DRONA-VADHA PARVA: Chapter 190

The fierced fight

संजय उवाच तस्मिस्तथा वर्तमाने गजाश्वनरसंक्षये। दुःशासनो महाराज धृष्टद्युम्नमयोधयत्॥
Sanjaya said When that battle, destructive of men, horses and elephants, thus progressed, O mighty monarch, Dushasana fought with Dhristadyumna.

स तु रुक्मरथासक्तो दुःशासनशरार्दितः। अमर्षात् तव पुत्रस्य शरैर्वाहानवाकिरत्॥
on The latter, then mounted on a golden chariot and afflicted with rage and began to cover the animals of your son with his own arrows.

क्षणेन च रथस्तस्य सध्वजः सहसारथिः। नादृश्यत महाराज पार्षतस्य शरैश्चितः॥
Then, O mighty monarch, covered with the arrows the car of Prisata's son; soon did the car of Dushasana, its standard and charioteer became invisible.

दुःशासनस्तु राजेन्द्र पाञ्चाल्यस्य महात्मनः। नाशकत् प्रमुखे स्थातुं शरजालप्रपीडितः॥
Then, O foremost of kings, Dushasana, being afflicted with the arrows of Panchalas, could not stay before that illustrious warriors.

स तु दुःशासनं बाणैविर्मुखीकृत्य पार्षतः। किरञ्छरसहस्राणि द्रोणमेवाभ्ययाद् रणे॥
Thus the son of Prisata, having repulsed Dushasana with his arrows, assailed Drona shooting thousands of shafts as he proceeded.

अभ्यपद्यत हार्दिक्यः कृतवर्मा चनन्नतरम्। सोदर्याणां त्रयश्चैव त एनं पर्यवारयन्॥
Then Hridika's son Kritavarman, with his three uterine brothers, encountered him and tried to resist him.

तं यमौ पृष्ठतोऽन्वैतां रक्षन्तौ पुरुषर्षभौ। द्रोणायाभिमुखं यान्तं दीप्यमानमिवानलम्॥
The twins, Nakula and Sahadeva, those two foremost of men, then protected Dhristadyumna from behind as he rushed upon Drona like a blazing fire.

सम्प्रहारमकुर्वस्ते सर्वे च सुमहारथाः। अमर्षिताः सत्त्ववन्तः कृत्वा मरणमग्रतः॥
Then all those mighty car-warriors, possessed of strength and inspired with wraih. fell to smite one another, keeping death in their view.

शुद्धात्मानः शुद्धवृत्ता राजन् स्वर्गपुरस्कृताः। आर्य युद्धमकुर्वन्त परस्परजिगीषवः॥
Of pure souls and pure behavirous, o king, those warriors, keeping the hope of paradise before their mind's eye, fought on fairly, impelled by a desire for conquering one another.

शुक्लाभिजनकर्माणो मतिमन्तो जनाधिप। धर्मयुद्धमयुध्यन्त प्रेप्सन्तो गतिमुत्तमाम्॥
Of stainless extraction and of spotless deeds and gifted with keen intelligence those rulers of men, keeping paradise in view, fought on fairly with one another.

न तत्रासीदधर्मिष्ठमशस्तं युद्धमेव च। नात्र कर्णी न नालीको न लिप्तो न च बस्तिकः॥
In that battle there was nothing unfair or nothing against the rules of military science. In that battle, neither Kanies nor Nalikas, nor poisoned arrows nor Vastikas.

न सूची कपिशो नैव न गवास्थिर्गजास्थिजः। इषुरासीन्न संश्लिष्टो न पूतिर्न च जिह्मगः॥
Nor Suchikopisas, nor those made of the bones of bulls and elephants, nor those having two heads, nor those having fusty beards, nor those that were not straight flying, were used by any body.

ऋजून्येव विशुद्धानि सर्वे शस्त्राण्यधारयन्। सुयुद्धेन पराँल्लोकानीप्सन्तः कीर्तिमेव च॥
O king Arjuna! The son of Kunti did not assert the opinion but being it a trick, all other present there had preferred it. Only Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti could agree to the matter after a lengthy and tough discussion.

