उत्तमं जवमास्थाय प्रययुर्यत्र सोऽभवत्। तान्प्रयातान्समालोक्य युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः
Mounting their best steeds, they went to where he was; seeing them advance, with Yudhishthira at their head—
पञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सार्धं पृष्ठतोऽनुययुः परान्। तान्यनीकान्यथालोक्य राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्
The Panchalas, together with the Pandavas, followed behind; seeing those troops approaching, the mighty rakshasa king—
ननाद सुमहानादं विस्फोटमशनेरिव । तस्य तं निनदं श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा नागांश्च युध्यतः
Let out a tremendous roar, like the bursting of a thunderbolt; hearing that roar and seeing the elephants fighting—
भीष्मः शान्तनवो भूयो भारद्वाजमभाषत । न रोचते मे संग्रामो हैडिम्बेन दुरात्मना
Bhishma, son of Shantanu, again spoke to Bharadwaja’s son: ‘This battle with the wicked Hidimba’s son does not please me.’
बलवीर्यमसाविष्टः ससहायश्च सांप्रतज् । नैष शक्यो युधा जेतुमपि वज्रभृता स्वयम्
Endowed with strength and valor, and now with allies, he cannot be defeated in battle even by the wielder of the thunderbolt himself.
लब्धलक्षः प्रहारी च वयं च श्रान्तवाहनाः। पाञ्चालैः पाण्डवेयैश्च दिवसं क्षतविक्षताः
He has found his mark and strikes fiercely, while our forces are weary, wounded all day by the Panchalas and Pandavas.
इदानीं युधि निर्जेतुं न शक्योऽसौ स राक्षसः । अस्तमभ्येति सविता रात्रौ योद्धुं कन शक्यते। अवहारमतः कुर्मः श्वो योत्स्यामः परै सह
Now, that Rākṣasa cannot be defeated in battle; the sun is setting, and who is able to fight at night? Therefore, let us withdraw; tomorrow we shall fight the enemy again.
पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा यथा चक्रुःस्म कौरवाः । उपायेनापयानं ते घटोत्कचभयार्दिताः
Hearing the words of the grandsire, the Kauravas acted accordingly; overwhelmed by fear of Ghaṭotkaca, they withdrew by a stratagem.
कौरवेषु निवृत्तेषु पाण्डवा जितकाशिनः। सिंहनादान्भृशं चक्रुः शङ्खान्दध्मुश्च भारत
When the Kauravas had retreated, the victorious Pāṇḍavas, O Bhārata, roared loudly and blew their conches with great force.
एवं तदभवद्युद्धं दिवसं भरतर्षभ । पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च पुरस्कृत्य घटोत्कचम्
Thus, O bull among the Bharatas, that day’s battle between the Pāṇḍavas and the Kurus took place, with Ghaṭotkaca at the forefront.
कौरवास्तु ततो राजन्प्रययुः शिबिरं स्वकम्। व्रीडमाना निशाकाले पाण्डवेयैः पराजिताः
Then, O king, the Kauravas, defeated by the Pāṇḍavas and ashamed, returned to their camp at night.
शरविक्षतगात्रास्तु पाण्डपपुत्रा महारथाः। युद्धे सुमनसो भूत्वा जग्मुः स्वशिबिरं प्रति
The great chariot-warriors, the sons of Pāṇḍu, their bodies wounded by arrows, rejoicing in victory, also returned to their own camp.
पुरस्कृत्य महाराज भीमसेनघटोत्कचौ। पूजयन्तस्तदान्योन्यं मुदा परमया युताः
With Bhīmasena and Ghaṭotkaca at the forefront, O king, they honored one another, filled with the highest joy.
नदन्तो विविधान्नादांस्तूर्यस्वनविमिश्रितान् । सिंहनादांश्च कुर्वन्तो विमिश्राञ्शङ्खनिः स्वनैः
They made various loud noises, mingled with the sounds of musical instruments, and produced lion-roars mixed with the blasts of conches.
विनदन्तो महात्मानः कम्पयन्तश्च मेदिनीम् । घट्टयन्तश्च मर्माणि तव पुत्रस्य मारिष
Those great souls roared, shaking the earth, and struck terror into the heart of your son, O Māriṣa.
