवानलम्
M. N. Dutt: O Krishna, behold the greatly powerful and mighty bowman Bhishma. He consumes my troops with his arrows as fire consumes dry grass.
Supplementary Passages:
6.46.4 After 4cd, D1 ins.: *153 युधिष्ठिरो महाराज दृष्ट्वा कृष्णमथाब्रवीत्
कथमेनं महात्मानं शक्ष्यामः प्रतिवीक्षितुम् लेलिह्यमानं सैन्यं मे हविष्मन्तमिवानलम्
M. N. Dutt: How shall we even look at that illustrious one who is consuming my troops like fire fed with Ghee..
एतं हि पुरुषव्याघ्रं धनुष्मन्तं महाबलम् दृष्ट्वा विप्रद्रुतं सैन्यं मदीयं मार्गणाहतम्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that foremost of men, that great warrior, armed with bow, my troops afflicted with his arrows, fly away (in all directions).
शक्यो जेतुं यमः क्रुद्धो वज्रपाणिश्च संयुगे वरुणः पाशभृच्चापि कुबेरो वा गदाधरः
M. N. Dutt: Even angry Yama himself, or the wielder of the thunder-bolt (Indra) or the wielder of the noose, Varuna, or the holder of the mace, Kubera, may be defeated in battle.
न तु भीष्मो महातेजाः शक्यो जेतुं महाबलः सोऽहमेवं गते मग्नो भीष्मागाधजलेऽप्लवः
M. N. Dutt: But the greatly effulgent and mighty carwarrior Bhishma is incapable of being defeated. Such being the case, I am sinking in the fathomless ocean (Bhishma) without a boat.
आत्मनो बुद्धिदौर्बल्याद्भीष्ममासाद्य केशव वनं यास्यामि गोविन्द श्रेयो मे तत्र जीवितुम्
AI Translation: O Keshava, because of my own weakness of intellect, I have come to Bhishma. O Govinda, I shall go to the forest. It is better for me to live there.
न त्विमान्पृथिवीपालान्दातुं भीष्माय मृत्यवे क्षपयिष्यति सेनां मे कृष्ण भीष्मो महास्त्रवित्
AI Translation: But he will not give these kings to Bhishma, the bringer of death. Krishna, Bhishma, who is skilled in the use of great weapons, will destroy my army.
यथानलं प्रज्वलितं पतंगाः समभिद्रुताः विनाशायैव गच्छन्ति तथा मे सैनिको जनः
M. N. Dutt: As insects rush into the blazing fire for their own destruction, so do my troops in this fearful battle.
क्षयं नीतोऽस्मि वार्ष्णेय राज्यहेतोः पराक्रमी भ्रातरश्चैव मे वीराः कर्शिताः शरपीडिताः
AI Translation: O Varshneya, I have been brought to ruin for the sake of the kingdom by the valorous one. And my brothers, the heroes, have been afflicted and tormented by arrows.
मत्कृते भ्रातृसौहार्दाद्राज्याद्भ्रष्टास्तथा सुखात् जीवितं बहु मन्येऽहं जीवितं ह्यद्य दुर्लभम्
AI Translation: For my sake, they have been deprived of their kingdom and happiness due to their affection for their brother. I value life highly, for life is difficult to obtain today.
जीवितस्य हि शेषेण तपस्तप्स्यामि दुश्चरम् न घातयिष्यामि रणे मित्राणीमानि केशव
AI Translation: With the remainder of my life, I will practice austerities that are difficult to practice. O Keshava, I will not kill these friends in battle.
रथान्मे बहुसाहस्रान्दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्महाबलः घातयत्यनिशं भीष्मः प्रवराणां प्रहारिणाम्
M. N. Dutt: The mighty Bhishma continuously kills with his celestial weapons many thousands of my car-warriors who are foremost of heroes.
किं नु कृत्वा कृतं मे स्याद्ब्रूहि माधव माचिरम् मध्यस्थमिव पश्यामि समरे सव्यसाचिनम्
M. N. Dutt: O Madhava, tell me soon what should be done for my good. As regards Arjuna, I see he is indifferent in this battle, he behaves like a spectator.
एको भीमः परं शक्त्या युध्यत्येष महाभुजः केवलं बाहुवीर्येण क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्
M. N. Dutt: The greatly powerful Bhishma alone, remembering Kshatriya duties, fights with all the prowess of his arms and to the utmost of his Power.
