तानि वै शरजालानि कौन्तेयोऽभ्यहनच्छरैः। ज्ञात्वा सर्वाञ्शरान्घोरान्कर्णोऽदावद्द्रुतं बहिः
Kaunteya struck down those showers of arrows with his own shafts; seeing all his terrible arrows repelled, Karna quickly withdrew.
ब्राह्मं तेजस्तदाऽजय्यं मन्यमानो महारथः। अपरस्मिन्वनोद्देशे वीरौ शल्यवृकोदरौ
Thinking the Brahmin's energy invincible, the great chariot-warrior went to another part of the forest, where the two heroes, Shalya and Bhimasena, were present.
बलिनौ युद्धसंपन्नौ विद्यया च बलेन च। अन्योन्यमाह्वयन्तौ तु मत्ताविव महागजौ
Both strong and skilled in battle, accomplished in knowledge and might, they challenged each other like two intoxicated great elephants.
मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिश्चैव निघ्नन्तावितरेतरम्। प्रकर्षणाकर्षणयोरभ्याकर्षविकर्षणैः
Striking each other with fists and knees, they grappled and pulled, each striving to overpower the other by force.
आचकर्षतुरन्योन्यं मुष्टिभिश्चापि जघ्नतुः। ततश्चटचटाशब्दः सुघोरो ह्यभवत्तयोः
They dragged each other and struck with their fists; then a terrible cracking sound arose from the two.
पाषाणसंपातनिभैः प्रहारैरभिजघ्नतुः। मुहूर्तं तौ तदाऽन्योन्यं समरे पर्यकर्षताम्
They struck each other with blows like the collision of rocks, and for a while, those two pulled each other around in battle.
ततो भीमः समुत्क्षिप्य बाहुभ्यां शल्यमाहवे। अपातयत्कुरुश्रेष्ठो ब्राह्मणा जहसुस्तदा
Then Bhima, lifting Shalya with his arms in the fight, threw him down—at that, the foremost of Kurus, the Brahmanas laughed.
तत्राश्चर्यं भीमसेनश्चकार पुरुषर्षभः। यच्छल्यं पातितं भूमौ नावधीद्बलिनं बली
There Bhimasena, the bull among men, performed a wonder: though Shalya was thrown to the ground, the powerful one did not kill the strong man.
पातिते भीमसेनेन शल्ये कर्णे च शङ्किते। `विस्मयः परमो जज्ञे सर्वेषां पश्यतां नृणाम्
When Bhimasena threw down Shalya and Karna became anxious, great astonishment arose among all the men who were watching.
ततो राजसमूहस्य पश्यतो वृक्षमारुजत्। ततस्तु भीमं संज्ञाभिर्वारयामास धर्मराट्
Then, as the assembly of kings watched, he climbed a tree; and Dharmaraja signaled Bhima to stop.
आकारज्ञस्तथा भ्रातुः पाण्डवोऽपि न्यवर्तत। धर्मराजश्च कौरव्य दुर्योधनममर्षणम्
The Pandava, knowing his brother's gesture, withdrew; and Dharmaraja, O Kaurava, restrained the irate Duryodhana.
अयोधयत्सभामध्ये पश्यतां वै महीक्षिताम्। ततो दुर्योधनस्तं तु ह्यवज्ञाय युधिष्ठिरम्
He fought in the middle of the assembly, in the sight of the kings; then Duryodhana, disregarding Yudhishthira, did not fight at that time with him, though he was strong.
नायोधयत्तदा तेन बलवान्वै सुयोधनः। एतस्मिन्नन्तरेऽविध्यद्बाणेनानतपर्वणा
At that moment, Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, struck Duryodhana, the destroyer of foes, with a sharp arrow.
दुर्योधनममित्रघ्नं धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। ततो दुर्योधनः क्रुद्धो दण्डाहत इवोरगः
Then Duryodhana, enraged like a serpent struck with a stick, counterattacked the king, exerting his utmost effort.
प्रत्ययुध्यत राजानं यत्नं परममास्थितः। छित्त्वा राजा धनुः सज्यं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य संयुगे
The king cut the strung bow of the son of Dhritarashtra in battle, and showered him with arrows, then left the field.
अभ्यवर्षच्छरौघैस्तं स हित्वा प्राद्रवद्रणम्। दुःशासनस्तु संक्रुद्धः सहदेवेन पार्थिव
But Duhshasana, greatly enraged, fought with Sahadeva, O king.
