न ह्यस्त्यधिकमेतस्माद्यदापन्नः सुयोधनः। त्वद्बाहुबलमाश्रित्य जीवितं परिमार्गते
There is nothing greater than this: that Suyodhana, in distress, seeks to preserve his life relying on your strength of arms.
स्वयमेव प्रधावेयं यदि न स्याद्वृकोदर। विततो मे क्रतुर्वीर न हि मेऽत्र विचारणा
If, O Vrikodara, my sacrificial vow were not underway, I would go myself; for me, there is no hesitation here.
साम्नैव तु यथा भीम मोक्षयेथाः सुयोधनम्। तथा सर्वैरुपायैस्त्वं यतेथाः कुरुनन्दन
But, Bhima, if you can, release Suyodhana by conciliation; if not, Kurunandana, strive by all means.
न साम्ना प्रतिपद्येत यदि गन्धर्वराडसौ। पराक्रमेण मृदुना मोक्षयेथाः सुयोधनम्
If the king of the Gandharvas does not yield to conciliation, then release Suyodhana by gentle force.
अथासौ मृदुयुद्धेन न मुञ्चेद्भीम कौरवान्। सर्वोपायैर्पिमोच्यास्ते निगृह्य परिपन्थिनः
But if, Bhima, he does not release the Kauravas even with gentle combat, then by all means free them, subduing the obstructors.
एतावद्धि मया शक्यं संदेष्टुं वै वृकोदर। वैताने कर्मणि तते वर्तमाने च भारत। `वरप्रदानं सुमहद्याचकस्य प्रकीर्तितम्
This much, O Vrikodara, can I instruct you, as my sacrificial rite is ongoing, O Bharata; granting a great boon to a suppliant is praised in the ritual.
अजातसत्रोर्वचनं तच्छ्रुत्वा तु धनंजयः। प्रतिजज्ञे गुरोर्वाक्यं कौरवाणां विमोक्षणम्
Hearing these words of Ajatasatru, Dhananjaya pledged to fulfill the teacher’s command and release the Kauravas.
यदि ककसाम्ना न मोक्ष्यन्ति गन्धर्वा धृतराष्ट्रजान्। अद्य गन्धर्वराजस्य भूमिः पास्यति शोणितम्
If the Gandharvas do not release the sons of Dhritarashtra by conciliation, then today the earth shall drink the blood of the king of the Gandharvas.
अर्जुनस्य तु तां श्रुत्वा प्रतिज्ञां सत्यवादिनः। कौरवाणां तदा राजन्पुनः प्रत्यागतं मनः
Hearing Arjuna’s vow, who always speaks the truth, the minds of the Kauravas, O King, returned to hope.
युधिष्ठिरवचः श्रुत्वा भीमसेनपुरोगमाः। प्रहृष्टवदनाः सर्वे समुत्तस्थुर्नरर्षभाः
Hearing Yudhishthira’s words, all the best of men, led by Bhimasena, rose up with joyful faces.
अभेद्यानि ततः सर्वे समनह्यन्त भारत। जाम्बूनदविचित्राणि कवचानि महारथाः। आयुधानि च दिव्यानि विविधानि समादधुः
Then all the great warriors, O Bharata, donned impenetrable golden armor and took up various divine weapons.
ते दंशिता रथैः सर्वे ध्वजिनः सशरासनाः। पाण्डवाः प्रत्यदृश्यन्त ज्वलिता इवपावकाः
All those warriors, adorned, mounted their chariots with banners and bows in hand; the Pandavas appeared like blazing fires.
तान्रथान्साधुसंपन्नान्संयुक्ताञ्जवनैर्हयैः। आस्थाय रथशार्दूलाः शीघ्रमेव ययुस्ततः
Those tiger-like warriors mounted chariots well-equipped and yoked with swift horses, and departed quickly.
ततः कौरवसैन्यानां प्रादुरासीन्महास्वनः। प्रयातान्सहितान्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुपुत्रान्महारथान्
Then a great roar arose from the Kaurava army, seeing the Pandava princes, mighty chariot-warriors, proceeding together.
