अक्षौहिण्या महावीर्यः पाण्डवान्क्षिप्रमागमत्। ततः स कवची धन्वी तली खङ्गी शरासनी
With a full akṣauhiṇī, powerful in valor, he swiftly came to the Pāṇḍavas; then, armored, bow in hand, bearing sword and shield,
रथेनादित्यवर्णेन प्रविवेश महाचमूम् । विदितः पाण्डवेयानां वासुदेवप्रियेप्सया
He entered the great army on a chariot shining like the sun, known among the sons of Pāṇḍu for his devotion to Vāsudeva.
युधिष्ठिरस्तु तं राजा प्रत्युद्गम्याभ्यपूजयत्। स पूजितः पाण्डुपुत्रैर्यथान्यायं सुसंस्तुतः
King Yudhiṣṭhira went out to greet him and honored him; thus received and praised by the sons of Pāṇḍu according to custom,
प्रतिगृह्य तु तान्सर्वान्विश्रान्तः सहसैनिकः । उवाच मध्ये वीराणां कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम्
Having accepted all their greetings, and rested with his soldiers, he spoke among the heroes to Dhanañjaya, son of Kuntī.
सहायोस्मि स्थितो युद्धे यदि भीतोसि पाण्डव । करिष्यामि रणे साह्यमसह्यं तव शत्रुभिः
"I stand ready to aid you in battle, O Pāṇḍava; if you are afraid, I will render you such help in war as your foes cannot withstand."
न हि मे विक्रमे तुल्यः पुमानस्तीह कश्चन। हनिष्यामिरणे भागं यन्मे दास्यसि पाण्डव
"There is no man here equal to me in prowess; I will destroy in battle whatever portion you assign to me, O Pāṇḍava."
अपि द्रोणकृपौ वीरौ भीष्मकर्णावथो पुनः । अथवा सर्व एवैते तिष्ठन्तु वसुधाधिपाः
"Even if Droṇa and Kṛpa, Bhīṣma and Karṇa, or all these lords of the earth together stand against me—"
निहत्य समरे शत्रूंस्तव दास्यामि मेदिनीम् । इत्युक्तो धर्मराजस्य केशवस्य च संनिधौ
"I will slay your enemies in battle and give you the earth." Thus he spoke in the presence of Dharmarāja and Keśava.
श्रृण्वतां पार्थिवेन्द्राणामन्येषां चैव सर्वशः । वासुदेवमभिप्रेक्ष्य धर्मराजं च पाण्डवम्। उवाच धीमान्कौन्तेयः प्रहस्य सखिपूर्वकम्
While all the kings and others listened, looking to Vāsudeva and Dharmarāja, the wise son of Kuntī, smiling and addressing his friend, said:
युध्यमानस्य मे वीर गन्धर्वैः सुमहाबलैः । सहायो घोषयात्रायां कस्तदासीत्सखा मम
"O hero, when I fought the mighty Gandharvas in the cattle raid, who then was my ally and friend?"
तथा प्रतिभये तस्मिन्देवदानवसंकुले। खाण्डवे युध्यमानस्य कः सहायस्तदावभवत्
"Likewise, in that fearful clash of gods and demons at Khāṇḍava, who was my helper as I fought?"
निवातकवचैर्युद्धे कालकेयैश्च दानवैः । तत्र मे युध्यमानस्य कः सहायस्तदाभवत्
"In battle with the Nivātakavacas and the Kālakeya Dānavas, who stood by me as I fought there?"
तथा विराटनगरे कुरुभिः सह सङ्गरे। युध्यतो बहुभिस्तत्र कः सहायोऽभवन्मम
"So too, in the city of Virāṭa, when I fought many Kurus in battle, who was my ally then?"
