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.'
यद्येषां न भवेद्गोप्ता विष्वक्सेनो महाबलः । `अजय्यश्चैव सर्वेषां लोकानामिति मे मतिः ।' कारणद्वयमास्थाय नाहं योत्स्यामि पाण्डवान्
'If the mighty Vishvaksena were not their protector, and since all the worlds consider them invincible, for these two reasons, I will not fight the Pandavas.'
अवध्यत्वाच्च पाण्डूनां स्त्रीभावाच्च शिखण्डिनः। पित्रा तुष्टेन मे पूर्वं यदा कालीमुदवहम्
'Because the sons of Pandu are invulnerable, and because Shikhandi is of female nature; and earlier, when I pleased my father, I received from Kali—'
स्वच्छन्दमरणं दत्तमवध्यत्वं रणे तथा । तस्मान्मृत्युमहं मन्ये प्राप्तकालमिवात्मनः
'The boon of dying at will and invulnerability in battle; therefore, I think the time of my death has come for me.'
एवं ज्ञात्वा व्यवसितं भीष्मस्यामिततेजसः । ऋषयो वसवश्चैव वियत्स्था भीष्ममब्रुवन्
Knowing thus the resolve of Bhishma of immeasurable energy, the sages and Vasus dwelling in the sky spoke to Bhishma.
यत्ते व्यवसितं तात तदस्माकमपि प्रियम् । तत्कुरुष्व महाराज युद्धे बुद्धिं निवर्तय
Whatever you have resolved, dear father, is also pleasing to us; therefore, O great king, do as you intend and turn your mind away from battle.
अस्य वाक्यस्य निधने प्रादुसासीच्छिवोऽनिलः । अनुलोमः सुगन्धी च पृषतैश्च समन्वितः
At the conclusion of these words, an auspicious wind arose, gentle and fragrant, carrying cool drops along with it.
देवदुन्दुभयश्चैव संप्रणेदुर्महास्वनाः। पपात पुष्पवृष्टिश्च भीष्मस्योपरि मारिष
And divine drums resounded with great clamor, and a shower of flowers fell, O Māriṣa, upon Bhishma.
न च ताः शुश्रुवे कश्चित्तेषां संवदतां गिरः। ऋते भीष्मं महाबाहुं मां चापि मुनितेजसा
But none heard the words spoken among them, except for mighty-armed Bhishma and myself, by the power of asceticism.
संभ्रमश्च महानासीत्रिदशानां विशांपते । पतिष्यति रथाद्भीष्मे सर्वलोकप्रिये तदा
A great agitation arose among the gods, O lord of men, as Bhishma, beloved of all worlds, was about to fall from his chariot.
इति देवगणानां च वाक्यं श्रुत्वा महातपाः। ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो बीभत्सुं नाभ्यवर्तत
Hearing the words of the hosts of gods, the great ascetic, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, did not advance against Arjuna.