Bhisma Parwa 113

Mahabharata 6.113

 

Bhisma Parwa 113

 

  1 [स]           

एवं वयूढेष्व अनीकेषु भूयिष्ठम अनुवर्तिषु           

बरह्मलॊकपराः सर्वे समपद्यन्त भारत       

2 न हय अनीकम अनीकेन समसज्जत संकुले           

न रथा रथिभिः सार्धं न पदाताः पदातिभिः       

3 अश्वा नाश्वैर अयुध्यन्त न गजा गजयॊधिभिः          

 महान वयतिकरॊ रौद्रः सेनयॊः समपद्यत       

4 नरनागरथेष्व एवं वयवकीर्णेषु सर्वशः           

कषये तस्मिन महारौद्रे निर्विशेषम अजायत       

5 ततः शल्यः कृपश चैव चित्रसेनश च भारत           

दुःशासनॊ विकर्णश च रथान आस्थाय स तवराः           

पाण्डवानां रणे शूरा धवजिनीं समकम्पयन       

6 सा वध्यमाना समरे पाण्डुसेना महात्मभिः           

तरातारं नाध्यगच्छद वै मज्जमानेव नैर जले       

7 यथा हि शैशिरः कालॊ गवां मर्माणि कृन्तति           

तथा पाण्डुसुतानां वै भीष्मॊ मर्माण्य अकृन्तत       

8 अतीव तव सैन्यस्य पार्थेन च महात्मना           

नगमेघप्रतीकाशाः पतिता बहुधा गजाः       

9 मृद्यमानाश च दृश्यन्ते पार्थेन नरयूथपाः           

इषुभिस ताड्यमानाश च नाराचैश च सहस्रशः       

10 पेतुर आर्तस्वरं कृत्वा तत्र तत्र महागजाः          

आबद्धाभरणैः कायैर निहतानां महात्मनाम      

11 छन्नम आयॊधनं रेजे शिरॊभिश च सकुण्डलैः         

 तस्मिन्न अतिमहाभीमे राजन वीरवरक्षये          

भीष्मे च युधि विक्रान्ते पाण्डवे च धनंजये      

12 ते पराक्रान्तम आलॊक्य राजन युधि पितामहम          

न नयवर्तन्त कौरव्या बरह्मलॊकपुरस्कृताः      

13 इच्छन्तॊ निधनं युद्धे सवर्गं कृत्वा परायणम          

पाण्डवान अभ्यवर्तन्त तस्मिन वीरवरक्षये      

14 पाण्डवापि महाराज समरन्तॊ विविधान बहून          

कलेशान कृतान सपुत्रेण तवया पूर्वं नराधिप      

15 भयं तयक्त्वा रणे शूरा बरह्मलॊकपुरस्कृताः          

तावकांस तव पुत्रांश च यॊधयन्ति सम हृष्टवत      

16 सेनापतिस तु समरे पराह सेनां महारथः          

अभिद्रवत गाङ्गेयं सॊमकाः सृञ्जयैः सह      

17 सेनापतिवचः शरुत्वा सॊमकाः सह सृञ्जयैः          

अभ्यद्रवन्त गाङ्गेयं शस्त्रवृष्ट्या समन्ततः      

18 वध्यमानस ततॊ राजन पिता शांतनवस तव          

अमर्षवशम आपन्नॊ यॊधयाम आस सृञ्जयान      

19 तस्य कीर्तिमतस तात पुरा राणेम धीमता         

 संप्रदत्तास्त्र शिक्षा वै परानीक विनाशिनी      

20 स तां शिक्षाम अधिष्ठाय कृत्वा परबलक्षयम          

अहन्य अहनि पार्थानां वृद्धः कुरुपितामहः          

भीष्मॊ दशसहस्राणि जघान परवीरहा      

21 तस्मिंस तु दिवसे पराप्ते दशमे भरतर्षभ          

भीष्मेणैकेन मत्स्येषु पाञ्चालेषु च संयुगे          

गजाश्वम अमितं हत्वा हताः सप्त महारथाः      

22 हत्वा पञ्च सहस्राणि रथिनां परपितामहः          

नराणां च महायुद्धे सहस्राणि चतुर्दश      

23 तथा दन्ति सहस्रं च हयानाम अयुतं पुनः          

शिक्षा बलेन निहतं पित्रा तव विशां पते      

24 ततः सर्वमहीपानां कषॊभयित्वा वरूथिनीम         

 विराटस्य परियॊ भराता शतानीकॊ निपातितः      

