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.
त्वया हि देव संग्रामे हतस्यापि ममानघ । श्रेय एव परं कृष्ण लोके भवति सर्वतः
For if I am slain by you in battle, O sinless one, it will be the highest good for me everywhere in the world, Krishna.
संभावितोऽस्मि गोविन्द त्रैलोक्येनाद्य संयुगे। प्रहरस्व यथेष्टं वै दासोऽस्मि तव चानघ
Today, O Govinda, I am honored in this battle by the three worlds. Strike as you wish, O sinless one, for I am your servant.
अन्वगेव ततः पार्थः समभिद्रुत्य केशवम् । निजग्राह महाबाहुर्बाहुभ्यां परिगृह्य वै
Then Partha, rushing after Keshava, seized him with his mighty arms, embracing him tightly.
निगृह्यमाणः पार्थेन कृष्णो राजीवलोचनः । जगामैवैनमादाय वेगेन पुरुषोत्तमः
Restrained by Partha, Krishna, lotus-eyed, was carried off at speed by the best of men.
पार्थस्तु विष्टभ्य बलाच्चरणौ परवीरहा । निजग्राह हृषीकेशं कथंचिद्दशमे पदे
Partha, bracing himself with strength, planted his feet and somehow seized Hrishikesha at the tenth step.
तत एवमुवाचार्तः क्रोधपर्याकुलेक्षणम् । निःश्वसन्तं यथा नागमर्जुनः प्रणयात्सखा
Then Arjuna, distressed, his eyes wild with anger, breathing hard like a serpent, spoke to his friend out of affection.
निवर्तस्व महाबाहो नानृतं कर्तुमर्हसि । यत्त्वया कथितं पूर्वं न योत्स्यामीति केशव
Turn back, mighty-armed one! You must not act falsely. You yourself declared before, ‘I will not fight,’ O Keshava.
मिथ्यावादीति लोकास्त्वां कथयिष्यन्ति माधव । ममैष भारः सर्वो हि हनिष्यामि पितामहम्
People will call you a liar, Madhava. The whole burden is mine; I will slay the grandsire.
शपे केशव शस्त्रेण सत्येन सुकृतेन च। अन्तं यथा गमिष्यामि शत्रूणां शत्रुसूदन
O Keshava, I swear by my weapon, by truth, and by virtue, that I shall bring about the end of my enemies, O destroyer of foes.
अद्यैव पश्य दुर्धर्षं पात्यमानं महारथम् । तारापतिमिवापूर्णमन्तकाले यदृच्छया
Today itself, witness the mighty warrior, hard to withstand, falling like the lord of stars at the appointed hour, when his time is complete.