युद्ध्वा च सुचिरं कालं सहदेवेन निर्जितः। उत्सृज्य च धनुः सङ्ख्ये जानुभ्यामवनीं गतः। उत्थाय सोऽभिदुद्राव सोसिं जग्राह चर्म च
After fighting a long time with Sahadeva, he was defeated; abandoning his bow in the contest, he fell to his knees on the ground, then, rising, rushed forward and seized a sword and shield.
विकर्णचित्रसेनाभ्यां निगृहीतश्च कौरवः। मा युद्धमिति कौरव्य ब्राह्मणेनाबलेन वै
The Kaurava was restrained by Vikarna and Citrashena, and by a powerless Brahmana who said, 'Do not fight, O Kaurava.'
दुःसहो नकुलश्चोभौ युद्धं कर्तुं समुद्यतै। तौ दृष्ट्वा कौरवा युद्धं वाक्यमूचुर्महाबलौ
Duhsaha and Nakula, both eager for battle, were ready to fight; seeing those two, the Kauravas, mighty in strength, spoke these words.
निवर्तन्तां भवन्तो वै कुतो विप्रेषु क्रूरता। दुर्बला ब्राह्मणाश्चेमे भवन्तो वै महाबलाः
'Turn back, sirs! Why this cruelty toward Brahmanas? These Brahmanas are weak, and you are very strong.'
द्वावत्र ब्राह्मणौ क्रूरौ वाय्विन्द्रसदृशौ बले। ये वा के वा नमस्तेभ्यो गच्छामः स्वपुरं वयम्
'Here are two fierce Brahmanas, equal in strength to wind and Indra; whoever they may be, we salute them and will return to our own city.'
एवं संभाषमाणास्ते न्यवर्तन्ताथ कौरवाः। जहृषुर्ब्राह्मणास्तत्र समेतास्तत्र सङ्घशः
Thus speaking, the Kauravas withdrew; and the Brahmanas gathered there rejoiced together in groups.
बहुशस्ते ततस्तत्र क्षत्रिया रणमूर्धनि। प्रेक्षमाणास्तथाऽतिष्ठन्ब्राह्मणांश्च समन्ततः
Then, many Kshatriyas stood there on the battlefield, watching, and likewise surrounded the Brahmanas on all sides.
ब्राह्मणाश्च जयं प्राप्ताः कन्यामादाय निर्ययुः। विजिते भीमसेनेन शल्ये कर्णे च निर्जिते
And the Brahmanas, having achieved victory, departed with the maiden, after Bhimasena had conquered and Shalya and Karna had been defeated.
दुर्योधने चापयाते तथा दुःशासने रणात्।' शङ्किताः सर्वराजानः परिवव्रुर्वृकोदरम्
When Duryodhana had retreated and likewise Duhshasana had withdrawn from the battle, all the kings, now apprehensive, surrounded Bhimasena.
ऊचुश्च सहितास्तत्र साध्विमौ ब्राह्मणर्षभौ। विज्ञायेतां क्वजन्मानौ क्वनिवासौ तथैव च
There, all those assembled said together: 'Truly, who are these two eminent Brahmanas? Let their lineage and place of residence be known.'
को हि राधासुतं कर्णं शक्तो योधयितुं रणे। अन्यत्र रामाद्द्रोणाद्वा पाण्डवाद्वा किरीटिनः
For who, except Rama, Drona, or the crowned Pandava, is able to fight Karna, son of Radha, in battle?
कृष्णाद्वा देवकीपुत्रात्कृपाद्वापि शरद्वतः। को वा दुर्योधनं शक्तः प्रतियोथयितुं रणे
Or who, except Krishna the son of Devaki, or Kripa son of Sharadvata, is able to withstand Duryodhana in battle?
तथैव मद्राधिपतिं शल्यं बलवतांवरम्। बलदेवादृते वीरात्पाण्डवाद्वा वृकोदरात्
Likewise, who but Baladeva, or the heroic Pandava Bhimasena, is able to overcome Shalya, the mighty king of Madra?
वीराद्दुर्योधनाद्वाऽन्यः शक्तः पातयितुं रणे। क्रियतामवहारोऽस्माद्युद्धाद्ब्राह्मणसंवृतात्
Who else, apart from the heroic Duryodhana, is able to bring down such a warrior in battle? Let us withdraw from this fight, surrounded as it is by Brahmanas.