Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच अक्षौहिण्यो दशैकां च व्यूढां दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरः कथमल्पेन सैन्येन प्रत्यव्यूहत पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Having seen our eleven Akshauhinis placed in battle array, how did Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, make his counter-array with his troops which were smaller than ours?
यो वेद मानुषं व्यूहं दैवं गान्धर्वमासुरम् कथं भीष्मं स कौन्तेयः प्रत्यव्यूहत पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, how did the son of Kunti form his counter array of troops against Bhishma who knew all kinds of Vyuhas, those of the celestial, the Gandharvas, the Asuras and the men.
संजय उवाच धार्तराष्ट्राण्यनीकानि दृष्ट्वा व्यूढानि पाण्डवः अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा धर्मराजो धनंजयम्
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said seeing the troops of the Kurus placed in battle-array, the virtuous minded son of Pandu, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, thus spoke spoke to Dhananjaya (Arjuna).
महर्षेर्वचनात्तात वेदयन्ति बृहस्पतेः संहतान्योधयेदल्पान्कामं विस्तारयेद्बहून्
M. N. Dutt: We know from the words of Brihaspati that few (troops) must be made to fight be forming them in a solid array, and many may be expanded according to pleasure.
सूचीमुखमनीकं स्यादल्पानां बहुभिः सह अस्माकं च तथा सैन्यमल्पीयः सुतरां परैः
M. N. Dutt: When a few have to fight with many, the Vyuha should be made the Needle mounted. Our troops in comparison to those of our enemies are but few.
एतद्वचनमाज्ञाय महर्षेर्व्यूह पाण्डव तच्छ्रुत्वा धर्मराजस्य प्रत्यभाषत फल्गुनः
M. N. Dutt: O son of Pandu, keeping always in mind this precept of the great Rishi, array our troops". Having heard this, the Pandava thus spoke to Dharmaraja Yudhishthira.
एष व्यूहामि ते राजन्व्यूहं परमदुर्जयम् अचलं नाम वज्राख्यं विहितं वज्रपाणिना
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of kings, that immovable Vyuha called Vajra which was designed by the wielder of thunderbolt (Indra), that impenetrable Vyuha I shall make today.
यः स वात इवोद्धूतः समरे दुःसहः परैः स नः पुरो योत्स्यति वै भीमः प्रहरतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: He who is like a raging tempest, he who is irresistible in battle by any foe, that foremost of heroes. Bhima, will fight at the head of our troops.
Supplementary Passages:
6.19.8 For 8cd, S subst.: *71 धृष्टद्युम्नोऽग्रतो यातु रिपुसैन्यानि भीषयन्
तेजांसि रिपुसैन्यानां मृद्नन्पुरुषसत्तमः अग्रेऽग्रणीर्यास्यति नो युद्धोपायविचक्षणः
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of men who knows all the appliances of battle, becoming our leader, will stand in front of our army, and crush the prowess of the enemy's troops.
Supplementary Passages:
6.19.9 After 9, S (except M3) ins.: *72 सेनाप्रणेता योग्योऽयं देवानामिव पावकिः
यं दृष्ट्वा पार्थिवाः सर्वे दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः निवर्तिष्यन्ति संभ्रान्ताः सिंहं क्षुद्रमृगा इव
AI Translation: Seeing whom all the kings, with Duryodhana at the forefront, will turn back in confusion, like small animals from a lion.
तं सर्वे संश्रयिष्यामः प्राकारमकुतोभयम् भीमं प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठं वज्रपाणिमिवामराः
AI Translation: We shall all take refuge in him, the rampart free from fear, The terrible one, the best of strikers, like the thunderbolt-wielding one among the immortals.
न हि सोऽस्ति पुमाँल्लोके यः संक्रुद्धं वृकोदरम् द्रष्टुमत्युग्रकर्माणं विषहेत नरर्षभम्
M. N. Dutt: There breathes none in the world who can cast his eye on the foremost of men, Vrikodara of fearful deeds, when he is enraged.
भीमसेनो गदां बिभ्रद्वज्रसारमयीं दृढाम् चरन्वेगेन महता समुद्रमपि शोषयेत्
AI Translation: Bhimasena, wielding a club made of solid diamond, would dry up even the ocean with his great speed.
केकया धृष्टकेतुश्च चेकितानश्च वीर्यवान् एत तिष्ठन्ति सामात्याः प्रेक्षकास्ते नरेश्वर
AI Translation: The Kekayas, Dhrishtaketu, and the valorous Chekitana These are the ministers who stand there, watching, O lord of men.
Supplementary Passages:
6.19.14 After 14, K3 B Da1 (marg.) Dn D4.7.8 ins.: *73 भीमसेनं तदा राजन्दर्शयन्स महाबलम्
धृतराष्ट्रस्य दायादा इति बीभत्सुरब्रवीत् ब्रुवाणं तु तथा पार्थं सर्वसैन्यानि मारिष अपूजयंस्तदा वाग्भिरनुकूलाभिराहवे
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, when Partha (Arjuna) was thus speaking, all the troops worshipped him on the field of battle with congratulatory words.
