Pradyumna Duels Shalva

Verse 1 (3.17.1)

एवमुक्त्वा रौक्मिणेयो यादवान्यादवर्षभ । दंशितैर्हरिभिर्युक्तं रथमास्थाय काञ्चनम् ॥

evamuktvā raukmiṇeyo yādavānyādavarṣabha | daṃśitairharibhiryuktaṃ rathamāsthāya kāñcanam

Having spoken thus to the Yadavas, O bull among the Yadavas, Rukmini's son mounted his golden chariot, yoked to armoured horses.

Note on the text: यादवर्षभ (vocative, "bull of the Yadavas") for the critical edition's bharatarṣabha is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 2 (3.17.2)

उच्छ्रित्य मकरं केतुं व्यात्ताननमलङ्कृतम् । उत्पतद्भिरिवाकाशं तैर्हयैरन्वयात्परान् ॥

ucchritya makaraṃ ketuṃ vyāttānanamalaṅkṛtam | utpatadbhirivākāśaṃ tairhayairanvayātparān

Raising his makara banner, open-jawed and adorned, he went after the enemy with those horses that seemed to leap into the sky.

Verse 3 (3.17.3)

विक्षिपन्नादयंश्चापि धनुः श्रेष्ठं महाबलैः । तूणखड्गधरः शूरो बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्रवान् ॥

vikṣipannādayaṃścāpi dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ mahābalaiḥ | tūṇakhaḍgadharaḥ śūro baddhagodhāṅgulitravān

Drawing and twanging his excellent bow, with his mighty steeds, the hero bore quiver and sword, with lizard-skin arm-guard and finger-guards bound on.

Note on the text: Corrected तूणखङ्गधरः → तूणखड्गधरः (misprint in Wikisource, खङ्ग for खड्ग; the critical edition reads tūṇakhaḍgadharaḥ). महाबलैः for the critical edition's mahābalaḥ is kept; the commentary printed on the page takes it of his horses.

Verse 4 (3.17.4)

सविद्युच्छुरितं चापं विहरन्वै तलात्तलम् । मोहयामास दैतेयान्सर्वान्सौभनिवासिनः ॥

savidyucchuritaṃ cāpaṃ viharanvai talāttalam | mohayāmāsa daiteyānsarvānsaubhanivāsinaḥ

Passing his bow, flashing like lightning, from hand to hand, he bewildered all the Daityas who dwelt in Saubha.

Note on the text: सविद्युच्छुरितं for the critical edition's sa vidyuccalitaṃ is a recension variant (explained by the commentary printed on the page) and is kept.

Verse 5 (3.17.5)

तस्य विक्षिपतश्चापं संदधानस्य चासकृत् । नान्तरं ददृशे कश्चिन्निघ्नतः शात्रवान्रणे ॥

tasya vikṣipataścāpaṃ saṃdadhānasya cāsakṛt | nāntaraṃ dadṛśe kaścinnighnataḥ śātravānraṇe

As he drew his bow and set arrow to string again and again, striking down his foes in battle, no one could see any pause between.

Note on the text: Corrected नघ्नितः → निघ्नतः (misprint in Wikisource; vowel signs misplaced, "while he struck down", the critical edition reads nighnataḥ).

Verse 6 (3.17.6)

मुखस्य वर्णो न विकल्पतेऽस्य चेलुश्च गात्राणि न चापि तस्य । सिंहोन्नतं चाप्यभिगर्जतोऽस्य शुश्राव लोकोऽद्भुतवीर्यमग्र्यम् ॥

mukhasya varṇo na vikalpate'sya celuśca gātrāṇi na cāpi tasya | siṃhonnataṃ cāpyabhigarjato'sya śuśrāva loko'dbhutavīryamagryam

The colour of his face did not change, nor did his limbs tremble; and the world heard the wondrous, peerless valour of him as he roared high like a lion.

Note on the text: Set the trishtubh verse as two half-verses (Wikisource prints one quarter per line); text unchanged.

Verse 7 (3.17.7)

जलेचरः काञ्चनयष्टिसंस्थो व्यात्ताननः शत्रुबलप्रमाथी । वित्रासयन्राजति वाहमुख्ये साल्वस्य सेनाप्रमुखे ध्वजाग्र्यः ॥

jalecaraḥ kāñcanayaṣṭisaṃstho vyāttānanaḥ śatrubalapramāthī | vitrāsayanrājati vāhamukhye sālvasya senāpramukhe dhvajāgryaḥ

The sea-monster upon its golden staff, its jaws gaping, crusher of enemy hosts — that finest of banners shone upon the finest of chariots, striking terror at the front of Shalva's army.

