BHISHMAVADHA PARVA: Chapter 50

Krauncha Vyuha making of the Pandavas

संजय उवाच कृतेऽवहारे सैन्यानां प्रथमे भरतर्षभ। भीष्मे च युद्धसंरब्धे हृष्टे दुर्योधने तथा॥
Sanjaya said O best of the Bharata race, when the troops were withdrawn on the first day (of battle) and when Duryodhana was exceedingly glad in seeing Bhishma angry in the field of battle.

धर्मराजस्ततस्तूर्णमभिगम्य जनार्दनम्। भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैः सर्वैश्चैव जनेश्वरैः॥
Dharmaraja Yudhishthira soon went to Janardana with all his brothers and with all the kings of his side.

शुचा परमया युक्तश्चिन्तयानः पराजयम्। वार्ष्णेयमब्रवीद् राजन् दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्य विक्रमम्॥
Being greatly afflicted with the defeat and seeing Bhishma's prowess, O king, he thus spoke to the Vrishni chief (Krishna).

कृष्ण पश्य महेष्वासं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम्। शरैर्दहन्तं सैन्यं मे चीष्मे कक्षमिवानलम्॥
O Krishna, behold the greatly powerful and mighty bowman Bhishma. He consumes my troops with his arrows as fire consumes dry grass.

कथमेनं महात्मानं शक्ष्यामः प्रतिवीक्षितुम्। लेलिह्यमानं सैन्यं मे हविष्मन्तमिवानलम्॥
How shall we even look at that illustrious one who is consuming my troops like fire fed with Ghee..

एतं हि पुरुषव्याघ्र धनुष्मन्तं महाबलम्। दृष्ट्वा विप्रद्रुतं सैन्यं समरे मार्गणाहतम्॥
Seeing that foremost of men, that great warrior, armed with bow, my troops afflicted with his arrows, fly away (in all directions).

शक्यो जेतुं यमः क्रुद्धो वज्रपाणिश्च संयुगे। वरुणः पाशभृद् वापि कुबेरो वा गदाधरः॥
Even angry Yama himself, or the wielder of the thunder-bolt (Indra) or the wielder of the noose, Varuna, or the holder of the mace, Kubera, may be defeated in battle.

न तु भीष्मो महातेजाः शक्यो जेतुं महाबलः। सोऽहमेवंगते मग्नो भीष्मागाधजलेऽप्लवे॥
But the greatly effulgent and mighty carwarrior Bhishma is incapable of being defeated. Such being the case, I am sinking in the fathomless ocean (Bhishma) without a boat.

आत्मनो बुद्धिदौर्बल्याद् भीष्ममासाद्य केशव। वनं यास्यामि वार्ष्णेय श्रेयो मे तत्र जीवितुम्॥ न त्वेतान् पृथिवीपालान् दातुं भीष्माय मृत्यवे। क्षपयिष्यति सेनां मे कृष्ण भीष्मो महास्त्रवित्॥
O Keshava, O Govinda, when Bhishma is my foe, it is preferable for me to entire into the forest and live there. It is wrong to sacrifice these rulers of earth to death in the person of Bhishma. Learned as he is in all weapons. O Krishna, he will annihilate my army.

यथानलं प्रज्वलितं पतङ्गाः समभिद्रुताः। विनाशायोपगच्छन्ति तथा मे सैनिको जनः॥
As insects rush into the blazing fire for their own destruction, so do my troops in this fearful battle.

क्षयं नीतोऽस्मि वार्ष्णेय राज्यहेतोः पराक्रमी। भ्रातरश्चैव मे वीराः कर्शिताः शरपीडिताः॥ मत्कृते भ्रातृहार्देन राज्याद् भ्रष्टास्तथा सुखात्। जीवितं बहु मन्येऽहं जीवितं ह्यद्य दुर्लभम्॥ जीवितस्य च शेषेण तपस्तप्स्यामि दुश्चरम्। न घातयिष्यामि रणे मित्राणीमानि केशव॥
O Vrishni chief, using prowess for the sake of acquiring a kingdom, I am being (unconsciously) led to destruction. My heroic brothers are all wounded with arrows for my sake. They are deprived of both sovereignty and happiness only through the great love they bear for their eldest brother. We highly regard life, for, under the circumstances. Life is very precious. During the reminder of my days I will practice the severest asceticism. O Keshava, I shall not bring about the destruction of my friends.

