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,
भीष्मं जुगुपुरासाद्य तव पुत्रेण नोदिताः। दृष्ट्वा तु पार्थिवैः सर्वैर्दुर्योधनपुरोगमैः
approached Bhishma but did not urge him on, though your son was present; seeing this, all the kings with Duryodhana at their head,
पाण्डवानामनीकानि वध्यमानानि संयुगे। श्वेतो गाङ्गेयमुत्सृज्य तव पुत्रस्य वाहिनीम्
saw the Pandava divisions being slaughtered in battle; then Shveta, leaving Bhishma, attacked your son's army.
नाशयामास वेगेन वायुर्वृक्षानिवौजसा । द्रावयित्वा चमूं राजन्वैराटिः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः
He destroyed it swiftly, like the wind felling trees with its force; having routed the troops, O king, the furious prince of the Viratas,
आपतत्सहसा भूयो यत्र भीष्मो व्यवस्थितः । तौ तत्रोपगतौ राजञ्शरदीप्तौ महाबलौ
again rushed suddenly to where Bhishma stood; there, those two mighty warriors, shining like autumn clouds, approached each other.
अयुध्येतां महात्मानौ यथोभौ वृत्रवासवौ । अन्योन्यं तु महाराज परस्परवधैषिणौ
Those two great souls fought, just as Vritra and Indra once did; O king, each sought the other's death.
निगृह्य कार्मुकं श्वेतो भीष्मं विव्याध सप्तभिः । पराक्रमं ततस्तस्य पराक्रम्य पराक्रमी
Shveta, restraining his bow, struck Bhishma with seven arrows; then, displaying his valor, he outdid Bhishma's prowess.
तरसा वारयामास मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम्। श्वेतः शान्तनवं भूयः शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः
With force he checked Bhishma, like a maddened elephant halting another; Shveta again struck the son of Shantanu with arrows whose shafts were well-feathered.
विव्याध प़ञ्चविंशत्या तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्। तं प्रत्यविध्यद्दशभिर्भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा
He pierced him with twenty-five arrows, which seemed astonishing; then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, struck him back with ten arrows.
स विद्धस्तेन बलवान्नाकम्पत यथाऽचलः । वैराटिः समरे क्रुद्धो भृशमायम्य कार्मुकम्
Though struck by him, the mighty Shveta did not waver, like a mountain; enraged in battle, the prince of the Viratas drew his bow with great force.
आजघान ततो भीष्मं श्वेतः क्षत्रियनन्दनः। संप्रहस्य तत श्वेतः सृक्किणी परिसंलिहन्
Then Shveta, delight of the Kshatriyas, struck Bhishma; smiling, Shveta licked the corners of his mouth.
घनुश्चिच्छेद भीष्मस्य नवभिर्दशधा शरैः । संधाय विशिखं चैव शरं लोमप्रवाहिनम्
He cut Bhishma's bow into ten pieces with nine arrows; then, fitting a feathered arrow,
उन्ममाथ ततस्तालं ध्वजशीर्षं महात्मनः । केतुं निपतितं दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्य तनयास्तव
he struck down the tall banner at the top of the great-souled Bhishma's chariot; seeing Bhishma's standard fall, your sons,
हतं भीष्मममन्यन्त श्वेतस्य वशमागतम्। पाण्डवाश्चापि संहृष्टा दध्मुः शङ्खान्मुदा युताः
thought Bhishma was slain and under Shveta's power; and the Pandavas, overjoyed, sounded their conches in delight.
भीष्मस्य पतितं केतुं दृष्ट्वा तालं महात्मनः । ततो दुर्योधनः क्रोधात्स्वमनीकमनोदयत्
Seeing the banner of the great Bhishma fallen, Duryodhana, enraged, rallied his own troops.
यत्ता भीष्मं परीप्सध्वं रक्षमाणाः समंततः। मा नः प्रपश्यमानानां श्वेतान्मृत्युमवाप्स्यति
As you all strive to protect Bhishma from every side, let not death overtake our white-bannered one while we are watching.
भीष्मः शान्तनवः शूरस्तथा सत्यं ब्रवीमि वः। राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रत्वा त्वरमाणा महारथाः
Bhishma, son of Shantanu, is a mighty warrior—this I truly tell you; hearing the king’s command, the great chariot-warriors hastened forth.
बलेन चतुरङ्गेण गाङ्गेयप्रन्वपालयन्। बाह्लीकः कृतवर्मा च शलः शल्यश्च भारत
With a fourfold army, guarding the son of Ganga, Bahlika, Kritavarma, Shala, and Shalya, O Bharata,
जलसन्धो विकर्णश्च चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः। त्वरमाणास्त्वराकाले परिवार्य समंततः
Jalasandha, Vikarna, Citrasena, and Vivimsati, all hastened at that moment, surrounding him on every side.
शस्त्रवृष्टिं सुतुमुलां श्वेतस्योपर्यपातयन्। तान्क्रुद्धो निशितैर्बाणैस्त्वरमाणो महारथः
They poured down a fierce shower of weapons upon Shweta; enraged, the great chariot-warrior swiftly countered with sharp arrows.
अवारयदमेयात्मा दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम् । स निवार्य तु तान्सर्वान्केसरी कुञ्जराविव
That self-mastered one, displaying the agility of his hands, repelled them all; like a lion turning back elephants.