The Kaurava Army Marches Out

Verse 1 (6.17.1)

यथा स भगवान्व्यासः कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत् । तथैव सहिताः सर्वे समाजग्मुर्महीक्षितः ॥

yathā sa bhagavānvyāsaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyano'bravīt | tathaiva sahitāḥ sarve samājagmurmahīkṣitaḥ

Just as the blessed Vyasa, Krishna Dvaipayana, had foretold, so all the kings came together in one place.

Verse 2 (6.17.2)

मघाविषयगः सोमस्तद्दिनं प्रत्यपद्यत । दीप्यमानाश्च संपेतुर्दिवि सप्त महाग्रहाः ॥

maghāviṣayagaḥ somastaddinaṃ pratyapadyata | dīpyamānāśca saṃpeturdivi sapta mahāgrahāḥ

On that day the moon entered the region of Magha, and the seven great planets, blazing, came together in the sky.

Note on the text: Corrected महग्रहाः → महाग्रहाः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped vowel sign, the critical edition reads mahāgrahāḥ).

Verse 3 (6.17.3)

द्विधाभूत इवादित्य उदये प्रत्यदृश्यत । ज्वलन्त्या शिखया भूयो भानुमानुदितो रविः ॥

dvidhābhūta ivāditya udaye pratyadṛśyata | jvalantyā śikhayā bhūyo bhānumānudito raviḥ

At its rising the sun appeared as though split in two; and the shining sun rose higher with a crest of blazing flame.

Verse 4 (6.17.4)

ववाशिरे च दीप्तायां दिशि गोमायुवायसाः । लिप्समानाः शरीराणि मांसशोणितभोजनाः ॥

vavāśire ca dīptāyāṃ diśi gomāyuvāyasāḥ | lipsamānāḥ śarīrāṇi māṃsaśoṇitabhojanāḥ

In the blazing quarter of the sky jackals and crows, feeders on flesh and blood, howled and cawed, greedy for bodies.

Verse 5 (6.17.5)

अहन्यहनि पार्थानां वृद्धः कुरुपितामहः । भरद्वाजात्मजश्चैव प्रातरुत्थाय संयतौ ॥

ahanyahani pārthānāṃ vṛddhaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ | bharadvājātmajaścaiva prātarutthāya saṃyatau

Day after day the aged grandsire of the Kurus and the son of Bharadvaja, rising at dawn with minds composed,

Verse 6 (6.17.6)

जयोऽस्तु पाण्डुपुत्राणामित्यूचतुररिन्दमौ । युयुधाते तवार्थाय यथा स समयः कृतः ॥

jayo'stu pāṇḍuputrāṇāmityūcaturarindamau | yuyudhāte tavārthāya yathā sa samayaḥ kṛtaḥ

those two subduers of foes, would say, "Victory to the sons of Pandu!" Yet they fought for your sake, in keeping with the pledge they had made.

Note on the text: Corrected इत्यूचतुरिन्दमौ → इत्यूचतुररिन्दमौ (misprint in Wikisource; an akshara dropped from अरिन्दमौ, the critical edition reads ity ūcatur ariṃdamau).

Verse 7 (6.17.7)

सर्वधर्मविशेषज्ञः पिता देवव्रतस्तव । समानीय महीपालानिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

sarvadharmaviśeṣajñaḥ pitā devavratastava | samānīya mahīpālānidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Devavrata, a father to you, who knew the finest points of every duty, gathered the kings together and spoke these words:

Verse 8 (6.17.8)

इदं वः क्षत्रिया द्वारं स्वर्गायापावृतं महत् । गच्छध्वं तेन शक्रस्य ब्रह्मणः सहलोकताम् ॥

idaṃ vaḥ kṣatriyā dvāraṃ svargāyāpāvṛtaṃ mahat | gacchadhvaṃ tena śakrasya brahmaṇaḥ sahalokatām

"Kshatriyas, this great door to heaven stands open for you. Go through it to share the worlds of Shakra and of Brahma.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma: verses 8–11 are wholly his address to the kings, announced in verse 7; Wikisource prints no heading and the input carried सञ्जय.

