चतुर्युजो रथाः सर्वे सर्वे चोत्तमवाजिनः । सप्रासऋष्टिकाः सर्वे सर्वे शतशरासनाः
All the chariots were four-wheeled, all drawn by excellent steeds, all equipped with spears and lances, all bearing bows with a hundred arrows.
धुर्ययोर्हकययोरेकस्तथान्यौ पर्ष्णिसारथी । तौ चापि रथिनां श्रेष्ठौ रथी च हयवित्तथा
On each chariot, one held the reins, another stood as the rear-guard charioteer; both were the best among charioteers, and the charioteer was also knowledgeable about horses.
नगराणीव गुप्तानि दुराधर्षाणि शत्रुभिः । आसन्रथसहस्राणि हेममालीनि सर्वशः
Like well-guarded cities, unassailable by enemies, there stood thousands of chariots, all adorned with golden garlands.
यथा रथास्तथा नागा बद्धकक्षाः स्वलङ्कृताः । बभूवुः सप्तपुरुषा रत्नवन्त इवाद्रयः
Just as with the chariots, so too the elephants, with fastened belts and splendidly decorated, stood seven men each, like mountains rich in gems.
द्वावङ्कुशधरौ तत्र द्वावुत्तमधनुर्धरौ । द्वौ वरासिधरौ राजन्नेकः शक्तिपिनाकधृत्
There, two bore goads, two were excellent bowmen, two wielded fine swords, and one held a spear and a bow.
गजैर्मत्तैः समाकीर्णं सर्वमायुधकोशकैः। तद्बभूव बलं राजन्कौरव्यस्य महात्मनः
The entire force of the great-souled Kaurava was filled with intoxicated elephants, equipped with all kinds of weapons and armories.
आमुक्तकवचैर्युक्तैः सपताकैः स्वलङ्कृतैः । सादिभिश्चोपपन्नास्तु तथा चायुतशो हयाः
With armor donned, adorned with banners and well-ornamented, and accompanied by riders, so too were the tens of thousands of horses prepared.
असङ्ग्राहाः सुसंपन्ना हेमभाण्डपरिच्छदाः। अनेकशतसाहस्राः सर्वे सादिवशे स्थिताः
Unrestrainable, well-equipped, with golden trappings and fittings, countless by the hundreds of thousands, all with riders in their proper places.
नानारूपविकाराश्च नानाकवचशस्त्रिणः । पदातिनो नरास्तत्र बभूवुर्हेममालिनः
There, foot soldiers of various forms and appearances, with diverse armor and weapons, stood adorned with golden garlands.
रथस्यासन्दश गजा गजस्य दश वाजिनः । नरा दश हयस्यासन्पादरक्षाः समन्ततः
For each chariot, there were ten elephants; for each elephant, ten horses; and for each horse, ten foot soldiers stationed all around as guards.
रथस्य नागाः पञ्चाशन्नागस्यासञ्शतं हयाः। हयस्य पुरुषाः सप्त भिन्नसन्धानकारिणः
For each chariot, fifty elephants; for each elephant, one hundred horses; for each horse, seven men skilled in repairing broken formations.
सेना पञ्चशतं नागा रथास्तावन्त एव च। दशसेना च पृतना पृतना दश वाहिनी
An army consists of five hundred elephants, and the same number of chariots; ten armies make a division, and ten divisions make a corps.
सेना च वाहिनी चैव पृतना ध्वजिनी चमूः । अक्षौहिणीति पर्यायैर्निरुक्ता च वरूथिनी
Army, corps, division, bannered host, and battalion—these are synonyms for a formation, which is also called an akshauhini.
एवं व्यूढान्यनीकानि कौरवेयेण धीमता। अक्षौहिण्यो दशैका च सङ्ख्याताः सप्त चैव ह
Thus, the wise Kaurava arranged the divisions; eleven akshauhinis were counted, and seven as well.
अक्षौहिण्यस्तु सप्तैव पाण्डवानामभूद्बलम् । अक्षौहिण्यो दशैका च कौरवाणामभूद्बलम्
The force of the Pandavas was seven akshauhinis; the force of the Kauravas was eleven akshauhinis.
