यस्मिन्राजा सत्यधृतिर्युधिष्ठिरः समास्थितो भीमसेनार्जुनौ च। वासुदेवः सात्यकिः सृंजयाश्च मन्ये बलं तदजय्यं महीपैः
Where King Yudhishthira, steadfast in truth, stands together with Bhimasena and Arjuna, with Vasudeva, Satyaki, and the Srinjayas—I consider that force to be unconquerable by any kings.
तं चेन्मृत्युः सर्वहरोऽभिरक्षेत्सदाऽप्रमत्तः समरे किरीटिनम्। तथापि हन्तास्मि समेत्य सङ्ख्ये यास्यामि वा भीष्ममुखो यमाय
Even if Death himself, the destroyer of all, were to guard the diademed Arjuna in battle, ever vigilant, still I would strike him down upon meeting in combat, or else I would go, led by Bhishma, to the realm of Yama.
न त्वेवाहं न गमिष्यामि तेषां मध्ये शराणां तत्र चाहं ब्रवीमि। मित्रद्रुहो दुर्बलभक्तयो ये पापात्मानो न ममैते सहायाः
Yet I will not go among them, amid the arrows; I declare this now: those who are treacherous to friends, of weak devotion, wicked in soul—they are not my allies.
समृद्धिमन्तं रथमुत्तमं दृढं सकूबरं हेमपरिष्कृतं शुभम्। पताकिनं वातजवैर्हयोत्तमैर्युक्तं समास्थाय ययौ जयाय
Mounting a splendid, well-adorned chariot—strong, with a sturdy pole, decorated with gold, bearing a banner, yoked with the best wind-swift horses—he set out for victory.
सम्पूज्यमानः कुरुभिर्महात्मा रथर्षभो देवगणैर्यथेन्द्रः। ययौ तदायोधनमुग्रधन्वा यत्रावसानं भरतर्षभस्य
Honored by the Kurus, that great-souled bull among charioteers, like Indra among the hosts of gods, then went to the battlefield, his mighty bow in hand, where the fate of the Bharata chief would be decided.
वरूथिना महता सध्वजेन सुवर्णमुक्तामणिरत्नमालिना। सदश्वयुक्तेन रथेन कर्णो मेघस्वनेनार्क इवामितौजाः
With a great, well-armored force, banners flying, adorned with gold, pearls, gems, and precious stones, Karna—of immense energy—mounted his chariot, yoked with excellent steeds, thundering like a cloud, shining like the sun.
हुताशनाभः स हुताशनप्रभे शुभः शुभे वै स्वरथे धनुर्धरः। स्थितो रराजाधिरथिर्महारथः स्वयं विमाने सुरराडिवास्थितः
Radiant as fire, on his brilliant chariot, the mighty archer Adhiratha's son stood resplendent, like the lord of the gods himself standing in his own celestial chariot.
क्षत्रियान्तकरो घोरो देवदानवदर्पहा। `सोप्यद्याभिहतः शेते शरैः प्रोतः शिखण्डिना
He, the destroyer of Kshatriyas, fierce, crusher of the pride of gods and demons—today lies struck down, pierced with arrows by Shikhandin.
तमद्याहं पाण्डवं युद्धशौण्डममृष्यमाणो भवता चानुशिष्टः। आशीविषं हष्टिहरं सुघोरं शूरं शक्ष्याम्यस्त्रबलान्निहन्तुम्
Today, unable to tolerate the prowess of that Pandava, skilled in battle, and instructed by you, I shall be able to slay, by the power of weapons, that fierce, heroic, serpent-like destroyer of elephants.
एष सेनाप्रणेतॄणामेष शस्त्रभृतामपि। एष बुद्धिमतां चैव श्रेष्ठो राजन्गुरुस्तव
He is the foremost among commanders, among wielders of weapons, and indeed among the wise—O King, he is your preceptor.
एवं दुर्योधनाचार्यमाशु सेनापतिं कुरु। जिगीषन्तो सुरान्सङ्ख्ये कार्तिकेयमिवामराः
Thus, Duryodhana appointed the teacher as commander of the army, just as the gods, desiring victory, appointed Kartikeya in battle.
ते त्वन्योन्यं सुसंरब्धाः पाण्डवाः कौरवैः सह। अभ्यघ्नन्निशितैः शस्त्रैर्जयगृद्धाः प्रहारिणः
Then the Pandavas, together with the Kauravas, fiercely attacked one another with sharp weapons, eager for victory and skilled in striking.
स पाण्डवानां महतीं महेष्वासो महाद्युतिः। वेगेनाभ्यद्रवत्सेनां किरञ्शरशतैः शितैः
That great bowman of immense brilliance rushed swiftly against the mighty army of the Pandavas, showering hundreds of sharp arrows.
