Bhima Slays Eight Sons of Dhritarashtra

Verse 1 (6.88.1)

भीष्मं तु समरे क्रुद्धं प्रतपन्तं समन्ततः । न शेकुः पाण्डवा द्रष्टुं तपन्तमिव भास्करम् ॥

bhīṣmaṃ tu samare kruddhaṃ pratapantaṃ samantataḥ | na śekuḥ pāṇḍavā draṣṭuṃ tapantamiva bhāskaram

As Bhishma, enraged in the battle, scorched them on every side, the Pandavas could not bear to look at him, as one cannot look at the blazing sun.

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: checked against the raw Wikisource page (a table, one row per verse, 6-88-1 to 6-88-44, under one सञ्जय उवाच heading, ending with its colophon naming this the 88th adhyaya, on the eighth day of battle). Page and input agree on all 44 verses; together they correspond to the critical edition 6.84.1–43 (verses 12–14 here divide its three-line verses 6.84.12–13 into couplets). The critical edition's star passages *0336 and *0337 are not on the page. Duryodhana's complaint (verses 37–38) and Bhishma's reply (verses 40–44) carry no heading on the page and are given to their speakers.

Verse 2 (6.88.2)

ततः सर्वाणि सैन्यानि धर्मपुत्रस्य शासनात् । अभ्यद्रवन्त गाङ्गेयं मर्दयन्तं शितैः शरैः ॥

tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāni dharmaputrasya śāsanāt | abhyadravanta gāṅgeyaṃ mardayantaṃ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ

Then, at the command of the son of Dharma, all the troops rushed at the son of Ganga, who was crushing them with sharp arrows.

Verse 3 (6.88.3)

स तु भीष्मो रणश्लाघी सोमकान्सहसृञ्जयान् । पाञ्चालांश्च महेष्वासान्पातयामास सायकैः ॥

sa tu bhīṣmo raṇaślāghī somakānsahasṛñjayān | pāñcālāṃśca maheṣvāsānpātayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ

But Bhishma, who gloried in battle, struck down with his arrows the Somakas together with the Srinjayas, and the great bowmen of Panchala.

Note on the text: Corrected तोमकान् → सोमकान् (misprint in Wikisource; त for स, the Somakas, critical edition somakān) and सहसृज्जयान् → सहसृञ्जयान् (misprint in Wikisource; ज्ज for ञ्ज, critical edition sahasṛñjayān).

Verse 4 (6.88.4)

ते वध्यमाना भीष्मेण पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सह । भीष्ममेवाभ्ययुस्तूर्णं त्यक्त्वा मृत्युकृतं भयम् ॥

te vadhyamānā bhīṣmeṇa pāñcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha | bhīṣmamevābhyayustūrṇaṃ tyaktvā mṛtyukṛtaṃ bhayam

Though being slaughtered by Bhishma, the Panchalas, together with the Pandavas, cast off the fear of death and rushed straight at Bhishma.

Note on the text: पाण्डवैः सह (CE somakaiḥ saha) kept as a variant.

Verse 5 (6.88.5)

स तेषां रथिनां वीरो भीष्मः शान्तनवो युधि । चिच्छेद सहसा राजन्बाहूनथ शिरांसि च ॥

sa teṣāṃ rathināṃ vīro bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo yudhi | ciccheda sahasā rājanbāhūnatha śirāṃsi ca

The hero Bhishma son of Shantanu, O king, swiftly cut off the arms and the heads of those chariot-fighters in the battle.

Verse 6 (6.88.6)

विरथान्रथिनश्चक्रे पिता देवव्रतस्तव । पतितान्युत्तमाङ्गानि हयेभ्यो हयसादिनाम् ॥

virathānrathinaścakre pitā devavratastava | patitānyuttamāṅgāni hayebhyo hayasādinām

Devavrata, a father to you, made chariot-fighters chariotless; the heads of horsemen fell from their horses.

Verse 7 (6.88.7)

निर्मनुष्यांश्च मातङ्गाञ्शयानान्पर्वतोपमान् । अपश्याम महाराज भीष्मास्त्रेण प्रमाथितान् ॥

nirmanuṣyāṃśca mātaṅgāñśayānānparvatopamān | apaśyāma mahārāja bhīṣmāstreṇa pramāthitān

We saw elephants, great king, emptied of their riders, lying like mountains, crushed by Bhishma's weapon.

