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.
शपथा वः स्वधर्मस्य शस्त्रं ग्राह्यं न वः क्वचित्
I swear by your own duty: you must not take up weapons anywhere.
ततो विस्मितचित्तानां युधिष्ठिरपुरोगिणाम्
Then, in front of Yudhiṣṭhira, the minds of those assembled were astonished.
वासुदेवश्च संक्रुद्धश्चक्रेण निशितेन च
Vāsudeva, enraged, wielded his sharp discus.
ततः क्षणात्सर्वमासीदाविग्रं राजमं डलम्
Then, in an instant, the entire royal assembly was thrown into disorder.
किमेतदिति प्राहुश्च बर्बरीकः कुतो हतः 1.2.66.
They said, 'What is this?' and Barbarika asked, 'From where has this destruction come?'
हाहा पुत्रेति च गृणन्प्रस्खलंश्च पदेपदे
Crying, 'Alas, my son!' he stumbled at every step.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे देव्यश्चतुर्दश समाययुः
Meanwhile, fourteen goddesses arrived.
सिद्धांबिका क्रोडमाता कपाली तारा सुवर्णा च त्रिलोकजेत्री
Siddhāmbikā, Kroḍamātā, Kapālī, Tārā, Suvarṇā, and Trilokajetrī,
भूतांबिका हरसिद्धिस्तथामूः संप्राप्य तस्थुर्नृपविस्मयंकराः
Bhūtāmbikā, Harasiddhi, and others came and stood, astonishing the king.
शृणुध्वं पार्थिवाः सर्वे कृष्णेन विदितात्मना
Hear, O kings, all of you, from Kṛṣṇa, who knows his own self.
मेरुमूर्ध्नि पुरा पृथ्वी समवेतान्दिवौकसः
Once, atop Mount Meru, the earth gathered with the celestial beings.
ततो ब्रह्मा प्राह विष्णुं भगवंस्त्वमिदं शृणु
Then Brahmā spoke to Viṣṇu, 'O Lord, listen to this.'
ततस्तथेति तन्मेने वचनं विष्णुरव्ययः
Viṣṇu, the imperishable, replied, 'So be it,' and accepted his words.
सूर्यवर्चेति यक्षेंद्रश्चतुराशीतिकोटिपः
Yakṣendra, called Sūryavarca, possessed eighty-four crore followers.
मयि तिष्ठति दोषाणामनेकानां महास्पदे 1.2.66.
While I remain, the abode of countless faults is vast.
अहमेकोऽवतीर्यैतान्हनिष्यामि भुवो भरान्
I alone will descend and destroy these burdens of the earth.
इत्युक्तवचने ब्रह्मा क्रुद्धस्तं समभाषत
When these words were spoken, Brahmā, angered, addressed him.
स्वसाध्यं ब्रूषे मोहात्त्वं शापयोग्योऽसि बालिश
You speak your own accomplishment out of delusion; you are fit to be cursed, O foolish one.
अविचार्यैव प्रभुषु वक्ति सोऽर्हति दंडनम्
He who speaks rashly to the mighty deserves punishment.
शरीरनाशं कृष्णात्त्वमवाप्स्यसि न संशयः
You will obtain destruction of your body from Kṛṣṇa, without doubt.