चन्द्रभित्तिपरिस्रोतःप्रपतत्काञ्चनाङ्कुरम् । मुक्ताझणझणत्कारचारुविद्रुमकूवरम्
With golden shoots falling from the streams along the moonlit walls, and beautiful coral branches adorned with the jingling sound of pearls.
सुग्रीवैर् लक्षणोपेतैः प्रशस्तैर् धवलैः कृशैः । जवोन्नयनवेगेन प्रस्रवद्भिः खुरान् इव
With fine, white, slender horses of auspicious marks, excellent and swift, their speed causing their hooves to pour forth as if in a rush.
वायून् अपीव सहजान् असहद्भिर् गतिक्रमैः । प्रोज्झद्भिर् इव पश्चार्धम् आपिबद्भिर् इवाम्बरम्
With horses whose natural gaits could not be matched even by the wind, as if casting off their hind parts, as if drinking in the sky.
योजितैर् इव संपूर्णैश् चन्द्रैश् चामरदीप्तिभिः । अश्वैर् अष्टभिर् आबद्धम् आशापूरकहेषितैः
As if harnessed with eight full moons shining with the brilliance of yak-tail whisks, yoked with eight horses whose neighing seemed to fill the directions.
अथोदभूत् तदोद्दामनागाभ्ररवनिर्भरः । शैलभित्तिप्रतिध्वानदारुणो दुन्दुभिध्वनिः
Then arose a drum sound, intense as the roar of thunderclouds, echoing harshly against the mountain walls.
मत्तसैनिकनिर्मुक्तैर् व्याप्तैः कलकलारवैः । किङ्किणीजालनिध्वानैर् हेतिसङ्घट्टटाङ्कृतैः
Filled with the tumultuous cries of intoxicated soldiers, with the jingling of rows of bells, and the clashing of weapons.
धनुश्चटचटाशब्दैश् शरशीत्कारगायनैः । परस्परांसनिष्पिष्टकवचौघझणज्झणैः
With the crackling sounds of bows, the whistling songs of arrows, and the rattling of armor crushed against each other.
ज्वलदग्निटणत्कारैर् आर्तिमत्क्रन्दनारवैः । परस्परं भटाह्वानैर् बन्दीविक्षुब्धरोदनैः
With the crackling of blazing fire, the cries of the distressed, the mutual shouts of warriors, and the agitated wailing of bards.
शिलाघनीकृताशेषब्रह्माण्डकुहरो ध्वनिः । हस्तग्राह्यो भवद्भीमो दशाशाकुञ्जपूरकः
A sound, made dreadful and tangible, filled the hollow of the universe as if it were carved from stone, swelling to encompass all ten directions.
अथोदपतद् आदित्यपथपीवररोधकम् । रजोनिभेन भूपीठम् अम्बरोड्डयनोन्मुखम्
Then arose a mass that blocked the path of the sun, its dust-like darkness lifting the earth's surface toward the sky.
गर्भवासम् इवापन्नं तेनासीत् तन्महापुरम् । मूर्खत्वं यौवनेनेव घनताम् आययौ तमः
That great city became as if enclosed in a womb; darkness grew dense, like ignorance swelling in youth.
प्रययुः क्वापि दीपौघा दिवसेनेव तारकाः । आययुर् बलम् आलोला नैशभूतपरम्पराः
Somewhere, the clusters of lamps departed, like stars vanishing by day; restless hosts of night-beings gathered their strength.
ददृशुस् तन्महायुद्धं द्वे लीले सा कुमारिका । प्रस्फुरद्धृदयेनैता देवीदत्तमहादृशा
Those two maidens witnessed that great battle, their hearts trembling, their vision vast as bestowed by the goddess.
प्रशेमुर् अथ गेहेषु प्रोद्यत्कटकटारवाः । एकार्णवपयःपूरैर् वाडवा इव वह्नयः
Then, in the houses, arose the clamor of weapons, resounding like fires in a single ocean overflowing with water.
शरैस् सेनां समाकर्षन् राजा परबलान्तरम् । विवेश पक्षप्रोड्डीनो मेरुर् एकम् इवार्णवम्
Drawing the enemy army with arrows, the king, propelled by his wings, entered the opposing force like Mount Meru entering a single ocean.
