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.
चक्रं व्यसृजदत्युग्रं तेषां नाशाय केशवः। तेनार्ता जातयः क्षुद्राः सदानवनिशाचराः
Kesava hurled his exceedingly fierce discus to destroy them; by it, the wretched races—demons and night-stalkers—
निकृत्ताः शतशः सर्वा निपेतुरनलं क्षणात्। तत्रादृश्यन्त ते दैत्याः कृष्णचक्रविदारिताः
were cut down by the hundreds and fell into the fire in an instant; there, the Daityas were seen, torn apart by Krishna's discus,
वसारुधिरसंपृक्ताः सन्ध्यायामिव तोयदाः। पिशाचान्पक्षिणो नागान्पशूंश्चैव सहस्रशः
soaked in fat and blood, like clouds at dusk; ghosts, birds, serpents, and beasts by the thousands
निघ्नंश्चरति वार्ष्णेयः कालवत्तत्र भारत। क्षिप्तं क्षिप्तं पुनश्चक्रं कृष्णस्यामित्रघातिनः
were struck down by the descendant of Vrishni, moving there like Time itself, O Bharata; again and again, Krishna, the destroyer of foes, hurled his discus,
छित्त्वानेकानि सत्वानि पाणिमेति पुनः पुनः। तथा तु निघ्नतस्तस्य पिशाचोरगराक्षसान्
severing countless beings, and it returned to his hand each time; thus, as he struck down the ghosts, serpents, and demons,
बभूव रूपमत्युग्रं सर्वभूतात्मनस्तदा। समेतानां च सर्वेषां दानवानां च सर्वशः
the form of the Soul of all beings became exceedingly terrible at that time.
विजेता नाभवत्कश्चित्कृष्णपाण्डवयोर्मृधे। तयोर्बलात्परित्रातुं तं च दावं यदा सुराः
Of all the assembled Danavas, not one could prevail in battle against Krishna and Arjuna.
नाशक्नुवञ्शमयितुं तदाऽभूवन्पराङ्मुखाः। शतक्रतुस्तु संप्रेक्ष्य विमुखानमरांस्तथा
When the gods could not save by force or quell that fire, they turned away.
बभूव मुदितो राजन्प्रशंसन्केशवार्जुनौ। निवृत्तेष्वथ देवेषु वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
But Shatakratu, seeing the gods turning away, became delighted, O King, and praised Kesava and Arjuna.
शतक्रतुं समाभाष्य महागम्भीरनिःस्वना। न ते सखा सन्निहितस्तक्षको भुजगोत्तमः
When the gods had withdrawn, a bodiless voice, deep and resonant, addressed Shatakratu:
दाहकाले खाण्डवस्य कुरुक्षेत्रं गतो ह्यसौ। न च शक्यौ युधा जेतुं कथंचिदपि वासव
"Your friend, Takshaka, the foremost serpent, is not present at the burning of Khandava; he has gone to Kurukshetra.
वासुदेवार्जुनावेतौ निबोध वचनान्मम। नरनारायणावेतौ पूर्वदेवौ दिवि श्रुतौ
And, O Vasava, Krishna and Arjuna cannot be conquered in battle by any means; know this from my words.
भवानप्यभिजानाति यद्वीर्यौ यत्पराक्रमौ। नैतौ शक्यौ दुराधर्षौ विजेतुमजितौ युधि
These two are Nara and Narayana, the ancient gods renowned in heaven; you yourself know their might and valor.
अपि सर्वेषु लोकेषु पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ। पूजनीयतमावेतावपि सर्वैः सुरासुरैः
They are invincible, unconquerable in battle, even among all beings in all worlds; these two ancient, supreme sages are most worthy of honor by all gods and asuras.
यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वनरकिन्नरपन्नगैः। तस्मादितः सुरैः सार्धं गन्तुमर्हसि वासव
Along with Yakshas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Naras, Kinnaras, and Nagas, you ought to depart from here together with the gods, O Indra.
दिष्टं चाप्यनुपश्यैतत्खाण्डवस्य विनाशनम्। इति वाक्यमुपश्रुत्य तथ्यमित्यमरेश्वरः
And behold, by fate, this destruction of Khandava has been ordained; hearing these words, the lord of immortals recognized them as true.
क्रोधामर्षौ समुत्सृज्य संप्रतस्थे दिवं तदा। तं प्रस्थितं महात्मानं समवेक्ष्य दिवौकसः
Casting aside anger and resentment, he then set out for heaven; seeing that great-souled one departing, the dwellers of heaven—
सहिताः सेनया राजन्ननुजग्मुः पुरन्दरम्। देवराजं तदा यान्तं सह देवैरवेक्ष्य तु
—together with their army, O King, followed Purandara; and as the king of the gods departed with the deities, observing this—
वासुदेवार्जुनौ वीरौ सिंहनादं विनेदतुः। देवराजे गते राजन्प्रहृष्टौ केशवार्जुनौ
Vasudeva and Arjuna, those heroes, roared like lions; with the king of the gods gone, O King, Keshava and Arjuna rejoiced.
निर्विशङ्कं वनं वीरौ दाहयामासतुस्तदा। स मारुत इवाभ्राणि नाशयित्वाऽर्जुनः सुरान्
Then, fearless, the two heroes set fire to the forest; like the wind dispersing clouds, Arjuna destroyed the gods—