तं समन्ताद्रथाः पञ्च परिवार्य धनञ्जयम्। त इषून्सम्यगस्यन्तो मुमुक्षन्तोपि जीवितात्
Then five chariots surrounded Dhanañjaya on all sides; though eager to release their arrows, they valued their lives.
ते लाभमिव मन्वानाः क्षिप्रमार्च्छन्धनञ्जयम्। शरौघान्सम्यगस्यन्तो जीमूता इव वार्षिकाः
Thinking it a great gain, they swiftly approached Dhanañjaya, showering volleys of arrows like clouds in the rainy season.
बहुभिर्निशितैर्बाणैर्विविधैर्लोमवापिभिः । आद्रवन्प्रत्यवस्थाय प्रत्यविध्यन्धनञ्जयम्
With many sharp and variously feathered arrows, they advanced, stood their ground, and struck at Dhanañjaya.
ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सुः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः । दिव्यमस्त्रं विकुर्वाणः प्रत्ययाद्रथसत्तमान्
Then Bhīmasena, best among those who bear arms, laughed and, invoking a divine weapon, turned back those foremost charioteers.
यथा रश्मिभिरादित्यः प्रच्छादयति मेदिनीम्। एवं गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तैः शरैः प्राच्छादयद्दिशः
Just as the sun covers the earth with its rays, so did he cover all directions with arrows released from Gāṇḍīva.
न रथानां न नगानां न ध्वजानां न वाजिनाम्। अविद्धं निशितैर्बाणैरासीद्द्यूङ्गुलमन्तरम्
There was not even a finger’s breadth among the chariots, standards, elephants, or horses that was not pierced by sharp arrows.
सर्वे शान्तिपरा योधाः स्वचित्तं नाभिजझिरे । हस्तिनोऽश्वाश्च वित्रस्ता व्यवलीयन्त भारत
All the warriors, intent on peace, lost their resolve; elephants and horses, terrified, scattered, O Bhārata.
यथा नलवनं नागः प्रभिन्नः षाष्टिहायनः । एवं सर्वानपामृद्गादर्जुनः शस्त्रतेजसा
Just as a sixty-year-old elephant tramples a cane forest, so did Arjuna crush all his foes with the brilliance of his weapons.
गाण्डीवस्य तु घोषेण पृथिवी समकम्पत। मनांसि धार्तराष्ट्राणामप्यकृन्तद्धनञ्जयः
At the sound of Gāṇḍīva, the earth trembled, and Dhanañjaya unsettled even the minds of the Dhārtarāṣṭras.
ततो विगाह्य सैन्यानां मध्यं शस्त्रभृतांवरः । सारथिं समरे शूरस्त्वभ्यभाषत वीर्यवान्
Then, penetrating the midst of the army, that foremost of warriors spoke to his charioteer in battle, full of courage and strength.
संनियम्य हयानेतान्मन्दं वाहय सारथे । आचार्यपुत्रं समरे योधयिष्येऽपराजितम्
Restrain these horses and drive slowly, charioteer; I will fight the teacher’s son, undefeated in battle.
पुरा ह्येष मया युक्तः स मे भवति पृष्ठतः ।। एवमुक्तेऽर्जुनेनासावश्वत्थामरथं प्रति
For before, he was yoked with me, and now he stands behind me; so, when Arjuna had spoken thus, Aśvatthāman advanced towards his chariot.
एषोपयाति बीभत्सुर्व्यथितो गाढवेदनः
Behold, Bibhatsu approaches, afflicted and in great pain.
तं तु तत्रैव यास्यामि नासौ मुच्येत जीवितात्
I shall go to him right there; he shall not escape with his life.
नासौ भयेन निर्यातो महात्मा पाकशासनिः। नैवं भीता निवर्तन्ते न पुनर्गाढवेदनाः
That great-souled son of Pakashaasana has not fled out of fear; those who are truly terrified do not return, nor do those suffering intense pain.
यद्येनमभिसंरब्धं पुनरेवाभियास्यसि। बहून्यस्त्राणि जानीते न पुनर्मोक्ष्यते भवान्
If you confront him again, enraged, he knows many weapons; you will not escape again.
