Drona Parwa 20

Dronabhisheka Parva

 

Mahabharata 7.20 - Drona Parwa 20

 

1 [स]

ततॊ युधिष्ठिरॊ दरॊणं दृष्ट्वान्तिकम उपागतम

महता शरवर्षेण परत्यगृह्णाद अभीतवत

2 ततॊ हलहलाशब्द आसीद यौधिष्ठिरे बले

जिघृक्षति महासिंहे गजानाम इव यूथपम

3 दृष्ट्वा दरॊणं ततः शूरः सत्यजित सत्यविक्रमः

युधिष्ठिरं परिप्रेप्सुम आचार्यं समुपाद्रवत

4 तत आचार्य पाञ्चाल्यौ युयुधाते परस्परम

  विक्षॊभयन्तौ तत सैन्यम इन्द्र वैरॊचनाव इव

5 ततः सत्यजितं तीक्ष्णैर दशभिर मर्मभेदिभिः

अविध्यच छीघ्रम आचार्यश छित्त्वास्य स शरं धनुः

6 स शीघ्रतरम आदाय धनुर अन्यत परतापवान

 दरॊणं सॊ ऽभिजघानाशु विंशद्भिः कङ्कपत्रिभिः

 7 जञात्वा सत्यजिता दरॊणं गरस्यमानम इवाहवे

 वृकः शरशतैर तीक्ष्णैः पाञ्चाल्यॊ दरॊणम अर्दयत

8 संछाद्यमानं समरे दरॊणं दृष्ट्वा महारथम

 चुक्रुशुः पाण्डवा राजन वस्त्राणि दुधुवुश च ह

9 वृकस तु परमक्रुद्धॊ दरॊणं षष्ट्या सतनान्तरे

विव्याध बलवान राजंस तद अद्भुतम इवाभवत

10 दरॊणस तु शरवर्षेण छाद्यमानॊ महारथः

वेगं चक्रे महावेगः करॊधाद उद्वृत्य चक्षुषी

11 ततः सत्यजितश चापं छित्त्वा दरॊणॊ वृकस्य च

 षड्भिः ससूतं सहयं शरैर दरॊणॊ ऽवधीद वृकम

12 अथान्यद धनुर आदाय सत्यजिद वेगवत्तरम

 साश्वं ससूतं विशिखैर दरॊणं विव्याध स धवजम

13 स तन न ममृषे दरॊणः पाञ्चाल्येनार्दनं मृधे

 ततस तस्य विनाशाय स तवरं वयसृजच छरान

14 हयान धवजं धनुर मुष्टिम उभौ च पार्ष्णिसारथी

अवाकिरत ततॊ दरॊणः शरवर्षैः सहस्रशः

15 तथा संछिद्यमानेषु कार्मुकेषु पुनः पुनः

 पाञ्चाल्यः परमास्त्रज्ञः शॊणाश्वं समयॊधयत

16 स सत्यजितम आलक्ष्य तथॊदीर्णं महाहवे

अर्धचन्द्रेण चिच्छेद शिरस तस्य महात्मनः

17 तस्मिन हते महामात्रे पाञ्चालानां रथर्षभे

 अपायाज जवनैर अश्वैर दरॊणात तरस्तॊ युधिष्ठिरः

18 पाञ्चालाः केकया मत्स्याश चेदिकारूष कॊसलाः

युधिष्ठिरम उदीक्षन्तॊ हृष्टा दरॊणम उपाद्रवन

19 ततॊ युधिष्ठिरा परेप्सुर आचार्यः शत्रुपूगहा

 वयधमत तान्य अनीकानि तूलराशिम इवानिलः

20 निर्हदन्तम अनीकानि तानि तानि पुनः पुनः

दरॊणं मत्स्याद अवरजः शतानीकॊ ऽभयवर्तत

21 सूर्यरश्मि परतीकाशैः कर्मार परिजार्जितैः

 षड्भिः समूतं सहयं दरॊणं विद्ध्वानदद भृशम

22 तस्य नानदतॊ दरॊणः शिरः कायात सकुण्डलम

कषुरेणापाहरत तूर्णं ततॊ मत्स्याः परदुद्रुवुः

23 मत्स्याञ जित्वाजयच चेदीन कारूषान केकयान अपि

पाञ्चालान सृञ्जयान पाण्डून भारद्वाजः पुनः पुनः

24 तं दहन्तम अनीकानि करुद्धम अग्निं यथा वनम

