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.
व्यूढं दृष्ट्वा तु तत्सैन्यं पिता देवव्रतस्तव । कौञ्चेन महता राजन्प्रत्यव्यूहत वाहिनीम्
Seeing that army arrayed, your father Devavrata, O King, formed his troops in a great crane-shaped formation.
तस्य तुण्डे महेष्वासो भारद्वाजो व्यरोचत। अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव चक्षुरास्तां जनेश्वर
At the beak stood the mighty archer Bharadvaja, and Ashvatthama and Kripa as well, shining among the people, O ruler.
कृतवर्मा तु सहितः काम्भोजैरथ बाह्लिकैः । शिरस्यासीन्नरश्रेष्ठः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम्
Kritavarma, together with the Kambojas and the Bahlikas, was stationed at the head, O best of men, foremost among all bowmen.
ग्रीवायां शूरसेनश्च तव पुत्रश्च मारिष । दुर्योधनो महाराज राजभिर्बहुभिर्वृतः
At the neck were Shurasena and your son, O Maharaja, Duryodhana, surrounded by many kings.
प्राग्जोतिषस्तु सहितो मद्रसौवीरकेकयैः । उरस्यभून्नरश्रेष्ठ महत्या सेनया वृतः
Pragjyotisha, accompanied by the Madras, Sauviras, and Kekayas, was at the chest, O best of men, surrounded by a great army.
पृष्ठे चास्तां महेष्वासावावन्त्यौ सपदानुगौः । स्वसेनया च सहितः शुशर्मा प्रस्थलाधिपः । वामं पक्षं समाश्रित्य दंशितः समवस्थितः
At the rear stood the mighty archers from Avanti with their followers, and Shusharma, lord of Prasthala, with his own troops, firmly positioned on the left wing.
तुषारा यवनाश्चैव शकाश्च सह चूचुपैः । दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रित्य स्थिता व्यूहस्त भारत
The Tusharas, Yavanas, Shakas, and Chuchupas, O Bharata, took up their positions on the right wing of the formation.
श्रुतायुश्च शातायुश्च सौमदत्तिश्च मारिष । व्यूहस्य जघने तस्थू रक्षमाणाः परस्परम्
Shrutayu, Shatayu, and Saumadatti, O Maharaja, stood at the rear of the formation, guarding each other.
ततो युद्धाय संजग्मुः पाण्डवाः कौरवैः सह। सूर्योदये महाराज प्रावर्तत जनक्षयः
Then the Pandavas advanced to battle with the Kauravas; at sunrise, O King, the destruction of men began.
प्रतीयू रथिनो नामान्नागाश्च रथिनो ययुः । हयारोहान्रथारोहा रथिनश्चापि सादिनः
Charioteers confronted charioteers, elephants engaged charioteers, horsemen attacked charioteers, and charioteers fought with cavalry.