सहिता विजयं तत्र योधयन्तो महारथाः। विष्फारयन्तश्चापानि बलवन्ति महाबलाः
These great chariot-warriors, united, fought for victory, drawing their powerful bows with great strength.
ततः कीर्णपताकेन रथेनादित्यवर्चसा। पुनरावृत्य मार्गस्थं ददृशुर्वानरध्वजम्
Then, with a chariot adorned with streaming banners and shining like the sun, they saw Arjuna, whose banner bore the monkey, standing in their path.
ते महास्त्रैर्महेष्वासाः परिवार्य धनञ्जयम्। अभ्यवर्षन्सुसंक्रुद्धा महामेघा इवाचलम्
Those great archers, masters of celestial weapons, surrounded Dhanañjaya and, furious, showered him with arrows like great clouds pouring on a mountain.
शरौघान्सम्यगस्यन्तो जीमूता इव शारदाः । युद्धे तस्थुर्महावीर्याः प्रतपन्तः किरीटिनम्
Unleashing torrents of arrows like autumn clouds, those mighty heroes stood firm in battle, pressing hard upon the crowned Arjuna.
इषुभिर्बहुभिस्तूर्णं निशितैर्लोमवापिभिः । अदूरात्प्रत्यवस्थाय पाण्डवं समयोधयन्
Approaching closely, they fought the Pāṇḍava with many swift, sharp, flesh-piercing arrows.
ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सुस्तमैन्द्रं पञ्चवार्षिकम् । अस्त्रमादित्यसंकाशं गाण्डीवे समयोजयत्
Then, smiling, Bhīmasena fitted to his Gāṇḍīva bow the five-year-old Indra weapon, blazing like the sun.
नाक्षणां न च चक्राणां न रथानां न वाजिनाम् । अङ्गुलाद्दव्यङ्गुलाद्वापि विवृतं प्रत्यदृश्यत
No marks of dice, no wheels, no chariots, nor horses—nothing even the width of a finger or two—could be seen uncovered.
यथा रश्मिभिरादित्यो वृणुते सर्वतो दिशम्। एवं किरीटिना मुक्तं सर्वं प्राच्छादयञ्जगत्
Just as the sun veils all directions with its rays, so too did the diademed one’s arrows cover the entire world.
यथा बलाहके विद्युत्पावको वा शिलोच्चये। तथा गाण्डीवमभवच्चक्राभुधमिवाततम्
As lightning in a cloud or fire on a mountain peak, so did the Gandiva appear, stretched out like a whirling discus.
यथा वर्षति पर्जन्यो विद्युत्पतति पर्वते। विस्फूर्जिता दिशः सर्वा ज्वलद्गाण्डीवमावृणोत्
As when the rain pours from a cloud and lightning strikes a mountain, so did the blazing Gandiva’s crackling fill all directions.
त्रस्ताश्च रथिनःक सर्वे चैन्द्रमस्त्रं विकुर्वति। सर्वे शान्तिपरा योधाः स्वचित्तं नाभिजझिरे । सहिता द्रोणभीष्माभ्यां प्रमोहगतचेतनाः
All the chariot-warriors, terrified by the display of the Indra weapon, sought only peace; their minds could not be steadied, even with Drona and Bhishma beside them, their senses bewildered.
तानि सर्वाणि सैन्यानि भग्नानि भरतर्षभ । प्राद्रवन्त दिशः सर्वा भयाद्वै सव्यसाचिनः
All those armies, O bull of the Bharatas, were broken and fled in every direction, seized by fear of Savyasacin.
दक्षिणामेव तु दिशं हयानुत्तर वाहय। पुरा सार्थी भवत्येषामयं शब्दोऽत्र तिष्ठताम्
Drive the horses to the southern direction, charioteer, for the sound of their approach is here—let it remain.
अश्चत्थाम्नः प्रतिरथं प्राचीमुद्याहि सारथे । अचिराद्द्रष्टुमिच्छामि गुरुपुत्रं यशस्विनम्
Turn the chariot eastward to face Ashvatthaman’s counterpart, charioteer; I wish soon to see the illustrious son of my teacher.
मोहयित्वा तु तान्सर्वान्धनुर्घोषेण पाण्डवः। प्रसव्यं चैवमावृत्य क्रोशार्धं प्राद्रवत्तदा
Having bewildered them all with the twang of his bow, Pandava then swiftly circled to the left and fled half a krosha away.
यथा सततगो वायुः सुपर्णश्चापि शीघ्रगः । तथा पार्थरथः शीघ्रमाकाशे पर्यवर्तत
As the wind that always moves, or the swift-flying eagle, so did Partha’s chariot quickly wheel about in the sky.
मुहूर्तोपरते शब्दे प्रतियाते धनञ्जये । हस्त्यश्वरथपादातं पुरस्कृत्य महारथाः
When the sound had ceased for a moment and Dhananjaya had withdrawn, the great chariot-warriors advanced, leading elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers.
