Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच कथं द्रोणो महेष्वासः पाञ्चाल्यश्चापि पार्षतः रणे समीयतुर्यत्तौ तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, tell me how that great bowman Drona and the Panchala prince, the scion of the Prishata race, fought with each other in that great battle.
दिष्टमेव परं मन्ये पौरुषादपि संजय यत्र शांतनवो भीष्मो नातरद्युधि पाण्डवम्
M. N. Dutt: When Shantanu's son, Bhishma, could not escape the son of Pandu (Arjuna) in battle, O Sanjaya, I consider Destiny to be supreme over exertion.
भीष्मो हि समरे क्रुद्धो हन्याल्लोकांश्चराचरान् स कथं पाण्डवं युद्धे नातरत्संजयौजसा
M. N. Dutt: When enraged in battle Bhishma could destroy all the mobile and immobile creatures; O Sanjaya, why could he not then escape the Pandava (Arjuna) in battle with his great prowess?
संजय उवाच शृणु राजन्स्थिरो भूत्वा युद्धमेतत्सुदारुणम् न शक्यः पाण्डवो जेतुं देवैरपि सवासवैः
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O king, hear about this fearful battle. The son of Pandu (Arjuna) is incapable of being vanquished by even the celestials with Indra at their head.
द्रोणस्तु निशितैर्बाणैर्धृष्टद्युम्नमयोधयत् सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन रथनीडादपातयत्
M. N. Dutt: With various kinds of arrows, Drona wounded Dhrishtadyumna and he cut down his charioteer from his place on the car.
तस्याथ चतुरो वाहांश्चतुर्भिः सायकोत्तमैः पीडयामास संक्रुद्धो धृष्टद्युम्नस्य मारिष
M. N. Dutt: O sire, the angry warrior, (Drona) also with four arrows, wounded the four excellent horses of Dhrishtadyumna.
धृष्टद्युम्नस्ततो द्रोणं नवत्या निशितैः शरैः विव्याध प्रहसन्वीरस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: The brave Dhrishtadyumna also wounded Drona with nine sharp arrows, exclaiming “Wait" "Wait".
ततः पुनरमेयात्मा भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् शरैः प्रच्छादयामास धृष्टद्युम्नममर्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon the greatly powerful and high souled son of Bharadvaja (Drona) covered with his arrows the angry Dhrishtadyumna.
आददे च शरं घोरं पार्षतस्य वधं प्रति शक्राशनिसमस्पर्शं मृत्युदण्डमिवापरम्
M. N. Dutt: He then took up a terrible arrow for the destruction of the Prishata prince. It resembled in force the thunder-bolt of Shakra. It looked like a second rod of Yama.
हाहाकारो महानासीत्सर्वसैन्यस्य भारत तमिषुं संधितं दृष्ट्वा भारद्वाजेन संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, seeing that arrow aimed by the son of Bharadvaja, all the troops cried "Oh" and "Alas".
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम धृष्टद्युम्नस्य पौरुषम् यदेकः समरे वीरस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः
M. N. Dutt: But we then saw the great prowess of Dhrishtadyumna. He stood immovable like a mountain in that battle.
तं च दीप्तं शरं घोरमायान्तं मृत्युमात्मनः चिच्छेद शरवृष्टिं च भारद्वाजे मुमोच ह
M. N. Dutt: He cut down that terrible and blazing arrow which was rushing towards him like his own death. He then poured a shower of arrows on the son of Bharadvaja.
तत उच्चुक्रुशुः सर्वे पाञ्चालाः पाण्डवैः सह धृष्टद्युम्नेन तत्कर्म कृतं दृष्ट्वा सुदुष्करम्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that very great difficult feat achieved by Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchalas and the Pandavas were all filled with delight. They, again and again, sent forth loud shouts.
ततः शक्तिं महावेगां स्वर्णवैडूर्यभूषिताम् द्रोणस्य निधनाकाङ्क्षी चिक्षेप स पराक्रमी
M. N. Dutt: Then with the desire of killing him, that greatly powerful prince shot at Drona a dart of great force adorned with gold and Vaidurya gems.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा शक्तिं कनकभूषणाम् त्रिधा चिक्षेप समरे भारद्वाजो हसन्निव
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon the son of Bharadvaja smilingly cut down into three parts that dart adorned with gold and gems that was coming towards him with great force.
शक्तिं विनिहतां दृष्ट्वा धृष्टद्युम्नः प्रतापवान् ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि द्रोणं प्रति जनेश्वर
M. N. Dutt: O king, having seen his dart thus baffled, and greatly powerful Dhrishtadyumna poured a shower of arrows on Drona.
शरवर्षं ततस्तं तु संनिवार्य महायशाः द्रोणो द्रुपदपुत्रस्य मध्ये चिच्छेद कार्मुकम्
M. N. Dutt: Then that great car-warrior, Drona, baffling that shower of arrows, cut off the bow of the son of Drupada at a favourable opportunity.
स च्छिन्नधन्वा समरे गदां गुर्वीं महायशाः द्रोणाय प्रेषयामास गिरिसारमयीं बली
M. N. Dutt: When his bow was thus cut off in that battle, that highly and illustrious warriors hurled on Drona a mace with the firmness of a mountain.
सा गदा वेगवन्मुक्ता प्रायाद्द्रोणजिघांसया तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम भारद्वाजस्य विक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus hurled by his hand, that fearful mace flew through the sky for the destruction of Drona. Then again we saw the wonderful prowess of Bharadvaja's son.
