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.
रथनागाश्वमनुजानर्दयन्निशितैः शरैः। सम्प्रविश्याकरोद्भूमिं कबन्धगणसङ्कुलाम्
Piercing chariots, elephants, horses, and men with sharp arrows, he entered and made the ground crowded with headless bodies.
सौभद्रचापप्रभवैर्निकृत्ताः परमेषुभिः। स्वानेवाभिमुखान्ध्नन्तः प्राद्रवञ्जीवितार्थिनः
Cut down by the supreme arrows born from Saubhadra's bow, they turned upon their own and, seeking to save their lives, fled.
ते घोरा रौद्रकर्माणो विपाठा बहवः शिताः। निघ्न्तो रथनागाश्वाञ्जग्मुराशु वसुन्धराम्
Those fierce ones, performing terrible deeds, many sharp and sundered, struck down chariots, elephants, and horses, and swiftly fell to the earth.
सायुधाः साङ्गुलित्राणाः सगदाः साङ्गदा रणे। दृश्यन्ते बाहवश्चिन्ना हेमाभारणभूषिताः
Armed, with finger-guards, with maces, with armlets in battle, severed arms adorned with golden ornaments were seen.
शराश्चापानि खङ्गाश्च शरीराणि शिरांसि च। सकुण्डलानि स्रग्वीणि भूमावासन्सहस्रशः
Arrows, bows, swords, bodies, and heads—some with earrings and garlands—lay by the thousands on the ground.
सोपस्करैरधिष्ठानैरीषादण्डकबन्धुरैः। अक्षैर्विमथितैश्चक्रैर्बहुधा पतितैर्युगैः
With their fittings, platforms, yoke-poles, axles, shattered wheels, and many fallen yokes,
शक्तिचापासिभिश्चैव पतितैश्च महाध्वजैः। चर्मचापशरैश्चैव व्यवकीर्णैः समन्तततः
With spears, bows, swords, and great fallen banners, with scattered shields, bows, and arrows all around,
निहतैः क्षत्रियैरश्वैर्वारणैश्च विशाम्पते। अगम्यरूपा पृथिवी क्षणेनासीत्सुदारुणा
With slain warriors, horses, and elephants, O lord of men, the earth became impassable and exceedingly dreadful in a moment.
वध्यतां राजपुत्राणां क्रन्दतामितरेतरम्। प्रादुरासीन्महाशब्दो भीरूणां भयवर्धनः
As the princes were being slain, their cries to one another arose—a great sound, terrifying to the fearful.
स शब्दो भरतश्चेष्ठ दिशः सर्वा व्यनादयत्।। सौभद्रश्चाद्रवत्सेनां घ्नन्वराश्वरथद्विपान्
That sound, O best of Bharatas, resounded in all directions; and Saubhadra attacked the army, slaying the best horses, chariots, and elephants.