ते वध्यामानाः समरे तावका भरतर्षभ । नाशक्नुवन्वारयितुं पाण्डवानां महद्बलम्
Those of your men being slain in battle, O bull among the Bharatas, were unable to withstand the great strength of the Pandavas.
ततस्तु तावकं सैन्यं वध्यमानं समन्ततः। संप्राद्रवद्दशः दिशः काल्यमानं महारथैः
Then your army, being slaughtered on all sides and harried by the great chariot-warriors, fled in all directions.
त्रातारं नाध्यगच्छन्त तावका भरतर्षभ । वध्यमानाः शितैर्बाणैः पाण्डवैः सह सृञ्जयैः
O bull among the Bharatas, your men found no protector as they were struck down by the sharp arrows of the Pandavas and the Srinjayas.
पीड्यमानं बलं दृष्ट्वा पार्थैर्भीष्मः पराक्रमी । यदकार्षीद्रणे क्रुद्धस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
Seeing his army afflicted by the sons of Pandu, the mighty Bhishma, enraged, acted in battle—tell me, Sanjaya, what he did.
कथं वा पाण्डवा युद्धे प्रत्युद्याताः परंतपाः । निघ्नन्तो मामकान्वीरांस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
And how did the Pandavas, those tormentors of foes, stand ready in battle, striking down my valiant men? Tell me that, Sanjaya.
आचक्षे ते महाराज यदकार्षीत्पिता तव। पीडिते तव पुत्रस्य सैन्ये पाण्डव सृञ्जयैः
I will tell you, O great king, what your father did when your son's army was oppressed by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas.
प्रंहृष्टमनसः शूराः पाण्डवाः पाण्डुपूर्वज । अभ्यवर्तन्त निघ्नन्तस्तव पुत्रस्य वाहिनीम्
The Pandavas, their hearts exultant, led by Yudhishthira, advanced, striking down the army of your son.
तं विनाशं मनुष्येन्द्र नरवारणवाजिनाम् । नामृष्यत तदा भीष्मः सैन्यघातं रणे परैः
Bhishma could not endure, O king of men, the destruction of elephants, horses, and warriors in battle by the enemy.
स पाणडवान्महेष्वासः पञ्चालांश्चैव सृञ्जयान् । नाराचैर्वत्सदन्तैश्च शितैरञ्जलिकैस्तथा
That mighty archer assailed the Pandavas, the Panchalas, and the Srinjayas with iron arrows, broad-headed shafts, and sharp, palm-shaped missiles.
अभ्यवर्षत दुर्धर्षस्त्यक्त्वा जीवितमात्मनः । स पाण्डवानां प्रवरान्पञ्च राजन्महारथान्
Fierce and unassailable, he rained down arrows, disregarding his own life, upon the five foremost great chariot-warriors of the Pandavas, O king.
आत्तशस्त्रो रणे यत्नाद्वारयामास सायकैः । नानाशस्त्रास्त्रवर्षैस्तान्वीर्यामर्षप्रवेरितैः
Armed with weapons, he strove in battle, blocking them with arrows and showers of diverse weapons and missiles, driven by his valor and wrath.
निजघ्ने समरे क्रुद्धो हस्त्यश्वं चामितं बहु। रथिनोऽपातयद्राजन्रथेभ्यः पुरुषर्षभ
Enraged in battle, he struck down countless elephants and horses, and, O king, felled chariot-warriors from their chariots.
सादिनश्चाश्वपृष्ठेभ्यः पादातांश्च समागतान्
He brought down cavalry from horseback and foot soldiers who had come together.
गजारोहान्गजेभ्यश्च परेषां जयकारिणः । तमेकं समरे भीष्मं त्वरमाणं महारथम्
He struck down victorious elephant-riders from their elephants; that one Bhishma, the great chariot-warrior, hastened alone in battle.
पाण्डवाः समवर्तन्त वज्रहस्तमिवासुराः। शक्राशनिसमस्पर्शान्विमुञ्चन्निशिताञ्छरान्
The Pandavas surrounded him as the Asuras would one bearing the thunderbolt, while he released sharp arrows with the force of Indra's thunderbolt.
