DRONA-VADHA PARVA: Chapter 192

The battle between Drona and Dhristadyumna

संजय उवाच दृष्ट्वा परमोद्विग्नं शोकोपहतचेतसम्। पाञ्चालराजस्य सुतो धृष्टद्युम्नः समाद्रवत्॥
Sanjaya said Then beholding Drona, Drona, exceedingly anxious and depressed at heart in consequence of grief, the son of the Panchala king, viz., Dhristadyumna assailed him.

य इष्ट्वा मनुजेन्द्रेण दुपदेन महामखे। लब्धो द्रोणविनाशाय समिद्धाद्धव्यवाहनात्॥
That hero had, for the slaughter of Drona, been obtained by Drupada, that ruler of men, at a great sacrifice, from the God of Fire.

स धनुर्जेत्रमादाय घोरं जलदनिःस्वनम्। दृढज्यमजरं दिव्यं शरं चाशीविषोपमम्॥ संदधे कार्मुके तस्मिंस्ततस्तमनलोपमम्। द्रोणं जिघांसुः पाञ्चाल्यो महाज्वालमिवम्लम्॥ तस्य रूपं शरस्यासीद् धनुर्ध्यामण्डलान्तरे। द्योततो भास्करस्येव धनान्ते परिवेषिणः॥
Impelled by the desire of slaying Drona, he grasped a victory-giving and strong bow, of which the twang resembled the rumble of clouds, of which the string was very tough and which was irrifragible and of celestial make. He then fixed on the bow-string a formidable arrow resembling a snake of virulent poison and endued with the effulgence of fire. That arrow resembled a fire of fierce tongues, while inside the circle of his bow appeared like the autumnal sun of great splendour within an effulgent circle.

पार्षतेन परासृष्टं ज्वलन्तमिव तद् धनुः। अन्तकालमनुप्राप्तं मेनिरे वीक्ष्य सैनिकाः॥
Beholding that resplendent bow bent by the son of Prisata, the soldiers considered that the last hour of the world had come.

तमिषु संहतं तेन भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। दृष्ट्वामन्यत देहस्य कालपर्यायमागतम्॥
Seeing then that arrow directed at him, the mighty son of Bharadvaja considered that the last day of the corporal existence had arrived.

ततः प्रयत्नमातिष्ठदाचार्यस्तस्य वारणे। न चास्यास्त्राणि राजेन्द्र प्रादुरासन्महात्मनः॥
The preceptor then did not endeavour to baffle that shaft, nor did also the celestial was weapons of that high-souled hero appear at his command.

तस्य त्वहानि चत्वारि क्षपा चैकास्यतो गता। तस्य चाह्नस्त्रिभागेन क्षयं जग्मुः पतत्रिणः॥
His weapons had not been exhausted although he had used them for four days and one night; on the expiration of the third part of the fifth day, his stock of arrows exhausted.

स शरक्षयमासाद्य पुत्रशोकेन चार्दितः। विविधानां च दिव्यानामस्त्राणामप्रसादतः॥
Beholding then the exhaustion of his shafts and pained with grief on account of his son's death and in consequence also of the reluctance of the celestial weapons to appear at his command.

उत्स्रष्टुकामः शस्त्राणि ऋषिवाक्यप्रचोदितः। तेजसा पूर्यमाणश्च युयुधे न यथा पुरा॥
He desired to lay his weapon aside urged to do so by the words of the sages. Though still charged with great energy, he was unable to fight as before.

भूयश्चान्यत् समादाय दिव्यमाङ्गिरसं धनुः। शरांश्च ब्रह्मदण्डाभान् धृष्टद्युम्नमयोधयत्॥
Then taking up another bow of celestial make, presented to him by Angiras and several arrows resembling the curses of Brahmanas, he went on fighting with Dhristadyumna.

ततस्तं शरवर्षेण महता समवाकिरत्। व्यशातयश्च संक्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्नममर्षणम्॥
Then he covered Dhristadyumna with a thick shower of arrows and filled with rage began to mangle his vindictive antagonist.

शरांश्च शतधा तस्य द्रोणश्चिच्छेद सायकैः। ध्वजं धनुश्च निशितैः सारथिं चाप्यपातयत्॥
Then with his own arrows Drona cut-off those of Dhristadyumna in hundred pieces and then with sharp arrows he felled the standard, the bow and the charioteer of the latter.

