“Thy son Durmarshana, desirous of doing battle, stationed himself at the head of all the troops, accompanied by a thousand and five hundred infuriated elephants and awful size clad in mail and of fierce deeds, and all ridden by well-trained elephant-riders.  Thy two other sons, viz., Duhsasana and Vikarna, took up their position amid the advance-divisions of the army, for the accomplishment of the objects of Jayadratha.  The array that Bharadwaja’s son formed, part Sakata and part a circle, was full forty-eight miles long and the width of its rear measured twenty miles.  Drona himself formed that array with countless brave kings, stationed with it, and countless cars and steeds and elephants and foot-soldiers.  In the rear of that array was another impenetrable array of the form of lotus.  And within that lotus was another dense array called the needle.  Having formed his mighty array thus, Drona took up his station.  At the mouth of that needle, the great bowman Kritavarman took up his stand.  Next to Kritavarman, O sire, stood the ruler of the Kamvojas and Jalasandha.  Next to these, stood Duryodhana and Karna.  Behind them hundreds and thousands of unreturning heroes were stationed in that Sakata for protecting its head.  Behind them all, O monarch, and surrounded by a vast force, was king Jayadratha stationed at one side of that needle-shaped array.  At the entrance of the Sakata, O king, was Bharadwaja’s son.  Behind Drona was the chief of the Bhojas, who protected him.  Clad in white armour, with excellent head-gear, of broad chest and mighty arms, Drona stood, stretching his large bow, like the Destroyer himself in wrath.  Beholding Drona’s car which was graced with a beautiful standard and had red sacrificial altar and a black deer-skin, the Kauravas were filled with delight.  Seeing that array formed by Drona, which resembled the ocean itself in agitation, the Siddhas and the Charanas were filled with wonder.  And all creatures thought that array would devour the whole earth with her mountains and seas and forests, and abounding with diverse things.  And king Duryodhana, beholding that mighty array in the form of a Sakata, teeming with carts and men and steeds and elephants, roaring dreadful of wonderful form, and capable of riving the hearts of foes, began to rejoice.’”

SECTION LXXXVIII

“Sanjaya said, ’After the divisions of the Kuru army had been (thus) arrayed, and a loud uproar, O sire, had, arisen; after drums and Mridangas began to be beaten and played upon, after the din of the warriors and the noise of musical instruments had become audible; after conch began to be blown, and an awful roar had arisen, making the hair stand on end; after the field of battle had beer slowly covered by the Bharata heroes desirous of fight; and after the hour called Rudra had set in, Savyasachin made his appearance.  Many thousands of ravens and crows, O Bharata, proceeded sporting on the front of Arjuna’s