14.078
बभ्रुवाहनयुद्धम्
The battle of Babhrū Vāhana.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said;
श्रुत्वा तु नृपतिर्वीरं पितरं बभ्रुवाहनः। निर्ययौ विनयेनार्यो ब्राह्मणार्घ्यपुरःसरः ॥१४-७८-१॥
But when he heard, King Babhrūvāhana, the heroic son, went out humbly, the noble one preceded by Brāhmaṇas carrying the arghya offering. (14-78-1)
मणिपूरेश्वरं त्वेवमुपयातं धनञ्जयः। नाभ्यनन्दत मेधावी क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन् ॥१४-७८-२॥
Thus, when Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), the intelligent one, approached the lord of Maṇipura, he did not welcome him, recalling the duty of a kṣatriya. (14-78-2)
उवाच चैनं धर्मात्मा समन्युः फल्गुनस्तदा। प्रक्रियेयं न ते युक्ता बहिस्त्वं क्षत्रधर्मतः ॥१४-७८-३॥
Then the righteous and passionate Phalguna (Arjuna) said to him: "This procedure is not suitable for you; you are outside of the duty of a kṣatriya (warrior)." (14-78-3)
संरक्ष्यमाणं तुरगं यौधिष्ठिरमुपागतम्। यज्ञियं विषयान्ते मां नायोत्सीः किं नु पुत्रक ॥१४-७८-४॥
O dear son, as the consecrated horse of Yudhishthira, being protected, has reached the border of the land, why indeed should you fight with me? (14-78-4)
धिक्त्वामस्तु सुदुर्बुद्धिं क्षत्रधर्माविशारदम्। यो मां युद्धाय सम्प्राप्तं साम्नैवाथो त्वमग्रहीः ॥१४-७८-५॥
Fie on you! You of exceedingly wicked mind, unskilled in the warrior’s duty—who seized me, when I came for battle, using only conciliation. (14-78-5)
न त्वया पुरुषार्थश्च कश्चिदस्तीह जीवता। यस्त्वं स्त्रीवद्युधा प्राप्तं साम्ना मां प्रत्यगृह्णथाः ॥१४-७८-६॥
There is no manly effort in you or any such thing while you live; for you, like a woman, accepted me—won in battle—through conciliation. (14-78-6)
यद्यहं न्यस्तशस्त्रस्त्वामागच्छेयं सुदुर्मते। प्रक्रियेयं ततो युक्ता भवेत्तव नराधम ॥१४-७८-७॥
If I were to approach you after laying down my arms, O wicked-minded one, then this action would be appropriate for you, O vilest of men. (14-78-7)
तमेवमुक्तं भर्त्रा तु विदित्वा पन्नगात्मजा। अमृष्यमाणा भित्त्वोर्वीमुलूपी तमुपागमत् ॥१४-७८-८॥
But when the daughter of the serpent, Ulūpī, understood him thus spoken to by her husband, unable to endure it, she pierced the earth and approached him. (14-78-8)
सा ददर्श ततः पुत्रं विमृशन्तमधोमुखम्। सन्तर्ज्यमानमसकृद्भर्त्रा युद्धार्थिना विभो ॥१४-७८-९॥
She then saw her son, pondering with his face downcast, being repeatedly rebuked by her husband, who was eager for battle, O lord. (14-78-9)
ततः सा चारुसर्वाङ्गी तमुपेत्योरगात्मजा। उलूपी प्राह वचनं क्षत्रधर्मविशारदा ॥१४-७८-१०॥
Then Ulūpī, the serpent's daughter, graceful in every limb and well-versed in the duties of a warrior, approached him and spoke these words. (14-78-10)
उलूपीं मां निबोध त्वं मातरं पन्नगात्मजाम्। कुरुष्व वचनं पुत्र धर्मस्ते भविता परः ॥१४-७८-११॥
"Know me, Ulūpī, as your mother, the daughter of the serpent. Do as I say, son; your duty will thus be supreme." (14-78-11)
युध्यस्वैनं कुरुश्रेष्ठं धनञ्जयमरिंदम। एवमेष हि ते प्रीतो भविष्यति न संशयः ॥१४-७८-१२॥
Fight him, O best of the Kurus, O Dhananjaya, subduer of enemies. In this way, he will surely be pleased with you, there is no doubt. (14-78-12)
एवमुद्धर्षितो मात्रा स राजा बभ्रुवाहनः। मनश्चक्रे महातेजा युद्धाय भरतर्षभ ॥१४-७८-१३॥
