पुनरावर्ततां तेषां वेग आसीद्विशांपते। पूर्यतः सागरस्येव चन्द्रस्योदयनं प्रति
Their momentum surged again, O lord of the people, like the ocean swelling as the moon rises.
अन्निवृत्तांस्ततस्तांस्तु दृष्ट्वा राजा सुयोधनः। अब्रवीत्त्वरितो गत्वा भीष्मं शान्तनवं वचः
Then, seeing them turn back, King Suyodhana quickly approached Bhishma, son of Shantanu, and spoke these words.
पितामह निबोधेदं यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि भारत। नानुरूपमहं मन्ये त्वयि जीवति कौरव
Grandfather, listen to what I am about to say to you, O Bharata; I do not think this is fitting while you, O Kaurava, are alive.
द्रोणो चास्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठे सपुत्रे ससुहृञ्जने। कृपे चैव महेष्वासे द्रवते यद्वरूथिनी
When Drona, the foremost of those skilled in weapons, along with his son and friends, and Kripa, the mighty archer, all flee with their troops—
न पाण्डवान्प्रतिलांस्तव मन्ये कथंचन । तथा द्रोणस्य सङ्ग्रमे द्रौमेश्चैव कृपस्य च
I do not think the Pandavas can ever be withstood, nor Drona in battle, nor Drona's son, nor Kripa.
अनुग्राह्याः पाण्डुसुतास्तव नूनं पितामह । यथेमां क्षमसे वीर वध्यमानां वरूथिनीम्
Surely, grandfather, you must be favoring the sons of Pandu, since you allow these troops to be slaughtered, O hero.
सोऽस्मि वाच्यस्त्वया राजन्पूर्वमेव समागमे। न योत्स्ये पाण्डवान्सङ्ख्ये नापि पार्षतसात्यकी
You should have told me this before, O king, at the very beginning: 'I will not fight the Pandavas in battle, nor Prishata's son, nor Satyaki.'
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तुभ्यमाचार्यस्य कृपस्य च। कर्णेन सहितः कृत्यं चिन्तयानस्तदैव हि
But after hearing the words of your teacher and Kripa, together with Karna, you are now considering what should be done.
यदि नाहं परित्याज्यो युवाभ्यामिह संयुगे । विक्रमेणानुरूपेण युध्येतां पुरुषर्षभौ
If I am not to be abandoned by you two in this battle, then let these two best of men fight with valor as is fitting.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो भीष्मः प्रहसन्वै मुहुर्मुहुः । अब्रवीत्तनयं तुभ्यं क्रोधादुद्वृत्य चक्षुषी
Hearing these words, Bhishma laughed again and again, and, his eyes blazing with anger, spoke to his son.
बहुशोऽसि मया राजंस्तथ्यमुक्तो हितं वचः। अजेयाः पाण्डवा युद्धे देवैरपि सवासवैः
Many times, O king, I have spoken true and beneficial words to you: the Pandavas cannot be conquered in battle, not even by the gods with Indra.
यत्तु शक्यं मया कर्तुं वृद्धेनाद्य गतायुषा। करिष्यामि यथाशक्ति पश्येदानीं सबान्धवः
But whatever can be done by me, old and with life nearly spent, I will do to the best of my ability—let all your kinsmen see now.
अद्य पाण्डुसुतानेकः ससैन्यान्सह बन्धुभिः । सोऽहं निवारयिष्यामि सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः
Today, I alone will hold back the sons of Pandu, with their armies and kinsmen, before the eyes of all the world.
एवमुक्ते तु भीष्मेण पुत्रास्तव जनेश्वर । दध्मुः शङ्खान्मुदा युक्ता भेरीः संजघ्निरे भृशम्
When Bhishma had spoken thus, your sons, O lord of men, joyfully blew their conches and loudly beat their drums.
पाण्डवा हि ततो राजञ्श्रुत्वा तं निनदं महत्। दध्मुः शङ्खांश्च भेरीश्च मुरजांश्चाप्यनादयन्
Then, O king, the Pandavas, hearing that great roar, blew their conches and drums and sounded their murajas in reply.
