तानाशुगैरापततोऽहमाशु निवार्य तूर्णं खगमान्ख एव। द्विधा त्रिता चाच्छिनमाशु मुक्तै- स्ततोऽन्तरिक्षे निनदो बभूव
As those swiftly flying weapons rushed toward me, I quickly repelled them in the sky with arrows; some I cut in two, some in three, with arrows released at speed—then a great noise arose in the heavens.
ततः शतसहस्रेण शराणां नतपर्वणाम्। दारुकं वाजिनश्चैव रथं च समवाकिरत्
Then, with a hundred thousand arrows with curved tips, he covered Dāruka, the horses, and the chariot.
ततो मामब्रवीद्वीर दारुको विह्वलन्निव। स्थातव्यमिति तिष्ठामि साल्वबाणप्रपीडितः। अवस्थातुं न शक्नोमि अङ्गं मे व्यवसीदति
Then, O hero, Dāruka said to me, as if bewildered: 'I must stand firm, but I am struck by Śālva's arrows. I cannot remain steady; my limbs are failing.'
इति तस्य निशम्याहं सारथेः करुणं वचः। अवेक्षमाणो यन्तारमपश्यं शरपीडितम्
Hearing these pitiful words of the charioteer, I looked at him and saw him afflicted by arrows.
न तस्योरसि नो मूर्ध्नि न काये न भुजद्वये। अन्तरं पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ पश्याम्यनिचितं शरैः
O best of the Pāṇḍavas, I could see no space on his chest, head, body, or both arms that was not pierced by arrows.
स तु बाणवरोत्पीडाद्विस्रवत्यसृगुल्बणम्। अभिवृष्टो यथा मेघैर्गिरिर्गैरिकधातुमान्
From the pain of the multitude of arrows, blood streamed from him, as from a mountain rich in red ochre, drenched by rainclouds.
अभीशुहस्तं तं दृष्ट्वा सीदन्तं सारथिं रणे। अस्तम्भयं महाबाहो साल्वबाणप्रपीडितम्
Seeing the charioteer, with whip in hand, collapsing in battle, I supported him, O mighty-armed one, though he was tormented by Śālva's arrows.
अथ मां पुरुषः कश्चिद्द्वारकानिलयोऽब्रवीत्। त्वरितो रथमारोप्य सौहृदादिव भारत
Then, a certain man from Dvārakā, in haste and as if out of friendship, quickly mounted my chariot and addressed me, O Bhārata.
आहुकस्य वचो वीर तस्यैव परिचारकः। विषण्णः सन्नकण्ठेन तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर
O Yudhiṣṭhira, hear what the servant of Āhuka, his voice choked with distress, said to me in battle.
द्वारकाधिपतिर्वीर आह त्वामाहुको वचः। केशवैहि विजानीष्व यत्त्वां पितृसखोऽब्रवीत्
O hero, the lord of Dvārakā, Āhuka, has sent you this message: 'O Keśava, know what your father's friend has said to you.'
उपयात्वा तु साल्वेन द्वारकां वृष्णिनन्दन। विषक्ते त्वयि दुर्धर्ष इतः शूरसुतो बलात्
'O joy of the Vṛṣṇis, while you are engaged here with Śālva, the son of Śūra has forcefully attacked Dvārakā in your absence.'
तदलं साधुयुद्धेन निवर्तस्व जनार्दन। द्वारकामेव रक्षस्व कार्यमेतन्महत्तव
'Enough of this noble battle, O Janārdana; turn back and protect Dvārakā. This is your great duty now.'
इत्यहं तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा परमदुर्मनाः। निश्चयं नाधिगच्छामि कर्तव्यस्येतरस्य च
Hearing these words, I became deeply troubled and could not decide what should or should not be done.
सात्यकिं बलदेवं च प्रद्युम्नं च महांरथम्। जगर्हे मनसा वीर तच्छ्रुत्वा महदप्रियम्
O hero, upon hearing that grievous news, I inwardly blamed Sātyaki, Baladeva, and Pradyumna, the mighty charioteer.
अहं हि द्वारकायाश्च पितुश्च कुरुनन्दन। तेषु रक्षां समाधाय प्रयातः सौभयातने
For I, O joy of the Kurus, having entrusted the protection of Dvaraka and my father to them, departed for the battle with Saubha.
