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.
स बभौ रथशार्दूलो ललाटे संस्थितैस्त्रिभिः । शिखरैः काञ्चनमयैर्मेरुस्त्रिभिरिवोच्छ्रितैः
That tiger among charioteers shone with those three golden-crested arrows fixed in his forehead, like Mount Meru with its three lofty peaks.
अश्वत्थाम ततः क्रुद्धो निमेषार्धाच्छिखण्डिनः । ध्वजं सूतमथो राजंस्तुरगानायुधानि च
Then Ashvatthama, enraged, in half a moment struck down Shikhandin’s banner, charioteer, king, horses, and weapons.
शरैर्बहुभिराच्छिद्य पातयामास संयुगे ष। स हताश्वादवप्लुत्य रथाद्वै रथिनां वरः
Cutting them down with many arrows, he made them fall in the battle; bereft of horses, that foremost of chariot-warriors leapt down from his car.
खङ्गमादाय सुशितं विमलं च शरावरम् । श्येनवद्व्यचरत्क्रुद्धः शिखण्डी शत्रुतापनः
Seizing a spotless, keen-edged sword and a fine shield, Shikhandi, tormentor of foes, moved about in wrath like a hawk.
सखङ्गस्य महाराज चरतस्तस्य संयुगे । नान्तरं ददृशे द्रौणिस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
As he moved about in battle with sword in hand, O king, Drona’s son found no opening; it was a marvel to behold.
ततः शरसहस्राणि बहूनि भरतर्षभ । प्रेषयामास समरे द्रौणिः परमकोपनः
Then Drona’s son, greatly enraged, sent forth in battle countless thousands of arrows, O bull among the Bharatas.
तामापतन्तीं समरे शरवृष्टिं सुदारुणाम्। असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण चिच्छेद बलिनां वरः
That dreadful shower of arrows rushing upon him in battle, the best of the strong cut down with his keen-edged sword.
ततोऽस्य विमलं द्रौणिः शतचन्द्रं मनोरमम्। चर्माच्छिनदसिं चास्थ खण्डयामास संयुगे
Then Drona’s son, in the fight, shattered his spotless, beautiful shield adorned with a hundred moons, and broke his sword as well.
शितैस्तु बहुशो राजंस्तं च विव्याध पत्रिभिः । शिखण्डी तु ततः खङ्गं खण्डितं तेन सायकैः
With many sharp arrows, O King, he struck him repeatedly; but then Śikhaṇḍin, his sword shattered by those shafts—
आविध्य व्यसृजत्तूर्णं ज्वलन्तमिव पन्नगम् । तमापतन्तं सहसा कालानलसमप्रभम्
Having drawn his bow, he swiftly released a weapon blazing like a serpent; that missile, rushing forth suddenly, shone with the brilliance of the fire of destruction.