अनादिनिधनो देवः स कर्ता जगतः प्रभुः। अव्यक्तमक्षरं ब्रह्म प्रधानं त्रिगुणात्मकम्
That god, without beginning or end, is the creator and lord of the universe; the imperceptible, imperishable Brahman, the primordial essence composed of the three qualities.
आत्मानमव्ययं चैव प्रकृतिं प्रभवं प्रभुम्। पुरुषं विश्वकर्माणं सत्वयोगं ध्रुवाक्षरम्
He is the immutable self, the origin and master of nature, the cosmic artificer, established in sattva, the eternal and unchanging.
अनन्तमचलं देवं हंसं नारायणं प्रभुम्। धातारमजमव्यक्तं यमाहुः परमव्ययम्
He is the infinite, unmoving god, the swan, Narayana, the lord; the sustainer, unborn and unmanifest, whom they call the supreme, imperishable.
कैवल्यं निर्गुणं विश्वमनादिमजमव्ययम्। पुरुषः स विभुः कर्ता सर्वभूतपितामहः
He is the absolute, devoid of qualities, the universe, without beginning, unborn and imperishable; that person, the all-pervading creator, the ancestor of all beings.
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय प्रजज्ञेऽन्धकवृष्णिषु। अस्त्रज्ञौ तु महावीर्यौ सर्वशास्त्रविशारदौ
For the establishment of righteousness, he was born among the Andhakas and Vrishnis; two mighty warriors, skilled in weapons and all scriptures.
सात्यकिः कृतवर्मा च नारायणमनुव्रतौ। सत्यकाद्धृदिकाच्चैव जज्ञातेऽस्त्रविशारदौ
Satyaki and Kritavarma, devoted to Narayana, were born from Satyaka and Hriddika, both skilled in weaponry.
भरद्वाजस्य च स्कन्नं द्रोण्यां शुक्रमवर्धत। सहर्षेरुग्रतपसस्तस्माद्द्रोणो व्यजायत
From Bharadvaja's seed, which grew in Drona's womb, Drona was born, endowed with the austerity of the sage.
गौतमान्मिथुनं जज्ञे शरस्तम्बाच्छरद्वतः। अश्वत्थाम्नश्च जननी कृपश्चैव महाबलः
From Gautama, twins were born: Kripa, of great strength, from the arrow-pillar, and Ashvatthama's mother.
अश्वत्थामा ततो जज्ञे द्रोणादेव महाबलः। तथैव धृष्टद्युम्नोऽपि साक्षादग्निसमद्युतिः
Then Ashvatthama, mighty in strength, was born from Drona; likewise, Dhrishtadyumna, whose brilliance equaled fire.
वैताने कर्मणि तते पावकात्समजायत। वीरो द्रोणविनाशाय धनुरादाय वीर्यवान्
In the Vedic sacrifice, from the fire, a hero was born, armed with a bow and endowed with valor, for the destruction of Drona.
तथैव वेद्यां कृष्णापि जज्ञे तेजस्विनी शुभा। विभ्राजमाना वपुषा बिभ्रती रूपमुत्तमम्
Likewise, from the altar, Krishna was born, radiant and auspicious, shining in form, bearing the finest appearance.
प्रह्रादशिष्यो नग्नजित्सुबलश्चाभवत्ततः। तस्य प्रजा धर्महन्त्री जज्ञे देवप्रकोपनात्
Prahlada's disciple, Nagnajit, became powerful; his offspring, destructive of righteousness, was born from the anger of the gods.
गान्धारराजपुत्रोऽभूच्छकुनिः सौबलस्तथा। दुर्योधनस्य जननी जज्ञातेऽर्थविशारदौ
Shakuni, son of the king of Gandhara, was born, as was Saubala; the mother of Duryodhana bore those skilled in wealth.
कृष्णद्वैपायनाज्जज्ञे धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। क्षेत्रे विचित्रवीर्यस्य पाण्डुश्चैव महाबलः
From Krishna Dvaipayana, Dhritarashtra, lord of people, was born in the field of Vichitravirya, and Pandu, mighty in strength.
धर्मार्थकुशलो धीमान्मेधावी धूतकल्मषः। विदुरः शूद्रयोनौ तु जज्ञे द्वैपायनादपि
Vidura, skilled in righteousness and wealth, wise, intelligent, and free from sin, was also born from Dvaipayana, but in a Shudra womb.
