The Two Armies at Dawn

Verse 1 (6.16.1)

ततो रजन्यां व्युष्टायां शब्दः समभवन्महान् । क्रोशतां भूमिपालानां युज्यतां युज्यतामिति ॥

tato rajanyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ śabdaḥ samabhavanmahān | krośatāṃ bhūmipālānāṃ yujyatāṃ yujyatāmiti

Then, when the night had passed, a great clamour arose as the kings cried out, “Yoke! Yoke!”

Note on the text: Corrected भूमिपलानां → भूमिपालानां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign; the critical edition reads bhūmipālānāṃ).

Verse 2 (6.16.2)

शङ्खदुन्दुभिघोषैश्च सिंहनादैश्च भारत । हयहेषितनादैश्च रथनेमिस्वनैस्तथा ॥

śaṅkhadundubhighoṣaiśca siṃhanādaiśca bhārata | hayaheṣitanādaiśca rathanemisvanaistathā

With the blare of conches and drums and with lion-roars, Bharata, with the neighing of horses and the rumble of chariot wheels,

Verse 3 (6.16.3)

गजानां बृहतां चैव योधानां चापि गर्जताम् । क्ष्वेलितास्फोटितोत्क्रुष्टैस्तुमुलं सर्वतोऽभवत् ॥

gajānāṃ bṛhatāṃ caiva yodhānāṃ cāpi garjatām | kṣvelitāsphoṭitotkruṣṭaistumulaṃ sarvato'bhavat

with the cries of mighty elephants and of roaring warriors, with whoops, the slapping of arms and shouting, there was tumult on every side.

Note on the text: Corrected गाजानां → गजानां (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; the critical edition reads gajānāṃ).

Verse 4 (6.16.4)

उदतिष्ठन्महाराज सर्वं युक्तमशेषतः । सूर्योदये महत्सैन्यं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः ॥

udatiṣṭhanmahārāja sarvaṃ yuktamaśeṣataḥ | sūryodaye mahatsainyaṃ kurupāṇḍavasenayoḥ

Great king, at sunrise the great host of the armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas rose up, every part of it fully armed.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: it is the critical edition's 6.16.24a–d.

Verse 5 (6.16.5)

राजेन्द्र तव पुत्राणां पाण्डवानां तथैव च । दुष्प्रधृष्याणि चास्त्राणि सशस्त्रकवचानि च ॥

rājendra tava putrāṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ tathaiva ca | duṣpradhṛṣyāṇi cāstrāṇi saśastrakavacāni ca

O king of kings, of your sons and of the Pandavas alike, the weapons, with arms and armour, were hard to withstand.

Note on the text: Corrected सशस्रकवचानि → सशस्त्रकवचानि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त्; the critical edition's apparatus reads saśastrakavacāni). The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.16.24ef; line 2 is its star passage 6.16.24f*0064, line 1.

Verse 6 (6.16.6)

ततः प्रकाशे सैन्यानि समदृश्यन्त भारत । त्वदीयानां परेषां च शस्त्रवन्ति महान्ति च ॥

tataḥ prakāśe sainyāni samadṛśyanta bhārata | tvadīyānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca śastravanti mahānti ca

Then, in the light, the armies were seen, Bharata, yours and the enemy’s, armed and vast.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 6.16.24f*0064, lines 2–3.

Verse 7 (6.16.7)

तत्र नागा रथाश्चैव जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृताः । विभ्राजमाना दृश्यन्ते मेघा इव सविद्युतः ॥

tatra nāgā rathāścaiva jāmbūnadapariṣkṛtāḥ | vibhrājamānā dṛśyante meghā iva savidyutaḥ

There elephants and chariots adorned with gold were seen gleaming like clouds lit with lightning.

Verse 8 (6.16.8)

रथानीकान्यदृश्यन्त नगराणीव भूरिशः । अतीव शुशुभे तत्र पिता ते पूर्णचन्द्रवत् ॥

rathānīkānyadṛśyanta nagarāṇīva bhūriśaḥ | atīva śuśubhe tatra pitā te pūrṇacandravat

Chariot divisions appeared in great number like cities, and there your father shone exceedingly, like the full moon.

Verse 9 (6.16.9)

धनुर्भिर्ऋष्टिभिः खड्गैर्गदाभिः शक्तितोमरैः । योधाः प्रहरणैः शुभ्रैस्तेष्वनीकेष्ववस्थिताः ॥

dhanurbhirṛṣṭibhiḥ khaḍgairgadābhiḥ śaktitomaraiḥ | yodhāḥ praharaṇaiḥ śubhraisteṣvanīkeṣvavasthitāḥ

With bows, spears, swords, maces, javelins and lances, with gleaming weapons, the warriors stood in those ranks.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गैर् → खड्गैर् (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads khaḍgair).

