संजय उवाच दृष्ट्वा भीष्मं रणे क्रुद्धं पाण्डवैरभिसंवृतम्। यथा मेधैर्महाराज तपान्ते दिवि भास्करम्॥
Sanjaya said Beholding, O king, Bhishma inflamed with rage in battle, surrounded by the Pandavas, like the sun in the heavens surrounded by the clouds at the end of the summer,
दुर्योधनो महाराज दुःशासनमभाषत। एष शूरो महेष्वासो भीष्मः शूरनिषूदनः॥
Duryodhana, O monarch, said to Dushasana "This heroic Bhishma, this mighty bowman and slayer of heroes,
छादितः पाण्डवैः शूरैः समन्ताद् भरतर्षभ। तस्य कार्यं त्वया वीर रक्षणं सुमहात्मनः॥
Is surrounded on all sides, O foremost of the Bharatas, with the heroic Pandava warriors. It behooves you, O hero, to look to the protection of that (high-souled one).
रक्ष्यमाणो हि समरे भीष्मोऽस्माकं पितामहः। निहन्यात् समरे यत्तान् पञ्चालान् पाण्डवैः सह॥
Our grandsire Bhishma, being wellprotected in battle, will slay all the Panchalas with the Pandavas.
तत्र कार्यतमं मन्ये भीष्मस्यैवाभिरक्षणम्। गोप्ता ह्येष महेष्वासो भीष्मोऽस्माकं महाव्रतः॥
Therefore I think the protection of Bhishma to be our foremost duty. This fierce bowman Bhishma of illustrious vows is our protector.
स भवान् सर्वसैन्येन परिवार्य पितामहम्। समरे कर्म कुर्वाणं दुष्करं परिरक्षतु॥
Therefore surrounding the grandsire with all our troops, do you protect him as he accomplishes difficult feats in battle.”
स एवमुक्तः समरे पुत्रो दुःशासनस्तव। परिवार्य स्थितो भीष्मं सैन्येन महता वृतः॥
Thus spoken to, your son Dushasana stood with his mighty army, surrounding Bhishma in that battle.
ततः शतसहस्राणां हयानां सुबलात्मजः। विमलप्रासहस्तानामृष्टितोमरधारिणाम्॥
Then Shakuni the son of Subala with hundred thousands cavalry soldiers, holding resplendent spears, swords and lances,
दर्पितानां सुवेशानां बलस्थानां पताकिनाम्। शिक्षितैयुद्धकुशलैरुपेतानां नरोत्तमैः॥
And forming proud and strong detachment of troops, bearing standards, and supported by well-disciplined and wellaccomplished foot-soldiers alll excellent fighters,
नकुलं सहदेवं च धर्मराजं च पाण्डवम्। न्यवारयन्नरश्रेष्ठान् परिवार्य समन्ततः॥
Began to oppose Nakula, Sahadeva, and Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, surrounding those foremost of men on all sides.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा शूराणां हयसादिनाम्। अयुतं प्रेषयामास पाण्डवानां निवारणे॥११॥
Then king Duryodhana dispatched a detachment of ten thousand horses all brave warriors, for checking the Pandavas. a
तैः प्रविष्टैर्महावेगैर्गरुत्मद्भिरिवाहवे। खुराहता धरा राजंश्चकम्पे च ननाद च॥
As these highly fleet chargers resembling so many Sarudas rushed to battle, the earth, O king, struck with their hoof quaked and produced a loud din.
खुरशब्दश्च सुमहान् वाजिनां शुश्रुवे तदा। महावंशवनस्येव दह्यमानस्य पर्वते॥
The dreadful clatter of the hoofs of steeds that was then heard resembled the cracking sound produced by a bamboo forest on the top of a hill, when set on fire.
उत्पतद्भिश्च तैस्तत्र समुद्भूतं महद् रजः। दिवाकररथं प्राप्य छादयामास भास्करम्॥
As these rushed to the charge, there arose a thick cloud of dust, that mounting to the solar orbit shrouded the sun itself.
वेगवद्भिर्हयैस्तैस्तु क्षोभिता पाण्डवी चमूः। निपतद्भिर्महावेगैर्हसैरिव महत् सरः॥ (तुरगैर्वायुवेगैश्च तत् सैन्यं व्याकुलीकृतम्।)
Then the army of the Pandavas was agitated by the charge of that fleetest horse division, like flight of swans suddenly alighting on its waters.
