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.
एह्येहि देवेश जगन्निवास नमोस्तु ते माधव चक्रपाणे। प्रसह्य मां पातय लोकनाथ रथोत्तमात्सर्वशरण्य सङ्ख्ये
Come, come, Lord of the gods, shelter of the universe! Salutations to you, Mādhava, wielder of the discus. Overpower me, O Lord of all, and cast me down from this excellent chariot in battle, you who are the refuge of all.
त्वया हतस्यापि ममाऽद्य कृष्ण श्रेयः परिस्मिन्निह चैव लोके। संभावितोऽस्म्यन्धकवृष्णिनाथ लोकैस्त्रिभिर्वीर तवाभियानात्
Even if I am slain by you today, O Kṛṣṇa, it will be for my good in this world and the next. I am honored by you, Lord of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis, and by the three worlds, O hero, because of your attack.
रथादवप्लुत्य ततस्त्वरावान् पार्थोऽप्यनुद्रुत्य यदुप्रवीरम्। जग्राह पीनोत्तमलम्बबाहुं बाह्वोर्हरिं व्यायतपीनबाहुः
Then, swiftly leaping from the chariot, Arjuna pursued the foremost Yadu hero and seized Hari, whose mighty arms hung down, with his own strong, outstretched, muscular arms.
निगृह्यमणाश्च तदाऽऽदिदेवो भृश सरोषः किल नाम योगी । आदाय वेगेन जगाम विष्णु- र्जिष्णुं महावात इवैकवृक्षम्
At that moment, the great god, full of wrath, restrained by Arjuna, took up speed and moved like Viṣṇu, the yogi, rushing toward Jiṣṇu as a mighty wind toward a solitary tree.
पार्थस्तु विष्टभ्य बलेन पादौ भीष्मान्तिकं तूर्णमभिद्रवन्तम्। बलान्निजग्राह हरिं किरीटी पदेऽथ राजन्दशमे कथंचित्
Arjuna, bracing his feet with strength, seized Hari, the crowned one, as he swiftly charged toward Bhīṣma; with force, he somehow caught him at the tenth step, O king.
अवस्थितं च प्रणिपत्य कृष्णं प्रीतोऽर्जुनः काञ्चनचित्रमाली। उवाच कोपे प्रतिसंहरेति गतिर्भवान्केशव पाण्डवानाम्
Arjuna, adorned with a golden, splendid garland, bowed to Kṛṣṇa, who stood firm, and, pleased yet angry, said: 'Withdraw, O Keśava, you are the refuge of the Pāṇḍavas.'
न हास्यते कर्म यथाप्रतिज्ञं पुत्रैः शपे केशव सोदरैश्च । अन्तं करिष्यामि यथा कुरूणां त्वयाऽहमिन्द्रानुजसंप्रयुक्तः
The deed will not fail as promised, O Keśava; I swear by my sons and brothers. I will bring an end to the Kurus, aided by you, Indra's younger brother.
ततः प्रतिज्ञां समयं च तस्य जनार्दनः प्रीतमना निशम्य। स्थितः प्रिये कौरवसत्तमस्य रथं सचक्रः पुनरारुरोह
Then Janārdana, hearing his vow and promise with a pleased heart, stood by the beloved best of the Kauravas, and, with the discus, again mounted the chariot.
ततः प्रतिज्ञां समवाप्य भीष्मः कृताञ्चलिः स्तुत्यमथाकरोद्वै । त्रैविक्रमे यस्य वपुर्बभासे तथैव दृष्ट्वा तु समुञ्ज्वलन्तम्
Then Bhīṣma, having fulfilled his vow, with folded hands, began to praise him; seeing him shining brilliantly, just as his form shone in the three strides.
प्रगृह्य शङ्खं द्विषताकं निहन्ता स तानभूषून्पुनराददानः । भीष्मं शरैः संपरिवार्य सङ्ख्ये चिच्छेद भूरिश्रवसश्च चापम्
Grasping his conch, the slayer of enemies again took up his weapons; surrounding Bhīṣma with arrows in battle, he cut off the bow of Bhūriśravas.
