Adhyaya 59

Verse 1

डी श््न अी->०त- + तलवारको मण्डलाकार घुमाना 'भ्रान्त' कहलाता है। यही अधिक परिश्रमसाध्य होनेपर “आविद्ध' कहा गया है। 'भ्रान्त' की क्रिया यदि ऊपर उठते हुए की जाय तो उसे “उदशभ्रान्त"” कहते हैं। तलवार चलाते हुए ऊपर उछलना “आप्लुत' है। सब दिशाओंमें फैलावका नाम “प्रसृत” है। तलवार चलाते हुए एक ही दिशामें आगे बढ़ना 'प्लुत” है। वेगको 'सम्पात' कहते हैं। समस्त शत्रुओंको मारने या चोट पहुँचानेके उद्यमको “समुदीर्ण” कहा गया है। पञ्चपञज्चाशत्तमो< ध्याय: अभिमन्यु और अर्जुनका पराक्रम तथा दूसरे दिनके युद्धकी समाप्ति संजय उवाच गतपूर्वाह्नभूयिष्ठे तस्मिन्नहनि भारत । रथनागाश्चवपत्तीनां सादिनां च महाक्षये

Sañjaya said: “O Bharata (Dhritarashtra), when the night had ended and dawn arrived, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, then issued commands for the marching and orderly deployment of the battle-divisions.”

Verse 2

द्रोणपुत्रेण शल्येन कृपेण च महात्मना । समसज्जत पाज्चाल्यस्त्रिभिरेतैर्महारथै:

Sañjaya said: O Bharata, the Pāñcāla prince (Dhṛṣṭadyumna) engaged in close combat with these three great chariot-warriors—Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāmā), Śalya, and the high-souled Kṛpa.

Verse 3

स लोकविदितानश्वान्‌ निजघान महाबल: । द्रौणे: पाउ्चालदायाद: शितैर्दशभिराशुगै:,महाबली पांचालराजकुमारने दस शीघ्रगामी पैने बाण मारकर अअश्वत्थामाके विश्वविख्यात घोड़ोंको मार डाला

Sañjaya said: The mighty heir of the Pāñcālas struck down Droṇa’s son’s horses—those renowned throughout the world—by means of ten sharp, swift-flying arrows.

Verse 4

ततः शल्यरथं तूर्णमास्थाय हतवाहन: । द्रौणि: पाउ्चालदायादम भ्यवर्षदथेषुभि:,वाहनोंके मारे जानेपर अश्वत्थामा तुरंत ही शल्यके रथपर चढ़ गया और वहींसे धृष्टद्युम्नपर बाणोंकी वर्षा करने लगा

Sañjaya said: Then Aśvatthāmā, Droṇa’s son—his own chariot and horses having been struck down—swiftly mounted Śalya’s chariot. From there he showered Dhṛṣṭadyumna, heir of the Pāñcālas, with an unrelenting rain of arrows.

Verse 5

धृष्टय्युम्न॑ तु संयुक्त द्रौणिना वीक्ष्य भारत । सौभद्रो5भ्यपतत्‌ तूर्ण विकिरन्‌ निशितान्‌ शरान्‌

Sañjaya said: O Bhārata, seeing Dhṛṣṭadyumna locked in combat with Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman), Subhadrā’s son Abhimanyu swiftly rushed forward, scattering sharp arrows.

Verse 6

स शल्यं पञ्चविंशत्या कृपं च नवशभि: शरै: । अश्वत्थामानमष्टाभिविंव्याध पुरुषर्षभ:,उस पुरुषरत्न अभिमन्युने शल्यको पचीस, कृपाचार्यको नौ और अश्वत्थामाको आठ बाणोंसे बींध डाला

Sañjaya said: That bull among men (Abhimanyu) pierced Śalya with twenty-five arrows, Kṛpa with nine, and Aśvatthāman with eight.

