शिरांसि रथिनां भीष्मः पातयामास संयुगे। तालेभ्यः परिपक्वानि फलानि कुशलो नरः
In the battle, Bhishma struck down the heads of chariot-warriors, as a skilled man brings down ripe fruits from palm trees.
पतद्भिश्च महाराज शिरोभिर्धरणीतले। बभूव तुमुलः शब्दः पततामश्मनामिव
With the heads falling to the ground, O King, there arose a tumultuous sound, like the crashing of stones as they fall.
तस्मिन्सुतुमुले युद्धे वर्तमाने भयानके। सर्वेषामेव सैन्यानामासीद्व्यतिकरो महान्
In that exceedingly tumultuous and terrifying battle, there was great confusion among all the armies.
भिन्नेषु तेषु व्यूहेषु क्षत्रिया इतरेतरम् । एकमेकं समाहूय युद्धायैवावतस्थिरे
With the battle-formations broken, the Kshatriyas challenged one another, each calling out a rival to fight.
शिखण्डी तु समासाद्य भरतानां पितामहम् । अभिदुद्राव वेगेन तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्
But Shikhandi, approaching the grandsire of the Bharatas, rushed at him with speed, crying, 'Stand, stand!'
अनादृत्य ततो भीष्मस्तं शिखण्डिनमाहवे । प्रययौ सृञ्जयान्क्रुद्धः स्त्रीत्वं तस्य विचिन्तयन्
Then Bhishma, disregarding Shikhandi in the battle, went in anger against the Srinjayas, considering Shikhandi's womanhood.
सृंजयास्तु ततो दृष्ट्वा हृष्टं भीष्म महारणे । सिंहनादांश्च विविधांश्चक्रुः शङ्खविमिश्रितान्
Then the Srinjayas, seeing Bhishma delighted in the great battle, raised various lion-roars, mingled with the sound of conches.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपम् । पश्चिमां दिशमासाद्य स्थिते सवितरि प्रभो
Then the battle was joined, with chariots and elephants intermingled, as the sun stood in the western sky, O lord.
धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ पाञ्चाल्यः सात्यकिश्च महारथः । पीडयन्तौ भृशं सैन्यं शक्तितोमरवृष्टिभिः
Then Dhrishtadyumna of the Panchalas and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki pressed the army hard with showers of spears and javelins.
शस्त्रैश्च बहुभी राजञ्जघ्नतुस्तावकान्रणे । ते हन्यमानाः समरे तावका भरतर्षभ
And with many weapons, O King, they struck down your men in battle; and your warriors, O bull of the Bharatas, were slain in the fight.
आर्यां युद्धे मतिं कृत्वा न त्यजन्ति स्म संयुगम्। यथोत्साहं तु समरे निजघ्नुस्तावका रणे
Having resolved on noble conduct in battle, they did not abandon the fight, but, each according to his strength, struck down your men in the war.
तत्राक्रन्दो महानासीत्तावकानां महात्मानाम् । वध्यतां समरे राजन्पार्षतेन महात्मना
There arose a great outcry among your mighty warriors, O King, as they were slain in battle by the great-souled son of Prishata.
तं श्रुत्वा निनदं घोरं तावकानां महारथौ । विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ पार्षतं प्रत्युपस्थितौ
Hearing that dreadful roar of your men, the two great car-warriors, Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, advanced against the son of Prishata.
तौ तस्य तुरगान्हत्वा त्वरमाणौ महारथौ । छादयामासतुरुभौ शरवर्षेण पार्षतम्
Those two mighty car-warriors, swiftly killing his horses, covered the son of Prishata with a shower of arrows.
अवप्लुत्याथ पाञ्चाल्यो रथात्तूर्णं महाबलः । आरुरोहक रथं तूर्णं सात्यकेस्तु महात्मनः
Then the mighty son of Panchali swiftly leapt down from his chariot and quickly mounted the chariot of the great-souled Satyaki.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा महत्या सेनया वृतः। आवन्त्यौ समरे क्रुद्धावभ्ययात्स परंतपौ
Thereafter, King Yudhishthira, surrounded by his great army, advanced in battle against the two Avanti brothers, who were enraged and fierce in combat.
