Arjuna Points Out the Kuru Champions by Their Banners

Verse 1 (4.56.1)

ततस्त्रीणि सहस्राणि रथानां च धनुष्मताम् । घोराणि कुरुवीराणां पर्यकीर्यन्त भारत ॥

tatastrīṇi sahasrāṇi rathānāṃ ca dhanuṣmatām | ghorāṇi kuruvīrāṇāṃ paryakīryanta bhārata

Then, O Bharata, three thousand dreadful chariots of the Kuru heroes, manned by bowmen, spread out all around.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.2b*0899, lines 1–2.

Verse 2 (4.56.2)

कर्णो रथसहस्रेण प्रत्यगृह्णाद्धनञ्जयम् । भीष्मः शान्तनवो धीमान्सहस्रेण पुरस्कृतः ॥

karṇo rathasahasreṇa pratyagṛhṇāddhanañjayam | bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo dhīmānsahasreṇa puraskṛtaḥ

Karna met Dhananjaya with a thousand chariots; and wise Bhishma, son of Shantanu, stood at the head of a thousand;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.2b*0899, lines 3–4 (reading pratyatiṣṭhad).

Verse 3 (4.56.3)

तथा रथसहस्रेण भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः । पश्चाद्दुर्योधनोऽतिष्ठद्यशसा च श्रिया ज्वलन् ॥

tathā rathasahasreṇa bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ | paścādduryodhano'tiṣṭhadyaśasā ca śriyā jvalan

and behind them, likewise with a thousand chariots and surrounded by his brothers, stood Duryodhana, blazing with glory and splendour.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.2b*0899, lines 5–6 (reading dhastāvāpī for yaśasā ca).

Verse 4 (4.56.4)

अतिष्ठन्नवकाशेषु पादाताः सह वाजिभिः । भीमरूपाश्च मातङ्गास्तोमराङ्कुशचोदिताः ॥

atiṣṭhannavakāśeṣu pādātāḥ saha vājibhiḥ | bhīmarūpāśca mātaṅgāstomarāṅkuśacoditāḥ

In the gaps between stood foot-soldiers with cavalry, and fearsome elephants driven on with lances and goads.

Note on the text: Corrected अतिष्ठन्निवकाशेषु → अतिष्ठन्नवकाशेषु (misprint in Wikisource; निवकाश is not a word; the critical edition's apparatus reads atiṣṭhann avakāśeṣu, "stood in the gaps"). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.2b*0899, lines 7–8.

Verse 5 (4.56.5)

तानि दृष्ट्वा ह्यनीकानि विततानि महात्मनाम् । वैराटिमुत्तरं तं तु प्रत्यभाषत पाण्डवः ॥

tāni dṛṣṭvā hyanīkāni vitatāni mahātmanām | vairāṭimuttaraṃ taṃ tu pratyabhāṣata pāṇḍavaḥ

Seeing those far-spread ranks of the great-souled warriors, the Pandava spoke to Uttara, Virata's son:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.49.2b*0899, lines 9–10.

Verse 6 (4.56.6)

जाम्बूनदमयी वेदी ध्वजाग्रे यस्य दृश्यते । शोणाश्चाश्वा रथे युक्ता द्रोण एष प्रकाशते ॥

jāmbūnadamayī vedī dhvajāgre yasya dṛśyate | śoṇāścāśvā rathe yuktā droṇa eṣa prakāśate

He on the top of whose banner a golden altar is seen, and whose chariot is yoked with red horses: that is Drona, shining there.

Note on the text: Arjuna's speech, running to verse 27 (no speaker heading printed; the critical edition's apparatus heads it arjunaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 1–2.

Verse 7 (4.56.7)

आचार्यो निपुणो धीमान्ब्रह्मविच्छूरसत्तमः । आहवे चाप्रतिद्वन्द्वो दूरपाती महारथः ॥

ācāryo nipuṇo dhīmānbrahmavicchūrasattamaḥ | āhave cāpratidvandvo dūrapātī mahārathaḥ

He is the teacher, skilled and wise, a knower of Brahman, foremost among heroes, without a rival in battle, a great chariot-warrior who strikes from afar.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 3–4 (reading lāghave).

