Bhishma's Slaughter on the Tenth Day

Verse 1 (6.118.1)

असंव्यूढेष्वनीकेषु भूयिष्ठमनुवर्तिषु । ब्रह्मलोकपराः सर्वे समपद्यन्त भारत ॥

asaṃvyūḍheṣvanīkeṣu bhūyiṣṭhamanuvartiṣu | brahmalokaparāḥ sarve samapadyanta bhārata

With the ranks in disarray and most of the men pressing on, all of them, O Bharata, became intent on the world of Brahma.

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: checked against the raw Wikisource page (a table, one row per verse, 6-118-1 to 6-118-54, with the heading सञ्जय उवाच before verse 1 and the colophon naming the tenth day's battle; the words उवाच देवकीपुत्रः in verse 34 are part of the verse, not a heading). This adhyaya is the critical edition's 6.113 (the tenth day; Bhishma's slaughter and the Pandavas' charge behind Shikhandi). Wikisource divides the critical edition's three-line verses into couplets, so verses 3–6, 12–28 and 45–53 run half a verse out of step with it; each carries the ce_ref of the critical-edition verse holding its first line, and the notes map the lines. Verses 10–19 repeat lines Wikisource has already printed in adhyaya 117 (117.51–55, 67–69); here they stand in the critical edition's place. Krishna's speech (35–36), which has no printed heading, is given to him as Vasudeva. Line 1 begins असंव्यूढेष्वनीकेषु ('while the ranks were in disarray') where the critical edition has evaṃ vyūḍheṣv anīkeṣu; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 2 (6.118.2)

न ह्यनीकमनीकेषु समसज्जत संकुले । रथा न रथिभिः सार्धं पादाता न पदातिभिः ॥

na hyanīkamanīkeṣu samasajjata saṃkule | rathā na rathibhiḥ sārdhaṃ pādātā na padātibhiḥ

In that melee no rank closed with a rank of its own kind: chariots did not fight with chariot-warriors, nor foot-soldiers with foot-soldiers;

Note on the text: Corrected च ह्यनीकम् → न ह्यनीकम् (misprint in Wikisource; च for the negative that the sense needs, critical edition na hy anīkam), समसञ्जत → समसज्जत (misprint in Wikisource; the nasal kept in a form of सञ्ज्, critical edition samasajjata) and संकले → संकुले (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped vowel sign, critical edition saṃkule). अनीकेषु for anīkena and the order of line 2 kept as recension variants.

Verse 3 (6.118.3)

अश्वा नाश्वैरयुध्यन्त गजा न गजयोधिभिः । उन्मत्तवन्महाराज युध्यन्ते तत्र भारत ॥

aśvā nāśvairayudhyanta gajā na gajayodhibhiḥ | unmattavanmahārāja yudhyante tatra bhārata

horses did not fight with horses, nor elephants with elephant-fighters; they fought there like madmen, O great king, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.113.3a; line 2 (उन्मत्तवन्महाराज युध्यन्ते तत्र भारत) is not in its constituted text (found in the vulgate recension) and appears in its apparatus as the star passage 6.113.3b*0469.

Verse 4 (6.118.4)

महान्व्यतिकरो रौद्रः सेनयोः समपद्यत । नरनागगणेष्वेवं विकीर्णेषु च सर्वशः ॥

mahānvyatikaro raudraḥ senayoḥ samapadyata | naranāgagaṇeṣvevaṃ vikīrṇeṣu ca sarvaśaḥ

A great and terrible confusion arose between the two armies. With throngs of men and elephants thus scattered everywhere,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.3c and 4a. Line 2 (नरनागगणेष्वेवं विकीर्णेषु च सर्वशः) for naranāgaratheṣv evaṃ vyavakīrṇeṣu sarvaśaḥ kept as a recension variant.

Verse 5 (6.118.5)

क्षये तस्मिन्महारौद्रे निर्विशेषमजायत । ततः शल्यः कृपश्चैव चित्रसेनश्च भारत ॥

kṣaye tasminmahāraudre nirviśeṣamajāyata | tataḥ śalyaḥ kṛpaścaiva citrasenaśca bhārata

in that most dreadful slaughter no distinction remained. Then Shalya, Kripa and Chitrasena, O Bharata,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.4c and 5a.

