संजय उवाच ततो रजन्यां व्युष्टायां शब्दः समभवन्महान्। क्रोशतां भूमिपालानां युज्यतां युज्यतामिति॥
Sanjaya said When the night passed away loud was the noise made by the kings by their all shouting "Array, array".
शङ्खदुन्दुभिशौषैश्च सिंहनादैश्च भारत। हयहेषितनादैश्च रथनेमिस्वनैस्तथा।॥ गजानां बृहतां चैव योधानां चापि गर्जताम्। क्ष्वेलितास्फोटितोत्क्रुष्टैस्तुमुलं सर्वतोऽभवत्॥
O descendant of Bharata, the blowing of conchs, the sounds of drums, the neighing of horses, the clatter of car-wheels, the roaring of rushing elephants and the shouts of heroes, clapping of armpits and the cries of the warriors made everywhere a tremendous noise.
उदतिष्ठन्महाराज सर्वं युक्तमशेषतः। सूर्योदये महत् सैन्यं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः॥
O king, rising at sunrise, the large armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas made all their arrangements complete.
राजेन्द्र तव पुत्राणां पाण्डवानां तथैव च। दुष्प्रधृष्याणि चास्त्राणि सशस्त्रकवचानि च॥ ततः प्रकाशे सैन्यानि समदृश्यन्त भारत। त्वदीयानां परेषां च शस्त्रवन्ति महान्ति च॥
When the sun rose, the fearful weapons of offence and defence and the armours of your sons and those of the sons of Pandu became fully visible.
तत्र नागा रथाश्चैव जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृताः। विभ्राजमाना दृश्यन्ते मेघा इव सविद्युतः॥ :॥
The elephants and chariots adorned and decked with gold looked like resplendent clouds charged with lightning.
रथानीकान्यदृश्यन्त नगराणीव भूरिशः। अतीव शुशुभे तत्र पिता ते पूर्णचन्द्रवत्॥
The line of chariots standing in countless number looked like so many cities, your father (Bhishma) standing there looked as brilliant as full moon.
धनुर्भिरृष्टिभिः खङ्गैर्गदाभिः शक्तितोमरैः। योधाः प्रहरणैः शुभैस्तेष्वनीकेष्ववस्थिताः॥
Then the warriors armed with bows, swords, scimitars, maces, javelins, lances, and shining weapons of various kinds took up their respective positions.
गजाः पदाता रथिनस्तुरगाश्च विशाम्पते। व्यतिष्ठन् वागुराकाराः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥
O king, elephants, foot soldiers, carwarriors and horseman stood there by hundred and thousands like a net work,
ध्वजा बहुविधाकारा व्यदृश्यन्त समुच्छ्रिताः। स्वेषा चैव परेषां च द्युतिमन्तः सहस्रशः॥
Thousands of brilliant standards of various forms were seen belonging both to ourselves and to the enemy.
काञ्चना मणिचित्राङ्गा ज्वलन्त इव पावकाः। अर्चिष्मन्तो व्यरोचन्त गजारोहाः सहस्रशः॥ महेन्द्रकेतवः शुभ्रा महेन्द्रसदनेष्विव। संनद्धास्ते प्रवीराश्च ददृशुर्युद्धकाक्षिणः॥
Thousands of bright and beautiful fire-like blazing banners, decked with gold and gems were gazed at by the heroic warriors clad in armour, each one of whom longed for battle.
उद्यतैरायुधैश्चित्रास्तलबद्धाः कलापिनः। ऋषभाक्षा मनुष्येन्द्राश्चमूमुखगता बभुः॥
Many foremost of men, with bull-like large eyes, with quivers and with finger protectors stood at the head of their respective troops.
शकुनिः सौबल: शल्य: आवन्त्योऽथ जयद्रथः। विन्दानुविन्दौ कैकेयाः काम्बोजस्य सुदक्षिणः॥ श्रुतायुधश्च कालिङ्गो जयत्सेनश्च पार्थिवः। बृहद्बलश्च कौशल्यः कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः॥ दशैते पुरुषव्याघ्राः शूराः परिघबाहवः। अक्षौहिणीनां पतयो यज्वानो भूरिदक्षिणाः॥
The son of Subala, Shakuni, Shalya, Jayadratha, the two princes of Avanti, Vinda and Anuvinda, the Kaikeya brothers, the ruler of Kamboja, Sudakshina, Shrutayudha, the ruler of Kalingas, king Jayatsena, Brihadbala, the ruler of Koshala and Kritavarman of the Satvata race, these ten foremost of men possessing great bravery and arms like maces, these (ten) performers of sacrifices with large Dakshinas stood each at the head of one Akshauhini soldiers.
एते चान्ये च बहवो दुर्योधनवशानुगाः। राजानो राजपुत्राश्च नीतिमन्तो महारथाः॥ संनद्धाः समदृश्यन्त स्वेष्वनीकेष्ववस्थिताः। बद्धकृष्णाजिनाः सर्वे बलिनो युद्धशालिनः॥ हृष्टा दुर्योधनस्यार्थे ब्रह्मलोकाय दीक्षिताः। समर्था दश वाहिन्यः परिगृह्य व्यवस्थिताः॥
These and many other kings and princes all great car-warriors, skillful in policy obedient to the commands of Duryodhana, clad in armour cased in black deer-skins, endued with great strength, accomplished in war, ready for Duryodhana's sake to go the abode of Brahma, stood there at the head of ten Akshauhinis of soldiers.
एकादशी धार्तराष्ट्रा कौरवाणां महाचमूः। अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां यत्र शान्तनवोऽग्रणीः॥
The eleventh great division of the Kuru army stood in advance (of all others) at the head of these troops stood the son of Shantanu Bhishma.
श्वेतोष्णीषं श्वेतहयं श्वेतवर्माणमच्युतम्। अपश्याम महाराज भीष्मं चन्द्रमिवोदितम्॥
O king, with his white head dress, with his white armour, we saw greatly powerful Bhishma look like the rising moon.
हेमतालध्वजं भीष्मं राजते स्यन्दने स्थितम्। श्वेताभ्र इव तीक्ष्णांशु ददृशुः कुरुपाण्डवाः॥
Bhishma was rode on a fantastic chariot made-up of silver. His Tala marked flag was of golden colour and waving with the wind in sky. He was seen as sun god covered within the cluster of white clouds by Kauravas,
सृञ्जयाश्च महेष्वासा धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः। जृम्भमाणं महासिंहं दृष्ट्वा क्षुद्रमृगा यथा॥
The great bowmen amongst the Srinjayas, Dhrishtadyumna and others looked like so may little animals when they see before them a great yawning lion.
धृष्टद्युम्नमुखाः सर्वे समुद्विविजिरे मुहुः। एकादशैताः श्रीजुष्टा वाहिन्यस्तव पार्थिव॥ पाण्डवानां तथा सप्त महापुरुषपालिताः। उन्मत्तमकरावर्ती महाग्राहसमाकुलौ॥ युगान्ते समवेतौ द्वौ दृश्यते सागराविव। नैव नस्तादृशो राजन् दृष्टपूर्वो न च श्रुतः। अनीकानां समेतानां कौरवाणां तथाविधः॥
All the warriors headed by Dhrishtadyumna trembled (when they saw him) O kings; these are the eleven great divisions of your army. The seven divisions of the Pandava army were also protected by foremost of men. The two armies facing each other looked like two mighty oceans at the end of Yuga, oceans agitated by fearful by fearful Makaras Makaras and huge crocodiles. O king, we never be fore saw or heard of two such armies meeting each other as these two armies of the Kurus.