न च ते मानुषेष्वेतत्प्रयोक्तव्यं कथंचन। जगद्विनिर्दहेदेतदल्पतेजसि पातितम्
But you must never use this among men; if cast upon one of little energy, it would consume the world.
असामान्यमिदं तात लोकेष्वस्त्रं निगद्यते। तद्धारयेथाः प्रयतः शृणु चेदं वचो मम
This weapon, my son, is said to be extraordinary among men; bear it with care, and listen to my words.
बाधेतामानुषः शत्रुर्यदि त्वां वीर कश्चन। तद्वधाय प्रयुञ्जीथास्तदस्त्रमिदमाहवे
If ever a human enemy, O hero, oppresses you, then use this weapon in battle for his destruction.
तथेति संप्रतिश्रुत्य बीभत्सुः स कृताञ्जलिः। जग्राह परमास्त्रं तदाह चैनं पुनर्गुरुः। भविता त्वत्समो नान्यः पुमाँल्लोके धनुर्धरः
Having promised thus, Bībhatsu, with joined palms, accepted the supreme weapon; and again his teacher said to him, 'There will be no archer in the world equal to you.'
कृतास्त्रान्धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च पाण्डुपुत्रांश्च भारत। दृष्ट्वा द्रोणोऽब्रवीद्राजन्धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्
Having seen the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the sons of Pāṇḍu accomplished in weapons, Droṇa spoke to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, lord of men.
कृपस्य सोमदत्तस्य वाह्लीकस्य च धीमतः। गाङ्गेयस्य च सान्निध्ये व्यासस्य विदुरस्य च
In the presence of Kṛpa, Somadatta, the wise Vāhlīka, Gāṅgeya, Vyāsa, and Vidura,
राजन्संप्राप्तविद्यास्ते कुमाराः कुरुसत्तम। ते दर्शयेयुः स्वां शिक्षां राजन्ननुमते तव
O best of the Kurus, the princes have now mastered their learning; with your permission, O king, let them display their skill.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महाराजः प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना
Then the great king, with joy in his heart, spoke.
यदानुमन्यसे कालं यस्मिन्देशे यथायथा। तथातथा विधानाय स्वयमाज्ञापयस्व माम्
Whenever, wherever, and however you deem fit, command me yourself to make the arrangements.
स्पृहयाम्यद्य निर्वेदान्पुरुषाणां सचक्षुषाम्। अस्त्रहेतोः पराक्रान्तान्ये मे द्रक्ष्यन्ति पुत्रकान्
Today I long to see my sons, with eyes, striving for mastery in weapons, surpassing others in valor.
क्षत्तर्यद्गुरुराचार्यो ब्रवीति कुरु तत्तथा। न हीदृशं प्रियं मन्ये भविता धर्मवत्सल
O Kṣattā, whatever the teacher commands, do that; for I think nothing could be dearer, O lover of virtue.
ततो राजानमामन्त्र्य विदुरानुमतोपि हि। भारद्वाजो महाप्राज्ञो मापयामास मेदिनीम्
Then, having taken leave of the king and with Vidura's approval, Bhāradvāja, the wise one, measured out the ground.
समामवृक्षां निर्गुलमामुदक्प्रवणसंस्थिताम्। तस्यां भूमौ बलिं चक्रे तिथौ नक्षत्रपूजिते
On level ground, free of trees and slopes, and situated near a watercourse, he performed the offering on a day sanctified by lunar phases and stars.
अवघुष्टं पुरं चापि तदर्थं भरतर्षभ। रङ्गभूमौ सुविपुलं शास्त्रदृष्टं यथाविधि
For that purpose, O best of Bharatas, the city was proclaimed, and a vast arena was prepared according to the scriptures and proper rites.
प्रेक्षागारं सुविहितं चक्रस्ते तस्य शिल्पिनः। रक्षां सर्वायुधोपेतां स्त्रीणां चैव नरर्षभ
The craftsmen constructed a well-designed viewing gallery for him, and a full armed guard was arranged, as well as protection for the women, O foremost of men.
