Bhīṣmaparva Chapter - 10 (Seventh day war)

 

भीष्मपर्व - Bhīṣmaparva (सप्तम दिवसीय युद्धम्)

अध्यायः – 10  ::Chapter-10 (Seventh day war)

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
सञ्जय उवाच॥ ततस्तव सुतो राजंश्चिन्तयाभिपरिप्लुतः । विस्रवच्छोणिताक्ताङ्गः पप्रच्छेदं पितामहम् ॥ 1॥ सैन्यानि रौद्राणि भयानकानि; व्यूढानि सम्यग्बहुलध्वजानि । विदार्य हत्वा च निपीड्य शूरा;स्ते पाण्डवानां त्वरिता रथौघाः ॥ 2॥ संमोह्य सर्वान्युधि कीर्तिमन्तो; व्यूहं च तं मकरं वज्रकल्पम् । प्रविश्य भीमेन निबर्हितोऽस्मि; घोरैः शरैर्मृत्युदण्डप्रकाशैः ॥ 3॥ क्रुद्धं तमुद्वीक्ष्य भयेन राज;न्संमूर्छितो नालभं शान्तिमद्य । इच्छे प्रसादात्तव सत्यसन्ध; प्राप्तुं जयं पाण्डवेयांश्च हन्तुम् ॥ 4॥ तेनैवमुक्तः प्रहसन्महात्मा; दुर्योधनं जातमन्युं विदित्वा । तं प्रत्युवाचाविमना मनस्वी; गङ्गासुतः शस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठः ॥ 5॥ अवश्यं तु मया राजंस्तव वाच्यं हितं सदा । अशक्याः पाण्डवा जेतुं देवैरपि सवासवैः ॥ 6॥ वासुदेवसहायाश्च महेन्द्रसमविक्रमाः ॥ सर्वथाहं तु राजेन्द्र करिष्ये वचनं तव ॥ 7 ततः प्रभाते विमले स्वेनानीकेन वीर्यवान् । अव्यूहत स्वयं व्यूहं भीष्मो व्यूहविशारदः ॥8 मण्डलं मनुजश्रेष्ठ नानाशस्त्रसमाकुलम् ॥ मण्डलं तु समालोक्य व्यूहं परमदारुणम् ॥ 9 स्वयं युधिष्ठिरो राजा व्यूहं वज्रमथाकरोत् ॥ तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु यथास्थानमवस्थिताः ॥10 रथिनः सादिनश्चैव सिंहनादमथानदन् ॥ ततो राजसहस्राणि परिवव्रुर्धनञ्जयम् ॥11 शक्तितोमरनाराचगदापरिघपाणयः ॥ अर्जुनोऽथ भृशं क्रुद्धो वार्ष्णेयमिदमब्रवीत् ॥12 युद्धाभिकामाञ्शूरांश्च पश्य माधव दंशितान् । त्रिगर्तराजं सहितं भ्रातृभिः पश्य केशव ॥ 13॥ अद्यैतान्पातयिष्यामि पश्यतस्ते जनार्दन । य इमे मां यदुश्रेष्ठ योद्धुकामा रणाजिरे ॥ 14॥ एवमुक्त्वा तु कौन्तेयो धनुर्ज्यामवमृज्य च । ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि नराधिपगणान्प्रति ॥ 15॥ तेऽपि तं परमेष्वासाः शरवर्षैरपूरयन् । तडागमिव धाराभिर्यथा प्रावृषि तोयदा ॥ 16॥ ततः क्रुद्धोऽर्जुनो राजन्नैन्द्रमस्त्रमुदीरयत् । तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम विजयस्य पराक्रमम् ॥ 17॥ शस्त्रवृष्टिं परैर्मुक्तां शरौघैर्यदवारयत् । न च तत्राप्यनिर्भिन्नः कश्चिदासीद्विशां पते ॥ 18॥ भारद्वाजस्तु समरे मत्स्यं विव्याध पत्रिणा । ध्वजं चास्य शरेणाजौ धनुश्चैकेन चिच्छिदे ॥ 19॥ तदपास्य धनुश्छिन्नं विराटो वाहिनीपतिः । अन्यदादत्त वेगेन धनुर्भारसहं दृढम् ॥ 20॥ शरांश्चाशीविषाकाराञ्ज्वलितान्पन्नगानिव ॥ द्रोणं त्रिभिः प्रविव्याध चतुर्भिश्चास्य वाजिनः ॥ 21 ध्वजमेकेन विव्याध सारथिं चास्य पञ्चभिः ॥ धनुरेकेषुणाविध्यत्तत्राक्रुध्यद्द्विजर्षभः ॥ 22॥ तस्य द्रोणोऽवधीदश्वाञ्शरैः संनतपर्वभिः । अष्टाभिर्भरतश्रेष्ठ सूतमेकेन पत्रिणा ॥ 23॥ स हताश्वादवप्लुत्य स्यन्दनाद्धतसारथिः । आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं शङ्खस्य रथिनां वरः ॥ 24॥ ततस्तु तौ पितापुत्रौ भारद्वाजं रथे स्थितौ । महता शरवर्षेण वारयामासतुर्बलात् ॥ 25॥ भारद्वाजस्ततः क्रुद्धः शरमाशीविषोपमम् । चिक्षेप समरे तूर्णं शङ्खं प्रति जनेश्वर ॥ 26॥ स तस्य हृदयं भित्त्वा पीत्वा शोणितमाहवे । जगाम धरणिं बाणो लोहितार्द्रीकृतच्छविः ॥ 27॥ स पपात रथात्तूर्णं भारद्वाजशराहतः । धनुस्त्यक्त्वा शरांश्चैव पितुरेव समीपतः ॥ 28॥ हतं स्वमात्मजं दृष्ट्वा विराटः प्राद्रवद्भयात् । उत्सृज्य समरे द्रोणं व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम् ॥ 29॥ एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु द्रुपदस्यात्मजो बली । धृष्टद्युम्नो महाराज तव पुत्रं जनेश्वरम् ॥ 30 छादयामास समरे शरैः संनतपर्वभिः ॥ सञ्छाद्यमानो विशिखैर्धृष्टद्युम्नेन भारत ॥ 31 विव्यथे न च राजेन्द्र तव पुत्रो जनेश्वरः ॥ धृष्टद्युम्नं च समरे तूर्णं विव्याध सायकैः ॥32 षष्ट्या च त्रिंशता चैव तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥ तस्य सेनापतिः क्रुद्धो धनुश्चिच्छेद मारिष ॥ 33 हयांश्च चतुरः शीघ्रं निजघान महारथः ॥ शरैश्चैनं सुनिशितैः क्षिप्रं विव्याध सप्तभिः ॥ 34॥ स हताश्वान्महाबाहुरवप्लुत्य रथाद्बली । पदातिरसिमुद्यम्य प्राद्रवत्पार्षतं प्रति ॥ 35॥ शकुनिस्तं समभ्येत्य राजगृद्धी महाबलः । राजानं सर्वलोकस्य रथमारोपयत्स्वकम् ॥ 36॥	36 (656)
