04.048
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु कौरवेयैर्महारथैः। उपायादर्जुनस्तूर्णं रथघोषेण नादयन् ॥०४-४८-१॥
Thus, Arjuna quickly approached, making his chariot resound, as the formations were
arrayed by the great chariot-warriors of the Kauravas. (04-48-1)
ददृशुस्ते ध्वजाग्रं वै शुश्रुवुश्च रथस्वनम्। दोधूयमानस्य भृशं गाण्डीवस्य च निस्वनम्
॥०४-४८-२॥
They saw the crest of the flag indeed, and heard the sound of the chariot and the loud
noise of the Gandiva bow being shaken. (04-48-2)
ततस्तत्सर्वमालोक्य द्रोणो वचनमब्रवीत्। महारथमनुप्राप्तं दृष्ट्वा गाण्डीवधन्विनम् ॥०४-४८-३॥
Then, having observed all that, Droṇa spoke these words, having seen the great
chariot-warrior, the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow, having arrived. (04-48-3)
एतद्ध्वजाग्रं पार्थस्य दूरतः सम्प्रकाशते। एष घोषः सजलदो रोरवीति च वानरः ॥०४-४८-४॥
The banner top of Partha shines from afar. The sound of the monkey on it roars like a
thundercloud. (04-48-4)
एष तिष्ठन्रथश्रेष्ठो रथे रथवरप्रणुत्। उत्कर्षति धनुःश्रेष्ठं गाण्डीवमशनिस्वनम् ॥०४-४८-५॥
Standing in his chariot, this foremost of charioteers, praised by the best charioteers,
draws the supreme bow, Gāṇḍīva, sounding like a thunderbolt. (04-48-5)
इमौ हि बाणौ सहितौ पादयोर्मे व्यवस्थितौ। अपरौ चाप्यतिक्रान्तौ कर्णौ संस्पृश्य मे शरौ
॥०४-४८-६॥
Indeed, these two arrows are placed together at my feet, and the other two, having passed
beyond, touch my ears—these are my arrows. (04-48-6)
निरुष्य हि वने वासं कृत्वा कर्मातिमानुषम्। अभिवादयते पार्थः श्रोत्रे च परिपृच्छति
॥०४-४८-७॥
Having performed a superhuman act while dwelling in the forest, and having heard of it,
Pārtha (Arjuna) respectfully greets (the elders) and asks questions to their ears. (04-48-7)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
इषुपाते च सेनाया हयान्संयच्छ सारथे। यावत्समीक्षे सैन्येऽस्मिन्क्वासौ कुरुकुलाधमः ॥०४-४८-८॥
O charioteer, when the arrows are being showered, restrain the horses of the army until I
can see where that disgrace of the Kuru family is in this army. (04-48-8)
सर्वानन्याननादृत्य दृष्ट्वा तमतिमानिनम्। तस्य मूर्ध्नि पतिष्यामि तत एते पराजिताः ॥०४-४८-९॥
Without regarding all the others and seeing that very proud one, I shall fall upon his
head; then these will be defeated. (04-48-9)
एष व्यवस्थितो द्रोणो द्रौणिश्च तदनन्तरम्। भीष्मः कृपश्च कर्णश्च महेष्वासा व्यवस्थिताः
॥०४-४८-१०॥
Here, Droṇa is stationed, then Drauṇi (Ashvatthāman), after that Bhīṣma, Kṛpa and Karṇa,
and the great archers are also arranged. (04-48-10)
राजानं नात्र पश्यामि गाः समादाय गच्छति। दक्षिणं मार्गमास्थाय शङ्के जीवपरायणः ॥०४-४८-११॥
I do not see the king here; he has taken the cows and gone, following the southern path. I
suspect he is now only concerned with saving his life. (04-48-11)
उत्सृज्यैतद्रथानीकं गच्छ यत्र सुयोधनः। तत्रैव योत्स्ये वैराटे नास्ति युद्धं निरामिषम् ॥ तं
जित्वा विनिवर्तिष्ये गाः समादाय वै पुनः ॥०४-४८-१२॥
Leave this chariot army and go to where Suyodhana is. There, and only there, I shall
fight; in Virata there is never a harmless battle. After defeating him, I shall return,
bringing the cows back again. (04-48-12)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said;
एवमुक्तः स वैराटिर्हयान्संयम्य यत्नतः। नियम्य च ततो रश्मीन्यत्र ते कुरुपुङ्गवाः ॥
अचोदयत्ततो वाहान्यतो दुर्योधनस्ततः ॥०४-४८-१३॥
Thus addressed, the son of Virāṭa carefully restrained the horses, controlled the reins,
and drove the steeds to the place where those illustrious Kurus and Duryodhana were.
