Dhritarashtra's Lament for Bhishma

Verse 1 (6.14.1)

कथं कुरूणामृषभो हतो भीष्मः शिखण्डिना । कथं रथात्स न्यपतित्पिता मे वासवोपमः ॥

kathaṃ kurūṇāmṛṣabho hato bhīṣmaḥ śikhaṇḍinā | kathaṃ rathātsa nyapatitpitā me vāsavopamaḥ

How was Bhishma, the bull among the Kurus, slain by Shikhandi? How did my father, the equal of Vasava, fall from his chariot?

Note on the text: Corrected रथार्त्स → रथात्स (misprint in Wikisource; stray repha, the critical edition reads rathāt sa).

Verse 2 (6.14.2)

कथमाचक्ष्व मे योधा हीना भीष्मेण संजय । बलिना देवकल्पेन गुर्वर्थे ब्रह्मचारिणा ॥

kathamācakṣva me yodhā hīnā bhīṣmeṇa saṃjaya | balinā devakalpena gurvarthe brahmacāriṇā

Tell me, Sanjaya, how my warriors fared when they were bereft of Bhishma, that mighty one, like a god, who lived as a celibate for his father’s sake.

Verse 3 (6.14.3)

तस्मिन्हते महाप्राज्ञे महेष्वासे महाबले । महासत्त्वे नरव्याघ्रे किमु आसीन्मनस्तव ॥

tasminhate mahāprājñe maheṣvāse mahābale | mahāsattve naravyāghre kimu āsīnmanastava

When that man of great wisdom was slain, the great archer of great strength, the great-hearted tiger among men, what was in your mind?

Note on the text: Corrected महासत्वे → महासत्त्वे (misprint in Wikisource; sattva is spelt with त्त्व; the critical edition reads mahāsattve).

Verse 4 (6.14.4)

आर्तिं परामाविशति मनः शंससि मे हतम् । कुरूणामृषभं वीरमकम्पं पुरुषर्षभम् ॥

ārtiṃ parāmāviśati manaḥ śaṃsasi me hatam | kurūṇāmṛṣabhaṃ vīramakampaṃ puruṣarṣabham

My mind sinks into the deepest anguish as you tell me he is slain: the hero, the bull of the Kurus, the unshaken one, the best of men.

Verse 5 (6.14.5)

के तं यान्तमनुप्राप्ताः के वास्यासन्पुरोगमाः । केऽतिष्ठन्के न्यवर्तन्त केऽन्ववर्तन्त सञ्जय ॥

ke taṃ yāntamanuprāptāḥ ke vāsyāsanpurogamāḥ | ke'tiṣṭhanke nyavartanta ke'nvavartanta sañjaya

Who followed him as he went forth, and who went before him? Who stood firm, who turned back, and who went on with him, Sanjaya?

Note on the text: Corrected वास्यसन् → वास्यासन् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, वा अस्य आसन्; the critical edition reads cāsyāsan).

Verse 6 (6.14.6)

के शूरा रथशार्दूलमद्भुतं क्षत्रियर्षभम् । तथाऽनीकं गाहमानं सहसा पृष्ठतोऽन्वयुः ॥

ke śūrā rathaśārdūlamadbhutaṃ kṣatriyarṣabham | tathā'nīkaṃ gāhamānaṃ sahasā pṛṣṭhato'nvayuḥ

Which heroes followed close behind that wondrous tiger among chariot-fighters, that bull among kshatriyas, as he suddenly plunged into the enemy ranks?

Verse 7 (6.14.7)

यस्तमोऽर्क इवापोहन्परसैन्यममित्रहा । सहस्ररश्मिप्रतिमः परेषां भयमादधत् ॥

yastamo'rka ivāpohanparasainyamamitrahā | sahasraraśmipratimaḥ pareṣāṃ bhayamādadhat

He, the slayer of foes, who drove back the enemy host as the sun drives back darkness, who, like the thousand-rayed sun, struck fear into his enemies,

Note on the text: Corrected यस्तमोर्क → यस्तमोऽर्क (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha, तमः अर्कः; the critical edition reads tamo 'rka). The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.15.7ab, whose third line (7e) opens the next verse here.

Verse 8 (6.14.8)

अकरोद्दुष्करं कर्म रणे पाण्डुसुतेषु यः । ग्रसमानमनीकानि य एनं पर्यवारयन् ॥

akarodduṣkaraṃ karma raṇe pāṇḍusuteṣu yaḥ | grasamānamanīkāni ya enaṃ paryavārayan

who did hard deeds in battle against the sons of Pandu: when he was devouring their ranks, they closed in around him,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.15.7e (reading पाण्डुसुतेषु यः for kauravaśāsanāt) and line 2 is 6.15.8ab.

Verse 9 (6.14.9)

कृतिनं तं दुराधर्षं सञ्जयास्य त्वमन्तिके । कथं शान्तनवं युद्धे पाण्डवाः प्रत्यवारयन् ॥

kṛtinaṃ taṃ durādharṣaṃ sañjayāsya tvamantike | kathaṃ śāntanavaṃ yuddhe pāṇḍavāḥ pratyavārayan

but how did the Pandavas hold back in battle that skilled and unassailable son of Shantanu? You were near him, Sanjaya.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.15.8cd–ef (reading सञ्जयास्य त्वमन्तिके for samyag yāsyantam antike).

Verse 10 (6.14.10)

निकृन्तन्तमनीकानि शरदंष्ट्रं मनस्विनम् । चापव्यात्ताननं घोरमसिजिह्वं दुरासदम् ॥

nikṛntantamanīkāni śaradaṃṣṭraṃ manasvinam | cāpavyāttānanaṃ ghoramasijihvaṃ durāsadam

He cut down the ranks, high-spirited and terrible; arrows were his fangs, his bow his gaping mouth, his sword his tongue; he was hard to approach.

