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.
वनं यास्यामि दुर्धर्ष श्रेयो वै तत्र मे गतम् । न युद्धं रोचते कृष्ण हन्ति भीष्मो हि नः सदा
I will go to the forest, O unconquerable one; there lies my true welfare. Battle does not please me, Krishna, for Bhishma always slays us.
यथा प्रज्वलितं वह्निं पतङ्गः समभिद्रवन्। एकतो मृत्युमभ्येति तथाऽहं भीष्ममेयिवान्
Just as a moth rushes toward a blazing fire and meets death, so have I approached Bhishma.
क्षयं नीतोऽस्मि वार्ष्णेय राज्यहेतोः पराक्रमी । भ्रातरश्चैव मे शुराः सायकैर्भृशपीडिताः
For the sake of the kingdom, O descendant of Vrishni, I have been led to ruin; and my heroic brothers are grievously afflicted by arrows.
मत्कृते भ्रातृसौहार्दाद्राज्यभ्रष्टा वनं गताः। परिक्लिष्टा तथा कृष्णा मत्कृते मधुसूदन
Because of me, out of brotherly affection, my brothers lost their kingdom and went to the forest; and likewise Krishna has suffered much on my account, O Madhusudana.
जीवितं बहु मन्येऽहं जीवितं ह्यद्य दुर्लभम्। जीवितस्याद्य शेषेण चरिष्ये धर्ममुत्तमम्
I consider life to be of great value; today, life is indeed hard to obtain. With the portion of life that remains to me today, I will pursue the highest righteousness.
यदि तेऽहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः स केशव । स्वधर्मस्याविरोधेन हितं व्याहर केशव
If I am worthy of your compassion, O Keshava, together with my brothers, then, without violating my own duty, speak what is beneficial, O Keshava.
एवं श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य कारुण्याद्बहुविस्तरम्। प्रत्युवाच ततः कृष्णः सान्त्वयानो युधिष्ठिरम्
Having heard his words, so full of compassion and greatly detailed, Krishna then replied, consoling Yudhishthira.
धर्मपुत्र विषादं त्वं मा कृथाः सत्यसंगर । यस्य ते भ्रातरः शूरा दुर्जयाः सत्रुसूदनाः
O son of Dharma, do not give in to despair, you who are steadfast in truth; your brothers are valiant, unconquerable, and destroyers of foes.
अर्जुनो भीमसेनश्च वाय्वग्निसमतेजसौ। माद्रीपुत्रौ च विक्रान्तौ त्रिदशानामिविश्वरौ
Arjuna and Bhimasena possess energy equal to wind and fire, and the sons of Madri are mighty, like the lords of the gods among the immortals.
मां वा नियुङ्क्ष्व सौहार्दाद्योत्स्ये भीष्मेण पाण्डव । त्वप्रयुक्तो महाराज किं न कुर्यां महाहवे
Out of friendship, command me, O Pandava, and I will fight with Bhishma. O great king, if you send me forth, what would I not do in this great battle?