Critical Edition
संजय उवाच अर्जुनस्तु रणे राजन्दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्य विक्रमम् शिखण्डिनमथोवाच समभ्येहि पितामहम्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Then, O king, Arjuna beholding Bhishma's prowess in battle, addressed Shikhandin saying "Confront the grandsire.
न चापि भीस्त्वया कार्या भीष्मादद्य कथंचन अहमेनं शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः पातयिष्ये रथोत्तमात्
M. N. Dutt: You should entertain no fear from Bhishma today, I will dislodge him from his excellent car with sharp arrows."
एवमुक्तस्तु पार्थेन शिखण्डी भरतर्षभ अभ्यद्रवत गाङ्गेयं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus spoken to by Partha, and having listened to the former's worlds, Shikhandin, O foremost of the Bharatas, rushed against the son of Ganga.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तथा राजन्सौभद्रश्च महारथः हृष्टावाद्रवतां भीष्मं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम्
M. N. Dutt: Then also, O king, Dhrishtadyumna and the mighty car-warrior the son of Subhadra, filled with delight at having heard Arjuna's word, rushed against Bhishma.
विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धौ कुन्तिभोजश्च दंशितः अभ्यद्रवत गाङ्गेयं पुत्रस्य तव पश्यतः
M. N. Dutt: Also the two aged warriors Virata and Drupada, and Kuntibhoja each protected with an armour, rushed against Ganga's son before the very eyes of your son.
नकुलः सहदेवश्च धर्मराजश्च वीर्यवान् तथेतराणि सैन्यानि सर्वाण्येव विशां पते समाद्रवन्त गाङ्गेयं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम्
M. N. Dutt: Nakula, and Sahadeva, and the highly powerful Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, as also the other inferior soldiers, O ruler of men,
प्रत्युद्ययुस्तावकाश्च समेतास्तान्महारथान् यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
M. N. Dutt: All advanced against the son of Ganga. As to your warriors who comforted, to the best of their abilities and to the best of their energies, hose united and mighty car-warriors of the enemy, hear me speak.
चित्रसेनो महाराज चेकितानं समभ्ययात् भीष्मप्रेप्सुं रणे यान्तं वृषं व्याघ्रशिशुर्यथा
M. N. Dutt: Chitrasena, O king, confronted in battle Chekitana who had been proceeding against Bhishma in battle like a tiger cub rushing against a bull.
धृष्टद्युम्नं महाराज भीष्मान्तिकमुपागतम् त्वरमाणो रणे यत्तं कृतवर्मा न्यवारयत्
M. N. Dutt: Kritavarma checked Dhrishtadyumna, O king, who having speedily approached Bhishma was then displaying his prowess in battle.
Supplementary Passages:
6.106.9 After 9, T1 G4 M5 ins.: *440 त्वरमाणं रणे यत्तं सौमदत्तिरवारयत्
भीमसेनं सुसंक्रुद्धं गाङ्गेयस्य वधैषिणम् त्वरमाणो महाराज सौमदत्तिर्न्यवारयत्
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, then with great activity Somadatta's encountered Bhimasena inflamed with rage and exerting for the slaughter of Ganga's son.
तथैव नकुलं वीरं किरन्तं सायकान्बहून् विकर्णो वारयामास इच्छन्भीष्मस्य जीवितम्
M. N. Dutt: Then Vikarna, desirous of protecting the life of Bhishma checked the heroic Nakula who had been shooting myriads of shafts.
सहदेवं तथा यान्तं यत्तं भीष्मरथं प्रति वारयामास संक्रुद्धः कृपः शारद्वतो युधि
M. N. Dutt: Then Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, wrought up with rage, checked, in battle, Sahadeva proceeding towards the car of Bhishma.
राक्षसं क्रूरकर्माणं भैमसेनिं महाबलम् भीष्मस्य निधनं प्रेप्सुं दुर्मुखोऽभ्यद्रवद्बली
M. N. Dutt: Then the powerful Durmukha rushed against the highly powerful Rakshasa of fearful deeds, that son of Bhimasena who was desirous of slaying Bhishma. son
सात्यकिं समरे क्रुद्धमार्श्यशृङ्गिरवारयत् अभिमन्युं महाराज यान्तं भीष्मरथं प्रति सुदक्षिणो महाराज काम्बोजः प्रत्यवारयत्
AI Translation: In the battle, the angry Satyaki was countered by Ārshya Śṛṅgi. O great king, Sudakṣiṇa, the Kamboja, countered Abhimanyu as he went towards Bhishma's chariot.
Supplementary Passages:
6.106.14 After 14ab, T G ins.: *441 भीष्मस्य वधमिच्छन्तं पाण्डवप्रीतिकाम्यया
विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धौ समेतावरिमर्दनौ अश्वत्थामा ततः क्रुद्धो वारयामास भारत
AI Translation: The aged Virāta and Drūpada, the destroyer of enemies, were together. Then Ashvatthāma, angry, stopped them, O descendant of Bharata.
