03.169
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said;
adṛśyamānās te daityā yodhayanti sma māyayā। adṛśyān astra-vīryeṇa tān api aham ayodhayam ॥03-169-1॥
Those Daityas, remaining invisible, fought by means of illusion. I, too, fought those invisible ones by the power of weapons. (03-169-1)
gāṇḍīvamuktā viśikhāḥ samyag-astrapracoditāḥ। acchindannuttamāṅgāni yatra yatra sma te'bhavan ॥03-169-2॥
The arrows released from the Gāṇḍīva, properly impelled by weapons, severed heads wherever they appeared. (03-169-2)
tato nivātakavacā vadhyamānā mayā yudhi। saṁhṛtya māyāṁ sahasā prāviśan puram ātmanaḥ॥03-169-3॥
Then the Nivātakavacas, being slain by me in battle, suddenly withdrew their illusion and entered their own city. (03-169-3)
vyapayāteṣu daityeṣu prādurbhūte ca darśane। apaśyaṃ dānavāṃs tatra hatāñ śata-sahasraśaḥ ॥03-169-4॥
When the Daityas had fled and the manifestation appeared, I saw countless Dānavas slain there by the hundred thousands. (03-169-4)
viniṣpiṣṭāni tatraiṣāṃ śastrāṇy ābharaṇāni ca. kūṭaśaḥ sma pradṛśyante gātrāṇi kavacāni ca ॥03-169-5॥
There, the crushed weapons and ornaments of these men, as well as heaps of their limbs and armor, are indeed seen. (03-169-5)
hayānāṁ nāntaraṁ hy āsīt padād vicalituṁ padam। utpatya sahasā tasthur antarikṣagamās tataḥ॥03-169-6॥
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)
tato nivātakavacā vyoma sañchādya kevalam। adṛśyā hy abhyavartanta visṛjantaḥ śiloccayān ॥03-169-7॥
Then the Nivātakavacas, having thoroughly veiled the sky and remaining unseen, launched their attack, casting huge rocks. (03-169-7)
antarbhūmigatāś cānye hayānāṃ caraṇāny atha। nyagṛhṇan dānavā ghorā rathacakre ca bhārata॥03-169-8॥
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)
vinigṛhya harīnaśvān rathaṃ ca mama yudhyataḥ। sarvato mām acinvanta sarathaṃ dharaṇīdharaḥ ॥03-169-9॥
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)
parvatair upacīyadbhih patamānais tathā aparaiḥ। sa deśo yatra vartāma guheva samapadyata ॥03-169-10॥
The region where we were staying, surrounded by mountains piling up and other mountains collapsing, began to resemble a cave. (03-169-10)
parvataiś chādyamāno'ham nigṛhītaiś ca vājibhiḥ। agacchaṁ paramām ārtiṁ mātalis tad alakṣayat॥03-169-11॥
Covered by mountains and with the horses being restrained, I was plunged into great distress; Mātali noticed it. (03-169-11)
lakṣayitvā tu māṁ bhītam idaṁ vacanam abravīt. arjuna arjuna mā bhaiḥ tvaṁ vajram astram udīraya ॥03-169-12॥
But, seeing that I was frightened, he said this: "Arjuna, Arjuna, do not fear, you must invoke the thunderbolt weapon." (03-169-12)
tato'haṃ tasya tadvākyaṃ śrutvā vajramudīrayam। devarājasya dayitaṃ vajramastraṃ narādhipa ॥03-169-13॥
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)
acalaṃ sthānam āsādya gāṇḍīvam anumantrya ca। amuñcaṃ vajrasaṃsparśān āyasān niśitāñ śarān ॥03-169-14॥
Having reached a firm position and reverently invoking Gāṇḍīva, I released sharp iron arrows that had the touch of a thunderbolt. (03-169-14)
tato māyāś ca tāḥ sarvā nivātakavacāṁś ca tān। te vajracoditā bāṇā vajrabhūtāḥ samāviśan ॥03-169-15॥
Then all those illusions and the Nivātakavacas—those arrows, driven by the thunderbolt, having become like thunderbolts—entered them. (03-169-15)
te vajravegābhihatā dānavāḥ parvatopamāḥ। itaretaram āśliṣya nyapatan pṛthivī-tale ॥03-169-16॥
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)
antarbhūmau tu ye'gṛhṇandānavā rathavājinaḥ। anupraviśya tānbāṇāḥ prāhiṇvanyamasādanam ॥03-169-17॥
