The Armies Encamp at Kurukshetra and Agree on the Rules of War

Verse 1 (6.1.1)

कथं युयुधिरे वीराः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः । पार्थिवाश्च महात्मानो नानादेशसमागताः ॥

kathaṃ yuyudhire vīrāḥ kurupāṇḍavasomakāḥ | pārthivāśca mahātmāno nānādeśasamāgatāḥ

How did the heroes fight, the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas, and the great-souled kings who had gathered from many lands?

Note on the text: Joined from the two half-verse rows the page prints separately (6-1-1a/b); text as printed.

Verse 2 (6.1.2)

यथा युयुधिरे वीराः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः । कुरुक्षेत्रे तपःक्षेत्रे शृणु त्वं पृथिवीपते ॥

yathā yuyudhire vīrāḥ kurupāṇḍavasomakāḥ | kurukṣetre tapaḥkṣetre śṛṇu tvaṃ pṛthivīpate

Hear, lord of the earth, how the heroes fought, the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas, at Kurukshetra, the field of austerity.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रृणु → शृणु (misprint in Wikisource; श्रृ for शृ; the critical edition reads śṛṇu). Joined तपः क्षेत्रे → तपःक्षेत्रे (one compound, "field of austerity"; the critical edition reads tapaḥkṣetre).

Verse 3 (6.1.3)

तेऽवतीर्य कुरुक्षेत्रं पाण्डवाः सहसोमकाः । कौरवानभ्यवर्तन्त जिगीषन्तो महाबलाः ॥

te'vatīrya kurukṣetraṃ pāṇḍavāḥ sahasomakāḥ | kauravānabhyavartanta jigīṣanto mahābalāḥ

Having come down into Kurukshetra, the mighty Pandavas, with the Somakas, advanced against the Kauravas, eager for victory.

Note on the text: Joined from the two half-verse rows the page prints separately (6-1-3a/b); text as printed.

Verse 4 (6.1.4)

वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नाः सर्वे युद्धाभिनन्दिनः । आशंसन्तो जयं युद्धे बलेनाभिमुखा रणे ॥

vedādhyayanasaṃpannāḥ sarve yuddhābhinandinaḥ | āśaṃsanto jayaṃ yuddhe balenābhimukhā raṇe

All of them were accomplished in the study of the Vedas and all of them welcomed battle; hoping for victory in the fight, they faced the enemy on the field with all their strength.

Note on the text: Corrected युध्दाभिनन्दिनः → युद्धाभिनन्दिनः, आश्ंसन्तो → आशंसन्तो and युध्दे → युद्धे (misprints in Wikisource; ध्द for द्ध, broken akshara; the critical edition reads yuddhābhinandinaḥ, āśaṃsanto, yuddhe).

Verse 5 (6.1.5)

अभियाय च दुर्धर्षा धार्तराष्ट्रस्य वाहिनीम् । प्राङ्मुखाः पश्चिमे भागे न्यविशन्त ससैनिकाः ॥

abhiyāya ca durdharṣā dhārtarāṣṭrasya vāhinīm | prāṅmukhāḥ paścime bhāge nyaviśanta sasainikāḥ

Advancing on the army of Dhritarashtra's son, those invincible warriors encamped with their troops on the western side, facing east.

Note on the text: Corrected वाहिनीम → वाहिनीम् (missing virama) and प्रामुखाः → प्राङ्मुखाः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ङ्; the critical edition reads prāṅmukhāḥ).

Verse 6 (6.1.6)

समन्तपञ्चकाद्बाह्यं शिविराणि सहस्रशः । कारयामास विधिवत्कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

samantapañcakādbāhyaṃ śivirāṇi sahasraśaḥ | kārayāmāsa vidhivatkuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Outside Samantapanchaka, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, had thousands of camps set up in due order.

Note on the text: Corrected स्यमन्तपञ्चकाद्वाह्यं → समन्तपञ्चकाद्बाह्यं (misprint in Wikisource; स्य for स and व for ब; the place is Samantapanchaka, and the critical edition reads samantapañcakād bāhyaṃ).

Verse 7 (6.1.7)

शून्येव पृथिवी सर्वा बालवृद्धावशेषिता । निरश्वपुरुषेवासीद्रथकुञ्जरवर्जिता ॥

śūnyeva pṛthivī sarvā bālavṛddhāvaśeṣitā | niraśvapuruṣevāsīdrathakuñjaravarjitā

The whole earth seemed empty, with only children and the old left behind; it was as if stripped of horses and men, bereft of chariots and elephants.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वाअ → सर्वा (stray अ), बालवृध्दा → बालवृद्धा (ध्द for द्ध) and रथक्कुञ्जर → रथकुञ्जर (doubled akshara) (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads sarvā, bālavṛddhā-, rathakuñjara-).

