Bhishma's Vow; Duryodhana Has Bhishma Guarded

Verse 1 (6.98.1)

वाक्शल्यैस्तव पुत्रेण सोऽतिविद्धो महामनाः । नोवाच दुःखोपहतो ह्यप्रियं प्रियमण्वपि ॥

vākśalyaistava putreṇa so'tividdho mahāmanāḥ | novāca duḥkhopahato hyapriyaṃ priyamaṇvapi

Pierced deeply by your son's darts of speech, the great-souled Bhishma, stricken with grief, said nothing at all, neither unkind nor kind.

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: checked against the raw Wikisource page (a table, rows 6-98-1 to 6-98-51, headed सञ्जय उवाच at 1, 24 and 49, ending with its colophon naming this the 98th adhyaya, on the ninth day of battle). Page and input agree on all 51 verses; together they correspond to the critical edition 6.94.1–6.95.25 with its star passages 6.94.9f*0378, 6.94.11b*0380 and 6.94.13d*0381. The critical edition's star passages 6.94.10d*0379 and 6.95.15d*0382 are not on the page. This verse is a variant of the critical edition's 6.94.1 (so 'tividdhaḥ pitāmahaḥ / duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭo novācāpriyam aṇv api); kept.

Verse 2 (6.98.2)

स ध्यात्वा सुचिरं कालं दुःखरोषसमन्वितः । श्वसन्निव महानागः प्रणुन्नो वाक्शलाकया ॥

sa dhyātvā suciraṃ kālaṃ duḥkharoṣasamanvitaḥ | śvasanniva mahānāgaḥ praṇunno vākśalākayā

For a long while he brooded, full of grief and anger, sighing like a great serpent prodded by the goad of those words.

Verse 3 (6.98.3)

उद्वृत्य चक्षुषी कोपान्निर्दहन्निव भारत । सदेवासुरगन्धर्वं लोकं काल इवापरः ॥

udvṛtya cakṣuṣī kopānnirdahanniva bhārata | sadevāsuragandharvaṃ lokaṃ kāla ivāparaḥ

Then, rolling his eyes in anger, O Bharata, as though he would burn up the world with its gods, asuras and gandharvas, like a second Death,

Note on the text: Corrected लोपान् → कोपान् (misprint in Wikisource; ल for क, 'from loss' makes no sense here; critical edition kopān). The critical edition's 6.94.3ab–cd (काल इवापरः for lokavidāṃ varaḥ, kept).

Verse 4 (6.98.4)

अब्रवीत्तव पुत्रं च सामपूर्वमिदं वचः । किं त्वं दुर्योधनैवं मां वाक्शल्यैरपकृन्तसि ॥

abravīttava putraṃ ca sāmapūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ | kiṃ tvaṃ duryodhanaivaṃ māṃ vākśalyairapakṛntasi

he spoke these words to your son, gently at first: "Why, Duryodhana, do you lacerate me like this with darts of speech,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.94.3ef (च for tu); line 2 is 6.94.4ab (किं त्वं … अपकृन्तसि for kiṃ nu … upavidhyasi, kept). Bhishma's speech begins with line 2 and runs to the end of verse 23; the page prints no heading for it.

Verse 5 (6.98.5)

घटमानं यथाशक्तिं कुर्वाणं च तव प्रियम् । जुह्वानं समरे प्राणांस्तव वै प्रियकाम्यया ॥

ghaṭamānaṃ yathāśaktiṃ kurvāṇaṃ ca tava priyam | juhvānaṃ samare prāṇāṃstava vai priyakāmyayā

when I strive as hard as I can and do what pleases you, and offer up my life in battle as an oblation, wishing only to please you?

Note on the text: The critical edition's 6.94.4cd–ef (प्रियकाम्यया for hitakāmyayā, kept). Speaker: Bhishma's speech, unheaded on the page.

