भोभो कौरवादायाद सहास्माभिर्महाबल । एहि युध्यस्व संग्रामे समस्तैः पृथगेव वा
O scion of the Kauravas, come and fight with us, mighty one—either together or one by one in battle.
अस्मान्वा त्वं पराजित्य यशः प्राप्नुहि संयुगे। वयं वा त्वां पराजित्य प्रीतिं धास्यामहे पितुः
If you defeat us in combat, win glory for yourself; or if we defeat you, we shall bring joy to our father.
एवमुक्तस्तदा शूरैस्तानुवाच महाबलः । वीर्यश्लाघी नरश्रेष्ठस्तान्दृष्ट्वा समवस्थितान्
Thus addressed by those heroes, the mighty one, proud of his valor and foremost among men, seeing them arrayed before him, replied:
साध्विदं कथ्यते वीरा यंद्येवं मतिरद्य वः। युध्यध्वं सहिता यत्ता निहनिष्यामि वो रणे
Well said, O heroes! If this is your resolve today, then fight together, prepared—I shall slay you all in battle.
एवमुक्ता महेष्वासास्ते वीराः क्षिप्रकारिणः । महता शरवर्षेण अभ्यधावन्नरिन्दमम्
Thus addressed, those great archers, swift in action, rushed upon the best of men with a mighty shower of arrows.
सोऽपराह्णे महाराज संग्रामस्तुमुलोऽभवत्। एकस्य च बहूनां च समेतानां रणाजिरे
Then, O King, in the afternoon, a tumultuous battle took place between one and many who had assembled on the field of war.
तमेकं रथिनां श्रेष्ठं शरैस्ते समवाकिरन् । प्रावृषीव यथा मेरुं सिषिचुर्जलदा नृप
They covered that one, the foremost of chariot-warriors, with arrows, just as clouds pour upon Mount Meru in the rainy season, O King.
तैस्तु मुक्ताञ्शरान्घोरान्यमदण्डाशनिप्रभान् । असंप्राप्तानसंभ्राकन्तिश्चिच्छेदाशु महारथः
But that great chariot-warrior swiftly cut down those terrible arrows, blazing like the rod of Death or thunderbolts, before they could reach him.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम सौमदत्तेः पराक्रमम् । यदेको बहुबिर्युद्धे समसञ्जदभीतवत्
There we beheld the wondrous valor of Saumadatti, who alone, in battle against many, stood unshaken and fearless.
विसृज्य शरवृष्टिं तां दश राजन्महारथाः । परिवार्य महाबाहुं निहन्तुमुपचक्रमुः
Then, O King, ten great chariot-warriors, having loosed their shower of arrows, surrounded the mighty-armed one and began to attack him.
समदत्तिस्ततः क्रुद्धस्तेषां चापानि भारत । चिच्छेद समरे राजन्युध्यमानो महारथैः
But Saumadatti, enraged, cut down their bows in battle, O Bharata, as he fought with those great chariot-warriors.
अथैषां छिन्नधनुषां शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः । चिच्छेद समरे राजञ्शिरांसि भरतर्षभ
Then, O bull among the Bharatas, with sharp, well-feathered arrows, he struck off the heads of those whose bows had been cut down, right there in the fight.
ते हता न्यपतन्राजन्वज्रभग्ना इव द्रुमाः । तान्दृष्ट्वा निहतान्वीरो रणे पुत्रान्महाबलान्
Those slain fell to the ground, O King, like trees shattered by a thunderbolt; seeing his mighty sons thus struck down in battle, the hero—
वार्ष्णेयो विनदराजन्भूरिश्रवसमभ्ययात्। रथं रथेन समरे पीडयित्वा महाबलौ
The Vṛṣṇi hero, roaring, advanced upon Bhūriśravas, pressing his chariot with his own in the fight, both being of great strength.
तावन्योन्यं हि समरे निहत्य रथवाजिनः । विरथावभिवल्गन्तौ समेयातां महारथौ
Those two great chariot-warriors, having slain each other's chariot-horses in battle, leapt down and closed in, both eager for combat.
