सलिलादुत्थितो वह्निर्येन व्याप्तं चराचरम्। दधीचस्यास्थितो वज्रं कृतं दानवसूदनम्
From water arose fire, which pervaded all that moves and does not move; from the bones of Dadhīci was fashioned the thunderbolt that destroyed the Dānavas.
आग्नेयः कृत्तिकापुत्रो रौद्रो गाङ्गेय इत्यपि। श्रूयते भगवान्देवः सर्वगुह्यमयो गुहः
The divine Guha, full of all secrets, is known as the son of Kṛttikā, as born of fire, as fierce, and as the son of Gaṅgā.
क्षत्रियेभ्यश्च ये जाता ब्राह्मणास्ते च ते श्रुताः। विश्वामित्रप्रभृतयः प्राप्ता ब्रह्मत्वमव्ययम्
And those brāhmaṇas who were born from kṣatriyas are also renowned—such as Viśvāmitra and others—who attained the eternal state of brahmanhood.
आचार्यः कलशाज्जातो द्रोणः शस्त्रभृतां वरः। गौतमस्यान्ववाये च शरस्तम्बाच्च गौतमः
Droṇa, the foremost among wielders of weapons, was born from a vessel; and Gautama was born in the line of Gautama, from a clump of reeds.
भवतां च यथा जन्म तदप्यागमितं मया। सकुण्डलं सकवचं सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम्। कथमादित्यसदृशं मृगी व्याघ्रं जनिष्यति
I have also learned the story of your birth: how, with earrings and armor, marked with all auspicious signs, a tigress gave birth to one like the sun.
पृथिवीराज्यमर्होऽयं नाङ्गराज्यं नरेश्वरः। अनेन बाहुवीर्येण मया चाज्ञानुवर्तिना
This lord of men is worthy of ruling the earth, not just the kingdom of Aṅga—by the strength of his arms, and with me as his obedient follower.
यस्य वा मनुजस्येदं न क्षान्तं मद्विचेष्टितम्। रथमारुह्य पद्भ्यां स विनामयतु कार्मुकम्
If there is any man here who cannot tolerate my actions, let him mount a chariot and bend the bow with his own hands.
ततः सर्वस्य रङ्गस्य हाहाकारो महानभूत्। साधुवादानुसंबद्धः सूर्यश्चास्तमुपागमत्
Then a great uproar arose throughout the arena, mingled with cries of 'Well done!' and the sun set.
ततो दुर्योधनः कर्णमालम्ब्याग्रकरे नृपः। दीपिकाभिः कृतालोकस्तस्माद्रङ्गाद्विनिर्ययौ
Thereupon, King Duryodhana, taking Karṇa by the hand, left the arena, the way lit by torches.
पाण्डवाश्च सहद्रोणाः सकृपाश्च विशांपते। भीष्मेण सहिताः सर्वे ययुः स्वं स्वं निवेशनम्
The Pāṇḍavas, along with Droṇa and Kṛpa, and all together with Bhīṣma, each returned to their own quarters.
अर्जुनेति जनः कश्चित्कश्चित्कर्णेति भारत। कश्चिद्दुर्योधनेत्येवं ब्रुवन्तः प्रस्थितास्तदा
Some people said, 'Arjuna!' others, 'Karna!' and yet others, 'Duryodhana!'—thus speaking as they departed.
कुन्त्याश्च प्रत्यभिज्ञाय दिव्यलक्षणसूचितम्। पुत्रमङ्गेश्वरं स्नेहाच्छन्ना प्रीतिरजायत
Recognizing her son by his divine marks, Kuntī felt a joy in her heart, though concealed by affection.
दुर्योधनस्यापि तदा कर्णमासाद्य पार्थिव। भयमर्जुनसंजातं क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत
At that time, when Duryodhana obtained Karṇa, the fear that had arisen in him because of Arjuna quickly vanished.
स चापि वीरः कृतशस्त्रनिश्रमः परेण साम्नाऽभ्यवदत्सुयोधनम्। युधिष्ठिरस्याप्यभवत्तदा मति- र्न कर्णतुल्योऽस्ति धनुर्धरः क्षितौ
And that hero, skilled in the use of weapons, addressed Suyodhana with utmost courtesy; even Yudhiṣṭhira then thought, 'There is no archer on earth equal to Karṇa.'
