Drona Parwa 15

Dronabhisheka Parva

 

Mahabharata 7.15 - Drona Parwa 15

 

  1 [स]           

तद बलं सुमहद दीर्णं तवदीयं परेक्ष्य वीर्यवान           

दधारैकॊ रणे पाण्डून वृषसेनॊ ऽसत्रमायया       

2 शरा दश दिशॊ मुक्ता वृषसेनेन मारिष           

विचेरुस ते विनिर्भिद्यनर वाजिरथद्विपान       

3 तस्य दीप्ता महाबाणा विनिश्चेरुः सहस्रशः           

भानॊर इव महाबाहॊ गरीष्म काले मरीचयः      

4 तेनार्दिता महाराज रथिनः साधिनस तथा           

निपेतुर उर्व्यां सहसा वातनुन्ना इव दरुमाः       

5 हयौघांश च रथौघांश च गजौघांश च समन्ततः           

अपातयद रणे राजञ शतशॊ ऽथ सहस्रशः       

6 दृष्ट्वा तम एवं समरे विचरन्तम अभीतवत          

 सहिताः सर्वराजानः परिवव्रुः समन्ततः       

7 नाकुलिस तु शतानीकॊ वृषसेनं समभ्ययात           

विव्याध चैनं दशभिर नाराचैर मर्मभेदिभिः       

8 तस्य कर्णात्मजश चापं छित्त्वा केतुम अपातयत          

 तं भरातरं परीप्सन्तॊ दरौपदेयाः समभ्ययुः       

9 कर्णात्मजं शरव्रातैश चक्रुश चादृश्यम अञ्जसा          

 तान नदन्तॊ ऽभयधावन्त दरॊणपुत्र मुखा रथाः       

10 छादयन्तॊ महाराज दरौपदेयान महारथान         

 शरैर नानाविधैस तूर्णं पर्वताञ जलदा इव      

11 तान पाण्डवाः परत्यगृह्णंस तवरिताः पुत्रगृद्धिनः         

 पाञ्चालाः केकया मत्स्याः सृञ्जयांश चॊद्यतायुधाः      

12 तद युद्धम अभवद घॊरं तुमुलं लॊमहर्षणम          

तवदीयैः पाण्डुपुत्राणां देवानाम इव दानवैः      

13 एवम उत्तमसंरम्भा युयुधुः कुरुपाण्डवाः          

परस्परम उदीक्षन्तः परस्परकृतागसः      

14 तेषां ददृशिरे कॊपाद वपूंष्य अमिततेजसाम         

 युयुत्सूनाम इवाकाशे पतत्रिवरभॊगिनाम      

15 भीमकर्ण कृप दरॊण दरौणिपार्षत सात्यकैः          

बभासे स रणॊद्देशः कालसूर्यैर इवॊदितैः      

16 तदासीत तुमुलं युद्धं निघ्नताम इतरेतरम         

 महाबलानां बलिभिर दानवानां यथा सुरैः      

17 ततॊ युधिष्ठिरानीकम उद्धूतार्णव निस्वनम         

 तवदीयम अवधीत सैन्यं संप्रद्रुत महारथम      

18 तत परभग्नं बलं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुभिर भृशम अर्दितम          

