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.
यानि त्वं पश्यसे राजन्धर्मसंकरकारणात्। तव दोषात्पुरा वृत्तं द्यूतमेतद्विशांपते
What you see, O King, as arising from the cause of confusion of dharma, happened before due to your fault—this gambling, O lord of men.
तव दोषेण युद्दं च प्रवृत्तं सह पाण्डवैः । त्वमेवाद्य फलं भुङ्क्ष्व कृत्वा किल्बिषमात्मना
Because of your fault, this war with the Pandavas has begun; now, having committed this sin yourself, you alone must bear its fruit.
आत्मना हि कृतं कर्म आत्मनैवोपभुज्यते। इह वा प्रेत्य वा राजंस्त्वया प्राप्तं यथातथम्
For the act done by oneself is surely enjoyed by oneself, whether here or hereafter, O King; you have received what is fitting.
तस्माद्राजन्स्थिरो भूत्वा प्राप्येदं व्यसनं महत्। शृणु युद्धं यथा वृत्तं शंसतो मे नराधिप
Therefore, O King, be steadfast, having met with this great calamity; listen as I recount to you how the battle took place, O lord of men.
भीमसेनः सुनिशितैर्बाणैर्भित्त्वा महाचमूम् । आससाद ततो वीरः सर्वान्दुर्योधनानुजान्
Bhimasena, piercing the great army with sharp arrows, then approached all the brothers of Duryodhana, O hero.
दुःशासनं दुर्विषहं दुःसहं दुर्मदं जयम्। जयत्सेनं विकर्णं च चित्रसेनं सुदर्शनम्
He faced Duhshasana, Durvishaha, Duhsaha, Durmada, Jayam, Jayatsena, Vikarna, Citrasena, and Sudarshana.
चारुचित्रं सुवर्माणं दुष्कर्णं कर्णमेव च । एतांश्चान्यांश्च सुबहून्समीपस्थान्महारथान्
Charucitra, Suvarmana, Dushkarna, Karna himself, and many other great chariot-warriors standing nearby—he confronted all these.
धार्तराष्ट्रान्सुसंक्रुद्धान्दृष्ट्वा भीमो महारथः । भीष्मेण समरे गुप्तां प्रविवेश महाचमूम्
Seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra, fierce and enraged, Bhima the mighty chariot-warrior entered the great army, which was protected in battle by Bhishma.
अथालोक्य प्रविष्टं तमूचुस्ते सर्व एव तु । जीवग्राहं निगृह्णीमो वयमेनं नराधिपाः
Then, seeing him enter, all those kings said, 'Let us seize him alive!'
स तैः परिवृतः पार्थो भ्रातृभिः कृतनिश्चयैः । प्रजासंहरणे सूर्यः क्रूरैरिव महाग्रहैः
Surrounded by those determined brothers, Partha was like the sun encircled by fierce planets at the time of the destruction of creatures.