द्रोणभीष्ममुखाः सर्वे सैन्यानां जघने ययुः। यत्ताः पार्थमपश्यन्तः सहिताः शरविक्षताः
All the leaders—Drona, Bhishma, and the rest—moved to the rear of the army, wounded by arrows and searching for Partha together.
दिष्ट्या दुर्योधनो मुक्तः सैन्यं भूयिष्ठमागतम्। क्रोशमात्रमतिक्रम्य बलमन्वानयामहे। यात यत्र वनं गुल्मं नदीमन्वश्मकां प्रति
By fortune, Duryodhana escaped and most of the army returned; having crossed only a krosha, we are regrouping the troops. Go where the forest, thicket, or river leads toward our people.
अथ दुर्योधनो दृष्ट्वा भग्नं स्वं बलमाहवे। अमृष्यमाणः क्रोधेन प्रतिमार्गन्धनञ्जयम्
Then Duryodhana, seeing his own army broken in battle, could not endure it and, enraged, began to pursue Dhananjaya.
न्यवर्तत कुरुश्रेष्ठ स्वेनानीकेन संवृतः । वार्यमाणो दुराधर्षैर्भीष्मद्रोणकृपैर्भृशम्
But the best of the Kurus turned back, surrounded by his own division, though Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa, hard to withstand, tried hard to restrain him.
ततोऽर्जुनश्चित्रमुदारवेगं समीक्ष्य गाण्डीवमुवाच वाक्यम्। भोगीन्द्रकल्पं भुवनेषु रूढमभेद्यमच्छेद्यमदाह्यमाजौ
Then Arjuna, seeing the wondrous, mighty Gandiva—like the king of serpents, renowned in the worlds, unbreakable, uncuttable, unburnable in battle—spoke these words:
इदं त्विदानीमनयं कुरूणां शिवं धनुः शत्रुनिबर्हणं च। अत्याशुगं वेगवदाशुकर्तृ अवारणीयं महते रणाय
Now, this bow brings welfare to the Kurus and destruction to their enemies; swift, forceful, and quick to act, unstoppable in great battle.
प्रदारणं शत्रुवरूथिनीनामनीकजित्संयति वज्रकल्पम्। वैधव्यदं शत्रुनितम्बिनीनां मुखप्रदं कौरववंशजानाम्
It shatters the enemy’s ranks, conquers armies in combat, is like a thunderbolt; it brings widowhood to the enemy’s women and glory to the sons of the Kaurava line.
प्रयाहि यत्रैष सुयोधनो हि तं पातयिष्यामि शरैः सुतीक्ष्णैः । आचार्यपुत्रं च सुयोधनं च पितामहं सूतसुतं च सङ्ख्ये । द्रोणं कृपं चैव निवार्य सर्वाञ्शिरो हरिष्यामि सुयोधनस्य
Go where Suyodhana is; I will strike him down with sharp arrows. In battle, I will overcome the son of the teacher, Suyodhana, the grandsire, the son of the charioteer, Drona, Kripa, and all others, and I will take Suyodhana’s head.
तदुत्तरश्चित्रमुदारवेगं धनुश्च दृष्ट्वा निशिताञ्शरांश्च। भीतोऽब्रवीदर्जुनमाजिमध्ये नाहं तवाश्वान्विषहे नियन्तुम्
Then Uttara, seeing the splendidly swift bow and the sharp arrows, grew fearful and said to Arjuna in the midst of battle, 'I cannot control your horses.'
तमब्रवीन्मात्स्यसुतं प्रहस्य गाण्डीवधन्वा द्विषतां निहन्ता । मया सहायेन कुतो भयं ते प्रेह्युत्तराश्वानुपमन्त्रयस्व
Arjuna, wielder of Gandiva and destroyer of enemies, laughed and said to the Matsya prince, 'With me as your ally, why are you afraid? Go, Uttara, and direct the horses.'
आश्वासितस्तेन धनञ्जयेन वैराटिरश्वानतुदञ्जवेन। विष्फारयंस्तद्धनुरुग्रवेगं युयुत्समानः पुनरेव जिष्णुः
Encouraged by Dhananjaya, the son of Virata, whip in hand, drove the horses. Arjuna, eager for battle, drew his mighty bow once more.
गाण्डीवशब्देन तु तत्रतत्र भूमौ निषेदुर्बहवोऽतिवेलम्। शङ्खस्य शब्देन तु वानरस्य शब्देन ते योधवराः समन्तात्
At the sound of Gandiva, many warriors sat down on the ground in fear. At the sound of the conch and the cry of the monkey, the best of fighters gathered all around.
एषोऽतिमानी धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रः सेनामुखे सर्वसमृद्धतेजाः। पराजयं नित्यममृष्यमाणो निवर्तते युद्धमनाः पुरस्तात्
Here is the proud son of Dhritarashtra, radiant in the front of the army, unable to tolerate defeat, always eager for battle, advancing ahead.