न शेकुर्दानवाः सर्वे बाणवर्षं महात्मनः । मृताः केचिद्द्रुताः केचित्केचिन्नष्टा महाहवात्
None of the Dānavas could withstand the rain of arrows from the great-souled one; some were killed, some fled swiftly, and some were lost in the great battle.
सूत उवाच- महातेजं महाप्राज्ञं महादानवनाशनम् । चुक्रोध हुंडो दुष्टात्मा दृष्ट्वा तं नृपनंदनम्
Sūta said: Seeing that prince, the wicked-hearted Huṃḍa, furious, possessing great power, wisdom, and the destruction of mighty Dānavas, became enraged.
स्थितो गत्वेदमाभाष्य तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाहवे । त्वामद्य च नयिष्यामि आयुपुत्र यमांतिकम्
Standing firm, having approached and spoken thus, he remained in the battle, saying, 'Stay, stay! Today, O son of Ayu, I will take you to the abode of Yama.'
नहुष उवाच- स्थितोस्मि समरे पश्य त्वामहं हंतुमागतः । अहं त्वां तु हनिष्यामि दानवं पापचेतनम्
Nahuṣa said: 'I stand here in battle; see, I have come to slay you. I will kill you, O Dānava of evil mind.'
इत्युक्त्वा धनुरादाय बाणानग्निशिखोपमान् । छत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन शुशुभे सोऽपि संयुगे
Having spoken thus, he took up his bow and arrows, blazing like tongues of fire; with the umbrella held above him, he shone forth in the battle.
इंद्रस्य सारथिं दिव्यं मातलिं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । वाहयतु रथं मेऽद्य हुंडस्य सम्मुखं भवान्
He spoke to Mātali, the divine charioteer of Indra: 'Drive my chariot today to face Huṃḍa.'
इत्युक्तस्तेन वीरेण मातलिर्लघुविक्रमः । तुरगांश्चोदयामास महावातजवोपमान्
Thus addressed by the hero, Mātali, swift in action, urged the horses, whose speed rivaled the mighty wind.
उत्पेतुश्च ततो वाहा हंसा इव यथांबरे । छत्रेण इंदुवर्णेन रथेनापि पताकिना
Then the steeds soared, like swans in the sky, with an umbrella of moon-like hue and a chariot adorned with banners.
नभस्तलं तु संप्राप्य यथा सूर्यो विराजते । आयुपुत्रस्तथा संख्ये तेजसा विक्रमेण तु
Having reached the expanse of the sky, just as the sun shines forth, so did the son of Ayu in battle, with his brilliance and valor.
अथ हुंडो रथस्थोऽपि राजमानः स्वतेजसा । सर्वायुधैश्च संयुक्तस्तद्वद्वीरव्रते स्थितः
Then Huṃḍa, standing on his chariot, radiant with his own splendor, equipped with all weapons, remained steadfast in his heroic vow.
उभयोर्वीरयोर्युद्धं देवविस्मयकारकम् । तदा आसीन्महाप्राज्ञ दारुणं भीतिदायकम्
The battle between the two heroes caused wonder among the gods; at that time, the wise ones found it dreadful and fearsome.
सुबाणैर्निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैः कंकपत्रैः शिलीमुखैः । हुंडेन ताडितो राजा सुबाह्वोरंतरे तदा
Struck by Huṃḍa with sharp, keen arrows, feathered with vulture wings and tipped with stone, the king was wounded between his strong arms.
सुभाले पंचभिर्बाणैर्विद्धः क्रुद्धोऽभवत्तदा । सविद्धस्तु तदा बाणैरधिकं शुशुभे नृपः
Wounded in the arm by five arrows, he became enraged; yet, pierced by those arrows, the king shone even more.
सारुणः करमालाभिरुदयंश्च दिवाकरः । रुधिरेण तु दिग्धांगो हेमबाणैस्तनुस्थितैः
Like the sun rising with crimson rays, his body smeared with blood, adorned with golden arrows fixed in his form.
सूर्यवच्छोभते राजा पूर्वकालस्य चांबरे । दृष्ट्वा तु पौरुषं तस्य दानवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
The king shone in the sky of former times like the sun; seeing the valor of that Dānava, he spoke these words.
