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.
एवमुक्तः स तु मया विस्तरेणेदमब्रवीत्। रोधं मोक्षं च साल्वेन हार्दिक्यो राजसत्तम
Thus addressed by me, Hārdikya, the best of kings, described in detail the captivity and release by Śālva.
ततोऽहं भरतश्रेष्ठ श्रुत्वा सर्वमशेषतः। विनाशे साल्वराजस्य तदैवाकरवं मतिम्
Then, O best of the Bharatas, having heard everything completely about the destruction of the king of Śālva, I made up my mind at that very moment.
ततोऽहं भरतश्रेष्ठ समाश्वास्य पुरे जनम् ।। राजानमाहुकं चैव तथैवाकनदुन्दुभिम्
Then, O best of the Bharatas, after consoling the people in the city, as well as King Āhuka and Akrūra, I spoke to them.
सर्वान्वृष्णिप्रवीरांश्च हर्षयन्नब्रुवं तदा। अप्रमादः सदा कार्यो नगरे यादवर्षभाः
At that time, cheering all the foremost of the Vṛṣṇis, I said: 'Constant vigilance must always be maintained in the city, O bulls among the Yādavas.'
साल्वराजविनाशाय प्रयातं मां निबोधत। नाहत्वा तं निवर्तिष्ये पुरीं द्वारवतीं प्रति
Know that I am going forth for the destruction of the king of Śālva; I will not return to Dvārakā without slaying him.
ससाल्वं सौभनगरं हत्वा द्रष्टास्मि वः पुनः। त्रिःसामा हन्यतामेषा दुन्दुभिः शत्रुभीषणा
Having slain Śālva together with the city of Saubha, I shall see you again; let this dreadful war-drum, terrifying to enemies, be sounded three times.
ते मयाऽऽश्वासिता वीरा यथावद्भरतर्षभ। सर्वे मामब्रुवन्हृष्टाः प्रयाहि जहिशात्रवान्
Those heroes, thus reassured by me as was proper, all said to me with joy, 'Go forth, slay the enemies!'
तैः प्रहृष्टात्मभिर्वीरैराशीर्भिरभिनन्दितः। वाचयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठान्प्रणम्य शिरसा भवम्
Honored with blessings by those heroes whose hearts were gladdened, I had the foremost brahmins recite benedictions and bowed my head to you.
शैब्यसुग्रीवयुक्तेन रथेनानादयन्दिशः। प्रध्माय शङ्खप्रवरं पाञ्चजन्यमहं नृप
Then, O king, mounting my chariot yoked with Śaibya and Sugrīva, resounding in all directions, I blew the excellent conch Pāñcajanya.
प्रयातोस्मि नरव्याघ्र बलेन महता वृतः। क्लृप्तेन चतुरङ्गेण यत्तेन जितकाशिना
I set out, O tiger among men, surrounded by a great army, with a well-arranged fourfold force led by the victorious Yadus.