Bhīṣmaparva Chapter - 11 (Eighth day war)

 

भीष्मपर्व - Bhīṣmaparva (अष्टम दिवसीय युद्धम्)

अध्यायः – 11  ::Chapter-11 (Eighth day war)

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
सञ्जय उवाच॥ परिणाम्य निशां तां तु सुखसुप्ता जनेश्वराः । कुरवः पाण्डवाश्चैव पुनर्युद्धाय निर्ययुः ॥ 1॥ ततः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं भयावहम् । तावकानां परेषां च निघ्नतामितरेतरम् ॥ 2॥ सुनाभस्य शरेणाशु शिरश्चिच्छेद चारिहा ॥ क्षुरप्रेण सुतीक्ष्णेन स हतो न्यपतद्भुवि ॥ 3 हते तस्मिन्महाराज तव पुत्रे महारथे ॥ ॥ नामृष्यन्त रणे शूराः सोदर्याः सप्त संयुगे ॥ 4॥ आदित्यकेतुर्बह्वाशी कुण्डधारो महोदरः । अपराजितः पण्डितको विशालाक्षः सुदुर्जयः ॥ 5॥ पाण्डवं चित्रसंनाहा विचित्रकवचध्वजाः । अभ्यद्रवन्त सङ्ग्रामे योद्धुकामारिमर्दनाः ॥ 6॥ महोदरस्तु समरे भीमं विव्याध पत्रिभिः । नवभिर्वज्रसङ्काशैर्नमुचिं वृत्रहा यथा ॥ 7॥ आदित्यकेतुः सप्तत्या बह्वाशी चापि पञ्चभिः । नवत्या कुण्डधारस्तु विशालाक्षश्च सप्तभिः ॥ 8॥ अपराजितो महाराज पराजिष्णुर्महारथः । शरैर्बहुभिरानर्छद्भीमसेनं महाबलम् ॥ 9॥ रणे पण्डितकश्चैनं त्रिभिर्बाणैः समर्दयत् । स तन्न ममृषे भीमः शत्रुभिर्वधमाहवे ॥ 10॥ धनुः प्रपीड्य वामेन करेणामित्रकर्शनः । शिरश्चिच्छेद समरे शरेण नतपर्वणा ॥ 11॥ अपराजितस्य सुनसं तव पुत्रस्य संयुगे । पराजितस्य भीमेन निपपात शिरो महीम् ॥ 12॥ अथापरेण भल्लेन कुण्डधारं महारथम् । प्राहिणोन्मृत्युलोकाय सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः ॥ 13॥ ततः पुनरमेयात्मा प्रसन्धाय शिलीमुखम् । प्रेषयामास समरे पण्डितं प्रति भारत ॥ 14॥ स शरः पण्डितं हत्वा विवेश धरणीतलम् । यथा नरं निहत्याशु भुजगः कालचोदितः ॥ 15॥ विशालाक्षशिरश्छित्त्वा पातयामास भूतले । त्रिभिः शरैरदीनात्मा स्मरन्क्लेशं पुरातनम् ॥ 16॥ महोदरं महेष्वासं नाराचेन स्तनान्तरे । विव्याध समरे राजन्स हतो न्यपतद्भुवि ॥ 17॥ आदित्यकेतोः केतुं च छित्त्वा बाणेन संयुगे । भल्लेन भृशतीक्ष्णेन शिरश्चिच्छेद चारिहा ॥ 18॥ बह्वाशिनं ततो भीमः शरेण नतपर्वणा । प्रेषयामास सङ्क्रुद्धो यमस्य सदनं प्रति ॥ 19॥ प्रदुद्रुवुस्ततस्तेऽन्ये पुत्रास्तव विशां पते । मन्यमाना हि तत्सत्यं सभायां तस्य भाषितम् ॥ 20॥ निनदत्सुमहानादं निर्घातमिव राक्षसः । ज्वलितं शूलमुद्यम्य रूपं कृत्वा विभीषणम् ॥ 21॥ नानाप्रहरणैर्घोरैर्वृतो राक्षसपुङ्गवैः । आजगाम सुसङ्क्रुद्धः कालान्तकयमोपमः ॥ 22॥ ततो दुर्योधनो राजा घटोत्कचमुपाद्रवत् । प्रगृह्य विपुलं चापं सिंहवद्विनदन्मुहुः ॥ 23॥ ततः पुनरमेयात्मा शरवर्षं दुरासदम् । मुमोच भरतश्रेष्ठ निशाचरबलं प्रति ॥ 24॥ स तैर्विद्धः स्रवन्रक्तं प्रभिन्न इव कुञ्जरः । दध्रे मतिं विनाशाय राज्ञः स पिशिताशनः ॥ 25॥ जग्राह च महाशक्तिं गिरीणामपि दारणीम् ॥ सम्प्रदीप्तां महोल्काभामशनीं मघवानिव ॥ 26 समुद्यच्छन्महाबाहुर्जिघांसुस्तनयं तव ॥ तामुद्यतामभिप्रेक्ष्य वङ्गानामधिपस्त्वरन् ॥ 27 कुञ्जरं गिरिसङ्काशं राक्षसं प्रत्यचोदयत् ॥ रथं च वारयामास कुञ्जरेण सुतस्य ते ॥ 28॥ मार्गमावारितं दृष्ट्वा राज्ञा वङ्गेन धीमता । घटोत्कचो महाराज क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः ॥ 29॥ उद्यतां तां महाशक्तिं तस्मिंश्चिक्षेप वारणे ॥ स तयाभिहतो राजंस्तेन बाहुविमुक्तया । सञ्जातरुधिरोत्पीडः पपात च ममार च ॥ 30॥ भूय एव ननादोग्रः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः । त्रासयन्सर्वभूतानि युगान्ते जलदो यथा ॥ 31॥ ततः समभवद्युद्धं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् । राक्षसानां च मुख्यस्य दुर्योधनबलस्य च ॥ 32॥ तमापतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसं घोरदर्शनम् । अभ्यधावत तेजस्वी भारद्वाजात्मजस्त्वरन् ॥ 33॥ निजघान च सङ्क्रुद्धो राक्षसान्भीमदर्शनान् । योऽभवन्नग्रतः क्रुद्धा राक्षसस्य पुरःसराः ॥ 34॥ विमुखांश्चैव तान्दृष्ट्वा द्रौणिचापच्युतैः शरैः । अक्रुध्यत महाकायो भैमसेनिर्घटोत्कचः ॥ 35॥ प्रादुश्चक्रे महामायां घोररूपां सुदारुणाम् । मोहयन्समरे द्रौणिं मायावी राक्षसाधिपः ॥ 36॥ ततस्ते तावकाः सर्वे मायया विमुखीकृताः । अन्योन्यं समपश्यन्त निकृत्तान्मेदिनीतले ॥ 37॥ विचेष्टमानान्कृपणाञ्शोणितेन समुक्षितान् तद्दृष्ट्वा तावकं सैन्यं विद्रुतं शिबिरं प्रति ॥ 38॥	38 (732)
Sanjaya said, "After a night of deep sleep, the great leaders, the Kauravas and Pandavas, rose to battle once more. A fierce and terrible clash erupted between your troops and the enemy. In this chaos, Bhima, the slayer of foes, used a sharp arrow tipped with a horse-shoe to behead your son Sunabha. With this blow, he fell to the ground. The death of your mighty chariot-warrior and skilled archer enraged seven of his valiant brothers, your sons: Adityaketu, Vahvasin, Kundadhara, Mahodara, Aparajita, Panditaka, and the unbeatable Visalaksha. Clad in ornate armour, ready for battle, they charged at the son of Pandu. In this confrontation, Mahodara shot Bhimasena with nine arrows that struck like thunderbolts, just as the destroyer of Vritra battled the great Asura Namuchi. Adityaketu followed with seventy arrows, Vishnu with five, Kundadhara with ninety, and Visalaksha with seven."  And that formidable warrior on the battlefield, the great charioteer Aparajita, O king, struck Bhimasena, who was strong, with many arrows. Panditaka also shot him with three arrows during the fight. Yet Bhima did not tolerate these assaults from his enemies. Gripping his bow firmly with his left hand, the fierce fighter swiftly severed the head of your son Aparajita, whose nose was finely shaped. Defeated by Bhima, his head fell to the ground. Then, in full view of all the soldiers, Bhima sent another broad-headed arrow, killing the mighty charioteer Kundadhara and sending him to the realm of Death.  