रथान् मे बहुसाहस्रान् दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्महाबलः। घातयत्यनिशं भीष्मः प्रवराणां प्रहारिणाम्॥
The mighty Bhishma continuously kills with his celestial weapons many thousands of my car-warriors who are foremost of heroes.

किं नु कृत्वा हितं मे स्याद् ब्रूहि माधव माचिरम्। मध्यस्थमिव पश्यामि समरे सव्यसाचिनम्॥
O Madhava, tell me soon what should be done for my good. As regards Arjuna, I see he is indifferent in this battle, he behaves like a spectator.

एको भीमः परं शक्त्या युध्यत्येव महाभुजः। केवलं बाहुवीर्येण क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्॥
The greatly powerful Bhishma alone, remembering Kshatriya duties, fights with all the prowess of his arms and to the utmost of his Power.

गदया वीरघातिन्या यथोत्साहं महामनाः। करोत्यसुकरं कर्म रथाश्वनरदन्तिषु॥
With his great mace that kills the heroes, this illustrious one (Bhishma), with the best of his powers, achieves the most difficult feats on foot-soldiers, horses, car and elephants.

नालमेष क्षयं कर्तुं परसैन्यस्य मारिष। आर्जवेनैव युद्धेन वीर वर्षशतैरपि॥
O sire, this hero, however, is incapable of destroying in a fair fight the troops of our army if he tries for one hundred years.

एकोऽस्त्रवित सखा तेऽयं सोऽप्यस्मान् समुपेक्षते। निर्दह्यमानान् भीष्मेण द्रोणेन च महात्मना॥
This your friend (Arjuna) alone is learned in all weapons. Seeing us consumed by Bhishma and the illustrious Drona, he only looks on us with indifference.

दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि भीष्मस्य द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः। धक्ष्यन्ति क्षत्रियान् सर्वान् प्रयुक्तानि पुनः पुनः॥
The celestial weapons of Bhishma and those of the illustrious Drona are continuously consuming all the Kshatriyas.

कृष्ण भीष्मः सुसंरब्धः सहितः सर्वपार्थिवैः। क्षपयिष्यति नो नूनं यादृशोऽस्य पराक्रमः॥
OKrishna, such is the prowess of Bhishma; if he is angry, he will, with the help of the kings (on his side), certainly annihilate us.

स त्वं पश्य महाभाग योगेश्वर महारथम्। भीष्मः यः शमयेत् शंख्ये दावाग्नि जल्दो यथा।॥
O lord of Yoga, search out that great bowman, that mighty car-warriors who will be able to extinguish Bhishma's prowess, as rain charged clouds extinguish a forest-fire.

तव प्रसादाद् गोविन्द पाण्डवा निहतद्विषः। स्वराज्यमनुसम्प्राप्ता मोदिष्यन्ते सबान्धवा॥
0 Govinda, through your grace the Pandavas will recover their kingdom when their enemies will be killed and they will be happy with their kinsmen.

पार्षतः। एवमुक्त्वा ततः पार्थो ध्यायन्नास्ते महामनाः। चिरमन्तर्मना भूत्वा शोकोपहतचेतनः।
Having said this, the high-souled son of Pritha, in great grief, remained silent for a long time in a reflected mood.

शोकार्तं तमथो ज्ञात्वा दुःखोपहतचेतसम्॥ अब्रवीत् तत्र गोविन्दो हर्षयन् सर्वपाण्डवान्।
Seeing the Pandava (Yudhishthira) afflicted with grief and deprived of his senses by sorrow, Govinda thus spoke giving excessive delight to all.

मा शुचो भरतश्रेष्ठ न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि॥ यस्य ते भ्रातरः शूराः सर्वलोकेषु धन्विनः।
"O best of the Bharata race, do not grieve. You would not grieve, when all your brothers are heroes and illustrious bow-men.

अहं च प्रियकृद् राजन् सात्यकिश्च महायशाः॥ विराटद्रुपदौ चेमौ धृष्टद्युम्नश्च
I am also engaged in doing good to you, so are the great car-warriors Satyaki, the revered Virata and Drupada and also the descendant of Prishata, Dhrishtadyumna.

तथैव सबलाश्चेमे राजानो राजसत्तम॥ त्वत्प्रसादं प्रतीक्षन्ते त्वद्भक्ताश्च विशाम्पते।
O best of kings, O monarch, all these kings with their troops are all in your favour. They are all devoted to you.

एष ते पार्षतो नित्यं हितकाम: प्रिये रतः॥ सैनापत्यमनुप्राप्तो धृष्टद्युम्नो महाबलः।
This great car-warrior, this descendant of Prishata, this Dhrishtadyumna, who had been placed in command of your troops, is always desirous of your welfare. He is ever engaged in doing what is agreeable to you.

