आवन्त्यः काशिराजेन भीमसेनेन सैन्धवः ॥
अजातशत्रुर् मद्राणाम् ऋषभेण यशस्विना ॥
सहपुत्रः सहामात्यः शल्येन समसज्जत ॥
विकर्णः सहदेवेन चित्रसेनः शिखण्डिना ॥
मत्स्या दुर्योधनं जग्मुः शकुनिं च विशां पते ॥
द्रुपदश् चेकितानश् च सात्यकिश् च महारथः ॥
द्रोणेन समसज्जन्त सपुत्रेण महात्मना ॥
कृपश् च कृतवर्मा च धृष्टकेतुम् अभिद्रुतौ ॥
एवं प्रजविताश्वानि भ्रान्तनागरथानि च ॥
सैन्यानि समसज्जन्त प्रयुद्धानि समन्ततः ॥
āvantyaḥ kāśirājena bhīmasenena saindhavaḥ ||
ajātaśatrur madrāṇām ṛṣabheṇa yaśasvinā ||
sahaputraḥ sahāmātyaḥ śalyena samasajjata ||
vikarṇaḥ sahadevena citrasenaḥ śikhaṇḍinā ||
matsyā duryodhanaṃ jagmuḥ śakuniṃ ca viśāṃ pate ||
drupadaś cekitānaś ca sātyakiś ca mahārathaḥ ||
droṇena samasajjanta saputreṇa mahātmanā ||
kṛpaś ca kṛtavarmā ca dhṛṣṭaketum abhidrutau ||
evaṃ prajavitāśvāni bhrāntanāgarathāni ca ||
sainyāni samasajjanta prayuddhāni samantataḥ ||
The king of Avanti clashed with the king of Kashi, the Saindhava with Bhimasena, and Ajatashatru met the glorious bull of the Madras, Shalya, together with his son and minister. Vikarna engaged Sahadeva, Chitrasena met Shikhandin, and the Matsyas, O lord of men, advanced against Duryodhana and Shakuni. Drupada, Chekitana, and the great chariot-warrior Satyaki engaged the noble Drona and his son, while Kripa and Kritavarman rushed at Dhrishtaketu. Thus, with horses racing, elephants and chariots wheeling in confusion, the armies clashed, fighting on every side.'
889f97e52cc6 · published Jul 17, 2026, 9:35:52 PM UTC
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This list of duels shows that the general chaos has an inner order: each warrior seeks out his own opponent. Yet that order brings no clarity — the armies still merge into one another from every side.