The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,393 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,393 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2.
of combatants 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-warrior Nakula formed its two eyes.  And the mighty Bhimasena formed its beak.  And Subhadra’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 Kekaya brothers consisted its left wing, and that tiger among men, viz., Dhrishtaketu, and Chekitana of great prowess, stationed in the right wing, stood for protecting that array.  And its two feet, O monarch, were constituted by that mighty car-warrior the blessed Kuntibhoja, and Satanika, supported by a large force.  And that great bowman, the mighty Sikhandin, surrounded by the Somakas, and Iravat, were stationed in the tail of that Makara array.  And having, O Bharata, formed their great array, the Pandavas, O monarch, equipped in mail at dawn, again stood for battle.  And with elephants and steeds and cars and infantry, and with standards upraised and umbrellas set up, and armed with bright, whetted weapons, 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 huge crane.  And in its beak was Bharadwaja’s son (Drona).  And Aswatthaman and Kripa, O monarch, formed its two eyes.  And that foremost, of all bowmen, viz., Kritavarman, united with the ruler of the Kamvojas and with the Valhikas 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 his own troops, stood, accoutred in mail, in the left wing.  And the Tusharas, the Yavanas and the Sakas, along with the Chulikas, stood in the right wing, O Bharata, of that array.  And Srutayush and Sataytish and Somadatta’s son, O sire, were stationed in the rear of that array protecting one another.

“Then the Pandavas, O king, rushed against the Kauravas for battle.  The sun, O Bharata, had risen when the battle commenced.  And elephants proceeded against elephants.  And horsemen rushed against horsemen, car-warriors against car-warriors, O king, and against elephants also, in that dreadful conflict.  And car-men rushed against riders of elephants, and riders of elephants against horsemen.  And car-warriors engaged with foot-soldiers, and cavalry with infantry.  And all the warriors, O king, excited with wrath, rushed against one another in battle.  And the Pandava army, protected by Bhimasena and Arjuna

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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.