Note on the text: प्रमाथितान् (CE pramohitān) kept as a variant.

Verse 8 (6.88.8)

न तत्रासीत्पुमान्कश्चित्पाण्डवानां विशांपते । अन्यत्र रथिनां श्रेष्ठाद्भीमसेनान्महाबलात् ॥

na tatrāsītpumānkaścitpāṇḍavānāṃ viśāṃpate | anyatra rathināṃ śreṣṭhādbhīmasenānmahābalāt

Of the Pandavas there was not one man there to face him, lord of the people, except mighty Bhimasena, best of chariot-fighters.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रेष्ठद्भीमसेनान् → श्रेष्ठाद्भीमसेनान् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ा in the ablative श्रेष्ठात्, critical edition śreṣṭhād).

Verse 9 (6.88.9)

स हि भीष्मं समासाद्य छादयामास सायकैः । ततो निष्टानको घोरो भीष्मभीमसमागमे ॥

sa hi bhīṣmaṃ samāsādya chādayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ | tato niṣṭānako ghoro bhīṣmabhīmasamāgame

He came up to Bhishma and covered him with arrows. Then, at the meeting of Bhishma and Bhima, a dreadful din

Note on the text: छादयामास सायकैः (CE tāḍayām āsa saṃyuge) kept as a variant.

Verse 10 (6.88.10)

बभूव सर्वसैन्यानां घोररूपो भयानकः । तथैव पाण्डवा हृष्टाः सिंहनादमथानदन् ॥

babhūva sarvasainyānāṃ ghorarūpo bhayānakaḥ | tathaiva pāṇḍavā hṛṣṭāḥ siṃhanādamathānadan

arose among all the armies, terrible in form and fearful; and the Pandavas, delighted, roared out lion-roars.

Verse 11 (6.88.11)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा सोदर्यैः परिवारितः । भीष्मं जुगोप समरे वर्तमाने जनक्षये ॥

tato duryodhano rājā sodaryaiḥ parivāritaḥ | bhīṣmaṃ jugopa samare vartamāne janakṣaye

Then King Duryodhana, surrounded by his brothers, guarded Bhishma in the battle as the slaughter of men went on.

Verse 12 (6.88.12)

भीमस्तु सारथिं हत्वा भीष्मस्य रथिनां वरः । प्रद्रुताश्वे रथे तस्मिन्द्रवमाणे समन्ततः ॥

bhīmastu sārathiṃ hatvā bhīṣmasya rathināṃ varaḥ | pradrutāśve rathe tasmindravamāṇe samantataḥ

But Bhima, best of chariot-fighters, killed Bhishma's charioteer; and as the chariot, its horses bolting, ran about in every direction,

Note on the text: Corresponds to 6.84.12ab + 6.84.12cd (Wikisource divides the critical edition's three-line verses here into couplets, so nothing is lost: verses 12–14 here = critical edition 6.84.12–13; the alignment did not pair them). प्रद्रुताश्वे (CE vidrutāśve) kept as a variant.

Verse 13 (6.88.13)

सुनाभस्य शरेणाशु शिरश्चिच्छेद भारत । क्षुरप्रेण सुतीक्ष्णेन स हतो न्यपतद्भुवि ॥

sunābhasya śareṇāśu śiraściccheda bhārata | kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena sa hato nyapatadbhuvi

he swiftly cut off Sunabha's head with an arrow, O Bharata, a very sharp razor-headed arrow, and Sunabha fell dead upon the ground.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 6.84.12ef + 6.84.13ab (Wikisource divides the critical edition's three-line verses here into couplets, so nothing is lost). भारत (CE cārihā) kept as a variant.

Verse 14 (6.88.14)

हते तस्मिन्महाराज तव पुत्रे महारथे । नामृष्यन्त रणे शूराः सोदराः सप्त संयुगे ॥

hate tasminmahārāja tava putre mahārathe | nāmṛṣyanta raṇe śūrāḥ sodarāḥ sapta saṃyuge

When that son of yours, a great chariot-fighter, had been slain, great king, his seven heroic brothers could not bear it in the battle:

Note on the text: Corresponds to 6.84.13cd + 6.84.13ef (Wikisource divides the critical edition's three-line verses here into couplets, so nothing is lost). सोदराः (CE sodaryāḥ) kept as a variant.

