06.001
Core and Pancharatra: Facing east, gather the Pandavas and facing west, gather the Kauravas. Agree on the rules of engagement for a war.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya spoke:
कथं युयुधिरे वीराः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः। पार्थिवाश्च महाभागा नानादेशसमागताः ॥६-१-१॥
How did the valiant heroes, including the Kurus, Pandavas, and Somakas, the illustrious kings from various regions, engage in battle?
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
यथा युयुधिरे वीराः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः। कुरुक्षेत्रे तपःक्षेत्रे शृणु तत्पृथिवीपते ॥६-१-२॥
Listen, O lord of the earth, to how the heroes, the Kurus, Pandavas, and Somakas, fought in the sacred land of Kurukshetra.
अवतीर्य कुरुक्षेत्रं पाण्डवाः सहसोमकाः। कौरवानभ्यवर्तन्त जिगीषन्तो महाबलाः ॥६-१-३॥
The mighty Pandavas, along with the Somakas, descended onto the battlefield of Kurukshetra, advancing towards the Kauravas with the desire to win.
वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्नाः सर्वे युद्धाभिनन्दिनः। आशंसन्तो जयं युद्धे वधं वाभिमुखा रणे ॥६-१-४॥
All those who were well-versed in the study of the Vedas and delighted in battle were hoping for victory or facing death in the war.
अभियाय च दुर्धर्षां धार्तराष्ट्रस्य वाहिनीम्। प्राङ्मुखाः पश्चिमे भागे न्यविशन्त ससैनिकाः ॥६-१-५॥
They approached the formidable army of Dhritarashtra and, facing east, they settled in the western part with their soldiers.
समन्तपञ्चकाद्बाह्यं शिबिराणि सहस्रशः। कारयामास विधिवत्कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥६-१-६॥
Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, properly arranged for thousands of camps to be set up outside the region of Samantapanchaka.
शून्येव पृथिवी सर्वा बालवृद्धावशेषिता। निरश्वपुरुषा चासीद्रथकुञ्जरवर्जिता ॥६-१-७॥
The earth was left desolate, inhabited only by children and the elderly, lacking horses, men, chariots, and elephants.
यावत्तपति सूर्यो हि जम्बूद्वीपस्य मण्डलम्। तावदेव समावृत्तं बलं पार्थिवसत्तम ॥६-१-८॥
As long as the sun shines over the realm of Jambudvipa, the strength has returned, O noble king.
एकस्थाः सर्ववर्णास्ते मण्डलं बहुयोजनम्। पर्याक्रामन्त देशांश्च नदीः शैलान्वनानि च ॥६-१-९॥
All the colors, situated together, form a vast circle spanning many leagues, traversing through regions, rivers, mountains, and forests.
तेषां युधिष्ठिरो राजा सर्वेषां पुरुषर्षभ। आदिदेश सवाहानां भक्ष्यभोज्यमनुत्तमम् ॥६-१-१०॥
King Yudhishthira, the best among men, commanded that the soldiers be provided with the finest food and drink.
सञ्ज्ञाश्च विविधास्तास्तास्तेषां चक्रे युधिष्ठिरः। एवंवादी वेदितव्यः पाण्डवेयोऽयमित्युत ॥६-१-११॥
Yudhishthira assigned various names to them. Thus, it is to be understood that this is the son of Pandu.
अभिज्ञानानि सर्वेषां सञ्ज्ञाश्चाभरणानि च। योजयामास कौरव्यो युद्धकाल उपस्थिते ॥६-१-१२॥
The Kaurava arranged all the tokens, signals, and ornaments when the time for battle arrived.
दृष्ट्वा ध्वजाग्रं पार्थानां धार्तराष्ट्रो महामनाः। सह सर्वैर्महीपालैः प्रत्यव्यूहत पाण्डवान् ॥६-१-१३॥
Upon seeing the top of the Pāṇḍavas' flag, the wise son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, accompanied by all the kings, strategically arranged his forces against the Pāṇḍavas.
पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि। मध्ये नागसहस्रस्य भ्रातृभिः परिवारितम् ॥६-१-१४॥
He was surrounded by his brothers in the midst of a thousand elephants, with a white umbrella held over his head.
दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनं हृष्टाः सर्वे पाण्डवसैनिकाः। दध्मुः सर्वे महाशङ्खान्भेरीर्जघ्नुः सहस्रशः ॥६-१-१५॥
Upon seeing Duryodhana, all the Pandava soldiers, filled with joy, blew their great conches and beat the drums in unison, creating a sound that echoed thousands of times.
ततः प्रहृष्टां स्वां सेनामभिवीक्ष्याथ पाण्डवाः। बभूवुर्हृष्टमनसो वासुदेवश्च वीर्यवान् ॥६-१-१६॥
Then, upon seeing their own army filled with joy, the Pandavas and the mighty Vasudeva felt a surge of happiness.
ततो योधान्हर्षयन्तौ वासुदेवधनञ्जयौ। दध्मतुः पुरुषव्याघ्रौ दिव्यौ शङ्खौ रथे स्थितौ ॥६-१-१७॥
Then, Vasudeva and Dhananjaya, the great warriors, joyfully blew their divine conches from their chariot, inspiring the troops.
