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!’
तस्मादहं गृह्य रथाङ्गमुग्रं प्राणं हरिष्यामि महाव्रतस्य। निहत्य भीष्मं सगणं तथाजौ द्रोणं च शैनेय रथप्रवीरौ
‘Therefore, seizing the fierce wheel, I will take the life of the great-vowed one; having slain Bhishma with his troops and likewise Drona in battle, O Shini’s descendant, those foremost of chariot-warriors—’
संपादयिष्याम्यहमद्य हृष्टः
‘I will accomplish this today, rejoicing!’
इतीदमुक्त्वा स महानुभावः सस्मार चक्रं निशितं पुराणम्। सुदर्शनं चिन्तितमात्रमेव तस्याग्रहस्तं स्वयमारुरोह
Having spoken thus, that great-souled one remembered the ancient, sharp-edged discus Sudarshana, which, as soon as thought of, came into his hand by itself.
तच्चक्रपद्मं प्रगृहीतमाजौ रराज नारायणबाहुनालम्। यथादिपद्मं तरुणार्कवर्णं रराज नारायणनाभिजातमक्
That discus, radiant like a lotus, grasped in battle by the mighty arm of Narayana, shone like the lotus sprung from Narayana’s navel, glowing with the color of the rising sun.
तत्कृष्णकोपोदयसूर्यबुद्धं क्षुरान्ततीक्ष्णाग्रसुजातपत्रम्। तेस्यैव देहोरुसरःप्ररूढं रराज नारायणबाहुनालम्
That discus, blazing with Krishna’s wrath, its sharp edge like a razor, its petals beautifully formed, grown from the vast lake of his own body, shone in the mighty arm of Narayana.
वेगेन कृष्मः प्रससार भीष्मम्
With speed, Krishna rushed toward Bhishma.
घनो यथा खे तडितावनद्धः
Like a cloud in the sky bound with lightning.
तमात्तचक्रं प्रणदन्तमुच्चैः क्रुद्धं महेन्द्रावरजं समीक्ष्य । सर्वाणि भूतानि भृशं विनेदुः क्षयं कुरूणामिव चिन्तयित्वा
Seeing him, armed with the discus, roaring loudly, furious, the younger brother of Mahendra—all beings wailed greatly, thinking of the destruction of the Kurus.
स वासुदेवः प्रगृहीतचक्रः संवर्तयिष्यन्निव सर्वलोकम्। अभ्युत्पतँल्लोकगुरुर्बभासे भूतानि धक्ष्यन्निव धूमकेतुः
Vāsudeva, grasping the discus, shone forth as if he would destroy all worlds; the teacher of the universe rose up, appearing like a comet about to burn all creatures.
गोविन्दमाजावविमूढचेताः
With bewildered mind, they rushed at Govinda in the battle.