तदाऽऽसीत् तुमुलं युद्धं सर्वदोषविवर्जितम्। चतुर्णा तव योधानां तैसिभिः पाण्डवैः सह॥
All then used straight and pure weapon and those three of the Pandava side, the battle, that occurred, was highly terrible, but free from all unfairness.

धृष्टद्युम्नसतु तान् दृष्ट्वा तव राजन् रथर्षभान्। यमाभ्यां वारितान् वीराज्छीघ्रास्रो द्रोणमभ्ययात्॥
Then Dhristadyumna, very quick in the use of weapons and beholding those brave and mighty car-warriors of your army, resisted by the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), rushed upon Drona.

निवारितास्तु ते वीरास्तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः। समसज्जन्त चत्वारो वाताः पर्वतयोरिव॥
Resisted by those two foremost of men, those four brave warriors encountered the former like the winds assailing a pair of mountains.

द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां यमौ सार्धं रथाभ्यां रथपुङ्गवौ। समासक्तौ ततो द्रोणं धृष्टद्युम्नोऽभ्यवर्तत॥
Each of the twins, both mighty car-warriors was engaged with a couple of opponents. Meanwhile Dhristadyumna poured showers of arrows on Drona.

दृष्ट्वा द्रोणाय पाञ्चाल्यं व्रजन्तं युद्धदुर्मदम्। यमाभ्यां तांश्च संसक्तांस्तदन्तरमुपाद्रवत्॥ दुर्योधनो महाराज किरञ्छोणितभोजनान्। तं सात्यकिः शीघ्रतरं पुनरेवाभ्यवर्तत॥
Then seeing the indomitable prince of the Panchalas advance upon Drona and those warriors of his army engaged with the twins, Duryodhana, O king, rushed to that part of the field, discharging myriad's of blood-sucking arrows. Beholding thus Satyaki approach the Kuru king in great speed.

तौ परस्परमासाद्य समीपे कुरुमाधवौ। हसमानौ नृशार्दूलावभीतौ समसज्जताम्॥
Those two foremost of men, the two scions of the Kuru and Madhu race respectively nearing each other, were filled with the desire for smiting down each other.

बाल्यवृत्तानि सर्वाणि प्रीयमाणौ विचिन्त्य तौ। अन्योन्यं प्रेक्षमाणौ च स्मयमानौ पुनः पुनः॥
Recollecting their conduct towards each other in their early days and reflecting with pleasure on the same, they looked at each other and smiled repeatedly.

अथ दुर्योधनो राजा सात्यकि समभाषत। प्रियं सखायं सततं गर्हयन् वृत्तमात्मनः॥
Then king Duryodhana, blaming his own conduct, addressed his ever dear friend Satyaki and said

धिक् क्रोधं धिक् सखे लोभं धिडयोहं धिगमर्पितम्। धिगस्तु क्षात्रमाचारं धिगस्तु बलमौरसम्॥
Fie on wrath, ( friend and fie on vindictiveness, fie on Kshatriya urge and fie on might and prowess.

यत्र मामभिसंधत्से त्वां चाहं शिनिपुङ्गव। त्वं हि प्राणैः प्रियतरो ममाहं च सदा तव॥
Inasmuch as you aim weapons at me and I am directing mine at you, O foremost of the descendants of Sins's race. In the days of childhood, you were dearer to me than my very life and I also was so to you.

स्मरामि तानि सर्वाणि बाल्यवृत्तानि यानि नौ। तानि सर्वाणि जीर्णानि साम्प्रतं नो रणाजिरे॥
Alas! all those deeds of boyhood that I recollect of both yourself and mine, become as nothing on the field of battle.

किमन्यत्रोधलोभाभ्यां युद्धमेवाद्य सात्वत। तं तथावादिनं तत्र सात्यकि: प्रत्यभाषत॥ प्रहसन् विशिखांस्तीक्ष्णानुद्यम्य परमास्रवित्। नाचार्यस्य निवेशनम्॥
Alas! impelled by rage and covetousness, we are here today for fighting with each other, O scion of the Satvata race. Then O king, Satyaki conversant in the use of great weapons, taking up some sharp arrows smilingly replied to king Duryodhana who was thus speaking to him, “This is no assembly, O prince, nor the house of our preceptor where in days gone by, we sported smiling together."

