Bhisma Parwa 115

Mahabharata 6.115

 

Bhisma Parwa 115

 

1 धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
     कथम आसंस तदा यॊधा हीना भीष्मेण संजय
     बलिना देवकल्पेन गुर्वर्थे बरह्मचारिणा
 2 तदैव निहतान मन्ये कुरून अन्यांश च पार्थिवान
     न पराहरद यदा भीष्मॊ घृणित्वाद दरुपदात्मजे
 3 ततॊ दुःखतरं मन्ये किम अन्यत परभविष्यति
     यद अद्य पितरं शरुत्वा निहतं मम दुर्मतेः
 4 अश्मसारमयं नूनं हृदयं मम संजय
     शरुत्वा विनिहतं भीष्मं शतधा यन न दीर्यते
 5 पुनः पुनर न मृष्यामि हतं देवव्रतं रणे
     न हतॊ जामदग्न्येन दिव्यैर अस्त्रैः सम यः पुरा
 6 यद अद्य निहतेनाजौ भीष्मेण जयम इच्छता
     चेष्टितं नरसिंहेन तन मे कथय संजय
 7 संजय उवाच
     सायाह्ने नयपतद भूमौ धार्तराष्ट्रान विषादयन
     पाञ्चालानां ददद धर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः
 8 स शेते शरतल्पस्थॊ मेदिनीम अस्पृशंस तदा
     भीष्मॊ रथात परपतितः परच्युतॊ धरणीतले
 9 हाहेति तुमुलः शब्दॊ भूतानां समपद्यत
     सीमावृक्षे निपतिते कुरूणां समितिक्षये
 10 उभयॊः सेनयॊ राजन कषत्रियान भयम आविशत
    भीष्मं शंतनवं दृष्ट्वा विशीर्णकवचध्वजम
    कुरवः पर्यवर्तन्त पाण्डवाश च विशां पते
 11 खं तमॊवृतम आसीच च नासीद भानुमतः परभा
    ररास पृथिवी चैव भीष्मे शांतनवे हते
 12 अयं बरह्मविदां शरेष्ठॊ अयं बरह्मविदां गतिः
    इत्य अभाषन्त भूतानि शयानं भरतर्षभम
 13 अयं पितरम आज्ञाय कामार्तं शंतनुं पुरा
    ऊर्ध्वरेतसम आत्मानं चकार पुरुषर्षभः
 14 इति सम शरतल्पस्थं भरतानाम अमध्यमम
    ऋषयः पर्यधावन्त सहिताः सिद्धचारणैः
 15 हते शांतनवे भीष्मे भरतानां पितामहे
    न किं चित परत्यपद्यन्त पुत्रास तव च भारत
 16 विवर्णवदनाश चासन गतश्रीकाश च भारत
    अतिष्ठन वरीडिताश चैव हरिया युक्ता हय अधॊमुखाः
 17 पाण्डवाश च जयं लब्ध्वा संग्रामशिरसि सथिताः
    सर्वे दध्मुर महाशङ्खान हेमजालपरिष्कृतान
 18 भृशं तूर्यनिनादेषु वाद्यमानेषु चानघ
    अपश्याम रणे राजन भीमसेनं महाबलम
    आक्रीडमानं कौन्तेयं हर्षेण महता युतम
 19 निहत्य समरे शत्रून महाबलसमन्वितान
    संमॊहश चापि तुमुलः कुरूणाम अभवत तदा
 20 कर्णदुर्यॊधनौ चापि निःश्वसेतां मुहुर मुहुः
    तथा निपतिते भीष्मे कौरवाणां धुरंधरे
    हाहाकारम अभूत सर्वं निर्मर्यादम अवर्तत
 21 दृष्ट्वा च पतितं भीष्मं पुत्रॊ दुःशासनस तव
    उत्तमं जवम आस्थाय दरॊणानीकं समाद्रवत
 22 भरात्रा परस्थापितॊ वीरः सवेनानीकेन दंशितः
    परययौ पुरुषव्याघ्रः सवसैन्यम अभिचॊदयन
 23 तम आयान्तम अभिप्रेक्ष्य कुरवः पर्यवारयन
    दुःशासनं महाराज किम अयं वक्ष्यतीति वै
 24 ततॊ दरॊणाय निहतं भीष्मम आचष्ट कौरवः
    दरॊणस तद अप्रियं शरुत्वा सहसा नयपतद रथात
 25 स संज्ञाम उपलभ्याथ भारद्वाजः परतापवान
    निवारयाम आस तदा सवान्य अनीकानि मारिष
 26 विनिवृत्तान कुरून दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवापि सवसैनिकान
    दूतैः शीघ्राश्वसंयुक्तैर अवहारम अकारयन
 27 विनिवृत्तेषु सैन्येषु पारम्पर्येण सर्वशः
    विमुक्तकवचाः सर्वे भीष्मम ईयुर नराधिपाः
 28 वयुपारम्य ततॊ युद्धाद यॊधाः शतसहस्रशः
    उपतस्थुर महात्मानं परजापतिम इवामराः
 29 ते तु भीष्मं समासाद्य शयानं भरतर्षभम
    अभिवाद्य वयतिष्ठन्त पाण्डवाः कुरुभिः सह