Verse 7

आर्जुनिं तु ततस्तूर्ण द्रौणिर्विव्याध पत्रिणा । शल्यो5थ दशभिश्नैव कृपश्च निशितैस्त्रिभि:

Sañjaya said: Then, without delay, Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman) struck Arjuna’s son with a feathered arrow. After that, Śalya pierced him with ten arrows, and Kṛpa too with three sharp shafts.

Verse 8

लक्ष्मणस्तव पौत्रस्तु सौभद्रं समवस्थितम्‌ । अभ्यवर्तत संहृष्टस्ततो युद्धमवर्तत

Sañjaya said: Your grandson Lakṣmaṇa, seeing Saubhadra (Abhimanyu), the son of Subhadrā, standing before him, advanced upon him with exhilaration and martial ardor. Thereupon, a battle commenced between the two.

Verse 9

दौर्योधनि: सुसंक्रुद्ध: सौभद्रं परवीरहा । विव्याध समरे राज॑स्तदद्‌भुतमिवाभवत्‌

Sanjaya said: Duryodhana’s son, inflamed with fierce anger, struck Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)—the slayer of enemy heroes—with his arrows in the thick of battle, O King. To behold it was as though something wondrous had occurred, for the young warrior who had been cutting down foes was suddenly pierced amid the clash of arms.

Verse 10

अभिमन्यु: सुसंक्रुद्धों भ्रातरं भरतर्षभ । शरै: पञ्चाशता राजन क्षिप्रहस्तो5भ्यविध्यत

Sanjaya said: Abhimanyu, inflamed with fierce anger, swiftly loosed his arrows and struck his brother—O bull among the Bharatas, O king—with fifty shafts.

Verse 11

लक्ष्मणो5पि पुनस्तस्य धनुश्िच्छेद पत्रिणा । मुष्टिदेशे महाराज ततस्ते चुक्रुशुर्जना:

Sanjaya said: “Lakṣmaṇa too, once again, cut that warrior’s bow with a feathered arrow—striking it at the grip, O King. At that, the onlookers burst into loud cries.”

Verse 12

राजन! तब लक्ष्मणने भी पुन: एक बाण मारकर उसके धनुषको, जहाँ मुट्ठी रखी जाती है, वहींसे काट दिया। यह देख आपके सैनिक हर्षसे कोलाहल कर उठे ।।

Sanjaya said: “O King, then Lakshmana again loosed a single arrow and cut his opponent’s bow precisely at the grip. Seeing this, your soldiers raised a jubilant uproar. Casting aside the severed bow, Saubhadra—slayer of enemy champions—took up another splendid bow, swifter in its force.”

Verse 13

तौ तत्र समरे युक्तौ कृतप्रतिकृतेषिणौ । अन्योन्यं विशिखैस्ती६णैर्जघ्नतु: पुरुषर्षभौ

Sanjaya said: There, in the thick of battle, those two bull-like heroes were fully engaged, each intent on countering and repaying the other’s deeds. With sharp arrows they struck one another again and again—warriors matched in resolve, locked in a contest of retaliation and prowess.

Verse 14

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा दृष्टवा पुत्रं महारथम्‌ | पीडितं तव पौत्रेण प्रायात्‌ तत्र प्रजेश्वर:,तब प्रजाजनोंका स्वामी राजा दुर्योधन अपने महारथी पुत्रको आपके पौत्र अभिमन्युसे पीड़ित देख वहाँ स्वयं जा पहुँचा

Sañjaya said: Then King Duryodhana, seeing his own son—the great chariot-warrior—hard-pressed by your grandson, went there himself, the lord of his people.

Verse 15

संनिवृत्ते तव सुते सर्व एव जनाधिपा: । आर्जुनिं रथवंशेन समन्तात्‌ पर्यवारयन्‌,आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनके उधर लौटनेपर कौरव-पक्षके सभी नरेशोंने विशाल रथ-सेनाके द्वारा अर्जुनकुमार अभिमन्युको सब ओरसे घेर लिया

Sañjaya said: When your son had turned back, all the kings on the Kaurava side surrounded Arjuna’s son on every side with a great formation of chariots, seeking to isolate and overwhelm Abhimanyu in battle.

