रथस्य नागाः पञ्चाशन्नागस्यासञ्शतं हयाः। हयस्य पुरुषाः सप्त भिन्नसन्धानकारिणः
For each chariot, fifty elephants; for each elephant, one hundred horses; for each horse, seven men skilled in repairing broken formations.
सेना पञ्चशतं नागा रथास्तावन्त एव च। दशसेना च पृतना पृतना दश वाहिनी
An army consists of five hundred elephants, and the same number of chariots; ten armies make a division, and ten divisions make a corps.
सेना च वाहिनी चैव पृतना ध्वजिनी चमूः । अक्षौहिणीति पर्यायैर्निरुक्ता च वरूथिनी
Army, corps, division, bannered host, and battalion—these are synonyms for a formation, which is also called an akshauhini.
एवं व्यूढान्यनीकानि कौरवेयेण धीमता। अक्षौहिण्यो दशैका च सङ्ख्याताः सप्त चैव ह
Thus, the wise Kaurava arranged the divisions; eleven akshauhinis were counted, and seven as well.
अक्षौहिण्यस्तु सप्तैव पाण्डवानामभूद्बलम् । अक्षौहिण्यो दशैका च कौरवाणामभूद्बलम्
The force of the Pandavas was seven akshauhinis; the force of the Kauravas was eleven akshauhinis.
नराणां पञ्चपञ्चाशदेषा पत्तिर्विधीयते। सेनामुखं च तिस्रस्ता गुल्म इत्यभिशब्दितम्
A company of infantry is prescribed as fifty-five men; three such companies form a battalion, which is called a 'gulma.'
त्रयो गुल्मा गणस्त्वासीद्गणास्त्वयुतशोऽभवन् । दुर्योधनस्य सेनासु योत्स्यमानाः प्रहारिणः
There were three divisions, and the troops were organized into groups of ten thousand each, ready to fight and skilled in battle, within Duryodhana's army.
तत्र दुर्योधनो राजा शूरान्बुद्धिमतो नरान्। प्रसमीक्ष्य महाबाहुश्चक्रे सेनापतींस्तदा
There, King Duryodhana, mighty-armed, after carefully considering the brave and intelligent men, appointed commanders for the army at that time.
पृथगक्षौहिणीनां च प्रणेतॄन्नरसत्तमान् । विधिवत्पूर्वमानीय पार्थिवानभ्यषेचयत्
He first brought forward, according to custom, the best of men as leaders of each separate division, and consecrated the kings as commanders.
कृपं द्रोणं च शल्यं च सैन्धवं च जयद्रथम् । सुदक्षिणं च काम्भोजं कृतवर्माणमेव च
Kripa, Drona, Shalya, the Sindhu king Jayadratha, Sudakshina the Kamboja, and Kritavarma as well—
द्रोणपुत्रं च कर्णं च भूरिश्रवसमेव च। शकुनिं सौबलं चैव बाह्लीकं च महाबलम्
Drona's son, Karna, Bhurishravas, Shakuni son of Subala, and the mighty Bahlika—
दिवसे दिवसे तेषां प्रतिवेलं च भारत। चक्रे स विविधाः पूजाः प्रत्यक्षं च पुनः पुनः
Day after day, and at every proper time, O Bharata, he performed various honors for them, repeatedly and openly.
तथा विनियताः सर्वे ये च तेषां पदानुगाः। बभूवुः सैनिका राज्ञां प्रियं राज्ञश्चिकीर्षवः
In this way, all those who were appointed, along with their followers, became soldiers devoted to the kings, eager to do what pleased the king.
ततः शान्तनवं भीष्मं प्राञ्जलिर्धृतराष्ट्रजः। सह सर्वैर्महीपालैरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, was addressed by Dhritarashtra's son, with joined palms, together with all the kings, with these words:
ऋते सेनाप्रणेतारं पृतना सुमहत्यपि । दीर्यते युद्धमासाद्य पिपीलिकपुटं यथा
Without a leader, even a great army breaks apart when battle is joined, just like an anthill is scattered.
