भीष्म उवाच एते रथास्तवाख्यातास्तथैवातिरथा नृप। ये चाप्यर्धरथा राजन् पाण्डवानामत: शृणु।॥
Bhishma said These are the notable Rathas and Atirathas on your side, O ruler of men, and these, o king, are semi-Rathas; listen now to those of the Pandavas.
यदि कौतूहलं तेऽद्य पाण्डवानां बले नृप। रथसंख्यां शृणुष्व त्वं सहैभिर्वसुधाधिपः॥
If you have now any curiosity to learn of the strength of the Pandavas, O ruler of men, then listen to the list of their Rathas along with these rulers of the earth.
स्वयं राजा रथोदारः पाण्डवः कुन्तिनन्दनः। अग्निवत् समरे तात चरिष्यति न संशयः॥
The king, the son of Pandu and the delight of Kunti, is himself a mighty Ratha; and my dear son, he will roam about in the battle like fire itself; there in no doubt.
भीमसेनस्तु राजेन्द्र रथोऽष्टगुणसम्मितः। न तस्यास्ति समो युद्धे गदया सायकैरपि।॥
Bhimasena, O chief among kings, is held to be eight times a Ratha and in a fight with the mace or arrows he has no equal.
नागायुतबलो मानी तेजसा न स मानुषः। माद्रीपुत्रौ च रथिनौ द्वावेष पुरुषर्षभौ॥
Filled with pride and endued with the strength of ten thousand elephants he is not human is energy; the two foremost among men, the sons of Madri, are two Rathas.
अश्विनाविव रूपेण तेजसा च समन्वितौ। एते चमूमुपगताः स्मरन्तः क्लेशमुत्तमम्॥
Like the Ashvins in beauty and endued also with energy these two will fight in the very van on their army remembering their hard sufferings.
रुद्रवत् प्रचरिष्यन्ति तत्र मे नास्ति संशयः। सर्व एव महात्मानः शालस्तम्भा इवोद्गताः॥
They will roam about like so many Rudras, of that there is no doubt. All of them are great-souled and tall as the trunks of Shala trees.
प्रादेशेनाधिकाः पुम्भिरन्यैस्ते च प्रमाणतः। सिंहसंहननाः सर्वे पाण्डुपुत्रा महाबलाः॥
Measuring a span more than other males, all the sons of Pandu, capable of killing lions, are endued with great strength.
चरितब्रह्मचर्याश्च सर्वे तात तपस्विनः। ह्रीमन्तः पुरुषव्याघ्रा व्याघ्रा इव बलोत्कटाः॥
All of them are devotees, my dear son, and Brahmacharyya vows have been practised by all of them; endued with modesty, those foremost among men are of fierce strength as the tigers.
जवे प्रहारे सम्म सर्व एवातिमानुषाः। सर्वैर्जिता महीपाला दिग्जये भरतर्षभ॥
In impetuosity, in striking and crushing all of them are superhuman and by them by all the rulers of the earth had been vanquished at the time of the universal conquest.
न चैषां पुरुषाः केचिदायुधानि गदाः शरान्। विषहन्ति सदा कर्तुमधिज्यान्यपि कौरव॥
No human being can bear their weapons, maces and arrows, none can even adjust the string at the time of using the bow, O son of Kuru.
उद्यन्तं वा गदा गुर्वीः शरान् वा क्षेप्तुमाहवे। जवे लक्ष्यस्य हरणे भोज्ये पांसुविकर्षणे॥
In uplifting maces, in shooting arrows, in hitting the target, in eating and in sporting in the dust,
बालैरपि भवन्तस्तैः सर्व एव विशेषिताः। एतत् सैन्यं समासाद्य सर्व एव बलोत्कटाः॥
Even as children there was great difference between yourself and them. They, all of whom are endued with fierce strength, meeting this army,
विध्वंसयिष्यन्ति रणे मा स्म तैः सह सङ्गमः। एकैकशस्ते सम्पर्दे हन्युः सर्वान् महीक्षितः॥
Will destroy them in battle; let there therefore be no encounter with them. In the press of battle, each of them can alone slay the entire universe.
