युधिष्ठिरं महाराज महत्या सेनया वृतम् ॥
भीष्मायाभिमुखं यान्तं भारद्वाजो न्यवारयत् ॥
द्रोणस्य रथनिर्घोषं पर्जन्यनिनदोपमम् ॥
श्रुत्वा प्रभद्रका राजन् समकम्पन्त मारिष ॥
सा सेना महती राजन् पाण्डुपुत्रस्य संयुगे ॥
द्रोणेन वारिता यत्ता न चचाल पदात् पदम् ॥
चेकितानं रणे क्रुद्धं भीष्मं प्रति जनेश्वर ॥
चित्रसेनस् तव सुतः क्रुद्धरूपम् अवारयत् ॥
भीष्महेतोः पराक्रान्तश् चित्रसेनो महारथः ॥
चेकितानं परं शक्त्या योधयाम् आस भारत ॥
तथैव चेकितानो ऽपि चित्रसेनम् अयोधयत् ॥
तद् युद्धम् आसीत् सुमहत् तयोस् तत्र पराक्रमे ॥
अर्जुनो वार्यमाणस् तु बहुशस् तनयेन ते ॥
विमुखीकृत्य पुत्रं ते तव सेनां ममर्द ह ॥
दुःशासनो ऽपि परया शक्त्या पार्थम् अवारयत् ॥
कथं भीष्मं परो हन्याद् इति निश्चित्य भारत ॥
सा वध्यमाना समरे पुत्रस्य तव वाहिनी ॥
लोड्यते रथिभिः श्रेष्ठैस् तत्र तत्रैव भारत ॥
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ mahārāja mahatyā senayā vṛtam ||
bhīṣmāyābhimukhaṃ yāntaṃ bhāradvājo nyavārayat ||
droṇasya rathanirghoṣaṃ parjanyaninadopamam ||
śrutvā prabhadrakā rājan samakampanta māriṣa ||
sā senā mahatī rājan pāṇḍuputrasya saṃyuge ||
droṇena vāritā yattā na cacāla padāt padam ||
cekitānaṃ raṇe kruddhaṃ bhīṣmaṃ prati janeśvara ||
citrasenas tava sutaḥ kruddharūpam avārayat ||
bhīṣmahetoḥ parākrāntaś citraseno mahārathaḥ ||
cekitānaṃ paraṃ śaktyā yodhayām āsa bhārata ||
tathaiva cekitāno 'pi citrasenam ayodhayat ||
tad yuddham āsīt sumahat tayos tatra parākrame ||
arjuno vāryamāṇas tu bahuśas tanayena te ||
vimukhīkṛtya putraṃ te tava senāṃ mamarda ha ||
duḥśāsano 'pi parayā śaktyā pārtham avārayat ||
kathaṃ bhīṣmaṃ paro hanyād iti niścitya bhārata ||
sā vadhyamānā samare putrasya tava vāhinī ||
loḍyate rathibhiḥ śreṣṭhais tatra tatraiva bhārata ||
Drona, son of Bharadvaja, held back Yudhishthira, who, surrounded by a great army, was advancing straight toward Bhishma. Hearing the roar of Drona's chariot, like the thunder of a rain cloud, the Prabhadrakas, O king, trembled, O venerable one. That great army of the son of Pandu, gathered in battle and held back by Drona, did not move a single step. Chitrasena, your son, O lord of the people, held back the enraged Chekitana as he advanced toward Bhishma. Valiant for Bhishma's sake, the great chariot-warrior Chitrasena engaged Chekitana with all his strength, O Bharata; and Chekitana likewise fought with Chitrasena. A very great battle arose between them. Arjuna, though repeatedly held back by your son, turned him away and began to crush your army. But Duhshasana, resolving, 'How shall an enemy slay Bhishma?', held back Partha again with great force. And your son's army, being slaughtered in the battle, was trampled everywhere, O Bharata, by the finest chariot-warriors.
e6f4f7b897e0 · published Jul 17, 2026, 9:55:41 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Even as Arjuna pushes back Duhshasana, the general battle does not break open at once: Drona and Chitrasena hold the other approaches. The chapter closes on an army being crushed from every side, while its defenders still try to seal the way to Bhishma.