Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच कथं शांतनवो भीष्मो दशमेऽहनि संजय अयुध्यत महावीर्यैः पाण्डवैः सहसृञ्जयैः
AI Translation: Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, how did the mighty Bhishma, Shantanu's son, fight on the tenth day with the Pandavas and Srinjayas?
कुरवश्च कथं युद्धे पाण्डवान्प्रत्यवारयन् आचक्ष्व मे महायुद्धं भीष्मस्याहवशोभिनः
AI Translation: How did the Kurus stop the Pandavas in the battle? Tell me about the great battle of Bhishma, who was glorious in battle.
संजय उवाच कुरवः पाण्डवैः सार्धं यथायुध्यन्त भारत यथा च तदभूद्युद्धं तत्ते वक्ष्यामि शृण्वतः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said I shall, O Bharata, rehearse to you as to how did the Kurus fight with the Pandavas, and how also did that battle rage.
प्रेषिताः परलोकाय परमास्त्रैः किरीटिना अहन्यहनि संप्राप्तास्तावकानां रथव्रजाः
M. N. Dutt: Day after day, the irate mighty car-warriors of your armny were conveyed to the regions of the departed by the excellent weapons shot by the diadem-decked Arjuna.
यथाप्रतिज्ञं कौरव्यः स चापि समितिंजयः पार्थानामकरोद्भीष्मः सततं समितिक्षयम्
M. N. Dutt: That conqueror of assembled enemies, viz., Bhishma, that foremost of Kuru heroes ever redeeming his vows, also destroyed the hosts of the Pandavas.
कुरुभिः सहितं भीष्मं युध्यमानं महारथम् अर्जुनं च सपाञ्चाल्यं दृष्ट्वा संशयिता जनाः
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Bhishma fighting at the head of the Kurus and Arjuna at the head of Panchala troops, we were unable, O afflicter of foes, to divine as to which side would be victorious.
दशमेऽहनि तस्मिंस्तु भीष्मार्जुनसमागमे अवर्तत महारौद्रः सततं समितिक्षयः
M. N. Dutt: Then in that battle on the tenth day when Bhishma and Arjuna confronted one another, the carnage that was caused was indeed terrible to the extreme.
तस्मिन्नयुतशो राजन्भूयश्च स परंतपः भीष्मः शांतनवो योधाञ्जघान परमास्त्रवित्
M. N. Dutt: Then Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, that hero conversant with excellent weapons, slew, O afflicter of foes, many warriors by millions and thousands.
येषामज्ञातकल्पानि नामगोत्राणि पार्थिव ते हतास्तत्र भीष्मेण शूराः सर्वेऽनिवर्तिनः
M. N. Dutt: Many were the number of those unretreating heroes, heroes, whose names and designations and families were not known, who lay slaughtered by Bhishma on the field of battle.
दशाहानि ततस्तप्त्वा भीष्मः पाण्डववाहिनीम् निरविद्यत धर्मात्मा जीवितेन परंतपः
M. N. Dutt: Having consumed the Pandava ranks for ten days, the high-souled Bhishma, O afflicter of foes, became disregardful of his life.
स क्षिप्रं वधमन्विच्छन्नात्मनोऽभिमुखं रणे न हन्यां मानवश्रेष्ठान्संग्रामेऽभिमुखानिति
AI Translation: He quickly sought death in the battle, facing his own side, "Not killing the best of men in battle, facing me.""
चिन्तयित्वा महाबाहुः पिता देवव्रतस्तव अभ्याशस्थं महाराज पाण्डवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Having thought about it, your father, the mighty-armed Devavrata, approached the great king Pandava and spoke these words:
युधिष्ठिर महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद शृणु मे वचनं तात धर्म्यं स्वर्ग्यं च जल्पतः
M. N. Dutt: "O Yudhishthira, O very wise one, O you familiar with all the Shastras! Hear, O sire, I speak these words, that are fraught with moral teachings and that are capable of securing paradise for any one.
निर्विण्णोऽस्मि भृशं तात देहेनानेन भारत घ्नतश्च मे गतः कालः सुबहून्प्राणिनो रणे
M. N. Dutt: O Bharata, O sire, I am disgusted with this body of mine. I have passed my days in slaying numerous creatures in battle.
तस्मात्पार्थं पुरोधाय पाञ्चालान्सृञ्जयांस्तथा मद्वधे क्रियतां यत्नो मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम्
M. N. Dutt: So if you desire to do me a good turn, strive your best for slaying me, placing the Panchalas and Srinjayas with Partha, before yourself."
