संजय उवाच अथ हैमवते प्रस्थे स्थित्वा युद्धाभिनन्दिनः। सर्व एव महायोधास्तत्र तत्र समागताः॥
Sanjaya said On that table-land at the foot of the Himavat, those heroes, O king, joyous at the prospect of battle and assembled together, passed the night.
शल्यश्च चित्रसेनश्च शकुनिश्च महारथः। अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः॥ सुषेणोऽरिष्टसेनश्च धृतसेनश्च वीर्यवान्। जयत्सेनश्च राजानस्ते रात्रिमुषितास्ततः॥
Indeed, Shalya and Chitrasena and the powerful car warrior Shakuni and Ashvatthaman and Kripa and Kritavarman of the Satwata race and the energetic Sushena and Arishtasena and Dhritasena and Jayatsena and all those kings passed the night there.
रणे कर्णे हते वीरे त्रासिता जितकाशिभिः। नालभशर्म ते पुत्रा हिमवन्तमृते गिरिम्॥
After the heroic Karna has been killed in battle, your sons, filled with fear by the Pandavas desirous of victory, did not obtain peace anywhere else than on the Himavat.
तेऽब्रुवन् सहितास्तत्र राजानं शल्यसंनिधौ। कृतयत्ना रणे राजन् सम्पूज्य विधिवत्तदा॥
All of them then, O king, who were bent on fighting, duly worshipped the king and said to him, in the presence of Shalya, these words.
कृत्वा सेनाप्रणेतारं परांस्त्वं योद्भुमर्हसि। येनाभिगुप्ता: संग्रामे जयेमासुहृदो वयम्॥
It becomes you to fight with the enemy, after having made some body the commander, protected by whom in battle we will defeat the enemies.
ततो दुर्योधनः स्थित्वा रथे रथवरोत्तमम्। सर्वयुद्धविभावज्ञमन्तकप्रतिमं युधि॥
Then Duryodhana, without descending from his car, went to that foremost of carwarriors, that hero conversant with all the rules of battle, Ashvatthaman, who resembled the Destroyer himself in battle.
स्वङ्गं प्रच्छन्नशिरसं कम्बुग्रीवं प्रियंवदम्। व्याकोशपद्मपत्राक्षं व्याघ्रास्यं मेरुगौरवम्॥ स्थाणोवृषस्य सदृशं स्कन्धनेत्रगतिस्वरैः। पुष्टश्लिष्टायतभुजं सुविस्तीर्णवरोरसम्॥ बले जवे च सदृशमरुणानुजवातयोः। आदित्यस्यार्चिषा तुल्यं बुद्ध्या चोशनसा समम्॥ कान्तिरूयमुखैश्वर्यस्त्रिभिश्चन्द्रमसा समम्। काञ्चनोपलसंघातैः सदृशं श्लिष्टसंधिकम्॥ सुवृत्तोरुकटीजङ्घ सुपादं स्वङ्गुलीनखम्। स्मृत्वा स्मृत्वैव तु गुणान् धात्रा यत्नाद् विनिर्मितम्।।
Having beautiful limbs, well-covered head, a neck adorned with three lines like those in a conch-shell, sweet speech, eyes resembling the petals of a full-blown lotus and tiger-like face, the dignity of Meru, resembling the full of Mahadeva in neck, eyes, tread and voice, having huge, inassive and well-joined arms, having broad and well-formed chest, equal unto Garuda in speed and might, effulgent like the Sun, intelligent like Ushanas himself, beautiful like the Moon, having a body that seemed to be made of a number of golden lotuses, well-made joints, well-formed thighs and waist and hips, beautiful feet, beautiful fingers and beautiful nails, he seemed to have been made by Brahma with great care after remembering one after another all the beautiful and good attributes of creation.
सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं निपुणं श्रुतिसागरम्। जेतारं तरसारीणामजेयमरिभिर्बलात्॥
Gifted with auspicious marks and clever in every act, he was an ocean of learning. Speedily vanquishing his enemies, he was incapable of being forcibly defeated by foes.
दशाङ्गं यश्चतुष्पादमिष्वस्त्रं वेद तत्त्वतः। साङ्गांस्तु चतुरो वेदान् सम्यगाख्यानपञ्चमान्॥
He knew, in full, the science of war consisting of four padas and ten Angas. He knew also thc four Vedas with all their branches and the Akhyanas as the fifth.
आराध्य त्र्यम्बकं यत्नाद् व्रतैरुपैर्महातपाः। अयोनिजायामुत्पन्नो द्रोणेनायोनिजेन यः॥
Possessed of great ascetic merit, Drona, himself not born of woman, having worshipped the three-eyed deity with care and penances, beget him upon a wife not born of woman.