तथा पाण्डुसुतं ज्येष्ठं भीष्मस्य वधकाङ्क्षिणम् भारद्वाजो रणे यत्तो धर्मपुत्रमवारयत्
AI Translation: And Bharadvaja's son, eager to kill Bhishma, restrained the son of Dharma in battle.
अर्जुनं रभसं युद्धे पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम् भीष्मप्रेप्सुं महाराज तापयन्तं दिशो दश दुःशासनो महेष्वासो वारयामास संयुगे
AI Translation: Placing the impetuous Arjuna at the head of the battle, and Shikhándin, O great king, who was eager to reach Bhishma and who was tormenting the ten directions, Dúhsaha, the great archer, repulsed him in the battle.
अन्ये च तावका योधाः पाण्डवानां महारथान् भीष्मायाभिमुखं यातान्वारयामासुराहवे
M. N. Dutt: Other warriors of your host resisted in that battle the mighty car-warriors of the Pandava host as they were proceeding towards Bhishma in battle.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु सैन्यानि प्राक्रोशत पुनः पुनः अभिद्रवत संरब्धा भीष्ममेकं महाबलम्
M. N. Dutt: Then excited to the highest pitch of fury, the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna rushed against Bhishma, repeatedly addressing the troops thus in a laud voice,
एषोऽर्जुनो रणे भीष्मं प्रयाति कुरुनन्दनः अभिद्रवत मा भैष्ट भीष्मो न प्राप्स्यते हि वः
M. N. Dutt: “You delighter of the Kurus Arjuna himself is rushing towards Bhishma. Rush you then upon the latter, and be not afraid. Bhishma will never be able to assail you.
अर्जुनं समरे योद्धुं नोत्सहेतापि वासवः किमु भीष्मो रणे वीरा गतसत्त्वोऽल्पजीवितः
M. N. Dutt: Even Vasava himself is not capable of withstanding Arjuna in battle, what to speak of the heroic Bhishma whose energy is gone and life is exhausted?”
इति सेनापतेः श्रुत्वा पाण्डवानां महारथाः अभ्यद्रवन्त संहृष्टा गाङ्गेयस्य रथं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of their generallissimo, the mighty car-warriors.of the Pandava host, with delighted hearts, rushed against the car of the son of Ganga.
आगच्छतस्तान्समरे वार्योघान्प्रबलानिव न्यवारयन्त संहृष्टास्तावकाः पुरुषर्षभाः
M. N. Dutt: Then those warriors of your army, all foremost of men, cheerfully resisted that onslaught of the Pandavas that looked like a furiously advancing mass of living energy.
दुःशासनो महाराज भयं त्यक्त्वा महारथः भीष्मस्य जीविताकाङ्क्षी धनंजयमुपाद्रवत्
M. N. Dutt: Then, O mighty monarch, the great carwarrior Dushasana, desirous of saying Bhishma's confronted Dhananjaya, dismissing all fear from his mind.
तथैव पाण्डवाः शूरा गाङ्गेयस्य रथं प्रति अभ्यद्रवन्त संग्रामे तव पुत्रान्महारथान्
M. N. Dutt: So also the heroic Pandavas rushing towards the car of Ganga's son, assailed your sons, all mighty car-warriors.
Supplementary Passages:
6.106.25 For 25, S subst.: *442 अयोधयच्च समरे तव पुत्रो महारथः
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम चित्ररूपं विशां पते दुःशासनरथं प्राप्तो यत्पार्थो नात्यवर्तत
M. N. Dutt: Then, O monarch, we beheld a wonderful incident, namely that reaching Dushasana's car Partha could not advance further.
यथा वारयते वेला क्षुभितं वै महार्णवम् तथैव पाण्डवं क्रुद्धं तव पुत्रो न्यवारयत्
M. N. Dutt: Just as the banks resist the mighty main with its waters agitated, so did your son resist that son of Pandu inflamed with rage. life,
उभौ हि रथिनां श्रेष्ठावुभौ भारत दुर्जयौ उभौ चन्द्रार्कसदृशौ कान्त्या दीप्त्या च भारत
M. N. Dutt: Both of them were excellent car-warriors, both were invincible, O Bharata, and both resembled the moon and the sun in splendor and beauty.
तौ तथा जातसंरम्भावन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणौ समीयतुर्महासंख्ये मयशक्रौ यथा पुरा
M. N. Dutt: Then like Maya and Shakra encountering each other in the days of yore, those two heroes encountered each other in battle, highly excited with wrath, and desirous of slaying one another.
दुःशासनो महाराज पाण्डवं विशिखैस्त्रिभिः वासुदेवं च विंशत्या ताडयामास संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Then, O monarch, Dushasana wondered the son of Pandu with three shafts in battle, and the soli of Vasudeva with twenty.