अलं दरुतेन वः शूरा इति दरॊणॊ ऽभयभाषत      

19 ततः शॊण हयः करुद्धश चतुर्दन्त इव दविपः          

परविश्य पाण्डवानीकं युधिष्ठिरम उपाद्रवत      

20 तम अविध्यच छितैर बाणैः कङ्कपत्रैर युधिष्ठिरः         

 तस्य दरॊणॊ धनुश छित्त्वा तं दरुतं समुपाद्रवत      

21 चक्ररक्षः कुमारस तु पाञ्चालानां यशः करः          

दधार दरॊणम आयान्तं वेलेव सरितां पतिम      

22 दरॊणं निवारितं दृष्ट्वा कुमारेण दविजर्षभम          

सिंहनाद रवॊ हय आसीत साधु साध्व इति भाषताम      

23 कुमारस तु ततॊ दरॊणं सायकेन महाहवे         

 विव्याधॊरसि संक्रुद्धः सिंहवच चानदन मुहुः      

24 संवार्य तु रणे दरॊणः कुमारं वै महाबलः         

 शरैर अनेकसाहस्रैः कृतहस्तॊ जितक्लमः      

25 तं शूरम आर्य वरतिनम अस्त्रार्थ कृतनिश्रमम         

 चक्ररक्षम अपामृद्नात कुमारं दविजसत्तमः      

26 स मध्यं पराप्य सेनायाः सर्वाः परिचरन दिशः          

तव सैन्यस्य गॊप्तासीद भारद्वाजॊ रथर्षभः      

27 शिखण्डिनं दवादशभिर विंशत्या चॊत्तमौजसम          

नकुलं पञ्चभिर विद्ध्वा सहदेवं च सप्तभिः      

28 युधिष्ठिरं दवादशभिर दरौपदेयांस तरिभिस तरिभिः          

सात्यकिं पञ्चभिर विद्ध्वा मत्स्यं च दशभिः शरैः      

29 वयक्षॊभयद रणे यॊधान यथामुख्यान अभिद्रवन          

अभ्यवर्तत संप्रेप्सुः कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम      

30 युगंधरस ततॊ राजन भारद्वाजं महारथम         

 वारयाम आस संक्रुद्धं वातॊद्धूतम इवार्णवम      

31 युधिष्ठिरं स विद्ध्वा तु शरैः संनतपर्वभिः          

युगंधरं च भल्लेन रथनीडाद अपाहरत      

32 ततॊ विराटद्रुपदौ केकयाः सात्यकिः शिबिः         

 वयाघ्रदत्तश च पाञ्चाल्यः सिंहसेनश च वीर्यवान     

 33 एते चान्ये च बहवः परीप्सन्तॊ युधिष्ठिरम          

आवव्रुस तस्य पन्थानं किरन्तः सायकान बहून      

34 वयाघ्रदत्तश च पाञ्चाल्यॊ दरॊणं विव्याध मार्गणैः          

पञ्चाशद्भिः शितै राजंस तत उच्चुक्रुशुर जनाः      

35 तवरितं सिंहसेनस तु दरॊणं विद्ध्वा महारथम         

 पराहसत सहसा हृष्टस तरासयन वै यतव्रतम      

36 ततॊ विस्फार्य नयने धनुर्ज्याम अवमृज्य च          

तलशब्दं महत कृत्वा दरॊणस तं समुपाद्रवत      

37 ततस तु सिंहसेनस्य शिरः कायात सकुण्डलम         

 वयाघ्रदत्तस्य चाक्रम्य भल्लाभ्याम अहरद बली      

38 तान परमृद्य शरव्रातैः पाण्डवानां महारथान          

युधिष्ठिर समभ्याशे तस्थौ मृत्युर इवान्तकः      

39 ततॊ ऽभवन महाशब्दॊ राजन यौधिष्ठिरे बले          

हृतॊ राजेति यॊधानां समीपस्थे यतव्रते      

40 अब्रुवन सैनिकास तत्र दृष्ट्वा दरॊणस्य विक्रमम          

अद्य राजा धार्तराष्ट्रः कृतार्थॊ वै भविष्यति          

आगमिष्यति नॊ नूनं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य संयुगे      

41 एवं संजल्पतां तेषां तावकानां महारथः          

आयाज जवेन कौनेयॊ रथघॊषेण नादयन      

42 शॊणितॊदां रथावर्तां कृत्वा विशसने नदीम         

शूरास्थि चयसंकीर्णां परेतकूलापहारिणीम      

43 तां शरौघमहाफेनां परासमत्स्यसमाकुलाम         

 नदीम उत्तीर्य वेगेन कुरून विद्राव्य पाण्डवः      

44 ततः किरीटी सहसा दरॊणानीकम उपाद्रवत         

 छादयन्न इषुजालेन महता मॊहयन्न इव      

45 शीघ्रम अभ्यस्यतॊ बाणान संदधानस्य चानिशम          

नान्तरं ददृशे कश चित कौन्तेयस्य यशस्विनः      

46 न दिशॊ नान्तरिक्षं च न दयौर नैव च मेदिनी          

