रथिनो रथिभिः सार्धं कुलपुत्रास्तनुत्यजः। परां शक्तिं समास्थाय चक्रुः कर्माण्यभीतवत्
Chariot-warriors, together with other charioteers, noble sons who had given up their lives, performed fearless deeds, taking up their utmost strength.
स्वयंवर इवामर्दे प्रजह्रुरितरेतरम् । प्रार्थयाना यशो राजन्स्वर्गं वा युद्धशालिनः
In that deadly contest, like a self-choice ceremony, they challenged one another, seeking either glory, O King, or the warrior's heaven.
तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तमाने संग्रामे रोमहर्षणे। धार्तराष्ट्रं महत्सैन्यं प्रययौ विमुखीकृतम्
As that hair-raising battle raged on, the great army of the Dhartarashtras turned and fled.
स्वसैन्यं निहतं दृष्ट्वा राजा दुर्योधनः स्वयम्। अभ्यधावत्सुसंक्रुद्धो भीमसेनमरिन्दमम्
Seeing his own army slain, King Duryodhana himself, greatly enraged, rushed against Bhimasena, the subduer of foes.
प्रगृह्य सुमहच्चापमिन्द्राशनिसमस्वनम् । महता शरवर्षेण पाण्डवं समवाकिरत्
Seizing his great bow, which roared like Indra's thunderbolt, he covered the Pandava with a mighty shower of arrows.
अर्धचन्द्रं च संधाय सुतीक्ष्णं लोमवापिनम् । भीमसेनस्य चिच्छेद चापं क्रोधसमन्वितः
Fitting a razor-sharp crescent arrow, with a shaft covered in hair, he, filled with wrath, cut Bhimasena's bow.
तदन्तरं च संप्रेक्ष्य त्वरमामो महारथः । प्रसंदधे शितं बाणं गिरीणामपि दारणम्
Seeing that opening, the swift-moving great warrior fitted a keen arrow, capable of rending even mountains.
तेनोरसि महाराज भीमसेनमताडयत् । स गाढविद्धो व्यथितः सृक्विणी परिसंलिहन्
With that arrow, O King, he struck Bhimasena in the chest; deeply wounded, Bhimasena, in pain, licked his sides.
समाललम्बे तेजस्वी ध्वजं हेमपरिष्कृतम्। तथा विमनसं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनं घटोत्कचः
The valiant Bhimasena grasped his gold-adorned banner for support; seeing him thus dispirited, Ghatotkacha—
क्रोधेनाभिप्रजज्वाल दिधक्षन्निव पावकः। अभिमन्युमुखाश्चापि पाण्डवानां महारथाः
Blazed with anger, as if he wished to burn like fire; and the great warriors among the Pandavas, led by Abhimanyu—
समभ्यधावन्क्रोशन्तो राजानं जातसंभ्रमाः । संप्रेक्ष्य तान्संपततः संक्रुद्धाञ्जातसंभ्रमान्
Rushed forward, shouting, toward the king, filled with agitation; seeing them charging, enraged and alarmed—
भारद्वाजोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं तावकानां महारथान् । क्षिप्रं गच्छत भद्रं वो राजानं परिरक्षत
Bharadvaja's son spoke these words to your great warriors: 'Go quickly, may good befall you; protect the king!'
संशयं परमं प्राप्तं मञ्जन्तं व्यसनार्णवे। एते क्रुद्धा महेष्वासाः पाण्डवानां महारथाः
'He has reached the utmost peril, sinking in a sea of calamity; these mighty bowmen, the great warriors of the Pandavas, are enraged.'
भीमसेनं पुरस्कृत्य दुर्योधनमुपाद्रवन्। नानाविधानि शस्त्राणि विसृजन्तो महारथाः
With Bhimasena at their head, they advanced upon Duryodhana, those great warriors, hurling many kinds of weapons.
