04.053
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said.
yatraiṣā kāñcanī vedī pradīptāgniśikhopamā। ucchritā kāñcane daṇḍe patākābhir-alaṅkṛtā ॥ tatra māṃ vaha bhadraṃ te droṇānīkāya māriṣa ॥04-53-1॥
Where this golden altar, like a blazing flame, stands raised on a golden staff and adorned with flags, there, O charioteer, carry me to Droṇa’s army. Good fortune to you. (04-53-1)
aśvāḥ śoṇāḥ prakāśante bṛhantaś cāruvāhinaḥ। snigdhavidrumasaṅkāśās tāmrāsyāḥ priyadarśanāḥ॥ yuktā rathavare yasya sarvaśikṣāviśāradāḥ॥04-53-2॥
His horses, which are red and shining, large, of beautiful speed, having the luster of polished coral, copper-mouthed, and pleasant to behold, yoked to an excellent chariot and skilled in every art, (are seen). (04-53-2)
dīrghabāhur mahātejā balarūpasamanvitaḥ। sarvalokeṣu vikhyāto bhāradvājaḥ pratāpavān ॥04-53-3॥
Bhāradvāja, long-armed, possessing great brilliance and strength, known throughout all worlds, was glorious. (04-53-3)
buddhyā tulyo hy uśanasā bṛhaspatisamo naye। vedās tathaiva catvāro brahmacaryaṃ tathaiva ca ॥04-53-4॥
He is equal in wisdom to Uśanas, equal to Bṛhaspati in policy; he possesses the four Vedas and lives in celibacy likewise. (04-53-4)
sasaṃhārāṇi divyāni sarvāṇyastrāṇi māriṣa। dhanurvedaś ca kārtsnyena yasminnityaṃ pratiṣṭhitaḥ॥04-53-5॥
O noble one, all divine weapons with their powers of withdrawal, and the entire science of archery, are always established in him. (04-53-5)
kṣamā damaś ca satyaṃ ca ānṛśaṃsyam athārjavam. ete cānye ca bahavo guṇā yasmin dvijottame ॥04-53-6॥
Forbearance, self-control, truthfulness, non-cruelty, straightforwardness—these and many other qualities are found in that best among the twice-born. (04-53-6)
tenāhaṃ yoddhum icchāmi mahābhāgena saṃyuge। tasmāt tvaṃ prāpaya ācāryam kṣipram uttara vāhaya ॥04-53-7॥
I want to fight with him, the greatly fortunate one, in battle. Therefore, bring the teacher and quickly have the chariot driven. (04-53-7)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
arjunenaivamuktastu vairāṭir hemabhūṣitān। codayāmāsa tānaśvān bhāradvājarathaṃ prati॥04-53-8॥
But, when Arjuna thus spoke, the king of Virāṭa urged those gold-adorned horses towards the chariot of Bhāradvāja. (04-53-8)
tam āpatantaṃ vegena pāṇḍavaṃ rathināṃ varam। droṇaḥ pratyudyayau pārthaṃ matto mattam iva dvipam॥04-53-9॥
Droṇa, enraged, advanced to confront Pārtha, as an enraged elephant faces another enraged elephant, when he saw the Pāṇḍava, the best of chariot-warriors, rushing towards him. (04-53-9)
tataḥ prādhmāpayac chaṅkhaṃ bherīśata-nināditam। pracukṣubhe balaṃ sarvam uddhūta iva sāgaraḥ ॥04-53-10॥
Then he blew the conch, which was echoing like a hundred drums; the entire army became agitated, like the ocean when stirred up. (04-53-10)
atha śoṇān sadaśvāṁs tān haṁsa-varṇair manojavaiḥ| miśritāṁs samare dṛṣṭvā vyasmayanta raṇe janāḥ ॥04-53-11॥
Then, seeing those excellent red horses mixed with swan-colored mind-swift horses in the battle, people were amazed in the battle. (04-53-11)
tau rathau vīryasampannau dṛṣṭvā saṅgrāmamūrdhani। ācāryaśiṣyāv ajitau kṛtavidyau manasvinau ॥04-53-12॥
Having seen those two chariot-warriors—the teacher and the disciple—who were endowed with strength, invincible, accomplished in knowledge, and high-minded, standing at the forefront of the battlefield. (04-53-12)
samāśliṣṭau tad anyonyaṁ droṇa-pārthau mahā-balau. dṛṣṭvā prākampata muhur bharatānāṁ mahad balam ॥04-53-13॥
Then Droṇa and Arjuna, both of great strength, embraced each other, and seeing the mighty army of the Bharatas, trembled repeatedly. (04-53-13)
harṣayuktas tathā pārthaḥ prahasann iva vīryavān. rathaṃ rathena droṇasya samāsādya mahārathaḥ ॥04-53-14॥
Thus, filled with joy, Pārtha (Arjuna), mighty and as if smiling, with his chariot approached the chariot of Droṇa, he—the great chariot-warrior. (04-53-14)
abhivādya mahābāhuḥ sāntvapūrvam idaṃ vacaḥ। uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā kaunteyaḥ paravīrahā ॥04-53-15॥
Having saluted, the mighty-armed son of Kunti, Arjuna, destroyer of enemy heroes, spoke this conciliatory and gentle speech.
