Bhishma's Circle Array; Arjuna Routs the Kings

Verse 1 (6.81.1)

अथात्मजं तव पुनर्गाङ्गेयो ध्यानमास्थितम् । अब्रवीद्भरतश्रेष्ठः सम्प्रहर्षकरं वचः ॥

athātmajaṃ tava punargāṅgeyo dhyānamāsthitam | abravīdbharataśreṣṭhaḥ sampraharṣakaraṃ vacaḥ

Then the son of Ganga, best of the Bharatas, spoke again to your son, who was sunk in brooding, words that filled him with cheer:

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: the raw Wikisource page has only a <poem> block (no table), which is therefore the base text; it runs under one सञ्जय उवाच heading from ॥१॥ to ॥४४॥ and ends without a colophon, but its last verse is the critical edition's last verse of 6.77, and the next page opens with 6.78.1, so nothing is lost. The input's numbering ran backwards (8, 8, 9 …) because the page prints the third line of the three-line verses 8, 16, 20 and 33 on a line of its own carrying the verse's number again; the input made each such line a separate verse. They are joined back here (verses 8, 16, 20, 33), giving 44 verses that correspond one to one to the critical edition 6.77.1–44. Verses 2–9 (Bhishma) and 34–35 (Arjuna) carry no heading and are given to their speakers; verse 33, whose first line is narration, stays with the narrator.

Verse 2 (6.81.2)

अहं द्रोणश्च शल्यश्च कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः । अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सोमदत्तोऽथ सैन्धवः ॥

ahaṃ droṇaśca śalyaśca kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ | aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca somadatto'tha saindhavaḥ

"I myself, Drona, Shalya, Kritavarman of the Satvatas, Ashvatthaman, Vikarna, Somadatta and the Saindhava (Jayadratha);

Verse 3 (6.81.3)

विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ बाह्लिकः सह बाह्लिकैः । त्रिगर्तराजश्च बली मागधश्च सुदुर्जयः ॥

vindānuvindāvāvantyau bāhlikaḥ saha bāhlikaiḥ | trigartarājaśca balī māgadhaśca sudurjayaḥ

Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, Bahlika with the Bahlikas, the mighty king of the Trigartas and the all but invincible king of Magadha;

Verse 4 (6.81.4)

बृहद्बलश्च कौसल्यश्चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः । रथाश्च बहुसाहस्राः शोभमाना महाध्वजाः ॥

bṛhadbalaśca kausalyaścitraseno viviṃśatiḥ | rathāśca bahusāhasrāḥ śobhamānā mahādhvajāḥ

Brihadbala of Kosala, Chitrasena and Vivimshati; and many thousands of chariots, splendid with great banners;

Verse 5 (6.81.5)

देशजाश्च हया राजन्स्वारूढा हयसादिभिः । गजेन्द्राश्च मदोद्वृत्ताः प्रभिन्नकरटामुखाः ॥

deśajāśca hayā rājansvārūḍhā hayasādibhiḥ | gajendrāśca madodvṛttāḥ prabhinnakaraṭāmukhāḥ

horses of fine native breed, O king, well ridden by their horsemen; lordly elephants wild with rut, their temples split and streaming;

Verse 6 (6.81.6)

पदाताश्च तथा शूरा नानाप्रहरणायुधाः । नानादेशसमुत्पन्नास्त्वदर्थे योद्धुमुद्यताः ॥

padātāśca tathā śūrā nānāpraharaṇāyudhāḥ | nānādeśasamutpannāstvadarthe yoddhumudyatāḥ

and brave foot-soldiers as well, bearing many kinds of weapons, born in many lands and ready to fight for you:

Verse 7 (6.81.7)

एते चान्ये च बहवस्त्वदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः । देवानपि रणे जेतुं समर्था इति मे मतिः ॥

ete cānye ca bahavastvadarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ | devānapi raṇe jetuṃ samarthā iti me matiḥ

these and many others, who have staked their lives for you, are able to conquer even the gods in battle; that is my belief.

