शूरार्थालङ्कृतोत्तुङ्गलोकपालाग्र्यवारणम् । आगच्छच्छूरसङ्घातगन्धर्वोन्मुखचारणम्
The foremost elephants of the guardians of the worlds, adorned for the sake of the heroes, approached, while groups of heroes gathered and Gandharvas and Charanas looked on expectantly.
शूरोत्सुकामरस्त्रैणकटाक्षेक्षितसद्भटम् । आहोपुरुषिकाक्षुब्धप्रेक्षकामोटनोद्भटम्
The noble warriors were watched by eager glances of passionate women, and the crowd of spectators was agitated by the excitement of the heroic contest.
आसन्नभीमसङ्ग्रामकिंवदन्तीपरम्परम् । लीलाहासविलासोत्कसुन्दरीधूतचामरम्
With the tumult of fierce battles close at hand, and the talk of warriors passing from one to another, where beautiful women, skilled in playful laughter and graceful gestures, wave yak-tail fans.
धर्म्यपक्षप्रयुक्ताग्र्यमुनिस्वस्त्ययनस्तवम् । सम्पन्नानेकलोकेशवनितानवसंस्तवम्
Where the highest sages chant auspicious hymns for the righteous side, and the wives of many lords of the worlds sing fresh songs of praise.
वीरदोर्मण्डलाश्लेषलम्पटस्त्रीगणाकरम् । शुक्लेन शूरयशसा चन्द्रीकृतदिवाकरम्
Where hosts of women, eager for the embrace of heroic arms, gather, and the glory of the brave, pure as white, makes the sun itself appear like the moon.
भगवञ् शूरशब्देन कीदृशः प्रोच्यते भटः । स्वर्गे ऽलङ्करणं कस् स्यात् को वा डिम्बाहतो भवेत्
O venerable one, what kind of warrior is called 'heroic' by that name? Who in heaven is adorned, and who is said to be slain by the ḍimbāha?
शास्त्रोक्ताचारयुक्तस्य प्रभोर् अर्थेन यो रणे । मृतो ऽथवा जयी वा स्यात् स शूरश् शूरलोकभाक्
He who, following the conduct prescribed by scripture and for the sake of his lord, dies or is victorious in battle—he is called a hero and attains the world of heroes.
अन्यथा तु निकृत्ताङ्गो रणे यो मृतिम् आप्नुयात् । डिम्बाहवहतः प्रोक्तस् स नरो नरकास्पदम्
But otherwise, if a man is slain in battle with his limbs severed, he is said to be killed by the ḍimbāha and becomes fit for hell.
अयथाशास्त्रसञ्चारवृत्तेनार्थेन युध्यते । यो नरस् तस्य सङ्ग्रामे मृतस्य निरयो ऽक्षयः
If a man fights for wealth with conduct contrary to the scriptures, for him, death in battle brings unending hell.
यथासम्भवशास्त्रार्थलोकाचारानुवृत्तिमान् । युध्यते तादृशस्यैव भक्त्या शूरस् स उच्यते
He who acts according to the possible meanings of scripture and the customs of the world, and fights in that manner—such a one, through devotion, is truly called a hero.
गोर् अर्थे ब्राह्मणस्यार्थे मित्रस्यार्थे च सन्मतिः । शरणागतयत्नेन मृतस् स्वर्गे विभूषणम्
For the sake of the cow, for the sake of the Brahmin, for the sake of a friend, and for the sake of good intention, one who strives to protect those who seek refuge—having died, he is adorned in heaven.
परिपाल्य स्वदेशैकपालनीयस्थितिं सदा । राजा मृतस् तदर्थं यस् स वीरो वीरलोकभाक्
Always maintain the duty of protecting one's own land; the king who dies for that purpose is a hero and attains the realm of heroes.
प्रजोपद्रवनिष्ठस्य यस्य राज्ञो ऽथवा प्रभोः । अर्थेन ये मृता युद्धे ते वै निरयगामिनः
Those who die in battle for the sake of a king or lord whose intent is rooted in harming the people, they indeed go to hell.
धर्म्यं यथा तथा युद्धं यदि स्यात् तद् इमां स्थितिम् । नाशयेयुर् अलं मत्ता येन लोकभयोज्झिताः
If a battle is conducted according to righteousness, then those intoxicated with destruction would not be able to ruin this order, by which people are freed from fear.
यत्र यत्र हतश् शूरस् स्वर्ग्य इत्य् अधमोक्तयः । धर्म्यो योद्धा भवेच् छूर इत्य् एवं शास्त्रनिश्चयः
Wherever a hero is slain, it is said by the base that he attains heaven; but according to scripture, only the righteous warrior is truly a hero.