uṣitāḥ sma vane vāsaṃ pratikarma cikīrṣavaḥ। kopaṃ nārhasi naḥ kartuṃ sadā samaradūrjaya ॥04-53-16॥
We have indeed lived in the forest, intending to act in response. You, who are always hard to conquer in battle, ought not to be angry with us. (04-53-16)
ahaṃ tu prahṛte pūrvaṃ prahariṣyāmi te'nagha। iti me vartate buddhistadbhavānkartumarhati ॥04-53-17॥
But I think, O sinless one, that I ought to strike first when (it is) struck; that is my thought, and you ought to do that. (04-53-17)
tato'smai prāhiṇod droṇaḥ śarān adhikaviṃśatim। aprāptāṃś caiva tān pārthaś ciccheda kṛtahastavat॥04-53-18॥
Then Droṇa sent more than twenty arrows at him; and Pārtha (Arjuna), like an expert marksman, cut those arrows before they arrived. (04-53-18)
tataḥ śarasahasreṇa rathaṃ pārthasya vīryavān। avākirattato droṇaḥ śīghramastraṃ vidarśayan ॥04-53-19॥
Then the powerful Droṇa, with a thousand arrows, covered the chariot of Pārtha, and then quickly displayed a weapon. (04-53-19)
evaṃ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ bhāradvāja-kirīṭinoḥ। samaṃ vimuñcatoḥ saṅkhye viśikhān dīpta-tejasaḥ॥04-53-20॥
Thus, the battle began between Bhāradvāja (Droṇa) and Kiritin (Arjuna), as both, full of blazing energy, equally released arrows at each other on the battlefield. (04-53-20)
tāvubhau khyātakarmāṇāubhau vāyusamau jave। ubhau divyāstraviduṣāubhau uttamatejasau॥ kṣipantau śarajālāni mohayāmāsatur nṛpān॥04-53-21॥
Those two warriors, famous for their deeds and equal to the Wind in speed, both skilled in divine weapons and possessing supreme brilliance, cast volleys of arrows and bewildered the kings. (04-53-21)
vyasmayanta tato yodhāḥ sarve tatra samāgatāḥ। śarān visṛjatos tūrṇaṃ sādhu sādhu iti pūjayan ॥04-53-22॥
Then all the warriors assembled there were amazed, and as the two swiftly discharged arrows, they honored them saying, "Well done! Well done!" (04-53-22)
droṇaṃ hi samare ko'nyo yoddhum arhati phalgunāt. raudraḥ kṣatriyadharmo'yaṃ guruṇā yad ayudhyata ॥ ity abruvan janās tatra saṅgrāmaśirasi sthitāḥ ॥04-53-23॥
"Indeed, who other than Phalguna is worthy to fight Droṇa in battle? This fierce Kṣatriya duty is that the teacher fought." Thus spoke the people standing there at the forefront of the battle. (04-53-23)
vīrau tāv api saṁrabdhau saṁnikṛṣṭau mahārathau। chādayetāṁ śaravrātair anyonyam aparājitau॥04-53-24॥
Those two invincible heroes, great chariot-warriors, enraged and having come close, covered each other with showers of arrows. (04-53-24)
visphārya sumahaccāpaṃ hemapṛṣṭhaṃ durāsadam | saṃrabdho'tha bharadvājaḥ phalgunaṃ pratyayudhyata ॥04-53-25॥
Then, fiercely, Bharadvāja, having drawn his great golden-backed, formidable bow, fought against Phalguna (Arjuna). (04-53-25)
sa sāyakamayair jālair arjunasya rathaṃ prati। bhānumadbhiḥ śilādhautair bhānoḥ pracchādayat prabhām ॥04-53-26॥
He covered the radiance of the Sun with radiant, stone-polished nets of arrows directed toward Arjuna's chariot. (04-53-26)
pārthaṃ ca sa mahābāhurmahāvegairmahārathaḥ। vivyādha niśitairbāṇairmegho vṛṣṭyeva parvatam ॥04-53-27॥
