The Eighth Day: The Tortoise and the Horned Arrays

Verse 1 (6.87.1)

परिणाम्य निशां तां तु सुखसुप्ता जनेश्वराः । कुरवः पाण्डवाश्चैव पुनर्युद्धाय निर्ययुः ॥

pariṇāmya niśāṃ tāṃ tu sukhasuptā janeśvarāḥ | kuravaḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva punaryuddhāya niryayuḥ

When that night had passed, the lords of men, having slept well, Kurus and Pandavas alike, went out once more to battle.

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: checked against the raw Wikisource page (a table, one row per verse, 6-87-1 to 6-87-39, under one सञ्जय उवाच heading, ending with its colophon naming this the 87th adhyaya, on the eighth day of battle). The page also prints an unnumbered row between 6-87-20 and 6-87-21 that the input lacks; it is restored here as verse 21, so the adhyaya has 40 verses, together corresponding to the critical edition 6.83.1–39 (verses 29–32 here divide its three-line verses 6.83.29–31 into couplets). The critical edition's star passage *0335 is not on the page. Verse 16 (Yudhishthira's words) carries no heading on the page and is given to its speaker.

Verse 2 (6.87.2)

ततः शब्दो महानासीत्सेनयोरुभयोर्नृप । निर्गच्छमानयोः सङ्ख्ये यथा सागरयोरिव ॥

tataḥ śabdo mahānāsītsenayorubhayornṛpa | nirgacchamānayoḥ saṅkhye yathā sāgarayoriva

Then, O king, a great roar arose from both armies as they went out to the battle, like the roar of two oceans.

Note on the text: नृप and यथा सागरयोरिव (CE api, sāgarapratimo mahān) kept as variants.

Verse 3 (6.87.3)

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः । भीष्मश्च रथिनां श्रेष्ठो भारद्वाजश्च वै द्विजः ॥

tato duryodhano rājā citraseno viviṃśatiḥ | bhīṣmaśca rathināṃ śreṣṭho bhāradvājaśca vai dvijaḥ

Then King Duryodhana, Chitrasena, Vivimshati, Bhishma, best of chariot-fighters, and the Brahmin son of Bharadvaja (Drona),

Verse 4 (6.87.4)

एकीभूताः सुसंयत्ताः कौरवाणां महाचमूम् । व्यूहाय विदधू राजन्पाण्डवान्प्रतिदंशितान् ॥

ekībhūtāḥ susaṃyattāḥ kauravāṇāṃ mahācamūm | vyūhāya vidadhū rājanpāṇḍavānpratidaṃśitān

united and well prepared, O king, drew up the great army of the Kauravas in battle array against the armoured Pandavas.

Note on the text: महाचमूम् and पाण्डवान्प्रतिदंशितान् (CE mahācamūḥ, pāṇḍavān prati daṃśitāḥ) kept as variants.

Verse 5 (6.87.5)

कूर्मव्यूहं ततः कृत्वा पिता तव विशांपते । सागरप्रतिमं घोरं वाहनोर्मितरङ्गिणम् ॥

kūrmavyūhaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā pitā tava viśāṃpate | sāgarapratimaṃ ghoraṃ vāhanormitaraṅgiṇam

Your father (Bhishma), lord of the people, then formed the tortoise array, dreadful and like the ocean, its surging mounts for waves.

Note on the text: कूर्मव्यूहं ततः कृत्वा (CE bhīṣmaḥ kṛtvā mahāvyūhaṃ, which does not name the array) kept as a variant.

Verse 6 (6.87.6)

अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां भीष्मः शान्तनवो ययौ । मालवैर्दाक्षिणात्यैश्च आवन्त्यैश्च समन्वितः ॥

agrataḥ sarvasainyānāṃ bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo yayau | mālavairdākṣiṇātyaiśca āvantyaiśca samanvitaḥ

At the head of all the troops went Bhishma son of Shantanu, accompanied by the Malavas, the southerners and the men of Avanti.

