यावत्तु शक्यते कर्तुमन्तरज्ञैर्जनाधिपैः। क्षत्रधर्मरतैः शूरैस्तावत्कुर्वन्ति कौरवाः
As long as it is possible for kings, skilled in counsel and devoted to the warrior’s code, to act, so long do the Kauravas strive.
यथा तु पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्युद्धं परमसङ्कटम्। कुरूणां पाण्डवैः सार्धं तत्सर्वं शृणु तत्त्वतः
Now hear in truth how the Kurus, with the Pandavas, fought that most terrible battle, O tiger among men.
ते चैकसप्तसाहस्रास्त्रिसाहस्राश्च सैन्धवाः
And there were seventeen thousand and three thousand Sindhu warriors.
मत्तानां सुविरूढानां हस्त्यारोहैर्विशारदैः। हस्तिनां भीमरूपाणां वर्मिणां रौद्रकर्मिणाम्
Of intoxicated, well-trained elephants, with skilled riders, fierce in form, armored and performing dreadful deeds—
अध्यर्धेन सहस्रेण पुत्रो दुर्मर्षणस्तव। अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां योत्स्यमानो व्यवस्थितः
With an additional one and a half thousand, your son Durmarshana stood at the front of all the armies, ready to fight.
ततो दुःशासनश्चैव विकर्णश्च तवात्मजौ। सिन्धुराजार्थसिद्ध्यर्थमग्रानीके व्यवस्थितौ
Then Duḥśāsana and Vikarna, your sons, took position at the forefront for the sake of the Sindhu king’s success.
दीर्घो द्वादशगव्यूतिः पश्चार्धे पञ्चविस्तृतः। व्यूहस्तु चक्रशकटो भारद्वाजेन निर्मितः
The formation, crafted by Bhāradvāja, stretched twelve gavutas long and five wide at the rear, in the shape of a wheel and cart.
नानानृपतिभिर्वीरैस्तत्रतत्र व्यवस्थितैः। रथाश्वगजपत्त्योघैर्द्रोणेन विहितः स्वयम्
It was arranged by Droṇa himself, with various heroic kings stationed throughout, and composed of chariots, horses, elephants, and infantry.
पश्चार्धे तस्य पद्मस्तु गर्भव्यूहः पुनः कृतः। सूचीपद्मस्य गर्भस्थो गूढो व्यूहः कृतः पुनः
At the rear of that formation, a lotus-shaped array was again made, with a concealed core within the needle-lotus.
एवमेतं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य द्रोणो व्यवस्थितः। सूचीमुखे महेष्वासः कृतवर्मा व्यवस्थितः
Thus, having arrayed this great formation, Droṇa took his stand; at the needle’s point, the mighty archer Kṛtavarman was stationed.
अनन्तरं च काम्भोजो जलसन्धश्च मारिष। दुर्योधनश्च कर्णश्च तदनन्तरमेव च
Next came the Kāmbhoja and Jalasandha, O great one, followed immediately by Duryodhana and Karṇa.
ततः शतसहस्राणि योदानानमनिवर्तिनाम्। व्यवस्थितानि सर्वाणि शकटे मुखरक्षिणाम्
Then, a hundred thousand steadfast warriors were arrayed in the cart formation, guarding its mouth.
तेषां च पृष्ठतो राजा बलेन महता वृतः। जयद्रथस्ततो राजा सूचीपार्श्वे व्यवस्थितः
Behind them, the king, surrounded by a great force, and then King Jayadratha stood at the side of the needle.
शकटस्य तु राजेन्द्र भारद्वाजो मुखे स्थितः। नात्र तस्याभवद्भोदो जुगोपैनं ततः स्वयम्
At the mouth of the cart formation, O king, Bhāradvāja took his place; there was no fear for him there, for he himself protected it.
श्वेतवर्माम्बरोष्णीषो व्यूढोरस्को महाभुजः। धनुर्विस्फारयन्द्रोणस्तस्थौ क्रुद्ध इवान्तकः। `तस्य सैन्यस्य सर्वस्य नेता गोप्ता च वीर्यवान्
Clad in white armor and turban, broad-chested and mighty-armed, Droṇa stood, stringing his bow, like Death himself in wrath, the leader and protector of the entire army.