गदया वीरघातिन्या यथोत्साहं महामनाः करोत्यसुकरं कर्म गजाश्वरथपत्तिषु
M. N. Dutt: With his great mace that kills the heroes, this illustrious one (Bhishma), with the best of his powers, achieves the most difficult feats on foot-soldiers, horses, car and elephants.
नालमेष क्षयं कर्तुं परसैन्यस्य मारिष आर्जवेनैव युद्धेन वीर वर्षशतैरपि
M. N. Dutt: O sire, this hero, however, is incapable of destroying in a fair fight the troops of our army if he tries for one hundred years.
एकोऽस्त्रवित्सखा तेऽयं सोऽप्यस्मान्समुपेक्षते निर्दह्यमानान्भीष्मेण द्रोणेन च महात्मना
M. N. Dutt: This your friend (Arjuna) alone is learned in all weapons. Seeing us consumed by Bhishma and the illustrious Drona, he only looks on us with indifference.
दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि भीष्मस्य द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः धक्ष्यन्ति क्षत्रियान्सर्वान्प्रयुक्तानि पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: The celestial weapons of Bhishma and those of the illustrious Drona are continuously consuming all the Kshatriyas.
कृष्ण भीष्मः सुसंरब्धः सहितः सर्वपार्थिवैः क्षपयिष्यति नो नूनं यादृशोऽस्य पराक्रमः
M. N. Dutt: OKrishna, such is the prowess of Bhishma; if he is angry, he will, with the help of the kings (on his side), certainly annihilate us.
स त्वं पश्य महेष्वासं योगीष्वर महारथम् यो भीष्मं शमयेत्संख्ये दावाग्निं जलदो यथा
M. N. Dutt: O lord of Yoga, search out that great bowman, that mighty car-warriors who will be able to extinguish Bhishma's prowess, as rain charged clouds extinguish a forest-fire.
तव प्रसादाद्गोविन्द पाण्डवा निहतद्विषः स्वराज्यमनुसंप्राप्ता मोदिष्यन्ति सबान्धवाः
M. N. Dutt: 0 Govinda, through your grace the Pandavas will recover their kingdom when their enemies will be killed and they will be happy with their kinsmen.
एवमुक्त्वा ततः पार्थो ध्यायन्नास्ते महामनाः चिरमन्तर्मना भूत्वा शोकोपहतचेतनः
M. N. Dutt: Having said this, the high-souled son of Pritha, in great grief, remained silent for a long time in a reflected mood.
शोकार्तं पाण्डवं ज्ञात्वा दुःखेन हतचेतसम् अब्रवीत्तत्र गोविन्दो हर्षयन्सर्वपाण्डवान्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the Pandava (Yudhishthira) afflicted with grief and deprived of his senses by sorrow, Govinda thus spoke giving excessive delight to all.
मा शुचो भरतश्रेष्ठ न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि यस्य ते भ्रातरः शूराः सर्वलोकस्य धन्विनः
M. N. Dutt: "O best of the Bharata race, do not grieve. You would not grieve, when all your brothers are heroes and illustrious bow-men.
अहं च प्रियकृद्राजन्सात्यकिश्च महारथः विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धौ धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः
M. N. Dutt: I am also engaged in doing good to you, so are the great car-warriors Satyaki, the revered Virata and Drupada and also the descendant of Prishata, Dhrishtadyumna.
तथैव सबलाः सर्वे राजानो राजसत्तम त्वत्प्रसादं प्रतीक्षन्ते त्वद्भक्ताश्च विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: O best of kings, O monarch, all these kings with their troops are all in your favour. They are all devoted to you.
एष ते पार्षतो नित्यं हितकामः प्रिये रतः सेनापत्यमनुप्राप्तो धृष्टद्युम्नो महाबलः शिखण्डी च महाबाहो भीष्मस्य निधनं किल
M. N. Dutt: This great car-warrior, this descendant of Prishata, this Dhrishtadyumna, who had been placed in command of your troops, is always desirous of your welfare. He is ever engaged in doing what is agreeable to you.
Supplementary Passages:
6.46.30 After 30, M3-5 ins.: *154 स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल शार्दूलसमविक्रम सेनापत्येन राजेन्द्र धृष्टद्युम्नं नियोजय
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततो राजा धृष्टद्युम्नं महारथम् अब्रवीत्समितौ तस्यां वासुदेवस्य शृण्वतः
AI Translation: Hearing this, the king then spoke to the great warrior Dhrishtadyumna in that assembly, while Vasudeva was listening.
