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.
विजयी च रणे नित्यं भैरवास्त्रश्च पाण्डवः । `अभ्युद्यतं रणे दृष्ट्वा भैरवास्त्रं च पाण्डवम् ।' तस्य मार्गं परिहरन्द्रुतं गच्छ यतव्रत
Ever victorious in battle, the Pāṇḍava wields a terrifying weapon; seeing him rise up in battle with that dreadful weapon, avoid his path quickly, O steadfast one.
पश्याद्यैतन्महाघोरे संयुगे वैशसं महत्। हेमचित्राणि शूरणां महान्ति च शुभानि च
Behold now this great and terrible destruction in battle: the golden-adorned, great, and splendid armor of heroes.
कवचान्यवदीर्यन्ते शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः । छिद्यन्ते च ध्वजाग्राणि तोमराश्च धनूंषि च
Armors are being shattered by arrows with curved tips; the tops of banners, spears, and bows are being cut down.
प्रासाश्च विमलास्तीक्ष्णाः शक्त्यश्च कनकोज्ज्वलाः । वैजयन्त्यश्च नागानां संक्रुद्धेन किरीटिना
Spotless, sharp lances and golden-shining spears, and the victory-banners of elephants, are being struck by the enraged, diademed one.
नायं संरक्षितुं कालः प्राणान्पुत्रोपजीविभिः । याहि स्वर्गं पुरस्कृत्य यशसे विजयाय च
This is not the time to protect the lives of those who depend on their sons; go forth, seeking heaven, fame, and victory.
रथनागहयावर्तां महाघोरां सुदुर्गमाम् । रथेन संग्रामनदीं तरत्येष कपिध्वजः
That one with the monkey-banner is crossing, by chariot, the river of battle—filled with chariots, elephants, and horses, dreadful and hard to pass.
ब्रह्मण्यता दमो दानं तपश्च चरितं महत्। इहैव दृश्यते पार्थे भ्राता यस्य धनञ्जयः
Devotion to Brahmins, self-control, generosity, and great austerity—all these are seen in Pārtha, whose brother is Dhanañjaya.
भीमसेनश्च बलवान्माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ । वासुदेवश्च वार्ष्णेयो यस्य नाथो व्यवस्थितः
Bhīmasena, mighty, and the two sons of Mādrī, and Vāsudeva of the Vṛṣṇi clan—he whose protector is thus established.
तस्यैष मन्युप्रभवो धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेः । तपोभावितदेहस्य कोपो दहति वाहिनीम्
This wrath, born of the evil-minded Dhritarashtra's son, whose body is fortified by austerities, burns the army like fire.
एष संदृश्यते पार्थो वासुदेवव्यपाश्रयः । दारयन्सर्वसैन्यानि धार्तराष्ट्राणि सर्वशः
Here is Partha, relying on Vasudeva, tearing apart all the Kaurava forces completely.
एतदालोक्यते सैन्यं क्षोभ्यमाणं किरीटिना । महोर्मिनद्धं सुमहत्तिमिनेव महाजलम्
Behold the army, agitated by the diademed one, like a vast expanse of water churned by a great sea-creature.
हाहाकिलकिलाशब्दाः श्रूयन्ते च चमूमुखे । याहि पाञ्चालदायादमहं यास्ये युधिष्ठिरम्
Cries of 'Alas!' and clamor are heard at the front of the battle lines: 'Go to the Panchala heir! I will go to Yudhishthira!'
दुर्गमं ह्यन्तरं राज्ञो व्यूहस्यामिततेजसः । समुद्रकुक्षिप्रतिमं सर्वतोऽतिरथैः स्थितैः
For the space within the king's array, difficult to penetrate and blazing with immeasurable energy, is like the ocean's depths, guarded on all sides by mighty warriors.
सात्यकिश्चाभिमन्युश्च धृष्टद्युम्नवृकोदरौ । पर्यरक्षन्त राजानं यमौ च मनुजेश्वरम्
Satyaki, Abhimanyu, Dhrishtadyumna, Bhima, and the twins protected the king, lord of men, on all sides.
उपेन्द्रसदृशश्यामो महाशाल इवोद्गतः । एष गच्छत्यनीकाग्रे द्वितीय इव फल्गुनः
Dark as Upendra, towering like a great tree, he advances at the front of the army, a second Arjuna in might.
उत्तमास्त्राणि चाधत्स्व गृहीत्वा च महद्धनुः । पार्षतं याहि राजानं युध्यस्व च वृकोदरम्
Take up your supreme weapons and your great bow; go to the king of the Prishatas and fight with Bhima.
को हि नेच्छेत्प्रियं पुत्रं जीवन्तं शाश्वतीः समाः । क्षत्रधर्मं तु संप्रेक्ष्य ततस्त्वां नियुनज्म्यहम्
Who would not wish to see his beloved son live for countless years? Yet, considering the duty of a warrior, I command you thus.
एष चातिरणे भीष्मो दहते वै महाचमूम् । युद्धेषु सदृशस्तात यमस्य वरुणस्य च
Here, Bhishma in the great battle scorches the mighty army, equal in combat, O son, to Yama and Varuna.
पुत्रं समनुशास्यैवं भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। महारणे महाराज धर्मराजमयोधयत्
Thus instructing his son, the mighty Bharadwaja, O great king, engaged Dharmaraja in the great battle.
भगदत्तः कृपः शल्यः कृतवर्ता तथैव च। विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ सैन्धवश्च जयद्रथः
Bhagadatta, Kripa, Shalya, Kritavarma, Vind and Anuvinda of Avanti, the Sindhu king, and Jayadratha,