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.
संग्रमे भरतश्रेष्ठ देवानां दानवैरिव । शिखण्डी तु रणे श्रेष्ठो रक्ष्ममाणः किरीटिना
In that conflict, O best of the Bharatas, it was like the battle between the gods and the danavas; Shikhandi, foremost in battle, protected by the one with the diadem,
अविध्यद्दशभिर्भीषअमं छिन्नधन्वानमाहवे। सारथिं दशभिश्चास्य ध्वजं चैकेन चिच्छिदे
Struck Bhishma, whose bow had been broken in the fight, with ten arrows; with ten more he struck his charioteer, and with one he cut down his banner.
सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय गाङ्गेयो वेगवत्तरम्। तदप्यस्य शितैर्बाणैस्त्रिभिश्चिच्छेद फल्गुनः
Then Bhishma, son of Ganga, seized another, even swifter bow; but Arjuna cut that too with three sharp arrows.
एवं स पाण्डवः क्रुद्ध आत्तमात्तं पुनः पुनः । धनुश्चिच्छेद भीष्मस्य सव्यसाची परंतपः
Thus, that Pandava, enraged, again and again cut down every bow Bhishma took up, O Arjuna, scorcher of foes.
स च्छिन्नधन्वा संक्रुद्धाः सृक्किणी परिसंलिहन् । शक्तिं जग्राह तरसा गिरीणामपि दारणीम्
With his bow broken, Bhishma, furious, licking his lips, seized with force a spear capable of splitting even mountains.
तां च चिक्षेप संक्रुद्धः फल्गुनस्य रथं प्रति । तामापतन्तीं संप्रेक्ष्य ज्वलन्तीमशनीमिव
And in his rage, he hurled it toward Arjuna’s chariot; seeing it rushing forth, blazing like a thunderbolt,
समादत्त शितान्भल्लान्पञ्च पाण्डवनन्दनः । तस्य चिच्छेद तां शक्तिं पञ्चधा पञ्चभिः शरैः
The son of Pandu took up five sharp arrows and with those five shafts, he cut that spear into five pieces.
संक्रुद्धो भरतश्रेष्ठ भीष्मवाहुप्रवेरिताम् । सा पपात तथा च्छिन्ना संक्रुद्धेन किरीटिना
Enraged, O best of the Bharatas, Bhishma had hurled it with all his might; but thus cut down by the wrathful Arjuna, it fell to the ground.
मेघबृन्दपरिभ्रष्टा विच्छिन्नेव शतह्रदा । छिन्नां तां शक्तिमालोक्य भीष्मः क्रोधसमन्वितः
Like a cloud burst from a cluster of clouds, or a river with a hundred streams severed, seeing his spear cut down, Bhishma, filled with anger,
अचिन्तयद्रणे वीरो बुद्ध्या परपुरंजयः। शक्तोऽहं धनुषैकेन निहन्तुं सर्वपाण्डवान्
That hero, conqueror of enemy cities, reflected in his mind amid the battle: 'With my bow alone, I am able to slay all the Pandavas.'