संजय उवाच कृतवर्मा कृपो द्रौणिः सूतपुत्रश्च मारिष। उलूकः सौबलश्चैव राजा च सह सोदरैः॥ सीदमानां चमूं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुपुत्रभयार्दिताम्। समुहुः स्म वेगेन भिन्नां नावमिवार्णवे॥
Sanjaya said Beholding the Kuru army afflicted with the fear of Pandu's son sinking like a boat foundered in the ocean, Kritavarma, Kripa, Drona's son, Suta's son, Ulaka, Subala's son Shakuni and the king himself with his brother, came to their rescue.
ततो युद्धमतीवासीन्मुहूर्तमिव भारत। भीरूणां त्रासजननं शूराणां हर्षवर्धनम्॥
Then there took place an encounter for the time being capable of striking terror unto the timid and increasing the delight of the heroes.
कृपेण शरवर्षाणि प्रतिमुक्तानि संयुगे। सृञ्जयांश्छादयामासुः शलभानां व्रजा इव॥
The downpour of arrows made by Kripa in the battle covered the Srinjayas like a swarm of locusts.
शिखण्डी च ततः क्रुद्धो गौतमं त्वरितो ययौ। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि समन्ताद् द्विजपुङ्गवम्॥
Thereupon Shikhandin, worked up with anger, speedily approached the son of Gautaina and discharged a shower of arrows upon that best of men.
कृपस्तु शरवर्षं तद् विनिहत्य महास्त्रवित्। शिखण्डिनं रणे क्रद्धो विव्याध दशभिः शरैः॥
And checking that downpour of arrows Kripa, conversant with the use of mighty weapons and filled with anger, struck in that encounter Shikhandin with ten arrows.
ततः शिखण्डी कुपितः शरैः सप्तभिराहवे। कृपं विव्याध कुपितं कङ्कपत्रैरजिह्मगैः॥
Then Shikhandin, worked up with anger, pierced Kripa and seven straight Kankafeathered arrows.
ततः कृपः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः सोऽतिविद्धो महारथः। व्यश्वसूतरथं चक्रे शिखण्डिनमथो द्विजः॥
Then the Brahmana Kripa, a mighty carwarrior, piercing heavily with sharp arrows, deprived Shikhandin of his horses, charioteer and car.
हताश्चात् तु ततो यानादवप्लुत्य महारथः। खङ्गं चर्म तथा गृह्य सत्वं ब्राह्मणं ययौ॥
Then jumping down from the car, the heroes of which were slain, the mighty carwarrior speedily took up his sword and armour and approached the Brahmana.
तमापतन्तं सहसा शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। छादयामास समरे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥ तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम शिलानां प्लवनं यथा। निश्चेष्टस्तद् रणे राजञ्छिखण्डी समतिष्ठत॥
Then he covered him suddenly who was approaching with straight arrows. This was indeed wonderful. We then, O king, beheld a wonderful spectacle like the flying of rocks. And Shikhandin remained inactive in that battle.
कृपेणच्छादितं दृष्ट्वा नृपोत्तम शिखण्डिनम्। प्रत्युद्यायौ कृपं तूर्णं धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथः॥
Beholding Shikhandin covered with arrows by Kripa, O foremost of kings, the mighty carwarrior Dhristadyumna speedily approached him.
धृष्टद्युम्नं ततो यान्तं शारद्वतरथं प्रति। प्रतिजग्राह वेगेन कृतवर्मा महारथः॥
Thereupon the mighty car-warrior Kritavarma vehemently resisted Dhristadyumna who was advancing towards the son of Sharadvata.
युधिष्ठिरमथायान्तं शारद्वतरथं प्रति। सपुत्रं सहसैन्यं च द्रौणपुत्रो न्यवारयत्॥
Drona's son then resisted Yudhishthira who was advancing with his own son and arms against the son of Sharadvata.
