यथा नायं समायुञ्ज्याद्धार्तराष्ट्रं कथंचन । न च सेनां पराजय्यात्तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्
Let policy be arranged so that he does not in any way join the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, nor defeat the army.
उक्तं दुर्योधनेनापि पुरस्ताद्वाक्यमीदृशम् । तदनुस्मृत्य गाङ्गेय यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि
Duryodhana too has spoken such words before; remembering that, O son of Gaṅgā, you should speak as is proper.
कलाः काष्ठाश्च युज्यन्ते मुहूर्ताश्च दिनानि च। अर्धमासाश्च मासाश्च नक्षत्राणि ग्रहास्तथा
The divisions of time—kalās, kāṣṭhās, muhūrtas, days, half-months, months, constellations, and planets—are all connected.
ऋतवश्चापि युज्यन्ते तथा संवत्सरा अपि। एवं कालविभागेन कालचक्रं प्रवर्तते
The seasons and years are also joined together; thus, by the division of time, the wheel of time turns.
तेषां कालातिरेकेण ज्योतिषां च व्यतिक्रमात्। पञ्चमे पञ्चमे वर्षे द्वौ मासावधिमासकौ
Due to the excess of time and the irregularity of the luminaries, in every fifth year there are two intercalary months.
एषामभ्यधिका मासाः पञ्च च द्वादश क्षपाः । त्रयोदशानां वर्षाणामिति मे वर्तते मतिः
Of these, there are five extra months and twelve nights over thirteen years—so I think.
पूर्वेद्युरेव निर्वृत्तस्ततो बीभत्सुरागतः
On the very previous day, the task was completed, and then Bhīmasena returned.
सर्वं यथावच्चरितं यद्यदेभिः प्रतिश्रुतम्। एवमेतद्भ्रुवं ज्ञात्वा ततो बीभत्सुरागतः
Everything that was done, whatever had been promised by them, knowing all this exactly, then Bhīmasena returned.
सर्वे पञ्च महात्मानः सर्वे धर्मार्थकोविदाः। येषां युधिष्ठिरो राजा कस्माद्धर्मेऽपराध्नुयुः
All five are great souls, all are wise in righteousness and purpose; with Yudhiṣṭhira as their king, why would they ever transgress dharma?
कामात्क्रोधाच्च लोभाच्च कामक्रोधभयादपि । स्नेहाद्वा यदि वा मोहाद्धर्मं नात्येति धर्मजः
Not from desire, anger, greed, or even from desire, anger, or fear, nor from affection or delusion, does the righteous-born one ever abandon dharma.
अलुब्धाश्चैव कौन्तेयाः कृतवन्तश्च दुष्करम्। न चापि केवलं राज्यमिच्छेयुस्ते ह्यधर्मतः
The sons of Kuntī are not greedy and have accomplished what is difficult; nor would they wish for the kingdom solely by unrighteous means.
तदैव ते हि विक्रान्तुमीषुः कौरवनन्दनाः । धर्मपाशनिबद्धास्तु न चेलुः क्षत्रियव्रतात्
At that very moment, the sons of Kuru were eager to act valiantly; but bound by the bonds of dharma, they did not stray from the warrior's vow.
यश्चानृत इति ख्यातः स च गच्छेत्पराभवम् । वृणुयुर्माणं पार्था नानृतत्वं कथंचन
And he who is known as untruthful will surely meet defeat; the sons of Pāṇḍu would choose death, never falsehood, under any circumstance.
प्राप्ते तु काले स्वानर्थान्नोत्सृजेयुर्नरर्षभाः । अपि वज्रभृता गुप्तांस्तथावीर्या हि पाण्डवाः
But when the time comes, for their own interests, those best among men would not abandon them, even if protected by the wielder of the thunderbolt; such is the valor of the Pāṇḍavas.
प्रतियुद्ध्येम समरे सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरम्
Let us fight in battle against the foremost of all wielders of weapons.
तस्माद्यदत्र कल्याणं लोके सद्भिरनुष्ठितम्। तत्संविधीयतां शीघ्रं मा वो ह्यर्थोऽभ्यगात्परम्
Therefore, whatever is good and has been practiced by the virtuous in the world, let that be arranged quickly, lest a greater calamity befall you.
न हि पश्यामि संग्रामे कदाचिदपि कौरव । एकान्तसिद्धिं राजेन्द्र संप्राप्तश्च धनञ्जयः
For I do not see, O Kaurava, any certain victory in battle at any time; and Dhanañjaya has now arrived, O king.