Verse 11 (6.14.11)

अनर्हं पुरुषव्याघ्रं ह्रीमन्तमपराजितम् । पातयामास कौन्तेयः कथं तमजितं युधि ॥

anarhaṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ hrīmantamaparājitam | pātayāmāsa kaunteyaḥ kathaṃ tamajitaṃ yudhi

That tiger among men, who did not deserve such an end, modest and never defeated: how did the son of Kunti bring down the unconquered one in battle?

Verse 12 (6.14.12)

उग्रधन्वानमुग्रेषुं वर्तमानं रथोत्तमे । परेषामुत्तमाङ्गानि प्रचिन्वन्तमथेषुभिः ॥

ugradhanvānamugreṣuṃ vartamānaṃ rathottame | pareṣāmuttamāṅgāni pracinvantamatheṣubhiḥ

He of the fierce bow and fierce arrows, standing on his fine chariot, plucked the heads of his enemies with his arrows as one plucks flowers;

Verse 13 (6.14.13)

पाण्डवानां महत्सैन्यं यं दृष्ट्वोद्यतमाहवे । कालाग्निमिव दुर्धर्षं समचेष्टत नित्यशः ॥

pāṇḍavānāṃ mahatsainyaṃ yaṃ dṛṣṭvodyatamāhave | kālāgnimiva durdharṣaṃ samaceṣṭata nityaśaḥ

seeing him poised for battle, unassailable as the fire at the end of time, the great army of the Pandavas would always writhe like a dying beast.

Verse 14 (6.14.14)

परिकृष्य स सेनां तु दशरात्रमनीकहा । जगामास्तमिवादित्यः कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम् ॥

parikṛṣya sa senāṃ tu daśarātramanīkahā | jagāmāstamivādityaḥ kṛtvā karma suduṣkaram

That destroyer of armies, after harrying the enemy host for ten nights and doing deeds most hard, has set like the sun.

Note on the text: Corrected दगामास्तमिवादित्यः → जगामास्तमिवादित्यः (misprint in Wikisource; द for ज; the critical edition reads jagāmāstam).

Verse 15 (6.14.15)

यः स शक्र इवाक्षय्यं वर्षं शरमयं क्षिपन् । जघान युधि योधानामर्बुदं दशभिर्दिनैः ॥

yaḥ sa śakra ivākṣayyaṃ varṣaṃ śaramayaṃ kṣipan | jaghāna yudhi yodhānāmarbudaṃ daśabhirdinaiḥ

He who, like Shakra, loosed an unending rain of arrows and in ten days slew a hundred million warriors in battle

Verse 16 (6.14.16)

स शेते निहतो भूमौ वातभुग्न इव द्रुमः । मम दुर्मन्त्रितेनाजौ यथा नार्हति भारतः ॥

sa śete nihato bhūmau vātabhugna iva drumaḥ | mama durmantritenājau yathā nārhati bhārataḥ

lies slain on the ground like a tree broken by the wind, through my evil counsel in this war: a fate the Bharata did not deserve.

Verse 17 (6.14.17)

कथं शान्तनवं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवानामनीकिनी । प्रहर्तुमशकत्तत्र भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम् ॥

kathaṃ śāntanavaṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavānāmanīkinī | prahartumaśakattatra bhīṣmaṃ bhīmaparākramam

How, on seeing the son of Shantanu, was the Pandava army able to strike there at Bhishma of fearsome valour?

Verse 18 (6.14.18)

कथं भीष्मेण संग्रामं प्राकुर्वन्पाण्डुनन्दनाः । कथं च नाजयद्भीष्मो द्रोणे जीवति सञ्जय ॥

kathaṃ bhīṣmeṇa saṃgrāmaṃ prākurvanpāṇḍunandanāḥ | kathaṃ ca nājayadbhīṣmo droṇe jīvati sañjaya

How did the sons of Pandu do battle with Bhishma? And how, Sanjaya, did Bhishma fail to conquer while Drona yet lived?

Verse 19 (6.14.19)

कृपे सन्निहिते तत्र भरद्वाजात्मजे तथा । भीष्मः प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठः कथं स निधनं गतः ॥

kṛpe sannihite tatra bharadvājātmaje tathā | bhīṣmaḥ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kathaṃ sa nidhanaṃ gataḥ

With Kripa at hand there, and Bharadvaja’s son too, how did Bhishma, best of fighters, meet his death?

Verse 20 (6.14.20)

कथं चातिरथस्तेन पाञ्चाल्येन शिखण्डिना । भीष्मो विनिहतो युद्धे देवैरपि दुरासदः ॥

kathaṃ cātirathastena pāñcālyena śikhaṇḍinā | bhīṣmo vinihato yuddhe devairapi durāsadaḥ

How was Bhishma, a warrior beyond warriors whom even the gods could hardly face, slain in battle by Shikhandi of Panchala?

Verse 21 (6.14.21)

यः स्पर्धते रणे नित्यं जामदग्न्यं महाबलम् । अजितं जामदग्न्येन शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमम् ॥

yaḥ spardhate raṇe nityaṃ jāmadagnyaṃ mahābalam | ajitaṃ jāmadagnyena śakratulyaparākramam

He who always stood up in battle to Jamadagni’s mighty son, who was unconquered by Jamadagni’s son, whose valour equalled Shakra’s:

Verse 22 (6.14.22)

तं हतं समरे भीष्मं महारथकुलोदितम् । सञ्जयाचक्ष्व मे वीरं येन शर्म न विद्महे ॥

taṃ hataṃ samare bhīṣmaṃ mahārathakuloditam | sañjayācakṣva me vīraṃ yena śarma na vidmahe

that Bhishma, sprung from a line of great chariot-warriors, is slain in battle. Tell me of that hero, Sanjaya, for without him we know no peace.