Verse 6 (6.98.6)

यदा तु पाण्डवः शूरः खाण्डवेऽग्निमतर्पयत् । पराजित्य रणे शक्रं पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥

yadā tu pāṇḍavaḥ śūraḥ khāṇḍave'gnimatarpayat | parājitya raṇe śakraṃ paryāptaṃ tannidarśanam

When the heroic son of Pandu defeated Shakra in battle and sated Agni at Khandava, that was proof enough.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 7 (6.98.7)

यदा च त्वां महाबाहो गन्धर्वैर्हृतमोजसा । अमोचयत्पाण्डुसुतः पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥

yadā ca tvāṃ mahābāho gandharvairhṛtamojasā | amocayatpāṇḍusutaḥ paryāptaṃ tannidarśanam

When you, mighty-armed one, were carried off by force by the gandharvas and the son of Pandu set you free, that was proof enough.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 8 (6.98.8)

द्रवमाणेषु शूरेषु सोदरेषु तव प्रभो । सूतपुत्रे च राधेये पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥

dravamāṇeṣu śūreṣu sodareṣu tava prabho | sūtaputre ca rādheye paryāptaṃ tannidarśanam

When your heroic brothers ran away, my lord, and Radha's son, the son of the charioteer, too, that was proof enough.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 9 (6.98.9)

यच्च नः सहितान्सर्वान्विराटनगरे तदा । एक एवाजयत्पार्थः पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥

yacca naḥ sahitānsarvānvirāṭanagare tadā | eka evājayatpārthaḥ paryāptaṃ tannidarśanam

When at Virata's city Partha alone defeated all of us together, that was proof enough.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 10 (6.98.10)

द्रोणं च युधि संरब्धं मां च निर्जित्य संयुगे । वासांसि स समादत्त पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥

droṇaṃ ca yudhi saṃrabdhaṃ māṃ ca nirjitya saṃyuge | vāsāṃsi sa samādatta paryāptaṃ tannidarśanam

When he conquered the enraged Drona and me in battle and carried off our garments, that was proof enough.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.94.9ab and ef; its middle line 9cd (karṇaṃ ca tvāṃ ca drauṇiṃ ca kṛpaṃ ca sumahāratham) is not on the page. Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 11 (6.98.11)

तथा द्रौणिं महेष्वासं शारद्वतमथापि च । गोग्रहे जितवान्पूर्वं पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥

tathā drauṇiṃ maheṣvāsaṃ śāradvatamathāpi ca | gograhe jitavānpūrvaṃ paryāptaṃ tannidarśanam

Likewise, at the cattle raid, he once defeated the great archer, Drona's son, and Sharadvata's son Kripa as well; that was proof enough.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as star passage 6.94.9f*0378, lines 1–2. Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 12 (6.98.12)

विजित्य च यदा कर्णं सदा पुरुषमानिनम् । उत्तरायै ददौ वस्त्रं पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥

vijitya ca yadā karṇaṃ sadā puruṣamāninam | uttarāyai dadau vastraṃ paryāptaṃ tannidarśanam

When he defeated Karna, who always thought so highly of his own manhood, and gave his garment to Uttara, that was proof enough.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as star passage 6.94.9f*0378, lines 3–4. Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 13 (6.98.13)

निवातकवचान्युद्धे वासवेनापि दुर्जयान् । जितवान्समरे पार्थः पर्याप्तं तन्निदर्शनम् ॥

nivātakavacānyuddhe vāsavenāpi durjayān | jitavānsamare pārthaḥ paryāptaṃ tannidarśanam

When Partha defeated in battle the Nivatakavachas, whom even Vasava could not conquer, that was proof enough.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 14 (6.98.14)

को हि शक्तो रणे जेतुं पाण्डवं रभसं तदा । यस्य गोप्ता जगद्गोप्ता शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः ॥

ko hi śakto raṇe jetuṃ pāṇḍavaṃ rabhasaṃ tadā | yasya goptā jagadgoptā śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ

Who, then, could conquer in battle that impetuous son of Pandu, whose protector is the protector of the world, the bearer of conch, discus and mace,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.94.11ab (तदा for raṇe); line 2 is not in its constituted text (vulgate) but is the first line of its star passage 6.94.11b*0380. Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 15 (6.98.15)

वासुदेवोऽनन्तशक्तिः सृष्टिसंहारकारकः । सर्वेश्वरो देवदेवः परमात्मा सनातनः ॥

vāsudevo'nantaśaktiḥ sṛṣṭisaṃhārakārakaḥ | sarveśvaro devadevaḥ paramātmā sanātanaḥ

