06.017
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
यथा स भगवान्व्यासः कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्। तथैव सहिताः सर्वे समाजग्मुर्महीक्षितः ॥६-१७-१॥
As the revered sage Vyasa, known as Krishna Dvaipayana, spoke, all the kings gathered together in the same manner.
मघाविषयगः सोमस्तद्दिनं प्रत्यपद्यत। दीप्यमानाश्च सम्पेतुर्दिवि सप्त महाग्रहाः ॥६-१७-२॥
On that day, Soma entered the region of Magha. The seven great planets shone brightly and fell in the sky.
द्विधाभूत इवादित्य उदये प्रत्यदृश्यत। ज्वलन्त्या शिखया भूयो भानुमानुदितो दिवि ॥६-१७-३॥
The sun appeared to be split in two at sunrise, with a blazing flame, the sun rose once more in the sky.
ववाशिरे च दीप्तायां दिशि गोमायुवायसाः। लिप्समानाः शरीराणि मांसशोणितभोजनाः ॥६-१७-४॥
In the blazing direction, jackals and crows howled, eager for bodies to feast on flesh and blood.
अहन्यहनि पार्थानां वृद्धः कुरुपितामहः। भरद्वाजात्मजश्चैव प्रातरुत्थाय संयतौ ॥६-१७-५॥
Every day, the elder Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, and Drona, the son of Bharadvāja, would rise in the morning, ready for battle.
जयोऽस्तु पाण्डुपुत्राणामित्यूचतुररिंदमौ। युयुधाते तवार्थाय यथा स समयः कृतः ॥६-१७-६॥
The subduers of enemies declared victory for the sons of Pandu. They engaged in battle for your cause, as per the agreement made.
सर्वधर्मविशेषज्ञः पिता देवव्रतस्तव। समानीय महीपालानिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥६-१७-७॥
Your father, Devavrata, who knows all dharmas, gathered the kings and spoke these words.
इदं वः क्षत्रिया द्वारं स्वर्गायापावृतं महत्। गच्छध्वं तेन शक्रस्य ब्रह्मणश्च सलोकताम् ॥६-१७-८॥
This is the great gate to heaven opened for you, O warriors. Proceed through it to join the realms of Indra and Brahma.
एष वः शाश्वतः पन्थाः पूर्वैः पूर्वतरैर्गतः। सम्भावयत चात्मानमव्यग्रमनसो युधि ॥६-१७-९॥
This is the eternal path that your ancestors and their ancestors have followed. Prepare yourself with a steady mind for the battle.
नाभागो हि ययातिश्च मान्धाता नहुषो नृगः। संसिद्धाः परमं स्थानं गताः कर्मभिरीदृशैः ॥६-१७-१०॥
Nābhāga, Yayāti, Māndhātā, Nahuṣa, and Nṛga have all attained the supreme abode through such deeds.
अधर्मः क्षत्रियस्यैष यद्व्याधिमरणं गृहे। यदाजौ निधनं याति सोऽस्य धर्मः सनातनः ॥६-१७-११॥
For a Kshatriya, dying of disease at home is considered unrighteous; his eternal duty is to die in battle.
एवमुक्ता महीपाला भीष्मेण भरतर्षभ। निर्ययुः स्वान्यनीकानि शोभयन्तो रथोत्तमैः ॥६-१७-१२॥
Upon being addressed in this manner by Bhishma, the revered elder, the kings, O best of the Bharatas, set forth, embellishing their respective armies with magnificent chariots.
स तु वैकर्तनः कर्णः सामात्यः सह बन्धुभिः। न्यासितः समरे शस्त्रं भीष्मेण भरतर्षभ ॥६-१७-१३॥
Karna, the son of Vikartana, was strategically positioned in the battlefield with his ministers and relatives by Bhishma, the great warrior, O best of the Bharatas.
अपेतकर्णाः पुत्रास्ते राजानश्चैव तावकाः। निर्ययुः सिंहनादेन नादयन्तो दिशो दश ॥६-१७-१४॥
Your sons and kings, with their ears cut off, departed, making the ten directions resound with a lion's roar.