Verse 7 (6.87.7)

ततोऽनन्तरमेवासीद्भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् । पुलिन्दैः पारदैश्चैव तथा क्षुद्रकमालवैः ॥

tato'nantaramevāsīdbhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān | pulindaiḥ pāradaiścaiva tathā kṣudrakamālavaiḥ

Right behind him was the valiant son of Bharadvaja, with the Pulindas, the Paradas and the Kshudraka-Malavas.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रतापवान → प्रतापवान् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped virama, critical edition pratāpavān).

Verse 8 (6.87.8)

द्रोणादनन्तरं यत्तो भगदत्तः प्रतापवान् । मगधैश्च कलिङ्गैश्च पिशाचैश्च विशांपते ॥

droṇādanantaraṃ yatto bhagadattaḥ pratāpavān | magadhaiśca kaliṅgaiśca piśācaiśca viśāṃpate

After Drona came the valiant Bhagadatta, ready for battle, with the Magadhas, the Kalingas and the Pishachas, lord of the people.

Note on the text: मगधैश् (CE māgadhaiś) kept as a variant.

Verse 9 (6.87.9)

प्राग्ज्योतिषादनु नृपः कौसल्योऽथ बृहद्बलः । मेकलैः कुरुविन्दैश्च त्रैपुरैश्च समन्वितः ॥

prāgjyotiṣādanu nṛpaḥ kausalyo'tha bṛhadbalaḥ | mekalaiḥ kuruvindaiśca traipuraiśca samanvitaḥ

After the king of Pragjyotisha came King Brihadbala of Kosala, accompanied by the Mekalas, the Kuruvindas and the Traipuras.

Note on the text: Corrected समन्विताः → समन्वितः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ा, the participle agrees with the singular बृहद्बलः, critical edition samanvitaḥ). मेकलैः कुरुविन्दैश्च त्रैपुरैश्च (CE mekalais traipuraiś caiva cicchilaiś ca) kept as a variant.

Verse 10 (6.87.10)

बृहद्बलादनु नृपस्त्रिगर्तः प्रस्थलाधिपः । काम्भोजैर्बहुभिः सार्धं यवनैश्च सहस्रशः ॥

bṛhadbalādanu nṛpastrigartaḥ prasthalādhipaḥ | kāmbhojairbahubhiḥ sārdhaṃ yavanaiśca sahasraśaḥ

After Brihadbala came the Trigarta king, lord of Prasthala, with many Kambojas and with Yavanas by the thousands.

Note on the text: बृहद्बलादनु नृपस् (CE bṛhadbalāt tataḥ śūras) kept as a variant.

Verse 11 (6.87.11)

द्रौणिस्तु रभसः शूरस्त्रैगर्तादनु भारत । प्रययौ सिंहनादेन नादयानो धरातलम् ॥

drauṇistu rabhasaḥ śūrastraigartādanu bhārata | prayayau siṃhanādena nādayāno dharātalam

After the Trigarta king, O Bharata, went the fierce hero, Drona's son, making the earth resound with his lion-roar.

Verse 12 (6.87.12)

तथा सर्वेण सैन्येन राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा । द्रौणेरनन्तरं प्रायात्सोदर्यैः परिवारितः ॥

tathā sarveṇa sainyena rājā duryodhanastadā | drauṇeranantaraṃ prāyātsodaryaiḥ parivāritaḥ

Then, behind Drona's son, went King Duryodhana with his whole army, surrounded by his brothers.

Verse 13 (6.87.13)

दुर्योधनादनु ततः कृपः शारद्वतो ययौ । एवमेष महाव्यूहः प्रययौ सागरोपमः ॥

duryodhanādanu tataḥ kṛpaḥ śāradvato yayau | evameṣa mahāvyūhaḥ prayayau sāgaropamaḥ

After Duryodhana went Kripa, son of Sharadvat. Thus that great array, like the ocean, moved forward.

