श्रृणु राजन्स्थिरो भूत्वा युद्धमेतत्सुदारुणम्। न शक्याः पाण्डवा जेतुं देवैरपि सवासवैः
Listen, O King, remaining steadfast, to this exceedingly dreadful battle; even the gods with Indra could not conquer the Pandavas.
द्रोणस्तु निशितैर्बाणैर्धृष्टद्युम्नमविध्यत। सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन रथनीडादपातयत्
Then Drona struck Dhrishtadyumna with sharp arrows, and with a broad-headed shaft he brought down his charioteer from the chariot.
तथाऽस्य चतुरो वाहांश्चतुर्भिः सायकोत्तमैः । पीडयामास संक्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्नस्य मारिष
In the same way, enraged, he harassed Dhrishtadyumna’s four horses with four excellent arrows, O descendant of Bharata.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्ततो द्रोणं नवत्या निशितैः शरैः । विव्याध प्रहसन्वीरस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्
Then Dhrishtadyumna, laughing, struck Drona with ninety sharp arrows and said, 'Stand, stand!'
ततः पुनरमेयात्मा भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। शरैः प्रच्छादयामास धृष्टद्युम्नममर्षणम्
Then again, the mighty-souled and powerful Bharadvaja, filled with wrath, covered the unyielding Dhrishtadyumna with arrows.
आददे च शरं घोरं पार्षतान्तचिकीर्षकया। शक्राशनिसमस्पर्शं कालदण्डमिवापरम्
And the son of Drupada took up a terrible arrow, desiring to end Bharadvaja; its touch was like Indra’s thunderbolt, another rod of death.
हाहाकारो महानासीत्सर्वसैन्येषु भारत । तमिषुं संधितं दृष्ट्वा भारद्वाजेन संयुगे
A great outcry arose among all the troops, O Bharata, when they saw that arrow fitted to the bow by Bharadvaja in the battle.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम धृष्टद्युम्नस्य पौरुषम्। यदेकः समरे वीरस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः
There we beheld the wondrous valor of Dhrishtadyumna, who alone stood firm in battle like an immovable mountain.
तं च दीप्तं शरं घोरमायान्तं मृत्युमात्मनः । चिच्छेद शरवृष्टिं च भारद्वाजे मुमोच ह
And that blazing, terrible arrow, coming as if with death itself, he cut down, and released a shower of arrows upon Bharadvaja.
तत उच्चुक्रुशुः सर्वे पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सह। धृष्टद्युम्नेन तत्कर्म कृतं दृष्ट्वा सुदुष्करम्
Then all the Panchalas, together with the Pandavas, shouted aloud, seeing that most difficult feat accomplished by Dhrishtadyumna.
ततः शक्तिं महावेगां स्वर्णवैडूर्यभूषिताम् । द्रोणस्य निधनाकाङ्क्षी चिक्षेप स पराक्रमी
Then the valiant one, desiring the destruction of Drona, hurled a mighty spear adorned with gold and cat’s-eye gems.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा शक्तिं कनकभूषिताम्। त्रिधा चिच्छेद समरे भारद्वाजो हसन्निव
As that golden-adorned spear rushed swiftly, Bharadvaja, as if smiling, cut it into three pieces in battle.
शक्तिं विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा धृष्टद्युम्नः प्रतपवान् । ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि द्रोणं प्रति जनेश्वरः
Seeing his spear struck down, the valiant Dhrishtadyumna, lord of men, unleashed showers of arrows upon Drona.
शरवर्षं ततस्तत्तु सन्निवार्य महायशाः। द्रोणो द्रुपदपुत्रस्य मध्ये चिच्छेद कार्मुकम्
Then the illustrious Drona, warding off that rain of arrows, cut the bow of Drupada’s son in the midst of battle.
स च्छिन्नधन्वा समरे गदां गुर्वी महायशाः । द्रोणाय प्रेषयामास गिरिसारमयीं बली
His bow cut down in the fight, the mighty and renowned Drupada’s son seized a heavy mace made of mountain-iron and hurled it at Drona.
