विराटस्य प्रियो भ्राता शतानीको निपातितः। शतानीकं च समरे हत्वा भीष्मः प्रतापवान्
The beloved brother of Virata, Shatanika, was felled; and having slain Shatanika in battle, the mighty Bhishma—
सहस्राणि महाराज राज्ञां भल्लैरपातयत्। उद्विग्नाः समरे योधा विक्रोशन्ति धनञ्जयम्
O great king, with arrows he brought down thousands of kings; the warriors, distressed in battle, cried out for Dhananjaya.
ये च केचन पार्थानामभियाता धनञ्जयम् । राजानो भीष्ममासाद्य गतास्ते यमसादनम्
And whoever among the Pandavas advanced toward Dhananjaya, those kings, upon encountering Bhishma, reached the abode of Yama.
किरन्दश दिशो भीष्मः शरजालैः समन्ततः । अतीत्य सेनां पार्थानामवतस्थे चमूमुखे
Bhishma covered the ten directions with a net of arrows on all sides; passing through the Pandava army, he stood at the front of the formation.
स कृत्वा सुमहत्कर्म तस्मिन्वै दशमेऽहनि। सेनयोरन्तरे तिष्ठन्प्रगृहीतशरासनः
Having performed a great feat on that tenth day, he stood between the two armies, with bow and arrows in hand.
न चैनं पार्थिवाः केचिच्छक्ता राजन्निरीक्षितुम् । मध्यं प्राप्तं यथा ग्रीष्मे तपन्तं भास्करं दिवि
And, O King, none of the rulers could bear to look upon him, as he stood in the midst, like the blazing sun in the sky at summer's height.
यथा दैत्यचमूं शक्रस्तापयामास संयुगे । तथा भीष्मः पाण्डवेयांस्तापयामास भारत
Just as Indra scorched the army of the Daityas in battle, so Bhishma tormented the Pandava forces, O Bharata.
तथा चैनं पराक्रान्तमालोक्य मधुसूदनः। उवाच देवकीपुत्रः प्रीयमाणो धनञ्जयम्
Seeing him thus advancing with might, Madhusudana, the son of Devaki, spoke to Dhananjaya with delight.
एष शान्तनवो भीष्मः सेनयोरन्तरे स्थितः । सन्निहत्य बलादेनं विजयस्ते भविष्यति
This is Bhishma, son of Shantanu, standing between the two armies; by defeating him with force, your victory will be assured.
बलात्संस्तम्भयस्वैनं यत्रैषा भिद्यते चमूः । न हि भीष्मशरानन्यः सोढुमुत्सहते विभो
Restrain him with force where this formation is breaking; for, O mighty one, no one else is able to withstand Bhishma's arrows.
ततस्तस्मिन्क्षणे राजंश्चोदितो वानरध्वजः । सध्वजं सरथं साश्वं भीष्ममन्तर्दधे शरैः
Then, O King, at that very moment, urged on, the monkey-bannered one concealed Bhishma—along with his banner, chariot, and horses—with his arrows.
स चापि कुरुमुख्यानामृषभः पाण्डवेरितान्। सरव्रतैः शरव्रातान्बहुधा विदुधाव तान्
And that bull among the Kurus, the foe of the Pandavas, scattered the showers of arrows sent at him by the foremost of the Kurus in many ways.
ततः पाञ्चालराजश्च धृष्टकेतुश्च वीर्यवान् । पाण्डवो भीमसेनश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः
Then the king of the Panchalas, the mighty Dhrishtaketu, Pandava Bhimasena, and Dhrishtadyumna, son of Prishata,
यमौ च चेकितानश्च केकयाः पञ्च चैव ह । सात्यकिश्च महाबाहुः सौभद्रोऽथ घटोत्कचः
The twins, Chekitana, the five Kekaya brothers, mighty-armed Satyaki, Subhadra's son, and Ghatotkacha,
द्रौपदेयाः शिखण्डी च कुन्तिभोजश्च वीर्यवान् । विराटश्च महाराज पाण्डवेया महाबलाः
The sons of Draupadi, Shikhandi, the valiant Kuntibhoja, and King Virata—these powerful sons of Pandu,
एते चान्ये च बहवः पीडिता भीष्मसायकैः । समुद्धृताः फल्गुनेन निमग्नाः शोकसागरे
And many others, afflicted by Bhishma's arrows, were rescued by Arjuna, though they had sunk into an ocean of sorrow.
