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.'
विकर्णश्च महावीर्यो दुर्मुखश्च परन्तपः। शकुनिः सौबलश्चैव दुःसहश्च महाबलः । द्रोणस्य पार्श्वमजिताः पालयन्तु महाबलाः
Let Vikarna, of great valor, and Durmukha, the subduer of foes, and Shakuni, son of Subala, and Duhsaha, of immense strength—these unconquered warriors—guard Drona's flank.
अग्रतः सूतपुत्रस्तु कर्णस्तिष्ठतु दंशितः। अहं सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य पश्चात्स्थास्यामि पालयन्
Let Karna, the son of the charioteer, stand resolutely at the front; I myself will remain at the rear of the entire army, protecting it.
सर्वे महारथाः शूरा महेष्वासा महाबलाः । युद्ध्यन्तु पाण्डवश्रेष्ठमागतं यत्नतो युधि
Let all the great chariot-warriors, heroes, mighty archers, and men of great strength fight with all effort against the foremost of the Pandavas who has come to battle.
अभेद्यं परसैन्यानां व्यूहं व्यूह्य कुरूत्तमः । वज्रगर्भं व्रीहिमुखं पद्मचन्द्रार्धमण्डलम्
The best of the Kurus arranged an impenetrable formation against the enemy armies, shaped like a thunderbolt at its core, with a rice-sheaf front, and a half-moon and lotus-petal at its sides.
तस्य व्यूहस्य पश्चार्धे भीष्मश्चाथोद्यतायुधः । सौवर्णं तालमुच्छ्रित्य रथे तिष्ठन्नशोभत
At the rear half of that formation, Bhishma, with weapon raised, stood on his chariot holding a golden palm standard, shining brilliantly.
ततः सुदर्शनं नाम प्रासादं हरिवाहनः । सर्वान्देवान्समारोष्य प्रययो यत्र पाण्डवः
Then Krishna, the bearer of Hari, set out in anger, taking all the gods with him, to the palace called Sudarshana, where the Pandava was.
स्थूणाराजिसहस्रं तु यत्र मध्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् । तत्र सूर्यपथेऽतिष्ठद्विमला महती सभा
There, in the midst, stood a great hall, pure and vast, established where a thousand pillars were set, standing in the path of the sun.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा अश्विनौ च मरुद्गणाः । तत्र श्वेतानि चक्राणि काञ्चनस्फाटिकानि च
The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Ashvins, and hosts of Maruts—there, their white chariots and those of gold and crystal were seen.
तथा चित्राणि छत्राणि दिव्यरूपाणि भारत । मणिरत्नविचित्राणि नानारूपाणि भागशः । आकाशे सह दृश्यन्ते भानुमन्ति शुभानि च
There, O Bharata, were also seen wondrous canopies of divine form, adorned with various gems and jewels, of many shapes, shining in the sky, radiant and auspicious.
अग्नेरिन्द्रस्य सोमस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य च। तथा धातुर्विधातुश्च मित्रस्य धनदस्य च। रुद्रस्य विष्णो सवितुस्त्रिदशानां तथैव च
There were also the ornaments of Agni, Indra, Soma, Yama, Varuna, Dhatu, Vidhatu, Mitra, Kubera, Rudra, Vishnu, Savitar, and likewise all the gods.