Verse 23 (6.14.23)

मामकाः के महेष्वासा नाजहुः सञ्जयाच्युतम् । दुर्योधनसमादिष्टाः के वीराः पर्यवारयन् ॥

māmakāḥ ke maheṣvāsā nājahuḥ sañjayācyutam | duryodhanasamādiṣṭāḥ ke vīrāḥ paryavārayan

Which of my great archers did not desert the unswerving one, Sanjaya? Which heroes, at Duryodhana’s command, ranged themselves around him?

Verse 24 (6.14.24)

यच्छिखण्डिमुखाः सर्वे पाण्डवा भीष्ममभ्ययुः । कच्चित्ते कुरवः सर्वे नाजहुः सञ्जयाच्युतम् ॥

yacchikhaṇḍimukhāḥ sarve pāṇḍavā bhīṣmamabhyayuḥ | kaccitte kuravaḥ sarve nājahuḥ sañjayācyutam

When all the Pandavas, with Shikhandi at their head, advanced on Bhishma, did all the Kurus, I hope, stand by the unswerving one, Sanjaya?

Verse 25 (6.14.25)

अश्मसारमयं नूनं हृदयं सुदृढं मम । यच्छ्रुत्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रं हतं भीष्मं न दीर्यते ॥

aśmasāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ sudṛḍhaṃ mama | yacchrutvā puruṣavyāghraṃ hataṃ bhīṣmaṃ na dīryate

Surely my heart is made of iron and very hard, since it does not burst on hearing that Bhishma, the tiger among men, is slain.

Note on the text: Corrected मुदृढं → सुदृढं (misprint in Wikisource; म for स; the critical edition's version of this line, 6.15.53a, reads sudṛḍhaṃ). Not in the critical edition at this point (found in the vulgate recension): verses 25–26 are an earlier near-repeat of verses 57–58, which stand at the critical edition's place for this pair (6.15.53–54). The automatic alignment had matched this verse to 6.15.53.

Verse 26 (6.14.26)

यस्मिन्सत्यं च मेधा च नीतिश्च भरतर्षभे । अप्रमेयाणि दुर्धर्षे कथं स निहतो युधि ॥

yasminsatyaṃ ca medhā ca nītiśca bharatarṣabhe | aprameyāṇi durdharṣe kathaṃ sa nihato yudhi

He in whom truth, wisdom and statecraft were beyond measure, that unassailable bull of the Bharatas: how was he slain in battle?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition at this point (found in the vulgate recension): a near-repeat of verse 58 (CE 6.15.54), reading सत्यं for अस्त्राणि. The automatic alignment had matched this verse to 6.15.54.

Verse 27 (6.14.27)

मौर्वीघोषस्तनयित्नुः पृषत्कपृषतो महान् । धनुर्ह्रादमहाशब्दो महामेघ इवोन्नतः ॥

maurvīghoṣastanayitnuḥ pṛṣatkapṛṣato mahān | dhanurhrādamahāśabdo mahāmegha ivonnataḥ

Like a vast, towering storm cloud, the twang of his bowstring its thunder, his arrows its raindrops, the hum of his bow its great roar,

Note on the text: Corrected स्तनयुत्नुः → स्तनयित्नुः (misprint in Wikisource; the page's own commentary and the critical edition read stanayitnuḥ). The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.15.24.

Verse 28 (6.14.28)

योऽभ्यवर्षत कौन्तेयान्सपाञ्चालान्ससृञ्जयान् । निघ्नन्पररथान्वीरो दानवानिव वज्रभृत् ॥

yo'bhyavarṣata kaunteyānsapāñcālānsasṛñjayān | nighnanpararathānvīro dānavāniva vajrabhṛt

he rained arrows on the sons of Kunti with the Panchalas and Srinjayas, that hero, striking down enemy chariot-fighters as the wielder of the thunderbolt strikes down the Danavas.

Note on the text: Corrected निघ्नन्परथान् → निघ्नन्पररथान् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped र leaves the line a syllable short; the critical edition reads nighnan pararathān). The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.15.25.

Verse 29 (6.14.29)

इष्वस्त्रसागरं घोरं बाणग्रहं दुरासदम् । कार्मुकोर्मिणमक्षय्यमद्वीपं चलमप्लवम् ॥

iṣvastrasāgaraṃ ghoraṃ bāṇagrahaṃ durāsadam | kārmukormiṇamakṣayyamadvīpaṃ calamaplavam

He was a terrible ocean of arrows and weapons, hard to cross: arrows were its crocodiles, his bow its waves; it was endless, without an island, ever moving, with no raft to cross it;

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.15.26a–d (reading चलमप्लवम् for samare 'plavam).

Verse 30 (6.14.30)

गदासिमकरावासं हयावर्त्तं गजाकुलम् । पदातिमत्स्यकलिलं शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनम् ॥

gadāsimakarāvāsaṃ hayāvarttaṃ gajākulam | padātimatsyakalilaṃ śaṅkhadundubhiniḥsvanam

maces and swords were its sea-monsters, horses its whirlpools; it was crowded with elephants, teeming with foot-soldiers for fish, and loud with conches and drums.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.15.26ef (reading गदासिमकरावासं हयावर्त्तं for gadāsimakarāvartaṃ hayagrāhaṃ); line 2 is its star passage 6.15.26f*0060.

