Bhishma Parva

[ज] कथं युयुधिरे वीराः कुरुपाण्डवसॊमकाः पार्थिवाश च महाभागा नानादेशसमागताः

Janamejaya asked: How did the heroic warriors of Kuru, Pandava and Somaka fight, along with the illustrious kings who had gathered from many lands?

[व] यथा युयुधिरे वीराः कुरुपाण्डवसॊमकाः कुरुक्षेत्रे तपःक्षेत्रे शृणु तत पृथिवीपते

Vaishampayana said: Listen, O lord of the earth, to how the heroic warriors of Kuru, Pandava and Somaka fought at Kurukshetra, that field of holy austerity.

अवतीर्य कुरुक्षेत्रं पाण्डवाः सह सॊमकाः कौरवान अभ्यवर्तन्त जिगीषन्तॊ महाबलाः

Descending into Kurukshetra along with the Somakas, the mighty Pandavas advanced against the Kauravas, eager for victory.

वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नाः सर्वे युद्धाभिनन्दिनः आशंसन्तॊ जयं युद्धे वधं वाभिमुखा रणे

All of them, learned in the Vedas yet delighting in battle, hoped either for victory in war or for a glorious death while facing the enemy.

अभियाय च दुर्धर्षां धार्तराष्ट्रस्य वाहिनीम पराङ्मुखाः पश्चिमे भागे नयविशन्त स सैनिकाः

Advancing against the formidable army of Dhritarashtra's son, the soldiers with their faces turned westward made their encampment.

समन्तपञ्चकाद बाह्यं शिबिराणि सहस्रशः कारयाम आस विधिवत कुन्तीपुत्रॊ युधिष्ठिरः

Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, had thousands of camps duly set up outside the sacred boundary of Samantapanchaka.

शून्येव पृथिवी सर्वा बालवृद्धावशेषिता निरश्व पुरुषा चासीद रथकुञ्जरवर्जिता

The whole earth seemed empty, with only the very young and the very old left behind, bereft of horses, men, chariots and elephants.

यावत तपति सूर्यॊ हि जम्बूद्वीपस्य मण्डलम तावद एव समावृत्तं बलं पार्थिव सत्तम

O best of kings, as far as the sun shines over the disc of Jambudvipa, that vast army had assembled from that entire expanse.

एकस्थाः सर्ववर्णास ते मण्डलं बहुयॊजनम पर्याक्रामन्त देशांश च नदीः शैलान वनानि च

People of every class stood together and roamed over that vast region spanning many yojanas, through lands, rivers, mountains and forests.

तेषां युधिष्ठिरॊ राजा सर्वेषां पुरुषर्षभ आदिदेश स वाहानां भक्ष्यभॊज्यम अनुत्तमम

O bull among men, King Yudhishthira ordered excellent food and provisions to be arranged for all their mounts.

संज्ञाश च विविधास तास तास तेषां चक्रे युधिष्ठिरः एवं वादी वेदितव्यः पाण्डवेयॊ ऽयम इत्य उत

Yudhishthira also devised various signals and passwords for them, so that one speaking thus would be recognized as belonging to the Pandavas.

अभिज्ञानानि सर्वेषां संज्ञाश चाभरणानि च यॊजयाम आस कौरव्यॊ युद्धकाल उपस्थिते

When the time for battle arrived, the Kaurava prince fixed identifying marks, signals and ornaments for all his troops as well.

दृष्ट्वा धवजाग्रं पार्थानां धार्तराष्ट्रॊ महामनाः सह सर्वैर महीपालैः परत्यव्यूहत पाण्डवान

Seeing the tip of the Pandavas' banners, the great-minded son of Dhritarashtra arrayed his army against the Pandavas along with all the kings.

पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण धरियमाणेन मूर्धनि मध्ये नागसहस्रस्य भरातृभिः परिवारितम

He stood surrounded by his brothers in the midst of a thousand elephants, a white parasol held over his head.

दृष्ट्वा दुर्यॊधनं हृष्टाः सर्वे पाण्डवसैनिकाः दध्मुः सर्वे महाशङ्खान भेरीर जघ्नुः सहस्रशः

Seeing Duryodhana, all the Pandava soldiers rejoiced, blowing great conch shells and beating thousands of war drums.