Verse 10 (6.16.10)

गजाः पदाता रथिनस्तुरगाश्च विशांपते । व्यतिष्ठन्वागुराकाराः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

gajāḥ padātā rathinasturagāśca viśāṃpate | vyatiṣṭhanvāgurākārāḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

Elephants, foot-soldiers, chariot-fighters and horses, lord of the people, stood by hundreds and by thousands, spread out like snares.

Verse 11 (6.16.11)

ध्वजा बहुविधाकारा व्यदृश्यन्त समुच्छ्रिताः । स्वेषां चैव परेषां च द्युतिमन्तः सहस्रशः ॥

dhvajā bahuvidhākārā vyadṛśyanta samucchritāḥ | sveṣāṃ caiva pareṣāṃ ca dyutimantaḥ sahasraśaḥ

Banners of many shapes were seen raised high, ours and the enemy’s, gleaming by the thousand.

Verse 12 (6.16.12)

काञ्चना मणिचित्राङ्गा ज्वलन्त इव पावकाः । अर्चिष्मन्तो व्यरोचन्त गजारोहाः सहस्रशः ॥

kāñcanā maṇicitrāṅgā jvalanta iva pāvakāḥ | arciṣmanto vyarocanta gajārohāḥ sahasraśaḥ

Decked in gold, their limbs bright with jewels, blazing like fires, thousands of elephant-riders shone in their radiance.

Verse 13 (6.16.13)

महेन्द्रकेतवः शुभ्रा महेन्द्रसदनेष्विव । सन्नद्धास्ते प्रवीराश्च ददृशुर्युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः ॥

mahendraketavaḥ śubhrā mahendrasadaneṣviva | sannaddhāste pravīrāśca dadṛśuryuddhakāṅkṣiṇaḥ

They were like Indra’s bright banners in Indra’s abode; and the champions, armed and eager for battle, gazed on them.

Verse 14 (6.16.14)

उद्यतैरायुधैश्चित्रास्तलबद्धाः कलापिनः । ऋषभाक्षा मनुष्येन्द्राश्चमूमुखगता बभुः ॥

udyatairāyudhaiścitrāstalabaddhāḥ kalāpinaḥ | ṛṣabhākṣā manuṣyendrāścamūmukhagatā babhuḥ

Bright with raised weapons, with leather guards bound on their arms and quivers on their backs, the bull-eyed lords of men stood shining at the head of the hosts.

Verse 15 (6.16.15)

शकुनिः सौबलः शल्य आवन्त्योऽथ जयद्रथः । विन्दानुविन्दौ कैकेयाः काम्भोजश्च सुदक्षिणः ॥

śakuniḥ saubalaḥ śalya āvantyo'tha jayadrathaḥ | vindānuvindau kaikeyāḥ kāmbhojaśca sudakṣiṇaḥ

Shakuni son of Subala, Shalya, the prince of Avanti and Jayadratha, Vinda and Anuvinda, the Kekayas, Sudakshina of Kamboja,

Note on the text: Recension variants kept: line 1 reads आवन्त्योऽथ (the critical edition, 6.16.33, saindhavo 'tha) and line 2 कैकेयाः (the critical edition āvantyau).

Verse 16 (6.16.16)

श्रुतायुधश्च कालिङ्गो जयत्सेनश्च पार्थिवः । बृहद्बलश्च कौशल्यः कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः ॥

śrutāyudhaśca kāliṅgo jayatsenaśca pārthivaḥ | bṛhadbalaśca kauśalyaḥ kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ

Shrutayudha of Kalinga, King Jayatsena, Brihadbala of Kosala, and Kritavarma of the Satvatas:

Verse 17 (6.16.17)

दशैते पुरुषव्याघ्राः शूराः परिघबाहवः । अक्षौहिणीनां पतयो यज्वानो भूरिदक्षिणाः ॥

daśaite puruṣavyāghrāḥ śūrāḥ parighabāhavaḥ | akṣauhiṇīnāṃ patayo yajvāno bhūridakṣiṇāḥ

these ten tigers among men, heroes with arms like iron bars, were lords of akshauhinis, men who had offered sacrifices with lavish gifts.

Verse 18 (6.16.18)

एते चान्ये च बहवो दुर्योधनवशानुगाः । राजानो राजपुत्राश्च नीतिमन्तो महारथाः ॥

ete cānye ca bahavo duryodhanavaśānugāḥ | rājāno rājaputrāśca nītimanto mahārathāḥ

These and many others, kings and princes obedient to Duryodhana, wise in policy, great chariot-warriors,

Verse 19 (6.16.19)

सन्नद्धाः समदृश्यन्त स्वेष्वनीकेष्ववस्थिताः । बद्धकृष्णाजिनाः सर्वे बलिनो युद्धशालिनः ॥

sannaddhāḥ samadṛśyanta sveṣvanīkeṣvavasthitāḥ | baddhakṛṣṇājināḥ sarve balino yuddhaśālinaḥ

were seen in armour, each stationed in his own division, all of them with black antelope skins bound on, strong and skilled in war.

Note on the text: Corrected समदृश्यन → समदृश्यन्त (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त; the critical edition reads samadṛśyanta).

