03.022
Pancharatra: For a moment even Krishna is overpowered by Shalva’s illusion!
वासुदेव उवाच॥
Vāsudeva said.
एवं स पुरुषव्याघ्र शाल्वो राज्ञां महारिपुः। युध्यमानो मया सङ्ख्ये वियदभ्यागमत्पुनः ॥३-२२-१॥
In this way, Śālva, the tiger among men and a great enemy of kings, while fighting with me in battle, once again ascended into the sky. (3-22-1)
ततः शतघ्नीश्च महागदाश्च; दीप्तांश्च शूलान्मुसलानसींश्च। चिक्षेप रोषान्मयि मन्दबुद्धिः; शाल्वो महाराज जयाभिकाङ्क्षी ॥३-२२-२॥
Then, Śālva, the dull-witted great king, desiring victory, hurled at me hundred-slaying weapons, great maces, blazing spears, clubs, and swords in his anger. (3-22-2)
तानाशुगैरापततोऽहमाशु; निवार्य तूर्णं खगमान्ख एव। द्विधा त्रिधा चाच्छिनमाशु मुक्तै; स्ततोऽन्तरिक्षे निनदो बभूव ॥३-२२-३॥
I quickly repelled those who were rushing at me with swift arrows; I swiftly cut down the flying arrows in the sky into two and three pieces with my released arrows. Then, a sound arose in the sky. (3-22-3)
ततः शतसहस्रेण शराणां नतपर्वणाम्। दारुकं वाजिनश्चैव रथं च समवाकिरत् ॥३-२२-४॥
Then, with a hundred thousand arrows with bent joints, he completely covered Dāruka, the horses, and the chariot. (3-22-4)
ततो मामब्रवीद्वीर दारुको विह्वलन्निव। स्थातव्यमिति तिष्ठामि शाल्वबाणप्रपीडितः ॥३-२२-५॥
Then, the hero Dāruka, appearing agitated, said to me: "You must stand." So I remain standing, afflicted by Śālva's arrow. (3-22-5)
इति तस्य निशम्याहं सारथेः करुणं वचः। अवेक्षमाणो यन्तारमपश्यं शरपीडितम् ॥३-२२-६॥
Thus, having heard the charioteer's pitiful words, I looked and saw the charioteer wounded by arrows. (3-22-6)
न तस्योरसि नो मूर्ध्नि न काये न भुजद्वये। अन्तरं पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ पश्यामि नहतं शरैः ॥३-२२-७॥
O best of the Pāṇḍavas, I do not see any part of his chest, head, body, or both arms that has not been struck by arrows. (3-22-7)
स तु बाणवरोत्पीडाद्विस्रवत्यसृगुल्बणम्। अभिवृष्टो यथा मेघैर्गिरिर्गैरिकधातुमान् ॥३-२२-८॥
But he, from the pressure of the best arrow, flows with abundant blood, just as a mountain possessing red ochre ore flows when rained upon by clouds. (3-22-8)
अभीषुहस्तं तं दृष्ट्वा सीदन्तं सारथिं रणे। अस्तम्भयं महाबाहो शाल्वबाणप्रपीडितम् ॥३-२२-९॥
O mighty-armed one, seeing the charioteer, with his hand on the reins, sinking in battle and afflicted by Śālva's arrows, I supported him. (3-22-9)
अथ मां पुरुषः कश्चिद्द्वारकानिलयोऽब्रवीत्। त्वरितो रथमभ्येत्य सौहृदादिव भारत ॥३-२२-१०॥
Then, O Bhārata, a certain man, a resident of Dvārakā, quickly approached my chariot and spoke to me as if out of friendship. (3-22-10)
आहुकस्य वचो वीर तस्यैव परिचारकः। विषण्णः सन्नकण्ठो वै तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥३-२२-११॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, listen to the words of Āhuka, whose very attendant, dejected and with a choked throat, spoke thus. (3-22-11)
द्वारकाधिपतिर्वीर आह त्वामाहुको वचः। केशवेह विजानीष्व यत्त्वां पितृसखोऽब्रवीत् ॥३-२२-१२॥
The lord of Dvārakā, O hero, spoke to you the words of Āhuka. O Keśava, here, know what the friend of your father said to you. (3-22-12)
उपयात्वाद्य शाल्वेन द्वारकां वृष्णिनन्दन। विषक्ते त्वयि दुर्धर्ष हतः शूरसुतो बलात् ॥३-२२-१३॥
O delight of the Vṛṣṇis, today Śālva approached Dvārakā, and while you were away, O unconquerable one, the son of Śūra was forcibly slain. (3-22-13)
तदलं साधु युद्धेन निवर्तस्व जनार्दन। द्वारकामेव रक्षस्व कार्यमेतन्महत्तव ॥३-२२-१४॥
That is enough, O Janardana; withdraw from battle. Protect Dvaraka only—this is your great duty. (3-22-14)
इत्यहं तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा परमदुर्मनाः। निश्चयं नाधिगच्छामि कर्तव्यस्येतरस्य वा ॥३-२२-१५॥
