युधिष्ठिरं द्वादशभिर्बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत्। धृष्टद्युम्नं ततो विद्ध्वा ननाद सुमहाबलः
He struck Yudhishthira with twelve arrows on the arms and chest; then, after wounding Dhrishtadyumna, the mighty one roared loudly.
तं द्वादशाख्यैर्नकुलो माधवश्च त्रिभिः शरैः । धृष्टद्युम्नश्च सप्तत्या भीमसेनश्च सप्तभिः । युधिष्ठिरो द्वादशभिः प्रत्यविध्यत्पितामहम्
Nakula struck him with twelve arrows, Madhava with three, Dhrishtadyumna with seventy, Bhimasena with seven, and Yudhishthira with twelve—all at the grandsire.
द्रोणस्तु सात्यकिं विद्ध्वा भीमसेनमविध्यत । एकैकं पञ्चभिर्बाणैर्यमदण्डोपमैः शितैः
Drona, having struck Satyaki, then wounded Bhimasena, each with five sharp arrows like iron rods.
तौ च तं प्रत्यविध्येतां त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरजिह्मगैः । तोत्रैरिव महानागं द्रोणं ब्राह्मणपुङ्गवम्
Both of them, in turn, struck Drona, the foremost of Brahmanas, with three straight-flying arrows each, like goads upon a great elephant.
सौवीरा कितवाः प्राच्याः प्रतीच्योदीच्यमालवाः । अभीषाहाः शूरसेनाः शिबयोऽथ वसातयः। संग्रमे नाजहुर्भीष्मं वध्यमानाः शितैः शरैः
The Sauviras, Kitavas, Praciyas, Praticyas, Malavas, Abhishahas, Shurasenas, Shibis, and Vasatas did not withstand Bhishma in battle, being struck by his sharp arrows.
तथैवान्ये महीपाला नानादेशसमागताः । पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त विविधायुधपाणयः । तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्परिवव्रुः पितामहम्
Likewise, other kings gathered from various regions advanced against the Pandavas, wielding diverse weapons; and in the same way, O King, the Pandavas surrounded the grandsire.
स समन्तात्परिवृतो रथौघैरपराजितः । गहनेऽग्निरिवोत्सृष्टः प्रजज्वाल दहन्परान्
Surrounded on all sides by waves of chariots, the undefeated one blazed forth, consuming his foes like a fire released in a thicket.
रथाग्न्यगारश्चापार्चिरसिशक्तिगजेन्धनः । शरस्फुलिङ्गो भीष्माग्निर्ददाह क्षत्रियर्षभान्
With his chariot as the fire-chamber, his bow as the flame, swords and spears as fuel, and arrows as sparks, Bhishma's fire burned the best of Kshatriyas.
यथा हि सुमहानग्निः कक्षे चरसि सानिलः ।' तथा भीष्मो महाराज दिव्यमस्त्रमुदीरयन्
Just as a great fire, fanned by the wind, moves through the underbrush, so did Bhishma, O great king, unleash his divine weapon.
सुवर्णपुङ्खैरिषुभिर्गार्ध्रपक्षैः सुतेजनैः । कर्णिनालीकनाराचैश्छादयामास तद्बलम्
With arrows having golden feathers, vulture wings, and excellent shafts, with karni, nalika, and naracha shafts, he covered that army.
अपातयद्ध्वजांश्चैव रथिनश्च शितैः शरैः । मुण्डतालवनानीव चकार स रथव्रजान्
He brought down standards and charioteers with his sharp arrows, making the groups of chariots resemble groves of headless palm trees.
निर्मनुष्यान्रथान्राजन्गजानश्वांश्च संयुगे। अकरोत्स महाबाहुः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः
In battle, the mighty-armed one, best among all wielders of weapons, rendered chariots, elephants, and horses devoid of men, O King.
तस्य ज्यातलनिर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशनेः। निशम्य सर्वभूतानि समकम्पन्त भारत
Hearing the twang of his bowstring, resounding like a thunderclap, all creatures, O Bharata, trembled.
अमोघा ह्यपत्नबाणाः पितुस्ते भरतर्षभ। नासज्जन्त तनुत्रेषु भीष्मचापच्युताः शराः
Indeed, the arrows released from your father's bow, O bull among the Bharatas, never failed; Bhishma's arrows did not lodge in weak targets.
