The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 6.107: saptādhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ

6.107.1

saṃjaya uvāca |
sātyakiṃ daṃśitaṃ yuddhe bhīṣmāyābhyudyataṃ tadā |
ārśyaśṛṅgirmaheṣvāso vārayāmāsa saṃyuge || 1 ||

Sanjaya said, "The mighty bowman (Alamvusha) the son of Rishyasringa, in that battle, resisted Satyaki clad in mail and proceeding towards Bhishma. He of Madhu's race, however, O king, excited with wrath, pierced the Rakshasa with nine arrows, smiling the while, O Bharata. And so the Rakshasa also, O king, excited with wrath, afflicted him of Madhu's race, viz., that bull of Sini's line, with nine arrows. Then Sini's grandson, that slayer of hostile heroes, of Madhu's race, excited with rage, sped in that battle a profusion of arrows at the Rakshasa. Then that mighty-aimed Rakshasa pierced Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, with many sharp arrows, and uttered a loud shout. Then he of Madhu's race, endued with great energy, though deeply pierced by the Rakshasa in that battle, still, relying upon his prowess, laughed (at his wounds) and uttered loud roars. Then Bhagadatta, excited with rage, afflicted him of Madhu's race in that battle with many sharp arrows like a guide piercing a huge elephant with the hook. Then that foremost of car-warriors, viz., the grandson of Sini, abandoning the Rakshasa in battle, sped many straight shafts at the ruler of the Pragjyotishas. The ruler of the Pragjyotishas then, with a broad-headed arrow of great sharpness, displaying great lightness of hand, cut off, the large bow of Satyaki.

6.107.2

mādhavastu susaṃkruddho rākṣasaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ |
ājaghāna raṇe rājanprahasanniva bhārata || 2 ||

6.107.3

tathaiva rākṣaso rājanmādhavaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |
ardayāmāsa rājendra saṃkruddhaḥ śinipuṃgavam || 3 ||

6.107.4

śaineyaḥ śarasaṃghaṃ tu preṣayāmāsa saṃyuge |
rākṣasāya susaṃkruddho mādhavaḥ paravīrahā || 4 ||

6.107.5

tato rakṣo mahābāhuṃ sātyakiṃ satyavikramam |
vivyādha viśikhaistīkṣṇaiḥ siṃhanādaṃ nanāda ca || 5 ||

6.107.6

mādhavastu bhṛśaṃ viddho rākṣasena raṇe tadā |
dhairyamālambya tejasvī jahāsa ca nanāda ca || 6 ||

6.107.7

bhagadattastataḥ kruddho mādhavaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |
tāḍayāmāsa samare tottrairiva mahāgajam || 7 ||

6.107.8

vihāya rākṣasaṃ yuddhe śaineyo rathināṃ varaḥ |
prāgjyotiṣāya cikṣepa śarānsaṃnataparvaṇaḥ || 8 ||

6.107.9

tasya prāgjyotiṣo rājā mādhavasya mahaddhanuḥ |
ciccheda śitadhāreṇa bhallena kṛtahastavat || 9 ||

6.107.10

athānyaddhanurādāya vegavatparavīrahā |
bhagadattaṃ raṇe kruddho vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ || 10 ||

Then that slayer of hostile heroes, excited with rage and taking up another bow of greater impetus, pierced Bhagadatta in that battle with many sharp arrows. That mighty bowman, viz., Bhagadatta, then deeply pierced, began to lick the corners of his mouth. And he then hurled at his foe, in that dreadful battle, a tough dart, made wholly of iron, decked with gold and stones of lapis lazuli, and fierce as the rod of Yama himself. Sped with the might of Bhagadatta's arm and coursing towards him impetuously, Satyaki, O king, cut that dart in twain by means of his shafts. Thereupon that dart fell down suddenly, like a great meteor shorn of its splendour. Beholding the dart baffled, thy son (Duryodhana), O monarch, surrounded him of Madhu's race with a large number of cars. And seeing that mighty car-warrior among the Vrishnis thus surrounded, Duryodhana, angrily addressing all his brothers, said, 'Take such steps, ye Kauravas, that Satyaki may not, in this battle, escape you and this large division of cars, with life. If he be slain, the vast host of the Pandavas may be regarded as slain also.' Accepting Duryodhana's words with the answer--So be it,--those mighty car-warriors fought with Sini's grandson in the view of Bhishma. The mighty ruler of the Kamvojas, in that battle, resisted Abhimanyu who was proceeding against Bhishma. The son of Arjuna, having pierced the king with many straight shafts, once more pierced that monarch, O monarch, with four and sixty shafts.

