सरथा रथिनश्चापि विमृद्गन्तः समन्ततः । स्यान्दनादपतत्कश्चिन्निहतोऽन्येन सायकैः
Charioteers and warriors, with their chariots, were crushed on every side; some fell from their vehicles, struck down by others' arrows.
हतसारथिरप्युच्चैः पपात काष्ठवद्रथः । युध्यमानस्य संग्रामे व्यूढे रजसि चोत्थिते
Even a chariot with its charioteer slain fell loudly like a block of wood, as its warrior fought on in the thick of battle and the dust rose high.
धनुःकूजितविज्ञानं तत्रासीत्प्रतियुद्ध्यतः। गात्रस्पर्शेन योधानां व्यज्ञास्त परिपन्थिनम्
There, the twang of bows revealed those who fought back; by the touch of their bodies, the warriors recognized their foes.
युद्ध्यमानं शरै राजन्सिञ्जिनीध्वजिनीरवात्। अन्योन्यं वीरसंशब्दो नाश्रूयत भटैः कृतः
O King, as they fought with arrows, the sound of bowstrings and banners flapping in the wind drowned out the war cries; the shouts of the warriors could not be heard.
शब्दायमाने संग्रामे पटहे कर्णदारिणि। युध्यमानस्य संग्रामे कुर्वतः पौरुषं स्वकम्
As the battle roared and the war drum split the ears, each fought on, displaying his own valor in the midst of the struggle.
नाश्रौषं नामगोत्राणि कीर्तनं च परस्परम् । भीष्मचापच्युतैर्बाणैरार्तानां युध्यतां मृधे
I could not hear names, lineages, or mutual praise among them, as the arrows loosed from Bhishma's bow tormented those fighting in the fray.
परस्परेषां वीराणां मनांसि समकम्पयन् । तस्मिन्नत्याकुले युद्धे दारुणे रोमहर्षणे
The hearts of those heroes trembled at one another in that exceedingly tumultuous, dreadful, and hair-raising battle.
पिता पुत्रं च समरे नाभिजानाति कश्चन । चक्रे भग्ने युगे च्छिन्ने एकधुर्ये हये हतः
In that chaos, with wheels broken, yokes shattered, and single horses slain, no one in battle could recognize father or son.
आक्षिप्तः स्यन्दनाद्वीरः समारथिरजिह्मगैः। एवं च समरे सर्वे वीराश्च विरथीकृताः
The hero, thrown from his chariot, along with his charioteer and swift horses, and thus, in the battle, all the warriors were made chariotless.
तेन तेन स्म दृश्यन्ते धावमानाः समंततः । गजो हतः शिरश्छिन्नं मर्म भिन्नं हयो हतः
Here and there, they were seen running in all directions: an elephant slain, a horse killed with its head severed or vital parts pierced.
अहतः कोपि नैवासीद्भीष्मे नघ्नति शात्रवान् । श्वेतः कुरूणामकरोत्क्षयं तस्मिन्महाहवे
None remained unhurt as Bhishma struck down his enemies; Śveta brought destruction upon the Kurus in that great battle.
राजपुत्रान्रथोदारानवधीच्छतसङ्घशः। चिच्छेद रथिनां बाणैः शिरांसि भरतर्षभ
He slew royal princes and noble charioteers by the hundreds, and, O bull among the Bharatas, with his arrows he cut off the heads of chariot-warriors.
साङ्गदा बाहवश्चैव धनूंषि च समंततः। रथेषां रथचक्राणि तूणीराणि युगानि च
Arms with armlets, bows scattered everywhere, the wheels of chariots, quivers, and yokes of the chariots,
छत्राणि च महार्हाणि पताकाश्च विशांपते। हयैघाश्च रथौघाश्च नरौघाश्चैव भारत
Costly umbrellas, banners, the neighing of horses, the rush of chariots, and the multitude of men, O Bharata,
वारणाः शतशश्चैव हताः श्वेतेन भारत । वयं श्वेतभयाद्भीता विहाय रथसत्तमम्
Hundreds of elephants were also slain by Śveta, O Bharata; out of fear of Śveta, we abandoned our best chariots.
