03.169
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said;
अदृश्यमानास्ते दैत्या योधयन्ति स्म मायया। अदृश्यानस्त्रवीर्येण तानप्यहमयोधयम् ॥०३-१६९-१॥
Those Daityas, remaining invisible, fought by means of illusion. I, too, fought those invisible ones by the power of weapons. (03-169-1)
गाण्डीवमुक्ता विशिखाः सम्यगस्त्रप्रचोदिताः। अच्छिन्दन्नुत्तमाङ्गानि यत्र यत्र स्म तेऽभवन् ॥०३-१६९-२॥
The arrows released from the Gāṇḍīva, properly impelled by weapons, severed heads wherever they appeared. (03-169-2)
ततो निवातकवचा वध्यमाना मया युधि। संहृत्य मायां सहसा प्राविशन्पुरमात्मनः ॥०३-१६९-३॥
Then the Nivātakavacas, being slain by me in battle, suddenly withdrew their illusion and entered their own city. (03-169-3)
व्यपयातेषु दैत्येषु प्रादुर्भूते च दर्शने। अपश्यं दानवांस्तत्र हताञ्शतसहस्रशः ॥०३-१६९-४॥
When the Daityas had fled and the manifestation appeared, I saw countless Dānavas slain there by the hundred thousands. (03-169-4)
विनिष्पिष्टानि तत्रैषां शस्त्राण्याभरणानि च। कूटशः स्म प्रदृश्यन्ते गात्राणि कवचानि च ॥०३-१६९-५॥
There, the crushed weapons and ornaments of these men, as well as heaps of their limbs and armor, are indeed seen. (03-169-5)
हयानां नान्तरं ह्यासीत्पदाद्विचलितुं पदम्। उत्पत्य सहसा तस्थुरन्तरिक्षगमास्ततः ॥०३-१६९-६॥
There was indeed no gap in the steps of the horses; not even a single step deviated from position. Suddenly leaping up, those who moved in the sky then stood still. (03-169-6)
ततो निवातकवचा व्योम सञ्छाद्य केवलम्। अदृश्या ह्यभ्यवर्तन्त विसृजन्तः शिलोच्चयान् ॥०३-१६९-७॥
Then the Nivātakavacas, having thoroughly veiled the sky and remaining unseen, launched their attack, casting huge rocks. (03-169-7)
अन्तर्भूमिगताश्चान्ये हयानां चरणान्यथ। न्यगृह्णन्दानवा घोरा रथचक्रे च भारत ॥०३-१६९-८॥
O Bhārata, the terrible Dānavas also seized the feet of other horses as they entered into the earth, and in the chariot-wheels. (03-169-8)
विनिगृह्य हरीनश्वान्रथं च मम युध्यतः। सर्वतो मामचिन्वन्त सरथं धरणीधरैः ॥०३-१६९-९॥
Having held back my chariot drawn by tawny horses while I was fighting, the kings from all sides pursued me together with my chariot. (03-169-9)
पर्वतैरुपचीयद्भिः पतमानैस्तथापरैः। स देशो यत्र वर्ताम गुहेव समपद्यत ॥०३-१६९-१०॥
The region where we were staying, surrounded by mountains piling up and other mountains collapsing, began to resemble a cave. (03-169-10)
पर्वतैश्छाद्यमानोऽहं निगृहीतैश्च वाजिभिः। अगच्छं परमामार्तिं मातलिस्तदलक्षयत् ॥०३-१६९-११॥
Covered by mountains and with the horses being restrained, I was plunged into great distress; Mātali noticed it. (03-169-11)
लक्षयित्वा तु मां भीतमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। अर्जुनार्जुन मा भैस्त्वं वज्रमस्त्रमुदीरय ॥०३-१६९-१२॥
But, seeing that I was frightened, he said this: "Arjuna, Arjuna, do not fear, you must invoke the thunderbolt weapon." (03-169-12)
ततोऽहं तस्य तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा वज्रमुदीरयम्। देवराजस्य दयितं वज्रमस्त्रं नराधिप ॥०३-१६९-१३॥
Then, having heard those words of his, I uttered the vajra, the favorite vajra weapon of the king of the gods, O king. (03-169-13)
अचलं स्थानमासाद्य गाण्डीवमनुमन्त्र्य च। अमुञ्चं वज्रसंस्पर्शानायसान्निशिताञ्शरान् ॥०३-१६९-१४॥
Having reached a firm position and reverently invoking Gāṇḍīva, I released sharp iron arrows that had the touch of a thunderbolt. (03-169-14)
ततो मायाश्च ताः सर्वा निवातकवचांश्च तान्। ते वज्रचोदिता बाणा वज्रभूताः समाविशन् ॥०३-१६९-१५॥
Then all those illusions and the Nivātakavacas—those arrows, driven by the thunderbolt, having become like thunderbolts—entered them. (03-169-15)
ते वज्रवेगाभिहता दानवाः पर्वतोपमाः। इतरेतरमाश्लिष्य न्यपतन्पृथिवीतले ॥०३-१६९-१६॥
The Dānavas, mountain-like in form, struck by the force of the thunderbolt, fell to the earth's surface, embracing each other. (03-169-16)
अन्तर्भूमौ तु येऽगृह्णन्दानवा रथवाजिनः। अनुप्रविश्य तान्बाणाः प्राहिण्वन्यमसादनम् ॥०३-१६९-१७॥
But the arrows entered even those Dānavas—chariot-warriors and horsemen—who had taken refuge within the earth, striking them without fail. (03-169-17)
हतैर्निवातकवचैर्निरस्तैः पर्वतोपमैः। समाच्छाद्यत देशः स विकीर्णैरिव पर्वतैः ॥०३-१६९-१८॥