दिक्ष्वदृश्यत सर्वासु घोरं सन्धारयन्वपुः। मण्डलीभूतमेवास्य नित्यं धनुरदृश्यत
On all sides, his terrible form was seen in every direction; his bow always appeared as a circle.
संग्रामे युध्यमानस्य शक्रचापोपमं महत् ।। तदृष्ट्वा समरे कर्म पुत्रास्तव विशांपते
In battle, as he fought, his great feat was like that of Indra wielding the bow; seeing this in the fight, your sons, O lord of the people—
विस्मायं परमं गत्वा पितामहमपूजयन् । पार्था विमनसो भूत्वा प्रैक्षन्त पितरं तव
—were filled with utmost wonder and honored the grandsire; the sons of Pandu, disheartened, gazed at your father.
युध्यमानं रणे शूरं विप्रचित्तिमिवामराः । न चैनं वारयामासुर्व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम्
As he fought bravely in battle, like the gods watching Vipracitti, they did not try to stop him, as one does not check Death with open mouth.
दशमेऽहनि संप्राप्ते रथानीकं शिखण्डिनः । अदहन्निशितैर्बाणैः कृष्णवर्त्मेव काननम्
When the tenth day arrived, Bhishma burned the division of Shikhandi with sharp arrows, as fire consumes a forest in Krishna's path.
तं शिखण्डी त्रिभिर्बाणैरभ्यविध्यत्सनान्तरे । आशीविषमिव क्रुद्धं कालसृष्टमिवान्तकम्
Then Shikhandi struck him with three arrows in the midst of the battle, like an enraged serpent, or like Death sent forth by Time.
स तेनातिभृशं विद्धः प्रेक्ष्य भीष्मः शिखण्डिनम् । पुनर्नालोकयत्क्रुद्धः प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत्
Pierced exceedingly by him, Bhishma looked at Shikhandi, and then, angered, did not look at him again, but laughed and spoke these words:
कामं प्रहर वा मा वा न त्वां योत्स्ये कथंचन । यैव हि त्वं कृता धात्रा सैव हि त्वं शिखण्डिनी
Strike if you wish, or do not; I will not fight you in any way. For you are as you were made by the Creator; you are indeed Shikhandini.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शिखण्डी क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । उवाच भीष्मं समरे सृक्विणी परिलेलिहन्
Hearing these words, Shikhandi, overcome with wrath, spoke to Bhishma in battle, licking his lips with his tongue.
जानामि त्वां महाबाहो क्षत्रियाणां भयंकरम् । मया श्रुतं च ते युद्धं जामदग्न्येन वै सह
I know you, mighty-armed one, as a terror to Kshatriyas; I have also heard much of your battle with Jamadagni’s son.
दिव्यश्च ते प्रभावोऽयं मया च बहुशः श्रुतः । जनन्नपि प्रभावं ते योत्स्येऽद्याहं त्वया सह
And I have often heard of your divine power; yet, knowing your might, today I will fight you.
पाण्डवानां प्रियं कुर्वन्नात्मनश्च नरोत्तम ।। अद्य त्वां योधयिष्यामि रणे पुरुषसत्तम
Wishing to please the Pandavas and myself, O best of men, today I will engage you in battle, O foremost of warriors.
ध्रुवं च त्वां हनिष्यामि शपे सत्येन तेऽग्रतः । एतच्छ्रुत्वा च मद्वाक्यं यत्कृत्यं तत्समाचर
Surely I will slay you; I swear this truth before you. Having heard my words, do what you must.
कामं युध्यस्व वा मा वा न मे जीवन्प्रमोक्ष्यसे । सुदृष्टः क्रियतां भीष्म लोकोऽयं समितिंजय
Fight if you wish, or do not; you shall not escape alive from me. Let the world, O Bhishma, witness this great contest.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो भीष्मं पञ्चभिर्नतपर्वभिः। अविध्यत रणे भीष्मं प्रतुदन्वाक्यसायकैः
Having spoken thus to Bhishma, he struck him in battle with five sharp arrows, assailing Bhishma with words and shafts.