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.
सेनयोरुभयोश्चापि समन्ताच्छ्रूयते महान्। पाञ्चजन्यस्य निर्घोषो गाण्डीवस्य च निःस्वनः
From all around the two armies, the great sound of the Pāñcajanya conch and the twang of the Gāṇḍīva bow are heard.
ध्रुवमास्थाय बीभत्सुरुत्तमास्त्राणि संयुगे। अपास्यान्यान्रणे योधानभ्येष्यति पितामहम्
Certainly, Bhīmasena, having taken up the supreme weapons in battle, will cast aside other warriors and advance against Bhīṣma.
हृष्यन्ति रोमकूपाणि सीदतीव च मे मनः । चिन्तयित्वा महाबाहो भीष्मार्जुनसमागमम्
My hair stands on end and my mind seems to sink, mighty-armed one, when I think of the meeting between Bhīṣma and Arjuna.
तं चेह निकृतिप्रज्ञं पाञ्चाल्यं पापचेतसम् । पुरस्कृत्य रणे पार्थो भीष्मस्यायोधनं गतः
Having placed before him in battle that cunning-minded, evil-hearted son of Drupada, Pārtha has gone to fight Bhīṣma.
अब्रवीच्च पुरा भीष्मो नाहं हन्यां शिखण्डिनम् । स्त्री ह्येषा विहिता धात्रा दैवाच्च स पुनः पुमान्
Bhīṣma once said, 'I will not slay Śikhaṇḍin, for she was made a woman by the Creator, though by fate she has become a man again.'
असंकल्पध्वजश्चैव याज्ञसेनिर्महाबलः । न चामङ्गलिके तस्मिन्प्रहरेदापगासुतः
Yājñaseni, of great strength, bears an unsteady banner, and the son of the river will not strike one who is inauspicious.
एतद्विचिन्तयानस्य प्रज्ञा सीदति मे भृशम् । अभ्युद्यतो रणे पार्थः कुरुवृद्धमुपाद्रवत्
Thinking on this, my understanding is greatly troubled: Pārtha has advanced in battle against the elder of the Kurus.
युधिष्ठिरस्य च क्रोधो भीष्मश्चार्जुनसंगतः । मम चास्त्रसमारम्भः प्रजानामशिवं ध्रुवम्
Yudhiṣṭhira's anger, Bhīṣma joined with Arjuna, and my own engagement with weapons—all these surely bode ill for the people.
मनस्वी बलवाञ्शूरः कृतास्त्रोऽलघुविक्रमः । दूरपाती दृढेषुश्च निमित्तज्ञश्च पाण्डवः
The Pāṇḍava is resolute, strong, heroic, skilled in weapons, not lacking in valor, a far-shooter, firm in his arrows, and a knower of omens.
अजेयः समरे चापि देवैरपि सवासवैः । बलवान्बुद्धिमांश्चैव जितक्लेशो युधां वरः
He is unconquerable even in battle by the gods along with Indra, powerful, intelligent, master of hardship, and foremost among warriors.