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,
शरैः कनकपुङ्खैश्च शक्तितोमरकम्पनैः । नाराचैर्वत्सदन्तैश्च भुशुण्डीभिश्च सर्वशः
With arrows tipped with gold, with lances, tomaras, javelins, iron shafts, calf-toothed arrows, and all kinds of bhuśuṇḍis,
अताडयन्रणे भीष्मं सहिताः सर्वसृञ्जयाः । स विशीर्णतनुत्रामाः पीडितो बहुभिस्तदा
The united Sṛñjayas struck Bhīṣma in battle; his body was pierced and wounded in many places.
न विव्यथे तदा भीष्मो भिद्यमानेषु मर्मसु । संदीप्तशरचापाग्निरस्त्रप्रसृतमारुतः
Yet Bhīṣma did not waver, even as his vital points were being shattered; his bow and arrows blazed like fire, and the wind of his weapons blew fiercely.
नेमिनिर्ह्रादसंतापो महास्त्रोदयपावकः । चित्रचापमहाज्वालो वीरक्षयमहेन्धनः
He was like a roaring, blazing fire of great weapons, with a wondrous bow as its great flame, and the destruction of heroes as its fuel.
युगान्तागनिसमप्रख्यः परेषां समपद्यत । निवृत्य रथसङ्घानामन्तरेण विनिःसृतः
He became like the fire at the end of an age, terrifying to his enemies; emerging from within the ranks of chariots, he advanced.
दृश्यते स्म नेरन्द्राणां पुनर्मध्यगतश्चरन् । ततः पाञ्चालराजं च धृष्टकेतुमतीत्य च
He was seen moving again into the midst of the kings, having passed through, and then approaching the king of the Pāñcālas and Dhṛṣṭaketu.
पाण्डवानीकिनीमध्यमाससाद विशांपते। ततः सात्यकिभीमौ च पाण्डवं च धनञ्जयम्
He reached the center of the Pāṇḍava army, O king; then Sātyaki, Bhīma, and Dhanañjaya the Pāṇḍava,
द्रुपदं च विराटं च धृष्टद्युम्नं च पार्षतम् । भीमघोषैर्महावेगैर्मर्मावरणभेदिभिः
Drupada, Virāṭa, Dhṛṣṭadyumna the son of Pṛṣata—all these, with their mighty, thunderous, swift arrows that pierced armor,
षडेतान्निशितैर्भीष्मः प्रविव्याधोत्तकैः शरैः । तस्य ते निशितान्बाणात्सन्निवार्य महारथाः
Bhīṣma struck these six great warriors with keen arrows from his chariot; but those great chariot-warriors repelled his sharp arrows,
दशभिर्दशभिर्भीष्ममर्दयामासुरोजसा । शिखण्डी तु महाबाणान्यान्मुमोच महारथः
And with ten arrows each, they powerfully assailed Bhīṣma; but Śikhaṇḍin, the great chariot-warrior, released mighty arrows,
न चक्रुस्ते रुजं तस्य स्वर्मपुङ्खाः शिलाशिताः। ततः किरीटी संरब्धो भीष्ममेवाभ्यधावत
Yet those feathered, iron-tipped arrows did not cause him pain; then Arjuna, enraged, rushed at Bhīṣma,
शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य धनुश्चास्य समाच्छिनत्। भीष्मस्य धनुषश्छेदं नामृष्यन्त महारथाः
Placing Śikhaṇḍin in front, he cut Bhīṣma's bow; the great chariot-warriors could not endure the breaking of Bhīṣma's bow.
द्रोणश्च कृतवर्मा च सैन्धवश्च जयद्रथः । भूरिश्रवाः शलः शल्यो भगदत्तस्तथैव च
Droṇa, Kṛtavarmā, the Sindhu king Jayadratha, Bhūriśravā, Śala, Śalya, and Bhagadatta,
सप्तैते परमक्रुद्धाः किरीटिनमभिद्रुताः । तत्र शस्त्राणि दिव्यानि दर्शयन्तो महारथाः
These seven, greatly enraged, rushed at Arjuna, displaying their divine weapons, O king,
अभिपेतुर्भृशं क्रुद्धाश्चादयन्तश्च पाण्डवम् । तेषामापततां शब्दः शुश्रुवे फल्गुनं प्रति
Fiercely attacking and covering the Pāṇḍava, their tumultuous noise was heard as they advanced toward Phālguna,
उद्धूतानां यथा शब्दः समुद्राणां युगक्षये । घ्नत त्वरत गृह्णीत विद्ध्यध्वमवकर्तत
Like the sound of oceans churned at the end of an age, they shouted: 'Strike! Hurry! Seize! Pierce! Cut down!'
इत्यासीत्तुमुलः शब्दः फल्गुनस्य रथं प्रति । तं शब्दं तुमुलं श्रुत्वा पाण्डवानां महारथाः
Then a tumultuous sound arose toward Arjuna’s chariot; hearing that great noise, the mighty warriors of the Pandavas—
अभ्यधावन्परीप्सन्तः फल्गुनं भरतर्षभ । सात्यकिर्भीमसेनश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः
Desiring to support Arjuna, O bull among the Bharatas, Satyaki, Bhimasena, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata,
विराटद्रुषदौ चोभौ राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः । अभिमन्युश्च संक्रुद्धः सप्तैते क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः
Both the sons of Drupada, the king of Virata, Ghatotkacha the Rakshasa, and the enraged Abhimanyu—these seven, overcome by wrath,
समभ्यधावंस्त्वरिताश्चित्रकार्मुकधारिणः । तेषां समभवद्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्
Rushed swiftly, bearing splendid bows; and among them there arose a fierce and hair-raising battle.