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?
यः पुत्रं काशिराजस्य वाराणस्यां महारथम्। समरे स्त्रीषु गृध्यन्तं भल्लेनापाहरद्रथात्
Who, in battle at Varanasi, struck down the son of the king of Kashi, a great chariot-warrior, who coveted women, with a mace, and dragged him from his chariot.
धृष्टद्युम्नं महेष्वासं पार्थानां मन्त्रधारिणम्। युक्तं दुर्योधनानर्थे सृष्टं द्रोणवधाय च
Dhrishtadyumna, great archer, counselor of the Parthas, appointed for Duryodhana's sake and created for Drona's destruction.
निर्दहन्तं रणे योधान्दारयन्तं च सर्वतः। द्रोणाभिमुखमायान्तं के शूराः पर्यवारयन्
Who, burning warriors in battle and tearing through them everywhere, advanced toward Drona—what heroes surrounded him?
उत्सङ्ग इव सम्वृद्धं द्रुपदस्यास्त्रवित्तमम्। शैखण्डिनं शस्त्रगुप्तं के द्रोणादवारयन्
Shaikhandi, raised like a foster child in Drupada's lap, master of weapons, protected by arms—who could restrain him from Drona?
य इमां पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां चर्मवत्समवेष्टयत्। महता रथघोषेण मुख्यारिघ्नो महारथः
Who, with the thunder of his chariot, enveloped the whole earth like a hide, slayer of foremost foes, a great chariot-warrior.
दशाश्वमेधानाजहे स्वन्नपानाप्तदक्षिणान्। निरर्गलान्सर्वमेधान्पुत्रवत्पालयन्प्रजाः
He performed ten ashvamedha sacrifices, with abundant food, drink, and gifts, all unrestricted, and protected his subjects like his own sons.
विसृष्टा दक्षिणा यस्य गङ्गाजलमवारयत्। गङ्गास्रोतसि यावत्यः सिकता अप्यशेषतः। तावतीर्गा ददौ वीर उशीनरसुतोऽध्वरे
When the sacrificial fee was offered, the waters of the Ganges were restrained; as many grains of sand as are in the stream of the Ganges, so many cows did the valiant son of Ushinara give at the sacrifice.
न पूर्वे नापरे चक्रुरिदं केचन मानवाः। इतीदं चुक्रुशुर्देवाः कृते कर्मणि दुष्करे
No men before nor after have ever done this; thus spoke the gods when that difficult deed was accomplished.
पश्यामस्त्रिषु लोकेषु न तं संस्थास्नुचारिषु। जातं चापि जनिष्यन्तं द्वितीयं चापि साम्प्रतम्
We do not see, in the three worlds among those who have lived or are living, or even among those yet to be born, another like him.
अन्यमौशीनराच्छेब्याद्धुरो वोढारमित्युत। गतिं यस्य न यास्यन्ति मानुषा लोकवासिनः
Who else but the son of Ushinara or Shaibya could bear such a burden? His path cannot be followed by men dwelling in the world.