एवमुक्तास्तु गन्धर्वै राज्ञः सेनाग्रयायिनः। संप्राद्रवन्यतो राजा धृतराष्ट्रसुतोऽभवत्
Thus addressed by the Gandharvas, the leaders of the king’s army fled to where the son of Dhritarashtra was.
ततस्ते सहिताः सर्वे दुर्याधनमुपागमन्। अब्रुवंश्च महाराज यदूचुः कौरवं प्रति
Then all of them together approached Duryodhana and told the Kaurava what the Gandharvas had said.
गन्धर्वैर्वारिते सैन्ये धार्तराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्। अमर्षपूर्णः सैन्यानि प्रत्यभाषत भारत
When his army was stopped by the Gandharvas, the valiant son of Dhritarashtra, filled with anger, addressed his troops, O Bharata.
शासतैनानधर्मज्ञान्मम विप्रियकारिणः। यदि प्रक्रीडते सर्वैर्देवैः सह शचीपतिः। `वयमत्र यथा प्रीता क्रीडिष्यामो निरङ्कुशं
Punish these unrighteous ones who act against my will! If the lord of Shachi sports here with all the gods, we too shall play here freely as we please.
दुर्योधनवचः श्रुत्वा धार्तराष्ट्रा महाबलाः। सर्व एवाभिसन्नद्धा योधाश्चापि सहस्रशः
Hearing Duryodhana’s words, all the mighty sons of Dhritarashtra and thousands of warriors donned their armor.
ततः प्रमथ्य सर्वांस्तांस्तद्वनं विविशुर्बलात्। सिंहनादेन महता पूरयन्तो दिशो दश
Then, overpowering all those present, they forcefully entered that forest, filling the ten directions with a great lion’s roar.
ततोऽपरैरवार्यन्त गन्धर्वैः कुरुसैनिकाः। `साम्नैव रतत्र विक्रान्ता मा साहसमिति प्रभो
Then the Kuru soldiers were restrained by other Gandharvas, who said only with conciliation, 'Do not act rashly, O lord.'
ते वार्यमाणा गन्धर्वैः साम्नैव वसुधायिप। ताननादृत्य गन्धर्वांस्तद्वनं विविशुर्महत्
Though restrained by the Gandharvas with gentle words, O king, disregarding them, they entered that great forest.
यदि वाता न तिष्ठन्ति धार्तराष्ट्राः सराजकाः। ततस्ते खेचराः सर्वे चित्रसेने न्यवेदयन्
When the sons of Dhritarashtra with their kings would not stop, all the sky-roaming Gandharvas reported this to Citraratha.
गन्धर्वराजस्तान्सर्वानब्रवीत्कौरवान्प्रति। अनार्याञ्शासतेत्येतांश्चित्रसेनोऽत्यमर्षणः
The king of the Gandharvas, Citraratha, spoke to all regarding the Kauravas: 'Punish these ignoble ones!'—thus Citraratha, greatly enraged.
अनुज्ञाताश्च गन्धर्वाश्चित्रसेनेन भारत। प्रगृहीतायुधाः सर्वे धार्तराष्ट्रानभिद्रवन्
Then, permitted by Citraratha, all the Gandharvas, weapons in hand, attacked the sons of Dhritarashtra.
तान्दृष्ट्वाऽऽपततः शीघ्रान्गन्धर्वानुद्यतायुधान्। प्राद्रवंस्ते दिशः सर्वे धार्तराष्ट्रस्य पश्यतः
Seeing the Gandharvas swiftly advancing with raised weapons, all the followers of Dhritarashtra fled in all directions before his eyes.
तान्दृष्ट्वा द्रवतः सर्वान्धार्तराष्ट्रान्पराङ्मुखान्। राधेयस्तु तदा वीरो नासीत्तत्रपराङ्मुखः
Seeing all the sons of Dhritarashtra fleeing, their faces turned away, at that time the heroic Radheya alone did not turn his back.
आपतन्तीं तु संप्रेक्ष्य गन्धर्वाणां महाचमूम्। महता शरवर्षेण राधेयः प्रत्यवारयत्
But beholding the great army of the Gandharvas advancing, Radheya checked them with a mighty shower of arrows.