Verse 16

स तै: परिवृत: शूरै: शूरो युधि सुदुर्जयै: । न सम प्रव्यथते राजन्‌ कृष्णतुल्यपराक्रम:

Sañjaya said: O King, though that hero was surrounded in battle by valiant warriors exceedingly hard to overcome, he did not waver in the least. Equal in prowess to Kṛṣṇa, he remained unshaken.

Verse 17

सौभद्रमथ संसकं दृष्टवा तत्र धनंजय: । अभिदुद्राव वेगेन त्रातुकाम: स्वमात्मजम्‌,इसी समय अर्जुन सुभद्राकुमारको वहाँ युद्धमें संलग्न देख अपने पुत्रकी रक्षाके लिये बड़े वेगसे दौड़े आये

Sañjaya said: Seeing there the son of Subhadrā locked in close combat, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) rushed forward at great speed, intent on protecting his own son.

Verse 18

ततः सरथनागाश्चा भीष्मद्रोणपुरोगमा: । अभ्यवर्तन्त राजान: सहिता: सव्यसाचिनम्‌,यह देख भीष्म और द्रोण आदि सभी कौरव-पक्षीय नरेश रथ, हाथी और घोड़ोंकी सेनासहित एक साथ अर्जुनपर चढ़ आये

Sañjaya said: Then the kings of the Kaurava side—led in the forefront by Bhīṣma and Droṇa—advanced together against Arjuna, supported by forces of chariots, elephants, and horses.

Verse 19

उद्भूतं सहसा भौम॑ नागाश्वरथपत्तिभि: | दिवाकररथं प्राप्प रजस्तीव्रमदृश्यत

Sañjaya said: All at once, the fierce dust of the earth—kicked up by elephants, horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers—rose and, reaching even the Sun’s chariot, spread everywhere, making the battlefield hard to see.

Verse 20

तानि नागसहस्राणि भूमिपालशतानि च । तस्य बाणपथं प्राप्य नाभ्यवर्तन्त सर्वश:

Sañjaya said: Those thousands of elephants and hundreds of kings, once they came within the range of his arrows, could not turn back at all.

Verse 21

कुरूणां चानयस्तीव्र: समदृश्यत दारुण:

Sañjaya said: A fierce and dreadful consequence of the Kuru side’s wrongdoing became plainly visible. As the crested Arjuna’s volleys of weapons spread everywhere and covered all, the sky, the quarters, the earth, and even the sun could no longer be clearly perceived.

Verse 22

नाप्यन्तरिक्ष न दिशो न भूमिर्न च भास्कर: । प्रजज्ञे भरतश्रेष्ठ शस्त्रसड्चै: किरीटिन:

Sañjaya said: O best of the Bharatas, neither the sky nor the directions, nor the earth, nor even the sun could be made out—so completely were all things covered by the dense volleys of weapons discharged by the diadem-crowned Arjuna. In that blinding storm of missiles, the Kauravas began to see, as if before their eyes, the unbearable and dreadful consequence of their own wrongdoing.

Verse 23

सादिता रथनागाश्ष हताश्वा रथिनो रणे । विप्रद्रुतरथा: केचिद्‌ दृश्यन्ते रथयूथपा:

Sañjaya said: On that battlefield, many chariots were shattered and many war-elephants were brought down. Many chariot-warriors had their horses slain, and some leaders of chariot-squadrons were seen fleeing with their chariots in disorder.

Verse 24

विरथा रथिनकश्षान्ये धावमाना: समन्तत: । तत्र तत्रैव दृश्यन्ते सायुधा: साड्दैर्भुजै:,अन्यान्य बहुत-से रथी रथहीन होकर अंगदभूषित भुजाओंमें आयुध धारण किये जहाँ- तहाँ चारों ओर दौड़ते देखे जाते थे

Sanjaya said: And other warriors too, having lost their chariots, were seen running in every direction. Here and there they appeared with weapons in hand, their arms adorned with armlets—an image of the battlefield’s disorder, where valor persists even as the supports of rank and equipment collapse.

