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.
भिद्यमानः शितैर्बाणैः सर्वावरणभेदिभिः । शिखण्डी तु महाराज भरतानां पितामहम्
But as he was struck by sharp arrows that pierced all his defenses, O king, Shikhandi attacked the grandsire of the Bharatas.
आजघानोरसि क्रुद्धो नवभिर्निशितैः शरैः । स तेनाभिहतः सङ्ख्ये भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः
Enraged, Shikhandi struck him in the chest with nine keen arrows; thus wounded in battle, Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus—
नाकम्पत महाराज क्षितिकम्पे यथाऽचलः । ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सुर्व्याक्षिपन्गाण्डिवं धनुः
Did not tremble, O king, just as a mountain does not shake when the earth quakes; then Arjuna, smiling, drew back his Gandiva bow.
गाङ्गेयं पञ्चविंशत्या क्षुद्रकाणां समार्पयत्। पुनः पुनः शतैरेनं त्वरमाणो धनञ्जयः
He struck the son of Ganga with twenty-five small arrows; then, eager, Dhananjaya struck him again and again with hundreds.
सर्वगात्रेषु संक्रुद्धस्तथा मर्मस्वताडयत् । एवमन्यैरपि भृशं विद्ध्यमानः सहस्रशः
In his fury, he struck all over his body and at his vital points; even as others too wounded him fiercely by the thousands.
तानप्याशु शरैर्भीष्मः प्रविव्याध महारथः । तैश्च मुक्ताञ्छरान्भीष्मो युधि सत्यपराक्रमः
But Bhishma, the great chariot-warrior, swiftly pierced them with arrows; and with the arrows he released in battle, Bhishma, of true valor, repelled them.
निवारयामास शरैः समं सन्नतपर्वभिः । शिखण्डी तु रणे बाणान्यान्मुमोच महारथः
With arrows of equal strength and curved tips, he warded off those released at him; but Shikhandi, the great chariot-warrior, kept releasing arrows in battle.
न चक्रुस्ते रुजं तस्य रुक्मपुङ्खाः शिलासिताः । ततः किरीटी संक्रुद्धो भीष्ममेवाभ्यवर्तत
But those gold-feathered, stone-shafted arrows did not cause him pain; then the diademed one, enraged, advanced upon Bhishma.
शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य धनुश्चास्य समाच्छिनत्। अथैनं नवभिर्विद्ध्वा ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छिदे
Placing Shikhandi in front, he cut Bhishma’s bow; then, after wounding him with nine arrows, he cut down his banner with one.
सारथिं विशिखैश्चास्य दशभिः समकम्पयत् । सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय गाङ्गेयो बलवत्तरम्
And with ten arrows he shook his charioteer; then Ganga’s son took up another, stronger bow.