जनमेजय उवाच आपगेयं महात्मानं भीष्मं शस्त्रभृतां वरम्। पितामहं भारतानां ध्वजं सर्वमहीक्षिताम्।।।।
Janamejaya said The great-souled Bhishma, the foremost among all wielders of weapons, the grandfather of the Bharatas, the flag as it were of all the rulers of the earth,
बृहस्पतिसमं बुद्ध्या क्षमया पृथिवीससम्। समुद्रमिव गाम्भीर्ये हिमवन्तमिव स्थिरम्॥
In intelligence equal to Brihaspati, in power equal to the earth, in gravity equal to the sea, in calmness equal to the Himavat,
प्रजापतिमिवौदार्ये तेजसा भास्करोपमम्। महेन्द्रमिव शत्रूणां ध्वंसनं शरवृष्टिभिः॥
In generosity equal to the lord of all creatures, in effulgence equal to the sun, and in destroying the enemies by downpours of arrows equal to great Indra,
रणयज्ञे प्रवितते सुभीमे लोमहर्षणे। दीक्षितं चिररात्राय श्रुत्वा तत्र युधिष्ठिरः॥
Was employed for life as the chief priest of that sacrifice of battle, which was fierce and hair-stirring. Healing this what did Yudhishthira,
किमब्रवीन्महाबाहुः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। भीमसेनार्जुनो वापि कृष्णो वा प्रत्यभाषत॥
Of long arms, the foremost among all wielders of weapons, say and what did Bhimasena and Arjuna and what did Krishna say?
वैशम्पायन उवाच आपद्धर्मार्थकुशलो महाबुद्धियुधिष्ठिरः। सर्वान् भ्रातृन् समानीय वासुदेवं च शाश्वतम्॥
Vaishampayana said Yudhishthira, who was skillful in virtue and worldly profit especially in seasons of calamities, having summoned together all his brothers as also the eternal Vasudeva,
उवाच वदतां श्रेष्ठः सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः। पर्याक्रामत सैन्यानि यत्तास्तिष्ठत दंशिताः॥
That foremost of speakers said these words in a calm spirit: “Go round the army and remain watchful being clad in mail.
पितामहेन वो युद्धं पूर्वमेव भविष्यति। तस्मात् सप्तसु सेनासु प्रणेतॄन् मम पश्यत॥
Our first encounter will be with our grandfather, therefore do you look for the seven leaders of my army.
कृष्ण उवाच यथार्हति भवान् वक्तुमस्मिन् काले झुपस्थिते। तथेदमर्थवद् वाक्यमुक्तं ते भरतर्षभ॥
Krishna said By you, O best among the race of Bharatas, have these words pregnant with meaning been said, which indeed are proper in these circumstances which have presented themselves.
रोचते मे महाबाहो क्रियतां यदनन्तरम्। नायकास्तव सेनायां क्रियन्तामिह सप्त वै॥
All this I approve of, O you of long arms, and now do what ought to be done; select seven leaders for your army.
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो दुपदमानाय्य विराटं शिनिपुङ्गवम्। धृष्टद्युम्नं च पाञ्चाल्यं धृष्टकेतुं च पार्थिव॥
Vaishampayana said Then summoning before him Drupada, Virata, and that best among the Shini race, and Dhrishtadyumna the prince of Panchala, and the ruler of the earth Dhrishtaketu,
शिखण्डिनं च पाञ्चाल्यं सहदेवं च मागधम्। एतान् सप्त महाभागान् वीरान् युद्धाभिकांक्षिणः॥
Shikhandin, the prince of Panchala Sahadeva and the king of Magadha summoning these seven heroes of great attributes who were anxious for war,
सेनाप्रणेतन् विधिवदभ्यषिञ्चद् युधिष्ठिरः। सर्वेसेनापतिं चात्र धृष्टद्युम्नं चकार ह॥
Yudhishthira duly installed them as the leaders of his army and made Dhrishtadyumna the general commander of all.
द्रोणान्तहेतोरुत्पन्नो य इद्धाज्जातवेदसः। सर्वेषामेव तेषां तु समस्तानां महात्मनाम्॥
This Dhrishtadyumna, who was destined to be the cause of the end of Drona, was born of the blazing sacrificial fire. And over all these great souled men assembled together,
सेनापतिपतिं चक्रे गुडाकेशं धनंजयम्। अर्जुनस्यापि नेता च संयन्ता चैव वाजिनाम्॥
Dhananjaya of curling hairs was made the general; and the guide of Arjuna and the driver of his horses,
संकर्षणानुजः श्रीमान् महाबुद्धिर्जनार्दनः। तद् दृष्ट्वोपस्थितं युद्धं समासन्नं महात्ययम्॥
Was the younger brother of Sankarashana, Janardana of great intelligence, endued with great beauty. Then seeing that a great battle : was near at hand,
प्राविशद् भवनं राजन् पाण्डवानां हलायुधः। सहाक्रूरप्रभृतिभिर्गदसाम्बोद्धवादिभिः॥
The one, who had the slough for his। weapon (elder brother of Krishna), entered the encampment of the Pandavas, o king, in company with Akrura, Akrura, Gadha, Samba, Uddahava,
रौक्मिणेयाहुकसुतैश्चारुदेष्णपुरोगमैः। वृष्णिमुख्यैरधिगतैर्व्याधैरिव बलोत्कटैः॥
And the son of Rukmini (Pradyumna) and the son of Ahuka and Charudeshna and others, Surrounded and protected by those foremost of the Vrishni race like a hard of powerful tigers,
अभिगुप्तो महाबाहुर्मरुद्भिरिव वासवः। नीलकौशेयवसनः कैलासशिखरोपमः॥
The one of long arms like Vasava protected by Maruts with blue garments on and looking majestic as the peak of the Kailasa,
सिंहखेलगतिः श्रीमान् मदरक्तान्तलोचनः। तं दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजश्च केशवश्च महाद्युतिः॥
With the gait of a sporting lion, endued with beauty and with eyes having the ends reddened by drinking wine (entered there. Seeing him, the virtuous king and Keshava of great effulgence,
उदतिष्ठत् ततः पार्थो भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः। गाण्डीवधन्वा ये चान्ये राजानस्तत्र केचन॥
Rose up from their seats as also did the son of Pritha, and Vrikodara of fierce deeds and the wielder of the Gandiva bow and the other kings that were there.
