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.
अपश्यन्नस्मदीयाश्च ते च यौधिष्ठिराः स्थिताः। तद्युद्धं युयुधानस्य द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः
Our men and the sons of Yudhishthira stood watching that battle between Yuyudhana and the great-souled Drona.
विमानाग्रगता देवा ब्रह्मसोमपुरोगमाः। सिद्धचारणसङ्खाश्च विद्याधरमहोरगाः
The gods led by Brahma and Soma, hosts of Siddhas and Charanas, Vidyadharas and mighty serpents, stationed themselves in the sky.
गन्धर्वा दानवा यक्षा राक्षसाप्सरसः खगाः'। गतप्रत्यागताक्षेपैश्चितैरस्त्रविघातिभिः। विविधैर्विस्मयं जग्मुस्तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः
Gandharvas, Danavas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Apsaras, and birds, with their glances fixed and returning, and with various weapons that countered each other, marveled at those two lion-like men.
हस्तलाघवमस्त्रेषु दर्शयन्तौ महाबलौ। अन्योन्यमभिविध्येतां शरैस्तौ द्रोणसात्यकी
Those two mighty warriors, Drona and Satyaki, displaying great skill with weapons, struck each other with arrows, showing their dexterity of hand.
ततो द्रोणस्य दाशार्हः शरांश्चिच्छेद संयुगे। पत्रिभिः सुदृढैराशु धनुश्चैव महाद्युतेः
Then Satyaki, the Yadava, swiftly cut down Drona's arrows in battle with strong shafts, and also broke the bow of the illustrious one.
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण भारद्वाजोऽपरं धनुः। सज्यं चकार तदपि चिच्छेदास्य स सात्यकिः
In the blink of an eye, Bharadvaja took up another bow and strung it, but Satyaki cut that one too.
ततस्त्वरन्पुनर्द्रोणो धनुर्हस्तो व्यतिष्ठत। सज्यं सज्यं धनुश्चास्य चिच्छेद निशिथैः शरैः
Then, acting quickly, Drona took up another bow in his hand; but Satyaki cut that bow also with sharp arrows as soon as it was strung.
एवमेकशतं छिन्नं धनुषां दृढधन्विना। न चान्तरं तयोर्दृष्टं सन्धाने च्छेदनेऽपि च
Thus, a hundred bows were cut down by the steadfast archer; yet no gap was seen between stringing and cutting among them.
ततोऽस्य संयुगे द्रोणो दृष्ट्वा कर्मातिमानुषम्। युयुधानस्य राजेन्द्र मनसैतदचिन्तयत्
Then, seeing this superhuman feat of Yuyudhana in battle, Drona, O king, thought thus in his mind:
एतदस्त्रबलं रामे कार्तवीर्ये धनञ्जये। भीष्मे च पुरुषव्याघ्रे यदिदं सात्वतां वरे
Such mastery of weapons was seen in Rama, Kartavirya, Dhananjaya, and Bhishma, the tiger among men, as is now seen in this foremost of the Sattvatas.