06.065
Core and Pancharatra: On the fifth day, Bhishma arranged the army in crocodile formation, seeing Pandavas in an unconquerable eagle formation.
Sanjaya said:
At dawn, as the sun rose, both armies gathered for battle, O great king.
They all, filled with anger and desire to conquer one another, rushed together into battle, seeing each other.
O King, both the Pandavas and the sons of Dhritarashtra, following your ill-advised counsel, arranged their battle formations and, filled with excitement, engaged in combat, striking fiercely.
Bhishma, O king, arranged the crocodile formation with protection on all sides. Similarly, the Pandavas, O king, protected their own formation.
Your father, Devavrata, set out with the chariot army, surrounded by the finest charioteers, being the best among them.
The charioteers, infantry, elephants, and horsemen were arranged in their respective divisions, following one another in an orderly manner.
Upon seeing the glorious Pandavas rising in the battle, arranged in the unconquerable eagle formation, they were prepared for the fight.
In his face shone the mighty Bhimasena; in his eyes, the invincible Shikhandi; and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, was present.
The heroic Satyaki, known for his true valor, stood at the head, while Arjuna, wielding the Gandiva bow, was positioned at the neck at that time.
The entire army on the left side was led by the noble Drupada, who, along with his son, engaged in the battle.
The southern side was led by the Kaikeya, the commander of the army. Behind them were the sons of Draupadi and the brave son of Subhadra.
King Yudhishthira himself appeared behind, accompanied by his wise brothers and the valorous twins.
Bhima entered the battlefield and, like a crocodile attacking from the front, approached Bhishma and showered him with arrows.
Then Bhishma, in the great battle, discharged mighty weapons, confusing the well-arranged army of the Pandavas, O Bharata.
Then, as the army was confused, the hastening Arjuna pierced Bhishma with thousands of arrows at the forefront of the battle.
After successfully defending against the weapons launched by Bhishma in the battle, he confidently positioned himself with his enthusiastic army, ready to fight.
Then King Duryodhana addressed Bharadvaja, recalling the terrible slaughter of the army and the brothers in battle, as he was the best among the strong and a great chariot warrior.
O teacher, you are always my well-wisher, sinless one. We have relied upon you and grandfather Bhishma.
We have no doubt in our desire to conquer even the gods in battle. What then of the sons of Pandu, who are deficient in strength and valor in battle?
Upon being addressed in this manner, Droṇa, your son, O sir, attacked the Pāṇḍava army while Sātyaki was watching.
Satyaki then stopped Drona, O Bharata, and a fierce and terrifying battle ensued.
In the battle, the mighty and angry son of Bharadvāja pierced the son of Śini in the collar region with sharp arrows, seemingly with a smile.
Then, in his anger, Bhimasena pierced Bharadvaja to protect Satyaki, O king, from Drona, the best among the wielders of weapons.
Then Droṇa, Bhīṣma, and Śalya, in their anger, showered Bhīmasena with arrows on the battlefield, O great one.
In that place, Abhimanyu and the sons of Draupadi, being angry, O lord, attacked all those with raised weapons with their sharp arrows.
In the great battle, the mighty and enraged Bhishma and Drona were attacking, but Shikhandi, the great archer, advanced to confront them.
The hero, seizing his mighty bow, made a thunderous sound like a cloud and swiftly released arrows, obscuring the sun.
Upon approaching Shikhandi, the grandfather of the Bharatas refrained from fighting, recalling Shikhandi's past as a woman.
Then Droṇa, urged by your son, attacked in the battle to protect Bhīṣma, O great king.
Shikhandi approached Drona, the greatest among warriors, and engaged him in battle with the intensity of a cataclysmic fire.
Then, your son, with great strength, approached and protected Bhishma, seeking great fame, O lord of the people.
In the same manner, O king, the Pandavas, led by Dhananjaya (Arjuna), moved towards Bhishma with a strong determination to win.
The battle was fierce, akin to the eternal struggle between gods and demons, with both sides perpetually seeking victory and unparalleled glory.
