Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच एवं व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु मामकेष्वितरेषु च कथं प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठाः संप्रहारं प्रचक्रिरे
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said When my troops and the troops of our foe were thus placed in battle array, how did then the foremost of warriors Bhishma begin to strike?
संजय उवाच समं व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु संनद्धा रुचिरध्वजाः अपारमिव संदृश्य सागरप्रतिमं बलम्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said When all the troops were thus placed in battle array, the warriors all clad in armours waited with their excellent standards upraised.
Supplementary Passages:
6.48.2 After 2ab, S ins.: *158 तावकाः पाण्डवैः सार्धं यथायुध्यन्त तच्छृणु
तेषां मध्ये स्थितो राजा पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव अब्रवीत्तावकान्सर्वान्युध्यध्वमिति दंशिताः
M. N. Dutt: O king, seeing his army look like the infinite ocean, your son Duryodhana, who stood within it, spoke thus to all his troops “You are all clad in armour. Now begin the fight".
ते मनः क्रूरमास्थाय समभित्यक्तजीविताः पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त सर्व एवोच्छ्रितध्वजाः
M. N. Dutt: Then all the (Kuru) warriors, full of cruel intentions and devoid of the desire of living, rushed upon the Pandavas with their standards all upraised.
ततो युद्धं समभवत्तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् तावकानां परेषां च व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपम्
M. N. Dutt: Then a fearful hair-stirring battle took place. The cars and elephants all go mixed up.
मुक्तास्तु रथिभिर्बाणा रुक्मपुङ्खाः सुतेजनाः संनिपेतुरकुण्ठाग्रा नागेषु च हयेषु च
M. N. Dutt: Arrows with beautiful feathers and with sharp points shot by the car-warriors fell on the elephants and the horses.
तथा प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे धनुरुद्यम्य दंशितः अभिपत्य महाबाहुर्भीष्मो भीमपराक्रमः
AI Translation: Thus, when the battle began, the armored Bhishma, the mighty-armed one of great prowess, raised his bow and attacked.
सौभद्रे भीमसेने च शैनेये च महारथे केकये च विराटे च धृष्टद्युम्ने च पार्षते
AI Translation: to Subhadra, to Bhimasena, to the great warrior Shini, to the Kekayas, to Virata, to Dhrishtadyumna, to Parshata,
एतेषु नरवीरेषु चेदिमत्स्येषु चाभितः ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि वृद्धः कुरुपितामहः
AI Translation: On these heroes of men, on the Chedis and Matsyas, the aged grandfather of the Kurus rained down showers of arrows.
प्राकम्पत महाव्यूहस्तस्मिन्वीरसमागमे सर्वेषामेव सैन्यानामासीद्व्यतिकरो महान्
M. N. Dutt: The great (Pandava) Vyuha wavered at that great attack made by that (Kuru) hero. The battle that was then fought by the combatants was fearful.
सादितध्वजनागाश्च हतप्रवरवाजिनः विप्रयातरथानीकाः समपद्यन्त पाण्डवाः
M. N. Dutt: Many horsemen and car warriors and best of horses fell in quick succession. Many carwarriors of the Pandava began to run away.
अर्जुनस्तु नरव्याघ्रो दृष्ट्वा भीष्मं महारथम् वार्ष्णेयमब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो याहि यत्र पितामहः
M. N. Dutt: Then that lion among the men, Arjuna, seeing the great car-warrior Bhishma (destroying the Pandava troops) thus angrily spoke to the Vrishni prince (Krishna his charioteer) "Go to the place where the grandfather is".
एष भीष्मः सुसंक्रुद्धो वार्ष्णेय मम वाहिनीम् नाशयिष्यति सुव्यक्तं दुर्योधनहिते रतः
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Vrishni, it is apparent that Bhishma, in anger, will annihilate our troops for the good of Duryodhana.
एष द्रोणः कृपः शल्यो विकर्णश्च जनार्दन धार्तराष्ट्राश्च सहिता दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः
AI Translation: This is Drona, Kripa, Shalya, Vikarna and Janardana, and the sons of Dhritarashtra, led by Duryodhana.
पाञ्चालान्निहनिष्यन्ति रक्षिता दृढधन्वना सोऽहं भीष्मं गमिष्यामि सैन्यहेतोर्जनार्दन
AI Translation: Protected by the archer, they will kill the Panchalas. O Janardana, I will go to Bhishma for the sake of the army.
