संजय उवाच गतपूर्वाह्नभूयिष्ठे तस्मिन्नहनि दारुणे। वर्तमाने तथा रौद्रे महावीरवरक्षये॥ दुर्मुखः कृतवर्मा च कृपः शल्यो विविंशतिः। भीष्मं जुगुपुरासाद्य तव पुत्रेण चोदिताः॥
Sanjaya said O king, when the greater part of that fearful day passed away, Durmukha, Kritavarma, Kripa, Shalya and Vivingshati, urged by your son, came to Bhishma and began to protect him in that fearful battle which was so destructive of the foremost of men.
एतैरतिरथैर्गुप्तः पञ्चभिर्भरतर्षभः। पाण्डवानामनीकानि विजगाहे महारथः॥
O best of the Bharata race, protected by those five great car-warriors that great hero penetrated the Pandava army.
चेदिकाशिकरूषेषु पञ्चालेषु च भारत। भीष्मस्य बहुधा तालश्चलत्केतुरदृश्यत्॥
O descendant of Bharata, the palmyra standard of Bhishma was seen to glide continuously through the Chedis, the Kashis, the Karushas and the Panchalas.
स शिरांसि रणेऽरीणां रथांश्च सयुगध्वजान्। निचकर्त महावेगैर्भल्लैः संनतपर्वभिः॥
That hero (Bhishma) cut off the heads (of the foes) and their cars with yokes and standards with broad-headed, swifts and perfectly straight arrows.
नृत्यतो रथमार्गेषु भीष्मस्य भरतर्षभ। भृशमार्तस्वरं चक्रुर्नागा मर्मणि ताडिताः॥
O best of the Bharata race, Bhishma seemed to dance on his car as it moved about. Some elephants vitally wounded by him, shrieked in great agony.
अभिमन्युः सुसंक्रुद्धः पिशङ्गैस्तुरगोत्तमैः। संयुक्तं रथमास्थाय प्रायाद् भीष्मरथं प्रति॥
Thereupon Abhimanyu angrily rushed towards Bhishma's car on his own car yoked with excellent horses of brown colour.
जाम्भूनदविचित्रेण कर्णिकारेण केतुना। अभ्यवर्तत भीष्म च तांश्चैव रथसत्तमान्॥
And adorned with a standard decked with pure gold and resembling a Karnikara tree, he attacked Bhishma and those five foremost of car-warriors.
स तालकेतोस्तीक्ष्णेन केतुमाहत्य पत्रिणा। भीष्मेण युयुधे वीरस्तस्य चानुरथैः सह॥
Striking with a sharp arrows the palmyra standard (of Bhishma) that hero fought with Bhishma and those others warriors who were protecting him.
कृतवर्माणमेकेन शल्यं पञ्चभिराशुगैः। विद्ध्वा नवभिरान च्छिताचैः प्रपितामहम्॥
Wounding Kritvarma with one arrow and Shalya with five, he weakened his great grandfather with nine arrows.
पूर्णायतविसृष्टेन सम्यक् प्रणिहितेन च। ध्वजमेकेन विव्याध जाम्बूदनपरिष्कृतम्॥
With one arrow shot from his bow drawn to its fullest extent, he cut off (Bhishma's) standard adorned with gold,
दुर्मुखस्य तु भल्लेन सर्वावरणभेदिना। जहार सारथेः कायाच्छिरः संनतपर्वणा॥
With one broad-headed and straight arrow capable of penetrating every thing, he cut off the head of Durmukha's charioteer.
धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन कार्तस्वरविभूषितम्। कृपस्य निशिताचेण तांश्च तीक्ष्णमुखैः शरैः॥ जघान परमक्रुद्धो नृत्यन्निव महारथः। तस्य लाघवमुद्रीक्ष्य तुतुपुर्देवता अपि॥
With another sharp arrow, he cut down the gold-decked bow of Kripa. With many sharp arrows that great car warrior wounded them all. Seeing his lightness of hand, even the celestial were pleased.
लब्धलक्षतया काळूः सर्वे भीष्पमुखा रथाः। सत्त्ववन्तममन्यन्त साक्षादिव धनंजयम्॥
Seeing the great exactness of Abhimanyu's aim, all the car-warriors with Bhishma at their head, considered that he possessed the great capacity (of his father) Dhananjaya.
तस्य लाघवमार्गस्थमलातसदृशप्रभम्। दिशः पर्यपतच्चापं गाण्डीवमिव घोषवत्॥
His bow, sending forth sound like the twang of Gandiva while stretched and restretched, seemed to revolve like a circle of fire.
तमासाद्य महावेगैर्भीष्मो नवभिराशुगैः। विव्याध समरे तूर्णमा नि परवीरहा॥
Then that chastiser of foes, Bhishma rushing on him with great impetuosity, soon, wounded the son of Arjuna with nine arrows.
