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.
कामवर्णजवैरश्वैः सर्वतः शुशुभे वृतः । ते हयाः काञ्चनापीडा नानावर्णा मनोजवाः
Surrounded on all sides by horses of desired color, speed, and breed, he shone; those horses, with golden headpieces, of various colors and swift as thought—
उत्पेतुः सहसा राजन्हंसा इव महोदधौ । ते त्वदीयान्समासाद्य हयसंघान्मनोजवान्
Suddenly leapt forth, O King, like swans in the great ocean; and those swift horses, encountering your troops of horses—
क्रोडैः क्रोडानभिघ्नन्तो घोणाभिश्च परस्परम् । निपेतुः सहसा राजन्सुवेगाभिहता भुवि
Striking each other's chests with their chests and their noses with one another, they fell swiftly to the ground, struck with great force, O King.
निपतद्भिस्तथा तैश्च हयसङ्घैः परस्परम् । शुश्रुवे दारुणः शब्दः सुपर्णपतने यथा
As those troops of horses thus fell upon each other, a dreadful sound was heard, like the fall of Suparna from the sky.
तथैव तावका राजन्समेत्यान्योन्यमाहवे । परस्परवधं घोरं चक्रुस्ते हयसादिनः
In the same way, O King, your warriors, meeting each other in battle, the horsemen wrought terrible mutual slaughter.
तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तमाने संकुले तुमुले भृशम् । उभयोरपि संशान्ता हयसङ्घाः समन्ततः
As that tumultuous and fierce confusion continued, the troops of horses on both sides were subdued everywhere.
प्रक्षीणसायकाः शूरा निहताश्वाः श्रमातुराः । विलयं समनुप्राप्तास्तक्षमाणाः परस्परम्
The heroes, their arrows spent, their horses slain, exhausted from toil, withdrew, tolerating each other.
ततः क्षीणे हयानिके किंचिच्छेषे च भारत । सौबलस्यानुजाः शूरा निर्गता रणमूर्धनि
Then, when the cavalry was nearly destroyed and only a few remained, O Bharata, the valiant younger brothers of Saubala advanced to the forefront of battle.
वायुवेगसमस्पर्शाञ्जवे वायुसमांश्च ते। आरुह्य बलसंपन्नान्वयःस्थांस्तुरगोत्तमान्
Mounting excellent horses, as swift as the wind and with the touch of the wind, strong and steadfast, they stood firm.
गजो गवाक्षो वृषकश्चर्मवानार्जयः शुकः। षडेते बलसंपन्ना निर्ययुर्महतो बलात्
Gaja, Gavaksha, Vrishaka, Charmavan, Arjaya, and Shuka—these six, endowed with great strength, set out from the mighty army.