The Two Armies Face Each Other

Verse 1 (6.20.1)

सूर्योदये सञ्जय के नु पूर्वं । युयुत्सवो हृष्यमाणा इवासन् । मामका वा भीष्मनेत्राः समीपे । पाण्डवा वा भीमनेत्रास्तदानीम् ॥

sūryodaye sañjaya ke nu pūrvaṃ | yuyutsavo hṛṣyamāṇā ivāsan | māmakā vā bhīṣmanetrāḥ samīpe | pāṇḍavā vā bhīmanetrāstadānīm

At sunrise, Sanjaya, who were the first to show themselves eager for battle, as if rejoicing — my men, led by Bhishma, at close quarters, or the Pandavas, led by Bhima?

Verse 2 (6.20.2)

केषां जघन्यौ सोमसूर्यौ सवायू । केषां सेनां श्वापदाश्चाभषन्त । केषां यूनां मुखवर्णाः प्रसन्नाः । सर्वं ह्येतद्ब्रूहि तत्त्वं यथावत् ॥

keṣāṃ jaghanyau somasūryau savāyū | keṣāṃ senāṃ śvāpadāścābhaṣanta | keṣāṃ yūnāṃ mukhavarṇāḥ prasannāḥ | sarvaṃ hyetadbrūhi tattvaṃ yathāvat

For whom did the moon and the sun, with the wind, stand behind? At whose army did the beasts of prey howl? Whose young men had bright faces? Tell me all this truly, just as it was.

Note on the text: Corrected समसूर्यौ → सोमसूर्यौ (misprint in Wikisource; अ for ओ, "moon and sun", the critical edition reads somasūryau).

Verse 3 (6.20.3)

उभे सेने तुल्यमिवोपयाते । उभे व्यूहे हृष्टरूपे नरेन्द्र । उभे चित्रे वनराजिप्रकाशे । तथैवोभे नागरथाश्वपूर्णे ॥

ubhe sene tulyamivopayāte | ubhe vyūhe hṛṣṭarūpe narendra | ubhe citre vanarājiprakāśe | tathaivobhe nāgarathāśvapūrṇe

Both armies came on as though equal, O lord of men; both arrays were joyful to see; both were bright like rows of forest, and both were filled with elephants, chariots and horses.

Verse 4 (6.20.4)

उभे सेने बृहत्यौ भीमरूपे । तथैवोभे भारत दुर्विषह्ये । तथैवोभे स्वर्गजयाय सृष्टे । तथैवोभे सत्पुरुषोपजुष्टे ॥

ubhe sene bṛhatyau bhīmarūpe | tathaivobhe bhārata durviṣahye | tathaivobhe svargajayāya sṛṣṭe | tathaivobhe satpuruṣopajuṣṭe

Both armies were vast and terrible in form, and both, O Bharata, were hard to withstand; both were formed for the winning of heaven, and both were served by good men.

Verse 5 (6.20.5)

पश्चान्मुखाः कुरवो धार्तराष्ट्राः । स्थिताः पार्थाः प्राङ्मुखा योत्स्यमानाः । दैत्येन्द्रसेनेव च कौरवाणां । देवेन्द्रसेनेव च पाण्डवानाम् ॥

paścānmukhāḥ kuravo dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ | sthitāḥ pārthāḥ prāṅmukhā yotsyamānāḥ | daityendraseneva ca kauravāṇāṃ | devendraseneva ca pāṇḍavānām

The Kurus, the sons of Dhritarashtra, faced west; the Parthas stood facing east, ready to fight. The host of the Kauravas was like the army of the lord of the Daityas, and that of the Pandavas like the army of the lord of the gods.

Verse 6 (6.20.6)

शीतो वायुः पृष्ठतः पाण्डवानां । धार्तराष्ट्राञ्श्वापदा व्याहरन्त । गजेन्द्राणां मदगन्धांश्च तीव्रा- । न्न सेहिरे तव पुत्रस्य नागाः ॥

śīto vāyuḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ | dhārtarāṣṭrāñśvāpadā vyāharanta | gajendrāṇāṃ madagandhāṃśca tīvrā- | nna sehire tava putrasya nāgāḥ

A cool wind blew at the backs of the Pandavas, while beasts of prey howled at the Dhartarashtras; and your son's elephants could not bear the sharp scent of rut from the great elephants of the Pandavas.

Verse 7 (6.20.7)

दुर्योधनो हस्तिनं पद्मवर्णं । सुवर्णकक्षं जालवन्तं प्रभिन्नम् । समास्थितो मध्यगतः कुरूणां । संस्तूयमानो बन्दिभिर्मागधैश्च ॥

duryodhano hastinaṃ padmavarṇaṃ | suvarṇakakṣaṃ jālavantaṃ prabhinnam | samāsthito madhyagataḥ kurūṇāṃ | saṃstūyamāno bandibhirmāgadhaiśca

Duryodhana, mounted on a lotus-coloured elephant in rut, with a golden girth and a net of ornaments, was in the midst of the Kurus, praised by bards and Magadha heralds.