मञ्चांश्च कारयामासुर्यत्र जानपदा जनाः। विपुलानुच्छ्रयोपेताञ्शिबिकाश्च महाधनाः
They made platforms where the people of the land could sit, and luxurious palanquins with great wealth and lofty height.
तस्मिंस्ततोऽहनि प्राप्ते राजा ससचिवस्तदा। `सान्तःपुरः सहामात्यो व्यासस्यानुमते तदा।' भीष्मं प्रमुखतः कृत्वा कृपं चाचार्यसत्तमम्
When that day arrived, the king, together with his ministers, his household, and his counselors, with Vyasa's approval, placed Bhishma at the forefront and also the eminent teacher Kripa.
बाह्लीकं सोमदत्तं च भूरिश्रवसमेव च। कुरूनन्यांश्च सचिवानादाय नगराद्बहिः
He brought Bahlika, Somadatta, Bhurishravas, and other Kurus and counselors from the city.
रङ्गभूमिं समासाद्य ब्राह्मणैः सहितो नृपः
The king, accompanied by Brahmins, reached the arena.
मुक्ताजालपरिक्षिप्तं वैदूर्यममिशोभितम्। शातकुम्भमयं दिव्यं प्रेक्षागारमुपागमत्
He entered the divine viewing gallery, adorned with pearl nets and shining with lapis lazuli, made of golden materials.
गान्धारी च महाभागा कुन्ती च जयतां वर। स्त्रियश्च राज्ञः सर्वास्ताः सप्रेष्याः सपरिच्छदाः
Gandhari, O greatly fortunate one, and Kunti, O foremost among victors, and all the king's women, with their attendants and ornaments, were present.
हर्षादारुरुहुर्मञ्चान्मेरुं देवस्त्रियो यथा। ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियाद्यं च चातुर्वर्ण्यं पुराद्द्रुतम्
With joy, they ascended the platforms like divine women climbing Mount Meru; Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and all four classes quickly came from the city.
दर्शनेप्सुः समभ्यागात्कुमाराणां कृतास्त्रताम्। क्षणेनैकस्थतां तत्र दर्शनेप्सुर्जगाम ह
Desiring to see the princes skilled in weapons, the eager crowd gathered there in a moment, all wishing to witness.
प्रवादितैश्च वादित्रैर्जनकौतूहलेन च। महार्णव इव क्षुब्धः समाजः सोऽभवत्तदा
With the sound of instruments and the excitement of the people, the assembly became like a great ocean stirred up.
ततः शुक्लाम्बरधरः शुक्लयज्ञोपवीतवान्। शुक्लकेशः सितश्मश्रुः शुक्लाल्यानुलेपनः
Then the teacher entered, wearing white garments, a white sacred thread, white hair, white beard, and smeared with white unguents.
रङ्गमध्यं तदाचार्यः सपुत्रः प्रविवेश ह। नभो जलधरैर्हीनं साङ्गारक इवांशुमान्
That teacher, with his son, entered the center of the arena, like the sun with Mars in a sky devoid of clouds.
व्यासस्यानुमते चक्रे बलिं बलवतां वरः। ब्राह्मणांस्तु सुमन्त्रज्ञान्कारयामास मङ्गलम्
With Vyasa's approval, the foremost among the strong performed the offering, and he had Brahmins skilled in mantras conduct the auspicious rites.
सुवर्णमणिरत्नानि वस्त्राणि विविधानि च। प्रददौ दक्षिणां राजा द्रोणाय च कृपाय च
The king gave gold, jewels, gems, and various garments as gifts to Drona and Kripa.
सुखपुण्याहघोषस्य पुण्यस्य समनन्तरम्। विविशुर्विविधं गृह्य शस्त्रोपकरणं नराः
After the auspicious proclamation of blessedness and happiness, the men entered, each bringing various weapons and equipment.
ततो बद्धाङ्गुलित्राणा बद्धकक्ष्या महारथाः। बद्धथूणाः सधनुषो विविशुर्भरतर्षभाः
Then the great chariot-warriors, with finger guards fastened, belts secured, quivers tied, and bows in hand, entered, O best of Bharatas.