Drona Parwa 19

Dronabhisheka Parva

 

Mahabharata 7.19 - Drona Parwa 19

 

1 [स]            

परिणाम्य निशां तां तु भारद्वाजॊ महारथः            

बहूक्त्वा च ततॊ राजन राजानं च सुयॊधनम        

2 विधाय यॊगं पार्थेन संशप्तकगणैः सह            

निष्क्रान्ते च रणात पार्थे संशप्तकवधं परति       

 3 वयूढानीकस ततॊ दरॊणः पाण्डवानां महाचमूम            

अभ्ययाद भरतश्रेष्ठ धर्मराज जिघृक्षया        

4 वयूहं दृष्ट्वा सुपर्णं तु भारद्वाज कृतं तदा            

वयूहेन मडलार्धेन परत्यव्यूहद युधिष्ठिरः        

5 मुखम आसीत सुपर्णस्य भारद्वाजॊ महारथः            

शिरॊ दुर्यॊधनॊ राजा सॊदर्यैः सानुगैः सह        

6 चक्षुषी कृतवर्मा च गौतमश चास्यताम वरः           

 भूतवर्मा कषेमशर्मा करकर्षश च वीर्यवान        

7 कलिङ्गाः सिंहलाः पराच्याः शूराभीरा दशेरकाः           

 शका यवनकाम्बॊजास तथा हंसपदाश च ये        

8 गरीवायां शूरसेनाश च दरदा मद्रकेकयाः            

गजाश्वरथपत्त्यौघास तस्थुः शतसहस्रशः       

 9 भूरिश्रवाः शलः शल्यः सॊमदत्तश च बाह्लिकः            

अक्षौहिण्या वृता वीरा दक्ष्णिणं पक्षम आश्रिताः        

10 विन्दानुविन्दाव आवन्त्यौ काम्बॊजश च सुदक्षिणः           

वामं पक्षं समाश्रित्य दरॊणपुत्राग्रगाः सथिताः       

11 पृष्ठे कलिङ्गाः साम्बष्ठा मागधाः पौन्द्र मद्रकाः          

गान्धाराः शकुनिप्राग्याः पार्वतीया वसातयः       

12 पुच्छे वैकर्तनः कर्णः सपुत्रज्ञाति बान्धनः           

महत्या सेनया तस्थौ नाना धवजसमुत्थया       

13 जयद्रथॊ भीमरथः साम्यात्रिक सभॊ जयः           

भूमिं जयॊ वृषक्राथॊ नैषधश च महाबलः       

14 वृता बलेन महता बरह्मलॊकपुरस्कृताः           

वयूहस्यॊपरि ते राजन सथिता युद्धविशारदाः       

15 दरॊणेन विहितॊ वयूहः पदात्यश्वरथद्विपैः           

वातॊद्धूतार्णवाकारः परवृत्त इव लक्ष्यते       

16 तस्य पक्षप्रपक्षेभ्यॊ निष्पतन्ति युयुत्सवः          

 स विद्युत सतनिता मेघाः सर्वदिग्भ्य इवॊष्णगे       

17 तस्य पराग्ज्यॊतिषॊ मध्ये विधिवत कल्पितं गजम           

आस्थितः शुशुभे राजन्न अंशुमान उदये यथा       

18 माल्यदामवता राजा शवेतच छत्रेण धार्यता           

कृत्तिका यॊगयुक्तेन पौर्णमास्याम इवेन्दुना       

19 नीलाञ्जनचय परख्यॊ मदान्धॊ दविरदॊ बभौ           

अभिवृष्टॊ महामेघैर यथा सयात पर्वतॊ महान       

20 नाना नृपतिभिर वीरैर विविधायुधभूषणैः           

समन्वितः पार्वतीयैः शक्रॊ देवगणैर इव       

21 ततॊ युधिष्ठिरः परेक्ष्य वयूहं तम अतिमानुषम           

अजय्यम अरिभिः संख्ये पार्षतं वाक्यम अब्रवीत       

22 बराह्मणस्य वशं नाहम इयाम अद्य यथा परभॊ           

पारावत सवर्णाश्व तथा नीतिर विधीयताम

 

