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.
न चैवं पाण्डवेयानां कश्चिच्छक्नोति वीक्षितुम् । विशिखानेव पश्यन्ति भीष्मचापच्युतान्बहून्
Yet none among the sons of Pandu could look at him; they only saw the many arrows loosed from Bhishma's bow.
कुर्वाणं समरे कर्म सूदयानं च वाहिनीम् । व्याक्रोशन्त रणे तत्र नरा बहुविधा बहु
As he performed his deeds in battle, slaughtering the army, many men cried out in various ways on the field.
अमानुषेण रूपेण चरन्तं पितरं तव। शलभा इव राजानः पतन्ति विधिचोदिताः
Your father moved about in a superhuman form; kings, impelled by fate, fell like moths.
भीष्माग्निमभिसंक्रुद्धं विनाशाय सहस्रशः । न हि मोघः शरः कश्चिदासीद्भीष्मस्य संयुगे
Against Bhishma, blazing like fire, thousands perished; for not a single arrow of Bhishma's in battle was in vain.
नरनागाश्वकायेषु बहुत्वाल्लघुयोधिनः । भिनत्त्येकेन बाणेन सुमुखेन पतत्रिणा
Because of the multitude of men, elephants, and horses, the lightly armed warriors were pierced by a single arrow with a sharp head.
गजं कंकटसन्नद्धं वज्रेणेव शिलोच्चयम् । द्वौ त्रीनपि गजारोहान्पिण्डितान्वर्मितानपि
He struck an armored elephant, as if with a thunderbolt striking a mountain peak, and even two or three armored elephant-riders pressed together.
नाराचेन सुमुक्तेन निजघान पिता तव। यो यो भीष्मं नरव्याघ्रमभ्येति युधि कश्चन
With a sharp, well-feathered arrow, your father struck down anyone who approached Bhishma, the tiger among men, in battle.
मुहूर्तदृष्टः स मया पतितो भुवि दृश्यते। एवं सा धर्मराजस्य वध्यमाना महाचमूः
One whom I saw for a moment would be seen fallen on the ground; thus the great army of the righteous king was being slaughtered.
भीष्मेणातुलवीर्येण व्यशीर्यत संहस्रधा। प्राकम्पत महासेना शरवर्षेण तापिता
By Bhishma, of incomparable might, it was shattered in every direction; the great army trembled, tormented by the shower of arrows.
पश्यतो वासुदेवस्य पार्थस्याथ शिखण्डिनः। यतमानाऽपि ते वीरा द्रवमाणान्महारथान्
Though Vasudeva, Partha, and Shikhandin looked on, those heroes, even striving, could not stop the great chariot-warriors as they fled.