शिखण्डिनं समासाद्य भरतानां पितामहः । अवर्जयत संग्रामं स्त्रीत्वं तस्यानुसंस्मरन्
Confronting Śikhaṇḍin, the grandsire of the Bharatas withdrew from battle, recalling his womanhood.
ततो द्रोणो महाराज अभ्यद्रवत तं रणे। रक्षमाणस्तदा भीष्मं तव पुत्रेण चोदितः
Then Droṇa, O King, urged by your son and protecting Bhīṣma, rushed at him in battle.
शिखण्डी तु समासाद्य द्रोणं शस्त्रभृतां वरम्। अवर्जयत संत्रस्तो युगान्ताग्निमिवोल्बणम्
Śikhaṇḍin, facing Droṇa, the foremost of weapon-bearers, withdrew in fear, as one would from a terrible fire at the end of an age.
ततो बलेन महता पुत्रस्तव विशांपते । जुगोप भीष्ममासाद्य प्रार्थयानो महद्यशः
Then, O lord of men, your son, with great force, protected Bhīṣma, seeking great fame.
तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्पुरुस्कृत्य धनञ्जयम्। भीष्ममेवाभ्यवर्तन्त जये कृत्वा दृढां मतिम्
Likewise, O King, the Pāṇḍavas, led by Dhanañjaya, advanced against Bhīṣma, firmly resolved on victory.
तद्युद्धमभवद्धोरं देवानां दानवैरिव। जयमाकाङ्क्षतां सङ्क्ष्ये यशश्च सुमहाद्भुतम्
That battle became dreadful, like that between gods and Dānavas, among those seeking victory and wondrous fame.
अकरोत्तुमुलं युद्धं भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा। भीमसेनभयादिच्छन्पुत्रांस्तारयितुं तव
Then Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, waged a tumultuous battle, desiring to save your sons from the fear of Bhīmasena.
पूर्वाह्णे तन्महारौद्रं राज्ञां युद्धमवर्तत । कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च मुख्यशूरविनाशनम्
In the forenoon, that exceedingly fierce battle of kings took place, destroying the chief heroes of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas.
तस्मिन्नाकुलसंग्रामे वर्तमाने महाभये । अभवत्तुमुलः शब्दः संस्पृशन्गगनं महत्
In that confused and terrifying conflict, a tumultuous sound arose, touching the vast sky.
नदद्भिश्च महानागैर्हेषमाणैश्च वाजिभिः । भेरीशङ्खनिनादैश्च तुमुलं समपद्यत
With great elephants trumpeting, horses neighing, and the tumult of drums and conches, the din became overwhelming.
युयुत्सवस्ते विक्रान्ता विजयाय महाबलाःक । अन्योन्यमभिगर्जन्तो गोष्ठिष्विव महर्षभाः
Those mighty warriors, eager for victory, roared at each other like great bulls in a herd.
शिरासं पात्यमानानां समरे निशितैः शरैः। अश्यवृष्टिरिवाकाशे बभूव भरतर्षभ
O bull among the Bharatas, as heads were struck down in battle by sharp arrows, it was like a shower of stones falling from the sky.
कुण्डलोष्णीषधारीणि जातरूपोज्ज्वलानि च। पतितानि स्म दृश्यन्ते शिरांसि भरतर्षभ
Earrings and turbans, shining with gold, were seen fallen—these were the heads, O bull among the Bharatas.
विशिखोन्मथितैर्गात्रैर्बाहुभिश्च सकार्मुकैः । सहस्ताभरणैश्चान्यैरभवच्छादिता मही
The earth became covered with bodies pierced by arrows, with arms still holding bows, and with others adorned with bracelets.
कवचोपहितैर्गात्रैर्हस्तैश्च समलङ्कृतैः । मुखैश्च चन्द्रसंकाशै रक्तान्तनयनैः शुभैः
With bodies clad in armor, hands adorned with ornaments, and faces bright as the moon, with beautiful eyes red at the corners.
