एष च भ्रातृभिः सार्धं सुशर्माऽऽह्वयते रणे। वधाय सगणस्यास्य मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
And here, with his brothers, Susharma calls me to battle, with his forces, for the purpose of my death; you should permit me.
नैतच्छक्नोमि संसोढुमाह्वानं पुरुषर्षभ। सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि हतान्विद्धि परान्युधि
I cannot endure this challenge, O best of men. I promise you truly: know that the enemies will be slain in battle.
श्रुतं ते तत्त्वतस्तात यद्द्रोणस्य चिकीर्षितम्। यथा तदनृतं तस्य भवेतत्त्वं समाचर
You have truly heard, father, what Drona intends; act in such a way that his plan becomes fruitless.
द्रोणो हि बलवाञ्शूरः कृतास्त्रश्च जितश्रमः। प्रतिज्ञातं च तेनैतद्ग्रहणं मे महारथ
For Drona is strong, heroic, skilled in weapons, tireless in battle, and he has vowed to capture me, O great chariot-warrior.
अयं वै सत्यजिद्राजन्नद्य त्वां रक्षिता युधि। ध्रियमाणे च पाञ्चाल्ये नाचार्यः काममाप्स्यति
O King, Satyajit will protect you today in battle; as long as Draupadi is held, the teacher will not fulfill his desire.
हते तु पुरुषव्याघ्रे रणे सत्यजिति प्रभो। सर्वैरपि समेतैर्वा न स्थातव्यं कथंचन
But if Satyajit, that tiger among men, is slain in battle, O lord, then even if all unite, none will be able to stand their ground.
अनुज्ञातस्ततो राज्ञा परिष्वक्तश्च फल्गुनः। प्रेम्णा दृष्टश्च बहुधा ह्याशिषश्चास्य योजिताः
Then, permitted by the king and embraced by Phalguna, he was greeted with affection and many blessings were bestowed upon him.
विहायैनं ततः पार्थस्त्रिगर्तान्प्रत्ययाद्बली। क्षुधितः क्षुद्विघातार्थं सिंहो मृगगणानिव
Leaving him, Partha went against the Trigartas, powerful and eager, like a hungry lion attacking a herd of deer to satisfy its hunger.
ततो दौर्योधनं सैन्यं मुदा परमया युतम्। ऋतेऽर्जुनं भृशं क्रुद्धं धर्मराजस्य निग्रहे
Then the army of Duryodhana, filled with great joy, except for Arjuna, became fiercely angry to restrain Dharmaraja.
ततोऽन्योन्येन ते सैन्ये समाजग्मतुरोजसा। गङ्गासरय्वौ वेगेन प्रावृषीवोल्बणोदके
Then those armies rushed at each other with force, like the Ganga and Sarasvati rivers surging together in the rainy season with turbulent waters.
भूयिष्ठं प्रतिरुद्धा ये हतैर्योधैर्यशस्विनः'। व्यद्रवन्त भयाद्भीता यत्र दौर्योधनं बलम्
Most of those who were blocked, renowned warriors slain in battle, fled in fear, terrified, where Duryodhana's force was.
ततो जघानं सङ्क्रुद्धो वासविस्तां महाचमूम्। शरजालैरविच्छिन्नैस्तमः सूर्य इवांशुभिः
Then Vasavi, enraged, struck that great army with unbroken showers of arrows, like the sun dispelling darkness with its rays.
ततो भग्ने बले तस्मिन्विप्रलीने समन्ततः। सव्यसाचिनि सङ्क्रुद्वे त्रैगर्तान्भयमाविशत्
Then, as that force was broken and scattered all around, fear seized the Trigartas from the wrath of Savyasacin.
ते वध्यमानाः पार्थेन शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः। अमुह्यंस्तत्रतत्रैव त्रस्ता मृगगणा इव
Those being slain by Partha with arrows whose joints were well-fitted, could not escape here and there, terrified like herds of deer.
ततस्त्रिगर्तराट् क्रुद्धस्तानुवाच महारथान्। अलं द्रुतेन वः शूरा न भयं कर्तुमर्हथ
Then the king of the Trigartas, enraged, addressed the great chariot-warriors: 'Enough of your flight, heroes; you should not act out of fear.'
