उक्त्वा तमेवं बीभत्सुरर्जुनः पुनरब्रवीत्। पाण्डवो रथिनां श्रेष्ठो भारद्वाजं समीक्ष्य तु
Having thus spoken, Bibhatsu, Arjuna, again addressed him, the foremost of chariot-warriors, as he looked toward Bharadwaja’s son.
यत्रैषा काञ्चनी वेदिर्दृश्यतेऽग्निशिखोपमा । उच्छ्रिता काञ्चने दण्डे पताकाभिरलंकृता
'Where that golden altar, shining like a flame, is seen, raised on a golden staff and adorned with banners—'
तत्र मां वह भद्रं ते द्रोणं योत्स्यामि सत्तमम्। भारद्वाजेन योत्स्येऽहमाचार्येण महात्मना
Take me there, good charioteer, so that I may fight with Drona, the foremost of warriors; I will do battle with Bharadvaja's son, the great-souled teacher.
अमी शोणाः प्रकाशन्ते तुरगाः साधुवाहिनः । मुक्ता रथवरे तस्य सर्वशिक्षाविशारदाः
There, those red horses shine, excellent and well-trained, yoked to his splendid chariot, all thoroughly skilled in every discipline.
यतो रथवरे शूरः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः। स्निग्धवैडूर्यसंकाशस्ताम्राक्षः प्रियदर्शनः
Where that heroic chariot-warrior stands, the best among all wielders of weapons, gleaming like smooth beryl, with coppery eyes, pleasing to behold.
आदित्य इव तेजस्वी बलवीर्यसमन्वितः। सर्वलोकधनुःश्रेष्ठः सर्वलोकेषु पूजितः। अङ्गिरोशनसोस्तुल्यो नये बुद्धिमतांवरः
Radiant like the sun, endowed with strength and valor, the foremost archer in all the worlds, honored everywhere, equal to Angiras and Usanas in wisdom, supreme among the wise.
चत्वारो निखिला वेदाः साङ्गोपाङ्गाः सलक्षणाः । धनुर्वेदश्च कार्त्स्न्येन ब्राह्मं चास्त्रं प्रतिष्ठितम्
In him are established the four Vedas in their entirety, with all their branches and marks, the science of archery in full, and the Brahma weapon.
पुराणमितिहासश्च अर्थविद्या च मानवम् । भारद्वाजे समस्तानि सर्वाण्येतानि सांप्रतम्
The Puranas, histories, the science of wealth, and the laws of men—all these are now complete in Bharadvaja's son.
क्षमा दमश्च सत्यं च तेजो मार्दवमार्जवम् । प्रतिष्ठिता गुणा यस्मिन्बहवो द्विजसत्तमे
In that best of twice-born men are established many virtues: forbearance, self-control, truth, energy, gentleness, and uprightness.
यस्याहमिष्टः सततं मम चेष्टः सदा च सः। क्षत्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य तेन योत्स्ये हि सांप्रतम्
He always favors me, and I always favor him; yet, upholding the duty of a warrior, I will now fight with him.
आचार्यं प्रापयेदानीं ममोत्तर महारथम्। अपरं पश्य संग्राममद्भुतं मम तस्य च
Now bring me to the teacher, my noble opponent; witness another wondrous battle between him and me.
उत्तरस्त्वेवमुक्तोऽश्वांश्चोदयामास तं प्रति । आजगामार्जुनरथो भारद्वाजरथं प्रति
Thus addressed, Uttara urged the horses toward him, and Arjuna's chariot approached Bharadvaja's chariot.
तमापतन्तं वेगेन पाण्डवं सरथं रणे। द्रोणोप्यभ्यद्रवत्पार्थं मतो मत्तमिव द्विपम्
As the Pandava, with his chariot, rushed swiftly into battle, Drona too charged at Partha, like an enraged elephant.
स तु रुक्मरथं दृष्ट्वा कौन्तेयः समभिद्रुतम्। आचार्यं तं महाबाहुः प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Seeing the golden chariot rushing toward him, the mighty-armed son of Kunti, with joined palms, spoke to the teacher.
उषिताः स्मो वने वासं प्रतिकर्मचिकीर्षवः । कोपं नार्हसि नः कर्तुं सदा समरदुर्जय
We have dwelt in the forest, wishing to repay our debts; you, ever unconquerable in battle, should not be angry with us.