 दृष्ट्वा रुक्मरथं करुद्धं समकम्पन्त सृञ्जयाः

25 उत्तमं हय आदधानस्य धनुर अस्याशु कारिणः

 जयाघॊषॊ निघ्नतॊ ऽमित्रान दिक्षु सर्वासु शुश्रुवे

26 नागान अश्वान पदातींश च रथिनॊ गजसादिनः

 रौद्रा हस्तवता मुक्ताः परमथ्नन्ति सम सायकाः

27 नानद्यमानः पर्जन्यॊ मिश्रवातॊ हिमात्यये

अश्मवर्षम इवावर्षत परेषां भयम आदधत

28 सर्वा दिशः समचरत सैन्यं विक्षॊभयन्न इव

 बली शूरॊ महेष्वासॊ मित्राणाम अभयंकरः

29 तस्य विद्युद इवाभ्रेषु चापं हेमपरिष्कृतम

 दिक्षु सर्वास्व अपश्याम दरॊणस्यामित तेजसः

30 दरॊणस तु पाण्डवानीके चकार कदनं महत

 यथा दैत्य गणे विष्णुः सुरासुरनमस्कृतः

31 स शूर सत्यवाक पराज्ञॊ बलवान सत्यविक्रमः

 महानुभावः कालान्ते रौद्रीं भीरु विभीषणाम

32 कवचॊर्मिध्वजावर्तां मर्त्यकूलापहारिणीम

 गजवाजिमहाग्राहाम असि मीनां दुरासदा

33 वीरास्थि शर्करां रौद्रां भेरी मुरजकच्छपाम

 चर्म वर्म पलवां घॊरां केशशैवलशाड्वलाम

34 शरौघिणीं धनुः सरॊतां बाहुपन्नग संकुलाम

 रणभूमिवहां घॊरां कुरुसृञ्जय वाहिनीम

मनुष्यशीर्ष पाषाणां शक्तिमीनां गदॊडुपाम

35 उष्णीष फेनवसनां निष्कीर्णान्त्र सरीसृपाम

 वीरापहारिणीम उग्रां मांसशॊणितकर्दमाम

36 हस्तिग्राहां केतुवृक्षां कषत्रियाणां निमज्जनीम

 करूरां शरीरसंघाटां सादिनक्रां दुरत्ययाम

दरॊणः परावर्तयत तत्र नदीम अन्तकगामिनीम

37 करव्यादगणसंघुष्टां शवशृगाल गणायुताम

 निषेवितां महारौद्रैः पिशिताशैः समन्ततः

38 तं दहन्तम अनीकानि रथॊदारं कृतान्तवत

 सर्वतॊ ऽभयद्रवन दरॊणं कुन्तीपुत्र पुरॊगमाः

39 तांस तु शूरान महेष्वासांस तावकाभ्युद्यतायुधाः

 राजानॊ राजपुत्राश च समन्तात पर्यवारयन

 40 ततॊ दरॊणः सत्यसंधः परभिन्न इव कुञ्जरः

 अभ्यतीत्य रथानीकं दृढसेनम अपातयत

41 ततॊ राजानम आसाद्य परहरन्तम अभीतवत

अविध्यन नवभिः कषेमं स हतः परापतद रथात

42 स मध्यं पराप्य सैन्यानां सर्वाः परविचरन दिशः

तराता हय अभवद अन्येषां न तरातव्यः कथं चन

43 शिखण्डिनं दवादशभिर विंशत्या चॊत्तमौजसा

वसु दानं च भल्लेन परेषयद यमसादनम

44 अशीत्या कषत्रवर्माणं षड्विंशत्या सुदक्षिणम

 कषत्रदेवं तु भल्लेन रथनीडाद अपाहरत

45 युधामन्युं चतुःषष्ट्या तरिंशता चैव सात्यकिम

 विद्ध्वा रुक्मरथस तूर्णं युधिष्ठिरम उपाद्रवत

46 ततॊ युधिष्ठिरः कषिप्रं कितवॊ राजसत्तमः

अपायाज जवनैर अश्वैः पाञ्चाल्यॊ दरॊणम अभ्ययात

47 तं दरॊणं सधनुष्कं तु साश्वयन्तारम अक्षिणॊत

स हतः परापतद भूमौ रथाज जयॊतिर इवाम्बरात

48 तस्मिन हते राजपुत्रे पाञ्चालानां यशः करे

