पाण्ड्यराजो महावीर्यः पाण्डवानां धुरंधरः । दृढधन्वा महेष्वासः पाण्डवानां महारथः
The king of the Pāṇḍyas, of great valor, is a mainstay of the Pāṇḍavas; firm in his bow, a mighty archer, he is a great chariot-warrior among the Pāṇḍavas.
श्रेणिमान्कौरवश्रेष्ठ वसुदानश्च पार्थिवः । उभावेतावतिरथौ मतौ परपुरंजयौ
Śreṇimān, best among the Kauravas, and King Vasudāna—both these conquerors of enemy cities are considered atirathas.
रोचमानो महाराज पाण्डवानां महारथः। योत्स्यतेऽमरवत्संख्ये परसैन्येषु भारत
Radiant in appearance, O great king, this great chariot-warrior of the Pāṇḍavas will fight in battle like a god among the opposing armies, O Bhārata.
पुरुजित्कृन्तिभोजश्च महेष्वासो महाबलः । मातुलो भीमसेनस्य स च मेऽतिरथो मतः
Purujit and Kṛntibhoja, mighty archers of great strength, the maternal uncles of Bhīmasena, are regarded by me as atirathas.
एष वीरो महेष्वासः कृती च निपुणश्च ह । चित्रयोधी च शक्तश्च मतो मे रथपुङ्गवः
This hero is a mighty archer, accomplished and skilled, a master of diverse weapons and capable; in my view, he is a foremost chariot-warrior.
स योत्स्यति हि विक्रम्य मघवानिव दानवैः । योधा ये चास्य विख्याताः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः
He will indeed fight with valor, like Maghavan against the Dānavas; and all his renowned warriors are skilled in battle.
भागिनेयकृते वीरः स करिष्यति संगरे । सुमहत्कर्म पाण्डूनां स्थितः प्रियहिते रतः
For the sake of his nephew, this hero will perform a very great deed in battle for the Pāṇḍavas, being devoted to their welfare and interests.
भैमसेनिर्महाराज हैडिम्बो राक्षसेश्वरः । मतो मे बहुमायावी रथयूथपयूथपः
Bhīmasena's son, O great king, the lord of the Rākṣasas, Hidimba, is, in my judgment, a master of many illusions and a leader among chariot-warriors.
योत्स्यते समरे तात मायावी समरप्रियः । ये चास्य राक्षसा वीराः सचिवा वशवर्तिनः
He will fight in battle, O father, skilled in illusions and fond of combat; and all his Rākṣasa companions, heroic and obedient, will fight alongside him.
एते चान्ये च बहवो नानाजनपदेश्वराः । समेताः पाण्डवस्यार्थे वासुदेवपुरोगमाः
These and many other rulers of various lands, assembled for the sake of the Pāṇḍava, with Vāsudeva at their head—
एते प्राधान्यतो राजन्पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः । रथाश्चातिरथाश्चैव ये चान्येऽर्धंरथा नृप
These, O king, are the principal chariot-warriors and atirathas of the great-souled Pāṇḍava, and others who are half-chariot-warriors, O ruler.
नेष्यन्ति समरे सेनां भीमां यौधिष्ठिरीं नृप । महेन्द्रेणेव वीरेण पाल्यमानां किरीटिना
They will lead the formidable army of Yudhiṣṭhira in battle, O king, protected by the heroic Kiritin, as by mighty Indra himself.
तैरहं समरे वीर मायाविद्भिर्जयैषिभिः । योत्स्यामि जयमाकाङ्क्षन्नथ वा निधनं रणे
With these heroes, skilled in illusions and eager for victory, I will fight in battle, seeking either victory or death on the field.
वासुदेवं च पार्थं च चक्रगाण्डीवधारिणौ । सन्ध्यागताविवार्केन्दू सभेष्येते रथोत्तमौ
Vāsudeva and Pārtha, bearers of the discus and the Gāṇḍīva bow, will appear in the assembly like the sun and moon at twilight, those foremost of chariot-warriors.
यं चैव ते रथोदाराः पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैनिकाः । सह सैन्यानहं तांश्च प्रतीयां रणमूर्धनि
And those mighty charioteers, the soldiers of the son of Pandu, together with their forces, I shall confront them on the battlefield.
