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.
इरावानपि संक्रुद्धः सर्वास्तान्निशितैः शरैः । मोहयामास समरे विद्ध्वा परपुरंजयः
Iravan too, enraged, bewildered all of them in battle with his sharp arrows, he who was the conqueror of enemy cities.
प्रासानुत्कृष्य तरसा स्वशरीरादरिन्दमः । तैरेव ताडयामास सुबलस्यात्मजान्रणे
Pulling out the lances from his own body with force, the subduer of foes struck the sons of Subala in battle with those very weapons.
विकृष्य च शितं खङ्गं गृहीत्वा च शरावरम् । पदातिर्द्रुतमागच्छज्जिघांसुः सौबलान्युधि
Drawing his sharp sword and taking up a quiver of arrows, the foot-soldier swiftly advanced, intent on slaying the sons of Subala in the fight.
ततः प्रत्यागतप्राणाः सर्वे ते सुबलात्मजाः । भूयः क्रोधसमाविष्टा इरावन्तमभिद्रुताः
Then all those sons of Subala, having regained their breath, once more, filled with rage, rushed at Iravan.
इरावानपि खङ्गेन दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम् । अभ्यवर्तत देवांश्च मानुषांश्चैव संयुगे
Iravan too, displaying dexterity with his hand and sword, turned upon both the gods and men in the battle.
लाघवेनाथ चरतः सर्वे ते सुबलात्मजाः । अन्तरं नाभ्यगच्छन्त चरन्तः शीघ्रगैर्हयैः
But as he moved with agility, all those sons of Subala, though riding swift horses, could not find an opening against him.
भूमिष्ठमथ तं सह्ख्ये ह्यन्तरिक्षादवप्लुतम् । परिवार्य भृशं सर्वे ग्रहीतुमुपचक्रमुः
Then, when he leapt down from the sky to the ground in the battle, all of them surrounded him closely, seeking to seize him.
अथाभ्याशगतानां तेषां गात्राण्यकृन्तत । असिहस्तोऽस्त्रहस्तानां तेषां गात्राण्यकृन्तत
As they came near, he with sword in hand cut the limbs of those who wielded weapons.
आयुधानि च सर्वेषां बाहूनपि विभूषितान्। अपतन्त निकृत्ताङ्गा मृता भूमौ गतासवः
The weapons of all, and even their ornamented arms, fell to the ground, their bodies severed, lifeless and dead.
वृषकस्तु महाराज बहुधा विपरिक्षतः। अमुच्यत महारौद्रात्तस्माद्वीरावकर्तनात्
But the great bull, O King, though struck in many ways, was released from that exceedingly terrible slaughter of heroes.