तदा चित्रांगकः क्रुद्धो भल्लान्पंच समाददे । मुमोच भाले पुत्रस्य भरतस्य महौजसः
Then Citrāṅgaka, enraged, took up five arrows and released them at the forehead of the mighty son of Bharata.
तैर्भल्लैराहतः क्रुद्धः शरासनवरे शरम् । दधत्प्रतिज्ञामकरोच्चित्रांगनिधनं प्रति
Struck by those arrows, the furious hero, wielding his excellent bow, made a vow concerning the death of Citrāṅga.
शृणु वीर मम क्षिप्रं प्रतिज्ञां त्वद्वधाश्रिताम् । तज्ज्ञात्वा सावधानेन योद्धव्यं च त्वयात्र हि
Hear, O hero, my swift vow, which is aimed at your destruction; knowing this, you must fight here with full attention.
बाणेनानेन चेत्त्वां वै न कुर्यां प्राणवर्जितम् । सतीं संदूष्य वनितां शीलाचारसुशोभिताम्
If with this arrow I do not make you lifeless—having violated a virtuous woman adorned with good conduct—
यो लोकः प्राप्यते लोकैर्यमस्य वशवर्तिभिः । स लोको मम वै भूयात्सत्यं मम प्रतिश्रुतम्
—then may I attain that world which is reached by those under Yama’s sway; let that world be mine—this is my solemn promise.
इति श्रेष्ठं वचः श्रुत्वा जहास परवीरहा । उवाच मतिमान्वीरः पुष्कलं वचनं शुभम्
Hearing these noble words, the slayer of enemies laughed, and the wise hero Puṣkala spoke auspicious words.
मृत्युर्वै प्राणिनां भाव्यः सर्वत्रैव च सर्वदा । तस्मान्मे निधने दुःखं नास्ति शूरशिरोमणे
Death is certain for all living beings, everywhere and always; therefore, O foremost of heroes, there is no sorrow for me in death.
प्रतिज्ञा या कृता वीर त्वया वीरत्वशालिना । सा सत्यैव पुनर्मेऽद्य श्रूयतां व्याहृतं महत्
The vow you have made, O hero endowed with valor, is indeed true; now hear in turn the great vow I declare today.
त्वद्बाणं मद्वधोद्युक्तं न च्छिंद्यां यदि चेदहम् । तदा प्रतिज्ञां शृणु मे सर्ववीराभिमानिनः
If I do not cut down your arrow, aimed at my death, then hear my vow, O pride of all heroes.
तीर्थं जिगमिषोर्यो वै कुर्यात्स्वांतविखंडनम् । एकादशीव्रतादन्यज्जानाति व्रतमुच्चकैः
Whoever, desiring to go on pilgrimage, breaks his own resolve, or knows any vow greater than the Ekādaśī fast—
तस्य पापं ममैवास्तु प्रतिज्ञापरिघातिनः । इति वाक्यमुदीर्यैव तूष्णींभूतो धनुर्दधे
—let the sin of breaking a vow fall upon me; having spoken thus, he became silent and readied his bow.
तदानेन निषंगात्स्वादुद्धृत्य सायकं वरम् । कथयामास विशदं वाक्यं शत्रुवधावहम्
Then, drawing a splendid arrow from his quiver, he spoke clear words, bringing death to his enemy.
पुष्कल उवाच। यदि रामांघ्रियुगुलं निष्कापट्येन चेतसा । उपासितं मया तर्हि मम वाक्यमृतं भवेत्
Puṣkala said: If I have worshipped the pair of Rāma’s feet with a sincere heart, then let my words become true.
यदि स्वमहिलां भुक्त्वा नान्यां जानामिचेतसा । तेन सत्येन मे वाक्यं सत्यं भवतु संगरे
If, after enjoying my own wife, I have not thought of another woman, then by that truth let my words be fulfilled in battle.
इति वाक्यमुदीर्याशु बाणं धनुषि संधितम् । कालानलोपमं वीरशिरश्छेदनमाक्षिपत्
Having spoken thus, he swiftly fitted the arrow to his bow, and, like the fire of destruction, aimed it to sever the hero’s head.
तं बाणं मुक्तमालोक्य स तु राजसुतो बली । बाणं शरासने धत्त तीक्ष्णं कालानलोपमम्
Seeing that arrow released, the powerful prince fitted a sharp arrow, blazing like the fire of doom, to his own bow.
