Bhishma and Arjuna Meet in Single Combat

Verse 1 (6.60.1)

व्युष्टां निशां भारत भारताना- । मनीकिनीनां प्रमुखे महात्मा । ययौ सपत्नान्प्रति जातकोपो । वृतः समग्रेण बलेन भीष्मः ॥

vyuṣṭāṃ niśāṃ bhārata bhāratānā- | manīkinīnāṃ pramukhe mahātmā | yayau sapatnānprati jātakopo | vṛtaḥ samagreṇa balena bhīṣmaḥ

When the night had brightened into dawn, O Bharata, the great-souled Bhishma, his anger roused, went out against his foes at the head of the Bharatas' armies, surrounded by his whole force.

Verse 2 (6.60.2)

तं द्रोणदुर्योधनबाह्लिकाश्च । तथैव दुर्मर्षणचित्रसेनौ । जयद्रथश्चातिबलो बलौघै- । र्नृपास्तथान्ये प्रययुः समन्तात् ॥

taṃ droṇaduryodhanabāhlikāśca | tathaiva durmarṣaṇacitrasenau | jayadrathaścātibalo balaughai- | rnṛpāstathānye prayayuḥ samantāt

Drona, Duryodhana and Bahlika, and likewise Durmarshana and Chitrasena, the very mighty Jayadratha, and other kings with masses of troops went forth with him on every side.

Note on the text: Line 4 reads प्रययुः where the critical edition reads 'nuyayuḥ; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 3 (6.60.3)

स तैर्महद्भिश्च महारथैश्च । तेजस्विभिर्वीर्यवद्भिश्च राजन् । रराज राजा स तु राजमुख्यै- । र्वृतः सदेवैरिव वज्रपाणिः ॥

sa tairmahadbhiśca mahārathaiśca | tejasvibhirvīryavadbhiśca rājan | rarāja rājā sa tu rājamukhyai- | rvṛtaḥ sadevairiva vajrapāṇiḥ

Surrounded by those great chariot-warriors, splendid and valiant, O king, and by the foremost of kings, he shone like the wielder of the thunderbolt among the gods.

Note on the text: Line 3 reads रराज राजा स तु where the critical edition reads rarāja rājottama; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 4 (6.60.4)

तस्मिन्ननीकप्रमुखे विषक्ता । दोधूयमानाश्च महापताकाः । सुरक्तपीतासितपाण्डुराभा । महागजस्कन्धगता विरेजुः ॥

tasminnanīkapramukhe viṣaktā | dodhūyamānāśca mahāpatākāḥ | suraktapītāsitapāṇḍurābhā | mahāgajaskandhagatā virejuḥ

At the front of that army great banners, deep red, yellow, black and pale white, fixed on the shoulders of huge elephants, shone as they streamed in the wind.

Verse 5 (6.60.5)

सा वाहिनी शान्तनवेन गुप्ता । महारथैर्वारणवाजिभिश्च । बभौ सविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुकल्पा । जलागमे द्यौरिव जातमेघा ॥

sā vāhinī śāntanavena guptā | mahārathairvāraṇavājibhiśca | babhau savidyutstanayitnukalpā | jalāgame dyauriva jātameghā

That host, guarded by Shantanu's son, with its great chariot-warriors, elephants and horses, looked like the sky in the rainy season, heavy with clouds, flashing with lightning and rumbling with thunder.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads गुप्ता where the critical edition reads rājñā; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 6 (6.60.6)

ततो रणायाभिमुखी प्रयाता । प्रत्यर्जुनं शान्तनवाभिगुप्ता । सेनामहोग्रा सहसा कुरूणां । वेगो यथा भीम इवापगायाः ॥

tato raṇāyābhimukhī prayātā | pratyarjunaṃ śāntanavābhiguptā | senāmahogrā sahasā kurūṇāṃ | vego yathā bhīma ivāpagāyāḥ

Then the very fierce army of the Kurus, guarded by Shantanu's son, moved swiftly to battle against Arjuna, like the dreadful rush of a river.

Note on the text: Corrected सेनामहोग्ना → सेनामहोग्रा (misprint in Wikisource; ग्न for ग्र, the critical edition reads senā mahogrā).

