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.
प्रादेशेनाधिकाः पुंभिरन्यैस्ते च प्रमाणतः। सिंहसंहननाः सर्वे पाण्डुपुत्रा महाबलाः
In stature and measure, they surpass other men; all the sons of Pandu are lion-limbed and mighty.
चरितब्रह्मचर्याश्च सर्वे तात तपस्विनः। ह्रीमन्तः पुरुषव्याघ्रा व्याघ्रा इव बलोत्कटाः
All are disciplined in brahmacharya, father, devoted to austerity, modest, tigers among men, fierce as tigers in strength.
जवे प्रहारे संमर्दे सर्व एवातिमानुषाः । सर्वैर्जिता महीपाला दिग्जये भरतर्षभ
In speed, in striking, in the tumult of battle, all of them are beyond human; all the kings were conquered by them in the conquest of the quarters, O bull of the Bharatas.
न चैषां पुरुषाः केचिदायुधानि गदाः शरान्। विषहन्ति सदा कर्तुमधिज्यान्यपि कौरव
Nor can any men among them, O Kaurava, always endure to wield weapons, maces, or arrows, or even to string their bows.
उद्यन्तुं वा गदा गुर्वीः शरान्वा क्षेप्तुमाहवे । जवे लक्ष्यस्य हरणे भोज्ये पांसुविकर्षणे
Whether to lift heavy maces or to shoot arrows in battle, in speed, in hitting a target, in eating, or in dragging sand, they surpass all.
बालैरपि भवन्तस्तैः सर्व एव विशेषिताः। एतत्सैन्यं समासाद्य सर्व एव बलोत्कटाः
Even by those boys, all of you are surpassed; encountering this army, all are exceedingly mighty.
विध्वंसयिष्यन्ति रणे मा स्म तैः सह संगमः । एकैकशस्त संमर्दे हन्युः सर्वान्महीक्षितः
They will destroy in battle; do not engage with them. In the tumult, each one of them could slay all the kings.
प्रत्यक्षं तव राजेन्द्र राजसूये यथाभवत् । द्रौपद्याश्च परिक्लेशं द्यूते च परुषा गिरः
You saw it yourself, O king, at the Rājasūya sacrifice: the hardship of Draupadī, and the harsh words spoken in the dice game.
ते स्मरन्तश्च सङ्ग्रामे चरिष्यन्ति च रुद्रवत् । लोहिताक्षो गुडाकेशो नारायणसहायवान्
Remembering these, they will fight in battle like Rudra: the red-eyed one, Guḍākeśa, aided by Nārāyaṇa.
उभोयोः सेनयोर्वीरो रथो नास्तीति तादृशः । न हि देवेषु वा पूर्वं मनुष्येषूरगेषु च
There is no warrior in either army with such a chariot; never among gods, men, serpents—