Sanjaya said, "Then your son, O king, filled with anxiety and stained with blood from his wounds, asked the elder, saying - 'Our troops are fierce and formidable, carrying countless banners. They are also well organized. Yet, the brave and powerful warriors of the Pandavas have broken through our ranks and inflicted heavy losses on us, escaping without injury. They have baffled us and gained great renown in battle. Bhima, having crashed into our strong formation like a thunderbolt, has struck me with arrows that seem like the staff of Death. Seeing him filled with rage, O king, I lost my senses. Even now, I can't find peace of mind. By your grace, O steadfast in truth, I seek victory and wish to defeat the sons of Pandu.'"  Upon hearing this, the noble son of Ganga, the greatest of all fighters, full of mental strength, recognized Duryodhana's sorrow and replied, laughing lightly despite his sadness, saying, 'I must always tell you, O king, what is in your best interest. The Pandavas cannot be defeated, even by the gods with Indra. They have Vasudeva as their ally and are nearly equal to Mahendra in strength. As for me, I will always follow your orders.'  At dawn, when the sky was clear, the brave Bhishma, an expert in battle formations, arranged his troops in a fierce formation known as Mandala, filled with weapons. Seeing this daunting array, King Yudhishthira organized his forces into another formation called Vajra. Once both armies were set, the warriors, from charioteers to cavalry, let out mighty roars. Thousands of kings surrounded Dhananjaya, wielding darts, lances, arrows, maces, and spiked clubs. Arjuna, speaking to Krishna, said, 'Look, O Madhava, at those fearless warriors, countless and eager for battle against me. See, O Kesava, the Trigarta king and his brothers. Today, before your very eyes, I will defeat them all—those who long for this fight.'  After saying this, the son of Kunti tightened his bowstring and unleashed a flurry of arrows upon the kings. In return, those skilled archers showered him with arrows like rain filling a lake during the monsoon. Then, filled with anger, Arjuna summoned the Aindra weapon, displaying remarkable skill as his countless arrows repelled the enemy's onslaught. Among those thousands of kings, steeds, and elephants, none escaped injury.  "At that moment, Drona struck the king of the Matsyas with his winged arrows during the fight. In that clash, he severed the king’s standard with one arrow and his bow with another. Then, Virata, the leader of a large division, set aside the broken bow and quickly grabbed a stronger one that could withstand heavy use. He also armed himself with a number of fiery arrows that looked like venomous snakes. He retaliated against Drona, hitting him with three arrows, and struck down his four horses with four more. Then, he pierced Drona's standard with one arrow and his charioteer with five. He even shot through Drona's bow with another arrow, which made that fierce Brahmana extremely angry. In response, Drona killed Virata's horses with eight straight arrows and then took down his charioteer with a single shot.  