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.'
दृष्ट्वा तु महतीं सेनां कुरूणां दृढधन्विनाम्। परिदेवयते मन्दः सकाशे सव्यसाचिनः ।। 18
Seeing the great army of the Kurus, strong in their bows, this foolish one laments in the presence of Savyasācin.
त्रिगर्तान्मे पिता यातः शून्ये वै प्रणिधाय माम्। सर्वां सेनामुपादाय न मे सन्तीह सैनिकाः ।। 19
My father has gone after the Trigartas, having left me here alone; he has taken the whole army, and I have no soldiers here.
अहमेको बहून्बालः कृतास्त्रानकृतश्रमः। प्रतियोद्धुं न शक्नोति निवर्तय बृहन्नले ।। 20
I am alone, young, untested in arms, and not accustomed to hardship; I cannot oppose the many—turn back, Bṛhannalā.
तं तथा वादिनं तत्र बीभत्सुः प्रत्यभाषत। संप्रहस्य पुनस्तं वै सर्वलोकमहारथः ।। 21
To him, speaking thus, Bībhatsu replied there, laughing again, that great chariot-warrior renowned in all the worlds.
भयेन दीनरूपोऽसि द्विषतां हर्षवर्धनः । न च तावत्कृतं किंचित्परैः कर्म रणाजिरे ।। 22
Out of fear you appear dejected, bringing joy to your enemies; yet nothing has been done by the foe on the field of battle.
स्वयमेव च मामात्थ नय मां कौरवान्प्रति । सोहं त्वां तत्र नेष्यामि यत्रैते बहुला ध्वजाः ।। 23
You yourself have asked me, 'Lead me against the Kauravas'; so I will take you there, where those many banners stand.
मध्यमामिषगृध्रूनां कुरूणामाततायिनाम् । नेष्यामि त्वां महाबाहो मा त्वं हि विमना भव। समुद्रमिव गम्भीरं कुरुसैन्यमरिन्दम ।। 24
I will take you, mighty-armed one, into the midst of the Kurus, those greedy for the flesh of their foes; do not lose heart, subduer of enemies, for the Kuru army is deep as the ocean.
स्त्रीसकाशे प्रतिज्ञाय पुरुषाणां हि शृण्वताम्। विकत्थमानो निर्यात्वा ब्रूषि किं नात्र युद्ध्यसे ।। 25
Having made a vow before women, with men listening, boasting as you set out—why do you now say you will not fight?
तथा स्त्रीषु प्रतिश्रुत्य पौरुषं पुरुषेषु च। रथमारुह्य निर्यात्वा किमर्थं नावबुध्यसे ।। 26
Having promised valor among women and men, and mounting the chariot to go forth, why do you now hesitate?
न चेद्विजित्य गास्त्वं हि नगरं प्रतियास्यसि। प्रहसिष्यन्ति वीरास्त्वां नरा नार्यश्च संगताः ।। 27
If you do not win back the cows and return to the city, the gathered heroes, men, and women will laugh at you.