Bhishma Becomes Commander of the Kaurava Army

Verse 1 (5.156.1)

ततः शान्तनवं भीष्मं प्राञ्जलिर्धृतराष्ट्रजः । सह सर्वैर्महीपालैरिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

tataḥ śāntanavaṃ bhīṣmaṃ prāñjalirdhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ | saha sarvairmahīpālairidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Then Dhritarashtra's son, with joined palms and together with all the kings, said this to Bhishma son of Shantanu:

Verse 2 (5.156.2)

ऋते सेनाप्रणेतारं पृतना सुमहत्यपि । दीर्यते युद्धमासाद्य पिपीलिकपुटं यथा ॥

ṛte senāpraṇetāraṃ pṛtanā sumahatyapi | dīryate yuddhamāsādya pipīlikapuṭaṃ yathā

"Without a commander even a very great army breaks apart when it meets battle, like an anthill.

Note on the text: Speaker: Duryodhana's request (verses 2–15); the page prints no heading, carrying over the narrator.

Verse 3 (5.156.3)

नहि जातु द्वयोर्बुद्धिः समा भवति कर्हिचित् । शौर्यं च बलनेतॄणां स्पर्धते च परस्परम् ॥

nahi jātu dvayorbuddhiḥ samā bhavati karhicit | śauryaṃ ca balanetṝṇāṃ spardhate ca parasparam

"The judgement of two men is never quite the same, and the valour of an army's leaders vies, one against the other.

Note on the text: Corrected वलनेतॄणां → बलनेतॄणां (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब; the critical edition reads nāma netṝṇāṃ here).

Verse 4 (5.156.4)

श्रूयते च महाप्राज्ञ हैहयानमितौजसः । अभ्ययुर्ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे समुच्छ्रितकुशध्वजाः ॥

śrūyate ca mahāprājña haihayānamitaujasaḥ | abhyayurbrāhmaṇāḥ sarve samucchritakuśadhvajāḥ

"It is told, wise one, that the Brahmins once marched against the Haihayas of boundless might, all of them raising standards of kusha grass.

Verse 5 (5.156.5)

तानभ्ययुस्तदा वैश्याः शूद्राश्चैव पितामह । एकतस्तु त्रयो वर्णा एकतः क्षत्रियर्षभाः ॥

tānabhyayustadā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāścaiva pitāmaha | ekatastu trayo varṇā ekataḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ

"The Vaishyas and the Shudras then went with them, Grandsire; on one side stood the three classes, on the other the bulls among Kshatriyas.

Verse 6 (5.156.6)

ते स्म युद्धे प्रभज्यन्ते त्रयो वर्णाः पुनः पुनः । क्षत्रियाश्च जयन्त्येव बहुलं चैकतो बलम् ॥

te sma yuddhe prabhajyante trayo varṇāḥ punaḥ punaḥ | kṣatriyāśca jayantyeva bahulaṃ caikato balam

"In the fighting the three classes were broken again and again, while the Kshatriyas kept on winning, though the force on the other side was large.

Verse 7 (5.156.7)

ततस्ते क्षत्रियानेव पप्रच्छुर्द्विजसत्तमाः । तेभ्यः शशंसुर्धर्मज्ञा याथातथ्यं पितामह ॥

tataste kṣatriyāneva papracchurdvijasattamāḥ | tebhyaḥ śaśaṃsurdharmajñā yāthātathyaṃ pitāmaha

"Then those best of the twice-born asked the Kshatriyas themselves, and they, knowing dharma, told them the plain truth, Grandsire:

Note on the text: Corrected द्विचसत्तमाः → द्विजसत्तमाः (misprint in Wikisource; च for ज, as in the critical edition's dvijasattamāḥ).

Verse 8 (5.156.8)

वयमेकस्य शृणुमो महाबुद्धिमतो रणे । भवन्तस्तु पृथक्सर्वे स्वबुद्धिवशवर्तिनः ॥

vayamekasya śṛṇumo mahābuddhimato raṇe | bhavantastu pṛthaksarve svabuddhivaśavartinaḥ

"'In battle we obey one man of great understanding, whereas you all act apart, each following his own judgement.'

Note on the text: Corrected श्रृणुमो → शृणुमो (misprint in Wikisource; श्रृ for शृ, as in the critical edition's śṛṇumo).

Verse 9 (5.156.9)

ततस्ते ब्राह्मणाश्चक्रुरेकं सेनापतिं द्विजम् । नये सुकुशलं शूरमजयन्क्षत्रियांस्ततः ॥

tataste brāhmaṇāścakrurekaṃ senāpatiṃ dvijam | naye sukuśalaṃ śūramajayankṣatriyāṃstataḥ

"Then the Brahmins made one of their own twice-born their commander, a brave man well skilled in policy, and they defeated the Kshatriyas.

