05.149
Vaishampayana spoke:
Upon hearing Janardana's words, the righteous Yudhishthira addressed his brothers in Keshava's presence.
You have heard what transpired in the assembly of the Kuru court, and also understood all that was spoken by Keshava.
Therefore, O best of men, organize my army divisions; these seven divisions are indeed assembled for victory.
Among them, my seven lords are renowned; they are Drupada, Virata, Dhrishtadyumna, and Shikhandi. Understand this.
Satyaki, Chekitana, and the mighty Bhimasena are all leaders of the army and are dedicated heroes.
All are knowledgeable in the Vedas, heroic, of noble conduct and vows, modest, wise, and skilled in warfare, proficient in archery, and indeed, all are warriors with weapons.
He who is the leader of the seven divisions of the army and knows their organization, who can withstand Bhishma in battle, whose arrows are like flames and comparable to fire.
Sahadeva, you are here, so tell us, descendant of Kuru, who among us is capable of being our general, O tiger among men?
Sahadeva spoke:
We, united in one sorrow and strength, resort to the powerful king, the knower of dharma, and engage in our own part.
Matsya, the strong and skilled king of Virata, known for his arrogance in battle, will overpower Bhishma and the other great warriors in the battle.
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
After Sahadeva had spoken thus, Nakula, who was an expert in speech, then took up the conversation.
He is mature by age, knowledgeable by scriptures, courageous, from a noble family, modest, endowed with family virtues, prosperous, and an expert in all scriptures.
The invincible warrior, known for his truth in battle, who has learned the art of weaponry from Bharadvaja, constantly challenges the mighty Drona and Bhishma.
The commander of the army, praiseworthy and at the forefront of the assembly of kings, is surrounded by his sons and grandsons, resembling a tree with a hundred branches.
The king, along with his wife, performed a fierce penance. Out of anger, he sought the destruction of Drona, being a hero glorious in battle.
The best of kings, who always protects us like a father, may our father-in-law Drupada lead our army forward.
He believed that my Droṇa and Bhīṣma, when they come, can withstand. Indeed, he is the king, a master of divine weapons, a friend, and a king of the Angiras.
After the sons of Madri expressed their views, Arjuna, the descendant of Kuru and equal to Indra, spoke his words according to his own opinion.
This mighty divine man, born from the power of penance and the satisfaction of the sage, is of a fiery complexion.
He, armed with a bow, wearing armor and holding a sword, mounted the chariot adorned with divine horses, and rose from the fire-pit.
The mighty hero, built like a lion and bold in stride, roared like a great cloud with the sound of his chariot.
He is lion-chested and mighty-armed, with the chest of a lion and great strength. He roars like a lion, is heroic, has the shoulders of a lion, and is greatly radiant.
He is described as having beautiful brows, good teeth, a strong jaw, well-formed arms, a pleasant face, a sturdy build, well-formed joints, large eyes, good feet, and a stable presence.
He was born, impenetrable by all weapons and like a broken elephant, for the destruction of Drona, being truthful and having conquered his senses.
I believe that Dhṛṣṭadyumna is capable of enduring Bhīṣma's arrows, which are as fierce as thunderbolts and have blazing mouths, akin to intense passions.
With a speed equal to Yama's messengers, they fell like fire, endured by Rama in battle, terrible like the crushing of a thunderbolt.
O king, my belief is that there is no man who can uphold the great vow except for Dhṛṣṭadyumna.
He is considered my general, quick-handed and a skilled warrior, with impenetrable armor, glorious like the leader of elephants.
Bhima said:
Śikhaṇḍī, the son of Drupada, was born for the purpose of killing. This is what the Siddhas and sages say when they are gathered, O king.
Men will witness his form wielding divine weapons in the midst of battles, akin to the great soul Rama.
O king, I do not see anyone in the battles who can pierce Śikhaṇḍin with a weapon while he is armed and standing in his chariot.
In a duel, no one else can withstand Bhishma, O king, who has taken a great vow, except for the hero Shikhandi; he is considered my commander.
Yudhishthira spoke:
Dear one, Keshava, the righteous soul, comprehends everything about the world, including its essence and non-essence, strength and weakness, and knows both the past and the future.
Kṛṣṇa of the Daśārhas said that he should be our commander, regardless of whether he is skilled or unskilled in weapons, or whether he is old or young.
This is the foundation of our victory, dear father, and also in times of adversity. Here lie both life and kingdom, existence and non-existence, happiness and sorrow.
This creator and ordainer, success is established here. Krishna of the Dasharhas said that he is our capable commander. Let the best of speakers speak, as the night is passing.
Then, after appointing the general who is obedient to Krishna, and with the night having passed, we shall proceed to the battlefield with weapons that have been consecrated and after performing auspicious rites.
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
Upon hearing the wise words of Dharmaraja, the lotus-eyed Krishna looked at Arjuna and spoke.
O great king, these leaders of your army, who have been mentioned by you, are mighty warriors and heroes. All of them are indeed capable of destroying your enemies.
Even Indra would feel fear in a great battle; what then of the greedy and evil-minded sons of Dhritarashtra?
