तमसाऽभिप्लुते लोके रजसा चैव भारत। व्यतिष्ठन्त मुहूर्तं ते व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणम् ।। 1
As darkness and dust enveloped the world, O Bharata, those warriors with their battle formations stood ready for a time.
ततोऽन्धकारं प्रणुदन्नुदतिष्ठन्निशाकरः। कुर्वाणो विमलां रात्रिं दर्शयन्क्षत्रियान्रणे ।। 2
Then the moon rose, dispelling the darkness, making the night clear, and revealing the warriors to each other on the battlefield.
ततः प्रकाशमासाद्य पुनर्युद्धमवर्तत। घोररूपं तदा तेषामवेक्ष्य तु परस्परम् ।। 3
With the coming of light, the battle resumed once more; beholding each other, they fought again, the conflict taking on a terrifying form.
तथैव तेषां तुमुलानि तानि क्रुद्धानि चान्योन्यमभिद्रवन्ति। गदासिपट्टैश्च परश्वथैश्च प्रासैश्च तीक्ष्णाग्रसुधौतधारैः ।। 4
In the same way, those tumultuous and furious warriors rushed at each other, wielding maces, swords, axes, and spears with sharp, well-polished blades.
बलं तु मात्स्यस्य बलेन राजा सर्वं त्रिगर्ताधिपतिः सुशर्मा। प्रमथ्य जित्वा च निपीड्य मत्स्यान्विराटमोजस्विनमभ्यधावत् ।। 5
Then Susharma, lord of the Trigartas, overpowered the entire Matsya army with his own force, crushing, defeating, and pressing the Matsyas, and advanced upon the mighty Virata.
मत्ताविव वृषौ तौ तु गजाविव मदोद्धतौ । सिंहाविव गजग्राहौ शक्रवृत्राविवोद्धतौ ।। 6
Those two were like maddened bulls, like elephants wild with rut, like lions seizing elephants, like Indra and Vritra in their fury.
उभौ तुल्यबलोत्साहावुभौ तुल्यपराक्रमौ। उभौ तुल्यास्रविक्षेपावुभौ युद्धविशारदौ ।। 7
Both were equal in strength and enthusiasm, both matched in valor, both equally shed blood, and both were skilled in the art of war.
तौ निहत्य पृथग्धुर्यानुभयोः पार्ष्णिसारथी । आस्तां तुल्यधनुर्ग्राहौ कृष्णकंसाविवोद्धतौ ।। 8
Having slain the charioteers and rear-guards of both sides, the two, equally skilled with the bow, stood facing each other like Krishna and Kamsa in their enmity.
ततः सुशर्मा त्रैगर्तः सह भ्रात्रा सुवर्मणा। अभ्यद्रवन्मत्स्यराजं रथव्रातेन सर्वशः ।। 9
Then Susharma of the Trigartas, together with his brother Suvarman, charged at the Matsya king with an entire host of chariots.
ततो रथाभ्यां प्रस्कन्द्य भ्रातरौ क्षत्रियर्षभौ। गदापाणी सुसंरब्धौ समभ्यद्रवतां जवात् ।। 10
Then the two brothers, the foremost of warriors, leapt from their chariots, seized their maces in anger, and rushed swiftly forward.
सुशर्मा परवीरघ्नो बलवान्वीर्यवान्गदी। विरथं मत्स्यराजानं जीवग्राहमथाग्रहीत् ।। 11
Susharma, destroyer of enemy heroes, strong and mighty with his mace, seized the chariotless Matsya king alive.
तमुन्मथ्य सुशर्मा तु युवतीमिव कामुकः। स्यन्दनं स्वं समारोप्य प्रययौ भीमविक्रमः ।। 12
Susharma, overpowering him as a lover does a maiden, placed him on his own chariot and departed, displaying tremendous valor.
तस्मिन्गृहीते विरथे विराटे बलवत्तरे। बलं सर्वं विभग्नं तन्निरुत्साहं निराशकम् ।। 13
When the mighty Virata, the strongest among them, was captured and his chariot seized, all the army was shattered, dispirited, and lost hope.
प्राद्रवन्त भयान्मात्स्यास्त्रिगर्तैरर्दिता रणे । विदिक्षुः दिक्षु सर्वासु पलायन्ति च यान्ति च ।। 14
The Matsyas, assailed in battle by the Trigartas, fled in fear, scattering in all directions, running and escaping everywhere.