Verse 8 (6.81.8)

अवश्यं तु मया राजंस्तव वाच्यं हितं सदा । अशक्याः पाण्डवा जेतुं देवैरपि सवासवैः । वासुदेवसहायाश्च महेन्द्रसमविक्रमाः ॥

avaśyaṃ tu mayā rājaṃstava vācyaṃ hitaṃ sadā | aśakyāḥ pāṇḍavā jetuṃ devairapi savāsavaiḥ | vāsudevasahāyāśca mahendrasamavikramāḥ

Yet I must always tell you, O king, what is for your good: the Pandavas cannot be conquered even by the gods led by Vasava (Indra), for they have Vasudeva as their ally and their valour equals great Indra's.

Note on the text: Rebuilt from the raw page: the page prints this as one three-line verse, marking both its second and third lines ॥8॥, and the input had split the third line off as a separate verse with the same number; joined here as verse 8 (critical edition 6.77.8, three lines).

Verse 9 (6.81.9)

सर्वथाहं तु राजेन्द्र करिष्ये वचनं तव । पाण्डवान्वा रणे जेष्ये मां वा जेष्यन्ति पाण्डवाः ॥

sarvathāhaṃ tu rājendra kariṣye vacanaṃ tava | pāṇḍavānvā raṇe jeṣye māṃ vā jeṣyanti pāṇḍavāḥ

Still, in every way, O lord of kings, I will do as you say: either I will conquer the Pandavas in battle, or the Pandavas will conquer me."

Verse 10 (6.81.10)

एवमुक्त्वा ददौ चास्मै विशल्यकरणीं शुभाम् । ओषधीं वीर्यसम्पन्नां विशल्यश्चाभवत्तदा ॥

evamuktvā dadau cāsmai viśalyakaraṇīṃ śubhām | oṣadhīṃ vīryasampannāṃ viśalyaścābhavattadā

So saying, he gave him a fine and potent herb that draws out arrows and heals their wounds, and Duryodhana was then freed of his wounds.

Verse 11 (6.81.11)

ततः प्रभाते विमले स्वेनानीकेन वीर्यवान् । अव्यूहत स्वयं व्यूहं भीष्मो व्यूहविशारदः ॥

tataḥ prabhāte vimale svenānīkena vīryavān | avyūhata svayaṃ vyūhaṃ bhīṣmo vyūhaviśāradaḥ

Then, in the clear dawn, the mighty Bhishma, master of battle arrays, himself drew up an array with his own forces:

Verse 12 (6.81.12)

मण्डलं मनुजश्रेष्ठ नानाशस्त्रसमाकुलम् । सम्पूर्णं योधमुख्यैश्च तथा दन्तिपदातिभिः ॥

maṇḍalaṃ manujaśreṣṭha nānāśastrasamākulam | sampūrṇaṃ yodhamukhyaiśca tathā dantipadātibhiḥ

the mandala, the circle, O best of men, bristling with many kinds of weapons and filled with leading warriors, with elephants and with foot-soldiers,

Verse 13 (6.81.13)

रथैरनेकसाहस्रैः समन्तात्परिवारितम् । अश्ववृन्दैर्महद्भिश्च ऋष्टितोमरधारिभिः ॥

rathairanekasāhasraiḥ samantātparivāritam | aśvavṛndairmahadbhiśca ṛṣṭitomaradhāribhiḥ

ringed on every side by many thousands of chariots and by great troops of horse bearing swords and lances.

Verse 14 (6.81.14)

नागे नागे रथाः सप्त सप्त चाश्वा रथे रथे । अन्वश्वं दश धानुष्का धानुष्के सप्त चर्मिणः ॥

nāge nāge rathāḥ sapta sapta cāśvā rathe rathe | anvaśvaṃ daśa dhānuṣkā dhānuṣke sapta carmiṇaḥ

With each elephant were seven chariots, and with each chariot seven horsemen; after each horseman came ten archers, and with each archer seven shield-bearers.