शप्त्वाऽथ शपथान्घोरान्सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः। गत्वा दौर्योधनं सैन्यं किं वै वक्ष्यथ मुख्यशः
Having uttered terrible oaths before the entire army, he said, 'When you go to Duryodhana's force, what will you say, O chiefs?'
नावहास्याः कथं लोके कर्मणाऽनेन संयुगे। भवेम सहिताः सर्वे निवर्तध्वं यथाबलम्
How could we all together become objects of ridicule in the world for this deed in battle? Turn back according to your strength.
एवमुक्तास्तु ते राजन्नुदक्रोशन्मुहुर्मुहुः। शङ्खांश्च दध्मिरे वीरा हर्षयन्तः परस्परम्
Thus addressed, O King, they cried out again and again, and the heroes blew their conches, encouraging one another.
ततस्ते सन्न्यवर्तन्तं संशप्तकगणाः पुनः। नारायणाश्च गोपाला मृत्युं कृत्वाऽनिवर्तनम्
Then the Saṃśaptaka troops and the Narayana cowherds turned back again, having made death their vow not to retreat.
सोत्तरायुधिनो नागाः सपताकाङ्कुशध्वजाः। पेतुः शक्राशनिहता द्रुमवन्त इवाचलाः
Elephants bearing superior weapons, banners, goads, and standards fell, struck by Indra's thunderbolt, like trees with mountains.
चामरापीडकवचाः स्रस्तान्त्रनयनास्तथा। सारोहास्तुरगाः पेतुः पार्तबाणहताः क्षितौ
Horses with riders, their manes and armor loosened, eyes rolling, fell to the ground, struck by Partha's arrows.
विप्रविद्धासिनाराचाश्छिन्नवर्मर्ष्टिशक्तयः। पत्तयश्चिन्नवर्माणः कृपणाः शेरते हताः
Infantry with broken armor, swords, arrows, shields, and spears scattered, lay slain, wretched, on the ground.
तैर्हतैर्हन्यमानैश्च पतद्भिः पतितैरपि। भ्रमद्भिर्निष्टनद्भिश्च क्रूरमायोधनं बभौ
With those slain and those being struck down, with the falling and the fallen, with those whirling and groaning, the cruel battle became dreadful.
रजश्च चाप्यभवद्दुर्गा कबन्धशतसङ्कुला।। तद्बभौ रौद्रबीभत्सं बीभत्सोर्यानमाहवे
And the dust became impassable, filled with hundreds of headless bodies; that chariot of Bhīmasena in the battle appeared terrifying and ghastly.
आक्रीडमिव रुद्रस्य घ्नतः कालात्यये पशून्।। कते वध्यमानाः पार्थेन व्याकुलाश्वरथद्विपाः
Like the sport of Rudra at the end of time, slaying the beasts, so those being struck down by Arjuna, with their horses, chariots, and elephants in confusion—
तमेवाभिमुखाः क्षीणाः शक्रस्यातिथितां गताः।। सा भूमीर्भरतश्रेष्ठ निहतैस्तैर्महारथैः
Facing him even when exhausted, they approached as guests to Indra; and that earth, O best of Bharatas, was covered by those slain great warriors.
आस्तीर्णा सम्बभौ सर्वा प्रेतीभूतैः समन्ततः।। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे चैव प्रमत्ते सव्यसाचिनि
The whole ground appeared strewn all around with those who had become like the dead; and in that moment, as Savyasācin was absorbed—
व्यूढानीकस्ततो द्रोणो युधिष्ठिरमुपाद्रवत्।। तं प्रत्यगृह्णंस्त्वरिता व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः
Then Droṇa, with his arrayed troops, advanced upon Yudhiṣṭhira in battle; and those arrayed, eager warriors swiftly confronted him.
युधिष्ठिरं परीप्सन्तस्तदासीत्तुमुलं महत्
Desiring to seize Yudhiṣṭhira, then there arose a great and tumultuous battle.
ब्राह्मणस्य वशं नाहमियामद्य यथा प्रभो। पारावतसवर्णाश्व तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्
I will not submit today to the will of the brāhmaṇa, O lord; let the strategy be set as with horses the color of doves.