चेदिकाशिकरूषेषु पञ्चालेषु च भारत । भीष्मस्य बहुधा तालश्चलत्केतुरदृश्यत
Among the Cedis, Kāśis, Karūṣas, and the Pāñcālas, O Bhārata, the fluttering palm-banner of Bhīṣma was seen in many places.
स शिरांसि रणेऽरीणां रथांश्च सयुगध्वजान् । निचकर्त महावेगैर्भल्लैः सन्नतपर्वभिः
With swift, well-feathered arrows, he struck off the heads of his foes in battle, and cut down their chariots along with their yokes and banners.
नृत्यतो रथमार्गेषु भीष्मस्य भरतर्षभ । भृशमार्तस्वरं चक्रुर्नागा मर्मणि ताडिताः
As Bhīṣma moved along the chariot paths, O bull of the Bharatas, the elephants, struck in their vital spots, cried out in great pain.
अभिमन्युः सुसंक्रुद्धः पिशह्गैस्तुरगोत्तमैः । संयुक्तं रथमास्थाय प्रायाद्भीष्मरथं प्रति
Abhimanyu, greatly enraged, mounted a chariot yoked with excellent, dark-maned horses and advanced towards Bhīṣma's chariot.
जाम्बूनदविचित्रेण कर्णिकारेण केतुना । अभ्यवर्तत भीष्मं च तांश्चैव रथसत्तमान्
With a banner of gold and decorated with the karṇikāra flower, he turned upon Bhīṣma and those foremost of chariot-warriors.
स तालकेतोस्तीक्ष्णेन केतुमाहत्य पत्रिणा । भीष्मेण युयुधे वीरस्तस्य चानुरथैः सह
Striking down the banner of the palm-emblemed one with a sharp-feathered arrow, the hero fought with Bhīṣma and his supporting chariots.
कृतवर्माणमेकेन शल्यं पञ्चभिराशुगैः । विद्ध्वा नवभिरानर्च्छच्छिताग्रैः प्रतिपामहम्
He struck Kṛtavarmā with one swift arrow, and Śalya with five; then, with nine sharp-tipped arrows, he honored the mighty car-warrior.
पूर्णायतविसृष्टेन सम्यक्प्रणिहितेन च। ध्वजमेकेन विव्याध जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृतम्
With a well-aimed, fully drawn arrow, he struck the gold-adorned banner.
दुर्मुखस्य तु भल्लेन सर्वावरणभेदिना । जहार सारथेः कायाच्छिरः सन्नतपर्वणा
With a broad-headed arrow that pierced all armor, he severed the head of the charioteer from Durmukha's body.
धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन कार्तस्वरविभूषितम्। कृपस्य निशिताग्रेण तांश्च तीक्ष्णमुखैः शरैः
With a sharp-tipped arrow, he cut the gold-adorned bow of Kṛpa, and with keen arrows, he struck those warriors.
जघान परमक्रुद्धो नृत्यन्निव महारथः । तस्य लाघवमुद्वीक्ष्य तुतुषुर्देवता अपि
The great car-warrior, in extreme anger, struck them as if dancing; seeing his skill, even the gods were delighted.
लब्धलक्षतया कार्ष्णेः सर्वे भीष्ममुखा रथाः । सत्ववन्तममन्यन्त साक्षादिव धनंजयम्
Because of his accurate aim, all the chariot-warriors led by Bhīṣma considered Kārṣṇi to be as valiant as Dhanaṃjaya himself.
तस्य लाघवमार्गस्थमलातसदृशप्रभम्। दिशः पर्यपतच्चापं गाण्डीवमिव घोषवत्
His bow, swift as lightning and shining like a blazing fire, moved in all directions on the battlefield, resounding like the Gāṇḍīva.
तमासाद्य महावेगैर्भीष्मो नव्रभिराशुगैः । विव्याध समरे तूर्णमार्जुनिं परवीरहा
Then Bhīṣma, with great speed, struck Arjuna's son in battle with nine swift arrows.
ध्वजं चास्य त्रिभिर्भल्लैश्चिच्छेद परमौजसः । सारथिं च त्रिभिर्बाणैराजघान यतव्रतः
With three broad-headed arrows, the mighty Bhīṣma cut down his banner, and with three more, struck his charioteer.