शिखण्डी च महाबाहो भीष्मस्य निधनं किल॥ एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततो राजा धृष्टद्युम्नं महारथम्।
O mighty armed hero, so also is Shikhandin who is certain to be the slayer of Bhishma”. Having heard this the king (Yudhishthira) thus spoke to that great warrior Dhrishtadyumna. car

अब्रवीत् समितौ तस्यां वासुदेवस्य शृण्वतः॥ धृष्टद्युम्न निबोधेदं यत् त्वां वक्ष्यामि मारिष।
In that assembly and in the hearing of Vasudeva. "O Dhrishtadyumna, O descendant of Prishata, mark the words I speak to you.

नातिक्रम्यं भवेत् तच्च वनचं मम भीषितम्॥ भवान् सेनापतिर्मह्यं वासुदेवेन सम्मितः।
The words uttered by me should not be transgressed. You have been appointed to commander of our force with the approval of Vasudeva.

कार्तिकेयो यथा नित्यं देवानामभवत् पुरा॥ तथा त्वमपि पाण्डूना सेनानी: पुरुषर्षभ।
O foremost of men, as in the days of yore, Kartikeya was the commander of the celestial army, so are you commander of the Pandava army.

स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल विक्रम्य जहि कौरवान्॥ अहं च तेऽनुयास्यामि भीमः कृष्णश्च मारिष।
O foremost of men, putting forth your prowess, kill of Kurus, O sire, I shall follow you Bhima and Krishna,

माद्रीपुत्रौ च सहितौ द्रौपदेयाश्च दंशिताः॥ ये चान्ये पृथिवीपालाः प्रधानाः पुरुषर्षभ।
The sons of Madri, the sons of Draupadi clad in armour and also all the other foremost of kings, O best of men, (will also follow you)"

तत उद्धर्षयन् सर्वान् दृष्टद्युम्नोऽभ्यभाषत॥ अहं द्रोणान्तकः पार्थ विहितः शम्भुना पुरा।
Then giving delight to all who heard him, Dhrishtadyumna thus spoke; “O son of Pritha, I am the ordained slayer of Drona."

रणे भीष्मं कृपं द्रोणं तथा शल्यं जयद्रथम्॥ सर्वानद्य रणे दृप्तान् प्रतियोत्स्यामि पार्थिव।
O king! I shall now fight with Bhishma. Drona, Kripa, Shalya, Jayadratha and all the other proud kings.

अथोत्क्रुष्टं महेष्वासैः पाण्डवैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः॥ समुद्यते पार्थिवेन्द्रे पार्षते शत्रुसूदने। तमब्रवीत् ततः पार्थः पार्षतं पृतनापितम्॥ व्यूहः क्रौञ्चारुणो नाम सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणः।
When the chastiser of foes, that foremost of princes, that descendant of Pritha (Dhrishtadyumna) defiantly spoke thus, the Pandava warriors, who were all greatly powerful, who were all incapable of being defeated, sent forth a loud shout. Then the son of Pritha, Yudhishthira, thus spoke to the descendant of Prishat (Dhrishtadyumna), the commander of his army, "A Vyuha called Krauncharuna which is destructive of all foes.

यं बृहस्पतिरिन्द्राय तदा देवासुरेऽब्रवीत्॥ तं यथावत् प्रतिव्यूह परानीकविनाशनम्।
and which was spoken of by Brihaspati to Indra in the days of old when the celestial and the Asuras fought, kindly now from that Vyuha destructive of the hostile troops.

अदृष्टपूर्व राजानः पश्यन्तु कुरुभिः सह॥ यथोक्तः स नृदेवेन विष्णुर्वज्रभृता यथा।
It was never before seen by any one. Now let the kings see it with the Kurus”. Having been thus addressed by that foremost of men, as Vishnu is addressed by the wielder of thunder bolt.

प्रभाते सर्वसैन्यानामग्रे चक्रे धनंजयम्॥ आदित्यपथगः केतुस्तस्याद्भुतमनोरमः। शासनात् पुरुहूतस्य निर्मितो विश्वकर्मणा॥ इन्द्रायुधसवर्णाभिः पताकाभिरलकृतः। आकाशग इवाकाशे गन्धर्वनगरोपमः॥ नृत्यमान इवाभाति रथचर्यासु मारिष।
He (Dhrishtadyumna) placed Dhananjaya in front of the whole army in the next morning. The standard of Dhananjaya, (Arjuna) which had been made by the celestial artificial at the command of Indra, looked exceedingly beautiful when it moved through the sky. Adorned with banners of the rain-bow colours, when it coursed through the air like a arranger of the skies, loO king like a fleeting vapoury mansion in the sky. O sire, it appeared to glide dancingly along the path by which the car went.

