Bhisma Parwa 23

Mahabharata 6.23

 

Bhisma Parwa 23

 

Bhagawad Gita 1

 

1 धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
     धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः
     मामकाः पाण्डवाश चैव किम अकुर्वत संजय
 2 संजय उवाच
     दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं वयूढं दुर्यॊधनस तदा
     आचार्यम उपसंगम्य राजा वचनम अब्रवीत
 3 पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणाम आचार्य महतीं चमूम
     वयूढां दरुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता
 4 अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि
     युयुधानॊ विराटश च दरुपदश च महारथः
 5 धृष्टकेतुश चेकितानः काशिराजश च वीर्यवान
     पुरुजित कुन्तिभॊजश च शैब्यश च नरपुंगवः
 6 युधामन्युश च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश च वीर्यवान
     सौभद्रॊ दरौपदेयाश च सर्व एव महारथाः
 7 अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान निबॊध दविजॊत्तम
     नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान बरवीमि ते
 8 भवान भीष्मश च कर्णश च कृपश च समितिंजयः
     अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश च सौमदत्तिर जयद्रथः
 9 अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे तयक्तजीविताः
     नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः
 10 अपर्याप्तं तद अस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम
    पर्याप्तं तव इदम एतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम
 11 अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागम अवस्थिताः
    भीष्मम एवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि
 12 तस्य संजनयन हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः
    सिंहनादं विनद्यॊच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ परतापवान
 13 ततः शङ्खाश च भेर्यश च पणवानकगॊमुखाः
    सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस तुमुलॊ ऽभवत
 14 ततः शवेतैर हयैर युक्ते महति सयन्दने सथितौ
    माधवः पाण्डवश चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ परदध्मतुः
 15 पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशॊ देवदत्तं धनंजयः
    पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकॊदरः
 16 अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रॊ युधिष्ठिरः
    नकुलः सहदेवश च सुघॊषमणिपुष्पकौ
 17 काश्यश च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः
    धृष्टद्युम्नॊ विराटश च सात्यकिश चापराजितः
 18 दरुपदॊ दरौपदेयाश च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते
    सौभद्रश च महाबाहुः शङ्खान दध्मुः पृथक पृथक
 19 स घॊषॊ धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि वयदारयत
    नभश च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलॊ वयनुनादयन
 20 अथ वयवस्थितान दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान कपिध्वजः
    परवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुर उद्यम्य पाण्डवः
 21 हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यम इदम आह महीपते
    सेनयॊर उभयॊर मध्ये रथं सथापय मे ऽचयुत
 22 यावद एतान निरीक्षे ऽहं यॊद्धुकामान अवस्थितान
    कैर मया सह यॊद्धव्यम अस्मिन रणसमुद्यमे
 23 यॊत्स्यमानान अवेक्षे ऽहं य एते ऽतर समागताः
    धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर युद्धे परियचिकीर्षवः
 24 एवम उक्तॊ हृषीकेशॊ गुडाकेशेन भारत
    सेनयॊर उभयॊर मध्ये सथापयित्वा रथॊत्तमम
 25 भीष्मद्रॊणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम
    उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान समवेतान कुरून इति
 26 तत्रापश्यत सथितान पार्थः पितॄन अथ पितामहान
    आचार्यान मातुलान भरातॄन पुत्रान पौत्रान सखींस तथा
 27 शवशुरान सुहृदश चैव सेनयॊर उभयॊर अपि
    तान समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान बन्धून अवस्थितान
 28 कृपया परयाविष्टॊ विषीदन्न इदम अब्रवीत
    दृष्ट्वेमं सवजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम
 29 सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति
    वेपथुश च शरीरे मे रॊमहर्षश च जायते
 30 गाण्डीवं सरंसते हस्तात तवक चैव परिदह्यते
    न च शक्नॊम्य अवस्थातुं भरमतीव च मे मनः
 31 निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव
    न च शरेयॊ ऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा सवजनम आहवे
 32 न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च
    किं नॊ राज्येन गॊविन्द किं भॊगैर जीवितेन वा
 33 येषाम अर्थे काङ्क्षितं नॊ राज्यं भॊगाः सुखानि च
    त इमे ऽवस्थिता युद्धे पराणांस तयक्त्वा धनानि च
 34 आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास तथैव च पितामहाः
    मातुलाः शवशुराः पौत्राः शयालाः संबन्धिनस तथा
 35 एतान न हन्तुम इच्छामि घनतॊ ऽपि मधुसूदन
    अपि तरैलॊक्यराज्यस्य हेतॊः किं नु महीकृते
 36 निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान नः का परीतिः सयाज जनार्दन
    पापम एवाश्रयेद अस्मान हत्वैतान आततायिनः
 37 तस्मान नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान सवबान्धवान
    सवजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः सयाम माधव
 38 यद्य अप्य एते न पश्यन्ति लॊभॊपहतचेतसः
    कुलक्षयकृतं दॊषं मित्रद्रॊहे च पातकम
 39 कथं न जञेयम अस्माभिः पापाद अस्मान निवर्तितुम
    कुलक्षयकृतं दॊषं परपश्यद्भिर जनार्दन
 40 कुलक्षये परणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः
    धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नम अधर्मॊ ऽभिभवत्य उत
 41 अधर्माभिभवात कृष्ण परदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः
    सत्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसंकरः
 42 संकरॊ नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च
    पतन्ति पितरॊ हय एषां लुप्तपिण्डॊदकक्रियाः
 43 दॊषैर एतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसंकरकारकैः
    उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश च शाश्वताः
 44 उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन
    नरके नियतं वासॊ भवतीत्य अनुशुश्रुम
 45 अहॊ बत महत पापं कर्तुं वयवसिता वयम
    यद राज्यसुखलॊभेन हन्तुं सवजनम उद्यताः
 46 यदि माम अप्रतीकारम अशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः
    धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस तन मे कषेमतरं भवेत
 47 एवम उक्त्वार्जुनः संख्ये रथॊपस्थ उपाविशत
    विसृज्य सशरं चापं शॊकसंविग्नमानसः

