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As soon as the battle began, and Suśarman had withdrawn, and the heroic warriors had been routed by the great-souled Pāṇḍava,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.
ध्वजमेकेन विव्याधक सारथिं चास्य पञ्चभिः । धनुरेकेषुणाऽविध्यत्तत्राक्रुध्यद्द्विजर्षभः
With one arrow he struck the banner, and with five he pierced his charioteer; with another arrow he hit the bow—there the best of twice-born grew angry.
तस्य द्रोणोऽवधीदश्वाञ्शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः। अष्टाभिर्भरतश्रेष्ठ सूतमेकेन पत्रिणा
Drona then slew his horses with well-feathered arrows, O best of Bharatas, and with a single winged shaft he killed his charioteer.
स हताश्वादवप्लुत्य स्यन्दनाद्धतसारथिः। आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं पुत्रस्य रथिनां वरः
Leaping down from his chariot, bereft of horses and charioteer, that foremost of warriors swiftly mounted the chariot of his son.
ततस्तु तौ पितापुत्रौ भारद्वाजं रथे स्थितौ । महता शरवर्षेण वारयामाससतुर्बलात्
Then those two, father and son, standing on the chariot, powerfully warded off Bharadvaja with a great shower of arrows.
भारद्वाजस्ततः क्रुद्धः शरमाशीविषोपमम् । चिक्षेप समरे तूर्णं शङ्खं प्रति जनेश्वरः
Thereupon, Bharadvaja, enraged, swiftly hurled in battle an arrow like a venomous serpent at Shankha, O lord of men.
स तस्य हृदयं भित्त्वा पीत्त्वा शोणितमाहवे। जगाम धरणीं बाणो लोहितार्द्रवरच्छदः
That arrow, piercing his heart and drinking his blood in the battle, fell to the earth, its golden feathers wet with gore.
स पपात रणे तूर्णं भारद्वाजशराहतः। धनुस्त्यक्त्वा शरांश्चैव पितुरेव समीपतः
Struck by Bharadvaja's arrow, he quickly fell in battle, casting aside his bow and arrows, right beside his father.
हतं तमात्मजं दृष्ट्वा विराटः प्राद्रवद्भयात्। उत्सृज्य समरे द्रोणं व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम्
Seeing his son slain, Virata fled in fear, abandoning Drona in the battle, as one would flee Death with gaping jaws.
भारद्वाजस्ततस्तूर्णं पाण्डवानां महाचमूम्। दारयामास समरे शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Then Bharadvaja, swiftly, began to tear through the great army of the Pandavas in battle, by hundreds and by thousands.
शिखण्डी तु महाराज द्रौणिमासाद्य संयुगे। आजघान भ्रवोर्मध्ये नाराचैस्त्रिभिराशुगैः
But Shikhandi, O great king, encountering Drona’s son in the fight, struck him between the brows with three sharp, swift arrows.