ततः परहृष्टां सवां सेनाम अभिवीक्ष्याथ पाण्डवाः बभूवुर हृष्टमनसॊ वासुदेवश च वीर्यवान

Then, seeing their own army full of joy, the Pandavas and the mighty Vasudeva became glad at heart.

ततॊ यॊधान हर्षयन्तौ वासुदेवधनंजयौ दध्मतुः पुरुषव्याघ्रौ दिव्यौ शङ्खौ रथे सथितौ

Standing on their chariot, Krishna and Arjuna, those two tigers among men, blew their divine conches to gladden the warriors.

पाञ्चजन्यस्य निर्घॊषं देवदत्तस्य चॊभयॊः शरुत्वा स वाहना यॊधाः शकृन मूत्रं परसुस्रुवुः

Hearing the roar of the Panchajanya and Devadatta conches, the soldiers of Dhritarashtra's army, along with their mounts, discharged urine and excrement in fear.

यथा सिंहस्य नदतः सवनं शरुत्वेतरे मृगाः तरसेयुस तद्वद एवासीद धार्तराष्ट्र बलं तदा

Just as other beasts tremble on hearing the roar of a lion, so did the army of Dhritarashtra's son tremble at that sound.

उदतिष्ठद रजॊ भौमं न पराज्ञायत किं चन अन्तर धीयत चादित्यः सैन्येन रजसावृतः

Dust rose up from the earth so thick that nothing could be discerned, and the sun itself seemed to vanish, covered by the dust raised by the army.

ववर्ष चात्र पर्जन्यॊ मांसशॊणितवृष्टिमान वयुक्षन सर्वाण्य अनीकानि तद अद्भुतम इवाभवत

Then a strange cloud rained down flesh and blood, drenching all the ranks, and it seemed an utterly wondrous sight.

वायुस ततः परादुरभून नीचैः शर्कर कर्षणः विनिघ्नंस तान्य अनीकानि विधमंश चैव तद रजः

Then arose a wind blowing low, dragging along gravel, striking the ranks and dispersing that dust.

उभे सेने तदा राजन युद्धाय मुदिते भृशम कुरुक्षेत्रे सथिते यत्ते सागरक्षुभितॊपमे

O king, both armies stood on Kurukshetra, greatly delighted for battle, resembling two agitated oceans.

तयॊस तु सेनयॊर आसीद अद्भुतः स समागमः युगान्ते समनुप्राप्ते दवयॊः सागरयॊर इव

The meeting of those two armies was wondrous, like the meeting of two oceans at the end of an age.

शून्यासीत पृथिवी सर्वा बालवृद्धावशेषिता तेन सेना समूहेन समानीतेन कौरवैः

The whole earth seemed empty, with only the very young and old remaining, because of the vast host that the Kauravas had gathered.

ततस ते समयं चक्रुः कुरुपाण्डवसॊमकाः धर्मांश च सथापयाम आसुर युद्धानां भरतर्षभ

Then, O bull of the Bharatas, the Kurus, Pandavas and Somakas made an agreement and established rules of conduct for the war.

निवृत्ते चैव नॊ युद्धे परीतिश च सयात परस्परम यथा पुरं यथायॊगं न च सयाच छलनं पुनः

They agreed that once the war was over there should be friendship between them again, as before and as fitting, and that there should be no further treachery.

वाचा युद्धे परवृत्ते नॊ वाचैव परतियॊधनम निष्क्रान्तः पृतना मध्यान न हन्तव्यः कथं चन

While there was verbal dispute they would fight only with words in return, and one who had left the ranks of the army should never be struck.

रथी च रथिना यॊध्यॊ गजेन गजधूर गतः अश्वेनाश्वी पदातिश च पदातेनैव भारत

O Bharata, a charioteer should fight only a charioteer, an elephant-rider one on an elephant, a horseman a horseman, and a foot-soldier only a foot-soldier.

