आजघान महाबाहुः पार्षतं तं महारथम् । तं चैव पार्षतो राजन्हार्दिक्यं नवभिः शरैः
The mighty-armed Hardikya struck that great chariot-warrior, the son of Prishata, and the Prishata also struck Hardikya with nine arrows, O King.
विव्याध निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैः कङ्कपत्रैरजिह्नगैः । तयोः समभवद्युद्धं भीष्महेतोर्महाहवे
With sharp, keen, vulture-feathered, straight-flying arrows, they pierced each other; and for Bhishma's sake, a fierce battle arose between them.
अन्योन्यातिशये युक्तं यथा वृत्रमहेन्द्रयोः । भीमसेनं तथाऽऽयान्तं भीष्मं प्रति महारथम्
Their contest was marked by mutual superiority, like that of Vritra and Indra; just so, Bhimasena advanced against Bhishma, the great chariot-warrior.
भूरिश्रवाभ्ययात्तूर्णं तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् । सौमदत्तिरथो भीममाजघान स्तनान्तरे
Bhurishravas quickly approached, shouting, 'Stop! Stop!' And Saumadatti struck Bhima in the chest.
नाराचेन सुतीक्ष्णेन रुक्मपुङ्खेन संयुगे। उरःस्थेन बभौ तेन भीमसेनः प्रतापवान्
With a razor-sharp, gold-feathered arrow in battle, planted in his chest, the mighty Bhimasena shone.
स्कन्दशक्त्या यथा क्रौञ्चः पुरा नृपतिसत्तम। तौ शरान्सूर्यसंकाशान्कर्मारपरिमार्जितान्
Just as the Krauncha bird was once pierced by Skanda's spear, so those two, with arrows shining like the sun and well-forged by smiths—
अन्योन्यस्य रणे क्रुद्धौ चिक्षिपते नरर्षभौ । भीमो भीष्मवधाकाङ्क्षी सौमदत्तिं महारथम्
Those two bulls among men, enraged in battle, hurled such arrows at each other; Bhima, desiring Bhishma's death, at Saumadatti, the great chariot-warrior.
तथा भीष्मजये गृध्नुः सौमदत्तिस्तू पाण्डवम् । कृतप्रतिकृते यत्तौ योधयामासतू रणे
And Saumadatti, eager for victory over Bhishma, fought the Pandava; both, having countered each other's attacks, continued to battle.
युधिष्ठिरं तु कौन्तेयं महत्या सेनया वृत्तम्। भीष्माभिमुखमायान्तं भारद्वाजो न्यवारयत्
But Drona, with his great army, blocked Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, as he advanced towards Bhishma.
द्रोणस्य रथनिर्घोषं पर्जन्यनिनदोपमम् । श्रुत्वा प्रभद्रका राजन्समकम्पन्त मारिष
Hearing the roar of Drona's chariot, like the rumble of clouds, the Prabhadrakas, O King, trembled, O Marisha.
सा सेना महती राजन्पाण्डुपुत्रस्य संयुगे। द्रोणेन वारिता यत्ता न चचाल पदात्पदम्
That great army of the son of Pandu, O King, though checked by Drona in battle, did not move a single step back.
चेकितान रणे यत्तं भीष्मं प्रति जनेश्वर । चित्रसेनस्तव सुतः क्रुद्धरूपमवारयत्
Cekitana, resolute in battle against Bhishma, was checked by your son Citrasena, appearing in a wrathful form.
भीष्महेतोः पराक्रान्तश्चित्रसेनः पराक्रमी । चेकितानं परं शक्त्या योधयामास भारत
Because of Bhishma, the valiant Citraseṇa, full of prowess, fought with Cekitāna, hurling a mighty spear, O Bhārata.
तथैव चेकितानोऽपि चित्रसेनमवारयत् । तद्युद्धमासीत्सुमहत्तयोस्तत्र समागमे
Likewise, Cekitāna also repelled Citraseṇa; there arose a great battle between those two as they met.
अर्जुनो वार्यमाणस्तु बहुशस्तत्र भारत । विमुखीकृत्य पुत्रं ते सेनां तव ममर्द ह
Though repeatedly restrained there, O Bhārata, Arjuna turned your son away and crushed your army.
