Critical Edition
संजय उवाच प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां प्रातरुत्थाय वै नृपः राज्ञः समाज्ञापयत सेनां योजयतेति ह अद्य भीष्मो रणे क्रुद्धो निहनिष्यति सोमकान्
M. N. Dutt: Ordered, his royal warriors saying 'Arrange the forces in battle-order. Today, waxing irascible in battle, Bhishma shall slay the Somakas.'
दुर्योधनस्य तच्छ्रुत्वा रात्रौ विलपितं बहु मन्यमानः स तं राजन्प्रत्यादेशमिवात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Having heard those copious lamentation of Duryodhana in the night, and regarding them, O king, as commands to himself,
निर्वेदं परमं गत्वा विनिन्द्य परवाच्यताम् दीर्घं दध्यौ शांतनवो योद्धुकामोऽर्जुनं रणे
M. N. Dutt: The son of Shantanu was greatly depressed; and he censored the life of dependency and reflected for a long time, desirous of encountering Arjuna in battle.
इङ्गितेन तु तज्ज्ञात्वा गाङ्गेयेन विचिन्तितम् दुर्योधनो महाराज दुःशासनमचोदयत्
M. N. Dutt: Coming to know from outward expressions what the son of Ganga had been thinking of, Duryodhana, O mighty monarch ordered Dushasana saying.
दुःशासन रथास्तूर्णं युज्यन्तां भीष्मरक्षिणः द्वात्रिंशत्त्वमनीकानि सर्वाण्येवाभिचोदय
M. N. Dutt: "O Dushasana, without delay draw up our chariots for protecting Bhishma. Urge to battle all our two and twenty divisions.
इदं हि समनुप्राप्तं वर्षपूगाभिचिन्तितम् पाण्डवानां ससैन्यानां वधो राज्यस्य चागमः
M. N. Dutt: Even that for which we have been longing all these yards, have now come to pass, viz., the slaughter of the Pandavas with all their troops and the acquisition of the kingdom by ourselves.
तत्र कार्यमहं मन्ये भीष्मस्यैवाभिरक्षणम् स नो गुप्तः सुखाय स्याद्धन्यात्पार्थांश्च संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, I now consider our highest duty to be the protection of Bhishma. Protected and assisted by us, he will slay the Parthas in battle.
अब्रवीच्च विशुद्धात्मा नाहं हन्यां शिखण्डिनम् स्त्रीपूर्वको ह्यसौ जातस्तस्माद्वर्ज्यो रणे मया
M. N. Dutt: That pure-souled one had said 'I will not slay Shikhandin; for this one was a female before, O king, so I should avoid him in battie.
लोकस्तद्वेद यदहं पितुः प्रियचिकीर्षया राज्यं स्फीतं महाबाहो स्त्रियश्च त्यक्तवान्पुरा
M. N. Dutt: All the world know, that to compass the pleasure of my father, O mighty armed one, I formerly relinquished a swelling kingdom and the company of woman.
नैव चाहं स्त्रियं जातु न स्त्रीपूर्वं कथंचन हन्यां युधि नरश्रेष्ठ सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, O foremost of men, I will not slay in battle females or those who were females before. I tell this truly.
अयं स्त्रीपूर्वको राजञ्शिखण्डी यदि ते श्रुतः उद्योगे कथितं यत्तत्तथा जाता शिखण्डिनी
M. N. Dutt: Before the commencement of the battle I have told you, and you have heard that this Shikhandin was born formerly as a female and was called Shikhandin.
कन्या भूत्वा पुमाञ्जातः स च योत्स्यति भारत तस्याहं प्रमुखे बाणान्न मुञ्चेयं कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: Born as a female child she has come to be a man. If now I am to fight with him I will sped my shafts towards him on no account.
युद्धे तु क्षत्रियांस्तात पाण्डवानां जयैषिणः सर्वानन्यान्हनिष्यामि संप्राप्तान्बाणगोचरान्
M. N. Dutt: I will, O sire, slay all other Kshatriyas in battle, who, desirous of victory to the Pandavas, shall happen to encounter me in the van of the battle.'
एवं मां भरतश्रेष्ठो गाङ्गेयः प्राह शास्त्रवित् तत्र सर्वात्मना मन्ये भीष्मस्यैवाभिपालनम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus did that foremost of the Bharatas, accomplished in the Vedas, namely the son of Ganga address me. So I consider our foremost duty to be the protection of Ganga's son to the best of our abilities.