 1 [s]            

pariṇāmya niśāṃ tāṃ tu bhāradvājo mahārathaḥ            

bahūktvā ca tato rājan rājānaṃ ca suyodhanam        

2 vidhāya yogaṃ pārthena saṃśaptakagaṇaiḥ saha            

niṣkrānte ca raṇāt pārthe saṃśaptakavadhaṃ prati        

3 vyūḍhānīkas tato droṇaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahācamūm           

 abhyayād bharataśreṣṭha dharmarāja jighṛkṣayā        

4 vyūhaṃ dṛṣṭvā suparṇaṃ tu bhāradvāja kṛtaṃ tadā            

vyūhena maḍalārdhena pratyavyūhad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ        

5 mukham āsīt suparṇasya bhāradvājo mahārathaḥ            

śiro duryodhano rājā sodaryaiḥ sānugaiḥ saha        

6 cakṣuṣī kṛtavarmā ca gautamaś cāsyatām varaḥ            

bhūtavarmā kṣemaśarmā karakarṣaś ca vīryavān        

7 kaliṅgāḥ siṃhalāḥ prācyāḥ śūrābhīrā daśerakāḥ           

 śakā yavanakāmbojās tathā haṃsapadāś ca ye        

8 grīvāyāṃ śūrasenāś ca daradā madrakekayāḥ            

gajāśvarathapattyaughās tasthuḥ śatasahasraśaḥ        

9 bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ śalyaḥ somadattaś ca bāhlikaḥ           

 akṣauhiṇyā vṛtā vīrā dakṣṇiṇaṃ pakṣam āśritāḥ        

10 vindānuvindāv āvantyau kāmbojaś ca sudakṣiṇaḥ          

 vāmaṃ pakṣaṃ samāśritya droṇaputrāgragāḥ sthitāḥ       

11 pṛṣṭhe kaliṅgāḥ sāmbaṣṭhā māgadhāḥ paundra madrakāḥ           

gāndhārāḥ śakuniprāgyāḥ pārvatīyā vasātayaḥ       

12 pucche vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ saputrajñāti bāndhanaḥ           

mahatyā senayā tasthau nānā dhvajasamutthayā       

13 jayadratho bhīmarathaḥ sāmyātrika sabho jayaḥ           

bhūmiṃ jayo vṛṣakrātho naiṣadhaś ca mahābalaḥ       

14 vṛtā balena mahatā brahmalokapuraskṛtāḥ           

vyūhasyopari te rājan sthitā yuddhaviśāradāḥ       

15 droṇena vihito vyūhaḥ padātyaśvarathadvipaiḥ          

 vātoddhūtārṇavākāraḥ pravṛtta iva lakṣyate       

16 tasya pakṣaprapakṣebhyo niṣpatanti yuyutsavaḥ           

sa vidyut stanitā meghāḥ sarvadigbhya ivoṣṇage       

17 tasya prāgjyotiṣo madhye vidhivat kalpitaṃ gajam           

āsthitaḥ śuśubhe rājann aṃśumān udaye yathā       

18 mālyadāmavatā rājā śvetac chatreṇa dhāryatā           

kṛttikā yogayuktena paurṇamāsyām ivendunā       

19 nīlāñjanacaya prakhyo madāndho dvirado babhau           

abhivṛṣṭo mahāmeghair yathā syāt parvato mahān       

20 nānā nṛpatibhir vīrair vividhāyudhabhūṣaṇaiḥ           

samanvitaḥ pārvatīyaiḥ śakro devagaṇair iva       

21 tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prekṣya vyūhaṃ tam atimānuṣam           

ajayyam aribhiḥ saṃkhye pārṣataṃ vākyam abravīt       

22 brāhmaṇasya vaśaṃ nāham iyām adya yathā prabho           

pārāvata savarṇāśva tathā nītir vidhīyatām

 

