Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच एवं बहुगुणं सैन्यमेवं बहुविधं परम् व्यूढमेवं यथाशास्त्रममोघं चैव संजय
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Our army is endued with many excellent attributes and composed of various kinds of troops and its efficiency is great. O Sanjaya it is disposed of in perfect accordance to the rules of the military science; so it should to be ever crowned with success.
पुष्टमस्माकमत्यन्तमभिकामं च नः सदा प्रह्वमव्यसनोपेतं पुरस्ताद्दृष्टविक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: The warriors therein are very much devoted to our interest, and are ever attached to us. They are disciplined and free from the vices of lust and anger. Their prowess has been tested before.
नातिवृद्धमबालं च न कृशं न च पीवरम् लघुवृत्तायतप्रायं सारगात्रमनामयम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus are neither very old nor very young; they are neither lean nor very corpulent. They are of active habits, well-built, strong bodied, and free from any disease.
आत्तसंनाहशस्त्रं च बहुशस्त्रपरिग्रहम् असियुद्धे नियुद्धे च गदायुद्धे च कोविदम्
M. N. Dutt: They are clad in coats of mail and well furnished with offensive weapons they are accomplished in the use of all kinds of weapons and are masters in fighting with swords, with maces and even with bare arms.
प्रासर्ष्टितोमरेष्वाजौ परिघेष्वायसेषु च भिण्डिपालेषु शक्तीषु मुसलेषु च सर्वशः
AI Translation: In the use of spears, maces, iron clubs, in the use of bludgeons, javelins, hammers, and in all kinds of clubs,
कम्पनेषु च चापेषु कणपेषु च सर्वशः क्षेपणीषु च चित्रासु मुष्टियुद्धेषु कोविदम्
AI Translation: In all kinds of bows, in all kinds of arrows, In all kinds of missiles, in all kinds of weapons, Skilled in all kinds of fighting, in all kinds of wrestling,
अपरोक्षं च विद्यासु व्यायामेषु कृतश्रमम् शस्त्रग्रहणविद्यासु सर्वासु परिनिष्ठितम्
M. N. Dutt: They are well disciplined in the exercise of all kinds of weapons, and are experts in mounting on and descending from vehicles, in moving forward and in falling back,
आरोहे पर्यवस्कन्दे सरणे सान्तरप्लुते सम्यक्प्रहरणे याने व्यपयाने च कोविदम्
M. N. Dutt: In striking down effectually, in marching forward, and in retreating back; they have been examined in the management of steeds, elephants, and chariots.
नागाश्वरथयानेषु बहुशः सुपरीक्षितम् परीक्ष्य च यथान्यायं वेतनेनोपपादितम्
AI Translation: which has been well tested many times in elephants, horses, chariots, and vehicles, and which, having been tested according to proper procedure, has been obtained with wages,
न गोष्ठ्या नोपचारेण न च बन्धुनिमित्ततः न सौहृदबलैश्चापि नाकुलीनपरिग्रहैः
AI Translation: Not by association, not by service, not by reason of kinship, Not by friendship, not by the possession of the low-born,
समृद्धजनमार्यं च तुष्टसत्कृतबान्धवम् कृतोपकारभूयिष्ठं यशस्वि च मनस्वि च
AI Translation: One who is prosperous, noble, and whose relatives are satisfied and honored, One who has done much good, is famous, and wise,
सजयैश्च नरैर्मुख्यैर्बहुशो मुख्यकर्मभिः लोकपालोपमैस्तात पालितं लोकविश्रुतैः
AI Translation: By the chief men of the Sānjaya family, by many chief men, by many great deeds, By those who were like the guardians of the world, by those who were renowned in the world, O son,