एते रथाश्चातिरथाश्च तुभ्यं यथाप्रधानं नृप कीर्तिता मया। तथा परे येऽर्धरथाश्च केचि- त्तथैंव तेषामपि कौरवेन्द्र
These charioteers and great warriors have been named for you, O king, according to their rank; likewise, those who are half-charioteers among the others, O lord of the Kauravas, I have mentioned them as well.
अर्जुनं वासुदेवं च ये चान्ये तत्र पार्थिवाः। सर्वांस्तान्वारयिष्यामि यावद्द्रक्ष्यामि भारत
Arjuna, Vasudeva, and the other kings present there—I shall restrain all of them, O Bharata, as long as I can see.
पाञ्चाल्यं तु महाबाहो नाहं हन्यां शिखण्डिनम् । उद्यतेषमथो दृष्ट्वा प्रतियुध्यन्तमाहवे
But the mighty-armed Panchala, Shikhandin, I shall not kill; seeing him with weapons raised and fighting in battle.
लोकस्तं वेद यदहं पितुः प्रियचिकीर्षया । प्राप्तं राज्यं परित्यज्य ब्रह्मचर्यव्रते स्थितः
The world knows that, out of desire to please my father, I renounced the kingdom that had come to me and remained steadfast in the vow of celibacy.
चित्राङ्गदं कौरवाणामाधिपत्येऽभ्यषेचयम्। विचित्रवीर्यं च शिशुं यौवराज्येऽभ्यषेचयम्
I installed Citrangada as the ruler of the Kauravas, and I anointed the child Vichitravirya as crown prince.
देवव्रतत्वं विज्ञाप्य पृथिवीं सर्वराजसु । नैव हन्यां स्त्रियं जातु न स्त्रीपूर्वं कदाचन
Having declared my vow of Devavrata before all the kings of the earth, I shall never kill a woman, nor anyone who was formerly a woman.
स हि स्त्रीपूर्वको राजञ्शिखण्डी यदि ते श्रुतः । कन्या भूत्वा पुमाञ्चातो न योत्स्ये तेन भारत
For Shikhandi, O king, is of female origin, as you may have heard; having been a maiden and then becoming a man, I will not fight with him, O Bharata.
सर्वांस्त्वन्यान्हनिष्यामि पार्थिवान्भरतर्षभ । यान्समेष्यामि समरे न तु कुन्तीसुतान्नृप
I shall slay all the other kings whom I meet in battle, O bull among the Bharatas, but not the sons of Kunti, O king.
किमर्थं भरतश्रेष्ठ नैव हन्याः शिखण्डिनम् । उद्यतेषुमथो दृष्ट्वा समरेष्वाततायिनम्
Why, O best of the Bharatas, will you not kill Shikhandin, even when he is armed and seen attacking in battle?
पूर्वमुक्त्वा महाबाहो पाञ्चालान्सह सोमकैः । हनिष्यामीति गाङ्गेय तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
Previously, O mighty-armed one, you said you would slay the Panchalas together with the Somakas; O son of Ganga, tell me, grandsire, the reason for this.
श्रृणु दुर्योधन कथां सहैभिर्वसुधाधिपैः । यदर्थं युधि संप्रेक्ष्य नाहं हन्यां शिखण्डिनम्
Hear, O Duryodhana, along with these kings, the story for which, seeing him in battle, I will not kill Shikhandin.
महाराजो मम पिता शान्तनुर्लोकविश्रुतः । दिष्टान्तमाप धर्मात्मा समये भरतर्षभ
My father, the great king Shantanu, renowned in the world, met his end, O bull among the Bharatas, being righteous and true to his word.
ततोऽहं भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रतिज्ञां परिपालयन् । चित्राङ्गदं भ्रातरं वै महाराज्येऽभ्यपेचयम्
Then, O best of the Bharatas, upholding my vow, I installed my brother Citrangada in the great kingship.
तस्मिंश्च निधनं प्राप्ते सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः । विचित्रवीर्यं राजानमभ्यषिञ्चं यथाविधि
When he passed away, I acted according to Satyavati's wishes and anointed Vichitravirya as king, as was proper.
मयाऽभिषिक्तो राजेन्द्र यवीयानपि धर्मतः । विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा मामेव समुदैक्षत
Though he was younger, O king, Vichitravirya was installed by me in accordance with dharma, and he looked to me alone.