नराणां पञ्चपञ्चाशदेषा पत्तिर्विधीयते। सेनामुखं च तिस्रस्ता गुल्म इत्यभिशब्दितम्
A company of infantry is prescribed as fifty-five men; three such companies form a battalion, which is called a 'gulma.'
त्रयो गुल्मा गणस्त्वासीद्गणास्त्वयुतशोऽभवन् । दुर्योधनस्य सेनासु योत्स्यमानाः प्रहारिणः
There were three divisions, and the troops were organized into groups of ten thousand each, ready to fight and skilled in battle, within Duryodhana's army.
तत्र दुर्योधनो राजा शूरान्बुद्धिमतो नरान्। प्रसमीक्ष्य महाबाहुश्चक्रे सेनापतींस्तदा
There, King Duryodhana, mighty-armed, after carefully considering the brave and intelligent men, appointed commanders for the army at that time.
पृथगक्षौहिणीनां च प्रणेतॄन्नरसत्तमान् । विधिवत्पूर्वमानीय पार्थिवानभ्यषेचयत्
He first brought forward, according to custom, the best of men as leaders of each separate division, and consecrated the kings as commanders.
कृपं द्रोणं च शल्यं च सैन्धवं च जयद्रथम् । सुदक्षिणं च काम्भोजं कृतवर्माणमेव च
Kripa, Drona, Shalya, the Sindhu king Jayadratha, Sudakshina the Kamboja, and Kritavarma as well—
द्रोणपुत्रं च कर्णं च भूरिश्रवसमेव च। शकुनिं सौबलं चैव बाह्लीकं च महाबलम्
Drona's son, Karna, Bhurishravas, Shakuni son of Subala, and the mighty Bahlika—
दिवसे दिवसे तेषां प्रतिवेलं च भारत। चक्रे स विविधाः पूजाः प्रत्यक्षं च पुनः पुनः
Day after day, and at every proper time, O Bharata, he performed various honors for them, repeatedly and openly.
तथा विनियताः सर्वे ये च तेषां पदानुगाः। बभूवुः सैनिका राज्ञां प्रियं राज्ञश्चिकीर्षवः
In this way, all those who were appointed, along with their followers, became soldiers devoted to the kings, eager to do what pleased the king.
ततः शान्तनवं भीष्मं प्राञ्जलिर्धृतराष्ट्रजः। सह सर्वैर्महीपालैरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, was addressed by Dhritarashtra's son, with joined palms, together with all the kings, with these words:
ऋते सेनाप्रणेतारं पृतना सुमहत्यपि । दीर्यते युद्धमासाद्य पिपीलिकपुटं यथा
Without a leader, even a great army breaks apart when battle is joined, just like an anthill is scattered.
नहि जातु द्वयोर्बुद्धिः समा भवति कर्हिचित् । शौर्यं च वलनेतॄणां स्पर्धते च परस्परम्
For never do two people have exactly the same understanding, and the courage of leaders always competes with one another.
श्रूयते च महाप्राज्ञ हैहयानमितौजसः । अभ्ययुर्ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे समुच्छ्रितकुशध्वजाः
It is told, O wise one, that all the Brahmanas, bearing tall kusa banners, once approached the mighty Haihayas.
तानभ्ययुस्तदा वैश्याः शूद्राश्चैव पितामह । एकतस्तु त्रयो वर्णा एकतः क्षत्रियर्षभाः
Then the Vaishyas and Shudras also approached them, O Grandsire, with three castes on one side and the Kshatriya bulls on the other.
ते स्म युद्धे प्रभज्यन्ते त्रयो वर्णाः पुनः पुनः । क्षत्रियाश्च जयन्त्येव बहुलं चैकतो बलम्
In battle, those three castes were repeatedly broken, while the Kshatriyas always prevailed, their strength united on one side.
ततस्ते क्षत्रियानेव पप्रच्छुर्द्विचसत्तमाः । तेभ्यः शशंसुर्धर्मज्ञा याथातथ्यं पितामह
Then those best of the twice-born questioned the Kshatriyas, and the righteous Kshatriyas told them the truth, O Grandsire.