Adhiyaye 1 (Part 3/8)
Gobind Gita Translation continued...
If you are new to this series, please read the preface & the previous sections here
After Vyas Muni blesses his disciple Sanjay with Divya-Drishti, Sanjay begins to narrate to King Dhritarashtra about the strength on both sides of the war.
Characters introduced in this section:
Dronacharya/Drona (Military Trainer to both Kaurav & Pandav; fought on Kaurav side), Durjodhan/Duryodhan (Eldest son of Raja Dhritrashtra; fought on the side of Kauravs), Dhrishtadyumna/Dhrishtdaman (Twin Brother of Draupadi, Son of Draupada [Panchala Kingdom]; Sainapati/Commander-in-Chief of Pandavs), Bheem (2nd eldest of 5 Pandav brothers; married to Draupadi; Military Strategist of Pandav), Arjun (3rd eldest of 5 Pandav Brothers; married to Draupadi; known for spiritual dialogue with Sri Krishna Ji); Bairaat/Virat (King of Virat Kingdom; fought on Pandav side).
ਧਿਤਰਾਸ਼ਟ੍ਰੋਵਾਚ ॥
Raja Dhhritraashtra's Bachans:
ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥ (Dohara)
ਰਾਜਾ ਐਸੇ ਭਾਖਿਹੈ ਸੁਨਹੋ ਸੰਜੈ ਮੀਤ ॥
The King spoke like this (Raajaa Aisae Bhaakhihai): Listen my friend Sanjay (Sunaho Sanjai Meeth)
ਮੇਰੇ ਸੁਤ ਅਰੁ ਪੰਡਕੇ ਤਿਨ ਅਬ ਕਿਆ ਕਿਛੁ ਕੀਤੁ ॥੨੧॥
My sons and the Pandav's (Mere Sut Ar[u] Pandkae), What are they doing now (Tin Ab Kiaa Kichh[u] Keet[u])?
ਸੰਜਿਓਵਾਚ ॥
Sanjay's Bachans:
ਚੌਪਈ ॥ (Chaupaee)
ਸੰਜੈ ਆਖੇ ਰਾਜਾ ਮਾਹਿ ॥
Sanjay says to the King (Sanjai Aakhae Raajaa Maah[i])
ਕਉਤਕ ਜੁਧ ਕਹੋ ਅਬ ਤਾਹਿ ॥
I will now tell you about (Kaho Ab Taah[i]) this wonderful war (Koutak Judhh; could be described in many ways like a great play which we get pleased in beholding )
ਸੈਨਾ ਦੋਊ ਦਲੋ ਕੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥
Both of the Armies are in battle-ready forces (Sainaa Douoo Dalo Kee Maah[i])
ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਕੀਈ ਕਹੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਹਿ ॥ ੨੨ ॥
What they do (Jo Kichh[u] Keeiee), I will tell and enlighten you on the subject (Kahon Pragataah[i])
ਸਾਤ ਖੂਹਣੀ ਪਾਂਡਵ ਕੀ ਗਨੀ ॥
7 regiments (Saat KhoohaNee; KhoohaNi refers to a specific military unit; 1 Khoohani = 21,870 Elephants, 21,870 Chariots, 65,610 Horses & 108,350 foot soldiers [total of 218,700 strong]; this is 7 times that amount [1,530,900 strong]) in the Count of Pandavs (Paandav Kee Ganee).
ਯਾਰਹ ਖੂਹਣੀ ਕੈਰਵ ਕੀ ਬਨੀ ॥
11 regiments (Yaaraha KhoohaNee; 2,405,700 strong) established to belong to the Kaurav's (Kairav Kee Banee)
ਜਬ ਦੁਰਜੋਧਨ ਸੈਨਾ ਦੇਖੀ ॥
When Duryodhan saw the army (Jab Durjodhhan Sainaa Dekhee)
ਫਉਜ ਪਾਂਡਵ ਕੀ ਨੀਕੀ ਪੇਖੀ ॥੨੩॥
The Forces of the Pandavs were seen as quite great (Fauj Paandav Kee Neekee Paekhee).
