तान्गृहीतशरावापान्क्रुद्धानापततो बहून्। द्रुपदो वीक्ष्य संग्रासाद्ब्राह्मणाञ्छरणं गतः
Seeing many angry men, weapons in hand, charging at him, Drupada, out of fear, sought refuge with the Brahmins.
न भयान्नापि कार्पण्यान्न प्राणपरिरक्षणात्। जगाम द्रुपदो विप्राञ्शमार्थी प्रत्यपद्यत
Not from fear, nor out of weakness, nor for the sake of preserving his life did Drupada approach the Brahmins, but as a seeker of protection.
वेगेनापततस्तांस्तु प्रभिन्नानिव वारणान्। पाण्डुपुत्रौ महेष्वासौ प्रतियातावरिन्दमौ
Then the two mighty-armed sons of Pandu, great archers and subduers of enemies, turned back those who rushed upon them like maddened elephants.
ततः समुत्पेतुरुदायुधास्ते महीक्षितो बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राः। जिघांसमानाः कुरुराजपुत्रा- वमर्षयन्तोऽर्जुनभीमसेनौ
Then those kings, weapons in hand and with leather straps bound on their fingers, rose up, seeking to slay the sons of Kuru, Arjuna and Bhimasena, unable to endure them.
ततस्तु भीमोऽद्भुतभीमकर्मा महाबलो वज्रसमानसारः। उत्पाट्य दोर्भ्यां द्रुममेकवीरो निष्पत्रयामास यथा गजेन्द्रः
Then Bhima, of wondrous and terrible deeds, mighty as thunder, uprooted a tree with his two arms, as an elephant king would, standing alone.
तं वृक्षमादाय रिपुप्रमाथी दण्डीव दण्डं पितृराज उग्रम्। तस्थौ समीपे पुरुषर्षभस्य पार्थस्य पार्थः पृथुदीर्घबाहुः
Taking that tree as a weapon, like Yama with his fierce staff, he stood near the bull among men, Arjuna, broad and long-armed.
तत्प्रेक्ष्य कर्मातिमनुष्यबुद्धि- र्जिष्णुः स हि भ्रातुरचिन्त्यकर्मा। विसिष्मिये चापि भयं विहाय तस्थौ धनुर्गृह्य महेन्द्रकर्मा
Seeing this deed beyond human conception—his brother's unimaginable act—Arjuna, whose deeds rival those of Indra, marveled, cast off fear, and stood holding his bow.
तत्प्रेक्ष्य कर्मातिमनुष्यबुद्धि- र्जिष्णोः सहभ्रातुरचिन्त्यकर्मा। दामोदरो भ्रातरमुग्रवीर्यं हलायुधं वाक्यमिदं बभाषे
Seeing this deed beyond human conception—his brother's unimaginable act—Damodara spoke these words to his mighty brother, the plough-wielder.
य एष सिंहर्षभखेलगामी मदद्धनुः कर्षति तालमात्रम्। एषोऽर्जुनो नात्र विचार्यमस्ति यद्यस्मि संकर्षण वासुदेवः
He who, moving with the gait of a lion and a bull, draws the bow, intoxicated, to its full measure—this is Arjuna, there is no doubt; unless it is Sankarshana or Vasudeva.
यस्त्वेष वृक्षं तरसाऽवभज्य राज्ञां निकारे सहसा प्रवृत्तः। वृकोदरान्नान्य इहैतदद्य कर्तुं समर्थः समरे पृथिव्याम्
He who, with force, has just uprooted a tree and entered the contest of kings—no one but Vrikodara today is capable of doing this on earth in battle.
योऽसौ पुरस्तात्कमलायताक्षो महातनुः सिंहगतिर्विनीतः। गौरः प्रलम्बोज्ज्वलचारुघोणो विनिःसृतः सोऽप्युत धर्मपुत्रः
He who stands before us, with lotus-like eyes, great in stature, moving like a lion, humble, fair, tall, with a shining, beautiful nose—he too, surely, is the son of Dharma.
यौ तौ कुमाराविव कार्तिकेयौ द्वावाश्विनेयाविति मे वितर्कः। मुक्ता हि तस्माज्जतुवेश्मदाहा- न्मया श्रुताः पाण्डुसुताः पृथा च
Those two youths, like the twin sons of Ashvini or Kartikeya, I suspect are the Ashvineyas; for I have heard that the sons of Pandu and Pritha escaped the house of lac.
तमब्रवीन्निर्जलतोयदाभो हलायुधोऽनन्तरजं प्रतीतः। प्रीतोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा हि पितृष्वसारं पृथां विमुक्तां सह कौरवाग्र्यैः
Then Halayudha, delighted, spoke confidently to Ananta's younger brother: 'I am pleased to see my father's sister, Pritha, freed and together with the foremost Kauravas.'