पाञ्चजन्यस्य निर्घोषं देवदत्तस्य चोभयोः। श्रुत्वा सवाहना योधाः शकृन्मूत्रं प्रसुस्रुवुः ॥६-१-१८॥
Upon hearing the sound of the conches Pāñcajanya and Devadatta, the warriors, along with their vehicles, were so terrified that they involuntarily discharged excrement and urine.
यथा सिंहस्य नदतः स्वनं श्रुत्वेतरे मृगाः। त्रसेयुस्तद्वदेवासीद्धार्तराष्ट्रबलं तदा ॥६-१-१९॥
The army of Dhritarashtra trembled just like other animals would upon hearing the roar of a lion.
उदतिष्ठद्रजो भौमं न प्राज्ञायत किञ्चन। अन्तर्धीयत चादित्यः सैन्येन रजसावृतः ॥६-१-२०॥
The dust from the earth rose up, obscuring everything from view. The sun was hidden, shrouded by the dust stirred up by the army.
ववर्ष चात्र पर्जन्यो मांसशोणितवृष्टिमान्। व्युक्षन्सर्वाण्यनीकानि तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥६-१-२१॥
Here, the cloud rained flesh and blood, drenching all the armies, and it appeared as if something wonderful had happened.
वायुस्ततः प्रादुरभून्नीचैः शर्करकर्षणः। विनिघ्नंस्तान्यनीकानि विधमंश्चैव तद्रजः ॥६-१-२२॥
Then, the wind arose, pulling down gravel, destroying the armies and scattering the dust.
उभे सेने तदा राजन्युद्धाय मुदिते भृशम्। कुरुक्षेत्रे स्थिते यत्ते सागरक्षुभितोपमे ॥६-१-२३॥
O King, both armies, filled with great joy, stood ready for battle in Kurukshetra, resembling the turbulent ocean.
तयोस्तु सेनयोरासीदद्भुतः स समागमः। युगान्ते समनुप्राप्ते द्वयोः सागरयोरिव ॥६-१-२४॥
There was a marvelous encounter between the two armies, reminiscent of the meeting of two oceans at the end of an era.
शून्यासीत्पृथिवी सर्वा बालवृद्धावशेषिता। तेन सेनासमूहेन समानीतेन कौरवैः ॥६-१-२५॥
The Kauravas, having gathered their army, left the entire earth desolate, with only the young and the elderly remaining.
ततस्ते समयं चक्रुः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः। धर्मांश्च स्थापयामासुर्युद्धानां भरतर्षभ ॥६-१-२६॥
Then the Kurus, Pandavas, and Somakas reached an agreement and set the rules for the battles, O best of the Bharatas.
निवृत्ते चैव नो युद्धे प्रीतिश्च स्यात्परस्परम्। यथापुरं यथायोगं न च स्याच्छलनं पुनः ॥६-१-२७॥
Once the battle is over, we should have mutual affection as before, appropriately, and ensure that there is no deception again.
वाचा युद्धे प्रवृत्ते नो वाचैव प्रतियोधनम्। निष्क्रान्तः पृतनामध्यान्न हन्तव्यः कथञ्चन ॥६-१-२८॥
In the battle, we engage through words, and our counteraction is solely verbal. Once someone has left the battlefield, they should not be harmed in any manner.
रथी च रथिना योध्यो गजेन गजधूर्गतः। अश्वेनाश्वी पदातिश्च पदातेनैव भारत ॥६-१-२९॥
O Bhārata, a charioteer should engage with another charioteer, an elephant rider with another elephant rider, a horseman with another horseman, and a foot soldier with another foot soldier.
यथायोगं यथावीर्यं यथोत्साहं यथावयः। समाभाष्य प्रहर्तव्यं न विश्वस्ते न विह्वले ॥६-१-३०॥
One should act according to appropriateness, strength, enthusiasm, and age, after consultation, and should not attack in a trusting or confused manner.
परेण सह संयुक्तः प्रमत्तो विमुखस्तथा। क्षीणशस्त्रो विवर्मा च न हन्तव्यः कथञ्चन ॥६-१-३१॥
One who is joined with another, careless, turned away, weaponless, and without armor should not be killed in any way.
न सूतेषु न धुर्येषु न च शस्त्रोपनायिषु। न भेरीशङ्खवादेषु प्रहर्तव्यं कथञ्चन ॥६-१-३२॥
One should not strike in any way during births, burdens, weaponry, or the sounds of drums and conches.
एवं ते समयं कृत्वा कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः। विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः प्रेक्षमाणाः परस्परम् ॥६-१-३३॥
After making the agreement, the Kurus, Pandavas, and Somakas were filled with great wonder as they looked at each other.
निविश्य च महात्मानस्ततस्ते पुरुषर्षभाः। हृष्टरूपाः सुमनसो बभूवुः सहसैनिकाः ॥६-१-३४॥
After settling down, the great souls, who were like bulls among men, became joyful and cheerful-minded along with their soldiers.
