संजय उवाच नकुलं रभसं युद्धे निघ्नतं वाहिनी तव। अभ्ययात् सौबलः क्रुद्धस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्॥
Sanjaya said The son of Subala (i.e. Shakuni), excited with wrath, rushed against Nakula who was slaughtering your troops with (great) impetuosity in battle and said (to him) “Wait, wait."
कृतवैरौ तु तौ वीरावन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणौ। शरैः पूर्णायतोत्सृष्टैरन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः॥
Those two heroes, between whom was excited a bitter enmity, desirous of slaying each other, struck each other with arrows discharged (from their bows) drawn to their fullest stretch.
यथैव नकुलो राजन् शरवर्षाण्यमुञ्चत्। तथैव सोबलश्चापि शिक्षा संदर्शयन् युधि॥
In (that) battle, O king, the son of Subala displayed as much dexterity in discharging showers of arrows as Nakula (god).
तावुभौ समरे शूरौ शरकण्टकिनौ तदा। व्यराजेतां महाराज श्वाविधौ शललैरिव॥
With arrows stricking (to their bodies) like prickly thorms, they, O mighty monarch, looked, in (that) engagement, like a couple of porcupines with erect quills.
रुक्मपुरजिह्माणैः शरैश्छिन्नतनुच्छदौ। रुधिरौघपरिक्किन्नौ व्यभ्राजेतां महामृधे॥
Their coats of mail cut-off with shafts having straight points and wings of gold and themselves covered all over with blood, (those two heroes) looked as beautiful as.
तपनीयनिभौ चित्रौ कल्पवृक्षाविव दुमौ। किंशुकाविव चोत्फुल्ली प्रकाशेते रणाजिरे॥
A fair of beautiful Kalpa trees or a couple of handsome Kinsuka trees laden with flowers, on the field of battle.
तावुभैः समरे शूरौ शरकण्टकिनौ तदः। व्यराजेता महाराज कण्टकैरिव शाल्मलीः॥
Then, O great king, both the heroes pierced with shafts (sticking to their bodies) looked beautiful like a couple of Salmali trees (covered) with prickly thorns.
सुजिप्तां प्रेक्षमाणौ च राजन् विवृतलोचनौ। क्रोधसंरक्तनयनौ निर्दहन्तौ परस्परम्॥
O king, looking delightedly at each other with expanded eyes which became red in wrath, they seemed to consume each other (with their fiery glances).
श्यालस्तु तव संक्रुद्धो माद्रीपुत्रं हसन्निव। कर्णिनैकेन विव्याध हृदये निशितेन ह॥
Inflamed with wrath, your brother-in-law, pierced, as it were with a smile, the son of Madri in the chest with keen and barbed dart.
नकुलस्तु भृशं विद्धः श्यालेन तव धन्विना। निषसाद रथोपस्थे कश्मलं चाविशन्महत्॥
Your brother-in-law wielder of bow, wounded Nakula extremely. He fell down on his chariot and filled with very grief.
अत्यन्तवैरिणं दृप्तं दृष्ट्वा शत्रु तथागतम्। ननाद शकुनी राजंस्तपान्ते जलदो यथा॥
Beholding his bitter and haughty foe in that (pitiable) plight, Shakuni roared there like the clouds at the end of summer.
प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञां नकुलः पाण्डुनन्दनः। अभ्ययात् सौबलं भूयो व्यात्तानन इवान्तकः॥
Then, Nakula, the son of Pandu, recovering his senses once again rushed against the son of Subala like death itself with gaping mouth.
संक्रुद्धः शकुनि षष्ट्या विव्याध भरतर्षभा पुनश्चैनं शतेनैव नाराचानां स्तनान्तरे॥
He, (then), O best of the Bharatas, wrathfully pierced Shakuni with six (arrows) and again with a hundred long shafts, in the centre of the chest.
अथास्य सशरं चापं मुष्टिदेशेऽच्छिनत् तदा। ध्वजं च त्वरितं छित्त्वा रथाद् भूमावपातयत्॥
(He then cut-off) his bow with the arrow fixed (on the string) into two fragments, at the points at which it is grasped. (Then), quickly cutting off his standard, (he) caused it to fall from his car to the ground.
विशिखेन च तीक्ष्णेन पीतेन निशितेन च। ऊरू निर्भिद्य चैकेन नकुलः पाण्डुनन्दनः॥
Nakula, the son of Pandu, (then), having pierced his thigh with a sharpened, will tempered and keen dart.
श्येनं सपक्षं व्याधेन पातयामास तं तदा। सोऽतिविद्धो महाराज रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्॥
Caused him to fall down as a hunter (causes) a winged hawk to drop down. O great king, (thus) pierced deeply, he sark down on the terrace of his car.
ध्वजयष्टिं परिक्तिश्य कामुकः कामिनी यथा। तं विसंज्ञं निपतितं दृष्ट्वा श्यालं तवानघ॥
Clasping the flag-staff, like a lustful person (embracing) his lady-love. O sinless one, seeing your brother-in-law lose his senses and drop down.
