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.
केतुराचार्यमुख्यस्य द्रोणस्य धनुषा सह । अनेकशतसाहस्रमनीकमनुकर्षतः
The banner of Drona, foremost among teachers, together with his bow, drew along a host numbering many hundreds of thousands.
महान्दुर्योधनस्यासीन्नागो मणिमयो ध्वजः । तस्य पौरवकालिङ्गकाम्भोजाः समुदक्षिणाः
A great, jewel-adorned banner belonged to Duryodhana; to its south stood the Paura, Kalinga, and Kamboja warriors.
क्षेमधन्वा च शल्यश्च तस्थुः प्रमुखतो रथाः। स्यन्दनेन महार्हेण केतुना वृषभेण च। प्रकर्षन्नेव सेनाग्नं मागधस्य कृपो ययौ
Kṣemadhanvan and Śalya stood at the front with their splendid chariots and bull-emblazoned banners; Kripa advanced, as if drawing the Magadha army like a blazing fire.
तदङ्गपतिनां गुप्तं कृपेण च मनस्विना । शारदाम्बुधरप्रख्यं प्राच्यानां सुमहद्बलम्
That vast eastern army, protected by the wise Kripa and the lords of Anga, shone like a mass of autumn clouds.
अनीकप्रमुखे तिष्ठन्वराहेण महायशाः। शुशुभे केतुमुख्येन राजतेन जयद्रथः
Jayadratha, of great fame, stood at the head of the formation with his boar-emblazoned, silver banner, shining brilliantly.
शतं रतसहस्राणां तस्यासन्वशवर्तिनः। अष्टौ नागसहस्राणि सादिनामयुतानि षट्
A hundred thousand chariots followed him, along with eight thousand elephants and sixty thousand horsemen.
तत्सिन्धुपतिना राज्ञा पालितं ध्वजिनीमुखम्। अनन्तरथनागाश्वमशोभत महद्बलम्
That mighty force, led by the king of Sindhu and guarded by chariots, elephants, and horses, appeared splendid at the front of the army.
षष्ट्या रथसहस्रैस्तु नागानामयुतेन च। पतिः सर्वकलिङ्गानां ययौ केतुमता सह
With sixty thousand chariots and ten thousand elephants, the lord of all the Kalingas advanced together with Ketumat.
तस्य पर्वतसंकाशा व्यरोचन्त महागजाः । यन्त्रतोमरतूणीरैः पताकाभिः सुशोभिताः
His great elephants, resembling mountains, shone brightly, adorned with armor, quivers, and beautiful banners.
शुशुभे केतुमुख्येन पावकेन कलिङ्गकः। श्वेतच्छत्रेण निष्केण चामरव्यजनेन च
The Kalinga chief shone with a blazing banner, a white parasol, a golden necklace, and a yak-tail fan.