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.
द्रुपदः कौरवान्दृष्ट्वा प्राधावत समन्ततः। शरजालेन महता मोहयन्कौरवीं चमूम्
Drupada, seeing the Kauravas, rushed forth on all sides, bewildering the Kaurava army with a great volley of arrows.
तमुद्यतं रथेनैकमाशुकारिणमाहवे। अनेकमिव सन्त्रासान्मेनिरे तत्र कौरवाः
Him, advancing alone in his swift chariot on the battlefield, the Kauravas thought to be many, so great was their terror.
द्रुपदस्य शरा घोरा विचेरुः सर्वतोदिशम्। ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च मृदङ्गाश्च सहस्रशः
Drupada's fierce arrows flew in all directions; then thousands of conches, kettledrums, and drums resounded.
प्रावाद्यन्त महाराज पञ्चालानां निवेशने। सिंहनादश्च संजज्ञे पञ्चालानां महात्मनाम्
In the encampment of the Pañcālas, O great king, the instruments blared, and the mighty Pañcālas raised a lion's roar.
धनुर्ज्यातलशब्दश्च संस्पृश्य गगनं महान्। दुर्योधनो विकर्णश्च सुबाहुर्दीर्घलोचनः
The great sound of the bowstring striking the sky was made by Duryodhana, Vikarna, Subahu, and Dirghalochana.
दुःशाशनश्च संक्रुद्धः शरवर्षैरवाकिरन्। सोऽतिविद्धो महेष्वासः पार्षतो युधि दुर्जयः
And Duhshasana, enraged, showered arrows, wounding the mighty archer Parshata, who was difficult to defeat in battle.
व्यधमत्तान्यनीकानि तत्क्षणादेव भारत। दुर्योधनं विकर्णं च कर्णं चापि महाबलम्
He scattered other troops instantly, O Bharata, and attacked Duryodhana, Vikarna, and the mighty Karna.
नानानृपसुतान्वीरान्सैन्यानि विविधानि च। अलातचक्रवत्सर्वं चरन्बाणैरतर्पयत्
He struck all the various armies and heroic sons of kings, moving among them and satisfying them with arrows like a wheel of fire.
ततस्तु नागराः सर्वे मुसलैर्यष्टिभिस्तदा। अभ्यवर्षन्त कौरव्यान्वर्षमाणा घा इव
Then all the citizens, with clubs and staffs, showered the Kauravas, pouring down like clouds.
सबालवृद्धाः काम्पिल्याः कौरवानभ्ययुस्तदा। श्रुत्वा सुतुमुलं युद्धं कौरवानेव भारत
All the young and old of Kampilya advanced against the Kauravas, having heard of the tumultuous battle, O Bharata.