Verse 8 (6.1.8)

यावत्तपति सूर्यो हि जम्बूद्वीपस्य मण्डलम् । तावदेव समावृत्तं बलं पार्थिवसत्तम ॥

yāvattapati sūryo hi jambūdvīpasya maṇḍalam | tāvadeva samāvṛttaṃ balaṃ pārthivasattama

As far as the sun shines over the circle of Jambudvipa, from that whole expanse, best of kings, the forces had been drawn together.

Note on the text: Joined from the two half-verse rows the page prints separately (6-1-8a/b); text as printed.

Verse 9 (6.1.9)

एकस्थाः सर्ववर्णास्ते मण्डलं बहुयोजनम् । पर्याक्रामन्त देशांश्च नदीः शैलान्वनानि च ॥

ekasthāḥ sarvavarṇāste maṇḍalaṃ bahuyojanam | paryākrāmanta deśāṃśca nadīḥ śailānvanāni ca

Men of every class, gathered in one place, spread over a circle many yojanas wide, across countries, rivers, mountains and forests.

Note on the text: Corrected एकस्याः → एकस्थाः (misprint in Wikisource; स्या for स्था; the critical edition reads ekasthāḥ).

Verse 10 (6.1.10)

तेषां युधिष्ठिरो राजा सर्वेषां पुरुषर्षभ । व्यादिदेश सवाहानां भक्ष्यभोज्यमनुत्तमम् ॥

teṣāṃ yudhiṣṭhiro rājā sarveṣāṃ puruṣarṣabha | vyādideśa savāhānāṃ bhakṣyabhojyamanuttamam

King Yudhishthira, bull among men, ordered the finest food and provisions for all of them and for their mounts.

Note on the text: Joined from the two half-verse rows the page prints separately (6-1-10a/b); text as printed.

Verse 11 (6.1.11)

संज्ञाश्च विविधास्तात तेषां चक्रे युधिष्ठिरः । एवंवादी वेदितव्यः पाण्डवेयोऽयमित्युत ॥

saṃjñāśca vividhāstāta teṣāṃ cakre yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | evaṃvādī veditavyaḥ pāṇḍaveyo'yamityuta

And, dear one, Yudhishthira fixed various signs for them, so that a man who spoke in such a way would be known as one of the Pandava side.

Note on the text: Corrected विविघास्तात् → विविधास्तात (misprint in Wikisource; घ for ध and a stray virama on the vocative तात; the critical edition reads vividhās tās tās).

Verse 12 (6.1.12)

अभिज्ञानानि सर्वेषां संज्ञाश्चाभरणानि च । योजयामास कौरव्यो युद्धकाल उपस्थिते ॥

abhijñānāni sarveṣāṃ saṃjñāścābharaṇāni ca | yojayāmāsa kauravyo yuddhakāla upasthite

When the time for battle had come, the descendant of Kuru gave all of them tokens of recognition, watchwords and badges.

Note on the text: Corrected युध्दकाल → युद्धकाल (misprint in Wikisource; ध्द for द्ध).

Verse 13 (6.1.13)

दृष्ट्वा ध्वजाग्रं पार्थस्य धार्तराष्ट्रो महामनाः । सहसर्वैर्महीपालैः प्रत्यव्यूहत पाण्डवम् ॥

dṛṣṭvā dhvajāgraṃ pārthasya dhārtarāṣṭro mahāmanāḥ | sahasarvairmahīpālaiḥ pratyavyūhata pāṇḍavam

Seeing the top of Partha's banner, the proud son of Dhritarashtra, with all the kings, drew up his army in array against the Pandava.

Note on the text: Joined from the two half-verse rows the page prints separately (6-1-13a/b); text as printed.

Verse 14 (6.1.14)

पाण्डरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि । मध्ये नागसहस्रस्य भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः ॥

pāṇḍareṇātapatreṇa dhriyamāṇena mūrdhani | madhye nāgasahasrasya bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ

With a white parasol held over his head, he stood in the midst of a thousand elephants, surrounded by his brothers.

Note on the text: Corrected धियमाणेन → ध्रियमाणेन (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र्; the critical edition reads dhriyamāṇena).

