कुम्भाण्डकोत्ताण्डवदण्डपादक्षुब्धासृगुत्क्षिप्ततरङ्गसिक्तैः । सन्ध्याभ्रधारोत्करकोटिकान्तैर् भूतैर् असृक्स्रोतसि दत्तसेतु
With skulls, wild dances, clubs, and feet stirring waves of blood, splashed by surging currents; spirits, radiant as masses of twilight clouds, built bridges across rivers of blood.
तस्मिंस् तदा वर्तमाने घोरे सम्रम्भविभ्रमे । सर्वारिसैन्यनाशार्थम् एकस् स्वबलशान्तये
While this dreadful turmoil was unfolding, one among them, seeking to destroy all enemy armies and to calm his own forces, acted.
सस्मार स्मृतिमान् अन्तर् अनन्तोदारधैर्यभृत् । अस्त्रम् अस्त्रेश्वरं श्रीमद् वैष्णवं शङ्करोपमम्
He, steadfast in memory and bearing boundless, noble patience within, recalled the illustrious, supreme weapon of Vishnu, equal to that of Shiva, the lord of weapons.
अथ यो ऽसौ शरस् तेन वैष्णवास्त्राभिमन्त्रितः । मुक्तस् तस्य फलप्रान्ताद् उल्मुकानीव निर्ययुः
Then, that arrow, empowered with the mantra of the Vaishnava weapon, was released; from its tip, blazing missiles shot forth like firebrands.
पङ्क्तयस् स्फारचक्राणां शतार्कीकृतदिक्तटाः । गदानाम् अभियान्तीनां शतवंशीकृताम्बराः
Rows of whirling discs, their radiance turning the quarters into a hundred suns, and advancing maces, their shafts forming a hundred bamboo thickets in the sky.
वज्राणाम् उरुधाराणां शरच्छृङ्गीकृताम्बराः । पट्टिसानां च पट्टानां तीरवृक्षीकृताम्बराः
Thunderbolts with many streams, their shafts like arrow-tips filling the sky, and spears and swords, their blades forming groves of trees along the banks.
अथ राजा द्वितीयो ऽपि वैष्णवास्त्रप्रशान्तये । ददौ वैष्णवम् एवास्त्रं शस्त्रनिष्ठीवपूरकम्
Then the second king too, to pacify the Vaishnava weapon, offered the very same Vaishnava weapon, filled with the power to quell all arms.
ततो ऽपि निर्ययुर् नद्यो हेतीनां हतहेतयः । शरशक्तिगदाप्रासपट्टिसादिपयोरयाः
From that as well emerged rivers of weapons, their force neutralizing other weapons: streams of arrows, spears, maces, lances, swords, and axes.
शस्त्रास्त्रसरितां तासां व्योम्नि युद्धम् अवर्तत । रोदोरन्ध्रक्षयकरं कुलशैलेन्द्रदारणम्
In the sky, a battle of those rivers of weapons and missiles unfolded, destroying the gaps between mountains and shattering the peaks of noble ranges.
शरशातितशूलाश्रिखड्गाकुट्टितपट्टिसम् । सुप्रासप्रहतप्रासं शूलशातितशक्तिकम्
Spears split by arrows, swords shattered by blades, lances struck by mighty javelins, and missiles cleft by spears.
शराम्बुराशिमथनमत्तमुद्गरमन्दरम् । गदावदलनोद्युक्तदुर्वाराद्रिनिभाशनि
It was like a Mandara mountain, intoxicated with the task of churning the ocean of arrows and waters, a mighty club, and a thunderbolt-like mass, ready to shatter with irresistible force.
ऋष्टिवृष्टिप्रशमनभ्रमत्कुन्तेन्दुमण्डलम् । प्रासग्रसनसंरब्धप्रोद्यच्छङ्कुकृतान्तकम्
It was a whirling circle of spears, quelling showers of missiles, like the moon surrounded by stars, and the god of death himself, eager to devour with the tip of his lance.
चक्रार्धचटितोच्चाद्रिवज्रविज्वरपर्वतम् । शङ्कुशङ्कितशूत्कारकाशिशूलशिलातलम्
It was a mountain, scorched by the half-disc of a spinning discus and the heat of thunderbolts, its rocky surface shining with the flash of tridents and the piercing sound of iron goads.
भुसुण्डीभण्डितोद्दण्डभिण्डिपालोडुमण्डलम् । परशूलकरानेकपरशूलूकलङ्घितम्
It was a region resounding with the clamor of Bhusundi slings and clubs, filled with the tumult of maces, and crossed by countless axes wielded by fierce warriors.