Thus, having heard his words, I am extremely troubled in mind and cannot decide what should be done or otherwise. (3-22-15)
सात्यकिं बलदेवं च प्रद्युम्नं च महारथम्। जगर्हे मनसा वीर तच्छ्रुत्वा विप्रियं वचः ॥३-२२-१६॥
The hero, having heard those unpleasant words, mentally censured Sātyaki, Baladeva, and Pradyumna, the great chariot-warrior. (3-22-16)
अहं हि द्वारकायाश्च पितुश्च कुरुनन्दन। तेषु रक्षां समाधाय प्रयातः सौभपातने ॥३-२२-१७॥
O delight of the Kurus, I, having established protection among the people of Dvārakā and my father, departed for the destruction of Saubha. (3-22-17)
बलदेवो महाबाहुः कच्चिज्जीवति शत्रुहा। सात्यकी रौक्मिणेयश्च चारुदेष्णश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ साम्बप्रभृतयश्चैवेत्यहमासं सुदुर्मनाः ॥३-२२-१८॥
I wondered anxiously whether Baladeva, the mighty-armed destroyer of enemies, Sātyakī, Rukmiṇeya, Cārudeṣṇa, the powerful one, Sāmba and the others were still alive; thus I was very troubled in mind. (3-22-18)
एतेषु हि नरव्याघ्र जीवत्सु न कथञ्चन। शक्यः शूरसुतो हन्तुमपि वज्रभृता स्वयम् ॥३-२२-१९॥
O tiger among men, as long as these are alive, it is not possible for the son of a hero to be killed, even by the wielder of the thunderbolt himself. (3-22-19)
हतः शूरसुतो व्यक्तं व्यक्तं ते च परासवः। बलदेवमुखाः सर्वे इति मे निश्चिता मतिः ॥३-२२-२०॥
It is clear to me that the son of Śūra has been killed, and all your other offspring, headed by Baladeva, as well. This is my definite conclusion. (3-22-20)
सोऽहं सर्वविनाशं तं चिन्तयानो मुहुर्मुहुः। सुविह्वलो महाराज पुनः शाल्वमयोधयम् ॥३-२२-२१॥
O great king, I, thinking again and again of that total destruction, being greatly agitated, fought Śālva again. (3-22-21)
ततोऽपश्यं महाराज प्रपतन्तमहं तदा। सौभाच्छूरसुतं वीर ततो मां मोह आविशत् ॥३-२२-२२॥
Then, O great king, I saw myself falling at that time. O hero, from Saubha, the son of Śūra, then delusion overtook me. (3-22-22)
तस्य रूपं प्रपततः पितुर्मम नराधिप। ययातेः क्षीणपुण्यस्य स्वर्गादिव महीतलम् ॥३-२२-२३॥
O king, the form of my father Yayāti, whose merit was exhausted, fell from heaven down to the earth. (3-22-23)
विशीर्णगलितोष्णीषः प्रकीर्णाम्बरमूर्धजः। प्रपतन्दृश्यते ह स्म क्षीणपुण्य इव ग्रहः ॥३-२२-२४॥
He is seen with his turban torn and fallen, his garments and hair disheveled, falling down, just like a planet whose merit has waned. (3-22-24)
ततः शार्ङ्गं धनुःश्रेष्ठं करात्प्रपतितं मम। मोहात्सन्नश्च कौन्तेय रथोपस्थ उपाविशम् ॥३-२२-२५॥
Then, O son of Kuntī, Śārṅga, the best of bows, fell from my hand; overcome by delusion and enfeebled, I sat down on the chariot seat. (3-22-25)
ततो हाहाकृतं सर्वं सैन्यं मे गतचेतनम्। मां दृष्ट्वा रथनीडस्थं गतासुमिव भारत ॥३-२२-२६॥
Then, O Bhārata, seeing me seated in the chariot as if lifeless, all my army, having lost consciousness, cried out in distress. (3-22-26)
प्रसार्य बाहू पततः प्रसार्य चरणावपि। रूपं पितुरपश्यं तच्छकुनेः पततो यथा ॥३-२२-२७॥
I saw the form of my father, with arms and feet outstretched as he fell, just like a bird falling. (3-22-27)
तं पतन्तं महाबाहो शूलपट्टिशपाणयः। अभिघ्नन्तो भृशं वीरा मम चेतो व्यकम्पयन् ॥३-२२-२८॥
O mighty-armed one, as he was falling, the heroes, armed with spears and pattiśas, struck him violently and shook my mind. (3-22-28)
ततो मुहूर्तात्प्रतिलभ्य सञ्ज्ञा; महं तदा वीर महाविमर्दे। न तत्र सौभं न रिपुं न शाल्वं; पश्यामि वृद्धं पितरं न चापि ॥३-२२-२९॥
After regaining consciousness a moment later, O hero, in that great battle I could not see Saubha, nor the enemy, nor Śālva there; nor did I see my aged father. (3-22-29)
ततो ममासीन्मनसि मायेयमिति निश्चितम्। प्रबुद्धोऽस्मि ततो भूयः शतशो विकिरञ्शरान् ॥३-२२-३०॥
Then, in my mind, I became certain that "this is illusion"; I became awakened, and then again I scattered arrows by the hundreds. (3-22-30)
