प्रकाशार्थं ययौ तत्र रक्षार्थं च महारथः।। तत्र गङ्गाजले रम्ये विविक्ते क्रीडयन् स्त्रियः
The great chariot-warrior went there to provide light and protection; in the beautiful, secluded waters of the Gaṅgā, women were playing.
शब्दं तेषां स शुश्राव नदीं समुपसर्पताम्। तेन शब्देन चाविष्टश्चुक्रोध बलवद्बली
He heard their voices as they approached the river; disturbed by that sound, the powerful one became greatly angry.
स दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवांस्तत्र सह मात्रा परन्तपान्। विष्फारयन्धनुर्घोरमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Seeing the Pāṇḍavas there with their mother, the scorcher of foes, he drew his terrible bow and spoke these words:
सन्ध्या संरज्यते घोरा पूर्वरात्रागमेषु या। अशीतिभिर्लवैर्हीनं तन्मुहूर्तं प्रचक्षते
The fierce twilight arises at the beginning of the night; that moment, lacking eighty lavas, is called a muhūrta.
विहितं कामचाराणां यक्षगन्धर्वरक्षसाम्। शेषमन्यन्मनुष्याणां कर्मचारेषु वै स्मृतम्
It is allotted for the free movement of yakṣas, gandharvas, and rākṣasas; the rest is remembered as belonging to humans for their activities.
लोभात्प्रचारं चरतस्तासु वेलासु वै नरान्। उपक्रान्ता निगृह्णीमो राक्षसैः सह बालिशान्
Out of greed, those men who wander during these times are seized and restrained by rākṣasas together with the foolish.
अतो रात्रौ प्राप्नुवतो जलं ब्रह्मविदो जनाः। गर्हयन्ति नरान्सर्वान्बलस्थान्नृपतीनपि
Therefore, those who obtain water at night, even if they are learned in the Vedas, are condemned by all men, even by kings in power.
आराच्च तिष्ठतास्माकं समीपं नोपसर्पत। कस्मान्मां नाभिजानीत प्राप्तं भागीरथीजलम्
Remain far from us; do not approach closely. Why do you not recognize me, who has come to the Bhāgīrathī's water?
अङ्गारपर्णं गन्धर्वं वित्त मां स्वबलाश्रयम्। अहं हि मानी चेर्ष्युश्च कुबेरस्य प्रियः सखा
Know me as Angāraparṇa the Gandharva, relying on my own strength; I am proud, jealous, and a dear friend of Kubera.
अङ्गारपर्णमित्येवं ख्यातं चेदं वनं मम। अनुगङ्गं चरन्कामांश्चित्रं यत्र रमाम्यहम्
I am known as Angāraparṇa, and this forest is mine; wandering along the Gaṅgā as I please, I delight here in many ways.
न कौणपाः शृङ्गिणो वा न देवा न च मानुषाः। कुबेरस्य यथोष्णीषं किं मां समुपसर्पथ
Neither spirits, nor horned beings, nor gods, nor humans—no one, not even Kubera’s own attendants, would approach me as you do. Why do you come near me?
समुद्रे हिमवत्पार्श्वे नद्यामस्यां च दुर्मते। रात्रावहनि सन्ध्यायां कस्य क्लृप्तः परिग्रहः
O foolish one, on the ocean, beside the Himalaya, or in this river—by night, by day, or at twilight—who has the right to claim possession here?
भुक्तो वाऽप्यथ वाऽभुक्तो रात्रावहनि खेचर। न कालनियमो ह्यस्ति गङ्गां प्राप्य सरिद्वरां
Whether one has eaten or not, by night or by day, or while moving through the sky—there is no fixed time for approaching the Ganga, the best of rivers.
वयं च शक्तिसम्पन्ना अकाले त्वामधृष्णुम। अशक्ता हि रणे क्रूर युष्मानर्चन्ति मानवाः
We possess strength and have approached you at an unseasonable time; but in battle, O cruel one, powerless men worship you.
पुरा हिमवतश्चैषा हेमशृङ्गाद्विनिःसृता। गङ्गा गत्वा समुद्राम्भः सप्तधा समपद्यत
Long ago, this Ganga issued forth from the golden peak of the Himalaya, and after reaching the ocean’s waters, she divided into seven streams.
