Mahabharata
Krauñcāruṇavyūhaḥ (The Krauncharuna Array)6.46.45-56
5591 / 15823
Mahabharata · 6.46.45-56
Devanāgarī

शिरो ऽभूद् द्रुपदो राजा महत्या सेनया वृतः ॥
कुन्तिभोजश् च चैद्यश् च चक्षुष्य् आस्तां जनेश्वर ॥
दाशार्णकाः प्रयागाश् च दाशेरकगणैः सह ॥
अनूपगाः किराताश् च ग्रीवायां भरतर्षभ ॥
पटच्चरैश् च हुण्डैश् च राजन् पौरवकैस् तथा ॥
निषादैः सहितश् चापि पृष्ठम् आसीद् युधिष्ठिरः ॥
पक्षौ तु भीमसेनश् च धृष्टद्युम्नश् च पार्षतः ॥
द्रौपदेयाभिमन्युश् च सात्यकिश् च महारथः ॥
पिशाचा दरदाश् चैव पुण्ड्राः कुण्डीविषैः सह ॥
मडका लडकाश् चैव तङ्गणाः परतङ्गणाः ॥
बाह्लिकास् तित्तिराश् चैव चोलाः पाण्ड्याश् च भारत ॥
एते जनपदा राजन् दक्षिणं पक्षम् आश्रिताः ॥
अग्निवेष्या जगत्तुण्डाः पलदाशाश् च भारत ॥
शबरास् तुम्बुपाश् चैव वत्साश् च सह नाकुलैः ॥
नकुलः सहदेवश् च वामं पार्श्वं समाश्रिताः ॥
रथानाम् अयुतं पक्षौ शिरश् च नियुतं तथा ॥
पृष्ठम् अर्बुदम् एवासीत् सहस्राणि च विंशतिः ॥
ग्रीवायां नियुतं चापि सहस्राणि च सप्ततिः ॥
पक्षकोटिप्रपक्षेषु पक्षान्तेषु च वारणाः ॥
जग्मुः परिवृता राजंश् चलन्त इव पर्वताः ॥
जघनं पालयाम् आस विराटः सह केकयैः ॥
काशिराजश् च शैब्यश् च रथानाम् अयुतैस् त्रिभिः ॥
एवम् एतं महाव्यूहं व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाः ॥
सूर्योदयनम् इच्छन्तः स्थिता युद्धाय दंशिताः ॥
तेषाम् आदित्यवर्णानि विमलानि महान्ति च ॥
श्वेतच्छत्राण्य् अशोभन्त वारणेषु रथेषु च ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

śiro 'bhūd drupado rājā mahatyā senayā vṛtaḥ ||
kuntibhojaś ca caidyaś ca cakṣuṣy āstāṃ janeśvara ||
dāśārṇakāḥ prayāgāś ca dāśerakagaṇaiḥ saha ||
anūpagāḥ kirātāś ca grīvāyāṃ bharatarṣabha ||
paṭaccaraiś ca huṇḍaiś ca rājan pauravakais tathā ||
niṣādaiḥ sahitaś cāpi pṛṣṭham āsīd yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
pakṣau tu bhīmasenaś ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ ||
draupadeyābhimanyuś ca sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ ||
piśācā daradāś caiva puṇḍrāḥ kuṇḍīviṣaiḥ saha ||
maḍakā laḍakāś caiva taṅgaṇāḥ parataṅgaṇāḥ ||
bāhlikās tittirāś caiva colāḥ pāṇḍyāś ca bhārata ||
ete janapadā rājan dakṣiṇaṃ pakṣam āśritāḥ ||
agniveṣyā jagattuṇḍāḥ paladāśāś ca bhārata ||
śabarās tumbupāś caiva vatsāś ca saha nākulaiḥ ||
nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca vāmaṃ pārśvaṃ samāśritāḥ ||
rathānām ayutaṃ pakṣau śiraś ca niyutaṃ tathā ||
pṛṣṭham arbudam evāsīt sahasrāṇi ca viṃśatiḥ ||
grīvāyāṃ niyutaṃ cāpi sahasrāṇi ca saptatiḥ ||
pakṣakoṭiprapakṣeṣu pakṣānteṣu ca vāraṇāḥ ||
jagmuḥ parivṛtā rājaṃś calanta iva parvatāḥ ||
jaghanaṃ pālayām āsa virāṭaḥ saha kekayaiḥ ||
kāśirājaś ca śaibyaś ca rathānām ayutais tribhiḥ ||
evam etaṃ mahāvyūhaṃ vyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavāḥ ||
sūryodayanam icchantaḥ sthitā yuddhāya daṃśitāḥ ||
teṣām ādityavarṇāni vimalāni mahānti ca ||
śvetacchatrāṇy aśobhanta vāraṇeṣu ratheṣu ca ||

Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
शिरः अभूत् द्रुपदः राजाśiraḥ abhūt drupadaḥ rājāKing Drupada was the head; Drupada became the head
महत्या सेनया वृतःmahatyā senayā vṛtaḥsurrounded by a great army; surrounded by a large host
कुन्तिभोजः च चैद्यः चkuntibhojaḥ ca caidyaḥ caKuntibhoja and the Chaidya; Kuntibhoja and the king of Chedi
चक्षुषी आस्ताम् जनेश्वरcakṣuṣī āstām janeśvarawere the two eyes, O lord of men; became the eyes, O king
दाशार्णकाः प्रयागाः चdāśārṇakāḥ prayāgāḥ cathe Dasharnakas and the Prayagas; the people of Dasharna and Prayaga
दाशेरकगणैः सहdāśerakagaṇaiḥ sahawith the bands of Dasherakas; together with the groups of Dasherakas
अनूपगाः किराताः चanūpagāḥ kirātāḥ cathe Anupagas and the Kiratas; the Anupaga and the Kirata
ग्रीवायां भरतर्षभgrīvāyāṃ bharatarṣabhaformed the neck, best of the Bharatas; made up the neck, bull of the Bharatas
पटच्चरैः च हुण्डैः चpaṭaccaraiḥ ca huṇḍaiḥ cawith the Pataccharas and the Hundas; together with the Pataccharas and Hundas
राजन् पौरवकैः तथाrājan pauravakaiḥ tathāO king, and also with the Pauravakas; O king, together with the Pauravakas as well
निषादैः सहितः च अपिniṣādaiḥ sahitaḥ ca apiand together with the Nishadas; also joined with the Nishadas
पृष्ठम् आसीत् युधिष्ठिरःpṛṣṭham āsīt yudhiṣṭhiraḥYudhishthira was the back; Yudhishthira became the back
पक्षौ तु भीमसेनः चpakṣau tu bhīmasenaḥ caBhimasena, meanwhile, formed the wings; Bhima and Dhrishtadyumna were the two flanks
धृष्टद्युम्नः च पार्षतःdhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ ca pārṣataḥand Dhrishtadyumna Parshata; and Dhrishtadyumna, son of Prishata
द्रौपदेयाभिमन्युः चdraupadeyābhimanyuḥ cathe sons of Draupadi and Abhimanyu; the Draupadeyas together with Abhimanyu
सात्यकिः च महारथःsātyakiḥ ca mahārathaḥand Satyaki, the great chariot-warrior; and the maharatha Satyaki
पिशाचा दरदाः च एवpiśācā daradāḥ ca evathe Pishachas and the Daradas too; the Pishachas together with the Daradas
पुण्ड्राः कुण्डीविषैः सहpuṇḍrāḥ kuṇḍīviṣaiḥ sahathe Pundras with the Kundivishas; the Pundras together with the Kundivishas
मडका लडकाः च एवmaḍakā laḍakāḥ ca evathe Madakas and the Ladakas too; the Madakas together with the Ladakas
तङ्गणाः परतङ्गणाःtaṅgaṇāḥ parataṅgaṇāḥthe Tanganas and the Paratanganas; the Tangana and the Paratangana
बाह्लिकाः तित्तिराः च एवbāhlikāḥ tittirāḥ ca evathe Bahlikas and the Tittiras too; the Bahlikas together with the Tittiras
चोलाः पाण्ड्याः च भारतcolāḥ pāṇḍyāḥ ca bhāratathe Cholas and the Pandyas, O Bharata; the Cholas together with the Pandyas
एते जनपदाः राजन्ete janapadāḥ rājanthese peoples, O king; these lands, O lord
दक्षिणं पक्षम् आश्रिताःdakṣiṇaṃ pakṣam āśritāḥoccupied the right wing; took their stand on the southern flank
अग्निवेष्याः जगत्तुण्डाःagniveṣyāḥ jagattuṇḍāḥthe Agniveshyas and the Jagattundas; the Agniveshyas together with the Jagattundas
पलदाशाः च भारतpaladāśāḥ ca bhārataand the Paladashas, O Bharata; the Paladashas as well, O Bharata
शबराः तुम्बुपाः च एवśabarāḥ tumbupāḥ ca evathe Shabaras and the Tumbupas too; the Shabaras together with the Tumbupas
वत्साः च सह नाकुलैःvatsāḥ ca saha nākulaiḥand the Vatsas with the Nakulas; the Vatsas together with the Nakulas
नकुलः सहदेवः चnakulaḥ sahadevaḥ caNakula and Sahadeva; the two sons of Madri
वामं पार्श्वं समाश्रिताःvāmaṃ pārśvaṃ samāśritāḥoccupied the left side; took their place on the left flank
रथानाम् अयुतम् पक्षौrathānām ayutam pakṣauten thousand chariots in the wings; an ayuta of chariots in each flank
शिरः च नियुतम् तथाśiraḥ ca niyutam tathāand the head likewise a niyuta; the head numbered a niyuta
पृष्ठम् अर्बुदम् एव आसीत्pṛṣṭham arbudam eva āsītthe back was indeed an arbuda; the rear formed an arbuda
सहस्राणि च विंशतिःsahasrāṇi ca viṃśatiḥand twenty thousand; and twenty thousand more
ग्रीवायाम् नियुतम् च अपिgrīvāyām niyutam ca apiand in the neck too a niyuta; in the neck-section a niyuta
सहस्राणि च सप्ततिःsahasrāṇi ca saptatiḥand seventy thousand; and seventy thousand more
पक्षकोटिप्रपक्षेषुpakṣakoṭiprapakṣeṣuat the edges and sub-wings; at the corners of the wings and their branches
पक्षान्तेषु च वारणाःpakṣānteṣu ca vāraṇāḥand at the tips of the wings, elephants; at the flank-ends, elephants
जग्मुः परिवृताः राजन्jagmuḥ parivṛtāḥ rājanmoved along, surrounded, O king; advanced, screened about, O lord
चलन्तः इव पर्वताःcalantaḥ iva parvatāḥlike moving mountains; like walking mountains
जघनम् पालयाम् आसjaghanam pālayām āsaguarded the rear; protected the back
विराटः सह केकयैःvirāṭaḥ saha kekayaiḥVirata together with the Kekayas; Virata with the Kekaya warriors
काशिराजः च शैब्यः चkāśirājaḥ ca śaibyaḥ caand the king of Kashi, and Shaibya; the Kashiraja together with Shaibya
रथानाम् अयुतैः त्रिभिःrathānām ayutaiḥ tribhiḥwith thirty thousand chariots; with three ayutas of chariots
एवम् एतम् महाव्यूहम्evam etam mahāvyūhamthus this great array; in this way this vast formation
व्यूह्य भारत पाण्डवाःvyūhya bhārata pāṇḍavāḥhaving arrayed, O Bharata, the Pandavas; having arranged it, O Bharata
सूर्योदयनम् इच्छन्तःsūryodayanam icchantaḥawaiting the sunrise; wishing for the sun's appearance
स्थिताः युद्धाय दंशिताःsthitāḥ yuddhāya daṃśitāḥstood ready for battle, armed; took their stand for battle, in armor
तेषाम् आदित्यवर्णानिteṣām ādityavarṇānitheir sun-colored; theirs, resembling the sun
विमलानि महान्ति चvimalāni mahānti capure and great; radiant and large
श्वेतच्छत्राणि अशोभन्तśvetacchatrāṇi aśobhantawhite parasols shone; snow-white parasols gleamed
वारणेषु रथेषु चvāraṇeṣu ratheṣu caover the elephants and chariots; above the elephants and chariots
Translation