Verse 31 (6.14.31)

हयान्गजपदातींश्च रथांश्च तरसा बहून् । निमज्जयन्तं समरे परवीरापहारिणम् ॥

hayāngajapadātīṃśca rathāṃśca tarasā bahūn | nimajjayantaṃ samare paravīrāpahāriṇam

He swiftly drowned horses, elephants, foot-soldiers and chariots in great numbers in battle, that taker of enemy heroes’ lives,

Note on the text: Corrected निमञ्जयन्तं → निमज्जयन्तं (misprint in Wikisource; the root is मज्ज्; the critical edition reads nimajjayantaṃ). The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.15.27.

Verse 32 (6.14.32)

विदह्यमानं कोपेन तेजसा च परंतपम् । वेलेव मकरावासं के वीराः पर्यवारयन् ॥

vidahyamānaṃ kopena tejasā ca paraṃtapam | veleva makarāvāsaṃ ke vīrāḥ paryavārayan

that scorcher of foes, blazing with wrath and energy. Which heroes ranged themselves around him, as the shore encircles the ocean, home of sea-monsters?

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.15.28.

Verse 33 (6.14.33)

भीष्मो यदकरोत्कर्म समरे सञ्जयारिहा । दुर्योधनहितार्थाय के तस्यास्य पुरोऽभवन् ॥

bhīṣmo yadakarotkarma samare sañjayārihā | duryodhanahitārthāya ke tasyāsya puro'bhavan

When Bhishma, destroyer of foes, did his work in battle for Duryodhana’s good, Sanjaya, who went before him?

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.15.29 (reading तस्यास्य for tadāsya).

Verse 34 (6.14.34)

के रक्षन्दक्षिणं चक्रं भीष्मस्यामिततेजसः । पृष्ठतः के परान्वीरानपासेधन्यतव्रताः ॥

ke rakṣandakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ bhīṣmasyāmitatejasaḥ | pṛṣṭhataḥ ke parānvīrānapāsedhanyatavratāḥ

Who guarded the right wheel of Bhishma of boundless energy? Who, steadfast in their vows, kept off the enemy heroes from behind him?

Verse 35 (6.14.35)

के पुरस्तादवर्तन्त रक्षन्तो भीष्ममन्तिके । के रक्षन्नुत्तरं चक्रं वीरा वीरस्य युध्यतः ॥

ke purastādavartanta rakṣanto bhīṣmamantike | ke rakṣannuttaraṃ cakraṃ vīrā vīrasya yudhyataḥ

Who stood in front, guarding Bhishma close at hand? Which heroes guarded the left wheel of the hero as he fought?

Note on the text: Corrected वीरकस्य → वीरस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a stray क makes the line a syllable too long; the critical edition reads vīrasya).

Verse 36 (6.14.36)

वामे चक्रे वर्तमानाः केऽघ्नन्सञ्जय सृञ्जयान् । अग्रतोऽग्र्यमनीकेषु केऽभ्यरक्षन्दुरासदम् ॥

vāme cakre vartamānāḥ ke'ghnansañjaya sṛñjayān | agrato'gryamanīkeṣu ke'bhyarakṣandurāsadam

Who, stationed at his left wheel, slew the Srinjayas, Sanjaya? Who guarded the unassailable one at the very front, foremost among the ranks?

Note on the text: Corrected अग्नतोऽग्न्यम् → अग्रतोऽग्र्यम् (misprint in Wikisource; न for र twice; अग्रतः अग्र्यम्, "in front, the foremost"; the critical edition reads a variant, sametāgram).

Verse 37 (6.14.37)

पार्श्वतः केऽभ्यरक्षन्त गच्छन्तो दुर्गमां गतिम् । समूहे के परान्वीरान्प्रत्ययुध्यन्त सञ्जय ॥

pārśvataḥ ke'bhyarakṣanta gacchanto durgamāṃ gatim | samūhe ke parānvīrānpratyayudhyanta sañjaya

Who guarded his flanks as he went his hard way? Who, in the thick of the press, fought back the enemy heroes, Sanjaya?

Verse 38 (6.14.38)

रक्ष्यमाणः कथं वीरैर्गोप्यमानाश्च तेन ते । दुर्जयानामनीकानि नाजयंस्तरसा युधि ॥

rakṣyamāṇaḥ kathaṃ vīrairgopyamānāśca tena te | durjayānāmanīkāni nājayaṃstarasā yudhi

He was guarded by heroes, and they were guarded by him: how then did they fail to conquer swiftly in battle the ranks of an enemy so hard to conquer?

Verse 39 (6.14.39)

सर्वलोकेश्वरस्येव परमस्य प्रजापतेः । कथं प्रहर्तुमपि ते शेकुः सञ्जय पाण्डवाः ॥

sarvalokeśvarasyeva paramasya prajāpateḥ | kathaṃ prahartumapi te śekuḥ sañjaya pāṇḍavāḥ

How could the Pandavas even strike at him, Sanjaya, who was like the supreme Prajapati, lord of all the worlds?

Verse 40 (6.14.40)

यस्मिन्द्वीपे समाश्वस्य युध्यन्ते कुरवः परैः । तं निमग्नं नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मं शंससि सञ्जय ॥

yasmindvīpe samāśvasya yudhyante kuravaḥ paraiḥ | taṃ nimagnaṃ naravyāghraṃ bhīṣmaṃ śaṃsasi sañjaya

He was the island on which the Kurus took heart as they fought the enemy; and you tell me, Sanjaya, that this tiger among men, Bhishma, has gone under.

