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.
दुर्योधनं न पश्यामि क्व नु राजा स तिष्ठति। उत्सृंज्यैतद्रथानीकं याहि यत्र सुयोधनः
I do not see Duryodhana—where indeed is that king standing? Leave this array of chariots and go to where Suyodhana is.
तं हत्वा संनिवर्तिष्ये गाः स आदाय गच्छति। गवाग्रमभितो याहि यत्र राजा भविष्यति
Having slain him, I will return; he is going to seize the cows—drive toward the front of the cattle, where the king will be.
इत्युक्त्वा समरे पार्थो वैराटिमपराजितः। संस्पृशानो धनुर्दिव्यं त्वरमाणोऽगमत्तदा
Having spoken thus in the battle, Partha, the undefeated son of Virata, touched his divine bow and, hastening, went forth.
ततो भीष्मोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं कुरुमध्ये परंतपः। चिरदृष्टोऽयमस्माभिर्धर्मज्ञो बान्धवप्रियः
Then Bhishma, scorcher of foes, spoke among the Kurus: 'It has been long since we have seen him—he who knows dharma and is dear to his kin.'
अतीव ज्वलते लक्ष्म्या पाकशासनिरागतः। एष दुर्योधनं पार्थो मार्गते निकृतिं स्मरन्
He blazes with splendor, as if come from the lord of the gods; Partha is seeking Duryodhana, remembering his deceit.
सेनामत्यर्थमालोक्य त्वरते ग्रहणेऽस्य च। मृगं सिंह इवादातुमीक्षते पाकशासनिः
Surveying the army intently, he hastens to capture him; like a lion intent on seizing its prey, Partha looks for the son of Dhritarashtra.
नैषोऽन्तरेण राजानं बीभत्सुः स्थातुमर्हति। तस्य पार्ष्णि ग्रहीष्यामो जवेनाभिप्रधावतः
Without the king, Arjuna cannot be made to stand; we will seize him by the heel as he charges forward with speed.
न ह्येनमभिसंक्रुद्धमेको युद्ध्येत संयुगे। अन्यो देवान्महादेवात्कृष्णाद्वा देवकीसुतात्। आचार्याच्च सपुत्राद्वा भारद्वाजान्महारथात्
For no one, not even if enraged, could face him alone in battle—except perhaps the great gods against Mahadeva, or Krishna the son of Devaki, or the teacher Drona with his son, the mighty chariot-warrior of the Bharadwaja line.
किं नो गावः करिष्यन्ति द्रव्यं वा विपुलं तथा। दुर्योधनः पार्थगतः पुरा प्राणान्विमुञ्चति
What use to us are the cows, or even vast wealth? Duryodhana, having gone against Partha, is already risking his life.
इत्युक्त्वा समरे भीष्मः सेनया सह कौरवः। अन्वधावत्तदा पार्थं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य रक्षणे
Having spoken thus, Bhishma, the Kaurava, together with his army, then pursued Partha on the battlefield to protect the son of Dhritarashtra.