देवेन्द्रसारथिर्वीरो मातलिः ख्यातविक्रमः । सुमहो जामदग्नेश्च विष्णोर्यन्ता च दारुकः ।। 51
The heroic Matali, charioteer of Indra, famed for his prowess; the great charioteer of Jamadagni, and Daruka, charioteer of Vishnu.
सुमन्त्रो वा दाशरथेः सूर्ययन्ता तथाऽरुणः। सर्वे सारथयः ख्याता न बृहन्नलया समाः ।। 52
Sumantra, charioteer of Dasharatha, and Aruna, charioteer of the Sun—all these renowned charioteers are not equal to Brihannala.
इत्युक्तोऽहं च सैरन्ध्र्या तेन त्वामाह्वयामि वै । आहुता त्वं मया सार्धं योद्धुं याहि बृहन्नले ।। 53
Thus addressed by Sairandhri, I now summon you; you are called by me to fight together—come, Brihannala.
दूराद्दूरतरं गावो भवन्ति कुरुभिर्हृताः। तथोक्ता प्रत्युवाचेदं राजपुत्रं बृहन्नला ।। 54
From a distance, the cows are being taken farther away by the Kurus; thus spoken, Brihannala replied to the prince.
का शक्तिर्मम सारथ्यं कर्तुं संग्राममूर्धनि । नृत्तं वा यदि वा गीतं वादित्रं वा पृथग्विधम् । तत्करिष्यामि भद्रं ते सारथ्यं तु कुतो मम ।। 55
What power do I have to act as a charioteer in the midst of battle? Whether it is dancing, singing, or playing various instruments, I will do that for you, but how could I possibly be a charioteer?
त्वं नर्तको वा यदि वाऽपि गायकः क्षिप्रं तनुत्रं परिधत्स्व भानुमत्। अभीक्ष्णमाहुस्तव कर्म पौरुषं स्त्रियः प्रशंसन्ति ममाद्य चान्तिके ।। 56
If you are a dancer or a singer, quickly put on your radiant attire; women constantly praise your deeds and valor, and today they commend you in my presence.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा नृपसूनुसत्तमस्तदा स्मयित्वाऽर्जुनमभ्यनन्दयत्। अथोत्तरः पारशवं शताक्षिमत्सुवर्णचित्रं परिगृह्य भानुमत् ।। 57
Having spoken thus, the noble son of the king smiled and welcomed Arjuna; then Uttara took up the splendid, gold-adorned, hundred-eyed bow.
बृहन्नलायै प्रददौ स्वयं तदा विराटपुत्रः परवीरघातिने। तदाज्ञया मात्स्यसुतस्य वीर्यवानकर्तुकामेव समाददे तदा ।। 58
At that moment, Virata's son, the destroyer of enemy heroes, personally gave that bow to Brihannala; by the command of the Matsya prince, the valiant one eagerly accepted it.
यद्यस्ति च रणे शौर्यं शक्यः स्याद्द्विषतां वधः। अहं त्वामभिगच्छामि यत्र त्वं यासि तत्र भो ।। 59
If there is courage in battle, the destruction of enemies is possible; I will follow you wherever you go, O noble one.
ततः स नर्मसंयुक्तमकरोत्पाण्डवो बहु। उत्तरायाः प्रमुखतः सर्वं जानन्नरिन्दमः ।। 60
Then Pandava, knowing everything, made many playful remarks before Uttara, the prince, in her presence.
तमाददानं प्रमदा जहासिरे ह्यधोमुखं वीरवरोऽभ्यधारयत्। ततस्तिरश्चीनकृतं सपत्नहा ह्यधोमुखं कवचमथाभ्यकर्षत ।। 61
As he was taking it up, the women laughed, and the foremost hero looked downward; then the slayer of rivals, still looking down, drew the armor, which was fashioned obliquely.
सम्यक्प्रजानन्नपि सत्यविक्रमो ह्यज्ञातवत्सर्वकुरुप्रवीरः। ऊर्ध्वं क्षिपन्वीरतरोऽभ्यधारयत्पुनश्च यन्ता कवचं धनञ्जयः ।। 62
Though fully aware, the truly valiant, disguised hero among all the Kurus, Dhananjaya, repeatedly lifted the armor and put it on, acting as the charioteer.
एवंप्रकाराणि बहूनि कुर्वति तस्मिन्कुमार्यः प्रमदा जहासिरे । तथापि कुर्वन्तममित्रकर्शनं नैवोत्तरः पर्यभवद्धनञ्जयम् ।। 63
While he was performing many such acts, the princesses and women laughed; yet, even as he did so, Uttara could not surpass Dhananjaya, the tormentor of foes.
तं राजपुत्रः समनाहयत्स्वयं जाम्बूनदान्तेन शुभेन वर्मणा। कृशानुतप्तप्रतिमेन भास्वता जाज्वल्यमानेन सहस्ररश्मिना ।। 64
The prince himself then equipped him with a beautiful armor, adorned with gold and shining like fire, blazing with a thousand rays.