लाघवाद्व्यंसयामास गदां हेमविभूषिताम् व्यंसयित्वा गदां तां च प्रेषयामास पार्षते
AI Translation: With ease he struck the mace adorned with gold Having struck the mace, he sent it towards Parshata
भल्लान्सुनिशितान्पीतान्स्वर्णपुङ्खाञ्शिलाशितान् ते तस्य कवचं भित्त्वा पपुः शोणितमाहवे
AI Translation: sharp, well-sharpened, yellow, gold-feathered, stone-sharpened arrows Having pierced his armor, they drank his blood in the battle.
अथान्यद्धनुरादाय धृष्टद्युम्नो महामनाः द्रोणं युधि पराक्रम्य शरैर्विव्याध पञ्चभिः
M. N. Dutt: Then the illustrious Dhrishtadyumna took up another bow, and with all his strength he wounded Drona with five arrows.
रुधिराक्तौ ततस्तौ तु शुशुभाते नरर्षभौ वसन्तसमये राजन्पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ
M. N. Dutt: Then those two foremost of men, covered with blood, looked as beautiful as the Kinshuka flowers in spring.
अमर्षितस्ततो राजन्पराक्रम्य चमूमुखे द्रोणो द्रुपदपुत्रस्य पुनश्चिच्छेद कार्मुकम्
AI Translation: Then, O king, having advanced to the forefront of the army, Drona, not tolerating it, again cut through the bow of Drupada's son.
अथैनं छिन्नधन्वानं शरैः संनतपर्वभिः अवाकिरदमेयात्मा वृष्ट्या मेघ इवाचलम्
AI Translation: Then, when his bow was broken, he covered him with arrows with straight-tufted shafts, like a cloud covering a mountain with rain.
Supplementary Passages:
6.49.25 After 25, D6 ins.: *164 तदप्यस्य रणे द्रोणश्चिच्छेद सशरं धनुः
सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन रथनीडादपातयत् अथास्य चतुरो वाहांश्चतुर्भिर्निशितैः शरैः
AI Translation: With a broad arrow he knocked his charioteer from the chariot seat. Then with four sharp arrows he struck his four horses,
पातयामास समरे सिंहनादं ननाद च ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन हस्ताच्चापमथाच्छिनत्
AI Translation: He struck him in the battle and roared like a lion. Then with another broad arrow, he cut off his bow from his hand.
स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः गदापाणिरवारोहत्ख्यापयन्पौरुषं महत्
M. N. Dutt: When his bow was thus cut down again, when he was thus deprived of his car and when his steeds were thus killed and his charioteer overthrown, the Panchala prince, displaying great prowess, jumped down from his car with a mace in hand.
तामस्य विशिखैस्तूर्णं पातयामास भारत रथादनवरूढस्य तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: But, O descendant of Bharata, before he could come down from his car, Drona cut down his mace into may fragments. It was a wonderful feat.
ततः स विपुलं चर्म शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत् खड्गं च विपुलं दिव्यं प्रगृह्य सुभुजो बली
M. N. Dutt: Then the mighty armed Panchala prince took up a large and beautiful shelf decked with hundred (golden) moons and also a large sword of excellent make.
अभिदुद्राव वेगेन द्रोणस्य वधकाङ्क्षया आमिषार्थी यथा सिंहो वने मत्तमिव द्विपम्
M. N. Dutt: He, then with great impetuosity, rushed towards Drona with the intention of killing hiin, as a hungry lion runs towards a mad elephant in the forest.
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम भारद्वाजस्य पौरुषम् लाघवं चास्त्रयोगं च बलं बाह्वोश्च भारत
AI Translation: There we saw the manliness of Bharadvaja's son, his lightness, his skill in weapons, and the strength of his arms, O descendant of Bharata.
यदेनं शरवर्षेण वारयामास पार्षतम् न शशाक ततो गन्तुं बलवानपि संयुगे
AI Translation: When he warded off the shower of arrows of Parshata, he was unable to move in the battle, even though he was strong.
तत्र स्थितमपश्याम धृष्टद्युम्नं महारथम् वारयाणं शरौघांश्च चर्मणा कृतहस्तवत्
AI Translation: There we saw the great chariot-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, holding back the torrents of arrows with his shield, as if he were skilled in the use of his hands.
ततो भीमो महाबाहुः सहसाभ्यपतद्बली साहाय्यकारी समरे पार्षतस्य महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Then the greatly strong and mighty Bhimasena soon came there with the desire of helping the Prishata prince in that combat.
स द्रोणं निशितैर्बाणै राजन्विव्याध सप्तभिः पार्षतं च तदा तूर्णमन्यमारोपयद्रथम्
M. N. Dutt: O king, he wounded Drona with seven sharp arrows. He soon took up the Prishata prince on a car.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा कलिङ्गं समचोदयत् सैन्येन महता युक्तं भारद्वाजस्य रक्षणे
M. N. Dutt: Then king Duryodhana asked the ruler of Kalinga to go to the rescue of Bharadvaja's son with a large number of troops.
ततः सा महती सेना कलिङ्गानां जनेश्वर भीममभ्युद्ययौ तूर्णं तव पुत्रस्य शासनात्
M. N. Dutt: O lord of men, then those countless Kalingas rushed against Bhima at the command of your son.
पाञ्चाल्यमभिसंत्यज्य द्रोणोऽपि रथिनां वरः विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धौ योधयामास संगतौ धृष्टद्युम्नोऽपि समरे धर्मराजं समभ्ययात्
M. N. Dutt: Then that foremost of car-warriors Drona abandoned the Panchala prince and met Virata and Drupada both together.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् कलिङ्गानां च समरे भीमस्य च महात्मनः जगतः प्रक्षयकरं घोररूपं भयानकम्
M. N. Dutt: Between the Kalingas and the illustrious Bhima, a battle which was fearful and all destroying.