तस्य कीर्तिमतस्तेन भास्वरेण विराजता । शुशुभे स्यन्दनश्रेष्ठः पतगेन्द्रेण केतुना
By that illustrious and radiant banner, the foremost of chariots was adorned, shining with the king of birds as its standard.
रश्मिजालैः पताकाभिः सौवर्णेन च केतुना । बभूव स रथश्रेष्ठः कालसूर्य इवोदितः
With its rays, pennants, and golden banner, that best of chariots appeared like the sun at the end of time rising up.
पक्षिध्वजवितानैश्च रुक्मजालकृताङ्गणैः । दण्डमार्गविभागैश्च सुकृतैर्विश्वकर्मणा
With bird-emblazoned canopies, floors inlaid with golden latticework, and skillfully crafted divisions of the pole and yoke by Vishvakarman,
प्रवालमणिशोभैश्च मुक्तावैडूर्यशोभनैः । किङ्किणीशतसङ्घैश्च वालजालकृतान्तरैः
With coral and gem adornments, pearls and cat's-eye stones, hundreds of tinkling bells, and inner panels woven with hair,
कार्तस्वरमयीभिश्च पद्मिनीभिरलङ्कृतः। शुशुभे स्यन्दनश्रेष्ठस्तापनीयैश्च पादपैः
Adorned with golden lotuses and trees of refined gold, that foremost of chariots shone brilliantly.
व्याघ्रसिंहवराहैश्च गोभिश्च मृगपक्षिभिः । ताराभिर्भास्करैश्चापि वारणैश्च हिरण्मयैः
With tigers, lions, boars, cows, deer, birds, stars, suns, and golden elephants depicted,
वज्राङ्कुशविमानैश्च कूबरावृत्तसन्धिषु । समुच्छ्रितमहानाभिः स्तनयित्नुमहास्वनः
With vimanas bearing thunderbolt-hooks at the joints of the axle, with a great and lofty nave, and a thunderous, resounding roar,
ततो रथेन शुभ्रेण महता किङ्किणीकिना । हयोत्तमयुजा शीघ्रमुपातिष्ठत दारुकः
Then Daruka approached swiftly with that splendid, great chariot, decked with bells and yoked to excellent horses.
तमुपस्थितमाज्ञाय रथं दिव्यं महामनाः । महाभ्रघननिर्घोषं सर्वरत्नविभूषितम्
Recognizing that divine chariot, resounding like a mass of great clouds and adorned with every jewel, the high-minded one prepared himself.
अग्निं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा ब्राह्मणांश्च जनार्दनः। कौस्तुभं मणिमाबध्य श्रिया परमया ज्वलन्
Having circumambulated the fire and the Brahmanas, Janardana, blazing with supreme glory, fastened the Kaustubha gem upon himself.
कुरुभिः संवृतः कृष्णो वृष्णिभिश्चाभिरक्षितः । आतिष्ठत रथं शौरिः सर्वयादवनन्दनः
Surrounded by the Kurus and guarded by the Vrishnis, Krishna, the descendant of Shura and joy of all the Yadavas, mounted the chariot.
अन्वारुरोह दाशार्हं विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित्। सर्वप्राणभृतां श्रेष्ठं सर्वबुद्धिमतां वरम्
Vidura, knower of all dharma, ascended after the Dasharha, the best among all living beings and foremost among the wise.
ततो दुर्योधनः कृष्णं शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः । द्वितीयेन रथेनैनमन्वयातां परन्तपम्
Then Duryodhana and Shakuni, son of Subala, followed the scorcher of foes in a second chariot.
सात्यकिः कृतवर्मा च वृष्णीनां चापरे रथाः । पृष्ठतोऽनुययुः कृष्णं गजैरश्वै रथैरपि
Satyaki, Kritavarma, and other Vrishni charioteers followed Krishna from behind, with elephants, horses, and chariots as well.
तेषां हेमपरिष्कारैर्युक्ताः परमवाजिभिः । गच्छतां घोषिणश्चित्ररथा राजन्विरेजिरे
Their splendid chariots, adorned with gold and drawn by excellent horses, shone forth, O King, as they proceeded, resounding with music.
