श्लाघ्यः पार्थिववंशस्य प्रमुखे वाहिनीपतिः। पुत्रपौत्रेः परिवृतः शतशाख इव द्रुमः
He is worthy to be the leader of the royal line, the commander at the front, surrounded by sons and grandsons like a tree with a hundred branches.
यस्तताप तपो घोरं सदारः पृथिवीपतिः । रोषाद्द्रोणविनाशाय वीरः समितिशोभनः
He who performed fierce austerities with his wife, the lord of the earth, a hero resplendent in battle, out of wrath, for the destruction of Drona.
पितेवास्मान्समाधत्ते यः सदा पार्थिवर्षभः । श्वशुरो द्रुपदोऽस्माकं सेनाग्रं स प्रकर्षतु
He, the bull among kings, always cares for us like a father; let Drupada, our father-in-law, lead the front of our army.
स द्रोणभीष्मावायातौ सहेदिति मतिर्मम । स हि दिव्यास्त्रविद्राजा सखा चाङ्गिरसो नृपः
It is my opinion that he will withstand Drona and Bhishma when they advance; for he is a king skilled in celestial weapons, and a friend of the Angiras lineage.
माद्रीसुताभ्यामुक्ते तु स्वमते कुरुनन्दनः। वासविर्वासवसमः सव्यसाच्यब्रवीद्वचः
After the sons of Madri had spoken, the Kuru prince, equal to Vāsava in might, Savyasācin, spoke these words.
योयं तपःप्रभावेन ऋषिसन्तोषणेन च । दिव्यः पुरुष उत्पन्नो ज्वालावर्णो महाभुजः
He who was born by the power of austerity and the satisfaction of the sages, a divine man, blazing like fire, with mighty arms—
धनुष्मान्कवची खङ्गी रथमारुह्य दंशितः । दिव्यैर्हयवरैर्युक्तमग्निकुण्डात्समुत्थितः
Armed with bow, armored, sword in hand, ascending his chariot, fierce, yoked to celestial steeds, arisen from the sacrificial fire-pit—
गर्जन्निव महामेघो रथघोषेण वीर्यवान् । सिंहसंहननो वीरः सिंहतुल्यपराक्रमः
Roaring like a great cloud with the sound of his chariot, valiant, lion-shouldered, a hero with the courage of a lion—
सिंहोरस्कः सिंहभुजः सिंहवक्षा महाबलः । सिंहप्रगर्जनो वीरः संहस्कन्धो महाद्युतिः
Lion-chested, lion-armed, lion-breasted, of great strength, roaring like a lion, broad-shouldered, of great splendor—
शुभ्रूः सुदंष्ट्रः सुहनुः सुबाहुः सुमुखोऽकृशः । सुजत्रुः सुविशालाक्षः सुपादः सुप्रतिष्ठितः
With beautiful brows, fine teeth, well-formed jaws, strong arms, handsome face, not lean, well-jointed, with large eyes, good feet, firmly built—
अभेद्यः सर्वशस्त्राणां प्रभिन्न इव वारणः । जज्ञे द्रोणविनाशाय सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः
Unbreakable by any weapon, yet like a split elephant; born for the destruction of Drona, truthful, and master of his senses—
धृष्टद्युम्नमहं मन्ये सहेद्भीष्मस्य सायकान्। वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शान्दीप्तास्यानुरगानिव
I think Dhrishtadyumna can withstand Bhishma's arrows, whose touch is like thunderbolts and lightning, blazing with fierce energy.
यमदूतसमान्वेगे निपाते पावकोपमान् । रामेणाजौ विषिहितान्वज्रनिष्पेषदारुणान्
With a speed equal to the messengers of Yama, and a descent like blazing fire, Rama struck in battle those venomous ones, crushing them with the force of thunder.
पुरुष तं न पश्यामि यः सहेत महाव्रतम्। धृष्टद्युम्नमृते राजन्निति मे धीयते मतिः
O king, I do not see any man who could withstand the great vow, except for Dhṛṣṭadyumna; this is my conviction and thought.
क्षिप्रहस्तश्चित्रयोधी मतः सेनापतिर्मम । अभेद्यकवचः श्रीमान्मातङ्ग इव यूथपः
Quick-handed, a distinguished warrior, regarded as my commander, bearing impenetrable armor, glorious like a leader of elephants.