With his charioteer dead, Virata leapt from his chariot, which had lost its steeds as well. The top chariot warrior then quickly mounted the chariot of his son, Shankha. Together, father and son stood on the same chariot and fiercely battled Bharadwaja’s son with a heavy barrage of arrows. In his rage, Bharadwaja’s son swiftly shot at Shankha with an arrow that was like a venomous snake. It pierced through Shankha's chest, spilling his blood, and then fell to the ground, soaked and covered in gore. Hit by this arrow from Bharadwaja’s son, Shankha quickly fell from his chariot, his bow and arrows slipping from his hands right before his father's eyes. Seeing his son killed, Virata panicked and fled, avoiding Drona in battle, who was like the very personification of Death, with breathless fury. Dhrishtadyumna, the powerful son of Drupada, surrounded your royal son in battle with countless arrows. Yet, O Bharata, as Dhrishtadyumna fired at him, your son remained calm and fearless. Instead, he swiftly struck back, first hitting Dhrishtadyumna with sixty arrows, then another thirty, which was truly remarkable. Then, filled with rage, the commander of the Pandavas' army broke his bow and, in that fierce combat, took down your son’s four horses and hit him with seven sharp arrows. After this, your strong and skillful warrior leaped from his chariot, which now had fallen horses, and charged on foot, sword raised, towards the son of Prishata. At that moment, the formidable Sakuni, loyal to the king, rushed to help and helped your royal son back onto his chariot, right in front of everyone present.
सञ्जय उवाच॥ पूर्वाह्णे तु महाराज प्रावर्तत जनक्षयः । तन्ममैकमना भूत्वा शृणु देवासुरोपमम् ॥ 1॥ हैडिम्बो राक्षसेन्द्रस्तु भगदत्तं समाद्रवत् । रथेनादित्यवर्णेन सध्वजेन महाबलः ॥ 2॥ घटोत्कचस्ततो राजन्भगदत्तं महारणे । शरैः प्रच्छादयामास मेरुं गिरिमिवाम्बुदः ॥ 3॥ निहत्य ताञ्शरान्राजा राक्षसस्य धनुश्च्युतान् । भैमसेनिं रणे तूर्णं सर्वमर्मस्वताडयत् ॥ 4॥ स ताड्यमानो बहुभिः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः । न विव्यथे राक्षसेन्द्रो भिद्यमान इवाचलः ॥ 5॥ तस्य प्राग्ज्योतिषः क्रुद्धस्तोमरान्स चतुर्दश । प्रेषयामास समरे तांश्च चिच्छेद राक्षसः ॥ 6॥ स तांश्छित्त्वा महाबाहुस्तोमरान्निशितैः शरैः । भगदत्तं च विव्याध सप्तत्या कङ्कपत्रिभिः ॥ 7॥ ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजन्प्रहसन्निव भारत । तस्याश्वांश्चतुरः सङ्ख्ये पातयामास सायकैः ॥ 8॥ स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठन्राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान् । शक्तिं चिक्षेप वेगेन प्राग्ज्योतिषगजं प्रति ॥ 9॥ तामापतन्तीं सहसा हेमदण्डां सुवेगिताम् । त्रिधा चिच्छेद नृपतिः सा व्यकीर्यत मेदिनीम् ॥ 10॥ शक्तिं विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा हैडिम्बः प्राद्रवद्भयात् । यथेन्द्रस्य रणात्पूर्वं नमुचिर्दैत्यसत्तमः ॥ 11॥ ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा मध्यं प्राप्ते दिवाकरे । श्रुतायुषमभिप्रेक्ष्य चोदयामास वाजिनः ॥ 12॥ अभ्यधावत्ततो राजा श्रुतायुषमरिंदमम् । विनिघ्नन्सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नवभिर्नतपर्वभिः ॥ 13॥ अथापरेण भल्लेन केतुं तस्य महात्मनः । रथश्रेष्ठो रथात्तूर्णं भूमौ पार्थो न्यपातयत् ॥ 14॥ केतुं निपतितं दृष्ट्वा श्रुतायुः स तु पार्थिवः । पाण्डवं विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णै राजन्विव्याध सप्तभिः ॥ 