The Slaying of Chitranga

Verse 1 (padma.5.27.1)

शेष उवाच। चित्रांगः क्रौंचकंठस्थो रथस्थो वीरशोभितः । गाहयामास तत्सैन्यं वाराह इव वारिधिम्

śeṣa uvāca citrāṁgaḥ krauṁcakaṁṭhastho rathastho vīraśobhitaḥ gāhayāmāsa tatsainyaṁ vārāha iva vāridhim

Shesha said: Chitranga, stationed at the neck of the Krauncha formation, in his chariot, resplendent as a hero, plunged into that army like a boar into the ocean.

Verse 2 (padma.5.27.2)

धनुर्विस्फार्य सुदृढं मेघनादनिनादितम् । मुमोच बाणान्निशितान्वैरिकोटिविदाहकान्

dhanurvisphārya sudṛḍhaṁ meghanādanināditam mumoca bāṇānniśitānvairikoṭividāhakān

Drawing his bow, firm, resounding like thunder, he loosed sharp arrows, burners of myriads of enemies.

Verse 3 (padma.5.27.3)

तद्बाणभिन्नसर्वांगाः शेरते सुभटा भृशम् । सकिरीटतनुत्राणाः सन्दष्टदशनच्छदाः

tadbāṇabhinnasarvāṁgāḥ śerate subhaṭā bhṛśam sakirīṭatanutrāṇāḥ sandaṣṭadaśanacchadāḥ

Fine warriors, their whole bodies pierced by those arrows, lay stretched out, their crowns and armor still upon them, their lips bitten by their own teeth.

Verse 4 (padma.5.27.4)

एवं प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे ययौ योद्धुं स पुष्कलः । मणिचित्रितमादाय चापं वैरिप्रतापनम्

evaṁ pravṛtte saṁgrāme yayau yoddhuṁ sa puṣkalaḥ maṇicitritamādāya cāpaṁ vairipratāpanam

With the battle thus begun, Pushkala went to fight, taking up his jewel-adorned bow, scorcher of the enemy.

Verse 5 (padma.5.27.5)

तयोः संगतयोरूपं दृश्यतेऽतिमनोहरम् । पुरा तारकसंग्रामे स्कंदतारकयोर्यथा

tayoḥ saṁgatayorūpaṁ dṛśyate'timanoharam purā tārakasaṁgrāme skaṁdatārakayoryathā

The sight of the two of them met together was exceedingly lovely to behold — as once, in the battle with Taraka, the sight of Skanda and Taraka.

Verse 6 (padma.5.27.6)

विस्फारयन्धनुः शीघ्रं सव्यसाची तु पुष्कलः । ताडयामास तं क्षिप्रं शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः

visphārayandhanuḥ śīghraṁ savyasācī tu puṣkalaḥ tāḍayāmāsa taṁ kṣipraṁ śaraiḥ sannataparvabhiḥ

Swiftly drawing his bow, ambidextrous Pushkala quickly struck him with arrows of well-bent joints.

Verse 7 (padma.5.27.7)

चित्रांगोऽपि रुषाक्रांतः शरासन इषूञ्छितान् । दधद्व्यमुंचद्बहुशो रणमंडलमूर्धनि

citrāṁgo'pi ruṣākrāṁtaḥ śarāsana iṣūñchitān dadhadvyamuṁcadbahuśo raṇamaṁḍalamūrdhani

Chitranga too, overcome with fury, bearing sharpened arrows on his bow, released them again and again at the crown of the battlefield.

Verse 8 (padma.5.27.8)

नादानं न च संधानं न मोचनमथापि वा । दृष्टं तावेव संदृष्टौ कुंडलीकृतचापिनौ

nādānaṁ na ca saṁdhānaṁ na mocanamathāpi vā dṛṣṭaṁ tāveva saṁdṛṣṭau kuṁḍalīkṛtacāpinau

Neither the drawing back, nor the fitting, nor even the release could be seen — only the two of them were seen, their bows bent into circles.

