09.005
Core and Pancharatra: When asked, Ashwatthama suggests Shalya as commander. Duryodhana appoints Shalya to command the Kaurava army.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said.
अथ हैमवते प्रस्थे स्थित्वा युद्धाभिनन्दिनः। सर्व एव महाराज योधास्तत्र समागताः ॥९-५-१॥
Then, on the Himalayan plateau, all the great kings and warriors gathered, rejoicing in the prospect of battle.
शल्यश्च चित्रसेनश्च शकुनिश्च महारथः। अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः ॥९-५-२॥
Shalya, Citrasena, Shakuni, Ashwatthama, Kripa, Kritavarma, and Satyaki, all great warriors, were present.
सुषेणोऽरिष्टसेनश्च धृतसेनश्च वीर्यवान्। जयत्सेनश्च राजानस्ते रात्रिमुषितास्ततः ॥९-५-३॥
Suṣena, Ariṣṭasena, Dhṛtasena, Jayatsena, and the other powerful kings spent the night there.
रणे कर्णे हते वीरे त्रासिता जितकाशिभिः। नालभञ्शर्म ते पुत्रा हिमवन्तमृते गिरिम् ॥९-५-४॥
In the battle, after Karna was slain, the heroic sons, frightened by the victorious Kashi princes, found no peace except in the Himalayas.
तेऽब्रुवन्सहितास्तत्र राजानं सैन्यसंनिधौ। कृतयत्ना रणे राजन्सम्पूज्य विधिवत्तदा ॥९-५-५॥
They collectively addressed the king in the presence of the army, having made efforts in the battle, O king, and properly honored him at that time.
कृत्वा सेनाप्रणेतारं परांस्त्वं योद्धुमर्हसि। येनाभिगुप्ताः सङ्ग्रामे जयेमासुहृदो वयम् ॥९-५-६॥
You should appoint a leader for the army and fight the enemies. With his protection, we, as friends, may achieve victory in battle.
ततो दुर्योधनः स्थित्वा रथे रथवरोत्तमम्। सर्वयुद्धविभागज्ञमन्तकप्रतिमं युधि ॥९-५-७॥
Then Duryodhana, standing on his chariot, appeared as the best among charioteers, knowledgeable in all divisions of war, and resembling the destroyer in battle.
स्वङ्गं प्रच्छन्नशिरसं कम्बुग्रीवं प्रियंवदम्। व्याकोशपद्माभिमुखं व्याघ्रास्यं मेरुगौरवम् ॥९-५-८॥
The figure possesses its own body with a hidden head, a neck like a conch, speaks sweetly, faces a blooming lotus, has a face like a tiger, and holds the dignity of a mountain.
स्थाणोर्वृषस्य सदृशं स्कन्धनेत्रगतिस्वरैः। पुष्टश्लिष्टायतभुजं सुविस्तीर्णघनोरसम् ॥९-५-९॥
He resembles Shiva and the bull, with shoulders, eyes, movement, and sounds; his arms are nourished, embraced, and extended, and he has a well-expanded, dense chest.
जवे बले च सदृशमरुणानुजवातयोः। आदित्यस्य त्विषा तुल्यं बुद्ध्या चोशनसा समम् ॥९-५-१०॥
He is as swift and strong as the wind, the brother of Aruṇa; as brilliant as the sun; and as wise as Uśanas.
कान्तिरूपमुखैश्वर्यैस्त्रिभिश्चन्द्रमसोपमम्। काञ्चनोपलसङ्घातैः सदृशं श्लिष्टसन्धिकम् ॥९-५-११॥
The beauty, form, and majesty of the face are like the moon with its three aspects; it resembles clusters of golden stones, compact and well-jointed.
सुवृत्तोरुकटीजङ्घं सुपादं स्वङ्गुलीनखम्। स्मृत्वा स्मृत्वैव च गुणान्धात्रा यत्नाद्विनिर्मितम् ॥९-५-१२॥
The creator, with great effort, crafted a being with well-formed thighs, waist, calves, beautiful feet, and own fingers and nails, remembering the qualities.
सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं निपुणं श्रुतिसागरम्। जेतारं तरसारीणामजेयं शत्रुभिर्बलात् ॥९-५-१३॥
He is endowed with all characteristics, skillful, an ocean of knowledge, a conqueror of the swift enemies, and invincible by enemies by force.
दशाङ्गं यश्चतुष्पादमिष्वस्त्रं वेद तत्त्वतः। साङ्गांश्च चतुरो वेदान्सम्यगाख्यानपञ्चमान् ॥९-५-१४॥
"One who truly understands the ten-limbed, four-footed missile weapon, along with the four Vedas and their complete narration, is wise."