दिष्ट्या दुर्योधनो मुक्तो दिष्ट्या गावः पलायिताः। मुक्तो दिष्ट्या च संग्रामे किं रणेन करिष्यसि
By fortune, Duryodhana is freed; by fortune, the cows have fled; by fortune, you are released in battle—what will you accomplish by fighting?
क्रोशमात्रमपाक्रम्य बलमन्वानयामहे। अन्वागतबलाः पार्थं पुनरेवाभियास्यथ
Having withdrawn a krosha's distance, we shall gather our forces; with our assembled strength, you will again confront Partha.
कर्णं पराजितं दृष्ट्वा पार्थो वैराटिमब्रवीत्। एतं मां प्रापयेदानीं रथवृन्दं प्रहारिणाम्
Seeing Karna defeated, Partha spoke to the king of Virata: 'Bring me now to the array of striking chariots.'
यत्र शान्तनवो भीष्मः सर्वेषां नः पितामहः । सुयुद्धं काङ्क्षमाणो वै रथे तिष्ठति दंशितः
Where Bhishma, son of Shantanu, our grandsire, stands on his chariot, eager for noble battle, armed and ready.
तालो वै काञ्चनो यत्र वज्रवैडूर्यभूषितः । अतीव समरे भाति मातरिश्वप्रकम्पितः
Where the golden palm tree, adorned with diamond and beryl, shines greatly in the battle, trembling in the wind.
दारुणं प्रहरिष्यामि रथबृन्दानि धन्विनाम्। आदास्याम्यहमेतेषां धनुर्ज्यावेष्टनानि च
I shall fiercely strike the ranks of archers' chariots, and I will seize their bows and bowstrings.
अस्यन्तं दिव्यमस्त्राणि चित्रमुत्तर पश्यसि
Behold, Uttara, the wondrous divine weapons being hurled.
शतह्रदां जृम्भमाणां मेघस्थां प्रावृषीव च। सुवर्णपृष्ठं गाण्डीवं पश्यन्तु कुरवो मम
Let the Kurus see my Gandiva, with its golden back, swelling like a cloud in the rainy season with a hundred streams.
दक्षिणेनाथ वामेन कतमेन स्विदस्यति। इति मां शत्रवः सर्वे न विज्ञास्यन्ति सारथे
Whether I shoot from the right or the left, which side will it be? Thus, all my enemies and charioteer will not discern me.
अस्त्रोदकां हयावर्तां नागनक्रां रथह्रदाम्। नदीं प्रस्कन्दयिष्यामि परलोकापहारिणीम्
I shall flood the chariot-lake with weapons, with horse-whirlpools, serpent-crocodiles, and waters, creating a river that carries foes to the next world.
पाणिपादशिरःपृष्ठबाहुशङ्खचराचरम्। वनं कुरूणां छेत्स्यामि भल्लैः सन्नतपर्वभिः
With arrows tipped and curved, I shall cut down the forest of the Kurus—hands, feet, heads, backs, arms, conches, and all moving things.
तूणीशयाः सुपुङ्खाग्रा विशिखा दुन्दुभिस्वनाः। मया प्रमुक्ताः संग्रामे कुरून्धक्ष्यन्ति सायकाः
Arrows with fine feathers, sounding like drums, released by me in battle, will destroy the Kurus.
ध्वजवृक्षं शरतृणं नागाश्वश्वापदाकुलम् । रथसिंहगणैर्युक्तं धनुर्वल्लिसमाकुलम्। वनमादीपयिष्यामि कुरूणामस्त्रतेजसा
I shall set ablaze the forest of the Kurus with the power of weapons—banner-trees, grass, elephants, horses, beasts, chariots yoked with lions, and bows entwined.
जयतो भारतीं सेनामेकस्य मम संयुगे। शतं मार्गा भविष्यन्ति पावकस्येव कानने
As I triumph over the Bharata army alone in battle, a hundred paths will open, as in a forest for fire.