Verse 9 (padma.5.27.9)

तदासौ पुष्कलः क्रुद्धः शराणां शतकेन तम् । विव्याध वक्षःस्थलके महायोद्धारमुद्भटम्

tadāsau puṣkalaḥ kruddhaḥ śarāṇāṁ śatakena tam vivyādha vakṣaḥsthalake mahāyoddhāramudbhaṭam

Then that enraged Pushkala pierced that fierce, great warrior in the chest with a hundred arrows.

Verse 10 (padma.5.27.10)

चित्रांगस्ताञ्शरान्सर्वांश्चिच्छेद तिलशः क्षणात् । ताडयामास चांगेषु पुष्कलं शितसायकैः

citrāṁgastāñśarānsarvāṁściccheda tilaśaḥ kṣaṇāt tāḍayāmāsa cāṁgeṣu puṣkalaṁ śitasāyakaiḥ

Chitranga cut all those arrows to pieces in an instant, and struck Pushkala's limbs with sharpened shafts.

Verse 11 (padma.5.27.11)

पुष्कलस्तद्रथं दिव्यं भ्रामकास्त्रेण शोभिना । नभसि भ्रामयामास तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्

puṣkalastadrathaṁ divyaṁ bhrāmakāstreṇa śobhinā nabhasi bhrāmayāmāsa tadadbhutamivābhavat

Pushkala, with a resplendent whirling-weapon, spun that divine chariot through the sky — it seemed a wonder indeed.

Verse 12 (padma.5.27.12)

भ्रांत्वा मुहूर्तमात्रं तु सरथो हयसंयुतः । स्थितिर्लेभेतिकष्टेन संधृतो रणमंडले

bhrāṁtvā muhūrtamātraṁ tu saratho hayasaṁyutaḥ sthitirlebhetikaṣṭena saṁdhṛto raṇamaṁḍale

Having whirled for but a moment, the chariot, together with its horses, with great difficulty regained its footing, held firm in the field of battle.

Verse 13 (padma.5.27.13)

स चास्य विक्रमं दृष्ट्वा चित्रांगः कुपितो भृशम् । उवाच पुष्कलं धीमान्सर्वास्त्रेषु विशारदः

sa cāsya vikramaṁ dṛṣṭvā citrāṁgaḥ kupito bhṛśam uvāca puṣkalaṁ dhīmānsarvāstreṣu viśāradaḥ

Seeing this feat of his, Chitranga, greatly enraged, wise, learned in every weapon, said to Pushkala —

Verse 14 (padma.5.27.14)

चित्रांग उवाच। त्वया साधुकृतं कर्म सुभटैर्युधिसंमतम् । मद्रथो वाजिसंयुक्तो भ्रामितो नभसि क्षणम्

citrāṁga uvāca tvayā sādhukṛtaṁ karma subhaṭairyudhisaṁmatam madratho vājisaṁyukto bhrāmito nabhasi kṣaṇam

Chitranga said: "You have performed a fine deed, approved by warriors in battle — my chariot, together with its horses, whirled through the sky for a moment."

Verse 15 (padma.5.27.15)

पराक्रमं समीक्षस्व ममापि सुभटेरितम् । आकाशचारी तु भवान्भवत्वमरपूजितः

parākramaṁ samīkṣasva mamāpi subhaṭeritam ākāśacārī tu bhavānbhavatvamarapūjitaḥ

"Now behold my own valor, sent forth by a fine warrior too — become a wanderer of the sky yourself, worshipped by the immortals!"

Verse 16 (padma.5.27.16)

इत्युक्त्वा स मुमोचास्त्रं रणे परमदारुणम् । धनुषा परमास्त्रज्ञः सर्वधर्मविदुत्तमः

ityuktvā sa mumocāstraṁ raṇe paramadāruṇam dhanuṣā paramāstrajñaḥ sarvadharmaviduttamaḥ

Having said this, that supreme knower of weapons, finest in every dharma, released with his bow, in battle, a most terrible weapon.