Verse 41 (6.14.41)

यस्य वीर्यं समाश्रित्य मम पुत्रो बृहद्बलः । न पाण्डवानगणयत्कथं स निहतः परैः ॥

yasya vīryaṃ samāśritya mama putro bṛhadbalaḥ | na pāṇḍavānagaṇayatkathaṃ sa nihataḥ paraiḥ

Relying on his valour, my mighty son took no account of the Pandavas. How was he slain by the enemy?

Verse 42 (6.14.42)

यः पुरा विबुधैः सर्वैः सहाये युद्धदुर्मदः । काङ्क्षितो दानवान्घ्नद्भिः पिता मम महाव्रतः ॥

yaḥ purā vibudhaiḥ sarvaiḥ sahāye yuddhadurmadaḥ | kāṅkṣito dānavānghnadbhiḥ pitā mama mahāvrataḥ

Long ago, all the gods, as they slew the Danavas, sought him as their ally in battle: my father of great vows, fierce in war,

Note on the text: Corrected दानवान्ध्नद्भिः → दानवान्घ्नद्भिः (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ; the critical edition reads dānavān ghnadbhiḥ).

Verse 43 (6.14.43)

यस्मिञ्जाते महावीर्ये शान्तनुर्लोकविश्रुतः । शोकं दैन्यं च दुःखं च प्राजहात्स च तत्क्षणे ॥

yasmiñjāte mahāvīrye śāntanurlokaviśrutaḥ | śokaṃ dainyaṃ ca duḥkhaṃ ca prājahātsa ca tatkṣaṇe

at whose birth, that hero of great valour, Shantanu, famed in the world, cast off grief, misery and sorrow in that very moment;

Note on the text: Corrected यस्मिज्जाते → यस्मिञ्जाते (misprint in Wikisource; broken sandhi, यस्मिन् जाते; the critical edition reads yasmiñ jāte) and दुःस्वं → दुःखं (misprint in Wikisource; स्व for ख; the critical edition reads duḥkhaṃ). The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.15.39, with a different second half in each line (लोकविश्रुतः, प्राजहात्स च तत्क्षणे for lokaśaṃkare, prājahāt putralakṣmaṇi).

Verse 44 (6.14.44)

प्रोक्तं परायणं प्राज्ञं स्वधर्मनिरतं शुचिम् । वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञं कथं शंससि मे हतम् ॥

proktaṃ parāyaṇaṃ prājñaṃ svadharmanirataṃ śucim | vedavedāṅgatattvajñaṃ kathaṃ śaṃsasi me hatam

renowned, the refuge of all, wise, devoted to his own dharma, pure, knowing the truth of the Vedas and their limbs: how can you tell me he is slain?

Note on the text: Corrected तत्वज्ञं → तत्त्वज्ञं (misprint in Wikisource; tattva is spelt with त्त्व; the critical edition reads tattvajñaṃ).

Verse 45 (6.14.45)

सर्वास्त्रविनयोपेतं शान्तं दान्तं मनस्विनम् । हतं शान्तनवं श्रुत्वा मन्ये शेषं हतं बलम् ॥

sarvāstravinayopetaṃ śāntaṃ dāntaṃ manasvinam | hataṃ śāntanavaṃ śrutvā manye śeṣaṃ hataṃ balam

Trained in every weapon, calm, self-controlled and high-minded: now that I hear the son of Shantanu is slain, I count the rest of our army as slain.

Verse 46 (6.14.46)

धर्मादधर्मो बलवान्संप्राप्त इति मे मतिः । यत्र वृद्धं गुरुं हत्वा राज्यमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः ॥

dharmādadharmo balavānsaṃprāpta iti me matiḥ | yatra vṛddhaṃ guruṃ hatvā rājyamicchanti pāṇḍavāḥ

I believe that adharma has grown stronger than dharma, when the Pandavas seek the kingdom by slaying their aged elder.

Verse 47 (6.14.47)

जामदग्न्यः पुरा रामः सर्वास्त्रविदनुत्तमः । अम्बार्थमुद्यतः सङ्ख्ये भीष्मेण युधि निर्जितः ॥

jāmadagnyaḥ purā rāmaḥ sarvāstravidanuttamaḥ | ambārthamudyataḥ saṅkhye bhīṣmeṇa yudhi nirjitaḥ

Long ago Rama, son of Jamadagni, unsurpassed in all weapons, took up arms for Amba’s sake and was overcome in combat by Bhishma.

Verse 48 (6.14.48)

तमिन्द्रसमकर्माणं ककुदं सर्वधन्विनाम् । हतं शंससि मे भीष्मं किं नु दुःखमतः परम् ॥

tamindrasamakarmāṇaṃ kakudaṃ sarvadhanvinām | hataṃ śaṃsasi me bhīṣmaṃ kiṃ nu duḥkhamataḥ param

Bhishma, whose deeds matched Indra’s, the crown of all bowmen: you tell me he is slain. What grief could be greater than this?

Verse 49 (6.14.49)

असकृत्क्षत्रियव्राताः सङ्ख्ये येन विनिर्जिताः । जामदग्न्येन वीरेण परवीरनिघातिना । न हतो यो महाबुद्धिः स हतोऽद्य शिखण्डिना ॥

asakṛtkṣatriyavrātāḥ saṅkhye yena vinirjitāḥ | jāmadagnyena vīreṇa paravīranighātinā | na hato yo mahābuddhiḥ sa hato'dya śikhaṇḍinā

The heroic son of Jamadagni, slayer of enemy heroes, who defeated hosts of kshatriyas in battle again and again, could not slay that man of great wisdom; yet today he has been slain by Shikhandi.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.15.45ab; line 2 corresponds to 45cd (reading जामदग्न्येन वीरेण for jāmadagnyas tathā rāmaḥ); line 3 is its star passage 6.15.45d*0061.