प्रयाताः शिबिरायैव निशाकाले परंतप । दुर्योधनस्तु नृपतिर्दीनो भ्रातृवधेन च
At night, O scorcher of foes, they went to their camp; but King Duryodhana was dejected, grieving for his slain brother.
मुहूर्तं चिन्तयामास बाष्पशोकसमाकुलः। ततः कृत्वा विधिं सर्वं शिबिरस्य यथाविधि । प्रदध्यौ शोकसंतप्तो भ्रातृव्यसनकर्शितः
For a moment, overwhelmed by tears and sorrow, he reflected; then, having performed all the proper rites for the camp, he sat absorbed in grief, afflicted by his brother’s misfortune.
भयं मे सुमहञ्जातं विस्मयश्चैव सञ्जय। श्रुत्वा पाण्डुकुमाराणां कर्म देवैः सुदुष्करम्
Great fear and amazement have arisen in me, Sañjaya, hearing of the Pāṇḍu princes’ deeds, which are difficult even for the gods.
पुत्राणां च पराभावं श्रुत्वा सञ्जय सर्वशः। चिन्ता मे महती सूत भविष्यति कथं त्विति
Hearing of my sons’ total defeat, O Sañjaya, I am filled with deep anxiety, wondering what will happen.
ध्रुवं विदुरवाक्यानि धक्ष्यन्ति हृदयं मम। तथा हि दृश्यते सर्वं दैवयोगेन सञ्जय
Surely, Vidura’s words will burn my heart; for, Sañjaya, everything is unfolding as fate decreed.
यत्र भीष्ममुखान्सर्वाञ्शस्त्रज्ञान्योधसत्तमान्। पाण्डवानामनीकेषु योधयन्ति प्रहारिणः
Where Bhīṣma and other foremost warriors, masters of weapons, fight in the ranks of the Pāṇḍavas, striking fiercely.
केनावध्या महात्मानः पाण्डुपुत्रा महाबलाः । केन दत्तवरास्तात किं वा ज्ञानं विदन्ति ते
By whom are the mighty sons of Pāṇḍu, endowed with great strength, rendered invincible? By whom were they granted boons, or what knowledge do they possess?
येन क्षयं न गच्छन्ति दिवि तारागणा इव। पुनःपुनर्न मृष्यामि हतं सैन्यं तु पाण्डवैः
Because of which they do not perish, like the stars in the sky; again and again, I cannot bear to see my army slain by the Pāṇḍavas.
मय्येव दण्डः पतति दैवात्परमदारुणः। यथाऽवध्याः पाण्डुसुता यथा वाध्याश्च मे सुताः
Upon me alone falls this most terrible punishment of fate: that the sons of Pāṇḍu are invulnerable, while my sons are subject to death.
एतन्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व याथातथ्येन सञ्जय । न हि पारं प्रपश्यामि दुःखस्यास्य कथंचन
Tell me all this in full detail, Sanjaya, for I see no end at all to this suffering.
समुद्रस्येव महतो भुजाभ्यां प्रतरन्नरः । पुत्राणां व्यसनं मन्ये ध्रुवं प्राप्तं सुदारुणम्
Just as a man cannot cross a vast ocean with his arms, so I think my sons have surely met with a terrible disaster.
घातयिष्यति मे स्रवान्पुत्रान्भीमो न शंसयः। न हि पश्यामि तं वीरं यो मे रक्षेत्सुतान्रणे
Bhima will kill all my sons—of this there is no doubt; for I do not see any hero who could protect my sons in battle.
ध्रुवं विनाशः संप्राप्तः पुत्रामां मम सञ्जय। तस्मान्मे कारणं सूत शक्तिं चैव विशेषतः
Destruction has certainly come upon my sons, Sanjaya; therefore, tell me the reason for this, and especially their strength.
पृच्छतो वै यथातत्त्वं सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि। दुर्योधनश्च यच्चक्रे दृष्ट्वा स्वान्विमुखान्रणे
As I ask, you should tell me everything truthfully; and what Duryodhana did when he saw his own men turning away in battle.
भीष्मद्रोणौ कृपश्चैव सौबलश्च जयद्रथः । द्रौणिर्वापि महेष्वासो विकर्णो वा महाबलः
Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Saubala, Jayadratha, Drona’s son the mighty archer, or Vikarna the powerful—