ततः सागरपर्यन्तां भोक्ष्यसे मेदिनीमिमाम्। भ्रातृभिः सहितो वीर द्रौपद्या च सहानया
Then you will enjoy this earth, extending to the ocean's edge, together with your brothers, O hero, and with Draupadī as well.
उपाख्यानमिदं शक्रविजयं वेदसंमितम् । राज्ञा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु श्रोतव्यं जयमिच्छता
This tale of Indra's victory, in accord with the Vedas, should be heard by kings when their armies are arrayed, by those who desire victory.
तस्मात्संश्रावयामि त्वां विजयं जयतां वर। संस्तूयमाना वर्धन्ते महात्मानो युधिष्ठिर
Therefore I recite this to you, O best of the victorious, for the great-souled are strengthened by praise, O Yudhiṣṭhira.
क्षत्रियाणामभावोयं युधिष्ठिर महात्मनाम्। दुर्योधनापराधेन भीमार्जुनबलेन च।। सङ्ग्रामे संक्षयो घोरो भविष्यत्यचिरादिव
This is the destruction of the noble Kṣatriyas, O Yudhiṣṭhira, caused by Duryodhana's offense and the strength of Bhīma and Arjuna; soon there will be a terrible slaughter in battle.
आख्यानमिन्द्रविजयं य इदं नियतः पठेत्। धूतपाप्मा जितस्वर्गः परत्रेह च मोदते
Whoever recites this tale of Indra's victory with discipline, his sins are washed away, he conquers heaven, and rejoices both here and hereafter.
न चारिजं भयं तस्य नापुत्रो वा भवेन्नरः। नापदं प्राप्नुयात्कांचिद्दीर्घमायुश्च विन्दति। सर्वत्र दयमाप्नोति न कदाचित्पराजयम्
He will have no fear from enemies, nor will he be without a son; he will not encounter any misfortune, will obtain long life, will gain compassion everywhere, and will never be defeated.
एवमाश्वासितो राजा शल्येन भरतर्षभ । पूजयामास विधिवच्छल्यं धर्मभृतां वरः
Thus comforted by Śalya, the king, bull among the Bharatas, duly honored Śalya, the foremost of the righteous.
श्रुत्वा तु शल्यवचनं कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। प्रत्युवाच महाबाहुर्मद्रराजमिदं वचः
Hearing Śalya's words, Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī and mighty-armed, replied these words to the king of Madra.
भवान्कर्णस्य सारथ्यं करिष्यति न संशयः। तत्र तेजोवधः कार्यः कर्णस्यार्जुनसंस्तवैः
You will serve as Karṇa's charioteer, without doubt; there, you must diminish Karṇa's energy by praising Arjuna.
एवमेतत्करिष्यामि यथा मां संप्रभाषसे। यच्चान्यदपि शक्ष्यामि तत्करिष्याम्यहं तव
So I will do exactly as you instruct me; and whatever else I am able to do, I will do that for you as well.
ततस्त्वामन्त्र्य कौन्तेयाञ्छल्यो मद्राधिपस्तदा। जगाम सबलः श्रीमान्दुर्योधनमरिन्दम
Then, after taking leave of the sons of Kunti, King Shalya of Madra, with his troops and wealth, went to Duryodhana, the subduer of enemies.
युयुधानस्ततो वीरः सात्वतानां महारथः। महता चतुरङ्गेण बलेनागाद्युधिष्ठिरम्
Thereafter, the valiant Yuyudhana, a great chariot-warrior among the Sātvatas, approached Yudhishthira with a mighty fourfold army.
तस्य योधा महावीर्या नानादेशसमागताः। नानाप्रहरणा वीराः शोभयांचक्रिरे बलम्
His warriors, of great valor, gathered from many regions, adorned the army—heroes equipped with various weapons.
परश्वथैर्भिण्डिपालैः शूलतोमरमुद्गरैः । परिघैर्यष्टिभिः पाशैः करवालैश्च निर्मलैः
With battle-axes, clubs, spears, javelins, maces, iron rods, staffs, lassos, and spotless swords,
खङ्गकार्मुकनिर्यूहैः शरैश्च विविधैरपि । तैलधौतैः प्रकाशद्भिस्तदशोभत वै बलम्
With shining swords, bows, and arrows of many kinds, polished with oil, that army shone brilliantly.
