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.
अभिमानी रणे भीष्मो नित्यं चापि रणप्रियः । स कथं पाण्डवान्युद्धे जेष्यते तात संगतान्
Bhishma is proud in battle and always delights in war; how then, father, will he defeat the united Pandavas in combat?
स त्वं शीघ्रमितो गत्वा भीष्मस्य शिबिरं प्रति । अनुमान्य गुरुं वृद्धं शस्त्रं न्यासय भारत
Therefore, go quickly from here to Bhishma's camp; having obtained the consent of the venerable elder, make him lay down his weapons, O Bharata.
न्यस्तशस्त्रे ततो भीष्मे निहतान्पश्य पाण्डवान् । मयैकेन रणे राजन्ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान्
When Bhishma has laid down his arms, then behold the Pandavas, along with their friends, allies, and kinsmen, slain by me alone in battle, O king.
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव । अब्रवीद्भ्रातरं तत्र दुःशासनमिदं वचः
Thus addressed by Karna, your son Duryodhana then spoke these words to his brother Duhshasana there.
अनुयात्रं यथा सर्वं सज्जीभवति सर्वशः । दुःशासन तथा क्षिप्रं सर्वमेवोपपादय
'See to it, Duhshasana, that all the arrangements for the march are made ready in every way, and do so quickly.'
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्कर्णमाह जनेश्वरः । अनुमान्य रणे भीष्ममेषोऽहं द्विपदां वरम्
Having spoken thus, the king then said to Karna, 'Having obtained Bhishma's consent in battle, I will come to you, best among men.'
आगमिष्ये ततः क्षिप्रं त्वत्सकाशमरिन्दम। अपक्रान्ते ततो भीष्मे प्रहरिष्यसि संयुगे
'After that, I will quickly come to you, subduer of foes; when Bhishma has withdrawn, you shall strike in battle.'
निष्पपात ततस्तूर्णं पुत्रस्तव विशांपते । सहितो भ्रातृभिस्तैस्तु देवैरिव शतक्रतुः
Then your son, O lord of the people, swiftly set out, accompanied by his brothers, like Shakra among the gods.
ततस्तं नृपशार्दूलं शार्दूलसमविक्रमम् । आरोपयद्धयं तूर्णं भ्राता दुःशासनस्तदा
Then, Duhshasana swiftly mounted that tiger among men, whose valor was like a tiger's.
अङ्गदी बद्धमुकुटो हस्ताभरणवान्नृप । धार्तराष्ट्रो महाराज विबभौ स पथि व्रजन्
The son of Dhritarashtra, adorned with armlets, a fastened crown, and ornaments on his hands, shone as he proceeded along the road, O King.