एकीभूताः सुसंयत्ताः कौरवाणां महाचमूम् । व्यूहाय विदधू राजन्पाण्डवान्प्रतिदंशितान्
United and well-prepared, they arrayed the great Kaurava army in formation, O King, eager to oppose the Pandavas.
कूर्मव्यूहं ततः कृत्वा पिता तव विशांपते । सागरप्रतिमं घोरं वाहनोर्मितरङ्गिणम्
Then your father, O lord of men, formed the army into the tortoise formation, vast and terrible as the ocean, with vehicles surging like waves.
अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां भीष्मः शान्तनवो ययौ । मालवैर्दाक्षिणात्यैश्च आवन्त्यैश्च समन्वितः
At the head of all the troops went Bhishma, son of Shantanu, accompanied by the Malavas, Dakshinatya, and Avanti warriors.
ततोऽनन्तरमेवासीद्भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान । पुलिन्दैः पारदैश्चैव तथा क्षुद्रकमालवैः
Immediately after him came the mighty Bharadvaja, with Pulindas, Paradas, and also Kshudraka and Malava warriors.
द्रोणादनन्तरं यत्तो भगदत्तः प्रतापवान् । मगधैश्च कलिङ्गैश्च पिशाचैश्च विशांपते
After Drona, the valiant Bhagadatta advanced, accompanied by Magadhas, Kalingas, and Pisachas, O lord of men.
प्राग्ज्योतिषादनु नृपः कौसल्योऽथ बृहद्बलः । मेकलैः कुरुविन्दैश्च त्रैपुरैश्च समन्विताः
After the ruler of Pragjyotisha came the king of Kosala, Brihadbala, with Mekalas, Kuruvindas, and warriors from Tripura.
बृहद्बलादनु नृपस्त्रिगर्तः प्रस्थलाधिपः। काम्भोजैर्बहुभिः सार्धं यवनैश्च सहस्रशः
After Brihadbala came the king of Trigarta, lord of Prasthala, with many Kambojas and thousands of Yavanas.
द्रौणिस्तु रभसः शूरस्त्रैगर्तादनु भारत। प्रययौ सिंहनादेन नादयानो धरातलम्
Then Drona's son, the impetuous and valiant Ashvatthama, advanced from the Trigarta side, roaring like a lion across the earth.
तथा सर्वेण सैन्येन राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। द्रौणेरनन्तरं प्रायात्सोदर्यैः परिवारितः
In the same way, King Duryodhana advanced with his entire army after Drona's son, surrounded by his brothers.
दुर्योधनादनु ततः कृपः शारद्वतो ययौ। एवमेष महाव्यूहः प्रययौ सागरोपमः
After Duryodhana, Kripa, son of Sharadvat, advanced; thus, this great formation, vast as the ocean, set forth.
रेजुस्तत्र पताकाश्च श्वेतच्छत्राणि भारत । अङ्गदान्यत्र चित्राणि महार्हाणि धनूंषि च
There, O Bharata, banners shone, white canopies were raised, splendid armlets glittered, and bows of great value were seen.
तं तु दृष्ट्वा महाव्यूहं तावकानां महारथः । युधिष्ठिरोऽब्रवीत्तूर्णं पार्षतं पृतनापतिम्
Beholding that vast array of your forces, the mighty charioteer Yudhishthira swiftly spoke to Prishata, the commander of the army.
पश्य व्यूहं महेष्वास निर्मितं सागरोपमम् । प्रतिव्यूहं रणे शूर कुरु क्षिप्रं महारथ
See, O great archer, the battle formation built like the ocean; quickly create a counter-formation in the field, O mighty charioteer.
ततः स पार्षतः क्रूरो व्यूहं चक्रे सुदारुणम् । श्रृङ्गाटकं महाराज परव्यूहविनाशनम्
Then that fierce Prishata formed a grim battle array, O King, the Sringaṭaka, designed to destroy the enemy's formation.