तेषु विद्रांव्यमाणेषु कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भिमसेनमरिन्दमम् ।। 15
As they were being routed, Yudhishthira, son of Kunti and righteous in soul, spoke to Bhimasena, the subduer of enemies.
मात्स्यराजस्त्रिगर्तेन परामृष्टः सुशर्मणा। तं मोक्षय महाबाही मा गमद्द्विषतां वशम् ।। 16
The king of the Matsyas has been seized by Susharma of the Trigartas; O mighty-armed one, free him, do not let him fall into the hands of the enemy.
भीमसेनः महाबाहो गृहीतं तु सुशर्मणा। त्रायस्व मोचय क्षिप्रमस्मत्प्रीतिकरं नृपम् ।। 17
Bhimasena, mighty-armed, the king has been captured by Susharma; rescue him quickly, set him free, for it will please us greatly.
उषिताः स्म सुखं सर्वे सर्वकामैः सुपूजिताः। भीमसेन त्वया कार्या तस्य वातस्य निष्कृतिः ।। 18
We have all lived here happily, honored with every comfort; Bhimasena, you must repay that debt to the wind-born king.
तं तथावादिनं तत्र भीमसेनो महाबलः। अभ्यभाषत दुर्धर्षो रणमध्ये युधिष्ठिरम् ।। 19
To him who spoke thus, Bhimasena, of great strength and unconquerable, replied to Yudhishthira in the midst of battle.
अहमेनं परित्रास्ये शासनात्तव पार्थिव। पश्येदं सुमहत्कर्म युध्यतो मम शत्रुभिः ।। 20
By your command, O king, I will rescue him; witness this great deed of mine as I fight the enemies.
स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य परेषामसमं रणे। एकान्तमाश्रितो राजंस्तिष्ठ त्वं भ्रातृभिः सह ।। 21
Relying on the strength of my own arms, unmatched by others in battle, I will go alone; you, O king, stay here with your brothers.
अयं वृक्षो महाशाखो गिरिमात्रो वनस्पतिः। अहमेनं समारुज्य पोथयिष्यामि शात्रवान् ।। 22
Here stands this great tree, with vast branches, as large as a mountain; mounting it, I will strike down the enemies.
तं मत्तमिव मातङ्गं वीक्षमाणं वनस्पतिम्। अब्रवीद्भ्रातरं वीरं धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ।। 23
Seeing Bhima gazing at the tree like a maddened elephant, King Yudhishthira, lord of righteousness, spoke to his heroic brother.
भीम मा साहसं कार्षीस्तिष्ठत्वेष वनस्पतिः ।। 24
Bhima, do not act rashly; let this tree remain as it is.
मा त्वां वृक्षेण कर्माणि कुर्वन्तमतिमानुषम् । जनाः समवबुध्येरन्भीमोऽयमिति भारत ।। 25
Do not let people realize, O Bhima, that it is you, by performing superhuman deeds with that tree.
मा ग्रहीस्त्वमिमं वृक्षं सिंहनादं च मा नद। कर्मणा सिंहनादेन विज्ञास्यन्ति जना ध्रुवम् ।। 26
Do not seize this tree, nor let out a lion's roar; by such deeds and your roar, people will surely recognize you.
इमं वृक्षं गृहीत्वा त्वं नेमां सेनामभिद्रव । वृक्षं च त्वां रुजन्तं वै विज्ञास्यति जनो ध्रुवं ।। 27
If you seize this tree and attack the army, people will certainly know you by seeing you wielding the tree.
अन्यदेवायुधं गृह्य प्रतिपद्यस्व मानुषम्। चापं वा यदि वा शक्तिं निस्त्रिंशं वा परश्वथम् ।। 28
Take up some other weapon, a human one—either a bow, or a spear, or a sword, or an axe.
यदेव मानुषं भीम भवेदन्यैरलक्षितम् । तदेवायुधमादाय मोचयाशु महीतिम् ।। 29
Whatever weapon is human and not easily recognized by others, take that up, Bhima, and swiftly rescue the king.
यमौ च चक्ररक्षौ ते भवितारौ महाबलौ। व्यायच्छतस्ते समरे मत्स्यराजं परीप्स्रतः ।। 30
The two sons of Madri, mighty and skilled in chariot-fighting, will protect you in battle as you strive to rescue the king of the Matsyas.