06.019
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
akṣauhiṇyo daśaikāṃ ca vyūḍhāṃ dṛṣṭvā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। katham alpena sainyena pratyavyūhata pāṇḍavaḥ ॥6-19-1॥
Upon seeing the eleven armies arrayed, Yudhishthira wondered how the Pandava could counter-array with a smaller force.
yo veda mānuṣaṃ vyūhaṃ daivaṃ gāndharvamāsuram। kathaṃ bhīṣmaṃ sa kaunteyaḥ pratyavyūhata pāṇḍavaḥ ॥6-19-2॥
The Pandava, son of Kunti, who understands the formations of humans, gods, Gandharvas, and demons, countered Bhishma. How did he manage to do so?
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
dhārtarāṣṭrāṇyanīkāni dṛṣṭvā vyūḍhāni pāṇḍavaḥ। abhyabhāṣata dharmātmā dharmarājo dhanañjayam ॥6-19-3॥
Upon observing the well-arranged armies of Dhritarashtra's sons, the righteous Yudhishthira, son of Pandu, addressed Arjuna.
maharṣervacanāttāta vedayanti bṛhaspateḥ। saṃhatānyodhayedalpānkāmaṃ vistārayedbahūn ॥6-19-4॥
O dear, according to the words of the great sage Bṛhaspati, it is conveyed that unity helps in overcoming small challenges and expanding one's desires significantly.
sūcīmukham anīkaṃ syād alpānāṃ bahubhiḥ saha। asmākaṃ ca tathā sainyam alpīyaḥ sutarāṃ paraiḥ ॥6-19-5॥
The army, sharp like a needle, may consist of a few among many; similarly, our army is certainly smaller compared to others.
etadvacanamājñāya maharṣervyūha pāṇḍava। tacchrutvā dharmarājasya pratyabhāṣata phalguṇaḥ ॥6-19-6॥
Upon understanding the great sage's words and hearing Yudhishthira, Arjuna responded, O Pandava.
eṣa vyūhāmi te rājanvyūhaṃ paramadurjayam। acalaṃ nāma vajrākhyaṃ vihitaṃ vajrapāṇinā ॥6-19-7॥
O King, this is the formation named 'Immovable' and known as 'Vajra', which is extremely difficult to conquer and has been established by Vajrapani for you.
yaḥ sa vāta ivoddhūtaḥ samare duḥsahaḥ paraiḥ। sa naḥ puro yotsyati vai bhīmaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ ॥6-19-8॥
Bhima, who is as fierce as a storm and unbearable to enemies in battle, will indeed lead our attack.
tejāṃsi ripusainyānāṃ mṛdnanpuruṣasattamaḥ। agre'graṇīryāsyati no yuddhopāyavicakṣaṇaḥ ॥6-19-9॥
The best among men, who crushes the splendors of enemy armies, will lead us with expertise in war strategies.
yaṁ dṛṣṭvā pārthivāḥ sarve duryodhanapurogamāḥ। nivartiṣyanti sambhrāntāḥ siṁhaṁ kṣudramṛgā iva ॥6-19-10॥
Upon seeing him, all the kings led by Duryodhana will retreat in confusion, like small animals fleeing from a lion.
taṃ sarve saṃśrayiṣyāmaḥ prākāramakutobhayam। bhīmaṃ praharatāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ vajrapāṇimivāmarāḥ ॥6-19-11॥
All of us will seek refuge in Bhima, the fearless fortress, the best among fighters, just as the immortals do in Vajrapani.
na hi so'sti pumāṁlloke yaḥ saṅkruddhaṁ vṛkodaram। draṣṭumatyugrakarmāṇaṁ viṣaheta nararṣabham ॥6-19-12॥
Indeed, there is no man in the world who can face the furious Vrikodara, known for his formidable actions, the bull among men.
bhīmaseno gadāṃ bibhrad vajrasāramayīṃ dṛḍhām। caran vegena mahatā samudram api śoṣayet ॥6-19-13॥
Bhimasena, wielding a strong mace crafted from diamond essence, could dry up the ocean with his great speed.
kekayā dhṛṣṭaketuśca cekitānaśca vīryavān। eta tiṣṭhanti sāmātyāḥ prekṣakāste nareśvara ॥6-19-14॥
Kekaya, Dhrishtaketu, and Chekitana, the mighty warriors, stand with their ministers as spectators, O king.
