शङ्खः क्रोधात्प्रजज्वाल हविषा हव्यवाडिव । स विस्फार्य महच्चापं शक्रचापोपमं बली
Śaṅkha, blazing with anger like the sacrificial fire with offerings, drew his great bow, equal in force to Indra's bow.
अभ्यधावज्जिघांसन्वै शल्यं मद्राधिपं युधि । महता रथसङ्घेन समन्तात्परिरक्षितः
He rushed to slay Śalya, the king of the Madras, in battle, surrounded on all sides by a great host of chariots.
सृजन्बाणमयं वर्षं प्रायाच्छल्यरथं प्रति। तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य मत्तवारणविक्रमम्
He advanced toward Śalya's chariot, releasing a shower of arrows; seeing him charging with the might of a maddened elephant,
तावकानां रथाः सप्त समन्तात्पर्यवारयन् । मद्रराजं परीप्सन्तो मृत्योर्दंष्ट्रान्तरं गतम्
Seven of your chariots surrounded him on all sides, seeking to protect the king of the Madras, who had entered the very jaws of death.
बृहद्बलश्च कौसल्यो जयत्सेनश्च मागधः। तथा रुक्मरथो राजन्पुत्रः शल्यस्य मानितः
Bṛhadbala, the king of Kosala, and Jayatsena, the ruler of Magadha, as well as Rukmaratha, O King, the son of Shalya, were honored there.
विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ काम्भोजश्च सुदक्षिणःक । बृहत्क्षत्रस्य दायादः सैन्धवश्च जयद्रथः
Vindya and Anuvinda, the princes of Avanti, and Sudakṣiṇa, the Kamboja, along with Jayadratha, the heir of Bṛhatkṣatra, the Sindhu king, were also present.
नानाधातुविचित्राणि कार्मुकाणि महात्मनाम् । विस्फारितान्यदृश्यन्त तोयदेष्विव विद्युतः
The mighty ones drew their bows, adorned with various metals, and they shone forth like lightning among the clouds.
ते तु बाणमयं वर्षं शङ्खमूर्ध्निं न्यपातयन् । निदाघान्तेऽनिलोद्धृता मेघा इव नगे जलम्
They then released a shower of arrows upon Śaṅkha's head, like clouds at the end of summer pouring water on a mountain, driven by the wind.
ततः क्रुद्धो महेष्वासः सप्तभल्लैः सुतेजनैः । धनूंषि तेषामाच्छिद्य ननर्द पृतनापतिः
Then the great archer, enraged, cut down their bows with seven well-feathered arrows, and the commander roared loudly.
ततो भीष्मो महाबाहुर्विनद्य जलदो यथा। तालमात्रं धनुर्गृह्य शङ्खमभ्यद्रवद्रणे
After that, Bhīṣma of mighty arms, roaring like a thundercloud, took up a bow as tall as a palm tree and charged at Śaṅkha in battle.
तमुद्यन्तमुदीक्ष्याथ महेष्वासं महाबलम् । संत्रस्ता पाण्डवी सेना वातवेगहतेव नौः
Seeing that great archer, powerful and advancing, the Pāṇḍava army was struck with fear, like a boat battered by a violent wind.
ततोऽर्जुनः संत्वरितः शङ्खस्यासीत्पुरःसरः । भीष्माद्रक्ष्योऽयमद्येति ततो युद्धमवर्तत
Then Arjuna, swift in action, went forth as Śaṅkha's protector, thinking, 'Today, Śaṅkha must be defended from Bhīṣma,' and thus the battle commenced.
हाहाकारो महानासीद्योधानां युधि युध्यताम् । तेजस्तेजसि संपृक्तमित्येवं विस्मयं ययुः
A great clamor arose among the warriors fighting in the battle, as their energy clashed with energy, and all were filled with wonder.
अथ शल्यो गदापाणिरवतीर्य महारथात् । शङ्खस्य चतुरो वाहानहनद्भरतर्षभ
Then Shalya, mace in hand, descended from his great chariot and struck down the four horses of Śaṅkha, O bull among the Bharatas.
स हताश्वाद्रथात्तूर्णं खङ्गमादाय विद्रुतः । बीभत्सोश्च रथं प्राप्य पुनः शान्तिमविन्दत
With his horses slain, he quickly leapt from his chariot, seized a sword, and, fleeing, reached Bhīmasena's chariot, where he found safety again.
