अक्षौहिण्यो हि मे राजन्दशैका च समाहृताः। न्यूना परेषां सप्तैव कस्मान्मे स्यात्पराजयः
O king, I have gathered eleven akshauhinis, while the enemy has only seven; so why should I face defeat?
बलं त्रिगुणतो हीनं योध्यं प्राह बृहस्पतिः। परेभ्यस्त्रिगुणा चेयं मम राजन्ननीकिनी
Brihaspati has said that an army three times weaker must be fought; and, O king, my force is three times greater than the enemy's.
गुणहीनं परेषां च बहु पश्यामि भारत। गुणोदयं बहुगुणमात्मनश्च विशांपते
O Bharata, I see many deficiencies in the enemy, but, O lord of the people, I see the rise of many virtues and great qualities in myself.
एतत्सर्वं समाज्ञाय बलाग्र्यं मम भारत । न्यूनतां पाण्डवानां च न मोहं गन्तुमर्हसि
O Bharata, knowing all this—the superiority of my army and the inferiority of the Pandavas—you should not fall into confusion.
इत्युक्त्वा सञ्जयं भूयः पर्यपृच्छत भारत। विवित्सुः प्राप्तकालानि ज्ञात्वा परपुरञ्जयः
Having spoken thus, he again questioned Sanjaya, O Bharata, eager to know what was timely, that conqueror of enemy cities.
अक्षौहिणीः सप्त लब्ध्वा राजभिः सह सञ्जय। किंस्विदिच्छति कौन्तेयो युद्धप्रेप्सुर्युधिष्ठिरः
O Sanjaya, having obtained seven akshauhinis along with the kings, what does the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, desire, as he seeks battle?
अतीव मुदितो राजन्युद्धप्रेप्युर्युधिष्ठिरः। भीमसेनार्जुनौ चोभौ यमावपि न बिभ्यतः
Yudhishthira was exceedingly joyful at the prospect of battle; Bhimasena and Arjuna, both like Yama, did not feel fear.
रथं तु दिव्यं कौन्तेयः सर्वा विभ्राजयन्दिशः। मन्त्रं जिज्ञासमानः सन्बीभत्सुः समयोजयत्
Kaunteya, shining in all directions with his divine chariot, began to recite mantras, seeking to understand them, and assembled himself, unafraid.
तमपश्याम सन्नद्धं मेघं विद्युद्युतं यथा। समन्तात्समभिध्या हृष्यमाणोऽभ्यभाषत। पूर्वरूपमिदं पश्य वयं जेष्याम सञ्जय
We saw him fully armored, like a cloud flashing with lightning; approaching from all sides, he spoke joyfully: 'Behold this first sign, Sanjaya; we shall be victorious.'
बीभत्सुर्मां यथोवाच तथाऽवैम्यहमप्युत
As Bhībhatsu spoke to me, so I also declare.
प्रशंसस्यभिनन्दंस्तान्पार्थानक्षपराजितान्। अर्जुनस्य रथे ब्रूहि कथमश्वाः कथं ध्वजाः
Praise and rejoice in those undefeated Parthas; tell me, on Arjuna's chariot, how are the horses, how is the banner?
भौमनः सह शक्रेण बहुचित्रं विशांपते। रूपाणि कल्पयामास त्वष्टा धाता सदा विभो
With Bhūmana and Shakra, O lord of men, Tvaṣṭā and Dhātā always created many wondrous forms.
ध्वजे हि तस्मिन्रूपाणि चक्रुस्ते देवमायया। महाधनानि दिव्यानि महान्ति च लघूनि च
On that banner, by divine magic, they fashioned forms—great treasures, celestial and immense, both large and small.
भीमसेनानुरोधायक हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः। आत्मप्रतिकृतिं तस्मिन्ध्वज आरोपयिष्यति
Out of regard for Bhimasena, Hanuman, son of the Wind, will place his own likeness upon that banner.
सर्वा दिशो योजनमात्रमन्तरं सतिर्यगूर्ध्वं च रुरोध वै ध्वजः। न संसञ्जेत्तरुभिः संवृतोऽपि तथा हि माया विहिता भौमनेन
That banner blocked all directions for a distance of a yojana, horizontally and vertically; even if covered by trees, it would not be concealed, for such was the magic wrought by Bhūmana.
यथाऽऽकाशे शक्रधनुः प्रकाशते न चैकवर्णं न च वेद्मि किं नु तत्। तथा ध्वजो विहितो भौमनेन बह्वाकारं दृश्यते रूपमस्य
Just as Indra's rainbow shines in the sky, not of a single color—I do not know what it is—so the banner made by Bhūmana appears with many shapes and forms.