Verse 8 (4.56.8)

सुप्रसन्नो महावीरः कुरुष्वैनं प्रदक्षिणम् । अत्रैव चाविरोधेन एष धर्मः सनातनः ॥

suprasanno mahāvīraḥ kuruṣvainaṃ pradakṣiṇam | atraiva cāvirodhena eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

He is gracious and a great hero; walk round him, keeping him on your right, here and now, without any show of hostility. That is the eternal law.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.50.7 (reading suprasanno mahāvīraḥ for suprasannamanā vīra).

Verse 9 (4.56.9)

यदि मे प्रहरेद्द्रोणः शरीरे मे प्रहृष्यतः । ततोऽस्मिन्प्रहरिष्यामि नान्यथा बुद्धिरस्ति मे ॥

yadi me prahareddroṇaḥ śarīre me prahṛṣyataḥ | tato'sminprahariṣyāmi nānyathā buddhirasti me

Only if Drona strikes my body, glad as I am to meet him, will I strike back at him; otherwise I have no such thought.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.50.8. The page adds a footnote recording another edition's readings (प्रहरिष्यतः, नान्यथा युद्धमस्ति मे); the base text is kept.

Verse 10 (4.56.10)

भारताचार्यमुख्येन ब्राह्मणेन महात्मना । तेन मे युध्यमानस्य मन्दं वाहय सारथे ॥

bhāratācāryamukhyena brāhmaṇena mahātmanā | tena me yudhyamānasya mandaṃ vāhaya sārathe

When I am fighting him, the chief teacher of the Bharatas, that great-souled brahmin, drive slowly, charioteer.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 9–10.

Verse 11 (4.56.11)

ध्वजाग्रे सिंहलाङ्गूलो दिक्षु सर्वासु शोभते । भारताचार्यपुत्रस्तु सोऽश्वत्थामा विराजते ॥

dhvajāgre siṃhalāṅgūlo dikṣu sarvāsu śobhate | bhāratācāryaputrastu so'śvatthāmā virājate

He on whose banner-top a lion's tail shines toward every quarter: that is Ashvatthama, son of the Bharatas' teacher, shining there.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 4.50.22d*0910, line 11, reading bhāsate); the second is a variant of CE 4.50.9cd.

Verse 12 (4.56.12)

ध्वजाग्रं दृश्यते यत्र बालसूर्यसमप्रभम् । दुर्जयः सर्वसैन्यानां देवैरपि सवासवैः । तेन मे युध्यमानस्य मन्दं वाहय सारथे ॥

dhvajāgraṃ dṛśyate yatra bālasūryasamaprabham | durjayaḥ sarvasainyānāṃ devairapi savāsavaiḥ | tena me yudhyamānasya mandaṃ vāhaya sārathe

He whose banner-top is seen glowing like the rising sun cannot be conquered by any army, not even by the gods with Vasava. When I am fighting him, drive slowly, charioteer.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 13–15.

Verse 13 (4.56.13)

ध्वजाग्रे गोवृषो यस्य काञ्चनोऽभिविराजते । आचार्यवरमुख्यस्तु कृप एष महारथः ॥

dhvajāgre govṛṣo yasya kāñcano'bhivirājate | ācāryavaramukhyastu kṛpa eṣa mahārathaḥ

He on whose banner-top a golden bull shines out: that is Kripa, the great chariot-warrior, foremost among the best of teachers.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 16–17 (reading vṛṣabho … dikṣu sarvāsu śobhate).

Verse 14 (4.56.14)

द्रोणेन च समो वीर्ये पितुर्मे परमः सखा । तेन मे युध्यमानस्य मन्दं वाहय सारथे ॥

droṇena ca samo vīrye piturme paramaḥ sakhā | tena me yudhyamānasya mandaṃ vāhaya sārathe

He is Drona's equal in valour and my father's dearest friend. When I am fighting him, drive slowly, charioteer.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 18–19.