यथायॊगं यथा वीर्यं यथॊत्साहं यथा वयः समाभाष्य परहर्तव्यं न विश्वस्ते न विह्वले

One should speak first and only then strike, in accordance with rank, strength, courage and age, never against one who is unsuspecting or bewildered.

परेण सह संयुक्तः परमत्तॊ विमुखस तथा कषीणशस्त्रॊ विवर्मा च न हन्तव्यः कथं चन

One already engaged with another foe, or negligent, or with his back turned, or whose weapons are spent, or who is without armor, should never be struck under any circumstance.

न सूतेषु न धुर्येषु न च शस्त्रॊपनायिषु न भेरीशङ्खवादेषु परहर्तव्यं कथं चन

None should ever be struck while dealing with charioteers, draft animals, or those carrying weapons, nor during the sounding of drums and conches.

एवं ते समयं कृत्वा कुरुपाण्डवसॊमकाः विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः परेक्षमाणाः परस्परम

Having made this agreement, the Kurus, Pandavas and Somakas were filled with great wonder as they gazed upon one another.

निविश्य च महात्मानस ततस ते पुरुषर्षभाः हृष्टरूपाः सुमनसॊ बभूवुः सह सैनिकाः

Then those great-souled bulls among men, having settled into their camps along with their soldiers, became joyful and cheerful of mind.

[व] ततः पूर्वापरे संध्ये समीक्ष्य भगवान ऋषिः सर्ववेद विदां शरेष्ठॊ वयासः सत्यवती सुतः

Vaishampayana said: Then at the meeting of morning and evening twilight, the blessed sage Vyasa, son of Satyavati and foremost among the knowers of all the Vedas, reflected on what was to come.

भविष्यति रणे घॊरे भरतानां पितामह परत्यक्षदर्शी भगवान भूतभव्य भविष्यवित

He, the blessed one who witnesses past, present and future directly, foresaw that a terrible destruction of the Bharatas' grandsire's line would occur in that dreadful battle.

वैचित्रवीर्यं राजानं स रहस्यं बरवीद इदम शॊचन्तम आर्तं धयायन्तं पुत्राणाम अनयं तदा

He then spoke this secret matter to King Dhritarashtra, son of Vichitravirya, who was grieving and lost in anxious thought over the doom of his sons.

[वय] राजन परीतकालास ते पुत्राश चान्ये च भूमिपाः ते हनिष्यन्ति संग्रामे समासाद्येतरेतरम

Vyasa said: O king, your sons and the other kings, their time now come to an end, will slay one another when they meet in battle.

तेषु कालपरीतेषु विनश्यत्सु च भारत कालपर्यायम आज्ञाय मा सम शॊके मनः कृथाः

O Bharata, when they perish, overtaken by time, understand it as the working of destiny's course and do not let your mind sink into grief.

यदि तव इच्छसि संग्रामे दरष्टुम एनं विशां पते चक्षुर ददानि ते हन्त युद्धम एतन निशामय

O lord of your people, if you wish to witness this battle with your own eyes, I shall grant you sight; come, behold this war.

[धृ] न रॊचये जञातिवधं दरष्टुं बरह्मर्षिसत्तम युद्धम एतत तव अशेषेण शृणुयां तव तेजसा

Dhritarashtra said: O best of Brahmarshis, I do not wish to witness the slaughter of my own kinsmen, yet through your power let me hear of this war in full.

[व] तस्मिन्न अनिच्छति दरष्टुं संग्रामं शरॊतुम इच्छति वराणाम ईश्वरॊ दाता संजयाय वरं ददौ

Since he did not wish to see but wished to hear of the battle, Vyasa, lord and giver of boons, granted a boon to Sanjaya instead.

एष ते संजयॊ राजन युद्धम एतद वदिष्यति एतस्य सर्वं संग्रामे न परॊक्षं भविष्यति

O king, this Sanjaya will describe this war to you; nothing in the battle will remain hidden from him.

चक्षुषा संजयॊ राजन दिव्येनैष समन्वितः कथयिष्यति ते युद्धं सर्वज्ञश च भविष्यति

O king, endowed with divine sight, Sanjaya will narrate the war to you and will know everything about it.

