यथा ऽ शनिरवेभ्यस्तु जायते ऽथ प्रतिश्रुतिः । तथा तयोर्गदापोथैर्दिशः सर्वाः प्रतिश्रुताः ।। ७.३२.
As echoes arise from thunderclaps, so the blows of their maces resounded in all directions.
अर्जुनस्य गदा सा तु पात्यमाना ऽहितोरसि । काञ्चनाभं नभश्चक्रे विद्युत्सौदामिनी यथा ।। ७.३२.
Arjuna's mace, when hurled at Ravana's chest, created a golden glow in the sky, like a flash of lightning.
तथैव रावणेनापि पात्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः । अर्जुनोरसि निर्भाति गदोल्केव महागिरौ ।। ७.३२.
Likewise, Ravana's mace, repeatedly thrown at Arjuna's chest, shone like a blazing meteor striking a great mountain.
नार्जुनः खेदमायाति न राक्षसगणेश्वरः । इदमासीत्तयोर्युद्धं यथा पूर्वं बलीन्द्रयोः ।। ७.३२.
Neither Arjuna nor the lord of the rakshasas grew weary; their battle was like that of the ancient mighty ones.
शृङ्गैरिव वृषायुध्यन्दन्ताग्रैरिव कुञ्जरौ । परस्परं तौ निघ्नन्तौ नरराक्षससत्तमौ ।। ७.३२.
Like bulls fighting with their horns, like elephants with their tusks, the foremost man and rakshasa struck each other again and again.
ततो ऽर्जुनेन क्रुद्धेन सर्वप्राणेन सा गदा । स्तनयोरन्तरे मुक्ता रावणस्य महोरसि ।। ७.३२.
Then, Arjuna, enraged and with all his strength, released his mace between Ravana’s breasts, striking his mighty chest.
वरदानकृतत्राणे सा गदा रावणोरसि । दुर्बलेव यथावेगं द्विधाभूत्वा ऽपतत्क्षितौ ।। ७.३२.
That mace, protected by the boon, struck Ravana’s chest, but, as if weakened, split in two and fell to the ground with its force.
स त्वर्जुनप्रमुक्तेन गदापातेन रावणः । अपासर्पद्धनुर्मात्रं निषसाद च निष्टनन् ।। ७.३२.
Ravana, struck by Arjuna’s mace, retreated the distance of a bow and sat down, groaning.
स विह्वलं तदालक्ष्य दशग्रीवं ततो ऽर्जुनः । सहसोत्पत्य जग्राह गरुत्मानिव पन्नगम् ।। ७.३२.
Seeing Ravana bewildered, Arjuna swiftly leapt up and seized him, like Garuda grasping a serpent.
स तु बाहुसहस्रेण बलाद्गृह्य दशाननम् । बबन्ध बलवान्राजा बलिं नारायणो यथा ।। ७.३२.
With a thousand arms, the powerful king forcibly bound the ten-headed Ravana, as Narayana binds Bali.
बध्यमाने दशग्रीवे सिद्धचारणदेवताः । साध्वीतिवादिनः पुष्पैः किरन्त्यर्जुनमूर्धनि ।। ७.३२.
As Ravana was being bound, the Siddhas, Charanas, and gods, praising Arjuna, showered flowers upon his head.
व्याघ्रो मृगमिवादाय मृगराडिव दन्तिनम् । ननाद हैहयो राजा हर्षादम्बुदवन्मुहुः ।। ७.३२.
Like a tiger seizing a deer, or a lord of beasts taking an elephant, the Haihaya king roared repeatedly with joy, like thunderclouds.
प्रहस्तस्तु समाश्वस्तो दृष्ट्वा बद्धं दशाननम् । सह तै राक्षसैः क्रुद्धश्चाभिदुद्राव पार्थिवम् ।। ७.३२.
Prahasta, regaining courage upon seeing Ravana bound, rushed angrily at the king along with the Rakshasas.
नक्तञ्चराणां वेगस्तु तेषामापततां बभौ । उद्भूत आतपापाये पयोदानामिवाम्बुधौ ।। ७.३२.
The speed of those night-dwellers, as they charged, shone forth like clouds rising after the heat of the sun has passed.
मुञ्च मुञ्चेति भाषन्तस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चासकृत् । मुसलानि सशूलानि सोत्ससर्ज तदार्जुने ।। ७.३२.
They shouted, 'Release! Release!' and 'Stop! Stop!' again and again, hurling maces and spears at Arjuna.
अप्राप्तान्येव तान्याशु असम्भ्रान्तस्तदार्जुनः । आयुधान्यमरारीणां जग्राहारिनिषूदनः ।। ७.३२.
