Yudhishthira Routs Shrutayus; Kripa and Chekitana Fight with Swords

Verse 1 (6.84.1)

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा मध्यं प्राप्ते दिवाकरे । श्रुतायुषमभिप्रेक्ष्य प्रेषयामास वाजिनः ॥

tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā madhyaṃ prāpte divākare | śrutāyuṣamabhiprekṣya preṣayāmāsa vājinaḥ

Then, when the sun had reached mid-sky, King Yudhishthira caught sight of Shrutayus and drove his horses toward him.

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: checked against the raw Wikisource page (a table, rows 6-84-1 to 6-84-55 under one सञ्जय उवाच heading). The page stops after verse 55 without a closing colophon, but nothing is lost: verse 55 is the critical edition's last verse of this adhyaya (6.80.51), and the next page opens with 6.81.1. Wikisource divides the critical edition's three-line verses 6.80.22–23, 30–31, 42–43 and 47–48 into couplets (verses 22–24, 31–33, 44–46 and 50–52 here). Arjuna's words in verses 46 and 50 carry no heading on the page and are given to him. This verse: corrected श्रुतायुपम् → श्रुतायुषम् (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, critical edition śrutāyuṣam); प्रेषयामास for codayām āsa kept as a variant.

Verse 2 (6.84.2)

ततस्तु त्वरितो राजञ्श्रुतायुषमरिन्दमम् । निजघ्ने सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नवभिर्नतपर्वभिः ॥

tatastu tvarito rājañśrutāyuṣamarindamam | nijaghne sāyakaistīkṣṇairnavabhirnataparvabhiḥ

Swiftly then, O king, he struck Shrutayus, the tamer of foes, with nine sharp, straight-jointed arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रुतायुषमरिन्दमन् → श्रुतायुषमरिन्दमम् (misprint in Wikisource; the accusative is needed, critical edition ariṃdamam) and removed a stray क after नतपर्वभिः. The first half (ततस्तु त्वरितो राजञ्श्रुतायुषम्…, निजघ्ने for abhyadhāvat tato rājā …, vinighnan) is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 3 (6.84.3)

स संवार्य रणे राजा प्रेषितान्धर्मसूनुना । शरान्सप्त महेष्वासः कौन्तेयाय समर्पयत् ॥

sa saṃvārya raṇe rājā preṣitāndharmasūnunā | śarānsapta maheṣvāsaḥ kaunteyāya samarpayat

That king, the great bowman, warded off in battle the arrows sent by the son of Dharma, and loosed seven arrows at the son of Kunti.

Note on the text: Corrected रमे → रणे, कौन्तेयाया → कौन्तेयाय and समार्षयत् → समर्पयत् (misprints in Wikisource; none is a valid form here, critical edition raṇe … kaunteyāya samarpayat).

Verse 4 (6.84.4)

ते तस्य कवचं भित्त्वा पपुः शोणितमाहवे । असूनिव विचिन्वन्तो देहे तस्य महात्मनः ॥

te tasya kavacaṃ bhittvā papuḥ śoṇitamāhave | asūniva vicinvanto dehe tasya mahātmanaḥ

They pierced his armour and drank his blood in the fight, as though searching out the life-breaths within the body of that great-souled man.

Note on the text: Corrected तस्व → तस्य (misprint in Wikisource; व for य, critical edition tasya).

Verse 5 (6.84.5)

पाण्डवस्तु भृशं क्रुद्धो विद्धस्तेन महात्मना । रणे वराहकर्णेन राजानं हृद्यविध्यत ॥

pāṇḍavastu bhṛśaṃ kruddho viddhastena mahātmanā | raṇe varāhakarṇena rājānaṃ hṛdyavidhyata

The Pandava, badly wounded by that great warrior and furious, pierced the king in the chest in battle with a boar-eared arrow.

Note on the text: Corrected हृद्यविध्यता → हृद्यविध्यत (misprint in Wikisource; अविध्यता is not a verb form, the sense is hṛdi avidhyata, "pierced in the heart"; critical edition hṛdi vivyadhe). क्रुद्धो and महात्मना in line 1 kept as variants.