Verse 9 (6.17.9)

एष वः शाश्वतः पन्थाः पूर्वैः पूर्वतरैः कृतः । संभावयध्वमात्मानमव्यग्रमनसो युधि ॥

eṣa vaḥ śāśvataḥ panthāḥ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraiḥ kṛtaḥ | saṃbhāvayadhvamātmānamavyagramanaso yudhi

This is your eternal path, made by your forefathers and by those before them. Honour yourselves by fighting with steady minds.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (see verse 8).

Verse 10 (6.17.10)

नाभागोऽथ ययातिश्च मान्धाता नहुषो नृगः । संसिद्धाः परमं स्थानं गताः कर्मभिरीदृशैः ॥

nābhāgo'tha yayātiśca māndhātā nahuṣo nṛgaḥ | saṃsiddhāḥ paramaṃ sthānaṃ gatāḥ karmabhirīdṛśaiḥ

Nabhaga, Yayati, Mandhata, Nahusha and Nriga won perfection and reached the highest state through deeds such as these.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (see verse 8).

Verse 11 (6.17.11)

अधर्मः क्षत्रियस्यैष यद्व्याधिमरणं गृहे । यदयोनिधनं याति सोऽस्य धर्मः सनातनः ॥

adharmaḥ kṣatriyasyaiṣa yadvyādhimaraṇaṃ gṛhe | yadayonidhanaṃ yāti so'sya dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

For a kshatriya it is unrighteous to die of sickness at home. That he should meet his end by iron is his eternal duty."

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma (see verse 8).

Verse 12 (6.17.12)

एवमुक्ता महीपाला भीष्मेण भरतर्षभ । निर्ययुः स्वान्यनीकानि शोभयन्तो रथोत्तमैः ॥

evamuktā mahīpālā bhīṣmeṇa bharatarṣabha | niryayuḥ svānyanīkāni śobhayanto rathottamaiḥ

Thus addressed by Bhishma, O bull of the Bharatas, the kings went out to their own divisions, making them splendid with their fine chariots.

Verse 13 (6.17.13)

स तु वैकर्तनः कर्णः सामात्यः सह बन्धुभिः । न्यासितः समरे शस्त्रं भीष्मेण भरतर्षभ ॥

sa tu vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ sāmātyaḥ saha bandhubhiḥ | nyāsitaḥ samare śastraṃ bhīṣmeṇa bharatarṣabha

But Vaikartana Karna, with his ministers and kinsmen, had been made by Bhishma to lay down his weapons in this battle, O bull of the Bharatas.

Verse 14 (6.17.14)

अपेतकर्णाः पुत्रास्ते राजानश्चैव तावकाः । निर्ययुः सिंहनादेन नादयन्तो दिशो दश ॥

apetakarṇāḥ putrāste rājānaścaiva tāvakāḥ | niryayuḥ siṃhanādena nādayanto diśo daśa

Without Karna, your sons and the kings of your side marched out, making the ten directions ring with lion-roars.

Note on the text: Corrected राजनश्चैव → राजानश्चैव (misprint in Wikisource; the nominative plural is राजानः, as in the critical edition's rājānaś caiva).

Verse 15 (6.17.15)

श्वेतैश्छत्रैः पताकाभिर्ध्वजवारणवाजिभिः । तान्यनीकानि शोभन्ते गजैरथ पदातिभिः ॥

śvetaiśchatraiḥ patākābhirdhvajavāraṇavājibhiḥ | tānyanīkāni śobhante gajairatha padātibhiḥ

Those divisions shone with white umbrellas and banners, with standards, elephants and horses, and with tuskers and foot-soldiers.

Verse 16 (6.17.16)

भेरीपणवशब्दैश्च दुन्दुभीनां च निःस्वनैः । रथनेमिनिनादैश्च बभूवाकुलिता मही ॥

bherīpaṇavaśabdaiśca dundubhīnāṃ ca niḥsvanaiḥ | rathanemininādaiśca babhūvākulitā mahī

With the sound of kettledrums and tabors, the booming of war-drums and the rumble of chariot wheels, the earth was thrown into turmoil.

Verse 17 (6.17.17)

काञ्चनाङ्गदकेयूरैः कार्मुकैश्च महारथाः । भ्राजमाना व्यराजन्त साग्नयः पर्वता इव ॥

kāñcanāṅgadakeyūraiḥ kārmukaiśca mahārathāḥ | bhrājamānā vyarājanta sāgnayaḥ parvatā iva

The great chariot-warriors, gleaming with golden armlets and bracelets and with their bows, shone like mountains with fires burning on them.

