The arraying of the Kaurava troops

Sanjaya said After the night had passed away, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, viz., Drona began to dispose of his divisions in battle array.

Then there were heard the diverse words of challenge uttered by shouting heroes, inflamed with rage and desirous of slaying one another.

Stretching their bows and drawing back the strings of their bow with their hands and breathing (hot), they began to exclaim, 'where now is that Dhananjaya.'

Some began to toss their swords in airswords that were naked, non-plant, welltempered, of the hue of the sky, possessed of great sharpness and decorated with ornamental hilts.

Thousands of heroic warriors longing for battle, were seen to perform various evolutions of swordsmen and bowmen, with dexterity acquired through discipline.

Others again whirling in the air their maces tied with belts decorated with sandal paste and adorned with gold and diamond, began to enquire after the son of Pandu (Arjuna).

Other warriors, maddened with the pride of their prowess and endued with strong arms, obstructed the sky with their spiked bludgeons that looked like bannered poles raised in honor of Indra.

Other brave warriors again decorated with charming floral garlands and armed with various kinds of weapons, stationed themselves on different parts of the field, burning with a desire for battle.

'Where is Arjuna? Where is Govinda? Where is the proud Vrikodara? Where are all their followers and friends? Even thus did they then challenge the Pandavas to battle.

Then blowing his conch and urging his steeds to full speed, Drona began to move hither and thither with great celerity, arranging his troops in order.

When those divisions that ever delighted in fight, were disposed of in order, O mighty monarch, the son of Bharadvaja addressing Jayadratha said these words.

"Yourself, the son of Somadatta, the mighty car-warrior Karna, Ashvatthaman, Shalya, Vrishasena and Kripa supported with hundred thousand horses, sixty thousand chariots, fourteen thousand elephants with rent temples, twenty-one thousand foot-soldiers cased in armour, take up your stand behind me at a distance of twelve miles.

There even the very gods led by Vasava himself will not be able to assault you what to speak of the sons of Pandu? Take heart, O ruler of the Sindhus."

Thus spoken to, Jayadratha the ruler of the Sindhus became comforted. He then set out for the spot indicated by Drona, followed by many Gandhara heroes and surrounded by those great car-warriors.

And accompanied by many foot soldiers cased in armours, armed with nooses and prepared to fight to the best of their abilities. Decked with Chamaras and adorned with golden caparisons.

The horses of Jayadratha, O mighty king, were all very good carriers; seven thousand such steeds and three thousands other steeds of the Shindhu breed, were also with him.

Your son Durmarshana, desirous of doing battle, was stationed in the van of the rest of the troops being supported by one thousand and five hundred maddened elephants of prodigious size, covered with mail and of dreadful deeds, all mounted by skillful elephant-riders.

Your other two sons, Dushasana and Vikarna, stationed themselves amidst the advance division of the army, for securing success to the king of the Sindhus.

The array that the son of Bharadvaja then formed, partly figuring a sakata and partly a circle, was full forty-eight miles in length and its back portion, in width, measured full twenty miles.

Drona himself formed this array in which were stationed numerous brave kings and innumerable cars, elephants, horses and foot soldiers.

In the back portion of that array was formed another impenetrable array figuring a lotus. Within this latter again was constructed another closely formed array, that was designated the needle.

Thus having formed this inighty array Drona waited for the encounter. In the rear of the needle array was placed Kritavarman the fierce bowman.

After him were stationed the Kamboja Princes and also Jalasandha, O sire, Behind them stood Duryodhana and Karna, in the Sakata.

Nex, to them were placed hundreds and thousands of unretreating warriors, for protecting the head of that array.

Behind their back, was stationed · king Jayadratha by the side of the needle array and surrounded by a mighty division of troops.

The son of Bharadvaja, himself stood at the mouth of the Sakata. Next to him stood the ruler of the Bhojas, who protected the former.

Cased in a white coat of mail, graced with a beautiful turban, of broad chest and of mighty arms, Drona there stood stretching his bow, like the enraged God of Death.

The Kurus then were filled with delight by beholding the chariot of Drona, graced with a banner, having crimson steeds yoked to it and standard that bore the device of the sacrificial altar and a black deer.

Beholding that array formed by Drona that resembled the ocean agitated (by the tempest), the Siddhas and the Charanas were filled with great wonder.

The creatures then thought that array would devour the whole Earth with her mountains, oceans, forests and the various rivers flowing on its surface.

King Duryodhana then beholding that great array figuring a Sakata, teeming with chariots, men, steeds and elephants and roaring fearfully, of wonderful appearance and capable of afflicting the hearts of the enemy, became filled with delight.