तयोर्युद्धं समभवद्धोररूपं विशांते । दारयेतां सुसंक्रुद्धावन्योन्यमपराजितौ
Their battle became fierce and terrible to behold, as both, greatly enraged and undefeated, wounded each other.
एवं द्वन्द्वसहस्राणि रथवारणवाजिनाम् । पदातीनां च समरे तव तेषां च संकुले
Thus, thousands of duels took place among charioteers, elephants, horsemen, and foot-soldiers, in that tumultuous battle between your forces and theirs.
मुहूर्तमिव तद्युद्धमासीन्मधुरदर्शनम् । तत उन्मत्तवद्राजन्न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
For a moment, that battle appeared pleasing to the eye, O king; then, like madmen, nothing could be distinguished any longer.
गजो गजेन समरे रथिनं च रथी ययौ । अश्वोऽश्वं समभिप्रायात्पदातिश्च पदातिनम्
In battle, elephant met elephant, chariot-warrior faced chariot-warrior, horse confronted horse, and foot-soldier engaged foot-soldier.
ततो युद्धं सुदुर्धर्षं व्याकुलं समपद्यत। शूराणां समरे तत्र समासाद्येतरेतरम्
Then a most fierce and tumultuous battle arose, as the heroes confronted each other on the field.
तत्र देवर्षयः सिद्धाश्चारणाश्च समागताः । प्रेक्षन्त तद्रणं घोरं देवासुरसमं भुवि
There, divine sages, perfected beings, and celestial bards assembled, watching that terrible battle on earth, equal to one between gods and demons.
ततो दन्तिसहस्राणि र्थानां चापि मारिष। अश्वौघाः पुरुषौघाश्च विपरीतं समाययुः
Then, O great one, thousands of elephants, chariots, torrents of horses, and masses of men approached from both sides.
तत्रतत्र प्रदृश्यन्ते रथवारणपत्तयः । सादिनश्च नरव्याघ्र युध्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः
Here and there were seen chariots, elephants, and infantry, as well as horsemen, O tiger among men, fighting again and again.
राजञ्शतसहस्राणि तत्रतत्र पदातिनाम् । निर्मर्यादं प्रयुद्धानि तत्ते वक्ष्यामि भारत
O king, tens of thousands of foot soldiers fought everywhere without restraint; I shall tell you of them, O descendant of Bharata.
न पुत्रः पितरं जज्ञे पिता वा पुत्रमौरसम् । न भ्राता भ्रातरं तत्र स्वस्त्रीयं न च मातुलः
There, a son did not recognize his own father, nor a father his true-born son; neither did a brother know his brother, nor a maternal uncle his nephew.
न मातुलं च स्वस्रीयो न सखायं सखा तथा। आविष्टा इव युध्यन्ते पाण्डवाः कुरुभिः सह
A nephew did not recognize his maternal uncle, nor a friend his companion; possessed by rage, the Pandavas and Kurus fought each other.
रथानीकं नरव्याघ्राः केचिदभ्यपतन्रथैः । अभज्यन्त युगैरेव युगानि भरतर्षभ
Some tigers among men attacked the chariot divisions with their own chariots, and the yokes of the chariots, O bull among the Bharatas, were shattered in the clash.
रथेषाश्च रतेषाभिः कूरा रथकूबरैः। संगतैः सहिताः केचित्परस्परजिघांसवः
Some, intent on destroying one another, engaged in close combat, chariot against chariot, with their poles and chariot-boxes locked together.
न शेकुश्चलितुं केचित्सन्निपत्य रथा रथैः । प्रभिन्नास्तु महाकायाः सन्निपत्य गजा गजैः
Some chariots, having collided with other chariots, could not move; and great-bodied elephants, having crashed into other elephants, were likewise immobilized.
बहुधा दारयन्क्रुद्धा विषाणैरितरेतरम्। सतोरणपताकैश्च वारणा वरवारणैः
Enraged, they tore each other in many ways with their tusks, and elephants adorned with banners and arches attacked other noble elephants.
