भीष्म-वध पर्व — पहिलो दिनको युद्ध

Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, when their general Shveta was killed by the foe in that battle, what did those great bowmen, the Panchalas and the Pandavas do?

When they heard that their general Shveta had been killed, what took place between those that fought to kill him and those that retreated before them.

O Sanjaya, your words please me for they speck of our victory. My heart does not feel any shame in remembering our transgression.

The old Kuru chief (Bhishma) is ever cheerful and devoted to us. Though he (Duryodhana) provoked hostilities with that intelligent son of his uncle, (Yudhishthira), yet he once sought the protection of the Pandavas. At that time abandoning every thing, he lived in misery.

In consequence of the prowess of the Pandavas and in consequence of placing himself amid entanglement, Duryodhana had recourse (for sometime) to honourable behaviour. Once that wicked-minded prince had to seek their protection, why, therefore. O Sanjaya, had Shveta, who was devoted to Yudhishthira, been killed?

This narrow minded prince (Duryodhana) with all his prosperity has been hurled to the nether regions by a number of wretches. Bhishma did not like this war, nor did the preceptor (Drona).

Nor did Kripa, nor Gandhari, nor did I, O Sanjaya, like it. Nor did the Vrishni chief, Vasudeva (Krishna), nor that son of Pandu, Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira).

Nor did Bhima, nor Arjuna, nor those two foremost of men, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. Though always forbidden by me, by Gandhari, by Vidura, by Rama the son of Jamadagni, and by the illustrious Vyasa, yet, O Sanjaya, the wicked-minded and sinful Duryodhana with Dushasana always followed the evil counsels of Karna and Subala's son (Shakuni), and behaved maliciously with the Pandavas.

O Sanjaya, I think that he has fallen into great distress. After the death of Shveta and the victory of Bhishma, what did Partha, accompanied by Krishna, in anger do? O child, it is Arjuna whom I fear, and my that fear cannot be dispelled.

The son of Kunti, Dhananjaya, is brave, and he possesses great activity. I have no doubt he will, with his arrows, cut into fragments the bodies of his enemies.

Seeing that son of Indra, who is equal in battle to Upendra, the younger brother of Indra, who is a warrior whose wrath and purpose are never futile, what became the state of your mind?

He is brave, he is learned in the Vedas, he is as effulgent as the fire and the sun. He possesses the knowledge of Indra weapon; that high-souled warrior is ever victorious when he falls upon his foe.

His weapons always fall on the foe with the force of the thunder-bolt. His arms astonishingly quick to draw the bowstring. That son of Kunti is a great car-warrior.

O Sanjaya, the invincible son of Drupada also is exceedingly wise. What did Dhrishtadyumna do when Shveta had been killed in battle.

I have no doubt that in consequence of the wrongs they suffered before, and in consequence of the death of their general, the hearts of the Pandavas blazed up.

O Sanjaya, thinking of their anger, I never, by day or by night, enjoy any peace of mind on account of Duryodhana. How did the great battle take place? Tell me all about it.

Sanjaya said O king, hear about your great transgressions. You should not put all blame on Duryodhana.

Your understanding is like building an embankment when the waters have escaped. It is like the digging of a well when the house is on fire.

0 descendant of Bharata, when the forenoon had passed away and the general Shveta had been killed by Bhishma in that great fearful battle.

That chastiser of foes, Shankha, the son of Virata, that hero who always took delight in battle, seeing Shalya stationed with Kritavarman. Blazed up in anger as fire with Ghee. That great car-warrior, having stretched his bow that resembled the bow of Indra himself.

Rushed upon the Madra king with the intention of killing him. He was supported on all sides by innumerable car-warriors.

Pouring a shower of arrows. Shankha rushed towards the car of Shalya. Seeing him advance like a mad elephant, seven great carwarriors on your side surrounded him in order to rescue the Madra king who was almost within the jaws of death.

O king! The names of those chariot holders are-Brihadbala, the king of Kosala, Jayatsena the king of Magadha, Rukinaratha the valorous son of Shalya, Vinda and Anuvinda (the princes of Avanti), Sudakshina, the king of Kamboja and Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu and son of Brihatkshatra.

The excellent bows stretched by these great warriors were of different colour and shapes. Those were appeared as if lightening in the clouds.

These all started shooting volley of arrows targeted the head of Shankha. It seerned that scenario as if the clouds rain on the mountain when they are pushed by the strong wind in the end of summer.

The great archer and army commander Shankha furiated on this. He shot seven bhalla arrows duly sharpened which cut-off the bows of those seven chariot holders. He then challenged them for another attack.

The long armed Bhishma challenged in reciprocation with his voice thundering like clouds, picked up a bow measuring four hands length and attacked on Shankha in the battlefield.

The Pandavas' army shivered like a boat dwindling due to strong wind when it saw mighty archer Bhishma ready to fight fiercely. Seeing that great car-warrior and great bowman thus rush (towards) Shankha, the Pandava army began to tremble like a boat tossed by the tempest.

Then Arjuna quickly advanced and placed himself in front of Shankha in order to protect him from Bhishma. Then a great battle was fought between Bhishma and Arjuna.

O best of the Bharata race, then Shalya jumped down from his large car with his mace in hand, and killed the four horses of Shankha's car.

Shankha leaped down from his car thus deprived of its horses, and taking a sword, he ran towards the car of Vibhatsu. He then got on it and once more was at his ease.

There was shot from Bhishma's innumerable arrows with which both the sky and the earth were covered.

That foremost of heroes, Bhishma killed with his arrows innumerable troops of the Panchalas, the Matasya's, the Kaikeyas and the Prabhadraka hosts.

Abandoning the battle with the son of Pandu viz., Savyasachin (Arjuna), Bhishima rushed towards Drupada, the Panchala king, who stood surrounded by his troops.

As a forest in consumed by fire at the end of winter, so were the troops of Drupada scen to be consumed (by Bhishma). Bhishina stood in that battle like a blazing fire without smoke, or like the sun at mid-day, scorching every thing around. The Pandava troops could not even look at Bhishma.

Afflicted with fear, the Pandava troops looked around, and not finding any protector, they appeared like a herd of kine afflicted with cold.

Afflicted with the arrows of son of Ganga (Bhishma) the army of Yudhishthira appeared like a kine of white colour afflicted by lion.

O descendant of Bharata, being slaughtered in great numbers and crushed when retreating, the Pandava troops cried “Oh” and “Alas”.

Then the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, with his bow always drawn to a circle, poured a continuous shower of arrows that resembled so many poisonous snakes. Creating continuous lines of arrows in all directions, that vowobserving hero killed innumerable car-warriors of the Pandava's.

When the Pandava troops were thus routed and crushed all over the field, the sun set, the night came, and nothing could be seen.

O best of the Bharata race, seeing Bhishma still proudly standing in battle, the sons of Pritha withdrew their forces.