 

  1 dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
      dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ
      māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata saṃjaya
  2 saṃjaya uvāca
      dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanas tadā
      ācāryam upasaṃgamya rājā vacanam abravīt
  3 paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇām ācārya mahatīṃ camūm
      vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā
  4 atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi
      yuyudhāno virāṭaś ca drupadaś ca mahārathaḥ
  5 dhṛṣṭaketuś cekitānaḥ kāśirājaś ca vīryavān
      purujit kuntibhojaś ca śaibyaś ca narapuṃgavaḥ
  6 yudhāmanyuś ca vikrānta uttamaujāś ca vīryavān
      saubhadro draupadeyāś ca sarva eva mahārathāḥ
  7 asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tān nibodha dvijottama
      nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tān bravīmi te
  8 bhavān bhīṣmaś ca karṇaś ca kṛpaś ca samitiṃjayaḥ
      aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca saumadattir jayadrathaḥ
  9 anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ
      nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ
  10 aparyāptaṃ tad asmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam
     paryāptaṃ tv idam eteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam
 11 ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgam avasthitāḥ
     bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi
 12 tasya saṃjanayan harṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
     siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān
 13 tataḥ śaṅkhāś ca bheryaś ca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ
     sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdas tumulo 'bhavat
 14 tataḥ śvetair hayair yukte mahati syandane sthitau
     mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaś caiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ
 15 pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
     pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ
 16 anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau
 17 kāśyaś ca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ
     dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaś ca sātyakiś cāparājitaḥ
 18 drupado draupadeyāś ca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate
     saubhadraś ca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhān dadhmuḥ pṛthak pṛthak
 19 sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat
     nabhaś ca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan
 20 atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrān kapidhvajaḥ
     pravṛtte śastrasaṃpāte dhanur udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ
 21 hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyam idam āha mahīpate
     senayor ubhayor madhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me 'cyuta
 22 yāvad etān nirīkṣe 'haṃ yoddhukāmān avasthitān
     kair mayā saha yoddhavyam asmin raṇasamudyame
 23 yotsyamānān avekṣe 'haṃ ya ete 'tra samāgatāḥ
     dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddher yuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ
 24 evam ukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata
     senayor ubhayor madhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam
 25 bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām
     uvāca pārtha paśyaitān samavetān kurūn iti
 26 tatrāpaśyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṝn atha pitāmahān
     ācāryān mātulān bhrātṝn putrān pautrān sakhīṃs tathā
 27 śvaśurān suhṛdaś caiva senayor ubhayor api
     tān samīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvān bandhūn avasthitān
 28 kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdann idam abravīt
     dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam
 29 sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati
     vepathuś ca śarīre me romaharṣaś ca jāyate
 30 gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāt tvak caiva paridahyate
     na ca śaknomy avasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ
 31 nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava
     na ca śreyo 'nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanam āhave
 32 na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca
     kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogair jīvitena vā
 33 yeṣām arthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca
     ta ime 'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃs tyaktvā dhanāni ca
 34 ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrās tathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ
     mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ saṃbandhinas tathā
