संजय उवाच अर्जुनस्तु रणे राजन् दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्य विक्रमम्। शिखण्डिनमथोवाच समभ्येहि पितामहम्॥
Sanjaya said Then, O king, Arjuna beholding Bhishma's prowess in battle, addressed Shikhandin saying "Confront the grandsire.
न चापि भीस्त्वया कार्या भीष्मादद्य कथंचना अहमेनं शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः पातयिष्ये रथोत्तमात्॥
You should entertain no fear from Bhishma today, I will dislodge him from his excellent car with sharp arrows."
एवमुक्तस्तु पार्थेन शिखण्डी भरतर्षभ। अभ्यद्रवत गाङ्गेयं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम्॥
Thus spoken to by Partha, and having listened to the former's worlds, Shikhandin, O foremost of the Bharatas, rushed against the son of Ganga.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तथा राजन् सौभद्रश्च महारथः। हृष्टावाद्रवतां भीष्मं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम्॥
Then also, O king, Dhrishtadyumna and the mighty car-warrior the son of Subhadra, filled with delight at having heard Arjuna's word, rushed against Bhishma.
विराटदुपदौ वृद्धौ कुन्तिभोजश्च दंशितः। अभ्यद्रवन्त गाङ्गेयं पुत्रस्य तव पश्यतः॥
Also the two aged warriors Virata and Drupada, and Kuntibhoja each protected with an armour, rushed against Ganga's son before the very eyes of your son.
नकुलः सहदेवश्च धर्मराजश्च वीर्यवान्। तथेतराणि सैन्यानि सर्वाण्येव विशाम्पते॥
Nakula, and Sahadeva, and the highly powerful Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, as also the other inferior soldiers, O ruler of men,
समाद्रवन्त गाङ्गेयं श्रुत्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम्। प्रत्युद्ययुस्तावकाश्च समेतांस्तान् महारथान्॥ यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं तन्मे निगदतः शृणु।
All advanced against the son of Ganga. As to your warriors who comforted, to the best of their abilities and to the best of their energies, hose united and mighty car-warriors of the enemy, hear me speak.
चित्रसेनो महाराज चेकितानं समभ्ययात्॥ भीष्मप्रेप्सुं रणे यान्तं वृषं व्याघ्रशिशुर्यथा।
Chitrasena, O king, confronted in battle Chekitana who had been proceeding against Bhishma in battle like a tiger cub rushing against a bull.
धृष्टद्युम्नं महाराज भीष्मान्तिकमुपागतम्॥ त्वरमाणं रणे यत्तं कृतवर्मा न्यवारयत्।
Kritavarma checked Dhrishtadyumna, O king, who having speedily approached Bhishma was then displaying his prowess in battle.
भीमसेनं सुसंक्रुद्ध गाङ्गेयस्य वधैषिणम्॥ त्वरमाणो महाराज सौमदत्तिर्यवारयत्।
O monarch, then with great activity Somadatta's encountered Bhimasena inflamed with rage and exerting for the slaughter of Ganga's son.
तथैव नकुलं शूरं किरन्तं सायकान् बहून्॥ विकर्णो वारयामास इच्छन् भीष्मस्य जीवितम्।
Then Vikarna, desirous of protecting the life of Bhishma checked the heroic Nakula who had been shooting myriads of shafts.
सहदेवं तथा राजन् यान्तं भीष्मरथं प्रति॥ वारयामास संक्रुद्धः कृपः शारद्वतो युधि।
Then Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, wrought up with rage, checked, in battle, Sahadeva proceeding towards the car of Bhishma.
राक्षसं क्रूरकर्माणं भैमसेनि महाबलम्॥ भीष्मस्य निधनं प्रेप्सुं सुद्रमुखोऽभ्यद्रवद् बली।
Then the powerful Durmukha rushed against the highly powerful Rakshasa of fearful deeds, that son of Bhimasena who was desirous of slaying Bhishma. son
सात्यकिं समरे यान्तं तव पुत्रो न्यवारयत्॥ अभिमन्यु महाराज यान्तं भीष्मरथं प्रति। सुदक्षिणो महाराज काम्बोजः प्रत्यवारयत्॥ विराटदुपदौ वृद्धौ समेतावरिमर्दनौ। अश्वत्थामा ततः क्रुद्धो वारयामास भारत।॥ तथा पाण्डुसुतं ज्येष्ठं भीष्मस्य वधकाक्षिणम्। भारद्वाजो रणे यत्तो धर्मपुत्रमवारयत्॥ अर्जुनं रभसं युद्धे पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्। भीष्मप्रेप्सुं महाराज भासयन्तं दिशो दश॥ दुःशासनो महेष्वासो वारयामास संयुगे।
Your son (Duryodhana) resisted Satyaki proceeding to battle. Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kamvojas, checked, O king, Abhimanyu as he was rushing against the car of Bhishma. Ashvathama inflamed with wrath, O Bharata, checked the two aged warriors, those crushers of foes, Virata and Drupada. Then the son of Bharadvaja carefully, fighting checked the son of Pandu (Yudhishthira), as he was proceeding desirous of slaying Bhishma. Then, O king, the fierce bow-man Dushasana checked in battle, Arjuna himself, who desirous of reaching near Bhishma was advancing, placing Shikhandin before him, and illumining the ten points of the compass.