Once again, that valiant soul aimed and released an arrow, O Bharata, striking Panditaka down in the battle. The arrow, like a deadly snake, sank into the earth after claiming its victim. Undeterred, this hero, remembering his past struggles, cut off Visalaksha's head with three arrows. Then, in the fight, Bhima struck the powerful bowman Mahodara in the chest with a long shaft. Slain by this, O king, Mahodara fell to the ground. Next, O Bharata, he shot down the umbrella of Adityaketu with one arrow, then severed his head with another sharp, wide-headed shaft. Enraged, Bhima then sent Vahvasin to Yama's domain with another straight shaft. In fear, your other sons, O king, fled, believing the words spoken by Bhima in the Kaurava assembly.  Ghatotkacha roared loudly like thunder, taking on a fearsome appearance with a blazing spear raised high, surrounded by many fierce Rakshasas wielding various weapons. He charged forward, filled with rage and resembling the very Destroyer at the end of an age. Seeing him approach in fury and noticing his own troops fleeing in terror at the sight of the Rakshasa, King Duryodhana swiftly confronted Ghatotkacha, stringing his bow and repeatedly roaring like a lion. He unleashed a storm of arrows that barely could be resisted against the Rakshasas. As those arrows struck, blood dripped from the Rakshasa, making him look like an elephant with shattered temples.  Angered, the cannibal focused on destroying the Kuru king. He lifted a massive dart capable of piercing mountains, glowing intensely like a meteor and shining with the brightness of lightning. Ghatotkacha, eager to defeat your son, raised that formidable dart. Seeing it, the Vanga king climbed onto an enormous elephant and charged toward the Rakshasa, shielding Duryodhana's chariot. Once Ghatotkacha realized that the way to Duryodhana was obscured by the clever Vanga king, his eyes burned red with anger, directing that mighty dart toward the elephant. Struck down, O king, by the dart thrown from Ghatotkacha's hands, the elephant, soaked in blood and suffering greatly, collapsed and died.  Furious, Ghatotkacha shouted again, instilling fear in all your soldiers, like storm clouds gathering at the end of an age. A fierce battle erupted, making hearts race, between the Rakshasas on one side and Duryodhana's bravest warriors on the other. Seeing the fearsome Rakshasa approach, the brave son of Bharadwaja charged at him. Filled with rage, he killed many of Ghatotkacha's fierce followers. When they were driven back by arrows from Drona's son, the massive Ghatotkacha was enraged. He unleashed a terrifying illusion, confusing Drona's son amid the chaos. As a result, your troops turned and fled the battlefield, thinking they saw comrades fallen and writhing in agony, covered in blood. Drona, Duryodhana, Salya, Aswatthaman, and other esteemed archers among the Kauravas seemed to scatter. All the chariot warriors appeared crushed, and kings seemed to fall in droves. Horses and their riders fell by the thousands. Witnessing this, your soldiers fled toward their camps..
