Critical Edition
संजय उवाच स तुद्यमानस्तु शरैर्धनंजयः; पदा हतो नाग इव श्वसन्बली बाणेन बाणेन महारथानां; चिच्छेद चापानि रणे प्रसह्य
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Then the highly powerful Dhananjaya wounded with those arrows, breathing like a trodden snake, forcibly cut off, in that battle, the bows bows to those mighty car-warriors, discharging shaft after shaft.
संछिद्य चापानि च तानि राज्ञां; तेषां रणे वीर्यवतां क्षणेन विव्याध बाणैर्युगपन्महात्मा; निःशेषतां तेष्वथ मन्यमानः
M. N. Dutt: Within a moment having severed the bows of those highly powerful monarchs in the battle, O king, that illustrious hero setting his mind upon their destruction began to pierce them simultaneously with his arrows.
निपेतुराजौ रुधिरप्रदिग्धा;स्ते ताडिताः शक्रसुतेन राजन् विभिन्नगात्राः पतितोत्तमाङ्गा; गतासवश्छिन्नतनुत्रकायाः
M. N. Dutt: Wounded by the son of Shakra (Arjuna), O king, they rolled on the field weltering in their blood, with their bodies mutilated, their heads severed their armours shattered and their lives takes out of them.
महीं गताः पार्थबलाभिभूता; विचित्ररूपा युगपद्विनेशुः दृष्ट्वा हतांस्तान्युधि राजपुत्रां;स्त्रिगर्तराजः प्रययौ क्षणेन
M. N. Dutt: Many, of them afflicted with the arrows shot by the son of Pritha (Arjuna), fell down on the earth; and undergoing diverse contortions simultaneously gave up their lives. Beholding those princes slair in battle, the ruler of the Trigartas proceeded (to battle) riding on his own car.
तेषां रथानामथ पृष्ठगोपा; द्वात्रिंशदन्येऽब्यपतन्त पार्थम् तथैव ते संपरिवार्य पार्थं; विकृष्य चापानि महारवाणि अवीवृषन्बाणमहौघवृष्ट्या; यथा गिरिं तोयधरा जलौघैः
M. N. Dutt: Then thirty two of those car-warriors, protecting his (Trigarta king's) rear, rushed at the son of Pritha. Thereafter those warriors encircled Pritha's son and drawing their bows emitting fierce twangs,
संपीड्यमानस्तु शरौघवृष्ट्या; धनंजयस्तान्युधि जातरोषः षष्ट्या शरैः संयति तैलधौतै;र्जघान तानप्यथ पृष्ठगोपान्
AI Translation: But Dhananjaya, being struck by the shower of arrows, became angry in battle. With sixty arrows, well-oiled, he struck those rear-guards.
षष्टिं रथांस्तानवजित्य संख्ये; धनंजयः प्रीतमना यशस्वी अथात्वरद्भीष्मवधाय जिष्णु;र्बलानि राज्ञां समरे निहत्य
AI Translation: Having defeated sixty chariots in battle, Dhananjaya, with a joyful mind, was glorious. Then Jishnu hastened to kill Bhishma, having killed the armies of the kings in battle.
त्रिगर्तराजो निहतान्समीक्ष्य; महारथांस्तानथ बन्धुवर्गान् रणे पुरस्कृत्य नराधिपांस्ता;ञ्जगाम पार्थं त्वरितो वधाय
AI Translation: Seeing those great warriors, his relatives, slain, the king of Trigarta, placing those kings at the forefront in battle, quickly went to kill Partha.
अभिद्रुतं चास्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठं; धनंजयं वीक्ष्य शिखण्डिमुख्याः अभ्युद्ययुस्ते शितशस्त्रहस्ता; रिरक्षिषन्तो रथमर्जुनस्य
AI Translation: And seeing Dhananjaya, the best of the wielders of weapons, attacked, the foremost of the Shikhándin group rose up, their hands holding sharp weapons, to protect Arjuna's chariot.
पार्थोऽपि तानापततः समीक्ष्य; त्रिगर्तराज्ञा सहितान्नृवीरान् विध्वंसयित्वा समरे धनुष्मा;न्गाण्डीवमुक्तैर्निशितैः पृषत्कैः भीष्मं यियासुर्युधि संददर्श; दुर्योधनं सैन्धवादींश्च राज्ञः
AI Translation: Seeing those approaching, the king of the Trigartas and the heroes together, Partha, having destroyed them in battle with sharp arrows released from Gandiva, desiring to fight with Bhishma, saw Duryodhana and the kings of Sindhu and others.
