ते स्म लक्ष्याणि बिभिदुर्बाणैर्नामाङ्कशोभितैः। विविधैर्लाघवोत्सृष्टैरुह्यन्तो वाजिभिर्द्रुतम्
They struck the targets with arrows adorned with their names, swiftly riding on horses and releasing their shafts with dexterity.
तत्कुमारबलं तत्र गृहीतशरकार्मुकम्। गन्धर्वनगराकारं प्रेक्ष्य ते विस्मिताभवन्
Seeing that troop of princes, armed with bows and arrows, appearing like a city of the Gandharvas, the onlookers were filled with wonder.
सहसा चुक्रुशुश्चान्ये नराः शतसहस्रशः। विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयनाः साधुसाध्विति भारत
Suddenly, other men by the hundreds and thousands cried out, their eyes wide with astonishment, exclaiming, 'Well done! Well done!' O Bhārata.
कृत्वा धनुषि ते मार्गान्रथचर्यासु चासकृत्। गजपृष्ठेऽश्वपृष्ठे च नियुद्धे च महाबलाः
They repeatedly displayed their skills with bows in chariot maneuvers, on the backs of elephants and horses, and in single combat, showing their great strength.
गृहीतखड्गचर्माणस्ततो भूयः प्रहारिणः। त्सरुमार्गान्यथोद्दिष्टांश्चेरुः सर्वासु भूमिषु
Then, taking up swords and shields, they struck again, performing the prescribed movements with weapons on all sides of the arena.
लाघवं सौष्ठवं शोभां स्थिरत्वं दृढमुष्टिताम्। ददृशुस्तत्र सर्वेषां प्रयोगं खड्गचर्मणोः
There, all witnessed their agility, skill, splendor, steadiness, and firm grip in the use of sword and shield.
अथ तौ नित्यसंहृष्टौ सुयोधनवृकोदरौ। अवतीर्णौ गदाहस्तावेकशृङ्गाविवाचलौ
Then those two, always delighted—Suyodhana and Vṛkodara—descended, maces in hand, like two mountains with a single peak.
बद्धकक्ष्यौ महाबाहू पौरुषे पर्यवस्थितौ। बृंहन्तौ वासिताहेतोः समदाविव कुञ्जरौ
With their waists bound, mighty-armed, standing firm in their manliness, they swelled with pride like two intoxicated elephants, scented with rut.
तौ प्रदक्षिणसव्यानि मण्डलानि महाबलौ। चेरतुर्मण्डलगतौ समदाविव कुञ्जरौ
Those two mighty warriors moved in circles, to the right and to the left, circling each other like two elephants of equal strength in a contest.
विदुरो धृतराष्ट्राय गान्धार्याः पाण्डवारणिः। न्यवेदयेतां तत्सर्वं कुमाराणां विचेष्टितम्
Vidura reported to Dhritarashtra, the king, all that Gandhari’s son and the Pandava elephant had done, describing every action of the princes.
कुरुराजे हि रङ्गस्थे भीमे च बलिनां वरे। पक्षपातकृतस्नेहः स द्विधेवाभवज्जनः
While King Kuru was seated in the arena and Bhima, the foremost of the strong, was present, the people, out of partiality and affection, became divided into two factions.
जय हे कुरुराजेति जय हे भीम इत्युत। पुरुषाणां सुविपुलाः प्रणादाः सहसोत्थिताः
‘Victory to the king of the Kurus!’ ‘Victory to Bhima!’—such loud shouts arose suddenly from the multitude of men.
ततः क्षुब्धार्णवनिभं रङ्गमालोक्य बुद्धिमान्। भारद्वाजः प्रियं पुत्रमश्वत्थामानमब्रवीत्
Then, seeing the arena like a disturbed ocean, the wise Bharadvaja spoke to his beloved son Ashvatthama.
वारयैतौ महावीर्यौ कृतयोग्यावुभावपि। मा भूद्रङ्गप्रकोपोऽयं भीमदुर्योधनोद्भवः
Restrain these two mighty heroes, both well-trained; let not this agitation in the arena, born of Bhima and Duryodhana, grow further.
तत उत्थाय वेगेन अश्वत्थामा न्यवारयत्। गुरोराज्ञा भीम इति गान्धारे गुरुशासनम्। अलं शिक्षाकृतं वेगमलं साहसमित्युत
Then Ashvatthama quickly rose and restrained them, saying by the teacher’s command, ‘Enough, Bhima! Enough, son of Gandhari! Enough of this display, enough of this speed, enough of this daring!’
