The Melee of the Third Day

Verse 1 (6.57.1)

ततो व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु तावकेषु परेषु च । धनञ्जयो रथानीकमवधीत्तव भारत ॥

tato vyūḍheṣvanīkeṣu tāvakeṣu pareṣu ca | dhanañjayo rathānīkamavadhīttava bhārata

Then, when the armies had been drawn up, yours and the enemy's, Dhananjaya slaughtered your chariot division, Bharata,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.53.1a–d. परेषु for the critical edition's itareṣu kept as a variant.

Verse 2 (6.57.2)

शरैरतिरथो युद्धे दारयन्रथयूथपान् । ते वध्यमानाः पार्थेन कालेनेव युगक्षये ॥

śarairatiratho yuddhe dārayanrathayūthapān | te vadhyamānāḥ pārthena kāleneva yugakṣaye

that warrior beyond all chariot-warriors tearing apart the leaders of chariot-troops with his arrows in battle. Being slain by Partha as by Time at the end of an age,

Note on the text: Corrected अथिरथो → अतिरथो (misprint in Wikisource; थ for त; the critical edition reads atirathaḥ). The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.53.1ef and line 2 its 6.53.2ab (Wikisource has two-line verses where the critical edition has three-line ones). दारयन् for the critical edition's pātayan kept as a variant.

Verse 3 (6.57.3)

धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे यत्नात्पाण्डवान्प्रत्ययोधयन् । प्रार्थयाना यशो दीप्तं मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम् ॥

dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe yatnātpāṇḍavānpratyayodhayan | prārthayānā yaśo dīptaṃ mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam

the sons of Dhritarashtra strove hard in battle to fight back against the Pandavas, seeking blazing glory and making death their only way of turning back.

Note on the text: Corrected दीप्तां → दीप्तं (misprint in Wikisource; यशस् is neuter; the critical edition reads dīptaṃ). The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.53.2c–f. यत्नात् for the critical edition's yattāḥ kept as a variant.

Verse 4 (6.57.4)

एकाग्रमनसो भूत्वा पाण्डवानां वरूथिनीम् । बभञ्जुर्बहुशो राजंस्ते चासञ्जन्त संयुगे ॥

ekāgramanaso bhūtvā pāṇḍavānāṃ varūthinīm | babhañjurbahuśo rājaṃste cāsañjanta saṃyuge

With minds fixed on a single aim, they broke the Pandava host again and again, O king, and they clung fast to the fight.

Verse 5 (6.57.5)

द्रवद्भिरथभग्नैश्च परिवर्तद्भिरेव च । पाण्डवैः कौरवेयैश्च न प्रज्ञायत किंचन ॥

dravadbhirathabhagnaiśca parivartadbhireva ca | pāṇḍavaiḥ kauraveyaiśca na prajñāyata kiṃcana

As Pandavas and Kauravas fled, broke and wheeled about, nothing at all could be made out.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राज्ञायत → प्रज्ञायत (misprint in Wikisource; the augment cannot lengthen the prefix प्र; the critical edition reads prajñāyata).

Verse 6 (6.57.6)

उदतिष्ठद्रजो भौमं छादयानं दिवाकरम् । न दिशः प्रदिशो वापि जज्ञिरेऽत्र समागताः ॥

udatiṣṭhadrajo bhaumaṃ chādayānaṃ divākaram | na diśaḥ pradiśo vāpi jajñire'tra samāgatāḥ

Dust rose from the earth and hid the sun, and those gathered there could make out neither the quarters nor the points between them.

Note on the text: Line 2 differs from the critical edition (diśaḥ pratidiśo vāpi tatra jajñuḥ kathaṃ cana); kept as a recension variant.

Verse 7 (6.57.7)

अनुमानेन संज्ञाभिर्नामगोत्रैश्च संयुगे । अवर्तत तदा युद्धं तत्र तत्र विशांपते ॥

anumānena saṃjñābhirnāmagotraiśca saṃyuge | avartata tadā yuddhaṃ tatra tatra viśāṃpate

The fighting went on here and there, lord of the people, by guesswork, by signals, and by names and clan names.

