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.
विदर्शयन्तः संपेतुः खङ्गचर्मपरश्वथैः। केचिदाक्षिप्य करिणः साश्वानपि रथान्करैः
They rushed forward, displaying swords, shields, and axes; some hurled elephants, along with horses and chariots, with their hands.
विकर्षन्तो दिशः सर्वाः संपेतुः सर्वशब्दगाः। शङ्कुभिर्दारिताः केचित्संभिन्नाश्च परश्वथैः
Dragging all directions, they rushed forth, accompanied by every kind of sound; some were pierced by spears, others shattered by axes.
हस्तिभिर्मृदिताः केचित्क्षुण्णाश्चान्ये तुरंगमैः । रथनेमिनिकृत्ताश्च निकृत्ताश्च परश्वथैः
Some were crushed by elephants, others trampled by horses; some were cut by chariot wheels, and others by axes.
व्याक्रोशन्त नरा राजंस्तत्रतत्र स्म बान्धवान्। पुत्रानन्ये पितॄनन्ये भ्रातॄंश्च सह बन्धुभिः
Men cried out, O King, here and there for their relatives; some for sons, others for fathers, and still others for brothers together with their kin.
मातुलान्भागिनेयांश्च परानपि च संयुगे । विकीर्णान्त्राः सुबहवो भग्नसक्थाश्च भारत
Maternal uncles and nephews, and even others in battle, O Bharata, lay scattered with entrails spilled and many with broken thighs.
बाहुभिश्चापरे छिन्नैः पार्श्वेषु च विदारिताः । क्रन्दन्तः समदृश्यन्त तृषिता जीवितेप्सवः
Others, torn at the sides by severed arms, were seen lamenting, thirsty and longing for life.
तृषापरिगताः केचिदल्पसत्वा विशांपते। भूमौ निपतिताः सङ्ख्ये मृगयांचक्रिरे जलम्
Some, overcome by thirst and weakened, O lord of men, fell to the ground in battle, seeking water as if in a hunt.
रुधिरौघपरिक्लिन्नाः क्लिश्यमानाश्च भारत । व्यनिन्दन्भृशमात्मानं तव पुत्रांश्च संगतान्
Soaked in streams of blood and suffering, O Bharata, they harshly reproached themselves and your sons who had gathered.
अपरे क्षत्रिकयाः शूराः कृतवैराः परस्परम् । नैव शस्त्रं विमुञ्चन्ति नैव क्रन्दन्ति मारिष । तर्जयन्ति च संहृष्टास्तत्रतत्र परस्परम्
Other heroic warriors, hostile to each other, neither released weapons nor cried out, O Māriṣa; instead, they threatened each other joyfully here and there.
आदश्य दशनैश्चापि क्रोधात्स्वरदनच्छदम् । भ्रुकुटीकुटिलैर्वक्रैः प्रेक्षन्ति च परस्परम्
Some, out of anger, bared their teeth and bit their lips, and with furrowed, crooked brows, glared at one another.
अपरे क्लिश्यमानास्तु शरार्ता व्रणपीडिताः। निष्कूजाः समपद्यन्त दृढसत्वा महाबलाः
Others, suffering and afflicted by arrows and wounds, became silent, though possessing firm resolve and great strength.
अन्ये च विरथाः शूरा रथमन्यस्य संयुगे। प्रार्थयाना निपतिताः संक्षुण्णा वरवारणैः । अशोभन्त महाराज सपुष्पा इव किंशुकाः
Other heroes, deprived of their chariots in battle, sought another's chariot, but fell, crushed by noble elephants; they shone, O great king, like kimshuka trees with flowers.
संबभूवुरनीकेषु बहवो भैरवस्वनाः। वर्तमाने महाभीमे तस्मिन्वीरवरक्षये
In the ranks arose many terrifying cries, as that dreadful destruction of great heroes was taking place.
निजघान पिता पुत्रं पुत्रश्च पितरं रणे। स्वस्त्रीयो मातुलं चापि स्वस्रीयं चापि मातुलः
A father struck his son, and a son his father in battle; a maternal uncle fought his nephew, and a nephew his maternal uncle.
सखा सखायं च तथा संबन्धी बान्धवं तथा। एवं युयुधिरे तत्र कुरवः पाण्डवैः सह
A friend fought a friend, and a relative fought a kinsman; thus, the Kurus battled with the Pandavas.
वर्तमाने तथा तस्मिन्निर्मर्यादे भयानके । भीष्ममासाद्य पार्थानां वाहिनी समकम्पत
As that boundaryless and terrifying conflict continued, the army of the Parthas trembled upon approaching Bhishma.
केतुना पञ्चतारेण तालेन भारतर्षभ । राजतेन महाबाहुरुच्छ्रितेन महारथे । बभौ भीष्मस्तदा राजंश्चन्द्रमा इव मेरुणा
With a five-pointed silver banner raised high by the mighty-armed great charioteer, Bhishma shone, O King, like the moon atop Meru.
गतपूर्वाह्णभूयिष्ठि तस्मिन्नहनि दारुणे। वर्तमाने तथा रौद्रे महावीरवरक्षये
As the day, mostly past noon, continued in that dreadful manner, so too did the fierce slaughter of great heroes.
दुर्मुखः कृतवर्मा च कृपः शल्यो विविंशतिः। भीष्मं जुगुपुरासाद्य तव पुत्रेण चोदिताः
Durmukha, Kṛtavarmā, Kṛpa, Śalya, and Viviṃśati, urged by your son, surrounded Bhīṣma with care.
एतैरतिरथैर्गुप्तः पञ्चभिर्भरतर्षभः । पाण्डवानामनीकानि विजगाहे महारथः
Guarded by these five great chariot-warriors, O bull among the Bharatas, the mighty car-warrior penetrated the ranks of the Pāṇḍavas.