अभिद्येतां ततो व्यूहौ तस्मिन्वीरवरक्षये। आसीद्व्यतिकरो घोरस्तव तेषां च भारत
Then, as the formations of heroes were being destroyed, a terrible and intense conflict arose between your forces and theirs, O Bhārata.
तदद्भुतमपश्याम तावकानां परैः सह । एकायनगताः सर्वे यदयुध्यन्त भारत
We saw a wondrous thing, O Bhārata: all your men, though gathered together in one place, fought with the enemy as one.
प्रतिसंवार्य चास्त्राणि तेऽन्योन्यस्य विशांपते । युयुधुः पाण्डवाश्चैव कौरवाश्च महाबलाः
Having countered each other's weapons, the mighty Pāṇḍavas and Kauravas fought on, O lord of men.
एवं बहुगुणं सैन्यमेवं बहुविधं परम्। व्यूढमेवं यथाशास्त्रममोघं चैव सञ्जय
Thus, O Sañjaya, the army was vast and of many kinds, arrayed in many ways, drawn up according to the science of war, and unfailing.
जुष्टमस्माकमत्यन्तमभिकामं च नः सदा । प्रहृष्टं व्यसनोपेतं पुरस्ताद्दृष्टविक्रमम्
It was entirely filled with our eager warriors, always zealous, delighted yet beset by adversity, and displaying valor at the front.
नातिवृद्धमबालं च न कृशं न च पीवरम् । लघुवृत्तायतप्रायं सागराकारमव्ययम्
It was neither too old nor too young, neither too thin nor too stout, mostly of medium build and length, vast as the ocean and inexhaustible.
आत्तसन्नाहशस्त्रं च बहुशस्त्रपरिग्रहम् । असियुद्धे नियुद्धे च गदायुद्धे च कोविदम्
They were equipped with armor and weapons, skilled in handling many arms, and adept in sword-fighting, wrestling, and mace combat.
प्रासर्ष्टितोमरेष्वाजौ परिघेष्वायसेषु च । भिण्डिपालेषु शक्तीषु मुसलेषु च सर्वशः
They were proficient in the use of spears, darts, javelins, iron clubs, slings, lances, and maces of every kind in battle.
कम्पनेषु च चापेषु कणपेषु च सर्वशः । क्षेणणीयेषु चित्रेषु मुष्टयुद्धेषु च क्षमम्
They were skilled in the use of bows, arrows, and all types of projectiles, as well as in hand-to-hand combat and contests of strength.
अपरोक्षं च विद्यासु व्यायामे च कृतश्रमम् । शस्त्रग्रहणविद्यासु सर्वासु परिनिष्ठितम्
They were directly trained in all branches of knowledge, practiced in physical exercise, and thoroughly accomplished in all the arts of weaponry.
आरोहे पर्यवस्कन्दे सरणे सान्तरप्लुते । सम्यक्प्रहरणे याने व्यपयाने च कोविदम्
They were skilled in mounting, dismounting, advancing, leaping, striking accurately, maneuvering vehicles, and retreating.
नागाश्वरथयानेषु बहुशः सुपरीक्षितम् । परीक्ष्य च यथान्यायं वेतनेनोपपादितम्
They were repeatedly tested in the driving of elephants, horses, and chariots, and were appointed after proper examination and with due wages.
न गोष्ठ्या नोपकारेण न च बन्धुनिमित्ततः । न सौहृदबलैर्वापि नाकुलीनपरिग्रहैः
They were not chosen for their group, nor by favor, nor because of kinship, nor by bonds of friendship or family connections.
समृद्धजनमार्यं च तुष्टसंबन्धिबान्धवम् । कृतोपकारभूयिष्ठं यशस्वि च मनस्वि च
They were prosperous, noble, content with their relatives and friends, grateful for favors received, renowned, and high-minded.
स्वजनैस्तु नरैर्मुख्यैर्बहुशो दृष्टकर्मभिः । लोकपालोपमैस्तात पालितं लोकविश्रुतम्
They were led by eminent men of their own people, whose deeds were well known, protectors like the guardians of the world, famed throughout the land.
