नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्। देवी सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत्।।
Having saluted the Supreme Deity (Narayana), and the highest of all male beings (Nara) and also the goddess of Learning (Sarasvati), let us cry success!
जनमेजय उवाच कथं युयुधिरे वीराः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः। पार्थिवाः सुमहात्मानो नानादेशसमागताः॥
Janamejaya said How did those great warriors, the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas and the other illustrious kings who assembled from various countries fight?
वैशम्पायन उवाच यथा युयुधिके वीराः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः। कुरुक्षेत्रे तपःक्षेत्रे शृणु त्वं पृथिवीपते॥
Vaishampayana said ruler of carth, hear how those great warriors, the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas foughton the holy field of Kurukshetra.
तेऽवतीर्य कुरुक्षेत्रं पाण्डवाः सहसोमकाः। कौरवाः समवर्तन्त जिगीषन्तो महाबलाः॥
Arriving at Kurukshetra, the powerful Pandavas, accompanied with the Somakas, advanced against the Kurus with the desire of victory.
वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्नाः सर्वे युद्धाभिनन्दिनः। आशंसन्तो जयं युद्धे बलेनामिमुखा रणे॥
Learned in the Vedas, they all took great delight in battle. Being eager to secure success in the battle, they with their soldiers advanced to the fight.
अभियाय च दुर्धर्षां धार्तराष्ट्रस्य वाहिनीम्। प्राङ्मुखाः पश्चिमे भागे न्यविशन्त ससैनिकाः॥
Coming near the army of Dhritarashtra's son those invincible heroes encamped with their troops on the Western part (of the field), their faces turned towards the East.
समन्तपञ्चकाद् बाह्यं शिविराणि सहस्रशः। कारयामास विधिवत् कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः॥
The son of Kunti Yudhishthira ordered tents to be pitched duly be thousands beyond the region called Samantapanchaka.
शून्या च पृथिवी सर्वा बालवृद्धावशेषिता। निरश्वपुरुषेवासीद् रथकुञ्जरवर्जिता॥
The whole earth appeared to be empty, having been destitute of men and horses, and of chariots and elephants. Only the children and the old remained (in their houses).
यावत्तपति सूर्यो हि जम्बूद्वीपस्य मण्डलम्। तावदेव समायातं बलं पार्थिवसत्तम॥
O foremost of kings, from all parts of Jambudvipa over which the sun shines was collected that great force.
एकस्थाः सर्ववर्णास्ते मण्डलं बहुयोजनम्। पर्याक्रामन्त देशांश्च नदी: शैलान् वनानि च।॥
Men of all races assembled there, and they occupied an area extending many Yojanas over fields, rivers, hills and woods.
तेषां युधिष्ठिरो राजा सर्वेषां पुरुषर्षभ। व्यादिदेश सबाह्यानां भक्ष्यभोज्यमनुत्तमम्॥
That foremost of men, king Yudhishthira ordered to be supplied to them in excellent edibles and other things of enjoyment.
शय्याश्च विविधास्तात तेषां रात्रौ युधिष्ठिरः। एवंवेदी वेदितव्यः पाण्डवेयोऽयमित्युत॥
Yudhishthira fixed various appellation so that by uttering them they might be known to others that they belong to the Pandava force.
अभिज्ञानानि सर्वेषां संज्ञाश्चाभरणानि च। योजयामास कौरव्यो युद्धकाल उपस्थिते॥
That Kuru prince also fixed names and emblems for all of them, so that they might be recognised at the time of battle.
दृष्ट्वा ध्वजाग्रं पार्थस्य धार्तराष्ट्रो महामनाः। सह सर्वैर्महीपालैः प्रत्यव्यूहत पाण्डवम्॥ पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि। मध्ये नागसहस्रस्य भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः॥
Seeing (from a distance) the top of the flatstaff of Pritha's son, the illustrious son of Dhritarashtra with a white umbrella held over his head stood surrounded by his one hundred brothers in the midst of a thousand elephants and began with all the kings to array his troops against the Pandavas.
दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनं हृष्टाः पञ्चाला युद्धनन्दिनः। दध्मुः प्रीता महाशवान् भेर्यश्च मधुरस्वनाः॥
Seeing the Duryodhana, the Panchalas, who ever liked fighting, were filled with delight, They blew their loud-sounding conchs and sweet sounding cymbals.
ततः प्रहृष्टां तां सेनामभिवीक्ष्याथ पाण्डवाः। बभूवुर्हष्टमनसो वासुदेवश्च वीर्यवान्॥
Seeing the (Panchala) troops in great delight, the Pandavas and the greatly effulgent Vasudeva (Krishna) were filled with joy.