Verse 6 (6.118.6)

दुःशासनो विकर्णश्च रथानास्थाय भास्वरान् । पाण्डवानां रणे शूरा ध्वजिनीं समकम्पयन् ॥

duḥśāsano vikarṇaśca rathānāsthāya bhāsvarān | pāṇḍavānāṃ raṇe śūrā dhvajinīṃ samakampayan

Duhshasana and Vikarna, heroes all, mounted their shining chariots and made the Pandava host tremble in the battle.

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.5c and 5e.

Verse 7 (6.118.7)

सा वध्यमाना समरे पाण्डुसेना महात्मभिः । त्रातारं नाध्यगच्छद्वै मज्जमानेव नौर्जले ॥

sā vadhyamānā samare pāṇḍusenā mahātmabhiḥ | trātāraṃ nādhyagacchadvai majjamāneva naurjale

Slaughtered in battle by those great-souled warriors, the Pandu army found no protector, like a ship sinking in the water.

Note on the text: Corrected मञ्जमानेव → मज्जमानेव (misprint in Wikisource; ञ्ज for ज्ज, critical edition majjamāneva) and नौर्जंले → नौर्जले (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara, critical edition naur jale).

Verse 8 (6.118.8)

यथा हि शैशिरः कालो गवां मर्माणि कृन्तति । तथा पाण्डुसुतानां वै भीष्मो मर्माणि कृन्तति ॥

yathā hi śaiśiraḥ kālo gavāṃ marmāṇi kṛntati | tathā pāṇḍusutānāṃ vai bhīṣmo marmāṇi kṛntati

As the winter season cuts cattle to the quick, so Bhishma cut the sons of Pandu to the quick.

Verse 9 (6.118.9)

तथैव तव सैन्यस्य पार्थेन च महात्मना । नवमेघप्रतीकाशाः पातिता बहुधा गजाः ॥

tathaiva tava sainyasya pārthena ca mahātmanā | navameghapratīkāśāḥ pātitā bahudhā gajāḥ

Likewise in your army, great-souled Partha brought down many elephants that looked like fresh rain-clouds.

Note on the text: Line 1 begins तथैव for atīva, and line 2 has नवमेघ- ('fresh clouds') for naga-megha-; kept as recension variants.

Verse 10 (6.118.10)

मृद्यमानाश्च दृश्यन्ते पार्थेन नरयूथपाः । इषुभिस्ताड्यमानाश्च नाराचैश्च सहस्रशः ॥

mṛdyamānāśca dṛśyante pārthena narayūthapāḥ | iṣubhistāḍyamānāśca nārācaiśca sahasraśaḥ

Leaders of men were seen crushed by Partha, struck by arrows and by iron shafts in thousands.

Verse 11 (6.118.11)

पेतुरार्तस्वरं घोरं कृत्वा तत्र महागजाः । आनद्धाभरणैः कायैर्निहतानां महात्मनाम् ॥

peturārtasvaraṃ ghoraṃ kṛtvā tatra mahāgajāḥ | ānaddhābharaṇaiḥ kāyairnihatānāṃ mahātmanām

Great elephants fell there, uttering dreadful cries of pain. With the bodies of slain great-souled men, still bound with their ornaments,

Verse 12 (6.118.12)

छन्नमायोधनं रेजे शिरोभिश्च सकुण्डलैः । तस्मिन्नेव महाराज महावीरवरक्षये ॥

channamāyodhanaṃ reje śirobhiśca sakuṇḍalaiḥ | tasminneva mahārāja mahāvīravarakṣaye

and with heads wearing earrings, the battlefield shone, covered over. In that great destruction of the foremost heroes, O great king,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.11a and 11c. Line 2 (तस्मिन्नेव महाराज महावीरवरक्षये) for tasminn atimahābhīme rājan vīravarakṣaye kept as a recension variant.

Verse 13 (6.118.13)

भीष्मे च युधि विक्रान्ते पाण्डवे च धनञ्जये । ते पराक्रान्तमालोक्य राजन्युधि पितामहम् ॥

bhīṣme ca yudhi vikrānte pāṇḍave ca dhanañjaye | te parākrāntamālokya rājanyudhi pitāmaham

while Bhishma and the Pandava Dhananjaya were showing their valour in the battle, your sons, seeing the grandsire pressing his attack in the fight, O king,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.11e and 12a.

