न निवर्तयितुं चापि शक्येयं महती चमूः । अन्योन्यप्रेया पश्य द्रवतीयं वरूथिनी
"Nor can this great host be restrained; see, this division flees, each turning away from the other."
एष चास्तं गिरिश्रेष्ठं भानुमान्प्रतिपद्यते। चक्षूंषि सर्वलोकस्य संहरन्निव सर्वथा
"Now the sun is setting behind the highest mountain, as if withdrawing the sight of all the worlds."
तत्रावहारं संप्राप्तं मन्येऽहं पुरुषर्षभ । श्रान्ता भीताश्च नो योधा न योत्स्यन्ति कथंचन
"O best of men, I think the time for withdrawal has come; our warriors are exhausted and afraid, and will not fight any longer."
एवमुक्त्वा ततो भीष्मो द्रोणमाचार्यसत्तमम् । अवहारमथो चक्रे तावकानां महारथः
Having spoken thus, Bhīṣma, the great chariot-warrior, then ordered the withdrawal for your forces, addressing Droṇa, the foremost of teachers.
ततः सरथनागाश्वा जंय प्राप्य समोपकाः। पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवाश्चैव प्रणेदुश्च पुनः पुनः
Then the Pāñcālas and Pāṇḍavas, with their chariots, elephants, and horses, having reached safety, again sounded their conches repeatedly.
प्रययुः शिबिरायैव धनञ्जयपुरस्कृताः। वादित्रघोषैः संहृष्टा प्रणद्यन्तो महारथाः
Led by Dhanañjaya, the great chariot-warriors, rejoicing and shouting, proceeded to their camp to the sound of musical instruments.
ततोऽवहारः सैन्यानां तव तेषां च भारत। अस्तं गच्छति सूर्येऽभूत्सन्ध्याकाले च वर्तति
Then, O Bhārata, as the sun set and evening came, both your army and theirs withdrew from the field.
प्रभातायां च शर्वर्यां भीष्मः शान्तनस्तदा। अनीकान्यनुसंयाने व्यादिदेशाय भारत
When night had passed and morning came, Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, ordered the arrangement of the troops, O Bhārata.
गारुडं च महाव्यूहं चक्रे शान्तनवस्तदा। पुत्राणां ते जयाकाङ्क्षी भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः
Then Śāntanu's son Bhīṣma, desiring victory for your sons, formed the great Garuḍa array.
गरुडस्य स्वयं तुण्डे पिता देवव्रतस्तव। चक्षुषी च भरज्वाजः कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः
In the beak of the Garuḍa stood your father Devavrata himself, while Bhāradvāja and Kṛtavarmā the Sātvata formed the eyes.
अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव शिर आस्तां यशस्विनौ । त्रैगर्त्तैरथ कैकेयैर्वाटधानैश्च संयुगे
Ashvatthama and Kripa, both renowned, stood at the head, opposed in battle by the Trigartas, Kaikeyas, and the Vatadhanas.
भूरिश्रवाः शलः शल्यो भगदत्तश्च मारिष । मद्रकाः सिन्धुसौवीरास्तथा पाञ्चनदाश्च ये
Bhurishravas, Shala, Shalya, and Bhagadatta, O descendant of Marisha, together with the Madras, Sindhus, Sauviras, and those from the land of the five rivers.
जयद्रथेन सहिता ग्रीवायां सन्निवेशिताः । पृष्ठे दुर्योधनो राजा सोदर्यैः सानुगैर्वृतः
With Jayadratha, they were stationed at the neck; behind them, King Duryodhana stood, surrounded by his brothers and followers.
विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ काम्भोजश्च शकैः सह। पच्छमासन्महाराज शूरसेनाश्च सर्वशः
Vindya and Anuvindya of Avanti, and the Kamboja with the Shakas, O great king, together with all the Shurasenas, occupied the western flank.
मागधाश्च कलिङ्गाश्च दासेरकगणैः सह । दक्षिणं पक्षमासाद्य स्थिता व्यूहस्य दंशिताः
The Magadhas and Kalingas, along with the Daseraka clans, having reached the southern wing, were arrayed in the formation.
