सर्वे प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठाः सर्वेचामिततेजसः। सर्वेसर्वास्त्रविद्वांसो देवैरपि सुदुर्जयाः
All are foremost among warriors, all possess immeasurable energy, all are masters of every weapon, and even the gods would find them hard to conquer.
मन्ये मन्युसमुद्भूताः पुत्राणां तव संयुगे। अन्तं पार्थाः करिष्यन्ति वीर्यामर्षसमन्विताः
I think, O King, that the sons of Pandu, arisen in wrath, endowed with valor and pride, will bring an end to your sons in battle.
किं कृतं सूत कर्णेन वदता परुषं वचः। पर्याप्तं वैरमेतावद्यत्कृष्णा सा सभां गता
What has Karna, the charioteer's son, accomplished by speaking such harsh words? The enmity is already sufficient, since Krishna was brought into the assembly.
अपीदानीं मम सुतास्तिष्ठेरन्मन्दचेतसः। येषां भ्राता गुरुर्ज्येष्ठो विनये नावतिष्ठते
Perhaps now my sons, whose minds are dull, might still stand, though their elder brother and preceptor does not restrain them in discipline.
ममापि वचनं सूत न शुश्रूषति मन्दभाक्। दृष्ट्वा मां चक्षुषा हीनं निर्विचेष्टमचेतसम्
Even my words, O charioteer, are not heeded by that unfortunate one, who, seeing me deprived of sight and helpless, pays me no attention.
ये चास्य सचिवा मन्दाः कर्णसौबलकादयः। ते तस्य भूयसो दोषान्वर्धयन्ति विचेतसः
And those foolish counselors of his, Karna, Saubala, and others, only increase the faults of that senseless one.
स्वैरं मुक्ता ह्यपि शराः पार्थेनामिततेजसा। निर्दहेयुर्मम सुतान्किंपुनर्मन्युनेरिताः
Even if released at will by Partha, possessed of immeasurable energy, the arrows would burn up my sons; how much more so when driven by wrath!
पार्थबाहुबलोत्सृष्टा महाचापविनिःसृताः। दिव्यास्त्रमन्त्रमुदिताः सादयेयुः सुरानपि
Launched by Partha's mighty arms, issuing from his great bow, and uttered with divine mantras, those celestial weapons could bring down even the gods.
यस्य मन्त्री च गोप्ता च सुहृच्चैव जनार्दनः। हनिस्त्रैलोक्यनाथः स किंनु तस् न निर्जितम्
He whose counselor, protector, and friend is Janardana, the slayer and lord of the three worlds—how could such a one ever be defeated?
इदं हि सुमहच्चित्रमर्जुनस्येह संजय। महादेवेन बाहुभ्यां यत्समेत इति श्रुतिः
Indeed, Sanjaya, it is a great marvel here concerning Arjuna, that he was joined in battle by Mahadeva, as the tradition tells.
प्रत्यक्षं सर्वलोकस्य खाण्डवे यत्कृतं पुरा। फल्गुनेन सहायार्थे वह्नेर्दामोदरेण च
What was done long ago in Khandava by Phalguna, for the sake of aiding Agni, with Damodara—this was witnessed by all the worlds.
सर्वथा न हि मे पुत्राः सहामात्याः सबान्धवाः। क्रुद्धे पार्थे च भीमे च वासुदेवे च सात्वते
In every way, my sons, with their ministers and kinsmen, cannot withstand Partha and Bhima when angered, nor Vasudeva of the Satvata clan.
यदिदं शोचितं राज्ञा धृतराष्ट्रेण वै मुने। प्रव्राज्यपाण्डवान्वीरान्सर्वमेतन्निर्रथकम्
All that King Dhritarashtra lamented, O sage, about sending the heroic Pandavas into exile—has proven entirely futile.
कथं च राजपुत्रं तमुपेक्षेताल्पचेतसम्। दुर्योधनं पाण्डुपुत्रान्कोपयानं महारथान्
How could the king's son, that small-minded Duryodhana, disregard the Pandava princes, those great warriors, and provoke them?
किमासीत्पाण्डुपुत्राणां वने भोजनमुच्यताम्। वन्यं वाऽप्यवा कृष्टमेतदाख्यातु नो भवान्
Tell us, what was the food of the Pandava princes in the forest? Was it wild, or cultivated? Please recount this to us.
