छिन्नहस्ता महानागाश्छिन्नगात्राश्च मारिष । क्रौञ्चवद्व्यनदन्भीताः पृथिवीमधिशेरते
Great elephants with severed trunks and limbs, O lord, terrified, cried out like cranes and lay upon the earth.
नकुलः सहदेवश्च हयानीकमभिद्रुतौ। ते हयाः काञ्चनापीडा रुक्मभाण्डपरिच्छदाः
Nakula and Sahadeva rushed upon the cavalry division; those horses, with golden headpieces and adorned with golden trappings,
वध्यमाना व्यदृश्यन्त शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। पतिद्भिस्तुरगै राजन्समास्तीर्यत मेदिनी
Were seen being struck down by the hundreds and thousands, O King, and the earth was covered with their fallen bodies.
निर्जिह्वैश्च श्वसद्भिश्च कूजद्भिश्च गतासुभिः । हयैर्बभौ नरश्रेष्ठ नानारूपधरैर्धरा
The earth shone, O best of men, with horses—some tongueless, some panting, some neighing, and some lifeless—of many forms.
अर्जुनेन हतैः सङ्ख्ये तथा भारत राजभिः । प्रबभौ वसुधा घोरा तत्रतत्र विशांपते
So too, O Bharata, the earth appeared dreadful in places, covered with kings slain in battle by Arjuna.
रथैर्भग्नैर्ध्वजैश्छिन्नैर्निकृत्तैश्च महायुधैः । चामरैर्व्यजनैश्चैव च्छत्रैश्च सुमहाप्रभैः
With broken chariots, severed banners, shattered great weapons, yak-tail whisks, fans, and splendid umbrellas,
हरैर्निष्कैः सकेयूरैः शिरोभिश्च सकुण्डलैः । उष्णीषैरपविद्धैश्च पताकाभिश्च सर्वशः
With ornaments, gold coins, armlets, heads with earrings, turbans cast aside, and scattered standards everywhere,
अनुकर्षैः शुभै राजन्योक्रैश्चैव सरश्मिभिः । संकीर्णा वसुधा भाति वसन्ते कुसुमैरिव
With yokes, beautiful royal harnesses, and reins, the earth was strewn, shining like spring with flowers.
एवमेष क्षयो वृत्तः पाण्डूनामपि भारत। क्रुद्धे शान्तनवे भीष्मे द्रोणे च रथसत्तमे
In this way, O Bhārata, destruction befell the Pāṇḍavas as well, when Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, and the mighty chariot-warrior Droṇa were enraged.
अश्वत्थाम्नि कृपे चैव तथैव कृतवर्मणि। तथेतरेषु क्रुद्धेषु तावकानामपि क्षयः
Likewise, when Aśvatthāman, Kṛpa, Kṛtavarman, and others were angered, destruction came upon your forces as well.
वर्तमाने तथा रौद्रे राजन्वीरवरक्षये। शकुनिः सौबलः श्रीमान्पाण्डवान्समुपाद्रवत्
As that fierce slaughter of heroes continued, O King, the illustrious Śakuni, son of Subala, advanced upon the Pāṇḍavas.
तथैव सात्वतो राजन्हार्दिक्यः परवीरहा। अभ्यद्रवत संग्रामे पाण्डवानां वरूथिनीम्
In the same way, O King, Sātvata, the valiant Hārdikya, destroyer of enemy heroes, charged against the Pāṇḍava divisions in battle.
ततः काम्भोजमुख्यानां नदीजानां च वाजिनाम् । आरट्टानां महीजानां सिन्धुजानां च सर्वशः
Then the foremost of the Kāmbhojas, the horsemen from river-lands, the Āraṭṭas, the Mahījas, and all the Sindhus,
वनायुजानां शुभ्राणां तथा पर्वतवासिनाम् । वाजिनां बहुभिः सङ्ख्ये समन्तात्परिवारयन्
the Vanāyujas, the radiant ones, and those dwelling in the mountains, surrounded with many horses on all sides in the battle.
