शतसूर्यं शतावर्तं शतबिन्दु शताक्षिमत्। अभेद्यकल्पं मत्स्यानां राजा कवचमाहरत् ।। 23
The king of the Matsyas brought forth armor for the fish warriors, named Hundred-Suns, Hundred-Turns, Hundred-Drops, Hundred-Eyed, and of impenetrable form.
ततो नानातनुत्राणि स्वानिस्वानि महाबलाः। युयुत्सवोऽभ्यनह्यन्त देवकल्पाः प्रहारिणः ।। 24
Then, those mighty warriors, eager for battle and resembling the gods, each donned their own armor.
सोपस्करेषु शुभ्रेषु महत्सु च महारथाः । पृथक्काञ्चनसन्नाहान्रथेष्वश्वानयोजयन् ।। 25
The great chariot-warriors yoked golden harnesses separately to their splendid, large chariots, along with their horses.
सूर्यचन्द्रप्रतीकाशे मणिहेमविभूषिते। महाप्रमाणं मत्स्यस्य ध्वजमुच्छ्रियते रथे ।। 26
On the chariot of Matsya, a great banner was raised, adorned with jewels and gold, shining like the sun and moon.
ध्वजान्बहुविधाकारान्सौवर्णान्हेममालिनः। यथास्वं क्षत्रियाः शूरा रथेषु समयोजयन् ।। 27
The heroic Kshatriyas fitted to their chariots banners of many shapes, made of gold and decorated with golden garlands, each according to their own.
रथेषु युज्यमानेषु कङ्को राजानमब्रवीत् । मया ह्यस्रं चतुर्वर्गमवाप्तमृषिसत्तमात् ।। 28
As the chariots were being yoked, Kanka spoke to the king: 'By me, O best of sages, the fourfold aim of life has been attained.'
दंशितो रथमास्थाय पदं निर्याम्यहं गवाम्। अयं च बलवाञ्छरो वललो दृश्यतेऽनघ ।। 29
Having been challenged, I mount the chariot and go forth on foot for the cows; and here is a strong arrow, curved, visible, O faultless one.
गोसङ्ख्यमश्वबन्धं च संयोजय रथेषु वैः। नैतेन जातु युध्द्येयुर्गवार्थमिति मे मतिः ।। 30
Join the cow-count and horse-bond to the chariots; in my opinion, they would never fight for the sake of the cows.
अथ मात्स्योऽब्रवीद्राजा शतानीकं जघन्यजम्। कङ्कश्च वललः सूदो दामग्रन्थिश्च वीर्यवान् ।। 31
Then the Matsya king spoke to Shatanika, the youngest; Kanka, Valala, the charioteer, and Damagranti, the mighty.
तन्त्रिपालश्च गोसङ्ख्यो यथा ते पुरुषर्षभाः । शूराः सुवीराः पुरुषा नागराजवरोपमाः । युद्ध्येयुरिति मे बुद्धिर्वर्तते नात्र संशयः ।। 32
And Tantripala and Gosaṅkhya, as well as those foremost men—heroes, excellent warriors, men resembling great serpent kings—my mind holds that they will fight; there is no doubt.
एतेपामपि दीयन्तां रथा ध्वजपताकिनः। कवचानि विचित्राणि दृढानि च लघूनि च ।। 33
Let chariots with banners be given to these men, along with armor—varied, strong, and light.
प्रतिमुञ्चन्तु गात्रेषु दीयन्तामायुधानि च । नेमे जातु न युद्ध्य्रेयुरिति मे धीयते मतिः ।। 34
Let them fasten armor to their bodies, and let weapons be given as well; in my judgment, they would never refrain from battle.
तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपतेर्वाक्यं शीघ्रं त्वरितमानसः। शतानीकः स पार्थभ्यो रथान्राजन्समादिशत् ।। 35
Hearing the king's words, Shatanika, his mind swift and eager, quickly ordered chariots for the sons of Pritha.
सहदेवाय राज्ञे च भीमाय नकुलाय च। तान्दृष्ट्वा सहसा सूता राजभक्तिपुरस्कृताः ।। 36
For Sahadeva, the king, Bhima, and Nakula, the charioteers, devoted to the king, saw them and hurried forth.
निर्दिष्टा नरदेवेन रथाञ्छीघ्रमयोजयन्। कवचानि विचित्राणि नवानि च दृढानि च।। 37
Directed by the king, the charioteers quickly yoked the chariots, and gave armor—varied, new, and strong.
