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.
श्रुतायुरम्बष्ठपतिश्च राजा विन्दानुविन्दौ च सुदक्षिणश्च। प्राच्याश्च सौवीरगणाश्च सर्वे वसातयः क्षुद्रकमालवाश्च
Shrutayus, the lord of the Ambasthas, the king, Vindya and Anuvinda, and Sudakshina, and all the eastern and Sauvira hosts, the Vasatas, the Kshudrakas, and the Malavas—
किरीटिनं त्वरमाणाभिस्रु- र्निदेशगाः शान्तनवस्य राज्ञः। तं वाजिपादातरथौघजालै- रनेकसाहस्रशतैर्ददर्श
Eager and swift, they advanced toward the diademed one, following the command of King Shantanu’s son; and he saw him surrounded by countless thousands of horses, elephants, and chariots.
किरीटिनं संपरिवार्यमाणं शिनेर्नप्ता वारणयूथपैश्च। ततस्तु दृष्ट्वार्जुनवासुदेवौ पदातिनागाश्वरथैः समन्तात्
The diademed one was being encircled by Shini’s grandson and by leaders of elephant battalions; then, seeing Arjuna and Vasudeva surrounded on all sides by infantry, elephants, horses, and chariots—
अभिद्रुतौ शस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठौ शिनिप्रवीरोऽभिससार तूर्णम्। स तान्यनीकानि महाधनुष्मान् शिनिप्रवीरः सहसाऽभिपत्य
The best among weapon-bearers, the mighty Shini’s descendant, swiftly rushed forward; that great archer, Shini’s hero, suddenly attacked those divisions.
चकार साहाय्यमथार्जुनस्य विष्णुर्यथा वृत्रनिषूदनस्य। विशीर्णनागाश्वरथध्वजौघं भीष्मेण वित्रासितसर्वयोधम्
He then aided Arjuna, as Vishnu aided the slayer of Vritra; the lines of elephants, horses, chariots, and banners were shattered, and all the warriors were terrified by Bhishma.
युधिष्ठिरानीकमभिद्रवन्तं प्रोवाच संदृश्य शिनिप्रवीरः । क्व क्षत्रिया यास्यथ नैष धर्मः सतां पुरस्तात्कथितः पुराणैः
Seeing the division of Yudhishthira advancing, Shini’s hero spoke: ‘Where are you Kshatriyas going? This is not the ancient code of the righteous, as declared by the elders.’
मा स्वां प्रतिज्ञां त्यजत प्रवीराः स्वं वीरधर्मं परिपालयध्वम्। तान्वासवानन्तरजो निशाम्य नरेन्द्रमुख्यान्द्रवतः समन्तात्
‘Do not abandon your vow, O heroes! Uphold your warrior’s duty!’ Hearing this, the son of Ananta, seeing the foremost kings fleeing on all sides—
पार्थस्य दृष्टवा मृदुयुद्धातां च भीष्मं च सङ्ख्ये समुदीर्यमाणम्। अमृष्यमाणः स ततो महात्मा यशस्विनं सर्वदशार्हभर्ता
Seeing Partha’s gentle fighting and Bhishma being urged on in battle, that great-souled one, unable to endure it, the illustrious lord of the Dasharhas—
उवाच शैनेयमभिप्रशंसन् दृष्ट्वा कुरूनापततः समग्रान्। ये यान्ति ते यान्तु शिनिप्रवीर येऽपि स्थिताः सात्वत तेऽपि यान्तु
Praised Shini’s descendant, seeing all the Kauravas charging; ‘Let those who go, go, O hero of the Shinis; let even those who stand, O Sātvata, also go!’
भीष्मं रथात्पश्य निपात्यमानं द्रोणं च सङ्ख्ये सगणं मयाऽद्य। न सारथेः सात्वत कौरवाणां क्रुद्धस्य मुच्येत रणेऽद्य कश्चित्
‘Behold Bhishma being struck down from his chariot, and Drona with his troops by me today; not one of the Kauravas’ charioteers, O Sātvata, will escape alive from me in battle today, if angered!’