संसर्पन्त इवाकाशे विद्युत्वन्तो वलाहकाः ।। तानि दृष्ट्वाऽप्यनीकानि निवर्तितरथानि च
Those divisions, moving in the sky like clouds flashing with lightning, and seeing those divisions and the turned-back chariots,
पार्थोऽपि वायुवद्धोरं सैन्याग्रं व्यधुनोच्छरैः ।। तां शत्रुसेनां तरसा प्रणुद्य गाश्चापि जित्वा धनुषा परेण
Partha, fierce as the wind, shook the front of the army with arrows; driving away the enemy force with speed, he subdued the cows with his supreme bow.
दुर्योधनायाभिमुखं प्रयान्तं कुरुप्रवीराः सहसाऽभ्यगच्छन् ।। गोषु प्रयातासु जवेन मात्स्यान्किरीटिनं प्रीतियुतं च दृष्ट्वा
The mighty Kurus, heading toward Duryodhana, suddenly approached; seeing the Matsyas rushing among the cows with speed, and the joyful Kiriti.
पशून्समादाय ततो निवृत्ता गोपाः समस्ताः प्रययुश्च राष्ट्रम्
Then, gathering the cattle, all the cowherds turned back and proceeded to their country.
ततस्त्रीणि सहस्राणि रथानां च धनुष्मताम्। घोराणि कुरुवीराणां पर्यकीर्यन्त भारत
Then three thousand chariots, bearing archers, terrifying heroes of the Kurus, were arrayed, O Bharata.
कर्णो रथसहस्रेण प्रत्यगृह्णाद्धनञ्जयम्। भीष्मः शान्तनवो धीमान्सहस्रेण पुरस्कृतः
Karna, with a thousand chariots, confronted Dhananjaya; Bhishma, son of Shantanu, wise and surrounded by a thousand chariots, stood forth.
तथा रथसहस्रेण भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः। पश्चाद्दुर्योधनोऽतिष्ठद्यशसा च श्रिया ज्वलन्
Likewise, Duryodhana, surrounded by his brothers and a thousand chariots, stood behind, blazing with fame and splendor.
अतिष्ठन्निवकाशेषु पादाताः सह वाजिभिः । भीमरूपाश्च मातङ्गास्तोमराङ्कुशचोदिताः
Infantry stood in the spaces, together with horses; mighty elephants, urged by goads and spears, appeared as Bhima incarnate.
तानि दृष्ट्वा ह्यनीकानि विततानि महात्मनाम् । वैराटिमुत्तरं तं तु प्रत्यभाषत पाण्डवः
Seeing those divisions spread out by the great souls, the Pandava addressed Uttara of the Matsyas.
जाम्बूनदमयी वेदी ध्वजाग्रे यस्य दृश्यते। शोणाश्चाश्वा रथे युक्ता द्रोण एष प्रकाशते
The golden altar seen atop the banner, and the red horses yoked to the chariot—that is Drona, shining forth.
आचार्यो निपुणो धीमान्ब्रह्मविच्छूरसत्तमः। आहवे चाप्रतिद्वन्द्वो दूरपाती महारथः
The teacher, skilled and wise, knower of the Vedas, foremost among heroes; in battle, he is without equal, a great chariot-warrior who strikes from afar.
सुप्रसन्नो महावीरः कुरुष्वैनं प्रदक्षिणम्। अत्रैव चाविरोधेन एष धर्मः सनातनः
He is gracious, a mighty hero; honor him by circling to his right. Here, without opposition, this is the eternal law.
यदि मे प्रहरेद्द्रोणः शरीरे मे प्रहृष्यतः । ततोऽस्मिन्प्रहरिष्यामि नान्यथा बुद्धिरस्ति मे
If Drona strikes me as I stand ready, then I will strike him in return; I have no other intention.
भारताचार्यमुख्येन ब्राह्मणेन महात्मना । तेन मे युध्यमानस्य मन्दं वाहय सारथे
Against that foremost Bharata teacher, the noble-hearted Brahmin, as I fight him, drive the chariot slowly, O charioteer.
ध्वजाग्रे सिंहलाङ्गूलो दिक्षु सर्वासु शोभते । भारताचार्यपुत्रस्तु सोऽश्वत्थामा विराजते
On the tip of his banner, a lion's tail shines in all directions; that is Ashvatthama, son of the Bharata teacher, radiant.