आवारयिष्णूनभिसंप्रयाय; मुहूर्तमायोध्य बलेन वीरः उत्सृज्य राजानमनन्तवीर्यो; जयद्रथादींश्च नृपान्महौजाः ययौ ततो भीमबलो मनस्वी; गाङ्गेयमाजौ शरचापपाणिः
AI Translation: Approaching the defenders, the hero, with his army, stood for a moment at the gate of the city. Abandoning the king of infinite valour, and the kings Jayadratha and others, the mighty one, went forth, the wise one of great strength, with bow and
Supplementary Passages:
6.81.11 After 11, T1 G ins.: *329 भीष्मोऽपि दृष्ट्वा समरे कृतास्त्रान् स पाण्डवानां रथिनोऽभ्युदारान् विहाय संग्राममुखे धनंजयं जवेन पार्थं पुनराजगाम
युधिष्ठिरश्चोग्रबलो महात्मा; समाययौ त्वरितो जातकोपः मद्राधिपं समभित्यज्य संख्ये; स्वभागमाप्तं तमनन्तकीर्तिः सार्धं स माद्रीसुतभीमसेनै;र्भीष्मं ययौ शांतनवं रणाय
AI Translation: And the great-souled Yudhishthira, of terrible strength, came quickly, filled with anger, Abandoning the king of the Madras in the battle, the one of infinite fame, who had attained his share, Together with Madri's sons and Bhimasena,
तैः संप्रयुक्तः स महारथाग्र्यै;र्गङ्गासुतः समरे चित्रयोधी न विव्यथे शांतनवो महात्मा; समागतैः पाण्डुसुतैः समस्तैः
M. N. Dutt: Though assailed in battle by all the sons of Pandu, all mighty car-warriors united in a body, the son of Shantanu begotten upon Ganga, that high-souled warrior versed in all modes of warfare, flinched not in the least.
अथैत्य राजा युधि सत्यसंधो; जयद्रथोऽत्युग्रबलो मनस्वी चिच्छेद चापानि महारथानां; प्रसह्य तेषां धनुषा वरेण
M. N. Dutt: Then king Jayadratha, highly intelligent and endued with great strength, and never failing in his aims in battle, advancing upon those mighty car-warriors forcibly served their bows by means of his own excellent bow.
युधिष्ठिरं भीमसेनं यमौ च; पार्थं तथा युधि संजातकोपः दुर्योधनः क्रोधविषो महात्मा; जघान बाणैरनलप्रकाशैः
M. N. Dutt: Then the illustrious Duryodhana, having anger for his poison, waxing wrath in battle, wounded Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) with arrows resplendent like fire itself.
कृपेण शल्येन शलेन चैव; तथा विभो चित्रसेनेन चाजौ विद्धाः शरैस्तेऽतिविवृद्धकोपै;र्देवा यथा दैत्यगणैः समेतैः
M. N. Dutt: Pierced with arrows shot by Kripa, Shalya, Shala and Chitrasena, O master, the Pandava brothers excited to the highest pitch of fury, resembled the celestial wounded with arrows shot by the united hosts of the Daityas.
Supplementary Passages:
6.81.16 After 16ab, D1 ins.: *330 ते वारिधाराश्च यथाद्रिराजं तथा च वर्षन्ति महानुभावाः
छिन्नायुधं शांतनवेन राजा; शिखण्डिनं प्रेक्ष्य च जातकोपः अजातशत्रुः समरे महात्मा; शिखण्डिनं क्रुद्ध उवाच वाक्यम्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Shikhandin with his bow severed by the royal son of Shantanu, the illustrious Ajatashatru (Yudhishthira) waxing worth, angrily said these words to the foriner.
उक्त्वा तथा त्वं पितुरग्रतो मा;महं हनिष्यामि महाव्रतं तम् भीष्मं शरौघैर्विमलार्कवर्णैः; सत्यं वदामीति कृता प्रतिज्ञा
M. N. Dutt: Having said to me even before your father these words viz., 'I will slay with my showers of arrows of the effulgence of the resplendent sun, Bhishma of great vows. This I say you forsooth, you made a promise.'
