कृतवर्मा मया वीरो निर्यास्यन्नेव वारितः। साल्वं निवारयिष्येऽहं तिष्ठ त्वमिति सूतज
The hero Kritavarma was stopped by me as he was setting out; I will restrain Salva—stand firm, O son of the charioteer.
स च संभावयन्मां वै निवृत्तो हृदिकात्मजः। तं समेत्य रणं त्यक्त्वा किं वक्ष्यामि महारथं
And Hridaya’s son, honoring me, withdrew; having met him, abandoning the battle, what will I say to that great warrior?
उपयान्तं दुराधर्षं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्। पुरुषं पुण्डरीकाक्षं किं वक्ष्यामि महाभुजम्
What will I say to the mighty-armed one, the invincible, lotus-eyed man, bearing conch, discus, and mace, when he approaches?
सात्यकिं बलदेवं च ये चान्येऽन्धकवृष्णयः। मया स्पर्धन्ति सततं किं नु वक्ष्यामि तानहं
What shall I say to Satyaki, Baladeva, and the other Andhaka and Vrishni warriors, who always compete with me?
त्यक्त्वा रणमिमं सौते पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः। त्वयाऽपनीती विवशो न जीवेयं कथंचन
Having abandoned this battle, Saute, and struck from behind by arrows, if I were to be carried away by you, helpless, I could never go on living.
संनिवर्त रथेनाशु पुनर्दारुकनन्दन। न चैतदेवं कर्तव्यमथापत्सु कथंचन
Turn the chariot back swiftly, O son of Daruka; such conduct must never be done in times of peril.
न जीवितमहं सौते बहु मन्ये कथंचन। अपयातो रणाद्भीतः पृष्ठतोऽभ्याहतः शरैः
I do not value life at all, Saute, if I flee the battle in fear, struck from behind by arrows.
कदाऽपि सूतपुत्र त्वं जानीषे मां भयार्दितम्। अपयातं रणं हित्वा यथा कापुरुषं तथा
Never, O son of the charioteer, shall you see me terrified, fleeing the battle and abandoning the field like a coward.
अयुक्तं तु मया त्यक्तुं संग्रामं दारुकात्मज। मयि युद्धार्थिनि भृशं स त्वं याहि यतो रणम्
It is not proper for me to abandon the fight, O son of Daruka, while I am eager for battle; therefore, go where the battle is.
एवमुक्तस्तु कौन्तेय सूतपुत्रस्ततो मृधे। प्रद्युम्नमब्रवीच्छ्लक्ष्णं मधुरं वाक्यमञ्जसा
Thus addressed, the son of the charioteer then spoke gently and sweetly to Pradyumna in the midst of battle.
न मे भयं रौक्मिणेय संग्रामे यच्छतो हयान्। युद्धज्ञोस्मि च वृष्णीनां नात्र किंचिदतोऽन्यथा
I have no fear, O son of Rukmini, while guiding the horses in battle; I am skilled in the art of war among the Vrishnis—there is nothing otherwise in this.
आयुष्मन्नुपदेशस्तु सारथ्ये वर्ततां स्मृतः। सर्वार्थेषु रथी रक्ष्यस्त्वं चापि भृशपीडितः
O long-lived one, it is remembered that the charioteer must always give counsel; in all matters, the warrior must be protected, especially when you are grievously afflicted.
त्वं हि साल्वप्रयुक्तेन शरेणाभिहतो भृशम्। कश्मलाभिहतो वीर ततोऽहमपयातवान्
You, O hero, were struck hard by an arrow shot by Salva, and overwhelmed by faintness; therefore, I withdrew.
सत्वं सात्वतमुख्याद्य लब्धसंज्ञो यदृच्छया। पश्य मे हयसंयाने शिक्षां केशवनन्दन
Now, chief among the Satvatas, having regained your senses by chance, behold my skill in guiding the horses, O son of Kesava.
दारुकेणाहमुत्पन्नो यथावच्चैव शिक्षितः। वीतभीः प्रविशाम्येतां साल्वस्य महतीं चमूम्
I was born of Daruka and properly trained; now, fearless, I shall enter this great army of Salva.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो वीरो हयान्संचोद्य संगरे। रश्मिभिस्तु समुद्यम्य जवेनाभ्यपतत्तदा
Having spoken thus, the hero urged the horses in battle, skillfully handling the reins, and charged forward with speed.
