अर्जुनस्य समादेशं यथोक्तं सर्वमब्रवीत् । वासुदेवस्य भीमस्य धर्मराजस्य पौरुषम्
He reported all of Arjuna’s instructions exactly as spoken, as well as the resolve of Vasudeva, Bhima, and Dharmaraja.
नकुलस्य विराटस्य द्रुपदस्य च भारत । सहदेवस्य च वचो धृष्टद्युम्नशिखण्डिनोः। केशवार्जुनयोर्वाक्यं यथोक्तं सर्वमब्रवीत्
He conveyed the words of Nakula, Virata, Drupada, Sahadeva, Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandin, and all that was said by Keshava and Arjuna, exactly as spoken.
कैतव्यस्य तु तद्वाक्यं निशम्य भरतर्षभः । दुःशासनं च कर्णं च शकुनिं चापि भारत
Hearing those words of the son of Kunti, the bull among the Bharatas summoned Duhshasana, Karna, and also Shakuni, O Bharata.
आज्ञपयत राज्ञश्च बलं मित्रबलं तथा। यथा प्रागुदयात्सर्वे युक्तास्तिष्ठन्त्यनीकिनः
He ordered both the royal army and the allied forces to be ready, so that all the divisions would be assembled and prepared before sunrise.
ततः कर्णसमादिष्टा दूताः सन्त्वरिता रथैः । उष्ट्रवामीभिरप्यन्ये सदश्वैश्च महाजवैः
Then, messengers dispatched by Karna hurried forth in chariots, some with swift camels, others with fast horses.
तूर्णं परिययुः सेनां कृत्स्नां कर्णस्य शासनात्। आज्ञापयन्तो राज्ञश्च योगः प्रागुदयादिति
Quickly they went around the entire army at Karna’s command, instructing the kings to assemble at dawn.
उलूकस्य वृत्तः श्रुत्वा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। सेनां नियापयामास धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाम्
Hearing Uluka’s report, Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, ordered the army to march out, with Dhrishtadyumna at its head.
पदातिनीं नागवतीं रथिनीमश्वबृन्दिनीम् । चतुर्विधबलां भीमामकम्पां पृथिवीमिव
He arranged the fourfold army—infantry, elephants, chariots, and cavalry—mighty and unshakable like the earth itself.
भीमसेनादिभिर्गुप्तां सार्जुनैश्च महारथैः । धृष्टद्युम्नवशां दुर्गां सागरस्तिमितोपमाम्
Protected by Bhimasena and other heroes, and by the great charioteers allied with Arjuna, it was under Dhrishtadyumna’s command, formidable and like a calm ocean.
तस्यास्त्वग्रे महेष्वासः पाञ्चाल्यो युद्धदुर्मदः। द्रोणप्रेप्सुरनीकानि धृष्टद्युम्नो व्यकर्षत
At its front stood Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchala prince, mighty with his bow and fierce in battle, drawing up the divisions to confront Drona.
यथाबलं यथोत्साहं रथिनः समुपादिशत् । अर्जुनं सूतपुत्राय भीमं दुर्योधनाय च
He assigned the chariot warriors according to their strength and enthusiasm: Arjuna against the son of the charioteer, Bhima against Duryodhana.
धृष्टकेतुं च शल्याय गौतमायोत्तमौजसम् । अश्वात्थाम्ने च नकुलं शैब्यं च कृतवर्मणे
He set Dhrishtaketu against Shalya, Uttamaujas against Kripa, Nakula against Ashvatthama, and Shaibya against Kritavarma.
सैन्धवाय च वार्ष्णेयं युयुधानं समादिशत्। शिखण्डिनं च भीष्माय प्रमुखे समकल्पयत्
He assigned Satyaki, the Vrishni hero, against the Sindhu king, and placed Shikhandin in front to face Bhishma.
सहदेवं शकुनये चेकितानं शलाय वै। द्रौपदेयांस्तथा पञ्च त्रिगर्तेभ्यः समादिशत्
He set Sahadeva against Shakuni, Chekitana against Shala, and the five sons of Draupadi against the Trigartas.