Verse 8 (6.20.8)

चन्द्रप्रभं श्वेतमथातपत्रं । सौवर्णस्रग्भ्राजति चोत्तमाङ्गे । तं सर्वतः शकुनिः पार्वतीयैः । सार्धं गान्धारैर्याति गान्धारराजः ॥

candraprabhaṃ śvetamathātapatraṃ | sauvarṇasragbhrājati cottamāṅge | taṃ sarvataḥ śakuniḥ pārvatīyaiḥ | sārdhaṃ gāndhārairyāti gāndhārarājaḥ

Over him was a white umbrella bright as the moon, and a golden garland gleamed on his head. Shakuni, king of Gandhara, moved around him on every side with the mountaineers and the Gandharas.

Verse 9 (6.20.9)

भीष्मोऽग्रतः सर्वसैन्यस्य वृद्धः । श्वेतच्छत्रः श्वेतधनुः सखड्गः । श्वेतोष्णीषः पाण्डुरेण ध्वजेन । श्वेतैरश्वैः श्वेतशैलप्रकाशैः ॥

bhīṣmo'grataḥ sarvasainyasya vṛddhaḥ | śvetacchatraḥ śvetadhanuḥ sakhaḍgaḥ | śvetoṣṇīṣaḥ pāṇḍureṇa dhvajena | śvetairaśvaiḥ śvetaśailaprakāśaiḥ

Aged Bhishma was at the head of the whole army, with a white umbrella, a white bow and a sword, a white turban and a pale standard, and white horses like white mountains.

Note on the text: Corrected सखङ्गः → सखड्गः (misprint in Wikisource; ङ्ग for ड्ग, "with a sword"; the critical edition reads saśaṅkhaḥ here, a different reading).

Verse 10 (6.20.10)

तस्य सैन्ये धार्तराष्ट्राश्च सर्वे । बाह्लीकानामेकदेशः शलश्च । ये चाम्बष्ठाः क्षत्रिया ये च सिन्धो- । स्तथा सौवीराः पञ्चनदाश्च शूराः ॥

tasya sainye dhārtarāṣṭrāśca sarve | bāhlīkānāmekadeśaḥ śalaśca | ye cāmbaṣṭhāḥ kṣatriyā ye ca sindho- | stathā sauvīrāḥ pañcanadāśca śūrāḥ

In his army were all the sons of Dhritarashtra, a part of the Bahlikas, and Shala; the Ambashtha kshatriyas and those of Sindhu, the Sauviras and the heroes of the Five Rivers.

Verse 11 (6.20.11)

शोणैर्हयै रुक्मरथो महात्मा । द्रोणो धनुष्पाणिरदीनसत्त्वः । आप्तो गुरुः प्रथितः सर्वराज्ञां । पश्चाच्चमूमिन्द्र इवाभियाति ॥

śoṇairhayai rukmaratho mahātmā | droṇo dhanuṣpāṇiradīnasattvaḥ | āpto guruḥ prathitaḥ sarvarājñāṃ | paścāccamūmindra ivābhiyāti

On a golden chariot drawn by red horses, the great-souled Drona, bow in hand, of undaunted spirit, the trusted teacher renowned among all kings, advanced behind the host like Indra.

Note on the text: Corrected अदीनसत्वः → अदीनसत्त्वः (misprint in Wikisource; a त dropped from सत्त्व).

Verse 12 (6.20.12)

वार्धक्षत्रिः सर्वसैन्यस्य मध्ये । भूरिश्रवाः पुरुमित्रो जयश्च । साल्वा मत्स्याः केकयाश्चेति सर्वे । गजानीकैर्भ्रातरो योत्स्यमानाः ॥

vārdhakṣatriḥ sarvasainyasya madhye | bhūriśravāḥ purumitro jayaśca | sālvā matsyāḥ kekayāśceti sarve | gajānīkairbhrātaro yotsyamānāḥ

In the midst of the whole army were Vardhakshatri, Bhurishravas, Purumitra and Jaya; and the Shalvas, Matsyas and Kekayas, all brothers, ready to fight with their divisions of elephants.

Verse 13 (6.20.13)

शारद्वतश्चोत्तरधूर्महात्मा । महेष्वासो गौतमश्चित्रयोधी । शकैः किरातैर्यवनैः पह्लवैश्च । सार्धं चमूमुत्तरतोऽभियाति ॥

śāradvataścottaradhūrmahātmā | maheṣvāso gautamaścitrayodhī | śakaiḥ kirātairyavanaiḥ pahlavaiśca | sārdhaṃ camūmuttarato'bhiyāti

The great-souled son of Sharadvat, bearing the northern flank, the great archer Gautama (Kripa), a master of varied fighting, advanced on the north of the host with the Shakas, Kiratas, Yavanas and Pahlavas.