ततो हर्ष समागम्य वासुदेवधनंजयौ। दध्मतुः पुरुषव्याघ्रौ दिव्यौ शङ्खौ रथे स्थितौ॥
Those lion of men, Vasudeva and Arjuna who were seated on one car felt the greatest joy and both blew their celestial conchs.
पाञ्चजन्यस्य निर्घोषं देवदत्तस्य चोभयोः। श्रुत्वा तु निनदं योधाः शकृन्मूत्रं प्रसुस्रुवुः॥
Having heard the loud sound of the conchs of those two heroes, the soldiers passed urine and excrete.
यथा सिंहस्य नदतः स्वनं श्रुत्वेतरे मृगाः। त्रसेयुर्निनदं श्रुत्वा तथाऽसीदत तद्बलम्॥
As animals are afflicted with fear in hearing the voice of the roaring lion, so were that force on hearing those sounds.
उदतिष्ठद् रजो भौमं न प्राज्ञायत किंचन। अस्तगत इवादित्ये सैन्येन सहसाऽऽवृते॥
A fearful dust arose and every thing became invisible. The sun, becoming suddenly shrouded by it appeared as if it had set.
ववर्ष तत्र पर्जन्यो मांसशोणितवृष्टिमान्। दिक्षु सर्वाणि सैन्यानि तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥
A black clouds of flesh and blood showered a down pour over that vast assemblage of troops. Every thing appeared to be wonderful.
वायुस्ततः प्रादुरभून्नीचैः शर्करकर्षणः। विनिस्तान्यनीकानि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥
A fearful wind blow carrying over the earth innumerable stones and afflicting thousands and thousands of soldiers.
उभे सैन्ये च राजेन्द्र युद्धाय मुदिते भृशम्। कुरुक्षेत्रे स्थिते यत्ते सागरक्षुभितोपमे॥
O king, both armies stood for battle in the field of Kurukshetra like two agitated oceans.
तयोस्तु सेनयोरासीदद्भुतः स तु संगमः। युगान्ते समनुप्राप्ते द्वयोः सागरयोरिव॥
That great battle of the two enemies was exceedingly wonderful, like two oceans at the end of the Yuga.
शून्याऽऽसीत् पृथिवी सर्वा वृद्धबालावशेषिता। निरश्वपुरुषेवासीद् रथकुञ्जरवर्जिता॥
The whole earth was empty for only the children and the old remained in their houses, others having joined the Kuru armies.
तेन सेनासमूहेन समानीतेन कौरवैः। ततस्ते समयं चक्रुः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः॥
O best of the Bharata race, then the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas made certain agreements and settled some rules regarding the different kinds of fight.
धर्मान् संस्थापयामासुर्युद्धानां भरतर्षभ। निवृत्ते विहिते युद्धे स्यात् प्रीतिर्नः परस्परम्॥
(Such as) men equally situated should only fight with one another with all fairness. If having fought with fairness, the combatants withdraw, that would be preferred.
यथापरं यथायोगं न च स्यात् कस्यचित् पुनः। वाचा युद्धप्रवृत्तानां वाचैव प्रतियोधनम्। निष्क्रान्ताः पृतनामध्यान्न हन्तव्याः कदाचन॥
Those who engaged in a battle of words should be fought against with only words. those that left the fight should never be killed.
रथी च रथिना योध्यो गजेन गजधूर्गतः। अश्वेनाश्री पदातिश्च पादातेनैव भारत॥
A car-warrior should fight only with a car warrior. He who rode on an elephant should fight only with another such combatant. O descendant of Bharata, a horse man must fight with a horse man and a foot-soldier with a footsoldier.
यथायोगं यथाकामं यथोत्साहं यथाबलम्। समाभाष्य प्रहर्तव्यं न विश्वस्ते न विह्वले॥
Always being led by consideration of fitness, willingness, bravery and strength, one should strike another after having challenged him. None should strike another who is confiding or who is panic-stricken.
एकेन सह संयुक्तः प्रपन्नो विमुखस्तथा। क्षीणशस्त्रो विवर्मा च न हन्तव्यः कदाचन॥
One fighting with another, one seeking refuge, one retreating, one whose weapon is broken and one who is not clad in armour should never be struck.
न सूतेषु न धुर्येषु न च शस्त्रोपनायिषु। न भेरीशङ्खवादेषु प्रहर्तव्यं कथंचन॥
Charioteers, animals, men engaged in carrying weapons, those who play on drums and those who blow conchs should never be smitten.
एवं ते समयं कृत्वा कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः। विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः प्रेक्षमाणाः परस्परम्॥
Having made these agreements, the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas, staring at one another were filled with surprise.
निविश्य च महात्मानस्ततस्ते पुरुषर्षभाः। हृष्टरूपाः सुमनसो बभूवुः सहसैनिकाः॥
Having thus placed their troops those foremost of men, those illustrious heroes were filled with delight, their appearance indicating joy.