द्रोणमभ्युद्यतं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवाः सहसृञ्जयैः। प्रत्यगृह्णंस्तदा राजञ्छरवर्षैः पृथक्पृथक्
Seeing Drona advancing, the Pandavas, along with the Srinjayas, then resisted him, O King, with separate showers of arrows.
विक्षोभ्यमाणआ द्रोणेन भिद्यमाना महाचमूः। व्यशीर्यत सपाञ्चाला वातेनेव वलाहकाः
The great army, shaken and broken by Drona, scattered, just as clouds are dispersed by the wind.
बहूनीह विकुर्वाणो दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि संयुगे। अपीडयत्क्षणेनैव द्रोणः पाण्डवसृञ्जयान्
There, Drona, performing many wondrous feats with divine weapons in battle, oppressed the Pandavas and Srinjayas in a moment.
ते वध्यमाना द्रोणेन वासवेनेव दानवाः। पाञ्चालाः समकम्पन्त धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः
Those Panchalas, led by Dhrishtadyumna, trembled as they were struck down by Drona, just as the demons trembled before Indra.
ततो दिव्यास्त्रविच्छूरो याज्ञसेनिर्महारथः। अभिनच्छरवर्षेण द्रोणानीकमनेकधा
Then Yajnaseni, the great chariot-warrior, skilled in divine weapons, struck Drona's army in many ways with a shower of arrows.
द्रोणस्य शरवर्षाणि शरवर्षेण पार्षतः। सन्निवार्य ततः सर्वान्कुरूनप्यवधीद्बली
Parshata, with a shower of arrows, repelled Drona's volleys, and then, mighty, struck down all the Kuru warriors.
संयम्य तु ततो द्रोणः समवस्थाप्य चाहवे। स्वमनीकं महेष्वासः पार्षतं समुपाद्रवत्
Then Drona, restraining himself, arrayed his own troops in battle, and the great archer advanced toward Parshata.
स बाणवर्षं सुमहदसृजत्पार्षतं प्रति। मघवान्समभिक्रुद्धः सहसा दानवानिव
He unleashed a tremendous rain of arrows upon Parshata, like Indra, enraged, suddenly attacking the Danavas.
ते कम्प्यमाना द्रोणेन बाणैः पाण्डवसृञ्जयाः। पुनःपुनरभज्यन्त सिंहेनैवेतरे मृगाः
The Pandavas and Srinjayas, shaken by Drona's arrows, were repeatedly scattered, like other beasts by a lion.
तथा पर्यपतद्रोणः पाण्डवानां बले बली। अलातचक्रवद्राजंस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
Thus Drona, powerful among the Pandava forces, moved about like a whirling fire-wheel, O King, and it seemed wondrous.
खचरनगरकल्पं कल्पितं शास्त्रदृष्ट्या चलदनिलपताकं ह्लादनं वल्गिताश्वम्। स्फटिकविमलकेतुं त्रासनं शात्रवाणां रथवरमधिरूढः सञ्जहारारिसेनाम्
Mounted on a splendid chariot, resembling a city in the sky, adorned according to scripture, with fluttering banners in the wind, delightful, drawn by prancing horses, bearing a crystal-clear standard, terrifying to enemies, he shattered the opposing army.
शताद्विशिष्टं यं युद्धे सममन्यन्त वृष्णयः। चेकितानं महेष्वासं कस्तं द्रोणादवारयत्
Cekitana, whom the Vrishnis considered equal to a hundred in battle, who could restrain him from Drona?
वार्धक्षेमिः कलिङ्गानां यः कन्यामाहरद्युधि। अनाधृष्टिरदीनात्मा कस्तं द्रोणादवारयत्
Vardhakṣemi, who seized the princess of the Kaliṅgas in battle, fearless and undaunted—who could restrain him from Drona?
भ्रातरः पञ्च कैकेया धार्मिकाः सत्यविक्रमाः। इन्द्रगोपकसङ्काशा रक्तवर्मायुधध्वजाः
The five Kaikeyas, righteous and truly valiant, shining like red indragopas, clad in crimson armor, weapons, and banners.
मातृष्वसुः सुता वीराः पाण्डवानां जयार्थिनः। तान्द्रोणं हन्तुमायातान्के वीराः पर्यवारयन्
Their mother's sister's sons, heroes seeking victory for the Pandavas, came to slay Drona, and brave men surrounded them.
यं योधयन्तो राजानो नाजयन्वारणावते। षण्मासानपि संरब्धा जिघांसन्तो युधां पतिं
Whom kings, fighting at Varanavata, could not defeat, even after six months of fierce battle, seeking to slay the lord of war.
धनुष्मतां वरं शूरं सत्यसन्धं महाबलम्। द्रोणात्कस्तं नरव्याघ्रं युयुत्सुं पर्यवारयत्
Who could restrain from Drona that tiger among men, Yuyutsu, foremost among archers, heroic, truthful, and mighty?