धृतराष्ट्र उवाच कथं शिखण्डी गाङ्गेयमभ्यधावत् पितामहम्। पाञ्चाल्यः समरे क्रुद्धो धर्मात्मानं यतव्रतम्॥
Dhritarashtra said How did Shikhandin the prince of the Panchalas waxing wroth in battle rush against the son of Ganga, the grandfather of the Kurus, of illustrious soul and of regulated vows?
के रक्षन् पाण्डवानीके शिखण्डिनमुदाययुधाः। त्वरमाणास्त्वराकाले जिगीषन्तो महारथाः॥
Who were those mighty car-warriors that activity defended Shikhandin in that occasion needing great activity, with their weapons upraised and heart longing for victory?
कथं शान्तनवो भीष्मः स तस्मिन् दशमेऽहनि। अयुध्यत महावीर्यः पाण्डवैः सहसृजयैः॥
How did also Shantanu's son, Bhishma possessed of great prowess, fought on the tenth day, with the Pandavas and the Srinjayas?
न मृष्यामि रणे भीष्मं प्रत्युद्यातं शिखण्डिना। कच्चिन्न रथभङ्गोऽस्य धनुर्वाशीर्यतास्यतः॥
I am unable to brook the thought of Bhishma overthrown by Shikhandin in battle. Was then his (Bhishma's) car shattered on his bow burst?
संजय उवाच नाशीर्यत धनुश्चास्य रथभङ्गो न चाप्यभूत्। युध्यमानस्य संग्रामे भीष्मस्य भारतर्षभ।५॥
Sanjaya said Neither was the bow of Bhishma broken nor was his car shattered to fragments, when, O foremost of the Bharata, he fought on with the foe,
निघ्नतः समरे शत्रूशरेः संनतपर्वभिः। अनेकशतसाहस्रास्तावकानां महारथाः॥
Slaying them in battle with many shafts of straight knots. Many hundreds and thousands of mighty car-warriors belonging to your army,
तथा दन्तिगणा राजन् हयाश्चैव सुसज्जिताः। अभ्यवर्तन्त युद्धाय पुरस्कृत्य पितामहम्॥
Many huge-tusked elephants, O king, as also many well-caparisoned charges, advanced to battle, with the grandsire at their head.
यथाप्रतिज्ञं कौरव्य स चापि समितिञ्जयः। पार्थानामकरोदं भीष्मः सततं समिति क्षयम्॥
In perfect harmony with his vow, O foremost of the Kurus, the ever-victorious Bhishma continuously went on slaughtering the troops of the Pandavas.
युध्यमानं महेष्वासं विनिघ्नन्तं पराशरैः। पञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सार्धं सर्वे ते नाभ्यवारयन्॥
The Panchalas accompanied by the Pandavas were incapable of withstanding that fierce bowman as he fought on, slaying the foe with his shafts.
दशमेऽहनि सम्प्राप्ते ततस्तां रिपुवाहिनीम्। कीर्यमाणां शितैर्बाणैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥
When the tenth day arrived, Bhishma scattered the hostile army with his whetted shafts, by hundreds and thousands.
न हि भीष्मं महेष्वासं पाण्डवाः पाण्डुपूर्वज। अशक्नुवन् रणे जेतुं पाशहस्तमिवान्तकम्॥
Then the Pandavas could not vanquish in battle that fierce bowman that sire of Pandu, who then resembled the Destroyer himself with his noose in hand.
अथोपायान्महाराज सव्यसाची धनंजयः। त्रासयन् रथिनः सर्वान् बीभत्सुपराजितः॥
Thereupon, 0 mighty monarch, the invincible Vibhatsu, the conqueror of the god of wealth, who was able to use his weapons even with his left hand, rushed to the spot terrifying all the car-warriors present.
