भीष्म-वध पर्व — श्वेत का वध

Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya when that great bow man Shveta went towards Shalya's chariot, what did the Kurus and the Pandavas do? What did Bhishma the son of Shantanu do? Tell me all this, I ask you

Sanjaya said O king, hundreds and thousands of the foremost of Kshatriyas, all brave great carwarriors placed their general Shveta in their front.

And displaying their prowess to your royal son, O descendant of Bharata, desired to rescue Shveta, with Shikhandin at their head.

Those great car-warriors rushed towards Bhishma's car decked with gold, with the intention of killing that foremost of warriors. The battle that was then fought was fearful.

I shall describe to you that wonderful and fearful battle that was fought between your warriors and those of the enemy.

The son of Shantanu made many cars empty, for that foremost of all car-warriors cut off many heads by showering his arrows.

Possessing the prowess of the sun, he covered the very sun with his arrows. As the rising sun dispels the darkness from around him, so did he remove the foe from around him in that great battle.

O king, in that great battle, hundreds and thousands of arrows were shot by him. They were very powerful and they possessed great impetuosity. They killed countless Kshatriya in that battle.

O king, in that great battle, he cut off the heads of hundreds of heroic warriors and elephants clad in thorny mail as summits of mountains are felled by thunderbolt.

O king, cars were seen to mingle with cars. One car was seen upon another car and a horse upon another horse.

O king, impetuous horses carried here and there the youthful riders killed and hung from their saddle with their bows till in their hands.

With swords and quivers, attached to their person and their armours loosened, hundreds of dead warriors lay on the ground sleeping on beds worthy of heroes.

Rushing upon one another, falling down and rising up again, and rushing again having risen up the combatants fought hand to hand.

Struck by one another, many rolled on the field of battle, O Bharata! several hundred warriors with bow and arrow-stand and gold ornaments on body were destroying the warriors of rival army with all reliance in their might and enduring the blows made by the enemies. They were rushing to and fro through the several routes the found and blowing continuously the arms and weapons on them.

Car-warriors, with their cars, were crushed (by the elephants). Some warrior fell on their cars killed by other warriors with their arrows.

Many great car-warriors were seen to fall down from high, their charioteers being killed. A thick dust covered all sides. Then the warriors knew their adversaries by the twang of the bow. From the pressure also on their bodies the combatants guessed their enemies.

O king, the warriors fought on with arrows guided by the twang of the bow strings. Even the very his sing sound of the arrows shot by the combatants at one another could not be heard.

So loud was the sound of drums that it seemed to pierce the cars. In that tumultuous and hair-string uproar even the names of the combatants could not be heard.

All warriors were bearing the pains sprcaded by the arrows released from Bhishma's bow in battle-field. Those arrows had created fear of death in the mind of all those warriors. That battle was most fierce, thrilling and arousing anxiety in the hearts of all. Any father in that battle was so lost of recognition as his own son was beyond the same.

One of the wheels being broken, the yoke being torn off, onc of the steeds being killed, the brave car-warrior was overthrown from the car along with his charioteer.

Thus many brave warriors, deprived of their cars, were seen to run (in all directions).

He, who was killed, had his head cut off, he, who was not killed, was mortally wounded. When Bhishma attacked, there was none who was not wounded.

In that fearful battle Shveta killed innumerable Kurus. He killed hundreds of noble princes.

He cut off with his arrows the heads of hundreds of car-warriors and also their arms decked with Angadas, and also their bows.

O king, O best of the Bharata race, carwarriors and car-wheels, the cars-themselves, both small and costly standards, many horses and innumerable inen and hundreds of elephants were destroyed by Shveta.

From fear of Shveta, we abandoned Bhishma that foremost of warriors; we left the battle and retreated to the rear and therefore, we now see your cxalted self.

O descendant of Kuru, retreating beyond the range of arrows and abandoning the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, in that battle, all the Kurus stood (as spectators), though armed for the battle.

Ever cheerful even in the hour of cheerlessness, that foremost of man, Bhishma, alone, of our army, stood in that fearful battle as immovable as the mountain Meru.

Killing the foes like the sun at the end of the winter, he stood effulgent with the golden rays of his car, as the sun shines with his rays.

That great bow man shot showers in arrows and struck down his enemies in that battle as Vishnu, arıncd with the discus struck down the Asuras.

The mighty Bhishma was separated from your army and became ferocious in that battlefield as an elephant becomes dangerous when its caravan missed and he is left alone. (All warriors from rival party, ran away leaving him alone because they could not bear more blows given by Bhishma.)

While fighting with the great warriors (Shveta), that chastiser of foes, Bhishma was the only one who was cheerful. Ever devoted to the welfare of Duryodhana, he began to consume the warriors (Shveta).

O kind, reckless of his own life, abandoning all fear, he slaughtered the Pandava troops in that great battle.