Verse 15 (4.56.15)

यस्य काञ्चनकम्बूभिर्हस्तिकक्ष्यापरिष्कृतः । ध्वजः प्रकाशते दूराद्रथे विद्युद्गणोपमः ॥

yasya kāñcanakambūbhirhastikakṣyāpariṣkṛtaḥ | dhvajaḥ prakāśate dūrādrathe vidyudgaṇopamaḥ

He whose banner, marked with an elephant's girth-rope worked with golden shells, shines from afar on his chariot like a cluster of lightning flashes:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 20–21 (reading vidyudguṇopamaḥ).

Verse 16 (4.56.16)

एष वैकर्तनः कर्णः प्रतिमानं धनुष्मताम् । दृढवैरी सदाऽस्माकं नित्यं कटुकभाषणः ॥

eṣa vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ pratimānaṃ dhanuṣmatām | dṛḍhavairī sadā'smākaṃ nityaṃ kaṭukabhāṣaṇaḥ

that is Vaikartana Karna, the measure of all bowmen, our implacable enemy always, forever harsh of speech.

Note on the text: The first line corresponds to CE 4.50.15c (eṣa vaikartanaḥ karṇo …), printed in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, line 22; the second is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 4.50.22d*0911, line 1).

Verse 17 (4.56.17)

यस्याश्रयबलादेव धार्तराष्ट्रः ससौबलः । अस्मान्निरस्य राज्याच्च पुनरद्यापि योत्स्यति ॥

yasyāśrayabalādeva dhārtarāṣṭraḥ sasaubalaḥ | asmānnirasya rājyācca punaradyāpi yotsyati

Relying on his strength alone, Dhritarashtra's son, with Subala's son, drove us out of the kingdom, and even now means to fight again.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0911, lines 2–3.

Verse 18 (4.56.18)

एष वै स्पर्धते नित्यं मया सह सुदुर्जयः । जामदग्न्यस्य रामस्य शिष्यो ह्येष महारथः ॥

eṣa vai spardhate nityaṃ mayā saha sudurjayaḥ | jāmadagnyasya rāmasya śiṣyo hyeṣa mahārathaḥ

He is forever vying with me, and he is very hard to conquer; this great chariot-warrior is a pupil of Rama, son of Jamadagni.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 23–24.

Verse 19 (4.56.19)

सर्वास्त्रकुशलः कर्णः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः । युद्धेऽप्रतिमवीर्यश्च दृढवेधी पराक्रमी ॥

sarvāstrakuśalaḥ karṇaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃvaraḥ | yuddhe'pratimavīryaśca dṛḍhavedhī parākramī

Karna is skilled in every weapon, the best of all who bear arms, of matchless valour in battle, a firm-hitting archer and a man of prowess.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 25–26.

Verse 20 (4.56.20)

अद्याहं युद्धमेतेन करिष्ये सूतबन्धुना । द्रष्टा त्वमावयोर्युद्धं बलिवासवयोरिव ॥

adyāhaṃ yuddhametena kariṣye sūtabandhunā | draṣṭā tvamāvayoryuddhaṃ balivāsavayoriva

Today I will do battle with this kinsman of charioteers; you will watch the two of us fight, as Bali and Vasava once fought.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 27–28 (reading yuddham etat tu draṣṭāsi in the second line).

Verse 21 (4.56.21)

महारथेन शूरेण सूतपुत्रेण धन्विना । तेन मे युध्यमानस्य शीघ्रं वाहय सारथे ॥

mahārathena śūreṇa sūtaputreṇa dhanvinā | tena me yudhyamānasya śīghraṃ vāhaya sārathe

When I am fighting that great chariot-warrior, the brave son of a charioteer, the bowman, drive fast, charioteer.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 29–30 (reading mandaṃ for śīghraṃ).

Verse 22 (4.56.22)

यस्य चैव रथोपस्थे नागो मणिमयो ध्वजः । एष दुर्योधनस्तत्र कौरवो यशसा वृतः ॥

yasya caiva rathopasthe nāgo maṇimayo dhvajaḥ | eṣa duryodhanastatra kauravo yaśasā vṛtaḥ

He whose banner, on his chariot, bears an elephant made of jewels: that is Duryodhana there, the Kaurava, wrapped in glory.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.50.12, as printed in its apparatus at 4.50.22d*0910, lines 31–32.

