यादृशान्यत्र दृश्यन्ते रूपाणि विविधानि च। यत्ता भवन्तस्तिष्ठन्तु युद्धं स्यात्समुपस्थितम्
Such various forms as are seen elsewhere are seen here; let those who are yours stand firm, for battle is at hand.
रक्षध्वमपि राजानं व्यूहध्वं वाहिनीमपि । वैशसं च प्रतीक्षध्वं रक्षध्वं चापि गोधनम्
Protect the king, array the army, prepare for calamity, and guard the cattle as well.
एष वीरो महेष्वासः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः। आगतः क्लीबवेषेण पार्थो नास्त्यत्र संशयः
This hero, mighty-armed, foremost among all wielders of weapons, has come here in the guise of a eunuch—this is Arjuna, of that there is no doubt.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं भीष्ममालोक्य चाब्रवीत्
Having spoken thus, he looked at Bhishma and addressed him.
नदीज लङ्केशवनारिकेतुर्नगाह्वयो नाम नगारिसूनुः । गत्या सुरेशः क्वचिदङ्गनेव गुरुर्बभाषे वचनं तदानीम्
The son of the city, called Nadija, the lord of Lanka’s forests, known as Turagāhvaya by name—by his gait he resembled the lord of gods, and at times, like a woman in the inner chambers, the teacher spoke these words then.
इत्युक्त्वा संज्ञया द्रोणस्तूष्णीमासीद्विशांपते। भारद्वाजवचः श्रुत्वा गाङ्गेयः संज्ञयाऽब्रवीत्
Having said this by way of a sign, Drona remained silent, O lord of men; hearing the words of Bharadvaja, Bhishma, son of Ganga, spoke in turn by way of a sign.
अतीतं चक्रमस्माकं विषयान्तरमागताः । अतीतः समयश्चोक्त अस्माभिर्यः सभातले। न भयं शत्रुतः कार्यं शङ्कां त्यज नरर्षभ
Our allotted period has passed, and we have entered another’s domain; the agreement we made on the assembly floor has expired; there is no need to fear the enemy—cast away your doubts, O best of men.
देवव्रतेनैवमुक्ते वचने हितकारिणा । दुर्योधनमथालोक्य संज्ञया द्रोण अब्रवीत्
When Devavrata, who always seeks your welfare, had spoken these words, Drona looked at Duryodhana and addressed him by way of a sign.
एष वीरो महेष्वासः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः । आगतः क्लीबरूपेण पार्थो नास्त्यत्र संशयः
This hero, mighty-armed, foremost among all wielders of weapons, has come here in the form of a eunuch—this is Arjuna, of that there is no doubt.
एष पार्थो हि विक्रान्तः सव्यसाची परन्तपः। ये जेतारो महीपानाममुना कुरवो हताः
This is indeed Partha, valiant, ambidextrous, a scorcher of foes; by him the Kurus, who were conquerors of kings, were slain.
यस्मिञ्जाते मही कृत्स्ना निर्भरोच्छ्वासिताऽभवत्। येन मे दक्षिणा दत्ता बद्ध्वा द्रुपदमोजसा
At his birth, the whole earth breathed a sigh of relief; by his strength, Drupada was bound and given as my sacrificial fee.
विद्ध्वा वियद्गतं लक्ष्यं विनिर्जित्य च पार्थिवान् । निर्जिता येन पाञ्चाली पुरा येन स्वयंवरे
He struck the target in the sky, defeated the kings, and by him Panchali was won in the svayamvara of old.
खाण्डवे येन संतृप्तो वह्निर्जित्वा सुरासुरान् । परिणीता सुभद्रा च येन निर्जित्य यादवान्
By whom Agni was satisfied at Khandava, after conquering gods and demons; and Subhadra was married by him, after defeating the Yadavas.
निर्जितो येन युद्धेन त्रिपुरारिः स्मरार्दनः
By whom, in battle, Tripurari, the destroyer of Kama, was vanquished.
गत्वा त्रिविष्टपं येन जितेन्द्रा दानवा युधि । निवातकवचा राजन्दानवानां त्रिकोटयः। निर्जिताः कालकेयाश्च हिरण्यपुरवासिनः
By whom, having gone to heaven, the gods and Danavas were conquered in battle; O king, the three crores of Nivatakavacha Danavas and the Kalakeyas, dwellers of Hiranyapura, were subdued.
