धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैन्येषु ये चारपुरुषा मम। ते प्रवृत्तिं प्रयच्छन्ति ममेमां व्युषितां निशाम्
Among the army of Dhritarashtra, those who are my spies have given me information about what transpired during the night.
दुर्योधनः किलापृच्छदापगेयं महाव्रतम् । केन कालेन पाण्डूनां हन्याः सैन्यमिति प्रभो
It is said that Duryodhana questioned the great vow-holder at the river, asking, 'By what time could you destroy the army of the Pandavas, O lord?'
मासेनेति च तेनोक्तो धार्तराष्ट्रः सुदुर्मतिः। तावता चापि कालेन द्रोणोपि प्रतिजज्ञिवान्
That exceedingly ill-intentioned son of Dhritarashtra was told, 'In a month,' and within that time Drona too made his vow.
गौतमो द्विगुणं कालमुक्तवानिति नः श्रुतम् । द्रौणिस्तु दशरात्रेण प्रतिजज्ञे महास्त्रवित्
We have heard that Gautama declared twice that period, and Drona's son, master of mighty weapons, vowed to do so in ten nights.
तथा दिव्यास्त्रवित्कर्णः संपृष्टः कुरुसंसदि । पञ्चभिर्दिवसैर्हन्तुं ससैन्यं प्रतिजज्ञिवान्
Similarly, Karna, master of celestial weapons, when questioned in the Kuru assembly, vowed to destroy the enemy with their army in five days.
तस्मादहमपीच्छामि श्रोतुमर्जुन ते वचः। कालेन कियता शत्रून्क्षपयेरिति फाल्गुन
Therefore, I too wish to hear your words, Arjuna: in how much time would you annihilate the foes, O Phalguna?
एवमुक्तो गुडाकेशः पार्थिवेन धनञ्जयः । वासुदेवं समीक्ष्येदं वचनं प्रत्यभाषत
Thus addressed by the king, Dhananjaya, glancing at Vasudeva, replied with these words.
सर्व एते महात्मानः कृतास्त्राश्चित्रयोधिनः । असंशयं महाराज हन्युरेव न संशयः
All these are great souls, accomplished in weapons and wondrous warriors; without doubt, O king, they would indeed slay, there is no doubt.
अपैतु ते मनस्तापो यथा सत्यं ब्रवीम्यहम् । हन्यामेकरथेनैव वासुदेवसहायवान्
Let your mind's distress depart; as truly as I speak, with Vasudeva as my ally, I would slay them all alone with a single chariot.
सामरानपि लोकांस्त्रीन्सर्वान्स्थावरजङ्गमान् । भूतं भव्यं भविष्यं च निमेषादिति मे मतिः
With all the armies of the three worlds, all beings—moving and unmoving, past, present, and future—I could destroy them in a moment, so I believe.
यावदिच्छेद्धरिरयं तावदस्ति न चान्यथा।' यत्तद्धोरं पशुपतिः प्रादादस्त्रं महन्मम। कैराते द्वन्द्वयुद्धे तु तदिदं मयि वर्तते
As long as this Hari wishes, so long is it possible, and not otherwise; that dreadful weapon which Pashupati gave me in the duel with the Kirata, that abides with me.
यद्युगान्ते पशुपतिः सर्वभूतानि संहरन् । प्रयुङ्क्ते पुरुषव्याघ्र तदिदं मयि वर्तते
If, at the end of an age, Pashupati destroys all beings, O tiger among men, that very weapon abides with me.
तन्न जानाति गाङ्गेयो न द्रोणो न च गौतमः । न च द्रोणसुतो राजन्कुत एव तु सूतजः
Neither Bhishma, nor Drona, nor Gautama knows this, nor Drona's son, O king—how much less the son of a charioteer.
न तु युक्तं रणे हन्तुं दिव्यैरस्त्रैः पृथग्जनम् । आर्जवेनैव युद्धेन विजेष्यामो वयं परान्
But it is not right to slay ordinary men in battle with celestial weapons; by straightforward battle alone shall we conquer the foes.
तथेमे पुरुषव्याघ्राः सहायास्तव पार्थिव । सर्वे दिव्यास्त्रविद्वांसः सर्वे युद्धाभिकाङ्क्षिणः
Therefore, O king, these tigers among men are your allies—all skilled in celestial weapons, all eager for battle.
