03.233
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
युधिष्ठिरवचः श्रुत्वा भीमसेनपुरोगमाः। प्रहृष्टवदनाः सर्वे समुत्तस्थुर्नरर्षभाः ॥०३-२३३-१॥
Having heard the words of Yudhiṣṭhira, all the bulls among men, led by Bhīmasena and with delighted faces, rose up together. (03-233-1)
अभेद्यानि ततः सर्वे समनह्यन्त भारत। जाम्बूनदविचित्राणि कवचानि महारथाः ॥०३-२३३-२॥
Then all the great chariot-warriors put on their impenetrable armor, adorned with Jāmbūnada gold, O Bhārata. (03-233-2)
ते दंशिता रथैः सर्वे ध्वजिनः सशरासनाः। पाण्डवाः प्रत्यदृश्यन्त ज्वलिता इव पावकाः ॥०३-२३३-३॥
The Pāṇḍavas, all armed in their chariots, bearing banners and bows, appeared blazing like fires. (03-233-3)
तान्रथान्साधु सम्पन्नान्संयुक्ताञ्जवनैर्हयैः। आस्थाय रथशार्दूलाः शीघ्रमेव ययुस्ततः ॥०३-२३३-४॥
The tiger-like charioteers quickly mounted those well-equipped chariots, joined with swift horses, and departed from there. (03-233-4)
ततः कौरवसैन्यानां प्रादुरासीन्महास्वनः। प्रयातान्सहितान्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुपुत्रान्महारथान् ॥०३-२३३-५॥
Then, seeing the sons of Paṇḍu, the great chariot-warriors, proceeding together, a great uproar arose among the armies of the Kauravas. (03-233-5)
जितकाशिनश्च खचरास्त्वरिताश्च महारथाः। क्षणेनैव वने तस्मिन्समाजग्मुरभीतवत् ॥०३-२३३-६॥
The conquerors of Kāśi and the sky-traveling, swift great chariot-warriors all assembled in that forest in an instant, as if they were unafraid. (03-233-6)
न्यवर्तन्त ततः सर्वे गन्धर्वा जितकाशिनः। दृष्ट्वा रथगतान्वीरान्पाण्डवांश्चतुरो रणे ॥०३-२३३-७॥
Then all the Gandharvas, conquerors of Kāśi, retreated when they saw the four heroic Pāṇḍavas on their chariots in battle. (03-233-7)
तांस्तु विभ्राजतो दृष्ट्वा लोकपालानिवोद्यतान्। व्यूढानीका व्यतिष्ठन्त गन्धमादनवासिनः ॥०३-२३३-८॥
But when they saw them, resplendent and arrayed like the guardians of the world in readiness, the dwellers of Gandhamādana marshaled their forces and took their stand. (03-233-8)
राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मराजस्य धीमतः। क्रमेण मृदुना युद्धमुपक्रामन्त भारत ॥०३-२३३-९॥
But, O Bhārata, having heard the words of the wise Dharmarāja, they then began the battle in an orderly and gentle manner. (03-233-9)
न तु गन्धर्वराजस्य सैनिका मन्दचेतसः। शक्यन्ते मृदुना श्रेयः प्रतिपादयितुं तदा ॥०३-२३३-१०॥
But the soldiers of the king of the gandharvas, being slow-witted, were not then able to bring about good by gentle means. (03-233-10)
ततस्तान्युधि दुर्धर्षः सव्यसाची परन्तपः। सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमुवाच खचरान्रणे ॥०३-२३३-११॥
Then the irresistible, ambidextrous Arjuna, the scorcher of foes, first conciliated and said this speech to the chariot-riders in battle. (03-233-11)
नैतद्गन्धर्वराजस्य युक्तं कर्म जुगुप्सितम्। परदाराभिमर्शश्च मानुषैश्च समागमः ॥०३-२३३-१२॥
This act is not befitting the king of the Gandharvas; touching another's wife and association with humans are both despicable. (03-233-12)
उत्सृजध्वं महावीर्यान्धृतराष्ट्रसुतानिमान्। दारांश्चैषां विमुञ्चध्वं धर्मराजस्य शासनात् ॥०३-२३३-१३॥
Release these mighty sons of Dhritarashtra, and free their wives too, in accordance with the order of Dharmaraja. (03-233-13)
एवमुक्तास्तु गन्धर्वाः पाण्डवेन यशस्विना। उत्स्मयन्तस्तदा पार्थमिदं वचनमब्रुवन् ॥०३-२३३-१४॥
Thus, when addressed by the illustrious Pāṇḍava, the Gandharvas then, smiling, spoke these words to Pārtha. (03-233-14)
एकस्यैव वयं तात कुर्याम वचनं भुवि। यस्य शासनमाज्ञाय चराम विगतज्वराः ॥०३-२३३-१५॥
Father, we should obey only one person’s word on earth—having understood whose command, we may act, free from anxiety. (03-233-15)
तेनैकेन यथादिष्टं तथा वर्ताम भारत। न शास्ता विद्यतेऽस्माकमन्यस्तस्मात्सुरेश्वरात् ॥०३-२३३-१६॥
O Bhārata, as instructed by him alone, so do we act; there is for us no other ruler but the lord of the gods. (03-233-16)
एवमुक्तस्तु गन्धर्वैः कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः। गन्धर्वान्पुनरेवेदं वचनं प्रत्यभाषत ॥०३-२३३-१७॥
Thus, when addressed by the Gandharvas, Kuntī's son Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) again spoke these words in reply to the Gandharvas. (03-233-17)
यदि साम्ना न मोक्षध्वं गन्धर्वा धृतराष्ट्रजम्। मोक्षयिष्यामि विक्रम्य स्वयमेव सुयोधनम् ॥०३-२३३-१८॥
If you do not release the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra by peaceful means, O Gandharvas, then I myself will free Suyodhana by force. (03-233-18)
एवमुक्त्वा ततः पार्थः सव्यसाची धनञ्जयः। ससर्ज निशितान्बाणान्खचरान्खचरान्प्रति ॥०३-२३३-१९॥
Having spoken thus, then Pārtha, the ambidextrous Dhanañjaya, shot sharp arrows at the chariot-fighters.
तथैव शरवर्षेण गन्धर्वास्ते बलोत्कटाः। पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त पाण्डवाश्च दिवौकसः ॥०३-२३३-२०॥
In the same manner, those mighty Gandharvas attacked the Pāṇḍavas with a shower of arrows, and the Pāṇḍavas fought against the celestial beings. (03-233-20)
ततः सुतुमुलं युद्धं गन्धर्वाणां तरस्विनाम्। बभूव भीमवेगानां पाण्डवानां च भारत ॥०३-२३३-२१॥
Then, O Bhārata, a very tumultuous battle full of mighty force broke out between the Gandharvas and the Pāṇḍavas. (03-233-21)