तमब्रवीद्वासुदेवो यत्तो भव धनंजय एष त्वा प्रापये वीर पितामहरथं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: To him thus spoke Vamdeva, "O Dhananjaya, O hero, be careful, for I shall soon take you near the grandfather's car".
एवमुक्त्वा ततः शौरी रथं तं लोकविश्रुतम् प्रापयामास भीष्माय रथं प्रति जनेश्वर
M. N. Dutt: O king, having said this, Shaurin (Krishna) took that world-renowned chariot in front of Bhishma's car.
चञ्चद्बहुपताकेन बलाकावर्णवाजिना समुच्छ्रितमहाभीमनदद्वानरकेतुना महता मेघनादेन रथेनादित्यवर्चसा
M. N. Dutt: With countless banners flying, with horses as handsome as a flight of cranes, with the standard upraised; with the ape (on that standard) roaring fearfully, that son of Pandu (Arjuna) came slaughtering the Kurus and the Shurasenas on his large car as effulgent as the sun; the rattle of the car-wheel of which resembled that of the clouds.
Supplementary Passages:
6.48.18 After 18cd, D1 ins.: *159 लाङ्गूलास्फोटशब्देन स्वनयानो नभस्तलम् पिङ्गाक्षैर्दृष्टिपातैश्च भीषयन्नरिसैनिकान्
विनिघ्नन्कौरवानीकं शूरसेनांश्च पाण्डवः आयाच्छरान्नुदञ्शीघ्रं सुहृच्छोषविनाशनः
AI Translation: The Pandava, destroying the Kaurava army and the Shurasena army, came quickly, dispelling arrows, destroying the grief of his friends.
तमापतन्तं वेगेन प्रभिन्नमिव वारणम् त्रासयानं रणे शूरान्पातयन्तं च सायकैः
AI Translation: Seeing him coming with force, like a rutting elephant, terrifying the heroes in battle and bringing them down with arrows,
सैन्धवप्रमुखैर्गुप्तः प्राच्यसौवीरकेकयैः सहसा प्रत्युदीयाय भीष्मः शांतनवोऽर्जुनम्
AI Translation: Protected by the Sindhu and others, the easterners, Sauviras and Kekayas, Bhishma Shantanu's son suddenly advanced against Arjuna.
को हि गाण्डीवधन्वानमन्यः कुरुपितामहात् द्रोणवैकर्तनाभ्यां वा रथः संयातुमर्हति
AI Translation: Who other than the grandfather of the Kurus, or Drona or Vikartana, is worthy of riding in the chariot of the wielder of the Gandiva bow?
ततो भीष्मो महाराज कौरवाणां पितामहः अर्जुनं सप्तसप्तत्या नाराचानां समावृणोत्
AI Translation: Then, O great king, Bhishma, the grandfather of the Kauravas, surrounded Arjuna with seventy-seven iron arrows.
द्रोणश्च पञ्चविंशत्या कृपः पञ्चाशता शरैः दुर्योधनश्चतुःषष्ट्या शल्यश्च नवभिः शरैः
AI Translation: Drona with twenty-five, Kripa with fifty, Duryodhana with sixty-four, Shalya with nine arrows,
Supplementary Passages:
6.48.24 B3 Dn2 D4.7.8 ins. after 24: B2, after 25ab: *160 द्रौणिः षष्ट्या नरव्याघ्रो विकर्णश्च त्रिभिः शरैः
सैन्धवो नवभिश्चापि शकुनिश्चापि पञ्चभिः विकर्णो दशभिर्भल्लै राजन्विव्याध पाण्डवम्
AI Translation: Saindhava with nine, and Shakuni with five, and Vikarna with ten arrows, O king, struck the Pandava.
स तैर्विद्धो महेष्वासः समन्तान्निशितैः शरैः न विव्यथे महाबाहुर्भिद्यमान इवाचलः
AI Translation: Struck by those sharp arrows from all sides, the great archer, the mighty-armed one, was not distressed, like a mountain being split.
