06.052
Core and Pancharatra: On the third day, battle starts with Bhishma forming the Garuda military formation; the Pandavas counter it with a crescent military formation.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां भीष्मः शान्तनवस्ततः। अनीकान्यनुसंयाने व्यादिदेशाथ भारत ॥६-५२-१॥
At dawn, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, ordered the armies to prepare, O Bharata.
गारुडं च महाव्यूहं चक्रे शान्तनवस्तदा। पुत्राणां ते जयाकाङ्क्षी भीष्मः कुरुपितामहः ॥६-५२-२॥
At that time, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu and the grandsire of the Kurus, formed the great Garuda military formation, seeking victory for your sons.
गरुडस्य स्वयं तुण्डे पिता देवव्रतस्तव। चक्षुषी च भरद्वाजः कृतवर्मा च सात्वतः ॥६-५२-३॥
In the beak of Garuda himself is your father Devavrata, and your eyes are Bharadvaja and Kritavarma, O Sātvata.
अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव शीर्षमास्तां यशस्विनौ। त्रिगर्तैर्मत्स्यकैकेयैर्वाटधानैश्च संयुतौ ॥६-५२-४॥
Ashwatthama and Kripa, the renowned warriors, led the charge, supported by the Trigartas, Matsyas, Kaikeyas, and Vatadhanas.
भूरिश्रवाः शलः शल्यो भगदत्तश्च मारिष। मद्रकाः सिन्धुसौवीरास्तथा पञ्चनदाश्च ये ॥६-५२-५॥
Bhūriśravāḥ, Śala, Śalya, and Bhagadatta, O great one, along with the Madrakas, Sindhus, Sauvīras, and Pañcanadas, are present here.
जयद्रथेन सहिता ग्रीवायां संनिवेशिताः। पृष्ठे दुर्योधनो राजा सोदरैः सानुगैर्वृतः ॥६-५२-६॥
Duryodhana, the king, was strategically positioned with Jayadratha at the neck, and was surrounded at the back by his brothers and followers.
विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ काम्बोजश्च शकैः सह। पुच्छमासन्महाराज शूरसेनाश्च सर्वशः ॥६-५२-७॥
Vindha and Anuvindha, the princes of Avanti, along with Kamboja and the Shakas, formed the rear guard completely, O great king, together with the Shurasenas.
मागधाश्च कलिङ्गाश्च दाशेरकगणैः सह। दक्षिणं पक्षमासाद्य स्थिता व्यूहस्य दंशिताः ॥६-५२-८॥
The people from Magadha and Kalinga, along with the tribes of Dasharaka, positioned themselves on the southern flank of the formation, ready for battle.
काननाश्च विकुञ्जाश्च मुक्ताः पुण्ड्राविषस्तथा। बृहद्बलेन सहिता वामं पक्षमुपाश्रिताः ॥६-५२-९॥
The forests and groves, along with the released Puṇḍrāviṣas, joined Bṛhadbala on the left side.
व्यूढं दृष्ट्वा तु तत्सैन्यं सव्यसाची परन्तपः। धृष्टद्युम्नेन सहितः प्रत्यव्यूहत संयुगे ॥ अर्धचन्द्रेण व्यूहेन व्यूहं तमतिदारुणम् ॥६-५२-१०॥
Upon seeing the army arrayed, Arjuna, known for his prowess, along with Dhrishtadyumna, arranged their troops in a counter-formation shaped like a crescent, ready to face the fierce battle.
दक्षिणं शृङ्गमास्थाय भीमसेनो व्यरोचत। नानाशस्त्रौघसम्पन्नैर्नानादेश्यैर्नृपैर्वृतः ॥६-५२-११॥
Bhimasena stood out on the southern peak, surrounded by kings from different regions, all equipped with a variety of weapons.
तदन्वेव विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः। तदनन्तरमेवासीन्नीलो नीलायुधैः सह ॥६-५२-१२॥
Following them were Virata and Drupada, both great chariot-warriors. Immediately after them was Nila, accompanied by those with blue weapons.
नीलादनन्तरं चैव धृष्टकेतुर्महारथः। चेदिकाशिकरूषैश्च पौरवैश्चाभिसंवृतः ॥६-५२-१३॥
Following Nila, the mighty chariot-warrior Dhrishtaketu, accompanied by the Chedis, Kashis, Karushas, and Pauravas, was present.
धृष्टद्युम्नः शिखण्डी च पाञ्चालाश्च प्रभद्रकाः। मध्ये सैन्यस्य महतः स्थिता युद्धाय भारत ॥६-५२-१४॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, along with the Pāñcālās and Prabhadrakas, were positioned in the center of the vast army, ready for battle, O Bhārata.
तथैव धर्मराजोऽपि गजानीकेन संवृतः। ततस्तु सात्यकी राजन्द्रौपद्याः पञ्च चात्मजाः ॥६-५२-१५॥
Similarly, Yudhishthira was surrounded by the elephant army. Then, Satyaki, the king, and Draupadi's five sons were present.
अभिमन्युस्ततस्तूर्णमिरावांश्च ततः परम्। भैमसेनिस्ततो राजन्केकयाश्च महारथाः ॥६-५२-१६॥
Then Abhimanyu quickly advanced, followed by Iravan. Beyond them, the son of Bhima, and then, O king, the Kekayas and other great warriors proceeded.
ततोऽभूद्द्विपदां श्रेष्ठो वामं पार्श्वमुपाश्रितः। सर्वस्य जगतो गोप्ता गोप्ता यस्य जनार्दनः ॥६-५२-१७॥
Then the best among bipeds took refuge on the left side, being the protector of the entire world, whose protector is Janardana.
एवमेतन्महाव्यूहं प्रत्यव्यूहन्त पाण्डवाः। वधार्थं तव पुत्राणां तत्पक्षं ये च सङ्गताः ॥६-५२-१८॥
In this way, the Pandavas countered the great formation to kill your sons and those who had gathered on their side.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं व्यतिषक्तरथद्विपम्। तावकानां परेषां च निघ्नतामितरेतरम् ॥६-५२-१९॥
Then the battle began with chariots and elephants interlocked, as both your side and the enemies fought fiercely, killing each other.
हयौघाश्च रथौघाश्च तत्र तत्र विशां पते। सम्पतन्तः स्म दृश्यन्ते निघ्नमानाः परस्परम् ॥६-५२-२०॥
O lord of men, groups of horses and chariots were seen falling everywhere, striking each other.
धावतां च रथौघानां निघ्नतां च पृथक्पृथक्। बभूव तुमुलः शब्दो विमिश्रो दुन्दुभिस्वनैः ॥६-५२-२१॥
The tumultuous noise of the chariots racing and striking separately was intermingled with the sound of drums.
दिवस्पृङ्नरवीराणां निघ्नतामितरेतरम्। सम्प्रहारे सुतुमुले तव तेषां च भारत ॥६-५२-२२॥
In the intense and chaotic battle, the heroic warriors, reaching the sky, were engaged in mutual destruction, both your forces and theirs, O Bharata.