Verse 10 (5.156.10)

एवं ये कुशलं शूरं हितेप्सितमकल्मषम् । सेनापतिं प्रकुर्वन्ति ते जयन्ति रणे रिपून् ॥

evaṃ ye kuśalaṃ śūraṃ hitepsitamakalmaṣam | senāpatiṃ prakurvanti te jayanti raṇe ripūn

"So those who make a skilled and brave man their commander, one who seeks their good and is free of stain, defeat their enemies in battle.

Note on the text: Corrected अकल्पषम् → अकल्मषम् (misprint in Wikisource; प for म, as in the critical edition's akalmaṣam).

Verse 11 (5.156.11)

भवानुशनसा तुल्यो हितैषी च सदा मम । असंहार्यः स्थितो धर्मे स नः सेनापतिर्भव ॥

bhavānuśanasā tulyo hitaiṣī ca sadā mama | asaṃhāryaḥ sthito dharme sa naḥ senāpatirbhava

"You are the equal of Ushanas and have always wished me well; you cannot be swayed, and you stand firm in dharma. Be our commander.

Note on the text: Corrected असंहार्थः → असंहार्यः (misprint in Wikisource; थ for य, as in the critical edition's asaṃhāryaḥ).

Verse 12 (5.156.12)

रश्मीवतामिवादित्यो वीरुधामिव चन्द्रमाः । कुबेर इव यक्षाणां देवानामिव वासवः ॥

raśmīvatāmivādityo vīrudhāmiva candramāḥ | kubera iva yakṣāṇāṃ devānāmiva vāsavaḥ

"As the sun is among things that shine, the moon among plants, Kubera among the Yakshas and Vasava among the gods,

Verse 13 (5.156.13)

पर्वतानां यथा मेरुः सुपर्णः पक्षिणां यथा । कुमार इव देवानां वसूनामिव हव्यवाट् ॥

parvatānāṃ yathā meruḥ suparṇaḥ pakṣiṇāṃ yathā | kumāra iva devānāṃ vasūnāmiva havyavāṭ

"as Meru is among mountains, Suparna among birds, Kumara among the gods and the bearer of oblations among the Vasus,

Verse 14 (5.156.14)

भवता हि वयं गुप्ताः शक्रेणेव दिवौकसः । अनाधृष्या भविष्यामस्त्रिदशानामपि ध्रुवम् ॥

bhavatā hi vayaṃ guptāḥ śakreṇeva divaukasaḥ | anādhṛṣyā bhaviṣyāmastridaśānāmapi dhruvam

"so, guarded by you as the gods are by Shakra, we shall surely be invincible even to the Thirty.

Note on the text: Corrected शत्रेणेव → शक्रेणेव (misprint in Wikisource; त्र for क्र, as in the critical edition's śakreṇeva).

Verse 15 (5.156.15)

प्रयातु नो भवानग्रे देवानामिव पावकिः । वयं त्वामनुयास्यामः सौरभेया इवर्षभम् ॥

prayātu no bhavānagre devānāmiva pāvakiḥ | vayaṃ tvāmanuyāsyāmaḥ saurabheyā ivarṣabham

"Go before us as the son of Agni goes before the gods; we shall follow you as cattle follow the bull."

Verse 16 (5.156.16)

एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत । यथैव हि भवन्तो मे तथैव मम पाण्डवाः ॥

evametanmahābāho yathā vadasi bhārata | yathaiva hi bhavanto me tathaiva mama pāṇḍavāḥ

"It is as you say, mighty-armed Bharata. But just as you are dear to me, so too are the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Speaker heading 'भीष्म उवाच' taken from the raw page (its row id is misprinted '6-156-16x'); the input carried the narrator over. Verses 16–24 are Bhishma's.

Verse 17 (5.156.17)

अपि चैव मया श्रेयो वाच्यं तेषां नराधिप । संयोद्धव्यं तवार्थाय यथा मे समयः कृतः ॥

api caiva mayā śreyo vācyaṃ teṣāṃ narādhipa | saṃyoddhavyaṃ tavārthāya yathā me samayaḥ kṛtaḥ

"Besides, I must also speak for their good, lord of men; yet I shall fight on your behalf, as I have pledged.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रोयो → श्रेयो (misprint in Wikisource; ो for े, as in the critical edition's śreyo).

Verse 18 (5.156.18)

न तु पश्यामि योद्धारमात्मनः सदृशं भुवि । ऋते तस्मान्नरव्याघ्रात्कुन्तीपुत्राद्धनञ्जयात् ॥

na tu paśyāmi yoddhāramātmanaḥ sadṛśaṃ bhuvi | ṛte tasmānnaravyāghrātkuntīputrāddhanañjayāt

"I see no warrior on earth who is my equal, except that tiger among men, Dhananjaya, son of Kunti.

