तस्मिंस्तु निहते वीरे राक्षसेनार्जुनात्मजे। विशोकाः समपद्यन्त धार्तराष्ट्राः सराजकाः
When that hero, Arjuna's son, was slain by the Rakshasa, the sons of Dhritarashtra and their kings became free from sorrow.
तस्मिन्महति संग्रामे तादृशे भैरवे पुनः। महान्व्यतिकरो घोरः सेनयोः समपद्यत
In that great and dreadful battle, once again, a terrible and fierce conflict arose between the two armies.
गजा हयाः पदाताश्च विमिश्रा दन्तिभिर्हताः । रथाश्वा दन्तिनश्चैव पत्तिभिस्तत्र सूदिताः
Elephants, horses, and foot soldiers, mingled together, were slain by elephants; chariots, horses, and elephants were likewise killed by infantry there.
तथा पत्तिरथौघाश्च हयाश्च बहवो रणे। रथिभिर्निहता राजंस्तव तेषां च संकुले
So too, many foot soldiers, charioteers, and horses in the battle were slain by charioteers, O King, and in that confusion—
अजानन्नर्जुनश्चापि निहतं पुत्रमौरसम्। जघान समरे शूरान्राज्ञस्तान्भीष्मरक्षिणः
Even Arjuna, not knowing his own son had been slain, struck down the brave kings who guarded Bhishma in battle.
तथैव तावका राजन्सृञ्जयाश्च सहस्रशः। जुह्वतः समरे प्राणान्निजघ्रुरितरेतरम्
Likewise, O King, your men and the Sṛñjayas, by the thousands, offered up their lives in battle, slaying each other.
मुक्तकेशा विकवचा विरथाश्छिन्नकार्मुकाः । बाहुभिः समयुध्यन्त समवेताः परस्परम्
With hair unbound, armor cast off, chariots lost, and bows broken, they fought each other hand to hand, joined together.
तथा मर्मातिगैर्भीष्मो निजघान महारथान्। कम्पयन्समरे सेनां पाण्डवानां परंतपः
So too, Bhishma struck down great warriors with deadly blows, shaking the Pandava army in battle, scorcher of foes.
तेन यौधिष्ठिरे सैन्ये बहवो मानवा हताः। दन्तिनः सादिनश्चैव रथिनोऽथ हयास्तथा
By him, in Yudhishthira’s army, many men were slain—elephant-riders, horsemen, charioteers, and cavalry as well.
तत्र भारत भीष्मस्य रणे दृष्ट्वा पराक्रमम् । अत्यद्भुतमपश्याम शक्रस्येव पराक्रमम्
There, O Bharata, witnessing Bhishma’s valor in battle, we saw a marvel, a prowess like that of Indra himself.
तथैव भीमसेनस्य पार्षतस्य च भारत। रौद्रमासीद्रणे युद्धं सात्यकस्य च धन्विनः
Likewise, O Bharata, the combat of Bhimasena, the son of Prishata, and the archer Satyaki was fierce and terrible in the battle.
दृष्ट्वा द्रोणस्य विक्रान्तं पाण्डवान्भयमाविशत् । एक एव रणे शक्तो निहन्तुं सर्वसैनिकान्
Seeing Drona’s might, fear entered the Pandavas; alone in battle, he seemed able to destroy all the warriors.
किं पुनः पृथिवीशूरैर्योधव्रातैः समावृतः। इत्यब्रुवन्महाराज रणे द्रोणेन पीडिताः
What then, if he were surrounded by earth’s valiant kings and hosts of warriors?—so spoke those afflicted by Drona in battle, O great king.
वर्तमाने तथा रौद्रे संग्रामे भरतर्षभ । उभयोः सेनयोः शूरा नामृष्यन्त परस्परम्
As that dreadful conflict raged, O bull among the Bharatas, the heroes of both armies could not tolerate each other.
आविष्टा इव युध्यन्ते रक्षोभूतैर्महाबलैः । तावकाः पाण्डवेयाश्च संरब्धास्तात धन्विनः
Possessed as if by mighty spirits, your men and the Pandavas, O father, fought furiously, all archers burning with wrath.
