यन्मां प्रार्थयसे हन्तुमनागसमिहागतम्। तस्मात्त्वां पूर्वमेवाहं नेष्यामि यमसादनम्
Since you seek to kill me, though I have come here without fault, I shall send you to the abode of Yama before you can harm me.
दृष्ट्वा तं प्रहरिष्यन्तं फल्गुनं दृढधन्विनम्। किरातरूपी सहसा वारयामास शंकरः
Seeing Phalguna, the steadfast archer, about to strike, Shankara, in the form of a Kirata, suddenly intervened.
मयैष प्रार्थितः पूर्वं नीलमेघसमप्रभः। अनादृत्यैव तद्वाक्यं प्रजहाराथ फल्गुनः
This one, radiant as a dark thundercloud, was previously sought by me; disregarding my words, Phalguna then released his arrow.
किरातश्च समं तस्मिन्नेकलक्ष्ये महाद्युतिः। प्रमुमोचाशनिप्रख्यं शरमग्निशिखोपमम्
The illustrious Kirata, aiming at the same target, let loose an arrow like a thunderbolt, blazing like a tongue of fire.
तौ मुक्तौ सायकौ ताभ्यां समं तत्र निपेततुः। मूकस्य गात्रे विस्तीर्णे शैलपृष्ठनिभे तदा
Both arrows, released together, struck the broad body of the mute creature, which resembled the surface of a mountain.
यथाऽशनैर्विनिष्पेषो वज्रस्येव च पर्वते। तथा तयोः सन्निपातः शरयोरभवत्तदा
Just as thunder crushes a mountain, or as a vajra strikes a peak, so was the collision of their arrows at that moment.
स विद्धो बहुभिर्बाणैर्दीप्तास्यैः पन्नगैरिव। ममार राक्षसं रूपं भूयः कृत्वा सुदारुणम्
Pierced by many arrows, like serpents with blazing mouths, the creature assumed a terrifying rakshasa form and died.
स ददर्श ततो जिष्णुः पुरुषं काञ्चनप्रभम्। किरातवेषसंछन्नं स्त्रीसहायममित्रहा
Then Jishnu saw a man shining like gold, concealed in the guise of a Kirata, accompanied by a woman, destroyer of enemies.
तमब्रवीत्प्रीतमना कौन्तेयः प्रहसन्निव। को भवानटते शून्ये वने रस्त्रीगणसंवृतः
With a cheerful mind, almost laughing, Kaunteya addressed him: 'Who are you, wandering in this empty forest, surrounded by women?'
न त्वमस्मिन्वने घोरे बिभेषि कनकप्रभ। किमर्थं च त्वया विद्धो मृगोऽयं मत्परिग्रहः
'You do not fear in this dreadful forest, O golden-hued one. Why did you wound this animal, which was my prize?'
मयाऽभिपन्नः पूर्वं हि राक्षसोऽयमिहागतः। कामात्परिभवाद्वाऽपि न मे जीवन्विमोक्ष्यसे
'This rakshasa, who came here, was first pursued by me; whether out of desire or contempt, you shall not escape alive from me.'
न ह्येष मृगयाधर्मो यस्त्वयाऽद्य कृतो मयि। तेन त्वां भ्रंशयिष्यामि जीवितात्पर्वताश्रयम्
'What you have done today is not the proper conduct of hunting, for you acted against me; therefore, I will deprive you of life, O mountain-dweller.'
इत्युक्तः पाण्डवेयेन किरातः प्रहसन्निव। उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा पाण्डवं सव्यसाचिनं
Thus addressed by the Pandava, the Kirata, smiling, spoke gently to the left-handed Pandava.
न मत्कृते त्वया वीरः भीः कार्या वनमन्तिकात्। इयं भूमिः सदाऽस्माकमुचिता वसतां वने
'You need not fear, O hero, on my account, nor avoid the forest; this land is always fit for us to dwell in.'
त्वया तु दुष्करः कस्मादिह वासः प्ररोचितः। वयं तु बहुसत्त्वेऽस्मिन्निवसामस्तपोधन
'Why have you chosen to reside here, which is so difficult? We, O ascetic, live in this place, rich in creatures.'