 30 अथ पाण्डून कुरूंश चैव परणिपत्याग्रतः सथितान
    अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भीष्मः शांतनवस तदा
 31 सवागतं वॊ महाभागाः सवागतं वॊ महारथाः
    तुष्यामि दर्शनाच चाहं युष्माकम अमरॊपमाः
 32 अभिनन्द्य स तान एवं शिरसा लम्बताब्रवीत
    शिरॊ मे लम्बते ऽतयर्थम उपधानं परदीयताम
 33 ततॊ नृपाः समाजह्रुस तनूनि च मृदूनि च
    उपधानानि मुख्यानि नैच्छत तानि पितामहः
 34 अब्रवीच च नरव्याघ्रः परहसन्न इव तान नृपान
    नैतानि वीरशय्यासु युक्तरूपाणि पार्थिवाः
 35 ततॊ वीक्ष्य नरश्रेष्ठम अभ्यभाषत पाण्डवम
    धनंजयं दीर्घबाहुं सर्वलॊकमहारथम
 36 धनंजय महाबाहॊ शिरसॊ मे ऽसय लम्बतः
    दीयताम उपधानं वै यद युक्तम इह मन्यसे
 37 स संन्यस्य महच चापम अभिवाद्य पितामहम
    नेत्राभ्याम अश्रुपूर्णाभ्याम इदं वचनम अब्रवीत
 38 आज्ञापय कुरुश्रेष्ठ सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वर
    परेष्यॊ ऽहं तव दुर्धर्ष करियतां किं पितामह
 39 तम अब्रवीच छांतनवः शिरॊ मे तात लम्बते
    उपधानं कुरुश्रेष्ठ फल्गुनॊपनयस्व मे
    शयनस्यानुरूपं हि शीघ्रं वीर परयच्छ मे
 40 तवं हि पार्थ महाबाहॊ शरेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम
    कषत्रधर्मस्य वेत्ता च बुद्धिसत्त्वगुणान्वितः
 41 फल्गुनस तु तथेत्य उक्त्वा वयवसायपुरॊजवः
    परगृह्यामन्त्र्य गाण्डीवं शरांश च नतपर्वणः
 42 अनुमान्य महात्मानं भरतानाम अमध्यमम
    तरिभिस तीक्ष्णैर महावेगैर उदगृह्णाच छिरः शरैः
 43 अभिप्राये तु विदिते धर्मात्मा सव्यसाचिना
    अतुष्यद भरतश्रेष्ठॊ भीष्मॊ धर्मार्थतत्त्ववित
 44 उपधानेन दत्तेन परत्यनन्दद धनंजयम
    कुन्तीपुत्रं युधां शरेष्ठं सुहृदां परीतिवर्धनम
 45 अनुरूपं शयानस्य पाण्डवॊपहितं तवया
    यद्य अन्यथा परवर्तेथाः शपेयं तवाम अहं रुषा
 46 एवम एतन महाबाहॊ धर्मेषु परिनिष्ठितम
    सवप्तव्यं कषत्रियेणाजौ शरतल्पगतेन वै
 47 एवम उक्त्वा तु बीभत्सुं सर्वांस तान अब्रवीद वचः
    राज्ञश च राजपुत्रांश च पाण्डवेनाभि संस्थितान
 48 शयेयम अस्यां शय्यायां यावद आवर्तनं रवेः
    ये तदा पारयिष्यन्ति ते मां दरक्ष्यन्ति वै नृपाः
 49 दिशं वैश्रवणाक्रान्तां यदा गन्ता दिवाकरः
    अर्चिष्मान परतपँल लॊकान रथेनॊत्तमतेजसा
    विमॊष्क्ये ऽहं तदा पराणान सुहृदः सुप्रियान अपि
 50 परिखा खन्यताम अत्र ममावसदने नृपाः
    उपासिष्ये विवस्वन्तम एवं शरशताचितः
    उपारमध्वं संग्रामाद वैराण्य उत्सृज्य पार्थिवाः
 51 उपातिष्ठन्न अथॊ वैद्याः शल्यॊद्धरणकॊविदाः
    सर्वॊपकरणैर युक्ताः कुशलास ते सुशिक्षिताः
 52 तान दृष्ट्वा जाह्नवीपुत्रः परॊवाच वचनं तदा
    दत्तदेया विसृज्यन्तां पूजयित्वा चिकित्सकाः
 53 एवंगते न हीदानीं वैद्यैः कार्यम इहास्ति मे
    कषत्रधर्मप्रशस्तां हि पराप्तॊ ऽसमि परमां गतिम
 54 नैष धर्मॊ महीपालाः शरतल्पगतस्य मे
    एतैर एव शरैश चाहं दग्धव्यॊ ऽनते नराधिपाः
 55 तच छरुत्वा वचनं तस्य पुत्रॊ दुर्यॊधनस तव
    वैद्यान विसर्जयाम आस पूजयित्वा यथार्हतः
 56 ततस ते विस्मयं जग्मुर नानाजनपदेश्वराः
    सथितिं धर्मे परां दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्यामिततेजसः
 57 उपधानं ततॊ दत्त्वा पितुस तव जनेश्वर
    सहिताः पाण्डवाः सर्वे कुरवश च महारथाः
 58 उपगम्य महात्मानं शयानं शयने शुभे