Verse 18 (6.17.18)

तालेन महता भीष्मः पञ्चतारेण केतुना । विमलादित्यसंकाशस्तस्थौ कुरुचमूपरि ॥

tālena mahatā bhīṣmaḥ pañcatāreṇa ketunā | vimalādityasaṃkāśastasthau kurucamūpari

Bhishma, with his great standard bearing a palm tree and five stars, stood above the Kuru host like the unclouded sun.

Verse 19 (6.17.19)

ये त्वदीया महेष्वासा राजानो भरतर्षभ । अवर्तन्त यथादेशं राजञ्शान्तनवस्य ते ॥

ye tvadīyā maheṣvāsā rājāno bharatarṣabha | avartanta yathādeśaṃ rājañśāntanavasya te

The great archers of your side, the kings, O bull of the Bharatas, took up their posts, O king, as Shantanu's son directed.

Verse 20 (6.17.20)

स तु गोवासनः शैब्यः सहितः सर्वराजभिः । ययौ मातङ्गराजेन राजार्हेण पताकिना । पद्मवर्णस्त्वनीकानां सर्वेषामग्रतः स्थितः ॥

sa tu govāsanaḥ śaibyaḥ sahitaḥ sarvarājabhiḥ | yayau mātaṅgarājena rājārheṇa patākinā | padmavarṇastvanīkānāṃ sarveṣāmagrataḥ sthitaḥ

Shaibya, king of Govasana, together with all the kings, went on a lordly elephant fit for a king and bearing a banner; lotus-hued, he stood at the head of all the divisions.

Verse 21 (6.17.21)

अश्वत्थामा ययौ यत्तः सिंहलाङ्गूलकेतुना । श्रुतायुधश्चित्रसेनः पुरुमित्रो विविंशतिः ॥

aśvatthāmā yayau yattaḥ siṃhalāṅgūlaketunā | śrutāyudhaścitrasenaḥ purumitro viviṃśatiḥ

Ashvatthama marched, alert, with a banner bearing a lion's tail; and Shrutayudha, Chitrasena, Purumitra, Vivimshati,

Verse 22 (6.17.22)

शल्यो भूरिश्रवाश्चैव विकर्णश्च महारथः । एते सप्त महेष्वासा द्रोणपुत्रपुरोगमाः ॥

śalyo bhūriśravāścaiva vikarṇaśca mahārathaḥ | ete sapta maheṣvāsā droṇaputrapurogamāḥ

Shalya, Bhurishravas and the great chariot-warrior Vikarna — these seven great archers, with Drona's son at their head,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 22–27 half a verse out of step with the critical edition (whose 6.17.22 has three lines); the page's own verse-end marks are followed here: this verse = 6.17.22ab–cd.

Verse 23 (6.17.23)

स्यन्दनैर्वरवर्माणो भीष्मस्यासन्पुरोगमाः । तेषामपि महोत्सेधाः शोभयन्तो रथोत्तमान् ॥

syandanairvaravarmāṇo bhīṣmasyāsanpurogamāḥ | teṣāmapi mahotsedhāḥ śobhayanto rathottamān

clad in fine armour, rode in their chariots before Bhishma. Their tall standards too, adorning their excellent chariots,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 22–27 half a verse out of step with the critical edition (whose 6.17.22 has three lines); the page's own verse-end marks are followed here: this verse = 6.17.22ef + 23ab (CE varavarṇābhaiḥ … puraḥsarāḥ for वरवर्माणो … पुरोगमाः).

Verse 24 (6.17.24)

भ्राजमाना व्यरोचन्त जाम्बूनदमया ध्वजाः । जाम्बूनदमयी वेदी कमण्डलुविभूषिता ॥

bhrājamānā vyarocanta jāmbūnadamayā dhvajāḥ | jāmbūnadamayī vedī kamaṇḍaluvibhūṣitā

shone brightly, all of Jambunada gold. A golden altar adorned with a water-pot

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 22–27 half a verse out of step with the critical edition (whose 6.17.22 has three lines); the page's own verse-end marks are followed here: this verse = 6.17.23cd + 24ab.

