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.
अविभ्रमं च शिक्षां च लाघवं दूरपातनम् । पार्थस्य समरे दृष्ट्वा द्रोणस्यासीच्च विस्मयः
Seeing Partha’s composure, skill, swiftness, and long-range shooting in battle, Drona was filled with wonder.
तत्प्रवृत्तं चिरं घोरं तयोर्युद्धं महात्मनोः । अवर्तत महारौद्रं लोकसंक्षोभकरकम्
That fierce and long-protracted battle of those two great souls continued, exceedingly terrible and shaking the worlds.
अथ गाण्डीवमुद्यम्य दिव्यं धनुरमर्षणः । विचकर्ष रणे पार्थो बाहुभ्यां भरतर्षभः
Then, raising his divine bow Gandiva in wrath, Partha, bull among the Bharatas, drew it in battle with both arms.
तस्य बाणमयं वर्षे शलभानामिवाभवत् । न च बाणान्तरे तस्य वायुः शक्नोति सर्पितुम्
His shower of arrows became like a swarm of locusts, and between his arrows even the wind could not pass.
अभीक्ष्णं संदधानस्य बाणानुत्सृजतस्तथा। नान्तरं ददृशे किंचित्पार्थस्यापततोपी च
As Arjuna ceaselessly fitted and released his arrows in that way, not even the slightest gap could be seen, though they rushed upon him.
युद्धे तु कृतशीघ्रास्त्रे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे। शीघ्राच्छीघ्रतरं पार्थः शरानन्यानुदैरयत्
In that fierce battle, as swift missiles were employed, Arjuna sent forth arrows even faster than the swiftest.
ततः शरसहस्राणि शराणां नतपर्वणाम्। युगपत्प्रापतंस्तत्र द्रोणस्य रथमन्तिकात्
Then thousands of arrows with curved tips fell all at once near Drona's chariot.
विकीर्यमाणे द्रोणे तु शरैर्गाण्डीवधन्वना ।। हाहाकारो महानासीत्सैन्यानां भरतर्षभ
As Drona was overwhelmed by the arrows of the wielder of Gandiva, a great outcry arose among the troops, O bull of the Bharatas.
पाण्डवस्य तु शीघ्रास्त्रं मघवा समपूजयत्। गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव ये च तत्र समागताः
The swift archery of the Pandava was honored by Maghavan, and also by the Gandharvas, Apsaras, and all those assembled there.
द्रोणं युद्धार्णवे मग्नं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रः प्रतापवान्। ततो वृन्देन महता रथिनां रथियूथपः । आचार्यपुत्रस्तु शरैः पाण्डवं प्रत्यवारयत्
Seeing Drona submerged in the ocean of battle, his valiant son, chief among chariot-warriors, with a great host of charioteers, checked the Pandava with arrows.