वृषसेनाय सौभद्रं शेषाणां च महीक्षिताम् । स समर्थं हि तं मेने पार्थादभ्यधिकं रणे
He assigned Abhimanyu to Vrishasena, and to the remaining kings he appointed those he deemed capable, even superior to Arjuna in battle.
एवं विभज्य योधांस्तान्पृथक्व सह चैव ह । ज्वालावर्णो महेष्वासो द्रोणमंशमकल्पयत्
Thus, dividing the warriors separately and together, the great bowman Dhrishtadyumna, blazing like fire, arrayed the troops to face Drona.
धृष्टद्युम्नो महेष्वासः सेनापतिपतिस्ततः । विधिवद्व्यूह्य मेधावी युद्धाय धृतमानसः
Then Dhrishtadyumna, the mighty archer and commander-in-chief, skillfully arrayed the army according to the rules, his mind set on battle.
यथोद्दिष्टानि सैन्यानि पाण्डवानामयोजयत्। जयाय पाण्डुपुत्राणां यत्तस्तस्थौ रणाजिरे
He deployed the Pandava forces as instructed, and stood ready in the field of battle, striving for the victory of the sons of Pandu.
प्रतिज्ञाते फाल्गुनेन वधे भीष्मस्य संयुगे। किमकुर्वत मे मन्दाः पुत्रा दुर्योधनादयः
When Arjuna vowed to slay Bhishma in battle, what did my foolish sons, Duryodhana and the others, do?
हतमेव हि पश्यामि गाङ्गेयं पितरं रणे। वासुदेवसहायेन पार्थेन दृढधन्वना
For I see Bhishma, the son of Ganga, already slain in battle by Partha, strong of bow, aided by Vasudeva.
स चापरिमितप्रज्ञस्तच्छ्रुत्वा पार्थभाषितम् । किमुक्तवान्महेष्वासो भीष्मः प्रहरतां वरः
And what did Bhishma, of boundless wisdom and foremost among warriors, say upon hearing Arjuna’s words?
सैनापत्यं च संप्राप्य कौरवाणां धुरंधरः । किमचेष्टत गाङ्गेयो महाबुद्धिपराक्रमः
Having attained the command of the Kaurava army, what did Bhishma, the son of Ganga, mighty in intellect and valor, do?
ततस्तत्सञ्जयस्तस्मै सर्वमेव न्यवेदयत्। यथोक्तं कुरुवृद्धेन भीष्मेणामिततेजसा
Then Sanjaya reported everything to him exactly as spoken by the venerable Bhishma of immeasurable energy.
सैनापत्यमनुप्राप्य भीष्मः शान्तनवो नृप। दुर्योधनमुवाचेदं वचनं हर्षयन्निव
Having obtained the generalship, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, addressed these words to Duryodhana, as if to gladden him.
नमस्कृत्य कुमाराय सेनान्ये शक्तिपाणये । अहं सेनापतिस्तेऽद्य भविष्यामि न संशयः
Saluting the prince, the commander holding his weapon, he said: 'Today, I shall be your general, without doubt.'
सेनाकर्मण्यिज्ञोऽस्मि व्यूहेषु विविधेषु च। कर्म कारयितुं चैव भृतानप्यभृतांस्तथा
I am skilled in the duties of a commander and in various battle formations, and in employing both paid and unpaid warriors.
यात्रायाने च युद्धे च तथा प्रशमनेषु च । भृशं वेद महाराज यथा वेद बृहस्पतिः
In marches, in battles, and in pacifications as well, I know thoroughly, O great king, just as Brihaspati knows.
व्यूहानां च समारम्भान्दैवगान्धर्वमानुषान्। तैरहं मोहयिष्यामि पाण्डवान्व्येतु ते ज्वरः
The arrangements of battle formations—divine, Gandharva, and human—I shall use to bewilder the Pandavas; let your anxiety cease.
सोऽहं योत्स्यामि तत्त्वेन पालयंस्तव वाहिनीम् । यथावच्छास्त्रतो राजन्व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः
Therefore, I will fight earnestly, protecting your army according to the scriptures, O king; let your mental distress subside.
विद्यते मे न गाङ्गेय भयं देवासुरेष्वपि । समस्तेषु महाबाहो सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
O mighty-armed one, I, the son of Ganga, have no fear even among gods or demons; this is the truth I tell you.