ये चापरे तित्तिरिजा जवना वातरंहसः । सुवर्णालङ्कृतैरेतैर्वर्मवद्भिः सुकल्पितैः
And others—Tittirijas, swift as the wind, adorned with golden ornaments and clad in well-made armor—
हयैर्वातजवैर्मुख्यैः पाण्डवस्य सुतो बली । अभ्यवर्तत तत्सैन्यं हृष्टरूपः परंतपाः
with noble steeds swift as the wind, the mighty son of Pāṇḍava, exultant and a terror to foes, advanced against that army.
अर्जुनस्य सुतः श्रीमानिरावान्नाम वीर्यवान् । सुतायां नागराजस्य जातः पार्थेन धीमता
The illustrious son of Arjuna, named Irāvat, born of the wise Pārtha and the daughter of the serpent king,
ऐरावतेन सा दत्ता अनपत्या महात्मना । पत्यौ हते सुपर्णेन कृपणा दीनचेतना
She, childless and of great soul, was given to Airāvata; when her husband was slain by Suparṇa, she was left sorrowful and dejected.
कार्यार्थं तां च जग्राह पार्थः कामवशानुगाम् । एवमेष समुत्पन्नः परक्षेत्रेऽर्जुनात्मजः
For the sake of duty, Pārtha took her, yielding to desire; thus, Arjuna's son was born in another land.
स नागलोके संवृद्धो मात्रा च परिरक्षितः । पितृव्येण परित्यक्तः पार्थद्वेषाद्दुरात्मना
He grew up in the world of serpents, protected by his mother, but abandoned by his wicked uncle out of hatred for Pārtha.
खमुत्पत्य महाराज नागराट् सत्यविक्रमः । इन्द्रलोकं जगामाशु श्रुत्वा तत्रार्जुनं गतम्
That king of serpents, true in valor, rose up to the sky, O King, and swiftly went to Indra's realm, having heard that Arjuna was there.
सोऽभिगम्य महाबाहुः पितरं सत्यविक्रमः । अभ्यवादयदव्यग्रो विनयेन कृताञ्जलिः
Approaching his father, the mighty-armed and true-hearted one greeted him without hesitation, with joined palms and humility.
न्यवेदयत चात्मानमर्जुनस्य महात्मनः । इरावानस्मि भद्रं ते पुत्रश्चाहं तव प्रभो
He introduced himself to the great Arjuna: 'I am Irāvat, your son, O lord—may good befall you.'
मातुः समागमो यश्च तत्सर्वं प्रत्यवेदयत् । तच्च सर्वं यथावृत्तमनुसस्मार पाण्डवः
He told of his meeting with his mother, recounting everything; and Pāṇḍava remembered all that had happened.
परिष्वज्य सुतं चापि आत्मनः सदृशं गुणैः । प्रीतिमाननयत्पार्थो देवराजनिवेशनम्
Embracing his son, who matched himself in virtues, Pārtha, filled with joy, led him to the abode of the king of the gods.
सोऽर्जुनेन समाज्ञप्तो देवलोके तदा नृप । प्रीतिपूर्वं महाबाहुः स्वकार्यं प्रति भारत
There, in the world of the gods, O King, Arjuna instructed the mighty-armed one, with affection, regarding his own duty.
स चापि नरशार्दूलः शार्दूलसमविक्रमः।' अब्रवीच्च तदा पार्थमयमस्मि तवानघ
And that tiger among men, whose valor was like a tiger's, then spoke to Partha: 'Here I am, O sinless one, yours.'
स्थितः प्रेष्यश्च पुत्रश्च सर्वथा त्वं प्रशाधि माम् । कं करोमि च ते कामं कं च कामं त्वमिच्छसि
Standing here, I am your servant and your son in every way; command me. What do you wish me to do, and what desire do you have?
परिष्वज्य सुतं प्रेम्णा वासविः प्रत्युवाच तम्। प्रीतिपूर्वं च कार्यं च कार्या प्रीतिश्च मानदः
Vasavi, embracing his son with affection, replied to him with love, saying: 'Let the task be done with affection, O bestower of honor.'
युद्धकाले तु साहाय्यं दातव्यं नो भवेदिति । बाढमित्येवमुक्त्वा तु युद्धकाल इहागतः
But at the time of battle, aid was not to be given; having agreed to this, now the time of battle has come.