धृतराष्ट्र उवाच कथं शान्तनवो भीष्मो दशमेऽहनि संजय। अयुध्यत महावीर्यः पाण्डवैः सहसृञ्जयैः॥ कुरवश्च कथं युद्धे पाण्डवान् प्रत्यवारयन्। आचक्ष्व मे महायुद्धं भीष्मस्याहवशोभिनः॥
Dhritarashtra said How, O Sanjaya, did the highly puissant son of Shantanu, viz., Bhishma fight on the tenth day with the Pandavas and the Srinjayas? How did also the Kurus, check the Pandavas in battle? Describe to me the fierce battle that Bhishma, that ornament of battlefield, fought with the foe.
संजय उवाच कुरवः पाण्डवैः सार्धं यदयुध्यन्त भारत। यथा च तदभूद् युद्धं तत् तु वक्ष्यामि साम्प्रतम्॥
Sanjaya said I shall, O Bharata, rehearse to you as to how did the Kurus fight with the Pandavas, and how also did that battle rage.
गमिताः परलोकाय परमास्त्रैः किरीटिना। अहन्यहनि संक्रुद्धास्तावकानां महारथाः॥
Day after day, the irate mighty car-warriors of your armny were conveyed to the regions of the departed by the excellent weapons shot by the diadem-decked Arjuna.
यथाप्रतिज्ञं कौरव्यः स चापि समितिंजयः। पार्थानामकरोद् भीष्मः सततं समितिक्षयम्॥
That conqueror of assembled enemies, viz., Bhishma, that foremost of Kuru heroes ever redeeming his vows, also destroyed the hosts of the Pandavas.
कुरुभिः सहितं भीष्मं युध्यमानं परंतप। अर्जुनं च समाञ्चाल्यं संशयो विजयेऽभवत्॥
Beholding Bhishma fighting at the head of the Kurus and Arjuna at the head of Panchala troops, we were unable, O afflicter of foes, to divine as to which side would be victorious.
दशमेऽहनि तस्मिंस्तु भीष्मार्जुनसमागमे। अवर्तत महारौद्रः सततं समितिक्षयः॥
Then in that battle on the tenth day when Bhishma and Arjuna confronted one another, the carnage that was caused was indeed terrible to the extreme.
तस्मिन्नयुतशो राजन् भूयशश्च परतपः। भीष्मं शान्तनवो योधाञ्जघान परमास्त्रवित्॥
Then Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, that hero conversant with excellent weapons, slew, O afflicter of foes, many warriors by millions and thousands.
येषामज्ञातकल्पानि नामगोत्राणि पार्थिवः। ते हतास्तत्र भीष्मेण शूराः सर्वेऽनिवर्तिनः॥
Many were the number of those unretreating heroes, heroes, whose names and designations and families were not known, who lay slaughtered by Bhishma on the field of battle.
दशाहानि ततस्तप्त्वा भीष्मः पाण्डववाहिनीम्। निरविद्यत धर्मात्मा जीवितेन परंतप॥
Having consumed the Pandava ranks for ten days, the high-souled Bhishma, O afflicter of foes, became disregardful of his life.
स क्षिप्रं वधमन्विच्छन्नात्मनोऽभिमुखो रणे। न हन्यां मानवश्रेष्ठान् संग्रामे सुबहूनिति॥ चिन्तयित्वा महाबाहुः पिता देवव्रतस्तव। अभ्याशस्थं महाराज पाण्डवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
Then wishing his quick slaughter at the face of the armies, and thinking, 'I will no longer slay foremost of car-warriors in battle,' your mighty-armed father Devavrata, addressing Yudhishthira who was then near him said these words.
युधिष्ठिर महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद। शृणुष्व वचनं तात धर्म्य स्वर्यं च जल्पतः॥
"O Yudhishthira, O very wise one, O you familiar with all the Shastras! Hear, O sire, I speak these words, that are fraught with moral teachings and that are capable of securing paradise for any one.
निर्विष्णोऽस्मि भृशं तात देहेनानेन भारत। घ्नतश्च मे गतः कालः सुबहून् प्राणिनो रणे॥
O Bharata, O sire, I am disgusted with this body of mine. I have passed my days in slaying numerous creatures in battle.
