The Bhagavadgîtâ, with the Sanatsugâtîya and the Anugîtâ — SBE Vol. 8 (trans. K. T. Telang, 1882)
The translator’s English as printed (K. T. Telang). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
Draupadi—all masters of great cars. And now, O best of Brâhmaṇas! learn who are most distinguished among us, and are leaders of my army. I will name them to you, in order that you may know them well. Yourself, and Bhishma, and Karṇa, and Kṛipa the victor of (many) battles; Asvattháman, and Vikarṇa, and also the son of Somadatta, and many other brave men, who have given up their lives for me, who fight with various weapons, (and are) all dexterous in battle. Thus our army which is protected by Bhishma is unlimited; while this army of theirs which is protected by Bhima is very limited. And therefore do ye all, occupying respectively the positions* assigned to you, protect Bhishma* only.’
Then his powerful grandsire, Bhishma, the oldest of the Kauravas, roaring aloud like a lion, blew his conch, (thereby) affording delight to Duryodhana. And then all at once, conchs, and kettledrums, and tabors, and trumpets were played upon; and there was a tumultuous din. Then, too, Madhava and the son of Pâṇḍu (Arguna), seated in a grand chariot to which white steeds were yoked, blew their heavenly conchs. Hṛishîkesa* blew the Pâñkagañya#, and Dhanañgaya the Devadatta, and Bhima, (the doer) of fearful deeds, blew the great conch Pauṇḍra. King Yudhishṭhira, the son of Kunti*, blew the Anantavigaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva (respectively) the Sughosha and Maṇipushpaka.. And the king of Kâsi, too, who has an excellent bow, and Śikhaṇḍin, the master of a great car, and Dhṛishṭadyumna, Virâṭa, and the unconquered Satyaki, and Drupada, and the sons of Draupadi, and the son of Subhadra, of mighty arms, blew conchs severally from all sides, O king of the earth! That tumultuous din rent the hearts of all (the people) of Dhṛitarâshṭra's (party), causing reverberations throughout heaven and earth. Then seeing (the people of) Dhṛitarâshṭra’s party regularly marshalled, the son of Pandu, whose standard is the ape, raised his bow*, after the discharge of missiles had commenced, and O king of the earth! spake these words to Hṛishikeśa: ‘O undegraded one! station my chariot between the two armies, while I observe those, who stand here desirous to engage in battle, and with whom, in the labours of this struggle, I must do battle. I will observe those who are assembled here and who are about to engage in battle, wishing to do service in battle 2 to the evil-minded son of Dhṛitarâshṭra.’
* The original word means, according to Sridhara, ‘the ways of entrance into a Vyûha or phalanx.’
* Who, as generalissimo, remained in the centre of the army.
* Literally, according to the commentators, ‘lord of the senses of perception.’
* Schlegel renders the names of these conchs by Gigantea, Theodotes, Arundinea, Triumphatrix, Dulcisona, and Gemmiflorea respectively. * So called, par excellence, apparently.
Draupadi—all masters of great cars. And now, O best of Brâhmaṇas! learn who are most distinguished among us, and are leaders of my army. I will name them to you, so that you may know them well. Yourself, and Bhishma, and Karṇa, and Kṛipa the victor of many battles; Asvattháman, and Vikarṇa, and also the son of Somadatta, and many other brave men, who have given up their lives for me, who fight with various weapons, and are all dexterous in battle. Thus our army, protected by Bhishma, is unlimited; while this army of theirs, protected by Bhima, is very limited. And therefore do ye all, each holding the position assigned to you, protect Bhishma only.'
Then his powerful grandsire Bhishma, oldest of the Kauravas, roared like a lion and blew his conch, filling Duryodhana with joy. At once, conchs, kettledrums, tabors, and trumpets all sounded together, and the noise was tumultuous. Then Madhava and the son of Pâṇḍu, Arjuna, seated in a grand chariot drawn by white steeds, blew their heavenly conchs. Hṛishikeśa blew the Pâñcaganya, and Dhanañjaya the Devadatta, and Bhima, doer of fearful deeds, blew the great conch Pauṇḍra. King Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva the Sughosha and Maṇipushpaka respectively. And the king of Kâsi, too, who carries an excellent bow, and Śikhaṇḍin, master of a great car, and Dhṛishṭadyumna, Virâṭa, and the unconquered Satyaki, and Drupada, and the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra — all blew their conchs from every side, O king of the earth! That tumultuous din rent the hearts of all in Dhṛitarâshṭra's party, and its reverberations filled heaven and earth. Then, seeing Dhṛitarâshṭra's party drawn up in regular order, and after the discharge of missiles had begun, the son of Pâṇḍu, whose standard bears the ape, raised his bow; and O king of the earth! he spoke these words to Hṛishikeśa: 'O undegraded one, draw my chariot up between the two armies, so that I may observe those who stand here eager to give battle — those with whom I must contend in the labours of this struggle. I will look upon those who have assembled here, ready to fight, wishing to render service in battle 2 to the evil-minded son of Dhṛitarâshṭra.'
* The original word means, according to Sridhara, 'the ways of entrance into a Vyûha or phalanx.'
* Who, as generalissimo, remained in the centre of the army.
* Literally, according to the commentators, 'lord of the senses of perception.'
* Schlegel renders the names of these conchs as Gigantea, Theodotes, Arundinea, Triumphatrix, Dulcisona, and Gemmiflorea respectively. * So called, apparently, par excellence.