Verse 50 (6.14.50)

तस्मान्नूनं महावीर्याद्भार्गवाद्युद्धदुर्मदात् । तेजोवीर्यबलैर्भूयाञ्शिखण्डी द्रुपदात्मजः ॥

tasmānnūnaṃ mahāvīryādbhārgavādyuddhadurmadāt | tejovīryabalairbhūyāñśikhaṇḍī drupadātmajaḥ

Surely, then, Drupada’s son Shikhandi surpasses in energy, valour and strength the mighty Bhargava, fierce in battle,

Note on the text: Corrected तेजोवीर्यबलैर्यूयाञ् → तेजोवीर्यबलैर्भूयाञ् (misprint in Wikisource; य for भ; the critical edition reads bhūyāñ).

Verse 51 (6.14.51)

यः शूरं कृतिनं युद्धे सर्वशस्त्रविशारदम् । परमास्त्रविदं वीरं जघान भरतर्षभम् ॥

yaḥ śūraṃ kṛtinaṃ yuddhe sarvaśastraviśāradam | paramāstravidaṃ vīraṃ jaghāna bharatarṣabham

since he slew in battle that bull of the Bharatas, the brave and skilled hero, versed in every weapon, master of the highest arms.

Note on the text: Corrected भग्तर्षभम् → भरतर्षभम् (misprint in Wikisource; ग् for र; the critical edition reads bharatarṣabham).

Verse 52 (6.14.52)

के वीरास्तममित्रघ्नमन्वयुः शस्त्रसंसदि । शंस मे तद्यथा चासीद्युद्धं भीष्मस्य पाण्डवैः ॥

ke vīrāstamamitraghnamanvayuḥ śastrasaṃsadi | śaṃsa me tadyathā cāsīdyuddhaṃ bhīṣmasya pāṇḍavaiḥ

Which heroes followed that slayer of foes in the clash of weapons? Tell me how Bhishma’s battle with the Pandavas went.

Note on the text: Corrected युद्भं → युद्धं (misprint in Wikisource; द्भ for द्ध; the critical edition reads yuddhaṃ).

Verse 53 (6.14.53)

योषेव हतवीरा मे सेना पुत्रस्य सञ्जय । अगोपमिव चोद्भ्रान्तं गोकुलं तद्बलं मम ॥

yoṣeva hatavīrā me senā putrasya sañjaya | agopamiva codbhrāntaṃ gokulaṃ tadbalaṃ mama

My son’s army, Sanjaya, is like a woman whose hero is slain; that army of mine is like a herd of cattle without a herdsman, scattered in panic.

Note on the text: Corrected सेन्म → सेना (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads senā).

Verse 54 (6.14.54)

पौरुषं सर्वलोकस्य परं यस्मिन्महाहवे । परासक्ते च वस्तस्मिन्कथमासीन्मनस्तदा ॥

pauruṣaṃ sarvalokasya paraṃ yasminmahāhave | parāsakte ca vastasminkathamāsīnmanastadā

In him lay the highest manhood of all the world in that great battle. When he had passed to the other world, what was in your minds then?

Verse 55 (6.14.55)

जीवितेऽप्यद्य सामर्थ्यं किमिवास्मासु सञ्जय । घातयित्वा महावीर्यं पितरं लोकधार्मिकम् ॥

jīvite'pyadya sāmarthyaṃ kimivāsmāsu sañjaya | ghātayitvā mahāvīryaṃ pitaraṃ lokadhārmikam

What strength is left in us even to live today, Sanjaya, now that we have had our mighty father slain, the most righteous man in the world?

Verse 56 (6.14.56)

अगाधे सलिले मग्नां नावं दृष्ट्वेव पारगाः । भीष्मे हते भृशं दुःखान्मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः ॥

agādhe salile magnāṃ nāvaṃ dṛṣṭveva pāragāḥ | bhīṣme hate bhṛśaṃ duḥkhānmanye śocanti putrakāḥ

As those who would cross over grieve when they see their boat sunk in fathomless water, so, I think, my sons grieve bitterly now that Bhishma is slain.

Verse 57 (6.14.57)

अद्रिसारमयं नूनं हृदयं मम सञ्जय । यच्छ्रुत्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रं हतं भीष्मं न दीर्यते ॥

adrisāramayaṃ nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ mama sañjaya | yacchrutvā puruṣavyāghraṃ hataṃ bhīṣmaṃ na dīryate

Surely my heart is made of solid rock, Sanjaya, since it does not burst on hearing that Bhishma, the tiger among men, is slain.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it stands at the critical edition's place for 6.15.53 (reading मम सञ्जय for sudṛḍhaṃ … mama). Verse 25 is an earlier near-repeat of it.

Verse 58 (6.14.58)

यस्मिन्नस्त्राणि मेधा च नीतिश्च पुरुषर्षभे । अप्रमेयाणि दुर्धर्षे कथं स निहतो युधि ॥

yasminnastrāṇi medhā ca nītiśca puruṣarṣabhe | aprameyāṇi durdharṣe kathaṃ sa nihato yudhi

He in whom weapons, wisdom and statecraft were beyond measure, that unassailable bull among men: how was he slain in battle?

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it stands at the critical edition's place for 6.15.54 (reading अस्त्राणि, पुरुषर्षभे for astraṃ ca, bharatarṣabhe). Verse 26 is an earlier near-repeat of it.