अर्जुनेनैवमुक्ते तु भीमो वाक्यं समाददे।' वधार्थं यः समुत्पन्नः शिखण्डी द्रुपदात्मजः । वदन्ति सिद्धा राजेन्द्र ऋषयश्च समागताः
When Arjuna had spoken thus, Bhima took up the word: For the purpose of killing, Shikhandi, the son of Drupada, has arisen; the Siddhas and assembled sages declare this, O king.
यस्य सङ्ग्राममध्ये तु दिव्यमस्त्रं प्रकुर्वतः । रूपं द्रक्ष्यन्ति पुरुषा रामस्येव महात्मनः
In the midst of battle, when he employs the divine weapon, men will behold his form like that of the great-souled Rama.
न तं युद्धे प्रपश्यामि यो भिन्द्यात्तु शिखण्डिनाम् । शस्त्रेण समरे राजन्सन्नद्वं स्यन्दने स्थितम्
I do not see anyone in battle who could break Shikhandi, O king, with weapons in combat, fully armed and standing on his chariot.
द्वैरथे समरे नान्यो भीष्मं हन्यान्महाव्रतम् । शिखण्डिनमृते वीरं स मे सेनापतिर्मतः
In a duel on the battlefield, none but Shikhandi could slay Bhishma, the great vow-holder; he is regarded by me as the commander.
सर्वस्य जगतस्तात सारासारं बालाबलम् । सर्वं जानाति धर्मात्मा मतमेषां च केशवः
O father, he knows the essence and non-essence, the strength and weakness of the whole world; the righteous Keśava knows all their opinions.
यमाह कृष्णो दाशार्हः सोऽस्तु सेनापतिर्मम । कृतास्त्रोप्यकृतास्त्रो वा वृद्धो वा यदि वा युवा
Whom Krishna, the descendant of Dasharha, names, let him be my commander, whether skilled or unskilled in weapons, old or young.
एष नो विजये मूलमेष तात विपर्यये। अत्र प्राणाश्च राज्यं च भावाभावौ सुखासुखे
He is the root of our victory, O father, and also of our defeat; here are our lives and kingdom, existence and non-existence, happiness and sorrow.
एष धाता विधाता च सिद्धिरत्र प्रतिष्ठिता। यमाह कृष्णो दाशार्हः सोस्तु नो वाहिनीपतिः
He is the creator and ordainer; success is established here. Whom Krishna, the descendant of Dasharha, names, let him be our leader.
ब्रवीतु वदतां श्रेष्ठो निशा समभिवर्तते। ततः सेनापतिं कृत्वा कृष्णस्य वशवर्तिनः
Let the best among speakers speak, for night is approaching. Then, having made the commander subject to Krishna's will—
रात्रेः शेषे व्यतिक्रान्ते प्रयास्यामो रणाजिरम् । अधिवासितशस्त्राश्च कृतकौतुकमङ्गलाः
When the remainder of the night has passed, we shall proceed to the battlefield, having consecrated our weapons and performed auspicious rites.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मराजस्य धीमतः। अब्रवीत्पुण्डरीकाक्षो धनञ्जयमवेक्ष्य ह
Hearing these words of the wise king Dharma, the lotus-eyed one, gazing at Dhananjaya, spoke.
ममाप्येते महाराज भवद्भिर्य उदाहृताः। नेतारस्तव सेनाया मता विक्रान्तयोधिनः
O great king, those whom you have mentioned are also mine; they are considered leaders of your army, valiant warriors.
सर्व एव समर्था हि तव शत्रुं प्रबाधितुम्। इन्द्रस्यापि भयं ह्येते जनयेयुर्महाहवे
All are indeed capable of subduing your enemy; even in a great battle, they could cause fear to Indra himself.
किं पुनर्धार्तराष्ट्राणां लुब्धानां पापचेतसाम्। मयापि हि महाबाहो त्वत्प्रियार्थं महाहवे
What then of the greedy, evil-minded sons of Dhritarashtra? For your sake, O mighty-armed one, I too have made great effort in this great battle.
कृतो यत्नो महांस्तत्र शमः स्यादिति भारत । धर्मस्य गतमानृण्यं न स्म वाच्या विवक्षताम्
A great effort has been made there, O Bharata, so that peace may be achieved; the debt to righteousness has been discharged, and those who wish to speak need not say more.