Verse 6 (6.84.6)

अथापरेण भल्लेन केतुं तस्य महात्मनः । रथश्रेष्ठो रथात्तूर्णं भूमौ पार्थो न्यपातयत् ॥

athāpareṇa bhallena ketuṃ tasya mahātmanaḥ | rathaśreṣṭho rathāttūrṇaṃ bhūmau pārtho nyapātayat

Then with another broad-headed arrow Partha, best of chariot-fighters, quickly brought down that great warrior's banner from his chariot to the ground.

Verse 7 (6.84.7)

केतुं निपतितं दृष्ट्वा श्रुतायुः स तु पार्थिवः । पाण्डवं विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णै राजन्विव्याध सप्तभिः ॥

ketuṃ nipatitaṃ dṛṣṭvā śrutāyuḥ sa tu pārthivaḥ | pāṇḍavaṃ viśikhaistīkṣṇai rājanvivyādha saptabhiḥ

Seeing his banner fallen, King Shrutayus, O king, pierced the Pandava with seven sharp arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected केतु → केतुं (misprint in Wikisource; the accusative is needed, critical edition ketuṃ) and विशिखैतीक्ष्णै → विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णै (misprint; dropped स्, critical edition viśikhais tīkṣṇai).

Verse 8 (6.84.8)

ततः क्रोधात्प्रजज्वाल धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । यथा युगान्ते भूतानि दिधक्षुरिव पावकः ॥

tataḥ krodhātprajajvāla dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | yathā yugānte bhūtāni didhakṣuriva pāvakaḥ

At that Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, blazed up in anger, like the fire that longs to consume all creatures at the end of an age.

Note on the text: Corrected क्रोघात्प्रजज्वल → क्रोधात्प्रजज्वाल (misprints in Wikisource; घ for ध, and प्रजज्वल is not a form of the perfect; critical edition krodhāt prajajvāla). दिधक्षुरिव पावकः for dhakṣyann iva hutāśanaḥ kept as a variant.

Verse 9 (6.84.9)

क्रुद्धं तु पाण्डवं दृष्ट्वा देवगन्धर्वराक्षसाः । प्रविव्यथुर्महाराज व्याकुलं चाप्यभूज्जगत् ॥

kruddhaṃ tu pāṇḍavaṃ dṛṣṭvā devagandharvarākṣasāḥ | pravivyathurmahārāja vyākulaṃ cāpyabhūjjagat

Seeing the Pandava enraged, the gods, gandharvas and rakshasas trembled, great king, and the whole world was thrown into turmoil.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रविव्यधुर् → प्रविव्यथुर् (misprint in Wikisource; ध for थ, "they pierced" has no sense here, critical edition pravivyathur) and जाप्यभूज्जगत् → चाप्यभूज्जगत् (misprint; ज for च, critical edition cāpy abhūj jagat).

Verse 10 (6.84.10)

सर्वेषां चैव भूतानामिदमासीन्मनोगतम् । त्रींल्लोकानद्य संक्रुद्धो नृपोऽयं धक्ष्यतीति वै ॥

sarveṣāṃ caiva bhūtānāmidamāsīnmanogatam | trīṃllokānadya saṃkruddho nṛpo'yaṃ dhakṣyatīti vai

And in the minds of all beings was this one thought: "Today this king in his fury will burn up the three worlds."

Note on the text: Corrected त्रींल्लोकान्म → त्रींल्लोकानद्य (misprint in Wikisource; म is not a word and the quarter is a syllable short; critical edition trīṃl lokān adya).

