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.
काञ्चनानि च दामानि विविधाश्चोत्तमस्रजः। दिव्यपुष्पाभिसवीतास्तत्र चित्राणि भेजिरे
There, golden garlands and various excellent wreaths, woven with divine flowers, were distributed in wondrous ways.
तस्मिंस्तु राजन्प्रासादे दिव्यरत्नविभूषिते । दिव्यगन्धसमायुक्ताः स्रजो दिव्याश्चकाशिरे
In that palace, O king, adorned with celestial jewels, divine garlands imbued with heavenly fragrance shone forth.
दिव्यश्च वायुः प्रववौ गन्धमादाय सर्वशः । ऋतवः पुष्पमादाय समतिष्ठन्त भारत
A divine wind blew, carrying fragrance everywhere; and the seasons, bearing flowers, stood firm, O Bharata.
प्रजानां पतयः सप्त सप्त चैव महर्षभः। तत्र देवर्षयश्चैव देवराजं दिवौकसः । इन्द्रेण सहिताः सर्वे त्रिदशाश्च व्यवस्थिताः
The seven lords of beings, and the seven great sages as well, were there; and the divine sages, together with the king of the gods and the celestial hosts, all the gods with Indra, were assembled.
न पङ्को न रजस्तत्र प्रविवेश कथंचन । आदित्यश्च विरूक्षोत्र नातिवेलमिवातपत्
No mud or dust entered there in any way; and the sun, shining there, did not scorch excessively.
दिव्यगन्धं समादाय वायुस्तत्राभिगच्छति। आकाशं च दिशः सर्वा दर्शनीयमदृश्यत
The wind, carrying a divine fragrance, approached there; and the sky and all the directions appeared delightful to behold.
तत्र देवाः समारुह्य तं दिव्यं सर्वतःप्रभम् । अम्बरे विमलेऽतिष्ठन्प्रासादं कामगामिनम्
There, the gods ascended that radiant, divine palace, moving as they wished, and stood in the clear sky.
तत्र राजर्षयश्चैव समारुह्य दिवौकसः । श्वेतो राजा वसुमनास्तथा भद्रः प्रदर्शनः
There, the royal sages also, together with the celestials, ascended: King Shveta, Vasumanas, Bhadra, and Pradarshana.
नृगो ययातिर्नहुपो मान्धात भरतः कुरुः । अष्टकश्च शिबिश्चोभौ स च राजा पुरूरवाः
Nriga, Yayati, Nahusha, Mandhata, Bharata, Kuru, Ashtaka, Shibi—both of them—and King Pururavas were there.
डम्भोद्भवः कार्तवीर्यो ह्यर्जुनः सगरस्तथा। दिलीपः केरलः पूरुः शर्यातिः सोमकस्तदा
Dambhodbhava, Kartavirya Arjuna, Sagara, Dilipa, Kerala, Puru, Sharyati, and Somaka were present then.
हरिश्चन्द्रश्च तेजस्वी रघुर्दशरथस्तथा। भगीरथश्च राजर्षिः सर्वे च जनमेजय
Harishchandra the glorious, Raghu, Dasharatha, and the royal sage Bhagiratha—all these, O Janamejaya.
पाण्डुश्चैव महाराजश्चामरव्यजनोज्ज्वलः। छत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन राजसूयश्रिया वृतः
And King Pandu was there, resplendent with a white fan and a held parasol, adorned with the glory of the Rajasuya sacrifice.
एते चान्ये च बहवः पुण्यशीलाः शुचिव्रताः । कीर्तिमन्तो महावीर्यास्तत्रैवासन्दिवि स्थिताः
And many others, virtuous and pure in their vows, renowned and mighty, were also seated there in heaven.
गणाश्चाप्सरसां सर्वे गन्धर्वाश्चापि सर्वशः । दैत्यराक्षसयक्षाश्च सुपर्णाः पन्नगास्तथा
All the hosts of Apsaras, and all the Gandharvas, as well as Daityas, Rakshasas, Yakshas, Suparnas, and Nagas were there.
वासवप्रमुखाः सर्वे देवाश्च सगणेश्वराः । आसंस्तत्र समारूढाः संग्रामं तं दिदृक्षवः
All the gods, headed by Vasava, with their leaders, had assembled there, having ascended, eager to witness that battle.
इत्यम्बरे व्यवस्थाय प्रासादस्था दिवौकसः । एकस्य च बहूनां च युद्धं द्रुष्टुं व्यवस्थिताः ।। सर्वथा हि मया श्रेयो वक्तव्यं कुरुनन्दन
Thus, standing in the sky, the celestials stationed on the palace were assembled to witness the battle of one against many. Indeed, O joy of the Kurus, I must always speak what is best.
तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु कौरवेयैर्महारथैः । उपायादर्जुनंस्तूर्णं रथघोषेण नादयन्
Thus, when the Kaurava great chariot-warriors had arrayed their troops, Arjuna swiftly approached, resounding with the noise of his chariot.
ददृशुस्ते ध्वजाग्रं वै शुश्रुवुश्च रथस्वनम् । दोधूयमानस्य भृशं गाण्डीवस्य च निस्वनम्
They saw the tip of his banner and heard the sound of his chariot, and the loud twang of the Gandiva bow as it was shaken.
त्रिकोशमात्रं गत्वा तु पाण्डवः श्वेतवाहनः । संनामुखमभिप्रेक्ष्य पार्थो वैराटिमब्रवीत्
Having gone about three kroshas, the Pandava with the white steeds, seeing the enemy array ahead, spoke to the king of the Viratas.
राजानं नात्र पश्यामि रथानीके व्यवस्थितम्। दक्षिणं पक्षमादाय कुरुवो यान्त्युदङ्भुंखाः
I do not see the king stationed in the chariot division here; the Kurus, taking the southern wing, are advancing facing north.