अरक्ष्यमाणं हि वृको हन्यात्सिंहं महावने मा वृकेणेव शार्दूलं घातयेम शिखण्डिना
M. N. Dutt: If left unprotected, in a great forest, even a wolf can slay a lion. We should not allow Ganga's son to be slain by Shikhandi like a lion slain by a wolf.
Supplementary Passages:
6.95.15 For 15cd, S subst.: *382 मा सिंहमिव काकेन हतं भीष्मं शिखण्डिना पश्येम पुरुषव्याघ्र तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्
मातुलः शकुनिः शल्यः कृपो द्रोणो विविंशतिः यत्ता रक्षन्तु गाङ्गेयं तस्मिन्गुप्ते ध्रुवो जयः
M. N. Dutt: Our maternal uncle Shakuni, Shalya, Kripa, Drona, and Vivingshati, should protect, putting forth their best energies, the son of Ganga. If he is duly protected, victory indubitably will be ours."
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु राजानो दुर्योधनवचस्तदा सर्वतो रथवंशेन गाङ्गेयं पर्यवारयन्
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of Duryodhana, all those warriors surrounded on all sides with a host of cars, the son of Ganga.
पुत्राश्च तव गाङ्गेयं परिवार्य ययुर्मुदा कम्पयन्तो भुवं द्यां च क्षोभयन्तश्च पाण्डवान्
M. N. Dutt: Then your sons, surrounding Ganga's son, proceeded to battle shaking the earth and the heavens and agitating the Pandavas.
तै रथैश्च सुसंयुक्तैर्दन्तिभिश्च महारथाः परिवार्य रणे भीष्मं दंशिताः समवस्थिताः
M. N. Dutt: The mighty car-warriors of the Kurus, clad in Armour, and supported by those cars and many elephants formed themselves in battlearray encircling Bhishma.
यथा देवासुरे युद्धे त्रिदशा वज्रधारिणम् सर्वे ते स्म व्यतिष्ठन्त रक्षन्तस्तं महारथम्
M. N. Dutt: Protecting that mighty car-warrior Bhishma, they stood like the celestial protecting the wielder of the thunder-bolt in the battle between themselves and the Asuras.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा पुनर्भ्रातरमब्रवीत् सव्यं चक्रं युधामन्युरुत्तमौजाश्च दक्षिणम् गोप्तारावर्जुनस्यैतावर्जुनोऽपि शिखण्डिनः
AI Translation: Then King Duryodhana again spoke to his brother: Savya-chakra and Yudhamanyu were on the left and right, protecting Arjuna, and Arjuna was protecting Shikhandi.
स रक्ष्यमाणः पार्थेन तथास्माभिर्विवर्जितः यथा भीष्मं न नो हन्याद्दुःशासन तथा कुरु
AI Translation: Protected by Partha and avoided by us, so that Bhishma does not kill us, O Duhshasana, act accordingly.
भ्रातुस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पुत्रो दुःशासनस्तव भीष्मं प्रमुखतः कृत्वा प्रययौ सेनया सह
AI Translation: Hearing the words of his brother, your son Duhshāsana, with Bhishma at the head, went with the army.
भीष्मं तु रथवंशेन दृष्ट्वा तमभिसंवृतम् अर्जुनो रथिनां श्रेष्ठो धृष्टद्युम्नमुवाच ह
AI Translation: Seeing Bhishma surrounded by the chariot-warriors, Arjuna, the best of chariot-warriors, said to Dhrishtadyumna:
शिखण्डिनं नरव्याघ्र भीष्मस्य प्रमुखेऽनघ स्थापयस्वाद्य पाञ्चाल्य तस्य गोप्ताहमप्युत
M. N. Dutt: Arjuna, the foremost of car-warrior said to Dhrishtadyumna; Let, O Prince of the Panchalas, Shikhandin, that foremost of men be placed face to face with Bhishma. I myself will be his protector, O Prince.
ततः शांतनवो भीष्मो निर्ययौ सेनया सह व्यूहं चाव्यूहत महत्सर्वतोभद्रमाहवे
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Thereafter, Bhishma the son of Shantanu advanced with his troops, and he formed his own troops in the array known as Saravatobhadra.
कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च शैब्यश्चैव महारथः शकुनिः सैन्धवश्चैव काम्बोजश्च सुदक्षिणः
M. N. Dutt: Kripa, Kritavarma, the mighty car-warrior Shaivya, Shakuni, the ruler of the Sindhus, and Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kambojas,
भीष्मेण सहिताः सर्वे पुत्रैश्च तव भारत अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां व्यूहस्य प्रमुखे स्थिताः
M. N. Dutt: All these, O Bharata, accompanied by Bhishma, and along with your sons stationed themselves in the van of all the troops, and in the very head of the Kaurava array.
द्रोणो भूरिश्रवाः शल्यो भगदत्तश्च मारिष दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रित्य स्थिता व्यूहस्य दंशिताः
M. N. Dutt: Drona, Bhurishravas, Shalya and Bhagadatta. O sire, clad in mail, stood defending the right wing of that array.
अश्वत्थामा सोमदत्त आवन्त्यौ च महारथौ महत्या सेनया युक्ता वामं पक्षमपालयन्
M. N. Dutt: Ashvathama, Somadatta, and the two princes of Avanti, both mighty car-warriors, supported by a large division, defended the left wing.
दुर्योधनो महाराज त्रिगर्तैः सर्वतो वृतः व्यूहमध्ये स्थितो राजन्पाण्डवान्प्रति भारत
M. N. Dutt: King Duryodhana, surrounded by the Trigaretas on all sides, stood, O monarch, O Bharata, in the centre of the array facing the Pandavas.
अलम्बुसो रथश्रेष्ठः श्रुतायुश्च महारथः पृष्ठतः सर्वसैन्यानां स्थितौ व्यूहस्य दंशितौ
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of car-warriors Alambusha, and the mighty car-warrior Shrutayu, cased in Armour, stood in the rear of the array behind all the troops.
एवमेते तदा व्यूहं कृत्वा भारत तावकाः संनद्धाः समदृश्यन्त प्रतपन्त इवाग्नयः
M. N. Dutt: Thus, O Bharata, your warriors, having formed this mighty array and cased in Armour, appeared as if leaping forward.
तथा युधिष्ठिरो राजा भीमसेनश्च पाण्डवः नकुलः सहदेवश्च माद्रीपुत्रावुभावपि अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां स्थिता व्यूहस्य दंशिताः
M. N. Dutt: Then king Yudhishthira and that son of Pandu, Bhimasena, and Nakula and Sahadeva the two sons of Madri,
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः स्थिताः सैन्येन महता परानीकविनाशनाः
AI Translation: Dhrishtadyumna, Virata and the great warrior Satyaki stood with a great army, destroyers of the enemy's forces.
Supplementary Passages:
6.95.35 After 35, D6 ins.: *383 अन्ये च बहवः शूराः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः नानाविधायुधा वीरा नानाशस्त्रोपशोभिताः
शिखण्डी विजयश्चैव राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः चेकितानो महाबाहुः कुन्तिभोजश्च वीर्यवान् स्थिता रणे महाराज महत्या सेनया वृताः
M. N. Dutt: The mighty-armed Chekitana, the highly puissant Kuntibhoja, all these, o mighty monarch, stood ready for fight, surrounded by their large divisions.
अभिमन्युर्महेष्वासो द्रुपदश्च महारथः केकया भ्रातरः पञ्च स्थिता युद्धाय दंशिताः
AI Translation: Abhimānyu, the great archer, and Drupada, the great chariot-warrior, and the five brothers of the Kekayas, are ready for battle.
Supplementary Passages:
6.95.37 After 37ab, D4 M4 ins.: *384 युयुधानो महेष्वासो युधामन्युश्च वीर्यवान्
एवं तेऽपि महाव्यूहं प्रतिव्यूह्य सुदुर्जयम् पाण्डवाः समरे शूराः स्थिता युद्धाय मारिष
AI Translation: Thus, O venerable one, the brave Pāṇḍavas, having arrayed their own great army in a difficult-to-conquer formation, are stationed for battle.
तावकास्तु रणे यत्ताः सहसेना नराधिपाः अभ्युद्ययू रणे पार्थान्भीष्मं कृत्वाग्रतो नृप
AI Translation: But the kings of your army, with their armies, were eager in battle, and, with Bhishma at their head, they attacked the Parthas in battle.
तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्भीमसेनपुरोगमाः भीष्मं युद्धपरिप्रेप्सुं संग्रामे विजिगीषवः
AI Translation: Similarly, the Pandavas, led by Bhimasena, O king, desiring victory in battle, approached Bhishma who was eager for battle.
क्ष्वेडाः किलिकिलाशब्दान्क्रकचान्गोविषाणिकाः भेरीमृदङ्गपणवान्नादयन्तश्च पुष्करान् पाण्डवा अभ्यधावन्त नदन्तो भैरवान्रवान्
M. N. Dutt: And with fierce yells, the Pandavas rushed to battle. With the sound of our drums, cyrnbals conchs, Dundubhis,
भेरीमृदङ्गशङ्खानां दुन्दुभीनां च निस्वनैः उत्क्रुष्टसिंहनादैश्च वल्गितैश्च पृथग्विधैः
M. N. Dutt: With fierce war-dries, and other kinds of shouts, hastily did we advance to meet the foe,
वयं प्रतिनदन्तस्तानभ्यगच्छाम सत्वराः सहसैवाभिसंक्रुद्धास्तदासीत्तुमुलं महत्
M. N. Dutt: All inflamed with rage. Thereupon ensued an awful and fierce engagement, in which the soldiers, rushing at one another, smote one another down.
ततोऽन्योन्यं प्रधावन्तः संप्रहारं प्रचक्रिरे ततः शब्देन महता प्रचकम्पे वसुंधरा
M. N. Dutt: Then the earth began to tremble with the loud din. Birds uttering fierce shrieks hovered over our heads.
पक्षिणश्च महाघोरं व्याहरन्तो विबभ्रमुः सप्रभश्चोदितः सूर्यो निष्प्रभः समपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: The sun that had risen in all splendor, now became bedimmed in effulgence; and dreadful winds began to blow portending ominous results.
ववुश्च तुमुला वाताः शंसन्तः सुमहद्भयम् घोराश्च घोरनिर्ह्रादाः शिवास्तत्र ववाशिरे वेदयन्त्यो महाराज महद्वैशसमागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Fearful jackets yelling terribly roved there, harbingering, Omighty monarch, a great carnage.
दिशः प्रज्वलिता राजन्पांसुवर्षं पपात च रुधिरेण समुन्मिश्रमस्थिवर्षं तथैव च
AI Translation: The directions were ablaze, O king, and a rain of dust fell. And a rain of bones, mixed with blood, fell.
रुदतां वाहनानां च नेत्रेभ्यः प्रापतज्जलम् सुस्रुवुश्च शकृन्मूत्रं प्रध्यायन्तो विशां पते
AI Translation: The tears of the horses fell from their eyes as they wept. And they urinated and defecated, O Lord of the People, as they pondered.
अन्तर्हिता महानादाः श्रूयन्ते भरतर्षभ रक्षसां पुरुषादानां नदतां भैरवान्रवान्
AI Translation: The great sounds of the demons and the rākṣasas, who are like men, are heard, O bull of the Bharatas, as they roar in a terrifying manner.
संपतन्तः स्म दृश्यन्ते गोमायुबकवायसाः श्वानश्च विविधैर्नादैर्भषन्तस्तत्र तस्थिरे
AI Translation: We saw jackals, monkeys, crows, and dogs barking in various ways, standing there.
ज्वलिताश्च महोल्का वै समाहत्य दिवाकरम् निपेतुः सहसा भूमौ वेदयाना महद्भयम्
M. N. Dutt: Blazing meteors, striking against the solar disc, began to drop down suddenly on earth portending mighty terrors.
महान्त्यनीकानि महासमुच्छ्रये; समागमे पाण्डवधार्तराष्ट्रयोः प्रकाशिरे शङ्खमृदङ्गनिस्वनैः; प्रकम्पितानीव वनानि वायुना
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter the two mighty arrays of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, during that dreadful fight, began to shake owing to the tremendous din produced by the blare of conchs and the sound of drums, like forests shaken by the tempest.
नरेन्द्रनागाश्वसमाकुलाना;मभ्यायतीनामशिवे मुहूर्ते बभूव घोषस्तुमुलश्चमूनां; वातोद्धुतानामिव सागराणाम्
M. N. Dutt: The din that was produced by the two armies teeming with royal warriors, and horses, which have encountered each other in an inauspicious moment, became deafening, like that made by the ocean when it is lashed into fury by the tempest.