तस्य नप्तारमायान्तं शैब्यं कः समवारयत्। द्रोणायाभिमुखं यत्तं व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम्
Who could have stopped Shaibya, his grandson, as he advanced, facing Drona like Death itself with mouth agape?
विराटस्य रथानीकं मत्स्यस्यामित्रघातिनः। प्रेप्सन्तं समरे द्रोणं के वीराः पर्यवारयन्
Who were the heroes that surrounded Drona in battle, when he sought to seize the chariot division of Virata, the king of the Matsyas, slayer of foes?
सद्यो वृकोदराज्जातो महाबलपराक्रमः। मायावी राक्षसो वीरो यस्मान्मम महद्भयम्
From Vrikodara was born at once a mighty and valiant Rakshasa, skilled in illusion, a hero who became the source of great fear for me.
पार्थानां जयकामं तं तं पुत्राणां मम कण्टकम्। घटोत्कचं महात्मानं कस्तं द्रोणादवारयत्
Who could restrain Ghatotkacha, the great-souled one, the thorn in the side of my sons, who sought the victory of the sons of Pritha?
एते चान्ये च बहवो येषामजितं युधि। त्यक्तारः संयुगे प्राणान्किं तेषामजितं युधि
These and many others, unconquered in battle, who have given up their lives in combat—how can they be defeated in war?
येषां च पुरुषव्याघ्रः शार्ङ्गधन्वा व्यपाश्रयः।। लोकानां गुरुरत्यर्थं लोकनाथः सनातनः
Those whose refuge is the tiger among men, the wielder of the Sharnga bow, the supreme teacher of the worlds, the eternal lord of all beings—
नारायणोरणे नाथो दिव्यो दिव्यात्मकः प्रभुः।। यस्य दिव्यानि कर्माणि प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः
Narayana, the divine, the lord in battle, whose deeds are celebrated as wondrous by the wise—
तान्यहं कीर्तयिष्यामि भक्त्या स्थैर्यार्थमात्मनः
I will recount those deeds with devotion, to steady my own heart.
तथा गदश्च साम्बश्च प्रद्युम्नोऽथ विदूरथः। अगावहोऽनिरुद्धश्च चारुदेष्णः ससारणः
Thus Gada, Samba, Pradyumna, Viduratha, Agavaha, Aniruddha, Charudesna, and Sarana—
उल्मुको निशठश्चैव झिल्ली बभ्रुश्च वीर्यवान्। पृथुश्च विपृथुश्चैव शमीङ्कोऽथारिमेजयः
Ulmuka, Nishatha, Jhilli, the valiant Babhru, Prithu, Viprithu, Shaminka, and Arimejaya—
एतेऽन्ये बलवन्तश्च वृष्णिवीराः प्रहारिणः। कथंचित्पाण्जवानीकं श्रयेयुः समरे स्थिताः
These and other powerful Vrishni heroes, skilled in battle, might somehow join the Pandava army as it stands in the field.
आहूता वृष्णिवीरेण केशवेन महात्मना। ततः संशयितं सर्वे भवेदिति मतिर्मम
If summoned by the Vrishni hero, the great-souled Kesava, then I think all would become uncertain.
नागायुतबलो वीरः कैलासशिखरोपमः। वनमाली हली रामस्तत्र यत्र जनार्दनः
There is the mighty Rama, strong as ten thousand elephants, resembling the peak of Mount Kailasa, garlanded with forest flowers and bearing the plough, wherever Janardana is.
यमाहुः सर्वपितरं वासुदेवं द्विजातयः। अपि वा ह्येष पाण्डूनां योत्स्यतेऽर्थाय सञ्जय
He whom the twice-born call the father of all, Vasudeva—will he, Sanjaya, fight for the sake of the Pandavas?
स यदा तात सन्नह्येत्पाण्डवार्थाय सञ्जय। न तदा प्रतिसंयोद्धा भविता तत्र कश्चन
When, dear Sanjaya, he sets his mind upon the cause of the Pandavas, then none there will be able to withstand him in battle.
यदि स्म कुरवः सर्वे जयेयुर्नाम पाण्डवान्। वार्ष्णेयोऽर्थाय तेषां वै गृह्णीयाच्छस्त्रमुत्तमम्
If indeed all the Kurus were to defeat the Pandavas, then the Vrishni hero would take up the supreme weapon for their sake.
