06.046
Pancharatra and Core: Yudhisthira consults with Krishna regarding the upper hand the Kauravas had on the first day. The next day, the Pandavas arrange themselves in Krauncha formation.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
kṛte'vahāre sainyānāṃ prathame bharatarṣabha। bhīṣme ca yudhi saṃrabdhe hṛṣṭe duryodhane tathā ॥6-46-1॥
When the armies were first arranged, O best of the Bharatas, Bhishma and Duryodhana were eager and cheerful as they engaged in battle.
dharmarājastatastūrṇamabhigamya janārdanam। bhrātṛbhiḥ sahitaḥ sarvaiḥ sarvaiścaiva janeśvaraiḥ ॥6-46-2॥
Dharmaraja, accompanied by his brothers and all the kings, quickly approached Janardana.
śucā paramayā yuktaścintayānaḥ parājayam। vārṣṇeyamabravīdrājandṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasya vikramam ॥6-46-3॥
With great sorrow and contemplating defeat, he addressed Krishna, saying, O king, upon witnessing Bhishma's prowess.
kṛṣṇa paśya maheṣvāsaṃ bhīṣmaṃ bhīmaparākramam। śarairdahantaṃ sainyaṃ me grīṣme kakṣamivānalam ॥6-46-4॥
Krishna, behold the mighty archer Bhishma, whose prowess is formidable, as he scorches my army with his arrows, akin to how a fire consumes a forest in the heat of summer.
katham enaṃ mahātmānaṃ śakṣyāmaḥ prativīkṣitum। lelihyamānaṃ sainyaṃ me haviṣmantam ivānalam ॥6-46-5॥
How can we confront this great soul, who is consuming my army like a fire fed with oblations?
etaṃ hi puruṣavyāghraṃ dhanuṣmantaṃ mahābalam। dṛṣṭvā vipradrutaṃ sainyaṃ madīyaṃ mārgaṇāhatam ॥6-46-6॥
Seeing this mighty warrior, armed with a bow and of great strength, my army, struck by arrows, fled in fear.
śakyo jetuṃ yamaḥ kruddho vajrapāṇiśca saṃyuge। varuṇaḥ pāśabhṛccāpi kubero vā gadādharaḥ ॥6-46-7॥
It is possible to defeat even the mightiest of beings like Yama when he is angry, Vajrapani in battle, Varuna who holds the noose, or even Kubera or Gadadhara.
na tu bhīṣmo mahātejāḥ śakyo jetuṃ mahābalaḥ। so'ham evaṃ gate magno bhīṣmāgādhajale'plavaḥ ॥6-46-8॥
Bhishma, being immensely powerful, is invincible. In this situation, I find myself overwhelmed, like someone without a boat in the deep waters of Bhishma's prowess.
ātmano buddhidaurbalyādbhīṣmamāsādya keśava। vanaṃ yāsyāmi govinda śreyo me tatra jīvitum ॥6-46-9॥
O Keshava, due to the weakness of my intellect, having approached Bhishma, I have decided to go to the forest, O Govinda, as it is better for me to live there.
na tvimān pṛthivīpālān dātuṃ bhīṣmāya mṛtyave। kṣapayiṣyati senāṃ me kṛṣṇa bhīṣmo mahāstravit ॥6-46-10॥
O Krishna, Bhishma, the great archer, will not allow these kings of the earth to die; instead, he will destroy my army.
yathānalaṃ prajvalitaṃ pataṅgāḥ samabhidrutāḥ। vināśāyaiva gacchanti tathā me sainiko janaḥ ॥6-46-11॥
Just as moths rush towards a blazing fire to their destruction, so do my soldiers proceed.
kṣayaṃ nīto'smi vārṣṇeya rājyahetoḥ parākramī। bhrātaraścaiva me vīrāḥ karśitāḥ śarapīḍitāḥ ॥6-46-12॥
I have been brought to ruin, O Vārṣṇeya, for the sake of the kingdom; and my valiant brothers are worn out, tormented by arrows.
matkṛte bhrātṛsauhārdādrājyādbhraṣṭāstathā sukhāt। jīvitaṃ bahu manye'haṃ jīvitaṃ hyadya durlabham ॥6-46-13॥
For my sake, my brothers have been deprived of brotherly affection, kingdom, and happiness. I consider life to be of great value; indeed, today life is hard to obtain.
jīvitasya hi śeṣeṇa tapastapsyāmi duścaram। na ghātayiṣyāmi raṇe mitrāṇīmāni keśava ॥6-46-14॥
Indeed, with the remaining life, I shall undertake severe penance. I will not slay these friends in battle, O Keśava.
