fm3034_1je03-04 Overheard on the BattleField

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Jun 4, 2015, 9:58:54 PM6/4/15

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fm3034_1je03-04 Overheard on the BattleField

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y3034_1je03-04 Overheard on the BattleField

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y3034_1je03-04 Overheard on the BattleField

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fm3034_1je03-04 Overheard on the BattleField

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oॐm

yoga.vAsiSTha

योग.वासिष्ट

THE FREEDOM METHOD

मोक्ष-उपाय

mokSa-upAya

•

Book Three:

उत्पत्ति

utpatti

THE OUTFALL OF THINGS

Canto 3.34

Overheard on the BattleField

jd:

this is an unusual canto, a sort of montage of voices. In that respect, it is very 'modern', and uncommon in saMskRta, except in works like the amaru-SaTakam.

in the original text, there is no indication of who is "speaking" at any particular point.

so I have improvised quotation marks,

and used indentations to indicate the change of speakers.

each —" … " denotes a different speaker. where you find —( … ), it is vasiSTha poetizing upon the ongoing events.

the original, of course, has no quotation marks.

it does not even use the Sanskrit <iti>, which performs a similar function.

so my divisions of the speeches are an addition to the text,

and the reader is welcome to disregard the attributions.

more interesting would be to guess who is talking at any particular time.

there is at least one pompous brAhmaNa,

and one excellent poet: probably vasiSTha quoting himself.

the last stanza shows a sense of humor that is curiously modern.

as you have already seen

the kAvya Style rarely presents a single obvious meaning

but presents a field of images

where the reader must discern the key

if you don't like the translation(s)

feel free to go to the Working Notes

y3034_1je03-04 Overheard on the BattleField

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5xudcepdpwoi0co/y3034_1je03-04%20%20Overheard%20on%20the%20BattleField.docx?dl=0

and make your own....

image not displayed

vasiSTha continued:

अथ राज्ञाम् युयुत्सूनाम् भतानाम् मन्त्रिणाम्_अपि । नभस: प्रेक्षकाणाम् च तत्र_इमा: प्रोदगुrगिर: ॥१॥

atha rAjJAm yuyutsUnAm bhatAnAm mantriNAm api | nabhasa: prekSakANAm ca tatra_imA: prodagur_gira: ||

3|34|1

there was much talk among

the royals,

and

the battle-hungry soldiers,

and

the counsellors,

as well as those who watched from the sky

here

is what some of these voices had to say

चलत्_पद्मम् सra इव वहd_विहगम्_एव च । नभ: शुर-शिर: कीर्णम् भाति तारकित-आकृति ॥२॥

calat padmam sare iva vahad_vihagam eva ca | nabha: zura-zira: kIrNam bhAti tArakita-AkRti ||

"They're like loose lotuses afloat in a lake."

"They're like birds in flight."

"They're like stars spangling the heavens!"

(they are the heads of high heroes)

पश्य रक्त-पृषत्-पूर-सिन्दूर-अरुण-मारुतै: । सांध्या: इव विभान्ति_एते मध्य.अह्ने अम्बुद-भानव: ॥३॥

pazya rakta-pRSat-pUra-sindUra-aruNa-mArutai: | sAMdhyA: iva vibhAnti_ete madhya.ahne ambuda-bhAnava: ||

"Look at it!

The clouds are rosy

as if it were sunset at noon

for the winds carry vermilion sprays of blood

from the flight below."

किम्_इदम् भगवन् व्योम पलाल-भरितम् स्थितम् । न_इदम् पलालम् वीराणाम्_एते शर-भर-अम्बुदा: ॥४॥

kim_idam bhagavan vyoma palAla-bharitam sthitam | na_idam palAlam vIrANAm_ete zara-bhara-ambudA: ||

"What is it, Lord? The sky looks like a pile of straw!"

"That's no straw,

it's a cloud of arrows,

shot by the Champions of this war."

यावन्त: भुवि सिच्यन्ते रुधिरै: रण-रेणव: । तावन्ति_अब्द-सहस्राणि भटानाम्_आस्पदम् दिवि ॥५॥

yAvanta: bhuvi sicyante rudhirai: raNa-reNava: | tAvanti_abda-sahasrANi bhaTAnAm_Aspadam divi ||

"Verily,

so.long.as the dusty field of battle becometh red mud,

yea,

all the bleeding thousands of soldiers

are sure to find their home in holy Heaven."

~vlm.5. As long as the dust of the earth, cries another, is moistened by the bloodshed of the brave, so long are the heroes entitled to glory, and have their abode in heaven for myriads of years.

मा भैष्ट न_एते निस्त्रिंशा_ नील-उत्पल-दल-त्विष: । अमी वीर-अवलोकिन्या लक्ष्म्या नयन-विभ्रमा: ॥६॥

mA bhaiSTa na_ete nistriMzA:_ nIla-utpala-dala-tviSa: | amI vIra-avalokinyA lakSmyA nayana-vibhramA: ||

"Show no fear!

not those fancy Short.swords with their splendid blue.lotus-sheen."

"Yea,

fear those eye-catching snares,

the violent hero-seeking glances of lakSmI."

~DC. Do not fear! not these swords do not bring delusion, they are splendid petals of blue lotus of Lakshmi beholding heroes.

~AS. Don't be afraid, these are not daggers, but glances of Laxmi with the sheen of a blue lotus eying the brave (with desires).

