Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume VIII.djvu/43

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

BHAGAVADGÎTÂ
________

Chapter I.
said:

What did my (people) and the Pândavas do, O Sañgaya! when they assembled together on the holy field of Kurukshetra, desirous to do battle?

said:

Seeing the army of the drawn up in battle-array[1], the prince Duryodhana approached the preceptor, and spoke (these) words: 'O preceptor! observe this grand army of the sons of , drawn up in battle-array by your talented pupil, the son of Drupada. In it are heroes (bearing) large bows, the equals of Bhîma and Arguna in battle—(namely), Yuyudhâna, Virâta, and Drupada, the master of a great car[2], and , Kekitâna, and the valiant king of Kâsî, Purugit and Kuntibhoga, and that eminent man Saibya; the heroic Yudhâmanyu, the valiant Uttamaugas, the son of Subhadrâ, and the sons of Draupadî—all masters of great cars. And now, O best of Brâhmanas!


  1. Several of these modes of array are described in Manu VII, 187, like a staff, like a wain, like a boar, &c. That of the , here referred to, appears to have been like the thunderbolt, as to which see Manu VII, 191.
  2. This is a literal rendering; the technical meaning is 'a warrior proficient in military science, who can fight single-handed a thousand archers.'