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—
राक्षसेष्वथ यक्षेषु नरेषु कुत एव तु । भूतोथ वा भविष्यो वा रथः कश्चिन्मया श्रुतः
Nor among Rākṣasas, Yakṣas, or men, nor among beings of the past or future, have I heard of any chariot like that.
समायुक्तो महाराज रथः पार्थस्य धीमतः। वासुदेवश्च संयन्ता योद्धा चैव धनञ्जयः
That chariot of wise Pārtha is equipped, O great king: Vāsudeva is the charioteer, and Dhanañjaya the warrior.
गाण्डीवं च धनुर्दिव्यं ते चाश्वा वातरंहसः । अभेद्यं कवचं दिव्यमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी
He has the divine bow Gāṇḍīva, horses swift as the wind, an invulnerable divine armor, and inexhaustible great quivers.
अस्त्रग्रामश्च माहेन्द्रो रौद्रः कौबेर एवच । याम्यश्च वारुणश्चैव गदाश्चोग्रप्रदर्शनाः
He possesses the weapons of Indra, Rudra, Kubera, Yama, and Varuṇa, and maces of terrifying aspect.
वज्रादीनि च मुख्यानि नानाप्रहरणानि च । दानवानां सहस्राणि हिरण्यपुरवासिनाम्
He has the chief weapons like the thunderbolt and various other arms; thousands of Dānavas dwelling in Hiraṇyapura—
हतान्येकरथेनाजौ कस्तस्य सदृशो रथः। एष हन्याद्धि संरम्भी बलवान्सत्यविक्रमः
Were slain in battle by him alone on one chariot; who has a chariot equal to his? In wrath, strong and true to his vow, he would slay.
तव सेनां महाबाहुः स्वां चैव परिपालयन्। अहं चैनं प्रत्युदियामाचार्यो वा धनञ्जयम्
That mighty-armed one, protecting your army and his own, I or the teacher alone could face Dhanañjaya.
न तृतीयोऽस्ति राजेन्द्र सेनयोरुभयोरपि । य एनं शरवर्षाणि वर्षन्तमुदियाद्रथी
There is no third, O king, in either army, who could advance against him as he pours down showers of arrows.
जीमूत इव घर्मान्ते महावातसमीरितः । समायुक्तस्तु कौन्तेयो वासुदेवसहायवान् । तरुणश्च कृती चैव जीर्णावावामुभावपि
Like a rain-cloud at summer's end driven by a great wind, Pārtha, aided by Vāsudeva, is young and accomplished, while we both are old.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु भीष्मस्य राज्ञां दध्वंसिरे तदा। काञ्चनाङ्गदिनः पीना भुजाश्चन्दनरूषिताः
Hearing this from Bhīṣma, the kings then despaired; their strong arms adorned with golden bracelets, smeared with sandal.
मनोभिः सह संवेगैः संस्मृत्य च पुरातनम् । सामर्थ्यं पाण्डवेयानां यथा प्रत्यक्षदर्शनात्
Recalling, with intense thoughts and emotions, the former prowess of the sons of Pandu, as if seen directly before one's eyes—
द्रौपदेया महाराज सर्वे पञ्च महारथाः । वैराटिरुत्तरश्चैव रथोदारो मतो मम
O King, all five sons of Draupadi are mighty chariot-warriors; and Virata's son Uttara too, is, in my judgment, a great hero on the chariot.
अभिमन्युर्महाबाहू रथयूथमयूथपः । समः पार्थेन समरे वासुदेवेन चारिहा
Abhimanyu, strong-armed, leader of chariot-divisions, is equal in battle to Partha and to Vasudeva, the slayer of enemies.
लघ्वस्त्रश्चित्रयोधी च मनस्वी च दृढव्रतः । संस्मरन्वै परिक्लेशं स्वपितुर्विक्रमिष्यति
He is skilled in light weapons, a brilliant fighter, resolute in mind and vow; remembering past hardships, he will strive to emulate his father.
सात्यकिर्माधवः शूरो रथयूथपयूथपः। एष वृष्णिप्रवीराणाममर्षी जितसाध्वसः
Satyaki, the valiant Madhava, is a leader among chariot-warriors; among the foremost of the Vrishnis, he is spirited and fearless.
उत्तमौजास्तथा राजन्रथोदारो मतो मम । युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्तो रथोदारो मतो मम
Uttamaujas, O King, is also, in my view, a great hero on the chariot; and Yudhamanyu, courageous and mighty, is likewise esteemed by me as a great chariot-warrior.
एतेषां बहुसाहस्रा रथा नागा हयास्तथा । योत्स्यन्ते ते तनूस्त्यक्त्वा कुन्तीपुत्रप्रियेप्सया
For these men, thousands upon thousands of chariots, elephants, and horses will fight, ready to lay down their lives for the sake of the sons of Kunti.
पाण्डवैः सह राजेन्द्र तव सेनासु भारत। अग्निमारुतवद्राजन्नाह्वयन्तः परस्परम्
O king of kings, in your armies, together with the Pandavas, they will challenge one another like fire and wind.
अजेयौ समरे वृद्धौ विराटद्रुपदौ तथा। महारथौ महावीर्यौ मतौ मे पुरुषर्षभौ
In battle, the aged Virata and Drupada are unconquerable; both are great chariot-warriors, of immense strength, and, in my estimation, foremost among men.
वयोवृद्धावपि हि तौ क्षत्रधर्मपरायणौ । यतिष्येते परं शक्त्या स्थितौ वीरगते पथि
Though advanced in years, both are devoted to the warrior's code; they will strive with all their might, standing firm on the path of valor.