~vlm.6. Fear not these sable swords, says the sástra, whose blades are worn by the brave like petals of blue lotuses about their necks and breasts; and bravoes are favourites in the eyes of the goddess of fortune. (Fortune favours the brave).

वीर-आलिङ्गन-लोलानाम् नितम्बे सुर-योषिताम् । मेखला: शिथिली-कर्तुम् प्रवृत्त: कुसुम.आयुधा: ॥७॥

vIra-AliGgana-lolAnAm nitambe sura-yoSitAm | mekhalA: zithilI-kartum pravRtta: kusuma.AyudhA: ||

"She longs for the embraces of

some Hero,

some love-god

who would let loose the girdle from her butt,

and make good love."

~vlm.7. The heavenly nymphs that beheld the fighting, felt a desire to embrace the brave, and the god of the flowery bow (Káma or cupid), was busy to loosen their waist bands.

लसत्-भुज-लतालोला रक्त-पल्लव-पाणय: । मञ्जरी-मत्त-नयना: मधु-आमोद-सुगन्धय: ॥८॥

lasat-bhuja-latAlolA rakta-pallava-pANaya: | maJjarI-matta-nayanA: madhu-Amoda-sugandhaya: ||

"Look at those arms!"

"They wave like vines in the wind,

those hands

with flowery fingertips;

those maddening eyes

—

two blossoms,

perfumed with honey-sweet perfume."

~vlm.8. They beckoned their welcome by the waving of their reddish palms, in the shaking of the ruddy leaves of trees, and by the round glances of their eyes, in the blooming blossoms of plants, and by the perfume of their breath in the honied fragrance of flowers.

गायन्त: मधुर-आलापै: नन्दन-उद्यान-देवता: । तव_आगमनम्_आशङ्क्य प्रवृत्ता: परिनर्तितुम् ॥९॥

gAyanta: madhura-AlApai: nandana-udyAna-devatA: | tava_Agamanam_AzaGkya pravRttA: parinartitum ||

(there was much singing, much sweet talk,

from those eye-gladdening women

come from

the Garden of the Gods

to dance their dances

while they watched

the war)

~vlm.9. The geniuses of the garden of Paradise, were singing sweetly in the notes of the sylvan choir, and betook themselves to dancing in the wagging tails of peacocks.

प्रत्यनीकम् भिन्नति_अन्त: कुठारै: कठिनैः_इयम् । सेना ग्राम्या_इव वनिता दयितम् दृष्टि-चेष्टितै: ॥१०॥

pratyanIkam bhinnati_anta: kuThArai: kaThinai:_iyam | senA grAmyA_iva vanitA dayitam dRSTi-ceSTitai: ||

"When the army breaks-into a town

with ruthless battle-axes

they come like a country girl

who strikes her lover with her shifting eyes!"

~vlm.10. As the brave warrior was breaking the line of the enemy with his hardy axe; so was his beloved breaking his hard heart and spirit, with the soft glances of her eyes.

हा पितुर्मम भल्लेन शिरो ज्वलितकुण्डलम् । सूर्यस्य निकटं नीतं कालेनेवाष्टमो ग्रह: ॥11॥

hA pitu:_mama bhallena ziro jvalita-kuNDalam | sUryasya nikaTam nItam kAlena_iva_aSTama: graha: ||

~vlm. It is by my lance, says the lancer, that I have severed the head of my adversary with the rings in his ears, like the head of the ascending node of Ráhu, approaching the disk of the sun.

my father's head is gone flying towards the sun!"

"It goes there like rahu, to eclipse it."

आपाद-शृङ्खला-प्रोत-भ्रमत्-स्थूल-उपल-द्वयम् । भ्रामयन्_चित्र-दण्ड-आख्यम् चक्र-मूर्ध्व-भुज: जवात् ॥१२॥

ApAda-zRGkhalA-prota-bhramat-sthUla-upala-dvayam | bhrAmayan_citra-daNDa-Akhyam cakra-mUrdhva-bhuja: javAt ||

"Look there

•—•

a pair of boulders, linked with chain!"

"They call that flying, whirling pair

the "citra-daNDa Wonder-Stick".

Cuts.off more heads than discuses!"

~vlm.12. Lo! There is a champion, hurling the blocks of stones, attached to the end of a chain reaching his feet; and another whirling his wheel with a wondrous log of wood, held in his uplifted arm.

योध: यम इव_आभाति याम्यात्_आयाति दिक्तटात् । सर्वत: संहरन्_सेनाम्_एहि याम: यथागतम् ॥१३॥

yodha: yama iva_AbhAti yAmyAt_AyAti diktaTAt | sarvata: saMharan_senAm_ehi yAma: yathAgatam ||

"This battle is like yama the DeathLord,

come from the south country.

Where he goes,

the armies are destroyed by him."

"I think

should

go.back the way we came!"

~vlm.13. There comes that combatant in the form of Yama, appearing from the region of Pluto (Preta), and spreading a horrid devastation all around. Come let us go hence as we came.

सद्यस्_छिन्न-शिर: श्वभ्र-मज्जत्-कङ्क-कुल-आकुला: ।

sadyas_chinna-zira: zvabhra-majjat-kaGka-kula-AkulA: |

कबन्धा: परिनृत्यन्ति ताल-उत्ताला: रण-अङ्गणे ॥१४॥

kabandhA: parinRtyanti tAla-uttAlA: raNa-aGgaNe ||

(Suddenly,

heads are plucked,

there,

in a canyon,

and the birds dive after them.)

