तथा तु समयं कृत्वा दशमे ऽहनि पाण्डवाः ॥
ब्रह्मलोकपरा भूत्वा संजग्मुः क्रोधमूर्छिताः ॥
शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य पाण्डवं च धनंजयम् ॥
भीष्मस्य पातने यत्नं परमं ते समास्थिताः ॥
ततस् तव सुतादिष्टा नानाजनपदेश्वराः ॥
द्रोणेन सहपुत्रेण सहसेना महाबलाः ॥
दुःशासनश् च बलवान् सह सर्वैः सहोदरैः ॥
भीष्मं समरमध्यस्थं पालयां चक्रिरे तदा ॥
ततस् तु तावकाः शूराः पुरस्कृत्य यतव्रतम् ॥
शिखण्डिप्रमुखान् पार्थान् योधयन्ति स्म संयुगे ॥
चेदिभिश् च सपाञ्चालैः सहितो वानरध्वजः ॥
ययौ शांतनवं भीष्मं पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम् ॥
द्रोणपुत्रं शिनेर् नप्ता धृष्टकेतुस् तु पौरवम् ॥
युधामन्युः सहामात्यं दुर्योधनम् अयोधयत् ॥
विराटस् तु सहानीकः सहसेनं जयद्रथम् ॥
वृद्धक्षत्रस्य दायादम् आससाद परंतपः ॥
मद्रराजं महेष्वासं सहसैन्यं युधिष्ठिरः ॥
भीमसेनाभिगुप्तश् च नागानीकम् उपाद्रवत् ॥
अप्रधृष्यम् अनावार्यं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम् ॥
द्रोणं प्रति ययौ यत्तः पाञ्चाल्यः सह सोमकैः ॥
कर्णिकारध्वजं चापि सिंहकेतुर् अरिंदमः ॥
प्रत्युज्जगाम सौभद्रं राजपुत्रो बृहद्बलः ॥
शिखण्डिनं च पुत्रास् ते पाण्डवं च धनंजयम् ॥
राजभिः समरे सार्धम् अभिपेतुर् जिघांसवः ॥
tathā tu samayaṃ kṛtvā daśame 'hani pāṇḍavāḥ ||
brahmalokaparā bhūtvā saṃjagmuḥ krodhamūrchitāḥ ||
śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam ||
bhīṣmasya pātane yatnaṃ paramaṃ te samāsthitāḥ ||
tatas tava sutādiṣṭā nānājanapadeśvarāḥ ||
droṇena sahaputreṇa sahasenā mahābalāḥ ||
duḥśāsanaś ca balavān saha sarvaiḥ sahodaraiḥ ||
bhīṣmaṃ samaramadhyasthaṃ pālayāṃ cakrire tadā ||
tatas tu tāvakāḥ śūrāḥ puraskṛtya yatavratam ||
śikhaṇḍipramukhān pārthān yodhayanti sma saṃyuge ||
cedibhiś ca sapāñcālaiḥ sahito vānaradhvajaḥ ||
yayau śāṃtanavaṃ bhīṣmaṃ puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam ||
droṇaputraṃ śiner naptā dhṛṣṭaketus tu pauravam ||
yudhāmanyuḥ sahāmātyaṃ duryodhanam ayodhayat ||
virāṭas tu sahānīkaḥ sahasenaṃ jayadratham ||
vṛddhakṣatrasya dāyādam āsasāda paraṃtapaḥ ||
madrarājaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ sahasainyaṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
bhīmasenābhiguptaś ca nāgānīkam upādravat ||
apradhṛṣyam anāvāryaṃ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam ||
droṇaṃ prati yayau yattaḥ pāñcālyaḥ saha somakaiḥ ||
karṇikāradhvajaṃ cāpi siṃhaketur ariṃdamaḥ ||
pratyujjagāma saubhadraṃ rājaputro bṛhadbalaḥ ||
śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca putrās te pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanaṃjayam ||
rājabhiḥ samare sārdham abhipetur jighāṃsavaḥ ||
Having made such a pact, the Pandavas, on the tenth day, ready for a heavenly fate and overcome with wrath, advanced into battle. Placing Shikhandin and the Pandava Dhananjaya in front, they applied their utmost effort toward Bhishma's fall. Then, at the command of your son, the mighty lords of various countries with their armies, together with Drona and his son, and the powerful Duhshasana with all his brothers, set about protecting Bhishma, who stood at the center of the battle. Your heroes, having placed the grandsire, steadfast in his vow, in front, attacked the Parthas led by Shikhandin. Arjuna, bearing the monkey banner, together with the Chedis and Panchalas, advanced upon Shantanava Bhishma, placing Shikhandin before him. The grandson of Shini went against Drona's son; Dhrishtaketu, against the Paurava; and Yudhamanyu fought with Duryodhana and his counselors. Virata, with his army, met Jayadratha, the heir of Vriddhakshatra, who likewise had his own host. Yudhishthira advanced against the king of Madra, the great archer, together with his army; Bhima, shielding him, rushed upon the elephant division. Dhrishtadyumna, intent, together with the Somakas, advanced upon Drona -- unassailable, unrestrainable, the foremost of all bearers of weapons. Prince Brihadbala, tamer of foes, bearing the karnikara banner and the lion emblem, came out to meet Saubhadra. And your sons, together with the kings, rushed upon Shikhandin and the Pandava Dhananjaya in battle, thirsting to kill them."
4b63a3269d39 · published Jul 17, 2026, 10:03:50 PM UTC
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Both sides understand the center of the day in the same way: the Pandavas build their advance around Shikhandin and Arjuna, the Kauravas draw their defense around Bhishma. The roll-call of duels shows how the whole battle gathers into a single point.