प्रतिगृह्य समाविश्य तद्वनं भरतर्षभ। मेघस्तनितनिर्घोषः सर्वभूतान्यकम्पयत्
Having received permission, O bull among the Bharatas, the cloud entered that forest, its roar like thunder shaking all creatures.
दह्यतस्तस्य च बभौ रूपं दावस्य भारत। मेरोरिव नगेन्द्रस्य कीर्णस्यांशुमतोंशुभिः
As the forest was burning, the form of the fire shone, O Bhārata, like the lord of mountains, Meru, covered with the rays of the sun.
तौ रथाभ्यां रथश्रेष्ठौ दावस्योभयतः स्थितौ। दिक्षु सर्वासु भूतानां चक्राते कदनं महत्
Those two best of charioteers, standing on both sides of the fire in their chariots, wrought great slaughter among the beings in all directions.
यत्र यत्र च दृश्यन्ते प्राणिनः खाण्डवालयाः। पलायन्तः प्रवीरौ तौ तत्रतत्राभ्यधावताम्
Wherever the creatures of Khandava were seen fleeing, those two mighty ones pursued them there and there.
छिद्रं न स्म प्रपश्यन्ति रथयोराशुचारिणोः। आविद्धावेव दृश्येते रथिनौ तौ रथोत्तमौ
No opening could be seen in the path of those two swift-moving chariots; the two excellent charioteers appeared as if joined together.
खाण्डवे दह्यमाने तु भूतान्यथ सहस्रशः। उत्पेतुर्भैरवान्नादान्विनदन्तः समन्ततः
As Khandava was burning, thousands of beings arose, uttering terrifying cries on all sides.
दग्धैकदेशा बहवो निष्टप्ताश्च तथाऽपरे। स्फुटिताक्षा विशीर्णाश्च विप्लुताश्च तथाऽपरे
Many were burned in one place, others were scorched, some had their eyes burst, others were shattered, and still others were scattered.
समालिङ्ग्य सुतानन्ये पितॄन्भ्रातॄनथाऽपरे। त्यक्तुं न शेकुः स्नेहेन तत्रैव निधनं गताः
Some embraced their sons, others their fathers or brothers; out of affection, they could not abandon them and met their end right there.
सन्दष्टदशनाश्चान्ये समुत्पेतुरनेकशः। ततस्तेऽतीव घूर्णन्तः पुनरग्नौ प्रपेदिरे
Others, with clenched teeth, sprang up in countless numbers; then, staggering greatly, they again rushed into the fire.
दग्धपक्षाक्षिचरणा विचेष्टन्तो महीतले। तत्रतत्र स्म दृश्यन्ते विनश्यन्तः शरीरिणः
With wings, eyes, and feet scorched, writhing upon the earth, bodies were seen here and there, perishing.
जलाशयेषु तप्तेषु क्वाथ्यमानेषु वह्निना। गतसत्वाः स्म दृश्यन्ते कूर्ममत्स्याः समन्ततः
In the water reservoirs, heated and boiling by fire, lifeless turtles and fish were seen everywhere.
शरीरैरपरे दीप्तैर्देहवन्त इवाग्नयः। अदृश्यन्त वने तत्र प्राणिनः प्राणिसंक्षये
Others, with bodies blazing, appeared like living fires; creatures were seen in the forest as life was being destroyed.
कांश्चिदुत्पततः पार्थः शरैः संछिद्य खण्डशः। पातयामास विहगान्प्रदीप्ते वसुरेतसि
Arjuna, with arrows, struck down some who were flying, cutting them to pieces, and made the birds fall into the blazing Khāṇḍava.
ते शराचितसर्वाङ्गा निनदन्तो महारवान्। ऊर्ध्वमुत्पत्य वेगेन निपेतुः खाण्डवे पुनः
Those whose bodies were pierced all over with arrows, crying out loudly, sprang upward with speed and again fell into Khāṇḍava.
शरैरभ्याहतानां च सङ्घशः स्म वनौकसाम्। विरावः शुश्रुवे घोरः समुद्रस्येव मथ्यतः
From the groups of forest-dwellers struck by arrows, a terrible roar was heard, like the churning of the ocean.