    ते ऽभिवाद्य ततॊ भीष्मं कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम
 59 विधाय रक्षां भीष्मस्य सर्व एव समन्ततः
    वीराः सवशिबिराण्य एव धयायन्तः परमातुराः
    निवेशायाभ्युपागच्छन सायाह्ने रुधिरॊक्षिताः
 60 निविष्टान पाण्डवांश चापि परीयमाणान महारथान
    भीष्मस्य पतनाद धृष्टान उपगम्य महारथान
    उवाच यादवः काले धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम
 61 दिष्ट्या जयसि कौरव्य दिष्ट्या भीष्मॊ निपातितः
    अवध्यॊ मानुषैर एष सत्यसंधॊ महारथः
 62 अथ वा दैवतैः पार्थ सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगः
    तवां तु चक्षुर्हणं पराप्य दग्धॊ घॊरेण चक्षुषा
 63 एवम उक्तॊ धर्मराजः परत्युवाच जनार्दनम
    तव परसादाद विजयः करॊधात तव पराजयः
    तवं हि नः शरणं कृष्ण भक्तानाम अभयंकरः
 64 अनाश्चर्यॊ जयस तेषां येषां तवम असि केशव
    रष्किता समरे नित्यं नित्यं चापि हिते रतः
    सर्वथा तवां समासाद्य नाश्चर्यम इति मे मतिः
 65 एवम उक्तः परत्युवाच समयमानॊ जनार्दनः
    तवय्य एवैतद युक्तरूपं वचनं पार्थिवॊत्तम

 

 1 dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
     katham āsaṃs tadā yodhā hīnā bhīṣmeṇa saṃjaya
     balinā devakalpena gurvarthe brahmacāriṇā
 2 tadaiva nihatān manye kurūn anyāṃś ca pārthivān
     na prāharad yadā bhīṣmo ghṛṇitvād drupadātmaje
 3 tato duḥkhataraṃ manye kim anyat prabhaviṣyati
     yad adya pitaraṃ śrutvā nihataṃ mama durmateḥ
 4 aśmasāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ mama saṃjaya
     śrutvā vinihataṃ bhīṣmaṃ śatadhā yan na dīryate
 5 punaḥ punar na mṛṣyāmi hataṃ devavrataṃ raṇe
     na hato jāmadagnyena divyair astraiḥ sma yaḥ purā
 6 yad adya nihatenājau bhīṣmeṇa jayam icchatā
     ceṣṭitaṃ narasiṃhena tan me kathaya saṃjaya
 7 saṃjaya uvāca
     sāyāhne nyapatad bhūmau dhārtarāṣṭrān viṣādayan
     pāñcālānāṃ dadad dharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
 8 sa śete śaratalpastho medinīm aspṛśaṃs tadā
     bhīṣmo rathāt prapatitaḥ pracyuto dharaṇītale
 9 hāheti tumulaḥ śabdo bhūtānāṃ samapadyata
     sīmāvṛkṣe nipatite kurūṇāṃ samitikṣaye
 10 ubhayoḥ senayo rājan kṣatriyān bhayam āviśat
    bhīṣmaṃ śaṃtanavaṃ dṛṣṭvā viśīrṇakavacadhvajam
    kuravaḥ paryavartanta pāṇḍavāś ca viśāṃ pate
 11 khaṃ tamovṛtam āsīc ca nāsīd bhānumataḥ prabhā
    rarāsa pṛthivī caiva bhīṣme śāṃtanave hate
 12 ayaṃ brahmavidāṃ śreṣṭho ayaṃ brahmavidāṃ gatiḥ
    ity abhāṣanta bhūtāni śayānaṃ bharatarṣabham
 13 ayaṃ pitaram ājñāya kāmārtaṃ śaṃtanuṃ purā
    ūrdhvaretasam ātmānaṃ cakāra puruṣarṣabhaḥ
 14 iti sma śaratalpasthaṃ bharatānām amadhyamam
    ṛṣayaḥ paryadhāvanta sahitāḥ siddhacāraṇaiḥ
 15 hate śāṃtanave bhīṣme bharatānāṃ pitāmahe
    na kiṃ cit pratyapadyanta putrās tava ca bhārata
 16 vivarṇavadanāś cāsan gataśrīkāś ca bhārata
    atiṣṭhan vrīḍitāś caiva hriyā yuktā hy adhomukhāḥ
 17 pāṇḍavāś ca jayaṃ labdhvā saṃgrāmaśirasi sthitāḥ
