03.020
Pancharatra: Defeated by Pradyumna, Shalva retreats with his aeroplane.
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vāsudeva said.
evam uktas tu kaunteya sūtaputras tadā mṛdhe। pradyumnam abravīt ślakṣṇam madhuraṃ vākyam añjasā ॥3-20-1॥
When thus addressed, O son of Kunti, the son of the charioteer then spoke gentle and sweet words directly to Pradyumna in the battle. (3-20-1)
na me bhayaṃ raukmiṇeya saṅgrāme yacchato hayān। yuddhajñaś cāsmi vṛṣṇīnāṃ nātra kiñcid ato'nyathā ॥3-20-2॥
O son of Rukmiṇī, I have no fear in battle while restraining the horses. I am also skilled in warfare among the Vṛṣṇis. There is nothing otherwise here. (3-20-2)
āyuṣmann-upadeśas tu sārathye vartatāṃ smṛtaḥ। sarvārtheṣu rathī rakṣyas tvaṃ cāpi bhṛśapīḍitaḥ ॥3-20-3॥
O long-lived one, it is remembered that instruction should be followed in charioteering. In all matters, the charioteer should be protected, even if you are greatly afflicted. (3-20-3)
tvaṁ hi śālvaprayuktena patriṇābhihato bhṛśam। kaśmalābhihato vīra tato'hamapayātavān ॥3-20-4॥
O hero, you were struck severely by the arrow launched by Śālva and afflicted by faintness; then I departed. (3-20-4)
sa tvaṃ sātvata-mukhyādya labdha-saṃjño yadṛcchayā। paśya me haya-saṃyāne śikṣāṃ keśava-nandana ॥3-20-5॥
You, having regained consciousness by chance along with the chief of the Sātvatas and others, observe my instruction in chariot-driving, O son of Keśava. (3-20-5)
dārukeṇāhamutpanno yathāvaccaiva śikṣitaḥ। vītabhīḥ praviśāmyetāṃ śālvasya mahatīṃ camūm ॥3-20-6॥
I was born by Dāruka and properly trained; now, free from fear, I enter this great army of Śālva. (3-20-6)
evam uktvā tato vīra hayān sañcodya saṅgare। raśmibhiś ca samudyamya javenābhyapatat tadā ॥3-20-7॥
Having spoken thus, then the hero urged on the horses in battle, took up the reins, and swiftly rushed forward at that time. (3-20-7)
maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi yamakānītarāṇi ca। savyāni ca vicitrāṇi dakṣiṇāni ca sarvaśaḥ॥3-20-8॥
There were circles of various kinds, other pairs, left-sided and right-sided forms, all entirely variegated. (3-20-8)
pratodenāhatā rājan raśmibhiś ca samudyatāḥ। utpatanta iva ākāśaṃ vibabhus te hayottamāḥ॥3-20-9॥
O king, those excellent horses, struck by the whip and raised by the reins, seemed to leap into the sky. (3-20-9)
te hastalāghavopetaṃ vijñāya nṛpa dārukim। dahyamānā iva tadā paspṛśuścaraṇairmahīm ॥3-20-10॥
O king, they recognized Dāruka, who was endowed with swiftness of hand, and then, as if being burned, they touched the earth with their feet. (3-20-10)
so'pasavyāṃ camūṃ tasya śālvasya bharatarṣabha। cakāra nātiyatnena tadadbhutamivābhavat ॥3-20-11॥
O bull among the Bharatas, he moved to the left of Śālva's army and, without much effort, did that which seemed marvelous. (3-20-11)
amṛṣyamāṇo'pasavyaṃ pradyumnena sa saubharāṭ। yantāramasya sahasā tribhirbāṇaiḥ samarpayat ॥3-20-12॥
Unable to tolerate the improper act by Pradyumna, the king of the Saubhas suddenly struck down his charioteer with three arrows. (3-20-12)
dārukasya sutas taṃ tu bāṇavegam acintayan। bhūya eva mahābāho prayayau hayasaṃmataḥ ॥3-20-13॥
O mighty-armed one, the son of Dāruka, not considering the speed of the arrows, once again went forth, being approved by the horses. (3-20-13)
tato bāṇān bahuvidhān punar eva sa saubh-rāṭ। mumoca tanaye vīre mama rukmiṇi-nandane ॥3-20-14॥
