संजय उवाच शिखण्डी सह मत्स्येन विराटेन विशाम्पते। भीष्ममाशु महेष्वासमाससाद सुदुर्जयम्॥ द्रोणं कृपं विकर्णं च महेष्वासं महाबलम्। राज्ञश्चान्यान् रणे शूरान् बहूना द् धनंजयः॥
Sanjaya said O ruler of men, Shikhandin, with the king of the Matsyas viz., Virata, speedily rushed against Bhishma, that mighty bowman difficult of being defeated in battle. Dhananjaya in that battle rushed against Drona, Kripa, Vikarna, and many kings, all mighty-bowmen, brave,, and endued with great prowess.
सैन्धवं च महेष्वासं सामात्यं सह बन्धुभिः। प्राच्यांश्च दाक्षिणात्यांश्च भूमिपान् भूमिपर्षभ॥ पुत्रं च ते महेष्वासं दुर्योधनममर्षणम्। दुःसहं चैव समरे भीमसेनोऽभ्यवर्तत॥
As also, against that great warrior the ruler of the Sindhus supported by his friends and ministers, and, O foremost of the Bharatas, against many other kings from the West and the South. Bhimasena, in that fight, rushed against your vindictive son Duryodhana that mighty bow-men, as also against his brother Dushasana.
सहदेवस्तु शकुनिमुलूकं च महारथम्। पितापुत्रौ महेष्वासावभ्यवर्तत दुर्जयौ॥
Sahadeva rushed against the two mighty car-warriors, both skillful bowmen and invincible in battle, namely, Shakuni and Uluka who were father and son.
युधिष्ठिरो महाराज गजानीकं महारथः। समवर्तत संग्रामे पुत्रेण निकृतस्तव॥
That mighty car-warriors, O great monarch, namely Yudhishthira, who had been shamefully deceived by yours son, proceeded in that battle against the elephants division of the Kurus. son
माद्रीपुत्रस्तु नकुलः शूरसंक्रन्दनो युधि। त्रिगर्तानां बलैः सार्धं समसज्जत पाण्डवः॥
That brave son of Pandu by Madri namely Nakula, who was capable of wringing tears from the foe, encountered in battle that excellent division of car warriors consisting of the Trigartas.
अभ्यवर्तन्त संक्रुद्धाः समरे शाल्वकेकयान्। सात्यकिश्शेकितानश्च सौभद्रश्च महारथः॥
Satyaki, Chekitana, and the of Subhadra endued with great prowess, all invincible in battle, rushed against the Shalyas and the Kaikeyas.
धृष्टकेतुश्च समरे राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः। (नाकुलिश्च शतानीकः समरे रथपुङ्गवः।) पुत्राणां ते रथानीकं प्रत्युद्याताः सुदुर्जयाः॥
The Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, and Dhrishtaketu, both incapable of being conquered, charged in that battle the car division of your sons.
सेनापतिरमेयात्मा धृष्टद्युम्नो महाबलः। द्रोणेन समरे राजन् समियायोचकर्मणा॥
Then, O king the mighty car-warriors, that generalissimo Dhrishtadyumna of immeasurable soul, engaged with Drona of fierce achievements.
एवमेते महेष्वासास्तावकाः पाण्डवैः सह। समेत्य समरे शूरः सम्प्रहारं प्रचक्रिरे॥
Thus the warriors of your army, all heroic and mighty bow-men, encountering the Pandavas in the battle, began to smite one another down.
मध्यंदिनगते सूर्ये नभस्याकुलतां गते। कुरवः पाण्डवेयाश्च निजघ्नुरितरेतरम्॥ ध्वजिनो हेमचित्राङ्गा विचरन्तो रणाजिरे। सपताका रथा रेजुर्वैयाघ्रपरिवारणाः॥
When the sun reached the meridian and when the sky burned with his fiery rays, the Kurus and the Pandava began to kill one another. Then chariots, mounted with flagstaffs from the tops of which pennons were fluttering, and variegated with gold and covered with tiger-skins, appeared beautiful as they drove through the scene of battle.
समेतानां च समरे जिगीषूणां परस्परम्। बभूव तुमुलः शब्दः सिंहानामिव नर्दताम्॥
A dreadful din was created by those warriors as they engaged in the fight out of a desire for conquering one another, and as they roared like roaring lions themselves.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम सम्प्रहारं सुदारुणम्। यदकुर्वन् रणे शूराः संजयाः कुरुभिः सह॥
The strokes that the heroic Srinjayas and the Kurus dealt to one another in that conflict and that were terrible and wonderful, were also seen by us.
नैव खं न दिशो राजन् न सूर्यं शत्रुतापन। विदिशो वाऽपि पश्यामः शरैर्मुक्तैः समन्ततः॥
Neither, O monarch, O afflicter of your enemies, were we able to see the firmament, the sun or the cardinal and subsidiary quarters, in consequence of their being shrouded on all sides by a thick discharge of arrows.
