Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच बाणे तस्मिन्निकृत्ते तु धृष्टद्युम्ने च मोक्षिते तेन वृष्णिप्रवीरेण युयुधानेन संजय
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said After that arrows shot by Drona had been severed and Dhristadyumna rescued by Yuyudhana that foremost of the Vrishnis, o Sanjaya.
अमर्षितो महेष्वासः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः नरव्याघ्रः शिनेः पौत्रे द्रोणः किमकरोद्युधि
M. N. Dutt: What did the fierce bowman Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, inflamed with wrath, do to the grandson of Sini that foremost of men?
संजय उवाच संप्रद्रुतः क्रोधविषो व्यादितास्यशरासनः तीक्ष्णधारेषुदशनः शितनाराचदंष्ट्रवान्
AI Translation: Sanjaya said He was fleeing, his mouth wide open, his bow drawn, his anger like poison. His sharp arrows were his teeth, his sharp iron arrows were his fangs.
संरम्भामर्षताम्राक्षो महाहिरिव निःश्वसन् नरवीरप्रमुदितैः शोणैरश्वैर्महाजवैः
AI Translation: With eyes red with anger and resentment, sighing like a great elephant, With horses of great speed, red and delighted by the heroes of men,
उत्पतद्भिरिवाकाशं क्रमद्भिरिव सर्वतः रुक्मपुङ्खाञ्शरानस्यन्युयुधानमुपाद्रवत्
AI Translation: As if flying through the sky, as if moving everywhere, Yuyudhana attacked Rukmapungkha.
शरपातमहावर्षं रथघोषबलाहकम् कार्मुकाकर्षविक्षिप्तं नाराचबहुविद्युतम्
AI Translation: The great rain of arrows, the thunder of chariots, The lightning of many iron arrows, scattered by the drawing of the bow,
शक्तिखड्गाशनिधरं क्रोधवेगसमुत्थितम् द्रोणमेघमनावार्यं हयमारुतचोदितम्
AI Translation: Holding a sword and thunderbolt, arisen from the force of anger, The cloud of Drona, unstoppable, urged on by the wind of horses,
दृष्ट्वैवाभिपतन्तं तं शूरः परपुरंजयः उवाच सूतं शैनेयः प्रहसन्युद्धदुर्मदः
M. N. Dutt: Make towards himself, that subjugator of hostile towns, the invincible and heroic grandson of Sini, smilingly addressing his charioteer said
एतं वै ब्राह्मणं क्रूरं स्वकर्मण्यनवस्थितम् आश्रयं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य राज्ञो दुःखभयावहम्
M. N. Dutt: Against this heroic Brahmana fallen off from all his duties, who is the refuge of the Dhritarashtras and the despeller of the sorrow and anxiety of their king,
शीघ्रं प्रजवितैरश्वैः प्रत्युद्याहि प्रहृष्टवत् आचार्यं राजपुत्राणां सततं शूरमानिनम्
M. N. Dutt: Who is also he preceptor of all the princes and is ever boastful of his prowess, do rush cheerfully and quickly, being borne by steeds urged to the top of their speed?
Supplementary Passages:
7.73.10 After 10, S ins.: *520 एवमुक्तस्ततः सूतः सत्यकस्यावहद्रथम्
ततो रजतसंकाशा माधवस्य हयोत्तमाः द्रोणस्याभिमुखाः शीघ्रमगच्छन्वातरंहसः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon those best of steeds of argentine hue and of the fleetness of the wind, belonging that descendant of Madhus race, flew in all haste, towards Drona in that battle.
Supplementary Passages:
7.73.11 After 11, B Dc1 D5 ins.: *521 ततस्तौ द्रोणशैनेयौ युयुधाते परंतपौ शरैरनेकसाहस्रैस्ताडयन्तौ परस्परम् इषुजालावृतं व्योम चक्रतुः पुरुषर्षभौ पूरयामासतुर्वीरावुभौ दश दिशः शरैः मेघाविवातपापाये धाराभिरितरेतरम् न स्म सूर्यस्तदा भाति न ववौ च समीरणः
इषुजालावृतं घोरमन्धकारमनन्तरम् अनाधृष्यमिवान्येषां शूराणामभवत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: In consequence of these showers of arrows filling the firmament, in impenetrable and deep gloom created there that became unbearable to the other warriors.
Supplementary Passages:
7.73.12 After 12, B Dc1 ins.: *522 अन्धकारीकृते लोके द्रोणशैनेययोः शरैः
ततः शीघ्रास्त्रविदुषोर्द्रोणसात्वतयोस्तदा नान्तरं शरवृष्टीनां दृश्यते नरसिंहयोः
AI Translation: Then, between the two who were skilled in the use of weapons, Drona and Satvata, the two lions among men were not seen due to the shower of arrows.