ततः शिखण्डी वेगेन प्रगृह्य परमायुधम्। भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्राव रक्ष्यमाणः किरीटिना
Then Shikhandi, with speed, seizing his supreme weapon, charged straight at Bhishma, protected by the diademed one.
ततोऽस्यानुचरान्हत्वा सर्वान्रणविभागवित् । भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्राव बीभत्सुरपराजितः
Then, having slain all of Bhishma's attendants, knowing well the divisions of battle, the undefeated Bhimasena rushed at Bhishma himself.
सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः । विराटो द्रुपदश्चैव माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ
Satyaki, Chekitana, Dhrishtadyumna son of Prishata, Virata, Drupada, and the two sons of Madri,
दुद्रुवुर्भीष्ममेवाजौ रक्षिता दृढधन्वना । अभिमन्युश्च समरे द्रौपद्याः पञ्च चात्मजाः
All rushed at Bhishma in battle, protected by the steadfast archer; Abhimanyu too, and the five sons of Draupadi, in the fight.
ददृशुः समरे भीष्मं समुद्यतमहायुधम् । ते सर्वे दृढधन्वानः संयुगेष्वपलायिनः
They saw Bhishma in battle, his great weapon raised; all of them, steadfast archers, unyielding in combat.
बहुधा भीष्ममानर्च्छुर्मार्गणैः क्षतमार्गणैः । विधूय तान्बाणगणान्ये मुक्ताः पार्थिवोत्तमैः
They honored Bhishma in many ways with arrows, wounding him with their shafts; but he shook off those clouds of arrows loosed by the best of kings.
पाण्डवानामदीनात्मा व्यगाहत वरूथिनीम् । चक्रे शरविघातं च क्रीडन्निव पितामहः
Unafraid, Bhishma plunged into the Pandava ranks and, as if playing, struck them with his arrows.
नाभिसंधत्त पाञ्चाल्ये स्मयमानो मुहुर्मुहुः । स्त्रीत्वं तस्यानुसंस्मृत्य भीष्मो बाणाञ्शिखण्डिने
Smiling again and again, Bhishma did not aim his arrows at the Panchala, remembering Shikhandi's womanhood.
जघान द्रुपदानीके रथान्सप्त महारथः । ततः किलकिलाशब्दः क्षणेन समभूत्तदा
The great chariot-warrior struck down seven chariots in Drupada's division; then, in an instant, a tumultuous sound arose.
मत्स्यपाञ्चालचेदीनां तमेकमभिधावताम् । ते नराश्वरथव्रातैर्मार्गणैश्च परंतप
The warriors of the Matsyas, Panchalas, and Chedis rushed at him alone, with troops of men, horses, and chariots, and with showers of arrows, O scorcher of foes.
तमेकं छादयामासुर्मेघा इव दिवाकरम् । भीष्मं भागीरथीपुत्रं प्रतपन्तं रणे रिपून्
They covered Bhishma, son of Bhagirathi, who was scorching his enemies in battle, as clouds cover the sun.
ततस्तस्य च तेषां च युद्धे देवासुरोपमे । किरीटी भीष्ममानर्च्छ पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्
Then, in that battle like one between gods and asuras, Arjuna honored Bhishma, placing Shikhandi at the forefront.
एवं ते पाण्डवाः सर्वे पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम् । विव्यधुः समरे भीष्मं परिवार्य समन्ततः
Thus, all the Pāṇḍavas, placing Śikhaṇḍin at the forefront, surrounded Bhīṣma on every side and struck him in battle.
शतघ्नीभिः सुघोराभिः परिघैश्च परश्वथैः । मुद्गरैर्मुसलैः प्रासैः क्षेपणीयैश्च सर्वशः
With terrifying sataghni weapons, iron clubs, axes, maces, pestles, spears, and all kinds of projectiles,