वैशम्पायन उवाच उत्तरं सारथि कृत्वा शमीं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। आयुधं सर्वमादाय प्रययौ पाण्डवर्षभः॥
Vaishampayana said Making Uttara his charioteer and going round the Shami tree the son of Pandu taking all his weapons set out.
ध्वजं सिंहं स्थात् तस्मादपनीय महारथिः। प्रणिधाय शमीमूले प्रायादुत्तरसारथः॥
Having taken down the banner with the lion's figure and placed it at the foot of the Shami tree the mighty car-warrior set out with Uttara as his charioteer,
दैवीं मायां रथे युक्तां विहितां विश्वकर्मणा। काञ्चनं सिंहलाङ्गलं ध्वजं वानरलक्षणम्॥
He hoisted on his chariot the golden flag having the emblem of a monkey which was a celestials illusion created by Vishvakarman.
मनसा चिन्तयामास प्रसादं पावकस्य च। स च तच्चिन्तितं ज्ञात्वा ध्वजे भूतान्यदेशयत्॥
As soon as he thought of the favour of Agni in his mind the deity, knowing his desire, ordered the creatures (to sit) on the flag.
सपताकं विचित्राङ्गं सोपासङ्गं महाबलम्। खात् पपात रथे तूर्णं दिव्यरूपं मनोरमम्॥
A celestial and charming flag-staff adorned with gold, furnished with a handsome banner and quivers attached to it, immediately fell on the car from the sky.
रथं तमागतं दृष्ट्वा दक्षिणं प्राकरोत् तदा। रथमास्थाय बीभत्सुः कौन्तेयः श्वेतवाहनः॥ बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणः प्रगृहीतशरासनः। ततः प्रायादुदीचिं च कपिप्रवरकेतनः॥
Seeing the banner reach his car the hero went round it reverentially. Then getting on his car, Bibhatsu, the son of Kunti, having white steeds and the emblem of a monkey on his banner, having his fingers protected by the gloves of Inguana skin, and taking up his bow and arrows, started in a northerly direction.
स्वनवन्तं महाशङ्ख बलवानरिमर्दनः। प्राधमद् बलमास्थाय द्विषतां लोमहर्षणम्॥
Then that highly powerful repressor of foes, energetically blew his large conch-shell of thundering sound, capable of making the hairs of the body of his enemies stand erect.
ततस्ते जवना धुर्या जानुभ्यामगमन्महीम्। उत्तरश्चापि संत्रस्तो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्॥
At that sound the quick-coursing horses dropped down their knees on earth. Uttara too, stricken with fear, sat down on the car.
संस्थाप्य चाश्वान् कौन्तेयः समुद्यम्य च रश्मिभिः। उत्तरं च परिष्वज्य समाश्वासयदर्जुनः॥
Then raising the horses up with reins and keeping them in their proper places and embracing Uttara, Arjuna, the son of Kunti, consoled him.
अर्जुन उवाच मा भैस्त्वं राजपुत्राग्य क्षत्रियोऽसि परंतप। कथं तु पुरुषव्याघ्र शत्रुमध्ये विषीदसि॥
Arjuna said O foremost of princes, O slayer of foes, be not afraid; you are a Kshatriya; why do you look sorry, O foremost of men, in the midst of enemies?
श्रुतास्ते शङ्खशब्दाश्च भेरीशब्दाश्च पुष्कलाः। कुञ्चराणां च नदतां व्यूढानीकेषु तिष्ठताम्॥
You have heard enough of the sound of my conch shells as well as that of trumpets and the roar of many elephants in the midst of soldiers arranged for battle.
स त्वं कथमिहानेन शङ्खशब्देन भीषितः। विवर्णरूपो वित्रस्तः पुरुषः प्राकृतो यथा॥
Why are you therefore, so dispirited agitated and terrified by the sound of the conch like an ordinary man.
उत्तर उवाच श्रुता मे शङ्खशब्दाश्च भेरीशब्दाश्च पुष्कलाः। कुट्ठाराणां निनदतां व्यूढानीकेषु तिष्ठताम्॥ नैवंविधः शङ्खशब्दः पुरा जातु मया श्रुतः। ध्वजस्य चापि रूपं मे दृष्टपूर्वं न हीदृशम्॥
Uttara said I have heard the sound of many a conch and many a trumpet and the roar of many an elephant in the battle field but never have I heard the sound of such a conch. Never have I seen before a flag like this.
धनुष्श्चैव निर्घोषः श्रुतपूर्वो न मे क्वचित्। अस्य शङ्खस्य शब्देन धनुषो निस्वनेन च॥ अमानुषाणां शब्देन भूतानां ध्वजवासिनाम्। रथस्य च निनादेन मनो मुह्यति मे भृशम्॥
Never have I heard before the twang of such a bow. With the blowing of this conch, the twang of this bow, the superhuman cries of creatures placed on the banner, and with the rattle of this chariot my mind has been greatly agitated.
