हयौघाश्च रथौघाश्च नरौघाश्च निपातिताः। संक्षुण्णाः पुनरावृत्य बहुधा रथनेमिभिः
Masses of horses, chariots, and men, struck down, were crushed again and again in many ways by the wheels of chariots.
सगजौघमहावेगः परासुनरशैवलः। रथौघतुमुलावर्तः प्रबभौ सैन्यसागरः
That ocean of armies, with its surging waves of elephants, its foam of slain men, and its tumultuous whirlpools of chariots, appeared wondrous.
तं वाहनमहानौभिर्योधा जयधनैषिणः। अवगाह्याथ मज्जन्तो नैव मोहं प्रचक्रिरे
The warriors, seeking victory and wealth, plunged into that sea of vehicles and mounts, and though submerged, did not lose their resolve.
शरवर्षाभिवृष्टेषु योधेष्वञ्चितलक्ष्मसु। न तेष्वचित्ततां लेभे कश्चिदाहतलक्षणः
Even as showers of arrows rained down on the warriors, whose marks were bent and twisted, none who bore the marks of wounds lost their composure.
वर्तमाने तथा युद्धे घोररूपे भयङ्करे। मोहयित्वा परान्द्रोणो युधिष्ठिरमुपाद्रवत्
As that dreadful and terrifying battle raged on, Drona, having bewildered the enemy, advanced upon Yudhishthira.
पाञ्चालाः केकया मात्स्याश्चेदिकारूशकोसलाः। युधिष्ठिरमभीप्सन्तो दृष्ट्वा द्रोणमुपाद्रवन्
The Panchalas, Kekayas, Matsyas, Cedis, Karushas, and Kosalas, desiring to protect Yudhishthira, seeing Drona, rushed forward.
ततो युधिष्ठिरं प्रेप्सुराचार्यः शत्रुपूगहा। व्यधमत्तान्यनीकानि तूलराशिमिवानलः
Then, the preceptor, destroyer of hosts of enemies, desiring to reach Yudhishthira, scattered the opposing ranks like fire consuming heaps of cotton.
निर्दहन्तमनीकानि तानि तानि पुनःपुनः। द्रोणं मत्स्यादवरजः शतानीकोऽभ्यवर्तत
Burning through those divisions again and again, Drona was approached by the Matsya prince, Shatanika.
सूर्यरश्मिप्रतीकाशैः कर्मारपरिमार्जितैः। षड्भिः ससूतं सहयं द्रोणं विद्ध्वाऽनदद्भृशम्
With six arrows, bright as sunbeams and polished by the smith, he struck Drona, along with his charioteer and horses, and roared fiercely.
क्रूराय कर्मणे युक्तश्चिकीर्षुः कर्म दुष्करम्। अवाकिरच्छरशतैर्भारद्वाजं महारथम्
Intent on a cruel deed, wishing to perform a difficult act, he showered hundreds of arrows upon the great chariot-warrior, Bharadvaja's son.
तस्य नानदतो द्रोणः शिरः कायात्सकुण्डलम्। क्षुरेणापाहरत्तुर्णं ततो मत्स्याः प्रदुद्रुवुः
As he roared, Drona swiftly severed his head, adorned with earrings, from his body with a razor-sharp arrow; then the Matsyas fled.
मत्स्याञ्जित्वाऽजयच्चेदीन्करूशान्केकयानपि। पाञ्चालान्सृञ्जयान्पाण्डून्भारद्वाजः पुनःपुनः
Having defeated the Matsyas, Bharadvaja's son repeatedly overcame the Cedis, Karushas, Kekayas, Panchalas, Srinjayas, and Pandavas.
तं दहन्तमनीकानि क्रुद्धमग्निं यथा वनम्। दृष्ट्वा रुक्मरथं वीरं समकम्पन्त सृञ्जयाः
Seeing him, his golden chariot blazing, consuming divisions like an angry fire devouring a forest, the Srinjayas trembled.
उभाभ्यां सन्दधानस्य धनुरस्याशुकारिणः। ज्याघोषो निघ्नतोऽमित्रान्दिक्षुसर्वासु शुश्रुवे
As he strung his bow with both hands and swiftly struck down foes, the twang of the bowstring resounded in all directions.
नागानश्वान्पदातींश्च रथिनो गजसादिनः। रौद्रा हस्तवता मुक्ताः प्रमथ्नन्ति स्म सायकाः
His fierce arrows, released with force, struck down elephants, horses, foot soldiers, charioteers, and riders atop elephants.