स भीष्मं पञ्चविंशत्या कृपं च नवभिः शरैः द्रोणं षष्ट्या नरव्याघ्रो विकर्णं च त्रिभिः शरैः
AI Translation: He struck Bhishma with twenty-five arrows, Kripa with nine arrows, Drona with sixty arrows, and Vikarna with three arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
6.48.27 After 27, D2 ins.: *161 शल्यं च दशभिर्बाणैस्तावद्भिश्च जयद्रथम्
आर्तायनिं त्रिभिर्बाणै राजानं चापि पञ्चभिः प्रत्यविध्यदमेयात्मा किरीटी भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: With three arrows he pierced Ārtayāni and the king with five. The crested one, the bull of the Bharatas, whose soul was immeasurable,
तं सात्यकिर्विराटश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः द्रौपदेयाभिमन्युश्च परिवव्रुर्धनंजयम्
AI Translation: Sātyaki, Virāta, Dhrishtadyumna, Pārshāta, the sons of Drāupadi and Abhimanyu surrounded Dhananjaya.
ततो द्रोणं महेष्वासं गाङ्गेयस्य प्रिये रतम् अभ्यवर्षत पाञ्चाल्यः संयुक्तः सह सोमकैः
AI Translation: Then the Panchala, together with the Somakas, attacked Drona, the great archer, who was devoted to the welfare of the son of Ganga.
भीष्मस्तु रथिनां श्रेष्ठस्तूर्णं विव्याध पाण्डवम् अशीत्या निशितैर्बाणैस्ततोऽक्रोशन्त तावकाः
AI Translation: Bhishma, the best of charioteers, quickly pierced Pandava with eighty sharp arrows, and then the sons of Dhritarashtra cried out.
तेषां तु निनदं श्रुत्वा प्रहृष्टानां प्रहृष्टवत् प्रविवेश ततो मध्यं रथसिंहः प्रतापवान्
AI Translation: Hearing the sound of their joy, the joyful one then entered the midst of the army, the powerful lion among chariots.
तेषां तु रथसिंहानां मध्यं प्राप्य धनंजयः चिक्रीड धनुषा राजँल्लक्ष्यं कृत्वा महारथान्
AI Translation: Having reached the midst of those lions among chariot-warriors, Dhananjaya played with his bow, O king, having made the great chariot-warriors the target.
Supplementary Passages:
6.48.33 After 33, S ins.: *162 क्षत्रियाणां शिरांस्युग्रैः कृन्तञ्शस्त्रैर्महारथः शून्यान्कृत्वा रथोपस्थान्व्यचरत्फल्गुनस्तदा
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा भीष्ममाह जनेश्वरः पीड्यमानं स्वकं सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा पार्थेन संयुगे
AI Translation: Then King Duryodhana said to Bhishma, the lord of people: Seeing his own army being oppressed by Partha in battle,
एष पाण्डुसुतस्तात कृष्णेन सहितो बली यततां सर्वसैन्यानां मूलं नः परिकृन्तति त्वयि जीवति गाङ्गेये द्रोणे च रथिनां वरे
AI Translation: This son of Pandu, O father, together with Krishna, is powerful, he cuts off the root of all our armies. While you are alive, O son of Ganga, and Drona, the best of charioteers,
त्वत्कृते ह्येष कर्णोऽपि न्यस्तशस्त्रो महारथः न युध्यति रणे पार्थं हितकामः सदा मम
M. N. Dutt: O king, it is only for you that Karna has laid aside his weapons and does not fight with the son of Pritha, though he is a great friend of mine.
स तथा कुरु गाङ्गेय यथा हन्येत फल्गुनः एवमुक्तस्ततो राजन्पिता देवव्रतस्तव धिक्क्षत्रधर्ममित्युक्त्वा ययौ पार्थरथं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: O son of Ganga, therefore do that by which this Phalguna (Arjuna) might be killed”. O king, having been thus addressed, your father Devavrata.
उभौ श्वेतहयौ राजन्संसक्तौ दृश्य पार्थिवाः सिंहनादान्भृशं चक्रुः शङ्खशब्दांश्च भारत
AI Translation: Both of them were mounted on white horses, O king, and were seen to be engaged, O king. They roared like lions and blew their conches, O descendant of Bharata.
द्रौणिर्दुर्योधनश्चैव विकर्णश्च तवात्मजः परिवार्य रणे भीष्मं स्थिता युद्धाय मारिष
AI Translation: Drona's son, Duryodhana, and your son Vikarna, O venerable one, have surrounded Bhishma in battle and are standing ready to fight.
तथैव पाण्डवाः सर्वे परिवार्य धनंजयम् स्थिता युद्धाय महते ततो युद्धमवर्तत
AI Translation: Similarly, all the Pandavas surrounded Dhananjaya and stood ready for the great battle. Then the battle began.
