ततो राज्ञां बहुशतैर् गजाश्वरथयायिभिः ॥
संवृतं समरे भीष्मं देवैर् अपि दुरासदम् ॥
प्रयान्तं शीघ्रम् उद्वीक्ष्य परित्रातुं सुतांस् तव ॥
अभिमन्युं समुद्दिश्य बालम् एकं महारथम् ॥
वासुदेवम् उवाचेदं कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः ॥
चोदयाश्वान् हृषीकेश यत्रैते बहुला रथाः ॥
एते हि बहवः शूराः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः ॥
यथा न हन्युर् नः सेनां तथा माधव चोदय ॥
एवम् उक्तः स वार्ष्णेयः कौन्तेयेनामितौजसा ॥
रथं श्वेतहयैर् युक्तं प्रेषयाम् आस संयुगे ॥
निष्टानको महान् आसीत् तव सैन्यस्य मारिष ॥
यद् अर्जुनो रणे क्रुद्धः संयातस् तावकान् प्रति ॥
समासाद्य तु कौन्तेयो राज्ञस् तान् भीष्मरक्षिणः ॥
सुशर्माणम् अथो राजन्न् इदं वचनम् अब्रवीत् ॥
जानामि त्वां युधि श्रेष्ठम् अत्यन्तं पूर्ववैरिणम् ॥
पर्यायस्याद्य संप्राप्तं फलं पश्य सुदारुणम् ॥
अद्य ते दर्शयिष्यामि पूर्वप्रेतान् पितामहान् ॥
एवं संजल्पतस् तस्य बीभत्सोः शत्रुघातिनः ॥
श्रुत्वापि परुषं वाक्यं सुशर्मा रथयूथपः ॥
न चैनम् अब्रवीत् किं चिच् छुभं वा यदि वाशुभम् ॥
अभि गत्वार्जुनं वीरं राजभिर् बहुभिर् वृतः ॥
पुरस्तात् पृष्ठतश् चैव पार्श्वतश् चैव सर्वतः ॥
परिवार्यार्जुनं संख्ये तव पुत्रैः सहानघ ॥
शरैः संछादयाम् आस मेघैर् इव दिवाकरम् ॥
ततः प्रवृत्तः सुमहान् संग्रामः शोणितोदकः ॥
तावकानां च समरे पाण्डवानां च भारत ॥
tato rājñāṃ bahuśatair gajāśvarathayāyibhiḥ ||
saṃvṛtaṃ samare bhīṣmaṃ devair api durāsadam ||
prayāntaṃ śīghram udvīkṣya paritrātuṃ sutāṃs tava ||
abhimanyuṃ samuddiśya bālam ekaṃ mahāratham ||
vāsudevam uvācedaṃ kaunteyaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ ||
codayāśvān hṛṣīkeśa yatraite bahulā rathāḥ ||
ete hi bahavaḥ śūrāḥ kṛtāstrā yuddhadurmadāḥ ||
yathā na hanyur naḥ senāṃ tathā mādhava codaya ||
evam uktaḥ sa vārṣṇeyaḥ kaunteyenāmitaujasā ||
rathaṃ śvetahayair yuktaṃ preṣayām āsa saṃyuge ||
niṣṭānako mahān āsīt tava sainyasya māriṣa ||
yad arjuno raṇe kruddhaḥ saṃyātas tāvakān prati ||
samāsādya tu kaunteyo rājñas tān bhīṣmarakṣiṇaḥ ||
suśarmāṇam atho rājann idaṃ vacanam abravīt ||
jānāmi tvāṃ yudhi śreṣṭham atyantaṃ pūrvavairiṇam ||
paryāyasyādya saṃprāptaṃ phalaṃ paśya sudāruṇam ||
adya te darśayiṣyāmi pūrvapretān pitāmahān ||
evaṃ saṃjalpatas tasya bībhatsoḥ śatrughātinaḥ ||
śrutvāpi paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ suśarmā rathayūthapaḥ ||
na cainam abravīt kiṃ cic chubhaṃ vā yadi vāśubham ||
abhi gatvārjunaṃ vīraṃ rājabhir bahubhir vṛtaḥ ||
purastāt pṛṣṭhataś caiva pārśvataś caiva sarvataḥ ||
parivāryārjunaṃ saṃkhye tava putraiḥ sahānagha ||
śaraiḥ saṃchādayām āsa meghair iva divākaram ||
tataḥ pravṛttaḥ sumahān saṃgrāmaḥ śoṇitodakaḥ ||
tāvakānāṃ ca samare pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata ||
Then the son of Kunti with white horses saw Bhishma, surrounded in battle by many hundreds of kings mounted on elephants, horses, and chariots, unapproachable even for the gods. Bhishma was moving swiftly to protect your sons, advancing toward a single young great chariot-warrior — Abhimanyu. Then Arjuna said to Vasudeva: "Hrishikesha, drive the horses to where these numerous chariots are. These many heroes are skilled in weapons and unconquerable in battle; drive on, Madhava, so that they do not destroy our army." So addressed by the son of Kunti of boundless might, the Varshneya drove the chariot yoked with white horses into the battle. A great uproar arose in your army, worthy one, when the enraged Arjuna advanced in battle against your warriors. Coming upon those kings who guarded Bhishma, and upon Sushharman, O king, the son of Kunti spoke this word: "I know you as foremost in battle and a long-standing implacable foe. Today your turn has come: behold the terrible outcome. Today I shall show you your long-dead forefathers." Though Sushharman, leader of chariots, heard this harsh speech of Bibhatsu, the slayer of foes, he answered him nothing at all, neither good nor ill. Together with many kings he advanced upon the hero Arjuna and, surrounding him on every side — before, behind, and from the flanks — together with your sons, covered him with arrows in the fight, as clouds cover the sun. Then, O Bharata, a very great battle broke out, its waters made of blood, between your men and the Pandavas in that encounter."
859f03571bfa · published Jul 17, 2026, 9:38:21 PM UTC
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Arjuna advances not for a personal contest but to protect the young Abhimanyu and the whole army. His harsh words to Sushharman reveal the memory of an old enmity, yet his chariot is driven first of all to where a defender is needed.