Verse 14 (6.20.14)

महारथैर्वृष्णिभोजैः सुगुप्तं । सुराष्ट्रकैर्विदितैरात्तशस्त्रैः । बृहद्बलं कृतवर्माभिगुप्तं । बलं त्वदीयं दक्षिणेनाभियाति ॥

mahārathairvṛṣṇibhojaiḥ suguptaṃ | surāṣṭrakairviditairāttaśastraiḥ | bṛhadbalaṃ kṛtavarmābhiguptaṃ | balaṃ tvadīyaṃ dakṣiṇenābhiyāti

Well guarded by great chariot-warriors of the Vrishnis and Bhojas and by the famed men of Surashtra with weapons raised, your mighty force, protected by Kritavarma, advanced on the south.

Note on the text: Corrected वष्णिभोजैः → वृष्णिभोजैः (misprint in Wikisource; the vowel sign ृ dropped from वृष्णि, the critical edition reads vṛṣṇi-).

Verse 15 (6.20.15)

संशप्तकानामयुतं रथानां । मृत्युर्जयो वार्जुनस्येति सृष्टाः । येनार्जुनस्तेन राजन्कृतास्त्राः । प्रयातारस्ते त्रिगर्ताश्च शूराः ॥

saṃśaptakānāmayutaṃ rathānāṃ | mṛtyurjayo vārjunasyeti sṛṣṭāḥ | yenārjunastena rājankṛtāstrāḥ | prayātāraste trigartāśca śūrāḥ

Ten thousand chariots of the Samshaptakas, created for either Arjuna's death or their own victory, skilled in weapons, went wherever Arjuna went, O king — they and the heroic Trigartas.

Verse 16 (6.20.16)

साग्रं शतसहस्रं तु नागानां तव भारत । नागेनागे रथशतं शतमश्वा रथेरथे ॥

sāgraṃ śatasahasraṃ tu nāgānāṃ tava bhārata | nāgenāge rathaśataṃ śatamaśvā ratherathe

There were a full hundred thousand elephants and more on your side, O Bharata; to each elephant a hundred chariots, and to each chariot a hundred horses;

Verse 17 (6.20.17)

अश्वेऽश्वे दश धानुष्का धानुष्के दश चर्मिणः । एवं व्यूढान्यनीकानि भीष्मेण तव भारत ॥

aśve'śve daśa dhānuṣkā dhānuṣke daśa carmiṇaḥ | evaṃ vyūḍhānyanīkāni bhīṣmeṇa tava bhārata

to each horse ten archers, and to each archer ten shield-bearers. Thus were your divisions arrayed by Bhishma, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected शत → दश (misprint in Wikisource; शत without its ending is not a valid form here, and the critical edition reads dhānuṣke daśa carmiṇaḥ, matching दश in the first half-line).

Verse 18 (6.20.18)

संव्यूह्य मानुषं व्यूहं दैवं गान्धर्वमासुरम् । दिवसेदिवसे प्राप्ते भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽग्रणीः ॥

saṃvyūhya mānuṣaṃ vyūhaṃ daivaṃ gāndharvamāsuram | divasedivase prāpte bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo'graṇīḥ

Day after day, as each day came, Bhishma son of Shantanu arrayed the human array and those of the gods, the Gandharvas and the Asuras, and led in front.

Verse 19 (6.20.19)

महारथौघविपुलः समुद्र इव घोषवान् । भीष्मेण धार्तराष्ट्राणां व्यूहः प्रत्यङ्मुखो युधि ॥

mahārathaughavipulaḥ samudra iva ghoṣavān | bhīṣmeṇa dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ vyūhaḥ pratyaṅmukho yudhi

Teeming with masses of great chariot-warriors and roaring like the ocean, the array of the Dhartarashtras formed by Bhishma faced west for battle.

Verse 20 (6.20.20)

अनन्तरूपा ध्वजिनी नरेन्द्र । भीमा त्वदीया न तु पाण्डवानाम् । तां चैव मन्ये बृहतीं दुष्प्रधर्षां । यस्या नेता केशवश्चार्जुनश्च ॥

anantarūpā dhvajinī narendra | bhīmā tvadīyā na tu pāṇḍavānām | tāṃ caiva manye bṛhatīṃ duṣpradharṣāṃ | yasyā netā keśavaścārjunaśca

Your host, O lord of men, was boundless and terrible, and the Pandavas' was not. Yet it is that host I deem great and unassailable whose leader is Keshava, and Arjuna.

Note on the text: Corrected दुष्प्रघर्षां → दुष्प्रधर्षां (misprint in Wikisource; घ for ध, the critical edition reads duṣpradhṛṣyāṃ).