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.
आरोहे पर्यवस्कन्दे सरणे सान्तरप्लुते । सम्यक्प्रहरणे याने व्यपयाने च कोविदम्
They were skilled in mounting, dismounting, advancing, leaping, striking accurately, maneuvering vehicles, and retreating.
नागाश्वरथयानेषु बहुशः सुपरीक्षितम् । परीक्ष्य च यथान्यायं वेतनेनोपपादितम्
They were repeatedly tested in the driving of elephants, horses, and chariots, and were appointed after proper examination and with due wages.
न गोष्ठ्या नोपकारेण न च बन्धुनिमित्ततः । न सौहृदबलैर्वापि नाकुलीनपरिग्रहैः
They were not chosen for their group, nor by favor, nor because of kinship, nor by bonds of friendship or family connections.
समृद्धजनमार्यं च तुष्टसंबन्धिबान्धवम् । कृतोपकारभूयिष्ठं यशस्वि च मनस्वि च
They were prosperous, noble, content with their relatives and friends, grateful for favors received, renowned, and high-minded.
स्वजनैस्तु नरैर्मुख्यैर्बहुशो दृष्टकर्मभिः । लोकपालोपमैस्तात पालितं लोकविश्रुतम्
They were led by eminent men of their own people, whose deeds were well known, protectors like the guardians of the world, famed throughout the land.
बहुभिः क्षत्रियैर्गुप्तं पृथिव्यां लोकसंमतैः । अस्मानभिगतैः कामात्सबलैः सपदानुगैः
They were guarded by many Kṣatriyas, approved by the world, who had come to us willingly, with their full forces and followers.
महोदधिमिवापूर्णमापगाभिः समन्ततः । अपक्षपक्षिसंकाशै रथैर्नागैश्च संवृतम्
Like the great ocean filled on all sides by rivers, it was surrounded by chariots and elephants resembling birds with wings.
नानायोधजलं भीमं वाहनोर्मितरङ्गिणम्। क्षेपण्यसिगदाशक्तिशरप्राससामाकुलम्
Teeming with warriors, dreadful, its vehicles like waves surging, crowded with missiles, swords, maces, spears, arrows, and lances.
ध्वजभूषणसंबाधं रत्नपट्टसुसंचितम् । परिधावद्भिरश्वैश्च वायुवेगविकम्पितम्
Thick with banners and ornaments, adorned with jeweled sashes, shaken by horses running about with the speed of the wind.
अपारमिव गर्जन्तं सागरप्रतिमं महत्। द्रोणभीष्मासिसंगप्तं गुप्तं च कृतवर्मणा
Vast as the ocean, roaring, seemingly without limit, protected by Drona and Bhishma’s sword, and guarded by Kritavarma.