सोऽतीयात्सहसा शत्रून्सहसा तेऽभिपेदिरे । शीघ्रादूरं दृढामोघमस्त्रमस्यातिमानुषम् । दृष्ट्वा ते कौरवा भीता अतिमानुषविक्रमम्
He rushed upon the foes, and they attacked him in turn; seeing his swift, distant, firm, unfailing, superhuman weapon, the Kauravas were frightened by his extraordinary prowess.
खगपत्राभिसंवीतैः खाविष्टैः खगमैरिव। अर्जुनस्य खमावव्रे लोहितप्राणपैः खगैः
The sky was covered by Arjuna's arrows, feathered like birds, flying through the air, as if filled with red-blooded birds.
अर्जुनेन विनिर्मुक्ताः शरा गाण्डीवधन्वना । तार्क्ष्यवेगा इवाकाशे ससञ्जुः परमर्मसु
The arrows released by Arjuna from the Gandiva bow moved in the sky with the speed of Garuda, striking at vital points.
वर्माणि सारथिश्चैव हेमजालानि वाजिनाम् । किरीटं सूर्यसंकाशं वैयाघ्रमथ चर्म च
Armor, charioteers, golden nets on the horses, the crown shining like the sun, the tiger-skin and the shield—
ततः सर्वाणि गात्राणि रथस्य द्विषतां शरैः । नीहारेणेव भूतानि छन्नानीह चकाशिरे
Then all the limbs of the enemy chariots, struck by arrows, appeared as if shrouded in mist, yet shone forth.
सकृदेव न तं शेकुः कथमभ्यसितुं परे । अनभ्यस्तः पुनस्तैर्हि रथः सोभिपपात तान्
The others could not approach him even once; unaccustomed, their chariots fell upon him and were struck down.
तच्छरा द्विट्शरीरेषु यथा च न ससञ्जिरे । द्विधाऽनीकेषु बीभत्सोर्न ससञ्ज रथस्तथा
Just as the arrows did not remain in the bodies of the enemies, so too the chariot of Bhībhatsu did not remain among the divided ranks.
स तद्धि क्षोभयामास विगाह्यारिबलं रथी। अनन्तवेगो भुजगः क्रीडन्निव महार्णवे
He stirred up the enemy force, penetrating it with his chariot, like a serpent of endless speed playing in the great ocean.
अस्यतो नित्यमत्यर्थं सर्वघोषाधिकस्तथा । संनादः श्रूयते भूतैर्धनुषश्च किरीटिनः
As he continually shot, the sound of his bow, louder than all others, was heard among the warriors, and from the crowned one.
संच्छिन्नास्तत्र मातङ्गा बाणैरल्पान्तरान्तरैः। संस्यूतास्तत्र दृश्यन्ते मेघा इव गभस्तिभिः
There, elephants were cut down by arrows at close range; they appeared stitched together, like clouds with rays.
दिशोऽनुभ्रमतः सर्वा सव्यदक्षिणमस्यतः। सततं दृश्यते युद्धे सायकासनमण्डलम्
As he shot to all directions, left and right, the circle of arrows and bow was always seen in battle.
पतन्त्यरूपेषु यथा चक्षूंषि न कदाचन। नालक्ष्येषु शराः पेतुस्तस्य गाण्डीवधन्वनः
Just as eyes cannot see falling forms, so too the arrows of the wielder of Gandiva fell where none could perceive.
महागजसहस्रस्य युगपन्मृद्गतो वनम्। कौन्तेयरथमार्गस्तु रणे घोरतरोऽभवत्
The path of the Kunteya's chariot in battle became more terrible than a forest trampled at once by a thousand great elephants.
नूनं पार्थजयैषित्वाच्छक्रः सर्वामरैः सह। हन्त्यस्मानिति मन्यन्ते पार्थेनैवार्दिताः परे
Surely, because of Partha's desire for victory, the discus, along with all the gods, will destroy us—so thought the others, afflicted by Partha.
घ्नन्तमत्यर्थमहितान्सव्यसाचिनमाहवे। कालमर्जुनरूपेण ग्रसन्तमिव च प्रजाः
In battle, Savyasācin struck down the exceedingly mighty, appearing as Time itself in the form of Arjuna, devouring creatures.
