तथैव पाण्डवाः शूरा धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः । अभ्यद्रवन्रणे भीष्मं व्यादितास्यमिवान्तकम्
Likewise, the valiant Pandavas and Dhrishtadyumna, son of Prishata, rushed at Bhishma in battle, like Death with open jaws.
शिखण्डी तु समासाद्य भरतानां पितामहम् । अभ्यद्रवत संहृष्टो भयं त्यक्त्वा महारथात्
Shikhandi, approaching the grandsire of the Bharatas, advanced joyfully against the great chariot-warrior, casting aside fear.
युधिष्ठिरमुखाः पार्थाः पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम् । अयोधयन्रणे भीष्मं सहिताः सर्वसृञ्जयैः
The sons of Pandu, led by Yudhishthira and placing Shikhandi at the forefront, together with all the Srinjayas, fought Bhishma in battle.
तथैव तावकाः सर्वे पुरस्कृत्य यतव्रतम् । शिखण्डिप्रमुखान्पार्थान्योधयन्ति स्म संयुगे
In the same way, all your men, placing the self-controlled one at their head, fought the Pandavas, led by Shikhandi, in the encounter.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं कौरवाणां भयावहम्। तत्र पाण्डुसुतैः सार्धं भीष्मस्य विजयं प्रति
Then a fearsome battle arose between the Kauravas and the sons of Pandu, striving for Bhishma's victory.
तावकानां जये भीष्मो ग्लह आसीद्विशांपते । तत्र हि द्यूतमासक्तं विजयायेतराय वा
In the contest for your side's victory, Bhishma was the stake, O lord of the people; for there, victory or defeat was as if determined by a game of dice.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु राजेन्द्र सर्वसैन्यान्यचोदयत्। अभ्यद्रवत गाङ्गेयं मा भैष्ट रथसत्तमाः
But Dhrishtadyumna, O king, urged all the armies forward; he charged at Bhishma, saying, 'Do not fear, O best of charioteers!'
सेनापतिवचः श्रुत्वा पाण्डवानां वरूथिनी । भीष्मं समभ्ययात्तूर्णं प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा महाहवे
Hearing the commander’s words, the Pandava battalions rushed swiftly at Bhishma, ready to give up their lives in the great battle.
भीष्मोऽपि रथिनां श्रेष्ठः प्रतिजग्राह तां चमूम् । आपतन्तीं महाराज वेलामिव महोदधिः
And Bhishma, the foremost of charioteers, received that advancing host, O king, like the great ocean receives the rushing tide.
कथं शान्तनवो भीष्मो दशमेऽहनि सञ्जय। अयुध्यत महावीर्यः पाण्डवैः सह सृज्जयैः
How did Bhishma, son of Shantanu, endowed with great valor, fight on the tenth day, O Sanjaya, against the Pandavas and the Srinjayas?
कुरवश्च कथं युद्धे पाण्डवान्प्रत्यवारयन्। आचक्ष्व मे महायुद्धं भीष्मस्याहवशोभिनः
And how did the Kurus hold back the Pandavas in battle? Tell me of Bhishma’s glorious combat in that great war.
कुरवः पाण्डवैः सार्धं यदयुध्यन्त भारत। यथा च तदभूद्युद्धं तत्तु वक्ष्यामि सांप्रतम्
When the Kurus fought together with the Pandavas, O Bharata, I will now describe how that battle unfolded.
गमिताः परलोकाय परमास्त्रैः किरीटिना । अहन्यहनि संप्राप्ते तावकानां महारथाः
Day after day, the mighty warriors among your men were sent to the next world by Arjuna, wielder of supreme weapons.
यथाप्रतिज्ञं कौरव्यः स चापि समितिंजयः । पार्थानामकरोद्भीष्मः सततं समिति क्षयम्
And Bhishma, the conqueror in battle, always fulfilled his vow, O Kaurava, and constantly destroyed the Pandava forces.
कुरुभिः सहितं भीष्मं युध्यमानं परंतप । अर्जुनं च सपाञ्चाल्यं दृष्ट्वा संशयिता जनाः
Seeing Bhishma fighting together with the Kurus, and Arjuna with the Panchalas, people were filled with doubt.