15॥ ततः क्रोधात्प्रजज्वाल धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । यथा युगान्ते भूतानि धक्ष्यन्निव हुताशनः ॥ 16॥ अथैनं छिन्नधन्वानं नाराचेन स्तनान्तरे । निर्बिभेद रणे राजा सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥ 17॥ सत्वरं चरणे राजंस्तस्य वाहान्महात्मनः । निजघान शरैः क्षिप्रं सूतं च सुमहाबलः ॥ 18॥ हताश्वं तु रथं त्यक्त्वा दृष्ट्वा राज्ञस्तु पौरुषम् । विप्रदुद्राव वेगेन श्रुतायुः समरे तदा ॥ 19॥ तस्मिञ्जिते महेष्वासे धर्मपुत्रेण संयुगे । दुर्योधनबलं राजन्सर्वमासीत्पराङ्मुखम् ॥ 20॥ एतत्कृत्वा महाराज धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । व्यात्ताननो यथा कालस्तव सैन्यं जघान ह ॥ 21 छिन्नायुधं शान्तनवेन राजा; शिखण्डिनं प्रेक्ष्य च जातकोपः । अजातशत्रुः समरे महात्मा; शिखण्डिनं क्रुद्ध उवाच वाक्यम् ॥ 22॥ उक्त्वा तथा त्वं पितुरग्रतो मा;महं हनिष्यामि महाव्रतं तम् । भीष्मं शरौघैर्विमलार्कवर्णैः; सत्यं वदामीति कृता प्रतिज्ञा ॥ 23॥ त्वया न चैनां सफलां करोषि; देवव्रतं यन्न निहंसि युद्धे । मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञो भव मा नृवीर; रक्षस्व धर्मं च कुलं यशश्च ॥ 24॥ प्रेक्षस्व भीष्मं युधि भीमवेगं; सर्वांस्तपन्तं मम सैन्यसङ्घान् । शरौघजालैरतितिग्मतेजैः; कालं यथा मृत्युकृतं क्षणेन ॥ 25॥ निकृत्तचापः समरानपेक्षः; पराजितः शान्तनवेन राज्ञा । विहाय बन्धूनथ सोदरांश्च; क्व यास्यसे नानुरूपं तवेदम् ॥ 26॥ दृष्ट्वा हि भीष्मं तमनन्तवीर्यं; भग्नं च सैन्यं द्रवमाणमेवम् । भीतोऽसि नूनं द्रुपदस्य पुत्र; तथा हि ते मुखवर्णोऽप्रहृष्टः ॥ 27॥ आज्ञायमानेऽपि धनञ्जयेन; महाहवे सम्प्रसक्ते नृवीर । कथं हि भीष्मात्प्रथितः पृथिव्यां; भयं त्वमद्य प्रकरोषि वीर ॥ 28॥ स धर्मराजस्य वचो निशम्य; रूक्षाक्षरं विप्रलापानुबद्धम् । प्रत्यादेशं मन्यमानो महात्मा; प्रतत्वरे भीष्मवधाय राजन् ॥ 29॥ यिधिष्ठिरोऽपि कौरव्यो यमाभ्यां सहितः प्रभुः । महेष्वासं नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मं शान्तनवं ययौ ॥ 30॥ ततः शरसहस्राणि प्रमुञ्चन्पाण्डवो युधि । भीष्मं सञ्छादयामास यथा मेघो दिवाकरम् ॥ 31 तेन सम्यक्प्रणीतानि शरजालानि भारत । पतिजग्राह गाङ्गेयः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥ 32॥ यमावपि सुसङ्क्रुद्धः समासाद्य रणे तदा । शरैः सञ्छादयामास भीष्मः परपुरञ्जयः ॥ 33॥ ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम् । महता रथवंशेन परिवव्रुः पितामहम् ॥ 34॥ स समन्तात्परिवृतः पिता देवव्रतस्तव । चिक्रीद धनुषा राजन्पातयानो महारथान् ॥ 35॥ शिखण्डी तु समासाद्य भरतानां पितामहम् । अभिदुद्राव वेगेन तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥ 36॥ अनादृत्य ततो भीष्मस्तं शिखण्डिनमाहवे । प्रययौ सृञ्जयान्क्रुद्धः स्त्रीत्वं चिन्त्य शिखण्डिनः ॥ 37॥ अस्तं गिरिमथारूढे नप्रकाशति भास्करे ॥ एवमेते महाराज तावकाः पाण्डवैः सह । पर्यवर्तन्त सहिता निशाकाले परन्तपाः ॥ 38॥	38 (694)
Sanjaya said, "On that day’s morning, O king, the slaughter was vast, reminiscent of the ancient battles between gods and demons. Listen closely. The prince of the Rakshasas, the formidable son of Hidimba, charged at Bhagadatta in his radiant chariot. In that fierce encounter, Ghatotkatcha showered arrows upon Bhagadatta, much like clouds releasing rain on Mount Meru. Though the king managed to strike Bhimasena's son in his vital points, the Rakshasa stood firm, unaffected by the countless arrows, like a mountain riddled with shafts.  