tāḥ - those stalks; vajra-kalpāḥ - as strong as thunderbolts; hi - indeed; abhavan - became; parighāḥ - iron staffs; muṣṭinā - with their fists; bhṛtāḥ - held; jaghnuḥ - they attacked; dviṣaḥ - their enemies; taiḥ - with these; kṛṣṇena - by Lord Kṛṣṇa; vāryamāṇāḥ - being checked; tu - although; tam - Him; ca - as well; te - they.

As soon as they took these cane stalks in their fists, the stalks changed into iron rods as hard as thunderbolts. With these weapons the warriors began attacking one another again and again, and when Lord Kṛṣṇa tried to stop them they attacked Him as well.