ते वध्यमाना दैतेयाः पुरमास्थाय तत्पुनः। खमुत्पेतुः सनगरा मायामास्थाय दानवीम्
Though being slain, the Daityas retreated into their city, and then, taking on the Dānava illusion, they rose into the sky with their city.
ततोऽहं शरवर्षेण महता कुरुनन्दन। मार्गमावृत्य दैत्यानां गतिं चैषामवारयम्
Then I, O joy of the Kurus, blocked the path of the Daityas and cut off their escape by unleashing a great shower of arrows.
तत्पुरं खचरं दिव्यं कामगं दिव्यवर्चसम्। दैतेयैर्वरदानेन धार्यते स्म यथासुखम्
That celestial city, moving through the sky, fulfilling every desire and radiant with divine splendor, was sustained with ease by the Daityas through a boon they had received.
अन्तर्भूमौ निपतति पुनरूर्ध्वं प्रतिष्ठते। पुनस्तिर्यक् प्रयात्याशु पुनरप्सु निमज्जति
It would sink into the earth, then rise up again; swiftly it would move sideways, and once more plunge into the waters.
अमरावतिसंकाशं तत्पुरं कामगं महत्। अहमस्त्रैर्बहुविधैः प्रत्यगृह्णां परंतप
That great city, resembling Amaravati and moving at will, I, scorcher of foes, confronted with many kinds of weapons.
ततोऽहं शरजालेन दिव्यास्त्रनुदितेन च। व्यगृह्णां सह दैतेयैस्तत्पुरं पुरुषर्षभ
Then, O best of men, I besieged that city together with the Daityas, using a shower of arrows and divine weapons.
विक्षत चायसैर्बाणैर्मत्प्रयुक्तैरजिह्मगैः। महीमभ्यपतद्राजन्प्रभग्नं पुरमासुरम्
Struck by my straight-flying iron arrows, O king, the asura city, shattered, fell to the earth.
ते वध्यमाना मद्बाणैर्वज्रवेगैरयस्मयैः। पर्यभ्रमन्त वै राजन्नसुराः कालचोदिताः
Assailed by my arrows, swift as thunderbolts and made of iron, the asuras, driven by fate, wandered about, O king.
ततो मातलिरारुह्यपुरस्तान्निपतन्निव। महीमवातरत्क्षिप्रं रथेनादित्यवर्चसा
Then Mātali, appearing as if descending from the front, quickly brought down to earth his chariot shining with the brilliance of the sun.
ततो रथसहस्राणि षष्टिस्तेषाममर्षिणाम्। युयुत्सूनां मया सार्धं पर्यवर्तन्त भारत। तान्यहं निशितैर्बाणैर्व्यधमं गार्ध्रराजितैः
Then, O Bhārata, sixty thousand chariots of those wrathful warriors, eager for battle with me, turned back; those I struck down with sharp arrows, feathered like the king of vultures.
ते युद्धे संन्यवर्तन्त समुद्रस्य यथोर्मयः। नेमे शक्या मानुषेण युद्धेनेति प्रचिन्त्य तत्
In that battle they retreated like waves of the ocean; realizing that they could not be defeated by human warfare.
ततोऽहमानुपूर्व्येण दिव्यान्यस्त्राण्ययोजयम्
Then I successively employed divine weapons.
ततस्तानि सहस्राणइ रथिनां चित्रयोधिनाम्। अस्त्राणि मम दिव्यानि प्रत्यघ्नञ्छनकैरिव
Then those thousands of chariot-warriors, skilled in diverse combat, countered my divine weapons as if with ease.
रथमार्गान्विचित्रांस्ते विचरन्तो महाबलाः। प्रत्यदृश्यन्त संग्रामे शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Those mighty warriors, moving along the chariot paths in various formations, appeared in the battle by hundreds and thousands.
विचित्रमुकुटापीडा विचित्रकवचध्वजाः। विचित्राभरणाश्चैव मम प्रीतिकराऽभवन्
With wondrous crests on their helmets, splendid armor and banners, and adorned with marvelous ornaments, they became pleasing to me.
