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.'
रक्तवैडूर्यविकृतं मणिप्रवरभूषितम् । परं जानाम्यहं तस्य ध्वजं दूरात्समुच्छ्रितम्
I recognize from afar his banner, adorned with excellent jewels and decorated with blood-red cat's-eye gems.
यद्येनमिह पश्यामि दुर्बुद्धिमतिमानिनम् । यमाय प्रेषयिष्यामि सहायः स्याद्यदीश्वरः
If I see him here—the arrogant one of wicked mind—I shall send him to Yama; if fate allows, he will have a companion.
सर्वानन्याननादृत्य दृष्ट्वा तमतिमानिनम् । सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगस्येव पतिष्ये तस्य मूर्धनि
Disregarding all others, when I see that arrogant man, I shall fall upon his head like a lion upon a feeble animal.
हनिष्यामि तमेवाद्य शरैर्गाण्डीवनिःसृतैः । तस्मिन्हते भविष्यन्ति सर्व एव पराजिताः
Today I will slay him with arrows released from Gandiva; with him slain, all the rest will surely be defeated.
शरैश्च शमयिष्येऽहं धार्तराष्ट्रं ससौबलम् । असभ्यानां च वक्तारं कुरूणां किल किल्विषम्
With arrows I will subdue the Dhartarashtra army and its strength, and silence the one who speaks evil among the Kauravas.
राजानं नेह पश्यामि निरापिषमिदं बलम्। अभिद्रेव ह राजानं व्यक्तमित्यत्र निर्भयः
I do not see the king here, nor does this force have a leader; surely the king must be somewhere ahead—drive on without fear toward where the king will be.
आस्थितो मध्यमाचार्योप्यश्वत्थामाऽप्यनन्तरम्। कृपकर्णौ पुरस्तात्तु महेष्वासौ व्यवस्थितौ
In the center stands the chief preceptor, and right behind him is Ashvatthama; in front are Kripa and Karna, mighty archers both.
भूरिश्रवाः सोमदत्तो बाह्लीकश्च जयद्रथः । दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रित्य स्थिता युद्धविशारदाः
Bhurishrava, Somadatta, Bahlika, and Jayadratha—skilled in battle—have taken up position on the right wing.
साल्वराजो द्युमत्सेनो वृषसेनश्च सौबलः। दशार्णश्चैव कालिङ्गो वामं पक्षं समाश्रितः
The king of Salva, Dyumatsena, Vrsasena the son of Saubala, as well as the Dasarna and Kalinga kings, have taken up the left wing.
पृष्ठतः कुरुमुख्यश्च भीष्मस्तिष्ठति दंशितः। सोऽर्धसैन्येन बलवान्सर्वेषां नः पितामहः
Behind stands Bhishma, the foremost of the Kurus, alert and strong, our grandsire, with half the army at his command.