न शृणोमि पुरा वाक्यं मर्त्यः पथ्यमिवौषधम् । तदिदं समनुप्राप्तं वचनं साधु भाषितम्
I did not heed those words before, like a mortal ignoring medicine that is wholesome; now those well-spoken words have come to pass.
विदुरद्रोणभीष्माणां तथाऽन्येषां हितैषिणाम् । अकृत्वा वचनं पथ्यं क्षयं गच्छन्ति कौरवाः
By not following the wholesome advice of Vidura, Drona, Bhishma, and others wishing well, the Kauravas go to destruction.
तदेतत्समतिक्रान्तं पूर्वमेव हि सञ्जय। तस्मान्मे वद तत्त्वेन यथा युद्धमवर्तत
This has already been transgressed, O Sanjaya, long ago; therefore, tell me truly how the battle unfolded.
मध्याह्ने मुमहारौद्रः संग्रामः समुपद्यत। लकक्षयकरो राजंस्तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
At midday, a fierce and terrible battle arose, causing the destruction of troops; O king, listen as I recount it.
ततः सर्वाणि सैन्यानि धर्मपुत्रस्य शासनात्। संरब्धान्यभ्यवर्तन्त भीष्ममेव जिघांसया
Then, by the command of the son of Dharma, all the armies, inflamed, advanced with the intent to slay Bhishma.
धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च सात्यकिश्च महारथः । युक्तानीका महाराज भीष्ममेव समभ्ययुः
Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi, and the mighty charioteer Satyaki, with their well-formed divisions, O king, moved against Bhishma.
विराटो द्रुपदश्चैव सहिताः सर्वसोमकैः । अभ्यद्रवन्त संग्रामे भीष्ममेव महारथम्
Virata and Drupada, together with all the Somakas, rushed in battle against Bhishma, the great charioteer.
केकया धृष्टकेतुश्च कुन्तिभोजश्च दंशितः । शुक्तानीका महाराज भीष्ममेव समभ्ययुः
The Kekayas, Dhrishtaketu, and the fierce Kuntibhoja, with their well-formed divisions, O king, moved against Bhishma.
अर्जुनो द्रौपदश्चैव कुन्तिभोजश्च दंशितः । दुर्योधनसमादिष्टान्राज्ञः सर्वान्समभ्ययुः
Arjuna, the son of Draupadi, and the fierce Kuntibhoja, all advanced against those whom King Duryodhana had ordered.
अभिमन्युस्तथा शूरो हैडिम्बश्च महारथः । भीमसेनश्च संक्रुद्धस्तेऽभ्यधावन्त कौरवान्
Abhimanyu, the valiant, and Hidimba, the great charioteer, along with the enraged Bhimasena, rushed against the Kauravas.
त्रिधाभूतैरवध्यन्त पाण्डवैः कौरवा युधि। तथैव कौरवै राजन्नवध्यन्त परे रणे
The Kauravas were struck down in battle by the Pandavas in three divisions, O King, and likewise the opposing side was struck down by the Kauravas in the fight.
द्रोणस्तु रथिनां श्रेष्ठः सोमकान्सृञ्जयैः सह । अभ्यधावत संक्रुद्धः प्रेषयिष्यन्यमक्षयम्
Then Drona, foremost among chariot-warriors, enraged, rushed upon the Somakas and Srinjayas, intending to send them to destruction.
तत्राक्रन्दो महानासीत्सृञ्जयानां महात्मानाम् । वध्यतां समरे राजन्भारद्वाजेन धन्विना
There arose a great outcry among the mighty-hearted Srinjayas, O King, as they were slain in battle by the bowman, the son of Bharadvaja.
द्रोणेन निहतास्तत्र क्षत्रिया बहवो रणे। विचेष्टन्तो हृदृश्यन्त व्याधिक्लिष्टा वरा इव
There, many Kshatriyas were struck down in battle by Drona; writhing, they were seen, afflicted by wounds, like splendid serpents.
कूजतां क्रन्दतां चैव स्तनतां चैव भारत। अनिशं शुश्रुवे शब्दः क्षुत्क्लिष्टानां नृणामिव
The sound of men, ceaselessly crying out, wailing, and groaning, O Bharata, was heard, as if from those tormented by hunger.
