गीता सुगीता कर्तव्या किमन्यैः शास्त्रसंग्रहैः । या स्वयं पद्मनाभस्य सुखपद्माद्विनिःसृता
The Gita, well sung, should be practiced; what need is there for other collections of scriptures? That which has emerged from the blissful lotus of Padmanabha himself.
सर्वशास्त्रमयी गीता सर्वदेवमयो हरिः। सर्वतीर्थमयी गङ्गा सर्वदेवमयो मनुः
The Gita is the essence of all scriptures; Hari is the essence of all gods. The Ganga is the essence of all sacred places; Manu is the essence of all gods.
गीता गङ्गा च गायत्री गोविन्देति हृदि स्थिते। चतुर्गकारसंयुक्ते पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते
When the Gita, the Ganga, the Gayatri, and the name Govinda dwell in the heart, united by the four syllables beginning with 'ga', there is no rebirth.
षट्शतानि सविंशानि श्लोकानां प्राह केशवः। अर्जुनः सप्तपञ्चाशत्सप्तषष्टिं तु सञ्जयः
Keshava spoke six hundred and twenty verses; Arjuna spoke fifty-seven, and Sanjaya sixty-six.
धृतराष्ट्रः श्लोकमेकं गीताया मानमुच्यते । भारतामृतसर्वस्वगीताया मथितस्य च। सारमुद्धृत्य कृष्णेन अर्जुनस्य मुखे हुतम्
Dhritarashtra spoke one verse; this is the measure of the Gita. The essence of the nectar of the Bharata, churned out, was offered by Krishna into the mouth of Arjuna.
ततो धनंजयं दृष्ट्वा बाणगाण्डीवधारिणम् । पुनरेव महानादं व्यसृजन्त महारथाःक
Then, seeing Dhananjaya, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, the great chariot-warriors again let out a mighty roar.
पाण्डवाः सोमकाश्चैव ये चैषामनुयायिनः । दध्मुश्च मुदिताः शङ्खान्वीराः सागरसंभवान्
The Pandavas, the Somakas, and all their followers, joyfully blew their conch shells, heroes born of the ocean.
ततो भेर्यश्च पेश्यश्च क्रकचा गोविषाणिकाः । सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त ततः शब्दो महानभूत्
Then drums, cymbals, tabors, and cow-horns were suddenly sounded together, and a great noise arose.
तथा देवाः सगन्धर्वाः पितरश्च जनाधिप । सिद्धचारणसङ्घाश्च समीयुस्ते दिदृक्षया
Thus, the gods with the Gandharvas, the ancestors, the lord of men, and assemblies of Siddhas and Charanas gathered, eager to witness.
ऋषयश्च महाभागाः पुरस्कृत्य शतक्रतुम् । समीयुस्तत्र सहिता द्रुष्टुं तद्वैशसं महत्
And the great sages, having placed Indra at their forefront, came together there to see that immense carnage.
ते सेने स्तिमिते सञ्जे वीक्षमाणे परस्परम् । गङ्गायमुनयोर्वेगो यथैवैत्य परस्परम्
Those armies stood motionless, gazing at each other, like the currents of the Ganga and Yamuna meeting one another.
एवं प्रवत्ते ते सेने निःशब्दे जनसंसदि । चित्रे पट इवालेख्ये दर्शनीयतरे शुभे
Thus, those armies stood silent amidst the gathering of people, splendid and striking to behold, like a painting on a beautiful canvas.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समवस्थिते। ते सेने सागरप्रख्ये मुहुः प्रज्वलिते नृप
Then, Yudhishthira, seeing the armies assembled for battle, those armies vast as the ocean, repeatedly blazing forth, O king—
विमुच्य कवचं वीरो निक्षिप्य च वरायुधम् । अवरुह्य रथात्क्षिप्रं पद्म्यामेव कृताञ्जलिः
The heroic one removed his armor, set aside his mighty weapon, quickly descended from his chariot, and with folded hands, stood in the midst.
पितामहमभिप्रेक्ष्य धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । वाग्यतः प्रययौ धीरः प्राङ्भुखो रिपुवाहिनीम्
Beholding the grandsire, King Yudhishthira, steadfast in speech, approached the enemy host, facing east, with composure.