परकाशं वा रहस्यं वा रात्रौ वा यदि वा दिवा मनसा चिन्तितम अपि सर्वं वेत्स्यति संजयः

Whether open or secret, by night or by day, even things merely thought in the mind, Sanjaya will know all of it.

नैनं शस्त्राणि भेत्स्यन्ति नैनं बाधिष्यते शरमः गावल्गणिर अयं जीवन युद्धाद अस्माद विमॊक्ष्यते

Weapons will not wound him, nor will fatigue trouble him; this son of Gavalgana will emerge alive from this war.

अहं च कीर्तिम एतेषां कुरूणां भरतर्षभ पाण्डवानां च सर्वेषां परथयिष्यामि मां शुचः

O bull of the Bharatas, I myself shall spread the fame of these Kurus and of all the Pandavas; grieve not over this.

दिष्टम एतत पुरा चैव नात्र शॊचितुम अर्हसि न चैव शक्यं संयन्तुं यतॊ धर्मस ततॊ जयः

This has already been ordained long ago, so you should not grieve over it; it cannot be prevented, for wherever righteousness is, there victory lies.

[व] एवम उक्त्वा स भगवान कुरूणां परपितामहः पुनर एव महाबाहुं धृतराष्ट्रम उवाच ह

Vaishampayana said: Having spoken thus, the blessed great-grandsire of the Kurus again addressed the mighty-armed Dhritarashtra.

इह युद्धे महाराज भविष्यति महान कषयः यथेमानि निमित्तानि भयायाद्यॊपलक्षये

O great king, there will be great destruction in this war, as I perceive from these ominous signs pointing to terrible fear.

शयेना गृध्राश च काकाश च कङ्काश च सहिता बलैः संपतन्ति वनान्तेषु समवायांश च कुर्वते

Hawks, vultures, crows and cranes are swooping down upon the forest edges in flocks and gathering together.

अत्युग्रं च परपश्यन्ति युद्धम आनन्दिनॊ दविजाः करव्यादा भक्षयिष्यन्ति मांसानि गजवाजिनाम

Carrion-eating birds, delighting in the prospect, foresee an exceedingly fierce war and will feed on the flesh of elephants and horses.

खटा खटेति वाशन्तॊ भैरवं भयवेदिनः कह्वाः परयान्ति मध्येन दक्षिणाम अभितॊ दिशम

Uttering the dreadful and fearsome cry 'khata khata', flocks of kahva birds are flying in the middle, heading toward the southern direction.

उभे पूर्वापरे संध्ये नित्यं पश्यामि भारत उदयास्तमने सूर्यं कबन्धैः परिवारितम

O Bharata, at both dawn and dusk twilight I constantly see the sun, at its rising and setting, surrounded by headless trunks.

शवेतलॊहित पर्यन्ताः कृष्ण गरीवाः स विद्युतः तरिवर्णाः परिघाः संधौ भानुम आवारयन्त्य उत

White and red at the edges, black in the middle, and shot through with lightning, three-colored halos are seen encircling the sun at the junctures of day.

जवलितार्केन्दु नक्षत्रं निर्विशेष दिनक्षपम अहॊरात्रं मया दृष्टं तत कषयाय भविष्यति

Day and night I have seen the blazing sun, moon and stars appear indistinguishable, day merging into night; this portends destruction.

अलक्ष्यः परभया हीनः पौर्णमासीं च कार्त्तिकीम चन्द्रॊ ऽभूद अग्निवर्णश च समवर्णे नभस्तले

On the full-moon day of Kartika, the moon appeared invisible and without its radiance, glowing fire-colored against a sky of the same hue.

सवप्स्यन्ति निहता वीरा भूमिम आवृत्य पार्थिवाः राजानॊ राजपुत्राश च शूराः परिघबाहवः

Slain heroic kings and princes, mighty warriors with arms like iron bars, will lie sleeping, covering the earth.

अन्तरिक्षे वराहस्य वृषदंशस्य चॊभयॊः परणादं युध्यतॊ रात्रौ रौद्रं नित्यं परलक्षये

I constantly perceive in the sky at night the terrible roar of a boar and a mongoose fighting each other.

