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.
किं पुनस्त्वयि दुर्धर्पे सैनापत्ये व्यवस्थिते। द्रोणे च पुरुषव्याघ्रे स्थिते युद्धाभिनन्दिनि
What then, when you, resolute in command, and Drona, tiger among men, eager for battle, are present?
भवद्र्यां पुरुषाग्र्याभ्यां स्थिताभ्यां विजयो मम। न दुर्लभं कुरुश्रेष्ठ देवराज्यमपि ध्रुवम्
With you and Drona, both foremost of men, standing by me, O best of Kurus, even the kingdom of the gods is surely not hard to win.
रथसङ्ख्यां तु कार्त्स्न्येन परेषामात्मनस्तथा । तथैवातिरथानां च वेत्तुमिच्छामि कौरव
But, Kaurava, I wish to know in detail the number of chariots on both sides, as well as the count of the great chariot-warriors.
पितामहो हि कुशलः परेषामात्मनस्तथा । श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं सर्वैः सहैभिर्वसुधाधिपैः
For the grandsire is skilled in the forces of both sides; I wish to hear, along with all these kings.
गान्धारे श्रृणु राजेन्द्र रथसंख्यां स्वके बले। ये रथाः पृथिवीपाल तथैवातिरथाश्च ये
Hear now, O king of Gandhara, the number of chariots in your army, and likewise those who are great chariot-warriors, O ruler of the earth.
बहूनीह सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च। रथानां तव सेनायां यथामुख्यं तु मे श्रुणु
There are many thousands, tens of thousands, and hundreds of thousands of chariots in your army; listen to me as I recount the principal ones.
भवानग्रे रथोदारः सह सर्वैः सहोदरैः । दुःशासनप्रभृतिभिर्भ्रातृभिः शतसंमितैः
You, at the forefront, with your splendid chariot, together with all your brothers—Duhshasana and the others, equal to a hundred in strength—
सर्वे कृतप्रहरणाश्छेदभेदविशारदाः । रथोपस्थे गजस्कन्धे गदाप्रासासिचर्मणि
All are fully armed, skilled in breaking and piercing formations, standing on chariots, elephant backs, wielding maces, spears, and shields.
संयन्तारः प्रहर्तारः कृतास्त्रा भारसाधनाः । इष्वस्त्रे द्रोणशिष्याश्च कृपस्य च शरद्वतः
They are able charioteers and fierce fighters, trained in weapons, bearers of heavy arms, disciples of Drona, Kripa, and Sharadvata in archery.
एते हनिष्यन्ति रणे पाञ्चालान्युद्धदुर्मदान् । कृतकिल्बिषाः पाण्डवेयैर्धार्तराष्ट्रा मनस्विनः
These resolute sons of Dhritarashtra, having committed wrongs against the Pandavas, will slay in battle the Panchalas, proud and fierce in war.