Seeing that (Pandava) general striking Duryodhana's troops,, your father Bhishma, also called Devavrata, rushed upon him.

Thereupon Shveta covered Bhishma with a great net of arrows, Bhishma also covered Shveta with a shower of arrows.

Roaring like two bulls, they rushed against each other like two gigantic mad elephants or like two angry tigers.

Baffling each other's weapons by means of their weapons those (two) foremost of men, Bhishma and Shveta fought with each other with the desire of taking each other's life.

If Shveta did not protect it, in one single day Bhishma could have in anger consumed the Pandava army with his arrows.

Seeing the grandfather made to retreat by Shveta, the Pandavas grew exceedingly delighted, but your son became very much cheerless.

Thereupon Duryodhana surrounded by many kings, rushed in anger against the Pandava troops in that great battle.

Durmukha, Kritavarman, Kripa and Shalya, the lord of men also protected Bhishma inspired by your son.

Seeing the army of Pandavas is being slain in battle by Duryodhana and all other kings, Shveta abandoned the son of Ganga, Bhishma and began to slaughter your son's troops with great iinpetuosity as the wind up-roots trees with great violence.

O king, having routed your army, Virata's son (Shveta) senseless in anger again rushed towards the place where Bhishma stood.

O king! those two mighty and great warriors, both blazing with their arrows, fought with each other like Vritra and Vasava in the days of yore, both eager to kill each other. Having drawn his bow to the fullest stretch, Shveta wounded Bhishma with seven arrows.

The brave one (Bhishma) then put forth his prowess; he quickly checked his adversary's valour as a mad elephants checks another inad elephant.

Shveta again shot twenty five arrows having bent knot cach and penetrated the budy of Bhishma, the son of Shantanu. It was happened as an unprecedented event.

That delighter of the Kshatriyas, Shveta, then struck Bhishma; and the son of Shantanu pierced him in return with ten arrows.

They smiling and licking with his tongue the corners of the mouth, Shveta cut down Bhishma's bow into ten parts with nine arrows. Then taking up a winged arrow made of iron, he crushed the palmyra on the top of the standard of that exalted one (Bhishma). Seeing the standard of Bhishma cut down, your sons thought that Bhishma was killed. The Pandavas in great delight blew their conchs.

Seeing the palmyra-standard of the illustrious Bhishma cut down, Duryodhana, in great anger, urged his army to the battle.

They all carefully protected Bhishma who was then in great distress. To them that stood there as spectators, the king (Duryodhana) thus exclaimed. “Either Shveta or Bhishma will die (to day)". Having heard the words of the king, the great car-warriors soon with four kinds of troops advanced to protect the son of Ganga. O descendant of Bharata, Balhika, Kritavarina, Kripa, Shalya, the son of Jarasandha, Vikarna, Chitrasena and Vivingshati, all with great speed, surrounded him on all sides and poured a continuous shower of arrows. That highsouled and mighty warrior then soon checked those wrathful warriors with sharp arrows by displaying his own lightness of hands. Checking them all as a lion checks a herd of elephants, Shveta cut off Bhishma's bow with a thick shower of arrows.

Then the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, took up another bow in that battle and wounded Shveta with arrows, furnished with the feather of Kanka birds. Then that commander (Shveta) in great anger wounded Bhishma in that battle with innumerable arrows in the very sight of all. Seeing Bhishma, that foremost of all the warriors, checked in the battle by Shveta the king (Duryodhana) became exceedingly cheerless, and your whole army felt themselves in great distress. Seeing the heroic Bhislima checked and wounded by Shveta with his arrows, a!' thought that Bhishma had been killed.

Thereupon your father Devavrata, seeing his standard cut down and the army checked, grew greatly enraged and shot at Shveta innumerable arrows. O king, that foremost of heroes Shveta however baffled all those arrows of Bhishma and he once more cut off with a broad-headed arrow the bow of your father. O king, throwing aside that bow, the son of Ganga took up in great anger another strong and large bow, and aiming seven large broadheaded arrows, killed the four horses of the general Shveta, then he cut down his standard and then, the head of his charioteer.

Thereupon that great car-warrior jumped down from his car the horses and the charioteer of which had been killed. Seeing Shveta, that foremost of car-warriors, deprived of his car, the grandsire began to strike him on all sides with showers of arrows. Wounded in this great battle with arrows shot from Bhishma's bow, leaving his bow on his car, he took up a dart decked with gold, and taking up that terrible and fearful dart which resembled the fatal rod of Death and which was capable of killing even Death himself, Shveta thus spoke in anger to the son of Shantanu, Bhishma. "O foremost of men, wait a little and see my prowess". Having said this to Bhishma that greatly powerful and high-souled bow-man hurled that dart resembling a snake.