देवता परतिमाश चापि कम्पन्ति च हसन्ति च वमन्ति रुधिरं चास्यैः सविद्यन्ति परपतन्ति च

The images of the gods tremble and even seem to laugh, vomit blood from their mouths, sweat, and some fall down.

अनाहता दुन्दुभयः परणदन्ति विशां पते अयुक्ताश च परवर्तन्ते कषत्रियाणां महारथाः

O lord of the people, war-drums resound of themselves without being struck, and the great chariots of the kshatriyas move even without being yoked.

कॊकिलाः शतपत्राश च चाषा भासाः शुकास तथा सारसाश च मयूराश च वाचॊ मुञ्चन्ति दारुणाः

Cuckoos, peacocks with many feathers, blue jays, hawks, parrots, cranes and peafowl are uttering dreadful, harsh cries.

गृहीतशस्त्राभरणा वर्मिणॊ वाजिपृष्ठगाः अरुणॊदयेषु दृश्यन्ते शतशः शलभ वरजाः

At sunrise, swarms of locusts are seen by the hundreds, appearing as though bearing weapons and ornaments, armored and riding upon horseback.

उभे संध्ये परकाशेते दिशां दाहसमन्विते आसीद रुधिरवर्षं च अस्थि वर्षं च भारत

O Bharata, at both twilights the horizons glow as if aflame in every direction, and there have been showers of blood and showers of bone.

या चैषा विश्रुता राजंस तरैलॊक्ये साधु संमता अरुन्धती तयाप्य एष वसिष्ठः पृष्ठतः कृतः

O king, that star known throughout the three worlds and rightly honored, Arundhati, has now positioned herself behind Vasishtha even in his own presence.

रॊहिणीं पीडयन्न एष सथितॊ राजञ शनैश्चरः वयावृत्तं लक्ष्म सॊमस्य भविष्यति महद भयम

O king, Saturn stands afflicting Rohini's star, and the mark on the moon has become reversed; this portends a great calamity.

अनभ्रे च महाघॊरं सतनितं शरूयते ऽनिशम वाहनानां च रुदतां परपतन्त्य अश्रुबिन्दवः

Terrible thunder is heard incessantly even though there are no clouds, and drops resembling tears fall from the eyes of weeping animals.

[वय] खरा गॊषु परजायन्ते रमन्ते मातृभिः सुताः अनार्तवं पुष्पफलं दर्शयन्ति वने दरुमाः

Vyasa said: Donkeys are being born of cows, and children play affectionately with their mothers; forest trees display flowers and fruit out of season.

गर्भिण्यॊ राजपुत्र्यश च जनयन्ति विभीषणान करव्यादान पक्षिणश चैव गॊमायून अपरान मृगान

Pregnant royal princesses are giving birth to dreadful creatures, carnivorous birds, jackals and other beasts.

तरिविषाणाश चतुर्नेत्राः पञ्च पादा दविमेहनाः दविशीर्षाश च दविपुच्छाश च दंष्ट्रिणः पशवॊ ऽशिवाः

Inauspicious creatures are being born with three horns, four eyes, five feet, two urinary organs, two heads, two tails, and fangs.

जायन्ते विवृतास्याश च वयाहरन्तॊ ऽशिवा गिरः तरिपदाः शिखिनस तार्क्ष्याश चतुर्दंष्ट्रा विषाणिनः

They are born with gaping mouths, uttering harsh, inauspicious sounds, some three-footed, crested, with the gait of Garuda, four-fanged and horned.

तथैवान्याश च दृश्यन्ते सत्रियश च बरह्मवादिनाम वैनतेयान मयूरांश च जनयन्त्यः पुरे तव

Similarly, wives of learned Brahmins are also seen giving birth to strange creatures, and in your city they are giving birth even to young Garudas and peacocks.

गॊवत्सं वडवा सूते शवा सृगालं महीपते करकराञ शारिकाश चैव शुकांश चाशुभ वादिनः

O lord of the earth, mares are giving birth to calves, bitches to jackal cubs, and hawks are producing screeching, ill-omened birds and mynahs that speak inauspicious words.

