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.
अष्टभिर्नवभिर्भीष्मः शक्तिं चिच्छेद पत्रिभिः । उत्कृष्टहेमविकृतां निकृतां निशितैः शरैः
With eight or nine sharp arrows, Bhishma cut down the spear, adorned with excellent gold, shattering it with keen shafts.
उच्चुक्रुशुस्ततः सर्वे तावका भरतर्षभ । शक्तिं विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा वैराटिः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः
Then all your men cried aloud, O bull among the Bharatas, seeing the spear destroyed; but the son of Virata was overcome with wrath.
कालोपहतचेतास्तु कर्तवक्यं नाभ्यजानत। क्रोधसंमूर्च्छितो राजन्वैराटिः प्रहसन्निव
Their minds overpowered by fate, they did not heed the words of command; possessed by furious anger, the son of Virata seemed to laugh.
गदां जग्राह संहृष्टो भीष्मस्य निधनं प्रति। क्रोधेन रक्तनयनो दण्डपाणिरिवान्तकः
Exulting, he seized a mace, intent on Bhishma’s destruction; his eyes red with rage, like Death himself bearing a staff.
भीष्मं समिदुद्राव जलौघ इव पर्वतम्। तस्य वेगमसंवार्यं मत्वा भीष्मः प्रतापवान्
He rushed at Bhishma like a torrent of water toward a mountain; perceiving his irresistible force, the mighty Bhishma—
प्रहारविप्रमोक्षार्थं सहसा धरणींगतः। श्वेतः क्रोधसमाविष्टो भ्रामयित्वा तु तां गदाम्
To release a powerful blow, Shweta, seized by wrath, suddenly leapt to the ground, whirling that mace.
रथे भीष्मस्य चिक्षेप यथा देवो धनेश्वरः । तया भीष्मनिपातिन्या स रथो भस्मसात्कृतः
He hurled it at Bhishma’s chariot, as the lord of wealth might cast a weapon; by that mace, as it struck Bhishma, the chariot was reduced to ashes.
सध्वजः सह सूतेन साश्वः सयुगबन्धुरः । विरथं रथिनां श्रेष्ठं भीष्मं दृष्ट्वा रथोत्तमकाः
With its banner, with its charioteer, with its horses and yoke, all together; seeing Bhishma, best of chariot-warriors, deprived of his chariot, the foremost charioteers—
अभ्यधावन्त सहिताः शल्यप्रभृतयो रथाः। ततोऽन्यं रथमास्थाय धनुर्विस्फार्य दुर्मनाः
The chariots led by Shalya advanced together; then, mounting another chariot and stringing his bow, Bhishma, his mind troubled—
शनकैरभ्यायाच्छ्वेतं गाङ्गेयः प्रहसन्निव। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे भीष्मः शुश्राव विपुलां गिरम्
Slowly approached Shweta, the son of Ganga, as if smiling; at that moment, Bhishma heard a mighty voice.