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.
कृतार्थं मन्यते बाल आत्मनमविचक्षणः । धार्तराष्ट्रो बलस्थं च पश्यत्यात्मानमातुरः
The foolish and undiscerning child of Dhritarashtra imagines himself accomplished; yet, afflicted, he sees himself as powerful.
युज्यतां वाहिनी साधु वधसाध्या हि मे मताः । न धार्तराष्ट्राः शक्ष्यन्ति स्थातुं दृष्ट्वा धनञ्जयम्
Let the army be arrayed, for my opinion is that the destruction of the foe is attainable; the sons of Dhritarashtra will not be able to stand when they see Dhananjaya.
भीमसेनं च सङ्क्रुद्धं यमौ चापि यमोपमौ । युयुधानं द्वितीयं च धृष्टद्युम्नममर्षणम्
Nor will they withstand Bhimasena in his wrath, the twin sons of Madri, equal to Yama, Satyaki the second, and Dhrishtadyumna, intolerant of insult.
अभिमन्युं द्रौपदेयान्विराटद्रुपदावपि। अक्षौहिणीपतींश्चान्यान्नरेन्द्रान्भीमविक्रमान्
Nor Abhimanyu, the sons of Draupadi, Virata and Drupada, and other kings, leaders of divisions, mighty in valor like Bhima.
सारवद्बलमस्माकं दुष्प्रधर्षं दुरासदम्। धार्तराष्ट्रबलं सङ्ख्ये हनिष्यति न संशयः
Our force, full of essence, hard to overcome and difficult to approach, will surely destroy the army of Dhritarashtra in battle—there is no doubt.
एवमुक्ते तु कृष्णेन संप्राहृष्यन्नरोत्तमाः
When Krishna had spoken thus, the foremost of men rejoiced greatly.
तेषां प्रहृष्टमनसां नादः समभवन्महान्। योग इत्यथ सैन्यानां त्वरतां संप्रधावताम्
Among those whose hearts were uplifted, a great sound arose, as the armies prepared for battle and rushed forward with haste.
हयवारणशब्दाश्च नेमिघोषाश्च सर्वतः। शङ्खदुन्दुभिघोषाश्च तुमुलाः सर्वतोऽभवन्
The sounds of horses and elephants, the clatter of wheels, and the tumult of conches and drums resounded everywhere.
तद्रुग्रं सागरनिभं क्षुब्धं बलसमागमम्। रथपत्तिगजोदयं महोर्मिभिरिवाकुलम्
That fierce gathering of forces, like a stormy ocean, with the rise of chariots, infantry, and elephants, was agitated like great waves.
धावतामाहुयानानां तनुत्राणि च बध्नताम् । प्रयास्यतां पाण्डवानां ससैन्यानां समन्ततः
As the warriors rushed, harnessing their steeds and donning their armor, the Pandavas, with their armies, set out in all directions.