तेन रत्नवता पार्थः स च गाण्डीवधन्वना॥ बभूव परमोपेतः सुमेरुरिव भानुना।
Arjuna was graced by that flag studded with gems and that flag was graced by Arjuna by that flag studded with gems and that flag was graced by Arjuna holding Gandiva bow. It was just the same as sun god is graced by Meru mountain and Meru mountain receives grandeur from the presence of sun god.

शिरोऽभूद् द्रुपदो राजन् महत्या सेनया वृतः॥ कुन्तिभोजश्च चैद्यश्च चक्षुर्ध्या तौ जनेश्वरौ।
The king Drupada, surrounded by a large number of troops, stood at the head of that Vyuha, becoming as if its head. The two kings Kuntibhoja and Shaivya became its two eyes.

दाशार्णकाः प्रभद्राश्च दाशेरकगणैः सह॥ अनूपका: किराताश्च ग्रीवायां भरतर्षभ।
O best of the Bharata race, the ruler of the Dasharhas, the Prayagas, the Dasherakas, the Anupakas and the Kiratas were placed in its neck.

पटच्चरैश्च पौण्ड्रैश्च राजन् पौरवकैस्तथा॥ निषादैः सहितश्चापि पृष्ठमासीद् युधिष्ठिरः।
O king, Yudhishthira with the Patachcharas, the Pundras, the Puravakas and the Nishadas, became its back.

पक्षौ तु भीमसेनश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः॥ द्रौपदेयाभिमन्युश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः।
Bhimasena, the descendant of Prishat Dhrishtadyumna, the sons of Draupadi, Abhimanyu, and that great car-warrior Satyaki became its two wings.

पिशाचा दारदाश्चैव पुण्ड्राः कुण्डीविषैः सह।॥ मारुता धेनुकाश्चैव तङ्गणाः परतङ्गणाः। बालिकास्तित्तिराश्चैव चोलाः पण्ड्याश्च भारत॥ एते जनपदा राजन् दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रिताः। अग्निवेश्यास्तु हुण्डाश्च मालवा दानभारयः॥ शबरा उद्भसाश्चैव वत्साश्च सह नाकुलैः।
They were backed, (descendant of Bharata, by the Pishachas, the Daradas, the Pundras, the Kundivishas, the Marulas, the Dhenukas, the Tanganas, the further Tanganas, the Balhikas, the Tittiras, the Chola, the Pandyas, the Udbhas, the Shabaras, Tumbhumas, the Vatsas, and the Nakula's.

नकुलः सहदेवश्च वामं पदं समाश्रिताः॥ रथानामयुतं पक्षौ शिरस्तु नियुतं तथा। पृष्ठमर्बुदमेवासीत् सहस्राणि च विंशतिः॥ ग्रीवायां नियुतं चापि सहस्राणि च सप्ततिः।
Nakula and Sahadeva stood in the left wing. O the joints of the wings stood ten thousand car-warriors and on the head stood one hundred thousand and on the back one hundred millions and on the neck one hundred and seventy thousand.

पक्षकोटिप्रपक्षेषु पक्षान्तेषु च वारणा:॥ जग्मुः परिवृता राजंश्चलन्त इव पर्वताः।
On the joints of the wings, on the wings and the extremities of the wings, stood innumerable elephants loO king like so many blazing mountains.

जघनं पालयामास विराटः सह केकयैः॥ काशिराजश्च शैब्यश्च स्थानामयुतैस्त्रिभिः।
The rear was protected by Virata's backed by the Kaikeyas, the ruler of the Kashi's, and with the king of the Chedi, with thirty thousand cars.

युद्धाय दंशिताः। एवमेनं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः॥ सूर्योदयं त इच्छन्तः स्थिता
O descendant of Bharata, thus forming this great Vyuha the Pandavas, all clad in armour waited for the morning.

तेषामादित्यवर्णानि विमलानि महान्ति च। श्वेतच्छत्राण्यशोभन्त वारणेषु रथेषु च॥
Their clean, costly and white umbrellas, as brilliant as the sun, shone on the back of their elephants and over their chariots.