Verse 11 (6.84.11)

ऋषयश्चैव देवाश्च चक्रुः स्वस्त्ययनं महत् । लोकानां नृप शान्त्यर्थं क्रोधिते पाण्डवे तदा ॥

ṛṣayaścaiva devāśca cakruḥ svastyayanaṃ mahat | lokānāṃ nṛpa śāntyarthaṃ krodhite pāṇḍave tadā

The sages and the gods performed great rites of blessing for the peace of the worlds, O king, while the Pandava was in that wrath.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (6.80.11a ṛṣayaś caiva): Wikisource prints ऋष..... with the rest of the first word and चैव lost; restored as ऋषयश्चैव. Corrected नृपाशान्त्यर्थं → नृप शान्त्यर्थं (misprint in Wikisource; a vocative and शान्त्यर्थं run together with a long ā, critical edition nṛpa śāntyarthaṃ).

Verse 12 (6.84.12)

स च क्रोधसमाविष्टः सृक्विणी परिसंलिहन् । दधारात्मवपुर्घोरं युगान्तादित्यसन्निभम् ॥

sa ca krodhasamāviṣṭaḥ sṛkviṇī parisaṃlihan | dadhārātmavapurghoraṃ yugāntādityasannibham

Possessed by anger and licking the corners of his mouth, he took on a terrible form like the sun at the end of an age.

Note on the text: Corrected परिसंलिहन → परिसंलिहन् (misprint in Wikisource; missing virama) and इवारात्सवपुर्घोरं → दधारात्मवपुर्घोरं (misprint; इवारात्स gives no word and leaves the verse without its verb, critical edition dadhārātmavapur ghoraṃ). सृक्विणी and परिसंलिहन् kept as variants of sṛkkiṇī parilelihan.

Verse 13 (6.84.13)

ततः सैन्यानि सर्वाणि तावकानि विशांपते । निराशान्यभवंस्तत्र जीवितं प्रति भारत ॥

tataḥ sainyāni sarvāṇi tāvakāni viśāṃpate | nirāśānyabhavaṃstatra jīvitaṃ prati bhārata

Then all your troops, lord of the people, lost there all hope of staying alive, O Bharata.

Verse 14 (6.84.14)

स तु धैर्येण तं कोपं सन्निवार्य महायशाः । श्रुतायुषः प्रचिच्छेद मुष्टिदेशे महाधनुः ॥

sa tu dhairyeṇa taṃ kopaṃ sannivārya mahāyaśāḥ | śrutāyuṣaḥ praciccheda muṣṭideśe mahādhanuḥ

But the illustrious king checked that anger with steadiness, and cut Shrutayus's great bow at the grip.

Verse 15 (6.84.15)

अथैनं छिन्नधन्वानं नाराचेन स्तनान्तरे । निर्बिभेद रणे राजा सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥

athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ nārācena stanāntare | nirbibheda raṇe rājā sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ

Then, as the whole army looked on, the king pierced him, his bow now cut, in the middle of the chest with an iron shaft.

Verse 16 (6.84.16)

सत्वरं च रणे राजंस्तस्य वाहान्महात्मनः । निजघान शरैः क्षिप्रं सूतं च सुमहाबलः ॥

satvaraṃ ca raṇe rājaṃstasya vāhānmahātmanaḥ | nijaghāna śaraiḥ kṣipraṃ sūtaṃ ca sumahābalaḥ

And quickly in that battle, O king, the mighty one slew with his arrows that great warrior's horses and his charioteer.

Verse 17 (6.84.17)

हताश्वं तु रथं त्यक्त्वा दृष्ट्वा राज्ञोऽस्य पौरुषम् । विप्रदुद्राव वेगेन श्रुतायुः समरे तदा ॥

hatāśvaṃ tu rathaṃ tyaktvā dṛṣṭvā rājño'sya pauruṣam | vipradudrāva vegena śrutāyuḥ samare tadā

Seeing the king's prowess, Shrutayus abandoned his chariot, whose horses were dead, and fled from the field at speed.

Verse 18 (6.84.18)

तस्मिञ्जिते महेष्वासे धर्मपुत्रेण संयुगे । दुर्योधनबलं राजन्सर्वमासीत्पराङ्मुखम् ॥

tasmiñjite maheṣvāse dharmaputreṇa saṃyuge | duryodhanabalaṃ rājansarvamāsītparāṅmukham

When that great bowman had been beaten in battle by the son of Dharma, the whole of Duryodhana's force, O king, turned its back.

