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.
अथाब्रवीन्महाप्राज्ञो भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। हर्षेणोत्फुल्लनयनः कृपमाभाष्य सत्वरम्
Then the wise and mighty Bhāradvāja, his eyes wide with delight, quickly spoke to Kṛpa.
घटयन्निव मर्माणि पुत्रस्य तव भारत। अभिमन्युं रणे दृष्ट्वा तदा रणविशारदम्
As if piercing your son's heart, O Bhārata, seeing Abhimanyu, skilled in battle, in the fight.
एष गच्छति सौभद्रः पार्थानां प्रथितो युवा। नन्दयन्सुहृदः सर्वान्राजानं च युधिष्ठिरम्
This Saubhadra advances, famed among the sons of Pāṇḍu, delighting all his friends and King Yudhiṣṭhira in battle.
नकुलं सहदेवं च भीमसेनं च पाण्डवम्। बन्धून्सम्बन्धिनश्चान्यान्मध्यस्थान्सुहृदस्तथा
He brings joy to Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhīmasena, his relatives, other kinsmen, neutrals, and friends as well.
नास्य युद्धे समं मन्ये कञ्चिदन्यं धनुर्धरम्। इच्छन्हन्यादिमां सेनां किमर्थमपि नेच्छति
I do not consider any other archer his equal in battle; wishing, he could destroy this army, but for some reason he does not desire it.
द्रोणस्य प्रीतिसंयुक्तं श्रुत्वा वाक्यं तवात्मजः। आर्जुनिं प्रति सङ्क्रुद्धो द्रोणं दृष्ट्वा स्मयन्निव
Hearing Droṇa's words, filled with affection, your son, angered at Arjuna's son, looked at Droṇa as if with a smile.
अथ दुर्योधनः कर्णमब्रवीद्बाह्लिकं नृपः। दुःशासनं मद्रराजं तांस्तथाऽन्यान्महारथान्
Then King Duryodhana spoke to Karṇa, Bāhlika, Duḥśāsana, the king of Madra, and other great chariot-warriors.
सर्वभूर्धाभिषिक्तानामाचार्यो ब्रह्मवित्तमः। अर्जुनस्य सुतं मूढं नायं हन्तुमिहेच्छति
The preceptor, best knower of the Veda, who has been consecrated over all, does not wish to slay Arjuna's foolish son.
न ह्यस्य समरे युद्ध्येदन्तकोऽप्याततायिनः। किमङ्ग पुनरेवान्यो मर्त्यः सत्यं ब्रवीमि वः
Not even Death himself, armed for battle, would fight him in combat; how much less any mortal—this I tell you truly.
अर्जुनस्य सुतं त्वेष शिष्यत्वादभिरक्षति। शिष्याः पुत्राश्च दयितास्तदपत्यं च धर्मिणाम्
Because he is Arjuna's son, Droṇa protects him out of the bond of teacher and student; students, sons, and the children of the righteous are dear.