भारद्वाजस्ततो द्रोणः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः। राजानं चाह संप्रेक्ष्य दुर्योधनमरिंदमः
Then Drona, son of Bharadvaja, foremost among all wielders of weapons, looked at the king Duryodhana and spoke.
यथा रथस्य निर्घोषो यथा शङ्ख उदीर्यते। कम्पते च यथा भूमिर्नैषोन्यः सव्यसाचिनः
Just as the roar of the chariot and the blast of the conch are heard, and as the earth quakes—no one but Savyasacin could do this.
औत्पातिकमिदं राजन्निमित्तं भवतीह नः। न हि पश्यामि विजयं सैन्येऽस्माकं परन्तप
This is an ominous sign for us, O king; I do not foresee victory for our army, scorcher of foes.
शस्त्राणि न प्रकाशन्ते न प्रहृष्यन्ति वाहनाः । अग्नयश्च न भासन्ते सुसमिद्धा न शोभनाः
Weapons do not shine, the animals are not spirited, and the fires, though well kindled, do not burn brightly.
प्रत्यादित्यं च नः सर्वे मृगा घोरा नदन्ति च। शकुनाश्चापसव्याश्च वेदयन्ति महाभयम्
All the fierce beasts are howling at the sun, and birds on our left are signaling great fear.
गोमायुरेष सैन्यानां रुदन्मध्येन धावति। चाषा नदन्ति चाकाशे वेदयन्तो महद्भयम्
A jackal is running through the army, howling in the midst, and crows are cawing in the sky, foreboding great danger.
भवतां चैव रोमाणि प्रहृष्टानीव लक्षये
I see that even your hair stands on end, as if in excitement.
अनुष्णाङ्गाश्च संस्विन्ना जृम्भन्ते चाप्यभीक्ष्णशः । विष्कम्भन्ति च मातङ्गा मुञ्चन्त्यश्रूणि वाजिनः । सदा मूत्रं पुरीषं च उत्सृजन्ति पुनः पुनः
The bodies are feverish and sweating, and there is constant yawning; elephants stumble, horses shed tears, and always urinate and defecate again and again.
लोहितार्द्रा च पृथिवी दिशः सर्वाः प्रधूमिताः । न च सूर्यः प्रतपति महद्वेदयते भयम्
The earth is wet with blood, all directions are smoky, and the sun does not shine—these portend great danger.
हस्तिनश्चापि वित्रस्ता योधाश्चापि वितत्रसुः । पराभूता च वः सेना न कश्चिद्योद्भुमिच्छति
The elephants are terrified, and the warriors too are afraid; your army is routed, and no one wishes to advance.
विषण्णमुखभूयिष्ठाः सर्वे योधा विचेतसः । दिशं ते दक्षिणां सर्वे विप्रेक्षन्ते पुनः पुनः
Most of the warriors have despondent faces and are bewildered; all of them keep glancing again and again toward the southern direction.
मृगाश्च पक्षिणश्चैव सव्यमेव पतन्ति नः। वादित्रोद्धृष्टघोषाश्च न च गाढं स्वनन्ति च। ध्वजाग्रेषु निलीयन्ते वायसास्तन्न शोभनम्
Beasts and birds are flying only to our left; the drums and instruments sound weakly, not loudly; crows are perching on the tops of the banners—this is not a good sign.
यथा मेघस्य निनदो गम्भीरस्तूर्णमायतः। श्रूयते रथनिर्घोषो नायमन्यो धनञ्जयात्
Just as the deep, swift rumble of a cloud is heard, so is the roar of that chariot—no one but Dhananjaya could make such a sound.
अश्वानां स्वनतां शब्दो वहतां पाकशासनिम् । वानरस्य रथे दिव्यो निस्वनः श्रूयते महान्
The neighing of the horses, the sound of the chariot wheels, and the great roar of the divine monkey on the banner are all heard.
शङ्खशब्देन पार्थस्य कर्णौ मे बधिरीकृतौ । सर्वसैन्यं च वित्रस्तं नायमन्यो धनञ्जयात्
The sound of Partha's conch has deafened my ears; the entire army is terrified, for none other than Dhananjaya could do this.