rathānme bahusāhasrāndivyairastrairmahābalaḥ। ghātayatyaniśaṃ bhīṣmaḥ pravarāṇāṃ prahāriṇām ॥6-46-15॥
Bhishma, with his immense power, continuously destroys my numerous chariots using divine weapons, being the foremost among attackers.
kiṁ nu kṛtvā kṛtaṁ me syādbrūhi mādhava māciram। madhyasthamiva paśyāmi samare savyasācinam ॥6-46-16॥
What should I do to achieve my goal? Please tell me quickly, Madhava. I see Arjuna standing neutrally in the battle.
eko bhīmaḥ paraṃ śaktyā yudhyatyeṣa mahābhujaḥ। kevalaṃ bāhuvīryeṇa kṣatradharmamanusmaran ॥6-46-17॥
Bhima, the mighty-armed warrior, fights with supreme power, relying solely on the strength of his arms and remembering his duty as a warrior.
gadayā vīraghātinyā yathotsāhaṃ mahāmanāḥ। karotyasukaraṃ karma gajāśvarathapattiṣu ॥6-46-18॥
The great-minded warrior, wielding a hero-slaying mace, energetically accomplishes challenging feats amidst elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers.
nālameṣa kṣayaṃ kartuṃ parasainyasya māriṣa। ārjavenaiva yuddhena vīra varṣaśatairapi ॥6-46-19॥
O honorable one, it is not possible to destroy the enemy army merely by straightforward battle, even if it takes hundreds of years, O hero.
eko'stravitsakhā te'yaṃ so'pyasmānsamupekṣate। nirdahyamānānbhīṣmeṇa droṇena ca mahātmanā ॥6-46-20॥
Your friend, who is skilled in weaponry, also neglects us while we are being tormented by the great souls Bhishma and Drona.
divyānyastrāṇi bhīṣmasya droṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ। dhakṣyanti kṣatriyānsarvānaprayuktāni punaḥ punaḥ ॥6-46-21॥
The divine weapons of the great souls Bhishma and Drona will repeatedly destroy all the Kshatriyas.
kṛṣṇa bhīṣmaḥ susaṁrabdhaḥ sahitaḥ sarvapārthivaiḥ। kṣapayiṣyati no nūnaṁ yādṛśo'sya parākramaḥ ॥6-46-22॥
Krishna and Bhishma, being very enraged and together with all the kings, will certainly destroy us with their prowess.
sa tvaṃ paśya maheṣvāsaṃ yogīṣvara mahāratham। yo bhīṣmaṃ śamayetsaṅkhye dāvāgniṃ jalado yathā ॥6-46-23॥
Behold him, the great archer and lord of yogis, a mighty chariot-warrior, who can pacify Bhishma in battle just as a cloud extinguishes a forest fire.
tava prasādādgovinda pāṇḍavā nihatadviṣaḥ। svarājyamanusamprāptā modiṣyanti sabāndhavāḥ ॥6-46-24॥
Thanks to your grace, O Govinda, the Pandavas have defeated their enemies and will enjoy their kingdom with their relatives.
evamuktvā tataḥ pārtho dhyāyannāste mahāmanāḥ। ciramantarmanā bhūtvā śokopahatacetanaḥ ॥6-46-25॥
After speaking thus, Arjuna, the son of Pritha, sat down to meditate. He was deeply introspective, his mind overwhelmed by sorrow, and remained in this state for a long time.
śokārtaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ jñātvā duḥkhena hatacetasam। abravīttatra govindo harṣayansarvapāṇḍavān ॥6-46-26॥
Seeing the Pāṇḍava in sorrow and distress, Govinda spoke to cheer all the Pāṇḍavas.
mā śuco bharataśreṣṭha na tvaṃ śocitumarhasi। yasya te bhrātaraḥ śūrāḥ sarvalokasya dhanvinaḥ ॥6-46-27॥
Do not worry, O best of the Bharatas, you should not lament. Your brothers are valiant and skilled archers known throughout all the worlds.
ahaṁ ca priyakṛdrājansātyakiśca mahārathaḥ। virāṭadrupadau vṛddhau dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ ॥6-46-28॥
I, along with Satyaki, the great chariot-warrior, and the well-wisher, O King, as well as the venerable Virata and Drupada, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, stand here.
tathaiva sabalāḥ sarve rājāno rājasattama। tvatprasādaṃ pratīkṣante tvadbhaktāśca viśāṃ pate ॥6-46-29॥
Similarly, all the powerful kings and your devotees, O best of kings and lord of the people, await your favor.