ध्वजाग्रं दृश्यते यत्र बालसूर्यसमप्रभम् । दुर्जयः सर्वसैन्यानां देवैरपि सवासवैः । तेन मे युध्यमानस्य मन्दं वाहय सारथे
Where the banner's tip appears, glowing like the young sun, stands one unconquerable by all armies, even by gods with Indra; as I fight him, drive the chariot slowly, O charioteer.
ध्वजाग्रे गोवृषो यस्य काञ्चनोऽभिविराजते । आचार्यवरमुख्यस्तु कृप एष महारथः
On whose banner's tip a golden bull stands resplendent; that is Kripa, the foremost among teachers, a great chariot-warrior.
द्रोणेन च समो वीर्ये पितुर्मे परमः सखा। तेन मे युध्यमानस्य मन्दं वाहय सारथे
Equal to Drona in valor, my father's dearest friend; as I fight him, drive the chariot slowly, O charioteer.
यस्य काञ्चनकम्बूभिर्हस्तिकक्ष्यापरिष्कृतः। ध्वजः प्रकाशते दूराद्रथे विद्युद्गणोपमः
Whose banner, adorned with golden bracelets and elephant trappings, shines from afar on his chariot like a cluster of lightning.
एष वैकर्तनः कर्णः प्रतिमानं धनुष्मताम्। दृढवैरी सदाऽस्माकं नित्यं कटुकभाषणः
This is Karna, son of Vaikartana, peerless among archers; always our firm enemy, ever harsh in speech.
यस्याश्रयबलादेव धार्तराष्ट्रः ससौबलः । अस्मान्निरस्य राज्याच्च पुनरद्यापि योत्स्यति
By whose strength and support, Dhritarashtra's son, with Saubala, has driven us from the kingdom and still today seeks battle.
एष वै स्पर्धते नित्यं मया सह सुदुर्जयः । जामदग्न्यस्य रामस्य शिष्यो ह्येष महारथः
He always competes with me, difficult to overcome; he is the disciple of Jamadagni's Rama, a great chariot-warrior.
सर्वास्त्रकुशलः कर्णः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः । युद्धेऽप्रतिमवीर्यश्च दृढवेधी पराक्रमी
Karna is skilled in all weapons, foremost among all wielders of arms; unmatched in valor in battle, steadfast and bold.
अद्याहं युद्धमेतेन करिष्ये सूतबन्धुना। द्रष्टा त्वमावयोर्युद्धं बलिवासवयोरिव
Today I will fight with him, the charioteer's son; you will witness our battle, like that of mighty Indra and Bali.
महारथेन शूरेण सूतपुत्रेण धन्विना। तेन मे युध्यमानस्य शीघ्रं वाहय सारथे
With that heroic, great chariot-warrior, the charioteer's son, the archer; as I fight him, drive the chariot swiftly, O charioteer.
यस्य चैव रथोपस्थे नागो मणिमयो ध्वजः । एष दुर्योधनस्तत्र कौरवो यशसा वृतः
Whose chariot bears a banner with a jeweled elephant, seated upon it; that is Duryodhana, the Kaurava, surrounded by fame.
लब्धलक्षो दृढं वेधी लघुहस्तः प्रतापवान् । तेन मे युध्यमानस्य शीघ्रं वाहय सारथे
He is precise in aim, steadfast, light-handed, and full of prowess; as I fight him, drive the chariot swiftly, O charioteer.
यस्तु श्वेतावदातेन पञ्चतालेन केतुना । वैडूर्यमयदण्डेन तालवृक्षेण राजते
He whose banner is white and pure, with five palm trees, its staff made of beryl, shining with a palm tree motif.
हस्तावापी बृहद्धन्वा सेनां तिष्ठति हर्षयन् । रामेण जामदग्न्येन द्वैरथेनाजितः पुरा
With bow in hand, standing firm, he delights the army; once, in single combat, he was undefeated by Jamadagni's Rama.
शीघ्रश्च लगुवेधी च लघुहस्तः प्रतापवान् । एष शान्तनवो भीष्मः सर्वेषां नः पितामहः
Swift, precise, light-handed, and full of prowess; this is Bhishma, son of Shantanu, the grandfather of us all.