धृतराष्ट्र उवाच धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः। मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत संजय॥
Dhritarashtra said What did my sons and the Pandava do, o Sanjaya, when desirous of battle they all assembled on the holy field of Kurukshetra?
संजय उवाच दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा। आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Sanjaya said Seeing the Pandava army in battle array,
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्। व्यूढां दुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता॥
“Behold, O Preceptor, the grand army of the Pandavas, drawn up in battle array by your intelligent pupil the son of Drupada.
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि। युयुधानो विराटश्च दुपदश्च महारथः॥
There are in it mighty bowmen, equals of Bhima and Arjuna in battle. There are Yudhishthira, Virata and the great car-warrior Drupada.
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्। पुरुजित् कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः॥
There are Dhrishtaketu, Chekitan and valiant king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and that kings of men, Shaivya.
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्। सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः॥
There are mighty Yudhamanyu, heroic Uttamaujas, Subhadra's son and sons of Draupadi, all great car-warriors.
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान् निबोध द्विजोत्तम। नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान् ब्रवीमि ते॥
O best of Brahmanas, learn, I shall tell you also for your information who are the most distinguished amongst us, and who are the leaders of my army.
भवान् भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिंजयः। अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च॥
Yourself, and Bhishma, and Karna, and ever-victorious Kripa, Ashvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta.
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः। नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः॥
There are (besides these) many warriors, all well-skilled in the art of war and (all) armed with various weapons, ready to die for me.
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्। पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्॥
Our army protected by Bhishma is unlimited (more then sufficient) their army protected by Bhima is limited, (may be sufficient).
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः। भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि॥
Therefore all of you, place yourselves at the head of your respective phalanx, and protect (and support) Bhishma only".
तस्य संजनयन् हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः। सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्ख दध्मौ प्रतापवान्॥
Then the older of the Kurus, the mighty Grandsire Bhishma, roaring like a lion, blew his conch, thus affording him (Duryodhana) great delight.
ततः शङ्खच भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः। सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्॥
And then conchs, drums, trumpets and cymbals were all at once sounded, and there rose a great uproar (from all sides).
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ। माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः॥
Then Madhava (Srikrishna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), seated in a great car yoked with white steeds, blew their celestial conchs.
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः। पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्ख भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः॥
Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya, Dhananjaya, Devadatta, and the doer of fearful deeds, Bhima his great conch Paundra.
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ॥
The son of Kunti, king Yudhishthira, Ananta Vijaya and Nakula and Sahadeva Sughosha and Mani Pushpaka respectively.
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः। धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः॥
The great bowman the king of Kashi the mighty car warrior Shikhandin, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and ever-victorious Satyaki.
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते। सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान् दध्मुः पृथक् पृथक्॥
Drupada, and the sons of Draupadi and the mighty armed son of Subhadra, O king of all the world, each blew his conch separately.
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्। नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्॥
Echoing heaven and earth, the tumultous din rent the hearts of Dhritarashtra's people.
अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः। प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः॥ हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते।
O king of the world, the ape standard son of Pandu secing Dhritarashtra's people marshalled in battle bent, and missiles having been just began to be discharged, raised up his bow, and spoke thus to Hrishikesh :
अर्जुन उवाच सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत॥ यावदेतान् निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धकामानवस्थितान्। कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे॥
"O undeteriorating one, place my car between the two armies. While I see those who stand here desirous of battle, and with whom I shall have to fight in this war-struggle.
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेयुद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः॥
I shall see those who have assembled here to fight, wishing to do good to the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.
संजय उवाच एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम्॥
Sanjaya said O Bharata, thus addressed by Gudakesha (Arjuna), Hrishikesh, placing the excellent car between the two armies.
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्। उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान् समवेतान् कुरूनिति॥
In front of Bhishma, Drona and all the kings of the earth, said, “Behold Partha, the assembled Kaurava".
तत्रापश्यत् स्थितान् पार्थः पितृनथ पितामहान्। आचार्यान् मातुलान् भ्रातृन् पुत्रान् पौत्रान् सखींस्तथा॥
Partha saw in the two armies fathers, grandfathers, preceptors, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, fathers-in-law, and well-wishers.
श्वशुरान् सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि। तान् समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान् बन्धूनवस्थितान्॥ कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्।
Seeing in the two armies all friends and Kinsmen (present), the son of Kunti was ency said.
अर्जुन उवाच दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सु समुपस्थितम्॥ सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति।
"Seeing, O Hrishikesh, these kinsmen present here with the desire to do battle my limbs are languid, my mouth is dried up.
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते॥ गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तांत् त्वक् चैव परिदह्यते।
My body trembles, my hairs stand on end, my Gandiva (bow) slips from my hand and my skin burns.
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः॥ निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव।
I am unable to stand, my mind is whirling and I see, O Keshava, evil omens.
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे॥ न काक्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च।
I don't see any good by killing kinsmen in this battle. I desire, O Krishna, neither victory nor sovereignty, nor pleasures.
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा॥ येषामर्थे काक्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च।
What is sovereignty, what is enjoyment, what is even.life to us, O Govinda when those, for whose sake we wish to have sovereignty, enjoyments and pleasures (in this world).
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च॥ आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः। मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्रा: स्याला: सम्बन्धिनस्तथा।॥ एतान् न हन्तुमिच्छामि नतोऽपि मधुसूदन।
Are all present here in this battle, giving up all hopes of life and wealth! Preceptors, fathers, grand-fathers and sons, Maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-inlaw and relatives, I do not desire to kill them. O Madhusudana, even if they kill me.
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते॥ निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान् नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन।
Not even for the sake of the sovereignty over the three worlds, much less for that of this earth! What pleasure will be ours, O Janardana, by killing Dhritarashtra's sons!
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान् हत्वैतानाततायिनः॥ तस्मानार्दा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान् स्वबान्धवान्। स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव॥
Even killing these felons, we shall incur sin. Therefore, it is not proper that we shall kill our own kinsmen, these sons of Dhritarashtra. How can we, O Madhava, be happy by killing our own relatives?
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्॥
If they, blinded by avarice, cannot see the sin they commit by exterminating the (Kuru) race, and playing enmity with friends.
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मानिवर्तितुम्। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन॥
Why should we not, O Janardana who know that sin is the result of exterminating the race, learn to desist from it?
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः। धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत॥
On the extinction of a family, the old and ever continuing family rites are destroyed), nobody being alive to solemnize them). When religious rites are thus destroyed, sin predominates over all.
अधर्माभिभवात् कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः। स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसंकरः॥
From the predominance of sin, O Krishna, women become corrupt, and then O descendant of Vrishni, cross-breeds (mixed-castes) are borm.
संकरो नरकायैव कुलमानां कुलस्य च। पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः॥
Such cross-breeding leads both the exterminator of the race and the race itself to hell. The (deceased) ancestors whose Sraddha ceremonies have ceased, (to whom children have stopped to give food and water), fall (from heaven to hell).
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसंकरकारकैः। उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः॥
Both the caste and family-rites of the exterminators of the race, (who are) guilty of the sin of cross-breeding, are destroyed.
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन। नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम॥
We have heard, O Janardana, that those whose family-rites are thus destroyed, live for ever in hell.
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्। यद् राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः॥
Alas, we are engaged in committing a great sin. We are to kill our own kinsmen for the greed of the pleasures of sovereignty.
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः। धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्॥
Better would it be if unretaliating and unarmed myself, the armed sons of Dhritarashtra kill in battle".
संजय उवाच एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः॥
Sanjaya said Having thus spoken on the field of battle, Arjuna, with a sorrowful heart, sat down on the car, casting aside his bow and arrows.