समदत्तिस्ततः क्रुद्धस्तेषां चापानि भारत । चिच्छेद समरे राजन्युध्यमानो महारथैः
But Saumadatti, enraged, cut down their bows in battle, O Bharata, as he fought with those great chariot-warriors.
अथैषां छिन्नधनुषां शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः । चिच्छेद समरे राजञ्शिरांसि भरतर्षभ
Then, O bull among the Bharatas, with sharp, well-feathered arrows, he struck off the heads of those whose bows had been cut down, right there in the fight.
ते हता न्यपतन्राजन्वज्रभग्ना इव द्रुमाः । तान्दृष्ट्वा निहतान्वीरो रणे पुत्रान्महाबलान्
Those slain fell to the ground, O King, like trees shattered by a thunderbolt; seeing his mighty sons thus struck down in battle, the hero—
वार्ष्णेयो विनदराजन्भूरिश्रवसमभ्ययात्। रथं रथेन समरे पीडयित्वा महाबलौ
The Vṛṣṇi hero, roaring, advanced upon Bhūriśravas, pressing his chariot with his own in the fight, both being of great strength.
तावन्योन्यं हि समरे निहत्य रथवाजिनः । विरथावभिवल्गन्तौ समेयातां महारथौ
Those two great chariot-warriors, having slain each other's chariot-horses in battle, leapt down and closed in, both eager for combat.
प्रगृहीतमहाखङ्गौ तौ चर्मवरधारिणौ । शुशुभाते नरव्याघ्रौ युद्धाय समवस्थितौ
Grasping great swords and bearing shields, those tiger-like men shone as they stood ready for battle.
असह्यमसियुद्धाय भूरिश्रवसमाहवे। मत्वा वृकोदरस्तूर्णमभिप्लुत्य महारथः
Seeing Bhūriśravas in that fierce sword-fight, Vṛkodara, the great chariot-warrior, swiftly leapt forward, unable to endure it.
ततः सात्यकिमभ्येत्य निस्त्रिंशवरधारिणम् । भीमसेनस्त्वरन्राजन्रथमारोपयत्तदा
Then Bhīmasena, O King, quickly approached Sātyaki, who held a fine sword, and mounted him onto his chariot.
तवापि तनयो राजन्भूरिश्रवसमाहवे। आरोपयद्रथं तूर्णं पश्यतां सर्वधन्विनाम्
And your son too, O King, in the presence of all the archers, quickly mounted Bhūriśravas onto his chariot during that fierce encounter.
तस्मिस्तथा वर्तमाने रणे भीष्मं महारथम्। अयोधयन्त संरब्धाः पाण्डवा भरतर्षभ
While this was happening on the battlefield, O bull among the Bharatas, the enraged Pāṇḍavas fought with the great chariot-warrior Bhīṣma.
लोहितायति चादित्ये त्वरमाणो धनञ्जयः । पञ्चविंशतिसाहस्रान्निजघान महारथान्
As the sun reddened, Dhanañjaya, eager for battle, struck down twenty-five thousand great chariot-warriors.
ते हि दुर्योधनादिष्टास्तदा पार्थनिबर्हणे । संप्राप्यैव गता नाशं शलभा इव पावकम्
Those warriors, commanded by Duryodhana to check Pārtha, perished as soon as they approached, like moths in a flame.
ततो मत्स्याः केकयाश्च धनुर्वेदविशारदाः । परिवव्रुस्तदा पार्थं सहपुत्रं महारथम्
Then the Matsyas and the Kekayas, skilled in the science of archery, surrounded Partha, the great chariot-warrior, along with his son.
एवस्मिन्नेव काले तु सूर्येऽस्तमुपगच्छति। सर्वेषां चैव सैन्यानां प्रमोहः समजायत
At that very moment, as the sun was setting, confusion arose among all the armies.
अवहारं ततश्चक्रे पिता देवव्रतस्तव । संध्याकाले महाराज सैन्यानां श्रान्तवाहनः
Then your father Devavrata ordered the withdrawal, O King, as the armies, their vehicles weary, reached the twilight hour.
पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च परस्परसमागमे। ते सेने भृशसंविग्ने ययतुः स्वं निवेशनम्
As the forces of the Pandavas and the Kurus met each other, those armies, greatly agitated, returned to their own encampments.
ततः स्वशिबिरं गत्वा न्यविशंस्तत्र भारत। पाण्डवाः सृञ्जयैः सार्धं कुरवश्च यथाविधिः
Then, having reached their own camps, the Pandavas with the Srinjayas and the Kurus, each according to custom, settled down there, O Bharata.
विहृत्य तु ततो राजन्सहिताः कुरुपाण्डवाः । व्यतीतायां तु शर्वर्यां पुनर्युद्धाय निर्ययुः
After resting, O King, the Kurus and Pandavas together, when the night had passed, once again went out to battle.
ततः शब्दो महानासीत्तव तेषां च भारत । युज्यतां रथमुख्यानां कल्प्यतां चैव दन्तिनाम्
Then a great sound arose from your side and theirs, O Bharata, as the foremost chariots were yoked and the elephants prepared.
संनह्यतां पदातीनां हयानां चैव भारत। शङ्खदुन्दुभिनादश्च तुमुलः सर्वतोऽभवत्
The foot soldiers and horses were also arrayed, O Bharata, and everywhere there was a tumultuous sound of conches and drums.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा धृष्टद्युम्नमभाषत। व्यूहं व्यूहस्व पाञ्चाल मकरं शत्रुनाशनम्
Then King Yudhishthira spoke to Dhrishtadyumna: 'Form the Makara array, O Panchala, the destroyer of enemies.'
एवमुक्तस्तु पार्थेन धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथः। व्यादिदेश यथान्यायं रथिनो रथिनां वरः
Thus addressed by Partha, the great chariot-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, best of charioteers, assigned the warriors according to rule.
शिरोऽभूद्द्रुपदस्तस्य पाण्डवश्च धनञ्जयः। चक्षुषी सहदेवश्च नकुलश्च महारथः
Drupada was the head, and Dhananjaya the Pandava; Sahadeva and the mighty chariot-warrior Nakula were the two eyes.
तुण्डमासीन्महाराज भीमसेनो महाबलः । सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः
Bhimasena of great strength was the snout, O King; Subhadra's son, the sons of Draupadi, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha were there as well.
सात्यकिर्धर्मराजश्च व्यूहग्रीवां समास्थिताः । पृष्ठमासीन्महाराज विराटो वाहिनीपतिः ।। ृष्टद्युम्नो महाराज महत्या सेनया वृतः । केकया भ्रातरः पञ्च वामपार्श्वं समाश्रिताः
Satyaki and King Yudhishthira occupied the neck of the formation; at the rear, O King, was Virata, commander of the forces. Dhrishtadyumna, O King, surrounded by a great army, and the five brothers of the Kekayas held the left flank.
धृष्टकेतुर्नरव्याघ्रश्चेकितानश्च वीर्यवान्। दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रित्य स्थितौ व्यूहस्य रक्षणे
Dhrishtaketu, tiger among men, and the mighty Chekitana, stood on the right wing, guarding the formation.
पादयोस्तु महाराज स्थितः श्रीमान्महारथः। कुन्तिभोजः शतानीको महत्या सेनया वृतः
At the feet, O King, stood the illustrious chariot-warrior Kuntibhoja and Shatanika, surrounded by a great army.
शिखण्डी तु महेष्वासः सोमकैः संवृतो बली । इरावांश्च ततः पुच्छे मकरस्य व्यवस्थितौ
Shikhandi, the mighty archer, protected by the Somakas, and Iravan were stationed at the tail of the Makara formation.
एवमेतं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः । सूर्योदये महाराज पुनर्युद्धाय दंशिताःक
Thus, O Bharata, the Pandavas arrayed this great formation, and at sunrise, O King, they stood ready again for battle.
कौरवानभ्ययुस्तूर्णं हस्त्यश्वरथपत्तिभिः । समुच्छ्रितैर्ध्वजैश्छत्रैः शस्त्रैश्च विमलैः शितैः
The Kauravas swiftly advanced with elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry, their banners, parasols, and shining, sharp weapons raised high.