eṣa te pārṣato nityaṃ hitakāmaḥ priye rataḥ। senāpatyamanuprāpto dhṛṣṭadyumno mahābalaḥ ॥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahābāho bhīṣmasya nidhanaṃ kila ॥6-46-30॥
This son of Prishata, Dhrishtadyumna, who always desires your welfare and is dear to you, has obtained the position of general. Shikhandi, O mighty-armed one, is indeed destined to bring about the death of Bhishma.
etacchrutvā tato rājā dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ mahāratham। abravītsamitau tasyāṃ vāsudevasya śṛṇvataḥ ॥6-46-31॥
Upon hearing this, King Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the great warrior, addressed the assembly while Vāsudeva was listening.
dhṛṣṭadyumna nibodhedaṃ yattvā vakṣyāmi māriṣa। nātikramyaṃ bhavettacca vacanaṃ mama bhāṣitam ॥6-46-32॥
O Dhṛṣṭadyumna, listen to what I am about to tell you, dear one. My words should not be disregarded.
bhavānsenāpatirmahyaṃ vāsudevena saṃmataḥ। kārttikeyo yathā nityaṃ devānāmabhavatpurā ॥ tathā tvamapi pāṇḍūnāṃ senānīḥ puruṣarṣabha ॥6-46-33॥
You are appointed as the commander by Vāsudeva for me, just as Kārttikeya was the eternal commander of the gods in ancient times. Similarly, you are the commander of the Pāṇḍavas, O best among men.
sa tvaṁ puruṣaśārdūla vikramya jahi kauravān। ahaṁ ca tvānuyāsyāmi bhīmaḥ kṛṣṇaśca māriṣa ॥6-46-34॥
You, O tiger among men, go forth and defeat the Kauravas. I, along with Bhima and Krishna, will follow you, O lord.
mādrīputrau ca sahitau draupadeyāśca daṃśitāḥ। ye cānye pṛthivīpālāḥ pradhānāḥ puruṣarṣabha ॥6-46-35॥
The sons of Madri and Draupadi, along with other prominent kings of the earth, were struck down, O best of men.
tata uddharṣayansarvāndhṛṣṭadyumno'bhyabhāṣata। ahaṃ droṇāntakaḥ pārtha vihitaḥ śambhunā purā ॥6-46-36॥
Then, Dhrishtadyumna, encouraging everyone, said: "I was appointed by Lord Shiva in the past to bring an end to Drona, O Arjuna."
raṇe bhīṣmaṃ tathā droṇaṃ kṛpaṃ śalyaṃ jayadratham। sarvānadya raṇe dṛptānpratiyotsyāmi pārthiva ॥6-46-37॥
O king, today I will fight against Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Shalya, and Jayadratha, all of whom are proud in battle.
athotkruṣṭaṃ maheṣvāsaiḥ pāṇḍavairyuddhadurmadaiḥ। samudyate pārthivendre pārṣate śatrusūdane ॥6-46-38॥
Then, the great archers, the Pandavas, intoxicated with the fervor of battle, prepared themselves along with the king, the son of Prishata, who is the destroyer of enemies.
tamabravīttataḥ pārthaḥ pārṣataṃ pṛtanāpatim। vyūhaḥ krauñcāruṇo nāma sarvaśatrunibarhaṇaḥ ॥6-46-39॥
Arjuna then addressed the son of Prishata, the commander of the army, saying that the formation called Krauncha and Aruna is capable of destroying all enemies.
yaṁ bṛhaspatir indrāya tadā devāsure 'bravīt। taṁ yathāvat prativyūha parānīka-vināśanam ॥ adṛṣṭapūrvaṁ rājānaḥ paśyantu kurubhiḥ saha ॥6-46-40॥
Bṛhaspati advised Indra during the battle of gods and demons to strategically arrange for the destruction of the enemy's army. Let the kings witness, along with the Kauravas, something unprecedented.
tathoktaḥ sa nṛdevena viṣṇurvajrabhṛtā iva। prabhāte sarvasainyānāmagre cakre dhanañjayam ॥6-46-41॥
Thus, as instructed by the king, Viṣṇu, akin to the wielder of the thunderbolt, positioned Arjuna at the forefront of all the armies at dawn.
ādityapathagaḥ ketustasyādbhutamanoramaḥ। śāsanātpuruhūtasya nirmito viśvakarmaṇā ॥6-46-42॥
Ketu, who travels the path of the sun, has a wonderful and charming form, created by Vishvakarma under the command of Indra.
indrāyudhasavarṇābhiḥ patākābhiralaṅkṛtaḥ। ākāśaga ivākāśe gandharvanagaropamaḥ ॥ nṛtyamāna ivābhāti rathacaryāsu māriṣa ॥6-46-43॥
Adorned with banners and flags resembling the colors of Indra's bow, it moves through the sky like a city of Gandharvas, shining as if dancing during the chariot maneuvers, dear one.
tena ratnavatā pārthaḥ sa ca gāṇḍīvadhanvanā। babhūva paramopetaḥ svayambhūriva bhānunā ॥6-46-44॥
Arjuna, adorned with jewels and holding the Gandiva bow, became as radiant as the self-born creator with the sun.