Verse 7 (6.60.7)

तं व्यालनानाविधगूढसारं । गजाश्वपादातरथौघपक्षम् । व्यूहं महामेघसमं महात्मा । ददर्श दूरात्कपिराजकेतुः ॥

taṃ vyālanānāvidhagūḍhasāraṃ | gajāśvapādātarathaughapakṣam | vyūhaṃ mahāmeghasamaṃ mahātmā | dadarśa dūrātkapirājaketuḥ

That array, its strength hidden in vyala formations of many kinds, its wings made of masses of elephants, horses, foot-soldiers and chariots, like a great bank of clouds, the great-souled hero with the monkey-king on his banner saw from afar.

Verse 8 (6.60.8)

विनिर्ययौ केतुमता रथेन । नरर्षभः श्वेतहयेन काले । जये धृतः शत्रुवरूथिनीनां । यथा सुरेन्द्रोऽसुरवाहिनीनाम् ॥

viniryayau ketumatā rathena | nararṣabhaḥ śvetahayena kāle | jaye dhṛtaḥ śatruvarūthinīnāṃ | yathā surendro'suravāhinīnām

That bull among men set out at the right hour in his bannered chariot drawn by white horses, bent on conquering the enemy hosts, as the king of the gods goes out against the armies of the asuras.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick before जये (the page's sign that an interpolated passage begins; it closes at the end of verse 9). Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.56.8ab (काले for vīraḥ); line 3 is a variant of 8d (vadhe dhṛtaḥ sarvasapatnayūnām); line 4 corresponds to the first line of the star passage 6.56.8d*0220 (yathā mahendro 'suravāhinīnāṃ). The critical edition's 8c (varūthinā sainyamukhe mahātmā) is not on the page.

Verse 9 (6.60.9)

नारायणेनेन्द्र इवाभिगुप्तः । शशीव सूर्येण समेयिवान्यथा । तथा महात्मा सह केशवेन । वरूथिनीनां प्रमुखे रराज ॥

nārāyaṇenendra ivābhiguptaḥ | śaśīva sūryeṇa sameyivānyathā | tathā mahātmā saha keśavena | varūthinīnāṃ pramukhe rarāja

As Indra is guarded by Narayana, as the moon is joined with the sun, so the great-souled one shone with Keshava at the head of the armies.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 6.56.8d*0219 (all four lines). Corrected वरीथिनीनां → वरूथिनीनां (misprint in Wikisource; ई for ऊ, the apparatus reads varūthinīnāṃ). Removed a stray closing quote mark before the final ॥.

Verse 10 (6.60.10)

सोपस्करं सोत्तरबन्धुरेषं । यत्तं यदूनामृषभेण सङ्ख्ये । कपिध्वजं प्रेक्ष्य रथं विषेदुः । सहैव पुत्रैस्तव कौरवेयाः ॥

sopaskaraṃ sottarabandhureṣaṃ | yattaṃ yadūnāmṛṣabheṇa saṅkhye | kapidhvajaṃ prekṣya rathaṃ viṣeduḥ | sahaiva putraistava kauraveyāḥ

Seeing that monkey-bannered chariot, fully equipped, its pole handsome with its upper covering, made ready for battle by the bull of the Yadus, the Kauravas of your side, together with your sons, lost heart.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads सोपस्करं and line 3 रथं विषेदुः where the critical edition reads sūpaskaraṃ and viṣedur ājau; kept as recension variants.

Verse 11 (6.60.11)

प्रकल्पितं गुप्तमुदायुधेन । किरीटिना लोकमहारथेन । तं व्यूहराजं ददृशुस्त्वदीया- । श्चतुश्चतुर्व्यालसहस्रकीर्णम् ॥

prakalpitaṃ guptamudāyudhena | kirīṭinā lokamahārathena | taṃ vyūharājaṃ dadṛśustvadīyā- | ścatuścaturvyālasahasrakīrṇam

Your men saw that king of arrays, formed and guarded by the diadem-wearer with his weapon raised, the great chariot-warrior of the world, crowded on every side with vyala formations by the four thousand.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads प्रकल्पितं where the critical edition reads prakarṣatā; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 12 (6.60.12)

यथैव पूर्वेऽहनि धर्मराज्ञा । व्यूहः कृतः कौरवसत्तमेन । यथा न भूतो भुवि मानुषेषु । न दृष्टपूर्वो न च संश्रुतश्च ॥

yathaiva pūrve'hani dharmarājñā | vyūhaḥ kṛtaḥ kauravasattamena | yathā na bhūto bhuvi mānuṣeṣu | na dṛṣṭapūrvo na ca saṃśrutaśca

The array was made, as on the day before, by the Dharma king, the best of the Kauravas: such an array as had never been among men on earth, never seen before and never heard of.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides 6.56.11–28 of the critical edition half a verse later than the critical edition; the alignment matched none of verses 12–30. Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.11ab (कौरवसत्तमेन for kauravanandanena); line 2 is its star passage 6.56.11d*0221 (यथा for tathā), not in the constituted text.