Verse 17 (padma.5.27.17)

तेन बाणेन संविद्धः खे बभ्राम पतंगवत् । सरथः सहयः संख्ये सध्वजश्च ससारथिः

tena bāṇena saṁviddhaḥ khe babhrāma pataṁgavat sarathaḥ sahayaḥ saṁkhye sadhvajaśca sasārathiḥ

Struck by that arrow, he whirled through the sky like a moth, together with his chariot, his horses, his banner, and his charioteer, in that combat.

Verse 18 (padma.5.27.18)

भ्रांत्वा सरथवर्यस्तु नभसि त्वरयान्वितः । यावत्स्थितिं न लभते तावन्मुक्तोऽपरः शरः

bhrāṁtvā sarathavaryastu nabhasi tvarayānvitaḥ yāvatsthitiṁ na labhate tāvanmukto'paraḥ śaraḥ

Having whirled swiftly, that finest of chariots, before it could regain its footing in the sky, another arrow was released.

Verse 19 (padma.5.27.19)

पुनश्च परिबभ्राम रथः सूतसमन्वितः । तत्कर्मवीक्ष्य पुत्रस्य राज्ञो विस्मयमाप सः

punaśca paribabhrāma rathaḥ sūtasamanvitaḥ tatkarmavīkṣya putrasya rājño vismayamāpa saḥ

Again the chariot, together with its charioteer, whirled about. Beholding this feat of his son's, the king was filled with wonder.

Verse 20 (padma.5.27.20)

कथंचित्स्थितिमप्याप पुष्कलः परवीरहा । रथं जघान बाणैश्च ससूतहयमस्य च

kathaṁcitsthitimapyāpa puṣkalaḥ paravīrahā rathaṁ jaghāna bāṇaiśca sasūtahayamasya ca

Pushkala, slayer of enemy heroes, somehow regained his footing, and struck down the chariot with arrows, together with its charioteer and horses.

Verse 21 (padma.5.27.21)

सभग्नस्यंदनो वीरः पुनरन्यं समाश्रितः । सोऽपि भग्नः शरैराशु पुष्कलेन रणांगणे

sabhagnasyaṁdano vīraḥ punaranyaṁ samāśritaḥ so'pi bhagnaḥ śarairāśu puṣkalena raṇāṁgaṇe

His chariot broken, that hero mounted another; that too was swiftly broken by Pushkala's arrows on the field of battle.

Verse 22 (padma.5.27.22)

पुनरन्यं समास्थाय यावदायाति संमुखम् । तावद्बभंज निशितैः सायकैस्तद्रथं पुनः

punaranyaṁ samāsthāya yāvadāyāti saṁmukham tāvadbabhaṁja niśitaiḥ sāyakaistadrathaṁ punaḥ

Mounting yet another, as soon as it came before him, he broke that chariot too with sharp arrows.

Verse 23 (padma.5.27.23)

एवं दश रथा भग्ना नृपतेरात्मजस्य हि । पुष्कलेन तु वीरेण महासंयुगशालिना

evaṁ daśa rathā bhagnā nṛpaterātmajasya hi puṣkalena tu vīreṇa mahāsaṁyugaśālinā

Thus ten chariots of the king's son were broken by the hero Pushkala, so skilled in great combat.

Verse 24 (padma.5.27.24)

तदा चित्रांगकः संख्ये रथे स्थित्वा विचित्रिते । आजगाम ह वेगेन पुष्कलं प्रति योधितुम्

tadā citrāṁgakaḥ saṁkhye rathe sthitvā vicitrite ājagāma ha vegena puṣkalaṁ prati yodhitum

Then Chitranga, standing in battle in a wondrously wrought chariot, came swiftly to fight Pushkala.

