सात्यकिश्चेकितानश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। कुन्तिभोजश्च विक्रान्तो द्रुपदश्च महारथः
Satyaki, Chekitana, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, the valiant Kuntibhoja, and Drupada the great chariot-warrior,
आर्जुनिः क्षत्रधर्मा च बृहत्क्षत्रश्च वीर्यवान्। चेदिपो धृष्टकेतुश्च माद्रीपुत्रौ घटोत्कचः
Arjuna, steadfast in the warrior's duty, Brihatkshatra the mighty, the Chedi king Dhrishtaketu, the sons of Madri, and Ghatotkacha,
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्तः शिखण्डी चापराजितः। उतक्तमौजाश्च दुर्धर्षो विराटश्च महारथः
Yudhāmanyu the valiant, Shikhandi the undefeated, Uttamauja the formidable, and Virata the great chariot-warrior,
द्रौपदेयाश्च संरब्धाः शैशुपालिश्च वीर्यवान्। केकयाश्च महावीर्याः सृञ्जयाश्च सहस्रशः
The sons of Draupadi, eager for battle, Shishupala's powerful son, the mighty Kekayas, and the Sringayas by the thousands,
एते चान्ये च सगणाः कृतास्त्रा युद्धदुर्मदाः। समभ्यधावन्सहसा भारद्वाजं युयुत्सवः
These and others, with their retinues, skilled in weapons and fierce in battle, rushed together toward Bharadvaja, eager for combat.
समीपे वर्तमानांस्तान्भारद्वाजोऽतिवीर्यवान्। असम्भ्रान्तः शरौघेण महता समवारयत्
Bharadvaja, of immense prowess, seeing them close by, calmly repelled them with a great shower of arrows.
महौघः सलिलस्येव गिरिमासाद्य दुर्भिदम्। द्रोणं ते नाभ्यवर्तन्त वेलामिव जलाशयाः
Like a mighty flood striking an unbreakable mountain, they could not advance upon Drona, just as waters cannot cross the shore.
पीड्यमानाः शरै राजन्द्रोणचापविनिःसृतैः। न शेकुः प्रमुखे स्थातुं भारद्वाजस्य पाण्डवाः
Afflicted by arrows released from the bows of the king and Drona, the Pandavas could not stand firm before Bharadvaja.
तदद्भुतमपश्याम द्रोणस्य भुजयोर्बलम्। यदेनं नाभ्यवर्तन्त पाञ्चालाः सृञ्जयैः सह
We witnessed the wondrous strength of Drona's arms, for neither the Panchalas nor the Sringayas could advance upon him.
तमायान्तमभिक्रुद्धं द्रोणं दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरः। बहुधा चिन्तयामास द्रोणस्य प्रतिवारणम्
Seeing Drona advancing in wrath, Yudhishthira pondered deeply on how to withstand him.
अशक्यं तु तमन्येन द्रोणं मत्त्वा युधिष्ठिरः। अविषह्यं गुर भारं सौभद्रे समवासृजत्
Recognizing that none other could overcome Drona, Yudhishthira, unable to bear the burden, sent forth Subhadra's son.
वासुदेवादनवरं फल्गुनाच्चामितौजसम्। अब्रवीत्परवीरघ्नमभिमन्युमिदं वचः
Having received unceasing support from Vasudeva and the mighty Arjuna, he spoke these words to Abhimanyu, slayer of enemy heroes:
एत्य नो नार्जुनो गर्हेद्यथा तात तथा कुरु। द्रोणानीकस्य न वयं विद्मो भेदं कथञ्चन
Go forth, dear one, lest Arjuna reproach us; do as he would. We do not know how to break Drona's formation in any way.
त्वं वाऽर्जुनो वा कृष्णो वा भिन्द्यात्प्रद्युम्न एव वा। द्रोणानीकं महाबाहो पञ्चमो नोपपद्यते
Either you, Arjuna, Krishna, or Pradyumna may break Drona's array, O mighty-armed one; a fifth cannot accomplish this.