मण्डलानि विचित्राणि यमकानीतराणि च। सव्यानि च विचित्राणि दक्षिणानि च सर्वशः
He performed wondrous circles, intricate turns, leftward and rightward maneuvers of every kind.
प्रतोदेनाहता राजन्रश्मिभिश्च समुद्यताः। उत्पतन्त इवाकाशं विबभुस्ते हयोत्तमाः
Struck with the whip and guided by the reins, the excellent horses seemed to leap into the sky, O king.
ते हस्तलाघवोपेतं विज्ञाय नृप दारुकिम्। उह्यमाना इव तदा नास्पृशंश्चरणैर्महीम्
Recognizing Daruka's dexterity, O king, the horses, as they were driven, seemed not to touch the ground with their hooves.
सोपसव्यां चमूं तस्य साल्वस्य भरतर्षभ। चकार नातियत्नेन तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
He skillfully maneuvered around the left flank of Salva's army, O bull among the Bharatas, accomplishing this with little effort, and it seemed a marvel.
अमृष्यमाणोपसव्यं साल्वः समितिदारुणः। यन्तारमस्य सहसा त्रिभिर्बाणैः समार्दयत्
Unable to endure this leftward maneuver, Salva, fierce in battle, suddenly wounded his charioteer with three arrows.
दारुकस्य सुतस्तं तु बाणवेगमचिन्तयन्। भूय एव महाबाहो प्रययावपसव्यतः
The son of Daruka, disregarding the force of those arrows, once again drove to the left, O mighty-armed one.
ततो बाणान्बहुविधान्पुनरेव स सौभराट्। मुमोच तनये वीर मम रुक्मिणिनन्दने
Then the king of Saubha again released many kinds of arrows at my valiant son, the descendant of Rukmini.
तानप्राप्ताञ्शितैर्ब्राणैश्चिच्छेद परवीरहा। रौक्मिणेयः स्मितं कृत्वा दर्शयन्हस्तलाघवं
The destroyer of enemies, Rukmini's son, smiling and displaying his skill with his hands, cut down those incoming sharp arrows.
छिन्नान्दृष्ट्वा तु तान्बाणान्प्रद्युम्नेन च सौभराट्। आसुरीं दारुणीं मायामास्थाय व्यसृजच्छरान्
Seeing his arrows cut down by Pradyumna, the king of Saubha resorted to a fierce demonic illusion and unleashed arrows.
प्रयुज्यमानमाज्ञाय दैतेयास्त्रं महाबलम्। ब्रह्मास्त्रेणान्तरा च्छित्त्वामुमोचान्यन्पतस्त्रिणः
Recognizing the mighty Daitya weapon being used, he countered it with the Brahma weapon, severed it, and released other arrows in flight.
ते तदस्त्रं विधूयाशु विव्यधू रुधिराशनाः। शिरस्युरसि वक्रे च स मुमोह पपात च
Those bloodthirsty warriors quickly dispelled that weapon, striking him on the head, chest, and side; he became bewildered and fell.
तस्मिन्निपतिते क्षुद्रे साल्वे बाणप्रपीडिते। रौक्मिणेयोऽपरं बाणं संदधे शत्रतापनः
When that petty Salva, afflicted by arrows, fell, Rukmini's son, the tormentor of enemies, prepared another arrow.
तमर्चितं सर्वदाशार्हपूगै- राशीर्भिरर्कज्वलनप्रकाशम्। दृष्ट्वा शरं ज्यामभिनीयमानं बभूव हाहाकृतमन्तरिक्षम्
That arrow, always honored by the Yadava hosts with blessings and shining like the sun and fire, as it was placed on the bowstring, caused cries of alarm in the sky.
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे सेन्द्राः सहधनेश्वराः। नारदं प्रेषयामासु- श्वसनं च मनोजवम्
Then all the hosts of gods, along with Indra and the lords of wealth, sent Narada and the swift-moving Wind.