Sanjaya said, 'Having passed the night, that mighty car-warrior viz., Bharadwaja's son, addressed Suyodhana, O monarch, saying, 'I am thine! I have made arrangements for Partha's encounter with the Samsaptaka.' After Partha went out for slaying the Samsaptakas, Drona then, at the head of his troops arrayed for battle, proceeded, O chief of the Bharatas, for seizing king Yudhishthira the just. Seeing that Drona had arrayed his forces in the form of a Garuda, Yudhishthira disposed his troops in counter array in the form of a semi-circle. In the mouth of that Garuda was the mighty car-warrior Drona himself. And its head was formed by king Duryodhana, surrounded by his uterine brothers. And Kritavarman and the illustrious Kripa formed the two eyes of that Garuda. And Bhutasarman, and Kshemasarman, and the valiant Karakaksha, and the Kalingas, the Singhalas, the Easterners, the Sudras, the Abhiras, the Daserakas, the Sakas, the Yavanas, the Kamvojas, the Hangsapadas, the Surasenas, the Daradas, the Madras, and the Kalikeyas, with hundreds and thousands of elephants, steeds, cars, and foot-soldiers were stationed at its neck. And Bhurisravah. and Salya, and Somadatta, and Valhika, these heroes, surrounded by a full Akshauhini, took up their position in the right wing. And Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kamvojas, stationed themselves in the left wing at the head, however, of Drona's son Aswatthaman. In the back (of that Garuda) were the Kalingas, the Amvashthas, the Magadhas, the Paundras, the Madrakas, the Gandharas, the Sakunas, the Easterners, the Mountaineers, and the Vasatis. In the tail stood Vikartana's son Karna, with his sons, kinsmen and friends, and surrounded by a large force raised from diverse realms, Jayadratha, and Bhimaratha, and Sampati, and the Jays, and the Bhojas, and Bhuminjaya, and Vrisha, and Kratha, and the mighty ruler of the Nishadhas, all accomplished in battle, surrounded by a large host and keeping the region of Brahma before their eyes, stood, O king, in the heart of that array. That array, formed by Drona, in consequence of its foot-soldiers, steeds, cars and elephants, seemed to surge like the tempest-tossed ocean (as it advanced to battle). Warriors, desirous of battle, began to start out from the wings and sides of that array, like roaring clouds charged with lightning rushing from all sides (in the welkin) at summer. And in the midst of that army, the ruler of the Pragjyotishas, mounted on his duly equipped elephant, looked resplendent, O king, like the rising sun. Decked, O monarch, in garlands of flower, and with a white umbrella held over his head, he looked like the full moon when in conjunction with the constellation Krittika. And blind with the wine-like exudation, the elephant, looking like a mass of black antimony, shone like a huge mountain washed by mighty clouds (with their showers). And the ruler of the Pragjyotishas was surrounded by many heroic kings of the hilly countries, armed with diverse weapons, like Sakra himself surrounded by the celestials. Then Yudhishthira, beholding that superhuman array incapable of being vanquished by foes in battle, addressed Prishata's son, saying, 'O lord, O thou that ownest steeds white as pigeons, let such measures be adopted that I may not be taken a prisoner by the Brahmana.'

