वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो देशे समे स्निग्धे प्रभूतयवसेन्धने। निवेशयामास तदा सेनां राजा युधिष्ठिरः॥
Vaishampayana said Then in a part of the field which was level, shady and where there was plenty of fodder's and fuel the king Yudhishthira had his army encamped.
परिहत्य श्मशानानि देवतायतनानि च। आश्रमांश्र महर्षीणां तीर्थान्यायतनानि च।॥
Avoiding cremation grounds other sacred places and horses consecrated to the gods, and the hermitages of the great Rishis and also other holy places,
मधुरानूषरे देशे शुचो पुण्ये महामतिः। निवेशं कारयामास कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः॥
Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, of great intelligence, ordered his army to be encamped, in a part of the field which was delightful and grassy and which was open.
ततश्च पुनरुत्थाय सुखी विश्रान्तवाहनः। प्रययौ पृथिवीपालैर्वृतः शतसहस्रशः॥
Then his army, which was weary and tried, having rested, again set out surrounded by hundred and thousands of rulers of the earth.
विद्राव्य शतशो गुल्मान् धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सैनिकान्। पर्यक्रामत् समन्ताच्च पार्थेन सह केशवः॥
Routing hundreds of groups of soldiers of the son of Dhritarashtra Keshava wandered about in company with the son of Pritha.
शिबिरं मापयामास धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः। सात्यकिश्च रथोदारो युयुधानश्चः प्रतापवान्॥
Dhrishtadyumna, the son of the Prishata race, and the car-warrior Satyaki endued with prowess, otherwise called Yuyudhana, had the land of encampment measured.
आसाद्य सरितं पुण्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे हिरण्वतीम्। सूपतीर्थां शुचिजलां शर्करापङ्कवर्जिताम्॥
Reaching, in the field of Kurukshetra the holy lake Hiranvati which was a place of hermitage, the water of which was pure and the bed free from stones and mire,
खानयामास परिखां केशवस्तत्र भारत। गुप्त्यर्थमपि चादिश्य बलं तत्र न्यवेशयत्॥
Keshava had a trench dug there, O Bharata and for the protection thereof posted a body of soldiers with instructions to them.
विधिर्यः शिविरस्यासीत् पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। तद्विधानि नरेन्द्राणां कारयामास केशवः॥
The rulers, that were in force in connection with the encampment of the great souled Pandavas, were ordered also to be followed by Keshava in regard the encampment of other chiefs of men.
प्रभूततरकाष्ठानि दुराधर्षतराणि च। भक्ष्यभोज्यानपानानि शतशोऽथं सहस्रशः॥
There were plenty of tents, by hundred and thousands, hard to be captured and provided with abundance of foods, eatables, solid food, drink and fuels.
शिविराणि महामुणि राज्ञां तत्र पृथक् पृथक्। विमानानीव राजेन्द्र निविष्टानि महीतले॥
Separate tents of great value were fixed there on the face of the earth, one for each; and they looked like so many palaces, O chief among kings.
तत्रासशिल्पिनः प्राज्ञाः शतशो दत्तवेतनाः। सर्वोपकरणैर्युक्ता वैद्याः शास्त्रविशारदाः॥
And there were engaged many skillful workmen and experienced, to whom were given regular salaries, as also physicians, familiar with the science, furnished with all the necessary articles and ingredients of their respective professions.
ज्याधनुर्वर्मशस्त्राणां तथैव मधुसर्पिषोः। ससर्जरसपांसूनां राशयः पर्वतोपमाः॥
Bowstrings bows, coats of mail, and weapons as also honey and clarified butter, water, pounded lac, in heaps resembling hills,
बहूदकं सुयवसं तुषाङ्गारसमन्वितम्। शिबिरे शिबिरे राजा संचकारं युधिष्ठिरः॥
And plenty of water and fodder for cattle and chaff and fire, the king Yudhishthira placed in each tent.
महायन्त्राणि नाराचास्तोमराणि परश्वधाः। धनूंषि कवचादीनि ऋष्टयस्तूणसंयुताः॥
Large machines, long shafts, to maras, and battle-axes, bows, coats of mail, breast-plates and quivers were also there.
गजाः कण्टकसंनाहां लोहवर्मोत्तरच्छदाः। दृश्यन्ते तत्र गिर्याभाः सहस्रशतयोधिनः॥
Elephants having coats of steel with prickles thereon and huge as mountain, were seen there, each capable of fighting with a hundred thousand warriors.
निविष्टान् पाण्डवांस्तत्र ज्ञात्वा मित्राणि भारत। अभिससुर्यथादेशं सबलाः सहवाहनाः॥
Knowing that the sons of Pandu were encamped there, O Bharata, his friends came from their respective countries along with their own forces and armies.
चरितब्रह्मचर्यास्ते सोमपा भूरिदक्षिणाः। जयाय पाण्डुपुत्राणां समाजाग्मुर्महीक्षितः॥
By them had been observed Brahmacharya vows, drunk the Soma juice; and liberal presents had also been made by them to the Brahmanas in sacrifices; these kings came for ensuring victory to the sons of Pandu.