Chapter 59

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then the Kurus and the Srinjayas once more fearlesslyencountered each other in battle, the Parthas being headed byYudhishthira, and ourselves headed by the Suta’s son. Then commenced aterrible battle, making the hair to stand on end, between Karna and thePandavas, that increased the population of Yama’s kingdom. After thatfurious battle, producing rivers of blood, had commenced, and when aremnant only of the brave samsaptakas, O Bharata, were leftunslaughtered, Dhrishtadyumna, O monarch, with all the kings (on thePandava side) and those mighty car-warriors–the Pandavas themselves, allrushed against Karna only. Like the mountain receiving a vast body ofwater, Karna, unaided by anyone, received in that battle all thoseadvancing warriors filled with joy and longing for victory. Those mightycar-warriors encountering Karna, were beat off and broken like a mass ofwater, and beat back on all sides when it encounters a mountain. Thebattle, however, that took place between them and Karna made the hairstand on end. Then Dhrishtadyumna assailed the son of Radha with astraight shaft in that battle, and addressing him said, “Wait, Wait.” Themighty car-warrior Karna, filled with rage, shook his foremost of bowscalled Vijaya, and cutting off the bow of Dhrishtadyumna, as also hisarrows resembling snakes of virulent poison assailed Dhrishtadyumnahimself with nine arrows. Those arrows, O sinless one, piercing throughthe gold-decked armour of the high-souled son of Prishata, became bathedin blood and looked beautiful like so many cochineal. The mightycar-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, casting aside that broken bow, took upanother bow and a number of shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison.With those straight shafts numbering seventy, he pierced Karna.Similarly, O king, Karna, in that battle, covered Prishata’s son, thatscorcher of foes, with many shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison.The slayer of Drona, that great bowman, retaliated by piercing Karna withmany keen shafts. Filled with rage, Karna then, O monarch, sped at hisantagonist a gold-decked shaft that resembled a second rod of death. Thatterrible shaft, O monarch, as it coursed impetuously towards Prishata’sson, the grandson of Sini, O king, cut off into seven fragments,displaying great lightness of hand. Beholding his shaft baffled by thearrows of Satyaki, O king, Karna resisted Satyaki with showers of arrowsfrom every side. And he pierced Satyaki in that encounter with sevenclothyard shafts. The grandson of Sini, however, pierced him in returnwith many arrows decked with gold. The battle then that took place, Oking, between those two warriors was such as to fill both spectators andlisteners with fear. Though awful, soon it became beautiful and deservingobjects of sight. Beholding the feats, in that encounter, of Karna andthe grandson of Sini, the hair of all the creatures there present seemedto stand on end. Meanwhile the mighty son of Drona rushed againstPrishata’s son, that chastiser of foes and queller of the prowess of allenemies. Filled with rage, Drona’s son, that subjugator of hostile towns,addressing Dhrishtadyumna, said, “Wait, wait, O slayer of a Brahmana,thou shalt not escape me today with life.” Having said these words, thatmighty car-warrior of great lightness of hand striving resolutely, deeplypierced the brave son of Prishata, who also strove to the utmost of hisprowess, with many keen and terrible shafts endued with greatimpetuosity. As Drona (while alive), beholding the son of Prishata, Osire, had become cheerless and regarded him as his death, even so the sonof Prishata, that slayer of hostile heroes, beholding Drona’s son in thatbattle, now regarded him as his death. Soon, however, remembering that hewas unslayable in battle by means of weapons, he rushed with great speedagainst Drona’s son, like the Destroyer running against the Destroyer atthe time of the universal dissolution. Drona’s heroic son, however, Omonarch, beholding Dhrishtadyumna stationed before him, drew deepbreaths, in wrath, and rushed towards him. Both of them were filled withgreat rage at the sight of each other. Endued with great activity, thevaliant son of Drona then, O monarch, said these words untoDhrishtadyumna staying not far from him, “O wretch amongst the Pancalas,I shall today despatch thee to Yama. The sin thou hast committed beforeby slaying Drona will fill thee today with regret, to thy great evil, ifthou stayest in battle without being protected by Partha, or if thou dostnot fly away, O fool, I tell thee truly.” Thus addressed, the valiantDhrishtadyumna replied, saying, “That same sword of mine which answeredthy sire, resolutely engaged in battle, will today answer this speech ofthine. If Drona could be slain by