Verse 59 (6.14.59)

न चास्त्रेण न शौर्येण तपसा मेधया न च । न धृत्या न पुनस्त्यागान्मृत्योः कश्चिद्विमुच्यते ॥

na cāstreṇa na śauryeṇa tapasā medhayā na ca | na dhṛtyā na punastyāgānmṛtyoḥ kaścidvimucyate

Not by weapons, not by courage, not by austerity or wisdom, not by fortitude, nor yet by renunciation, does anyone escape death.

Verse 60 (6.14.60)

कालो नूनं महावीर्यः सर्वलोकदुरत्ययः । यत्र शान्तनवं भीष्मं हतं शंससि सञ्जय ॥

kālo nūnaṃ mahāvīryaḥ sarvalokaduratyayaḥ | yatra śāntanavaṃ bhīṣmaṃ hataṃ śaṃsasi sañjaya

Time is surely mighty, and no one in all the world can pass beyond it, since you tell me, Sanjaya, that Bhishma son of Shantanu is slain.

Verse 61 (6.14.61)

पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तो महद्दुःखमचिन्तयन् । आशंसेऽहं परं त्राणं भीष्माच्छान्तनुनन्दनात् ॥

putraśokābhisaṃtapto mahadduḥkhamacintayan | āśaṃse'haṃ paraṃ trāṇaṃ bhīṣmācchāntanunandanāt

Burning with grief for my sons, I gave no thought to this great sorrow; I hoped for the highest protection from Bhishma, the son of Shantanu.

Verse 62 (6.14.62)

यदादित्यमिवापश्यत्पतितं भुवि सञ्जय । दुर्योधनः शान्तनवं किं तदा प्रत्यपद्यत ॥

yadādityamivāpaśyatpatitaṃ bhuvi sañjaya | duryodhanaḥ śāntanavaṃ kiṃ tadā pratyapadyata

When Duryodhana saw the son of Shantanu fallen on the ground like the sun, Sanjaya, what did he do then?

Note on the text: Corrected भ्रुवि → भुवि (misprint in Wikisource; stray र; the critical edition reads bhuvi) and प्रत्यपद्मत → प्रत्यपद्यत (misprint in Wikisource; म for य; the critical edition reads pratyapadyata).

Verse 63 (6.14.63)

नाहं स्वेषां परेषां वा बुद्ध्या सञ्जय चिन्तयन् । शेषं किंचित्प्रपश्यामि प्रत्यनीके महीक्षिताम् ॥

nāhaṃ sveṣāṃ pareṣāṃ vā buddhyā sañjaya cintayan | śeṣaṃ kiṃcitprapaśyāmi pratyanīke mahīkṣitām

Pondering it in my mind, Sanjaya, I can see nothing left of the kings in the opposing ranks, whether ours or the enemy’s.

Verse 64 (6.14.64)

दारुणः क्षत्रधर्मोऽयमृषिभिः संप्रदर्शितः । यत्र शान्तनवं हत्वा राज्यमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः ॥

dāruṇaḥ kṣatradharmo'yamṛṣibhiḥ saṃpradarśitaḥ | yatra śāntanavaṃ hatvā rājyamicchanti pāṇḍavāḥ

Cruel is this law of the kshatriyas that the sages have laid down, since the Pandavas seek the kingdom by slaying the son of Shantanu.

Verse 65 (6.14.65)

वयं वा राज्यमिच्छामो घातयित्वा महाव्रतम् । क्षत्रधर्मे स्थिताः पार्था नापराध्यन्ति पुत्रकाः ॥

vayaṃ vā rājyamicchāmo ghātayitvā mahāvratam | kṣatradharme sthitāḥ pārthā nāparādhyanti putrakāḥ

And we too seek the kingdom by having that man of great vows slain. Standing by the law of the kshatriyas, the sons of Pritha do no wrong, nor do my sons.

Verse 66 (6.14.66)

एतदार्येण कर्तव्यं कृच्छ्रास्वापत्सु सञ्जय । पराक्रमः पराशक्तिस्तत्तु तस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

etadāryeṇa kartavyaṃ kṛcchrāsvāpatsu sañjaya | parākramaḥ parāśaktistattu tasminpratiṣṭhitam

This is what a noble man must do in dire straits, Sanjaya: show valour to the utmost of his strength. And that was firmly rooted in him.

Verse 67 (6.14.67)

अनीकानि विनिघ्नन्तं ह्रीमन्तमपराजितम् । कथं शान्तनवं तातं पाण्डुपुत्रा न्यवारयन् ॥

anīkāni vinighnantaṃ hrīmantamaparājitam | kathaṃ śāntanavaṃ tātaṃ pāṇḍuputrā nyavārayan

As he cut down the ranks, modest and undefeated, how did the sons of Pandu hold back the son of Shantanu, our sire?

Verse 68 (6.14.68)

यथायुक्तान्यनीकानि कथं युद्धं महात्मभिः । कथं वा निहतो भीष्मः पिता सञ्जय मे परैः ॥

yathāyuktānyanīkāni kathaṃ yuddhaṃ mahātmabhiḥ | kathaṃ vā nihato bhīṣmaḥ pitā sañjaya me paraiḥ

How were the ranks arrayed? How did the battle go with those great-souled warriors? And how, Sanjaya, was my father Bhishma slain by the enemy?

Verse 69 (6.14.69)

दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः । दुःशासनश्च कितवो हते भीष्मे किमब्रुवन् ॥

duryodhanaśca karṇaśca śakuniścāpi saubalaḥ | duḥśāsanaśca kitavo hate bhīṣme kimabruvan

Duryodhana and Karna, Shakuni son of Subala, and the gambler Duhshasana: what did they say when Bhishma was slain?

