महाभारतम् — ४.५९

वैशंपायन उवाच ।

ततः शांतनवो भीष्मो दुराधर्षः प्रतापवान् ।
वध्यमानेषु योधेषु धनंजयमुपाद्रवत् ॥

M N Dutt Vaishampayana said The warriors being thus slain, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, the grandfather of Bharatas, rushed at Dhananjaya,

४.५९.२

प्रगृह्य कार्मुकश्रेष्ठं जातरूपपरिष्कृतम् ।
शरानादाय तीक्ष्णाग्रान्मर्मभेदप्रमाथिनः ॥

M N Dutt Taking up the best of bows made of burnished gold, and sharp arrows capable of piercing to the very vitals.

४.५९.३

पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि ।
शुशुभे स नरव्याघ्रो गिरिः सूर्योदये यथा ॥

M N Dutt And on account of a white umbrella being held over his head, that foremost of men shone like a hill at sun-rise.

४.५९.४

प्रध्माय शङ्खं गाङ्गेयो धार्तराष्ट्रान्प्रहर्षयन् ।
प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य बीभत्सुं समवारयत् ॥

M N Dutt Blowing his conch and cheering up the son of Dhritarashtra, the son of Ganga encountered Bibhatsu.

४.५९.५

तमुद्वीक्ष्य तथायान्तं कौन्तेयः परवीरहा ।
प्रत्यगृह्णात्प्रहृष्टात्मा धाराधरमिवाचलः ॥

M N Dutt Seeing him approach, that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Kunti received him gladly like a hill receiving a cloud.

४.५९.६

ततो भीष्मः शरानष्टौ ध्वजे पार्थस्य वीर्यवान् ।
समपर्यन्महावेगाञ्श्वसमानानिवोरगान् ॥

M N Dutt Then the greatly energetic Bhishma discharged eight quick arrows, sighing like serpents, at Partha's flag.

४.५९.७

ते ध्वजं पाण्डुपुत्रस्य समासाद्य पतत्रिणः ।
ज्वलन्तः कपिमाजघ्नुर्ध्वजाग्रनिलयांश्च तान् ॥

M N Dutt Reaching the flag-staff of the son of Pandu, those winged arrows struck the blowing monkey and other creatures stationed on the flag-staff.

४.५९.८

ततो भल्लेन महता पृथुधारेण पाण्डवः ।
छत्रं चिच्छेद भीष्मस्य तूर्णं तदपतद्भुवि ॥

M N Dutt Then with a huge and sharp dart, the son of Pandu quickly cut off Bhishma's umbrella and it fell down on the ground.

४.५९.९

ध्वजं चैवास्य कौन्तेयः शरैरभ्यहनद्दृढम् ।
शीघ्रकृद्रथवाहांश्च तथोभौ पार्ष्णिसारथी ॥

M N Dutt The son of Kunti, with arrows, struck his flag-staff, his two horses and her driver that protected his flanks.

४.५९.१०

तयोस्तदभवद्युद्धं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् ।
भीष्मस्य सह पार्थेन बलिवासवयोरिव ॥

M N Dutt There was a mighty and hair-stirring encounter between Partha and Bhishma like that between Bali and Vasava,

४.५९.११

भल्लैर्भल्लाः समागम्य भीष्मपाण्डवयोर्युधि ।
अन्तरिक्षे व्यराजन्त खद्योताः प्रावृषीव हि ॥

४.५९.१२

अग्निचक्रमिवाविद्धं सव्यदक्षिणमस्यतः ।
गाण्डीवमभवद्राजन्पार्थस्य सृजतः शरान् ॥

४.५९.१३

स तैः संछादयामास भीष्मं शरशतैः शितैः ।
पर्वतं वारिधाराभिश्छादयन्निव तोयदः ॥

४.५९.१४

तां स वेलामिवोद्धूतां शरवृष्टिं समुत्थिताम् ।
व्यधमत्सायकैर्भीष्मो अर्जुनं संनिवारयत् ॥

४.५९.१५

ततस्तानि निकृत्तानि शरजालानि भागशः ।
समरेऽभिव्यशीर्यन्त फल्गुनस्य रथं प्रति ॥

४.५९.१६

ततः कनकपुङ्खानां शरवृष्टिं समुत्थिताम् ।
पाण्डवस्य रथात्तूर्णं शलभानामिवायतिम् ।
व्यधमत्तां पुनस्तस्य भीष्मः शरशतैः शितैः ॥

४.५९.१७

ततस्ते कुरवः सर्वे साधु साध्विति चाब्रुवन् ।
दुष्करं कृतवान्भीष्मो यदर्जुनमयोधयत् ॥

M N Dutt All Kauravas at that moment thanked Bhishma by saying-"Hurrah! Bhishma has showed this rare valour as to wage battle against Arjuna. a

४.५९.१८

बलवांस्तरुणो दक्षः क्षिप्रकारी च पाण्डवः ।
कोऽन्यः समर्थः पार्थस्य वेगं धारयितुं रणे ॥

M N Dutt Arjuna is mighty, young, efficient and quick in shooting arrows. Hence, who otherwise than Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, Srikrishna, the son of Devaki or Drona, the son of Bharadvaja, mighty and great preceptor (Acharya), can face Partha in battle.