ततो भीष्मरथात्तूर्णमुत्पतन्ति पतत्रिणः । यैरन्तरीक्षं भूमिश्च सर्वतः समवस्तृता
Then from Bhīṣma's chariot, arrows swiftly flew, covering both the sky and the earth in every direction.
पञ्चालानथ मत्स्यांश्च केकयांश्च प्रभद्रकान् । भीष्मः प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठः पातयामास पत्रिभिः
Bhīṣma, foremost among warriors, struck down the Pañcālas, Matsyas, Kekayas, and Prabhadrakas with his arrows.
उत्सृज्य समरे राजन्पाण्डवं सव्यसाचिनम् । अभ्यद्रवत पाञ्चाल्यं द्रुपदं सेनया वृतम्
Leaving the Pāṇḍava Savyasācin in battle, he charged at Drupada of the Pañcālas, who was surrounded by his army.
प्रियं संबन्धिनं राजञ्शरानवकिरन्बहून् । अग्निनेव प्रदग्धानि वनानि शिशिरात्यये
He showered his dear kinsman with many arrows, as fire scorches forests at the end of winter.
शरदग्धान्यदृश्यन्त सैन्यानि द्रुपदस्य ह। अत्यतिष्ठद्रणे भीष्मो विधूम इव पावकः
Drupada's troops, scorched as if by autumn fire, were seen in the battle, while Bhīṣma stood firm like a smokeless flame.
मध्यन्दिने यथाऽऽदित्यं तपन्तमिव तेजसा। न शेकुः पाण्डवेयस्य योधा भीष्मं निरीक्षितुम्
At midday, as the sun blazes with heat, the warriors of the Pāṇḍava side could not bear to look upon Bhīṣma's radiance.
वीक्षांचक्रुः समंतात्ते पाण्डवा भयपीडिताः । त्रातारं नाध्यगच्छन्त गावः शीतार्दिता इव
The Pāṇḍavas, afflicted by fear, looked around in all directions, but found no protector, like cows suffering from cold.
सा तु यौधिष्ठिरी सेना गाङ्गेयशरपीडिता । सिंहेनेव विनिर्भिन्ना शुक्ला गौरिव गोपतेः
That army of Yudhishthira, afflicted by Bhishma's arrows, was torn apart like a white cow of the herdsman by a lion.
हते विप्रुद्रुते सैन्ये निरुत्साहे विमर्दिते। हाहाकारो महानासीत्पाण्डुसैन्येषु भारत
When the army was slain, scattered, dispirited, and crushed, a great cry of lament arose among the Pandava forces, O Bharata.
ततो भीष्मः शान्तनवो नित्यं मण्डलकार्मुकः । मुमोच बाणान्दीप्ताग्रानहीनाशीविषानिव
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, ever wielding his circular bow, released arrows with blazing tips, like venomous serpents.
शरैरेकायनीकुर्वन्दिशः सर्वा यतव्रतः। जघान पाण्डवरथानादिश्यादिश्य भारत
With his arrows making all directions one, that disciplined warrior struck the Pandava chariots again and again, O Bharata.
ततः सैन्येषु भग्नेषु मथितेषु च सर्वशः । प्राप्ते चास्तं दिनकरे न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
Then, with the armies broken and thoroughly crushed, and as the sun was setting, nothing could be distinguished any longer.
भीष्मं च समुदीर्यन्तं दृष्ट्वा पार्था महाहवे । अवहारमकुर्वन्त सैन्यानां भरतर्षभ
Seeing Bhishma advancing in that great battle, the Pandavas withdrew their troops, O bull among the Bharatas.
कृतेऽवहारे सैन्यानां प्रथमे भरतर्षभ । भीष्मे च युद्धसंरब्धे हृष्टे दुर्योधने तथा
When the withdrawal of the armies was made for the first time, O bull among the Bharatas, and Bhishma was eager for battle, Duryodhana was also delighted.
धर्मराजस्ततस्तूर्णमभिगम्य जनार्दनम् । भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैः सर्वैश्चैव जनेश्वरैः
Then King Yudhishthira quickly approached Janardana, together with all his brothers and all the lords of men.