दशमेऽहनि तस्मिंस्तु भीष्मार्जुनसमागमे । अवर्तत महारौद्रः सततं समिति क्षयः
On that tenth day, when Bhishma and Arjuna met, a fierce and unceasing slaughter took place in the battle.
तस्मिन्नयुतशो राजन्भूयशश्च परंतपः । भीष्मः शान्तनवो योधाञ्जघान परामास्त्रवित्
There, O king, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, master of supreme weapons, struck down tens of thousands of warriors again and again.
येषामज्ञातकल्पानि नामगोत्राणि पार्थिव । ते हतास्तत्र भीष्मेण शूराः सर्वेऽनिवर्तिनः
Those whose names and lineages were unknown, O king, all those brave and unyielding heroes were slain there by Bhishma.
दशाहानि तथा तप्त्वा भीष्मः पाण्डववाहिनीम् । निरविद्यत धर्मात्मा जीविते स परंतपः
After tormenting the Pandava army for ten days, Bhishma, righteous and a scorcher of foes, lost his desire to live.
स क्षिप्रं वधमन्विच्छन्नात्मनोऽभिसुखं रणे। न हन्यां मानवश्रेष्ठान्संग्रामेऽभिमुखानिति
Seeking a quick death for himself in battle, he thought, 'I will not slay the best of men who face me in combat.'
चिन्तयित्वा महाबाहुः पिता देवव्रतस्तव । अभ्याशस्थं महाराज पाण्डवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Having reflected thus, your father Devavrata, mighty-armed, spoke these words to the nearby Pandava, O king.
युधिष्ठिर महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । शृणुष्व वचनं तात धर्म्यं स्वर्ग्यं च जल्पतः
'Yudhishthira, greatly wise, master of all scriptures, listen, dear one, to my words, which are righteous and lead to heaven.'
निर्विष्णोऽस्मि भृशं तात देहेनानेन भारत । घ्नतश्च मे गतः कालः सुबहून्प्राणिनो रणे
'I am utterly weary, dear child, in this body, O Bharata; and as I strike, the time of death has come for many beings in battle.'
तस्मात्पार्थं पुरोधाय पाञ्चालान्सृज्जयांस्तथा । मद्वधे क्रियतां यत्नो मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम्
'Therefore, placing Arjuna at the front, along with the Panchalas and Srinjayas, make every effort for my death, if you desire what is good for me.'
तस्य तन्मतमाज्ञाय पाण्डवः सत्यदर्शनः । भीष्मं प्रति ययौ राजा संग्रामे सह सृञ्जयैः
Understanding his counsel, the truth-seeing Pandava, together with the Srinjayas, advanced toward Bhishma in battle.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्ततो राजन्पाण्डवश्च युधिष्ठिरः । श्रुत्वा भीष्मस्य तां वाचं चोदयामासतुर्बलम्
Then, O King, Dhrishtadyumna and Yudhishthira, having heard Bhishma's words, urged their forces onward.
अभिद्रवध्यं युद्ध्यध्वं भीष्मं जयत संयुगे । रक्षिताः सत्यसन्धेन जिष्णुना रिपुजिष्णुना
Attack, fight, and conquer Bhishma in battle; you are protected by the truthful and victorious Arjuna, the subduer of foes.
अयं चापि महेष्वासः पार्षतो वाहिनीपतिः । भीमसेनश्च समरे पालयिष्यति वो ध्रुवम्
This mighty archer, the commander of the Parshata army, and Bhimasena in the fray, will surely defend you.
मा वो भीष्माद्भयं किंचिदस्त्वद्य युधि सृञ्जयाः। ध्रुवं भीष्मं विजेष्यामः पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्
Let not any fear of Bhishma trouble you today, O Srinjayas; surely we will defeat Bhishma, placing Shikhandi at the forefront.
ते तथा समयं कृत्वा दशमेऽहनि पाण्डवाः। ब्रह्मलोकपरा भूत्वा संजग्मुः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः
Having thus made their agreement on the tenth day, the Pandavas, intent on attaining the realm of Brahma, rushed forth, overcome by wrath.