अथ शङ्ख्यैश्च भेरीभिः पणवैः सैनिकास्तथा। ससूतमागधा जिष्णुं स्तुतिभिः समपूजयन्
Then, with conches, drums, and tabors, the soldiers, along with bards and minstrels, honored Jishnu with praises.
तदा भीमं बलं सर्वे तेन नादेन मोहितम्। तावकं तन्महाराज विषण्णं समपद्यत
At that time, O great king, all your army was bewildered by that sound, and Bhīma’s force became downcast.
निमित्ते दूरपातित्वे लघुत्वे दृढवेधने। मम ब्रवीतु भगवान्विशेषं फल्गुनस्य च
Let the venerable one tell me the special qualities of Phālguna’s arrows—their range, swiftness, and firmness of penetration.
विद्याविशेषमिच्छामि ज्ञातुमाचार्य तत्त्वतः। अर्जुनस्यात्मनश्चैव याथातथ्यं प्रचक्ष्व मे
O teacher, I wish to know in truth the special knowledge—tell me accurately the reality of Arjuna’s and my own abilities.
सममाचार्यकं तात तव चैवार्जुनस्य च। योगाद्दुःखोषितत्वाच्च तस्मात्त्वत्तोऽधिकोऽर्जुनः
O dear one, your training and Arjuna's are equal, but because of the hardship endured through discipline, Arjuna surpasses you.
न तु ते युधि सन्त्रासः कार्यः पार्थात्कथञ्चन। अहं हि रक्षिता तात भयात्त्वां नात्र संशयः
Yet you should never feel fear of Arjuna in battle; I will protect you from danger—of this, there is no doubt.
न हि मद्बाहुगुप्तस्य प्रभवन्त्यमरा अपि। व्यूहयिष्यामि तं व्यूहं यं पार्थो न तरिष्यति
Even the gods cannot prevail against one protected by my arms; I will arrange a formation that Arjuna will not be able to break.
तस्माद्युध्यस्व माभैस्त्वं स्वधर्ममनुपालय। पितृपैतामहं मार्गमनुयाहि महारथ
Therefore, fight without fear and uphold your own duty; follow the path of your fathers and grandfathers, O great chariot-warrior.
अधीता विधिवद्वेदा अग्नयः सुहुतास्त्वया। इष्टं च बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्न ते मृत्युर्भयङ्करः
You have properly studied the Vedas and offered the sacred fires; you have performed many sacrifices—death holds no terror for you.
दुर्लभं मानुषैर्मन्दैर्महाभाग्यमवाप्य तु। भुजवीर्यार्जिताँल्लोकान्दिव्यान्प्राप्स्यस्यनुत्तमान्
Having attained great fortune, which is rare among ordinary men, you will reach the highest divine worlds earned by the strength of your arms.
कुरवः पाण्डवाश्चैव वृष्णयोऽन्ये च मानवाः। अहं च सहपुत्रेण अध्रुवा इति चिन्त्यताम्
The Kurus, the Pandavas, the Vrishnis, and other men, and I with my son as well—let it be understood that all are impermanent.
पर्यायेण वयं सर्वे कालेन बलिना हताः। परलोकं गमिष्यामः स्वैःस्वैः कर्मभिरन्विताः
In turn, all of us will be struck down by mighty Time and go to the next world, each accompanied by our own deeds.
तपस्तप्त्वा तु याँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुवन्ति तपस्विनः। क्षत्रधर्माश्रिताः वीराः क्षत्रियाः प्राप्नुवन्ति तान्
The worlds that ascetics attain by their austerities—those very worlds are reached by heroic Kshatriyas who follow the warrior's duty.
एवमाश्वासितो राजा भारद्वाजेन सैन्धवः। अपानुदद्भयं पार्थाद्युद्धाय च मनो दधे
Thus reassured by Bharadvaja's son, the Sindhu king cast off his fear of Arjuna and set his mind on battle.
ततः प्रहर्षः सैन्यानां तस्य चासीद्विशाम्पते। वादित्राणां ध्वनिश्चोग्रः सिंहनादरवैः सह
Then there arose great joy among the armies and their lord; the fierce sound of instruments rang out, mingled with lion-roars.
