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.
विष्वग्वाताश्च विववुर्नीचैः शर्करकर्षिणः । रजश्चोद्धूयत महत्तम आच्छादयञ्जगत्
Winds blew everywhere, low and carrying gravel, and a great dust was raised, covering the world in darkness.
पपात महती चोल्का प्राङ्भुखी भरतर्षभ । उद्यन्तं सूर्यमाहत्य व्यशीर्यत महास्वना
A great meteor, blazing eastward, fell, O bull among the Bharatas, striking the rising sun and shattering with a mighty sound.
अथ संनह्यमानेषु सैन्येषु भरतर्षभ । निष्प्रभोऽभ्युद्ययौ सूर्यः सघोषं भूश्चचाल च
Then, as the armies were arraying themselves, O bull among the Bharatas, the sun rose without brilliance, the earth trembled with a great sound.
व्यशीर्यत सनादा च भूस्तदा भरतर्षभ । निर्घाता बहवो राजन्दिक्षु सर्वासु चाभवन् । प्रादुरासीद्रजस्तीव्रं न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
At that time, O bull among the Bharatas, the earth resounded and cracked; many thunderclaps echoed in all directions, a thick dust arose, and nothing could be seen clearly.
ध्वजानां धूयमानानां सहसा मातरिश्वना । किङ्किणीजालबद्धानां काञ्चनस्रग्वराम्बरैः
The banners, adorned with golden garlands and fine cloth, were suddenly shaken by the wind, their networks of bells jingling.
महतां सपताकानामादित्यसमतेजसाम् । सर्वं झणझणीभूतमासीत्तालवनेष्विव
All the great banners, radiant as the sun, resounded with a clattering noise, as if in a grove of palm trees.
एवं ते पुरुषव्याघ्राः पाण्डवा युद्धनन्दिनः । व्यवस्थिताः प्रतिव्यूह्य तव पुत्रस्य वाहिनीम्
Thus, those tiger-like men, the Pandavas, eager for battle, arrayed themselves in formation, facing your son's army.
ग्रसन्त इव मञ्जानो योधानां भरतर्षभ । दृष्ट्वाग्रतो भीमसेनं गदापाणिमवस्थितम्
Seeing Bhimasena standing at the front, mace in hand, it seemed as if the Pandavas were ready to devour the warriors, O bull among the Bharatas.
सूर्योदये सञ्जय के नु पूर्वं युयुत्सवो हृष्यमाणा इवासन्। मामका वा भीष्मनेत्राः समीपे पाण्डवा वा भीमनेत्रास्तदानीम्
At sunrise, Sanjaya, who among the eager warriors was the first to rejoice—my men led by Bhishma, or the Pandavas led by Bhima?
केषां जघन्यौ समसूर्यौ सवायू केषां सेनां श्वापदाश्चाभषन्त । केषां यूनां मुखवर्णाः प्रसन्नाः सर्वं ह्येतद्ब्रूहि तत्त्वं यथावत्
Whose armies had their rear ranks facing the sun and wind? Whose troops were howled at by wild beasts? Whose young warriors had bright faces? Tell me all this truly and in detail.