03.023
Core-Pancharatra: Krishna destroys Soubha and kills Shalva.
वासुदेव उवाच॥
Vāsudeva said.
ततोऽहं भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रगृह्य रुचिरं धनुः। शरैरपातयं सौभाच्छिरांसि विबुधद्विषाम् ॥३-२३-१॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, I took up my beautiful bow and with arrows struck down from Saubha the heads of the enemies of the gods. (3-23-1)
शरांश्चाशीविषाकारानूर्ध्वगांस्तिग्मतेजसः। अप्रैषं शाल्वराजाय शार्ङ्गमुक्तान्सुवाससः ॥३-२३-२॥
I sent well-adorned arrows, having the form of serpents, rising upwards with sharp brilliance, released from the Śārṅga bow, to the king of Śālva. (3-23-2)
ततो नादृश्यत तदा सौभं कुरुकुलोद्वह। अन्तर्हितं माययाभूत्ततोऽहं विस्मितोऽभवम् ॥३-२३-३॥
Then, O best of the Kuru lineage, the Saubha was not seen at that time; it disappeared by illusion. Then I became astonished. (3-23-3)
अथ दानवसङ्घास्ते विकृताननमूर्धजाः। उदक्रोशन्महाराज विष्ठिते मयि भारत ॥३-२३-४॥
Then, O Bhārata, when I was stationed, the groups of Dānavas with distorted faces and hair cried out loudly, O great king. (3-23-4)
ततोऽस्त्रं शब्दसाहं वै त्वरमाणो महाहवे। अयोजयं तद्वधाय ततः शब्द उपारमत् ॥३-२३-५॥
Then, in the great battle, I quickly discharged the missile powered by sound for its destruction; then the sound ceased. (3-23-5)
हतास्ते दानवाः सर्वे यैः स शब्द उदीरितः। शरैरादित्यसङ्काशैर्ज्वलितैः शब्दसाधनैः ॥३-२३-६॥
All those Dānavas were slain by whom that sound was uttered, by blazing, sun-like, sound-producing arrows. (3-23-6)
तस्मिन्नुपरते शब्दे पुनरेवान्यतोऽभवत्। शब्दोऽपरो महाराज तत्रापि प्राहरं शरान् ॥३-२३-७॥
O great king, when that sound had ceased, again another sound arose from elsewhere; there too, another struck arrows. (3-23-7)
एवं दश दिशः सर्वास्तिर्यगूर्ध्वं च भारत। नादयामासुरसुरास्ते चापि निहता मया ॥३-२३-८॥
Thus, O Bhārata, the asuras, having been slain by me, caused all the ten directions, across and upwards, to resound. (3-23-8)
ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषं गत्वा पुनरेव व्यदृश्यत। सौभं कामगमं वीर मोहयन्मम चक्षुषी ॥३-२३-९॥
Then, after going to Prāgjyotiṣa, the Saubha, which could move at will, was again seen, O hero, bewildering my eyes. (3-23-9)
ततो लोकान्तकरणो दानवो वानराकृतिः। शिलावर्षेण सहसा महता मां समावृणोत् ॥३-२३-१०॥
Then, the demon who was the destroyer of worlds and had the form of a monkey, suddenly covered me with a great shower of stones. (3-23-10)
सोऽहं पर्वतवर्षेण वध्यमानः समन्ततः। वल्मीक इव राजेन्द्र पर्वतोपचितोऽभवम् ॥३-२३-११॥
O king, being struck on all sides by a shower of mountains, I became heaped up like an anthill of mountains. (3-23-11)
ततोऽहं पर्वतचितः सहयः सहसारथिः। अप्रख्यातिमियां राजन्सध्वजः पर्वतैश्चितः ॥३-२३-१२॥
Then, O king, I, along with my horses, charioteer, and banner, was heaped with mountains and did not attain fame. (3-23-12)
ततो वृष्णिप्रवीरा ये ममासन्सैनिकास्तदा। ते भयार्ता दिशः सर्वाः सहसा विप्रदुद्रुवुः ॥३-२३-१३॥
Then, the Vṛṣṇi heroes who were my soldiers at that time, being overcome by fear, suddenly fled in all directions. (3-23-13)
