Bhishma and Arjuna Meet in Battle

Verse 1 (6.52.1)

एवं व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु मामकेष्वितरेषु च । कथं प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठाः संप्रहारं प्रचक्रिरे ॥

evaṃ vyūḍheṣvanīkeṣu māmakeṣvitareṣu ca | kathaṃ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhāḥ saṃprahāraṃ pracakrire

When the armies, mine and the others', had been arrayed in this way, how did those foremost of fighters begin the battle?

Verse 2 (6.52.2)

तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु सन्नद्धरुचिरध्वजाः । तावकाः पाण्डवैः सार्धं यथाऽयुध्यन्त तच्छृणु । अपारमिव संदृश्य सागरप्रतिमं बलम् ॥

tathā vyūḍheṣvanīkeṣu sannaddharuciradhvajāḥ | tāvakāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ yathā'yudhyanta tacchṛṇu | apāramiva saṃdṛśya sāgarapratimaṃ balam

When the armies had been arrayed in this way, armoured and with bright banners raised — hear how your men fought with the Pandavas — and when they saw the host before them, boundless as the ocean,

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (`…') around line 2 and its doubled danda. Lines 1 and 3 are the critical edition's 6.48.2 (तथा for samaṃ, the compound सन्नद्धरुचिरध्वजाः for saṃnaddhā ruciradhvajāḥ); line 2 is its star passage 6.48.2b*0158, not in the constituted text. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 3 (6.52.3)

तेषां मध्ये स्थितो राजन्पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव । अब्रवीत्तावकान्सर्वान्युध्यध्वमिति दंशिताः ॥

teṣāṃ madhye sthito rājanputro duryodhanastava | abravīttāvakānsarvānyudhyadhvamiti daṃśitāḥ

your son Duryodhana, standing in their midst, O king, said to all your men, "Armoured as you are, fight!"

Note on the text: Corrected युद्ध्यध्वम् → युध्यध्वम् (misprint in Wikisource; doubled द, critical edition yudhyadhvam). राजन् for the critical edition's rājā kept as a variant.

Verse 4 (6.52.4)

ते मनः क्रूरमाधाय समभित्यक्तजीविताः । पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त सर्व एवोच्छ्रितध्वजाः ॥

te manaḥ krūramādhāya samabhityaktajīvitāḥ | pāṇḍavānabhyavartanta sarva evocchritadhvajāḥ

Setting their minds on ruthlessness and casting aside all care for life, they all charged the Pandavas with banners held high.

Verse 5 (6.52.5)

ततो युद्धं समभवत्तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् । तावकानां परेषां च व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपम् ॥

tato yuddhaṃ samabhavattumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam | tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca vyatiṣaktarathadvipam

Then a tumultuous, hair-raising battle broke out between your men and the enemy, with chariots and elephants locked together.

Verse 6 (6.52.6)

मुक्तास्तु रथिभिर्बाणा रुक्मपुङ्खाः सुतेजिताः । सन्निपेतुरकुण्ठाग्रा नागेषु च हयेषु च ॥

muktāstu rathibhirbāṇā rukmapuṅkhāḥ sutejitāḥ | sannipeturakuṇṭhāgrā nāgeṣu ca hayeṣu ca

Gold-feathered, keenly whetted arrows loosed by the chariot-fighters fell with unblunted points upon elephants and horses.

Note on the text: Removed a stray क after सुतेजिताः (misprint in Wikisource). सुतेजिताः for the critical edition's sutejanāḥ kept as a variant.

Verse 7 (6.52.7)

तथा प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे धनुरुद्यम्य दंशितः । अभिपत्य महाबाहुर्भीष्मो भीमपराक्रमः ॥

tathā pravṛtte saṃgrāme dhanurudyamya daṃśitaḥ | abhipatya mahābāhurbhīṣmo bhīmaparākramaḥ

As the battle went on in this way, mighty-armed Bhishma of terrible prowess, clad in armour, raised his bow and rushed forward.

Verse 8 (6.52.8)

सौभद्रे भीमसेने च सात्यकौ च महारथे । कैकेये च विराटे च धृष्टद्युम्ने च पार्षते ॥

saubhadre bhīmasene ca sātyakau ca mahārathe | kaikeye ca virāṭe ca dhṛṣṭadyumne ca pārṣate

On the son of Subhadra, on Bhimasena, on the great chariot-warrior Satyaki, on the Kaikeya, on Virata and on Dhrishtadyumna son of Prishata,

Verse 9 (6.52.9)

एतेषु नरवीरेषु चेदिमत्स्येषु चाभिभूः । ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि वृद्धः कुरुपितामहः ॥

eteṣu naravīreṣu cedimatsyeṣu cābhibhūḥ | vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi vṛddhaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ

on these heroes among men and on the Chedis and the Matsyas, the aged grandsire of the Kurus, overpowering all, rained showers of arrows.