Verse 23 (4.56.23)

लब्धलक्षो दृढं वेधी लघुहस्तः प्रतापवान् । तेन मे युध्यमानस्य शीघ्रं वाहय सारथे ॥

labdhalakṣo dṛḍhaṃ vedhī laghuhastaḥ pratāpavān | tena me yudhyamānasya śīghraṃ vāhaya sārathe

He never misses his mark, strikes deep, is quick of hand and full of might. When I am fighting him, drive fast, charioteer.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 33–34 (reading mandaṃ for śīghraṃ).

Verse 24 (4.56.24)

यस्तु श्वेतावदातेन पञ्चतालेन केतुना । वैडूर्यमयदण्डेन तालवृक्षेण राजते ॥

yastu śvetāvadātena pañcatālena ketunā | vaiḍūryamayadaṇḍena tālavṛkṣeṇa rājate

He who shines with a spotless white banner bearing five palms, with a staff of beryl and the emblem of a palm tree,

Note on the text: The first line is a variant of CE 4.50.17ab; the second is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has the verse as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 35–36).

Verse 25 (4.56.25)

हस्तावापी बृहद्धन्वा सेनां तिष्ठति हर्षयन् । रामेण जामदग्न्येन द्वैरथेनाजितः पुरा ॥

hastāvāpī bṛhaddhanvā senāṃ tiṣṭhati harṣayan | rāmeṇa jāmadagnyena dvairathenājitaḥ purā

who wears the arm-guard and carries a great bow, who stands there gladdening the army, and who long ago was not conquered by Rama, son of Jamadagni, in single combat,

Note on the text: The first line is a variant of CE 4.50.17cd; the second is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has the verse as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 37–38, reading dvairathe na jitaḥ).

Verse 26 (4.56.26)

शीघ्रश्च लघुवेधी च लघुहस्तः प्रतापवान् । एष शान्तनवो भीष्मः सर्वेषां नः पितामहः ॥

śīghraśca laghuvedhī ca laghuhastaḥ pratāpavān | eṣa śāntanavo bhīṣmaḥ sarveṣāṃ naḥ pitāmahaḥ

swift, deft in striking, light of hand and mighty: that is Bhishma, son of Shantanu, the grandfather of us all.

Note on the text: Corrected लगुवेधी → लघुवेधी (misprint in Wikisource; ग for घ; the critical edition's apparatus reads laghuvedhī). The first line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 4.50.22d*0910, line 39); the second is CE 4.50.21ab.

Verse 27 (4.56.27)

ककुदः सर्वसैन्यानां सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः । जयश्रियाऽवबद्धस्तु सुयोधनवशानुगः । पश्चादेष प्रयातव्यो न मे विघ्नकरो भवेत् ॥

kakudaḥ sarvasainyānāṃ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃvaraḥ | jayaśriyā'vabaddhastu suyodhanavaśānugaḥ | paścādeṣa prayātavyo na me vighnakaro bhavet

He is the crown of all the armies and the best of all who bear arms, yet he is bound by the fortune of the throne and follows Suyodhana's will. He is to be approached last, so that he does not stand in my way.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 4.50.22d*0910, line 41, reading sarvayodhānāṃ); the second and third are variants of CE 4.50.21cd (reading jayaśriyā for rājaśriyā) and 4.50.22ab.

Verse 28 (4.56.28)

इत्येतांस्त्वरितः पार्थः कथयित्वा तु चोत्तरे । रूपतश्चिह्नतश्चैव युद्धाय त्वरते पुनः ॥

ityetāṃstvaritaḥ pārthaḥ kathayitvā tu cottare | rūpataścihnataścaiva yuddhāya tvarate punaḥ

Having quickly described these warriors to Uttara by their forms and their emblems, Partha pressed on once more toward battle.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.50.22d*0910, lines 45–46.