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.
बहूनपि हयारोहान्भल्लैः सन्नतपर्वभिः । रथी जघान संप्राप्य बाणगोचरमागतान्
A charioteer slew many horsemen with well-barbed arrows, striking those who had entered the range of his bow.
नवमेघप्रतीकाशाश्चाक्षिप्य तुरगान्गजाः । पादैरेव विमृद्गन्ति मत्ताः कनकभूषणाः
Elephants, resembling new clouds, struck the horses with their feet, trampling them, their golden ornaments gleaming, in their frenzy.
पाठ्यमानेषु कुम्भेषु पार्श्वेष्वपि च वारणाः। प्रासैर्विनिहताः केचिद्विनेदुः परमातुराः
When their bells were struck and their sides pierced, some elephants, wounded by spears, cried out in extreme pain.
साश्वारोहान्हयान्कांश्चिदुन्मथ्य वरवारणाः । सहसा चिक्षिपुस्तत्र संकुले भैरवे सति
Some mighty elephants, in the midst of the terrifying confusion, suddenly hurled horses and their riders, crushing them.
साश्वारोहान्विषाणाग्रैरुत्क्षिप्य तुरगान्गजाः । रथौघानभिमृद्गन्तः सध्वजानभिचक्रमुः
Elephants, lifting horses and their riders with their tusks, crushed the mass of chariots and advanced against those bearing standards.
पुंस्त्वादतिमदत्वाच्च केचित्तत्र महागजाः । साश्वारोहान्हयाञ्जघ्नुः करैः सचरणैस्तथा
Some great elephants, out of pride and excessive intoxication, struck horses and their riders with their hands and feet.
अश्वारोहैश्च समरे हस्तिसादिभिरेव च । प्रतिमानेषु गात्रेषु पार्श्वष्वभि च वारणान् । आशुगा विमलास्तीक्ष्णाः संपेतुर्भुजगोपमाः
Horsemen and elephant-riders, striking the bodies and sides of elephants in battle, released swift, pure, sharp weapons, flying like serpents.
नराश्वकायान्निर्भिद्य लौहानि कवचानि च। निपेतुर्विमलाः शक्त्यो वीरबाहुभिरर्पिताः
Piercing the bodies of men and horses, and their iron armor, the pure spears, hurled by heroic arms, fell down.
महोल्ककाप्रतिमा घोरास्तत्र तत्र विशांपते। द्वीपिचर्मावनद्धैश्च व्याघ्रचर्मच्छदैरपि
Terrible weapons, resembling great meteors, were seen here and there, O lord of men, wrapped in tiger and leopard skins.
विकोशैर्विमलैः खङ्गैरभिजध्नुः परान्रणे । अभिप्लुतमभिक्रुद्धमेकपार्श्वावदारितम्
With shining swords, warriors attacked their foes in battle, leaping fiercely and cleaving them along one side.