ततो नादृश्यत तदा सौभं कुरुकुलोद्वह। अन्तर्हितं माययाऽभूत्ततोऽहं विस्मितोऽभवम्
Then, O uplifter of the Kuru line, Saubha was no longer visible; it vanished by illusion, and I was astonished.
अथ दानवसङ्घास्ते विकृताननमूर्धजाः। उदक्रोशन्महाराज धिष्ठिते मयि भारत
Then, O king, those hosts of Danavas, with distorted faces and hair, cried out loudly while I stood firm, O Bharata.
ततोऽस्त्रं शब्दसाहं वै त्वरमाणो महारणे। अयोजयं तद्वधाय ततः शब्द उपारमत्
Then, hastening in the great battle, I employed the weapon of sound to destroy them, and thus the sound ceased.
हतास्ते दानवाः सर्वे यैः स शब्द उदीरितः। शरैरादित्यसंकशैर्ज्वलितैः शब्दसाधनैः
All those Dānavas who had produced that sound were slain by arrows blazing like the sun, arrows empowered by sound.
तस्मिन्नुपरते शब्दे पुनरेवान्यतोऽभवत्। शब्दोऽपरो महाराज तत्रापि प्राहरं शरैः
When that sound had ceased, another sound arose from elsewhere, O King, and there too I struck with arrows.
एवं दश दिशः सर्वास्तिर्यगूर्ध्वं च भारत। नादयामासुरसुरास्ते चापि निहता मया
Thus, in all ten directions, across and above, O Bhārata, the Asuras and Suras resounded, and they too were slain by me.
ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषं गत्वा पुनरेव व्यदृश्यत। सौभं कामगमं वीर मोहयन्मम चक्षुषी
Then, going to Prāgjyotiṣa, once again I saw the Saubha, moving at will, bewildering my sight, O hero.
ततो लोकान्तकरणो दानवो दारुणाकृतिः। शिलावर्षेण महता सहसा मां समावृणोत्
Then a Dānava, dreadful in form and bringer of destruction to worlds, suddenly covered me with a great shower of stones.
सोहं पर्वतवर्षेण वध्यमानः समन्ततः। वल्मीक इव राजेन्द्र पर्वतोपचितोऽभवम्
Assailed on all sides by a mountain-like downpour, I became, O king, like an anthill heaped up by mountains.
ततोऽहं पर्वतचितः सहयः सहसारथिः। अप्रख्यातिमियां राजन्सध्वजः पर्वतैश्चितः
Then, covered by mountains, with my allies and charioteer, I, with my banner, moved on, O king, unrecognizable, buried in mountains.
ततो वृष्णिप्रवीरा ये ममासन्सैनिकास्तदा। ते भयर्ता दिशः सर्वे सहसा विप्रदुद्रुवुः
Then all the foremost Vṛṣṇis who were my soldiers at that time, seized by fear, suddenly fled in all directions.
ततो हाहाकृतमभूत्सर्वं किल विशांपते। द्यौश्च भूमिश्च खं चैवादृश्यमाने तथा मयि
Then, O lord of men, all was filled with cries of 'Alas!', as neither sky, earth, nor heavens could be seen because of me.
ततो विषण्णमनसो मम राजन्सुहृज्जनाः। रुरुदुश्चुक्रुशुश्चैव दुःखशोकसमन्विताः
Then, O king, my friends, their minds dejected, wept and wailed, overcome with grief and sorrow.
द्विषतां च प्रहर्षोऽभूदार्तिश्च सुहृदामपि। एवं विजितवान्वीर पश्चादश्रौषमच्युत
There was joy among the enemies and distress even among friends; thus, O hero, having conquered, I later heard, O Acyuta.
ततोऽहमिन्द्रदयितं सर्वपाषाणभेदनम्। वज्रमुद्यम्य तान्सर्वान्पर्वतान्समशातयम्
Then, raising the thunderbolt beloved of Indra, which shatters all rocks, I smashed all those mountains.
ततः पर्वतभारार्ता मन्दप्राणविचेष्टिताः। हया मम महाराज वेपमाना इवाभवन्
Then, O great king, my horses, weighed down by the mass of mountains, moved with faint breath, trembling as if in fear.
