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?
उपजीव्य गुरुं द्रोणं शुक्रं वैश्रवणं यमम्। वरुणं पावकं चैव कृपं कृष्णं च माधवम् । पिनाकपाणिनं चैव कथमेतान्न योधये
Having received instruction from Drona, Shukra, Kubera, Yama, Varuna, Agni, Kripa, Krishna, and Shiva himself—how could I not fight these men?
रथं वाहय मे शीघ्रं व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः
Drive my chariot quickly; let your anxiety depart.
उत्तरं सांरथिं कृत्वा शमीं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। आयुधं सर्वमादाय ततः प्रायाद्धनञ्जयः
Making Uttara his charioteer, circumambulating the Shami tree, Dhananjaya then took up all the weapons and set out.
ध्वजं च सिंहं मात्स्यस्य भ्रातॄणामायुधानि च। प्रणिधाय शमीमध्ये प्रयातुमुपचक्रमे
He placed the Matsya prince's lion-banner and the weapons of his brothers in the midst of the Shami tree, and then prepared to depart.
ततः काञ्चनलाङ्गूलं ध्वजं वानरलक्षणम् । दिव्यं मायामयं युक्तं विहितं विश्वकर्मणा । मनसा चिन्तयामास प्रसादं पावकस्य च
Then he thought of the golden-tailed banner marked with a monkey, wondrous and magical, crafted by Vishvakarma, and also of the favor of Agni.
स च तच्चिन्तितं ज्ञात्वा ध्वजे भूतान्ययोजयत्। रथे वानरमुच्छ्रित्य गाण्डीवं व्याक्षिपद्धनुः
Knowing his thought, Agni caused the beings to enter the banner, and Arjuna raised the monkey on his chariot and drew his Gandiva bow.
सपताकं विचित्राङ्गं सोपासङ्गं महाबलम्। खात्पपात रथे तूर्णं दिव्यरूपं मनोरमम्
That wondrous, powerful, many-colored, and adorned banner, with its staff and ornaments, swiftly descended onto the chariot, divine and beautiful.
रथमास्थाय बीभत्सुः कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः। बद्धासिः सतलत्राणः प्रगृहीतशरासनः । ततः प्रायादुदीचीं स कपिप्रवरकेतनः
Mounting the chariot, the heroic son of Kunti, with white steeds, sword fastened, armor donned, and bow in hand, set out northward, bearing the foremost monkey-banner.
सैन्याभ्याशं स संप्राप्य गृहीत्वा शङ्खमुत्तमम् । स्वनवन्तं महाशब्दं देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः । शशाङ्करूपं बीभत्सुः प्राध्मापयदरिंदमः
Having approached the army, Dhananjaya took up his excellent conch, Devadatta, resounding with a mighty sound, and the destroyer of foes, Bibhatsu, blew it, shining like the moon.
[ शशाङ्ककुन्दधवलं मुखे निक्षिप्य वासविः । उच्छ्वसद्गण्डयुगलं सिराल्याचितफालकम्
Vāsavi placed the moon-white, jasmine-bright conch at his lips, cheeks swelling as he breathed, his brow marked with veins.