अहं तु ताडितः पूर्वं प्रहरेयं तवानघ । इति मे वर्तते बुद्धिस्तद्भवान्क्षन्तुमर्हति
But since I was struck before, I may strike you now, O faultless one; such is my thought—may you forgive me for this.
ततः प्राध्मापयच्छङ्खं भेरीपटहवादितम् । व्यक्षोभत बलं सर्वमुद्धूतमिव सागरम्
Then the conch, drums, and kettledrums were sounded; the whole army was shaken, as if the ocean were stirred up.
ततस्तु प्राहिणोद्द्रोणः शरानथ स विंशतिम्। अप्राप्तानेव तान्पार्थश्चिच्छेद कृतहस्तवान्
Then Drona sent twenty arrows, but Partha, skilled of hand, cut them down before they reached him.
ततः शरसहस्रेण रथं पार्थस्य वीर्यवान् । अवाकिरत्ततो द्रोणः शीघ्रहस्तं प्रदर्शयन्
Then Drona, displaying his swift hand, showered a thousand arrows upon Partha's chariot.
एवं प्रववृते युद्धं भारज्वाजकिरीटिनोः
Thus the battle was joined between Bharadvaja's son and the one with the diadem.
अश्वाञ्शोणान्महावेगान्हंसवर्णैस्तु वाजिभिः । मिश्रितान्समरे दृष्ट्वा व्यस्मयन्त पृथग्जनाः
When people saw the swift red horses, mixed with steeds of swan-like hue, they marveled in the midst of battle.
रथं रथेन पार्थस्य समाहत्य परंतपः । हर्षयुक्तस्तदाऽऽचार्यः प्रत्यगृह्णात्स पाण्डवम्
The mighty preceptor, delighted, drove his chariot against Partha’s chariot and confronted the Pandava.
समाश्लिष्टाविवान्योन्यं द्रोणपाण्डवयोर्ध्वजौ । दृष्ट्वा प्राकम्पत मुहुर्भारतानां महाचमूः
The banners of Drona and the Pandava seemed entwined with each other, and seeing this, the great army of the Bharatas trembled again and again.
तत्तु युद्धं प्रववृते ह्याचार्यस्यार्जुनस्य च। विमुञ्चतोः शरानुग्रान्विशिखान्दीप्ततेजसः
Then battle was joined between the teacher and Arjuna, as both released fierce, blazing arrows.
तौ वीरौ वीर्यसंपन्नौ दृष्ट्वा समरमूर्धनि। आचार्यशिष्यौ रथिनौ कृतवीर्यौ तरस्विनौ
Seeing those two heroes, endowed with valor, teacher and disciple, mighty chariot-warriors, accomplished and swift, at the forefront of battle—
उभौ विश्रुतकर्माणावुभौ श्रमगतौ जये। उभावतिरथौ लोके ह्युभौ परपुंरजयौ। क्षिपन्तौ शरजालानि क्षत्रियान्मोह आविशत्
Both renowned for their deeds, both striving for victory, both celebrated in the world, both conquerors of foes— as they hurled showers of arrows, confusion seized the Kshatriyas.
व्यस्मयन्त नराः सर्वे द्रोणार्जुनसमागमे। नराणां ब्रुवतां वाक्यं श्रूयते स महास्वनः
All the men marveled at the meeting of Drona and Arjuna; the words spoken by the warriors resounded loudly.
द्रोणं हि समरे कोऽन्यो योद्धुमर्हत्यथार्जुनात्। रौद्रः क्षत्रियधर्मोऽयं गुरं वै यदयोधयत्
Who else but Arjuna is worthy to fight Drona in battle? It is a fierce Kshatriya duty indeed, that the disciple should fight his teacher.
इत्यब्रुवञ्जनास्तत्र संग्रामशिरसि स्थिताः । तौ समीक्ष्य तु संरब्धौ सन्निकृष्टौ महारथौ
So spoke the people standing at the head of the battle, watching those two mighty chariot-warriors, enraged and closely engaged.
छाद्येतां शरौघैस्तावन्योन्यमुपराजितौ । संयुगे संचकाशेतां कालसूर्याविवोदितौ
Covered by torrents of arrows, each overpowering the other, they shone in the fight like the sun and time arisen together.