The Armies Gather for Both Sides

Verse 1 (5.19.1)

युयुधानस्ततो वीरः सात्वतानां महारथः । महता चतुरङ्गेण बलेनागाद्युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

yuyudhānastato vīraḥ sātvatānāṃ mahārathaḥ | mahatā caturaṅgeṇa balenāgādyudhiṣṭhiram

Then the hero Yuyudhana, great chariot-warrior of the Satvatas, came to Yudhishthira with a great army of four divisions.

Verse 2 (5.19.2)

तस्य योधा महावीर्या नानादेशसमागताः । नानाप्रहरणा वीराः शोभयांचक्रिरे बलम् ॥

tasya yodhā mahāvīryā nānādeśasamāgatāḥ | nānāpraharaṇā vīrāḥ śobhayāṃcakrire balam

His warriors, of great valour, gathered from many lands, heroes bearing many kinds of weapons, made that army splendid.

Verse 3 (5.19.3)

परश्वथैर्भिण्डिपालैः शूलतोमरमुद्गरैः । परिघैर्यष्टिभिः पाशैः करवालैश्च निर्मलैः ॥

paraśvathairbhiṇḍipālaiḥ śūlatomaramudgaraiḥ | parighairyaṣṭibhiḥ pāśaiḥ karavālaiśca nirmalaiḥ

With axes and bhindipalas, with spears, lances and maces, with iron bars, staves and nooses, and with spotless swords,

Note on the text: Line 2 differs from the critical edition, which reads śaktyṛṣṭiparaśuprāsaiḥ karavālaiś ca nirmalaiḥ (a recension variant).

Verse 4 (5.19.4)

खड्गकार्मुकनिर्यूहैः शरैश्च विविधैरपि । तैलधौतैः प्रकाशद्भिस्तदशोभत वै बलम् ॥

khaḍgakārmukaniryūhaiḥ śaraiśca vividhairapi | tailadhautaiḥ prakāśadbhistadaśobhata vai balam

with swords, bows and helmets, and arrows of many kinds, oiled and gleaming, that army shone.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्ग → खड्ग (misprint in Wikisource; खड्ग, "sword"; the critical edition reads khaḍga).

Verse 5 (5.19.5)

तस्य मेघप्रकाशस्य सौवर्णैः शोभितस्य च । बभूव रूपं सैन्यस्य मेघस्येव सविद्युतः ॥

tasya meghaprakāśasya sauvarṇaiḥ śobhitasya ca | babhūva rūpaṃ sainyasya meghasyeva savidyutaḥ

That army, dark as a cloud and adorned with gold, looked like a cloud lit by lightning.

Note on the text: Corrected सौवर्णौः → सौवर्णैः (misprint in Wikisource; wrong vowel sign for the instrumental plural ending -ैः).

Verse 6 (5.19.6)

अक्षौहिणी तु सा सेना तदा यौधिष्ठिरं बलम् । प्रविश्यान्तर्दधे राजन्सागरं कुनदी यथा ॥

akṣauhiṇī tu sā senā tadā yaudhiṣṭhiraṃ balam | praviśyāntardadhe rājansāgaraṃ kunadī yathā

That army was a full akshauhini, O king; entering Yudhishthira's host, it vanished within it like a small river into the ocean.

Verse 7 (5.19.7)

तथैवाक्षौहिणीं गृह्य चेदीनामृषभो बली । धृष्टकेतुरुपागच्छत्पाण्डवानमितौजसः ॥

tathaivākṣauhiṇīṃ gṛhya cedīnāmṛṣabho balī | dhṛṣṭaketurupāgacchatpāṇḍavānamitaujasaḥ

Likewise the mighty Dhrishtaketu, bull of the Chedis, brought an akshauhini and came to the Pandavas of boundless energy.

Note on the text: Corrected उपागच्चत् → उपागच्छत् (misprint in Wikisource; च for छ; the critical edition reads upāgacchat).

Verse 8 (5.19.8)

मागधश्च जयत्सेनो जारासन्धिर्महाबलः । अक्षौहिण्यैव सैन्यस्य धर्मराजमुपागमत् ॥

māgadhaśca jayatseno jārāsandhirmahābalaḥ | akṣauhiṇyaiva sainyasya dharmarājamupāgamat

And Jayatsena of Magadha, Jarasandha's son, of great strength, came to the King of Dharma with a full akshauhini of troops.

