समागम्य महाराज मन्त्रं चक्रुर्विवक्षितम् । कथं पाण्डुसुताः सङ्ख्ये जेतव्याः सगणा इति
Having assembled, O great king, they held a deliberate council, discussing how the sons of Pandu, together with their allies, might be defeated in battle.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा सर्वांस्तानाह मन्त्रिणः । सूतपुत्रं समाभाष्य सौबलं च महाबलम्
Then King Duryodhana addressed all those counselors, speaking to the son of the charioteer and the mighty son of Subala.
द्रोणो भीष्म कृपः शल्यः सौमदत्तिश्च संयुगे। न पार्थान्प्रति बाधन्ते न जाने किंनु कारणम्
Drona, Bhishma, Kripa, Shalya, and Saumadatti in battle do not press hard against the sons of Pritha; I do not know what the reason is.
अवध्यमानास्ते चापि क्षपयन्ति बलं मम। सोऽस्मि क्षीणबलः कर्ण क्षीणशस्त्रश्च संयुगे
Though they are not being slain, they are destroying my army; thus, I am left with depleted forces, Karna, and my weapons are exhausted in battle.
द्रोणस्य प्रमुखे वीरा हतास्ते भ्रातरो मम। भीमसेनेन राधेय मम चैव च पश्यतः
In the presence of Drona, my brothers—heroes—have been slain by Bhimasena, O son of Radha, even as I myself looked on.
निकृतः पाण्डवैः शूरैरवध्यैर्दैवतैरपि । सोऽहं संशयमापन्नः प्रकरिष्ये कथं रणम्
I have been outmaneuvered by the valiant Pandavas, who are invincible even to the gods; thus, I am plunged into doubt—how shall I continue this war?
तमब्रवीन्महाराज सूतपुत्रो नराधिपम् । मा शोच भरतश्रेष्ठ करिष्येऽहं प्रियं तव
To him, the son of the charioteer spoke, O king, addressing the lord of men: 'Do not grieve, best of the Bharatas; I will accomplish what is dear to you.'
भीष्मः शान्तनवस्तूर्णमपयातु महारणात् । निवृत्ते युधि गाङ्गेये न्यस्तशस्त्रे च भारत
Let Bhishma, son of Shantanu, swiftly withdraw from the great battle; when the son of Ganga ceases fighting and lays down his arms, O Bharata—
अहं पार्थान्हनिष्यामि सहितान्सर्वसोमकैः । पश्यतो युधि भीष्मस्य शपे सत्येन ते नृप
I will slay the sons of Pritha, together with all the Somakas, in battle as Bhishma looks on; I swear this to you in truth, O king.
पाण्डवेषु दयां नित्यं स हि भीष्मः करोति वै। अशक्तश्च रणे भीष्मो जेतुमेतान्महारथान्
For Bhishma always shows compassion toward the Pandavas, and he is unable to conquer these great chariot-warriors in battle.
अभिमानी रणे भीष्मो नित्यं चापि रणप्रियः । स कथं पाण्डवान्युद्धे जेष्यते तात संगतान्
Bhishma is proud in battle and always delights in war; how then, father, will he defeat the united Pandavas in combat?
स त्वं शीघ्रमितो गत्वा भीष्मस्य शिबिरं प्रति । अनुमान्य गुरुं वृद्धं शस्त्रं न्यासय भारत
Therefore, go quickly from here to Bhishma's camp; having obtained the consent of the venerable elder, make him lay down his weapons, O Bharata.
न्यस्तशस्त्रे ततो भीष्मे निहतान्पश्य पाण्डवान् । मयैकेन रणे राजन्ससुहृद्गणबान्धवान्
When Bhishma has laid down his arms, then behold the Pandavas, along with their friends, allies, and kinsmen, slain by me alone in battle, O king.
एवमुक्तस्तु कर्णेन पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव । अब्रवीद्भ्रातरं तत्र दुःशासनमिदं वचः
Thus addressed by Karna, your son Duryodhana then spoke these words to his brother Duhshasana there.
अनुयात्रं यथा सर्वं सज्जीभवति सर्वशः । दुःशासन तथा क्षिप्रं सर्वमेवोपपादय
'See to it, Duhshasana, that all the arrangements for the march are made ready in every way, and do so quickly.'
