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.
श्वेतैश्छत्रैः पताकाभिर्ध्वजवारणवाजिभिः । तान्यनीकानि शोभन्ते गजैरथ पदातिभिः
With white umbrellas, banners, standards, elephants, and horses, those divisions shone, together with elephants, chariots, and foot soldiers.
भेरीपणवशब्दैश्च दुन्दुभीनां च निःस्वनैः । रथनेमिनिनादैश्च बभूवाकुलिता मही
With the sounds of drums and cymbals, and the deep tones of kettledrums, and the noise of chariot wheels, the earth was filled with tumult.
काञ्चनाङ्गदकेयूरैः कार्मुकैश्च महारथाः । भ्राजमाना व्यराजन्त साग्नयः पर्वता इव
Great chariot-warriors, adorned with golden armlets and earrings, and with bows, shone brilliantly like blazing mountains.
तालेन महता भीष्मः पञ्चतारेण केतुना । विमलादित्यसंकाशस्तस्थौ कुरुचमूपरि
Bhishma stood over the Kuru army, resplendent like the spotless sun, with a great palm-shaped, five-colored banner.
ये त्वदीया महेष्वासा राजानो भरतर्षभ । अवर्तन्त यथादेशं राजञ्शान्तनवस्य ते
But your mighty-armed kings, O bull among the Bharatas, acted according to the commands of your ancestor Shantanu.
स तु गोवासनः शैब्यः सहितः सर्वराजभिः । ययौ मातङ्गराजेन राजार्हेण पताकिना । पद्मवर्णस्त्वनीकानां सर्वेषामग्रतः स्थितः
Shaibya, clad in cowhide, together with all the kings, advanced with a royal elephant bearing a banner, lotus-hued, standing at the front of all the divisions.
अश्वत्थामा ययौ यत्तः सिंहलाङ्गूलकेतुना । श्रुतायुधश्चित्रसेनः पुरुमित्रो विविंशतिः
Ashvatthama advanced, intent, with a lion-tailed banner; Shrutayudha, Citrasena, Purumitra, and Vivimsati.
शल्यो भूरिश्रवाश्चैव विकर्णश्च महारथः । एते सप्त महेष्वासा द्रोणपुत्रपुरोगमाः
Shalya, Bhurishravas, and the great chariot-warrior Vikarna—these seven mighty archers, led by Drona's son.
स्यन्दनैर्वरवर्माणो भीष्मस्यासन्पुरोगमाः। तेषामपि महोत्सेधाः शोभयन्तो रथोत्तमान्
With splendid armor, they led Bhishma's chariots; their towering forms adorned the best of chariots.
भ्राजमाना व्यरोचन्त जाम्बूनदमया ध्वजाः। जाम्बूनदमयी वेदी कमण्डलुविभूषिता
Their golden banners shone brilliantly; the platform, made of gold, was adorned with water pots.