धृष्टद्युम्नः प्रहस्यान्यत् पुनरादाय कार्मुकम्। शितेन चैनं बाणेन प्रत्यविध्यत् स्तनान्तरे॥
Thereupon Dhristadyumna smilingly taking up another bow, pierced Drona in return with a sharp arrows in the centre of his breast.

सोऽतिविद्धो महेष्वासोऽसम्भ्रान्त इव संयुगे। भल्लेन शितधारेण चिच्छेदास्य पुनर्धनुः॥
Thus deeply pierced the mighty bowman (Drona) seemed a little flurried in that combat. But once more with a keen-edged bhalla he cut-off his opponent's bow.

यचास्य बाणविकृतं धनूंषि च विशाम्पते। सर्वं चिच्छेद दुर्घर्षो गदां खङ्गं च वर्जयन्॥
Then indomitable Drona cut-off all the weapons, o king and all the bows of his antagonist, except only his mace and sword.

धृष्टद्युम्नं च विव्याध नवभिर्निशितैः शरैः। जीवितान्तकरैः क्रुद्धः क्रुद्धरूपं परंतपः॥
Then, O subduer of foes, filled with rage, he pierced the wrathful Dhristadyumna with nine sharp arrows capable of putting an end to the life of every body.

धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ तस्याश्वान् स्वरथावैर्महारथः। व्यामिश्नयदमेयात्मा ब्राह्ममस्त्रमुदीरयन्॥
The mighty car-warrior Dhristadyumna of immeasurable soul then invoked into existence the Brahma weapon and thereby caused the horses of his own chariot mix with those of his opponents.

ते मिश्रा बह्वशोभन्त जवना वातरंहसः। पारावतसवर्णाश्च शोणाश्वा भरतर्षभ॥
Possessed of the fleetness of the wind, these steeds of the crimson and pegion colours, O foremost of the Bharatas, thus mingled together, appeared highly beautiful.

यथा सविद्युतो मेघा नदन्तो जलदागमे। तथा रेजुर्महाराज मिश्रिता रणमूर्धनि॥
Like roaring clouds surcharged with flashes of lightning at the commencement of the rainy season, Omighty monarch, those steeds mingled together.

ईषाबन्धं चक्रबन्धं रथबन्धं तथैव च। प्राणाशयदमेयात्मा धृष्टद्युम्नस्य स द्विजः॥
arrows Then that regenerate one of immeasurable soul, destroyed the wheel-joints, the shaftjoints and other car-joints of Dhristadyumna.

स च्छिन्नधन्वा पाञ्चाल्यो निकृत्तध्वजसारथिः। उत्तमामापदं प्राप्य गदां वीरः परामृशतः॥
With his bow cut-off, his car rendered useless, his elephants and driver slain and thus involved in a perilous situation that hero began to whirl his mace.

तामस्य विशिखैस्तीक्ष्णैः क्षिप्यमाणां महारथः। निजधान शरैर्दोणः क्रुद्धः सत्यपराक्रमः॥
Then that truly valiant and mighty carwarrior the enraged Drona, destroyed with his sharp that mace hurled by Dhristadyumna.

तां तु दृष्ट्वा नरव्याघ्रो द्रोणेन निहतां शरैः। विमलं खङ्गमादत्त शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत्॥
Beholding that mace of his cut-off by Drona by means of his arrows, that foremost of men, that prince of the Panchalas, quickly took up a clean sword and a resplendent shield with its ground decked with hundred moons.

असंशयं तथाभूतः पाञ्चाल्य: साध्वमन्यत। वधमाचार्यमुख्यस्य प्राप्तकालं महात्मनः॥
Undoubtedly, under these circumstances, the Panchala prince resolved to make an end of that foremost of preceptor, that most illustrious warrior.

ततः स रथनीडस्थं स्वरथस्य रथेषया। अगच्छदसिमुद्यम्य शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत्॥
Then jumping down from the terrace of his chariot and riding on the car-shaft he with his sword and bright shield uplifted, tried to approach the latter seated on his chariot.

