06.083
Core and Pancharatra: Bhishma's "terrifying ocean with waves" military formation on the eighth day of war. Dhrishtadhymna forms the fierce horn-shaped counter-military formation.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
परिणाम्य निशां तां तु सुखसुप्ता जनेश्वराः। कुरवः पाण्डवाश्चैव पुनर्युद्धाय निर्ययुः ॥६-८३-१॥
After a restful night, the kings, including the Kurus and the Pandavas, prepared themselves and set out once more for battle.
ततः शब्दो महानासीत्सेनयोरुभयोरपि। निर्गच्छमानयोः सङ्ख्ये सागरप्रतिमो महान् ॥६-८३-२॥
Then a tremendous sound arose from both armies as they emerged onto the battlefield, resembling the roar of the ocean.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः। भीष्मश्च रथिनां श्रेष्ठो भारद्वाजश्च वै द्विजः ॥६-८३-३॥
Then King Duryodhana, along with Citrasena, Viviṁśati, and Bhishma, the best among charioteers, as well as Bharadvaja, the brahmin, were present.
एकीभूताः सुसंयत्ताः कौरवाणां महाचमूः। व्यूहाय विदधू राजन्पाण्डवान्प्रति दंशिताः ॥६-८३-४॥
The well-organized and united great army of the Kauravas was strategically arranged in battle formation against the Pandavas, O king, with a determined intent.
भीष्मः कृत्वा महाव्यूहं पिता तव विशां पते। सागरप्रतिमं घोरं वाहनोर्मितरङ्गिणम् ॥६-८३-५॥
Bhishma, your father, created a formidable battle formation that resembled a vast and terrifying ocean with waves of chariots, O lord of the armies.
अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां भीष्मः शान्तनवो ययौ। मालवैर्दाक्षिणात्यैश्च आवन्त्यैश्च समन्वितः ॥६-८३-६॥
Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, led the charge in front of all the armies, accompanied by the Malavas, Dakshinatyas, and Avantis.
ततोऽनन्तरमेवासीद्भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। पुलिन्दैः पारदैश्चैव तथा क्षुद्रकमालवैः ॥६-८३-७॥
Then, immediately after, the mighty Bharadvaja was accompanied by the Pulindas, Paradas, and also the Kshudrakas and Malavas.
द्रोणादनन्तरं यत्तो भगदत्तः प्रतापवान्। मागधैश्च कलिङ्गैश्च पिशाचैश्च विशां पते ॥६-८३-८॥
After Drona, the mighty Bhagadatta, along with the Magadhas, Kalingas, and Pisachas, was engaged in battle, O lord of men.
प्राग्ज्योतिषादनु नृपः कौसल्योऽथ बृहद्बलः। मेकलैस्त्रैपुरैश्चैव चिच्छिलैश्च समन्वितः ॥६-८३-९॥
After departing from Prāgjyotiṣa, King Kausalya, along with Bṛhadbala, was accompanied by the Mekalas, Traipuras, and Cicchilas.
बृहद्बलात्ततः शूरस्त्रिगर्तः प्रस्थलाधिपः। काम्बोजैर्बहुभिः सार्धं यवनैश्च सहस्रशः ॥६-८३-१०॥
Then the heroic Trigarta, lord of Prasthala, came from Bṛhadbala, accompanied by many Kambojas and thousands of Yavanas.
द्रौणिस्तु रभसः शूरस्त्रिगर्तादनु भारत। प्रययौ सिंहनादेन नादयानो धरातलम् ॥६-८३-११॥
Drona's son, eager and heroic, left from Trigarta, O Bharata, making the earth resound with his lion-like roar.
तथा सर्वेण सैन्येन राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। द्रौणेरनन्तरं प्रायात्सोदर्यैः परिवारितः ॥६-८३-१२॥
At that time, King Duryodhana, accompanied by his entire army, proceeded towards Drona's son, surrounded by his brothers.
दुर्योधनादनु कृपस्ततः शारद्वतो ययौ। एवमेष महाव्यूहः प्रययौ सागरोपमः ॥६-८३-१३॥
After Duryodhana, Kṛpa and then Śāradvata moved forward. In this way, this great formation advanced, resembling an ocean.
