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.
उभे सेने तुल्यमिवोपयाते उभे व्यूहे हृष्टरूपे नरेन्द्र। उभे चित्रे वनराजिप्रकाशे तथैवोभे नागरथाश्वपूर्णे
Both armies advanced equally, both formations appeared splendid, O king; both were resplendent like lines of trees, and both were filled with elephants, chariots, and horses.
उभे सेने बृहत्यौ भीमरूपे तथैवोभे भारत दुर्विषह्ये । तथैवोभे स्वर्गजयाय सृष्टे तथैवोभे सत्पुरुषोपजुष्टे
Both armies were vast and formidable, O Bharata, both were difficult to withstand; both were assembled for the conquest of heaven, and both were attended by noble men.
पश्चान्मुखाः कुरवो धार्तराष्ट्राः स्थिताः पार्थाः प्राङ्मुखा योत्स्यमानाः । दैत्येन्द्रसेनेव च कौरवाणां देवेन्द्रसेनेव च पाण्डवानाम्
The Kauravas and Dhritarashtra's sons stood facing west, while the Pandavas, ready for battle, faced east; the Kaurava army was like that of the demon king, and the Pandava army like that of the lord of the gods.
शीतो वायुः पृष्ठतः पाण्डवानां धार्तराष्ट्राञ्श्वापदा व्याहरन्त । गजेन्द्राणां मदगन्धांश्च तीव्रा- न्न सेहिरे तव पुत्रस्य नागाः
A cold wind blew behind the Pandavas, while wild beasts howled at the Dhritarashtras; the elephants of your son could not endure the strong scent of rutting elephants.
दुर्योधनो हस्तिनं पद्मवर्णं सुवर्णकक्षं जालवन्तं प्रभिन्नम् । समास्थितो मध्यगतः कुरूणां संस्तूयमानो बन्दिभिर्मागधैश्च
Duryodhana, mounted on a lotus-hued elephant with golden armor and a netted covering, stood in the center of the Kuru ranks, praised by bards and Magadha singers.
चन्द्रप्रभं श्वेतमथातपत्रं सौवर्णस्रग्भ्राजति चोत्तमाङ्गे । तं सर्वतः शकुनिः पार्वतीयैः सार्धं गान्धारैर्याति गान्धारराजः
A white parasol, shining like the moon, with a golden garland, gleamed above him; all around him, Shakuni, the king of Gandhara, advanced with the Gandhara warriors from the mountains.
भीष्मोऽग्रतः सर्वसैन्यस्य वृद्धः श्वेतच्छत्रः श्वेतधनुः सखङ्गः । श्वेतोष्णीषः पाण्डुरेण ध्वजेन श्वेतैरश्वैः श्वेतशैलप्रकाशैः
Bhishma, the elder, stood at the front of the entire army, with a white parasol, white bow, sword, and turban, his banner white, his horses white and shining like snowy mountains.
तस्य सैन्ये धार्तराष्ट्राश्च सर्वे बाह्लीकानामेकदेशः शलश्च। ये चाम्बष्ठाः क्षत्रिया ये च सिन्धो- स्तथा सौवीराः पञ्चनदाश्च शूराः
In his army were all the Dhritarashtras, a division of the Bahlika clan, Shala, the Ambashtha warriors, the Sindhus, the Sauviras, and the heroic Panchanadas.
शोणैर्हयै रुक्मरथो महात्मा द्रोणो धनुष्पाणिरदीनसत्वः । आप्तो गुरुः प्रथितः सर्वराज्ञां पश्चाच्चमूमिन्द्र इवाभियाति
The great-souled Drona, with red horses and a golden chariot, holding his bow, undaunted in spirit, renowned among all kings as a master and teacher, advanced behind the army like Indra.
वार्धक्षत्रिः सर्वसैन्यस्य मध्ये भूरिश्रवाः पुरुमित्रो जयश्च। साल्वा मत्स्याः केकयाश्चेति सर्वे गजानीकैर्भ्रातरो योत्स्यमानाः
In the midst of the entire army was Vardhakshatri, along with Bhurishrava, Purumitra, and Jaya; all the Salvas, Matsyas, and Kekayas, brothers with their elephant divisions, prepared for battle.
शारद्वतश्चोत्तरधूर्महात्मा महेष्वासो गौतमश्चित्रयोधी। शकैः किरातैर्यवनैः पह्लवैश्च सार्धं चमूमुत्तरतोऽभियाति
The great-souled Sharadvata's son, a mighty archer and a distinguished warrior of the Gautama lineage, advances from the north with his troops, together with Shakas, Kiratas, Yavanas, and Pahlavas.
महारथैर्वष्णिभोजैः सुगुप्तं सुराष्ट्रकैर्विदितैरात्तशस्त्रैः । बृहद्बलं कृतवर्माभिगुप्तं बलं त्वदीयं दक्षिणेनाभियाति
Your army, well-guarded by the mighty chariot-warriors of the Vrishnis and Bhojas, and by the renowned Surashtras armed with weapons, and protected by Kritavarma and Brihadbala, advances from the south.
संशप्तकानामयुतं रथानां मृत्युर्जयो वार्जुनस्येति सृष्टाः। येनार्जुनस्तेन राजन्कृतास्त्राः प्रयातारस्ते त्रिगर्ताश्च शूराः
Ten thousand chariots of the Samsaptakas have been set against Arjuna, as if they were death or victory itself; O King, those valiant Trigartas, skilled in weapons, have gone forth to face Arjuna.
साग्रं शतसहस्रं तु नागानां तव भारत । नागेनागे रथशतं शतमश्वा रथेरथे
O Bharata, your force includes a full hundred thousand elephants, with an elephant for every elephant, a hundred chariots for every chariot, and a hundred horses for every horse.
अश्वेऽश्वे दश धानुष्का धानुष्के शत चर्मिणः। एवं व्यूढान्यनीकानि भीष्मेण तव भारत
For every horse, there are ten bowmen; for every bowman, a hundred shield-bearers; thus, O Bharata, Bhishma has arrayed your divisions in this manner.
संव्यूह्य मानुषं व्यूहं दैवं गान्धर्वमासुरम्। दिवसेदिवसे प्राप्ते भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽग्रणीः
Bhishma, son of Shantanu, the foremost, arranged the army in human, divine, Gandharva, and Asura formations, day after day as each day arrived.
महारथौघविपुलः समुद्र इव घोषवान्। भीष्मेण धार्तराष्ट्राणां व्यूहः प्रत्यङ्मुखो युधि
Vast as a sea and resounding with tumult, the formation of the Dhartarashtras, led by Bhishma and filled with mighty chariot-warriors, faced the battle.
अनन्तरूपा ध्वजिनी नरेन्द्र भीमा त्वदीया न तु पाण्डवानाम्। तां चैव मन्ये बृहतीं दुष्प्रघर्षां यस्या नेता केशवश्चार्जुनश्च
O King, your army, immense and of many forms, is fierce—not that of the Pandavas; yet I consider that army, whose leaders are Keshava and Arjuna, to be vast and hard to overcome.
बृहतीं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सेनां दृष्ट्वा समुद्यताम्। विषादमगमद्राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
Seeing the vast army of the Dhartarashtras drawn up for battle, King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, fell into despondency.
व्यूहं भीष्मेण चाभेद्यं कल्पितं प्रेक्ष्य पाण्डवः। अभेद्यमिव संप्रेक्ष्य विवर्णोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत्
Beholding the impenetrable formation arranged by Bhishma, the Pandava, pale and anxious, spoke to Arjuna as if the formation were unbreakable.