ततो दुर्योधनो राजा भीष्ममाह जनेश्वरः । पीड्यमानं स्वकं सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा पार्थेन संयुगे
Then King Duryodhana, lord of men, seeing his own army being oppressed by Partha in battle, spoke to Bhishma.
एष पाण्डुसुतस्तात कृष्णेन सहितो बली। यततां सर्वसैन्यानां मूलं नः परिकृन्तति। त्वयि जीवति गाङ्गेय द्रोणे च रथिनां वरे
This powerful son of Pandu, O father, together with Krishna, is cutting at the root of all our striving armies; while you live, O Gangeya, and Drona, the foremost of chariot-warriors.
त्वत्कृते चैव कर्णोऽपि न्यस्तशस्त्रो विशांपते। न युध्यति रणे पार्थान्हितकामः सदा मम। स तथा कुरु गाङ्गेय यथा हन्येत फल्गुनः
And for your sake, even Karna, desiring my welfare, O lord of men, has laid down his weapons and does not fight the Parthas in battle; therefore, O Gangeya, act so that Phalguna may be slain.
एवमुक्तस्ततो राजन्पिता देवव्रतस्तव। धिक् क्षात्रं धर्ममित्युक्त्वा प्रायात्पार्थं रथं प्रति
Thus addressed, your father Devavrata, O King, saying 'Fie upon the Kshatriya duty,' went towards Partha's chariot.
उभौ श्वेतहयौ राजन्संसक्तौ प्रेक्ष्य पार्थिवाः । सिंहनादान्भृशं चक्रुः शङ्खान्दध्मुश्च मारिषत
O King, seeing both the white-horsed ones engaged, the kings made loud lion-roars and vigorously blew their conches.
द्रौणिर्दुर्योधनश्चैव विकर्णश्च तवात्मजः । परिवार्य रणे भीष्मं स्थिता युद्धाय मारिष
Drona's son, Duryodhana, and your son Vikarna, O Marisha, surrounded Bhishma in battle, standing ready for combat.
तथैव पाण्डवाः सर्वे परिवार्य धनञ्जयम् । स्थिता युद्धाय महते ततो युद्धमवर्तत
Likewise, all the Pandavas surrounded Dhananjaya, standing ready for great battle; then the fight commenced.
गाङ्गेयस्तु रणे पार्थमानर्च्छन्नवभिः शरैः । तमर्जुनः प्रत्यविध्यद्दशभिर्मर्मभेदिभिः
In battle, Gangeya assailed Partha with numerous arrows; Arjuna struck him back with ten arrows that pierced the vital points.
ततः शरसहस्रेण सुप्रयुक्तेन पाण्डवः । अर्जुनः समरश्लाघी भीष्मस्यावारयद्दिशः
Then Arjuna, the glory of battle, with a thousand well-aimed arrows, blocked all directions against Bhishma.
शरजालं ततस्तत्तु शरजालेन मारिष। वारयामास पार्थस्य भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा
Then, O Marisha, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, warded off that mass of arrows from Partha with his own mass of arrows.
उभौ परमसंहृष्टावुभौ युद्धाभिनन्दिनौ । निर्विशेषमयुध्येतां कृतप्रतिकृतैषिणौ
Both were exceedingly delighted, both rejoicing in battle, fighting equally, each countering the other's attacks.
भीष्मचापविमुक्तानि शरजालानि शङ्घशः। शीर्यमाणान्यदृश्यन्त भिन्नान्यर्जुनसायकैःक
The showers of arrows released in masses from Bhishma's bow were seen shattered and broken by Arjuna's shafts.
तथैवार्जुनमुक्तानि शरजालानि सर्वशः । गाङ्गेयशरनुन्नानि प्रापतन्त महीतले
Likewise, all the showers of arrows released by Arjuna, struck down by Gangeya's arrows, fell to the earth.
अर्जुनः पञ्चविंशत्या भीष्ममार्च्छच्छितैः शरैः । भीष्मोपि समरे पार्थं विव्याध निशितैः शरैः
Arjuna struck Bhishma with twenty-five sharp arrows; and Bhishma, too, wounded Partha in battle with keen arrows.
