Chapter 75

Sanjaya said, “Having rested for a while, O king, both the Kurus and thePandavas, after the night had passed away, once more went out for battle.And then loud was the uproar, O king, that arose of mighty car-warriorsas they prepared for battle, and of tuskers as these were being equippedfor the conflict, and of infantry as they put on their armour, and ofsteeds also, O Bharata. And the blare of conches and the beat of drumsbecame deafening in all parts of the field. Then king Yudhishthiraaddressed Dhrishtadyumna and said, ‘O mighty-armed one, dispose thetroops in the array called Makara that scorcheth the foe.’ Thus addressedby Pritha’s son, that mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, that foremost ofcombatants on cars, issued the order, O great king, to the car-warriors,(for forming the Makara array). Drupada, and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu,formed the head of that array, and Sahadeva and that mighty car-warriorNakula formed its two eyes. And the mighty Bhimasena formed its beak. AndSubhadra’s son, and the sons of Draupadi and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha,and Satyaki, and king Yudhishthira the just, were stationed in its neck.And king Virata that commander of a large division, formed its back,supported by Dhrishtadyumna and a large force. And the five Kekayabrothers consisted its left wing, and that tiger among men, viz.,Dhrishtaketu, and Chekitana of great prowess, stationed in the rightwing, stood for protecting that array. And its two feet, O monarch, wereconstituted by that mighty car-warrior the blessed Kuntibhoja, andSatanika, supported by a large force. And that great bowman, the mightySikhandin, surrounded by the Somakas, and Iravat, were stationed in thetail of that Makara array. And having, O Bharata, formed their greatarray, the Pandavas, O monarch, equipped in mail at dawn, again stood forbattle. And with elephants and steeds and cars and infantry, and withstandards upraised and umbrellas set up, and armed with bright, whettedweapons, they quickly proceeded against the Kauravas.

“Then thy sire Devavrata, beholding the (Pandava) army thus arrayed,disposed his army, O king, in counter-array after the form of a hugecrane. And in its beak was Bharadwaja’s son (Drona). And Aswatthaman andKripa, O monarch, formed its two eyes. And that foremost, of all bowmen,viz., Kritavarman, united with the ruler of the Kamvojas and with theValhikas was stationed, O king, in its head. And in its neck. O Bharata,were Surasena, and thy son Duryodhana, O king, surrounded by many kings.And the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, united with the Madras, the Sauviras,and the Kekayas, and surrounded by a large force, was stationed, O king,in its breasts. And Susarman the king of Prasthala, accompanied by hisown troops, stood, accoutred in mail, in the left wing. And the Tusharas,the Yavanas and the Sakas, along with the Chulikas, stood in the rightwing, O Bharata, of that array. And Srutayush and Sataytish andSomadatta’s son, O sire, were stationed in the rear of that arrayprotecting one another.

“Then the Pandavas, O king, rushed against the Kauravas for battle. Thesun, O Bharata, had risen when the battle commenced. And elephantsproceeded against elephants. And horsemen rushed against horsemen,car-warriors against car-warriors, O king, and against elephants also, inthat dreadful conflict. And car-men rushed against riders of elephants,and riders of elephants against horsemen. And car-warriors engaged withfoot-soldiers, and cavalry with infantry. And all the warriors, O king,excited with wrath, rushed against one another in battle. And the Pandavaarmy, protected by Bhimasena and Arjuna and the twins, looked beautifullike the night decorated with stars. And thy army also, with Bhishma andKripa and Drona and Salya and Duryodhana, and others, shone like thefirmament spangled with the planets. And Bhimasena the son of Kunti,endued with great prowess, beholding Drona rushed against the division ofBharadwaja’s son, borne by his steeds of great fleetness. Then Drona,excited with wrath in that conflict and endued with great energy, piercedBhima with nine shafts made wholly of iron, aiming his vital limbs.Deeply pierced by Bharadwaja’s son in that conflict, Bhima despatchedDrona’s charioteer to the region of Yama. Thereupon the son ofBharadwaja, endued with great prowess, himself restraining his steeds,began to consume the Pandava army like fire consuming a heap of cotton.And while thus slaughtered, O king, by Drona and Bhishma, the Srinjayasalong with the Kekayas took to flight. And so thy troops also, mangled byBhima and Arjuna, became deprived of their senses as they stood, like abeautiful female in her pride. And in that conflict destructive of heroesgreat was the distress, O Bharata, that befell both thy army and theirs.And we beheld the wonderful sight, O Bharata, of the troops fighting withone another regardless of their lives.[403] And the Pandavas and theKauravas, O king, in that conflict, fought with one another counteractingone another’s weapons.”