शक्तीनां विमलाचाणां तोमराणां तथाऽस्यताम्। निस्त्रिंशानां च पीतानां नीलोत्पलनिभाः प्रभाः॥ कवचानां विचित्राणां भूषणानां प्रभास्तथा। खं दिशः प्रदिशश्चैव भासयामासुरोजसा॥
The effulgence, like that of blue lotuses, of Shaktis with shinning heads, of hurled lances, of well-tempered swords. As also effulgence of the coats of mail and of diverse and wonderful ornaments, filled the firmament and the cardinal and subsidiary quarters with its flashes.
वपुर्भिश्च नरेन्द्राणां चन्द्रसूर्यसमप्रभैः। विरराज तदा राजंस्तत्र तत्र रणाङ्गणम्॥
Then, O monarch, here and there, the field of battle appeared beautiful being strewn over with the bodies of monarchs which were effulgent like the sun or the moon.
रथसङ्घा नरव्याघ्राः समायान्तश्च संयुगे। विरेजुः समरे राजन् ग्रहा इव नभस्तले॥
Excellent car-warriors, all foremost of men, encountering one another in battle appear beautiful, O king, like the planets in the heavens.
भीष्मस्तु रथिनां श्रेष्ठो भीमसेन महाबलम्। अवारयत संक्रुद्धः सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः॥
Then that foremost of car warriors namely Bhishma, waxing worth opposed Bhimasena of great prowess even before the very eyes of the assembled troops.
ततो भीष्मविनिर्मुक्तारुक्मपुङ्खाः शिलाशिताः। अभ्यघ्नन् समरे भीमं तैलधौताः सुतेजनाः॥
Then shafts furnished with golden wings whetted on stone smeared with oil and charged with impetus wounded Bhima in that battle, being shot by Bhishma himself.
तस्य शक्तिं महावेगां भीमसेनो महाबलः। क्रुद्धाशीविषसंकाशां प्रेषयामास भारत॥
Thereat the mighty Bhimasena hurled at Bhishma, O Bharata his lance charged with fierce momentum and resembling an enraged snake.
तामापतन्ती सहसा रुक्मदण्डां दुरासदाम्। चिच्छेद समरे भीष्मः शरैः संनतपर्वभिः॥
But in that combat Bhishma cut off with his straight arrows that lances furnished with a golden staff as it coursed swiftly towards himself.
ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन च। कार्मुकं भीमसेनस्य द्विधा चिच्छेद भारत॥
Thereafter, O Bharata, with a whetted and well tempered Bhalla Bhishma cut in twin the bow of Bhimasena.
सात्यकिस्तु ततस्तूर्णं भीष्ममासाद्य संयुगे। आकर्णप्रहितैस्तीक्ष्णैनिशितैस्तिग्मतेजनैः।। :॥ शरैर्बहुभिरानछेत् पितरं ते जनेश्वर। ततः संधाय वै तीक्ष्णं शरं परमदारुणम्॥
Thereupon, speedily rushing at Bhishma, Satyaki in that encounter, with numerous keen pointed and sharp edged shafts discharged with a bow-string drawn back to the ear, pierced, O ruler of men your own father. Thereat aiming a sharp and very dreadful arrow.
वार्ष्णेयस्य रथाद् भीष्मः पातयामास सारथिम्। तस्याश्वाः प्रद्रुता राजन् निहते रथसारथौ।॥ तेन तेनैव धावन्ति मनोमारुतरंहसः। ततः सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य निस्वनस्तुमुलोऽभवत्॥
Bhishma felled the charioteer of that Vrishni hero from his seat on the box of. chariot. Upon the death of the driver the steeds, O king, of that warrior, beheld away. Those steeds wildly careered over the filed of battle endued as they were with the fleetness of the mind or the wind. Thereupon a loud uproar was sent up by all the troops.
हाहाकारश्च संजज्ञे पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। अभ्यद्रवत गृह्णीत हयान् यच्छत धावत।॥
Exclamations of Oh! and Alas! were uttered by the warriors of the Pandava army. Run, Seize, Hold the steeds, Go in haste,
इत्यासीत् तुमुलः शब्दो युयुधानरथं प्रति। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तदा॥
Such cries followed the chariot of Yudhishthira. During this interval, Bhishma the son of Shantanu.
न्यहनत् पाण्डवीं सेनामासुरीमिव वृत्रहा। ते वध्यमाना भीष्मेण पञ्चाला: सोमकैः : सह॥
Began to slay the troops of the Pandavas, like the slayer of Vritra himself slaying the hosts of the Danavas. Thus slaughtered by Bhishma, the Panchalas supported by the Somakas.
स्थिरां युद्धे मतिं कृत्वा भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्रुवुः। धृष्टद्युम्नमुखाश्चापि पार्थाः शान्तनवं रणे॥ अभ्यधावञ्जिगीषन्तस्तव पुत्रस्य वाहिनीम्।
Setting their hearts fixed on battle, rushed against Bhishma, Other warriors of the host of the sons of Pritha headed by Dhrishtadyumna himself rushed in battle against the son of Shantanu, inflamed with desire for slaughtering the army of your son. a
तथैव कौरवा राजन् भीष्मद्रोणपुरोगमाः॥ अभ्यधावन्त वेगेन ततो युद्धमवर्तत॥
So also, O king, the warriors of your army headed by Bhishma and Drona, rushed with impetuosity against the enemy. Thereupon these raged a second battle.