Then the king of Saubha again released many kinds of arrows at my heroic son, Rukmini's son. (3-20-14)
tānaprāptāñśitairbāṇaiściccheda paravīrahā। raukmiṇeyaḥ smitaṃ kṛtvā darśayan hastalāghavam ॥3-20-15॥
The son of Rukmiṇī, destroyer of enemy heroes, cut down those who had arrived with sharp arrows, smiling and displaying his dexterity of hand. (3-20-15)
chinnān dṛṣṭvā tu tān bāṇān pradyumnena sa saubhārāṭ। āsurīṃ dāruṇīṃ māyām āsthāya vyasṛjac charān ॥3-20-16॥
But when he saw those arrows cut down by Pradyumna, the king of Saubha, employing a dreadful demonic illusion, released more arrows. (3-20-16)
prayujyamānam ājñāya daiteyāstraṃ mahābalaḥ। brahmāstreṇāntarā chittvā mumocānyān patatriṇaḥ ॥3-20-17॥
Having perceived that the Daitya's weapon was being applied, the mighty one, using the Brahma-weapon, cut it off in between and released the other birds. (3-20-17)
te tadastraṃ vidhūyāśu vivyadhu rudhirāśanāḥ। śirasyurasi vaktre ca sa mumoha papāta ca ॥3-20-18॥
They, the blood-eaters, quickly shook off that weapon and pierced him on the head, chest, and face; he became unconscious and fell. (3-20-18)
tasminnipatite kṣudre śālve bāṇaprapīḍite। raukmiṇeyo'paraṃ bāṇaṃ sandadhe śatrunāśanam ॥3-20-19॥
When that mean Śālva had fallen, afflicted by arrows, the son of Rukmiṇī fitted another arrow, a destroyer of enemies. (3-20-19)
tam arcitaṃ sarva-dāśārha-pūgaiḥ; rāśīrbhir arka-jvalana-prakāśam। dṛṣṭvā śaraṃ jyām abhinīyamānam; babhūva hāhā-kṛtam antarikṣam ॥3-20-20॥
When he, worshipped by all assemblies of worthy donors with heaps (of offerings), shone like the sun and fire, and when the arrow and bowstring were seen being drawn, the sky resounded with cries of 'hāhā'. (3-20-20)
tato devagaṇāḥ sarve sendrāḥ saha dhaneśvarāḥ। nāradaṃ preṣayāmāsuḥ śvasanaṃ ca mahābalam ॥3-20-21॥
Then all the hosts of gods, along with Indra and the lords of wealth, sent Nārada and the mighty Wind. (3-20-21)
tau raukmiṇeyam āgamya vaco'brūtāṃ divaukasām। naiṣa vadhyas tvayā vīra śālvarājaḥ kathaṃcana ॥3-20-22॥
Those two, approaching Rukmini's son, spoke words from the gods: "O hero, this king of Shalva must not be slain by you in any way." (3-20-22)
saṁharasva punar bāṇam avadhyo'yaṁ tvayā raṇe। etasya hi śarasya ājau nāvadhyo'sti pumān kvacit॥3-20-23॥
Withdraw your arrow again; this one is not to be killed by you in battle. Indeed, there is no man anywhere in battle who can be killed by this arrow. (3-20-23)
mṛtyur asya mahābāho raṇe devakinandanaḥ। kṛṣṇaḥ saṅkalpito dhātrā tan na mithyā bhaved iti ॥3-20-24॥
O mighty-armed son of Devakī, Kṛṣṇa's death in battle has been determined by the Creator; that will not prove false. (3-20-24)
tataḥ paramasaṁhṛṣṭaḥ pradyumnaḥ śaramuttamam। sañjahāra dhanuḥśreṣṭhāttūṇe caiva nyaveśayat ॥3-20-25॥
Then, Pradyumna, filled with great joy, took the excellent arrow from his best bow and placed it back into the quiver. (3-20-25)
tata utthāya rājendra śālvaḥ paramadurmanāḥ। vyapāyātsabalastūrṇaṃ pradyumnaśarapīḍitaḥ ॥3-20-26॥
Then, O king, Śālva, greatly distressed, rose up and quickly departed with his army, being afflicted by Pradyumna's arrows. (3-20-26)
sa dvārakāṃ parityajya krūro vṛṣṇibhirarditaḥ। saubhamāsthāya rājendra divamācakrame tadā ॥3-20-27॥
He, the cruel one, afflicted by the Vrishnis, abandoned Dvaraka, mounted the Saubha (aerial city), and then ascended to heaven, O king. (3-20-27)