Verse 70 (6.14.70)

यच्छरीरैरुपास्तीर्णां नरवारणवाजिनाम् । शरशक्तिमहाखड्गतोमराक्षां महाभयाम् । प्राविशन्कितवा मन्दाः सभां युद्धदुरासदाम् ॥

yaccharīrairupāstīrṇāṃ naravāraṇavājinām | śaraśaktimahākhaḍgatomarākṣāṃ mahābhayām | prāviśankitavā mandāḥ sabhāṃ yuddhadurāsadām

The battlefield was a gaming hall hard to enter, strewn with the bodies of men, elephants and horses, its dice the arrows, spears, great swords and lances, utterly fearful; and those foolish gamblers entered it.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्ग → खड्ग (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads khaḍga). The automatic alignment missed this verse: lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.15.66 (reading महाखड्ग, महाभयाम् for gadākhaḍga, bhayāvahām) and line 3 is 6.15.67ab (युद्धदुरासदाम् for yudhi durāsadām).

Verse 71 (6.14.71)

प्राणद्यूते प्रतिभये केऽदीव्यन्त नरर्षभाः । के जीयन्ते जितास्तत्र कृतलक्ष्या निपातिताः । अन्ये भीष्माच्छान्तनवात्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय ॥

prāṇadyūte pratibhaye ke'dīvyanta nararṣabhāḥ | ke jīyante jitāstatra kṛtalakṣyā nipātitāḥ | anye bhīṣmācchāntanavāttanmamācakṣva sañjaya

In that terrifying game played for lives, which bulls among men cast the dice? Who are being defeated, who were defeated there, who besides Bhishma son of Shantanu were made targets and struck down? Tell me that, Sanjaya.

Note on the text: Corrected भीष्माच्चान्तनवात् → भीष्माच्छान्तनवात् (misprint in Wikisource; त् + श should give च्छ; the critical edition reads bhīṣmāc chāṃtanavāt). The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.15.67cd and lines 2–3 are 6.15.68 (reading के जीयन्ते, कृतलक्ष्या for ke 'jayan, hṛtalakṣā).

Verse 72 (6.14.72)

न हि मे शान्तिरस्तीह श्रुत्वा देवव्रतं हतम् । पितरं भीमकर्माणं भीष्ममाहवशोभिनम् ॥

na hi me śāntirastīha śrutvā devavrataṃ hatam | pitaraṃ bhīmakarmāṇaṃ bhīṣmamāhavaśobhinam

There is no peace for me here since I heard that Devavrata is slain: my father Bhishma, of terrible deeds, glorious in battle.

Verse 73 (6.14.73)

आर्तिं मे हृदये रूढां महतीं पुत्रहानिजाम् । त्वं हि मे सर्पिषेवाग्निमुद्दीपयसि सञ्जय ॥

ārtiṃ me hṛdaye rūḍhāṃ mahatīṃ putrahānijām | tvaṃ hi me sarpiṣevāgnimuddīpayasi sañjaya

The great anguish rooted in my heart, born of the loss of my sons, you kindle, Sanjaya, as clarified butter kindles fire.

Verse 74 (6.14.74)

महान्तं भारमुद्यम्य विश्रुतं सार्वलौकिकम् । दृष्ट्वा विनिहतं भीष्मं मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः ॥

mahāntaṃ bhāramudyamya viśrutaṃ sārvalaukikam | dṛṣṭvā vinihataṃ bhīṣmaṃ manye śocanti putrakāḥ

He had shouldered a great burden, renowned throughout the world; seeing Bhishma slain, I think, my sons are grieving.

Verse 75 (6.14.75)

श्रोष्यामि तानि दुःखानि दुर्योधनकृतान्यहम् । तस्मान्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व यद्वृत्तं तत्र सञ्जय ॥

śroṣyāmi tāni duḥkhāni duryodhanakṛtānyaham | tasmānme sarvamācakṣva yadvṛttaṃ tatra sañjaya

I shall hear of those sorrows that Duryodhana has brought about. So tell me everything that happened there, Sanjaya.

Verse 76 (6.14.76)

यद्वृत्तं तत्र संग्रामे मन्दस्याबुद्धिसंभवम् । अपनीतं सुनीतं यत्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय ॥

yadvṛttaṃ tatra saṃgrāme mandasyābuddhisaṃbhavam | apanītaṃ sunītaṃ yattanmamācakṣva sañjaya

Whatever happened there in the battle, born of that fool’s folly, whether ill-advised or well-advised, tell it to me, Sanjaya.

Verse 77 (6.14.77)

यत्कृतं तत्र संग्रामे भीष्मेण जयमिच्छता । तेजोयुक्तं कृतास्त्रेण शंस तच्चाप्यशेषतः ॥

yatkṛtaṃ tatra saṃgrāme bhīṣmeṇa jayamicchatā | tejoyuktaṃ kṛtāstreṇa śaṃsa taccāpyaśeṣataḥ

Whatever Bhishma, master of weapons, did there in battle in his desire for victory, full of fire, tell me that too, in full.

Verse 78 (6.14.78)

यथा तदभवद्युद्धं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः । क्रमेण येन यस्मिंश्च काले यच्च यथाऽभवत् ॥

yathā tadabhavadyuddhaṃ kurupāṇḍavasenayoḥ | krameṇa yena yasmiṃśca kāle yacca yathā'bhavat

Tell me how that battle between the armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas took place: in what order, at what time, and what happened and how.