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.
मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिश्चैव तलैश्चैव विशांपते । अन्योन्यं जघ्रिरे वीरास्तावकाः पाण्डवैः सह
O lord of men, your warriors and the sons of Pandu struck each other with fists, knees, and palms.
पतितैः पात्यमानैश्च विचेष्टद्भिश्च भूतले। घोरमायोधनं जज्ञे तत्रतत्र जनेश्वर
With those fallen, falling, and writhing on the ground, a terrible battle arose here and there, O king of men.
विरथा रथिनश्चात्र निस्त्रिंशवरधारिणःक । अन्योन्यमभिधावन्तः परस्परवधैषिणः
There, chariot-warriors deprived of their chariots and those wielding swords and shields rushed at each other, intent on mutual destruction.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा कलिङ्गैर्बहुभिर्वृतः। पुरस्कृत्य रणे भीष्मं पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तत
Then King Duryodhana, surrounded by many Kalingas, advanced against the Pandavas in battle, placing Bhishma at the forefront.
तथैव पाण्डवाः सर्वे परिवार्य वृकोदरम्। भीष्ममभ्यद्रवन्क्रुद्धास्ततो युद्धमवर्तत
Likewise, all the Pandavas, surrounding Bhima, angrily charged at Bhishma; then the battle commenced.
दृष्ट्वा भीष्मेण संसक्तान्भ्रातॄनन्यांश्च पार्थिवान् । समभ्यधावद्गांङ्गेयमुद्यतास्त्रो धनञ्जयः
Seeing his brothers and other kings engaged with Bhishma, Dhananjaya, weapons raised, rushed at the son of Ganga.
पाञ्चजन्यस्य निर्घोषं धनुषो गाण्डिवस्य च। ध्वजं च दृष्ट्वा पार्थस्य सर्वान्नो भयमाविशत्
Hearing the blare of Panchajanya, the twang of Gandiva, and seeing Arjuna’s banner, fear entered all of us.
सिंहलाङ्गूलमाकाशे ज्वलन्तमिव पर्वतम्। असञ्जमानं वृक्षेषु धूमकेतुमिवोत्थितम्
We saw his banner, with a lion’s tail, blazing in the sky like a mountain, swaying among the trees, rising like a smokey comet.
बहुवर्णं विचित्रं च दिव्यं वानरलक्षणम् । अपश्याम महाराज ध्वजं गाण्डीवधन्वनः
O great king, we beheld the banner of the wielder of Gandiva—multicolored, wondrous, divine, marked with the image of a monkey.
सुवर्णपृष्ठं गाण्डीवं रणे द्रक्ष्यामि भारत। विद्युतं मेघमध्यस्थां भ्राजमानामिवाम्बरे । ददृशुर्गाण्डिवं योधा रुक्मपृष्ठं महामृधे
The warriors saw Gandiva, with its golden back, shining in battle like lightning in the midst of clouds, radiant in the sky.