Bhishma Rates the Pandava Brothers and Arjuna's Chariot

Verse 1 (5.169.1)

एते रथास्तवाख्यातास्तथैवातिरथा नृप । ये चाप्यर्धरथा राजन्पाण्डवानामतः शृणु ॥

ete rathāstavākhyātāstathaivātirathā nṛpa | ye cāpyardharathā rājanpāṇḍavānāmataḥ śṛṇu

"These, O king, are the rathas of yours that I have named, and likewise the atirathas and the half-rathas. Now hear about those of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रृणु → शृणु (misprint in Wikisource; श्रृ for शृ; the critical edition reads śṛṇu).

Verse 2 (5.169.2)

यदि कौतूहलं तेऽद्य पाण्डवानां बले नृप । रथसंख्यां शृणुष्व त्वं सहैभिर्वसुधाधिपैः ॥

yadi kautūhalaṃ te'dya pāṇḍavānāṃ bale nṛpa | rathasaṃkhyāṃ śṛṇuṣva tvaṃ sahaibhirvasudhādhipaiḥ

If you are curious today about the Pandavas' army, O king, hear the count of its chariot-warriors along with these lords of the earth.

Verse 3 (5.169.3)

स्वयं राजा रथोदारः पाण्डवः कुन्तिनन्दनः । अग्निवत्समरे तात चरिष्यति न संशयः ॥

svayaṃ rājā rathodāraḥ pāṇḍavaḥ kuntinandanaḥ | agnivatsamare tāta cariṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

The king himself, the Pandava who is Kunti's joy, is a noble ratha; he will range over the battlefield like fire, my son, there is no doubt of that.

Note on the text: Corrected कुन्तनन्दनः → कुन्तिनन्दनः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, "joy of Kunti"; the critical edition reads kuntinandanaḥ).

Verse 4 (5.169.4)

भीमसेनस्तु राजेन्द्र रथोऽष्टगुणसंमितः । न तस्यास्ति समो युद्धे गदया सायकैरपि ॥

bhīmasenastu rājendra ratho'ṣṭaguṇasaṃmitaḥ | na tasyāsti samo yuddhe gadayā sāyakairapi

Bhimasena, lord of kings, is a ratha equal to eight; there is no one his equal in battle, with the mace or with arrows.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.17ab; the second is not in the constituted text but is the critical edition's star passage 5.166.17b*0567, printed after 17ab.

Verse 5 (5.169.5)

नागायुतबलो मानी तेजसा न स मानुषः । माद्रीपुत्रौ च रथिनौ द्वावेव पुरुषर्षभौ ॥

nāgāyutabalo mānī tejasā na sa mānuṣaḥ | mādrīputrau ca rathinau dvāveva puruṣarṣabhau

With the strength of ten thousand elephants and full of pride, in fiery energy he is more than human. The two sons of Madri are rathas, both bulls among men,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.17cd and the second CE 5.166.18ab. Corrected माद्रीपुत्रो → माद्रीपुत्रौ (misprint in Wikisource; the dual is required with रथिनौ; the critical edition reads mādrīputrau).

Verse 6 (5.169.6)

अश्विनाविव रूपेण तेजसा च समन्वितौ । एते चमूमुखगताः स्मरन्तः क्लेशमुत्तमम् ॥

aśvināviva rūpeṇa tejasā ca samanvitau | ete camūmukhagatāḥ smarantaḥ kleśamuttamam

like the two Ashvins in beauty and endowed with fiery energy. These men, standing at the head of their army and remembering their great sufferings,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.18cd and the second CE 5.166.19ab (reading kleśam ātmanaḥ for क्लेशमुत्तमम्).

Verse 7 (5.169.7)

रुद्रवत्प्रचरिष्यन्ति तत्र मे नास्ति संशयः । सर्व एव महात्मानः सालस्तम्भा इवोद्गताः ॥

rudravatpracariṣyanti tatra me nāsti saṃśayaḥ | sarva eva mahātmānaḥ sālastambhā ivodgatāḥ

will range over the field like Rudra; of that I have no doubt. All of them are great-souled, rising tall like the trunks of sal trees,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.19cd and the second CE 5.166.20ab (reading śālaskandhā for सालस्तम्भा).