 

 23 [धृस्ट]           

दरॊणस्य यतमानस्य वशं नैष्यसि सुव्रत           

अहम आवारयिष्यामि दरॊणम अद्य सहानुगम       

24 मयि जीवति कौरव्य नॊद्वेगं कर्तुम अर्हसि           

न हि शक्तॊ रणे दरॊणॊ विजेतुं मां कथं चन

 

 23 [dhṛsṭa]           

droṇasya yatamānasya vaśaṃ naiṣyasi suvrata           

aham āvārayiṣyāmi droṇam adya sahānugam       

24 mayi jīvati kauravya nodvegaṃ kartum arhasi           

na hi śakto raṇe droṇo vijetuṃ māṃ kathaṃ cana

 

Dhrishtadyumna said, 'O thou of excellent vows, never shalt thou be placed under the power of Drona, however much may he strive. Even I shall check Drona today with all his followers. As long as I am alive, O thou of Kuru's race, it behoveth thee not to feel any anxiety. Under no circumstances will Drona be able to vanquish me in battle.'

 

 25 [स]           

एवम उक्त्वा किरन बाणान दरुपदस्य सुतॊ बली           

पारावत सवर्षाश्वः सवयं दरॊणम उपाद्रवत       

26 अनिष्ट दर्शनं दृष्ट्वा धृष्टद्युम्नम अवस्थितम           

कषणेनैवाभवद दरॊणॊ नातिहृष्टमना इव       

27 तं तु संप्रेक्ष्य पुत्रस ते दुर्मुखः शत्रुकर्शनः           

परियं चिकीर्षन दरॊणस्य धृष्टद्युम्नम अवारयत       

28 स संप्रहारस तुमुलः समरूप इवाभवत          

 पार्षतस्य च शूरस्य दुर्मुखस्य च भारत       

29 पार्षतः शरजालेन कषिप्रं परच्छाद्य दुर्मुखम          

 भारद्वाजं शरौघेण महता समवारयत       

30 दरॊणम आवारितं दृष्ट्वा भृशायस्तस तवात्मजः          

 नाना लिङ्गैः शरव्रातैः पार्षतं सममॊहयत       

31 तयॊर विषक्तयॊर संख्ये पाञ्चाल्य कुरुमुख्ययॊः           

दरॊणॊ यौधिष्ठिरं सैन्यं बहुधा वयधमच छरैः       

32 अनिलेन यथाभ्राणि विच्छिन्नानि समन्ततः           

तथा पार्थस्य सैन्यानि विच्छिन्नानि कव चित कव चित       

33 मुहूर्तम इव तद युद्धम आसीन मधुरदर्शनम          

 तत उन्मत्तवद राजन निर्मर्यादम अवर्तत       

34 नैव सवे न परे राजन्न अज्ञायन्त परस्परम           

अनुमानेन संज्ञाभिर युद्धं तत समवर्तत       

35 चूडामणिषु निष्केषु भूषणेष्व असि चर्मसु          

 तेषाम आदित्यवर्णाभा मरीच्यः परचकाशिरे       

36 तत परकीर्णपताकानां रथवारणवाजिनाम           

बलाका शबलाभ्राभं ददृशे रूपम आहवे      

 37 नरान एव नरा जघ्नुर उदग्राश च हया हयान           

रथांश च रथिनॊ जघ्नुर वारणा वरवारणान       

38 समुच्छ्रितपताकानां गजानां परमद्विपैः           

कषणेन तुमुलॊ घॊरः संग्राहः समवर्तत       

39 तेषां संसक्तगात्राणां कर्षताम इतरेतरम           

दन्तसंघात संघर्षात स धूमॊ ऽगनिर अजायत       

40 विप्रकीर्णपताकास ते विषाण जनिताग्नयः          

 बभूवुः खं समासाद्य स विद्युत इवाम्बुदाः       