ततोऽर्जुनो जातमन्युर्वार्ष्णेयं वीक्ष्य पीडितम् दुःशासनं शतेनाजौ नाराचानां समार्पयत् ते तस्य कवचं भित्त्वा पपुः शोणितमाहवे
M. N. Dutt: Thereat Arjuna waxing wroth upon beholding him of the Vrishni race afflicted with arrows, sped hundred long shafts at Dushasana in that encounter.
Supplementary Passages:
6.106.31 After 31, S ins.: *443 यथैव पन्नगा राजंस्तटाकं तृषिता यथा
दुःशासनस्ततः क्रुद्धः पार्थं विव्याध पञ्चभिः ललाटे भरतश्रेष्ठ शरैः संनतपर्वभिः
AI Translation: Then Duhshāsana, enraged, pierced Partha with five arrows, O best of the Bharatas, in the forehead with arrows having straight joints.
ललाटस्थैस्तु तैर्बाणैः शुशुभे पाण्डवोत्तमः यथा मेरुर्महाराज शृङ्गैरत्यर्थमुच्छ्रितैः
AI Translation: The best of the Pandavas was beautified by those arrows on his forehead, Just as the great mountain Meru is greatly raised by its peaks.
सोऽतिविद्धो महेष्वासः पुत्रेण तव धन्विना व्यराजत रणे पार्थः किंशुकः पुष्पवानिव
AI Translation: The great archer was severely wounded by your son, the archer. Partha shone in the battle like a kimśuka tree in bloom.
दुःशासनं ततः क्रुद्धः पीडयामास पाण्डवः पर्वणीव सुसंक्रुद्धो राहुरुग्रो निशाकरम्
AI Translation: Then the angry Pandava oppressed Duhshāsana, like the angry Rāhu, the fierce one, oppresses the moon at the time of an eclipse.
पीड्यमानो बलवता पुत्रस्तव विशां पते विव्याध समरे पार्थं कङ्कपत्रैः शिलाशितैः
AI Translation: O lord of the people, your son, being oppressed by the powerful one, pierced Partha in the battle with arrows sharpened on stone and having the feathers of herons.
तस्य पार्थो धनुश्छित्त्वा त्वरमाणः पराक्रमी आजघान ततः पश्चात्पुत्रं ते नवभिः शरैः
AI Translation: Having cut his bow, the powerful Partha, quick to act, then struck your son in the back with nine arrows.
सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय भीष्मस्य प्रमुखे स्थितः अर्जुनं पञ्चविंशत्या बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत्
M. N. Dutt: Then he took another shaft and stood before Bhishma. He pierced twentyfive shafts on the chaste of Arjuna
तस्य क्रुद्धो महाराज पाण्डवः शत्रुकर्शनः अप्रैषीद्विशिखान्घोरान्यमदण्डोपमान्बहून्
M. N. Dutt: Then Arjuna, the afflicter of foes, with enger, O king! shot at him numerous dreadful arrows resembling the mace of Death himself. Then your son cut off those arrows before they could reach him.
अप्राप्तानेव तान्बाणांश्चिच्छेद तनयस्तव यतमानस्य पार्थस्य तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् पार्थं च निशितैर्बाणैरविध्यत्तनयस्तव
M. N. Dutt: Sped though they were by Partha excreting his best in battle. Indeed this appeared to be marvelous. Once more your son pierced the son of Pritha with shafts of exceedingly ! sharpness.
ततः क्रुद्धो रणे पार्थः शरान्संधाय कार्मुके प्रेषयामास समरे स्वर्णपुङ्खाञ्शिलाशितान्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, wrought up with rage Partha fixing on his bow-string arrows full finished with gold wings and whetted on stone, discharged them at your son.
न्यमज्जंस्ते महाराज तस्य काये महात्मनः यथा हंसा महाराज तडागं प्राप्य भारत
M. N. Dutt: These shafts, O monarch, entered into the body of the illustrious Dushasana, like swans, O Bharata, diving into the waters of a lake.
पीडितश्चैव पुत्रस्ते पाण्डवेन महात्मना हित्वा पार्थं रणे तूर्णं भीष्मस्य रथमाश्रयत् अगाधे मज्जतस्तस्य द्वीपो भीष्मोऽभवत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Thus your son sorely afflicted by the illustrious son of Pandu, quickly avoiding him proceeded towards the chariot of Bhishma.
प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञां पुत्रस्तव विशां पते अवारयत्ततः शूरो भूय एव पराक्रमी
AI Translation: Having regained consciousness, O lord of the earth, your son, the hero, the very powerful one, again restrained him.
शरैः सुनिशितैः पार्थं यथा वृत्रः पुरंदरम् निर्बिभेद महावीर्यो विव्यथे नैव चार्जुनात्
M. N. Dutt: Endued with bravery, and prowess, again began to check Partha with well-sharpened shafts, like Indra resisting Vritra. Your son of huge stature, penetrated Arjuna through and through but the latter did feel no pain at all.