संमोह्य सर्वान्युधि कीर्तिमन्तो व्यूहं च तं मकरं मृत्युकल्पम् । प्रविश्य भीमेन रणे हतोऽस्मि घोरैः शरैर्मृत्युदण्डप्रकाशैः
Having bewildered all in battle, the renowned ones entered that makara formation, dreadful as death; there, I was struck down by Bhima with terrible arrows, shining like the rod of death.
क्रुद्धं तमुद्वीक्ष्य भयेन राज- न्संमूर्च्छितो न लभे शान्तिमद्य । इच्छे प्रसादात्तव सत्यसन्ध प्राप्तुं जयं पाण्डवेयांश्च हन्तुम्
Seeing him enraged, O king, I am overcome with fear and cannot find peace today; I desire, by your favor and truthfulness, to attain victory and slay the Pandavas.
तेनैवमुक्तः प्रहसन्महात्मा दुर्योधनं मन्युगतं विदित्वा। तं प्रत्युवाचाविमना मनस्वी गङ्गासुतः सस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठः
Thus addressed, the great-souled one, perceiving Duryodhana's anger, laughed and replied to him, the wise son of Ganga, foremost among weapon-bearers.
परेण यत्नेन विगाह्य सेनां सर्वात्मनाऽहं तव राजपुत्र। इच्छामि दातुं विजयं सुखं च न चात्मानं छादयेऽहं त्वदर्थे
With utmost effort, O prince, I penetrate the army for your sake; I wish to grant you victory and happiness, nor do I conceal myself for your benefit.
एते तु रौद्रा बहवो महारथा यशस्विनः शूरतमाः कृतास्त्राः । ये पाण्डवानां समरे सहाया जितक्लमा रोषविषं वमन्ति
But here are many fierce, renowned, and heroic great chariot-warriors, skilled in weapons, who aid the Pandavas in battle, having overcome fatigue and pouring forth the venom of wrath.
केनेह शक्याः सहसा विजेतुं वीर्योद्धताः कृतवैरास्त्वया च। अहं ह्येतान्प्रतियोत्स्यामि राज- न्सर्वात्मना जीवितं त्यज्य वीर
By whom could these, bold in strength and made your enemies, be suddenly conquered here? Yet, O king, I will oppose them with all my might, forsaking life, O hero.
रणे तवार्थाय महानुभाव न जीवितं रक्षितव्यं ममाद्य। सर्वांस्तवार्थाय सदेवदैत्याँ- ल्लोकान्दहेयं किमु शत्रुसेनाम्
For your sake in battle, O mighty one, I must not preserve my life today; for your sake, I would burn all worlds with gods and demons—what then of the enemy's army?
तान्पाण्डवान्योधयिष्यामि राजन् प्रियं च ते सर्वमहं करिष्ये
I will fight the Pandavas, O king, and I will do everything that pleases you.
सर्वाणि सैन्यानि ततः प्रहृष्टो निर्गच्छतेत्याह नृपांश्च सर्वान्। तदाक्षया तानि विनिर्ययुर्द्रुतं गजाश्वपादातरथायुतानि
Then, delighted, he ordered all the kings: 'Let all the armies march forth!' And those inexhaustible forces quickly went out, filled with elephants, horses, foot soldiers, and chariots.
प्रहर्षयुक्तानि तु तानि राज- न्महान्ति नानाविधशस्त्रवन्ति। स्थितानि नागाश्वपदातिमन्ति विरेजुराजौ तव राजन्बलानि
Those great armies, O king, filled with joy and bearing various weapons, stood with elephants, horses, and infantry; your forces shone brilliantly, O king.
शस्त्रास्त्रविद्भिर्नरवीरयोधै- रधिष्ठिताः सैन्यगणास्त्वदीयाः। रथौघपादातगजाश्वसङ्घैः प्रयाद्भिराजौ विधिवत्प्रणुन्नैः
Your divisions, led by heroic warriors skilled in weapons and missiles, advanced in proper order with masses of chariots, foot soldiers, elephants, and horses.
समुद्धतं वै तरुणार्कवर्णं रजो बभौ च्छादयत्सूर्यश्मीन्। रेजुः पताका रथदन्तिसंस्था वातेरिता भ्राम्यमाणाः समन्तात्
The dust, rising and golden like the young sun, shone, obscuring the rays of the sun; banners set on chariots and elephants fluttered, whirling everywhere, driven by the wind.
नानालिङ्गैः समरे तत्र राजन् मेघैर्युता विद्युतः खे यथैव। वृन्दैः स्थिताश्चापि सुसंप्रयुक्ता- श्चकाशिरे दन्तिगणाः समन्तात्
O King, there in battle, the groups of elephants, adorned with various insignia and well arrayed, shone all around, like clouds in the sky accompanied by lightning.
