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.
ततः प्रहस्य गोविन्दः साधुसाध्वित्यथाब्रवीत्। शरवेश्मनि पार्थेन कृते तस्मिन्महात्मना
Then Govinda laughed and said, 'Excellent, excellent,' when the great-souled Partha had made that house of arrows.
स ताँल्लब्धोदकान्स्नाताञ्जग्धान्नान्विगतक्लमान्। योजयामास संहृष्टः पुनरेव रथोत्तमे
Having obtained water, bathed, eaten food, and recovered from fatigue, he joyfully yoked them again to the excellent chariot.
स तं रथवरं शौरिः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। समास्थाय महातेजाः सार्जुनः प्रययौ द्रुतम्
Shauri, the foremost among all wielders of weapons, of great energy, mounted that splendid chariot and swiftly departed with Arjuna.
योजयित्वा हयांस्तस्य विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा। रणे चचार गोविन्दस्तृणीकृत्य महारथान्
Having yoked the horses by the prescribed rite, Govinda moved in battle, disregarding the mighty chariot-warriors.
रथं रथवरस्याजौ युक्तं लब्धोदकैर्हयैः। दृष्ट्वा कुरुबलश्रेष्ठाः पुनर्विमनसोऽभवन्
Seeing the chariot of the foremost charioteer, yoked with horses refreshed by water, the chiefs of the Kuru army became disheartened again.
विनिःस्वसन्तस्ते राजन्भग्नदंष्ट्रा इवोरगाः। घिगहोऽतिगतः पार्थः कृष्णश्चेत्यब्रुवन्पृथक्
They sighed, O King, like serpents with broken fangs, and separately said, 'Partha and Krishna have gone beyond us.'
तत्सैन्यं सर्वतो दृष्ट्वा रोमहर्षणमद्भुतम्। त्वरध्वमिति चाक्रन्दन्नैतदस्तीति चावुवन्
Seeing that wondrous, hair-raising sight everywhere, the whole army cried out, 'Hurry!' and declared, 'This is so!'
सर्वक्षत्रस्य मिषतो रथेनैकेन दंशितौ। बालः क्रीडनकेनेव कदर्थीकृत्य नो बलम्
Before all the kshatriyas, the two, with a single chariot, defied us, like a boy with a toy, belittling our strength.
क्रोशतां यतमानानामसंसक्तौ परन्तपौ। दर्शयित्वाऽत्मनो वीर्यं प्रयातौ सर्वराजसु
While all were shouting and striving, those two scorers of foes, showing their own valor, departed among all the kings.
यथा देवासुरे युद्धे तृणीकृत्य च दानवान्। इन्द्राविष्णू पुरा राजञ्जम्भस्य वधकाङ्क्षिणौ
Just as, in the battle of gods and asuras, Indra and Vishnu once disregarded the Danavas, desiring to slay Jambha, O King.