सा गदा वेगवन्मुक्ता प्रायाद्द्रोणजिघांसया । तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम भारद्वाजस्य पौरुषम्
That mace, released with great speed and intent to slay Drona, flew forth; there we witnessed the wondrous prowess of Bharadvaja’s son.
लाघवाद्व्यंसयामास गदां हेमविभूषिताम्। व्यंसयित्वा गदां तां च प्रेषयामास पार्षतम्
With agility, he deflected the gold-adorned mace, and after turning it aside, sent it back toward the son of Prishata.
भल्लान्सुनिशितान्पीतातान्रुक्मपुङ्खान्सुदारुणान्। ते तस्य कवचं भित्त्वा पपुः शोणितमाहवे
Then, with sharp, yellow-feathered, gold-tipped, and deadly arrows, he pierced Dhrishtadyumna’s armor and drank his blood on the battlefield.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथः । द्रोणं युधि पराक्रम्य शरैर्विव्याध पञ्चभिः
Thereupon, taking up another bow, the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna advanced against Drona in battle and struck him with five arrows.
रुधिराक्तौ ततस्तौ तु शुशुभाते नरर्षभौ । वसन्तसमये राजन्पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ
Then, O King, those two bulls among men, bathed in blood, shone like blossoming kimshuka trees in spring.
अमर्षितस्ततो राजन्पराक्रम्य चमूमुखे । द्रोणो द्रुपदपुत्रस्य पुनश्चिच्छेद कार्मुकम्
Angered, O King, Drona pressed forward at the front of the army and once again cut down the bow of Drupada’s son.
अथैनं छिन्नधन्वानं शरैः सन्नतपर्वभिः । अभ्यवर्षदमेयात्मा वृष्ट्या मेघ इवाचलम्
Then, with his bow broken, the self-controlled Drona showered him with arrows whose joints were well-bent, like a cloud pouring rain upon a mountain.
सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन रथनीजादपातयत् । अथास्य चतुरो वाहांश्चतुर्भिर्निशितैः शरैः
With a broad-headed arrow, he struck down his charioteer from the chariot, and then with four sharp arrows, he felled his four horses.
पातयामास समरे सिंहनादं ननाद च। ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन हस्ताच्चापमथाच्छिनत्
He brought them down in battle and roared like a lion; then, with another broad-headed arrow, he cut the bow from his hand.
स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । गदापाणिरवारोहत्स्व्यापयन्पौरुषं महत्
His bow cut, his chariot destroyed, his horses and charioteer slain, Dhrishtadyumna, mace in hand, dismounted, displaying great valor.
तामस्य विशिस्वैस्तूर्णं पातयामास भारत । रथादनवरूढस्य तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
Then, O Bharata, Drona swiftly brought him down with specially chosen arrows as he stood on the ground, and it seemed a marvel.
ततः स विपुलं चर्म शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत्। खङ्गं च विपुलं दिव्यं प्रगृह्य सुभुजो बली
Then, the strong-armed hero seized a broad, radiant shield with a hundred moons and a great, divine sword.
अभिदुद्राव वेगेन द्रोणस्य वधाकाङ्क्षया। आमिषार्थी यथा सिंहो वने मत्तमिव द्विपम्
He rushed at Drona with speed, intent on slaying him, like a lion in the forest seeking flesh, charging at a maddened elephant.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम भारद्वाजस्य पौरुषम् । लाघवं चास्त्रयोगं च बलं बाह्वोश्च भारत
There we beheld the wondrous prowess of Bharadvaja’s son—his agility, mastery of weapons, and the strength of his arms, O Bharata.
यदेनं शरवर्षेण वारयामास पार्षतम् । न शशाक ततो गन्तुं बलवानपि संयुगे
With a shower of arrows, he repelled the son of Prishata, so that even though powerful, he could not advance in battle.