Verse 25

हयारोहा हयांस्त्यक्त्वा गजारोहाश्न दन्तिन: । अर्जुनस्य भयाद्‌ राजन्‌ समन्ताद्‌ विप्रदुद्रुवु:,महाराज! अर्जुनके भयसे घुड़सवार घोड़ोंको और हाथीसवार हाथियोंको छोड़कर सब ओर भाग चले

Sanjaya said: O King, terrified of Arjuna, the horsemen abandoned their horses and the elephant-riders left their great tusked elephants; in panic they fled in all directions. The verse underscores how fear can shatter martial discipline and attachment to power-symbols (mounts and war-elephants) when confronted by overwhelming prowess.

Verse 26

रथेभ्यक्ष गजेभ्यश्ष हयेभ्यश्व नराधिपा: । पतिता: पात्यमानाश्न दृश्यन्ते$र्जुनसायकै:,वहाँ बहुत-से नरेश अर्जुनके सायकोंसे कटकर रथों, हाथियों और घोड़ोंसे गिरे और गिराये जाते हुए दृष्टिगोचर हो रहे थे

Sañjaya said: “O king, many rulers are seen falling from their chariots, elephants, and horses—and being struck down as they fall—pierced by Arjuna’s arrows.” The scene underscores the relentless momentum of battle, where royal status offers no refuge from the consequences of armed conflict and the force of a warrior’s resolve.

Verse 27

सगदानुद्यतान्‌ बाहूनू सखड्गांश्न विशाम्पते । सप्रासांश्व सतूणीरान्‌ सशरान्‌ सशरासनान्‌

Sanjaya said: O lord of the people, he cut down the warriors’ upraised arms—arms bearing maces and swords, and also spears—together with their quivers, arrows, and bows. In that battlefield Arjuna had assumed a most dreadful form, severing the very instruments of violence from those who wielded them.

Verse 28

साड्कुशान्‌ सपताकांश्व तत्र तत्रार्जुनो नृणाम्‌ । निचकर्त शरैरुग्रै रौद्रे वपुरधारयत्‌

Sañjaya said: Then and there, Arjuna—assuming a truly fearsome, wrathful form—severed with his fierce arrows the upraised arms of the warriors, arms adorned with goads and banners and bearing their weapons and ensigns. The scene underscores the terrible momentum of battle, where martial prowess, once unleashed, cuts down even the proud display of power and rank.

Verse 29

परिघाणां प्रदीप्तानां मुदूगराणां च मारिष । प्रासानां भिन्दिपालानां निस्त्रिंशानां च संयुगे

Sañjaya said: “O venerable one, in the press of battle there lay scattered heaps of blazing iron clubs, maces, spears, bhindipālas (heavy javelins), and swords—mute witnesses to the ferocity of the conflict and the ruin that follows when warriors meet in wrath.”

Verse 30

परश्वधानां तीक्ष्णानां तोमराणां च भारत । वर्मणां चापविद्धानां काज्चनानां च भूमिप

Sanjaya said: O Bharata, O king, there were seen upon that battlefield heaps of sharp battle-axes and javelins, and also golden coats of mail that had been cast off and hurled down—scattered amid the ruin of war. The scene proclaimed the terrible cost of kṣatriya conflict, where splendid arms and ornaments alike become mere debris when dharma is pursued through violence.

Verse 31

आर्य! भरतनन्दन! भूपाल! उस रणभूमिमें गिरे हुए उद्दधीप्त परिघ

Sanjaya said: “O noble one, O descendant of Bharata, O king! On that battlefield there were heaps upon heaps of fallen weapons and royal gear—blazing iron clubs, maces, spears, bhindipālas, swords, axes, sharp tomaras, golden cuirasses, banners, shields, parasols adorned with gold staffs, fans, whips, yokes, lashes, and goads—scattered everywhere.”