Verse 14 (6.87.14)

रेजुस्तत्र पताकाश्च श्वेतच्छत्राणि भारत । अङ्गदान्यत्र चित्राणि महार्हाणि धनूंषि च ॥

rejustatra patākāśca śvetacchatrāṇi bhārata | aṅgadānyatra citrāṇi mahārhāṇi dhanūṃṣi ca

Banners and white parasols shone there, O Bharata, and bright armlets and costly bows.

Note on the text: भारत and अत्र (CE cābhibho, atha) kept as variants.

Verse 15 (6.87.15)

तं तु दृष्ट्वा महाव्यूहं तावकानां महारथः । युधिष्ठिरोऽब्रवीत्तूर्णं पार्षतं पृतनापतिम् ॥

taṃ tu dṛṣṭvā mahāvyūhaṃ tāvakānāṃ mahārathaḥ | yudhiṣṭhiro'bravīttūrṇaṃ pārṣataṃ pṛtanāpatim

Seeing that great array of your men, the great chariot-fighter Yudhishthira quickly said to the son of Prishata, commander of the army:

Verse 16 (6.87.16)

पश्य व्यूहं महेष्वास निर्मितं सागरोपमम् । प्रतिव्यूहं रणे शूर कुरु क्षिप्रं महारथ ॥

paśya vyūhaṃ maheṣvāsa nirmitaṃ sāgaropamam | prativyūhaṃ raṇe śūra kuru kṣipraṃ mahāratha

"Look at the array, great bowman, formed like the ocean. Quickly make a counter-array in the battle, hero, great chariot-fighter."

Note on the text: Speaker: Yudhishthira's words to Dhrishtadyumna, introduced in verse 15; the page prints no heading here. The second line (CE prativyūhaṃ tvam api hi kuru pārṣata māciram) is kept as a variant.

Verse 17 (6.87.17)

ततः स पार्षतः क्रूरो व्यूहं चक्रे सुदारुणम् । शृङ्गाटकं महाराज परव्यूहविनाशनम् ॥

tataḥ sa pārṣataḥ krūro vyūhaṃ cakre sudāruṇam | śṛṅgāṭakaṃ mahārāja paravyūhavināśanam

Then that fierce son of Prishata formed a most dreadful array, great king: the horned Shringataka, destroyer of enemy arrays.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रृङ्गाटकं → शृङ्गाटकं (misprint in Wikisource; श्रृ for शृ, critical edition śṛṅgāṭakaṃ). क्रूरो (CE śūro) kept as a variant.

Verse 18 (6.87.18)

शृङ्गाभ्यां भीमसेनश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः । रथैरनेकसाहस्रैस्तथा हयपदातिभिः ॥

śṛṅgābhyāṃ bhīmasenaśca sātyakiśca mahārathaḥ | rathairanekasāhasraistathā hayapadātibhiḥ

At its two horns were Bhimasena and the great chariot-fighter Satyaki, with many thousands of chariots and with horse and foot.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रृङ्गाभ्यां → शृङ्गाभ्यां (misprint in Wikisource; श्रृ for शृ). The dual शृङ्गाभ्यां (CE śṛṅgebhyo) kept as a variant.

Verse 19 (6.87.19)

नाभावभून्नरश्रेष्ठः श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथिः । मध्ये युधिष्ठिरो राजा माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ ॥

nābhāvabhūnnaraśreṣṭhaḥ śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ | madhye yudhiṣṭhiro rājā mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau

At its navel was the best of men, he of the white horses, with Krishna for his charioteer (Arjuna); in the middle were King Yudhishthira and the two Pandava sons of Madri.

Note on the text: कृष्णसारथिः (CE vānaradhvajaḥ) kept as a variant.