ततो हाहाकृतं सर्वमभूत्किल विशां पते। द्यौश्च भूमिश्च खं चैवादृश्यमाने तथा मयि ॥३-२३-१४॥
Then, O lord of men, cries of distress arose everywhere; the sky, the earth, and space also seemed thus when I was not visible. (3-23-14)
ततो विषण्णमनसो मम राजन्सुहृज्जनाः। रुरुदुश्चुक्रुशुश्चैव दुःखशोकसमन्विताः ॥३-२३-१५॥
Then, O king, my friends, afflicted with pain and grief, cried and wailed with dejected minds. (3-23-15)
द्विषतां च प्रहर्षोऽभूदार्तिश्चाद्विषतामपि। एवं विजितवान्वीर पश्चादश्रौषमच्युत ॥३-२३-१६॥
Both the enemies felt great joy, and even the non-enemies experienced distress; thus, O hero, after the victory, I heard this, O Acyuta. (3-23-16)
ततोऽहमस्त्रं दयितं सर्वपाषाणभेदनम्। वज्रमुद्यम्य तान्सर्वान्पर्वतान्समशातयम् ॥३-२३-१७॥
Then, having raised my beloved weapon that breaks all stones—the thunderbolt—I shattered all those mountains. (3-23-17)
ततः पर्वतभारार्ता मन्दप्राणविचेष्टिताः। हया मम महाराज वेपमाना इवाभवन् ॥३-२३-१८॥
Then, O great king, my horses, afflicted by the weight of the mountain and moving with slow breath, appeared as if they were trembling. (3-23-18)
मेघजालमिवाकाशे विदार्याभ्युदितं रविम्। दृष्ट्वा मां बान्धवाः सर्वे हर्षमाहारयन्पुनः ॥३-२३-१९॥
Just as the sun rises after tearing apart a mass of clouds in the sky, seeing me, all my relatives once again became joyful. (3-23-19)
ततो मामब्रवीत्सूतः प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतो नृप। साधु सम्पश्य वार्ष्णेय शाल्वं सौभपतिं स्थितम् ॥३-२३-२०॥
Then the charioteer, with joined palms and bowed, said to me, O king: "Well, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, behold Śālva, the lord of Saubha, standing there." (3-23-20)
अलं कृष्णावमन्यैनं साधु यत्नं समाचर। मार्दवं सखितां चैव शाल्वादद्य व्यपाहर ॥३-२३-२१॥
Stop, Kṛṣṇa, do not disregard him; act properly and make an effort. Remove gentleness and friendship towards Śālva today. (3-23-21)
जहि शाल्वं महाबाहो मैनं जीवय केशव। सर्वैः पराक्रमैर्वीर वध्यः शत्रुरमित्रहन् ॥३-२३-२२॥
O mighty-armed Keśava, destroy Śālva; do not let him live. Use all your powers, O hero, for the enemy must be slain, O destroyer of foes. (3-23-22)
न शत्रुरवमन्तव्यो दुर्बलोऽपि बलीयसा। योऽपि स्यात्पीठगः कश्चित्किं पुनः समरे स्थितः ॥३-२३-२३॥
An enemy, even if weak, should not be despised by the stronger; if even someone at the rear is not to be disregarded, then how much more so one who stands firm in battle. (3-23-23)
स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल सर्वयत्नैरिमं प्रभो। जहि वृष्णिकुलश्रेष्ठ मा त्वां कालोऽत्यगात्पुनः ॥३-२३-२४॥
Therefore, you, O tiger among men, with all your efforts, O lord, destroy this (enemy), O best of the Vṛṣṇi clan. Do not let time pass you by again. (3-23-24)
नैष मार्दवसाध्यो वै मतो नापि सखा तव। येन त्वं योधितो वीर द्वारका चावमर्दिता ॥३-२३-२५॥
This is not considered attainable by gentleness, nor is he your friend, by whom you, O hero, were fought against and Dvaraka was oppressed. (3-23-25)
एवमादि तु कौन्तेय श्रुत्वाहं सारथेर्वचः। तत्त्वमेतदिति ज्ञात्वा युद्धे मतिमधारयम् ॥३-२३-२६॥