अपोवाह रथेनाशु सारथिर्ध्वजिनीमुखात्। ततः संचुक्रुशुः पार्था ये च तेषां पदानुगाः॥
His charioteer quickly carried him away on his car from the van of battle. Then sons of Pritha and all those who followed them gave utterance to a loud roar.
निर्जित्य च रणे शत्रु नकुलः शत्रुतापनः। अब्रवीत् सारथिं क्रुद्धो द्रोणानीकाय मां वह॥
On the defeat of his foe in battle, Nakula. the scorcher of foes, said to his charioteer "convey me towards Drona's division."
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा माद्रीपुत्रस्य सारथिः। प्रायात् तेन तदा राजन् यत्र द्रोणो व्यवस्थितः॥
Hearing those words of the son of Madri, his charioteer, conveyed him to the spot where, O king, Drona took his stand.
शिखण्डिनं तु समरे द्रोणप्रेप्सुं विशाम्पते। कृपः शारद्वतो यत्तः प्रत्यगच्छत् सवेगितः॥
Kripa, the son of Saradvata, rushed with great impetuosity and resoluteness, against the highly-powerful Sikhandi who was advancing in order to slay Drona.
गौतमं द्रुतमायान्तं द्रोणानीकमरिंदमम्। विव्याध नवभिर्भल्लैः शिखण्डी प्रहसन्निव॥
Sikhandi, the subduer of foes, pierced as it were with a smile the son of Goutama advancing furiously (again him) towards the vicinity of Drona, with nine arrows.
तमाचार्यो महाराज विद्ध्वा पञ्चभिराशुगैः। पुनर्विव्याध विंशत्या पुत्राणां प्रियकृत् तव॥
The preceptor, devoted to the welfare of your sons, having, O great monarch, pierced him with five shafts, struck him again with twenty (more).
महद् युद्धं तयोरासीद् घोररूपं भयानकम्। यथा देवासुरे युद्धे शम्बरामरराजयोः॥
(Then), O lord of the earth, the encounter that ensued between them was as dreadful as that between the (Asura) Samvara and the lord of the immortals in the war between the celestials and the Asuras.
शरजालावृतं व्योम चक्रतुस्तौ महारथौ। मेघाविव तपापाये वीरौ समरदुर्मदौ॥
Invincible in battle, those two heroic and great car-warrior covered the firmament with arrowy nets like the clouds (covering the sky) at the end of summer,
प्रकृत्या घोररूपं तदासीद् घोरतरं पुनः। रात्रिश्च भरतश्रेष्ठ योधानां युद्धशालिनाम्॥
That night which was naturally of a terrible aspect became more dreadful, o best of the Bharatas, to the combatants engaged in battle.
कालरात्रिनिभा ह्यासीद् घोररूपा भयानका। शिखण्डी तु महाराज गौतमस्य महद् धनुः॥ अर्धचन्द्रेण चिच्छेद सज्यं सविशिखं तदा। तस्य क्रुद्धः कृपो राजशक्तिं चिक्षेप दारुणाम्॥
That awfully-dreadful night striking terror (into very heart) seemed to be the death-night (of all the combatants). Then, O great monarch, Shikandi cut-off the great bow of the son of Goutama with a crescent-shaped (dart) and poured down sharpened arrows (at him). Kripa, then, O monarch, excited with rage, hurled a formidable dart.
स्वर्णदण्डामकुण्ठाग्रां कर्मारपरिमार्जिताम्। तामापतन्तीं चिच्छेद शिखण्डी बहुभिः शरैः॥
Furnished with a golden handle, having keen point and polished by a black-smith. (But) Shikhandin severed it, as it was making for him, with ten darts.
साऽपतन्मेदिनी दीप्ता भासयन्ती महाप्रभा। अथान्यद् धनुरादाय गौतमो रथिनां वरः॥
That dart ornamented with gold, dropped down to the ground. Thereupon, the son of Goutama, that best of speakers, taking up a fresh bow.
प्राच्छादयच्छितैर्बाणैर्महाराज शिखण्डिनम्। च च्छाद्यमानः समरे गौतमेन यशस्विना॥
Covered Shikhandin, Ogreat monarch, with sharpened arrows. (Thus) covered (with shafts) by the high-souled son of Goutama in that battle.
न्यषीदत रथोपस्थे शिखण्डी रथिनां वरः। सीदन्तं चैनमालोक्य कृपः शारद्वतो युधि॥
Shikhandin, the foremost of car-warriors, sank down exhausted on the terrace of his car. Kripa, the son of Saradvata, seeing himself exhausted in that engagement.
आजघ्ने बहुभिर्वाणैर्जिघांसन्निव भारत। विमुखं तु रणे दृष्ट्वा याज्ञसेनिं महारथम्॥
Struck him with numerous arrows, 0 Bharata, (actuated) with the desire of slaying him. Witnessing defeat of that great carwarrior, the son of Jajnasena in battle.