Verse 9 (5.19.9)

तथैव पाण्ड्यो राजेन्द्र सागरानूपवासिभिः । वृतो बहुविधैर्योधैर्युधिष्ठिरमुपागमत् ॥

tathaiva pāṇḍyo rājendra sāgarānūpavāsibhiḥ | vṛto bahuvidhairyodhairyudhiṣṭhiramupāgamat

Likewise the Pandya king, O king of kings, came to Yudhishthira surrounded by warriors of many kinds who dwelt in the lands along the sea.

Verse 10 (5.19.10)

तस्य सैन्यमतीवासीत्तस्मिन्बलसमागमे । प्रेक्षणीयतरं राजन्सुवेषं बलवत्तदा ॥

tasya sainyamatīvāsīttasminbalasamāgame | prekṣaṇīyataraṃ rājansuveṣaṃ balavattadā

At that gathering of forces his army, O king, was most splendid to behold, finely arrayed and strong.

Verse 11 (5.19.11)

केकयाश्च नरव्याघ्राः सोदराः पञ्च पार्थिवाः । संहर्षयन्तः कौन्तेयानक्षौहिण्या समागताः ॥

kekayāśca naravyāghrāḥ sodarāḥ pañca pārthivāḥ | saṃharṣayantaḥ kaunteyānakṣauhiṇyā samāgatāḥ

And the Kekayas, tigers among men, five royal brothers, came with an akshauhini, gladdening the sons of Kunti.

Note on the text: Removed Wikisource's interpolation marks (` … ') and a doubled danda. Corrected कौन्तेयोनक्षौहिण्या → कौन्तेयानक्षौहिण्या (misprint in Wikisource; accusative plural कौन्तेयान्). The critical edition has this verse later, as 5.19.25, where the Kekayas join Duryodhana (saṃharṣayantaḥ kauravyam … samādravan); Wikisource's reading places them with the Pandavas, and is kept.

Verse 12 (5.19.12)

द्रुपदस्याप्यभूत्सेना नानादेशसमागतैः । शोभिता पुरुषैः शूरैः पुत्रैश्चास्य महारथैः ॥

drupadasyāpyabhūtsenā nānādeśasamāgataiḥ | śobhitā puruṣaiḥ śūraiḥ putraiścāsya mahārathaiḥ

Drupada's army too, gathered from many lands, was made splendid by brave men and by his sons, great chariot-warriors.

Verse 13 (5.19.13)

तथैव राजा मत्स्यानां विराटो वाहिनीपतिः । पार्वतीयैर्महीपालैः सहितः पाण्डवानयात् ॥

tathaiva rājā matsyānāṃ virāṭo vāhinīpatiḥ | pārvatīyairmahīpālaiḥ sahitaḥ pāṇḍavānayāt

Likewise Virata, king of the Matsyas, lord of an army, came to the Pandavas with the kings of the mountains.

Verse 14 (5.19.14)

इतश्चेतश्च पाण्डूनां समाजग्मुर्महात्मनाम् । अक्षौहिण्यस्तु सप्तैव विविधध्वजसङ्कुलाः ॥

itaścetaśca pāṇḍūnāṃ samājagmurmahātmanām | akṣauhiṇyastu saptaiva vividhadhvajasaṅkulāḥ

From here and there seven akshauhinis in all, crowded with banners of many kinds, gathered for the great-souled Pandavas.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition (5.19.13 has three lines); this verse is 5.19.13ab–cd.

Verse 15 (5.19.15)

युयुत्समानाः कुरुभिः पाण्डवान्समहर्षयन् । तथैव धार्तराष्ट्रस्य हर्षं समभिवर्धयन् ॥

yuyutsamānāḥ kurubhiḥ pāṇḍavānsamaharṣayan | tathaiva dhārtarāṣṭrasya harṣaṃ samabhivardhayan

Eager to fight the Kurus, they gladdened the Pandavas. In the same way, increasing the joy of Dhritarashtra's son,

Note on the text: Corrected समभिर्धयन् → समभिवर्धयन् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped व; "increasing", as the critical edition reads samabhivardhayan). Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.13e, line 2 is 5.19.14a.

Verse 16 (5.19.16)

भगदत्तो महीपालः सेनामक्षौहिणीं ददौ । तस्य चीनैः किरातैश्च काञ्चनैरिव संवृतम् ॥

bhagadatto mahīpālaḥ senāmakṣauhiṇīṃ dadau | tasya cīnaiḥ kirātaiśca kāñcanairiva saṃvṛtam

King Bhagadatta gave an akshauhini. His army, filled with Chinas and Kiratas who looked as if made of gold,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.14c, line 2 is 5.19.15a.

