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.
ततः क्रोधाभिताम्राक्षः कृष्णेन सह फल्गुनः । दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य चिन्तयित्वा पुनःपुनः
Then Arjuna, his eyes reddened with anger, together with Krishna, breathed a long, hot sigh, pondering again and again.
धनुः प्रपीड्य वामेन करेणामित्रकर्शनः । गाण्डीवधन्वा संक्रुद्धः शितान्सन्नतपर्वणः
The destroyer of enemies, wielding the Gandiva bow, drew it tight with his left hand, his wrath inflamed, and fitted sharp, well-feathered arrows.
जीवितान्तकरान्घोरान्समादत्त शिलीमुखान्। तैस्तूर्णं समरेऽविध्यद्रौणिं बलवतां वरः
He took up terrifying, life-ending, iron-tipped shafts and, being the foremost among the mighty, swiftly struck Drona’s son in battle with them.
तस्य ते कवचं भित्त्वा पपुः शोणितमाहवे। न विव्यथे च निर्भिन्नो द्रौणिर्गाण्डीवधन्वना
Those arrows pierced his armor and drank his blood on the battlefield; yet, though struck by Arjuna, Drona’s son did not waver.
तथैव च शरान्द्रौणिः प्रविमुञ्चन्नविह्वलः । तस्थौ च समरे राजंस्त्रातुमिच्छन्महाव्रतम्
Likewise, Drona’s son, undaunted, kept releasing arrows and stood firm in battle, wishing to protect the king, steadfast in his great vow.
तस्य तत्सुमहत्कर्म शशंसुः कुरुसत्तमाः । यत्कृष्णाभ्यां समेताभ्यामभ्यापतत संयुगे
The best of the Kurus praised that great deed of his, when he, joined by Krishna, charged into the fight.
स हि नित्यमनीकेषु युध्यतेऽभयमास्तितः। अस्त्रग्रामं ससंहारं द्रोणात्प्राप्य सुदुर्लभम्
For he always fought in the ranks, fearless, having obtained from Drona that rare collection of weapons and their withdrawal.
ममैष आचार्यसुतो द्रोणस्यापि प्रियः सुतः । ब्राह्मणश्च विशेषेण माननीयो ममेति च
This son of my teacher, so dear even to Drona, is especially worthy of honor from me, being a Brahmin.
समास्थआय मतिं वीरो बीभत्सुः सत्रुतापनः । कृपां चक्रे रथश्रेष्ठो भारद्वाजसुतं प्रति
Having resolved thus, the heroic Arjuna, tormentor of foes and foremost among charioteers, showed compassion toward Bharadvaja’s son.
द्रौणिं त्यक्त्वा ततो युद्धे कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः। युयुधे तावकान्निघ्नंस्त्वरमाणः पराक्रमी
Then, leaving Drona’s son in battle, Arjuna, son of Kunti and rider of the white steeds, rushed forward, striking down your men with great speed and valor.