तं शब्दं कुरवो राजन्विस्फोटमशनेरिव। तार्क्ष्यं शब्दमिव श्रुत्वा वित्रेसुर्दीनमानसाः
O King, hearing that sound—like the crack of a thunderbolt, like the cry of Garuda—the Kauravas, their hearts dejected, were filled with terror.
यथेन्द्रो व्याक्षिपद्भीमं विस्फोटमशनेर्भुवि । तथाऽर्जुनो धनुःश्रेष्ठं बाहुभ्यामाक्षिपद्बली
Just as Indra draws back his mighty thunderbolt to strike the earth, so did the powerful Arjuna draw back his supreme bow with his arms.
महाशनिमहाशब्दसदृशो ज्यास्वनो महान् । शत्रून्वीरांश्च संतर्ज्य निग्रहस्थो रथे स्थितः
A great sound arose from the bowstring, like the roar of a great thunderbolt, as he stood on his chariot, intimidating the enemy heroes, ready to subdue them.
एकस्त्वं पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ बहूनोतान्महारथान्। कथं जेष्यसि संग्रामे सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगान्
O best of the Pandavas, you are alone, while many mighty chariot-warriors stand against you—how will you conquer in battle those skilled in every weapon and missile?
असहायो।सि कोन्तेय ससहायाश्च कौरवाः । अत एव महाबाहो भीतस्तिष्ठामि तेऽग्रतः
You are without allies, O son of Kunti, while the Kauravas have many on their side; for this reason, O mighty-armed one, I stand before you in fear.
उवाच पार्थो मा भैषीः प्रहस्य स्वनवत्तदा
Then Partha, with a smile and a resounding voice, said: 'Do not be afraid.'
युध्यमानस्य मे वीर गन्धर्वैः सुमहाबलैः । सहायो घोषयात्रायां कस्तदासीत्सखा मम
O hero, when I fought the mighty Gandharvas during the Ghosha-yatra, who was my ally then? Who was my companion?
तथा प्रतिभये तस्मिन्देवदानवसंकुले। खाण्डवे युध्यमानस्य कस्तदासीत्सखा मम
Likewise, in that fearful battle among gods and demons at Khandava, who was my companion as I fought?
निवातकवचैः सार्धं पौलोमैश्च महाबलैः । युध्यतो देवराजार्थे कः सहायस्तदाऽभवत्
When I fought alongside the king of the gods against the Nivatakavachas and the powerful Paulomas, who was my ally then?
स्वयंवरे तु पाञ्चाल्या राजभिः सह संयुगे। युध्यतो बहुभिस्तात कः सहायस्तदाऽभवत्
At the svayamvara of Draupadi, when I fought many kings in battle, who was my ally then, dear one?
उपजीव्य गुरुं द्रोणं शुक्रं वैश्रवणं यमम्। वरुणं पावकं चैव कृपं कृष्णं च माधवम् । पिनाकपाणिनं चैव कथमेतान्न योधये
Having received instruction from Drona, Shukra, Kubera, Yama, Varuna, Agni, Kripa, Krishna, and Shiva himself—how could I not fight these men?
रथं वाहय मे शीघ्रं व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः
Drive my chariot quickly; let your anxiety depart.
उत्तरं सांरथिं कृत्वा शमीं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। आयुधं सर्वमादाय ततः प्रायाद्धनञ्जयः
Making Uttara his charioteer, circumambulating the Shami tree, Dhananjaya then took up all the weapons and set out.
ध्वजं च सिंहं मात्स्यस्य भ्रातॄणामायुधानि च। प्रणिधाय शमीमध्ये प्रयातुमुपचक्रमे
He placed the Matsya prince's lion-banner and the weapons of his brothers in the midst of the Shami tree, and then prepared to depart.
ततः काञ्चनलाङ्गूलं ध्वजं वानरलक्षणम् । दिव्यं मायामयं युक्तं विहितं विश्वकर्मणा । मनसा चिन्तयामास प्रसादं पावकस्य च
Then he thought of the golden-tailed banner marked with a monkey, wondrous and magical, crafted by Vishvakarma, and also of the favor of Agni.
स च तच्चिन्तितं ज्ञात्वा ध्वजे भूतान्ययोजयत्। रथे वानरमुच्छ्रित्य गाण्डीवं व्याक्षिपद्धनुः
Knowing his thought, Agni caused the beings to enter the banner, and Arjuna raised the monkey on his chariot and drew his Gandiva bow.