41 विक्षरद्भिर नदद्भिश च निपतद्भिश च वारणैः          

 संबभूव मही कीर्णा मेघैर दयौर इव शारदी       

42 तेषाम आहन्यमानानां बाणतॊमर वृष्टिभिः           

वारणानां रवॊ जज्ञे मेघानाम इव संप्लवे       

43 तॊमराभिहताः के चिद बाणैश च परमद्विपाः           

वित्रेसुः सर्वभूतानां शब्दम एवापरे ऽवरजन       

44 विषाणाभिहताश चापि के चित तत्र गजा गजैः          

 चक्रुर आर्तस्वरं घॊरम उत्पातजलदा इव       

45 परतीपं हरियमाणाश च वारणा वरवारणैः           

उन्मथ्य पुनर आजह्रुः परेरिताः परमाङ्कुशैः       

46 महामात्रा महामात्रैस ताडिताः शरतॊमरैः           

गजेभ्यः पृथिवीं जग्मुर मुक्तप्रहरणाङ्कुशाः       

47 निर्मनुष्याश च मातङ्गा विनदन्तस ततस ततः          

 छिन्नाभ्राणीव संपेतुः संप्रविश्य परस्परम       

48 हतान परिवहन्तश च यन्त्रिताः परमायुधैः          

 दिशॊ जग्मुर महानागाः के चिद एकचरा इव      

 49 ताडितास ताड्यमानाश च तॊमरर्ष्टि परश्वधैः           

पेतुर आर्तस्वरं कृत्वा तदा विशसने गजाः      

 50 तेषां शैलॊपमैः कार्यैर निपतद्भिः समन्ततः           

आहता सहसा भूमिश चकम्पे च ननाद च       

51 सादितैः स गजारॊहैः स पताकैः समन्ततः           

मातङ्गैः शुशुभे भूमिर विकीर्णैर इव पर्वतैः       

52 गजस्थाश च महामात्रा निर्भिन्नहृदया रणे          

 रथिभिः पातिता बल्लैर विकीर्णाङ्कुश तॊमराः       

53 करौञ्चवद विनदन्तॊ ऽनयनाराचाभिहता गजाः          

 परान सवांश चापि मृद्नन्तः परिपेतुर दिशॊ दश       

54 गजाश्वरथसंघानां शरीरौघसमावृता           

बभूव पृथिवी राजन मांर अशॊणित कर्दमा       

55 परमथ्य च विषाणाग्रैः समुत्क्षिप्य च वारणैः           

सचक्राश च विचक्राश च रथैर एव महारथाः       

56 रथाश च रथिभिर हीना निर्मनुष्याश च वाजिनः         

  हतारॊहाश च मातङ्गा दिशॊ जग्मुः शरातुराः       

57 जघानात्र पिता पुत्रं पुत्रश च पितरं तथा          

 इत्य आसीत तुमुलं युद्धं न परज्ञायत किं चन       

58 आ गुल्फेभ्यॊ ऽवसीदन्त नराः शॊणितकर्दमे          

 दीप्यमानैः परिक्षिप्ता दावैर इव महाद्रुमाः       

59 शॊणितैः सिच्यमानानि वस्त्राणि कवचानि च          

 छत्राणि च पताकाश च सर्वं रक्तम अदृश्यत      

 60 हयौघाश च रथौघाश च नरौघाश च निपातिताः          

 संवृत्ताः पुनर आवृत्ता बहुधा रथनेमिभिः       

61 स गजौघमहावेगः परासु नरशैवलः           

रथौघतुमुलावर्तः परबभौ सैन्यसागरः       

62 तं वाहन महानौभिर यॊधा जय धनैषिणः           

अवगाह्यावमज्जन्ते नैव मॊहं परचक्रिरे       

63 शरवर्षाभिवृष्टेषु यॊधेष्व अजित लक्ष्मसु          

 न हि सवचित्ततां लेभे कश चिद आहत लक्षणः       

64 वर्तमाने तथा युद्धे घॊररूपे भयंकरे           

मॊहयित्वा परान दरॊणॊ युधिष्ठिरम उपाद्रवन

 