25 शतानीकं च समरे हत्वा भीष्मः परतापवान          

सहस्राणि महाराज राज्ञां भल्लैर नयपातयत      

26 ये च के चन पार्थानाम अभियाता धनंजयम          

राजानॊ भीष्मम आसाद्य गतास ते यमसादनम     

 27 एवं दश दिशॊ भीष्मः शरजालैः समन्ततः          

अतीत्य सेनां पार्थानाम अवतस्थे चमूमुखे      

28 स कृता सुमहत कर्म तस्मिन वै दशमे ऽहनि          

सेनयॊर अन्तरे तिष्ठन परगृहीतशरासनः      

29 न चैनं पाथिवा राजञ शेकुः के चिन निरीक्षितुम          

मध्यं पराप्तं यथा गरीष्मे तपन्तं भास्करं दिवि      

30 यथा दैत्य चमूं शक्रस तापयाम आस संयुगे         

 तथा भीष्मः पाण्डवेयांस तापयाम आस भारत      

31 तथा च तं पराक्रान्तम आलॊक्य मधुसूदनः         

 उवाच देवकीपुत्रः परीयमाणॊ धनंजयम      

32 एष शांतनवॊ भीष्मः सेनयॊर अन्तरे सथितः         

 नानिहत्य बलाद एनं विजयस ते भविष्यति      

33 यत्तः संस्तम्भयस्वैनं यत्रैषा भिद्यते चमूः          

न हि भीष्म शरान अन्यः सॊढुम उत्सहते विभॊ      

34 ततस तस्मिन कषणे राजंश चॊदितॊ वानरध्वजः          

स धवजं स रथं साश्वं भीष्मम अन्तर्दधे शरैः      

35 स चापि कुरुमुख्यानाम ऋषभः पाण्डवेरितान         

 शरव्रातैः शरव्रातान बहुधा विदुधाव तान      

36 तेन पाञ्चालराजश च धृष्टकेतुश च वीर्यवान          

पाण्डवॊ भीमसेनश च धृष्टद्युम्नश च पार्षतः      

37 यमौ च चेकितानश च केकयाः पञ्च चैव ह          

सात्यकिश च महाराज सौभद्रॊ ऽथ घटॊत्कचः      

38 दरौपदेयाः शिखण्डी च कुन्तिभॊजश च वीर्यवान          

सुशर्मा च विराटश च पाण्डवेया महाबलाः      

39 एत चान्ये च बहवः पीडिता भीष्मसायकैः          

समुद्धृताः फल्गुनेन निमग्नाः शॊकसागरे      

40 ततः शिखण्डी वेगेन परगृह्य परमायुधम          

भीष्मम एवाभिदुद्राव रक्ष्यमाणः किरीटिना      

41 ततॊ ऽसयानुचरान हत्व सर्वान रणविभागवित          

भीष्मम एवाभिदुद्राव बीभत्सुर अपराजितः      

42 सात्यकिश चेकितानश च धृष्टद्युम्नश च पार्षतः          

विराटॊ दरुपदश चैव माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ          

दुद्रुवुर भीष्मम एवाजौ रक्षिता दृढधन्वना      

43 अभिमन्युश च समरे दरौपद्याः पञ्च चात्मजाः          

दुद्रुवुः समरे भीष्मं समुद्यतमहायुधाः      

44 ते सर्वे दृढधन्वानः संयुगेष्व अपलायिनः          

बहुधा भीष्मम आनर्छन मार्गणैः कृतमार्गणाः      

45 विधूय तान बाणगणान ये मुक्ताः पार्थिवॊत्तमैः          

पाण्डवानाम अदीनात्मा वयगाहत वरूथिनीम          

कृत्वा शरविघातं च करीडन्न इव पितामहः      

46 नाभिसंधत्त पाञ्चाल्यं समयमानॊ मुहुर मुहुः          

सत्रीत्वं तस्यानुसंस्मृत्य भीष्मॊ बाणाञ शिखण्डिनः          

जघान दरुपदानीके रथान सप्त महारथः      

47 ततः किल किला शब्दः कषणेन समपद्यत          

मत्स्यपाञ्चाल चेदीनां तम एकम अभिधावताम      

48 ते वराश्वरथव्रातैर वारणैः स पदातिभिः          

तम एकं छादयाम आसुर मेघा इव दिवाकरम          

भीष्मं भागिरथी पुत्रं परतपन्तं रणे रिपून      