पाण्डोस्तु जज्ञिरे पञ्च पुत्रा देवसमाः पृथक्। द्वयोः स्त्रियोर्गुणज्येष्ठस्तेषामासीद्युधिष्ठिरः
To Pandu were born five sons, each equal to the gods; among two women, the one with superior qualities was Yudhishthira.
धर्माद्युधिष्ठिरो जज्ञे मारुताच्च वृकोदरः। इन्द्राद्धनंजयः श्रीमान्सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः
Yudhishthira was born from Dharma, Bhima from the wind-god, and Arjuna, radiant and foremost among all bearers of weapons, from Indra.
जज्ञाते रूपसंपन्नावश्विभ्यां च यमावपि। नकुलः सहदेवश्च गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतौ
Nakula and Sahadeva, both endowed with beauty and devoted to serving their elders, were born from the Ashvins.
तथा पुत्रशतं जज्ञे धृतराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः। दुर्योधनप्रभृतयो युयुत्सुः करणस्तथा
Likewise, the wise Dhritarashtra begot a hundred sons, with Duryodhana at their head, as well as Yuyutsu and Karna.
ततो दुःशासनश्चैव दुःसहश्चापि भारत। दुर्मर्षणो विकर्णश्च चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः
Then came Duhshasana, Duhsaha, Durmarshana, Vikarna, Chitrasena, and Vivingshati, O Bharata.
जयः सत्यव्रतश्चैव पुरुमित्रश्च भारत। वैश्यापुत्रो युयुत्सुश्च एकादश महारथाः
Jaya, Satyavrata, and Purumitra, O Bharata, and Yuyutsu, the son of a Vaishya, were also among the eleven great chariot-warriors.
अभिमन्युः सुभद्रायामर्जुनादभ्यजायत। स्वस्रीयो वासुदेवस्य पौत्रः पाण्डोर्महात्मनः
Abhimanyu was born to Subhadra from Arjuna; he was the nephew of Vasudeva and the grandson of the great-souled Pandu.
पाण्डवेभ्यो हि पाञ्चाल्यां द्रौपद्यां पञ्च जज्ञिरे। कुमारा रूपसंपन्नाः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदाः
From Draupadi, five sons were born to the Pandavas—princes of great beauty, skilled in all branches of knowledge.
प्रतिविन्ध्यो युधिष्ठिरात्सुतसोमो वृकोदरात्। अर्जुनाच्छ्रुतकीर्तिस्तु शतानीकस्तु नाकुलिः
Prativindhya was born from Yudhishthira, Sutasoma from Bhima, Shrutakirti from Arjuna, and Shatanika from Nakula.
तथैव सहदेवाच्च श्रुतसेनः प्रतापवान्। हिडिम्बायां च भीमेन वने जज्ञे घटोत्कचः
Likewise, from Sahadeva came Shrutasena, full of vigor; and from Bhima and Hidimba in the forest was born Ghatotkacha.
शिखण्डी द्रुपदाज्जज्ञे कन्या पुत्रत्वभागता। यां यक्षः पुरुषं चक्रे स्थूमः प्रियचिकीर्षया
Shikhandi was born to Drupada as a daughter who obtained the status of a son; a Yaksha, out of affection, transformed her into a man.
कुरूणां विग्रहे तस्मिन्समागच्छन्बहून्यथ। राज्ञां शतसहस्राणि योत्स्यमानानि संयुगे
In that conflict among the Kurus, countless thousands of kings assembled, ready to fight in battle.
तेषामपरिमेयानां नामधेयानि सर्वशः। न शक्यानि समाख्यातुं वर्षाणामयुतैरपि। एते तु कीर्तिता मुख्या यैराख्यानमिदं ततम्
The names of those innumerable warriors cannot be fully recounted, even in tens of thousands of years; but these principal ones have been named, by whom this narrative is spread.
य एते कीर्तिता ब्रह्मन्ये चान्ये नानुकीर्तिताः। सम्यक्ताञ्श्रोतुमिच्छामिराज्ञश्चान्यान्सहस्रशः।। 1
Of those who have been named here, O Brahman, and the many others not mentioned, I wish to hear in full, as well as the thousands of other kings.
यदर्थमिह संभूता देवकल्पा महारथाः। भुवि तन्मे महाभाग सम्यगाख्यातुमर्हसि
For what purpose did these mighty chariot-warriors, equal to the gods, arise on earth? O greatly fortunate one, you ought to tell me this fully.