श्वेतैश्छत्रैः पताकाभिर्ध्वजवारणवाजिभिः। तान्यनीकान्यशोभन्त रथैरथ पदातिभिः ॥६-१७-१५॥
The armies, adorned with white umbrellas, flags, banners, elephants, and horses, appeared splendid with chariots and foot soldiers.
भेरीपणवशब्दैश्च पटहानां च निस्वनैः। रथनेमिनिनादैश्च बभूवाकुलिता मही ॥६-१७-१६॥
The earth was filled with the tumultuous sounds of drums, small drums, kettledrums, and the echoes of chariot wheels, creating a scene of chaos.
काञ्चनाङ्गदकेयूरैः कार्मुकैश्च महारथाः। भ्राजमाना व्यदृश्यन्त जङ्गमाः पर्वता इव ॥६-१७-१७॥
The great warriors, adorned with golden armlets, bracelets, and bows, appeared resplendent, resembling moving mountains.
तालेन महता भीष्मः पञ्चतारेण केतुना। विमलादित्यसङ्काशस्तस्थौ कुरुचमूपतिः ॥६-१७-१८॥
Bhishma, the leader of the Kuru army, stood with a grand banner and a flag adorned with five stars, radiating brilliance like the sun.
ये त्वदीया महेष्वासा राजानो भरतर्षभ। अवर्तन्त यथादेशं राजञ्शान्तनवस्य ते ॥६-१७-१९॥
O best of the Bharatas, your great archer kings acted according to the command of Śāntanu, O king.
स तु गोवासनः शैब्यः सहितः सर्वराजभिः। ययौ मातङ्गराजेन राजार्हेण पताकिना ॥ पद्मवर्णस्त्वनीकानां सर्वेषामग्रतः स्थितः ॥६-१७-२०॥
Govasana and Shaibya, along with all the kings, proceeded with the king of elephants, adorned with a royal flag. The lotus-colored leader stood at the forefront of all the troops.
अश्वत्थामा ययौ यत्तः सिंहलाङ्गूलकेतनः। श्रुतायुश्चित्रसेनश्च पुरुमित्रो विविंशतिः ॥६-१७-२१॥
Ashwatthama, adorned with a banner depicting a lion's tail, proceeded with readiness. Alongside him were Shrutayu, Chitrasena, Purumitra, and Vivimshati.
शल्यो भूरिश्रवाश्चैव विकर्णश्च महारथः। एते सप्त महेष्वासा द्रोणपुत्रपुरोगमाः ॥ स्यन्दनैर्वरवर्णाभैर्भीष्मस्यासन्पुरःसराः ॥६-१७-२२॥
Shalya, Bhurishrava, Vikarna, and other great warriors, led by Ashwatthama, were positioned in front of Bhishma in splendid chariots.
तेषामपि महोत्सेधाः शोभयन्तो रथोत्तमान्। भ्राजमाना व्यदृश्यन्त जाम्बूनदमया ध्वजाः ॥६-१७-२३॥
Their flags, made of gold, adorned the excellent chariots and were seen shining brightly.
जाम्बूनदमयी वेदिः कमण्डलुविभूषिता। केतुराचार्यमुख्यस्य द्रोणस्य धनुषा सह ॥६-१७-२४॥
The golden altar, adorned with a water-pot, stood as the banner of the chief teacher Drona, alongside his bow.
अनेकशतसाहस्रमनीकमनुकर्षतः। महान्दुर्योधनस्यासीन्नागो मणिमयो ध्वजः ॥६-१७-२५॥
Duryodhana had a great banner with a bejeweled serpent, followed by many hundreds and thousands of troops.
तस्य पौरवकालिङ्गौ काम्बोजश्च सुदक्षिणः। क्षेमधन्वा सुमित्रश्च तस्थुः प्रमुखतो रथाः ॥६-१७-२६॥
His allies, including Paurava, Kalinga, Kamboja, Sudakshina, Kṣemadhanvā, and Sumitra, positioned themselves prominently in front of the chariots.