Verse 15 (6.81.15)

एवंव्यूहं महाराज तव सैन्यं महारथैः । स्थितं रणाय महते भीष्मेण युधि पालितम् ॥

evaṃvyūhaṃ mahārāja tava sainyaṃ mahārathaiḥ | sthitaṃ raṇāya mahate bhīṣmeṇa yudhi pālitam

So arrayed, O great king, your army with its great chariot-warriors stood ready for the great battle, guarded in the fight by Bhishma.

Verse 16 (6.81.16)

दशाश्वानां सहस्राणि दन्तिनां च तथैव च । रथानामयुतं चापि पुत्राश्च तव दंशिताः । चित्रसेनादयः शूरा अभ्यरक्षन्पितामहम् ॥

daśāśvānāṃ sahasrāṇi dantināṃ ca tathaiva ca | rathānāmayutaṃ cāpi putrāśca tava daṃśitāḥ | citrasenādayaḥ śūrā abhyarakṣanpitāmaham

Ten thousand horses, as many elephants and ten thousand chariots, and your armoured sons, the heroes led by Chitrasena, guarded the grandsire.

Note on the text: Rebuilt from the raw page: the page prints this as one three-line verse, marking both its second and third lines ॥16॥, and the input had split the third line off as a separate verse with the same number; joined here as verse 16 (critical edition 6.77.16, three lines).

Verse 17 (6.81.17)

रक्ष्यमाणश्च तैः शूरैर्गोप्यमानाश्च तेन ते । संनद्धाः समदृश्यन्त राजानश्च महाबलाः ॥

rakṣyamāṇaśca taiḥ śūrairgopyamānāśca tena te | saṃnaddhāḥ samadṛśyanta rājānaśca mahābalāḥ

Bhishma guarded by those heroes, and they in turn protected by him, the mighty kings were seen armed and ready.

Verse 18 (6.81.18)

दुर्योधनस्तु समरे दंशितो रथमास्थितः । व्यभ्राजत श्रिया जुष्टो यथा शक्रस्त्रिविष्टपे ॥

duryodhanastu samare daṃśito rathamāsthitaḥ | vyabhrājata śriyā juṣṭo yathā śakrastriviṣṭape

Duryodhana, armoured and mounted on his chariot in the battle, blazed with splendour like Shakra in heaven.

Verse 19 (6.81.19)

ततः शब्दो महानासीत्पुत्राणां तव भारत । रथघोषश्च तुमुलो वादित्राणां च निस्वनः ॥

tataḥ śabdo mahānāsītputrāṇāṃ tava bhārata | rathaghoṣaśca tumulo vāditrāṇāṃ ca nisvanaḥ

Then a great clamour rose from your sons, O Bharata, with the tumultuous rumble of chariots and the din of musical instruments.

Verse 20 (6.81.20)

भीष्मेण धार्तराष्ट्राणां व्यूढः प्रत्यङ्मुखो युधि । मण्डलः सुमहाव्यूहो दुर्भेद्योऽमित्रघातिनाम् । सर्वतः शुशुभे राजन्रणेऽरीणां दुरासदः ॥

bhīṣmeṇa dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ vyūḍhaḥ pratyaṅmukho yudhi | maṇḍalaḥ sumahāvyūho durbhedyo'mitraghātinām | sarvataḥ śuśubhe rājanraṇe'rīṇāṃ durāsadaḥ

The great mandala array of the Dhartarashtras, drawn up by Bhishma facing west for the battle, hard for even foe-slayers to break, shone on every side, O king, unassailable to the enemy in the fight.

Note on the text: Rebuilt from the raw page: the page prints this as one three-line verse, marking both its second and third lines ॥20॥, and the input had split the third line off as a separate verse with the same number; joined here as verse 20 (critical edition 6.77.20, three lines).

