राक्षसो व्यनदद्धोरं स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्। परश्वथक्षतं रक्षः सुस्राव बहुशोणितम्
The Rakshasa let out a terrible roar, and that sound became tumultuous; the Rakshasa, wounded by the battle-axe, bled profusely.
ततश्रुक्रोध बलवांश्चक्रे वेगं च संयुगे। आर्श्यशृङ्गिस्ततो दृष्ट्वा समरे शत्रुमूर्चितम्
Then, strong with tears and anger, he surged forward in the battle; seeing his enemy faint in the fight, Arjyaśṛṅgi acted.
कृत्वा घोरं महद्रूपं ग्रहीतुमुपचक्रमे । अर्जुनस्य सुतं वीरमिरावन्तं यशस्विनम्
Assuming a dreadful and immense form, he began to seize the heroic and renowned son of Arjuna, Iravan.
संग्रामशिरसो मध्ये सर्वेषां तत्र पश्यताम्। तां दृष्ट्वा तादृशीं मायां राक्षसस्य दुरात्मनः
In the midst of the battlefield, before the eyes of all, seeing such a display of illusion by the wicked Rakshasa—
इरावानपि संक्रुद्धो मायां स्रष्टुं प्रचक्रमे। तस्य क्रोधाभिभूतस्य समरेष्वनिवर्तिनः
Iravan, too, enraged, began to create his own illusion; overcome by anger, he was unyielding in battle.
योऽन्वयो मातृकस्तस्य स एनमभिपेदिवान्। स नागैर्बहुभी राजन्निरावान्संवृतो रणे
He, whose lineage was maternal, rushed at him; Iravan was surrounded in battle by many serpents, O King.
दधार सुमहद्रूपमनन्त इव भोगवान्। ततो बहुविधैर्नागैश्छादयामास राक्षसम्
He assumed a vast and mighty form, like Ananta the serpent-lord; then, with many kinds of serpents, he covered the Rakshasa.
छाद्यमानस्तु नागैः स ध्यात्वा राक्षसपुङ्गवः। सौपर्णं रूपमास्थाय भक्षयामास पन्नगम्
But as he was being covered by serpents, that foremost Rakshasa, reflecting, assumed the form of Garuda and began to devour the serpents.
मायया भक्षिते तस्मिन्नन्वये तस्य मातृके । विमोहितमिरावन्तं न्यहनद्राक्षसोऽसिना
When, by illusion, he had devoured those of his maternal line, the Rakshasa struck the bewildered Iravan with his sword.
सकुण्डलं समुकुटं पद्मेन्दुसदृशप्रभम् । इरावतः शिरो रक्षः पातयामास भूतले
The Rakshasa struck off Iravan's head, adorned with earrings and a crown and shining like a lotus or the moon, and cast it to the ground.
तस्मिंस्तु निहते वीरे राक्षसेनार्जुनात्मजे। विशोकाः समपद्यन्त धार्तराष्ट्राः सराजकाः
When that hero, Arjuna's son, was slain by the Rakshasa, the sons of Dhritarashtra and their kings became free from sorrow.
तस्मिन्महति संग्रामे तादृशे भैरवे पुनः। महान्व्यतिकरो घोरः सेनयोः समपद्यत
In that great and dreadful battle, once again, a terrible and fierce conflict arose between the two armies.
गजा हयाः पदाताश्च विमिश्रा दन्तिभिर्हताः । रथाश्वा दन्तिनश्चैव पत्तिभिस्तत्र सूदिताः
Elephants, horses, and foot soldiers, mingled together, were slain by elephants; chariots, horses, and elephants were likewise killed by infantry there.
तथा पत्तिरथौघाश्च हयाश्च बहवो रणे। रथिभिर्निहता राजंस्तव तेषां च संकुले
So too, many foot soldiers, charioteers, and horses in the battle were slain by charioteers, O King, and in that confusion—
अजानन्नर्जुनश्चापि निहतं पुत्रमौरसम्। जघान समरे शूरान्राज्ञस्तान्भीष्मरक्षिणः
Even Arjuna, not knowing his own son had been slain, struck down the brave kings who guarded Bhishma in battle.
