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.
मत्तवेतालकलहे चितालातरणोज्ज्वलम् । वहद्रक्तवसामिश्रगन्धबन्धुरमारुतम्
In the quarrel of drunken ghosts, the cremation ground blazed, carrying winds thick with the scent of blood and fat.
रूपिकापेटके वेगरणद्रुटरुटारवम् । अर्धपक्वशवास्वादलुब्धयक्षोल्लसत्किलि
With the clatter of coins and dice, the swift, harsh cries resounded, as yakṣas eager for the taste of half-cooked corpses exulted.
तुङ्गवङ्गकलिङ्गाङ्गतङ्गनाङ्गलगत्खगम् । तारापातोपमभवत्संमुखज्वालरूपिकम्
There were swords in the hands of women from Bengal and Kaliṅga, and the flames before them shone like the fall of stars.
पतद्वेतालसोल्लासमध्यस्थासृक्सुरूपिकम् । पिशाचाकर्णिताभ्यर्णयोगिनीगणगायनम्
In the midst of the revelry of falling ghosts, blood flowed, while bands of yogis sang nearby, heard by the piśācas.
प्रसृतान्त्रमहातन्त्रीप्रायसम्पन्नवादनम् । पिशाचवासनोत्क्रान्तपिशाचीभूतमानवम्
The music was mostly played on great stringed instruments, and men, possessed by the impulses of piśācas, became like piśācīs themselves.
रूपिकालोकनापूर्वत्रासार्धमृतसद्भटम् । क्वचिद्वेतालरक्षोभिर् अहनीवोन्नमद्रणम्
Some warriors, never before frightened by the sight of ghosts, now stood half-dead with fear, while at times the ground rose up with ghosts and demons.
खरूपिकास्कन्धपतच्छवत्रस्तनिशाचरम् । नभस्सङ्घटितापूर्वभूतपेटकसङ्कटम्
Some night-wanderers, terrified by the falling corpses thrown from the shoulders of ghosts, crowded into the narrow spaces of the sky, packed with ghostly chests.
अतिप्रयत्नापहृतम्रियमाणनराधिपम् । सुभक्षापेक्षियक्षेक्षाविक्षिप्तशवराशिमत्
Some dying kings were carried off with great effort, while heaps of Śavaras were scattered, disturbed by yakṣas eager for good food.
शिवामुखानलशिखाखण्डैश् छमितनक्तगैः । समुड्डीननवाशोकपुष्पगुच्छम् इवाभितः
With the fragments of flames from the mouths of ghosts, the darkness of night is dispelled, as if clusters of fresh ashoka flowers are scattered all around.
कबन्धकन्धराबद्धव्यग्रवेतालबालकम् । यक्षरक्षःपिशाचाजिकचदाकाशगोल्मुकम्
There are children with the heads of trunks, bound to the necks of headless bodies, and the sky is filled with yakṣas, rākṣasas, piśācas, ajas, cāḍas, and globular spirits.