वज्रदण्डसमस्पर्शा वज्रवेगदुरासदाः । मम प्राणानारुजन्ति नेमे बाणाः शिखण्डिनः
Touching like adamantine rods, irresistible with the speed of thunder, they torment my life-breath; these are not Shikhandi's arrows.
नाशयन्तीव मे प्राणान्यमदूता इवागताः । गदापरिघसंस्पर्शा नेमे बाणाः शिखण्डिनः
They seem to destroy my life, arriving like messengers of Yama; with the impact of maces and iron clubs—these are not Shikhandi's arrows.
भुजगा इव संक्रुद्धा लेलिहाना विषोल्बणाः। समाविशन्ति मर्माणि नेमे बाणाः शिखण्डिनः
Like enraged serpents, licking with venom, they penetrate my vital points; these are not Shikhandi's arrows.
अर्जुनस्य इमे बाणा नेमे बाणाः शिखण्डिनः । कृन्तन्ति मम गात्राणि माघमां सेगवा इव
These are Arjuna's arrows, not Shikhandi's; they cut my limbs like axes splitting wood.
सर्वे ह्यपि न मे दुःखं कुर्युरन्ये नराधिपाःक । वीरं गाण्डीवधन्वानमृते जिष्णुं कपिध्वजम्
Indeed, none of the other kings could cause me pain, save for the heroic wielder of Gandiva, Jiṣṇu, with the monkey-banner.
इति ब्रुवञ्छान्तनवो दिधक्षुरिव पाण्डवम् । शक्तिं भीष्मः स पार्थाय ततश्चिक्षेप भारत
Thus speaking, Shantanu's son, as if eager to burn the Pandava, Bhishma hurled a spear at Partha, O Bharata.
तामस्य विशिखैश्छित्त्वा त्रिधा त्रिभिरपातयत्। पश्यतां कुरुवीराणां सर्वेषां तत्र भारत
Arjuna cut it down with arrows, splitting it into three, and made it fall in three parts, as all the Kuru heroes watched, O Bharata.
चर्माथादत्त गाङ्गेयो जातरूपपरिष्कृतम् । खङ्गं चान्यतरप्रेप्सुर्मृत्योरग्रे जयाय वा
Then the son of Ganga took up a shield adorned with gold and a sword, seeking either victory or death.
तस्य तच्छतधा चर्म व्यधमत्सायकैस्तथा । रथादनवरूढस्य तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
That shield was shattered into a hundred pieces by his arrows, while Bhishma stood on his chariot; it was a marvel to behold.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा स्वान्यनीकान्यचोदयत्। अभिद्रवत गाङ्गेयं मा वोऽस्तु भयमण्वपि
Then King Yudhishthira urged his own troops forward: 'Attack the son of Ganga! Let not even the slightest fear be yours.'
अथ ते तोमरैः प्रासैर्बाणौघैश्च समन्ततः। पट्टसैश्च सुनिस्त्रिंशैर्नाराचैश्च तथा शितैः
Then, with javelins, lances, showers of arrows on all sides, with swords, sharp scimitars, and keen-tipped shafts,
वत्सदन्तैश्च भल्लैश्च तमेकमभिदुद्रुवुः । सिंहनादस्ततो घोरः पाण्डवानामभूत्तदा
With calf-toothed arrows and broad-headed shafts, they all rushed at that one man; then a terrible lion's roar arose from the Pandavas.
तथैव तव पुत्राश्च नेदुर्भीष्मजयैषिणः। तमेकमभ्यरक्षन्त सिंहनादांश्च चक्रिरे
Likewise, your sons, eager for Bhishma's victory, shouted in response and surrounded that one man, making lion-like cries.
तत्रासीत्तुमुलं युद्धं तावकानां परैः सह। दशमेऽहनि राजेन्द्र भीष्मार्जुनसमागमे
There, a tumultuous battle took place between your forces and the enemy, O king, on the tenth day, when Bhishma and Arjuna met.
आसीद्धोर इवावर्तो मुहूर्तमुदधेरिव । सैन्यानां युध्यमानानां निघ्नतामितरेतरम्
It was like a dreadful whirlpool for a moment, as if in the ocean, with the armies fighting and striking each other down.
असौम्यरूपा पृथिवी शोणिताक्ताऽभवत्तदा। समं च विषमं चैव न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
The earth then became grim in appearance, stained with blood; neither level nor uneven ground could be distinguished.