Verse 15 (6.88.15)

आदित्यकेतुर्बह्वाशी कुण्डधारो महोदरः । अपराजितः पण्डितको विशालाक्षः सुदुर्जयः ॥

ādityaketurbahvāśī kuṇḍadhāro mahodaraḥ | aparājitaḥ paṇḍitako viśālākṣaḥ sudurjayaḥ

Adityaketu, Bahvashin, Kundadhara, Mahodara, Aparajita, Panditaka and the invincible Vishalaksha.

Verse 16 (6.88.16)

पाण्डवं चित्रसन्नाहा विचित्रकवचध्वजाः । अभ्यद्रवन्त संग्रामे योद्धुकामारिमर्दनाः ॥

pāṇḍavaṃ citrasannāhā vicitrakavacadhvajāḥ | abhyadravanta saṃgrāme yoddhukāmārimardanāḥ

In bright mail, with splendid armour and banners, those crushers of foes, eager to fight, rushed at the Pandava (Bhima) in the battle.

Verse 17 (6.88.17)

महोदरस्तु समरे भीमं विव्याध पत्रिभिः । नवभिर्वज्रसंकाशैर्नमुचिं वृत्रहा यथा ॥

mahodarastu samare bhīmaṃ vivyādha patribhiḥ | navabhirvajrasaṃkāśairnamuciṃ vṛtrahā yathā

Mahodara pierced Bhima in the battle with nine feathered arrows like thunderbolts, as the slayer of Vritra (Indra) pierced Namuchi.

Note on the text: Corrected वद्रसंकाशैः → वज्रसंकाशैः (misprint in Wikisource; द्र for ज्र, "like thunderbolts", critical edition vajrasaṃkāśair).

Verse 18 (6.88.18)

आदित्यकेतुः सप्तत्या बह्वाशी चापि पञ्चभिः । नवत्या कुण्डधारश्च विशालाक्षश्च पञ्चभिः ॥

ādityaketuḥ saptatyā bahvāśī cāpi pañcabhiḥ | navatyā kuṇḍadhāraśca viśālākṣaśca pañcabhiḥ

Adityaketu pierced him with seventy, Bahvashin with five, Kundadhara with ninety, and Vishalaksha with five.

Note on the text: कुण्डधारश्च and विशालाक्षश्च पञ्चभिः (CE kuṇḍadhāras tu, viśālākṣaś ca saptabhiḥ — seven arrows) kept as variants.

Verse 19 (6.88.19)

अपराजितो महाराज पराजिष्णुर्महारथम् । शरैर्बहुभिरानर्च्छद्भीमसेनं महाबलम् ॥

aparājito mahārāja parājiṣṇurmahāratham | śarairbahubhirānarcchadbhīmasenaṃ mahābalam

Aparajita, great king, eager for victory, struck the great chariot-fighter, mighty Bhimasena, with many arrows.

Note on the text: महारथम् (CE mahārathaḥ; here agreeing with भीमसेनं) kept as a variant.

Verse 20 (6.88.20)

रणे पण्डितकश्चैनं त्रिभिर्बाणैः समार्पयत् । स तं न ममृषे भीमः शत्रुभिर्वधमाहवे ॥

raṇe paṇḍitakaścainaṃ tribhirbāṇaiḥ samārpayat | sa taṃ na mamṛṣe bhīmaḥ śatrubhirvadhamāhave

And Panditaka struck him in the battle with three arrows. Bhima could not endure being struck by his enemies in the fight.

Note on the text: समार्पयत् (CE samardayat) kept as a variant.

Verse 21 (6.88.21)

धनुः प्रपीड्य वामेन करेणामित्रकर्शनः । शिरश्चिच्छेद समरे शरेणानतपर्वणा ॥

dhanuḥ prapīḍya vāmena kareṇāmitrakarśanaḥ | śiraściccheda samare śareṇānataparvaṇā

Gripping his bow with his left hand, that tormentor of foes cut off (Aparajita's) head in the battle with a smooth-jointed arrow.

Note on the text: Corrected अमित्रकर्सनः → अमित्रकर्शनः (misprint in Wikisource; स for श, critical edition amitrakarśanaḥ). शरेणानतपर्वणा (CE śareṇa nataparvaṇā) kept as a variant. The critical edition's star passage *0336 (naming Aparajita in this verse) is not on the page.

