कौन्तेयेनाग्रतः सृष्टा न्यपतन्पृष्ठतः शराः। तूर्णात्तूर्णतरं ह्यश्वाः प्रावहन्वातरंहसः
Arjuna released arrows from the front, which fell behind him; and the horses, swifter than the wind, carried them ever faster.
ततो नृपतयः क्रुद्धाः परिवव्रुर्धनञ्जयम्। क्षत्रिया बहवश्चान्ये जयद्रथवधैषिणम्
Then the enraged kings and many other kshatriyas surrounded Dhananjaya, who sought the slaying of Jayadratha.
सैन्येषु विप्रयातेषु धिष्ठितं पुरुषर्षभम्। दुर्योधनोऽत्वयात्पार्थं त्वरमाणो महाहवे
As the armies were scattered, Duryodhana hastened towards Partha, who stood firm in the great battle, bull among men.
वातोद्धूतपताकं तं रथं जलदनिःस्वनम्। घोरं कपिध्वजं दृष्ट्वा विषण्णा रथिनोऽभवन्
Seeing that chariot, with its flag whipped by the wind and roaring like a cloud, bearing the dreadful ape-banner, the chariot-warriors became despondent.
दिवाकरेऽथ रजसा सर्वतः संवृते भृशम्। शरार्ताश्चरणे योधाः शेकुः कृष्णौ न वीक्षितुम्
When the sun was completely veiled by dust, the warriors, tormented by arrows, could not look upon Krishna and Arjuna as they advanced.
यद्यस्य समरे गोप्ता शक्रो देवगणैः सह। तथाप्येनं निहंस्याव इति कृष्णावभाषताम्
Even if Indra himself, with all the gods, were his protector in battle, still we would slay him—so spoke Krishna and Arjuna.
इति कृष्णौ महाबाहू मिथः कथयतां तदा। सिन्धुराजमवेक्षन्तौ त्वत्पुत्रा बहु चुक्रुशुः
Thus those mighty-armed Krishnas spoke together, watching the Sindhu king, while your sons raised a great clamor.
अतीत्य मरुधन्वानं प्रयान्तौ तृषितौ गजौ। पीत्वा वारि समाश्वस्तौ तथैवास्तामरिन्दमौ
Passing through the Maru desert, the two elephants, parched, drank water and were refreshed; so too did those two subduers of enemies rest.
व्याघ्रसिंहगजाकीर्णानतिक्रम्य च पर्वतान्। वणिजाविव दृश्येतां हीनमृत्यू जरातिगौ
Having crossed mountains teeming with tigers, lions, and elephants, they appeared like merchants who, having escaped death, journey on, surpassing old age.
तथाहि मुखवर्णोऽयमनयोरिति मेनिरे। तावका वीक्ष्य मुक्तौ तौ विक्रोशन्ति स्म सर्वशः
For thus, seeing the pallor of their faces, your men thought, 'These two are released,' and all of them cried out aloud.
द्रोणादाशीविषाकाराज्ज्वलितादिव पावकात्। अन्येभ्यः पार्थिवेभ्यश्च भास्वन्ताविव भास्करौ
From Drona, fierce as deadly poison, blazing like fire, the two shone among the other kings like radiant suns.
विमुक्तौ सागरप्रख्याद्रोणानीकादर्रिदमौ। अदृश्येतां मुदा युक्तौ समुत्तीर्यार्णवं यथा
Freed from Drona’s army, vast as the ocean, the two heroes appeared, rejoicing, as if they had crossed a mighty sea.
अस्त्रौघान्महतो मुक्तौ द्रोणहार्दिक्यरक्षितात्। रोचमानावदृश्येतामिन्द्राग्न्योः सदृशौ रणे
Having escaped the great torrent of weapons guarded by Drona and Kritavarma, the two shone in battle like Indra and Agni.
उद्भिन्नरुधिरौ कृष्णौ भारद्वाजस्य सायकैः। शितैश्चितौ व्यरोचेतां कर्णिकारैरिवाचलौ
The two Krishnas, their bodies pierced and bloodied by Bharadvaja’s sharp arrows, gleamed like mountains adorned with karnikara flowers.
द्रोणग्राहहूदान्मुक्तौ शक्त्याशीविषसङ्कटात्। अयःशरोग्रमकरात्क्षत्रियप्रवराम्भसः
Freed from the grasp of Drona, from the peril of deadly spears, from the iron-tipped arrows of the foremost Kshatriyas, they emerged from the flood.