Verse 14 (6.118.14)

अभ्यवर्तन्त ते पुत्राः सर्वे सैन्यपुरस्कृताः । इच्छन्तो निधनं युद्धे स्वर्गं कृत्वा परायणम् ॥

abhyavartanta te putrāḥ sarve sainyapuraskṛtāḥ | icchanto nidhanaṃ yuddhe svargaṃ kṛtvā parāyaṇam

all advanced with their armies before them, wishing for death in battle and making heaven their highest goal.

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.12c and 13a. Line 1 (अभ्यवर्तन्त ते पुत्राः सर्वे सैन्यपुरस्कृताः) for na nyavartanta kauravyā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ kept as a recension variant.

Verse 15 (6.118.15)

पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त तस्मिन्वीरवरक्षये । पाण्डवापि महाराज स्मरन्तो विविधान्बहून् ॥

pāṇḍavānabhyavartanta tasminvīravarakṣaye | pāṇḍavāpi mahārāja smaranto vividhānbahūn

They advanced against the Pandavas in that destruction of the foremost heroes. And the Pandavas too, O great king, remembering the many and various

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.13c and 14a.

Verse 16 (6.118.16)

क्लेशान्कृतान्सपुत्रेण त्वया पूर्वं नराधिप । भयं त्यक्त्वा रणे शूरा ब्रह्मलोकाय तत्पराः ॥

kleśānkṛtānsaputreṇa tvayā pūrvaṃ narādhipa | bhayaṃ tyaktvā raṇe śūrā brahmalokāya tatparāḥ

wrongs done to them in the past by you and your son, O lord of men, cast off fear; and those heroes, set on reaching the world of Brahma,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.14c and 15a.

Verse 17 (6.118.17)

तावकांस्तव पुत्रांश्च योधयन्ति प्रहृष्टवत् । सेनापतिस्तु समरे प्राह सेनां महारथः ॥

tāvakāṃstava putrāṃśca yodhayanti prahṛṣṭavat | senāpatistu samare prāha senāṃ mahārathaḥ

fought your troops and your sons with joy. Then the commander, that great chariot-warrior, called to the army in the battle:

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.15c and 16a.

Verse 18 (6.118.18)

अभिद्रवत गाङ्गेयं सोमकाः सृञ्जयैः सह । सेनापतिवचः श्रुत्वा सोमकाः सृञ्जयाश्च ते ॥

abhidravata gāṅgeyaṃ somakāḥ sṛñjayaiḥ saha | senāpativacaḥ śrutvā somakāḥ sṛñjayāśca te

'Charge at the son of Ganga, Somakas, together with the Srinjayas!' Hearing the commander's words, those Somakas and Srinjayas

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.16c and 17a. Line 1 is Dhrishtadyumna's call; the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 19 (6.118.19)

अभ्यद्रवन्त गाङ्गेयं शरवृष्ट्या समाहताः । वध्यमानस्ततो राजन्पिता शान्तनवस्तव ॥

abhyadravanta gāṅgeyaṃ śaravṛṣṭyā samāhatāḥ | vadhyamānastato rājanpitā śāntanavastava

charged at the son of Ganga, though battered by a rain of arrows. Then, O king, your father, the son of Shantanu, being struck,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.17c and 18a. Line 1 (अभ्यद्रवन्त गाङ्गेयं शरवृष्ट्या समाहताः) for abhyadravanta gāṅgeyaṃ śastravṛṣṭyā samantataḥ kept as a recension variant.

Verse 20 (6.118.20)

अमर्षवशमापन्नो योधयामास सृञ्जयान् । तस्य कीर्तिमतस्तात पुरा रामेण धीमता ॥

amarṣavaśamāpanno yodhayāmāsa sṛñjayān | tasya kīrtimatastāta purā rāmeṇa dhīmatā

gave way to wrath and fought the Srinjayas. To that glorious one, my son, the wise Rama long ago

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.18c and 19a.

Verse 21 (6.118.21)

संप्रदत्ताऽस्त्रशिक्षा वै परानीकविनाशनी । स तां विद्यामधिष्ठाय कुर्वन्परबलक्षयम् ॥

saṃpradattā'straśikṣā vai parānīkavināśanī | sa tāṃ vidyāmadhiṣṭhāya kurvanparabalakṣayam

had imparted a training in arms that destroys enemy hosts. Relying on that knowledge and bringing ruin on the enemy army,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.19c and 20a. Corrected कुर्वन्तपरबलक्षयम् → कुर्वन्परबलक्षयम् (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त that breaks the participle and adds a syllable to the quarter). विद्याम् for śikṣām kept as a variant.

