मध्यंदिनगते सूर्ये नभस्याकुलतां गते । कुरवः पाण्डवेयाश्च निजघ्नुरितरेतरम्
When the sun had reached midday and the sky was filled with turmoil, the Kurus and the sons of Pandu struck each other relentlessly.
ध्वजिनो हेमचित्राङ्गा विचरन्तो रणाजिरे । सपताका रथा रेजुर्वैयाघ्रपरिवारणाः
Chariots adorned with golden standards, moving about the field of battle, shone brightly, surrounded by tiger-bannered warriors.
समेतानां च समरे जिगीषूणां परस्परम् । बभूव तुमुलः शब्दः सिंहानामिव नर्दताम्
As those eager for victory met each other in battle, a tumultuous noise arose, like the roaring of lions.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्यास संप्रहारं सुदारुणम्। यदकुर्वन्रणे शूराः सृञ्जयाः कुरुभिः सह
There, O King, I beheld a wondrous and terrible conflict, as the heroic Srinjayas fought with the Kurus.
नैव खं न दिशो राजन्न सूर्यं शत्रुतापन। विदिशो वापि पश्यामः शरैर्मुक्तैः समन्ततः
Neither the sky, nor the directions, nor the sun, nor even the intermediate quarters could be seen, O scorcher of foes, due to the arrows released on all sides.
शक्तीनां विमलाग्राणां तोमराणां तथास्यताम् । निस्त्रिंशानां च पीतानां नीलोत्पलनिभाः प्रभाः
The radiant tips of spears, the flights of javelins, and the golden swords shone with a blue-lotus hue.
कवचानां विचित्राणां भूषणानां प्रभास्तथा । खं दिशः प्रदिशश्चैव भासयामासुरोजसा
The brilliance of the variegated armor and ornaments illuminated the sky, the quarters, and the intermediate directions with their splendor.
वपुर्भिश्च नरेन्द्राणां चन्द्रसूर्यसमप्रभैः । विरराज तदा राजंस्तत्रतत्र रणाङ्गणम्
And with the forms of the kings, radiant as the moon and sun, the field of battle shone resplendently in many places, O King.
रथसङ्घा नरव्याघ्राः समायान्तश्च संयुगे। विरेजुः समरे राजन्ग्रहा इव नभस्तले
The tiger-like warriors, advancing in their chariot divisions, shone in battle, O King, like planets moving across the sky.
भीष्मस्तु रथिनां श्रेष्ठो भीमसेनं महाबलम् । अवारयत संक्रुद्धः सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः
Then Bhishma, the foremost of charioteers, in the sight of all the troops, angrily checked the mighty Bhimasena.
ततो भीष्मविनिर्मुक्ता रुक्मपुङ्खाः शिलाशिताः। अभ्यङ्गन्तमरे भीमं तैलघौताः सुतेजनाः
Then, golden-feathered, stone-tipped arrows, released by Bhishma, well-shafted and smeared with oil, rushed at Bhima in battle.
तस्य शक्तिं महावेगं भीमसेनो महाबलः । क्रुद्धाशीविषसंकाशं प्रेषयामास भारत
Bhimasena, of great strength, in his wrath, hurled his mighty spear, resembling an enraged serpent, at Bhishma, O Bharata.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा रुक्मदण्डं दुरासदाम्। चिच्छेद समरे भीष्मः शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः
Bhishma, in battle, swiftly cut down that formidable golden-staffed weapon as it came flying, with his arrows whose joints were well-bent.
ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन च। कार्मुकं भीमसेनस्य द्विधा चिच्छेद भारत
Then, O Bharata, with another sharp and shining broad-headed arrow, he split Bhimasena’s bow in two.
अपास्य तु धनुश्छिन्नं भीमसेनो महाबलः । शरैर्बहुभिरानर्च्छद्भीष्मं शान्तनवं युधि
But Bhimasena, mighty in strength, cast aside his broken bow and showered many arrows upon Bhishma, son of Shantanu, in the fight.
