07. DRONA PARVA (196)

OM! HAVING BOWED down unto Narayan, and unto that most exalted of malebeings, viz., Nara, and unto the goddess Saraswati also, must the wordJaya be uttered.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having addressed the Suta’s son in this way,Dhritarashtra, afflicted with excessive grief of heart and hopeless ofhis son’s victory, fell down on the ground.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Saying these words, king Duryodhana pierced Arjuna withthree shafts of great impetuosity and capable of penetrating into thevery vitals.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Thy warriors, as soon as they beheld those foremost ofpersons of the Vrishni-Andhaka and the Kuru races, lost no time, eachstriving to be first, in proceeding against them from a desire ofslaughtering them.

"Dhritarashtra, said, 'Describe to me, O Sanjaya, the diverse kinds ofstandards resplendent with great beauty, of both the Partha and ourwarriors (in that battle).' "Sanjaya said, 'Hear, O king, of the diverse kinds of standards of thosehigh-souled warriors. Listen to me as I describe their forms and names.Indeed, O king, upon the cars of those foremost of car-warriors were seendiverse kinds of standards that shone like blazing flames of fire. Madeof gold, or decked with gold,

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘After Arjuna had got the ruler of the Sindhuswithin sight, what, O Sanjaya, did the Panchalas, attacked byBharadwaja’s son, do, encountering the Kurus?’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Kshemadhurti, O monarch, pierced the advancingVrihatkshatra of great valour, that prince of the Kaikeyas, with manyarrows in the chest.

“Sanjaya said, ‘The illustrious son of Somadatta pierced each of the sonsof Draupadi, those great bowmen, with five arrows, and once more withseven arrows.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Having fled away from Bhima, Alamvusha, in another partof the field, careered fearlessly in battle.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Tell me, O Sanjaya, how Yuyudhana rushed againstthe son of Bharadwaja in battle. I feel a great curiosity to hear it.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘That bull amongst the Sinis, viz., Satyaki, hearing thesewords o, full affection, agreeable, fraught with sweet sounds, opportune,delightful, and equitable that were uttered by king Yudhishthira thejust, replied unto him,

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Hear, O Sanjaya, the celestial feats of Vasudeva,feats that Govinda achieved and the like of which no other person hathever been able to achieve.

“Sanjaya said, ‘O king, when Yuyudhana, from desire of battle proceededagainst thy troops, king Yudhishthira, surrounded by his forces, followedYuyudhana for reaching the car of Drona.

“Dhritarashtra said, Our army is equally possessed of many excellences.It is equally regarded as superior.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Listen with undivided attention, O king. After the routof that force by the high-souled son of Hridika, and upon the

“Sanjaya said, ‘Shooting clouds of arrows, all those warriors,accomplished in smiting, carefully, O monarch, encountered Yuyudhana.Drona struck him with seven and seventy shafts of great keenness.

“Sanjaya said, ‘While the (Kuru) host was shaken by the grandson of Siniin these places (through which he proceeded), the son of Bharadwajacovered him with a dense shower of arrows.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Having vanquished Drona and other warriors of thy army,headed by the son of Haridika, that foremost of men, viz., that bullamongst the Sinis,

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then that bull of Vrishni’s race, viz., the high-souledSatyaki of great intelligence, having slain Sudarsana, once moreaddressed his driver, saying,

“Sanjaya said, Having the vanquished the Yavanas and the Kamvojas thatforemost of car-warriors, viz., Yuyudhana, proceeded towards Arjuna,right through the midst of thy troops.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Beholding the grandson of Sini proceeding towardsArjuna, grinding as he went that large force, what, indeed, O Sanjaya,did those shameless sons of mine do?

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding Duhsasana’s car staying near his, the son ofBharadwaja, addressing Duhsasana, said these words, ‘Why, O Duhsasana,are all these cars flying away?

“Sanjaya said, ‘Yes, as I saw everything with my own eyes, I willdescribe to thee how Drona fell down, slain by the Pandavas and theSrinjayas.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Meanwhile, O king, Duhsasana rushed against the grandsonof Sini, scattering thousands of shafts like a mighty cloud pouringtorrents of rain.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Were there, O Sanjaya, no mighty car-warriors inthat army of mine who could slay or resist that Satyaki while heproceeded (towards Arjuna)?