That region was covered by the dead and dispersed Nivātakavacas, who resembled mountains, appearing as if the land was strewn with scattered mountains. (03-169-18)
न हयानां क्षतिः काचिन्न रथस्य न मातलेः। मम चादृश्यत तदा तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥०३-१६९-१९॥
There was no injury to the horses, nor to the chariot, nor to Mātali, nor was any seen with me at that time; it seemed as if that was a wonder. (03-169-19)
ततो मां प्रहसन्राजन्मातलिः प्रत्यभाषत। नैतदर्जुन देवेषु त्वयि वीर्यं यदीक्ष्यते ॥०३-१६९-२०॥
Then, smiling at me, O king, Ātali addressed (me): 'The energy which is seen in you, Arjuna, is not (even) among the gods.' (03-169-20)
हतेष्वसुरसङ्घेषु दारास्तेषां तु सर्वशः। प्राक्रोशन्नगरे तस्मिन्यथा शरदि लक्ष्मणाः ॥०३-१६९-२१॥
When the groups of asuras were slain, their wives all together screamed in the city, just like flocks of cranes in autumn. (03-169-21)
ततो मातलिना सार्धमहं तत्पुरमभ्ययाम्। त्रासयन्रथघोषेण निवातकवचस्त्रियः ॥०३-१६९-२२॥
Then, I, together with Mātali, approached that city, frightening the women of the Nivātakavaca with the sound of my chariot. (03-169-22)
तान्दृष्ट्वा दशसाहस्रान्मयूरसदृशान्हयान्। रथं च रविसङ्काशं प्राद्रवन्गणशः स्त्रियः ॥०३-१६९-२३॥
Having seen those ten thousand horses resembling peacocks and the chariot that shone like the sun, the women ran away in groups. (03-169-23)
ताभिराभरणैः शब्दस्त्रासिताभिः समीरितः। शिलानामिव शैलेषु पतन्तीनामभूत्तदा ॥०३-१६९-२४॥
Then, the sound stirred by those ornaments frightened them, just like the noise of falling stones among mountains. (03-169-24)
वित्रस्ता दैत्यनार्यस्ताः स्वानि वेश्मान्यथाविशन्। बहुरत्नविचित्राणि शातकुम्भमयानि च ॥०३-१६९-२५॥
Affrighted, those Daitya women then entered their own mansions, which were adorned with many kinds of gems and made of refined gold. (03-169-25)
तदद्भुताकारमहं दृष्ट्वा नगरमुत्तमम्। विशिष्टं देवनगरादपृच्छं मातलिं ततः ॥०३-१६९-२६॥
Having seen that wondrous form and the excellent city, distinguished from the city of the gods, I then questioned Mātali. (03-169-26)
इदमेवंविधं कस्माद्देवता नाविशन्त्युत। पुरंदरपुराद्धीदं विशिष्टमिति लक्षये ॥०३-१६९-२७॥
Why do the deities not enter such a place? I observe that this is indeed more distinguished than the city of Purandara (Indra). (03-169-27)
मातलिरुवाच॥
Mātali said.
आसीदिदं पुरा पार्थ देवराजस्य नः पुरम्। ततो निवातकवचैरितः प्रच्याविताः सुराः ॥०३-१६९-२८॥
O Pārtha, this was formerly the city of our king of the gods; but from here the gods were driven out by the Nivātakavacas. (03-169-28)
तपस्तप्त्वा महत्तीव्रं प्रसाद्य च पितामहम्। इदं वृतं निवासाय देवेभ्यश्चाभयं युधि ॥०३-१६९-२९॥
After performing great and intense austerities and propitiating the Grandfather (Brahmā), this boon was obtained for residence, and also fearlessness in battle for the gods. (03-169-29)
ततः शक्रेण भगवान्स्वयम्भूरभिचोदितः। विधत्तां भगवानत्रेत्यात्मनो हितकाम्यया ॥०३-१६९-३०॥
Then, when urged by Śakra, the revered Self-born one (Brahmā), desiring his own welfare, performed (the act) here. (03-169-30)
तत उक्तो भगवता दिष्टमत्रेति वासवः। भवितान्तस्त्वमेवैषां देहेनान्येन वृत्रहन् ॥०३-१६९-३१॥
Vāsava (Indra) said, 'That which was spoken by the revered one—“It is fate here”—(will come to pass): only you, O Slayer of Vṛtra, will be the end for these (enemies), but with another body.' (03-169-31)
तत एषां वधार्थाय शक्रोऽस्त्राणि ददौ तव। न हि शक्याः सुरैर्हन्तुं य एते निहतास्त्वया ॥०३-१६९-३२॥
Therefore, for the destruction of these, Indra gave you weapons, for those whom you have slain cannot be killed by the gods. (03-169-32)
कालस्य परिणामेन ततस्त्वमिह भारत। एषामन्तकरः प्राप्तस्तत्त्वया च कृतं तथा ॥०३-१६९-३३॥
O Bhārata, by the transformation of time, therefore you have come here; you have become the destroyer of these, and so it has been done by you. (03-169-33)
दानवानां विनाशार्थं महास्त्राणां महद्बलम्। ग्राहितस्त्वं महेन्द्रेण पुरुषेन्द्र तदुत्तमम् ॥०३-१६९-३४॥
O best of men, you obtained that excellent power of the great weapons from Mahendra for the destruction of the dānavas. (03-169-34)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
ततः प्रविश्य नगरं दानवांश्च निहत्य तान्। पुनर्मातलिना सार्धमगच्छं देवसद्म तत् ॥०३-१६९-३५॥
Then, after entering the city and killing those demons, I went again with Mātali to the divine abode. (03-169-35)