Verse 20 (6.87.20)

अथेतरे महेष्वासाः सहसैन्या नराधिपाः । व्यूहं तं पूरयामासुर्व्यूहशास्त्रविशारदाः ॥

athetare maheṣvāsāḥ sahasainyā narādhipāḥ | vyūhaṃ taṃ pūrayāmāsurvyūhaśāstraviśāradāḥ

The other kings, great bowmen with their armies, skilled in the science of arrays, filled out that array.

Verse 21 (6.87.21)

अभिमन्युस्ततः पश्चाद् विराटश्च महारथः । द्रौपदेयाश्च संहृष्टा राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः ॥

abhimanyustataḥ paścād virāṭaśca mahārathaḥ | draupadeyāśca saṃhṛṣṭā rākṣasaśca ghaṭotkacaḥ

Behind them were Abhimanyu and the great chariot-fighter Virata, the delighted sons of Draupadi, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha.

Note on the text: Restored from the raw Wikisource page: the page prints this verse in its own row between 6-87-20 and 6-87-21 with the verse-id cell left blank, and the input dropped it; it is the critical edition's 6.83.21, word for word. Text as the page prints it (the ` ।।` end-mark normalised to ॥); wikisource_number is null because the page gives it no number.

Verse 22 (6.87.22)

एवमेतं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः । अतिष्ठन्समरे शूरा योद्धुकामा जयैषिणः ॥

evametaṃ mahāvyūhaṃ vyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavāḥ | atiṣṭhansamare śūrā yoddhukāmā jayaiṣiṇaḥ

Having drawn up this great array, O Bharata, the Pandava heroes stood on the field, eager to fight and longing for victory.

Verse 23 (6.87.23)

भेरीशब्दैश्च विमलैर्विमिश्रैः शङ्खनिःस्वनैः । क्ष्वेडितास्फोटितोत्क्रुष्टैर्नादिताः सर्वतो दिशः ॥

bherīśabdaiśca vimalairvimiśraiḥ śaṅkhaniḥsvanaiḥ | kṣveḍitāsphoṭitotkruṣṭairnāditāḥ sarvato diśaḥ

With the clear sounds of kettledrums mingled with the blasts of conches, and with war cries, the slapping of arms and shouts, every quarter resounded.

Note on the text: भेरीशब्दैश्च विमलैर्विमिश्रैः and नादिताः सर्वतो दिशः (CE bherīśabdāś ca tumulā vimiśrāḥ, subhīmāḥ sarvatodiśam) kept as variants.

Verse 24 (6.87.24)

ततः शूराः समासाद्य समरे ते परस्परम् । नेत्रैरनिमिषै राजन्नवैक्षन्त परस्परम् ॥

tataḥ śūrāḥ samāsādya samare te parasparam | netrairanimiṣai rājannavaikṣanta parasparam

Then the heroes, coming face to face on the field, gazed at one another with unblinking eyes, O king.

Note on the text: Corrected परस्परम → परस्परम् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped virama, critical edition parasparam). परस्परम् at the end of the second line (CE prakopitāḥ) kept as a variant.

Verse 25 (6.87.25)

मनोभिस्ते मनुष्येन्द्र युद्धं योधाः प्रचक्रिरे । पुनराहूय तेऽन्योन्यं शरीरैरपि चक्रिरे ॥

manobhiste manuṣyendra yuddhaṃ yodhāḥ pracakrire | punarāhūya te'nyonyaṃ śarīrairapi cakrire

In their minds, lord of men, the warriors had already fought the battle; then, challenging one another again, they fought it with their bodies too.

Note on the text: Removed the stray quote marks (a backtick and an apostrophe) around the first line, and the extra । after them, as printed on the page. The verse corresponds loosely to the critical edition's 6.83.25 (manobhis te manuṣyendra pūrvaṃ yodhāḥ parasparam / yuddhāya samavartanta samāhūyetaretaram), which the alignment did not pair; the page's wording of both lines differs and is kept as a variant.

Verse 26 (6.87.26)

ततः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं भयावहम् । तावकानां परेषां च निघ्नतामितरेतरम् ॥

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayāvaham | tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca nighnatāmitaretaram

Then a battle began, terrible in form and fearful, between your men and the enemy, as they killed one another.