49 ततस तस्य च तेषां च युद्धे देवासुरॊपमे          

किरीटी भीष्मम आनर्छत पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम

 

 1 [s]           

evaṃ vyūḍheṣv anīkeṣu bhūyiṣṭham anuvartiṣu           

brahmalokaparāḥ sarve samapadyanta bhārata       

2 na hy anīkam anīkena samasajjata saṃkule           

na rathā rathibhiḥ sārdhaṃ na padātāḥ padātibhiḥ       

3 aśvā nāśvair ayudhyanta na gajā gajayodhibhiḥ           

mahān vyatikaro raudraḥ senayoḥ samapadyata       

4 naranāgaratheṣv evaṃ vyavakīrṇeṣu sarvaśaḥ          

 kṣaye tasmin mahāraudre nirviśeṣam ajāyata       

5 tataḥ śalyaḥ kṛpaś caiva citrasenaś ca bhārata           

duḥśāsano vikarṇaś ca rathān āsthāya sa tvarāḥ          

 pāṇḍavānāṃ raṇe śūrā dhvajinīṃ samakampayan      

 6 sā vadhyamānā samare pāṇḍusenā mahātmabhiḥ           

trātāraṃ nādhyagacchad vai majjamāneva nair jale       

7 yathā hi śaiśiraḥ kālo gavāṃ marmāṇi kṛntati           

tathā pāṇḍusutānāṃ vai bhīṣmo marmāṇy akṛntata       

8 atīva tava sainyasya pārthena ca mahātmanā           

nagameghapratīkāśāḥ patitā bahudhā gajāḥ       

9 mṛdyamānāś ca dṛśyante pārthena narayūthapāḥ           

iṣubhis tāḍyamānāś ca nārācaiś ca sahasraśaḥ       

10 petur ārtasvaraṃ kṛtvā tatra tatra mahāgajāḥ          

ābaddhābharaṇaiḥ kāyair nihatānāṃ mahātmanām      

11 channam āyodhanaṃ reje śirobhiś ca sakuṇḍalaiḥ         

 tasminn atimahābhīme rājan vīravarakṣaye          

bhīṣme ca yudhi vikrānte pāṇḍave ca dhanaṃjaye      

12 te parākrāntam ālokya rājan yudhi pitāmaham          

na nyavartanta kauravyā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ      

13 icchanto nidhanaṃ yuddhe svargaṃ kṛtvā parāyaṇam          

pāṇḍavān abhyavartanta tasmin vīravarakṣaye      

14 pāṇḍavāpi mahārāja smaranto vividhān bahūn          

kleśān kṛtān saputreṇa tvayā pūrvaṃ narādhipa      

15 bhayaṃ tyaktvā raṇe śūrā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ          

tāvakāṃs tava putrāṃś ca yodhayanti sma hṛṣṭavat      

16 senāpatis tu samare prāha senāṃ mahārathaḥ          

abhidravata gāṅgeyaṃ somakāḥ sṛñjayaiḥ saha      

17 senāpativacaḥ śrutvā somakāḥ saha sṛñjayaiḥ          

abhyadravanta gāṅgeyaṃ śastravṛṣṭyā samantataḥ      

18 vadhyamānas tato rājan pitā śāṃtanavas tava          

amarṣavaśam āpanno yodhayām āsa sṛñjayān      

19 tasya kīrtimatas tāta purā rāṇema dhīmatā          

saṃpradattāstra śikṣā vai parānīka vināśinī      

20 sa tāṃ śikṣām adhiṣṭhāya kṛtvā parabalakṣayam          

ahany ahani pārthānāṃ vṛddhaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ          

