Critical Edition
संजय उवाच यथा स भगवान्व्यासः कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत् तथैव सहिताः सर्वे समाजग्मुर्महीक्षितः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Just as the holy Rishi Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa said, so exactly in that manner those rulers of earth who had assembled there met together.
Supplementary Passages:
6.17.1 Before 1, Ś1 K0.1 ins.: *67 धृतराष्ट्रः उभयोः सेनयोस्तत्र दृष्ट्वा च कुरुपाण्डवान् अनिमित्तान्यथो ब्रूहि कुशलो ह्यसि संजय
मघाविषयगः सोमस्तद्दिनं प्रत्यपद्यत दीप्यमानाश्च संपेतुर्दिवि सप्त महाग्रहाः
M. N. Dutt: On the day on which the battle commenced the moon approached the constellation Magha. The seven large planets appeared in the sky like so many blazing fires.
द्विधाभूत इवादित्य उदये प्रत्यदृश्यत ज्वलन्त्या शिखया भूयो भानुमानुदितो दिवि
M. N. Dutt: When the sun rose, he appeared as if he had been divided into two parts. When that luminary rose in the sky he appeared to blaze forth in flames.
ववाशिरे च दीप्तायां दिशि गोमायुवायसाः लिप्समानाः शरीराणि मांसशोणितभोजनाः
M. N. Dutt: Carnivorous animals, jacks and crows cried from all directions which appeared in a blaze expecting to feed on (dead) bodies.
अहन्यहनि पार्थानां वृद्धः कुरुपितामहः भरद्वाजात्मजश्चैव प्रातरुत्थाय संयतौ
AI Translation: Every day, the aged grandfather of the Kurus and the son of Bharadvaja, having risen early, restrained,
जयोऽस्तु पाण्डुपुत्राणामित्यूचतुररिंदमौ युयुधाते तवार्थाय यथा स समयः कृतः
AI Translation: The two destroyers of enemies said, "May the sons of Pandu be victorious." They fought for your sake, as was the agreement.
सर्वधर्मविशेषज्ञः पिता देवव्रतस्तव समानीय महीपालानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Your father Devavrata learned in the rules of war duly calling all the kings before him thus spoke to them these words.
इदं वः क्षत्रिया द्वारं स्वर्गायापावृतं महत् गच्छध्वं तेन शक्रस्य ब्रह्मणश्च सलोकताम्
M. N. Dutt: "O Kshatriyas, this broad door is wide open for you to enter heaven. Go through it to the abodes of Indra and Brahma.
एष वः शाश्वतः पन्थाः पूर्वैः पूर्वतरैर्गतः संभावयत चात्मानमव्यग्रमनसो युधि
M. N. Dutt: The ancient Rishis have pointed out to you these eternal paths. However fight in the battle with all attention.
नाभागो हि ययातिश्च मान्धाता नहुषो नृगः संसिद्धाः परमं स्थानं गताः कर्मभिरीदृशैः
M. N. Dutt: Nabhaga, Yayati, Mandhata, Nahusha and Bhrigu all secured success and obtained the highest region of bliss by such feats.
Supplementary Passages:
6.17.10 After 10ab, D3 ins.: *68 अर्जुनः सगरो वैन्यो ये चान्ये क्षत्रियोत्तमाः
अधर्मः क्षत्रियस्यैष यद्व्याधिमरणं गृहे यदाजौ निधनं याति सोऽस्य धर्मः सनातनः
M. N. Dutt: In a Kshatriya to die of a disease is a sin. To die in the field of battle is his eternal duty.
एवमुक्ता महीपाला भीष्मेण भरतर्षभ निर्ययुः स्वान्यनीकानि शोभयन्तो रथोत्तमैः
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race having been thus addressed by Bhishma, the kings looked beautiful in their excellent cars. They then went to the hcads of their respective troops.
स तु वैकर्तनः कर्णः सामात्यः सह बन्धुभिः न्यासितः समरे शस्त्रं भीष्मेण भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, the son of Vikartana Karna, with his friends and relatives, however, laid aside his weapons of Bhishma.
