Bhishma Reckons the Thirteen Years; the Kurus Array for Battle

Verse 1 (4.52.1)

कलाः काष्ठाश्च युज्यन्ते मुहूर्ताश्च दिनानि च । अर्धमासाश्च मासाश्च नक्षत्राणि ग्रहास्तथा ॥

kalāḥ kāṣṭhāśca yujyante muhūrtāśca dināni ca | ardhamāsāśca māsāśca nakṣatrāṇi grahāstathā

"Kalas and kashthas are linked together, and muhurtas and days, fortnights and months, the lunar mansions and the planets;

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.47.1 (the first words differ).

Verse 2 (4.52.2)

ऋतवश्चापि युज्यन्ते तथा संवत्सरा अपि । एवं कालविभागेन कालचक्रं प्रवर्तते ॥

ṛtavaścāpi yujyante tathā saṃvatsarā api | evaṃ kālavibhāgena kālacakraṃ pravartate

the seasons too are linked, and the years; thus, through the divisions of time, the wheel of time turns.

Verse 3 (4.52.3)

तेषां कालातिरेकेण ज्योतिषां च व्यतिक्रमात् । पञ्चमे पञ्चमे वर्षे द्वौ मासावधिमासकौ ॥

teṣāṃ kālātirekeṇa jyotiṣāṃ ca vyatikramāt | pañcame pañcame varṣe dvau māsāvadhimāsakau

Because time runs over among them and the heavenly lights drift from their course, every fifth year there are two extra months.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.47.3 (the last words differ).

Verse 4 (4.52.4)

एषामभ्यधिका मासाः पञ्च च द्वादश क्षपाः । त्रयोदशानां वर्षाणामिति मे वर्तते मतिः ॥

eṣāmabhyadhikā māsāḥ pañca ca dvādaśa kṣapāḥ | trayodaśānāṃ varṣāṇāmiti me vartate matiḥ

Over these thirteen years, by my reckoning, the surplus comes to five months and twelve nights.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.47.4.

Verse 5 (4.52.5)

पूर्वेद्युरेव निर्वृत्तस्ततो बीभत्सुरागतः ॥

pūrvedyureva nirvṛttastato bībhatsurāgataḥ

The term had already ended the day before; only then did Bibhatsu come.

Note on the text: A one-line verse, printed so on the page. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.4d*0854.

Verse 6 (4.52.6)

सर्वं यथावच्चरितं यद्यदेभिः प्रतिश्रुतम् । एवमेतद्भ्रुवं ज्ञात्वा ततो बीभत्सुरागतः ॥

sarvaṃ yathāvaccaritaṃ yadyadebhiḥ pratiśrutam | evametadbhruvaṃ jñātvā tato bībhatsurāgataḥ

They have carried out to the letter everything they promised; it was knowing this for certain that Bibhatsu came.

Verse 7 (4.52.7)

सर्वे पञ्च महात्मानः सर्वे धर्मार्थकोविदाः । येषां युधिष्ठिरो राजा कस्माद्धर्मेऽपराध्नुयुः ॥

sarve pañca mahātmānaḥ sarve dharmārthakovidāḥ | yeṣāṃ yudhiṣṭhiro rājā kasmāddharme'parādhnuyuḥ

All five are great-souled, all versed in dharma and in worldly aims; with Yudhishthira for their king, why would they offend against dharma?

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.47.6 (पञ्च for caiva).

Verse 8 (4.52.8)

कामात्क्रोधाच्च लोभाच्च कामक्रोधभयादपि । स्नेहाद्वा यदि वा मोहाद्धर्मं नात्येति धर्मजः ॥

kāmātkrodhācca lobhācca kāmakrodhabhayādapi | snehādvā yadi vā mohāddharmaṃ nātyeti dharmajaḥ

Not from desire, anger or greed, not from desire, anger and fear together, not from affection or from delusion does the son of Dharma overstep dharma.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.6d*0856.

