यच्छरीरैरुपास्तीर्णां नरवारणवाजिनाम् । शरशक्तिमहाखङ्गतोमराक्षां महाभयाम्। प्राविशन्कितवा मन्दाः सभां युद्धदुरासदाम्
When the hall of battle, dreadful and hard to approach, was strewn with the bodies of men, elephants, and horses, and filled with arrows, spears, great swords, and tomaras, how did those foolish gamblers enter it?
प्राणद्यूते प्रतिभये केऽदीव्यन्त नरर्षभाः । के जीयन्ते जितास्तत्र कृतलक्ष्या निपातिताः । अन्ये भीष्माच्चान्तनवात्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
In that deadly game of life, who among the best of men played, who prevailed, and who were struck down, their marks achieved? Tell me all this, Sanjaya, and also about those who survived Bhishma, son of Shantanu.
न हि मे शान्तिरस्तीह श्रुत्वा देवव्रतं हतम्। पितरं भीमकर्माणं भीष्ममाहवशोभिनम्
I have no peace here after hearing that Devavrata, my father Bhishma, doer of mighty deeds and glorious in battle, has been slain.
आर्तिं मे हृदये रूढां महतीं पुत्रहानिजाम्। त्वं हि मे सर्पिषेवाग्निमुद्दीपयसि सञ्जय
A great pain has taken root in my heart from the loss of my son; you, Sanjaya, only fuel it further, as clarified butter feeds a fire.
महान्तं भारमुद्यम्य विश्रुतं सार्वलौकिकम्। दृष्ट्वा विनिहतं भीष्मं मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
Seeing Bhishma, renowned and bearing a great burden for all the worlds, struck down, I think the sons grieve.
श्रोष्यामि तानि दुःखानि दुर्योधनकृतान्यहम् । तस्मान्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व यद्वृत्तं तत्र सञ्जय
I shall hear of those sorrows caused by Duryodhana; therefore, tell me everything that happened there, Sanjaya.
यद्वृत्तं तत्र संग्रामे मन्दस्याबुद्धिसंभवम् । अपनीतं सुनीतं यत्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
Tell me, Sanjaya, all that occurred in that battle, born of my folly, what was lost and what was wisely preserved.
यत्कृतं तत्र संग्रामे भीष्मेण जयमिच्छता । तेजोयुक्तं कृतास्त्रेण शंस तच्चाप्यशेषतः
Tell me in full, Sanjaya, what Bhishma did in that battle, seeking victory, with his energy and mastery of weapons.
यथा तदभवद्युद्धं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः । क्रमेण येन यस्मिंश्च काले यच्च यथाऽभवत्
How that battle took place between the armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas, in what order, at what time, and in what manner—
त्वद्युक्तोऽयमनुप्रश्नो महाराज यथार्हसि। न तु दुर्योधने दोषमिममासङ्क्तुमर्हसि
This question of yours, O great king, is appropriate as you have asked; but you should not suspect Duryodhana of this fault.
य आत्मनो दुश्चरितादशुभं प्राप्नुयान्नरः। एनसा तेन नान्यं स उपाशङ्कितुमर्हति
A man who, through his own misconduct, meets with misfortune, should not suspect anyone else of wrongdoing.
महाराज मनुष्येषु निन्द्यं यः सर्वमाचरेत्। स वध्यः सर्वलोकस्य निन्दितानि समाचरन्
O king, among men, whoever acts in a way that is blameworthy in every respect, committing censured deeds, is fit to be punished by all people.
निकारो निकृतिप्रज्ञैः पाण्डवैस्त्वत्प्रतीक्षया । अनुभूतः सहामात्यैः क्षान्तश्च सुचिरं वने
The insult devised by the Pandavas, skilled in deception, was endured by you and your ministers for a long time in the forest, awaiting your return.
हयानां च गजानां च राज्ञां चामिततेजसाम्। प्रत्यक्षं यन्मया दृष्टं दृष्टं योगबलेन च
What I have seen directly of the horses, elephants, and kings of boundless energy, and what I have perceived through the power of yoga—
शृणु तत्पृथिवीपाल मा च शोके मनः कृथाः । दिष्टमेतत्पुरा नूनमिदमेव नराधिप
Hear this, O protector of the earth, and do not let your mind be troubled by grief; surely, O king, this was destined long ago.