दुर्योधन उवाच क्व सा क्रीडा गतास्माकं बाल्ये वै शिनिपुङ्गव॥ क्व च युद्धमिदं भूय: ‘कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः'।
Duryodhana said O foremost of Shini's race, where have those sports of our childhood vanished and alas, how has this battle come upon us. It appears that the influence of time is irresistible.

किं नु नो विद्यते कृत्यं धनेन धनलिप्सया॥ यत्र युध्यामहे सर्वे धनलोभात् समागताः। नेयं सभा राजपुत्र
Urged though we are by a desire for wealth, what use have we of wealth that meeting each other, we now engage in battle, urged by avarice.

संजय उवाच तं तथावादिनं तत्र राजानं माधवोऽब्रवीत्॥ एवंवृत्तं सदा क्षात्रं युध्यन्तीह गुरूनपि। यदि तेऽहं प्रियो राजन् जहि मां मा चिरं कृथाः॥
Sanjaya said Satyaki then replied unto king Duryodhana who had thus spoken – "That they have to fight even with their preceptors has always been the duty of Kshatriyas.

त्वत्कृते सुकृताल्लोकान् गच्छेयं भरतर्षभ। या ते शक्तिर्बलं यच्च तत् क्षिप्रं मयि दर्शय॥ नेच्छामि तदहं द्रष्टुं मित्राणां व्यसनं महत्।
If I am indeed believed of you, O king, slay me without delay. O foremost of the Bharatas, them through your instrumentality I shall be launched upon the regions of the righteous. Bring into play, as soon as possible, all your might and prowess, against myself. This carnage of my friends, I do not wish to behold any longer.

इत्येवं व्यक्तमाभाष्य प्रतिभाष्य च सात्यकिः॥ अभ्ययात् तूर्णमव्यग्रो दयां नाकुरुतात्मनि।
Having thus replied to king Duryodhana and said his say, O king, Satyaki dauntlessly and reckless of his life, rushed furiously upon Duryodhana.

तमायान्तं महाबाहुं प्रत्यगृह्णात् तवात्मजः॥ शरैश्चावाकिरद् राजशैनेयं तनयस्तव।
Beholding hinthus advance your son received him. Indeed, O king, your son then poured upon him a veritable shower of arrows.

ततः प्रववृते युद्धं कुरुमाधवसिंहयोः॥ अन्योन्यं क्रुद्धयो?रं यथा द्विरदसिंहयोः।
Then ensued a dreadful battle between those two foremost of Kuru's and Madhu's race, that resembled an encounter between a lion and an elephant.

ततः पूर्णायतोत्सृष्टैः सात्वतं युद्धदुर्मदम्॥ दुर्योधनः प्रत्यविध्यत् कुपितो दशभिः शरैः।
Then filled with rage Duryodhana pierced the indomitable Satyaki with numerous keen arrows shot from the bow drawn to its fullest stretch.

तं सात्यकिः प्रत्यविध्यत् तथैवावाकिरच्छरैः॥ पञ्चाशता पुनश्चाजौ त्रिंशता दशभिश्च ह।
Satyaki quickly pierced Duryodhana in return with fifty keen shafts in that battle and then with twenty and next with another ten shafts.

सात्यकिं तु रणे राजन् प्रहसंस्तनयस्तव॥ आकर्णपूर्णैर्निशितैर्विव्याध त्रिंशता शरैः।
Then in that battle your son smilingly pierced Satyaki in return with thirty arrows shot from his bow-string drawn back to the ear.

ततोऽस्य सशरं चापं क्षुरप्रेण द्विधाच्छिनत्॥ सोऽन्यत् कार्मुकमादाय लघुहस्तस्ततो दृढम्। सात्यकिळसृजचापि शरश्रेणी सुतस्य ते॥
Discharging then a Kshurapra (razorheaded arrow) he cut-off in two, Satyaki's bow with arrows fixed thereon ; Satyaki, thereupon with great lightness of hands, grasped a tougher bow and began to shoot a shower of shafts at your son. As those lines of arrows flew for bringing about Duryodhana's death.

