आदित्यपथगः केतुस्तस्याद्भुतमनोरमः । शासनात्पुरुहूतस्य निर्मितो विश्वकर्मणा
Its banner, moving along the path of the sun, was wondrous and beautiful, crafted by Vishvakarma at the command of Puruhuta.
इन्द्रायुधसवर्णाभिः पताकाभिरलङ्कृतः । आकाशग इवाकाशे गन्धर्वनगरोपमः
Adorned with pennants resembling Indra's weapon, it appeared in the sky like a city of the Gandharvas.
नृत्यमान इवाभाति रथचर्यासु मारिष । तेन रत्नवता पार्थः स च गाण्डीवधन्वना
It shone as if dancing in the movements of the chariot, O Marisha; with that jewel-adorned banner, Partha, wielder of Gandiva, was resplendent.
बभूव परमोपेतः सुमेरुरिव भानुना । शिरोभूद्द्रुपदो राजा महत्या सेनया वृतः
He became supremely radiant, like Mount Sumeru with the sun; at the head was King Drupada, surrounded by a great army.
कुन्तिभोजश्च चैद्यश्च चक्षुर्भ्यां तौ जनेश्वरौ । दाशार्णकाः प्रभद्राश्च दाशेरकगणैः सह
Kuntibhoja and the king of the Chedis, those two lords of men, were stationed at the eyes; the Dasharnas and Prabhadrakas with the Daiseraka troops.
अनूपकाः किराताश्च ग्रीवायां भरतर्षभ । पटच्चरैश्च पौण्ड्रैश्च राजन्पौरवकैस्तथा
The Anupakas and Kiratas were at the neck, O bull of Bharata's race; with the Pataccaras, Paundras, and also the Pauravas, O king.
निषादैः सहितश्चापि पृष्ठमासीद्युधिष्ठिरः। पक्षौ तु भीमसेनश्च धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः
Yudhishthira, together with the Nishadas, occupied the rear; Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna, son of Prishata, held the two flanks.
द्रौपदेयाभिमन्युश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः । पिशाचा दारदाश्चैव पुण्ड्राः कुण्डीविषैः सह
The sons of Draupadi, Abhimanyu, and the mighty charioteer Satyaki, along with the Pisachas, Daradas, Pundras, and those from Kundivisha, were also present.
मारुता धेनुकाश्चैव तंगमाः परतंगणाः । बाह्लिकास्तित्तिराश्चैव चोलाः पाण्ड्याश्च भारत
The Marutas, Dhenukas, Tangamas, Paratanganas, Bahlikas, Tittiras, Cholas, and the Pandyas, O Bharata, were there as well.
एते जनपदा राजन्दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रिताः । अग्निवेशास्तुद्दुण्डाश्च मालवा दानभारयः
These peoples, O King, took up position on the southern wing; the Agniveshyas, Duddunas, Malavas, and Danabharayas were there too.
शबरा उद्भसाश्चैव वत्साश्च सह नाकुलैः । नकुलः सहदेवश्च वामं पक्षं समाश्रिताः
The Shabaras, Udbhasas, and Vatsas, together with the Nakulas, were present; Nakula and Sahadeva took up position on the left wing.
रथानामयुतं पक्षौ शिरस्तु नियुतं तथा। पृष्ठमर्बुदमेवासीत्सहस्रामि च विंशतिः
On the two wings were ten thousand chariots, and likewise a hundred thousand on the head; at the rear were a crore, and twenty thousand more.
ग्रीवायां नियुतं चापि सहस्रामि च सप्ततिः । पक्षकोटिप्रपक्षेषु पक्षान्तेषु च वारणाः
On the neck were a hundred thousand, and seventy thousand more; on the tips and ends of the wings, elephants were stationed.
जग्मुः परिवृता राजंश्चलन्त इव पर्वताः । जघनं पालयामास विराटः सह केकयैः
They advanced, encircling, O King, moving like mountains in motion; Virata, together with the Kekayas, guarded the rear.
काशिराजश्च शैब्यश्च रथानामयुतैस्त्रिभिः । एवमेनं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः
The King of Kashi and Shaibya, with thirty thousand chariots, also protected the formation; thus, O Bharata, the Pandavas arrayed this great battle-formation.
