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.
दृष्टिप्रणाशो भूतानां दिवस्पृक्कुरुसत्तम ।। 8 ।। तदनीकमथो वीक्ष्य गजाश्वरथसंकुलम्
The dust obscured the vision of all creatures, O best of the Kurus; then, seeing that army crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots—
कर्णदुर्योधनकृपैर्गुप्तं शान्तनवेन च । द्रोणेन सह पुत्रेण महेष्वासेन धीमता ।। 9
—guarded by Karna, Duryodhana, Kripa, and also by Shantanu's son, along with Drona and his mighty, wise son—
हृष्टरोमा भयोद्विग्नो निमील्य स्वदृशौ तदा। कम्पमानशरीरश्च पार्थं वैराटिरब्रवीत् ।। 10
Virata, his hair standing on end, seized by fear, closed his eyes, his body trembling, and spoke to Partha:
नोत्सहे कुरुभिर्योद्धुं रोमहर्षं हि पश्य मे। बहुप्रवीरमत्युग्रं देवैरपि दुरासदम्। प्रतियोद्धुं न शक्नोमि कुरुसैन्यं भयानकम् ।। 11
'I am not able to fight with the Kurus; see, my hair stands on end. Their army is filled with many mighty heroes, fierce and hard to approach even for the gods. I cannot withstand the terrifying Kuru army.'
नाशंसे भारतीं सेनां प्रवेष्टुं भीमकार्मुकाम्। देवैरपि सहेन्द्रेण न शक्यं किंपुनर्नरैः ।। 12
'I do not hope to enter the Bharata army, armed with Bhima's bow. Not even the gods with Indra could do so—how much less men?'
रथनागाश्वकलिलं पत्तिध्वजसमाकुलम् । दृष्ट्वैव हि परानीकं मनः प्रव्यथतीव मे ।। 13
'Seeing the enemy's army, crowded with chariots, elephants, horses, foot soldiers, and banners, my mind is greatly disturbed.'
यत्र द्रोणश्च भीष्मश्च कृपः कर्णो विविंशतिः । अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सोमदत्तश्च बाह्लिकः । दुर्योधनस्तथा राजा वीरो दुर्मर्षणः परः ।। 14
'There are Drona and Bhishma, Kripa, Karna, Vivimsati, Ashvatthama, Vikarna, Somadatta, Bahlika, King Duryodhana, and the mighty hero Durmarshana.'
नीतिमन्तो महेष्वासाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः । मत्ता इव महानागा युक्तध्वजपताकिनः ।। 15
'All are wise, great archers, skilled in battle, like intoxicated great elephants, their chariots adorned with banners and standards.'
नीतिमन्तो महेष्वासाः सर्वार्थकृतनिश्चयाः । ताञ्जेतुं समरे शूरान्दुर्बुद्धिरहमागतः ।। 16
'All are wise, great archers, resolute in all undertakings. It was foolish of me to come here to fight these valiant warriors in battle.'
दृष्ट्वैव हि कुरून्सर्वान्व्यूढानीकान्प्रहारिणः । हृषितानि च रोमाणि कश्मलेनाहतं मनः ।। 17
'Just seeing all the Kurus, arrayed in battle formation and eager to strike, my hair stands on end and my mind is struck with faintness.'