नागागस्यूतहेत्योघवृक्षांशुकुसुमाकुलम् । कङ्ककृष्टान्त्ररशनावृन्दजालकिताम्बरम्
Thick with the flowers and cloths torn from the bodies of slain warriors, and adorned with garlands made from the entrails dragged by jackals.
असृक्सरोवरध्वस्तपताकानलिनीगणम् । रक्तकर्दमनिर्मग्ननराहूतसुहृज्जनम्
The lotus clusters of the blood-lake, its banners destroyed, were submerged in red mud, and the friends of the fallen were called out by the cries of men sinking within.
करीन्द्रकुणपागारनिर्यद्भीतजनेक्षितम् । हेतिलूनलतैर् वृक्षैस् सन्दिग्धोग्रकबन्धकम्
The lair of elephant corpses, watched by fearful people, was tangled with trees whose creepers had been cut by weapons, and was blocked by dense, fierce barricades.
असृङ्नदीवहद्धस्तिकटकर्परनौगणम् । रक्तस्रोतस्स्फुरच्छुक्लवस्त्रदिण्डीरपिण्डकम्
The river of blood carried clusters of severed elephant trunks and arms, and floating on its red current were white garments and round shields.
सञ्चरन्निपतत्क्षिप्रमृत्युविच्छिन्नमानवम् । इतश् चेतश् च निपतत्कबन्धनवदानवम्
Men, their lives cut short by death, wandered and fell swiftly; here and there, headless demons dropped down.
ऊर्ध्वस्थालक्ष्यचक्रौघछिन्नसैन्यद्रवज्जनम् । रक्तनिस्स्रावभाङ्कारहिक्कारार्धमृतारवम्
People fled from the army, broken by a rain of arrows from above, their voices half-dead, gasping with hiccups, and the sound of blood gushing forth.
सिरामुखोल्लसद्रक्तधाराधौतव्रजत्खगम् । सुतालोत्तालवेतालतालताण्डवसङ्कटम्
The sword, washed by streams of blood gushing from the mouths of veins, moved onward through the dreadful tumult of the tāla, ottāla, vetāla, and tāla drums' dance.
पर्यस्तरथदार्वन्तर्वनान्तरितसद्भटम् । अन्तस्स्थसज्जीवभटस्यन्दिस्यन्दनभीतिदम्
Within the broken chariots and scattered logs, warriors hid in the depths of the forest; inside, the presence of living soldiers inspired fear in the charioteers and their steeds.
रक्तकर्दमपूर्णास्यकिञ्चिज्जीवक्वणच्छवम् । किञ्चिज्जीवनरोद्ग्रीवकष्टदृष्टश्ववायसम्
Some corpses, their mouths filled with muddy blood, made faint rattling sounds of life; some, with their necks barely raised, were seen by jackals and crows.
एकामिषोग्रक्रव्यादयुद्धकोलाहलाकुलम् । एकामिषार्थयुद्धेहामृतक्रव्यादसङ्कुलम्
The battlefield was filled with the uproar of fierce carnivores fighting over a single piece of flesh; in the struggle for that one morsel, the place swarmed with death-hungry beasts.
विवृत्तासङ्ख्याश्वद्विरदपुरुषाधीश्वररथप्रवृत्तास्तग्रीवप्रकृतिरुधिरोद्गारसुसरित् । रणोद्यानं मृत्योस् तद् अभवद् अशुष्कायुधलतं सशैलं कल्पान्ते जगद् इव विपर्यस्तम् अखिलम्
Countless horses, elephants, men, lords, and chariots lay overturned, their throats forming rivers of blood; that battlefield of death, with its unsheathed weapons and mountains, became like the entire world in chaos at the end of an age.
अथ वीर इवारक्तः कालेनास्तमितो रविः । शश्वत्तेजःपरिम्लानप्रतापो ऽब्धौ समुज्झितः
Then, like a hero wounded in battle, the sun was overcome by time and set; its radiance forever faded, its brilliance abandoned in the ocean.
रणरक्तरुचिव्योमदर्पणप्रतिबिम्बिता । अह्नस् सूर्यशिरश्छेदे सन्ध्यालेखोदभूत् क्षणात्
Reflected in the sky's mirror, colored by the blood of battle, the line of twilight arose in a moment when the sun's head was severed at day's end.
भूपातालनभोदिग्भ्यः प्रलयाब्धिजलौघवत् । समाजग्मुस् तमस्ताला वेतालवलया इव
From the earth, underworld, sky, and all directions, darkness surged forth like the floodwaters of dissolution, encircling like rings of spirits.
