पुत्रा द्रुपदराजस्य बलवन्तो जयैषिणः। द्रुपदस्य महावीर्यः पाण्डरोष्णीषकेतनः
The sons of King Drupada, strong and eager for victory, and Drupada himself, of great might, with a white turban as his banner—
पाण्डरव्यजनच्छत्रः पाण्डरध्वजवाहनः। स पुत्रगणमध्यस्थः शुशुभे राजसत्तमः
With a white fan and parasol, and a white-bannered vehicle, that foremost of kings shone, surrounded by his sons.
चन्द्रमा ज्योतिषां मध्ये पौर्णमास्यामिवोदितः। अथोद्धूतपताकाग्रमजिह्मगतिमव्ययम्
Like the moon among the stars at the full, he appeared, his banner-tops waving, his movement straight and unwavering.
द्रुपदानीकमायान्तं कुरुसैन्यमभिद्रवत्। तयोरुभयतो जज्ञे तेषां तु तुमुलः स्वनः
The Drupada army advanced, charging at the Kuru forces; on both sides arose a tumultuous clamor among them.
बलयोः संप्रसरतोः सरितां स्रोतसोरिव। प्रकीर्णरथनागाश्वैस्तान्यनीकानि सर्वशः
As the two armies surged forward, like the currents of rivers, their ranks, with scattered chariots, elephants, and horses, were all in disarray.
ज्योतींषईव प्रकीर्णानि सर्वतः प्रचकाशिरे। उत्कृष्टभेरीनिनदे संप्रवृत्ते महारवे
Like scattered lights, they shone on every side, as the great tumult began with the resounding of drums and conches.
अमर्षिता महात्मानः पाण्डवा निर्ययुस्ततः। रथांश्च मेघनिर्घोषान्युक्तान्परमवाजिभिः
The great-souled Pāṇḍavas, filled with indignation, then set out, mounting chariots that thundered like clouds and were yoked with supreme steeds.
धून्वन्तो ध्वजिनः शुभ्रानास्थाय भरतर्षभाः। ततः पाण्डुसुतान्दृष्ट्वा रथस्थानात्तकार्मुकान्
The best of the Bharatas, bearing shining banners, shook them as they ascended their chariots; then, seeing the sons of Pāṇḍu standing on their chariots with drawn bows—
नृपाणामभवत्कम्पो वेपथुर्हृदयेषु च। निर्यातेष्वथ पार्थेषु द्रोपदं तद्बलं रणे
A tremor seized the kings, and their hearts quaked; but as the sons of Pāṇḍu advanced, joy and delight regarding victory filled Drupada’s army in the battle.
आविशत्परमो हर्षः प्रमोदश्च जयं प्रति। सुमुहूर्तं व्यतिकरः सैन्यानामभवद्भृशम्
A great exhilaration and gladness arose in Drupada’s forces at the prospect of victory; for a long moment, there was intense engagement among the armies.
ततो द्वन्द्वमयुध्यन्त मृत्युं कृत्वा पुरस्कृतम्। जघ्नतुः समरे तस्मिन्सुमित्रप्रियदर्शनौ
Then, making death their foremost aim, they fought in pairs; in that battle, Sumitra and Priyadarśana were both slain.
जयद्रथश्च कर्णश्च पश्यतः सव्यसाचिनः। अर्जुनः प्रेक्ष्य निहतौ सौमित्रप्रियदर्शनौ
Jayadratha and Karṇa, in the sight of Savyasācin (Arjuna), killed Sumitra and Priyadarśana; seeing them slain, Arjuna—
जयद्रथसुतं तत्र जघान पितुरन्तिके। वृषसेनादवरजं सुदामानं धनंजयः
Thereupon, Arjuna struck down Sudāmā, the younger brother of Vṛṣasena and son of Jayadratha, right before his father.
कर्णपुत्रं महेष्वासं रथनीडादपातयत्। तौ सुतौ निहतौ दृष्ट्वा राजसिंहौ तरस्विनौ
The mighty-armed Arjuna brought down Karṇa’s son, a great archer, from his chariot; seeing their two valiant sons slain—
नामृष्येतां महाबाहू प्रहारमिव सद्गजौ। तौ जग्मतुरसंभ्रान्तौ फल्गुनस्य रथंप्रति
Those two lion-like kings of great strength could not endure it, just as noble elephants cannot bear a blow; undaunted, they advanced toward Arjuna’s chariot.
