स तेषां रूपमालेक्य भोगिनामिव दृम्भताम् । हृष्टरोमा भयोद्विग्रः प्रवेपिततनुस्तदा
Seeing their form and splendor, like serpents in their majesty, his hair stood on end, seized by fear, his body trembling.
अर्जुनेन समाश्वस्तः किंचिद्धृष्टो नृपात्मजः। तेषां संदर्शनाभ्यासं स्पर्शाभ्यासं पुनः पुनः ।। 58
Reassured by Arjuna, the prince became somewhat emboldened; repeatedly he practiced seeing and touching them.
आमील्य पुनरुन्मील्य स्पृष्ट्वास्पृष्ट्वा चकार सः। सम्यग्घुण्टस्तदाऽऽश्वस्तः क्षणेन समपद्यत ।। 59
He closed and opened his eyes, touched and withdrew, and did so again; then, properly instructed and reassured, he was ready in a moment.
संस्पृश्य तानि चापानि भानुमन्ति बृहन्ति च। वैराटिरर्जुनं राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 60
Having touched those bows, radiant and mighty, King Virata spoke to Arjuna: 'O Arjuna, what is this?'
सारथे किमिदं दिव्यं नागो वा यदि वा धनुः। सौवर्णान्यत्र पद्मानि शतपत्राणि भागशः । कुशाग्निप्रतितप्तानि भानुमन्ति बृहन्ति च
Charioteer, what is this divine thing—an elephant or a bow? Here are golden lotuses, with hundred petals in parts, heated by kusa fire, radiant and large.
बिन्दवश्चात्र सौवर्णा मणिप्रोताः समन्ततः। शशिसूर्यप्रभाः पृष्ठे भान्ति रुक्मपरिष्कृताः
And here are golden drops, strung with gems all around; on the back, they shine with the brilliance of moon and sun, adorned with gold.
पुष्पाण्यत्र सुवर्णानि शतपत्राणि भागशः । विस्मापनीयरूपं च भीमं भीमप्रदर्शनम्
Here are golden flowers, lotuses with a hundred petals, in abundance; their appearance is astonishing, fearsome, and awe-inspiring to behold.
नीलोत्पलनिभं कस्य शातकुम्भपरिष्कृतम्। ऋषभा यस्य सौवर्णाः पृष्ठे तिष्ठन्ति शृङ्गिणः
Whose is this, adorned with gold, resembling a blue lotus? Upon its back stand golden bulls with horns.
तालप्रमाणं कस्येदं मणिरुक्मविभूषितम् हाटकस्य सुवर्णस्य यस्मिञ्शाखामृगा दश
To whom does this jewel-encrusted, gold-adorned bow of palm-tree size belong, upon which ten golden branch-antelopes are set?
दुरानमं महादीर्घं सुरूपं दुष्प्रधर्षणम् । कस्येदमीदृशं चित्रं धनुः सर्वे च दंशिताः
Whose is this remarkable, long-reaching, beautiful, and unassailable bow, and all these arrows that are arrayed?
चन्द्रार्कविमलाभासः सुरूपाः सुप्रदर्शनाः । हंसाः पृष्ठं श्रिता यस्य कुशाग्निप्रतिमार्चिषः । शार्ङ्गगाण्डीवसदृशं कस्येदं सारथे धनुः
Whose is this bow, O charioteer, that shines like the moon and sun, splendid and clearly visible, upon whose back swans with flames like sacred kusha-fire are set, resembling the Sharnga and Gandiva?
चतुर्तं काञ्चनवपुर्भाति विद्युद्गणोपमम्। नीलोपलिप्तमच्छिदं जातरूपमयं धनुः । मत्स्यश्चास्य हिरण्यस्य पृष्ठे तिष्ठन्ति दंशिताः
The fourth bow shines with a golden body, like a cluster of lightning flashes; it is coated with blue, unbroken, and made of pure gold, and golden fish are arrayed upon its back.
शक्रचापोपमं दिव्यं कस्येदं सारथे धनुः। उच्छ्रितं फणिवद्दिव्यं सारवत्त्वाद्दुरानमम्
O charioteer, whose is this divine bow, like Indra's own, raised high like a serpent's hood, long and solid in its substance?
सहस्रगोधाः सौवर्णा द्वीपिनश्च चतुर्दश । बर्हिणश्चात्र सौवर्णाः शतचन्द्रार्कभूषिताः। जाम्बूनदविचित्राङ्गं कस्येदं पञ्चमं धनुः
A thousand golden iguanas and fourteen leopards are here; golden peacocks adorned with a hundred moons and suns, and whose is this fifth bow, wondrous with Jambunada gold?