Note on the text: Set the trishtubh verse as two half-verses (Wikisource prints one quarter per line); text unchanged. शत्रुबलप्रमाथी for the critical edition's sarvatimipramāthī is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 8 (3.17.8)

ततस्तूर्णं विनिष्पत्य प्रद्युम्नः शत्रुकर्शनः । साल्वमेवाभिदुद्राव विधित्सुः कलहं नृप ॥

tatastūrṇaṃ viniṣpatya pradyumnaḥ śatrukarśanaḥ | sālvamevābhidudrāva vidhitsuḥ kalahaṃ nṛpa

Then Pradyumna, scourge of his foes, swiftly sallying forth, rushed straight at Shalva, eager to join battle, O king.

Note on the text: विनिष्पत्य and विधित्सुः for the critical edition's sa … niṣpatya and vidhāsyan are recension variants and are kept.

Verse 9 (3.17.9)

अभियानं तु वीरेण प्रद्युम्नेन महारणे । नामर्षयत संक्रुद्धः साल्वः कुरुकुलोद्वह ॥

abhiyānaṃ tu vīreṇa pradyumnena mahāraṇe | nāmarṣayata saṃkruddhaḥ sālvaḥ kurukulodvaha

Shalva, enraged, could not brook the hero Pradyumna's onslaught in that great battle, O upholder of the Kuru line.

Note on the text: Corrected संक्रुद्वः → संक्रुद्धः (misprint in Wikisource, द्व for द्ध; the critical edition reads saṃkruddhaḥ). महारणे for mahāhave is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 10 (3.17.10)

सरोषमदमत्तो वै कामगादवरुह्य च । प्रद्युम्नं योधयामास साल्वः परपुरंजयः ॥

saroṣamadamatto vai kāmagādavaruhya ca | pradyumnaṃ yodhayāmāsa sālvaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ

Furious and drunk with pride, Shalva, conqueror of enemy cities, came down from his Saubha that flies at will and fought Pradyumna.

Note on the text: Corrected सरोषमहमत्तो → सरोषमदमत्तो (misprint in Wikisource, ह for द; "drunk with pride", the critical edition reads sa roṣamadamatto).

Verse 11 (3.17.11)

तयोः सुतुमुलं युद्धं साल्ववृष्णिप्रवीरयोः । समेता ददृशुर्लोका बलिवासवयोरिव ॥

tayoḥ sutumulaṃ yuddhaṃ sālvavṛṣṇipravīrayoḥ | sametā dadṛśurlokā balivāsavayoriva

The assembled worlds watched that tumultuous battle between Shalva and the Vrishni hero, like that of Bali and Indra.

Verse 12 (3.17.12)

तस्य मायामयो वीर रथो हेमपरिष्कृतः । सपताकः सध्वजश्च सानुकर्षः स तूणवान् ॥

tasya māyāmayo vīra ratho hemapariṣkṛtaḥ | sapatākaḥ sadhvajaśca sānukarṣaḥ sa tūṇavān

He had a chariot of magic, O hero, adorned with gold, with flag and banner, with its under-beam and its quivers.

Verse 13 (3.17.13)

स तं रथवरं श्रीमान्समारुह्य किल प्रभो । मुमोच बाणान्कौरव्य प्रद्युम्नाय महाबलः ॥

sa taṃ rathavaraṃ śrīmānsamāruhya kila prabho | mumoca bāṇānkauravya pradyumnāya mahābalaḥ

Mounting that excellent chariot, they say, O lord, the splendid and mighty one loosed his arrows at Pradyumna, O Kauravya.

Note on the text: Corrected कौख्य → कौरव्य (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads kauravya).

Verse 14 (3.17.14)

ततो बाणमयं वर्षं व्यसृजत्तरसा रणे । प्रद्युम्नो भुजवेगेन साल्वं संमोहयन्निव ॥

tato bāṇamayaṃ varṣaṃ vyasṛjattarasā raṇe | pradyumno bhujavegena sālvaṃ saṃmohayanniva

Then Pradyumna, with all the force of his arms, swiftly let loose a rain of arrows in battle, as if to stun Shalva.

Verse 15 (3.17.15)

स तैरभिहतः सङ्ख्ये नामर्षयत सौभराट् । शरान्दीप्ताग्निसंकाशान्मुमोच तनये मम ॥

sa tairabhihataḥ saṅkhye nāmarṣayata saubharāṭ | śarāndīptāgnisaṃkāśānmumoca tanaye mama

Struck by them in battle, the lord of Saubha could not bear it, and loosed at my son arrows like blazing fire.

Note on the text: Corrected नामर्यत → नामर्षयत (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ष, the critical edition reads nāmarṣayata).

Verse 16 (3.17.16)

तमापतन्तं बाणौधं स चिच्छेद महाबलः । ततश्चान्याञ्शरान्दीप्तान्प्रचिक्षेप सुते मम ॥

tamāpatantaṃ bāṇaudhaṃ sa ciccheda mahābalaḥ | tataścānyāñśarāndīptānpracikṣepa sute mama

The mighty one cut down that flood of arrows as it flew at him, and then hurled other blazing arrows at my son.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.18.15d*0079_01–02.