Thus, O best of the Bharatas, the king Babhruvāhana, encouraged by his mother and endowed with great energy, resolved on battle. (14-78-13)
संनह्य काञ्चनं वर्म शिरस्त्राणं च भानुमत्। तूणीरशतसम्बाधमारुरोह महारथम् ॥१४-७८-१४॥
Having donned golden armor and the radiant helmet, he ascended the great chariot filled with hundreds of quivers. (14-78-14)
सर्वोपकरणैर्युक्तं युक्तमश्वैर्मनोजवैः। सुचक्रोपस्करं धीमान्हेमभाण्डपरिष्कृतम् ॥१४-७८-१५॥
The intelligent one prepared (a chariot) fitted with all implements, harnessed with horses of mind-like speed, adorned with excellent wheels and fittings, and decorated with gold vessels. (14-78-15)
परमार्चितमुच्छ्रित्य ध्वजं सिंहं हिरण्मयम्। प्रययौ पार्थमुद्दिश्य स राजा बभ्रुवाहनः ॥१४-७८-१६॥
King Babhruvahana, having raised his most-honored golden banner adorned with a lion and aiming for Arjuna, set forth. (14-78-16)
ततोऽभ्येत्य हयं वीरो यज्ञियं पार्थरक्षितम्। ग्राहयामास पुरुषैर्हयशिक्षाविशारदैः ॥१४-७८-१७॥
Then, having come near, the hero had the sacrificial horse that was guarded by Pārtha seized by men expert in the science of horses. (14-78-17)
गृहीतं वाजिनं दृष्ट्वा प्रीतात्मा स धनञ्जयः। पुत्रं रथस्थं भूमिष्ठः संन्यवारयदाहवे ॥१४-७८-१८॥
When he saw the seized horse, the delighted Dhananjaya (Arjuna), standing on the ground, restrained his son, who was on the chariot, in battle. (14-78-18)
ततः स राजा तं वीरं शरव्रातैः सहस्रशः। अर्दयामास निशितैराशीविषविषोपमैः ॥१४-७८-१९॥
Then the king tormented that hero by thousands of groups of sharp arrows, which were like serpent's poison. (14-78-19)
तयोः समभवद्युद्धं पितुः पुत्रस्य चातुलम्। देवासुररणप्रख्यमुभयोः प्रीयमाणयोः ॥१४-७८-२०॥
A battle arose between the father and the son, an incomparable fight, renowned like the wars of gods and asuras, in which both took delight. (14-78-20)
किरीटिनं तु विव्याध शरेण नतपर्वणा। जत्रुदेशे नरव्याघ्रः प्रहसन्बभ्रुवाहनः ॥१४-७८-२१॥
But Babruvāhana, the tiger among men, smiling, pierced the diademed Arjuna in the collar-bone region with an arrow of bent joint. (14-78-21)
सोऽभ्यगात्सह पुङ्खेन वल्मीकमिव पन्नगः। विनिर्भिद्य च कौन्तेयं महीतलमथाविशत् ॥१४-७८-२२॥
He, with his feathered shaft, moved forward like a serpent toward an anthill; piercing both the son of Kunti and the ground, he then entered (the earth). (14-78-22)
स गाढवेदनो धीमानालम्ब्य धनुरुत्तमम्। दिव्यं तेजः समाविश्य प्रमीत इव सम्बभौ ॥१४-७८-२३॥
He, though greatly suffering, wise, took up the excellent bow; filled with divine radiance, he appeared to shine forth, as if unconscious. (14-78-23)
स सञ्ज्ञामुपलभ्याथ प्रशस्य पुरुषर्षभः। पुत्रं शक्रात्मजो वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ॥१४-७८-२४॥
O king, having regained consciousness, then the son of Śakra praised the bull among men and spoke these words to his son. (14-78-24)
साधु साधु महाबाहो वत्स चित्राङ्गदात्मज। सदृशं कर्म ते दृष्ट्वा प्रीतिमानस्मि पुत्रक ॥१४-७८-२५॥
Well done, well done, O mighty-armed, O child, son of Citrāṅgada! Seeing this worthy deed of yours, I am pleased, dear son. (14-78-25)
विमुञ्चाम्येष बाणांस्ते पुत्र युद्धे स्थिरो भव। इत्येवमुक्त्वा नाराचैरभ्यवर्षदमित्रहा ॥१४-७८-२६॥
“I am releasing these arrows at you, O son; stand firm in the battle.” Having said thus, the destroyer of enemies showered him with iron arrows. (14-78-26)