४.५९.१९

ऋते शांतनवाद्भीष्मात्कृष्णाद्वा देवकीसुतात् ।
आचार्यप्रवराद्वापि भारद्वाजान्महाबलात् ॥

M N Dutt Arjuna is mighty, young, efficient and quick in shooting arrows. Hence, who otherwise than Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, Srikrishna, the son of Devaki or Drona, the son of Bharadvaja, mighty and great preceptor (Acharya), can face Partha in battle.

४.५९.२०

अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य क्रीडतः पुरुषर्षभौ ।
चक्षूंषि सर्वभूतानां मोहयन्तौ महाबलौ ॥

M N Dutt Both the mighty warriors, crown to the Bharata's dynasty were detouring or splitting the weapons shot by each other as if it was a play not war for them and the spectators were dazed to see it.

४.५९.२१

प्राजापत्यं तथैवैन्द्रमाग्नेयं च सुदारुणम् ।
कौबेरं वारुणं चैव याम्यं वायव्यमेव च ।
प्रयुञ्जानौ महात्मानौ समरे तौ विचेरतुः ॥

M N Dutt Both of the great warriors were thus engaged in battle-field by shooting the weapons Prajapatya, Aiendra, Agneya, Raudra, Kaubera, Varuna, Yama and Vayavya.

४.५९.२२

विस्मितान्यथ भूतानि तौ दृष्ट्वा संयुगे तदा ।
साधु पार्थ महाबाहो साधु भीष्मेति चाब्रुवन् ॥

M N Dutt All spectators to that battle could not resist them saying frequently, Ogreat warrior Partha! we thank you. O great warrior Bhishma! We thank you (viz. we appreciate your war-craft and expertise).

४.५९.२३

नेदं युक्तं मनुष्येषु योऽयं संदृश्यते महान् ।
महास्त्राणां संप्रयोगः समरे भीष्मपार्थयोः ॥

M N Dutt The great use of specific divine arms and weapons as it is being seen in the battle of Bhishma and Partha, impossible to anywhere and amid other warriors.

४.५९.२४

एवं सर्वास्त्रविदुषोरस्त्रयुद्धमवर्तत ।
अथ जिष्णुरुपावृत्य पृथुधारेण कार्मुकम् ।
चकर्त भीष्मस्य तदा जातरूपपरिष्कृतम् ॥

M N Dutt see O Janamejaya! a battle with divine arms between Bhishma and Arjuna both experts kept on incessant for a certain time. A battle with arrows then started.

४.५९.२५

निमेषान्तरमात्रेण भीष्मोऽन्यत्कार्मुकं रणे ।
समादाय महाबाहुः सज्यं चक्रे महाबलः ।
शरांश्च सुबहून्क्रुद्धो मुमोचाशु धनंजये ॥

M N Dutt The great warrior Bhishma with his huge arms picked-up just at an eye-wink another bow, tied it with string and shot a volley of arrows at Arjuna in sheer anger.

४.५९.२६

अर्जुनोऽपि शरांश्चित्रान्भीष्माय निशितान्बहून् ।
चिक्षेप सुमहातेजास्तथा भीष्मश्च पाण्डवे ॥

M N Dutt Arjuna, the great valorous also shot several acute arrows at Bhishma and Bhishma in reaction also shot numerous arrows at Arjuna.

४.५९.२७

तयोर्दिव्यास्त्रविदुषोरस्यतोरनिशं शरान् ।
न विशेषस्तदा राजल्लक्ष्यते स्म महात्मनोः ॥

M N Dutt O king! both of the warriors were expert in divine arms and weapons and therefore, shooting at each other acute arrows. No difference anyway was seen them at that time viz. both were equally valorous.

४.५९.२८

अथावृणोद्दश दिशः शरैरतिरथस्तदा ।
किरीटमाली कौन्तेयः शूरः शांतनवस्तथा ॥

M N Dutt Arjuna, the son of Kunti holding a crown on head and Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, both were Atirathi warrior. They had covered the directions, ten in number with the arrows shot at each other.

४.५९.२९

अतीव पाण्डवो भीष्मं भीष्मश्चातीव पाण्डवम् ।
बभूव तस्मिन्संग्रामे राजल्लोके तदद्भुतम् ॥

M N Dutt o king Janamejaya! it was really a phenomenon to see of this world that at one time Arjuna, the son of Pandu was seen overlapping Bhishma while Bhishma overlapping Arjuna on the other moment.

४.५९.३०

पाण्डवेन हताः शूरा भीष्मस्य रथरक्षिणः ।
शेरते स्म तदा राजन्कौन्तेयस्याभितो रथम् ॥

M N Dutt O king! the chivalrous soldiers protecting the chariot of Bhishma were fell down dead both side of that chariot as Arjuna had killed them.

