अरक्षन्मकरव्यूहं भीष्मो राजन्समन्ततः । तथैव पाण्डवा राजन्नरक्षन्व्यूहमात्मनः
Bhīṣma, O king, protected the Makaravyūha on all sides; likewise, the Pandavas protected their own formation, O king.
अजातशत्रुः शत्रूणां मनांसि समकम्पयत्।' श्येनवद्व्यूह्य तं व्यूहं धौम्यस्य वचनात्स्वयम्
Ajātaśatru caused the minds of his enemies to tremble; he himself arranged that formation like a falcon, following Dhaumya's instructions.
स हि तस्य सुविज्ञात अग्निचित्येषु भारत। मकरस्तु महाव्यूहस्तव पुत्रस्य धीमतः
For he knew well its structure and the placement of fire, O Bhārata; the Makaravyūha was the great formation of your wise son.
स्वयं सर्वेण सैन्येन द्रोणेनानुमतस्तदा । यथाव्यूहं शान्तनवः सोऽन्ववर्तत तत्पुनः
With his entire army, and with Droṇa's approval, Śāntanu's son himself followed the formation as it was arranged.
स निर्ययौ महाराज पिता देवव्रतस्तव । महता रथवंशेन संवृतो रथिनां वरः
Then your father, O king, Devavrata, departed, surrounded by a great line of chariots, foremost among charioteers.
इतरेतरमन्वीयुर्यथाभागमवस्थिताः । रथिनः पत्तयश्चैव दन्तिनः सादिनस्तथा
They followed one another, each in their assigned place: charioteers, infantry, elephants, and cavalry likewise.
तान्दृष्ट्वाऽभ्युद्यतान्सङ्ख्ये पाण्डवा हि यशस्विनः । श्येनव्यूहेन संव्यूह्य समनह्यन्त संयुगे
Seeing those illustrious Pandavas advancing in battle, they arrayed themselves in the Garuda formation and prepared for combat.
अशोभत मुखे तस्य भीमसेनो महाबलः । नेत्रे शिखण्डी दुर्धर्षो धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः
At the head of that array stood Bhimasena, mighty in strength; at the two eyes were Shikhandi, difficult to defeat, and Dhrishtadyumna, son of Prishata.
शीर्षे तस्याभवद्वीरः सात्यकिः सत्यविक्रमः । विधुन्वन्गाण्डिवं पार्थो ग्रीवायामभवत्तदा
At its crown was the valiant Satyaki, steadfast in valor, and at the neck was Arjuna, wielding the Gandiva bow.
अक्षौहिण्या समं तत्र वामपक्षोऽभवत्तदा । महात्मा द्रुपदः श्रीमान्सह पुत्रेण संयुगे
On the left wing of that great army stood the noble Drupada, renowned and accompanied by his son in battle.
दक्षिणश्चाभवत्पक्षः कैकेयोऽक्षौहिणीपतिः । पृष्ठतो द्रौपदेयाश्च सौभद्रश्चापि वीर्यवान्
On the right wing was the Kekaya king, lord of an Akshauhini; at the rear were the sons of Draupadi and the valiant son of Subhadra.
पृष्ठे समभवच्छ्रीमान्स्वयं राजा युधिष्ठिरःक । भ्रातृभ्यां सहितो वीरो यमाभ्यां चारुविक्रमः
At the very rear was the illustrious King Yudhishthira himself, the heroic son of Dharma, together with his two brothers, the valiant twins.
प्रविश्य तु रणे भीमो मकरं मुखतस्तदा। भीष्ममासाद्य संग्रामे च्छादयामास सायकैः
Then Bhima entered the battle at the mouth of the formation, and, confronting Bhishma in the fight, covered him with arrows.
ततो भीष्मो महास्राणि पातयामास भारत। मोहयन्पाण्डुपुत्राणां व्यूढं सैन्यं महाहवे
Thereupon Bhishma unleashed great showers of arrows, bewildering the Pandava army's formation in that mighty conflict.
संमुह्यति तदा सैन्ये त्वरमाणो धनंजयः । भीष्मं शरसहस्रेण विव्याध रणमूर्धनि
As the army became confused, Dhananjaya, acting swiftly, struck Bhishma on the battlefield with a thousand arrows.
