अक्षयाविषुधी दिव्यौ पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः। तेन पार्थो रणे शूरस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः
With inexhaustible and divine quivers, the great-souled Pandava stood firm in battle, like an immovable mountain.
अश्वत्थाम्नः पुनर्बाणाः क्षिप्रमभ्यस्यतो रणे। जग्मुः परिक्षयं शीघ्रमभूत्तेनाधिकोऽर्जुनः
But the arrows of Ashvatthaman, though swiftly shot in battle, were quickly exhausted; thus Arjuna gained the advantage.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र महावीर्यपराक्रमः। आजगाम महाबाहुः कृपः शस्त्रभृतांवरः । अर्जुनं प्रतियोद्धुं वै युद्धकामो महारथः
Meanwhile, there arrived the mighty and valiant Kripa, best among weapon-bearers, eager for battle, to oppose Arjuna.
अथं द्रौणे रथं त्यक्त्वा कृपस्य रथमुत्तमम् । आजगामार्जुनस्तूर्णं सूर्यवैश्वानरप्रभम्
Then Arjuna, swiftly leaving Drona's son's chariot, mounted Kripa's splendid chariot, shining like the sun and fire.
तौ वीर सूर्यसंकाशौ योत्स्यमानौ महारथौ। वाषिकाविव जीमूतौ व्यरोचेतां व्यवस्थितौ
Those two mighty warriors, radiant as the sun, stood ready to fight, like two thunderclouds facing each other.
श्रगृह्य गाण्डिवं लोके विश्रुतं पुनरर्जुनः। अभ्ययाद्भरतश्रेष्ठो विनिघ्नञ्शरमालया
Then Arjuna, renowned in the world, took up his Gandiva bow and advanced, O best of Bharatas, showering a mass of arrows.
कृपश्च धनुरादाय तथैवार्जुनमभ्यगाम्
Kripa too, taking up his bow, advanced toward Arjuna in the same way.
प्रगृह्य बलवच्चापं नाराचान्रक्तभोजनान्। कृपः पार्थाय चिक्षेप शंतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Grasping his strong bow, Kripa hurled hundreds and thousands of iron arrows with red tips at Partha.
जीमूत इव धर्मान्ते शरवर्पं विमुञ्चति । नन्दयन्सुहृदः सर्वान्प्रत्ययुध्यत फल्गुनम्
Like a cloud at the end of the season releasing a torrent of arrows, he delighted all his friends as he fought Phalguna.
विकृष्य बलवच्चापं पाण्डवोऽमितविक्रमः। चचार समरे पार्थश्चित्रमार्गान्विदर्शयन्
The Pandava, of boundless valor, powerfully drew his bow and, in battle, displayed wondrous paths of arrows.
सर्वाश्चैव दिशो बाणैः प्रदिशश्च महाबलः । एकच्छायमिवाकाशं सर्वतः कृतवान्प्रभुः
With his mighty arrows, he covered all the directions and quarters, making the entire sky appear as if it were under a single shade.
प्राच्छादयदमेयात्मा पार्थः शरशतैः कृपम् । उद्गतः समरे मेघो धाराभिरिव पर्वतम्
Partha, whose spirit cannot be measured, shrouded Kripa with hundreds of arrows, as a cloud rising in battle covers a mountain with its torrents.
स शरैरर्पितः ऋद्धः शितैरग्निशिखोपमैः । कृपो बभूव समरे विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलंम्
Struck by those sharp arrows, blazing like tongues of fire, Kripa in battle appeared like a fire burning without smoke.
ततः शरसहस्रेण पार्थमप्रतिमौजसम् । अर्दयित्वा महाबाहुर्ननाद समरे कृपः
Then Kripa, the mighty-armed, after tormenting Partha—whose energy is unmatched—with a thousand arrows, roared on the battlefield.
ततः कनकपुङ्खेन शरेण नतपर्वणा। बिभेद समरे पार्थः कृपस्य ध्वजमुत्तमम्
Then Partha, with a gold-feathered, well-curved arrow, struck down Kripa's foremost banner in the midst of battle.
ततः पश्चान्महातेजा नाराचान्सूर्यसन्निभान् । जग्राह समरे पार्थो भूयो बहुशिलीमुखान्
After that, the radiant Partha seized in battle more iron arrows, shining like the sun, and many broad-headed shafts.