6.107.11

so'tividdho maheṣvāsaḥ sṛkkiṇī saṃlihanmuhuḥ |
śaktiṃ kanakavaiḍūryabhūṣitāmāyasīṃ dṛḍhām |
yamadaṇḍopamāṃ ghorāṃ prāhiṇotsātyakāya vai || 11 ||

6.107.12

tāmāpatantīṃ sahasā tasya bāhorbaleritām |
sātyakiḥ samare rājaṃstridhā ciccheda sāyakaiḥ |
sā papāta tadā bhūmau maholkeva hataprabhā || 12 ||

6.107.13

śaktiṃ vinihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā putrastava viśāṃ pate |
mahatā rathavaṃśena vārayāmāsa mādhavam || 13 ||

6.107.14

tathā parivṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā vārṣṇeyānāṃ mahāratham |
duryodhano bhṛśaṃ hṛṣṭo bhrātṝnsarvānuvāca ha || 14 ||

6.107.15

tathā kuruta kauravyā yathā vaḥ sātyako yudhi |
na jīvanpratiniryāti mahato'smādrathavrajāt |
asminhate hataṃ manye pāṇḍavānāṃ mahadbalam || 15 ||

6.107.16

tattatheti vacastasya parigṛhya mahārathāḥ |
śaineyaṃ yodhayāmāsurbhīṣmasya pramukhe tadā || 16 ||

6.107.17

abhimanyuṃ tadāyāntaṃ bhīṣmāyābhyudyataṃ mṛdhe |
kāmbojarājo balavānvārayāmāsa saṃyuge || 17 ||

6.107.18

ārjunirnṛpatiṃ viddhvā śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ |
punareva catuḥṣaṣṭyā rājanvivyādha taṃ nṛpam || 18 ||

6.107.19

sudakṣiṇastu samare kārṣṇiṃ vivyādha pañcabhiḥ |
sārathiṃ cāsya navabhiricchanbhīṣmasya jīvitam || 19 ||

Sudakshina, however, desirous of Bhishma's life, pierced Abhimanyu in that battle with five arrows and his charioteer with nine. And the battle that took place there, in consequence of the meeting of those two warriors, was fierce in the extreme. That grinder of foes Sikhandin, then rushed at the of Ganga. Old Virata and Drupada, those mighty car-warriors, both excited with rage, rushed to battle with Bhishma, resisting the large host of the Kauravas as they went. That best of car-warriors, viz., Aswatthaman, excited with rage, encountered both those warriors. Then commenced a battle, O Bharata, between him and them. Virata then, O chastiser of foes, struck, with broad-headed shafts, that mighty bowman and ornament of battle, viz., Drona's son, as the latter advanced against them. And Drupada also pierced him with three sharp shafts. Then the preceptor's soil, Aswatthaman, coming upon those mighty warriors thus striking him, viz., the brave Virata and Drupada both proceeding towards Bhishma, pierced them both with many shafts. Wonderful was the conduct that we then beheld of those two old warriors, inasmuch as they checked all those fierce shafts shot by Drona's son. Like an infuriate elephant in the forest rushing against an infuriate compeer, Kripa, the son of Saradwat, proceeded against Sahadeva who was advancing upon Bhishma. And Kripa, brave in battle, quickly struck that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Madri, with seventy shafts decked with gold.

6.107.20

tadyuddhamāsītsumahattayostatra parākrame |
yadabhyadhāvadgāṅgeyaṃ śikhaṇḍī śatrutāpanaḥ || 20 ||

6.107.21

virāṭadrupadau vṛddhau vārayantau mahācamūm |
bhīṣmaṃ ca yudhi saṃrabdhāvādravantau mahārathau || 21 ||

6.107.22

aśvatthāmā tataḥ kruddhaḥ samāyādrathasattamaḥ |
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata || 22 ||

6.107.23

virāṭo daśabhirbhallairājaghāna paraṃtapa |
yatamānaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ drauṇimāhavaśobhinam || 23 ||

6.107.24

drupadaśca tribhirbāṇairvivyādha niśitaistathā |
guruputraṃ samāsādya bhīṣmasya purataḥ sthitam || 24 ||

6.107.25

aśvatthāmā tatastau tu vivyādha daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ |
virāṭadrupadau vṛddhau bhīṣmaṃ prati samudyatau || 25 ||

6.107.26

tatrādbhutamapaśyāma vṛddhayoścaritaṃ mahat |
yaddrauṇeḥ sāyakānghorānpratyavārayatāṃ yudhi || 26 ||

6.107.27

sahadevaṃ tathā yāntaṃ kṛpaḥ śāradvato'bhyayāt |
yathā nāgo vane nāgaṃ matto mattamupādravat || 27 ||

