ते वा युधि दुराधर्षा भवन्त्वेकस्य सैनिकाः । अयुध्यमानः संग्रामे न्यस्तशस्त्रोऽहमेकतः
Let these invincible fighters in battle be the army of one side; as for me, I shall be alone, unarmed, not fighting in the war.
आभ्यामन्यतरं पार्थ यत्ते हृद्यतरं मतम्। तद्वृणीतां भवानग्रे प्रवार्यस्त्वं हि धर्मतः
Of these two, Partha, choose whichever seems more pleasing to you; by right, you have the first choice.
एतद्विदित्वा कौन्तेय विचार्य च पुनः पुनः । तान्वा वरय साहाय्ये मां साचिव्येऽथवा पुनः
Knowing this, Kaunteya, and considering it again and again, choose them for assistance, or me for counsel, as you wish.
एवमुक्तस्तु कृष्णेन कुन्तीपुत्रे धनञ्जयः। अयुध्यमानं संग्रामे वरयामास केशवम्
Thus addressed by Krishna, Dhananjaya, son of Kunti, chose Kesava, who would not fight in battle.
नारायणममिघ्नं कामाज्जातमजं नृषु । सर्वक्षत्रस्य पुरतो देवदानवयोरपि
He chose Narayana, the sinless, the unaging, born among men, before all the Kshatriyas, and even before the gods and the asuras.
दुर्योधनस्तु तत्सैन्यं सर्वमावरयत्तदा । सहस्राणां महस्रं तु योधानां प्राप्य भारत
But Duryodhana then chose that entire army, gaining a great host of a thousand times a thousand warriors, O Bharata.
कृष्णं चापहृतं ज्ञात्वा संप्राप परमां मुदम् । दुर्योधनस्तु तत्सैन्यं सर्वमादाय पार्थिवः
Knowing that Krishna had been taken, Duryodhana, the prince, felt supreme joy and took that entire army.
ततोऽभ्ययाद्भीमबलो रौहिणेयं महाबलम् । सर्वं चागमने हेतुं स तस्मै संन्यवेदयत्। प्रत्युवाच ततः शौरिर्धार्तराष्ट्रमिदं वचः
Then Bhimasena, mighty as a lion, approached the powerful son of Rohini, and explained to him the entire reason for his coming; and then Sauri addressed this word to the son of Dhritarashtra.
विदितं ते नरव्याघ्र सर्वं भवितुमर्हति। यन्मयोक्तं विराटस्य पुरा वैवाहिके तदा
You know everything, tiger among men, and all that should happen; what I said before in the house of Virata at the wedding, that too.
निगृह्योक्तो हृषीकेशस्त्वदर्थं कुरुनन्दन। मया संबन्धकं तुल्यमिति राजन्पुनःपुनः
Restrained, Hrishikesha was told by me again and again, O joy of the Kurus, that for your sake I consider the alliance equal, O King.
न च तद्वाक्यमुक्तं वै केशवं प्रत्यपद्यत। न चाहमुत्सहे कृष्णं विना स्थातुमपि क्षणम्
But that word was not accepted by Kesava; nor am I able to remain even for a moment without Krishna.
नाहं सहायः पार्थस्य नापि दुर्योधनस्य वै । इति मे निश्चिता बुद्धिर्वासुदेवमवेक्ष्य ह
I am not the ally of Partha, nor of Duryodhana; this is my firm resolve, having considered Vasudeva.
जातोऽसि भारते वंशे सर्वपार्थिवपूजिते । गच्छ युध्यस्व धर्मेण क्षात्रेण पुरुषर्षभ
You are born in the Bharata lineage, honored by all kings; go, O best of men, and fight according to the righteous duty of a warrior.
इत्येवमुक्तस्तु तदा परिष्वज्य हलायुधम्। कृष्णं चापि महाबाहुमामन्त्र्य भरतर्षभ
Thus addressed, he embraced Halāyudha, and after bidding farewell to mighty-armed Krishna, O best of the Bharatas—
सोऽभ्ययात्कृतवर्माणं धृतराष्ट्रसुतो नृपः । कृतवर्मा ददौ तस्य सेनामक्षौहिणीं तदा
Then the son of Dhritarashtra, O king, approached Kritavarma; Kritavarma at that time gave him an Akshauhini of troops.