अन्योन्यस्य हयान्विद्ध्वा ध्वजौ च सुमहाबलौ । रथेषां रथचक्रे च चिक्रीडतुररिन्दमौ
Both mighty warriors, having struck each other's horses and standards, played fiercely on their chariots and among the wheels.
ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः। वासुदेवं त्रिभिर्बाणैराजघान स्तनान्तरे
Then Bhishma, enraged, O great king, foremost among attackers, struck Vasudeva in the chest with three arrows.
भीष्मचापच्युतैस्तैस्तु निर्विद्धो मधुसूदनः । विरराज रणे राजन्सपुष्प इव किंशुकः
O King, Madhusudana, pierced by those arrows shot from Bhishma's bow, shone in battle like a kimshuka tree adorned with blossoms.
ततोऽर्जुनो भृशं क्रुद्धो निर्विद्धं प्रेक्ष्य माधवम् । सारथिं कुरुवृद्धस्य निर्बिभेद शितैः शरैः
Then Arjuna, seeing Madhava wounded, became greatly enraged and struck the grandsire's charioteer with sharp arrows.
यतमानौ तु तौ वीरावन्योन्यस्य वधं प्रति। न शक्नुतां तदाऽन्योन्यमभिसन्धातुमाहवे
Those two heroes, striving to slay each other, could not, in that battle, find an opportunity to strike one another.
तौ मण्डलानि चित्राणि गतत्प्रत्यागतानि च। अदर्शयेतां बहुधा सूतसामर्थ्यलाघवात्
By the skill and swiftness of their charioteers, the two displayed many intricate and circling maneuvers, advancing and retreating in various ways.
अन्तरं च प्रहारेषु तर्कयन्तौ परस्परम् । राजन्नन्तरमार्गस्थौ स्थितावास्तां मुहुर्मुहुः
O King, as they anticipated each other's attacks, both repeatedly took up positions along alternate paths, seeking openings.
उभौ सिंहरवोन्मिश्रं शङ्खशब्दं च चक्रतुः । तथैव चापनिर्घोषं चक्रतुस्तौ महारथौ
Both mighty warriors produced the sound of conchs mingled with lion-roars, and likewise the thunderous twang of their bows.
तयोः शङ्खनिनादेन रथनेमिस्वनेन च। दारिता सहसा भूमिश्चकम्पे च ननाद च
By the blare of their conchs and the noise of their chariot wheels, the earth was suddenly rent, trembled, and resounded.
नोभयोरन्तरं कश्चिद्ददृशे भरतर्षभ । बलिनौ युद्धदुर्धर्षावन्योन्यसदृशावुभौ
O bull among the Bharatas, no difference could be seen between the two—both were strong, indomitable in battle, and matched each other equally.
चिह्नमात्रेण भीष्मं तु प्रजज्ञुस्तत्र कौरवाः । तथा पाण्डुसुताः पार्थं चिह्नमात्रेण जज्ञिरेक
There, the Kauravas recognized Bhishma only by his insignia, and likewise the sons of Pandu identified Partha by his mark alone.
तयोर्नृवरयोर्दृष्ट्वा तादृशं तं पराक्रमम्। विस्कमयं सर्वभूतानि जग्मुर्भारतसंयुगे
Witnessing such valor from those two foremost men, all beings in the Bharata battle became filled with wonder.
न तयोर्विवरं कश्चिद्रणे पश्यति भारत। धर्मे स्थितस्य हि यथा न कश्चिद्वृजिनं क्वचित्
O Bharata, no one could perceive any gap between the two in battle, just as no flaw is seen in one steadfast in righteousness.
उभौ च शरजालेन तावदृश्यो बभूवतुः। प्रकाशौ च पुनस्तूर्णं बभूवतुरुभौ रणे
Both became invisible, veiled by a dense shower of arrows, and then, swiftly, both again became visible in the fight.
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाश्चारणाश्चर्षिभिः सह। अन्योन्यं प्रत्यभाषन्त तयोर्दृष्ट्वा पराक्रमम्
There, the gods, along with the Gandharvas, Charanas, and sages, spoke among themselves, beholding the prowess of those two.
न शक्यौ युधि संरब्धौ जेतुमेतौ कथंचन। सदेवासुरगन्धर्वैर्लोकैरपि महारथौ
These two mighty warriors, enraged in battle, cannot be conquered by anyone—not even by the gods, asuras, or gandharvas.