सिंहवद् विनदन्नुच्चैर्धनुर्ध्या विक्षिपन् मुहुः। शरोधान् विसृजन् पार्थोव्यरत् कालवद् रणे॥
Then like the Destroyer himself, Pritha's son carried through the field, roaring constantly like a lion, twanging his bow string and shooting myriad's of arrows.
तस्य शब्देन वित्रस्तास्तावका भरतर्षभ। सिंहस्येव मृगा राजन् व्यद्रवन्त महाभयात्॥
Terrified at his roars, your warriors, O foremost of the Bharatas, fied, O king, out of panic, like deer flying at the sight of a lion.
जयन्तं पाण्डवं दृष्ट्वा त्वत्सैन्यं चाभिपीडितम्। दुर्योधनस्ततो भीष्ममब्रवीद् भृशपीडितः॥
Then beholding the son of Pandu, to be the master of the field, and seeing his own troops greatly afflicted, Duryodhana, oppressed with fear thus addressed Bhishma
एष पाण्डुसुतस्तात श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथिः। दहते मामकान् सर्वान् कृष्णवर्मेव काननम्॥
Duryodhana said "Yonder stands the son of Pandu, owing cream-coloured steeds and Krishna himself for his charioteer, consuming my ranks, O sire, like fire itself consuming a forest.
पश्य सैन्यानि गाङ्गेय द्रवमाणानि सर्वशः। पाण्डवेन युधां श्रेष्ठ काल्यमानानि संयुगे॥
Behold, O son of Ganga, O foremost of warriors, my troops routed and afflicted in battle, on all sides by that son of Pandu.
यथा पशुगणान् पाल: संकलयति कानने। तथेदं मामकं सैन्यं काल्यते शत्रुतापन॥
Just as a herd-man be labours his herd in the forest (with a cudgel), so, afflicter of foes, see my army belahored by Arjuna (with his arrows).
धनंजयशरैर्भग्नं द्रवमाणं ततस्ततः। भीमोऽप्येवं दुराधर्षो विद्रावयति मे बलम्॥
Routed and shattered by the arrows of Dhananjaya as my troops are, the invincible Bhishma also is slaughtering them.
सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ। अभिमन्युः सुविक्रान्तो वाहिनीं द्रवते मम॥
Satyaki, Chekitana, the twin sons of Madri by Pandu, and also Abhimanyu of great prowess, all these warriors are crushing my hosts,
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तथा शूरो राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः। व्यद्रावयेतां सहसा सैन्यं मम महारणे॥
The heroic Dhrishtadyumna, aná the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, also forcibly routing and driving away my troops in this fierce battle.
वध्यमानस्य सैन्यस्य सर्वैरतैर्महारथैः। नान्यां गतिं प्रपश्यामि स्थाने युद्धे च भारत॥
Of these troops who are being ihus slaughtered by all these mighty car-warriors, i see no other refuge, regarding the staying on the field and fighting with the foe, O Bharata,
ऋते त्वां पुरुषव्याघ्र देवतुल्यपराक्रम। पर्याप्तस्तु भवाशीघ्रं पीडितानां गतिर्भव॥
Than yourself, O foremost of men, who are equal to the celestials in battle. Therefore do you speedily confront those warriors, and so became the protector of my afflicted army.”
संजय उवाच एवमुक्तो महाराज पिता देवव्रतस्तव। चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः॥
Thus spoken to, O mighty monarch, your sire Devavrata, reflecting for a moment only and forming his determination, are
तव संधारयन् पुत्रमब्रवीच्छान्तनोः सुतः। दुर्योधन विजानीहि स्थिरो भूत्वा विशाम्पते॥
Spoke these words to your son, consoling him therewith "O Duryodhana, O ruler of men, hear patiently what I now speak to you.
पूर्वकालं तव मया प्रतिज्ञातं महाबल। हत्वा दशसहस्राणि क्षत्रियाणां महात्मनाम्॥
Before the battle commenced, O mighty hero, I vowed to you, that slaying ten thousand high-souled Kshatriya warriors.
