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,
भीष्मं च शरवर्षाणि सृजन्तमनिशं युधि । प्रतपन्तमिवादित्यं मध्यमासाद्य सेनयोः
And Bhishma, constantly releasing showers of arrows in battle, blazing like the sun as he reached the center between the armies,
वारन्वरान्विनिघ्नन्तं पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैनिकान्। युगान्तमिव कुर्वाणं भीष्मं यौधिष्ठिरे बले
Slaying the foremost warriors among the Pandava's troops, Bhishma seemed to bring about the end of the age in Yudhishthira's army.
अमृष्यमाणो भगवान्केशवः परवीरहा। अचिन्तयदमेयात्मा नास्ति यौधिष्ठिरं बलम्
Unable to bear it, the blessed Keśava, destroyer of enemy heroes, thought: 'There is no strength in Yudhishthira's army.'
एकाह्ना हि रणे भीष्मो नाशयेद्देवदानवान्। किं नु पाण्डुसुतान्युद्धे सबलान्सपदानुगान्
For Bhishma could destroy gods and demons in battle in a single day; what then of the sons of Pandu, with their forces and followers?
द्रवते च महासैन्यं पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः । एते च कौरवास्तूर्णं प्रभग्नान्वीक्ष्य सोमकान्
The great army of the noble Pandava is breaking, and seeing the Somakas shattered, the Kauravas swiftly pursue them.
प्राद्रवन्ति रणे दृष्ट्वा हर्षयन्तः पितामहम् । सोहं भीष्मं निहन्म्यद्य पाण्डवार्थाय दंशितः
They flee in battle, rejoicing at the sight of the grandsire; so today, for the sake of the Pandavas, I am resolved to slay Bhishma.
भारमेतं विनेष्यामि पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् । अर्जुनो हि शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्वध्यमानोऽपि संयुगे
I will remove this burden for the great-souled Pandavas, for even when pierced by sharp arrows in battle, Arjuna does not know what must be done.
कर्तव्यं नाभिजानाति रणे भीष्मस्य गौरवात्। तथा चिन्तयतस्तस्य भूय एव पितामहः । प्रेषयामास संक्रुद्धः शरान्पार्थरथं प्रति
He does not recognize his duty in battle because of reverence for Bhishma; as he pondered thus, the grandsire, enraged, again sent arrows toward Partha's chariot.
तेषां बहुत्वासु भृसं शराणां दिशश्च सर्वाः पिहिता बभूवुः । न चान्तरिक्षं न दिशो न भूमि- र्न भास्करोऽदृश्यत रश्मिमालीक
Because of the multitude of arrows, all directions became covered; neither the sky, nor the quarters, nor the earth, nor the sun with its rays could be seen.
ववुश्च वातास्तुमुलाः सधूमा दिशश्च सर्वाः क्षुभिता बभूवुः। द्रोणो विकर्णोऽथ जयद्रथश्च भूरिश्रवाः कृतवर्मा कृपश्च
Fierce winds blew, mixed with smoke; all directions were disturbed. Drona, Vikarna, Jayadratha, Bhurishrava, Kritavarma, and Kripa also.