पञ्चाला: सोमकाश्चैव परिव्रवुः समन्ततः। तथैव तव पुत्राश्च परिवर्द्धिजोत्तमम्॥
The Panchalas as well as the Somakas surrounded him on all sides (for rescuing him). In like manner, your sons also surrounded that excellent Brahmana.
महत्या सेनया सार्धं ततो युद्धमवर्तत। स्थानां च रणे राजन्नन्योन्यमभिधावताम्॥
With a vast force. Then there took place a battle again, o king, between car-warriors engaged in striking one another.
बभूव तुमुलः शब्दो मेघानां गर्जतामिव। द्रवतां सादिनां चैव गजानां च विशाम्पते। ३६॥
And O lord of the earth, O Bharata, there arose a tumultuous uproar, like the roar of the clouds, as the horse-man and elephants rushed against.
अन्योन्यमभितो राजन् क्रूरमायोधनं बभौ। पत्तीनां द्रवतां चैव पादशब्देन मेदिनी॥
And slaughtered one another. The battle, the. 0 monarch, became terrific. In consequence of the tread of foot-soldiers rushing along, the earth.
अकम्पत महाराज भयत्रस्तेव चाङ्गना। रथिनो रथमारुह्य प्रदुता वेगवत्तरम्॥
O great king, began to tremble like an affrighted lady. Ascending their cars, carwarriors rushed furiously against.
अगृह्णन् बहवो राजशलभान् वायसा इव। तथा गजान् प्रभिन्नांश्च सम्प्रभिन्ना महागजाः॥ तस्मिन्नेव पदे यत्ता निगृह्णन्ति स्म भारत। सादी सादिनपासाद्य पत्तयश्च पदातिनम्॥
And, O king, attacked numerous (other carwarriors), as crows (attack) winged insects. In the same manner, elephants, with the juice trickling down their bodies, resolutely attacked great elephants (of the opposite side) with juice trickling down their bodies, O Bharata. Horsemen approaching horsemen and foot soldiers (approaching) foot soldiers.
समासाद्य रणेऽन्योन्यं संरब्धा नातिचक्रमुः। धावतां द्रवतां चैव पुनरावर्ततामपि॥ बभूव तत्र सैन्यानां शब्दः सुविपुलो निशि। दीप्यमानाः प्रदीपाश्च रथवारणवाजिषु॥
In that battle, angrily encountered one another, without getting the better of one another. Terrific indeed as the sound caused by the rush, retreat and return of the combatants at dead of night. (Innumerable) blazing lamps placed upon cars, elephants and horses.
अदृश्यन्त महाराज महोल्का इव खाच्च्युताः। सा निशा भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रदीपैरवभासिता॥
Looked, O great king, like large meteors drooping from the firmament. O foremost of the Bharatas, that night blazed up by those lamps.
दिवसप्रतिमा राजन् बभूव रणमूर्धनि। आदित्येन यथा व्याप्तं तमो लोके प्रणश्यति॥
Looked as (bright as) day, O king, on the field of battle. As the sun dispels dense darkness hanging all over.
तथा नष्टं तमो घोरं दीपैर्दीप्तरितस्ततः। द्योश्चैव पृथिवी चापि दिशश्च प्रदिशस्तथा॥
So that pitchy darkness pervading the field of battle was destroyed by those blazing lamps. The firmament, the earth, the cardinal and the minor points.
रजसा तमसा व्याप्ता द्योतिताः प्रभया पुनः। अस्त्राणां कवचानां च मणीनां च महात्मनाम्॥
(Hitherto) buried in darkness and dust, again blazed with the lustre (of those lamps). The lustre of weapons, armours and gems belonging to the high-souled (combatants).
अन्तर्दधुः प्रभाः सर्वा दीपैस्तैरवभासिताः। तस्मिन् कोलाहले युद्धे वर्तमाने निशामुखे॥
Was cast into shade by the light of those blazing (lamps), when during that night, the battle was raging hot and furious.
न किंचिद् विदुरात्मानमयमस्मीति भारत। अवधीत् समरे पुत्रं पिता भरतसत्तम्॥
No one of the combatants could distinguish the men of his party, O Bharata. (And) O best of the Bharatas, in (that) battle, father killed (his) son.
पुत्रश्च पितरं मोहात् सखायं च सखा तथा। स्वस्नीयं मातुलश्चापि स्वस्रीयश्चापि मातुलम्॥
Son (his) father and kinsmen (killed kinsmen, friends (slew) friends and maternal uncles (killed) sister's sons, through ignorance.
स्वे स्वान् परे परांश्चापि निजत्रुरितरेतरम्। निर्मर्यादमभूद् युद्धं रात्रौ भीरुभयानकम्॥
(And) O Bharata, warrior killed warriors of the same party and enemies killed their own O king, in that awful nocturnal engagement (the combatants) lost all regard for one another. men.