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.
वासुदेवस्त्वसंभ्रान्तो धैर्यमास्थाय सत्वरः । चोदयामास तानश्वान्विनुन्नान्भीष्मसायकैः
But Vāsudeva, undisturbed and resolute, quickly urged on those horses, though struck by Bhīṣma's arrows.
ततः पार्थो धनुर्गृह्य दिव्यं जलदनिःस्वनम् । पातयामास भीष्मस्य धनुश्छित्त्वा शितैः शरैः
Then Pārtha, seizing his divine bow that thundered like a cloud, struck down Bhīṣma's bow with sharp arrows.
स च्छिन्नधन्वा कौरव्यः पुनरन्यन्महद्धनुः । निमेषान्तरमात्रेण सज्यं चक्रे पिता तव
That descendant of the Kauravas, his bow cut down, immediately took up another great bow and strung it in the blink of an eye, O son of the father.
चकर्ष च ततो दोर्भ्यां धनुर्जलदनिःस्वनम् । अथास्य तदपि क्रुद्धश्चिच्छेद धनुरर्जुनः । तस्य तत्पूजयामास लाघवं शन्तनोः सुतः
He drew that bow with both arms, and it sounded like a cloud; but Arjuna, enraged, cut down that bow as well. The son of Śantanu honored his swiftness.
गाङ्गेयस्त्वब्रवीत्पार्थं धन्विश्रेष्ठमरिंदम। साधुसाधु महाबाहो साधु कुन्तीसुतेति च
The son of Ganga then spoke to Pārtha, the best of archers, subduer of foes: 'Well done, well done, mighty-armed one! Well done, son of Kunti!'
समाभाष्यैवमपरं प्रगृह्य रुचिरं धनुः। मुमोच समरे भीष्मः शरान्पार्थरथं प्रति
Having spoken thus, Bhīṣma took up another splendid bow and, in battle, released arrows at Pārtha's chariot.
अदर्शयद्वसुदेवो हययाने परं बलम्। मोघान्कुर्वञ्शरांस्तस्य मण्डलानि निदर्शयन्
Vāsudeva displayed supreme skill in driving, making Bhīṣma's arrows miss their mark, showing circles with the chariot.
शुशुभाते नरव्याघ्रौ तौ भीष्मशरविक्षतौ । गोवृषाविव संरब्धौ विषाणोल्लिखिताङ्कितौ
Those two tigers among men, wounded by Bhīṣma's arrows, shone like two enraged bulls, their bodies marked by the horns.
वासुदेवस्तु संप्रेक्ष्य पार्थस्य मृदुयुद्धताम् । भीष्मं च शरवर्षाणि सृजन्तमनिशं युधि
But Vāsudeva, seeing Pārtha's gentle fighting and Bhīṣma ceaselessly releasing showers of arrows in battle—
प्रतपन्तमिवादित्यं मध्यमासाद्य सेनयोः । वरान्वरान्विनिघ्नन्तं पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैनिकान्
—like the blazing sun in the midst of the armies, striking down the foremost warriors among the sons of Pāṇḍu.
युगान्तमिव कुर्वाणं भीष्मं यौधिष्ठिरे बले । नामृष्यत महाबाहुर्माधवः परवीरहा
Madhava, the mighty slayer of enemy heroes, could not bear to see Bhishma in Yudhishthira’s army, raging like the end of an age.
उत्सृज्य रजतप्रख्यान्हयान्पार्थस्य मारिष । वासुदेवस्ततो योगी प्रचस्कन्द महारथात्
Abandoning Partha’s horses, shining like silver, Vasudeva, the yogi, then leapt down from the great chariot.
अभिदुद्राव भीष्मं स भुजप्रहरणो बली। प्रतोदपाणिस्तेजस्वी सिंहवद्विनदन्मुहुः
Armed with his arm as a weapon, powerful, whip in hand, brilliant, he charged at Bhishma, roaring again and again like a lion.
दारयन्निव पद्भ्यां स जगतीं जगदीश्वरः । क्रोधताम्रेक्षणः कृष्णो जिघांसुरमितद्युतिः
Krishna, lord of the world, his eyes reddened with anger, seemed to tear the earth with his feet, intent on slaying his radiant foe.
ग्रसन्निव च तेजांसि तावकानां महाहवे । दृष्ट्वा माधवमाक्रन्दे भीष्मायोद्यतमन्तिके
As if devouring the energies of your men in the great battle, Madhava, in his fury, was seen advancing on Bhishma, ready to strike nearby.
हतो भीष्मो हतो भीष्म इति तत्रस्म सैनिकाः । क्रोशन्तः प्राद्रवन्सर्वे वासुदेवभयातुराः
‘Bhishma is slain! Bhishma is slain!’—so cried all the soldiers there, fleeing in terror of Vasudeva.
पीतकौशेयसंवीतो मणिश्यामो जनार्दनः । शुशुभे विद्रवन्भीष्मं विद्युन्माली यथाम्बुदः
Clad in yellow silk, dark as a jewel, Janardana shone as he advanced on Bhishma, like a storm cloud garlanded with lightning.
स सिंह इव मातङ्गं यथर्षभ इवर्षभम् । अभिदुद्राव वेगेन विनदन्यादवर्षभः
Like a lion charging an elephant, like a bull rushing at another bull, the bull among men charged forward with a roar.
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य पुण्डरीकाक्षमाहवे। असंभ्रमं रणे भीष्मो विचकर्ष महद्धनुः । उवाच चैव गोविन्दमसंभ्रान्तेन चेतसा
Seeing lotus-eyed Krishna rushing upon him in battle, Bhishma, unshaken in the fight, drew his great bow and spoke to Govinda with a steady mind.
एह्येहि पुण्डरीकाक्ष देवदेव नमोस्तु ते । मामद्य सात्वतश्रेष्ठ तापयस्त महाहवे
Come, come, lotus-eyed one! God of gods, I bow to you. Do not torment me today, best of the Satvatas, in this great battle.