dhṛtarāṣṭrasya dāyādā iti bībhatsurabravīt। bruvāṇaṃ tu tathā pārthaṃ sarvasainyāni māriṣa ॥ apūjayaṃstadā vāgbhiranukūlābhirāhave ॥6-19-15॥
Bibhatsu spoke about the heirs of Dhritarashtra. However, when he spoke to Partha, all the armies, O great one, honored him with favorable words during the battle.
evamuktvā mahābāhustathā cakre dhanañjayaḥ। vyūhya tāni balānyāśu prayayau phalgunastadā ॥6-19-16॥
After speaking thus, the mighty-armed Arjuna arranged his forces and quickly departed.
samprayātān kurūn dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahācamūḥ। gaṅgeva pūrṇā stimita syandamānā vyadṛśyata ॥6-19-17॥
Upon seeing the departing Kurus, the great army of the Pandavas appeared as calm and full as the flowing Ganga.
bhīmaseno'graṇīsteṣāṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ। nakulaḥ sahadevaśca dhṛṣṭaketuśca vīryavān ॥6-19-18॥
Bhimasena was the leader among them, along with Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata. Nakula, Sahadeva, and the valiant Dhrishtaketu were also present.
samudyojya tataḥ paścādrājāpyakṣauhiṇīvṛtaḥ। bhrātṛbhiḥ saha putraiśca so'bhyarakṣata pṛṣṭhataḥ ॥6-19-19॥
After mobilizing his forces, the king, accompanied by his brothers and sons, protected the rear of the army.
cakrarakṣau tu bhīmasya mādrīputrau mahādyutī। draupadeyāḥ sasaubhadrāḥ pṛṣṭhagopāstarasvinaḥ ॥6-19-20॥
The sons of Madri, who were the protectors of Bhima's chariot wheels, were greatly resplendent. Along with the sons of Draupadi and Abhimanyu, they guarded the rear with swiftness and valor.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pāñcālyasteṣāṃ goptā mahārathaḥ। sahitaḥ pṛtanāśūrai rathamukhyaiḥ prabhadrakaiḥ ॥6-19-21॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pāñcāla, was their protector and a great chariot-warrior, accompanied by battle heroes, chief charioteers, and the Prabhadrakas.
śikhaṇḍī tu tataḥ paścādarjunenābhirakṣitaḥ। yatto bhīṣmavināśāya prayayau bharatarṣabha ॥6-19-22॥
Shikhandi, protected by Arjuna, then proceeded with the intention of destroying Bhishma, O best of the Bharatas.
pṛṣṭhagopo'rjunasya'pi yuyudhāno mahārathaḥ। cakrarakṣau tu pāñcālyau yudhāmanyūttamaujasau ॥6-19-23॥
Yuyudhana, a great warrior, guarded Arjuna's rear, while the sons of Panchala, Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas, protected the wheels.
rājā tu madhyamānīke kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। bṛhadbhiḥ kuñjarairmattaiścaladbhiracalairiva ॥6-19-24॥
King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, stood in the center of the army, surrounded by great and intoxicated elephants that moved like unshakable mountains.
akṣauhiṇyā ca pāñcālyo yajñaseno mahāmanāḥ। virāṭamanvayātpaścātpāṇḍavārthe parākramī ॥6-19-25॥
Yajnasena, the great-minded son of Drupada, along with his army, followed the valiant Virata for the sake of the Pandavas.
teṣām āditya-candrābhāḥ kanakottama-bhūṣaṇāḥ। nānācihnadharā rājanratheṣvāsanmahādhvajāḥ ॥6-19-26॥
Their radiance was akin to the sun and moon, adorned with the finest golden ornaments. Bearing various insignias, O king, they were seated on chariots with towering banners.
samutsarpya tataḥ paścāddhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ। bhrātṛbhiḥ saha putraiśca so'bhyarakṣadyudhiṣṭhiram ॥6-19-27॥
Then, after advancing, the great charioteer Dhṛṣṭadyumna, along with his brothers and sons, protected Yudhiṣṭhira.
tvadīyānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca ratheṣu vividhāndhvajān। abhibhūyārjunasyaiko dhvajastasthau mahākapiḥ ॥6-19-28॥
The great monkey emblem on Arjuna's chariot stood out, overpowering the various flags on the chariots of both your side and the enemies'.
pādātāstvagrato'gacchannasiśaktyṛṣṭipāṇayaḥ। anekaśatasāhasrā bhīmasenasya rakṣiṇaḥ ॥6-19-29॥
The foot soldiers marched ahead, armed with swords, spears, and javelins, numbering in their hundreds and thousands, as protectors of Bhimasena.
