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.
अशोभत यथा मत्तैर्वनं प्रक्रीडितैर्गजैः । जयद्रथमुखाश्चान्ये सिन्धुसौवीरवासिनः
That army shone like a forest filled with intoxicated elephants at play; and others, led by Jayadratha, the dwellers of Sindhu and Sauvira, also arrived.
आजग्मुः पृथिवीपालाः कम्पयन्त इवाचलान्। तेषामक्षौहिणी सेना बहुला विबभौ तदा
Kings from many lands came, shaking the earth as if they would move mountains; their vast akshauhini army then appeared resplendent.
विधूयमानो वातेन बहुरूप इवाम्बुदः। सुदक्षिणश्च काम्भोजो यवनैश्च शकैस्तथा
It looked like a many-formed cloud being scattered by the wind; Sudakshina, the Kamboja, also came with Yavanas and Shakas.
उपाजगाम कौरव्यमक्षौहिण्या विशांपते । तस्य सेनासमावायः शलभानामिवाबभौ
He approached the Kaurava, O lord of men, with an akshauhini; the gathering of his army looked like a swarm of locusts.
स च संप्राप्य कौरव्यं तत्रैवान्तर्दधे तदा। तथा महिष्मतीवासी नीलो नीलायुधैः सह
Having reached the Kaurava, he then merged into the host; likewise, Nila, the king of Mahishmati, arrived with warriors bearing blue weapons.
महीपालो महावीर्यैर्दक्षिणापथवासिभिः । आवन्त्यौ च महीपालौ महाबलसुसंवृतौ
That king, accompanied by mighty heroes from the southern lands, and the two powerful Avanti kings, well protected, also came.
पृथगक्षौहिणीभ्यां तावभियातौ सुयोधनम् । ततस्ततस्तु सर्वेषां भूमिपानां महात्मनाम्
Those two advanced separately with their own akshauhinis to join Suyodhana; thus, from all sides, the great-souled kings gathered.
तिस्रोऽन्याः समवर्तन्त वाहिन्यो भरतर्षभ । एवमेकादशावृत्ताः सेना दुर्योधनस्य ताः
Three other armies, O bull of the Bharatas, assembled; in this way, Duryodhana's forces became eleven akshauhinis.
युयुत्समानाः कौन्तेयान्नानाध्वजसमाकुलाः । न हास्तिनपुरे राजन्नवकाशोऽभवत्तदा
Eager to fight the sons of Kunti, the armies were crowded with many banners; at that time, O king, there was no room left in Hastinapura.
राज्ञां स्वबलमुख्यानां प्राधान्येनापि भारत । ततः प़ञ्चनदं चैव कृत्स्नं च कुरुजाङ्गलम्
Even for the foremost among the kings and their chief forces, O Bharata, there was no space; so the entire land of Panchanada and the Kurujangala was occupied.
तथा रोहितकारण्यं मरुभूमिश्च केवला। अहिच्छत्रं कालकूटं गङ्गाकूलं च भारत
Likewise, the Rohitaka forest, the whole desert region, Ahichhatra, Kalakuta, and the banks of the Ganga, O Bharata,
वारणं वाटधानं च यामुनश्चैव पर्वतः। एष देशः सुविस्तीर्णः प्रभूतधनधान्यवान्
Varana, Vatadhana, and the Yamuna mountains—this vast region, rich in wealth and grain,
बभूव कौरवेयाणां बलेनातीव संवृतः। तत्र सैन्यं तथा युक्तं ददर्श स पुरोहितः
became densely filled with the Kaurava army; there, the priest saw the army so arrayed.
यः स पाञ्चालराजेन प्रेषितः कौरवान्प्रति
He was the one sent by the king of the Panchalas to the Kauravas.
स च कौरव्यमासाद्य द्रुपदस्य पुरोहितः। सत्कृतो धृतराष्ट्रेण भीष्मेण विदुरेण च
That priest of Drupada, having reached the Kaurava camp, was honored by Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, and Vidura.
सर्वकौशल्यमुक्त्वाऽऽदौ पृष्ट्वा चैवमनामयम्। सर्वसेनाप्रणेतॄणां मध्ये वाक्यमुवाच ह
After first offering all courtesies and inquiring about their well-being, he spoke these words in the midst of all the commanders.
सर्वैर्भवद्भिर्विदितो राजधर्मः सनातनः। वाक्योपादानहेतोस्तु वक्ष्यामि विदिते सति
You all know well the eternal law of kings; yet, for the sake of discussion, I will speak, even though it is already understood.
धृतराष्ट्रश्च पाण्डुश्च सुतावेकस्य विश्रुतौ । तयोः समानं द्रविणं पैतृकं नात्र संशयः
Dhritarashtra and Pandu are both renowned sons of the same father; their paternal wealth is equally shared, of this there is no doubt.
धृतराष्ट्रस्य ये पुत्राः प्राप्तं तैः पैतृकं वसु। पाण्डुपुत्राः कथं नाम न प्राप्ताः पैतृकं वसु
The sons of Dhritarashtra have received their paternal wealth; how is it that the sons of Pandu have not obtained their paternal wealth?
वनं गतैः पाण्डवेयैर्विदितं वः पुरा यथा। न प्राप्तं पैतृकं द्रव्यं धृतराष्ट्रेण यद्धृतम्
You know well how, when the Pandavas went to the forest, they did not receive their paternal property, which was seized by Dhritarashtra.