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.
सादिनश्च हयान्राजन्रथिनश्च महारणे । हस्त्यारोहान्हयारोहा रथिनः सादिनस्तथा
Cavalry attacked horses, O King, and charioteers in the great battle; elephant riders fought horsemen, and charioteers engaged cavalry likewise.
रथिनः पत्तिभिः सार्धं सादिनश्चापि पत्तिभिः । अन्योन्यं समरे राजन्प्रत्यधावन्नमर्षिताः
Charioteers fought alongside infantry, and cavalry with infantry too; in the battle, O King, they rushed at each other, unable to bear the conflict.
भीमसेनार्जुनयमैर्गुप्ता चान्यैर्महारथैः । शुशुभे पाण्डवी सेना नक्षत्रैरिव शर्वरी
Guarded by Bhimasena, Arjuna, and other great warriors, the Pandava army shone like the night adorned with stars.
तथा भीष्मकृपद्रोणशल्यदुर्योधनादिभिः । तवापि च बभौ सेना ग्रहैर्द्यौरिव संवृताः
Likewise, your army, O King, shone, protected by Bhishma, Kripa, Drona, Shalya, Duryodhana, and others, like the sky covered with planets.
भीमसेनस्तु कौन्तेयो द्रोणं दृष्ट्वा पराक्रमी । अभ्ययाञ्जवनैरश्वैर्भारद्वाजस्य वाहिनीम्
Bhimasena, son of Kunti, seeing Drona, the valiant one, charged at Bharadvaja's troops with swift horses.
द्रोणास्तु समरे क्रुद्धो भीमं नवभिरायसैः । विव्याध समरश्लाघी मर्माण्युद्दिष्य वीर्यवान्
Drona, enraged in battle, struck Bhima, the mighty one, with nine iron arrows, aiming at his vital spots.
दृढाहतस्तो भीमो भारद्वाजस्य संयुगे। सारथिं प्रेषयामास यमस्य सदनं प्रति
Hit hard by Bharadvaja in the fight, Bhima sent his charioteer to the abode of Yama.
स संगृह्य स्कवयं वाहान्भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् । व्यधमत्पाण्डवीं सेनां तूलराशिमिवानलः
Seizing the reins, the valiant Bharadvaja scattered the Pandava army like fire dispersing a heap of cotton.
ते वद्यमाना द्रोणेन भीष्मेण च नरोत्तमाः । सृञ्जयाः तावकं सैन्यं भीमार्जुनपरिक्षतम्
Those Sṛñjayas, being struck by Droṇa and Bhīṣma, O best of men, attacked your army, which was already afflicted by Bhīma and Arjuna.
तथैव तावकं सैन्यं भीमार्जुनपरिक्षतम्। मुह्यते तत्रतत्रैव समदेव वराङ्गना
In the same way, your army, harassed by Bhīma and Arjuna, became bewildered again and again in various places on the battlefield, O you of noble women.
अभिद्येतां ततो व्यूहौ तस्मिन्वीरवरक्षये। आसीद्व्यतिकरो घोरस्तव तेषां च भारत
Then, as the formations of heroes were being destroyed, a terrible and intense conflict arose between your forces and theirs, O Bhārata.
तदद्भुतमपश्याम तावकानां परैः सह । एकायनगताः सर्वे यदयुध्यन्त भारत
We saw a wondrous thing, O Bhārata: all your men, though gathered together in one place, fought with the enemy as one.
प्रतिसंवार्य चास्त्राणि तेऽन्योन्यस्य विशांपते । युयुधुः पाण्डवाश्चैव कौरवाश्च महाबलाः
Having countered each other's weapons, the mighty Pāṇḍavas and Kauravas fought on, O lord of men.
एवं बहुगुणं सैन्यमेवं बहुविधं परम्। व्यूढमेवं यथाशास्त्रममोघं चैव सञ्जय
Thus, O Sañjaya, the army was vast and of many kinds, arrayed in many ways, drawn up according to the science of war, and unfailing.
जुष्टमस्माकमत्यन्तमभिकामं च नः सदा । प्रहृष्टं व्यसनोपेतं पुरस्ताद्दृष्टविक्रमम्
It was entirely filled with our eager warriors, always zealous, delighted yet beset by adversity, and displaying valor at the front.
नातिवृद्धमबालं च न कृशं न च पीवरम् । लघुवृत्तायतप्रायं सागराकारमव्ययम्
It was neither too old nor too young, neither too thin nor too stout, mostly of medium build and length, vast as the ocean and inexhaustible.
आत्तसन्नाहशस्त्रं च बहुशस्त्रपरिग्रहम् । असियुद्धे नियुद्धे च गदायुद्धे च कोविदम्
They were equipped with armor and weapons, skilled in handling many arms, and adept in sword-fighting, wrestling, and mace combat.
प्रासर्ष्टितोमरेष्वाजौ परिघेष्वायसेषु च । भिण्डिपालेषु शक्तीषु मुसलेषु च सर्वशः
They were proficient in the use of spears, darts, javelins, iron clubs, slings, lances, and maces of every kind in battle.
कम्पनेषु च चापेषु कणपेषु च सर्वशः । क्षेणणीयेषु चित्रेषु मुष्टयुद्धेषु च क्षमम्
They were skilled in the use of bows, arrows, and all types of projectiles, as well as in hand-to-hand combat and contests of strength.
अपरोक्षं च विद्यासु व्यायामे च कृतश्रमम् । शस्त्रग्रहणविद्यासु सर्वासु परिनिष्ठितम्
They were directly trained in all branches of knowledge, practiced in physical exercise, and thoroughly accomplished in all the arts of weaponry.