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.
शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य पाण्डवं च धनञ्जयम् । भीष्मस्य पातने यत्नं परमं ते समास्थिताः
Placing Shikhandi and Dhananjaya at the front, they devoted themselves fully to the task of bringing down Bhishma.
ततस्त्व सुतादिष्टा नानाजनपदेश्वराः। द्रोणेन सहपुत्रेण सहसेना महाबलाः
Then, as commanded by your son, the mighty rulers from many lands, together with Drona and his son, and their armies, assembled.
दुःशासनश्च बलवान्सह सर्वैः सहोदरैः । भीष्मं समरमध्यस्थं पालयांचक्रिरे तदा
The powerful Duhshasana, along with all his brothers, then guarded Bhishma, who stood at the center of the battle.
ततस्तु तावकाः शूराः पुरस्कृत्य महाव्रतम्। शिखण्डिप्रमुखान्पार्थान्योधयन्ति स्म संयुगे
Then your heroic men, led by the great-vowed Bhishma, fought against the Pandavas, who had Shikhandi at their head.
चेदिभिस्तु सपाञ्चालैः सहितो वानरध्वजः । ययौ शान्तनवं भीष्मं पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्
With the Cedis and Panchalas, the monkey-bannered one advanced toward Bhishma, son of Shantanu, placing Shikhandi at the front.
द्रोणपुत्रं शिनेर्नप्ता धृष्टकेतुस्तु पौरवम् । अभिमन्युः सहामात्यं दुर्योधमयोधयत्
Dhrishtaketu, the grandson of Shini, confronted Drona's son; Abhimanyu, with his ministers, engaged Duryodhana in battle.
विराटस्तु सहानीकः सहसेनं जयद्रथम् । वृद्धक्षत्रस्य दायादमाससाद परंतप
Virata, with his troops, and his army, challenged Jayadratha, the heir of Vriddhakshatra, O scorcher of foes.
मद्रराजं महेष्वासं सहसैन्यं युधिष्ठिरः । भीमसेनोऽभिगुप्तस्तु नागानीकमुपाद्रवत्
Yudhishthira, with his army, faced the mighty-armed king of Madra in battle; Bhimasena, well protected, attacked the elephant division.
अप्रधृष्यमनावार्यं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम् । द्रोणं प्रति ययौ यत्तः पाञ्चाल्यः सह सोदरैः
The Panchala, with his brothers, prepared to confront Drona, the invincible, irresistible, foremost among all wielders of weapons.
कर्णिकारध्वजं चैव सिंहकैतुररिंदमः । प्रत्युज्जगाम सौभद्रं राजपुत्रो बृहद्बलः
The lion-bannered destroyer of enemies, Bhagadatta, advanced to meet Saubhadra, who bore the Karnikara banner.