नेह पश्यामि भवतां तथावीर्यं धनुर्धरम्। योऽर्जुनस्यास्त्रमस्त्रेण प्रतिहन्यान्महाहवे
I do not see among you any archer of such prowess who could counter Arjuna's weapon with another in the great battle.
वासुदेवसहायस्य गाण्डीवं धुन्वतो धनुः। कोऽर्जुनस्याग्रतस्तिष्ठेत्साक्षादपि शतक्रतुः
Who could stand before Arjuna, wielding the Gandiva bow with Vasudeva as his ally—even the thousand-eyed Indra could not.
महेश्वरोऽपि पार्थेन श्रूयते योधिनः पुरा। पदातिना महावीर्यो गिरौ हिमवति प्रभुः
It is said that even the mighty lord Shiva once fought Partha as a foot-soldier on the Himalayan mountain.
दानवानां सहस्राणि हिरण्यपुरवासिनाम्। जघानैकरथेनैव देवराजप्रचोदितः
He slew thousands of Danavas dwelling in Hiranyapura, alone in his chariot, urged on by the king of the gods.
समायुक्तो हि कौन्तेयो बासुदेवेन धीमता। सामरानपि लोकांस्त्रीन्हन्यादिति मतिर्मम
Indeed, with wise Vasudeva at his side, Kunti's son could destroy the three worlds along with their gods—that is my conviction.
सोऽहमिच्छाम्यनुज्ञातुं रक्षितुं वा महात्मना। द्रोणेन सहपुत्रेण वीरेण यदि मन्यसे
Therefore, if you think it right, I wish to seek permission or protection from the great-souled Drona and his heroic son.
स राज्ञा स्वयमाचार्यो भृशमत्रार्थितोऽर्जुन। संविधानं च विहितं रथाश्च किल सज्जिताः
Thus earnestly requested by the king, the teacher himself arranged everything, and the chariots, it is said, were made ready.
कर्णो भूरिश्रवा द्रौणिर्वृषसेनश्च दुर्जयः। कृपश्च मद्रराजश्च षडेतेऽस्य पुरोगमाः
Karna, Bhurishravas, Drona's son, Vrishasena the unconquerable, Kripa, and the king of Madra—these six are his foremost warriors.
शकटः पद्मकश्चार्धो व्यूहो द्रोणेन निर्मितः। पद्मकर्णिकमध्यस्थः सूची पार्श्वे जयद्रथः
Drona has arranged the formation as half-cart and half-lotus; Jayadratha stands at the needle-pointed side, in the center of the lotus's pericarp.
स्थास्यते रक्षिते वीरैः सिन्धुराट् स सुदुर्मदः। धनुष्यस्त्रे च वीर्ये च प्राणे चैव तथौरसे
The Sindhu king, fierce and proud, will stand there protected by heroes—unassailable in archery, weapons, life, and chest.
अविषह्यतमा ह्येते निश्चिताः पार्थ षड्रथाः। एतानजित्वा सगणान्नैव प्राप्यो जयद्रथः
These six chariot-warriors, O Partha, are considered utterly invincible; without defeating them and their forces, Jayadratha cannot be reached.
तेषामेकैकशो वीर्यं षण्णां त्वमनुचिन्तय। सहिता हि नरव्याघ्र न शक्या जेतुमञ्जसा
Consider carefully the strength of each of these six; for, O tiger among men, together they cannot be easily conquered.
भूयस्तु मन्त्रयिष्यामि नीतिमात्महिताय वै। मन्त्रज्ञैः सचिवैः सार्धं सुहृद्भिः कार्यसिद्धये
Yet I will further counsel you, for your own good, with ministers skilled in strategy and friends, so that the task may succeed.
तव प्रसादाद्भगवन्किंनावाप्तं रणे मम। अविषह्यं हृषीकेश किं जानन्मां विगर्हसे
O Lord, what have I failed to achieve in battle by your grace? O Hrishikesha, knowing me to be invincible, why do you reproach me?
यथा लक्ष्म स्थिरं चन्द्रे समुद्रे च यथा जलम्। एवमेतां प्रतिज्ञां मे सत्यां विद्धि जनार्दन
As the mark on the moon is steadfast, as water is in the ocean, so too, Janardana, know my vow to be true.