रेजुस्तत्र पताकाश्च श्वेतच्छत्राणि चाभिभो। अङ्गदान्यथ चित्राणि महार्हाणि धनूंषि च ॥६-८३-१४॥
There, O mighty one, the flags and white umbrellas shone, along with bracelets and various very valuable bows.
तं तु दृष्ट्वा महाव्यूहं तावकानां महारथः। युधिष्ठिरोऽब्रवीत्तूर्णं पार्षतं पृतनापतिम् ॥६-८३-१५॥
Upon witnessing the grand formation of your forces, the mighty charioteer Yudhishthira swiftly addressed the son of Prishata, the commander of the forces.
पश्य व्यूहं महेष्वास निर्मितं सागरोपमम्। प्रतिव्यूहं त्वमपि हि कुरु पार्षत माचिरम् ॥६-८३-१६॥
Behold the formation created by the great archer, vast as the ocean. You too, O son of Prishata, must quickly form a counter-formation.
ततः स पार्षतः शूरो व्यूहं चक्रे सुदारुणम्। शृङ्गाटकं महाराज परव्यूहविनाशनम् ॥६-८३-१७॥
Then the heroic son of Prishata created a very fierce and horn-shaped formation, O great king, designed to destroy the enemy's formations.
शृङ्गेभ्यो भीमसेनश्च सात्यकिश्च महारथः। रथैरनेकसाहस्रैस्तथा हयपदातिभिः ॥६-८३-१८॥
Bhimasena and Satyaki, the great warriors, emerged from the horns with a vast army of chariots, horsemen, and infantry.
नाभ्यामभून्नरश्रेष्ठः श्वेताश्वो वानरध्वजः। मध्ये युधिष्ठिरो राजा माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ ॥६-८३-१९॥
Between them was the noble warrior with white horses and a monkey banner. In the center was King Yudhishthira along with the sons of Madri, the Pandavas.
अथेतरे महेष्वासाः सहसैन्या नराधिपाः। व्यूहं तं पूरयामासुर्व्यूहशास्त्रविशारदाः ॥६-८३-२०॥
Then the other great archers, along with their armies, the kings filled that formation, being experts in the science of military formations.
अभिमन्युस्ततः पश्चाद्विराटश्च महारथः। द्रौपदेयाश्च संहृष्टा राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः ॥६-८३-२१॥
Then Abhimanyu, followed by the great warrior Virata, the elated sons of Draupadi, and the demon Ghatotkacha.
एवमेतं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः। अतिष्ठन्समरे शूरा योद्धुकामा जयैषिणः ॥६-८३-२२॥
In this way, O Bharata, the Pandavas, having arranged the great formation, stood ready in battle, eager to fight and achieve victory.
भेरीशब्दाश्च तुमुला विमिश्राः शङ्खनिस्वनैः। क्ष्वेडितास्फोटितोत्क्रुष्टैः सुभीमाः सर्वतोदिशम् ॥६-८३-२३॥
The tumultuous sounds of drums and conches, mixed with shouts, claps, and cries, echoed terribly in all directions.
ततः शूराः समासाद्य समरे ते परस्परम्। नेत्रैरनिमिषै राजन्नवैक्षन्त प्रकोपिताः ॥६-८३-२४॥
Then the warriors, having come close to each other in battle, stared at each other with unblinking eyes, O king, as they were provoked.
मनोभिस्ते मनुष्येन्द्र पूर्वं योधाः परस्परम्। युद्धाय समवर्तन्त समाहूयेतरेतरम् ॥६-८३-२५॥
O lord of men, the warriors, with their minds set, first challenged each other and then engaged in battle with one another.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं घोररूपं भयावहम्। तावकानां परेषां च निघ्नतामितरेतरम् ॥६-८३-२६॥
Then a terrifying and dreadful battle began between your forces and the enemies, with both sides slaughtering each other.