वेदान्तावभृथस्नाताः सर्व एतेऽपराजिताः । निहन्युः समरे सेनां देवानामपि पाण्डव
All these, having bathed at the conclusion of the Vedas, are undefeated; even the armies of the gods, O Pandava, they would slay in battle.
शिखण्डी युयुधानश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः । भीमसेनो यमौ चोभौ युधामन्यूत्तमौजसौ
Shikhandi, Yuyudhana, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, Bhimasena, the two sons of Yama, Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas—
विराटद्रुपदौ चोभौ भीष्मद्रोणसमौ युधि। शङ्खश्चैव महाबाहुर्हैडिम्बश्च महाबलः
Virata and Drupada, both equal to Bhishma and Drona in battle; Shankha, mighty-armed, and Haidimba, of great strength—
पुत्रोऽस्याञ्जनपर्वा तु महाबलपराक्रमः । शैनेयश्च महाबाहुः सहायो रणकेविदः
His son, Anjanaparva, of great might and valor; Saineya, mighty-armed, an expert in battle, as an ally—
अभिमन्युश्च बलवान्द्रौपद्याः पञ्च चात्मजाः । स्वयं चापि समर्थोसि त्रेलोक्योत्सादनेपि च
Abhimanyu, strong, and the five sons of Draupadi; and you yourself are capable even of destroying the three worlds.
क्रोधाद्यं पुरुषं पश्येस्तथा शक्रसमद्युते। स क्षिप्रं नभवेद्व्यक्तमिति त्वां वेद्मि कौरव
One should regard a man overcome by anger as formidable as Indra himself; yet, I know, O Kaurava, that he quickly loses his clarity.
ततः प्रभाते विमले धार्तराष्ट्रेण चोदिताः। दुर्योधनेन राजानः प्रययुः पाण्डवान्प्रति
Then, at dawn, when the sky was clear, prompted by Duryodhana, the kings set out toward the Pandavas.
आप्लाव्य शुचयः सर्वे स्रग्विणः शुक्लवाससः। गृहीतशस्त्रा ध्वजिनः स्वस्ति वाच्य हुताग्नयः
All of them, having bathed and purified themselves, adorned with garlands and clad in white garments, bearing weapons and banners, uttering blessings and having offered oblations into the fire.
सर्वे ब्रह्मविदः शूराः सर्वे सुचरितव्रताः । सर्वे कामकृतश्चैव सर्वे चाहवलक्षणाः
All were learned in the Vedas, all were valiant, all were of excellent conduct and vows, all acted according to their will, and all bore the marks of heroes.
आहवेषु पराँल्लोकाञ्जिगीषन्तो महाबलाः । एकाग्रमनसः सर्वे श्रद्दधानाः परस्परम्
Desiring to attain higher worlds through battle, all these mighty warriors, with focused minds and faith in one another, advanced.
विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ केकया बाह्लिकैः सह । प्रययुः सर्व एवैते भारद्वाजपुरोगमाः
Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, the Kekayas, and the Bahlikas—all these, with Bharadvaja at their head, set out together.
अश्वत्थामा शान्तनवः सैन्धवोऽथ जयद्रथः। दाक्षिणात्याः प्रतीच्याश्च पार्वतीयाश्च ने नृपाः
Ashvatthama, the son of Shantanu, the Sindhu king, Jayadratha, the southern, western, and mountain kings—all these rulers joined the march.
गान्धारराजः शकुनिः प्राच्योदीच्याश्च सर्वशः । शकाः किराता यवनाः शिबयोऽथ वसातयः
Shakuni, king of Gandhara, and all the eastern and northern rulers, the Shakas, Kiratas, Yavanas, Shibis, and Vasatis.
स्वैः स्वैरनीकैः सहिताः परिवार्य महारथम् । एते महारथाः सर्वे द्वितीये निर्ययुर्बले
All these great chariot-warriors, each surrounded by their own divisions, encircled the mighty chariot-warrior and marched out in the second army.
कृतवार्मा सहानीकस्त्रिगर्तश्च महारथः । दुर्योधनश्च नृपतिर्भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः
Kritavarma with his troops, the great chariot-warrior Trigarta, and King Duryodhana surrounded by his brothers.