तस्मात् पार्थं पुरोधाय पञ्चालान् संजयांस्तथा। मद्वधे क्रियतां यत्नो मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम्॥
So if you desire to do me a good turn, strive your best for slaying me, placing the Panchalas and Srinjayas with Partha, before yourself."
तस्य तन्मतमाज्ञाय पाण्डवः सत्यदर्शनः। भीष्मं प्रति ययौ राजा संग्रामे सह संजयैः॥
Ascertaining that to be the desire of Bhishma, king Yudhishthira of unerring sight rushed against Bhishma in battle with the Srinjayas for his supporters.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्ततो राजन् पाण्डवश्च युधिष्ठिरः। श्रुत्वा भीष्मस्य तां वाचं चोदयामासतुर्बलम्॥
Thereupon, o king, Dhrishtadyumna and Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, having heard those words of Bhishma urged on their forces saying:
युधिष्ठिर उवाच अभिद्रवध्वं युध्यध्वं भीष्मं जयत संयुगे। रक्षिताः सत्यसंधेन जिष्णुना रिपुजिष्णुना॥
Yudhishthira said Proceed, fight! conquer Bhishma in battle; you will be protected by Jishnu of unerring aim who is ever the conqueror of foes;
अयं चापि महेष्वासः पार्षतो वाहिनीपतिः। भीमसेनश्च समरे पालयिष्यति वो ध्रुवम्॥
This fierce bowman the son of Prishata the commander of our hosts and Bhimasena also, will assuredly protect you all in battle.
मा वो भीष्माद् भयं किञ्चिदस्त्वद्य युधि संजयाः। ध्रुवं भीष्मं विजेष्यामः पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्॥
He Srinjayas, entertain no fear of Bhishma in battle today! Placing Shikhandin in our van we will assuredly conquer Bhishma in battle.”
ते तथा समयं कृत्वा दशमेऽहनि पाण्डवाः। ब्रह्मलोकपरा भूत्वा संजग्मुः क्रोधमूर्छिताः॥
Sanjaya said Then on the tenth day, making all these arrangements, the Pandavas determined to conquer or to go to the regions of Brahma; and infuriate with rage, they encountered Bhishma.
शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य पाण्डवं च धनंजयम्। भीष्मस्य पातने यत्नं परमं ते समास्थिताः॥
Placing Shikhandin and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu at their head, they struggled arduously to overthrown Bhishma.
ततस्तव सुतादिष्टा नानाजनपदेश्वराः। द्रोणेन सहपुत्रेण सहसेना महाबलाः॥
Then numerous heroic rulers of various countries commanded by your son, accompanied by their sons, and by their own mighty divisions,
दुःशासनश्च बलवान् सह सर्वैः सहोदरैः। भीष्मं समरमध्यस्थं पालयाञ्चक्रिरे तदा॥
As also your highly puissant son Dushasana supported by all his uterine brothers, then began to support Bhishma staying in the midst of the troops.
ततस्तु तावकाः शूराः पुरस्कृत्य महाव्रतम्। शिखण्डिप्रमुखान् पार्थान् योधयन्ति स्म संयुगे॥
Then all your warriors placing before them Bhishma of regulated vows began to fight with the Partha's having Shikhandin at their van.
चेदिभिस्तु सपञ्चालैः सहितो वानरध्वजः। ययौ शान्तनवं भीष्मं पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्॥
Then that hero having the ape as the device on his standard, placing Shikhandin before him and accompanied by the Chedis and Panchalas, rushed against Bhishma the son of Shantanu.
द्रोणपुत्रं शिनेर्नप्ता धृष्टकेतुस्तु पौरवम्। अभिमन्युः सहामात्यं दुर्योधनमयोधयत्॥
The grandson of Shini fought with Drona's son, Dhrishtaketu with the descendant of Puru and Yudhamanyu with king. Duryodhana and his ministers. son
विराटस्तु सहानीकः सहसेनं जयद्रथम्। वृद्धक्षत्रस्य दायादमाससाद परंतप॥
Then, O afflicter of foes, Virata supported by his division confronted Jayadratha with his troops, that heir of Vridhakshatra.
मद्रराजं महेष्वासं सहसैन्यं युधिष्ठिरः। भीमसेनोऽभिगुप्तस्तु नागानीकमुपाद्रवत्॥
Yudhishthira encountered the king of Madras supported by his soldiers. Bhimasena also, well protected, assaulted the elephant division of the enemy.
