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.
अविषह्य शरान्सर्वे पार्थचापच्युपान्रणे। उदक्प्रयान्ति विध्वस्ता रथेभ्यो रथिनस्तदा। सादिनश्चाश्वपृष्ठेभ्यो भूमौ चापि पदातयः
Unable to withstand Arjuna's arrows in battle, the chariot-warriors fled from their chariots, the horsemen from their horses, and the foot-soldiers upon the ground.
शरैस्तु ताड्यमानानां कवचानां महात्मनाम्। ताम्रराजतलौहानां प्रादुरासीन्महास्वनः
As the armor of those great souls—of copper, silver, and iron—was struck by arrows, a great clamor arose.
छन्नमायोधनं जज्ञे शरीरैर्गतचेतसाम्। श्रान्त्या गलितशस्त्राणां पततामश्वसादिनाम्
The battlefield became covered with the bodies of the fallen, their weapons slipping from weary hands, as if the ground itself was shrouded in death.
शून्यान्कुर्वन्रथोपस्थान्मानवैरास्तृणोन्महीम्। प्रनृत्यन्निव संग्रामे चापहस्ते धनंजयः
Dhananjaya, bow in hand, seemed to dance in the battle, filling the earth with fallen men and making the chariot platforms empty.
शिरांस्यपातयत्सङ्ख्ये क्षत्रियाणां नरर्षभः। श्रुत्वा गाण्डीवनिर्घोषं विष्णूजितमिवाशने। त्रस्तानि सर्वसैन्यानि व्यलीयन्त च भागश
That bull among men struck down the heads of Kshatriyas in the fight; hearing the thunder of Gandiva, like Vishnu's roar, all the armies, terrified, scattered in all directions.
कुण्डलोष्णीषधारीणि जातरूपस्रजानि च। पतितानि स्म दृश्यन्ते शिरांसि करणमूर्धनि
Helmets, turbans, and golden garlands were seen fallen upon the severed heads lying on the ground.
विशिखोन्मथितैर्गात्रैर्बाहुभिश्च सकार्मुकैः। सहस्ताभरणैश्चान्यैः प्रच्छन्ना भाति मेदिनी
The earth shines, concealed by bodies pierced with arrows, by arms still holding bows, and by other hands adorned with ornaments.
शिरसां पात्यमानानां समरे निशितैः शरैः। अश्मवृष्टिरिवाकाशादभवद्भरतर्षभ
As sharp arrows struck heads in battle, a rain of stones seemed to fall from the sky, O bull among Bharatas.
दर्शयित्वा तदाऽऽत्मानं रौद्रं रौद्रपराक्रमः। जघान समरे शूराञ्छतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Then, displaying his fierce self and terrible valor, he slew warriors in battle by the hundreds and thousands.
तथावरुद्धश्चारण्ये दशवर्षाणि त्रीणि च। क्रोधाग्निमुत्ससर्जाजौ धार्तराष्ट्रेषु पाण्डवः
Thus beset in the forest for thirteen years, the Pandava released the fire of anger in battle against the sons of Dhritarashtra.
तस्य तद्दहतः सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा चास्य पराक्रमम्। सर्वे शान्तिपरा योधा धार्तराष्ट्रस्य भारत
Seeing his army being burned and witnessing his prowess, all the warriors of Dhritarashtra sought peace, O Bharata.
यथा नलवनं नागः प्रभिन्नः षष्टिहायनः। एवं सर्वानपामृद्रादर्जुनः शस्त्रतेजसा
Just as a sixty-year-old elephant devastates a lotus pond, so Arjuna destroyed all foes with the brilliance of his weapons.
विद्राव्य च ततः सैन्यं त्रासयित्वा महारथान्। अर्जुनो जयतांश्रेष्ठः पर्यावर्तत भारत
Driving away the army and terrifying the great chariot-warriors, Arjuna, foremost among victors, turned back, O Bharata.
तस्य मार्गान्विचरतो निघ्नतश्च रणाजिरे । प्रावर्तत नदी घोरा शोणितान्त्रतरङ्गिणी
As he moved along his path, striking down enemies on the battlefield, a dreadful river began to flow, its waves formed of blood and entrails.
अस्थिशैवालसंबाधां संग्रामे पार्थनिर्मिताम् । शरचापप्लवां घोरां मांसशोणितकर्दमाम्
Crowded with bones and algae, created by Partha in battle, dreadful, flooded with arrows and bows, muddy with flesh and blood.
रथोडुपां चान्त्रसर्पां केशशैवालशाड्वलाम्। करवालासिपाठीनां चामरोष्णीषफेनिलाम्
With chariots as stars, entrails as serpents, hair and algae as grass, foaming with turbans and fans of swords and scimitars.
अश्वग्रीवामहावर्तां कबन्धजलमानुषाम्। काककङ्करुतां तीव्रां सारसक्रौञ्चनादिताम्
With horse-necks as great whirlpools, human trunks as waters, intense with the cries of crows and vultures, resounding with the calls of cranes and herons.
सिंहनादमहानादां शङ्खस्वनमहास्वनाम् । वीरोत्तमाङ्गपद्माढ्यां शरचापमहानलाम्
Roaring with lion-shouts and conch-blasts, adorned with the lotus-limbs of fallen heroes, blazing with the fire of arrows and bows.
पदातिमत्स्यकलुषां गजशीर्षककच्छपाम्। गोमायुगसंघुष्टां मांसमञ्जाभिकर्दमाम्
Filled with infantry, fish, and mud, with elephant-heads and turtles, resounding with the howls of jackals, muddy with lumps of flesh.
प्रावर्तयन्नदीं घोरां पिशाचगणसेविताम् । अपारामनिवासां च रक्तोदां सर्वतो वृताम्
He caused a dreadful river to flow, frequented by hosts of demons, boundless and uninhabitable, with blood as its water, surrounded on all sides.