प्रत्यक्षं तव राजेन्द्र राजसूये यथाऽभवत्। द्रौपद्याश्च परिक्लेश द्युते च परुषा गिरः॥
It was in your presence, O chief among kings, namely what happened in the Rajasuya. The sufferings of Draupadi and the harsh words at the game of vice,
ते स्मरन्तश्च संग्रामे चरिष्यन्ति च रुद्रवत्। लोहिताक्षो गुडाकेशो नारायणसहायवान्॥
Remembering these they will wander about in the battle like Rudra. Regarding Gudakesha (curling hair) of copper eyes having Narayana for his ally,
उभयोः सेनयोर्वीरो रथो नास्तीति तादृशः। न हि देवेषु वा पूर्वं मनुष्ये पूरगेषु च॥
There is no brave car-warrior who can equal him in both the armies; nor is there any among the gods, human beings or serpents;
राक्षसेष्वथ यक्षेषु नरेषु कुत एव तु। भूतोऽथवा भविष्यो वा रथः कश्चिन्मया श्रुतः॥
Nor even among Rakshasas and Yakshas, how can there then be any among men? Nor have I heard of any that has been or that will be.
समायुक्तो महाराज स्थः पार्थस्य धीमतः। वासुदेवश्च संयन्ता योद्धा चैव धनंजयः॥
O great king, the wise son of Pritha has a chariot which has Vasudeva for its driver and Dhananjaya as the soldier.
गाण्डीवं च धनुर्दिव्यं ते चाश्वा वातरंहसः। अभेद्यं कवचं दिव्यमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी॥
He has the celestial bow Gandiva and horses that have the speed of wind, celestial coat of mail which is impenetrable and great arrow holders which are inexhaustible;
अस्त्रग्रामश्च माहेन्द्रो रौद्रः कौबेर एव च। याम्यश्च वारुणश्चैव गदाचोग्रप्रदर्शनाः॥
Groups of arms presented by the great Indra and Rudra and Kuvera and Yama and Varuna and a mace which is fierce to look at,
वज्रादीनि च मुख्यानि नानाप्रहरणानि च। दानवानां सहस्राणि हिरण्यपुरवासिनाम्॥
And several foremost weapons for attack, the thunderbolt. Thousands of Danavas living in Hiranyapura,
हतान्येकरथेनाजौ कस्तस्य सदृशो रथः। एष हन्याद्धि संरम्भी बलवान् सत्यविक्रमः॥
Where slain by him riding on a single chariot. What car-warrior is there who can be equal to him? Endued with wrath, strong and of true prowess the one of long arms will slay,
तव सेनां महाबाहुः स्वां चैव परिपालयन्। अहं चैनं प्रत्युदियामाचार्यो वा धनंजयम्॥
Your army, protecting his own. Myself or the preceptor can advance against this Dhananjaya.
न तृतीयोऽस्ति राजेन्द्र सेनयोरुभयोरपि। य एनं शरवर्षाणि वर्षन्तमुदियाद् रथी।॥
There is no third car-warrior, O chief among kings, in both these armies who can advance against him while he pours showers of amrows.
जीमूत इव धर्मान्ते महावातसमीरितः। समायुक्तस्तु कौन्तेयो वासुदेवसहायवान्। तरुणश्च कृती चैव जीर्णावावामुभावपि॥
Showing arrows like clouds at the close of the hot season urged by mighty winds the son of Kunti, having Vasudeva for his ally, is waiting for battle. He is young and experienced while both of us are worn out.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु भीष्मस्य राज्ञां दध्वंसिरे तदा। काञ्चनाङ्गदिन: पीना भुजाश्चन्दनरूषिताः॥ मनोभिः सह संवेगैः संस्मृत्य च पुरातनम्। सामर्थ्यं पाण्डवेयानां यथा प्रत्यक्षदर्शनात्॥
Vaishampayana said Hearing these words of Bhishma and at the time recollecting with their trembling hearts the old might of the sons of Pandu they had themselves witnessed, the fleshly arms, of those kings pasted with sandal, hang down shorn of prowess.