तिष्ठतिष्ठ क्षणं दैत्य पश्य मे लाघवं पुनः । इत्युक्त्वा तु रणे दैत्यं जघान दशभिः शरैः
"Stand, stand for a moment, demon! Witness my swiftness again!" Having said this, he struck the demon in battle with ten arrows.
मुखे भाले हतस्तेन मूर्च्छितो निपपात ह । पश्यामानैः सुरैर्दिव्यै रथोपरि महाबलः
Struck in the face and forehead by him, the mighty one fell unconscious onto his chariot, as the gods watched with their divine sight.
देवैश्च चारणैः सिद्धैः कृतः शब्दः सुहर्षजः । जयजयेति राजेंद्र शंखान्दध्मुः पुनः पुनः
A sound of great joy arose from the gods, the celestial singers, and the perfected beings; they repeatedly blew conches, crying, "Victory! Victory! O king!"
सकोलाहलशब्दस्तु तुमलो देवतेरितः । कर्णरंध्रमाविवेश हुंडस्य मूर्छितस्य च
That tumultuous sound, made by the gods, entered the ear of Huṃḍa as he lay unconscious.
श्रुत्वा सधनुरादाय बाणमाशीविषोपमम् । स्थीयतां स्थीयतां युद्धे न मृतोस्मि त्वया हतः
Hearing it, he seized his bow and an arrow like a venomous serpent, saying, "Stand firm, stand firm in battle! I am not dead, nor slain by you!"
इत्युक्त्वा पुनरुत्थाय लाघवेन समन्वितः । एकविंशतिभिर्बाणैर्नहुषं चाहनत्पुनः
Having spoken thus, he rose again, endowed with agility, and struck Nahuṣa once more with twenty-one arrows.
एकेन मुष्टिमध्ये तु चतुर्भिर्बाहुमध्यतः । चतुर्भिश्च महाश्वांश्च छत्रमेकेन तेन वै
With one arrow he struck the middle of his fist, with four the middle of his arm, with four more the great horses, and with one the umbrella.
पंचभिर्मातलिं विद्ध्वा रथनीडं तु सप्तभिः । ध्वजदंडं त्रिभिस्तीक्ष्णैर्दानवः शिखिपत्रिभिः
With five arrows he wounded Mātali, with seven the chariot's platform, and with three sharp arrows the banner-pole, using feathers of the peacock.
आदानं तु निदानं तु लक्षमोक्षं दुरात्मनः । लाघवं तस्य संदृष्ट्वा देवता विस्मयंगताः
Observing his skill in drawing, aiming, and releasing arrows, the gods were filled with wonder at the demon's agility.
तस्य पौरुषमापश्य स राजा दानवोत्तमम् । शूरोसि कृतविद्योसि धीरोसि रणपंडितः
The king saw the prowess of that foremost demon and said, "You are brave, accomplished in knowledge, steadfast, and learned in battle."
इत्युक्वा दानवं तं तु धनुर्विस्फार्य भूपतिः । मार्गणैर्दशभिस्तं तु विव्याध लघुविक्रमः
Having spoken thus to the demon, the king drew his bow and, swift in action, pierced him with ten arrows.
त्रिभिर्ध्वजं प्रचिच्छेद स पपात धरातले । तुरगान्पातयामास चतुर्भिस्तस्य सायकैः
With three arrows he cut down the banner, which fell to the ground, and with four arrows he brought down the horses.
एकेन छत्रं तस्यापि चकर्त लघुविक्रमः । दशभिः सारथिस्तस्य प्रेषितो यममंदिरम्
With one arrow, swift in action, he cut down the umbrella; with ten arrows, he sent the charioteer to the abode of Yama.
दंशनं दशभिश्छित्त्वा शरैश्च विदलीकृतः । सर्वांगेषु च त्रिंशद्भिर्विव्याध दनुजेश्वरम्
Cutting the bit with ten arrows and shattering it, he pierced the lord of the demons in all his limbs with thirty arrows.
हताश्वो विरथो जातो बाणपाणिर्धनुर्धरः । अभ्यधावत्स वेगेन वर्षयन्निशितैः शरैः
His horses slain, his chariot destroyed, bow in hand, the archer rushed forward swiftly, showering sharp arrows.