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.
तत्तु युद्धं महाघोरं तयोः संरब्धयोरभूत्। अत्यद्भुतमचिन्त्यं च वृत्रवासवयोरिव
That battle between the two enraged warriors became exceedingly fierce, astonishing, and unimaginable, like the conflict between Vritra and Indra.
महागजाविवासाद्य विषाणाग्रैः परस्परम्। शरैः पूर्णायतोत्सृष्टैरन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः
Like two mighty elephants fighting with their tusks, they struck each other with arrows released from fully drawn bows.
अथ त्वाचार्यमुख्येन शरान्सृष्टाञ्शिलाशितान्। अवारयच्छितैर्बाणैरर्जुनो जयतांवरः
Then Arjuna, foremost among conquerors, blocked the stone-tipped arrows released by the chief preceptor with his own sharp shafts.
दर्शयन्नैन्द्रमात्मानमुग्रमुग्रुपराक्रमः। इषुभिस्तूर्णमाकाशं बहुभिश्च समावृणोत्
Displaying his own Indra-like self, fierce and of terrible prowess, he swiftly covered the sky with many arrows.
जिघांसन्तं नरव्याघ्रमर्जुनं भीमदर्शनम् । विव्याध निशितैर्द्रोणः शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः
Drona wounded Arjuna, tiger among men and dreadful to behold, with sharp, curved arrows as Arjuna sought to slay him.
हृष्टः समभवद्द्रोणो रणशौण्डः प्रतापवान् । अर्जुनेन समं क्रीडञ्शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः
Drona, master of battle and full of might, became delighted, playing with Arjuna in combat with curved, sharp arrows.
तौ व्यदारयतां शूरौ सन्नद्धौ रणशोभिनौ । उदीरयन्तौ दिव्यानि ब्राह्माद्यस्त्राणि भागशः
Those two heroic warriors, fully armored and resplendent in battle, unleashed divine weapons, beginning with the Brahma weapon, each in turn.
पार्थस्तु समरे शूरो दर्शयन्वीर्यमात्मनः। स मह्यस्त्रैर्महात्मानं द्रोणं प्राच्छादयच्छरैः
But Partha, valiant in the fight and displaying his own prowess, with mighty weapons covered the great-souled Drona with arrows.
अस्त्रैरस्त्राणि संवार्य पार्थो द्रोणमवारयत्
With weapons countering weapons, Partha repelled Drona.
तयोरासीत्संप्रहारः क्रुद्धयोर्नरसिंहयोः। अमृष्यमाणयोः सङ्ख्ये बलिवासवयोरिव
A fierce clash arose between those two lion-like men, both enraged and unable to bear each other in battle, like Bali and Indra.
दर्शयेतां महास्राणि भारद्वाजार्जुनौ रणे
Bharadvaja’s son and Arjuna displayed great weapons in the battle.
ऐन्द्रं वायव्यमाग्नेयमस्त्रमस्त्रेण पाण्डवः । मुक्तंमुक्तं द्रोणचापाद्ग्रमते स्म पुनः पुनः
The Pandava, with weapons, repeatedly neutralized the Indra, Vayu, and Agni missiles released from Drona’s bow.
एवं शूरौ महेष्वासौ विसृजन्तौ शिलाशितान्। एकच्छायमकुर्वातां गगनं शरवृष्टिभिः
Thus, those two heroic, mighty archers, releasing sharp arrows, made the sky appear as if it had a single shade with their showers of arrows.
ततोऽर्जुनेन मुक्तानां पततां च शरीरिपु। पर्वतेष्विव वज्राणां शराणां श्रूयते स्वनः
Then, as Arjuna’s arrows were released and fell upon the enemy, their sound was heard like thunderbolts striking mountains.
ततो नागा रथाश्वाश्च सादिनश्च विशांपते। शोणिताक्ताश्च दृश्यन्ते पुष्पिता इव किंशुकाः
Then elephants, chariots, horses, and riders, O lord of men, appeared blood-soaked, like blossoming kimshuka trees.
बाहुभिश्च सकेयूरैर्निकृत्तैश्च महारथैः । सुवर्णाचित्रैः कवचैर्ध्वजैश्च विनिपातितैः
And with arms adorned with bracelets, severed by great warriors, with golden-embellished armor and fallen banners,
योधैश्च निहतैस्तत्र पार्थबाणाभिपीडितैः। बलमासीत्सुसंभ्रान्तं द्रोणार्जुनसमागमे
And with warriors slain there, struck down by Partha’s arrows, the army became utterly bewildered at the encounter of Drona and Arjuna.
विधृन्वानौ तु तौ वीरौ धनुषी भारसाधने। प्राच्छादयेतामन्योन्यं दिधक्षन्तौ वरेषुभिः
Those two heroes, holding their mighty bows fit for bearing strain, covered each other, wishing to consume one another with excellent arrows.
अथान्तरिक्षे नादोऽभूद्द्रोणं तत्र प्रशंसताम् । दुष्करं कृतवान्द्रोणो यदर्जुनमयोधयत्
Then in the sky arose a clamor praising Drona there: ‘Drona has accomplished the impossible, for he has fought Arjuna!’
प्रमाथिनं महावीर्यं दृढमुष्टिं दुरासदम्। जेतारं सर्वदैत्यानां सर्वेषां च महारथम्
For Arjuna is a destroyer, of great might, firm-gripped, unconquerable, the vanquisher of all demons and all great chariot-warriors.