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.
ततो द्वन्द्वमयुध्यन्त मृत्युं कृत्वा पुरस्कृतम्। जघ्नतुः समरे तस्मिन्सुमित्रप्रियदर्शनौ
Then, making death their foremost aim, they fought in pairs; in that battle, Sumitra and Priyadarśana were both slain.
जयद्रथश्च कर्णश्च पश्यतः सव्यसाचिनः। अर्जुनः प्रेक्ष्य निहतौ सौमित्रप्रियदर्शनौ
Jayadratha and Karṇa, in the sight of Savyasācin (Arjuna), killed Sumitra and Priyadarśana; seeing them slain, Arjuna—
जयद्रथसुतं तत्र जघान पितुरन्तिके। वृषसेनादवरजं सुदामानं धनंजयः
Thereupon, Arjuna struck down Sudāmā, the younger brother of Vṛṣasena and son of Jayadratha, right before his father.
कर्णपुत्रं महेष्वासं रथनीडादपातयत्। तौ सुतौ निहतौ दृष्ट्वा राजसिंहौ तरस्विनौ
The mighty-armed Arjuna brought down Karṇa’s son, a great archer, from his chariot; seeing their two valiant sons slain—
नामृष्येतां महाबाहू प्रहारमिव सद्गजौ। तौ जग्मतुरसंभ्रान्तौ फल्गुनस्य रथंप्रति
Those two lion-like kings of great strength could not endure it, just as noble elephants cannot bear a blow; undaunted, they advanced toward Arjuna’s chariot.
प्रतिमुक्ततलत्राणौ शपमानौ परस्परम्। सन्निपातस्तयोरासीदतिघोरो महामृधे
With their shields fastened and hurling curses at each other, they approached; a most terrible clash arose between them in that great battle.
वृत्रशम्बरयोः सङ्क्ये वज्रिणेव महारणे। त्रीनश्वाञ्जघ्नतुस्तस्य फल्गुनस्य नर्षभौ
Like the encounter of Vṛtra and Śambara with the wielder of the thunderbolt in a great war, those two tigers among men struck down three of Arjuna’s horses.
ततः किलिकिलाशब्दः कुरूणामभवत्तदा। तान्हयान्निहतान्दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनः प्रतापवान्
Then, a tumultuous sound arose among the Kurus; seeing those horses slain, the valiant Bhīmasena—
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण रथमश्वैरयोजयत्। उपयातं रथं दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनपुरःसरौ
In but a moment’s time, yoked new horses to the chariot; seeing the chariot thus readied, Duryodhana and his followers—
सौबलः सौमदत्तिश्च समेयातां परन्तपौ। तैः पञ्चभिरदीनात्मा भीमसेनो महाबलः
Saubala and Saumadatti, destroyers of foes, came forth; with those five warriors, the mighty Bhīmasena—