गाङ्गेयस्तु रणे पार्थमानर्छन्नवभिः शरैः तमर्जुनः प्रत्यविध्यद्दशभिर्मर्मवेधिभिः
AI Translation: But Gāṅgeya struck Partha in the battle with nine arrows, and Arjuna pierced him back with ten arrows that pierced the vital points.
ततः शरसहस्रेण सुप्रयुक्तेन पाण्डवः अर्जुनः समरश्लाघी भीष्मस्यावारयद्दिशः
AI Translation: Then with a thousand well-directed arrows, Arjuna, the son of Pandu, Arjuna, who praised battle, blocked off the directions of Bhishma.
शरजालं ततस्तत्तु शरजालेन कौरव वारयामास पार्थस्य भीष्मः शांतनवस्तथा
AI Translation: Then, O son of Kuru, Bhishma, Shantanu's son, warded off the net of arrows with a net of arrows from Partha.
उभौ परमसंहृष्टावुभौ युद्धाभिनन्दिनौ निर्विशेषमयुध्येतां कृतप्रतिकृतैषिणौ
AI Translation: Both were extremely delighted, both were fond of fighting, They fought without any difference, seeking to do and counter each other.
भीष्मचापविमुक्तानि शरजालानि संघशः शीर्यमाणान्यदृश्यन्त भिन्नान्यर्जुनसायकैः
AI Translation: The net of arrows released from Bhishma's bow were seen falling in groups, broken by Arjuna's arrows.
तथैवार्जुनमुक्तानि शरजालानि भागशः गाङ्गेयशरनुन्नानि न्यपतन्त महीतले
AI Translation: Similarly, the nets of arrows released by Arjuna were cut into pieces and fell on the ground, pushed by the arrows of Gāṅgeya.
अर्जुनः पञ्चविंशत्या भीष्ममार्च्छच्छितैः शरैः भीष्मोऽपि समरे पार्थं विव्याध त्रिंशता शरैः
AI Translation: Arjuna struck Bhishma with twenty-five sharp arrows, and Bhishma also pierced Partha in battle with thirty arrows.
अन्योन्यस्य हयान्विद्ध्वा ध्वजौ च सुमहाबलौ रथेषां रथचक्रे च चिक्रीडतुररिंदमौ
AI Translation: Having pierced each other's horses and their great banners, those two subduers of enemies played with the wheels of their chariots.
ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः वासुदेवं त्रिभिर्बाणैराजघान स्तनान्तरे
AI Translation: Then, the great king Bhishma, the best of fighters, became angry. He struck Vasudeva in the chest with three arrows.
भीष्मचापच्युतैर्बाणैर्निर्विद्धो मधुसूदनः विरराज रणे राजन्सपुष्प इव किंशुकः
AI Translation: The slayer of Madhu was pierced by arrows shot by Bhishma. O king, he shone in the battle like a flowering kimśuka tree.
ततोऽर्जुनो भृशं क्रुद्धो निर्विद्धं प्रेक्ष्य माधवम् गाङ्गेयसारथिं संख्ये निर्बिभेद त्रिभिः शरैः
AI Translation: Then Arjuna, seeing Madhava wounded, became very angry, and in the battle pierced Bhishma's charioteer with three arrows.
यतमानौ तु तौ वीरावन्योन्यस्य वधं प्रति नाशक्नुतां तदान्योन्यमभिसंधातुमाहवे
AI Translation: But those two heroes, striving to kill each other, were unable to strike each other in battle.
मण्डलानि विचित्राणि गतप्रत्यागतानि च अदर्शयेतां बहुधा सूतसामर्थ्यलाघवात्
AI Translation: The various circles, going and returning, They displayed in many ways due to the lightness of the power of the mercury.
अन्तरं च प्रहारेषु तर्कयन्तौ महारथौ राजन्नन्तरमार्गस्थौ स्थितावास्तां मुहुर्मुहुः
AI Translation: Those two great warriors, while fighting, were calculating the intervals between their blows. O king, they were standing in the intervals of the path, and were standing again and again.
उभौ सिंहरवोन्मिश्रं शङ्खशब्दं प्रचक्रतुः तथैव चापनिर्घोषं चक्रतुस्तौ महारथौ
AI Translation: Both of them made a sound of conch mixed with the roar of lions And so did those two great warriors make the sound of bowstrings.