6.107.28

kṛpaśca samare rājanmādrīputraṃ mahāratham |
ājaghāna śaraistūrṇaṃ saptatyā rukmabhūṣaṇaiḥ || 28 ||

6.107.29

tasya mādrīsutaścāpaṃ dvidhā ciccheda sāyakaiḥ |
athainaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ vivyādha navabhiḥ śaraiḥ || 29 ||

The son of Madri, however, cut Kripa's bow in twain by means of his shafts. And cutting off his bow, Sahadeva then pierced Kripa with nine arrows. Taking up then, in that battle, another bow capable of bearing a great strain Kripa, excited with rage and desirous of Bhishma's life, cheerfully struck Madri's son in that battle with ten shafts. And so the son of Pandu, in return, desirous of Bhishma's death, excited with rage, struck the wrathful Kripa in the chest (with many shafts). And then occurred there a terrible and fierce battle. That scorcher of foes, viz., Vikarna, desirous of saving the grandsire Bhishma, excited with rage in that battle, pierced Nakula with sixty arrows. Nakula also, deeply pierced by thy intelligent son, pierced Vikarna in return with seven and seventy shafts. There those two tigers among men, those two chastisers of foes, those two heroes, struck each other for the sake of Bhishma, like two bovine bulls in a fold. Thy son Durmukha, endued with great prowess, proceeded, for the sake of Bhishma, against Ghatotkacha advancing to battle and slaughtering thy army as he came. Hidimva's son, however, O king, excited with rage, struck Durmukha, that chastiser of foes, in the chest a straight shaft. The heroic Durmukha then, shouting cheerfully, pierced Bhimasena's son on the field of battle with sixty shafts of keen points.

6.107.30

so'nyatkārmukamādāya samare bhārasādhanam |
mādrīputraṃ susaṃhṛṣṭo daśabhirniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |
ājaghānorasi kruddha icchanbhīṣmasya jīvitam || 30 ||

6.107.31

tathaiva pāṇḍavo rājañśāradvatamamarṣaṇam |
ājaghānorasi kruddho bhīṣmasya vadhakāṅkṣayā |
tayoryuddhaṃ samabhavadghorarūpaṃ bhayāvaham || 31 ||

6.107.32

nakulaṃ tu raṇe kruddhaṃ vikarṇaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ |
vivyādha sāyakaiḥ ṣaṣṭyā rakṣanbhīṣmasya jīvitam || 32 ||

6.107.33

nakulo'pi bhṛśaṃ viddhastava putreṇa dhanvinā |
vikarṇaṃ saptasaptatyā nirbibheda śilīmukhaiḥ || 33 ||

6.107.34

tatra tau naraśārdūlau bhīṣmahetoḥ paraṃtapau |
anyonyaṃ jaghnaturvīrau goṣṭhe govṛṣabhāviva || 34 ||

6.107.35

ghaṭotkacaṃ raṇe yattaṃ nighnantaṃ tava vāhinīm |
durmukhaḥ samare prāyādbhīṣmahetoḥ parākramī || 35 ||

6.107.36

haiḍimbastu tato rājandurmukhaṃ śatrutāpanam |
ājaghānorasi kruddho navatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ || 36 ||

6.107.37

bhīmasenasutaṃ cāpi durmukhaḥ sumukhaiḥ śaraiḥ |
ṣaṣṭyā vīro nadanhṛṣṭo vivyādha raṇamūrdhani || 37 ||

6.107.38

dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ raṇe yāntaṃ bhīṣmasya vadhakāṅkṣiṇam |
hārdikyo vārayāmāsa rakṣanbhīṣmasya jīvitam || 38 ||

That mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Hridika resisted Dhrishtadyumna, that foremost of car-warriors, who was advancing to battle from desire of Bhishma's slaughter. The son of Prishata, however, having pierced Kritavarman with five shafts made wholly of iron, once more, struck him quickly in the centre of the chest fifty shafts. And similarly, O king, Prishata's son struck Kritavarman with nine sharp and blazing shaft, winged with the feathers of the Kanka bird. Encountering each other with great vigour, the battle that took place between them for Bhishma's sake was as fierce as that between Vritra and Vasava. Against Bhimasena who was advancing upon the mighty Bhishma, proceeded Bhurisravas with great speed, saying,--Wait, Wait,--And the son of Somadatta struck Bhima in the centre of the chest with an arrow of exceeding sharpness and golden wings in that battle. And the valiant Bhimasena, with that arrow on his chest, looked beautiful, O best of kings, like the Krauncha mountain in days of old with the dart of Skanda. And those two bulls among men, enraged in battle, shot at each other shafts brightly polished by their forgers and endued with effulgence of the Sun. Bhima, longing for Bhishma's death, fought with the mighty son of Somadatta, and the latter, desirous of Bhishma's victory, fought with the former, each carefully seeking to counteract the other's feats.