 35 etān na hantum icchāmi ghnato 'pi madhusūdana
     api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte
 36 nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrān naḥ kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana
     pāpam evāśrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ
 37 tasmān nārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrān svabāndhavān
     svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava
 38 yady apy ete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ
     kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam
 39 kathaṃ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum
     kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhir janārdana
 40 kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ
     dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnam adharmo 'bhibhavaty uta
 41 adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ
     strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṃkaraḥ
 42 saṃkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca
     patanti pitaro hy eṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ
 43 doṣair etaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṃkarakārakaiḥ
     utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāś ca śāśvatāḥ
 44 utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana
     narake niyataṃ vāso bhavatīty anuśuśruma
 45 aho bata mahat pāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam
     yad rājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanam udyatāḥ
 46 yadi mām apratīkāram aśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ
     dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyus tan me kṣemataraṃ bhavet
 47 evam uktvārjunaḥ saṃkhye rathopastha upāviśat
     visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ

 

Dhritarashtra said,--"Assembled together on the sacred plain of Kurukshetra from desire of fighting what did my sons and the Pandavas do. O Sanjaya."

 

"Sanjaya said,--"Beholding the army of the Pandavas arrayed, king Duryodhana, approaching the preceptor (Drona) said these words: Behold, O preceptor, this vast army of the son of Pandu, arrayed by Drupada's son (Dhrishtadyumna), thy intelligent disciple. There (in that army) are many brave and mighty bowmen, who in battle are equal to Bhima and Arjuna. (They are) Yuyudhana, and Virata, and that mighty car-warrior Drupada, and Dhrishtaketu, and Chekitana, and the ruler of Kasi endued with great energy; and Purujit, and Kuntibhoja, and Saivya that bull among men; and Yudhamanyu of great prowess, and Uttamaujas of great energy; and Subhadra's son, and the sons of Draupadi, all of whom are mighty car-warriors. Hear, however, O best of regenerate ones, who are the distinguished ones among us, the leader of army. I will name them to thee for (thy) information. (They are) thyself, and Bhishma, and Karna, and Kripa who is ever victorious; and Aswatthaman and Vikarna, and Saumadatta, and Jayadratha. Besides these, are many heroic warriors, prepared to lay down their lives for my sake, armed with diverse kinds of weapons, and all accomplished in battle. Our army, therefore, protected by Bhishma, is insufficient. This force, however, of these (the Pandavas), protected by Bhima, is sufficient. Stationing yourselves then in the entrances of the divisions that have been assigned to you, all of you protect Bhishma alone.--(Just at this time) the valiant and venerable grandsire of the Kurus, affording great joy to him (Duryodhana) by loudly uttering a leonine roar, blew (his) conch. Then conches and drums and cymbals and horns were sounded at once and the noise (made) became a loud uproar. Then Madhava and Pandu's son (Arjuna), both stationed on a great car unto which were yoked white steeds, blew their celestial conches. And Hrishikesha blew (the conch called) Panchajanya and Dhananjaya (that called) Devadatta; and Vrikodara of terrible deeds blew the huge conch (called) Paundra. And Kunti's son king Yudhishthira blew (the conch called) Anantavijaya; while Nakula and Sahadeva, (those conches called respectively) Sughosa and Manipushpaka. And that splendid bowman, the ruler of Kasi and that mighty car-warrior, Sikhandin, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and that unvanquished Satyaki, and Drupada, and the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra--all these, O lord of earth, severally blew their conches. And that blare, loudly reverberating through the welkin, and the earth, rent the hearts of the Dhartarashtras. Then beholding the Dhartarashtra troops drawn up, the ape-bannered son of Pandu, rising his bow, when, the throwing of missiles had just commenced, said these words, O lord of earth, to Hrishikesha. 