सञ्जय उवाच॥ सुप्रतीकेन तांश्चापि भगदत्तोऽप्युपाद्रवत् ॥ 1॥ ततः समभवद्युद्धं घोररूपं भयानकम् । पाण्डूनां भगदत्तेन यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनम् ॥ 2॥ तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तमाने सङ्ग्रामे लोमहर्षणे । भगदत्तो महेष्वासो भीमसेनमथाद्रवत् ॥ 3॥ ततो भीमं पुरस्कृत्य भगदत्तमुपाद्रवन् । किरन्तो विविधान्बाणाञ्शस्त्राणि विविधानि च ॥ 4॥ तेषामापततां राजन्सङ्क्रुद्धानाममर्षिणाम् । श्रुत्वा स निनदं घोरममर्षाद्गतसाध्वसः ॥ 5॥ भगदत्तो महेष्वासः स्वनागं प्रत्यचोदयत् ॥ अङ्कुशाङ्गुष्ठनुदितः स गजप्रवरो युधि ॥ 6 तस्मिन्क्षणे समभवत्संवर्तक इवानलः ॥ रथसङ्घांस्तथा नागान्हयांश्च सह सादिभिः ॥ 7 पादातांश्च सुसङ्क्रुद्धः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥ अमृद्नात्समरे राजन्सम्प्रधावंस्ततस्ततः ॥ 8॥ तेन संलोड्यमानं तु पाण्डूनां तद्बलं महत् । सञ्चुकोच महाराज चर्मेवाग्नौ समाहितम् ॥ 9॥ भग्नं तु स्वबलं दृष्ट्वा भगदत्तेन धीमता । घटोत्कचोऽथ सङ्क्रुद्धो भगदत्तमुपाद्रवत् ॥ 10॥ विकटः पुरुषो राजन्दीप्तास्यो दीप्तलोचनः । रूपं विभीषणं कृत्वा रोषेण प्रज्वलन्निव ॥ 11॥ जग्राह विपुलं शूलं गिरीणामपि दारणम् । नागं जिघांसुः सहसा चिक्षेप च महाबलः ॥ 12॥ सविष्फुलिङ्गज्वालाभिः समन्तात्परिवेष्टितम् ॥ तमापतन्तं सहसा दृष्ट्वा ज्वालाकुलं रणे ॥ 13 चिक्षेप रुचिरं तीक्ष्णमर्धचन्द्रं स पार्थिवः ॥ ॥ चिच्छेद सुमहच्छूलं तेन बाणेन वेगवत् ॥ 14॥ निपपात द्विधा छिन्नं शूलं हेमपरिष्कृतम् । महाशनिर्यथा भ्रष्टा शक्रमुक्ता नभोगता ॥ 15॥ शूलं निपतितं दृष्ट्वा द्विधा कृत्तं स पार्थिवः । रुक्मदण्डां महाशक्तिं जग्राहाग्निशिखोपमाम् ॥ 16॥ चिक्षेप तां राक्षसस्य तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥ तामापतन्तीं सम्प्रेक्ष्य वियत्स्थामशनीमिव ॥ 17 उत्पत्य राक्षसस्तूर्णं जग्राह च ननाद च ॥ बभञ्ज चैनां त्वरितो जानुन्यारोप्य भारत ॥ 18 पश्यतः पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥ तदवेक्ष्य कृतं कर्म राक्षसेन बलीयसा ॥ 19 दिवि देवाः सगन्धर्वा मुनयश्चापि विस्मिताः ॥ पाण्डवाश्च महेष्वासा भीमसेनपुरोगमाः ॥ 20 साधु साध्विति नादेन पृथिवीमनुनादयन् ॥ तं तु श्रुत्वा महानादं प्रहृष्टानां महात्मनाम् ॥ 21 नामृष्यत महेष्वासो भगदत्तः प्रतापवान् ॥ स विस्फार्य महच्चापमिन्द्राशनिसमस्वनम् ॥ 22 अभिदुद्राव वेगेन पाण्डवानां महारथान् ॥ विसृजन्विमलांस्तीक्ष्णान्नाराचाञ्ज्वलनप्रभान् ॥ 23॥ भीममेकेन विव्याध राक्षसं नवभिः शरैः । अभिमन्युं त्रिभिश्चैव केकयान्पञ्चभिस्तथा ॥ 24॥ पूर्णायतविसृष्टेन स्वर्णपुङ्खेन पत्रिणा । बिभेद दक्षिणं बाहुं क्षत्रदेवस्य चाहवे ॥ 25॥ पपात सहसा तस्य सशरं धनुरुत्तमम् ॥ द्रौपदेयांस्ततः पञ्च पञ्चभिः समताडयत् ॥ 26 भीमसेनस्य च क्रोधान्निजघान तुरङ्गमान् ॥ ध्वजं केसरिणं चास्य चिच्छेद विशिखैस्त्रिभिः  ॥ 27 निर्बिभेद त्रिभिश्चान्यैः सारथिं चास्य पत्रिभिः ॥ स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ॥ 28 विशोको भरतश्रेष्ठ भगदत्तेन संयुगे ॥ ततो भीमो महाराज विरथो रथिनां वरः ॥ 29 गदां प्रगृह्य वेगेन प्रचस्कन्द महारथात् ॥ तमुद्यतगदं दृष्ट्वा सशृङ्गमिव पर्वतम् ॥ 30 तावकानां भयं घोरं समपद्यत भारत ॥ एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु पाण्डवः कृष्णसारथिः ॥ 31 आजगाम महाराज निघ्नञ्शत्रून्सहस्रशः यत्र तौ पुरुषव्याघ्रौ पितापुत्रौ परन्तपौ ॥ 32॥ प्राग्ज्योतिषेण संसक्तौ भीमसेनघटोत्कचौ ॥ दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवो राजन्युध्यमानान्महारथान् ॥ 33 त्वरितो भरतश्रेष्ठ तत्रायाद्विकिरञ्शरान् ॥ घोरे निशामुखे रौद्रे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे ॥ 34॥ अवहारं ततः कृत्वा सहिताः कुरुपाण्डवाः । न्यविशन्त यथाकालं गत्वा स्वशिबिरं तदा ॥ 35।	35 (767)