अभिमन्यो वरं तात याचे त्वां दातुमर्हसि। पितॄणां मातुलानां च सैन्यानां चैव सर्वशः
Abhimanyu, dear child, I ask you for this boon—to grant it for the sake of our fathers, uncles, and all our armies.
धनञ्जयो हि नस्तात गर्हयेदेत्य संयुगात्। क्षिप्रमस्त्रं समादाय द्रोणानीकं विशातय
For Dhananjaya would reproach us if he returned from battle; quickly take up your weapons and penetrate Drona's formation.
द्रोणस्य दृढमत्युग्रमनीकप्रवरं युधि। पितॄणां जयमाकाङ्क्षन्नवगाहेऽविलम्बितम्
Desiring victory for our fathers, I will enter without delay into Drona’s formidable and exceedingly fierce foremost battle-array.
उपदिष्टो हि मे पित्रा योगोऽनीकविशातने। नोत्सहे हि विनिर्गन्तुमहं कस्याञ्चिदापदि
For my father has instructed me in the method of penetrating battle-formations; I am not able to withdraw from any calamity.
भिन्ध्यनीकं युधांश्चेष्ठ द्वारं सञ्जनयस्व नः। वयं त्वाऽनुगमिष्यामो येन त्वं तात यास्यसि
Break through the enemy’s array in battle and open a path for us; we will follow you, father, wherever you go.
धनञ्जयसमं युद्धे त्वां वयं तात संयुते। प्रणिधायानुयास्यामो रक्षन्तः सर्वतोमुखाः
In battle, father, we will follow you, equal to Dhananjaya in combat, keeping close and protecting you on all sides.
अहं त्वाऽनुगमिष्यामि धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ सात्यकिः। पाञ्चलाः केकया मात्स्यास्तथा सर्वे प्रभद्रकाः
I will follow you, as will Dhrishtadyumna and Satyaki, the Panchalas, Kekayas, Matsyas, and all the Prabhadrakas.
सकृद्भिन्नं त्वया व्यूहं तत्र तत्र पुनः पुनः। वयं प्रध्वंसयिष्यामो निघ्नामाना वरान्वरान्
Whenever you break the formation, again and again in various places, we will destroy the foremost warriors who come to attack us.
अहमेतत्प्रवेक्ष्यामि द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम्। पतङ्ग इव सङ्क्रुद्धो ज्वलितं जातवेदसम्
I will enter this impenetrable Drona’s array, like an enraged moth rushing into blazing fire.
तत्कर्माद्य करिष्यामि हितं यद्वंशयोर्द्वयोः। मातुलस्य च यत्प्रीतिं करिष्यति पितुश्च मे
Today I will perform that deed which will benefit both our lineages, and which will bring joy to my uncle and my father.
शिशुनैकेन सङ्ग्रमे काल्यमानानि सङ्घशः। द्रक्ष्यन्ति सर्वभूतानि द्विषत्सैन्यानि वै मया
All beings will see, in this battle, the enemy armies being harassed in groups by me alone, though but a youth.
नाहं पार्थेन जातः स्यां न च जातः सुभद्रया। यदि मे संयुगे कश्चिज्जीवितो नाद्य मुच्यते
I would not be born of Partha, nor of Subhadra, if today in battle I allow any enemy to escape alive.
यदि चैकरथेनाहं समग्रं क्षत्रमण्डलम्। न करोम्यष्टधा युद्धे न भवाम्यर्जुनात्मजः
If with a single chariot I do not shatter the entire Kshatriya host into eight parts in battle, I am not truly Arjuna’s son.
एवं ते भाषमाणस्य बलं सौभद्र वर्धताम्। यत्समुत्सहसे भेत्तुं द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम्
As you speak thus, O Saubhadra, may your strength increase, since you are determined to break Drona’s impenetrable array.
रक्षितं पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्महेष्वासैर्महाबलै। साध्यरुद्रमरुत्तुल्यैर्वस्वग्न्यादित्यविक्रमैः
It is guarded by tiger-like men, great archers of immense might, equal to the Sadhyas, Rudras, and Maruts, with the valor of Vasus, Agni, and Aditya.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स यन्तारमचोदयत्
Hearing these words, he urged his charioteer onward.