Note on the text: Corrected पराङ्भुखम् → पराङ्मुखम् (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म, critical edition parāṅmukham).

Verse 19 (6.84.19)

एवं जित्वा महाराज धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । व्यात्ताननो यथा कालस्तव सैन्यं जघान ह ॥

evaṃ jitvā mahārāja dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | vyāttānano yathā kālastava sainyaṃ jaghāna ha

Having won thus, great king, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, began to slaughter your army like Death with jaws gaping wide.

Verse 20 (6.84.20)

चेकितानस्तु वार्ष्णेयो गौतमं रथिनां वरम् । प्रेक्षतां सर्वसैन्यानां छादयामास सायकैः ॥

cekitānastu vārṣṇeyo gautamaṃ rathināṃ varam | prekṣatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ chādayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ

Chekitana of the Vrishni clan covered Gautama (Kripa), best of chariot-fighters, with arrows as all the armies looked on.

Verse 21 (6.84.21)

संनिवार्य शरांस्तांस्तु कृपः शारद्वतो युधि । चेकितानं रणे यत्तं राजन्विव्याध पत्रिभिः ॥

saṃnivārya śarāṃstāṃstu kṛpaḥ śāradvato yudhi | cekitānaṃ raṇe yattaṃ rājanvivyādha patribhiḥ

Kripa, son of Sharadvat, warded off those arrows in the fight and pierced Chekitana, who stood ready in battle, with feathered shafts, O king.

Note on the text: Corrected चेकितानां → चेकितानं (misprint in Wikisource; long ā, the masculine accusative is needed, critical edition cekitānaṃ).

Verse 22 (6.84.22)

अथापरेण भल्लेन धनुश्चिच्छेद मारिष । सारथिं चास्य समरे क्षिप्रहस्तो न्यपातयत् ॥

athāpareṇa bhallena dhanuściccheda māriṣa | sārathiṃ cāsya samare kṣiprahasto nyapātayat

Then with another broad-headed arrow, sir, he cut Chekitana's bow, and with a quick hand brought down his charioteer in the fight.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.80.22ab and cd (the automatic alignment found no match because the critical edition's verse has three lines).

Verse 23 (6.84.23)

अश्वांश्चास्यावधीद्राजन्नुभौ तौ पार्ष्णिसारथी । अवप्लुत्य रथात्तूर्णं गदां जग्राह सात्वतः ॥

aśvāṃścāsyāvadhīdrājannubhau tau pārṣṇisārathī | avaplutya rathāttūrṇaṃ gadāṃ jagrāha sātvataḥ

He killed his horses too, O king, and both of the flank-drivers. The Satvata leapt down quickly from his chariot and took up a mace.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.80.22ef (अश्वांश्च … उभौ तौ for hayāṃś ca … ubhau ca); line 2 is 6.80.23ab (अवप्लुत्य for so 'vaplutya). Corrected अश्वांस्छास्या → अश्वांश्चास्या (misprint in Wikisource; स्छ for श्च).

Verse 24 (6.84.24)

स तया वीरघातिन्या गदया गदिनां वरः । गौतमस्य हयान्हत्वा सारथिं च न्यपातयत् ॥

sa tayā vīraghātinyā gadayā gadināṃ varaḥ | gautamasya hayānhatvā sārathiṃ ca nyapātayat

With that hero-slaying mace, the best of mace-fighters killed Gautama's horses and brought down his charioteer.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.80.23cd and ef.

Verse 25 (6.84.25)

भूमिष्ठो गौतमस्तस्य शरांश्चिक्षेप षोडश । शरास्ते सात्वतं भित्त्वा प्राविशन्धरणीतलम् ॥

bhūmiṣṭho gautamastasya śarāṃścikṣepa ṣoḍaśa | śarāste sātvataṃ bhittvā prāviśandharaṇītalam

Standing on the ground, Gautama shot sixteen arrows at him; they pierced the Satvata and passed into the earth.