स्यन्दनेन महार्हेण केतुना वृषभेण च। प्रकर्षन्निव सेनाग्रं मागधश्च नृपो ययौ ॥६-१७-२७॥
The King of Magadha proceeded with his grand chariot, adorned with a banner and a bull, leading the front of the army as if in a majestic display.
तदङ्गपतिना गुप्तं कृपेण च महात्मना। शारदाभ्रचयप्रख्यं प्राच्यानामभवद्बलम् ॥६-१७-२८॥
The strength of the eastern forces, safeguarded by the lord of Anga and the noble Kripa, resembled a dense formation of autumn clouds.
अनीकप्रमुखे तिष्ठन्वराहेण महायशाः। शुशुभे केतुमुख्येन राजतेन जयद्रथः ॥६-१७-२९॥
Jayadratha, greatly renowned, stood at the forefront of the army with the boar, shining with the chief silver banner.
शतं रथसहस्राणां तस्यासन्वशवर्तिनः। अष्टौ नागसहस्राणि सादिनामयुतानि षट् ॥६-१७-३०॥
He had a hundred thousand obedient chariots, eight thousand elephants, and ten thousand horsemen, six in number.
तत्सिन्धुपतिना राजन्पालितं ध्वजिनीमुखम्। अनन्तरथनागाश्वमशोभत महद्बलम् ॥६-१७-३१॥
The front of the army, protected by the lord of the ocean, shone brilliantly with countless chariots, elephants, and horses, forming a mighty force, O king.
षष्ट्या रथसहस्रैस्तु नागानामयुतेन च। पतिः सर्वकलिङ्गानां ययौ केतुमता सह ॥६-१७-३२॥
The lord of all Kalingas, accompanied by Ketumat, proceeded with sixty thousand chariots and ten thousand elephants.
तस्य पर्वतसङ्काशा व्यरोचन्त महागजाः। यन्त्रतोमरतूणीरैः पताकाभिश्च शोभिताः ॥६-१७-३३॥
His great elephants, resembling mountains, shone brightly, adorned with machines, spears, quivers, and flags.
शुशुभे केतुमुख्येन पादपेन कलिङ्गपः। श्वेतच्छत्रेण निष्केण चामरव्यजनेन च ॥६-१७-३४॥
The lord of Kalinga appeared resplendent, adorned with the chief of flags, a tree, a white umbrella, a golden ornament, and a yak-tail fan.
केतुमानपि मातङ्गं विचित्रपरमाङ्कुशम्। आस्थितः समरे राजन्मेघस्थ इव भानुमान् ॥६-१७-३५॥
O king, having a banner, he mounted a magnificent elephant with a supreme goad, appearing in battle like the sun amidst the clouds.
तेजसा दीप्यमानस्तु वारणोत्तममास्थितः। भगदत्तो ययौ राजा यथा वज्रधरस्तथा ॥६-१७-३६॥
Bhagadatta, shining with brilliance and mounted on the best elephant, proceeded like King Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt.
गजस्कन्धगतावास्तां भगदत्तेन संमितौ। विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ केतुमन्तमनुव्रतौ ॥६-१७-३७॥
Vindha and Anuvindha, the two princes of Avanti, were mounted on the elephant's back, equal to Bhagadatta, and devoted to Ketumanta.
स रथानीकवान्व्यूहो हस्त्यङ्गोत्तमशीर्षवान्। वाजिपक्षः पतन्नुग्रः प्राहरत्सर्वतोमुखः ॥६-१७-३८॥
He, with a chariot formation and a battle array that had excellent elephant limbs and a head, and with horses as wings, flew fiercely and attacked in all directions.
द्रोणेन विहितो राजन्राज्ञा शान्तनवेन च। तथैवाचार्यपुत्रेण बाह्लीकेन कृपेण च ॥६-१७-३९॥
The arrangement was made by Drona, O king, as well as by the king, Santanu's son, the teacher's son, Bahlika, and Kripa.