तमप्रतिमकर्माणं रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि। पारगं सर्वविद्यानां गुणार्णवमनिन्दितम्॥ तमभ्येत्यात्मजस्तुभ्यमश्वत्थामानमब्रवीत्। यं पुरस्कृत्य सहिता युधि जेष्याम पाण्डवान्॥ गुरुपुत्रोऽद्य सर्वेषामस्माकं परमा गतिः। भवांस्तस्मान्नियोगात्ते कोऽस्तु सेनापतिर्मम॥
Approaching him of incomparable deeds, he who is unrivalled in beauty on earth, he who has mastered all branches of learning, that occan of qualities, the faultless Ashvatthaman, your son said to him these words-. "O preceptor's son, you are today our highest refuge? Tell us, therefore, who should be the commander of my army now, placing whom at our head, all of us, united together, may defeat the Pandavas?"
द्रौणिरुवाच अयं कुलेन रूपेण तेजसा यशसा श्रिया। सर्वैर्गुणैः समुदितः शल्यो नोऽस्तु चमूपतिः॥ युद्धाय च मति
(Thus addressed) the son of Drona replied-"Let Shalya become the commander of our army. In birth, in prowess, in energy, in fame, in beauty and in every other accomplishment, he is superior.
भागिनेयान् निजांस्त्यक्त्वा कृतज्ञोऽस्मानुपागतः। महासेनो महाबाहुर्महासेन इवापरः॥
Out of gratitude, he has joined us, having abandoned the sons of his own sister. Having a large army of his own, that mighty-armed one is like the second celestial generalissimo.
एनं सेनापतिं कृत्वा नृपतिं नृपसत्तम। शक्यः प्राप्तुं जयोऽस्माभिर्देवैः स्कन्दमिवाजितम्॥२१
Making that king the commander of our army, O best of kings, we will be able to gain victory, like the celestials after making the invincible Skanda their commander.”
तथोक्ते द्रोणपुत्रेण सर्व एव नराधिपाः। परिवार्य स्थिताः शल्यं जयशब्दांश्च चक्रिरे॥ चक्रुरावेशं च परं ययुः।
On Drona's son saying these words all the kings stood, surrounding Shalya and cried victory to him. Determined for fighting, the felt great joy.
ततो दुर्योधनो भूमौ स्थित्वा रथवरे स्थितम्॥ उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा द्रोणभीष्मसमं रणे।
Then Duryodhana, come down from his car, folded his hands and addressing Shalya, equal to Drona and Bhishma in battle, who was on his car, said these words.
अयं स कालः सम्प्राप्तो मित्राणां मित्रवत्सल॥ यत्र मित्रममित्रं वा परीक्षन्ते बुधा जनाः।
"O You attached to friends, that time has arrived when intelligent men examine persons in the guise of friends as to whether they are true friends or not.
स भवानस्तु न शूरः प्रणेता वाहिनीमुखे॥ रणं याते च भवति पाण्डवा मन्दचेतसः। भविष्यन्ति सहामात्यः पञ्चालाश्च निरुद्यमा:॥
Brave as you are do you become our commander-in-chief. When you will go to battle, the Pandavas, with their friends, will lose heart and the Panchalas will be depressed."
दुर्योधनवचः श्रुत्वा शल्यो मद्राधिपस्तदा। उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञो राजन् राजसंनिधौ॥
Hearing the words of Duryodhana, Shalya, the king of Madra, foremost of orators, said following words before the kings, O king!
यत्तु मां मन्यसे राजन् कुरुराज करोमि तत्। त्वत्प्रियार्थं हि मे सर्वं प्राणा राज्यं धनानि च॥
Shalya answered-"I will, O king of the Kurus, do what you desire me to do. My life, my kingdom, my wealth and everything else are at your disposal."
दुर्योधन उवाच सैनापत्येन वरये त्वामहं मातुलातुलम्। सोऽस्मान् पाहि युधां श्रेष्ठ स्कन्दो देवानिवाहवे॥
Duryodhana said I wish you to accept the general-ship of my army. O maternal uncle, O foremost of warriors, protect us, even as Skanda protected the celestials in battle.
अभिषिच्यस्व राजेन्द्र देवानामिव पावकिः। जहि शत्रून् रणे वीर महेन्द्रो दानवानिव॥
O foremost of kings, install yourself in the command as Pavakas's son Kartikeya was placed in the command of the celestial army. O hero, kill our foes in battle like Indra the Danavas.