धृष्टद्युम्न निबोधेदं यत्त्वा वक्ष्यामि मारिष नातिक्रम्यं भवेत्तच्च वचनं मम भाषितम्
AI Translation: O Dhristadyumna, listen to this, O friend, to what I am going to tell you. Let not that be transgressed which is my speech.
भवान्सेनापतिर्मह्यं वासुदेवेन संमतः कार्त्तिकेयो यथा नित्यं देवानामभवत्पुरा तथा त्वमपि पाण्डूनां सेनानीः पुरुषर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of men, as in the days of yore, Kartikeya was the commander of the celestial army, so are you commander of the Pandava army.
स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल विक्रम्य जहि कौरवान् अहं च त्वानुयास्यामि भीमः कृष्णश्च मारिष
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of men, putting forth your prowess, kill of Kurus, O sire, I shall follow you Bhima and Krishna,
माद्रीपुत्रौ च सहितौ द्रौपदेयाश्च दंशिताः ये चान्ये पृथिवीपालाः प्रधानाः पुरुषर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: The sons of Madri, the sons of Draupadi clad in armour and also all the other foremost of kings, O best of men, (will also follow you)"
Supplementary Passages:
6.46.35 After 35, M3-5 ins.: *155 एतावदुक्त्वा नृपतिः सहदेवमभाषत अभिषेकस्य संभारान्क्षिप्रमानय वै जवात् प्रादुरासीत्ततो धौम्यः संभारान्गृह्य भारत सहदेवेन सहितः पाण्डवाय न्यवेदयत् ततस्तं पुरुषव्याघ्रं द्रुपदस्यात्मजं युधि भद्रपीठे सुखं न्यस्य अभिषेचयदच्युतः अशोभताभिषिक्तो हि द्रुपदस्यात्मजो बली यथा देवासुरे युद्धे कार्त्तिकेयो ह्यशोभत
तत उद्धर्षयन्सर्वान्धृष्टद्युम्नोऽभ्यभाषत अहं द्रोणान्तकः पार्थ विहितः शंभुना पुरा
M. N. Dutt: Then giving delight to all who heard him, Dhrishtadyumna thus spoke; “O son of Pritha, I am the ordained slayer of Drona."
रणे भीष्मं तथा द्रोणं कृपं शल्यं जयद्रथम् सर्वानद्य रणे दृप्तान्प्रतियोत्स्यामि पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: O king! I shall now fight with Bhishma. Drona, Kripa, Shalya, Jayadratha and all the other proud kings.
अथोत्क्रुष्टं महेष्वासैः पाण्डवैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः समुद्यते पार्थिवेन्द्रे पार्षते शत्रुसूदने
AI Translation: Then the great archers, the Pandavas, who were difficult to conquer in battle, shouted. When the lord of kings, the destroyer of enemies, Parshata, was raised up,
Supplementary Passages:
6.46.38 For 38ab, S subst.: *156 तच्छ्रुत्वा जहृषुः पार्थाः पार्थिवाश्च महारथाः
तमब्रवीत्ततः पार्थः पार्षतं पृतनापतिम् व्यूहः क्रौञ्चारुणो नाम सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणः
AI Translation: Then Partha spoke to the leader of the army, Parshata, "The formation is called the Red-Crested Crane, which destroys all enemies."
यं बृहस्पतिरिन्द्राय तदा देवासुरेऽब्रवीत् तं यथावत्प्रतिव्यूह परानीकविनाशनम् अदृष्टपूर्वं राजानः पश्यन्तु कुरुभिः सह
M. N. Dutt: and which was spoken of by Brihaspati to Indra in the days of old when the celestial and the Asuras fought, kindly now from that Vyuha destructive of the hostile troops.
तथोक्तः स नृदेवेन विष्णुर्वज्रभृता इव प्रभाते सर्वसैन्यानामग्रे चक्रे धनंजयम्
AI Translation: Thus addressed by the king of men, Vishnu, like the bearer of the thunderbolt, placed Dhananjaya at the head of all the armies at dawn.
आदित्यपथगः केतुस्तस्याद्भुतमनोरमः शासनात्पुरुहूतस्य निर्मितो विश्वकर्मणा
AI Translation: The banner, which moves along the path of the sun, is wonderful and delightful. It was created by Vishvakarma at the command of Puruhuta.