Verse 21 (6.81.21)

मण्डलं तु समालोक्य व्यूहं परमदारुणम् । स्वयं युधिष्ठिरो राजा व्यूहं वज्रमथाकरोत् ॥

maṇḍalaṃ tu samālokya vyūhaṃ paramadāruṇam | svayaṃ yudhiṣṭhiro rājā vyūhaṃ vajramathākarot

Seeing that most dreadful mandala array, King Yudhishthira himself formed the vajra, the thunderbolt array.

Verse 22 (6.81.22)

तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु यथास्थानमवस्थिताः । रथिनः सादिनश्चैव सिंहनादमथानदन् ॥

tathā vyūḍheṣvanīkeṣu yathāsthānamavasthitāḥ | rathinaḥ sādinaścaiva siṃhanādamathānadan

When the divisions had been arrayed in this way, the chariot-fighters and horsemen, each at his post, raised a lion's roar.

Verse 23 (6.81.23)

बिभित्सवस्ततो व्यूहं निर्ययुर्युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः । इतरेतरतः शूराः सहसैन्याः प्रहारिणः ॥

bibhitsavastato vyūhaṃ niryayuryuddhakāṅkṣiṇaḥ | itaretarataḥ śūrāḥ sahasainyāḥ prahāriṇaḥ

Then, eager to break the arrays, the brave warriors, hungry for battle, went out against one another with their troops, striking hard.

Verse 24 (6.81.24)

भारद्वाजो ययौ मत्स्यं द्रौणिश्चापि शिखण्डिनम् । स्वयं दुर्योधनो राजा पार्षतं समुपाद्रवत् ॥

bhāradvājo yayau matsyaṃ drauṇiścāpi śikhaṇḍinam | svayaṃ duryodhano rājā pārṣataṃ samupādravat

Bharadvaja's son (Drona) went against the Matsya king, Drona's son against Shikhandin, and King Duryodhana himself charged Prishata's grandson (Dhrishtadyumna).

Verse 25 (6.81.25)

नकुलः सहदेवश्च राजन्मद्रेशमीयतुः । विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्याविरावन्तमभिद्रुतौ ॥

nakulaḥ sahadevaśca rājanmadreśamīyatuḥ | vindānuvindāvāvantyāvirāvantamabhidrutau

Nakula and Sahadeva, O king, went against the lord of the Madras; Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti rushed at Iravat.

Verse 26 (6.81.26)

सर्वे नृपास्तु समरे धनञ्जयमयोधयन् । भीमसेनो रणे यत्तो हार्दिक्यं समवारयत् ॥

sarve nṛpāstu samare dhanañjayamayodhayan | bhīmaseno raṇe yatto hārdikyaṃ samavārayat

All the kings fought Dhananjaya in the battle; Bhimasena, intent on the fight, held back Hardikya (Kritavarman).

Verse 27 (6.81.27)

चित्रसेनं विकर्णं च तथा दुर्मर्षणं विभो । आर्जुनिः समरे राजंस्तव पुत्रानयोधयत् ॥

citrasenaṃ vikarṇaṃ ca tathā durmarṣaṇaṃ vibho | ārjuniḥ samare rājaṃstava putrānayodhayat

Arjuna's son, O king, fought your sons Chitrasena, Vikarna and Durmarshana in the battle, O lord.

Verse 28 (6.81.28)

प्राग्ज्योतिषं महेष्वासं हैडिम्बो राक्षसोत्तमः । अभिदुद्राव वेगेन मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम् ॥

prāgjyotiṣaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ haiḍimbo rākṣasottamaḥ | abhidudrāva vegena matto mattamiva dvipam

Hidimba's son, best of the Rakshasas, charged swiftly at the great archer of Pragjyotisha (Bhagadatta), as one rutting elephant charges another.

Verse 29 (6.81.29)

अलम्बुसस्ततो राजन्सात्यकिं युद्धदुर्मदम् । ससैन्यं समरे क्रुद्धो राक्षसः समभिद्रवत् ॥

alambusastato rājansātyakiṃ yuddhadurmadam | sasainyaṃ samare kruddho rākṣasaḥ samabhidravat

Then, O king, the Rakshasa Alambusa in his fury rushed in battle at Satyaki, fierce in war, and his troops.