Verse 17 (5.19.17)

बभौ बलमनाधृष्यं कर्णिकारवनं यथा । तथा भूरिश्रवाः शूरः शल्यश्च कुरुनन्दन ॥

babhau balamanādhṛṣyaṃ karṇikāravanaṃ yathā | tathā bhūriśravāḥ śūraḥ śalyaśca kurunandana

shone, unassailable, like a grove of karnikara trees. Likewise the hero Bhurishravas and Shalya, O joy of the Kurus,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.15c, line 2 is 5.19.16a.

Verse 18 (5.19.18)

दुर्योधनमुपायातावक्षौहिण्या पृथक्पृथक् । कृतवर्मा च हार्दिक्यो भोजान्धकुकुरैः सह ॥

duryodhanamupāyātāvakṣauhiṇyā pṛthakpṛthak | kṛtavarmā ca hārdikyo bhojāndhakukuraiḥ saha

came to Duryodhana, each with his own akshauhini. And Kritavarman, son of Hridika, with the Bhojas, Andhakas and Kukuras,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.16c, line 2 is 5.19.17a.

Verse 19 (5.19.19)

अक्षौहिण्यैव सेनाया दुर्योधनमुपागमत् । तस्य तैः पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्वनमालाधरैर्बलम् ॥

akṣauhiṇyaiva senāyā duryodhanamupāgamat | tasya taiḥ puruṣavyāghrairvanamālādharairbalam

came to Duryodhana with an akshauhini of troops. His army, with those tigers among men wearing garlands of wild flowers,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.17c, line 2 is 5.19.18a.

Verse 20 (5.19.20)

अशोभत यथा मत्तैर्वनं प्रक्रीडितैर्गजैः । जयद्रथमुखाश्चान्ये सिन्धुसौवीरवासिनः ॥

aśobhata yathā mattairvanaṃ prakrīḍitairgajaiḥ | jayadrathamukhāścānye sindhusauvīravāsinaḥ

shone like a forest full of frolicking elephants in rut. Others too, led by Jayadratha, dwellers in Sindhu and Sauvira,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.18c, line 2 is 5.19.19a.

Verse 21 (5.19.21)

आजग्मुः पृथिवीपालाः कम्पयन्त इवाचलान् । तेषामक्षौहिणी सेना बहुला विबभौ तदा ॥

ājagmuḥ pṛthivīpālāḥ kampayanta ivācalān | teṣāmakṣauhiṇī senā bahulā vibabhau tadā

kings of the earth, came as though making the mountains tremble. Their army, an akshauhini, shone vast at that time,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.19c, line 2 is 5.19.20a.

Verse 22 (5.19.22)

विधूयमानो वातेन बहुरूप इवाम्बुदः । सुदक्षिणश्च काम्बोजो यवनैश्च शकैस्तथा ॥

vidhūyamāno vātena bahurūpa ivāmbudaḥ | sudakṣiṇaśca kāmbojo yavanaiśca śakaistathā

like a many-hued cloud driven by the wind. And Sudakshina of Kamboja, with Yavanas and Shakas,

Note on the text: Corrected काम्भोजो → काम्बोजो (misprint in Wikisource; the people are the Kambojas, कम्बोज, and the critical edition reads kāmbojo). Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.20c, line 2 is 5.19.21a.

Verse 23 (5.19.23)

उपाजगाम कौरव्यमक्षौहिण्या विशांपते । तस्य सेनासमावायः शलभानामिवाबभौ ॥

upājagāma kauravyamakṣauhiṇyā viśāṃpate | tasya senāsamāvāyaḥ śalabhānāmivābabhau

came to the Kaurava with an akshauhini, O lord of the people. His massed army looked like a swarm of locusts,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.21c, line 2 is 5.19.22a.

Verse 24 (5.19.24)

स च संप्राप्य कौरव्यं तत्रैवान्तर्दधे तदा । तथा महिष्मतीवासी नीलो नीलायुधैः सह ॥

sa ca saṃprāpya kauravyaṃ tatraivāntardadhe tadā | tathā mahiṣmatīvāsī nīlo nīlāyudhaiḥ saha

and on reaching the Kaurava it vanished there within his host. Likewise Nila, who dwelt in Mahishmati, with warriors bearing dark weapons,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.22c, line 2 is 5.19.23a.

Verse 25 (5.19.25)

महीपालो महावीर्यैर्दक्षिणापथवासिभिः । आवन्त्यौ च महीपालौ महाबलसुसंवृतौ ॥

mahīpālo mahāvīryairdakṣiṇāpathavāsibhiḥ | āvantyau ca mahīpālau mahābalasusaṃvṛtau

a king, came with mighty warriors from the southern region. And the two kings of Avanti, attended by great forces,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.23c, line 2 is 5.19.24a.

