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.
यत्पुरा कथितं वीर त्वया राज्ञां समागमे। विराटनगरे तात सञ्जयस्य समीपतः
What you once declared, O hero, in the assembly of kings at Virāṭa's city, in the presence of Sañjaya—
भीष्मद्रोणमुखान्सर्वान्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैनिकान् । सानुबन्धान्हनिष्यामि ये मां योत्स्यन्ति सङ्गरे
I will slay all the warriors of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's army, led by Bhīṣma and Droṇa, along with their followers, whoever confronts me in battle.
इति तत्कुरु कौन्तेय सत्यं वाक्यमरिन्दम। क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मृत्य युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः
So, O son of Kunti, do that, O subduer of foes, for those words are true; remembering the duty of a warrior, fight without distress.
इत्युक्तो वासुदेवेन तिर्यग्दृष्टिरधोमुखः। अकाम इव बीभत्सुरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by Vasudeva, Bhīma, with a sidelong glance and head bowed, spoke these words, as if unwilling.
अवध्यानां वधं कृत्वा राज्यं वा नरकोत्तरम् । दुःखानि वनवासे वा किं नु मे सुकृतं भवेत्
Having slain those who should not be killed, what merit could there be for me in a kingdom that leads to hell, or in the hardships of forest exile?
चोदयाश्वान्यतो भीष्मः करिष्ये वचनं तव। पातयिष्यामि दुर्धर्षं भीष्मं कुरुपितामहम्
Drive the horses there, for Bhīṣma; I will do your bidding. I shall bring down the formidable Bhīṣma, the grandsire of the Kurus.
स चाश्वान्रजतप्रख्यांश्चोदयामास माधवः। यतो भीष्मस्ततो राजन्दुष्प्रेक्ष्यो रश्मिवानिव
Then Mādhava urged the horses, shining like silver, toward Bhīṣma, who was as hard to look at as the blazing sun.
ततस्तत्पुनरावृत्तं युधिष्ठिरबलं महत्। दृष्ट्वा पार्थं महाबाहुं भीष्मायोद्यतमाहवे
Thereupon, seeing mighty-armed Pārtha advancing against Bhīṣma in battle, the great army of Yudhiṣṭhira returned to the fight.
ततो भीष्मः कुरुश्रेष्ठः सिंहवद्विनदन्मुहुः । धनंजयरथं शीघ्रं शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्
Then Bhīṣma, the foremost of the Kurus, roaring like a lion again and again, swiftly covered Dhanañjaya's chariot with a shower of arrows.
क्षणेन स रथस्तस्य सहयः सहसारथिः । शरवर्षेण महता न प्राज्ञायत भारत
In a moment, that chariot, with its warriors and charioteer, was hidden by the great shower of arrows, O Bhārata.