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When the gods had withdrawn, a bodiless voice, deep and resonant, addressed Shatakratu: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—
व्यधमच्छरसङ्घातैर्देहिनः खाण्डवालयान्। न च स्म किंचिच्छक्नोति भूतं निश्चरितुं ततः
He struck down the inhabitants of Khandava with showers of arrows; and no being was able to escape from there.
संछिद्यमानमिषुभिरस्यता सव्यसाचिना। नाशक्नुवंश्च भूतानि महान्त्यपि रणेऽर्जुनम्
As Savyasachi loosed his arrows and cut them down, even the mighty beings could not withstand Arjuna in battle.
निरीक्षितुममोघास्त्रं योद्धुं चापि कुतो रणे। शतं चैकेन विव्याध शतेनैकं पतत्रिणाम्
None could gaze upon his unfailing weapons, let alone fight him in battle; with one arrow he struck a hundred, and with a hundred, one.
व्यसवस्तेऽपतन्नग्नौ साक्षात्कालहता इव। न चालभन्त ते शर्म रोधःसु विषमेषु च
Deprived of life, they fell into the fire as if slain in a quarrel; nor did they find safety in thickets or difficult places.
पितृदेवनिवासेषु सन्तापश्चाप्यजायत। भूतसङ्घाश्च बहवो दीनाश्चक्रुर्महास्वनम्
In the abodes of ancestors and gods, distress arose; and many hosts of beings, afflicted, raised a great clamor.
रुरुदुर्वारणाश्चैव तथा मृगतरक्षवः। तेन शब्देन वित्रेसुर्गङ्गोदधिचरा झषाः
The elephants wailed, as did the deer and tigers; by that sound, the fish dwelling in the Ganga and the ocean were terrified.
विद्याधरगणाश्चैव ये च तत्र वनौकसः। न त्वर्जुनं महाबाहो नापि कृष्णं जनार्दनम्
And the hosts of Vidyadharas and those forest-dwellers there—none among them, O mighty-armed one, could look upon Arjuna, nor upon Krishna, Janardana.
निरीक्षितुं वै शक्नोति कश्चिद्योद्धुं कुतः पुनः। एकायनगता येऽपि निष्पेतुस्तत्र केचन
No one was able to gaze upon them, much less fight them in battle; yet some who had gathered in one place emerged there.
राक्षसा दानवा नागा जघ्ने चक्रेण तान्हरिः। ते तु भिन्नशिरोदेहाश्चक्रवेगाद्गतासवः
Rakshasas, Danavas, and Nagas—Hari struck them down with his discus; their heads and bodies severed by the speed of the discus, their lives departed.
पेतुरन्ये महाकायाः प्रदीप्ते वसुरेतसि। समांसरुधिरौधैश्च वसाभिश्चापि तर्पितः
Other great-bodied ones fell into the blazing, fertile earth; and the ground was saturated with flesh, blood, and fat.