ध्वजं चास्य त्रिभिर्भल्लैश्चिच्छेद परमौजसः। सारथिं च त्रिभिर्बाणैराजघान यतव्रतः॥
He too with three broad-headed arrows cut off the standard of that greatly powerful warrior. Of rigid vows, Bhishma also struck his adversary's charioteer.
तथैव कृतवर्मा च कृपः शल्यश्च मारिष। विद्ध्वा नाकम्पयत् कार्ष्णि मैनाकमिव पर्वतम्॥
O sire, Kritavarmana, Kripa and Shalya, piercing Arjuna's son, all failed to make him, waver for he stood firm like the Mainaka mountain.
स तैः परिवृतः शूरो धार्तराष्ट्रमहारथैः। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि कार्ष्णिः पञ्चरथान् प्रति॥
Though surrounded by those greatest carwarriors of Dhritarashtra's army, the heroic son of Arjuna still showered, on those five carwarriors, a down pour of arrows.
ततस्तेषां सहस्राणि संवार्य शरवृष्टिभिः। ननाद बलवान् कार्ष्णिीष्माय विसृजशरान्॥
Baffling their great weapons by a shower of arrows and pouring on Bhishma a shower of his arrows, the mighty son of Arjuna sent up a loud roar.
तत्रास्य सुमहद् राजन् बाह्वोर्बलमदृश्यत्। यतमानस्य समरे भीष्ममर्दयतः शरैः॥
When he was thus struggling in the battle, and afflicting Bhishma with (his) arrows, the strength of his arms we saw then was very great.
पराक्रान्तस्य तस्यैव भीष्मोऽपि प्राहिणोच्छरान्। स तांश्चिच्छेद समरे भीष्मचापच्युताशरान्॥
Possessed of such great power, Bhishma shot his arrows at him. But he (Abhimanyu) cut off in the fight all the arrows shot from Bhishma's bow.
ततो ध्वजममोघेषुर्भीष्मस्य नवभिः शरैः। चिच्छेद समरे वीरस्तत उच्चुक्रुशुर्जनाः॥
Then that brave bowman cut off with nine arrows, the standard of Bhishma in the great battle. When this great deed was done, the people sent forth a loud shout.
स राजतो महास्कन्धस्तालो हेमविभूषितः। सौभद्रविशिखैश्छिन्नः पपात भुवि भारत॥
Adorned with jewels and made of silver, that tall palmyra-deviced standard. 0 descendant of Bharata, cut off by the arrows of Subhadra's son, fell down on the ground.
तं तु सौभद्रविशिखैः पातितं भरतर्षभ। दृष्ट्वा भीमो ननादोच्चैः सौभद्रमभिहर्षयन्॥
0 best of the Bharata race, seeing that standard cut down by the arrows of Subhadra's son, the proud Bhishma sent up a loud shout to cheer up the son of Subhadra.
अथ भीष्मो महास्त्राणि दिव्यानि सुबहूनि च। प्रादुश्चक्रे महारौद्रे रणे तस्मिन् महाबलः॥
Then in that great battle, the mighty Bhimasena caused many powerful celestial weapons to app-ear.
ततः सरसहस्रेण सौभद्रं प्रपितामहः। अवाकिरदमेयात्मा तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥
The high-souled great grandsire (Bhishma) then covered Subhadra's son with thousands of arrows.
ततो दश महेष्वासाः पाण्डवानां महारथाः। रक्षार्थमभ्यधावन्त सौभद्रं त्वरिता रथैः॥
Thereupon ten great bowmen and mighty car-warriors of the Pandava (army) soon rushed on their cars to protect the son of Subhadra.
विराटः सह पुत्रेण धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। भीमश्च केकयाचैव सात्यकिश्च विशाम्पते।॥
O king, these were Virata and his son, the descendant of Prishata, Dhrishtadyumna, Bhima, the five Kaikeya brothers, and Satyaki.
तेषां जवेनापततां भीष्मः शान्तनवो रणे। पाञ्चाल्यं त्रिभिरानछेत् सात्यकिं नवभिः शरैः॥
As they were rushing upon him with great impetuosity, the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, in that great battle, wounded the Panchala prices with three arrows and Satyaki with nine.
पूर्णायतविसृष्टेन क्षुरेण निशितेन च। ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छेद भीमसेनस्य पत्रिणा॥
With one winged arrow as sharp as a razor shot from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch, he cut off the standard of Bhimasena.
जाम्बूनदमय: श्रीमान् केसरी स नरोत्तम। पपात भीमसेनस्य भीष्मेण मथितो रथात्॥
O foremost of men, the lion-deviced standard of Bhimasena, made cf gold, being cut off by Bhishma, fell from the car.
