स्वराष्ट्रमेव गच्छामो यद्याप्तं वचनं मम। एतन्मम मतं सर्वैः क्रियतां यदि रोचते। एतद्धि सुकृतं मन्ये क्षेमं चापि महीभिताम्
Let us return to our own kingdom, if my words are acceptable; let this be done by all if it pleases you. I think this is the righteous and safe course for kings.
सौमदत्तेर्वचः श्रुत्वा कर्णो वैकर्तनो वृषा। उवाच वचनं काले कालज्ञः सर्वकर्मणाम्
Hearing the words of Saumadatti, Karna, son of Vikartana, the mighty one, who knows the proper time for all actions, spoke these timely words.
नीतिपूर्वमिदं सर्वमुक्तं वचनमर्थवत्। वचनं नाभ्यसूयामि श्रूयतां यद्वचस्त्विति
All this has been spoken with policy and meaning; I do not find fault with these words. Listen now to what I have to say.
द्वैधीभावो न गन्तव्यः सर्वकर्मसु मानवैः। द्विधाभूतेन मनसा अन्यत्कर्म न सिध्यति
One should not act with a divided mind in any undertaking; with a mind split in two, no action succeeds.
संप्रयाणासनाभ्यां तु कर्शनेन तथैव च। नैतच्छक्यं पुरं हर्तुमाक्रन्दश्चाप्यशोभनः
By siege or by assault, or by wearing them down, this city cannot be taken; and a mere outcry is not fitting.
अवमर्दनकालोऽत्र मतश्चिन्तयतो मम। यावन्नो वृष्णयः पार्ष्णिं न गृह्णन्तिरणप्रियाः
Now is the time for pressing the attack, as I consider while reflecting; before the Vrishnis, dear to battle, seize our rear.
भवन्तश्च तथा हृष्टाः स्वबाहुबलशालिनः। प्राकारमवमृद्रन्तु परिघाः पूरयन्त्वपि
You all, strong in the power of your own arms, should break down the rampart, and let the battering rams fill the moat.
प्रस्रावयन्तु सलिलं क्रियतां विषमं समम्। तृणकाष्ठेन महता खातमस्य प्रपूर्यताम्
Let water be drained away, let the ground be made uneven and level; let the great moat be filled with grass and wood.
घुष्यतां राजमार्गेषु परेषां यो हनिष्यति। नागमश्वं पदातिं वा दानमानं स लप्स्यति
Let it be proclaimed in the royal roads: whoever kills the enemy—whether elephant, horse, or foot-soldier—shall receive gifts and honor.
नागे दशसहस्राणि पञ्च चाश्वपदातिषु। रथे वै द्विगुणं नागाद्वसु दास्यन्ति पार्थिवाः
For an elephant, ten thousand; for horse and foot-soldier, five thousand; for a chariot, twice as much as for an elephant—the kings will bestow wealth.
यश्च कामसुखे सक्तो बालश्च स्थविरश्च यः। अयुद्धमनसो ये च ते तु तिष्ठन्तु भीरवः
Whoever is attached to pleasure, or is a child, or is old, or whose mind is not set on battle—let those fearful ones remain behind.
प्रदरश्च न दातव्यो न गन्तव्यमचोदितैः। यशो रक्षत भद्रं वो जेष्यामो वै रिपून्वयम्
No one should give passage or go forth without being summoned; protect your honor—good fortune to you—we shall indeed conquer our foes.
अनुलोमाश्च नो वाताः सततं मृगपक्षिणः। अग्नयश्च विराजन्ते शस्त्राणि कवचानि च
The winds are always favorable to us, as are the beasts and birds; the fires blaze brightly, and our weapons and armor shine.
ततः कर्णवचः श्रुत्वा धार्तराष्ट्रप्रियैषिणः। निर्ययुः पृथिवीपालाश्चालयन्तः परान्रणे
Then, hearing Karna’s words, who sought the good of Dhritarashtra’s sons, the kings set out, shaking the enemy in battle.
न हि तेषां मनःसक्तिरिन्द्रियार्थेषु सर्वशः। यथा परिरपुघ्नानां प्रसभं युद्ध एव च
Their minds were not at all attached to sense-objects, but only to fiercely striking down the enemy and to battle itself.
