देवानामपि देवं च त्वामाह भगवान्भृगुः । पुराणां चैव परमं विष्णो रूपं तवेति च
Bhṛgu, the blessed one, called you the god of gods, and the supreme form of Viṣṇu among the ancient ones.
वासुदेवो वसूनां त्वं शक्रं स्थापयिता तथा। देवदेवोऽसि देवानामिति द्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्
Vāsudeva, you are among the Vasus, and the establisher of Śakra; Dvaipāyana said, 'You are the god of gods among the deities.'
पूर्वे प्रजानिसर्गे च दक्षमाहुः प्रजापतिम्। स्रष्टारं सर्वभूतानामङ्गिरास्त्वां तथाऽब्रवीत्
In the former creation of beings, Dakṣa was called the lord of creatures, the creator of all beings; Aṅgiras likewise spoke of you.
अव्यक्तं ते शरीरोत्थं व्यक्तं ते मनसि स्थितम् । देवास्त्वत्संभवाश्चैव देवलस्त्वसितोऽब्रवीत्
Your unmanifest arises from your body, and your manifest is established in your mind; the gods are born from you, so said Asita Devala.
शिरसा ते दिव्यं व्याप्तं बाहुभ्यां पृथिवी तथा । जठरं ते त्रयो लोकाः पुरुषोऽसि सनातनः
Your head pervades the heavens, your arms the earth; your belly contains the three worlds; you are the eternal person.
एवं त्वामभिजानन्ति तपसा भाविता नराः। आत्मदर्शनतृप्तानामृषीणां चासि सत्तमः
Thus, men purified by austerity recognize you; among sages satisfied by self-realization, you are the best.
राजर्षीणामुदाराणामाहवेष्वनिवर्तिनाम् । सर्वधर्मप्रधानानां त्वं गतिर्मधुसूदन
Among noble royal sages who do not retreat in battle, and who are foremost in all duties, you are the goal, O Madhusūdana.
इति नित्यं योगविर्द्भिर्भगवान्पुरुषोत्तमः। सनत्कुमारप्रमुखैः स्तूयतेऽभ्यर्च्यते हरिः
Thus, the blessed supreme person, Hari, is always praised and worshipped by those accomplished in yoga, headed by Sanatkumāra.
एष ते विस्तरस्तात संक्षेपश्च प्रकीर्तितः । केशवस्य यथा तत्त्वं सुप्रीतो भज केशवम्
This, O dear one, is the detailed account and its summary as told to you; as is the truth of Keśava, worship Keśava with great delight.
पुण्यं श्रुत्वैतदाख्यानं महाराज सुतस्तव। केशवं बहुमेने स पाण्डवांश्च महारथान्
Hearing this sacred narration, O great king, your son honored Keśava and also the mighty Pandavas.
तमब्रवीन्महाराज भीष्मः शान्तनवः पुनः । माहात्म्यं ते श्रुतं राजन्केशवस्य महात्कमनः
Then Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, spoke again to you, O king: You have heard the greatness of Keśava, whose deeds are wondrous.
नरस्य च यथातत्त्वं यन्मां त्वं पृच्छसे नृप। यदर्थं नृषु संभूतौ नरानारायणावृषी
As for the truth concerning the man, which you ask me, O king, for what purpose Nara and Nārāyaṇa were born among men as sages—
अवध्यौ च यथा वीरौ संयुगेष्वपराजितौ । यथा च पाण्डवा राजन्नवध्या युधि कस्यचित्
How those two heroes are invincible and undefeated in battle, and how, O king, the Pandavas are invincible by anyone in war—
प्रीतिमान्हि दृढं कृष्णः पाण्डवेषु यशस्विषु । तस्माद्ब्रवीमि राजेन्द्र शमो भवतु पाण्डवैः
For Kṛṣṇa holds firm affection for the illustrious Pandavas; therefore, O king of kings, I say: let there be peace with the Pandavas.
पृथिवीं भुङ्क्ष्व सहितो भ्रातृभिर्बलिभिर्वशी । नरानारायणौ देवाववज्ञाय नशिष्यसि
Enjoy the earth together with your powerful brothers, O ruler; if you disregard the divine Nara and Nārāyaṇa, you will perish.