प्रतिज्ञाते ततस्तस्मिन्युद्धे भीष्मेण दारुणे। क्रोधितो मम पुत्रेण दुःखितेन विशेषतः
After Bhishma had made that dreadful vow of battle, my son, especially agitated and distressed, became enraged.
भीष्मः किमकरोत्तत्र पाण्डवेयेषु भारत। पितामहे वा पञ्चालास्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
What did Bhishma do then among the Pandava forces, O Bharata? Or what did the grandsire do to the Panchalas? Tell me, Sanjaya.
गतपूर्वाह्णभूयिष्ठे तस्मिन्नहनि भारत। पश्चिमां दिशमास्थाय स्थिते चापि दिवाकरे
When most of the day had passed, O Bharata, and the sun was stationed in the western quarter—
जयं प्राप्तेषु हृष्टेषु पाण्डवेषु महात्ससु। सर्वधर्मविशेषज्ञः पिता देवव्रतस्तव
When victory was attained and the Pandavas rejoiced among the great warriors, your father Devavrata, knower of all codes of duty, O king,
अभ्ययाञ्जवनैरश्वैः पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम् । महत्या सेनया गुप्तस्तव पुत्रैश्च सर्वशः
advanced with swift horses against the Pandava army, protected on all sides by your sons and a great force.
प्रावर्तत ततो युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् । अस्माकं पाण्डवैः सार्धमनायात्तव भारत
Then a tumultuous and hair-raising battle began between our side and the Pandavas, O Bharata, with no retreat.
घनुषां कूजतां तत्र तलानां चाभिहन्यताम्। महान्समभवच्छब्दो गिरीणामिव दीर्यताम्
There arose a great noise from the twanging of bows and the striking of shields, like the sound of mountains splitting apart.
तिष्ठ स्थितोऽस्मि विद्ध्यैनं निवर्तस्व स्थिरो भव। स्थिरोऽस्मि प्रहरस्वेति शब्दोऽश्रूयत सर्वशः
"Stand! I am here! Strike him! Turn back! Be firm! I am steady—attack!"—such cries were heard everywhere.
काञ्चनेषु तनुत्रेषु किरीटेषु ध्वजेषु च। शिलानामिव शैलेषु पतितानामभूद्ध्वनिः
On golden armor, slender bodies, crested helmets, and banners, the sound was like rocks falling on a mountain.
पतितान्युत्तमाङ्गानि बाहवश्च विभूषिताः । व्यचेष्टन्त महीं प्राप्य शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Severed heads and ornamented arms fell and writhed on the ground by the hundreds and thousands.
हृतोत्तमाह्गाः केचित्तु तथैवोद्यतकार्मुकाः। प्रगृहीतायुधाश्चापि तस्थुः पुरुषसत्तमाःक
Some, though deprived of their heads, still stood with drawn bows and weapons in hand, O best of men.
प्रावर्तत महावेगा नदी रुधिरवाहिनी । मातङ्गाङ्गशिला रौद्रा मांसशोणितकर्दमा
A mighty river with swift current began to flow there, carrying blood, with elephant limbs and stones, dreadful, muddy with flesh and gore.
वरश्वनरनागानां शरीरप्रभवा तदा। परलोकार्णवमुखी गृध्रगोमायुमोदिनी
Born from the bodies of the best horses, men, and elephants, that river led to the ocean of the next world, delighting vultures and jackals.
न दृष्टं न श्रुतं वापि युद्धमेतादृशं नृप। यथा तव सुतानां च पाण्डवानां च भारत
Never seen or heard of before was a battle like this, O king, as occurred between your sons and the Pandavas, O Bharata.
नासीद्रथपथस्तत्र यौधैर्युधि निपातितैः । गजैश्च पतितैर्नीलैर्गिरिश्रृङ्गैनिरवावृतः
There was no path for chariots, blocked in battle by fallen warriors and blue elephants lying like mountain peaks.