bhīṣmo daśasahasrāṇi jaghāna paravīrahā      

21 tasmiṃs tu divase prāpte daśame bharatarṣabha          

bhīṣmeṇaikena matsyeṣu pāñcāleṣu ca saṃyuge          

gajāśvam amitaṃ hatvā hatāḥ sapta mahārathāḥ      

22 hatvā pañca sahasrāṇi rathināṃ prapitāmahaḥ          

narāṇāṃ ca mahāyuddhe sahasrāṇi caturdaśa      

23 tathā danti sahasraṃ ca hayānām ayutaṃ punaḥ          

śikṣā balena nihataṃ pitrā tava viśāṃ pate      

24 tataḥ sarvamahīpānāṃ kṣobhayitvā varūthinīm          

virāṭasya priyo bhrātā śatānīko nipātitaḥ      

25 śatānīkaṃ ca samare hatvā bhīṣmaḥ pratāpavān          

sahasrāṇi mahārāja rājñāṃ bhallair nyapātayat      

26 ye ca ke cana pārthānām abhiyātā dhanaṃjayam          

rājāno bhīṣmam āsādya gatās te yamasādanam      

27 evaṃ daśa diśo bhīṣmaḥ śarajālaiḥ samantataḥ          

atītya senāṃ pārthānām avatasthe camūmukhe      

28 sa kṛtā sumahat karma tasmin vai daśame 'hani          

senayor antare tiṣṭhan pragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ      

29 na cainaṃ pāthivā rājañ śekuḥ ke cin nirīkṣitum          

madhyaṃ prāptaṃ yathā grīṣme tapantaṃ bhāskaraṃ divi      

30 yathā daitya camūṃ śakras tāpayām āsa saṃyuge          

tathā bhīṣmaḥ pāṇḍaveyāṃs tāpayām āsa bhārata      

31 tathā ca taṃ parākrāntam ālokya madhusūdanaḥ         

 uvāca devakīputraḥ prīyamāṇo dhanaṃjayam      

32 eṣa śāṃtanavo bhīṣmaḥ senayor antare sthitaḥ          

nānihatya balād enaṃ vijayas te bhaviṣyati      

33 yattaḥ saṃstambhayasvainaṃ yatraiṣā bhidyate camūḥ          

na hi bhīṣma śarān anyaḥ soḍhum utsahate vibho      

34 tatas tasmin kṣaṇe rājaṃś codito vānaradhvajaḥ          

sa dhvajaṃ sa rathaṃ sāśvaṃ bhīṣmam antardadhe śaraiḥ      

35 sa cāpi kurumukhyānām ṛṣabhaḥ pāṇḍaveritān          

śaravrātaiḥ śaravrātān bahudhā vidudhāva tān      

36 tena pāñcālarājaś ca dhṛṣṭaketuś ca vīryavān          

pāṇḍavo bhīmasenaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ      

37 yamau ca cekitānaś ca kekayāḥ pañca caiva ha          

sātyakiś ca mahārāja saubhadro 'tha ghaṭotkacaḥ      

38 draupadeyāḥ śikhaṇḍī ca kuntibhojaś ca vīryavān          

suśarmā ca virāṭaś ca pāṇḍaveyā mahābalāḥ      

39 eta cānye ca bahavaḥ pīḍitā bhīṣmasāyakaiḥ          

samuddhṛtāḥ phalgunena nimagnāḥ śokasāgare      

40 tataḥ śikhaṇḍī vegena pragṛhya paramāyudham          

bhīṣmam evābhidudrāva rakṣyamāṇaḥ kirīṭinā      

41 tato 'syānucarān hatva sarvān raṇavibhāgavit          

bhīṣmam evābhidudrāva bībhatsur aparājitaḥ      

42 sātyakiś cekitānaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ          

virāṭo drupadaś caiva mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau          

dudruvur bhīṣmam evājau rakṣitā dṛḍhadhanvanā      

43 abhimanyuś ca samare draupadyāḥ pañca cātmajāḥ          

dudruvuḥ samare bhīṣmaṃ samudyatamahāyudhāḥ      

44 te sarve dṛḍhadhanvānaḥ saṃyugeṣv apalāyinaḥ          

bahudhā bhīṣmam ānarchan mārgaṇaiḥ kṛtamārgaṇāḥ      

45 vidhūya tān bāṇagaṇān ye muktāḥ pārthivottamaiḥ          

pāṇḍavānām adīnātmā vyagāhata varūthinīm          