 हतद्रॊणं हतद्रॊणम इत्य आसीत तुमुलं महत

49 तांस तथा भृशसंक्रुद्धान पाञ्चालान मत्स्यकेकयान

 सृञ्जयान पाण्डवांश चैव दरॊणॊ वयक्षॊभयद बली

50 सात्यकिं चेकितानं च धृष्टद्युम्न विखण्डिनौ

वार्धक्षेमिं चित्रसेनं सेना बिन्दुं सुवर्चसम

51 एतांश चान्यांश च सुबहून नानाजनपदेश्वरान

सर्वान दरॊणॊ ऽजयद युद्धे कुरुभिः परिवारितः

52 तावकास तु महाराज जयं लब्ध्वा महाहवे

पाण्डवेयान रणे जग्नुर दरवमाणान समन्ततः

53 ते दानवा इवेन्द्रेण वध्यमाना महात्मना

पाञ्चालाः केकया मत्स्याः समकम्पन्त भारत 

 

1 [s]        

tato yudhiṣṭhiro droṇaṃ dṛṣṭvāntikam upāgatam        

mahatā śaravarṣeṇa pratyagṛhṇād abhītavat    

2 tato halahalāśabda āsīd yaudhiṣṭhire bale       

 jighṛkṣati mahāsiṃhe gajānām iva yūthapam    

3 dṛṣṭvā droṇaṃ tataḥ śūraḥ satyajit satyavikramaḥ       

 yudhiṣṭhiraṃ pariprepsum ācāryaṃ samupādravat    

4 tata ācārya pāñcālyau yuyudhāte parasparam       

 vikṣobhayantau tat sainyam indra vairocanāv iva    

5 tataḥ satyajitaṃ tīkṣṇair daśabhir marmabhedibhiḥ       

 avidhyac chīghram ācāryaś chittvāsya sa śaraṃ dhanuḥ    

6 sa śīghrataram ādāya dhanur anyat pratāpavān       

 droṇaṃ so 'bhijaghānāśu viṃśadbhiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ    

7 jñātvā satyajitā droṇaṃ grasyamānam ivāhave        

vṛkaḥ śaraśatair tīkṣṇaiḥ pāñcālyo droṇam ardayat    

8 saṃchādyamānaṃ samare droṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahāratham        

cukruśuḥ pāṇḍavā rājan vastrāṇi dudhuvuś ca ha    

9 vṛkas tu paramakruddho droṇaṃ ṣaṣṭyā stanāntare       

 vivyādha balavān rājaṃs tad adbhutam ivābhavat    

10 droṇas tu śaravarṣeṇa chādyamāno mahārathaḥ      

 vegaṃ cakre mahāvegaḥ krodhād udvṛtya cakṣuṣī   

11 tataḥ satyajitaś cāpaṃ chittvā droṇo vṛkasya ca       

ṣaḍbhiḥ sasūtaṃ sahayaṃ śarair droṇo 'vadhīd vṛkam   

12 athānyad dhanur ādāya satyajid vegavattaram       

sāśvaṃ sasūtaṃ viśikhair droṇaṃ vivyādha sa dhvajam   

13 sa tan na mamṛṣe droṇaḥ pāñcālyenārdanaṃ mṛdhe       

tatas tasya vināśāya sa tvaraṃ vyasṛjac charān   

14 hayān dhvajaṃ dhanur muṣṭim ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī      