The headless bodies dance about, clapping time in the battle-field.

~vlm.14. Look there the ravenous birds, greedily plunging their long necks in the cells of bodies just separated from their heads, and glutting themselves with the gushing blood; and see there the headless trunk of the slain, moving to and fro in the field of battle.

गीर्वण-गण-गोष्टीषु प्रवृत्ता: संकथा: मिथ: । कदा लोकान्तरम् धीरा: कथम् यास्यन्ति के कुत: ॥१५॥

gIrvaNa-gaNa-goSTISu pravRttA: saMkathA: mitha: | kadA lokAntaram dhIrA: katham yAsyanti ke kuta: ||

(Some eloquent observers ask,

doubtfully wondering:)

"When will they go to the other-world, those heroes?"

"And how?"

"And who?"

"And why?"

~vlm.15. The eloquent among the spectators were talking to one another, about the frailty of human life, and the uncertainty of the time of their meeting in the next world.

निगिरति_आगता: सेना: स्रवन्तीः_इव सागर: । स-मत्स्य.मकर=व्यूहा अहो नु विषम: भट: ॥१६॥

nigirati_AgatA: senA: sravantI:_iva sAgara: | sa-matsya.makara=vyUhA aho nu viSama: bhaTa: ||

"The columns of advancing troops

are rivers

running to a sea

with schools of Nibble.fish and sharks.

Death's a devilish warrior!"

~vlm.16. Oh! the stern cannibal of death, says one, that devours in one swoop, whole bodies of the assembled armies, now weltering in blood; and levels the levelling hosts to the ground.

कटेषु करिणाम् कीर्णा: धारा-नाराच-राजय: । पतिता: इव संपूर्णा: शृङ्ग-संघेषु वृष्टय: ॥१७॥

kaTeSu kariNAm kIrNA: dhArA-nArAca-rAjaya: | patitA: iva saMpUrNA: zRGga-saMgheSu vRSTaya: ||

"The heads of elephants

stuck with rows of arrows

—

thick as the rain on Elephantine Mountain."

~vlm.17. The showers of arrows falling on the bodies of elephants, resemble the showers of rain drops on mountain tops; and the darts sticking to their frontal bones, liken the bolts of lightening piercing the peaks of cliffs.

हा कुन्तेन शिरो नीतं ममेत्येवं विवक्षत: । शिरसाऽजीवमित्येवं खे खगेनेव वाशितम् ॥18॥

hA kuntena ziras nItam mama_iti_evam vivakSata: | zirasA_ajIvam_iti_evam khe khagena_iva vAzitam ||

"Oh, no!

My head is riding on a javelin!"

(That's what it seems say as it passes by

—

a catapulting dead head,

like a crow croaking in the sky.)

~vlm.18. While the headless body of the beheaded, was groveling grievously on the ground for want of its head, the pate flying on high as a bird of air, proclaimed its immortality in heaven.

यन्त्र-पाषाण-वर्षेण या_एषा_अस्मान्_परिषिञ्चति ।

सेना-अनुशृखला-जाल-वलना क्रियताम् बलात् ॥१९॥

yantra-pASANa-varSeNa yA_eSA_asmAn_pariSiJcati |

senA-anuzRkhalA-jAla-valanA kriyatAm balAt ||

"Whatever army is showering us

with catapult stones

we need to encircle them with strength."

"The Chain.Trap.

Make it so."

~AS.The verse is the utterance of soldiers being pounded and they are expressing a wish. kriyatAm is an optative passive form. The army that is showering us with catapulted stones, may it be forcibly surrounded by a net of chains. (lit. be made to be surrounded by a fence of chains).

~vlm.19. The army harassed by stones slung on their heads, cried to entrap the enemy in the snares set at their feet.

वली-पलित-निर्मुक्तम् पूर्व-भार्य-अप्सरा: सती । अङ्गी.करोति भर्तारम् परिज्ञाय रणे हतम् ॥२०॥

valI-palita-nirmuktam pUrva-bhArya-apsarA: satI | aGgI.karoti bhartAram parijJAya raNe hatam ||

"Look there.

An apsarA widow.

She claims a body from the field.

He is free at last from the curse of senility,

a body

in the battlefield."

~vlm.20. Wives that had become Apsarás (heavenly nymphs) after death, were now eager to claim their husbands, who were restored to their youth, by virtue of their falling in the field of battle.

आ=दिवम् रचित-आकारा: कुन्त-कानन-कान्तय: । वीराणाम् स्वर्गम्_आरोढुम्_इव सोपान-पङ्क्तय: ॥२१॥

A=divam racita-AkArA: kunta-kAnana-kAntaya: | vIrANAm svargam_AroDhum_iva sopAna-paGktaya: ||

"Toward the sky, troublesome forms

a glory-forest of lances climb the mountain."

"It's their staircase,

leading them up to svarga.Heaven."

~vlm.21. The glaring light of the line of lances that had reached the skies, seemed as a flight of stairs or golden vistas, for the ascent of the brave to the gates of heaven.