योधानामयुतं हत्वा तस्मिन्स दशमेऽहनि । अतिष्ठदाहवे भीष्मो भिद्यमानेषु मर्मसु
Having slain tens of thousands of warriors on that tenth day, Bhishma stood firm in the battle, even as his vital points were being struck.
ततः सेनामुखे तस्मिन्स्थितः पार्थो धनुर्धरः। मध्येन कुरुसैन्यानां द्रावयामास वाहिनीम्
Then Arjuna, the wielder of the bow, stood at the front of the army and began to drive back the Kuru forces through their center.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम पाण्डवानां पराक्रमम्। द्रावयामासुरिषुभिः सर्वान्भीष्मपदानुगान्
There we witnessed the astonishing valor of the Pandavas, as with arrows they routed all those who followed Bhishma.
वयं श्वेतहयाद्भीताः कुन्तीपुत्राद्धनञ्जयात्। पीड्यमानाः शितैः शस्त्रैः प्राद्रवाम रणे तदा
We, terrified by Arjuna, the son of Kunti with white horses, and afflicted by sharp weapons, fled from the battle at that time.
पाण्डवैः पञ्चभिः सार्धं सात्यकेन च धन्विना। धृष्टद्युम्नसुखैः सर्वैः पाञ्चालैश्च समन्ततःक
With the five Pandavas, the bowman Satyaki, Dhrishtadyumna, all the Panchalas, and their allies on every side,
भिद्यमानाः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः सर्वे कार्ष्णिपुरोगमैः। द्रोणद्रौणिकृतैः सार्धं सर्वे शल्यशलादयः। तावकाः समरे राजञ्जहुर्भीष्मं महामृधे
All, led by Krishna, were pierced by sharp arrows, together with Drona and Drona's son, as well as Shalya and Shalva; your men, O king, abandoned Bhishma in the great battle.
सौवीराः कितवाः प्राच्याःप्रतीच्योदीच्यमालवाः। अभीषाहाः शूरसेनाः शिबयोऽथ वसातयः
The Sauvira, Kitava, Easterners, Westerners, Northerners, Malavas, Abhishahas, Shurasenas, Shibis, and Vasatis,
साल्वाश्रयास्त्रिगर्ताश्च अम्बष्ठाः केकयैः सह। द्वादशैते जनपदाः शरार्ता व्रणपीडिताः। संग्रामे प्रजहुर्भीष्मं युध्यमानाः किरीटिना
The Salvas, Trigartas, Ambasthas, and Kekayas—these twelve peoples, wounded by arrows and tormented by injuries, abandoned Bhishma in battle while fighting against the diademed Arjuna.
ततस्तमेकं बहवः परिवार्य समन्ततः । परिकाल्य कुरून्सर्वाञ्शरर्षैरवाकिरन्
Then many warriors surrounded that one man on all sides, protecting all the Kurus, and showered him with a rain of arrows.
निपातयत गृह्णीत युध्यध्वमवकृन्तत। इत्यासीत्तुमुलः शब्दो राजन्भीष्मरथं प्रति
"Strike him down! Capture him! Fight on! Cut him to pieces!"—such was the tumultuous cry, O king, directed at Bhishma's chariot.
निहत्य समरे राजञ्शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । न तस्यासीदनिर्भिन्नं गात्रे द्व्यङ्गुलमन्तरम्
Slaying hundreds and thousands in battle, O king, there was not a space on his body the width of two fingers that was unpierced.
एवंभूतस्तव पिता शरैर्विशकलीकृतः। शिताग्रैः फल्गुनेनाजौ प्राक्शिराः प्रापतद्रथात्
In such a state, your father, his body shattered by arrows with sharp points by Phalguna in the fight, fell headlong from his chariot.
किंचिच्छेषे दिनकरे पुत्राणां तव पश्यताम् । हाहेति दिवि देवानां पार्थिवानां च भारत
As the day drew to its end, while your sons looked on, O Bhārata, a cry of 'Alas!' arose among the gods in heaven and the kings on earth.
पतमाने रथाद्भीष्मे बभूव सुमहास्वनः । संपतन्तमभिप्रेक्ष्य महात्मानं पितामहम्
When Bhīṣma fell from his chariot, a tremendous sound arose; seeing the great-souled grandsire descending, all were struck with awe.