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.
सारथिं च हयांश्चास्य विव्याध दशभिः शरैः । उरस्यताडयत्पार्थं त्रिभिरेवायसैः शरैः
He struck his charioteer and horses with ten arrows; and with three iron-tipped arrows, he struck Arjuna in the chest.
ततोऽर्जुनः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्विद्ध्वा कुरुपितामहम्। ध्वजं च सारथिं चापि विव्याध दशभिः शरैः
Then Arjuna pierced the grandsire of the Kurus with sharp arrows, and struck his banner and charioteer with ten arrows.
तद्युद्धमभवद्धोरं रोमहर्षणमद्भुतम्। भीष्मस्य सह पार्थेन बलिवासवयोरिव
That battle became fierce, wondrous, and hair-raising, between Bhishma and Partha, like the clash of mighty Indra and Bali.
सन्ततं शरजालाभिराकाशं समपद्यत। अम्बुदैरिव धाराभिस्तयोः कार्मुकनिःसृतैः
The sky was filled with a continuous shower of arrows, as if with streams from clouds, released from their bows.
भल्लैर्भल्लाः समाहत्य कुरुपाण्डवयो रणे। अन्तरिक्षे व्यराजन्त खद्योताः प्रावृषीव हि
Arrows clashed with arrows in battle between the Kurus and Pandavas, shining in the sky like fireflies in the rainy season.
अग्निवक्रोपमं घोरं मण्डलीकृतमाहवे । गाण्डीवमभवञ्जिष्णोः सव्यं दक्षिणमस्यतः
In the battle, the Gandiva of Jishnu formed a fierce circle, blazing like a thunderbolt, wielded with both left and right hands.
पर्वतं वारिधाराभिश्छादयन्निव तोयदः । अर्जुनश्छादयद्भीष्मं शरवर्षैरनेकशः
Just as a cloud covers a mountain with streams of water, Arjuna covered Bhishma with countless showers of arrows.
तां समुद्रमिवोद्धूतां शरवृष्टिं समुद्यताम् । व्यधमत्सायकैर्भीष्मः सोर्जुनं च न्यवारयत्
Bhishma dispersed that rising flood of arrows, like a surging ocean, and checked Arjuna with his own shafts.
ततस्तानि विसृष्टानि शरजालानि सङ्घशः। आहतानि व्यशीर्यन्तं अर्जुनस्य रथं प्रति
Then those showers of arrows, released in masses, were shattered as they struck Arjuna's chariot.
ततः कनकपुङ्खाग्रैः शितैः संनतपर्वभिः । पतद्भिः खगवाजैश्च द्यौरासीत्संवृता शरैः
Then, with sharp, gold-feathered, well-jointed arrows and winged shafts flying, the sky was covered with arrows.