ततः सर्वान्नरव्याघ्रो हत्वा नरपतीन्रणे। कौरवांश्च महाबाहुःकुन्त्यै दद्यात्स मेदिनीम्
Then, that tiger among men, having slain all the kings in battle, the mighty-armed one would give the earth to Kunti, along with the Kauravas.
यस्य यन्ता हृषीकेशो योद्धा यस्य धनञ्जयः। रथस्य तस्य कः सङ्ख्ये प्रत्यनीको भवेद्रथः
Whose charioteer is Hrishikesha, whose warrior is Dhananjaya—who in battle could stand against such a chariot?
न केनचिदुपायेन कुरूणां दृश्यते जयः। तस्मान्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व यथा युद्धमवर्तत
By no means does victory for the Kurus appear possible; therefore, tell me everything, how the battle unfolded.
अर्जुनः केशवस्यात्मा कृष्णोऽप्यात्मा किरीटिनः। अर्जुने विजयो नित्यं कृष्णे कीर्तिश्च शाश्वती
Arjuna is the soul of Kesava, and Krishna is the soul of the diademed one; in Arjuna is constant victory, and in Krishna is eternal glory.
सर्वेष्वपि च लोकेषु बीभत्सुरपराजितः। प्राधान्येनैव भूयिष्ठममेयाः केशवे गुणाः
In all the worlds, Bhībhatsu is unconquered; yet, above all, the immeasurable virtues are found in Kesava.
मोहाद्दुर्योधनः कृष्णं यो न वेत्तीह केशवम्। मोहितो दैवयोगेन मृत्युपाशपुरस्कृतः
Out of delusion, Duryodhana does not recognize Krishna, the son of Keshava; bewildered by divine fate, he is bound by the noose of death.
न वेद कृष्णं दाशार्हमर्जुनं चैव पाण्डवम्। पूर्वदेवौ महात्मानौ नरनारायणावुभौ
He does not know Krishna of the Dasharhas, nor Arjuna the Pandava—both great souls, former gods, Nara and Narayana.
एकात्मानौ द्विधाभूतौ दृश्येते मानवैर्भुवि। मनसापि हि दुर्धर्षौ सेनामेतां यशस्विनौ
Though appearing as two, they are one in essence, seen by men upon the earth; even in thought, these illustrious ones are unconquerable by armies.
नाशयेतामिहेच्छन्तौ मानुषत्वाच्च नेच्छतः। युगस्येव विपर्यासो लोकानामिव मोहनम्
If they wished, they could destroy everything here, but due to their humanity, they do not wish it; it is as if the ages are reversed, as if the worlds are deluded.
भीष्मस्य च वधस्तात द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः। न ह्येव ब्रह्मचर्येण न वेदाध्ययनेन च
The death of Bhishma and of the great-souled Drona, O Sanjaya, cannot be avoided by celibacy nor by study of the Vedas.
न क्रियाभिर्न चास्त्रेण मृत्योः कश्चिन्निर्वायते। लोकसम्भावितौ वीरौ कृतास्त्रौ युद्धदुर्मदौ
Nor by rituals nor by weapons can anyone escape death; those two heroes, honored by the world, skilled in arms, fierce in battle.
भीष्मद्रोणौ हतौ श्रुत्वा किन्नु जीवामि सञ्जय। यां तां श्रियमसूयामः पुरा दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरे
Hearing of Bhishma and Drona slain, Sanjaya, how can I live? That prosperity which we once envied, seeing it in Yudhishthira.
अद्य तामनुजानीमो भीष्मद्रोणवधेन ह। मत्कृते चाप्यनुप्राप्तः कुरूणामेष सङ्क्षयः
Today, we must accept it, with the death of Bhishma and Drona; and for my sake, this destruction of the Kurus has come about.
पक्वानां हि वधे सूत वज्रायन्ते तृणान्युत। अनन्तमिदमैश्वर्यं लोके प्राप्तो युधिष्ठिरः
When the ripe are struck down, O charioteer, even grass becomes like thunderbolts; Yudhishthira has attained boundless sovereignty in the world.