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.
बन्धमाज्ञापयामास मम चापि सुयोधनः । न च तं लब्धवान्कामं दुरात्मा पापनिश्चयः
Suyodhana even ordered that I be bound, but that wicked one, intent on evil, did not obtain his desire.
न च भीष्मो न च द्रोणो युक्तं तत्राहतुर्वचः। सर्वे तमनुवर्तन्ते ऋते विदुरमुच्युत
Neither Bhishma nor Drona spoke what was proper in that matter; all followed him, O Achyuta, except for Vidura.
शकुनिः सौबलश्चैव कर्णदुःशासनावपि । त्वय्ययुक्तान्यभाषन्त मूढा मूढममर्षणम्
Shakuni, the son of Subala, Karna, and Duhshasana also spoke improper words to you, being foolish and filled with blind anger.
किंच तेन मयोक्तेन यान्यभाषत कौरवः । संक्षेपेण दुरात्मासौ न युक्तं त्वयि वर्तते
And as for what the Kaurava said in response to my words, in short, that evil-hearted one does not act properly toward you.
पार्थिवेषु न सर्वेषु य इमे तव सैनिकाः। यत्पापं यन्न कल्याणं सर्वं तस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठितम्
Among all these kings, not all of whom are your soldiers, whatever evil or misfortune there is, all of it rests upon him.
न चापि वयमत्यर्थं परित्यागेन कर्हिचित्। कौरवैः शममिच्छामस्तत्र युद्धमनन्तरम्
Nor do we, by any means, wish for peace with the Kauravas at the cost of excessive renunciation; after that, there will be war.
तच्छ्रुत्वा पार्थिवाः सर्वे वासुदेवस्य भाषितम्। अब्रुवन्तो मुखं राज्ञः समुदैक्षन्त भारत
Hearing the words spoken by Vasudeva, all the kings, O Bharata, remained silent and looked toward the face of the king.
युधिष्ठिरस्त्वभिप्रायमभिलक्ष्य महीक्षिताम् । योगमाज्ञापयामास भीमार्जुनयमैः सह
Yudhishthira, perceiving the intention of the assembled kings, ordered the preparations together with Bhima and Arjuna.
ततः किलकिलाभूतमनीकं पाण्डवस्य ह। आज्ञापिते तदा योगे समहृष्यन्त सैनिकाः
Then the Pandava army became filled with excitement; when the preparations were ordered, the soldiers rejoiced greatly.
अवध्यानां वधं पश्यन्धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। निश्वसन्भीमसेनं च विजयं चेदमब्रवीत्
Seeing the impending destruction of those who should not be slain, King Yudhishthira, breathing heavily, spoke these words to Bhimasena and Vijaya.
यदर्थं वनवासश्च प्राप्तं दुःखं च यन्मया। सोयमस्मानुपैत्येव परोऽनर्थः प्रयत्नतः
The very misfortune for which I endured exile in the forest and all that suffering has now come upon us with even greater force, despite all our efforts.
यस्मिन्यत्नः कृतोऽस्माभिः स नो हीनः प्रयत्नतः। अकृते तु प्रयत्नेऽस्मानुपावृत्तः कलिर्महान्
That for which we strove with such effort has been lost to us despite our exertions; and because we did not act with sufficient effort, great calamity has overtaken us.
कथं ह्यवध्यैः सङ्ग्रामः कार्यः सह भविष्यति। कथं हत्वा गुरून्वृद्धान्विजयो नो भविष्यति
How can battle be waged with those whom it is wrong to slay? How can victory be ours if we must kill our elders and teachers?
तच्छ्रुत्वा धर्मराजस्य सव्यसाची परन्तपः। यदुक्तं वासुदेवेन श्रावयामास तद्वचः
Hearing the words of the righteous king, Savyasācin, the scorcher of foes, recited to him what Vāsudeva had spoken.
उक्तवान्देवकीपुत्रः कुन्त्याश्च विदुरस्य च । वचनं तत्त्वया राजन्निखिलेनावधारितम्
The son of Devakī spoke the words of Kuntī and Vidura, and you, O King, have fully understood their meaning.
न च तौ वक्ष्यतोऽधर्ममिति मे नैष्ठिकी मतिः। नापि युक्तं च कौन्तेय निवर्तितुमयुध्यतः
I do not believe that either of them spoke anything unrighteous; nor, son of Kuntī, is it proper for you to withdraw without fighting.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वासुदेवोऽपि सव्यसाचिवचस्तदा । स्मयमानोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं पार्थमेवमिति ब्रुवन्
Hearing Savyasācin's words, Vāsudeva smiled and spoke these words to Pārtha.
ततस्ते धृतसंकल्पा युद्धाय सह सैनिकाः। पाण्डवेया महाराज तां रात्रिं सुखमावसन्
Then, resolute in their purpose for battle, the sons of Pāṇḍu, together with their soldiers, spent that night in comfort, O great king.
व्युष्टायां वै रजन्यां हि राजा दुर्योधनस्ततः। व्यभजत्तान्यनिकानि दश चैकं च भारत
When the night had passed, King Duryodhana then divided those eleven divisions, O descendant of Bharata.
नरहस्तिरथाश्वानां सारं मध्यं च फल्गु च। सर्वेष्वेतेष्वनीकेषु सन्दिदेश नराधिपः
The king assigned the best, the central, and the weakest parts of all these divisions of men, elephants, chariots, and horses.