तदिदं समनुप्राप्तं व्रतं चीर्णं मयाऽनघ । समाप्तव्रतमुत्तीर्णं विद्धि मां त्वं नृपात्मज
Thus, this vow has come upon me, and I have fulfilled it, O sinless one; know me, O prince, as having completed the vow and passed through it.
परमोऽनुग्रहो मेऽद्य यत्प्रतर्को न मे वृथा। न हीदृशाः क्लीबरूपा भवन्ति तु नरोत्तमाः
Today, the highest favor is mine, for my suspicion was not in vain; indeed, such forms of impotence do not occur among the best of men.
सहायवानस्मि रणे युद्ध्येयममरैरपि । साध्वसं तत्प्रनष्टं मे किं करोमि ब्रवीहि मे
I am accompanied; I could fight even with immortals in battle. That fear is now gone from me—tell me, what should I do?
अहं ते संग्रहीष्यामि हयाञ्शत्रुनिर्बहण। शिक्षितो ह्यस्मि सारथ्ये निष्ठितः पुरुषर्षभ
I will gather your horses, destroyers of enemies; I am trained in charioteering and steadfast, O best of men.
दारुको वासुदेवस्य यथा शक्रस्य मातलिः। तथा मां विद्धि सारथ्ये शिक्षितं नरपुङ्गव
Just as Daruka is to Vasudeva, and Matali to Shakra, so know me, O foremost of men, as trained in charioteering.
अश्वा ह्येते महाबाहो तवैवाहवदुर्जयाः। योग्या रथवरे युक्ताः प्राणवन्तो जितश्रमाः
These horses, O mighty-armed one, are yours alone, difficult to defeat in battle; fit for the best chariot, harnessed, spirited, and tireless.
यस्य यातेन पश्यन्ति भूमौ क्षिप्तं पदंपदम्। दक्षिणां यो धुरं वोढा सुग्रीवोण समो हयः
Whose movement is seen by the marks left on the ground, step by step; the one who bears the right yoke, the horse named Sugriva, is equal to the wind.
योऽयं हयो धुर्यवरो वामां वहति शोभनः। तं मन्ये मेघपुष्पस्य जवेन सदृशं हयम्
This horse, best among those at the yoke, bears the left side beautifully; I consider him equal in speed to Meghapuspa.
योऽयं वहति वै पार्ष्णिं दक्षिणामञ्चितोद्यतः । वलाहकादभिमतस्तेजसा वीर्यवत्तरः
This one, bearing the rear right, raised and alert, is superior in energy and strength to Valahaka, whom you favor.
योऽयं काञ्चनसन्नाहो वामं वहति शोभनः । धुर्यं शैब्यस्य तं मन्ये जवेन बलवत्तरम्
This one, adorned with golden harness, bears the left side beautifully; I consider him, the yoke horse of Shaibya, stronger and swifter.
त्वामेवायं रथो वोढुं संग्रामेऽर्हति धन्विनम् । त्वं चे.. रथमास्थाय योद्धुमर्हो मतो मम। शर्वशत्रुभिरायातो देवराज इवासुरैः
This chariot is fit for you alone, O archer, to bear in battle; you, mounting the chariot, are worthy to fight, in my opinion, arriving against all enemies like the lord of gods against the asuras.
ततो रथादवस्कन्द्य वीर्यवानरिमर्दनः। प्रणम्य देवान्गाण्डीवमादाय रुरुचे श्रिया
Then, the mighty crusher of foes, dismounting from the chariot, bowed to the gods, took up the Gandiva, and shone with splendor.
ततो विमुच्य बाहुभ्यां सङ्खचूडानि पाण्डवः । तौ च दुन्दुभिसन्नादौ प्रतिबद्ध्य तलावुभौ
Then Pandava, releasing the conch bracelets with his arms, fastened both to the drum-sounding palms.
इन्द्रदत्ते च ते दिव्ये उद्धृत्यामुच्य कुण्डले । श्लक्ष्णान्केशान्मृदून्स्निग्धाञ्श्वेतेनोद्ग्रथ्य वाससा
He took off the divine earrings given by Indra, and, lifting his soft, smooth, glossy hair with a white cloth, set them aside.
