हयानां हेषमाणानामनीकेषु सहस्रशः । सर्वानभ्यभवच्चब्दान्भीमस्य नदतः स्वनः
Among the thousands of neighing horses in the ranks, the roar of Bhima, as he shouted, drowned out all other sounds.
तं श्रुत्वा निनदं तस्य सैन्यास्तव वितत्रसुः । जीमूतस्येव नदतः शक्राशनिसमस्वनम्
Hearing his roar, your troops were seized with terror, as if hearing the thunderous voice of a cloud, equal to Indra's thunderbolt.
वाहनानि च सर्वाणि शकृन्मूत्रं प्रमुस्रुवुः । शब्देन तस्य वीरस्य सिंहस्येवेतरेक मृगाः
All the animals and mounts released their urine and dung at the sound of that hero, just as other beasts do at the roar of a lion.
दर्शयन्घोरमात्मानं महाभ्रमिव नादयन्। विभीषयंस्तव सुतान्भीमसेनः समभ्ययात्
Displaying his fierce self and roaring like a great storm cloud, Bhimasena advanced, terrifying your sons.
तमायान्तं महेष्वासं सोदर्याः पर्यवारयन् । छादयन्तः शरव्रातैर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम्
As he approached, his brothers surrounded him, covering him with volleys of arrows like clouds covering the sun.
दुर्योधनश्च पुत्रस्ते दुर्मुखो दुःसहः शलः । दुःशासनश्चातिरथस्तथा दुर्मर्षणो नृपः
Your son Duryodhana, along with Durmukha, Duhsaha, Shala, Duhshasana the great charioteer, and King Durmarshana,
विविंशतिश्चित्रसेनो विकर्णश्च महारथः । पुरुमित्रो जयो भोजः सौमदत्तिश्च वीर्यवान्
Vivimsati, Citrasena, Vikarna the great charioteer, Purumitra, Jayatsena, Bhoja, and the valiant Saumadatti,
महाचापानि धुन्वन्तो मेघा इव सविद्युतः । आददानाश्च नाराचान्निर्मुक्ताशीविषोपमान्
Wielding great bows like clouds flashing with lightning, they took up sharp arrows like released venomous snakes.
अथ ते द्रौपदीपुत्राः सौभद्रश्च महारथः । नकुलः सहदेवश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः
Then the sons of Draupadi, the great charioteer Abhimanyu, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata,
धार्तराष्ट्रान्प्रतिययुरर्दयन्तः शितैः शरैः । वज्रैरिव महावेगैः शिखराणि धराभृताम्
Assailed the sons of Dhritarashtra with sharp arrows, as thunderbolts with great force strike the peaks of mountains.
तस्मिन्प्रथमसंग्रामे भीमज्यातलनिःस्वने। तावकानां परेषां च नासीत्कश्चित्पराङ्मुखः
In that first battle, with the sound of Bhima's bowstring resounding, none among your men or the enemy turned their backs.
लाघवं द्रोणशिष्याणामपश्यं भरतर्षभ । निमित्तवेधिनां चैव शरानुत्सृजतां भृशम्
O bull among the Bharatas, I saw the swiftness of Drona's disciples and those skilled in omens, as they fiercely released their arrows.
नोपशाम्यति निर्घोषो धनुषां कूजतां तथा। विनिश्चेरुः शरा दीप्ताज्योतींषीव नभस्तलात्
The clamor of the twanging bows did not subside, and arrows shot forth like blazing meteors from the sky.
सर्वे त्वन्ये महीपालाः प्रेक्षका इव भारत। ददृशुर्दर्शनीयं तं भीमं ज्ञातिसमागमम्
But all the other kings, O Bharata, stood as spectators, watching that wondrous Bhima and the meeting of kinsmen.
ततस्ते जातसंरम्भाः परस्परकृतागसः । अन्योन्यस्पर्धया राजन्व्यायच्छन्त महारथाः
Then, filled with rising anger and mutual offenses, the great warriors, O King, exerted themselves in rivalry with one another.
