तस्य पार्थस्तदा क्षिप्रं क्षुरधारेण कार्मुकम् । न्यकृन्यद्गृध्रपत्रेण जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृतम्
Then Partha swiftly cut down his bow, adorned with gold, with a razor-headed arrow feathered with vulture plumes.
अथैनं पञ्चभिर्भूयः प्रत्यविध्यत्स्तनान्तरे। स पार्थबाणाभिहतो रथात्प्रस्कन्द्य दुद्रुवे
Then, striking him again with five arrows in the chest, Vrishasena, wounded by Partha's shafts, leapt from his chariot and fled.
दुःशासनो विकर्णश्च शकुनिश्च विविंशतिः। आयान्तं भीमधन्वानं पर्यकीर्यन्त पाण्डवम्
Duhshasana, Vikarna, Shakuni, and Vivimsati surrounded Bhimasena as he advanced, showering him with arrows.
तेषां पार्थो रणे क्रुद्धः शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः । युगं ध्वजं शरासं च चिच्छेद तरसा रणे
In that battle, Partha, enraged, with arrows whose joints were well-formed, swiftly cut down their yoke, banner, and quivers.
ते निकृत्तध्वजाः सर्वे छिन्नकार्मुकवेष्टनाः । रणमध्यादपययुः पार्थबाणाभिपीडिताः
All of them, their banners cut down and bowstrings severed, oppressed by Partha's arrows, withdrew from the midst of battle.
ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सुर्वैराटिमिदमब्रवीत् । एतं मे प्रापयेदानीं तालं सौवर्णमुच्छ्रितम्
Then Bhīmasena, laughing, said to the king of the Matsyas: 'Now bring me that tall golden palm-tree.'
मेघमध्ये यथा विद्युदुज्ज्वलन्ती पुनः पुनः । असौ शान्तनवो भीष्मस्तत्र याहि परंतप
Just as lightning flashes again and again amidst the clouds, so does Bhishma, son of Shantanu, shine there; go towards him, scorcher of foes.
अस्राणि तस्य दिव्यानि दर्शयिष्यामि संयुगे। घोररूपाणि चित्राणि लघूनि च गुरूणि च
In battle I will show him my divine weapons, terrible in form, wondrous, both light and heavy.
अस्माकं पोषको नित्यमाबाल्यान्मत्स्यभूमिप। श्रेयस्कामी सदाऽस्माकं योगक्षेमकरः सदा
He has always been our protector since childhood, the king of the Matsyas, ever seeking our welfare and always ensuring our well-being.
तस्याङ्के विर्धितो बाल्ये तद्योत्स्येऽनेन सांप्रतम्। अस्माकं धार्तराष्ट्राणां शमकामो दिवानिशम्
Raised on his lap in childhood, I will now fight him; he, who always desires peace for us sons of Dhritarashtra, day and night.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वैराटिः पार्थसारथिः। वाहयच्चोदितस्तेन रथं भीष्मरथं प्रति
Hearing these words, the Matsya prince, Partha's charioteer, urged on the chariot as commanded, toward Bhishma's car.
तं रथं चोदितं दृष्ट्वा फल्गुनस्य रथोत्तमम् । वायुनेव महामेघं सहसाऽभिसमीरितम्। तं प्रत्ययाच्च गाङ्गेयो रथेनादित्यवर्चसा
Seeing that chariot of Phalguna, the best of chariots, driven forward like a great cloud suddenly propelled by the wind, Ganga's son advanced to meet it with his radiant chariot.
आयान्तमर्जुनं दृष्ट्वा भीष्मः परपुंजयः। प्रत्युञ्जगाम युद्धार्थी महर्षभमिवर्षभः
Seeing Arjuna approaching, Bhishma, the conqueror of foes, advanced to meet him, eager for battle, like a mighty bull confronting another.
तथा हि गुप्त एतेषां दुराधर्षः पितामहः । हन्यमानेषु योघेषु धनंजयमुपाद्रवत्
Thus, the invincible grandsire, protector of his forces, moved toward Dhananjaya as the troops were being struck in the conflict.
प्रगृह्य कार्मुकश्रेष्ठं जातरूपपरिष्कृतम् । शरानादाय तीक्ष्णाग्रान्मर्मदेहप्रमाथिनः
Grasping his finest bow, adorned with gold, he took up sharp arrows, capable of piercing vital organs and destroying bodies.
पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि । शुशुभे स नरव्याघ्रो गिरिः सूर्योत्तरे यथा
With a pale parasol held above his head, that tiger among men shone like a mountain beneath the rising sun.
प्राध्माप्य शङ्खं गाङ्गेयो धार्तराष्ट्रान्प्रहर्षयन् । प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य बीभत्सुं प्रत्यवारयत्
Blowing his conch, Gangeya delighted the sons of Dhritarashtra, then, circling to the right, confronted Bhībhatsu and blocked his advance.
तमवेक्ष्य समायान्तं कौन्तेयः परवीरहा । प्रत्यगृह्णादमेयात्मा प्रियातिथिमिवागतम् । देवदत्तं महाशङ्खं प्रदध्मौ युधि वीर्यवान्
Seeing him approaching, the son of Kunti, slayer of enemy heroes, received him with an unfathomable spirit, as one welcomes a dear guest; the mighty warrior blew his great conch, Devadatta, in battle.
तौ शङ्खनादावत्यर्थं भीष्मपाण्डवयोस्तदा । नादयामासतुर्द्यां च खं च भूमिं च सर्वशः
Then, the sound of conches from Bhishma and the Pandava resounded, filling the sky, the heavens, and the earth in every direction.
अन्तरिक्षे च जल्पन्ति सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । यदर्जुनः कुरून्सर्वान्प्राकृन्तच्छस्रतेजसा
In the sky, all the gods with Indra spoke, as Arjuna cut down all the Kurus with his radiant energy.
कुरुश्रेष्ठाविमौ वीरौ रणे भीष्मधनंजयौ । सर्वास्त्रकुशलौ वीरावप्रमत्तौ रणे सदा
These two foremost Kurus, Bhishma and Dhananjaya, heroes in battle, masters of all weapons, ever vigilant in combat.
उभौ देवमनुष्येषु विश्रुतौ स्वपराक्रमैः । उभौ परमसंरब्धावुभौ दीप्तधनुर्धरौ
Both renowned among gods and men for their prowess, both fiercely enraged, both wielding blazing bows.
समागतौ नरव्याघ्रौ व्याघ्राविव तरस्विनौ । उभौ सदृशकर्माणौ सूर्यस्याग्नेश्च भारत
The two tigers among men met, swift as tigers, both performing deeds like those of the sun and fire, O Bharata.
वासुदेवस्य सदृशौ कार्तवीर्यसमावुभौ । उभौ विश्रुतकर्माणावुभौ शूरौ महाबलौ । सर्वास्त्रविदुषां श्रेष्ठौ सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरौ
Both equal to Vasudeva and Kartavirya, famed for their deeds, mighty heroes, best among those skilled in all weapons and bearers of arms.
अग्नेरिन्द्रस्य सोमस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य च ।। अनयोः सदृशं वीर्यं मित्रस्य वरुणस्य च
Their valor is equal to that of Agni, Indra, Soma, Yama, Varuna, and also Mitra and Varuna.
को वा कुन्तीसुतं युद्धे द्वैरथेनोपयास्यति। ऋते शान्तनवादन्यः क्षत्रियो भुवि विद्यते
Who, besides Santanu's son, could face Kunti's son in single combat? Is there any other Kshatriya on earth?
इति संपूजयामासुर्भीष्मं दृष्ट्वाऽर्जुनं गतम् । तं रणे संप्रहृष्यन्तं दृष्ट्वा देवाः सवासवाः
Thus, the gods with Indra honored Bhishma, seeing Arjuna advance, rejoicing at his presence in battle.
अथ बहुविधतूर्यशङ्खयोषैर्विविधरवैः सह सिंहनादमिश्रैः । कुरुवृषभमपूजयत्कुरूणां बलममराधिपसैन्यसप्रभं तत्
Then, with many kinds of drums, conches, and women's cries, mingled with lion-roars, the Kurus' army, shining with the splendor of the lord of immortals, honored the bull among Kurus.
ततो भीष्मः शरानष्टौ ध्वजे पार्थस्य वीर्यवान्। समार्पयन्महावेगाज्ज्वलतः पन्नगानिव
Then Bhishma, powerful in valor, sent eight arrows at Arjuna's banner, with great speed, like blazing serpents.
ते ध्वजं पाण्डुपुत्रस्य समासाद्य पतत्रिणः। ध्वजस्थं कपिमाजघ्नुः ध्वजाग्रनिलयांश्च तान्
Those feathered arrows struck the banner of the Pandava, hitting the ape atop the banner and those dwelling at its tip.