    sarve dadhmur mahāśaṅkhān hemajālapariṣkṛtān
 18 bhṛśaṃ tūryaninādeṣu vādyamāneṣu cānagha
    apaśyāma raṇe rājan bhīmasenaṃ mahābalam
    ākrīḍamānaṃ kaunteyaṃ harṣeṇa mahatā yutam
 19 nihatya samare śatrūn mahābalasamanvitān
    saṃmohaś cāpi tumulaḥ kurūṇām abhavat tadā
 20 karṇaduryodhanau cāpi niḥśvasetāṃ muhur muhuḥ
    tathā nipatite bhīṣme kauravāṇāṃ dhuraṃdhare
    hāhākāram abhūt sarvaṃ nirmaryādam avartata
 21 dṛṣṭvā ca patitaṃ bhīṣmaṃ putro duḥśāsanas tava
    uttamaṃ javam āsthāya droṇānīkaṃ samādravat
 22 bhrātrā prasthāpito vīraḥ svenānīkena daṃśitaḥ
    prayayau puruṣavyāghraḥ svasainyam abhicodayan
 23 tam āyāntam abhiprekṣya kuravaḥ paryavārayan
    duḥśāsanaṃ mahārāja kim ayaṃ vakṣyatīti vai
 24 tato droṇāya nihataṃ bhīṣmam ācaṣṭa kauravaḥ
    droṇas tad apriyaṃ śrutvā sahasā nyapatad rathāt
 25 sa saṃjñām upalabhyātha bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān
    nivārayām āsa tadā svāny anīkāni māriṣa
 26 vinivṛttān kurūn dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavāpi svasainikān
    dūtaiḥ śīghrāśvasaṃyuktair avahāram akārayan
 27 vinivṛtteṣu sainyeṣu pāramparyeṇa sarvaśaḥ
    vimuktakavacāḥ sarve bhīṣmam īyur narādhipāḥ
 28 vyupāramya tato yuddhād yodhāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
    upatasthur mahātmānaṃ prajāpatim ivāmarāḥ
 29 te tu bhīṣmaṃ samāsādya śayānaṃ bharatarṣabham
    abhivādya vyatiṣṭhanta pāṇḍavāḥ kurubhiḥ saha
 30 atha pāṇḍūn kurūṃś caiva praṇipatyāgrataḥ sthitān
    abhyabhāṣata dharmātmā bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavas tadā
 31 svāgataṃ vo mahābhāgāḥ svāgataṃ vo mahārathāḥ
    tuṣyāmi darśanāc cāhaṃ yuṣmākam amaropamāḥ
 32 abhinandya sa tān evaṃ śirasā lambatābravīt
    śiro me lambate 'tyartham upadhānaṃ pradīyatām
 33 tato nṛpāḥ samājahrus tanūni ca mṛdūni ca
    upadhānāni mukhyāni naicchat tāni pitāmahaḥ
 34 abravīc ca naravyāghraḥ prahasann iva tān nṛpān
    naitāni vīraśayyāsu yuktarūpāṇi pārthivāḥ
 35 tato vīkṣya naraśreṣṭham abhyabhāṣata pāṇḍavam
    dhanaṃjayaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ sarvalokamahāratham
 36 dhanaṃjaya mahābāho śiraso me 'sya lambataḥ
    dīyatām upadhānaṃ vai yad yuktam iha manyase
 37 sa saṃnyasya mahac cāpam abhivādya pitāmaham
    netrābhyām aśrupūrṇābhyām idaṃ vacanam abravīt
 38 ājñāpaya kuruśreṣṭha sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ vara
    preṣyo 'haṃ tava durdharṣa kriyatāṃ kiṃ pitāmaha
 39 tam abravīc chāṃtanavaḥ śiro me tāta lambate
    upadhānaṃ kuruśreṣṭha phalgunopanayasva me
    śayanasyānurūpaṃ hi śīghraṃ vīra prayaccha me
 40 tvaṃ hi pārtha mahābāho śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām
    kṣatradharmasya vettā ca buddhisattvaguṇānvitaḥ
 41 phalgunas tu tathety uktvā vyavasāyapurojavaḥ
    pragṛhyāmantrya gāṇḍīvaṃ śarāṃś ca nataparvaṇaḥ
