Critical Edition
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत्
AI Translation: Having bowed to Narayana, and to Nara, the best of men, and to the goddess Sarasvati, one should then proclaim victory.
जनमेजय उवाच कथं युयुधिरे वीराः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः पार्थिवाश्च महाभागा नानादेशसमागताः
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said How did those great warriors, the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas and the other illustrious kings who assembled from various countries fight?
Supplementary Passages:
6.1.1 The introductory mantra: *1 नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत् K3 B2 T1 G2.4 M, which like T2 G1.3 om. the introductory mantra, begin as follows: K3 begins with oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya; B2 oṃ gaṇeśāya namaḥ; T1 bhīṣmaparva | hariḥ oṃ śubham astu | śrīnivāsagurave namaḥ. G2 reads hariḥ oṃ śubham astu bhīṣmaparva (in marg.), and ins.: *2 व्यासं वसिष्ठनप्तारं शक्तेः पौत्रमकल्मषम् पराशरात्मजं वन्दे शुकतातं तपोनिधिम् व्यासाय विष्णुरूपाय व्यासरूपाय विष्णवे नमो वै ब्रह्मनिधये वासिष्ठाय नमो नमः After 1, K2 D7 ins.: *3 प्रत्ययुध्यन्त समरे भीष्मेणामित्रकर्षिणा कथं वा कौरवाः सर्वे भीमसेने चमूपतौ while T1 G2.4 ins.: *4 निवेशं चक्रिरे योद्धुं तन्मे शंस महामते
वैशंपायन उवाच यथा युयुधिरे वीराः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः कुरुक्षेत्रे तपःक्षेत्रे शृणु तत्पृथिवीपते
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said ruler of carth, hear how those great warriors, the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas foughton the holy field of Kurukshetra.
अवतीर्य कुरुक्षेत्रं पाण्डवाः सहसोमकाः कौरवानभ्यवर्तन्त जिगीषन्तो महाबलाः
M. N. Dutt: Arriving at Kurukshetra, the powerful Pandavas, accompanied with the Somakas, advanced against the Kurus with the desire of victory.
वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नाः सर्वे युद्धाभिनन्दिनः आशंसन्तो जयं युद्धे वधं वाभिमुखा रणे
M. N. Dutt: Learned in the Vedas, they all took great delight in battle. Being eager to secure success in the battle, they with their soldiers advanced to the fight.
Supplementary Passages:
6.1.4 After 4, K3 D2.3 ins.: *5 पूर्वभागे तु क्षेत्रस्य स्थिताः प्रत्यङ्मुखा युधि
अभियाय च दुर्धर्षां धार्तराष्ट्रस्य वाहिनीम् प्राङ्मुखाः पश्चिमे भागे न्यविशन्त ससैनिकाः
M. N. Dutt: Coming near the army of Dhritarashtra's son those invincible heroes encamped with their troops on the Western part (of the field), their faces turned towards the East.
समन्तपञ्चकाद्बाह्यं शिबिराणि सहस्रशः कारयामास विधिवत्कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: The son of Kunti Yudhishthira ordered tents to be pitched duly be thousands beyond the region called Samantapanchaka.
शून्येव पृथिवी सर्वा बालवृद्धावशेषिता निरश्वपुरुषा चासीद्रथकुञ्जरवर्जिता
M. N. Dutt: The whole earth appeared to be empty, having been destitute of men and horses, and of chariots and elephants. Only the children and the old remained (in their houses).
यावत्तपति सूर्यो हि जम्बूद्वीपस्य मण्डलम् तावदेव समावृत्तं बलं पार्थिवसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of kings, from all parts of Jambudvipa over which the sun shines was collected that great force.
एकस्थाः सर्ववर्णास्ते मण्डलं बहुयोजनम् पर्याक्रामन्त देशांश्च नदीः शैलान्वनानि च
M. N. Dutt: Men of all races assembled there, and they occupied an area extending many Yojanas over fields, rivers, hills and woods.
तेषां युधिष्ठिरो राजा सर्वेषां पुरुषर्षभ आदिदेश सवाहानां भक्ष्यभोज्यमनुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of men, king Yudhishthira ordered to be supplied to them in excellent edibles and other things of enjoyment.
संज्ञाश्च विविधास्तास्तास्तेषां चक्रे युधिष्ठिरः एवंवादी वेदितव्यः पाण्डवेयोऽयमित्युत
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira fixed various appellation so that by uttering them they might be known to others that they belong to the Pandava force.
अभिज्ञानानि सर्वेषां संज्ञाश्चाभरणानि च योजयामास कौरव्यो युद्धकाल उपस्थिते
M. N. Dutt: That Kuru prince also fixed names and emblems for all of them, so that they might be recognised at the time of battle.
दृष्ट्वा ध्वजाग्रं पार्थानां धार्तराष्ट्रो महामनाः सह सर्वैर्महीपालैः प्रत्यव्यूहत पाण्डवान्
AI Translation: Seeing the banner of the Parthas, the great-minded son of Dhritarashtra, together with all the kings of the earth, arrayed himself against the Pandavas.
पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि मध्ये नागसहस्रस्य भ्रातृभिः परिवारितम्
AI Translation: With a white parasol held over his head, Surrounded by his brothers in the midst of a thousand elephants,
दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनं हृष्टाः सर्वे पाण्डवसैनिकाः दध्मुः सर्वे महाशङ्खान्भेरीर्जघ्नुः सहस्रशः
AI Translation: Seeing Duryodhana, all the Pāṇḍava soldiers were delighted. All of them blew on their great conches and beat thousands of drums.