Verse 10 (6.52.10)

अभिद्यत ततो व्यूहस्तस्मिन्वीरसमागमे । सर्वेषामेव सैन्यानामासीद्व्यतिकरो महान् ॥

abhidyata tato vyūhastasminvīrasamāgame | sarveṣāmeva sainyānāmāsīdvyatikaro mahān

Then the array broke in that clash of heroes, and a great confusion spread through all the forces.

Verse 11 (6.52.11)

सादिनो ध्वजिनश्चैव हतप्रवरवाजिनः । विप्रद्रुतरथानीकाः समपद्यन्त पाण्डवाः ॥

sādino dhvajinaścaiva hatapravaravājinaḥ | vipradrutarathānīkāḥ samapadyanta pāṇḍavāḥ

The Pandavas — horsemen and standard-bearers alike — with their finest horses slain and their chariot ranks put to flight, were thrown into disarray.

Verse 12 (6.52.12)

अर्जुनस्तु नरव्याघ्रो दृष्ट्वा भीष्मं महारथम् । वार्ष्णेयमब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो याहि यत्र पितामहः ॥

arjunastu naravyāghro dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmaṃ mahāratham | vārṣṇeyamabravītkruddho yāhi yatra pitāmahaḥ

But Arjuna, tiger among men, seeing the great chariot-warrior Bhishma, said angrily to Krishna of the Vrishnis, "Drive to where the grandsire is!

Verse 13 (6.52.13)

एष भीष्मः सुसंक्रुद्धो वार्ष्णेय मम वाहिनीम् । नाशयिष्यति सुव्यक्तं दुर्योधनहिते रतः ॥

eṣa bhīṣmaḥ susaṃkruddho vārṣṇeya mama vāhinīm | nāśayiṣyati suvyaktaṃ duryodhanahite rataḥ

"There is Bhishma, Varshneya, in a towering rage; devoted to Duryodhana's good, he will plainly destroy my army.

Note on the text: Arjuna's words to Krishna, begun in the previous verse, fill verses 13–15 and are given to him (no speaker heading on the page).

Verse 14 (6.52.14)

एष द्रोणः कृपः शल्यो विकर्णश्च जनार्दन । धार्तराष्ट्राश्च सहिता दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः ॥

eṣa droṇaḥ kṛpaḥ śalyo vikarṇaśca janārdana | dhārtarāṣṭrāśca sahitā duryodhanapurogamāḥ

"There are Drona, Kripa, Shalya and Vikarna, Janardana, and the sons of Dhritarashtra together, led by Duryodhana —

Verse 15 (6.52.15)

पाञ्चालान्निहनिष्यन्ति रक्षिता दृढधन्वना । सोऽहं भीष्मं वधिष्यामि सैन्यहेतोर्जनार्दन ॥

pāñcālānnihaniṣyanti rakṣitā dṛḍhadhanvanā | so'haṃ bhīṣmaṃ vadhiṣyāmi sainyahetorjanārdana

"guarded by that warrior of the firm bow, they will slaughter the Panchalas. So I shall kill Bhishma, Janardana, for the sake of my army."

Verse 16 (6.52.16)

तमब्रवीद्वासुदेवो यत्तो भव धनंजय । एष त्वां प्रापयिष्यामि पितामहरथं प्रति ॥

tamabravīdvāsudevo yatto bhava dhanaṃjaya | eṣa tvāṃ prāpayiṣyāmi pitāmaharathaṃ prati

Vasudeva said to him, "Be on your guard, Dhananjaya. I shall bring you now to the grandsire's chariot."

Verse 17 (6.52.17)

एवमुक्त्वा ततः शौरी रथं तं लोकविश्रुतम् । प्रापयामास भीष्मस्य रथं प्रति जनेश्वर ॥

evamuktvā tataḥ śaurī rathaṃ taṃ lokaviśrutam | prāpayāmāsa bhīṣmasya rathaṃ prati janeśvara

Having said this, Shauri drove that world-famous chariot up to Bhishma's chariot, O lord of men.

Verse 18 (6.52.18)

चलद्बहुपताकेन बलाकावर्णवाजिना । समुच्छ्रितमहाभीमनदद्वानरकेतुना ॥

caladbahupatākena balākāvarṇavājinā | samucchritamahābhīmanadadvānaraketunā

With its many fluttering pennants, its horses white as cranes, and its towering, terrible, roaring ape-banner,

Note on the text: Corrected चलद्बहुपातकेन → चलद्बहुपताकेन (misprint in Wikisource; transposed vowels turn "banners" into "sins"; the critical edition's cañcadbahupatākena has the same पताका). This verse is the critical edition's 6.48.18ab–cd; the automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 19 (6.52.19)

महता मेघनादेन रथेनामिततेजसा । विनिघ्नन्कौरवानीकं शूरसेनांश्च पाण्डवः ॥

mahatā meghanādena rathenāmitatejasā | vinighnankauravānīkaṃ śūrasenāṃśca pāṇḍavaḥ

with that great chariot of boundless splendour, rumbling like a thundercloud, the son of Pandu, cutting down the Kaurava ranks and the Shurasenas,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.48.18ef (रथेनामिततेजसा for rathenādityavarcasā); line 2 is 6.48.19ab. The critical edition's star passage 6.48.18d*0159 is not on the page. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 20 (6.52.20)

