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.
नाभ्यवर्तन्त राजानः सहिता वानरध्वजम् । सध्वजा रथिनः पेतुर्हयारोहा हयैः सह
No kings, even united with the one bearing the monkey-banner, could withstand him; chariot-warriors with their standards fell, as did horsemen with their steeds.
सगजाश्च गजारोहाः किरीटिशरताडिताः । ततोऽर्जुनभुजोत्सृष्टैरावृताऽऽसीद्वसुंधरा
Elephants and their riders, struck by the diademed Arjuna’s arrows, fell as well; the earth was covered by the missiles released from Arjuna’s arms.
विद्रुतं दिक्षु सर्वासु शरैर्बलमदृश्यत । अथ पार्थो महाराज द्रावयित्वा वरूथिनीम्
All directions showed the army fleeing, pierced by arrows; then Partha, O King, having routed the troops—
दुःशासनाय सुबहून्प्रेषयामास सायकान् । ते तु भित्त्वा तव सुतं दुःशासनमयोमुखाः
—sent a multitude of arrows at Duhshasana; those iron-tipped shafts, piercing your son—
धरणीं विविशुः सर्वे वल्मीकमिव पन्नगाः । हयांश्चास्य ततो जघ्ने सारथिं च न्यपातयत्
—all entered the earth like serpents into an anthill; then he struck down his horses and felled his charioteer.
विविंशतिं च विंशत्या विरथीकृतवान्प्रभुः । आजघान भृशं चैव पञ्चभिर्नतपर्वभिः
The mighty Arjuna, with twenty more arrows, deprived Vivimsati of his chariot; and with five sharp shafts, he struck fiercely—
कृपं विकर्णं शल्यं च विद्ध्वा बहुभिरायसैः । चकार विरथांश्चैव कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः
—at Kripa, Vikarna, and Shalya, wounding them with many iron arrows; the son of Kunti, with his white steeds, made them all lose their chariots.
एवं ते विरथाः सर्वे कृपः शल्यश्च मारिष । दुःशासनो विकर्णश्च तथैव च विविंशतिः
Thus, all of them—Kripa, Shalya, O great one, Duhshasana, Vikarna, and Vivimsati—were left without chariots.
संप्राद्रवन्त समरे निर्जिताः सव्यसाचिना । पूर्वाह्णे भरतश्रेष्ठ पराजित्य महारथान्
Defeated by Savyasacin in battle, they fled from the field; in the forenoon, O best of Bharatas, having vanquished the great warriors—
प्रजज्वाल रणे पार्थो विधूम इव पावकः । तथैव शरवर्षेण भास्करो रश्मिवानिव
Partha blazed in battle like a smokeless fire; and with his shower of arrows, like the radiant sun.
अन्यानपि महाराज तापयामास पार्थिवान् । पराङ्मुखीकृत्य तथा शरवर्षैर्महारथान्
He tormented other kings as well, O King, turning the great chariot-warriors to flight with his showers of arrows.
प्रावर्तयत संग्रामे शोणितोदां महानदीम् । मध्येन कुरुसैन्यानां पाण्डवानां च भारत
In the midst of the Kuru and Pandava armies, he set flowing in battle a great river of blood.
तस्मिन्नतिमहाभीमे राजन्वीरवरक्षये । भीष्मं प्रति पराक्रान्ताः पाण्डवाः सह सृञ्जयैः
In that exceedingly dreadful slaughter of heroes, O King, the Pandavas, together with the Srinjayas, advanced against Bhishma.
ते पराक्रान्तमालोक्य युधि राजन्पितामहम् । न न्यवर्तन्त ते पुत्रा ब्रह्मलोकपुरस्कृताः
Seeing the grandsire’s valor in battle, O King, your sons did not turn back, as if led by Brahma’s world.
इच्छन्तो निधनं युद्धे स्वर्गलोकपरायणाः । पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त तावका युद्धदुर्मदाः
Desiring death in battle, intent on attaining heaven, your battle-maddened sons advanced against the Pandavas.
पाण्डवाश्च महाराज स्मरन्तो विविधान्बहून् । क्लेशान्कृतान्सपुत्रेण त्वया पूर्वं नराधिप
And the Pandavas, O King, recalling the many hardships you and your son had previously inflicted upon them—
भयं त्यक्त्वा रणे शूराः स्वर्गलोकपुरस्कृताः। तावकांस्तव पुत्रांश्च योधयन्ति स्म हृष्टवत्
Having cast off fear in battle, your sons and your warriors, honored by the world of heaven, fought joyfully.
गजाश्च रथसङ्घाश्च बहुधा रथिभिर्हताः । रथाश्च निहता नागैर्हयाश्चैव पदातिभिः
Elephants and groups of chariots were struck down in many ways by chariot-warriors; chariots were destroyed by elephants, and horses by foot soldiers.
अन्तरा च्छिद्यमानानि शरीराणि शिरांसि च । निपेतुर्दिक्षु सर्वासु गजाश्वरथयोधिनाम्
In between, bodies and heads were being cut down and fell in all directions, belonging to the elephant, horse, and chariot warriors.
छन्नमायोधनं राजन्कुण्डलाङ्गदधारिभिः। पतितैः पात्यमानैश्च राजपुत्रैर्महारथैः
The battlefield, O King, was covered by fallen royal sons and great chariot-warriors, adorned with earrings and armlets, who were being struck down.