Bhagadatta charged forward on his elephant named Supratika, launching into a fierce battle against the Pandavas that filled Yama's realm with new souls. Arrows of powerful energy were unleashed by chariot warriors, striking down elephants and chariots alike. Amidst the chaos, the formidable archer Bhagadatta advanced toward Bhimasena, making the hair on everyone stand on end. Seeing the elephant charge, the mighty warriors of the Pandava army, led by Bhimasena, rushed to confront it. This group included the five Kekaya princes, Abhimanyu, the five sons of Draupadi, the heroic leader of the Dasarnas, Kshatradeva, the ruler of the Chedis, and Chitraketu. All these warriors, filled with rage and wielding their brilliant celestial weapons, surrounded that single elephant housing their foe. The massive beast, pierced by numerous arrows and drenched in blood, shone like a mountain prince adorned with red chalk after a rainstorm. Then, the ruler of the Dasarnas, riding an elephant that towered like a mountain, charged toward Bhagadatta's mount.  However, that mighty elephant named Supratika stood firm against the advancing army, much like land supports the relentless waves of the sea. Observing this high-spirited elephant resisting their charge, the troops of the Pandavas cheered loudly, calling out 'Wonderful, wonderful!' Then the best of kings, the ruler of Pragjyotisha, filled with fury, hurled fourteen spears at the elephant. These pierced its splendid gold-encrusted armor and entered its body like snakes slithering into an anthill. Severely wounded and in great pain, the elephant, O chief of the Bharatas, calmed its rage and swiftly turned back with tremendous force. It fled rapidly, screeching terrifyingly, and trampled the Pandava lines like a stormbreaker felling trees.  After this elephant was subdued, the mighty chariot warriors of the Pandavas, letting out fierce lion-like roars, charged into battle. Leading them was Bhima as they raced toward Bhagadatta, showering various arrows and weapons. Hearing the furious shouts of the vengeful warriors, the great archer Bhagadatta, unafraid and furious, urged his own elephant forward. This noble beast, inspired by the hook and the prod, transformed into a destructive fire, like the Samvarta at the end of an age. It smashed through rows of chariots, foes, and horse-riders, thrashing about wildly. Filled with wrath, it crushed foot soldiers by the hundreds and thousands. Under attack from that elephant, the large Pandava force diminished like leather shrivelling in the heat of a fire.  