कान्त-काञ्चन-कान्त-अङ्गे भटस्य_उरसि कामिनी । दृष्टा देव-पुरन्ध्रीयम् भर्तुः_अन्वेषण-अन्विता ॥२२॥

kAnta-kAJcana-kAnta-aGge bhaTasya_urasi kAminI | dRSTA deva-purandhrIyam bhartu:_anveSaNa-anvitA ||22||

हा हतम् सैन्यम् अस्माकम् भटैः_उद्धत-मुष्टिभि: । महा.प्रलय-कल्लोलै: सुर-शैल-स्थलम् यथा ॥२३॥

hA hatam sainyam asmAkam bhaTai:_uddhata-muSTibhi: | mahA.pralaya-kallolai: sura-zaila-sthalam yathA ||

(There

—

a girl

seeking her lover's body,

a golden chested soldier

she is a goddess

looking.for her man

but

another soldier's slain

by another soldier's sword!)

"A holy mountain falls

before the billows of the Great Doomsday."

~vlm.22. The wife of the slain soldier, seeing now a heavenly goddess, taking possession of her husband's fair gold-like breast, was looking about in search of another.

युध्यध्वम्_अग्रत: मूढा नयता_अर्ध-मृतान्_नरान् । निजान्_पाद-प्रहारेण मा_एतान्_दारयता-अधमा: ॥२४॥

yudhyadhvam_agrata: mUDhA nayatA_ardha-mRtAn_narAn | nijAn_pAda-prahAreNa mA_etAn_dArayatA-adhamA: ||

"Fight the enemy we face,

fools,

and don't be trampling our wounded."

~vlm.24. They cried out to fight the foremost in war, and to remove the wounded to the rear; and not to trample over the bodies of their own soldiers, now lying low on the ground.

धम्मिल्ल-वलना-व्यग्रे घन-उत्कण्ठे_अप्सरस्-गणे । भट: दिव्य-शरीरेण पार्श्व-प्राप्तः_निरीक्ष्यताम् ॥२५॥

dhammilla-valanA-vyagre ghana-utkaNThe_apsaras-gaNe | bhaTa: divya-zarIreNa pArzva-prApta:_nirIkSyatAm ||

~vlm.25. Behold! there the Apsáras eagerly tying their loosened locks, and advancing with sobbing bosoms to receive the departed warriors, joining their company in their celestial forms.

(above,

their heads circled with braids,

eager for men,

the crowd of heavenly apsarA.s

watch

the warriors.)

फुल्ल-हेम-अरविन्दासु छाया-शीत-जल-अनिलै: । स्वर्ग-नद्याः_तटीषु_एनम् दूरायातम् विनोदय ॥२६॥

phulla-hema-aravindAsu chAyA-zIta-jala-anilai: | svarga-nadyA:_taTISu_enam dUrAyAtam vinodaya ||

"Among sun-golden lotuses,

with cooling breezes,

by shaded waters, rivers of Heaven,

on such shores,

so hard to reach,

let them find at last their heavenly rest."

~vlm.26. Ah! receive them says one, who are our guests from afar, on the banks of the rivers of Paradise, decorated with lotus blossoms of golden hue, and entertain them with fresh water and cooling breeze.

विविध-आयुध-संघट्ट-खण्डित-उग्र-अस्थि-कोटय: । खे कवन्त्य: कणत्-कारै: प्रसृताः_तारक् ः_इव ॥२७॥

vividha-Ayudha-saMghaTTa-khaNDita-ugra-asthi-koTaya: | khe kavantya: kaNat-kArai: prasRtA:_tArak :_iva ||

(of every sort of weaponry

fragments

lie in the battlefield,

mingled with a billion bare bones,

clunking 'kaNat-kaNat',

like hard sea-crests colliding in the air.)

~vlm.27. Look! there the groups of weapons, broken into pieces like bones by their concussion, are huddled in the air with a jingling sound (kanatkára), and shining as stars in the sky.

व्योम्नि जीव-नदी=वाहे वहत्-सायक-वारिणि । चक्रावर्तिणि गच्छन्ति गिरयः_अपि_अणु-पङ्कताम् ॥२८॥

vyomni jIva-nadI=vAhe vahat-sAyaka-vAriNi | cakrAvartiNi gacchanti giraya:_api_aNu-paGkatAm ||

(everywhere

a river

of Living jIva.s

and everywhere

a shower

of missiles, rolling discuses.

they grind the mountains into dust.)

~vlm.28. Lo! the stream of deceased souls, flowing in arrowy currents and rolling in whirlpools of the flying disks, is rapidly gliding with the pebbles and stones, flung from the slings in the air.

भ्रमद्भिः_ग्रह-मार्गेषु शिरोभिः_वीर-भू.भृताम् । आयुध-अंशु-लता-नाल-लग्न-असि-दल-कण्टकै: ॥२९॥

bhramadbhi:_graha-mArgeSu zirobhi:_vIra-bhU.bhRtAm | Ayudha-aMzu-latA-nAla-lagna-asi-dala-kaNTakai: ||

"The heads

of the heroic EarthLords

drift."

"Like planets along the ecliptic,

and their weapons are their planetary radiance."

~vlm.29. The sky is become as a lake of lotuses with the lotiform heads of warriors flung aloft in the air, while the flying weapons are floating like their stalks in it, with the broken swords as their thorns all around.

~DC. roads are littered with heads of heroic commanders, like vines with flowers, and weapons are like its thorns (or rays), and swords they are holding are like torn off petals.

~AS. By the heads of the brave kings moving about on paths of planets, are like lotuses whose stalks are the rays of lights from the weapons, with swords as the leaves and thorns.