Verse 22 (6.118.22)

अहन्यहनि पार्थानां वृद्धः कुरुपितामहः । भीष्मो दशसहस्राणि जघान परवीरहा ॥

ahanyahani pārthānāṃ vṛddhaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ | bhīṣmo daśasahasrāṇi jaghāna paravīrahā

the aged grandsire of the Kurus, Bhishma, slayer of enemy heroes, killed ten thousand of the Parthas' men day after day.

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.20c and 20e.

Verse 23 (6.118.23)

तस्मिंस्तु दशमे प्राप्ते दिवसे भरतर्षभ । एको भीष्मो हि मत्स्येषु पाञ्चालेषु च संयुगे ॥

tasmiṃstu daśame prāpte divase bharatarṣabha | eko bhīṣmo hi matsyeṣu pāñcāleṣu ca saṃyuge

When that tenth day had come, O bull of the Bharatas, Bhishma alone, among the Matsyas and the Panchalas in battle,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.21a and 21c. Line 2 (एको भीष्मो हि मत्स्येषु) for bhīṣmeṇaikena matsyeṣu kept as a recension variant.

Verse 24 (6.118.24)

गजाश्वममितं हत्वा हत्वा सप्त महारथान् । हत्वा पञ्चसहस्राणि रथानां प्रपितामहः ॥

gajāśvamamitaṃ hatvā hatvā sapta mahārathān | hatvā pañcasahasrāṇi rathānāṃ prapitāmahaḥ

killed elephants and horses beyond count and slew seven great chariot-warriors; the great-grandsire killed five thousand chariots,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.21e and 22a. Corrected प्रतिपामहः → प्रपितामहः (misprint in Wikisource; transposed aksharas, critical edition prapitāmahaḥ).

Verse 25 (6.118.25)

नराणां च महायुद्धे सहस्राणि चतुर्दश । दन्तिनां च सहस्राणि हयानामयुतं पुनः ॥

narāṇāṃ ca mahāyuddhe sahasrāṇi caturdaśa | dantināṃ ca sahasrāṇi hayānāmayutaṃ punaḥ

fourteen thousand men in that great battle, thousands of elephants, and ten thousand horses besides:

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.22c and 23a. Line 2 (दन्तिनां च सहस्राणि) for tathā dantisahasraṃ ca kept as a recension variant.

Verse 26 (6.118.26)

शिक्षाबलेन न्यहनत्पिता तव विशांपते । ततः सर्वमहीपानां क्षपयित्वा वरूथिनीम् ॥

śikṣābalena nyahanatpitā tava viśāṃpate | tataḥ sarvamahīpānāṃ kṣapayitvā varūthinīm

these your father struck down by the power of his training, O lord of the people. Then, having wasted the hosts of all the kings,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.23c and 24a. Corrected शिक्षबलेन → शिक्षाबलेन (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped vowel sign, critical edition śikṣābalena). क्षपयित्वा for kṣobhayitvā kept as a variant.

Verse 27 (6.118.27)

विराटस्य प्रियो भ्राता शतानीको निपातितः । शतानीकं च समरे हत्वा भीष्मः प्रतापवान् ॥

virāṭasya priyo bhrātā śatānīko nipātitaḥ | śatānīkaṃ ca samare hatvā bhīṣmaḥ pratāpavān

he struck down Shatanika, Virata's dear brother. And having slain Shatanika in the battle, the mighty Bhishma

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.24c and 25a.

Verse 28 (6.118.28)

सहस्राणि महाराज राज्ञां भल्लैरपातयत् । उद्विग्नाः समरे योधा विक्रोशन्ति धनञ्जयम् ॥

sahasrāṇi mahārāja rājñāṃ bhallairapātayat | udvignāḥ samare yodhā vikrośanti dhanañjayam

brought down kings in thousands with his broad-headed arrows, O great king. The warriors, terrified in the battle, cried out for Dhananjaya.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.113.25c; line 2 (उद्विग्नाः समरे योधा विक्रोशन्ति धनञ्जयम्) is not in its constituted text (found in the vulgate recension) and appears in its apparatus as the star passage 6.113.25d*0472.

Verse 29 (6.118.29)

ये च केचन पार्थानामभियाता धनञ्जयम् । राजानो भीष्ममासाद्य गतास्ते यमसादनम् ॥

ye ca kecana pārthānāmabhiyātā dhanañjayam | rājāno bhīṣmamāsādya gatāste yamasādanam

Whatever kings of the Parthas followed Dhananjaya went to the abode of Yama on meeting Bhishma.