अदृश्यत महाराज बाणभूतम इवाभवत      

47 नादृश्यत तदा राजंस तत्र किं चन संयुगे         

 बाणान्ध कारे महति कृते गाण्डीवधन्वना     

 48 सूर्ये चास्तम अनुप्राप्ते रजसा चाभिसंवृते          

नाज्ञायत तदा शत्रुर न सुहृन न च किं चन      

49 ततॊ ऽवहारं चक्रुस ते दरॊणदुर्यॊधनादयः         

 तान विदित्वा भृशं तरस्तान अयुद्धमनसः परान     

 50 सवान्य अनीकानि बीभत्सुः शनकैर अवहारयत         

 ततॊ ऽभितुष्टुवुः पार्थं परहृष्टाः पाण्डुसृञ्जयाः         

 पाञ्चालाश च मनॊज्ञाभिर वाग्भिः सूर्यम इवर्षयः      

51 एवं सवशिबिरं परायाज जित्वा शत्रून धनंजयः         

 पृष्ठतः सर्वसैन्यानां मुदितॊ वै स केशवः      

52 मसारगल्वर्कसुवर्णरूप्यैर; वज्रप्रवाल सफटिकैश च मुख्यैः         

 चित्रे रथे पाण्डुसुतॊ बभासे; नक्षत्रचिरे वियतीव चन्द्रः

 

 1 [s]           

tad balaṃ sumahad dīrṇaṃ tvadīyaṃ prekṣya vīryavān           

dadhāraiko raṇe pāṇḍūn vṛṣaseno 'stramāyayā       

2 śarā daśa diśo muktā vṛṣasenena māriṣa          

 vicerus te vinirbhidyanara vājirathadvipān       

3 tasya dīptā mahābāṇā viniśceruḥ sahasraśaḥ          

 bhānor iva mahābāho grīṣma kāle marīcayaḥ       

4 tenārditā mahārāja rathinaḥ sādhinas tathā          

 nipetur urvyāṃ sahasā vātanunnā iva drumāḥ       

5 hayaughāṃś ca rathaughāṃś ca gajaughāṃś ca samantataḥ           

apātayad raṇe rājañ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ       

6 dṛṣṭvā tam evaṃ samare vicarantam abhītavat           

sahitāḥ sarvarājānaḥ parivavruḥ samantataḥ       

7 nākulis tu śatānīko vṛṣasenaṃ samabhyayāt           

vivyādha cainaṃ daśabhir nārācair marmabhedibhiḥ       

8 tasya karṇātmajaś cāpaṃ chittvā ketum apātayat          

 taṃ bhrātaraṃ parīpsanto draupadeyāḥ samabhyayuḥ       

9 karṇātmajaṃ śaravrātaiś cakruś cādṛśyam añjasā          

tān nadanto 'bhyadhāvanta droṇaputra mukhā rathāḥ       

10 chādayanto mahārāja draupadeyān mahārathān          

śarair nānāvidhais tūrṇaṃ parvatāñ jaladā iva      

11 tān pāṇḍavāḥ pratyagṛhṇaṃs tvaritāḥ putragṛddhinaḥ         

 pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāḥ sṛñjayāṃś codyatāyudhāḥ      

12 tad yuddham abhavad ghoraṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam          

tvadīyaiḥ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ devānām iva dānavaiḥ      

13 evam uttamasaṃrambhā yuyudhuḥ kurupāṇḍavāḥ          

parasparam udīkṣantaḥ parasparakṛtāgasaḥ      

14 teṣāṃ dadṛśire kopād vapūṃṣy amitatejasām         

 yuyutsūnām ivākāśe patatrivarabhoginām      

15 bhīmakarṇa kṛpa droṇa drauṇipārṣata sātyakaiḥ         

 babhāse sa raṇoddeśaḥ kālasūryair ivoditaiḥ      

16 tadāsīt tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ nighnatām itaretaram          

mahābalānāṃ balibhir dānavānāṃ yathā suraiḥ      

17 tato yudhiṣṭhirānīkam uddhūtārṇava nisvanam         

 tvadīyam avadhīt sainyaṃ saṃpradruta mahāratham      

18 tat prabhagnaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā śatrubhir bhṛśam arditam         