तैस्तदातीं महाबाहुः कृपस्य रथरक्षिणः । जघान क्षत्रियश्रेष्ठो युध्यमानान्महारथान्
With those, the mighty-armed best of Kshatriyas struck down the great warriors protecting Kripa's chariot, as they fought valiantly.
चन्द्रकेतुः सुकेतुश्च चित्राश्वो मणिमांस्तद। मुञ्जमौलिश्च विक्रान्तो हेमवर्णो भयावहः
Chandraketu, Suketu, Citrashva, Maniman, and the valiant Munjamauli, golden-hued and terrifying—
सुरथोऽतिरथश्चैव सुपेणोऽरिष्ट एव च। नृकेतुश्च सहानीकास्ते निषेदुर्गतासवः
Suratha, the great chariot-warrior, Supena, Arishta, and Nrketu with their troops—all fell lifeless.
तान्निहत्य ततः पार्थो निमेपादिव भारत । पुनरन्यान्समाधत्त त्रयोदश शिलीमुखान्
Having slain them, Partha, O Bharata, like Death itself, then took up thirteen more broad-headed arrows.
अथास्य युगमेकेन चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान्। षष्ठेन तु शिरः सङ्ख्ये कृपस्य रथसारथेः
With one, he struck the yoke; with four, the four horses; and with the sixth, in the battle, he struck the head of Kripa's charioteer.
त्रिभिस्त्रिवेणुं बलवान्द्वाभ्यामक्षं महाबलः । द्वादशेन तु भल्लेन कृपस्य सशरं धनुः
With three, the powerful one broke the triple bamboo-pole; with two, the mighty axle; and with the twelfth, a crescent-headed arrow, he cut Kripa's bow along with its string.
छित्त्वा वज्रनिकाशेन फल्गुनः प्रहसन्निव। त्रयोदशेनेन्द्रसमः प्रत्यविध्यत्स्तनान्तरे
Having cut it with a razor-sharp arrow, Phalguna, as if smiling, with the thirteenth—equal to Indra—struck Kripa in the chest.
स छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । अथ शक्तिं परामृश्य सूर्यवैश्वानरप्रभाम् । चिक्षेप सहसा क्रुद्धः पार्थायाद्भुतकर्मणे
Deprived of his bow, chariot, horses, and charioteer, Kripa, seething with anger, seized a spear blazing like the sun and fire, and hurled it swiftly at Partha, the wondrous warrior.
तामर्जुनस्तथारूपां शक्तिं हेमपरिष्कृताम्। रुरोध सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैरर्धचन्द्रमुखैश्च ताम्
Arjuna checked that spear, adorned with gold and of such form, with sharp arrows and half-moon-headed shafts.
आपतन्तीं महोल्काभां चिच्छेद दशभिः शरैः। सापतद्दशधा भूमौ पार्थेन निहता शरैः
As it sped forth, blazing like a great meteor, Partha cut it down with ten arrows; struck by him, it fell to the earth in ten fragments.
शक्त्यां तु विनिकृत्तायां विरथः शरपीडितः। गदापाणिरवप्लुत्य रथात्तूर्णममित्रहा। गदां चिक्षेप सहसा पार्थायामिततेजसे
With his spear cut down, wounded by arrows and without a chariot, Kripa, slayer of foes, leapt quickly from his chariot, mace in hand, and hurled it at Partha of boundless energy.
सा च मुक्ता गदा गुर्वी रूपेणास्य परिष्कृता । अर्जुनस्य शरैर्नुन्ना प्रतिमार्गं जगाम सा
That heavy mace, splendid in form and adorned, released by him, was struck by Arjuna's arrows and turned back along its path.
अथ खङ्गं समुद्धृत्य शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत्। इयेष पाण्डवं हन्तुं कृपो लघुपराक्रमः
Then Kripa, swift in action, drew his sword, shining like a hundred moons and radiant as the sun, intending to slay the Pandava.
स शरद्वत्सुतस्तूर्णं महाचार्यः सुशिक्षितः । खेचरेव चचारकैः क्रमाच्चर्मासिधृग्भुवि
That son of Sharadvata, the great and well-trained teacher, moved quickly on the battlefield, wielding sword and shield, advancing step by step like a celestial being.