द्रोणाकर्णौ प्रतीयातां यदि वीरौ नरर्षभौ । कृतास्त्रौ बलिनां श्रेष्ठौ समरेष्वपराजितौ
If the two mighty heroes, Drona and Karna, both masters of weapons, best among the strong, and undefeated in battle, advance together—
महान्स्यात्संशयो लोके न त्वस्ति विजयो मम। घृणी कर्णः प्रमादी च आचार्यः स्थविरो गुरुः
—then there would be great uncertainty in the world, but for me, there is no victory. Karna is proud and reckless, while the teacher is aged and venerable.
समर्थो बलवान्पार्थो दृढधन्वा जितक्लमः । भवेत्सुतुमुलं युद्धं सर्वशोऽप्यपराजयः
Partha is capable and powerful, firm in his bow, tireless in battle; the fight will be exceedingly fierce, and he is, in every way, unconquered.
सर्वे ह्यस्त्रविदः शूराः सर्वे प्राप्ता महद्यशः । अपि सर्वामरैश्वर्यं त्यजेयुर्न पुनर्जयम्
All are skilled in weapons, all are valiant, all have attained great fame; yet they would abandon even the sovereignty of the gods, but never accept defeat.
वधे नूनं भवेच्छान्तिस्तयोर्वा फाल्गुनस्य च। न तु हन्तार्जुनस्यास्ति जेता चास्य न विद्यते
Only in their death, or perhaps in Phalguna's, would there be peace; but Arjuna cannot be slain, nor is there anyone who can defeat him.
मन्युस्तस्य कथं शाम्येन्मन्दान्प्रति य उत्थितः । अन्येऽप्यस्त्राणि जानन्ति जीयन्ते च जयन्ति च। एकान्तविजयस्त्वेव श्रूयते फाल्गुनस्य ह
How could his wrath subside, which has arisen against the dull-witted? Others too know weapons, and are both conquered and conquer; but it is heard that Phalguna alone is always victorious.
त्रयस्त्रिंशत्समाहूय खाण्डवेऽग्निमतर्पयत्। जिगाय च सुरान्सर्वान्नास्य विद्मः पराजयम्
He summoned thirty-three (gods) and satisfied the fire in Khandava; he defeated all the gods—we do not know of his defeat.
यस्य यन्ता हृषीकेशः शीलवृत्तसमो युधि। ध्रुवस्तस्य जयस्तात यथेन्द्रस्य जयस्तथा
He whose charioteer is Hrishikesha, equal in character and conduct in battle—his victory is certain, O father, just as Indra's victory is assured.
कृष्णावेकरथे यत्तावधिज्यं गाण्डिवं धनुः। युगपत्रीणि तेजांसि समेतान्यनुशुश्रुम
When Krishna and he are together on a single chariot, and the Gandiva bow is strung, we have heard that all powers unite at once.
नैवास्ति नो धनुस्तदृङ्व योद्धा न च सारथिः । तच्च मन्दा न जानन्ति दुर्योधनवशानुगाः
Neither do we have such a bow, nor a warrior like him, nor a charioteer; and those who follow Duryodhana's will, being dull, do not understand this.
शेषयेदशनिर्दीप्तो विपतन्मूर्ध्नि सञ्जय। न तु शेषं शरास्तात कुर्युरस्ताः किरीटिना
O Sanjaya, even if a fire, blazing without fuel, were to remain on a falling head, still, O father, the arrows released by the diademed one would leave no remnant.
अपि चास्यन्निवाभाति निघ्नन्निव धनञ्जयः । उद्धरन्निव कायेभ्यः शिरांसि शरवृष्टिभिः
And indeed, Dhananjaya appears as if he is devouring, as if he is slaying, as if he is lifting heads from bodies with showers of arrows.
अपि बाणमयं तेजः प्रदीप्तमिव सर्वतः । गाण्डीवोत्थं दहेताजौ पुत्राणां मम वाहिनी
Indeed, the fiery energy arising from Gandiva, made of arrows, seems as if it could burn up, on all sides, the army of my sons in battle.
अपि सा रथघोषेण भयार्ता सव्यसाचिनः । वित्रस्ता बहुधा सेना भारती प्रतिभाति मे
Indeed, the army of the Bharatas appears to me terrified in many ways by the sound of Savyasacin's chariot, seized by fear.
यथा कक्षं महानग्निः प्रदहेत्सर्वतश्चरन्। महार्चिरनिलोद्धूतस्तद्वद्धक्ष्यति मामकान्
Just as a great fire, fanned by the wind, burns through the undergrowth on all sides, so will he consume my men.