 alaṃ drutena vaḥ śūrā iti droṇo 'bhyabhāṣata      

19 tataḥ śoṇa hayaḥ kruddhaś caturdanta iva dvipaḥ          

praviśya pāṇḍavānīkaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat      

20 tam avidhyac chitair bāṇaiḥ kaṅkapatrair yudhiṣṭhiraḥ         

 tasya droṇo dhanuś chittvā taṃ drutaṃ samupādravat      

21 cakrarakṣaḥ kumāras tu pāñcālānāṃ yaśaḥ karaḥ          

dadhāra droṇam āyāntaṃ veleva saritāṃ patim      

22 droṇaṃ nivāritaṃ dṛṣṭvā kumāreṇa dvijarṣabham          

siṃhanāda ravo hy āsīt sādhu sādhv iti bhāṣatām      

23 kumāras tu tato droṇaṃ sāyakena mahāhave          

vivyādhorasi saṃkruddhaḥ siṃhavac cānadan muhuḥ     

 24 saṃvārya tu raṇe droṇaḥ kumāraṃ vai mahābalaḥ         

 śarair anekasāhasraiḥ kṛtahasto jitaklamaḥ      

25 taṃ śūram ārya vratinam astrārtha kṛtaniśramam          

cakrarakṣam apāmṛdnāt kumāraṃ dvijasattamaḥ      

26 sa madhyaṃ prāpya senāyāḥ sarvāḥ paricaran diśaḥ          

tava sainyasya goptāsīd bhāradvājo ratharṣabhaḥ      

27 śikhaṇḍinaṃ dvādaśabhir viṃśatyā cottamaujasam          

nakulaṃ pañcabhir viddhvā sahadevaṃ ca saptabhiḥ     

28 yudhiṣṭhiraṃ dvādaśabhir draupadeyāṃs tribhis tribhiḥ         

 sātyakiṃ pañcabhir viddhvā matsyaṃ ca daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ     

 29 vyakṣobhayad raṇe yodhān yathāmukhyān abhidravan         

 abhyavartata saṃprepsuḥ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram     

 30 yugaṃdharas tato rājan bhāradvājaṃ mahāratham          

vārayām āsa saṃkruddhaṃ vātoddhūtam ivārṇavam      

31 yudhiṣṭhiraṃ sa viddhvā tu śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ         

 yugaṃdharaṃ ca bhallena rathanīḍād apāharat     

 32 tato virāṭadrupadau kekayāḥ sātyakiḥ śibiḥ          

vyāghradattaś ca pāñcālyaḥ siṃhasenaś ca vīryavān      

33 ete cānye ca bahavaḥ parīpsanto yudhiṣṭhiram          

āvavrus tasya panthānaṃ kirantaḥ sāyakān bahūn     

 34 vyāghradattaś ca pāñcālyo droṇaṃ vivyādha mārgaṇaiḥ         

 pañcāśadbhiḥ śitai rājaṃs tata uccukruśur janāḥ      

35 tvaritaṃ siṃhasenas tu droṇaṃ viddhvā mahāratham          

prāhasat sahasā hṛṣṭas trāsayan vai yatavratam      

36 tato visphārya nayane dhanurjyām avamṛjya ca        

  talaśabdaṃ mahat kṛtvā droṇas taṃ samupādravat      

37 tatas tu siṃhasenasya śiraḥ kāyāt sakuṇḍalam          

vyāghradattasya cākramya bhallābhyām aharad balī     

 38 tān pramṛdya śaravrātaiḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathān         

 yudhiṣṭhira samabhyāśe tasthau mṛtyur ivāntakaḥ      

39 tato 'bhavan mahāśabdo rājan yaudhiṣṭhire bale          

hṛto rājeti yodhānāṃ samīpasthe yatavrate      

40 abruvan sainikās tatra dṛṣṭvā droṇasya vikramam         

 adya rājā dhārtarāṣṭraḥ kṛtārtho vai bhaviṣyati          

āgamiṣyati no nūnaṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya saṃyuge      