कुरुपाण्डवसेने ते हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुले । शुशुभाते रणेऽतीव पटे चित्रार्पिते इव
Those armies of Kuru and Pandava, crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, shone brightly in battle, like a tapestry richly adorned.
ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे प्रगृहीतशरासनाः । सहसैन्याः समापेतुः पुत्रस्य तव शासनात्
Then all those kings, having taken up their bows and arrows, with their armies, advanced at your son's command.
युधिष्ठिरेण चदिष्टाः पार्थिवास्ते सहस्रशः । विनदन्तः समापेतुः पुत्रस्य तव वाहिनीम्
And thousands of kings, urged on by Yudhishthira, advanced with loud shouts against your son's forces.
उभयोः सेनयोस्तीव्रः सैन्यानां स समागमः । अन्तर्धीयत चादित्यः सैन्येन रजसा वृतः
In that fierce clash of both armies, the dust raised by the troops covered the sun.
प्रयुद्धानां प्रभग्नानां पुनरावर्तिनामपि। नात्र स्वेषां परेषां वा विशेषः समदृश्यत
Among those fighting, broken, and returning again to battle, no distinction could be seen between friend and foe.
तस्मिस्तु तुमुले युद्धे वर्तमाने महाभये। अति सर्वाण्यनीकानि पिता तेऽभिव्यरोचत
In that tumultuous and dreadful battle, your father shone above all the divisions.
पूर्वाह्णे तस्य रौद्रस्य युद्धमह्नो विशांपते। प्रावर्तत महाघोरं राज्ञां देहावकर्तनम्
In the forenoon of that dreadful day of battle, O lord of men, a most terrible slaughter of kings began.
कुरूणां सृञ्जयानां च जिगीषूणां परस्परम् । सिंहानामिव संह्रादो दिवमुर्वी च नादयन्
The Kurus and the Srinjayas, eager to conquer each other, roared like lions, making heaven and earth resound.
आसीत्किलकिलाशब्दस्तलशङ्खरवैः सह । जझिरे सिंहनादाश्च शूराणां प्रतिगर्जताम्
There arose a clamor of clashing weapons and conch-blasts, mingled with the lion-roars of heroes challenging each other.
तलत्राभिहताश्चैव ज्याशब्दा भरतर्षभ। पत्तीनां पादशब्दश्च वाजिनां च महास्वनः
There was the twang of bowstrings struck by palms, the sound of foot soldiers' steps, and the mighty neighing of horses.
तोत्राङ्कुशनिपातश्च आयुधानां च निःस्वनः। घण्टाशब्दश्च नागानामन्योन्यमभिधावताम्
There was the striking of goads and hooks, the clangor of weapons, and the ringing of bells on elephants charging one another.
तस्मिन्समुदिते शब्दे तुगुले रोमहर्षणे । बभूव रथनिर्घोषः पर्जन्यनिनदोपमःक
Amid that rising, tumultuous, and hair-raising sound, the roar of chariots was like the rumble of thunderclouds.
ते मनः क्रूरमाधाय समभित्यक्तजीविताः । पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त सर्व एवोच्छ्रितध्वजाः
With cruel intent, having cast aside concern for their lives, all those with lofty banners advanced against the Pandavas.
अथ शान्तनवो राजन्नभ्यधावद्धनञ्जयम् । प्रगृह्य कार्मुकं घोरं कालदण्डोपमं रणे
Then Bhishma, O King, grasping his terrible bow, like the rod of Time, rushed against Dhananjaya in battle.
अर्जुनोऽपि धनुर्गृह्य गाण्डीवं लोकविश्रुतम् । अभ्यधावत तेजस्वी गाङ्गेयं रणमूर्धनि
Arjuna too, taking up his famed Gandiva bow, advanced with brilliance against Bhishma on the field of battle.