ततस्ते पृथिवीपालाः प्रययुः सहसैनिकाः । भीष्मं सेनापतिं कृत्वा संहृष्टाः कालचोदिताः
Then those rulers of the earth, with their armies, departed, appointing Bhishma as commander, rejoicing, impelled by fate.
अक्षौहिण्यो दशैका च कौरवाणां समागताः । तासां प्रमुखतो भीष्मस्तालकेतुर्व्यरोचत
Eleven divisions of Kaurava troops assembled; at their head, Bhishma, bearing the tall banner, shone forth.
यदत्र युक्तं प्राप्तं च तद्विधत्स्व विशांपते । उक्तं भीष्मेण यद्वाक्यं द्रोणेन विदुरेण च
Whatever is appropriate and has occurred, do that, O lord of men; what was spoken by Bhishma, Drona, and Vidura.
गान्धार्या धृतराष्ट्रेण समक्षं मम भारत । एतत्ते कथितं राजन्यद्वृत्तं कुरुसंसदि
By Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, in my presence, O Bharata, all this has been related to you—what transpired in the Kuru assembly.
साम चादौ प्रयुक्तं मे राजन्सौभ्रात्रमिच्छता । अभेदायास्य वंशस्य प्रजानां च विवृद्धये
At first, I employed conciliation, desiring brotherhood, for the unity of this lineage and the prosperity of the people.
पुनर्भेदश्च मे युक्तो यदा साम न गृह्यते। कर्मानुकीर्तनं चैव देवमानुपसंहितम्
But when conciliation was not accepted, division became justified; and I recounted deeds, invoking divine authority.
यदा नाद्रियते वाक्यं सामपूर्वं सुयोधनः । तदा मया समानीय भेदिताः सर्वपार्थिवाः
When Suyodhana does not respect words spoken with conciliation, then I have gathered and divided all the kings.
अद्भुतानि च घोराणि दारुणानि च भारत। अमानुषाणि कर्माणि दर्शितानि मया विभो
I have shown wondrous, terrible, and dreadful deeds, O Bharata, acts that are inhuman, O lord.
निर्भर्त्सयित्वा राज्ञस्तांस्तृणीकृत्य सुयोधनम् । राधेयं भीषयित्वा च सौबलं च पुनः पुनः
Having rebuked those kings and belittled Suyodhana, having frightened Radheya and Saubala again and again,
द्यूततो धार्तराष्ट्राणां निन्दां कृत्वा तथा पुनः। भेदयित्वा नृपास्नर्वान्वाग्भिर्मन्त्रेम चासकृत्
Having criticized the Kauravas for the dice game, and having repeatedly sown discord among the kings with words and counsel,
पुनः सामाभिसंयुक्तं संप्रदानमथाब्रुवम्। अभेदात्कुरुवंशस्य कार्ययोगात्तथैव च
Again, with conciliation, I spoke of giving, for the sake of the Kuru line’s unity and the fulfillment of duty.
ते शूरा धृतराष्ट्रस्य भीष्मस्य विदुरस्य च । तिष्ठेयुः पाण्डवाः सर्वे हित्वा मानमधश्चराः
Those warriors of Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, and Vidura—all the Pandavas would remain, setting aside their pride and acting humbly.
प्रयच्छन्तु च ते राज्यमनीशास्ते भवन्तु च। यथाह राजा गाङ्गेयो विदुरश्च हितं तव
Let them give the kingdom and themselves become subjects, as King Bhishma and Vidura have advised for your welfare.
सर्वं भवतु ते राज्यं पञ्च ग्रामान्विसर्जय। अवश्यं भरणीया हि पितुस्ते राजसत्तम
Let all the kingdom be yours; grant five villages. Surely, O best of kings, your father must be maintained.
एवमुक्तोऽपि दुष्टात्मा नैव भागं व्यमुञ्चत। दण्डं चतुर्थं पश्यामि तेषु पापेषु नान्यथा
Even when thus addressed, the wicked-hearted one did not yield a share; I see only punishment for those sinners, nothing else.
