05.196
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
tataḥ prabhāte vimale dhārtarāṣṭreṇa coditāḥ। duryodhanena rājānaḥ prayayuḥ pāṇḍavānprati ॥5-196-1॥
In the clear morning, as urged by Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana, the kings set out towards the Pandavas.
āplāvya śucayaḥ sarve sr̥gviṇaḥ śuklavāsasaḥ। gr̥hītaśastrā dhvajinaḥ svasti vācya hutāgnayaḥ ॥5-196-2॥
After bathing, all the pure ones, adorned with garlands and dressed in white, holding weapons and bearing flags, were ready to speak auspicious words, having offered oblations in the fire.
sarve vedavidaḥ śūrāḥ sarve sucaritavratāḥ। sarve karmakṛtaścaiva sarve cāhavalakṣaṇāḥ ॥5-196-3॥
All are knowledgeable in the Vedas and are heroes. They all follow good conduct and vows, perform their duties, and possess marks of heroism.
āhaveṣu parāṁllokāñjigīṣanto mahābalāḥ। ekāgramanasaḥ sarve śraddadhānāḥ parasya ca ॥5-196-4॥
In battles, the mighty ones, desiring to conquer other worlds, all had focused minds and were faithful to the supreme.
vindānuvindāvāvantyau kekayā bāhlikaiḥ saha। prayayuḥ sarva evaite bhāradvājapurogamāḥ ॥5-196-5॥
Vindānuvinda and Avanti, along with Kekaya and the Bahlika, all set out together, led by Bharadvaja.
aśvatthāmā śāntanavaḥ saindhavo'tha jayadrathaḥ। dākṣiṇātyāḥ pratīcyāśca pārvatīyāśca ye rathāḥ ॥5-196-6॥
Ashwatthama, the son of Shantanu, the Sindhu prince, Jayadratha, along with the southerners, westerners, and mountaineers, are the charioteers.
gāndhārarājaḥ śakuniḥ prācyodīcyāśca sarvaśaḥ। śakāḥ kirātā yavanāḥ śibayo'tha vasātayaḥ ॥5-196-7॥
The King of Gandhara, Shakuni, along with all the people from the eastern and northern regions, including the Shakas, Kiratas, Yavanas, Shibis, and Vasatis, were present.
svaiḥ svairanīkaiḥ sahitāḥ parivārya mahāratham। ete mahārathāḥ sarve dvitīye niryayurbale ॥5-196-8॥
Accompanied by their own troops and surrounding the great chariot, all these great charioteers set out in the second army.
kṛtavarmā sahānīkas trigartāś ca mahābalāḥ। duryodhanaś ca nṛpatir bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ ॥5-196-9॥
Kritavarma, along with his army and the mighty Trigartas, and King Duryodhana surrounded by his brothers.
śalo bhūriśravāḥ śalyaḥ kausalyo'tha bṛhadbalaḥ। ete paścādavartanta dhārtarāṣṭrapurogamāḥ ॥5-196-10॥
Shala, Bhurishrava, Shalya, Kausalya, and Brihadbala were among those who followed behind the leaders of Dhartarashtra.
te samena pathā yātvā yotsyamānā mahārathāḥ। kurukṣetrasya paścārdhe vyavatiṣṭhanta daṃśitāḥ ॥5-196-11॥
The great warriors, ready for battle, traveled by the even path and stood arrayed in the western half of Kurukshetra.
duryodhanastu śibiraṃ kārayāmāsa bhārata। yathaiva hāstinapuraṃ dvitīyaṃ samalaṅkṛtam ॥5-196-12॥
Duryodhana, however, set up a camp, O Bharata, that was as splendidly adorned as a second Hastinapura.
na viśeṣaṃ vijānanti purasya śibirasyā vā। kuśalā api rājendra narā nagaravāsinaḥ ॥5-196-13॥
O King, even the skilled city dwellers do not recognize any distinction between the city and the camp.
tādṛśānyeva durgāṇi rājñāmapi mahīpatiḥ। kārayāmāsa kauravyaḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥5-196-14॥
The Kaurava king constructed numerous forts for the kings, numbering in the hundreds and thousands.
pañcayojanamutsṛjya maṇḍalaṃ tadraṇājiram। senāniveśāste rājannāviśañśatasaṅghaśaḥ ॥5-196-15॥
O king, leaving behind the circle of five yojanas, the army camps entered that battlefield in hundreds of groups.
tatra te pṛthivīpālā yathotsāhaṃ yathābalam। viviśuḥ śibirāṇyāśu dravyavanti sahasraśaḥ ॥5-196-16॥
There, the kings, each according to their own enthusiasm and strength, quickly entered the camps, which were abundant in resources by the thousands.
teṣāṃ duryodhano rājā sasainyānāṃ mahātmanām। vyādideśa sabāhyānāṃ bhakṣyabhojyamanuttamam ॥5-196-17॥
King Duryodhana, along with his armies and the noble ones, arranged for the best food and drink to be served to the guests from outside.
sagajāśvamanuṣyāṇāṃ ye ca śilpopajīvinaḥ। ye cānye'nugatāstatra sūtamāgadhabandinaḥ ॥5-196-18॥
Among the elephants, horses, and men, as well as the artisans and other followers present there, were charioteers, bards, and panegyrists.
vaṇijo gaṇikā vārā ye caiva prekṣakā janāḥ। sarvāṃstānkauravo rājā vidhivatpratyavaikṣata ॥5-196-19॥
The Kaurava king properly observed all the merchants, courtesans, brothels, spectators, and people.
