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.
अश्वत्थामा तु तत्कर्म हृदयेन महात्मनः। पूजयामास पार्थस्य कोपं चास्य तदाऽकरोत्
Ashvatthama, witnessing that deed, honored Arjuna in his heart, but at that moment also grew angry with him.
स भन्युवशमापन्नः पार्थमभ्यद्रवद्रणे । किरञ्शरसहस्राणि पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान्
Then, seized by wrath, he rushed at Arjuna in battle, showering thousands of arrows like a rain-filled cloud.
आवृत्य च महाबाहुर्यतो द्रोणस्ततोऽभवत्। अन्तरं प्रददौ पार्थो द्रोणस्य व्यपसर्पितुम्
The mighty-armed Arjuna, blocking the way from which Drona came, gave Drona an opening to withdraw.
स तु लब्धान्तरस्तूर्णमपायाञ्जवनैर्हयैः । छिन्नवर्मध्वजरथो निकृत्तः परमेषुभिः
Having found an opening, Drona quickly withdrew with his swift horses, his armor, banner, and chariot all shattered by supreme arrows.
पराजिते तदा द्रोणे द्रोणपुत्रः समागतः। सदण्ड इव रक्ताक्षः कृतान्तः समरे स्थितः
When Drona was thus defeated, his son appeared, eyes red as copper, like Death himself standing in battle.
तं पार्थः प्रतिजग्राह वायुवेगमिवाचलः। शरजालेन महता वर्षमाण इवाम्बुदः
Arjuna received him like a mountain facing the force of the wind, with a great shower of arrows like a raincloud.
तयोर्देवासुरसमः सन्निपातो महानभूत् । किरतोः शरजालानि वृत्रवासवयोरिव
A great encounter, like that of gods and demons, took place between the two as they poured forth torrents of arrows, like Vritra and Indra.
न स्म सूर्यस्तदा भाति न च वाति समीरणः । शरगाढे कृते व्योम्नि छायाभूतमिवाभवत्
Then the sun did not shine, nor did the wind blow; the sky, thick with arrows, appeared as if covered in shadow.
महांश्चटचटाशब्दो योधयोर्युध्यमानयोः । दह्यतामिव वेणूनामासीत्परमदारुणः
A tremendous crackling sound arose as the two warriors fought, as if bamboo was being burned, terrifying in the extreme.
हयांस्तस्यार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये कृतवानल्पतेजसाः । ते राजन्न प्रजानन्ति दिशं कांचन मोहिताः
Arjuna struck the horses of his opponent, who were of little splendor, and, O King, those horses, bewildered, no longer knew any direction.