O king, then loud cries of “Oh” and “Alas" rose among your sons when they saw that fearful dart which was as effulgent as the rod of death.

Having been furled from Shveta's handthat dart which resembled a snake that had just cast off its slough, fell with great force like a meteor from the sky.

Your father Devavrata, then, without the slightest fcar, with eight sharp and winged arrows, cut down into nine parts that fearful dart which was decked with pure gold and which appeared to be covered with flames of fire.

All your troops, O best of the Bharata race, then sent up a loud shout of joy. Virata's son, however, having seen his dart cut down into fragments, lost all sense in anger.

Like one whose heart was over come by the approaching death, he could not settle what to do. O king, deprived of his senses by anger, Virata's son, with smiles.

Took up in great cheerfulness a fearful mace for Bhishma's destruction. With eyes red in anger, and loO king like a second Yama armed with the rod.

He rushed upon Bhishma as a swollen river rushes upon a rock. Considering his great impetuosity as incapable of being checked, the greatly fearful Bhishma.

Who is ever skillful in knowing the prowess of other, suddenly jumped down on the ground to avoid that blow. O king, Shveta, however, whirling that heavy mace in anger.

Hurled it on Bhishma's car like the dcity Maheshvara (Shiva). By the fall of that mace intended for Bhishma's destruction, that car. with its standard, charioteer and horses, was reduced to ashes. Seeing Bhishrma, that foremost of car-warriors fighting on foot.

Many car-warriors, Shalya and others soon came to his help. Getting up on another car and stretching his bow. Bhishma slowly advanced towards Shveta. In the meantime he heard a voice in the sky. It was celestial and fraught with his own good. It said, “O Bhishma, O Bhishma, O mighty armed hero, fight without losing a moment.

This is the moment fixed by the creator for getting success over this one.” Having heard these words uttered by the celestial messenger.

Bhishma carefully determined to kill Shveta. Seeing that foremost of car-warriors fighting on foot, many great car-warriors rushed untidily to his rescue. They were Satyaki, Bhimasena, and that descendant of Prishata, Dhrishtadyumna.

The Kaikeya brothers, Dhrishtaketu and the greatly powerful Abhimanyu. Seeing them coming to his rescue, with Drona, Shalya, and Kripa.

That high-souled hero (Bhishma) stopped them all as a mountain resists the wind. When the illustrious warriors of the Pandava army were thus checked.

Shveta took up a sword and cut off Bhishma's bow. Throwing off that bow the (Kuru) grandfather having heard the words of the celestial messenger set his heart to destroy Shveta as soon as possible. Though baffled, your father Devavrata.

That great car-warrior, soon took up another bow as effulgent as the bow of Indra. He stringed it in a moment.

O best of the Bharata race, then your father. seeing that great car-warrior Shveta, though he was then surrounded by those foremost of men (the Pandava warriors) with Bhimasena at their head.

The son of Ganga (Bhishma), rushed forward to attack Shveta alone. Seeing Bhishma coming, the greatly powerful Bhimasena wounded him with sixty arrows. But that great car-warrior, your father Devavrata, checked Bhimasena, Abhimanyu and other carwarriors with some fearful arrows. He then struck him (Shveta) with three straight arrows.

The (Kuru) grandfather, struck Satyaki in that great battle with one hundred arrows, Dhrishtadyumna with twenty and the Kaikeya brothers with five.

Having thus checked all those great bowmen with fearful arrows, your father Devavrata rushed towards Shveta alone.

Then taking up an arrow which resembled Death himself which was capable of being a great strain and which was incapable of being resisted, the mighty Bhishma placed it on his bow-string.

That winged arrow, endued with the force of the Brahma weapon, was seen by the celestial, the Gandharvas, the Pishachas, the Uragas and the Rakshasas.

That arrow, as effulgent as the fire went through his armour and struck into the earth with a flash like that of the thunder-bolt.

As the sun hurriedly retires to his western chamber taking with him the rays of light, so did it pass away out of Shveta's body taking with it his life.

When he was thus killed by Bhishma in that battle, we saw him fall down like a loosened peak of a mountain.

All the great Kshatriya car warriors, on the Pandava side lamented (for his death). But your son and all the Kurus were filled with great delight.

o king, seeing Shveta killed, Dushasana danced in joy over the field of battle in accompaniment of the loud music of conchs and druins.

When that great bowman, was killed by that ornament of battle, Bhishma, the great bowmen of the Pandava side, with Shikhandin at their head, trembled in fear.

O king, when the general (Shveta) was killed, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) and the Vrishni chief (Krishna) slowly withdrew their troops.

O descendant of Bharata, both your troops and theirs withdrew and both your troops and theirs frequently sent up loud shouts.

O chastiser of foes the great (Pandava) car warriors entered their camp in great cheerlessness, thinking of the great slaughter made by their general (Shveta) in that great single combat.