Mb081. The First Day Of The Battle Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

Duhsasana on the Kauravas' side,
And Bhima on the Pandavas' side,
Led forward their fighting forces,
Followed by the supporting forces.

Like missiles arrows flew,
Fathers or sons, all they slew
One another, with no affection,
Young or old, no discrimination.

It was a terrible carnage.
Kauravas had an advantage,
‘Cause of grandsire Bhisma,
And the grandmaster Drona.

Pandavas suffered a heavy toll,
On the first day of the battle.
Abhimanyu, Arjuna's son, still
Fought a life and death battle.

Bhisma enjoyed his valour.
Who fought like his father.
He was the hero of the day.
Both sides, in praise, did say.

Uttara the son of Virata,
Led an attack on Salya.
He, however, fell dead,
A javelin when Salya hurled.

Sveta, the brother of Uttara,
Rushed to attack Salya.
The impact of his assault
Kauravas terribly felt.

Bhisma now took the lead.
He severed Sveta's head,
With an arrow he sent,
To cut dead sharp it went.

It was a day of terror.
Bhisma was a horror
To the Pandavas side.
He was Kauravas pride.

The Pandavas soldiers prayed,
Why the sunset delayed?
They became quite upset,
At the time of sunset,

The closure of the combat,
For the day, came to a halt.
To their bases they returned.
Loss or gain, unconcerned.

Yudhishthira straight went,
That night to Krishna's tent,
"Let me go to the forest, " he said,
"No more killings, I'm afraid."

Krishna said, "Don't get upset,
On the first day, at the outset.
Time will change the position,
Wait and see their recession."