प्रायाच्छरणदः शीघ्रं सुहृदां हर्षवर्धनः । तमापतन्तं वेगेन प्रभिन्नमिव वारणम् ॥

prāyāccharaṇadaḥ śīghraṃ suhṛdāṃ harṣavardhanaḥ | tamāpatantaṃ vegena prabhinnamiva vāraṇam

swiftly advanced, he who gives refuge and gladdens his friends. As he came on at speed like an elephant in rut,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.48.19cd with a different reading (प्रायाच्छरणदः शीघ्रं सुहृदां हर्षवर्धनः for āyāc charān nudañ śīghraṃ suhṛcchoṣavināśanaḥ), kept as a recension variant; line 2 is 6.48.20ab. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 21 (6.52.21)

त्रासयन्तं रणे शूरान्मर्दयन्तं च सायकैः । सैन्धवप्रमुखैर्गुप्तः प्राच्यसौवीरकेकयैः । सहसा प्रत्युदीयाय भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽर्जुनम् ॥

trāsayantaṃ raṇe śūrānmardayantaṃ ca sāyakaiḥ | saindhavapramukhairguptaḥ prācyasauvīrakekayaiḥ | sahasā pratyudīyāya bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo'rjunam

terrifying the heroes in battle and crushing them with his arrows, Bhishma son of Shantanu, guarded by the men led by the Saindhava and by the eastern peoples, the Sauviras and the Kekayas, suddenly rose up to meet Arjuna.

Note on the text: Corrected त्रसयनतं → त्रासयन्तं (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped vowel sign and a broken conjunct; the critical edition reads trāsayānaṃ, "terrifying"). Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.48.20cd (मर्दयन्तं for pātayantaṃ); lines 2–3 are 6.48.21. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 22 (6.52.22)

को हि गाण्डीवधन्वानमन्यः कुरुपितामहात् । द्रोणवैकर्तनाभ्यां वा रथी संयातुमर्हति ॥

ko hi gāṇḍīvadhanvānamanyaḥ kurupitāmahāt | droṇavaikartanābhyāṃ vā rathī saṃyātumarhati

For what chariot-fighter other than the grandsire of the Kurus, or Drona and Vaikartana, could take on the wielder of the Gandiva?

Verse 23 (6.52.23)

ततो भीष्मो महाराज सर्वलोकमहारथः । अर्जुनं सप्तसप्तत्या नाराचानां समाचिनोत् ॥

tato bhīṣmo mahārāja sarvalokamahārathaḥ | arjunaṃ saptasaptatyā nārācānāṃ samācinot

Then, great king, Bhishma, the greatest chariot-warrior in all the world, heaped seventy-seven iron arrows upon Arjuna.

Note on the text: Corrected सप्ततसप्तत्या → सप्तसप्तत्या (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त, critical edition saptasaptatyā). सर्वलोकमहारथः and समाचिनोत् for the critical edition's kauravāṇāṃ pitāmahaḥ and samāvṛṇot kept as variants.

Verse 24 (6.52.24)

द्रोणश्च पञ्चविंशत्या कृपः पञ्चाशता शरैः । दुर्योधनश्चतुःषष्ट्या शल्यश्च नवभिः शरैः ॥

droṇaśca pañcaviṃśatyā kṛpaḥ pañcāśatā śaraiḥ | duryodhanaścatuḥṣaṣṭyā śalyaśca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ

Drona struck him with twenty-five, Kripa with fifty arrows, Duryodhana with sixty-four and Shalya with nine;

Note on the text: Corrected दुर्योधनश्रतुःषष्ट्या → दुर्योधनश्चतुःषष्ट्या (misprint in Wikisource; श्र for श्च, critical edition duryodhanaś catuḥṣaṣṭyā).

Verse 25 (6.52.25)

सैन्धवो नवभिश्चैव शकुनिश्चापि पञ्चभिः । विकर्णो दशभिर्भल्लै राजन्विव्याध पाण्डवम् ॥

saindhavo navabhiścaiva śakuniścāpi pañcabhiḥ | vikarṇo daśabhirbhallai rājanvivyādha pāṇḍavam

the Saindhava with nine, Shakuni with five, and Vikarna with ten broad-headed arrows pierced the son of Pandu, O king.

Verse 26 (6.52.26)

स तैर्विद्धो महेष्वासः समन्तान्निशितैः शरैः । न विव्यथे महाबाहुर्भिद्यमान इवाचलः ॥

sa tairviddho maheṣvāsaḥ samantānniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | na vivyathe mahābāhurbhidyamāna ivācalaḥ

Pierced all over by those sharp arrows, the mighty-armed great archer did not flinch, any more than a mountain does under blows.

