सरोषमहमत्तो वै कामगादवरुह्य च। प्रद्युम्नं योधयामास साल्वः परपुरंजयः
Full of wrath and pride, descending from his Kamaga, Salva, conqueror of enemy cities, began to fight with Pradyumna.
तयोः सुतुमुलं युद्धं साल्ववृष्णिप्रवीरयोः। समेता ददृशुर्लोका बलिवासवयोरिव
A tumultuous battle took place between the foremost warriors of Salva and the Vrishnis; people saw them as if it were Bali and Indra.
तस्य मायामयो वीर रथो हेमपरिष्कृतः। सपताकः सध्वजश्च सानुकर्षः स तूणवान्
His chariot, made of illusion and adorned with gold, equipped with banners, flags, yoke, and quiver, was indeed wondrous, O hero.
स तं रथवरं श्रीमान्समारुह्य किल प्रभो। मुमोच बाणान्कौख्य प्रद्युम्नाय महाबलः
Mounting that splendid chariot, O lord, Salva, of great strength, released arrows in abundance at Pradyumna.
ततो बाणमयं वर्षं व्यसृजत्तरसा रणे। प्रद्युम्नो भुजवेगेन साल्वं संमोहयन्निव
Then, in battle, he swiftly unleashed a shower of arrows; Pradyumna, with the force of his arms, seemed to bewilder Salva.
स तैरभिहतः सङ्ख्ये नामर्यत सौभराट्। शरान्दीप्ताग्निसंकाशान्मुमोच तनये मम
Struck by those arrows in the contest, the king of Saubha did not retreat, but released arrows blazing like fire at my son.
तमापतन्तं बाणौधं स चिच्छेद महाबलः। ततश्चान्याञ्शरान्दीप्तान्प्रचिक्षेप सुते मम
As that stream of arrows rushed toward him, the mighty one cut it down, and then launched other blazing arrows at my son.
स साल्वबाणै राजेन्द्र विद्धो रुक्मिणिनन्दनः। मुमोच बाणं त्वरितो मर्मभेदिनमाहवे
Pierced by Salva's arrows, O king, the son of Rukmini swiftly released a piercing arrow aimed at the vital spot in battle.
तस्य वर्म विभिद्याशु स बाणो मत्सुतेरितः। विवेश हृदयं पत्री स पपात भृशहतः
The arrow launched by the son of Matsya swiftly pierced his armor and entered his heart; struck down, he fell.
तस्मिन्निपतिते वीरे साल्वराजे विचेतसि। संप्रद्रबन्दानवेन्द्रा दारयन्तो वसुंधराम्
When that valiant king of the Salvas fell unconscious, the leaders of the Danavas rushed forward, tearing up the earth.
हाहाकृतमभूत्सैन्यं साल्वस्य पृथिवीपते। नष्टसंज्ञे निपतिते तदा सौभपतौ नृपे
A cry of distress arose from the army of Salva, O ruler of the earth, when the king of Saubha, deprived of consciousness, fell.
तत उत्थाय राजेन्द्र प्रतिलभ्य च चेतनाम्। मुमोच बाणान्सहसा प्रद्युम्नाय महाबलः
Then, rising and regaining his senses, the mighty king suddenly released arrows at Pradyumna.
तेन बाणेन महता प्रद्युम्नः समरे स्थितः। जत्रुदेशे भृशं विद्धो व्यथितो ददृशे तदा
With that great arrow, Pradyumna, standing in battle, was struck severely in the region of the collarbone and appeared distressed.
तं स विद्ध्वा महाराज साल्वो रुक्मिणिनन्दनम्। ननाद सिंहनादं वै नादेनापूरयन्महीम्
Having wounded Rukmini's son, O king, Salva roared like a lion, filling the earth with his voice.
ततो मोहं समापन्ने तनये मम भारत। मुमोच बाणांस्त्वरितः पुनरन्यान्दुरात्मवान्
Then, as my son fell into confusion, O Bharata, the wicked Salva quickly released other arrows.