ताकिनं शोणहयं वेदीकृष्णाजिनध्वजम्। द्रोणस्य रथमालोक्य प्रहृष्टाः कुरवोऽभवन्
Seeing Droṇa’s chariot, with its red horses, tiger-skin banner, and black-deer-hide standard, the Kurus rejoiced.
सिद्धचारणसङ्घानां विस्मयः सुमहानभूत्। द्रोणेन विहितं दृष्ट्वा व्यूहं क्षुब्धार्णवोपमम्
Great wonder arose among the hosts of Siddhas and Cāraṇas, beholding the formation Droṇa had made, resembling a turbulent ocean.
सशैलसागरवनां नानाजनपदाकुलाम्। ग्रसेद्व्यूहः क्षितिं सर्वामिति भूतानि मेनिरे
That formation, filled with mountains, seas, forests, and crowded with many peoples, seemed to all beings as if it could swallow the whole earth.
बहुरथमनुजाश्वपत्तिनागं प्रतिभयनिःस्वनमद्भुतानुरूपम्। अहितहृदयभेदनं महद्वै शकटमवेक्ष्य कृतं ननन्द राजा
Beholding the great cart formation—abounding in chariots, brothers, horses, infantry, and elephants, resounding with terrifying noise, wondrous and fitting, capable of piercing the hearts of foes—the king rejoiced.
तयोः शङ्खप्रणादेन तव सैन्ये विशाम्पते। आसन्संहृष्टरोमाणः कम्पिता गतचेतसः
At the sound of those conches, O lord of men, in your army, hair stood on end, and many trembled, losing their senses.
यथा त्रस्यन्ति भूतानि सर्वाण्यशनिनिःस्वनात्। तथा शङ्खप्रणादेन वित्रेसुस्तव सैनिकाः
Just as all creatures tremble at the roar of thunder, so too did your soldiers become terrified by the blast of the conch.
प्रसुस्रुवुः शकृन्मूत्रं वाहनानि च सर्वशः। एवं सवाहनं सर्वमाविग्नमभवद्बलम्
All the animals and vehicles released urine and excrement; thus, your entire force, along with its mounts, became greatly disturbed.
सीदन्ति स्म नरा राजञ्शङ्खशब्देन मारिष। विसंज्ञाश्चाभवन्केचित्केचिद्राजन्वितत्रसुः
O King, men sank down at the sound of the conch, O Māriṣa; some lost consciousness, and others, O King, were seized with fear.
ततः कपिर्महानादं सहभूतैर्ध्वजालयैः। अकरोद्व्यादितास्यश्च भीषयंस्तव सैनिकान्
Then the great monkey, with its companions and banners, made a mighty roar, opening its mouth wide, frightening your soldiers.
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च मृदङ्गाश्चानकैः सह। पुनरेवाभ्यहन्यन्त तव सैन्यप्रहर्षणाः
Then conches and drums, together with mridangas and anakas, were sounded again, delighting your army.
नानावादित्रसंहादैः क्ष्वेडितास्फोटिताकुलैः। सिंहनादैः समुत्क्रुष्टैः समाधूतैर्महारथैः
With the mingled sounds of various instruments, neighings, clappings, and tumultuous lion-roars raised by the great chariot-warriors, the army was stirred.
तस्मिंस्तु तुमुले शब्दे भीरूणां भयवर्धने। अतीव हृष्टो दाशार्हमब्रवीत्पाकशासनिः
In that tumultuous and terrifying noise, which increased the fear of the timid, the son of Pritha, exceedingly joyful, spoke to Krishna.
तत्तथा तव पुत्रस्य सैन्यं युधि परन्तप। प्रभग्नं द्रुतमाविग्नमतीव शरपीडितम्
Thus, scorcher of foes, your son's army was broken, scattered, greatly disturbed, and sorely afflicted by arrows in battle.
मारुतेनेव महता मेघानीकं व्यदीर्यत। प्रकाल्यमानं तत्सैन्यं नाशकत्प्रतिवीक्षितुम्
Like a great mass of clouds torn apart by a mighty wind, that army, being swept away, could not withstand the assault.
प्रतोदैश्चापकोटीभिर्हुंकारैः साधुवाहितैः। कशापार्ष्ण्यभिघातैश्च वाग्भिरुग्राभिरेव च
Urged on by whips, bow-ends, shouts, well-aimed blows, lashes, heel-strikes, and harsh words,