निर्याताश्च विनाशाय कुरुक्षेत्रं नराधिपाः । एतत्ते कथितं राजन्यद्वृत्तं कुरुसंसदि
The kings have departed for destruction to Kurukshetra; thus I have told you, O king, what happened in the Kuru assembly.
न ते राज्यं प्रयच्छन्ति विना युद्धेन पाण्डव । विनाशहेतवः सर्वे प्रत्युपस्थितमृत्यवः
They will not give you the kingdom without war, O Pandava; all are bent on destruction, with death standing before them.
जनार्दनवचः श्रुत्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। भ्रातॄनुवाच धर्मात्मा समक्षं केशवस्य ह
Hearing Janardana’s words, King Yudhishthira, righteous-souled, spoke to his brothers in the presence of Kesava.
श्रुतं भवद्भिर्यद्वृत्तं सभायां कुरुसंसदि । केशवस्यापि यद्वाक्यं तत्सर्वमवधारितम्
You have all heard what happened in the Kuru assembly, and also the words of Kesava; all this has been understood.
तस्मात्सेनाविभागं मे कुरुध्वं नरसत्तमाः । अक्षौहिण्यश्च सप्तैताः समेता विजयाय वै
Therefore, best of men, divide the army for me; these seven akshauhinis are assembled for victory.
तासां ये पतयः सप्त विख्यातास्तान्निबोधत। द्रुपदश्च विराटश्च धृष्टद्युम्नशिखण्डिनौ
Hear who are the renowned leaders of these seven: Drupada, Virata, Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandin,
सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च भीमसेनश्च वीर्यवान् । एते सेनाप्रणेतारो वीराः सर्वे तनुत्यजः
Satyaki, Chekitana, and the mighty Bhimasena—these are the heroic commanders of the armies, all resolute in battle.
सर्वे वेदविदः शूराः सर्वे सुचिरितव्रताः । ह्रीमन्तो नीतिमन्तश्च सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः
All are learned in the Vedas, all are valiant, all have well-observed vows, all are modest, wise, and skilled in warfare.
इष्वस्त्रकुशलाः सर्वे तथा सर्वास्त्रयोधिनः । सप्तानामपि यो नेता सेनानां प्रविभागवित्
All are skilled in archery and in the use of all weapons; among the seven, he who knows the division of armies is the leader.
यः सहेत रणे भीष्णं शरार्चिःपावकोपमम् । तं तावत्सहदेवात्र प्रब्रूहि कुरुनन्दन। स्वगतं पुरुषव्याघ्र को नः सेनापतिः क्षमः
O joy of the Kurus, tell us here, Sahadeva, who among us is capable of withstanding Bhishma in battle, whose arrows blaze like fire? Who, among our own, O tiger among men, is fit to be our commander?
संयुक्त एकदुःखश्च वीर्यवांश्च महीपतिः। यं समाश्रित्य धर्मज्ञं स्वमंशमनुयुञ्ज्महे
He should be united with us in joy and sorrow, possessed of valor, a lord of the earth, and one whom we may rely upon, being righteous, to lead our own share.
मत्स्यो विराटो बलवान्कृतास्त्रो युद्धदुर्मदः । प्रसहिष्यति सङ्ग्रामे भीष्मं तांश्च महारथान्
The mighty king Virata, skilled in arms and proud in battle, will overpower Bhishma and those great chariot-warriors in the fight.
तथोक्ते सहदेवेन वाक्ये वाक्यविशारदः । नकुलोऽनन्तरं तस्मादिदं वचनमाददे
When Sahadeva had spoken thus, Nakula, skilled in speech, immediately took up these words.
वयसा शास्त्रतो धैर्यात्कुलेनाभिजनेन च । ह्रीमान्बलान्वितः श्रीमान्सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः
By age, by learning, by steadfastness, by lineage and noble birth, endowed with modesty, strength, and fortune, and versed in all the sciences—
वेद चास्त्रं भारद्वाजाहुर्धर्षः सत्यसङ्गरः । यो नित्यं स्पर्धते द्रोणं भीष्मं चैव महाबलम्
He knows the weapons, as the descendants of Bharadvaja say; he is daring, true to his vows, and ever rivals Drona and the mighty Bhishma.