४.५९.३१

ततो गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्ता निरमित्रं चिकीर्षवः ।
आगच्छन्पुङ्खसंश्लिष्टाः श्वेतवाहनपत्रिणः ॥

M N Dutt The arrows bearing wings then started moving forward at their release from the bow named Gandiva of Arjuna rode on the white chariot. They started coming from all sides as if intended to make this entire universe free from enemies.

४.५९.३२

निष्पतन्तो रथात्तस्य धौता हैरण्यवाससः ।
आकाशे समदृश्यन्त हंसानामिव पङ्क्तयः ॥

M N Dutt The white arrows with golden wings appears as a row of swans in the sky when they flew from the side where Arjuna's chariot was existed.

४.५९.३३

तस्य तद्दिव्यमस्त्रं हि प्रगाढं चित्रमस्यतः ।
प्रेक्षन्ते स्मान्तरिक्षस्थाः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः ॥

M N Dutt Arjuna was shooting divine arms capable to pierce the heart in an excellent manner and Indra etc. all gods were watching his war-craft from the sky where they had come and stood to see this phenomenal battle,

४.५९.३४

तद्दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतो गन्धर्वश्चित्रमद्भुतम् ।
शशंस देवराजाय चित्रसेनः प्रतापवान् ॥

M N Dutt The chivalrous Gandharva Chitrasena was impressed highly with Arjuna and he said Indra, the king of gods in appreciation of his excellent and phenomenal war-craft.

४.५९.३५

पश्येमानरिनिर्दारान्संसक्तानिव गच्छतः ।
चित्ररूपमिदं जिष्णोर्दिव्यमस्त्रमुदीर्यतः ॥

M N Dutt O sovereign king! see that forwarding swiftly and compact with each other on release from Arjuna's bow. This arrows strategy of Arjuna is really excellent and splendid as he is expert in using divine arms.

४.५९.३६

नेदं मनुष्याः श्रद्दध्युर्न हीदं तेषु विद्यते ।
पौराणानां महास्त्राणां विचित्रोऽयं समागमः ॥

M N Dutt As this arm is not with other people, they cannot use this divine arm for battle. An excellent conglomeration of the powerful arms has been made only in this battle here.

४.५९.३७

मध्यंदिनगतं सूर्यं प्रतपन्तमिवाम्बरे ।
न शक्नुवन्ति सैन्यानि पाण्डवं प्रतिवीक्षितुम् ॥

M N Dutt The soldiers on part of Kauravas have lost courage even to see straight way at valorous son of Pandu as nobody can gaze at the sun glowing in sky with acute rays in the noon. Similarly, nobody can dare to look straight at Bhishma, the son of Ganga.

४.५९.३८

उभौ विश्रुतकर्माणावुभौ युद्धविशारदौ ।
उभौ सदृशकर्माणावुभौ युधि दुरासदौ ॥

M N Dutt Both warriors are famous for their excellent deeds through the world. Both are aggressively valorous. Both equally chivalours and tough to defeat in the battle.

४.५९.३९

इत्युक्तो देवराजस्तु पार्थभीष्मसमागमम् ।
पूजयामास दिव्येन पुष्पवर्षेण भारत ॥

M N Dutt O Bharata! Indra, the king of gods revealed honour for this excellent battle between Arjuna and Bhishma with showing flowers on them when so reported by Chitrasena.

४.५९.४०

ततो भीष्मः शांतनवो वामे पार्श्वे समर्पयत् ।
अस्यतः प्रतिसंधाय विवृतं सव्यसाचिनः ॥

M N Dutt Bhishma, the son of Shantanu suddenly penetrated the left collateral of Arjuna's body who had wounded the Kauravas' army in course of the fierce battle so fought. are

४.५९.४१

ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सुः पृथुधारेण कार्मुकम् ।
न्यकृन्तद्गार्ध्रपत्रेण भीष्मस्यामिततेजसः ॥

M N Dutt The smiling Bibhatsu with sharp shafts furnished with vulture feathers cut off the bow of Bhishma resembling the sun in effulgence.

४.५९.४२

अथैनं दशभिर्बाणैः प्रत्यविध्यत्स्तनान्तरे ।
यतमानं पराक्रान्तं कुन्तीपुत्रो धनंजयः ॥

M N Dutt Then with ten shafts Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, wounded him, brave as he was, on the breast.

४.५९.४३

स पीडितो महाबाहुर्गृहीत्वा रथकूबरम् ।
गाङ्गेयो युधि दुर्धर्षस्तस्थौ दीर्घमिवातुरः ॥

M N Dutt Thus assailed, the powerful son of Ganga stood leaning for a long time on the pole of the car.

४.५९.४४

तं विसंज्ञमपोवाह संयन्ता रथवाजिनाम् ।
उपदेशमनुस्मृत्य रक्षमाणो महारथम् ॥

M N Dutt Beholding him senseless, his charioteer remembering his instructions took away the mighty car-warrior.