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.
अथ जिष्णुरुदावृत्य शितधारेण कार्मुकम् । न्यकृन्तद्गृध्रपत्रेण शातकुम्भपरिष्कृतम्
Then Jishnu, drawing his sharp-edged bow, cut down Bhishma’s golden-adorned bow with a vulture-feathered arrow.
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण भीष्मोऽन्यत्कार्मुकं रणे। समादाय नरव्याघ्रः सज्यं चक्रे महाबलः
Within the blink of an eye, Bhishma, tiger among men and of great might, seized another bow in battle and strung it.
शरांश्च सुबहुन्क्रुद्धो मुमोचाशु धनंजये । अर्जुनोपि शरांस्तीक्ष्णान्भीष्माय निशितान्बहून्। चिक्षेप च महातेजास्तथा भीष्मश्च पाण्डवे
Enraged, he swiftly released many arrows at Dhananjaya; and Arjuna, of great energy, likewise shot many keen and sharp arrows at Bhishma.
तयोर्दिव्यास्त्रविदुषोरस्यतोरनिशं शरान् । न विशेषस्तदा राजन्दृश्यते सुमहात्मनोः
O King, as those two of immense spirit, both skilled in divine weapons, ceaselessly loosed arrows at each other, no distinction could be seen between them.
अथावृणोद्दश दिशः शरैरतिरथस्तदा । किरीटमाली कौन्तेयः शूरं शान्तनवं तथा
Then, the mighty-armed, diademed son of Kunti covered all ten directions with arrows, as did the valiant son of Shantanu.
अतीव पाण्डवो भीष्मं भीष्मश्चातीव पाण्डवम् । बभूव तत्र सङ्घेऽस्मिन्लोके राजंस्तदद्भुतम्
There, in that assembly, Pandava pressed Bhishma exceedingly, and Bhishma pressed Pandava exceedingly; O King, it was a marvel in this world.
पाण्डवेन हताः शूरा भीष्मस्य रथरक्षिणः। शेरते स्म महाबाहो कौन्तेयस्याभितो रथम्
The heroic chariot protectors of Bhishma were slain by Pandava, and lay around the chariot of the son of Kunti, O mighty-armed one.
ततो गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्ता निरमित्रं चिकीर्षवः। असक्ताः पुङ्खसंसक्ताः श्वेतवाहनपत्रिणः
Then, arrows released from Gandiva, seeking to make the foe helpless, sped unerringly, feathered from the white steeds.
निष्पतन्तो रथात्तस्य धौता हैरण्यवाससः। आकाशे प्रत्यदृश्यन्त हंसानामिव पङ्क्तयः
Those, clad in golden mail, leapt from his chariot and appeared in the sky like lines of swans.
तस्य तद्दिव्यमस्त्रं हि प्रगाढं चित्रमस्यतः । प्रेक्षन्ते स्मान्तरिक्षस्थाः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः
As he loosed that deep and wondrous divine weapon, all the gods with Indra, standing in the sky, gazed upon it.
तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतो गन्धर्वश्चित्रमद्भुतम् । शशंस देवराजाय चित्रसेनः प्रतापवान्
Seeing that marvelous and astonishing display, the delighted Gandharva Chitrasena reported it to the king of the gods.
पश्येमानरिनिर्दारान्संसक्तानिव गच्छतः । चित्ररूपमिदं जिष्णोर्दिव्यमस्त्रमुदीर्यतः
Behold these enemy-slayers, advancing as if united, and this wondrous form of Jishnu as he unleashes his divine weapon.
नेदं मनुष्याः श्रद्दध्युर्न हीदं तेषु विद्यते। सौराणां च महास्राणां विचित्रोऽयं समागमः
Men would not believe this, for such a meeting of mighty solar weapons does not exist among them.
मध्यन्दिनगतं सूर्यं प्रतपन्तमिवाम्बरे । न शक्नुवन्ति सैन्यानि पाण्डवं प्रसमीक्षितुम्
Just as armies cannot gaze upon the midday sun blazing in the sky, so they could not look upon Pandava.
उभौ विश्रुतकर्माणावुभौ शूरौ महीक्षिताम् । उभौ विचित्रकर्माणावुभौ युधि दुरासदौ
Both are renowned for their deeds, both are heroes among kings, both perform wondrous acts, and both are unconquerable in battle.
इत्युक्तो देवराजस्तु पार्थभीष्मसमागमम्। पूजयामास दिव्येन पुष्पवर्षेण भारत
Thus addressed, the king of the gods honored the meeting of Partha and Bhishma, O Bharata, with a shower of divine flowers.
[अश्वत्थामा ततोऽभ्येत्य द्रुतं कर्णमभाषत । अहमेको हनिष्यामि समेतान्सर्वपाण्डवान्
Then Ashvatthama swiftly approached Karna and said, 'I alone will slay all the Pandavas gathered together.'
इति कर्म समक्षं मे सभामध्ये त्वयोदितम् । न तु तत्कृतमेकस्माद्भीतो धावसि सूतज
'This deed was declared by you openly in the assembly before me, but you have not accomplished it; frightened, you flee, O son of a charioteer.'
वैचित्रवीर्यजाः सर्वे त्वामाश्रित्य पृथासुतान् । जेतुमिच्छन्ति संग्रामे भवान्युध्यस्व फल्गुनम्
All those born of Vaicitravirya, relying on you, wish to defeat the sons of Pritha in battle; you must fight with Phalguna.
अश्वत्थामोदितं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनस्तदा । प्रत्युवाच रुषा द्रौणिं कर्णप्रियचिकीर्षया
Hearing Ashvatthama's words, Duryodhana then replied to Drona's son with anger, wishing to please Karna.