नकुलं सहदेवं च त्वरमाणौ महारथौ। प्रतिजग्राह ते पुत्रः शरवर्षेण वारयन्॥
Your son then impeded with a downpour of arrows the approach of the two car-warriors Nakula and Sahadeva.
भीमसेन करूषांश्च केकयान् सह संजयैः। कर्णो वैकर्तनो युद्धे वारयामास भारत॥
Karna, the son of Vikartana, O descendant of Bharata, then resisted in battle Bhimasena, Karushas, Kaikeyas and Srinjayas.
शिखण्डिनस्ततौ बाणान् कृपः शारद्वतो युधि। प्राहिणोत् त्वरया युक्तो दिधक्षुरिव मारिष।॥
Then in the battle, O Sire, Kripa quickly hurled arrows at Shikhandin as to burn him down.
ताञ्छरान् प्रेषितास्तेन समन्तात् स्वर्णभूषितान्। चिच्छदेन खङ्गमाविध्य भ्रामयंश्च पुनः पुनः॥
Whirling his sword repeatedly (Shikhandin) then with his sword cut-off all those golddecked arrows that were discharged at him.
शतचन्द्रं च तचर्म गौतमस्तस्य भारत। व्यधमत् सायकैस्तूर्णं तत उचुक्रुशुर्जनाः॥
The son of Gautama then quickly cut-off with his arrows the shield of Prishata's son that was adorned with a hundred moons. At this his people made a loud uproar.
स विचर्मा महाराज खङ्गपाणिरुपाद्रवत्। कृपस्य वशमापन्नो मृत्योरास्यमिवातुरः॥
Deprived of his shield, O monarch and brought under the influence of Kripa, he, with his sword, advanced like a sick man advancing towards death.
शारद्वतशरैर्ग्रस्तं विश्यमानं महाबलः। चित्रकेतुसुतो राजन् सुकेतुस्त्वरितो ययौ॥
O king, Chitraketu's son Suketu quickly proceeded towards the highly powerful (Shikhandin) who was thus distressed and assailed by the son of Sharadvata.
विकिरन् ब्राह्मणं युद्धे बहुभिर्निशितैः शरै। अभ्यापतदमेयात्मा गौतमस्य रथं प्रति॥
Having covered in battle the Brahmana with sharp arrows, that one of immeasurable energy, advanced towards the car of Gautama's son.
दृष्ट्वा च युक्तं त युद्धे ब्राह्मणं चरितव्रतम्। अपयातस्तस्तूर्णं शिखण्डी राजसत्तम।॥
Beholding that Brahmana, observant of vows thus engaged in battle, Shikhandin, O king, quickly proceeded there.
सुकेतुस्तु ततो राजन् गौतमं नवभिः शरैः। विद्ध्वा विव्याध सप्तत्या पुनश्चैनं त्रिभिः शरैः॥
O king, having pierced the son of Gautama with nine arrows Suketu once more pierced him with seventy and again with three.
अथास्य सशरं चापं पुनश्चिच्छेद मारिष। सारथिं च शरेणास्य भृशं मर्मस्वताडयत्॥
He then cut-off his bow and arrows; then with another he pierced greatly his driver to the very vitals.
गौतमस्तु ततः क्रुद्धो धनुर्गृह्य नवं दृढम्। सुकेतुं त्रिंशता बाणैः सर्वमर्मस्वताडयत्॥
Thereupon worked up with anger Gautama took up a fresh and strong bow and cut-off Suketu to the very vital part with thirty arrows.
स विह्वलितसर्वाङ्गः प्रचचाल रथोत्तमे। भूमिकम्पे यथा वृक्षश्चचाल कम्पितो भृशम्॥
All his limbs were weakened and he shook on that best of cars as a tree trembles greatly during an earth quake.
चलतस्तस्य कायात् तु शिरो ज्वलितकुण्डलम्। सोष्णीयं सशिरस्त्राणं क्षुरप्रेण त्वपातयद्॥
Then with a razor-sharpened arrow he sundered from body his head still trembling with shining ear-rings, crown and headprotector.
