प्रतरिष्ये महापारं भुजाभ्यां समरोदधिम् । नायं क्लीबायितुं कालो विद्यते माधव क्वचित्
I will cross this vast ocean of battle with my arms. This is not the time, O Madhava, to act as a coward.
एवमुक्तस्तु पार्थेन केशवः परवीरहा। चोदयामास तानश्वान्पाण्डुरान्वातरंहसः
Thus addressed by Partha, Keshava, destroyer of enemy heroes, drove the white horses with great speed.
अथ शब्दो महानासीत्तव सैन्यस्य भारत। मारुतोद्धूतवेगस्य सागरस्येव पर्वणि
Then a great sound arose from your army, O Bharata, like the roar of the ocean stirred by the wind at the full moon.
अपराह्णे महाराज संग्रामः समपद्यत । पर्जन्यसमनिर्घोषो भीष्मस्य सह पाण्डवैः
In the afternoon, O King, battle commenced, its thunder like that of storm clouds, between Bhishma and the Pandavas.
ततो राजंस्तव सुता भीमसेनमुपाद्रवन् । परिवार्य रणे द्रोणं वसवो वासवं यथा
Then, O King, your sons surrounded Bhimasena in battle, as the Vasus surround Indra.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मः कृपश्च रथिनां वरः। भगदत्तः सुशर्मा च धनंजयमुपाद्रवन्
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, Kripa the foremost of charioteers, Bhagadatta, and Susharma attacked Dhananjaya.
हार्दिक्यो बाह्लिकश्चैव सात्यकिं समभिद्रुतौ । अम्बष्ठकस्तु नृपतिरभिमन्युमवस्थितः
Hardikya and Bahlika rushed against Satyaki, and the king of the Ambashtas confronted Abhimanyu.
शेषास्त्वन्ये महाराज शेषानेव महारथान् । ततः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं भयावहम्
The remaining warriors, O King, engaged the other great chariot-warriors. Then a fierce and terrifying battle began.
भीमसेनस्तु संप्रेक्ष्य पुत्रांस्तव विशांपते'। प्रजज्वाल रणे क्रुद्धो हविषा हव्यवाडिव
Bhimasena, seeing your sons, O lord of men, blazed with anger in battle like a sacrificial fire fed with offerings.
पुत्रास्तु तव कौन्तेयं छादयांचक्रिरे शरैः। प्रावृषीव महाराज जलदा इव पर्वतम्
Your sons covered the son of Kunti with arrows, O King, as rain clouds cover a mountain in the monsoon.
स च्छाद्यमानो बहुधा पुत्रैस्तव विशांपते । सृक्विणी संलिहन्वीरः शार्दूल इव दर्पितः
Though covered in many ways by your sons, O lord of men, the hero licked his lips like a proud tiger.
व्यूढोरस्कस्ततो भीमः पोथयामास पार्थिवम् । क्षुरप्रेण सुतीक्ष्णेन सुमुक्तेन महारणे
Then Bhima, his chest expanded, struck the king with a razor-sharp, well-formed arrow in the great battle.
ताडयामास संक्रुद्धः सोऽभवद्व्यथितेन्द्रियः । अपरेण तु भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन तु। अपातयत्कुण्डलितं सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा
Enraged, he struck again, causing distress to his senses. With another sharp, golden arrow, he felled him, as a lion fells a small animal.
ततः सुनिशितान्बाणान्भीमसेनः शिलाशितान् । स सप्त संदधे हन्तुं पुत्रास्ते भरतर्षभ
Then Bhimasena, with arrows sharpened like stones, prepared seven to slay your sons, O bull among Bharatas.
प्रेषिता भिमसेनेन शरास्ते दृढधन्वना । अपातयन्त पुत्रांस्ते रथेभ्यः सुमहारथान्
Sent by Bhimasena, those arrows from his strong bow struck down your sons, the great chariot-warriors, from their chariots.
