क्षुरिकाकुक्षिनिर्भेदगलत्पद्मपतज्जनः । त्रिशूलवदनोदात्तशूलशङ्करनर्तनः
People fall as lotus petals, pierced by daggers that rip open their bellies; the dance of Shiva is enacted, with tridents raised and faces fierce.
धावद्धानुष्कसम्पूर्णतूणकूजनकाकलिः । भिण्डिपालभटाटोपपत्रातारभटीनटः
The tumult of archers running, their quivers full, echoes like the cry of birds; warriors with slings and shields display their prowess, while others perform the dance of battle.
वज्रमुष्टिविनिष्पिष्टपृष्ठसद्भटसङ्कटः । श्येनवद् व्योमपदवीं प्रोत्पतत्सूतपट्टिशः
Pressed by warriors with fists like thunderbolts, he soared through the sky like a falcon, his chariot cloth flying.
अङ्कुशाक्रान्तशूरेन्द्रमहेभहयकेतनः । हालाहलहलालूनहेलाकुलबलाचलः
With mighty elephants and horses seized by the goad, the banners of heroic kings tossed about, the tumult was stirred by the fierce blows of clubs and the chaos of battle.
सुतालोत्तालकुद्दालनिखातबलभूतलः । धनुर्द्विगुणदत्तास्त्रलूनलोकशिलावलिः
The earth was dug up by the pounding of tall palaces and towers; the rows of stones in the world were shattered by arrows shot from doubled bows.
क्रकचोभयपार्श्वेहाच्छिन्नमत्तमतङ्गजः । सङ्ग्रामोलूखलापूर्णलोकतण्डुलमौसुली । अभ्राभशृङ्खलाजालबद्धसेनाविहङ्गमः
Mad elephants were cut on both sides by saws; the battlefield was filled with rice grains as if from a giant mortar, and the army birds were bound by chains like clouds.
नाराचवर्षवरवारिदवीरपूर मत्ताभ्रसम्भ्रमसनृत्तकबन्धबर्ही । कल्पान्तकाल इव वेगविवर्तमानमातङ्गशैलवलितो रणसम्भ्रमो ऽभूत्
A rain of arrows fell like a flood of heroic warriors; the plumes of warriors danced wildly in the confusion, and the tumult of battle swirled like mountains shaken at the end of an age.
अथ राज्ञां युयुत्सूनां भटानां मन्त्रिणाम् अपि । रभसप्रेक्षकाणां च तत्रेमाः प्रोदगुर् गिरः
Then, among the kings, warriors, ministers, and eager spectators, these words arose in excitement.
चलत्पद्मं सर इव वहद्विहगम् एव वा । नभश् शूरशिरःकीर्णं भाति तारकिताकृति
Like a moving lotus in a lake or a flock of birds in flight, the sky, adorned with the heads of heroes, shone with the appearance of stars.
पश्य रक्तपृषत्पूरसिन्दूरारुणमारुतैः । सन्ध्या इव विभान्त्य् एते मध्याह्ने ऽम्बुदभानवः
Look! With winds reddened by streams of blood, they shine like the evening sky; these cloud-sun warriors gleam at midday.
किम् इदं भगिनि व्योम पलालभरितं स्थितम् । नेदं पलालं वीराणाम् एते शरभराम्बुदाः
Sister, what is this sky, filled with straw, that stands here? This is not straw, O brave one—these are clouds laden with arrows.
यावन्तो भुवि शाम्यन्ति रुधिरैर् अणुरेणवः । तावन्त्य् अब्दसहस्राणि भटानाम् आस्पदं दिवि
As many particles of dust as are quenched on earth by blood, for that many thousands of years the warriors' abode remains in the sky.
मा भैष्ट नैते निस्त्रिंशा नीलोत्पलदलत्विषः । अमी वीरावलोकिन्या लक्ष्म्या नयनविभ्रमाः
Do not fear—these are not swords with the sheen of blue lotus petals; these are the playful glances of Lakshmi, the observer of heroes.
वीरालिङ्गनलोलानां नितम्बे सुरयोषिताम् । मेखलाश् शिथिलीकर्तुं प्रवृत्तः कुसुमायुधः
The god of love, eager to loosen the girdles of heavenly women longing for the embrace of heroes, has set forth.
ललद्भुजलतालोलरक्तपल्लवपाणयः । मञ्जरीमत्तनयना मध्वामोदसुगन्धयः
With arms shining like waving lotus stalks, hands like red buds, eyes intoxicated like flower clusters, and sweet fragrance of honeyed blossoms.
