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.
रङ्गमध्ये स्थितं द्रोणमभिवाद्य नरर्षभाः। चक्रुः पूजां यथान्यायं द्रोणस्य च कृपस्य च
Having respectfully greeted Droṇa in the midst of the arena, the foremost of men performed the proper honors for both Droṇa and Kṛpa.
आशीर्भिश्च प्रयुक्ताभिः सर्वे संहृष्टमानसाः। अभिवाद्य पुनः शस्त्रान्बलिपुष्पैः समर्चितान्
With minds filled with joy, all of them, after receiving blessings, again paid respects to the weapons adorned with offerings of flowers.
रक्तचन्दनसंमिश्रैः स्वयमर्चन्ति कौरवाः। रक्तचन्दनदिग्धाश्च रक्तमाल्यानुधारिणः
The Kauravas themselves worshipped with weapons smeared with red sandalwood, and they were adorned with garlands of red flowers and anointed with red sandal paste.
सर्वे रक्तपताकाश्च सर्वे रक्तान्तलोचनाः। द्रोणेन समनुज्ञाता गृह्य शस्त्रं परन्तपाः
All bore red banners, all had eyes reddened, and, permitted by Droṇa, the subduers of enemies took up their weapons.
धनूंषि पूर्व संगृह्य तप्तकाञ्चनभूषिताः। सज्यानि विविधाकाराः शरैः सन्धाय कौरवा
First taking up their bows, decorated with refined gold, the Kauravas strung them in various ways and fitted arrows to the strings.
ज्याघोषं तलघोषं च कृत्वा भूतान्यमोहयन्
Making the twang of bowstrings and the clash of palms, they bewildered all beings.
अनुज्येष्ठं च ते तत्र युधिष्ठिरपुनरोगमाः। चक्रुरस्त्रं महावीर्याः कुमाराः परमाद्भुतम्
There, those mighty princes, with Yudhiṣṭhira at their head, performed wondrous feats of arms, unharmed in battle.
केषांचित्तत्र माल्येषु शरा निपतिता नृप। केषांचित्पुष्पमुकुटे निपतन्ति स्म सायकाः
O King, for some, arrows fell upon their garlands; for others, arrows landed upon their floral crowns.
केचिल्लक्ष्याणि विविधैर्बाणैराहितलक्षणैः। बिभिदुर्लाघवोत्सृष्टैर्गुरूणि च लघूनि च
Some, with arrows marked for various targets, struck both large and small marks, releasing their shafts with great skill.
केचिच्छराक्षेपभयाच्छिरांस्यवननामिरे। मनुजा धृष्टमपरे वीक्षाञ्चक्रुः सुविस्मिताः
Some, out of fear of missing the mark, turned their heads away; other men, bold and amazed, watched intently.