गङ्गां च यमुनां चैव प्लक्षजातां सरस्वतीम्। रथस्थां सरयूं चैव गोमतीं गण्डकीं तथा
The Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati born from the Plaksha tree, Sarayu flowing by chariot, as well as the Gomati and Gandaki—
अपर्युषितपापास्ते नदीः सप्त पिबन्ति ये। इयं भूत्वा चैकवप्रा शुचिराकाशगा पुनः
Those who drink from these seven rivers, whose sins are not yet settled, become pure; and this river, having become one again, ascends to the sky, pure once more.
देवेषु गङ्गा गन्धर्व प्राप्नोत्यलकनन्दताम्। तथा पितॄन्वैतरणी दुस्तरा पापकर्मभिः। गङ्गा भवति वै प्राप्य कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्
Among the gods, O Gandharva, Ganga becomes Alakananda; for the ancestors, she is the Vaitarani, hard to cross for those of evil deeds. Thus, having attained the Ganga, so said Krishna Dvaipayana.
असम्बाधा देवनदी स्वर्गसंपादनी शुभा। कथमिच्छसि तां रोद्धुं नैष धर्मः सनातनः
The divine river is unimpeded, bestowing heaven, and auspicious. How do you wish to obstruct her? This is not the eternal law.
अनिवार्यमसम्बाधं तव वाचा कथं वयम्। न स्पृशेम यथाकामं पुण्यं भागीरथीजलम्
How could we, by your words, be prevented from freely touching the holy water of Bhagirathi, which is irresistible and unimpeded?
अङ्गारपर्णस्तच्छ्रुत्वा क्रुद्ध आनाम्य कार्मुकम्। मुमोच बाणान्निशितानहीनाशीविषानिव
Hearing this, Angaraparna, enraged, bent his bow and released sharp arrows, like venomous serpents.
उल्मुकं भ्रामयंस्तूर्णं पाण्डवश्चर्म चोत्तरम्। व्यपोहत शरांस्तस्य सर्वानेव धनञ्जयः
Swiftly whirling a blazing torch and raising his shield, Pandava Dhananjaya repelled all those arrows.
बिभीषिका वै गन्धर्व नास्त्रज्ञेषु प्रयुज्यते। अस्त्रज्ञेषु प्रयुक्तेयं फेनवत्प्रविलीयते
O Gandharva, terror is not used against those skilled in weapons; when used against such, it dissolves like foam.
मानुषानति गन्धर्वान्सर्वान् गन्धर्व लक्षये। तस्मादस्त्रेण दिव्येन योत्स्येऽहं न तु मायया
I see all the Gandharvas and humans here, O Gandharva; therefore, I will fight with a divine weapon, not with illusion.
पुराऽस्त्रमिमाग्नेयं प्रादात्किल बृहस्पतिः। भरद्वाजाय गन्धर्व गुरुर्मान्यः शतक्रतोः
Long ago, Brhaspati, the revered teacher of Indra, gave this Agneya weapon to Bharadvaja, O Gandharva.
भरद्वजादग्निवेश्य अग्निवेश्याद्गुरुर्मम। साध्विदं मह्यमददद्द्रोणो ब्राह्मणसत्तमः
From Bharadvaja it went to Agnivesya, from Agnivesya to my teacher; the noble Brahmin Drona gave this knowledge to me.
इत्युक्त्वा पाण्डवः क्रुद्धो गन्धर्वाय मुमोच ह। प्रदीप्तमस्त्रमाग्नेयं ददाहास्य रथं तु तत्
Having spoken thus, the angry Pandava released the blazing Agneya weapon at the Gandharva, and it burned his chariot.
विरथं विप्लुतं तं तु स गन्धऱ्वं महाबलः। अस्त्रतेजःप्रमूढं च प्रपतन्तमवाङ्मुखम्
Deprived of his chariot and bewildered by the weapon’s energy, that mighty Gandharva, falling headlong, was cast down.
शिरोरुहेषु जग्राह माल्यवत्सु धनञ्जयः। भ्रातॄन्प्रति चकर्षाथ सोऽस्त्रपातादचेतसम्
Dhanañjaya seized the garlands from their heads and dragged them before his brothers, those who had fallen unconscious from the weapons.
युधिष्ठिरं तस्य भार्या प्रपेदे शरणार्थिनी। नाम्ना कुम्भीनसी नाम पतित्राणमभीप्सती
The wife of that one, named Kumbhīnasī, seeking protection for her husband, approached Yudhiṣṭhira for refuge.