(04-48-13)
उत्सृज्य रथवंशं तु प्रयाते श्वेतवाहने। अभिप्रायं विदित्वास्य द्रोणो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥०४-४८-१४॥
But when the white-horsed one had departed after leaving the chariot seat, Droṇa, having
understood his purpose, spoke these words. (04-48-14)
नैषोऽन्तरेण राजानं बीभत्सुः स्थातुमिच्छति। तस्य पार्ष्णिं ग्रहीष्यामो जवेनाभिप्रयास्यतः
॥०४-४८-१५॥
Bībhatsu does not wish to stand without the king. As he proceeds quickly, we shall seize
his heel. (04-48-15)
न ह्येनमभिसङ्क्रुद्धमेको युध्येत संयुगे। अन्यो देवात्सहस्राक्षात्कृष्णाद्वा देवकीसुतात्
॥०४-४८-१६॥
Indeed, no one alone could fight against him in battle when he is enraged, unless he were
a god, the thousand-eyed Indra, or Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī. (04-48-16)
किं नो गावः करिष्यन्ति धनं वा विपुलं तथा। दुर्योधनः पार्थजले पुरा नौरिव मज्जति ॥०४-४८-१७॥
What use are cows or even abundant wealth to us, when Duryodhana is sinking, like a boat,
in the waters of the sons of Pṛthā (the Pāṇḍavas), as before? (04-48-17)
तथैव गत्वा बीभत्सुर्नाम विश्राव्य चात्मनः। शलभैरिव तां सेनां शरैः शीघ्रमवाकिरत् ॥०४-४८-१८॥
In the same way, after going there, Bībhatsu (Arjuna), announcing his own name, swiftly
covered that army with arrows, as locusts would (cover a field). (04-48-18)
कीर्यमाणाः शरौघैस्तु योधास्ते पार्थचोदितैः। नापश्यन्नावृतां भूमिमन्तरिक्षं च पत्रिभिः
॥०४-४८-१९॥
But those warriors, scattered by the volleys of arrows incited by Pārtha, could not see
either the earth or the sky, both being covered by the feathered missiles. (04-48-19)
तेषां नात्मनिनो युद्धे नापयानेऽभवन्मतिः। शीघ्रत्वमेव पार्थस्य पूजयन्ति स्म चेतसा
॥०४-४८-२०॥
Among them, none had thoughts of self-preservation in battle or of retreat; with their
minds, they only admired Pārtha's (Arjuna's) swiftness. (04-48-20)
ततः शङ्खं प्रदध्मौ स द्विषतां लोमहर्षणम्। विस्फार्य च धनुःश्रेष्ठं ध्वजे भूतान्यचोदयत्
॥०४-४८-२१॥
Then he blew the conch, striking terror into his enemies; and having stretched his
excellent bow, he urged on the beings shown on his banner. (04-48-21)
तस्य शङ्खस्य शब्देन रथनेमिस्वनेन च। अमानुषाणां तेषां च भूतानां ध्वजवासिनाम् ॥०४-४८-२२॥
By the sound of his conch and the noise of the chariot-wheels, and by the cries of those
non-human beings, the spirits residing on the flags. (04-48-22)
ऊर्ध्वं पुच्छान्विधुन्वाना रेभमाणाः समन्ततः। गावः प्रतिन्यवर्तन्त दिशमास्थाय दक्षिणाम्
॥०४-४८-२३॥
The cows, shaking their tails upwards and bellowing on all sides, turned around, having
taken the southern direction. (04-48-23)
