न हि भीष्मं महेष्वासं पाण्डवाः पाण्डुपूर्वज । अशक्नुवन्रणे जेतुं पाशहस्तमिवानतकम्
The Pandavas, O elder of the Pandus, could not defeat Bhishma, wielder of the great bow, in battle, as one cannot overcome Death holding the noose.
अथोपायान्महाराज सव्यसाची धनञ्जयः । त्रासयन्रथिनः सर्वान्बीभत्सुरपराजितः
Then, O king, Savyasachi Dhananjaya, terrifying all the chariot-warriors, Bhimasena, unconquered, employed strategies.
सिंहवद्विनदन्नुच्चैर्धनुर्ज्यां विक्षिपन्मुहुः । शरौघान्विसृजन्पार्थो व्यचरत्कालवद्रणे
Roaring loudly like a lion, repeatedly stretching his bowstring, releasing showers of arrows, Partha moved about in battle like Time itself.
तस्य शब्देन वित्रस्तास्तावका भारतर्षभ । सिंहस्येव मृगा राजन्व्यद्रवन्त महाभयात्
At the sound of his bow, your troops, O bull among Bharatas, terrified like deer by a lion, fled in great fear, O king.
जयन्तं पाण्डवं दृष्ट्वा त्वत्सैन्यं चाभिपीडितम् । दुर्योधनस्ततो भीष्ममब्रवीद्भृशपीडितः
Seeing the Pandava victorious and your army oppressed, Duryodhana, greatly afflicted, then spoke to Bhishma.
एष पाण्डुसुतस्तात श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथिः। दहते मामकान्सर्वान्कृष्णवर्त्मेन काननम्
This son of Pandu, O father, with white horses and Krishna as charioteer, burns all my men, like Krishna's path burns a forest.
पश्य सैन्यानि गाङ्गेय द्रवमाणानि सर्वशः । पण्डवेन युधां श्रेष्ठ काल्यमानानि संयुगे
See, O Gāṅgeya, how the armies are fleeing everywhere, struck by the foremost of warriors, the Pandava, in battle.
यथा पशुगणान्पालः संकालयति कानने । तथेदं मामकं सैन्यं काल्यते शत्रुतापन
Just as a herdsman gathers his cattle in the forest, so, O tormentor of foes, my army is being gathered and driven by the enemy.
धनञ्जयशरैर्भग्नं द्रवमाणं ततस्ततः । भीमोऽप्येवं दुराधर्पो विद्रावयति मे बलम्
Broken by Arjuna’s arrows, my troops are fleeing in all directions; and Bhima, fierce and unstoppable, is also routing my forces.
सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ। अभिमन्युः सुविक्रान्तो वाहिनीं द्रवते मम
Satyaki, Chekitana, the sons of Madri, and the valiant Abhimanyu—all these Pandavas are driving my army to flight.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तथा शूरो राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः । व्यद्रावयेतां सहसा सैन्यं मम महारणे
The brave Dhrishtadyumna and the rakshasa Ghatotkacha have suddenly scattered my army in the great battle.
वध्यमानस्य सैन्यस्य सर्वैरेतैर्महारथैः । नान्यां गतिं प्रपश्यामि स्थाने युद्धे च भारत
As my army is being slaughtered by all these great chariot-warriors, O Bharata, I see no other course in battle or in position.
ऋते त्वां पुरुषव्याघ्र देवतुल्यपराक्रमम्। पर्याप्तस्तु भवाञ्शीघ्रं पीडितानां गतिर्भव
Except for you, O tiger among men, whose prowess equals the gods, you alone are sufficient; quickly become the refuge for the afflicted.
एवमुक्तो महाराज पिता देवव्रतस्तव। चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः
Thus addressed, O king, your father Devavrata pondered for a moment, and then made a firm resolve within himself.
तव संधारयन्पुत्रमब्रवीच्छंतनोः सुतः। दुर्योधन विजानीहि स्थिरो भूत्वा विशांपते
Holding your son close, the son of Shantanu spoke: 'Duryodhana, understand this—be steadfast, O lord of the people.'
