05.150
Pancharatra-core: After the departure of Keshava, Duryodhana ordered his army to prepare and camp at Kurukshetra.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya spoke:
युधिष्ठिरं सहानीकमुपयान्तं युयुत्सया। संनिविष्टं कुरुक्षेत्रे वासुदेवेन पालितम् ॥५-१५०-१॥
Yudhishthira, along with his army, approached Kurukshetra with the intent to fight and was settled there under the protection of Vasudeva.
विराटद्रुपदाभ्यां च सपुत्राभ्यां समन्वितम्। केकयैर्वृष्णिभिश्चैव पार्थिवैः शतशो वृतम् ॥५-१५०-२॥
Virata and Drupada, along with their sons, were accompanied by the Kekayas, Vrishnis, and surrounded by hundreds of kings.
महेन्द्रमिव चादित्यैरभिगुप्तं महारथैः। श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनो राजा किं कार्यं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥५-१५०-३॥
Upon hearing that Duryodhana, the king, was protected by the Ādityas and great charioteers like Mahendra, what action did he decide to take?
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण तपोधन। सम्भ्रमे तुमुले तस्मिन्यदासीत्कुरुजाङ्गले ॥५-१५०-४॥
I wish to hear in detail, O sage, about the events that transpired during the tumultuous times in Kurujangala.
व्यथयेयुर्हि देवानां सेनामपि समागमे। पाण्डवा वासुदेवश्च विराटद्रुपदौ तथा ॥५-१५०-५॥
In the assembly, the Pandavas, along with Vasudeva, Virata, and Drupada, would cause even the army of the gods to be agitated.
धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पाञ्चाल्यः शिखण्डी च महारथः। युयुधानश्च विक्रान्तो देवैरपि दुरासदः ॥५-१५०-६॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pāñcāla, and Śikhaṇḍī, the great chariot-warrior, along with the valiant Yuyudhāna, are formidable even to the gods.
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण तपोधन। कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च यद्यदासीद्विचेष्टितम् ॥५-१५०-७॥
I wish to hear in detail, O sage, about all the activities of the Kurus and the Pandavas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
प्रतियाते तु दाशार्हे राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। कर्णं दुःशासनं चैव शकुनिं चाब्रवीदिदम् ॥५-१५०-८॥
After the departure of the Daśārha, King Duryodhana addressed Karna, Duhshasana, and Shakuni.
अकृतेनैव कार्येण गतः पार्थानधोक्षजः। स एनान्मन्युनाविष्टो ध्रुवं वक्ष्यत्यसंशयम् ॥५-१५०-९॥
The transcendental Lord, having left the task unfinished, has gone to the sons of Pritha. Overcome with anger, he will undoubtedly express his thoughts.
इष्टो हि वासुदेवस्य पाण्डवैर्मम विग्रहः। भीमसेनार्जुनौ चैव दाशार्हस्य मते स्थितौ ॥५-१५०-१०॥
The Pāṇḍavas, indeed, desire conflict with me, which is supported by Vāsudeva. Bhīmasena and Arjuna are aligned with the views of Dāśārha.
अजातशत्रुरप्यद्य भीमार्जुनवशानुगः। निकृतश्च मया पूर्वं सह सर्वैः सहोदरैः ॥५-१५०-११॥
Today, even Ajatashatru is under the influence of Bhima and Arjuna, having been previously deceived by me along with all the brothers.
विराटद्रुपदौ चैव कृतवैरौ मया सह। तौ च सेनाप्रणेतारौ वासुदेववशानुगौ ॥५-१५०-१२॥
Virata and Drupada, who had enmity with me, were the leaders of the army under the influence of Vasudeva.
भविता विग्रहः सोऽयं तुमुलो लोमहर्षणः। तस्मात्साङ्ग्रामिकं सर्वं कारयध्वमतन्द्रिताः ॥५-१५०-१३॥
There will be a fierce and terrifying conflict. Therefore, prepare everything related to battle without delay.
