शुद्धा च गुरुशुश्रूषा यमयोः पुरुषाग्र्ययोः। अजातशत्रो भद्रं ते खाण्डवप्रस्थमाविश। भ्रातृभिस्तेऽस्तु सौभ्रात्रं धर्मे ते धीयताम मनः
Pure is the service to elders by the foremost sons of Yama; may blessings be upon you, Ajatasatru, as you enter Khandavaprastha; let brotherhood prevail among your brothers, and let your mind be set on righteousness.
इत्युक्तो भरतश्रेष्ठ धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। कृत्वाऽऽर्यसमयं सर्वं प्रतस्थे भ्रातृभिः सह
Thus addressed, the illustrious king Yudhishthira, having fulfilled all noble duties, departed together with his brothers.
ते रथान्मेघसङ्काशानास्थाय सह कृष्णया। प्रययुर्हृष्टमनस इन्द्रप्रस्थं पुरोत्तमम्
They mounted chariots resembling clouds, and with Krishna, joyfully journeyed to the splendid city of Indraprastha.
अनुज्ञातांस्तान्विदित्वा सरत्नधनसञ्जयान्। पाण्डवान्धार्तराष्ट्राणां कथमासीन्मनस्तदा
Knowing that the Pandavas had been permitted to depart with their wealth and jewels, what was the state of mind of the sons of Dhritarashtra at that time?
अनुज्ञातांस्तान्विदित्वा धृतराष्ट्रेण धीमता। राजन्दुः शासनः क्षिप्रं जगाम भ्रातरं प्रति
Learning that the wise Dhritarashtra had granted permission, the king, distressed, quickly went to his brother.
दुर्योधनं समासाद्य सामात्यं भरतर्षभ। दुःखार्तो भरतश्रेष्ठ इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Approaching Duryodhana with his ministers, O best of Bharatas, the sorrowful king spoke these words.
दुःखेनैतत्समानीतं स्थविरो नाशयत्यसौ। शत्रुसाद्गमयद्द्रव्यं तद्बुध्यध्वं महारथाः
This has been brought about by sorrow; the elder will not destroy it; the enemy has gained wealth—understand this, O great warriors.
अथ दुर्योधनः कर्णः शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः। मिथः सङ्गम्य सहिताः पाण्डवान्प्रति मानिनः
Then Duryodhana, Karna, and Shakuni son of Subala, gathered together, united in pride, to discuss the Pandavas.
वैचित्रवीर्यं राजानं धृतराष्ट्रं मनीषिणम्। अभिगम्य त्वरायुक्ताः श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रुवन्
The swift messengers approached King Dhritarashtra, son of Vichitravirya and wise in counsel, and spoke gentle words to him.
न त्वयेदं श्रुतं राजन्यज्जगाद बृहस्पतिः। शक्रस्य नीतिं प्रवदन्विद्वान्देवपुरोहितः
O King, you have not heard what Brihaspati, the learned priest of the gods, once declared, expounding the policy of Indra.
सर्वोपायैर्निहन्तव्याः शत्रवः शत्रुसूदन। पुरा युद्धाद्बलाद्वापि प्रकुर्वन्ति तवाहितम्
O destroyer of foes, enemies must be vanquished by every means, for in the past they have acted against you, whether by force or before the outbreak of war.
ते वयं पाण्डवधनैः सर्वान्सम्पूज्य पार्थिवान्। यदि तान्योधयिष्यामः किं वै निः परिहास्यति
If, after honoring all the kings with gifts of Pandava wealth, we then challenge them to battle, what indeed will be left unscathed?
अहीनाशीविषान्क्रुद्धान्नाशाय समुपस्थितान्। कृत्वा कण्ठे च पृष्ठे च कः समुत्स्रष्टुमर्हति
Who, having placed enraged serpents with deadly venom at his throat and back, and seeing them poised for destruction, would dare to cast them away?
आत्तशस्त्रा रथगताः कुपितास्तात पाण्डवाः। निःशेषान्नः करिष्यन्ति क्रुद्धा ह्याशीविषा इव
Father, the Pandavas, armed and mounted on their chariots, are furious; in their wrath, like venomous serpents, they will utterly destroy us.
सन्नद्धो ह्यर्जुनो याति विधृत्य परमेषुधी। गाण्डीवं मुहुरादत्ते निःश्वसंश्च निरीक्षते
Arjuna, fully armored and bearing his supreme bow, advances; he repeatedly grasps the Gandiva, sighing and casting fierce glances.
