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.
एकच्छायमिवाकाशं बाणैश्चक्रे समन्ततः। नादृश्यत ततो द्रोणो नीहारेणेव पर्वतः
With his arrows, he made the sky appear as if covered by a single shade on all sides; and Drona was no longer visible, as a mountain hidden by mist.
मरीचिविकचस्येव राजन्भानुमतो वपुः। आसीत्पार्थस्य सुमहद्वपुः शरशतार्चितम्
O King, the mighty form of Partha, adorned with hundreds of blazing arrows, shone like the radiant sun veiled by shimmering rays.
क्षिपतः शरजालानि कौन्तेयस्य महात्मनः । तान्विधूय शरान्घोरान्द्रोणोऽपि समितिंजयः । बभासे तिमिरं व्योम्नि विधूय सविता यथा
As the high-souled son of Kunti hurled showers of arrows, Drona, the victor in battle, brushed aside those fierce shafts and shone forth like the sun dispelling darkness in the sky.
अग्निचक्रोपमं घोरं मण्डलीकृतमाहवे। विकृष्य सुमहच्चापं मेघस्तनितनिस्वनम् । असकृत्मुञ्चतो बाणान्ददृशुः कुरवो युधि
The Kurus beheld, in the battle, Drona drawing his great bow and repeatedly releasing arrows, forming a dreadful circle like a blazing disc of fire, resounding like thunderclouds.
दिक्षु सर्वासु विपुलः शुश्रुवेऽथ जनैस्तदा। द्रोणस्यापि धनुर्घोषो विद्युत्स्तनितनिस्वनः । अभवद्विस्मयकरः सैन्यानां भरतर्षभ
Then, in all directions, people heard the deep sound of Drona's bow, echoing like thunder and lightning, filling the armies with wonder, O bull among the Bharatas.
तप्तजाम्बूनदमयैर्दीप्तैरग्निसमैः शरैः। प्राच्छादयदमेयात्मा दिशः सूर्यस्य च प्रभाम्
With blazing arrows, bright as fire and made of refined gold, the immeasurable Drona covered the quarters and even the radiance of the sun.
ततः काञ्चनपङ्खानां शराणां नतपर्वणाम्। वियद्गतानां चरतां दृश्यन्ते बहवो व्रजाः
Then, many flocks of arrows with golden feathers and curved joints, moving through the sky, were seen everywhere.
शरासनात्तु द्रोणस्य प्रभवन्ति स्म सायकाः। एको दीर्घ इवाभान्तः प्रदृश्यन्ते महाशराः । आकाशे समदृश्यन्त हंसानामिव पङ्क्तयः
From Drona's bow, arrows issued forth, appearing as great shafts shining like a single long line; in the sky, they looked like rows of swans.
एवं सुवर्णविकृतान्विमुञ्चन्तौ शरान्बहून्। आकाशं संवृतं वीरावुल्काभिरिव चक्रतुः
Thus, as the two heroes released many arrows adorned with gold, they made the sky covered, as if with blazing meteors.
तयोः शराश्च विबभुः कङ्कबर्हिणवाससः । पङ्क्त्यः शरदि मत्तानां सारसानामिवाम्बरे
And the arrows of both, adorned with peacock and heron feathers, appeared in the sky like lines of wild geese in autumn, intoxicated and in formation.