अजिनानि विधुन्वन्तः करकाश्च द्विजर्षभाः। ऊचुस्ते भीर्न कर्तव्या वयं योत्स्यामहे परान्
Shaking their deer-skins and staffs, the eminent Brahmins said, 'Do not be afraid; we will fight the others.'
तानेवं वदतो विप्रानर्जुनः प्रहसन्निव। उवाच प्रेक्षका भूत्वा यूयं तिष्ठत पार्श्वतः
As the Brahmins spoke thus, Arjuna, smiling, said, 'You all stand aside and watch.'
अहमेनानजिह्माग्रैः शतशो विकिरञ्छरैः। वारयिष्यामि संक्रुद्धान्मन्त्रैराशीविषानिव
With straight-flying arrows by the hundreds, I will check these enraged ones, as with spells one restrains venomous serpents.
इति तद्धनुरानम्य शुल्कावाप्तं महाबलः। भ्रात्रा भीमेन सहितस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः
So, bending the prize-winning bow, the mighty one stood firm with his brother Bhima, like a mountain beside a peak.
ततः कर्णमुखान्दृष्ट्वा क्षत्रियान्युद्धदुर्मदान्। संपेततुरभीतौ तौ गजौ प्रतिगजानिव
Then, seeing the Kshatriyas, proud and eager for battle, the two elephants rushed at them, like elephants charging against rivals.
ऊचुश्च वाचः परुषास्ते राजानो युयुत्सवः। आहवे हि द्विजस्यापि वधो दृष्टो युयुत्सतः
The kings, eager for combat, spoke harsh words: 'Even the death of a Brahmin in battle is seen when he desires to fight.'
इत्येवमुक्त्वा राजानः सहसा दुद्रुवुर्द्विजान्। ततः कर्णो महातेजा जिष्णुं प्रति ययौ रणे
Having spoken thus, the kings suddenly rushed at the Brahmins; then Karna, radiant with energy, advanced against Jishnu in battle.
युद्धार्थी वासिताहेतोर्गजः प्रतिगजं यथा। भीमसेनं ययौ शल्यो मद्राणामीश्वरो बली
Desiring battle, like an elephant against a rival, Shalya, lord of the Madras, strong in might, advanced against Bhimasena.
दुर्योधनादयः सर्वे ब्राह्मणैः सह संगताः। मृदुपूर्वमयत्नेन प्रत्ययुध्यंस्तदाऽऽहवे
All the sons of Dhritarashtra, together with the Brahmins, engaged in gentle, effortless combat in that contest.
ततोऽर्जुनः प्रत्यविध्यदापतन्तं शितैः शरैः। कर्णं वैकर्तनं श्रीमान्विकृष्य बलवद्धनुः
Then Arjuna, drawing his powerful bow, struck Karna, son of Radha, as he advanced, with sharp arrows.
तेषां शराणां वेगेन शितानां तिग्मतेजसाम्। विमुह्यमानो राधेयो यत्नात्तमनुधावति
By the force of those sharp, blazing arrows, Radheya, bewildered, with effort pursued him.
तावुभावप्यनिर्देश्यौ लाघवाज्जयतां वरौ। अयुध्येतां सुसंरब्धावन्योन्यविजिगीषिणौ
Both, indistinguishable in their swiftness, foremost among victors, fought fiercely, each seeking to overcome the other.
कृते प्रतिकृतं पश्य पश्य बाहुबलं च मे। इति शूरार्थवचनैरभाषेतां परस्परम्
'See my counter to your move, see my arm's strength!'—with such heroic words they addressed each other.
ततोऽर्जुनस्य भुजयोर्वीर्यमप्रतिमं भुवि। ज्ञात्वा वैकर्तनः कर्णः संरब्धः समयोधयत्
Then, recognizing Arjuna's unmatched strength of arms on earth, Karna, son of Radha, became enraged and challenged him to battle.
अर्जुनेन प्रयुक्तांस्तान्बाणान्वेगवतस्तदा। प्रतिहत्य ननादोच्चैः सैन्यानि तदपूजयन्
At that time, Karna struck down the swift arrows launched by Arjuna, and roared loudly; the armies honored him for this feat.
तुष्यामि ते विप्रमुख्य भुजवीयर्स्य संयुगे। अविषादस्य चैवास्य शस्त्रास्त्रविजयस्य च
I am pleased with you, foremost of Brahmins, for your prowess in battle, your fearlessness, and your mastery over weapons and missiles.
किं त्वं साक्षाद्धनुर्वेदो रामो वा विप्रसत्तम। अथ साक्षाद्धरिहयः साक्षाद्वा विष्णुरच्युतः
Are you the very embodiment of the science of archery, or Rama himself, O best of Brahmins? Or are you perhaps Hari, Haya, or even Vishnu incarnate?