Verse 8 (6.57.8)

न व्यूहो भिद्यते तत्र कौरवाणां कथञ्चन । रक्षितः सत्यसन्धेन भारद्वाजेन संयुगे ॥

na vyūho bhidyate tatra kauravāṇāṃ kathañcana | rakṣitaḥ satyasandhena bhāradvājena saṃyuge

Nowhere was the Kaurava array broken, guarded as it was in the battle by Bharadvaja's son (Drona), true to his word.

Verse 9 (6.57.9)

तथैव पाण्डवानां च रक्षितः सव्यसाचिना । नाभिद्यत महाव्यूहो भीमेन च सुरक्षितः ॥

tathaiva pāṇḍavānāṃ ca rakṣitaḥ savyasācinā | nābhidyata mahāvyūho bhīmena ca surakṣitaḥ

Likewise the great array of the Pandavas, guarded by Savyasachin and well protected by Bhima, was not broken.

Verse 10 (6.57.10)

सेनाग्रादपि निष्पत्य प्रायुध्यंस्तत्र मानवाः । उभयोः सेनयो राजन्व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपाः ॥

senāgrādapi niṣpatya prāyudhyaṃstatra mānavāḥ | ubhayoḥ senayo rājanvyatiṣaktarathadvipāḥ

Rushing out from the front ranks of the armies, men fought there, O king, the chariots and elephants of both armies entangled.

Verse 11 (6.57.11)

हयारोहैर्हयारोहाः पात्यन्ते स्म महाहवे । ऋष्टिभिर्विमलाभिश्च प्रासैरपि च संयुगे ॥

hayārohairhayārohāḥ pātyante sma mahāhave | ṛṣṭibhirvimalābhiśca prāsairapi ca saṃyuge

In that great battle horsemen were brought down by horsemen with gleaming double-edged swords and with lances.

Verse 12 (6.57.12)

रथी रथिनमासाद्य शरैः कनकभूषणैः । पातयामास समरे तस्मिन्नतिभयंकरे ॥

rathī rathinamāsādya śaraiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ | pātayāmāsa samare tasminnatibhayaṃkare

Chariot-warrior closed with chariot-warrior and felled him with gold-adorned arrows in that most terrifying battle.

Note on the text: Corrected कनकभूषणैःक → कनकभूषणैः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray क after the visarga; the critical edition reads kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ).

Verse 13 (6.57.13)

गजारोहा गजारोहान्नाराचशरतोमरैः । संसक्तान्पातयामासुस्तव तेषां च सर्वशः ॥

gajārohā gajārohānnārācaśaratomaraiḥ | saṃsaktānpātayāmāsustava teṣāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ

Elephant-riders felled the elephant-riders they were locked with, using iron shafts, arrows and javelins, yours and theirs alike, everywhere.

Verse 14 (6.57.14)

कश्चिदुत्पत्य समरे वरवारणमास्थितः । केशपक्षे परामृश्य जहार समरे शिरः ॥

kaścidutpatya samare varavāraṇamāsthitaḥ | keśapakṣe parāmṛśya jahāra samare śiraḥ

One warrior leapt up in the fight onto a fine elephant, seized his enemy by the hair and struck off his head in the battle.

Note on the text: Corrected वस्वारणम् → वरवारणम् (misprint in Wikisource; र misread as स्व; the apparatus reads varavāraṇam). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as the star passage 6.53.12d*0190, lines 1–2.

Verse 15 (6.57.15)

अन्ये द्विरददन्ताग्रनिर्भिन्नहृदया रणे । वेमुश्च रुधिरं वीरा निःश्वसन्तः समन्ततः ॥

anye dviradadantāgranirbhinnahṛdayā raṇe | vemuśca rudhiraṃ vīrā niḥśvasantaḥ samantataḥ

Other heroes, their hearts pierced by the points of elephants' tusks, vomited blood on every side, gasping for breath.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as the star passage 6.53.12d*0190, lines 3–4.

Verse 16 (6.57.16)

कश्चित्करिविषाणस्थो वीरो रणविशारदः । प्रावेपच्छक्तिनिर्भिन्नो गजशिक्षास्त्रवेदिना ॥

kaścitkariviṣāṇastho vīro raṇaviśāradaḥ | prāvepacchaktinirbhinno gajaśikṣāstravedinā

One hero skilled in war, perched on an elephant's tusk, shook as he was run through with a spear by a man versed in elephant-craft and in weapons.