गदां गुर्वी समुद्यम्य त्वरितश्च वृकोदरः। स्वरथं योजयित्वाऽशु निर्यात इति नः श्रुतम्
Bhima, quickly raising his heavy mace, has yoked his chariot and is setting out at speed—so we have heard.
नकुलः खह्गमादाय चर्म चाप्यर्धचन्द्रवत्। सहदेवश्च राजा च चक्रुराकारमिङ्गितैः
Nakula has taken up his sword and a shield shaped like a crescent moon, while Sahadeva and the king have signaled their readiness through their gestures.
ते त्वास्थाय रथान्सर्वे बहुशस्त्रपरिच्छदान्। अभिघ्नान्तो रथव्रातान्सेनायोगाय निर्ययुः
All of them, mounting their chariots equipped with many weapons, have set out, striking down ranks of charioteers, readying themselves for battle.
न क्षंस्यन्ते तथाऽस्माभिर्जातु विप्रकृता हि ते। द्रौपद्याश्च परिक्लेशं कस्तेषां क्षन्तुमर्हति
They, having been wronged by us, will never forgive; who could pardon the suffering inflicted upon Draupadi?
न पश्यामि रणे क्रद्धुं बीभत्सुं प्रतिवारणम्। भीष्मो द्रोणश्च कर्णश्च द्रौणिश्च रथिनां वरः
I see no one able to withstand Arjuna in battle—not Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Karna, nor Drona's son, the best of chariot-warriors.
कृपश्च वृषसेनश्च विकर्णश्च जयद्रथः। वाह्लीकः सोमदत्तश्च भूरिर्भूरिश्रवाः शलः
Nor Kripa, nor Vrishasena, nor Vikarna, nor Jayadratha, nor Vahlika, nor Somadatta, nor Bhuri, nor Bhurishrava, nor Shala.
शकुनिः ससुतश्चैव नृपाश्चान्ये च कौरवाः। नैते सर्वे रणोद्युक्ताः पार्थं सोढुमशक्नुवन्
Nor Shakuni with his son, nor the other Kaurava kings—none of these, though eager for battle, are able to withstand Partha.
अर्जुनेन समो लोके नास्ति वीर्ये धनुर्धरः। योऽर्जुनेनार्जुनस्तुल्यो द्विबाहुर्बहुबाहुना
Nowhere in the world is there an archer equal in might to Arjuna; only Arjuna himself, with two arms or many, matches Arjuna.
कस्त्वयोक्तः पुमान्वीरो बीभत्सुसमविक्रमः। तं ये व्रूहि महावीर्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पुत्रक
Who, O son, has ever been named by you as a hero equal in valor to Arjuna? Tell me of that mighty one, for I wish to hear.
कार्तवीर्यस्य चरितं शृणु राजन्महात्मनः। अव्यक्तप्रभवो ब्रह्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः
Hear, O King, the story of Kartavirya, the great-souled one; Brahma, the unmanifest source, the grandsire of all worlds—
ब्रह्मणोऽत्रिः सुतो विद्वानत्रेः पुत्रो निशाकरः। सोमस्य तदु बुधः पुत्रो बुधस्य तु पुरूरवाः
From Brahma was born the wise Atri; from Atri, his son Nishakara (the Moon); from Soma, Budha was born, and from Budha, Pururavas.
तस्याप्यध सुतोऽप्यायुरायोस्तु नहुषः सुतः। नहुशस्य ययातिस्तु ययातेस्तनुजो यदुः?
And to him was born a son, and to Āyu, the son of Nahusha; to Nahusha, Yayāti was born, and to Yayāti, his son was Yadu.
यदोः पुत्रो महाराज सहस्रैजेति विश्रुतः। सहसौजसुतो राजञ्छक्रदासेति विश्रुतः?
O great king, Yadu's son was renowned as Sahasraja; Sahasraja's son, O king, was known as Shakradaasa.
शक्रदानस्य दायादो हेहयो नाम पार्थिवः। हेहयस्याभवत्पुत्रो धर्मनेत्र इति श्रुतः?
Shakradaana's heir was a king named Hehaya; Hehaya's son was known as Dharmanetra.
धर्मनेत्रस्य तु कृती कृतवीर्यस्तु कार्तिजः। कृतवीर्यस्य तनयो ह्यर्जुनो बलिनां वरः?
Dharmanetra's son was Kṛtī, and Kṛtavīrya was born of Kṛtī; Kṛtavīrya's son was Arjuna, foremost among the mighty.