Verse 20 (6.16.20)

हृष्टा दुर्योधनस्यार्थे ब्रह्मलोकाय दीक्षिताः । समर्था दश वाहिन्यः परिगृह्य व्यवस्थिताः ॥

hṛṣṭā duryodhanasyārthe brahmalokāya dīkṣitāḥ | samarthā daśa vāhinyaḥ parigṛhya vyavasthitāḥ

Joyful, consecrated for the world of Brahma for Duryodhana’s sake, they stood in position at the head of ten able armies.

Verse 21 (6.16.21)

एकादशी धार्तराष्ट्री कौरवाणां महाचमूः । अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां यत्र शान्तनवोऽग्रणीः ॥

ekādaśī dhārtarāṣṭrī kauravāṇāṃ mahācamūḥ | agrataḥ sarvasainyānāṃ yatra śāntanavo'graṇīḥ

The eleventh, the great host of the Kauravas, Dhritarashtra’s own, stood at the front of all the armies, where the son of Shantanu was the leader.

Verse 22 (6.16.22)

श्वेतोष्णीषं श्वेतहयं श्वेतवर्माणमच्युतम् । अपश्याम महाराज भीष्मं चन्द्रमिवोदितम् ॥

śvetoṣṇīṣaṃ śvetahayaṃ śvetavarmāṇamacyutam | apaśyāma mahārāja bhīṣmaṃ candramivoditam

White-turbaned, with white horses and white armour, unswerving: so we saw Bhishma, great king, like the risen moon.

Verse 23 (6.16.23)

हेमतालध्वजं भीष्मं राजते स्यन्दने स्थितम् । श्वेताभ्र इव तीक्ष्णांशुं ददृशुः कुरुपाण्डवाः ॥

hematāladhvajaṃ bhīṣmaṃ rājate syandane sthitam | śvetābhra iva tīkṣṇāṃśuṃ dadṛśuḥ kurupāṇḍavāḥ

Bhishma, with his golden palm-tree banner, standing on his silver chariot: the Kurus and the Pandavas saw him like the sun in a white cloud.

Note on the text: Corrected स्यन्दते → स्यन्दने (misprint in Wikisource; त for न; the critical edition reads syandane).

Verse 24 (6.16.24)

दृष्ट्वा चमूमुखे भीष्मं समकम्पन्त पाण्डवाः । सृञ्जयाश्च महेष्वासा धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः । जृम्भमाणं महासिंहं दृष्ट्वा क्षुद्रमृगा यथा ॥

dṛṣṭvā camūmukhe bhīṣmaṃ samakampanta pāṇḍavāḥ | sṛñjayāśca maheṣvāsā dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ | jṛmbhamāṇaṃ mahāsiṃhaṃ dṛṣṭvā kṣudramṛgā yathā

Seeing Bhishma at the head of the host, the Pandavas trembled, and so did the Srinjayas, great archers, led by Dhrishtadyumna, like small beasts at the sight of a great lion yawning.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 6.16.42 and line 3 is 6.16.43ab.

Verse 25 (6.16.25)

धृष्टद्युम्नमुखाः सर्वे समुद्विविजिरे मुहुः । एकादशैताः श्रीजुष्टा वाहिन्यस्तव पार्थिव ॥

dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhāḥ sarve samudvivijire muhuḥ | ekādaśaitāḥ śrījuṣṭā vāhinyastava pārthiva

All those led by Dhrishtadyumna shuddered again and again. These eleven armies of yours, O king, were splendid,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.16.43cd and line 2 is 6.16.44ab (reading पार्थिव for bhārata).

Verse 26 (6.16.26)

पाण्डवानां तथा सप्त महापुरुषपालिताः । उन्मत्तमकरावर्तौ महाग्राहसमाकुलौ ॥

pāṇḍavānāṃ tathā sapta mahāpuruṣapālitāḥ | unmattamakarāvartau mahāgrāhasamākulau

and so were the seven of the Pandavas, guarded by great men. Like two oceans swirling with frenzied sea-monsters and teeming with great crocodiles,

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.16.44cd and line 2 is 6.16.45ab.

Verse 27 (6.16.27)

युगान्ते समवेतौ द्वौ दृश्येते सागराविव । नैव नस्तादृशो राजन्दृष्टपूर्वो न च श्रुतः । अनीकानां समेतानां कौरवाणां तथाविधः ॥

yugānte samavetau dvau dṛśyete sāgarāviva | naiva nastādṛśo rājandṛṣṭapūrvo na ca śrutaḥ | anīkānāṃ sametānāṃ kauravāṇāṃ tathāvidhaḥ

the two armies looked like oceans met together at the end of an age. Never before, O king, have we seen or heard of such a gathering of armies as this of the Kauravas.

Note on the text: The automatic alignment missed this verse: line 1 is the critical edition's 6.16.45cd (समवेतौ for samupetau) and lines 2–3 are 6.16.46 (कौरवाणां for samavāyas).