सात्यकिस्तु ततस्तूर्णं भीष्ममासाद्य संयुगे । आकर्णप्रहितैस्त्रीक्ष्णैर्निशितैस्तिग्मतेजनैः
Then Satyaki, approaching Bhishma quickly in battle, honored him with sharp, fierce arrows drawn to the ear and tipped with keen points.
शरैर्बहुभिरानर्च्छत्पितरं ते जनेश्वर । ततः संधाय वै तीक्ष्णं शरं परमदारुणम्
He honored your father with many arrows, O lord of men; then, fitting a very sharp and exceedingly dreadful arrow,
वार्ष्णेयस्य रथाद्भीष्मः पातयामास सारथिम्। तस्याश्वाः प्रद्रुता राजन्निहते रथसारथौ
Bhishma struck down the charioteer from the Vrishni’s chariot; O king, when the charioteer was killed, his horses bolted.
तेन तेनैव धावन्ति मनोमारुतरंहसः। ततः सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य निःस्वनस्तुमुलोऽभवत्
Those horses, with the speed of mind and wind, ran here and there; then a tumultuous noise arose from the entire army.
हाहाकारश्च संजज्ञे पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् । अभ्यद्रवत गृह्णीत हयान्यच्छत धावत
A cry of distress arose among the great-souled Pandavas: ‘Seize the horses! Stop them! Catch them as they run!’
इत्यासीत्तुमुलः शब्दो युयुधानरथं प्रति । एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा
Thus there was a loud clamor directed at Yuyudhana’s chariot; and at that very moment, Bhishma, son of Shantanu,
न्यहनत्पाण्डवीं सेनामासुरीमिव वृत्राहा । ते वध्यमाना भीष्मेण पाञ्चालाः सोमकैः सह । स्थिरां युद्धे मतिं कृत्वा भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्रुवुः
Struck the Pandava army as Indra strikes the Asura host; though being slain by Bhishma, the Panchalas and Somakas, making firm resolve in battle, charged straight at Bhishma.
धृष्टद्युम्नमुखाश्चापि पार्थाः शान्तनवं रणे। अभ्यधावञ्जिगीषन्तस्तव पुत्रस्य वाहिनीम्
And the sons of Pritha, led by Dhrishtadyumna, rushed at Shantanu’s son in battle, eager to defeat your son’s army.
तथैव कौरवा राजन्भीष्मद्रोणपुरोगमाः। अभ्यधावन्त वेगेन ततो युद्धमवर्तत
Likewise, O king, the Kauravas, led by Bhishma and Drona, charged forward with speed; then the battle commenced.
विराटोऽय त्रिभिर्बाणैर्भीष्ममार्च्छन्महारथम् । विव्याध तुरमांत्रास्य त्रिभिर्बाणैर्महारथः
Virata, that great chariot-warrior, honored Bhishma with three arrows, and struck his swift charioteer with three arrows as well.
तं प्रत्यविध्यद्दशभिर्भीष्मः शान्तनवः शरैः। रुक्मपुङ्खैर्महेष्वासः कृतहस्तो महाबलः
Bhishma, son of Shantanu, mighty archer and master of weapons, struck him back with ten arrows, their shafts golden-feathered.
द्रौणिर्गाण्डीवधन्वानं भीमधन्वा महारथः । अविध्यदिषुभिः षङ्भिर्दृढहस्तः स्तनान्तरे
Drona’s son, the great chariot-warrior with a mighty bow, struck Arjuna, wielder of Gandiva, with six firm arrows in the chest.
कार्मुकं तस्य चिच्छेद फल्गुनः परवीरहा । अविध्यच्च भृशं तीक्ष्णैः पत्रिभिः शत्रुकर्शनः
Arjuna, destroyer of enemy heroes, cut down his bow and struck him hard with sharp, keen-feathered arrows.
सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय वेगवान्क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। अमृष्यमाणः पार्थेन कार्मुकच्छेदमाहवे
He, swift and enraged, unable to bear Arjuna’s breaking of his bow in battle, seized another bow.
अविध्यत्फल्गुनं राजन्नवत्या निशितैः शरैः । वासुदेवं च सप्तत्या विव्याध परमेषुभिः
O king, he struck Arjuna with ninety sharp arrows, and wounded Vasudeva with seventy supreme shafts.