पातयिष्ये रिपूनन्यान्पाण्डवान्प्रतिपालयन् । प्रतिज्ञातो जयो ह्यद्य पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्
I will strike down other enemies, protecting the Pandavas; today I have vowed victory over the great-souled Pandavas.
पूर्वकालं तव मया प्रतिज्ञानं महाबल । हत्वा दशसहस्राणि क्षत्रियाणां महात्मनाम्
In earlier times, O mighty one, I made a vow to you: after slaying ten thousand great-souled Kshatriyas—
संग्रामादपयास्यामि ह्येतत्कर्म समाहितम् । इति तत्कृतवांश्चाहं यथोक्तं भरतर्षभ
I will withdraw from battle, having accomplished this task; thus I have acted as promised, O bull among the Bharatas.
अद्य चापि महत्कर्म प्रकरिष्ये यथाबलम् । अहं वाऽद्य हतः शेष्ये हनिष्ये वाऽद्य पाण्डवान्
Today, too, I will perform a great deed to the best of my ability; either I shall lie slain, or I will slay the Pandavas.
अशक्याः पाण्डवा जेतुं देवैरपि सवासवैः।' किं पुनर्मर्त्यधर्मेण क्षत्रियेण महाबलाः
The Pandavas cannot be conquered, not even by the gods with Indra; how much less by mortals, even mighty Kshatriyas.
अद्य ते पुरुषव्याघ्र प्रतरिष्ये ऋणं तव। भर्तृपिण्डकृतं राजन्निहताः पृतनामुखे
Today, O tiger among men, I will repay your debt; in the forefront of battle, the enemies will be slain, O king.
इत्युक्त्वा भरतश्रेष्ठ क्षत्रियान्प्रवपञ्छरैः। आससाद दुराधर्षः पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्
Having spoken thus, O best of Bharatas, he showered arrows upon the Kshatriyas and approached the Pandava army, unassailable.
अनीकमध्ये तिष्ठन्तं गाङ्गेयं भारतर्षभ । आशीविषमिव क्रुद्धं पाण्डवाः प्रत्यवारयन्
Standing in the midst of the army, O bull among the Bharatas, Gāṅgeya, like an enraged serpent, was confronted by the Pandavas.
दशमेऽहनि भीष्मस्तु दर्शयञ्शक्तिमात्मनः । राजञ्शतसहस्राणि सोऽवधीत्कुरुनन्दन
On the tenth day, Bhishma, displaying his power, O king, slew hundreds of thousands, O delight of the Kurus.
पाञ्चालानां च ये श्रेष्ठा राजपुत्रा महारथाः । तेषामादत्त तेजांसि जलं सूर्य इवांशुभिः
And the foremost among the princes and great warriors of the Panchalas—he took away their brilliance, as the sun draws water with its rays.
हत्वा दशसहस्राणि कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम् । सारोहाणां महाराज हयानां चायुतं तथा
Having slain ten thousand mighty elephants with their riders, O King, and likewise a myriad of horses,
पूर्णे शतसहस्रे द्वे पादातानां नरोत्तमः । प्रजज्वाल रणे भीष्मो विधूम इव पावकः
And two full hundred thousand foot soldiers, O best of men, Bhishma blazed forth in battle like a smokeless fire.
न चैवं पाण्डवेयानां केचिच्छेकुर्निरीक्षितुम् । उत्तरं मार्गमास्थाय तपन्तमिव भास्करम्
And none among the sons of Pandu could bear to look upon him, as he advanced along the northern path, blazing like the sun.
ते पाण्डवेवाः संरब्धा महेष्वासेन पीडिताः । वधायाभ्यद्रवन्भीष्मं सृञ्जयाश्च महारथाः
Then the Pandava warriors, enraged and oppressed by the mighty archer, along with the great chariot-warriors of the Srinjayas, rushed to slay Bhishma.
स वध्यमानो बहुभिर्भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तथा । अवकीर्णो महेष्वासैः शैलो मेघैरिवावृतः
Thus, though being assailed by many, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, was surrounded by great archers, like a mountain enveloped by clouds.