स तैरभिहतो बाणैर्बहुभिस्तेन मोहितः। निश्चेष्टः कौरवश्रेष्ठ प्रद्युम्नोऽभूद्रणाजिरे
Struck by many arrows and bewildered by them, Pradyumna, O best of the Kauravas, became motionless on the battlefield.
साल्वबाणार्दिते तस्मिन्प्रद्युम्ने बलिनांवरे। वृष्णयो भग्नसंकल्पा विव्यथुः पृतनामुखे
When Pradyumna, foremost among the strong, was wounded by Salva's arrows, the Vrishnis, their resolve broken, were shaken at the front of the battle.
हाहाकृतमभूत्सर्वं वृष्ण्यन्धकबलं ततः। प्रद्युम्ने मोहिते राजन्साल्वः प्रमुदितोऽभवत्
A cry of distress arose among all the Vrishni and Andhaka forces; as Pradyumna was bewildered, O king, Salva became delighted.
तं तथा मोहितं दृष्ट्वा सारथिर्जवनैर्हयैः। रणादपाहरत्तूर्णं शिक्षितो दारुकिस्तदा
Seeing him thus bewildered, the charioteer Daruka, skilled, quickly drove him away from the battle with swift horses.
नातिदूरापयाते तु रथे रथवरप्रणुत्। धनुर्गृहीत्वा यन्तारं लब्धसज्ञोऽब्रवीदिदम्
When the chariot had not gone far, praised by the best of charioteers, regaining consciousness, he took up his bow and spoke these words to the driver.
सौते किं ते व्यवसितं कस्माद्यासि पराङ्मुखः। नैष वृष्णिप्रवीराणामाहवे धर्म उच्यते
O charioteer, what is your intention? Why do you turn away? This is not the proper conduct for the foremost of the Vrishnis in battle.
कच्चित्सौते न ते मोहः साल्वं दृष्ट्वा महाहवे। विषादो वा रणँ दृष्ट्वा ब्रूहि मे त्वं यथातथम्
Charioteer, are you not confused, seeing Salva in this great battle? Or are you disheartened by the fight? Tell me the truth.
जानार्दने न मे मोहो नापि मां भयमाविशत्। अतिभारं तु ते मन्ये साल्वं केशवनन्दन
O Janardana, I am not confused, nor has fear entered me; but, O son of Kesava, I consider Salva to be a heavy burden.
सोभियाति शनैर्वीर बलवानेष पापकृत्। मोहितश्च रणे शूरो रक्ष्यः सारथिना रथी
This powerful, evil-doing Salva advances slowly, O hero; a warrior bewildered in battle must be protected by his charioteer.
आयुष्मंस्त्वं मया नित्यं रक्षितव्यस्त्वयाऽप्यहम्। रक्षितव्यो रणे नित्यमिति कृत्वाऽपयाम्यहम्
You must always be protected by me, and I by you; thus, I depart, having made this resolve, to protect you in battle.
एकश्चासि महाबाहो बहवश्चापि दानवाः। न समं रौक्मिणेयाहं रणए मत्वाऽपयामि वा
You are alone, O mighty-armed one, while many Danavas are present; considering myself unequal to the son of Rukmini in battle, I depart.
एवं ब्रुवति सूते तु तदा मकरकेतुमान्। उवाच सूतं कौरव्य संनिवर्त्य रथं पुनः
When the charioteer spoke thus, then the one with the banner of the crocodile halted the chariot again and addressed the charioteer, O descendant of Kuru.
दारुकात्मज मैवं त्वं पुनः कार्षीः कथंचन। न्यपयानं रणात्सौते जीवतो मम कर्हिचित्
O son of Daruka, never again must you, in any way, retreat from battle while I am alive, O charioteer.
न स वृष्णिकुले जातो यो वै त्यजति संगरम्। यो वा निपतितं हन्ति तवास्मीति च वादिनम्
He is not born in the Vrishni clan who abandons combat, or who strikes one fallen, or who claims, 'I am yours,' and attacks.
तथा स्त्रियं च यो हन्ति बालं वृद्धं तथैव च। विरथं मुक्तकेशं च भग्नशस्त्रायुधं तथा
Likewise, whoever kills a woman, a child, or an old person, or one without a chariot, with loosened hair, or whose weapons are broken—