आजघान महाराज शरेणानतपर्वणा। सोऽतिविद्धो महेष्वासस्तेन राज्ञा महारथः
The great king struck him with a sharp arrow; thus wounded by the king, the mighty archer and great chariot-warrior,
मूर्च्छयाऽभिपरीतात्मा ध्वजयष्टिं समाश्रयत्। तांस्तु भीतान्समालक्ष्य भीमसेनं च मूर्च्छितम्
His mind overcome with faintness, took hold of his banner-staff; seeing them afraid and Bhimasena fainting,
ननाद बलवन्नादं भगदत्तः प्रतापवान्। ततो घटोत्कचो राजन्प्रेक्ष्य भीमं तथाऽऽगतं
Bhagadatta, powerful and valiant, roared loudly; then, O king, Ghatotkacha, seeing Bhima in that state,
संक्रुद्धो राक्षसो घोरस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। स कृत्वा दारुणां मायां भूरूणां भयवर्धिनीम्
The enraged and terrible Rakshasa vanished right there, having created a dreadful illusion that increased the fear of men.
अदृश्यत निमेषार्धाद्धोररूपं समास्थितः। ऐरावतं समारूढः स वै मायाकृतं स्वयम्
Within half a moment he was seen, having assumed a terrifying form, mounted upon Airavata, created by his own magic.
तस्य चान्येऽपि दिङ्वागा बभूवुरनुयायिनः। अञ्जनो वमानश्चैव महापद्मश्च सुप्रभः
And with him were others as companions: Anjana, Vamana, and the radiant Mahapadma.
त्रय एते महानागा राक्षसैः समधिष्ठिताः। महाकायास्त्रिधा राजन्प्रस्रवन्तो मदं बहु
These three great elephants, possessed by Rakshasas, of immense size, flowed with much ichor, O king.
तेजोवीर्यबलोपेता महाबलपराक्रमाः। घटोत्कचस्तु स्वं नागं चोदयामास तं तदा
Endowed with energy, heroism, and strength, mighty in valor, Ghatotkacha then urged on his own elephant.
सगजं भगदत्तं तु हन्तुकामः परंतपः। ते चान्ये चोदिता नागा राक्षसैस्तैर्महाबलैः
Desiring to slay Bhagadatta with his elephant, that scorcher of foes, and other elephants urged on by those mighty rakshasas—
परिपेतुः सुसंरब्धाश्चतुर्दंष्ट्राश्चतुर्दिशम्। भगदत्तस्य तं नागं विषाणैरभ्यपीडयन्
Fiercely enraged, with four tusks each, they rushed from all directions and struck Bhagadatta’s elephant with their tusks.
स पीड्यमानस्तैर्नागैर्वेदनार्तः शराहतः। अनदत्सुमहानादमिन्द्राशनिसमस्वनम्
Tormented by those elephants, wounded by arrows and wracked with pain, it let out a tremendous roar, its sound like the thunder of Indra’s bolt.
व्यवर्तत महाघोषो भैमसेनिशरार्दितः । मृदित्वा सर्वसैन्यानि तव पुत्रस्य भारत
Afflicted by Bhimasena’s arrows, that great-noised beast turned back, having crushed all the troops of your son, O Bharata.
तस्य तं नदतो नादं सुघोरं भीमनिःश्वनम् । श्रुत्वा भीष्मोऽब्रवीद्द्रोणं राजानं च सुयोधनम्
Hearing that dreadful, terrifying roar of the trumpeting elephant, Bhishma spoke to Drona and King Suyodhana.
एष युध्यति संग्रामे हैडिम्बेन दुरात्मना। भगदत्तो महेष्वासः कृच्छ्रे च परिवर्तते
This mighty archer Bhagadatta is fighting in battle with the wicked Hidimba’s son, and is now in great difficulty.
राक्षसश्च महामायः स च राजाऽतिकोपनः । एतौ समेतौ समरे कालमृत्युसमावुभौ
The rakshasa, master of great illusions, and that exceedingly wrathful king—these two, meeting in battle, are both like Death at the end of time.
