यः स वात इवोद्भूतः समरे दुःसहः परैः। स नः पुरो योत्सयते वै भीमः प्रहरतां वरः
This formation, which rises like the wind and is unbearable for the enemy in battle, will be led at the front by Bhīma, the foremost of fighters.
तेजांसि रिपुसैन्यानां मृद्गन्पुरुषसत्तमः। अग्नेऽग्रणीर्योत्स्यति नो युद्धोपायविचक्षणः
The mighty Bhīma, crusher of enemy forces, will fight at the front for us, like Agni himself, skilled in the arts of war.
यं दृष्ट्वा कुरवः सर्वे दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः। निवर्तिष्यन्ति संत्रस्ताः सिंहं क्षुद्रमृगा यथा
Seeing him, all the Kurus, with Duryodhana at their head, will turn back in fear, just as small animals flee from a lion.
तं सर्वे संश्रयिष्यामः प्राकारमकुतोभयाः । भीमं प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठं देवाराजमिवामराः
We shall all take refuge in him, our unassailable rampart—Bhīma, best among warriors—just as the gods rely on their king.
न हि सोऽस्ति पुमाँल्लोके यः संक्रुद्धं वृकोदरम्। द्रष्टुमत्युग्रकर्माणं विषहेत नरर्षभम्
For there is no man in this world who, seeing the enraged Vṛkodara, fierce in action and a bull among men, could withstand him.
भीमसेनो गदां बिभ्रद्वज्रसारमयीं दृढाम् । चरन्वेगेन महता समुद्रमपि शोषयेत्
Bhīmasena, wielding his mighty, adamantine mace, could, with his great speed, even dry up the ocean.
भीमसेनं तदा राजन्दर्शयस्व महाबलम् । केकया धृष्टकेतुश्च चेकितानश्च वीर्यवान्
O King, display mighty Bhīmasena there; let Kekaya, Dhṛṣṭaketu, and the valiant Cekitāna be shown as well.
एते गच्छन्तु सामात्याः प्रकर्षन्तो जनाधिप । धृतराष्ट्रस्य दायादानिति बीभत्सुरब्रवीत्
Let these kings, with their ministers, advance, drawing forth the heirs of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—so spoke Bhīmasena.
ब्रुवाणं तु तथा पार्थं सर्वसैन्यानि भारत । अपूजयंस्तदा वाग्भिरनुकूलाभिराहवे
As Pārtha spoke thus, O Bhārata, all the armies honored him with words of praise suited to the battlefield.
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुस्तथा चक्रे धनञ्जयः। व्यूह्य तानि बलान्याशु प्रययौ फल्गुनस्तथा
Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed Dhanañjaya arranged the forces accordingly and swiftly set out, as did Phalguna.
संप्रयातान्कुरून्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डंवानां महाचमूः। गङ्गेव पूर्णा स्तिमिता स्पन्दमाना व्यदृश्यत
Seeing the Kuru forces advancing, the great army of the Pāṇḍavas appeared like the full, still, yet surging Ganges.
भीमसेनोऽग्रणीस्तेषां धृष्टद्युम्नश्च वीर्यवान् । नकुलः सहदेवश्च धृष्टकेतुश्च पार्थिवः
Bhīmasena led them, along with the valiant Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Nakula, Sahadeva, and King Dhṛṣṭaketu.
विराटश्च ततः पश्चाद्राजाथाक्षौहिणीवृतः । भ्रातृभिः सह पुत्रैश्च सोऽभ्यरक्षत पृष्ठतः
Then King Virāṭa, surrounded by his division, protected the rear, together with his brothers and sons.
चक्ररक्षौ तु भीमस्य माद्रीपुत्रौ महाद्युती। द्रौपदेयाः ससौभद्राः पृष्ठगोपास्तरस्विनः
The sons of Mādrī, resplendent, guarded Bhīma's flanks; the sons of Draupadī, with Saubhadra, swiftly protected the rear.
धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पाञ्चाल्यस्तेषां गोप्ता महारथः । सहितः पृतनाशूरैः रथमुख्यैः प्रभद्रकैः
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Drupada, that great chariot-warrior, was the protector of those troops, accompanied by valiant warriors, foremost among charioteers, and the distinguished Prabhadrakas.