Verse 30 (6.118.30)

किरन्दश दिशो भीष्मः शरजालैः समन्ततः । अतीत्य सेनां पार्थानामवतस्थे चमूमुखे ॥

kirandaśa diśo bhīṣmaḥ śarajālaiḥ samantataḥ | atītya senāṃ pārthānāmavatasthe camūmukhe

Scattering nets of arrows in all ten directions around him, Bhishma passed beyond the Partha army and took his stand at the head of the host.

Verse 31 (6.118.31)

स कृत्वा सुमहत्कर्म तस्मिन्वै दशमेऽहनि । सेनयोरन्तरे तिष्ठन्प्रगृहीतशरासनः ॥

sa kṛtvā sumahatkarma tasminvai daśame'hani | senayorantare tiṣṭhanpragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ

Having done a mighty deed on that tenth day, he stood between the two armies with his bow in hand,

Verse 32 (6.118.32)

न चैनं पार्थिवाः केचिच्छक्ता राजन्निरीक्षितुम् । मध्यं प्राप्तं यथा ग्रीष्मे तपन्तं भास्करं दिवि ॥

na cainaṃ pārthivāḥ kecicchaktā rājannirīkṣitum | madhyaṃ prāptaṃ yathā grīṣme tapantaṃ bhāskaraṃ divi

and none of the kings could look at him, O king, any more than at the sun blazing in the sky at midday in summer.

Verse 33 (6.118.33)

यथा दैत्यचमूं शक्रस्तापयामास संयुगे । तथा भीष्मः पाण्डवेयांस्तापयामास भारत ॥

yathā daityacamūṃ śakrastāpayāmāsa saṃyuge | tathā bhīṣmaḥ pāṇḍaveyāṃstāpayāmāsa bhārata

As Shakra scorched the host of the Daityas in battle, so Bhishma scorched the sons of Pandu, O Bharata.

Verse 34 (6.118.34)

तथा चैनं पराक्रान्तमालोक्य मधुसूदनः । उवाच देवकीपुत्रः प्रीयमाणो धनञ्जयम् ॥

tathā cainaṃ parākrāntamālokya madhusūdanaḥ | uvāca devakīputraḥ prīyamāṇo dhanañjayam

Seeing him show such valour, Madhusudana, the son of Devaki, spoke to Dhananjaya with affection:

Verse 35 (6.118.35)

एष शान्तनवो भीष्मः सेनयोरन्तरे स्थितः । सन्निहत्य बलादेनं विजयस्ते भविष्यति ॥

eṣa śāntanavo bhīṣmaḥ senayorantare sthitaḥ | sannihatya balādenaṃ vijayaste bhaviṣyati

'Here is Bhishma, son of Shantanu, standing between the two armies. Strike him down by force, and victory will be yours.

Note on the text: Krishna's speech, without a printed heading, fills verses 35–36. Line 2 begins सन्निहत्य ('strike him down') where the critical edition has nānihatya ('not without striking him down'); kept as a recension variant.

Verse 36 (6.118.36)

बलात्संस्तम्भयस्वैनं यत्रैषा भिद्यते चमूः । न हि भीष्मशरानन्यः सोढुमुत्सहते विभो ॥

balātsaṃstambhayasvainaṃ yatraiṣā bhidyate camūḥ | na hi bhīṣmaśarānanyaḥ soḍhumutsahate vibho

Check him by force, there where the army is breaking; for no one else can bear Bhishma's arrows, my lord.'

Verse 37 (6.118.37)

ततस्तस्मिन्क्षणे राजंश्चोदितो वानरध्वजः । सध्वजं सरथं साश्वं भीष्ममन्तर्दधे शरैः ॥

tatastasminkṣaṇe rājaṃścodito vānaradhvajaḥ | sadhvajaṃ sarathaṃ sāśvaṃ bhīṣmamantardadhe śaraiḥ

Then at that moment, O king, urged on, the ape-bannered one hid Bhishma with his arrows, banner, chariot, horses and all.

Verse 38 (6.118.38)

स चापि कुरुमुख्यानामृषभः पाण्डवेरितान् । शरव्रातैः शरव्रातान्बहुधा विदुधाव तान् ॥

sa cāpi kurumukhyānāmṛṣabhaḥ pāṇḍaveritān | śaravrātaiḥ śaravrātānbahudhā vidudhāva tān

And that bull among the chiefs of the Kurus scattered in many ways, with volleys of arrows, the volleys of arrows the Pandava sent.

