एवं सञ्जल्पतां तेषां तावकानां महारथः। आयाज्जवेन कौन्तेयो रथघोषेण नादयन्
As they were speaking thus, the mighty son of Kunti arrived swiftly, resounding with the noise of his chariot.
शोणितोदां रथावर्तां कृत्वा विशसने नदीम्। शूरास्थिचयसङ्कीर्णां प्रेतकूलापहारिणीम्
He made the river, with eddies of blood, filled with heaps of heroes' bones, and carrying away the banks of the dead, a dreadful sight.
तां शरौघमहाफेनां प्रासमत्स्यसमाकुलाम्। नदीमुत्तीर्य वेगेन कुरून्विद्राव्य पाण्डवः
Crossing that river, foaming with torrents of arrows and crowded with spears and fish, the Pandava, with speed, scattered the Kurus.
ततः किरीटि सहसा द्रोणानीकमुपाद्रवत्। छादयन्निषुजालेन महता मोहयन्निव
Then the diademed one suddenly rushed at Drona's division, covering it with a great shower of arrows, as if to bewilder them.
शीघ्रमभ्यस्यतो बाणान्सन्दधानस्य चानिशम्। नान्तरं ददृशे कश्चित्कौन्तेयस्य यशस्विनः
As he swiftly drew and released arrows without pause, no one could see any interval in the actions of the illustrious son of Kunti.
न दिशो नान्तरिक्षं च न द्यौर्नैव च मेदिनी। अदृश्यन्त महाराज बाणभूता इवाभवन्
Neither the directions, nor the sky, nor heaven, nor the earth, O king, could be seen—they seemed to have become one with the arrows.
नादृश्यत तदा राजंस्तत्र किञ्चन संयुगे। बाणान्धकारे महति कृते गाण्डीवधन्वना
At that time, O king, nothing at all could be seen in that battle, as the wielder of Gandiva created a great darkness with his arrows.
सूर्ये चास्तमनुप्राप्ते तमसा चाभिसंवृते। नाज्ञायत तदा शत्रुर्न सुहृन्न च कश्चन
When the sun had set and darkness had spread, then neither enemy nor friend could be recognized.
ततोऽवहारं चक्रुस्ते द्रोणदुर्योधनादयः। तान्विदित्वा पुनस्त्रस्ता न युद्धमनसः परान्
Then Drona, Duryodhana, and the others withdrew; knowing this, their opponents, terrified and unwilling to fight, also retreated.
स्वान्यनीकानि बीभत्सुः शनकैरवहारयत्। ततोऽभितुष्टुवुः पार्थं प्रहृष्टाः पाण्डुसृञ्जयाः
Then Arjuna slowly withdrew his own divisions; thereafter, the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, delighted, praised Partha.
पाञ्चालाश्च मनोज्ञाभिर्वाग्भिः सूर्यमिवर्षयः। एं स्वशिबिरं प्रायाज्जित्वा शत्रून्धनञ्जयः
The Panchalas, with pleasing words like rays of the sun, praised him; thus Dhananjaya, having conquered his foes, returned to his own camp.
पृष्ठतः सर्वसैन्यानां मुदितो वै सकेशवः।। मसारगल्वर्कमुवर्णरूपैर्वज्रप्रवालस्फटिकैश्च मुख्यैः
Joyful, with Kesava, he followed behind all the armies.
चित्रे रथे पाण्डुसुतो बभासे नक्षत्रचित्रे वियतीव चन्द्रः
On his splendid chariot, the son of Pandu shone like the moon in a sky adorned with stars, with foremost gems of gold, coral, and crystal.
यज्वानः पुत्रिणो लोक्याः कृतकृत्यास्तनुत्यजः। योक्ष्यमाणास्तदाऽऽत्मानं यशसा विजयेन च
Those who performed sacrifices, had sons, were renowned in the world, had fulfilled their duties, and were about to cast off their bodies, then prepared themselves for glory and victory.
ब्रह्मचर्युश्रुतिमुखैः क्रतुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः। प्राप्याँल्लोकान्सुयुद्धेन क्षिप्रमेव यियासवः
Having attained worlds through celibacy, study, sacrifices with abundant gifts, and noble battle, they now wished to depart quickly.