याचन्त्यो मधुरालापैर् नन्दनोद्यानदेवताः । तवागमनम् आशङ्क्य प्रवृत्ताः परिनर्तितुम्
The goddesses of Nandana grove, hoping for your arrival, begin to dance, inviting you with sweet words.
प्रत्यनीकं भिनत्त्य् अन्तः कुठारैः कठिनैर् इयम् । सेना ग्राम्येव वनिता दयितं दुष्टचेष्टितैः
This army, like a village woman with wicked deeds, breaks the enemy within with hard axes, harming her beloved.
हा पितुर् मम भल्लेन शिरो ज्वलितकुण्डलम् । सूर्यस्य निकटं नीतं कालेनेवाष्टमो ग्रहः
Alas, my father's head, with blazing earrings, was carried near the sun by an arrow, as if by Time, like the eighth planet.
आपादं शृङ्खलाप्रोतभ्रमत्स्थूलोपलद्वयम् । भ्रमयंश् चित्रदण्डाख्यं चक्रम् ऊर्ध्वभुजो जवात्
With both arms raised swiftly, he spins the wheel called 'Citradaṇḍa', which is fastened with a chain at his feet and revolves two massive stones.
योधो यम इवायामी याम्याद् आयाति दिक्तटात् । सर्वतस् संहरन् सेनाम् एहि यामो यथागतम्
The warrior, tall as Yama, comes from the southern direction, gathering the army from all sides, saying, 'Come, let us return as we came, like Yama.'
सद्यश्छिन्नशिरश्श्वभ्रमज्जत्कङ्ककुलाकुलाः । कबन्धाः पश्य नृत्यन्ति तालोत्ताला रणाङ्गने
See, headless bodies, their heads freshly severed, swarming with vultures and jackals, dance wildly on the battlefield, their arms flailing.
गीर्वाणगणगोष्ठीषु प्रवृत्ता सङ्कथा मिथः । वद लोकान्तरं वीराः कथं यास्यन्ति के कुतः
In the gatherings of the hosts of gods, lively discussions arise: 'Tell, to which other world will these heroes go? Who will go, and from where?'
निगिरन्त्य् आगतास् सेनास् स्रवन्तीर् इव सागराः । समत्स्यमकरव्यूहा अहो नु विषमा भटाः
The armies that have arrived are being swallowed up like rivers by the ocean, their formations like fish and crocodiles—indeed, the warriors are in dire straits.
कटेषु करिणां कीर्णा धारानाराचराशयः । पतिता इव सम्पूर्णाश् शृङ्गसङ्घेषु वृष्टयः
The ground is strewn with elephants, their bodies pierced by spears, as if full rains had fallen and gathered among clusters of mountain peaks.
हा कुन्तेन शिरो नीतं ममेत्य् एवं विवक्षतः । शिर आनीतम् इत्य् एव खे खगेनेव वाशितम्
'Alas, my head has been taken by a spear!'—so they try to say, but only their severed heads utter, 'The head has been taken,' echoing in the sky like birds.
यन्त्रपाषाणवर्षेण येनास्मान् परिषिञ्चति । सेनास्यां शृङ्खलाजालवलना क्रियतां बलात्
By whom we are being drenched with a shower of mechanical stones, let a net of chains be forcefully cast over this army.
सर्वान् समग्रतो मूढान् नयतार्धमृतान् नरान् । निजान् पादप्रहारेण मैतान् मारयताधमाः
Let all these utterly deluded, half-dead men—your own—be struck down and killed by you, the most wicked, with a blow of your foot.
धम्मिल्लवलनाव्यग्रे घनोत्कण्ठाप्सरोगणे । भटो दिव्यशरीरेण पार्श्वं प्राप्तो विलोक्यताम्
Amid the throng of celestial nymphs, their braided hair tossing in eager excitement, a warrior with a divine body has arrived at your side—behold him.
फुल्लहेमारविन्दासु च्छायाशीतजलानिलैः । स्वर्गनद्यास् तटीष्व् एवं दूरायातं विलोकय
See, on the banks of the heavenly river, among blooming golden lotuses, in the cool shade and gentle breeze of the water, one approaches from afar.
विविधायुधसङ्घट्टखण्डितोग्राद्रिकोटयः । खे चरन्त्यो झणत्कारैः प्रमृतास् तारका इव
The peaks of mighty mountains, shattered by the clash of various weapons, roam the sky with a clamor, like fallen stars.