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Let Arjuna protect him, and with Bhishma withdrawn, see to it, Duhshasana, that the son of Ganga is not slain.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!'
शङ्खदुन्दुभिघोषैश्च सिंहनादैश्च भारत। हयहेषितनादैश्च रथनेमिस्वनैस्तथा
With the blaring of conches and drums, with lion-roars, O Bhārata, with the neighing of horses and the rumble of chariot wheels as well,
गाजानां बृहतां चैव योधानां चापि गर्जताम्। क्ष्वेलितास्फोटितोत्क्रुष्टैस्तुमुलं सर्वतोऽभवत्
With the trumpeting of mighty elephants and the roaring of warriors, with shouts, slaps, and battle cries, a tumult arose on all sides.
उदतिष्ठन्महाराज सर्वं युक्तमशेषतः । सूर्योदये महत्सैन्यं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः
O great king, at sunrise, all the vast armies of the Kurus and Pāṇḍavas stood fully arrayed and ready.
राजेन्द्र तव पुत्राणां पाण्डवानां तथैव च। दुष्प्रधृष्याणि चास्त्राणि सशस्रकवचानि च
O king, your sons and the Pāṇḍavas, with their formidable weapons and armor, appeared invincible.
ततः प्रकाशे सैन्यानि समदृश्यन्त भारत। त्वदीयानां परेषां च शस्त्रवन्ति महान्ति च
Then, in the clear light, the armies were seen—yours and the enemy's—mighty and bristling with weapons.
तत्र नागा रथाश्चैव जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृताः। विभ्राजमाना दृश्यन्ते मेघा इव सविद्युतः
There, elephants and chariots adorned with gold shone forth, gleaming like clouds lit by lightning.
रथानीकान्यदृश्यन्त नगराणीव भूरिशः । अतीव शुशुभे तत्र पिता ते पूर्णचन्द्रवत्
The chariot divisions appeared in great numbers, like cities; and there, your father shone exceedingly, like the full moon.
धनुर्भिर्ऋष्टिभिः खङ्गैर्गदाभिः शक्तितोमरैः । योधाः प्रहरणैः शुभ्रैस्तेष्वनीकेष्ववस्थिताः
Warriors armed with bows, spears, swords, maces, lances, and javelins, stood in those divisions, equipped with shining weapons.
गजाः पदाता रथिनस्तुरगाश्च विशांपते । व्यतिष्ठन्वागुराकाराः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Elephants, foot soldiers, charioteers, and horsemen, O lord of men, stood in hundreds and thousands, arrayed like nets.
ध्वजा बहुविधाकारा व्यदृश्यन्त समुच्छ्रिताः। स्वेषां चैव परेषां च द्युतिमन्तः सहस्रशः
Banners of many shapes were seen raised high, shining by the thousands, both of your side and the enemy's.
काञ्चना मणिचित्राङ्गा ज्वलन्त इव पावकाः। अर्चिष्मन्तो व्यरोचन्त गजारोहाः सहस्रशः
Golden, gem-studded, blazing like fire, the elephant riders shone forth by the thousands, radiant as flames.
महेन्द्रकेतवः शुभ्रा महेन्द्रसदनेष्विव। सन्नद्धास्ते प्रवीराश्च ददृशुर्युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः
White standards of Indra, as if in Indra's own palace, and those valiant warriors, fully armored, were seen longing for battle.
उद्यतैरायुधैश्चित्रास्तलबद्धाः कलापिनः । ऋषभाक्षा मनुष्येन्द्राश्चमूमुखगता बभुः
With raised weapons, their quivers adorned with colored straps, the best of men, with bull-like eyes, stood at the head of the divisions.
शकुनिः सौबलः शल्य आवन्त्योऽथ जयद्रथः । विन्दानुविन्दौ कैकेयाः काम्भोजश्च सुदक्षिणः
Shakuni, son of Subala, Shalya, the king of Avanti, Jayadratha, Vinda and Anuvinda of Kekaya, and Sudakshina of Kamboja—
श्रुतायुधश्च कालिङ्गो जयत्सेनश्च पार्थिवः । बृहद्बलश्च कौशल्यः कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः
Śrutāyudha the Kaliṅga, Jayatsena the king, Bṛhadbala of Kosala, and Kṛtavarmā of the Sātvata clan—
दशैते पुरुषव्याघ्राः शूराः परिघबाहवः । अक्षौहिणीनां पतयो यज्वानो भूरिदक्षिणाः
These ten, tigers among men, heroes with iron-clad arms, are lords of divisions, performers of sacrifices, and generous with gifts.
एते चान्ये च बहवो दुर्योधनवशानुगाः । राजानो राजपुत्राश्च नीतिमन्तो महारथाः
Along with these, many other kings and princes, wise and mighty chariot-warriors, follow Duryodhana’s command.
सन्नद्धाः समदृश्यन स्वेष्वनीकेष्ववस्थिताः । बद्धकृष्णाजिनाः सर्वे बलिनो युद्धशालिनः
All of them, armored and appearing equal, stand firm in their own ranks, each wearing black antelope skins, strong and skilled in battle.
हृष्टा दुर्योधनस्यार्थे ब्रह्मलोकाय दीक्षिताः। समर्था दश वाहिन्यः परिगृह्य व्यवस्थिताः
Joyful for Duryodhana’s sake, consecrated as if for the world of Brahmā, ten capable armies have assembled and taken their positions.
एकादशी धार्तराष्ट्री कौरवाणां महाचमूः । अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां यत्र शान्तनवोऽग्रणीः
The eleventh great army of the Kauravas, sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, stood at the front of all the troops, where Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, was the leader.