ਦੇਖ ਚਲੇ ਅਚਾਰਜ ਪਾਸ ॥
Looking at the Acharya Side (Daekh Chalae Achaaraj Paas; acharya refers to the title of a teacher... for example: Adi Shankarcharya; different uses for different traditions; here it refers to Dronacharya as he was the military teacher of these warriors)
ਦ੍ਰੋਣਾਚਾਰਜ ਮਹਾ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ॥
Dronacharya had a great glorious presence (Dronacharaj Mahaa Prakaash).
ਅਚਾਰਜ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਜਾਇ ਇਹ ਭਾਖਿਓ ॥
[Raja Dhhritirashtra:] Go close to Dronacharya (Achaaraj Nikit[i] Jaaei); this was said [to Sanjay] (Eih Bhaakhio; in a modern comparison, it's like viewing something through CCTV footage... the Raja is telling Sanjay to zoom in to see & hear certain details)
ਦੇਖ ਪਾਂਡਵ ਕਿਆ ਮੋਰਚਾ ਰਾਖਿਓ ॥੨੪॥
See what (Daekh... Kiaa) war preparations (Morcha; modern context we would describe a morcha akin to a military plan of action; traditionally secret hiding spots where soldiers hide and attack from are referred to as a morcha as per Mahaan Kosh) the Pandavs are keeping (Paandav... Raakhio)
ਤੁਮਰਾ ਸਿਖ ਮਹਾਂ ਬੁਧਵਾਨ ॥
Your disciple is very smart and sensible (Tumra Sikh Mahaa Budhhvaan; think this might be Raja speaking to Vyas Muni in praise of Sanjay's Abilities)
ਧ੍ਰਿਸਟਦੁਮਨ ਸੈਨਾਨੀ ਜਾਨ ॥
Understand Dhrishtduman to be the General (Dhhristduman Sainaanee Jaan; general of Pandav's)
ਤਿਨ ਐਸੀ ਪੰਗਤ ਸੁਭ ਕੀਨੀ ॥
He has such a (Tin Aisee) great gathering (Pangat Subh) established (Keenee)
ਅਪਨੇ ਦਲ ਕੀ ਸੋਭਾ ਲੀਨੀ ॥੨੫॥
It matches the glory (Sobhaa Leenee) of our forces (Apnae Dal Kee)
ਤਿਨ ਸੈਨਾ ਮੈ ਭਾਰੇ ਬੀਰ ॥
In their army (Tin Sainaa Mai), there are dangerous warriors (Bhaarae Beer; literally heavy warriors but Bhaarae should be understood as the quality of the warriors)
ਧਨਖ ਬਿਦਿਆ ਮੈਂ ਗੁਨੀ ਗਹੀਰ ॥
They are experts (Gunee Gaheer; deeply knowledgeable) on archery (Dhanakh Bidiaa Main)
ਭੀਮ ਅਰਜਨ ਅਰੁ ਬੈਰਾਟ ॥
Bheem, Arjun and Virat (Bheem Arjan Ar[u] Bairaat; Bheem & Arjun are Pandav brothers and Virat is an ally King)
ਜਿਨ ਸਭ ਦਲ ਕਾ ਠਟਿਓ ਠਾਟ ॥੨੬॥
All of Their Forces' (Jin Sabh Dal Ka; Dal, Fauj, etc words a lot of which are understood as army, daas is alternating the use of words that act as synonyms to army: in this case forces) glory has been explained (Tatio Taat: Tatio means to think about or engraining a thought but also created, TaaT means glory but also creation... the Pandav Force has been described completely but even if we were to look at this as all Maharaj's Play then they have created the creation of this army as well!)
–
Maaf Karna for all mistakes, please do Direct Message Daas on IG for any corrections. Especially with corrections for the Gurmukhi, daas uses Google OCR to scan the original PDF. In the next part, the Kaurav forces will be described in depth.
~Aaeenaa