 

"Arjuna said,--'O thou that knoweth no deterioration, place my car (once) between the two armies, so that I may observe these that stand here desirous of battle, and with whom I shall have to contend in the labours of this struggle. I will observe those who are assembled here and who are prepared to fight for doing what is agreeable in battle to the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.'"

 

Sanjaya continued,---'Thus addressed by Gudakesa, O Bharata, Hrishikesa, placing that excellent car between the two armies, in view of Bhishma and Drona and all the kings of the earth, said,--'Behold, O Partha these assembled Kurus,--And there the son of Pritha beheld, standing (his) sires and grandsons, and friends, and father-in-law and well-wishers, in both the armies. Beholding all those kinsmen standing (there), the son of Kunti, possessed by excessive pity, despondingly said (these words).

 

"Arjuna said,--'Beholding these kinsmen, O Krishna, assembled together and eager for the fight, my limbs, become languid, and my mouth becomes dry. My body trembles, and my hair stands on end. Gandiva slips from my hand, and my skin burns. I am unable to stand (any longer); my mind seems to wander. I behold adverse omens, too, O Kesava. I do not desire victory, O Krishna, not sovereignty, nor pleasures. Of what use would sovereignty be to us, O Govinda, or enjoyments, or even life, since they, for whose sake sovereignty, enjoyments, and pleasures are desired by us, are here arrayed for battle ready to give up life and wealth, viz., preceptors, sires, sons and grandsires, maternal uncles, father-in-laws, grandsons, brother-in-laws, and kinsmen. I wish not to slay these though they slay me, O slayer of Madhu, even for the sake of the sovereignty of the three worlds, what then for the sake of (this) earth? What gratification can be ours, O Janardana, by slaying the Dhartarashtras? Even if they be regarded as foes, sin will overtake us if we slay them. Therefore, it behoveth us not to slay the sons of Dhritarashtra who are our own kinsmen. How, O Madhava can we be happy by killing our own kinsmen? Even if these, with judgments perverted by avarice, do not see the evil that ariseth from the extermination of a race, and the sin of internecine quarrels, why should not we, O Janarddana, who see the evils of the extermination of a race, learn to abstain from that sin? A race being destroyed, the eternal customs of that race are lost; and upon those customs being lost, sin overpowers the whole race. From the predominance of sin, O Krishna, the women of that race become corrupt. And the women becoming corrupt, an intermingling of castes happeneth, O descendant of Vrishni. This intermingling of castes leadeth to hell both the destroyer of the race and the race itself. The ancestors of those fall (from heaven), their rites of pinda and water ceasing. By these sins of destroyers of races, causing intermixture of castes, the rules of caste and the eternal rites of families become extinct. We have heard, O Janarddana, that men whose family rites become extinct, ever dwell in hell. Alas, we have resolved to perpetrate a great sin, for we are ready to slay our own kinsmen from lust of the sweets of sovereignty. Better would it be for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapon in hand, should in battle slay me (myself) unavenging unarmed.--'"

 

Sanjaya continued,--"Having spoken thus on the field of battle, Arjuna, his mind troubled with grief, casting aside his bow and arrows, sat down on his car.