Note on the text: Corrected रणविशारदाः → रणविशारदः (misprint in Wikisource; the adjective agrees with the singular वीरो; the apparatus reads raṇaviśāradaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as the star passage 6.53.12d*0190, lines 5–6.

Verse 17 (6.57.17)

पत्तिसङ्घा रणे पत्तीन्भिन्दिपालपरश्वथैः । न्यपातयन्त संहृष्टाः परस्परकृतागसः ॥

pattisaṅghā raṇe pattīnbhindipālaparaśvathaiḥ | nyapātayanta saṃhṛṣṭāḥ parasparakṛtāgasaḥ

Bands of foot soldiers, exultant, cut down foot soldiers in the battle with bhindipalas and battle-axes, each side having wronged the other.

Note on the text: Corrected पत्तिमङ्घा → पत्तिसङ्घा (म for स), पक्तीन् → पत्तीन् (क for त), भिमन्दिपाल → भिन्दिपाल (a stray म) and न्यतापतयन्त → न्यपातयन्त (transposed aksharas) — misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads pattisaṃghā raṇe pattīn bhiṇḍipāla… nyapātayanta.

Verse 18 (6.57.18)

रथी च समरे राजन्नासाद्य गजयूथपम् । स गजं पातयामास गजी च रथिनां वरम् ॥

rathī ca samare rājannāsādya gajayūthapam | sa gajaṃ pātayāmāsa gajī ca rathināṃ varam

A chariot-warrior, O king, closing with the leader of an elephant troop, brought him down with his elephant; and an elephant-fighter brought down the best of chariot-warriors.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as the star passage 6.53.13d*0191, lines 1–2 (with gajayodhinam and sagajaṃ … rathinaṃ rathāt for गजयूथपम् and स गजं … रथिनां वरम्).

Verse 19 (6.57.19)

रथिनं च हयारोहः प्रासेन भरतर्षभ । पातयामास समरे रथी च हयसादिनम् ॥

rathinaṃ ca hayārohaḥ prāsena bharatarṣabha | pātayāmāsa samare rathī ca hayasādinam

A horseman, bull of the Bharatas, brought down a chariot-warrior in the battle with a lance, and a chariot-warrior a horseman.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in its apparatus, as the star passage 6.53.13d*0191, lines 3–4.

Verse 20 (6.57.20)

पदाती रथिनं सङ्ख्ये रथी चापि पदातिनम् । न्यपातयच्छितैः शस्त्रैः सेनयोरुभयोरपि ॥

padātī rathinaṃ saṅkhye rathī cāpi padātinam | nyapātayacchitaiḥ śastraiḥ senayorubhayorapi

In both armies a foot soldier felled a chariot-warrior in the fight, and a chariot-warrior a foot soldier, with sharp weapons.

Verse 21 (6.57.21)

गजारोहा हयारोहान्पातयांचक्रिरे तदा । हयारोहा गजस्थांश्च तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

gajārohā hayārohānpātayāṃcakrire tadā | hayārohā gajasthāṃśca tadadbhutamivābhavat

Elephant-riders then brought down horsemen, and horsemen brought down those mounted on elephants; it seemed a marvel.

Verse 22 (6.57.22)

गजारोहवरैश्चापि तत्रतत्र पदातयः । पातिताः समदृश्यन्त तैश्चापि गजयोधिनः ॥

gajārohavaraiścāpi tatratatra padātayaḥ | pātitāḥ samadṛśyanta taiścāpi gajayodhinaḥ

Here and there foot soldiers were seen brought down by the finest elephant-riders, and elephant-fighters by the foot soldiers.

Verse 23 (6.57.23)

पत्तिसङ्घा हयारोहैः सादिसङ्घाश्च पत्तिभिः । पात्यमाना व्यदृश्यन्त शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

pattisaṅghā hayārohaiḥ sādisaṅghāśca pattibhiḥ | pātyamānā vyadṛśyanta śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

Bands of foot soldiers were seen being felled by horsemen, and bands of horsemen by foot soldiers, by hundreds and by thousands.

