कथं चातिरथस्तेन पाञ्चाल्येन शिखण्डिना। भीष्मो विनिहतो युद्धे देवैरपि दुरासदः
How was Bhishma, unconquerable even by the gods, slain in battle by that great chariot-warrior, the Panchala prince Shikhandin?
यः स्पर्धते रणे नित्यं जामदग्न्यं महाबलम् । अजितं जामदग्न्येन शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमम्
He who always rivaled the mighty son of Jamadagni in battle, who was undefeated even by Parashurama, and whose valor equaled Indra's—
तं हतं समरे भीष्मं महारथकुलोदितम् । सञ्जयाचक्ष्व मे वीरं येन शर्म न विद्महे
Tell me, Sanjaya, how that heroic Bhishma, the foremost of great chariot-warriors, was slain in battle, for we find no peace.
मामकाः के महेष्वासा नाजहुः सञ्जयाच्युतम् । दुर्योधनसमादिष्टाः के वीराः पर्यवारयन्
Which of my great bowmen did not abandon Achyuta, O Sanjaya, and which heroes, commanded by Duryodhana, surrounded him?
यच्छिखण्डिमुखाः सर्वे पाण्डवा भीष्ममभ्ययुः । कच्चित्ते कुरवः सर्वे नाजहुः सञ्जयाच्युतम्
When all the Pandavas, with shattered armor, approached Bhishma, Sanjaya, I ask you: did all the Kauravas not abandon Krishna?
अश्मसारमयं नूनं हृदयं मुदृढं मम। यच्छ्रुत्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रं हतं भीष्मं न दीर्यते
Surely my heart is made of stone, firm and unyielding, for though I hear that the tiger among men, Bhishma, has been slain, it does not break.
यस्मिन्सत्यं च मेधा च नीतिश्च भरतर्षभे । अप्रमेयाणि दुर्धर्षे कथं स निहतो युधि
He in whom truth, wisdom, and policy resided—this bull among the Bharatas, immeasurable and invincible—how was he struck down in battle?
मौर्वीघोषस्तनयुत्नुः पृषत्कपृषतो महान् । धनुर्ह्रादमहाशब्दो महामेघ इवोन्नतः
The great twang of the bowstring, the thunderous clash of arrows upon arrows, the deep sound of the bow—loud as a towering storm cloud—
योऽभ्यवर्षत कौन्तेयान्सपाञ्चालान्ससृञ्जयान्। निघ्नन्परथान्वीरो दानवानिव वज्रभृत्
He who rained arrows upon the sons of Kunti, the Panchalas, and the Srinjayas, striking down enemy chariots like the wielder of the thunderbolt slaying demons—
इष्वस्त्रसागरं घोरं बाणग्रहं दुरासदम् । कार्मुकोर्मिणमक्षय्यमद्वीपं चलमप्लवम्
That ocean of weapons and missiles, dreadful and hard to withstand, whose waves were arrows, unfathomable, without islands, ever-moving, and without refuge—
गदासिमकरावासं हयावर्त्तं गजाकुलम् । पदातिमत्स्यकलिलं शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनम्
Whose depths held maces and swords as sea creatures, horses as whirlpools, elephants as herds, foot soldiers as fish in turmoil, with the sound of conches and drums—
हयान्गजपदातींश्च रथांश्च तरसा बहून् । निमञ्जयन्तं समरे परवीरापहारिणम्
Who, with speed, submerged many horses, elephants, foot soldiers, and chariots in battle, seizing the strength of enemy heroes—
विदह्यमानं कोपेन तेजसा च परंतपम् । वेलेव मकरावासं के वीराः पर्यवारयन्
Who, burning with anger and blazing energy, scorched his foes—like the sea with its sea creatures—who were the heroes that surrounded him?
भीष्मो यदकरोत्कर्म समरे सञ्जयारिहा । दुर्योधनहितार्थाय के तस्यास्य पुरोऽभवन्
What deeds did Bhishma perform in battle, O Sanjaya, destroyer of enemies? Who stood before him, striving for Duryodhana’s benefit?
के रक्षन्दक्षिणं चक्रं भीष्मस्यामिततेजसः । पृष्ठतः के परान्वीरानपासेधन्यतव्रताः
Who protected the right wheel of Bhishma, of immeasurable energy? Who, steadfast in their vows, shielded the heroic warriors from behind?
के पुरस्तादवर्तन्त रक्षन्तो भीष्ममन्तिके। के रक्षन्नुत्तरं चक्रं वीरा वीरकस्य युध्यतः
Who stood in front, guarding Bhishma closely? Who protected the northern wheel as the hero fought?
