चित्रसेनः सुचित्रश्च चित्राङ्गश्चित्रदर्शनः । चारुचित्रः सुचारुश्च तथा नन्दोपनन्दकौ
Citrasena, Sucitra, Citranga, Citradarshana, Carucitra, Sucaru, and likewise Nanda and Upananda—
अष्टावेते महेष्वासाः सुकुमारा यशस्विनः । अभिमन्युरथं राजन्समन्तात्पर्यवारयन्
These eight, great archers, tender and renowned, surrounded Abhimanyu’s chariot on all sides, O king.
आजघान ततस्तूर्णमभिमन्युर्महामनाः । एकैकं पञ्चभिर्बाणैः शितैः सन्नतपर्वभिः
Then Abhimanyu, high-minded, swiftly struck each one of them with five sharp, well-feathered arrows.
वज्रमृत्युप्रतीकाशैर्विचित्रायुधनिःसृतैः । अमृष्यमाणास्ते सर्वे सौभद्रं रथसत्तमम्
With weapons flashing like thunderbolts and death, they, unable to bear it, showered the excellent chariot-warrior Saubhadra.
ववृषुर्मार्गणैस्तीक्ष्णैर्गिरिं मेरुमिवाम्बुदाः । स पीड्यमानः समरे कृतास्त्रो युद्धदुर्मदः
They rained sharp arrows upon him like clouds upon Mount Meru; pressed hard in battle, he, skilled in arms and fierce in war—
अभिमन्युर्महाराज तावकान्समकम्पयत्। यथा देवासुरे युद्धे वज्रपाणिर्महासुरान्
Abhimanyu, O great king, shook your forces, just as the wielder of the thunderbolt shook the great asuras in the gods’ war.
विकर्णस्य ततो भल्लान्प्रेषयामास भारत। चतुर्दश रथश्रेष्ठो घोरानाशीविषोपमान्
Then, O Bharata, the best of chariot-warriors sent fourteen terrible arrows, like deadly serpents, at Vikarna.
स तैर्विकर्णस्य रथात्पातयामास वीर्यवान् । ध्वजं सूतं हयांश्चैव नृत्यमान इवाहवे
With those, the valiant one struck down from Vikarna’s chariot the banner, the charioteer, and the horses, as if dancing in the battle.
पुनश्चान्याञ्शरान्पीतानकुण्ठाग्राञ्शिलाशितान्। प्रेषयामास संक्रुद्धो विकर्णाय महाबलः
Once again, the mighty Abhimanyu, enraged, sent forth other arrows, yellow-tipped and stone-sharpened, toward Vikarṇa.
ते विकर्णं समासाद्य कङ्कबर्हिणवाससः। भित्त्वा देहं गता भूमिं ज्वलन्त इव पन्नगाः
Those arrows, striking Vikarṇa—who wore garments of crane feathers—pierced his body and fell to the earth, blazing like serpents.
ते शरा हेमपुङ्खाग्रा व्यदृश्यन्त महीतले । विकर्णरुधिरक्लिन्ना वमन्त इव शोणितम्
Those arrows, with golden tips, were seen upon the ground, soaked in Vikarṇa’s blood, as if pouring forth crimson.
विकर्णं वीक्ष्य निर्भिन्नं तस्यैवान्ये सहोदराः । अभ्यद्रवन्त समरे सौभद्रप्रमुखान्रथान्
Seeing Vikarṇa wounded, his brothers, led by Saubhadra, rushed forward in battle against the chariots.
अभियात्वा तथैवान्यान्रथांस्तान्सूर्यवर्चसः । अविध्यन्समरेऽन्योन्यं संरम्भाद्युद्धदुर्मदाः
Having advanced, those radiant warriors attacked each other’s chariots in battle, driven by wrath and intoxicated by war.
दुर्मुखः श्रुतकर्माणं विद्ध्वा सप्तभिराशुगैः । ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छेद सारथिं चास्य सप्तमिः
Durmukha struck Śrutakarman with seven swift arrows, cut down his banner with one, and wounded his charioteer with a seventh.
अश्वाञ्जाम्बूनदैर्जालैः प्रच्छन्नान्वातरंहसः । जघान षङ्भिरासाद्य सारथिं चाभ्यपातयत्
He slew the horses, veiled by showers of arrows from the Jāmbūnad gold, and, approaching, struck down the charioteer as well.