नानद्यमानः पर्जन्यो मिश्रवातो हिमात्यये। अश्मवर्षमिवावर्षन्परेषां भयमादधत्
Like a thundercloud roaring with mixed winds at winter's end, he rained down a shower of stones, filling his enemies with terror.
सर्वा दिशः समचरत्सैन्यं विक्षोभयन्निव। बली शूरो महेष्वासो मित्राणामभयङ्करः
He moved in all directions, shaking the army as if to scatter it, that mighty, heroic, great archer, a bringer of fearlessness to his allies.
तस्य विद्युदिवाभ्रेषु चापं हेमपरिष्कृतम्। दिक्षु सर्वासु पश्यामो द्रोणस्यामिततेजसः
We saw Drona's bow, adorned with gold, flashing like lightning among clouds, visible in all directions, he of immeasurable energy.
शोभमानां ध्वजे चास्य वेदीमद्राक्ष्य भारत। हिमवच्छिखराकारं चरतः संयुगे भृशम्
And on his banner we beheld an altar, shining, shaped like the peak of the Himalayas, as he moved fiercely in battle, O Bharata.
द्रोणस्तु पाण्डवानीके चकार कदनं महत्। यथा दैत्यगणे विष्णुः सुरासुरनमस्कृतः
Drona wrought a great slaughter among the Pandava ranks, like Vishnu among the hosts of Daityas, worshipped by gods and demons alike.
स शूरः सत्यवाक्प्राज्ञो बलवान्सत्यविक्रमः। महानुभावः कल्पान्ते रौद्रां भीरुविभीषणाम्
That hero, truthful, wise, powerful, steadfast in valor, of great might, at the end of an age, unleashed a terrifying, fearsome carnage.
कवचोर्मिध्वजावर्तां मर्त्यकूलापहारिणीम्।। गजवाजिमहाग्राहामसिमीनां दुरासदाम्
It was a river with waves of armor and banners, carrying away crowds of mortals, with elephants and horses as great crocodiles, and swords as its dangerous fish.
वीरास्यिशर्करां रौद्रां भेरीमुरजकच्छपाम्। चर्मवर्मप्लवां घोरां केशशैवलशाद्वलाम्
Its pebbles were the teeth of heroes, dreadful, with drums and kettledrums as its turtles, shields and armor as its rafts, terrible, with hair as its moss and grass.
शरौघिणीं धनुःस्रोतां बाहुपन्नगसङ्कुलाम्। रणभूमिवहां तीव्रां कुरुसृञ्जयवाहिनीम्
Its current was made of arrows, its stream was bows, crowded with the serpents of arms, a fierce river of the battlefield, carrying away the armies of Kurus and Srinjayas.
मनुष्यशीर्षपाषाणां शक्तिमीनां गदोडुपाम्। उष्णीषफेनवसनां विकीर्णान्त्रसरीसृपाम्
Stones shaped like human heads, spears like fish, maces like stars; garments of froth for turbans, reptiles with entrails scattered as clothing.
वीरापहारिणीमुग्रां मांसशोमितकर्दमाम्। हस्तिग्राहां केतुवृक्षां क्षत्रियाणां निमज्जनीम्
A fierce river that steals away heroes, muddy with flesh and blood; filled with elephants, bearing banners as trees, the drowning place of warriors.
क्रूरां शरीरसङ्घाटां सादिनक्रां दुरत्ययाम्। द्रोणः प्रावर्तयत्तत्र नदीमन्तकगामिनीम्
Cruel, composed of bodies, impassable, teeming with horsemen and riders; Drona unleashed there a river flowing toward destruction.
क्रव्यादगणसञ्जुष्टां श्वशृगालगणायुताम्। निषेवितां महारौद्रैः पिशिताशैः समन्ततः
Crowded with packs of flesh-eaters, accompanied by dogs and jackals; frequented on all sides by those with a terrible craving for meat.
तं दहन्तमनीकानि रथोदारं कृतान्तवत्। सर्वतोऽभ्यद्रवन्द्रोणं कुन्तीपुत्रपुरोगमाः
That river, burning the armies, with chariots vast as Death; everywhere, Drona was attacked by the sons of Kunti at the forefront.
ते द्रोणं सहिताः शूराः सर्वतः प्रत्यवारयन्। गभस्तिभिरिवादित्यं तपन्तं भुवनं यथा
Together, those brave warriors surrounded Drona from all sides, as rays encircle the sun, scorching the world.