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.
तदप्यस्य शितैर्भल्लैस्त्रिधा त्रिभिरघातयत् । निमेषार्धेन कौन्तेय आत्तमात्तं महारणे
But Arjuna struck even that with three sharp broad-headed arrows, breaking it in three; and in half a moment, son of Kunti, he cut down each bow Bhishma took up in the great battle.
एवमस्य धनूंष्याजौ चिच्छेद सुबहून्यथ। ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो बीभत्सुं नात्यवर्तत
Thus, in that battle, he cut down many of his bows; then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, did not advance further against Arjuna.
अथैनं पञ्चविंशत्या क्षुद्रकाणां समार्पयत्। सोऽतिविद्धो महेष्वासो दुःशासनमभाषत
Then he released twenty-five small arrows upon him; thus pierced, the mighty archer spoke to Duhshasana.
एष पार्थो रणे क्रुद्धः पाण्डवानां महारथः । शरैरनेकसाहस्त्रैर्मामेवाभ्यपतद्रणे
This Partha, enraged in battle, the great chariot-warrior of the Pandavas, has rushed at me in combat with countless thousands of arrows.
न चैष समरे शक्यो जेतुं वज्रभृता अपि। न चापि सहिता वीरा देवदानवराक्षसाः
He cannot be conquered in battle, not even by the wielder of the thunderbolt, nor by heroes united—gods, demons, or rākṣasas.
मां चापि शक्ता निर्जेतुं किमु मर्त्या महारथाः । `ऋतेऽर्जुनं सुसंक्रुद्धमेतत्सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते
Nor can they defeat me—what then of mortal chariot-warriors, except for Arjuna, fiercely enraged? This is the truth I tell you.
एवं तयोः संवदतोः फल्गुनो निशितैः शरैः। शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य भीष्मं विव्याध संयुगे
As the two conversed thus, Phalguna, with sharp arrows, attacked Bhishma in battle, placing Shikhandi at the forefront.
ततो दुःशासनं भीष्मः स्मयमान इवाब्रवीत् । अर्दितो निशितैर्बाणैर्भृशं गाण्डीवधन्वना
Then Bhishma, smiling as if amused, spoke to Duhshasana, sorely afflicted by the sharp arrows of the wielder of Gandiva.
वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शाः सुपुङ्खाः सुप्रतेजनाः । सुमुक्ता अव्यवच्छिन्ना नेमे बाणाःशिखण्डिनः
These arrows, well-feathered, well-sharpened, and released skillfully, strike with the force of thunderbolts; these are not Shikhandi's arrows.
निकृन्तमाना मर्माणि दृढावरणभेदिनः । सुसला इव मे ध्नन्ति नेमे बाणः शिखण्डिनः
Cutting through vital points, piercing strong armor, they strike me like well-cast javelins; these are not Shikhandi's arrows.