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)
hatair nivātakavacaiḥ nirstaiḥ parvatopamaiḥ। samācchādyata deśaḥ sa vikīrṇair iva parvataiḥ॥03-169-18॥
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)
na hayānāṃ kṣatiḥ kācin na rathasya na mātaleḥ। mama caādṛśyata tadā tadadbhutamivābhavat ॥03-169-19॥
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)
tato māṃ prahasan rājann ātaliḥ pratyabhāṣata। naitad arjuna deveṣu tvayi vīryaṃ yad īkṣyate॥03-169-20॥
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)
hateṣv-asura-saṅgheṣu dārās-teṣāṃ tu sarvaśaḥ। prākrośan-nagare tasmin yathā śaradi lakṣmaṇāḥ॥03-169-21॥
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)
tato mātalinā sārdhamahaṃ tatpuramabhyayām। trāsayanrathaghoṣeṇa nivātakavacastriyaḥ ॥03-169-22॥
Then, I, together with Mātali, approached that city, frightening the women of the Nivātakavaca with the sound of my chariot. (03-169-22)
tān dṛṣṭvā daśa-sāhasrān mayūra-sadṛśān hayān। rathaṃ ca ravi-saṅkāśaṃ prādravan gaṇaśaḥ striyaḥ॥03-169-23॥
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)
tābhir ābharaṇaiḥ śabda-strāsitābhiḥ samīritaḥ। śilānām iva śaileṣu patantīnām abhūt tadā॥03-169-24॥
Then, the sound stirred by those ornaments frightened them, just like the noise of falling stones among mountains. (03-169-24)
vitrāstā daityanāryastāḥ svāni veśmānyathāviśan। bahuratnavicitrāṇi śātakumbhamayāni ca ॥03-169-25॥
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)
tad adbhutākāram ahaṃ dṛṣṭvā nagaram uttamam। viśiṣṭaṃ deva-nagarāt apṛccham mātalim tataḥ॥03-169-26॥
Having seen that wondrous form and the excellent city, distinguished from the city of the gods, I then questioned Mātali. (03-169-26)
idam evaṃvidhaṃ kasmād devatā na aviśanti uta. puraṃdara-purāt hi idam viśiṣṭam iti lakṣaye ॥03-169-27॥
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)
mātalir uvāca॥
Mātali said.
āsīd idaṃ purā pārtha devarājasya naḥ puram। tato nivātakavacair itaḥ pracyāvitāḥ surāḥ॥03-169-28॥
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)
tapastaptvā mahat-tīvraṃ prasādya ca pitāmaham। idaṃ vṛtaṃ nivāsāya devebhyaś ca abhayam yudhi ॥03-169-29॥
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)
tataḥ śakreṇa bhagavān svayambhūr abhicoditaḥ। vidhattāṁ bhagavān atr ety ātmano hita-kāmyayā॥03-169-30॥
Then, when urged by Śakra, the revered Self-born one (Brahmā), desiring his own welfare, performed (the act) here. (03-169-30)
tat ukto bhagavatā diṣṭamatreti vāsavaḥ। bhavitāntastvamevaiṣāṃ dehenānyena vṛtrahan॥03-169-31॥
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)
tat eṣāṃ vadhārthāya śakro'strāṇi dadau tava। na hi śakyāḥ surair hantuṃ ya ete nihatās tvayā॥03-169-32॥
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)
kālasya pariṇāmena tatastvam iha bhārata। eṣām antakaraḥ prāptas tat tvayā ca kṛtaṃ tathā ॥03-169-33॥
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)
dānavānāṃ vināśārthaṃ mahāstrāṇāṃ mahadbalam। grāhitastvaṃ mahendreṇa puruṣendra taduttamam ॥03-169-34॥
O best of men, you obtained that excellent power of the great weapons from Mahendra for the destruction of the dānavas. (03-169-34)
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said.
tataḥ praviśya nagaraṃ dānavāṃś ca nihatya tān। punar mātalinā sārdham agacchaṃ deva-sadma tat॥03-169-35॥
Then, after entering the city and killing those demons, I went again with Mātali to the divine abode. (03-169-35)
