विविधव्यूहविन्यासम् आन्तरारावभैरवम् । करप्रतोलनोल्लासमत्तमुद्गरमन्दिरम्
There were various battle formations, terrifying with their inner clamor, and the halls echoed with the uproar of warriors brandishing their heavy maces.
कृष्णायुधांशुजालेन श्यामीकृतदिवाकरम् । अनिलाधूतशल्मीलशूत्कराभशरध्वनि
The sun was darkened by a network of black weapons, and the sound of arrows, like the wind shaking the silk-cotton trees, roared across the field.
अनेककल्पकल्पान्तसधर्मम् इव संस्थितम् । प्रलयानिलसङ्क्षुब्धम् एकार्णवम् इवोत्थितम्
It appeared as if it had endured countless aeons, like the end of a cosmic cycle, and rose up like a single ocean agitated by the winds of dissolution.
पातालकुहराक्षुब्धम् अन्धकारम् इवोत्थितम् । लोकालोकम् इवोन्मत्तनृत्तलोललसत्तटम् । महानरकसङ्घातं भित्त्वावनिम् इवोत्थितम्
It arose like darkness disturbed in the caverns of the underworld, like the wild shore of the boundary between worlds, trembling with the frenzied dance of madmen, and like a mass of great hells breaking through the earth.
आलोलकुन्तमुसुलासिपरश्वधांशुश्यामायमानम् इव सातपवारिपूरैः । एकार्णवं भुवनकोशम् इवाचिरेण कर्तुं समुद्यतम् अगाधम् अनन्तपूरैः
It seemed to darken with the tumult of lances, clubs, swords, and axes, as if soon to turn the world into a single, unfathomable ocean by the floods of heated water.
भगवन् युद्धम् एतन् मे समासेन मनाग् वद । श्रुतिर् आह्लाद्यते श्रोतुर् यस्माद् एताभिर् उक्तिभिः
O Lord, briefly tell me about this battle, for the words you speak delight the listener’s ear.
अथ खे तत्र ते देव्यौ सङ्ग्रामं तद् अवेक्षितुम् । विमाने कल्पिते कान्ते रुद्धे रुरुहतुस् स्थिरे
Then, in the sky, those two goddesses, wishing to witness the battle, sat together in a beautiful, prepared aerial chariot, steady and unmoving.
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे तत्र लीलेशप्रतिपक्षतः । ताम्यन् सोढुम् अशक्तस् सन् दुःखव्यतिकरं रणे
Meanwhile, there, the opponent of the playful Lord, unable to endure the intense suffering in battle, began to languish.
प्रलयार्णवकल्लोल इवोत्पत्योद्भटो भटः । जहौ सानाव् इव शिलां भटस्योरसि मुद्गरम्
Like a wave rising from the ocean of dissolution, a fierce warrior hurled a mace at the chest of his foe, as a rock is cast down from a mountain peak.
अथ प्रवृत्तः प्रसभं प्रलयार्णवरंहसा । सेनयोश् शस्त्रसम्पातः किरन्न् अनलविद्युतः
Then, with the force of the ocean at dissolution, a violent clash of weapons erupted between the two armies, scattering sparks and flashes like fire.
तरत्तरलधाराग्ररेखाङ्कितनभस्तलः । ध्वनज्झणझणाशब्दमध्यलक्षितझाङ्कृतिः
The sky was marked by lines at the tips of swiftly flowing streams, and the clamor of jhaṇajhaṇa sounds was evident in the midst of their reverberation.
वीरहुङ्कारमिश्रज्याघर्घरारावघस्मरः । प्रवृत्तशरधाराभ्रभास्करार्चिर्वितानकः
There was a tumultuous roar mixed with the heroic shout, and the thunderous din echoed, as arrows poured forth like a canopy of sunlight amidst clouds.
रणत्कङ्कटटाङ्कारप्रोड्डीनकणपावकः । परस्पराहतिच्छिन्नहेतिखण्डखगाम्बरः
The battlefield blazed with the ringing of swords and the clashing of shields, and fragments of weapons, severed by mutual blows, scattered across the sky.
वीरदोर्द्रुमसञ्चारवहद्वननभस्तलः । कोदण्डचक्रक्रेङ्कारद्रवद्वैमानिकाङ्गनः
The heavens were traversed by the movement of heroic arms, and celestial maidens fled swiftly, startled by the twanging of bows and the whirling of wheels.
महाहलहलारावभृङ्गीकृतघनध्वनिः । निर्विकल्पसमाधिस्थ इवैकघनतावशात्
The great tumult of battle cries resembled the buzzing of bees, forming a dense sound; as if, by the force of unity, one were established in the absolute samadhi.