चिकीर्षुर्दुष्करं कर्म धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथः। इयेष वक्षो भेत्तुं स भारद्वाजस्य संयुगे।॥
Then that mighty car-warrior Dhristadyumna, out of foolishness and for achieving a difficult feat, wished to tear open the breast of Bharadvaja's son in battle.

सोऽतिष्ठद् युगमध्ये वै युगसन्नहनेषु च। जघनार्धेषु चाश्वानां तत् सैन्याः समपूजयन्॥
Sometimes he stood on the yoke of Drona's car and sometimes under the haunch's of his red steeds. These motions of his were then greatly praised by all the troops.

तिष्ठतो युगपालीषु शोणानष्यधितिष्ठतः। नापश्यदन्तरं द्रोणस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥
While he thus stood upon the yoke or underneath the haunches of those red steeds, Drona saw no opportunity for striking him. That indeed appeared wonderful.

क्षिप्रं श्येनस्य चरतो यथैवामिषगृद्धिनः। तद्वदासीदबीसारो द्रोणपार्षतयो रणे॥
Then in that battle the movements of both Drona and the son of Prisata resembled those of a hawk flying through the sky in quest of a piece of meat.

तस्य पारावतानश्वान् रथशक्त्या पराभिनत्। सर्वानेकैकशो द्रोणो रक्तानश्वान् विवर्जयन्॥
Thereafter the puissant Drona inflamed with rage, slew one after another the blue-hued steeds of his adversary and then destroyed his car, with a powerful shaft.

ते हता न्यपतन् भूमौ धृष्टद्युम्नस्य वाजिनः। शोणास्तु पर्यमुच्यन्त रथबन्धाद् विशाम्पते॥
The steeds of Dhristadyumna, thus slain fell down on the ground, whereupon the red steeds of Drona himself were set free from the entanglement in the trappings, O ruler of men.

तान् हयान् निहतान् दृष्ट्वा द्विजाग्र्येण स पार्षतः। नामृष्यत युधां श्रेष्ठो याज्ञसेनिर्महारथः॥
Beholding those horses slain by that foremost of regenerate ones, that son of Prisata, that foremost of all warriors, born in virtue of a sacrifice, that mighty car-warrior, did not tolerate it.

विस्थः स गृहीत्वा तु खङ्गं खगभृतां वर। द्रोणमभ्यपतद् राजन् वैनतेय इवोरगम्॥
Then that foremost of sword-men, deprived took up his sword and rushed upon Drona, O king, like Vinata swooping down of his car, upon a snake.

तस्य रूपं बभौ राजन् भारद्वाजं जिघांसतः। यथा रूपं पुरा विष्णोर्हिरण्यकशिपोर्वधे॥
Solicitous of slaying the son of Bharadvaja, O king, his appearance then resembled that of Hari when, in days of yore, he was going to slay the Daitya king Hiranyakasipu.

स तदा विविधान् मार्गान् प्रवरांश्चैकविंशतिम्। दर्शयामास कौरव्य पार्षतो विचरन् रणे॥
He then coursed in various tracks. Indeed, o foremost of the descendants of Kuru, Prisata's son carcering in that battle, displayed the well-known twenty-one kinds of evolution's.

भ्रान्तमुद्भान्तमाविद्धमाप्लुतं प्रसृतं सृतम्। परिवृत्तं निवृत्तं च खङ्गं चर्म च धारयन्॥ सम्पातं समुदीर्णं च दर्शयामास पार्षतः। भारतं कौशिकं चैव सात्वतं चैव शिक्षया॥ दर्शयन् व्यचरद् युद्धे द्रोणस्यान्तचिकीर्षया। चरतस्तस्य तान् मार्गान् विचित्रान् खड्गचर्मिणः॥
Armed with his sword and his buckler in grasp the son of Prisata, wheeled about, whirled his sword in the air, made side thrusts, rushed forward, ran sideways, jumped up, assailed the sides of his foes, fell backwards, ran into close quarters with his enemy and pressed them hard. having practised them well he also exhibited the movements, known as Bharata, Kousika and Satvata, as he coursed in battle for bringing about Drona's death. Beholding those charming movements of Dhristadyumna, as he coursed, armed with shield and sword in battle.

