Duryodhana Readies His Army

Verse 1 (5.153.1)

युधिष्ठिरं सहानीकमुपायान्तं युयुत्सया । सन्निविष्टं कुरुक्षेत्रे वासुदेवेन पालितम् ॥

yudhiṣṭhiraṃ sahānīkamupāyāntaṃ yuyutsayā | sanniviṣṭaṃ kurukṣetre vāsudevena pālitam

"Yudhishthira was advancing with his army, eager for battle, encamped at Kurukshetra under Vasudeva's protection,

Verse 2 (5.153.2)

विराटद्रुपदाभ्यां च सपुत्राभ्यां समन्वितम् । केकयैर्वृष्णिभिश्चैव पार्थिवैः शतशो वृतम् ॥

virāṭadrupadābhyāṃ ca saputrābhyāṃ samanvitam | kekayairvṛṣṇibhiścaiva pārthivaiḥ śataśo vṛtam

"joined by Virata and Drupada and their sons, surrounded by the Kekayas, the Vrishnis and kings in their hundreds,

Verse 3 (5.153.3)

महेन्द्रमिव चादित्यैरभिगुप्तं महारथैः । श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनो राजा किं कार्यं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥

mahendramiva cādityairabhiguptaṃ mahārathaiḥ | śrutvā duryodhano rājā kiṃ kāryaṃ pratyapadyata

"guarded by great chariot-warriors as great Indra is by the Adityas. When King Duryodhana heard of this, what course did he take?

Verse 4 (5.153.4)

एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण महामते । संभ्रमे तुमुले तस्मिन्यदासीत्कुरुजाङ्गले ॥

etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ vistareṇa mahāmate | saṃbhrame tumule tasminyadāsītkurujāṅgale

"I wish to hear in detail, wise one, what took place in Kurujangala in that tumult and turmoil.

Verse 5 (5.153.5)

व्यथयेयुरिमे देवान्सेन्द्रानपि समागमे । पाण्डवा वासुदेवश्च विराटद्रुपदौ तथा ॥

vyathayeyurime devānsendrānapi samāgame | pāṇḍavā vāsudevaśca virāṭadrupadau tathā

"These could shake even the gods with Indra in an encounter: the Pandavas and Vasudeva, Virata and Drupada,

Verse 6 (5.153.6)

धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पाञ्चाल्यः शिखण्डी च महारथः । युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्तो देवैरपि दुरासदः ॥

dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pāñcālyaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ | yudhāmanyuśca vikrānto devairapi durāsadaḥ

"Dhrishtadyumna of the Panchalas, the great chariot-warrior Shikhandi, and valiant Yudhamanyu, whom even the gods would find hard to face.

Verse 7 (5.153.7)

एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण तपोधन । कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च यद्यदासीद्विचेष्टितम् ॥

etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ vistareṇa tapodhana | kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yadyadāsīdviceṣṭitam

"I wish to hear in detail, you who are rich in austerity, everything that the Kurus and the Pandavas did."

Verse 8 (5.153.8)

प्रतियाते तु दाशार्हे राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा । कर्णं दुःशासनं चैव शकुनिं चाब्रवीदिदम् ॥

pratiyāte tu dāśārhe rājā duryodhanastadā | karṇaṃ duḥśāsanaṃ caiva śakuniṃ cābravīdidam

When the Dasharha had gone back, King Duryodhana then said this to Karna, Duhshasana and Shakuni:

Verse 9 (5.153.9)

अकृतेनैव कार्येण गतः पार्थानधोक्षजः । स एनान्मन्युनाविष्टो ध्रुवं धक्ष्यत्यसंशयम् ॥

akṛtenaiva kāryeṇa gataḥ pārthānadhokṣajaḥ | sa enānmanyunāviṣṭo dhruvaṃ dhakṣyatyasaṃśayam

"Adhokshaja has gone back to the Parthas with his mission unaccomplished. Filled with anger, he will surely set them ablaze; there is no doubt of it.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana: his words, announced in verse 8, fill verses 9–17 (to Wikisource 17a) with no printed heading in Wikisource (nor in the critical edition); the input carried वैशंपायन over.

Verse 10 (5.153.10)

इष्टो हि वासुदेवस्य पाण्डवैर्मम विग्रहः । भीमसेनार्जुनौ चैव दाशार्हस्य मते स्थितौ ॥

iṣṭo hi vāsudevasya pāṇḍavairmama vigrahaḥ | bhīmasenārjunau caiva dāśārhasya mate sthitau

"For Vasudeva wants war between me and the Pandavas, and Bhimasena and Arjuna hold to the Dasharha's view.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana (see verse 9).