 42 anumānya mahātmānaṃ bharatānām amadhyamam
    tribhis tīkṣṇair mahāvegair udagṛhṇāc chiraḥ śaraiḥ
 43 abhiprāye tu vidite dharmātmā savyasācinā
    atuṣyad bharataśreṣṭho bhīṣmo dharmārthatattvavit
 44 upadhānena dattena pratyanandad dhanaṃjayam
    kuntīputraṃ yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ suhṛdāṃ prītivardhanam
 45 anurūpaṃ śayānasya pāṇḍavopahitaṃ tvayā
    yady anyathā pravartethāḥ śapeyaṃ tvām ahaṃ ruṣā
 46 evam etan mahābāho dharmeṣu pariniṣṭhitam
    svaptavyaṃ kṣatriyeṇājau śaratalpagatena vai
 47 evam uktvā tu bībhatsuṃ sarvāṃs tān abravīd vacaḥ
    rājñaś ca rājaputrāṃś ca pāṇḍavenābhi saṃsthitān
 48 śayeyam asyāṃ śayyāyāṃ yāvad āvartanaṃ raveḥ
    ye tadā pārayiṣyanti te māṃ drakṣyanti vai nṛpāḥ
 49 diśaṃ vaiśravaṇākrāntāṃ yadā gantā divākaraḥ
    arciṣmān pratapaṁl lokān rathenottamatejasā
    vimoṣkye 'haṃ tadā prāṇān suhṛdaḥ supriyān api
 50 parikhā khanyatām atra mamāvasadane nṛpāḥ
    upāsiṣye vivasvantam evaṃ śaraśatācitaḥ
    upāramadhvaṃ saṃgrāmād vairāṇy utsṛjya pārthivāḥ
 51 upātiṣṭhann atho vaidyāḥ śalyoddharaṇakovidāḥ
    sarvopakaraṇair yuktāḥ kuśalās te suśikṣitāḥ
 52 tān dṛṣṭvā jāhnavīputraḥ provāca vacanaṃ tadā
    dattadeyā visṛjyantāṃ pūjayitvā cikitsakāḥ
 53 evaṃgate na hīdānīṃ vaidyaiḥ kāryam ihāsti me
    kṣatradharmapraśastāṃ hi prāpto 'smi paramāṃ gatim
 54 naiṣa dharmo mahīpālāḥ śaratalpagatasya me
    etair eva śaraiś cāhaṃ dagdhavyo 'nte narādhipāḥ
 55 tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya putro duryodhanas tava
    vaidyān visarjayām āsa pūjayitvā yathārhataḥ
 56 tatas te vismayaṃ jagmur nānājanapadeśvarāḥ
    sthitiṃ dharme parāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ
 57 upadhānaṃ tato dattvā pitus tava janeśvara
    sahitāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ sarve kuravaś ca mahārathāḥ
 58 upagamya mahātmānaṃ śayānaṃ śayane śubhe
    te 'bhivādya tato bhīṣmaṃ kṛtvā cābhipradakṣiṇam
 59 vidhāya rakṣāṃ bhīṣmasya sarva eva samantataḥ
    vīrāḥ svaśibirāṇy eva dhyāyantaḥ paramāturāḥ
    niveśāyābhyupāgacchan sāyāhne rudhirokṣitāḥ
 60 niviṣṭān pāṇḍavāṃś cāpi prīyamāṇān mahārathān
    bhīṣmasya patanād dhṛṣṭān upagamya mahārathān
    uvāca yādavaḥ kāle dharmaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
 61 diṣṭyā jayasi kauravya diṣṭyā bhīṣmo nipātitaḥ
    avadhyo mānuṣair eṣa satyasaṃdho mahārathaḥ
 62 atha vā daivataiḥ pārtha sarvaśastrāstrapāragaḥ
    tvāṃ tu cakṣurhaṇaṃ prāpya dagdho ghoreṇa cakṣuṣā
 63 evam ukto dharmarājaḥ pratyuvāca janārdanam
    tava prasādād vijayaḥ krodhāt tava parājayaḥ
    tvaṃ hi naḥ śaraṇaṃ kṛṣṇa bhaktānām abhayaṃkaraḥ
 64 anāścaryo jayas teṣāṃ yeṣāṃ tvam asi keśava
    raṣkitā samare nityaṃ nityaṃ cāpi hite rataḥ
    sarvathā tvāṃ samāsādya nāścaryam iti me matiḥ
