बाह्लीकोऽतिरथश्चैव समरे चानिवर्तनः । मम राजन्मतो युद्धे शूरो वैवस्वतोपमः
Bahlika is a superior chariot-warrior, unwavering in battle; in my opinion, O King, he is a hero in war, equal to Vaivasvata.
न ह्येष समरं प्राप्य निवर्तेत कथञ्चन। यथा सततगो राजन्स हि हन्यात्परान्रणे
He will never turn back upon reaching battle, O King; just as Satataga, so will he slay foes in combat.
सेनापतिर्महाराज सत्यवांस्ते महारथः । रणेष्वद्भुतकर्मा च रथी पररथारुजः
The commander, O great king, Satyavan, is a mighty chariot-warrior; in battle, he performs wondrous deeds, breaking enemy chariots.
एतस्य समरं दृष्ट्वा न व्यथास्ति कथञ्चन । उत्स्मयन्नुत्पतत्येष परान्रथपथे स्थितान्
Upon seeing him in battle, there is never any fear; he smiles and leaps forth, striking down those standing on enemy chariot paths.
एष चारिषु विक्रान्तः कर्म सत्पुरुषोचितम् । कर्ता विमर्दे सुमहत्त्वदर्थे पुरुषोत्तमः
He is valiant among warriors, performing deeds worthy of noble men; in fierce conflict, he will act greatly for your sake, O best of men.
अलम्बुसो राक्षसेन्द्रः क्रूरकर्मा महारथः । हनिष्यति परान्राजन्पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन्
Alambusa, lord of the Rakshasas, cruel in action and a mighty chariot-warrior, will slay your enemies, O King, remembering former enmity.
एष राक्षससैन्यानं सर्वेषां रथसत्तमः । मायावी दृढवैरश्च समरे विचरिष्यति
He, the best among chariot-warriors of the Rakshasa armies, skilled in illusion and firm in enmity, will roam the battlefield.
प्राग्ज्योतिषाधिपो वीरो भगदत्तः प्रतापवान् । गजाङ्कुशधरश्रेष्ठो रथे चैव विशारदः
Bhagadatta, the heroic lord of Pragjyotisha, full of prowess, is the foremost wielder of the elephant goad and skilled in chariot warfare.
एतेन युद्धमभवत्पुरा गाण्डीवधन्वनः । दिवसान्सुबहून्राजन्नुभयोर्जयगृद्धिनोः
In former times, O King, there was a battle between the wielder of the Gandiva bow and his rival, both eager for victory, which lasted for many days.
ततः सखायं गान्धारे मानयन्पाकशासनम् । अकरोत्संविदं तेन पाण्डवेन महात्मना
Then, honoring the ruler of the Gandharas as a friend, the great-souled Pandava made an agreement with him.
एष योत्स्यति सङ्ग्रामे गजस्कन्धविशारदः । ऐरावतगतो राजा देवानामिव वासवः
This king, skilled in fighting from an elephant's back, will do battle, mounted on Airavata, like Indra among the gods.
अचलो वृषकश्चैव सहितौ भ्रातरावुभौ । रथौ तव दुराधर्षौ शत्रून्विध्वंसयिष्यतः
Achala and Vrishaka, two brothers together, are your chariot-warriors, difficult to defeat, who will destroy your enemies.
बलवन्तौ नरव्याघ्रौ दृढक्रोधौ प्रहारिणौ। गान्धारमुख्यौ तरुणौ दर्शनीयौ महाबलौ
Strong as tigers among men, powerful, fierce in anger, skilled in combat, chief among the Gandharas, youthful, handsome, and mighty.
सखा ते दयितो नित्यं य एष रणकर्कशः । उत्साहयति राजंस्त्वां विग्रहे पाण्डवैः सह
This one, your dear friend, always harsh in battle, encourages you, O King, in your conflict with the Pandavas.
परुषः कत्थनो नीचः कर्णो वैकर्तनस्त्रव । मन्त्री नेता च बन्धुश्च मानी चात्यन्तमुच्छ्रितः
Karna, son of Vikartana, is harsh, boastful, base, yet your counselor, leader, kinsman, and exceedingly proud.
