Sanjaya said When night passed away and morning dawned, the son of Shantanu Bhishma, therefore grand-sire of the Kurus gave the order for the Kuru army to be ready for fight.

The chastiser of foes, the son of Shantanu, with the desire to win victory for your son then formed that great Vyuha called Garuda.

On the back of that Garuda (the king of the bird) your father Devavrata himself stood. Its two eyes were made by the son of Bharadvaja (Drona) and the Satvata Kritvarma.

Those two illustrious heroes, Ashvathama and Kripa, backed by the Trigartas, the Matsyas, the Kaikeyas and the Vatadhanas stood at its head.

O sire, Bhurishravas, Shala, Shala, Shalya Bhagadatta, the Madra, the Sindhusauviras, the Panchanadas with Jayadratha stood at its neck. At its back stood king Duryodhana with all his followers.

O great king, Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, the Kambojas with the Shakas and also the Shurasenas formed its tail.

The Magadhas the Kalingas with all the Daserakas clad in armour, formed the right wing of that Vyuha.

The Karushas, the Vikunjas, the Mundas, the Kundivrishas, with Brihadbala formed its left wing.

That chastiser of foes, Savyasachi (Arjuna) seeing the enemy's troops formed into a Vyuha, with the assistance of Dhrishtadyumna formed his troops into a counter Vyuha. In oppositior of your Vyuha, that son of Pandu formed a Vyuha after the shape of the halfmoon.

On its right side stood stood Bhimasena surrounded by kings of various countries all abundantly provided with arrows.

Next to him stood those two great carwarriors Virata and Drupada; next to them was Nila armed with poisonous weapons.

Next to Nila stood the great car-warrior Dhrishtakelu backed by the Chedis the Kashis, the Karushas and the Pandavas.

Dhrishtadyumna with Shikhandin with the Panchalas and the Prabhadraka and also with other troops stood in the middle.

Dharmaraja Yudhishthira was also there surrounded by his innumerable elephants. Next to them, O king, stood Satyaki and the five sons of Draupadi.

Next to them was Abhimanyu and then Iravana. Next to Iravana was Bhimasena's son (Ghatotkacha) with the great Kaikeya carwarriors.

Next to them, on the left side, was that foremost of men, Arjuna who had as his protector Janardana (Krishna) the protector of the whole universe.

It was thus the Pandavas formed their Vyuha for the destruction of your sons and those who have taken your side.

Then commenced the battle between your troops and the foes; all struck at one another; elephants and cars mixed up in one confusion.

O king, innumerable elephants and cars were seen everywhere. They rushed upon one another for the purpose of slaughter.

The rattle of innumerable car-wheels mingled with the beat of drums created a tremendous din.

O descendant of Bharata, the shouts of the heroic combatants of your army and those of your enemies when killing one another, reached the very heavens.