तथैव तव पुत्रोऽपि सर्वोद्योगेन मारिष । विन्दानुविन्दौ समरे परिवार्यावतस्थिवान्
In the same way, your son, O descendant of Bharata, with all his might, surrounded Vinda and Anuvinda in battle and took his stand.
अर्जुनश्चापि संक्रुद्धः क्षत्रियान्क्षत्रियर्षभः । अयोधयत संग्रामे वज्रपाणिरिवासुरान्
Arjuna too, furious, that bull among Kshatriyas, fought with the warriors in battle like Indra with the thunderbolt fighting the Asuras.
द्रोणास्तु समरे क्रुद्धः पुत्रस्य प्रियकृत्तव । व्यधमत्सर्वपाञ्चालांस्तूलराशिमिवानलः
Drona, enraged in battle and devoted to your son, struck down all the Panchalas like fire consuming a heap of dry grass.
दुर्योधनपुरोगास्तु पुत्रास्तव विशांपते । परिवार्य रणे भीष्मं युयुधुः पाण्डवैः सह
Then your sons, O lord of the people, led by Duryodhana, surrounded Bhishma in battle and fought with the Pandavas.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा लोहितायति भास्करे। अब्रवीत्तावकान्सर्वांस्त्वरध्वमिति भारत
Thereupon King Duryodhana, as the sun reddened, spoke to all your men, saying, 'Be swift!'
युध्यतां तु तथा तेषां कुर्वतां कर्म दुष्करम्। अस्तं गिरिमथारूढे अप्रकाशति भास्करे
As they fought on, performing difficult deeds, the sun, having reached the mountain, ceased to shine.
प्रावर्तत नदी घोरा शोणितौघतरङ्गिणी । गोमायुगणसंकीर्णा क्षणेन क्षणदामुखे
A dreadful river began to flow, its waves formed of streams of blood, filled with packs of jackals, at the onset of night.
शिवाभिरशिवाभिश्च रुवद्भिर्भैरवं रवम्। घोरमायोधनं जज्ञे भूतसङ्घैः समाकुलम्
With auspicious and inauspicious beings howling with a terrible sound, a fierce battle arose, crowded with hosts of spirits.
राक्षसाश्च पिशाचाश्च तथान्ये पिशिताशिनः । समन्ततो व्यदृश्यन्त शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Rakshasas and Pisachas, and other flesh-eating beings, appeared on all sides by the hundreds and thousands.
अर्जुनोऽथ सुशर्मादीन्राज्ञस्तान्सपदानुगान्। विजित्य पृतनामध्ये ययौ स्वशिबिरं प्रति
Then Arjuna, having defeated kings like Susharma and their followers in the midst of the army, went towards his own camp.
युधिष्टिरोऽपि कौरव्यो भ्रातृभ्यां सहितस्तथा। ययौ स्वशिबिरं राजा निशायां सेनया वृतः
Yudhishthira too, the Kaurava king, together with his brothers and surrounded by his army, went to his own camp at night.
भीमसेनोऽपि राजेन्द्र दुर्योधनमुखान्रथान् । अवजित्य ततः सङ्ख्ये ययौ स्वशिबिरं प्रति
Bhimasena also, O king, having vanquished Duryodhana and his chariot warriors in battle, then went towards his own camp.
दुर्योधनोऽपि नृपतिः परिवार्य महारणे। भीष्मं शान्तनवं तूर्णं प्रयातः शिबिरं प्रति
Duryodhana too, the king, having surrounded Bhishma, son of Shantanu, in the great battle, quickly went towards the camp.
द्रोणो द्रौणिः कृपः शल्यः कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः । परिवार्य चमूं सर्वाः प्रययुः शिबिरं प्रति
Drona, Drona's son, Kripa, Shalya, and Kritavarma the Satvata, having gathered all the troops, went towards the camp.