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.
तावुभौ कुरुशार्दूलौ परस्परवधैषिणौ। गाङ्गेयस्तु रणे पार्थं विद्ध्वा नाकम्पयद्बली
Those two tigers among the Kurus, intent on each other's destruction, Bhishma struck Partha in battle but did not shake him.
तथैव पाण्डवो राजन्भीष्मं नाकम्पयद्युधि। सात्यकिस्तु महेष्वासः कृतवर्माणमभ्यात्
Likewise, O King, Pandava did not shake Bhishma in battle; and Satyaki, the great archer, advanced against Kritavarma.
तयोः समभयवद्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् । सात्यकिः कृतवर्माणं कृतवार्मा च सात्यकिम्
Between those two, a fierce and hair-raising battle took place—Satyaki against Kritavarma, and Kritavarma against Satyaki.
आनर्च्छतुः शरैर्घोरैस्तक्षमाणौ परस्परम्। तौ शराचितसर्वाङ्गौ शुशुभाते महाबलौ
They assailed each other with terrible arrows, enduring one another; both mighty warriors, their bodies covered in shafts, shone brilliantly.
वसन्ते पुष्पशबलौ पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ । अभिमन्युर्महेष्वासं बृहद्बलमयोधयत्
Like two blossoming kimshuka trees in spring, adorned with flowers, so did those heroes appear; meanwhile, Abhimanyu challenged the great archer Brihadbala.
ततः कोसलराजाऽसावभिमन्योर्विशांपते । ध्वजं चिच्छेद समरे सारथिं च व्यपातयत्
Then, O lord of the people, the king of Kosala, in that battle, cut down Abhimanyu’s banner and struck down his charioteer.
सौभद्रस्तु ततः क्रुद्धः पातिते रथसारथौ। बृहद्बलं महाराज विव्याध नवभिः शरैः
But then Subhadra’s son, enraged at the fall of his charioteer, pierced Brihadbala, O great king, with nine arrows.
अथापराभ्यां भल्लाभ्यां शिताभ्यामरिमर्दनः । ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छेद पार्ष्णिमेकेन सारथिम्
Then, with two sharp broad-headed arrows, the crusher of foes cut down the banner with one and the charioteer with the other.
अन्योन्यं च शरैः क्रुद्धौ ततक्षाते परस्परम् । मानिनं समरे दृप्तं कृतवैरं महारथम्
Both, enraged, wounded each other with arrows, each attacking the other—proud, fierce, and bearing old enmity, those great chariot-warriors.
भीमसेनस्तव सुतं दुर्योधनमयोधयत् । तावुभौ नरशार्दूलौ कुरुमुख्यौ महाबलौ
Bhimasena fought your son Duryodhana; those two foremost among men, chiefs of the Kurus, both of great might.