Supplementary Passages:
6.1.15 After 15a, D1 ins.: *6 प्रहृष्टवदनं ततः आयोधनं प्रविविशुः
ततः प्रहृष्टां स्वां सेनामभिवीक्ष्याथ पाण्डवाः बभूवुर्हृष्टमनसो वासुदेवश्च वीर्यवान्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the (Panchala) troops in great delight, the Pandavas and the greatly effulgent Vasudeva (Krishna) were filled with joy.
ततो योधान्हर्षयन्तौ वासुदेवधनंजयौ दध्मतुः पुरुषव्याघ्रौ दिव्यौ शङ्खौ रथे स्थितौ
M. N. Dutt: Those lion of men, Vasudeva and Arjuna who were seated on one car felt the greatest joy and both blew their celestial conchs.
पाञ्चजन्यस्य निर्घोषं देवदत्तस्य चोभयोः श्रुत्वा सवाहना योधाः शकृन्मूत्रं प्रसुस्रुवुः
M. N. Dutt: Having heard the loud sound of the conchs of those two heroes, the soldiers passed urine and excrete.
यथा सिंहस्य नदतः स्वनं श्रुत्वेतरे मृगाः त्रसेयुस्तद्वदेवासीद्धार्तराष्ट्रबलं तदा
AI Translation: Just as other deer tremble on hearing the roar of a lion, so was the army of the sons of Dhritarashtra at that time.
उदतिष्ठद्रजो भौमं न प्राज्ञायत किंचन अन्तर्धीयत चादित्यः सैन्येन रजसावृतः
M. N. Dutt: A fearful dust arose and every thing became invisible. The sun, becoming suddenly shrouded by it appeared as if it had set.
ववर्ष चात्र पर्जन्यो मांसशोणितवृष्टिमान् व्युक्षन्सर्वाण्यनीकानि तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: A black clouds of flesh and blood showered a down pour over that vast assemblage of troops. Every thing appeared to be wonderful.
वायुस्ततः प्रादुरभून्नीचैः शर्करकर्षणः विनिघ्नंस्तान्यनीकानि विधमंश्चैव तद्रजः
M. N. Dutt: A fearful wind blow carrying over the earth innumerable stones and afflicting thousands and thousands of soldiers.
उभे सेने तदा राजन्युद्धाय मुदिते भृशम् कुरुक्षेत्रे स्थिते यत्ते सागरक्षुभितोपमे
M. N. Dutt: O king, both armies stood for battle in the field of Kurukshetra like two agitated oceans.
तयोस्तु सेनयोरासीदद्भुतः स समागमः युगान्ते समनुप्राप्ते द्वयोः सागरयोरिव
M. N. Dutt: That great battle of the two enemies was exceedingly wonderful, like two oceans at the end of the Yuga.
शून्यासीत्पृथिवी सर्वा बालवृद्धावशेषिता तेन सेनासमूहेन समानीतेन कौरवैः
AI Translation: The earth was empty, with only the young and the old remaining By the army of the Kauravas, which had been brought together,
Supplementary Passages:
6.1.25 After 25, K3 ins. (cf. 26a and 27b): *7 ततस्ते समयं युद्धे स्यात्प्रीतिश्च परस्परम् while D3 ins.: *8 समन्तान्नगकल्पेन गर्जमानेन *र्वतः
ततस्ते समयं चक्रुः कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः धर्मांश्च स्थापयामासुर्युद्धानां भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: Then the Kurus, Pandavas and Somakas made an agreement, and established rules for battles, O bull of the Bharatas.
निवृत्ते चैव नो युद्धे प्रीतिश्च स्यात्परस्परम् यथापुरं यथायोगं न च स्याच्छलनं पुनः
AI Translation: And when the war is over, there will be mutual affection, and there will be no deceit again, as before, as is proper.
वाचा युद्धे प्रवृत्ते नो वाचैव प्रतियोधनम् निष्क्रान्तः पृतनामध्यान्न हन्तव्यः कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: Those who engaged in a battle of words should be fought against with only words. those that left the fight should never be killed.
रथी च रथिना योध्यो गजेन गजधूर्गतः अश्वेनाश्वी पदातिश्च पदातेनैव भारत
M. N. Dutt: A car-warrior should fight only with a car warrior. He who rode on an elephant should fight only with another such combatant. O descendant of Bharata, a horse man must fight with a horse man and a foot-soldier with a footsoldier.
यथायोगं यथावीर्यं यथोत्साहं यथावयः समाभाष्य प्रहर्तव्यं न विश्वस्ते न विह्वले
M. N. Dutt: Always being led by consideration of fitness, willingness, bravery and strength, one should strike another after having challenged him. None should strike another who is confiding or who is panic-stricken.
परेण सह संयुक्तः प्रमत्तो विमुखस्तथा क्षीणशस्त्रो विवर्मा च न हन्तव्यः कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: One fighting with another, one seeking refuge, one retreating, one whose weapon is broken and one who is not clad in armour should never be struck.
न सूतेषु न धुर्येषु न च शस्त्रोपनायिषु न भेरीशङ्खवादेषु प्रहर्तव्यं कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: Charioteers, animals, men engaged in carrying weapons, those who play on drums and those who blow conchs should never be smitten.
एवं ते समयं कृत्वा कुरुपाण्डवसोमकाः विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः प्रेक्षमाणाः परस्परम्
M. N. Dutt: Having made these agreements, the Kurus, the Pandavas and the Somakas, staring at one another were filled with surprise.
निविश्य च महात्मानस्ततस्ते पुरुषर्षभाः हृष्टरूपाः सुमनसो बभूवुः सहसैनिकाः
M. N. Dutt: Having thus placed their troops those foremost of men, those illustrious heroes were filled with delight, their appearance indicating joy.