03.023
Core-Pancharatra: Krishna destroys Soubha and kills Shalva.
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vāsudeva said.
tato'haṃ bharataśreṣṭha pragṛhya ruciraṃ dhanuḥ। śarairapātayaṃ saubhācchiraāṃsi vibudhādviṣām ॥3-23-1॥
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)
śarāṁś cāśīviṣākārān ūrdhvagāṁs tigmatejasaḥ। apraiṣaṁ śālvarājāya śārṅgamuktān suvāsasaḥ ॥3-23-2॥
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)
tato nādṛśyata tadā saubhaṃ kurukulodvaha। antarhitaṃ māyayābhūt tato'haṃ vismito'bhavam ॥3-23-3॥
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)
atha dānavasaṅghās te vikṛtānanamūrdhajāḥ। udakrośan mahārāja viṣṭhite mayi bhārata ॥3-23-4॥
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)
tato'straṃ śabdasāhaṃ vai tvaramāṇo mahāhave। ayojayaṃ tadvadhāya tataḥ śabda upāramat ॥3-23-5॥
Then, in the great battle, I quickly discharged the missile powered by sound for its destruction; then the sound ceased. (3-23-5)
hatās te dānavāḥ sarve yaiḥ sa śabda udīritaḥ। śarair āditya-saṅkāśair jvalitaiḥ śabda-sādhanaiḥ ॥3-23-6॥
All those Dānavas were slain by whom that sound was uttered, by blazing, sun-like, sound-producing arrows. (3-23-6)
tasminn uparate śabde punar evānyato 'bhavat। śabdo 'paro mahārāja tatrāpi prāharaṃ śarān॥3-23-7॥
O great king, when that sound had ceased, again another sound arose from elsewhere; there too, another struck arrows. (3-23-7)
evaṃ daśa diśaḥ sarvāstiryagūrdhvaṃ ca bhārata। nādayāmāsurasurāste cāpi nihatā mayā ॥3-23-8॥
Thus, O Bhārata, the asuras, having been slain by me, caused all the ten directions, across and upwards, to resound. (3-23-8)
tataḥ prāgjyotiṣaṃ gatvā punareva vyadṛśyata। saubhaṃ kāmagamaṃ vīra mohayanmama cakṣuṣī ॥3-23-9॥
Then, after going to Prāgjyotiṣa, the Saubha, which could move at will, was again seen, O hero, bewildering my eyes. (3-23-9)
tato lokāntakaraṇo dānavo vānarākṛtiḥ। śilāvarṣeṇa sahasā mahatā māṃ samāvṛṇot ॥3-23-10॥
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)
so'haṃ parvatavarṣeṇa vadhyamānaḥ samantataḥ। valmīka iva rājeṃdra parvatopacito'bhavam ॥3-23-11॥
O king, being struck on all sides by a shower of mountains, I became heaped up like an anthill of mountains. (3-23-11)
tato'haṃ parvatacitaḥ sahayaḥ sahasārathiḥ। aprakhyātimiyāṃ rājansadhvajaḥ parvataiścitaḥ ॥3-23-12॥
Then, O king, I, along with my horses, charioteer, and banner, was heaped with mountains and did not attain fame. (3-23-12)
tato vṛṣṇipravīrā ye mamāsansainikāstadā। te bhayārtā diśaḥ sarvāḥ sahasā vipradudruvuḥ ॥3-23-13॥
Then, the Vṛṣṇi heroes who were my soldiers at that time, being overcome by fear, suddenly fled in all directions. (3-23-13)
tato hāhākṛtaṃ sarvam abhūt kila viśāṃ pate। dyauś ca bhūmiś ca khaṃ caivādṛśyamāne tathā mayi ॥3-23-14॥
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)
tato viṣaṇṇamanaso mama rājan suhṛjjanāḥ। ruruduś cukruśuś caiva duḥkhaśokasamanvitāḥ ॥3-23-15॥
Then, O king, my friends, afflicted with pain and grief, cried and wailed with dejected minds. (3-23-15)
dviṣatāṃ ca praharṣo'bhūd ārtiś cādviṣatām api। evaṃ vijitavān vīra paścād aśrauṣam acyuta ॥3-23-16॥
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)