अपेतकर्णाः पुत्रास्ते राजानश्चैव तावकाः निर्ययुः सिंहनादेन नादयन्तो दिशो दश
M. N. Dutt: Then your sons and all the kings that were on his side without Karna marched making the ten points of horizon resound with their war cries.
श्वेतैश्छत्रैः पताकाभिर्ध्वजवारणवाजिभिः तान्यनीकान्यशोभन्त रथैरथ पदातिभिः
M. N. Dutt: O king, their troops looked splendid with white umbrella, banners, standards elephants, horses, cars and foot-soldiers.
भेरीपणवशब्दैश्च पटहानां च निस्वनैः रथनेमिनिनादैश्च बभूवाकुलिता मही
M. N. Dutt: The earth trembled with loud sounds of drums, tabors and cymbals and also with the clatter of the wheels of cars.
काञ्चनाङ्गदकेयूरैः कार्मुकैश्च महारथाः भ्राजमाना व्यदृश्यन्त जङ्गमाः पर्वता इव
M. N. Dutt: The great car-warriors adorned with golden bracelets and armlets looked as effulgent as so many hills of fire.
तालेन महता भीष्मः पञ्चतारेण केतुना विमलादित्यसंकाशस्तस्थौ कुरुचमूपतिः
M. N. Dutt: With his large palmyra standard with five stars, Bhishma, the Generalissimo of the Kuru army, looked as resplendent as the sun himself.
ये त्वदीया महेष्वासा राजानो भरतर्षभ अवर्तन्त यथादेशं राजञ्शांतनवस्य ते
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, O king, according to the orders issued by the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, all the great bowmen of royal birth who were on your side took up their respective positions.
Supplementary Passages:
6.17.19 After 19ab, Ś1 K0-2 ins. (K0.2 om. post. half; see below): *69 पुत्राश्च तव राजेन्द्र सारोहा सरथा गजैः
स तु गोवासनः शैब्यः सहितः सर्वराजभिः ययौ मातङ्गराजेन राजार्हेण पताकिना पद्मवर्णस्त्वनीकानां सर्वेषामग्रतः स्थितः
M. N. Dutt: Shaivya, the ruler of the Govasanas accomplished by the chiefs marched on a great elephant worthy to be used by kings. It had a banner flying from its back.
अश्वत्थामा ययौ यत्तः सिंहलाङ्गूलकेतनः श्रुतायुश्चित्रसेनश्च पुरुमित्रो विविंशतिः
AI Translation: Ashvatthama went to the battle with a lion-tail banner, Shrutayus, Chitrasena, Purumitra, Vivimshati,
शल्यो भूरिश्रवाश्चैव विकर्णश्च महारथः एते सप्त महेष्वासा द्रोणपुत्रपुरोगमाः स्यन्दनैर्वरवर्णाभैर्भीष्मस्यासन्पुरःसराः
M. N. Dutt: Shrutayudha, Chitrasena, Purumitra, Vivinshati, Shalya, Bhurishrava, and the carwarriors Vikarna. These seven great bowmen clad in excellent armour and riding on their excellent cars followed the son of Drona but marched in front of Bhishma.
तेषामपि महोत्सेधाः शोभयन्तो रथोत्तमान् भ्राजमाना व्यदृश्यन्त जाम्बूनदमया ध्वजाः
M. N. Dutt: The golden standards of these warriors, beautifully placed at the flag-staff of thcir excellent cars looked highly effulgent.
जाम्बूनदमयी वेदिः कमण्डलुविभूषिता केतुराचार्यमुख्यस्य द्रोणस्य धनुषा सह
M. N. Dutt: The standard of Drona that foremost of preceptors, note the device of a golden altar, adorned with a water pot and a figure of a bow.
अनेकशतसाहस्रमनीकमनुकर्षतः महान्दुर्योधनस्यासीन्नागो मणिमयो ध्वजः
M. N. Dutt: The standard of Duryodhana, that guided many hundred and thousands of troops bore the device of an elephant made in gems and jewels.
