न तु पश्यामि योद्धारमात्मनः सदृशं भुवि । ऋते तस्मान्नरव्याघ्रात्कुन्तीपुत्राद्धनञ्जयात्
But I do not see any warrior on earth equal to myself, except for that tiger among men, Arjuna, son of Kunti.
स हि वेद महाबुद्धिर्दिव्यान्यस्त्राण्यनेकशः । न तु मां विवृतो युद्धे जातु युध्येत पाण्डवः
He, possessing great wisdom, knows many divine weapons; yet, openly in battle, the Pandava would never fight against me.
अहं स च क्षणेनैव निर्मनुष्यमिदं जगत्। कुर्यावास्त्रबलेनैव ससुरासुरराक्षसम्
He and I, in but a moment, could make this world devoid of men, by the power of weapons, along with gods, asuras, and rakshasas.
न त्वेवोत्सादनीया मे पाण्डोः पुत्रा जनाधिप । तस्माद्योधान्हनिष्यामि प्रयोगेणायुतं सदा
Yet, O king, the sons of Pandu are not to be exterminated by me; therefore, I will slay the warriors always by proper means.
एवमेषां फरिष्यामि निधनं कुरुनन्दन । न चेत्ते मां हनिष्यन्ति पूर्वमेव समागमे
Thus will I bring about their destruction, O joy of the Kurus, unless they kill me first in the encounter.
सेनापतिस्त्वहं राजन्समयेनापरेण ते। भविष्यामि यथाकामं तन्मे श्रोतुमिहार्हसि
I will be the commander of the army, O king, according to your other agreement; you should hear this from me here.
कर्णो वा युध्यतां पूर्वमहं वा पृथिवीपते । स्पर्धते हि सदात्यर्थं सूतपुत्रो मया रणे
Either Karna will fight first, or I will, O lord of the earth; for the son of the charioteer always competes with me in battle.
नाहं जीवति गाङ्गेये राजन्योत्स्ये कथंचन। हते भीष्मे तु योत्स्यामि सह गाण्डीवधन्वना
I will never fight while Ganga's son lives, O king; but when Bhishma is slain, I will fight alongside the wielder of Gandiva.
ततः सेनापतिं चक्रे विधिवद्भूरिदक्षिणम्। धृतराष्ट्रात्मजो भीष्मं सोऽभिषिक्तो व्यरोचत
Then, according to custom, the son of Dhritarashtra appointed Bhishma, most generous, as commander; thus consecrated, he shone.
ततो भेरीश्च शङ्खांश्च शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। वादयामासुव्यग्रा वादका राजशासनात्
Then, at the king's command, the musicians, eager, played drums and conches by the hundreds and thousands.
सिंहनादाश्च विविधा वाहनानां च निःस्वनाः
There were various lion-roars and the sounds of many vehicles.
निर्घार्ताः पृथिवीकम्पा गजबृंहितनिःस्वनाः। आसंश्च सर्वयोधानां पातयन्तो मनांस्युत
There were earth-shaking crashes, the trumpeting of elephants, and the sounds that struck the minds of all the warriors.
वाचश्चाप्यशरीरिण्यो दिवश्चोल्काः प्रपेदिरे। शिवाश्च भयवेदिन्यो नेदुर्दीप्ततरा भृशम्
Voices without bodies, and meteors, appeared in the sky; ominous and fearful signs, shining intensely, resounded.
सैनापत्ये यदा राजा गाङ्गेयमभिषिक्तवान् । तदैतान्युग्ररूपाणि बभूवुः शतशो नृप
When the king appointed the son of Ganga as commander, O ruler, hundreds of these fierce omens manifested.
ततः सेनापतिं कृत्वा भीष्मं परबलार्दनम् । वाचयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठान्गोभिर्निष्कैश्च भूरिशः
Then, having made Bhishma, the destroyer of enemy forces, the commander, and having honored the foremost Brahmins with cows and abundant gold,
वर्धमानो जयाशीर्भिर्निर्ययौ सैनिकैर्वृतः। आपगेयं पुरस्कृत्य भ्रातृभिः सहितस्तदा
He set out, surrounded by soldiers, with blessings for victory increasing, placing the son of Ganga at the forefront, together with his brothers.