यदोद्वमन्निशितान्बाणसङ्घां- स्तानाततायी समरे किरीटी। सृष्टोऽन्तकः सर्वहरो विधात्रा यथा भवेत्तद्वदपारणीयः
When the diademed one, a deadly foe in battle, releases sharp showers of arrows, he becomes like Death himself, created by the Maker to destroy all.
यदा हयभीक्ष्णं सुबुहून्प्रकारान् श्रोतास्मि तानावसथे कुरूणाम्। तेषां समन्ताच्च तथा रणाग्रे क्षयः किलायं भरतानुपैति
When he repeatedly drives his horses in many ways, I hear that, both in the camp of the Kurus and at the front of battle, destruction surely comes upon the Bharatas.
यथैव पाण्डवाः सर्वे पराक्रान्ता जिगीषवः। तथौभिसरास्तेषां त्यक्तात्मानो जये धृताः
Just as all the Pandavas are resolute and eager for victory, so too are their allies, wholly devoted, having abandoned concern for their own lives, steadfast in the pursuit of victory.
......हि पराक्रान्तानाचक्षीथाः परान्मम। पाञ्चालान्केकयान्मत्स्यान्मागधान्वत्सभूमिपान्
You have seen my adversaries surpassing in valor—the Pāñcālas, Kekayas, Matsyas, Magadhas, and the kings of Vatsa.
यश्च सेन्द्रानिमाँल्लोकानिच्छन्कुर्याद्वशे बली। स स्रष्टा जगतः कृष्णः पाण्डवानां जये धृतः
He who, though mighty, would wish to bring these worlds with Indra under his control—he is Kṛṣṇa, the creator of the universe, who is committed to the victory of the Pāṇḍavas.
समस्तामर्जुनाद्विद्यां सात्यकिः क्षिप्रमाप्तवान्। शैनेयः समरे स्थाता बीजवत्प्रवपञ्शरान्
Sātyaki, the grandson of Śini, swiftly acquired all the knowledge of arms from Arjuna; he will stand firm in battle, sowing arrows like seeds.
धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पाञ्चाल्यः क्रूरकर्मा महारथः । मामकेषु रणं कर्ता बलेषु परमास्त्रवित्
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Drupada, fierce in deeds and a great chariot-warrior, will wage war against my forces, being an expert in supreme weapons.
युधिष्ठिरस्य च क्रोधादर्जुनस्य च विक्रमात्। मयाभ्यां भीमसेनाच्च भयं मे तात जायते
From the wrath of Yudhiṣṭhira, the valor of Arjuna, from Bhīmasena and myself, O dear one, fear arises in me.
अमानुषं मनुष्येन्द्रैर्जालं विततमन्तरा । न मे सैन्यास्तरिष्यन्ति ततः क्रोशामि सञ्जय
A web of superhuman illusion has been spread by these kings; my troops will not cross it, and therefore I lament, O Sañjaya.
दर्शनीयो मनस्वी च लक्ष्मीवान्ब्रह्मवर्चसी। मेधावी सुकृतप्रज्ञो धर्मात्मा पाण्डुनन्दनः
The son of Pāṇḍu is admirable, resolute, endowed with fortune and the radiance of Brahman, intelligent, wise in action, and righteous in soul.
मित्रामात्यैः सुसंपन्नः संपन्नो युद्धयोजकैः । भ्रातृभिः श्वशुरैर्वीरैरुपपन्नो महारथैः
He is well-supported by friends and ministers, skilled in the art of war, and surrounded by brothers, heroic fathers-in-law, and great chariot-warriors.
धृत्या च पुरुषव्याघ्रो नैभृत्येन च पाण्डवः। अनुशंसो वदान्यश्च हीमान्सत्यपराक्रमः
That tiger among men, the Pāṇḍava, is steadfast and discreet, gentle and generous, possessing icy resolve and true valor.
बहुश्रुतः कृतात्मा च वृद्धसेवी जितेन्द्रियः । तं सर्वगुणसंपन्नं समिद्धमिव पावकम्
He is learned, self-controlled, respectful to elders, master of his senses—endowed with all virtues, like a blazing fire.
तपन्तमभि को मन्दः पतिष्यति पतङ्गवत्। पाण्डवाग्निमनावार्यं मुमूर्षुर्नष्टचेतनः
Who, but a fool, would approach him as he blazes, like a moth rushing into fire, wishing for death, against the unstoppable Pāṇḍava fire?
तनुरुच्चः शिखी राजा मिथ्योपचरितो मया। मन्दानां मम पुत्राणां युद्धेनान्तं करिष्यति
That king, tall and radiant like a flaming banner, whom I have falsely maligned, will bring an end to my foolish sons through battle.