हतवीरान्रथान्राजन्संयुक्ताञ्जवनैर्हयैः । अपश्याम महाराज ह्रियमाणान्रणाजिरे
O King, we saw chariots with slain warriors, yoked to swift horses, being carried away on the battlefield.
चेदिकाशिकरूषाणां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश । महारथाः समाख्याताः कलपुत्रास्तनुत्यजः । अपरावर्तिनः सर्वे सुवर्णविकृतध्वजाः
Fourteen thousand mighty chariot-warriors of the Cedis, Kāśis, and Karūṣas, famed as sons of kings, resolute in battle, all with golden-adorned banners, did not turn back.
संग्रामे भीष्ममासाद्य व्यादितास्यमिवान्तकम्। निमग्नाः परलोकाय सवाजिरथकुञ्जराः
Confronting Bhīṣma in battle, like facing Death with open jaws, they, along with their horses, chariots, and elephants, were plunged into the next world.
भग्नाक्षोपस्करान्कांश्चिद्भग्नचक्रांश्च भारत। अपश्याम महाराज शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
O King, we saw hundreds and thousands of chariots with broken axles and fittings, and shattered wheels.
सवरूथै रथैर्भग्नै रथिभिश्च निपातितैः । शरैः सुकवचैश्छिन्नैः पट्टसैश्च विशांपते
There lay broken chariots with their riders, fallen warriors, splintered arrows with fine shafts, and shattered swords, O lord of men.
गदाभिर्भिण्डिपालैश्च निशितैश्च शिलीमुखैः । अनुकर्षैरुपासङ्गैश्चक्रैर्भग्नैश्च मारिष
With maces, clubs, sharp arrowheads, yokes, upāsaṅgas, and broken wheels, O Māriṣa, the field was strewn.
बाहुभिः कार्मुकैः खङ्गैः शिरोभिश्च सकुण्डलैः। तलत्रैरङ्गुलित्रैश्च ध्वजैश्च विनिपातितैः। चापैश्च बहुधा च्छिन्नैः समास्तीर्यत मेदिनी
Arms, bows, swords, severed heads with earrings, shields, finger-guards, fallen banners, and many broken bows covered the earth.
गजारोहा गजान्राजन्हयांश्च हयसादिनः । अभिपेतुर्द्रुतं तत्र शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
O King, hundreds and thousands of elephant-riders fell with their elephants, and horsemen with their horses, rushing swiftly there.
यतमानाश्च ते वीरा द्रवमाणान्महारथान्। नाशक्नुवन्वारयितुं भीष्मबाणप्रपीडितान्
Those heroes, though striving, could not stop the great chariot-warriors fleeing, overwhelmed by Bhīṣma's shower of arrows.
महेन्द्रसमवीर्येण वध्यमाना महाचमूः । अभज्यत महाराज न च द्वौ समधावताम्
The great army, being slaughtered by one whose might was like Mahendra's, broke apart, O King, and not even two stood together.
आविद्धरथनागाश्वं पतितध्वजसंकुलम् । अनीकं पाण्डुपुत्राणां हाहाभूतमचेतनम्
The Pandava formation, filled with wounded chariots, elephants, and horses, and fallen banners, became a scene of wailing and unconsciousness.
जघानात्र पिता पुत्रं पुत्रश्च पितरं तथ। प्रियं सखाय चाक्रन्दे सखा दैवबलात्कृतः
Here, a father struck down his son, and a son likewise his father; beloved friends cried out as fate compelled them against each other.
विमुच्य कवचानन्ये पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैनिकाः । प्रकीर्य केशान्धावन्तः प्रत्यदृश्यन्त सर्वशः
Some soldiers of the Pandava army, casting off their armor and scattering their hair, were seen everywhere running in all directions.
तद्गोकुलमिवोद्भ्रान्तमुद्भान्तरथकूबरम् । ददृशे पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैन्यमार्तस्वरं तदा
Then, the Pandava army appeared like a herd of cattle thrown into confusion, with chariot-poles scattered, and the sound of distress rising.
प्रभज्यमानं सैन्यं तु दृष्ट्वा यादवनन्दनः । उवाच पार्थं बीभत्सुं निगृह्य रथमुत्तमम्
Seeing the army breaking apart, the son of Yadus restrained his excellent chariot and spoke to Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu.
अयं स कालः संप्राप्तः पार्थ यः काङ्क्षितस्तव। प्रहरास्मै नरव्याघ्र भीष्मायाहवशोभिने
This is the moment you have long desired, Pārtha; attack Bhīṣma, the glory of battle, O tiger among men.