क्रुद्धाशीविषसङ्काशान्सुकुमारान्सुखोचितान्। एकेन निहतान्दृष्ट्वा भीतो दुर्योधनोऽभवत्
Seeing those delicate, luxury-accustomed youths, fierce as enraged serpents, slain by one man, Duryodhana became afraid.
रथिनः कुञ्जरानश्वान्पदातींश्चावमर्दितान्। दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनः क्षिप्रमुपायात्तममर्षितः
Seeing charioteers, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers crushed, Duryodhana quickly approached him, enraged.
तयोः क्षणमिवापूर्वः सङ्ग्रामः समपद्यत। अथाभवत्ते विमुखः पुत्रः शरशताहतः
Between the two, an unprecedented battle arose for a moment; then the prince, struck by hundreds of arrows, turned away.
अश्रद्धेयमिवाश्चर्यं सौभद्रस्याथ विक्रमम्। किन्तु नात्यद्भुतं तेषां येषां धर्मो व्यपाश्रयः
The valor of Saubhadra was astonishing, almost unbelievable; yet it is not so wondrous for those whose refuge is righteousness.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। अकम्पनस्य कथितं नारदेन पुरा नृप
Here too, they recount an ancient legend, O King: the story of Akampana, once narrated by Narada.
स चापि राजा राजेन्द्र पुत्रव्यसनमुत्तमम्। अप्रसह्यतमं लोके प्राप्तवानिति नः श्रुतम्
That king, O ruler of kings, suffered the greatest misfortune of losing his son, which, we have heard, is the hardest to endure in the world.
तदहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि मृत्योः प्रभवमुत्तमम्। ततस्त्वं मोक्ष्यसे दुःखात्स्नेहबन्धनसंश्रयात्
I shall now tell you the supreme origin of death; then you will be freed from sorrow, from the bonds of affection.
समस्तपापराशिघ्नं शृणु कीर्तयतो मम। धन्यमाख्यानमायुष्यं शोकघ्नं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
Listen as I recount a story that destroys all heaps of sin, brings fortune, lengthens life, dispels grief, and increases strength.
पवित्रमरिसङ्घघ्नं पङ्गलानां च मङ्गलम्। यथैव वेदाध्ययनमुपाख्यानमिदं तथा
It is pure, destroys hosts of enemies, brings auspiciousness to the afflicted; this tale is as sacred as Vedic study.
श्रवणीयं महाराज प्रातर्नित्यं नृपोत्तमैः। पुत्रानायुष्मतो राज्यमीहमानैः श्रियं तथा
O great king, it should be heard every morning by noble rulers, especially those desiring long-lived sons, sovereignty, and prosperity.
पुरा कृतयुगे तात आसीद्राजा ह्यकम्पनः। स शत्रुवशमापन्नो मध्ये सङ्ग्राममूर्धनि। `योधयामास बलवान्बद्धश्चासीदकम्पनः
Long ago, in the Krita age, O dear one, there was a king named Akampana; he fell into the power of enemies in the midst of battle and was bound.
तस्य पुत्रो हरिर्नाम नारायणसमो बले। श्रीमान्कृतास्त्रो मेधावी युधि शक्रोपमो बली
His son, named Hari, equal to Narayana in strength, glorious, skilled in weapons, wise, and mighty as Indra in battle.
स दृष्ट्वा पितरं युद्धे तदवस्थं महाद्युतिः। अचिन्तयित्वा मरणं शत्रुमध्यं ततोऽविशत्
Seeing his father in such a state in battle, that radiant one, disregarding death, entered the midst of the enemy.
स शत्रुभिः परिवृतो बहुधा रणमूर्धनि। योधयामास तान्सर्वान्सर्वास्त्रकुशलो बली
Surrounded by enemies on all sides in the thick of battle, he fought them all, skilled in every weapon and mighty.
वर्षन्बाणसहस्राणि शत्रुष्वमितविक्रमः। पदातिरथनागाश्वान्प्रममाथ महाबलः
He, of immeasurable valor, rained thousands of arrows upon his enemies and crushed foot soldiers, chariots, elephants, and horses with his great strength.