तान्स गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तान्वज्राशनिसमप्रभान्। नाराचैरच्छिनद्राजा सर्वानेव त्रिधा त्रिधा ॥१४-७८-२७॥
The king cut down with iron arrows all those shafts released from the Gāṇḍīva, shining like thunderbolts and lightning, each one into three pieces. (14-78-27)
तस्य पार्थः शरैर्दिव्यैर्ध्वजं हेमपरिष्कृतम्। सुवर्णतालप्रतिमं क्षुरेणापाहरद्रथात् ॥१४-७८-२८॥
Arjuna, with divine arrows, cut off from his (enemy's) chariot the banner adorned with gold and resembling a golden palm leaf by means of a razor-headed arrow. (14-78-28)
हयांश्चास्य महाकायान्महावेगपराक्रमान्। चकार राज्ञो निर्जीवान्प्रहसन्पाण्डवर्षभः ॥१४-७८-२९॥
Smiling, the foremost of the Pāṇḍavas struck down the king's large, swift, and powerful horses, leaving them lifeless. (14-78-29)
स रथादवतीर्याशु राजा परमकोपनः। पदातिः पितरं कोपाद्योधयामास पाण्डवम् ॥१४-७८-३०॥
He, the king, extremely enraged, quickly descended from the chariot; being on foot, he, out of anger, engaged his father, the Pāṇḍava, in battle. (14-78-30)
सम्प्रीयमाणः पाण्डूनामृषभः पुत्रविक्रमात्। नात्यर्थं पीडयामास पुत्रं वज्रधरात्मजः ॥१४-७८-३१॥
Being pleased by his son’s valor, the leader of the Pāṇḍavas (Bhīmasena) did not torment his son, the son of Vajradhara, too greatly. (14-78-31)
स हन्यमानो विमुखं पितरं बभ्रुवाहनः। शरैराशीविषाकारैः पुनरेवार्दयद्बली ॥१४-७८-३२॥
Though being attacked, Babhruvāhana, the powerful, again tormented his father—who had turned away—with arrows shaped like poisonous snakes. (14-78-32)
ततः स बाल्यात्पितरं विव्याध हृदि पत्रिणा। निशितेन सुपुङ्खेन बलवद्बभ्रुवाहनः ॥१४-७८-३३॥
Then, impelled by childishness, the mighty Babhruvahana pierced his father in the heart with a sharp, well-feathered arrow. (14-78-33)
स बाणस्तेजसा दीप्तो ज्वलन्निव हुताशनः। विवेश पाण्डवं राजन्मर्म भित्त्वातिदुःखकृत् ॥१४-७८-३४॥
That arrow, blazing with radiance and burning like fire, O king, entered the Pāṇḍava, piercing his vital part and causing immense pain. (14-78-34)
स तेनातिभृशं विद्धः पुत्रेण कुरुनन्दनः। महीं जगाम मोहार्तस्ततो राजन्धनञ्जयः ॥१४-७८-३५॥
O king, O joy of the Kurus, Dhananjaya, struck exceedingly by his own son, then, afflicted by confusion, fell to the earth. (14-78-35)
तस्मिन्निपतिते वीरे कौरवाणां धुरन्धरे। सोऽपि मोहं जगामाशु ततश्चित्राङ्गदासुतः ॥१४-७८-३६॥
When the mighty hero of the Kauravas fell there, he too quickly became bewildered; then did the son of Citrāṅgada. (14-78-36)
व्यायम्य संयुगे राजा दृष्ट्वा च पितरं हतम्। पूर्वमेव च बाणौघैर्गाढविद्धोऽर्जुनेन सः ॥१४-७८-३७॥
Having exerted himself in battle, the king, upon seeing his father killed—and already having been severely pierced by showers of arrows from Arjuna—(he did such and such). (14-78-37)
भर्तारं निहतं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं च पतितं भुवि। चित्राङ्गदा परित्रस्ता प्रविवेश रणाजिरम् ॥१४-७८-३८॥
When she saw her husband killed and her son fallen on the ground, Citrāṅgadā, terrified, entered the battlefield. (14-78-38)
शोकसन्तप्तहृदया रुदती सा ततः शुभा। मणिपूरपतेर्माता ददर्श निहतं पतिम् ॥१४-७८-३९॥
Then she, the auspicious mother of the lord of Maṇipura, with a heart scorched by grief, weeping, saw her husband slain. (14-78-39)