Vasudeva, of endless power, the cause of creation and dissolution, lord of all, god of gods, the eternal supreme Self?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as star passage 6.94.11b*0380, lines 2–3. Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 16 (6.98.16)

उक्तोऽस्ति बहुशो राजन्नारदाद्यैर्महर्षिभिः । त्वं तु मोहान्न जानीषे वाच्यावाच्यं सुयोधन ॥

ukto'sti bahuśo rājannāradādyairmaharṣibhiḥ | tvaṃ tu mohānna jānīṣe vācyāvācyaṃ suyodhana

So he has often been described, O king, by Narada and the other great seers. But you, in your delusion, do not know what should be said and what should not, Suyodhana.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the last line of the critical edition's star passage 6.94.11b*0380 (उक्तोऽस्ति, 'he has been declared', where the apparatus reads ukto 'si, 'you have been told'; kept, as it makes good sense); line 2 is 6.94.11cd. Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 17 (6.98.17)

मुमूर्षुर्हि नरः सर्वान्वृक्षान्पश्यति काञ्चनान् । तथा त्वमपि गान्धारे विपरीतानि पश्यसि ॥

mumūrṣurhi naraḥ sarvānvṛkṣānpaśyati kāñcanān | tathā tvamapi gāndhāre viparītāni paśyasi

A man about to die sees all trees as golden; just so, son of Gandhari, you see everything upside down.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 18 (6.98.18)

स्वयं वैरं महत्कृत्वा पाण्डवैः सह सृञ्जयैः । युद्ध्यस्व तानद्य रणे पश्यामः पुरुषो भव । अशक्याः पाण्डवा जेतुं देवैरपि सवासवैः ॥

svayaṃ vairaṃ mahatkṛtvā pāṇḍavaiḥ saha sṛñjayaiḥ | yuddhyasva tānadya raṇe paśyāmaḥ puruṣo bhava | aśakyāḥ pāṇḍavā jetuṃ devairapi savāsavaiḥ

You yourself made this great enmity with the Pandavas and the Srinjayas; fight them now in battle, and we shall watch. Be a man! Yet the Pandavas cannot be conquered even by the gods with Vasava at their head.

Note on the text: Removed a backtick and closing quote mark (with a doubled danda) around line 3 (the page's sign for an interpolated line). Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.94.13; line 3 is not in its constituted text (vulgate) but is its star passage 6.94.13d*0381. Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 19 (6.98.19)

अहं तु सोमकान्सर्वान्पाञ्चालांश्च समागतान् । निहनिष्ये नरव्याघ्र वर्जयित्वा शिखण्डिनम् ॥

ahaṃ tu somakānsarvānpāñcālāṃśca samāgatān | nihaniṣye naravyāghra varjayitvā śikhaṇḍinam

But I shall slay all the Somakas and the assembled Panchalas, tiger among men, sparing only Shikhandi.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 20 (6.98.20)

तैर्वाऽहं निहतः सङ्ख्ये गमिष्ये यमसादनम् । तान्वा निहत्य समरे प्रीतिं दास्याम्यहं तव ॥

tairvā'haṃ nihataḥ saṅkhye gamiṣye yamasādanam | tānvā nihatya samare prītiṃ dāsyāmyahaṃ tava

Either I shall be slain by them in battle and go to the abode of Yama, or I shall slay them in the fight and give you joy.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 21 (6.98.21)

पूर्वं हि स्त्री समुत्पन्ना शिखण्डी राजवेश्मनि । वरदानात्पुमाञ्जातः सैषा वै स्त्री शिखण्डिनी ॥

pūrvaṃ hi strī samutpannā śikhaṇḍī rājaveśmani | varadānātpumāñjātaḥ saiṣā vai strī śikhaṇḍinī

For Shikhandi was first born a woman in the royal palace and became a man through a boon; this is the woman Shikhandini.

