स नागराजः प्रवराङ्कुशाहतः पुरा सपक्षोऽद्रिवरो यथा नृप। भयं तदा रिपुषु समादधद्भृशं वणिग्जनानां क्षुभितो यथाऽर्णवः
That king of elephants, struck by the foremost goad, was like a great mountain with wings in ancient times, O king; at that moment, he inspired great fear among the enemies, like the agitated ocean among merchants.
ततो ध्वनिर्द्विरदरथाश्वपार्थिवै र्भयाद्रवद्भिर्जनितोऽतिभैरवः। क्षितिं वियद् द्यां विदिशो दिशस्तथा समावृणोत्पार्थिवसंयुगे ततः
Then, a most terrifying sound arose from the elephants, chariots, horses, and kings, who were fleeing in fear; that tumult filled the earth, the sky, the heavens, the intermediate regions, and all directions during the kings' battle.
स तेन नागप्रवरेण पार्थिवो भृशं जगाहे द्विषतामनीकिनीम्। पुरा सुगुप्तां विबुधैरिवाहवे विरोचनो देववरूतिनीमिव
With that foremost elephant, the king forcefully penetrated the enemy ranks, just as Virocana once attacked the well-guarded army of the gods in battle.
भृशं ववौ ज्वलनसखो वियद्रजः समावृणोन्मुहुरपि चैव सैनिकान्। तमेकनागं गणशो यथा गजान् समन्ततो द्रुतमथ मेनिरे जनाः
A strong wind, the friend of fire, blew up dust from the sky, repeatedly covering the soldiers; and the people thought that single elephant, rushing everywhere, was like a herd of elephants.
क्षोभयन्तं तदा सेनां द्विरदं नलिनीमिव। धनञ्जयं भूतगणाः साधुसाध्वित्यपूजयन्
As Dhananjaya disturbed the army like an elephant a lotus pond, the hosts of spirits praised him, exclaiming 'Well done! Well done!'
दृष्ट्वा तत्कर्म पार्थस्य वासवस्येव माधवः। विस्मयं परमं गत्वा प्राञ्जलिस्तमुवाच ह
Seeing that deed of Partha, Madhava was filled with the utmost wonder, as if it were Indra's own, and with joined palms he spoke to him.
कर्मैतत्पार्थ शक्रेण यमेन धनदेन च। दुष्करं समरे यत्ते कृतमद्येति मे मतिः
O Partha, this act you have performed today in battle seems to me as difficult as those accomplished by Indra, Yama, or Kubera.
युगपच्चैव सङ्ग्रामे शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। पतिता एव मे दृष्टाः संशप्तकमहारथाः
In this very battle, I have seen hundreds and thousands of great chariot-warriors among the Saṃśaptakas fall at once.
संशप्तकांस्ततो हत्वा भूयिष्ठा ये व्यवस्थिताः। भगदत्ताय याहीति कृष्णं पार्थोऽभ्यनोदयत्
Having slain the Saṃśaptakas, those who still remained, Partha urged Krishna onward, saying, 'Now, let us go to Bhagadatta!'
यत्तदानामयज्जिष्णुर्भरतानामपापिनाम्। धनुः क्षेमकरं सङ्ख्ये द्विषतामश्रुवर्धनम्
That bow which Jishnu wielded then for the sinless Bharatas, bringing safety in battle and causing tears among the enemies—
तदेव तव पुत्रस्य राजन्दुर्द्यूतदेविनः। कृते क्षत्रविनाशाय धनुरायच्छदर्जुनः
That very bow, O king, Arjuna now draws for the destruction of your son, who was deceived by the evil dice game.
तथा विक्षोभ्यमाणा सा पार्थेन तव वाहिनी। व्यशीर्यत महाराज नौरिवासाद्य पर्वतम्
Thus, O great king, your army, shaken by Partha, was scattered, like a boat dashed against a mountain.
ततो दशसहस्राणि न्यवर्तन्त धनुष्मताम्। मतिं कृत्वा रणे क्रूरां वीरा जयपराजये
Then, ten thousand bowmen turned back, having resolved in battle to be fierce, whether in victory or defeat.
व्यपेतहृदयत्रासा आवव्रुस्तं महारथाः। आर्च्छत्पार्थो गुरुं भारं सर्वभारसहो युधि
Those great chariot-warriors, their hearts free from fear, surrounded him; Partha, who bears all burdens in battle, took on the heavy task.