41 evaṃ saṃjalpatāṃ teṣāṃ tāvakānāṃ mahārathaḥ         

 āyāj javena kauneyo rathaghoṣeṇa nādayan      

42 śoṇitodāṃ rathāvartāṃ kṛtvā viśasane nadīm          

śūrāsthi cayasaṃkīrṇāṃ pretakūlāpahāriṇīm     

 43 tāṃ śaraughamahāphenāṃ prāsamatsyasamākulām         

 nadīm uttīrya vegena kurūn vidrāvya pāṇḍavaḥ      

44 tataḥ kirīṭī sahasā droṇānīkam upādravat         

 chādayann iṣujālena mahatā mohayann iva      

45 śīghram abhyasyato bāṇān saṃdadhānasya cāniśam         

 nāntaraṃ dadṛśe kaś cit kaunteyasya yaśasvinaḥ      

46 na diśo nāntarikṣaṃ ca na dyaur naiva ca medinī          

adṛśyata mahārāja bāṇabhūtam ivābhavat      

47 nādṛśyata tadā rājaṃs tatra kiṃ cana saṃyuge          

bāṇāndha kāre mahati kṛte gāṇḍīvadhanvanā      

48 sūrye cāstam anuprāpte rajasā cābhisaṃvṛte         

 nājñāyata tadā śatrur na suhṛn na ca kiṃ cana     

 49 tato 'vahāraṃ cakrus te droṇaduryodhanādayaḥ         

 tān viditvā bhṛśaṃ trastān ayuddhamanasaḥ parān      

50 svāny anīkāni bībhatsuḥ śanakair avahārayat          

tato 'bhituṣṭuvuḥ pārthaṃ prahṛṣṭāḥ pāṇḍusṛñjayāḥ         

 pāñcālāś ca manojñābhir vāgbhiḥ sūryam ivarṣayaḥ      

51 evaṃ svaśibiraṃ prāyāj jitvā śatrūn dhanaṃjayaḥ         

 pṛṣṭhataḥ sarvasainyānāṃ mudito vai sa keśavaḥ      

52 masāragalvarkasuvarṇarūpyair; vajrapravāla sphaṭikaiś ca mukhyaiḥ         

 citre rathe pāṇḍusuto babhāse; nakṣatracire viyatīva candraḥ

 