अपयातास्तथा पश्चाद्विभुं पश्याम धृष्णवः । शरपातमतिक्रम्य कुरवः कुरुनन्दन
Thus, retreating behind, we watched the mighty and bold Śveta, as the Kurus, O joy of the Kurus, escaped the shower of arrows.
भीष्मं शान्तनवं युद्धे स्थिताः पश्याम सर्वशः । अदीनो दीनसमये भीष्मोऽस्माकं महाहवे
We saw Bhishma, son of Shantanu, standing firm in battle; in our time of distress, Bhishma did not falter in that great conflict.
एकस्तस्थौ नरव्याघ्रो गिरिर्मेरुरिवाचलः। आददान इव प्राणान्सविता शिशिरात्यये
Alone, that tiger among men stood like the immovable Meru mountain, as if seizing the lives of his foes like the sun at the end of winter.
गभस्तिभिरिवादित्यस्तस्थौ शरमरीचिमान्। स मुमोच महेष्वासः शरसङ्घाननेकशः
He stood, radiant with arrows like the sun with its rays, and that mighty archer released countless volleys of arrows.
निघ्नन्नमित्रान्समरे वज्रपाणिरिवासुरान् । ते वध्यमाना भीष्मेण प्रजहुस्तं महाबलम्
Slaying his enemies in battle like Indra with his thunderbolt striking down the asuras, those being struck by Bhishma abandoned that mighty warrior.
स्वयूथादिव ते यूथान्मुक्तं भूमिषु दारुणम् । तमेवमुपलक्ष्यैको हृष्टः पुष्टः परंतप
Like herds fleeing from a lion released among them on the earth, so too did they flee; seeing him thus, one hero, delighted and strong, scorcher of foes,
दुर्योधनप्रिये युक्तः पाण्डवान्परिशोचयन्। जीवितं दुस्त्यजं त्यक्त्वा भयं च सुमहाहवे
Devoted to Duryodhana, resolute, lamenting for the Pandavas, he abandoned his precious life and all fear in that great battle.
पातयामास सैन्यानि पाण्डवानां विशांपते । प्रहरन्तमनीकानि पिता देवव्रतस्तव
He began to strike down the armies of the Pandavas, O lord of men, as your father Devavrata attacked the divisions.
दृष्ट्वा सेनापतिं भीष्मस्त्वरितः श्वेतमभ्ययात्। स भीष्मं शरजालेन महता समवाकिरत्
Seeing Bhishma, the commander, Śveta quickly advanced against him, and showered him with a great volley of arrows.
श्वेतं चापि तथा भीष्मः शरौघैः समवाकिरत् । तौ वृषाविव नर्दन्तौ मत्ताविव महाद्विपौ
Bhishma likewise covered Śveta with torrents of arrows; the two, roaring like bulls, were like two maddened great elephants.
व्याघ्राविव सुसंरब्धावन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः । अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य ततस्तौ पुरुषर्षभौ
Like two enraged tigers, they struck each other; warding off weapons with weapons, those two best of men then fought on.
भीष्मः श्वेतश्च युयुधे परस्परवधैषिणौ । एकाह्ना निर्दहेद्भीष्मः पाम्डवानामनीकिनीम्
Bhishma and Shveta fought, each intent on the other's destruction; in a single day, Bhishma could have burned up the Pandava army.
शरैः परमसंक्रुद्धो यदि श्वेतो न पालयेत्। पितामहं ततो दृष्ट्वा श्वेतो विमुखीकृतम्
If Shveta, in his extreme anger, had not restrained himself with his arrows, then, seeing Bhishma turned away, Shveta would have destroyed him.
प्रहर्षं पाण्डवा जग्मुः पुत्रस्ते विमनाभवत्। ततो दुर्योधनः क्रुद्धः पार्थिवैः परिवारितः
The Pandavas rejoiced, and your son became dejected; then Duryodhana, enraged and surrounded by kings,
ससैन्यः पाण्डवानीकमभ्यद्रवत संयुगे। दुर्मुखः कृतवर्मा च कृपः शल्यो विशांपतिःक
with his army, charged against the Pandava forces in battle; Durmukha, Kritavarma, Kripa, and Shalya, lord of men,