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.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavastataḥ। anīkānyanusaṃyāne vyādideśātha bhārata ॥6-52-1॥
At dawn, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, ordered the armies to prepare, O Bharata.
gāruḍaṃ ca mahāvyūhaṃ cakre śāntanavastadā। putrāṇāṃ te jayākāṅkṣī bhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ ॥6-52-2॥
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.
garuḍasya svayaṃ tuṇḍe pitā devavratas tava। cakṣuṣī ca bharadvājaḥ kṛtavarmā ca sātvataḥ ॥6-52-3॥
In the beak of Garuda himself is your father Devavrata, and your eyes are Bharadvaja and Kritavarma, O Sātvata.
aśvatthāmā kṛpaścaiva śīrṣamāstāṃ yaśasvinau। trigartairmatsyakaikeyairvāṭadhānaiśca saṃyutau ॥6-52-4॥
Ashwatthama and Kripa, the renowned warriors, led the charge, supported by the Trigartas, Matsyas, Kaikeyas, and Vatadhanas.
bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ śalyo bhagadattaśca māriṣa। madrakāḥ sindhusauvīrāstathā pañcanadāśca ye ॥6-52-5॥
Bhūriśravāḥ, Śala, Śalya, and Bhagadatta, O great one, along with the Madrakas, Sindhus, Sauvīras, and Pañcanadas, are present here.
jayadrathena sahitā grīvāyāṃ saṃniveśitāḥ। pṛṣṭhe duryodhano rājā sodaraiḥ sānu-gairvṛtaḥ ॥6-52-6॥
Duryodhana, the king, was strategically positioned with Jayadratha at the neck, and was surrounded at the back by his brothers and followers.
vindānuvindāvāvantyau kāmbojaśca śakaiḥ saha। pucchamāsanmahārāja śūrasenāśca sarvaśaḥ ॥6-52-7॥
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.
māgadhāśca kaliṅgāśca dāśerakagaṇaiḥ saha। dakṣiṇaṃ pakṣamāsādya sthitā vyūhasya daṃśitāḥ ॥6-52-8॥
The people from Magadha and Kalinga, along with the tribes of Dasharaka, positioned themselves on the southern flank of the formation, ready for battle.
kānanāśca vikuñjāśca muktāḥ puṇḍrāviṣastathā। bṛhadbalena sahitā vāmaṃ pakṣamupāśritāḥ ॥6-52-9॥
The forests and groves, along with the released Puṇḍrāviṣas, joined Bṛhadbala on the left side.
vyūḍhaṃ dṛṣṭvā tu tatsainyaṃ savyasācī parantapaḥ। dhṛṣṭadyumnena sahitaḥ pratyavyūhata saṃyuge ॥ ardhacandreṇa vyūhena vyūhaṃ tamatidāruṇam ॥6-52-10॥
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.
dakṣiṇaṃ śṛṅgam āsthāya bhīmaseno vyarocata। nānāśastraughasampannair nānādeśyair nṛpair vṛtaḥ ॥6-52-11॥
Bhimasena stood out on the southern peak, surrounded by kings from different regions, all equipped with a variety of weapons.
tadanveva virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ। tadanantaramevāsīnnīlo nīlāyudhaiḥ saha ॥6-52-12॥
Following them were Virata and Drupada, both great chariot-warriors. Immediately after them was Nila, accompanied by those with blue weapons.
nīlād anantaraṃ caiva dhṛṣṭaketur mahārathaḥ। cedikāśikarūṣaiś ca pauravaiś cābhisaṃvṛtaḥ ॥6-52-13॥
Following Nila, the mighty chariot-warrior Dhrishtaketu, accompanied by the Chedis, Kashis, Karushas, and Pauravas, was present.
dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca pāñcālāśca prabhadrakāḥ। madhye sainyasya mahataḥ sthitā yuddhāya bhārata ॥6-52-14॥
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍī, along with the Pāñcālās and Prabhadrakas, were positioned in the center of the vast army, ready for battle, O Bhārata.
tathaiva dharmarājo'pi gajānīkena saṁvṛtaḥ। tatastu sātyakī rājandraupadyāḥ pañca cātmajāḥ ॥6-52-15॥
Similarly, Yudhishthira was surrounded by the elephant army. Then, Satyaki, the king, and Draupadi's five sons were present.
abhimanyustatastūrṇamirāvāṃśca tataḥ param। bhaimasenistato rājankekayāśca mahārathāḥ ॥6-52-16॥
Then Abhimanyu quickly advanced, followed by Iravan. Beyond them, the son of Bhima, and then, O king, the Kekayas and other great warriors proceeded.
tato'bhūddvipadāṃ śreṣṭho vāmaṃ pārśvamupāśritaḥ। sarvasya jagato goptā goptā yasya janārdanaḥ ॥6-52-17॥
Then the best among bipeds took refuge on the left side, being the protector of the entire world, whose protector is Janardana.
evametadmahāvyūhaṃ pratyavyūhanta pāṇḍavāḥ। vadhārthaṃ tava putrāṇāṃ tatpakṣaṃ ye ca saṅgatāḥ ॥6-52-18॥
In this way, the Pandavas countered the great formation to kill your sons and those who had gathered on their side.
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ vyatiṣaktarathadvipam। tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca nighnatāmitaretaram ॥6-52-19॥
Then the battle began with chariots and elephants interlocked, as both your side and the enemies fought fiercely, killing each other.
hayaughāśca rathaughāśca tatra tatra viśāṃ pate। sampatantaḥ sma dṛśyante nighnamānāḥ parasparam ॥6-52-20॥
O lord of men, groups of horses and chariots were seen falling everywhere, striking each other.
dhāvatāṃ ca rathaughānāṃ nighnatāṃ ca pṛthakpṛthak। babhūva tumulaḥ śabdo vimiśro dundubhisvanaiḥ ॥6-52-21॥
The tumultuous noise of the chariots racing and striking separately was intermingled with the sound of drums.
divaspṛṅnaravīrāṇāṃ nighnatāmitaretaram। samprahāre sutumule tava teṣāṃ ca bhārata ॥6-52-22॥
In the intense and chaotic battle, the heroic warriors, reaching the sky, were engaged in mutual destruction, both your forces and theirs, O Bharata.