 avākirat tato droṇaḥ śaravarṣaiḥ sahasraśaḥ   

15 tathā saṃchidyamāneṣu kārmukeṣu punaḥ punaḥ      

 pāñcālyaḥ paramāstrajñaḥ śoṇāśvaṃ samayodhayat   

16 sa satyajitam ālakṣya tathodīrṇaṃ mahāhave       

ardhacandreṇa ciccheda śiras tasya mahātmanaḥ   

17 tasmin hate mahāmātre pāñcālānāṃ ratharṣabhe      

 apāyāj javanair aśvair droṇāt trasto yudhiṣṭhiraḥ   

18 pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāś cedikārūṣa kosalāḥ       

yudhiṣṭhiram udīkṣanto hṛṣṭā droṇam upādravan   

19 tato yudhiṣṭhirā prepsur ācāryaḥ śatrupūgahā       

vyadhamat tāny anīkāni tūlarāśim ivānilaḥ   

20 nirhadantam anīkāni tāni tāni punaḥ punaḥ       

droṇaṃ matsyād avarajaḥ śatānīko 'bhyavartata   

21 sūryaraśmi pratīkāśaiḥ karmāra parijārjitaiḥ      

 ṣaḍbhiḥ samūtaṃ sahayaṃ droṇaṃ viddhvānadad bhṛśam   

22 tasya nānadato droṇaḥ śiraḥ kāyāt sakuṇḍalam      

 kṣureṇāpāharat tūrṇaṃ tato matsyāḥ pradudruvuḥ  

 23 matsyāñ jitvājayac cedīn kārūṣān kekayān api      

 pāñcālān sṛñjayān pāṇḍūn bhāradvājaḥ punaḥ punaḥ   

24 taṃ dahantam anīkāni kruddham agniṃ yathā vanam      

 dṛṣṭvā rukmarathaṃ kruddhaṃ samakampanta sṛñjayāḥ   

25 uttamaṃ hy ādadhānasya dhanur asyāśu kāriṇaḥ      

 jyāghoṣo nighnato 'mitrān dikṣu sarvāsu śuśruve   

26 nāgān aśvān padātīṃś ca rathino gajasādinaḥ       

raudrā hastavatā muktāḥ pramathnanti sma sāyakāḥ   

27 nānadyamānaḥ parjanyo miśravāto himātyaye      

 aśmavarṣam ivāvarṣat pareṣāṃ bhayam ādadhat  

 28 sarvā diśaḥ samacarat sainyaṃ vikṣobhayann iva     

  balī śūro maheṣvāso mitrāṇām abhayaṃkaraḥ   

29 tasya vidyud ivābhreṣu cāpaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam       

dikṣu sarvāsv apaśyāma droṇasyāmita tejasaḥ   

30 droṇas tu pāṇḍavānīke cakāra kadanaṃ mahat      

 yathā daitya gaṇe viṣṇuḥ surāsuranamaskṛtaḥ   

31 sa śūra satyavāk prājño balavān satyavikramaḥ       

mahānubhāvaḥ kālānte raudrīṃ bhīru vibhīṣaṇām  

 32 kavacormidhvajāvartāṃ martyakūlāpahāriṇīm      

 gajavājimahāgrāhām asi mīnāṃ durāsadā   

33 vīrāsthi śarkarāṃ raudrāṃ bherī murajakacchapām      

carma varma plavāṃ ghorāṃ keśaśaivalaśāḍvalām   

34 śaraughiṇīṃ dhanuḥ srotāṃ bāhupannaga saṃkulām      

 raṇabhūmivahāṃ ghorāṃ kurusṛñjaya vāhinīm       

manuṣyaśīrṣa pāṣāṇāṃ śaktimīnāṃ gadoḍupām   

35 uṣṇīṣa phenavasanāṃ niṣkīrṇāntra sarīsṛpām       

vīrāpahāriṇīm ugrāṃ māṃsaśoṇitakardamām   

36 hastigrāhāṃ ketuvṛkṣāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ nimajjanīm       