tato'ham astraṃ dayitaṃ sarvapāṣāṇabhedanam। vajram udyamya tān sarvān parvatān samaśātayam ॥3-23-17॥
Then, having raised my beloved weapon that breaks all stones—the thunderbolt—I shattered all those mountains. (3-23-17)
tataḥ parvatabhārārtā mandaprāṇaviceṣṭitāḥ। hayā mama mahārāja vepamānā ivābhavan ॥3-23-18॥
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)
meghajālam ivākāśe vidāryābhyuditaṃ ravim। dṛṣṭvā māṃ bāndhavāḥ sarve harṣam āhārayan punaḥ ॥3-23-19॥
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)
tato mām abravīt sūtaḥ prāñjaliḥ praṇato nṛpa। sādhu sampaśya vārṣṇeya śālvaṃ saubhapatiṃ sthitam ॥3-23-20॥
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)
alaṃ kṛṣṇāvamanya enaṃ sādhu yatnaṃ samācara। mārdavaṃ sakhitāṃ caiva śālvād adya vyapāhara ॥3-23-21॥
Stop, Kṛṣṇa, do not disregard him; act properly and make an effort. Remove gentleness and friendship towards Śālva today. (3-23-21)
jahi śālvaṃ mahābāho mainaṃ jīvaya keśava। sarvaiḥ parākramair vīra vadhyaḥ śatrur amitrahan ॥3-23-22॥
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)
na śatruravamantavyo durbalo'pi balīyasā। yo'pi syāt pīṭhagaḥ kaścit kiṃ punaḥ samare sthitaḥ ॥3-23-23॥
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)
sa tvaṃ puruṣaśārdūla sarvayatnair imaṃ prabho। jahi vṛṣṇikulāśreṣṭha mā tvāṃ kālo 'tyagāt punaḥ ॥3-23-24॥
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)
naiṣa mārdavasādhyo vai mato nāpi sakhā tava। yena tvaṃ yodhito vīra dvārakā cāvamarditā ॥3-23-25॥
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)
evamādi tu kaunteya śrutvāhaṃ sāratheḥ vacaḥ। tattvam etad iti jñātvā yuddhe matim adhārayam ॥3-23-26॥
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)
vadhāya śālvarājasya saubhasya ca nipātane। dārukaṃ cābruvaṃ vīra muhūrtaṃ sthīyatāmiti ॥3-23-27॥
For the destruction of the king of Śālva and the Saubha, I told Dāruka, "O hero, halt for a moment." (3-23-27)
tato'pratihataṃ divyam abhedyam ativīryavat। āgneyam astraṃ dayitaṃ sarvasāhaṃ mahāprabham ॥3-23-28॥
Then he took up the unobstructed, divine, impenetrable, supremely powerful Agneya missile, his beloved weapon, all-conquering and greatly radiant. (3-23-28)
yakṣāṇāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca dānavānāṃ ca saṃyuge। rājñāṃ ca pratilomānāṃ bhasmāntakaraṇaṃ mahat ॥3-23-29॥
In battle, it was a great destruction, reducing to ashes the Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Dānavas, and the adversarial kings. (3-23-29)
kṣurāntamamalaṃ cakraṃ kālāntakayamopamam। abhimantryāhamatulaṃ dviṣatāṃ ca nibarhaṇam ॥3-23-30॥
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)
jahi saubhaṃ svavīryeṇa ye cātra ripavo mama। ity uktvā bhujavīryeṇa tasmai prāhiṇavaṃ ruṣā ॥3-23-31॥
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)
rūpaṃ sudarśanasyāsīd ākāśe patatas tadā। dvitīyasyeva sūryasya yugānte pariviṣyataḥ ॥3-23-32॥
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)
tatsamāsādya nagaraṃ saubhaṃ vyapagatatviṣam। madhyena pāṭayāmāsa krakaco dārvivocchritam ॥3-23-33॥
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)
dvidhā kṛtaṃ tataḥ saubhaṃ sudarśanabalāddhatam। maheśvaraśaroddhūtaṃ papāta tripuraṃ yathā ॥3-23-34॥
