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.
संबन्धिकेन राजेन्द्र तौ तु वीर्यबलान्वयात् । आर्यवृत्तौ महेष्वासौ स्नेहवीर्यसितावुभौ
O king, these two, bound by kinship and descended from lines of strength and valor, are noble in conduct, mighty archers, united by affection and courage.
कारणं प्राप्य तु नराः सर्व एव महाभुजाः । शूरा वा कातरा वापि भवन्ति कुरुपुङ्गव
When the time comes, O best of the Kurus, all men—whether brave or fearful—become so, regardless of their nature, upon encountering the cause.
एकायनगतावेतौ पार्थिवौ दृढधन्विनौ । प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा परं शक्त्या घट्टितारौ परन्तप
These two kings, steadfast archers, have come together for a single purpose; scorcher of foes, they will risk their lives and exert their utmost strength.
पृथगक्षौहिणीभ्यां तावुभौ संयति दारुणौ । संबन्धिभावं रक्षन्तौ महत्कर्म करिष्यतः
Each commanding a separate division, these two fierce warriors will perform great deeds in battle, upholding their bond of kinship.
लोकवीरौ महेष्वासौ त्यक्तात्मानौ च भारत। प्रत्ययं परिरक्षन्तौ महत्कर्म करिष्यतः
These two, renowned in the world, mighty archers, having set aside concern for themselves, will perform great deeds, upholding their pledge.
पाञ्चालराजस्य सुतो राजन्परपुरंजयः । शिखण्डी रथमुख्यो मे मतः पार्थस्य भारत
O King, the son of the Panchala ruler, conqueror of enemy cities—Shikhandi—is, in my view, the foremost chariot-warrior for Partha, O Bharata.
एष योत्स्यति संग्रामे नाशयन्पूर्वसंस्थितम् । परं यशो विप्रथयंस्तव सेनासु भारत
He will fight in battle, destroying those who stand before him, spreading great fame among your armies, O Bharata.
एतस्य बहुलाः सेनाः पाञ्चालाश्च प्रभद्रकाः । तेनासौ रथवंशेन महत्कर्म करिष्यति
He commands many troops—the Panchalas and the Prabhadrakas; with his chariot division, he will accomplish great deeds.
धृष्टद्युम्नश्च सेनानीः सर्वसेनासु भारत । मतो मेऽतिरथो राजन्द्रोणशिष्यो महारथः
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, commander of the armies, O Bhārata, is in my opinion a mighty charioteer, a king, a disciple of Droṇa, and a great warrior.
एष योत्स्यति संग्रामे सूदयन्वै परान्रणे। भगवानिव संक्रुद्धः पिनाकी युगसंक्षये
He will fight in battle, slaying enemies on the field, like the Lord Pinākī, enraged at the end of an age.