संग्रामाद् व्यपयातव्यमेतत् कर्म ममाह्निकम्। इति तत् कृतवांश्चाहं यथोक्तं भरतर्षभ॥
Every day, I would desist from fighting. O foremost of the Bharatas, I have acted up to my words.
अद्य चापि महत् कर्म प्रकरिष्ये महाबल। अहं वाद्य हतः शेष्ये हनिष्ये वाऽद्य पाण्डवान्॥
This day, O highly puissant hero, I shall perform a marvelous feat. Either slain I shall lie on the field, or I will today slay the Pandavas.
अद्य ते पुरुषव्याघ्र प्रतिमोक्ष्ये ऋणं तव। भर्तृपिण्डकृतं राजन् निहतः पृतनामुखे॥
Today, O foremost of male being I will liquidate the debt I owe to you, debt arising out of the food you gave me-by shuffling off this mortal coil in the very thick of battle."
इत्युक्त्वा भरतश्रेष्ठ क्षत्रियान् प्रवपञ्छरैः। आससाद दुराधर्षः पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्॥
Having thus spoken, o foremost of the Bharatas, that invincible hero scattering his arrows broadcast among the Kshatriyas, rushed against the ranks of the Pandavas,
अनीकमध्ये तिष्ठन्तं गाङ्गेयं भरतर्षभ। आशीविषमिव क्रुद्धं पाण्डवाः प्रत्यवारयन्॥
Then, O foremost of the Bharatas, the Pandavas began to resist the son of Ganga wrought up with rage, remaining in the centre of his divisions and loO king like a snake of virulent poison.
दशमेऽहनि भीष्मस्तु दर्शयशक्तिमात्मनः। राजञ्छतसहस्राणि सोऽवधीत् कुरुनन्दन॥
Then, O delighter of the Kuru race, on that the tenth day of the battle, Bhishma exhibiting his own prowess, O king, slew hundreds and thousands of warriors.
पञ्चालानां च ये श्रेष्ठा राजपुत्रा महारथाः। तेषामादत्त तेजांसि जलं सूर्य इवांशुभिः॥
Of those who were the foremost princes amongst the Panchalas, he robbed the strength, like the sun drawing moisture with its rays.
हत्वा दश सहस्राणि कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम्। सारोहाणां महाराज हयानां चायुतं तथा॥
Having slain ten thousand swift moving elephants and also, O monarch, ten thousand chargers with their riders,
पूर्णे शतसहस्रे द्वे पादातानां नरोत्तमः। प्रजज्वाल रणे भीष्मो विधूम इव पावकः॥
And full hundred thousands of foot soldiers, that foremost of men, Bhishma, seemed to blaze forth like fire without a streak of smoke.
न चैनं पाण्डवेयानां केचिच्छेकुर्निरीक्षितुम्। उत्तरं मार्गमास्थाय तपन्तमिव भास्करम्॥
None among the Pandava host was then able to look at him, as he then shone like the lustrous orb of the day shining in the Northern solstice.
ते पाण्डवेयाः संरब्धा महेष्वासेन पीडिताः। वधायाभ्यद्रवन् भीष्मं सुंजयाश्च महारथाः॥
Then those Pandava troops and the mighty car-warriors of the Srinjaya clan, thus afflicted by Bhishma, in battle, rushed to slay that fierce bowmen.
संयुद्ध्यमानो बहुभिर्भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तथा। अवकीर्णो महामेरुः शैलो मेधैरिवावृतः॥
Then fighting with tremendous odds, Bhishma the son of Shantanu looked like the mount Meru enveloped by clouds on all sides.
पुत्रास्तु तव गाङ्गेयं समन्तात् पर्यवारयन्। महत्या सेनया सार्धं ततो युद्धमवर्तत॥
Your son of Duryodhana supported by a mighty division protected Ganga's son by surrounding him on all sides.. Then ensued a terrible combat.