And that great chariot-warrior, mighty-armed, attacked Pārtha with great speed, piercing him with sharp arrows, like a cloud rains upon a mountain. (04-53-27)
tathaiva divyaṃ gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanur-ādāya pāṇḍavaḥ| śatrughnaṃ vegavad dhṛṣṭo bhārasādhanam uttamam|| visasarja śarāṃś citrān suvarṇavikṛtān bahūn||04-53-28||
In the same manner, the son of Pāṇḍu (Arjuna), bold and swift, took up his divine Gāṇḍīva bow—the supreme weapon for overcoming enemies—and released many variegated arrows adorned with gold. (04-53-28)
nāśayañ śara-varṣāṇi bhāradvājasya vīryavān। tūrṇaṃ cāpa-vinir-muktais tad adbhutam ivābhavat ॥04-53-29॥
The powerful one destroyed the showers of arrows of Bhāradvāja quickly with arrows released from his bow; it seemed truly marvelous. (04-53-29)
sa rathena caran pārthaḥ prekṣaṇīyo dhanañjayaḥ। yugapad dikṣu sarvāsu sarvaśastrāṇy adarśayat ॥04-53-30॥
Arjuna, known as Pārtha and Dhanañjaya, moving on his chariot and splendid to behold, simultaneously displayed all weapons in every direction. (04-53-30)
ekacchāyam ivākāśaṃ bāṇaiś cakre samantataḥ. nādṛśyata tadā droṇo nīhāreṇeva saṃvṛtaḥ ॥04-53-31॥
He made the entire sky on all sides of uniform shade with arrows, so that then Droṇa was not visible, as if he were enveloped by mist. (04-53-31)
tasyābhavat tadā rūpaṁ saṁvṛtasya śarottamaiḥ। jājvalyamānasya yathā parvatasyeva sarvataḥ॥04-53-32॥
At that moment, his appearance, covered on all sides by the finest arrows and blazing, became just like that of a mountain shining everywhere. (04-53-32)
dṛṣṭvā tu pārthasya raṇe śaraiḥ svaratham āvṛtam। sa visphārya dhanuś citram megha-stanita-nisvanam ॥04-53-33॥
But seeing Partha's chariot in the battle covered by arrows, he drew his marvellous bow, which echoed like the thunder of clouds. (04-53-33)
agnicakropamaṃ ghoraṃ vikarṣan paramāyudham। vyaśātayac charāṃs tāṃs tu droṇaḥ samitiśobhanaḥ ॥ mahān abhūd tataḥ śabdo vaṃśānām iva dahyatām ॥04-53-34॥
Drawing back his supreme weapon, Droṇa, brilliant in battle, released those terrible arrows, like a fiery wheel. Then a great sound arose, like the bamboos when they are burning. (04-53-34)
jāmbūnadamayaiḥ puṅkhaiz citracāpavarātigaiḥ। prācchādayad ameyātmā diśaḥ sūryasya ca prabhām ॥04-53-35॥
The one of immeasurable nature, with feathers of Jāmbūnada gold and surpassing the speed of the splendid rainbow, covered all the quarters and even the brilliance of the sun. (04-53-35)
tataḥ kanakapuṅkhānāṁ śarāṇāṁ nataparvaṇām। viyaccarāṇāṁ viyati dṛśyante bahuśaḥ prajāḥ ॥04-53-36॥
Then, in the sky, many beings, like golden-feathered arrows with bent joints, moving aloft, are often seen. (04-53-36)
droṇasya puṅkhasaktāś ca prabhavantaḥ śarāsanāt। eko dīrgha ivādṛśyad ākāśe saṅhataḥ śaraḥ॥04-53-37॥
The arrows of Droṇa, attached at the feathers and released from his bow, appeared in the sky like a single long arrow, joined together. (04-53-37)
evaṃ tau svarṇavikṛtān vimuñcantau mahāśarān। ākāśaṃ saṃvṛtaṃ vīrau ulkābhir iva cakratuḥ ॥04-53-38॥
