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.
श्रीमान्वदान्यो धृतिमान्तत्करोति च पाण्डवः ।। इमौ बाणावनुप्राप्तौ पादयोः प्रत्युपस्थितौ
The illustrious, generous, steadfast Pandava acts; these two arrows have reached and now rest at my feet.
रथस्याग्रे निखातौ मे चित्रपुङ्खावजिह्मगौ ।। इमौ चाप्यपरौ बाणावभितः कर्णमूलयोः
In front of my chariot are fixed two straight-feathered, unfaltering arrows; and here are two more arrows, close by my ears.
संस्पृशन्तावतिक्रान्तौ पृष्ट्वेवानामयं भृशम् ।। चिरदृष्टोऽयमस्माभिर्धर्मज्ञो बान्धवप्रियः
They touch and pass beyond, as if inquiring intensely about my well-being; long have we not seen him, this knower of dharma, dear to his kin.
अतीव ज्वलते लक्ष्म्या पाण्डुपुत्रः प्रतापवान् ।। निरुष्य च वने वामं कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम्
The valiant son of Pandu blazes with splendor; after enduring hardship in the forest and performing a most difficult deed, he now shines.
अभिवादयते पार्थः पूजयन्मामरिंदमः ।। अमर्षेण हि संपूर्णो दुःखेन प्रतिबोधितः
Partha greets me, honoring me, this subduer of foes; filled with indignation, awakened by sorrow.
अद्येमां भारतीं सेनामेको नाशयते ध्रुवम् ।। द्व्यधिकं दशमुष्य वत्सराणां स्वजनेनाविदितस्त्रयोदशं च
Today, surely, he alone will destroy this army of Bharata; for thirteen years, unknown to his own people, he has endured.
ज्वलते रथमास्थितः किरीटी तम इव रात्रिजमभ्युदस्य सूर्यः ।। रथी शरी चारुमाली निषङ्गी शङ्खी पताकी कवची किरीटी
Mounted on his chariot, the diademed one blazes like the sun rising upon the darkness of night; charioteer, archer, adorned with a beautiful garland, sword-bearer, conch-holder, bannered, armored, crowned.
खङ्गी च धन्वी च विराजतेऽयं शिखीव यज्ञेषु घृतेन सिक्तः
Sword-bearer and bowman, he shines forth like a flaming fire anointed with ghee in sacrifice.
तमदूरमुपायान्तं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवमर्जुनम् । नारयः प्रेक्षितुं शेकुस्तपन्तं हि यथा रविम्
When they saw Arjuna, the son of Pandu, approaching from afar, the warriors could not bear to look at him, just as one cannot gaze at the burning sun.
स तं दृष्ट्वा रथानीकं पार्थः सारथिमब्रवीत् । इषुपातमात्रे सेनायाः स्थापयाश्वानरिंदम। यावत्समीक्षे व्यूहेऽस्मिन्मम शत्रुं सुयोधनम्
Seeing that array of chariots, Partha said to his charioteer: 'O subduer of foes, halt the horses at a distance where my arrows can reach the army, so that I may observe my enemy Suyodhana in this formation.'