सर्वाश्चैव दिशो बाणैः प्रदिशश्च महाबलः । एकच्छायमिवाकाशं सर्वतः कृतवान्प्रभुः
With his mighty arrows, he covered all the directions and quarters, making the entire sky appear as if it were under a single shade.
प्राच्छादयदमेयात्मा पार्थः शरशतैः कृपम् । उद्गतः समरे मेघो धाराभिरिव पर्वतम्
Partha, whose spirit cannot be measured, shrouded Kripa with hundreds of arrows, as a cloud rising in battle covers a mountain with its torrents.
स शरैरर्पितः ऋद्धः शितैरग्निशिखोपमैः । कृपो बभूव समरे विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलंम्
Struck by those sharp arrows, blazing like tongues of fire, Kripa in battle appeared like a fire burning without smoke.
ततः शरसहस्रेण पार्थमप्रतिमौजसम् । अर्दयित्वा महाबाहुर्ननाद समरे कृपः
Then Kripa, the mighty-armed, after tormenting Partha—whose energy is unmatched—with a thousand arrows, roared on the battlefield.
ततः कनकपुङ्खेन शरेण नतपर्वणा। बिभेद समरे पार्थः कृपस्य ध्वजमुत्तमम्
Then Partha, with a gold-feathered, well-curved arrow, struck down Kripa's foremost banner in the midst of battle.
ततः पश्चान्महातेजा नाराचान्सूर्यसन्निभान् । जग्राह समरे पार्थो भूयो बहुशिलीमुखान्
After that, the radiant Partha seized in battle more iron arrows, shining like the sun, and many broad-headed shafts.
तैस्तदातीं महाबाहुः कृपस्य रथरक्षिणः । जघान क्षत्रियश्रेष्ठो युध्यमानान्महारथान्
With those, the mighty-armed best of Kshatriyas struck down the great warriors protecting Kripa's chariot, as they fought valiantly.
चन्द्रकेतुः सुकेतुश्च चित्राश्वो मणिमांस्तद। मुञ्जमौलिश्च विक्रान्तो हेमवर्णो भयावहः
Chandraketu, Suketu, Citrashva, Maniman, and the valiant Munjamauli, golden-hued and terrifying—
सुरथोऽतिरथश्चैव सुपेणोऽरिष्ट एव च। नृकेतुश्च सहानीकास्ते निषेदुर्गतासवः
Suratha, the great chariot-warrior, Supena, Arishta, and Nrketu with their troops—all fell lifeless.
तान्निहत्य ततः पार्थो निमेपादिव भारत । पुनरन्यान्समाधत्त त्रयोदश शिलीमुखान्
Having slain them, Partha, O Bharata, like Death itself, then took up thirteen more broad-headed arrows.
अथास्य युगमेकेन चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान्। षष्ठेन तु शिरः सङ्ख्ये कृपस्य रथसारथेः
With one, he struck the yoke; with four, the four horses; and with the sixth, in the battle, he struck the head of Kripa's charioteer.
त्रिभिस्त्रिवेणुं बलवान्द्वाभ्यामक्षं महाबलः । द्वादशेन तु भल्लेन कृपस्य सशरं धनुः
With three, the powerful one broke the triple bamboo-pole; with two, the mighty axle; and with the twelfth, a crescent-headed arrow, he cut Kripa's bow along with its string.
छित्त्वा वज्रनिकाशेन फल्गुनः प्रहसन्निव। त्रयोदशेनेन्द्रसमः प्रत्यविध्यत्स्तनान्तरे
Having cut it with a razor-sharp arrow, Phalguna, as if smiling, with the thirteenth—equal to Indra—struck Kripa in the chest.
स छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । अथ शक्तिं परामृश्य सूर्यवैश्वानरप्रभाम् । चिक्षेप सहसा क्रुद्धः पार्थायाद्भुतकर्मणे
Deprived of his bow, chariot, horses, and charioteer, Kripa, seething with anger, seized a spear blazing like the sun and fire, and hurled it swiftly at Partha, the wondrous warrior.
तामर्जुनस्तथारूपां शक्तिं हेमपरिष्कृताम्। रुरोध सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैरर्धचन्द्रमुखैश्च ताम्
Arjuna checked that spear, adorned with gold and of such form, with sharp arrows and half-moon-headed shafts.
