sañchidyamana-dvipadebha-vajinam

 anga-prasutah sataso ’srg-apagah

bhujahayah purusa-sirsa-kacchapa

 hata-dvipa-dvipa-haya grahakulah

 

karoru-mina nara-kesa-saivala

 dhanus-tarangayudha-gulma-sankulah

acchurikavarta-bhayanaka maha-

 mani-pravekabharanasma-sarkarah

 

pravartita bhiru-bhayavaha mrdhe

 manasvinam harsa-karih parasparam

vinighnatarin musalena durmadan

 sankarsanenaparimeya-tejasa

 

balam tad angarnava-durga-bhairavam

 duranta-param magadhendra-palitam

ksayam pranitam vasudeva-putrayor

 vikriditam taj jagad-isayoh param

 

Translation: 

 

On the battlefield, hundreds of rivers of blood flowed from the limbs of the humans, elephants and horses who had been cut to pieces. In these rivers arms resembled snakes; human heads, turtles; dead elephants, islands; and dead horses, crocodiles. Hands and thighs appeared like fish, human hair like waterweeds, bows like waves, and various weapons like clumps of bushes. The rivers of blood teemed with all of these.

 

Purport: 

 

Chariot wheels looked like terrifying whirlpools, and precious gems and ornaments resembled stones and gravel in the rushing red rivers, which aroused fear in the timid, joy in the wise. With the blows of His plow weapon the immeasurably powerful Lord Balarama destroyed Magadhendra’s military force. And though this force was as unfathomable and fearsome as an impassable ocean, for the two sons of Vasudeva, the Lords of the universe, the battle was hardly more than play.