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.
आश्चर्यभूतं लोकेषु युद्धमेतन्महाद्भुतम् । नैतादृशानि युद्धानि भविष्यन्ति कथंचन
This battle is a wondrous and marvelous event among all worlds; such combats will never occur again.
न हि शक्यो रणे जेतुं भीष्मः पार्थेन धीमता। सधनुः सरथः साश्वः प्रवपन्सायकान्रणे
Bhishma, with bow, chariot, and horses, raining arrows in battle, cannot be defeated by the wise Partha.
तथैव पाण्डवं युद्धे देवैरपि दुरासदम् । न विजेतुं रणे भीष्म उत्सहेत धनुर्धरम्
Likewise, even the gods would find it difficult to overcome the bow-wielding Pandava in battle; Bhishma would not venture to defeat him.
आलोकादपि युद्धं हि सममेतद्भविष्यति। इति स्म वाचोऽश्रूयन्त प्रोच्चरन्त्यकस्ततस्ततः। गाङ्गेयार्जुनयोः सङ्ख्ये स्तवयुक्ता विशांपते
Indeed, voices were heard here and there, exclaiming that even by mere sight this battle between Ganga's son and Arjuna would be renowned—words filled with praise, O lord of the people.
त्वदीयास्तु तदा योधाः पाण्डवेयाश्च भारत। अन्योन्यं समरे जघ्नुस्तयोस्तत्र समागमे
Then, O Bharata, your warriors and the sons of Pandu struck each other in battle when those two armies met.
शितधारैस्तथा स्वङ्गैर्विमलैश्च परश्वधैः । शरैरन्यैश्च बहुभिः सस्त्रैर्नानाविधैरपि
With sharp-edged weapons, their own limbs, spotless axes, and many other arrows and various kinds of weapons,
उभयोः सेनयोः शूरा न्यकृन्तन्त परस्परम् । वर्तमाने तथा घोरे तस्मिन्युद्धे सुदारुणे। द्रोणपाञ्चाल्ययो राजन्महानासीत्समागमः
the heroes of both armies cut down one another. As that dreadful and terrible battle raged, O King, there was a great encounter between Drona and the son of Drupada.
कथं द्रोणो महेष्वासः पाञ्चाल्यश्चापि पार्षतः। उभौ समीयतुर्यत्तौ तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
How did Drona, the mighty archer, and the son of Drupada, the Panchala prince, both come together, prepared for battle? Tell me that, Sanjaya.
दिष्टमेव परं मन्ये पौरुषादिति मे मतिः। यत्र शान्तनवो भीष्मो नातरद्युधि पाण्डवम्
I believe, indeed, that destiny is supreme, and valor is secondary; for Bhishma, son of Shantanu, did not overpower the Pandava in battle.
भीष्मो हि समरे क्रुद्धो हन्याल्लोकांश्चराचरान्। स कथं पाण्डवं युद्धे नातरत्सञ्जयौजसा
For Bhishma, enraged in battle, could slay all beings, moving and unmoving; how then did he not subdue the Pandava in combat, O Sanjaya, with his might?
श्रृणु राजन्स्थिरो भूत्वा युद्धमेतत्सुदारुणम्। न शक्याः पाण्डवा जेतुं देवैरपि सवासवैः
Listen, O King, remaining steadfast, to this exceedingly dreadful battle; even the gods with Indra could not conquer the Pandavas.
द्रोणस्तु निशितैर्बाणैर्धृष्टद्युम्नमविध्यत। सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन रथनीडादपातयत्
Then Drona struck Dhrishtadyumna with sharp arrows, and with a broad-headed shaft he brought down his charioteer from the chariot.
तथाऽस्य चतुरो वाहांश्चतुर्भिः सायकोत्तमैः । पीडयामास संक्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्नस्य मारिष
In the same way, enraged, he harassed Dhrishtadyumna’s four horses with four excellent arrows, O descendant of Bharata.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्ततो द्रोणं नवत्या निशितैः शरैः । विव्याध प्रहसन्वीरस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्
Then Dhrishtadyumna, laughing, struck Drona with ninety sharp arrows and said, 'Stand, stand!'
ततः पुनरमेयात्मा भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। शरैः प्रच्छादयामास धृष्टद्युम्नममर्षणम्
Then again, the mighty-souled and powerful Bharadvaja, filled with wrath, covered the unyielding Dhrishtadyumna with arrows.
आददे च शरं घोरं पार्षतान्तचिकीर्षकया। शक्राशनिसमस्पर्शं कालदण्डमिवापरम्
And the son of Drupada took up a terrible arrow, desiring to end Bharadvaja; its touch was like Indra’s thunderbolt, another rod of death.
हाहाकारो महानासीत्सर्वसैन्येषु भारत । तमिषुं संधितं दृष्ट्वा भारद्वाजेन संयुगे
A great outcry arose among all the troops, O Bharata, when they saw that arrow fitted to the bow by Bharadvaja in the battle.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम धृष्टद्युम्नस्य पौरुषम्। यदेकः समरे वीरस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः
There we beheld the wondrous valor of Dhrishtadyumna, who alone stood firm in battle like an immovable mountain.
तं च दीप्तं शरं घोरमायान्तं मृत्युमात्मनः । चिच्छेद शरवृष्टिं च भारद्वाजे मुमोच ह
And that blazing, terrible arrow, coming as if with death itself, he cut down, and released a shower of arrows upon Bharadvaja.
तत उच्चुक्रुशुः सर्वे पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सह। धृष्टद्युम्नेन तत्कर्म कृतं दृष्ट्वा सुदुष्करम्
Then all the Panchalas, together with the Pandavas, shouted aloud, seeing that most difficult feat accomplished by Dhrishtadyumna.