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्कर्णमाह जनेश्वरः । अनुमान्य रणे भीष्ममेषोऽहं द्विपदां वरम्
Having spoken thus, the king then said to Karna, 'Having obtained Bhishma's consent in battle, I will come to you, best among men.'
आगमिष्ये ततः क्षिप्रं त्वत्सकाशमरिन्दम। अपक्रान्ते ततो भीष्मे प्रहरिष्यसि संयुगे
'After that, I will quickly come to you, subduer of foes; when Bhishma has withdrawn, you shall strike in battle.'
निष्पपात ततस्तूर्णं पुत्रस्तव विशांपते । सहितो भ्रातृभिस्तैस्तु देवैरिव शतक्रतुः
Then your son, O lord of the people, swiftly set out, accompanied by his brothers, like Shakra among the gods.
ततस्तं नृपशार्दूलं शार्दूलसमविक्रमम् । आरोपयद्धयं तूर्णं भ्राता दुःशासनस्तदा
Then, Duhshasana swiftly mounted that tiger among men, whose valor was like a tiger's.
अङ्गदी बद्धमुकुटो हस्ताभरणवान्नृप । धार्तराष्ट्रो महाराज विबभौ स पथि व्रजन्
The son of Dhritarashtra, adorned with armlets, a fastened crown, and ornaments on his hands, shone as he proceeded along the road, O King.
भण्डीपुष्पनिकाशेन तपनीयनिभेन च। अनुलिप्तः परार्द्ध्येन चन्दनेन सुगन्धिना
He was anointed with excellent, fragrant sandalwood paste, bright as gold and resplendent like a garland of Bhandi flowers.
अरजोम्बरसंवीतः सिंहखेलगतिर्नृप । शुशुभे विमलार्चिष्मान्नभसीव दिवाकरः
Clad in spotless garments, moving with the gait of a lion, he shone with pure radiance like the sun in the sky.
तं प्रयान्तं नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मस्य शिबिरं प्रति । अनुजग्मुर्महेष्वासाः सर्वलोकस्य धन्विनः । भ्रातरश्च महेष्वासास्त्रिदशा इव वासवम्
As that tiger among men went toward Bhishma's camp, mighty archers and all the bowmen of the world followed him, and his brothers, great archers, surrounded him like the gods surround Indra.
हयानन्ये समारुह्य गजानन्ये च भारत । रथानन्ये नरश्रेष्ठं परिवव्रुः समन्ततः
Some mounted horses, others elephants, and others chariots, and they encircled that best of men on all sides, O Bharata.
पदातयश्च त्वरिता नखरप्रासयोधिनः। परिवव्रुर्महेष्वासं धार्तराष्ट्रं महारथम्
Swift foot-soldiers, armed with claws and spears, surrounded that great archer, the son of Dhritarashtra, the mighty chariot-warrior.
आत्तशस्त्राश्च सुहृदो रक्षणार्थं महीपतेः । प्रादुर्बभूवुः सहिताः शक्रस्येवामरा दिवि
His friends, weapons in hand, appeared together for the king's protection, like the immortals for Shakra in heaven.
स पूज्यमानः कुरुभिः कौरवाणां महाबलः । प्रययौ सदनं राजा गाङ्गेयस्य यशस्विनः । अन्वीयमानः सततं सोदरैः परिवारितः
Honored by the Kurus, that mighty lord of the Kauravas went to the illustrious Ganga-born's residence, always attended by his brothers.
दक्षिणं दक्षिणः काले संभृत्य स्वभुजं तदा। हस्तिहस्तोपमं सौम्यं सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणम्
At that time, he respectfully raised his right arm, strong as an elephant's trunk, the destroyer of all enemies.
प्रगृह्णन्नञ्जलीन्नॄणामुद्यतान्सर्वतो दिशः। शुश्राव मधुरा वाचो नानादेशनिवासिनाम्
He accepted the raised greetings of the people from all directions, and listened to their sweet words, spoken by those from many lands.
संस्तूयमानः सूतैश्च मागधैश्च महायशाः। पूजयानश्च तान्सर्वान्सर्वलोकेश्वरेश्वरः
Praised by bards and Magadhas, that highly renowned lord honored them all, he who was lord of all the world.