Verse 9 (4.52.9)

अलुब्धाश्चैव कौन्तेयाः कृतवन्तश्च दुष्करम् । न चापि केवलं राज्यमिच्छेयुस्ते ह्यधर्मतः ॥

alubdhāścaiva kaunteyāḥ kṛtavantaśca duṣkaram | na cāpi kevalaṃ rājyamiccheyuste hyadharmataḥ

The sons of Kunti are free from greed and have done what is hard to do; nor would they want the kingdom alone at the cost of dharma.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.47.7 (अधर्मतः for anupāyataḥ).

Verse 10 (4.52.10)

तदैव ते हि विक्रान्तुमीषुः कौरवनन्दनाः । धर्मपाशनिबद्धास्तु न चेलुः क्षत्रियव्रतात् ॥

tadaiva te hi vikrāntumīṣuḥ kauravanandanāḥ | dharmapāśanibaddhāstu na celuḥ kṣatriyavratāt

Even then those delights of the Kurus could have shown their prowess; but bound by the noose of dharma, they did not swerve from the kshatriya's vow.

Verse 11 (4.52.11)

यश्चानृत इति ख्यातः स च गच्छेत्पराभवम् । वृणुयुर्मरणं पार्था नानृतत्वं कथंचन ॥

yaścānṛta iti khyātaḥ sa ca gacchetparābhavam | vṛṇuyurmaraṇaṃ pārthā nānṛtatvaṃ kathaṃcana

Whoever is known as a liar goes to ruin; the sons of Pritha would choose death, but never falsehood.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.47.9 (the first line differs in wording). Corrected वृणुयुर्माणं → वृणुयुर्मरणं (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped र; the CE reads vṛṇuyur maraṇaṃ).

Verse 12 (4.52.12)

प्राप्ते तु काले स्वानर्थान्नोत्सृजेयुर्नरर्षभाः । अपि वज्रभृता गुप्तांस्तथावीर्या हि पाण्डवाः ॥

prāpte tu kāle svānarthānnotsṛjeyurnararṣabhāḥ | api vajrabhṛtā guptāṃstathāvīryā hi pāṇḍavāḥ

But now that the time has come, those bulls among men would not give up what is theirs, even if the wielder of the thunderbolt were guarding it — such is the valour of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.47.10 (स्वानर्थान् for prāptavyaṃ).

Verse 13 (4.52.13)

प्रतियुद्ध्येम समरे सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरम् ॥

pratiyuddhyema samare sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃvaram

We would have to face in battle the best of all who bear arms.

Note on the text: A one-line verse, printed so on the page. It is a variant of CE 4.47.11ab, the first line of the CE verse; the rest of that verse is the next verse.

Verse 14 (4.52.14)

तस्माद्यदत्र कल्याणं लोके सद्भिरनुष्ठितम् । तत्संविधीयतां शीघ्रं मा वो ह्यर्थोऽभ्यगात्परम् ॥

tasmādyadatra kalyāṇaṃ loke sadbhiranuṣṭhitam | tatsaṃvidhīyatāṃ śīghraṃ mā vo hyartho'bhyagātparam

So let whatever is good here, what the virtuous of the world have practised, be arranged quickly, so that your interest does not pass to others.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.47.11cd–ef.

Verse 15 (4.52.15)

न हि पश्यामि संग्रामे कदाचिदपि कौरव । एकान्तसिद्धिं राजेन्द्र संप्राप्तश्च धनञ्जयः ॥

na hi paśyāmi saṃgrāme kadācidapi kaurava | ekāntasiddhiṃ rājendra saṃprāptaśca dhanañjayaḥ

For I never see certain success in battle, Kaurava, king of kings — and Dhananjaya has arrived.

Verse 16 (4.52.16)

संप्रवृत्ते तु संग्रामे भावाभावौ जयाजयौ । अवश्यमेकं स्पृशतो दृष्टमेतदसंशयम् ॥

saṃpravṛtte tu saṃgrāme bhāvābhāvau jayājayau | avaśyamekaṃ spṛśato dṛṣṭametadasaṃśayam

Once battle is joined, life or death, victory or defeat — one or the other is bound to touch each side; this has been seen beyond doubt.