तस्य तन्मतमाज्ञाय पाण्डवः सत्यदर्शनः भीष्मं प्रतिययौ यत्तः संग्रामे सह सृञ्जयैः
M. N. Dutt: Ascertaining that to be the desire of Bhishma, king Yudhishthira of unerring sight rushed against Bhishma in battle with the Srinjayas for his supporters.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्ततो राजन्पाण्डवश्च युधिष्ठिरः श्रुत्वा भीष्मस्य तां वाचं चोदयामासतुर्बलम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, o king, Dhrishtadyumna and Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, having heard those words of Bhishma urged on their forces saying:
अभिद्रवत युध्यध्वं भीष्मं जयत संयुगे रक्षिताः सत्यसंधेन जिष्णुना रिपुजिष्णुना
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Proceed, fight! conquer Bhishma in battle; you will be protected by Jishnu of unerring aim who is ever the conqueror of foes;
अयं चापि महेष्वासः पार्षतो वाहिनीपतिः भीमसेनश्च समरे पालयिष्यति वो ध्रुवम्
M. N. Dutt: This fierce bowman the son of Prishata the commander of our hosts and Bhimasena also, will assuredly protect you all in battle.
न वै भीष्माद्भयं किंचित्कर्तव्यं युधि सृञ्जयाः ध्रुवं भीष्मं विजेष्यामः पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्
M. N. Dutt: He Srinjayas, entertain no fear of Bhishma in battle today! Placing Shikhandin in our van we will assuredly conquer Bhishma in battle.”
Supplementary Passages:
6.111.20 After 20, T2 M1.4 ins.: *463 ते तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्
तथा तु समयं कृत्वा दशमेऽहनि पाण्डवाः ब्रह्मलोकपरा भूत्वा संजग्मुः क्रोधमूर्छिताः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Then on the tenth day, making all these arrangements, the Pandavas determined to conquer or to go to the regions of Brahma; and infuriate with rage, they encountered Bhishma.
शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य पाण्डवं च धनंजयम् भीष्मस्य पातने यत्नं परमं ते समास्थिताः
M. N. Dutt: Placing Shikhandin and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu at their head, they struggled arduously to overthrown Bhishma.
ततस्तव सुतादिष्टा नानाजनपदेश्वराः द्रोणेन सहपुत्रेण सहसेना महाबलाः
M. N. Dutt: Then numerous heroic rulers of various countries commanded by your son, accompanied by their sons, and by their own mighty divisions,
दुःशासनश्च बलवान्सह सर्वैः सहोदरैः भीष्मं समरमध्यस्थं पालयां चक्रिरे तदा
M. N. Dutt: As also your highly puissant son Dushasana supported by all his uterine brothers, then began to support Bhishma staying in the midst of the troops.
ततस्तु तावकाः शूराः पुरस्कृत्य यतव्रतम् शिखण्डिप्रमुखान्पार्थान्योधयन्ति स्म संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Then all your warriors placing before them Bhishma of regulated vows began to fight with the Partha's having Shikhandin at their van.
चेदिभिश्च सपाञ्चालैः सहितो वानरध्वजः ययौ शांतनवं भीष्मं पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्
M. N. Dutt: Then that hero having the ape as the device on his standard, placing Shikhandin before him and accompanied by the Chedis and Panchalas, rushed against Bhishma the son of Shantanu.
द्रोणपुत्रं शिनेर्नप्ता धृष्टकेतुस्तु पौरवम् युधामन्युः सहामात्यं दुर्योधनमयोधयत्
M. N. Dutt: The grandson of Shini fought with Drona's son, Dhrishtaketu with the descendant of Puru and Yudhamanyu with king. Duryodhana and his ministers. son
विराटस्तु सहानीकः सहसेनं जयद्रथम् वृद्धक्षत्रस्य दायादमाससाद परंतपः
M. N. Dutt: Then, O afflicter of foes, Virata supported by his division confronted Jayadratha with his troops, that heir of Vridhakshatra.
Supplementary Passages:
6.111.28 After 28, Da2 Dn1 D5 ins.: *464 चित्रसेनस्तव सुतं विचित्रशरकार्मुकम्
मद्रराजं महेष्वासं सहसैन्यं युधिष्ठिरः भीमसेनाभिगुप्तश्च नागानीकमुपाद्रवत्
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira encountered the king of Madras supported by his soldiers. Bhimasena also, well protected, assaulted the elephant division of the enemy.