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुस्तथा चक्रे धनंजयः व्यूह्य तानि बलान्याशु प्रययौ फल्गुनस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Having said this, the mighty-armed Dhananjaya (Arjuna), did as he said. Phalguna (Arjuna) quickly placing his troops in battlearray, marched against the enemy.
संप्रयातान्कुरून्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवानां महाचमूः गङ्गेव पूर्णा स्तिमिता स्यन्दमाना व्यदृश्यत
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the Kuru army on the march, the great Pandava army appeared like the full, immovable and rolling and surging Ganga.
भीमसेनोऽग्रणीस्तेषां धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पार्षतः नकुलः सहदेवश्च धृष्टकेतुश्च वीर्यवान्
M. N. Dutt: Bhimasena, the greatly powerful Dhrishtadyumna, Nakula and Sahadeva and king Dhrishtaketu become the several leaders of the (Pandava) force.
समुद्योज्य ततः पश्चाद्राजाप्यक्षौहिणीवृतः भ्रातृभिः सह पुत्रैश्च सोऽभ्यरक्षत पृष्ठतः
M. N. Dutt: The king Virata, accompanied by his brothers and sons, and surrounded by one Akshauhini of soldiers, marched in the rear and protected the army from behind.
चक्ररक्षौ तु भीमस्य माद्रीपुत्रौ महाद्युती द्रौपदेयाः ससौभद्राः पृष्ठगोपास्तरस्विनः
AI Translation: The two sons of Madri, of great splendor, were the protectors of Bhima's chariot wheel. The sons of Draupadi, with Subhadra, were the rear guards, the swift ones.
धृष्टद्युम्नश्च पाञ्चाल्यस्तेषां गोप्ता महारथः सहितः पृतनाशूरै रथमुख्यैः प्रभद्रकैः
AI Translation: And Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchala, was their great charioteer protector, together with the foremost of charioteers, the Prabhadrakas, heroes of the army.
शिखण्डी तु ततः पश्चादर्जुनेनाभिरक्षितः यत्तो भीष्मविनाशाय प्रययौ भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: Shikhandi, protected by Arjuna, went forth to destroy Bhishma, O bull of the Bharatas.
पृष्ठगोपोऽर्जुनस्यापि युयुधानो महारथः चक्ररक्षौ तु पाञ्चाल्यौ युधामन्यूत्तमौजसौ
M. N. Dutt: Behind Arjuna stood the mighty Yuyudhana; and the two Panchala princes, Yudhamanyu add Uttamaujas protected Arjuna's chariot.
राजा तु मध्यमानीके कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः बृहद्भिः कुञ्जरैर्मत्तैश्चलद्भिरचलैरिव
M. N. Dutt: Then king Yudhishthira, surrounded by huge and various elephants each resembling a moving hill, took up his position in the centre of the army.
अक्षौहिण्या च पाञ्चाल्यो यज्ञसेनो महामनाः विराटमन्वयात्पश्चात्पाण्डवार्थे पराक्रमी
M. N. Dutt: The illustration Yajnasena the greatly powerful Panchala king placed himself behind Virata (king) with one Akshauhini of soldiers.
तेषामादित्यचन्द्राभाः कनकोत्तमभूषणाः नानाचिह्नधरा राजन्रथेष्वासन्महाध्वजाः
M. N. Dutt: O king, the standards of those kings, cars bore various devices. They were all adorned with excellent ornaments of gold. They were as effulgent as the moon or the sun.
समुत्सर्प्य ततः पश्चाद्धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथः भ्रातृभिः सह पुत्रैश्च सोऽभ्यरक्षद्युधिष्ठिरम्
M. N. Dutt: Asking the kings to move onward the great car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna accompanied by his brothers and sons, protected Yudhishthira from behind.
त्वदीयानां परेषां च रथेषु विविधान्ध्वजान् अभिभूयार्जुनस्यैको ध्वजस्तस्थौ महाकपिः
M. N. Dutt: Shadowing all the great standards of the cars on your side, a huge ape stood (as standard) on Arjuna's car.
Supplementary Passages:
6.19.28 After 28, D3 ins.: *74 ध्वजाग्रे रुवतो भीमं कपेस्तस्य पुनः पुनः श्रूयते भीमनिनदो नादयानो दिशो दश दृष्ट्वा च भीषयामास विरावैर्वानरेश्वरः भ्रूक्षेपोत्क्षेपविक्षेपैर्लाङ्गूलेन पुनः कपिः आकाशे दर्शयामास प्रतिशब्दे महास्वनम्
पादातास्त्वग्रतोऽगच्छन्नसिशक्त्यृष्टिपाणयः अनेकशतसाहस्रा भीमसेनस्य रक्षिणः
M. N. Dutt: Many hundreds and thousands of footsoldiers, armed with swords, spears and scimitars, marched ahead protecting Bhimsena.
