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.
विमुखीकृत्य वर्सांस्तु तावकान्युधि राक्षसः। जिघांसुभरतश्रेष्ठ दुर्योधनमुपाद्रवत्
Having turned back your warriors' showers of arrows, the Rakshasa, intent on killing, advanced toward Duryodhana, O best of Bharatas.
तमापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य राजानं प्रति वेगितम् । अभ्यधावञ्जिघांसन्तस्तावका युद्धदुर्मदाःक
Seeing him rushing swiftly toward the king, your battle-mad warriors charged at him, eager to slay.
तालमात्राणि चापानि विकर्षन्तो महारथाः । तमेकमभ्यधावन्त नदन्तः सिंहसङ्घवत्
The great chariot-warriors, drawing their bows to the full, advanced on him alone, roaring like a pride of lions.
अथैनं शरवर्षेण समन्तात्पर्यवाकिरन् । पर्वतं वारिधाराभिः शरदीव वलाहकाः
Then they covered him from all sides with a shower of arrows, as clouds in autumn envelop a mountain with streams of rain.
स गाढविद्धो व्यथितस्तोत्रार्दित इव द्विपः । उत्पपात तदाऽऽकाशं समन्ताद्वैनतेयवत्
Deeply wounded and tormented, like an elephant struck by a goad, he leapt into the sky on all sides, like Garuda.
व्यनदत्सुमहानादं जीमूत इव शारदः । दिशः खं विदिशश्चैव नादयन्भैरवस्वनः
He uttered a great roar, like an autumnal thundercloud, making the directions, the sky, and the quarters resound with a terrifying sound.
राक्षसस्य तु तं शब्दं श्रुत्वा राजा युधिष्ठिरः । उवाच भरतश्रेष्ठ भीमसेनमरिन्दमम्
Hearing that sound of the Rakshasa in battle, King Yudhishthira spoke to Bhimasena, the subduer of foes, O best of Bharatas.
युध्यते राक्षसो नूनं धार्तराष्ट्रैर्महारथैः । यथाऽस्य श्रूयते शब्दो नदतो भैरवं स्वनम्
The Rakshasa must be fighting the Dhartarashtras and great chariot-warriors, as his dreadful, roaring voice is heard.
अतिभारं च पश्यामि तस्मिन्राक्षसपुङ्गवे । पितामहश्च संक्रुद्धः पाञ्चालान्हन्तुमुद्यतः
I see an overwhelming burden upon that foremost among Rakshasas, and the grandsire, enraged, is ready to destroy the Panchalas.
तेषां च रक्षणार्थाय युध्यते फल्गुनः परैः। एतज्ज्ञात्वा महाबाहो कार्यद्वयमुपस्थितम्
And for the sake of protecting them, Phalguna fights against the enemy; knowing this, O mighty-armed one, two tasks now stand before us.