भवांस्तु कृष्णवत्मार्भः सुकुमारः सुखोचितः। कथं शून्यमिमं देशमेकाकी विचरिष्यति
'You, with Krishna's soul, are young, delicate, accustomed to comfort; how will you wander alone in this desolate region?'
गाण्डीवमाश्रयं कृत्वा नाराजांश्चाग्निसन्निभान्। निवसामि महारण्ये द्वितीय इव पावकः
'Relying on Gandiva, and not fearing kings fierce as fire, I dwell in this great forest, like a second blazing flame.'
एष चापि मया जन्तुर्मृगरूपं समाश्रितः। राक्षसो निहतो घोरो हन्तुं मामिह चागतः
'This creature, assuming the form of a deer, was slain by me, a dreadful rakshasa who came here to kill me.'
मयैष धन्वनिर्मुक्तैस्ताडितः पूर्वमेव हि। बाणैरभिहतः शेते नीतश्च यमसादनम्
'He was struck earlier by arrows released from my bow; wounded by my shafts, he lies dead, taken to the abode of Yama.'
ममैवायं लक्ष्यभूतः पूर्वमेव परिग्रहः। ममैव च प्रहारेण जीविताद्व्यपरिपितः
'He was my target from the beginning, my rightful prize; and by my attack, he was deprived of life.'
दोषान्स्वान्नार्हसेऽन्यस्मै वक्तुं स्वबलदर्पितः। अभिषक्तोस्मि मन्दात्मन्न मे जीवन्विमोक्ष्यसे
You, proud of your own strength, should not speak of others' faults; you have attacked me, foolish one, and you will not escape with your life.
स्थिरो भव विमोक्ष्यामि सायकानशनीनिव। घटस्व परया शक्त्या मुञ्च त्वमपि सायकान्
Stand firm; I will release arrows like food, and you too, exert your utmost power and shoot your arrows.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा किरातस्यार्जुनस्तदा। रोषमाहारयामास ताडयामास चेषुभिः
Hearing those words of the hunter, Arjuna then became enraged and struck him with arrows.
ततो हृष्टेन मनसा प्रतिजग्राह सायकान्। भूयोभूय इति प्राह मन्दमन्देत्युवाच ह
Then, with a delighted mind, he accepted the arrows and repeatedly said, 'Slowly, slowly,' and spoke gently.
प्रहरस्व शरानेतान्नाराचान्मर्मभेदिनः। इत्युक्तो बाणवर्षं स मुमोच सहसाऽर्जुनः
Strike with arrows, with those piercing darts that wound the vital spots; thus urged, Arjuna suddenly released a shower of arrows.
ततस्तौ तत्रसंरब्धौ गर्जमानौ मुहुर्मुहुः। शरैराशीविषाकारैस्ततक्षाते परस्परम्
Then, both of them, enraged, roaring again and again, wounded each other with arrows resembling venomous serpents.
ततोऽर्जुनः शरवर्षं किराते समवासृजत्। तत्प्रसन्नेन मनसा प्रतिजग्राह शंकरः
Then Arjuna released a rain of arrows at the hunter, and Shiva, with a pleased mind, received them.
मुहूर्तं शरवर्षं तु प्रतिगृह्य पिनाकधृक्। अक्षतेन शरीरेण तस्थौ गिरिवाचलः
For a moment, the wielder of the Pinaka, receiving the rain of arrows, stood unmoved, his body uninjured, like a mountain.
स दृष्ट्वा बाणवर्षं तु मघीभूतं धनंजयः। परमं विस्मयं चक्रे साधुसाध्विति चाब्रवीत्
Seeing that his shower of arrows had become ineffective, Dhananjaya was greatly astonished and exclaimed, 'Excellent, excellent!'
अहोऽयं सुकुमाराङ्गो हिमवच्छिखराश्रयः। गाण्डीवमुक्तान्नाराचान्प्रतिगृह्णात्यविह्वलः
Ah, this one with delicate limbs, dwelling on the snowy mountain peaks, receives the darts released from the Gandiva without wavering.