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.
मा मानभङ्गं विप्रेन्द्र कुरु विश्रुतकर्मणः । मानभङ्गेन राज्ञां तु बलहानिर्भविष्यति
O foremost of Brahmins, do not dishonor the renowned hero; by dishonoring the king, the strength of the warriors will diminish.
शूरा वदन्ति संग्रामे वाचा कर्माणि कुर्वते। पराक्रमन्ति संग्रामे स्वस्य वीर्यानुसारतः
Heroes speak boldly in battle and perform deeds; they exert themselves in combat according to their own valor.
तस्मात्तं नार्हति भवान्गर्हितुं शूरसंमतम् । राज्ञैवमुक्तः स द्रौणिर्गतरोषोऽभवत्तदा ।।]
Therefore, you should not reproach him who is esteemed by heroes; thus addressed by the king, Drona's son then became free from anger.
ततो भीष्मः शान्तनवो बाणान्पार्श्वे समार्पयत्। अस्यतः प्रतिसन्धाय विवृतं सव्यसाचिनः
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, placed arrows at his side, preparing to shoot, as Savya-sachi stood revealed.
ततः प्रसह्य बीभत्सुः पृथुधारेण कार्मुकम्। न्यकृन्तद्गृध्रपत्रेण भीष्मस्यामिततेजसः
Thereupon, Bhimasena forcefully cut Bhishma's mighty bow with a broad-headed, vulture-feathered arrow.
अथैनं दशभिः पश्चात्प्रत्यविध्यत्स्तनान्तरे। यतमानं पराक्रान्तं कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः
Then Kunti's son Dhananjaya struck him from behind with ten arrows in the chest as he strove and fought valiantly.
स पीडितो महाबाहुर्गृहीत्वा रथकूबरम् । गोङ्गेयो युधि दुर्धर्षस्तस्थौ दीप इवातुरः
Afflicted, the mighty-armed son of Ganga, grasping the chariot's yoke, stood in battle, difficult to defeat, like a lamp flickering in distress.
तं विसंज्ञमपोवाह संयन्ता रथवाजिनाम् । उपदेशमनुस्मृत्य रक्षमाणो महारथम्
His charioteer carried him away unconscious, recalling instructions and protecting the great warrior.
पराक्रमे च शौर्ये च वीर्ये सत्त्वे बले रणे। शस्त्रास्त्रेषु च सर्वेषु लाघवे दूरपातने
In prowess, courage, strength, endurance, and might in battle, in all weapons and missiles, in agility and long-range attack,
यस्य नास्ति समो लोके पितृदत्तवरश्च यः। जितश्रमो जितारातिर्निस्तन्द्रिः खेदवर्जितः । यः स्वेच्छामरणः शूरः पितृशुश्रूषणे रतः
He has no equal in the world, granted a boon by his father; tireless, victorious over enemies, free from fatigue and weariness, a hero who chooses his own death, devoted to serving his father.