Verse 13 (6.60.13)

ततो यथादेशमुपेत्य तस्थुः । पाञ्चालमुख्याः सह चेदिमुख्यैः । ततः समादेशसमाहतानि । भेरीसहस्राणि विनेदुराजौ ॥

tato yathādeśamupetya tasthuḥ | pāñcālamukhyāḥ saha cedimukhyaiḥ | tataḥ samādeśasamāhatāni | bherīsahasrāṇi vinedurājau

Then the chiefs of the Panchalas, with the chiefs of the Chedis, came up and took their stations as directed. Then, struck at the word of command, thousands of drums sounded on the field.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.11cd (ततो यथादेशमुपेत्य … सह चेदिमुख्यैः for tathā tathoddeśam upetya … cedimukhyāḥ); line 2 is 6.56.12ab (समादेश- for mahāvega-). Kept as recension variants.

Verse 14 (6.60.14)

शङ्खस्वनास्तूर्यरवाः प्रणेदुः । सर्वेष्वनीकेषु ससिंहनादाः । ततः सबाणानि महास्वनानि । विस्फार्यमाणानि धनूंषि वीरैः ॥

śaṅkhasvanāstūryaravāḥ praṇeduḥ | sarveṣvanīkeṣu sasiṃhanādāḥ | tataḥ sabāṇāni mahāsvanāni | visphāryamāṇāni dhanūṃṣi vīraiḥ

Blasts of conches and the sound of trumpets rang out in every division, together with lion-roars. Then the heroes' bows, strung with arrows and twanging loudly as they were drawn,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.12cd (शङ्खस्वनास्तूर्यरवाः प्रणेदुः for śaṅkhasvanā dundubhinisvanāś ca); line 2 is 6.56.13ab.

Verse 15 (6.60.15)

क्षणेन भेरीपणवप्रणादा- । नन्तर्दधुः शङ्खमहास्वनांश्च । तच्छङ्खशब्दावृतमन्तरिक्ष- । मुद्धूतभौमद्रुतरेणुजालम् ॥

kṣaṇena bherīpaṇavapraṇādā- | nantardadhuḥ śaṅkhamahāsvanāṃśca | tacchaṅkhaśabdāvṛtamantarikṣa- | muddhūtabhaumadrutareṇujālam

in a moment drowned the roar of kettledrums and tabors and the great blare of the conches. The sky, filled with the sound of the conches and veiled by a net of dust raised swiftly from the earth,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.13cd (शङ्खमहास्वनांश्च for śaṅkhamahāsvanāś ca); line 2 is 6.56.14ab.

Verse 16 (6.60.16)

महानुभावाश्च ततः प्रकाश- । मालोक्य वीराः सहसाऽभिपेतुः । रथी रथेनाभिहतः ससूतः । पपात साश्वः सरथः सकेतुः ॥

mahānubhāvāśca tataḥ prakāśa- | mālokya vīrāḥ sahasā'bhipetuḥ | rathī rathenābhihataḥ sasūtaḥ | papāta sāśvaḥ sarathaḥ saketuḥ

and looking out upon it in the light, the great-spirited heroes suddenly charged. A chariot-warrior struck by a chariot-warrior fell with his charioteer, his horses, his chariot and his banner.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रकाशनालोक्य → प्रकाशमालोक्य (misprint in Wikisource; न for म leaves no valid word, the critical edition reads prakāśam ālokya). Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.14cd (महानुभावाश्च ततः for mahāvitānāvatata-); line 2 is 6.56.15ab.

