14.075
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवं त्रिरात्रमभवत्तद्युद्धं भरतर्षभ। अर्जुनस्य नरेन्द्रेण वृत्रेणेव शतक्रतोः ॥१४-७५-१॥
Thus, O bull among the Bharatas, that battle between Arjuna and the king went on for three nights, like the conflict between Vṛtra and Indra. (14-75-1)
ततश्चतुर्थे दिवसे वज्रदत्तो महाबलः। जहास सस्वनं हासं वाक्यं चेदमथाब्रवीत् ॥१४-७५-२॥
Then on the fourth day, the mighty Vajradatta laughed loudly and then spoke these words. (14-75-2)
अर्जुनार्जुन तिष्ठस्व न मे जीवन्विमोक्ष्यसे। त्वां निहत्य करिष्यामि पितुस्तोयं यथाविधि ॥१४-७५-३॥
"Arjuna, Arjuna, stand your ground! You will not escape alive from me. Having slain you, I shall perform the water-rite for my father as prescribed." (14-75-3)
त्वया वृद्धो मम पिता भगदत्तः पितुः सखा। हतो वृद्धोऽपचायित्वाच्छिशुं मामद्य योधय ॥१४-७५-४॥
By you, my aged father Bhagadatta, the friend of my father, has been killed. Now, after honoring the elder, set me, the child, to fight today. (14-75-4)
इत्येवमुक्त्वा सङ्क्रुद्धो वज्रदत्तो नराधिपः। प्रेषयामास कौरव्य वारणं पाण्डवं प्रति ॥१४-७५-५॥
After speaking thus and being greatly enraged, King Vajradatta sent the elephant toward the Pāṇḍava, O Kauravya. (14-75-5)
सम्प्रेष्यमाणो नागेन्द्रो वज्रदत्तेन धीमता। उत्पतिष्यन्निवाकाशमभिदुद्राव पाण्डवम् ॥१४-७५-६॥
The lord of serpents, urged on by the wise Vajradatta, charged at the Pāṇḍava as if he were about to leap into the sky. (14-75-6)
अग्रहस्तप्रमुक्तेन शीकरेण स फल्गुनम्। समुक्षत महाराज शैलं नील इवाम्बुदः ॥१४-७५-७॥
O great king, he showered Arjuna with the missile released from his foremost hand, like a dark cloud showers a mountain. (14-75-7)
स तेन प्रेषितो राज्ञा मेघवन्निनदन्मुहुः। मुखाडम्बरघोषेण समाद्रवत फल्गुनम् ॥१४-७५-८॥
He, sent by the king, roared repeatedly like a cloud and, making a display of sound from his mouth, rushed quickly towards Phalguna (Arjuna). (14-75-8)
स नृत्यन्निव नागेन्द्रो वज्रदत्तप्रचोदितः। आससाद द्रुतं राजन्कौरवाणां महारथम् ॥१४-७५-९॥
He, O king, like a dancing lord of serpents impelled by Vajradatta, quickly approached the Kauravas' great chariot. (14-75-9)
तमापतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य वज्रदत्तस्य वारणम्। गाण्डीवमाश्रित्य बली न व्यकम्पत शत्रुहा ॥१४-७५-१०॥
Seeing Vajradatta's elephant rushing at him, the strong slayer of enemies, relying on his Gāṇḍīva, was not shaken. (14-75-10)
चुक्रोध बलवच्चापि पाण्डवस्तस्य भूपतेः। कार्यविघ्नमनुस्मृत्य पूर्ववैरं च भारत ॥१४-७५-११॥
O Bhārata, the son of Pāṇḍu also became greatly angry at the king, recalling the obstruction of his task and their earlier enmity. (14-75-11)
ततस्तं वारणं क्रुद्धः शरजालेन पाण्डवः। निवारयामास तदा वेलेव मकरालयम् ॥१४-७५-१२॥
Then, angry, the son of Pandu restrained that elephant with a shower of arrows, like the shore restrains the abode of makaras (sea-creatures). (14-75-12)
स नागप्रवरो वीर्यादर्जुनेन निवारितः। तस्थौ शरैर्वितुन्नाङ्गः श्वाविच्छललितो यथा ॥१४-७५-१३॥
He, the foremost serpent, was repulsed by Arjuna’s strength and stood with his body torn apart by arrows, like one tossed around by dogs. (14-75-13)
