Adhyaya 60

Verse 1

संजयने कहा--भारत! जब रात बीती और प्रभात हुआ, तब शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने अपनी सेनाओंको युद्धभूमिमें चलनेका आदेश दिया

Sanjaya said: O Bharata, when the night had passed and dawn had come, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, issued the command for his forces to advance onto the battlefield.

Verse 2

गारुडं च महाव्यूहं चक्रे शान्तनवस्तदा । पुत्राणां ते जयाकाड्क्षी भीष्म: कुरुपितामह:,उस समय कुरुकुलके पितामह शान्तनुकुमार भीष्मने आपके पुत्रोंको विजय दिलानेकी इच्छासे महान्‌ गरुड़व्यूहकी रचना की

Sañjaya said: Then Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu—the grandsire of the Kurus—formed the great battle-array called the Garuḍa formation, desiring victory for your sons.

Verse 3

गरुडस्य स्वयं तुण्डे पिता देवब्रतस्तव । चक्षुषी च भरद्वाज: कृतवर्मा च सात्वत:

Sañjaya said: “In that battle-formation shaped like Garuḍa, your father Devavrata (Bhīṣma) himself stood at the very front, in the place of the beak. Bharadvāja’s son (Droṇa) and Kṛtavarmā of the Sātvatas took their positions as the two eyes.”

Verse 4

अश्वत्थामा कृपश्चैव शीर्षमास्तां यशस्विनौ । त्रैगर्तैरथ कैकेयैर्वाटधानैश्व संयुगे,यशस्वी वीर अश्वत्थामा और कृपाचार्य शिरोभागमें खड़े हुए। इनके साथ त्रिगर्त, केकय और वाटथान भी युद्धभूमिमें उपस्थित थे

Sañjaya said: The illustrious Aśvatthāmā and Kṛpa took their position at the head of the formation. Along with them in the battle stood the Trigartas, the Kaikeyas, and the Vāṭadhānas.

Verse 5

भूरिश्रवा: शल: शल्यो भगदत्तश्न मारिष । मद्रका: सिन्धुसौवीरास्तथा पाउ्चनदाश्न ये

Sañjaya said: “O revered one, Bhūriśravas, Śala, Śalya, and Bhagadatta—as well as the Madras, the Sindhus and Sauvīras, and those who dwell in the land of the five rivers—(all these warriors and peoples are present and arrayed for battle).”

Verse 6

पृष्ठे दुर्योधनो राजा सोदर्य: सानुगैर्वृत:

Sañjaya said: King Duryodhana, surrounded by his own brothers and attendants, took position at the rear. There, at the tail-end of that vast battle-array, stood the Avanti princes Vinda and Anuvinda, along with the warriors of Kamboja, Śaka, and Śūrasena—forming the supporting rear-guard of the Kaurava host.

Verse 7

विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ काम्बोजाश्व शकैः सह । पुच्छमासन्‌ महाराज शूरसेनाश्व सर्वश:

Sañjaya said: O great king, Vindā and Anuvindā of Avanti, along with the Kāmbojas and the Śakas, and likewise the Śūrasenas in full strength, were stationed at the rear—the tail-end—of that vast battle formation.

Verse 8

मागधाश्नर कलिड्ाश्ष दासेरकगणै: सह । दक्षिणं पक्षमासाद्य स्थिता व्यूहस्य दंशिता:,मगध और कलिंगदेशके योद्धा दासेरकगणोंके साथ कवच धारण करके व्यूहके दायें पंखके स्थानमें स्थित हुए

Sañjaya said: The warriors of Magadha and Kaliṅga, together with the companies of the Dāserakas, having put on their armour, took up position on the right wing of the battle-array—firmly set within the ordered formation of war.

Verse 9

कारूषाश्न विकुज्जाश्न मुण्डा: कुण्डीवृषास्तथा । बृहदूबलेन सहिता वाम॑ पार्श्रमवस्थिता:

Sañjaya said: The Kārūṣas, the Vikuñjas, the Muṇḍas, and likewise the Kuṇḍīvṛṣas—arrayed together with Bṛhadūbala—took up position on the left flank.