नहि जातु द्वयोर्बुद्धिः समा भवति कर्हिचित् । शौर्यं च वलनेतॄणां स्पर्धते च परस्परम्
For never do two people have exactly the same understanding, and the courage of leaders always competes with one another.
श्रूयते च महाप्राज्ञ हैहयानमितौजसः । अभ्ययुर्ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे समुच्छ्रितकुशध्वजाः
It is told, O wise one, that all the Brahmanas, bearing tall kusa banners, once approached the mighty Haihayas.
तानभ्ययुस्तदा वैश्याः शूद्राश्चैव पितामह । एकतस्तु त्रयो वर्णा एकतः क्षत्रियर्षभाः
Then the Vaishyas and Shudras also approached them, O Grandsire, with three castes on one side and the Kshatriya bulls on the other.
ते स्म युद्धे प्रभज्यन्ते त्रयो वर्णाः पुनः पुनः । क्षत्रियाश्च जयन्त्येव बहुलं चैकतो बलम्
In battle, those three castes were repeatedly broken, while the Kshatriyas always prevailed, their strength united on one side.
ततस्ते क्षत्रियानेव पप्रच्छुर्द्विचसत्तमाः । तेभ्यः शशंसुर्धर्मज्ञा याथातथ्यं पितामह
Then those best of the twice-born questioned the Kshatriyas, and the righteous Kshatriyas told them the truth, O Grandsire.
वयमेकस्य श्रृणुमो महाबुद्धिमतो रणे । भवन्तस्तु पृथक्सर्वे स्वबुद्धिवशवर्तिनः
"We obey the command of one man of great wisdom in battle, while you all act separately, each following your own judgment."
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणाश्चक्रुरेकं सेनापतिं द्विजम्। नये सुकुशलं शूरमजयन्क्षत्रियांस्ततः
Then those Brahmanas made one twice-born man, skilled in leadership and brave, their commander, and thereafter defeated the Kshatriyas.
एवं ये कुशलं शूरं हितेप्सितमकल्पषम्। सेनापतिं प्रकुर्वन्ति ते जयन्ति रणे रिपून्
Thus, those who appoint as commander one who is skilled, brave, devoted to their welfare, and blameless, they conquer their enemies in battle.
भवानुशनसा तुल्यो हितैषी च सदा मम। असंहार्थः स्थितो धर्मे स नः सेनापतिर्भव
You are like Usanas in wisdom and always seek my good; steadfast in righteousness, you are invincible—be our commander.
रश्मीवतामिवादित्यो वीरुधामिव चन्द्रमाः । कुबेर इव यक्षाणां देवानामिव वासवः
Just as the sun among those with rays, the moon among plants, Kubera among the Yakshas, and Vasava among the gods—
पर्वतानां यथा मेरुः सुपर्णः पक्षिणां यथा। कुमार इव देवानां वसूनामिव हव्यवाट्
As Meru among mountains, Suparna among birds, Kumara among the gods, and Havyavat among the Vasus—
भवता हि वयं गुप्ताः शत्रेणेव दिवौकसः । अनाधृष्या भविष्यामस्त्रिदशानामपि ध्रुवम्
By you, indeed, we are protected, as the dwellers of heaven are by their enemy; we shall surely become invincible even among the gods.
प्रयातु नो भवानग्रे देवानामिव पावकिः । वयं त्वामनुयास्यामः सौरभेया इवर्षभम्
Let you go ahead for us, as Pavaka among the gods; we will follow you, as the Saurabheyas follow the bull.
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत। यथैव हि भवन्तो मे तथैव मम पाण्डवाः
So it is, O mighty-armed one, as you say, O Bharata; just as you are to me, so too are the Pandavas.
अपि चैव मया श्रोयो वाच्यं तेषां नराधिप । संयोद्धव्यं तवार्थाय यथा मे समयः कृतः
Moreover, I must speak what is best to those kings; battle must be joined for your sake, as I have pledged.