Verse 25 (padma.5.27.25)

पुष्कलं पंचभिर्बाणैस्ताडयामास संयुगे । तैर्बाणैर्निहतोऽत्यतं विव्यथे भरतात्मजः

puṣkalaṁ paṁcabhirbāṇaistāḍayāmāsa saṁyuge tairbāṇairnihato'tyataṁ vivyathe bharatātmajaḥ

He struck Pushkala with five arrows in that combat; struck by those arrows, the son of Bharata was greatly pained.

Verse 26 (padma.5.27.26)

सक्रुद्धश्चापमुद्यम्य बाणान्दश शितान्महान् । मुमोच हृदये तस्य स्वर्णपुंखसुशोभितान्

sakruddhaścāpamudyamya bāṇāndaśa śitānmahān mumoca hṛdaye tasya svarṇapuṁkhasuśobhitān

Enraged, lifting his bow, he loosed ten great, sharp arrows, resplendent with golden nocks, into his heart.

Verse 27 (padma.5.27.27)

ते बाणाः पपुरेतस्य रुधिरं बहुदारुणाः । पीत्वा पेतुः क्षितौ कूटसाक्षिणः पूर्वजा इव

te bāṇāḥ papuretasya rudhiraṁ bahudāruṇāḥ pītvā petuḥ kṣitau kūṭasākṣiṇaḥ pūrvajā iva

Those arrows, most terrible, having drunk his blood, fell to the ground, like witnesses to a false oath, fallen from grace.

Verse 28 (padma.5.27.28)

तदा चित्रांगकः क्रुद्धो भल्लान्पंच समाददे । मुमोच भाले पुत्रस्य भरतस्य महौजसः

tadā citrāṁgakaḥ kruddho bhallānpaṁca samādade mumoca bhāle putrasya bharatasya mahaujasaḥ

Then Chitranga, enraged, took up five broadhead arrows and loosed them at the forehead of Bharata's great-vigored son.

Verse 29 (padma.5.27.29)

तैर्भल्लैराहतः क्रुद्धः शरासनवरे शरम् । दधत्प्रतिज्ञामकरोच्चित्रांगनिधनं प्रति

tairbhallairāhataḥ kruddhaḥ śarāsanavare śaram dadhatpratijñāmakaroccitrāṁganidhanaṁ prati

Struck by those broadheads, enraged, fitting an arrow to his fine bow, he made a vow concerning Chitranga's death —

Verse 30 (padma.5.27.30)

शृणु वीर मम क्षिप्रं प्रतिज्ञां त्वद्वधाश्रिताम् । तज्ज्ञात्वा सावधानेन योद्धव्यं च त्वयात्र हि

śṛṇu vīra mama kṣipraṁ pratijñāṁ tvadvadhāśritām tajjñātvā sāvadhānena yoddhavyaṁ ca tvayātra hi

"Listen, hero, swiftly, to my vow concerning your slaying; knowing it, you must fight here with due care."

Verse 31 (padma.5.27.31)

बाणेनानेन चेत्त्वां वै न कुर्यां प्राणवर्जितम् । सतीं संदूष्य वनितां शीलाचारसुशोभिताम्

bāṇenānena cettvāṁ vai na kuryāṁ prāṇavarjitam satīṁ saṁdūṣya vanitāṁ śīlācārasuśobhitām

"If by this arrow I do not deprive you of life — then let the sin of one who has defiled a chaste woman, resplendent with virtue and good conduct,"

Verse 32 (padma.5.27.32)

यो लोकः प्राप्यते लोकैर्यमस्य वशवर्तिभिः । स लोको मम वै भूयात्सत्यं मम प्रतिश्रुतम्

yo lokaḥ prāpyate lokairyamasya vaśavartibhiḥ sa loko mama vai bhūyātsatyaṁ mama pratiśrutam

"the world attained by those who dwell under Yama's own rule — let that world be mine; this is my sworn truth."