Note on the text: Removed a stray क after षोडश (misprint in Wikisource). Line 2 (शरास्ते … प्राविशन्धरणीतलम्) kept as a variant of te śarāḥ … prāviśanta dharātalam.

Verse 26 (6.84.26)

चेकितानस्ततः क्रुद्धः पुनश्चिक्षेप तां गदाम् । गौतमस्य वधाकाङ्क्षी वृत्रस्येव पुरन्दरः ॥

cekitānastataḥ kruddhaḥ punaścikṣepa tāṃ gadām | gautamasya vadhākāṅkṣī vṛtrasyeva purandaraḥ

Then Chekitana, enraged, hurled that mace again, eager to kill Gautama, as Indra, the breaker of cities, struck at Vritra.

Verse 27 (6.84.27)

तामापतन्तीं विमलामश्मगर्भां महागदाम् । शरैरनेकसाहस्रैर्वारयामास गौतमः ॥

tāmāpatantīṃ vimalāmaśmagarbhāṃ mahāgadām | śarairanekasāhasrairvārayāmāsa gautamaḥ

As that gleaming great mace with its core of stone flew at him, Gautama checked it with many thousands of arrows.

Note on the text: Corrected अश्यमगर्भां → अश्मगर्भां (misprint in Wikisource; a stray य, critical edition aśmagarbhāṃ) and अनेकसाहस्त्रैर् → अनेकसाहस्रैर् (misprint; स्त्र for स्र, critical edition anekasāhasrair).

Verse 28 (6.84.28)

चेकितानस्ततः खड्गं क्रोधादुद्धृत्य भारत । लाघवं परमास्थाय गौतमं समुपाद्रवत् ॥

cekitānastataḥ khaḍgaṃ krodhāduddhṛtya bhārata | lāghavaṃ paramāsthāya gautamaṃ samupādravat

Then Chekitana in anger drew his sword, O Bharata, and summoning all his speed rushed at Gautama.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गं → खड्गं (misprint in Wikisource; ङ्ग for ड्ग, critical edition khaḍgaṃ). क्रोधाद् for kośād kept as a variant.

Verse 29 (6.84.29)

गौतमोऽपि धनुस्त्यक्त्वा प्रगृह्यासिं सुसंयतः । वेगेन महता राजंश्चेकितानमुपाद्रवत् ॥

gautamo'pi dhanustyaktvā pragṛhyāsiṃ susaṃyataḥ | vegena mahatā rājaṃścekitānamupādravat

Gautama too put aside his bow, took up a sword with full self-command, and rushed at Chekitana with great speed, O king.

Verse 30 (6.84.30)

तावुभौ बलसंपन्नौ निस्त्रिंशवरधारिणौ । निस्त्रिंशाभ्यां सुतीक्ष्णाभ्यामन्योन्यं संततक्षतुः ॥

tāvubhau balasaṃpannau nistriṃśavaradhāriṇau | nistriṃśābhyāṃ sutīkṣṇābhyāmanyonyaṃ saṃtatakṣatuḥ

Both of them, full of strength and bearing fine swords, hacked at each other with their keen blades.

Verse 31 (6.84.31)

निस्त्रिंशवेगाभिहतौ ततस्तौ पुरुषर्षभौ । धरणीं समनुप्राप्तौ सर्वभूतनिषेविताम् ॥

nistriṃśavegābhihatau tatastau puruṣarṣabhau | dharaṇīṃ samanuprāptau sarvabhūtaniṣevitām

Struck by the force of the swords, those two bulls among men then fell to the earth, on which all beings dwell,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.80.30ab and cd.

