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.
गङ्गेव पूर्णा दुर्धर्षा समदृश्यत वाहिनी । अग्रानीके भीमसेनो माद्रीपुत्रौ च दंशितौ
The army appeared like the full, unassailable Ganga; at the forefront were Bhimasena and the sons of Madri, fierce and ready.
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च धृष्टद्युम्नस्य पार्षतः । प्रभद्रकाश्च पञ्चाला भीमसेनमुखा ययुः
Saubhadra, the sons of Draupadi, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, and the Prabhadrakas of the Panchalas, led by Bhimasena, advanced.
ततः शब्दः समभवत्सुमुद्रस्येव पर्वणि
Then a sound arose, like the sea at its full tide.
फल्गु यच्चं बलं किंचिद्यच्चापि कृशदुर्बलम्। तत्सङ्गृह्य ययौ राजा ये चापि परिचारकाः
Whatever weak or meager force remained, the king gathered it, along with his attendants, and departed.
उपप्लाव्ये तु पाञ्चाली द्रौपदी सत्यवादिनी । सह स्त्रीभिर्निनवृते दासीदाससमावृता
At Upaplavya, Panchali, Draupadi, truthful in speech, surrounded by women and attended by maids and servants, was sheltered.
कृत्वा मूलप्रतीकारं गुल्मैः स्थावरजङ्गमैः । स्कन्धावारेण महता प्रययुः पाण्डुनन्दनाः
Having arranged the main defenses with stationary and mobile troops, the sons of Pandu set out with a great encampment.
ददतो गां हिरण्यं च ब्राह्मणैरभिसंवृताः। स्तूयमाना ययू राजन्रथैर्मणिविभूषितैः
Giving cows and gold, surrounded by Brahmins, praised as they went, O king, in chariots adorned with jewels.
केकया धृष्टकेतुश्च पुत्रः काश्यस्य चाभिभूः । श्रेणिमान्वसुदानश्च शिखण्डी चापराजितः
Kekaya, Dhrishtaketu, Abhibhu the son of Kashi, Shreniman, Vasudana, and Shikhandi the unconquered, were there.
हृष्टास्तुष्टाः कवचिनः सशस्त्राः समलङ्कृताः। राजानमन्वयुः सर्वे परिवार्य युधिष्ठिरम्
Joyful, satisfied, armored, armed, and adorned, all the kings surrounded Yudhishthira and followed him.
जघनार्धे विराटश्च याज्ञसेनिश्च सौमकिः । सुधर्मा कुन्तिभोजश्च धृष्टद्युम्नस्य चात्मजाः
On the rear flank were Virata, Yajnaseni, Saumaki, Sudharma, Kuntibhoja, and the sons of Drupada.