कवचैः शोणितादिग्धैर्विप्रकीर्णैश्च काञ्चनैः । रराज सुभृशं भूमिः शान्तार्चिर्भिरिवानलैः
With armor smeared with blood, scattered golden ornaments, the earth gleamed intensely, like a fire with its flames subdued.
विप्रविद्धैः कलापैश्च पतितैश्च शरासनैः । विप्रकीर्णैः शरैश्चैव रुक्मपुङ्खैः समन्ततः
With discarded quivers, fallen bows, and scattered arrows with golden feathers all around, the field was strewn.
रथैश्च सर्वतो भग्नैः किङ्किणीजालभूषितैः । वाजिभिश्च हतैर्बाणैः स्रस्तजिह्वैः सशोणितैः
The earth was strewn with shattered chariots adorned with networks of bells on all sides, and with horses struck down by arrows, their tongues lolling out, bloodied.
अनुकर्षैः पताकाभिरुपासङ्गैर्ध्वजैरपि । प्रवीराणां महाशङ्खैर्विप्रकीर्णैश्च पाण्डुरैः
It was covered with yokes, banners, and standards torn asunder, with the great conch shells of mighty warriors, and with pale, scattered ornaments.
स्रस्तहस्तैश्च मातङ्गैः शयानैर्विबभौ मही । नानारूपेरलंकारैः प्रमदेवाभ्यलङ्कृता
The ground shone with elephants lying fallen, their trunks slack, adorned with various ornaments, like a woman splendidly decorated.
दन्तिभिश्चापरैस्तत्र सप्राणैर्गाढवेदनैः । करैः शब्दं विमुञ्चद्भिः शीकरं च मुहुर्मुहुः
There, other elephants still living, wracked with intense pain, made sounds with their trunks and repeatedly sprayed water.
विबभौ तद्रणस्थानं स्यन्दमानैरिवाचलैः। नानारागैः कम्बलैश्च परिस्तोमेश्च दन्तिनाम्
That battlefield shone like mountains streaming with water, covered with blankets of many colors and the trappings of elephants.
वैदूर्यमणिदण्डैश्च पतितैरङ्कुशैः शुभैः। घण्टाभिश्च गजेन्द्राणां पतिताभिः समन्ततः
It was adorned with fallen, beautiful goads with shafts of cat's-eye gems, and with the bells of lordly elephants scattered all around.
विपाटितविचित्राभिः कुथाभिरङ्कुशैस्तथा। ग्रैवेयैश्चित्ररूपैश्च रुक्मकक्ष्याभिरेव च
There were torn, variegated leather coverings, goads, ornate collars, and golden breastplates with intricate designs.
यन्त्रैश्च बहुधा च्छिन्नैस्तोमरैश्चापि काञ्चनैः। `रराज सुभृशं भूमिस्तत्रतत्र विशांपते' अश्वानां रेणुकपिलै रुक्मच्छन्नैरुरश्छदैः
The earth shone greatly here and there, O lord of men, with many broken machines, golden spears, and the dust-streaked, gold-plated, chest-guards of horses.
सादिनां च भुजैश्छिन्नैः पतितैः साङ्गदैस्तथा। प्रासैश्च विमलैस्तीक्ष्णैर्विमलाभिस्तथर्ष्टिभिः
It was strewn with the severed arms of horsemen, fallen with their armlets, and with spotless, sharp spears and shining lances.
उष्णीषैश्च तथा चित्रैर्विप्रविद्धैस्ततस्ततः। विचित्रैर्बाणवर्षैश्च जातरूपपरिष्कृतैः
There were also scattered, colorful turbans and showers of arrows adorned with gold, fallen in many places.
अश्वास्तरपरिस्तोमै राङ्कवैर्मृदितैस्तथा। नरेन्द्रचूडामणिभिर्विचित्रैश्च महाधनैः
There were heaps of horse-armor trampled and broken, and the splendid, jeweled diadems of kings, scattered about.
छत्रैस्तथापविद्धैश्च चामरैर्व्यजनैरपि । पद्मेन्दुद्युतिभिश्चैव वदनैश्चारुकुण्डलैः
There were also discarded umbrellas, yak-tail fans, and faces radiant as lotuses and moons, adorned with lovely earrings.
क्लृप्तश्मश्रुभिरत्यर्थं वीराणां समलङ्कृतैः । अपविद्धैर्महाराज सुवर्णाज्ज्वलकुण्डलैः
There were faces of warriors with well-groomed beards, richly adorned, and cast-off, blazing golden earrings, O great king.