आराध्य त्र्यम्बकं यत्नाद्व्रतैरुग्रैर्महातपाः। अयोनिजायामुत्पन्नो द्रोणेनायोनिजेन यः ॥९-५-१५॥
Having worshipped Lord Shiva, the three-eyed deity, with great effort and fierce vows, the great ascetic was born from the one not born of a womb, by Droṇa, who himself was not born of a womb.
तमप्रतिमकर्माणं रूपेणासदृशं भुवि। पारगं सर्वविद्यानां गुणार्णवमनिन्दितम् ॥ तमभ्येत्यात्मजस्तुभ्यमश्वत्थामानमब्रवीत् ॥९-५-१६॥
The son approached Ashwatthama, who was unmatched in deeds and unequaled in form on earth, a master of all knowledge, an ocean of virtues, and blameless, and said to him.
यं पुरस्कृत्य सहिता युधि जेष्याम पाण्डवान्। गुरुपुत्रोऽद्य सर्वेषामस्माकं परमा गतिः ॥ भवांस्तस्मान्नियोगात्ते कोऽस्तु सेनापतिर्मम ॥९-५-१७॥
Placing him at the forefront, we shall conquer the Pandavas in battle together. Today, the teacher's son is our supreme refuge. Therefore, by your command, who should be appointed as my general?
द्रौणिरुवाच॥
Drona's son said.
अयं कुलेन वीर्येण तेजसा यशसा श्रिया। सर्वैर्गुणैः समुदितः शल्यो नोऽस्तु चमूपतिः ॥९-५-१८॥
Let Śalya, who is endowed with all noble qualities such as family heritage, valor, brilliance, fame, and wealth, be our commander of the army.
भागिनेयान्निजांस्त्यक्त्वा कृतज्ञोऽस्मानुपागतः। महासेनो महाबाहुर्महासेन इवापरः ॥९-५-१९॥
The grateful Mahasena, having left his own nephews, approached us with his mighty arms, resembling another Mahasena.
एनं सेनापतिं कृत्वा नृपतिं नृपसत्तम। शक्यः प्राप्तुं जयोऽस्माभिर्देवैः स्कन्दमिवाजितम् ॥९-५-२०॥
By appointing him as the general, O noble king, we can achieve victory like the invincible Skanda, with the help of the gods.
तथोक्ते द्रोणपुत्रेण सर्व एव नराधिपाः। परिवार्य स्थिताः शल्यं जयशब्दांश्च चक्रिरे ॥ युद्धाय च मतिं चक्रूरावेशं च परं ययुः ॥९-५-२१॥
Upon hearing the words of Droṇa's son, all the kings gathered around Śalya, raising cries of victory. They prepared themselves for battle, filled with great enthusiasm and determination.
ततो दुर्योधनः शल्यं भूमौ स्थित्वा रथे स्थितम्। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा रामभीष्मसमं रणे ॥९-५-२२॥
Then Duryodhana, standing on the ground, addressed Shalya, who was on the chariot, with folded hands, showing respect and equating him to the great warriors Rama and Bhishma in the battle.
अयं स कालः सम्प्राप्तो मित्राणां मित्रवत्सल। यत्र मित्रममित्रं वा परीक्षन्ते बुधा जनाः ॥९-५-२३॥
This is the time, O lover of friends, when wise people discern between friends and non-friends.
स भवानस्तु नः शूरः प्रणेता वाहिनीमुखे। रणं च याते भवति पाण्डवा मन्दचेतसः ॥ भविष्यन्ति सहामात्याः पाञ्चालाश्च निरुद्यमाः ॥९-५-२४॥
"You should be our hero and leader at the front of the army. When the battle ensues, the Pāṇḍavas will become dull-minded, and the Pāñcālas along with their ministers will become inactive."
शल्य उवाच॥
Śalya spoke.
यत्तु मां मन्यसे राजन्कुरुराज करोमि तत्। त्वत्प्रियार्थं हि मे सर्वं प्राणा राज्यं धनानि च ॥९-५-२५॥
O King, what you think of me, I do it all for your pleasure, indeed, my entire life, kingdom, and wealth are for you.
दुर्योधन उवाच॥
Duryodhana said.
सेनापत्येन वरये त्वामहं मातुलातुलम्। सोऽस्मान्पाहि युधां श्रेष्ठ स्कन्दो देवानिवाहवे ॥९-५-२६॥
I, by the commander, choose you, my incomparable uncle. May Skanda, the best among warriors, protect us in battles like the gods do in war.
अभिषिच्यस्व राजेन्द्र देवानामिव पावकिः। जहि शत्रून्रणे वीर महेन्द्रो दानवानिव ॥९-५-२७॥
O King, after being anointed, like the fire among the gods, conquer your enemies in battle, O hero, just as Mahendra (Indra) conquered the demons.