अप्रधृष्यमनावार्यं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम्। द्रौणिं प्रति ययौ यत्तः पाञ्चाल्यः सह सोदरैः॥
The prince of the Panchalas wrought up with rage and supported by his uterine brothers rushed against Drona's invincible, irresistible, and foremost of all wielders of weapons.
कर्णिकारध्वजं चैव सिंहकेतुररिंदमः। प्रत्युज्जगाम सौभद्रं राजपुत्रो बृहद्बलः॥
That subduer of enemies, viz., prince Brihadbala, confronted Subhadra's son who bore the device of a lion on his standard and whose flag resembled a shaking Karnikara flower.
शिखण्डिनं च पुत्रास्ते पाण्डवं च धनंजयम्। राजभिः समरे पार्थमभिपेतुर्जिघांसवः॥
Then your sons accompanied by other monarchs, fell upon Shikhandin and that son of Pandu namely Dhananjaya, desirous of slaying them both.
तस्मिन्नतिमहाभीमे सेनयोर्क पराक्रमे। सम्प्रधावत्स्वनीकेषु मेदिनी समकम्पत।॥
Then when the fighters of the two hosts rushed impetuously against one another in thai terrible combat, the earth shook underneath their tread.
तान्यनीकान्यनीकेषु समसज्जन्त भारत। तावकानां परेषां च दृष्ट्वा शान्तनवं रणे॥
Beholding Shantanu's son in battle, the divisions of your army and those of the enemy clashed against one another, O Bharata.
ततस्तेषां प्रतप्तानामन्योन्यमभिधावताम्। प्रादुरासीन्महाशब्दो दिक्षु सर्वासु भारत।॥
Then when, infuriated, those two hosts rushed against one another, terrible was the din that filled all the different quarters of the earth, OBharata.
शवदुन्दुभिघोषश्च वारणानां च बृहितैः। सिंहनादश्च सैन्यानां दारुणः समपद्यत॥
And the din become still more awful being aggravated by the blare of conchs and the sound of drums and the roars of elephants and the war-cries of the troops.
स च सर्वनरेन्द्राणां चन्द्रार्कसदृशी प्रभा। वीराङ्गदकिरीटेषु निष्प्रभा समपद्यत॥
Then the radiance emitted from the bracelets and diadems of all the royal warriorsradiance resembling the splendour of the sun or the moon-become bedimmed.
रजोमेघास्तु संजजुः शस्त्रविद्युद्भिरावृताः। धनुषां चापि निर्घोषो दारुणः समपद्यत॥
Clouds of dust were raised in which played the lighting consisting of the flashes of weapons. The twang of bows also became tremendous.
बाणशङ्खप्रणादाश्च भेरीणां च महास्वनाः। स्थघोषश्च संजज्ञे सेनयोरुभयोरपि॥
The whizzing of arrows, the blare of conchs, the loud sound of the drums, and the clatter of cars of the warriors of both the hosts were indeed awful.
प्रासख्यृष्टिसबैश्च बाणौघश्च समाकुलम्। निष्प्रकाशमिवाकाशं सेनयोः समपद्यत॥
The sky over the head of the two armies assumed a lowering aspect in consequence of the numerous dares, javelins, lances and arrows shot and hurled by them.
अन्योन्यं रथिन: पेतुर्वाजिनश्च महाहवे। कुञ्जरान् कुञ्जरा जनुः पादातांश्च पदातयः॥
In that dreadful battle car-warriors and horsemen, smote down one another Elephants crushed elephants, and foot-soldiers slew footsoldiers.
तत्रासीत् सुमहद् युद्धं कुरूणां पाण्डवैः सह। भीष्महेतोर्नरव्याघ्र श्येनयोरामिषे यथा।॥
Then, O foremost of men, like the fight between two hawks for a piece of meat, the fight, for the sake of Bhishma, between the Pandavas and the Kurus, become very awful.
तेषां समागमो घोरो बभूव युधि संगतः। अन्योन्यस्य वधार्थाय जीगीषूणां महाहवे॥
Then dreadful was the encounter in that battle between those two armies, each desirous of slaughtering and gaining victory over its rival.