विराटः प्रददौ यानि तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम्। तान्यामुच्य शरीरेषु दंशितास्ते महारथाः ।। 38
Virata gave armor to those of flawless deeds; having donned them on their bodies, those great chariot-warriors were ready.
तरस्विनश्छन्नरूपाः सर्वशस्त्रविशारदाः । रथान्हेमपरिष्कारान्समास्थाय महारथाः। पाण्डवा निर्ययुर्हृष्टा दंशिता राजसत्तम ।। 39
The energetic Pandavas, disguised and skilled in all weapons, mounted chariots adorned with gold, and joyfully set out, armored, O best of kings.
विराटमन्वयुः पश्चात्सहिताः कुरुपुङ्गवाः। चत्वारो भ्रातरः शूराः पाण्डवाः सत्यविक्रमाः ।। 40
The four heroic Pandava brothers, true in valor, followed Virata, together with the foremost of the Kurus, from behind.
दीर्घानां च दृढानां च धनुषां ते यथाबलम्। उत्कृष्य पाशान्मौर्वीणां वीराश्चापेष्वयोजयन् ।। 41
The warriors, according to their strength, drew the long and sturdy bows, stringing them with cords of hemp.
ततः सुवाससः सर्वे वीराश्चन्दनरूषिताः । चोदिता नरदेवेन क्षिप्रमश्वानचोदयन् ।। 42
Then, all the heroes, splendidly dressed and adorned with sandalwood, swiftly urged their horses at the king's command.
ते हया हेमसंच्छन्ना बृहन्तः साधुवाहिनः । चोदिताः प्रत्यदृश्यन्त पत्रिणामिव पङ्क्तयः ।। 43
Those great horses, covered in gold and well-trained, when driven forward, appeared like rows of arrows in flight.
भीमरूपाश्च मातङ्गाः प्रभिन्नकरटामुखाः। स्वारूढा युद्धकुशलैर्महामात्राधिरोहिताः ।। 44
The elephants, terrifying in form, with broken tusks and fierce mouths, mounted by skilled mahouts, were ridden by warriors adept in battle.
क्षरन्त इव जीमूताः सुदन्ताः षाष्टिहायनाः । राजानमन्वयुः पश्चात्क्रामन्त इव पर्वताः ।। 45
Those well-tamed elephants, sixty years old, seemed to pour forth like clouds, following the king from behind, advancing like mountains.
दृढायुधजनाकीर्णं रथाश्वगजसंकुलम् । तद्बलाग्रं विराटस्य शक्रस्येव तदा बभौ ।। 46
That vanguard of Virata, crowded with strong-armed men, chariots, horses, and elephants, shone at that moment like Indra's own army.
तं प्रयान्तं महाराज निनीषन्तं गवां पदम्। विशारदानां वैश्यानां प्रकृष्टानां तदा नृप ।। 47
O king, as he advanced, intending to reach the cattle, the distinguished and skilled herdsmen accompanied him.
विंशतिस्तु सहस्राणि नराणामनुयायिनाम्। अष्टौ रथसहस्राणि दश नागशतानि च । विंशच्चाश्वसहस्राणि मात्स्यानां त्वरितं ययुः ।। 48
Twenty thousand men followed, along with eight thousand chariots, ten hundred elephants, and twenty thousand swift horses of the Matsyas.
तदनीकं विराटस्य शुशुभेऽतीव भारत। वसन्ते बहुपुष्पाढ्यं काननं चित्रितं यथा ।। 49
That army of Virata shone exceedingly, O Bharata, like a forest in spring, rich with many blossoms and adorned in colors.
निर्याय नगराच्छूरा व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः। त्रिगर्तानस्पृशन्मात्स्याः मूर्येऽस्तंगमिते सति ।। 1
Having departed from the city, the valiant warriors, arrayed in formation and ready to strike, the Matsyas confronted the Trigartas as the sun set.
ते त्रिगर्ताश्च मात्स्याश्च व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः। अन्योन्यमभिवर्तन्ते गोषु गृद्धा महाबलाः ।। 2
The Trigartas and Matsyas, both arrayed in formation and eager for battle, rushed at each other, greedy for cattle and possessing great strength.
भीमाश्च मत्तमातङ्गास्तोमराङ्कुशचोदिताः। ग्रामणीयैः समारूढाः कुशलैर्हस्तिसादिभिः ।। 3
The mighty, intoxicated elephants, driven by spears and goads, were mounted by skilled leaders and expert elephant riders.