बलं सत्वं च तेजश्च लाघवं च व्यवर्धत ।। तच्चाद्भुतमभिप्रेक्ष्य भयमुत्तरमाविशत्
—his strength, courage, energy, and agility increased. Witnessing that marvel, a great fear arose.
अस्त्राणां तव दिव्यानां शरौघान्क्षिपतः शितान्। मनो मे मुह्यतेऽत्यर्थं तव दृष्ट्वा पराक्रमम्
'As you release torrents of sharp celestial weapons, my mind is greatly bewildered, seeing your prowess.'
द्वैधीभूतं मनो मह्यं भयाद्भरतसत्तम । अदृष्टपूर्वं पश्यामि तव गाण्डीवनिस्वनम्
'My mind is divided in fear, O best of the Bharatas; I have never before witnessed the sound of your Gandiva bow.'
तव बाहुबलं चैव धनुः कर्षयतो बहु। तव तेजो दुराधर्षं यथा विष्णोस्त्रिविक्रमे
'Your strength of arms as you draw the bow, and your unassailable energy, are like Vishnu’s stride.'
तमुत्तरश्चित्रमवेक्ष्य गाण्डिवं शरांश्च मुक्तान्सहसा किरीटिना । भीतोऽब्रवीदर्जुनमाजिमध्ये नाहं तवाश्वान्विषहे नियन्तुम्
Beholding Arjuna, the diademed one, suddenly releasing a multitude of arrows from Gandiva, Uttara, afraid, said to Arjuna in the midst of battle: 'I cannot control your horses.'
तमब्रवीत्किंचिदिव प्रहस्य गाण्डीवधन्वा द्विषतां निहन्ता । मया सहायेन कुतोऽस्ति ते भयं प्रेह्युत्तराश्वाननुमन्त्र्य वाहय
To him, the wielder of Gandiva, destroyer of foes, replied with a slight laugh: 'With me as your ally, what is there to fear? Go, urge the horses onward after consulting them.'
आश्वासितस्तेन धनंजयेन वैराटिरश्वान्प्रतुतोदय शीघ्रम्। धनंजयश्चापि विकृष्य चापं विष्फारयामास महेन्द्रकल्पः
Thus reassured by Dhananjaya, the prince of the Matsyas swiftly drove the horses; and Dhananjaya, like mighty Indra, drew and twanged his bow.
उत्तरं चैव बीभत्सुरब्रवीत्पुनरर्जुनः । न भेतव्यं मया सार्धं तात संग्राममूर्धनि
Then Bibhatsu, Arjuna, again spoke to Uttara: 'Do not be afraid, my dear, while you are with me at the forefront of battle.'
राजपुत्रोऽसि ते भद्रं कुले महति मात्स्यके। जातस्त्वं क्षत्रियकुले न विषीदितुमर्हसि
'You are a prince, born in the great Matsya lineage; you were born in a Kshatriya family, you should not despair.'
धृतिं कृत्वा सुविपुलां राजपुत्र रथं मम। युध्यमानस्य संग्रामे राजभिः सह वाहय
'Steady your resolve, O prince, and drive my chariot as I fight in battle with the kings.'
उक्त्वा तमेवं बीभत्सुरर्जुनः पुनरब्रवीत्। पाण्डवो रथिनां श्रेष्ठो भारद्वाजं समीक्ष्य तु
Having thus spoken, Bibhatsu, Arjuna, again addressed him, the foremost of chariot-warriors, as he looked toward Bharadwaja’s son.
यत्रैषा काञ्चनी वेदिर्दृश्यतेऽग्निशिखोपमा । उच्छ्रिता काञ्चने दण्डे पताकाभिरलंकृता
'Where that golden altar, shining like a flame, is seen, raised on a golden staff and adorned with banners—'
तत्र मां वह भद्रं ते द्रोणं योत्स्यामि सत्तमम्। भारद्वाजेन योत्स्येऽहमाचार्येण महात्मना
Take me there, good charioteer, so that I may fight with Drona, the foremost of warriors; I will do battle with Bharadvaja's son, the great-souled teacher.
अमी शोणाः प्रकाशन्ते तुरगाः साधुवाहिनः । मुक्ता रथवरे तस्य सर्वशिक्षाविशारदाः
There, those red horses shine, excellent and well-trained, yoked to his splendid chariot, all thoroughly skilled in every discipline.