तथैव कौरवेयाणां भीमसेनो महाबलः । चकार कदनं घोरं क्रुद्धः काल इवापरः
In the same way, Bhimasena of great strength, enraged, wrought a terrible slaughter among the Kauravas, like another god of death.
वध्यतां तत्र सैन्यानामन्योन्येन महारणे । प्रावर्तत नदी घोरा रुधिरौघपरवाहिनी
There, in that great battle, as the armies slaughtered each other, a dreadful river began to flow, carrying away masses of blood.
स संग्रामो महाराज घोररूपोऽभवन्महान् । कुरूणां पाणडवानां च यमराष्ट्रविवर्धनः
That battle, O great king, became vast and terrible in form, increasing the domain of Yama for both the Kurus and the Pandavas.
ततो भीमो रणे क्रुद्धो रभसश्च विशेषतः। गजानीकं समासाद्य प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे
Then Bhima, furious and especially impetuous in the fight, attacked the elephant division and sent it to death.
तत्र भारत भीमेन नाराचाभिहता गजाः । पेतुर्नेदुश्च सेदुश्च दिशश्च परिबभ्रमुः
There, O Bharata, the elephants struck by Bhima with iron arrows fell, trumpeted, screamed, and wandered in all directions.
छिन्नहस्ता महानागाश्छिन्नगात्राश्च मारिष । क्रौञ्चवद्व्यनदन्भीताः पृथिवीमधिशेरते
Great elephants with severed trunks and limbs, O lord, terrified, cried out like cranes and lay upon the earth.
नकुलः सहदेवश्च हयानीकमभिद्रुतौ। ते हयाः काञ्चनापीडा रुक्मभाण्डपरिच्छदाः
Nakula and Sahadeva rushed upon the cavalry division; those horses, with golden headpieces and adorned with golden trappings,
वध्यमाना व्यदृश्यन्त शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। पतिद्भिस्तुरगै राजन्समास्तीर्यत मेदिनी
Were seen being struck down by the hundreds and thousands, O King, and the earth was covered with their fallen bodies.
निर्जिह्वैश्च श्वसद्भिश्च कूजद्भिश्च गतासुभिः । हयैर्बभौ नरश्रेष्ठ नानारूपधरैर्धरा
The earth shone, O best of men, with horses—some tongueless, some panting, some neighing, and some lifeless—of many forms.
अर्जुनेन हतैः सङ्ख्ये तथा भारत राजभिः । प्रबभौ वसुधा घोरा तत्रतत्र विशांपते
So too, O Bharata, the earth appeared dreadful in places, covered with kings slain in battle by Arjuna.
रथैर्भग्नैर्ध्वजैश्छिन्नैर्निकृत्तैश्च महायुधैः । चामरैर्व्यजनैश्चैव च्छत्रैश्च सुमहाप्रभैः
With broken chariots, severed banners, shattered great weapons, yak-tail whisks, fans, and splendid umbrellas,
हरैर्निष्कैः सकेयूरैः शिरोभिश्च सकुण्डलैः । उष्णीषैरपविद्धैश्च पताकाभिश्च सर्वशः
With ornaments, gold coins, armlets, heads with earrings, turbans cast aside, and scattered standards everywhere,
अनुकर्षैः शुभै राजन्योक्रैश्चैव सरश्मिभिः । संकीर्णा वसुधा भाति वसन्ते कुसुमैरिव
With yokes, beautiful royal harnesses, and reins, the earth was strewn, shining like spring with flowers.
एवमेष क्षयो वृत्तः पाण्डूनामपि भारत। क्रुद्धे शान्तनवे भीष्मे द्रोणे च रथसत्तमे
In this way, O Bhārata, destruction befell the Pāṇḍavas as well, when Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, and the mighty chariot-warrior Droṇa were enraged.
अश्वत्थाम्नि कृपे चैव तथैव कृतवर्मणि। तथेतरेषु क्रुद्धेषु तावकानामपि क्षयः
Likewise, when Aśvatthāman, Kṛpa, Kṛtavarman, and others were angered, destruction came upon your forces as well.