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.
तौ रौक्मिणेयमागम्य वचोऽब्रूतां दिवौकसाम्। नैव वध्यस्त्वया वीर साल्वराजः कथंचन
Those two approached Rukmini's son and spoke the words of the celestials: 'O hero, the king of Salva must not be slain by you under any circumstance.'
संहरस्व पुनर्बाणमवध्योऽयं त्वया रणे। एतस्य च शरस्याजौ नावध्योस्ति पुमान्क्वचित्
'Withdraw your arrow; he cannot be killed by you in battle. And in this war, no man can be killed by this arrow.'
मृत्युरस्य महाबाहो रणे देवकिनन्दनः। कृष्णः संकल्पितो धात्रा तन्मिथ्या न भवेदिति
'His death, O mighty-armed one, in battle is destined to be at the hands of Krishna, son of Devaki, as ordained by the Creator; this cannot be false.'
ततः परमसंहृष्टः प्रद्युम्नः शरमुत्तमम्। संजहार धनुःश्रेष्ठात्तूणे चैव न्यवेशयत्
Then Pradyumna, exceedingly delighted, withdrew the excellent arrow from his best bow and placed it back in the quiver.
तत उत्थाय राजेन्द्र साल्वः परमदुर्मनाः। व्यपायात्सबलस्तूर्णं प्रद्युम्नशरपीडितः
Then, rising up, O king, Salva, greatly distressed, departed swiftly with his forces, afflicted by Pradyumna's arrows.
स द्वारकां परित्यज्य साल्वो वृष्णिभिरार्दितः। सौभमास्थाय राजेन्द्र दिवमाचक्रमे तदा
Abandoning Dvaraka, Salva, harassed by the Vrishnis, mounted his Saubha and at that time ascended to the heavens, O king.
आनर्तनगरं मुक्तं ततोऽहमगमं तदा। महाक्रतौ राजसूये निवृत्ते नृपते तव
Then I went to the city of Anarta, after your great Rajasuya sacrifice had concluded, O king.
अपश्यं द्वारकां चाहं महाराज हतत्विषम्। निःस्वाध्यायवषट्कारां निर्भूषणवरस्त्रियम्
I saw Dvaraka, O great king, bereft of splendor, without the sounds of recitation or sacrificial exclamations, and its women without ornaments or fine attire.
अनभिज्ञेयरूपाणि द्वारकोपवनानि च। दृष्ट्वा शङ्कोपपन्नोऽहमपृच्छं हृदिकात्मजम्
I saw the gardens of Dvaraka with forms unrecognizable; filled with anxiety, I questioned Hridaya's son.
अस्वस्थनरनारीकमिदं वृष्णिकुलं भृशम्। किमिदं नरशार्दूल श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
This Vrishni clan is full of distressed men and women; O tiger among men, what is this? I wish to hear the truth.