Verse 8 (5.169.8)

प्रादेशेनाधिकाः पुंभिरन्यैस्ते च प्रमाणतः । सिंहसंहननाः सर्वे पाण्डुपुत्रा महाबलाः ॥

prādeśenādhikāḥ puṃbhiranyaiste ca pramāṇataḥ | siṃhasaṃhananāḥ sarve pāṇḍuputrā mahābalāḥ

taller than other men by a span in their stature. All the sons of Pandu have the build of lions and great strength;

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.20cd and the second CE 5.166.21ab.

Verse 9 (5.169.9)

चरितब्रह्मचर्याश्च सर्वे तात तपस्विनः । ह्रीमन्तः पुरुषव्याघ्रा व्याघ्रा इव बलोत्कटाः ॥

caritabrahmacaryāśca sarve tāta tapasvinaḥ | hrīmantaḥ puruṣavyāghrā vyāghrā iva balotkaṭāḥ

all of them, my son, have kept the vow of chastity and are men of austerity; modest, tigers among men, they are mighty as tigers.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.21cd and the second CE 5.166.22ab.

Verse 10 (5.169.10)

जवे प्रहारे संमर्दे सर्व एवातिमानुषाः । सर्वैर्जिता महीपाला दिग्जये भरतर्षभ ॥

jave prahāre saṃmarde sarva evātimānuṣāḥ | sarvairjitā mahīpālā digjaye bharatarṣabha

In speed, in striking and in close combat they are all more than human; all of them conquered the kings of the earth in the conquest of the quarters, bull of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: it is CE 5.166.22cd–ef (reading sarve jitamahīpālā for सर्वैर्जिता महीपाला).

Verse 11 (5.169.11)

न चैषां पुरुषाः केचिदायुधानि गदाः शरान् । विषहन्ति सदा कर्तुमधिज्यान्यपि कौरव ॥

na caiṣāṃ puruṣāḥ kecidāyudhāni gadāḥ śarān | viṣahanti sadā kartumadhijyānyapi kaurava

No other men can bear to wield their weapons, their maces and arrows, O Kaurava, or even to string their bows,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: it is CE 5.166.23ab–cd.

Verse 12 (5.169.12)

उद्यन्तुं वा गदा गुर्वीः शरान्वा क्षेप्तुमाहवे । जवे लक्ष्यस्य हरणे भोज्ये पांसुविकर्षणे ॥

udyantuṃ vā gadā gurvīḥ śarānvā kṣeptumāhave | jave lakṣyasya haraṇe bhojye pāṃsuvikarṣaṇe

or to lift their heavy maces or hurl their arrows in battle. In speed, in hitting the target, in tricky holds and in wrestling in the dust,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.23ef (reading vāpi prakarṣitum for वा क्षेप्तुमाहवे) and the second CE 5.166.24ab; भोज्ये is rendered after the gloss on this verse (भोज्ये कौटिल्ये, crooked holds aimed at the vitals).

Verse 13 (5.169.13)

बालैरपि भवन्तस्तैः सर्व एव विशेषिताः । एतत्सैन्यं समासाद्य सर्व एव बलोत्कटाः ॥

bālairapi bhavantastaiḥ sarva eva viśeṣitāḥ | etatsainyaṃ samāsādya sarva eva balotkaṭāḥ

they outdid every one of you even when they were boys. Coming upon this army, all of them mighty in their strength,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.24cd and the second CE 5.166.25ab (reading te te sainyaṃ … vyāghrā iva balotkaṭāḥ).

Verse 14 (5.169.14)

विध्वंसयिष्यन्ति रणे मा स्म तैः सह संगमः । एकैकशस्ते संमर्दे हन्युः सर्वान्महीक्षितः ॥

vidhvaṃsayiṣyanti raṇe mā sma taiḥ saha saṃgamaḥ | ekaikaśaste saṃmarde hanyuḥ sarvānmahīkṣitaḥ

they will crush it in battle; let there be no encounter with them. Each one of them could kill all the kings in the clash of arms,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.25cd and the second CE 5.166.26ab (reading saṃgrāme for संमर्दे). Corrected एकैकशस्त → एकैकशस्ते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign of ते "they"; the critical edition reads ekaikaśas te).