पाण्डवान्धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च कृतास्त्रान्प्रसमीक्ष्य सः। गुर्वर्थं दक्षिणां काले प्राप्तेऽमन्यत वै गुरुः
When he saw that the sons of Pāṇḍu and Dhṛtarāṣṭra had mastered the weapons, the teacher thought it was time to ask for his fee.
अस्त्रशिक्षामनुज्ञातान्रङ्गद्वारमुपागतान्। भारद्वाजस्ततस्तांस्तु सर्वानेवाभ्यभाषत
Then Bhāradvāja, seeing them all at the gate of the arena, having been permitted to learn the weapons, addressed them all.
इच्छामि दत्तां सहितां मह्यं परमदक्षिणाम्। एवमुक्तास्ततः सर्वे शिष्या द्रोणमथाब्रुवन्। भगवन्किं प्रयच्छाम आज्ञापयतु नो गुरुः
I desire that the gift, along with the supreme fee, be given to me. Thus addressed, all the disciples then spoke to Droṇa: 'Revered sir, what shall we offer? Let our teacher command us.'
ततः शिष्यान्समाहूय आचार्योऽर्थमचोदयत्। द्रोणः सर्वानशेषेण दक्षिणार्थं महीपते
Then the teacher summoned his disciples and urged them, O king, to provide the fee in full for their instruction.
पञ्चालराजं द्रुपदं गृहित्वा रणमूर्धनि। पर्यानयत भद्रं वः सा स्यात्परमदक्षिणा
Seize King Drupada of the Pañcālas in the midst of battle and bring him before me; this shall be the highest fee.
तथेत्युक्त्वा तु ते सर्वे रथैस्तूर्णं प्रहारिणः। आचार्यधनदानार्थं द्रोणेन सहिता ययुः
Saying 'So be it,' all of them, swift and skilled in battle, mounted their chariots and set out with Droṇa to obtain the teacher's fee.
ततोऽभिजग्मुः पञ्चालान्निघ्नन्तस्ते नरर्षभाः। ममृदुस्तस्य नगरं द्रुपदस्य महौजसः
Then those best of men advanced upon the Pañcālas, striking down their foes, and reached the city of the mighty Drupada.
दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च युयुत्सुश्च महाबलः। दुःशासनो विकर्णश्च जलसन्धः सुलोचनः
Duryodhana, Karṇa, the mighty Yuyutsu, Duḥśāsana, Vikarna, Jalasandha, and Sulocana—
एते चान्ये च बहवः कुमारा बहुविक्रमाः। अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वमित्येवं क्षत्रियर्षभाः
And many other valiant princes as well, each proclaiming, 'I will go first! I will go first!'—these foremost of warriors—
ततो वरराथारूढाः कुमाराः सादिभिः सह। प्रविश्य नगरं सर्वे राजमार्गमुपाययुः
Then the princes, mounted on splendid chariots with their attendants, entered the city and proceeded along the royal road.
तस्मिन्काले तु पाञ्चालः श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा महद्बलम्। भ्रातृभिः सहितो राजंस्त्वरया निर्ययौ गृहात्
At that time, the Pañcāla king, hearing and seeing the great army, quickly left his palace with his brothers.
ततस्तु कृतसन्नाहा यज्ञसेनसहोदराः। शरवर्षाणि मुञ्चन्तः प्रणेदुः सर्व एव ते
Then, fully armed, the brothers of Yajñasena rained down showers of arrows, and all of them roared in unison.
ततो रथेन शुभ्रेण समासाद्य तु कौरवान्। यज्ञसेनः शरान्घोरान्ववर्ष युधि दुर्जयः
Then Yajñasena, invincible in battle, approached the Kauravas in his shining chariot and showered them with fierce arrows.
पूर्वमेव तु संमन्त्र्य पार्थो द्रोणमथाऽब्रवीत्। दर्पोद्रेकात्कुमाराणामाचार्यं द्विजसत्तमम्
But before this, Arjuna, after consulting, spoke to Droṇa, the foremost of Brahmins, about the princes' arrogance.
एषां पराक्रमस्यान्ते वयं कुर्याम साहसम्। एतैरशक्यः पाञ्चालो ग्रहीतुं रणमूर्धनि
At the end of their display of valor, we shall perform a daring deed; with these, the Pañcāla cannot be seized in the midst of battle.
एवमुक्त्वा तु कौन्तेयो भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽनघः। अर्धक्रोशे तु नगरादतिष्ठद्बहिरेव सः
Having said this, the sinless son of Kuntī, together with his brothers, remained half a krośa outside the city.