 65 evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca smayamāno janārdanaḥ
    tvayy evaitad yuktarūpaṃ vacanaṃ pārthivottama

 

Dhritarashtra said, 'Alas, what was the state of (my) warriors, O Sanjaya, when they were deprived of the mighty and god-like Bhishma who had become a Brahmacharin for the sake of his reverend sire? Even then I regarded the Kurus and all the others as slain by the Pandavas when Bhishma, despising the son of Drupada, struck him not. Wretch that I am, also, I hear today of my sire's slaughter. What can be a heavier sorrow than this? My heart assuredly, O Sanjaya, is made of adamant, since it breaketh not into a hundred fragments on hearing of Bhishma's death! Tell me, O thou of excellent vows, what was done by that lion among the Kurus, viz., the victory-desiring Bhishma when he was slain in battle. I cannot at all brook it that Devavrata should be slain in battle. Alas, he that was not slain by Jamadagni's son himself in days of old by means of even his celestial weapons, alas, he hath now been slain by Drupada's son Sikhandin, the prince of Panchala!--

 

'Sanjaya said,--"Slain in the evening the Kuru grandsire Bhishma saddened the Dhartarashtras and delighted the Panchalas. Falling down on the earth, he lay on his bed of arrows without however, touching the earth with his body. Indeed, when Bhishma, thrown down from his car fell upon the surface of the earth, cries of Oh and Alas were heard among all creatures. When that boundary-tree of the Kurus, viz., the ever victorious Bhishma, fell down, fear entered the hearts, O king, of the Kshatriyas of both the armies. Beholding Bhishma, the son of Santanu, with his standard overthrown and his armour cut open, both the Kurus and the Pandavas were inspired, O monarch, with sentiments of cheerlessness. And the welkin was enveloped with a gloom and the Sun himself became dim. The Earth seemed to utter loud shrieks when the son of Santanu was slain. This one is the foremost of those conversant with the Vedas! This one is the best of those that are conversant with the Vedas!--Even thus did creatures speak of that bull among men as he lay (on his bed of arrows).This one, formerly, ascertaining his sire Santanu to be afflicted by Kama, this bull among men, resolved to draw up his vital steed!--Even thus did the Rishis together with the Siddhas and the Charanas said of that foremost one of the Bharatas as he lay on his bed of arrows. When Santanu's son Bhishma, the grandsire of the Bharatas, was slain, thy sons, O sire, knew not what to do. Their faces wore an expression of grief. The splendour of their countenances seemed to abandon them, O Bharata! All of them stood in shame, hanging down their heads. The Pandavas, on the other hand, having, won the victory, stood at the head of their