स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठञ्श्रुतकर्मा महारथः । शक्तिं चिक्षेप संक्रुद्धो महोल्कां ज्वलितामिव
Śrutakarman, the great chariot-warrior, stood on his chariot with his horses slain, and, enraged, hurled a spear blazing like a great meteor.
सा दुर्मुखस्य विमलं वर्म भित्त्वा यशस्विनः । विदार्य प्राविशद्भूभिं दीप्यमाना स्वतेजसा
That spear, piercing the spotless armor of the illustrious Durmukha, tore through and entered the earth, shining with its own brilliance.
दुर्मुखो विह्वलस्तत्र निषसाद रणे विभो। विसंज्ञं प्रेक्ष्य ते सर्वे भ्रातरः पर्यवारयन्
Durmukha, overwhelmed there, sank down in battle, O lord; seeing him unconscious, all his brothers gathered around him.
तं दृष्ट्वा विरथं तत्र सुतसोमो महारथः । पश्यतां सर्वसैन्यानां रथमारोपयत्स्वकम्
Seeing him without a chariot, Sutasoma, the great chariot-warrior, placed him upon his own chariot before the eyes of all the armies.
श्रुतकीर्तिस्तथा वीरो जयत्सेनं सुतं तव। अभ्ययात्समरे राजन्हन्तुकामो यशस्विनम्
Then Śrutakīrti, the heroic son of yours, advanced in battle, O king, desiring to slay the illustrious Jayatsena.
तस्य विक्षिपतश्चापं श्रुतकीर्तेर्महास्वनम्। चिच्छेद समरे तूर्णं जयत्सेनः सुतस्तव
As Śrutakīrti drew his bow with a mighty sound, Jayatsena, your son, swiftly cut it down in battle.
क्षुरप्रेण सुतीक्ष्णेन प्रहसन्निव भारत। तं दृष्ट्वा च्छिन्नधन्वानं शतानीकः सहोदरम्
With a razor-sharp arrow, laughing as if in sport, O Bhārata, he saw his brother’s bow broken.
अभ्यपद्यत तेजस्वी सिंहवन्निनदन्मुहुः । शतानीकस्तु समरे दृढं विस्पार्य कार्मुकम्
The radiant Śatānīka, roaring like a lion, repeatedly advanced; in battle, he firmly stretched his bow.
विव्याध दशभिस्तूर्णं जयत्सेनं शिलीमुखैः । ननाद सुमहानादं प्रभिन्न इव वारणः
He swiftly pierced Jayatsena with ten stone-tipped arrows, and roared a great roar, like an elephant in fury.
अथान्येन सुतीक्ष्णेन सर्वावरणभेदिना । शतानीको जयत्सेनं विव्याध हृदये भृशम्
Then, with another sharp arrow that broke through all defenses, Śatānīka struck Jayatsena forcefully in the heart.
तथा तस्मिन्वर्तमाने दुष्कर्णो भ्रातुरन्तिके । मुमोचास्मैशितान्बाणांस्तीक्ष्णानाशीविषोपमान् चिच्छेद समरे चापं नाकुलेः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः
As this was happening, Duṣkarṇa, near his brother, released arrows sharpened like venomous serpents, and, enraged, cut down Nakula’s bow in battle.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय भारसाहमनुत्तमम् । समादत्त शरान्घोराञ्शतानीको महाबलः
Then, taking up another excellent and mighty bow, Shatanika, of great strength, seized fierce arrows.
तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चामन्त्र्य दुष्कर्णं भ्रातुरग्रतः। मुमोचास्मै शितान्बाणाज्ज्वलितान्पन्नगानिव
Calling out, 'Stand, stand!' to Dushkarna before his brother, he released sharp arrows at him, blazing like serpents.
ततोऽस्य धनुरेकेन द्वाभ्यां सूतं च मारिष । चिच्छेद समरे तूर्णं तं च विव्याध सप्तभिः
Then, O great one, with one arrow he swiftly cut Dushkarna's bow, with two more his charioteer, and pierced him with seven.
अश्वान्मनोजवांस्तस्य कर्बुरान्वातरंहसः । जघान निशितैस्तूर्णं सर्वान्द्वादशभिः शरैः
He quickly struck down his swift, dappled horses, fleet as the wind, with twelve keen arrows.