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.'
त्वद्युक्तोऽयमनुप्रश्नो महाराज यथेच्छसि। न तु दुर्योधने दोषमिममाधातुमर्हसि
'Your question is appropriate, O king, as you wish; but you should not lay this fault upon Duryodhana.'
शृणुष्वानवशेषेण वदतो मम पार्थिव । य आत्मनो दुश्चरितादशुभं प्राप्नुयान्नरः । न स कालं न वा देवानेनसा गन्तुमर्हति
'Listen fully, O king, as I speak: a man who, through his own misdeeds, attains misfortune—neither time nor the gods should be blamed for his sin.'
महाराज मनुष्येषु निन्द्यं यः सर्वमाचरेत्। स वध्यः सर्वलोकस्य निन्दितानि समाचरन्
O great king, among men, one who commits all that is blameworthy deserves death, for by acting in ways condemned by all, he becomes fit for destruction.
निकारा मनुजश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवैस्त्वत्प्रतीक्षया । अनुभूताः सहामात्यैर्निकृतैरधिदेवने
O best of men, O descendant of Manu, the Pandavas, while waiting for you, have endured insults together with their ministers, at the hands of the deceitful during the game of dice.
हयानां च गजानां च राज्ञां चामिततेजसाम् । वैशसं समरे वृत्तं यत्तन्मे शृणु सर्वशः
Hear from me in full of the slaughter that occurred in battle among horses, elephants, and kings of immeasurable energy.
स्थिरो भूत्वा महाप्राज्ञ सर्वलोकक्षयोदयम्। यथाभूतं महायुद्धे श्रुत्वा मा विमना भव
Remain steadfast, O greatly wise one, and listen as I recount, just as it happened, the rise and fall of all people in the great war; do not let your mind be troubled.
न ह्येव कर्ता पुरुषः कर्मणोः शुभपापयोः । अस्वतन्त्रो हि पुरुषः कार्यते दारुयन्त्रवत्
For a person is not truly the agent of good or evil deeds; being not independent, he is made to act like a wooden puppet.
केचिदीश्वरनिर्दिष्टाः केचिदेव यदृच्छया। पूर्वकर्मभिरप्यन्ये त्रैधमेतत्प्रदृश्यते। तस्मादनर्थमापन्नः स्थिरो भूत्वा निशामय
Some act as directed by the Lord, some by mere chance, and others by their past actions; this threefold cause is seen. Therefore, having encountered misfortune, remain firm and listen.
हिरण्वत्यां निविष्टेषु पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु। न्यविशन्त महाराज कौरवेया यथाविधि
When the high-souled Pandavas had encamped on the Hiranvati, O king, the Kauravas also encamped there according to proper order.
तत्र दुर्योधनो राजा निवेस्य बलमोजसा । संमानयित्वा नृपतीन्न्यस्य गुल्मांस्तथैव च
There, King Duryodhana, having arranged his army with vigor, honored the kings and stationed the battalions accordingly.