Bhagvadgita:- Part17

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः।

मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय।।

Translation: -

Dhritarashtra said: -

After assembling at the ground of Kurukshetra and desiring to fight, what did my sons and Pandus sons do, Sanjaya?

 

सञ्जय उवाच
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा।
आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्  । ।

Translation:-

Sanjay said:-

Observing the formidable formation of Pandava army, Prince Duryodhana turned towards his guru and spoke these words.

 

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्।
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता।।

Translation:-

O Guru, do you see the excellent military arrangement of the Pandava army, led by none other than your own gifted disciple, the son of Drupada?

 

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि।
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः

Translation:-

Their army is powered by heroes like Bhima and Arjuna and mighty warriors that match their skills, namely Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada!

 

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्।
पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः

Translation:-

And let’s not forget powerful fighters like Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, and Kashiraja while Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Saibhya are heroes too in the society.

 

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्।
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः

Translation:-

They also have a worthy Yudhamanyu, the mighty Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra, and sons of Drupadi, all superior fighters.

 

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम।
नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते

Translation:-

Now, also hear about the distinguished heroes and generals qualified to lead the army.

 

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः।
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च

Translation:- It has the personalities who have never lost any battle, like you, Grandfather Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, Ashwathama, Vikarna, and son of the Somdatta.

 

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः।
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः

Translation:-

There are many more in my army who are experienced in military warfare with expertise in using multiple weapons. Moreover, they will not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for me.

 

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्

Translation:-

So, clearly, our strength is fathomless as compared to the limited strength of Pandavas. We are in a safe hands under the protection of the Grandfather Bhishma unlike the Pandavas who have only Bhima to protect them.

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः।
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि

Translation:-

I call upon the entire Kaurava army to give utmost support to Grandfather Bhishma throughout the battle.

 

तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः।
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्

Translation:-

What followed was a loud blowing of the coach by Grandfather Bhishma, the eldest of the Kuru dynasty, sounding like a lions roar and gladdening the heart of Duryodhan.

 

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः।
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्

Translation:-

The Kuru army then sounded its conches, kettledrums, trumpets, bugles, and horns, creating a huge uproar.

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ।
माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः

Translation:-

From the Pandava camp, Madhav and Arjuna blew their divine conches from their glorious chariot drawn from the white horses.

 

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः।
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः

Translation:-

Hrishikesh blew his conch, Panchajanya. Arjuna blew the Devadutta. Bhima, who ate voraciously and performed great tasks, sounded his mighty conch, Paundra.

 

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः।
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ

Translation:-

Son of Kunti, King Yudhishthir, sounded the Anantavijaya while Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and Manipushpak respectively.

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः।
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते।
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक्

Translation:-

Also, blowing their conches were the supreme bowmen, the King of Kashi, mighty warrior Shikhandi, Dhrstadyumna, Virata, the invincible Satyaki, together with the King Drupada, the sons of Drupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra.

 

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्।
नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्

Translation:-

The resultant sound vibrations thundered across the sky and earth, filling the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra with fear.

 

अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः।
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते।

Translation:-

Arjuna, the son of Pandu, bearing the insignia of Hanuman on the flag of his chariot raised his bow in the preparation of fight. Looking over the army formation of Dhritarashtra's sons, he spoke to Hrishikesh.

 

To be continued...

Kaushik Shrotri

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