जितकाशिनश्च स्वचरास्त्वरिताश्च महारथाः। क्षणेनैव वने तस्मिन्समाजग्मुरभीतवत्
The victorious Gandharvas, their own forces, and the swift great chariot-warriors, all gathered in that forest within a moment, fearless.
न्यवर्तन्त ततः सर्वे गन्धर्वा जितकाशिनः। दृष्ट्वा रथगतान्वीरान्पाण्डवांश्चतुरो रणे
Then all the Gandharvas who had conquered the Kauravas withdrew, seeing the four Pandava heroes in their chariots on the battlefield.
तांस्तु विभ्राजितान्दृष्ट्वा लोकपालानिवोद्यतान्। व्यूढानीका व्यतिष्ठन्त गन्धमादनवासिनः
Seeing them shining like the guardians of the worlds, arrayed for battle, the Gandharvas dwelling in Gandhamadana formed their ranks.
राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मपुत्रस्य धीमतः। क्रमेण मृदुना युद्धमुपक्रान्तं च भारत
Hearing the words of the wise king Yudhishthira, the battle began gently and in order, O Bharata.
न तु गन्धर्वराजस्य सैनिका मन्दचेतसः। शक्यन्ते मृदुना श्रेयः प्रतिपादयितुं तदा
But at that time, the soldiers of the Gandharva king, dull-minded, could not be led to good by gentle means.
ततस्तान्युधि दुर्धर्षान्सव्यसाची परंतपः। सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमुवाच खचरान्रणे
Then Arjuna, scorcher of foes, addressed those difficult-to-defeat Gandharvas in battle, speaking these words with conciliation first.
नैतद्गन्धर्वराजस्य युक्तं कर्म जुगुप्सितम्। परदाराभिमर्शश्च मानुषैश्च समागमः
This act of the Gandharva king is not proper, it is blameworthy; the touching of others' wives and mingling with humans.
उत्सृजध्वं महावीर्यान्धृतराष्ट्रसुतानिमान्। दारांश्चैषां प्रमुञ्चध्वं धर्मराजस्य शासनात्
Release these sons of Dhritarashtra, mighty heroes, and let go their wives, by the command of King Yudhishthira.
त एवमुक्ता गन्धर्वाः पाण्डवेन यशस्विना। उत्स्मयन्तस्तदा पार्थमिदं वचनमब्रुवन्
Thus addressed by the illustrious Pandava, the Gandharvas laughed and replied to Partha with these words.
एकस्यैव वयं तात कुर्याम वचनं भुवि। यस्य शासनमाज्ञाय चरामो विगतज्वराः
O dear one, we obey the command of only one in this world, whose order we follow, free from anxiety.
तेनैकेन रकयथादिष्टं तथा वर्ताम भारत। न शास्ता विद्यतेऽस्माकमन्यस्तस्मात्सुरेश्वरात्
As instructed by that one, we act accordingly, O Bharata; we have no other ruler than that lord of the gods.
एवमुक्तः स गन्धर्वैः कुन्तीपुत्रो धनंजयः। गन्धर्वान्पुनरेवैतान्वचनं प्रत्यभाषत
Thus addressed by the Gandharvas, Arjuna, son of Kunti, again spoke these words to them.
यदि साम्ना न मुञ्चध्वं गन्धर्वा धृतराष्ट्रजान्। मोक्षयिष्यामि विक्रम्य स्वयमेव सुयोधनम्
If you Gandharvas do not release the sons of Dhritarashtra by peaceful means, I myself will free Suyodhana by force.
एवमुक्त्वा ततः पार्थः सव्यसाची धनंजयः। ससर्ज निशितान्बाणान्खचरान्खचरान्प्रति
Having spoken thus, Partha, Arjuna, the ambidextrous, launched sharp arrows at the Gandharvas in battle.
तथैव शरवर्षेण गन्धर्वास्ते बलोत्काटाः। पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त पाण्डवाश्च दिवौकसः
Likewise, the powerful Gandharvas attacked the Pandavas with showers of arrows, and the Pandavas fought back against the celestial beings.
ततः सुतुमुलं युद्धं गन्धर्वाणां तरस्विनाम्। बभूव भीमवेगानां च भात
Then a fierce battle took place between the swift Gandharvas and the Pandavas, who possessed tremendous speed, O Bharata.