न स्म पश्यामहे कंचित्प्राणान्यः परिरक्षति। दैवासुराभे समरे तस्मिन्योधा नराधिप
We could see no one seeking to preserve his own life; in that battle, resembling a clash of gods and demons, the warriors fought, O lord of men.
इरावन्तं तु निहतं दृष्ट्वा पार्था महारथाः । संग्रामे किमकुर्वन्त तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
But when Iravan was slain, what did the great chariot-warriors, the sons of Pritha, do in the battle? Tell me this, Sanjaya.
इरावन्तं तु निहतं संग्रामे वीक्ष्य राक्षसः। व्यनदत्सुमहानादं भैमसेनिर्घटोत्कचः
Seeing Iravan slain in battle, the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, son of Bhimasena, let out a tremendous roar.
नदतस्तस्य शब्देन पृथिवी सागराम्बरा । सपर्वतवना राजंश्चचाल सुभृशं तदा
At the sound of his roar, the earth, ocean, and sky, with their mountains and forests, shook violently, O king.
अन्तरिक्षं दिशश्चैव सर्वाश्च प्रदिशस्तथा । `चेलुश्च सहसा तत्र तेन नादेन नादिताः
The atmosphere, the quarters, and all the directions trembled suddenly, resounding with that cry.
तं श्रुत्वा सुमहानादं तव सैन्यस्य भारत ।। ऊरुस्तम्भः समभवद्वेपथुः स्वेद एव च
Hearing that tremendous roar, O Bharata, the thighs of your army stiffened, they trembled, and sweat broke out.
सर्व एव महाराज तावका दीनचेतसः ।। सर्वतः समचेष्टन्त सिंहभीता गजा इव
All your men, O king, became faint-hearted; everywhere they moved about like elephants frightened by a lion.
नर्दित्वा सुमहानादं निर्घातमिव राक्षसः ।। ज्वलितं शूलमुद्यम्य रूपं कृत्वा विभीषणम्
After roaring that thunderous cry, the Rakshasa, brandishing a blazing spear and taking on a terrifying form, advanced.
नानारूपप्रहरणैर्वृतो राक्षसपुङ्गवैः ।। आजघान सुसंक्रुद्धः कालान्तकयमोपभः
Surrounded by leading Rakshasas with weapons of many kinds, he, furious as Death at the end of time, struck the enemy.
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य संक्रुद्धं भीमदर्शनम् ।। स्वबलं च भयात्तस्य प्रायशो विमुखीकृतम्
Seeing him charging, enraged and dreadful to behold, and their own troops mostly turning away in fear,
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा घटोत्कचमुपाद्रवत् ।। प्रगृह्य विपुलं चापं सिंहवद्विनदन्मुहुः
Then King Duryodhana rushed at Ghatotkacha, grasping his mighty bow and roaring again and again like a lion.
पृष्ठतोऽनुययौ चैनं स्रवद्भिः पर्वतोपमैः ।। कुञ्जरैर्दशसाहस्रैर्वङ्गानामधिपः स्वयम्
The lord of the Vangas himself followed him from behind with ten thousand elephants, each resembling a mountain and streaming with ichor.
पुत्रं तव महाराज चुकोप स निशाचरः । ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्
O great king, that night-wanderer became enraged at your son; then a tumultuous and hair-raising battle began.
राक्षसानां च राजेन्द्र दुर्योधनबलस्य च। गजानीकं च संप्रेक्ष्य मेघबृन्दमिवोदितम्
O king of kings, the Rakshasas and Duryodhana’s army, seeing the elephant division appear like a mass of clouds, engaged in combat.
अभ्यधावन्त संक्रुद्धा राक्षसाः शस्त्रपाणयः । नदन्तो विविधान्नादान्मेघा इव सविद्युतः
The Rakshasas, furious and armed with weapons, charged forward, roaring with many kinds of cries like thunderclouds with lightning.