krūrāṃ śarīrasaṃghāṭāṃ sādinakrāṃ duratyayām      

 droṇaḥ prāvartayat tatra nadīm antakagāminīm   

37 kravyādagaṇasaṃghuṣṭāṃ śvaśṛgāla gaṇāyutām       

niṣevitāṃ mahāraudraiḥ piśitāśaiḥ samantataḥ   

38 taṃ dahantam anīkāni rathodāraṃ kṛtāntavat      

 sarvato 'bhyadravan droṇaṃ kuntīputra purogamāḥ   

39 tāṃs tu śūrān maheṣvāsāṃs tāvakābhyudyatāyudhāḥ       

rājāno rājaputrāś ca samantāt paryavārayan   

40 tato droṇaḥ satyasaṃdhaḥ prabhinna iva kuñjaraḥ       

abhyatītya rathānīkaṃ dṛḍhasenam apātayat   

41 tato rājānam āsādya praharantam abhītavat       

avidhyan navabhiḥ kṣemaṃ sa hataḥ prāpatad rathāt   

42 sa madhyaṃ prāpya sainyānāṃ sarvāḥ pravicaran diśaḥ      

 trātā hy abhavad anyeṣāṃ na trātavyaḥ kathaṃ cana   

43 śikhaṇḍinaṃ dvādaśabhir viṃśatyā cottamaujasā      

 vasu dānaṃ ca bhallena preṣayad yamasādanam   

44 aśītyā kṣatravarmāṇaṃ ṣaḍviṃśatyā sudakṣiṇam       

kṣatradevaṃ tu bhallena rathanīḍād apāharat   

45 yudhāmanyuṃ catuḥṣaṣṭyā triṃśatā caiva sātyakim       

viddhvā rukmarathas tūrṇaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat   

46 tato yudhiṣṭhiraḥ kṣipraṃ kitavo rājasattamaḥ      

 apāyāj javanair aśvaiḥ pāñcālyo droṇam abhyayāt   

47 taṃ droṇaṃ sadhanuṣkaṃ tu sāśvayantāram akṣiṇot      

 sa hataḥ prāpatad bhūmau rathāj jyotir ivāmbarāt   

48 tasmin hate rājaputre pāñcālānāṃ yaśaḥ kare       

hatadroṇaṃ hatadroṇam ity āsīt tumulaṃ mahat   

49 tāṃs tathā bhṛśasaṃkruddhān pāñcālān matsyakekayān       

sṛñjayān pāṇḍavāṃś caiva droṇo vyakṣobhayad balī   

50 sātyakiṃ cekitānaṃ ca dhṛṣṭadyumna vikhaṇḍinau       

vārdhakṣemiṃ citrasenaṃ senā binduṃ suvarcasam   

51 etāṃś cānyāṃś ca subahūn nānājanapadeśvarān      

 sarvān droṇo 'jayad yuddhe kurubhiḥ parivāritaḥ   

52 tāvakās tu mahārāja jayaṃ labdhvā mahāhave       

pāṇḍaveyān raṇe jagnur dravamāṇān samantataḥ   

53 te dānavā ivendreṇa vadhyamānā mahātmanā      

 pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāḥ samakampanta bhārata 

 