तयोः शङ्खप्रणादेन रथनेमिस्वनेन च दारिता सहसा भूमिश्चकम्प च ननाद च
AI Translation: By the sound of their conches and the sound of their chariot wheels, the earth was suddenly split open, trembled, and roared.
न तयोरन्तरं कश्चिद्ददृशे भरतर्षभ बलिनौ समरे शूरावन्योन्यसदृशावुभौ
AI Translation: O bull among the Bharata lineage, no one could see any difference between them. Both of them were strong, heroic, and equal to each other in battle.
चिह्नमात्रेण भीष्मं तु प्रजज्ञुस्तत्र कौरवाः तथा पाण्डुसुताः पार्थं चिह्नमात्रेण जज्ञिरे
AI Translation: The Kauravas recognized Bhishma by his mark alone, and the sons of Pandu recognized Partha by his mark alone.
तयोर्नृवरयो राजन्दृश्य तादृक्पराक्रमम् विस्मयं सर्वभूतानि जग्मुर्भारत संयुगे
AI Translation: O best of men, when those two saw such valour, all beings were amazed in the battle, O descendant of Bharata.
न तयोर्विवरं कश्चिद्रणे पश्यति भारत धर्मे स्थितस्य हि यथा न कश्चिद्वृजिनं क्वचित्
AI Translation: No one saw an opening for either of them in the battle, O descendant of Bharata, just as no one can find a chink in one who is established in righteousness.
उभौ हि शरजालेन तावदृश्यौ बभूवतुः प्रकाशौ च पुनस्तूर्णं बभूवतुरुभौ रणे
AI Translation: Both of them became invisible for a while due to the net of arrows. But both of them quickly became visible again in the battle.
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाश्चारणाश्च सहर्षिभिः अन्योन्यं प्रत्यभाषन्त तयोर्दृष्ट्वा पराक्रमम्
AI Translation: There the gods, gandharvas, and charanas, together with the sages, spoke to each other, having seen their prowess.
न शक्यौ युधि संरब्धौ जेतुमेतौ महारथौ सदेवासुरगन्धर्वैर्लोकैरपि कथंचन
AI Translation: These two great warriors, when angry in battle, cannot be conquered even by the worlds with the gods, demons, and gandharvas.
आश्चर्यभूतं लोकेषु युद्धमेतन्महाद्भुतम् नैतादृशानि युद्धानि भविष्यन्ति कथंचन
AI Translation: This battle is wonderful in the world, this great wonder. Such battles will never happen.
नापि शक्यो रणे जेतुं भीष्मः पार्थेन धीमता सधनुश्च रथस्थश्च प्रवपन्सायकान्रणे
AI Translation: Nor can the wise Partha defeat Bhishma in battle, Even if he is on his chariot with his bow, and is showering arrows in battle,
तथैव पाण्डवं युद्धे देवैरपि दुरासदम् न विजेतुं रणे भीष्म उत्सहेत धनुर्धरम्
AI Translation: Similarly, the Pandava in battle is difficult to approach even by the gods. Bhishma, the archer, would not dare to conquer him in battle.
Supplementary Passages:
6.48.66 After 66, N ins.: *163 आलोकादपि युद्धं तु सममेतद्भविष्यति
इति स्म वाचः श्रूयन्ते प्रोच्चरन्त्यस्ततस्ततः गाङ्गेयार्जुनयोः संख्ये स्तवयुक्ता विशां पते
M. N. Dutt: O king, we heard these words full of praise of both the son of Ganga and the son of Pritha.
त्वदीयास्तु ततो योधाः पाण्डवेयाश्च भारत अन्योन्यं समरे जघ्नुस्तयोस्तत्र पराक्रमे
AI Translation: Then, O descendant of Bharata, your warriors and those of the Pandavas struck each other in battle, in that contest of prowess.
शितधारैस्तथा खड्गैर्विमलैश्च परश्वधैः शरैरन्यैश्च बहुभिः शस्त्रैर्नानाविधैर्युधि उभयोः सेनयोर्वीरा न्यकृन्तन्त परस्परम्
AI Translation: With sharp-edged swords and pure battle-axes, and with many other kinds of weapons, the heroes of both armies killed each other in battle.
वर्तमाने तथा घोरे तस्मिन्युद्धे सुदारुणे द्रोणपाञ्चाल्ययो राजन्महानासीत्समागमः
M. N. Dutt: So long that fearful battle continued, heroic warriors of both sides cut one another down. O king, the battle that was fought between Drona and the Panchala prince was also very fearful.