यथा श्येनस्य पतनं वनेष्वामिषगृद्धिनः। तथैवासीदभीसारस्तस्य द्रोणं जिघांसतः
Just as a hawk swoops down in the forest, greedy for flesh, so was his assault as he sought to slay Droṇa.
ततः शरशतेनास्य शतचन्द्रं समाक्षिपत्। द्रोणो द्रुपद पुत्रस्य खङ्गं च दशभिः शरैः
Then Droṇa, with a hundred arrows, struck down his shield adorned with a hundred moons, and with ten arrows he struck the sword of Drupada's son.
हयांश्चैव चतुःषष्ट्या शराणां जघ्निवान्बली। ध्वजं छत्रं च भल्लाभ्यां तथा तौ पार्ष्णिसारथी
With sixty-four arrows the mighty Droṇa struck down his horses, and with two broad-headed shafts he felled his banner and umbrella, as well as his charioteer and driver.
अथास्मै त्वरितो बाणमपरं जीवितान्तकम्। धृष्टद्युम्नाय चिक्षेप वज्रं वज्रधरो यथा
Then, in haste, Droṇa released another arrow, deadly as death itself, at Dhṛṣṭadyumna, like the wielder of the thunderbolt hurling his weapon.
तं चतुर्दशभिस्तीक्ष्णैर्बाणैश्चिच्छेद सात्यकिः। ग्रस्तमाचार्यमुख्येन धृष्टद्युम्नं व्यमोचयत्
But Sātyaki cut that arrow into fourteen sharp pieces, freeing Dhṛṣṭadyumna, who had been seized by the chief of teachers.
सिंहेनेव मृगं ग्रस्तं नरसिंहेन मारिष। द्रोणाद्वै मोचयामास पाञ्चाल्यं शिनिपुङ्गवः
Just as a lion rescues a deer seized by another lion, so did the foremost of the Śinis rescue the Pāñcāla from Droṇa, O great one.
सात्यकिं प्रेक्ष्य गोप्तारं पाञ्चाल्यं च महाहवे। शराणां त्वरितो द्रोणः षड्विंशत्या समार्पयत्
Seeing Sātyaki as the protector of the Pāñcāla in that great battle, Droṇa swiftly showered twenty-six arrows upon them.
ततो द्रोणं शिनेः पौत्रो ग्रसन्तमपि सृञ्जयान्। प्रत्यविध्यच्छितैर्बाणैः षड्विंशत्या स्तनान्तरे
Then the grandson of Śini struck Droṇa, even as he was overwhelming the Sṛñjayas, with twenty-six sharp arrows in the chest.
ततः सर्वे रथास्तूर्णं पाञ्चाल्या जयगृद्धिनः। सात्वताभिसृते द्रोणे धृष्टद्युम्नमवाक्षिपन्
Then all the chariots of the Pāñcālas, eager for victory, quickly rushed at Droṇa, who was being attacked by the Sātvata, and surrounded Dhṛṣṭadyumna.
बाणे तस्मिन्निकृत्ते तु धृष्टद्युम्ने च मोक्षिते। तेन वृष्णिप्रवीरेण युयुधानेन सञ्जय
When that arrow was cut down and Dhṛṣṭadyumna was freed by that foremost of the Vṛṣṇis, Yuyudhāna, O Sañjaya—
अमर्षितो महेष्वासः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। नरव्याघ्रं शिनेः पौत्रं द्रोणः किमकरोद्युधि
What did Droṇa, the great archer, best among all weapon-bearers, do in battle, angered at the tiger among men, the grandson of Śini?
सम्प्रस्रुतक्रोधविषो व्यादितास्यशरासनः। तीक्ष्णधारेषुदशनः सितनाराचदंष्ट्रवान्
With mouth agape and bow drawn, his rage and poison pouring forth, his sharp arrows like fangs, his white shafts like teeth—
संरम्भामर्षताम्राक्षो महोरग इव श्वसन्। नरवीरः प्रमुदितः शोणैरश्वैर्महाजवैः
His eyes reddened with wrath and fury, breathing like a great serpent, that heroic man, delighted, drove his swift red horses.
उत्पतद्भिरिवाकाशे क्रामद्भिरिव पर्वतम्। रुक्मपुङ्खाञ्शरानस्यन्युयुधानमुपाद्रवत्
As if leaping through the sky, as if scaling a mountain, he rushed at Yuyudhāna with golden-feathered arrows.