व्याकुलाश्च दिशः सर्वा हृदयं व्यथतीव मे। ध्वजेन पिहिताः सर्वा दिशो न प्रतिभान्ति मे॥ गाण्डीवस्य च शब्देन की मे बधिरीकृतौ। स मुहूर्त प्रयातं तु पार्थो वैराटिमब्रवीत्॥
All the quarters have been agitated and my mind has been pained; all the quarters have been covered with flags and thus do not come to my view. With the twang of the Gandiva my ears have been deafened.
अर्जुन उवाच एकान्तं रथमास्थाय पद्भ्यां त्वमवपीडयन्। दृढं च रश्मीन् संयच्छ शङ्खध्मास्याम्यहं पुनः॥
Arjuna said Stand you firmly on this chariot, pressing your feet on it. Get hold lightly of the reins for I will blow the conch again.
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः शङ्खमुपाध्मासीद् दारयन्निव पर्वतान्। गुहा गिरीणां च तदा दिशः शैलांस्तथैव च।
Vaishampayana said Arjuna blew the conch again which caused grief in the enemies and increased the delight of the friends.
उत्तरश्चापि संलीनो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्॥ तस्य शङ्खस्य शब्देन स्थनेमिस्वनेन च।
(It seemed to rend) the caves of the mountains, hills and the quarters. Uttara too, clinging to it, sat on the car.
गाण्डीवस्य च घोषेण पृथिवी समकम्पत॥ तं समाश्वासयामास पुनरेव धनंजयः॥
The earth shook with the sound of the conch, rattle of the car and the twang of the Gandiva. And Dhananjaya again consoled him.
द्रोण उवाच यथा रथस्य निर्घोषो यथा मेघ उदीर्यते। कम्पते च यथा भूमि षोऽन्यः सव्यसाचिनः॥
Drona said From the rattle of the car, from the way in which the clouds have appeared, and in which the earth shakes he is none other than Savyasachin.
शस्त्राणि न प्रकाशन्ते न प्रहृष्यन्ति वाजिनः। अग्नयश्च न भासन्ते समिद्धास्तन्न शोभनम्॥
Our arms do not shine, our horses are dispirited and our fires, although fuel is added to them, do not blaze up.
प्रत्यादित्यं च नः सर्वे मृगा घोरप्रवादिनः। ध्वजेषु च निलीयन्ते वायसास्तन्न शोभनम्॥
All the animals, looking towards the sun, are yelling dreadfully and the crows are perching on our banners. This is not auspicious.
शकुनाश्चापसव्या नो वेदयन्ति महद् भयम्॥ गोमायुरेष सेनांयां रुदन् मध्येन धावति।
The vultures and kites are in the right path and presage a great danger. And the jackal too crying runs about in the midst of the army.
अनाहतश्च निष्क्रान्तो महद् वेदयते भयम्॥ भवतां रोमकूपाणि प्रहृष्टान्युपलक्षये।
An they go out openly. It presages a great calamity. The hairs of your bodies are seen to stand on their ends.
ध्रुवं विनाशो युद्धेन क्षत्रियाणां प्रदृश्यते॥ ज्योतींषि न प्रकाशन्ते दारुणा मृगपक्षिणः।
Forsooth this presages a great destruction of the Kshatriyas in battle; the shining objects do not come in view and the birds and beasts appear frightful.
उत्पाता विविधा घोरा दृश्यन्ते क्षत्रनाशनाः॥ विशेषत इहास्माकं निमित्तानि विनाशने।
Many portents are seen presaging the destruction of the Kshatriyas. And this particularly portends a great havoc amongst ourselves.
उल्काभिश्च प्रदीप्ताभिर्बाध्यते पृतना तव। वाहनान्यप्रहृष्टानि रुदन्तीव विशाम्पते॥
Your army is assailed by these burning meteors and the animals, O king, seem to be shorn of cheerfulness and are as if weeping.
उपासते च सैन्यानि गृध्रास्तव समन्ततः। तप्स्यसे वाहिनीं दृष्ट्वा पार्थवाणप्रपीडिताम्। पराभूता च वः सेना न कश्चिद् योद्भुमिच्छति॥
Vulture and kites are moving all around your army. You will repent when you will see your soldiers assailed by Partha's shafts.
विवर्णमुखभूयिष्ठाः सर्वे योधा विचेतसः। गाः सम्प्रस्थाप्य तिष्ठामो व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः॥
Our army is already defeated for, none wishes to fight. All the soldiers appear pale and dispirited. Placing the kine before, we should all stand here arranged in battle array, and ready to strike.