ranks. And they all blew their large conchs decked with gold. And when in consequence of their joys thousands of trumpets, O sinless one, were blown there, we beheld O monarch, the mighty Bhimasena, the son of Kunti, sporting in great glee, having quickly slain many hostile warriors endued with great strength. And a great swoon overtook all the Kurus. And Karna and Duryodhana repeatedly drew long breaths. When the Kuru grandsire Bhishma fell down, thus, cries of sorrow were heard all round, and the greatest confusion prevailed (among the Kuru army). Beholding Bhishma fallen, thy son Dussasana, with great speed, entered the division commanded by Drona. That hero, clad in mail and at the head of his own troops, had been placed by his elder brother (for the protection of Bhishma). That tiger among men now came, plunging the troops he had commanded into grief. Beholding him coming towards them, the Kauravas surrounded prince Dussasana, desirous, O monarch, of hearing what he had to say. Then Dussasana of Kuru's race informed Drona of Bhishma's slaughter. Drona then, hearing those evil tidings, suddenly fell down from his car. Then the valiant son of Bharadwaja, quickly recovering his senses, forbade the Kuru army, sire, to continue the fight. Beholding the Kurus desist from battle, the Pandavas also, through messengers on fleet horses, forbade their orders, ceased to fight, the kings of both armies, putting off their armour, all repaired to Bhishma. Desisting from the fight, thousands of (other) warriors then, proceeded towards the high-souled Bhishma like the celestials towards the Lord of all creatures. Approaching Bhishma who was then, O bull of Bharata's race, lying (on his bed of arrows), the Pandavas and the Kurus stood there, having offered him their salutations. Then Santanu's son Bhishma of righteous soul addressed the Pandavas and the Kurus who having reverenced him thus, stood before him. And he said,--Welcome to you, ye highly blessed ones! Welcome to you, ye mighty car-warriors! Gratified am I with your sight, ye that are the equals of the very gods.--Thus addressing them with his head hanging down, he once more said,--'My head is hanging down greatly. Let a pillow be given to me!--The kings (standing there) then fetched many excellent pillows that were very soft and made of very delicate fabrics. The grandsire, however, desired them not. That tiger among men then said unto those kings with a laugh,--These, ye kings, do not become a hero's bed.--Beholding them that foremost of men, that mightiest of car-warriors in all the worlds, viz., the mighty-armed Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, he said,--O Dhananjaya, O thou of mighty arms, my head hangeth down, O sire! Give me a pillow such as thou regardest to be fit!--'