सूर्योधयं त इच्छतः स्थिता युद्धाय दंशिताः । तेषामादित्यवर्मानि विमलानि महान्ति च । श्वेतच्छत्राण्यशोभन्त वारणेषु रथेषु च
Desiring the sunrise, they stood ready for battle, eager for combat; their armor shone like the sun, vast and spotless, and their white umbrellas gleamed on elephants and chariots.
क्रौञ्चं दृष्ट्वा ततो व्यूहमभेद्यं तनयस्तव । रक्षमाणं महाघोरं पार्थेनामिततेजसा
Seeing that unbreakable Krauncha formation, guarded fiercely by Arjuna of immeasurable energy, your son then—
आचार्यमुपसंगम्य कृपं शल्यं च पार्थिव । सौमदत्तिं विकर्णं च सोऽश्वत्थामानमेव च
Approached the teacher, Kripa, Shalya, the king, Somadatta, Vikarna, and also Ashvatthama.
दुःशाकसनादीन्भ्रातॄंश्च सर्वनेव च भारत । अन्यांश्च सुबहूञ्शूरान्युद्धाय समुपागतान्
He addressed Duhshasana, his other brothers, and all the rest, O Bharata, as well as many other valiant warriors who had assembled for battle.
प्राहेदं वचनं काले हर्षयंस्तनयस्तव । नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः
At that moment, your son spoke these words, encouraging them: 'All of you are skilled in battle, wielding many kinds of weapons.'
एकैकशः समर्था हि यूयं सर्वे महारथाः । पाण्डुपुत्रान्रणे हन्तुं ससैन्यान्किमु संहताः
'Each of you is individually capable, as great chariot-warriors, of slaying the sons of Pandu and their armies in battle—how much more so when united!'
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् । पर्याप्तमिदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्
'Our force, protected by Bhishma, is inexhaustible; theirs, protected by Bhima, is limited.'
संस्थानाः शूरसेनाश्च वेत्रिकाः कुकुरास्तथा । आरोचकास्त्रिगर्ताश्च मद्रका यवनास्तथा
'The Samsthanas, Shurasenas, Vetrikas, Kukuras, Arochakas, Trigartas, Madrakas, and Yavanas—'
शत्रुंजयेन सहितास्तथा दुःशासनेन च । विकर्णेन च वीरेण तथा नन्दोपनन्दकैः
'Together with Shatrunjaya, Duhshasana, the heroic Vikarna, and also Nanda and Upanandaka—'
चित्रसेनेन सहिताः सहिताः पारिभद्रकैः । भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु सह सैन्यपुरस्कृताः
Together with Citrasena and the Paribhadrakas, let them protect Bhishma, accompanied by their troops.
ततो भीष्मश्च द्रोणश्च तव पुत्राश्च मारिष । अव्यूहन्त महाव्यूहं पाण्डूनां प्रतिबाधकम्
Then Bhishma, Drona, and your sons, O Maharsha, arrayed a great formation to obstruct the Pandavas.
भीष्मः सैन्येन महता समनन्तात्परिवारितः । ययौ प्रकर्षन्महतीं वाहिनीं सरराडिव
Bhishma, surrounded on all sides by a vast army, advanced, drawing along a mighty force, like a sovereign.
तमन्वायान्महेष्वासो भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् । कुन्तलैश्च दशार्णैश्च मागधैश्च विशांपते
The illustrious Bharadvaja, master of the bow, followed him, along with the Kuntalas, Dasharnas, and Magadhas, O lord of men.
विदमर्भैर्मेकलैश्चैव कर्णप्रावरणैरपि । सहिताः सर्वसैन्येन भीष्ममहावशोभिनम्
With the Vidarbhas, Mekalas, and Karna's guards, together with all the troops, they accompanied Bhishma, radiant in battle.
गान्धाराः सिन्धुसौवीराः शिबयोऽथ वसातयः। शकुनिश्च स्वसैन्येन भीष्ममाहवशोभिनम्
The Gandharas, Sindhus, Sauvira, Shibis, and Vasatas, and Shakuni with his own forces, joined Bhishma, glorious in combat.