बहुभिः क्षत्रियैर्गुप्तं पृथिव्यां लोकसंमतैः । अस्मानभिगतैः कामात्सबलैः सपदानुगैः
They were guarded by many Kṣatriyas, approved by the world, who had come to us willingly, with their full forces and followers.
महोदधिमिवापूर्णमापगाभिः समन्ततः । अपक्षपक्षिसंकाशै रथैर्नागैश्च संवृतम्
Like the great ocean filled on all sides by rivers, it was surrounded by chariots and elephants resembling birds with wings.
नानायोधजलं भीमं वाहनोर्मितरङ्गिणम्। क्षेपण्यसिगदाशक्तिशरप्राससामाकुलम्
Teeming with warriors, dreadful, its vehicles like waves surging, crowded with missiles, swords, maces, spears, arrows, and lances.
ध्वजभूषणसंबाधं रत्नपट्टसुसंचितम् । परिधावद्भिरश्वैश्च वायुवेगविकम्पितम्
Thick with banners and ornaments, adorned with jeweled sashes, shaken by horses running about with the speed of the wind.
अपारमिव गर्जन्तं सागरप्रतिमं महत्। द्रोणभीष्मासिसंगप्तं गुप्तं च कृतवर्मणा
Vast as the ocean, roaring, seemingly without limit, protected by Drona and Bhishma’s sword, and guarded by Kritavarma.
कृपदुःशासनाभ्यां च जयद्रथमुखैस्तथा । भगदत्तविकर्णाभ्यां द्रौणिसौबलबाह्लिकैः
Also shielded by Kripa and Duhshasana, by Jayadratha and others, by Bhagadatta and Vikarna, by Drona’s son, Saubala, and the Bahlikas.
गुप्तं प्रवीरैर्लौकैश्च सारवद्भिर्महात्मभिः । यदहन्यत सैन्यं मे दिष्टमत्र परायणम्
Guarded by mighty and noble warriors, skilled and wise, yet my army was destroyed here, as fate would have it.
नैतादृशं समुद्योगं दृष्टवन्तो हि मानुषाः । ऋषयो वा महाभागाः पुराणा भुवि सञ्जय
Such a great effort has never been seen by men, nor even by the ancient, blessed sages on earth, O Sanjaya.
ईदृशोऽपि बलौघस्तु संयुक्तः शस्त्रसंपदा । वध्यते यत्र संग्रामे किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
Even such a mass of force, equipped with all weapons, is slain in battle—what else is this but destiny?
विपरीतमिदं सर्वं प्रतिभाति हि सञ्जय । यत्रेदृशं बलं घोरं नावधीद्युधि पाण्डवान्
All this appears reversed to me, Sanjaya, that such a terrible army did not destroy the Pandavas in battle.
पाण्डवार्थाय नियतं देवास्तत्र समागताः । युध्यन्ते मामकं सैन्यं यथाऽवध्यत सञ्जय
Surely, for the sake of the Pandavas, the gods themselves assembled there; they fought my army, and so it was destroyed, Sanjaya.
उक्तोऽपि विदुरेणाहं हितं पथ्यं च नित्यशः । न च जग्राह तन्मन्दः पुत्रो दुर्योधनो मम
Though Vidura always spoke to me what was beneficial and wholesome, my foolish son Duryodhana did not heed it.
तथ्यां मन्ये मतिं तस्य सर्वज्ञस्य महात्मनः । आसीत्तथाऽऽगतं तात येन दृष्टमिदं पुरा
I consider the counsel of that all-knowing, great-souled one to have been true; what has come to pass was seen by him long ago.
अथवा भाव्यमेवं हि संजयैतेन सर्वथा । पुरा धात्रा यथा दिष्टं तत्तथा न तदन्यथा
Or perhaps, Sanjaya, it was destined to be so in every way; what was ordained by the Creator long ago must happen thus, and not otherwise.
आत्मदोषात्त्वया राजन्प्राप्तं व्यसनमीदृशम् । न हि दुर्योधनस्तानि पश्यते भरतर्षभ
Because of your own fault, O King, you have come to this disaster; for Duryodhana does not see these things, O bull among the Bharatas.