Verse 15 (5.169.15)

प्रत्यक्षं तव राजेन्द्र राजसूये यथाभवत् । द्रौपद्याश्च परिक्लेशं द्यूते च परुषा गिरः ॥

pratyakṣaṃ tava rājendra rājasūye yathābhavat | draupadyāśca parikleśaṃ dyūte ca paruṣā giraḥ

as happened before your own eyes, lord of kings, at the Rajasuya. Draupadi's torment and the harsh words spoken at the dice game,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.26cd and the second CE 5.166.27ab.

Verse 16 (5.169.16)

ते स्मरन्तश्च सङ्ग्रामे चरिष्यन्ति च रुद्रवत् । लोहिताक्षो गुडाकेशो नारायणसहायवान् ॥

te smarantaśca saṅgrāme cariṣyanti ca rudravat | lohitākṣo guḍākeśo nārāyaṇasahāyavān

these they will remember, and they will range over the battlefield like Rudra. The red-eyed Gudakesha, with Narayana for his ally:

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.27cd (reading vicariṣyanti kālavat) and the second CE 5.166.28ab.

Verse 17 (5.169.17)

उभयोः सेनयोर्वीरो रथो नास्तीति तादृशः । न हि देवेषु वा पूर्वं मनुष्येषूरगेषु च ॥

ubhayoḥ senayorvīro ratho nāstīti tādṛśaḥ | na hi deveṣu vā pūrvaṃ manuṣyeṣūrageṣu ca

in both armies, O hero, there is no ratha such as he. Not among the gods of old, nor among men, nor among serpents,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.28cd (reading nāstīha for नास्तीति) and the second CE 5.166.29ab (reading dānaveṣūrageṣu vā for मनुष्येषूरगेषु च). Corrected उभोयोः → उभयोः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray vowel sign; the critical edition reads ubhayoḥ).

Verse 18 (5.169.18)

राक्षसेष्वथ यक्षेषु नरेषु कुत एव तु । भूतोऽथ वा भविष्यो वा रथः कश्चिन्मया श्रुतः ॥

rākṣaseṣvatha yakṣeṣu nareṣu kuta eva tu | bhūto'tha vā bhaviṣyo vā rathaḥ kaścinmayā śrutaḥ

nor among rakshasas or yakshas, still less among ordinary men, have I ever heard of a chariot, past or yet to come,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.29cd and the second CE 5.166.30ab. Corrected भूतोथ → भूतोऽथ (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha, भूतः + अथ).

Verse 19 (5.169.19)

समायुक्तो महाराज रथः पार्थस्य धीमतः । वासुदेवश्च संयन्ता योद्धा चैव धनञ्जयः ॥

samāyukto mahārāja rathaḥ pārthasya dhīmataḥ | vāsudevaśca saṃyantā yoddhā caiva dhanañjayaḥ

so equipped, great king, as the chariot of wise Partha: Vasudeva is its driver and Dhananjaya its warrior,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.30cd (reading yathā for रथः) and the second CE 5.166.31ab.

Verse 20 (5.169.20)

गाण्डीवं च धनुर्दिव्यं ते चाश्वा वातरंहसः । अभेद्यं कवचं दिव्यमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी ॥

gāṇḍīvaṃ ca dhanurdivyaṃ te cāśvā vātaraṃhasaḥ | abhedyaṃ kavacaṃ divyamakṣayyau ca maheṣudhī

the divine bow Gandiva, and those horses swift as the wind, the impenetrable divine armour and the two great inexhaustible quivers,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.31cd and the second CE 5.166.32ab.

Verse 21 (5.169.21)

अस्त्रग्रामश्च माहेन्द्रो रौद्रः कौबेर एवच । याम्यश्च वारुणश्चैव गदाश्चोग्रप्रदर्शनाः ॥

astragrāmaśca māhendro raudraḥ kaubera evaca | yāmyaśca vāruṇaścaiva gadāścograpradarśanāḥ

the array of weapons of Mahendra, of Rudra, of Kubera, of Yama and of Varuna, and maces terrible to behold,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.32cd and the second CE 5.166.33ab.