Sanjaya said, 'Beholding that army of thine exceedingly broken, the valiant Vrishasena, single-handed, began to protect it, O king, displaying the illusion of his weapons. Shot by Vrishasena in that battle, thousands of arrows coursed in all directions, piercing through men and steeds and cars and elephants. Mighty arrows, of blazing effulgence, shot by him, coursed in thousands, like the rays, O monarch, of the sun, in the summer season. Afflicted and crushed therewith, O king, car-warriors and horse-men, suddenly fell down on the earth, like trees broken by the wind. The mighty car-warrior Vrishasena, O king, felled large bodies of steeds, of cars and of elephants, in that battle, by thousands. Beholding that single warrior coursing fearlessly on the field, all the kings (of the Pandava army) uniting together, surrounded him on all sides. Nakula's son, Satanika, rushed at Vrishasena and pierced him with ten arrows capable of penetrating into the vitals. The son of Karna, however, cutting off his bow, felled then his standard. Thereupon, the other sons of Draupadi, desirous of rescuing that brother of theirs, rushed at him. And soon they made Karna's son invisible by means of their arrowy showers. Against them thus smiting (the son of Karna), many car-warriors headed by Drona's son (Aswatthama) rushed. And those, O monarch, quickly covered those mighty car-warriors, viz., the sons of Draupadi, with diverse kinds of arrows like clouds pouring rain on mountain breasts. Thereupon, the Pandavas, from affection for their sons, quickly encountered those assailants. The battle then that took place between thy troops and those of the Pandavas, was exceedingly fierce and made the hairs stand on their ends, resembling as it did that between the Gods and the Danavas. Even thus did the heroic Kauravas and the Pandavas, excited with rage, fight, eyeing one another (furiously) and having incurred one another's animosity for past offences. The bodies of those heroes of immeasurable energy then seemed, in consequence of (the) wrath (that inspired them), to resemble those of Garuda and (mighty) Nagas battling in the sky. And with Bhima and Karna and Kripa and Drona and Drona's son and Prishata's son and Satyaki, the field of battle looked resplendent like the all-destructive sun that rises at the end of the Yuga. The battle that took place between those mighty men engaged with mighty antagonists and all smiting one another was fierce in the extreme, resembling that (of yore) between the Danavas and the gods. Then Yudhishthira's host, uttering a shout, loud as that of the surging sea, began to slaughter thy troops, the great car-warriors of thy army having fled away. Beholding the (Kaurava) host broken and excessively mangled by the foe, Drona said, 'Ye heroes, ye need not fly away.' Then he (Drona) owning red steeds, excited with wrath and resembling a (fierce) elephant with four tusks, penetrated into the Pandava host and rushed against Yudhishthira. Then Yudhishthira pierced the preceptor with many whetted arrows equipped with Kanka feathers; Drona, however, cutting off Yudhishthira's bow, rushed impetuously at him. Then the protector of Yudhishthira's car-wheels, Kumara, the renowned prince of the Panchalas, received the advancing Drona, like the continent receiving the surging sea. Beholding Drona, that bull among Brahmanas, held in check by Kumara, loud leonine shouts were heard there with cries of 'Excellent, Excellent!' Kumara then, in that great battle, excited with rage, pierced Drona with an arrow in the chest and uttered many leonine shouts. Having checked Drona in battle, the mighty Kumara, endued with great lightness of hand, and above all fatigue, pierced him with many thousands of arrows. Then that bull among men (Drona) slew that protector of Yudhishthira's car-wheels, Kumara, that hero observant of virtuous vows and accomplished in both mantras and weapons. And then penetrating into the midst of the (Pandava) host and careering in all directions, that bull among men, Bharadwaja's son, became the protector of thy troops. And piercing Sikhandin with twelve arrows, and Uttamaujas with twenty, and Nakula with five, and Sahadeva with seven, and Yudhishthira with twelve, and each of the (five) sons of Draupadi with three, and Satyaki with five, and the ruler of Matsyas with ten arrows, and agitating the entire host in that battle, he rushed against one after another of the foremost warriors (of the Pandavas). And then he advanced against Kunti's son, Yudhisthira, from a desire of seizing him. Then Yugandhara, O king, checked Bharadwaja's son, that mighty car-warrior, filled with rage and resembling the very ocean lashed into fury by the tempest. Bharadwaja's son, however, having pierced Yudhishthira with many straight arrows, felled Yugandhara with a broad-headed shaft from his niche in the car. Then, Virata and Drupada, and the Kaikeya princes, and Satyaki, and Sivi, and Vyaghradatta, the prince n the Panchalas, and the valiant Singhasena, these, and many others, desirous of rescuing Yudhishthira, surrounded Drona on all sides and impeded his way, scattering countless arrows. Vyaghradatta, the prince of the Panchalas, pierced Drona with fifty keen-pointed arrows, at which, O king, the troops uttered loud shouts. Then Singhasena also, quickly piercing that mighty car-warrior, Drona, roared aloud in joy, striking terror into the hearts of mighty car-warriors; Drona then expanding his eyes and rubbing his bowstring and producing loud sound of slaps by his palms, rushed against the latter. Then the mighty son of Bharadwaja, putting forth his prowess, cut off with a couple of broad-headed arrows the heads decked with earrings from the trunks of both Singhasena and Vyaghradatta. And afflicting also, with his arrowy showers, the other mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, he stood in front of Yudhishthira's car, like all-destroying Death himself. Then, O king, loud cries were heard among the warriors of Yudhishthira's army to the effect, 'The king is slain,' when Bharadwaja's son, of regulated vows, thus, stood in his vicinity. And the warriors there all exclaimed, beholding Drona's prowess, 'Today the royal son of Dhritarashtra will be crowned with success. This very moment Drona having seized Yudhishthira, will, filled, with joy, assuredly come to us and Duryodhana's presence. While thy soldiers were indulging in such talks, Kunti's son (Arjuna) quickly came there, filling (the welkin) with the rattle of his car, and creating, as he came, owing to the carnage he caused, a river whose waters were blood, and whose eddies were cars, and which abounded with the bones and bodies of brave warriors and which bore creatures away to where the spirits of the departed dwell. And the son of Pandu came there, routing the Kurus, and quickly crossing that river whose froth was constituted by showers of arrows and which abounded with fish in the form of lances and other weapons. And the diadem-decked (Arjuna) suddenly came upon Drona's divisions, covering it with a thick net-work of arrows and confounding the very sense (of those that followed Drona). Incessantly placing his arrows on the bow-string and quickly shooting them, none could notice any lapse of time between these two acts of the renowned son of Kunti. Neither (four cardinal) directions, nor the firmament above, nor the earth, O king, could any longer be distinguished, for everything then became one dense mass of arrows. Indeed, O king, when the wielder of Gandiva caused that thick darkness by means of his arrows, nothing could be seen in that battle. Just then the sun also set, enveloped with a dusty cloud. Neither friend nor foe could any longer be distinguished. Then Drona and Duryodhana and others caused the withdrawal of their troops. And ascertaining the foe to be inspired with fear and unwilling to continue the fight, Vibhatsu also slowly caused his troops to be withdrawn. Then the Pandavas and the Srinjayas and the Panchalas, filled with joy, praised Partha with delightful speeches like the Rishis praising the Sun. Having vanquished his foes thus, Dhananjaya then, filled with joy, retired to his tent, proceeding in the rear of the whole army, with Kesava as his companion. And stationed on his beautiful car decked with the costliest specimens of sapphires and rubies and gold and silver and diamonds and corals and crystals, the son of Pandu looked resplendent like the moon in the firmament bespangled with stars.'