राजानमग्रतः कृत्वा दुर्योधनमरिन्दमम्। गाः प्रस्थाप्य च तिष्ठामो व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः । प्रविभज्य त्रिधा सेनां समुच्छ्रित्य ध्वजानपि
Let us place King Duryodhana, the foe of enemies, at the front; send forth the cows and stand ready, our battle lines drawn and warriors prepared, dividing the army into three parts and raising our banners.
शितैर्बाणैः प्रताप्येमां चमूमेष धनञ्जयः। मूर्ध्नि सर्वनरेन्द्राणां वामपादं करिष्यति
With sharp arrows, Dhananjaya will scorch this army; upon the heads of all kings, he will place his left foot.
न ह्येष शक्यो बीभत्सुर्जेतुं देवासुरैरपि । दिक्षु गुल्मा निवेश्यन्तां यत्ता योत्स्यामहेऽर्जुन
For Bibhatsu cannot be defeated, not even by gods or demons; let us station troops in all directions and, prepared, fight against Arjuna.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा समरे भीष्ममब्रवीत्। द्रोणं च रथिशार्दूलं कृपं च सुमहाबलम्
Then King Duryodhana spoke in battle to Bhishma, and to Drona, the tiger among charioteers, and to mighty Kripa.
उक्तोऽयमर्थ आचार्य मया कर्णेन चासकृत्। पुनरेव च वक्ष्यामि न हि तृप्यामि तद्ब्रुवन्
This matter has been told to you, O teacher, many times by Karna and myself; yet I will speak it again, for I am never satisfied saying it.
पराजितैर्विवस्तव्यं तैश्च द्वादशवत्सरान् । वने जनपदेऽज्ञातैरेष एव पणो हि नः
Those who are defeated must live twelve years in the forest, unknown among the people; this is the wager for us.
तेषां न तावन्निर्वृत्तो वत्सरः स त्रयोदशः । अज्ञातवासे बीभत्सुरथास्माभिः परिश्रुतः
But their thirteenth year has not yet been completed; Bibhatsu is said to be among us during their period of concealment.
अनिर्वृत्ते तु निर्वासे यदि बीभत्सुरागतः । पुनर्द्वादशवर्षाणि वने वत्स्यन्ति पाण्डवाः
If Bibhatsu has returned before the completion of their exile, then the Pandavas must again spend twelve years in the forest.
लोभाद्वा ते न जानीयुरस्मान्वा मोह आविशत्। हीनातिरिक्तमेतेषां भीष्मो वेदितुमर्हति
Whether out of greed they do not know us, or confusion has overtaken them, Bhishma should determine what is lacking or excessive for them.
अर्थानां हि पुनर्द्वैधे नित्यं भवति संशयः । अन्यथा चिन्तितो ह्यर्थः पुनर्भवति चान्यथा
For when there is doubt about matters, uncertainty always arises; what is considered one way becomes otherwise in the end.
उत्तरं मार्गमाणानां मात्स्यसेनां युयुत्सताम् । यदि बीभत्सुरायातः किंतु कृत्यमतः परम्
If Bibhatsu has arrived among those seeking the northern path, the Matsya army eager for battle, what should be done next?
त्रिगर्तानां कृतं कार्यं पाण्डवानां च मार्गणम् । विप्रकारैर्हि मात्स्येन सुशर्मा बाधित पुरा
The task of the Trigartas is accomplished, and the search for the Pandavas; Suśarman was previously harassed by the Matsya with acts of aggression.
तेषां भयाभिपन्नानां वस्तानां त्राणभिच्छताम् । अभयं याचमानानां तदाऽस्माभिः परिश्रुतम्
When those who were attacked by fear sought protection, asking for safety, we heard of this at that time.
प्रथमं वैर्ग्रहीतव्यं मात्स्यानां गोधनं महत्। अष्टम्याश्चापराह्णे तु इति नस्तैः समाहितम्
First, the great cattle wealth of the Matsyas should be seized; on the eighth day in the afternoon, this was agreed upon by them.
नवम्यां पुनरस्माभिः सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति। इमा गावो ग्रहीतव्या याते मत्स्ये गवांपदम्
On the ninth day, at sunrise, we must seize these cows, once the Matsya has reached the place of the cattle.