Verse 22 (5.169.22)

वज्रादीनि च मुख्यानि नानाप्रहरणानि च । दानवानां सहस्राणि हिरण्यपुरवासिनाम् ॥

vajrādīni ca mukhyāni nānāpraharaṇāni ca | dānavānāṃ sahasrāṇi hiraṇyapuravāsinām

the thunderbolt and the other chief weapons, and missiles of many kinds. Thousands of danavas dwelling in Hiranyapura

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.33cd and the second CE 5.166.34ab.

Verse 23 (5.169.23)

हतान्येकरथेनाजौ कस्तस्य सदृशो रथः । एष हन्याद्धि संरम्भी बलवान्सत्यविक्रमः ॥

hatānyekarathenājau kastasya sadṛśo rathaḥ | eṣa hanyāddhi saṃrambhī balavānsatyavikramaḥ

were slain by him in battle with a single chariot; what chariot is there to equal his? Roused to fury, this mighty man, true in his valour,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.34cd and the second CE 5.166.35ab.

Verse 24 (5.169.24)

तव सेनां महाबाहुः स्वां चैव परिपालयन् । अहं चैनं प्रत्युदियामाचार्यो वा धनञ्जयम् ॥

tava senāṃ mahābāhuḥ svāṃ caiva paripālayan | ahaṃ cainaṃ pratyudiyāmācāryo vā dhanañjayam

mighty-armed, could destroy your army while protecting his own. I could go out to meet Dhananjaya, or the Teacher could,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: the first line is CE 5.166.35cd and the second CE 5.166.36ab.

Verse 25 (5.169.25)

न तृतीयोऽस्ति राजेन्द्र सेनयोरुभयोरपि । य एनं शरवर्षाणि वर्षन्तमुदियाद्रथी ॥

na tṛtīyo'sti rājendra senayorubhayorapi | ya enaṃ śaravarṣāṇi varṣantamudiyādrathī

but there is no third, lord of kings, in either army, no chariot-warrior who could go out against him as he pours down his showers of arrows,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment left this verse unmatched: it is CE 5.166.36cd–ef.

Verse 26 (5.169.26)

जीमूत इव घर्मान्ते महावातसमीरितः । समायुक्तस्तु कौन्तेयो वासुदेवसहायवान् । तरुणश्च कृती चैव जीर्णावावामुभावपि ॥

jīmūta iva gharmānte mahāvātasamīritaḥ | samāyuktastu kaunteyo vāsudevasahāyavān | taruṇaśca kṛtī caiva jīrṇāvāvāmubhāvapi

like a cloud at summer's end driven on by a great wind. Kunti's son is fully equipped, with Vasudeva as his ally; he is young and skilled, while we two are both worn out with age."

Verse 27 (5.169.27)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु भीष्मस्य राज्ञां दध्वंसिरे तदा । काञ्चनाङ्गदिनः पीना भुजाश्चन्दनरूषिताः ॥

etacchrutvā tu bhīṣmasya rājñāṃ dadhvaṃsire tadā | kāñcanāṅgadinaḥ pīnā bhujāścandanarūṣitāḥ

Hearing these words of Bhishma, the kings' stout arms, adorned with golden armlets and smeared with sandal paste, went limp then

Note on the text: Speaker: the page heads these closing verses वैशंपायन उवाच (the critical edition has saṃjaya uvāca); the printed heading is kept.

Verse 28 (5.169.28)

मनोभिः सह संवेगैः संस्मृत्य च पुरातनम् । सामर्थ्यं पाण्डवेयानां यथा प्रत्यक्षदर्शनात् ॥

manobhiḥ saha saṃvegaiḥ saṃsmṛtya ca purātanam | sāmarthyaṃ pāṇḍaveyānāṃ yathā pratyakṣadarśanāt

and their hearts with them, in agitation, as they recalled the past and the might of the Pandavas, as though they saw it before their eyes.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page heads these closing verses वैशंपायन उवाच (the critical edition has saṃjaya uvāca); the printed heading is kept.