Arjuna, undisturbed, swiftly caught those weapons before they reached him, seizing the arms of his enemies.
ततस्तैरेव रक्षांसि दुर्धरैः प्रवरायुधैः । भित्त्वा विद्रावयामास वायुरम्बुधरानिव ।। ७.३२.
Then, with those formidable weapons, he pierced and scattered the Rakshasas, as the wind disperses thunderclouds.
राक्षसांस्त्रासयित्वा तु कार्तवीर्यो ऽर्जुनस्तदा । रावणं गृह्य नगरं प्रविवेश सुहृद्वृतः ।। ७.३२.
Having terrified the Rakshasas, Kartavirya Arjuna took Ravana and entered the city, surrounded by his friends.
स कीर्यमाणः कुसुमाक्षतोत्करैर्द्विजैः सपौरैः पुरुहूतसन्निभः । तदा ऽर्जुनः सम्प्रविवेश तां पुरीं बलिं निगृह्येव सहस्रलोचनः ।। ७.३२.
Arjuna, showered with heaps of flowers and rice by Brahmins and citizens, entered that city, resembling Indra, having subdued his foe, like the thousand-eyed god.
रावणग्रहणं तत्तु वायुग्रहणसन्निभम् । ततः पुलस्त्यः शुश्राव कथितं दिवि दैवतैः ।। ७.३३.
The capture of Ravana was like the capture of the wind; then Pulastya heard what was spoken by the gods in heaven.
ततः पुत्रकृतस्नेहात्कम्प्यमानो महाधृतिः । माहिष्मतीपतिं द्रष्टुमाजगाम महानृषिः ।। ७.३३.
Then, trembling from affection for his son yet steadfast, the great sage came to see the lord of Mahishmati.
स वायुमार्गमास्थाय वायुतुल्यगतिर्द्विजः । पुरीं माहिष्मतीं प्राप्तो मनःसम्पातविक्रमः ।। ७.३३.
That twice-born sage, proceeding by the path of the wind, with a speed equal to the wind, reached the city of Mahishmati, his mind moving with resolve.
सो ऽमरावतिसङ्काशां हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम् । प्रविवेश पुरीं ब्रह्मा इन्द्रस्येवामरावतीम् ।। ७.३३.
He entered the city, splendid as Amaravati, crowded with joyful and prosperous people, like Brahma entering Indra’s Amaravati.
पादचारमिवादित्यं निष्पतन्तं सुदुर्दशम् । ततस्ते प्रत्यभिज्ञाय अर्जुनाय निवेदयन् ।। ७.३३.
Like the sun emerging with its radiant stride, difficult to behold, they recognized him and informed Arjuna.
पुलस्त्य इति विज्ञाय वचनाद्धैहयाधिपः । शिरस्यञ्जलिमाधाय प्रत्युद्गच्छत्तपस्विनम् ।। ७.३३.
Learning from the words that it was Pulastya, the lord of the Haihayas placed his hands in reverence upon his head and went forth to meet the ascetic.
पुरोहितो ऽस्य गृह्यार्घ्यं मधुपर्कं तथैव च । पुरस्तात्प्रययौ राज्ञः शक्रस्येव बृहस्पतिः ।। ७.३३.
His priest took up the offerings of water and honey-mixture, and advanced before the king, just as Brihaspati would before Indra.
ततस्तमृषिमायान्तमुद्यन्तमिव भास्करम् । अर्जुनो दृश्य सम्भ्रान्तो ववन्देन्द्र इवेश्वरम् ।। ७.३३.
Then, seeing the sage approaching, shining like the rising sun, Arjuna, startled, bowed to him as Indra would to the Lord.
स तस्य मधुपर्कं गां पाद्यमर्घ्यं निवेद्य च । पुलस्त्यमाह राजेन्द्रो हर्षगद्गदया गिरा ।। ७.३३.
He presented honey-mixture, a cow, water for washing feet, and the offering, and King Arjuna addressed Pulastya with words choked by joy.
अद्यैवममरावत्या तुल्या माहिष्मती कृता । अद्याहं तु द्विजेन्द्र त्वां यस्मात्पश्यामि दुर्दशम् ।। ७.३३.
Today, Mahishmati has become equal to Amaravati; today, O best of twice-born, I see you, who are so hard to behold.
अद्य मे कुशलं देव अद्य मे कुशलं व्रतम् । अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे सफलं तपः । यस्माद्देवगणैर्वन्द्यौ वन्दे ऽहं चरणौ तव ।। ७.३३.
Today, O Lord, my welfare is assured; today, my vow is fulfilled; today, my birth is fruitful; today, my austerity bears fruit; for I worship your feet, which are honored by the hosts of gods.