Note on the text: Corrected पूर्व → पूर्वं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara, critical edition pūrvaṃ) and वे → वै (misprint; vowel sign े for ै, critical edition vai). Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 22 (6.98.22)

तमहं न हनिष्यामि प्राणत्यागेऽपि भारत । याऽसौ प्राङ्निर्मिता धात्रा सैषा वै स्त्री शिखण्डिनी ॥

tamahaṃ na haniṣyāmi prāṇatyāge'pi bhārata | yā'sau prāṅnirmitā dhātrā saiṣā vai strī śikhaṇḍinī

I will not kill him, O Bharata, even at the cost of my life; the one whom the Creator first fashioned a woman is the woman Shikhandini.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राङ्वर्मिता → प्राङ्निर्मिता (misprint in Wikisource; व for नि gives 'armoured', which makes no sense with धात्रा 'by the Creator'; critical edition prāṅ nirmitā). तमहं (CE tām ahaṃ) kept. Speaker: Bhishma, as above.

Verse 23 (6.98.23)

सुखं स्वपिहि गान्धारे श्वोऽस्मि कर्ता महारणम् । यं जनाः कथयिष्यन्ति यावत्स्थास्यति मेदिनी ॥

sukhaṃ svapihi gāndhāre śvo'smi kartā mahāraṇam | yaṃ janāḥ kathayiṣyanti yāvatsthāsyati medinī

Sleep in peace, son of Gandhari. Tomorrow I shall fight a great battle that people will speak of for as long as the earth endures."

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma; his speech ends here (the page heads the next verse सञ्जय उवाच).

Verse 24 (6.98.24)

एवमुक्तस्तव सुतो निर्जगाम जनेश्वर । अभिवाद्य गुरुं मूर्ध्ना प्रययौ स्वं निवेशनम् ॥

evamuktastava suto nirjagāma janeśvara | abhivādya guruṃ mūrdhnā prayayau svaṃ niveśanam

Addressed thus, O lord of the people, your son went out; bowing his head to his elder, he went to his own quarters.

Verse 25 (6.98.25)

आगम्य तु ततो राजा विसृज्य च महाजनम् । प्रविवेश ततस्तूर्णं क्षयं शत्रुक्षयंकरः ॥

āgamya tu tato rājā visṛjya ca mahājanam | praviveśa tatastūrṇaṃ kṣayaṃ śatrukṣayaṃkaraḥ

Having arrived there, the king, destroyer of his enemies, dismissed the great crowd and quickly entered his dwelling.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 6.94.20ab–cd.

Verse 26 (6.98.26)

प्रहृष्टः स निशां तां च गमयामास पार्थिवः । प्रभातायां च शर्वर्यां प्रातरुत्थाय तान्नृपः ॥

prahṛṣṭaḥ sa niśāṃ tāṃ ca gamayāmāsa pārthivaḥ | prabhātāyāṃ ca śarvaryāṃ prātarutthāya tānnṛpaḥ

In good spirits the king passed that night. When the night had turned to dawn, the king rose early and

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 6.94.20ef (प्रहृष्टः for praviṣṭaḥ, kept); line 2 is 6.95.1ab, the start of the critical edition's next adhyaya (तान्नृपः for vai nṛpaḥ).

Verse 27 (6.98.27)

राज्ञः समाज्ञापयत सेनां योजयतेति ह । अद्य भीष्मो रणे क्रुद्धो निहनिष्यति सोमकान् ॥

rājñaḥ samājñāpayata senāṃ yojayateti ha | adya bhīṣmo raṇe kruddho nihaniṣyati somakān

commanded those kings: "Marshal the army! Today Bhishma in his wrath will slay the Somakas in battle."

Note on the text: Corrected क्रद्धो → क्रुद्धो (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign ु, critical edition kruddho). The critical edition's 6.95.1cd–ef.

Verse 28 (6.98.28)

दुर्योधनस्य तच्छ्रुत्वा रात्रौ विलपितं बहु । मन्यमानः स तं राजन्प्रत्यादेशमिवात्मनः ॥

duryodhanasya tacchrutvā rātrau vilapitaṃ bahu | manyamānaḥ sa taṃ rājanpratyādeśamivātmanaḥ

Having heard Duryodhana's long lament in the night, O king, and taking it as a rebuke to himself,

Verse 29 (6.98.29)

निर्वेदं परमं गत्वा विनिन्द्य परवश्यताम् । दीर्घं दध्यौ शान्तनवो योद्धुकामोऽर्जुनं रणे ॥

nirvedaṃ paramaṃ gatvā vinindya paravaśyatām | dīrghaṃ dadhyau śāntanavo yoddhukāmo'rjunaṃ raṇe

Shantanu's son fell into deep despondency; cursing his dependence on another, he brooded long, eager to fight Arjuna in battle.