वानेयं च मृगांश्चैव शुद्धैर्बाणैर्निपातितान्। ब्राह्मणानां निवेद्याग्रमभुञ्जता महारथाः
In the forest, the great warriors felled deer with pure arrows, and after offering the best portions to the Brahmanas, they themselves ate.
तांस्तु शूरान्महेष्वासांस्तदा निवसतो वने। अन्वयुर्ब्राह्मणा राजन्साग्नयोऽनग्नयस्तथा
While those mighty archers dwelled in the forest, Brahmanas followed them, O king, both those with fires and those without.
ब्राह्मणानां सहस्राणि स्नातकानां महात्मनाम्। दश मोक्षविदां तद्वद्यान्बिभर्ति युधिष्ठिरः
Yudhishthira supported thousands of Brahmanas, graduates of sacred study, and likewise ten who knew liberation, O king.
रुरून्कृष्णमृगांश्चैव मेध्यांश्चान्यान्मनोरमान्। बाणैरुन्मथ्य विविधैर्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो न्यवेदयत्
He offered to the Brahmanas various animals—deer, black antelope, and other pure and delightful creatures—after striking them with arrows.
न तत्र कश्चिद्दुर्वर्णो व्याधितो वाऽपि दृश्यते। कृशो वा दुर्बलो वाऽपि दीनो भीतोपि वा पुनाः
There, none could be seen who was ill-colored, diseased, emaciated, weak, miserable, or fearful.
पुत्रानिव प्रियान्भ्रातॄन्ज्ञातीनिव सहोदरान्। पुरोष कौरवश्रेष्ठो धर्मेराजो युधिष्ठिरः
Yudhishthira, the foremost of the Kauravas and king of dharma, treated his beloved brothers like sons, and his kinsmen as if they were his own siblings.
पतीश्च द्रौपदी सर्वाञ्द्विजातीश्च यशस्विनी। मातेव भोजयित्वाऽग्रे शिष्टमाहारयत्तदा
Draupadi, the illustrious wife, after feeding all the twice-born, brought what remained forward, just as a mother would.
प्राचीं राजा दक्षिणां भीमसेनो यमौ प्रतीचीमथवाऽप्युदीचीम्। धनुर्धरा मांसहेतोर्मृगाणां क्षयं चक्रुर्नित्यमेवोपगम्य
The king took the east, Bhimasena the south, the twins the west or even the north; the bowmen regularly hunted animals for meat, causing their decline.
तथा तेषां कवसतां काम्यके वै विहीनानामर्जुनेनोत्सुकानाम्। पञ्चैव वर्षाणि तथा व्यतीयु- रथीयतां जपतां जुह्वतां च
Thus, while they dwelled in Kamyaka, deprived and longing, five years passed for them, engaged in recitation and offering sacrifices.
तेषां तच्चरितं श्रुत्वा मनुष्यातीतमद्भुतम्। चिन्ताशोकपरीतात्मा मन्युनाभिपरिप्लुतः
Hearing of their wondrous deeds, surpassing those of men, he was overwhelmed with anxiety, sorrow, and anger.
दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य धृतराष्ट्रोऽम्बिकासुतः। अब्रवीत्संजयं सूतमामन्त्र्य भरतर्षभ
Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, breathed long and hot, and, summoning Sanjaya the charioteer, spoke to him, O bull among Bharatas.
न रात्रौ न दिवा सूत शान्तिं प्राप्नोमि वैक्षणम्। संचिन्त्य दुर्णयं घोरमतीतं द्यूतजं हि तत्
O charioteer, neither by night nor by day do I find peace, reflecting on that dreadful and evil deed of the past, born from the game of dice.
तेषामसह्यवीर्याणां शौर्यं धैर्यं धृतिं पराम्। अन्योन्यमनुरागं च भ्रातॄणामतिमानुषम्
Their strength is unbearable, their valor, courage, and supreme resolve; and the mutual affection among the brothers is beyond human measure.
देवपुत्रौ महाभागौ देवराजसमद्युती। नकुलः सहदेवश्च पाण्डवौ युद्धदुर्मदौ
Nakula and Sahadeva, the sons of Pandu, are like sons of the gods, greatly fortunate, shining like the king of the gods, and fierce in battle.
दृढायुधौ दूरपातौ युद्धे च कृतनिश्चयौ। शीघ्रहस्तौ दृढक्रोधौ नित्ययुक्तौ रथे स्थितौ
Firm in arms, striking from afar, resolute in battle, swift-handed, steadfast in anger, ever devoted, they stand upon their chariots.