Mahabharata: Vol. 5 by Bibek Debroy Read Free Book Online

cities. Your father was extremely resplendent, like the full moon. The
     warriors were stationed in their battle formations, with bows, scimitars, swords, 26 clubs, javelins, spears and other shining weapons.O lord
     of the earth! There were elephants, chariots, infantry and horses. There were
     hundreds and thousands of them, spread like a net. Resplendent standards of many
     different kinds could be seen. They were brilliant and there were thousands of them,
     belonging to us and to the enemy. They were golden and were adorned with jewels.
     They blazed like the fire. The kings possessed thousands of radiant standards. They
     shone like the great Indra’s standard and resembled the great
     Indra’s abode. The brave ones who desired to fight, glanced at them.
     Indras among men were at the forefront of their troops. Their weapons were raised.
     They had colourful guards on their palms and possessed quivers. Their eyes were like
     those of bulls. Shakuni Soubala, Shalya, Jayadratha from Sindhu, Vinda and Anuvinda
     from Avanti, Sudakshina from Kamboja, Shrutayudha from Kalinga, King Jayatsena,
     Brihadbala from Koshala and Satvata Kritavarma—these ten tigers among men
     were brave and possessed arms like clubs. They were performers of sacrifices at
     which a lot of gifts were donated. Each of them headed one
akshouhini
. 27 Other than this, there were many others who followed Duryodhana. There were
     immensely strong kings and princes, knowledgeable about policy. They could be seen
     armoured, heading their armies. All of them were attired in black deerskin. They had
     standards and wore garlands of
munja
grass. 28 They prepared themselves for Duryodhana’s sake and were ready to go
     to Brahma’s world. 29 They stationed themselves, heading the ten large armies. The eleventh large
     army of Kourava, Dhritarashtra’s son, stood in front of all the soldiers,
     with Shantanu’s son at the head. The undecaying one was in a white
     headdress. He had white horses and was clad in white armour. O great king! Bhishma
     could be seen like the rising moon. Stationed on his silver chariot, Bhishma had a
     standard with a golden palm tree. He could be seen by the Kurusand the Pandavas like the one with the sharp rays, 30 enveloped by white clouds. Dhrishtadyumna, the great Srinjaya archer, was at
     the forefront 31 and they looked like small animals, glancing at a large and yawning lion. With
     Dhrishtadyumna at the forefront, all of them trembled repeatedly. O descendant of
     the Bharata lineage! These are the eleven large divisions of your army. The seven
     divisions of the Pandavas were also protected by great men. They were like two
     oceans meeting at the end of an era, infested with crazy sharks 32 and giant crocodiles. O king! We have not seen or heard of anything like this
     earlier, like those armies encountering each other in the prescribed
     manner.”’
Chapter 877(17)
    ‘Sanjaya said, “Just
     as the illustrious Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa had said, in that fashion, all the lords
     of the earth assembled for the encounter. On that day, the moon approached Magha. 33 The seven large and blazing planets 34 appeared in the sky. When the sunarose, it seemed to be
     divided into two parts. When the blazing sun arose in the sky, it had a flaming
     crest. The directions blazed. Desiring to feed on bodies, flesh and blood, jackals
     and crows cried out. Each day, the aged grandfather of the Kurus and
     Bharadvaja’s son arose and with concentration, wished that the Parthas
     might not be killed and that the sons of Pandu might be victorious. Those undecaying
     scorchers of enemies fought for your sake only because they had taken a pledge. Your
     father, Devavrata, was knowledgeable about every aspect of dharma. He summoned all
     the lords of the earth and spoke these words to them. ‘O kshatriyas! This
     great door that leads to heaven has been opened up. Pass through it and go the
     worlds of Shakra and Brahma. 35 This is