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.
दुःशासनस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धः प्रभिन्न इव कुञ्जरः। अयोधयत सौभद्रमभिमन्युश्च तं रणे
Duḥśāsana, enraged like a maddened elephant, fought with Saubhadra, and Abhimanyu battled him in turn on the field.
तौ मण्डलानि चित्राणि रथाभ्यां सव्यदक्षिणम्। चरमाणावयुध्येतां रथशिक्षाविशारदौ
Both, skilled in the science of chariot warfare, moved their chariots in intricate circles, to the left and right, as they fought each other.
अथ पणवमृदङ्गदुन्दुभीनां क्रकचमहानकभेरिझर्झराणम्। निनदमतिभृशं नराः प्रचक्रु-- र्लवणजलोद्भवसिंहनादमिश्रम्
Then, the men made a tremendous din, mingled with the roars of lions born from the salty sea, and the sounds of drums, mridangas, dundubhis, krakachas, great nakas, bheris, and jharjharas.
ततः शिलाशितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्भल्लैरानतपर्वभिः। छित्त्वा धनूंषि शूराणामार्जुनिः कर्णमार्दयत्
Then Arjuni, with sharp, stone-tipped, curved arrows, cut down the bows of the heroes and wounded Karṇa.
धनुर्मण्डलनिर्मुक्तैः शरैराशीविषोपमैः। सच्छत्रध्वजयन्तारं साश्वमाशु स्मयन्निव
With arrows released in circles from his bow, resembling venomous serpents, he swiftly struck down Karṇa's charioteer, banner, and horses, as if smiling.
कर्णोऽपि चास्य चिक्षेप बाणान्सन्नतपर्वणः। असम्ब्रान्तश्च तान्सर्वानगृह्णात्फल्गुनात्मजः
Karṇa too shot arrows with well-polished shafts at him, but the son of Phalguna calmly caught them all.
ततो मुहूर्तात्कर्णस्य बाणेनैकेन वीर्यवान्। सध्वजं कार्मुकं वीरश्छित्त्वा भूमावपातयत्
Then, in a moment, the mighty hero cut down Karṇa's bow and banner with a single arrow, casting them to the ground.
ततः कृच्छ्रगतं कर्णं दृष्ट्वा कर्णादनन्तरः। सौभद्रमभ्ययात्तूर्णं दृढमुद्यम्य कार्मुकम्
Seeing Karṇa in dire straits, the next after Karṇa quickly advanced against Saubhadra, firmly drawing his bow.
तत उच्चुक्रुशुः पार्थास्तेषां चानुचरा जनाः। वादित्राणि च सञ्जघ्नः सौभद्रं चापि तुष्टुवुः
Then the sons of Pāṇḍu and their followers raised a great cheer, struck up the instruments, and praised Saubhadra.
स कक्षेऽग्निरिवोत्सृष्टो निर्दहंस्तरसा रिपून्। मध्ये भारतसैन्यानामार्जुनिः पर्यवर्तत
Like a fire unleashed in a thicket, burning his foes with speed, Arjuni turned about in the midst of the Bhārata army.