केतु-पट्ट-मृणाल-अङ्ग-दलैः_लब्ध-शिली-मुखै: । वहत्-वात-चलत्-पद्मम् नभ: पद्म-सर: कृतम् ॥३०॥

ketu-paTTa-mRNAla-aGga-dalai:_labdha-zilI-mukhai: | vahat-vAta-calat-padmam nabha: padma-sara: kRtam ||

"The torn banners are lotus-filaments,

the bodies its petals;

the arrows come like browsing bees,

the lotuses flow with the wind."

~vlm.30. The flying fragments of the flags, forming the folia of the plants, and the darts sticking to them, appear as big black bees fluttering about the flowers moving with the breeze.

मृत-मातङ्ग-संघाते गिरौ_इव पिपीलिका: । भीरव: परिलीयन्ते स्त्रिय: पुम्-वक्षसी_इव च ॥३१॥

mRta-mAtaGga-saMghAte girau_iva pipIlikA: | bhIrava: parilIyante striya: pum-vakSasI_iva ca ||

"Like

the arrows stuck in a dead elephant

—like ants on a hill—

they

hug

each other,

the fearful women,

as if they were clinging against their husband's barrel chest."

~DC. Clinging to the mountain, as if to man’s chest, are fearful women, resembling ants on the dead elephant.

~AS. The women are not doing anything here; they are only a part of an analogy. The meaning is: The fearful lie hidden among heaps of dead elephants, like ants on hills or like women (with faces) on husbands' breasts.

~vlm.31. The arrows sticking to the dead bodies of elephants, are as emmets on mountain tops, and as timid girls clinging to the bosoms of men.

अ.पूर्व-उत्तम-सौन्दर्य-कान्त-संगम-शंसिन: । वान्ति विद्याधर-स्त्रीणाम्_अलक-उल्लासिनः_अनिला: ॥३२॥

a.pUrva-uttama-saundarya-kAnta-saMgama-zaMsina: | vAnti vidyAdhara-strINAm_alaka-ullAsina:_anilA: ||

~vlm.32. The winds unfurling the curling locks of Vidyadhara females, indicate their approaching spousals, as the unfolding plumage of fowls are predictions of success in augury.

"They

have no rival,

no,

not those

most beautiful vidyAdharA Magician women!"

"They whisper secret promises of love,

their fair hair blowing in the wind."

छत्रेषु_उड्डीयमानेषु स्थितेषु व्योम्नि चन्द्रता । इन्दुना_इव यशस्-मूर्त्या कृता शुभ्र-आतपत्र=ता ॥३३॥

chatreSu_uDDIyamAneSu sthiteSu vyomni candratA | indunA_iva yazas-mUrtyA kRtA zubhra-Atapatra=tA ||

"The parasols that fly about the sky

are tiny satellites

beneath the full moon,

the emblem of glory,

and the moonbeams make a great white umbrella of light."

~vlm.33. The lifted umbrellas are shining as so many moons on high and the moon shining above in the form of fair fame, spreads her light as a white canopy on earth.

भट: मरण-मूर्च्छान्ते निमेषेण_अमरम् वपु: । स्व.कर्म-शिल्पि-रचितम् प्राप्त: स्वप्न.पुरम् यथा ॥३४॥

bhaTa: maraNa-mUrcchAnte nimeSeNa_amaram vapu: | sva.karma-zilpi-racitam prApta: svapna.puram yathA ||

"After his death-oblivion,

a soldier attains a deathless body,

fixed by the nature of his own karma."

(like seeing a city in a dream)

शूल-शक्ति-ऋष्टि-चक्राणाम् वृष्टय: मुक्त-तुष्टय: । व्योम.अब्धौ मत्स्य-मकर-संकुल-अवयवा: स्थिता: ॥३५॥

zUla-zakti-RSTi-cakrANAm vRSTaya: mukta-tuSTaya: | vyoma.abdhau matsya-makara-saMkula-avayavA: sthitA: ||

"The pikes,

javelins,

discuses,

battle-axes

—

let loose,

they fall like rain."

(in the sky-ocean,

schools of sharks and crocodiles chomp at limbs)

~AS. The showers of javelins, axes and discuses unhappy (about missing their target) are hanging in the ocean of sky like schools of fishes and crocodiles.

~vlm.35. The flying spears and lances and clubs and disks are hurtling in the air, like shoals of restless fishes and sharks, moving about incessantly in the troubled waters of the sea.

शर-उत्कृत्त-सित-च्छत्र-कलहंसैः_नभःस्थलम् । भाति संचित-पूर्ण.इन्दु-बिम्ब-लक्षैः_इव_आवृतम् ॥३६॥

zara-utkRtta-sita-cchatra-kalahaMsai:_nabhaHsthalam | bhAti saMcita-pUrNa.indu-bimba-lakSai:_iva_AvRtam ||

"Those arrow-torn white parasols go drifting like a flock of geese.

The sky is covered with them all, like a disintegrated moon."

~vlm.36. The milk-white rags of umbrellas, tattered and shattered by arrowy shafts, are flying as cranes in the crowded air, and appearing as the disk of the moon broken into a thousand pieces.