एष नैव रथः पूर्णो न चाप्यतिरथो रणे । वियुक्तः कवचेनैष सहजेन विचेतनः
He is not a full chariot-warrior, nor even a great chariot-warrior in battle; deprived of his natural armor, he is unsteady in mind.
कुण्डलाभ्यां च दिव्याभ्यां वियुक्तः सततं घृणी । अभिशापाच्च रामस्य ब्राह्मणस्य च भाषणात्
Constantly deprived of his divine earrings, compassionate, by the curse of Rama and the words of a Brahmin.
करणानां वियोगाच्च तेन मेऽर्थरथो मतः। नैष फाल्गुनमासाद्य पुनर्जीवन्विमोक्ष्यते
Because of the loss of his means, I consider him only a half-chariot-warrior; encountering Phalguna, he will not escape with his life.
ततोऽब्रवीत्पुनर्द्रोणः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। एवमेतद्यथाऽऽत्थ त्वं न मिथ्यास्ति कदाचन
Then Drona, the foremost of all wielders of weapons, spoke again: 'It is just as you have said; there is never any falsehood in you.'
रणेरणेऽभिमानी च विमुखश्चापि दृश्यते। घृणी कर्णः प्रमादी च तेन मेऽर्धरथो मतः
In battle after battle, Karna is seen as proud yet turns away; he is compassionate and careless, so I consider him a half-chariot-warrior.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु राधेयः क्रोधादुल्फाल्य लोचने । उवाच भीष्मं राधेयस्तुदन्वाग्भिः प्रतोदवत्
Hearing this, Karna, son of Radha, eyes reddened with anger, spoke to Bhishma, lashing him with words like a whip.
पितामह यथेष्टं मां वाक्शरैरुपकृन्तसि । अनागसं सदा द्वेषादेवमेव पदेपदे
Grandfather, you cut me down with your words as you wish, always hating me without cause, at every step.
मर्षयामि च तत्सर्वं दुर्योधनकृतेन वै । त्वं तुं मां मान्यसे मन्दं यथा कापुरुषं तथा
I endure all this for Duryodhana's sake; but you regard me as worthless, as if I were a coward.
भवानर्धरथो मह्यं मतो वै नात्र संशयः । सर्वस्य जगतश्चैव गाङ्गेयो न मृषा वदेत्
To me, you are a half-chariot-warrior, of this there is no doubt; and Gangeya would never speak falsely to the whole world.
कुरूणामहितो नित्यं न च राजाऽवबुध्यते । को हि नाम समानेषु राजसूदारकर्मसु
He is always devoted to the Kurus, but the king does not understand; for who would wish to destroy the valor of equals in royal sacrifice?
तेजोवधमिमं कुर्याद्विभेदयिषुराहवे । यथा त्वं गुणविद्वेषादपरागं चिकीर्षसि
Who, wishing to sow division in battle, would do as you do, seeking to diminish another's merit out of envy?
न हायनैर्न पलितैर्न वित्तैर्न च बन्धुभिः । महारयत्वं संख्यातुं शक्यं क्षत्रस्य कौरव
O Kaurava, the greatness of a kshatriya king cannot be measured by years, gray hairs, wealth, or relatives.
बलज्येष्ठं स्मृतं क्षत्रं मन्त्रज्येष्ठा द्विजातयः । धनज्येष्ठाः स्मृता वैश्याः शूद्रास्तु वयसाऽधिकाः
Kshatriyas are considered superior by strength, twice-born by counsel, vaishyas by wealth, and shudras by age.
यथेच्छकं स्वयं ब्रूया रथानतिरथांस्तथा। कामद्वेषसमायुक्तो मोहात्प्रकुरुते भवान्
You speak of chariot-warriors and atirathas as you wish, moved by desire or aversion, and act out of delusion.
दुर्योधन महाबाहो साधु सम्यगवेक्ष्यताम्। त्यज्यतां दुष्टभावोऽयं भीष्मः किल्बिषकृत्तव
O mighty-armed Duryodhana, let things be rightly examined; abandon this wicked attitude—Bhishma has become a source of sin for you.