तं प्रयान्तमभिप्रेभ्य कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः । अवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽन्वयात्
Seeing him advance, Kunti's son Dhananjaya swiftly descended from his chariot and followed, accompanied by his brothers.
वासुदेवश्च भगवान्पृष्ठतोऽनुजगाम तम् । तथा मुख्याश्च राजानस्तच्चित्ता जग्मुरुत्सुकाः
And the blessed Vasudeva followed behind him; likewise, the chief kings, their minds intent, eagerly went forth.
किं ते व्यवसितं राजन्यदस्मानपहाय वै। प्रद्म्यामेव प्रयातोऽसि प्राङ्मुखो रिपुवाहिनीम्
What have you resolved, O king, that you leave us and proceed alone, facing the enemy host in the midst?
क्व गमिष्यसि राजेन्द्र निक्षिप्तकवचायुधः। दंशितेष्वरिसैन्येषु भ्रातॄनुत्सृज्य पार्थिव
Where will you go, O king, having laid aside your armor and weapons, leaving your brothers among the hostile armies?
एवं गते त्वयि ज्येष्ठे मम भ्रातरि भारत। भीमे दुनोति हृदयं ब्रूहि गन्ता भवान्क्व नु
As you, my elder brother, depart thus, O Bharata, Bhima's heart is troubled; tell us, where indeed will you go?
अस्मिन्रणसमूहे वै वर्तमाने महाभये। उत्सृज्य क्व नु गन्तासि शत्रूनभिमुखो नृप
In this assembly of battle, amidst great danger, where will you go, abandoning us and facing the enemy, O king?
एवमाभाष्यमाणोऽपि भ्रातृभिः कुरुनन्दनः। नोवाच वाग्यतः किंचिद्गच्छत्येव युधिष्ठिरः
Though addressed thus by his brothers, the descendant of the Kurus, Yudhishthira, remained silent and continued onward.
तानुवाच महाप्राज्ञो वासुदेवो महामनाः । अभिप्रायोऽस्य विज्ञातो मयेति प्रहसन्निव
Then the wise and great-minded Vasudeva spoke to them: 'His intention is known to me,' he said, smiling.
एष भीष्मं तथा द्रोणं गौतमं शल्यमेव च। अनुमान्य गुरून्सर्वान्योत्स्यते पार्थिवोऽरिभिः
He will approach Bhishma, Drona, Gautama, and Shalya, and, having sought permission from all his elders, will engage the enemy.
श्रूयते हि पुराकल्पे गुरूनननुमान्य यः। युध्यते स भवेद्व्यक्तमपध्यातो महत्तरैः
For it is heard that in ancient times, one who fights without seeking permission from his elders is surely censured by the great.
अनुमान्य यथाशास्त्रं यस्तु युध्येन्महत्तरैः । ध्रुवस्तस्य जयो युद्धे भवेदिति मतिर्मम
But one who, according to scripture, seeks permission from the elders before fighting, his victory in battle is certain—such is my conviction.
एवं ब्रुवति कृष्णेऽत्र धार्तराष्ट्रचमूं प्रति। हाहाकारो महानासीन्निःशब्दास्त्वपरेऽभवन्
As Krishna spoke thus to the Kaurava army, a great outcry arose among some, while others became silent.
दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरं दूराद्धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैनिकाः । मिथः संकथयांचक्रुरेषो हि कुलपांसनः
Seeing Yudhishthira from afar, the soldiers of Dhritarashtra began to speak among themselves, 'Indeed, this is the disgrace of his lineage.'
व्यक्तं भीत इवाभ्येति राजासौ भीष्ममन्तिकम् । युधिष्ठिरः ससोदर्यः शरणार्थं प्रयाचकः
Clearly, as if afraid, that king Yudhishthira approaches Bhishma, together with his brothers, seeking protection.
धनञ्जये कथं नाथे पाण्डवे च वृकोदरे । नकुले सहदेवे च भीतिरभ्येति पाण्डवम्
How is it that fear comes upon the Pandava, when Dhananjaya is his protector, and Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva are with him?