सदाचारवताम् अर्थे खड्गधारां सहन्ति ये । ते शूरा इति कथ्यन्ते शेषा डिम्बाहवाहताः
Those who, for the sake of the virtuous, endure the edge of the sword are called heroes; the rest are merely those who bear the burden of the shield.
तेषाम् अर्थे रणव्योम्नि तिष्ठन्त्य् उत्कण्ठिताशयाः । सुरीभूतमहासत्त्वदयितोत्कास् सुराङ्गनाः
For their sake, in the sky of battle, the divine maidens, beloved of the great souls who have become gods, stand with eager longing.
विद्याधरीमधुरमन्थरगीतगर्भं मन्दारमाल्यवलनाकुलमानिनीकम् । विश्रान्तकान्तसुरसिद्धविमानपङ्क्ति व्योमोत्सवे रचितशोभम् इवोल्ललास
The sky festival is adorned as if it were dancing, with rows of celestial planes where gods and siddhas rest, surrounded by proud women garlanded with mandara flowers, filled with the sweet and gentle songs of the Vidyadharis.
अथ वीरवरोत्कण्ठनृत्यदप्सरसि स्थिता । लीला विलोकयाम् आस व्योम्नि विद्यान्वितावनौ
Then, as the celestial nymphs danced with longing for the greatest hero, Lila, endowed with knowledge, stood in the sky and observed.
सुराष्ट्रमण्डले भर्तृपालिते वनमालिते । कस्मिंश्चिद् विततारण्ये द्वितीयाकाशभीषणे
In the Surashtra region, ruled by Bhartṛpāla and covered with forests, there was a vast wilderness, terrifying like a second sky.
सेनाद्वितयम् अक्षुब्धं सौम्याब्धिद्वितयोपमम् । महारम्भघनं मत्तं स्थिरं राजद्वयान्वितम्
There, two armies, undisturbed and resembling two gentle oceans, stood—grand, dense, intoxicated, steadfast, each led by a king.
युद्धसज्जं सुसन्नद्धसिद्धम् अग्निम् इवाहुतम् । पूर्वप्रहारसम्पातप्रेक्षाक्षुब्धाक्षिलक्षकम्
Prepared for battle, well-armored and ready, like fire kindled by oblation, their eyes were agitated, watching the onset of the first assault.
उद्यतामलनिस्त्रिंशधारासारब्रुडज्जनम् । कचत्परश्वधप्रासभिण्डिपालर्द्धिसङ्कुलम्
The warriors brandished spotless, unsheathed swords, and the field was crowded with flashing axes, spears, maces, and shields.
गरुत्मत्पक्षविक्षुब्धवनसम्पातकम्पितम् । उद्यद्दिनकरालोककचत्कनककङ्कटम्
The ground trembled from the rush of warriors, like a forest shaken by Garuda’s wings, and the gold armlets gleamed in the rising sunlight.
परस्परमुखालोककोपप्रोद्धासितायुधम् । अन्योऽन्यबद्धदृष्टित्वाच् चित्रभित्ताव् इवार्पितम्
Weapons were raised in anger as the warriors faced each other, their gazes locked, as if painted upon a marvelous mural.
लेखामर्यादया दीर्घबद्धया स्थापितस्थिति । अनिवार्यमहाहार्यझाङ्काराश्रुतसङ्कथम्
Their ranks were fixed by long, drawn lines of formation, and the air was filled with the unavoidable, thunderous clamor of their gathering.
पूर्वप्रहारस्मयतश् चिरसंशान्तदुन्दुभि । निबद्धयोधसंस्थाननिश्चलानीकमन्थरम्
In the early hours, smiling, with the drums long since silenced, the battle formations were fixed in place, unmoving and sluggish.
धनुर्द्वितयमात्रात्मशून्यमध्यैकसेतुना । विभक्तं कल्पवातेन मत्तम् एकार्णवं यथा
The two armies were separated by only the span of two bows, with a single bridge in the empty space between them, divided by the wind of imagination, like a single ocean made wild.
कार्यसङ्कटसंरम्भचिन्तापरवशेश्वरम् । रववद्भेककण्ठत्वग्भङ्गुरातुरहृद्गुहम्
The lord, overwhelmed by anxious thoughts about the crisis of action, his heart-cave fragile and restless like the croaking throat of a frog under the sun.
प्राणसर्वस्वसन्न्याससोद्योगासङ्ख्यसैनिकम् । कर्णस्थसशरज्यौघत्यागोन्मुखधनुर्धरम्
With soldiers countless, ready to renounce their very breath, and archers with drawn bows, arrows poised at their ears, eager for battle.