येन त्वं मोचितो बद्धश्चित्रसेनेन तद्वने
By whom you were freed when bound by Citrarathas in that forest.
येन गत्वोत्तरं मेरोरानिनाय महद्धनम् । याजितो धर्मसूनुश्च नृपान्सर्वान्विजित्य च
By whom, having gone beyond the northern Meru, great wealth was brought back; and the son of Dharma performed the sacrifice, having conquered all the kings.
यस्मिञ्शौर्यं च वीर्यं च तेजो धैर्यं पराक्रमः । औदार्यं चैव गाम्भीर्यं श्रीर्ह्रीर्धर्मो दयाऽऽर्जवम् । एवमादिगुणोपेतः सोयं पार्थो न संशयः
In whom are found courage and might, brilliance, steadfastness, valor, generosity, depth, prosperity, modesty, righteousness, compassion, and honesty—endowed with such virtues, this is Partha, without doubt.
नाजित्वा विनिवर्तेत सर्वानपि मरुद्गणान्
He would not return without conquering even all the hosts of the Maruts.
क्लेशितश्च वने शूरो वासवेन च शिक्षितः। अमर्षवशमापन्नो योत्स्यते नात्र संशयः । न ह्यस्य प्रतियोद्धारमन्यं पश्यामि कौरव
He suffered hardships in the forest, was instructed by Indra, and now, overcome by wrath, he will fight—of this there is no doubt; nor do I see, O Kaurava, any other who can oppose him.
महादेवोपि पार्थेन श्रूयते युद्धतोषितः । किरातवेषप्रच्छन्नो गिरौ हिमवति प्रभुः
It is heard that even the great god Mahadeva, disguised as a Kirata on the Himalayan mountain, was pleased in battle by Partha.
इत्येवंवादिनं द्रोणं कर्णः क्रुद्धोऽभ्यभाषत
As Drona was speaking thus, Karna, enraged, addressed him.
सदा भवान्फल्गुनस्य गुणानस्मासु कत्थसे। न चार्जुनः कलापूर्णो मम दुर्योधनस्य वा
You always boast to us of Phalguna’s virtues, but neither Arjuna nor I, nor Duryodhana, possess a full quiver.
यद्येष पार्थो राधेय कृतं कार्यं भवेन्मम । ज्ञाताः पुनश्चरिष्यन्ति द्वादशान्यांश्च वत्सरान्
If this Partha, O Radheya, accomplishes my task, then those who are recognized will again spend twelve more years.
अथवा कश्चिदेवान्यः क्लीबरूपेण देवराट् । शरैरेनं सुनिशितैः पातयिष्यामि भूतले
Or perhaps some other person, taking the form of a eunuch, O king of the gods, I will strike him down to the earth with sharp arrows.
तस्मिन्वदति तां वाचं धार्तराष्ट्रे परन्तपे। भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपो द्रौणिः पौरुषं तदपूजयन्
As the scorcher of foes among the Dhartarashtras spoke these words, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and Drona’s son honored that manliness.
तां शमीमभिसंगम्य पार्थो वैराटिमब्रवीत्। सुखसंवर्धितं पित्रा समराणामकोविदम्
Approaching that Shami tree, Partha spoke to the prince of Virata, who was raised in comfort by his father and skilled in the ways of battle.
एहि भूमिंजयारुह्य वैराटे महतीं शमीम्। समादिष्टो मया क्षिप्रं धनुर्गाण्डीवमानय
Come, O Bhuminjaya, ascend the great Shami tree in Virata’s land and quickly bring me the Gandiva bow as I command you.
नेमानीष्वासनानीह सोढुं शक्ष्यन्ति मे बलम् । नालं भारं गुरुं भेत्तुं कुञ्जरं वा प्रमर्दितुम्
My strength will not be able to endure these bows here; nor is it sufficient to break a heavy burden or crush an elephant.
मम वा बाहुविक्षेपं शत्रूनिह विजेष्यतः। नेच्छामि तैरहं कर्तुं कर्म वैजयिकं त्विह
Nor do I wish to perform a victorious deed here with those weapons, as I defeat the enemies with the casting of my arms.