सत्रियः काश चित परजायन्ते चतस्रः पञ्च कन्यकाः ता जातमात्रा नृत्यन्ति गायन्ति च हसन्ति च

Certain women are giving birth to four or five girls at once, and these infants, as soon as born, are dancing, singing and laughing.

पृथग्जनस्य कुडकाः सतनपाः सतेन वेश्मनि नृत्यन्ति परिगायन्ति वेदयन्तॊ महद भयम

In the houses of ordinary folk, even the suckling infants dance and sing together, foretelling a great terror.

परतिमाश चालिखन्त्य अन्ये स शस्त्राः कालचॊदिताः अन्यॊन्यम अभिधावन्ति शिशवॊ दण्डपाणयः उपरुन्धन्ति कृत्वा च नगराणि युयुत्सवः

Statues wield weapons and appear driven by destiny, children charge at one another armed with sticks, and warlike bands are besieging the cities.

पद्मॊत्पलानि वृक्षेषु जायन्ते कुमुदानि च विष्वग वाताश च वान्त्य उग्रा रजॊ न वयुपशाम्यति

Lotuses and lilies are blooming on trees, and fierce winds blow from all directions, while dust never settles.

अभीक्ष्णं कम्पते भूमिर अर्कं राहुस तथाग्रसत शवेतॊ गरहस तथा चित्रां समतिक्रम्य तिष्ठति

The earth trembles again and again, Rahu seizes the sun in eclipse, and a white planet stands transgressing the star Chitra.

अभावं हि विशेषेण कुरूणां परतिपश्यति धूमकेतुर महाघॊरः पुष्यम आक्रम्य तिष्ठति

A terrible comet stands lodged in the Pushya constellation, clearly foretelling the impending destruction of the Kurus.

सेनयॊर अशिवं घॊरं करिष्यति महाग्रहः मघास्व अङ्गारकॊ वक्रः शरवणे च बृहस्पतिः

That great inauspicious planet will bring ill fortune to both armies, with the crooked Mars in the Magha constellation and Jupiter in Shravana.

भाग्यं नक्षत्रम आक्रम्य सूर्यपुत्रेण पीड्यते शुक्रः परॊष्ठपदे पूर्वे समारुह्य विशां पते उत्तरे तु परिक्रम्य सहितः परत्युदीक्षते

Saturn, son of the Sun, afflicts the Bhaga nakshatra by encroaching on it, while Venus, having risen in Purva Bhadrapada, O lord of the people, moves on toward Uttara Bhadrapada and turns to look back.

शयामॊ गरहः परज्वलितः स धूमः सह पावकः ऐन्द्रं तेजस्वि नक्षत्रं जयेष्ठाम आक्रम्य तिष्ठति

A grey, blazing planet, wreathed in smoke and fire, stands lodged in Jyeshtha, the radiant nakshatra of Indra.

धरुवः परज्वलितॊ घॊरम अपसव्यं परवर्तते चित्रा सवात्य अन्तरे चैव धिष्ठितः परुषॊ गरहः

Dhruva blazes fiercely and moves in an inauspicious, reversed course, while a fierce planet remains lodged between Chitra and Svati.

वक्रानुवक्रं कृत्वा च शरवणे पावकप्रभः बरह्मराशिं समावृत्य लॊहिताङ्गॊ वयवस्थितः

Moving in a zigzag, forward-and-backward course, fire-coloured, in the Shravana nakshatra, the red-limbed planet stands encircling the region of Brahma.

सर्वसस्य परतिच्छन्ना पृथिवी फलमालिनी पञ्चशीर्षा यवाश चैव शतशीर्षाश च शालयः

The earth appears covered entirely with crops and garlanded with fruit, yielding barley with five heads and rice with a hundred heads — an unnatural, portentous abundance.

परधानाः सर्वलॊकस्य यास्व आयत्तम इदं जगत ता गावः परस्नुता वत्सैः शॊणितं परक्षरन्त्य उत

The cows, on whom this whole world depends and who are foremost among all beings, instead of yielding milk to their calves, are shedding blood.