“Sanjaya said, ‘In the afternoon of that day, O king, a dreadful battle,characterised by roars, deep as those of the clouds, once more occurredbetween Drona and the Somakas.

“Sanjaya said, ‘When the army of the Pandavas was thus agitated on allsides, the Parthas and the Panchalas and the Somakas, retreated to agreat distance.

“Bhima said, That car which formerly bore Brahma and Isana and Indra andVaruna (to battle), mounting upon that car, have two Krishnas gone. Theycan have no fear of danger, Taking, however, thy command on MY head, lo,I am going. Do not grieve. Meeting with those tigers among men, I shallsend thee intelligence.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘After the son of Pandu had crossed that car-force, thepreceptor Drona, smiling the while, covered him with showers of arrows,desirous of checking his course.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘While mighty Bhimasena was uttering those loudshouts deep as the roar of the clouds or peals of thunder, what heroes(of our side) surrounded him?

-Sanjaya said, ‘After that army had (thus) been routed, and Arjuna andBhimasena had all gone after the ruler of the Sindhus, thy son(Duryodhana) proceeded towards Drona.

“Sanjaya said, ‘During the progress, O monarch, of that battle, makingthe hair stand on end, and when all the combatants were filled withanxiety and greatly afflicted, the son of Radha. O bull of Bharata’srace, proceeded against Bhima for battle, like an infuriated elephant inthe forest proceeding against another infuriated elephant.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘What, indeed, O Sanjaya, did Duryodhana say when hesaw that Karna turning away from the field upon whom my sons had reposedall their hopes of victory?

“Sanjaya said, ‘After Drona had promised the kings seizure under thoselimitations, thy troops hearing of (that promise about) Yudhishthira’scapture, uttered many leonine shouts, mingling them with the whiz oftheir arrows and the blare of their conchs.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘I regard Bhimasena’s prowess to be exceedinglywonderful, inasmuch as he succeeded in battling with Karna of singularactivity and energy.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then the carless Karna, thus once more completelydefeated by Bhima, mounted another car and speedily began to pierce theson of Pandu.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘I think, Destiny is supreme. Fie on exertion whichis useless, inasmuch as the son of Adhiratha, though fighting resolutely,could not vanquish the son of Pandu.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding thy sons lying (on the field), Karna of greatprowess filled with great wrath, became hopeless about his life. AndAdhiratha’s son regarded himself guilty, seeing thy sons slain before hiseyes in battle by Bhima.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Hearing the twang of Bhimasena’s bow and the sound of hispalms, the son of Radha could not brook it, like an infuriated elephantincapable of brooking the roars of an infuriated rival.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O Suta, O Sanjaya, this grievous result that hasnow overtaken us is, I think, certainly due to my evil policy. I hadhitherto thought that what is past. But, O Sanjaya, what measures shouldI now adopt? I am now once more calm, O Sanjaya, therefore, tell me howthis slaughter of heroes is going on, having my evil policy for itscause.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then Karna, O king, piercing Bhima with three arrows,poured countless beautiful arrows upon him.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Day by day, O Sanjaya, my blazing fame is beingdarkened. A great many warriors of mine have fallen. I think, all this isdue to the reverse brought about by time.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then the great bowmen of the Trigarta country owningstandards, adorned with gold, encompassed on all sides the mighty-armedSatyaki,

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding Satwata, invincible in battle coming (towardsArjuna), Bhurisravas, in rage, O king, suddenly advanced towards him.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then Drona, causing a great confusion in the Pandavahost, careered through it, like a conflagration consuming (a forest of)trees.

“Sanjaya said, ‘That arm (of Bhurisravas) decked with Angada and thesword in its grasp (thus cut off), fell down on the earth to the greatgrief of all living creatures.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Unvanquished by Drona, and Radha’s son and Vikarnaand Kritavarman, how could the heroic Satyaki, never before checked inbattle, having after his promise to Yudhishthira crossed the ocean of theKaurava troops, being humiliated by the Kuru warrior Bhurisravas andforcibly thrown on the ground?’

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘After the Kuru warrior Bhurisravas had been slainunder those circumstances, tell me, O Sanjaya, how proceeded the battle.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Hearing the twang, resembling the loud call of Deathhimself or the frightful peal of Indra’s thunder, of Dhananjaya’s bow,while he stretched it, that host of thine,

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Tell me, O Sanjaya, what did my warriors do afterthe heroic ruler of the Sindhus had been slain, by Arjuna.’