क्रियते गगन-उड्डीनैः_चामरैः_चारु-घर्घरै: । वात-अवधूत-संरोध-तरङ्ग-निकर-द्युति: ॥३७॥

kriyate gagana-uDDInai:_cAmarai:_cAru-ghargharai: | vAta-avadhUta-saMrodha-taraGga-nikara-dyuti: ||

(sky-flying fly.whisks make a subtle gurgling,

a radiance of sound,

like drops of wind-shaken waves colliding)

~vlm.37. These waving flappers flying in the air with a hoarse gurgling (gharghara), seem as the waves of the sea lifted in the air, and undulating with a babbling noise in the ocean of the sky.

दृश्यते हेति-दलिताः_छत्र-चामर-केतव: । आकाश-क्षेत्र-विक्षिप्ता: यशः-शालि-लता: इव ॥३८॥

dRzyate heti-dalitA:_chatra-cAmara-ketava: | AkAza-kSetra-vikSiptA: yazaH-zAli-latA: iva ||

"There are seen,

shredded by flying javelins,

scraps of parasols,

fly-whisks,

banners

—

the sky-field is overspread with them,

a garland to the warriors' abounding fame."

~vlm.38. Those slips of the flappers and umbrellas, hashed by the slashing arms, appear as the laurels of glory flung aloft and flying in the regions of air.

वहद्भिः_व्योम्नि स.क्षेम पश्य नीता क्षयम् शरै: । शक्ति-वृष्टि-रुपा_आयान्ती सस्य-श्री: शलभैः_इव ॥३९॥

vahadbhi:_vyomni sa.kSema pazya nItA kSayam zarai: | zakti-vRSTi-rupA_AyAntI sasya-zrI: zalabhai:_iva ||

(from somewhere in the sky, we hear:)

"Look out!

there's a piercing of arrows coming,

a shearing of spears!"

(they reap rich harvest, like locusts)

~vlm.39. Behold ye friends! how these flying arrows and showering spears, are approaching to us with hits of their spoil, like bodies of locusts, bearing away their verdant booty in the air.

एषा प्रसृत-दोर्दण्ड-भट-खड्ग-"च्छटा"त्_कृति: । कठिनात् कंकटात्_जाता मृत्योः_एव-उग्र-"हुम्"कृति: ॥४०॥

eSA prasRta-dordaNDa-bhaTa-khaDga-"cchaTA"t_kRti: | kaThinAt kaMkaTAt_jAtA mRtyo:_eva-ugra-"hum"kRti: ||

"The outstretched arms of a soldier

brandish a cudgel.

"cha-Ta-tat"

it sounds."

"On armor it sounds 'Hoom!',

which is more resonant of death."

~vlm.40. Hearken to the clanking sound of the striking steel, in the uplifted arm of the armoured soldier, resounding like the loud alarum according to another edition of the regent of death.

हेति-कल्प-अनिल-क्षुण्णा: दन्त-निर्झर-वारय: । जनता-क्षय-काले_अस्मिन्_भग्ना: नगा: नगा: इव ॥४१॥

heti-kalpa-anila-kSuNNA: danta-nirjhara-vAraya: | janatA-kSaya-kAle_asmin_bhagnA: nagA: nagA: iva ||

"Mountains

are shattered by the Doomsday winds

mountainous elephants*."

"Or are felled

by snares."

"Or fall

from the cliffs of the elephantine mountains."

*jd. mountains and elephants are often designated by the same word, as wordplay.

~DC. At the same time people are dying and elephants fall down by missiles, as mountains shattered by winds of cosmic dissolution, and their tusks are like waters of mountain waterfalls.

~AS. The elephants are the only ones being described, the mountains are for an analogy (and also the subtle word play between naga and nAga). Knocked down by the Doomsday winds of weapons, with their tusks appearing like water in brooks, in this time of loss of life, the elephants are shattered like mountains (which get shattered by the Doomsday winds).

~vlm.41. Hear the tremendous blows of weapons, like the blowing of an all destroying tornado, throwing down the elephants like craigs of mountains, with their long stretching tusks lying like water falls on the ground.

स-चक्र.नाथ-सूत-अश्वम् व्यूधम् रक्त-महाह्रदे । हाहा-अभिभूत-गतिकम् चेष्टिते रथ-पत्तनम् ॥४२॥

sa-cakra.nAtha-sUta-azvam vyUdham rakta-mahAhrade | hAhA-abhibhUta-gatikam ceSTite ratha-pattanam ||

(the Commander of Discuses,

his driver,

and his horse

—

they lie together in a pool of blood)

"Not cries of war,

but cries of woe,

when fear strikes-at charioteers and villagers."

~DC. Raja, charioter and horse lie together in the pool of blood, united by cakra weapon?, - blow, which defeated and broke rows of chariot lines??

~AS. The chariots are compared to a town. In the big pool of blood, along with its wheels, owners, drivers and horses, the town (congregation) of chariots stretches and pulsates overcome with sounds of laments and pain (hAhA-abhibhUta-gatikam).

~vlm.42. Lo! there the drivers of war chariots are stopped in their course, and striving to make their way through the puddles of blood, in which the wheels and horses of the car, are huddled together as in a bog of quagmire.

कर-कंकट-कुटि-अङ्क-खड्ग-संघट्ट-"टाम्"कृतै: । कालरात्र्या प्रनृत्यन्त्या रण-वीणेव वाद्यते ॥४३॥

kara-kaMkaTa-kuTi-aGka-khaDga-saMghaTTa-"TAm"kRtai: | kAlarAtryA pranRtyantyA raNa-vINeva vAdyate ||

"The armor-denting cudgels strike

'Tam-Tam'

like the drums of Doomsday Eve,

but the delightful lute is not

heard in battle, although it speaks."

