वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा युधां श्रेष्ठः सर्वयादवनन्दनः। सर्वायुधवरोपेतमारुरोह रथोत्तमम्॥
Vaishampayana said “Having said to that foremost of all wielders of weapons, viz., that delighter of all the Yadavas, got on his excellent car, well furnished with all sorts of powerful weapons.
युक्तं परमकाम्बोजैस्तुरगैर्हेममालिभिः। आदित्योदयवर्णस्य धुरं रथवरस्य तु॥
Two pairs of best horses of the Kamvoja breed were yoked to that car and they were adorned with garlands of gold. The Dhur of that best of cars was of the colour of the morning sun.
दक्षिणामवहच्छब्यः सुग्रीवः सव्यतोऽभवत्। पाणिवाहौ तु तस्यास्तां मेघपुष्पबलाहकौ॥
On the right was yoked and horse known as Shaivya; on the left was placed Sugriva; the who Parshni was drawn by two others called Meghapushpa and Valahaka.
विश्वकर्मकृता दिव्या रत्नधातुविभूषिता। उच्छ्रितेव रथे माया ध्वजयष्टिरदृश्यत॥
There was on that car celestial standard adorned with gems and gold and made by the celestial Architect, and standing high like the Maya of Vishnu.
वैनतेयः स्थितस्तस्यां प्रभामण्डलरश्मिवान्। तस्य सत्यवतः केतुर्भुजगारिरदृश्यत॥
Upon that standard was Vinata's son, Garuda, that enemy of snakes perched on the standard-top of of Keshava is the embodiment of truth.
अथारोहद्धृषीकेशः केतुः सर्वधनुष्मताम्। अर्जुनः सत्यकर्मा च कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः॥
The Hrishikesha, that foremost of all bowmen, got upon that car. After him Arjuna of irresistible deeds and Yudhishthira the king of the Kurus, got upon the same car,
अशोभेतां महात्मानौ दाशार्हमभितः स्थितौ। रथस्थं शार्ङ्गधन्वानमश्विनाविव वासवम्॥
Seated on that car. by the side of that Dasharha's hero, who held the bow called Sharnga, the two sons of Pandu shone highly beautiful, like the two Ashvins seated by the side of Vasava.
तावुपारोप्य दाशार्हः स्यन्दनं लोकपूजितम्। प्रतोदेन जवोपेतान् परमाश्चानचोदयत्॥
Making them got on that car of his which was adored by all the world, the Dasharha hero urged those best of fleet horses.
ते हयाः सहसोत्पेतुर्गृहीत्वा स्यन्दनोत्तमम्। आस्थितं पाण्डवेयाभ्यां यदूनामृषभेण च॥
Those horses then suddenly ran taking after them that excellent vehicle ridden by the two sons of Pandu and by that foremost of Yadu's race.
वहतां शार्ङ्गधन्वानमश्वानां शीघ्रगामिनाम्। प्रादुरासीन्महाशब्दः पक्षिणां पततामिव॥
Greatly quick-coursing, as those animals, were, bore away the wilder of Sharnga, a loud noise was caused by their motion, like that of birds passing through the air.
ते समाईनरव्याघ्राः क्षणेन भरतर्षभ। भीमसेनं महेष्वासं समनुद्रुत्य वेगिताः॥
Running very quickly, they soon met, O foremost of Bharata's race, the mighty bowman Bhimasena in whose wake they had followed.
क्रोधदीप्तं तु कौन्तेयं द्विषदर्थे समुद्यतम्। नाशक्नुवन् वारयितुं समेत्यापि महारथाः॥
Although those great car-warriors met Bhima, they could not stop that son of Kunti, for filled with anger, he proceeded fiercely towards the enemy.
स तेषां प्रेक्षतामेव श्रीमतां दृढधन्विनाम्। ययौ भागीरथीतीरं हरिभि शवेगितैः॥
Before the very presence of those illustrious and firm bowmen, Bhima, by means of his very quick-coursing horses, proceeded towards the bank of the river Bhagirathi.
यत्र स्म श्रूयते द्रौणिः पुत्रहन्ता महात्मनाम्। स ददर्श महात्मानमुदकान्ते यशस्विनम्॥
he saw the great and illustrious and darkcomplexioned and island-born Vyasa sitting near the edge of the water encircled by many Rishis.
कृष्णद्वैपायनं व्यासमासीनमृषिभिः सह। तं चैव क्रूरकर्माणं घृताक्तं कुशचीरिणम्॥ रजसा ध्वस्तमासीनं ददर्श द्रौणिमन्तिके।
And he also saw Drona's wicked son sitting by them, covered with dust, clad in a piece of cloth made of Kusha grass, and smeared all over with clarified butter.
तमभ्यधावत् कौन्तेयः प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः॥ भीमसेनो महाबाहुस्तिष्ठ निष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्।
Taking up his bow with arrows on it, the mighty-armed Bhimasena, the son of Kunti, rushed towards Ashvatthaman, and said, 'Wait, wait!'
स दृष्ट्वा भीमधन्वानं प्रगृहीतशरासनम्॥ भ्रातरौ पृष्ठतश्चास्य जनार्दनरथे स्थितौ। व्यथितात्माभवद् द्रौणिः प्राप्तं चेदममन्यत॥ स तद् दिव्यमदीनात्मा परमास्त्रमचिन्तयत्।
Seeing that terrible bowman coming towards him bow in hand, and his tow brothers on Janarddana's car, Drona's son became exceedingly anxious and thought his end was night. Never to be depressed, he thought of that high weapon which he had obtained form his father.
जग्राह च स चैषीकां द्रौणिः सव्येन पाणिना॥ स तामापदमासाद्य दिव्यमस्त्रमुदैरयत्।
He then took up a blade of grass with his left hand. Overcome with misfortune, he inspired that blade of grass with proper mantras and converted it into that powerful celestial weapon.
अमृष्यमाणस्ताञ्छूरान् दिव्यायुधवरान् स्थितान्॥ अपाण्डवायेति रुषा व्यसृजद् दारुणं वचः।
Unable to bear the arrows of the Pandavas and the presence of those wielders of celestial weapons, he cried in anger saying,-For the destruction of the Pandavas.'
इत्युक्त्वा राजशार्दूल द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान्॥ सर्वलोकप्रमोहार्थं तदस्त्रं प्रमुमोच ह।
Having said these words, O foremost of kings, the brave son of Drona discharged that weapon for stupefying all the worlds.
ततस्तस्यामिषीकायां पावकः समजायत। प्रधक्ष्यन्निव लोकांस्त्रीन् कालान्तकयमोपमः॥
A fire then was begotten of that blade of grass, which appeared capable of destroying the three worlds like the all-destroying Yama at the end of the cycle."