Verse 15 (6.1.15)

दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनं हृष्टाः पाञ्चाला युद्धनन्दिनः । दध्मुः प्रीता महाशङ्खान्भेरीर्जघ्नुः सहस्रशः ॥

dṛṣṭvā duryodhanaṃ hṛṣṭāḥ pāñcālā yuddhanandinaḥ | dadhmuḥ prītā mahāśaṅkhānbherīrjaghnuḥ sahasraśaḥ

Seeing Duryodhana, the Panchalas, who delighted in battle, were thrilled; in their joy they blew great conches and beat drums by the thousand.

Note on the text: Corrected युध्दनन्दिनः → युद्धनन्दिनः (ध्द for द्ध) and जध्रुः → जघ्नुः (ध्र for घ्न) (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads jaghnuḥ).

Verse 16 (6.1.16)

ततः प्रहृष्टां स्वां सेनामभिवीक्ष्याथ पाण्डवाः । बभूवुर्हृष्टमनसो वासुदेवश्च वीर्यवान् ॥

tataḥ prahṛṣṭāṃ svāṃ senāmabhivīkṣyātha pāṇḍavāḥ | babhūvurhṛṣṭamanaso vāsudevaśca vīryavān

Then, seeing their own army in high spirits, the Pandavas were glad at heart, and so was the valiant Vasudeva.

Note on the text: Corrected वभूवु → बभूवु (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब; the critical edition reads babhūvur).

Verse 17 (6.1.17)

स्वयोधान्हर्षयन्तौ च वासुदेवधनञ्जयौ । दध्मतुः पुरुषव्याघ्रौ दिव्यौ शङ्खौ रथे स्थितौ ॥

svayodhānharṣayantau ca vāsudevadhanañjayau | dadhmatuḥ puruṣavyāghrau divyau śaṅkhau rathe sthitau

Rousing their own warriors, Vasudeva and Dhananjaya, those tigers among men, standing in their chariot, blew their divine conches.

Note on the text: Corrected घनञ्चयौ → धनञ्जयौ (misprint in Wikisource; घ for ध and च for ज; the critical edition reads -dhanaṃjayau).

Verse 18 (6.1.18)

पाञ्चजन्यस्य शङ्खस्य देवदत्तस्य चोभयोः । श्रुत्वा तु निनदं योधाः शकृन्मूत्रं प्रसुस्रुवुः ॥

pāñcajanyasya śaṅkhasya devadattasya cobhayoḥ | śrutvā tu ninadaṃ yodhāḥ śakṛnmūtraṃ prasusruvuḥ

Hearing the blast of both conches, Panchajanya and Devadatta, the warriors let fall dung and urine.

Note on the text: Corrected योघाः → योधाः (घ for ध) and प्रसुस्त्रुवुः → प्रसुस्रुवुः (intrusive त्) (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads yodhāḥ, prasusruvuḥ).

Verse 19 (6.1.19)

यथा सिंहस्य नदतः स्वनं श्रुत्वेतरे मृगाः । त्रसेयुर्निनदं श्रुत्वा तथाऽसीदत तद्बलम् ॥

yathā siṃhasya nadataḥ svanaṃ śrutvetare mṛgāḥ | traseyurninadaṃ śrutvā tathā'sīdata tadbalam

As other beasts tremble when they hear the voice of a roaring lion, so that army quailed when it heard the blast.

Note on the text: Corrected तद्लम् → तद्बलम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ब; "that army", as in the critical edition's -balaṃ). Line 2 differs from the critical edition (6.1.19cd traseyus tadvad evāsīd dhārtarāṣṭrabalaṃ tadā).

Verse 20 (6.1.20)

उदतिष्ठद्रजो भौमं न प्राज्ञायत किंचन । अस्तं गत इवादित्यः सैन्येन रजसा वृतः ॥

udatiṣṭhadrajo bhaumaṃ na prājñāyata kiṃcana | astaṃ gata ivādityaḥ sainyena rajasā vṛtaḥ

The dust of the earth rose up and nothing could be made out; covered by the dust of the host, the sun seemed to have set.

Note on the text: Corrected असं गत → अस्तं गत (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त्, "as if set").

Verse 21 (6.1.21)

ववर्ष तत्र पर्जन्यो मांसशोणितवृष्टिमान् । व्युक्षन्सर्वाणि सैन्यानि तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

vavarṣa tatra parjanyo māṃsaśoṇitavṛṣṭimān | vyukṣansarvāṇi sainyāni tadadbhutamivābhavat

There the rain-god poured down a shower of flesh and blood, drenching all the armies; it was like a portent.

