द्रोणस्य यतमानस्य वशं नैष्यसि सुव्रत। अहमावारयिष्यामि द्रोणमद्य सहानुगम्
You will not fall under Droṇa’s power, though he strives, O steadfast one; today I will hold back Droṇa along with his followers.
मयि जीवति कौरव्य नोद्वेगं कर्तुमर्हसि। न हि शक्तो रणे द्रोणो विजेतुं मां कथञ्चन
While I live, O Kauravya, you should not be anxious; for Droṇa is not able to defeat me in battle by any means.
एवमुक्त्वा किरन्बाणान्द्रुपदस्य सुतो बली। पारावतसवर्णाश्वः स्वयं द्रोणमुपाद्रवत्
Having spoken thus, showering arrows, the mighty son of Drupada, with horses the color of doves, himself rushed toward Droṇa.
अनिष्टदर्शनं दृष्ट्वा धृष्टद्युम्नमवस्थितम्। क्षणेनैवाभवद्द्रोणो नातिहृष्टमना इव
Seeing Dhṛṣṭadyumna standing there, an inauspicious sight, Droṇa in a moment became as if not very pleased in mind.
स हि जातो महाराज द्रोणस्य निधनं प्रति
For he was born, O great king, for the destruction of Droṇa.
मर्त्यधर्मतया तस्माद्भारद्वाजो व्यमुह्यत। नाशकत्तत्र तत्किञ्चिदनीकं प्रतिवीक्षितुम्
Because of mortal destiny, Bhāradvāja was bewildered; he was unable there to look upon that army.
ततः किरन्निषूंस्तीक्ष्णान्द्रुपदस्य वरूथिनीम्। भराद्वाजो ययौ तूर्णं पार्षतं वर्जयन्युधि। द्रुपदस्य महत्सैन्यं दारयामास ब्राह्मणः
Then, showering sharp arrows upon Drupada’s great army, Bhāradvāja swiftly advanced, avoiding the Pāñcāla prince in battle; the brāhmaṇa tore through Drupada’s vast forces.
तं तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य पुत्रस्ते दुर्मुखः शत्रुकर्षणः। प्रियं चिकीर्षुर्द्रोणस्य धृष्टद्युम्नमवारयत्
But seeing him, your son Durmukha, subduer of foes, wishing to please Droṇa, checked Dhṛṣṭadyumna.
स सम्प्रहारस्तुमुलः सुघोरः समपद्यत। पार्षतस्य च शूरस्य दुर्मुखस्य च भारत
That clash became tumultuous and fierce between the valiant Pāñcāla and Durmukha, O Bhārata.
पार्षतः शरजालेन क्षिप्रं प्रच्छाद्य दुर्मुखम्। भारद्वाजं शरौघेण महता समवारयत्
The Pāñcāla quickly covered Durmukha with a shower of arrows, and with a great torrent of shafts, checked Bhāradvāja.
द्रोणावारितं दृष्ट्वा भृशायस्तस्तवात्मजः। नानालिङ्गैः शरव्रातैः पार्षतं सममोहयत्
Seeing Drona block the way, your son became greatly agitated and bewildered Parshata with a multitude of arrows of various kinds.
तयोर्विषक्तयोः सङ्ख्ये पाञ्चाल्यकुरुमुख्ययोः। द्रोणो यौधिष्ठिरं सैन्यं बहुधा व्यधमच्छरैः
While the foremost of the Kurus and Panchalis were engaged in battle, Drona scattered Yudhishthira's army in many ways with his arrows.
अनिलेन यथाऽभ्राणि विच्छिन्नानि समन्ततः। तथा पार्थस्य सैन्यानि विच्छिन्नानि क्वचित्क्वचित्
Just as clouds are torn apart in all directions by the wind, so too were the armies of Partha broken here and there.
मुहूर्तमिव तद्युद्धमासीन्मधुरदर्शनम्। तत उन्मत्तवद्राजन्निर्मर्यादमवर्तत
For a moment, that battle was pleasing to behold; then, O King, it turned wild and without restraint.
