06.071
Core and Pancharatra: The sixth-day battle begins with the Makara formation of the Pandava army. The Kauravs make a formidable Krauncha counter-formation.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
विहृत्य च ततो राजन्सहिताः कुरुपाण्डवाः। व्यतीतायां तु शर्वर्यां पुनर्युद्धाय निर्ययुः ॥६-७१-१॥
After spending the night, the Kurus and Pandavas, along with the king, prepared themselves once more for battle.
तत्र शब्दो महानासीत्तव तेषां च भारत। युज्यतां रथमुख्यानां कल्प्यतां चैव दन्तिनाम् ॥६-७१-२॥
There was a great noise from your side and theirs, O Bharata. Let the chief chariots be yoked and the elephants be prepared.
संनह्यतां पदातीनां हयानां चैव भारत। शङ्खदुन्दुभिनादश्च तुमुलः सर्वतोऽभवत् ॥६-७१-३॥
O Bharata, let the infantry and horses be prepared. The loud sound of conches and drums echoed all around.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा धृष्टद्युम्नमभाषत। व्यूहं व्यूह महाबाहो मकरं शत्रुतापनम् ॥६-७१-४॥
King Yudhishthira then instructed Dhrishtadyumna to arrange the troops in the Makara formation, known for its effectiveness in tormenting enemies.
एवमुक्तस्तु पार्थेन धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथः। व्यादिदेश महाराज रथिनो रथिनां वरः ॥६-७१-५॥
Upon being addressed by Pārtha, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the great chariot-warrior, gave orders to the charioteers, O great king, who were the best among the charioteers.
शिरोऽभूद्द्रुपदस्तस्य पाण्डवश्च धनञ्जयः। चक्षुषी सहदेवश्च नकुलश्च महारथः ॥ तुण्डमासीन्महाराज भीमसेनो महाबलः ॥६-७१-६॥
Drupada became the head, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) was the eyes, Sahadeva and Nakula were the great charioteers, and Bhīmasena, the mighty one, was the mouth, O great king.
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः। सात्यकिर्धर्मराजश्च व्यूहग्रीवां समास्थिताः ॥६-७१-७॥
The son of Subhadra, the sons of Draupadi, the demon Ghatotkacha, along with Satyaki and Dharmaraja, took their positions at the forefront of the battle formation.
पृष्ठमासीन्महाराज विराटो वाहिनीपतिः। धृष्टद्युम्नेन सहितो महत्या सेनया वृतः ॥६-७१-८॥
King Virata, the commander of the army, was positioned at the back, accompanied by Dhrishtadyumna and surrounded by a large army.
केकया भ्रातरः पञ्च वामं पार्श्वं समाश्रिताः। धृष्टकेतुर्नरव्याघ्रः करकर्षश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रित्य स्थिता व्यूहस्य रक्षणे ॥६-७१-९॥
The five Kekaya brothers positioned themselves on the left flank. Dhṛṣṭaketu, a formidable warrior, and Karakarṣa, known for his valor, took their stand on the right flank to guard the formation.
पादयोस्तु महाराज स्थितः श्रीमान्महारथः। कुन्तिभोजः शतानीको महत्या सेनया वृतः ॥६-७१-१०॥
At your feet, O great king, stands the illustrious warrior Kuntibhoja and Śatānīka, both surrounded by a mighty army.
शिखण्डी तु महेष्वासः सोमकैः संवृतो बली। इरावांश्च ततः पुच्छे मकरस्य व्यवस्थितौ ॥६-७१-११॥
Shikhandi, the great archer, was surrounded by the Somakas. Iravan was then stationed at the rear of the army.
एवमेतन्महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः। सूर्योदये महाराज पुनर्युद्धाय दंशिताः ॥६-७१-१२॥
Thus, O Bharata, the Pandavas arranged the great formation and were ready for battle again at sunrise, O great king.
कौरवानभ्ययुस्तूर्णं हस्त्यश्वरथपत्तिभिः। समुच्छ्रितैर्ध्वजैश्चित्रैः शस्त्रैश्च विमलैः शितैः ॥६-७१-१३॥
The Kauravas advanced swiftly with their forces, banners flying high, and weapons gleaming brightly.
व्यूहं दृष्ट्वा तु तत्सैन्यं पिता देवव्रतस्तव। क्रौञ्चेन महता राजन्प्रत्यव्यूहत वाहिनीम् ॥६-७१-१४॥
Upon observing that army, your father Devavrata, O king, arranged his forces in the formidable Krauncha formation to counter them.
तस्य तुण्डे महेष्वासो भारद्वाजो व्यरोचत। अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव चक्षुरास्तां नरेश्वर ॥६-७१-१५॥
On his beak, the great archer Bharadvaja shone brilliantly. Ashwatthama and Kripa were indeed the eyes, O king.
कृतवर्मा तु सहितः काम्बोजारट्टबाह्लिकैः। शिरस्यासीन्नरश्रेष्ठः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम् ॥६-७१-१६॥
Kritavarma, along with the Kambojas, Arattas, and Bahlikas, was at the forefront, recognized as the best among men and the finest of all archers.
ग्रीवायां शूरसेनस्तु तव पुत्रश्च मारिष। दुर्योधनो महाराज राजभिर्बहुभिर्वृतः ॥६-७१-१७॥
O great one, your son Duryodhana, the great king, was surrounded by many kings, including Śūrasena, on the neck.
प्राग्ज्योतिषस्तु सहितः मद्रसौवीरकेकयैः। उरस्यभून्नरश्रेष्ठ महत्या सेनया वृतः ॥६-७१-१८॥
Pragjyotisha, accompanied by the Madras, Sauviras, and Kekayas, was encircled by a formidable army, O best of men.