Verse 17 (6.60.17)

गजो गजेनाभिहतः पपात । पदातिना चाभिहतः पदातिः । आवर्तमानान्यभिवर्तमानै- । र्घोरीकृतान्यद्भुतदर्शनानि ॥

gajo gajenābhihataḥ papāta | padātinā cābhihataḥ padātiḥ | āvartamānānyabhivartamānai- | rghorīkṛtānyadbhutadarśanāni

An elephant struck by an elephant fell, and a foot-soldier struck by a foot-soldier. Troops of fine horses, wheeling and charging, made terrible and wondrous to behold,

Note on the text: Corrected गजेनाभिहताः → गजेनाभिहतः (misprint in Wikisource; the plural does not agree with गजो … पपात, the critical edition reads abhihataḥ). Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.15cd; line 2 is 6.56.16ab (घोरीकृतानि for bāṇaiḥ kṣatāni).

Verse 18 (6.60.18)

प्रासैश्च खड्गैश्च समाहतानि । सदश्वबृन्दानि सदश्वबृन्दैः । सुवर्णतारागणभूषितानि । सूर्यप्रभाभानि शरावराणि ॥

prāsaiśca khaḍgaiśca samāhatāni | sadaśvabṛndāni sadaśvabṛndaiḥ | suvarṇatārāgaṇabhūṣitāni | sūryaprabhābhāni śarāvarāṇi

troops of fine horses were cut down with spears and swords by troops of fine horses. Coats of mail adorned with clusters of golden stars and shining like the sun,

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गैश्च → खड्गैश्च (misprint in Wikisource; ङ्ग for ड्ग, the critical edition reads khaḍgaiś). Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.16cd; line 2 is 6.56.17ab (सूर्यप्रभाभानि शरावराणि for śarāvarāṇi prahitāni vīraiḥ).

Verse 19 (6.60.19)

विदार्यमाणानि परश्वथैश्च । प्रासैश्च खड्गैश्च निपेतुरुर्व्याम् । गजैर्विषाणापरगात्ररुग्णाः । केचित्ससूता रथिनः प्रपेतुः ॥

vidāryamāṇāni paraśvathaiśca | prāsaiśca khaḍgaiśca nipetururvyām | gajairviṣāṇāparagātrarugṇāḥ | kecitsasūtā rathinaḥ prapetuḥ

split by battle-axes, spears and swords, fell to the ground. Some chariot-warriors, crushed by elephants with their tusks and other limbs, fell with their charioteers.

Note on the text: Corrected स्वङ्गैश्च → खड्गैश्च (misprint in Wikisource; स्व for ख and ङ्ग for ड्ग, the critical edition reads khaḍgaiś) and गजैर्विषणापर- → गजैर्विषाणापर- (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign ा, viṣāṇa "tusk"). Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.17cd; line 2 is 6.56.18ab (विषाणापरगात्ररुग्णाः for viṣāṇair varahastarugṇāḥ).

Verse 20 (6.60.20)

गजर्षभाश्चापि रथर्षभेण । निपातिता बाणहताः पृथिव्याम् । गजौघवेगोद्धतसादितानां । श्रुत्वा विषेदुः सहसा मनुष्याः ॥

gajarṣabhāścāpi ratharṣabheṇa | nipātitā bāṇahatāḥ pṛthivyām | gajaughavegoddhatasāditānāṃ | śrutvā viṣeduḥ sahasā manuṣyāḥ

Bull elephants too, struck by arrows from a bull among chariot-warriors, were felled to the earth. Men suddenly lost heart on hearing the cries of those thrown down and crushed by the rush of the elephant-masses,

Note on the text: Corrected जगर्षभेण → रथर्षभेण (misprint in Wikisource; जगर्षभ is not a word, the critical edition reads ratharṣabheṇa). Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.18cd (निपातिता for nipetire); line 2 is 6.56.19ab (विषेदुः सहसा for niṣedur vasudhāṃ).

Verse 21 (6.60.21)

आर्तस्वनं सादिपदातियूनां । विषाणगात्रावरताडितानाम् । संभ्रान्तनागाश्वरथे मुहूर्ते । महाक्षये सादिपदातियूनाम् ॥

ārtasvanaṃ sādipadātiyūnāṃ | viṣāṇagātrāvaratāḍitānām | saṃbhrāntanāgāśvarathe muhūrte | mahākṣaye sādipadātiyūnām

the cries of distress of young horsemen and foot-soldiers struck by tusks and by the bodies of the elephants, in that moment of great slaughter when elephants, horses and chariots were thrown into confusion.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.19cd (आर्तस्वनं for ārtasvaraṃ); line 2 is 6.56.20ab (मुहूर्ते … महाक्षये for prasūte … mahābhaye).