तामापतन्ती सहसा शरश्रेणी जिघांसया। चिच्छेद बहुधा राजा तत उचुक्रुशुर्जनाः॥ सात्यकिं च त्रिसप्तत्या पीडयामास वेगितः। स्वर्णपुङ्खः शिलाधौतैराकर्णापूर्णनिःसृतैः॥
The latter, O monarch, cut them into pierces, whereupon the troops uttered a loud shout. Then quickly he afflicted Satyaki with seventy three shafts, furnished with golden wings, whetted on stone and shot from a bow drawn to its fullest stretch. Then all these arrows and the bow with shafts thereupon.

तस्य संदधतश्चेषू संहितेषु च कार्मुकम्। आच्छिनत् सात्यकिस्तूर्णं शरैश्चैवाष्यवीविधत्॥ स गाढविद्धो व्यथितः प्रत्यपायाद् रथान्तरे। दुर्योधनो महाराज दाशार्हशरपीडितः॥
Satyaki cut-off and covered Duryodhana with a fresh shower of arrows. Thus deeply pierced and afflicted with the shafts of that i scion of the Dasarha race, Duryodhana, O mighty monarch, took shelter in another car. Then recovering a little your son once more rushed upon Satyaki.

समाश्वस्य तु पुत्रस्ते सात्यकिं पुनरभ्ययात्। विसृजन्निषुजालानि युयुधानरथं प्रति॥ तथैव सात्यकिर्बाणान् दुर्योधनस्थं प्रति। सततं विसृजन् राजंस्तत् संकुलमवर्तत॥
Shooting myriad's of arrows at the chariot of the latter. Similarly Satyaki discharged arrows at Duryodhana's car; whereupon, O king, the battle became extremely fierced. Then in consequence of those shafts thus discharged and in consequence of their falling on all sides.

तत्रेषुभिः क्षिष्यमाणैः पतद्भिश्च शरीरिषु। अग्नेरिव महाकक्षे शब्दः समभवन्महान्॥ तयोः शरसहस्रश्च संछन्नं वसुधातलम्।
Loud clashing sounds there, resembling that produced by a raging conflagration consuming a large forest. The surface of the earth was then covered with those thousands of shafts shot by both of them.

अगम्यरूपं च शरैराकाशं समपद्यत॥ तत्राप्यधिकमालक्ष्य माधवं रथसत्तमम्।
Clouded therewith, the sky sky became invisible. Then beholding that foremost of carwarriors, namely, him of Madhu's race, prevail over Duryodhana.

क्षिप्रमभ्यपतत् कर्णः परीप्संस्तनयं तव॥ न तु तं मर्षयामास भीमसेनो महाबलः।
Karna quickly advanced to rescue your son. But the mighty Bhimasena did not allow him to arose do so.

सोऽभ्ययात्त्वरितः कर्ण विसृजन् सायकान् बहून्॥ तस्य कर्ण: शितान् बाणान् प्रतिहत्य हसन्निव।
And he in his turn assailed Karna, quickly shooting numerous arrows. Thereupon Karna smilingly destroyed all those sharp arrows of Bhima.

धनुः शरांश्च चिच्छेद सूतं चाभ्यहनच्छरैः॥ भीमसेनस्तु संक्रुद्धो गदामादाय पाण्डवः।
Cut off his bow and arrows and wounded his driver with numerous shafts. Thereupon Pandu's son Bhimasena, burning with rage, took up a mace.

ध्वजं धनुश्च सूतं च सम्ममर्दाहवे रिपोः॥ रथचक्रं च कर्णस्य बभञ्ज स महाबलः।
And therewith crushed the bow, the standard and the charioteer of his opponent in that battle. That mighty hero also shattered one of the wheels of Karna's car.

भग्नचक्रे रथेऽतिष्ठदकम्पः शैलराडिव॥ एकचक्रं रथं तस्य तमूहुः सुचिरं हयाः।
Then staying on his chariot of which one wheel was broken, Karna did not tremble (in fear) but was as firm as the prince of mountains. That chariot of his which had now only one wheel left was drawn by his horses.