तथैव कृतवर्मा च कृपः शल्यश्च मारिष । विद्ध्वा नाकम्पयत्कार्ष्णिं मैनाकमिव पर्वतम्
Likewise, Kṛtavarmā, Kṛpa, and Śalya, O great one, struck Kārṣṇi, but did not shake him, as the mountain Maināka remains unmoved.
स तैः परिवृतः शूरो धार्तराष्ट्रैर्महारथैः । ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि कार्ष्णिः पञ्चरथान्प्रति
Surrounded by those mighty sons of Dhritarashtra, the valiant Kārṣṇi showered torrents of arrows upon the five charioteers.
ततस्तेषां सहस्राणि संवार्य शरवृष्टिभिः । ननाद बलवान्कार्ष्णिर्भीष्माय विसृज्यञ्शरान्
Then, having warded off thousands of their arrows with his own, the powerful Kārṣṇi roared, releasing arrows at Bhīṣma.
तत्रास्य सुमहद्राजन्बाह्वोर्बलमदृश्यत । यतमानस्य समरे भीष्ममर्दयतः शरैः
There, O King, the immense strength of his arms was seen as he strove in battle, striking Bhīṣma with arrows.
पराक्रान्तस्य तस्यैव भीष्मोऽपि प्राहिणोच्छरान् । स तांश्चिच्छेद समरे भीष्मचापच्युताञ्शरान्
As he pressed forward, Bhīṣma also sent arrows at him; but in battle, he cut down those arrows shot from Bhīṣma's bow.
ततो ध्वजमामोघेंषुर्भीष्मस्य नवभिः शरैः । चिच्छेद समरे वीरस्तत उच्चुक्रुशुर्जनाः
Then, with nine unfailing arrows, the hero cut down Bhīṣma's banner in battle, and the people raised a loud cry.
स राजतो महास्कन्धस्तालो हेमविभूषितः । सौभद्रविशिखैश्छिन्नः पपात भुवि भारत
That royal, broad-shouldered banner staff, adorned with gold, struck down by Saubhadra's arrows, fell to the earth, O Bhārata.
तं तु सौभद्रविशिखैः पातितं भरतर्षभ । दृष्ट्वा भीमो ननादोच्चैः सौभद्रमभिहर्षयन्
Seeing Bhīṣma's banner felled by Saubhadra's arrows, Bhīma roared loudly, delighting Saubhadra.
अथ भीष्मो महास्राणि दिव्यानि सुबहूनि च । प्रादुश्चक्रे महारौद्रे रणे तस्मिन्महाबलः
Then Bhīṣma, of great might, produced many divine and fierce arrows in that battle.
ततः शरसहस्रेण सौभद्रं प्रतितामहः । अवाकिरदमेयात्मा तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
Thereafter, with a thousand arrows, the unconquerable Bhīṣma covered Saubhadra, making it appear wondrous.
ततो दश महेष्वासाः पाण्डवानां महारथाः । रक्षार्थमभ्यधावन्त सौभद्रं त्वरिता रथैः
Then ten great archers among the Pandavas, mighty chariot-warriors, rushed swiftly with their chariots to protect Saubhadra.
विराटः सह पुत्रेण धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः । भीमश्च केकयाश्चैव सात्यकिश्च विशांपते
Virāṭa with his son, Dhṛṣṭadyumna the Pārsata, Bhīma, the Kekayas, and Sātyaki, O lord of men.
तेषां जवेनापततां भीष्मः शान्तनवो रणे । पाञ्चाल्यं त्रिभिरानर्च्छत्सात्यकिं नवभिः शरैः
As they advanced swiftly, Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, in battle struck Dhṛṣṭadyumna with three arrows and Sātyaki with nine.
पूर्णायतविसृष्टेन क्षुरेण निशितेन च। ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छेद भीमसेनस्य पत्रिणा
With a well-aimed, sharp, winged arrow, Bhīṣma cut down Bhīmasena's banner in battle.
जाम्बूनदमयः श्रीमान्केसरी स नरोत्तम । पपात भीमसेनस्य भीष्मेण मथितो रथात्
That splendid, golden banner, bearing the lion, was struck from Bhīmasena's chariot by Bhīṣma and fell to the ground.