Verse 32 (6.84.32)

मूर्छयाऽभिपरीताङ्गौ व्यायामेन तु मोहितौ । ततोऽभ्यधावद्वेगेन भीमसेनः सुहृत्तया ॥

mūrchayā'bhiparītāṅgau vyāyāmena tu mohitau | tato'bhyadhāvadvegena bhīmasenaḥ suhṛttayā

their limbs overcome by a swoon and their senses dulled by exhaustion. Then Bhimasena ran up swiftly out of friendship,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.80.30ef (तु for ca); line 2 is 6.80.31ab, where Wikisource names Bhimasena (भीमसेनः) and the critical edition Karakarsha (karakarṣaḥ); kept as a variant.

Verse 33 (6.84.33)

चेकितानं तथाभूतं दृष्ट्वा समरदुर्मदः । रथमारोपयच्चैनं सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥

cekitānaṃ tathābhūtaṃ dṛṣṭvā samaradurmadaḥ | rathamāropayaccainaṃ sarvasainyasya paśyataḥ

and seeing Chekitana in that state, that warrior fierce in battle lifted him onto his chariot as the whole army looked on.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.80.31cd and ef. Removed a stray क in सर्वसैकन्यस्य → सर्वसैन्यस्य (misprint in Wikisource).

Verse 34 (6.84.34)

तथैव शकुनिः शूरः स्यालस्तव विशांपते । आरोपयद्रथं तूर्णं गौतमं रथिनां वरम् ॥

tathaiva śakuniḥ śūraḥ syālastava viśāṃpate | āropayadrathaṃ tūrṇaṃ gautamaṃ rathināṃ varam

In the same way the valiant Shakuni, your brother-in-law, lord of the people, quickly took Gautama, best of chariot-fighters, onto his chariot.

Note on the text: Corrected शकुनि → शकुनिः (misprint in Wikisource; the nominative needs its visarga, critical edition śakuniḥ) and removed a stray क after विशांपते.

Verse 35 (6.84.35)

सौमदत्तिं ततः क्रुद्धो धृष्टकेतुर्महाबलः । नवत्या सायकैः क्षिप्रं राजन्विव्याध वक्षसि ॥

saumadattiṃ tataḥ kruddho dhṛṣṭaketurmahābalaḥ | navatyā sāyakaiḥ kṣipraṃ rājanvivyādha vakṣasi

Then the mighty Dhrishtaketu, enraged, quickly pierced the son of Somadatta in the chest with ninety arrows, O king.

Verse 36 (6.84.36)

सौमदत्तिरुरस्थैस्तैर्भृशं बाणैरशोभत । मध्यंदिने महाराज रश्मिभिस्तपनो यथा ॥

saumadattirurasthaistairbhṛśaṃ bāṇairaśobhata | madhyaṃdine mahārāja raśmibhistapano yathā

With those arrows lodged in his chest the son of Somadatta shone brightly, great king, like the sun with its rays at midday.

Verse 37 (6.84.37)

भूरिश्रवास्तु समरे धृष्टकेतुं महारथम् । हतसूतहयं चक्रे विरथं सायकोत्तमैः ॥

bhūriśravāstu samare dhṛṣṭaketuṃ mahāratham | hatasūtahayaṃ cakre virathaṃ sāyakottamaiḥ

But Bhurishravas, with his excellent arrows, left the great chariot-fighter Dhrishtaketu chariotless in the battle, his charioteer and horses slain.

Verse 38 (6.84.38)

विरथं तं समालोक्य हताश्वं हतसारथिम् । महता शरवर्षेण च्छादयामास संयुगे ॥

virathaṃ taṃ samālokya hatāśvaṃ hatasārathim | mahatā śaravarṣeṇa cchādayāmāsa saṃyuge

Seeing him without a chariot, his horses and charioteer slain, he covered him in the fight with a great shower of arrows.

Verse 39 (6.84.39)

स तु तं रथमुत्सृज्य धृष्टकेतुर्महामनाः । आरुरोह ततो यानं शतानीकस्य मारिष ॥

sa tu taṃ rathamutsṛjya dhṛṣṭaketurmahāmanāḥ | āruroha tato yānaṃ śatānīkasya māriṣa

The high-minded Dhrishtaketu abandoned that chariot, sir, and mounted Shatanika's vehicle.