यतो रथवरे शूरः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः। स्निग्धवैडूर्यसंकाशस्ताम्राक्षः प्रियदर्शनः
Where that heroic chariot-warrior stands, the best among all wielders of weapons, gleaming like smooth beryl, with coppery eyes, pleasing to behold.
आदित्य इव तेजस्वी बलवीर्यसमन्वितः। सर्वलोकधनुःश्रेष्ठः सर्वलोकेषु पूजितः। अङ्गिरोशनसोस्तुल्यो नये बुद्धिमतांवरः
Radiant like the sun, endowed with strength and valor, the foremost archer in all the worlds, honored everywhere, equal to Angiras and Usanas in wisdom, supreme among the wise.
चत्वारो निखिला वेदाः साङ्गोपाङ्गाः सलक्षणाः । धनुर्वेदश्च कार्त्स्न्येन ब्राह्मं चास्त्रं प्रतिष्ठितम्
In him are established the four Vedas in their entirety, with all their branches and marks, the science of archery in full, and the Brahma weapon.
पुराणमितिहासश्च अर्थविद्या च मानवम् । भारद्वाजे समस्तानि सर्वाण्येतानि सांप्रतम्
The Puranas, histories, the science of wealth, and the laws of men—all these are now complete in Bharadvaja's son.
क्षमा दमश्च सत्यं च तेजो मार्दवमार्जवम् । प्रतिष्ठिता गुणा यस्मिन्बहवो द्विजसत्तमे
In that best of twice-born men are established many virtues: forbearance, self-control, truth, energy, gentleness, and uprightness.
यस्याहमिष्टः सततं मम चेष्टः सदा च सः। क्षत्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य तेन योत्स्ये हि सांप्रतम्
He always favors me, and I always favor him; yet, upholding the duty of a warrior, I will now fight with him.
आचार्यं प्रापयेदानीं ममोत्तर महारथम्। अपरं पश्य संग्राममद्भुतं मम तस्य च
Now bring me to the teacher, my noble opponent; witness another wondrous battle between him and me.
उत्तरस्त्वेवमुक्तोऽश्वांश्चोदयामास तं प्रति । आजगामार्जुनरथो भारद्वाजरथं प्रति
Thus addressed, Uttara urged the horses toward him, and Arjuna's chariot approached Bharadvaja's chariot.
तमापतन्तं वेगेन पाण्डवं सरथं रणे। द्रोणोप्यभ्यद्रवत्पार्थं मतो मत्तमिव द्विपम्
As the Pandava, with his chariot, rushed swiftly into battle, Drona too charged at Partha, like an enraged elephant.
स तु रुक्मरथं दृष्ट्वा कौन्तेयः समभिद्रुतम्। आचार्यं तं महाबाहुः प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Seeing the golden chariot rushing toward him, the mighty-armed son of Kunti, with joined palms, spoke to the teacher.
उषिताः स्मो वने वासं प्रतिकर्मचिकीर्षवः । कोपं नार्हसि नः कर्तुं सदा समरदुर्जय
We have dwelt in the forest, wishing to repay our debts; you, ever unconquerable in battle, should not be angry with us.
अहं तु ताडितः पूर्वं प्रहरेयं तवानघ । इति मे वर्तते बुद्धिस्तद्भवान्क्षन्तुमर्हति
But since I was struck before, I may strike you now, O faultless one; such is my thought—may you forgive me for this.
ततः प्राध्मापयच्छङ्खं भेरीपटहवादितम् । व्यक्षोभत बलं सर्वमुद्धूतमिव सागरम्
Then the conch, drums, and kettledrums were sounded; the whole army was shaken, as if the ocean were stirred up.
ततस्तु प्राहिणोद्द्रोणः शरानथ स विंशतिम्। अप्राप्तानेव तान्पार्थश्चिच्छेद कृतहस्तवान्
Then Drona sent twenty arrows, but Partha, skilled of hand, cut them down before they reached him.
ततः शरसहस्रेण रथं पार्थस्य वीर्यवान् । अवाकिरत्ततो द्रोणः शीघ्रहस्तं प्रदर्शयन्
Then Drona, displaying his swift hand, showered a thousand arrows upon Partha's chariot.
एवं प्रववृते युद्धं भारज्वाजकिरीटिनोः
Thus the battle was joined between Bharadvaja's son and the one with the diadem.