Thus, those two heroes, releasing great arrows made of gold, made the sky appear covered as if with meteors. (04-53-38)
śarāstayoś ca vibabhuḥ kaṅka-barhiṇa-vāsasaḥ। paṅktyaḥ śaradi kha-sthānāṃ haṃsānāṃ caratām iva॥04-53-39॥
The arrows of both, adorned with crane and peacock feathers, looked like lines of swans flying in the sky during autumn. (04-53-39)
yuddhaṁ samabhavat tatra susaṁrabdhaṁ mahātmanoḥ। droṇa-pāṇḍavayoḥ ghoram vṛtra-vāsavayoḥ iva ॥04-53-40॥
A fierce battle was fought there between the great-souled Droṇa and the Pāṇḍava, terrible like the one between Vṛtra and Indra. (04-53-40)
tau gajāv iva ca āsādya viṣāṇāgraiḥ parasparam। śaraiḥ pūrṇāyata-utsṛṣṭaiḥ anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ ॥04-53-41॥
The two, like elephants, having approached each other with the tips of their tusks, struck each other with arrows shot from fully drawn bows. (04-53-41)
tau vyavāharatāṃ śūrau saṃrabdhau raṇaśobhinau। udīrayantau samare divyāny astrāṇi bhāgaśaḥ ॥04-53-42॥
Those two enraged heroes, adorned in battle, engaged in combat, invoked divine weapons alternately in the fight. (04-53-42)
atha tv ācāryamukhyena śarān sṛṣṭān śilāśitān। nyavārayac chitaiḥ bāṇaiḥ arjunaḥ jayatāṃ varaḥ॥04-53-43॥
Then Arjuna, the foremost among the victorious, repelled the stone-tipped arrows discharged by the chief teacher with his own keen arrows. (04-53-43)
darśayann aindrīr ātmānam ugraṃ ugraparākramaḥ। iṣubhis tūṇam ākāśaṃ bahubhiś ca samāvṛṇot ॥04-53-44॥
Displaying Indra’s weapons, himself fierce and of mighty valor, he covered the sky with many arrows from his quiver. (04-53-44)
jighāṁsantaṁ naravyāghram-arjunaṁ tigma-tejasam. ācārya-mukhyaḥ samare droṇaḥ śastra-bhṛtāṁ varaḥ ॥ arjunena saha ākrīḍat-śaraiḥ sannata-parvabhiḥ ॥04-53-45॥
In battle, Droṇa, the foremost among weapon-bearers and chief of teachers, sought to slay Arjuna, the tiger among men who shone with sharp brilliance, and engaged with him together using arrows with well-bent shafts. (04-53-45)
divyānyastrāṇi muñcantaṃ bhāradvājaṃ mahāraṇe। astrair-astrāṇi saṃvārya phalgunaḥ samayodhayat ॥04-53-46॥
Phalguna (Arjuna), having warded off the weapons with his own weapons, attacked Bharadvāja's son who was releasing divine weapons in the great battle. (04-53-46)
tayor āsīt samprabhāraḥ kruddhayoḥ narasiṃhayoḥ। amarṣiṇos tadānyonyaṃ devadānavayor iva॥04-53-47॥
There was an intense fight between those two enraged, lion-like men, both intolerant, just as between gods and demons. (04-53-47)
aindraṃ vāyavyam āgneyaṃ astram astreṇa pāṇḍavaḥ। droṇena muktaṃ muktaṃ tu grasate sma punaḥ punaḥ॥04-53-48॥
The son of Pāṇḍu countered the Indra, Vāyu, and Agni weapons with his own weapon; whatever was released by Droṇa, again and again he would indeed consume. (04-53-48)
evaṃ śūrau maheṣvāsau visṛjantau śitāñśarān। ekacchāyaṃ cakratustāvākāśaṃ śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ ॥04-53-49॥
Thus, the two mighty archers, both brave, released sharp arrows and made the sky appear as if it had a single shade with their showers of arrows. (04-53-49)
tato'ruṇena muktānāṃ patatāṃ ca śarīriṣu। parvateṣviva vajrāṇāṃ śarāṇāṃ śrūyate svanaḥ॥04-53-50॥