 25 [s]           

evam uktvā kiran bāṇān drupadasya suto balī           

pārāvata savarṣāśvaḥ svayaṃ droṇam upādravat       

26 aniṣṭa darśanaṃ dṛṣṭvā dhṛṣṭadyumnam avasthitam           

kṣaṇenaivābhavad droṇo nātihṛṣṭamanā iva       

27 taṃ tu saṃprekṣya putras te durmukhaḥ śatrukarśanaḥ           

priyaṃ cikīrṣan droṇasya dhṛṣṭadyumnam avārayat       

28 sa saṃprahāras tumulaḥ samarūpa ivābhavat          

 pārṣatasya ca śūrasya durmukhasya ca bhārata       

29 pārṣataḥ śarajālena kṣipraṃ pracchādya durmukham          

bhāradvājaṃ śaraugheṇa mahatā samavārayat      

 30 droṇam āvāritaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhṛśāyastas tavātmajaḥ          

 nānā liṅgaiḥ śaravrātaiḥ pārṣataṃ samamohayat      

 31 tayor viṣaktayor saṃkhye pāñcālya kurumukhyayoḥ           

droṇo yaudhiṣṭhiraṃ sainyaṃ bahudhā vyadhamac charaiḥ       

32 anilena yathābhrāṇi vicchinnāni samantataḥ          

 tathā pārthasya sainyāni vicchinnāni kva cit kva cit       

33 muhūrtam iva tad yuddham āsīn madhuradarśanam           

tata unmattavad rājan nirmaryādam avartata       

34 naiva sve na pare rājann ajñāyanta parasparam           

anumānena saṃjñābhir yuddhaṃ tat samavartata       

35 cūḍāmaṇiṣu niṣkeṣu bhūṣaṇeṣv asi carmasu          

 teṣām ādityavarṇābhā marīcyaḥ pracakāśire       

36 tat prakīrṇapatākānāṃ rathavāraṇavājinām          

 balākā śabalābhrābhaṃ dadṛśe rūpam āhave       

37 narān eva narā jaghnur udagrāś ca hayā hayān           

rathāṃś ca rathino jaghnur vāraṇā varavāraṇān       

38 samucchritapatākānāṃ gajānāṃ paramadvipaiḥ           

kṣaṇena tumulo ghoraḥ saṃgrāhaḥ samavartata       

39 teṣāṃ saṃsaktagātrāṇāṃ karṣatām itaretaram           

dantasaṃghāta saṃgharṣāt sa dhūmo 'gnir ajāyata       

40 viprakīrṇapatākās te viṣāṇa janitāgnayaḥ           

babhūvuḥ khaṃ samāsādya sa vidyuta ivāmbudāḥ       

41 vikṣaradbhir nadadbhiś ca nipatadbhiś ca vāraṇaiḥ           

saṃbabhūva mahī kīrṇā meghair dyaur iva śāradī       

42 teṣām āhanyamānānāṃ bāṇatomara vṛṣṭibhiḥ           

vāraṇānāṃ ravo jajñe meghānām iva saṃplave       

43 tomarābhihatāḥ ke cid bāṇaiś ca paramadvipāḥ           

vitresuḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ śabdam evāpare 'vrajan       