तेन बाणेन संछिन्नो बाणः स्ववधउद्यतः । हाहाकारो महानासीच्छिन्ने तस्मिञ्छरे तदा
With that arrow, he cut down the arrow aimed at his own death; as it was severed, a great outcry arose.
परार्धं पतितं भूमौ पूर्वार्धं फलसंयुतम् । शिरोधरां चकर्ताशु पद्मनालमिव क्षणात्
One half fell to the ground, the other half, with its head, swiftly severed the neck like a lotus stalk in an instant.
तदा भूमौ पतंतं तु दृष्ट्वा तत्तस्यसैनिकाः । हाहाकृत्वा भृशं सर्वे पलायनपरागताः
Then, seeing him falling to the ground, all his soldiers cried out in distress and, overwhelmed by fear, turned to flee.
पृथ्व्यां तन्मस्तकं श्रेष्ठं सकिरीटं सकुंडलम् । शुशुभेऽतीव पतितं चंद्रबिंबं दिवो यथा
His excellent head, adorned with a crown and earrings, lay on the earth, shining greatly like the disc of the moon fallen from the sky.
तं वीक्ष्य पतितं वीरः पुष्कलो भरतात्मजः । व्यगाहत व्यूहमिमं सर्ववीरैकशोभितम्
Beholding him fallen, Puṣkala, son of Bharata, bravely entered this formation, which was resplendent with many heroes.
शेष उवाच। अथ पुत्रं समालोक्य पतितं व्यसुमुद्धतम् । विललाप भृशं राजा सुतदुःखेन दुःखितः
Śeṣa said: Then, seeing his son fallen, lifeless and struck down, the king, afflicted by grief for his son, wept bitterly.
मूर्ध्नि संताडयामास पाणिभ्यामतिदुःखितः । कम्पमानो भृशं चाश्रूण्यमुञ्चन्नयनाब्जयोः
Greatly distressed, he struck his head with his hands, trembling intensely and shedding tears from his lotus-like eyes.
गृहीत्वा पतितं वक्त्रं चंद्रबिंबमनोरमम् । पुष्कलेषु क्षतासृग्भिः क्लिन्नं कुंडलशोभितम्
Taking up the fallen, lovely face, beautiful as the moon, of Puṣkala—moistened with blood from his wounds and adorned with earrings—
कुटिलभ्रूयुगं श्रेष्ठं संदष्टाधरपल्लवम् । स चुंबन्मुखपद्मेन विलपन्निदमब्रवीत्
With his excellent, arched brows and lips bitten in anger, the king kissed his son's lotus-like face and, lamenting, spoke these words:
हा पुत्र वीर कथमुत्सुकचेतसं मां । किं नेक्षसे विशदनेत्रयुगेन शूर । किं मद्विनोदकथयारहितस्त्वमेव । रोषोदधिप्लुतमनाः किल लक्ष्यसे च
Alas, my son, my hero, why do you not look upon me with your clear eyes, though my heart longs for you? Why do you, who once delighted me with your words, now appear as if your mind is submerged in the ocean of anger?
वद पुत्र कथं मां त्वं प्रब्रूषे न हसन्पुनः । अमृतैर्मधुरास्वादैर्विनोदयसि पुत्रक
Tell me, my son, why do you not speak to me again with a smile, gladdening me with your sweet words, like nectar?
शत्रुघ्नाश्वं गृहाण त्वं सितचामरशोभितम् । स्वर्णपत्रेण शोभाढ्यं त्यज निद्रां महामते
Take up Śatrughna’s horse, adorned with a white fly-whisk and golden trappings, and, O wise one, abandon sleep.
एष प्रतापविशदः प्रतापाग्र्यः परंतपः । धनुर्बिभ्रत्पुरो भाति पुष्कलः परवीरहा
Here stands Puṣkala, radiant with valor, foremost among the valiant, destroyer of enemies, shining before you with his bow.
एनं वारय सत्तीक्ष्णैर्बाणैः कोदंडनिर्गतैः । कथं त्वं रणमध्ये वै शेते वीरविमोहितः
Ward him off with sharp arrows released from your bow; how can you, deluded hero, lie in the midst of battle?