नाशक्नुवन्वारयितुं भीष्मबाणप्रपीडितान्। महेन्द्रसमवीर्येण वध्यमाना महाचमूः
They could not restrain those oppressed by Bhishma's arrows; the great army was being slaughtered by one with the might of Mahendra.
अभज्यत महाराज न च द्वौ सह धावतः। आविद्धरनागाश्वं पतितध्वजकूबरम्
It broke apart, O King, and not even two fled together; with their chariots, elephants, and horses struck, and their banners and standards fallen.
अनीकं पाण्डुपुत्राणां हाहाभूतमचेतनम्। जघानात्र पिता पुत्रं पुत्रश्च पितरं तथा
The Pandava army became bewildered and senseless, crying out in distress; here, a father struck down his son, and a son his father.
प्रियं सखायं चाक्रन्दे सखा दैवबलात्कृतः । विमुच्य कवचान्यन्ये पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैनिकाः
A dear friend, overcome by fate, killed his companion; and some soldiers of the Pandava army cast off their armor.
विनुक्तकेशा धावन्तः प्रत्यदृश्यन्त भारत। तद्गोकुलमिवोद्धान्तमुद्धान्तरथयूथपम्
With their hair disheveled, they were seen running, O Bharata, like a herd of cattle in panic, with their leaders scattered.
ददृशे पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैन्यमार्तस्वरं तदा। प्रभज्यमानं सैन्यं तु दृष्ट्वा यादवनन्दनः
At that time, the army of the son of Pandu was seen crying out in distress; seeing his army breaking apart, the son of Yadava,
उवाच पार्थं बीभत्सुं निगृह्य रथमुत्तमम्। असं स कालः संप्राप्तः पार्थ पस्तेऽभिकाङ्क्षितः
restrained the excellent chariot and spoke to Partha, the mighty-armed: 'O Partha, the time you have longed for has now arrived.'
प्रहरस्व नरव्याघ्र न चेन्मोहाद्विमुह्यसे। यत्त्वया कथितं वीर पुरा राज्ञां समागमे
'Strike, O tiger among men, unless you are bewildered by delusion; what you once declared in the assembly of kings, O hero—'
भीष्मद्रोणमुखान्सर्वान्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैनिकान्। सानुबन्धान्हनिष्यामि ये मां योत्स्यन्ति संयुगे
'I will slay all the warriors of Dhritarashtra, headed by Bhishma and Drona, along with their followers, whoever opposes me in battle—'
इति तत्कुरु कौन्तेय सत्यं वाक्यमरिन्दम । बीभत्सो पश्य सैन्यं स्वं भज्यमानं ततस्ततः
'Now, O son of Kunti, make that true, O subduer of enemies. See, O Bhībhatsu, your army is being broken on all sides.'
द्रवतश्च महीपालान्पश्य यौधिष्ठिरे बले। दृष्ट्वा हि भीष्मं समरे व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम्
'Look at the kings fleeing from Yudhishthira's force, for seeing Bhishma in battle, with face wide as Death, they run in fear.'
भयार्ताः प्रपलायन्ते सिंहात्क्षुद्रमृगा इव। एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच वासुदेवं धनंजयः
'Terrified, they flee like small animals from a lion.' Thus addressed, Dhananjaya replied to Vasudeva:
नोदयाश्वान्यतो भीष्मो विगाहे तद्वलार्णवम् । पातयिष्यामि दुर्धर्षं वृद्धं कुरुपितामहम्
'Drive the horses forward, for Bhishma is there; I will enter that ocean of troops and bring down the formidable, aged grandsire of the Kurus.'
ततोऽश्वान्रजतप्रकख्यान्नोदयामास माधवः। यतो भीष्मरथो राजन्दुष्प्रेक्ष्यो रश्मिमानिव
Then Madhava urged the horses, shining like silver, toward Bhishma's chariot, which was hard to gaze upon, like the radiant sun.
ततस्तत्पुनरावृत्तं युधिष्ठिरबलं महत्। दृष्ट्वा पार्थं महाबाहुं भीष्मायोद्यतमाहवे
Then, seeing Partha, mighty-armed, advancing against Bhishma in battle, the great army of Yudhishthira rallied once more.