Verse 27 (6.52.27)

स भीष्मं पञ्चविंशत्या कृपं च नवभिः शरैः । द्रोणं षष्ट्या नरव्याघ्रो विकर्णं च त्रिभिः शरैः ॥

sa bhīṣmaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṛpaṃ ca navabhiḥ śaraiḥ | droṇaṃ ṣaṣṭyā naravyāghro vikarṇaṃ ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ

That tiger among men pierced Bhishma in return with twenty-five arrows, Kripa with nine, Drona with sixty and Vikarna with three,

Verse 28 (6.52.28)

शल्यं चैव त्रिभिर्बाणै राजानं चैव पञ्चभिः । प्रत्यविध्यदमेयात्मा किरीटी भरतर्षभ ॥

śalyaṃ caiva tribhirbāṇai rājānaṃ caiva pañcabhiḥ | pratyavidhyadameyātmā kirīṭī bharatarṣabha

Shalya too with three arrows and the king with five — so did Kiritin of immeasurable spirit strike back, O bull of the Bharatas.

Verse 29 (6.52.29)

तं सात्यकिर्विराटश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः । सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च परिवव्रुर्धनंजयम् ॥

taṃ sātyakirvirāṭaśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ | saubhadro draupadeyāśca parivavrurdhanaṃjayam

Satyaki, Virata, Dhrishtadyumna son of Prishata, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi closed round Dhananjaya.

Verse 30 (6.52.30)

ततो द्रोणं महेष्वासं गाङ्गेयस्य प्रिये रतम् । अभ्यवर्तत पाञ्चाल्यः संयुक्तः सह सोमकैः ॥

tato droṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ gāṅgeyasya priye ratam | abhyavartata pāñcālyaḥ saṃyuktaḥ saha somakaiḥ

Then the Panchala prince, joined by the Somakas, went against the great archer Drona, who was bent on serving the son of Ganga.

Verse 31 (6.52.31)

भीष्मस्तु रथिनां श्रेष्ठो राजन्विव्याध पाण्डवम् । अशीत्या निशितैर्बाणैस्ततोऽक्रोशन्त पाण्डवाः ॥

bhīṣmastu rathināṃ śreṣṭho rājanvivyādha pāṇḍavam | aśītyā niśitairbāṇaistato'krośanta pāṇḍavāḥ

But Bhishma, best of chariot-fighters, pierced the son of Pandu with eighty sharp arrows, O king, and at that the Pandavas cried out.

Verse 32 (6.52.32)

तेषां तु निनदं श्रुत्वा सहितानां प्रहृष्टवत् । प्रविवेश ततो मध्यं नरसिंहः प्रतापवान् ॥

teṣāṃ tu ninadaṃ śrutvā sahitānāṃ prahṛṣṭavat | praviveśa tato madhyaṃ narasiṃhaḥ pratāpavān

Hearing the clamour of them all together, the valiant lion among men, as though rejoicing, plunged into the midst of the enemy.

Verse 33 (6.52.33)

तेषां महारथानां स मध्यं प्राप्य धनंजयः । चिक्रीड धनुषा राजँल्लक्षं कृत्वा महारथान् ॥

teṣāṃ mahārathānāṃ sa madhyaṃ prāpya dhanaṃjayaḥ | cikrīḍa dhanuṣā rājam̐llakṣaṃ kṛtvā mahārathān

Reaching the midst of those great chariot-warriors, Dhananjaya sported with his bow, O king, making the great chariot-warriors his targets.

Verse 34 (6.52.34)

क्षत्रियाणां शिरांस्युग्रैः कृन्तञ्शस्त्रैर्महारथः । शून्यान्कृत्वा रथोपस्थान्व्यचरत्फल्गुनस्तदा ॥

kṣatriyāṇāṃ śirāṃsyugraiḥ kṛntañśastrairmahārathaḥ | śūnyānkṛtvā rathopasthānvyacaratphalgunastadā

Cutting off the heads of kshatriyas with his fierce weapons, the great chariot-warrior Phalguna ranged about, emptying the chariot-seats.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (`…') around the verse and its doubled danda. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as star passage 6.48.33d*0162.

Verse 35 (6.52.35)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा भीष्ममाह जनेश्वरः । पीड्यमानं स्वकं सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा पार्थेन संयुगे ॥

tato duryodhano rājā bhīṣmamāha janeśvaraḥ | pīḍyamānaṃ svakaṃ sainyaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthena saṃyuge

Then King Duryodhana, lord of men, seeing his own army harried by Partha in the battle, spoke to Bhishma:

Verse 36 (6.52.36)

एष पाण्डुसुतस्तात कृष्णेन सहितो बली । यततां सर्वसैन्यानां मूलं नः परिकृन्तति । त्वयि जीवति गाङ्गेय द्रोणे च रथिनां वरे ॥

eṣa pāṇḍusutastāta kṛṣṇena sahito balī | yatatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ mūlaṃ naḥ parikṛntati | tvayi jīvati gāṅgeya droṇe ca rathināṃ vare

"Sir, this mighty son of Pandu, with Krishna at his side, is cutting away our very roots while all our forces strive against him — and this while you live, son of Ganga, and Drona too, best of chariot-fighters.

Note on the text: Duryodhana's words to Bhishma fill verses 36–37 and are given to him (no speaker heading on the page).

