दुर्योधनं न पश्यामि क्व नु राजा स तिष्ठति। उत्सृंज्यैतद्रथानीकं याहि यत्र सुयोधनः
I do not see Duryodhana—where indeed is that king standing? Leave this array of chariots and go to where Suyodhana is.
तं हत्वा संनिवर्तिष्ये गाः स आदाय गच्छति। गवाग्रमभितो याहि यत्र राजा भविष्यति
Having slain him, I will return; he is going to seize the cows—drive toward the front of the cattle, where the king will be.
इत्युक्त्वा समरे पार्थो वैराटिमपराजितः। संस्पृशानो धनुर्दिव्यं त्वरमाणोऽगमत्तदा
Having spoken thus in the battle, Partha, the undefeated son of Virata, touched his divine bow and, hastening, went forth.
ततो भीष्मोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं कुरुमध्ये परंतपः। चिरदृष्टोऽयमस्माभिर्धर्मज्ञो बान्धवप्रियः
Then Bhishma, scorcher of foes, spoke among the Kurus: 'It has been long since we have seen him—he who knows dharma and is dear to his kin.'
अतीव ज्वलते लक्ष्म्या पाकशासनिरागतः। एष दुर्योधनं पार्थो मार्गते निकृतिं स्मरन्
He blazes with splendor, as if come from the lord of the gods; Partha is seeking Duryodhana, remembering his deceit.
सेनामत्यर्थमालोक्य त्वरते ग्रहणेऽस्य च। मृगं सिंह इवादातुमीक्षते पाकशासनिः
Surveying the army intently, he hastens to capture him; like a lion intent on seizing its prey, Partha looks for the son of Dhritarashtra.
नैषोऽन्तरेण राजानं बीभत्सुः स्थातुमर्हति। तस्य पार्ष्णि ग्रहीष्यामो जवेनाभिप्रधावतः
Without the king, Arjuna cannot be made to stand; we will seize him by the heel as he charges forward with speed.
न ह्येनमभिसंक्रुद्धमेको युद्ध्येत संयुगे। अन्यो देवान्महादेवात्कृष्णाद्वा देवकीसुतात्। आचार्याच्च सपुत्राद्वा भारद्वाजान्महारथात्
For no one, not even if enraged, could face him alone in battle—except perhaps the great gods against Mahadeva, or Krishna the son of Devaki, or the teacher Drona with his son, the mighty chariot-warrior of the Bharadwaja line.
किं नो गावः करिष्यन्ति द्रव्यं वा विपुलं तथा। दुर्योधनः पार्थगतः पुरा प्राणान्विमुञ्चति
What use to us are the cows, or even vast wealth? Duryodhana, having gone against Partha, is already risking his life.
इत्युक्त्वा समरे भीष्मः सेनया सह कौरवः। अन्वधावत्तदा पार्थं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य रक्षणे
Having spoken thus, Bhishma, the Kaurava, together with his army, then pursued Partha on the battlefield to protect the son of Dhritarashtra.
विक्रोशमात्रं यात्वा तु पार्थो वैराटिमब्रवीत्। इषुपातमात्रे सेनायाः स्थापयाश्वानरिंदम
Having gone just within shouting distance, Partha said to the prince of Virata: 'O tamer of foes, halt the horses at the range of arrows from the army.'
एतदग्रं गवां दृष्टं मन्दं वाहय सारथे। याह्युत्तरेण सेनाया गाश्चैव प्रविभज्य च
'See, this is the front of the cows; drive slowly, charioteer. Go to the north of the army, dividing the cows as you go.'
परिक्षिप्य गवां यूथमत्र योत्स्ये सुयोधनम् । गच्छन्ति सत्वरा गावः सगोपाः परिमोचय
'Encircle the herd of cows here, and I will fight Suyodhana. The cows, along with their herdsmen, are moving quickly—set them free.'
तत्र गत्वा पशून्वीर सगोपान्परिमोचय। अन्तरेण च सेनायाः प्राङ्मुखो गच्छ चोत्तर
'Go there, hero, and release the cattle with their herdsmen. Then, turning eastward, proceed north, keeping clear of the army.'
इमे त्वतिरथाः सर्वे मम वीर्यपराक्रमम्। पश्यन्तु कुरवो युद्धे महेन्द्रस्येव दानवाः
'Let all these great chariot-warriors of yours witness my strength and valor in battle, just as the Dānavas beheld that of mighty Indra.'