व्यस्मयन्त रणे योधा देवताश्च समागताः। ततः शरसहस्रेण शतचन्द्रमपातयत्॥ चर्म खङ्गं च सम्बाधे धृष्टद्युम्नस्य स द्विजः। ये तु वैतस्तिका नाम शरा आसन्नयोधिनः॥
All the warriors present as also the celestials, were filled with amazement. The twice-born Drona then discharging a thousand arrows in the press of the battle, cut-off Dhristadyumna's sword and shield covered with hundred moons. The arrows that Drona shot in that fight in close quarters were of the length of a span.

निकृष्टयुद्धे द्रोणस्य नान्येषां सन्ति ते शराः। ऋते शारद्वतात् पार्थाद् द्रौणे(कर्तनात् तथा॥
Those arrows were only to be used in a fight in close quarters. No one else had arrows of that kind, except Saradvata's son Kripa, Arjuna, Ashvatthaman and Karna.

प्रद्युम्नयुयुधानाभ्यामभिमन्योश्च भारत। अथास्येषु समाधत्त दृढं परमसम्मतम्॥ अन्तेवासिनमाचार्यो जिघांसुः पुत्रसम्मितम्। तं शरैर्दशभिस्तीक्ष्णैश्चिच्छेद शिनिपुङ्गवः॥
Pradyumna ard Yuyudhana possessed such arrows and also Abhimanyu had them. The preceptor then desirous of making an end of his pupil who was to him like his own son, placed on his bow-string, a strong shaft possessed of great violence. Satyaki however cut-off that saft with ten arrows of his own.

पश्यतस्तव पुत्रस्य कर्णस्य च महात्मनः। ग्रस्तमाचार्यमुख्येन धृष्टद्युम्नममोचयत्॥
Before the eyes of your son and of Karna of high-soul, he then thus saved Dhristadyumna who was on the point of falling a victim to Drona.

चरन्तं रथमार्गेषु सात्यकिं सत्यविक्रमम्। द्रोणकर्णान्तरगतं कृपस्यापि च भारत॥ अपश्यतां महात्मानौ विष्वक्सेनधनंजयौ। अपूजयेतां वार्ष्णेयं ब्रुवाणौ साधु साध्विति॥ दिव्यान्यस्राणि सर्वेषां युधि निघ्नन्तमच्युतम्। अभिपत्य ततः सेनां विष्वक्सेनधनंजयौ॥
Thereafter O Bharata, Kesava and Dhananjaya, both of illustrious soul, beheld Satyaki of prowess incapable of being thwarted, in the track of the Kurus and thus within the range of the shafts of Drona, Karna and Kripa. Then both of them applauded Satyaki of undiminishing fame saying 'excellent,'-him who was then destroying the celestial weapons of all his focs. Then Kesava and Dhananjaya dashed upon the Kaurava warriors.

धनंजयस्ततः कृष्णमब्रवीत् पश्य केशव। आचार्यरथमुख्यानां मध्ये क्रीडन् मधूद्वहः॥
Thereafter Dhananjaya addressing Kesava said-"Behold, O Kesava, that perpetuator of Madhu's race, sporting amidst the hostile warriors headed by the preceptor and other foremost car-warriors.

आनन्दयति मां भूयः सात्यकिः परवीरहा। माद्रीपुत्रौ च भीमं च राजानं च युधिष्ठिरम्॥
Truly valiant Satyaki is thereby affording great delight to me, the twins, twins, king Yudhishthira and Bhima.

यच्छिक्षयानुद्धतः सन् रणे चरति सात्यकिः। महारथानुपक्रीडन् वृष्णीनां कीर्तिवर्धनः॥
That Satyaki, the enhancer of the glory of the Vrishnis, well-practised in the use of weapons and free from insolence, is thus careering in the midst of the fight, sporting with mighty car-warrior.

तमेते प्रतिनन्दन्ति सिद्धाः सैन्याश्च विस्मितः। अजय्यं समरे दृष्ट्वा साधु साध्विति सात्यकिम्। योधाश्चोभयतः सर्वे कर्मभिः समपूजयन्॥
The Siddhas and the troops filled with delight, are praising him, saying 'excellent, excellent,' as they find that one of the Satvata race invincible. The warriors of both armies are applauding him, O monarch, in consequence of his fcats.