Verse 22 (6.88.22)

अपराजितस्य सुनसं तव पुत्रस्य संयुगे । पराजितस्य भीमेन कृत्तं गामपतच्छिरः ॥

aparājitasya sunasaṃ tava putrasya saṃyuge | parājitasya bhīmena kṛttaṃ gāmapatacchiraḥ

The fine-nosed head of your son Aparajita, defeated by Bhima in the battle, was severed and fell to the ground.

Note on the text: कृत्तं गामपतच्छिरः (CE nipapāta śiro mahīm) kept as a variant.

Verse 23 (6.88.23)

अथापरेण भल्लेन कुण्डधारं महारथम् । प्राहिणोन्मृत्युलोकाय सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः ॥

athāpareṇa bhallena kuṇḍadhāraṃ mahāratham | prāhiṇonmṛtyulokāya sarvalokasya paśyataḥ

Then, with another broad-headed arrow, he sent the great chariot-fighter Kundadhara to the world of the dead, as all the world looked on.

Verse 24 (6.88.24)

ततः पुनरमेयात्मा प्रसंधाय शिलीमुखम् । प्रेषयामास समरे पण्डितं प्रति भारत ॥

tataḥ punarameyātmā prasaṃdhāya śilīmukham | preṣayāmāsa samare paṇḍitaṃ prati bhārata

Then he of immeasurable spirit fitted another arrow and sent it in the battle at Panditaka, O Bharata.

Verse 25 (6.88.25)

स शरः पण्डितं हत्वा विवेश धरणीतलम् । यथा नरं निहत्याशु भुजगः कालचोदितः ॥

sa śaraḥ paṇḍitaṃ hatvā viveśa dharaṇītalam | yathā naraṃ nihatyāśu bhujagaḥ kālacoditaḥ

That arrow killed Panditaka and entered the ground, as a serpent driven by fate swiftly kills a man and slips into the earth.

Verse 26 (6.88.26)

विशालाक्षशिरश्छित्त्वा पातयामास भूतले । त्रिभिः शरैरदीनात्मा स्मरन्क्लेशं पुरातनम् ॥

viśālākṣaśiraśchittvā pātayāmāsa bhūtale | tribhiḥ śarairadīnātmā smarankleśaṃ purātanam

With three arrows the undaunted hero cut off Vishalaksha's head and struck it to the ground, remembering the sufferings of old.

Verse 27 (6.88.27)

महोदरं महेष्वासं नाराचेन स्तनान्तरे । विव्याध समरे राजन्स हतो न्यपतद्भुवि ॥

mahodaraṃ maheṣvāsaṃ nārācena stanāntare | vivyādha samare rājansa hato nyapatadbhuvi

He pierced the great bowman Mahodara between the breasts with an iron shaft in the battle, O king, and he fell dead upon the ground.

Verse 28 (6.88.28)

आदित्यकेतोः केतुं च च्छित्त्वा बाणेन संयुगे । भल्लेन भृशतीक्ष्णेन शिरश्चिच्छेद भारत ॥

ādityaketoḥ ketuṃ ca cchittvā bāṇena saṃyuge | bhallena bhṛśatīkṣṇena śiraściccheda bhārata

Cutting down Adityaketu's banner with an arrow in the battle, he cut off his head with a very sharp broad-headed arrow, O Bharata.

Note on the text: भारत (CE cārihā) kept as a variant.

Verse 29 (6.88.29)

बह्वाशिनं ततो भीमः शरेणानतपर्वणा । प्रेषयामास संक्रुद्धो यमस्य सदनं प्रति ॥

bahvāśinaṃ tato bhīmaḥ śareṇānataparvaṇā | preṣayāmāsa saṃkruddho yamasya sadanaṃ prati

Then Bhima, enraged, sent Bahvashin to the abode of Yama with a smooth-jointed arrow.

Note on the text: Corrected तत → ततो (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ो, critical edition tato) and शरेणानतर्वणा → शरेणानतपर्वणा (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped प, as the page itself reads in verse 21; critical edition śareṇa nataparvaṇā).

Verse 30 (6.88.30)

प्रदुद्रुवुस्ततस्तेऽन्ये पुत्रास्तव विशांपते । मन्यमाना हि तत्सत्यं सभायां तस्य भाषितम् ॥

pradudruvustataste'nye putrāstava viśāṃpate | manyamānā hi tatsatyaṃ sabhāyāṃ tasya bhāṣitam

Then your other sons fled, lord of the people, believing that what he had said in the assembly hall was true.

