माधवस्तु वचः श्रुत्वा फल्गुनस्य महात्मनः। `अभवत्परमप्रीतो दृष्ट्वा पार्थस्य विक्रमम्'। न किंचिदुक्त्वा सक्रोध आरुरोह रथं पुनः
Hearing the words of the great-souled Phalguna, Madhava was exceedingly pleased, seeing Partha’s valor; without saying anything, but with wrath, he again ascended the chariot.
तौ रथस्थौ नरव्याघ्रौ भीष्मः शान्तनवः पुनः। ववर्ष शरवर्षेण मेघो वृष्ट्या यथाऽचलौ
Those two tigers among men, standing on their chariot, were again showered with a rain of arrows by Bhishma, son of Shantanu, like mountains by a cloud with rain.
प्राणानादत्त योधानां पिता देवव्रतस्तव। गभस्तिभिरिवादित्यस्तेजांसि शिशिरात्यये
Your father, Devavrata, took the lives of the warriors, just as the sun with its rays takes away the brilliance of things at the end of winter.
यथा कुरूणां सैन्यानि बभञ्जुर्युधि पाण्डवाः । तथा पाण्डवसैन्यानि बभञ्ज युधि ते पिता
As the Pandavas shattered the Kuru forces in battle, so too did your father break the Pandava forces in combat.
हतविद्रुतसैन्यास्तु निरुत्साहा विचेतसः । निरीक्षितुं न शेकुस्ते भीष्ममप्रतिमं रणे
Their armies slain and scattered, dispirited and confused, they could not bear to look upon Bhishma, unmatched in battle.
मध्यं गतमिवादित्यं प्रतपन्तं स्वतेजसा । ते वध्यमाना भीष्मेण शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Being struck down by Bhishma by the hundreds and thousands, they were like those facing the sun at midday, blazing with its own brilliance.
कुर्वाणं समरे कर्माण्यतिमानुषविक्रमम्। वीक्षांचक्रुर्महाराज पाण्डवा भयपीडिताः
Beholding Bhishma performing deeds in battle beyond human prowess, the Pandavas, O king, gazed upon him, afflicted by fear.
तथा पाण्डवसैन्यानि द्राव्यमाणानि भारत। त्रातारं नाध्यगच्छन्त गावः पङ्कगता इव। पिपीलिका इव क्षुण्णा दुर्बला बलिना रणे
Thus, O Bharata, the Pandava forces, being driven back, found no protector, like cows stuck in the mud or ants crushed by the strong in battle.
तथैव योधा राजेन्द्र भीष्मेणामित्रघातिना। समरे मृदिताः सर्वे पाण्डवाः सह सृञ्जयैः
In the same way, O king, all the Pandavas and the Srinjayas were crushed in battle by Bhishma, the slayer of enemies.
महारथं भारत दुष्प्रकम्पं शरौघिणं प्रतपन्तं नरेन्द्रान्। भीष्मं न शेकुः प्रतिवीक्षितुं ते शरार्चिषं सूर्यमिवातपन्तम्
O Bharata, those kings could not even look at Bhishma, the mighty chariot-warrior, unshakable, showering arrows, blazing among kings like the sun with its rays.
विमृद्गतस्तस्य तु पाण्डुसेना- मस्तं जगामाथ सहस्ररश्मिः। ततो हि भीष्मः सबलान्ससैन्या- न्न्यवारयत्पाण्डुसुताञ्शरौघैः
Struck down by him, the Pandava army set like the sun with a thousand rays; then Bhishma repelled the sons of Pandu, with their troops and forces, by showers of arrows.
मनोऽवहारं प्रति संबभूव
A withdrawal of minds took place.
युध्यतामेव तेषां तु भास्करेऽस्तमुपागते। सन्ध्या समभवद्धोरा नापश्याम ततो रणम्
As they fought, the sun set; then, O Bharata, a dreadful twilight arose, and we could no longer see the battle.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा सन्ध्यां संदृश्य भारत। वध्यमानं च भीष्मेण त्यक्तास्त्रं भयविह्वलम्
Then King Yudhishthira, seeing the twilight, and his forces being struck down by Bhishma, weaponless and overwhelmed by fear—
स्वसैन्यं च परावृत्तं पलायनपरायणम्। भीष्मं च युधि संरब्धं पीडयन्तं महारथम्
And seeing his own army turned back, intent on fleeing, and Bhishma in battle, enraged, pressing the great chariot-warrior—
सोमकांश्च जितान्दृष्ट्वा निरुत्साहान्महारथान्। ` निशामुखं च संप्रेक्ष्य घोररूपं भयानकम्।' चिन्तयित्वा ततो राज्ञामपहारमकारयत्
And seeing the Somakas defeated, the great chariot-warriors dispirited, and the dreadful, terrifying approach of night, the king, after reflection, ordered a withdrawal of the kings.