Verse 19 (5.156.19)

स हि वेद महाबुद्धिर्दिव्यान्यस्त्राण्यनेकशः । न तु मां विवृतो युद्धे जातु युध्येत पाण्डवः ॥

sa hi veda mahābuddhirdivyānyastrāṇyanekaśaḥ | na tu māṃ vivṛto yuddhe jātu yudhyeta pāṇḍavaḥ

"That man of great understanding knows celestial weapons in great number; but the son of Pandu would never fight me openly in battle.

Verse 20 (5.156.20)

अहं स च क्षणेनैव निर्मनुष्यमिदं जगत् । कुर्यावास्त्रबलेनैव ससुरासुरराक्षसम् ॥

ahaṃ sa ca kṣaṇenaiva nirmanuṣyamidaṃ jagat | kuryāvāstrabalenaiva sasurāsurarākṣasam

"He and I, in a single moment, could empty this world of men, with its gods, asuras and rakshasas, by the power of our weapons.

Verse 21 (5.156.21)

न त्वेवोत्सादनीया मे पाण्डोः पुत्रा जनाधिप । तस्माद्योधान्हनिष्यामि प्रयोगेणायुतं सदा ॥

na tvevotsādanīyā me pāṇḍoḥ putrā janādhipa | tasmādyodhānhaniṣyāmi prayogeṇāyutaṃ sadā

"But the sons of Pandu are not to be destroyed by me, lord of the people. So I will kill their warriors, ten thousand each day, by my skill.

Verse 22 (5.156.22)

एवमेषां करिष्यामि निधनं कुरुनन्दन । न चेत्ते मां हनिष्यन्ति पूर्वमेव समागमे ॥

evameṣāṃ kariṣyāmi nidhanaṃ kurunandana | na cette māṃ haniṣyanti pūrvameva samāgame

"In this way I shall bring about their destruction, joy of the Kurus, unless they kill me first when we meet.

Note on the text: Corrected फरिष्यामि → करिष्यामि (misprint in Wikisource; फ for क, as in the critical edition's kariṣyāmi).

Verse 23 (5.156.23)

सेनापतिस्त्वहं राजन्समयेनापरेण ते । भविष्यामि यथाकामं तन्मे श्रोतुमिहार्हसि ॥

senāpatistvahaṃ rājansamayenāpareṇa te | bhaviṣyāmi yathākāmaṃ tanme śrotumihārhasi

"I will be your commander as you wish, O king, on one further condition; hear it from me now.

Verse 24 (5.156.24)

कर्णो वा युध्यतां पूर्वमहं वा पृथिवीपते । स्पर्धते हि सदात्यर्थं सूतपुत्रो मया रणे ॥

karṇo vā yudhyatāṃ pūrvamahaṃ vā pṛthivīpate | spardhate hi sadātyarthaṃ sūtaputro mayā raṇe

"Let Karna fight first, or I, lord of the earth; for the son of the suta is always vying with me in battle."

Verse 25 (5.156.25)

नाहं जीवति गाङ्गेये राजन्योत्स्ये कथंचन । हते भीष्मे तु योत्स्यामि सह गाण्डीवधन्वना ॥

nāhaṃ jīvati gāṅgeye rājanyotsye kathaṃcana | hate bhīṣme tu yotsyāmi saha gāṇḍīvadhanvanā

"While Ganga's son lives, O king, I will not fight on any account. When Bhishma has been slain, then I shall fight the wielder of Gandiva."

Verse 26 (5.156.26)

ततः सेनापतिं चक्रे विधिवद्भूरिदक्षिणम् । धृतराष्ट्रात्मजो भीष्मं सोऽभिषिक्तो व्यरोचत ॥

tataḥ senāpatiṃ cakre vidhivadbhūridakṣiṇam | dhṛtarāṣṭrātmajo bhīṣmaṃ so'bhiṣikto vyarocata

Then Dhritarashtra's son made Bhishma, giver of rich fees, commander with due rites; and once consecrated he shone.

Verse 27 (5.156.27)

ततो भेरीश्च शङ्खांश्च शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । वादयामासुरव्यग्रा वादका राजशासनात् ॥

tato bherīśca śaṅkhāṃśca śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ | vādayāmāsuravyagrā vādakā rājaśāsanāt

Then at the king's command the players, unhurried, sounded drums and conches by hundreds and by thousands.

Note on the text: Corrected वादयामासुव्यग्रा → वादयामासुरव्यग्रा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र, as in the critical edition's vādayām āsur avyagrāḥ).