44 viṣāṇābhihatāś cāpi ke cit tatra gajā gajaiḥ           

cakrur ārtasvaraṃ ghoram utpātajaladā iva       

45 pratīpaṃ hriyamāṇāś ca vāraṇā varavāraṇaiḥ           

unmathya punar ājahruḥ preritāḥ paramāṅkuśaiḥ       

46 mahāmātrā mahāmātrais tāḍitāḥ śaratomaraiḥ          

 gajebhyaḥ pṛthivīṃ jagmur muktapraharaṇāṅkuśāḥ       

47 nirmanuṣyāś ca mātaṅgā vinadantas tatas tataḥ          

 chinnābhrāṇīva saṃpetuḥ saṃpraviśya parasparam       

48 hatān parivahantaś ca yantritāḥ paramāyudhaiḥ           

diśo jagmur mahānāgāḥ ke cid ekacarā iva       

49 tāḍitās tāḍyamānāś ca tomararṣṭi paraśvadhaiḥ           

petur ārtasvaraṃ kṛtvā tadā viśasane gajāḥ       

50 teṣāṃ śailopamaiḥ kāryair nipatadbhiḥ samantataḥ          

 āhatā sahasā bhūmiś cakampe ca nanāda ca       

51 sāditaiḥ sa gajārohaiḥ sa patākaiḥ samantataḥ          

 mātaṅgaiḥ śuśubhe bhūmir vikīrṇair iva parvataiḥ       

52 gajasthāś ca mahāmātrā nirbhinnahṛdayā raṇe           

rathibhiḥ pātitā ballair vikīrṇāṅkuśa tomarāḥ       

53 krauñcavad vinadanto 'nyanārācābhihatā gajāḥ          

 parān svāṃś cāpi mṛdnantaḥ paripetur diśo daśa      

 54 gajāśvarathasaṃghānāṃ śarīraughasamāvṛtā           

babhūva pṛthivī rājan māṃr aśoṇita kardamā       

55 pramathya ca viṣāṇāgraiḥ samutkṣipya ca vāraṇaiḥ           

sacakrāś ca vicakrāś ca rathair eva mahārathāḥ       

56 rathāś ca rathibhir hīnā nirmanuṣyāś ca vājinaḥ           

hatārohāś ca mātaṅgā diśo jagmuḥ śarāturāḥ       

57 jaghānātra pitā putraṃ putraś ca pitaraṃ tathā           

ity āsīt tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ na prajñāyata kiṃ cana       

58 ā gulphebhyo 'vasīdanta narāḥ śoṇitakardame           

dīpyamānaiḥ parikṣiptā dāvair iva mahādrumāḥ       

59 śoṇitaiḥ sicyamānāni vastrāṇi kavacāni ca           

chatrāṇi ca patākāś ca sarvaṃ raktam adṛśyata       

60 hayaughāś ca rathaughāś ca naraughāś ca nipātitāḥ           

saṃvṛttāḥ punar āvṛttā bahudhā rathanemibhiḥ       

61 sa gajaughamahāvegaḥ parāsu naraśaivalaḥ           

rathaughatumulāvartaḥ prababhau sainyasāgaraḥ       

62 taṃ vāhana mahānaubhir yodhā jaya dhanaiṣiṇaḥ           

avagāhyāvamajjante naiva mohaṃ pracakrire       

63 śaravarṣābhivṛṣṭeṣu yodheṣv ajita lakṣmasu          

 na hi svacittatāṃ lebhe kaś cid āhata lakṣaṇaḥ       

64 vartamāne tathā yuddhe ghorarūpe bhayaṃkare          

 mohayitvā parān droṇo yudhiṣṭhiram upādravan

 

