अशक्तः प्रतियोद्धुं वै दृष्ट्वा तस्य पराक्रमम्।' क्षत्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य आत्मनश्चातिमानिताम्। प्राप्तेऽपक्रनये राजा तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः
Unable to fight back after witnessing his valor, yet upholding the warrior's code and his own pride, the king stood firm like an immovable mountain, though retreat was at hand.
राधान च शितं बाणं कालाग्निसमतेजसम्। सुयोच धरमक्रुद्धस्तस्मिन्घोरे निशाचरे
Then Radha's son, enraged, aimed a sharp arrow—blazing like the fire of destruction—at that dreadful night-stalker.
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य वणिमिन्द्राशनिप्रभम् । लाघवान्मोचयामास महात्मा वै घटोत्कचः
Seeing that blazing weapon, shining like Indra's thunderbolt, rushing toward him, the great-souled Ghaṭotkaca swiftly released himself.
भूयश्च निननादोषं क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः । त्रासयामास रौन्यानि युगन्ते जलदो यथा
With eyes reddened by anger, he roared again, terrifying the enemy ranks like a storm cloud at the end of an age.
तं श्रुत्वा निनिदं घोरं तस्व भीमस्य रक्षसः। आचार्यमुसंगम्य भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽब्रवीत्
Hearing that dreadful roar of Bhīma’s son, the Rākṣasa, Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, approached the teacher and spoke.
यथैव निनन्दो घोरः श्रूयते राक्षसेरितः । हैडिम्बो युध्यते नूनं राज्ञा दुर्योधनेन च
Just as this terrible roar is heard, surely the Rākṣasa Hāidimba is fighting with the king and with Duryodhana.
नैष शक्यो हि संग्रामे जेतुं भूतेन केनचित् । तत्र गच्छत भद्रं वो राजानं परिरक्षितुम्
In battle, he cannot be defeated by any being; so go quickly, may you fare well, to protect the king.
अभिद्रुत्य महाबाहुं राक्षसेन प्रपीडितम्। एतद्धि परमं कृत्यं सर्वेषां नः परंतपाः
Having rushed upon the mighty-armed one, oppressed by the Rākṣasa—this, O scorcher of foes, is the highest duty for all of us.
पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा त्वरमाणा महारथाः । उत्तमं जवमास्थाय प्रययुर्यत्र कौरवः
Hearing the grandsire’s words, the great chariot-warriors, hastening and taking up their utmost speed, went to where the Kaurava was.
द्रोणश्च सोमदत्तश्च बाह्लीकोऽथ जयद्रथः । कृपो भिरिश्रवाः शल्य आवन्त्यः स बृहद्बलः
Droṇa, Somadatta, Bāhlīka, Jayadratha, Kṛpa, Bhūriśravā, Śalya, the Avanti king, and Bṛhadbala—
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः। रथाश्चानेकसाहस्रा ये तेषामनुयायिनः
Aśvatthāman, Vikarṇa, Citrasena, Viviṃśati, and thousands of chariots, those who followed them—
अभिद्रुतं परीप्सन्तः पुत्रं दुर्योधनं तव। तदनीकमनाधृष्यं पालितं तु महारथैः
Desiring to rescue your son Duryodhana, they rushed toward that invincible division, guarded by great chariot-warriors.
पाततायिनमायान्तं प्रेक्ष्य राक्षससत्तमः । ...कम्पत महाबाहुर्मैनाक इव पर्वतःक
Seeing the best of Rākṣasas advancing, arms outstretched, the mighty-armed one trembled like Mount Maināka.
प्रगृह्य विपुलं चापं ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः । शूलमुद्गरहस्तैश्च नानाप्रहरणैरपि
Grasping his great bow, surrounded by his kinsmen, wielding spears, maces, and various other weapons in their hands—
ततः समभवद्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् । राक्षसानां च मुख्यस्य दुर्योधनबलस्य च
Then there arose a tumultuous and hair-raising battle between the chief of the Rākṣasas and Duryodhana’s forces.