Verse 22 (6.60.22)

महारथैः संपरिवार्यमाणं । संदृश्य दूरात्कपिराजकेतुम् । तं पञ्चतालोच्छ्रिततालकेतुः । सदश्ववेगाद्भुतवीर्ययानः ॥

mahārathaiḥ saṃparivāryamāṇaṃ | saṃdṛśya dūrātkapirājaketum | taṃ pañcatālocchritatālaketuḥ | sadaśvavegādbhutavīryayānaḥ

Seeing from afar the hero with the monkey-king on his banner being surrounded by great chariot-warriors, he whose palm-tree banner rose five palms high, whose chariot moved with the wondrous speed and power of his fine horses,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.20cd (संदृश्य दूरात् for dadarśa bhīṣmaḥ); line 2 is 6.56.21ab (-वेगाद्भुतवीर्ययानः for -vegoddhatavīryayātaḥ).

Verse 23 (6.60.23)

महास्त्रबाणाशनिदीप्तिमन्तं । किरीटिनं शान्तनवोऽभ्यधावत् । तथैव शक्रप्रतिमप्रभाव- । मिन्द्रात्मजं द्रोणमुखाभिसस्रुः ॥

mahāstrabāṇāśanidīptimantaṃ | kirīṭinaṃ śāntanavo'bhyadhāvat | tathaiva śakrapratimaprabhāva- | mindrātmajaṃ droṇamukhābhisasruḥ

Shantanu's son ran at the diadem-wearer, who blazed with great weapons, arrows and thunderbolts. In the same way Drona and the others rushed at Indra's son, whose might matched Shakra's:

Note on the text: Corrected दीप्तमन्तं → दीप्तिमन्तं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign ि, दीप्तमन्तं is not a valid form; the critical edition reads dīptamārgaṃ here) and द्रोणमुखा विसस्नुः → द्रोणमुखाभिसस्रुः (misprint in Wikisource; विसस्नुः is not a valid form, the critical edition reads droṇamukhābhisasruḥ). Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.21cd; line 2 is 6.56.22ab (शक्रप्रतिमप्रभावम् for śakrapratimānakalpam).

Verse 24 (6.60.24)

कृपश्च शल्यश्च विविंशतिश्च । दुर्योधनः सौमदत्तिश्च राजन् । ततो रथानां प्रमुखादुपेत्य । सर्वास्त्रिवित्काञ्चनचित्रवर्मा ॥

kṛpaśca śalyaśca viviṃśatiśca | duryodhanaḥ saumadattiśca rājan | tato rathānāṃ pramukhādupetya | sarvāstrivitkāñcanacitravarmā

Kripa, Shalya and Vivimshati, Duryodhana and Somadatta's son, O king. Then, coming out from the front of the chariots, skilled in every weapon and clad in mail bright with gold,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.22cd; line 2 is 6.56.23ab (रथानां प्रमुखात् for rathānīkamukhād).

Verse 25 (6.60.25)

जवेन शूरोऽभिससार सर्वां- । स्तानर्जुनस्यात्मभवोऽभिमन्युः । तेषां महास्त्राणि महारथाना- । मसह्यकर्मा विनिहत्य कार्ष्णिः ॥

javena śūro'bhisasāra sarvāṃ- | stānarjunasyātmabhavo'bhimanyuḥ | teṣāṃ mahāstrāṇi mahārathānā- | masahyakarmā vinihatya kārṣṇiḥ

the hero Abhimanyu, Arjuna's own son, swiftly charged at all of them. Destroying the great weapons of those great chariot-warriors, Arjuna's son, whose feats could not be withstood,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.23cd (स्तानर्जुनस्यात्मभवोऽभिमन्युः for tathārjunasyātra suto 'bhimanyuḥ); line 2 is 6.56.24ab (असह्यकर्मा for asaktakarmā).

Verse 26 (6.60.26)

बभौ महामन्त्रहुतार्चिमाली । सदोगतः सन्भगवानिवाग्निः । ततः स तूर्णं रुधिरोदफेनां । कृत्वा नदीमाशु रणे रिपूणाम् ॥

babhau mahāmantrahutārcimālī | sadogataḥ sanbhagavānivāgniḥ | tataḥ sa tūrṇaṃ rudhirodaphenāṃ | kṛtvā nadīmāśu raṇe ripūṇām

shone like the blessed fire at the place of sacrifice, garlanded with flames fed by great mantras. Then, having swiftly made a river of his enemies' blood, with blood for its water and foam, in the battle,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.24cd; line 2 is 6.56.25ab (रणे for vaiśasane).