शल्यं च विद्ध्वा नवभिः पृषत्कै- र्दुर्योधं वक्षसि निर्बिभेद।' विनादयामास ततो दिशश्च स पाञ्चजन्यस्य रवेण शौरिः
He struck Śalya with nine arrows and pierced Duryodhana in the chest; then Śauri made the directions resound with the blast of the Pāñcajanya conch.
व्याविद्धनिष्काङ्गदकुण्डलं तं रजोविकीर्णाञ्चितपद्मनेत्रम् । विशुद्धदंष्ट्रं प्रगृहीतशङ्खं विचुक्रुशुः प्रेक्ष्य कुरुप्रवीराः
Seeing him, adorned with diadem, armlets, and earrings, his eyes like lotus petals, his teeth pure, holding the conch, the foremost Kurus cried out in alarm.
मृदङ्गभेरीपणवप्रणादा नेमिस्वना दुन्दुभिनिःस्वनाश्च। ससिंहनादाश्च बभूवुरुग्राः सर्वेष्वनीकेषु ततः कुरूणाम्
Then the fierce sounds of drums, kettledrums, cymbals, and the roar of wheels, and the thunder of war drums, together with lion-like shouts, arose in all the Kuru ranks.
गाण्डीवघोषः स्तनयित्नुकल्पो जगाम पार्थस्य नभो दिशश्च। जग्मुश्च बाणा विमलाः प्रसन्नाः सर्वा दिशः पाण्डवचापमुक्ताः
The sound of Arjuna's Gāṇḍīva bow, like thunder, reached the sky and the directions; his pure, shining arrows went forth in all directions, released from the Pāṇḍava's bow.
तं कौरवाणामधिपो जवेन भीष्मेण भूरिश्रवसा च सार्धम्। अभ्युद्ययावुद्यतबाणपाणिः कक्षं दिधक्षन्निव धूमकेतुः
The leader of the Kauravas, together with Bhīṣma and Bhūriśravas, advanced swiftly, with raised weapons, like a comet about to burn the forest.
अथार्जुनाय प्रजिघाय भल्लान् भूरिश्रवाः सप्त सुवर्णपुङ्खान्। दुर्योदनस्तोमरमुग्रवेगं शल्यो गदां शान्तनवश्च शक्तिम्
Then Bhūriśravas aimed seven gold-feathered arrows at Arjuna; Duryodhana hurled a spear with fierce speed, Śalya a mace, and Śāntanu's son a javelin.
स सप्तभिः सप्त शरप्रवेकान् संवार्य भीरिश्रवसा विसृष्टान् । शितेन दुर्योधनबाहुमुक्तं क्षुरेण तत्तोमरमुन्ममाथ
He, blocking the seven streams of arrows released by Bhurishravas with seven arrows, shattered the spear hurled by Duryodhana with a sharp razor-headed shaft.
ततः शुभामापततीं स शक्तिं विद्युत्प्रभां शान्तनवेन मुक्ताम्। गदां च मद्राधिपबाहुमुक्तां द्वाभ्यां शराभ्यां निचर्त वीरः
Then, that warrior cut down the splendid spear, glowing like lightning, launched by Shantanu's descendant, and the mace hurled by the king of Madra, with two arrows.
ततो भुजाभ्यां बलवद्विकृष्य चित्रं धनुर्गाण्डिवमप्रमेयम् । माहेन्द्रमस्रं विधिवत्सुघोरं प्रादुश्चकाराद्भुतमन्तरिक्षे
After that, drawing the wondrous, unfathomable Gandiva bow powerfully with both arms, he duly released the fierce, divine missile of Indra, an astonishing sight in the sky.
तेनोत्तमास्त्रेण ततो महात्मा सर्वाण्यनीकानि महाधनुष्मान्। शरौघजालैर्विमलाग्निवर्णै- र्निवारयामास किरीटमाली
With that supreme weapon, the great-souled, mighty archer, adorned with a crown, repelled all the armies with showers of arrows shining like pure fire.