नादेन रिपुसैन्यानां येषां संज्ञा प्रणश्यति। स तं नानापताकाभिः शोभितं रथसत्तमम्
By his roar, the enemy armies would lose all sense and direction; thus, that best of chariots, adorned with many flags, shone brilliantly.
प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य दैवतेभ्यः प्रणम्य च। सन्नद्धः कवची खड्गी बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रकः
Circling it to the right and bowing to the deities, Arjuna, armored, sword in hand, with gauntlets fastened, prepared himself.
आरुरोह तदा पार्थो विमानं सुकृती यथा। तच्च दिव्यं धनुः श्रेष्ठं ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं पुरा
Then Partha ascended that chariot, as a virtuous man would board a celestial car; and he took up that divine, supreme bow, fashioned by Brahma long ago.
गाण्डीवमुपसंगृह्य बभूव मुदितोऽर्जुनः। हुताशनं पुरस्कृत्य ततस्तदपि वीर्यवान्
Taking up the Gandiva, Arjuna rejoiced; then, invoking Agni, that mighty hero prepared himself.
जग्राह बलमास्थाय ज्यया च युयुजे धनुः। मौर्व्यां तु योज्यमानायां बलिना पाण्डवेन ह
He took up his strength and strung the bow; as the powerful Pandava fitted the string, its sound unsettled the hearts of those who heard it.
येऽशृष्वन्कूजितं यत्र तेषां वै व्यथितं मनः। लब्ध्वा रथं धनुश्चैव तथाऽक्षय्ये महेषुधी
Those who heard that twang were shaken in spirit; having obtained the chariot, the bow, and the two inexhaustible quivers,
बभूव कल्यः कौन्तेयः प्रहृष्टः साह्यकर्मणि। वज्रनाभं ततश्चक्रं ददौ कृष्णाय पावकः
The son of Kunti became radiant and exultant for the coming battle; then Agni gave Krishna a discus with a thunderbolt-like rim.
आग्नेयमस्त्रं दयितं स च कल्योऽभवत्तदा। अब्रवीत्पावकश्चैवमेतेन मधुसूदन
And that beloved weapon of fire, the Agneya missile, was also given, and at that moment Krishna too became radiant.
अमानुषानपि रणे जेष्यसि त्वमसंशयम्। अनेन तु मनुष्याणां देवानामपि चाहवे
And Agni said: 'With this, O Madhusudana, you will surely conquer even superhuman foes in battle; with it, you will prevail over men and gods alike in combat.'
रक्षःपिशाचदैत्यानां नागानां चाधिकस्तथा। भविष्यसि न सन्देहः प्रवरोऽपि निबर्हणे
There is no doubt you will surpass in subduing rakshasas, pisachas, daityas, and even serpents; you will be supreme in their destruction.
क्षिप्तं क्षिप्तं रणे चैतत्त्वया माधव शत्रुषु। हत्वाऽप्रतिहतं सङ्ख्ये पाणिमेष्यति ते पुनः
O Mādhava, whatever you hurl again and again in battle at the enemies, after slaying them, that unfailing weapon will return to your hand once more.
वरुणश्च ददौ तस्मै गदामशनिनिःस्वनाम्। दैत्यान्तकरणीं घोरां नाम्ना कौमोदकीं प्रभुः
And Varuṇa gave him a mace, resounding like thunder, dreadful, destroyer of demons, called Kaumodakī, O mighty one.
ततः पावकमब्रूतां प्रहृष्टावर्जुनाच्युतौ। कृतास्त्रौ शस्त्रसंपन्नौ रथिनौ ध्वजिनावपि
Then, delighted, Arjuna and Acyuta, both accomplished in weapons, equipped with arms and banners, spoke to Agni.
कल्यौ स्वो भगवन्योद्धुमपि सर्वैः सुरासुरैः। किं पुनर्वज्रिणैकेन पन्नगार्थे युयुत्सता
O Lord, today we are able to fight even all the gods and demons together; what then of only Indra, who wishes to battle for the sake of the serpents?
चक्रपाणिर्हृषीकेशो विचरन्युधि वीर्यवान्। चक्रेण भस्मसात्सर्वं विसृष्टेन तु वीर्यवान्। त्रिषु लोकेषु तन्नास्ति यन्न कुर्याज्जनार्दनः
Hrishikesha, wielder of the discus, valiant in battle, with his discus can reduce everything to ashes when released; in the three worlds, there is nothing that Janardana cannot accomplish.