आपतन्तीं महोल्काभां चिच्छेद दशभिः शरैः। सापतद्दशधा भूमौ पार्थेन निहता शरैः
As it sped forth, blazing like a great meteor, Partha cut it down with ten arrows; struck by him, it fell to the earth in ten fragments.
शक्त्यां तु विनिकृत्तायां विरथः शरपीडितः। गदापाणिरवप्लुत्य रथात्तूर्णममित्रहा। गदां चिक्षेप सहसा पार्थायामिततेजसे
With his spear cut down, wounded by arrows and without a chariot, Kripa, slayer of foes, leapt quickly from his chariot, mace in hand, and hurled it at Partha of boundless energy.
सा च मुक्ता गदा गुर्वी रूपेणास्य परिष्कृता । अर्जुनस्य शरैर्नुन्ना प्रतिमार्गं जगाम सा
That heavy mace, splendid in form and adorned, released by him, was struck by Arjuna's arrows and turned back along its path.
अथ खङ्गं समुद्धृत्य शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत्। इयेष पाण्डवं हन्तुं कृपो लघुपराक्रमः
Then Kripa, swift in action, drew his sword, shining like a hundred moons and radiant as the sun, intending to slay the Pandava.
स शरद्वत्सुतस्तूर्णं महाचार्यः सुशिक्षितः । खेचरेव चचारकैः क्रमाच्चर्मासिधृग्भुवि
That son of Sharadvata, the great and well-trained teacher, moved quickly on the battlefield, wielding sword and shield, advancing step by step like a celestial being.
ततः क्षुरप्रैः कौन्तेयो दशभिः खङ्गचर्मणी । निमेषादिव चिच्छेद तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
Then Arjuna, with ten razor-sharp arrows, cut down Kripa's sword and shield in an instant, as if by magic.
विषण्णवदमस्तत्र विनाशात्खङ्गचर्मणोः। दन्तैर्दन्तच्छदान्दष्ट्वा चुकोप हृदि दीर्घवत्
There, Kripa stood with his face fallen, dismayed at the destruction of his sword and shield; biting his lips with his teeth, he was deeply angered in his heart.
भवत्विति पुनश्चोक्त्वा युद्धापगमनोद्यतः। अश्वत्थाम्नस्तु स रथं कृपः समभिपुप्लुवे। स्वस्रीयस्य महातेजा जग्राह च धनुः पुनः
Saying, 'So be it,' and preparing to withdraw from the fight, Kripa, of great energy, mounted Ashvatthama's chariot and once more took up his bow.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रुद्धो भीष्मो द्रोणमथाब्रवीत्। दृष्ट्वा कृपं फल्गुनेन पीडितं चोर्जितं च तम्
Meanwhile, Bhishma, enraged upon seeing Kripa harassed and overpowered by Arjuna, spoke to Drona.
एकैकमस्मान्संग्रामे पराजयति फल्गुनः। अहं द्रोणश्च कर्णश्च द्रौणिर्गौतम एव च। अन्ये च बहवः शूरा वयं जेष्याम वासविम्
Phalguna is defeating each of us in battle: myself, Drona, Karna, Drona's son, Gautama, and many other mighty warriors—yet together, we shall overcome the son of Indra.
समागम्य ततः सर्वे भीष्मद्रोणमुखा रथाः। अर्जुनं सहसा युक्ताः प्रत्ययुध्यन्त भारत
Then all the chariot warriors, led by Bhishma and Drona, gathered and suddenly attacked Arjuna with full force, O Bharata.
स सायकमयैर्जालैः सर्वतस्तान्महारथान्। प्राच्छादयच्छरौघैस्तान्नीहार इव पर्वतान्
With showers of arrows from every side, Arjuna covered those great chariot-warriors, enveloping them with volleys like mist covering mountains.
नदद्भिश्च महानागैर्हेषमाणैश्च वाजिभिः । भेरीशङ्खनिनादैश्च स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्
The tumultuous sound arose from roaring elephants, neighing horses, and the blare of drums and conches.
नागाश्वकायान्निर्भिद्य लौहानि कवचानि च। पार्थस्य शरवर्षाणि न्यपतञ्शतशः क्षितौ
Hundreds of Arjuna's showers of arrows pierced the bodies of elephants and horses, and shattered iron armor, falling to the ground.
त्वरमाणः शरानस्यन्पाण्डवस्तु प्रकाशते। मध्यंदिनगतोऽर्चिष्माञ्छरदीव दिवाकरः
The Pandava, swiftly releasing arrows, shone forth like the radiant midday sun in autumn.