यथा नलवनं क्रुद्धः प्रभिन्नः षष्टिहायनः। मृद्गीयात्तद्वदायस्तः पार्थोऽमृद्गाच्चमूं तव
Just as an enraged, sixty-year-old elephant crushes a lotus grove, so did Partha, uninjured, crush your army.
तस्मिन्प्रमथिते सैन्ये भगदत्तो नराधिपः। तेन नागेन सहसा धनञ्जयमुपाद्रवत्
When the army was thus shattered, King Bhagadatta swiftly advanced against Dhananjaya with his elephant.
तं रथेन नरव्याघ्रः प्रत्यगृह्णाद्धनञ्जयः। स सन्निपातस्तुमुलो बभूव नरनागयोः
Dhananjaya, tiger among men, confronted him with his chariot; and a tumultuous clash arose between the man and the elephant.
कल्पिताभ्यां यथाशास्त्रं रथेन च गजेन च। सङ्ग्रामे चेरतुर्वीरौ भगदत्तधनञ्जयौ
Both heroes, Bhagadatta and Dhananjaya, maneuvered in battle according to the rules, one with his elephant, the other with his chariot.
ततो जीमूतसङ्काशान्नागादिन्द्र इव प्रभुः। अभ्यवर्षच्छरौघेण भगदत्तो धनञ्जयम्
Then Bhagadatta, lordly as Indra among the Nagas and shining like a raincloud, showered Dhananjaya with a torrent of arrows.
स चापि शरवर्षं तं शरवर्षेण वासिवः। अप्राप्तमेव चिच्छेद भगदत्तस्य वीर्यवान्
But the valiant Arjuna, with a rain of arrows of his own, cut down Bhagadatta’s arrow-shower before it could reach him.
ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजा शरवर्षे निवारिते। संरक्तनयनो रोषात्पार्थं पुनरवाकिरत्
Then the king of Pragjyotisha, his arrow-shower thwarted, his eyes red with anger, again covered Partha with arrows.
स तथा शरवर्षेण पार्थं समभिहत्य वै। चोदयामास तं नागं वधायाच्युतपार्थयोः
Striking Partha with that hail of arrows, he urged his elephant forward to slay Krishna and Arjuna.
तमापतन्तं द्विरदं दृष्ट्वा क्रुद्धमिवान्तकम्। चक्रेऽपसव्यं त्वरितः स्यन्दनेन जनार्दनः
Seeing that charging elephant, furious like Death himself, Janardana swiftly turned the chariot to the left.
सम्प्राप्तमपि नेयेष परावृत्तं महाद्विपम्। सारोहं मृत्युसात्कर्तुं स्मरन्धर्मं धनञ्जयः
Even as the great elephant approached, Dhananjaya, mindful of righteousness, would not turn it back or destroy it along with its rider.
स तु नागो द्विपरथान्हयांश्चामृद्य मारिष। प्राहिणोन्मृत्युलोकाय ततः क्रुद्धो धनञ्जयः
But that elephant, O dear one, crushed elephants, chariots, and horses, sending them to the realm of death; then Arjuna grew angry.
स प्लुतः स्यन्दनात्तस्मान्नीलश्चर्मवरासिभृत्। द्रौणायनेः शिरः कायाद्धर्तुमैच्छत्पतत्त्रिवत्
Then Nila, bearer of a blue shield and sword, leapt from his chariot, seeking to sever the head of Drona’s son like a bird’s wing.
तस्योद्यतासेः सुनसं शिरः कायात्सकुण्डलम्। भल्लेनापाहरद्द्रौणिः स्मयमान इवानघ
But Drona’s son, smiling, struck off his beautiful, earringed head with a razor-sharp arrow before the sword could fall.
सम्पूर्णचन्द्राभमुखः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः। प्रांशुरुत्पलपत्राभो निहतो न्यपतद्भुवि
His face full as the moon, his eyes like lotus petals, tall and radiant as a blue lotus leaf, he fell slain to the earth.
ततः प्रविव्यथे सेना पाण्डवी भृशमाकुला। आचार्यपुत्रेण हते नीले ज्वलिततेजसि
Then the Pandava army was deeply shaken and thrown into confusion, seeing Nila of blazing energy slain by the preceptor’s son.
अचिन्तयंश्च ते सर्वे पाण्डवानां महारथाः। कथं नो वासविस्त्रायाच्छत्रुभ्य इति मारिष
All the great chariot-warriors of the Pandavas thought, 'How will Vasava protect us from our enemies now, O dear one?'