Verse 27 (6.87.27)

नाराचा निशिताः सङ्ख्ये संपतन्ति स्म भारत । व्यात्तानना भयकरा उरगा इव सङ्घशः ॥

nārācā niśitāḥ saṅkhye saṃpatanti sma bhārata | vyāttānanā bhayakarā uragā iva saṅghaśaḥ

Sharp iron shafts fell in swarms in the battle, O Bharata, like fearsome serpents with gaping mouths.

Verse 28 (6.87.28)

निष्पेतुर्विमलाः शक्त्यस्तैलधौताः सुतेजनाः । अम्बुदेभ्यो यथा राजन्भ्राजमानाः शतह्रदाः ॥

niṣpeturvimalāḥ śaktyastailadhautāḥ sutejanāḥ | ambudebhyo yathā rājanbhrājamānāḥ śatahradāḥ

Gleaming spears, washed in oil and keenly whetted, flew out like flashing lightning from the clouds, O king.

Verse 29 (6.87.29)

गदाश्च विमलैः पट्टैः पिनद्धाः स्वर्णभूषिताः । पतन्त्यस्तत्र दृश्यन्ते गिरिशृङ्गोपमाः शुभाः ॥

gadāśca vimalaiḥ paṭṭaiḥ pinaddhāḥ svarṇabhūṣitāḥ | patantyastatra dṛśyante giriśṛṅgopamāḥ śubhāḥ

Maces bound with bright bands and adorned with gold were seen falling there, beautiful, like mountain peaks.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 6.83.29ab (Wikisource divides the critical edition's three-line verses here into couplets, so nothing is lost: verses 28–32 here = critical edition 6.83.29–31; the alignment did not pair them). Corrected दृस्यन्ते → दृश्यन्ते (misprint in Wikisource; स for श, critical edition dṛśyante).

Verse 30 (6.87.30)

निस्त्रिंशाश्च व्यदृश्यन्त विमलाम्बरसन्निभाः । आर्षभाणि च चर्माणि शतचन्द्राणि भारत ॥

nistriṃśāśca vyadṛśyanta vimalāmbarasannibhāḥ | ārṣabhāṇi ca carmāṇi śatacandrāṇi bhārata

Swords were seen like the clear sky, and shields of bull's hide, decked with a hundred moons, O Bharata,

Note on the text: Corresponds to 6.83.29ef + 6.83.30ab (Wikisource divides the critical edition's three-line verses here into couplets, so nothing is lost). Corrected भारतत → भारत (misprint in Wikisource; a doubled त, critical edition bhārata). व्यदृश्यन्त (CE vyarājanta) kept as a variant.

Verse 31 (6.87.31)

अशोभन्त रणे राजन्पात्यमानानि सर्वशः । तेऽन्योन्यं समरे सेने युध्यमाने नराधिप ॥

aśobhanta raṇe rājanpātyamānāni sarvaśaḥ | te'nyonyaṃ samare sene yudhyamāne narādhipa

shone everywhere in the battle, O king, as they were struck down. The two armies, fighting each other in the battle, lord of men,

Note on the text: Corresponds to 6.83.30cd + 6.83.31ab (Wikisource divides the critical edition's three-line verses here into couplets, so nothing is lost). पात्यमानानि (CE patamānāni) kept as a variant. The critical edition's star passage *0335 is not on the page.

Verse 32 (6.87.32)

अशोभेतां यथा देवदैत्यसेने समुद्यते । अभ्यद्रवन्त समरे तेऽन्योन्यं वै समन्ततः ॥

aśobhetāṃ yathā devadaityasene samudyate | abhyadravanta samare te'nyonyaṃ vai samantataḥ

looked splendid, like the armies of the gods and the Daityas drawn up for battle. They rushed at one another in the battle from every side.