धनुषां कूजतां शब्दः सर्वतस्तुमुलो रणे । अश्रूयत महाराज वंशानां दह्यतामिव
O King, the tumultuous sound of twanging bows in battle was heard everywhere, as if bamboo forests were being burned.
शस्त्राणां पात्यमानानां कवचेषु शरीरिणाम्। शब्दः समभवद्राजन्गिरीणामिव भिद्यताम्
The sound of weapons falling upon the armor of warriors arose, O King, like the splitting of mountains.
वीरबाहुविसृष्टानां तोमराणां विशांपते । रूपमासीद्वियत्स्थानां सर्पाणामिव सर्पताम्
The spears hurled by heroic arms, O lord of men, appeared like serpents gliding through the sky.
ततः परमसंक्रुद्धो विष्फार्य सुमहद्धनुः । राक्षसन्द्रो महाबाहुर्विनदन्भैरव रवम्
Then the Rākṣasa chief, exceedingly enraged, stretched his mighty bow and roared a terrifying sound.
आचार्यस्यार्धचन्द्रेण क्रुद्धश्चिच्छेद कार्मुकम् । सोमदत्तस्य भल्लेन ध्वजं चोन्मथ्य चानदत्
In anger, he cut the teacher’s bow with a crescent-shaped arrow, and with a broad-headed shaft, he struck down Somadatta’s banner and roared.
बाह्लीकं च त्रिभिर्बाणैः प्रत्यविध्यत्स्तनान्तरे। कृपमेकेन विव्याध चित्रसेनं त्रिभिः शरैः
He struck Bahlika in the chest with three arrows, pierced Kripa with one, and wounded Citrasena with three shafts.
पूर्णायतविसृष्टेन सम्यक्प्रणिहितेन च। जत्रुदेशे समासाद्य विकर्णं समताडयत्
With a fully drawn and well-aimed arrow, he struck Vikarṇa in the collarbone region.
न्यषीदत्स्वरथोपस्थे शोणितेन परिप्लुतः । ततः पुनरमेयात्मा नाराचान्दश पञ्च च
Soaked in blood, Vikarṇa sat down in his chariot; then, of immeasurable spirit, he took up five iron arrows.
भूरिश्रवसि संक्रुद्धः प्राहिणोद्भरतर्षभ । ते वर्म भित्त्वा तस्याशु विविशुर्धरणीतलम्
In great anger, he sent those at Bhurishravas, O bull of Bharata's line; swiftly piercing his armor, they entered the earth.
विविंशतेश्च द्रौणेश्च यन्तारौ समताडयत्। तौ पेततू रथोपस्थे रश्मीनुत्सृज्य वाजिनाम्
He struck the charioteers of Vivimshati and Drona; both fell onto the floor of their chariots, letting go the reins of their steeds.
सिन्धुराज्ञोऽर्धचन्द्रेण वाराहं स्वर्णभूषितम् । उन्ममाथ महाराज द्वितीयेनाच्छिनद्धनुः
With a crescent-tipped arrow, he shattered the golden-adorned boar standard of the Sindhu king, and with a second, he cut his bow.
चतुर्भिरथ नाराचैरावन्त्यस्य महात्मनः । जघान चतुरो वाहान्क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः
With four iron arrows, his eyes red with rage, he struck down the four steeds of the mighty Avanti warrior.
पूर्णायतविसृष्टेन पीतेन निशितेन च । निर्बिभेद महाराज राजपुत्रं बृहद्बलम्
With a fully drawn, sharp, yellow-shafted arrow, O king, he pierced the royal prince Brihadbala.
स गाढविद्धो व्यथितो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। भृशं क्रोधेन चाविष्टो रथस्थो राक्षसाधिपः
Deeply wounded and in pain, Brihadbala sat down in his chariot; but the Rakshasa lord, filled with intense anger, remained standing.
चिक्षेप निशितांस्तीक्ष्णाञ्छरानाशीविषोपमान्। बिभिदुस्ते महाराज शल्यं युद्धविशारदम्
He hurled sharp, deadly arrows, like venomous serpents, and pierced Shalya, the expert in battle, O king.