भीष्म-वध पर्व — आठौँ दिनको युद्धको आरम्भ

Sanjaya said Having passed that night and having enjoying a peaceful slumber, those rulers of men belonging to the hosts of the Kurus and the Pandavas, again marched out for battle.

Then a tremendous din was created by those two hosts when they marched out for battle, did that resembled the uproar of the ocean itself.

Thereupon king Duryodhana, Chitrasena, Vivingshati, Bhishma the foremost of all carwarriors, the son of Bharadvaja endued with prowess,

These mighty car-warriors of the Kaurava host clad in mail and united together and with great care, formed, O king, the battle-array of their troops against those of the Pandavas.

Your sire Bhishma, O ruler of men, formed a mighty array resembling the dreadful ocean itself, having for its waves and currents the vehicles (of the warriors).

Then Bhishma the son of Shantanu marched out in the van of all the troops, supported by the Malavas, the Southerners and Avantyas.

Behind him came the son of Bharadvaja endued with prowess, being supported by the Pulindas, the Kshudrakas and the Malavas.

After Drona marched Bhagadatta endued with great prowess and determined to fight to the last), being supported by the Magadhas, the Kalingas, and the Pisachas, O ruler of men.

After king of Pragjyotishapur, came Brihadbala the ruler of the Kosalas, being supported by the Mekalas, the Tripuras and the Chichitas.

After Brihadbala came the heroic Bhagadatta, the ruler of Prasthala, accompanied by numerous Kamboja and thousands of Yavanas.

After Trigarta, O Bharata, the valiant son of Drona rushed to battle, resounding the earth with his war-cries.

After the son of Drona proceeded king Duryodhana accompanied by the whole army and surrounded his uterine brothers.

After Duryodhana marched Kripa, the son of Sharadvata. Thus marched out the mighty array that resembled the ocean itself.

In that array, O lord, streamers, white umbrellas, precious armours of wonderful workmanship, and many bows, shone resplendent.

Seeing that mighty array of your warriors, the mighty car-warrior Yudhishthira speedily addressing Prishata's son, the generalissimo of his army said these words.

Behold, O mighty bowman, this array of troops already formed, resembling the very ocean; O son of Prishata, without loss of time, do you also arrange your troops in counterarray.

Thereupon, O mighty monarch, the valiant son of Prishata formed the dreadful array known as Shringataka that is capable of penetrating through the hostile array.

In its two horns was placed Bhimasena and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, supported by many thousands of car-warriors and cavalry and infantry.

In its navel was the ape-bannered Arjuna owning white steeds; and O foremost of men, in its middle was king Yudhishthira and the sons of Pandu begotten upon Madri.

Other mighty bowmen, all rulers of earth, and versed in the are of forming arrays with their troop filled up that array.

Abhimanyu and the mighty car-warrior Virata, the sons of Draupadi, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha were commanded to bring up the rear.

Thus, O Bharata, forming this mighty array, the heroic sons of Pandu occupied the fled anxiously longing for battle and for victory.

Loud noise of the drums, mingled with the blare of conchs and the slapping of the armpits and the war-cries and shouts of the warriors, became dreadful, and filled all the quarters of heaven.

Thus those heroes, O king, encountering one another in battle, gazed at one another with windless eyes.

Then, O foremost of men, challenging one another by their appellation, the warriors became engaged with one another.

There raged a fierce and frightening battle between your warriors and those of the enemy, as they smote down one another.

Whetted long shafts, 0 Bharata, began to rain on all sides of the field of battle, like dreadful reptiles with mouths wide open.

Resplendent dares cleansed with oil and shot with great force, began to fall, O king, like flashing forks of lightening from the clouds.

Maces, covered with shining pierces of cloth and decked with gold were seen to fall on the field like so many beautiful crests of mountains.

Swords resplendent like the clear blue sky, glittered there. Bucklers made of bull's hide and decorated with hundred moons, O Bharata,

Falling on all sides, appeared beautiful, O king. O ruler of men, when the two armies fought with each other in that battle,

They appeared beautiful like the hosts of the celestial and the Daityas engaged with one another (in days gone by). From all sides they rushed against one another in that battle.

Excellent royal car-warriors rushing against their antagonist car-warriors fought on in that dreadful battle having the yokes of their chariots entangled with one another.

On all sides, O foremost of the Bharatas, were seen scintications of fire mixed with smoke emitted from the tusks of elephants in consequence of friction, as they fought on with one another.

Some elephant-warriors struck down with Prasas, falling on the ground appeared like mountain trees overthrown from the peaks.

Heroic foot-soldiers of diverse appearance were seen to slay one another and to battle with lances that looked like their nails.

The combatants of the Kuru and the Pandava troops nearing one another, began to dispatch one another to the regions of death, with arrows of diverse shapes.

Thereafter Bhishma the son of Shantanu, rushed against the Pandava host, filling the heavens with the clatter of his car and confounding the enemies with the twang of his bow.

The car-warriors of the Pandava host also setting up a dreadful noise, rushed towards Bhishma, firmly resolved in fight and headed by Dhrishtadyumna himself.

Then, O Bharata, raged the battle between your as well as the enemy's troops, consisting of men, steeds, cars and elephants battle in which the combatants became entangled with one another.