अथासौ प्राङ्मुखो भूत्वा शुचिः प्रयतमानसः। अभिदध्यौ महाबाहुः सर्वास्त्राणि रथोत्तमे
Then, facing east, pure and with concentrated mind, the mighty-armed one meditated on all weapons in the excellent chariot.
ऊचुश्च पार्थं सर्वाणि प्राञ्जलीनि नृपात्मजम्। इमानि स्मो महोदार किङ्कराणीन्द्रनन्दन
All the weapons, with joined palms, spoke to Partha, the prince: 'We are here, O noble one, servants of you, O son of Indra.'
प्रणिपत्य ततः पार्थः समालभ्य च पाणिना। सर्वाणि मानसानीह भवतेत्यभ्यभाषत
Then Partha, bowing and touching them with his hand, said: 'All of you, in mind, are here for me.'
प्रतिगृह्य ततोऽस्त्राणि प्रह्लष्टवदनोऽभवत् । अधिज्यं तरसा कृत्वा गाण्डीवं व्याक्षिपद्धनुः
Having received the weapons, his face radiant, he swiftly strung the Gandiva and drew the bow.
तस्य विक्षिप्यमाणस्य धनुषोऽभून्महास्वनः । यथा शैलस्य महतः शैलानाक्षिप्य जघ्रुषः
As he drew the bow, a great sound arose, like the thunder of a mighty mountain when struck and shaken.
सनिर्घाताऽभवद्भूमिर्दिक्षु वायुर्ववौ भृशम्। भ्रान्तद्विजं खमभवत्प्राकम्पन्त महाद्रुमाः
The earth trembled with thunder; the wind blew fiercely in all directions; the sky was disturbed with circling birds, and great trees shook.
तं शब्दं कुरवो राजन्विस्फोटमशनेरिव। तार्क्ष्यं शब्दमिव श्रुत्वा वित्रेसुर्दीनमानसाः
O King, hearing that sound—like the crack of a thunderbolt, like the cry of Garuda—the Kauravas, their hearts dejected, were filled with terror.
यथेन्द्रो व्याक्षिपद्भीमं विस्फोटमशनेर्भुवि । तथाऽर्जुनो धनुःश्रेष्ठं बाहुभ्यामाक्षिपद्बली
Just as Indra draws back his mighty thunderbolt to strike the earth, so did the powerful Arjuna draw back his supreme bow with his arms.
महाशनिमहाशब्दसदृशो ज्यास्वनो महान् । शत्रून्वीरांश्च संतर्ज्य निग्रहस्थो रथे स्थितः
A great sound arose from the bowstring, like the roar of a great thunderbolt, as he stood on his chariot, intimidating the enemy heroes, ready to subdue them.
एकस्त्वं पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ बहूनोतान्महारथान्। कथं जेष्यसि संग्रामे सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगान्
O best of the Pandavas, you are alone, while many mighty chariot-warriors stand against you—how will you conquer in battle those skilled in every weapon and missile?
असहायो।सि कोन्तेय ससहायाश्च कौरवाः । अत एव महाबाहो भीतस्तिष्ठामि तेऽग्रतः
You are without allies, O son of Kunti, while the Kauravas have many on their side; for this reason, O mighty-armed one, I stand before you in fear.
उवाच पार्थो मा भैषीः प्रहस्य स्वनवत्तदा
Then Partha, with a smile and a resounding voice, said: 'Do not be afraid.'
युध्यमानस्य मे वीर गन्धर्वैः सुमहाबलैः । सहायो घोषयात्रायां कस्तदासीत्सखा मम
O hero, when I fought the mighty Gandharvas during the Ghosha-yatra, who was my ally then? Who was my companion?
तथा प्रतिभये तस्मिन्देवदानवसंकुले। खाण्डवे युध्यमानस्य कस्तदासीत्सखा मम
Likewise, in that fearful battle among gods and demons at Khandava, who was my companion as I fought?
निवातकवचैः सार्धं पौलोमैश्च महाबलैः । युध्यतो देवराजार्थे कः सहायस्तदाऽभवत्
When I fought alongside the king of the gods against the Nivatakavachas and the powerful Paulomas, who was my ally then?
स्वयंवरे तु पाञ्चाल्या राजभिः सह संयुगे। युध्यतो बहुभिस्तात कः सहायस्तदाऽभवत्
At the svayamvara of Draupadi, when I fought many kings in battle, who was my ally then, dear one?