संजय उवाच परिणाम्य निशां तां तु सुखं प्राप्ता जनेश्वराः। कुरवः पाण्डवाश्चैव पुनर्युद्धाय निर्ययुः॥
Sanjaya said Having passed that night and having enjoying a peaceful slumber, those rulers of men belonging to the hosts of the Kurus and the Pandavas, again marched out for battle.
ततः शब्दो महानासीत् सैन्ययोरुभयोर्नृप। निर्गच्छमानयोः संख्ये सागरप्रतिमो महान्॥
Then a tremendous din was created by those two hosts when they marched out for battle, did that resembled the uproar of the ocean itself.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः। भीष्मश्च रथिनां श्रेष्ठो भारद्वाजश्च वै नृप॥
Thereupon king Duryodhana, Chitrasena, Vivingshati, Bhishma the foremost of all carwarriors, the son of Bharadvaja endued with prowess,
एकीभूताः सुसंयत्ताः कौरवाणां महाचमूम्। व्यूहाय विदधू राजन् पाण्डवान् प्रति दंशिताः॥
These mighty car-warriors of the Kaurava host clad in mail and united together and with great care, formed, O king, the battle-array of their troops against those of the Pandavas.
भीष्मः कृत्वा महाव्यूहं पिता तव विशाम्पते। सागरप्रतिमं घोरं वाहनोर्मितरङ्गिणम्॥
Your sire Bhishma, O ruler of men, formed a mighty array resembling the dreadful ocean itself, having for its waves and currents the vehicles (of the warriors).
अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां भीष्मः शान्तनवो ययौ। मालवैर्दाक्षिणात्यैश्च आवन्त्यैश्च समन्वितः॥
Then Bhishma the son of Shantanu marched out in the van of all the troops, supported by the Malavas, the Southerners and Avantyas.
ततोऽनन्तरमेवासीद् भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। पुलिन्दैः पारदैश्चैव तथा क्षुद्रकमालवैः॥
Behind him came the son of Bharadvaja endued with prowess, being supported by the Pulindas, the Kshudrakas and the Malavas.
द्रोणादनन्तरं यत्तो भगदत्तः प्रतापवान्। मगधैश्च कलिङ्गैश्च पिशाचैश्च विशाम्पते।॥
After Drona marched Bhagadatta endued with great prowess and determined to fight to the last), being supported by the Magadhas, the Kalingas, and the Pisachas, O ruler of men.
प्राग्ज्योतिषादनु नृपः कौसल्योऽथ बृहद्बलः। मेकलैः कुरुविन्दैश्च त्रैपुरैश्च समन्वितः॥
After king of Pragjyotishapur, came Brihadbala the ruler of the Kosalas, being supported by the Mekalas, the Tripuras and the Chichitas.
बृहद्बलात् ततः शूरस्त्रिगर्तः प्रस्थलाधिपः। काम्बोजैर्बहुभिः सार्धं यवनैश्च सहस्रशः॥
After Brihadbala came the heroic Bhagadatta, the ruler of Prasthala, accompanied by numerous Kamboja and thousands of Yavanas.
द्रौणिस्तु रभसः शूरस्गर्तादनु भारत। प्रययौ सिंहनादेन नादयानो धरातलम्॥
After Trigarta, O Bharata, the valiant son of Drona rushed to battle, resounding the earth with his war-cries.
तथा सर्वेण सैन्येन राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। द्रौणेरनन्तरं प्रायात् सोदर्यैः परिवारितः॥
After the son of Drona proceeded king Duryodhana accompanied by the whole army and surrounded his uterine brothers.
दुर्योधनादनु ततः कृपः शारद्वतो ययौ। एवमेष महाव्यूहः प्रययौ सागरोपमः॥
After Duryodhana marched Kripa, the son of Sharadvata. Thus marched out the mighty array that resembled the ocean itself.
रेजुस्तत्र पताकाश्च श्वेतच्छत्राणि वा विभो। अङ्गदान्यत्र चित्राणि महार्हाणि धनूंषि च॥
In that array, O lord, streamers, white umbrellas, precious armours of wonderful workmanship, and many bows, shone resplendent.
तं तु दृष्ट्वा महाव्यूहं तावकानां महारथः। युधिष्ठिरोऽब्रवीत् तूर्णं पार्षत पृतनापतिम्॥
Seeing that mighty array of your warriors, the mighty car-warrior Yudhishthira speedily addressing Prishata's son, the generalissimo of his army said these words.
पश्य व्यूहं महेष्वास निर्मितं सागरोपमम्। प्रतिव्यूहं त्वमपि हि कुरु पार्षत सत्वरम्॥
Behold, O mighty bowman, this array of troops already formed, resembling the very ocean; O son of Prishata, without loss of time, do you also arrange your troops in counterarray.
ततः स पार्षतः क्रूरो व्यूह चक्रे सुदारुणम्। शृङ्गाटकं महाराज परव्यूहविनाशनम्॥
Thereupon, O mighty monarch, the valiant son of Prishata formed the dreadful array known as Shringataka that is capable of penetrating through the hostile array.
शृङ्गाभ्यां भीमसेनश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः। रथैरनेकसाहौस्तथा हयपदातिभिः॥
In its two horns was placed Bhimasena and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, supported by many thousands of car-warriors and cavalry and infantry.
ताभ्यां बभौ नरश्रेष्ठः श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथिः। मध्ये युधिष्ठिरो राजा माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ॥
In its navel was the ape-bannered Arjuna owning white steeds; and O foremost of men, in its middle was king Yudhishthira and the sons of Pandu begotten upon Madri.
अथोत्तरे महेष्वासाः सहसैन्या नराधिपाः। व्यूहं तं पूरयामासुयूंहशास्त्रविशारदाः॥
Other mighty bowmen, all rulers of earth, and versed in the are of forming arrays with their troop filled up that array.