Verse 37 (6.52.37)

त्वत्कृते चैव कर्णोऽपि न्यस्तशस्त्रो विशांपते । न युध्यति रणे पार्थान्हितकामः सदा मम । स तथा कुरु गाङ्गेय यथा हन्येत फल्गुनः ॥

tvatkṛte caiva karṇo'pi nyastaśastro viśāṃpate | na yudhyati raṇe pārthānhitakāmaḥ sadā mama | sa tathā kuru gāṅgeya yathā hanyeta phalgunaḥ

"It is because of you, lord of the people, that Karna too, who always wishes me well, has laid down his weapons and does not fight the Parthas in battle. So act, son of Ganga, in such a way that Phalguna is slain."

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.48.36 (चैव … विशांपते and पार्थान् for hy eṣa … mahārathaḥ and pārthaṃ, kept as variants); line 3 is 6.48.37ab. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 38 (6.52.38)

एवमुक्तस्ततो राजन्पिता देवव्रतस्तव । धिक् क्षात्रं धर्ममित्युक्त्वा प्रायात्पार्थं रथं प्रति ॥

evamuktastato rājanpitā devavratastava | dhik kṣātraṃ dharmamityuktvā prāyātpārthaṃ rathaṃ prati

Addressed in this way, O king, Devavrata, a father to you, cried, "Shame on the dharma of the kshatriya!" and drove towards Partha's chariot.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 6.48.37cd–ef (धिक् क्षात्रं धर्ममित्युक्त्वा प्रायात्पार्थं रथं प्रति for dhik kṣatradharmam ity uktvā yayau pārtharathaṃ prati, kept as a variant). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 39 (6.52.39)

उभौ श्वेतहयौ राजन्संसक्तौ प्रेक्ष्य पार्थिवाः । सिंहनादान्भृशं चक्रुः शङ्खान्दध्मुश्च मारिष ॥

ubhau śvetahayau rājansaṃsaktau prekṣya pārthivāḥ | siṃhanādānbhṛśaṃ cakruḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuśca māriṣa

Seeing the two warriors of the white horses locked in combat, O king, the kings raised loud lion-roars and blew their conches, sir.

Note on the text: Corrected मारिषत → मारिष (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त after the vocative). प्रेक्ष्य and शङ्खान्दध्मुश्च मारिष for the critical edition's dṛśya and śaṅkhaśabdāṃś ca bhārata kept as variants.

Verse 40 (6.52.40)

द्रौणिर्दुर्योधनश्चैव विकर्णश्च तवात्मजः । परिवार्य रणे भीष्मं स्थिता युद्धाय मारिष ॥

drauṇirduryodhanaścaiva vikarṇaśca tavātmajaḥ | parivārya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ sthitā yuddhāya māriṣa

Drona's son, Duryodhana and your son Vikarna surrounded Bhishma in the battle and stood ready to fight, sir.

Verse 41 (6.52.41)

तथैव पाण्डवाः सर्वे परिवार्य धनञ्जयम् । स्थिता युद्धाय महते ततो युद्धमवर्तत ॥

tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ sarve parivārya dhanañjayam | sthitā yuddhāya mahate tato yuddhamavartata

In the same way all the Pandavas surrounded Dhananjaya and stood ready for the great fight. Then the battle began.

Verse 42 (6.52.42)

गाङ्गेयस्तु रणे पार्थमानर्च्छन्नवभिः शरैः । तमर्जुनः प्रत्यविध्यद्दशभिर्मर्मभेदिभिः ॥

gāṅgeyastu raṇe pārthamānarcchannavabhiḥ śaraiḥ | tamarjunaḥ pratyavidhyaddaśabhirmarmabhedibhiḥ

The son of Ganga struck Partha in the battle with nine arrows; Arjuna pierced him in return with ten that cut to the vitals.

Verse 43 (6.52.43)

ततः शरसहस्रेण सुप्रयुक्तेन पाण्डवः । अर्जुनः समरश्लाघी भीष्मस्यावारयद्दिशः ॥

tataḥ śarasahasreṇa suprayuktena pāṇḍavaḥ | arjunaḥ samaraślāghī bhīṣmasyāvārayaddiśaḥ

Then the son of Pandu, Arjuna, who glories in battle, with a thousand well-aimed arrows shut Bhishma in on every side.

Verse 44 (6.52.44)

शरजालं ततस्तत्तु शरजालेन मारिष । वारयामास पार्थस्य भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा ॥

śarajālaṃ tatastattu śarajālena māriṣa | vārayāmāsa pārthasya bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavastadā

Then Bhishma son of Shantanu warded off Partha's net of arrows with a net of arrows of his own, sir.

Verse 45 (6.52.45)

उभौ परमसंहृष्टावुभौ युद्धाभिनन्दिनौ । निर्विशेषमयुध्येतां कृतप्रतिकृतैषिणौ ॥

ubhau paramasaṃhṛṣṭāvubhau yuddhābhinandinau | nirviśeṣamayudhyetāṃ kṛtapratikṛtaiṣiṇau

Both exultant in the extreme, both delighting in battle, they fought with neither gaining the edge, each eager to answer stroke with stroke.