Verse 40 (6.84.40)

चित्रसेनो विकर्णश्च राजन्दुर्मर्षणस्तथा । रथिनो हेमसन्नाहाः सौभद्रमभिदुद्रुवुः ॥

citraseno vikarṇaśca rājandurmarṣaṇastathā | rathino hemasannāhāḥ saubhadramabhidudruvuḥ

Chitrasena, Vikarna and Durmarshana, O king, chariot-fighters in golden armour, charged at the son of Subhadra.

Verse 41 (6.84.41)

अभिमन्योस्ततस्तैस्तु घोरं युद्धमवर्तत । शरीरस्य यथा राजन्वातपित्तकफैस्त्रिभिः ॥

abhimanyostatastaistu ghoraṃ yuddhamavartata | śarīrasya yathā rājanvātapittakaphaistribhiḥ

Then a fierce battle raged between Abhimanyu and them, O king, like the struggle of the body with the three humours, wind, bile and phlegm.

Verse 42 (6.84.42)

विरथांस्तव पुत्रांस्तु कृत्वा राजन्महाहवे । न जघान नरव्याघ्रः स्मरन्भीमवचस्तदा ॥

virathāṃstava putrāṃstu kṛtvā rājanmahāhave | na jaghāna naravyāghraḥ smaranbhīmavacastadā

Having made your sons chariotless in that great battle, O king, that tiger among men did not kill them, remembering Bhima's words.

Verse 43 (6.84.43)

ततो राज्ञां बहुशतैर्गजाश्वरथयायिभिः । संवृतं समरे भीष्मं देवैरपि दुरासदम् ॥

tato rājñāṃ bahuśatairgajāśvarathayāyibhiḥ | saṃvṛtaṃ samare bhīṣmaṃ devairapi durāsadam

Then Bhishma, surrounded in battle by many hundreds of kings riding on elephants, horses and chariots, and hard for even the gods to approach,

Verse 44 (6.84.44)

प्रयान्तं शीघ्रमुद्वीक्ष्य परित्रातुं सुतांस्तव । अभिमन्युं समुद्दिश्य बालमेकं महारथम् ॥

prayāntaṃ śīghramudvīkṣya paritrātuṃ sutāṃstava | abhimanyuṃ samuddiśya bālamekaṃ mahāratham

was seen hurrying to rescue your sons, making for Abhimanyu, a lone boy though a great chariot-fighter. Seeing this,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.80.42ab and cd.

Verse 45 (6.84.45)

वासुदेवमुवाचेदं कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः । चोदयाश्वान्हृषीकेश यत्रैते बहुला रथाः ॥

vāsudevamuvācedaṃ kaunteyaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ | codayāśvānhṛṣīkeśa yatraite bahulā rathāḥ

the son of Kunti, he of the white horses, said to Vasudeva: "Drive the horses, Hrishikesha, to where these many chariots are.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.80.42ef; line 2 is 6.80.43ab, where Arjuna's words to Krishna begin.

Verse 46 (6.84.46)

एते हि बहवः शूराः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः । यथा हन्युर्न नः सेनां तथा माधव चोदय ॥

ete hi bahavaḥ śūrāḥ kṛtāstrā yuddhadurmadāḥ | yathā hanyurna naḥ senāṃ tathā mādhava codaya

For these are many warriors, brave, skilled in weapons and fierce in battle. Drive on, Madhava, so that they may not destroy our army."

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.80.43cd and ef (हन्युर्न for na hanyur). Arjuna's speech; the page prints no heading, and the verse is given to him.

Verse 47 (6.84.47)

एवमुक्तः स वार्ष्णेयः कौन्तेयेनामितौजसा । रथं श्वेतहयैर्युक्तं प्रेषयामास संयुगे ॥

evamuktaḥ sa vārṣṇeyaḥ kaunteyenāmitaujasā | rathaṃ śvetahayairyuktaṃ preṣayāmāsa saṃyuge

Thus addressed by the son of Kunti of boundless energy, the Vrishni hero drove the chariot yoked with white horses into the fight.