ततोऽपहारं सैन्यानां चक्रे राजा युधिष्ठिरः । तथैव तव सैन्यानामपहारे ह्यभूत्तदा
Then King Yudhishthira arranged for the removal of the armies; likewise, at that time, your forces also withdrew.
ततोऽपहारं सैन्यानां कृत्वा तत्र महारथाः । न्यविशन्त कुरुश्रेष्ठ संग्रामे क्षतविक्षताः
After withdrawing the armies, the great chariot-warriors, wounded and exhausted in battle, settled down there, O best of Kurus.
भीष्मस्य समरे कर्म चिन्तयानास्तु पाण्डवाः । नालभन्त तदा शान्तिं भीष्मबाणप्रपीडिताः
The Pandavas, reflecting on Bhishma’s deeds in battle, found no peace then, being tormented by Bhishma’s arrows.
भीष्मोऽपि समरे जित्वा पाण्डवान्सह सृञ्जयान्। पूज्यमानस्तव सुतैर्वन्द्यमानश्च भारत
And Bhishma, having defeated the Pandavas and the Srinjayas in battle, was honored and praised by your sons, O Bharata.
न्यविशत्कुरुभिः सार्धं हृष्टरूपैः समन्ततः । ततो रात्रिः समभवत्सर्वभूतप्रमोहिनी
He rested together with the Kurus, who were delighted on all sides; then night fell, bewildering all creatures.
तस्मिन्रात्रिमुखे घोरे पाण्डवा वृष्णिभिः सह । सृञ्जयाश्च दुराधर्षा मन्त्राय समुपाविशन्
At the onset of that dreadful night, the Pandavas, together with the Vrishnis and the indomitable Srinjayas, gathered for counsel.
आत्मनिःश्रेयसं सर्वे प्राप्तकालं महाबलाः। मन्त्रयामासुरव्यग्रा मन्त्रनिश्चयकोविदाः
All those mighty warriors, intent and skilled in deliberation, began to consult together about their own supreme welfare, as the time had come.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा मन्त्रयित्वा चिरं नृप । वासुदेवं समुद्वीक्ष्य वचनं चेदमाददे
Then King Yudhishthira, after long deliberation, looked toward Vasudeva and spoke these words.
कृष्ण पश्य माहात्मानं भीष्मं भीमपराक्रमम् । गजं नलवनानीव विमृद्गन्तं बलं मम
Krishna, see the great-souled Bhishma, whose valor equals Bhima’s; like an elephant trampling a forest of reeds, he crushes my army.
न चैवैनं महात्मानमुत्सहामो निरीक्षितुम् । लेलिह्यमानं सैन्येषु प्रवृद्धमिव पावकम्
And we are not able to even look upon that great soul, who blazes among the troops like a growing fire consuming all.
यथा घोरो महानागस्तक्षको वै विषोल्बणः। तथा भीष्मो रणे क्रुद्धस्तीक्ष्णशस्त्रः प्रतापवान्
Just as the fierce serpent Takshaka, filled with venom, so is Bhishma in battle when enraged, armed with sharp weapons and radiant with power.
गृहीतचापः समरे प्रमुञ्चन्निशिताञ्छरान्। शक्यो जेतुं यमः क्रुद्धो वज्रपाणिश्च देवराट्
With bow in hand, releasing keen arrows in battle, even the wrathful Yama or Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, could be overcome, but not Bhishma.
वरुणः पाशभृच्चापि सगदो वा धनेश्वरः । न तु भीष्मः सुसंक्रुद्धः शक्यो जेतुं महाहवे
Neither Varuna, bearer of the noose, nor Kubera with his mace, nor even the enraged Bhishma can be conquered in great battle.
सोऽहमेवं गते कृष्ण निमग्नः शोकसागरे। आत्मनो बुद्धिदौर्बल्याद्भीष्ममासाद्य संयुगे
Thus, O Krishna, I am plunged in an ocean of sorrow, having encountered Bhishma in battle due to the weakness of my own judgment.