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.
पुत्रास्तु तव गाङ्गेयं समन्तात्पर्यवारयन् । महत्या सेनया सार्धं ततो युद्धमवर्तत
But your sons, together with a great army, encircled Ganga's son on all sides; then the battle commenced.
अर्जुनस्तु रणे राजन्दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्य विक्रमम् । शिखण्डिनमथोवाच समभ्योहि पितामहम्
But Arjuna, O King, seeing Bhishma's valor in battle, then said to Shikhandin, 'Approach the grandsire!'
न चापि भीस्त्वया कार्या भीष्मादद्य कथंचन । अहमेनं शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः पातयिष्ये रथोत्तमात्
And you must not fear Bhishma in any way today; I will bring him down from his excellent chariot with sharp arrows.
एवमुक्तस्तु पार्थेन शिखण्डी भरतर्षभ । अभ्यद्रवत गाङ्गेयं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम्
Thus addressed by Partha, O bull among the Bharatas, Shikhandin rushed toward Ganga's son, having heard Partha's words.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तथा राजन्सौभद्रश्च महारथः । हृष्टावाद्रवतां भीष्मं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम्
Likewise, Dhrishtadyumna and the mighty son of Subhadra, delighted, advanced against Bhishma, having heard Partha's words.
विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धौ कुन्तिभोजस्य दंशितः। अभ्यद्रवत गाङ्गेयं पुत्रस्य तव पश्यतः । नकुलः सहदेवश्च धर्मराजश्च वीर्यवान्
The aged Virata and Drupada, and the resolute king of the Kuntibhojas, advanced against Ganga's son before your eyes, as did Nakula, Sahadeva, and the valiant king Yudhishthira.
तथेतराणि सैन्यानि सर्वाम्येव विशांपते । समाद्रवन्त गाङ्गेयं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम्
So too did all the other armies, O lord of the people, rush toward Ganga's son, having heard Partha's words.
प्रत्युद्ययुस्तावकाश्च समेतांस्तान्महारथान् । यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
And your forces, O King, went forth to meet those assembled great chariot-warriors, each according to his strength and zeal; hear this from me as I recount it.
चित्रसेनो महाराज चेकितानं समभ्यायात् । भीष्मप्रेप्सुं रणे यान्तं वृषं व्याघ्रशिशुर्यथा
Chitrasena, O King, advanced against Chekitana, who was heading into battle seeking Bhishma, like a tiger's cub confronting a bull.
धृष्टद्युम्नं महाराज भीष्मान्तिकमुपागतम् । त्वरमाणं रणे यत्तं कृतवर्मा न्यवरायत्
Kritavarma checked Dhrishtadyumna, who, eager and resolute, had approached Bhishma in battle.