~DC. clashing of swords against armoured bodies makes ‘tam” sound like play of war-lute at final dance at the night of dissolution.

~AS. The clanging sounds (of the first line) are the war-lute being played by her. The clanging sound in the first line is indeed caused by the swords hitting on body armor. The only problem is what armor? The first is karakaGkaTa and this can be interpreted as an arm plate. The second is a kuTi-aGka and this is a bit problematic. The kuTi is a body. aGka has numerous meanings, none of them is an armor. However, one of the meanings is a solid bolt and thus, it could mean a waist band.
~vlm.43. The jingling of arms and armours, and the jangling of swords and steel, resound, as the tingling of the lute at the dancing of the dire and dreaded dame of death.

नर-इभ-खर-वाजिभ्य: ये च्युता: रक्त-निर्झरा: । पश्य तत्_बिन्दु-सिक्तेन वायुना_अरुणिताम् दिश: ॥४४॥

nara-ibha-khara-vAjibhya: ye cyutA: rakta-nirjharA: | pazya tat_bindu-siktena vAyunA_aruNitAm diza: ||

"The warroirs and their elephants

fall down,

there are waterfalls of blood!"

"Look how the drops are scattered by the wind,

making the sky sunset."

~vlm.44. See the skirts of the sky reddened by the roseate particles, borne by the winds from the streams of blood, issuing out of the wounds in the bodies of men, horses and elephants lying dead in the field.

शस्त्र-अंशु-जलदे व्योम्नि काली-चिकुर-मेचके । शर-कोरक-भार-स्रक्-मेघे विद्युत्_इव_उदिता ॥४५॥

zastra-aMzu=jala.de vyomni kAlI=cikura-mecake | zara-koraka-bhAra-srak-meghe vidyut_iva_uditA ||

"Mist in the sky?"

"Clouds of arrows!"

"Dark clouds,

dark as the darkness of deadly kAlI..."

"And now another cloud, budded with flashing flowers!"

~DC. in sky, in clouds of pieces of sword’s broken pieces, as in black hair of Kali, in clouds which are like garlands with buds of arrows which arise as if lightnings.

~AS. Here is my meaning: In the sky, dark like Kali's hair, which is showering rays of weapons (zastrAMzu-jala-de), a garland made with arrows as buds (zara-koraka-bhAra-srag) appears (uditA) like lightening in a cloud (meghe vidyut iva).

~vlm.45. Look at the array of arrows formed in the air as a wreath of blossoms, and falling as the rays of lightnings from the dark black clouds of weapons hanging on high.

अनन्त-रक्त-संसक्त-सन्न-अवनि-तल-आयुधै: । भुवनम् भाति_अभिज्वालम्_अग्निलोके इव_आकुलम् ॥४६॥

ananta-rakta-saMsakta-sanna-avani-tala-Ayudhai: | bhuvanam bhAti_abhijvAlam_agniloke iva_Akulam ||

(an everywhere endless line of blood-red sticky weapons

cover the ground

the earth is red,

has it caught fire

is it agni.loka Fire.World?)

~vlm.46. Lo! the surface of the earth filled with blood-red weapons, appearing as faggots of fire strewn over the ground in an universal conflagration.

भुशुण्डी-शक्ति-शूल-असि-मुसल-प्रास-वृष्टय: । अन्योन्य-च्छेद-भेदाभ्याम् कर-प्रकरतः_अपतन् ॥४७॥

bhuzuNDI-zakti-zUla-asi-musala-prAsa-vRSTaya: | anyonya-ccheda-bhedAbhyAm kara-prakarata:_apatan ||

"The warclubs,

and the javelins,

the spikes and pikes,

the swords and maces,

the barbed spears

—all fall in a rain—

a cutting rain,

a splitting rain."

~vlm.47. The multitudes of commingled weapons, clashing with and breaking one another into pieces, are falling down in showers, like the innumerable rays of the sun.

अ.क्षोभ-एक-प्रहरणात्_यातुधान्यः_अन्य-चेष्टितम् ।

संरम्भ-अवेक्षण-प्रज्ञम् रणम् स्वप्नम्_इव स्थितम् ॥४८॥

a.kSobha-eka-praharaNAt_yAtudhAnya:_anya-ceSTitam |

saMrambha-avekSaNa-prajJam raNam svapnam_iva sthitam ||48||

"A lone soldier with his weapon can be a Magician

—

he makes the enemy

disappear!"

"Another kind of soldier,

in the heat of battle,

sees it all as something like a waking dream."

~DC. from one’s calm strike another is possessed by demon, wise onlookers see battle like a dream?

~AS. There is a lot going on in this metaphor. On one hand, it describes the amazing demonic action (yAtudhAnyA - by demonic action) of one concluding the war with one calm masterstroke (akSobha-eka-praharaNAt) being witnessed with angry recognition (saMrambha-IkSaNa-prajJam). Then compares it with a dream where the whole action sequence is wiped out with one swift action of awakening. There is an interesting twist in the words yAtudhAno'nyaceSTitam.
As is, it would have to break as yAtudhAnya: anyaceSTitam. But yAtudhAnya: does not fit any meaning, it needs to be instrumental as yAtudhAnyA. The AB commentary drops the avagraha in its consideration and suggest that anya is an unya which is a shortened form of unnaya. He says the drop of one "n" is cCandasa - vedic or ancient!