Verse 33 (padma.5.27.33)

इति श्रेष्ठं वचः श्रुत्वा जहास परवीरहा । उवाच मतिमान्वीरः पुष्कलं वचनं शुभम्

iti śreṣṭhaṁ vacaḥ śrutvā jahāsa paravīrahā uvāca matimānvīraḥ puṣkalaṁ vacanaṁ śubham

Hearing this excellent speech, that slayer of enemy heroes laughed, and the wise hero spoke this auspicious word to Pushkala —

Verse 34 (padma.5.27.34)

मृत्युर्वै प्राणिनां भाव्यः सर्वत्रैव च सर्वदा । तस्मान्मे निधने दुःखं नास्ति शूरशिरोमणे

mṛtyurvai prāṇināṁ bhāvyaḥ sarvatraiva ca sarvadā tasmānme nidhane duḥkhaṁ nāsti śūraśiromaṇe

"Death indeed must come to living beings, everywhere and always; therefore, crest-jewel of heroes, I have no grief at my own death."

Verse 35 (padma.5.27.35)

प्रतिज्ञा या कृता वीर त्वया वीरत्वशालिना । सा सत्यैव पुनर्मेऽद्य श्रूयतां व्याहृतं महत्

pratijñā yā kṛtā vīra tvayā vīratvaśālinā sā satyaiva punarme'dya śrūyatāṁ vyāhṛtaṁ mahat

"The vow that you, endowed with heroism, have made, hero — let it indeed be true; now hear, in turn, my own great declaration."

Verse 36 (padma.5.27.36)

त्वद्बाणं मद्वधोद्युक्तं न च्छिंद्यां यदि चेदहम् । तदा प्रतिज्ञां शृणु मे सर्ववीराभिमानिनः

tvadbāṇaṁ madvadhodyuktaṁ na cchiṁdyāṁ yadi cedaham tadā pratijñāṁ śṛṇu me sarvavīrābhimāninaḥ

"If I do not cut down your arrow, intent on my death — then hear my vow, I who take pride in every heroic virtue:"

Verse 37 (padma.5.27.37)

तीर्थं जिगमिषोर्यो वै कुर्यात्स्वांतविखंडनम् । एकादशीव्रतादन्यज्जानाति व्रतमुच्चकैः

tīrthaṁ jigamiṣoryo vai kuryātsvāṁtavikhaṁḍanam ekādaśīvratādanyajjānāti vratamuccakaiḥ

"whatever sin belongs to one who, wishing to go on pilgrimage, breaks his resolve, who knows any vow higher than the Ekadashi fast —"

Verse 38 (padma.5.27.38)

तस्य पापं ममैवास्तु प्रतिज्ञापरिघातिनः । इति वाक्यमुदीर्यैव तूष्णींभूतो धनुर्दधे

tasya pāpaṁ mamaivāstu pratijñāparighātinaḥ iti vākyamudīryaiva tūṣṇīṁbhūto dhanurdadhe

"let that sin, of one who breaks his own vow, be mine." Having uttered these words, falling silent, he took up his bow.

Verse 39 (padma.5.27.39)

तदानेन निषंगात्स्वादुद्धृत्य सायकं वरम् । कथयामास विशदं वाक्यं शत्रुवधावहम्

tadānena niṣaṁgātsvāduddhṛtya sāyakaṁ varam kathayāmāsa viśadaṁ vākyaṁ śatruvadhāvaham

Then, drawing a fine arrow from his own quiver, he spoke a clear declaration, bringer of the enemy's death —

Verse 40 (padma.5.27.40)

पुष्कल उवाच। यदि रामांघ्रियुगुलं निष्कापट्येन चेतसा । उपासितं मया तर्हि मम वाक्यमृतं भवेत्

puṣkala uvāca yadi rāmāṁghriyugulaṁ niṣkāpaṭyena cetasā upāsitaṁ mayā tarhi mama vākyamṛtaṁ bhavet

Pushkala said: "If I have worshipped the pair of Rama's feet with a heart free of deceit, then let my word be true."

