संजय उवाच समरेऽत्युग्रकर्माणः कर्मभिर्व्यञ्जितश्रमाः। सकृष्णाः पाण्डवाः पञ्च देवैरपि दुरासदाः॥
Sanjaya said The five Pandavas brothers, all of fierce deeds in battle and all incapable of being overcome by fatigue as is apparent from their achievements, when aided by Krishna, could not be vanquished even by the celestials.
सत्त्वकर्मान्वयैर्बुद्ध्या कीर्त्या च यशसा श्रिया। नैव भूतो न भविता नैव तुल्यगुणः पुमान्॥
In righteousness, in deeds, in lineage, in intelligence, in renown, in fame and in prosperity-in all these virtues, there neither was nor is, nor will be, a person equal to Yudhishthira.
सत्यधर्मरतो दान्तो विप्रपूजादिभिर्गुणैः। सदैव त्रिदिवं प्राप्तो राजा किल युधिष्ठिरः॥
King Yudhishthira is constantly in the enjoyment of heavenly bliss, in consequence of his devotion to truth, righteousness, control passions, worship of the Vipras and such other qualities.
युगानते चान्तको राजन् जामदग्न्यश्च वीर्यवान्। रथस्थो भीमसेनश्च कथ्यन्ते सदृशास्त्रयः॥
The Destroyer at the end of a Yuga, the highly puissant son of Jamadagni and Bhimasena on his car, O king, these three are held to be equal (in prowess).
प्रतिज्ञाकर्मदक्षस्य रणे गाण्डीवधन्वनः। उपमां नाधिगच्छामि पार्थस्य सदृशीं क्षितौ॥
Of the wielder of Gandiva ever competent to fulfil his vows in battle, of that son of Pritha, I do see no equal on the face of the earth.
गुरुवात्सल्यमत्यन्तं नैभृत्यं विनयो दमः। नकुलेऽप्रातिरूप्यं च शौर्ये च नियतानि षट्॥
Devotion to the elders, secrecy of counsels, modesty, self-control, beauty of person and heroism, these six virtues are ever present in Nakula.
श्रुतगाम्भीर्यमाधुर्यसत्यरूपपराक्रमैः। सदृशो देवयोर्वीरः सहदेवः किलाश्विनोः॥
In knowledge of the Shrutis, in gravity, in humility, in righteousness, in personal beauty and in prowess, the heroic Sahadeva equals the two immortals viz., the twin Asvinis.
ये च कृष्णेगुणाः स्फीताः पाण्डवेषु च ये गुणा:। अभिमनयौ किलैकस्था दृश्यन्ते गुणसंचयाः॥
All those illustrious qualities that are present mostly in Krishna and in the Pandavas, all those qualities were to be seen combined in Abhimanyu.
युधिष्ठिरस्य वीर्येण कृष्णस्य चरितेन च। कर्मभिर्भीमसेनस्य सदृशो भीमकर्मणः॥
Abhimanyu was equal to Yudhishthira in patience, to Krishna in conduct, to Bhima of terrible deeds in his achievements.
धनंजयस्य रूपेण विक्रमेण श्रुतेन च। विनयात् सहदेवस्य सदृशो नकुलस्य च॥
He was equal to Dhananjaya in beauty of person, prowess and scriptural knowledge and to Nakula and Sahadeva in humility.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच अभिमन्युमहं सूत सौभद्रमपराजितम्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि कात्स्येन कथमायोधने हतः॥
Dhritarashtra said O Suta, I desire to hear in detail how the invincible son of Subhadra, viz., Abhimanyu was slain in battle.
संजय उवाच स्थिरो भव महाराज शोकं धारय दुर्धरम्। महान्तं बन्धुनाशं ते कथयिष्यामि तच्छृणु॥
Sanjaya said Be patient, O mighty monarch. Bear your unbearable burden of grief. I shall speak of the dreadful carnage of your relations. Now hear be attentively.
चक्रव्यूहो महाराज आचार्येणाभिकल्पितः। तत्र शक्रोपमाः सर्वे राजानो विनिवेशिता॥
The circular array, O monarch, was then formed by the preceptor, in which were duly stationed kings, each equal to Indra himself.