नमस्कृत्वा प्रवक्ष्यामि पाराशर्याय धीमते। यस्य प्रसादाद्दिव्यं तत्प्राप्तं ज्ञानमनुत्तमम्
Having paid homage, I will now speak to the wise son of Parashara, by whose grace I have obtained that supreme and divine knowledge.
दृष्टिश्चातीन्द्रिया राजन्दूराच्छ्रवणमेव च । परचित्तस्य विज्ञानमतीतानागतस्य च
O king, there is vision beyond the senses, hearing from afar, knowledge of others' minds, and of past and future events.
व्युत्थितोत्पत्तिविज्ञानमाकाशे च गतिः शुभा । अस्त्रैरसङ्गो युद्धेषु वरदानान्महात्मनः
There is knowledge of arising and ceasing, auspicious movement through space, and, in battle, freedom from weapons through the boons of that great soul.
श्रृणु मे विस्तरेणेदं विचित्रं परमाद्भुतम् । भरतानामभूद्युद्धं यथा तद्रोमहर्षणम्
Hear from me in detail this wondrous and most marvelous account of the battle of the Bharatas, which causes one's hair to stand on end.
तेष्वनीकेषु यत्तेषु व्यूढेषु च विधानतः । दुर्योधनो महाराज दुःशासनमथाब्रवीत्
When those divisions were arrayed and drawn up in proper order, Duryodhana, O great king, spoke to Duhshasana.
दुःशासन रथास्तूर्णं युज्यन्तां भीष्मरक्षिणः। अनीकानि च सर्वाणि शीघ्रं त्वमनुचोदय
"Duhshasana, quickly have the chariots of Bhishma's protectors yoked, and promptly urge all the divisions forward."
अयं स मामभिप्राप्तो वर्षपूगाभिचिन्तितः । पाण्डवानां ससैन्यानां कुरूणां च समागमः
"This is that long-anticipated meeting of the Pandavas with their army and the Kurus, which I have considered for many years."
नातः कार्यतमं मन्ये रणे भीष्मस्य रक्षणात्। हन्युद्गुप्तो ह्यसौ पार्थान्सोमकांश्च ससृञ्जयान्
"I consider nothing more important now than protecting Bhishma in battle; for if he is guarded, he will surely slay the Pandavas, the Somakas, and the Srinjayas."
अब्रवीच्च विशुद्धात्मा नाहं हन्यां शिखण्डिनाम् । श्रूयते स्त्री ह्यसौ पूर्वं तस्मादूर्त्यो रणे मम
And he said, with a pure heart, "I will not kill Shikhandin; it is heard that he was formerly a woman, and therefore he is not to be slain by me in battle."
तस्माद्भीष्मो रक्षितव्यो विशेषेणेति मे मतिः। शिखण्डिनो वधे यत्ताः सर्वे तिष्ठन्तु मामकाः
"Therefore, it is my firm conviction that Bhishma must be especially protected; let all my men stand ready to prevent the slaying of Shikhandin."
तथा प्राच्याः प्रतीच्याश्च दाक्षिणात्योत्तरापथाः । सर्वथाऽस्त्रेषु कुशलास्ते रक्षन्तु पितामहम्
Thus, let those from the east, west, south, and north, all skilled in weapons, protect the grandsire in every way.
अरक्ष्यमाणं हि वृको हन्यात्सिंहं महाबलम् । मा सिंहं जम्बुकेनेव घातयामः शिखण्डिना
For if the mighty lion is left unprotected, even a wolf could slay him; let us not cause the lion to be killed by a jackal, as it were, by means of Shikhandin.
वामं चक्रं युधामन्युरुत्तमौजाश्च दक्षिणम्। गोप्तारौ फाल्गुनं प्राप्तौ फाल्गुनोपि शिखण्डिनः
Yudhāmanyu took up the left wheel, Uttamaujas the right, both coming to guard Phālguna; and Phālguna, in turn, protected Shikhandin.
संरक्ष्यमाणः पार्थेन भीष्मेण च विवर्जितः । यथा न हन्याद्गाङ्गेयं दुःशासन तथा कुरु
Let Arjuna protect him, and with Bhishma withdrawn, see to it, Duhshasana, that the son of Ganga is not slain.
ततो रजन्यां व्युष्टायां शब्दः समभवन्महान्। क्रोशतां भूमिपलानां युज्यतां युज्यतामिति
Then, when the night had passed, a great clamor arose—the kings shouting, 'Yoke up! Yoke up!'