ततो भीमस्त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा भीष्मं शान्तनवं रणे। कृपमेकेन विव्याध कृतवर्माणमष्टभिः॥
Thereupon Bhima wounded the son of Shantanu with three arrows, Kripa with one and Kritavarman with eight.
प्रगृहीताग्रहस्तेन वैराटिरपि दन्तिना। अभ्यद्रवत राजानं मद्राधिपतिमुत्तरः॥
The son of Virata, Uttara, also riding on an elephant with upraised trunk attacked the king of Madra.
तस्य वारणराजस्य जवेनापततो रथे। शल्यो निवारयामास वेगमप्रतिमं शरैः॥
But Shalya checked the great impetuosity of that foremost of elephants rushing towards his car.
तस्य क्रुद्धः स नागेन्द्रो बृहतः साधुवाहिनः। पदा युगमधिष्ठाय जघान चतुरो हयान्॥
But that foremost of elephants angrily placed his let on the yoke of (Shalya's) car and killed his four large and swift horses.
स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठन् मद्राधिपतिरायसीम्। उत्तरान्तकरी शक्तिं चिक्षेप भुजगोपमाम्॥
The king of Madra,. staying on the car the horses of which had been killed, hurled an iron dart, which resembled a snake, in order to kill Uttara.
तया भिन्नतनुत्राणः प्रविश्य विपुलं तमः। स पपात गजस्कन्धात् प्रमुक्ताङ्कुशतोमरः॥
His armour being cut through by the dart, he lost consciousness and fell from the elephant, the hook and the lance also fell loosened from his grasp.
असिमादाय शल्योऽपि अवप्लुत्य रथोत्तमात्। तस्य वारणराजस्य चिच्छेदाथ महाकरम्॥
Shalya then took up his sword and jumping down from his excellent car, he with great force cut off the large trunk of that great elephant.
भिन्नमर्मा शरशतैश्छिन्नहस्तः स वारण:। भीममार्तस्वरं कृत्वा पपात च ममार च॥
His armour pierced all over with a shower of arrows and his trunk cut off, that elephant sent forth a loud shriek. He then fell down and expired.
एतदीदृशकं कृत्वा मद्रराजो नराधिप। आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं भास्वरं कृतवर्मणः॥
O king, performing this great feat, the Madra king soon got the of Kritavarman.
उत्तरं वै हतं दृष्ट्वा वैराटिर्भ्रातरं तदा। कृतवर्मणा च सहितं दृष्ट्वा शल्यमवस्थितम्॥ श्वेतः क्रोधात् प्रजज्वाल हविषा हव्यवाडिव। स विस्फार्य महच्चापं शक्रचापोपमं बली॥ अभ्यधावज्जिघांसन् वै शल्य मद्राधिपं बली। महता रथवंशेन समन्तात् परिवारितः॥ मुञ्चन् बाणमयं वर्ष प्रायाच्छल्यरधं प्रति। तमापतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य मत्तवारणविक्रमम्॥ तावकानां रथाः सप्त समन्तात् पर्यवारयन्। मद्रराजमभीप्सन्तो मृत्योर्दष्ट्रान्तरं गतम्॥
Seeing his brother Uttara killed and seeing Shalya on the Kritavarman's car, Virata's son Shveta blazed up in anger as fire blazed forth with Ghee. That great warrior stretching his large bow that looked like that of Indra, rushed upon Shalya, the king of Madra with the desire of killing him. Surrounded on all sides with innumerable car-warriors, he advanced towards Shalya's chariot and poured upon him a on car shower of arrows. Seeing him rush to the fight with the prowess of an infuriated elephants, seven car-warriors of your side surrounded him on all sides with the desire of protecting the ruler of Madra who seemed to be already within the jaws of death.
बृहद्बलश्च कौसल्यो जयत्सेनश्च मागधः। तथा रुक्मरथो राजन् शल्यपुत्रः प्रतापवान्॥ विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ काम्बोजश्च सुदक्षिणः। बृहत्क्षत्रस्य दायादः सैन्धवश्च जयद्रथः॥
Those seven warriors were Brihadbala, the king of the Kosalas, Jayatsena of Magadha, Rukmaratha, the brave son of Shalya, Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, Sudakshina the king of the Kambojas, and Jayadratha, the king of the Sindhus and the kinsman of Brihatkshatra.
नानावर्णविचित्राणि धनूंषि च महात्मनाम्। विस्फारितानि दृश्यन्ते तोयदेष्विव विद्युतः॥
The stretched bow of these illustrious warriors, decorated with various colours, looked like the flashes of lightning in the clouds.
ते तु बाणमयं वर्षं श्वेतमूर्धन्यपातयन्। निदाघान्तेऽनिलोद्धृता मेघा इव नगे जलम्॥
They all poured on the head of Shveta a continuous shower of arrows as the clouds, tossed by the wind, pure rain on the mountain breast when summer is passed.