Sanjaya continued, 'Then Drona, beholding Yudhishthira near him fearlessly received him with a thick shower of arrows. And there arose a loud noise among the troops of Yudhishthira's army like what is made by the elephants belonging to a herd when their leader is attacked by a mighty lion. Beholding Drona, the brave Satyajit, of prowess incapable of being baffled, rushed at the Preceptor who was desirous of seizing Yudhishthira. The Preceptor and the Panchala prince, both endued with great might, fought with each other, agitating each other's troops, like Indra and Vali. Then Satyajit, of prowess incapable of being baffled, invoking a mighty weapon, pierced Drona with keen-pointed arrows. And Satyajit shot at Drona's charioteer five arrows, fatal as snake-poison and each looking like Death himself. The charioteer, thus struck, became deprived of his senses. Then Satyajit quickly Pierced Drona's steeds with ten shafts; and filled with rage, he next pierced each of his Parshni drivers with ten shafts. And then he coursed at the head of his troops on his car in a circular motion. Excited with wrath, he cut off the standard of Drona, that crushers of foes Drona then, that chastiser of foes, beholding these feats of his foe in battle, mentally resolved to despatch him to the other world. The Preceptor, cutting off Satyajit's bow with arrow fixed thereon, quickly pierced him with ten arrows capable of penetrating into the very vitals. Thereupon, the valiant Satyajit, quickly taking up another bow, struck Drona, O king, with thirty arrows winged with the feathers of the Kanka bird. Beholding Drona (thus) encountered in battle by Satyajit, the Pandayas, O king, shouted in joy and waved their garments. Then the mighty Vrika, O king, excited with great wrath, pierced Drona in the centre of the chest with sixty arrows. That feat seemed highly wonderful., Then that mighty car-warrior, viz., Drona, of great impetuosity, covered with the arrowy showers (of his foes) opened his eyes wide and mustered all his energy. Then cutting off the bows of both Satyajit and Vrika, Drona, with six shafts slew Vrika with his charioteer and steeds. Then Satyajit, taking up another bow that was tougher, pierced Drona with his steeds, his charioteer, and his standard. Thus afflicted in battle by the prince of the Panchalas, Drona could not brook that act. For the destruction then of his foe, he quickly shot his arrows (at him). Drona then covered with incessant showers of arrows his antagonist's steeds and standards as also the handle of his bow, and both his Parshni drivers. But though his bows were (thus) repeatedly cut off, the prince of the Panchalas conversant with the highest weapons continued to battle with him of red steeds. Beholding Satyajit swell with energy in that dreadful combat, Drona cut off that illustrious warrior's head with a crescent-shaped arrow. Upon the slaughter of that foremost of combatants, that mighty car-warrior among the Panchalas, Yudhishthira, from fear of Drona, fled away, (borne) by fleet steeds. Then the Panchalas, the Kekayas, the Matsyas, the Chedis, the Karushas and the Kosalas, seeing Drona, rushed at him, desirous of rescuing Yudhishthira. The Preceptor, however, that slayer of large numbers of foes, desirous of seizing Yudhishthira, began to consume those divisions, like fire consuming heaps of cotton. Then Satanika, the younger brother of the ruler of the Matsyas, rushed at Drona who was thus engaged in incessantly destroying those divisions (of the Pandava host). And Satanika, piercing Drona along with his driver and steeds with six shafts, bright as the rays of the sun and polished by his hands of their forger, uttered loud shouts. And engaged in a cruel act, and endeavouring to accomplish what was difficult of attainment, he covered Bharadwaja's son, that mighty car-warrior with showers of arrows. 2 Then Drona, with an arrow sharp as razor, quickly cut off from his trunk the head, decked with ear-rings of Satanika, shouting at him. Thereupon, the Matsya warriors all fled away. Having vanquished the Matsyas, the son of Bharadwaja then defeated the Chedis, the Karushas, the Kaikeyas, the Panchalas, the Srinjayas. and the Pandus repeatedly. Beholding that hero of the golden car, excited with rage and consuming their divisions, like a fire consuming a forest, the Srinjayas trembled (with fear). Endued with great activity and slaughtering the foe ceaselessly, the twang of the bow-string, as he stretched his bow, was heard in all directions. Fierce arrows shot by that warrior endued with great lightness of hand, crushed elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers and car-warriors and elephant-riders. As a mighty mass of roaring clouds in summer with violent winds (blowing) poureth a shower of hail-stones, so did Drona pour his arrowy showers and inspired fear in the hearts of his foes. That mighty hero, that great bowman, that dispeller of the fears of his friends, careered in all directions (of the field) agitating the (hostile) host. The bow, decked with gold, of Drona of immeasurable energy, was seen in all directions like the flashes of lightning in the clouds. The beautiful altar on his banner, as he careered in battle, O Bharata, was seen to resemble a crest or Himavat. The slaughter that Drona caused among the Pandava troops was very great, resembling that caused by Vishnu himself, the adored of both the gods and Asuras, among the Daitya host. Heroic, truthful in speech, endued with great wisdom and might, and possessed of prowess incapable of being baffled, the illustrious Drona caused a river to flow there that was fierce and capable of striking the timid with fear. Coats of mail formed its waves, and standards its eddies. And it carried away (as it ran) large numbers of mortal creatures. And elephants and steeds constituted its great alligators, and swords formed its fishes. And it was incapable of being easily crossed over. The bones of brave warriors formed its pebbles, and drums and cymbals its tortoises. And shields and armour formed its boats, and the hair of warriors its floating moss and weeds. And arrows constituted its wavelets and bows its current. And the arms of the combatants formed its snakes. 1 And that river of fierce current, running over the field of battle, bore away both the Kurus and the Srinjayas. And the heads of human beings, constituted its stones, and their thighs its fishes. And maces constituted the rafts (by which many sought to cross it). And head-gears formed the forth that covered its surface, and the entrails (of animals) its reptiles. Awful (in mien), it bore away heroes (to the other world). And blood and flesh constituted its mire. And elephants formed its crocodiles, and standards, the trees (on its banks). Thousands of Kshatriyas sank in it. Fierce, clogged (dead) bodies, and having horse-soldiers and elephant-warriors for its sharks, it was extremely difficult to cross it. And that river ran towards the abode of Yama. And it abounded with Rakshasas and dogs and jackals. And it v as haunted by fierce cannibals all around.

