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.
विद्राव्य शतशो गुल्मान्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैनिकान् । पर्यक्रामत्समन्ताच्च पार्थेन सह केशवः
Driving away hundreds of detachments of Dhritarashtra’s soldiers, Keshava and Partha moved all around.
शिबिरं मापयामास धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। सात्यकिश्च रथोदारो युयुधानश्च वीर्यवान्
Drupada’s son Dhrishtadyumna, Satyaki the great charioteer, and the valiant Yuyudhana constructed the camp.
आसाद्य सरितं पुण्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे हिरण्वतीम् । सूपतीर्थां शुचिजलां शर्करापङ्कवर्जिताम्
Reaching the sacred river Hiranvati in Kurukshetra, with good fords, pure water, and free from gravel and mud—
खानयामास परिखां केशवस्त्रत्र भारत । गुप्त्यर्थमपि चादिश्य बलं तत्र न्यवेशयत्
There, O Bharata, Keshava dug a moat, and, for the sake of protection, stationed the army as well.
विधिर्यः शिबिरस्यासीत्पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् । तद्विधानि नरेन्द्राणां कारयामास केशवः
The arrangements that were made for the Pandavas’ camp, Keshava made the same for the camps of the other kings.
प्रभूततरकाष्ठानि दुराधर्षतराणि च। भक्ष्यभोज्यान्नपानानि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
There were abundant stores of wood, most difficult to obtain, and hundreds and thousands of provisions, food, and drink.
शिबिराणि महार्हाणि राज्ञां तत्र पृथक्पृथक् । विमानानीव राजेन्द्र निविष्टानि महीतले
The splendid encampments of the kings, each separate, were set upon the earth, O king, like celestial palaces.
तत्रासञ्शिल्पिनः प्राज्ञाः शतशो दत्तवेतनाः। सर्वापकरणैर्युक्ता वैद्याः शास्त्रविशारदाः
There, hundreds of skilled craftsmen, well-paid, were present, equipped with all tools, along with physicians learned in the sciences.
ज्याधनुर्वर्मशस्त्राणां तथैव मधुसर्पिषोः । ससर्जरकसपांसूनां राशयः पर्वतोपमाः
Heaps of bows, arrows, armor, weapons, as well as honey, clarified butter, and jars of curd and sand, rose up like mountains.
बहूदकं सुयवसं तुषाङ्गारसमन्वितम् । शिबिरे शिबिरे राजा सञ्चकार युधिष्ठिरः
In every camp, Yudhishthira arranged abundant water, fine grass, and supplies of husks and charcoal.
महायन्त्राणि नाराचास्तोमराणि परश्वधाः। धनूंषि कवचादीनि ऋष्टयस्तूणसंयुताः
Great machines, iron arrows, spears, axes, bows, armor, and lances fitted with quivers were assembled.
गजाः कण्टकसन्नाहा लोहवर्मोत्तरच्छदाः। दृश्यन्ते तत्र गिर्याभाः सहस्रशतयोधिनः
Elephants clad in thorny mail and iron armor, resembling mountains, were seen there, each bearing hundreds and thousands of warriors.
निविष्टान्पाण्डवांस्तत्र ज्ञात्वा मित्राणि भारत । अभिसस्रुर्यथादेशं सबलाः सहवाहनाः
Knowing that the Pandavas had settled there, their allies, O Bharata, approached as instructed, with their troops and vehicles.
चरितब्रह्मचर्यास्ते सोमपा भूरिदक्षिणाः। जयाय पाण्डुपुत्राणां समाजग्मुर्महीक्षितः
Those who had observed celibacy, drank soma, and given abundant gifts, the kings, came for the victory of the sons of Pandu.
युधिष्ठिरं सहानीकमुपायान्तं युयुत्सया। सन्निविष्टं कुरुक्षेत्रे वासुदेवेन पालितम्
Yudhishthira, with his army, entered Kurukshetra, eager for battle, and was protected by Vasudeva.
विराटद्रुपदाभ्यां च सपुत्राभ्यां समन्वितम् । केकयैर्वृष्णिभिश्चैव पार्थिवैः शतशो वृतम्
He was accompanied by Virata and Drupada with their sons, surrounded by the Kekayas, Vrishnis, and hundreds of other kings.
महेन्द्रमिव चादित्यैरभिगुप्तं महारथैः। श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनो राजा किं कार्यं प्रत्यपद्यत
Like Mahendra guarded by the Adityas, he was protected by great chariot-warriors; hearing this, King Duryodhana considered what should be done.
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण महामते। संभ्रमे तुमुले तस्मिन्यदासीत्कुरुजाङ्गले
I wish to hear in detail, O wise one, what transpired in that tumultuous and fierce gathering in the Kurujangala.
व्यथयेयुरिमे देवान्सेन्द्रानपि समागमे । पाण्डवा वासुदेवश्च विराटद्रुपदौ तथा
These Pandavas, Vasudeva, Virata, and Drupada could shake even the gods, including Indra, in battle.
धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पाञ्चाल्यः शिखण्डी च महारथः । युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्तो देवैरपि दुरासदः
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Panchala, and Shikhandi, the great chariot-warrior, and the valiant Yudhāmanyu, formidable even to the gods, were present.