एते हि बहवः शूराः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः। यथा हन्युर्न नः सेनां तथा माधव चोदय
'For these many valiant warriors, skilled in weapons and arrogant in battle, are here. O Mādhava, drive so that they do not destroy our army.'
एवमुक्तः स वार्ष्णेयः कौन्तेयेनामितौजसा । रथं श्वेतहयैर्युक्तं प्रेषयामास संयुगे
Thus addressed by the mighty son of Kunti, the Vṛṣṇi hero sent forth the chariot yoked with white horses into the battle.
निष्ठानको महानासीत्तव सैन्यस्य मारिष । यदर्जुनो रणे क्रुद्धः संयातस्तावकान्प्रति
A great tumult arose in your army, O Māriṣa, when Arjuna, enraged in battle, advanced against your forces.
समासाद्य तु कौन्तेयो राज्ञस्तान्भीष्मरक्षिणः । सुशर्माणमथो राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having approached those kings who were Bhishma’s protectors, the son of Kunti then spoke these words to Suśarmā, O King.
जानामि त्वां युधां श्रेष्ठमत्यन्तं पूर्ववैरिणम् । अनयस्याद्य संप्राप्तं फलं पश्य सुदारुणम्
'I know you as the foremost among warriors and an ancient enemy. Now see the dreadful fruit of your misdeeds that has come upon you today.'
अद्य ते दर्शयिष्यामि पूर्वप्रेतान्पितामहान् । एवं संजल्पतस्तस्य बीभत्सोः शत्रुघातिनः
'Today I shall show you your ancestors who have passed away before, O slayer of foes,' so spoke Bhībhatsu, the destroyer of enemies.
श्रुत्वापि परुषं वाक्यं सुशर्मा रथयूथपः । न चैनमब्रवीत्किंचिच्छुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम्
Hearing even such harsh words from Bhībhatsu, Suśarmā, the leader of chariot-warriors, did not reply with anything, good or bad.
अभिगम्यार्जुनं वीरं राजभिर्बहुभिर्वृतः। पुरस्तात्पृष्ठतश्चैव पार्श्वतश्चैव सर्वतः
Then, surrounded by many kings, Suśarmā approached the heroic Arjuna from the front, from behind, and from all sides.
परिवार्यार्जुनं सङ्ख्ये तव पुत्रैर्महारथः । शरैः संछादयामास मेघैरिव दिवाकरम्
That great chariot-warrior, with your sons, encircled Arjuna in battle and covered him with arrows, as clouds cover the sun.
ततः प्रवृत्तः सुमहान्संग्रामः शोणितोदकः। तावकानां च समरे पाण्डवानां च भारत
Then a great battle began, its waters blood, between your forces and the Pāṇḍavas, O Bhārata, on the field.
स ताड्यमानस्तु शरैर्धनंजयः पदाहतो नाग इव श्वसन्बली । बाणांश्च बाणेन महारथानां चिच्छेद चापानि रणे प्रसह्य
Struck by arrows, Dhanañjaya was like an elephant struck by the foot, breathing with force; and with his arrows, he forcibly cut down the bows of the great chariot-warriors in battle.
संछिद्य चापानि च तानि राज्ञां तेषां रणे वीर्यवतां क्षणेन। विव्याध बाणैर्युगपन्महात्मा निःशेषतां तेष्वथ मन्यमानः
Having cut down those bows of the valiant kings in a moment, the great-souled one pierced them all at once with arrows, thinking to leave none remaining.
निपेतुराजौ रुधिरप्रदिग्धा- स्ते ताडिताः शक्रसुतेन राजन्। विभिन्नगात्राः पतितोत्तमाङ्गा गतासवश्छिन्नतनुक्रकायाः
They fell upon the battlefield, smeared with blood, struck down by the son of Indra, O King; their bodies shattered, their heads severed, their lifeless forms lying broken.
महीं गताः पर्थबलाभिभूता विचित्ररूपा युगपद्विनेशुः। दृष्ट्वा हतांस्तान्युधि राजपुत्रां- स्त्रिगर्तराजः प्रययौ रथेन
Overcome by Arjuna's forces, they fell to the earth, displaying various forms, and perished all at once; seeing the slain princes in battle, the king of the Trigartas advanced in his chariot.
तेषां रथानामथ पृष्ठगोपा द्वात्रिंशदन्येऽभ्यपतन्त पार्थम्। तथैव ते तं परिवार्य पार्थं विकृष्य चापानि महारवाणि
Then, thirty-two others, defenders of the rear of their chariots, rushed against Arjuna; surrounding him in the same way, they drew their mighty bows, producing a great roar.
अवीवृषन्बाणमहौघवृष्ट्या यथा गिरिं तोयधरा जलौघैः। संपीड्यमानस्तु शरौघवृष्ट्या धनंजयस्तान्युधि जातरोषः
They poured forth a dense shower of arrows, like rainclouds flooding a mountain with torrents; pressed by that storm of arrows, Arjuna, filled with wrath, endured them in battle.