नाराचा निशिताः सङ्ख्ये सम्पतन्ति स्म भारत। व्यात्तानना भयकरा उरगा इव सङ्घशः ॥६-८३-२७॥
O Bharata, sharp iron arrows fell in the battle like groups of fearful serpents with open mouths.
निष्पेतुर्विमलाः शक्त्यस्तैलधौताः सुतेजनाः। अम्बुदेभ्यो यथा राजन्भ्राजमानाः शतह्रदाः ॥६-८३-२८॥
O king, the pure and polished spears emerged, shining brilliantly like hundreds of streams from the clouds.
गदाश्च विमलैः पट्टैः पिनद्धाः स्वर्णभूषिताः। पतन्त्यस्तत्र दृश्यन्ते गिरिशृङ्गोपमाः शुभाः ॥ निस्त्रिंशाश्च व्यराजन्त विमलाम्बरसंनिभाः ॥६-८३-२९॥
Maces bound with spotless cloths and adorned with gold are seen falling there, resembling auspicious mountain peaks. The swords shone brightly, resembling the clear sky.
आर्षभाणि च चर्माणि शतचन्द्राणि भारत। अशोभन्त रणे राजन्पतमानानि सर्वशः ॥६-८३-३०॥
O Bharata, the bull-hide shields adorned with a hundred moons shone brilliantly in the battle, falling everywhere, O King.
तेऽन्योन्यं समरे सेने युध्यमाने नराधिप। अशोभेतां यथा दैत्यदेवसेने समुद्यते ॥ अभ्यद्रवन्त समरे तेऽन्योन्यं वै समन्ततः ॥६-८३-३१॥
The kings, engaged in battle, fought each other fiercely, shining like the legendary battles between the armies of demons and gods. They charged at each other from every direction.
रथास्तु रथिभिस्तूर्णं प्रेषिताः परमाहवे। युगैर्युगानि संश्लिष्य युयुधुः पार्थिवर्षभाः ॥६-८३-३२॥
The chariots were swiftly dispatched by the charioteers into the great battle. The noble kings, like bulls, fought with their yokes joined.
दन्तिनां युध्यमानानां सङ्घर्षात्पावकोऽभवत्। दन्तेषु भरतश्रेष्ठ सधूमः सर्वतोदिशम् ॥६-८३-३३॥
O best of the Bharatas, from the clash of the fighting elephants, a fire arose among their tusks, spreading smoke in all directions.
प्रासैरभिहताः केचिद्गजयोधाः समन्ततः। पतमानाः स्म दृश्यन्ते गिरिशृङ्गान्नगा इव ॥६-८३-३४॥
Some elephant-warriors, struck by spears, were seen falling all around, resembling trees falling from mountain peaks.
पादाताश्चाप्यदृश्यन्त निघ्नन्तो हि परस्परम्। चित्ररूपधराः शूरा नखरप्रासयोधिनः ॥६-८३-३५॥
The foot-soldiers, appearing in various forms, were seen fiercely fighting each other with nails and spears, showcasing their heroism.
अन्योन्यं ते समासाद्य कुरुपाण्डवसैनिकाः। शस्त्रैर्नानाविधैर्घोरै रणे निन्युर्यमक्षयम् ॥६-८३-३६॥
The soldiers of the Kuru and Pandava, upon encountering each other in battle, used various terrible weapons to send each other to the abode of Yama.
ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो रथघोषेण नादयन्। अभ्यागमद्रणे पाण्डून्धनुःशब्देन मोहयन् ॥६-८३-३७॥
Then Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, approached the Pāṇḍavas in battle, creating a resounding noise with his chariot and confusing them with the sound of his bow.
पाण्डवानां रथाश्चापि नदन्तो भैरवस्वनम्। अभ्यद्रवन्त संयत्ता धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः ॥६-८३-३८॥
The chariots of the Pandavas, making a terrifying noise, advanced with readiness, led by Dhrishtadyumna.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तव तेषां च भारत। नराश्वरथनागानां व्यतिषक्तं परस्परम् ॥६-८३-३९॥
Then the battle began between your forces and theirs, O Bharata, with men, horses, chariots, and elephants all entangled with one another.