अथास्य शीघ्रं प्रसमीक्ष्य भोजयद्रथे हयान्काञ्चनजालसंवृतान्। सुवर्णजालान्तरयोक्तभूषणं सिंहं च सौवर्णमुपाश्रयद्रथे ।। 65
Then, after quickly inspecting, he fed the horses in the chariot, which were covered with golden nets; he also placed a golden lion as an ornament on the chariot.
धनूंषि च विचित्राणि बाणांश्च रुचिरान्बहून्। आयुधानि च वै तत्र रथोपस्थे च स न्यसत् ।। 66
He placed various bows, many beautiful arrows, and weapons in the chariot, arranging them all in the chariot's interior.
आरुह्य प्रययौ वीरः सबृहन्नलसारथिः। अथोत्तरा च कन्याश्च स ख्यश्चैवाब्रुवंस्तदा ।। 67
The hero, with Brihannala as charioteer, mounted and set out; then Uttara, the maidens, and the attendants spoke thus.
बृहन्नले आनयेथा वासांसि रुचिराणि नः। पाञ्चालिकार्थं सूक्ष्माणि रत्नानि विविधानि च । विजित्य संग्रामगतान्भीष्मद्रोणमुखान्कुरून् ।। 68
Brihannala, bring us beautiful garments, fine jewels, and various ornaments for Panchali, after defeating the Kurus led by Bhishma and Drona in battle.
अथ ता ब्रुवतीः कन्याः सहिताः कुरुनन्दनः। प्रत्युवाच हसन्पार्थो मेघदुन्दुभिनिस्वनः ।। 69
Then, as the maidens spoke together, the son of the Kurus, Partha, whose voice was like thunder, replied with a smile.
यद्युत्तरोऽयं संग्रामे विजेष्यति महारथान् । अथाहरिष्ये वासांसि सूक्ष्माण्याभरणानि च ।। 70
If Uttara conquers the great chariot-warriors in battle, then I will bring you fine garments and ornaments.
अथोत्तरो वर्म महाप्रभावं सुवर्णवैडूर्यपरिष्कृतं शुभम्। आमुच्य वीरः प्रययौ रथोत्तमं धनञ्जयं सारथिनं प्रगृह्य ।। 71
Then Uttara, the hero, donned the splendid armor, adorned with gold and beryl, and ascended the excellent chariot, taking Dhananjaya as his charioteer.
तमुत्तरं प्रेक्ष्य रथोत्तमे स्थितं बृहन्नलां चैव महाजनस्तदा। स्त्रियश्च कन्याश्च द्विजाश्च सुव्रताः प्रदक्षिणं मङ्गलिनोऽभ्यपूजयन् ।। 72
Seeing Uttara standing in the excellent chariot and Brihannala beside him, the great assembly, women, maidens, and virtuous twice-born ones, circumambulated them with auspiciousness and offered their respects.
यदर्जुनस्यर्षभतुल्यगामिनः पुराऽभवत्खाण्डवदाहमङ्गलम् । कुरून्समासाद्य रणे बृहन्नले सहोत्तरेणास्तु तवाद्य मङ्गलम् ।। 73
Just as, in former times, the burning of Khandava was an auspicious event for Arjuna, the bull among men, so today, upon meeting the Kurus in battle at the field of Bṛhannala with Uttara, may there be auspiciousness for you.
स राजधान्य निर्याय वैराटिरकुतोभयः। प्रयाहीत्यब्रवीत्सूतं यत्र ते कुरवो गताः ।। 1
Then King Virata, fearless from every side, departed from the city and said to his charioteer, 'Go to the place where the Kurus have gone.'
समवेतान्कुरून्सर्वाञ्जिगीषूनवजित्य वै। गाश्चैताः क्षिप्रमादाय पुनरेष्याम्यहं पुरम् ।। 2
'Having defeated all the assembled Kurus who desire victory, I will quickly seize these cows and return again to the city.'
ततस्तांश्चोदयामास सदश्वान्पाण्डुनन्दनः ।। 3
Then the son of Pandu urged on those excellent horses.
ते हया नरसिंहेन चोदिता वातरंहसः। आलिखन्त इवाकाशमूहुः काञ्चनमालिनः ।। 4
Urged by the lion among men, those horses, adorned with golden trappings, sped with the swiftness of the wind, as if drawing lines across the sky.
नातिदूरमथो गत्वा मात्स्यपुत्रधनञ्जयौ । अवैक्षेतामवित्रस्तौ कुरूणां बलिनां बलम् ।। 5
Having gone not too far, the son of Matsya and Dhananjaya saw the mighty army of the Kurus, unafraid.
श्मशानमभितो गत्वा शूरौ ददृशतुःकुरून् ।। 6 ।। तदनीकं महत्तेषां विस्तृतं सागरोपमम्
Approaching near the cremation ground, the two heroes beheld the Kurus; their great army was spread out, vast as the ocean.
सर्पमाणमिवाकाशे वनं बहुलपादपम् ।। 7 ।। ददृशे पार्थिवो रेणुर्जनितस्तेन सर्पता
It appeared in the sky like a serpent, a forest thick with trees; the dust raised by their movement looked like a serpent.