kṛtvā śaravighātaṃ ca krīḍann iva pitāmahaḥ      

46 nābhisaṃdhatta pāñcālyaṃ smayamāno muhur muhuḥ          

strītvaṃ tasyānusaṃsmṛtya bhīṣmo bāṇāñ śikhaṇḍinaḥ          

jaghāna drupadānīke rathān sapta mahārathaḥ      

47 tataḥ kila kilā śabdaḥ kṣaṇena samapadyata          

matsyapāñcāla cedīnāṃ tam ekam abhidhāvatām      

48 te varāśvarathavrātair vāraṇaiḥ sa padātibhiḥ          

tam ekaṃ chādayām āsur meghā iva divākaram          

bhīṣmaṃ bhāgirathī putraṃ pratapantaṃ raṇe ripūn      

49 tatas tasya ca teṣāṃ ca yuddhe devāsuropame          

kirīṭī bhīṣmam ānarchat puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam

 

Sanjaya said, "When the combatants of both armies, strong in number, were thus disposed in battle array, all those unretreating heroes, O Bharata, set their heart upon the region of Brahma. In course of the general engagement that followed, the same class of combatants did not fight with the same class of combatants. Car-warriors fought not with car-warriors, or foot-soldiers with foot-soldiers, or horsemen with horsemen, or elephant-warriors with elephant-warriors. On the other hand, O monarch, the combatants fought with one another like mad men. Great and dreadful was the calamity that overtook both the armies. In that fierce slaughter when elephants and men spread themselves on the field, all distinctions between them ceased, for they fought indiscriminately.

 

"Then Salya and Kripa, and Chitrasena, O Bharata, and Dussasana, and Vikarna, those heroes mounted on their bright cars, caused the Pandava host to tremble. Slaughtered in battle by those high-souled warriors, the Pandava army began to reel in diverse ways, O king, like a boat on the waters tossed by the wind. As the wintry cold cuts kine to the quick, so did Bhishma cut the sons of Pandu to the quick. As regards thy army also, many elephants, looking like newly-risen clouds, were felled by the illustrious Partha. And many foremost of warriors too were seen to be crushed by that hero. And struck with arrows and long shafts in thousands, many huge elephants fell down, uttering frightful shrieks of pain. And the field of battle looked beautiful, strewn with the bodies, still decked with ornaments of high-souled warriors deprived of life and with heads still decked with ear-rings. And in that battle, O king, which was destructive of great heroes, when Bhishma and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu put forth their prowess, thy sons, O monarch, beholding the grandsire exert himself vigorously, approached him, with all their troops placed ahead. Desirous of laying down their lives in battle and making heaven itself their goal, they approached the Pandavas in that battle, which was fraught with great carnage. The brave Pandavas also, O king, bearing in mind the many injuries of diverse kinds inflicted upon them before by thee and thy son, O monarch, and casting off all fear, and eager to win the highest heavens, cheerfully fought with thy son and the other warriors of thy army.