King Drupada became the head of the array, surrounded by a great army; Kuntibhoja and the Chaidya were its two eyes, O lord of men. The Dasharnakas and the Prayagas, together with the bands of Dasherakas, the Anupagas and the Kiratas, formed the neck, O best of the Bharatas. Yudhishthira, together with the Pataccharas, the Hundas, the Pauravakas, and the Nishadas, became the back of the array, O king. Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna Parshata formed the two wings; there too were the sons of Draupadi, Abhimanyu, and the great chariot-warrior Satyaki. The Pishachas, the Daradas, the Pundras with the Kundivishas, the Madakas, the Ladakas, the Tanganas, the Paratanganas, the Bahlikas, the Tittiras, the Cholas, and the Pandyas, O Bharata — these peoples took the right wing, O king. The Agniveshyas, the Jagattundas, the Paladashas, the Shabaras, the Tumbupas, the Vatsas with the Nakulas, and also Nakula and Sahadeva took the left side. In the wings there were ten thousand chariots each; in the head, a niyuta; the rear numbered an arbuda and twenty thousand more; and in the neck there was a niyuta and seventy thousand more. At the edges of the wings, their branches, and their tips moved elephants, screened about with guards, O king, like moving mountains. Virata, together with the Kekayas, guarded the rear, along with the king of Kashi and Shaibya, with thirty thousand chariots. Thus the Pandavas, having arrayed this great formation, O Bharata, stood armed and ready for battle, awaiting the sunrise. Their great, pure, sun-colored white parasols shone over the elephants and chariots.

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0f9f8e633461 · published Jul 17, 2026, 9:12:34 PM UTC

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