03.233
vaiśampāyana uvāca ॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
yudhiṣṭhiravacaḥ śrutvā bhīmasenapurogamāḥ। prahṛṣṭavadanāḥ sarve samuttasthurnararṣabhāḥ ॥03-233-1॥
Having heard the words of Yudhiṣṭhira, all the bulls among men, led by Bhīmasena and with delighted faces, rose up together. (03-233-1)
abhedyāni tataḥ sarve samanahyanta bhārata. jāmbūnadavicittrāṇi kavacāni mahārathāḥ ॥03-233-2॥
Then all the great chariot-warriors put on their impenetrable armor, adorned with Jāmbūnada gold, O Bhārata. (03-233-2)
te daṁśitā rathaiḥ sarve dhvajinaḥ sa-śarāsanāḥ। pāṇḍavāḥ pratyadṛśyanta jvalitā iva pāvakāḥ॥03-233-3॥
The Pāṇḍavas, all armed in their chariots, bearing banners and bows, appeared blazing like fires. (03-233-3)
tān rathān sādhu sampannān saṁyuktān javanair hayaiḥ। āsthāya rathaśārdūlāḥ śīghram eva yayus tataḥ॥03-233-4॥
The tiger-like charioteers quickly mounted those well-equipped chariots, joined with swift horses, and departed from there. (03-233-4)
tataḥ kauravasainyānāṃ prādurāsīn mahāsvanaḥ। prayātān sahitān dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍuputrān mahārathān ॥03-233-5॥
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)
jitakāśinaś ca khakarāś tvaritāś ca mahārathāḥ। kṣaṇenaiva vane tasmin samājagmur abhītavat ॥03-233-6॥
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)
nyavartanta tataḥ sarve gandharvā jitakāśinaḥ। dṛṣṭvā rathagatān vīrān pāṇḍavāṃś caturō raṇe ॥03-233-7॥
Then all the Gandharvas, conquerors of Kāśi, retreated when they saw the four heroic Pāṇḍavas on their chariots in battle. (03-233-7)
tāṃs tu vibhrājato dṛṣṭvā lokapālān iva udyatān। vyūḍhānīkā vyatiṣṭhanta gandhamādanavāsinaḥ॥03-233-8॥
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)
rājñastu vacanaṃ śrutvā dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ। krameṇa mṛdunā yuddhamupakrāmanta bhārata ॥03-233-9॥
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)
na tu gandharvarājasya sainikā mandacētasaḥ। śakyantē mṛdunā śrēyaḥ pratipādayituṃ tadā ॥03-233-10॥
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)
tatastānyudhi durdharṣaḥ savyasācī parantapaḥ। sāntvapūrvamidaṃ vākyamuvāca khacarāṃraṇe ॥03-233-11॥
Then the irresistible, ambidextrous Arjuna, the scorcher of foes, first conciliated and said this speech to the chariot-riders in battle. (03-233-11)
naitadgandharvarājasya yuktaṃ karma jugupsitam। paradārābhimarśaśca mānuṣaiśca samāgamaḥ ॥03-233-12॥
This act is not befitting the king of the Gandharvas; touching another's wife and association with humans are both despicable. (03-233-12)
utsṛjadhvaṁ mahāvīryān dhṛtarāṣṭrasutān imān। dārāṁś ca eṣāṁ vimuñcadhvaṁ dharmarājasya śāsanāt ॥03-233-13॥
Release these mighty sons of Dhritarashtra, and free their wives too, in accordance with the order of Dharmaraja. (03-233-13)
evam uktās tu gandharvāḥ pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā। utsmayantas tadā pārtham idaṃ vacanam abruvan ॥03-233-14॥
Thus, when addressed by the illustrious Pāṇḍava, the Gandharvas then, smiling, spoke these words to Pārtha. (03-233-14)
ekasyaiva vayaṃ tāta kuryāma vacanaṃ bhuvi। yasya śāsanamājñāya carāma vigatajvarāḥ ॥03-233-15॥
Father, we should obey only one person’s word on earth—having understood whose command, we may act, free from anxiety. (03-233-15)
tenaikena yathādiṣṭaṃ tathā vartāma bhārata। na śāstā vidyate'smākam anyas tasmāt sureśvarāt॥03-233-16॥
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)
evam-uktas tu gandharvaiḥ kuntī-putro dhanañjayaḥ। gandharvān punar evedaṃ vacanaṃ pratyabhāṣata ॥03-233-17॥
Thus, when addressed by the Gandharvas, Kuntī's son Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) again spoke these words in reply to the Gandharvas. (03-233-17)
yadi sāmnā na mokṣadhvaṃ gandharvā dhṛtarāṣṭrajam। mokṣayiṣyāmi vikramya svayameva suyodhanam॥03-233-18॥
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)
evam uktvā tataḥ pārthaḥ savyasācī dhanañjayaḥ। sasarja niśitān bāṇān khacarān khacarān prati॥03-233-19॥
Having spoken thus, then Pārtha, the ambidextrous Dhanañjaya, shot sharp arrows at the chariot-fighters.
tathaiva śaravarṣeṇa gandharvāste balotkaṭāḥ। pāṇḍavānabhyavartanta pāṇḍavāśca divaukasāḥ॥03-233-20॥
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)
tataḥ sutumulaṃ yuddhaṃ gandharvāṇāṃ tarasvinām। babhūva bhīmavegānāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhārata॥03-233-21॥
Then, O Bhārata, a very tumultuous battle full of mighty force broke out between the Gandharvas and the Pāṇḍavas. (03-233-21)