“Dhritarashtra said, When such was the condition of battle, between thoseheroes of their side and mine, what did Bhima then do? Tell me all, OSanjaya!’

“Sanjaya said, ‘After the ruler of the Sindhus had been slain by Partha,Krishna, repairing unto the king, viz., Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma,worshipped the latter with a gladdened heart.

“Sanjaya said, Upon the fall, O king, of the ruler of the Sindhus, thyson Suyodhana, his face bedewed with tears, and himself filled with griefand breathing hot sighs like a snake whose fangs have been broken, thatoffender against the whole world, viz., thy son, experienced bitteraffliction.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘After the ruler of the Sindhus had been slain inbattle by Savyasachin and after the fall of Bhurisravas, what became thestate of your mind? After Drona also had been thus addressed byDuryodhana in the midst of the Kurus, what did the preceptor say unto himthen? Tell me all this, O Sanjaya!’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Thus urged by Drona, king Duryodhana, filled with rageset his heart on battle.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Thou hast, O Sanjaya, described to me manyexcellent single combats. Hearing about them, I envy those that haveeyes.

“Sanjaya said, ‘That elephant force of thine, O king, swelling withmight, fought everywhere, prevailing over the Pandava force. Resolved togo to the other world, the Panchalas and the Kauravas fought with oneanother for admission into the swelling domains of Yama.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Having said all those words unto my son,Duryodhana, who is ever disobedient to my commands, when that mightybowman endued with great strength, viz.,

“Dhritarashtra said, “When the invincible Drona, of immeasurable energy,unable to bear (the slaughter of Jayadratha), Wrathfully entered into themidst of the Srinjayas, what did all of you think?

“Sanjaya said, ‘After his son (Bhurisravas) had been slain by Satyakiwhile the former was sitting in Praya, Somadatta, filled with rage, saidunto Satyaki these words,

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding the sons of Drupada, as also those ofKuntibhoja, and Rakshasas too in thousands, slain by the son of Drona,Yudhishthira and Bhimasena, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, andYuyudhana, uniting together, set their hearts firmly on battle.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding that vast host of the Pandavas swelling withrage and regarding it to be incapable of being resisted, thy sonDuryodhana.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Seeding his uncle thus addressed in harsh and insultingwords by the Suta’s son, Aswatthaman, uplifting his scimitar, furiouslyrushed towards the latter. Filled with fury, Drona’s son rushed towardsKarna, in the very sight of the Kuru king, like a lion at an infuriatedelephant.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Thus addressed by Duryodhana, Drona’s son, that warriordifficult of defeat in battle, set his heart upon destroying the foe,like Indra bent upon destroying the Daityas.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then king Yudhishthira, and Bhimasena, the son of Pandu,O monarch, encompassed Drona’s son on all sides.

“Sanjaya said ‘Beholding Somadatta shaking his large bow, Satyaki,addressing his driver, said, ‘Bear me towards Somadatta.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding that army of thine exceedingly broken, thevaliant Vrishasena, single-handed, began to protect it, O king,displaying the illusion of his weapons.

“Sanjaya said, ‘During the progress of that fierce and terrible battle,when the world was enveloped with darkness and dust, O king, thecombatants, as they stood on the field, could not see one another.

“Sanjaya said, ‘When the field of battle which had before been envelopedin darkness and dust had thus become illuminated, heroic warriorsencountered one another, desirous of taking one another’s life.[218]

“Sanjaya said, ‘During the progress of that terrible nocturnalengagement, O king, which was fraught with an indiscriminate carnage,Dharma’s son Yudhishthira, addressed the Pandavas, the Panchalas, and theSomakas.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Bhuri, O king, in that battle, resisted that foremost ofcar-warriors, viz., the grandson of Sini, who advanced like an elephanttowards a lake full of water.

‘Sanjaya said, ‘Karna, the son of Vikartana,[222] O king, resisted themighty car-warrior Sahadeva in that battle, who advanced from desire ofgetting at Drona.