Verse 17 (4.52.17)

तस्माद्युद्धोपचरितं कर्म वा धर्मसंहितम् । क्रियतामाशु राजेन्द्र संप्राप्तश्च धनञ्जयः ॥

tasmādyuddhopacaritaṃ karma vā dharmasaṃhitam | kriyatāmāśu rājendra saṃprāptaśca dhanañjayaḥ

So let what befits war, or else what accords with dharma, be done at once, king of kings — Dhananjaya has arrived.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.47.14.

Verse 18 (4.52.18)

एको हि समरे पार्थः पृथिवीं निर्दहेच्छरैः । भ्रातृभिः सहितो भूत्वा किं पुनः कौरवान्रणे । तस्मात्सन्धिं कुरुश्रेष्ठ कुरुष्व यदि मन्यसे ॥

eko hi samare pārthaḥ pṛthivīṃ nirdaheccharaiḥ | bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito bhūtvā kiṃ punaḥ kauravānraṇe | tasmātsandhiṃ kuruśreṣṭha kuruṣva yadi manyase

Partha alone could burn up the earth with his arrows in battle — how much more the Kauravas in the fight, when he is joined by his brothers! So make peace, best of the Kurus, if you think it right."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.14d*0858. The page labels the third line 4-52-19c, a typo for 18c; the line belongs here.

Verse 19 (4.52.19)

नाहं राज्यं प्रदास्यामि पाण्डवेभ्यः पितामह । ग्रामं सेनां च दासांश्च स्वल्पं द्रव्यमपि प्रभो । युद्धोपचारिकं यत्तु तत्सर्वं संविधीयताम् ॥

nāhaṃ rājyaṃ pradāsyāmi pāṇḍavebhyaḥ pitāmaha | grāmaṃ senāṃ ca dāsāṃśca svalpaṃ dravyamapi prabho | yuddhopacārikaṃ yattu tatsarvaṃ saṃvidhīyatām

"I will not give the kingdom to the Pandavas, grandsire — not a village, not an army, not servants, not even a little wealth, my lord. Let everything that war requires be made ready."

Note on the text: The first and third lines are a variant of CE 4.47.15; the second is in the CE apparatus as 4.47.15b*0859.

Verse 20 (4.52.20)

भीष्मस्योपरते वाक्ये तथा दुर्योधनस्य च । प्राप्तमर्थ्यं च यद्वाक्यं द्रोणश्चाह द्विजोत्तमः ॥

bhīṣmasyoparate vākye tathā duryodhanasya ca | prāptamarthyaṃ ca yadvākyaṃ droṇaścāha dvijottamaḥ

When Bhishma, and Duryodhana too, had finished speaking, Drona, best of the twice-born, spoke words that were timely and to the point:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.15d*0860. Corrected द्रोणश्वाह → द्रोणश्चाह (misprint in Wikisource; श्व for श्च; the CE apparatus reads droṇaś cāha).

Verse 21 (4.52.21)

यत्तु युद्धोपचरितं भवेद्वा धर्मसंहितम् । कस्त्वया सदृशो लोके भूयस्त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥

yattu yuddhopacaritaṃ bhavedvā dharmasaṃhitam | kastvayā sadṛśo loke bhūyastvaṃ vaktumarhasi

"In what befits war, or what accords with dharma — who in the world is your equal? It is for you to say more.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.16*0861. Drona's speech: verse 20 says Drona spoke and verse 26 calls the counsel his (the page prints no heading, and the input left it under the narrator). The CE gives the matching lines to Bhishma, and its apparatus (*0868) reads bhīṣmeṇoktaṃ where Wikisource reads द्रोणेनोक्तं.

