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.
अन्योन्यं शरवर्षाभ्यां ववृषाते रणाजिरे। तौ वीक्ष्य तु महात्मानौ कृतिनौ चित्रयोधिनौ
They showered each other with volleys of arrows on the battlefield; seeing those two high-souled, skilled, and remarkable warriors—
विस्मयः सर्वभूतानां समपद्यत भारत। दुःशासनस्तु नकुलं प्रत्युद्याय महाबलम्
A sense of wonder arose among all beings, O Bharata; meanwhile, Duhshasana advanced against the mighty Nakula.
अविध्यन्निशितैर्बाणैर्बहुभिर्मर्मभेदिभिः । तस्य माद्रीसुतः केतुं सशरं च शरासनम्
He struck him with many sharp, marrow-piercing arrows; but the son of Madri cut down his banner, bow, and arrows.
चिच्छेद निशितैर्बाणैः प्रहसन्निव भारत । अथैनं पञ्चविंशत्या क्षुद्रकाणां समार्पयत्
With sharp arrows, as if laughing, he cut them down, O Bharata; then he struck him with twenty-five small shafts.
पुत्रस्तु तव दुर्धर्षो नकुलस्य महाहवे । तुरङ्गांश्चिच्छिदे बाणैर्ध्वजं चैवाभ्यपातयत्
But your indomitable son, in that great battle, cut down Nakula’s horses with arrows and brought down his banner as well.
दुर्मुखः सहदेवं च प्रत्युद्याय महाबलम् । विव्याध शरवर्षेण यतमानं महाहवे
Durmukha advanced against the mighty Sahadeva and struck him, as he strove in the great battle, with a shower of arrows.
सहदेवस्ततो वीरो दुर्मुखस्य महारणे। शरेण भृतशीक्ष्णेन पातयामास सारथिम्
Then Sahadeva, the hero, in that great fight, with a keen and heavy arrow, brought down Durmukha’s charioteer.
तावन्योन्यं समासाद्य समरे युद्धदुर्मदौ । त्रासयेतां शरैर्घोरैः कृतप्रतिकृतैषिणौ
Those two, meeting each other in battle, maddened by the fight, terrified each other with dreadful arrows, each seeking to counter the other’s attack.
युधिष्टिरः स्वयं राजा मद्रराजानमभ्ययात्। तस्य मद्राधिपश्चापं द्विधा चिच्छेद मारिष
King Yudhishthira himself advanced against the king of Madra; and the ruler of Madra, O best of men, cut Yudhishthira’s bow in two.
तदपास्य धनुश्छिन्नं कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । अन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय वेगवद्बलवत्तरम्
Then, discarding his broken bow, Kunti’s son Yudhishthira took up another, swifter and stronger.