तस्य पौरवकालिङ्गौ काम्बोजश्च सुदक्षिणः क्षेमधन्वा सुमित्रश्च तस्थुः प्रमुखतो रथाः
M. N. Dutt: Paurava, the ruler of Kalingas, Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kombojas, Kshemadhanvan, and Sumitra, those great car-warriors took up their positions in front of Duryodhana.
स्यन्दनेन महार्हेण केतुना वृषभेण च प्रकर्षन्निव सेनाग्रं मागधश्च नृपो ययौ
M. N. Dutt: Taking a position in the very front in a costly car with his standard that bore the device of a bull, the king of the Magadhas marched against the enemy.
तदङ्गपतिना गुप्तं कृपेण च महात्मना शारदाभ्रचयप्रख्यं प्राच्यानामभवद्बलम्
M. N. Dutt: The large force of the people of the east which looked like the fleecy clouds of autumn was protected by the Anga prince and the greatly powerful Kripa.
अनीकप्रमुखे तिष्ठन्वराहेण महायशाः शुशुभे केतुमुख्येन राजतेन जयद्रथः
M. N. Dutt: Placing himself at the head of his troops with his beautiful silver standard which bore the device of the bore, the illustrious Jayadratha looked highly effulgent.
शतं रथसहस्राणां तस्यासन्वशवर्तिनः अष्टौ नागसहस्राणि सादिनामयुतानि षट्
M. N. Dutt: One hundred thousand cars, cight thousand elephants and sixty thousand horsemen were under his command,
तत्सिन्धुपतिना राजन्पालितं ध्वजिनीमुखम् अनन्तरथनागाश्वमशोभत महद्बलम्
M. N. Dutt: That large army with innumerable cars and elephants and horse under the command of the kings of the Sindhus looked very grant.
षष्ट्या रथसहस्रैस्तु नागानामयुतेन च पतिः सर्वकलिङ्गानां ययौ केतुमता सह
M. N. Dutt: With sixty thousand cars and ten thousand clephants the kings of the Kalingas with Ketuman marched.
तस्य पर्वतसंकाशा व्यरोचन्त महागजाः यन्त्रतोमरतूणीरैः पताकाभिश्च शोभिताः
M. N. Dutt: His clephants cach loO king like a hill adorned with machines, lances, and standards looked very beautiful.
शुशुभे केतुमुख्येन पादपेन कलिङ्गपः श्वेतच्छत्रेण निष्केण चामरव्यजनेन च
M. N. Dutt: The king of the Kalingas with his high firelike effulgent standard, with his white umbrella and Chamaras looked exceedingly beautiful.
केतुमानपि मातङ्गं विचित्रपरमाङ्कुशम् आस्थितः समरे राजन्मेघस्थ इव भानुमान्
M. N. Dutt: Ketumat also, O king, riding an elephant with a highly excellent and beautiful hook stood in the battle like the sun amidst the clouds.
तेजसा दीप्यमानस्तु वारणोत्तममास्थितः भगदत्तो ययौ राजा यथा वज्रधरस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: King Bhagadatta, blazing in his own effulgence, marched on an elephant like the wielder of thunder (Indra).
गजस्कन्धगतावास्तां भगदत्तेन संमितौ विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ केतुमन्तमनुव्रतौ
M. N. Dutt: The two princes of Avanti, named Vinda and Anuvinda who were considered as equal to Bhagadatta followed Ketuman on two elephants.
स रथानीकवान्व्यूहो हस्त्यङ्गोत्तमशीर्षवान् वाजिपक्षः पतन्नुग्रः प्राहरत्सर्वतोमुखः
AI Translation: The army formation of chariots, with the best of elephants and horses as its head, with the wings of horses, falling fiercely, striking in all directions,
द्रोणेन विहितो राजन्राज्ञा शांतनवेन च तथैवाचार्यपुत्रेण बाह्लीकेन कृपेण च
AI Translation: O king, it was laid down by Drona, by the king Shantanu, and likewise by the son of the teacher, by Bahlika, and by Kripa.