O son of Kunti, having heard these words of the charioteer beginning thus, and having known this to be the truth, I fixed my mind in the battle. (3-23-26)
वधाय शाल्वराजस्य सौभस्य च निपातने। दारुकं चाब्रुवं वीर मुहूर्तं स्थीयतामिति ॥३-२३-२७॥
For the destruction of the king of Śālva and the Saubha, I told Dāruka, "O hero, halt for a moment." (3-23-27)
ततोऽप्रतिहतं दिव्यमभेद्यमतिवीर्यवत्। आग्नेयमस्त्रं दयितं सर्वसाहं महाप्रभम् ॥३-२३-२८॥
Then he took up the unobstructed, divine, impenetrable, supremely powerful Agneya missile, his beloved weapon, all-conquering and greatly radiant. (3-23-28)
यक्षाणां राक्षसानां च दानवानां च संयुगे। राज्ञां च प्रतिलोमानां भस्मान्तकरणं महत् ॥३-२३-२९॥
In battle, it was a great destruction, reducing to ashes the Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Dānavas, and the adversarial kings. (3-23-29)
क्षुरान्तममलं चक्रं कालान्तकयमोपमम्। अभिमन्त्र्याहमतुलं द्विषतां च निबर्हणम् ॥३-२३-३०॥
I consecrated the spotless, razor-edged disc, comparable to Yama, the ender of time, and took up the incomparable weapon that destroys enemies. (3-23-30)
जहि सौभं स्ववीर्येण ये चात्र रिपवो मम। इत्युक्त्वा भुजवीर्येण तस्मै प्राहिणवं रुषा ॥३-२३-३१॥
Destroy Saubha with your own strength, as well as those here who are my enemies. Having said this, I sent him forth with anger, using the strength of my arm. (3-23-31)
रूपं सुदर्शनस्यासीदाकाशे पततस्तदा। द्वितीयस्येव सूर्यस्य युगान्ते परिविष्यतः ॥३-२३-३२॥
At that time, as Sudarśana fell through the sky, its form appeared like a second sun blazing all around at the end of an age. (3-23-32)
तत्समासाद्य नगरं सौभं व्यपगतत्विषम्। मध्येन पाटयामास क्रकचो दार्विवोच्छ्रितम् ॥३-२३-३३॥
Having approached that city of Saubha, which had lost its brilliance, he split it in the middle like a saw splits raised wood. (3-23-33)
द्विधा कृतं ततः सौभं सुदर्शनबलाद्धतम्। महेश्वरशरोद्धूतं पपात त्रिपुरं यथा ॥३-२३-३४॥
Then Saubha, struck by the power of Sudarshana, was split in two; blown away by the arrow of Maheśvara, it fell just as Tripura did. (3-23-34)
तस्मिन्निपतिते सौभे चक्रमागात्करं मम। पुनश्चोद्धूय वेगेन शाल्वायेत्यहमब्रुवम् ॥३-२३-३५॥
When the discus had fallen on Saubha, it returned to my hand. Then, having quickly lifted it again, I said to Śālva as follows. (3-23-35)
ततः शाल्वं गदां गुर्वीमाविध्यन्तं महाहवे। द्विधा चकार सहसा प्रजज्वाल च तेजसा ॥३-२३-३६॥
Then, Śālva, who was wielding a heavy mace in the great battle, was suddenly split in two and blazed with brilliance. (3-23-36)
तस्मिन्निपतिते वीरे दानवास्त्रस्तचेतसः। हाहाभूता दिशो जग्मुरर्दिता मम सायकैः ॥३-२३-३७॥
When that hero fell, the dānavas, their minds terrified, became distressed and fled in all directions, tormented by my arrows. (3-23-37)
ततोऽहं समवस्थाप्य रथं सौभसमीपतः। शङ्खं प्रध्माप्य हर्षेण सुहृदः पर्यहर्षयम् ॥३-२३-३८॥
Then, after properly positioning the chariot near Saubha, I joyfully blew the conch and delighted my friends. (3-23-38)
तन्मेरुशिखराकारं विध्वस्ताट्टालगोपुरम्। दह्यमानमभिप्रेक्ष्य स्त्रियस्ताः सम्प्रदुद्रुवुः ॥३-२३-३९॥
Seeing that city, shaped like the peak of Meru, with its turrets and gate-tower destroyed and burning, those women all fled together. (3-23-39)