~vlm.48. The fighting of one man among the motionless many, is like the magic play of a magician* where the conjuror acts his part amidst the bewitched beholders, Lo! there the indifferent spectators viewing the warfare as a dream (by their prajna or inward vision of the mind). * P. mujosi S. Yátudhána, H. Jádugar = juggler.

अनन्य-शब्द-अ.विरत-हत-आहति-रणत्-झणै: । गायति_इव क्षत-क्षोभ-मुदित: रण-भैः_इव ॥४९॥

ananya-zabda-a.virata-hata-Ahati-raNat-jhaNai: | gAyati_iva kSata-kSobha-mudita: raNa-bhai:_iva ||

"It is like singing,

the rattle of battle;

they are like dancers,

the warriors."

"It is the dance of Lord Shiva's fearsome Bhairavas."

~DC/AS. constant sound of strikes and blows of battle is like singing of bhairava, rejoicing in hurt and commotion of the battle.

~vlm.49. The field of battle, where all other sounds are hushed under the clashing of arms, resembles the stage of the martial god Bhairava, chanting his pitiless war song in jarring cacophony.

अन्योन्य-रण-हेति-उग्र-चूर्ण-पूर्ण: रण-अर्णव: । वालकामये एव_अभूत्_छिन्न-तरङ्गक: ॥५०॥

anyonya-raNa-heti-ugra-cUrNa-pUrNa: raNa-arNava: | vAlakAmaye eva_abhUt_chinna-taraGgaka: ||

(After many fierce encounters,

the javelins are smashed to dust:

they make a sandy seashore in the battle-sea,

where the waves break.)

~vlm.50. The battlefield is turned to a sea of blood, filled with the sands of pounded weapons, and rolling with the waves of broken discuses.

सरभस-रसवत्-विसारि-तूर्य-प्रतिरव-पूरित-लोक.पाल-लोक: ।

sarabhasa-rasavat-visAri-tUrya-pratirava-pUrita-loka.pAla-loka: |

रण-गिरि-रयम्_उग्र-पक्ष-दक्ष-प्रतिसृति-वृत्ते_इव_अम्बरे युग.अन्ते ॥५१॥

raNa-giri-rayam_ugra-pakSa-dakSa-pratisRti-vRtte_iva_ambare yuga.ante ||

(impetuous,

impassioned,

battle-horns resound

through every quarter of the world)

"The battle roars like a mountain stream,

with fierce fighting on the wings,

and fast advances."

"Such skies are seen at the end of an Age."

~vlm.51. All the quarters under the regents of the sky, are filled with martial music loudly resounding on all sides; and the rebellowing hills seem to challenge one another, in their aerial flight and fighting (as in contest of the gods and titans of old).

~DC. All directions are full of resounding coming from violence of the battle

like sound of crashing of speedy mountains on huge wings like in the skies at the time of cosmic dissolution.

~AS. i generally agree with the meaning. I would point out that AB commentary give a different meaning for the second half. it is describing the whole war as a mountain which is ready to fly with its wings - the two fighting armies.

हा हा धिक्_प्रविकट-कङ्कट-अनन-उद्यात् प्रोड्डीन-प्रकट-तडित्-छटा-प्रतप्ता: ।

hA hA dhik_pravikaTa-kaGkaTa-anana-udyAt proDDIna-prakaTa-taDit-chaTA-prataptA: |

"क्रेङ्"कार-स्फुरित-गुण-ईरिता: रणन्त: नाराचा: शिखरि-शिला-गणम् वहन्ति ॥५२॥

"kreG"kAra-sphurita-guNa-IritA: raNanta: nArAcA: zikhari-zilA-gaNam vahanti ||

what an unlovely war!"

"it's their armor:

we shoot arrows like thunderbolts,

streaks of fire from the heavens,

and

with a 'Clang!'

they bang their rattling target,

and after that rattlle,

they bounce-back to their mountain.top."

~vlm.52. Alas for shame! says one, that these arrows flung with such force from the bow strings, and flying with such loud hissing, and glittering as red hot lightnings in the air, are foiled in their aim of piercing the impenetrable armours, and driven back by them to hit at the stony hills.

छिन्न-इच्छ-अच्छम्_इति न यावत्_अङ्ग-भङ्गम् कुर्वन्त: ज्वलत्-अनल-उज्ज्वला: पृषत्का: ।

chinna-iccha-accham_iti na yAvat_aGga-bhaGgam kurvanta: jvalat-anala-ujjvalA: pRSatkA: |

तावत् द्राक्-द्रुतम्_इति एहि मित्र याम: यामः_अयम् प्रवहति वासरः_चतुर्थ: ॥५३॥

tAvat drAk-drutam_iti ehi mitra yAma: yAma:_ayam pravahati vAsara:_caturtha: ||

"It's clearly time for us to split!

It's not so very much the body-breaking work

—

but all those fire-arrows,

they fly too fast,

they fly too far."

"My suggestion is:

let's get out of here!

It's getting near the next watch…."

~vlm.53. Hear me friend, that art tired with the sight, that it is time for us to depart from this place, ere we are pierced in our bodies by these sharp arrows flashing as fire, and before the day runs its course of the fourth watch (evening).

oॐm