Sanjaya continued, 'Having said these words, the mighty son of Drupada owning steeds of the hue of pigeons, scattering his shafts, rushed himself at Drona. Beholding that (to him) evil omen in the form of Dhrishtadyumna stationed before him, Drona soon became exceedingly cheerless. Beholding this, that crusher of foes, viz., thy son Durmukha, desirous of doing what was agreeable to Drona, began to resist Dhrishtadyumna. Then a terrible and a fierce battle took place, O Bharata, between the brave son of Prishata and thy son, Durmukha. Then Prishata's son, quickly covering Durmukha, with a shower of arrows, checked Bharadwaja's son also with a thick arrowy downpour. Beholding Drona checked, thy son Durmukha quickly rushed at Prishata's son and confounded him with clouds of arrows of diverse kinds. And while the prince of the Panchalas and that foremost one of Kuru's race were thus engaged in battle, Drona consumed many sections of Yudhishthira's host. As a mass of clouds is dispersed in different directions by the wind, even so was Yudhisthira's host, in many parts of the field, scattered by Drona. For only a short while did that battle look like an ordinary combat. And then, O king, it became an encounter of infuriated persons in which no consideration was shown for anybody. And the combatants could no longer distinguish their own men from the foe. And the battle raged on, the warriors being guided by inferences and watch-words. Upon the gems on their headgears, upon their necklaces and other ornaments, and upon their coats of mail, rays of light like those of the Sun seemed to fall and play. And cars and elephants and steeds, decked with streaming banners, seemed in that battle to resemble masses of clouds with flocks of cranes under them. And men slew men, and steeds of fiery metal slew steeds, and car-warriors slew car-warriors and elephants slew elephants. And soon a fierce and terrible encounter took place between elephants with tall standards on their backs and mighty compeers (rushing against them). All in consequence of those huge creatures rubbing their bodies against those of hostile compeers and tearing one another (with their tusks), fires mixed with smoke were generated there by (such) friction of countless tusks with tusks. Shorn of the standards (on their backs), those elephants, in consequence of the fires caused by their tusks, looked like masses of clouds in the welkin charged with lightning. And the earth, strewn with elephants dragging (hostile compeers) and roaring and falling down, looked beautiful like the autumnal sky overspread with clouds. And the roars of those elephants while they were being slaughtered with showers of shafts and lances, sounded like the roll of clouds in the rainy season. And some huge elephants, wounded with lances and shafts, became panic-stricken. And others amongst those creatures, left the field with loud cries. And some elephants there, struck by others with their tusks, uttered fierce yells of distress that resounded like the roll of the all-destroying clouds at the end of the Yuga. And some, turned back by huge antagonists, returned to the charge, urged on by sharp hooks. And crushing hostile ranks, they began to kill all who came in their way. And elephant-drivers, attacked by elephant-drivers with arrows and lances, fell down from the backs of their beasts, their weapons and hooks being loosened from their hands. And many elephants, without riders on their backs, wandered hither and thither like clouds torn from mightier masses, and then fell down, encountering one another. And some huge elephants, bearing on their backs slain and fallen warriors, or those whose weapons had fallen down, wandered in all directions singly. And in the midst of that carnage, some elephants attacked, or in course of being attacked with lances, swords and battle axes, fell down in course of that awful carnage, uttering sounds of distress. And the earth, suddenly struck with the falling bodies, huge as hills, of those creatures all around trembled and emitted sounds. And with those elephants slain along with their riders and lying all about with the standards on their backs, the earth looked beautiful as if strewn with hills. And the drivers on the backs of many elephants, with their breasts pierced by car-warriors with broad-headed shafts in that battle, fell down, their lances and hooks loosened from their grasp. And some elephants, struck with long shafts, uttered crane like cries and ran in all directions, crushing friends and foes by trampling them to death. And covered with countless bodies of elephants and steeds and car-warriors, the earth, O king, became miry with flesh and blood. And large cars with wheels and many without wheels, crushed by the points of their tusks, were thrown up by elephants, with the warriors mounted on them. Cars were seen deprived of warriors. And riderless steeds and elephants ran in all directions, afflicted with wounds. And there father slew his son, and son slew his sire, for the battle that took place was exceedingly fierce and nothing could be distinguished. Men sank ankle-deep in the gory mire and looked like tall trees whose lower parts were swallowed up in a blazing forest-conflagration. And robes and coats of mail and umbrellas and standards having been dyed with blood, everything seemed to be bloody on the field. Large bodies of slain steeds, of cars, and of men, were again cut into fragments by the rolling of car-wheels. And that sea of troops having elephants for its current, and slain men for its floating moss and weeds, and cars for its fierce, eddies, looked terribly grim. Warriors, having steeds and elephants for their large vessels, and desirous of victory as their wealth, plunged into that sea, and instead of sinking in it endeavoured to deprive their enemies of their senses. When all the warriors, each bearing particular signs, were covered with arrowy showers, there was none amongst them lost heart, though all were deprived of their signs. In that fierce and awful battle, Drona confounding the senses of his foes, (at last) rushed at Yudhishthira.'