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.
उभयोः पतिते छत्रे तथैव पतितौ ध्वजौ। `निकृन्ततोः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्द्रोणसात्यकयो रणे
Both their umbrellas fell, and likewise both their banners, cut down in battle by the sharp arrows of Drona and Satyaki.
उभौ रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गावुभौ च विजयैषिणौ। स्रवद्भिः शोणितं गात्रैः प्रस्रुताविव वारणौ। अन्योन्यमभ्यविध्येतां जीवितान्तकरैः शरैः
Both, their bodies drenched in blood, both striving for victory, like two elephants streaming blood from their limbs, struck each other with life-ending arrows.
गर्जितोत्कृष्टसन्नादाः शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनाः। उपारमन्महाराज व्याजहार न कश्चन
The thunderous roars and mighty sounds of conchs and drums fell silent, O King; no one uttered a word.
तुष्णींभूतान्यनौकानि योधा युद्धादुपारमन्। ददर्श द्वैरथं ताभ्यां जातकौतूहलो जनः
All the warriors grew quiet and ceased fighting; the people, filled with curiosity, watched the duel between those two.
रथिनो हस्तियन्तारो हयारोहाः पदातयः। अवैक्षन्ताचलैर्नेत्रैः परिवार्य नरर्षभौ
Chariot-warriors, elephant-drivers, horsemen, and foot-soldiers surrounded the two best of men, gazing at them with unblinking eyes.
हस्त्यनीकान्यतिष्ठन्त तथानीकानि वाजिनाम्। तथैव रथवाहिन्यः प्रतिव्यूह्य व्यवस्थिताः
The divisions of elephants stood firm, as did the ranks of horses; likewise, the chariot forces arrayed themselves in opposition and remained in position.
मुक्ताविद्रुमचित्रैश्च मणिकाञ्चनभूषितैः। ध्वजैराभरणैश्चित्रैः कवचैश्च हिरण्मयैः
With banners adorned with pearls and coral, with ornaments of gems and gold, and with shining golden armor, they were splendidly decorated.
वैजयन्तीपताकाभिः परिस्तोमाङ्गकम्बलैः। विमलैर्निशितैः शस्त्रैर्हयानां च प्रकीर्णकैः
With Vaijayanti standards, rich mantles, spotless and keen weapons, and the scattered trappings of the horses,
जातरूपमयीभिश्च राजतीभिश्च मूर्धसु। गजानां कुम्भमालाभिर्दन्तवेष्टैश्च भारत
With golden and silver headpieces, garlands on the elephants' temples, and ivory ornaments, O Bharata,
सबलाकाः सखद्योताः सैरावतशतहदाः। अदृश्यन्तोष्णपर्याये मेघानामिव वागुराः
With their troops, with their shining ornaments, and with their mighty elephants like hundreds of Airavatas, they appeared, at the heat of battle, like clouds veiled by lightning.