Verse 11 (5.153.11)

अजातशत्रुरत्यर्थं भीमसेनवशानुगः । निकृतश्च मया पूर्वं सह सर्वैः सहोदरैः ॥

ajātaśatruratyarthaṃ bhīmasenavaśānugaḥ | nikṛtaśca mayā pūrvaṃ saha sarvaiḥ sahodaraiḥ

"Ajatashatru follows Bhimasena's lead in everything, and I wronged him before, together with all his brothers.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana (see verse 9).

Verse 12 (5.153.12)

विराटद्रुपदौ चैव कृतवैरौ मया सह । तौ च सेनाप्रणेतारौ वासुदेववशानुगौ ॥

virāṭadrupadau caiva kṛtavairau mayā saha | tau ca senāpraṇetārau vāsudevavaśānugau

"Virata and Drupada too are at enmity with me, and both of them, leaders of armies, follow Vasudeva's will.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana (see verse 9).

Verse 13 (5.153.13)

भविता विग्रहः सोयं तुमुलो लोमहर्षणः । तस्मात्साङ्ग्रामिकं सर्वं कारयध्वमतन्द्रिताः ॥

bhavitā vigrahaḥ soyaṃ tumulo lomaharṣaṇaḥ | tasmātsāṅgrāmikaṃ sarvaṃ kārayadhvamatandritāḥ

"This war will come, tumultuous and hair-raising. So have everything needed for battle made ready, and do not slacken.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana (see verse 9).

Verse 14 (5.153.14)

शिबिराणि कुरुक्षेत्रे क्रियन्तां वसुधाधिपाः । स्वपर्याप्तावकाशानि दुरादेयानि शत्रुभिः ॥

śibirāṇi kurukṣetre kriyantāṃ vasudhādhipāḥ | svaparyāptāvakāśāni durādeyāni śatrubhiḥ

"Lords of the earth, let camps be made at Kurukshetra with ample room for yourselves, camps that enemies will find hard to take,

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana (see verse 9).

Verse 15 (5.153.15)

आसन्नजलकोष्ठानि शतशोथ सहस्रशः । अच्छेद्याहारमार्गाणि बन्धोच्छ्रयचितानि च ॥

āsannajalakoṣṭhāni śataśotha sahasraśaḥ | acchedyāhāramārgāṇi bandhocchrayacitāni ca

"by the hundred and the thousand, with water and storehouses close at hand, with supply routes that cannot be cut, built up with ramparts and towers,

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 5.150.15abcd (reading ratnoccayacitāni for बन्धोच्छ्रयचितानि). Speaker set to Duryodhana (see verse 9).

Verse 16 (5.153.16)

विविधायुधपूर्णानि पताकाध्वजवन्ति च । समाश्च तेषां पन्थानः क्रियन्तां नगराद्बहिः ॥

vividhāyudhapūrṇāni patākādhvajavanti ca | samāśca teṣāṃ panthānaḥ kriyantāṃ nagarādbahiḥ

"filled with weapons of every kind, with flags and banners. And let the roads leading to them out of the city be made level.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.150.15ef; line 2 is 5.150.16ab. Speaker set to Duryodhana (see verse 9).

Verse 17 (5.153.17)

प्रयाणं घुष्यतामद्य श्वोभूत इति माचिरम् ॥

prayāṇaṃ ghuṣyatāmadya śvobhūta iti māciram

"Let the march be proclaimed today — 'Tomorrow!' — without delay."

Note on the text: First line of Wikisource verse 17 (row 5-153-17a), split off because the page prints the heading वैशंपायन उवाच before the verse's second line. It is the critical edition's 5.150.16cd. Speaker set to Duryodhana (see verse 9).

Verse 18 (5.153.18)

ते तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय श्वोभूते चक्रिरे तथा ॥

te tatheti pratijñāya śvobhūte cakrire tathā

They promised, "So be it," and the next day they did just that,

Note on the text: Second line of Wikisource verse 17 (row 5-153-17b), split off at the heading वैशंपायन उवाच printed before it. It is the critical edition's 5.150.17ab.

Verse 19 (5.153.19)

हृष्टरूपा महात्मानो निवासाय महीक्षिताम् । ततस्ते पार्थिवाः सर्वे तच्छ्रुत्वा राजशासनम् ॥

hṛṣṭarūpā mahātmāno nivāsāya mahīkṣitām | tataste pārthivāḥ sarve tacchrutvā rājaśāsanam

those great-souled men, joyful in look, preparing quarters for the kings. Then all those kings, having heard the royal command,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.150.17cd (reading vināśāya for निवासाय); line 2 is 5.150.18ab.