Verse 22 (4.52.22)

अत्र या मामिका बुद्धिः श्रूयतां यदि रोचते । सर्वथा हि मया श्रेयो वक्तव्यं कुरुनन्दन ॥

atra yā māmikā buddhiḥ śrūyatāṃ yadi rocate | sarvathā hi mayā śreyo vaktavyaṃ kurunandana

Yet hear my own view on this, if it pleases you; for I must in every way say what is best, delight of the Kurus.

Note on the text: The first line is CE 4.47.16ab (मामिका for māmakī); the second is in the CE apparatus as 4.47.16b*0862.

Verse 23 (4.52.23)

राजा बलचतुर्भागं क्षिप्रमादाय गच्छतु । ततोऽपरश्चतुर्भागो गाः समादाय गच्छतु । वयं चार्धेन सैन्यस्य प्रतियोत्स्याम पाण्डवम् ॥

rājā balacaturbhāgaṃ kṣipramādāya gacchatu | tato'paraścaturbhāgo gāḥ samādāya gacchatu | vayaṃ cārdhena sainyasya pratiyotsyāma pāṇḍavam

Let the king take a quarter of the army and go at once; let another quarter go, taking the cattle; and with half the army we shall fight the Pandava.

Note on the text: The first two lines are a variant of CE 4.47.16cd–ef (the first line differs in wording); the third is a variant of CE 4.47.17ab.

Verse 24 (4.52.24)

अहं भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च अश्वत्थामा कृपस्तथा । प्रतियोत्स्याम बीभत्सुमागतं कृतनिश्चयम् ॥

ahaṃ bhīṣmaśca karṇaśca aśvatthāmā kṛpastathā | pratiyotsyāma bībhatsumāgataṃ kṛtaniścayam

I, Bhishma, Karna, Ashvatthama and Kripa — we shall fight Bibhatsu, who has come with his mind made up.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.17b*0863. (the apparatus reads droṇaś for भीष्मश्च, the speaker there being Bhishma).

Verse 25 (4.52.25)

एवं राजा सुगुप्तः स्यान्न क्लैब्यं गन्तुमर्हति । मत्स्यं वा पुनरायातमथवापि शतक्रतुम् । अहमावारयिष्यामि वेलेव मकरालयम् ॥

evaṃ rājā suguptaḥ syānna klaibyaṃ gantumarhati | matsyaṃ vā punarāyātamathavāpi śatakratum | ahamāvārayiṣyāmi veleva makarālayam

In this way the king will be well protected and need not come to shame. Whether the Matsya king returns, or Indra of the hundred sacrifices himself, I will hold him back as the shore holds back the sea."

Note on the text: The second line is CE 4.47.17cd; the first is in the CE apparatus as 4.47.17b*0864 (गन्तुमर्हति for anupaśyati), the third as 4.47.17d*0865.

Verse 26 (4.52.26)

तद्वाक्यं रुरुचे तेषां द्रोणेनोक्तं महात्मना । तथाहि कृतवान्राजा कौरवाणामनन्तरम् ॥

tadvākyaṃ ruruce teṣāṃ droṇenoktaṃ mahātmanā | tathāhi kṛtavānrājā kauravāṇāmanantaram

The words spoken by the great-souled Drona pleased them, and the king of the Kauravas acted on them at once.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.17d*0868, lines 1–2. (bhīṣmeṇoktaṃ for द्रोणेनोक्तं).

Verse 27 (4.52.27)

भीष्मः प्रस्थाप्य राजानं गोधनं तदनन्तरम् । सेनामुख्यान्व्यवस्थाप्य व्यूहितुं संप्रचक्रमे ॥

bhīṣmaḥ prasthāpya rājānaṃ godhanaṃ tadanantaram | senāmukhyānvyavasthāpya vyūhituṃ saṃpracakrame

Bhishma sent off the king, and the cattle after him, and, setting the leaders of the army in their places, began to draw up the battle array.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.17d*0868, lines 3–4.

