The Social and Military Position of the Ruling Caste in Ancient India, as Represented by the Sanskrit Epic c2.s5.144

c2.s5.144

The sixteenth day (viii. 11. 13 ff.): With the noise of horns and the usual musical accompaniment of forming the order of the day, the new commander draws out the double array, consisting of two triangles, of which the apices form the centre, and the bases make the van and rear, respectively (*makara*). This has already been employed by the Kurus on the fifth, and by the Pāndus on the sixth day. The commander stands on the ‘snout’ of the sea-beast with which this array is compared. The Hawk and the Owl (two great chiefs) are the ‘eyes’; Droṇa’s son is on the ‘head,’ with the ‘neck’ full of followers. The left foot (*vāmapāda*) holds Kritavarman; the right, Gautama; Çalya stands on the left rear (‘after-foot,’ *anupāde yo vāmaḥ*, 19); Duḥçāsana, on the right rear; the two brothers Citra and Citrasena keep the ‘tail’ (*puccha*). Then it is the Pāndus’ part to arm against this array. ‘Now looked the king on Arjuna, and said: “It is a vast array; draw out against this mighty host whatever form you will.”’ Then Arjuna guarded against this array by means of a half-moon array (*ardhacandreṇa*), on the left flank of which he stationed Bhīma, on the right Dhrishtadyumna, while he himself stood in the middle with the king, back of whom were stationed the twin brothers. Now Arjuna’s wheel-guard were the two Pancālas, ‘who, being protected by him, did not desert him in the fight.’† All the other knights were placed as before the opening of the first day’s battle, according to their ability or zeal.‡ That is to say, in arranging the knights, the force brought with each ally had to be regarded in reference to its efficiency as a counterpoise against any one body standing on the other side. What these bodies were could easily be made out by the ensigns and decorations. ‘Then beat the drums, then rolled the cars, and the armies danced toward each other, wing by wing, forewing by forewing; glorious was the sight of the army, like unto the full moon in its glory.’ But on their meeting follows as ever confusion, amid the ‘clash of arms of every kind’ (12. 1–10). With the thirtieth section ends the sixteenth day, the first of Karṇa’s generalship.