Verse 25 (6.17.25)

केतुराचार्यमुख्यस्य द्रोणस्य धनुषा सह । अनेकशतसाहस्रमनीकमनुकर्षतः ॥

keturācāryamukhyasya droṇasya dhanuṣā saha | anekaśatasāhasramanīkamanukarṣataḥ

was the standard, together with a bow, of Drona, chief of teachers, as he drew along a host many hundreds of thousands strong.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 22–27 half a verse out of step with the critical edition (whose 6.17.22 has three lines); the page's own verse-end marks are followed here: this verse = 6.17.24cd + 25ab.

Verse 26 (6.17.26)

महान्दुर्योधनस्यासीन्नागो मणिमयो ध्वजः । तस्य पौरवकालिङ्गकाम्बोजाः ससुदक्षिणाः ॥

mahānduryodhanasyāsīnnāgo maṇimayo dhvajaḥ | tasya pauravakāliṅgakāmbojāḥ sasudakṣiṇāḥ

Duryodhana's great standard was an elephant wrought of jewels. Before him stood the Paurava, the Kalinga and the Kambojas with Sudakshina,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 22–27 half a verse out of step with the critical edition (whose 6.17.22 has three lines); the page's own verse-end marks are followed here: this verse = 6.17.25cd + 26ab. Corrected काम्भोजाः → काम्बोजाः (misprint in Wikisource; the people are the Kambojas, as in the critical edition's kāmbojaḥ) and समुदक्षिणाः → ससुदक्षिणाः (misprint in Wikisource; समुदक्षिणाः is not a word — read स-सुदक्षिणाः, "with Sudakshina", the Kamboja king whom the critical edition names here, sudakṣiṇaḥ).

Verse 27 (6.17.27)

क्षेमधन्वा च शल्यश्च तस्थुः प्रमुखतो रथाः । स्यन्दनेन महार्हेण केतुना वृषभेण च । प्रकर्षन्नेव सेनाग्रं मागधस्य कृपो ययौ ॥

kṣemadhanvā ca śalyaśca tasthuḥ pramukhato rathāḥ | syandanena mahārheṇa ketunā vṛṣabheṇa ca | prakarṣanneva senāgraṃ māgadhasya kṛpo yayau

Kshemadhanva and Shalya — these chariot-warriors stood in front. With a costly chariot and a bull for his standard, Kripa went forth, leading on the van of the Magadha king's force.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 22–27 half a verse out of step with the critical edition (whose 6.17.22 has three lines); the page's own verse-end marks are followed here: this three-line verse = 6.17.26cd + 27abcd. Corrected सेनाग्नं → सेनाग्रं (misprint in Wikisource; न for र, the critical edition reads senāgraṃ). Wikisource reads शल्यश्च (CE sumitraś ca) and मागधस्य कृपो ययौ (CE māgadhaś ca nṛpo yayau), recension variants kept.

Verse 28 (6.17.28)

तदङ्गपतिना गुप्तं कृपेण च मनस्विना । शारदाम्बुधरप्रख्यं प्राच्यानां सुमहद्बलम् ॥

tadaṅgapatinā guptaṃ kṛpeṇa ca manasvinā | śāradāmbudharaprakhyaṃ prācyānāṃ sumahadbalam

That vast host of the eastern peoples, like a bank of autumn clouds, was guarded by the lord of the Angas and by the high-minded Kripa.

Note on the text: Corrected तदङ्गपतिनां → तदङ्गपतिना (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara on the instrumental, the critical edition reads tad aṅgapatinā).

Verse 29 (6.17.29)

अनीकप्रमुखे तिष्ठन्वराहेण महायशाः । शुशुभे केतुमुख्येन राजतेन जयद्रथः ॥

anīkapramukhe tiṣṭhanvarāheṇa mahāyaśāḥ | śuśubhe ketumukhyena rājatena jayadrathaḥ

Standing at the head of his division, the renowned Jayadratha shone with his chief standard, a silver boar.

Verse 30 (6.17.30)

शतं रथसहस्राणां तस्यासन्वशवर्तिनः । अष्टौ नागसहस्राणि सादिनामयुतानि षट् ॥

śataṃ rathasahasrāṇāṃ tasyāsanvaśavartinaḥ | aṣṭau nāgasahasrāṇi sādināmayutāni ṣaṭ

A hundred thousand chariots were under his command, with eight thousand elephants and sixty thousand horsemen.

Note on the text: Corrected रतसहस्राणां → रथसहस्राणां (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ, the critical edition reads rathasahasrāṇāṃ).