Verse 46 (6.52.46)

भीष्मचापविमुक्तानि शरजालानि सङ्घशः । शीर्यमाणान्यदृश्यन्त भिन्नान्यर्जुनसायकैः ॥

bhīṣmacāpavimuktāni śarajālāni saṅghaśaḥ | śīryamāṇānyadṛśyanta bhinnānyarjunasāyakaiḥ

The nets of arrows loosed in swarms from Bhishma's bow were seen to scatter, split by Arjuna's shafts.

Note on the text: Corrected शङ्घशः → सङ्घशः (misprint in Wikisource; श for स, critical edition saṃghaśaḥ) and removed a stray क after सायकैः.

Verse 47 (6.52.47)

तथैवार्जुनमुक्तानि शरजालानि सर्वशः । गाङ्गेयशरनुन्नानि प्रापतन्त महीतले ॥

tathaivārjunamuktāni śarajālāni sarvaśaḥ | gāṅgeyaśaranunnāni prāpatanta mahītale

In the same way the nets of arrows loosed by Arjuna, driven back by the arrows of Ganga's son, fell everywhere to the ground.

Verse 48 (6.52.48)

अर्जुनः पञ्चविंशत्या भीष्ममार्च्छच्छितैः शरैः । भीष्मोऽपि समरे पार्थं विव्याध निशितैः शरैः ॥

arjunaḥ pañcaviṃśatyā bhīṣmamārcchacchitaiḥ śaraiḥ | bhīṣmo'pi samare pārthaṃ vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Arjuna struck Bhishma with twenty-five sharp arrows, and Bhishma too pierced Partha in the battle with sharp arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected भीष्मोपि → भीष्मोऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha, critical edition bhīṣmo 'pi). निशितैः शरैः for the critical edition's triṃśatā śaraiḥ kept as a variant. The page closes line 2 with a single danda, but the row is numbered as one verse (48a–b) and 49 follows as its own row, so the verse division is unchanged.

Verse 49 (6.52.49)

अन्योन्यस्य हयान्विद्ध्वा ध्वजौ च सुमहाबलौ । रथेषां रथचक्रे च चिक्रीडतुररिन्दमौ ॥

anyonyasya hayānviddhvā dhvajau ca sumahābalau | ratheṣāṃ rathacakre ca cikrīḍaturarindamau

Piercing each other's horses and banners, chariot-poles and wheels, those two mighty tamers of foes sported in the fight.

Verse 50 (6.52.50)

ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः । वासुदेवं त्रिभिर्बाणैराजघान स्तनान्तरे ॥

tataḥ kruddho mahārāja bhīṣmaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ | vāsudevaṃ tribhirbāṇairājaghāna stanāntare

Then, great king, Bhishma, best of fighters, in his anger struck Vasudeva in the chest with three arrows.

Verse 51 (6.52.51)

भीष्मचापच्युतैस्तैस्तु निर्विद्धो मधुसूदनः । विरराज रणे राजन्सपुष्प इव किंशुकः ॥

bhīṣmacāpacyutaistaistu nirviddho madhusūdanaḥ | virarāja raṇe rājansapuṣpa iva kiṃśukaḥ

Pierced by those arrows from Bhishma's bow, Madhusudana shone in the battle, O king, like a kimshuka tree in flower.

Verse 52 (6.52.52)

ततोऽर्जुनो भृशं क्रुद्धो निर्विद्धं प्रेक्ष्य माधवम् । सारथिं कुरुवृद्धस्य निर्बिभेद शितैः शरैः ॥

tato'rjuno bhṛśaṃ kruddho nirviddhaṃ prekṣya mādhavam | sārathiṃ kuruvṛddhasya nirbibheda śitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Then Arjuna, furious at seeing Madhava wounded, pierced the charioteer of the Kuru elder with sharp arrows.

Verse 53 (6.52.53)

यतमानौ तु तौ वीरावन्योन्यस्य वधं प्रति । नाशक्नुतां तदाऽन्योन्यमभिसन्धातुमाहवे ॥

yatamānau tu tau vīrāvanyonyasya vadhaṃ prati | nāśaknutāṃ tadā'nyonyamabhisandhātumāhave

Though those two heroes strove to kill each other, neither could then get the better of the other in the fight.

Note on the text: Corrected न शक्नुतां → नाशक्नुतां (misprint in Wikisource; the past tense needs its augment, न + अशक्नुताम्, as in the critical edition's nāśaknutām; without it the form reads as an imperative).

Verse 54 (6.52.54)

तौ मण्डलानि चित्राणि गतप्रत्यागतानि च । अदर्शयेतां बहुधा सूतसामर्थ्यलाघवात् ॥

tau maṇḍalāni citrāṇi gatapratyāgatāni ca | adarśayetāṃ bahudhā sūtasāmarthyalāghavāt

Again and again they displayed wonderful circling movements, advances and retreats, through the skill and speed of their charioteers.

Note on the text: Corrected गतत्प्रत्यागतानि → गतप्रत्यागतानि (misprint in Wikisource; a stray त्, critical edition gatapratyāgatāni). तौ मण्डलानि चित्राणि for the critical edition's maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi kept as a variant.