मेघजाल इवाकाशे विदार्याभ्युदितं रविम्। दृष्ट्वा मां बान्धवाः सर्वे हर्षमाहारयन्पुनः
Just as the sun, rising, pierces through a mass of clouds in the sky, seeing me, all my kinsmen rejoiced again.
ततः पर्वतभारार्तान्मन्दप्राणविचेष्टितान्। हयान्संदृश्य मां सूतः प्राह तात्कालिकं वचः
Then, seeing the horses weighed down by the mass of mountains, moving with faint breath, my charioteer spoke timely words to me.
साधु संपश्य वार्ष्णेय साल्वं सौभपतिं स्थितम्। अलं कृष्णावमन्यैनं साधु यत्नं समाचर
"Well done! Behold, O Vārṣṇeya, Sālva, lord of Saubha, stands there. Do not underestimate him, Kṛṣṇa—exert yourself well!"
मार्दवं सखितां चैव साल्वादद्य व्यपाहर। जहि साल्वं महाबाहो मैनं जीवय केशव
"Cast aside gentleness and friendship towards Sālva today. Slay Sālva, mighty-armed one! Do not let him live, Keśava!"
सर्वैः पराक्रमैर्वीर वध्यः शत्रुरमित्रहन्। न शत्रुरवमन्तव्यो दुर्बलोऽपि बलीयसा। योपिस्यात्पीठगः कश्चित्किं पुनः समरे स्थितः
O hero, with all your might, slay the enemy, destroyer of foes. Never underestimate an enemy, even if weak, when you are strong; for even one who seems insignificant may become formidable, especially when standing in battle.
स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल सर्वयत्नैरिमं प्रभो। जहि वृष्णिकुलश्रेष्ठ मा त्वां कालोऽत्यगात्पुनः
Therefore, O tiger among men, exert every effort, O lord, and kill this one, O best of the Vrishni clan; let not time pass you by again.
जितवाञ्जामदग्न्यं यः कोटिवर्षगणान्बहून्। स एष नान्यैर्वध्यो हि त्वामृते नास्ति कश्चन
He who has conquered Jamadagni's son and countless hosts for many ages—this one cannot be slain by any other; there is no one else but you.
नैष मार्दवसाध्यो वै मतो नापि सखा तव। येन त्वं योधितो वीर द्वारका चावमर्दिता
He cannot be subdued by gentleness, nor is he your friend; O hero, he has fought you and humiliated Dwaraka.
एवमादि तु कौन्तेय श्रुत्वाऽहं सारथेर्वचः। तत्वमेतदिति ज्ञात्वा युद्धे मतिमधारयम्
Having heard such words from the charioteer, O son of Kunti, and knowing their truth, I resolved my mind for battle.
वधाय साल्वराजस्य सौभस्य च निपातने। दारुकं चाब्रुवं वीर मुहूर्तं स्थीयतामिति
For the destruction of the king of Salva and the downfall of Saubha, I told Daruka, 'O hero, halt for a moment.'
ततोऽप्रतिहतं दिव्यमभोद्यमतिवीर्यवत्। आग्नेयमस्त्रं दयितं सर्वसाहं महाप्रभम्। योजयं तत्रधनुषा दानवान्तकरं रणे
Then, with unstoppable force, I prepared the divine, beloved, all-conquering, splendid Agneyastra, fitting it to my bow, the weapon that destroys demons in battle.
यक्षाणां राक्षसानां च दानवानां च संयुगे। राज्ञां च प्रतिलोमानां भस्मान्तकरणं महत्
In battle against Yakshas, Rakshasas, Danavas, and hostile kings, it brings utter destruction, reducing them to ashes.
क्षुरान्तममलं चक्रं कालान्तकयमोपमम्। अनुमन्त्र्याहमतुलं द्विषतां विनिबर्हणम्
I invoked the pure, razor-edged discus, resembling the end of time, unmatched, annihilating enemies.
जहि सौभं स्ववीर्येण ये चात्र रिपवो मम। इत्युक्त्वा भुजवीर्येण तस्मै प्राहिणवं रुषा
Slay Saubha by your own strength, and those who are my enemies here; having said this, I sent it forth with the power of my arms, in anger.