काकरुशा विकुञ्चाश्च मुण्डाः कुण्डीवृषास्तथा। बृहद्वलेन सहिता वामं पार्श्वमवस्थिताः
The Kakarushas, Vikunchas, Mundas, and Kundivritsas, together with Brihadvala, were positioned on the left flank.
व्यूढं दृष्ट्वा तु तत्सैन्यं सव्यसाची परंतपः। धृष्टद्युम्नेन सहितः प्रत्यव्यूहत संयुगे
Seeing that army drawn up, Savya-sachi, the scorcher of foes, together with Dhrishtadyumna, arrayed his forces in battle.
अर्धचन्द्रेण व्यूहेन व्यूहन्तमतिदारुणम् । दक्षिणं शृङ्गमास्वय भिमसेनो व्यरोचत
With a formation shaped like a half-moon, exceedingly fierce, Bhimasena shone at the southern horn.
नानासंस्त्रौपसंषत्रैर्नानादेश्यैर्नृपैर्वृतः । तदन्येव विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः
Surrounded by kings from various regions, wielding diverse weapons and missiles, Virata and Drupada, the great chariot-warrior, were also there.
तदनन्तरमेवासीन्नीलो नीलायुधैः सह । नीलादनन्तरश्चैव धृष्टकेतुर्महाबलः
Immediately after them was Nila, with warriors bearing blue weapons; next to Nila was Dhrishtaketu, mighty in strength.
चेदिकाशिकरूपेश्च पौरवैरपि संवृतः। धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च पाञ्चालाश्च प्रभद्रकाः
Chedis, Kashis, Karupas, and the Pauravas surrounded Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandi, the Panchalas, and the Prabhadrakas.
मध्ये सैन्यस्य महतः स्थिता युद्धाय भारत। तत्रैव धर्मराजोऽपि गजानीकेन संवृतः
In the center of that great army, ready for battle, O Bharata, stood King Yudhishthira, protected by the elephant division.
ततस्तु सात्यकी राजन्द्रौपद्याः पञ्च चात्मजाः । अभिमन्युस्ततः शूर इरावांश्च ततः परम्
Then Satyaki, O king, and the five sons of Draupadi, followed by the valiant Abhimanyu and then Iravan.
भैमसेनिस्ततो राजन्केकयाश्च महारथाः । एते सर्वे महाराज वामं पार्श्वमुपाश्रिताः
After them, O king, Bhimasena and the mighty chariot-warriors of the Kekayas; all these were stationed on the left flank.
सर्वस्य जगतो गोप्ता गोप्ता यस्य जनार्दनः। `तत्रानुरथिनां श्रेष्ठो वामश्रृङ्गे व्यवस्थितः।' एवमेतं महाव्यूहं प्रत्यव्यूहन्त पाण्डवाः
The protector of the whole world, whose guardian is Janardana, stood at the left horn, foremost among those who follow; thus the Pandavas arrayed their great formation.
वधार्थं तव पुत्रामां तत्पक्षे ये च सङ्गताः । ततः प्रववृते युद्धं व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपम्
For the destruction of your sons and those who had joined their side, battle commenced, with chariots and elephants intermingling.
तावकानां परेषां च निघ्नतामितरेतरम् । हयौघाश्च रथौघाश्व तत्र तत्र विशांपते
Both your forces and the enemy's, striking each other, O lord of men, and masses of horses and chariots were seen here and there.
संपतन्तो व्यदृश्यन्त निघ्नन्तस्ते परस्परम् । धावतां च रथोघानां निघ्नतां च पृथक् पृथक्
They were seen rushing upon each other, striking one another; and the masses of chariots, running and attacking separately, were observed.
बभूव तुमुलः शब्दो विमिश्रो दुन्दुभिस्वनैः । दिवस्पृङ्वरवीराणां निघ्नतामितरेतरम् । संप्रहारे सुतुमुले तव तेषां च भारत
A tumultuous sound arose, mingled with the blare of drums, as the heroic warriors of both sides struck each other in the fierce battle, O Bharata.
ततो व्यूढेष्वनीकेषु तावकेषु परेषु च। धनञ्जयो रथानीकमवधीत्तव भारत
Then, as the armies of both your side and the enemy were arrayed, Dhananjaya destroyed the chariot division, O Bharata.