तथैव च चमूं सर्वां पाण्डवानां महारथः । अप्रैषीत्स शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः परलोकाय मारिष
Likewise, the great chariot-warrior sent the entire Pandava army to the next world with his sharp arrows, O Marisha.
तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्सैन्येन महता वृताः । भीष्मं संछादयामासुर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम्
In the same way, O king, the Pandavas, surrounded by their great army, covered Bhishma as clouds cover the sun.
स समन्तात्परिवृतो भीष्मो हि भरतर्षभ । निर्ददाह रणे शूरान्वने वह्निरिव ज्वलन्
Surrounded on all sides, Bhishma, bull among the Bharatas, blazed in battle, burning heroes like a fire in a forest.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम तव पुत्रस्य पौरुषम् । अयोधयच्च यत्पार्थं जुगोप च पितामहम्
There we saw something wondrous: your son's valor, for he fought Arjuna and protected the grandsire.
कर्मणा तेन समरे तव पुत्रस्य धन्विनः । दुःशासनस्य तुतुषुः सर्वे लोका महात्मनः
Because of that deed in battle by your son, the bowman Duhshasana, all people praised the great-souled one.
यदेकः समरे पार्थान्सानुगान्समयोधयत् । न चैनं पाण्डवा युद्धे वारयामासुरुल्बणम्
For alone in battle he fought the sons of Pritha and their followers, and the Pandavas could not check him in that fierce fight.
दुःशासनेन समरे रथिनो विरथीकृताः । सादिनश्च महेष्वासा हस्तिनश्च महाबलाः
By Duhshasana in battle, chariot-warriors were made chariotless, great archers on horseback and mighty elephants as well.
विनिर्भिन्नाः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्निपेतुर्वसुधातले । शरातुरास्तथैवान्ये दन्तिनो विद्रुता दिशः
Pierced by sharp arrows, they fell to the earth; others, wounded by arrows, fled in all directions, their elephants in panic.
यथाग्निरिन्धनं प्राप्य ज्वलेद्दीप्तार्चिरुल्बणम् । तथा जज्वाल पुत्रस्ते पाण्डुसेनां विनिर्दहन्
Just as fire, finding fuel, blazes up with fierce flames, so did your son burn the Pandava army.
तं भारतमहामात्रं पाण्डवानां महारथः । जेतुं नोत्सहते कश्चिन्नाभ्युद्यातुं कथंचन
No one among the great chariot-warriors of the Pandavas was able to conquer or even approach that mighty elephant of the Bharatas.
ऋते महेन्द्रतनयाच्छ्वेताश्वात्कृष्णसारथेः । स हि तं समरे राजन्निर्जित्य विजयोऽर्जुनः
Except for the son of Mahendra, Arjuna of white horses with Krishna as charioteer, O King, he alone gained victory in battle, having conquered him.
भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्राव सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः । विजितस्तव पुत्रोऽपि भीष्मबाहुव्यपाश्रयः
He charged directly at Bhishma before the eyes of the entire army; even your son, relying on Bhishma's arms, was defeated.
पुनः पुनः समाश्वस्य प्रायुध्यत मदोत्कटः । अर्जुनस्तु रणे राजन्योधयन्संव्यराजत
Again and again, regaining his composure, he fought fiercely; but Arjuna shone in battle, contending with the warriors, O King.
शिखण्डी तु रणे राजन्विव्याधैव पितामहम् । शरैरशनिसंस्पर्शैस्तथा सर्पविषोपमैः
But Shikhandi, O King, struck the grandsire in battle with arrows that felt like thunderbolts and were likened to serpent-venom.
न च स्म ते रुजं चक्रुः पितुस्तव जनेश्वर । स्मय्रमानस्तु गाङ्गेयस्तान्बाणाञ्जगृहे तदा
Yet those arrows did not cause pain to your father, O lord of men; Ganga's son, smiling, received those shafts at that time.