अभिमन्युस्ततः पश्चाद् विराटश्च महारथः। द्रौपदेयाश्च संहृष्टा राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः॥
Abhimanyu and the mighty car-warrior Virata, the sons of Draupadi, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha were commanded to bring up the rear.
एवमेतं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः। अतिष्ठन् समरे शूरा योद्धुकामा जयैषिणः॥
Thus, O Bharata, forming this mighty array, the heroic sons of Pandu occupied the fled anxiously longing for battle and for victory.
भेरीशब्दैश्च विमलैर्विमित्रैः शङ्खनि:स्वनैः। क्ष्वेडितास्फोटितोत्क्रुष्टैर्नादिताः सर्वतो दिशः॥
Loud noise of the drums, mingled with the blare of conchs and the slapping of the armpits and the war-cries and shouts of the warriors, became dreadful, and filled all the quarters of heaven.
ततः शूराः समासाद्य समरे ते परस्परम्। नेत्रेनिमिषै राजन्नवैक्षन्त परस्परम्॥
Thus those heroes, O king, encountering one another in battle, gazed at one another with windless eyes.
नामभिस्ते मनुष्येन्द्र पूर्वं योधाः परस्परम्। युद्धाय समवर्तन्त समाहूयेतरेतरम्॥
Then, O foremost of men, challenging one another by their appellation, the warriors became engaged with one another.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं भयावहम्। तावकानां परेषां च निघ्नतामितरेतरम्॥
There raged a fierce and frightening battle between your warriors and those of the enemy, as they smote down one another.
नाराचा निशिताः संख्ये सम्पतन्ति स्म भारत। व्यात्तानना भयकरा उरगा इव संघशः॥
Whetted long shafts, 0 Bharata, began to rain on all sides of the field of battle, like dreadful reptiles with mouths wide open.
निष्पेतुर्विमलाः शक्त्यस्तैलधौताः सुतेजनाः। अम्बुदेभ्यो यथा राजन् भ्राजमानाः शतह्रदाः॥
Resplendent dares cleansed with oil and shot with great force, began to fall, O king, like flashing forks of lightening from the clouds.
गदाश्च विमलैः पट्टैः पिनद्धाः स्वर्णभूषितैः। पतन्त्यस्तत्र दृश्यन्ते गिरिशृङ्गोपमाः शुभाः॥
Maces, covered with shining pierces of cloth and decked with gold were seen to fall on the field like so many beautiful crests of mountains.
निस्त्रिंशाश्च व्यदृश्यन्त विमलाम्बरसंनिभाः। आर्षभाणि विचित्राणि शतचन्द्राणि भारत॥
Swords resplendent like the clear blue sky, glittered there. Bucklers made of bull's hide and decorated with hundred moons, O Bharata,
अशोभन्त रणे राजन् पात्यमानानि सर्वशः। तेऽन्योन्यं समरे सेने युध्यमाने नराधिप॥
Falling on all sides, appeared beautiful, O king. O ruler of men, when the two armies fought with each other in that battle,
अशोभेतां यथा देवदैत्यसेने समुद्यते। अभ्यद्रवन्त समरे तेऽन्योन्यं वै समन्ततः॥
They appeared beautiful like the hosts of the celestial and the Daityas engaged with one another (in days gone by). From all sides they rushed against one another in that battle.
रथास्तु रथिभिस्तूर्णं प्रेषिताः परमाहवे। युगैर्युगानि संश्लिष्य युयुधुः पार्थिवर्षभाः॥
Excellent royal car-warriors rushing against their antagonist car-warriors fought on in that dreadful battle having the yokes of their chariots entangled with one another.
दन्तिनां युध्यमानानां संघर्षात् पावकोऽभवत्। दन्तेषु भरतश्रेष्ठ सधूमः सर्वतोदिशम्॥
On all sides, O foremost of the Bharatas, were seen scintications of fire mixed with smoke emitted from the tusks of elephants in consequence of friction, as they fought on with one another.
प्रासैरभिहताः केचिद् गजयोधाः समन्ततः। पतमानाः स्म दृश्यन्ते गिरिशृङ्गान्नगा इव॥
Some elephant-warriors struck down with Prasas, falling on the ground appeared like mountain trees overthrown from the peaks.
पादाताश्चाप्यदृश्यन्त निघ्नन्तोऽथ परस्परम्। चित्ररूपधराः शूरा नखरप्रासयोधिनः॥
Heroic foot-soldiers of diverse appearance were seen to slay one another and to battle with lances that looked like their nails.
अन्योन्यं ते समासाद्य कुरुपाण्डवसैनिकाः। अस्त्रैर्नानाविधैर्घोरै रणे निन्युर्यमक्षयम्॥
The combatants of the Kuru and the Pandava troops nearing one another, began to dispatch one another to the regions of death, with arrows of diverse shapes.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो रथघोषेण नादयन्। अभ्यागमद् रणे पार्थान् धनुः शब्देन महोयन्॥
Thereafter Bhishma the son of Shantanu, rushed against the Pandava host, filling the heavens with the clatter of his car and confounding the enemies with the twang of his bow.
पाण्डवानां रथाश्चापि नदन्तो भैरवं स्वनम्। अभ्यद्रवन्त संयत्ता धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः॥
The car-warriors of the Pandava host also setting up a dreadful noise, rushed towards Bhishma, firmly resolved in fight and headed by Dhrishtadyumna himself.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तव तेषां च भारत। नराश्वरथनागानां व्यतिषक्तं परस्परम्॥
Then, O Bharata, raged the battle between your as well as the enemy's troops, consisting of men, steeds, cars and elephants battle in which the combatants became entangled with one another.