तं दृष्ट्वा कुरवस्त्रस्ताः प्रहृष्टाश्चाभवन्पुनः। अभ्यवर्तन्त पार्थं च समन्ताद्भरतर्षभ
Seeing him, the Kauravas were at once struck with fear and then again filled with joy, O bull of Bharata's race, and they surrounded Partha on all sides.
श्रान्तं चैनं समालक्ष्य ज्ञात्वा दूरे च सैन्धवम्। सिंहनादेन महता सर्वतः पर्यवारयन्
Observing him weary, and knowing the Sindhu king was far away, they encircled him from all sides with a great lion's roar.
तांस्तु दृष्ट्वा सुसंरब्धानुत्स्मयन्पुरुषर्भः। शनकैरिव दाशार्हमर्जुनो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Seeing those men so fiercely enraged, Arjuna, the best of men, smiled slightly and slowly spoke to Krishna, the descendant of Dasharha.
शरार्दिताश्च ग्लानाश्च हया दूरे च सैन्धवः। किमिहानन्तरं कार्यं साधिष्ठं तव रोचते
Our horses are wounded and exhausted, and the Sindhu king is far off; what should we do next that you consider best?
ब्रूहि कृष्ण यथातत्त्वं त्वं हि प्राज्ञतमः सदा। भवन्नेत्रा रणे शत्रून्विजेष्यन्तीह पाण्डवाः
Speak, Krishna, the truth as it is; you are always the wisest. Guided by you, the Pandavas will conquer their enemies here in battle.
मम त्वनन्तरं कृत्यं यद्वै तत्त्वं निबोध मे। हयान्विमुच्य हि सुखं विशल्यान्कुरु माधव
Now hear from me what should be done next: release the horses and tend to their wounds, O Madhava, so they may rest comfortably.
एवमुक्तस्तु पार्थेन केशवः प्रत्युवाच तम्। ममाप्येतन्मतं पार्थ यदितं ते प्रभाषितम्
Thus addressed by Partha, Keshava replied to him: 'O Partha, what you have just spoken is also my opinion.'
अहमावारयिष्यामि सर्वसैन्यानि केशव। त्वमप्यत्र यथान्यायं कुरु कार्यमनन्तरम्
'I will restrain all the armies, O Keshava; you, in turn, do what is to be done here according to what is right, without delay.'
सोऽवतीर्य रथोपस्थादसम्भ्रान्तो धनञ्जयः। गाण्डीवं धनुरादाय तस्थौ गिरिविवाचलः)
Then Dhananjaya, unperturbed, descended from the chariot, took up his Gandiva bow, and stood firm like a mountain.
तमभ्यधावन्क्रोशन्तः क्षत्रिया जयकाङ्क्षिणः। इदं छिद्रमिति ज्ञात्वा धरणीस्थं धनञ्जयम्
The Kshatriyas, eager for victory, rushed toward him, shouting, having seen Dhananjaya standing on the ground and recognizing this as an opportunity.
तमेकं रथवंशेन महता पर्यवारयन्। विकर्षन्तश्च चापानि विसृजन्तश्च सायकान्
They surrounded him, alone, with a great line of chariots, drawing their bows and releasing arrows.
शस्त्राणि च विचित्राणि क्रुद्धास्तत्र व्यदर्शयन्। छादयन्तः शरैः पार्थं मेघा इव दिवाकरम्
There, the enraged warriors displayed various weapons, covering Partha with arrows as clouds cover the sun.
अभ्यद्रवन्त वेगेन क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभम्। नरसिंहं रथोदाराः सिंहं मत्ता इव द्विपाः
The Kshatriyas, mighty in chariots, charged swiftly at the lion among men, like intoxicated elephants attacking a lion.
तत्र पार्थस्य भुजयोर्महद्बलमदृश्यत। यत्क्रुद्धो बहुलाः सेनाः सर्वतः समवारयत्
There, the great strength of Partha's arms was seen, for, enraged, he held back the vast armies on all sides.
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य द्विषतां सर्वतो विभुः। इषुभिर्बुभिस्तूर्णं सर्वानेव समावृणोत्
Repelling the weapons of his enemies with his own, the mighty one swiftly covered them all with arrows.
