06.066
Core and Pancharatra: In the forenoon, a very terrible battle occurred between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
akarottumulaṁ yuddhaṁ bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavastadā। bhīmasenabhayādicchanputrāṁstārayituṁ tava ॥6-66-1॥
Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, engaged in a fierce battle at that time, driven by the fear of Bhimasena, with the intention to save your sons.
pūrvāhṇe tanmahāraudraṃ rājñāṃ yuddhamavartata। kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca mukhyaśūravināśanam ॥6-66-2॥
In the forenoon, a very terrible battle occurred among the kings, leading to the destruction of the chief heroes of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas.
tasminnākulasaṅgrāme vartamāne mahābhaye। abhavattumulaḥ śabdaḥ saṃspṛśaṅgaganaṃ mahat ॥6-66-3॥
In the midst of that chaotic battle, which was filled with great fear, a loud and tumultuous sound arose, reaching up to the vast sky.
nadadbhiśca mahānāgairheṣamāṇaiśca vājibhiḥ। bherīśaṅkhaninādaiśca tumulaḥ samapadyata ॥6-66-4॥
The atmosphere was filled with a tumultuous uproar as the great elephants trumpeted, the horses neighed, and the drums and conches resounded.
yuyutsavaste vikrāntā vijayāya mahābalāḥ। anyonyamabhigarjanto goṣṭheṣviva maharṣabhāḥ ॥6-66-5॥
The warriors, eager for battle and possessing great strength, roared at each other for victory, resembling great bulls in their enclosures.
śirasāṃ pātyamānānāṃ samare niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ। aśmavṛṣṭirivākāśe babhūva bharatarṣabha ॥6-66-6॥
In the battle, the heads were falling by sharp arrows, resembling a rain of stones in the sky, O best of the Bharatas.
kuṇḍaloṣṇīṣadhārīṇi jātarūpojjvalāni ca। patitāni sma dṛśyante śirāṃsi bharatarṣabha ॥6-66-7॥
O best of the Bharatas, earrings and turbans made of shining gold are seen fallen from the heads.
viśikhonmathitairgātrairbāhubhiśca sakārmukaiḥ। sahastābharaṇaiścānyairabhavacchāditā mahī ॥6-66-8॥
The earth was covered with bodies pierced by arrows, arms, bows, and various weapons and ornaments, creating a scene of devastation.
kavacopahitairgātrairhastaiśca samalaṅkṛtaiḥ। mukhaiśca candrasaṅkāśai raktāntanayanaiḥ śubhaiḥ ॥6-66-9॥
The warriors were adorned with armor on their bodies, their hands were well-decorated, and their faces shone like the moon, with eyes that had red corners, appearing auspicious.
gajavājimanuṣyāṇāṃ sarvagātraiśca bhūpate। āsītsarvā samākīrṇā muhūrtena vasundharā ॥6-66-10॥
In a moment, O king, the earth was entirely covered with the bodies of elephants, horses, and men.
rajomeghaiś ca tumulaiḥ śastravidyutprakāśitaiḥ। āyudhānāṃ ca nirghoṣaḥ stanayitnusamo'bhavat ॥6-66-11॥
The tumultuous clouds of dust, illuminated by the flashes of weapons, echoed with the thunderous sound of arms.
sa samprahārastumulaḥ kaṭukaḥ śoṇitodakaḥ। prāvartata kurūṇāṃ ca pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata ॥6-66-12॥
The fierce and bitter battle, resembling a river of blood, began between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, O Bharata.
tasminmahābhaye ghore tumule lomaharṣaṇe। vavarṣuḥ śaravarṣāṇi kṣatriyā yuddhadurmadāḥ ॥6-66-13॥
In that terrifying and tumultuous situation, the warriors, driven by the frenzy of battle, unleashed a barrage of arrows.
krośanti kuñjarāstatra śaravarṣapratāpitāḥ। tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca saṃyuge bharatottama ॥ aśvāśca paryadhāvanta hatarohā diśo daśa ॥6-66-14॥
The elephants, scorched by a shower of arrows, cried out in distress. O best of the Bharatas, the horses of both your side and the enemies, with their riders slain, ran wildly in all directions.
utpatya nipatantyanye śaraghātaprapīḍitāḥ। tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca yodhānāṃ bharatarṣabha ॥6-66-15॥
O best of the Bharatas, some warriors from both your side and the enemies', rise and fall as they are struck by arrows.
aśvānāṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ ca rathānāṃ cātivartatām। saṅghātāḥ sma pradṛśyante tatra tatra viśāṃ pate ॥6-66-16॥
O lord of men, groups of horses, elephants, and chariots are seen surpassing here and there.
gadābhir asibhiḥ prāsair bāṇaiś ca nataparvabhiḥ। jaghnuḥ parasparaṃ tatra kṣatriyāḥ kālacoditāḥ ॥6-66-17॥
The warriors, driven by the force of time, attacked each other there with maces, swords, spears, and arrows, their joints bent in combat.
apare bāhubhirvīrā niyuddhakuśalā yudhi। bahudhā samasajjanta āyasaiḥ parighairiva ॥6-66-18॥
Other heroes, skilled in wrestling, engaged in battle in various ways, wielding their arms like iron clubs.
muṣṭibhirjānubhiścaiva talaiścaiva viśāṃ pate। anyonyaṃ jaghnire vīrāstāvakāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha ॥6-66-19॥
The warriors, using their fists, knees, and palms, fiercely attacked each other, with your men fighting alongside the Pandavas.
virathā rathinaścātra nistriṁśavaradhāriṇaḥ। anyonyamabhidhāvanta parasparavadhaiṣiṇaḥ ॥6-66-20॥
The charioteers, having lost their chariots, armed with excellent swords, rush towards each other with the intent to kill.
tato duryodhano rājā kaliṅgairbahubhirvṛtaḥ। puraskṛtya raṇe bhīṣmaṃ pāṇḍavānabhyavartata ॥6-66-21॥
Then King Duryodhana, with the support of many Kalingas, advanced towards the Pandavas in battle, with Bhishma leading the charge.
tathaiva pāṇḍavāḥ sarve parivārya vṛkodaram। bhīṣmamabhyadravankruddhā raṇe rabhasavāhanāḥ ॥6-66-22॥
In the same manner, all the Pandavas, encircling Bhima, charged at Bhishma with great fury and speed during the battle.