Verse 28 (4.52.28)

द्रोणस्योपरते वाक्ये भीष्मः प्रोवाच बुद्धिमान् । आचार्य मध्ये तिष्ठ त्वमश्वत्थामा तु सव्यतः । कृपः शारद्वतो धीमान्पार्श्वं रक्षतु दक्षिणम् ॥

droṇasyoparate vākye bhīṣmaḥ provāca buddhimān | ācārya madhye tiṣṭha tvamaśvatthāmā tu savyataḥ | kṛpaḥ śāradvato dhīmānpārśvaṃ rakṣatu dakṣiṇam

When Drona had finished, wise Bhishma said: "Teacher, stand in the centre, with Ashvatthama on the left; let wise Kripa, son of Sharadvat, guard the right flank.

Note on the text: The first line is in the CE apparatus as 4.47.17d*0867; the second and third are a variant of CE 4.47.18. The verse opens with narration and Bhishma's speech begins in its second line; it is kept whole under the narrator. The page labels the third line 4-25-28c, a typo for 4-52-28c.

Verse 29 (4.52.29)

विकर्णश्च महावीर्यो दुर्मुखश्च परन्तपः । शकुनिः सौबलश्चैव दुःसहश्च महाबलः । द्रोणस्य पार्श्वमजिताः पालयन्तु महाबलाः ॥

vikarṇaśca mahāvīryo durmukhaśca parantapaḥ | śakuniḥ saubalaścaiva duḥsahaśca mahābalaḥ | droṇasya pārśvamajitāḥ pālayantu mahābalāḥ

Let mighty Vikarna, Durmukha, scorcher of foes, Shakuni son of Subala, and powerful Duhsaha — unconquered, mighty men — guard Drona's flank.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.18d*0869. Bhishma's speech continues from verse 28; the input left it under the narrator.

Verse 30 (4.52.30)

अग्रतः सूतपुत्रस्तु कर्णस्तिष्ठतु दंशितः । अहं सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य पश्चात्स्थास्यामि पालयन् ॥

agrataḥ sūtaputrastu karṇastiṣṭhatu daṃśitaḥ | ahaṃ sarvasya sainyasya paścātsthāsyāmi pālayan

Let Karna, the charioteer's son, stand in front in his armour; I will stand at the rear of the whole army, guarding it.

Verse 31 (4.52.31)

सर्वे महारथाः शूरा महेष्वासा महाबलाः । युद्ध्यन्तु पाण्डवश्रेष्ठमागतं यत्नतो युधि ॥

sarve mahārathāḥ śūrā maheṣvāsā mahābalāḥ | yuddhyantu pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhamāgataṃ yatnato yudhi

Let all the great chariot-warriors, heroes and great archers of great strength, fight with all their might the foremost of the Pandavas, who has come."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.19d*0870, lines 1–2.

Verse 32 (4.52.32)

अभेद्यं परसैन्यानां व्यूहं व्यूह्य कुरूत्तमः । वज्रगर्भं व्रीहिमुखं पद्मचन्द्रार्धमण्डलम् ॥

abhedyaṃ parasainyānāṃ vyūhaṃ vyūhya kurūttamaḥ | vajragarbhaṃ vrīhimukhaṃ padmacandrārdhamaṇḍalam

The best of the Kurus drew up an array that no enemy host could break — with a thunderbolt at its core and a rice-ear at its head, and the lotus, half-moon and circle formations.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.19d*0870, lines 3–4.

Verse 33 (4.52.33)

तस्य व्यूहस्य पश्चार्धे भीष्मश्चाथोद्यतायुधः । सौवर्णं तालमुच्छ्रित्य रथे तिष्ठन्नशोभत ॥

tasya vyūhasya paścārdhe bhīṣmaścāthodyatāyudhaḥ | sauvarṇaṃ tālamucchritya rathe tiṣṭhannaśobhata

At the rear of that array Bhishma, weapon raised, stood on his chariot in splendour, his golden palm-tree banner raised high.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). It is in its apparatus as 4.47.19d*0870, lines 5–6.