वामे चक्रे वर्तमानाः केऽघ्नन्सञ्जय सृञ्जयान्। अग्नतोऽग्न्यमनीकेषु केऽभ्यरक्षन्दुरासदम्
Who, positioned on the left wheel, struck the Srinjayas, Sanjaya? Who, in the forward and rear divisions, guarded that unassailable one?
पार्श्वतः केऽभ्यरक्षन्त गच्छन्तो दुर्गमां गतिम्। समूहे के परान्वीरान्प्रत्ययुध्यन्त सञ्जय
Who protected his flanks as he advanced along a difficult path? In the midst of the host, who opposed the enemy heroes, Sanjaya?
रक्ष्यमाणः कथं वीरैर्गोप्यमानाश्च तेन ते। दुर्जयानामनीकानि नाजयंस्तरसा युधि
Though guarded by heroes and concealed by him, how did your invincible divisions fail to conquer swiftly in battle?
सर्वलोकेश्वरस्येव परमस्य प्रजापतेः। कथं प्रहर्तुमपि ते शेकुः सञ्जय पाण्डवाः
Like the supreme lord of all worlds, the highest progenitor—how did the Pandavas even manage to strike at him, Sanjaya?
यस्मिन्द्वीपे समाश्वस्य युध्यन्ते कुरवः परैः । तं निमग्नं नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मं शंससि सञ्जय
On whose island the Kauravas, having taken refuge, fought the enemy—how did that tiger among men, Bhishma, become submerged, Sanjaya?
यस्य वीर्यं समाश्रित्य मम पुत्रो बृहद्बलः । न पाण्डवानगणयत्कथं स निहतः परैः
Relying on whose strength my son Brihadbala did not regard the Pandavas—how was he slain by the enemy?
यः पुरा विबुधैः सर्वैः सहाये युद्धदुर्मदः । काङ्क्षितो दानवान्ध्नद्भिः पिता मम महाव्रतः
He who once, with all the gods as his allies, was intoxicated by battle and longed for by the Danavas as their slayer—my father, the great vow-holder—
यस्मिज्जाते महावीर्ये शान्तनुर्लोकविश्रुतः । शोकं दैन्यं च दुःस्वं च प्राजहात्स च तत्क्षणे
When that mighty and renowned Shantanu’s son was born, all sorrow, misery, and misfortune vanished at that very moment.
प्रोक्तं परायणं प्राज्ञं स्वधर्मनिरतं शुचिम्। वेदवेदाङ्गतत्वज्ञं कथं शंससि मे हतम्
How can you tell me that he is slain—he who was declared the refuge of the wise, devoted to his own duty, pure, and knower of the Vedas and their branches?
सर्वास्त्रविनयोपेतं शान्तं दान्तं मनस्विनम्। हतं शान्तनवं श्रुत्वा मन्ये शेषं हतं बलम्
Hearing that Shantanu’s son, who was endowed with all the disciplines of weaponry, peaceful, self-controlled, and wise, has been killed, I think the rest of our force is as good as destroyed.
धर्मादधर्मो बलवान्संप्राप्त इति मे मतिः । यत्र वृद्धं गुरुं हत्वा राज्यमिच्छन्ति पाण्डवाः
It is my belief that unrighteousness has now overpowered righteousness, when the Pandavas, desiring the kingdom, have slain their aged teacher.
जामदग्न्यः पुरा रामः सर्वास्त्रविदनुत्तमः । अम्बार्थमुद्यतः सङ्ख्ये भीष्मेण युधि निर्जितः
Once, Rama, son of Jamadagni, supreme among wielders of all weapons, rose up in battle for Amba’s sake, yet was defeated in combat by Bhishma.
तमिन्द्रसमकर्माणं ककुदं सर्वधन्विनाम्। हतं शंससि मे भीष्मं किं नु दुःखमतः परम्
You tell me that Bhishma, whose deeds rival Indra’s, the foremost among all archers, has been slain—what sorrow could be greater than this?
असकृत्क्षत्रियव्राताः सङ्ख्ये येन विनिर्जिताः । जामदग्न्येन वीरेण परवीरनिघातिना। न हतो यो महाबुद्धिः स हतोऽद्य शिखण्डिना
He who, time and again, vanquished hosts of Kshatriyas in battle—Jamadagni’s heroic son, destroyer of enemy warriors—he could not kill Bhishma, the man of great intellect, yet today he has been slain by Shikhandi.