स्कन्धावारेण महता कुरुक्षेत्रं जगाम ह
With a great encampment, he proceeded to Kurukshetra.
परिक्रम्य कुरुक्षेत्रं कर्णेन सह कौरवः । शिबिरं मापयामास समे देशे जनाधिप
Having circled Kurukshetra with Karna, the Kaurava king established his camp in a suitable place.
मधुरानूषरे देशे प्रभूतयवसेन्धने। यथैव हास्तिनपुरं तद्वच्छिबिरमाबभौ
In a pleasant and fertile region, abundant with barley and fuel, the camp appeared just like Hastinapura.
आपगेयं महात्मानं भीष्मं शस्त्रभृतां वरम्। पितामहं भारतानां ध्वजं सर्वमहीक्षिताम्
The son of Ganga, Bhishma, the foremost among warriors, the patriarch of the Bharatas, the banner of all kings,
बृहस्पतिसं बुद्ध्या क्षमया पृथिवीसमम् । समुद्रमिव गाम्भीर्ये हिमवन्तमिव स्थिरम्
Wise as Brihaspati, patient as the earth, deep as the ocean, steadfast as the Himalayas,
प्रजापतिमिवौदार्ये तेजसा भास्करोपमम् । महेन्द्रमिव शत्रूणां ध्वंसनं शरवृष्टिभिः
Generous as Prajapati, radiant as the sun, and for enemies, a destroyer like Indra with showers of arrows,
रणयज्ञे प्रवितते सुभीमे लोमहर्षणे। दीक्षितं चिररात्राय श्रुत्वा तत्र युधिष्ठिरः
In the great and terrifying sacrifice of battle, consecrated for many nights, hearing this, Yudhishthira,
किमब्रवीन्महाबाहुः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः । भीमसेनार्जुनौ वापि कृष्णो वा प्रत्यभाषत
What did the mighty-armed, foremost of all warriors, say? Did he address Bhimasena, Arjuna, or Krishna?
आपद्धर्मार्थकुशलो महाबुद्धिर्युधिष्ठिरः। सर्वान्भ्रातॄन्समानीय वासुदेवं च शाश्वतम्
Yudhishthira, skilled in the duties of adversity and possessing great wisdom, gathered all his brothers and the eternal Vasudeva,
उवाच वदतां श्रेष्ठः सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः। पर्याक्रामत सैन्यानि यत्तास्तिष्ठत दंशिताः
He, the best among speakers, spoke these words gently: 'Move the armies; those who are ready, stand firm and alert.'
पितामहेन वो युद्धं पूर्वमेव भविष्यति। तस्मात्सप्तसु सेनासु प्रणेतॄन्मम पश्यत
'The battle with the patriarch will happen first; therefore, among the seven divisions, see the leaders appointed by me.'
यथार्हति भवान्वक्तुमस्मिन्काले ह्युपस्थिते। तथेदमर्थवद्वाक्यमुक्तं ते भरतर्षभ
'As is fitting for you to speak at this moment, so you have spoken meaningful words, O best of the Bharatas.'
रोचते मे महाबाहो क्रियतां यदनन्तरम्। नायकास्तव सेनायां क्रियन्तामिह सप्त वै
'It pleases me, O mighty-armed one; let it be done next. Let seven commanders be appointed for your army here.'
ततो द्रुपदमानाय्य विराटं शिनिपुङ्गवम् । धृष्टद्युम्नं च पाञ्चाल्यं धृष्टकेतुं च पार्थिव। शिखण्डिनं च पाञ्चाल्यं सहदेवं च मागधम्
Then, he brought forth Drupada, Virata, the foremost of the Shinis, Dhrishtadyumna of Panchala, Dhrishtaketu the king, Shikhandin of Panchala, and Sahadeva of Magadha.