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.
ते स्म लक्ष्याणि बिभिदुर्बाणैर्नामाङ्कशोभितैः। विविधैर्लाघवोत्सृष्टैरुह्यन्तो वाजिभिर्द्रुतम्
They struck the targets with arrows adorned with their names, swiftly riding on horses and releasing their shafts with dexterity.
तत्कुमारबलं तत्र गृहीतशरकार्मुकम्। गन्धर्वनगराकारं प्रेक्ष्य ते विस्मिताभवन्
Seeing that troop of princes, armed with bows and arrows, appearing like a city of the Gandharvas, the onlookers were filled with wonder.
सहसा चुक्रुशुश्चान्ये नराः शतसहस्रशः। विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयनाः साधुसाध्विति भारत
Suddenly, other men by the hundreds and thousands cried out, their eyes wide with astonishment, exclaiming, 'Well done! Well done!' O Bhārata.
कृत्वा धनुषि ते मार्गान्रथचर्यासु चासकृत्। गजपृष्ठेऽश्वपृष्ठे च नियुद्धे च महाबलाः
They repeatedly displayed their skills with bows in chariot maneuvers, on the backs of elephants and horses, and in single combat, showing their great strength.
गृहीतखड्गचर्माणस्ततो भूयः प्रहारिणः। त्सरुमार्गान्यथोद्दिष्टांश्चेरुः सर्वासु भूमिषु
Then, taking up swords and shields, they struck again, performing the prescribed movements with weapons on all sides of the arena.
लाघवं सौष्ठवं शोभां स्थिरत्वं दृढमुष्टिताम्। ददृशुस्तत्र सर्वेषां प्रयोगं खड्गचर्मणोः
There, all witnessed their agility, skill, splendor, steadiness, and firm grip in the use of sword and shield.
अथ तौ नित्यसंहृष्टौ सुयोधनवृकोदरौ। अवतीर्णौ गदाहस्तावेकशृङ्गाविवाचलौ
Then those two, always delighted—Suyodhana and Vṛkodara—descended, maces in hand, like two mountains with a single peak.
बद्धकक्ष्यौ महाबाहू पौरुषे पर्यवस्थितौ। बृंहन्तौ वासिताहेतोः समदाविव कुञ्जरौ
With their waists bound, mighty-armed, standing firm in their manliness, they swelled with pride like two intoxicated elephants, scented with rut.
तौ प्रदक्षिणसव्यानि मण्डलानि महाबलौ। चेरतुर्मण्डलगतौ समदाविव कुञ्जरौ
Those two mighty warriors moved in circles, to the right and to the left, circling each other like two elephants of equal strength in a contest.
विदुरो धृतराष्ट्राय गान्धार्याः पाण्डवारणिः। न्यवेदयेतां तत्सर्वं कुमाराणां विचेष्टितम्
Vidura reported to Dhritarashtra, the king, all that Gandhari’s son and the Pandava elephant had done, describing every action of the princes.
कुरुराजे हि रङ्गस्थे भीमे च बलिनां वरे। पक्षपातकृतस्नेहः स द्विधेवाभवज्जनः
While King Kuru was seated in the arena and Bhima, the foremost of the strong, was present, the people, out of partiality and affection, became divided into two factions.
जय हे कुरुराजेति जय हे भीम इत्युत। पुरुषाणां सुविपुलाः प्रणादाः सहसोत्थिताः
‘Victory to the king of the Kurus!’ ‘Victory to Bhima!’—such loud shouts arose suddenly from the multitude of men.
ततः क्षुब्धार्णवनिभं रङ्गमालोक्य बुद्धिमान्। भारद्वाजः प्रियं पुत्रमश्वत्थामानमब्रवीत्
Then, seeing the arena like a disturbed ocean, the wise Bharadvaja spoke to his beloved son Ashvatthama.
वारयैतौ महावीर्यौ कृतयोग्यावुभावपि। मा भूद्रङ्गप्रकोपोऽयं भीमदुर्योधनोद्भवः
Restrain these two mighty heroes, both well-trained; let not this agitation in the arena, born of Bhima and Duryodhana, grow further.
तत उत्थाय वेगेन अश्वत्थामा न्यवारयत्। गुरोराज्ञा भीम इति गान्धारे गुरुशासनम्। अलं शिक्षाकृतं वेगमलं साहसमित्युत
Then Ashvatthama quickly rose and restrained them, saying by the teacher’s command, ‘Enough, Bhima! Enough, son of Gandhari! Enough of this display, enough of this speed, enough of this daring!’
ततस्तावुद्यतगतौ गुरुपुत्रेण वारितौ। युगान्तानिलसंक्षुब्धौ महावेलाविवार्णवौ
Then, as the teacher’s son restrained them, those two, surging like oceans agitated by the wind at the end of an age, were checked.
ततो रङ्गाङ्गणगतो द्रोणो वचनमब्रवीत्। निवार्य वादित्रगणं महामेघनिभस्वनम्
Then Drona, having entered the arena, spoke these words, first quieting the musicians whose sound was like a great thundercloud.
यो मे पुत्रात्प्रियतरः सर्वशस्त्रविशारदः। ऐन्द्रिरिन्द्रानुजसमः स पार्थो दृश्यतामिति
He who is dearer to me than my own son, skilled in all weapons, equal to Indra’s younger brother, let that Partha be seen now.
आचार्यवचनेनाथ कृतस्वस्त्ययनो युवा। बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणः पूर्णतूणः सकार्मुकः
Then, at the teacher’s command, the young man, having performed auspicious rites, with his fingers protected by guards, his quiver full, and his bow in hand, appeared.
काञ्चनं कवचं बिभ्रत्प्रत्यदृश्य फाल्गुनः। सार्कः सेन्द्रायुधतडित्ससन्ध्य इव तोयदः
Wearing a golden breastplate, Phalguna was seen, shining like a raincloud at sunset, adorned with the sun’s rays and the lightning of Indra’s bow.