द्रुमाद्रुक्मी महातेजा विजयं प्रत्यपद्यत। संछिद्य मौरवान्पाशान्निहत्य मुरमोजसा
The mighty Rukmi obtained the Vijaya bow, having broken the bonds of the Mauravas and slain Mura with his strength.
निर्जित्य नरकं भौममाहृत्य मणिकुण्डले । षोडश स्त्रीसहस्राणि रत्नानि विविधानि च
Having conquered Bhauma Naraka and brought back the jeweled earrings, as well as sixteen thousand women and various gems,
प्रतिपेदे हृषीकेशः शार्ङ्गं च धनुरुत्तमम्। रुक्मी तु विजयं लब्ध्वा धनुर्मेघनिभस्वनम्
Hrishikesha acquired the supreme Sharnga bow, and Rukmi, having obtained the Vijaya bow, which thundered like clouds,
विभीषयन्निव जगत्पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तत। नामृष्यत पुरा योऽसौ स्वबाहुलगर्वितः
He advanced upon the Pandavas as if to terrify the world, he who once, proud of his own strength, could not endure—
रुक्मिण्या हरणं वीरो वासुदेवेन धीमता। कृत्वा प्रतिज्ञां नाहत्वा निवर्तिष्ये जनार्दनम्
The heroic Rukmi, after the wise Vasudeva carried off Rukmini, made a vow: 'I will not return without defeating Janardana.'
ततोऽन्वधावद्वार्ष्णेयं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। सेनया चतुरङ्गिण्या महत्या दूरपातया
Then, the foremost among all wielders of weapons pursued the Vrishni, with a great fourfold army, swift and far-reaching.
विचित्रायुधवर्मिण्या गङ्ग्येव प्रवृद्धया। स समासाद्य वार्ष्णेयं योगानामीश्वरं प्रभुम्
With his diverse weapons and armor, mighty as the swelling Ganges, he approached Vārṣṇeya, the lord and master of yogic powers.
व्यंसितो व्रीडितो राजन्नाजगाम स कुण्डिनम्। यत्रैव कृष्णेन रणे निर्जितः परवीरहा
But, O King, shamed and humiliated, he did not go to Kuṇḍina, where he had once been defeated in battle by Kṛṣṇa, the subduer of enemy heroes.
तत्र भोजकटं नाम कृतं नगरमुत्तमम् । सैन्येन महता तेन प्रभूतगजवाजिना
There he established a foremost city named Bhojakaṭa, with a great army rich in elephants and horses.
पुरं तद्भुवि विख्यातं नाम्ना भोजकटं नृप । स भोजराजः सैन्येन महता परिवारितः
That city, famed in the land as Bhojakaṭa, O King, was guarded by the Bhoja ruler with his mighty army.
अक्षौहिण्या महावीर्यः पाण्डवान्क्षिप्रमागमत्। ततः स कवची धन्वी तली खङ्गी शरासनी
With a full akṣauhiṇī, powerful in valor, he swiftly came to the Pāṇḍavas; then, armored, bow in hand, bearing sword and shield,
रथेनादित्यवर्णेन प्रविवेश महाचमूम् । विदितः पाण्डवेयानां वासुदेवप्रियेप्सया
He entered the great army on a chariot shining like the sun, known among the sons of Pāṇḍu for his devotion to Vāsudeva.
युधिष्ठिरस्तु तं राजा प्रत्युद्गम्याभ्यपूजयत्। स पूजितः पाण्डुपुत्रैर्यथान्यायं सुसंस्तुतः
King Yudhiṣṭhira went out to greet him and honored him; thus received and praised by the sons of Pāṇḍu according to custom,
प्रतिगृह्य तु तान्सर्वान्विश्रान्तः सहसैनिकः । उवाच मध्ये वीराणां कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम्
Having accepted all their greetings, and rested with his soldiers, he spoke among the heroes to Dhanañjaya, son of Kuntī.
सहायोस्मि स्थितो युद्धे यदि भीतोसि पाण्डव । करिष्यामि रणे साह्यमसह्यं तव शत्रुभिः
"I stand ready to aid you in battle, O Pāṇḍava; if you are afraid, I will render you such help in war as your foes cannot withstand."