ब्राह्ममांस्तर्पयित्वा च निष्कान्दत्वा पृथक्पृथक्। गाश्च वासांसि च पुनः समाभाष्य परस्परम्
Having satisfied the Brahmanas and given up all claims, each separately, and having again exchanged cows and garments with one another,
द्विजमुख्यैः समुदितैः कृतस्वस्त्ययनाशिषः। मुदिताश्च प्रहृष्टाश्च जलं संस्पृश्य निर्मलम्
Surrounded by eminent twice-borns, who offered blessings and words of auspiciousness, joyful and elated, they touched pure water.
प्रज्वाल्य कृष्णवर्त्मानमुपागम्य रणव्रतम्। तस्मिन्नग्नौ तदा चक्रुः प्रतिज्ञां दृढनिश्चयाः
Having kindled a fire with blackened fuel, and approaching the vow of battle, then, with firm resolve, they made their pledges into that fire.
शृण्वतां सर्वभूतानामुच्चैर्वाचो बभाषिरे। सर्वे धनञ्जयवधे प्रतिज्ञां चापि चक्रिरे
In the hearing of all beings, they spoke loudly, and all made vows to slay Dhananjaya.
ये वै लोकाश्चाव्रतिनां ये चैव ब्रह्मघातिनाम्। मद्यपस्य च ये लोका गुरुदाररतस्य च
The worlds attained by those without vows, by slayers of Brahmins, by drunkards, and by those who violate their teacher's wife—
ब्रह्मस्वहारिणश्चैव राजपिण्डापहारिणः। शरणागतं च त्यजतो याचमानं तथा घ्नतः
By those who steal Brahmins' wealth, who steal the king's food, who abandon a supplicant seeking refuge, or who kill a beggar—
अगारदाहिनां चैव ये च गां निघ्नतामपि। अपकारिणां च ये लोका ये च ब्रह्मद्विषामपि
By those who burn houses, who kill cows, by wrongdoers, and by haters of Brahmins—
स्वभार्यामृतुकालेषु मोहाद्वै नाभिगच्छताम्। श्राद्धमैथुनिकानां च ये चाप्यात्मापहारिणाम्
By those who, out of delusion, do not approach their own wives at the proper time, by those who eat at Śrāddha or during intercourse, and by those who destroy themselves—
न्यासापहारिणां ये च श्रुतं नाशयतां च ये। क्लीबने युध्यमानानां ये च नीचानुसारिणाम्
By those who steal deposits, who destroy the Veda, by those who fight unmanfully, and by followers of the base—
नास्तिकानां च ये लोका येऽग्निमातृपितृत्यजाम्। तानाप्नुयामहे लोकान्ये च पापकृतामपि
By atheists, by those who abandon fire, mother, or father—may we attain those worlds, and also those of evildoers,
यद्यहत्वा वयं युद्धे निवर्तेम धनञ्जयम्। तेन चाभ्यर्दितास्त्रासाद्भवेमहि पराङ्मुखाः
If, without slaying Dhananjaya in battle, we turn back out of fear, pressed by him, may we reach those worlds.
यदि त्वसुकरं लोके कर्म कुर्याम संयुगे। इष्टाँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुयामो वयमद्य न संशयः
But if, in battle, we perform a deed difficult in this world, today we shall surely attain the desired worlds—of this there is no doubt.
एवमुक्त्वा तदा राजंस्तेऽभ्यवर्तन्त संयुगे। आह्वयन्तोऽर्जुनं वीराः पितृजुष्टां दिशं प्रति
Having spoken thus, O King, they then advanced into battle, calling out Arjuna, the heroes, toward the quarter favored by their ancestors.
आहूतस्तैर्नरव्याघ्रैः पार्थः परपुरञ्चयः। धर्मराजमिदं वाक्यमपदान्तरमब्रवीत्
Summoned by those tiger-like men, Partha, destroyer of enemy cities, spoke these words without deviation to King Yudhishthira.
आहूतो न निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम्। संशप्तकाश्च मां राजन्नाह्वयन्ति महामृधे
Summoned, I will not turn back—this is the vow I have undertaken. O King, the Saṃśaptakas are challenging me to great battle.