vāraṇā daśasāhasrāḥ prabhinnakaraṭāmukhāḥ। śūrā hemamayairjālairdīpyamānā ivācalāḥ ॥6-19-30॥
There were ten thousand elephants with broken tusks, appearing like heroes with golden nets, shining as if they were mountains.
kṣaranta iva jīmūtā madārdrāḥ padmagandhinaḥ। rājānam anvayuḥ paścāc calanta iva parvatāḥ ॥6-19-31॥
The clouds, wet with honey and fragrant like lotuses, seemed to pour as they followed the king, moving behind him like mountains.
bhīmaseno gadāṃ bhīmāṃ prakarṣanparighopamām। pracakarṣa mahatsainyaṃ durādharṣo mahāmanāḥ ॥6-19-32॥
Bhimasena, with his formidable mace resembling a club, led the mighty and invincible army with great determination.
tamarkamiva duṣprekṣyaṃ tapantaṃ raśmimālinam। na śekuḥ sarvato yodhāḥ prativīkṣitumantike ॥6-19-33॥
The warriors from all sides were unable to look directly at that sun-like figure, shining and adorned with rays, as it was difficult to gaze upon.
vajro nāmaiṣa tu vyūho durbhidaḥ sarvatomukhaḥ। cāpavidyuddhvajo gho ro gupto gāṇḍīvadhanvanā ॥6-19-34॥
The formation known as Vajra is formidable and all-encompassing, with a fierce lightning banner, safeguarded by the wielder of the Gandiva bow.
yaṁ prativyūhya tiṣṭhanti pāṇḍavāstava vāhinīm। ajeyo mānuṣe loke pāṇḍavairabhirakṣitaḥ ॥6-19-35॥
The Pandavas, having arrayed themselves, stand against your army, which is unconquerable in the human world and protected by them.
sandhyāṃ tiṣṭhatsu sainyeṣu sūryasyodayanaṃ prati। prāvātsapṛṣato vāyuranabhre stanayitnumān ॥6-19-36॥
As the evening set in and the armies stood ready facing the rising sun, a wind blew, carrying drops of moisture, and thundered in the cloudless sky.
viṣvagvātāśca vāntyugrā nīcaiḥ śarkarakarṣiṇaḥ। rajaścoddhūyamānaṃ tu tamasācchādayajjagat ॥6-19-37॥
Fierce winds blew in all directions, dragging pebbles and raising dust, which covered the world in darkness.
papāta mahatī colkā prāṅmukhī bharatarṣabhaḥ। udyantaṃ sūryamāhatya vyaśīryata mahāsvanā ॥6-19-38॥
A great meteor fell from the sky towards the east, O best of the Bharatas, striking the rising sun and shattering with a loud noise.
atha sajjīyamāneṣu sainyeṣu bharatarṣabha। niṣprabho'bhyudiyātsūryaḥ saghoṣo bhūścacāla ha ॥ vyaśīryata sanādā ca tadā bharatasattama ॥6-19-39॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, as the armies were being prepared, the sun rose dimly, and the earth trembled with a loud sound. At that time, everything scattered with noise, O best of the Bharatas.
nirghātā bahavo rājandi̱kṣu sarvāsu cābhavan। prādurāsīdrajastīvraṁ na prājñāyata kiñcana ॥6-19-40॥
O king, many thunderstorms occurred in all directions and everywhere. Intense dust appeared, and nothing was visible.
dhvajānāṃ dhūyamānānāṃ sahasā mātariśvanā। kiṅkiṇījālanaddhānāṃ kāñcanasragvatāṃ ravaiḥ ॥6-19-41॥
The flags, suddenly shaken by the wind, jingled with the sounds of bells tied in a network, adorned with golden garlands.
mahatāṃ sapatākānām ādityasamatejasām। sarvaṃ jhaṇajhaṇībhūtam āsīt tālavaneṣv iva ॥6-19-42॥
The great ones with banners, shining like the sun, created a noise that filled the air, much like the rustling in palm groves.
evaṃ te puruṣavyāghrāḥ pāṇḍavā yuddhanandinaḥ। vyavasthitāḥ prativyūhya tava putrasya vāhinīm ॥6-19-43॥
Thus, the Pandavas, who are like tigers among men and delight in battle, have strategically arrayed themselves against your son's army.
sraṁsanta iva majjāno yodhānāṁ bharatarṣabha। dṛṣṭvāgrato bhīmasenaṁ gadāpāṇimavasthitam ॥6-19-44॥
O best of the Bharatas, upon seeing Bhimasena standing in front with his mace in hand, the warriors appeared to be sinking as if they were falling.