इषूणां संनिपातेन शब्दो धाराभिघातजः शुश्रुवे शक्रमुक्तानामशनीनामिव स्वनः
M. N. Dutt: The sound produced by the clashing of the showers of arrows shot by them, was heard there to resemble the rumble of the thunderbolt hurled by Indra himself,
नाराचैरतिविद्धानां शराणां रूपमाबभौ आशीविषविदष्टानां सर्पाणामिव भारत
M. N. Dutt: The appearances of heroic warriors pierced with Narachas looked, O Bharata, like those of snakes of virulent poison, bit by other snakes.
तयोर्ज्यातलनिर्घोषो व्यश्रूयत सुदारुणः अजस्रं शैलशृङ्गाणां वज्रेणाहन्यतामिव
M. N. Dutt: The sound produced by the palm-strokes and twanging bows of those two accomplished warriors, was heard there. To resemble the sound that is produced by the incessant striking of the bolt of heaven on mountain summits.
उभयोस्तौ रथौ राजंस्ते चाश्वास्तौ च सारथी रुक्मपुङ्खैः शरैश्छन्नाश्चित्ररूपा बभुस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: The chariots of both those heroes, O king and their horses and charioteers being pierced with shafts of golden wings, became beautiful to look at.
निर्मलानामजिह्मानां नाराचानां विशां पते निर्मुक्ताशीविषाभानां संपातोऽभूत्सुदारुणः
M. N. Dutt: O ruler of men, of effulgent and straightgoing Narachas, the down-pour was terrible and it resembled a shower of snakes of virulent poison, that have just cast off their slough.
उभयोः पतिते छत्रे तथैव पतितौ ध्वजौ उभौ रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गावुभौ च विजयैषिणौ
M. N. Dutt: The umbrellas of both those warriors were felled and their standards were also cut down. Both of them were bespattered with blood and both were desirous of obtaining victory.
Supplementary Passages:
7.73.19 After 19ab, S ins.: *523 निकृन्ततोः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्द्रोणसत्यकयोस्तदा
स्रवद्भिः शोणितं गात्रैः प्रस्रुताविव वारणौ अन्योन्यमभिविध्येतां जीवितान्तकरैः शरैः
M. N. Dutt: With bodies steeped in blood and looking like two elephants in rut. They began to pierce each other with arrows capable of destroying life.
गर्जितोत्क्रुष्टसंनादाः शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिस्वनाः उपारमन्महाराज व्याजहार न कश्चन
M. N. Dutt: The din of battle caused by war-cries, shouts, roars and the sound of drums and the blare of conchs ceased, O mighty monarch, for none then uttered anything.
तूष्णींभूतान्यनीकानि योधा युद्धादुपारमन् ददृशे द्वैरथं ताभ्यां जातकौतूहलो जनः
M. N. Dutt: The troops became silent and warriors withdrew from the fight, filled with curiosity, men began to behold that single combat between those two heroes.
रथिनो हस्तियन्तारो हयारोहाः पदातयः अवैक्षन्ताचलैर्नेत्रैः परिवार्य रथर्षभौ
M. N. Dutt: Car-warriors, elephant-drivers, horsemen and foot-soldiers surrounding those two foremost of men, began to witness that combat with fixed eyes.
Supplementary Passages:
7.73.23 For 23cd, S subst.: *524 सर्वतः परिवार्योभौ प्रतताक्षभिवीक्षिरे
हस्त्यनीकान्यतिष्ठन्त तथानीकानि वाजिनाम् तथैव रथवाहिन्यः प्रतिव्यूह्य व्यवस्थिताः
M. N. Dutt: The elephant-division as also the horse division stood still, so also the car-divisions stood still, arranging themselves in battle array.
मुक्ताविद्रुमचित्रैश्च मणिकाञ्चनभूषितैः ध्वजैराभरणैश्चित्रैः कवचैश्च हिरण्मयैः
AI Translation: Adorned with pearls, coral, and various gems and gold, With flags, ornaments, various armor, and golden armor,
वैजयन्तीपताकाभिः परिस्तोमाङ्गकम्बलैः विमलैर्निशितैः शस्त्रैर्हयानां च प्रकीर्णकैः
AI Translation: With victory banners, with the woolen blankets that are the limbs of the sacrificial fire, With pure, sharp weapons, and with the scattered hair of the horses,
जातरूपमयीभिश्च राजतीभिश्च मूर्धसु गजानां कुम्भमालाभिर्दन्तवेष्टैश्च भारत
AI Translation: With golden and silver crowns on their heads, With the garlands of the elephants' temples and tusks, O descendant of Bharata,
सबलाकाः सखद्योताः सैरावतशतह्रदाः अदृश्यन्तोष्णपर्याये मेघानामिव वागुराः
AI Translation: The clouds, with their lightning and their rainbows, with their flocks of birds and their hundreds of lakes, were seen in the hot season, like the ropes of the clouds.
