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.
विष्फार्य च महाचापं हेमपृष्ठं दुरासदम्। संरब्धस्तु तदा द्रोणः प्रत्ययुध्यत फल्गुनम्
Then Drona, enraged, drew his great, gold-backed, formidable bow and fought back against Phalguna.
स सायकमयैर्जालैरर्जुनस्य रथं प्रति। भानुमद्भिः शिलाधौतैर्बाणैः प्राच्छादयद्दिशः
With showers of arrows, bright as the sun and polished on stone, he covered Arjuna’s chariot and the directions all around.
अर्जुनस्तु तदा द्रोणं महावेगैर्महारथः। विव्याध शतशो बाणैर्धाराभिरिव पर्वतम्
Then Arjuna, the mighty chariot-warrior, struck Drona with hundreds of swift arrows, as if with streams upon a mountain.
कालमेघ इवोष्णान्ते फल्गुनः समवाकिरत्
Phalguna poured down arrows like a raincloud at the end of summer.
तस्य जाम्बूनदमयैश्चितरैश्चापच्युतैः शरैः। प्राच्छादयद्रथश्रेष्ठं भारद्वाजोऽर्जुनस्य वै
With golden, variegated arrows loosed from his bow, Bharadvaja’s son covered Arjuna’s excellent chariot.
तथैव दिव्यं गाण्डीवं धनुरानम्य चार्जुनः । शत्रुघ्नं वेगवत्सृष्टं भारसाधनमुत्तमम्
In the same way, Arjuna drew his divine Gandiva bow, the destroyer of enemies, swift and supreme in bearing the burden.
शोभते स्म महावाहुर्गाण्डीवं विक्षिपन्धनुः। शरांश्च विसृजंश्चित्रान्सुवर्णविकृतान्बहून्
The mighty-armed Arjuna shone as he drew Gandiva and released many splendid arrows adorned with gold.
प्राच्छादयदमेयात्मा भारद्वाजरथं प्रति। द्रोणचापविनिर्मुक्तान्बाणान्बाणैरवारयत्
The unconquerable Arjuna covered Bharadvaja’s chariot with arrows, and with his own arrows, blocked those released from Drona’s bow.
सरथोऽप्यचरत्पार्थः प्रेक्षणीयो महारथः । युगपद्दिक्षु सर्वासु सर्वतोऽस्त्राण्यवासृजम्
Even without his chariot, Partha, that great warrior, moved in a manner wondrous to behold, releasing weapons in all directions at once, everywhere around him.
आददानं शरान्घोरान्संदधानं च पाण्डवम् । विसृजन्तं च क्रौन्तेयं न स्म पश्यन्ति लाघवाम्
As the Pandava took up and fitted fierce arrows, and as Kunti's son released them, no one could perceive the swiftness of his hands.