स तेन सर्वसैन्येन भीमेन कुरुनन्दनः । वृतः परिययौ हृष्टः सुहृदः संप्रहर्षयन्
Surrounded by that entire army, Kurunandana joyfully set out with Bhima, delighting his friends.
ततः पीताम्बरधरो जगत्स्रष्टा जनार्दनः । गते दुर्योधने कृष्णः किरीटिनमथाब्रवीत्
Then Janardana, creator of the world, clad in yellow garments, after Duryodhana had departed, spoke to the crowned one.
भवान्समर्थस्तान्सर्वान्निहन्तुं नात्र संशयः । निहन्तुमहमष्येकः समर्थः पुरुषर्षभः
You are capable of destroying them all—there is no doubt of this; but I alone am also able to destroy them, O best of men.
भवांस्तु कीर्तिमाँल्लोके तद्यशस्त्वां गमिष्यति। यशसां चाहमप्यर्थी तस्मादसि मया वृतः
But you will gain fame in the world, and that glory will come to you; I too desire fame, and for this reason I have chosen you.
सारथ्यं तु त्वया कार्यमिति मे मानसं सदा। चिररात्रेप्सितं कामं तद्भवान्कर्तुमर्हति
It is for you to act as my charioteer—this has always been my wish; may you fulfill this long-cherished desire of mine.
उपपन्नमिदं पार्थ यत्स्पर्धसि मया सह। सारथ्यं ते करिष्यामि कामः संपद्यतां तव
It is fitting, O Partha, that you compete with me in this; I shall be your charioteer—may your wish be fulfilled.
एवं प्रमुदितः पार्थः कुष्णेन सहितस्तदा। वृतो दाशार्हप्रवरैः पुनरायाद्युधिष्ठिरम्
Thus, delighted, Partha together with Krishna, having been chosen by the foremost of the Dasharhas, returned again to Yudhishthira.
शल्यः श्रुत्वा तु दूतानां सैन्येन महता वृतः। अभ्यात्पाण्डवान्राजन्सह पुत्रैर्महारथैः
Hearing this, Shalya, surrounded by a great army, approached the Pandavas, O king, together with his sons, mighty chariot-warriors.
तस्य सेनानिवेशोऽभूदध्वर्धमिव योजनम् । तथा हि विपुलां सेनां बिभर्ति स नरर्षभः
His army encampment stretched for half a yojana, for that bull among men commanded a vast force.
अक्षौहिणीपती राजन्महावीर्यपराक्रमाः। विचित्रकवचाः शूरा विचित्रध्वजकार्मुकाः
The commanders of the divisions, O king, were of great valor and prowess; heroic, clad in diverse armor, with varied banners and bows.
विचित्राभरणाः सर्वे विचित्ररथवाहनाः । विचित्रस्रग्धराः सर्वे विवित्राम्बरभूषणाः
All were adorned with diverse ornaments, riding in various chariots and vehicles, all wearing garlands and ornaments of many kinds.
स्वदेशवेषाभरणा वीराः शतसहस्रशः। तस्य सेनाप्रणेतारो बभूवुः क्षत्रियर्षभाः
Warriors by the hundreds of thousands, dressed and adorned in the fashion of their own lands, became the leaders of his army, O best of Kshatriyas.
व्यथयन्निव भूतानि कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम् । शनैर्विश्रामयन्सेनां स ययौ यत्र पाण्डवः
As if shaking the beings and making the earth tremble, he slowly marched his army to where the Pandava was.
ततो दुर्योधनः श्रुत्वा महात्मानं महारथम् । उपायान्तमभिद्रुत्य स्वयमानर्च भरत
Then Duryodhana, hearing that the great-souled, mighty chariot-warrior was approaching, himself went forth and honored him, O Bharata.
कारयामास पूजार्थं तस्य दुर्योधनः सभाः । रमणीयेषु देशेषु रत्नचित्राः स्वलङ्कृताः
Duryodhana arranged for the construction of splendid assembly halls for his honor, in beautiful places, adorned with jewels.