Verse 32

प्रतोदानां च योक्‍त्राणां कशानां चैव मारिष । राशय: स्मात्र दृश्यन्ते विनिकीर्णा रणक्षितौ

Sañjaya said: “O venerable one, on that battlefield the heaps of goads, reins, and whips could be seen scattered everywhere.” The scene underscores how war reduces even the instruments of control and order to abandoned debris, revealing the collapse of ordinary discipline amid the moral and physical chaos of combat.

Verse 33

नासीत्‌ तत्र पुमान्‌ कश्चित्‌ तव सैन्यस्य भारत । योअर्जुनं समरे शूरं प्रत्युद्यायात्‌ कथंचन

Sanjaya said: O Bharata, at that time there was not a single man in your army who could, in any manner, step forward to confront Arjuna—the heroic warrior in battle. The scene underscores how fear and loss of resolve can overtake even a vast force when faced with exceptional prowess and moral momentum on the battlefield.

Verse 34

यो यो हि समरे पार्थ प्रत्युद्याति विशाम्पते । स संख्ये विशिखैस्तीक्ष्पै: परलोकाय नीयते,प्रजानाथ! उस युद्धभूमिमें जो-जो वीर अर्जुनकी ओर बढ़ता था, वही-वही उनके पैने बाणोंद्वारा परलोक पहुँचा दिया जाता था

Sañjaya said: O Pārtha, O lord of the people—whoever in that battle advanced to confront (Arjuna), each such warrior, in the thick of the fight, was driven by his sharp arrows to the other world.

Verse 35

तेषु विद्रवमाणेषु तव योधेषु सर्वश: । अर्जुनो वासुदेवश्व दभ्मतुर्वारिजोत्तमौ,तदनन्तर आपके सब योद्धा सब ओर भागने लगे। यह देख अर्जुन और भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णने अपने श्रेष्ठ शंख बजाये

Sañjaya said: As your warriors fled in every direction, Arjuna and Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa), seeing this, blew their excellent conch-shells.

Verse 36

तत्‌ प्रभग्नं बल॑ दृष्टवा पिता देववब्रतस्तव । अब्रवीत्‌ समरे शूरं भारद्वाजं स्मयन्निव,कौरव-सेनाको इस प्रकार भागती देख समरभूमिमें खड़े हुए आपके ताऊ भीष्मने वीरवर आचार्य द्रोणसे मुसकराते हुए-से कहा--

Sañjaya said: Seeing that army routed and in flight, your grandsire Devavrata (Bhīṣma) spoke on the battlefield to the heroic Bhāradvāja (Droṇa), as though with a faint smile.

Verse 37

एष पाण्डुसुतो वीर: कृष्णेन सहितो बली । तथा करोति सैन्यानि यथा कुर्याद्‌ धनंजय:,“यह श्रीकृष्णसहित बलवान वीर पाण्डुकुमार अर्जुन कौरव-सेनाकी वही दशा कर रहा है, जैसी उसे करनी चाहिये

Sañjaya said: “Here is that heroic son of Pāṇḍu—mighty and accompanied by Kṛṣṇa—who is dealing with the armies exactly as Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) ought to do.”

Verse 38

न होष समरे शक्‍्यो विजेतुं हि कथंचन । यथास्य दृश्यते रूपं कालान्तकयमोपमम्‌,“यह किसी प्रकार भी समरभूमिमें जीता नहीं जा सकता; क्योंकि इसका रूप इस समय प्रलयकालके यमराज-सा दिखायी दे रहा है

Sañjaya said: “This one cannot be conquered in battle by any means. For the form in which he now appears is seen to be like Yama, the lord of death, at the time of the world’s end—an embodiment of inevitable destruction.”

Verse 39

न निवर्तयितुं चापि शक्‍्येयं महती चमू: । अन्योन्यप्रेक्षया पश्य द्रवतीयं वरूथिनी,“यह विशाल सेना इस समय पीछे नहीं लौटायी जा सकती। देखिये, सारे सैनिक एक- दूसरेकी देखा-देखी भागे जा रहे हैं

Sañjaya said: “This vast host cannot now be made to turn back. Look—each man, seeing another flee, is himself running; the whole battle-array is breaking and streaming away.”