ग्रहनक्षत्रशबला द्यौरिवासीद्वसुंधरा। एवमेते महासेने मृदिते तत्र भारत
The earth appeared like the sky speckled with planets and stars; thus, O Bharata, was the great army crushed there.
परस्परं समासाद्य तव तेषां च संयुगे । तेषु श्रान्तेषु भग्नेषु मृदितेषु च भारत
In that battle, as your men and theirs met each other, they grew weary, were broken, and crushed, O Bharata.
रात्रिः समभवत्तत्र नापश्याम ततोऽनुगान् । ततोऽवहारं सैकन्यानां प्रचुक्रुः कुरुपाण्डवाः
Night then fell there; we could no longer see our followers. Then the Kurus and Pandavas began the withdrawal of their troops.
घोरे निशामुखे रौद्रे वर्तमाने महाभये। अवहारं ततः कृत्वा सहिताः कुरुपाणड्वाः । न्यविशन्त निशाकाले गत्वा स्वशिबिरं तदा
As the dreadful, terrifying night approached, with great fear prevailing, the Kurus and Pandavas withdrew together and, reaching their camps, settled down for the night.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः। दुःशासनश्च पुत्रस्ते सूतपुत्रश्च दुर्जयः
Then King Duryodhana, Shakuni son of Subala, your son Duhshasana, and the son of the charioteer, Durjaya, gathered together.
समागम्य महाराज मन्त्रं चक्रुर्विवक्षितम् । कथं पाण्डुसुताः सङ्ख्ये जेतव्याः सगणा इति
Having assembled, O great king, they held a deliberate council, discussing how the sons of Pandu, together with their allies, might be defeated in battle.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा सर्वांस्तानाह मन्त्रिणः । सूतपुत्रं समाभाष्य सौबलं च महाबलम्
Then King Duryodhana addressed all those counselors, speaking to the son of the charioteer and the mighty son of Subala.
द्रोणो भीष्म कृपः शल्यः सौमदत्तिश्च संयुगे। न पार्थान्प्रति बाधन्ते न जाने किंनु कारणम्
Drona, Bhishma, Kripa, Shalya, and Saumadatti in battle do not press hard against the sons of Pritha; I do not know what the reason is.
अवध्यमानास्ते चापि क्षपयन्ति बलं मम। सोऽस्मि क्षीणबलः कर्ण क्षीणशस्त्रश्च संयुगे
Though they are not being slain, they are destroying my army; thus, I am left with depleted forces, Karna, and my weapons are exhausted in battle.
द्रोणस्य प्रमुखे वीरा हतास्ते भ्रातरो मम। भीमसेनेन राधेय मम चैव च पश्यतः
In the presence of Drona, my brothers—heroes—have been slain by Bhimasena, O son of Radha, even as I myself looked on.
निकृतः पाण्डवैः शूरैरवध्यैर्दैवतैरपि । सोऽहं संशयमापन्नः प्रकरिष्ये कथं रणम्
I have been outmaneuvered by the valiant Pandavas, who are invincible even to the gods; thus, I am plunged into doubt—how shall I continue this war?
तमब्रवीन्महाराज सूतपुत्रो नराधिपम् । मा शोच भरतश्रेष्ठ करिष्येऽहं प्रियं तव
To him, the son of the charioteer spoke, O king, addressing the lord of men: 'Do not grieve, best of the Bharatas; I will accomplish what is dear to you.'
भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तूर्णमपयातु महारणात् । निवृत्ते युधि गाङ्गेये न्यस्तशस्त्रे च भारत
Let Bhishma, son of Shantanu, swiftly withdraw from the great battle; when the son of Ganga ceases fighting and lays down his arms, O Bharata—
अहं पार्थान्हनिष्यामि सहितान्सर्वसोमकैः । पश्यतो युधि भीष्मस्य शपे सत्येन ते नृप
I will slay the sons of Pritha, together with all the Somakas, in battle as Bhishma looks on; I swear this to you in truth, O king.
पाण्डवेषु दयां नित्यं स हि भीष्मः करोति वै। अशक्तश्च रणे भीष्मो जेतुमेतान्महारथान्
For Bhishma always shows compassion toward the Pandavas, and he is unable to conquer these great chariot-warriors in battle.