अन्ये च तावका योधाः पाण्डवानां महारथान्॥ भीष्मस्याभिमुखान् यातान् वारयामासुराहवे।
Other warriors of your host resisted in that battle the mighty car-warriors of the Pandava host as they were proceeding towards Bhishma in battle.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु सैन्यानि प्राक्रोशंस्तु पुनः पुनः॥ अभ्यद्रवत संरब्धा भीष्ममेकं महारथः।
Then excited to the highest pitch of fury, the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna rushed against Bhishma, repeatedly addressing the troops thus in a laud voice,
एषोऽर्जुनो रणे भीष्मं प्रयाति कुरुनन्दनः॥ अभ्यद्रवत मा मैष्ट भीष्मो हि प्राप्स्यते न वः।
“You delighter of the Kurus Arjuna himself is rushing towards Bhishma. Rush you then upon the latter, and be not afraid. Bhishma will never be able to assail you.
अर्जुनं समरे योद्धं नोत्सहेतापि वासवः॥ किमु भीष्मो रणे वीरा गतसत्त्वोऽल्पजीवितः।
Even Vasava himself is not capable of withstanding Arjuna in battle, what to speak of the heroic Bhishma whose energy is gone and life is exhausted?”
इति सेनापतेः श्रुत्वा पाण्डवानां महारथाः॥ अभ्यद्रवन्त संहृष्टा गाङ्गेयस्य रथं प्रति।
Hearing these words of their generallissimo, the mighty car-warriors.of the Pandava host, with delighted hearts, rushed against the car of the son of Ganga.
आगच्छमानान् समरे वार्योधान् प्रलयानिव॥ अवारयन्त संहृष्टास्तावकाः पुरुषर्षभाः।
Then those warriors of your army, all foremost of men, cheerfully resisted that onslaught of the Pandavas that looked like a furiously advancing mass of living energy.
दुःशासनो महाराज भयं त्यक्त्वा महारथः॥ भीष्मस्य जीविताकाक्षि धनंजयमुपाद्रवत्।
Then, O mighty monarch, the great carwarrior Dushasana, desirous of saying Bhishma's confronted Dhananjaya, dismissing all fear from his mind.
तथैव पाण्डवाः शूरा गाङ्गेयस्य रथं प्रति॥ अभ्यद्रवन्त संग्रामे तव पुत्रान् महारथाः।
So also the heroic Pandavas rushing towards the car of Ganga's son, assailed your sons, all mighty car-warriors.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम चित्ररूपं विशाम्पते॥ दुःशासनरथं प्राप्य यत् पार्थो नात्यवर्तत।
Then, O monarch, we beheld a wonderful incident, namely that reaching Dushasana's car Partha could not advance further.
यथा वारयते वेला क्षुब्धतोयं महार्णवम्॥ तथैव पाण्डवं क्रुद्धं तव पुत्रो न्यवारयत्।
Just as the banks resist the mighty main with its waters agitated, so did your son resist that son of Pandu inflamed with rage. life,
उभो तौ रथिनां श्रेष्ठावुभौ भारत दुर्जयौ॥ उभी चन्द्रार्कसदृशौ कान्त्या दीप्त्या च भारत।
Both of them were excellent car-warriors, both were invincible, O Bharata, and both resembled the moon and the sun in splendor and beauty.
तथा तौ जातसंरम्भावन्योन्यवधकाक्षिणौ॥ समीयतुर्महासंख्ये मयशक्रौ यथा पुरा।
Then like Maya and Shakra encountering each other in the days of yore, those two heroes encountered each other in battle, highly excited with wrath, and desirous of slaying one another.
दुःशासनो महाराज पाण्डवं विशिखैस्त्रिभिः॥ वासुदेवं च विंशत्या ताडयामास संयुगे।
Then, O monarch, Dushasana wondered the son of Pandu with three shafts in battle, and the soli of Vasudeva with twenty.
ततोऽर्जुनो जातमन्युष्र्णेयं वीक्ष्य पीडितम्॥ दुःशासनं शतेनाजौ नाराचानां समार्पयत्।
Thereat Arjuna waxing wroth upon beholding him of the Vrishni race afflicted with arrows, sped hundred long shafts at Dushasana in that encounter.