Note on the text: Corrected ववर्प → ववर्ष (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition reads vavarṣa).

Verse 22 (6.1.22)

वायुस्ततः प्रादुरभून्नीचैः शर्करकर्षणः । विनिघ्नंस्तान्यनीकानि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

vāyustataḥ prādurabhūnnīcaiḥ śarkarakarṣaṇaḥ | vinighnaṃstānyanīkāni śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

Then a wind arose, blowing low and dragging gravel along, battering those battalions by the hundred and by the thousand.

Note on the text: Corrected विनिध्नंस् → विनिघ्नंस् (misprint in Wikisource; ध्न for घ्न; the critical edition reads vinighnaṃs).

Verse 23 (6.1.23)

उभे सैन्ये च राजेन्द्र युद्धाय मुदिते भृशम् । कुरुक्षेत्रे स्थिते यत्ते सागरक्षुभितोपमे ॥

ubhe sainye ca rājendra yuddhāya mudite bhṛśam | kurukṣetre sthite yatte sāgarakṣubhitopame

Both armies, lord of kings, exulting greatly at the prospect of battle, stood ready at Kurukshetra like two churning oceans.

Note on the text: Corrected युध्दाय → युद्धाय (misprint in Wikisource; ध्द for द्ध).

Verse 24 (6.1.24)

तयोस्तु सेनयोरासीदद्भुतः स तु संगमः । युगान्ते समनुप्राप्ते द्वयोः सागरयोरिव ॥

tayostu senayorāsīdadbhutaḥ sa tu saṃgamaḥ | yugānte samanuprāpte dvayoḥ sāgarayoriva

The meeting of those two armies was a marvel, like the meeting of two oceans when the end of an age has come.

Note on the text: Joined from the two half-verse rows the page prints separately (6-1-24a/b); text as printed.

Verse 25 (6.1.25)

शून्याऽऽसीत्पृथिवी सर्वा वृद्धबालावशेषिता । निरश्वपुरुषेवासीद्रथकुञ्जरवर्जिता । तेन सेनासमूहेन समानीतेन कौरवैः ॥

śūnyā''sītpṛthivī sarvā vṛddhabālāvaśeṣitā | niraśvapuruṣevāsīdrathakuñjaravarjitā | tena senāsamūhena samānītena kauravaiḥ

Because of that mass of armies brought together by the Kauravas, the whole earth was empty, with only the old and the children left; it was as if stripped of horses and men, bereft of chariots and elephants.

Note on the text: A three-line verse as the page prints it (25a–c). Line 2 is not in the critical edition's 6.1.25, which has only lines 1 and 3; it repeats the second line of verse 7 and is kept as the vulgate text. Corrected वृध्द → वृद्ध (ध्द for द्ध) and रथकुञ्चर → रथकुञ्जर (च for ज) (misprints in Wikisource).

Verse 26 (6.1.26)

ततस्ते समयं चक्रुः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः । धर्मान्संस्थापयामासुर्युद्धानां भरतर्षभ ॥

tataste samayaṃ cakruḥ kurupāṇḍavasomakāḥ | dharmānsaṃsthāpayāmāsuryuddhānāṃ bharatarṣabha

Then, bull of the Bharatas, the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas made a compact and laid down the rules of combat.

Note on the text: Corrected कुरुपाण्डावसोमकाः → कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः (stray ā), धर्मन् → धर्मान् (accusative plural, dropped ā) and युध्दानां → युद्धानां (ध्द for द्ध) (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads kurupāṇḍavasomakāḥ, dharmāṃś, yuddhānāṃ).

Verse 27 (6.1.27)

निवृत्ते विहिते युद्धे स्यात्प्रीतिर्नः परस्परम् । यथापुरं यथायोगं न च स्यात्कस्यचित्पुनः ॥

nivṛtte vihite yuddhe syātprītirnaḥ parasparam | yathāpuraṃ yathāyogaṃ na ca syātkasyacitpunaḥ

"When the appointed battle is over, let there be goodwill among us, as before and as is fitting, and let no one be wronged again.

Note on the text: Corrected युध्दे → युद्धे (ध्द for द्ध), यथापरं → यथापुरं ("as before"; the critical edition reads yathāpuraṃ) and कस्याचित् → कस्यचित् (stray ā) (misprints in Wikisource). The end of line 2 differs from the critical edition (6.1.27d na ca syāc chalanaṃ punaḥ, "and let there be no deceit again").