सपताकं विचित्राङ्गं सोपासङ्गं महाबलम्। खात्पपात रथे तूर्णं दिव्यरूपं मनोरमम्
That wondrous, powerful, many-colored, and adorned banner, with its staff and ornaments, swiftly descended onto the chariot, divine and beautiful.
रथमास्थाय बीभत्सुः कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः। बद्धासिः सतलत्राणः प्रगृहीतशरासनः । ततः प्रायादुदीचीं स कपिप्रवरकेतनः
Mounting the chariot, the heroic son of Kunti, with white steeds, sword fastened, armor donned, and bow in hand, set out northward, bearing the foremost monkey-banner.
सैन्याभ्याशं स संप्राप्य गृहीत्वा शङ्खमुत्तमम् । स्वनवन्तं महाशब्दं देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः । शशाङ्करूपं बीभत्सुः प्राध्मापयदरिंदमः
Having approached the army, Dhananjaya took up his excellent conch, Devadatta, resounding with a mighty sound, and the destroyer of foes, Bibhatsu, blew it, shining like the moon.
[ शशाङ्ककुन्दधवलं मुखे निक्षिप्य वासविः । उच्छ्वसद्गण्डयुगलं सिराल्याचितफालकम्
Vāsavi placed the moon-white, jasmine-bright conch at his lips, cheeks swelling as he breathed, his brow marked with veins.
आरक्तनिम्ननयनं ह्रस्वस्थूलशिरोधरम्। अतिश्लिष्टोदरोरस्कं तिर्यगाननशोभितम्
His eyes were red and deep-set, his head and neck short and thick, his belly and chest closely joined, his face broad and striking.
यावत्स्वशक्तिसामग्र्यं त्रैलोक्यं क्षोभयन्निव । मरुद्भिर्दशभिश्चैव प्राध्मापयदरिंदमः ]
With all his strength and power, as if shaking the three worlds, and accompanied by the ten winds, the destroyer of foes blew the conch.
शङ्खशब्दोस्य सोत्यर्थं श्रूयते कालमेघवत्
The sound of his conch was heard, deep and thunderous like a storm cloud.
तस्य शङ्खस्य शब्देन धनुपो निस्वनेन च। वानरस्य निनादेन रथनेमिस्वनेन च। जङ्गमस्य भयं घोरमकरोत्पाकशासनिः
By the sound of that conch, the roar of the bowstring, the cry of the monkey, and the rumble of the chariot wheels, the son of Pāka caused terrible fear among all living beings.
शङ्खशब्देन पार्थस्य मुखेनाश्वाः पतन्क्षितौ । उत्तरश्चापि संत्रस्थो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्
At the sound of Partha's conch from his lips, the horses fell to the ground, and Uttara, terrified, sat down in the chariot.
अथाश्वान्रश्मिभिः पार्थः समुद्यम्य परंतपः । अभ्राजत रथोपस्थे भानुर्मेराविवोत्तरे
Then Partha, the scorcher of foes, took up the reins of the horses, and in the chariot shone like the sun on northern Meru.
शङ्खघोषेण वित्रस्तं ज्याघातेन च मूर्छितम् । उत्तरं संपरिष्वज्य समाश्वासयदर्जुनः
Frightened by the conch's blast and stunned by the twang of the bowstring, Arjuna embraced Uttara and comforted him.
मा भैस्त्वं राजपुत्राग्र्य क्षत्रियोसि परन्तप । कथं पुरुषशार्दूल शत्रुमध्ये विषीदसि
"Do not fear, foremost of princes; you are a Kshatriya, scorcher of foes. How, O tiger among men, do you despair in the midst of enemies?"
श्रुतास्ते शङ्खशब्दाश्च भेरीशब्दाश्च सर्वशः । कुञ्जराणां च निनदा व्यूढानीकेषु नित्यशः
"You have heard the sounds of conches and drums in full, and the trumpeting of elephants in battle arrays, always."
स त्वं कथमिवानेन शङ्खशब्देन भीषितः । विपण्णरूपो वित्रस्तः पुरुषः प्राकृतो यथा
"So how are you frightened by this conch sound, looking distraught and terrified like an ordinary man?"