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.
आकाशादीरितां दिव्यामात्मनो हितसंभवाम् । भीष्मभीष्म महाबाहो शीघ्रं यत्नं कुरुष्व वै
From the sky, a divine voice was uttered, arising for your welfare: 'O mighty-armed Bhishma, Bhishma, make haste and exert yourself!'
एष ह्यस्य जये कालो निर्दिष्टो विश्वयोनिना । एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं देवदूतेन भाषितम्
For this is the time appointed for his defeat by the source of the universe; having heard these words spoken by the divine messenger—
संप्रहृष्टमना भूत्वा वधे तस्य मनो दधे । विरथं रथिनां श्रेष्ठं श्वेतं दृष्ट्वा पदातिनम्
His mind filled with joy, he resolved upon his death, seeing Shweta, the foremost of chariot-warriors, now on foot without his chariot.
सहितास्त्वभ्यवर्तन्त परीप्सन्तो महारथाः । सात्यकिर्भीमसेनश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः
Then those great chariot-warriors—Satyaki, Bhimasena, and Dhrishtadyumna, son of Prishata—gathered together, seeking to protect him.
कैकेयो धृष्टकेतुश्च अभिमन्युश्च वीर्यवान्। एतानापततः सर्वान्द्रोणशल्यकृपैः सह
Kaikeyi, Dhrishtaketu, and the valiant Abhimanyu—all these rushed forward together, along with Drona, Shalya, and Kripa.
अवारयदमेयात्मा वारिवेगानिवाचलः । स निरुद्धेषु सर्वेषु पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु
That unconquerable soul blocked them, like a mountain resisting the force of rushing waters; and when all the great-souled Pandavas were thus restrained—
श्वेतः खङ्गमथाकृष्य भीष्मस्य धनुराच्छिनात्। तदपास्य धनुश्छिन्नं त्वरमाणः पितामहः
Shweta, drawing his sword, cut down Bhishma's bow; but discarding his severed bow, the grandsire swiftly—
देवदूतवचः श्रुत्वा वधे तस्य मनो दधे । ततः प्रचरमाणस्तु पिता देवव्रतस्तव
Having heard the words of the divine messenger, fixed his mind on his destruction; then your father, Devavrata, moving about—
अन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय त्वरमाणो महारथः। क्षणेन सज्यमकरोच्छक्रचापसमप्रभम्
That great chariot-warrior, hastily taking up another bow, in a moment strung it, shining like Indra's own bow.
पिता ते भरतश्रेष्ठ श्वेतं दृष्ट्वा महारथैः । वृतं तं मनुजव्याघ्रैर्भीमसेनपुरोगमैःक
Your father, O best of the Bharatas, saw Shweta surrounded by mighty warriors, with Bhimasena at their head.