Verse 30 (6.81.30)

भूरिश्रवा रणे यत्तो धृष्टकेतुमयोधयत् । श्रुतायुषं तु राजानं धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

bhūriśravā raṇe yatto dhṛṣṭaketumayodhayat | śrutāyuṣaṃ tu rājānaṃ dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Bhurishravas, intent on the fight, battled Dhrishtaketu; and Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, fought King Shrutayus.

Verse 31 (6.81.31)

चेकितानस्तु समरे कृपमेवान्वयोधयत् । शेषाः प्रतिययुर्यत्ता भीममेव महारथम् ॥

cekitānastu samare kṛpamevānvayodhayat | śeṣāḥ pratiyayuryattā bhīmameva mahāratham

Chekitana fought Kripa in the battle; the rest went, intent, against Bhima, the great chariot-warrior.

Verse 32 (6.81.32)

ततो राजसहस्राणि परिवव्रुर्धनञ्जयम् । शक्तितोमरनाराचगदापरिघपाणयः ॥

tato rājasahasrāṇi parivavrurdhanañjayam | śaktitomaranārācagadāparighapāṇayaḥ

Then thousands of kings surrounded Dhananjaya, with spears, lances, iron shafts, maces and iron bludgeons in their hands.

Verse 33 (6.81.33)

अर्जुनोऽथ भृशं क्रुद्धो वार्ष्णेयमिदमब्रवीत् । पश्य माधव सैन्यानि धार्तराष्ट्रस्य संयुगे । व्यूढानि व्यूहविदुषा गाङ्गेयेन महात्मना ॥

arjuno'tha bhṛśaṃ kruddho vārṣṇeyamidamabravīt | paśya mādhava sainyāni dhārtarāṣṭrasya saṃyuge | vyūḍhāni vyūhaviduṣā gāṅgeyena mahātmanā

Then Arjuna, in great anger, said this to Varshneya (Krishna): "See, Madhava, the armies of Dhritarashtra's son on the battlefield, arrayed by the great-souled son of Ganga, who knows the art of arrays.

Note on the text: Rebuilt from the raw page: the page prints this as one three-line verse, marking both its second and third lines ॥33॥, and the input had split the third line off as a separate verse with the same number; joined here as verse 33 (critical edition 6.77.33, three lines). Line 1 is narration; lines 2–3 begin Arjuna's words, which continue in verses 34–35. The page prints no heading inside the verse, so it is kept whole and given to the narrator.

Verse 34 (6.81.34)

युद्धाभिकामाञ्शूरांश्च पश्य माधव दंशितान् । त्रिगर्तराजं सहितं भ्रातृभिः पश्य केशव ॥

yuddhābhikāmāñśūrāṃśca paśya mādhava daṃśitān | trigartarājaṃ sahitaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ paśya keśava

See, Madhava, these brave warriors, armoured and eager to fight; see, Keshava, the king of the Trigartas with his brothers.

Verse 35 (6.81.35)

अद्यैतान्पातयिष्यामि पश्यतस्ते जनार्दन । य इमे मां यदुश्रेष्ठ योद्धुकामा रणाजिरे ॥

adyaitānpātayiṣyāmi paśyataste janārdana | ya ime māṃ yaduśreṣṭha yoddhukāmā raṇājire

Today, before your eyes, Janardana, I will strike down these men who want to fight me on the field, O best of the Yadus."

Verse 36 (6.81.36)

एवमुक्त्वा तु कौन्तेयो धनुर्ज्यामवमृज्य च । ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि नराधिपगणान्प्रति ॥

evamuktvā tu kaunteyo dhanurjyāmavamṛjya ca | vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi narādhipagaṇānprati

So saying, Kunti's son wiped his bowstring and poured showers of arrows on the hosts of kings.

