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.
शरैरथिरथो युद्धे दारयन्रथयूथपान् । ते वध्यमानाः पार्थेन कालेनेव युगक्षये
The chariot-warrior, with arrows in battle, tore through the chariot leaders; those being slain by Partha were like time at the end of an age.
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे यत्नात्पाण्डवान्प्रत्ययोधयन् । प्रार्थयाना यशो दीप्तां मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्
The sons of Dhritarashtra, striving in battle, fought against the Pandavas, seeking radiant fame, making death their return.
एकाग्रमनसो भूत्वा पाण्डवानां वरूथिनीम् । बभञ्जुर्बहुशो राजंस्ते चासञ्जन्त संयुगे
Having become single-minded, they repeatedly broke the Pandava ranks, O king, and became entangled in combat.
द्रवद्भिरथभग्नैश्च परिवर्तद्भिरेव च। पाण्डवैः कौरवेयैश्च न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
With chariots broken and fleeing, turning about on all sides, among Pandavas and Kauravas, nothing could be discerned.
उदतिष्ठद्रजो भौमं छादयानं दिवाकरम्। न दिशः प्रदिशो वापि जज्ञिरेऽत्र समागताः
Dust rose from the earth, covering the sun; neither directions nor regions could be recognized by those assembled there.
अनुमानेन संज्ञाभिर्नामगोत्रैश्च संयुगे। अवर्तत तदा युद्धं तत्र तत्र विशांपते
By inference, by signs, and by names and lineages in battle, the fight continued here and there, O lord of men.
न व्यूहो भिद्यते तत्र कौरवाणां कथञ्चन । रक्षितः सत्यसन्धेन भारद्वाजेन संयुगे
The formation of the Kauravas was not broken there in any way, protected in battle by the truthful Bharadvaja.
तथैव पाण्डवानां च रक्षितः सव्यसाचिना। नाभिद्यत महाव्यूहो भीमेन च सुरक्षितः
Likewise, the great formation of the Pandavas, guarded by Savyasachi and well-protected by Bhima, was not breached.
सेनाग्रादपि निष्पत्य प्रायुध्यंस्तत्र मानवाः । उभयोः सेनयो राजन्व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपाः
Men emerged from the front of the armies and fought there; the chariots and elephants of both armies became intermingled, O king.
हयारोहैर्हयारोहाः पात्यन्ते स्म महाहवे। ऋष्टिभिर्विमलाभिश्च प्रासैरपि च संयुगे
Horsemen struck down horsemen in the great battle, with spotless spears and lances in combat.