निश्चेरुर अपिधानेभ्यः खड्गाः परज्वलिता भृशम वयक्तं पश्यन्ति शस्त्राणि संग्रामं समुपस्थितम

Swords leapt out of their sheaths on their own, blazing fiercely — clearly the weapons foresee that battle is at hand.

अग्निवर्णा यथा भासः शस्त्राणाम उदकस्य च कवचानां धवजानां च भविष्यति महान कषयः

Weapons and even water are taking on the colour of fire — this portends the great destruction of armour and battle-standards that is to come.

दिक्षु परज्वलितास्याश च वयाहरन्ति मृगद्विजाः अत्याहितं दर्शयन्तॊ वेदयन्ति महद भयम

In every direction beasts and birds with mouths as if aflame cry out, showing calamity and proclaiming great terror.

एकपक्षाक्षि चरणः शकुनिः खचरॊ निशि रौद्रं वदति संरब्धः शॊणितं छर्दयन मुहुः

A bird with one wing, one eye, and one leg flies by night, crying harshly and agitatedly, again and again vomiting blood.

गरहौ ताम्रारुण शिखौ परज्वलन्ताव इव सथितौ सप्तर्षीणाम उदाराणां समवच्छाद्य वै परभाम

Two copper-red-crested planets stand as if ablaze, veiling the brilliance of the noble Seven Sages of the Great Bear.

संवत्सरस्थायिनौ च गरहौ परज्वलिताव उभौ विशाखयॊः समीपस्थौ बृहस्पतिशनैश्चरौ

Jupiter and Saturn, two blazing planets remaining stationed for a whole year near Vishakha, stand together.

कृत्तिकासु गरहस तीव्रॊ नक्षत्रे परथमे जवलन वपूंष्य अपहरन भासा धूमकेतुर इव सथितः

A fierce planet blazes in Krittika, the first nakshatra, its glow seeming to steal away the very forms of things, standing like a comet.

तरिषु पूर्वेषु सर्वेषु नक्षत्रेषु विशां पते बुधः संपतते ऽभीक्ष्णं जनयन सुमहद भयम

In all three of the preceding nakshatras, Mercury moves repeatedly and irregularly, O lord of the people, generating very great fear.

चतुर्दशीं पञ्चदशीं भूतपूर्वां च षॊडशीम इमां तु नाभिजानामि अमावास्यां तरयॊदशीम

I do not recall ever before an amavasya falling on the thirteenth day, unlike the usual fourteenth, fifteenth, or the earlier-known sixteenth.

चन्द्रसूर्याव उभौ गरस्ताव एकमासे तरयॊदशीम अपर्वणि गरहाव एतौ परजाः संक्षपयिष्यतः

Both the moon and the sun were eclipsed within the same month, on the thirteenth day, out of due season — these two eclipses will bring destruction upon the people.

रजॊ वृता दिशः सर्वाः पांसुवर्षैः समन्ततः उत्पातमेघा रौद्राश च रात्रौ वर्षन्ति शॊणितम

All directions are enveloped by storms of dust on every side, and terrible, ominous clouds rain blood at night.

मांसवर्षं पुनस तीव्रम आसीत कृष्ण चतुर्दशीम अर्धरात्रे महाघॊरम अतृप्यंस तत्र राक्षसाः

On the dark thirteenth night, at midnight, there was again a terrible, fierce rain of flesh, and the rakshasas there were sated with it.

परतिस्रॊतॊ ऽवहन नद्यः सरितः शॊणितॊदकाः फेनायमानाः कूपाश च नर्दन्ति वृषभा इव पतन्त्य उल्काः स निर्घाताः शुष्काशनि विमिश्रिताः

Rivers flowed backward, their waters turned to blood and foaming; wells roared like bulls; and meteors fell along with thunderbolts mixed with dry lightning.

अद्य चैव निशां वयुष्टाम उदये भानुर आहतः जवलन्तीभिर महॊल्काभिश चतुर्भिः सर्वतॊदिशम

This very day, as night ended at sunrise, the sun was struck by four great blazing meteors from every direction.