इन्द्रायुधसवर्णाभिः पताकाभिरलंकृतः आकाशग इवाकाशे गन्धर्वनगरोपमः नृत्यमान इवाभाति रथचर्यासु मारिष
AI Translation: Adorned with flags of the color of Indra's weapon, Like a gandharva city in the sky, He appears to be dancing in the chariot rides, O friend.
तेन रत्नवता पार्थः स च गाण्डीवधन्वना बभूव परमोपेतः स्वयंभूरिव भानुना
M. N. Dutt: Arjuna was graced by that flag studded with gems and that flag was graced by Arjuna by that flag studded with gems and that flag was graced by Arjuna holding Gandiva bow. It was just the same as sun god is graced by Meru mountain and Meru mountain receives grandeur from the presence of sun god.
शिरोऽभूद्द्रुपदो राजा महत्या सेनया वृतः कुन्तिभोजश्च चैद्यश्च चक्षुष्यास्तां जनेश्वर
M. N. Dutt: The king Drupada, surrounded by a large number of troops, stood at the head of that Vyuha, becoming as if its head. The two kings Kuntibhoja and Shaivya became its two eyes.
दाशार्णकाः प्रयागाश्च दाशेरकगणैः सह अनूपगाः किराताश्च ग्रीवायां भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, the ruler of the Dasharhas, the Prayagas, the Dasherakas, the Anupakas and the Kiratas were placed in its neck.
पटच्चरैश्च हुण्डैश्च राजन्पौरवकैस्तथा निषादैः सहितश्चापि पृष्ठमासीद्युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: O king, Yudhishthira with the Patachcharas, the Pundras, the Puravakas and the Nishadas, became its back.
पक्षौ तु भीमसेनश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः द्रौपदेयाभिमन्युश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः
M. N. Dutt: Bhimasena, the descendant of Prishat Dhrishtadyumna, the sons of Draupadi, Abhimanyu, and that great car-warrior Satyaki became its two wings.
पिशाचा दरदाश्चैव पुण्ड्राः कुण्डीविषैः सह मडका लडकाश्चैव तङ्गणाः परतङ्गणाः
AI Translation: Pisacas, Daradas, Pundras, Kundivis, Madakas, Ladakas, Tanganas, Paratanganas,
बाह्लिकास्तित्तिराश्चैव चोलाः पाण्ड्याश्च भारत एते जनपदा राजन्दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रिताः
AI Translation: Bahlikas, Tittīras, Cholas, Pāṇḍyas, O descendant of Bharata, These are the countries that have resorted to the southern side.
अग्निवेष्या जगत्तुण्डाः पलदाशाश्च भारत शबरास्तुम्बुपाश्चैव वत्साश्च सह नाकुलैः नकुलः सहदेवश्च वामं पार्श्वं समाश्रिताः
AI Translation: Agniveshya, Jagattunda, Palada, Asha, O descendant of the Bharata lineage, Sabara, Tumbupas, Vatsa, together with Nakula,
रथानामयुतं पक्षौ शिरश्च नियुतं तथा पृष्ठमर्बुदमेवासीत्सहस्राणि च विंशतिः ग्रीवायां नियुतं चापि सहस्राणि च सप्ततिः
M. N. Dutt: Nakula and Sahadeva stood in the left wing. O the joints of the wings stood ten thousand car-warriors and on the head stood one hundred thousand and on the back one hundred millions and on the neck one hundred and seventy thousand.
पक्षकोटिप्रपक्षेषु पक्षान्तेषु च वारणाः जग्मुः परिवृता राजंश्चलन्त इव पर्वताः
M. N. Dutt: On the joints of the wings, on the wings and the extremities of the wings, stood innumerable elephants loO king like so many blazing mountains.
जघनं पालयामास विराटः सह केकयैः काशिराजश्च शैब्यश्च रथानामयुतैस्त्रिभिः
M. N. Dutt: The rear was protected by Virata's backed by the Kaikeyas, the ruler of the Kashi's, and with the king of the Chedi, with thirty thousand cars.
एवमेतं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः सूर्योदयनमिच्छन्तः स्थिता युद्धाय दंशिताः
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, thus forming this great Vyuha the Pandavas, all clad in armour waited for the morning.
तेषामादित्यवर्णानि विमलानि महान्ति च श्वेतच्छत्राण्यशोभन्त वारणेषु रथेषु च
M. N. Dutt: Their clean, costly and white umbrellas, as brilliant as the sun, shone on the back of their elephants and over their chariots.