Verse 28 (5.156.28)

सिंहनादाश्च विविधा वाहनानां च निःस्वनाः । प्रादुरासन्ननभ्रे च वर्षं रुधिरकर्दमम् ॥

siṃhanādāśca vividhā vāhanānāṃ ca niḥsvanāḥ | prādurāsannanabhre ca varṣaṃ rudhirakardamam

Lion-roars of many kinds rose, and the cries of the beasts of burden; and from a cloudless sky there fell a rain of bloody mire.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (5.153.28cd): Wikisource prints only the first line of this verse (row 28a, with no b-line), leaving it without a verb; the second line, प्रादुरासन्ननभ्रे च वर्षं रुधिरकर्दमम्, is supplied from the critical edition.

Verse 29 (5.156.29)

निर्घाताः पृथिवीकम्पा गजबृंहितनिःस्वनाः । आसंश्च सर्वयोधानां पातयन्तो मनांस्युत ॥

nirghātāḥ pṛthivīkampā gajabṛṃhitaniḥsvanāḥ | āsaṃśca sarvayodhānāṃ pātayanto manāṃsyuta

There were thunderclaps and earthquakes and the trumpeting of elephants, and they made the hearts of all the warriors sink.

Note on the text: Corrected निर्घार्ताः → निर्घाताः (misprint in Wikisource; stray र्, as in the critical edition's nirghātāḥ).

Verse 30 (5.156.30)

वाचश्चाप्यशरीरिण्यो दिवश्चोल्काः प्रपेदिरे । शिवाश्च भयवेदिन्यो नेदुर्दीप्ततरा भृशम् ॥

vācaścāpyaśarīriṇyo divaścolkāḥ prapedire | śivāśca bhayavedinyo nedurdīptatarā bhṛśam

Voices were heard from no visible body, meteors fell from the sky, and jackals, heralds of terror, howled loud and fierce.

Verse 31 (5.156.31)

सैनापत्ये यदा राजा गाङ्गेयमभिषिक्तवान् । तदैतान्युग्ररूपाणि बभूवुः शतशो नृप ॥

saināpatye yadā rājā gāṅgeyamabhiṣiktavān | tadaitānyugrarūpāṇi babhūvuḥ śataśo nṛpa

When the king consecrated Ganga's son as commander, these dreadful portents appeared by the hundred, O king.

Verse 32 (5.156.32)

ततः सेनापतिं कृत्वा भीष्मं परबलार्दनम् । वाचयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठान्गोभिर्निष्कैश्च भूरिशः ॥

tataḥ senāpatiṃ kṛtvā bhīṣmaṃ parabalārdanam | vācayitvā dvijaśreṣṭhāngobhirniṣkaiśca bhūriśaḥ

Then, having made Bhishma, crusher of enemy hosts, his commander, and having had the best of the twice-born pronounce blessings, rewarding them richly with cows and gold coins,

Verse 33 (5.156.33)

वर्धमानो जयाशीर्भिर्निर्ययौ सैनिकैर्वृतः । आपगेयं पुरस्कृत्य भ्रातृभिः सहितस्तदा ॥

vardhamāno jayāśīrbhirniryayau sainikairvṛtaḥ | āpageyaṃ puraskṛtya bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitastadā

Duryodhana, heartened by blessings for victory, set out surrounded by his soldiers, together with his brothers, placing Apaga's son at the head.

Note on the text: The critical edition's 5.153.33ab–cd; its third line (33ef) is Wikisource's one-line verse 34.

Verse 34 (5.156.34)

स्कन्धावारेण महता कुरुक्षेत्रं जगाम ह ॥

skandhāvāreṇa mahatā kurukṣetraṃ jagāma ha

With a vast host he went to Kurukshetra.

Note on the text: Printed by Wikisource as a one-line verse (row 34a); in the critical edition it is the last line (5.153.33ef) of the verse Wikisource numbers 33.

Verse 35 (5.156.35)

परिक्रम्य कुरुक्षेत्रं कर्णेन सह कौरवः । शिबिरं मापयामास समे देशे जनाधिप ॥

parikramya kurukṣetraṃ karṇena saha kauravaḥ | śibiraṃ māpayāmāsa same deśe janādhipa

After going round Kurukshetra with Karna, the Kaurava had a camp laid out on level ground, O lord of the people.

Verse 36 (5.156.36)

मधुरानूषरे देशे प्रभूतयवसेन्धने । यथैव हास्तिनपुरं तद्वच्छिबिरमाबभौ ॥

madhurānūṣare deśe prabhūtayavasendhane | yathaiva hāstinapuraṃ tadvacchibiramābabhau

In a pleasant place, free of salt soil and rich in fodder and firewood, the camp shone just like Hastinapura.