Verse 37 (6.81.37)

तेऽपि तं परमेष्वासाः शरवर्षैरपूरयन् । तडागमिव धाराभिर्यथा प्रावृषि तोयदा ॥

te'pi taṃ parameṣvāsāḥ śaravarṣairapūrayan | taḍāgamiva dhārābhiryathā prāvṛṣi toyadā

Those great archers in turn filled him with showers of arrows, as clouds in the rainy season fill a pond with their torrents.

Verse 38 (6.81.38)

हाहाकारो महानासीत्तव सैन्ये विशां पते । छाद्यमानौ भृशं कृष्णौ शरैर्दृष्ट्वा महारणे ॥

hāhākāro mahānāsīttava sainye viśāṃ pate | chādyamānau bhṛśaṃ kṛṣṇau śarairdṛṣṭvā mahāraṇe

A great cry of dismay arose in your army, lord of the people, when they saw the two Krishnas thickly covered with arrows in the great battle.

Verse 39 (6.81.39)

देवा देवर्षयश्चैव गन्धर्वाश्च महोरगाः । विस्मयं परमं जग्मुर्दृष्ट्वा कृष्णौ तथागतौ ॥

devā devarṣayaścaiva gandharvāśca mahoragāḥ | vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmurdṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇau tathāgatau

The gods, the divine seers, the Gandharvas and the great serpents were filled with the utmost wonder at seeing the two Krishnas in that plight.

Verse 40 (6.81.40)

ततः क्रुद्धोऽर्जुनो राजन्नैन्द्रमस्त्रमुदीरयत् । तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम विजयस्य पराक्रमम् ॥

tataḥ kruddho'rjuno rājannaindramastramudīrayat | tatrādbhutamapaśyāma vijayasya parākramam

Then Arjuna in his anger, O king, invoked the weapon of Indra; and there we saw the wondrous prowess of Vijaya (Arjuna):

Verse 41 (6.81.41)

शस्त्रवृष्टिं परैर्मुक्तां शरौघैर्यदवारयत् । न च तत्राप्यनिर्भिन्नः कश्चिदासीद्विशां पते ॥

śastravṛṣṭiṃ parairmuktāṃ śaraughairyadavārayat | na ca tatrāpyanirbhinnaḥ kaścidāsīdviśāṃ pate

with streams of arrows he warded off the rain of weapons loosed by his foes, and not one of them there remained unpierced, lord of the people.

Verse 42 (6.81.42)

तेषां राजसहस्राणां हयानां दन्तिनां तथा । द्वाभ्यां त्रिभिः शरैश्चान्यान्पार्थो विव्याध मारिष ॥

teṣāṃ rājasahasrāṇāṃ hayānāṃ dantināṃ tathā | dvābhyāṃ tribhiḥ śaraiścānyānpārtho vivyādha māriṣa

Those thousands of kings, and the horses and elephants too, Partha pierced, each with two or three arrows, sir.

Verse 43 (6.81.43)

ते हन्यमानाः पार्थेन भीष्मं शान्तनवं ययुः । अगाधे मज्जमानानां भीष्मस्त्राताभवत्तदा ॥

te hanyamānāḥ pārthena bhīṣmaṃ śāntanavaṃ yayuḥ | agādhe majjamānānāṃ bhīṣmastrātābhavattadā

Struck down by Partha, they went to Bhishma, son of Shantanu, and Bhishma then became the rescuer of men drowning in fathomless waters.

Verse 44 (6.81.44)

आपतद्भिस्तु तैस्तत्र प्रभग्नं तावकं बलम् । सञ्चुक्षुभे महाराज वातैरिव महार्णवः ॥

āpatadbhistu taistatra prabhagnaṃ tāvakaṃ balam | sañcukṣubhe mahārāja vātairiva mahārṇavaḥ

As they came rushing in there, your broken army was thrown into turmoil, O great king, like the great ocean lashed by the winds.