ततो भीष्मःक कुरुश्रेष्ठ सिंहवद्विनदन्मुहुः । धनञ्जयरथं शीघ्रं शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्
Then Bhishma, best of the Kurus, roaring like a lion again and again, covered Dhananjaya's swift chariot with showers of arrows.
क्षणेन स रथस्तस्य सहयः कसहसारथिः । शरवर्षेण महता संछन्नो न प्रकाशते
In a moment, that chariot, with its warriors and charioteer, was hidden by a great shower of arrows and could not be seen.
वासुदेवस्त्वसंभ्रान्तो धैर्यमास्थाय सत्त्ववान् । चोदयामास तानश्वान्विभिन्नान्भीष्मसायकैः
But Vasudeva, undisturbed and steadfast, urged on those horses, though wounded by Bhishma's arrows.
ततः पार्थो धनुर्गृह्य दिव्यं जलदनिःस्वनम् । पातयामास भीष्मस्य धनुश्छित्वा त्रिभिः शरैः
Then Partha, taking up his divine bow, which thundered like a cloud, struck down Bhishma's bow, cutting it with three arrows.
स च्छिन्नधन्वा कौरव्यः पुनरन्यन्महद्धनुः । निमिषान्तरमात्रेण सज्यं चक्रे पिता तव
But the Kaurava, his bow cut, immediately took up another great bow and strung it in the blink of an eye, O king, your father.
विचकर्ष ततो दोर्भ्यां धनुर्जलदनिःस्वनम् । अथास्य तदपि क्रुद्धश्चिच्छेद धनुरर्जुनः
Then, drawing that bow with both arms, which sounded like a cloud, Arjuna, enraged, cut down that bow as well.
तस्य तत्पूजयामास लाघवं शन्तनोः सुतः। साधु पार्थ महाबाहो साधु भो पाण्डुनन्दन
The son of Shantanu honored that skill, saying, 'Well done, Partha, mighty-armed one! Well done, O joy of the Pandus!'
त्वय्येवैतद्युक्तरूपं महत्कर्म धनंजय । प्रीतोऽस्मि सुभृशं पुत्र कुरु युद्धं मया सह
This great deed is fitting for you alone, Dhananjaya. I am deeply pleased, my son; fight with me.
इति पार्थं प्रशस्याथ प्रगृह्यान्यन्महद्धनुः । मुमोच समरे वीरः शरान्पार्थरथं प्रति
Having praised Partha thus, he seized another mighty bow and, in battle, the hero released arrows toward Partha's chariot.
अदर्शयद्वासुदेवो हययाने परं बलम् । मोघान्कुर्वञ्शरांस्तस्य मण्डलान्व्यचरल्लुघु
Vasudeva displayed supreme skill in driving the horses, making that man's arrows futile, swiftly moving in circles.
तथा भीष्मस्तु सुदृढं वासुदेवधनंजयौ। विव्याध निशितैर्बाणैः सर्वगात्रेषु भारत
Then Bhishma struck Vasudeva and Dhananjaya with sharp arrows, O Bharata, piercing all their limbs.
शुशुभाते नरव्याघ्रौ तौ भीष्मशरविक्षतौ । गोवृषाविव संरब्धौ विषाणोल्लेखनाङ्क्तितौ
Those two tigers among men, wounded by Bhishma's arrows, shone like enraged bulls, their horns marked from clashing.
पुनश्चापि सुसंरब्धः शरैः शतसहस्रशः । कृष्णयोर्युधि संरब्धो भीष्माः प्राच्छादयद्दिशः । `पार्थोऽपि समरे क्रुद्धो भीष्मस्यावारयद्दिशः
Again, fiercely, Bhishma covered the directions with hundreds of thousands of arrows against Krishna in battle; and Partha, enraged, blocked Bhishma's arrows in all directions.
वार्ष्णेयं च शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः कम्पयामास रोषितः । मुहुरभ्यर्दयन्भीष्मः प्रहस्य स्वनवत्तदा
Bhishma, angered, shook the Vārṣṇeya with sharp arrows, repeatedly assailing him and laughing loudly at that time.
ततस्तु कृष्णः समरे दृष्ट्वा भीष्मपराक्रमम्। संप्रेक्ष्य च महाबाहुः पार्थस्य मृदुयुद्धताम्
Then Krishna, seeing Bhishma's valor in battle and observing mighty Partha's gentle fighting,