ततो दुर्योधनो राजा भीष्मम् आह जनेश्वरः ॥
पीड्यमानं स्वकं सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा पार्थेन संयुगे ॥
एष पाण्डुसुतस् तात कृष्णेन सहितो बली ॥
यततां सर्वसैन्यानां मूलं नः परिकृन्तति ॥
त्वयि जीवति गाङ्गेये द्रोणे च रथिनां वरे ॥
त्वत्कृते ह्य् एष कर्णो ऽपि न्यस्तशस्त्रो महारथः ॥
न युध्यति रणे पार्थं हितकामः सदा मम ॥
स तथा कुरु गाङ्गेय यथा हन्येत फल्गुनः ॥
एवम् उक्तस् ततो राजन् पिता देवव्रतस् तव ॥
धिक् क्षत्रधर्मम् इत्य् उक्त्वा ययौ पार्थरथं प्रति ॥
उभौ श्वेतहयौ राजन् संसक्तौ दृश्य पार्थिवाः ॥
सिंहनादान् भृशं चक्रुः शङ्खशब्दांश् च भारत ॥
द्रौणिर् दुर्योधनश् चैव विकर्णश् च तवात्मजः ॥
परिवार्य रणे भीष्मं स्थिता युद्धाय मारिष ॥
तथैव पाण्डवाः सर्वे परिवार्य धनंजयम् ॥
स्थिता युद्धाय महते ततो युद्धम् अवर्तत ॥
tato duryodhano rājā bhīṣmam āha janeśvaraḥ ||
pīḍyamānaṃ svakaṃ sainyaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthena saṃyuge ||
eṣa pāṇḍusutas tāta kṛṣṇena sahito balī ||
yatatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ mūlaṃ naḥ parikṛntati ||
tvayi jīvati gāṅgeye droṇe ca rathināṃ vare ||
tvatkṛte hy eṣa karṇo 'pi nyastaśastro mahārathaḥ ||
na yudhyati raṇe pārthaṃ hitakāmaḥ sadā mama ||
sa tathā kuru gāṅgeya yathā hanyeta phalgunaḥ ||
evam uktas tato rājan pitā devavratas tava ||
dhik kṣatradharmam ity uktvā yayau pārtharathaṃ prati ||
ubhau śvetahayau rājan saṃsaktau dṛśya pārthivāḥ ||
siṃhanādān bhṛśaṃ cakruḥ śaṅkhaśabdāṃś ca bhārata ||
drauṇir duryodhanaś caiva vikarṇaś ca tavātmajaḥ ||
parivārya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ sthitā yuddhāya māriṣa ||
tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ sarve parivārya dhanaṃjayam ||
sthitā yuddhāya mahate tato yuddham avartata ||
Then King Duryodhana, having seen how Partha was crushing his own army in battle, said to Bhishma, O lord of men: "This mighty son of Pandu, joined with Krishna, despite the effort of all our armies, is cutting down our root, while you, Gangeya, are alive, and Drona, the finest of chariot-warriors. For your sake, even Karna, the great chariot-warrior, has laid down his weapons and does not fight Partha in battle, though he ever wishes my welfare. So act, Gangeya, that Phalguna may be slain." Thus addressed, O king, your father Devavrata said, "Shame on the kshatriya's duty!" and went toward Partha's chariot. Seeing the two white-horsed chariots locked together, O Bharata, the kings raised loud lion-roars and the blare of conches. Drauni, Duryodhana, and your son Vikarna surrounded Bhishma in battle and stood ready for the fight, O honored one. Likewise all the Pandavas surrounded Dhananjaya and stood ready for the great battle; then the fight began.
d95cb03cb8af · published Jul 17, 2026, 9:12:34 PM UTC
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Duryodhana again presses Bhishma with words of duty and guilt. Devavrata's answer is bitter: he understands that the kshatriya's dharma, in this context, has become almost inseparable from tragedy.