Verse 10

कारूष, विकुंज, मुण्ड और कुण्डीवृष आदि योद्धा राजा बृहदबलके साथ बायें पंखके स्थानमें खड़े हुए ।।

Sañjaya said: Seeing that army drawn up in battle formation, Arjuna—renowned as Savyasācī, the ambidextrous archer and a scorcher of foes—took his stand in the fight together with Dhṛṣṭadyumna and counter-arrayed his forces to meet it. He formed a most dreadful crescent-shaped array; and on its rightward point Bhīmasena shone.

Verse 11

अर्धचन्द्रेण व्यूहेन व्यूहं तमतिदारुणम्‌ । दक्षिणं शुड्रमास्थाय भीमसेनो व्यरोचत

Sañjaya said: With a crescent-shaped, arched battle-array they confronted that exceedingly dreadful formation. Taking position on the right wing—the right horn—Bhīmasena shone forth.

Verse 12

नानाशस्त्रौससम्पन्नैर्नानादेश्यैर्नपैर्वत: । तदन्वेव विराटश्न द्रपदश्च॒ महारथ:

Sañjaya said: He was surrounded by kings from many regions, equipped with diverse arrays of weapons. Close behind Bhīmasena stood King Virāṭa and Drupada, the great chariot-warrior—an image of allied resolve as the righteous side gathers strength for the coming battle.

Verse 13

तदनन्तरमेवासीन्नीलो नीलायुथै: सह । नीलादनन्तरश्वैव धृष्टकेतुर्महाबल:,उनके बाद नील आयुधधारी सैनिकोंके साथ राजा नील और नीलके बाद महाबली धृष्टकेतु खड़े हुए

Sañjaya reports that immediately thereafter King Nīla took his position, accompanied by troops bearing blue-hued weapons; and following Nīla, the mighty Dhṛṣṭaketu also stood ready. The verse continues the orderly mustering of warriors, underscoring disciplined preparation and resolve as the armies arrange themselves for the coming battle.

Verse 14

चेदिकाशिकरूषैश्न पौरवैरपि संवृतः । धृष्टद्युम्न: शिखण्डी च पज्चालाश्व प्रभद्रका:

Sañjaya said: The army’s central formation was ringed about by the forces of Cedi, Kāśi, and Karūṣa, and also by the Pauravas. There stood Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin, together with the Pāñcālas and the Prabhadrakas, ready for battle—an image of allied duty and resolve as the war-lines tightened around the leaders.

Verse 15

मध्ये सैन्यस्य महतः स्थिता युद्धाय भारत । तत्रैव धर्मराजो5पि गजानीकेन संवृतः

Sañjaya said: In the very midst of that vast host, ready for battle, stood the warriors of the Pāṇḍava side. There too was Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, protected and enclosed by a formation of elephants. Along with Dhṛṣṭaketu were soldiers from Cedi, Kāśi, Karūṣa, the Pauravas, and other realms. Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Śikhaṇḍin, the Pāñcālas, and the Prabhadrakas likewise took their stand in the central sector of the great army, poised for combat—while Yudhiṣṭhira remained there, guarded by the elephant corps.

Verse 16

ततस्तु सात्यकी राजन द्रौपद्या: पजच चात्मजा: । अभिमन्युस्तत: शूर इरावांश्व॒ ततः परम्‌,राजन! तदनन्तर सात्यकि और द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्र खड़े हुए। इनके बाद शूरवीर अभिमन्यु और अभिमन्युके बाद इरावान्‌ थे

Sañjaya said: “Then, O King, Sātyaki stood forth, and also the five sons of Draupadī. After them came the heroic Abhimanyu; and after Abhimanyu, Irāvān.” The verse continues the orderly naming of warriors, underscoring disciplined readiness and the moral weight of kinship and duty as the battle-lines take shape.

Verse 17

भैमसेनिस्ततो राजन्‌ केकयाश्न महारथा: । ततो<भूद्‌ द्विपदां श्रेष्ठो वाम॑ पार्श्वमुपाश्रित:

Sañjaya said: “Then, O King, Bhīmasena and the mighty chariot-warriors of the Kekayas took their positions. Thereupon the best among men moved to and occupied the left flank.”

Verse 18

एवमेतं महाव्यूहं प्रत्यव्यूहन्त पाण्डवा:

Sañjaya said: “Thus, in response to that vast battle-formation, the Pāṇḍavas arranged a counter-formation—meeting strategy with strategy as the war’s order and duty-driven contest unfolded.”