निवारितं गजं दृष्ट्वा भगदत्तात्मजो नृपः। उत्ससर्ज शितान्बाणानर्जुने क्रोधमूर्छितः ॥१४-७५-१४॥
When Bhagadatta’s son, the king, saw his elephant restrained, overcome with anger, he released sharp arrows at Arjuna. (14-75-14)
अर्जुनस्तु महाराज शरैः शरविघातिभिः। वारयामास तानस्तांस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥१४-७५-१५॥
But Arjuna, O great king, repelled them with the blows of his arrows; it seemed as if that was something wonderful. (14-75-15)
ततः पुनरतिक्रुद्धो राजा प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपः। प्रेषयामास नागेन्द्रं बलवच्छ्वसनोपमम् ॥१४-७५-१६॥
Then, once more, the exceedingly enraged king of Prāgjyotiṣa sent forth the king of serpents, who was powerful like the wind. (14-75-16)
तमापतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य बलवान्पाकशासनिः। नाराचमग्निसङ्काशं प्राहिणोद्वारणं प्रति ॥१४-७५-१७॥
Seeing him coming, the powerful Indra (Pākāśāsani) sent a fire-like iron arrow towards the elephant. (14-75-17)
स तेन वारणो राजन्मर्मण्यभिहतो भृशम्। पपात सहसा भूमौ वज्ररुग्ण इवाचलः ॥१४-७५-१८॥
O king, that elephant, struck severely in the vital parts by him, suddenly fell to the ground like a mountain shattered by a thunderbolt. (14-75-18)
स पतञ्शुशुभे नागो धनञ्जयशराहतः। विशन्निव महाशैलो महीं वज्रप्रपीडितः ॥१४-७५-१९॥
As he fell, the elephant struck by Dhananjaya's arrow shone like a great mountain, appearing despondent as if crushed to the earth by a thunderbolt. (14-75-19)
तस्मिन्निपतिते नागे वज्रदत्तस्य पाण्डवः। तं न भेतव्यमित्याह ततो भूमिगतं नृपम् ॥१४-७५-२०॥
When Vajradatta's serpent had fallen, the Pāṇḍava said to the king lying on the ground, 'Do not fear him.' (14-75-20)
अब्रवीद्धि महातेजाः प्रस्थितं मां युधिष्ठिरः। राजानस्ते न हन्तव्या धनञ्जय कथञ्चन ॥१४-७५-२१॥
Indeed, as I was about to depart, the greatly radiant Yudhishthira said to me: 'Dhananjaya, you must not slay the kings by any means.' (14-75-21)
सर्वमेतन्नरव्याघ्र भवत्वेतावता कृतम्। योधाश्चापि न हन्तव्या धनञ्जय रणे त्वया ॥१४-७५-२२॥
Let all this, O tiger among men, be so; by this alone everything has been accomplished. The warriors also are not to be slain by you, Dhananjaya, in battle. (14-75-22)
वक्तव्याश्चापि राजानः सर्वैः सह सुहृज्जनैः। युधिष्ठिरस्याश्वमेधो भवद्भिरनुभूयताम् ॥१४-७५-२३॥
And let the kings be invited, along with all friendly people; may you all participate in the horse sacrifice of Yudhishthira. (14-75-23)
इति भ्रातृवचः श्रुत्वा न हन्मि त्वां जनाधिप। उत्तिष्ठ न भयं तेऽस्ति स्वस्तिमान्गच्छ पार्थिव ॥१४-७५-२४॥
Having heard the brother's words, I will not kill you, O lord of people. Arise; there is no fear for you. Go safely, O king. (14-75-24)
आगच्छेथा महाराज परां चैत्रीमुपस्थिताम्। तदाश्वमेधो भविता धर्मराजस्य धीमतः ॥१४-७५-२५॥
Please come, O great king, when the auspicious month of Caitra arrives. Then Dharmarāja, the wise, will perform the horse-sacrifice. (14-75-25)
एवमुक्तः स राजा तु भगदत्तात्मजस्तदा। तथेत्येवाब्रवीद्वाक्यं पाण्डवेनाभिनिर्जितः ॥१४-७५-२६॥
Having been thus addressed, the king, the son of Bhagadatta, then, having been subdued by the Pāṇḍava, said just 'so be it.' (14-75-26)
