एवं त्रिरात्रमभवत् तद् युद्धं भरतर्षभ। अर्जुनस्य नरेन्द्रेण वृत्रेणेव शतक्रतोः॥
Vaishampayana said — Thus went on that battle, O chief of the Bharatas, for three days between Arjuna and that prince like the encounter between him of a hundred sacrifices and Vritra.
ततश्चतुर्थे दिवसे वज्रदत्तो महाबलः। जाहास सस्वनं हासं वाक्यं चेदमथाब्रवीत्॥ अर्जुनार्जुन तिष्ठस्व न मे जीवन् विमोक्ष्यसे। त्वां निहत्य करिष्यामि पितुस्तोयं यथाविधि॥
On the fourth day, Vajradatta of great power laughed loudly and addressing Arjuna, said these words :-Wait, wait, O Arjuna! You shall not excape me alive! Killing you I shall duly discharge the water-rite of my father.
त्वया वृद्धो मम पिता भगदत्तः पितुः सखा। हतो वृद्धो मम पिता शिशुं मामद्य योधय॥
My aged father Bhagadatta, who was the friend of your father, was killed by you on account of his weight of years. Do you, however, fight me who am but a boy.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा संक्रुद्धो वज्रदत्तो नराधिपः। प्रेषयामास कौरव्य वारणं पाण्डवं प्रति॥
Having said these words, O you of Kuru's race, king Vajradatta, filled with anger, urged his elephant towards the son of Pandu.
सम्प्रेष्यमाणो नागेन्द्रो वज्रदत्तेन धीमता। उत्पतिष्यन्निवाकाशमभिदुद्राव पाण्डवम्॥
Urged on by the highly intelligent Vajradatta, that prince of elephants, as if desirous of cutting through the sky, rushed towards Dhananjaya.
अग्रहस्तसुमुक्तेन शीकरेण स नागराट्। समौक्षत गुडाकेशं शैलं नीलमिवाम्बुदः॥
That best of elephants drenched Arjuna with a shower of juice emitted from the end of his trunk, like a mass of blue clouds drenching a hill with its down-pour.
स तेन प्रेषितो राज्ञा मेघवद् विनदन् मुहुः। मुखाडम्बरसंहादैरभ्यद्रवत फाल्गुनम्॥
Indeed, urged on by the king, the elephant, repeatedly roaring like a cloud, rushed towards Phalguna, sending forth deep noise from its mouth.
स नृत्यन्निव नागेन्द्रो वज्रदत्तप्रचोदितः। आससाद द्रुतं राजन् कौरवाणां महारथम्॥
Indeed urged on by Vajradatta that prince of elephants quickly moved towards the powerful car-warrior of the Kurus, with the tread of one that seemed to dance in excitement.
तमायान्तमथालक्ष्य वज्रदत्तस्य वारणम्। गाण्डीवमाश्रित्य बली न व्यकम्पत शत्रुहा॥
Seeing that beast of Vajradatta advance towards him, that destroyer of enemies, viz., the powerful Dhananjaya, relaying on Gandiva, stood his ground without shaking with fear.
चुक्रोध बलवच्चापि पाण्डवस्तस्य भूपतेः। कार्यविघ्नमनुस्मृत्य पूर्ववैरं च भारत॥
Recollecting what an obstacle Vajradatta was proving to the performance of his task, and remembering the old enmity of the house, the son of Pandu became greatly excited with rage against the king.
ततस्तं वारणं क्रुद्धः शरजालेन पाण्डवः। निवारयामास तदा बेलेव मकरालयम्॥
Worked up with rage, Dhananjaya impeded the course of that beast with a shower of arrows like the shore resisting the surging sea.
स नागप्रवरः श्रीमानर्जुनेन निवारितः। तस्थौ शरैर्विनुन्नाङ्गः श्वाविच्छललितो यथा।॥
That best of elephants and beautiful in appearance, thus impeded by Arjuna, stopped in its course, with body pierced with many an arrow, like a porcupine with its quills erect.