संमृष्टसंसिक्तरजः प्रतिपेदे महापथम् । राजर्षिचरितं काले कृष्णो धीमाञ्श्रिया ज्वलन्
The great road, cleansed and sprinkled to remove dust, welcomed Krishna, wise and radiant, as he traveled along the path once trodden by royal sages.
ततः प्रयाते दाशार्हे प्रावाद्यन्तैकपुष्कराः। शङ्खाश्च दध्मिरे तत्र वाद्यान्यन्यानि यानि च
As the descendant of Dasharha departed, single-lotus conch shells were sounded, and other musical instruments, whatever there were, played as well.
प्रवीराः सर्वलोकस्य युवानः सिंहविक्रमाः। परिवार्य रथं शौरेरगच्छन्त परन्तपाः
The valiant young men of all people, possessing lion-like prowess, surrounded the chariot of Shauri, those scorcher of foes, and accompanied him.
ततोऽन्ये बहुसाहस्रा विचित्राद्भुतवाससः । असिप्रासायुधधराः कृष्णस्यासन्पुरःसराः
Then many thousands more, clad in wondrous and marvelous garments, bearing swords, spears, and weapons, marched at the forefront for Krishna.
गजाः पञ्चशतास्तत्र रथाश्चासन्सहस्रशः। प्रयान्तमन्वयुर्वीरं दाशार्हमपराजितम्
There were five hundred elephants and thousands of chariots, following the invincible hero of the Dasharhas as he advanced.
पुरं कुरूणां संवृत्तं द्रष्टुकामं जनार्दनम् । सबालवृद्धं सस्त्रीकं रथ्यागतमरिन्दम
The city of the Kurus, with its people—children, elders, women, and those on the streets—had gathered, eager to see Janardana, the subduer of enemies.
वेदिकामाश्रिताभिश्च समाक्रान्तान्यनेकशः । प्रचलन्तीव भारेण योषिद्भिर्भवनान्युत
Many women crowded the balconies and platforms, so numerous that their weight seemed to make the buildings sway.
स पूज्यमानः कुरुभिः संश्रृण्वन्मधुराः कथाः । यथार्हं प्रतिसत्कुर्वन्प्रेक्षमाणः शनैर्ययौ
Honored by the Kurus, listening to sweet words, Krishna responded to each as appropriate, observing everything, and proceeded slowly.
ततः सभां समासाद्य केशवस्यानुयायिनः। सशङ्खैर्वेणुनिर्घोषैर्दिशः सर्वा व्यनादयन्
Then, as Krishna's followers reached the assembly hall, the sound of conches and flutes echoed, resounding in all directions.
ततः सा समितिः सर्वा राज्ञाममिततेजसाम्। संप्राकम्पत हर्षेण कृष्णागमनकाङ्क्षया
At that moment, the entire assembly of kings, radiant and mighty, trembled with joy, longing for Krishna's arrival.
ततोऽभ्याशंगते कृष्णे समहृष्यन्नराधिपाः। श्रुत्वां तं रथनिर्घोषं पर्जन्यनिनदोपमम्
As Krishna drew near, the kings rejoiced, hearing the thunderous sound of his chariot, like the roar of a storm cloud.
आसाद्य तु सभाद्वारमृषभः सर्वसात्वताम् । अवतीर्य रथाच्छौरिः कैलासशिखरोपमात्
Having reached the entrance of the hall, the bull among the Satvatas, Shauri, descended from his chariot, resembling a peak of Kailasa.
नवमेघप्रतीकाशां ज्वलन्तीमिव तेजसा । महेन्द्रसदनप्रख्यां प्रविवेश सभां ततः
He entered the hall, shining with the brilliance of a new cloud, as if ablaze with splendor, and resembling the palace of Indra.
पाणौ गृहीत्वा विदुरं सात्यकिं च महायशाः। ज्येतींष्यादित्यवद्राजन्कुरून्प्राच्छादयच्छ्रिया
Taking Vidura and Satyaki by the hand, the illustrious one, like the victorious sun, covered the Kurus with his glory, O King.
अग्रतो वासुदेवस्य कर्णदुर्योधनावुभौ । कृष्णयः कृतवर्मा चाप्यासन्कृष्णस्य पृष्ठतः
In front of Vasudeva were Karna and Duryodhana; behind Krishna stood Kritavarma and the Krishna brothers.