तथा मम विलापानां नायं दुर्योधनः स्मरेत्। हतौ हि पुरुषव्याघ्रौ भीष्मद्रोणौ त्वमात्थ वै
Thus, Duryodhana does not remember my lamentations; for you have said, Bhishma and Drona, tigers among men, have been slain.
तेषां विदुरवाक्यानामुक्तानां दीर्घदर्शनात्। दृष्ट्वेमां फलनिर्वृत्तिं मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
Hearing the wise words spoken by Vidura, and seeing this outcome, I think my sons now grieve.
सेनां दृष्ट्वाऽभिभूतां मे शैनेयेनार्जुनेन च। शून्यान्दृष्ट्वा रथोपस्थान्मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रकाः
Seeing my army overwhelmed by Shalya and Arjuna, and the empty seats on the chariots, I believe my sons now grieve.
हिमात्यये यथा कक्षं शुष्कं वातेरितो महान्। अग्निर्दहेत्तथा सेनां मामिकां स धनञ्जयः
Just as a great wind burns dry grass at winter’s end, so does Dhananjaya consume my army.
आचक्ष्व मम तत्सर्वं कुशलो ह्यसि सञ्जय। यदोपयाताः सायाह्ने कृत्वा पार्थस्य किल्बिषं
Tell me everything, Sanjaya, for you are skilled; what happened when, at day’s end, they committed that offense against Partha?
अभिमन्यौ हते तात कथमासीन्मनो हि वः
When Abhimanyu was slain, my son, what was in your hearts?
न जातु तस्य कर्माणि युधि गाण्डीवधन्वनः। अपकृत्य महत्तात सोढुं शक्ष्यन्ति मामकाः
Never, my dear, will my men be able to endure, in battle, the mighty deeds of Arjuna, wielder of Gandiva.
किन्नुः दुर्योधनः कृत्यं कर्णः कृत्यं किमब्रवीत्। दुःशासनः सौबलश्च तेषामेवं गते सति
What did Duryodhana do? What did Karna do? What did Duhshasana and the son of Subala say, when things had come to this?
सर्वेषां समवेतानां पुत्राणां मम सञ्जय। यद्वृत्तं तात सङ्ग्रामे मन्दस्यापनयैर्भृशम्
Tell me, Sanjaya, what happened in the battle among all my assembled sons, when their wits were so clouded.
लोभानुगस्य दुर्बुद्धेः क्रोधेन विकृतात्मनः। राज्यकामस्य मूढस्य रागोपहतचेतसः। दुर्नीतं वा सुनीतं वा तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय
Whether their conduct was evil or good, tell me, Sanjaya, of my foolish son, led by greed, warped by anger, longing for the kingdom, and blinded by passion.
यावत्तु शक्यते कर्तुमन्तरज्ञैर्जनाधिपैः। क्षत्रधर्मरतैः शूरैस्तावत्कुर्वन्ति कौरवाः
As long as it is possible for kings, skilled in counsel and devoted to the warrior’s code, to act, so long do the Kauravas strive.
यथा तु पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्युद्धं परमसङ्कटम्। कुरूणां पाण्डवैः सार्धं तत्सर्वं शृणु तत्त्वतः
Now hear in truth how the Kurus, with the Pandavas, fought that most terrible battle, O tiger among men.
ते चैकसप्तसाहस्रास्त्रिसाहस्राश्च सैन्धवाः
And there were seventeen thousand and three thousand Sindhu warriors.
मत्तानां सुविरूढानां हस्त्यारोहैर्विशारदैः। हस्तिनां भीमरूपाणां वर्मिणां रौद्रकर्मिणाम्
Of intoxicated, well-trained elephants, with skilled riders, fierce in form, armored and performing dreadful deeds—
अध्यर्धेन सहस्रेण पुत्रो दुर्मर्षणस्तव। अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां योत्स्यमानो व्यवस्थितः
With an additional one and a half thousand, your son Durmarshana stood at the front of all the armies, ready to fight.
ततो दुःशासनश्चैव विकर्णश्च तवात्मजौ। सिन्धुराजार्थसिद्ध्यर्थमग्रानीके व्यवस्थितौ
Then Duḥśāsana and Vikarna, your sons, took position at the forefront for the sake of the Sindhu king’s success.