शिबिराणि कुरुक्षेत्रे क्रियन्तां वसुधाधिपाः। सुपर्याप्तावकाशानि दुरादेयानि शत्रुभिः ॥५-१५०-१४॥
O rulers of the earth, establish the camps in Kurukshetra with enough space so that they are not easily accessible to enemies.
आसन्नजलकाष्ठानि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। अच्छेद्याहारमार्गाणि रत्नोच्चयचितानि च ॥ विविधायुधपूर्णानि पताकाध्वजवन्ति च ॥५-१५०-१५॥
Near the water, there are logs by the hundreds and thousands, unbreakable paths for food, heaps of gems piled up, and various weapons filled with flags and banners.
समाश्च तेषां पन्थानः क्रियन्तां नगराद्बहिः। प्रयाणं घुष्यतामद्य श्वोभूत इति माचिरम् ॥५-१५०-१६॥
Let the paths be leveled outside the city and announce the departure today, not tomorrow, to avoid any delay.
ते तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय श्वोभूते चक्रिरे तथा। हृष्टरूपा महात्मानो विनाशाय महीक्षिताम् ॥५-१५०-१७॥
The great souls, joyful in their demeanor, promised to act the next day for the destruction of the rulers.
ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशासनम्। आसनेभ्यो महार्हेभ्य उदतिष्ठन्नमर्षिताः ॥५-१५०-१८॥
Upon hearing the royal decree, all the kings rose from their esteemed seats, filled with indignation.
बाहून्परिघसङ्काशान्संस्पृशन्तः शनैः शनैः। काञ्चनाङ्गददीप्तांश्च चन्दनागरुभूषितान् ॥५-१५०-१९॥
They slowly touched their arms, which were like iron clubs, adorned with golden armlets and decorated with sandalwood paste.
उष्णीषाणि नियच्छन्तः पुण्डरीकनिभैः करैः। अन्तरीयोत्तरीयाणि भूषणानि च सर्वशः ॥५-१५०-२०॥
They adjusted their turbans with hands that resembled lotuses, and arranged their lower and upper garments and ornaments all over.
ते रथान्रथिनः श्रेष्ठा हयांश्च हयकोविदाः। सज्जयन्ति स्म नागांश्च नागशिक्षासु निष्ठिताः ॥५-१५०-२१॥
The best charioteers and horse experts were indeed preparing the chariots, horses, and elephants, all skilled in their respective trainings.
अथ वर्माणि चित्राणि काञ्चनानि बहूनि च। विविधानि च शस्त्राणि चक्रुः सज्जानि सर्वशः ॥५-१५०-२२॥
Then they prepared various golden armors and many different weapons, making everything ready.
पदातयश्च पुरुषाः शस्त्राणि विविधानि च। उपजह्रुः शरीरेषु हेमचित्राण्यनेकशः ॥५-१५०-२३॥
The foot-soldiers and men brought various weapons and adorned their bodies with numerous golden ornaments.
तदुत्सव इवोदग्रं सम्प्रहृष्टनरावृतम्। नगरं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य भारतासीत्समाकुलम् ॥५-१५०-२४॥
The city of Dhritarashtra was bustling like a grand festival, filled with joyful men, O Bharata.
जनौघसलिलावर्तो रथनागाश्वमीनवान्। शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः कोशसञ्चयरत्नवान् ॥५-१५०-२५॥
A whirlpool of water teeming with people, filled with chariots, elephants, horses, and fish. The sound of conches and drums echoes, and it possesses a treasury filled with collected gems.
चित्राभरणवर्मोर्मिः शस्त्रनिर्मलफेनवान्। प्रासादमालाद्रिवृतो रथ्यापणमहाह्रदः ॥५-१५०-२६॥
The scene is a vibrant and dynamic depiction of a place where the waves of colorful ornaments and armor are frothy with pure weapons. It is surrounded by a garland of palaces and mountains, creating a vast lake-like area filled with streets and bustling markets.
योधचन्द्रोदयोद्भूतः कुरुराजमहार्णवः। अदृश्यत तदा राजंश्चन्द्रोदय इवार्णवः ॥५-१५०-२७॥
The rise of the warrior was as magnificent as the moon emerging from the ocean, O king. It was a sight to behold, like the moonrise over the vast ocean.