बहुभिः क्षत्रियैर्गुप्तं पृथिव्यां लोकसंमतैः अस्मानभिगतैः कामात्सबलैः सपदानुगैः
AI Translation: Protected by many kshatriyas, respected by the world, Approached by us out of desire, with armies and followers,
महोदधिमिवापूर्णमापगाभिः समन्ततः अपक्षैः पक्षसंकाशै रथैर्नागैश्च संवृतम्
AI Translation: Like the great ocean filled with rivers on all sides, Surrounded by chariots and elephants that are like wings without wings,
नानायोधजलं भीमं वाहनोर्मितरङ्गिणम् क्षेपण्यसिगदाशक्तिशरप्राससमाकुलम्
AI Translation: full of the water of various warriors, terrible, with waves the length of chariots, full of missiles, swords, clubs, spears, arrows, and javelins,
ध्वजभूषणसंबाधं रत्नपट्टेन संचितम् वाहनैः परिसर्पद्भिर्वायुवेगविकम्पितम्
AI Translation: crowded with banners and ornaments, covered with jeweled cloth, shaken by the wind from the moving vehicles,
अपारमिव गर्जन्तं सागरप्रतिमं महत् द्रोणभीष्माभिसंगुप्तं गुप्तं च कृतवर्मणा
AI Translation: Like an ocean, roaring and vast, Protected by Drona and Bhishma, and guarded by Kripa,
कृपदुःशासनाभ्यां च जयद्रथमुखैस्तथा भगदत्तविकर्णाभ्यां द्रौणिसौबलबाह्लिकैः
AI Translation: With Kripa, Duhshāsana, Jayadratha and others, With Bhagadatta, Vikarna, Ashvatthāma, Shākuni and Bāhlīka,
गुप्तं प्रवीरैर्लोकस्य सारवद्भिर्महात्मभिः यदहन्यत संग्रामे दिष्टमेतत्पुरातनम्
AI Translation: Hidden by the heroes, the great souls, the best of the world, What was destroyed in the battle was destined from the past.
नैतादृशं समुद्योगं दृष्टवन्तोऽथ मानुषाः ऋषयो वा महाभागाः पुराणा भुवि संजय
AI Translation: We have never seen such a great effort among men, or among the great and ancient sages on earth, Sanjaya.
ईदृशो हि बलौघस्तु युक्तः शस्त्रास्त्रसंपदा वध्यते यत्र संग्रामे किमन्यद्भागधेयतः
AI Translation: For such a mass of strength, endowed with weapons and missiles, is killed in battle. What else but fate?
विपरीतमिदं सर्वं प्रतिभाति स्म संजय यत्रेदृशं बलं घोरं नातरद्युधि पाण्डवान्
AI Translation: O Sanjaya, everything appears to be the opposite. Where such a terrible army did not defeat the Pandavas in battle,
अथ वा पाण्डवार्थाय देवास्तत्र समागताः युध्यन्ते मामकं सैन्यं यदवध्यन्त संजय
M. N. Dutt: This all appears me reverse to listen that so vast army could not face and defeat Pandavas in battle. O Sanjaya! The gods come in support of Pandavas definitely and battle against my army. This is the reason, it is being slaughtered in uncountable numbers day-to-day.
उक्तो हि विदुरेणेह हितं पथ्यं च संजय न च गृह्णाति तन्मन्दः पुत्रो दुर्योधनो मम
M. N. Dutt: Vidura had often advised what would have been beneficial and profitable; but my wicked son Duryodhana would not accept his counsel.
तस्य मन्ये मतिः पूर्वं सर्वज्ञस्य महात्मनः आसीद्यथागतं तात येन दृष्टमिदं पुरा
M. N. Dutt: I think the prophetic and high-souled Vidura had foreseen all that is happening at present; and hence his thought was so.
अथ वा भाव्यमेवं हि संजयैतेन सर्वथा पुरा धात्रा यथा सृष्टं तत्तथा न तदन्यथा
M. N. Dutt: Or it may be, O Sanjaya, that all this had been predestined by the Creator; and what is pre-ordained by him must happen as ordained and can not be other wise.