तथैव तावका राजन्सृञ्जयाश्च सहस्रशः। जुह्वतः समरे प्राणान्निजघ्रुरितरेतरम्
Likewise, O King, your men and the Sṛñjayas, by the thousands, offered up their lives in battle, slaying each other.
मुक्तकेशा विकवचा विरथाश्छिन्नकार्मुकाः । बाहुभिः समयुध्यन्त समवेताः परस्परम्
With hair unbound, armor cast off, chariots lost, and bows broken, they fought each other hand to hand, joined together.
तथा मर्मातिगैर्भीष्मो निजघान महारथान्। कम्पयन्समरे सेनां पाण्डवानां परंतपः
So too, Bhishma struck down great warriors with deadly blows, shaking the Pandava army in battle, scorcher of foes.
तेन यौधिष्ठिरे सैन्ये बहवो मानवा हताः। दन्तिनः सादिनश्चैव रथिनोऽथ हयास्तथा
By him, in Yudhishthira’s army, many men were slain—elephant-riders, horsemen, charioteers, and cavalry as well.
तत्र भारत भीष्मस्य रणे दृष्ट्वा पराक्रमम् । अत्यद्भुतमपश्याम शक्रस्येव पराक्रमम्
There, O Bharata, witnessing Bhishma’s valor in battle, we saw a marvel, a prowess like that of Indra himself.
तथैव भीमसेनस्य पार्षतस्य च भारत। रौद्रमासीद्रणे युद्धं सात्यकस्य च धन्विनः
Likewise, O Bharata, the combat of Bhimasena, the son of Prishata, and the archer Satyaki was fierce and terrible in the battle.
दृष्ट्वा द्रोणस्य विक्रान्तं पाण्डवान्भयमाविशत् । एक एव रणे शक्तो निहन्तुं सर्वसैनिकान्
Seeing Drona’s might, fear entered the Pandavas; alone in battle, he seemed able to destroy all the warriors.
किं पुनः पृथिवीशूरैर्योधव्रातैः समावृतः। इत्यब्रुवन्महाराज रणे द्रोणेन पीडिताः
What then, if he were surrounded by earth’s valiant kings and hosts of warriors?—so spoke those afflicted by Drona in battle, O great king.
वर्तमाने तथा रौद्रे संग्रामे भरतर्षभ । उभयोः सेनयोः शूरा नामृष्यन्त परस्परम्
As that dreadful conflict raged, O bull among the Bharatas, the heroes of both armies could not tolerate each other.
आविष्टा इव युध्यन्ते रक्षोभूतैर्महाबलैः । तावकाः पाण्डवेयाश्च संरब्धास्तात धन्विनः
Possessed as if by mighty spirits, your men and the Pandavas, O father, fought furiously, all archers burning with wrath.
न स्म पश्यामहे कंचित्प्राणान्यः परिरक्षति। दैवासुराभे समरे तस्मिन्योधा नराधिप
We could see no one seeking to preserve his own life; in that battle, resembling a clash of gods and demons, the warriors fought, O lord of men.
इरावन्तं तु निहतं दृष्ट्वा पार्था महारथाः । संग्रामे किमकुर्वन्त तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
But when Iravan was slain, what did the great chariot-warriors, the sons of Pritha, do in the battle? Tell me this, Sanjaya.
इरावन्तं तु निहतं संग्रामे वीक्ष्य राक्षसः। व्यनदत्सुमहानादं भैमसेनिर्घटोत्कचः
Seeing Iravan slain in battle, the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, son of Bhimasena, let out a tremendous roar.
नदतस्तस्य शब्देन पृथिवी सागराम्बरा । सपर्वतवना राजंश्चचाल सुभृशं तदा
At the sound of his roar, the earth, ocean, and sky, with their mountains and forests, shook violently, O king.
अन्तरिक्षं दिशश्चैव सर्वाश्च प्रदिशस्तथा । `चेलुश्च सहसा तत्र तेन नादेन नादिताः
The atmosphere, the quarters, and all the directions trembled suddenly, resounding with that cry.