हेषतां चैव शब्देन न प्राज्ञायत किञ्चन। ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ।॥
Nothing could be heard in consequence of their neighs. Then king Yudhishthira, and the two sons of Pandu begotten upon Madri,
प्रत्यघ्नस्तरसा वेगं समरे हयसादिनाम्। उद्वृत्तस्य महाराज प्रावृट्कालेऽतिपूर्यतः॥ पौर्णमास्यामम्बुवेगं यथा वेला महोदधेः। ततस्ते रथिनो राजञ्छरैः संनतपर्वभिः॥
Quickly checked the furious charge of those horsemen in battle, like, O mighty monarch, the banks withstanding the waves of the mighty main swollen with the waters of the rainy season on the day of the full moon. Thereupon, O king, these car-warriors, with their straightknotted shafts,
न्यकृन्तन्नुमाङ्गानि शरेण हयसादिनाम्। ते निपेतुर्महाराज निहता दृढधन्विभिः॥
Began to sever the heads of these horsesoldiers from their trunk; then, O mighty monarch, they fell down slain by these firm bowmen,
नागैरिव महानागा यथावद् गिरिहरे। तेऽपि प्रासैः सुनिशितैः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः॥
Like huge elephants falling down in mountain caves, slain by their compeers. Those warriors of the Pandava, army also with sharp lances and straight shafts,
न्यकृन्तन्नुत्तमाङ्गानि विचरन्तो दिशो दश। अभ्याहता हयारोहा ऋष्ठियभर्भरतर्षभ॥
Cut down the head of those horsemen, coursing all over the field. Then, O foremost of the Bharatas, the horse-riders thus struck with swords,
अत्यजन्नुत्तमाङ्गानि फलानीव महाद्रुमाः। ससादिनो हया राजंस्तत्र तत्र निषूदिताः॥
Began to drop their heads like mighty trees dropping the fruits. Slain on all sides, horse with their riders.
पतिताः पात्यमानाश्च प्रत्यदृश्यन्त सर्वशः। वध्यमाना हयाश्चैव प्राद्रवन्तः भयार्दिताः॥
Were seen fallen and falling. When being thus slaughtered, the horses began to fly away struck with terror,
यथा सिहं समासाद्य मृगाः प्राणपरायणा:। पाण्डवाश्च महाराज जित्वा शत्रून् महामृधे॥
Like so many deer flying for the sake of preserving their lives at the sight of a lion. The Pandavas then, O monarch, confounding their foes in battle,
दध्मुः शङ्खांश्च भेरीश्च ताडयामासुराहवे। ततो दुर्योधनो दीनो दृष्ट्वा सैन्यं पराजितम्॥
Blew their conchs and struck up their drums in battle. Then dejected in consequence of the defeat of his troops, Duryodhana.
अब्रवीद् भरतश्रेष्ठ मद्रराजमिदं वचः। एष पाण्डुसुतो ज्येष्ठो यमाभ्यां सहितो रणे॥
Said, O foremost of the Bharatas, these words to the king of the Madras: “This eldest son of Pandu, supported by his twin brothers in battle.
पश्यतां वो महाबाहो सेनां द्रावयति प्रभो। तं वारय महाबाहो वेलेव मकरालयम्॥
Is routing my army, O mighty-armed king, before your very eyes. Do you check him, O inighty-armed one, like the banks of the sea checking its fury.
त्वं हि संश्रूयसेऽत्यर्थमसाबलविक्रमः। पुत्रस्य तव तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा शल्यः प्रतापवान्॥
You are well-known for the irresistibleness of your strength and prowess.” Then hearing these words of your son, the highly puissant Shalya,
स ययौ रथवंशेन यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः। तदापतद् वै सहसा शल्यस्य समुदहद् बलम्॥ महौघवेगं समरे वारयामास पाण्डवः। मद्रराजं च समरे धर्मराजो महारथः॥ दशभिः सायकैस्तूर्णमाजघान स्तनान्तरे। नकुलः सहदेवश्च तं सप्तभिरजिह्मगैः॥
Supported by a division of cars, tied to the spot where king Yudhishthira was. Then the son of Pandu checked in battle that detachment of Shalya falling upon him with great fury. Then that mighty car-warrior the very virtuous king Yudhishthira quickly pierced the king of the Madras with ten shafts between his breasts; and Nakula and Sahadeva pierced him with seven straight wafts.
मद्रराजोऽपि तान् सर्वानाजघान त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः। युधिष्ठिरं पुनः षष्ट्या विव्याध निशितैः शरैः॥
The king of the Madras in return pierced them all with three shafts each; then again he pierced Yudhishthira with sixty shafts of exceeding sharpness;
माद्रीपुत्रौ च सम्भ्रान्तौ द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यामताडयत्। ततो भीमो महाबाहुर्दृष्ट्वा राजानमाहवे॥
He also wounded the two terrified sons of Madri with two shafts cach. Thereupon the mighty armed Bhima, beholding the king,
मद्रराजरथं प्राप्तं मृत्योरास्यगतं यथा। अभ्यपद्यत संग्रामे युधिष्ठिरममित्रजित्॥
Staying within the reach of the Madra king's car, as if within the very jaws of death, rushed in that battle to the side of Yudhishthira.
ततो युद्धं महाघोरं प्रावर्तत सुदारुणम्। अपरां दिशमास्थाय पतमाने दिवाकरे॥
Then when the sun, rising on the western quarter, was scorching the earth, a fierce and sanguinary engagement commenced.