Verse 55 (6.52.55)

अन्तरं च प्रहारेषु तर्कयन्तौ परस्परम् । राजन्नन्तरमार्गस्थौ स्थितावास्तां मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

antaraṃ ca prahāreṣu tarkayantau parasparam | rājannantaramārgasthau sthitāvāstāṃ muhurmuhuḥ

Watching for an opening to strike at each other, O king, the two held their ground time after time, intent on finding a gap.

Verse 56 (6.52.56)

उभौ सिंहरवोन्मिश्रं शङ्खशब्दं च चक्रतुः । तथैव चापनिर्घोषं चक्रतुस्तौ महारथौ ॥

ubhau siṃharavonmiśraṃ śaṅkhaśabdaṃ ca cakratuḥ | tathaiva cāpanirghoṣaṃ cakratustau mahārathau

Both sounded their conches, mingled with lion-roars, and those two great chariot-warriors likewise made their bows thunder.

Verse 57 (6.52.57)

तयोः शङ्खनिनादेन रथनेमिस्वनेन च । दारिता सहसा भूमिश्चकम्पे च ननाद च ॥

tayoḥ śaṅkhaninādena rathanemisvanena ca | dāritā sahasā bhūmiścakampe ca nanāda ca

At the blare of their conches and the rumble of their chariot-wheels the earth was suddenly rent; it shook and roared.

Verse 58 (6.52.58)

नोभयोरन्तरं कश्चिद्ददृशे भरतर्षभ । बलिनौ युद्धदुर्धर्षावन्योन्यसदृशावुभौ ॥

nobhayorantaraṃ kaściddadṛśe bharatarṣabha | balinau yuddhadurdharṣāvanyonyasadṛśāvubhau

No one could see any difference between the two of them, O bull of the Bharatas: both were mighty, hard to overcome in battle, each the other's match.

Verse 59 (6.52.59)

चिह्नमात्रेण भीष्मं तु प्रजज्ञुस्तत्र कौरवाः । तथा पाण्डुसुताः पार्थं चिह्नमात्रेण जज्ञिरे ॥

cihnamātreṇa bhīṣmaṃ tu prajajñustatra kauravāḥ | tathā pāṇḍusutāḥ pārthaṃ cihnamātreṇa jajñire

The Kauravas there could make out Bhishma only by his banner, and the sons of Pandu likewise knew Partha only by his banner.

Note on the text: Removed a stray क after जज्ञिरे (misprint in Wikisource; critical edition jajñire).

Verse 60 (6.52.60)

तयोर्नृवरयोर्दृष्ट्वा तादृशं तं पराक्रमम् । विस्मयं सर्वभूतानि जग्मुर्भारतसंयुगे ॥

tayornṛvarayordṛṣṭvā tādṛśaṃ taṃ parākramam | vismayaṃ sarvabhūtāni jagmurbhāratasaṃyuge

Seeing such prowess in those two best of men, all beings were struck with wonder in that battle of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Corrected विस्कमयं → विस्मयं (misprint in Wikisource; a stray क breaks the conjunct, critical edition vismayaṃ). दृष्ट्वा तादृशं तं and भारतसंयुगे for the critical edition's rājan dṛśya tādṛk and bhārata saṃyuge kept as variants.

Verse 61 (6.52.61)

न तयोर्विवरं कश्चिद्रणे पश्यति भारत । धर्मे स्थितस्य हि यथा न कश्चिद्वृजिनं क्वचित् ॥

na tayorvivaraṃ kaścidraṇe paśyati bhārata | dharme sthitasya hi yathā na kaścidvṛjinaṃ kvacit

No one in the battle could see a weak spot in either of them, O Bharata, just as no one ever finds a fault in a man who stands firm in dharma.

Verse 62 (6.52.62)

उभौ च शरजालेन तावदृश्यौ बभूवतुः । प्रकाशौ च पुनस्तूर्णं बभूवतुरुभौ रणे ॥

ubhau ca śarajālena tāvadṛśyau babhūvatuḥ | prakāśau ca punastūrṇaṃ babhūvaturubhau raṇe

Both of them vanished under nets of arrows, and both quickly came into view again on the field.

Note on the text: Corrected तावदृश्यो → तावदृश्यौ (misprint in Wikisource; the dual ending is needed with तौ … बभूवतुः, critical edition tāv adṛśyau).

Verse 63 (6.52.63)

तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाश्चारणाश्चर्षिभिः सह । अन्योन्यं प्रत्यभाषन्त तयोर्दृष्ट्वा पराक्रमम् ॥

tatra devāḥ sagandharvāścāraṇāścarṣibhiḥ saha | anyonyaṃ pratyabhāṣanta tayordṛṣṭvā parākramam

Seeing their prowess, the gods there with the Gandharvas, and the Charanas with the seers, said to one another:

Verse 64 (6.52.64)

न शक्यौ युधि संरब्धौ जेतुमेतौ कथंचन । सदेवासुरगन्धर्वैर्लोकैरपि महारथौ ॥

na śakyau yudhi saṃrabdhau jetumetau kathaṃcana | sadevāsuragandharvairlokairapi mahārathau

"These two great chariot-warriors, roused to fury in battle, can never be conquered — not even by the worlds with their gods, asuras and gandharvas.