Verse 24 (6.57.24)

ध्वजैस्तत्रापविद्धैश्च कार्मुकैस्तोमरैस्तथा । प्रासैस्तथा गदाभिश्च परिघैः कम्पनैस्तथा ॥

dhvajaistatrāpaviddhaiśca kārmukaistomaraistathā | prāsaistathā gadābhiśca parighaiḥ kampanaistathā

With banners flung down there, with bows, javelins, lances, maces, iron bars and kampana darts,

Verse 25 (6.57.25)

शक्तिभिः कवचैश्चित्रैः कणपैरङ्कुशैरपि । निस्त्रिंशैर्विमलैश्चापि स्वर्णपुङ्खैः शरैस्तथा ॥

śaktibhiḥ kavacaiścitraiḥ kaṇapairaṅkuśairapi | nistriṃśairvimalaiścāpi svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śaraistathā

with spears, bright coats of mail, kanapa clubs and goads, with gleaming swords and gold-feathered arrows,

Verse 26 (6.57.26)

परिस्तोमैः कुथाभिश्च कम्बलैश्च महाधनैः । भूर्भाति भरतश्रेष्ठ स्रग्दामैरिव चित्रिता ॥

paristomaiḥ kuthābhiśca kambalaiśca mahādhanaiḥ | bhūrbhāti bharataśreṣṭha sragdāmairiva citritā

with elephant-cloths, housings and costly woollen blankets, the earth shone, best of the Bharatas, as if adorned with garlands.

Verse 27 (6.57.27)

नराश्वकायैः पतितैर्दन्तिभिश्च महाहवे । अगम्यरूपा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा ॥

narāśvakāyaiḥ patitairdantibhiśca mahāhave | agamyarūpā pṛthivī māṃsaśoṇitakardamā

With the fallen bodies of men and horses and with elephants in that great battle, the earth became impassable, a mire of flesh and blood.

Verse 28 (6.57.28)

प्रशशाम रजो भौमं व्युक्षितं रणशोणितैः । दिशश्च विमलाः सर्वाः संबभूवुर्जनेश्वर ॥

praśaśāma rajo bhaumaṃ vyukṣitaṃ raṇaśoṇitaiḥ | diśaśca vimalāḥ sarvāḥ saṃbabhūvurjaneśvara

The dust of the earth settled, sprinkled with the blood of battle, and all the quarters became clear, lord of men.

Verse 29 (6.57.29)

उत्थितान्यगणेयानि कबन्धानि समन्ततः । चिह्नभूतानि जगतो विनाशार्थाय भारत ॥

utthitānyagaṇeyāni kabandhāni samantataḥ | cihnabhūtāni jagato vināśārthāya bhārata

Countless headless trunks rose up on every side, Bharata, like omens of the destruction of the world.

Verse 30 (6.57.30)

तस्मिन्युद्धे महारौद्रे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे । प्रत्यदृश्यन्त रथिनो धावमानाः समन्ततः ॥

tasminyuddhe mahāraudre vartamāne sudāruṇe | pratyadṛśyanta rathino dhāvamānāḥ samantataḥ

As that most dreadful and terrible battle raged, chariot-warriors were seen running on every side.

Verse 31 (6.57.31)

ततो भीष्मश्च द्रोणश्च सैन्धवश्च जयद्रथः । पुरुमित्रो जयो भोजः शल्यश्चापि ससौबलः ॥

tato bhīṣmaśca droṇaśca saindhavaśca jayadrathaḥ | purumitro jayo bhojaḥ śalyaścāpi sasaubalaḥ

Then Bhishma and Drona, Jayadratha of the Sindhus, Purumitra, Jaya, Bhoja, and Shalya together with Saubala (Shakuni):

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.53.25. Its names differ in part (critical edition tato droṇaś ca bhīṣmaś ca … purumitro vikarṇaś ca śakuniś cāpi saubalaḥ, where Wikisource has Jaya, Bhoja and Shalya with Saubala); kept as recension variants.

Verse 32 (6.57.32)

एते समरदुर्धर्षाः सिंहतुल्यपराक्रमाः । पाण्डवानामनीकानि बभञ्जुःस्म पुनःपुनः ॥

ete samaradurdharṣāḥ siṃhatulyaparākramāḥ | pāṇḍavānāmanīkāni babhañjuḥsma punaḥpunaḥ

these, hard to withstand in battle, with the prowess of lions, broke the Pandava divisions again and again.