धनूंषि विष्फारयतां नृपाणां बभूव शब्दस्तुमुलोऽतिघोरः। विमथ्यतो देवमहासुरौघै- र्यथार्णवस्यादियुगे तदानीम्
As the kings drew their bows, a tumultuous and exceedingly terrible sound arose, like the churning of the ocean by the hosts of gods and great asuras at the beginning of time.
तदुग्रनागं बहुरूपवर्णं तवात्मजानां समुदीर्णकोपम् । बभूव सैन्यं रिपुसैन्यहन्त- युगान्तमेघौघनिभं तदानीम्
Then, your sons’ army, fierce with mighty elephants of many forms and colors, their wrath aroused, appeared ready to destroy the enemy host, resembling a mass of storm clouds at the end of an age.
प्रवृत्तमात्रे संग्रामे निवृत्ते च सुशर्मणि । भग्नेषु चापि वीरेषु पाण्डवेन महात्मना
As soon as the battle began, and Suśarman had withdrawn, and the heroic warriors had been routed by the great-souled Pāṇḍava,
क्षुभ्यमाणे बले तूर्णं सागरप्रतिमे तव। प्रत्युद्याते च गाङ्गेये त्वरितं विजयं प्रति
as your ocean-like army was swiftly thrown into turmoil, and Gāṅgeya advanced quickly toward victory,
दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनो राजा रणे पार्थस्य विक्रमम् । त्वरमाणः समभ्येत्य सर्वांस्तानब्रवीन्नृपान् ।। ेषां तु प्रमुखे शूरं सुशर्माणं महाबलम् । मध्ये सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य भृशं संहर्षयन्निव
King Duryodhana, seeing Pārtha’s valor in battle, hurriedly approached all those kings and spoke to them.
एष भीष्मः शान्तनवो योद्धुकामो धनञ्जयम् । सर्वात्मना कुरुश्रेष्ठस्त्यक्त्वा जीवितमात्मनः
Here is Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, eager to fight Dhanañjaya, the best of the Kurus, ready to give up his very life.
तं प्रयान्तं रणे वीरं सर्वसैन्येन भारतम् । संयत्ताः समरे सर्वे पालयध्वं पितामहम्
As that hero Bhīṣma advances into battle with the whole army, all of you must protect our grandsire on the field.
बाढमित्येवमुक्त्वा तु तान्यनीकानि सर्वशः । नरेन्द्राणां महाराज समाजग्मुः पितामहम्
Having replied, 'So be it,' all those divisions of kings, O great king, gathered around the grandsire.
ततः प्रयातः सहसा भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽर्जुनम् । रणे भारतमायान्तमाससाद महाबलः
Then suddenly Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, of great strength, approached Arjuna, who was advancing in battle.
महाश्वेताश्वयुक्तेन भीमवानरकेतुना । महता मेघनादेन रथेनातिविराजता
Arjuna, shining greatly, came in a chariot drawn by white steeds, bearing the banner of the fierce monkey, and resounding like a great cloud.
समरे सर्वसैन्यानामुपयानं धनञ्जयम्। अभवत्तुमुलो नादो भयाद्दृष्ट्वा किरीटिनम्
As Dhanañjaya, the diademed one, approached all the armies in battle, a tumultuous roar arose from fear at the sight of him.
अभीशुहस्तं कृष्णं च दृष्ट्वादित्यमिवापरम् । मध्यंदिनगतं सङ्ख्ये न शेकुः प्रतिवीक्षितुम्
Seeing Kṛṣṇa holding the reins, like a second sun at midday in the battle, they could not bear to look at him.
तथा शान्तनवं भीष्मं श्वेताश्वं श्वेतकार्मुकम् । न शेकुः पाण्डवा द्रष्टुं श्वेतं ग्रहमिवोदितम्
In the same way, the Pāṇḍavas could not look upon Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, with his white steeds and white bow, like a bright planet newly risen.
स सर्वतः परिवृतस्त्रिगर्तैः सुमहात्मभिः । भ्रातृभिः सह पुत्रैश्च तथाऽन्यैश्च महारथैः
He was surrounded on all sides by the Trigartas of great soul, along with his brothers, sons, and other great chariot-warriors.
भारद्वाजस्तु समरे मत्स्यं विव्याध पत्रिणा। ध्वजं चास्य शरेणाजौ धनुश्चैकेन चिच्छिदे
Bharadvāja, in battle, struck the Matsya king with a feathered arrow, and with another arrow in the fight, cut down his banner and bow.
तदपास्य धनुश्छिन्नं विराटो वाहिनीपतिः । अन्यदादत्त वेगेन धनुर्भारसहं दृढम्
Casting aside his broken bow, Virāṭa, the leader of the army, swiftly took up another strong bow, capable of bearing the strain.
शरांश्चाशीविषाकाराज्ज्वलितान्पन्नगानिव । द्रोणं त्रिभिश्च विव्याध चतुर्भिश्चास्य वाजिनः
He struck Droṇa with three arrows, blazing like serpents, and with four more, struck his horses, as if hurling fiery snakes.