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.
महता शरवर्षेण भीष्मस्य धनुराच्छिनत्। ततोऽन्यद्धनुरादाय भीष्मः शान्तनवो युधि
With a great shower of arrows, he broke Bhishma’s bow; then, in battle, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, took up another bow.
श्वेतं विव्याध राजेन्द्र कङ्कपत्रैः शितैः शरैः । ततः सेनापतिः क्रुद्धो भीष्मं बहुभिरायसैः
He struck Shweta, O king, with sharp, vulture-feathered arrows; then the enraged commander pierced Bhishma with many iron shafts.
विव्याध समरे राजन्सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः । ततः प्रव्यथितो राजा भीष्मं दृष्ट्वा निवारितम्
He struck him in battle, O king, before the eyes of all; then the king was greatly agitated, seeing Bhishma checked.
प्रवीरं सर्वलोकस्य श्वेतेन युधि वै तदा। निष्ठानकश्च सुमहांस्तव सैन्यस्य चाभवत्
That heroic Bhishma, checked in battle by Shweta before all, caused great consternation in your army.
तं वीरं वारितं दृष्ट्वा श्वेतेन शरविक्षतम् । हतं श्वेतेन मन्यन्ते श्वेतस्य वशमागतम्
Seeing that hero wounded by Shweta’s arrows and checked, they thought Bhishma was slain by Shweta and had fallen under his power.
ततः क्रोधवशं प्राप्तः पिता देवव्रतस्तव । ध्वजमुन्मतितं दृष्ट्वा तां च सेनां निवारिताम्
Then your father Devavrata, overcome by anger, seeing his banner struck down and his army repulsed,
श्वेतं प्रति महाराज व्यसृजत्प्तायकान्बहून् । तानावार्य रणे श्वेतो भीष्मस्य रथिनां वरः
O great king, he released many blazing arrows at Shweta; but Shweta, best of chariot-warriors, repelled them all in battle.
धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन पुनरेव पितुस्तव। उत्सृज्य कार्मुकं राजन्गाङ्गेयः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः
With a broad-headed arrow, Shweta cut your father’s bow again; then, O king, the son of Ganga, seized by wrath, cast aside his bow.
अन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय विपुलं बलवत्तरम्। तत्र संधाय विपुलान्भल्लान्सप्त शिलाशितान्
Taking up another, larger and stronger bow, he fitted seven broad, stone-tipped arrows upon it.
चतुर्भिश्च जघानाश्वाञ्श्वेतस्य पृतनापतेः । ध्वजं द्वाभ्यां तु चिच्छेद सप्तमेन च सारथे
With four he struck down the horses of Shweta, commander of the forces; with two he cut down the banner, and with the seventh, the charioteer.
शिरश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन संक्रुद्धोऽलघुविक्रमः । हताश्वसूतात्सु रथादवप्लुत्य महाबलः
In great wrath and with unflagging might, he cut off Shweta’s head with a broad-headed arrow; as his horses and charioteer were slain, the mighty one leapt down from his chariot.
अमर्षवशमापन्नो व्याकुलः समपद्यत । विरथं रथिनां श्रेष्ठं श्वेतं दृष्ट्वा पितामहः
Overcome by indignation, he became bewildered; seeing Shweta, the foremost of chariot-warriors, deprived of his chariot, the grandsire was moved.
ताडयामास निशितैः शरसङ्घैः समंततः । स ताड्यमानः समरे भीष्मचापच्युतैः शरैः
He struck with sharp showers of arrows from all sides; and as he was being struck in battle by arrows released from Bhishma’s bow—
स्वरथे धनुरुत्सृज्य शक्तिं जग्राह काञ्चनीम् । ततः शक्तिं रणे श्वेतो जग्राहोग्रं महाभयाम्
On his own chariot, letting go of his bow, he seized a golden spear; then, in the battle, Shweta took up that fierce and terrifying spear.
कालदण्डोपमां घोरां मृत्योर्जिह्वामेव श्वसन् । अब्रवीच्च तदा श्वेतो भीष्मं शान्तनवं रणे
Resembling the rod of Time, dreadful as the very tongue of Death, he brandished it, and then Shweta addressed Bhishma, son of Shantanu, in the battle.
तिष्ठेदानीं सुसंरब्धः पश्य मां पुरुषो भव। एवमुक्त्वा महेष्वासो भीष्मं युधि पराक्रमी
"Stand your ground now, fiercely enraged! Be a man and see me!" Having spoken thus to Bhishma in battle, the mighty archer, full of valor—
ततः शक्तिममेयात्मा चिक्षेप भुजगोपमाम्। पाण्डवार्थे पराक्रान्तस्तवानर्थं चिकीर्षुकः
Then, the immeasurable-souled one hurled the serpent-like spear, striving for the sake of the Pandavas and wishing to accomplish your destruction.
हाहाकारो महानासीत्पुत्राणां ते विशांपते । दृष्ट्वा शक्तिं महाघोरां मृत्योर्दण्डसमप्रभाम्
A great cry of distress arose among your sons, O king, when they saw that terrible spear, equal in brilliance to the rod of Death.
श्वेतस्य करनिर्मुक्तां निर्मुक्तोरगसन्निभाम् । अपतत्सहसा राजन्महोल्केव नभस्तलात्
Released from Shweta’s hand, resembling a released serpent, it fell suddenly, O king, like a great meteor from the sky.
ज्वलन्तीमन्तरिक्षे तां ज्वालाभिरिव संवृताम् । असंभ्रान्तस्तदा राजन्पिता देवव्रतस्तव
Blazing in the sky, enveloped in flames, your father Devavrata, O king, remained unshaken at that moment.