श्रृङ्गाभ्यां भीमसेनश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः । रथैरनेकसाहस्रैस्तथा हयपदातिभिः
At the horns stood Bhimasena and Satyaki, both mighty charioteers, with thousands of chariots, as well as horsemen and infantry.
नाभावभून्नरश्रेष्ठः श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथिः । मध्ये युधिष्ठिरो राजा माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ
At the center was the illustrious warrior with white horses and Krishna as charioteer; King Yudhishthira stood there, with the sons of Madri, the Pandavas.
अथेतरे महेष्वासाः सहसैन्या नराधिपाः । व्यूहं तं पूरयामासुर्व्यूहशास्त्रविशारदाः
Then other great archers, leaders of men with their armies, filled that formation, skilled in the science of battle arrays.
एवमेतं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः । अतिष्ठन्समरे शूरा योद्धुकामा जयैषिणः
Thus, O Bharata, the Pandavas arranged that vast formation and stood in the battle, eager to fight, desiring victory.
भेरीशब्दैश्च विमलैर्विमिश्रैः शङ्खनिःस्वनैः । क्ष्वेडितास्फोटितोत्क्रुष्टैर्नादिताः सर्वतो दिशः
With pure sounds of drums and mingled blasts of conches, with neighing, clashing, and shouts, all directions resounded.
ततः शूराः समासाद्य समरे ते परस्परम। नेत्रैरनिमिषै राजन्नवैक्षन्त परस्परम्
Then the heroes met each other in battle, O King, and gazed at one another with unblinking eyes.
मनोभिस्ते मनुष्येन्द्र युद्धं योधाः प्रचक्रिरे ।' पुनराहूय तेऽन्योन्यं शरीरैरपि चक्रिरे
With their minds set, O lord of men, the warriors engaged in combat; calling each other out, they fought even with their bodies.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं भयावहम् । तावकानां परेषां च निघ्नतामितरेतरम्
Then battle began, dreadful and terrifying, as your forces and the enemy's struck each other down.
नाराचा निशिताः सङ्ख्ये संपतन्ति स्म भारत । व्यात्तानना भयकरा उरगा इव सङ्घशः
Sharp arrows flew in the conflict, O Bharata, their open mouths fearsome like swarms of serpents.
निष्पेतुर्विमलाः शक्त्यस्तैलधौताः सुतेजनाः । अम्बुदेभ्यो यथा राजन्भ्राजमानाः शतह्रदाः
Polished spears, well-tempered and oiled, emerged shining from the clouds, O King, like radiant streams.
गदाश्च विमलैः पट्टैः पिनद्धाः स्वर्णभूषिताः। पतन्त्यस्तत्र दृस्यन्ते गिरिशृङ्गोपमाः शुभाः
Maces bound with pure cloth and adorned with gold were seen falling there, splendid as mountain peaks.
निस्त्रिंशाश्च व्यदृश्यन्त विमलाम्बरसन्निभाः । आर्षभाणि च चर्माणि शतचन्द्राणि भारतत
Swords appeared, resembling clear skies, and bull-hide shields with a hundred moons, O Bharata.
अशोभन्त रणे राजन्पात्यमानानि सर्वशः । तेऽन्योन्यं समरे सेने युध्यमाने नराधिप
They shone in battle, O King, as they fell everywhere, while the armies fought each other.
अशोभेतां यथा देवदैत्यसेने समुद्यते। अभ्यद्रवन्त समरे तेऽन्योन्यं वै समन्ततः
They shone as the armies of gods and demons when raised for battle; they charged at each other on all sides.
रथास्तु रथिभिस्तूर्णं प्रेषिताः परमाहवे। युगैर्युगानि संश्लिष्य युयुधुः पार्थिवर्षभाः
The chariots, driven swiftly by their charioteers in the great battle, joined their yokes together and the foremost kings fought.
दन्तिनां युध्यमानानां संघर्षात्पावकोऽभवत् । दन्तेषु भरतश्रेष्ठ सधूमः सर्वतो दिशम्
From the clash of fighting elephants, O best of Bharatas, fire arose among their tusks, smoky and spreading in all directions.