ततः क्रुद्धो महेष्वासः सप्तभल्लैः सुतेजनैः। धनूंषि तेषामाच्छिद्य ममर्द पृतनापतिः॥
The great bowman, that commander of the force, being greatly enraged at this struck their bows with seven broad-headed arrows of great impetuosity.
निकृत्तान्येव तानि स्म समदृश्यन्त भारत। ततस्ते तु निमेषार्धात् प्रत्यपद्यन् धनूंषि च॥
O descendant of Bharata, we saw those bows were cut off. Then within half the time of a wink of the eye they took up other bows.
सप्त चैव पृषत्कांश्च श्वेतस्योपर्यपातयन्। ततः पुनरमेयात्मा भल्लैः सप्तभिराशुगैः। निचकर्त महाबाहुस्तेषां चापानि धन्विनाम्॥
That mighty-armed and high-souled warrior then with seven swift arrows again cut off the bows of those bowmen.
ते निकृत्तमहाचापास्त्वरमाणा महारथाः। रथशक्ती: परामृश्य विनेदुभैरवान् रवान्॥
Those heroes, those great car-warriors whose large bows had been cut down swelled in wrath, and grasping darts, sent forth a loud shout.
अन्वयुर्भरतश्रेष्ठ सप्त श्वेतरथं प्रति। ततस्ता ज्वलिताः सप्त महेन्द्राशनिनिःस्वनाः॥ अप्राप्ताः सप्तभिर्भल्लैश्चिच्छेद परमास्त्रवित्। ततः समादाय शरं सर्वकायविदारणम्॥ प्राहिणोद् भरतश्रेष्ठ श्वेतो रुक्मरथं प्रति। तस्य देहे निपतितो बाणो वज्रातिगो महान्॥
O best of the Bharata race, they hurled these seven darts on Shveta's chariot. Those blazing darts, which flew like large meteors with the sound of thunder, were all cut down by that great warrior with seven broad-headed arrows before they could reach him. O best of the Bharata race, then taking up an arrow which was capable of penetrating into every part of their body, he hurled it on Rukmaratha. That great arrow penetrated into his body.
ततो रुक्मरथो राजन् सायकेन दृढाहतः। निषसाद रथोपस्थे कश्मलं चाविशन्महत्॥
Then, O king, being thus struck by the arrow, Rukmaratha sat down on his car and lost all consciousness.
तं विसंज्ञं विमनसं त्वरमाणस्तु सारथिः। अपोवाह न सम्भ्रान्तः सर्वलोकस्य पश्यतः॥
His charioteer, however, without betraying any fear, carried him away, senseless and fainted, from the field of battle.
ततोऽन्यान् षट् समादाय श्वेतोहेमविभूषितान्। तेषां षण्णां महाबाहुर्ध्वजशीर्षाण्यपातयत्॥
Then taking up six other arrows decked with gold, Shveta cut off the standards of his six adversaries.
हयांश्च तेषां निर्भिद्य सारथींश्च परंतप। शरैश्चैतान् समाकीर्य प्रायाच्छल्यरथं प्रति॥
Wounding their horses and charioteers also and covering those six warriors with a continuos shower of arrows, that chastiser of foes, went towards the car of Shalya.
ततो हलहलाशब्दस्तव सैन्येषु भारत। दृष्ट्वा सेनापतिं तूर्णं यान्तं शल्यरथं प्रति॥
O descendant of Bharata, when that great general (Shveta) was rushing with great force towards the car of Shalya, loud cries of “Oh" "Alas" rose in your army.
ततो भीष्मं पुरस्कृत्य तव पुत्रो महाबलः। वृतस्तु सर्वसैन्येन प्रायाच्छ्वेतरथं प्रति॥
Then your great son, with Bhishma, at the head and with many other heroic warriors and troops, went towards Shveta's car.
मृत्योरास्यमनुप्राप्तं मद्ररोजममोचयत्। ततो युद्ध समभवत् तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम्॥ तावकानां परेषां च व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपम्। सौभद्रे भीमसेने च सात्यकौ च महारथे।॥ कैकेये च विराटे च धृष्टद्युम्ने च पार्षते। एतेषु नरसिंहेषु चेदिमत्स्येषु चैव ह। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः॥
He thus rescued the Madra King who was at the point of death. Then a fearful and hairstring battle was fought between your troops and those of the enemy in which cars and elephants all got mixed up in confusion. The old grandfather of the Kurus poured showers of arrows on Subhadra's son, on Bhimsena and on that great car-warrior Satyaki and also upon the king of the Kaikeyas, on Virata, on the descendant of Prishata, Dhrishtadyumna, and also upon Chedi troops.