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)
tasminnipatite saubhe cakram āgāt karaṃ mama। punaś coddhūya vegena śālvāya ity aham abruvam ॥3-23-35॥
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)
tataḥ śālvaṃ gadāṃ gurvīm āvidhyantaṃ mahāhave। dvidhā cakāra sahasā prajajvāla ca tejasā ॥3-23-36॥
Then, Śālva, who was wielding a heavy mace in the great battle, was suddenly split in two and blazed with brilliance. (3-23-36)
tasminnipatite vīre dānavāstrastacetasaḥ। hāhābhūtā diśo jagmurarditā mama sāyakaiḥ ॥3-23-37॥
When that hero fell, the dānavas, their minds terrified, became distressed and fled in all directions, tormented by my arrows. (3-23-37)
tato'haṃ samavasthāpya rathaṃ saubhasamīpataḥ। śaṅkhaṃ pradhmāpya harṣeṇa suhṛdaḥ paryaharṣayam ॥3-23-38॥
Then, after properly positioning the chariot near Saubha, I joyfully blew the conch and delighted my friends. (3-23-38)
tanmeruśikharākāraṃ vidhvastāṭṭālagopuram। dahyamānamabhiprekṣya striyastāḥ sampradudruvuḥ ॥3-23-39॥
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)
evaṃ nihatya samare śālvaṃ saubhaṃ nipātya ca। ānartān punar āgamya suhṛdāṃ prītim āvaham ॥3-23-40॥
Thus, after slaying Śālva in battle and destroying Saubha, I returned again to the Ānartas, bringing joy to my friends. (3-23-40)
etasmātkāraṇādrājannāgamaṃ nāgasāhvayam। yadyagāṃ paravīraghna na hi jīvetsuyodhanaḥ ॥3-23-41॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evam uktvā mahābāhuḥ kauravaṃ puruṣottamaḥ। āmantrya prayayau dhīmān pāṇḍavān madhusūdanaḥ ॥3-23-42॥
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)
abhivādya mahābāhur dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram। rājñā mūrdhany upāghrāto bhīmena ca mahābhujaḥ ॥3-23-43॥
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)
subhadrām abhimanyuṃ ca ratham āropya kāñcanam। āruroha rathaṃ kṛṣṇaḥ pāṇḍavair abhipūjitaḥ ॥3-23-44॥
Kṛṣṇa, honored by the Pāṇḍavas, placed Subhadrā and Abhimanyu on the golden chariot and then ascended it himself. (3-23-44)
sainyasugrīvayuktena rathenādityavarcasā। dvārakāṃ prayayau kṛṣṇaḥ samāśvāsya yudhiṣṭhiram ॥3-23-45॥
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)
tataḥ prayāte dāśārhe dhṛṣṭadyumno'pi pārṣataḥ। draupadeyānupādāya prayayau svapuraṃ tadā ॥3-23-46॥
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)
dhṛṣṭaketuḥ svasāraṃ ca samādāyātha cedirāṭ। jagāma pāṇḍavāndṛṣṭvā ramyāṃ śuktimatīṃ purīm ॥3-23-47॥
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)
kekayāś cāpy anujñātāḥ kaunteyena amitaujasa। āmantrya pāṇḍavān sarvān prayayus te'pi bhārata ॥3-23-48॥
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)
brāhmaṇāś ca viśaś caiva tathā viṣayavāsinaḥ। visṛjyamānāḥ subhṛśaṃ na tyajanti sma pāṇḍavān ॥3-23-49॥
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)
samavāyaḥ sa rājendra sumahādbhutadarśanaḥ। āsīnmahātmanāṃ teṣāṃ kāmyake bharatarṣabha ॥3-23-50॥
O king, that assembly of exceedingly wonderful appearance of those great-souled ones was in Kāmyaka, O bull among the Bharatas. (3-23-50)
yudhiṣṭhiras tu viprāṁs tān anumānya mahāmanāḥ। śaśāsa puruṣān kāle rathān yojayate iti ha ॥3-23-51॥
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)