तत्रान्तरिक्षे बाणानां प्रगाढानां विशाम्पते। सङ्घर्षेण महार्चिष्मान्पावकः समजायत
There in the sky, O lord of men, from the clash of dense arrows, a blazing fire arose.
तत्रतत्र महेष्वासैः श्वसद्भिः शोणितोक्षितैः। हयैर्नागैश्च सम्भिन्नैर्नदद्भिश्चारिकर्शन
Here and there, O Arikarshana, great archers, their horses and elephants wounded and bleeding, snorted and roared.
संरब्धैश्चारिभिर्वीरैः प्रार्थयद्भिर्जयं मृधे। एकस्थैर्बहुभिः क्रुद्धैरूष्मेव समजायत
With furious warriors on foot seeking victory in battle, many enraged, standing alone against many, a fierce heat arose.
शरोर्मिणं ध्वजावर्तं नागनक्रं दुरत्ययम्। पदातिमत्स्यकलिलं शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनम्
There was a wave of arrows, a whirlpool of banners, an impassable sea of elephants and crocodiles, a tumult of infantry like fish, and the sound of conches and drums.
असङ्ख्येयमपारं च रजो नीरमतीव च। उष्णीषकमठं छत्रपताकाफेनमालिनम्
It was immeasurable and boundless, with dust like water, adorned with crests of helmets and foaming with umbrellas and banners.
रथसागरमक्षोभ्यं मातङ्गाङ्गशिलाचितम्। वेलाभूतस्तदा पार्थः पत्रिभिः समवारयत्
That ocean of chariots, unshakable and studded with the bodies of elephants, was then held back by Partha with his arrows, as if forming a shore.
अर्जुने धरणीं प्राप्ते हयहस्ते च केशवे। एतदन्तरमासाद्य कथं पार्थो न घातितः
When Arjuna had reached the ground and Keshava held the reins, how was Partha not slain in that interval?
सद्यः पार्थिव पार्थेन निरुद्धाः सर्वपार्थिवाः। रथस्था धरणीस्थेन वाक्यमच्छान्दसं यथा
Immediately, O king, all the kings, though on chariots, were restrained by Partha, who was on the ground, as if by a Vedic mantra.
स पार्थः पार्थिवान्सर्वान्भूमिस्थोपि रथस्थितान्। एको निवारयामास लोभः सर्वगुणानिव।।]
That Partha, though standing on the ground, alone held back all the kings who were on chariots, as one restrains all qualities by curbing greed.
ततो जनार्दनः सङ्ख्ये प्रियं पुरुषसत्तमम्। असम्भ्रान्तो महाबाहुरर्जुनं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then Janardana, steadfast in battle, addressed the noble Arjuna with calmness and affection.
उदपानमिहाश्वानां नालमस्ति रणेऽर्जुन। परीप्सन्ते जलं चेमे पेयं न त्ववगाहनम्
Arjuna, there is no suitable watering place here for the horses in battle; these desire water to drink, not for bathing.
इदमस्तीत्यसम्भ्रान्तो ब्रुवन्नस्त्रेण मेदिनीम्। अभिहत्यार्जुनश्चक्रे वाजिपानं सरः शुभम्
Declaring, 'There is one,' without agitation, Arjuna struck the earth with his weapon and created a splendid lake for the horses to drink.
[हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्। सुविस्तीर्णं प्रसन्नाम्भः प्रफुल्लवरपङ्कजम्
It was filled with swans and cranes, adorned by chakravaka birds, broad, with clear waters, and blossoming with excellent lotuses.
कूर्ममत्स्यगणाकीर्णमगाधमृषिसेवितम्। आगच्छन्नारदमुनिर्दर्शनार्थं कृतं क्षणात्।।]
Crowded with groups of turtles and fish, deep, frequented by sages, and Narada the sage arrived instantly to witness it.
शरवंशं शरस्थूणं शराच्छादनमद्भुतम्। शरवेश्माकरोत्पार्थस्त्वष्टेवाद्भुतकर्मकृत्
Partha made a wondrous house of arrows, with arrow walls, arrow pillars, and an amazing covering of arrows, like Tvastr, the doer of marvels.