दृष्टं ध्वान्तासिदलिते दिननागेन्द्रमस्तके । सन्ध्यारागारुणाकीर्णं तारानिकरमौक्तिकम्
When the darkness was pierced, the sun appeared atop the day’s mountain, adorned with the crimson hue of twilight and studded with pearls of stars.
निस्सत्त्वेषु तमोऽन्धेषु सरस्स्व् अरसशालिषु । सङ्कोचम् आययुः पद्मा मृतानां हृदयेष्व् इव
In lifeless, pitch-black darkness, in lakes devoid of flavor, the lotuses shrank, as if in the hearts of the dead.
मीलत्पक्षाः क्षणात् सुप्ताः कच्छव्रुडितकन्धराः । कुलायेषु खगा आसन् सर्वाङ्गेष्व् इव हेतयः
With drooping wings, the birds quickly fell asleep, their necks tucked like tortoises; they rested in their nests, as causes rest in every limb.
आसन्नचन्द्रसुभगालोकाः कुमुदपङ्क्तयः । उल्लसद्धृदया जाता वीरपक्षेष्व् इव श्रियः
Rows of water-lilies, graced by the gentle light of the nearby moon, blossomed with joyful hearts, like prosperity arising among the valiant.
रक्तवारिमयी सायसङ्गगुप्तशिलीमुखा । सङ्कुचद्वक्त्रपद्माभूद् रणभूमिर् इवाब्जिनी
The lotus pond, filled with red water and guarded by evening’s arrows, became a battlefield, its lotuses closing their faces.
उपर्य् अभूद् व्योमसरस् ताराकुमुदमण्डितम् । अधस् त्व् अभूद् वारिवियत् स्फुरत्कुमुदतारकम्
Above was the sky-lake, adorned with star-lilies; below was the watery firmament, sparkling with lilies and stars.
तमांस्य् अपीतकार्याणि भूतानि चाखिलान्य् अलम् । पयांसीव विसेरूनि प्रसृतानि दिशं प्रति
The darkness, having consumed its purpose, and all beings, spread out in every direction like water flowing forth.
आसीद् रणाङ्गनं गायद्वेतालकुलसङ्कुलम् । क्वणत्कङ्कालकण्ठस्थकङ्ककाकोलकेलिमत्
The battlefield was crowded with singing ghosts and spirits, resounding with the rattling of bones and the playful cries of crows and vultures.
रथकाष्टचितिज्वालासताराम्बरभासुरम् । पचत्पचपचाशब्दमेदोमांसमयानलम्
Brilliant with the glow of flames rising from funeral pyres made of chariot wood, it blazes with sparks, and the fire is fed by the fat and flesh, crackling with the sound 'paca-paca.'
शवाङ्गास्थिस्फुटास्फोटलुठच्चितिचयोल्मुकम् । वेतालललनारब्धजललीलातिरोहितम्
Fragments of corpses' bones burst and scatter, heaps of bodies are strewn about, and ghouls begin their watery games, concealed in the play of the cremation ground.
श्वकाकयक्षवेतालतालकोलाहलोल्बणम् । समागमेन भूतानां समुड्डीनवनोपमम्
Filled with the tumult of dogs, crows, yakṣas, and ghosts, it is as noisy as a forest where all manner of beings have gathered and are stirred up together.
रक्तमांसवसामेदोहरणव्यग्रडाकिनम् । चर्वितासृग्वसामांसस्रवत्सृक्विपिशाचकम्
Frenzied ḍākinīs snatch away blood, flesh, fat, and marrow, while piśācas chew and suck the oozing blood, fat, and flesh.
सभ्यमध्यचितालोकप्रकटासृक्शवव्रजम् । खरूपिकानीयमानाश्वसन्न्यस्तमहाशवम्
In the midst of the assembly, the cremation ground is revealed, with streams of blood and heaps of corpses; a great corpse, brought by the undertakers, is laid down, with a horse left beside it.
उत्ताण्डवोग्रकुम्भाण्डमण्डलोड्डामरोदरम् । छमच्छमिविलापान्तं मेदोऽसृग्बाष्पसाम्बुदम्
The place is filled with the dreadful dance of skulls and bones, with gaping bellies, ending in the wailing of jackals, and clouds of fat, blood, and tears.
वहद्रक्तनदीरंहोरूढभूचररूपिकम् । वेतालाकुलकङ्कालकर्षणाकुलकाककम्
A river of flowing blood rushes forth, inhabited by spirits of the dead, while crows are agitated, snatching at skeletons, and the place is crowded with ghouls.
मृतेभोदरमञ्जूषासुप्तवेतालबालकम् । विविक्तैकतरूद्देशपानक्रीडास्थराक्षसम्
Within the hollow chests of corpses, young ghouls sleep; in a lonely spot beneath a single tree, a demon lingers, intent on his drinking games.