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.
विकीर्णैः कवचैश्चित्रैः शिरस्त्रणैश्च मारिष । शुशुभे तद्राणस्थानं शरदीव नभस्तलम्
Strewn with variegated armor and helmets, that battlefield shone like the autumn sky adorned with clouds.
विनिर्भिन्नाः शरैः केचिदन्त्रापीडप्रकर्षिणः । अभीताः समरे शत्रूनभ्यधावन्त दर्पिताः
Some, pierced by arrows and with entrails exposed, fearlessly rushed at their enemies in battle, filled with pride.
तात भ्रातः सखे बन्धो वयस्य मम मातुल । मा मां परित्यजेत्यन्ये चुक्रुशुः पतिता रणे
"Father! Brother! Friend! Kinsman! Companion! Uncle! Do not abandon me!"—so cried others as they fell on the field.
अथाभ्येहि त्वमागच्छ किं भीतोसि क्व यास्यसि। स्थितोऽहं समरे मा भैरिति चान्ये विचुक्रुशुः
"Come here! Approach! Why are you afraid? Where will you go? I am standing firm in battle—do not fear!"—thus others shouted.
तत्र भीष्मः शान्तनवो नित्यं मण्डलकार्मुकः । मुमीच बाणान्दीप्ताग्रानहीनाशीविषानिव
There Bhishma, son of Shantanu, ever wielding his circular bow, released arrows with blazing tips like venomous serpents.
शरैरेकायनीकुर्वन्दिशः सर्वा यतव्रतः । जघान पाण्डवरथानादिश्य भारतर्षभ
Restraining all directions with his arrows, the self-controlled one struck the Pandava chariots, O bull of the Bharatas.
स नृत्यन्वै रथोपस्थे दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम् । अलातचक्रवद्राजंस्तत्र तत्र स्म दृश्यते
He danced upon his chariot, displaying the dexterity of his hands; here and there, O King, he appeared like a spinning wheel of firebrands.
तमेकं समरे शूरं पाण्डवाः सृञ्जयैः सह। अनेकशतसाहस्रं समपश्यन्त लाघवात्
The Pandavas, together with the Srinjayas, saw that one hero in battle, through his agility, as if he were hundreds of thousands.
मायाकृतात्मानमिव भीष्मं तत्र स्म मेनिरे । पूर्वस्यां दिशि तं दृष्ट्वा प्रतीच्यां ददृशुर्जनाः
There, they thought Bhishma was like one who had assumed a magical form; seeing him in the east, people also saw him in the west.
उदीच्यां चैवमालोक्य दक्षिणस्यां पुनः प्रभो। एवं स समरे शूरो गाङ्गेयः प्रत्यदृश्यत
And seeing him in the north, again in the south, O lord, thus that heroic son of Ganga appeared everywhere in battle.