Verse 40

एष चास्तं गिरिश्रेष्ठ भानुमान्‌ प्रतिपद्यते । चक्षूंषि सर्वलोकस्य संहरजन्निव सर्वथा,“इधर ये भगवान्‌ सूर्य सम्पूर्ण जगतके नेत्रोंकी ज्योति सर्वथा समेटते हुए-से गिरिश्रेष्ठ अस्ताचलको जा पहुँचे हैं

Sañjaya said: “Behold, O best of mountains: the radiant Sun is now reaching his setting. It is as though he were drawing in, on every side, the very eyes of the whole world.”

Verse 41

तत्रावहारं सम्प्राप्तं मन्ये5हं पुरुषर्षभ । श्रान्ता भीताश्न नो योधा न योत्स्यन्ति कथंचन

“Therefore, O best of men, I deem it right that we now withdraw all the troops from the fight. Our warriors are weary and afraid; at this moment they cannot, in any way, continue to battle.”

Verse 42

एवमुक्‍्त्वा ततो भीष्मो द्रोणमाचार्यसत्तमम्‌ | अवहारमथो चक्रे तावकानां महारथ:,आचार्यप्रवर द्रोणसे ऐसा कहकर महारथी भीष्मने आपके समस्त सैनिकोंको युद्धभूमिसे लौटा लिया

Having spoken thus, Bhīṣma, the great chariot-warrior, addressed Droṇa, foremost of teachers; and then he ordered a withdrawal of all your forces from the field.

Verse 43

(ततः सरथनागाश्चा जयं प्राप्प ससोमका: । पज्चाला: पाण्डवाश्रैव प्रणेदुश्चव पुनः पुनः ।।

Sañjaya said: Then the Somakas, together with the Pañcālas and the Pāṇḍavas—along with their chariots, elephants, and horses—having gained victory, repeatedly raised loud roars of triumph. With Arjuna placed at their head, those great warriors set out toward their camp; exhilarated by the booming of victory-instruments, they even danced in their joy. Thereafter, O Bhārata, as the sun went down and evening twilight arrived, both your army and theirs withdrew from the field.

Verse 54

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्मा भारत भीष्मपर्वके अन्तर्गत भीष्मवधपर्वमें द्वितीय दिनके युद्धमें कलिंगराजका वधविषयक चौवनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ

Sanjaya said: Thus, in the sacred Mahabharata, within the Bhishma Parva—specifically in the section concerning Bhishma’s slaying—the fifty-fourth chapter, dealing with the killing of the king of Kalinga in the battle of the second day, is concluded.

Verse 55

इति श्रीमहाभारते भीष्मपर्वणि भीष्मवधपर्वणि द्वितीययुद्धदिवसावहारे पञ्चपज्चाशत्तमो5 ध्याय:

Thus ends the fifty-fifth chapter in the Bhishma Parva of the Śrī Mahābhārata, within the section concerning the slaying of Bhīṣma, in the account of the second day of battle.

Verse 206

प्रणेदु: सर्वभूतानि बभूवुस्तिमिरा दिश: । इधर सहस्रों हाथी और सैकड़ों भूमिपाल अर्जुनके बाणोंके पथमें आकर किसी प्रकार आगे न बढ़ सके। समस्त प्राणी आर्तनाद करने लगे और सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें अन्धकार छा गया

Sanjaya said: All creatures cried out in distress, and darkness seemed to spread across every direction. In the press of battle, even thousands of elephants and hundreds of kings, coming into the path of Arjuna’s arrows, could not advance further—his missile-storm halted their momentum.

Verse 331

ध्वजानां चर्मणां चैव व्यजनानां च सर्वश: । छत्राणां हेमदण्डानां तोमराणां च भारत

Sanjaya said: “O Bhārata, there was, on every side, a profusion of standards and leather gear, of fans in great variety, of parasols with golden staffs, and of javelins as well.”