अशक्यं तु तमन्येन द्रोणं मत्त्वा युधिष्ठिरः। अविषह्यं गुर भारं सौभद्रे समवासृजत्
Recognizing that none other could overcome Drona, Yudhishthira, unable to bear the burden, sent forth Subhadra's son.
वासुदेवादनवरं फल्गुनाच्चामितौजसम्। अब्रवीत्परवीरघ्नमभिमन्युमिदं वचः
Having received unceasing support from Vasudeva and the mighty Arjuna, he spoke these words to Abhimanyu, slayer of enemy heroes:
एत्य नो नार्जुनो गर्हेद्यथा तात तथा कुरु। द्रोणानीकस्य न वयं विद्मो भेदं कथञ्चन
Go forth, dear one, lest Arjuna reproach us; do as he would. We do not know how to break Drona's formation in any way.
त्वं वाऽर्जुनो वा कृष्णो वा भिन्द्यात्प्रद्युम्न एव वा। द्रोणानीकं महाबाहो पञ्चमो नोपपद्यते
Either you, Arjuna, Krishna, or Pradyumna may break Drona's array, O mighty-armed one; a fifth cannot accomplish this.
अभिमन्यो वरं तात याचे त्वां दातुमर्हसि। पितॄणां मातुलानां च सैन्यानां चैव सर्वशः
Abhimanyu, dear child, I ask you for this boon—to grant it for the sake of our fathers, uncles, and all our armies.
धनञ्जयो हि नस्तात गर्हयेदेत्य संयुगात्। क्षिप्रमस्त्रं समादाय द्रोणानीकं विशातय
For Dhananjaya would reproach us if he returned from battle; quickly take up your weapons and penetrate Drona's formation.
द्रोणस्य दृढमत्युग्रमनीकप्रवरं युधि। पितॄणां जयमाकाङ्क्षन्नवगाहेऽविलम्बितम्
Desiring victory for our fathers, I will enter without delay into Drona’s formidable and exceedingly fierce foremost battle-array.
उपदिष्टो हि मे पित्रा योगोऽनीकविशातने। नोत्सहे हि विनिर्गन्तुमहं कस्याञ्चिदापदि
For my father has instructed me in the method of penetrating battle-formations; I am not able to withdraw from any calamity.
भिन्ध्यनीकं युधांश्चेष्ठ द्वारं सञ्जनयस्व नः। वयं त्वाऽनुगमिष्यामो येन त्वं तात यास्यसि
Break through the enemy’s array in battle and open a path for us; we will follow you, father, wherever you go.
धनञ्जयसमं युद्धे त्वां वयं तात संयुते। प्रणिधायानुयास्यामो रक्षन्तः सर्वतोमुखाः
In battle, father, we will follow you, equal to Dhananjaya in combat, keeping close and protecting you on all sides.
अहं त्वाऽनुगमिष्यामि धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ सात्यकिः। पाञ्चलाः केकया मात्स्यास्तथा सर्वे प्रभद्रकाः
I will follow you, as will Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki, the Panchalas, Kekayas, Matsyas, and all the Prabhadrakas.
सकृद्भिन्नं त्वया व्यूहं तत्र तत्र पुनः पुनः। वयं प्रध्वंसयिष्यामो निघ्नामाना वरान्वरान्
Whenever you break the formation, again and again in various places, we will destroy the foremost warriors who come to attack us.
अहमेतत्प्रवेक्ष्यामि द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम्। पतङ्ग इव सङ्क्रुद्धो ज्वलितं जातवेदसम्
I will enter this impenetrable Drona’s array, like an enraged moth rushing into blazing fire.
तत्कर्माद्य करिष्यामि हितं यद्वंशयोर्द्वयोः। मातुलस्य च यत्प्रीतिं करिष्यति पितुश्च मे
Today I will perform that deed which will benefit both our lineages, and which will bring joy to my uncle and my father.
शिशुनैकेन सङ्ग्रमे काल्यमानानि सङ्घशः। द्रक्ष्यन्ति सर्वभूतानि द्विषत्सैन्यानि वै मया
All beings will see, in this battle, the enemy armies being harassed in groups by me alone, though but a youth.