नाराचासारधाराग्रलूनशूरशिरःकणः । परस्परांससङ्घट्टरणत्कङ्कटसङ्कटः
Fragments of heroic heads were severed by the sharp tips of showers of arrows, and the clashing of bodies produced a tumultuous ringing of armor.
हुङ्कारहतहेत्यग्रसङ्घट्टकटुटाङ्कृतः । तरद्धारातरङ्गोग्रदन्तुराशेषदिङ्मुखः
The sharp clash of weapons struck by shouts of 'huṅ', and the fierce waves of swiftly flowing streams surged in all directions without limit.
हेतिसङ्घट्टविक्षोभमुष्टिग्राह्यझणज्झणः । विकचत्स्फोटकस्फोटरटच्चटचटारवः
The tumult of weapon collisions, the rattling seized by fists, and the loud crackling and bursting sounds resounded everywhere.
प्रवहत्खड्गटाङ्कारज्वलच्छणशणध्वनिः । सरच्छरभरोद्वान्तलसच्छवशवस्वनः
With the roaring sound of swords clashing and the thunderous din of blazing weapons, the battlefield resounds with the tumult of arrows and the cries of the wounded.
धग् धग् धग् इति विच्छिन्नकण्ठोत्थव्रणलोहितः । छिन्नबाहुशिरःखड्गखण्डनिर्विवराम्बरः
‘Dhag dhag dhag’—so rings out, as blood pours from wounds at the throat, severed arms and heads scattered, and the sky is left without a gap by the fragments of broken swords.
कङ्कटोत्थस्फुरद्वह्निच्छटाप्लुष्टशिरोरुहः । रणत्पतदसिव्रातदत्तपीनझणज्झणः
Hair singed by the sparks of fire leaping from shattered shields, the battlefield echoes with the heavy clang of swords given by warriors as they fall.
कुन्तकुण्ठितमातङ्गतरङ्गोद्गतलोहितः । दन्तिदन्तविनिष्पेषतारक्रेङ्कारकर्कशः
Blood rises in waves from elephants struck by spears, and the harsh sound of tusks grinding against tusks fills the air with a fierce cry.
महामुसुलसम्पातपिष्टवृन्दोद्धुरस्वरः । तरच्छूरशिरःपद्मप्रकराच्छादिताम्बरः
The thunderous noise of mighty maces crushing crowds resounds, while the sky is covered by clusters of fallen heroes’ heads like a spread of lotuses.
व्योमव्यस्तभुजाहीन्द्रपूर्णधूलिमयाम्बुदः । छिन्नहेतिनरारब्धकेशाकेशिप्रतिक्रियः
The sky is thick with dust clouds raised by the arms of warriors and elephants, and the hair of slain enemies is seized by the victorious, as they retaliate against their foes.
नखानखिनिकृष्टाक्षिकर्णनासोमहाभयः । पतत्समदमातङ्गकम्पितोर्वीलुठद्रथः
The terror grows as nails scratch at eyes, ears, and noses; chariots roll on the trembling earth, overturned by charging elephants.
रणप्रासरयोत्पन्नव्रणरक्तपरिच्छदः । रजोरचितनीहारकचत्प्रवहदायुधः
The battlefield is adorned with blood-soaked garments from wounds caused by spears, and weapons fly in streams, shrouded by clouds of dust stirred up by the conflict.
एकीकृतघनक्षोभसैन्यसागरगर्वितः । मत्तहासविलासेन मृत्युना परिचर्वितः
Proud as the sea whose waves are gathered into a single mass, he was consumed by Death, who delighted in wild laughter and play.
गर्विताद्रीन्द्रनागेन्द्रखर्विताम्भोदगर्जितः । वृक्षपार्श्वतटीसन्नचक्रशक्त्यृष्टिमुद्गरः
He thundered like the roaring of clouds shattered by the mighty peaks of proud mountains and kingly elephants, wielding wheels, spears, and maces beside the trees and riverbanks.
शरोर्णातन्तुनीरन्ध्रवृक्षयोधादिमेषकः । मेघविभ्रान्तिविच्छिन्नपताकापट्टचामरः
He was like a ram among warriors, piercing the gaps between the threads of arrows and the hollows of trees, his banner and canopy torn and scattered by the confusion of clouds.
यन्त्रपाषाणचक्रौघद्रुतविद्रुतखेचरः । मरणव्यग्रकृत्ताङ्गयोधाक्रन्दातिघर्घरः
He rushed among the flying hosts of machines, stones, and wheels, his body torn by death, the cries of wounded warriors resounding fiercely.