एकचक्रमिवार्कस्य रथं सप्त हया यथा॥ अमृष्यमाणः कर्णस्तु भीमसेनमयुध्यता
Like the single-wheeled car of the Sun borne by the seven celestial steeds. Then not tolerating the feats of Bhimasena Karna fought on which latter.

विविधैरिषुजालैश्च नानाशस्त्रैश्च संयुगे॥ भीमसेनस्तु संक्रुद्धः सूतपुत्रमयोधयत्।
Using different groups of arrows and diverse kinds of other weapons. Bhimasena similarly worked up with rage, fought on with the son of Suta,

तस्मिस्तथा वर्तगने क्रुद्धो धर्मसुतोऽब्रवीत्॥ पञ्चालानां नरव्याघ्रान् मत्स्यांश्च पुरुषर्षभान्।
When then the battle became thus confused and general, king Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, addressing the foremost of her es of the Panchalas and the Matsyas said

ये नः प्राणाः शिरोये च ये नो योधा महारथाः॥ त एते धार्तराष्ट्रेषु विषक्ताः पुरुषर्षभाः।
are “They who are like our lives, they that are our heads, they that are our heads, they that are possessed of immense strength those foremost of men now all engaged with the Dhritarashtra hosts.

किं तिष्ठत यथा मूढाः सर्वे विगतचेतसः॥ तत्र गच्छत यत्रैते युध्यन्ते मामका रथाः।
Why are you then standing as if stupefied and with you, senses confounded? Hie there where my warriors are valorously fighting.

क्षात्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य सर्व एव गतज्वराः॥ जयन्तो वध्यमानाश्च गतिमिष्टां गमिष्यथ।
Keeping in view the duties of the Kshatriya order and dismissing your fears, engage in the battle; for then conquering or slain, you will obtain desirable ends.

जित्वा वा बहुभिर्यज्ञैर्यजध्वं भूरिदक्षिणैः॥ हता वा देवसाद् भूत्वा लोकान् प्राप्स्यथ पुष्कलान्।
If you conquer you may celebrate numerous sacrifices, giving away profuse Dakshina to the Brahmanas : If on the other hand you are slain, then becoming equal to the gods, you will attain regions of blessedness.

ते राज्ञा चोदिता वीरा योत्स्यमाना महारथाः॥ क्षात्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य त्वरिता द्रोणमभ्ययुः।
Urged on by the king in the above manner. Those brave and mighty car-warriors engaged on the field, quickly rushed upon Drona, keeping in view the duties of the Kshatriyas.

पञ्चालास्त्वेकतो द्रोणमभ्यमन् निशितैः शरैः॥ भीमसेनपुरोगाश्चाप्येकतः पर्यवारयन्।
Then the Panchalas, from one side began to assail Drona with their arrows, whilst those headed by Bhima began to check him on the other said,

आसंस्तु पाण्डुपुत्राणां त्रयो जिह्या महारथाः॥ यमौ च भीमसेनश्च प्राक्रोशंस्ते धनंजयम्।
Three of the mighty and war-like sons of Pandu were crooked-minded. They were the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and Bhimasena. These then addressing Arjuna loudly said

अभिद्रवार्जुन क्षिप्रं कुरून् द्रोणादपानुद॥ तत एनं हनिष्यन्ति पञ्चाला हतरक्षिणम्।
Rush, O Arjuna, upon the Kurus and separate them from Drona. Then the Panchalas will be able to slay him easily when he will be deprived on their protection.

कौरवेयांस्ततः पार्थः सहसा समुपाद्रवत्॥ पञ्चालानेव तु द्रोणो धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमान्। ममर्दुस्तरसा वीराः पञ्चमेऽहनि भारत॥
Thereupon Pritha's son, all on a sudden attacked the Kaurava troops, while Drona too marched against the Panchala troops headed by Dhristadyumna. O Bharata, in that the fifth day of Drona's command, the brave combatants were slaughtered in quick succession.