प्रगृहीतमहाखङ्गौ तौ चर्मवरधारिणौ । शुशुभाते नरव्याघ्रौ युद्धाय समवस्थितौ
Grasping great swords and bearing shields, those tiger-like men shone as they stood ready for battle.
असह्यमसियुद्धाय भूरिश्रवसमाहवे। मत्वा वृकोदरस्तूर्णमभिप्लुत्य महारथः
Seeing Bhūriśravas in that fierce sword-fight, Vṛkodara, the great chariot-warrior, swiftly leapt forward, unable to endure it.
ततः सात्यकिमभ्येत्य निस्त्रिंशवरधारिणम् । भीमसेनस्त्वरन्राजन्रथमारोपयत्तदा
Then Bhīmasena, O King, quickly approached Sātyaki, who held a fine sword, and mounted him onto his chariot.
तवापि तनयो राजन्भूरिश्रवसमाहवे। आरोपयद्रथं तूर्णं पश्यतां सर्वधन्विनाम्
And your son too, O King, in the presence of all the archers, quickly mounted Bhūriśravas onto his chariot during that fierce encounter.
तस्मिस्तथा वर्तमाने रणे भीष्मं महारथम्। अयोधयन्त संरब्धाः पाण्डवा भरतर्षभ
While this was happening on the battlefield, O bull among the Bharatas, the enraged Pāṇḍavas fought with the great chariot-warrior Bhīṣma.
लोहितायति चादित्ये त्वरमाणो धनञ्जयः । पञ्चविंशतिसाहस्रान्निजघान महारथान्
As the sun reddened, Dhanañjaya, eager for battle, struck down twenty-five thousand great chariot-warriors.
ते हि दुर्योधनादिष्टास्तदा पार्थनिबर्हणे । संप्राप्यैव गता नाशं शलभा इव पावकम्
Those warriors, commanded by Duryodhana to check Pārtha, perished as soon as they approached, like moths in a flame.
ततो मत्स्याः केकयाश्च धनुर्वेदविशारदाः । परिवव्रुस्तदा पार्थं सहपुत्रं महारथम्
Then the Matsyas and the Kekayas, skilled in the science of archery, surrounded Partha, the great chariot-warrior, along with his son.
एवस्मिन्नेव काले तु सूर्येऽस्तमुपगच्छति। सर्वेषां चैव सैन्यानां प्रमोहः समजायत
At that very moment, as the sun was setting, confusion arose among all the armies.
अवहारं ततश्चक्रे पिता देवव्रतस्तव । संध्याकाले महाराज सैन्यानां श्रान्तवाहनः
Then your father Devavrata ordered the withdrawal, O King, as the armies, their vehicles weary, reached the twilight hour.
पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च परस्परसमागमे। ते सेने भृशसंविग्ने ययतुः स्वं निवेशनम्
As the forces of the Pandavas and the Kurus met each other, those armies, greatly agitated, returned to their own encampments.
ततः स्वशिबिरं गत्वा न्यविशंस्तत्र भारत। पाण्डवाः सृञ्जयैः सार्धं कुरवश्च यथाविधिः
Then, having reached their own camps, the Pandavas with the Srinjayas and the Kurus, each according to custom, settled down there, O Bharata.
विहृत्य तु ततो राजन्सहिताः कुरुपाण्डवाः । व्यतीतायां तु शर्वर्यां पुनर्युद्धाय निर्ययुः
After resting, O King, the Kurus and Pandavas together, when the night had passed, once again went out to battle.
ततः शब्दो महानासीत्तव तेषां च भारत । युज्यतां रथमुख्यानां कल्प्यतां चैव दन्तिनाम्
Then a great sound arose from your side and theirs, O Bharata, as the foremost chariots were yoked and the elephants prepared.
संनह्यतां पदातीनां हयानां चैव भारत। शङ्खदुन्दुभिनादश्च तुमुलः सर्वतोऽभवत्
The foot soldiers and horses were also arrayed, O Bharata, and everywhere there was a tumultuous sound of conches and drums.