पाञ्चालाश्च मनोज्ञाभिर्वाग्भिः सूर्यमिवर्षयः। एं स्वशिबिरं प्रायाज्जित्वा शत्रून्धनञ्जयः
The Panchalas, with pleasing words like rays of the sun, praised him; thus Dhananjaya, having conquered his foes, returned to his own camp.
पृष्ठतः सर्वसैन्यानां मुदितो वै सकेशवः।। मसारगल्वर्कमुवर्णरूपैर्वज्रप्रवालस्फटिकैश्च मुख्यैः
Joyful, with Kesava, he followed behind all the armies.
चित्रे रथे पाण्डुसुतो बभासे नक्षत्रचित्रे वियतीव चन्द्रः
On his splendid chariot, the son of Pandu shone like the moon in a sky adorned with stars, with foremost gems of gold, coral, and crystal.
यज्वानः पुत्रिणो लोक्याः कृतकृत्यास्तनुत्यजः। योक्ष्यमाणास्तदाऽऽत्मानं यशसा विजयेन च
Those who performed sacrifices, had sons, were renowned in the world, had fulfilled their duties, and were about to cast off their bodies, then prepared themselves for glory and victory.
ब्रह्मचर्युश्रुतिमुखैः क्रतुभिश्चाप्तदक्षिणैः। प्राप्याँल्लोकान्सुयुद्धेन क्षिप्रमेव यियासवः
Having attained worlds through celibacy, study, sacrifices with abundant gifts, and noble battle, they now wished to depart quickly.
ब्राह्ममांस्तर्पयित्वा च निष्कान्दत्वा पृथक्पृथक्। गाश्च वासांसि च पुनः समाभाष्य परस्परम्
Having satisfied the Brahmanas and given up all claims, each separately, and having again exchanged cows and garments with one another,
द्विजमुख्यैः समुदितैः कृतस्वस्त्ययनाशिषः। मुदिताश्च प्रहृष्टाश्च जलं संस्पृश्य निर्मलम्
Surrounded by eminent twice-borns, who offered blessings and words of auspiciousness, joyful and elated, they touched pure water.
प्रज्वाल्य कृष्णवर्त्मानमुपागम्य रणव्रतम्। तस्मिन्नग्नौ तदा चक्रुः प्रतिज्ञां दृढनिश्चयाः
Having kindled a fire with blackened fuel, and approaching the vow of battle, then, with firm resolve, they made their pledges into that fire.
शृण्वतां सर्वभूतानामुच्चैर्वाचो बभाषिरे। सर्वे धनञ्जयवधे प्रतिज्ञां चापि चक्रिरे
In the hearing of all beings, they spoke loudly, and all made vows to slay Dhananjaya.
ये वै लोकाश्चाव्रतिनां ये चैव ब्रह्मघातिनाम्। मद्यपस्य च ये लोका गुरुदाररतस्य च
The worlds attained by those without vows, by slayers of Brahmins, by drunkards, and by those who violate their teacher's wife—
ब्रह्मस्वहारिणश्चैव राजपिण्डापहारिणः। शरणागतं च त्यजतो याचमानं तथा घ्नतः
By those who steal Brahmins' wealth, who steal the king's food, who abandon a supplicant seeking refuge, or who kill a beggar—
अगारदाहिनां चैव ये च गां निघ्नतामपि। अपकारिणां च ये लोका ये च ब्रह्मद्विषामपि
By those who burn houses, who kill cows, by wrongdoers, and by haters of Brahmins—
स्वभार्यामृतुकालेषु मोहाद्वै नाभिगच्छताम्। श्राद्धमैथुनिकानां च ये चाप्यात्मापहारिणाम्
By those who, out of delusion, do not approach their own wives at the proper time, by those who eat at Śrāddha or during intercourse, and by those who destroy themselves—
न्यासापहारिणां ये च श्रुतं नाशयतां च ये। क्लीबने युध्यमानानां ये च नीचानुसारिणाम्
By those who steal deposits, who destroy the Veda, by those who fight unmanfully, and by followers of the base—
नास्तिकानां च ये लोका येऽग्निमातृपितृत्यजाम्। तानाप्नुयामहे लोकान्ये च पापकृतामपि
By atheists, by those who abandon fire, mother, or father—may we attain those worlds, and also those of evildoers,
यद्यहत्वा वयं युद्धे निवर्तेम धनञ्जयम्। तेन चाभ्यर्दितास्त्रासाद्भवेमहि पराङ्मुखाः
If, without slaying Dhananjaya in battle, we turn back out of fear, pressed by him, may we reach those worlds.