यथाऽग्निधूमो दिवमेति रुद्ध्वा। वर्णान्बिभ्रत्तैजसांश्चित्ररूपान्। तथा ध्वजो विहितो भौमनेन न चेद्भारो भविता नोत रोधः
Just as fire's smoke rises to the sky, bearing colors and brilliant, varied forms, so the banner made by Bhūmana will neither be heavy nor obstructive.
हतंहतं दत्तवरं पुरस्तात्
Slain, slain—the granted boon was given before.
तथा राज्ञो दन्तवर्णा बृहन्तो रथे युक्ता भान्ति तद्वीर्यतुल्याः। ऋक्षप्रख्या भीमसेनस्य वाहा रथे वायोस्तुल्यवेग बभूवुः
Thus, the king's great, ivory-colored horses, yoked to the chariot, shine, equal in strength; Bhimasena's steeds, resembling bears, matched the speed of the wind.
कल्माषाङ्गास्तित्तिरिचित्रपृष्ठा भ्रात्रा दत्ताः प्रीयता फाल्गुनेन। भ्रातुर्बीरस्य स्वैस्तुरङ्गैर्विशिष्टा मुदा युक्ताः सहदेवं वहन्ति
With dark limbs and spotted backs, the horses joyfully given by Phalguna's brother are yoked to Sahadeva's chariot, surpassing his brother's own steeds.
माद्रीपुत्रं नकुलं त्वाजमीढं महेन्द्रदत्ता हरयो वाजिमुख्याः । समा वायोर्बलवन्तस्तरस्विनो वहन्ति वीरं वृत्रशत्रुं यथेन्द्रम्
For Madri's son Nakula, the foremost horses, given by Mahendra, strong and swift as the wind, carry the hero, enemy of Vritra, like Indra.
तुल्याश्चैभिर्वयसा विक्रमेण महाजवाश्रित्ररूपाः सदश्वाः । सौभद्रादीन्द्रौपदेयान्कुमारान् वहन्त्यश्वा देवदत्ता बृहन्तः
Equal in age and prowess, the great, splendid horses always bear the sons of Subhadra and Draupadi, the princes, given by the gods.
कांस्तत्र सञ्जयापश्यः प्रीत्यर्थेन समागतान्। ये योत्स्यन्ते पाण्डवार्थे पुत्रस्य मम वाहिनीम्
Which ones did you see there, Sanjaya, gathered for affection, who will fight for the Pandavas' cause against my son's army?
मुख्यमन्धकवृष्णीनामपश्यं कृष्णमागतम्। चेकितानं च तत्रैव युयुधानं च सात्यकिम्
Among the foremost of the Andhakas and Vrishnis, I saw Krishna arrive, and there also Cekitana, Yuyudhana, and Satyaki.
पृथगक्षौहिणीभ्यां तु पाण्डवानभिसंश्रितौ । महारथौ समाख्यातावुभौ पुरुषमानिनौ
Two great chariot-warriors, each proud of their manhood, have joined the Pandavas, each with their own separate akshauhini of troops.
अक्षौहिण्याऽथ पाञ्चाल्यो दशभिस्तनयैर्वृतः। सत्यजित्प्रमुखैर्वीरैर्धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमैः
Then the prince of Panchala, surrounded by his ten sons—valiant men led by Satyajit and headed by Dhrishtadyumna—commanded an akshauhini.
द्रुपदो वर्धयन्मानं शिखण्डिपरिपालितः। उपायात्सर्वसैन्यानां प्रतिच्छाद्य तदा वपुः
Drupada, his honor increased and protected by Shikhandi, advanced, concealing his form among all the armies.
विराटः सह पुत्राभ्यां शङ्खेनैवोत्तरेण च। सूर्यदत्तादिभिर्वीरैर्मदिराक्षपुरोगमैः
Virata, with his two sons, Shankha and Uttara, together with heroes like Suryadatta and Madiraksha at the forefront, also came.
सहितः पृथिवीपालो भ्रातृभिस्तनयैस्तथा । अक्षौहिण्यैव सैन्यानां वृतः पार्थं समाश्रितः
That king, accompanied by his brothers and sons, surrounded by an akshauhini of troops, joined Partha.
जारासन्धिर्मागधश्च धृष्टकेतुश्च चेदिराट्। पृथक्पृथगनुप्राप्तौ पृथगक्षौहिणीवृतौ
Jarasandha, the king of Magadha, and Dhrishtaketu, the ruler of Chedi, each arrived separately, each with their own akshauhini.