बलदेवो महाबाहुः कच्चिज्जीवति शत्रुहा। सात्यकी रौक्मिणेयश्च चारुदेष्णश्च वीर्यवान्। साम्बप्रभृतयश्चैवेत्यहमासं सुदुर्मनाः
Is Baladeva, the mighty-armed destroyer of enemies, still alive? And Satyaki, Rukmini's son, and the valiant Charudesna, and Samba and the others? Thus I was greatly troubled in mind.
एतेषु हि नरव्याघ्र जीवत्सु न कथंचन। शक्यः शूरसुतो हन्तुमपि वज्रभृता स्वयम्
For, O tiger among men, while these live, it is not possible for the son of Sura to be slain, even by the wielder of the thunderbolt himself.
हतः शूरसुतो व्यक्तं व्यक्तं चैते परासवः। बलदेवमुखाः सर्व इति मे निश्चिता मतिः
The son of Sura has surely been killed, and surely all these, led by Baladeva, have been defeated; such was my firm conviction.
सोहं सर्वविनाशं तं चिन्तयानो मुहुर्मुहुः। अविह्वलो महाराज पुनः साल्वमयोधयम्
Thinking again and again of that total destruction, O great king, I, undisturbed, returned to the city of Saubha.
तदोऽपश्यं महाराज प्रपतन्तमहं तदा। सौभाच्छूरसुतं वीर ततो मां मोह आविशत्
Then, O king, I saw the son of Sura falling from Saubha, and at that moment, confusion seized me.
तस्य रूपं प्रपततः पितुर्मम नराधिप। ययातेः क्षीणपुण्यस्य स्वर्गादिव भहीतलम्
The form of my father, O lord of men, as he fell, appeared like Yayati, whose merit was exhausted, descending from heaven to earth.
विशीर्णमलिनोष्णीपप्रकीर्णाम्बरमूर्धजः। प्रपतन्दृश्यते ह स्म क्षीणपुण्य इव ग्रहः
Disheveled, dirty, with torn garments and scattered hair, he was seen falling, like a planet whose merit is spent.
ततः शार्ङ्गं धनुःश्रेष्ठं करात्प्रपतितं मम। मोहापन्नश्च कौन्तेय रथोपस्थ उपाविशम्
Then, O son of Kunti, my best bow Sharnga slipped from my hand, and overcome by bewilderment, I sat down in the chariot.
ततो हाहाकृतं सर्वं सैन्यं मे गतचेतनम्। मां दृष्ट्वा रथनीडस्थं गतासुमिव भारत
Then all my army, making cries of 'Alas!', lost consciousness, seeing me seated in the chariot as if lifeless, O Bharata.
प्रसार्य बाहू पततः प्रसार्य चरणावपि। रूपं पितुर्मे विबभौ शकुने- पततो यथा
Stretching out his arms and legs as he fell, my father's form shone like a bird falling from the sky.
तं पतन्तं महाबाहो शूलपट्टसपाणयः। अभिघ्नन्तो भृशं वीर मम चोतोह्यकम्पयन्
As he fell, O mighty-armed one, warriors wielding spears and swords struck him fiercely, and they also shook me with their shouts.
ततो मुहूर्तात्प्रतिलभ्य संज्ञा- महं तदा वीर महाविमर्दे। न तत्रसौमं न रिपुं च साल्वं पश्यामि वृद्धं पितरं न चापि
Then, after a moment, regaining consciousness amid that great battle, O hero, I saw neither Saubha, nor the enemy Salva, nor my aged father.
ततो ममासीन्मनसि मायेयमिति निश्चितम्। प्रबुद्धोस्मि ततो भूयः शतशो वाऽकिरं शरान्
Then it was certain in my mind: this is illusion. Awakened, I again showered hundreds of arrows.
ततोऽहं भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रगृह्यरुचिरं धनुः। शरैरपातयं सौभाच्छिरांसि विबुधद्विषाम्
Then, O best of Bharatas, grasping my splendid bow, I struck down the heads of Saubha's enemies with arrows.
शरांश्चाशीविषाकारानूर्ध्वगांस्तिग्मतेजसः। प्रैषयं साल्वराजाय शार्ङ्गमुक्तान्सुवाससः
Arrows shaped like serpents, ascending upward with sharp brilliance, I sent forth from Sharnga, clad in fine cloth, against King Salva.