Note on the text: परवश्यताम् (CE paravācyatām) kept as a variant.

Verse 30 (6.98.30)

इङ्गितेन तु तज्ज्ञात्वा गाङ्गेयेन विचिन्तितम् । दुर्योधनो महाराज दुःशासनमचोदयत् ॥

iṅgitena tu tajjñātvā gāṅgeyena vicintitam | duryodhano mahārāja duḥśāsanamacodayat

Perceiving from his manner what Ganga's son was brooding on, great king, Duryodhana urged Duhshasana:

Verse 31 (6.98.31)

दुःशासन रथास्तूर्णं युज्यन्तां भीष्मरक्षिणः । द्वाविंशतिमनीकानि सर्वाण्येवाभिचोदय ॥

duḥśāsana rathāstūrṇaṃ yujyantāṃ bhīṣmarakṣiṇaḥ | dvāviṃśatimanīkāni sarvāṇyevābhicodaya

Duhshasana, have chariots yoked at once to guard Bhishma; urge forward all twenty-two divisions.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana's speech to Duhshasana, unheaded on the page; it runs to the end of verse 42. द्वाविंशतिम् 'twenty-two' (CE dvātriṃśat tvam, 'thirty-two') kept as a variant.

Verse 32 (6.98.32)

अयं हि समनुप्राप्तो वर्षपूगाभिचिन्तितः । पाण्डवानां ससैन्यानां वधो राज्यस्य चागमः ॥

ayaṃ hi samanuprāpto varṣapūgābhicintitaḥ | pāṇḍavānāṃ sasainyānāṃ vadho rājyasya cāgamaḥ

For now there has come what we have pondered for many years: the slaughter of the Pandavas and their armies, and the winning of the kingdom.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as above.

Verse 33 (6.98.33)

तत्र कार्यमहं मन्ये भीष्मस्यैवाभिरक्षणम् । स नो गुप्तः सहायः स्याद्धन्यात्पार्थांश्च संयुगे ॥

tatra kāryamahaṃ manye bhīṣmasyaivābhirakṣaṇam | sa no guptaḥ sahāyaḥ syāddhanyātpārthāṃśca saṃyuge

In this, I think, our task is above all to protect Bhishma. Guarded, he will be our helper and will slay the Parthas in battle.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as above.

Verse 34 (6.98.34)

अब्रवीद्धि विशुद्धात्मा नाहं हन्यां शिखण्डिनम् । स्त्रीपूर्वको ह्यसौ राजंस्तस्माद्वर्ज्यो मया रणे ॥

abravīddhi viśuddhātmā nāhaṃ hanyāṃ śikhaṇḍinam | strīpūrvako hyasau rājaṃstasmādvarjyo mayā raṇe

For that pure-souled man has said: 'I will not kill Shikhandi. He was a woman before, O king, and so I must shun him in battle.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as above; from here to the end of verse 39 he quotes Bhishma's words.

Verse 35 (6.98.35)

लोकस्तद्वेद यदहं पितुः प्रियचिकीर्षया । राज्यं स्फीतं महाबाहो स्त्रियश्च त्यक्तवान्पुरा ॥

lokastadveda yadahaṃ pituḥ priyacikīrṣayā | rājyaṃ sphītaṃ mahābāho striyaśca tyaktavānpurā

The world knows how, long ago, out of a wish to please my father, I gave up a prosperous kingdom and women, mighty-armed one.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as above.

Verse 36 (6.98.36)

नैव चाहं स्त्रियं जातु न स्त्रीपूर्वं कथंचन । हन्यां युधि नरश्रेष्ठ सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

naiva cāhaṃ striyaṃ jātu na strīpūrvaṃ kathaṃcana | hanyāṃ yudhi naraśreṣṭha satyametadbravīmi te

Never in any way would I slay a woman in battle, nor one who was formerly a woman, best of men; this I tell you truly.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as above.