स्वसेनया च सहितः सुशर्मा प्रस्थलाधिपः। वामं पक्षं समाश्रित्य दंशितः समवस्थितः ॥६-७१-१९॥
Susharma, the ruler of Prasthala, accompanied by his army, took position on the left wing, attacked, and stood firm.
तुषारा यवनाश्चैव शकाश्च सह चूचुपैः। दक्षिणं पक्षमाश्रित्य स्थिता व्यूहस्य भारत ॥६-७१-२०॥
The Tusharas, Yavanas, and Shakas, along with the Chuchupas, took position on the southern flank of the formation, O Bharata.
श्रुतायुश्च शतायुश्च सौमदत्तिश्च मारिष। व्यूहस्य जघने तस्थू रक्षमाणाः परस्परम् ॥६-७१-२१॥
Śrutāyu, Śatāyu, and Saumadatti, O great one, stood at the rear of the formation, guarding each other.
ततो युद्धाय सञ्जग्मुः पाण्डवाः कौरवैः सह। सूर्योदये महाराज ततो युद्धमभून्महत् ॥६-७१-२२॥
Then the Pandavas and the Kauravas went to battle together. At sunrise, O great king, a great battle took place.
प्रतीयू रथिनो नागान्नागाश्च रथिनो ययुः। हयारोहा हयारोहान्रथिनश्चापि सादिनः ॥६-७१-२३॥
The charioteers moved towards the elephants, and the elephants approached the charioteers. Similarly, the horse riders moved towards each other, and the charioteers also approached the horsemen.
सारथिं च रथी राजन्कुञ्जरांश्च महारणे। हस्त्यारोहा रथारोहान्रथिनश्चापि सादिनः ॥६-७१-२४॥
O king, in the great battle, the charioteer, the warrior, the elephants, the elephant riders, the chariot riders, the warriors, and the horsemen were all present.
रथिनः पत्तिभिः सार्धं सादिनश्चापि पत्तिभिः। अन्योन्यं समरे राजन्प्रत्यधावन्नमर्षिताः ॥६-७१-२५॥
The charioteers, along with the infantry, and the horsemen, also with their foot soldiers, charged at each other in the battle, O king, with great anger.
भीमसेनार्जुनयमैर्गुप्ता चान्यैर्महारथैः। शुशुभे पाण्डवी सेना नक्षत्रैरिव शर्वरी ॥६-७१-२६॥
The Pandava army, guarded by Bhimasena, Arjuna, Yama, and other great warriors, shone brightly like stars in the night.
तथा भीष्मकृपद्रोणशल्यदुर्योधनादिभिः। तवापि विबभौ सेना ग्रहैर्द्यौरिव संवृता ॥६-७१-२७॥
In this way, your army, accompanied by Bhishma, Kripa, Drona, Shalya, Duryodhana, and others, appeared resplendent, resembling the sky adorned with planets.
भीमसेनस्तु कौन्तेयो द्रोणं दृष्ट्वा पराक्रमी। अभ्ययाज्जवनैरश्वैर्भारद्वाजस्य वाहिनीम् ॥६-७१-२८॥
Bhimasena, the son of Kunti, upon seeing the valiant Drona, swiftly approached Bharadvaja's army with his horses.
द्रोणस्तु समरे क्रुद्धो भीमं नवभिरायसैः। विव्याध समरे राजन्मर्माण्युद्दिश्य वीर्यवान् ॥६-७१-२९॥
In the battle, the mighty and angry Drona targeted Bhima and pierced him with nine iron arrows, aiming at his vital parts, O king.
दृढाहतस्ततो भीमो भारद्वाजस्य संयुगे। सारथिं प्रेषयामास यमस्य सदनं प्रति ॥६-७१-३०॥
Then Bhima, with a powerful strike in the battle, sent Bharadvaja's charioteer to the abode of Yama.
स सङ्गृह्य स्वयं वाहान्भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। व्यधमत्पाण्डवीं सेनां तूलराशिमिवानलः ॥६-७१-३१॥
Bharadvaja, the powerful warrior, personally gathered his chariots and attacked the Pandava army, scattering them like a heap of cotton consumed by fire.
ते वध्यमाना द्रोणेन भीष्मेण च नरोत्तम। सृञ्जयाः केकयैः सार्धं पलायनपराभवन् ॥६-७१-३२॥
O best among men, the Sṛñjayas and the Kekayas, being attacked by Droṇa and Bhīṣma, were forced to retreat and were defeated.
तथैव तावकं सैन्यं भीमार्जुनपरिक्षतम्। मुह्यते तत्र तत्रैव समदेव वराङ्गना ॥६-७१-३३॥
Similarly, your army, which has been tested by Bhima and Arjuna, finds itself bewildered in various places by the equally enchanting presence of beautiful women.
अभिद्येतां ततो व्यूहौ तस्मिन्वीरवरक्षये। आसीद्व्यतिकरो घोरस्तव तेषां च भारत ॥६-७१-३४॥
Then the formations were broken through in that great destruction of the best heroes. A terrible clash ensued between your forces and theirs, O Bharata.
तदद्भुतमपश्याम तावकानां परैः सह। एकायनगताः सर्वे यदयुध्यन्त भारत ॥६-७१-३५॥
O Bhārata, we witnessed that astonishing event where all your men and the enemies gathered in one place and fought.
प्रतिसंवार्य चास्त्राणि तेऽन्योन्यस्य विशां पते। युयुधुः पाण्डवाश्चैव कौरवाश्च महारथाः ॥६-७१-३६॥
The great warriors, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, engaged in battle, countering each other's weapons, O lord of the people.