नाहं पार्थेन जातः स्यां न च जातः सुभद्रया। यदि मे संयुगे कश्चिज्जीवितो नाद्य मुच्यते
I would not be born of Partha, nor of Subhadra, if today in battle I allow any enemy to escape alive.
यदि चैकरथेनाहं समग्रं क्षत्रमण्डलम्। न करोम्यष्टधा युद्धे न भवाम्यर्जुनात्मजः
If with a single chariot I do not shatter the entire Kshatriya host into eight parts in battle, I am not truly Arjuna’s son.
एवं ते भाषमाणस्य बलं सौभद्र वर्धताम्। यत्समुत्सहसे भेत्तुं द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम्
As you speak thus, O Saubhadra, may your strength increase, since you are determined to break Drona’s impenetrable array.
रक्षितं पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्महेष्वासैर्महाबलै। साध्यरुद्रमरुत्तुल्यैर्वस्वग्न्यादित्यविक्रमैः
It is guarded by tiger-like men, great archers of immense might, equal to the Sadhyas, Rudras, and Maruts, with the valor of Vasus, Agni, and Aditya.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स यन्तारमचोदयत्
Hearing these words, he urged his charioteer onward.
सुमित्राश्वान्रणे क्षिप्रं द्रोणानीकाय चोदय
Drive the well-trained horses swiftly in battle towards Drona’s array.
प्रवर्तमाने सङ्ग्रामे तस्मिन्नतिभयङ्करे। द्रोणस्य मिषतो व्यूहं भित्त्वा व्यचरदार्जुनिः
As that exceedingly terrifying battle unfolded, Arjuna’s son moved about after breaking through Drona’s formation before his very eyes.
द्वैधीभवति मे चित्तं शुचा तुष्ट्या च सञ्जय। मम पुत्रस्य यत्नैन्यं सौभद्रः समवारयत्
My mind is divided, Sanjaya, between grief and satisfaction, because Saubhadra alone checked my son’s efforts.
विस्तरेणैव मे शंस सर्वं गावल्गणे पुनः। विक्रीडितं कुमारस्य स्कन्दस्येवासुरैः सह
Tell me again in detail, O Gavalgana, all about the prince’s exploits, as Skanda played among the Asuras.
हन्त ते सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि विमर्दमतिदारुणम्। एकस्य च बहूनां च यथासीत्तुमुलो रणः
Now, I shall tell you of the exceedingly fierce clash, how tumultuous the battle was between one and many.
अभिमन्युः कृतोत्साहः कृतोत्साहानरिन्दमान्। रथस्थो रथिनः सर्वांस्तावकानभ्यवर्षयत्
Abhimanyu, filled with zeal, and the foremost among destroyers of foes, standing on his chariot, showered all your warriors with arrows.
द्रोणं कर्णं कृपं शल्यं द्रौणिं भोजं बृहद्बलम्।। दुर्योधनं सौमदत्तिं शकुनिं च महाबलम्
He struck Droṇa, Karṇa, Kṛpa, Śalya, Drauṇi, Bhoja, Bṛhadbala, Duryodhana, Saumadatti, and the mighty Śakuni.
नानानृपान्नृपसुतान्सैन्यानि विविधानि च। अलातचक्रवत्सर्वांश्चरन्बाणैः समार्पयत्
He struck various kings, princes, and diverse armies, attacking them all with arrows as if with a wheel of firebrands.
निघ्नन्नमित्रान्सौभद्रः परमास्त्रैः प्रतापवान्। अदर्शयत तेजस्वी दिक्षु सर्वासु भारत
Saubhadra, valiant and radiant with supreme weapons, struck down enemies and displayed his brilliance in all directions, O Bhārata.
तद्दृष्ट्वा चरितं तस्य सौभद्रस्यामितौजसः। समकम्पन्त सैन्यानि त्वदीयानि सहस्रशः
Seeing the deeds of Saubhadra, of immeasurable energy, your armies trembled by the thousands.