त्वया न चैनां सफलां करोषि; देवव्रतं यन्न निहंसि युद्धे मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञो भव मा नृवीर; रक्षस्व धर्मं च कुलं यशश्च
M. N. Dutt: You have not redeemed that promise of yours, in as much as you have not yet slain Devavrata in battle. O hero, be not of a man of empty promises. Preserve your virtue, your race and your fame.
प्रेक्षस्व भीष्मं युधि भीमवेगं; सर्वांस्तपन्तं मम सैन्यसंघान् शरौघजालैरतितिग्मतेजैः; कालं यथा मृत्युकृतं क्षणेन
M. N. Dutt: Behold Bhishma of tremendous impetuosity falling upon my host of troops destroying it with a shower of arrows of excessive effulgence, like the Destroyer himself destroying everything in a moment,
निकृत्तचापः समरानपेक्षः; पराजितः शांतनवेन राज्ञा विहाय बन्धूनथ सोदरांश्च; क्व यास्यसे नानुरूपं तवेदम्
M. N. Dutt: Having your bow severed, shunning the fight, vanquished by the royal son of Shantanu, whither are you going forsaking your friends and your uterine brothers? this does not befit you.
दृष्ट्वा हि भीष्मं तमनन्तवीर्यं; भग्नं च सैन्यं द्रवमाणमेवम् भीतोऽसि नूनं द्रुपदस्य पुत्र; तथा हि ते मुखवर्णोऽप्रहृष्टः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Bhishma of infinite prowess and seeing this army broken and routed, O son of Drupada, you are indeed seized with panic, in as much as your countenance has assumed a pallid hue.
आज्ञायमानेऽपि धनंजयेन; महाहवे संप्रसक्ते नृवीर कथं हि भीष्मात्प्रथितः पृथिव्यां; भयं त्वमद्य प्रकरोषि वीर
M. N. Dutt: But, behold, O hero Dhananjaya has engaged in dreadful fight with Bhishma even without your knowledge. Celebrated through out the world, why today, O hero are you afraid to Bhishma?
स धर्मराजस्य वचो निशम्य; रूक्षाक्षरं विप्रलापानुबद्धम् प्रत्यादेशं मन्यमानो महात्मा; प्रतत्वरे भीष्मवधाय राजन्
M. N. Dutt: Hearing this hard-worded speech full of instructions delivered by the very various king Yudhishthira, that high-souled hero Shikhandin considering it to be good counsel, hastened, O king, to bring about the slaughter of Bhishma.
तमापतन्तं महता जवेन; शिखण्डिनं भीष्ममभिद्रवन्तम् आवारयामास हि शल्य एनं; शस्त्रेण घोरेण सुदुर्जयेन
M. N. Dutt: When Shikhandin had been thus advancing with great momentum to fall upon Bhishma, Shalya checked him with a weapon dreadful and difficult of being baffled.
स चापि दृष्ट्वा समुदीर्यमाण;मस्त्रं युगान्ताग्निसमप्रभावम् नासौ व्यमुह्यद्द्रुपदस्य पुत्रो; राजन्महेन्द्रप्रतिमप्रभावः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding that weapon effulgent like the fire that appears at the Yuga's end (for destroying the world) shot at him, the son of Drupada, of prowess resembling that of the great Indra, was not at all confounded.
तस्थौ च तत्रैव महाधनुष्मा;ञ्शरैस्तदस्त्रं प्रतिबाधमानः अथाददे वारुणमन्यदस्त्रं; शिखण्ड्यथोग्रं प्रतिघाताय तस्य तदस्त्रमस्त्रेण विदार्यमाणं; खस्थाः सुरा ददृशुः पार्थिवाश्च
AI Translation: And the great archer stood there itself, repelling that weapon with arrows. Then he took up another weapon, the Varuna weapon, for the purpose of repelling that fierce weapon of Shikhándin. That weapon, being rent by the weapon, the gods in the sky and the
भीष्मस्तु राजन्समरे महात्मा; धनुः सुचित्रं ध्वजमेव चापि छित्त्वानदत्पाण्डुसुतस्य वीरो; युधिष्ठिरस्याजमीढस्य राज्ञः
AI Translation: But Bhishma, the great soul, in the battle, having cut the well-decorated bow and banner of the son of Pandu, the hero, the king of Ajamihita, Yudhiṣṭhira, roared.
