एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण तपोधन । कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च यद्यदासीद्विचेष्टितम्
I wish to hear in detail, O ascetic, whatever actions were undertaken by the Kurus and Pandavas.
प्रतियाते तु दाशार्हे राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। कर्णं दुःशासनं चैव शकुनिं चाब्रवीदिदम्
When the Dāśārha had departed, King Duryodhana then spoke to Karna, Duhshasana, and Shakuni.
अकृतेनैव कार्येण गतः पार्थानधोक्षजः । स एनान्मन्युनाविष्टो ध्रुवं धक्ष्यत्यसंशयम्
Without accomplishing his purpose, the son of Adhoksha has gone to the Pandavas; filled with anger, he will surely burn them, without doubt.
इष्टो हि वासुदेवस्य पाण्डवैर्मम विग्रहः । भीमसेनार्जुनौ चैव दाशार्हस्य मते स्थितौ
For the conflict with the Pandavas is dear to Vasudeva; Bhimasena and Arjuna are aligned with the Dāśārha's counsel.
अजातशत्रुरत्यर्थं भीमसेनवशानुगः। निकृतश्च मया पूर्वं सह सर्वैः सहोदरैः
Ajātaśatru, exceedingly under the sway of Bhīmasena, and previously deceived by me together with all his brothers,
विराटद्रुपदौ चैव कृतवैरौ मया सह । तौ च सेनाप्रणेतारौ वासुदेववशानुगौ
Virāṭa and Drupada, too, have become my enemies; those two, commanders of armies, are now under the influence of Vāsudeva.
भविता विग्रहः सोयं तुमुलो लोमहर्षणः । तस्मात्साङ्ग्रामिकं सर्वं कारयध्वमतन्द्रिताः
A fierce and hair-raising conflict will arise; therefore, carry out all preparations for battle without negligence.
शिबिराणि कुरुक्षेत्रे क्रियन्तां वसुधाधिपाः । स्वपर्याप्तावकाशानि दुरादेयानि शत्रुभिः
Let camps be established on Kurukṣetra, O lords of the earth, spacious enough for yourselves and difficult for enemies to seize.
आसन्नजलकोष्ठानि शतशोथ सहस्रशः । अच्छेद्याहारमार्गाणि बन्धोच्छ्रयचितानि च
Let water reservoirs be placed nearby, in hundreds and thousands; let supply routes be secure and fortified with defensive works.
विविधायुधपूर्णानि पताकाध्वजवन्ति च। समाश्च तेषां पन्थानः क्रियन्तां नगराद्बहिः
Let them be filled with various weapons and adorned with banners and flags; and let all their roads from the city be made ready.
ते तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय श्वोभूते चक्रिरे तथा
They, having pledged thus, made preparations accordingly when the next day arrived.
हृष्टरूपा महात्मानो निवासाय महीक्षिताम् । ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशासनम्
The great-souled kings, appearing joyful, made arrangements for their lodging; then all those rulers, upon hearing the royal command,
आसनेभ्यो महार्हेभ्य उदतिष्ठन्नमर्षिताः । बाहून्परिघसङ्काशान्संस्पृशन्तः शनैः शनैः
rose from their splendid seats, agitated, slowly touching their arms, which resembled iron bars.
काञ्चनाङ्गददीप्तांश्च चन्दनागरुभूषितान्। उष्णीषाणि नियच्छन्तः पुण्डरीकनिभै करैः। अन्तरीयोत्तरीयाणि भूषणानि च सर्वशः
Adjusting their shining golden armlets and ornaments of sandalwood and aloe, setting their turbans with lotus-like hands, arranging their inner and outer garments and all their jewelry,
ते रथान्रथिनः श्रेष्ठा हयांश्च हयकोविदाः। सज्जयन्ति स्म नागांश्च नागशिक्षास्वनुष्ठिताः
The foremost charioteers readied their chariots, the skilled horsemen prepared their horses, and those trained in elephant warfare equipped their elephants.