Verse 26 (5.19.26)

पृथगक्षौहिणीभ्यां तावभियातौ सुयोधनम् । ततस्ततस्तु सर्वेषां भूमिपानां महात्मनाम् ॥

pṛthagakṣauhiṇībhyāṃ tāvabhiyātau suyodhanam | tatastatastu sarveṣāṃ bhūmipānāṃ mahātmanām

came to Suyodhana, each with a separate akshauhini. Then, from here and there, from all the great-souled kings,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.24c, line 2 is 5.19.26a (ततस्ततस्तु where the critical edition reads itaś cetaś ca; its 5.19.25 is Wikisource verse 11).

Verse 27 (5.19.27)

तिस्रोऽन्याः समवर्तन्त वाहिन्यो भरतर्षभ । एवमेकादशावृत्ताः सेना दुर्योधनस्य ताः ॥

tisro'nyāḥ samavartanta vāhinyo bharatarṣabha | evamekādaśāvṛttāḥ senā duryodhanasya tāḥ

three more armies assembled, O bull of the Bharatas. Thus there gathered eleven armies for Duryodhana,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.26c, line 2 is 5.19.27a.

Verse 28 (5.19.28)

युयुत्समानाः कौन्तेयान्नानाध्वजसमाकुलाः । न हास्तिनपुरे राजन्नवकाशोऽभवत्तदा ॥

yuyutsamānāḥ kaunteyānnānādhvajasamākulāḥ | na hāstinapure rājannavakāśo'bhavattadā

eager to fight the sons of Kunti, crowded with banners of many kinds. There was no room in Hastinapura then, O king,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.27c, line 2 is 5.19.28a.

Verse 29 (5.19.29)

राज्ञां स्वबलमुख्यानां प्राधान्येनापि भारत । ततः पञ्चनदं चैव कृत्स्नं च कुरुजाङ्गलम् ॥

rājñāṃ svabalamukhyānāṃ prādhānyenāpi bhārata | tataḥ pañcanadaṃ caiva kṛtsnaṃ ca kurujāṅgalam

even for the kings who were the chief leaders of their own armies, Bharata. So the whole of the Panchanada and the Kurujangala,

Note on the text: Removed a stray nukta from प़ञ्चनदं → पञ्चनदं. Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.28c, line 2 is 5.19.29a.

Verse 30 (5.19.30)

तथा रोहितकारण्यं मरुभूमिश्च केवला । अहिच्छत्रं कालकूटं गङ्गाकूलं च भारत ॥

tathā rohitakāraṇyaṃ marubhūmiśca kevalā | ahicchatraṃ kālakūṭaṃ gaṅgākūlaṃ ca bhārata

the Rohitaka forest and the whole of the desert land, Ahicchatra, Kalakuta and the banks of the Ganga, Bharata,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.29c, line 2 is 5.19.30a.

Verse 31 (5.19.31)

वारणं वाटधानं च यामुनश्चैव पर्वतः । एष देशः सुविस्तीर्णः प्रभूतधनधान्यवान् ॥

vāraṇaṃ vāṭadhānaṃ ca yāmunaścaiva parvataḥ | eṣa deśaḥ suvistīrṇaḥ prabhūtadhanadhānyavān

Varana, Vatadhana and the Yamuna mountain — this wide region, rich in wealth and grain,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.30c, line 2 is 5.19.31a.

Verse 32 (5.19.32)

बभूव कौरवेयाणां बलेनातीव संवृतः । तत्र सैन्यं तथा युक्तं ददर्श स पुरोहितः ॥

babhūva kauraveyāṇāṃ balenātīva saṃvṛtaḥ | tatra sainyaṃ tathā yuktaṃ dadarśa sa purohitaḥ

was filled to overflowing with the army of the Kauravas. There the priest saw that army so arrayed —

Note on the text: Wikisource divides verses 14–33 one half-line out of step with the critical edition: line 1 here is 5.19.31c, line 2 is 5.19.32a.

Verse 33 (5.19.33)

यः स पाञ्चालराजेन प्रेषितः कौरवान्प्रति ॥

yaḥ sa pāñcālarājena preṣitaḥ kauravānprati

the priest whom the king of the Panchalas had sent to the Kauravas.

Note on the text: A single line, the critical edition 5.19.32c: the half-line offset leaves Wikisource's last verse with one line; nothing is lost.