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.
भौमेन प्रासृजद्भूमिं पार्वतेनासृजद्गिरीन्। अन्तर्धानेन चास्त्रेण पुनरन्तर्हितोऽभवत्
With the earth weapon, he produced land; with the mountain weapon, he produced mountains; and with the concealment weapon, he vanished again.
क्षणात्प्रांशुः क्षणाद्ध्रस्वः क्षणाच्च रथधूर्गतः। क्षणेन रथमध्यस्थः क्षणेनावतरन्महीम्
In an instant he was tall, in an instant short, in an instant upon the chariot's banner; in an instant within the chariot, in an instant he descended to the ground.
सुकुमारं च सूक्ष्मं च गुरु चापि गुरुप्रियः। सौष्ठवेनाभिसंयुक्तः सोऽविध्यद्विविधैः शरैः
Delicate and subtle, heavy and beloved of the heavy, endowed with skill, he struck with various arrows.
भ्रमतश्च वराहस्य लोहस्य प्रमुखे समम्। पञ्चबाणानसंक्तान्संमुमोचैकबाणवत्
As the iron boar moved about, he released five arrows simultaneously, as if with a single arrow.
गव्ये विषाणकोशे च चले रज्ज्ववलम्बिनि। निचखान महावीर्यः सायकानेकविंशतिम्
In the horn sheath of a cow and on a moving rope, the mighty hero embedded twenty-one arrows.
इत्येवमादि सुमहत्खड्गे धनुषि चानघ। गदायां शस्त्रकुशलो मण्डलानि ह्यदर्शयत्
Thus, in the great sword and in the bow, O sinless one, and in the mace, skilled in weapons, he displayed circles.
ततः समाप्तभूयिष्ठे तस्मिन्कर्मणि भारत। मन्दीभूते समाजे च वादित्रस्य च निःस्वने
Then, when that deed was nearly completed, O Bharata, and the assembly had grown quiet, and the sound of the instruments faded,
द्वारदेशात्समुद्भूतो माहात्म्यबलसूचकः। वज्रनिष्पेषसदृशः शुश्रुवे भुजनिःस्वनः
From the direction of the gate arose a sound indicating greatness and strength, like the crushing of a thunderbolt, the sound of arms was heard.
दीर्यन्ते किं नु गिरयः किंस्विद्भूमिर्विदीर्यते। किंस्विदापूर्यते व्योम जलधाराघनैर्घनैः
Are the mountains breaking apart? Is the earth splitting? Is the sky being filled with clouds pouring rain?
रङ्गस्यैवं मतिरभूत्क्षणेन वसुधाधिप। द्वारं चाभिमुखाः सर्वे बभूवुः प्रेक्षकास्तदा
Such thoughts arose in the mind of the lord of the earth for a moment, and all the spectators turned toward the gate.