आरास्थानेषु विन्यस्ताः कुमारा: सूर्यवर्चसः। संघातो राजपुत्राणां सर्वेषामभवत् तदा॥
At the head of the array (entrance) were stationed all the princes of the effulgence of the sun. Then there was a veritable assembly of princes.
कृताभिसमयाः सर्वे सुवर्णविकृतध्वजाः। रक्ताम्बरधराः सर्वे सर्वे रक्तविभूषणाः॥
All of them sword to help one another, all owned standards decked with gold; all wore red raiment's and all were decorated with crimson ornaments.
सर्वे रक्तपताकाश्च सर्वे वै हेमालिनः । चन्दनागुरुदिग्घाङ्गाः स्रग्विणः सूक्ष्मवाससः॥
All of them possessed crimson flags, all had golden garlands; all were smeared with sandalpaste and other perfumed unguents and all of them wore floral garlands and fine attires.
सहिताः पर्यधावन्त कार्णिं प्रति युयुत्सवः। तेषां दश सहस्राणि बभूबुदृढधन्विनाम्॥
In a serried file, they rushed against Krishna's nephew. desirous of fighting with him. All of them firm bowmen, then numbered no less then ten thousand strong in all.
पौत्रं तव पुरस्कृत्य लक्ष्मणं प्रियदर्शनम्। अन्योन्यसमदुःखास्ते अन्योन्यसमसाहसाः॥
Placing at their head your handsome grandson Lakshmana, they proceeded to battle, resolved to share one another's grief, emulating one another in deeds of valour.
अन्योन्यं स्पर्धमानाच अन्योन्यस्य हिते रताः। दुर्योधनस्तु राजेन्द्र सैन्यमध्ये व्यवस्थितः॥
Striving to out view one another's and intent on one another's good. O foremost of kings, Duryodhana was stationed in the very centre of your troops.
कर्णदुःशासनकृपैर्वृतो राजा महारथैः। देवराजोपमः श्रीमाञ्छवेतच्छत्राभिसंवृतः॥
The king then was surrounded by such mighty warriors as Karna, Dushasana and Kripa, with a white umbrella held over his head, he appeared beautiful like the king of the celestials.
चाभरव्यजनाक्षेपैरुदयन्निव भास्करः। प्रमुखे तस्य सैन्यस्य द्रोणोऽवस्थितनायकः॥
Fanned by the moving yak-tails, he appeared like the sun himself. In the very van of those troops was stationed Drona the generalissimo of the Kuru hosts.
सिन्धुराजस्तथातिष्ठच्छीमान् मेरुरिवाचलः। सिन्धुरुजस्य पार्श्वस्था आश्वत्थामपुरोगमाः॥
There also was stationed the handsome ruler of the Sindhus, immovable like the mount Meru itself. By the side of the ruler of the Sindhus, headed Ashvatthaman.
सुतास्तव महाराज त्रिंशत्रिदशसंनिभाः। गान्धारराजः कितवः शल्यो भूरिश्रवास्तथा॥
Stood, O mighty monarch, your thirty sons, all resembling the celestials themselves. That gamester, the ruler of the Gandharas, Shalya and Bhurishravas.
पार्श्वत: सिन्धुराजस्य व्यराजन्त महारथाः। ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम्॥ तावकानां परेषां च मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्॥
These mighty car-warriors shone in the flank of the king of the Sindhus. Then raged a combat between your troops and those of the enemy, combat, that was fierce in the extreme and horripilating and in which the warriors regarded Death to be their goal.
सुतास्तव महाराज त्रिंशत्रिदशसंनिभाः। गान्धारराजः कितवः शल्यो भूरिश्रवास्तथा॥
Stood, O mighty monarch, your thirty sons, all resembling the celestials themselves. That gamester, the ruler of the Gandharas, Shalya and Bhurishravas.
पार्श्वत: सिन्धुराजस्य व्यराजन्त महारथाः। ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम्॥ तावकानां परेषां च मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्॥
These mighty car-warriors shone in the flank of the king of the Sindhus. Then raged a combat between your troops and those of the enemy, combat, that was fierce in the extreme and horripilating and in which the warriors regarded Death to be their goal.