यदि त्वसुकरं लोके कर्म कुर्याम संयुगे। इष्टाँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुयामो वयमद्य न संशयः
But if, in battle, we perform a deed difficult in this world, today we shall surely attain the desired worlds—of this there is no doubt.
एवमुक्त्वा तदा राजंस्तेऽभ्यवर्तन्त संयुगे। आह्वयन्तोऽर्जुनं वीराः पितृजुष्टां दिशं प्रति
Having spoken thus, O King, they then advanced into battle, calling out Arjuna, the heroes, toward the quarter favored by their ancestors.
आहूतस्तैर्नरव्याघ्रैः पार्थः परपुरञ्चयः। धर्मराजमिदं वाक्यमपदान्तरमब्रवीत्
Summoned by those tiger-like men, Partha, destroyer of enemy cities, spoke these words without deviation to King Yudhishthira.
आहूतो न निवर्तेयमिति मे व्रतमाहितम्। संशप्तकाश्च मां राजन्नाह्वयन्ति महामृधे
Summoned, I will not turn back—this is the vow I have undertaken. O King, the Saṃśaptakas are challenging me to great battle.
एष च भ्रातृभिः सार्धं सुशर्माऽऽह्वयते रणे। वधाय सगणस्यास्य मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
And here, with his brothers, Susharma calls me to battle, with his forces, for the purpose of my death; you should permit me.
नैतच्छक्नोमि संसोढुमाह्वानं पुरुषर्षभ। सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि हतान्विद्धि परान्युधि
I cannot endure this challenge, O best of men. I promise you truly: know that the enemies will be slain in battle.
श्रुतं ते तत्त्वतस्तात यद्द्रोणस्य चिकीर्षितम्। यथा तदनृतं तस्य भवेतत्त्वं समाचर
You have truly heard, father, what Drona intends; act in such a way that his plan becomes fruitless.
द्रोणो हि बलवाञ्शूरः कृतास्त्रश्च जितश्रमः। प्रतिज्ञातं च तेनैतद्ग्रहणं मे महारथ
For Drona is strong, heroic, skilled in weapons, tireless in battle, and he has vowed to capture me, O great chariot-warrior.
अयं वै सत्यजिद्राजन्नद्य त्वां रक्षिता युधि। ध्रियमाणे च पाञ्चाल्ये नाचार्यः काममाप्स्यति
O King, Satyajit will protect you today in battle; as long as Draupadi is held, the teacher will not fulfill his desire.
हते तु पुरुषव्याघ्रे रणे सत्यजिति प्रभो। सर्वैरपि समेतैर्वा न स्थातव्यं कथंचन
But if Satyajit, that tiger among men, is slain in battle, O lord, then even if all unite, none will be able to stand their ground.
अनुज्ञातस्ततो राज्ञा परिष्वक्तश्च फल्गुनः। प्रेम्णा दृष्टश्च बहुधा ह्याशिषश्चास्य योजिताः
Then, permitted by the king and embraced by Phalguna, he was greeted with affection and many blessings were bestowed upon him.
विहायैनं ततः पार्थस्त्रिगर्तान्प्रत्ययाद्बली। क्षुधितः क्षुद्विघातार्थं सिंहो मृगगणानिव
Leaving him, Partha went against the Trigartas, powerful and eager, like a hungry lion attacking a herd of deer to satisfy its hunger.
ततो दौर्योधनं सैन्यं मुदा परमया युतम्। ऋतेऽर्जुनं भृशं क्रुद्धं धर्मराजस्य निग्रहे
Then the army of Duryodhana, filled with great joy, except for Arjuna, became fiercely angry to restrain Dharmaraja.
ततोऽन्योन्येन ते सैन्ये समाजग्मतुरोजसा। गङ्गासरय्वौ वेगेन प्रावृषीवोल्बणोदके
Then those armies rushed at each other with force, like the Ganga and Sarasvati rivers surging together in the rainy season with turbulent waters.