उपजीव्य रणे रुद्रं शक्रं वैश्रवणं यमम्। वरुणं पावकं चैव कृपं द्रोणं च माधवम्
"Relying in battle on Rudra, Śakra, Vaiśravaṇa, Yama, Varuṇa, Pāvaka, as well as Kṛpa, Droṇa, and Mādhava—"
धारयन्गाण्डिवं दिव्यं धनुस्तेजोमयं दृढम् । अक्षय्यशरसंयुक्तो दिव्यास्त्रपरिबृंहितः
Bearing the divine bow Gandiva, radiant with energy and unbreakable, equipped with inexhaustible arrows and enhanced by celestial weapons,
कौरवामां कुले जातः पाण्डोः पुत्रो विशेषतः । द्रोणं व्यपदिशञ्छिष्यो वासुदेवसहायवान्
Born in the Kaurava line, especially as the son of Pandu, declared as Drona’s disciple, and accompanied by Vasudeva,
कथमस्मद्विधो ब्रूयाद्भीतोऽस्मीति यशोहरम् । वचनं नरशार्दूल वज्रायुधसमस्वनम्
How could someone like me utter the shameful words, 'I am afraid,' O tiger among men, words that would tarnish my honor and resound like the thunder of the vajra weapon?
नास्मि भीतो महाबाहो सहायार्थश्च नास्ति मे । यथाकामं यथायोगं गच्छ वात्रैव तिष्ठ वा
I am not afraid, mighty-armed one, nor do I seek allies; go as you wish or as is proper, or remain here as you please.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विजयस्य च धीमतः ।' विनिवर्त्य ततो रुक्मी सेनां सागरसंनिभाम् । दुर्योधनमुपागच्छत्तथैव भरतर्षभ
Hearing these words from the wise Vijaya, Rukmi turned back his ocean-like army and then approached Duryodhana, O bull among the Bharatas.
तथैव चाभिगम्यैनमुवाच वसुधाधिपः। प्रत्याख्यातश्च तेनापि स तदा शूरमानिना
In the same way, the lord of the earth approached him and spoke, but was also rejected by that self-proclaimed hero.
द्वावेव तु महाराज तस्माद्युद्धादपेयतुः। रौहिणेयश्च वार्ष्णेयो रुक्मी च वसुधाधिप
Thus, O great king, only two withdrew from the battle: the son of Rohini, the descendant of Vrishni, and Rukmi, lord of the earth.
गते रामे तीर्थयात्रां भीष्मकस्य सुते तथा। उपाविशन्पाण्डवेया मन्त्राय पुनरेव च
When Rama, the son of Bhishmaka, had departed on pilgrimage, the sons of Pandu again sat down together for counsel.
समितिर्धर्मराजस्य सा पार्थिवसमाकुला । शुशुभे तारकैश्चित्रा द्यौश्चन्द्रेणेव भारत
The assembly of the righteous king, crowded with rulers, shone like the sky adorned with stars and the moon, O Bharata.
तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु कुरुक्षेत्रे द्विजर्षभ । किमर्कुर्वंश्च कुरवः कालेनाभिप्रचोदिताः
When the armies were thus arrayed on Kurukshetra, O best of twice-born, what did the Kurus do, impelled by time?
तथा व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु यत्तेषु भरतर्षभ। धृतराष्ट्रो महाराज सञ्जयं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
When the armies were thus arrayed and ready, O bull among the Bharatas, King Dhritarashtra spoke these words to Sanjaya:
एहि सञ्जय सर्व मे आचक्ष्वानवशेषतः । सेनानिवेशे यद्वृत्तं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः
'Come, Sanjaya, tell me everything in detail—what happened in the deployment of the armies of the Kurus and Pandavas.'
दिष्टमेव परं मन्ये पौरुषं चाप्यनर्थकम् । यदहं बुद्ध्यमानोऽपि युद्धदोषान्क्षयोदयान्
'I consider fate supreme and human effort fruitless, for though I understand the evils and outcomes of war,'
तथापि निकृतिप्रज्ञं पुत्रं दुर्द्यूतदेविनम् । न शक्नोमि नियन्तुं वा कर्तुं वा हितमात्मनः
'Still, I am unable to restrain my son, skilled in deceit and addicted to wicked dice, nor can I do what is good for myself.'
भवत्येव हि मे सूत बुद्धिर्दोषानुदर्शिनी । दुर्योधनं समासाद्य पुनः सा परिवर्तते
'Indeed, O charioteer, my mind always perceives the faults, but when I encounter Duryodhana, it turns again.'
एवं गते वै यद्भावि तद्भविष्यति सञ्जय । क्षत्रधर्मः किल रणे तनुत्यागे हि पूजितः
'So, whatever is destined will come to pass, Sanjaya; for in battle, the kshatriya’s duty of giving up the body is honored.'