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.
कौरवास्तु ततो राजन्प्रययुः शिबिरं स्वकम्। व्रीडमाना निशाकाले पाण्डवेयैः पराजिताः
Then, O king, the Kauravas, defeated by the Pāṇḍavas and ashamed, returned to their camp at night.
शरविक्षतगात्रास्तु पाण्डपपुत्रा महारथाः। युद्धे सुमनसो भूत्वा जग्मुः स्वशिबिरं प्रति
The great chariot-warriors, the sons of Pāṇḍu, their bodies wounded by arrows, rejoicing in victory, also returned to their own camp.
पुरस्कृत्य महाराज भीमसेनघटोत्कचौ। पूजयन्तस्तदान्योन्यं मुदा परमया युताः
With Bhīmasena and Ghaṭotkaca at the forefront, O king, they honored one another, filled with the highest joy.
नदन्तो विविधान्नादांस्तूर्यस्वनविमिश्रितान् । सिंहनादांश्च कुर्वन्तो विमिश्राञ्शङ्खनिः स्वनैः
They made various loud noises, mingled with the sounds of musical instruments, and produced lion-roars mixed with the blasts of conches.
विनदन्तो महात्मानः कम्पयन्तश्च मेदिनीम् । घट्टयन्तश्च मर्माणि तव पुत्रस्य मारिष
Those great souls roared, shaking the earth, and struck terror into the heart of your son, O Māriṣa.
प्रयाताः शिबिरायैव निशाकाले परंतप । दुर्योधनस्तु नृपतिर्दीनो भ्रातृवधेन च
At night, O scorcher of foes, they went to their camp; but King Duryodhana was dejected, grieving for his slain brother.
मुहूर्तं चिन्तयामास बाष्पशोकसमाकुलः। ततः कृत्वा विधिं सर्वं शिबिरस्य यथाविधि । प्रदध्यौ शोकसंतप्तो भ्रातृव्यसनकर्शितः
For a moment, overwhelmed by tears and sorrow, he reflected; then, having performed all the proper rites for the camp, he sat absorbed in grief, afflicted by his brother’s misfortune.
भयं मे सुमहञ्जातं विस्मयश्चैव सञ्जय। श्रुत्वा पाण्डुकुमाराणां कर्म देवैः सुदुष्करम्
Great fear and amazement have arisen in me, Sañjaya, hearing of the Pāṇḍu princes’ deeds, which are difficult even for the gods.
पुत्राणां च पराभावं श्रुत्वा सञ्जय सर्वशः। चिन्ता मे महती सूत भविष्यति कथं त्विति
Hearing of my sons’ total defeat, O Sañjaya, I am filled with deep anxiety, wondering what will happen.
ध्रुवं विदुरवाक्यानि धक्ष्यन्ति हृदयं मम। तथा हि दृश्यते सर्वं दैवयोगेन सञ्जय
Surely, Vidura’s words will burn my heart; for, Sañjaya, everything is unfolding as fate decreed.