Verse 37 (6.98.37)

अयं स्त्रीपूर्वको राजञ्छिखण्डी यदि ते श्रुतः । उद्योगे कथितं सर्वं यथा जाता शिखण्डिनी ॥

ayaṃ strīpūrvako rājañchikhaṇḍī yadi te śrutaḥ | udyoge kathitaṃ sarvaṃ yathā jātā śikhaṇḍinī

This Shikhandi was formerly a woman, O king, as you may have heard; how Shikhandini was born was all told in the days of preparation before the war.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as above.

Verse 38 (6.98.38)

कन्या भूत्वा पुमाञ्जातः स च योत्स्यति भारत । तस्याहं प्रमुखे बाणान्न मुञ्चेयं कथंचन ॥

kanyā bhūtvā pumāñjātaḥ sa ca yotsyati bhārata | tasyāhaṃ pramukhe bāṇānna muñceyaṃ kathaṃcana

Born a girl, he became a man, and he will fight, O Bharata; but I would never loose arrows at him when he stands before me.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as above.

Verse 39 (6.98.39)

युद्धे हि क्षत्रियांस्तात पाण्डवानां जयैषिणः । सर्वानन्यान्हनिष्यामि संप्राप्तान्रणमूर्धनि ॥

yuddhe hi kṣatriyāṃstāta pāṇḍavānāṃ jayaiṣiṇaḥ | sarvānanyānhaniṣyāmi saṃprāptānraṇamūrdhani

But in battle, my son, I shall slay all the other kshatriyas who seek the Pandavas' victory, all who come to the forefront of the fight.'

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as above.

Verse 40 (6.98.40)

एवं मां भरतश्रेष्ठ गाङ्गेयः प्राह शास्त्रवित् । तत्र सर्वात्मना मन्ये गाङ्गेयस्यैव पालनम् ॥

evaṃ māṃ bharataśreṣṭha gāṅgeyaḥ prāha śāstravit | tatra sarvātmanā manye gāṅgeyasyaiva pālanam

So Ganga's son, learned in the scriptures, told me, best of the Bharatas. Therefore I think we must above all protect Ganga's son with all our strength.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana, as above.

Verse 41 (6.98.41)

अरक्ष्यमाणं हि वृको हन्यात्सिंहं महाहवे । मा वृकेणेव गाङ्गेयं घातयेम शिखण्डिना ॥

arakṣyamāṇaṃ hi vṛko hanyātsiṃhaṃ mahāhave | mā vṛkeṇeva gāṅgeyaṃ ghātayema śikhaṇḍinā

For a wolf may kill a lion left unguarded in a great battle; let us not have Ganga's son slain by Shikhandi as by a wolf.

Note on the text: महाहवे and गाङ्गेयं (CE mahāvane, śārdūlaṃ) kept as variants. Speaker: Duryodhana, as above.

Verse 42 (6.98.42)

मातुलः शकुनिः शल्यः कृपो द्रोणो विविंशतिः । यत्ता रक्षन्तु गाङ्गेयं तस्मिन्गुप्ते ध्रुवो जयः ॥

mātulaḥ śakuniḥ śalyaḥ kṛpo droṇo viviṃśatiḥ | yattā rakṣantu gāṅgeyaṃ tasmingupte dhruvo jayaḥ

Let our uncle Shakuni, Shalya, Kripa, Drona and Vivimshati guard Ganga's son with care; while he is protected, victory is certain.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana; his speech ends here.

Verse 43 (6.98.43)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु ते सर्वे दुर्योधनवचस्तदा । सर्वतो रथवंशेन गाङ्गेयं पर्यवारयन् ॥

etacchrutvā tu te sarve duryodhanavacastadā | sarvato rathavaṃśena gāṅgeyaṃ paryavārayan

Hearing these words of Duryodhana, they all surrounded Ganga's son on every side with a host of chariots.

Verse 44 (6.98.44)

पुत्राश्च तव गाङ्गेयं परिवार्य ययुर्मुदा । कम्पयन्तो भुवं द्यां च क्षोभयन्तश्च पाण्डवान् ॥

putrāśca tava gāṅgeyaṃ parivārya yayurmudā | kampayanto bhuvaṃ dyāṃ ca kṣobhayantaśca pāṇḍavān

Your sons too went joyfully, surrounding Ganga's son, making earth and sky tremble and throwing the Pandavas into turmoil.