पूजयांचक्रिरे ते वै समायान्तं हलायुधम्। ततस्तं पाण्डवो राजा करे पस्पर्श पाणिना॥
And they assembled together did worship the approaching Halayudha. Then did the Pandava king touch him in the hand by his own hands.
वासुदेवपुरोगास्तं सर्व एवाभ्यवादयन्। विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धावभिवाद्य हलायुधः॥
And all those kings with Vasudeva at their head greeting him, Halayudha too saluted Virata and Drupada and those who were aged.
युधिष्ठिरेण सहित उपाविशदरिंदमः। ततस्तेषुपविष्टेषु पार्थिवेषु समन्ततः। वासुदेवमभिप्रेक्ष्य रौहिणेयोऽभ्यभाषतः॥
That chastiser of foes then sat down with Yudhishthira and the son of Rohini then said, with his eyes on Vasudeva, to those rulers of the earth seated together.
भविताऽयं महारौद्रो दारुणः पुरुषक्षयः। दिष्टमेतद् ध्रुवं मन्ये न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम्॥
There will be a very fierce and harsh massacre of men, it is ordained by the fate surely, I think, and cannot be avoided.
तस्माद् युद्धात् समुत्तीर्णानपि वः ससुहृज्जनान्। अरोगानक्षतैर्देष्टाऽस्मीति मतिर्ममा॥
And I entertain the hope that I shall see you come out of that battle along with your well wishers without any disease, and without any scars on your persons.
समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं कालपक्कमसंशयम्। विमर्दश्च महान् भावी मांसशोणितकर्दमः॥
All these Kshatriyas, these rulers of the earth have their hour come and there will be a great massacre which will make the earth one mass of clay of flesh and blood.
उक्तो मया वासुदेवः पुनः पुनरुपह्वरे। सम्बन्धिषु समां वृत्तिं वर्तस्व मधुसूदनः॥
Vasudeva was thus addressed by me again and again in private: “Behave with impartiality to those who are equally related to you, O slayer of Madhu.
पाण्डवा हि यथाऽस्माकं तथा दुर्योधनो नृपः। तस्यापि क्रियतां साह्यं स पर्येति पुनः पुनः॥
As the sons of Pandu are to us, so is that ruler of men Duryodhana; and do you therefore help him also for he applied for it again and again.
तच मे नाकरोद् वाक्यं त्वदर्थं मधुसूदनः। निर्विष्टः सर्वभावेन धनंजयमवेक्ष्य ह॥
For your sake, however, did the slayer of Madhu, not act up to my words. He has with all his heart set himself to your interests, with his eye on the interests of Dhananjaya.
ध्रुवो जयः पाण्डवानामिति मे निश्चिता मतिः। तथा ह्यभिनिवेशोऽयं वासुदेवस्य भारत।॥
Victory will surely come to the sons of Pandu; such is my opinion, for such is the purpose of Vasudeva.
न चाहमुत्सहे कृष्णमृते लोकमुदीक्षितुम्। ततोऽहमनुवामि केशवस्य चिकीर्षितम्॥
I do not dare to look on this world separated from Krishna and therefore shall I remain inactive in what Krishna wishes.
उभौ शिष्यौ हि मे वीरौ गदायुद्धविशारदौ। दुल्यस्नेहोऽस्म्यतो भीमे तथा दुर्योधने नृपे॥
Both of these heroes, well skilled in fighting with maces, are my pupils and I bear the same affection for Duryodhana as for that ruler of men Bhima.
तस्माद् यास्यामि तीर्थानि सरस्वत्या निषेवितुम्। न हि शक्ष्यामि कौरव्यान् नश्यमानानुपेक्षितुम्॥
Therefore shall I now go to make a pilgrimage to the sacred places on the banks of the Sarasvati for I shall not be able to look on with indifference at this massacre of the Kurus.
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुरनुज्ञातश्च पाण्डवैः। तीर्थयात्रां ययौ रामो निर्वर्त्य मधुसूदनम्॥
The one of long arms, Rama saying this with the leave of the sons of Pandava, went to visit the holy places making the slayer of Madhu return, (he had accompanied him for some distance)