Verse 31 (6.17.31)

तत्सिन्धुपतिना राज्ञा पालितं ध्वजिनीमुखम् । अनन्तरथनागाश्वमशोभत महद्बलम् ॥

tatsindhupatinā rājñā pālitaṃ dhvajinīmukham | anantarathanāgāśvamaśobhata mahadbalam

That van of the army, guarded by the king, the lord of Sindhu, a mighty force with countless chariots, elephants and horses, shone brightly.

Verse 32 (6.17.32)

षष्ट्या रथसहस्रैस्तु नागानामयुतेन च । पतिः सर्वकलिङ्गानां ययौ केतुमता सह ॥

ṣaṣṭyā rathasahasraistu nāgānāmayutena ca | patiḥ sarvakaliṅgānāṃ yayau ketumatā saha

With sixty thousand chariots and ten thousand elephants, the lord of all the Kalingas marched out together with Ketumat.

Verse 33 (6.17.33)

तस्य पर्वतसंकाशा व्यरोचन्त महागजाः । यन्त्रतोमरतूणीरैः पताकाभिः सुशोभिताः ॥

tasya parvatasaṃkāśā vyarocanta mahāgajāḥ | yantratomaratūṇīraiḥ patākābhiḥ suśobhitāḥ

His great elephants, like mountains, shone brightly, splendidly fitted with engines, lances, quivers and banners.

Verse 34 (6.17.34)

शुशुभे केतुमुख्येन पावकेन कलिङ्गकः । श्वेतच्छत्रेण निष्केण चामरव्यजनेन च ॥

śuśubhe ketumukhyena pāvakena kaliṅgakaḥ | śvetacchatreṇa niṣkeṇa cāmaravyajanena ca

The Kalinga king shone with his chief standard bearing the fire, with a white umbrella, a golden neck-ornament and whisks of yak-tail.

Verse 35 (6.17.35)

केतुमानपि मातङ्गं विचित्रपरमाङ्कुशम् । आस्थितः समरे राजन्मेघस्थ इव भानुमान् ॥

ketumānapi mātaṅgaṃ vicitraparamāṅkuśam | āsthitaḥ samare rājanmeghastha iva bhānumān

Ketumat too, mounted in the battle on an elephant with a splendid, excellent goad, shone, O king, like the sun upon a cloud.

Verse 36 (6.17.36)

तेजसा दीप्यमानस्तु वारणोत्तममास्थितः । भगदत्तो ययौ राजा यथा वज्रधरस्तथा ॥

tejasā dīpyamānastu vāraṇottamamāsthitaḥ | bhagadatto yayau rājā yathā vajradharastathā

King Bhagadatta, blazing with energy, rode out on a superb elephant like the wielder of the thunderbolt.

Verse 37 (6.17.37)

गजस्कन्धगतावास्तां भगदत्तेन संमितौ । विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ केतुमन्तमनुव्रतौ ॥

gajaskandhagatāvāstāṃ bhagadattena saṃmitau | vindānuvindāvāvantyau ketumantamanuvratau

On elephants' backs rode the two princes of Avanti, Vinda and Anuvinda, equal to Bhagadatta, following Ketumat.

Verse 38 (6.17.38)

स रथानीकवान्व्यूहो हस्त्यङ्गो नृपशीर्षवान् । वाजिपक्षः पतत्युग्रः प्रहसन्सर्वतोमुखः ॥

sa rathānīkavānvyūho hastyaṅgo nṛpaśīrṣavān | vājipakṣaḥ patatyugraḥ prahasansarvatomukhaḥ

That battle array — with chariot divisions for its body, elephants for its limbs, kings for its head and horses for its wings — fierce and facing every way, seemed to swoop forward, laughing.

Verse 39 (6.17.39)

द्रोणेन विहितो राजन्राज्ञा शान्तनवेन च । तथैवाचार्यपुत्रेण बाह्लीकेन कृपेण च ॥

droṇena vihito rājanrājñā śāntanavena ca | tathaivācāryaputreṇa bāhlīkena kṛpeṇa ca

It was devised, O king, by Drona and by King Bhishma, son of Shantanu, and likewise by the teacher's son, by Bahlika and by Kripa.

Note on the text: Corrected कृपेम → कृपेण (misprint in Wikisource; म for ण, the critical edition reads kṛpeṇa).