ज्याघोषतलनिर्हादाद्गदानिस्त्रिंशविद्युतः। द्रोणास्त्रमेघान्निर्मुक्तौ सूर्येन्दू तिमिरादिव
Amid the thunder of bowstrings, the clash of maces, and the flashing of swords, the two broke free from Drona’s storm of weapons like the sun and moon from darkness.
बाहुभ्यामिव सन्तीर्णौ सिन्धुषष्ठाः समुद्रगाः। तपान्ते सरितः पूर्णा महाग्राहसमाकुलाः
Like rivers at the end of summer, full and teeming with great crocodiles, reaching the ocean by their own force, so did the two cross over by their own arms.
महाशैलोच्चयां घोरां लङ्घयित्वा महानदीम्। निस्तीर्णावध्वगौ यद्वत्तद्वत्तौ तारितौ रणे
Just as two travelers cross a terrible, high-banked river, so too did they pass over the dreadful stream of battle.
इति कृष्णौ महेष्वासौ प्रशस्तौ लोकविश्रुतौ। सर्वभूतान्यमन्यन्त द्रोणास्त्रबलवारणात्
Thus the two Krishnas, mighty archers, renowned throughout the world, were praised by all beings for breaking through Drona’s force.
जयद्रथं समीपस्थमवेक्षन्तौ जिघांसया। रुरुं वनान्ते लिप्सन्तौ व्याघ्रवत्तावतिष्ठताम्
Seeing Jayadratha nearby and intent on slaying him, the two stood like tigers in the forest seeking their prey.
यथा हि मुखवर्णोऽयमनयोरिति मेनिरे। तव योधा महाराज हतमेव जयद्रथम्
Observing the expression on their faces, your warriors, O King, believed Jayadratha already slain.
लोहिताक्षौ महाबाहू संयुक्तौ कृष्णपाण्डवौ। सिन्धुराजमभिप्रेक्ष्य हृष्टौ व्यनदतां मुहुः
With blood-red eyes and mighty arms, Krishna and Arjuna, delighted, repeatedly roared upon seeing the Sindhu king.
शौरेरभीषुहस्तस्य पार्थस्य च धनुष्मतः। तयोरासीत्प्रभा राजन्सूर्यपावकयोरिव
From Sauri’s hand, holding the missile, and from Partha, wielding the bow, there was a radiance like that of the sun and fire, O King.
हर्ष एव तयोरासीद्द्रोणानीकप्रमुक्तयोः। समीपे सैन्धवं दृष्ट्वा श्येनयोरामिषं यथा
Joy arose in the two, having broken through Drona’s ranks, as when hawks see flesh nearby.
तौ तु सैन्धवमालोक्य वर्तमानमिवान्तिके। सहसा पेततुःक्रुद्धौ क्षिप्रं श्येनाविवामिपम्
Beholding the Sindhu king close at hand, the two, enraged, suddenly swooped down like hawks upon their prey.
तौ दृष्ट्वा तु व्यतिक्रान्तौ हृषीकेशधनञ्जयौ। सिन्धुराजस्य रक्षार्थं पराक्रान्तः सुतस्तव
Seeing Hrishikesha and Dhananjaya break through, your son advanced with valor to protect the Sindhu king.
द्रोणेनाबद्धकवचो राजा दुर्योधनस्ततः। ययावेकरथेनाजौ हयसंस्करावित्प्रभो
Then King Duryodhana, armored by Drona, rode forth alone into battle, his horses well-trained, O lord.
कृष्णपार्थौ महेष्वासौ व्यतिक्रम्याथ ते सुतः। अग्रतः पुण्डरीकाक्षं प्रतीयाय नराधिप
After the mighty-armed Krishna and Arjuna broke through, your son advanced ahead toward lotus-eyed Krishna, O king of men.
ततः सर्वेषु सैन्येषु वादित्राणि प्रहृष्टवत्। प्रावाद्यन्त व्यतिक्रान्ते तव पुत्रे धनञ्जयम्
Then, throughout all the army, the instruments of music resounded joyfully, as your son confronted Dhananjaya.
सिंहनादरवाश्चासञ्शङ्खशब्दविमिश्रिताः। दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनं तत्र कृष्णयोः प्रमुखे स्थितम्
Lion-roars, mingled with the sound of conch shells, arose when they saw Duryodhana standing there before Krishna and Arjuna.