इत्येवं निश्चयोऽस्माकं मन्त्रोऽभून्नागसाह्वये । पाण्डवानां परिज्ञाने सर्वेषां नः परस्परम्
Thus, this was our decision, the counsel at Nagasahvaya, for recognizing the Pandavas, all of us together.
ते वा गाश्च नयिष्यन्ति यदि वा स्युः पराजिताः। अस्मान्वाऽप्यतिसन्धाय कुर्युर्मात्स्येन संगतिम्
Either they will take the cows away, or they will be defeated; or, surpassing us, they may form an alliance with the Matsya.
अथवा तानुपादाय मात्स्यो जानपदैः सह । सर्वथा सेनया सार्धमस्मानेष युयुत्सति
Or perhaps, having gathered the Matsya king together with the people of the land, he comes against us with his entire army, intent on battle.
तेषामेको महावीर्यः कश्चिदेव पुनःसरः। अस्माञ्जेतुमिहायातो मात्स्यो वाऽपि स्वयं भवेत्
Among them, there is one of great valor, or perhaps a single warrior returning again, who has come here to defeat us—he may even be the Matsya king himself.
यद्येष राजा मात्स्यानां यदि बीभत्सुरागतः । सर्वैर्योद्धव्यमस्माभिरिति नः समयः कृतः
If this is the king of the Matsyas, or if Bhīmasena has arrived, then it is our agreement that we must fight them all.
अथ कस्मात्थिता ह्येते रथेषु रथिसत्तमाः । भीष्मद्रोणकृपाः कर्णो विकर्णो द्रौणिरेव च। संभ्रान्तमनसः सर्वे प्राप्ते ह्यस्मिन्धनञ्जये
Then why do these foremost chariot-warriors—Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, Karṇa, Vikarṇa, and Droṇa's son—stand on their chariots, all with disturbed minds, now that Dhanañjaya has arrived?
नान्यत्र युद्धाच्छ्रेयोस्ति तथाऽऽत्मा प्रणिधीयताम् । सर्वलोकेन वा युद्धं देवैर्वाऽस्तु सवासवैः
There is no greater good than battle; thus, let each one devote himself fully. Let the fight be with all the world, or even with the gods and Indra himself.
अनाच्छिन्ने धनेऽस्माकमथ शक्रेण वज्रिणा। यमेन वाऽपि संग्रामे को हास्तिनपुरं व्रजेत्
While our wealth remains unbroken, who, even if it were Śakra the thunder-wielder or Yama in battle, could enter Hastinapura?
शरैरभिप्रणुन्नानां भग्नानां गहने वने । को हि जीवेत्पदातीनां भवेदश्वेषु संशयः
Who among the foot soldiers, driven back by arrows and broken in the dense forest, could survive? Even among the horsemen, there is doubt.
आचार्यं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् । जानामि च मतं तेषामतस्त्रासयतीव नः
Place the teacher at the rear, and let the strategy be arranged accordingly. I also know their intention; it does not seem to frighten us.
अर्जुने चापि संप्रीतिमधिकामुपलक्षये । तथा दृष्ट्वा हि बीभत्सुमुपायान्तं प्रशंसति । यथा सेना न भज्येत तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्
I observe a special delight in Arjuna as well; seeing Bhīmasena approach, he praises him. Let the strategy be arranged so that the army is not broken.
अदेशिका ह्यरण्येऽस्मिन्कृच्छ्रे शत्रुवशं गता। यथा न विभ्रमेत्सेना तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्
Here in this pathless forest, we have fallen into the power of the enemy in hardship; let the strategy be arranged so that the army does not fall into confusion.
अश्वानां हेषितं श्रुत्वा का प्रशंसा भवेत्परे । स्थाने वाऽपि व्रजन्तो वा सदा हेषन्ति वाजिनः
What praise can there be for the neighing of horses, which others have heard? Whether standing or moving, steeds always neigh.
सदा च वायवो वान्ति नित्यं वर्षति वासवः । स्तनयित्नोश्च निर्घोषः श्रूयते बहुशस्तथा
The winds always blow, and Indra always sends rain; the thunder's roar is often heard as well.
भीषयन्पाण्डवेयेभ्यो भवान्सर्वानिमाञ्जनान्। प्रमुखे सर्वसैन्यानामबद्धं बहु भाषते
You, frightening the sons of Pāṇḍu, speak much and openly before all these people and the entire army.
