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.
ततो दिव्यास्त्रसंपन्ना गन्धर्वा हेममालिनः। विसृजन्तः शरान्दीप्तान्समन्तात्पर्यवारयन्
Then the Gandharvas, adorned with golden garlands and possessing celestial weapons, released blazing arrows in all directions, blocking the way.
चतुरः पाण्डवान्वीरान्गन्धर्वाश्च सहस्रशः। रणे संन्यपतन्राजंस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
The four valiant Pandavas and thousands of Gandharvas fell upon each other in battle, O King, and it appeared wondrous.
यथा कर्णस्य च रथो धार्तराष्ट्रस् चोभयोः। गन्धर्वैः शतशश्छिन्नौ तथा तेषां प्रचक्रितरे
Just as the chariots of Karna and the sons of Dhritarashtra were shattered by hundreds of Gandharvas, so too did they act against them.
तान्समापततो राजन्गधर्वाञ्छतशो रणे। प्रत्यगृह्णन्नरव्याघ्राः शरवर्षैरनेकशः
Those Gandharvas, advancing by the hundreds in battle, were met by the tiger-like warriors, who countered them with showers of arrows from every side.
ते कीर्यमाणाः खगमाः शरवर्षैः समन्ततः। न शेकुः पाण्डुपुत्राणां समीपे परिवर्तितुम्
Those Gandharvas, who moved through the sky, were so covered by the rain of arrows from all sides that they could not approach or circle near the sons of Pandu.
अभिक्रुद्धानभिक्रुद्धो गन्धर्वानर्जुनस्तदा। लक्षयित्वाऽथ दिव्यानि महास्त्राण्युपचक्रमे
Arjuna, though not angered himself, seeing the Gandharvas enraged, then began to employ his divine, great weapons.
सहस्राणां सहस्राणि प्राहिणोद्यमसादनम्। अजेयानर्जुनः सङ्ख्ये गन्धर्वाणां बलोत्कटः
He sent forth thousands upon thousands of arrows to subdue them; Arjuna, invincible in battle and mighty in strength, struck the Gandharvas.
तथा भीमो महेष्वासः संयुगे बलिनांवरः। गन्धर्वाञ्शतशो राजञ्चघान निशितैः शरैः
Likewise, Bhima, the great archer and foremost among the strong in battle, slew hundreds of Gandharvas, O King, with sharp arrows.
माद्रीपुत्रावपि तथा युध्मानौ बलोत्कटौ। परिगृह्याग्रतो राजञ्जघ्नतुः शतशः परान्
Similarly, the sons of Madri, both mighty in battle, took position at the front, O King, and slew hundreds of enemies.
तेवध्यमाना गन्धर्वा दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्महारथैः। उत्पेतुः खमुपादाय धृतराष्ट्रसुतांस्ततः
Those Gandharvas, being struck down by the great chariot-warriors with celestial weapons, then ascended into the sky, carrying the sons of Dhritarashtra.