अथ वर्माणि चित्राणि काञ्चनानि बहूनि च । विविधानि च शस्त्राणि चक्रुः सर्वाणि सर्वशः
Then they made many splendid armors of gold and various weapons, all kinds, in abundance.
पदातयश्च पुरुषाः शस्त्राणि विविधानि च। उपाजह्रुः शरीरेषु हेमचित्राण्यनेकशः
The foot soldiers brought various weapons, many adorned with gold, to be worn upon their bodies.
तदुत्सव इवोदग्रं संप्रहृष्टनरावृतम् । नगरं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य भारतासीत्समाकुलम्
That city of Dhārtarāṣṭra became crowded, like a festival, filled with joyful sounds.
जनौघसलिलावर्तो रथनागाश्वमीनवान् । शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः कोशसञ्चयरत्नवान्
A whirlpool of people, chariots, elephants, horses, and fish; the sound of conches and drums, and stores of treasures.
चित्राभरणवर्मोर्मिः शस्त्रनिर्मलफेनवान् । प्रासादमालाद्रिवृतो रथ्यापणमहाह्रदः
Waves of dazzling ornaments and armor, foam of gleaming weapons, surrounded by rows of mansions like mountains, and streets and markets like vast lakes.
योधचन्द्रोदयोद्भूतः कुरुराजमहार्णवः । व्यदृश्यत तदा राजंश्चन्द्रोदय इवोदधिः
The great ocean of the Kuru king, stirred by the rising of warriors, appeared then, O king, like the moonrise over the sea.
वासुदेवस्य तद्वाक्यमनुस्मृत्य युधिष्ठिरः। पुनः पप्रच्छ वार्ष्णेयं कथं मन्दोऽऽब्रवीदिदम्
Recalling the words of Vāsudeva, Yudhiṣṭhira again asked the descendant of Vṛṣṇi, 'How did the foolish one speak thus?'
अस्मिन्नभ्यागते काले किंच नः क्षममच्युत । कथं च वर्तमाना वै स्वधर्मान्न च्यवेमहि
Now that this time has come, O Achyuta, what is proper for us? And how may we, while remaining as we are, not stray from our own duty?
दुर्योधनस्य कर्णस्य शकुनेः सौबलस्य च । वासुदेव मतज्ञोऽसि मम सभ्रातृकस्य च
You know well the intentions of Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni the son of Subala, O Vasudeva, as well as those of myself and my brothers.
विदुरस्यापि तद्वाक्यं श्रुतं भीष्मस्य चोभयोः । कुन्त्याश्च विपुलप्रज्ञ प्रज्ञा कार्त्स्न्येन ते श्रुता
You have also heard the words of Vidura and Bhishma, both wise men, and, O one of great understanding, you have fully heard the wisdom of Kunti as well.
सर्वमेतदतिक्रम्य विचार्य च पुनः पुनः । क्षमं यन्नो महाबाहो तद्ब्रवीह्यविचारयन्
Having considered all this thoroughly and repeatedly, O mighty-armed one, tell us what is proper for us, without hesitation.
श्रुत्वैतद्धर्मराजस्य धर्मार्थसहितं वचः। मेघदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः कृष्णो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्
Hearing this speech of the king of righteousness, which was joined with virtue and profit, Krishna, whose voice was like the rumbling of clouds and drums, then spoke.
उक्तवानस्मि यद्वाक्यं धर्मार्थसहितं हितम्। न तु तन्निकृतिप्रज्ञे कौरव्ये प्रतितिष्ठति
What I have said, which is beneficial and in accord with virtue and profit, does not stand with the Kaurava, whose mind is set on deceit.
न च भीष्मस्य दुर्मेधाः शृणोति विदुरस्य वा। मम वा भाषितं किंचित्सर्वमेवातिवर्तते
The wicked-minded one does not listen to the words of Bhishma or Vidura, nor to anything I have said; he disregards it all.
नैष कामयते धर्मं नैष कामयते यशः । जितं स मन्यते सर्वं दुरात्मा कर्णमाश्रितः
He does not desire righteousness, nor does he seek fame; that evil-hearted one, relying on Karna, thinks he has conquered everything.