Note on the text: Corrected सरव्रतैः → शरव्रातैः (misprint in Wikisource; स for श and a dropped vowel sign, the word repeated as शरव्रातान् in the same line, critical edition śaravrātaiḥ).

Verse 39 (6.118.39)

ततः पाञ्चालराजश्च धृष्टकेतुश्च वीर्यवान् । पाण्डवो भीमसेनश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः ॥

tataḥ pāñcālarājaśca dhṛṣṭaketuśca vīryavān | pāṇḍavo bhīmasenaśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ

Then the king of the Panchalas, valiant Dhrishtaketu, the Pandava Bhimasena, Dhrishtadyumna son of Prishata,

Verse 40 (6.118.40)

यमौ च चेकितानश्च केकयाः पञ्च चैव ह । सात्यकिश्च महाबाहुः सौभद्रोऽथ घटोत्कचः ॥

yamau ca cekitānaśca kekayāḥ pañca caiva ha | sātyakiśca mahābāhuḥ saubhadro'tha ghaṭotkacaḥ

the twins, Chekitana, the five Kekayas, mighty-armed Satyaki, Subhadra's son and Ghatotkacha,

Verse 41 (6.118.41)

द्रौपदेयाः शिखण्डी च कुन्तिभोजश्च वीर्यवान् । विराटश्च महाराज पाण्डवेया महाबलाः ॥

draupadeyāḥ śikhaṇḍī ca kuntibhojaśca vīryavān | virāṭaśca mahārāja pāṇḍaveyā mahābalāḥ

the sons of Draupadi, Shikhandi, valiant Kuntibhoja, and Virata, O great king, mighty men of the Pandava side:

Note on the text: Line 2 (विराटश्च महाराज) for suśarmā ca virāṭaś ca kept as a recension variant.

Verse 42 (6.118.42)

एते चान्ये च बहवः पीडिता भीष्मसायकैः । समुद्धृताः फल्गुनेन निमग्नाः शोकसागरे ॥

ete cānye ca bahavaḥ pīḍitā bhīṣmasāyakaiḥ | samuddhṛtāḥ phalgunena nimagnāḥ śokasāgare

these and many others, tormented by Bhishma's arrows and sunk in an ocean of grief, were lifted out by Phalguna.

Verse 43 (6.118.43)

ततः शिखण्डी वेगेन प्रगृह्य परमायुधम् । भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्राव रक्ष्यमाणः किरीटिना ॥

tataḥ śikhaṇḍī vegena pragṛhya paramāyudham | bhīṣmamevābhidudrāva rakṣyamāṇaḥ kirīṭinā

Then Shikhandi, seizing a mighty weapon, rushed at Bhishma with speed, protected by the diademed one.

Verse 44 (6.118.44)

ततोऽस्यानुचरान्हत्वा सर्वान्रणविभागवित् । भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्राव बीभत्सुरपराजितः ॥

tato'syānucarānhatvā sarvānraṇavibhāgavit | bhīṣmamevābhidudrāva bībhatsuraparājitaḥ

Then, having killed all of Bhishma's followers, unvanquished Bibhatsu, who knew the order of battle, rushed at Bhishma himself.

Verse 45 (6.118.45)

सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः । विराटो द्रुपदश्चैव माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ ॥

sātyakiścekitānaśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ | virāṭo drupadaścaiva mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau

Satyaki, Chekitana, Dhrishtadyumna son of Prishata, Virata, Drupada, and the two Pandavas, the sons of Madri,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.42a and 42c.

Verse 46 (6.118.46)

दुद्रुवुर्भीष्ममेवाजौ रक्षिता दृढधन्वना । अभिमन्युश्च समरे द्रौपद्याः पञ्च चात्मजाः ॥

dudruvurbhīṣmamevājau rakṣitā dṛḍhadhanvanā | abhimanyuśca samare draupadyāḥ pañca cātmajāḥ

protected by that firm bowman, rushed at Bhishma in the battle. Abhimanyu too, and the five sons of Draupadi,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.42e and 43a.

