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.
भ्रातुर्वचनमादाय भीमो वृक्षं विसृज्य च। चापमादाय संप्राप्तो रथमास्थाय पाण्डवः ।। 31
Taking up his brother's command, Bhima released the tree, seized his bow, mounted the chariot, and approached.
व्यमुञ्चच्छरवर्षाणि सतोय इव तोयदः । तं भीमो भीमकर्माणं शुशर्माणमथाऽऽद्रवत् ।। 32
He unleashed showers of arrows like a raincloud with water; then Bhima, performer of terrible deeds, rushed at Susharma.
विराटमभिवीक्ष्यैनं तिष्ठितिष्ठेति चावदत् ।। 33
Looking at Virata, he called out to him, 'Stop, stop!'
सुशर्मा चिन्तयामास कालान्तकयमोपमम् । तिष्ठतिष्ठेति भाषन्तं पृष्ठतो रथपुङ्गवः ।। 34
Susharma, whose valor was like death at the end of time, pondered as the mighty charioteer behind him shouted, 'Stop, stop!'
पश्यतां सुमहत्कर्म महद्युद्धमुपस्थितम् । परावृत्तो धनुर्गृह्य सुशर्मा भ्रातृभिः सह ।। 35
Witnessing that great feat and the immense battle at hand, Susharma turned back, took up his bow, and stood with his brothers.
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण भीमसेनेन ते रथाः । रथानां च गजानां च वाजिनां च ससादिनां ।। 36
In the blink of an eye, Bhimasena struck down the chariots, elephants, and horses with their riders.
सहस्रशतसंघाताः शूराणामुग्रधन्विनाम् । पातिता भीमसेनेन विराटस्य समीपतः ।। 37
Hundreds of thousands of groups of heroic, fierce archers were felled by Bhimasena near Virata.
पत्तयो निहतास्तेषां गदां गृह्य महात्मना ।। 38
The foot soldiers among them were slain by the great-souled one, wielding his mace.
तद्दृष्ट्वा तादृशं युद्धं सुशर्मा युद्धदुर्मदः। चिन्तयामास मनसा किं शेषं हि बलस्य मे ।। 39
Seeing such a battle, Susharma, intoxicated by war, thought to himself, 'What remains now of my army?'
अपरो दृश्यते सैन्ये पुरा मग्नो महाबले। आकर्णपूर्णेन तदा धनुषा प्रत्यदृश्यत ।। 40
Elsewhere in the army, another mighty warrior was seen, drawing his bow to his ear and standing firm.
सुशर्मा सायकांस्तीक्ष्णान्क्षिपते च पुनःपुनः ।। 41
Susharma kept hurling sharp arrows again and again.
ततः समस्तास्ते सर्वे तुरगानभ्यचोदयन्। दिव्यमस्त्रं विकुर्वाणास्त्रिगर्तान्प्रत्यमर्षणाः ।। 42
Then all of them urged on their horses, wielding divine weapons, the Trigartas, unyielding in battle.
तान्निवृत्तरथान्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवास्तां महाचमूम् । वैराटिः परमक्रुद्धो युयुधे परमाद्भुतम् ।। 43
Seeing the Pandavas turn back those chariots and that great army, Virata, filled with utmost wrath, fought an extraordinary battle.
त्रिगर्ताः समभिक्रम्य अयुध्यन्त जयैषिणः। तान्भीमसेनः संक्रुद्धः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः । वैराटिः परमक्रुद्धो युयुधे परमाद्भुतम् ।। 44
The Trigartas advanced, eager for victory and fought; Bhimasena, furious and best among all weapon-bearers, and Virata, in great anger, fought an astonishing battle.
सहस्रं प्राहिणीद्राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। नकुलश्चापि सप्तैव शतानि प्राहिणोच्छरैः ।। 45
King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, sent forth a thousand (arrows), and Nakula too dispatched seven hundred with his shafts.
शतानि त्रीणि शूराणां सहदेवः प्रतापवान् । युधिष्ठिरसमादिष्टो निजघ्ने पुरुषर्षभः ।। 46
Sahadeva, valiant and commanded by Yudhishthira, struck down three hundred of the heroes, O best of men.
प्रविश्य महतीं सेनां त्रिगर्तानां महाबलः । क्षोभयन्सर्वभूतानि सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव ।। 47
Entering the great army of the Trigartas, the mighty one agitated all beings like a lion among small animals.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा त्वरमाणो महाबलः। अभिद्रुत्य सुशर्माणं शरैरभ्यहनद्धृशम् ।। 48
Then King Yudhishthira, swift and mighty, rushed at Susharma and struck him boldly with arrows.
सुशर्माऽपि सुसंक्रुद्धस्त्वराणो युधिष्ठिरम् । अविध्यद्दशभिर्बाणैश्चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान् ।। 49
Even Suśarman, greatly enraged and swift, struck Yudhiṣṭhira with ten arrows, and with four arrows he wounded his four horses.
ततो राजन्क्षिप्रकारी कुन्तीऽपुत्रो वृकोदरः। समासाद्य सुशर्माणमश्वांस्तस्य न्यपातयत् ।। 50
Then, O King, the quick-acting son of Kuntī, Vṛkodara, approached Suśarman and brought down his horses.