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.
एतान्सप्त महाभागान्वीरान्युद्धाभिकाङ्क्षिणः । सेनाप्रणेतॄन्विधिवदभ्यषिञ्चद्युधिष्ठिरः
Yudhishthira duly anointed these seven illustrious warriors, eager for battle, as commanders of divisions.
सर्वसेनापतिं चात्र धृष्टद्युम्नं चकार ह । द्रोणान्तहेतोरुत्पन्नो य इद्धाञ्जातवेदसः
And here, he appointed Dhrishtadyumna as the commander-in-chief of all the forces—he who was born for the destruction of Drona, from the blazing sacrificial fire.
सर्वेषामेव तेषां तु समस्तानां महात्मनाम् । सेनापतिपतिं चक्रे गडाकेशं धनञ्जयम्
And among all those great souls, he made Dhananjaya, the curly-haired one, the commander over all the commanders.
अर्जुनस्यापि नेता च संयन्ता चैव वाजिनाम्। सङ्कर्णणानुजः श्रीमान्महाबुद्धिर्जनार्दनः
And for Arjuna, the leader and charioteer of his steeds was the illustrious, wise Janardana, younger brother of Sankarshana.
तद्दृष्ट्वोपस्थितं युद्धं समासन्नं महात्ययम् । प्राविशद्भवनं राज्ञः पाण्डवानां हलायुधः
Seeing that the war, bringing great calamity, was imminent, Halayudha entered the palace of the Pandava king.
सहाक्रूरप्रभृतिभिर्ददसाम्बोद्धवादिभिः । रौक्मिणेयाहुकसुतैश्चारुदेष्णपुरोगमैः
He was accompanied by Akrura and others, by Uddhava and the like, and by the sons of Rukmini and Ahuka, with Charudeshna at their head.
वृष्णिमुख्यैरधिगतैर्व्याघ्रैरिव बलोत्कटैः । अभिगुप्तो महाबाहुर्मरुद्भिरिव वासवः
Surrounded by the foremost of the Vrishnis, mighty as tigers, the strong-armed one was guarded like Indra by the Maruts.
नीलकौशेयवसनः कैलासशिखरोपमः । सिंहखेलगतिः श्रीमान्मदरक्तान्तलोचनः
Clad in blue silk, resembling the peak of Kailasa, with the gait of a lion at play, glorious, with eyes reddened by wine.
तं दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजश्च केशवश्च महाद्युतिः । उदतिष्ठत्ततः पार्थो भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः
Seeing him, the king of righteousness and the radiant Kesava, as well as Partha, the doer of mighty deeds, and Vrikodara, rose up.
गाण्डीवधन्वा ये चान्ये राजानस्तत्र केचन। पूजयाञ्चक्रिरे ते वै समायान्तं हलायुधम्
Those bearing the Gandiva bow and certain other kings there honored Halayudha as he entered.