केतुमानपि मातङ्गं विचित्रपरमाङ्कुशम्। आस्थितः समरे राजन्मेघस्थ इव भानुमान्
Ketumat, too, mounted a mighty elephant with a splendid, decorated goad, appearing in battle like the sun amid clouds.
तेजसा दीप्यमानस्तु वारणोत्तममास्थितः । भगदत्तो ययौ राजा यथा वज्रधरस्तथा
Radiant with energy, King Bhagadatta mounted his supreme elephant and advanced like the wielder of the thunderbolt.
गजस्कन्धगतावास्तां भगदत्तेन संमितौ । विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ केतुमन्तमनुव्रतौ
Vindya and Anuvindya of Avanti, devoted to Ketumat, rode on elephants alongside Bhagadatta.
स रथानीकवान्व्यूहो हस्त्यङ्गो नृपशीर्षवान् । वाजिपक्षः पतत्युग्रः प्रहसन्सर्वतोमुखः
That formation, with a front of chariots, an elephant body, a kingly head, and wings of cavalry, moved fiercely, roaring on all sides.
द्रोणेन विहितो राजन्राज्ञा शान्तनवेन च। तथैवाचार्यपुत्रेण बाह्लीकेन कृपेम च
This array was arranged, O King, by Drona, by King Bhishma, by the teacher's son, by the Bahlika, and by Kripa.
ततो मुहूर्तात्तुमुलः शब्दो हृदयकम्पनः। अश्रूयत महाराज योधानां प्रयुयुत्सताम्
Then, after a moment, a tumultuous and heart-shaking sound was heard, O King, from the warriors eager for battle.
शङ्खदुन्दुभिघोषैश्च वारणानां च बृंहितैः । नोमिघोषै रथानां च दीर्यतीव वसुन्धरा
With the blaring of conches and drums, the trumpeting of elephants, and the roaring of chariots, the earth seemed to split apart.
हयानां हेषमाणानां योधानां चैव गर्जताम्। क्षणेनैव नभो भूमिः शब्देनापूरितं तदा
With the neighing of horses and the shouting of warriors, in an instant, both sky and earth were filled with sound.
पुत्राणां तव दुर्धर्ष पाण्डवानां तथैव च । समकम्पन्त सैन्यानि परस्परसमागमे
O indomitable one, the armies of your sons and likewise of the Pandavas trembled as they came together face to face.
तत्र नागा रथाश्चैव जाम्बूनदविभूषिताः । भ्राजमाना व्यदृश्यन्त मेघा इव सविद्युतः
There, elephants and chariots adorned with gold shone brilliantly, appearing like clouds with lightning.
ध्वजा बहुविधाकारास्तावकानां नराधिप । काञ्चनाङ्गदिनो रेजुर्ज्वलिता इव पावकाः
The banners of your warriors, O king, of many shapes, with golden armlets, gleamed as if they were blazing fires.
स्वेषां चैव परेषां च समदृश्यन्त भारत। महेन्द्रकेतवः शुभ्रा महेन्द्रसदनेष्विव
Both among their own and the enemy's ranks, O Bharata, splendid standards were seen, like those in the palace of Indra.
काञ्चनैः कवचैर्वीरा ज्वलनार्कसमप्रभैः। सन्नद्धाः समदृश्यन्त ज्वलनार्कसमप्रभाः
Heroes clad in golden armor, radiant like fire and the sun, were seen shining with that same brilliance.
कुरुयोधवरा राजन्विचित्रायुधकार्मुकाः । उद्यतैरायुथैश्चित्रैस्तलबद्धाः पताकिनः
The foremost Kuru warriors, O king, with diverse weapons and bows, raised their arms, adorned with banners and shields.
ऋषभाक्षा महेष्वासाश्चमूमुखगता बभुः । पृष्ठगोपास्तु भीष्मस्य पुत्रास्तव नराधिप । दुःशासनो दुर्विषहो दुर्मुखो दुःसहस्तथा
With bull-like eyes and mighty bows, they stood at the front of the divisions; behind Bhishma were your sons, O king: Duhshasana, Durvishaha, Durmukha, and Duhsaha.
