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.
उत्सृज्यैतद्रथानीकं महेष्वासाभिरक्षितम्। गवाग्रमभितो याहि यावत्पश्यामि मे रिपुम्
Leaving this chariot division, guarded by mighty archers, approach the cattle front from all sides until I see my enemy.
गवाग्रमभितो गत्वा गाश्चैवाशु निवर्तय । यावदेते निवर्तन्ते कुरवो जवमास्थिताः । तावदेव पशून्सर्वान्निवर्तिष्ये तवाभिभो
Go swiftly to the cattle front and turn the cows back at once; as long as these Kurus, mounted at speed, do not return, I will bring back all the cattle for you, O mighty one.
इत्युक्त्वा समरे पार्थो वैराटिमपराजितः । सव्यं पक्षमनुप्राप्य जवेनाश्वानचोदयत्
Having spoken thus in battle, Partha, the unconquered, reached the left flank and urged on the horses with speed.
ततोऽभ्यवादयत्पार्थो भीष्मं शान्तनवं कृपम्। द्वाभ्यांद्वाभ्यां तथाऽऽचार्यं द्रोणं प्रथमतः क्रमात्
Then Partha greeted Bhishma, son of Shantanu, and Kripa; likewise, in due order, he first saluted his teacher Drona, two by two.
द्रोणं कृपं च भीष्मं च पृषत्कैरभ्यवादयत्। ततस्तत्सर्वमालोक्य द्रोणो वचनमब्रवीत्
He greeted Drona, Kripa, and Bhishma with arrows; then, seeing all this, Drona spoke these words.
महारथमनुप्राप्तं दृष्ट्वा गाण्डीवधन्विनम् । न कश्चिद्योद्भिमिच्छेत न च गुप्तं स्वजीवितम् । अयं वीरश्च शूरश्च दुर्धर्षश्चैव संयुगे
Seeing the wielder of Gandiva, the great chariot-warrior, approach, no one should wish for battle, nor hope to preserve his life; for this hero is valiant and unassailable in combat.
एतद्ध्वजाग्रं पार्थस्य दूरतः प्रतिदृश्यते। मेघःक सविद्युत्स्तनितो रोरवीति च वानरः
The crest of Partha's banner is visible from afar; the monkey roars, thunderous like a cloud with lightning.
आस्थाय च रथं याति गाण्डीवं विक्षिपन्धनुः
Mounted on his chariot, he advances, brandishing his Gandiva bow.
अश्वानां स्तनतां शब्दो वहतां पाकशासनिम्। रथस्याम्बुधरस्येव श्रूयते भृशदारुणः
The resounding noise of the horses, bearing the wielder of Indra's weapon, and the chariot, is heard, fierce as the rumbling of a raincloud.
दारयन्निव तेजस्वी वसुधां वासवात्मजः । एष दृष्ट्वा रथानीकमस्माकमरिमर्दनः
The radiant son of Vasava seems to rend the earth; seeing our chariot division, this destroyer of enemies advances.