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.
ततः प्रासृजदुग्राणि शरजालानि पाण्डवः। तावन्ति शरजालानि भीष्मः पार्थाय प्राहिणोत्
Then the Pandava released fierce showers of arrows, and Bhishma sent as many showers of arrows at Partha.
साश्वं ससूतं सरथं स पार्थं समाचिनोद्भारतो वत्सदन्तैः । प्रच्छादयामास दिशश्च सर्वा नभश्च बाणैस्तपनीयपुङ्खैः
With arrows tipped like calf's teeth, he covered Partha, his horses, charioteer, and chariot; and with shafts feathered with gold, he concealed all directions and the sky.
ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वाः साधुसाध्वित्यपूजयन्। दुष्करं कृतवान्भीष्मो यदर्जुनमवारयत्
Then the divine sages and Gandharvas praised, saying 'Excellent, excellent!' for Bhishma had accomplished a difficult feat in checking Arjuna.
बलवानर्जुनो दक्षः क्षिप्रकारी च पाण्डवः। कोऽन्यः समर्थः पार्थस्य वेगं धारयितुं रणे
Arjuna is strong, skilled, and swift in action; who else is capable of withstanding Partha's speed in battle?
ऋते शान्तनवाद्भीष्मात्कृष्णाद्वा देवकीसुतात् । आचार्यवरमुख्याद्वा भारद्वाजान्महाबलात्
Except for Bhishma, son of Shantanu, Krishna, son of Devaki, or the foremost teacher Bharadvaja of great might, none can.
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य क्रीडतः पुरुषोत्तमौ । चक्षूंषि सर्वभूतानां मोदयन्तौ महाबलौ
The two mighty ones played, countering weapons with weapons, delighting the eyes of all beings.
प्राजापत्यं तथैवैन्द्रमाग्नेयं च सुदारुणम् । कौबेरं वारुणं चैव याम्यं वायव्यमेव च । प्रयुञ्जानौ महात्मानौ समरे तौ विरेजतुः
The two great souls shone in battle, employing the Prajapatya, Indra, Agneya, Kubera, Varuna, Yama, and Vayu weapons.
विस्मितान्यथ भूतानि तौ दृष्ट्वा संयुगे तदा। साधु पार्थ महाबाहो साधु भीष्मेति चाब्रुवन्
Then, seeing them in combat, all beings were amazed and exclaimed, 'Well done, Partha, mighty-armed! Well done, Bhishma!'
नैतदन्यो मनुष्येषु प्रदर्शयितुमाहवे। महास्राणां संप्रयोगं समरे भीष्मपार्थयोः
No other among men could display in battle such a mighty clash of weapons as between Bhishma and Partha.
एवं सर्वास्त्रविदुषोरस्त्रयुद्धमवर्तत
Thus, a contest of weapons unfolded between those two masters of every missile.