Enraged, the ruler of Pragjyotisha threw fourteen lances, yet all were severed by the fierce Rakshasa. With his sharp arrows, the powerful Rakshasa then pierced Bhagadatta with seventy bolts, each as strong as thunder. Laughing, the king of Pragjyotisha sent the Rakshasa’s four horses to their demise. Nevertheless, the valiant Rakshasa, remaining steadfast on his chariot, launched a powerful dart at Bhagadatta's elephant. The king swiftly broke the golden-tipped dart into three pieces before it could reach him, and upon seeing this, the son of Hidimba fled in fear like Namuchi, the foremost of the demons, once did in combat with Indra.".  As the sun reached its peak, King Yudhishthira saw Srutayush and urged his horses forward. He charged at Srutayush, striking him with nine sharp arrows. The legendary charioteer, the son of Pritha, quickly brought down Srutayush's banner with a powerful shot. When Srutayush saw his banner fall, he retaliated by shooting seven arrows at the son of Pandu. In response, Yudhishthira's anger flared like a raging fire at the end of the world, but he held it in check and calmly severed Srutayush's bow. Then, before all the troops, he shot a long arrow straight into Srutayush's chest, who was now disarmed. Yudhishthira swiftly took down Srutayush's horses and charioteer. Witnessing the King’s strength, Srutayush abandoned his chariot and fled the battlefield. After Yudhishthira defeated him, all of Duryodhana's forces turned in dismay. Having achieved this victory, Yudhishthira then began to slay Duryodhana’s troops like Death claiming its due.  King Yudhishthira, seeing Sikhandin flee after losing his weapon to Santanu's son, was filled with rage. The noble Ajatasatru angrily addressed Sikhandin in battle, saying, 'You once vowed before your father to slay Bhishma, the one of strong vows, with your arrows shining like the sun. I speak the truth—this was your promise. You fail to keep it because you haven't confronted Devavrata in battle. Oh, hero, don't be someone who breaks their vows. Remember your honor, your lineage, and your reputation. Look at Bhishma, fiercely attacking and overwhelming my troops with countless arrows, destroying everything like Death itself. Why do you retreat with your bow broken, fleeing from battle and the royal son of Santanu, leaving behind your family and brothers? This is beneath you. Seeing Bhishma's immense power and our army in disarray, you look fearful, as your face is pale. Unbeknownst to you, O hero, Dhananjaya is fighting bravely in this dreadful battle. Renowned across the world, why are you afraid of Bhishma today?'’  Upon hearing King Yudhishthira’s stern yet reasonable words, the noble Sikhandin quickly resolved to slay Bhishma.  Yudhishthira, of the Kuru lineage, along with the twins, approached the formidable archer, Bhishma, a true warrior among men. As the son of Pandu unleashed thousands of arrows in battle, they enveloped Bhishma like clouds hiding the sun. However, Bhishma skillfully deflected those countless arrows. Fueled by anger, Bhishma, conqueror of enemy cities, turned on the twins, bombarding them with his own arrows. Hearing Pritha’s son call out, the rulers gathered around their grandfather with numerous chariots. Surrounded, Devavrata began to fight fiercely, taking down many powerful chariot warriors. As the sun disappeared behind the western hills, darkness fell, causing both your troops and the Pandavas to halt their battle.

 

इति श्री जयसंहिते  भीष्मपर्वणि दशमोऽध्यायः॥

 

Bhīṣmaparva Chapter- 9

Bhīṣmaparva Chapter- 11