6.107.39

vārṣṇeyaḥ pārṣataṃ śūraṃ viddhvā pañcabhirāyasaiḥ |
punaḥ pañcāśatā tūrṇamājaghāna stanāntare || 39 ||

6.107.40

tathaiva pārṣato rājanhārdikyaṃ navabhiḥ śaraiḥ |
vivyādha niśitaistīkṣṇaiḥ kaṅkapatraparicchadaiḥ || 40 ||

6.107.41

tayoḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ bhīṣmahetormahāraṇe |
anyonyātiśayairyuktaṃ yathā vṛtramahendrayoḥ || 41 ||

6.107.42

bhīmasenamathāyāntaṃ bhīṣmaṃ prati mahābalam |
bhūriśravābhyayāttūrṇaṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt || 42 ||

6.107.43

saumadattiratho bhīmamājaghāna stanāntare |
nārācena sutīkṣṇena rukmapuṅkhena saṃyuge || 43 ||

6.107.44

uraḥsthena babhau tena bhīmasenaḥ pratāpavān |
skandaśaktyā yathā krauñcaḥ purā nṛpatisattama || 44 ||

6.107.45

tau śarānsūryasaṃkāśānkarmāraparimārjitān |
anyonyasya raṇe kruddhau cikṣipāte muhurmuhuḥ || 45 ||

6.107.46

bhīmo bhīṣmavadhākāṅkṣī saumadattiṃ mahāratham |
tathā bhīṣmajaye gṛdhnuḥ saumadattiśca pāṇḍavam |
kṛtapratikṛte yattau yodhayāmāsatū raṇe || 46 ||

6.107.47

yudhiṣṭhiraṃ mahārāja mahatyā senayā vṛtam |
bhīṣmāyābhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ bhāradvājo nyavārayat || 47 ||

Bharadwaja's son resisted Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, who, accompanied by a large force, was coming towards Bhishma. Hearing the rattle of Drona's car, O king, that resembled the roar of the clouds, the Prabhadrakas, O sire, began to tremble. That large force, of Pandu's son, resisted by Drona in battle, could not, exerting vigorously, advance even one step. Thy son Chitrasena, O king, resisted Chekitana of wrathful visage who was exerting vigorously for coming upon Bhishma. Possessed of great prowess and great dexterity of hand, that mighty car-warrior for the sake of Bhishma, battled with Chekitana, O Bharata, according to the utmost of his power. And Chekitana also fought with Chitrasena to the utmost of his power. And the battle that took place there in consequence of the meeting of those two warriors, was exceedingly fierce. As regards Arjuna, although he was resisted by all means, O Bharata, he still compelled thy son to turn back and then crushed thy troops. Dussasana however, to the utmost stretch of his power, began to resist Partha, wishing, O Bharata, to protect Bhishma. The army of thy son, O Bharata, undergoing such slaughter, began to be agitated here and there by many foremost car-warriors (of the Pandava)."

6.107.48

droṇasya rathanirghoṣaṃ parjanyaninadopamam |
śrutvā prabhadrakā rājansamakampanta māriṣa || 48 ||

6.107.49

sā senā mahatī rājanpāṇḍuputrasya saṃyuge |
droṇena vāritā yattā na cacāla padātpadam || 49 ||

6.107.50

cekitānaṃ raṇe kruddhaṃ bhīṣmaṃ prati janeśvara |
citrasenastava sutaḥ kruddharūpamavārayat || 50 ||

6.107.51

bhīṣmahetoḥ parākrāntaścitraseno mahārathaḥ |
cekitānaṃ paraṃ śaktyā yodhayāmāsa bhārata || 51 ||

6.107.52

tathaiva cekitāno'pi citrasenamayodhayat |
tadyuddhamāsītsumahattayostatra parākrame || 52 ||

6.107.53

arjuno vāryamāṇastu bahuśastanayena te |
vimukhīkṛtya putraṃ te tava senāṃ mamarda ha || 53 ||

6.107.54

duḥśāsano'pi parayā śaktyā pārthamavārayat |
kathaṃ bhīṣmaṃ paro hanyāditi niścitya bhārata || 54 ||

6.107.55

sā vadhyamānā samare putrasya tava vāhinī |
loḍyate rathibhiḥ śreṣṭhaistatra tatraiva bhārata || 55 ||