Verse 20 (5.153.20)

आसनेभ्यो महार्हेभ्य उदतिष्ठन्नमर्षिताः । बाहून्परिघसङ्काशान्संस्पृशन्तः शनैः शनैः ॥

āsanebhyo mahārhebhya udatiṣṭhannamarṣitāḥ | bāhūnparighasaṅkāśānsaṃspṛśantaḥ śanaiḥ śanaiḥ

rose from their costly seats, impatient for the fight, slowly stroking their arms, which were like iron bars,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.150.18cd; line 2 is 5.150.19ab.

Verse 21 (5.153.21)

काञ्चनाङ्गददीप्तांश्च चन्दनागरुभूषितान् । उष्णीषाणि नियच्छन्तः पुण्डरीकनिभैः करैः । अन्तरीयोत्तरीयाणि भूषणानि च सर्वशः ॥

kāñcanāṅgadadīptāṃśca candanāgarubhūṣitān | uṣṇīṣāṇi niyacchantaḥ puṇḍarīkanibhaiḥ karaiḥ | antarīyottarīyāṇi bhūṣaṇāni ca sarvaśaḥ

arms that gleamed with golden armlets and were adorned with sandal and aloe-wood; and with hands like lotuses they bound on their turbans, their lower and upper garments, and all their ornaments.

Note on the text: Corrected पुण्डरीकनिभै → पुण्डरीकनिभैः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga, critical edition puṇḍarīkanibhaiḥ). Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.150.19cd; lines 2–3 are 5.150.20.

Verse 22 (5.153.22)

ते रथान्रथिनः श्रेष्ठा हयांश्च हयकोविदाः । सज्जयन्ति स्म नागांश्च नागशिक्षास्वनुष्ठिताः ॥

te rathānrathinaḥ śreṣṭhā hayāṃśca hayakovidāḥ | sajjayanti sma nāgāṃśca nāgaśikṣāsvanuṣṭhitāḥ

The best of the chariot-fighters readied their chariots, those skilled with horses their horses, and those practised in the training of elephants their elephants.

Verse 23 (5.153.23)

अथ वर्माणि चित्राणि काञ्चनानि बहूनि च । विविधानि च शस्त्राणि चक्रुः सर्वाणि सर्वशः ॥

atha varmāṇi citrāṇi kāñcanāni bahūni ca | vividhāni ca śastrāṇi cakruḥ sarvāṇi sarvaśaḥ

Then they made ready armour of many kinds, bright and golden and in great number, and weapons of every sort, all of them, on every side.

Verse 24 (5.153.24)

पदातयश्च पुरुषाः शस्त्राणि विविधानि च । उपाजह्रुः शरीरेषु हेमचित्राण्यनेकशः ॥

padātayaśca puruṣāḥ śastrāṇi vividhāni ca | upājahruḥ śarīreṣu hemacitrāṇyanekaśaḥ

The foot-soldiers too took up and bore upon their bodies weapons of many kinds, worked with gold.

Verse 25 (5.153.25)

तदुत्सव इवोदग्रं संप्रहृष्टनरावृतम् । नगरं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य भारतासीत्समाकुलम् ॥

tadutsava ivodagraṃ saṃprahṛṣṭanarāvṛtam | nagaraṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya bhāratāsītsamākulam

Like a city at festival time, Bharata, the city of Dhritarashtra's son was in high excitement, astir and thronged with exultant men.

Verse 26 (5.153.26)

जनौघसलिलावर्तो रथनागाश्वमीनवान् । शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः कोशसञ्चयरत्नवान् ॥

janaughasalilāvarto rathanāgāśvamīnavān | śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣaḥ kośasañcayaratnavān

With crowds of people for its swirling waters, chariots, elephants and horses for its fish, the blare of conches and drums for its roar, its hoarded treasure for its gems,

Verse 27 (5.153.27)

चित्राभरणवर्मोर्मिः शस्त्रनिर्मलफेनवान् । प्रासादमालाद्रिवृतो रथ्यापणमहाह्रदः ॥

citrābharaṇavarmormiḥ śastranirmalaphenavān | prāsādamālādrivṛto rathyāpaṇamahāhradaḥ

bright ornaments and armour for its waves, gleaming weapons for its foam, rows of mansions for the mountains that ringed it, streets and markets for its great pools,

Verse 28 (5.153.28)

योधचन्द्रोदयोद्भूतः कुरुराजमहार्णवः । व्यदृश्यत तदा राजंश्चन्द्रोदय इवोदधिः ॥

yodhacandrodayodbhūtaḥ kururājamahārṇavaḥ | vyadṛśyata tadā rājaṃścandrodaya ivodadhiḥ

that great ocean of the Kuru king, swelling at the moonrise of its warriors, looked then, O king, like the sea at the rising of the moon.