Verse 47 (6.118.47)

ददृशुः समरे भीष्मं समुद्यतमहायुधम् । ते सर्वे दृढधन्वानः संयुगेष्वपलायिनः ॥

dadṛśuḥ samare bhīṣmaṃ samudyatamahāyudham | te sarve dṛḍhadhanvānaḥ saṃyugeṣvapalāyinaḥ

saw Bhishma in the battle with his mighty weapon raised. All of them, firm bowmen who never fled from battle,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.43c and 44a. Line 1 (ददृशुः समरे भीष्मं समुद्यतमहायुधम्) for dudruvuḥ samare bhīṣmaṃ samudyatamahāyudhāḥ kept as a recension variant.

Verse 48 (6.118.48)

बहुधा भीष्ममानर्च्छुर्मार्गणैः क्षतमार्गणैः । विधूय तान्बाणगणान्ये मुक्ताः पार्थिवोत्तमैः ॥

bahudhā bhīṣmamānarcchurmārgaṇaiḥ kṣatamārgaṇaiḥ | vidhūya tānbāṇagaṇānye muktāḥ pārthivottamaiḥ

assailed Bhishma many times with their wounding arrows. Brushing aside the flights of arrows loosed by those best of kings,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.44c and 45a. क्षतमार्गणैः for kṛtamārgaṇāḥ kept as a variant.

Verse 49 (6.118.49)

पाण्डवानामदीनात्मा व्यगाहत वरूथिनीम् । चक्रे शरविघातं च क्रीडन्निव पितामहः ॥

pāṇḍavānāmadīnātmā vyagāhata varūthinīm | cakre śaravighātaṃ ca krīḍanniva pitāmahaḥ

the grandsire, undaunted, plunged into the Pandava host, and as if at play he cut down their arrows.

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.45c and 45e.

Verse 50 (6.118.50)

नाभिसंधत्त पाञ्चाल्ये स्मयमानो मुहुर्मुहुः । स्त्रीत्वं तस्यानुसंस्मृत्य भीष्मो बाणाञ्शिखण्डिने ॥

nābhisaṃdhatta pāñcālye smayamāno muhurmuhuḥ | strītvaṃ tasyānusaṃsmṛtya bhīṣmo bāṇāñśikhaṇḍine

Smiling again and again, he would not aim at the Panchala prince: remembering that he had been a woman, Bhishma loosed no arrows at Shikhandi;

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.46a and 46c.

Verse 51 (6.118.51)

जघान द्रुपदानीके रथान्सप्त महारथः । ततः किलकिलाशब्दः क्षणेन समभूत्तदा ॥

jaghāna drupadānīke rathānsapta mahārathaḥ | tataḥ kilakilāśabdaḥ kṣaṇena samabhūttadā

but in Drupada's army that great chariot-warrior slew seven chariot-warriors. Then in an instant a clamour of shouts arose

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.46e and 47a.

Verse 52 (6.118.52)

मत्स्यपाञ्चालचेदीनां तमेकमभिधावताम् । ते नराश्वरथव्रातैर्मार्गणैश्च परंतप ॥

matsyapāñcālacedīnāṃ tamekamabhidhāvatām | te narāśvarathavrātairmārgaṇaiśca paraṃtapa

from the Matsyas, Panchalas and Chedis as they rushed at him, alone as he was. With throngs of men, horses and chariots and with arrows, O scorcher of foes,

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.47c and 48a. Line 2 (ते नराश्वरथव्रातैर्मार्गणैश्च परंतप) for te varāśvarathavrātair vāraṇaiḥ sapadātibhiḥ kept as a recension variant.

Verse 53 (6.118.53)

तमेकं छादयामासुर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम् । भीष्मं भागीरथीपुत्रं प्रतपन्तं रणे रिपून् ॥

tamekaṃ chādayāmāsurmeghā iva divākaram | bhīṣmaṃ bhāgīrathīputraṃ pratapantaṃ raṇe ripūn

they covered him, alone, as clouds cover the sun: Bhishma, son of Bhagirathi, who was scorching his enemies in the battle.

Note on the text: Lines map to the critical edition's 6.113.48c and 48e.

Verse 54 (6.118.54)

ततस्तस्य च तेषां च युद्धे देवासुरोपमे । किरीटी भीष्ममानर्च्छ पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम् ॥

tatastasya ca teṣāṃ ca yuddhe devāsuropame | kirīṭī bhīṣmamānarccha puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam

Then, in that battle between him and them, like the war of the gods and the asuras, the diademed one, placing Shikhandi in front, closed in on Bhishma.