अथोदभूद् गुणध्वानश् चटच्चटद् इति स्फुटम् । रचितात्ममयाम्भोदास् तेरुश् शरपरम्पराः
Then arose the distinct sound of qualities, crackling sharply, as the rows of arrows, made of self-fashioned clouds, formed a ship.
ययुर् अम्बरम् आश्रित्य नानाहेतिविहङ्गमाः । प्रसस्रुर् अलम् आशासु मिहिकाश् शस्त्रदीप्तयः
Various weapons, like birds of many kinds, took to the sky; in all directions, mists shone with the brilliance of weapons.
बभ्रमुश् शस्त्रसङ्घट्टज्वलना उल्मुकाग्निवत् । जगर्जुश् शरधारौघान् वर्षन्तो वीरवारिदाः
Weapons, blazing from their clashes like torches of fire, whirled about; the clouds of warriors thundered, pouring down streams of arrows.
विलेगुः कङ्कवत्क्रूरा वीराङ्गेषु च हेतयः । पेतुः पटपटारावं हेतिनिष्पिष्टयो ऽम्बरे
Cruel missiles, like vultures, darted at the bodies of heroes; some fell with crackling sounds, crushed by weapons in the sky.
जग्मुश् शमं तमांस्य् आशु शस्त्रज्वलनदीपकैः । बभूवुर् अखिलास् सेना नवनाराचरोमशाः
The darkness quickly vanished, dispelled by the shining flames of weapons; the entire army appeared as if covered with the fine hair of new women.
उत्तस्थुर् नृत्तयात्रायां कबन्धनटपङ्क्तयः । जगुर् उच्चै रणद्रोहं पिशाच्यो रणदारिकाः
Headless bodies rose up in the dance procession; demon maidens sang loudly of the treachery of battle.
उदगुर् मत्तसङ्घट्टत्क्रेङ्कारा दन्तिनां बले । ऊहुः क्षेपणपाषाणमत्तनद्यो नभस्तले
The army of elephants, maddened and colliding, trumpeted loudly; intoxicated rivers carried hurled stones across the sky.
पेतुश् च रथसङ्घातास् संशुष्कवनपर्णवत् । निर्ययुर् लोहिता नद्यो रणाद्रेर् मृतिवर्षिणः
Chariots crashed down like dried leaves from a forest; red rivers flowed forth from the mountain of battle, raining the dead.
प्रशेमुः पांसवो रक्तैस् तमांस्य् आयुधवह्निभिः । युद्धैकध्यानतश् शब्दा भयानि मृतिनिश्चयैः
Dust clouds, darkened with blood, were subdued by the fires of weapons; the sounds of battle, focused solely on war, brought terror with the certainty of death.
अभवत् केवलं युद्धं सशब्दम् असमं भ्रमम् । अनाकुलाम्बुवाहाभखड्गवीचिसझाङ्कृतम्
There arose only a tumultuous, discordant battle, resounding with noise and confusion, churned up by the waves of swords, yet the clouds above remained undisturbed.
षवषवरवसंवहच्छरौघं कटकटरवसंपतद्भुसुण्डि । झणझणरवसंमिलन्महास्त्रं निशि नवरणम् आस सुप्तवत् तत्
The clash of armies was like the rattling of funeral biers, the crackling of arrows fell like a torrent, and the meeting of mighty weapons rang out sharply; yet in the night, all seemed veiled, as if in sleep.
एतस्मिन् वर्तमाने तु घोरे समरसम्भ्रमे । लीलाद्वयम् उवाचेदं ज्ञप्तिं भगवतीं पुरः
While this dreadful, tumultuous battle was raging, the goddess of Knowledge playfully addressed her own manifestation standing before her.
देवि कस्माद् अकस्मान् नो भर्ता जयति नो रणे । वद त्वय्य् अपि तुष्टायाम् अस्मिन् विद्रुतवारणे
"Goddess, why is it that our lord neither wins nor loses in this battle? Tell me, even though you are pleased, in this war where elephants flee."
चिरम् आराधितानेन विदूरथनृपारिणा । अहं प्रतिजयार्थेन न विदूरथभूभुजा
"For a long time, I have been worshipped by this king Viduratha, but not by the ruler Viduratha for the sake of victory."
तेनासाव् एव जयति जीयते न विदूरथः । ज्ञप्तिर् अन्तर्गता संविद् एषासौ यद् यथा यदा
"Therefore, only he is victorious; Viduratha does not prevail. This awareness, this inner consciousness, is what determines everything, as and when it occurs."