 

"Then the generalissimo of the Pandava army, viz., the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, addressing his soldiers, said, 'Ye Somakas, accompanied by the Srinjayas, rush ye at Ganga's son.' Hearing those words of their commander the Somakas and the Srinjayas, though afflicted with showers of arrows, rushed at the son of Ganga. Thus attacked, O king, thy sire Bhishma, influenced by wrath, began to fight with the Srinjayas. In days of old, O sire, the intelligent Rama had imparted to Bhishma of glorious achievements that instruction in weapons which was so destructive of hostile ranks. Relying on that instruction and causing a great havoc among the troops of the foe, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the old Kuru grandsire Bhishma, day after day, slew ten thousand warriors of the Ratha. On the tenth day, however, O bull of Bharata's race, Bhishma, single-handed, slew ten thousand elephants. And then he slew seven great car-warriors among the Matsyas and the Panchalas. In addition to all this, in that dreadful battle five thousand foot-soldiers, and one thousand tuskers, and ten thousand steeds, were also slain by thy sire, O king, through skill acquired by education. Then having thinned the ranks of all the kings, he slew Satanika, the dear brother of Virata. And the valiant Bhishma, having slain Satanika in battle, felled, O king, full one thousand Kshatriyas with his broad-headed shafts. Besides these, all the Kshatriyas of the Pandava army who followed Dhananjaya, as soon as they approached Bhishma, had to go to Yama's abode. Covering the Pandava host from every side with showers of arrows, Bhishma stayed in battle at the head of the Kaurava army. Achieving the most glorious feats on the tenth day, as he stayed between the two armies, bow in hand, none of the kings, O monarch, could even look at him, for he then resembled the hot mid-day Sun in the summer sky. As Sakra scorched the Daitya host in battle, even so, O Bharata, did Bhisma scorch the Pandava host. Beholding him thus put forth his prowess, the slayer of Madhu, viz., the son of Devaki, cheerfully addressing Dhananjaya, said, 'There, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, stayeth between the two armies. Slaying him by putting forth thy might, thou mayst win victory. There, at that spot, whence he breaketh our ranks, check him, putting forth thy strength. O lord, none else, save thee, ventureth to bear the arrows of Bhishma. Thus urged, the ape-bannered Arjuna at that moment made Bhishma with his car, steeds, and standard, invisible by means of his arrows. That bull, however, among the foremost of Kurus, by means of his own arrowy showers, pierced those showers of shafts shot by the son of Pandu. Then the king of the Panchalas the valiant Dhrishtaketu, Bhimasena the son of Pandu, Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race, the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), Chekitana, and the five Kaikaya brothers, and the mighty-armed Satyaki and Subhadra's son, and Ghatotkacha, and the (five) sons of Draupadi, and Sikhandin, and the valiant Kuntibhoja, and Susarman, and Virata, these and many other powerful warriors of the Pandava army, afflicted by the shafts of Bhishma, seemed to sink in an ocean of grief, Phalguni, however, rescued them all. Then Sikhandin, taking up a mighty weapon and protected by Kiritin, rushed impetuously towards Bhishma alone. The unvanquished Vibhatsu then, knowing what should be done after what, slew all those that followed Bhishma, and then himself rushed at him. And Satyaki, and Chekitana, and Dhristadyumna of Prishata's race, and Virata, and Drupada, and the twin sons of Madri by Pandu, all protected by that firm bowman (viz., Arjuna) rushed against Bhishma alone in that battle. And Abhimanyu, and the five sons of Draupadi also, with mighty weapons upraised, rushed against Bhishma in battle. All those firm bowmen, unretreating from battle, pierced Bhishma in diverse parts of his body with well-aimed shafts. Disregarding all those shafts, large in number, shot by those foremost of princes belonging to the Pandava host, Bhishma of undepressed soul penetrated into the Pandava ranks. And the grandsire baffled all those arrows, as if sporting the while. Frequently looking at Sikhandin the prince of the Panchalas with a laugh, he aimed not a single arrow at him, recollecting his femininity. On the other hand, he slew seven great car-warriors belonging to Drupada's division. Then confused cries of woe soon arose amongst the Matsyas, the Panchalas, and the Chedis, who were together rushing at that single hero. With large numbers of foot-soldiers and steeds and cars, and with showers of arrows, O scorcher of foes, they overwhelmed that single warrior, viz., Bhishma the son of Bhagirathi, that scorcher of foes, like the clouds overwhelming the maker of day. Then in that battle between him and them, which resembled the battle between the gods and the Asuras in days of old, the diadem-decked (Arjuna), placing Sikhandin before him, pierced Bhishma (repeatedly).'