Verse 33 (6.57.33)

तथैव भीमसेनोऽपि राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः । सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च द्रौपदेयाश्च भारत ॥

tathaiva bhīmaseno'pi rākṣasaśca ghaṭotkacaḥ | sātyakiścekitānaśca draupadeyāśca bhārata

Likewise Bhimasena, the rakshasa Ghatotkacha, Satyaki, Chekitana and the sons of Draupadi, Bharata,

Note on the text: Corrected द्रोपदेयाः → द्रौपदेयाः (misprint in Wikisource; o for au; the critical edition reads draupadeyāḥ).

Verse 34 (6.57.34)

तावकांस्तव पुत्रांश्च सहितान्सर्वराजभिः । द्रावयामासुराजौ ते त्रिदशा दानवानिव ॥

tāvakāṃstava putrāṃśca sahitānsarvarājabhiḥ | drāvayāmāsurājau te tridaśā dānavāniva

put your men and your sons, together with all the kings, to flight in the battle, as the gods did the Danavas.

Verse 35 (6.57.35)

तथा ते समरेऽन्योन्यं निघ्नन्तः क्षत्रियर्षभाः । रक्तोक्षिता घोररूपा विरेजुर्दानवा इव ॥

tathā te samare'nyonyaṃ nighnantaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ | raktokṣitā ghorarūpā virejurdānavā iva

So those bulls among Kshatriyas, killing one another in battle, drenched in blood and dreadful to look on, shone like Danavas.

Note on the text: Corrected विरेर्जुः → विरेजुः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray repha; the critical edition reads virejuḥ).

Verse 36 (6.57.36)

विनिर्जित्य रिपून्वीराः सेनयोरुभयोरपि । व्यदृश्यन्त महामात्रा ग्रहा इव नभस्तले ॥

vinirjitya ripūnvīrāḥ senayorubhayorapi | vyadṛśyanta mahāmātrā grahā iva nabhastale

Having conquered their foes, the heroes of both armies, chief among warriors, were seen like planets in the sky.

Note on the text: Corrected वीरा सेकनयोः → वीराः सेनयोः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga and a stray क; the critical edition reads vīrāḥ senayor) and व्यदृस्यन्त → व्यदृश्यन्त (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; the critical edition reads vyadṛśyanta).

Verse 37 (6.57.37)

ततो रथसहस्रेण पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव । अभ्ययात्पाण्डवं युद्धे राक्षसं च घटोत्कचम् ॥

tato rathasahasreṇa putro duryodhanastava | abhyayātpāṇḍavaṃ yuddhe rākṣasaṃ ca ghaṭotkacam

Then your son Duryodhana, with a thousand chariots, advanced in battle against the son of Pandu and the rakshasa Ghatotkacha.

Verse 38 (6.57.38)

तथैव पाण्डवाः सर्वे महत्या सेनया सह । द्रोणभीष्मौ रणे यत्तौ प्रत्युद्ययुररिन्दमौ ॥

tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ sarve mahatyā senayā saha | droṇabhīṣmau raṇe yattau pratyudyayurarindamau

Likewise all the Pandavas, with a great army, went out against Drona and Bhishma, the subduers of foes, who stood ready in battle.

Verse 39 (6.57.39)

किरीटी च ययौ क्रुद्धः समन्तात्पार्थिवोत्तमान् । आर्जुनिः सात्यकिश्चैव ययतुः सौबलं बलम् ॥

kirīṭī ca yayau kruddhaḥ samantātpārthivottamān | ārjuniḥ sātyakiścaiva yayatuḥ saubalaṃ balam

Kiritin (Arjuna), enraged, went against the finest kings all around, and Arjuna's son and Satyaki went against the forces of Subala's son.

Verse 40 (6.57.40)

ततः प्रववृते भूयः संग्रामो रोमहर्षणः । तावकानां परेषां च समरे विजयैषिणाम् ॥

tataḥ pravavṛte bhūyaḥ saṃgrāmo romaharṣaṇaḥ | tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca samare vijayaiṣiṇām

Then once more a hair-raising battle began between your men and the enemy, each side bent on victory in the fight.