दीर्घो द्वादशगव्यूतिः पश्चार्धे पञ्चविस्तृतः। व्यूहस्तु चक्रशकटो भारद्वाजेन निर्मितः
The formation, crafted by Bhāradvāja, stretched twelve gavutas long and five wide at the rear, in the shape of a wheel and cart.
नानानृपतिभिर्वीरैस्तत्रतत्र व्यवस्थितैः। रथाश्वगजपत्त्योघैर्द्रोणेन विहितः स्वयम्
It was arranged by Droṇa himself, with various heroic kings stationed throughout, and composed of chariots, horses, elephants, and infantry.
पश्चार्धे तस्य पद्मस्तु गर्भव्यूहः पुनः कृतः। सूचीपद्मस्य गर्भस्थो गूढो व्यूहः कृतः पुनः
At the rear of that formation, a lotus-shaped array was again made, with a concealed core within the needle-lotus.
एवमेतं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य द्रोणो व्यवस्थितः। सूचीमुखे महेष्वासः कृतवर्मा व्यवस्थितः
Thus, having arrayed this great formation, Droṇa took his stand; at the needle’s point, the mighty archer Kṛtavarman was stationed.
अनन्तरं च काम्भोजो जलसन्धश्च मारिष। दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च तदनन्तरमेव च
Next came the Kāmbhoja and Jalasandha, O great one, followed immediately by Duryodhana and Karṇa.
ततः शतसहस्राणि योदानानमनिवर्तिनाम्। व्यवस्थितानि सर्वाणि शकटे मुखरक्षिणाम्
Then, a hundred thousand steadfast warriors were arrayed in the cart formation, guarding its mouth.
तेषां च पृष्ठतो राजा बलेन महता वृतः। जयद्रथस्ततो राजा सूचीपार्श्वे व्यवस्थितः
Behind them, the king, surrounded by a great force, and then King Jayadratha stood at the side of the needle.
शकटस्य तु राजेन्द्र भारद्वाजो मुखे स्थितः। नात्र तस्याभवद्भोदो जुगोपैनं ततः स्वयम्
At the mouth of the cart formation, O king, Bhāradvāja took his place; there was no fear for him there, for he himself protected it.
श्वेतवर्माम्बरोष्णीषो व्यूढोरस्को महाभुजः। धनुर्विस्फारयन्द्रोणस्तस्थौ क्रुद्ध इवान्तकः। `तस्य सैन्यस्य सर्वस्य नेता गोप्ता च वीर्यवान्
Clad in white armor and turban, broad-chested and mighty-armed, Droṇa stood, stringing his bow, like Death himself in wrath, the leader and protector of the entire army.
ताकिनं शोणहयं वेदीकृष्णाजिनध्वजम्। द्रोणस्य रथमालोक्य प्रहृष्टाः कुरवोऽभवन्
Seeing Droṇa’s chariot, with its red horses, tiger-skin banner, and black-deer-hide standard, the Kurus rejoiced.
सिद्धचारणसङ्घानां विस्मयः सुमहानभूत्। द्रोणेन विहितं दृष्ट्वा व्यूहं क्षुब्धार्णवोपमम्
Great wonder arose among the hosts of Siddhas and Cāraṇas, beholding the formation Droṇa had made, resembling a turbulent ocean.
सशैलसागरवनां नानाजनपदाकुलाम्। ग्रसेद्व्यूहः क्षितिं सर्वामिति भूतानि मेनिरे
That formation, filled with mountains, seas, forests, and crowded with many peoples, seemed to all beings as if it could swallow the whole earth.
बहुरथमनुजाश्वपत्तिनागं प्रतिभयनिःस्वनमद्भुतानुरूपम्। अहितहृदयभेदनं महद्वै शकटमवेक्ष्य कृतं ननन्द राजा
Beholding the great cart formation—abounding in chariots, brothers, horses, infantry, and elephants, resounding with terrifying noise, wondrous and fitting, capable of piercing the hearts of foes—the king rejoiced.
तयोः शङ्खप्रणादेन तव सैन्ये विशाम्पते। आसन्संहृष्टरोमाणः कम्पिता गतचेतसः
At the sound of those conches, O lord of men, in your army, hair stood on end, and many trembled, losing their senses.