Verse 19

ततः प्रववृते युद्ध व्यतिषक्तरथद्धिपम्‌

Sañjaya said: “Then the battle truly commenced, with chariots and war-elephants intermingled and locked together in close, chaotic engagement—an escalation into full-scale combat where order gives way to the pressing demands and moral strain of war.”

Verse 20

हयौघाश्र रथौघाश्ष तत्र तत्र विशाम्पते

Sañjaya said: “O lord of men, there were masses of horses and masses of chariots—here and there across the field.”

Verse 21

धावतां च रथौघानां निघ्नतां च पृथक्‌ पृथक्‌

Sañjaya said: “O Bhārata, as the masses of chariots surged forward and struck one another in scattered, individual clashes, the uproar grew ever more dreadful—mingling with the booming of kettledrums. In the fierce battle between your sons and the Pāṇḍavas, the terrifying din of heroic warriors exchanging blow for counterblow spread through the sky.”

Verse 22

बभूव तुमुल: शब्दो विमिश्रो दुन्दुभिस्वनै: । दिवस्पृड नरवीराणां निघ्नतामितरेतरम्‌ | सम्प्रहारे सुतुमुले तव तेषां च भारत

Sañjaya said: In that exceedingly fierce clash between your forces and theirs, O Bhārata, a tumultuous roar arose—mingled with the booming of kettledrums. As the heroic warriors struck one another in mutual assault and counterassault, their dreadful din spread upward, seeming to touch the very sky.

Verse 56

जयद्रथेन सहिता ग्रीवायां संनिवेशिता: । आर्य! भूरिश्रवा

Sanjaya reports that Jayadratha was positioned at the ‘neck’ sector of the battle formation, accompanied by prominent warriors—Bhūrishravas, Śala, Śalya, and Bhagadatta. Alongside them stood fighters from the regions of Madra, Sindhu, Sauvīra, and the land of the five rivers. The passage underscores how the Kaurava side deliberately reinforced a crucial point in the array with renowned leaders and regional contingents, highlighting the calculated organization of war and the moral weight of collective alignment in a righteous conflict.

Verse 176

सर्वस्य जगतो गोप्ता गोप्ता यस्य जनार्दन: । नरेश्वर! इरावानके बाद भीमसेनपुत्र घटोत्कच तथा महारथी केकय खड़े हुए। तत्पश्चात्‌ मनुष्योंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन उस व्यूहके बायें पार्श्व या शिखरके स्थानमें खड़े हुए

Sanjaya said: O king, after Iravan had been checked, Bhima’s son Ghatotkacha and the great chariot-warrior from Kekaya stood firm. Thereafter Arjuna, the best among men, took his position on the left flank—at the very crest of the battle-formation—protected by Janardana, the very Lord who safeguards and sustains the whole world.

Verse 186

वधार्थ तव पुत्राणां तत्पक्ष॑ं ये च सड़ता: । इस प्रकार पाण्डवोंने आपके पुत्रों तथा उनके पक्षमें आये हुए अन्यान्य भूपालोंके वधके लिये इस महाव्यूहकी रचना की

Sañjaya said: “With the aim of slaying your sons—and also those who have joined their side—the Pāṇḍavas arranged this great battle-formation.”

Verse 196

तावकानां परेषां च निध्नतामितरेतरम्‌ | तदनन्तर एक-दूसरेपर प्रहार करते हुए आपके और शत्रुपक्षके सैनिकोंका घोर युद्ध आरम्भ हो गया, जिसमें रथसे रथ और हाथीसे हाथी भिड़ गये थे

Sañjaya said: As your warriors and the opposing host struck one another down, a dreadful battle flared up at once—chariot crashing against chariot and elephant meeting elephant—each side intent on overpowering the other in the relentless momentum of war.

Verse 206

सम्पतन्तो व्यदृश्यन्त निध्नन्तस्ते परस्परम्‌ | प्रजानाथ! जहाँ-तहाँ सब ओर घोड़ों और रथोंके समुदाय एक-दूसरेपर टूटते और प्रहार करते दिखायी दे रहे थे

Sañjaya said: “O lord of men, everywhere on the field the masses of horses and chariots could be seen rushing together, crashing into one another and striking each other down.” The scene reveals the impersonal momentum of war—armies driven by duty and command, yet bringing mutual destruction on every side.