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.
ततस्तं पाण्डवो राजा करे पस्पर्श पाणिना । वासुदेवपुरोगास्तं सर्व एवाभ्यवादयन्
Then the Pandava king touched him with his hand, and all, led by Vasudeva, greeted him.
विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धावभिवाद्य हलायुधः । युधिष्ठिरेण सहित उपाविशदरिन्दमः
Halayudha, having saluted the aged Virata and Drupada, sat down with Yudhishthira, the subduer of foes.
ततस्तेषूपविष्टेषु पार्थिवेषु समन्ततः । वासुदेवमभिप्रेक्ष्य रौहिणेयोऽभ्यभाषत
Then, as the kings sat all around, Rauhineya, looking at Vasudeva, spoke.
भवितायं महारौद्रो दारुणः पुरुषक्षयः । दिष्टमेतद्ध्रुवं मन्ये न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम्
This will be a most terrible and dreadful slaughter of men; I believe this is fate and cannot be avoided.
तस्माद्युद्धात्समुत्तीर्णानपि वः समुहृञ्जानान्। अरोगानक्षतैर्देहैर्द्रष्टास्मीति मतिर्मम
Therefore, even if you escape from the battle, I wish to see you all safe and unharmed in body.
समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं कालपक्वमसंशयम् । विमर्दश्च महान्भावी मांसशोणितकदर्दमः
This assembled royal kshatriya host is surely ripe for destruction; a great clash will occur, a mire of flesh and blood.
उक्तो मया वासुदेवः पुनः पुनरुपह्वरे। संबन्धिषु समां वृत्तिं वर्तस्व मधुसूदन
I have repeatedly told Vasudeva in private: 'Madhusudana, maintain equal conduct towards both sides, since they are all kin.'
पाण्डवा हि यथास्माकं तथा दुर्योधनो नृपः। तस्यापि क्रियतां साह्यं स पर्येति पुनःपुनः
For, O Pandavas, just as you are ours, so too is King Duryodhana; let help be given to him as well, for he comes again and again.
तच्च मे नाकरोद्वाक्यं त्वदर्थे मधुसूदनः। निर्विष्टः सर्वभावेन धनञ्जयमवेक्ष्य ह
But Madhusudana did not act according to my words for your sake, for, seeing Dhananjaya with all his heart, he became disinclined.
ध्रुवो जयः पाण्डवानामिति मे निश्चिता मतिः। तथा ह्यभिनिवेशोऽयं वासुदेवस्य भारत
My mind is firmly convinced that victory belongs to the Pandavas, for such is the devotion of Vasudeva, O Bharata.