Verse 41 (padma.5.27.41)

यदि स्वमहिलां भुक्त्वा नान्यां जानामिचेतसा । तेन सत्येन मे वाक्यं सत्यं भवतु संगरे

yadi svamahilāṁ bhuktvā nānyāṁ jānāmicetasā tena satyena me vākyaṁ satyaṁ bhavatu saṁgare

"If, having enjoyed my own wife, I know no other woman in my heart, by that truth let my word be true in this combat."

Verse 42 (padma.5.27.42)

इति वाक्यमुदीर्याशु बाणं धनुषि संधितम् । कालानलोपमं वीरशिरश्छेदनमाक्षिपत्

iti vākyamudīryāśu bāṇaṁ dhanuṣi saṁdhitam kālānalopamaṁ vīraśiraśchedanamākṣipat

Having spoken these words, he swiftly loosed, fitted to his bow, an arrow like the fire of doomsday, aimed to sever the hero's head.

Verse 43 (padma.5.27.43)

तं बाणं मुक्तमालोक्य स तु राजसुतो बली । बाणं शरासने धत्त तीक्ष्णं कालानलोपमम्

taṁ bāṇaṁ muktamālokya sa tu rājasuto balī bāṇaṁ śarāsane dhatta tīkṣṇaṁ kālānalopamam

Seeing that arrow released, that mighty king's son fitted to his bow a sharp arrow, like the fire of doomsday.

Verse 44 (padma.5.27.44)

तेन बाणेन संछिन्नो बाणः स्ववधउद्यतः । हाहाकारो महानासीच्छिन्ने तस्मिञ्छरे तदा

tena bāṇena saṁchinno bāṇaḥ svavadhaudyataḥ hāhākāro mahānāsīcchinne tasmiñchare tadā

By that arrow, the arrow intent on his own death was cut in two; a great cry of "Alas!" arose when that shaft was severed.

Verse 45 (padma.5.27.45)

परार्धं पतितं भूमौ पूर्वार्धं फलसंयुतम् । शिरोधरां चकर्ताशु पद्मनालमिव क्षणात्

parārdhaṁ patitaṁ bhūmau pūrvārdhaṁ phalasaṁyutam śirodharāṁ cakartāśu padmanālamiva kṣaṇāt

The far half fell to the ground; the near half, still bearing its head, at once severed his neck, like a lotus-stalk, in an instant.

Verse 46 (padma.5.27.46)

तदा भूमौ पतंतं तु दृष्ट्वा तत्तस्यसैनिकाः । हाहाकृत्वा भृशं सर्वे पलायनपरागताः

tadā bhūmau pataṁtaṁ tu dṛṣṭvā tattasyasainikāḥ hāhākṛtvā bhṛśaṁ sarve palāyanaparāgatāḥ

Then, seeing him fall to the ground, all his soldiers cried out in great distress, and fled.

Verse 47 (padma.5.27.47)

पृथ्व्यां तन्मस्तकं श्रेष्ठं सकिरीटं सकुंडलम् । शुशुभेऽतीव पतितं चंद्रबिंबं दिवो यथा

pṛthvyāṁ tanmastakaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ sakirīṭaṁ sakuṁḍalam śuśubhe'tīva patitaṁ caṁdrabiṁbaṁ divo yathā

On the earth, that finest of heads, with its crown and earrings, shone exceedingly, fallen there like the very orb of the moon from the sky.

Verse 48 (padma.5.27.48)

तं वीक्ष्य पतितं वीरः पुष्कलो भरतात्मजः । व्यगाहत व्यूहमिमं सर्ववीरैकशोभितम्

taṁ vīkṣya patitaṁ vīraḥ puṣkalo bharatātmajaḥ vyagāhata vyūhamimaṁ sarvavīraikaśobhitam

Seeing him fallen, the hero Pushkala, son of Bharata, plunged into that formation, adorned solely by all its heroes.