Verse 27 (6.60.27)

जगाम सौभद्रमतीत्य भीष्मो । महारथं पार्थमदीनसत्त्वः । ततः प्रहस्याद्भुतविक्रमेण । गाण्डीवमुक्तेन शिलाशितेन ॥

jagāma saubhadramatītya bhīṣmo | mahārathaṃ pārthamadīnasattvaḥ | tataḥ prahasyādbhutavikrameṇa | gāṇḍīvamuktena śilāśitena

Bhishma, of undaunted spirit, passed by Subhadra's son and went against the great chariot-warrior Partha. Then, laughing, with a wondrous display of prowess, with arrows loosed from Gandiva and whetted on stone,

Note on the text: Corrected अदीनसत्वः → अदीनसत्त्वः (misprint in Wikisource; sattva is spelt with त्त्व, the critical edition reads adīnasattvaḥ). Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.25cd; line 2 is 6.56.26ab (अद्भुतविक्रमेण गाण्डीवमुक्तेन शिलाशितेन for adbhutadarśanena gāṇḍīvanirhvādamahāsvanena).

Verse 28 (6.60.28)

विपाठजालेन महास्त्रजालं । विनाशयामास किरीटमाली । तमुत्तमं सर्वधनुर्धराणा- । मसक्तकर्मा कपिराजकेतुः ॥

vipāṭhajālena mahāstrajālaṃ | vināśayāmāsa kirīṭamālī | tamuttamaṃ sarvadhanurdharāṇā- | masaktakarmā kapirājaketuḥ

vipatha arrows, the diadem-wearer destroyed the great net of weapons with a net of his own. The hero with the monkey-king on his banner, whose feats never faltered,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.26cd; line 2 is 6.56.27ab.

Verse 29 (6.60.29)

भीष्मं महात्माऽभिववर्ष तूर्णं । शरौघजालैर्विमलैश्च भल्लैः । तथैव भीष्माहतमन्तरिक्षे । महास्त्रजालं कपिराजकेतोः ॥

bhīṣmaṃ mahātmā'bhivavarṣa tūrṇaṃ | śaraughajālairvimalaiśca bhallaiḥ | tathaiva bhīṣmāhatamantarikṣe | mahāstrajālaṃ kapirājaketoḥ

great-souled, swiftly rained upon Bhishma, the best of all bowmen, showers of arrows in nets and spotless bhallas. In the same way the great net of weapons of the monkey-bannered hero, struck down by Bhishma in the sky,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.56.27cd; line 2 is not in its constituted text (vulgate recension) but is recorded in its apparatus as the first two lines of the star passage 6.56.27d*0222.

Verse 30 (6.60.30)

विशीर्यमाणं ददृशुस्त्वदीया । दिवाकरेणेव तमोऽभिभूतम् । एवंविधं कार्मुकभीमनाद- । मदीनवत्सत्पुरुषोत्तमाभ्याम् । ददर्श लोकः कुरुसृञ्जयाश्च । तद्द्वैरथं भीष्मधनञ्जयाभ्याम् ॥

viśīryamāṇaṃ dadṛśustvadīyā | divākareṇeva tamo'bhibhūtam | evaṃvidhaṃ kārmukabhīmanāda- | madīnavatsatpuruṣottamābhyām | dadarśa lokaḥ kurusṛñjayāśca | taddvairathaṃ bhīṣmadhanañjayābhyām

your men saw scattered, like darkness overpowered by the sun. Such was that duel between Bhishma and Dhananjaya, terrible with the roar of their bows and fought undaunted by those two best of good men, which the world, the Kurus and the Srinjayas watched.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (6.56.27d*0222, lines 3–4, and 6.56.28abc): Wikisource prints only the last line of this verse, numbered 30f, which shows that lines a–e were lost; without them verse 29 and this line have no verb. Lines 1–2 are the star passage 6.56.27d*0222, lines 3–4 (viśīryamāṇaṃ dadṛśus tvadīyā / divākareṇeva tamobhibhūtam), which complete the star-passage lines that end verse 29; lines 3–5 are the critical edition's 6.56.28abc (evaṃvidhaṃ kārmukabhīmanādam / adīnavat satpuruṣottamābhyām / dadarśa lokaḥ kurusṛñjayāś ca); line 6 is the page's own line (6.56.28d).