न हि मे विक्रमे तुल्यः पुमानस्तीह कश्चन। हनिष्यामिरणे भागं यन्मे दास्यसि पाण्डव
"There is no man here equal to me in prowess; I will destroy in battle whatever portion you assign to me, O Pāṇḍava."
अपि द्रोणकृपौ वीरौ भीष्मकर्णावथो पुनः । अथवा सर्व एवैते तिष्ठन्तु वसुधाधिपाः
"Even if Droṇa and Kṛpa, Bhīṣma and Karṇa, or all these lords of the earth together stand against me—"
निहत्य समरे शत्रूंस्तव दास्यामि मेदिनीम् । इत्युक्तो धर्मराजस्य केशवस्य च संनिधौ
"I will slay your enemies in battle and give you the earth." Thus he spoke in the presence of Dharmarāja and Keśava.
श्रृण्वतां पार्थिवेन्द्राणामन्येषां चैव सर्वशः । वासुदेवमभिप्रेक्ष्य धर्मराजं च पाण्डवम्। उवाच धीमान्कौन्तेयः प्रहस्य सखिपूर्वकम्
While all the kings and others listened, looking to Vāsudeva and Dharmarāja, the wise son of Kuntī, smiling and addressing his friend, said:
युध्यमानस्य मे वीर गन्धर्वैः सुमहाबलैः । सहायो घोषयात्रायां कस्तदासीत्सखा मम
"O hero, when I fought the mighty Gandharvas in the cattle raid, who then was my ally and friend?"
तथा प्रतिभये तस्मिन्देवदानवसंकुले। खाण्डवे युध्यमानस्य कः सहायस्तदावभवत्
"Likewise, in that fearful clash of gods and demons at Khāṇḍava, who was my helper as I fought?"
निवातकवचैर्युद्धे कालकेयैश्च दानवैः । तत्र मे युध्यमानस्य कः सहायस्तदाभवत्
"In battle with the Nivātakavacas and the Kālakeya Dānavas, who stood by me as I fought there?"
तथा विराटनगरे कुरुभिः सह सङ्गरे। युध्यतो बहुभिस्तत्र कः सहायोऽभवन्मम
"So too, in the city of Virāṭa, when I fought many Kurus in battle, who was my ally then?"
उपजीव्य रणे रुद्रं शक्रं वैश्रवणं यमम्। वरुणं पावकं चैव कृपं द्रोणं च माधवम्
"Relying in battle on Rudra, Śakra, Vaiśravaṇa, Yama, Varuṇa, Pāvaka, as well as Kṛpa, Droṇa, and Mādhava—"
धारयन्गाण्डिवं दिव्यं धनुस्तेजोमयं दृढम् । अक्षय्यशरसंयुक्तो दिव्यास्त्रपरिबृंहितः
Bearing the divine bow Gandiva, radiant with energy and unbreakable, equipped with inexhaustible arrows and enhanced by celestial weapons,
कौरवामां कुले जातः पाण्डोः पुत्रो विशेषतः । द्रोणं व्यपदिशञ्छिष्यो वासुदेवसहायवान्
Born in the Kaurava line, especially as the son of Pandu, declared as Drona’s disciple, and accompanied by Vasudeva,
कथमस्मद्विधो ब्रूयाद्भीतोऽस्मीति यशोहरम् । वचनं नरशार्दूल वज्रायुधसमस्वनम्
How could someone like me utter the shameful words, 'I am afraid,' O tiger among men, words that would tarnish my honor and resound like the thunder of the vajra weapon?
नास्मि भीतो महाबाहो सहायार्थश्च नास्ति मे । यथाकामं यथायोगं गच्छ वात्रैव तिष्ठ वा
I am not afraid, mighty-armed one, nor do I seek allies; go as you wish or as is proper, or remain here as you please.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विजयस्य च धीमतः ।' विनिवर्त्य ततो रुक्मी सेनां सागरसंनिभाम् । दुर्योधनमुपागच्छत्तथैव भरतर्षभ
Hearing these words from the wise Vijaya, Rukmi turned back his ocean-like army and then approached Duryodhana, O bull among the Bharatas.
तथैव चाभिगम्यैनमुवाच वसुधाधिपः। प्रत्याख्यातश्च तेनापि स तदा शूरमानिना
In the same way, the lord of the earth approached him and spoke, but was also rejected by that self-proclaimed hero.