एवमुक्त्वा तव पिता तूष्णीमासीद्विशांपते । व्यसर्जयच्च राजानं शयनं च विवेश ह
Having spoken thus, your father became silent, O lord of peoples; he dismissed the king and entered his bed.
राजा च शिबिरं प्रायात्प्रणिपत्य महात्मने । शिश्ये च शयने शुभ्रे रात्रिं तां भरतर्षभ
And the king went to his tent, having bowed to the great-souled one; he lay down on a pure bed that night, O bull among the Bharatas.
व्युषितायां तु शर्वर्यामुदिते च दिवाकरे। उभे सेने महाराज युद्धायैव समीयतुः
When the night had passed and the sun had risen, both armies, O king, gathered for battle.
अभ्यधावन्त संक्रुद्धाः परस्परजिगीषवः । ते सर्वे सहिता युद्धे समालोक्य परस्परम्
They rushed forward, enraged, each desiring victory over the other; all together, they met in battle, gazing at one another.
पाण्डवा धार्तराष्ट्राश्च राजन्दर्मन्त्रिते तव। व्यूहौ च व्यूह्य संरब्धाः संप्रहृष्टाः प्रहारिणः
The Pandavas and the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, O king, after consulting with their counselors, arrayed their troops, eager and delighted to fight.
अरक्षन्मकरव्यूहं भीष्मो राजन्समन्ततः । तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्नरक्षन्व्यूहमात्मनः
Bhīṣma, O king, protected the Makaravyūha on all sides; likewise, the Pandavas protected their own formation, O king.
अजातशत्रुः शत्रूणां मनांसि समकम्पयत्।' श्येनवद्व्यूह्य तं व्यूहं धौम्यस्य वचनात्स्वयम्
Ajātaśatru caused the minds of his enemies to tremble; he himself arranged that formation like a falcon, following Dhaumya's instructions.
स हि तस्य सुविज्ञात अग्निचित्येषु भारत। मकरस्तु महाव्यूहस्तव पुत्रस्य धीमतः
For he knew well its structure and the placement of fire, O Bhārata; the Makaravyūha was the great formation of your wise son.
स्वयं सर्वेण सैन्येन द्रोणेनानुमतस्तदा । यथाव्यूहं शान्तनवः सोऽन्ववर्तत तत्पुनः
With his entire army, and with Droṇa's approval, Śāntanu's son himself followed the formation as it was arranged.
स निर्ययौ महाराज पिता देवव्रतस्तव । महता रथवंशेन संवृतो रथिनां वरः
Then your father, O king, Devavrata, departed, surrounded by a great line of chariots, foremost among charioteers.
इतरेतरमन्वीयुर्यथाभागमवस्थिताः । रथिनः पत्तयश्चैव दन्तिनः सादिनस्तथा
They followed one another, each in their assigned place: charioteers, infantry, elephants, and cavalry likewise.
तान्दृष्ट्वाऽभ्युद्यतान्सङ्ख्ये पाण्डवा हि यशस्विनः । श्येनव्यूहेन संव्यूह्य समनह्यन्त संयुगे
Seeing those illustrious Pandavas advancing in battle, they arrayed themselves in the Garuda formation and prepared for combat.
अशोभत मुखे तस्य भीमसेनो महाबलः । नेत्रे शिखण्डी दुर्धर्षो धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः
At the head of that array stood Bhimasena, mighty in strength; at the two eyes were Shikhandi, difficult to defeat, and Dhrishtadyumna, son of Prishata.
शीर्षे तस्याभवद्वीरः सात्यकिः सत्यविक्रमः । विधुन्वन्गाण्डिवं पार्थो ग्रीवायामभवत्तदा
At its crown was the valiant Satyaki, steadfast in valor, and at the neck was Arjuna, wielding the Gandiva bow.
अक्षौहिण्या समं तत्र वामपक्षोऽभवत्तदा । महात्मा द्रुपदः श्रीमान्सह पुत्रेण संयुगे
On the left wing of that great army stood the noble Drupada, renowned and accompanied by his son in battle.