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.
संरक्ष्यमाणो द्रोणेन मन्यते वीर्यमात्मनः। आत्मसम्भावितो मूढस्तं प्रमथ्नीत माचिरम्
Protected by Droṇa, he thinks highly of his own strength; deluded and self-conceited, let him be quickly struck down.
एवमुक्तास्तु ते राज्ञा सात्वतीपुत्रमभ्ययुः। संरब्धास्ते जिघांसन्तो भारद्वाजस्य पश्यतः
Thus addressed by the king, they rushed at Sātvata's son, eager to kill, as Bhāradvāja looked on.
दुःशासनस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा दुर्योधनवचस्तदा। अब्रवीत्कुरुशार्दूल दुर्योधनमिदं वचः
Hearing Duryodhana's words at that time, Duḥśāsana spoke these words to Duryodhana, O tiger among the Kurus.
अहमेनं हनिष्यामि महाराज ब्रवीमि ते। मिषतां पाण्डु पुत्राणां पाञ्चालानां च पश्यताम्
O great king, I will slay him—I tell you this—before the eyes of the sons of Pāṇḍu and the Pāñcālas, as they look on.
ग्रसिष्याम्यद्य सौभद्रं यथा राहुर्दिवाकरम्। उत्क्रुश्य चाब्रवीद्वाक्यं कुरुराजमिदं पुनः
Today I will devour Saubhadra as Rāhu swallows the sun; and raising his voice, he again spoke these words to the Kuru king.
श्रुत्वा कृष्णौ मया ग्रस्तं सौभद्रमतिमानिनौ। गमिष्यतः प्रेतलोकं जीवलोकान्न संशयः
When Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna hear that I have seized the proud Saubhadra, they will surely depart from the world of the living to the realm of the dead—there is no doubt.
तौ च श्रुत्वा मृतौ व्यक्तं पाण्डोः क्षेत्रोद्भवाः सुताः। एकाह्वा ससुहृद्वर्गाः क्लैब्याद्धास्यन्ति जीवितम्
And when the sons of Pāṇḍu, born of Kṣetrā, hear of their deaths, they and their allies will, out of weakness, abandon their lives in a single day.
तस्मादस्मिन्हते शत्रौ हताः सर्वेऽहितास्तव। शिवेन मां ध्याहि राजन्नेष हन्मि रिपूंस्तव
Therefore, with this enemy slain, all your foes are destroyed; think of me with auspiciousness, O king, for I will slay your enemies.
एवमुक्त्वाऽनदद्राजन्पुत्रो दुःशासनस्तव। सौभद्रमभ्ययात्क्रुद्धः शरवर्षैरवाकिरन्
Having spoken thus, your son Duḥśāsana, O king, advanced in anger against Saubhadra and showered him with volleys of arrows.
तमतिक्रुद्धमायान्तं तव पुत्रमरिंदमः। अभिमन्युः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः षड्विंशत्या समार्पयत्
Then Abhimanyu, destroyer of foes, struck your son, who was advancing in great fury, with twenty-six sharp arrows.