स शरैराचितश्चक्रैर्गदाभिर्मुसलैरपि। मृद्गन्रथसहस्राणि पदातीन्वाजिवारणान्
Covered with arrows, struck by wheels, maces, and clubs, he shattered thousands of infantry, chariots, horses, and elephants.
परानीकं विभिद्याजौ मोक्षयित्वा च तं नृपम्। पुनरेवाकरोद्युद्धं शत्रुमध्यगतो बली
Having pierced the enemy ranks in battle and released that king, the mighty one again engaged in combat, standing amidst his foes.
ततस्ते रथिनः सर्वे समेत्य पुनराहवे। जघ्नुस्तं परिवार्यैकं तोमरैरिव कुञ्जरम्
Then all the chariot-warriors, gathering together once more on the battlefield, surrounded and struck him alone with spears, as elephants are attacked.
स कर्म दुष्करं कृत्वा सङ्ग्रामे शत्रुतापनः। शत्रुभिर्निहतः सङ्ख्ये पृतानायां युधिष्ठिर
Having performed that difficult deed, tormentor of foes, he was slain in battle by his enemies amid the troops, O Yudhishthira.
द्विषद्भिर्निहतं दृष्ट्वा प्रियं पुत्रमकम्पनः। अमर्षजनितक्रोध आहवात्सहसाऽऽगतः
Seeing his beloved son slain by his enemies, the unshaken one, filled with wrath born of indignation, suddenly entered the battle.
स राजा प्रेतकृत्यानि तस्य कृत्वा शुचान्वितः। शोचन्नहनि रात्रौ च नालभत्सुखमात्मनः
That king, performing the funeral rites for him, was overcome with grief and found no peace for himself, lamenting day and night.
तस्य शोकं विदित्वा तु पुत्रव्यसनसम्भवम्। आजगामाथ देवर्षिर्नारदोऽस्य समीपतः
Knowing his sorrow, arising from the loss of his son, the divine sage Narada then came near him.
स तु राजा महाभागो दृष्ट्वा देवर्षिसत्तमम्। पूजयित्वा यथान्यायं कथामकथयत्तदा
That illustrious king, seeing the foremost of divine sages, honored him as was proper and then recounted his tale.
तस्य सर्वं समाचष्ट यथावृत्तं युधिष्ठिर। शत्रुभिर्विजयं सङ्ख्ये पुत्रस्य च वधं तथा
He told Narada everything as it had happened, O Yudhishthira—his son's victory in battle and also his death at the hands of his enemies.
मम पुत्रो महावीर्य इन्द्रविष्णुसमद्युतिः। शत्रुभिर्बहुभिः सङ्ख्ये पराक्रम्य हतो बली
My son, of great heroism, equal in splendor to Indra and Vishnu, was slain in battle by many enemies, though he was mighty.
शृणु मे प्राणिनां चापि मृत्युः प्रभवते किल। क एष मृत्युर्भगवन्किंवीर्यबलपौरुषः। एतदिच्छामि तत्त्वेन श्रोतुं मतिमतां वर
Hear from me: death indeed prevails over all living beings. Who is this Death, O blessed one? What are his power, strength, and prowess? I wish to hear this truly, O best of the wise.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदो वरदः प्रभुः। आख्यानमिदमाचष्ट पुत्रशोकापहं महत्
Hearing these words, Narada, the gracious and mighty sage, told him this great tale that dispels grief for a son.
शृणु राजन्महाबाहो आख्यानं बहुविस्तरम्। यथावृत्तं श्रुतं चैव मयाऽपि वसुधाधिप
Hear, O king of mighty arms, this extensive narrative, just as it happened and as I have heard it, O lord of the earth.
प्रजाः सृष्टा तदा ब्रह्मा आदिसर्गे पितामहः। असंहृतं महातेजा दृष्ट्वा जगदिदं प्रभुः
Then, at the beginning of creation, Brahma the grandsire created beings; seeing the world unrestrained, the mighty lord,
तस्य चिन्ता समुत्पन्ना संहारं प्रति पार्थिव। चिन्तयन्न ह्यसौ देव संहारं वसुधाधिप
A thought arose in him, O king, regarding destruction; pondering thus, that god considered the dissolution of the world.