तच्छिरंः प्रापतद् भूमौ श्येनाहतमिवामिषम्। ततोऽस्य कायो वसुधां पश्चात् प्रापतदच्युत॥
His head fell down on the earth like a piece of meant stolen away by a hawk, afterwards his body, O Eternal one, fell down on the earth.
तस्मिन् हते महाराज त्रस्तास्तस्य पुरोगमाः। गौतमं हरे त्यक्त्वा दुदुवुस्ते दिशो दश॥
O Emperor, when he was slain, all his followers, leaving behind the son of Gautama in the battle-field fled, away in ten directions.
धृष्टद्युम्नं तु समरे संनिवार्य महारथः। कृतवर्माब्रवीद्धृष्टस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भारत॥
Encircling the highly powerful Dhristadyumna in the battle-field Kritavarma said to him-"Wait! wait!"
तदभूत् तुमुलं युद्धं वृष्णिपार्षतयो रणे। आमिषार्थे यथा युद्धं श्येनयोः क्रुद्धयोप॥
Then there took place a terrible and wonderful encounter between the Vrishnis and Parsatas like that of two angry hawks, O king, for a piece of meat.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु समरे हार्दिक्य नवभिः शरैः। आजधानोरसि क्रुद्धः पीडयन् हृदिकात्मजम्॥
Worked up with anger, Dhristadyumna, in that battle, assailed Hridika's son violently and struck him on the chest with nine arrows.
कृतवर्मा तु समरे पार्षतेन दृढाहतः। पार्षतं सरथं छादयामास सायकैः॥
Thus Assailed by a Parohata in battle Kritavarma covered him, his chariot and horses with arrows.
सरथश्छादितो राजन् धृष्टद्युम्नो न दृश्यते। मेधैरिव परिच्छन्नो भास्करो जलधारिभिः॥
O king, thus covered along with his car Dhristadyumna became invisible like the sun enshrouded by clouds surcharged with water.
विधूय तं बाणगणं शरैः कनकभूषणैः। व्यरोचत रणे राजन् धृष्टद्युम्नः कृतव्रणः॥
Withstanding him with gold feathered arrows, O king, Dhristadyumna appeared in battle with wounds.
ततस्तु पार्षतः क्रुद्धः शस्त्रवृष्टिं सुदारुणाम्। कृतवर्माणमासाद्य व्यसृजत् पृतनापतिः॥
Obtaining Kritavarma, Parsata, the commander of the forces, worked up with anger, made a terrible downpour of arrows.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा शस्त्रवृष्टिं सुदारुणाम्। शरैरनेकसाहस्त्रैर्हार्दिक्योऽवारयद् युधि॥
In that battle Hridika's son with many thousand arrows, all on a sudden, dispelled that highly dreadful shower of arrows that was about to fall on him.
दृष्ट्वा तु वारितां युद्धे शस्त्रवृष्टिं दुरासदाम्। कृतवर्माणमासाद्य वारयामास पार्षतः॥
Beholding in that battle that fearful downpour of arrows thus dispelled by him Prishata's son, approaching Kritavarma, withstood him.
सारथिं चास्य तरसा प्राहिणोद् यमसादनम्। भल्लेन शितधारेण स हतः प्रापतद् रथात्॥
With a sharpened spike he dispatched his charioteer to the abode of Death. Slain he fell down from the chariot.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु बलवाञ्जित्वा शत्रु महाबलम्। कौरवान् समरे तूर्णं वारयामास सायकैः॥
Having vanquished his highly powerful enemy, the mighty Dhristadyumna speedily withstood the Kauravas in battle with arrows.
ततस्ते तावका योधा धृष्टद्युम्नमुपाद्रवन्। सिंहनादरवं कृत्वा ततो युद्धमवर्तत॥
Thereupon emitting leonine roars your warriors ran towards Dhristadyumna and again an encounter took place.