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.
श्वेतोष्णीषं श्वेतहयं श्वेतवर्माणमच्युतम् । अपश्याम महाराज भीष्मं चन्द्रमिवोदितम्
We saw Bhīṣma, O King, with white turban, white horses, and white armor, shining like the risen moon.
हेमतालध्वजं भीष्मं राजते स्यन्दते स्थितम् । श्वेताभ्र इव तीक्ष्णांशुं ददृशुः कुरुपाण्डवाः
Bhīṣma stood on his chariot with a golden palm-banner, gleaming; the Kurus and Pāṇḍavas beheld him like a bright cloud with sharp rays.
दृष्ट्वा चमूमुखे भीष्मं समकम्पन्त पाण्डवाः । सृञ्जयाश्च महेष्वासा धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः । जृम्भमाणं महासिंहं दृष्ट्वा क्षुद्रमृगा यथा
Seeing Bhīṣma at the head of the army, the Pāṇḍavas and the mighty bowmen of the Sṛñjayas, led by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, trembled, like small animals before a roaring lion.
धृष्टद्युम्नमुखाः सर्वे समुद्विविजिरे मुहुः । एकादशैताः श्रीजुष्टा वाहिन्यस्तव पार्थिव
All those led by Dhṛṣṭadyumna were repeatedly shaken; these eleven splendid armies, O King, are yours.
पाण्डवानां तथा सप्त महापुरुषपालिताः । उन्मत्तमकरावर्तौ महाग्राहसमाकुलौ
Likewise, the Pāṇḍavas have seven armies, guarded by great men, swirling like seas with mad makaras and crowded with mighty monsters.
युगान्ते समवेतौ द्वौ दृश्येते सागराविव । नैव नस्तादृशो राजन्दृष्टपूर्वो न च श्रुतः । अनीकानां समेतानां कौरवाणां तथाविधः
At the end of an age, these two armies appear like oceans meeting; never before, O King, have we seen or heard of such an assembly of forces as the Kauravas have gathered.
यथा स भगवान्व्यासः कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्। तथैव सहिताः सर्वे समाजग्मुर्महीक्षितः
Just as the venerable Vyāsa, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, had spoken, so all the kings assembled together.
मघाविषयगः सोमस्तद्दिनं प्रत्यपद्यत। दीप्यमानाश्च संपेतुर्दिवि सप्त महग्रहाः
On that day, the moon entered the constellation Maghā, and seven great planets blazed in the sky.
द्विधाभूत इवादित्य उदये प्रत्यदृश्यत। ज्वलन्त्या शिखया भूयो भानुमानुदितो रविः
At sunrise, the sun appeared as if split in two, with a blazing crest, and the radiant orb rose again.
ववाशिरे च दीप्तायां दिशि गोमायुवायसाः । लिप्समानाः शरीराणि मांसशोणितभोजनाः
In the shining quarter, jackals and crows howled, eager for bodies, feasting on flesh and blood.
अहन्यहनि पार्थानां वृद्धः कुरुपितामहः । भरद्वाजात्मजश्चैव प्रातरुत्थाय संयतौ
Day after day, the aged grandsire of the Kurus and the son of Bharadvāja would rise early and go to battle.
जयोऽस्तु पाण्डुपुत्राणामित्यूचतुरिन्दमौ । युयुधाते तवार्थाय यथा स समयः कृतः
The two heroes would say, 'Victory to the sons of Pāṇḍu!' but fought for your sake, as the agreement had been made.
सर्वधर्मविशेषज्ञः पिता देवव्रतस्तव । समानीय महीपालानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Your father Devavrata, who knows all the distinctions of righteousness, gathered the kings together and spoke these words:
इदं वः क्षत्रिया द्वारं स्वर्गायापावृतं महत्। गच्छध्वं तेन शक्रस्य ब्रह्मणः सहलोकताम्
This, O Kshatriyas, is a great gate to heaven opened for you; go by it and attain the world of Indra and Brahma.
एष वः शाश्वतः पन्थाः पूर्वैः पूर्वतरैः कृतः । संभावयध्वमात्मानमव्यग्रमनसो युधि
This is your eternal path, established by those who came before; honor yourselves with undisturbed minds in battle.
नाभागोऽथ ययातिश्च मान्धाता नहुषो नृगः । संसिद्धाः परमं स्थानं गताः कर्मभिरीदृशैः
Nabhaga, Yayati, Mandhata, Nahuṣa, and Nriga—these attained the highest state through such deeds.
अधर्मः क्षत्रियस्यैष यद्व्याधिमरणं गृहे । यदयोनिधनं याति सोऽस्य धर्मः सनातनः
For a Kshatriya, to die of disease at home is unrighteous; to meet death in battle is his eternal duty.
एवमुक्ता महीपाला भीष्मेण भरतर्षभ। निर्ययुः स्वान्यनीकानि शोभयन्तो रथोत्तमैः
Thus addressed by Bhishma, O bull among the Bharatas, the kings set out with their troops, adorned with splendid chariots.
स तु वैकर्तनः कर्णः सामात्यः सह बन्धुभिः । न्यासितः समरे शस्त्रं भीष्मेण भरतर्षभ
Then Karna, son of Vikartana, with his ministers and kinsmen, was restrained from battle by Bhishma, O bull among the Bharatas.
अपेतकर्णाः पुत्रास्ते राजनश्चैव तावकाः । निर्ययुः सिंहनादेन नादयन्तो दिशो दश
But your sons, O King, deprived of Karna, went forth, roaring like lions, making the ten directions resound.