ततः समुत्सृज्य धनुः सबाणं; युधिष्ठिरं वीक्ष्य भयाभिभूतम् गदां प्रगृह्याभिपपात संख्ये; जयद्रथं भीमसेनः पदातिः
AI Translation: Then, having cast aside his bow and arrows, he saw Yudhishthira overcome with fear, And taking up his club, he rushed into battle on foot, Jayadratha against Bhimasena.
तमापतन्तं महता जवेन; जयद्रथः सगदं भीमसेनम् विव्याध घोरैर्यमदण्डकल्पैः; शितैः शरैः पञ्चशतैः समन्तात्
AI Translation: But as he came on with great speed, Jayadratha pierced Bhimasena with his mace, with five hundred sharp arrows, like the staff of Yama, all around.
अचिन्तयित्वा स शरांस्तरस्वी; वृकोदरः क्रोधपरीतचेताः जघान वाहान्समरे समस्ता;नारट्टजान्सिन्धुराजस्य संख्ये
AI Translation: Without thinking, the swift Vrikodara, his mind overcome with anger, Slew all the horses of the Sindhu king in battle, the Naratta horses.
ततोऽभिवीक्ष्याप्रतिमप्रभाव;स्तवात्मजस्त्वरमाणो रथेन अभ्याययौ भीमसेनं निहन्तुं; समुद्यतास्त्रः सुरराजकल्पः
AI Translation: Then, seeing him of incomparable power, his son, eager, by chariot, came to kill Bhimasena, with weapons raised, like the king of the gods.
Supplementary Passages:
6.81.32 After 32, D1 T G M1.2 ins.: *331 जयद्रथो भग्नवाहं रथं तं त्यक्त्वा ययौ यत्र राजा कुरूणाम् भयेन भीमस्य स मूढचेताः ससौबलस्तत्र युद्धस्य भीतः
भीमोऽप्यथैनं सहसा विनद्य; प्रत्युद्ययौ गदया तर्जमानः समुद्यतां तां यमदण्डकल्पां; दृष्ट्वा गदां ते कुरवः समन्तात्
AI Translation: Bhima, too, roared at him and, threatening him with his mace, suddenly attacked him. Seeing that mace raised, like Yama's staff, all the Kurus on all sides,
विहाय सर्वे तव पुत्रमुग्रं; पातं गदायाः परिहर्तुकामाः अपक्रान्तास्तुमुले संविमर्दे; सुदारुणे भारत मोहनीये
AI Translation: All of them, desiring to avoid the blow of your mace, abandoned your son, the fierce one. They fled from the terrible and confusing battle, which was difficult to penetrate, O descendant of Bharata.
अमूढचेतास्त्वथ चित्रसेनो; महागदामापतन्तीं निरीक्ष्य रथं समुत्सृज्य पदातिराजौ; प्रगृह्य खड्गं विमलं च चर्म अवप्लुतः सिंह इवाचलाग्रा;ज्जगाम चान्यं भुवि भूमिदेशम्
AI Translation: But Citrasena, with his mind undeluded, seeing the great arrow coming, abandoned his chariot and, on foot, took up a sharp sword and a shield. Like a lion from a mountain peak, he jumped down and went to another part of the ground.
गदापि सा प्राप्य रथं सुचित्रं; साश्वं ससूतं विनिहत्य संख्ये जगाम भूमिं ज्वलिता महोल्का; भ्रष्टाम्बराद्गामिव संपतन्ती
M. N. Dutt: Meanwhile that mace falling upon that beautiful car with its steeds and elephants, crushed it in battle, and fell on the ground like a blazing and fierce meteor dropping down from the skies.
आश्चर्यभूतं सुमहत्त्वदीया; दृष्ट्वैव तद्भारत संप्रहृष्टाः सर्वे विनेदुः सहिताः समन्ता;त्पुपूजिरे तव पुत्रं ससैन्याः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that very wonderful feat achieved by your son), your warriors, O Bharata, were filled with delight; and they untidily uttered their war-cries and began to praise your son.