ततस्तावुद्यतगतौ गुरुपुत्रेण वारितौ। युगान्तानिलसंक्षुब्धौ महावेलाविवार्णवौ
Then, as the teacher’s son restrained them, those two, surging like oceans agitated by the wind at the end of an age, were checked.
ततो रङ्गाङ्गणगतो द्रोणो वचनमब्रवीत्। निवार्य वादित्रगणं महामेघनिभस्वनम्
Then Drona, having entered the arena, spoke these words, first quieting the musicians whose sound was like a great thundercloud.
यो मे पुत्रात्प्रियतरः सर्वशस्त्रविशारदः। ऐन्द्रिरिन्द्रानुजसमः स पार्थो दृश्यतामिति
He who is dearer to me than my own son, skilled in all weapons, equal to Indra’s younger brother, let that Partha be seen now.
आचार्यवचनेनाथ कृतस्वस्त्ययनो युवा। बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणः पूर्णतूणः सकार्मुकः
Then, at the teacher’s command, the young man, having performed auspicious rites, with his fingers protected by guards, his quiver full, and his bow in hand, appeared.
काञ्चनं कवचं बिभ्रत्प्रत्यदृश्य फाल्गुनः। सार्कः सेन्द्रायुधतडित्ससन्ध्य इव तोयदः
Wearing a golden breastplate, Phalguna was seen, shining like a raincloud at sunset, adorned with the sun’s rays and the lightning of Indra’s bow.
ततः सर्वस्य रङ्गस्य समुत्पिञ्जलकोऽभवत्। प्रावाद्यन्त च वाद्यानि सशङ्खानि समन्ततः
Then, throughout the entire arena, there was a great commotion; the instruments, together with conches, sounded all around.
एष कुन्तीसुतः श्रीमानेष मध्यमपाण्डवः। एष पुत्रो महेन्द्रस्य कुरूणामेष रक्षिता
Here is Kunti’s illustrious son, the middle Pandava; here is the son of mighty Indra, the protector of the Kurus.
एषोऽस्त्रविदुषां श्रेष्ठ एष धर्मभृतां वरः। एष शीलवतां चापि शीलज्ञाननिधिः परः
He is the foremost among those skilled in weapons, the best among upholders of righteousness, and among the virtuous, he is the supreme treasure of virtue and knowledge.
इत्येवं तुमुला वाचः शुश्रुवुः प्रेक्षकेरिताः। कुन्त्याः प्रस्रवसंयुक्तैरस्रैः क्लिन्नमुरोऽभवत्
Thus, tumultuous words were heard from the spectators; Kunti’s chest was soaked with tears flowing freely.
तेन शब्देन महता पूर्णश्रुतिरथाब्रवीत्। धृतराष्ट्रो नरश्रेष्ठो विदुरं हृष्टमानसः
Then, at that great sound, Dhritarashtra, the best of men, whose hearing was perfect, joyfully spoke to Vidura.
क्षत्तः क्षुब्धार्णवनिभः किमेष सुमहास्वनः। सहसैवोत्थितो रङ्गे भिन्दन्निव नभस्तलम्
O Kshatta, what is this tremendous roar, like a disturbed ocean, that has suddenly arisen in the arena, as if splitting the sky?
एष पार्थो महाराज फाल्गुनः पाण्डुनन्दनः। अवतीर्णः सकवचस्तत्रैव सुमिहास्वनः
Here is Partha, O King, Phalguna, the joy of Pandu, descended there, fully armored, with a mighty roar.
धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि रक्षितोऽस्मि महामते। पृथारणिसमुद्भूतैस्त्रिभिः पाण्डववह्निभिः
I am blessed, I am favored, I am protected, O wise one, by the three Pandava fires born from Pritha as the kindling.
तस्मिन्प्रमुदिते रङ्गे कथंचित्प्रत्युपस्थिते। दर्शयामास बीभत्सुराचार्यायास्त्रलाघवम्
When joy arose in that arena and he appeared there, Bhībhatsu displayed his skill in weapons to his teacher.
आग्नेयेनासृजद्वह्निं वारुणेनासृजत्पयः। वायव्येनासृजद्वह्निं पार्जन्येनासृजद्धनान्
With the fire weapon, he produced flames; with the water weapon, he produced water; with the wind weapon, he produced fire; with the rain weapon, he produced wealth.