संप्रवृत्ते तु संग्रामे भावाभावौ जयाजयौ । अवश्यमेकं स्पृशतो दृष्टमेतदसंशयम्
When battle is joined, gain and loss, victory and defeat, one of these must surely occur; this is seen without doubt.
तस्माद्युद्धोपचरितं कर्म वा धर्मसंहितम् । क्रियतामाशु राजेन्द्र संप्राप्तश्च धनञ्जयः
Therefore, O king, whatever action is proper in war or in accordance with dharma, let it be done swiftly, for Dhanañjaya has now arrived.
एको हि समरे पार्थः पृथिवीं निर्दहेच्छरैः । भ्रातृभिः सहितो भूत्वा किं पुनः कौरवान्रणे । तस्मात्सन्धिं कुरुश्रेष्ठ कुरुष्व यदि मन्यसे
For alone in battle, Pārtha could burn the earth with his arrows; what then, when joined by his brothers, against the Kauravas in war? Therefore, best of Kurus, make peace if you think it right.
नाहं राज्यं प्रदास्यामि पाण्डवेभ्यः पितामह। ग्रामं सेनां च दासांश्च स्वल्पं द्रव्यमपि प्रभो । युद्धोपचारिकं यत्तु तत्सर्वं संविधीयताम्
I will not give the kingdom to the Pāṇḍavas, O grandsire; not a village, nor army, nor servants, nor even a little wealth, O lord. But whatever is proper in war, let all that be arranged.
भीष्मस्योपरते वाक्ये तथा दुर्योधनस्य च। प्राप्तमर्थ्यं च यद्वाक्यं द्रोणश्वाह द्विजोत्तमः
When Bhīṣma had finished speaking, and likewise Duryodhana, then Droṇa, best of twice-born, spoke the words appropriate to the situation.
यत्तु युद्धोपचरितं भवेद्वा धर्मसंहितम्। कस्त्वया सदृशो लोके भूयस्त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
Whatever is proper in war or in accordance with dharma, who in this world is equal to you? You are most worthy to speak.
अत्र या मामिका बुद्धिः श्रूयतां यदि रोचते । सर्वथा हि मया श्रेयो वक्तव्यं कुरुनन्दन
Now hear my own opinion on this matter, if it pleases you; for in every way, O joy of the Kurus, I must speak what is best.
राजा बलचतुर्भागं क्षिप्रमादाय गच्छतु । ततोऽपरश्चतुर्भागो गाः समादाय गच्छतु । वयं चार्धेन सैन्यस्य प्रतियोत्स्याम पाण्डवम्
Let the king swiftly take one quarter of the army and depart; then let another quarter go, taking the cattle; and with half of the army, we shall oppose the Pandava.
अहं भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च अश्वत्थामा कृपस्तथा। प्रतियोत्स्याम बीभत्सुमागतं कृतनिश्चयम्
I, Bhishma, Karna, Ashvatthama, and Kripa as well, shall confront Arjuna, who has come with firm resolve.
एवं राजा सुगुप्तः स्यान्न क्लैब्यं गन्तुमर्हति । मत्स्यं वा पुनरायातमथवापि शतक्रतुम् । अहमावारयिष्यामि वेलेव मकरालयम्
Thus the king will be well protected and should not fall into despair; whether it is the Matsya king returning or even Indra himself, I will hold them back, like the shore restrains the ocean.
तद्वाक्यं रुरुचे तेषां द्रोणेनोक्तं महात्मना । तथाहि कृतवान्राजा कौरवाणामनन्तरम्
That speech, spoken by the great-souled Drona, pleased them; and so the king of the Kauravas acted accordingly.
भीष्मः प्रस्थाप्य राजानं गोधनं तदनन्तरम् । सेनामुख्यान्व्यवस्थाप्य व्यूहितुं संप्रचक्रमे
Bhishma, after sending off the king and then the cattle, arranged the chief officers of the army and began to form the battle array.
द्रोणस्योपरते वाक्ये भीष्मः प्रोवाच बुद्धिमान्। आचार्य मध्ये तिष्ठ त्वमश्वत्थामा तु सव्यतः। कृपः शारद्वतो धीमान्पार्श्वं रक्षतु दक्षिणम्
When Drona had finished speaking, wise Bhishma said: 'Teacher, stand in the center; let Ashvatthama be on the left, and Kripa, son of Sharadvat, the wise one, guard the right flank.'