प्रतिमुक्ततलत्राणौ शपमानौ परस्परम्। सन्निपातस्तयोरासीदतिघोरो महामृधे
With their shields fastened and hurling curses at each other, they approached; a most terrible clash arose between them in that great battle.
वृत्रशम्बरयोः सङ्क्ये वज्रिणेव महारणे। त्रीनश्वाञ्जघ्नतुस्तस्य फल्गुनस्य नर्षभौ
Like the encounter of Vṛtra and Śambara with the wielder of the thunderbolt in a great war, those two tigers among men struck down three of Arjuna’s horses.
ततः किलिकिलाशब्दः कुरूणामभवत्तदा। तान्हयान्निहतान्दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनः प्रतापवान्
Then, a tumultuous sound arose among the Kurus; seeing those horses slain, the valiant Bhīmasena—
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण रथमश्वैरयोजयत्। उपयातं रथं दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनपुरःसरौ
In but a moment’s time, yoked new horses to the chariot; seeing the chariot thus readied, Duryodhana and his followers—
सौबलः सौमदत्तिश्च समेयातां परन्तपौ। तैः पञ्चभिरदीनात्मा भीमसेनो महाबलः
Saubala and Saumadatti, destroyers of foes, came forth; with those five warriors, the mighty Bhīmasena—
अयुध्यत तदा वीरैरिन्द्रियार्थैरिवेश्वरः। तैर्निरुद्धो न संत्रासं जगाम समितिंजयः
Then fought with those heroes, as a lord with the objects of the senses; though surrounded by them, the victorious Bhīmasena did not feel fear.
पञ्चभिर्द्विरदैर्मत्तैर्निरुद्ध इव केसरी। तस्यैते युगपत्पञ्च पञ्चभिर्निशितैः शरैः
Like a lion hemmed in by five maddened elephants, those five simultaneously, with five sharp arrows each—
सारथिं वाजिनश्चैव निन्युर्वैवस्वतक्षयम्। हताश्वात्स्यन्दनश्रेष्ठादवरुह्य महारथः
Struck down his charioteer and horses, sending them to the realm of Yama; the great chariot-warrior, his horses slain and his chariot destroyed, dismounted.
चचार विविधान्मार्गानसिमुद्यम्य पाण्डवः। अश्वस्कन्धेषु चक्रेषु युगेष्वीषासु चैव हि
The Pāṇḍava, sword in hand, moved in many directions—upon the backs of horses, on wheels, on the yoke, and even on the shafts.
व्यचरत्पातयञ्शत्रून्सुपर्ण इव भोगिनः। विधनुष्कं विकवचं विरथं च समीक्ष्य तम्
He moved about, striking down his enemies like Garuda attacking serpents, when he saw him without a bow, without armor, and without a chariot.
अभिपेतुर्नव्याघ्रा अर्जुनप्रमुखा रथाः। धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च यमौ च युधि दुर्जयौ
Then the chariots led by Arjuna, fierce as young tigers, charged at him—Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, and the invincible twins in battle.
तस्मिन्महारथे युद्धे प्रवृत्ते शरवृष्टिभिः। रथध्वजपताकाश्च सवर्मन्तरधीयत
As that great chariot battle raged, with showers of arrows, the banners and pennants on the chariots were hidden behind the armor.
तत्प्रवृत्तं चिरं कालं युद्धं सममिवाभवत्। रथेन तान्महाबाहुरर्जुनो व्यधमत्पुनः
That battle, which went on for a long time, seemed evenly matched; but then mighty-armed Arjuna scattered them again with his chariot.
तमापतन्तं दृष्ट्वेव महाबाहुर्धनुर्धरः। कर्णोऽस्त्रविदुषां श्रेष्ठो वारयामास सायकैः
Seeing him charging forward, the mighty-armed, bow-wielding Karṇa, foremost among those skilled in weapons, checked him with arrows.
स तेनाभिहतः पार्थो वासविर्वज्रसन्निभान्। त्रीञ्शरान्संदधे क्रुद्धो वधात्क्रुद्धस्य पाण्डवः
Struck by Karṇa with arrows like Indra's thunderbolts, the enraged Pāṇḍava, in his wrath, fitted three arrows to slay his furious foe.