अप्रधृष्यमनावार्यं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम् द्रोणं प्रति ययौ यत्तः पाञ्चाल्यः सह सोमकैः
M. N. Dutt: The prince of the Panchalas wrought up with rage and supported by his uterine brothers rushed against Drona's invincible, irresistible, and foremost of all wielders of weapons.
कर्णिकारध्वजं चापि सिंहकेतुररिंदमः प्रत्युज्जगाम सौभद्रं राजपुत्रो बृहद्बलः
M. N. Dutt: That subduer of enemies, viz., prince Brihadbala, confronted Subhadra's son who bore the device of a lion on his standard and whose flag resembled a shaking Karnikara flower.
शिखण्डिनं च पुत्रास्ते पाण्डवं च धनंजयम् राजभिः समरे सार्धमभिपेतुर्जिघांसवः
M. N. Dutt: Then your sons accompanied by other monarchs, fell upon Shikhandin and that son of Pandu namely Dhananjaya, desirous of slaying them both.
तस्मिन्नतिमहाभीमे सेनयोर्वै पराक्रमे संप्रधावत्स्वनीकेषु मेदिनी समकम्पत
M. N. Dutt: Then when the fighters of the two hosts rushed impetuously against one another in thai terrible combat, the earth shook underneath their tread.
तान्यनीकान्यनीकेषु समसज्जन्त भारत तावकानां परेषां च दृष्ट्वा शांतनवं रणे
M. N. Dutt: Beholding Shantanu's son in battle, the divisions of your army and those of the enemy clashed against one another, O Bharata.
ततस्तेषां प्रयततामन्योन्यमभिधावताम् प्रादुरासीन्महाञ्शब्दो दिक्षु सर्वासु भारत
M. N. Dutt: Then when, infuriated, those two hosts rushed against one another, terrible was the din that filled all the different quarters of the earth, OBharata.
शङ्खदुन्दुभिघोषैश्च वारणानां च बृंहितैः सिंहनादैश्च सैन्यानां दारुणः समपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: And the din become still more awful being aggravated by the blare of conchs and the sound of drums and the roars of elephants and the war-cries of the troops.
सा च सर्वनरेन्द्राणां चन्द्रार्कसदृशी प्रभा वीराङ्गदकिरीटेषु निष्प्रभा समपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: Then the radiance emitted from the bracelets and diadems of all the royal warriorsradiance resembling the splendour of the sun or the moon-become bedimmed.
रजोमेघाश्च संजज्ञुः शस्त्रविद्युद्भिरावृताः धनुषां चैव निर्घोषो दारुणः समपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: Clouds of dust were raised in which played the lighting consisting of the flashes of weapons. The twang of bows also became tremendous.
बाणशङ्खप्रणादाश्च भेरीणां च महास्वनाः रथघोषश्च संजग्मुः सेनयोरुभयोरपि
M. N. Dutt: The whizzing of arrows, the blare of conchs, the loud sound of the drums, and the clatter of cars of the warriors of both the hosts were indeed awful.
प्रासशक्त्यृष्टिसंघैश्च बाणौघैश्च समाकुलम् निष्प्रकाशमिवाकाशं सेनयोः समपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: The sky over the head of the two armies assumed a lowering aspect in consequence of the numerous dares, javelins, lances and arrows shot and hurled by them.
अन्योन्यं रथिनः पेतुर्वाजिनश्च महाहवे कुञ्जराः कुञ्जराञ्जघ्नुः पदातींश्च पदातयः
M. N. Dutt: In that dreadful battle car-warriors and horsemen, smote down one another Elephants crushed elephants, and foot-soldiers slew footsoldiers.
तदासीत्सुमहद्युद्धं कुरूणां पाण्डवैः सह भीष्महेतोर्नरव्याघ्र श्येनयोरामिषे यथा
M. N. Dutt: Then, O foremost of men, like the fight between two hawks for a piece of meat, the fight, for the sake of Bhishma, between the Pandavas and the Kurus, become very awful.
तयोः समागमो घोरो बभूव युधि भारत अन्योन्यस्य वधार्थाय जिगीषूणां रणाजिरे
M. N. Dutt: Then dreadful was the encounter in that battle between those two armies, each desirous of slaughtering and gaining victory over its rival.