शरपातमहावर्षं रथघोषबलाहकम्। कार्मुकैरावृतं राजन्नाराचबहुविद्युतम्
O King, a great storm of arrows poured down, the thundercloud of chariot noise, veiled by bows, flashing with many shafts like lightning.
शक्तिखङ्गाशनिधरं क्रोधवेगसमुत्थितम्। द्रोणमेघमनावार्यं हयमारुतचोदितम्
That unrestrainable Drona-cloud, rising with the fury of wrath, wielding spears, swords, and thunderbolts, was driven on by the wind of horses.
दृष्ट्वैवाभिपतन्तं तं शूरः परपुरञ्जयः। उवाच सूतं शैनेयः प्रहसन्युद्धदुर्मदः
Seeing him advancing thus, the valiant conqueror of enemy cities, Satyaki, intoxicated by the excitement of battle, laughed and spoke to his charioteer.
एनं वै ब्राह्मणं शूरं स्वकर्मण्यनवस्थितम्। आश्रयं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य धर्मराजभयावहम्
This Brahmin is indeed a hero, unwavering in his own duty, the refuge of Dhritarashtra’s son, and a terror to Dharmaraja.
शीघ्रं प्रजवितैरश्वैः प्रत्युद्याहि प्रहृष्टवत्। आचार्यं राजपुत्राणां सततं शूरमानिनम्
Drive swiftly with spirited horses, joyfully confront the teacher of the princes, who always thinks himself a hero.
एवमुक्तस्ततः सूतः सात्यकस्यावहद्रथम्'। ततो रजतसङ्काशा माधवस्य हयोत्तमाः। द्रोणस्याभिमुखाः शीघ्रमगच्छन्वातरंहसः
Thus addressed, the charioteer brought Satyaki’s chariot forward; then Madhava’s excellent horses, shining like silver, quickly sped toward Drona, swift as the wind.
ततस्तौ द्रोणशैनेयौ युयुधाते परन्तपौ। शरैरनेकसाहस्रैस्ताडयन्तौ परस्परम्
Then those two subduers of foes, Drona and Satyaki, fought, striking each other with thousands of arrows.
इषुजालावृतं व्योम चक्रतुः पुरुषर्षभौ। पूरयामासतुर्वीरावुभौ दश दिशः शरैः। मेघाविवातपापाये धाराभिरितरेतरम्
Those two best of men filled the sky with a net of arrows, and both heroes covered the ten directions with their shafts, like clouds pouring streams upon the earth.
न स्म सूर्यस्तदा भाति न ववौ च समीरणः। हषुजालावृतं घोरमन्धकारं समन्ततः
Then the sun did not shine, nor did the wind blow; everywhere was terrible darkness, veiled by a dense mass of arrows.
अनाधृष्यमिवान्येषां शूराणामभवत्तदा। अन्धकारीकृते लोके द्रोणशैनेययोः शरैः
At that time, in the world darkened by the arrows of Drona and Satyaki, their combat became unapproachable even for other heroes.
तयोः शीघ्रास्त्रविदुषोर्द्रोणसात्वतयोस्तदा। नान्तरं शरवृष्टीनां ददृशे नरसिंहयोः
Then, between those two lion-like men, both skilled in swift weapons, no gap could be seen in the rain of arrows.
इषूणां सन्निपातेन शब्दो धाराभिघातजः। शुश्रुवे शक्रमुक्तानामशनीनामिव स्वनः
The sound produced by the meeting of arrows was heard, like the roar of thunderbolts released by Indra.
नाराचैर्व्यतिविद्धानां शराणां रूपमाबभौ। आशीविषविदष्टानां सर्पाणामिव भारत
The appearance of the arrows pierced by iron shafts was like serpents bitten by other snakes, O Bharata.
तयोर्ज्यातलनिर्घोषः शुश्रुवे युद्धशौण्डयोः। अजस्रं शैलशृङ्गाणां वज्रेणाहन्यतामिव
The twang of the bowstrings of those two masters of war was heard continuously, like the striking of mountain peaks by thunderbolts.
उभयोस्तौ रथौ राजंस्ते चाश्वास्तौ च सारथी। रुक्मपुङ्खैः शरैछन्नाश्चित्ररूपा बभुस्तदा
O King, both those chariots, their horses, and charioteers became wondrous to behold, covered with arrows tipped with gold.
निर्मलानामजिह्मानां नाराचानां विशाम्पते। निर्मुक्ताशीविपाभानां सम्पातोऽभूत्सुदारुणः
A fierce collision occurred between the straight-flying, spotless iron arrows, shining like released serpents.