अपश्यन्नस्मदीयाश्च ते च यौधिष्ठिराः स्थिताः तद्युद्धं युयुधानस्य द्रोणस्य च महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: O king, Our troops, as also those belonging to Yudhishthira, beheld that combat between Yuyudhana and the illustrious Drona.
विमानाग्रगता देवा ब्रह्मशक्रपुरोगमाः सिद्धचारणसंघाश्च विद्याधरमहोरगाः
M. N. Dutt: Coming there on their sky-ranging cars, the gods headed by Brahma and Soma and hosts of Siddhas and Charanas and Vidyadharas and mighty reptiles, all saw that combat.
Supplementary Passages:
7.73.30 After 30, S ins.: *525 गन्धर्वा दानवा यक्षा राक्षसाप्सरसः खगाः
गतप्रत्यागताक्षेपैश्चित्रैः शस्त्रविघातिभिः विविधैर्विस्मयं जग्मुस्तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः
M. N. Dutt: The backward and forward movements and the modes of fighting, o king, of those two foremost of heroes, filled all of them with wonder.
हस्तलाघवमस्त्रेषु दर्शयन्तौ महाबलौ अन्योन्यं समविध्येतां शरैस्तौ द्रोणसात्यकी
M. N. Dutt: Displaying great lightness of hands, those two mighty heroes, namely Drona and Satyaki, pierced each other with each other's arrows.
ततो द्रोणस्य दाशार्हः शरांश्चिच्छेद संयुगे पत्रिभिः सुदृढैराशु धनुश्चैव महाद्युते
M. N. Dutt: Thereafter in that battle he of the Dasharha race cut-off the arrows shot by Drona with his strong and winged shafts; as also the bow of that highly effulgent warrior.
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण भारद्वाजोऽपरं धनुः सज्यं चकार तच्चाशु चिच्छेदास्य स सात्यकिः
AI Translation: In a moment Bharadvaja took up another bow and strung it, but Sātyaki quickly cut it down.
ततस्त्वरन्पुनर्द्रोणो धनुर्हस्तो व्यतिष्ठत सज्यं सज्यं पुनश्चास्य चिच्छेद निशितैः शरैः
AI Translation: Then Drona, quickly taking up his bow, stood again. And again and again he cut off his bow, strung with arrows, with sharp arrows.
Supplementary Passages:
7.73.35 After 35, B5 ins.: *526 चकार तत्र पन्थानं ययौ येन जनार्दनः while, D7.8 ins.: *527 एवमेकशतं छिन्नं धनुषां दृढधन्विना न चान्तरं तयोर्दृष्टं संधाने छेदनेऽपि च
ततोऽस्य संयुगे द्रोणो दृष्ट्वा कर्मातिमानुषम् युयुधानस्य राजेन्द्र मनसेदमचिन्तयत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon in that battle, Drona beholding that superhuman feat thought in his mind thus.
एतदस्त्रबलं रामे कार्तवीर्ये धनंजये भीष्मे च पुरुषव्याघ्रे यदिदं सात्वतां वरे
M. N. Dutt: Achieved by Yuyudhana, O king-'This force of weapon that I see in this foremost of the Satvata race is possible only in Rama, in Kartavirya, in Dhananjaya and in Bhishma'. So, Drona praised the prowess of that hero in his mind.
तं चास्य मनसा द्रोणः पूजयामास विक्रमम् लाघवं वासवस्येव संप्रेक्ष्य द्विजसत्तमः
AI Translation: The best of Brahmanas, Drona, honored his valor with his mind, having seen his skill like that of Vasava.
तुतोषास्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठस्तथा देवाः सवासवाः न तामालक्षयामासुर्लघुतां शीघ्रकारिणः
AI Translation: The best of those who know the weapons, and the gods with Indra, were pleased. They did not perceive her lightness, for she acted quickly.
Supplementary Passages:
7.73.39 For 38c-39b, S subst.: *528 लाघवं वृष्णिवीरस्य वासवस्येव दृश्य सः तुष्टुवुर्लाघवात्तस्य देवाः साग्निपुरोगमाः After 39ab, S ins.: *529 सिद्धचारणसंघाश्च साधु साध्विति चुक्रुशुः
देवाश्च युयुधानस्य गन्धर्वाश्च विशां पते सिद्धचारणसंघाश्च विदुर्द्रोणस्य कर्म तत्
AI Translation: O lord of the earth, the gods, Gandharvas and the Siddhas and the groups of Charanas knew of Drona's deed.