अभिसृत्य महाराज वेगवद्भिर्महागजैः । दन्तैरभिहतास्तत्र चुक्रुशुः परमातुराः
Rushing forward, O great king, the mighty elephants, swift as the wind, struck with their tusks, and those struck cried out in extreme agony.
अभिनीताश्च शिक्षाभिस्तोत्राङ्कुशसमाहताः। अप्रभिन्नाः प्रभिन्नानां संमुखाभिमुखा ययुः
Well-trained and disciplined, struck by goads and hooks, the unbroken elephants advanced face to face against the broken ones.
प्रभिन्नैरपि संसक्ताः केचित्तत्र महागजाः । क्रौञ्चवन्निनदं कृत्वा दुद्रुवुः सर्वतो दिशम्
Some great elephants, though wounded, became entangled with the broken ones, and, uttering cries like cranes, fled in all directions.
सम्यक्प्रणीता नागाश्च प्रभिन्नकरटामुखाः । ऋषितोमरनाराचैर्निर्विद्धा वरवारणाः
Well-guided elephants, with broken temples and mouths, were pierced by spears, javelins, and sharp arrows, O best of elephants.
प्रणेदुर्भिन्नमर्माणो निपेतुश्च गतासवः। प्राद्रवन्त दिशः केचिन्नदन्तो भैरवान्रवान्
Some, with their vital parts shattered, fell down lifeless, while others, roaring fearfully, fled in all directions.
गजानां पादरक्षास्तु व्यूढोरस्काः प्रहारिणः । ऋष्टिभिश्च धनुर्भिश्च विमलैश्च परश्वथैः
The elephant guards, broad-chested and fierce in attack, fought with spears, bows, and shining axes.
गदाभिर्मुसलैश्चैव भिन्दिपालैः सतोमरैः । आयसैः परिघैश्चैव निस्तिरंशैर्विमलै शितैः
And with maces, clubs, slings, javelins, iron bars, and sharp, spotless swords.
प्रगृहीतैः सुसंरब्धा द्रवमाणास्ततस्ततः। व्यदृश्यन्त महाराज परस्परजिघांसवः
Gripped with fierce resolve, they rushed here and there, O King, appearing intent on destroying each other.
राजमानाश्च निस्त्रिंशाः संसिक्ता नरशोणितैः। प्रत्यदृश्यन्त शूराणामन्योन्यमभिधावताम्
Swords, gleaming and drenched in the blood of men, were seen as warriors charged at one another.
अवक्षिप्तावधूतानामसीनां वीरबाहुभिः । संजज्ञे तुमुलः शब्दः पततां परमर्मसु
A tumultuous sound arose as swords, hurled and brandished by heroic arms, struck vital parts and fell.
गदामुसलरुग्णानां भिन्नानां च वरासिभिः । दन्तिदन्तावभिन्नानां मृदितानां च दन्तिभिः
Maces and clubs shattered, swords broken, tusks of elephants split, and elephants crushed each other.
तत्र तत्र नरौघाणां क्रोशतामितरेतरम् । शुश्रुवुर्दारुणा वाचः प्रेतानामिव भारत
Here and there, among the masses of men, dreadful cries were heard as they shouted at one another, like the voices of the dead, O Bharata.
हयैरपि हयारोहाश्चामरापीडधारिभिः । हंसैरिव महावेगैरन्योन्यमभिविद्रुताः
Even the horsemen, bearing chamara fans, sped at each other with their swift steeds, like swans moving with great speed.
तैर्विमुक्ता महाप्रासा जाम्बूनदविभूषणाः । आशुगा विमलास्तीक्ष्णाः संपेतुर्भुजगोपमाः
Those warriors released mighty spears adorned with gold, swift, pure, and sharp, flying like serpents.
अश्वैरग्न्यजवैः केचिदाप्लुत्य महतो रथात् । शिरांस्याददिरे वीरा रथिनामश्वसादिनः
Some, leaping from their great chariots with horses swift as fire, seized the heads of charioteers and horsemen.