शिखण्डी तु ततः पश्चादर्जुनेनाभिरक्षितः। यत्तो भीष्मविनाशाय प्रययौ भरतर्षभ
Then Śikhaṇḍin, protected by Arjuna, advanced with determination, O bull among the Bharatas, intent on the destruction of Bhīṣma.
पृष्ठतोऽप्यर्जुनस्यासीद्युयुधानो महाबलः । चक्ररक्षौ तु पाञ्चाल्यौ युधामन्यूत्तमोजसौ
Behind Arjuna stood Yuyudhāna of great strength; and the two Pāñcālas, Yudhāmanyu and Uttamaujas, guarded the wheels of his chariot.
राजा तु मध्यमानीके कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । बृहद्भीः कुञ्जरैर्मत्तैश्चलद्भिरचलैरिव
In the center of the formation was King Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī, surrounded by mighty elephants, moving and roaring like mountains.
अक्षौहिण्याथ पाञ्चाल्यो यज्ञसेनो महामनाः । विराटमन्वयात्पश्चात्पाण्डवार्थं पराक्रमी
Then the noble-minded Pāñcāla, Yajñasena, with his division, followed the valiant Virāṭa from behind, striving for the cause of the Pāṇḍavas.
तेषामादित्यचन्द्राभाः कनकोत्तमभूषणाः । नानाचिह्नधरा राजन्रथेष्वासन्महाध्वजाः
Among them, O King, were great banners on the chariots, shining like the sun and moon, adorned with the finest gold and bearing various emblems.
समुत्सार्य ततः पश्चाद्धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथः । भ्रातृभिः सहपुत्रैश्च सोऽभ्यरक्षद्युधिष्ठिरम्
Then the great chariot-warrior Dhṛṣṭadyumna, having cleared the way, protected Yudhiṣṭhira in battle, together with his brothers and sons.
त्वदीयानां परेषां च रथेषु विपुलान्ध्वजान्। अभिभूयार्जुनस्यैको रथे तस्थौ महाकपिः
Among the chariots of your side and the enemy's, with their great banners, the mighty monkey emblem alone stood on Arjuna's chariot.
पदातास्त्वग्रतोऽगच्छन्नसिशक्त्यृष्टिपाणयः। अनेकशतसाहस्रा भीमसेनस्य रक्षिणः
Infantrymen, bearing swords, spears, and lances, numbering in their hundreds of thousands, marched in front as the protectors of Bhīmasena.
वारणा दशसाहस्राः प्रभिन्नकरटामुखाः । शूरा हेममयैर्जालैर्दीप्यमाना इवाचलाः
Ten thousand elephants, with broken and gaping mouths, brave and shining with golden nets, stood like blazing mountains.
क्षरन्त इव जीमूता महार्हाः पद्मगन्धिनः। राजानमन्वयुः यश्चाज्जीमूता इव वार्षिकाः
Magnificent elephants, fragrant with lotus scent, moved like rain clouds, pouring forth, following the king as clouds follow in the rainy season.
भीमसेनो गदां भीमां प्रकर्षन्परिघोपमाम्। प्रचकर्ष महासैन्यं दुराधर्षो महामनाः
Bhīmasena, irresistible and great-minded, wielded his terrible mace, resembling an iron club, and drove forward the great army.
तमर्कमिव दुष्प्रेक्ष्यं तपन्तमिव वाहिनीम् । न शेकुः सर्वयोधास्ते प्रतिवीक्षितुमन्तिके
Like the sun, difficult to gaze upon, scorching the army, none of the warriors could bear to look directly at him from nearby.
वज्रो नामैष स व्यूहो निर्भयः सर्वतोमुखः। चापविद्युद्ध्वजो घोरो गुप्तो गाण्डीवधन्वना
This formation is called 'Vajra,' invincible, facing all directions without fear, with a banner like a lightning bolt, terrible, and protected by the wielder of Gāṇḍīva.
यं प्रतिव्यूहय् तिष्ठन्ति पाण्डवास्तव वाहिनीम् । अजेयो मानुषे लोके पाण्डवैरभिरक्षितः
Against this formation, whether your army or the Pāṇḍavas array themselves, it is unconquerable in the world of men, being guarded by the Pāṇḍavas.
संध्यां तिष्ठत्सु सैन्येषु सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति। प्रववौ पृष्ठतो वायुर्निरभ्रे स्तनयित्नुमान्
While the armies stood at dusk, facing the sunrise, a thunderous wind blew from behind, though the sky was clear.