O mighty-armed one, I too have made a great effort for your sake, O conqueror of enemies, so that peace may prevail there, O descendant of Bharata. The freedom from the debt of duty is not something to be spoken of by those who wish to speak.
The naive child believes he is successful, yet he lacks wisdom. Similarly, Dhritarashtra's son considers himself powerful, but he is actually troubled.
Arrange the army properly as it is fit for the task, as per your opinions. The sons of Dhritarashtra will not be able to withstand when they see Dhananjaya.
Bhimasena, along with the furious twins who are like Yama, and accompanied by Yuyudhana and the intolerant Dhrishtadyumna.
Abhimanyu, the sons of Draupadi, Virata, Drupada, and other mighty kings and leaders of military divisions were also present.
There is no doubt that our formidable and resilient strength will defeat the Kaurava army in battle.
Upon hearing Krishna's words, the best among men were filled with joy, and a great sound arose from their delighted hearts.
Then, as the armies hastened and rushed, the sound of horses and elephants, the sound of wheels, and the tumultuous sound of conches and drums arose everywhere.
The Pandavas, along with their armies, advanced from all directions. Their army, full and invincible, appeared like the mighty Ganga.
At the forefront, Bhimasena, the sons of Madri, adorned, along with Abhimanyu, the sons of Draupadi, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, the Prabhadrakas, and the Panchalas, all headed by Bhimasena, advanced.
Then, a sound arose like the ocean on a full moon day; the joyous sound of those who set out seemed to reach the heavens.
Amidst the elated and fierce warriors, who were destroyers of enemy forces, King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, proceeded.
Carts, shops, houses, and all kinds of vehicles with harnesses; treasury, machines, and weapons, as well as those who are physicians and healers.
The king, along with his attendants, gathered whatever little strength they had, even though it was weak and emaciated, and proceeded on their way.
In Upaplavya, the truthful Panchali Draupadi returned with her female companions, surrounded by maidservants and servants.
The sons of Pandu, having prepared fundamental defenses with both stationary and mobile forces, departed with a large army.
O king, they gave cows and gold, surrounded by Brahmins and praised, they departed in chariots adorned with jewels.
Dhṛṣṭaketu, the son of Kekaya, and Abhibhū, the son of Kāśya, along with Śreṇimān, Vasudāna, Śikhaṇḍī, and Aparājita were present.
All the joyful, content, armored, and armed soldiers, adorned in their attire, followed and surrounded King Yudhishthira.
In the rear part of the formation were Virata, Yajnasena, Somaka, Sudharma, Kuntibhoja, and the sons of Dhrishtadyumna, all ready for battle.
There are four chariots, then horses are five times that number; the infantry is ten times, and there are sixty thousand horsemen.
Anadhṛṣṭi, Cekitāna, the king of the Cedis, and then Sātyaki, all went surrounding Vāsudeva and Dhanañjaya.
Upon reaching Kurukshetra, the Pandavas, arrayed in battle formation and ready to strike, appeared as fierce as roaring bulls.
The warriors, having entered the battlefield of Kurukshetra, blew their conches, demonstrating their readiness and valor. Similarly, Vasudeva and Arjuna also blew their conches, signaling the commencement of the battle.
Upon hearing the sound of Pāñcajanya, which was like the thunder of a thunderbolt, all the armies rejoiced everywhere.
The powerful roar, mingled with the sounds of conches and drums, echoed across the earth, sky, and seas, showcasing the might of the energetic warriors.
At that time, King Yudhishthira settled his army in a level and pleasant region where there was plenty of grass and fuel.
Having left behind the cremation grounds, the temples of the gods, the hermitages of the great sages, and the holy places and sanctuaries, they moved on.
In the delightful and sacred land, King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, established a settlement.
Then, after rising again, feeling content with his rested horses, he set out, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of the earth's protectors.
Keshava, along with Partha, moved around after scattering hundreds of Dhritarashtra's soldiers.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata, along with Sātyaki, the great chariot-warrior Yuyudhāna, measured the camp with might and precision.
Upon reaching the sacred river Hiranyavati in Kurukshetra, known for its good fords and pure waters, devoid of pebbles and mud, one finds a place of great sanctity.
Keshava dug a trench there, O Bharata, and stationed the army there for protection after giving instructions.
Keśava arranged the camp for the great-souled Pāṇḍavas, similar to those made for the kings.
There were abundant supplies of water and wood, which were very difficult to overcome, along with edibles and food provided in hundreds and thousands.
O King, the very costly tents of the kings were set up separately on the ground, resembling palaces.
There were hundreds of wise artisans who were paid and equipped with all necessary tools, as well as very skilled physicians.
He created heaps of dust resembling mountains from bowstrings, bows, armor, weapons, honey, and ghee.
King Yudhishthira arranged for abundant water and good grass mixed with chaff and charcoal in each camp.
At that time, great machines, iron arrows, spears, javelins, axes, bows, and armors became pleasing to the people.
The elephants, armored and covered with iron, appeared invisible there, resembling mountains, with warriors numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
O Bhārata, upon knowing that the Pāṇḍavas were settled there, the allies moved towards the designated direction with their forces and chariots.
The kings, who were Soma-drinkers and generous in gifts, having practiced celibacy, gathered for the victory of the sons of Pandu.