विविंशतिश्चित्रसेनो विकर्णश्च महारथः । सत्यव्रतः पुरुमित्रो जयो भूरिश्रवाः शलः
Vivinshati, Citrasena, the great charioteer Vikarna, Satyavrata, Purumitra, Jay, Bhurishrava, and Shala.
रथा विंशतिसाहस्रास्तथैषामनुयायिनः। अभीषाहाः शूरसेनाः शिबयोऽथ वसातयः
Twenty thousand chariots followed them, fearless warriors: Shurasenas, Shibis, and Vasatas.
शाल्वा मत्स्यास्तथाम्बष्ठास्त्रैगर्ताः केकयास्तथा। सौवीराः कैतवाः प्राच्याः प्रतीच्येदीच्यवासिनः
Shalvas, Matsyas, Ambasthas, Trigartas, Kekayas, Sauviras, Kaitavas, those from the east, west, and north.
द्वादशैते जनपदाः सर्वे शूरास्तनुत्यजः । महता रथवंशेन ते ररक्षुः पितामहम्
These twelve peoples, all valiant and steadfast, with a great lineage of chariots, protected the grandsire.
अनीकं दशसाहस्रं कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम् । मागधो यत्र नृपतिस्तद्रथानीकमन्वयात्
A division of ten thousand swift elephants, where the king of Magadha was, followed that chariot division.
रथानां चक्ररक्षाश्च पादरक्षाश्च दन्तिनाम्। अभवन्वाहिनीमध्ये शतानामयुतानि षट्
The wheel-guards of chariots, foot-guards of elephants, were in the midst of the army, numbering six hundred thousand.
पादाताश्चाग्रतो गच्छन्धनुश्चर्मासिपाणयः । अनेकशतसाहस्रा नखरप्रासयोधिनः
Infantry advanced at the front, holding bows, shields, and swords; countless thousands fought with nails and spears.
अक्षौहिण्यो दशैका च तव पुत्रस्य भारत। अदृश्यत महाराज गङ्गेव यमुनान्तरा
Eleven divisions of your son, O Bharata, were seen, O king, like the Ganges with the Yamuna between them.
अर्क्षांहिणीं दशैकां च व्यूढां दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरः। कथमल्पेन सैन्येन प्रत्यव्यूहत पाण्डवः
Seeing eleven divisions arrayed, Yudhishthira wondered how the Pandava could oppose them with his small army.
यो वेद मानुषं व्यूहं दैवं गान्धर्वमासुरम् । कथं भीष्मं स कौन्तेयः प्रत्ययूहत सञ्जय
He who knows the human, divine, Gandharva, and Asura formations—how did that son of Kunti array his forces against Bhishma, O Sanjaya?
धार्तराष्ट्राण्यनीकानि दृष्ट्वा व्यूढानि पाण्डवः। अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा धर्मराजो धनञ्जयम्
Seeing the divisions of the Dhartarashtras arrayed, the righteous king, Dharma-raja, addressed Dhananjaya.
महर्षेर्वचनात्तात वेदयन्ति बृहस्पतेः । संहतान्योधयेदल्पान्कामं विस्तारयेद्बहून्
O dear one, following the words of the great sage Bṛhaspati: unite your forces to attack the few, and, if you wish, spread out against the many.
सूचीमुखमनीकं स्यादल्पानां बहुभिः सह। अस्माकं च तथा सैन्यमल्पीयः सुतरां परैः
The formation for the few should be needle-pointed, facing the many; and so too should our smaller army be arranged, especially against the larger enemy.
एतद्वचनमाज्ञाय महर्षेर्व्यूह पाण्डव । एतच्छ्रुत्वा धर्मराजं प्रत्यभाषत पाण्डवः
Hearing this instruction from the great sage, O Pāṇḍava, arrange the troops; having listened, Dharmarāja spoke to the Pāṇḍava.
एष व्यूहामि ते व्यूहं राजसत्तम दुर्जयम्। अचलं नाम वज्राख्यं विहितं वज्रपाणिना
O best of kings, I will array for you this unconquerable formation, called the 'Immovable' or 'Diamond', established by the wielder of the thunderbolt.