वैकर्तनपुरोव्रातः सैन्धवोर्मिमहास्वनः। दुःशासनमहामत्स्यो दुर्योधनमहाग्रहः
At their head was Karna, like a mighty wave of the Sindhu; Duhshasana, the great fish, and Duryodhana, the great shark.
स राजसागरो भीमो भीमघोषप्रदर्शनः। अभिदुद्राव वेगेन पुरं तदपसव्यतः
That royal ocean, Bhima, with a terrible roar, rushed swiftly at the city from the left side.
तदनीकमनाधृष्यं शस्त्राग्निव्यालदीपितम्। समुत्कम्पितमाज्ञाय चुक्रुशुर्द्रुपदात्मजाः
Seeing that invincible army, blazing with the fire of weapons and armor, trembling, the sons of Drupada shouted aloud.
ते मेघसमनिर्घोषैर्बलिनः स्यन्दनोत्तमैः। निर्ययुर्नगरद्वारात्त्रासयन्तः परान्र
Those mighty warriors, with chariots of the highest quality, whose roar was like thunderclouds, sallied out from the city gates, terrifying the enemy.
धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च सुमित्रः प्रियदर्शनः। चित्रकेतुः सुकेतुश्च ध्वजकेतुश्च वीर्यवान्
Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi, Sumitra the gracious, Citraketu, Suketu, and the valiant Dhvajaketu—
पुत्रा द्रुपदराजस्य बलवन्तो जयैषिणः। द्रुपदस्य महावीर्यः पाण्डरोष्णीषकेतनः
The sons of King Drupada, strong and eager for victory, and Drupada himself, of great might, with a white turban as his banner—
पाण्डरव्यजनच्छत्रः पाण्डरध्वजवाहनः। स पुत्रगणमध्यस्थः शुशुभे राजसत्तमः
With a white fan and parasol, and a white-bannered vehicle, that foremost of kings shone, surrounded by his sons.
चन्द्रमा ज्योतिषां मध्ये पौर्णमास्यामिवोदितः। अथोद्धूतपताकाग्रमजिह्मगतिमव्ययम्
Like the moon among the stars at the full, he appeared, his banner-tops waving, his movement straight and unwavering.
द्रुपदानीकमायान्तं कुरुसैन्यमभिद्रवत्। तयोरुभयतो जज्ञे तेषां तु तुमुलः स्वनः
The Drupada army advanced, charging at the Kuru forces; on both sides arose a tumultuous clamor among them.
बलयोः संप्रसरतोः सरितां स्रोतसोरिव। प्रकीर्णरथनागाश्वैस्तान्यनीकानि सर्वशः
As the two armies surged forward, like the currents of rivers, their ranks, with scattered chariots, elephants, and horses, were all in disarray.
ज्योतींषईव प्रकीर्णानि सर्वतः प्रचकाशिरे। उत्कृष्टभेरीनिनदे संप्रवृत्ते महारवे
Like scattered lights, they shone on every side, as the great tumult began with the resounding of drums and conches.
अमर्षिता महात्मानः पाण्डवा निर्ययुस्ततः। रथांश्च मेघनिर्घोषान्युक्तान्परमवाजिभिः
The great-souled Pāṇḍavas, filled with indignation, then set out, mounting chariots that thundered like clouds and were yoked with supreme steeds.
धून्वन्तो ध्वजिनः शुभ्रानास्थाय भरतर्षभाः। ततः पाण्डुसुतान्दृष्ट्वा रथस्थानात्तकार्मुकान्
The best of the Bharatas, bearing shining banners, shook them as they ascended their chariots; then, seeing the sons of Pāṇḍu standing on their chariots with drawn bows—
नृपाणामभवत्कम्पो वेपथुर्हृदयेषु च। निर्यातेष्वथ पार्थेषु द्रोपदं तद्बलं रणे
A tremor seized the kings, and their hearts quaked; but as the sons of Pāṇḍu advanced, joy and delight regarding victory filled Drupada’s army in the battle.
आविशत्परमो हर्षः प्रमोदश्च जयं प्रति। सुमुहूर्तं व्यतिकरः सैन्यानामभवद्भृशम्
A great exhilaration and gladness arose in Drupada’s forces at the prospect of victory; for a long moment, there was intense engagement among the armies.