Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 7.5
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7.5.1
रथस्थं पुरुषव्याघ्रं दृष्टा कर्णमवस्थितम् ।
हृष्टो दुर्योधनो राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ ७.५.१ ॥
O king, seeing Karṇa, the tiger among men, standing in his chariot, the delighted Duryodhana spoke these words.
7.5.2
सनाथमिव मन्येऽहं भवता पालितं बलम् ।
अत्र किं नु समर्थं यद्धितं तत्सम्प्रधार्यताम् ॥ ७.५.२ ॥
I think this army, protected by you, is as though it had a lord. Now let us carefully consider what here is capable and beneficial.
7.5.3
ब्रूहि नः पुरुषव्याघ्र त्वं हि प्राज्ञतमो नृषु ।
यथा चार्थपतिः कृत्यं पश्यते न तथेतरः ॥ ७.५.३ ॥
Tell us, tiger among men, for you are the wisest of men. As the master of an affair sees what must be done, another does not see it so.
7.5.4
ते स्म सर्वे तव वचः श्रोतुकामा नरेश्वर ।
नान्याय्यं हि भवान्वाक्यं ब्रूयादिति मतिर्मम ॥ ७.५.४ ॥
O lord of men, we all desire to hear your words. It is my opinion that you would not speak an improper word.
7.5.5
भीष्मः सेनाप्रणेताऽऽसीद्वयसा विक्रमेण च ।
श्रुतेन चोपसम्पन्नः सर्वैर्योधगणैस्तथा ॥ ७.५.५ ॥
Bhīṣma was the leader of the army, endowed by age and valour, and by learning, and likewise with all the qualities of the groups of warriors.
7.5.6
तेनातियशसा कर्ण घ्नता शत्रुगणान्मम ।
सुयुद्धेन दशाहानि पालिताः स्मो महात्मना ॥ ७.५.६ ॥
O Karṇa, by that man of great fame, slaying the hosts of my enemies, we were protected for ten days by his excellent fighting, the great-souled one.
7.5.7
तस्मिन्नसुकरं कर्म कृतवत्यास्थिते दिवम् ।
कं तु सेनाप्रणेतारं मन्यसे तदनन्तरम् ॥ ७.५.७ ॥
Having performed that difficult deed, he has gone to heaven. Whom, then, do you consider the leader of the army after him?
7.5.8
न विना नायकं सेना मुहूर्तमपि तिष्ठति ।
आहवेषु विशेषेण भ्रष्टनेत्रेष्विवाञ्जनम्।
आहवेष्वाहवश्रेष्ठ नेतृहीनेव नौर्जले ॥ ७.५.८ ॥
Without a leader an army does not stand even for a moment, especially in battles, like collyrium for those who have lost their eyes. O best of warriors, an army without a leader is like a boat without a guide upon the water.
7.5.9
यथा ह्यकर्णधारा नौ रथश्चासारथिर्यथा ।
द्रवेद्यथेष्टं तद्वत्स्यादृते सेनापतिं बलम् ॥ ७.५.९ ॥
Just as a boat without a helmsman, or a chariot without a charioteer, runs wherever it pleases, so would an army be without its commander.
7.5.10
अदेशिको यथा सार्थः सर्वः कृच्छ्रं समृच्छति ।
अनायका तथा सेना सर्वान्दोषान्समर्च्छति ॥ ७.५.१० ॥
As a caravan without a guide meets with every kind of hardship, so an army without a leader meets with all faults.
7.5.11
स भावन्वीक्ष्य सर्वेषु मामकेषु महात्मसु ।
पश्य सेनापतिं युक्तमनु शान्तनवादिह ॥ ७.५.११ ॥
Considering all my great-souled kinsmen, look here for the man fit to lead the army after Śāntanu's son.
7.5.12
यं हि सेनाप्रमेतारं भवान्वक्ष्यति संयुगे ।
तं वयं सहिताः सर्वे करिष्यामो न संशयः। ॥ ७.५.१२ ॥
Whomever you name as leader of the army in battle, we all together will make him so; there is no doubt.
7.5.13
सर्व एव महात्मान इमे पुरुषसत्तमाः ।
सेनापतित्वमर्हन्ति नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ ७.५.१३ ॥
All these great-souled best of men are worthy of the office of commander; there is no need to deliberate on this.
7.5.14
कुलसंहननज्ञानैर्बलविक्रमबुद्धिभिः ।
युक्ताः श्रुतज्ञा धीमन्त आहवेष्वनिवर्तिनः ॥ ७.५.१४ ॥
Endowed with noble lineage, physical stature, knowledge, strength, valour and intellect, learned in the sacred lore, wise, and never turning back in battle.
7.5.15
युगपन्न तु ते शक्याः कर्तुं सर्वे पुरःसराः ।
एक एव तु कर्तव्यो यस्मिन्वैशेषिका गुणाः ॥ ७.५.१५ ॥
It is not possible to make all of them leaders at once; only one should be appointed, the one in whom the distinctive qualities lie.
7.5.16
अन्योन्यस्पर्धिनां ह्येषां यद्येकं त्वं करिष्यसि ।
शेषा विमनसो व्यक्तं न योत्स्यन्ति हितास्तव ॥ ७.५.१६ ॥
If you appoint one of these, the rest, rivals of one another, will surely become despondent and will not fight wholeheartedly, even though they are your well-wishers.
7.5.17
अयं च सर्वयोधानामाचार्यः स्थिवरो गुरुः ।
युक्तः सेनापतिः कर्तुं द्रोणः शस्त्रभृतां वरः ॥ ७.५.१७ ॥
This Droṇa, the teacher of all warriors, the aged preceptor, the best of weapon-bearers, is fit to be made commander.
7.5.18
को हि तिष्ठति दुर्धर्षे द्रोणे शस्त्रभृतां वरे ।
सेनापतिःस्यादन्योस्माच्छुक्राङ्गिरसदर्शनात् ॥ ७.५.१८ ॥
Who could stand before the unassailable Droṇa, the best of weapon-bearers? Who else could be commander other than him, who has the insight of Śukra and Aṅgiras?
7.5.19
न च सोऽप्यस्ति ते योधः सर्वराजसु भारत ।
द्रोणं यः समरे यान्तमनुयास्यति संयुगे ॥ ७.५.१९ ॥
And there is no warrior of yours among all the kings, O Bhārata, who could follow Droṇa as he goes into battle.
7.5.20
एष सेनाप्रणेतॄणामेष शस्त्रभृतामपि ।
एष बुद्धिमतां चैव श्रेष्ठो राजन्गुरुस्तव ॥ ७.५.२० ॥
He is the best among commanders of armies, among bearers of weapons, and among the wise as well. O king, he is your teacher.
7.5.21
एवं दुर्योधनाचार्यमाशु सेनापतिं कुरु ।
जिगीषन्तो सुरान्सङ्ख्ये कार्तिकेयमिवामराः ॥ ७.५.२१ ॥
Thus, quickly make Duryodhana's teacher commander of the army, as the immortals, desiring to conquer the gods in battle, made Kārttikeya their commander.