Verse 31 (6.88.31)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा भ्रातृव्यसनकर्शितः । अब्रवीत्तावकान्योधान्भीमोऽयं वध्यतामिति ॥

tato duryodhano rājā bhrātṛvyasanakarśitaḥ | abravīttāvakānyodhānbhīmo'yaṃ vadhyatāmiti

Then King Duryodhana, worn down by the calamity to his brothers, said to your warriors, "Let this Bhima be killed!"

Note on the text: भीमोऽयं वध्यतामिति (CE bhīmo 'yaṃ yudhi vadhyatām) kept as a variant.

Verse 32 (6.88.32)

एवमेते महेष्वासाः पुत्रास्तव विशांपते । भ्रातॄन्संदृश्य निहतान्प्रस्मरंस्ते हि तद्वचः ॥

evamete maheṣvāsāḥ putrāstava viśāṃpate | bhrātṝnsaṃdṛśya nihatānprasmaraṃste hi tadvacaḥ

Thus these great bowmen, your sons, lord of the people, seeing their brothers slain, remembered those words

Note on the text: Corrected पुत्रास्त्व → पुत्रास्तव (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped अ, critical edition putrās tava). प्रस्मरंस्ते (CE prāsmaraṃs te, without the augment) kept as a variant. The critical edition's star passage *0337 is not on the page.

Verse 33 (6.88.33)

यदुक्तवान्महाप्राज्ञः क्षत्ता हितमनामयम् । तदिदं समनुप्राप्तं वचनं दिव्यदर्शिनः ॥

yaduktavānmahāprājñaḥ kṣattā hitamanāmayam | tadidaṃ samanuprāptaṃ vacanaṃ divyadarśinaḥ

which the wise Kshattri (Vidura) had spoken, wholesome and for their good. That word of the man of divine sight has now come to pass.

Verse 34 (6.88.34)

लोभमोहसमाविष्टः पुत्रप्रीत्या जनाधिप । न बुध्यसे पुरा यत्तत्तथ्यमुक्तं वचो महत् ॥

lobhamohasamāviṣṭaḥ putraprītyā janādhipa | na budhyase purā yattattathyamuktaṃ vaco mahat

Possessed by greed and folly, out of love for your son, lord of men, you did not understand the true and weighty words spoken long ago.

Verse 35 (6.88.35)

तथैव च वधार्थाय पुत्राणां पाण्डवो बली । नूनं जातो महाबाहुर्यथा हन्ति स्म कौरवान् ॥

tathaiva ca vadhārthāya putrāṇāṃ pāṇḍavo balī | nūnaṃ jāto mahābāhuryathā hanti sma kauravān

Just so, the mighty, strong-armed Pandava must surely have been born for the slaughter of your sons, the way he is killing the Kauravas.

Verse 36 (6.88.36)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा भीष्ममासाद्य संयुगे । दुःखेन महताऽऽविष्टो विललाप सुदुःखितः ॥

tato duryodhano rājā bhīṣmamāsādya saṃyuge | duḥkhena mahatā''viṣṭo vilalāpa suduḥkhitaḥ

Then King Duryodhana, overcome with great grief, came up to Bhishma in the battle and lamented in deep distress:

Note on the text: Corrected दुरयोधनो → दुर्योधनो (misprint in Wikisource; र for the repha, critical edition duryodhano). संयुगे and सुदुःखितः (CE māriṣa, atikarśitaḥ) kept as variants.

Verse 37 (6.88.37)

निहता भ्रातरः शूरा भीमसेनेन मे युधि । यतमानास्तथान्येऽपि हन्यन्ते सर्वसैनिकाः ॥

nihatā bhrātaraḥ śūrā bhīmasenena me yudhi | yatamānāstathānye'pi hanyante sarvasainikāḥ

"My heroic brothers have been slain in battle by Bhimasena, and the others too, all our soldiers, are being killed though they strive.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana's lament to Bhishma, introduced in verse 36; the page prints no heading here.

Verse 38 (6.88.38)

भवांश्च मध्यस्थतया नित्यमस्मानुपेक्षते । सोऽहं कुपथमारूढः पश्य दैवमिदं मम ॥

bhavāṃśca madhyasthatayā nityamasmānupekṣate | so'haṃ kupathamārūḍhaḥ paśya daivamidaṃ mama

And you, standing aside as a neutral, always neglect us. I have taken the wrong road; see this fate of mine!"