श्रीयते चैव हृष्टानां पाण्डवानां महास्वनः । हस्तिनश्चैव सुमहान्भीतस्य रुदितध्वनिः
One hears the mighty shouts of the rejoicing Pandavas, and the great wailing cry of the terrified elephant.
तत्र गच्छाम भद्रं वो राजानं परिरक्षितुम् । अरक्ष्यमाणः समरे क्षिप्रं प्राणान्विमोक्ष्यति
Let us go there, may good fortune be yours, to protect the king; if he is not defended in battle, he will quickly lose his life.
ते त्वरध्वं महावीर्याः किं चिरेण प्रयामहे । महान्हि वर्तते रौद्रः संग्रामो रोमहर्षणः
You heroes of great valor, hurry! Why delay? A terrible, hair-raising battle is raging.
भक्तश्च कुलपुत्रश्च शूरश्च पृतनापतिः। युक्तं तस्य परित्राणं कर्तुमस्माभिरच्युत
He is devoted, of noble lineage, a hero, and commander of troops; it is fitting for us, O faultless one, to rescue him.
भीष्मस्य तद्वचः श्रुत्वा सर्व एव महारथाः । द्रोणभीष्मौ पुरस्कृत्य भगदत्तपरीप्सया
Hearing Bhishma’s words, all the great chariot-warriors, with Drona and Bhishma at their head, set out with the desire to save Bhagadatta.
उत्तमं जवमास्थाय प्रययुर्यत्र सोऽभवत्। तान्प्रयातान्समालोक्य युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः
Mounting their best steeds, they went to where he was; seeing them advance, with Yudhishthira at their head—
पञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सार्धं पृष्ठतोऽनुययुः परान्। तान्यनीकान्यथालोक्य राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्
The Panchalas, together with the Pandavas, followed behind; seeing those troops approaching, the mighty rakshasa king—
ननाद सुमहानादं विस्फोटमशनेरिव । तस्य तं निनदं श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा नागांश्च युध्यतः
Let out a tremendous roar, like the bursting of a thunderbolt; hearing that roar and seeing the elephants fighting—
भीष्मः शान्तनवो भूयो भारद्वाजमभाषत । न रोचते मे संग्रामो हैडिम्बेन दुरात्मना
Bhishma, son of Shantanu, again spoke to Bharadwaja’s son: ‘This battle with the wicked Hidimba’s son does not please me.’
बलवीर्यमसाविष्टः ससहायश्च सांप्रतज् । नैष शक्यो युधा जेतुमपि वज्रभृता स्वयम्
Endowed with strength and valor, and now with allies, he cannot be defeated in battle even by the wielder of the thunderbolt himself.
लब्धलक्षः प्रहारी च वयं च श्रान्तवाहनाः। पाञ्चालैः पाण्डवेयैश्च दिवसं क्षतविक्षताः
He has found his mark and strikes fiercely, while our forces are weary, wounded all day by the Panchalas and Pandavas.
इदानीं युधि निर्जेतुं न शक्योऽसौ स राक्षसः । अस्तमभ्येति सविता रात्रौ योद्धुं कन शक्यते। अवहारमतः कुर्मः श्वो योत्स्यामः परै सह
Now, that Rākṣasa cannot be defeated in battle; the sun is setting, and who is able to fight at night? Therefore, let us withdraw; tomorrow we shall fight the enemy again.
पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा यथा चक्रुःस्म कौरवाः । उपायेनापयानं ते घटोत्कचभयार्दिताः
Hearing the words of the grandsire, the Kauravas acted accordingly; overwhelmed by fear of Ghaṭotkaca, they withdrew by a stratagem.
कौरवेषु निवृत्तेषु पाण्डवा जितकाशिनः। सिंहनादान्भृशं चक्रुः शङ्खान्दध्मुश्च भारत
When the Kauravas had retreated, the victorious Pāṇḍavas, O Bhārata, roared loudly and blew their conches with great force.
एवं तदभवद्युद्धं दिवसं भरतर्षभ । पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च पुरस्कृत्य घटोत्कचम्
Thus, O bull among the Bharatas, that day’s battle between the Pāṇḍavas and the Kurus took place, with Ghaṭotkaca at the forefront.