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.
भीमसेनं सुसंक्रुद्धं गाङ्गेयस्य वधैषिणम् । त्वरमाणो महाराज सौमदत्तिर्न्यवारयत्
Saumadatti, hastening, checked Bhimasena, who was greatly enraged and intent on slaying Ganga's son.
तथैव नकुलं शूरं किरन्तं सायकान्बहून् । विकर्णो वारयामास इच्छन्भीष्मस्य जीवितम्
Likewise, Vikarṇa restrained the heroic Nakula, who was showering many arrows, desiring to preserve Bhishma's life.
सहदेवं तथा राजन्यान्तं भीष्मरथं प्रति। वारयामास संक्रुद्धः कृपः शारद्वतो युधि
In the same way, the enraged Kripa, son of Sharadvat, blocked Sahadeva as he approached Bhishma's chariot on the battlefield.
राक्षसं क्रूरकर्माणं भैमसेनिं महाबलम् । भीष्मस्य निधनप्रेप्सुं दुर्मुखोऽभ्यज्रवद्बली
The powerful Durmukha charged at the fierce Rakshasa, Bhimasena's son, who was intent on bringing about Bhishma's death.
सात्यकिं समरे क्रुद्धमार्स्यशृङ्गिवारयत् । `भीष्मस्य वधमिच्छन्तं पाण्डवप्रीतिकाम्यया
In the battle, Arshyasringa, filled with anger and wishing to please the Pandavas, stopped Satyaki, who sought to slay Bhishma.
अभिमन्युं महाराज यान्तं भीष्मरथं प्रति। सुदक्षिणो महाराज काम्भोज प्रत्यवारयत्
O King, Sudakshina the Kamboja, O ruler, intercepted Abhimanyu as he advanced toward Bhishma's chariot.
विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धौ समेतावरिमर्दनौ । अश्वत्थामा ततः क्रुद्धो वारयामास भारत
Then Ashvatthama, enraged, blocked the two elder warriors, Virata and Drupada, who had joined forces to crush their foes, O Bharata.
तथा पाण्डुसुतं ज्येष्ठं भीष्मस्य वधकाङ्क्षिणम् । भारद्वाजो रणे यत्तो धर्मपुत्रमवारयत्
In the same way, Bharadvaja's son, vigilant in battle, stopped the eldest son of Pandu, who longed to slay Bhishma.
अर्जुनं रभसं युद्धे पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम् । भीष्मप्रेप्सुं महाराज भासयन्तं दिशो दश
O King, Duhshasana, the mighty archer, blocked Arjuna—who, with Shikhandi at the forefront, blazed in all directions and sought Bhishma in the fight.
दुःशासनो महेष्वासो वारयामास संयुगे। अन्ये च तावका योधाः पाण्डवानां महारथान्
Duhshasana, the great bowman, held Arjuna back in battle, and other warriors on your side blocked the great chariot-warriors of the Pandavas.