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as in verse 37 (no heading on the page). कुपथम् (CE kāpatham) kept as a variant.

Verse 39 (6.88.39)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचः क्रूरं पिता देवव्रतस्तव । दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीत्साश्रुलोचनः ॥

etacchrutvā vacaḥ krūraṃ pitā devavratastava | duryodhanamidaṃ vākyamabravītsāśrulocanaḥ

Hearing these cruel words, Devavrata, a father to you, his eyes full of tears, said this to Duryodhana:

Note on the text: Corrected समाश्रुलोचनः → साश्रुलोचनः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray म, "with tearful eyes"; the critical edition reads sāśrulocanam, applying it to Duryodhana, but the page's nominative, describing Bhishma, is kept).

Verse 40 (6.88.40)

उक्तमेतन्मया पूर्वं द्रोणेन विदुरेण च । गान्धार्या च यशस्विन्या तत्त्वं तात न बुद्धवान् ॥

uktametanmayā pūrvaṃ droṇena vidureṇa ca | gāndhāryā ca yaśasvinyā tattvaṃ tāta na buddhavān

"This was told you long ago by me, by Drona, by Vidura and by the illustrious Gandhari; you did not grasp it, my son.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma's reply to Duryodhana, introduced in verse 39; the page prints no heading for verses 40–44.

Verse 41 (6.88.41)

समयश्च मया पूर्वं कृतो वै शत्रुकर्शन । नाहं युधि नियोक्तव्यो नाप्याचार्यः कथंचन ॥

samayaśca mayā pūrvaṃ kṛto vai śatrukarśana | nāhaṃ yudhi niyoktavyo nāpyācāryaḥ kathaṃcana

And I made a compact with you before, tormentor of foes: neither I nor the Teacher (Drona) is to be put to the fight against them in any way.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (no heading on the page). Separated नाहंयुधि → नाहं युधि (a missing space on the page) and corrected कथंचना → कथंचन (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ा, critical edition kathaṃ cana). वै and नियोक्तव्यो (CE vaḥ, vimoktavyo) kept as variants.

Verse 42 (6.88.42)

यं यं हि धार्तराष्ट्राणां भीमो द्रक्ष्यति संयुगे । हनिष्यति रणे नित्यं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

yaṃ yaṃ hi dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ bhīmo drakṣyati saṃyuge | haniṣyati raṇe nityaṃ satyametadbravīmi te

Whichever of Dhritarashtra's sons Bhima sees in battle, he will kill him in the fight, every time; this is the truth I tell you.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (no heading on the page). Corrected यय → यं यं (misprint in Wikisource; the anusvaras and the repeated pronoun dropped, leaving the line a syllable short; critical edition yaṃ yaṃ) and धर्तराष्ट्राणां → धार्तराष्ट्राणां (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ा, critical edition dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ). नित्यं (CE taṃ taṃ) kept as a variant.

Verse 43 (6.88.43)

स त्वं राजन्स्थिरो भूत्वा रणे कृत्वा दृढां मतिम् । योधयस्व रणे पार्थान्स्वर्गं कृत्वा परायणम् ॥

sa tvaṃ rājansthiro bhūtvā raṇe kṛtvā dṛḍhāṃ matim | yodhayasva raṇe pārthānsvargaṃ kṛtvā parāyaṇam

So, king, stand firm, set your mind resolutely on battle, and fight the Parthas, making heaven your final goal.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (no heading on the page).

Verse 44 (6.88.44)

न शक्याः पाण्डवा जेतुं सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः । तस्माद्युद्धे स्थिरां कृत्वा मतिं युद्ध्यस्व भारत ॥

na śakyāḥ pāṇḍavā jetuṃ sendrairapi surāsuraiḥ | tasmādyuddhe sthirāṃ kṛtvā matiṃ yuddhyasva bhārata

The Pandavas cannot be conquered even by the gods and the Asuras with Indra at their head. Therefore make your mind firm for battle, and fight, O Bharata."

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (no heading on the page). Corrected शक्यः → शक्याः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ा, the plural agreeing with पाण्डवाः is needed, critical edition śakyāḥ). The second line's word order (CE tasmād yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā sthirāṃ yudhyasva bhārata) is kept as a variant.