कस्येमे क्षुरनाराचाः सहस्रं लोमवापिनः। प्रक्षिप्तास्तीक्ष्णतुण्डाग्रा उपासङ्गे हिरण्मये
To whom belong these thousand razor-headed arrows, sharp as hair-cutters, with keen points, set in a golden quiver?
हारिद्रवर्णाः कस्येमे शिता पञ्चशतं शराः। आशीविषसमस्पर्शाः शिताश्चाजिंहगा दृढाः
Whose are these five hundred yellow-hued, sharp arrows, hard as venomous serpents to the touch, straight-flying and strong?
विपाठाः पृथवः कस्य गृध्रपत्रार्धवाजिताः। वराहकर्णास्तीक्ष्णाग्राः कस्येमे रुचिराः शराः
Whose are these broad, split arrows, half-covered with vulture feathers, with boar-ear shapes and sharp points, shining beautifully?
वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शा वैश्वानरशिखार्चिषः। सुवर्णपुङ्खास्तीक्ष्णाग्राः कस्य सप्तशतं शराः
Whose are these seven hundred arrows, with golden feathers and sharp points, blazing like the flames of fire, their touch like thunderbolts and lightning?
कस्यायं सायको दीर्घो गव्ये कोशे च दंशितः। कस्य दण्डो दृढः श्लक्ष्णो रुचिरोऽयं प्रकाशते
Whose is this long arrow, set in a cowhide quiver, and whose is this strong, smooth, and splendid staff that shines here?
वैयाघ्रकोशः कस्यायं दिव्यः शङ्खो महाप्रभः । कस्यार्थमसयश्चैते पञ्च शार्दूललक्षणाः
Whose is this divine conch, radiant, with a tiger-hide case, and for whom are these five swords, marked with tiger emblems?
कस्यायं निर्मलः खङ्गो द्वीपिचर्मनिवासितः। नीलोत्पलसवर्णोऽयं कस्य खङ्गः पृथुर्महान्
Whose is this spotless sword, sheathed in leopard skin, and whose is this broad, great sword, colored like a blue lotus?
मृगेन्द्रचर्मावसितस्तीक्ष्णधारः सुनिर्मलः। ऋषभाजिनकोशस्तु कस्य खङ्गो महानयम्
Whose is this great sword, sheathed in lion skin, with a sharp edge and perfect clarity, its case adorned with bull emblems?
यस्यापिधाने दृश्यन्ते सूर्याः पञ्च परिष्कृताः। कस्यायं विपुलः खङ्गः शृङ्गत्सरुमनोहरः
Whose is this massive, splendid sword, upon whose hilt five decorated suns are seen?
निहितः पार्षते कोशे तैलधौतः समाहितः। प्रमाणवर्णयुक्तश्च कस्य खङ्गो महानयम्। एतेन प्रतिविद्धः सञ्जीवेत्कश्चिन्न कुञ्जरः
Whose is this great sword, placed in a Parshata case, well-oiled and carefully kept, perfect in size and color, with which, if struck, even an elephant might revive?
निर्दिशस्व यथामार्गं मया पृष्टा बृहन्नले। विस्मयो मे परो जातो दृष्ट्वा सर्वमिदं महत्
Show me the way, as I have asked you, to Brihannala; great wonder has arisen in me, seeing all this vastness.
अत्तरेणैवमुक्तस्तु पार्थो वैराटिमब्रवीत्। मृद्व्या प्रत्याययन्वाचा भीतं शङ्कावशं गतम्
Then, addressed in this way by Attara, Partha spoke to the king of Virata, with gentle words, reassuring the frightened and anxious one.
अत्त्वया प्रथमं पृष्टं शत्रुसेनाङ्गमर्दनम्। पार्थस्येदं धनुर्दिव्यं गाण्डीवमिति विश्रुतम्
You first asked about the crushing of enemy armies; this divine bow of Partha is renowned as Gandiva.
अभेद्यमभयं श्रीमद्दिव्यमच्छेद्यमव्रणम्। सर्वायुधमहामात्रं शातकुम्भमयं धनुः
It is impenetrable, fearless, splendid, divine, unbreakable, without blemish; a bow of pure gold, fit for all weapons and great measures.
एतच्छतसहस्रेण संमितं राष्ट्रवर्धनम् । देवदानवगन्धर्वैः पूजितं शाश्वतीः समाः
This bow, equal to a hundred thousand, increases the realm; it has been worshipped by gods, demons, and gandharvas for countless ages.
येन देवासुरान्पार्थः सर्वान्विषहते रणे। एतद्वर्षसहस्रं तु ब्रह्मा पूर्वमधारयत्
With this, Partha endures all the gods and demons in battle; for a thousand years, Brahma formerly bore it.