“Sanjaya said, ‘The ruler of the Madras shrouded on all sides, withclouds of shafts, Virata with his troops, who was proceeding quickly forgetting at Drona.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Thy son, Chitrasena, O Bharata, resisted (Nakula’s son)Satanika who was engaged in scorching thy host with his keen shafts.Nakula’s son pierced Chitrasena with five arrows.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Against Nakula who was engaged in smiting thy host,Suvala’s son (Sakuni) in wrath, rushed with great impetuosity andaddressing him, said,

“Sanjaya said, ‘In that fierce and terrible battle, Dhrishtadyumna, Oking, proceeded against Drona.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then all those kings of thy army, incapable of beingeasily defeated in battle, angrily proceeded against Yuyudhana’s car,unable to brook (his feats).

“Sanjaya said, ‘The troops of both the armies, having proceeded to theirtents, duly took up their quarters, O king, according to the divisionsand the sub-divisions to which they belonged.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding his own army routed while being slaughtered bythose illustrious heroes, thy son, well-acquainted with words, O monarch,quickly repairing unto Karna and Drona, that foremost of all victors inbattle, wrathfully said these words,

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then Karna, that slayer of hostile heroes, beholdingPrishata’s son in battle, struck him on the chest with ten shafts capableof penetrating into the very vitals.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding the mighty-armed Ghatotkacha, O king,proceeding towards the car of Suta’s son, Karna for slaughtering him inbattle, thy son Duryodhana addressing Duhsasana, said these words,

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘How, indeed, did that battle take place when atdead of night Vikartana’s son, Karna, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkachaencountered each other?

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding Alayudha of terrible deeds come to battle, allthe Kauravas became filled with delight. Similarly, thy sons havingDuryodhana for their head, (were filled with delight) like raftless mendesirous of crossing the ocean when they meet with a raft.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Seeing Bhima in that battle assailed by the cannibal,Vasudeva, approaching Ghatotkacha, said unto him these words, ‘Behold, Omighty-armed one, Bhima is violently assailed by the Rakshasa in battle,in the very sight of all the troops and of thyself,

“Sanjaya said, ‘Having slain Alayudha, the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha becamefilled with delight. Standing at the head of the army he began to utterdiverse kinds of shouts.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding Hidimva’s son slain and lying like a rivenmountain, all the Pandavas became filled with grief and began to shedcopious tears.

“Arjuna said, ‘How, O Janardana, for our good, and by what means, werethose lords of the earth, viz., Jarasandha and the others, slain?’

“Sanjaya said, ‘The Samsaptakas,[32] then, filled with joy, took theirstand on a level field, having, with their cars, formed an array in theshape of the half-moon.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘When the Suta’s son had such a dart as was sure toslay one person, why did he not hurt it at Partha, to the exclusion ofall others?

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘I see, O sire, that this act of Karna andDuryodhana and Suvala’s son, Sakuni, and of thyself, in especial, hathbeen very much against the dictates of policy.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Thus addressed by Vyasa, the heroic king Yudhishthira thejust refrained, O bull of Bharata’s race, from himself seeking to slayKarna.

“Sanjaya said, ‘At this time Duryodhana, under the influence of wrath,approached Drona and addressing him said these words, for inspiring himwith joy and provoking his anger.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘When three-fourths of that night had worn away, thebattle, O king, once more commenced between the Kurus and the Pandavas.Both sides were elated with joy.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then Duhsasana, filled with wrath, rushed againstSahadeva, causing the earth to tremble with the fierce speed of his car,O Madri’s son, however, that crusher of foes, with a broad-headed arrow,quickly cut of the head, decked with the head-gear of his rushingantagonist’s driver.

“Sanjaya said, ‘During that fearful carnage of men and steeds andelephants, Duhsasana, O king, encountered Dhrishtadyumna.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then Drona caused a great carnage among the Panchalas,like the slaughter caused by Sakra himself in rage amongst the Danavas inthe days of yore.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding Drona filled with great anxiety and almostdeprived of his senses by grief, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of the Panchalaking, rushed at him.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding those Samsaptakas once more return to thefield, Arjuna addressed the high-souled Vasudeva, saying, ‘Urge thesteeds, O Hrishikesa, towards the Samsaptakas.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding those feats of the Satwata hero, Duryodhana andothers, filled with rage, quickly encompassed the grandson of Sini on allsides.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Upon the fall of Drona, O king, the Kurus, afflicted withweapons, deprived of their leader, broken and routed, became filled withexertion, and deprived of energy through grief.