भिन्ना हि सेना नृपते दुःसन्धेया भवत्युत। मौला हि पुरुषव्याघ्र किमु नानासमुत्थिताः
O king, a divided army is indeed hard to unite; if even those born to the crown are split, how much more so those gathered from many places, O tiger among men.
एषां द्वैधं समुत्पन्नं योधानां युधि भारत। तेजोवधो नः क्रियते प्रत्यक्षेण विशेषतः
O Bharata, this division has arisen among the warriors in battle; our spirit is being destroyed, especially right before our eyes.
रथानां क्वच विज्ञानं क्वच भीष्मोऽल्पचेतनः । अहमावारयिष्यामि पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्
Where is the discernment of chariot-warriors, and where is Bhishma, whose mind is feeble? I myself will block the Pandava army.
आसाद्य माममोघेषुं गमिष्यन्ति दिशो दश। पाण्डवाः सहपञ्चालाः शार्दूलं वृषभा इव
When they encounter me, whose arrows do not fail, the Pandavas and Panchalas will scatter in all directions like bulls before a tiger.
क्वच युद्धं विमर्दो वा मन्त्रे सुव्याहृतानि च। क्वचभीष्मो गतवयामन्दात्मा कालचोदितः
Where is battle or contest, or well-spoken counsel? And where is Bhishma, aged and weak in spirit, driven by time?
एकाकी स्पर्धति नित्यं सर्वेण रमता सह । न चान्यं पुरुषं कंचिन्मन्यते मोघदर्शनः
He always contends alone, taking pleasure with all, and, with futile vision, considers no other man at all.
श्रोतव्यं खलु वृद्धानमिति शास्त्रनिदर्शनम् । न त्वेव ह्यतिवृद्धानां पुनर्बालाहि ते मताः
It is said in the scriptures that the words of elders should be heard; but you consider those who are too old as children again.
अहमेको हनिष्यामि पाण्डवानानीकिनीम् । सुयुद्धे राज्यशार्दूल यशो भीष्मं गमिष्यति
Alone, I will destroy the Pandava army; in fair battle, O tiger among kings, the glory will go to Bhishma.
कृतः सेनापतिस्त्वेष त्वया भीष्मो नराधिप। सेनापतौ यशो गन्ता न तु योधान्कथञ्चन
This Bhishma has been made commander by you, O king of men; glory will go to the general, not to the warriors in any way.
नाहं जीवति गाङ्गेये योत्स्ये राजन्कथञ्चन। हते भीष्मे तु योद्धाऽस्मि सर्वैरेव महारथैः
O king, as long as the son of Ganga lives, I will not fight; but when Bhishma is slain, I will battle with all the great chariot-warriors.
समुद्यतोयं भारो मे सुमहान्सागरोपमः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य संग्रामे वर्षपूगाभिचिन्तितः
This burden before me, vast as the ocean, has arisen in the battle of the Dhartarashtras, long pondered over many years.
तस्मिन्नभ्यागते काले प्रतप्ते रोमहर्षणे । मिथो भेदो न मे कार्यस्तेन जीवसि सूतज
When that time comes, heated and hair-raising, I must not cause division among us; for that reason, you live, O son of a charioteer.
न ह्यहं त्वद्य विक्रम्य स्थविरोऽपि शिशोस्तव। युद्धश्रद्धामहं छिन्द्यां जीवितस्य च सूतज
For even if I am old, I would not, by overpowering you, O son, destroy your faith in battle or your life.
जामदग्र्येन रामेण महास्त्राणि विमुञ्चता। न मे व्यथा कृता काचित्त्वं तु मे कि करिष्यसि
When Rama, son of Jamadagni, released mighty weapons, I felt no fear at all; what could you possibly do to me?
कामं नैतत्प्रशंसन्ति सन्तः स्वबलसंस्तवम्। वक्ष्यामि तु त्वां सन्तप्तो निहीन कुलपांसन
Truly, the virtuous do not praise boasting of one's own strength; yet, tormented as I am, I will speak to you, defiler of your lineage.
समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं काशिराजस्वयंवरे । निर्जित्यैकरथेनैव याः कन्यास्तरसाहृताः
At the self-choice of the King of Kashi, all the assembled kings and warriors were overcome by me alone in a single chariot, and the maidens were swiftly carried away.
ईदृशानां सहस्राणि विशिष्टानामथो पुनः । मयैकेन निरस्तानि ससैन्यानि रणाजिरे
Thousands of such distinguished warriors, along with their armies, have been defeated by me alone on the battlefield.
त्वां प्राप्य वैरपुरुषं कुरूणामनयो महान्। उपस्थितो विनाशाय यतस्व पुरुषो भव
Now, having encountered you, an enemy of the Kurus, this great calamity has arisen for them; strive, be a man.
युध्यस्व समरे पार्थं येन विस्पर्धसे सह । द्रक्ष्यामि त्वां विनिर्मुक्तमस्माद्युद्धात्सुदुर्मते
Fight in battle with Partha, with whom you contend; I shall see you freed from this war, O wicked-minded one.
तमुवाच ततो राजा धार्तराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान् । मां समीक्षस्व गाङ्गेय कार्यं हि महदुद्यतम्
Then the mighty king Dhritarashtra's son spoke to him: 'Look upon me, O son of Ganga, for a great task is at hand.'
चिन्त्यतामिदमेकाग्रं मम निःश्रेयसं परम्। उभावपि भवन्तौ मे महत्कर्म करिष्यतः
Let this, my highest welfare, be considered with single-minded attention; for both of you will accomplish a great deed for me.
भूयश्च श्रोतुमिच्छामि परेषां रथसत्तमान् । ये चैवातिथास्तत्र ये चैव रथयूथपाः
Again, I wish to hear of the foremost chariot-warriors among the enemy, as well as the guests present there and the leaders of charioteers.
बलाबलममित्राणां श्रोतुमिच्छामि कौरव । प्रभातायां रजन्यां वै इदं युद्धं भविष्यति
I wish to hear, O Kaurava, of the strength and weakness of the enemies; for at dawn, this battle will take place.
एते रथास्तवाख्यातास्तथैवातिरथा नृप। ये चाप्यर्धरथा राजन्पाण्डवानामतः श्रृणु
These chariot-warriors and great chariot-warriors have been named, O king; now hear of the half-chariot-warriors among the Pandavas.
यदि कौतूहलं तेऽद्य पाण्डवानां बले नृप । रथसंख्यां शृणुष्व त्वं सहैभिर्वसुधाधिपैः
If you are curious today about the strength of the Pandavas, O king, listen to the count of their chariots, along with these lords of the earth.
स्वयं राजा रथोदारः पाण्डवः कुन्तनन्दनः । अग्निवत्समरे तात चरिष्यति न संशयः
The Pandava, son of Kunti, is himself a noble chariot-warrior and king; in battle, father, he will act like fire—of this there is no doubt.
भीमसेनस्तु राजेन्द्र रथोऽष्टगुणसंमितः । न तस्यास्ति समो युद्धे गदया सायकैरपि
Bhimasena, O king of kings, is a chariot-warrior equal to eight; in battle, none is his equal with mace or arrows.
नागायुतबलो मानी तेजसा न स मानुषः । माद्रीपुत्रो च रथिनौ द्वावेव पुरुषर्षभौ
Possessed of the strength of ten thousand elephants, proud, and in brilliance not human, the son of Madri is also a chariot-warrior—indeed, two best of men.
अश्विनाविव रूपेण तेजसा च समन्वितौ। एते चमूमुखगताः स्मरन्तः क्लेशमुत्तमम्
In beauty and brilliance, they are like the Ashvins; these, standing at the head of the army, remember their great hardship.
रुद्रवत्प्रचरिष्यन्ति तत्र मे नास्ति संशयः । सर्व एव महात्मानः सालस्तम्भा इवोद्गताः
They will act like Rudra in battle—of this I have no doubt; all are great-souled, rising like sala trees with their branches.