वहत्कचक्रकचवच्छिन्नचञ्चुरचामरम् । स्फुटच्चटचटास्फोटत्रुट्यत्त्रिपथगारयम्
It was a field where crests and crested helmets were shattered, beaks and fans were severed, and the river of the Ganges was broken by the loud, cracking, and splitting sounds.
हेत्यश्रिचूर्णसंभारमहाभ्रमवितानकम् । अन्योऽन्यशस्त्रसंघट्टभ्रमज्ज्वालोल्लसत्तडित्
It was a vast canopy of swirling dust from shattered weapons, where the clash of arms sent forth blazing flashes of lightning from the whirling flames.
शब्दस्फुरद्विरिञ्चाण्डं घातभग्नकुलाचलम् । धारानिकृत्तशस्त्रौघम् अस्त्रयोर् युध्यमानयोः
The sound resounded like the breaking of the cosmic egg of Brahma, mountains of families were destroyed, and streams of weapons were cut down in the battle between the two warriors.
सदस्त्रवारणेनैव यातः कालो बलात्मनः । स्वयं कियद्बल इति सिन्धौ तिष्ठति हेलया
By the mere act of parrying weapons, the time of the mighty was passing; each, confident in his own strength, stood in the ocean of battle with ease.
विदूरथो ऽस्त्रम् आग्नेयं तत्याजाशनिशब्दवत् । ज्वालयाम् आस स रथं सिन्धोः कक्षम् इवारसम्
Viduratha released the Agneya weapon, which thundered like a bolt of lightning, and set the chariot ablaze, as if igniting the dry brush along a riverbank.
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे व्योम्नि हेतिनिर्विवरोदरे । स सन्नाह इव प्रावृट्पयोदपटिनीव वा
Meanwhile, in the vast expanse of the sky, within the hollow of the battle, he stood armored, like a rain-laden cloud wrapped in a veil.
अस्त्रराजेक्षणं कृत्वा युद्धं परमदारुणं । अन्योऽन्यं शमम् आयातौ सवीर्यौ सुभटाव् इव
Having unleashed the king of weapons, they fought a most fierce battle, and both warriors, strong and valiant, came to a truce with each other.
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे ऽस्त्राग्नी रथं कृत्वाशु भस्मसात् । प्राप दग्ध्वा वनं सिन्धुं मृगेन्द्रम् इव कन्दरात्
In that moment, the fiery weapon swiftly reduced the chariot to ashes, then, having burned the forest, it reached the river like a lion emerging from a cave.
सिन्धुर् अभ्याशतो ऽग्न्यस्त्रं वारुणास्त्रेण शातयन् । रथं त्यक्त्वावनिं प्राप्य खड्गखेटकवान् अभूत्
The river, close by, countered the fire weapon with the Varuna weapon; abandoning the chariot, he reached the ground, armed with sword and shield.
अक्ष्णोर् निमेषमात्रेण रथाश्वानां रिपोः खुरान् । लुलाव करवालेन मृणालानीव लाघवात्
In the blink of an eye, with his sword, he sliced the hooves of the enemy's chariot horses, as easily as cutting lotus stalks.
विदूरथो ऽपि विरथो बभूव खेटकासिमान् । समायुधौ समोत्साहौ चेरतुर् मण्डलान्वितौ
Viduratha too, now without his chariot, took up shield and sword; both warriors, equally eager and armed, moved in circles, ready for battle.
खड्गौ क्रकचतां यातौ मिथः प्रहरतोस् तयोः । दन्तमालेयम् अस्येव चलेचर्चयतः प्रजाः
As their swords struck each other, becoming like saws, the people watched as if witnessing the grinding of teeth in a fierce contest.
शक्तिम् आदाय चिक्षेप खड्गं त्यक्त्वा विदूरथः । सिन्धाव् उद्घर्घरारावं महोत्पात इवाशनिम्
Viduratha, seizing the spear, hurled it and cast aside his sword; it thundered with a roaring sound in the ocean, like a great calamity or a lightning bolt.
अविच्छिन्नं समायान्ती पतिता सास्य वक्षसि । अप्रियस्य यथा भर्तुर् अनिच्छन्ती स्वकामिनी
Unbroken, it came and struck his chest, just as a beloved who does not wish for an unpleasant husband falls upon him.
तेन शक्तिप्रहारेण नासौ मरणम् आप्तवान् । केवलं रुधिरस्रोतो नागो जलम् इवात्यजत्
By that blow of the spear, he did not meet death; only a stream of blood flowed out, like water from a wounded serpent.
तद्देशलीला तं दृष्ट्वा भग्नं तम इवेन्दुना । सविकासा घनानन्दा पूर्वलीलाम् उवाच ह
Seeing him broken in that place, like darkness dispelled by the moon, Taddeshalila, radiant and joyful, spoke of her former play.