क्षुरप्रैर्विशिखैर्भल्लैर्वत्सदन्तैस्तथाऽऽयसैः। गन्धर्वाञ्शतशोऽभिघ्नँल्लघुत्वात्सूतनन्दनः
With razors, sharp arrows, broad-headed shafts, and iron-tipped darts, the son of the charioteer struck down the Gandharvas by the hundreds, so swift was he.
पातयन्नुत्तमाङ्गानि गन्धर्वाणां महारथः। क्षणएन व्यधमत्सर्वां चित्रसेनस्य वाहिनीम्
Felling the heads of the Gandharvas, that great chariot-warrior in a moment shattered the entire force of Citraratha.
ते वध्यमाना गन्धर्वाः सूतपुत्रेण धीमता। भूय एवाभ्यवर्तन्त शततशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Though being slain by the wise son of the charioteer, the Gandharvas returned again in hundreds and thousands.
गन्धर्वभूता पृथिवी क्षणेन समपद्यत। आपतद्भिर्महावेगैश्चित्रसेनस्य सैनिकैः
In a moment, the earth seemed filled with Gandharvas, as the soldiers of Citraratha rushed forward with great speed.
अथ दुर्योधनो राजा शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः। दुःशासनो विकर्णश्च ये चान्ये धृतराष्ट्रजाः। न्यहनंस्तत्तदा सैन्यं रथैर्गरुडनिःखनैः
Then King Duryodhana, and Shakuni son of Subala, Duhshasana, Vikarna, and the other sons of Dhritarashtra struck at that army with chariots swift as Garuda.
सैन्यमायोधितं दृष्ट्वाकर्णो राजन्न मृष्यत
Seeing the army being attacked, O King, Karna could not endure it.
महता रथसङ्घेन रथचारेण चाप्युत। वैकर्तनं परीप्सन्तो गन्धर्वाः प्रत्यवारयन्। ततः संन्यपतन्सर्वे गन्धर्वाः कौरवं प्रति
With a great host of chariots and skill in chariot-fighting, the Gandharvas sought to seize Vaikartana, and then all the Gandharvas fell upon the Kaurava.
तदा सुतुमुलं युद्धमभवद्रोमहर्षणम्। ततस्ते मृदवोऽभूवनगन्धर्वाः शरपीडिताः
Then there arose a tumultuous and hair-raising battle; the Gandharvas, afflicted by arrows, became weakened.
उच्चुक्रुशुश्च कौरव्यागन्धर्वान्प्रेक्ष्य पीडितान्
And the Kauravas shouted aloud, seeing the Gandharvas in distress.
गन्धर्वांस्त्रासितान्दृष्ट्वा चित्रसेनो ह्यमर्षणः। उत्पपातासनात्क्रुद्धो वधे तेषां समाहितः
Seeing the Gandharvas terrified, Citraratha, filled with wrath, sprang up from his seat, intent on their destruction.
ततो मायास्त्रमास्थाय युयुधे चित्रमार्गवित्। `वियत्संछादयामास न ववौ तत्र मारुतः
Then, employing a magical weapon, Citraratha, master of illusion, fought and covered the sky, so that not even the wind could blow there.
हस्त्यारोहा हताः पेतुर्हस्तिभिः सह भारत। हयारोहाः सह हयै रथैश्च रथिनस्तदा
Elephant riders fell slain along with their elephants, O Bharata; horsemen with their horses, and charioteers with their chariots.
पत्तयश्च तथापेतुर्विशस्ताः शरवृष्टिभिः'। तयाऽमुह्यन्त कौरव्याश्चित्रसेनस्य मायया
And foot soldiers too fell, cut down by showers of arrows; by that illusion of Citraratha, the Kauravas were bewildered.
एकैको हि तदा योधो धार्तारष्ट्रस्य भारत। पर्यवार्यत गन्धर्वैर्दशभिर्दशभिर्युधि
Then, O Bharata, each warrior of the sons of Dhritarashtra was surrounded in battle by ten Gandharvas.
ततः संपीड्यमानास्ते बलेन महता तदा। प्राद्रवन्त रणे भीता यत्रराजा युधिष्ठिरः
Then, pressed hard by that great force, they fled in fear on the battlefield to where King Yudhishthira was.
भज्यमानेष्वनीकेषु धार्तराष्ट्रेषु सर्वशः। कर्णो वैकर्तनो राजंस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः
As the ranks of the sons of Dhritarashtra were being broken everywhere, Karna, son of Vikartana, stood firm like an immovable mountain.