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.
ये च ते सिन्धुराजस्य गोप्तारः पावकोपमाः। ते प्राहृष्यन्त समरे दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं तव प्रभो
And those guardians of the Sindhu king, blazing like fire, rejoiced in battle upon seeing your son, O lord.
दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनं कृष्णो व्यतिक्रान्तं सहानुगम्। अब्रवीदर्जुनं राजन्प्राप्तकालमिदं वचः
Seeing Duryodhana advance with his followers, Krishna spoke these timely words to Arjuna, O King.
दिष्ट्या जानाति सङ्ग्रामे योद्धव्यं हि त्वया सह। दिष्ट्या च सफलाः पार्थ सर्वे कामा ह्यकामिताः
By fortune, he knows that he must fight you in battle; by fortune, O Partha, all your unfulfilled desires are now bearing fruit.
तस्माज्जहि रणे पार्थ धार्तराष्ट्रं कुलाधमम्। यथेन्द्रेण हतः पूर्वं जम्भो देवासुरे मृधे
Therefore, O Partha, slay the wicked Duryodhana in battle, just as Indra once slew Jambha in the war between gods and demons.
अस्मिन्हते त्वया सैन्यमनाथं भिद्यतामिदम्। वैरस्य दिष्ट्या सहजं मूलं छिन्धि दुरात्मनाम्
When you have slain him, let this leaderless army be scattered; by fortune, cut off at the root this innate enmity of the wicked.
तं तथेत्यब्रवीत्पार्थः कृत्यरूपमिदं मम। सर्वमन्यदनादृत्य गच्छ यत्र सुयोधनः
Partha replied, 'So be it; this is my duty. Disregarding all else, I shall go where Suyodhana is.'
येनैतद्दीर्घकालं नो भुक्तं राज्यमकण्टकम्। अप्यस्य युधि विक्रम्य च्छिन्द्यां मूर्धानमाहवे
'He who has long enjoyed our kingdom without obstacle—may I, by valor in battle, sever his head in the fight.'
अपि तस्य ह्यनर्हायाः परिक्लेशस्य माधव। कृष्णायाः शक्नुयां गन्तुं पदं केशप्रधर्षणे
'May I, O Madhava, be able to take a step for Krishna, who suffered unworthy torment, when her hair was seized.'
अप्यहं तानि दुःखानि पूर्ववृत्तानि माधव। दुर्योधनं रणे हत्वा प्रतिमोक्ष्ये कथञ्चन
'May I somehow be freed from those past sorrows, O Madhava, by slaying Duryodhana in battle.'
इत्येवंवादिनौ कृष्णौ हृष्टौ श्वेतान्हयोत्तमान्। प्रेषयामासतुः सङ्ख्ये प्रेप्सन्तौ तं नराधिपम्
Thus speaking, the two Krishnas, delighted, urged their excellent white steeds forward in the battle, seeking out that king.