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सैन्यनिर्याणपर्वन् (sainyaniryANaparvan)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Sainyaniryāṇaparvan(ºva)]
(“the section relating to the marching out of the troops, ” the 63rd of the minor parvans of Mhbhr.
cf. Sainyaniryāṇa). § 570: The Pāṇḍavas had seven akshauhiṇīs led by Drupada, etc. (). Yudhishṭhira consulted with his brothers about the election of a generalissimo, who might also withstand Bhīshma. Sahadeva, etc., proposed Virāṭa, etc. (). Kṛshṇa named Dhṛshṭadyumna, who was elected. Then they marched out to Kurukshetra (description), with Bhīma in the van, etc. (). Draupadī with her ladies, etc., remained at Upaplavya. The Kekaya princes, etc. () marched behind Yudhishṭhira, keeping him in their centre. In the rear were Virāṭa, etc. (), 40, 000 chariots, etc. Anādhṛshṭi, etc. () marched surrounding Kṛshṇa and Arjuna. Entering Kurukshetra, they blew their conches, also Kṛshṇa and Arjuna
Pāñcajanya filled them with joy (V, 152). Yudhishṭhira encamped on Kurukshetra. Kṛshṇa, etc. () each did some special work. At the holy Hiraṇvatī (an excellent tīrtha, with sacred water, without pointed pobbles and mire), Kṛshṇa caused a moat to be excavated. There were assembled hundreds upon hundreds of skilled mechanies in receipt of regular wages, and surgeons and physicians, etc. Then their allies began to march thither (V, 152). When Kṛshṇa had departed, Duryodhana urged Kaṛna, Duḥśāsana, and Śakuni to make preparations for battle, which was fixed to commence the next morning (I, 153). At the request of Yudhishṭhira, Kṛshṇa related Duryodhana's, etc., project of imprisoning him
“neither Bhīshma nor Droṇa said anything on that subject
indeed, all of them follow Duryodhana, except Vidura… War is that which should now take place.” Yudhishṭhira gave order to array the troops, but then he complained that he should slay his preceptors, etc. Arjuna reminded him of what Kuntī and Vidura had said through Kṛshṇa, and Kṛshṇa affirmed it. The Pāṇḍavas and their soldiers passed the night in great happiness (V, 154). After that night had passed away, Duryodhana arranged his eleven akshauhiṇīs (description), under Kṛpa, etc. () (V, 155). Referring to a contest between the brahmans, whom also the vaiśyas and the śūdras followed, and the kshatriyas among the Haihayas (b), Duryodhana urged Bhīshma to become their generalissimo. Bhīshma said that he did not see upon earth the warrior that was equal to him, except Arjuna
but Arjuna would never openly fight with him
Bhīshma said he could, in a trice, destroy the universe with D., As., Rā., and men
but the Pāṇḍavas he could not exterminate
but he would slay every day 10, 000
and either Karṇa or Bhīshma should fight first. Karṇa declared he would not fight before Bhīshma was slain
then he would fight with Arjuna. Then Bhīshma was solemnly installed, under a bloody shower, etc. Then they marched out to Kurukshetra, and Duryodhana and Karṇa caused the camps to be measured out on a level part of the plain (V, 156). When Yudhishṭhira heard that Bhīshma had been installed in the command of the Kuru army, he summoned his brothers and Vāsudeva, and selected seven leaders for his seven akshauhiṇīs: Drupada, etc. () (cf. !), and above them all Dhṛshṭadyumna
and Dhanañjaya (i.e. Arjuna) of curly hair was made the leader of all those leaders
and Kṛshṇa the leader of Arjuna and driver of his steeds. Halāyudha (i.e. Balarāma), etc. () came there, and Yudhishṭhira, etc. () rose from their seats and offered worship to Halāyudha. Halāyudha said that a fierce slaughter was inevitable, that the Pāṇḍavas would certainly win because of the help of Kṛshṇa, that he had repeatedly tried to prevail upon Kṛshṇa to remain neuter
that he would himself do
but as he could not be without Kṛshṇa, he would repair to the tīrthas of the Sarasvatī. Then he set out for his tīrthayātrā (V, 157). About this time there came to the Pāṇḍava camp Bhīshmaka's (c) son Rukmin (d). He entered the camp with an akshauhiṇī of troops, from desire of doing what was agreeable to Vāsudeva. He offered Arjuna his assistance, if he was afraid. He would slay everyone: Droṇa, etc. (). Arjuna, mentioning his exploits against the G., at Khāṇḍava, against the Nivātakavacas and Kālakeyas, at Virāṭa's city, and that he had paid his respects for battle's sake to Rudra, etc. (), would not say he was afraid. Rakmin then went to Duryodhana, saying the same words, and was rejected in the same way. Then the Pāṇḍavas again consulted, presided over by Yudhishṭhira (V, 158). Dhṛtarāshṭra asked Sañjaya to tell him all that had happened in the matter of encamping, and complained that though he understood the defects, he could not withstand Duryodhana. Sañjaya said that he ought not to impute the fault only to Duryodhana: “as to our acts, some say that everything is ordained by God
some that they are the result of free-will
others that they are the result of those of our past lives” (V, 159).