प्रतिसंवार्य चास्राणि भीष्ममुक्तानि संयुगे। स्वेनानीकेन हृष्टेन युद्धाय समुपस्थितः
Fending off the arrows released by Bhishma in battle, he stood ready for combat with his own delighted division.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा भारज्वाजमभाषत । पूर्वं दृष्ट्वा वधं घोरं बलस्य बलिनां वरः
Then King Duryodhana spoke to Bharadwaja's son, having first witnessed the dreadful slaughter of his powerful forces.
भ्रातॄणां च वधं युद्धे स्मरमाणो महारथः। आचार्यः सततं हि त्वं हितकामो ममानघ
Recalling the deaths of his brothers in battle, the great chariot-warrior said, 'O teacher, you always seek my welfare, O faultless one.'
वयं हि त्वां समाश्रित्य भीष्मं चैव पितामहम् । देवानपि रणे जेतुं प्रार्थयामो न संशयः
Indeed, relying on you and on Grandsire Bhishma, we hope to conquer even the gods in battle—of this there is no doubt.
किमु पाण्डुसुताकन्युद्धे हीनवीर्यपराक्रमान् । स तथा कुरु भद्रं ते यथा वध्यन्ति पाण्डवाः
What then of the sons of Pandu, weak in strength and valor? Therefore, act in such a way, blessed one, that the Pandavas may be slain.
एवमुक्तस्ततो द्रोणस्तव पुत्रेण मारिष । तत्र संप्रेक्ष्य राजनं संक्रुद्ध इव निश्चसन्
Thus addressed by your son, O Marisha, Drona, seeing the king, appeared as if enraged and spoke these words.
बालिशस्त्वं न जानीषे पाण्डवानां पराक्रमम् । न शक्या हि यथा जेतुं पाण्डवा हि महाबलाः
You are childish and do not understand the prowess of the Pandavas; for the mighty Pandavas cannot be conquered as you suppose.
यथाबलं यथावीर्यं कर्म कुर्यामहं हि ते। इत्युक्तवा ते सुतं राजन्नभ्यपद्यत वाहिनीम् । अभिनत्पाण्डवानीकं प्रेक्षमाणस्य सात्यकेः
I shall act for you according to my strength and valor.' Having spoken thus to your son, O king, he advanced upon the army and struck the Pandava forces as Satyaki looked on.
सात्यकिस्तु ततो द्रौणं वारयामात भारत। तयोः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं भयावहम्
But then Satyaki checked Drona, O Bharata, and between the two a fierce and terrifying battle ensued.
शैनेयं तु रणे क्रुद्धो भारद्वाजः प्रतापावान्। अविध्यन्निशितैर्बाणैर्जत्रुदेशे हसन्निव
The valiant Bhāradvāja, enraged in battle, struck Śaineya in the chest with sharp arrows, as if laughing.
भीमसेनस्ततः क्रुद्धो भारद्वाजमविध्यत । संरक्षन्सात्यकिं राजन्द्रोणाच्छस्त्रभृतां वरात्
Then Bhīmasena, angered, struck Bhāradvāja, protecting Sātyaki from Droṇa, the foremost of weapon-bearers.
ततो द्रोणश्च भीष्मश्च तथा शल्यश्च मारिष। भीमसेनं रणे क्रुद्धाश्छादयांचक्रिरे शरैः
Then Droṇa, Bhīṣma, and likewise Śalya, O great one, angrily covered Bhīmasena in battle with arrows.
तत्राभिमन्युः संक्रुद्धो द्रौपदेयाश्च मारिष । विव्यधुर्निशितैर्बैणैः सर्वांस्तानुद्यतायुधान्
There, Abhimanyu and the sons of Draupadī, enraged, struck all those warriors who had raised their weapons, with sharp arrows.
द्रोणभीष्मौ तु संक्रुद्धावापतन्तौ महाबलौ । प्रत्युद्ययौ शिखण्डी तु महेष्वासो महाहवे
Droṇa and Bhīṣma, both greatly powerful and furious, charged forward; but Śikhaṇḍin, the mighty archer, advanced to meet them in the great battle.
प्रगृह्य बलवद्वीरो धनुर्जलदनिःश्वनम् । अभ्यवर्षच्छरैस्तूर्णं छादयानो दिवाकरम्
The powerful hero, grasping his bow that roared like thunderclouds, swiftly showered arrows, covering the sun.