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.
शुचा परमया युक्तश्चिन्तयानः पराजयम्। वार्ष्णेयमब्रवीद्रजान्दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्य विक्रमम्
Overcome with deep sorrow and reflecting on defeat, he spoke to Krishna, having witnessed Bhishma's valor.
कृष्ण पश्य महेष्वासं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम् । शरैर्दहन्तं सैन्यं मे ग्रीष्मे कक्षमिवानलम्
Krishna, look at Bhishma, the great archer, with the might of Bhima, burning my army with his arrows like fire scorches dry grass in summer.
कथमेनं महात्मानं शक्ष्यामः प्रतिवीक्षितुम् । लेलिह्यमानं सैन्यं मे हविष्मन्तमिवानलम्
How shall we withstand this great soul, who devours my army like fire consuming an offering?
एतं हि पुरुषव्याघ्रं धनुष्मन्तं महाबलम् । दृष्ट्वा विप्रद्रुर्त सैन्यं समरे मार्गणाहतम्
Seeing this tiger among men, armed with bow and of great strength, the army, struck by his arrows in battle, has been scattered and routed.
शक्यो जेतुं यमः क्रुद्धो वज्रपाणिश्च संयुगे । वरुणः पाशभृद्वापि कुबेरो वा गदाधरः
Even Yama in anger, or Indra with his thunderbolt, or Varuna with his noose, or Kubera with his mace, could be overcome in battle.
न तु भीष्मो महाजेताः शक्यो जेतुं महाबलः । सोऽहमेवं गते मग्नो भीष्मागाधजलेऽप्लुवे
But Bhishma, the mighty conqueror, cannot be vanquished; so, in this situation, I am sunk, unable to cross the deep waters of Bhishma.
आत्मनो बुद्धिदौर्बल्याद्भीष्ममासाद्य केशव । वनं यात्सामि वार्ष्णेय श्रेयो मे तत्र जीवितुम्
Because of my own weakness of judgment, O Keshava, having encountered Bhishma, I should go to the forest, O descendant of Vrishni; it would be better for me to live there.
न त्वेतान्पृथिवीपालान्दातुं भीष्माय मृत्यवे । क्षपयिष्यति सेनां मे कृष्ण भीष्मो महास्त्रवित्
But I cannot give these lords of the earth to Bhishma for death; Krishna, Bhishma, master of weapons, will destroy my army.
यथाऽनलं प्रज्वलितं पतङ्गाः समभिद्रुताः । विनाशायोपगच्छन्ति तथा मे सनिको जनः
Just as moths rush into blazing fire to their destruction, so too my troops, with their leaders, approach their end.
क्षयं नीतोऽस्मि वार्ष्णेय राज्यहेतोः पराक्रमी । भ्रातश्चैव मे वीराः कर्शिताः शरपीडिताः
I have been brought to ruin, O descendant of Vrishni, striving for the sake of the kingdom; and my heroic brothers have been tormented by arrows.