वारणा दशसाहस्राः प्रभिन्नकरटामुखाः शूरा हेममयैर्जालैर्दीप्यमाना इवाचलाः
AI Translation: Ten thousand elephants with broken tusks and faces, Shining like mountains with golden nets,
Supplementary Passages:
6.19.30 After 30, T1 G4 ins.: *75 सघण्टा हेमकक्ष्याभिः पताकाभिरलंकृताः
क्षरन्त इव जीमूता मदार्द्राः पद्मगन्धिनः राजानमन्वयुः पश्चाच्चलन्त इव पर्वताः
AI Translation: Like clouds pouring rain, they were moist with wine and fragrant with lotuses. They followed the king in the rear, like mountains in motion.
भीमसेनो गदां भीमां प्रकर्षन्परिघोपमाम् प्रचकर्ष महत्सैन्यं दुराधर्षो महामनाः
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious and invincible Bhimasena, whirling his fearful mace loO king like a parigha (weapon), seemed to crush your sons' sons' army.
तमर्कमिव दुष्प्रेक्ष्यं तपन्तं रश्मिमालिनम् न शेकुः सर्वतो योधाः प्रतिवीक्षितुमन्तिके
M. N. Dutt: He was incapable of being looked at like the sun. He was scorching, as it were, the enemy army. None of the warriors could even look at him from a near point.
वज्रो नामैष तु व्यूहो दुर्भिदः सर्वतोमुखः चापविद्युद्ध्वजो घोरो गुप्तो गाण्डीवधन्वना
M. N. Dutt: This Vyuha, called Vajra, with its face turned to all sides, had, as it were, the bows (of the warriors) as its lightnings. This extremely fearful Vyuha was protected by the wielder of Gandiva (Arjuna).
यं प्रतिव्यूह्य तिष्ठन्ति पाण्डवास्तव वाहिनीम् अजेयो मानुषे लोके पाण्डवैरभिरक्षितः
M. N. Dutt: Thus placing their troops in this counterarray, the Pandavas waited for battle, Protected as it was by the Pandavas that Vyuha became impenetrable in the world.
संध्यां तिष्ठत्सु सैन्येषु सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति प्रावात्सपृषतो वायुरनभ्रे स्तनयित्नुमान्
M. N. Dutt: At the dawn of day when the armies were waiting for the sunrise, a wind began to blow with drops of water. Though there were no clouds, yet the roars of thunder were heard.
विष्वग्वाताश्च वान्त्युग्रा नीचैः शर्करकर्षिणः रजश्चोद्धूयमानं तु तमसाच्छादयज्जगत्
M. N. Dutt: Dry winds began to blow from all sides, carrying showers of sharp pointed stones and pebbles. A thick dust rose and covered the world with darkness.
पपात महती चोल्का प्राङ्मुखी भरतर्षभ उद्यन्तं सूर्यमाहत्य व्यशीर्यत महास्वना
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, large meteors fell, and striking the rising sun, they fell in fragments with loud noise.
अथ सज्जीयमानेषु सैन्येषु भरतर्षभ निष्प्रभोऽभ्युदियात्सूर्यः सघोषो भूश्चचाल ह व्यशीर्यत सनादा च तदा भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of the Bharata race, when the armies thus stood in battle-array the sun rise bereft of its splendor and the earth trembled with loud sounds. The roars of thunder were again and again heard on all sides.
निर्घाता बहवो राजन्दिक्षु सर्वासु चाभवन् प्रादुरासीद्रजस्तीव्रं न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
AI Translation: Many earthquakes occurred in all directions, O king. A fierce dust storm arose, nothing could be seen.
ध्वजानां धूयमानानां सहसा मातरिश्वना किङ्किणीजालनद्धानां काञ्चनस्रग्वतां रवैः
AI Translation: By the sound of the flags fluttering in the wind, and by the sound of the bells and garlands of gold.
महतां सपताकानामादित्यसमतेजसाम् सर्वं झणझणीभूतमासीत्तालवनेष्विव
AI Translation: of the great ones, with banners, with the splendor of the sun, all became jingling, like in groves of palm trees.
एवं ते पुरुषव्याघ्राः पाण्डवा युद्धनन्दिनः व्यवस्थिताः प्रतिव्यूह्य तव पुत्रस्य वाहिनीम्
AI Translation: Thus those tigers among men, the Pandavas, who delight in battle, having arrayed their forces against your son's army,
स्रंसन्त इव मज्जानो योधानां भरतर्षभ दृष्ट्वाग्रतो भीमसेनं गदापाणिमवस्थितम्
AI Translation: The warriors were like marrow oozing out, O bull of the Bharata lineage, when they saw Bhima-sena standing in front of them, holding a mace.