ततोऽन्यद्धनुरादाय द्रोणः क्षत्रियमर्दनः अस्त्रैरस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठो योधयामास भारत
M. N. Dutt: Then taking up another bow, Drona that crusher of Kshatriyas that foremost of those acquainted with the use of weapons, O Bharata, placed some weapons on its string.
तस्यास्त्राण्यस्त्रमायाभिः प्रतिहन्य स सात्यकिः जघान निशितैर्बाणैस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: But repulsing Drona's weapons with the illusion of his own weapons, Satyaki pierced Drona with exceedingly sharp arrows; that indeed appeared marvellous.
तस्यातिमानुषं कर्म दृष्ट्वान्यैरसमं रणे युक्तं योगेन योगज्ञास्तावकाः समपूजयन्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding that superhuman feat achieved by him in battle-feat which was incapable of being achieved by others and which displayed great tact, those amongst your warriors who were judges of skill, highly praised it.
यदस्त्रमस्यति द्रोणस्तदेवास्यति सात्यकिः तमाचार्योऽप्यसंभ्रान्तोऽयोधयच्छत्रुतापनः
M. N. Dutt: Whatsoever weapon Drona discharged, Satyaki also discharged the same. Beholding this, scorcher of foes namely the preceptor fought with Satyaki diffidently.
Supplementary Passages:
7.73.44 After 44, Dn2 D6 ins.: *530 इत्यासीत्तुमुलः शब्दो दुर्धर्षस्य रथं प्रति
ततः क्रुद्धो महाराज धनुर्वेदस्य पारगः वधाय युयुधानस्य दिव्यमस्त्रमुदैरयत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, O mighty monarch, that one who had reached the end of all military sciences, being inflamed with wrath invoked into existence a celestial weapon slaughtering Yuyudhana.
तदाग्नेयं महाघोरं रिपुघ्नमुपलक्ष्य सः अस्त्रं दिव्यं महेष्वासो वारुणं समुदैरयत्
M. N. Dutt: Beholding that dreadful and fiery dart capable of slaying the foe and of celestial make, that fierce bowman Satyaki invoked into existence the Varuna weapon.
हाहाकारो महानासीद्दृष्ट्वा दिव्यास्त्रधारिणौ न विचेरुस्तदाकाशे भूतान्याकाशगान्यपि
M. N. Dutt: Beholding them both using celestial weapons, the troops uttered loud cries of Alas weapon for and Oh; then the denizens of the air ceased to range through the sky.
अस्त्रे ते वारुणाग्नेये ताभ्यां बाणसमाहिते न तावदभिषज्येते व्यावर्तदथ भास्करः
M. N. Dutt: When the Varuna and Agneva weapons were placed on their bow strings just at that moment, the lustrous orb of day went below the horizon.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा भीमसेनश्च पाण्डवः नकुलः सहदेवश्च पर्यरक्षन्त सात्यकिम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, king Yudhishthira and Bhimasena and the son of Pandu, (Arjuna) and Nakula and Sahadeva, rushed to the rescue of Satyaki.
धृष्टद्युम्नमुखैः सार्धं विराटश्च सकेकयः मत्स्याः शाल्वेयसेनाश्च द्रोणमाजग्मुरञ्जसा
M. N. Dutt: Other warriors headed by Dhristadyumna and accompanied by Virata and his divisions so also the Matsyas and Shalvas quickly advanced upon Drona.
दुःशासनं पुरस्कृत्य राजपुत्राः सहस्रशः द्रोणमभ्युपपद्यन्त सपत्नैः परिवारितम्
M. N. Dutt: Thousands of princes, on the other hand, headed by Dushasana proceeded to help Drona who had been thoroughly encompassed by the foe.
ततो युद्धमभूद्राजंस्तव तेषां च धन्विनाम् रजसा संवृते लोके शरजालसमावृते
M. N. Dutt: Thereat, O king, the fight between your warriors and those of the Pandava, commenced anew. Then the earth became enveloped in a cloud of dust and in a net-work of arrows.
सर्वमाविग्नमभवन्न प्राज्ञायत किंचन सैन्येन रजसा ध्वस्ते निर्मर्यादमवर्तत
M. N. Dutt: Everything being covered, nothing could any longer be distinguished. Thus when the troops were overwhelmed with dust, the battle raged in utter disregard of all rules of combat.
Supplementary Passages:
7.73.53 After 53, S ins.: *531 तेनान्तरेण पार्थस्तु रणे जित्वा महारथान् अतिक्रान्तस्तदा युद्धं कृत्वा पर्यवतस्थिवान्