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.
शरशक्त्यृष्टिनाराचैर्निघ्नन्तो गजयोधिनः । भिण्डिपालैस्तथा शूलैर्मुद्गरैः सपरश्वथैः
With arrows, spears, lances, and iron shafts, as well as with maces, tridents, clubs, and axes, they struck down the elephant warriors.
पर्वताग्रैश्च वृक्षैश्च निजघ्नुस्ते महागजान् । भिन्नकुम्भान्विरुधिरान्भिन्नगात्रांश्च वारणान्
With mountain peaks and trees, they struck those great elephants, shattering their heads, wounding their bodies, and covering them with blood.
अपश्याम महाराज वध्यमानान्निशाचरैः । तेषु प्रक्षीयमाणेषु भग्नेषु गजयोधिषु
O king, we saw the elephant warriors being slain by the Rakshasas; as they were being destroyed and routed,
दुर्योधनो महाराज राक्षसान्समुपाद्रवत्। अमर्षवशमापन्नस्त्यक्त्वा जीवितात्मनः
Duryodhana, O king, overcome by wrath and abandoning concern for his own life, rushed at the Rakshasas.
मुमोच निशितान्बाणान्राक्षसेषु परंतप । जघान च महेष्वासः प्रधानांस्तत्र राक्षसान्
The scorcher of foes released sharp arrows at the Rakshasas, and that mighty archer struck down their leaders there.
संक्रुद्धो भरतश्रेष्ठ पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव । वेगवन्तं महारौद्रं विद्युज्जिह्वं प्रमाथिनम्
O best of the Bharatas, your son Duryodhana, greatly enraged, attacked the swift, fierce, lightning-tongued destroyer.
शरैश्चतुर्भिश्चतुरो निजघान महाबलः । ततः पुनरमेयात्मा शरवर्षं दुरासदम्
With four arrows, the mighty one struck down four of them; then, immeasurable in spirit, he released an unendurable shower of arrows.
मुमोच भरतश्रेष्ठो निशाचरबलं प्रति। तत्तु दृष्ट्वा महत्कर्म पुत्रस्य तव मारिष
O best of the Bharatas, he released that shower of arrows upon the Rakshasa force; seeing your son’s great feat, O Marisha,
क्रोधेनाभिप्रजज्वाल भैमसेनिर्महाबलः । स विष्फार्य महच्चापमिन्द्राशनिसमप्रभम्
Bhimasena, mighty in battle, blazed with anger; stringing his great bow, shining like Indra’s thunderbolt,
अभिदुद्राव वेगेन दुर्योधनमरिन्दमम् । तमापतन्तमुद्वीक्ष्य कालसृष्टमिवान्तकम्
He rushed swiftly at Duryodhana, the subduer of enemies; seeing him charging, like Death created by Time,