śiro'bhūddrupado rājā mahatyā senayā vṛtaḥ। kuntibhojaśca caidyaśca cakṣuṣyāstāṃ janeśvara ॥6-46-45॥
Drupada, the king, was at the forefront, surrounded by a great army. Alongside were Kuntibhoja and Caidya, all under the watchful eyes of the lord of people.
dāśārṇakāḥ prayāgāśca dāśerakagaṇaiḥ saha। anūpagāḥ kirātāśca grīvāyāṃ bharatarṣabha ॥6-46-46॥
O best of the Bharatas, the people of Dasharna, Prayaga, and Anupa, along with the groups of Dāśerakas and Kiratas, gathered at the neck.
paṭaccaraiśca huṇḍaiśca rājanpauravakaistathā। niṣādaiḥ sahitaścāpi pṛṣṭhamāsīdyudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥6-46-47॥
O king, Yudhishthira was positioned behind, accompanied by soldiers, Huns, Pauravas, and Nishadas.
pakṣau tu bhīmasenaśca dhṛṣṭadyumnaśca pārṣataḥ। draupadeyābhimanyuśca sātyakiśca mahārathaḥ ॥6-46-48॥
On the two sides were Bhimasena, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata, the sons of Draupadi, Abhimanyu, and Satyaki, all great warriors.
piśācā daradāścaiva puṇḍrāḥ kuṇḍīviṣaiḥ saha। maḍakā laḍakāścaiva taṅgaṇāḥ parataṅgaṇāḥ ॥6-46-49॥
The goblins, Daradas, Puṇḍras, and Kuṇḍīviṣas, along with Maḍakas, Laḍakas, Taṅgaṇas, and Parataṅgaṇas, were all present.
bāhlikāstitttirāścaiva colāḥ pāṇḍyāśca bhārata। ete janapadā rājandakṣiṇaṃ pakṣamāśritāḥ ॥6-46-50॥
O Bharata, the Bahlika, Tittiri, Chola, and Pandya peoples are the nations that reside on the southern side, O King.
agniveṣyā jagattuṇḍāḥ paladāśāśca bhārata। śabarāstumbupāścaiva vatsāśca saha nākulaiḥ ॥ nakulaḥ sahadevaśca vāmaṃ pārśvaṃ samāśritāḥ ॥6-46-51॥
Agni's wife, the world-devourers, and the fruit-eaters, O Bharata, along with the Shabaras, Tumbupas, and Vatsas, are with the Nakulais. Nakula and Sahadeva are positioned on the left side.
rathānāmayutaṃ pakṣau śiraśca niyutaṃ tathā। pṛṣṭhamarbudamevāsītsahasrāṇi ca viṃśatiḥ ॥ grīvāyāṃ niyutaṃ cāpi sahasrāṇi ca saptatiḥ ॥6-46-52॥
The wings were like ten thousand chariots, and the head was as large as one hundred thousand. The back was indeed as vast as one hundred million and twenty thousand. In the neck, there were one hundred thousand and also seventy thousand.
pakṣakoṭiprapakṣeṣu pakṣānteṣu ca vāraṇāḥ। jagmuḥ parivṛtā rājaṃścalanta iva parvatāḥ ॥6-46-53॥
The elephants, positioned at the divisions and ends of the wings, moved like mountains, O king, as they were surrounded.
jaghanaṁ pālayāmāsa virāṭaḥ saha kekayaiḥ। kāśirājaśca śaibyaśca rathānāmayutaistribhiḥ ॥6-46-54॥
Virata, along with the Kekayas, protected the rear. The kings of Kashi and Shaibya supported with thirty thousand chariots.
evam etaṁ mahāvyūhaṁ vyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavāḥ। sūryodayam icchantaḥ sthitā yuddhāya daṁśitāḥ ॥6-46-55॥
Thus, O descendant of Bharata, the Pandavas arranged the great formation and stood ready for battle, eager for the sunrise.
teṣām ādityavarṇāni vimalāni mahānti ca। śvetacchatrāṇyaśobhanta vāraṇeṣu ratheṣu ca ॥6-46-56॥
Their pure and great white umbrellas, resembling the sun, were shining on both elephants and chariots.