एवं निहत्य समरे शाल्वं सौभं निपात्य च। आनर्तान्पुनरागम्य सुहृदां प्रीतिमावहम् ॥३-२३-४०॥
Thus, after slaying Śālva in battle and destroying Saubha, I returned again to the Ānartas, bringing joy to my friends. (3-23-40)
एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्नागमं नागसाह्वयम्। यद्यगां परवीरघ्न न हि जीवेत्सुयोधनः ॥३-२३-४१॥
For this reason, O king, to the assembly called Nāgasāhvaya; if I had gone there, Suyodhana, the destroyer of enemy heroes, would certainly not have survived. (3-23-41)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुः कौरवं पुरुषोत्तमः। आमन्त्र्य प्रययौ धीमान्पाण्डवान्मधुसूदनः ॥३-२३-४२॥
Having thus spoken to Kaurava, the great-armed and wise Madhusūdana, the best among men, took leave and went to the Pāṇḍavas. (3-23-42)
अभिवाद्य महाबाहुर्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्। राज्ञा मूर्धन्युपाघ्रातो भीमेन च महाभुजः ॥३-२३-४३॥
After saluting the mighty-armed king Yudhishthira, the mighty-armed one was embraced and his head was smelled by the king and by Bhima. (3-23-43)
सुभद्रामभिमन्युं च रथमारोप्य काञ्चनम्। आरुरोह रथं कृष्णः पाण्डवैरभिपूजितः ॥३-२३-४४॥
Kṛṣṇa, honored by the Pāṇḍavas, placed Subhadrā and Abhimanyu on the golden chariot and then ascended it himself. (3-23-44)
सैन्यसुग्रीवयुक्तेन रथेनादित्यवर्चसा। द्वारकां प्रययौ कृष्णः समाश्वास्य युधिष्ठिरम् ॥३-२३-४५॥
Kṛṣṇa, after consoling Yudhiṣṭhira, departed for Dvārakā in a chariot equipped with a fine neck-yoke and accompanied by his army, shining with the brilliance of the sun. (3-23-45)
ततः प्रयाते दाशार्हे धृष्टद्युम्नोऽपि पार्षतः। द्रौपदेयानुपादाय प्रययौ स्वपुरं तदा ॥३-२३-४६॥
Then, after Krishna had left, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata, also took the sons of Draupadī and went to his own city at that time. (3-23-46)
धृष्टकेतुः स्वसारं च समादायाथ चेदिराट्। जगाम पाण्डवान्दृष्ट्वा रम्यां शुक्तिमतीं पुरीम् ॥३-२३-४७॥
Dhṛṣṭaketu, having taken his sister, then the king of the Cedis, went to the Pāṇḍavas after seeing the beautiful city of Śuktimatī. (3-23-47)
केकयाश्चाप्यनुज्ञाताः कौन्तेयेनामितौजसा। आमन्त्र्य पाण्डवान्सर्वान्प्रययुस्तेऽपि भारत ॥३-२३-४८॥
O Bhārata, the Kekayas also, having received permission from the mighty son of Kunti, took leave of all the Pandavas and departed. (3-23-48)
ब्राह्मणाश्च विशश्चैव तथा विषयवासिनः। विसृज्यमानाः सुभृशं न त्यजन्ति स्म पाण्डवान् ॥३-२३-४९॥
The Brāhmaṇas, the common people, and also the inhabitants of the region, even when being dismissed, did not at all abandon the Pāṇḍavas. (3-23-49)
समवायः स राजेन्द्र सुमहाद्भुतदर्शनः। आसीन्महात्मनां तेषां काम्यके भरतर्षभ ॥३-२३-५०॥
O king, that assembly of exceedingly wonderful appearance of those great-souled ones was in Kāmyaka, O bull among the Bharatas. (3-23-50)
युधिष्ठिरस्तु विप्रांस्ताननुमान्य महामनाः। शशास पुरुषान्काले रथान्योजयतेति ह ॥३-२३-५१॥
But Yudhiṣṭhira, having honored those Brāhmaṇas, the great-minded one, ordered the men to yoke the chariots at the proper time, thus indeed. (3-23-51)
