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.
प्रासैरभिहताः केचिद्गजयोधाः समन्ततः । पतमानाः स्म दृश्यन्ते गिरिशृङ्गान्नगा इव
Some elephant-warriors, struck all around by spears, were seen falling like trees from mountain peaks.
पादाताश्चाप्यदृश्यन्त निघ्नन्तोऽथ परस्परम् । चित्ररूपधराः शूरा नखरप्रासयोधिनः
Foot soldiers too were seen slaying each other, heroic and bearing various forms, fighting with nails and spears.
अन्योन्यं ते समासाद्य कुरुपाण्डवसैनिकाः । अस्त्रैर्नानाविधैर्घोरै रणे निन्युर्यमक्षयम्
The soldiers of the Kurus and Pandavas, encountering each other, sent many to the abode of Yama in battle with dreadful weapons of various kinds.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो रथघोषेण नादयन् । अभ्यागमद्रणे पार्थान्धनुःशब्देन मोहयन्
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, resounded with the noise of his chariot, advancing in battle and bewildering the Pandavas with the sound of his bow.
पाण्डवानां रथाश्चापि नदन्तो भैरवं स्वनम् । अभ्यद्रवन्त संयत्ता धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः
The chariots of the Pandavas too, roaring with a terrifying sound, advanced, led by Dhrishtadyumna.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तव तेषां च भारत। नराश्वरथनागानां व्यतिषक्तं परस्परम्
Then battle commenced between your side and theirs, O Bharata, with men, horses, chariots, and elephants entangled with one another.
भीष्मं तु समरे क्रुद्धं प्रतपन्तं समन्ततः। न शेकुः पाण्डवा द्रष्टुं तपन्तमिव भास्करम्
But the Pandavas could not bear to look upon Bhishma, angry and blazing on all sides in battle, like the sun burning.
ततः सर्वाणि सैन्यानि धर्मपुत्रस्य शासनात्। अभ्यद्रवन्त गाङ्गेयं मर्दयन्तं शितैः शरैः
Then all the armies, at the command of the son of Dharma, rushed at Ganga's son, who was crushing them with sharp arrows.
स तु भीष्मो रणश्लाघी तोमकान्सहसृज्जयान् । पाञ्चालांश्च महेष्वासान्पातयामास सायकैः
Bhishma, proud in battle, released tomakas and jayans, and struck down the Panchalas, great bowmen, with his arrows.
ते वध्यमाना भीष्मेण पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सह। भीष्ममेवाभ्ययुस्तूर्णं त्यक्त्वा मृत्युकृतं भयम्
Those Panchalas, being slain by Bhishma along with the Pandavas, quickly approached Bhishma, abandoning their fear of death.