ते तस्य कवचं भित्त्वा पपुः शोणितमाहवे॥ दुःशासनस्त्रिभिः क्रुद्धः पार्थं विव्याध पत्रिभिः। ललाटे भरतश्रेष्ठ शरैः संनतपर्वभिः॥ ललाटस्यैस्तु तैर्बाणैः शुशुभे पाण्डवो रणे।
Those shafts, penetrating through the letters armour's drank his life-blood. Thereupon, inflamed with rage, Dushasana pierced Pritha's Sual with three shafts. Then again, O foremost of the Bharata, he pierced Arjuna with three shafts of exceeding sharpness, on the forehead. Then with those arrows, struck on the forehead, Pandu's son appeared beautiful like.
यथा मेरुर्महाराज शृङ्रत्यर्थमुच्छ्रितैः॥ सोऽतिविद्धो महेष्वासः पुत्रेण तव धन्विना।
The mount Meru with its crests towering high in the heavens. Pierced deeply by your son wielding the bow, that mighty bowman.
व्यराजत रणे पार्थः किंशुकः पुष्पवानिव॥ दुःशासनं ततः क्रुद्धः पीडयामस पाण्डवः।
Partha appeared beautiful like the flowering Kinshuka tree. Then that son of Pandu, greatly excited afflicted Dushasana,
पर्वणीव सुसंक्रुद्धो राहुः पूर्ण निशाकरम्॥ पीड्यमानो बलवता पुत्रस्तव विशाम्पते।
Like the enraged Rahu afflicting the full moon on the fifteenth day of the light half of a month. Then thus afflicted by the powerful Partha, your son, O ruler of men,
विव्याध समरे पार्थं कङ्कपत्रैः शिलाशितैः॥ तस्य पार्थो धनुश्छित्त्वा रथं चास्य त्रिभिः शरैः। आजघान ततः पश्चात् पुत्रं ते निशितैः शरैः॥
Pierced the former with arrows winged with the feathers of the Kanka bird and whetted on stone. Then Partha bursting open Dushasana's bow and shattering his car with his three arrows. Then he pierced many sharpened arrows on him.
सोऽन्यत् कार्मुकमादाय भीष्मस्य प्रमुखे स्थितः। अर्जुनं पञ्चविंशत्या बाह्वोरुरसि चार्पयत्॥
Then he took another shaft and stood before Bhishma. He pierced twentyfive shafts on the chaste of Arjuna
तस्य क्रुद्धो महाराज पाण्डवः शत्रुतापनः। अप्रैषीद् विशिखान् घोरान् यमदण्डोपमान् बहून्॥ अप्राप्तानेव तान् बाणांश्चिच्छेद तनयस्तव।
Then Arjuna, the afflicter of foes, with enger, O king! shot at him numerous dreadful arrows resembling the mace of Death himself. Then your son cut off those arrows before they could reach him.
यतमानस्य पार्थस्य तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥ पार्थं च निशितैर्बाणैरविध्यत् तनयस्तव।
Sped though they were by Partha excreting his best in battle. Indeed this appeared to be marvelous. Once more your son pierced the son of Pritha with shafts of exceedingly ! sharpness.
ततः क्रुद्धो रणे पार्थः शरान् संधाय कार्मुके॥ प्रेषयामास समरे स्वर्णपुडाञ्छिलाशितान्।
Thereupon, wrought up with rage Partha fixing on his bow-string arrows full finished with gold wings and whetted on stone, discharged them at your son.
न्यमज्जंस्ते महाराज तस्य काये महात्मनः॥ यथा हंसा महाराज तडागं प्राप्य भारत।
These shafts, O monarch, entered into the body of the illustrious Dushasana, like swans, O Bharata, diving into the waters of a lake.
पीडितश्चैव पुत्रस्ते पाण्डवेन महात्मना॥ हित्वा पार्थं रणे तूर्णं भीष्मस्य रथमाव्रजत्।
Thus your son sorely afflicted by the illustrious son of Pandu, quickly avoiding him proceeded towards the chariot of Bhishma.
अगाधे मज्जतस्तस्य द्वीपो भीष्मोऽभवत् तदा॥ प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञां पुत्रस्तव विशाम्पते।
Then indeed Bhishma was like an island to him who was sinking into the fathomless deep (of pain): Then, O ruler of men, regaining his senses, your son,
अवारयत् ततः शूरो भूय एव पराक्रमी॥ शरैः सुनिशितैः पार्थं यथा वृत्रं पुरंदरः। निर्बिभेद महाकायो विव्यथे नैव चार्जुनः॥
Endued with bravery, and prowess, again began to check Partha with well-sharpened shafts, like Indra resisting Vritra. Your son of huge stature, penetrated Arjuna through and through but the latter did feel no pain at all.