गाण्डीवं धनुरादाय तथाऽक्षय्ये महेषुधी। अहमप्युत्सहे लोकान्विजेतुं युधि पावक
Taking up the Gandiva bow and inexhaustible arrows, I too, O Agni, am able to conquer the worlds in battle.
सर्वतः परिवार्यैवं दावमेतं महाप्रभो। कामं संप्रज्वलाद्यैव कल्यौ स्वः साह्यकर्मणि
Thus, having surrounded this blazing fire on all sides, O mighty one, let it burn as it wishes today; we are ready for the task of assistance.
यदि खाण्डवमेष्यति प्रमादा- त्सगणो वा परिरक्षितुं महेन्द्रः। शरताडितगात्रकुण्डलानां कदनं द्रक्ष्यति देववाहिनीनाम्
If Mahendra himself, with his hosts, comes here to protect Khandava out of carelessness, he will witness the slaughter of the divine armies, their bodies struck by our sharp arrows and adorned with earrings.
एवमुक्तः स भगवान्दाशार्हेणार्जुनेन च। तैजसं रपमास्थाय दावं दग्धुं प्रचक्रमे
Thus addressed by Dāśārha and Arjuna, the divine one, assuming a fiery form, began to burn the forest.
सर्वतः परिवार्याथ सप्तार्चिर्ज्वलनस्तथा। ददाह खाण्डवं दावं युगान्तमिव दर्शयन्
Then, having surrounded everything, the seven-flamed blazing fire burned Khandava like the fire at the end of an age.
प्रतिगृह्य समाविश्य तद्वनं भरतर्षभ। मेघस्तनितनिर्घोषः सर्वभूतान्यकम्पयत्
Having received permission, O bull among the Bharatas, the cloud entered that forest, its roar like thunder shaking all creatures.
दह्यतस्तस्य च बभौ रूपं दावस्य भारत। मेरोरिव नगेन्द्रस्य कीर्णस्यांशुमतोंशुभिः
As the forest was burning, the form of the fire shone, O Bhārata, like the lord of mountains, Meru, covered with the rays of the sun.
तौ रथाभ्यां रथश्रेष्ठौ दावस्योभयतः स्थितौ। दिक्षु सर्वासु भूतानां चक्राते कदनं महत्
Those two best of charioteers, standing on both sides of the fire in their chariots, wrought great slaughter among the beings in all directions.
यत्र यत्र च दृश्यन्ते प्राणिनः खाण्डवालयाः। पलायन्तः प्रवीरौ तौ तत्रतत्राभ्यधावताम्
Wherever the creatures of Khandava were seen fleeing, those two mighty ones pursued them there and there.
छिद्रं न स्म प्रपश्यन्ति रथयोराशुचारिणोः। आविद्धावेव दृश्येते रथिनौ तौ रथोत्तमौ
No opening could be seen in the path of those two swift-moving chariots; the two excellent charioteers appeared as if joined together.
खाण्डवे दह्यमाने तु भूतान्यथ सहस्रशः। उत्पेतुर्भैरवान्नादान्विनदन्तः समन्ततः
As Khandava was burning, thousands of beings arose, uttering terrifying cries on all sides.
दग्धैकदेशा बहवो निष्टप्ताश्च तथाऽपरे। स्फुटिताक्षा विशीर्णाश्च विप्लुताश्च तथाऽपरे
Many were burned in one place, others were scorched, some had their eyes burst, others were shattered, and still others were scattered.
समालिङ्ग्य सुतानन्ये पितॄन्भ्रातॄनथाऽपरे। त्यक्तुं न शेकुः स्नेहेन तत्रैव निधनं गताः
Some embraced their sons, others their fathers or brothers; out of affection, they could not abandon them and met their end right there.
सन्दष्टदशनाश्चान्ये समुत्पेतुरनेकशः। ततस्तेऽतीव घूर्णन्तः पुनरग्नौ प्रपेदिरे
Others, with clenched teeth, sprang up in countless numbers; then, staggering greatly, they again rushed into the fire.
दग्धपक्षाक्षिचरणा विचेष्टन्तो महीतले। तत्रतत्र स्म दृश्यन्ते विनश्यन्तः शरीरिणः
With wings, eyes, and feet scorched, writhing upon the earth, bodies were seen here and there, perishing.