Note on the text: Corresponds to 6.83.31cd + 6.83.31ef (Wikisource divides the critical edition's three-line verses here into couplets, so nothing is lost). देवदैत्यसेने (CE daityadevasene) kept as a variant.

Verse 33 (6.87.33)

रथास्तु रथिभिस्तूर्णं प्रेषिताः परमाहवे । युगैर्युगानि संश्लिष्य युयुधुः पार्थिवर्षभाः ॥

rathāstu rathibhistūrṇaṃ preṣitāḥ paramāhave | yugairyugāni saṃśliṣya yuyudhuḥ pārthivarṣabhāḥ

Chariots, swiftly driven by their warriors in that great battle, locked yoke against yoke, and the bulls among kings fought on.

Verse 34 (6.87.34)

दन्तिनां युध्यमानानां संघर्षात्पावकोऽभवत् । दन्तेषु भरतश्रेष्ठ सधूमः सर्वतो दिशम् ॥

dantināṃ yudhyamānānāṃ saṃgharṣātpāvako'bhavat | danteṣu bharataśreṣṭha sadhūmaḥ sarvato diśam

From the clash of the fighting tuskers, best of the Bharatas, fire with smoke sprang up on their tusks on every side.

Verse 35 (6.87.35)

प्रासैरभिहताः केचिद्गजयोधाः समन्ततः । पतमानाः स्म दृश्यन्ते गिरिशृङ्गान्नगा इव ॥

prāsairabhihatāḥ kecidgajayodhāḥ samantataḥ | patamānāḥ sma dṛśyante giriśṛṅgānnagā iva

Some elephant-warriors, struck by darts on every side, were seen falling like trees from a mountain peak.

Verse 36 (6.87.36)

पादाताश्चाप्यदृश्यन्त निघ्नन्तोऽथ परस्परम् । चित्ररूपधराः शूरा नखरप्रासयोधिनः ॥

pādātāścāpyadṛśyanta nighnanto'tha parasparam | citrarūpadharāḥ śūrā nakharaprāsayodhinaḥ

Foot soldiers too were seen striking one another down, heroes of wonderful appearance fighting with claws and darts.

Verse 37 (6.87.37)

अन्योन्यं ते समासाद्य कुरुपाण्डवसैनिकाः । अस्त्रैर्नानाविधैर्घोरै रणे निन्युर्यमक्षयम् ॥

anyonyaṃ te samāsādya kurupāṇḍavasainikāḥ | astrairnānāvidhairghorai raṇe ninyuryamakṣayam

The soldiers of the Kurus and the Pandavas, falling upon one another, sent each other to the abode of Yama with dreadful weapons of many kinds.

Note on the text: अस्त्रैर् (CE śastrair) kept as a variant.

Verse 38 (6.87.38)

ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो रथघोषेण नादयन् । अभ्यागमद्रणे पार्थान्धनुःशब्देन मोहयन् ॥

tataḥ śāntanavo bhīṣmo rathaghoṣeṇa nādayan | abhyāgamadraṇe pārthāndhanuḥśabdena mohayan

Then Bhishma son of Shantanu, making the field resound with the rumble of his chariot and bewildering the Parthas with the twang of his bow, came against them in the battle.

Verse 39 (6.87.39)

पाण्डवानां रथाश्चापि नदन्तो भैरवं स्वनम् । अभ्यद्रवन्त संयत्ता धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः ॥

pāṇḍavānāṃ rathāścāpi nadanto bhairavaṃ svanam | abhyadravanta saṃyattā dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ

The chariots of the Pandavas too, raising a fearful roar, rushed forward in readiness, led by Dhrishtadyumna.

Verse 40 (6.87.40)

ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तव तेषां च भारत । नराश्वरथनागानां व्यतिषक्तं परस्परम् ॥

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata | narāśvarathanāgānāṃ vyatiṣaktaṃ parasparam

Then began a battle between your men and theirs, O Bharata, in which men, horses, chariots and elephants were entangled with one another.