ततः स रथिनां श्रेष्ठो नाम विश्राव्य चात्मनः। निशिताग्राञ्शरांस्तीक्ष्णान्मुमोचांतकसन्निभान्
Then that foremost of chariot-warriors, having proclaimed his name, released sharp, keen arrows, resembling the weapons of Death.
शलभैरिव चाकाशं धाराभिरिव पर्वतम्। निरावकाशमभवच्छरैः क्षिप्तैः किरीटिना
Just as swarms of locusts fill the sky, or rain pours upon a mountain, so did Arjuna's arrows, filling all space, leave no opening.
विकीर्यमाणास्तु शरैस्ते योधा धार्तराष्ट्रिकाः। गाश्चैव न च पश्यन्ति पार्थमुक्तैरजिह्मगैः
Struck by those straight-flying arrows released by Partha, the warriors of Dhritarashtra could see neither the cows nor Partha himself.
सा चापि बहुला सेना पार्थबाणाभिपीडिता। नापश्यद्विवृतां भूमिं नान्तरिक्षं दिशोपि वा
And that vast army, oppressed by Partha's arrows, could see neither the open ground, nor the sky, nor even the directions.
अर्जुनस्तु तदा हृष्टो दर्शयन्वीर्यमात्मनः। पीडयामास सैन्यानि गाण्डीवप्रसृतैः शरैः
Then Arjuna, delighted and displaying his own valor, began to crush the troops with arrows shot from the Gandiva bow.
तेषां नैवापयाने च नाभियाने भवन्मतिः । शीघ्रतामेव पार्थस्य पूजयन्तस्तु विस्मिताः
They had no thought of retreat or advance, but, amazed, honored only Partha's swiftness.
चन्द्रावदातं सामुद्रं कुरुसैन्यभयंकरम्। ततः शङ्खमुपाध्मासीद्द्विषतां रोमहर्षणम्। ज्याघोषं तलघोषं च कृत्वा भूतान्यमोहयत्
Then he blew his conch, white as the moon and sounding like the ocean, terrifying the Kuru army and making the hair of his enemies stand on end; the twang of his bowstring and the slap of his palms bewildered all beings.
तस्य शङ्खस्य शब्देन धनुषो निस्वनेन च। शब्देनामानुषाणां च भूतानां ध्वजवासिनाम् । वियद्गतानां देवानां मानुषाणां रवेण च
By the sound of his conch, the resonance of his bow, and the cries of the beings bearing banners, both celestial and human, in the sky and on earth, all were shaken.
ऊर्ध्वं पुच्छं विधून्वाना हेममाणाः समन्ततः । गावः सवत्साः संत्रस्ता निवृत्ता दक्षिणां दिशं
The cows, golden-hued and with calves, terrified, turned back to the southern direction, their tails raised and waving all around.
ततः स समरे शूरो बीभत्सुः शत्रुपूगहा। गोपालांश्चोदयामास गावश्चोदयतेति च
Then that valiant Arjuna, destroyer of hosts of enemies, urged the cowherds onward, saying, 'Drive the cows forward!'
उत्तरं चाह बीभत्सुर्हर्षयन्पाण्डुनन्दनः । गवामग्रं समीक्षस्व गश्चैवाशु निवर्तय
Arjuna, delighting the son of Pandu, said to Uttara, 'Look to the front of the herd and quickly turn the cows back.'
यावदेते निवर्तन्ते कुरवो जवमास्थिताः । याह्युत्तरेण गाश्चैताः सैन्यानां च नृपात्मज
As long as these Kurus, advancing swiftly, do not turn back, O prince, drive these cows away with Uttara.
पश्यन्तु कुरवः सर्वे मम वीर्यपराक्रमम्
Let all the Kurus witness my strength and valor.
दृष्टवा यान्तमदूरस्थं क्षिप्रमभ्यपतन्रथैः ।। हस्त्यश्वपरिवारेण महताऽभिविराजता
Seeing them approaching from not far away, they quickly advanced with chariots, surrounded by a great retinue of elephants and horses, shining brilliantly.
योधैः प्रासासिहस्तैश्च चापबाणोद्यतायुधैः ।। तान्यनीकान्यशोभन्त कुरूणामाततायिनाम्
Warriors armed with spears and swords, and those ready with bows and arrows, adorned those divisions of the attacking Kurus.