नदन्तो भैरवान्नादांस्त्रासयन्तश्च भूमिपान् । तदाऽऽचार्यवचः श्रुत्वा सौमदत्तिपुरोगमाः
Roaring with terrifying cries, they struck fear into the kings; then, hearing the teacher's words, led by Saumadatti—
तावकाः समवर्तन्त पाम्डवानामनीकिनीम् । कृपो भूरिश्रवाः शल्यो द्रोणपुत्रो विविंशतिः
Your forces turned back to face the Pandava army; Kripa, Bhurishravas, Shalya, Drona's son, and Vivimsati—
चित्रसेनो विकर्णश्च सैन्धवोऽथ बृहद्बलः । आवन्त्यौ च महेष्वासौ कौरवं पर्यवारयन्
Citrasena, Vikarna, the Sindhu king, Brihadbala, and the two mighty archers from Avanti surrounded the Kaurava king.
ते विंशतिपदं गत्वा संप्रहारं प्रचक्रिरे । पाण्डवा धार्तराष्ट्राश्च परस्परजिघांसवःक
Having advanced twenty paces, they engaged in battle; the Pandavas and the sons of Dhritarashtra, each seeking the other's destruction.
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुर्महद्विष्फार्य कार्मुकम् । भारद्वाजस्ततो भीमं षड्विंशत्या समार्पयत्
Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed Bharadvaja, stringing his great bow, then struck Bhima with twenty-six arrows.
भूयश्चैनं महाबाहुः शरैः शीघ्रमवाकिरत् । पर्वतं वारिधाराभिः प्रावृषीव वलाहकः
Again, the mighty-armed one swiftly covered him with arrows, as a raincloud drenches a mountain with torrents in the rainy season.
तं प्रत्यविध्यद्दशभिर्भीमसेनः शिलीमुखैः । त्वरमाणो महेष्वासः सव्ये पार्श्वे महाबलः
Bhimasena, the mighty archer, quickly pierced him back with ten sharp arrows on his left side.
स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो वयोवृद्धश्च भारत। प्रनष्टसंज्ञः सहसा रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्
Deeply wounded, pained, and advanced in years, O Bharata, he suddenly lost consciousness and sat down in his chariot.
गुरुं प्रव्यथितं दृष्ट्वा राजा दुर्योधनः स्वयम् । द्रौणायनिश्च संक्रुद्धौ भीमसेनमभिद्रुतौ
Seeing his teacher distressed, King Duryodhana himself, together with Drona’s son, both enraged, rushed toward Bhimasena.
तावापतन्तौ संप्रेक्ष्य कालान्तकयमोपमौ । भीमसेनो महाबाहुर्गदामादाय सत्वरम्
Beholding those two advancing, resembling Death and Time’s end, mighty-armed Bhimasena swiftly seized his mace.
अवप्लुत्य रथात्तूर्णं तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः। समुद्यम्य गदां गुर्वी यमदण्डोपमां रणे
Leaping quickly from his chariot, he stood firm like a mountain, raising his heavy mace in battle, resembling Yama’s staff.
तमुद्यतगदं दृष्ट्वा कैलासमिव शृङ्गिणम्। कौरवो द्रोणपुत्रश्च सहितावभ्यधावताम्
Seeing him with mace upraised, like Kailasa with its peak, the Kaurava and Drona’s son together charged at him.
तावापतन्तौ सहितौ त्वरितौ बलिनां वरौ। अभ्यधावत वेगेन त्वरमाणो वृकोदरः
Those two, united and swift, foremost among the strong, rushed forward, and Vrikodara hastened to meet them with speed.
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य संक्रुद्धं भीमदर्शनम् । समभ्यधावंस्त्वरिताः कौरवाणां महारथाः
Seeing him advancing, enraged and dreadful to behold, the great chariot-warriors of the Kauravas hurriedly rushed to confront him.
भारद्वाजमुखाः सर्वे भीमसेनजिघांसया । नानाविधानि शस्त्राणि भीमस्योरस्यपातयन्
All, led by Bharadvaja, desiring to slay Bhimasena, hurled various kinds of weapons at Bhima’s chest.
सहिताः पाण्डवं सर्वे पीडयन्तः समन्ततः। तं दृष्ट्वा संशयं प्राप्तं पीड्यमानं महारथम्
All together surrounded the Pandava, pressing him from all sides; seeing that great chariot-warrior beset and in danger,