नैव खं न दिशो भूमिर्बभासे न च भास्करः'। नैव स्वे न परे राजन्नाज्ञायन्त परस्परम्। अनुमानेन संज्ञाभिर्युद्धं तत्समवर्तत
Neither the sky nor the directions nor the earth nor the sun were visible; neither friend nor foe could recognize each other, O King. That battle continued by signs and guesses.
चूडामणिषु निष्केषु भूषणेष्वपि वर्मसु। तेषामादित्यवर्णाभा रश्मयः प्रचकाशिरे
On their crests, necklaces, ornaments, and armor, rays shone forth with the brilliance of the sun.
तत्प्रकीर्णपताकानां रथवारणवाजिनाम्। बलाकाशबलाभ्रामं ददृशे रूपमाहवे
Among the scattered banners of chariots, elephants, and horses, a form appeared in the battle like clouds streaked with cranes.
नरानेव नरा जघ्नरुदग्राश्च हया हयान्। रथांश्च रथिनो जघ्नुर्वारणा वरवारणान्
Men struck down men, fierce horses struck down horses, charioteers struck down chariots, and elephants struck down noble elephants.
समुच्छ्रितपताकानां गजानां परमद्विपैः। क्षणेन तुमुलो घोरः सङ्ग्रामः समपद्यत
Among elephants with raised banners, by the best of elephants, in a moment a tumultuous and dreadful battle arose.
तेषां संसक्तगात्राणां कर्षतामितरेतरम्। दन्तसङ्घातसङ्घर्षात्सधूमोऽग्निरजायत
As their bodies became entangled, dragging each other, from the grinding of tusks, smoke and fire arose.
विप्रकीर्णपताकास्ते विषाणजनिताग्नयः। बभूवुः खं समासाद्य सविद्युत इवाम्बुदाः
Those scattered banners and fires produced by tusks reached the sky, like clouds with lightning.
विक्षिपद्भिर्नदद्भिश्च निपतद्भिश्च वारणैः। सम्बभूव मही कीर्णा मेघैर्द्यौरिव वार्षिकी
With elephants tossing, roaring, and falling, the earth became covered, like the sky with rain clouds.
तेषामाहन्यमानानां बाणतोमरऋष्टिभिः। वारणानां रवो जज्ञे मेघानामिव सम्पुवे
As the elephants were struck by arrows, spears, and lances, their cries arose like the rumbling of clouds.
तोमराभिहताः केचिद्बाणैश्च परमद्विपाः। वित्रेसुः सर्वनागानां शब्दमेवापरेऽसृजन्
Some mighty elephants, struck by spears and arrows, fled, while others produced the sound of all the elephants.
विषाणाभिहताश्चापि केचित्तत्र गजा गजैः। चक्रुरार्तस्वनं घोरमुत्पातजलदा इव
Some elephants, struck by tusks of other elephants, made terrible cries of distress, like storm clouds.
प्रतीपाः क्रियमाणाश्च वारणा वरवारणैः। उन्मथ्य पुनराजग्मुः प्रेरिताः परमाङ्कुशैः
Elephants, made to retreat by noble elephants, after being pushed back, returned again, driven by excellent goads.
महामात्रैर्महामात्रास्ताडिताः शरतोमरैः। गजेभ्यः पृथिवीं जग्मुर्मुक्तप्रहरणाङ्कुशाः
The chief elephant drivers, struck by arrows and spears, left their weapons and goads, and descended from the elephants to the earth.
निर्मनुष्याश्च मातङ्गा विनदन्तस्ततस्ततः। छिन्नाभ्राणीव सम्पेतुः सम्प्रविश्य परस्परम्
The elephants, now without riders, roared here and there, crashing into each other like scattered clouds.
हतान्परिवहन्तश्च पतितान्पतितायुधान्। दिशो जग्मुर्महानागाः केचिदेकचरा इव
Some great elephants, carrying the slain and those who had dropped their weapons, wandered in all directions, like solitary wanderers.
ताडितास्ताड्यमानाश्च तोमरर्ष्टिपरश्वथैः। पेतुरार्तस्वनं कृत्वा तदा विशसने गजाः
Struck and being struck by javelins, spears, and axes, the elephants fell down with cries of pain in that slaughter.