उष्णार्तो हि नरो यद्वज्जलधाराः प्रतीच्छति । तथा जग्राह गाङ्गेयः शरधाराः शिखण्डिनः
Just as a man tormented by heat welcomes streams of water, so did Ganga's son receive Shikhandi's showers of arrows.
तं क्षत्रिया महाराज ददृशुर्घोरमाहवे। भीष्मं दहन्तं सैन्यानि पाण्डवानां महात्मनां
The Kshatriyas, O great king, saw Bhishma in that dreadful battle burning the armies of the great-souled Pandavas.
ततोऽब्रवीत्तव सुतः सर्वसैन्यानि मारिष । अभिद्रवत संग्रामे फल्गुनं सर्वतो रणे
Then your son, O Marisha, said to all the armies: 'Attack Phalguna from all sides in the battle!'
भीष्मो वः समरे सर्वान्पायिष्यति धर्मवित्। तद्भयं सुमहत्त्यक्त्वा पाण्डवान्प्रति युध्यत
'Bhishma, knower of dharma, will protect you all in battle; casting off great fear, fight against the Pandavas!'
एष तालेन महता भीष्मस्तिष्ठति पालयन्। सर्वेषां धार्तराष्ट्राणां समरे शर्म वर्म च
'Here stands Bhishma, with great force, protecting and shielding all the Dhartarashtras in battle.'
देवा अपि समुद्युक्ता नालं भीष्मं समासितुम् । किमु पार्था महात्मानं मर्त्यभूता महाबलाः
Even the gods, though fully prepared, are not able to withstand Bhishma; how much less the sons of Pritha, though great-souled and mighty, being mortal.
तस्माद्द्रवत मा योधाः फल्गुनं प्राप्य संयुगे । अहमद्य रणे यत्तो योधयिष्यामि पाण्डवम्
Therefore, O warriors, do not flee upon meeting Phalguna in battle; today, with all my effort, I will fight the Pandava in the field.
सहितः सर्वतो यत्तैर्भवद्भिर्वसुधाधिपैः । तच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचो राजंस्तव पुत्रस्य धन्विनः
Together with all of you, O lords of earth, exert yourselves on every side; hearing these words of your bow-armed son, O King—
अर्जुनं प्रति संयत्ता बलवन्तो महाबलाः । ते विदेहाः कलिङ्गाश्च दासेरकगणाश्च ह
The powerful Videhas, Kalingas, and the Daseraka clans, all prepared themselves against Arjuna.
अभिपेतुर्निषादाश्च सौवीराश्च महारणे । बाह्लीका दरदाश्चैव प्रतीच्योदीच्यमालवाः
The Nishadas and Sauviras advanced in the great battle, as did the Bahlikas, Daradas, and the Malavas of the west and north.
अभीषाहाः शूरसेनाः शिबयोऽथ वसातयः । साल्वः शकास्त्रिगर्ताश्च अम्बष्ठाः केकयौः सह
The Abhishahas, Shurasenas, Shibis, and Vasatas, as well as the Salvas, Shakas, Trigartas, Ambasthas, and the Kekayas, advanced together.
अभिपेतू रणे पार्थं पतङ्गा इव पावकम् । स तान्सर्वान्सहानीकान्महाराज महारथान्
They rushed at Partha in battle like moths into a flame; and he, O great king, with all his divisions and mighty chariot-warriors—
दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि संचिन्त्य प्रसंधाय धनञ्जयः । स तैरस्त्रैर्महावेगैर्ददाह सुमहाबलः
Dhananjaya, recalling and stringing together divine weapons, burned them with those weapons of great speed, being himself of immense might.
शरप्रतापैर्बीभत्सुः पतङ्गानिव पावकः । तस्य बाणसहस्राणि सृजतो दृढधन्विनः
Arjuna, with the force of his arrows, was like fire consuming moths; as he released thousands of shafts from his strong bow—
दीप्यमानमिवाकाशे गाण्डीवं समदृश्यत। ते शरार्ता महाराज विप्रकीर्णमहाध्वजाः
His Gandiva shone in the sky as if aflame; those struck by his arrows, O King, had their great banners scattered.