As the Pandava formation was shattered by the cunning Bhagadatta, Ghatotkacha, fierce and fearsome, rushed towards him with a fierce glare and blazing red eyes, burning with rage. Taking on a terrifying visage and fueled by anger, he picked up a brilliant spear capable of splitting mountains. He, endowed with immense strength, hurled this spear, which blazed with flames, aimed at slaying that enormous elephant. Seeing it hurtling towards him with incredible speed, the king of Pragjyotisha swiftly shot a beautiful yet sharp arrow with a crescent tip, packed with power, cutting the dart in half. The golden ornamented dart was then split down the middle, falling to the ground like a heavenly bolt from Indra, flashing across the sky.  Seeing his opponent's dart divided and lying on the ground, Bhagadatta seized a large javelin with a golden handle, shining brightly like a flame, and threw it at the Rakshasa, commanding, 'Wait, Wait!' The Rakshasa, witnessing it charge towards him like a heavenly bolt, leaped up, caught it, and let out a loud shout. Quickly, he pressed it against his knee and broke it before the eyes of all the kings. This astounding feat left everyone in awe. The gods in the sky, along with the Gandharvas and sages, marveled at the mighty Rakshasa's action. Meanwhile, the Pandava warriors, led by Bhimasena, filled the earth with exclamations of 'Excellent, Excellent.' However, upon hearing the loud cheers from the joyous Pandavas, the valiant archer Bhagadatta could not remain composed.  Drawing back his powerful bow, which shone like Indra's thunderbolt, he let out a fierce roar aimed at the strong warriors of the Pandava army, simultaneously firing many bright, sharp arrows that glowed with the brilliance of fire. He struck Bhima with one arrow and pierced the Rakshasa with nine. He shot three arrows into Abhimanyu and five into the Kekaya brothers. With another straight arrow, pulled back to its limit, he hit Kshatradeva in the right arm. This caused Kshatradeva's bow, loaded with an arrow, to drop from his hand. He then struck the five sons of Draupadi with five arrows, and out of rage, he killed Bhimasena's horses. He launched three feathered arrows that brought down Bhimasena's lion-emblazoned standard. With another three arrows, he hit Bhima's charioteer. Deeply wounded by Bhagadatta and in great pain, Visoka, O chief of the Bharatas, slumped on the chariot's terrace.  Then, O king, the greatest of charioteers, Bhima, deprived of his chariot, quickly jumped down and took up his mace. Seeing him lift the mace, towering like a crowned hill, all your troops, O Bharata, were filled with immense fear.At that moment, O king, Arjuna, the son of Pandu and Krishna's charioteer, arrived on the battlefield, defeating foes on all sides. He reached the place where the fierce warriors, Bhimasena and Ghatotkacha, a father and son duo, were battling the king of the Pragjyotishas. Seeing his brothers in combat, Arjuna swiftly joined the fight, unleashing a flurry of arrows, O leader of the Bharatas. Soon after, as darkness fell, both the Kurus and the Pandavas withdrew their troops. With their armies called back, they settled for the night in their respective tents.

 

इति श्री जयसंहिते  भीष्मपर्वणि एकादशोऽध्यायः॥

 

Bhīṣmaparva Chapter- 10

Bhīṣmaparva Chapter- 12