Verse 45 (6.98.45)

ते रथैः सुप्रसंयुक्तैर्दन्तिभिश्च महारथाः । परिवार्य रणे भीष्मं दंशिताः समवस्थिताः ॥

te rathaiḥ suprasaṃyuktairdantibhiśca mahārathāḥ | parivārya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ daṃśitāḥ samavasthitāḥ

Those great chariot-warriors, in armour, with well-yoked chariots and with elephants, surrounded Bhishma in the battle and took up their positions.

Verse 46 (6.98.46)

यथा देवासुरे युद्धे त्रिदशा वज्रधारिणम् । सर्वे ते स्म व्यतिष्ठन्त रक्षन्तस्तं महारथम् ॥

yathā devāsure yuddhe tridaśā vajradhāriṇam | sarve te sma vyatiṣṭhanta rakṣantastaṃ mahāratham

As the gods stood around the wielder of the thunderbolt in the war of the gods and asuras, so they all stood guarding that great chariot-warrior.

Verse 47 (6.98.47)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा पुनर्भ्रातरमब्रवीत् । सव्यं चक्रं युधामन्युरुत्तमौजाश्च दक्षिणम् । गोप्तारावर्जुनस्यैतावर्जुनोऽपि शिखण्डिनः ॥

tato duryodhano rājā punarbhrātaramabravīt | savyaṃ cakraṃ yudhāmanyuruttamaujāśca dakṣiṇam | goptārāvarjunasyaitāvarjuno'pi śikhaṇḍinaḥ

Then King Duryodhana spoke again to his brother: "Yudhamanyu guards Arjuna's left wheel and Uttamaujas his right; these two are Arjuna's protectors, and Arjuna is Shikhandi's.

Note on the text: A three-line verse, as in the critical edition. Duryodhana's speech begins with line 2 and runs to the end of verse 48.

Verse 48 (6.98.48)

रक्ष्यमाणः स पार्थेन तथास्माभिर्विवर्जितः । यथा भीष्मं न नो हन्याद्दुःशासन तथा कुरु ॥

rakṣyamāṇaḥ sa pārthena tathāsmābhirvivarjitaḥ | yathā bhīṣmaṃ na no hanyādduḥśāsana tathā kuru

Guarded by Partha and avoided by us, Duhshasana, he must not be able to kill Bhishma for us; see to that."

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana's speech, unheaded on the page (the page heads the next verse सञ्जय उवाच).

Verse 49 (6.98.49)

भ्रातुस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा पुत्रो दुःशासनस्तव । भीष्मं प्रमुखतः कृत्वा प्रययौ सह सेनया ॥

bhrātustadvacanaṃ śrutvā putro duḥśāsanastava | bhīṣmaṃ pramukhataḥ kṛtvā prayayau saha senayā

Hearing his brother's words, your son Duhshasana set out with the army, placing Bhishma at the front.

Verse 50 (6.98.50)

भीष्मं तु रथवंशेन दृष्ट्वा समभिसंवृतम् । अर्जुनो रथिनां श्रेष्ठो धृष्टद्युम्नमुवाच ह ॥

bhīṣmaṃ tu rathavaṃśena dṛṣṭvā samabhisaṃvṛtam | arjuno rathināṃ śreṣṭho dhṛṣṭadyumnamuvāca ha

Seeing Bhishma surrounded by the host of chariots, Arjuna, best of chariot-warriors, said to Dhrishtadyumna:

Verse 51 (6.98.51)

शिखण्डिनं नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मस्य प्रमुखे नृप । स्थापयस्वाद्य पाञ्चाल्य तस्य गोप्ताऽहमित्युत ॥

śikhaṇḍinaṃ naravyāghraṃ bhīṣmasya pramukhe nṛpa | sthāpayasvādya pāñcālya tasya goptā'hamityuta

Today, O prince of Panchala, set Shikhandi, that tiger among men, in front of Bhishma; I shall be his guard.

Note on the text: Speaker: Arjuna's words to Dhrishtadyumna, unheaded on the page; they close the adhyaya. The vocative नृप is folded into 'prince'.