Verse 17 (3.17.17)

स साल्वबाणै राजेन्द्र विद्धो रुक्मिणिनन्दनः । मुमोच बाणं त्वरितो मर्मभेदिनमाहवे ॥

sa sālvabāṇai rājendra viddho rukmiṇinandanaḥ | mumoca bāṇaṃ tvarito marmabhedinamāhave

Pierced by Shalva's arrows, O lord of kings, Rukmini's son swiftly loosed in battle an arrow that cut to the vitals.

Verse 18 (3.17.18)

तस्य वर्म विभिद्याशु स बाणो मत्सुतेरितः । विवेश हृदयं पत्री स पपात भृशहतः ॥

tasya varma vibhidyāśu sa bāṇo matsuteritaḥ | viveśa hṛdayaṃ patrī sa papāta bhṛśahataḥ

Sped by my son, that feathered arrow swiftly split his armour and entered his heart, and he fell, gravely wounded.

Note on the text: Its second line (विवेश हृदयं पत्री स पपात भृशहतः for bibheda hṛdayaṃ patrī sa papāta mumoha ca) is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 19 (3.17.19)

तस्मिन्निपतिते वीरे साल्वराजे विचेतसि । संप्राद्रवन्दानवेन्द्रा दारयन्तो वसुंधराम् ॥

tasminnipatite vīre sālvarāje vicetasi | saṃprādravandānavendrā dārayanto vasuṃdharām

When the hero, King Shalva, had fallen senseless, the Danava chiefs fled, tearing up the earth as they went.

Note on the text: Corrected संप्रद्रबन् → संप्राद्रवन् (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व and the augment lost, "they fled"; the critical edition reads saṃprādravan).

Verse 20 (3.17.20)

हाहाकृतमभूत्सैन्यं साल्वस्य पृथिवीपते । नष्टसंज्ञे निपतिते तदा सौभपतौ नृपे ॥

hāhākṛtamabhūtsainyaṃ sālvasya pṛthivīpate | naṣṭasaṃjñe nipatite tadā saubhapatau nṛpe

A cry of "Alas! Alas!" went up from Shalva's army, O lord of the earth, when the king, the lord of Saubha, had fallen senseless.

Verse 21 (3.17.21)

तत उत्थाय राजेन्द्र प्रतिलभ्य च चेतनाम् । मुमोच बाणान्सहसा प्रद्युम्नाय महाबलः ॥

tata utthāya rājendra pratilabhya ca cetanām | mumoca bāṇānsahasā pradyumnāya mahābalaḥ

Then, rising and regaining consciousness, O lord of kings, the mighty one suddenly loosed arrows at Pradyumna.

Note on the text: राजेन्द्र, बाणान् and सहसा for kauravya, bāṇaṃ and tarasā are recension variants and are kept.

Verse 22 (3.17.22)

तेन बाणेन महता प्रद्युम्नः समरे स्थितः । जत्रुदेशे भृशं विद्धो व्यथितो ददृशे तदा ॥

tena bāṇena mahatā pradyumnaḥ samare sthitaḥ | jatrudeśe bhṛśaṃ viddho vyathito dadṛśe tadā

Pierced deep at the base of the neck by that great arrow, Pradyumna, still standing in the battle, was then seen to be in pain.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 3.18.21, whose wording differs (tena viddho mahābāhuḥ … vīro vyavāsīdad rathe tadā); Wikisource's reading is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 23 (3.17.23)

तं स विद्ध्वा महाराज साल्वो रुक्मिणिनन्दनम् । ननाद सिंहनादं वै नादेनापूरयन्महीम् ॥

taṃ sa viddhvā mahārāja sālvo rukmiṇinandanam | nanāda siṃhanādaṃ vai nādenāpūrayanmahīm

Having pierced Rukmini's son, O great king, Shalva roared a lion's roar, filling the earth with the sound.

Verse 24 (3.17.24)

ततो मोहं समापन्ने तनये मम भारत । मुमोच बाणांस्त्वरितः पुनरन्यान्दुरात्मवान् ॥

tato mohaṃ samāpanne tanaye mama bhārata | mumoca bāṇāṃstvaritaḥ punaranyāndurātmavān

Then, as my son sank into a swoon, O Bharata, the wicked one quickly loosed yet more arrows at him.

Note on the text: दुरात्मवान् for the critical edition's durāsadān is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 25 (3.17.25)

स तैरभिहतो बाणैर्बहुभिस्तेन मोहितः । निश्चेष्टः कौरवश्रेष्ठ प्रद्युम्नोऽभूद्रणाजिरे ॥

sa tairabhihato bāṇairbahubhistena mohitaḥ | niśceṣṭaḥ kauravaśreṣṭha pradyumno'bhūdraṇājire

Struck by those many arrows and stunned by him, Pradyumna lay motionless on the field of battle, O best of the Kauravas.