दुःशासनोऽपि परया शक्त्या पार्थमवारयत्। कथं भीष्मं न नो हन्यादिति निश्चित्य भारत
Duḥśāsana too, with a mighty spear, checked Pārtha, having resolved, 'How can we not slay Bhishma?' O Bhārata.
सा वध्यमाना समरे पुत्रस्य तव वाहिनी । लोड्यते रथिभिः श्रेष्ठैस्तत्रतत्रैव भारत
Your son's army, being slaughtered in battle, was tossed about here and there by the foremost chariot-warriors, O Bhārata.
अथ वीरो महेष्वासो मत्तवारणविक्रमः। समादाय महच्चापं मत्तवारणवारणम्
Then the hero, mighty archer, with the strength and courage of a maddened elephant, took up his great bow, like an elephant among elephants.
विधुन्वानो नरश्रेष्ठो द्रावयाणो वरूथिनीम् । पृतनां पाण्डवेयानां गाहमानो महाबलः
Brandishing his bow, that foremost of men, driving away the ranks, penetrated the army of the Pāṇḍavas with great force.
निमित्तानि निमित्तज्ञः सर्वतो वीक्ष्य वीर्यवान् । प्रतपन्तमनीकानि द्रोणः पुत्रमभाषत
Observing all the omens everywhere, being wise in portents, the valiant Droṇa, seeing the armies blazing, spoke to his son.
अयं हि दिवसस्तात यत्र पार्थो महाबलः। जिघांसुः समरे भीष्मं परं यत्नं करिष्यति
This is the day, my son, when the mighty Pārtha, desiring to slay Bhishma in battle, will make his utmost effort.
उत्पतन्ति हि मे बाणा धनुः प्रस्फुरतीव च । योगमस्त्राणि नेच्छन्ति क्रूरं मे वर्तते मनः
For my arrows leap forth, my bow seems to tremble, my weapons do not unite, and my mind is seized by cruelty.
दिक्ष्वशान्तानि घोराणि व्याहरन्ति मृगद्विजाः । नीचैर्गृध्रा निलीयन्ते भारतानां चमूं प्रति
In all directions, fierce and restless animals and birds utter cries; vultures hide low, facing the Kaurava ranks.
नष्टप्रभ इवादित्यः सर्वतो लोहिता दिशः । रसते व्यथते भूमिः कम्पतीव च सर्वशः
The sun appears as if its brilliance is lost, all directions are red; the earth resounds, trembles, and seems to quake everywhere.
कङ्कगृध्रा बलाकाश्च व्याहरन्ति मुहुर्मुहुः । शिवाश्चैवाशिवा घोरा वेदयन्त्यो महद्भयम्
Crows, vultures, and cranes cry out again and again, both auspicious and inauspicious, dreadful, foretelling great fear.
पपात महती चोल्का मध्येनादित्यमण्डलात्। सकबन्धश्च परिघो भानुमावृत्य तिष्ठति
A great meteor fell from the middle of the sun's disk; a headless club stands, covering the sun.
परिवेषस्तथा घोरश्चन्द्रभास्करयोरभूत्। वेदयानो भयं घोरं राज्ञां देहावकर्तनम्
A dreadful halo appeared around both the moon and the sun, foreboding terrible fear and the cutting down of kings' bodies.
देवतायतनस्थाश्च कौरवेन्द्रस्य देवताः । कम्पन्ते च हसन्ते च नृत्यन्ति च रुदन्ति च
The deities dwelling in the Kaurava king's shrines tremble, laugh, dance, and weep.
अपसव्यं ग्रहाश्चक्रुरलक्ष्माणं दिवाकरम् । अवाक्शिराश्च भगवानुपातिष्ठत चन्द्रकमाः
The planets moved counterclockwise, casting misfortune on the sun; and the lord of the stars, the moon, stood with its face downward.
वपूंषि च नरेन्द्राणां विगताभानि लक्षये । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैन्येषु न च भ्राजन्ति दंशिताःक
I see the bodies of kings have lost their luster; among the Dhārtarāṣṭra forces, the adorned ones do not shine.