वह्नेश्चापि प्रदीप्तस्य खमुत्पेतुर्महार्चिषः। जनयामासुरुद्वेगं सुमहान्तं दिवौकसाम्
From the blazing fire, great flames rose up to the sky, causing immense alarm among the dwellers of heaven.
तेनार्चिषा सुसन्तप्ता देवाः सर्षिपुरोगमाः। ततो जग्मुर्महात्मानः सर्व एव दिवौकसः। शतक्रतुं सहस्राक्षं देवेशमसुरार्दनम्
Tormented by that intense blaze, the gods, led by the sages, all the celestial beings of great soul, went to Śatakratu, the thousand-eyed lord of gods and destroyer of asuras.
किं न्विमे मानवाः सर्वे दह्यन्ते चित्रभानुना। कच्चिन्न संक्षयः प्राप्तो लोकानाममरेश्वर
"Why are all these mortals being burned by the brilliant fire? Has destruction come upon the worlds, O lord of immortals?"
तच्छ्रुत्वा वृत्रहा तेभ्यः स्वयमेवान्ववेक्ष्य च। खाण्डवस्य विमोक्षार्थं प्रययौ हरिवाहनः
Hearing this, the slayer of Vṛtra, after considering himself, went forth with the carrier of Hari to release Khāṇḍava.
महता रथबृन्देन नानारूपेण वासवः। आकाशं समवाकीर्य प्रववर्ष सुरेश्वरः
With a great host of chariots of various forms, Vāsava, the lord of gods, filled the sky and began to pour down rain.
ततोऽक्षमात्रा व्यसृजन्धाराः शतसहस्रशः। चोदिता देवराजेन जलदाः खाण्डवं प्रति
Then, clouds, urged by the king of gods, released streams of water by the hundreds of thousands, each the size of an axle, toward Khāṇḍava.
असंप्राप्तास्तु ता धारास्तेजसा जातवेदसः। ख एव समुशुष्यन्त नकाश्चित्पावकं गताः
But those streams did not reach, dried up in the sky by the brilliance of Jātavedas; none reached the fire.
ततो नमुचिहा क्रुद्धो भृशमर्चिष्मतस्तदा। पुनरेव महामेघैरम्भांसि व्यसृजद्बहु
Then Namuci's slayer, enraged by the blazing flames, again released abundant waters with great clouds.
अर्चिर्धाराभिसंबद्धं धूमविद्युत्समाकुलम्। बभूव तद्वनं घोरं स्तनयित्नुसमाकुलम्
That forest became dreadful, filled with streams of flame, smoke, and lightning, and resounded with thunder.
तथा शैलनिपातेन भीषिताः खाण्डवालयाः। दानवा राक्षसा नागास्तरक्ष्वृक्षवनौकसः
Thus, terrified by the falling of mountains, the inhabitants of Khāṇḍava—Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Nāgas, tigers, bears, and forest-dwellers—
द्विपाः प्रभिन्नाः शार्दूलाः सिंहाः केसरिणस्तथा। मृगाश्च महिषाश्चैव शतशः पक्षिणस्तथा
Elephants, broken apart, tigers, lions, and those with manes, as well as deer, buffaloes, and hundreds of birds.
समुद्विग्ना विससृपुस्तथान्या भूतजातयः। तं दावं समुदैक्षन्त कृष्णौ चाभ्युद्यतायुधौ
The other living beings, greatly disturbed, began to flee; they beheld that forest fire, as well as Krishna and Arjuna, both with weapons raised.
उत्पातनादशब्देन त्रासिता इव चाभवन्। ते वनं प्रसमीक्ष्याथ दह्यमानमनेकधा
Frightened as if by the sound of an ominous uproar, they saw the forest burning in many places.
कृष्णमभ्युद्यतास्त्रं च नादं मुमुचुरुल्बणम्। तेन नादेन रौद्रेण नादेन च विभावसोः
Seeing Krishna with his weapon raised, they let out a terrible cry; with that fierce sound, and the roar of the fire,
ररास गगनं कृत्स्नमुत्पातजलदैरिव। ततः कृष्णो महाबाहुः स्वतेजोभास्वरं महत्
the entire sky resounded, as if with clouds of ill omen; then Krishna, mighty-armed, released his great, radiant discus.