संजय उवाच कर्णस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। सेनामध्यगतं द्रोणमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Sanjaya said Thereupon having listened to the words of Karna, king Duryodhana thus addressed Drona who was standing in the midst of the soldiers.
दुर्योधन उवाच वर्णश्रेष्ठ्यात् कुलोत्पत्त्या श्रुतेन वयसा धिया। वीर्याद् दाक्ष्यादधृष्यत्वादर्थज्ञानान्नयाज्जयात्॥ तपसा च कृतज्ञत्वाद् वृद्धः सर्वगुणैरपि। युक्तो भवत्समो गोप्ता राज्ञामन्यो न विद्यते॥ स भवान् पातु नः सर्वान् देवानिव शतक्रतुः। भवन्नेत्राः पराञ्जेतुमिच्छामो द्विजसत्तम॥
Duryodhana said Amongst all this numerous host of kings, there is none who can be as good a protector as you, owing to the superiority of the order to which you belong, to the nobility of your birth, to your knowledge of the Shastras, your age, your intelligence, prowess, skillfulness, invincibility, perfect acquaintance with worldly matters, moral purity, self-control, asceticism, seniority and gratefulness, as also owing to your being endued with all desirable qualities. Like Indra protecting the celestials, do you protect ourselves, O foremost of the twice born ones, being led by yourself, we desire to obtain victory over our enemies.
रुद्राणामिव कापाली वसूनामिव पावकः। कुबेर इव यक्षाणां मरुतामिव वासवः॥ वसिष्ठ इव विप्राणां तेजसामिव भास्करः। पितृणामिव धर्मेन्द्रो यादसामिव चाम्बुराट्। ६॥ नक्षत्राणामिव शशी दितिजानामिवोशनाः। श्रेष्ठः सेनाप्रणेतृणां स नः सेनापतिर्भव॥
Like Kapala amongst the Rudras; like Pavaka amongst the Vasus; like Kuvera amongst the Yakshas; like Vasava amongst the Marutas; like Vasistha amongst the Vipras, like Bhaskara (sun) amongst the lustrous bodies, like Yama amongst the Pitris, like Varuna amongst the creatures of the waters; like the moon amongst the stars, like Usanas amongst the sons of Diti, you are the foremost amongst all commanders of armies; therefore be you our leader.
अक्षौहिण्यो दशैका च वशगाः सन्तुतेऽनघ। ताभिः शत्रून् प्रतिव्यूह्य जहीन्द्रो दानवानिव॥
Like Indra slaying the Danavas, do you slay our enemies, O sinless one, by arranging in battle-array this eleven Akshauhini of soldiers which will be placed under your complete disposal.
प्रयातु नो भवानग्रे देवानामिव पावकिः। अनुयास्यामहे त्वाजौ सौरभेया इवर्षभम्॥
Like the son of Pavaka proceeding before the celestials, do you proceed at the head of this our army; we will follow you in battle like a heard of bulls following the leader.
उग्रधन्वामहेष्वासो दिव्यं विस्फारयन् धनुः। अग्रेभवं त्वां तु दृष्ट्वा नार्जुन: प्रहरिष्यति॥
That fierce bowman, that mighty champion, : Arjuna, stretching his celestial bow, will not strike us seeing you go before us.
ध्रुवं युधिष्ठिरं संख्ये सानुबन्धं सबान्धवम्। जेष्यामि पुरुषव्याघ्र भवान् सेनापतिर्यदि॥
O foremost of men, if you accept our leadership, then I am sure to conquer in battle Yudhishthira with all his friends and followers.
संजय उवाच एवमुक्ते ततो द्रोर्ण जयेत्यूचुनराधिपाः। सिंहनादेन महता हर्षयन्तस्तवात्मजम्॥
Sanjaya said When Duryodhana had finished his address, the kings, imparting great delight to your sons by their loud defiant shouts, exclaimed Victory to Drona.
सैनिकाच मुदा युक्ता वर्धयन्ति द्विजोत्तमम्। दुर्योधनं पुरस्कृत्य प्रार्थयन्तो महद् यशः। दुर्योधनं ततो राजन् द्रोणो वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Then the soldiers also filled with delight and desirous of earning fame, began to extol that foremost of regenerate ones, with Duryodhana at their head. Thereupon, O monarch, Drona spoke these words of Duryodhana.