कुरुसेनाशरीराणि पार्थेनानाहतान्यपि । पेतुः पार्थहतानीव पार्थकर्मानुदर्शनात्
Even the bodies of the Kuru army, though untouched by Pārtha, fell as if struck by him, because of witnessing Pārtha’s deeds.
ओषधीनां शिरांसीव कालपक्तिसमन्वयात्। अवनेमुः कुरूणां हि शिरांस्यर्जुनजाद्भयात्
Like the heads of herbs at the proper season, the heads of the Kurus bowed down out of fear of Arjuna.
चकार चार्जुनः क्रोधाद्विमुखान्रुषितानपि
And Arjuna, in his wrath, turned even those who faced him away in fear.
अर्जुनेनापि भिन्नानि बलाग्नाणि पुनः क्वचित्। चक्रुर्लोहितधाराभिर्धरणीं लोहितोत्तराम्
The shattered divisions, broken again by Arjuna, at times made the earth overflow with streams of blood.
लोहितेनापि संपृक्तैः पांसुभिः पवनोद्धतैः । तेनैव च समुद्धूतैः सूक्ष्मैर्लोहितबिन्दुभिः
With dust mingled with blood, raised by the wind, and with fine drops of blood stirred up by the same,
लोहितार्द्रैः प्रहरणैः प्रभग्ना लोहितोक्षिताः। लोहितेषु निमग्नास्ते निहताश्च किरीटिना
With weapons drenched in blood, shattered and stained red, they were sunk in blood and slain by the diademed one.
बभूवुर्लोहितास्तत्र भृशमादित्यरश्मयः। आकाशं तत्क्षणेनासीत्सन्ध्याभ्रमिव लोहितं
There, the rays of the sun became intensely red; in that moment, the sky appeared crimson, like evening clouds.
अप्यस्तं प्राप्य चादित्यो निवर्तेत न पाण्डवः। निवर्तन्ते न जित्वारिं नित्यजल्पविचक्षणाः
Even if the sun were to set, Pāṇḍava would not turn back; those skilled in constant speech do not withdraw without conquering the foe.
तान्सर्वान्समरे शूरान्पौरुषे पर्यवस्थितान्। दिव्यैरस्त्रैरमोघात्मा सर्वानार्च्छद्धनुर्धरान्
All those heroes, steadfast in valor on the battlefield, he, possessed of unfailing weapons, assailed—all the bowmen—with divine missiles.
स तु द्रोणं त्रिसप्तत्या नाराचानां समार्पयत्। अशीत्या शकुनिं चैव द्रौणिमप्याशु सप्तभिः
He struck Droṇa with seventy-three iron arrows, Śakuni with eighty, and quickly Drauṇi with seven.
दुःसहं दशभिर्बाणैरर्जुनः समविध्यत । दुश्यासनं द्वादशभिः कृपं शारद्वतं त्रिभिः। भीष्मं शान्तनवं षष्ट्या प्रत्यविध्यत्स्तनान्तरे
Arjuna pierced Duḥsaha with ten arrows, Duśāsana with twelve, Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat, with three, and Bhīṣma, son of Śantanu, in the chest with sixty.
स कर्णं कर्णिनाऽविध्यत्पीतेन निशितेन च। वासविर्द्विषतां मध्ये विव्याध परमेषुणा
He struck Karṇa on the ear with a sharp, golden arrow, and Vāsavi, in the midst of enemies, pierced him with a supreme shaft.
स कर्णं सतनुत्राणं निर्भिद्य निशितः शरः। अगच्छद्दानयन्भूमिं चोदितो दृढधन्वना
That keen arrow, having pierced Karṇa, protected by armor, went to the ground, driven by the strong-bowed one.
ततोऽस्य वाहान्व्यहनच्चतुर्भिश्चतुरः क्षुरैः । सारथेश्च शिरः कायादपाहरदरिन्दमः । अर्धचन्द्रेण चिच्छेद चापं तस्य करे स्थितम्
Then the subduer of foes struck down his four horses with four razors, severed the charioteer’s head from his body, and with a crescent cut the bow held in his hand.
तस्मिन्विद्धे महाभागे कर्णे सर्वास्त्रपारगे। हताश्वसूते विरथे ततोऽनीकमभज्यत
When that great-souled Karṇa, master of all weapons, was struck, his horses and charioteer slain, and his chariot lost, then the formation was broken.