यथैवाश्वान्मार्गमाणास्तानेवाभिपरीप्सवः । हेषितानीव शृण्वन्ति तदिदं भवतस्तथा
Just as those seeking horses listen for their neighing, so too do these people listen to your words.
किमत्र कार्यं पार्थस्य कथं वा स प्रशस्यते। अन्यत्र कामाद्द्वेषाद्वा रोषाद्वाऽस्मासु केवलम्
What is there to be done regarding Pārtha, or how is he to be praised? Except out of desire, hatred, or anger toward us alone.
आचार्या वै कारुणिकाः प्राज्ञाश्चापायदर्शिनः । नैते महाहवे घोरे संप्रष्टव्याः कथंचन
The teachers are compassionate, wise, and foresee danger; in this great and terrible battle, they should not be questioned in any way.
प्रासादेषु विचित्रेषु गोष्ठीपानाशनेषु च। कथा विचित्राः कुर्वाणाः पण्डितास्तत्र सोभनः
In splendid palaces, in gatherings, and at feasts, the learned converse on many varied topics, and there they shine.
बहून्याश्चर्यरूपाणि कुर्वते जनसंसदि । इष्वस्त्रे चापसंधाने पण्डितास्तत्र शोभनाः
They perform many wondrous deeds in the midst of people; in the use of weapons and the drawing of bows, the learned excel there.
परेषां विवरज्ञाने मनुष्याचरितेषु च। अन्नसंस्कारदोषेषु पण्डितास्तत्र शोभनाः
Those learned men who are skilled in discerning the faults of others, in the conduct of men, and in the defects of food preparation, are esteemed in that matter.
पण्डितान्पृष्ठतः कृत्वा परेषां गुणवादिनः । विधीयतां तथा नीतिर्यथा वध्येत वै परः
Let the learned, who praise the virtues of others, be placed behind; let the strategy be arranged so that the enemy may indeed be destroyed.
गावश्चैताः प्रतिष्ठन्तां सेनां व्यूहन्तु माचिरम्। आरक्षाश्च विधीयन्तां यत्र योत्स्यामहे परैः
Let these cows be stationed, and let the army be arrayed without delay; let the guards be appointed where we are to fight the enemy.
सर्वानायुष्मतो भीतान्संत्रस्तानिव लक्षये। अयुद्धमनसश्चैव सर्वांश्चैवानवस्थितान्
I see all your men fearful, trembling, their minds turned away from battle, and all of them unsettled.
यद्येष जामदग्न्यो वा यदि वेन्द्रः पुरंदरः । वासुदेवेन सहितो यदि बीभत्सुरागतः। अहमेनं निरोत्स्यामि वेलेव वरुणालयम्
Even if this is the son of Jamadagni, or Indra, lord of the gods, or if Bhīmasena has come with Vāsudeva, I will restrain him, as the shore restrains the ocean.
रुक्मपुङ्खाः प्रसन्नाग्रा मुक्ता हस्तवता मया। छादयन्तु शारः सूर्यं पार्थस्यायुर्निरोधकाः
Let my arrows, with golden-feathered, sharp points, released from my hand, cover the sun and cut off the life of Partha.
मम चापप्रमुक्तानां शराणां नतपर्वणाम् । निवृत्तिर्गच्छतां नास्ति सर्पाणां श्वसतामिव
There is no return for the arrows released from my bow, with their curved joints, just as for serpents once they have begun to hiss.
शराणां पुङ्खसक्तानां मौर्व्याऽभिहतयोर्भृशम् । श्रूयते तलयोः शब्दो भेर्योराहतयोरिव
The sound of the arrows, firmly attached to their feathers and struck hard by the bowstring, is heard like the beating of drums.
एकैकं चतुरः पञ्च क्वचित्पष्टिं क्वचिच्छतम्। हतान्पश्यत मात्स्यानामिषुभिर्निहतान्रथान्
See how, with my arrows, I have struck down four, five, fifty, or even a hundred Matsyas at a time, along with their chariots.
मद्बाहुमुक्तैरिषुभिस्तैलधौतैः पतत्रिभिः । खद्योतैरिव संपृक्तमन्तरिक्षं विराजताम्
Let the sky shine, filled with the arrows released from my arm, washed in oil, their wings like fireflies.