षष्ट्या शरैः संयति तैलधौतै- र्जघान तानप्यथ पृष्ठगोपान्। रथांश्च तांस्तनवजित्य सङ्ख्ये धनञ्जयः प्रीतमना यशस्वी
With sixty oil-polished arrows, he struck those rear guards in combat; conquering their chariots in the fight, the illustrious Arjuna rejoiced in his heart.
अथात्वरद्भीष्मवधाय जिष्णु- र्बलानि राजन्समरे निहत्य। त्रिगर्तराजो निहतान्समीक्ष्य महात्मना तानथ बन्धुवर्गान्
Then, eager to slay Bhishma, Arjuna, having destroyed the enemy forces in battle, saw the king of the Trigartas observing his slain kinsmen, those noble souls.
रणे पुरस्कृत्य नराधिपांस्तान् जगाम पार्थं त्वरितो वधाय अभिद्रुतं चास्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठं धनंजयं वीक्ष्य शिखण्डिमुख्याः
In battle, placing those kings at the forefront, he swiftly advanced toward Arjuna to kill him; seeing Arjuna, foremost among wielders of weapons, rushing forward, Shikhandi and the others watched.
अभ्यद्ययुस्ते शितशस्त्रहस्ता रिरक्षिषन्तो रथमर्जुनस्य। पार्थोऽपि तानापततः समीक्ष्य त्रिगर्तराज्ञा सहितान्नृवीरान
They approached, weapons in hand, to protect Arjuna's chariot; Arjuna, seeing those valiant warriors advancing with the king of the Trigartas, prepared himself.
विध्वंसयित्वा समरे धनुष्मान् गाण्डीवमुक्तैर्निशितैः पृषत्कैः । भीष्मं यियासुर्युधि संददर्श दुर्योधनं सैन्धवादींश्च राज्ञः
Destroying them in battle with sharp arrows released from Gandiva, he sought Bhishma on the field, and saw Duryodhana and the Sindhu kings.
गाङ्गेयमाजौ शरचापपाणिः
Bhishma, son of Ganga, stood in battle, holding bow and arrows.
भीष्मोऽपि दृष्ट्वा समरे कृतास्त्रान् स पाण्डवानां रथिनोऽभ्युदारान्। विहाय संग्राममुखे धनंजयं जवेन पार्थं पुनराजगाम
Bhishma, seeing the Pandava charioteers skilled in weapons, left Arjuna at the forefront of the battle and swiftly returned to confront him.
र्भीष्मं ययौ शान्तनवं रणाय
Arjuna advanced toward Bhishma, son of Shantanu, for battle.
तैः संप्रयुक्तैः स महारथाग्र्यै- र्गङ्गासुतः समरे चित्रयोधी। न विव्यधे शान्तनवो महात्मा समागतैः पाण्डुसुतैः समस्तैः
Engaged by those foremost great chariot-warriors, the son of Ganga fought with varied skill in battle; yet the great-souled Shantanu's son was not wounded by the assembled sons of Pandu.
अथैत्य राजा युधि सत्यसन्धो जयद्रथोऽत्युग्रबलो मनस्वी। चिच्छेद चापानि महारथानां प्रसह्य तेषां धनुषा वरेण
Then, King Jayadratha, steadfast and mighty, arrived in battle; he forcibly cut the bows of the great chariot-warriors with his excellent bow.
युधिष्ठिरं भीमसेनं यमौ च पार्थं कृष्णं युधि संजातकोपः । दुर्योदनः क्रोधविषो महात्मा जघान बाणैरनलप्रकाशैः
Duryodhana, filled with wrath, struck Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, the twins, Arjuna, and Krishna in battle with arrows blazing like fire.
कृपेण शल्येन शलेन चैव तथा विभो चित्रसेनेन चौजौ। विद्धाः शरैस्तेऽतिविवृद्धकोपै- र्देवा यथा दैत्यगणैः समेतैः
Kripa, Shalya, Shala, and the mighty Citrashena wounded them with arrows, their anger greatly increased, like the gods attacked by assembled hosts of demons.
छिन्नायुधं शान्तनवेन राजा शिखण्डिनं प्रेक्ष्य च जातकोपः। अजातशत्रुः समरे महात्मा शिखण्डिनं क्रुद्ध उवाच वाक्यम्
The king, seeing Shikhandi's weapon broken by Shantanu's son and anger rising, the great-souled Ajatashatru addressed Shikhandi with words in battle.
उक्त्वा तथा त्वं पितुरग्रतो मा- महं हनिष्यामि महाव्रतं तम्। भीष्मं शरौघैर्विमलार्कवर्णैः सत्यं वदामीति कृता प्रतिज्ञा
Having spoken thus, you, before your father, I will slay that great-vowed Bhishma with a shower of arrows shining like pure suns; I declare this promise as truth.