me, O thou that art a Brahmana in nameonly, why should I not then, putting forth my prowess, slay thee also inbattle today?” Having said these words, the wrathful commander of thePandava forces, viz., the son of Prishata, pierced Drona’s son with akeen arrow. Then Drona’s son filled with great rage, shrouded every sideof Dhrishtadyumna, O king, in that battle, with straight arrows. Shroudedwith thousands of arrows, neither the welkin, nor the points of thecompass, nor the combatants all around, could, O monarch, be any longerseen. Similarly, the son of Prishata, O king, shrouded Drona’s son, thatornament of battle, with arrows, in the very sight of Karna. The son ofRadha, too, O monarch, singly resisted the Pancalas and the Pandavas andthe (five) sons of Draupadi and Yudhamanyu and the mighty car-warriorSatyaki, in consequence of which feat he became the cynosure of all eyes.Then Dhrishtadyumna in that battle cut off the very tough and formidablebow of Drona’s son, as also all his arrows resembling snakes of virulentpoison. Drona’s son, however, with his arrows, destroyed within thetwinkling of an eye the bow, the dart, the mace, the standard, thesteeds, the driver, and the car of Prishata’s son. Bowless and carlessand steedless and driverless, the son of Prishata then took up a hugescimitar and a blazing shield decked with a hundred moons. Endued withgreat lightness of hand, and possessed of mighty weapons, that mightycar-warrior, viz., the heroic son of Drona, O king, quickly cut off, inthat battle, with many broad-headed arrows, those weapons also ofDhrishtadyumna before the latter could come down from his car. All thisseemed exceedingly wonderful. The mighty car-warrior Ashvatthama,however, though struggling vigorously, could not, O chief of theBharatas, slay the carless and steedless and bowless Dhrishtadyumna,although pierced and exceedingly mangled with many arrows. When,therefore, O king, the son of Drona found that he could not slay hisenemy with arrows, he laid aside his bow and quickly proceeded towardsthe son of Prishata. The impetuosity of that high-souled one, as herushed towards his foe, resembled that of Garuda swooping down forseizing a large snake. Meanwhile Madhava, addressing Arjuna, said,”Behold, O Partha, how the son of Drona is rushing with great speedtowards the car of Prishata’s son. Without doubt, he will slay theprince. O mighty-armed one, O crusher of foes, rescue the son ofPrishata, who is now within the jaws of Drona’s son as if within the jawsof Death himself.” Having said these words, the valiant Vasudeva urgedthe steeds towards that spot where Drona’s son was. Those steeds, of thesplendour of the moon, urged by Keshava, proceeded towards the car ofDrona’s son, devouring the very skies. Beholding those two of greatenergy, viz., Krishna and Dhananjaya, coming towards him, the mightyAshvatthama made great efforts for slaying Dhrishtadyumna soon. SeeingDhrishtadyumna dragged, O ruler of men by his enemy, the mighty Parthasped many arrows at the son of Drona. Those arrows, decked with gold andsped from Gandiva, approached the son of Drona and pierced him deeplylike snakes penetrating into an ant-hill. Thus pierced with thoseterrible arrows, the valiant son of Drona, O king, abandoned the Pancalaprince of immeasurable energy. Indeed, the hero, thus afflicted withDhananjaya’s shafts, mounted on his car, and taking up his own excellentbow, began to pierce Partha with many shafts. Meanwhile, the heroicSahadeva, O ruler of men, bore away on his car the son of Prishata, thatscorcher of foes. Arjuna then, O king, pierced Drona’s son with manyarrows. Filled with rage, Drona’s son struck Arjuna in the arms and thechest. Thus provoked, Partha, in that battle, sped at Drona’s son, a longshaft that resembled a second rod of Death, or rather, Death himself.That arrow of great splendour fell upon the shoulder of the Brahmanahero. Exceedingly agitated, O monarch, in that battle, by the violence ofthe stroke, he sat down on the terrace of his car and swooned away. ThenKarna, O monarch, shook his bow Vijaya and, filled with rage, repeatedlyeyed Arjuna in that battle, desiring a single combat with him. Meanwhilethe driver of Drona’s son, beholding the latter senseless, quickly borehim away on his car from the field of battle. Beholding Prishata’s sonrescued and Drona’s son afflicted, the Pancalas, O king, expectant ofvictory, began to utter loud shouts. Thousands of sweet instruments beganto be sounded. Seeing such wonderful feats in battle, the combatantsuttered leonine roars. Having achieved that feat, Partha addressedVasudeva, saying “Proceed, O Krishna, towards the samsaptakas, for thisis greatly desired by me.” Hearing those words of Pandu’s son, he ofDasharha’s race proceeded on that car graced with many banners and whosespeed resembled that of the wind or the mind.'”