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धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
सूर्योदये सञ्जय के नु पूर्वं; युयुत्सवो हृष्यमाणा इवासन्। मामका वा भीष्मनेत्राः समीके; पाण्डवा वा भीमनेत्रास्तदानीम् ॥६-२०-१॥
At sunrise, Sanjaya, who was eager to fight and rejoicing, appeared first? Was it my side under Bhishma's gaze or the Pandavas under Bhima's gaze at that time?
केषां जघन्यौ सोमसूर्यौ सवायू; केषां सेनां श्वापदा व्याभषन्त। केषां यूनां मुखवर्णाः प्रसन्नाः; सर्वं ह्येतद्ब्रूहि तत्त्वं यथावत् ॥६-२०-२॥
Tell me truthfully, whose moon and sun are inferior with the wind? Whose army is spoken of by wild animals? Whose youths have clear facial colors? Please tell me all this truthfully as it is.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
उभे सेने तुल्यमिवोपयाते; उभे व्यूहे हृष्टरूपे नरेन्द्र। उभे चित्रे वनराजिप्रकाशे; तथैवोभे नागरथाश्वपूर्णे ॥६-२०-३॥
Both armies approached each other equally, like two formations in joyful forms, O king. Both were vivid, shining with lines of forests; thus indeed both were filled with elephants, chariots, and horses.
उभे सेने बृहती भीमरूपे; तथैवोभे भारत दुर्विषह्ये। तथैवोभे स्वर्गजयाय सृष्टे; तथा ह्युभे सत्पुरुषार्यगुप्ते ॥६-२०-४॥
Both armies are vast and formidable, O Bharata, and equally challenging to face. They are both destined for the conquest of heaven and are safeguarded by noble Aryans.
पश्चान्मुखाः कुरवो धार्तराष्ट्राः; स्थिताः पार्थाः प्राङ्मुखा योत्स्यमानाः। दैत्येन्द्रसेनेव च कौरवाणां; देवेन्द्रसेनेव च पाण्डवानाम् ॥६-२०-५॥
The sons of Dhritarashtra, the Kurus, stood facing backwards, while the sons of Pritha, the Pandavas, stood facing forward, ready for battle. The Kauravas were like the army of the demon king, and the Pandavas were like the army of the king of gods.
शुक्रो वायुः पृष्ठतः पाण्डवानां; धार्तराष्ट्राञ्श्वापदा व्याभषन्त। गजेन्द्राणां मदगन्धांश्च तीव्रा; न्न सेहिरे तव पुत्रस्य नागाः ॥६-२०-६॥
Venus and the wind were positioned behind the Pandavas, while wild beasts howled at the Dhartarashtras. The elephants belonging to your son could not withstand the intense scent of rut emanating from the elephant lords.
दुर्योधनो हस्तिनं पद्मवर्णं; सुवर्णकक्ष्यं जातिबलं प्रभिन्नम्। समास्थितो मध्यगतः कुरूणां; संस्तूयमानो बन्दिभिर्मागधैश्च ॥६-२०-७॥
Duryodhana, adorned with a golden girdle, stood on a lotus-colored elephant, distinguished and of noble strength, amidst the Kurus, while being praised by bards and Magadhas.
चन्द्रप्रभं श्वेतमस्यातपत्रं; सौवर्णी स्रग्भ्राजते चोत्तमाङ्गे। तं सर्वतः शकुनिः पार्वतीयैः; सार्धं गान्धारैः पाति गान्धारराजः ॥६-२०-८॥
The king of Gandhara, Shakuni, with his moonlight-like white umbrella and golden garland shining on his head, is protected from all sides by the people of Parvata and the Gandharas.
भीष्मोऽग्रतः सर्वसैन्यस्य वृद्धः; श्वेतच्छत्रः श्वेतधनुः सशङ्खः। श्वेतोष्णीषः पाण्डुरेण ध्वजेन; श्वेतैरश्वैः श्वेतशैलप्रकाशः ॥६-२०-९॥
Bhishma, the elder, stood at the forefront of the entire army, adorned with a white umbrella, bow, and conch. His appearance was further enhanced by a white turban, flag, and horses, making him shine like a majestic white mountain.