Note on the text: The onlookers' words (the gods with the Gandharvas, Charanas and seers, introduced in the previous verse) fill verses 64–67 and are given to them; their speech ends with the first line of verse 68.

Verse 65 (6.52.65)

आश्चर्यभूतं लोकेषु युद्धमेतन्महाद्भुतम् । नैतादृशानि युद्धानि भविष्यन्ति कथंचन ॥

āścaryabhūtaṃ lokeṣu yuddhametanmahādbhutam | naitādṛśāni yuddhāni bhaviṣyanti kathaṃcana

"This most wondrous battle is a marvel in all the worlds; battles like it will never come to pass again.

Verse 66 (6.52.66)

न हि शक्यो रणे जेतुं भीष्मः पार्थेन धीमता । सधनुः सरथः साश्वः प्रवपन्सायकान्रणे ॥

na hi śakyo raṇe jetuṃ bhīṣmaḥ pārthena dhīmatā | sadhanuḥ sarathaḥ sāśvaḥ pravapansāyakānraṇe

"Bhishma, with his bow, his chariot and his horses, sowing arrows in the fight, cannot be conquered in battle by wise Partha.

Verse 67 (6.52.67)

तथैव पाण्डवं युद्धे देवैरपि दुरासदम् । न विजेतुं रणे भीष्म उत्सहेत धनुर्धरम् ॥

tathaiva pāṇḍavaṃ yuddhe devairapi durāsadam | na vijetuṃ raṇe bhīṣma utsaheta dhanurdharam

"Nor, in the same way, could Bhishma hope to conquer in battle the son of Pandu, that bowman whom even the gods find hard to face.

Verse 68 (6.52.68)

आलोकादपि युद्धं हि सममेतद्भविष्यति । इति स्म वाचोऽश्रूयन्त प्रोच्चरन्त्यस्ततस्ततः । गाङ्गेयार्जुनयोः सङ्ख्ये स्तवयुक्ता विशांपते ॥

ālokādapi yuddhaṃ hi samametadbhaviṣyati | iti sma vāco'śrūyanta proccarantyastatastataḥ | gāṅgeyārjunayoḥ saṅkhye stavayuktā viśāṃpate

"For as long as the world endures, this battle will remain an even one." Such words were heard rising here and there, O lord of the people, in praise of the son of Ganga and Arjuna in the battle.

Note on the text: Removed a stray क in प्रोच्चरन्त्यकस्ततस्ततः → प्रोच्चरन्त्यस्ततस्ततः (misprint in Wikisource; critical edition proccarantyas tatas tataḥ). Line 1 (the last words of the onlookers' praise) is the critical edition's star passage 6.48.66d*0163 (हि for tu), not in the constituted text; lines 2–3 are 6.48.67 (अश्रूयन्त for śrūyante). The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 69 (6.52.69)

त्वदीयास्तु तदा योधाः पाण्डवेयाश्च भारत । अन्योन्यं समरे जघ्नुस्तयोस्तत्र समागमे ॥

tvadīyāstu tadā yodhāḥ pāṇḍaveyāśca bhārata | anyonyaṃ samare jaghnustayostatra samāgame

Meanwhile your warriors and those of the Pandavas, O Bharata, were striking one another down in that encounter of the two.

Verse 70 (6.52.70)

शितधारैस्तथा खड्गैर्विमलैश्च परश्वधैः । शरैरन्यैश्च बहुभिः शस्त्रैर्नानाविधैरपि ॥

śitadhāraistathā khaḍgairvimalaiśca paraśvadhaiḥ | śarairanyaiśca bahubhiḥ śastrairnānāvidhairapi

With sharp-edged swords and gleaming battle-axes, with many other arrows and weapons of every kind,

Note on the text: Corrected स्वङ्गैर् → खड्गैर् and सस्त्रैर् → शस्त्रैर् (misprints in Wikisource; "swords" and "weapons", critical edition khaḍgair … śastrair). This verse is the critical edition's 6.48.69ab–cd (नानाविधैरपि for nānāvidhair yudhi); the automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 71 (6.52.71)

उभयोः सेनयोः शूरा न्यकृन्तन्त परस्परम् । वर्तमाने तथा घोरे तस्मिन्युद्धे सुदारुणे । द्रोणपाञ्चाल्ययो राजन्महानासीत्समागमः ॥

ubhayoḥ senayoḥ śūrā nyakṛntanta parasparam | vartamāne tathā ghore tasminyuddhe sudāruṇe | droṇapāñcālyayo rājanmahānāsītsamāgamaḥ

the heroes of both armies hewed one another down. And while that terrible, most dreadful battle raged, O king, a great clash took place between Drona and the Panchala prince.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.48.69ef (शूरा for vīrā); lines 2–3 are 6.48.70. The automatic alignment found no match.