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.
रथायुतानि चत्वारि हयाः पञ्चगुणास्तथा । पत्तिसैन्यं दशगुणं गजानामयुतानि षट्
There were four divisions of chariots, five times as many horses, ten times as many foot soldiers, and sixty thousand elephants.
अनाधृष्टिश्चेकितानो धृष्टकेतुश्च सात्यकिः । परिवार्य ययुः सर्वे वासुदेवधनञ्जयौ
Anadhṛṣṭi, Chekitana, Dhrishtaketu, and Satyaki—all of them surrounded Vasudeva and Dhananjaya.
आसाद्य तु कुरुक्षेत्रं व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः । पाण्डवाः समदृश्यन्त नर्दन्तो वृषभा इव
Having reached Kurukshetra, the Pandavas, their forces arrayed and ready for battle, appeared like roaring bulls.
तेऽवगाह्य कुरुक्षेत्रं शङ्खान्दध्मुररिन्दमाः। तथैव दध्मतुः शङ्खं वासुदेवधनञ्जयौ
Those best of men, having entered Kurukshetra, blew their conch shells; likewise, Vasudeva and Dhananjaya sounded their conchs.
पाञ्चजन्यस्य निर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितमिवाशनेः । निशम्य सर्वसैन्यानि समहष्यन्त सर्वशः
Hearing the thunderous sound of Panchajanya, like the crash of lightning, all the armies rejoiced together.
शङ्खदुन्दुभिसंहृष्टः सिंहनादस्तरस्विनाम् । पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षं च सागरांश्चान्वनादयत्
The blaring of conchs and drums, and the lion-roars of the warriors, echoed across the earth, the sky, and the seas.
ततो देशे समे स्निग्धे प्रभूतयवसेन्धने। निवेशयामास तदा सेनां राजा युधिष्ठिरः
Then, in a level, lush place with abundant grass and fuel, King Yudhishthira made his army encamp.
परिहृत्य श्मशानानि देवतायतनानि च। आश्रमांश्च महर्षीणां तीर्थान्यायतनानि च
He avoided cremation grounds, temples, hermitages of great sages, sacred fords, and shrines.
मधुरानूषरे देशे शुचौ पुण्ये महामतिः । निवेशं कारयामास कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
In a pleasant, fertile, pure, and holy land, the wise son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, established the encampment.
ततश्च पुनरुत्थाय सुखी विश्रान्तवाहनः । प्रययौ पृथिवीपालैर्वृतः शतसहस्रशः
Then, rising again, refreshed and with rested horses, he set out, surrounded by kings in their hundreds of thousands.