तस्य सैन्यं धार्तराष्ट्राश्च सर्वे; बाह्लीकानामेकदेशः शलश्च। ये चाम्बष्ठाः क्षत्रिया ये च सिन्धौ; तथा सौवीराः पञ्चनदाश्च शूराः ॥६-२०-१०॥
His army consisted of all the sons of Dhritarashtra, a part of the Bahlika region, and Shala. It also included the Ambashthas who are Kshatriyas, those in Sindhu, as well as the Sauviras, Panchanadas, and other heroes.
शोणैर्हयै रुक्मरथो महात्मा; द्रोणो महाबाहुरदीनसत्त्वः। आस्ते गुरुः प्रयशाः सर्वराज्ञां; पश्चाच्चमूमिन्द्र इवाभिरक्षन् ॥६-२०-११॥
Droṇa, the great-souled and mighty-armed teacher, renowned among all kings, sits with red horses and a golden chariot, protecting the army from behind like Indra.
वार्द्धक्षत्रिः सर्वसैन्यस्य मध्ये; भूरिश्रवाः पुरुमित्रो जयश्च। शाल्वा मत्स्याः केकयाश्चापि सर्वे; गजानीकैर्भ्रातरो योत्स्यमानाः ॥६-२०-१२॥
In the midst of the entire army were Vardhakshatri, Bhurishrava, Purumitra, and Jaya. The Shalvas, Matsyas, and all the Kekayas, along with their brothers, were ready to fight with their elephant divisions.
शारद्वतश्चोत्तरधूर्महात्मा; महेष्वासो गौतमश्चित्रयोधी। शकैः किरातैर्यवनैः पह्लवैश्च; सार्धं चमूमुत्तरतोऽभिपाति ॥६-२०-१३॥
Sharadvata and Uttaradhur, the great souls, along with the great archer Gautama, who is a skilled warrior, attack from the north with the Shakas, Kiratas, Yavanas, and Pahlavas, leading their army.
महारथैरन्धकवृष्णिभोजैः; सौराष्ट्रकैर्नैरृतैरात्तशस्त्रैः। बृहद्बलः कृतवर्माभिगुप्तो; बलं त्वदीयं दक्षिणतोऽभिपाति ॥६-२०-१४॥
Brihadbala, supported by Kritavarma and accompanied by great charioteers, Andhakas, Vrishnis, Bhojas, and the people of Saurashtra and Nairritas with weapons raised, launches an attack on your forces from the south.
संशप्तकानामयुतं रथानां; मृत्युर्जयो वार्जुनस्येति सृष्टाः। येनार्जुनस्तेन राजन्कृतास्त्राः; प्रयाता वै ते त्रिगर्ताश्च शूराः ॥६-२०-१५॥
Ten thousand chariots of the Saṃśaptakas have been created for either the death or victory of Arjuna. O king, those Trigartas, equipped with weapons by Arjuna, have indeed gone forth as heroes.
साग्रं शतसहस्रं तु नागानां तव भारत। नागे नागे रथशतं शतं चाश्वा रथे रथे ॥६-२०-१६॥
O Bharata, there are more than a hundred thousand elephants, each carrying a hundred chariots, and each chariot is drawn by a hundred horses.
अश्वेऽश्वे दश धानुष्का धानुष्के दश चर्मिणः। एवं व्यूढान्यनीकानि भीष्मेण तव भारत ॥६-२०-१७॥
O Bharata, Bhishma arrayed your armies such that there were ten archers for each horse and ten shield-bearers for each archer.
अव्यूहन्मानुषं व्यूहं दैवं गान्धर्वमासुरम्। दिवसे दिवसे प्राप्ते भीष्मः शान्तनवोऽग्रणीः ॥६-२०-१८॥
Day by day, as the battles progressed, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, led the formations of human, divine, celestial, and demonic nature.
महारथौघविपुलः समुद्र इव पर्वणि। भीष्मेण धार्तराष्ट्राणां व्यूहः प्रत्यङ्मुखो युधि ॥६-२०-१९॥
The formation of the Kauravas, led by Bhishma, appeared like a vast ocean of mighty warriors ready for battle.
अनन्तरूपा ध्वजिनी त्वदीया; नरेन्द्र भीमा न तु पाण्डवानाम्। तां त्वेव मन्ये बृहतीं दुष्प्रधृष्यां; यस्या नेतारौ केशवश्चार्जुनश्च ॥६-२०-२०॥
O king, your army, though vast and formidable, is not as invincible as that of the Pandavas, which is led by the great Krishna and Arjuna.
