अथवा चित्तनिर्वृत्यै ज्ञातुमिच्छसि भारत
Or, O Bhārata, if you wish to know for the satisfaction of your mind—
एकोऽहमेव संग्रामे सर्वे तिष्ठंतु ते रथाः
Let me alone in battle; let all your chariots stand aside.
इत्यर्जुनवचः श्रुत्वा स्मयन्दामोदरोऽब्रवीत्
Hearing these words of Arjuna, Dāmodara smiled and spoke.
ततश्च शंखान्भेरीश्च शतशश्चैव पुष्करान्
Then conches and drums and hundreds of kettledrums were sounded.
येन तप्तं गुप्तक्षेत्रे येन देव्यः सुतोषिताः 1.2.66.
By whom the secret field was scorched, by whom the goddesses were pleased—
यद्ब्रवीमि वचः सत्यं शृणुध्वं तन्नराधिपाः
What I say is true—listen to it, O kings of men.
यदार्येण प्रतिज्ञातमर्जुनेन महात्मना
What was vowed by the noble Arjuna, the great-souled one—
सर्वे भवंतस्तिष्ठंतु सार्जुनाः सहकेशवाः
Let all remain, with Arjuna and Keśava among them.
मयि तिष्ठति केनापि शस्त्रग्राह्यं न क्षत्रियैः
While I stand here, no Kṣatriya should take up weapons.
पश्यध्वं मे बलं बाह्वोर्देव्याराधनसंभवम्
Behold the strength of my arms, born from the worship of the goddess.
पश्यध्वं मे धनुर्घोरं तूणीरावक्षयौ तथा
Behold my terrible bow, and also my inexhaustible quivers.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा क्षत्रिया विस्मयं ययुः
Hearing these words of his, the Kṣatriyas were filled with wonder.
तमाह ललितं कृष्णः फाल्गुनं परमं वचः
Then Kṛṣṇa spoke these supreme words gently to Phālguna.
नवकोटियुतोऽनेन पलाशी निहतः पुरा
By him, in former times, a Palāśī with ninety million was slain.
पुनः प्रक्ष्यामदे त्वेनं क्वेनोपायेन कौरवान् 1.2.66.
Again I will ask him, by what means can the Kauravas be defeated?
ततः स्मरन्यादवेंद्रो भैमिपुत्रमभाषत
Then, remembering, the lord of the Yadavas spoke to the son of Bhima.
भीप्मद्रोणकृपद्रौणिकर्णदुर्योधनादिभिः
By Bhīma, Madra, Droṇa, Kṛpa, Drauṇi, Karṇa, Duryodhana, and others—
अयं महान्विस्मयस्ते वचसो भैमिनंदन
This is a great wonder for you, O delight of Bhīma, these words.
तद्ब्रूहि केनोपायेन मुहूर्ताद्धंसि कौरवान्
Tell me, by what means can the Kauravas be destroyed in a moment?
सिंहवक्षाः पर्वताभो नानाभूषणभूषितः
With a lion-like chest, mountain-like form, adorned with various ornaments,
घटास्यो घटहासश्च ऊर्ध्वकेशोऽतिदीप्ति मान्
With a pot-shaped face, a pot-like laugh, hair standing upright, and extraordinary brilliance,
देवीदत्तातुलबलो बर्बरीकोऽभ्यभाषत
Gifted with incomparable strength by the goddess, Barbarīka spoke.
तदहं दर्शयाम्येष पश्यध्वं सहकेशवाः निःशल्यं चापि संपूर्णं सिंदूराभेण भस्मना
Then I will show this; look, O companions of Keśava, the army is completely cleared of arrows, filled with vermilion-colored ash.
आकर्णमाकृप्य च तं मुमोच मुखादथोद्भूतमभूच्च भस्म
Drawing to his ear, he released it, and from his mouth emerged ash.
सेनाद्वये तच्च पपात शीघ्रं यस्यैव यत्रास्ति च मृत्युमर्म 1.2.66.
That ash fell swiftly in the midst of the two armies, wherever there was a vital spot of death.
ऊरौ दुर्योधनस्यापि शल्यस्यापि च वक्षसि
On the thighs of Duryodhana and on the chest of Śalya,
कृष्णस्य पादतल लके कंठे द्रुपदमत्स्ययोः
On the soles of Kṛṣṇa’s feet, on the necks of Drupada and Matsya,
पपात रक्तं तद्भस्म यत्र येषां च मर्म च
That red ash fell wherever their vital points were.
इति कृत्वा ततो भूयो बर्बरीकोऽभ्यभाषत
Having done this, Barbarīka spoke again.
अधुना पातयिष्यामि मर्मस्वेषां शिताञ्छरान्
Now I will cast sharp arrows at their vital points.