Verse 48 (6.84.48)

निष्ठानको महानासीत्तव सैन्यस्य मारिष । यदर्जुनो रणे क्रुद्धः संयातस्तावकान्प्रति ॥

niṣṭhānako mahānāsīttava sainyasya māriṣa | yadarjuno raṇe kruddhaḥ saṃyātastāvakānprati

A great uproar arose in your army, sir, when Arjuna in his anger advanced on your men in battle.

Verse 49 (6.84.49)

समासाद्य तु कौन्तेयो राज्ञस्तान्भीष्मरक्षिणः । सुशर्माणमथो राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

samāsādya tu kaunteyo rājñastānbhīṣmarakṣiṇaḥ | suśarmāṇamatho rājannidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Reaching those kings who were guarding Bhishma, the son of Kunti then spoke these words to Susharman, O king:

Verse 50 (6.84.50)

जानामि त्वां युधां श्रेष्ठमत्यन्तं पूर्ववैरिणम् । अनयस्याद्य संप्राप्तं फलं पश्य सुदारुणम् ॥

jānāmi tvāṃ yudhāṃ śreṣṭhamatyantaṃ pūrvavairiṇam | anayasyādya saṃprāptaṃ phalaṃ paśya sudāruṇam

"I know you, foremost of fighters and my enemy from long ago. See now the bitter fruit of your misconduct, which has come to you today.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.80.47ab and cd (युधां for yudhi, अनयस्य for paryāyasya, both kept as variants). Arjuna's speech; the page prints no heading, and the verse is given to him.

Verse 51 (6.84.51)

अद्य ते दर्शयिष्यामि पूर्वप्रेतान्पितामहान् । एवं संजल्पतस्तस्य बीभत्सोः शत्रुघातिनः ॥

adya te darśayiṣyāmi pūrvapretānpitāmahān | evaṃ saṃjalpatastasya bībhatsoḥ śatrughātinaḥ

Today I will show you your forefathers who have gone before." Though Bibhatsu, the slayer of foes, spoke to him thus,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.80.47ef (the end of Arjuna's speech); line 2 is 6.80.48ab.

Verse 52 (6.84.52)

श्रुत्वापि परुषं वाक्यं सुशर्मा रथयूथपः । न चैनमब्रवीत्किंचिच्छुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम् ॥

śrutvāpi paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ suśarmā rathayūthapaḥ | na cainamabravītkiṃcicchubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham

and though he heard those harsh words, Susharman, leader of a host of chariots, said nothing to him, good or ill.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.80.48cd and ef.

Verse 53 (6.84.53)

अभिगम्यार्जुनं वीरं राजभिर्बहुभिर्वृतः । पुरस्तात्पृष्ठतश्चैव पार्श्वतश्चैव सर्वतः ॥

abhigamyārjunaṃ vīraṃ rājabhirbahubhirvṛtaḥ | purastātpṛṣṭhataścaiva pārśvataścaiva sarvataḥ

Advancing on the hero Arjuna, surrounded by many kings, in front, behind, on the flanks and on every side,

Verse 54 (6.84.54)

परिवार्यार्जुनं सङ्ख्ये तव पुत्रैर्महारथः । शरैः संछादयामास मेघैरिव दिवाकरम् ॥

parivāryārjunaṃ saṅkhye tava putrairmahārathaḥ | śaraiḥ saṃchādayāmāsa meghairiva divākaram

that great chariot-fighter, with your sons, encircled Arjuna in the battle and covered him with arrows, as clouds cover the sun.

Verse 55 (6.84.55)

ततः प्रवृत्तः सुमहान्संग्रामः शोणितोदकः । तावकानां च समरे पाण्डवानां च भारत ॥

tataḥ pravṛttaḥ sumahānsaṃgrāmaḥ śoṇitodakaḥ | tāvakānāṃ ca samare pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata

Then a very great battle began, O Bharata, with blood for its water, between your men and the Pandavas.