निवारितं गजं दृष्ट्वा भगदत्तसुतो नृपः। उत्ससर्ज शितान् बाणानर्जुनं क्रोधमूर्च्छितः॥
Seeing his elephant impeded in its course, the royal son Bhagadatta, deprived of sense by anger, shot many whetted arrows at Arjuna.
अर्जुनस्तु महाबाहुः शरैररिनिघातिभिः। वारयामास तान् बाणांस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥
The mighty-armed Arjuna baffled all those arrows with many foe-destroying arrows of his. The feat appeared to be exceedingly wonderful.
ततः पुनरभिक्रुद्धो राजा प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपः। प्रेषयामास नागेन्द्रं बलवत् पर्वतोपमम्॥
Once more the king of the Pragjyotishas, worked up with rage, forcibly urged his elephant, which resembled a mountain, at Arjuna.
तमापतन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य बलवत् पाकशासनिः। नाराचमग्निसंकाशं प्राहिणोद् वारणं प्रति॥
Seeing the beast once more advancing towards him, Arjuna shot with great strength an arrow at it which resembled a veritable flame of fire.
स तेन वारणो राजन् मर्मस्वभिहतो भृशम्। पपात सहसा भूमौ वज्ररुग्ण इवाचलः॥
Cut to the quick, O king, by the son of Pandu, the beast suddenly dropped down on the Earth like a mountain-summit loosened by a thunder-bolt.
स पतशुशुभे नागो धनंजयशराहतः। विशन्निव महाशैलो महीं वज्रप्रपीडितः॥
Struck with Dhananjaya's arrow, the elephant, as it lay on the Earth, looked like a huge mountain-cliff lying on the ground, loosened by the bolt of Indra.
तस्मिन् निपतिते नागे वज्रदत्तस्य पाण्डवः। तं न भेतव्यमित्याह ततो भूमिगतं नृपम्॥
When the elephant of Vajradatta was prostrated on the ground the so of Pandu, addressing the king who had fallen down with his beast, said, 'Do not fear.'
अब्रवीद्धि महातेजाः प्रस्थितं मां युधिष्ठिरः। राजानस्ते न हन्तव्या धनंजय कथंचन॥
Indeed, Yudhishthira of great energy said to me while commissioning me for this task even these words, viz., You should not, O Dhananjaya, kill those kings (who may give you battle).
सर्वमेतन्नरव्याघ्र भवत्येतावता कृतम्। योधाश्चापि न हन्तव्या धनञ्जय रणे त्वया॥
O foremost of men, you should consider your task as accomplished if only you disable those hostile kings! You should not also, O Dhananjaya, kill the warriors of those kings who may come forth to fight you.
वक्तव्याश्चापि राजानः सर्वे सहसुहृज्जनैः। युधिष्ठिरस्याश्वमेधो भवद्भिरनुभूयताम्॥
They should be requested to come, with all their kinsmen and friends, to the HorseSacrifice of Yudhishthira.
इति भ्रातृवचः श्रुत्वा न हन्मि त्वां नराधिप। उत्तिष्ठ न भयं तेऽस्ति स्वस्तिमान् गच्छ पार्थिव॥२४
Having heard these commands of my brother, I shall not kill you, O king! Rise up; let no fear be yours; return to your city safe and sound, O king.
आगच्छेया महाराज परां चैत्रीमुपस्थिताम्। यदाश्वमेधो भविता धर्मराजस्य धीमतः॥
When the day of full moon in the month of Chaitra comes, you shall O great king, go to that sacrifice of king Yudhishthira the just, for it takes place. on that day!
एवमुक्तः स राजा तु भगदत्तात्मजस्तदा। तथेत्येवाब्रवीद वाक्यं पाण्डवेनाभिनिर्जितः॥
Thus addressed by Arjuna the royal son of Bhagadatta, defeated by the son of Pandu, said, 'So be it.' that sacrifice of king Yudhishthira the just, for it takes place. on that day!
एवमुक्तः स राजा तु भगदत्तात्मजस्तदा। तथेत्येवाब्रवीद वाक्यं पाण्डवेनाभिनिर्जितः॥
Thus addressed by Arjuna the royal son of Bhagadatta, defeated by the son of Pandu, said, 'So be it.'