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.
वार्यमाणाः शकुनिना स्वैश्च योधैर्महाबलैः । सन्नद्धा युद्धकुशला रौद्ररूपा महाबलाः
Though restrained by Shakuni and their own mighty warriors, they, fully armored, skilled in battle, terrible in form, and of great strength—
तदनीकं महाबहो भित्त्वा परमदुर्जयम् । बलेन महता युक्ताः स्वर्गाय विजयैषिणः
Breaking through that exceedingly difficult-to-conquer array, O mighty-armed one, equipped with great force, seeking victory and heaven—
विविशुस्ते तदा हृष्टा गान्धारा युद्धदुर्मदाः । तान्प्रविष्टांस्तदा दृष्ट्वा इरावानपि वीर्यवान्
Then the Gandharas, intoxicated by battle, joyfully entered; seeing them enter, Iravan, full of valor—
अब्रवीत्समरे योधान्स्वान्विचित्रहयस्थितान् । यथैते धार्तराष्ट्रस्य योधाः सानुगवाहनाः
Addressed his own warriors, mounted on splendid horses, in the battle, saying: 'Just as these warriors of Dhritarashtra, with their followers and vehicles—'
हन्यन्ते समरे सर्वे तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् । बाढमित्येवमुक्त्वा ते सर्वे योधा इरावतः
Let all be slain in battle, and let strategy be devised accordingly. Thus addressed, all those warriors, together with Iravan, assented, saying, 'So be it.'
जघ्नुस्तेषां बलानीकं दुर्जयं समरे परैः । तदनीकमनीकेन समरे वीक्ष्य पातितम्
They struck down that formidable division of the enemy in battle, which was otherwise unconquerable; and seeing that division felled in the fight by Anikena,
अमृष्यमाणास्ते सर्वे सुबलस्यात्मजा रणे । इरावन्तमभिद्रुत्य सर्वतः पर्यवारयन्
All the sons of Subala, unable to endure this in the battle, rushed upon Iravan from all sides and surrounded him.
ताडयन्तः शितैः प्रासैश्चोदयन्तः परस्परम्। ते शूराः पर्यधावन्त कुर्वन्तो महदाकुलम्
Striking with sharp lances and urging each other on, those heroes ran about, causing great confusion.
इरावानथ निर्भिन्नः प्रासैस्तीक्ष्णैर्महात्मभिः । स्रवता रुधिरेणाक्तस्तोत्रैर्विद्ध इव द्विपः
Then Iravan, pierced by sharp lances wielded by mighty warriors, was drenched in flowing blood, like an elephant wounded by goads.
उरस्यपि च पृष्ठे च पार्श्वयोश्च भृशाहतः । एको बहुभिरत्यर्थं धैर्याद्राजन्न विव्यथे
Struck severely on the chest, back, and sides, he, though alone and attacked by many, did not waver, O King, due to his great courage.