Verse 28 (6.1.28)

वाचा युद्धे प्रवृत्तानां वाचैव प्रतियोधनम् । निष्क्रान्ताः पृतनामध्यान्नहन्तव्याः कदाचन ॥

vācā yuddhe pravṛttānāṃ vācaiva pratiyodhanam | niṣkrāntāḥ pṛtanāmadhyānnahantavyāḥ kadācana

Those who fight with words are to be answered with words alone; those who have left the midst of the army are never to be slain.

Note on the text: Corrected युध्दे → युद्धे (ध्द for द्ध) and प्रव्रुत्तानां → प्रवृत्तानां (व्रु for वृ) (misprints in Wikisource).

Verse 29 (6.1.29)

रथी च रथिना योध्यो गजेन गजधूर्गतः । अश्वेनाश्वी पदातिश्च पादातेनैव भारत ॥

rathī ca rathinā yodhyo gajena gajadhūrgataḥ | aśvenāśvī padātiśca pādātenaiva bhārata

A chariot-fighter is to be fought by a chariot-fighter, a man on an elephant's neck by a man on an elephant, a horseman by a horseman, and a foot-soldier by a foot-soldier only, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected गक्षधूर्गतः → गजधूर्गतः (misprint in Wikisource; क्ष for ज; the critical edition reads gajadhūrgataḥ).

Verse 30 (6.1.30)

यथायोगं यथाकामं यथोत्साहं यथाबलम् । समाभाष्य प्रहर्तव्यं न विश्वस्ते न विह्वले ॥

yathāyogaṃ yathākāmaṃ yathotsāhaṃ yathābalam | samābhāṣya prahartavyaṃ na viśvaste na vihvale

One should strike as is fitting, as one wishes, according to one's ardour and strength, but only after a challenge, never at one who trusts or one who is distraught.

Note on the text: Corrected समाभाप्य → समाभाष्य (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition reads samābhāṣya).

Verse 31 (6.1.31)

परेण सह संयुक्तः प्रमत्तो विमुखस्तथा । क्षीणशस्त्रो विवर्मा च न हन्तव्यः कदाचन ॥

pareṇa saha saṃyuktaḥ pramatto vimukhastathā | kṣīṇaśastro vivarmā ca na hantavyaḥ kadācana

One locked in combat with another, one off his guard, one who has turned away, one whose weapons are spent, and one without armour are never to be slain.

Note on the text: Joined from the two half-verse rows the page prints separately (6-1-31a/b); text as printed.

Verse 32 (6.1.32)

न सूतेषु न धुर्येषु न च शस्त्रोपनायिषु । न भेरीशङ्खवादेषु प्रहर्तव्यं कथंचन ॥

na sūteṣu na dhuryeṣu na ca śastropanāyiṣu | na bherīśaṅkhavādeṣu prahartavyaṃ kathaṃcana

No blow is ever to be struck at charioteers, at draught animals, at those who bring up weapons, or at those who sound drums and conches."

Note on the text: Joined from the two half-verse rows the page prints separately (6-1-32a/b); text as printed.

Verse 33 (6.1.33)

एवं ते समयं कृत्वा कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः । विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः प्रेक्षमाणाः परस्परम् ॥

evaṃ te samayaṃ kṛtvā kurupāṇḍavasomakāḥ | vismayaṃ paramaṃ jagmuḥ prekṣamāṇāḥ parasparam

Having made this compact, the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas gazed at one another in great wonder.

Note on the text: Joined from the two half-verse rows the page prints separately (6-1-33a/b); text as printed.

Verse 34 (6.1.34)

निविश्य च महात्मानस्ततस्ते पुरुषर्षभाः । हृष्टरूपाः सुमनसो बभूवुः सहसैनिकाः ॥

niviśya ca mahātmānastataste puruṣarṣabhāḥ | hṛṣṭarūpāḥ sumanaso babhūvuḥ sahasainikāḥ

Then those great-souled bulls among men pitched their camps, and with their troops they were joyful and glad at heart.

Note on the text: Corrected हृष्टरुपाःसृमनसोबभूवुःसहसैनिकाः → हृष्टरूपाः सुमनसो बभूवुः सहसैनिकाः (misprints in Wikisource; रु for रू and सृ for सु, and the run-together words separated; the critical edition reads hṛṣṭarūpāḥ sumanaso babhūvuḥ).