अनाधृष्टिं कुण्डभेदिं विराजं दीप्तलोचनम् । दीर्घबाहुं सुबाहुं च तथैव मकरध्वजम्
Anadhṛṣṭi, Kuṇḍabhedin, Virāja with shining eyes, Dīrghabāhu, Subāhu, and likewise Makaradhvaja.
प्रपतन्तिस्म वीरास्ते विरेजुर्भरतर्षभ। वसन्ते पुष्पशबलाः किंशुकाः पतिता इव
Those heroes fell, O bull among the Bharatas, shining like kimshuka trees covered in blossoms, dropping in the spring.
ततः प्रदुद्रुवुः शेषास्तव पुत्रा महाहवे । तं कालमिव मन्यन्तो भीमसेनं महाबलम्
Then the rest of your sons fled from the great battle, regarding mighty Bhimasena as Time itself.
द्रोणस्तु समरे वीरं निर्दहनक्तं सुतांस्तव । यथाद्रिं वारिधाराभिः समन्ताद्व्यकिरच्छरैः
But Drona, in the fight, scorched your sons with his arrows, surrounding the hero as rain clouds envelop a mountain.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम कुन्तीपुत्रस्य पौरुषम् । द्रोणेन वार्यमाणोऽपि निजघ्ने यत्सुतांस्तव
There we witnessed the wondrous valor of Kunti's son, who, though restrained by Drona, struck down your sons.
यथा गोवृषभो वर्षं संधारयति स्वात्पतत् । भीमस्तथा द्रोणमुक्तं शरवर्षमदीधरत्
Just as a bull withstands the rain falling upon it, so Bhima endured the shower of arrows released by Drona.
अद्भुतं च महाराज तत्र चक्रे वृकोदरः । यत्पुत्रांस्तेऽवधीत्सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं चैव न्यवारयत्
And there, O king, Vrikodara performed a marvel: he slew your sons in battle and also repelled Drona.
पुत्रेषु तव वीरेषु चिक्रीडार्जुनपूर्वजः । मृगेष्विव महाराज चरन्व्याघ्रो महाबलः
Among your heroic sons, Arjuna's elder brother played, O king, like a mighty tiger roaming among deer.
यथा हि पशुमध्यस्थो द्रावयेत पशून्वृकः । वृकोदरस्तव सुतांस्तथा व्यद्रावयद्रणे
Just as a wolf in the midst of cattle scatters them, so Vrikodara drove your sons away in battle.
गाङ्गेयो भगदत्तश्च गोतमश्च महारथाः । पाण्डवं रभसं युद्धे वारयामासुरर्जुनम्
Ganga's son, Bhagadatta, and Gautama, great chariot-warriors, strove to check Arjuna's fierce advance in battle.
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य तेषां सोऽतिरथो रणे प्रवीरांस्तव सैन्येषु प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे
That supreme chariot-warrior countered their weapons with his own, and sent your valiant soldiers to death on the battlefield.
अभिमन्युस्तु राजानमम्बष्ठं लोकविश्रुतम् । विरथं रथिनां श्रेष्ठं कारयामास सायकैः
Abhimanyu, with arrows, rendered the renowned king of the Ambashtas, foremost among chariot-warriors, without a chariot.
विरथो वध्यमानस्तु सौभद्रेण यशस्विना । अवप्लुत्य रथात्तूर्णमम्बष्ठो वसुधाधिपः
Deprived of his chariot and being attacked by the illustrious son of Subhadra, the king of the Ambashtas swiftly leapt from his chariot to the ground.
असिं चिक्षेप समरे सौभद्रस्य महात्मनः । आरुरोह रथं चैव हार्दिक्यस्य महाबलः
In battle, he hurled a sword at the great-souled son of Subhadra, and then climbed onto the powerful chariot of Hardikya.
आपतन्तं तु निस्त्रिंशं युद्धमार्गविशारदः । लाघवाद्व्यंसयामास सौभद्रः परवीरहा
As the sword came rushing, Subhadra's son, skilled in the ways of battle, evaded it with agility, slayer of enemy heroes.