तस्य मेघप्रकाशस्य सौवर्णौः शोभितस्य च। बभूव रूपं सैन्यस्य मेघस्येव सविद्युतः
The form of that army, resplendent with golden ornaments and shining like a cloud with lightning, was wondrous to behold.
अक्षौहिणी तु सा सेना तदा यौधिष्ठिरं बलम्। प्रविश्यान्तर्दधे राजन्सागरं कुनदी यथा
That army, an akshauhini in strength, entered Yudhishthira's forces and disappeared within them, like a river into the sea, O King.
तथैवाक्षौहिणीं गृह्य चेदीनामृषभो बली । धृष्टकेतुरुपागच्चत्पाण्डवानमितौजसः
Likewise, Dhrishtaketu, the powerful bull among the Cedis, brought an akshauhini and approached the Pandavas, of immeasurable energy.
मागधश्च जयत्सेनो जारासन्धिर्महाबलः । अक्षौहिण्यैव सैन्यस्य धर्मराजमुपागमत्
And Jayatsena, the mighty son of Jarasandha, king of Magadha, came to King Yudhishthira with an akshauhini of troops.
तथैव पाण्ड्यो राजेन्द्र सागरानूपवासिभिः। वृतो बहुविधैर्योधैर्युधिष्ठिरमुपागमत्
In the same way, O king, the lord of the Pandyas, surrounded by warriors dwelling along the seashore, approached Yudhishthira.
तस्य सैन्यमतीवासीत्तस्मिन्बलसमागमे। प्रेक्षणीयतरं राजन्सुवेषं बलवत्तदा
The army that gathered there was exceedingly splendid, O King, and at that assembly of forces, it was most pleasing to behold, well-arrayed and strong.
केकयाश्च नरव्याघ्राः सोदराः पञ्च पार्थिवाः । संहर्षयन्तः कौन्तेयोनक्षौहिण्या समागताः
And the five royal brothers of the Kekayas, tigers among men, joined the son of Kunti with an akshauhini, delighting him.
द्रुपदस्याप्यभूत्सेना नानादेशसमागतैः। शोभिता पुरुषैः शूरैः पुत्रैश्चास्य महारथैः
Drupada too had an army, adorned with brave men gathered from many regions, and with his sons, great chariot-warriors, it shone brilliantly.
तथैव राजा मत्स्यानां विराटो वाहिनीपतिः । पार्वतीयैर्महीपालैः सहितः पाण्डवानयात्
Likewise, King Virata, lord of the Matsyas and leader of armies, came to the Pandavas with mountain kings from the Parvata region.
इतश्चेतश्च पाण्डूनां समाजग्मुर्महात्मनाम् । अक्षौहिण्यस्तु सप्तैव विविधध्वजसङ्कुलाः
From all directions, seven akshauhinis, crowded with various banners, assembled for the high-souled sons of Pandu.
युयुत्समानाः कुरुभिः पाण्डवान्समहर्षयन् । तथैव धार्तराष्ट्रस्य हर्षं समभिर्धयन्
Eager to fight with the Kurus, they brought joy to the Pandavas and likewise increased the delight of Dhritarashtra's son.
भगदत्तो महीपालः सेनामक्षौहिणीं ददौ। तस्य चीनैः किरातैश्च काञ्चनैरिव संवृतम्
King Bhagadatta gave an akshauhini of troops, covered with Chinese and Kirata warriors, shining like gold.
बभौ बलमनाधृष्यं कर्णिकारवनं यथा। तथा भूरिश्रवाः शूरः शल्यश्च कुरुनन्दन
That invincible army shone like a grove of trumpet-flowers; likewise, the valiant Bhurishravas and Shalya, O joy of the Kurus.
दुर्योधनमुपायातावक्षौहिण्या पृथक्पृथक् । कृतवर्मा च हार्दिक्यो भोजान्धकुकुरैः सह
Kritavarma, son of Hridika, arrived to join Duryodhana, each with his own akshauhini, along with the Bhojas and the Andhakas and Kukuras.
अक्षौहिण्यैव सेनाया दुर्योधनमुपागमत्। तस्य तैः पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्वनमालाधरैर्बलम्
With a single akshauhini, Kritavarma approached Duryodhana; his force, adorned with garlands of forest flowers, was filled with men who were tigers among men.