अहं तुशरवर्षैस्तानस्त्रप्रचुदितै रणे। नाशक्रुवं पीडयितुं ते तु मां प्रत्यपीडयन्
But though I assailed them in battle with showers of arrows driven by weapons, I could not distress them; instead, they pressed me hard.
तैः पीड्यमानो बहुभिः कृतास्त्रैः कुशलैर्युधि। व्यथितोस्मि महायुद्धे भयं चागान्महन्मम
Oppressed by those many skilled warriors, all employing weapons in the great battle, I was afflicted and great fear arose in me.
ततोहं परमायत्तो मातलिं परिपृष्टवान्
Then, being at my utmost, I questioned Mātali.
किमेते मम बाणौघैर्दिव्यास्त्रप्रतिमन्त्रितैः। न वध्यन्ते महाघोरैस्तत्त्वमाख्याहि पृच्छतः
"Why are these not slain by my torrents of arrows, empowered with divine weapons and mantras, though they are so dreadful? Tell me the truth as I ask."
स मामुवाच पर्याप्तस्त्वमेषां भरतर्षभ। तानुद्दिश्याथ मर्माणि प्रतिघातं तदाचर
He said to me, "O best of the Bharatas, you are sufficient for these. Now aim at their vital points and strike them accordingly."
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु राजेनद्रसंप्रहृष्टस्तमूचिवान्। निवर्तय रथं शीघ्रं पश्य चैतान्निपातितान्
Hearing this, King Indra, delighted, said: Turn the chariot back quickly and see these who have been struck down.
एवमुक्तो रथं तत्र मातलिः पर्यवर्तयत्
Thus addressed, Mātali turned the chariot there.
ततो मत्वा रणे भग्नं दानवाः प्रतिहर्षिताः। विचुक्रुशुर्महाराज स्वरेण महता मुहुः
Then, thinking themselves defeated in battle, the Dānavas, greatly distressed, cried out repeatedly in loud voices, O great king.
अभग्नः कैश्चिदप्येष पाण्डवो रणमूर्धनि। अस्माभिः समरे भग्न इत्येवं संघशस्तदा
Some said: This Pāṇḍava is not defeated at the forefront of battle; it is we who are broken in combat—so spoke the assembly at that time.
ततोहं देवदेवाय रुद्रायाव्यक्तमूर्तये। प्रयतः प्रणतो भूत्वा नमस्कृत्य महात्मने'। यत्तद्रौद्रमिति ख्यातं सर्वामित्रविनाशनम्
Then, with devotion, I bowed to the god of gods, Rudra, whose form is unmanifest, saluting the great-souled one; that fierce weapon, renowned as the destroyer of all enemies—
यत्तद्रौद्रमिति ख्यातं सर्वामित्रविनाशनम्। `महत्पाशुपतं दिव्यं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्
That fierce weapon, renowned as the destroyer of all enemies, the great, divine Pāśupata, revered by all worlds—
ततोऽपश्यं त्रिशिरसं पुरुषं नवलोचनम्। त्रिमुखं षङ्भुजं दीप्तमर्कज्वलनमूर्धजम्। लेलिहानैर्महानागैः कृतचिह्नममित्रहन्
Then I saw a three-headed man, with nine eyes, three faces, six arms, blazing, his hair shining like the sun, marked by great serpents, the slayer of enemies.
विभीस्ततस्तदस्त्रं तु घोरं रौद्रं सनातनम्। दृष्ट्वा गाण्डीवसंयोगमानीय भरतर्षभ
Beholding that terrifying, fierce, eternal weapon, O bull among Bharatas, I brought it into union with the Gāṇḍīva bow.
नमस्कृत्वा त्रिनेत्राय शर्वायामिततेजसे। मुक्तवान्दानवेन्द्राणां पराभावाय भारत
Having bowed to the three-eyed Śarva, of immeasurable brilliance, I released it for the defeat of the lord of the Dānavas, O Bhārata.
मुक्तमात्रे ततस्तस्मिन्रूपाण्यासन्सहस्रशः। मृगाणामथ सिंहानां व्याग्राणां च विशांपते
As soon as it was released, thousands of forms appeared—of deer, lions, and tigers, O lord of men.