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.
शिल्पिभिर्विविधैश्चैव क्रीडास्तत्र प्रयोजिताः । तत्र माल्यानि मांसानि भक्ष्यं पेयं च सत्कृतम्
There, various entertainments were arranged by skilled artisans; garlands, meats, delicacies to eat and drink were offered with honor.
कूपाश्च विविधाकारा औदकानि गृहाणि च ।। स ताः सभाः समासाद्य पूज्यमानो यथाऽमरः
There were wells of many shapes and houses with water; having reached those assembly halls, he was honored like an immortal.
दुर्योधनस्य सचिवैर्देशे देशे समन्ततः ।। आजगाम सभामन्यां देवावसथवर्चसम्
Attended everywhere by Duryodhana’s counselors, he entered another assembly hall, shining with the splendor of a divine abode.
स तत्र विषयैर्युक्तैः कल्याणैरतिमानुषैः ।। मेनेऽभ्यधिकमात्मानमवमेने पुरन्दरम्
There, surrounded by enjoyments that were excellent and beyond human, he considered himself superior and looked down upon even Purandara (Indra).
पप्रच्छ स ततः प्रेष्यान्प्रहृष्टः क्षत्रियर्षभः ।। युधिष्ठिरस्य पुरुषाः केऽत्र चक्रुः सभा इमाः
Then that delighted bull among Kshatriyas questioned the attendants: 'Who among Yudhishthira’s men built these assembly halls?'
आनीयन्तां सभाकाराः प्रदेयार्हा हि मे मताः ।। प्रदेयमेषां दास्यामि कुन्तीपुत्रोऽनुमन्यताम्
'Let the makers of the assembly hall be brought; they are worthy of gifts in my view. I will give them gifts—let the son of Kunti approve.'
ततः प्रहृष्टं राजानं ज्ञात्वा ते सचिवास्तदा' दुर्योधनाय तत्सर्वं कथयन्ति स्म विस्मिताः
Then, knowing the king was pleased, those counselors, amazed, told Duryodhana everything.
संप्रहृष्टो यदा शल्यो दिदित्सुरपि जीवितम् । गूढो दुर्योधनस्तत्र दर्शयामास मातुलम्
When Shalya was delighted and even willing to give his life, Duryodhana, concealed there, revealed himself to his maternal uncle.
तं दृष्ट्वा मद्रराजश्च ज्ञात्वा यत्नं च तस्य तम्। परिष्वज्याब्रवीत्प्रीत इष्टोऽर्थो ध्रियतामिति
Seeing him and recognizing his effort, the king of Madra embraced him and said with affection, 'Let your desired aim be accomplished.'
सत्यवाग्भव कल्याण वरो वै मम दीयताम्। सर्वसेनाप्रणेता वै भवान्भवितुमर्हति
'Be truthful, auspicious one; grant me the boon I seek. You are worthy to become the commander of all the armies.'