गजवाजिमनुष्याणां सर्वगात्रैश्च भूपते । आसीत्सर्वा समास्तीर्णा मुहूर्तेन वसुंधराः
O king, in a moment, the whole earth was strewn with the limbs of elephants, horses, and men.
रजोमेघैश्च तुमुलैः शस्त्रविद्युत्प्रकाशिभिः । आयुधानां च निर्घोषः स्तनयित्नुसमोऽभवत्
With tumultuous clouds of dust and the flashing of weapons like lightning, the roar of arms became like thunder.
स संप्रहारस्तुमुलःक कटुकः शोणितोदकः। प्रावर्तत कुरूणां च पाण्डवानां च भारत
That fierce and dreadful clash, soaked with blood, broke out between the Kurus and the Pandavas, O Bharata.
तस्मिन्महाभये घोरे तुमुले रोमहर्षणे। ववृषुः शरवर्षाणि क्षत्रिया युद्धदुर्मदाः
In that great, terrifying, tumultuous, and hair-raising danger, the Kshatriyas, maddened by battle, rained down showers of arrows.
आक्रोशन्कुञ्जरास्तत्र शरवर्षप्रतापिताः । तावकानां परेषां च संयुगे भरतर्षभ
There, elephants of both your side and the enemy's, scorched by the rain of arrows, cried out in the battle, O bull among the Bharatas.
संरब्धानां च वीराणां धीराणाममितौजसाम् । धनुर्ज्यातलशब्देन न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
Among the enraged and steadfast heroes of immeasurable energy, nothing could be distinguished because of the twanging of bowstrings.
उत्थितेषु कबन्धेषु सर्वतः शोमितोदके। समरे पर्यधावन्त नृपा रिपुवधोद्यताः
As headless trunks rose up everywhere, soaked with blood, the kings rushed about on the battlefield, eager to slay their foes.
शरशक्तिगदाभिस्ते खङ्गैश्चामिततेजसः । निजघ्नुः समरेऽन्योन्यं शूराः परिघबाहवः
With arrows, spears, maces, and swords, the mighty-armed heroes struck one another in battle.
बभ्रमुः कुञ्जराश्चात्र शरैर्विद्धा निरङ्कुशाः । अश्वाश्च पर्यधावन्त हतारोहा दिशो दश
Here, elephants pierced by arrows, their goads lost, wandered about; and horses, their riders slain, ran in all directions.
उत्पत्य निपतन्त्यन्ये शरघातप्रपीडिताः। तावकानां परेषां च योधा भरतसत्तम
Some warriors of both your side and the enemy's, oppressed by showers of arrows, leapt up and fell down, O best of the Bharatas.
वाहानामुत्तमाङ्गानां कार्मुकाणां च भारत। गदानां परिघाणां च हस्तानां चोरुभिः सह
The heads of steeds, bows, maces, clubs, hands, and arms together were seen, O Bharata.
पादानां भूषणानां च केयूराणां च सङ्घशः। राशयस्तत्र दृश्यन्ते भीष्मभीमसमागमे
Heaps of feet, ornaments, and armlets were seen in masses at the meeting of Bhishma and Bhima.
अश्वानां कुञ्जराणां च रथानां चानिवर्तिनाम् । सङ्घाताः स्म प्रदृश्यन्ते तत्रतत्र विशांपते
The heaps of horses, elephants, and chariots that would not turn back were seen here and there, O lord of the people.
गदाभिरसिभिः प्रासैर्बाणैश्च नतपर्वभिः । जघ्नुः परस्पर तत्र क्षत्रियाः काल आगते
With maces, swords, lances, and arrows with bent tips, the Kshatriyas struck one another there as the hour of death arrived.
अपरे बाहुभिर्वीरा नियुद्धकुशला युधि। बहुधा समसञ्जन्त आयसैः परिघैरिव
Other heroic warriors, skilled in hand-to-hand combat, grappled with each other in many ways, as if with iron clubs, in the battle.