 

"Then many Pandava warriors, headed by Kunti's son, rushing at Drona, that mighty car-warrior consuming their divisions like Death himself, surrounded him on all sides. Indeed, those brave warriors completely encompassed Drona who was scorching everything around him like the sun himself scorching the world with his rays. Then the kings and the princes of thy army, with upraised weapons, all rushed for supporting that hero and great bowman. Then Sikhandin pierced Drona with five straight arrows. And Kshatradharman pierced him with twenty arrows, and Vasudeva with five. And Uttamaujas pierced him with three arrows, and Kshatradeva with five. And Satyaki pierced him in that battle with a hundred arrows, and Yudhamanyu with eight. And Yudhishthira pierced Drona with a dozen shafts, and Dhrishtadyumna pierced him with ten, and Chekitana with three. Then Drona, of unbaffled aim and resembling an elephant with rent temples, getting over the car-division (of the Pandavas), overthrew Dridhasena. Approaching then king Kshema who was battling fearlessly, he struck him with nine arrows. Thereupon, Kshema, deprived of life, fell down from his car. Getting then into the midst of the (hostile) troops, he careered in all directions, protecting others, but himself in no need of Protection. He then pierced Sikhandin with twelve arrows, and Uttamaujas with twenty. And he despatched Vasudeva with a broad-headed arrow to the abode of Yama. And he pierced Kshemavarman with eighty arrows, and Sudakshina with six and twenty. And he felled Kshatradeva with a broad-headed arrow from his niche in the car. And having pierced Yudhamanyu with sixty-four arrows and Satyaki with thirty, Drona, of the golden car, quickly approached Yudhishthira. Then Yudhishthira, that best of kings, quickly fled away from the preceptor, borne by his fleet steeds. Then Panchala rushed at Drona. Drona slew the prince, cutting off his bow, and felling his steeds and charioteer along with him. Deprived of life, the prince fell down on the earth from his car, like a luminary loosened from the firmament. Upon the fall of that illustrious prince of the Panchalas, loud cries were heard thereof, 'Slay Drona, Slay Drona!' The mighty Drona then began to crush and mangle the Panchalas, the Matsyas, the Kaikeyas, the Srinjayas, and the Pandavas, all excited with rage. And supported by the Kurus, Drona, then vanquished Satyaki and Chekitana's son, and Senavindu, and Suvarchas, all these and numerous other kings. Thy warriors, O king, having obtained the victory in that great battle, slew the Pandavas as they flew away in all directions. And the Panchalas, the Kaikeyas and the Matsyas, thus slaughtered on all sides like the Danavas by Indra, began to tremble (with fear).'