Then, from the arrows released by Arjuna striking the bodies, a sound was heard like thunderbolts falling on mountains. (04-53-50)
tato nāgā rathāścaiva sādināśca viśāṃ pate। śoṇitāktā vyadṛśyanta puṣpitā iva kiṃśukāḥ ॥04-53-51॥
Then, O lord of men, elephants, chariots, and horsemen, all smeared with blood, appeared just like blossoming kiṃśuka trees. (04-53-51)
bāhubhiś ca sakeyūrair vicitraiś ca mahārathaiḥ। suvarṇacitraiḥ kavacair dhvajaiś ca vinipātitaiḥ ॥04-53-52॥
It was strewn with arms adorned with armlets, with splendid and varied great chariot-warriors, with armors adorned with gold, and with banners, all fallen (on the ground). (04-53-52)
yodhaiś ca nihatais tatra pārtha-bāṇa-prapīḍitaiḥ. balam āsīt samudbhrāntaṃ droṇārjuna-samāgame ॥04-53-53॥
There, with the warriors slain and afflicted by Arjuna's arrows, the army was utterly agitated at the encounter of Droṇa and Arjuna. (04-53-53)
vidhunvānau tu tau vīrau dhanuṣī bhārasādhane। ācchādayetām anyonyaṃ titakṣantau raṇeṣu-bhiḥ ॥04-53-54॥
But those two heroes, shaking their bows which bore the burden, covered each other with arrows in battle, each desiring to conquer. (04-53-54)
athāntarikṣe nādo'bhūd droṇaṁ tatra praśaṁsatām। duṣkaraṁ kṛtavān droṇo yad arjunam ayodhayat॥04-53-55॥
Then, in the sky, a sound arose from those praising Droṇa, for Droṇa had accomplished the difficult feat of engaging Arjuna in battle. (04-53-55)
pramāthinaṃ mahā-vīryaṃ dṛḍha-muṣṭiṃ dur-āsadam। jetāraṃ deva-daityānāṃ sarpāṇāṃ ca mahā-ratham ॥04-53-56॥
The destroyer of enemies, endowed with great strength and a firm grip, unapproachable, conqueror of gods, daityas, and serpents, and a mighty chariot-warrior. (04-53-56)
aviśramaṃ ca śikṣāṃ ca lāghavaṃ dūrapātitām। pārthasya samare dṛṣṭvā droṇasyābhūc ca vismayaḥ ॥04-53-57॥
When Droṇa saw in battle the tirelessness, the skill, and the lightness with which Pārtha (Arjuna) cast his arrows afar, he was astonished. (04-53-57)
atha gāṇḍīvam-udyamya divyaṃ dhanur-amarṣaṇaḥ| vicakarṣa raṇe pārtho bāhubhyāṃ bharatarṣabha॥04-53-58॥
Then Pārtha (Arjuna), raising the divine Gāṇḍīva bow, restless with indignation, drew its string with his arms in the battle, O bull among the Bharatas. (04-53-58)
tasya bāṇamayaṃ varṣaṃ śalabhānām ivāyatam। na ca bāṇāntare vāyur asya śaknoti sarpitum ॥04-53-59॥
His shower of arrows was spread out like a swarm of locusts, and even the wind was not able to pass between his arrows. (04-53-59)
aniśaṁ saṁdadhānasya śarān utsṛjataḥ tadā। dadṛśe na antaraṁ kiñcit pārthasya ādadato'pi ca ॥04-53-60॥
At that time, as Arjuna continually fitted arrows, released them, and took them up, not even the slightest gap was seen. (04-53-60)
tathā śīghrāstrayuddhe tu vartamāne sudāruṇe. śīghrācchīghrataraṃ pārthaḥ śarān anyān udīrayat ॥04-53-61॥
Thus, while the very fierce and fast missile-battle was ongoing, Pārtha (Arjuna) sent forth other arrows, even swifter than before. (04-53-61)
tataḥ śatasahasrāṇi śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām। yugapatprāpataṃstatra droṇasya rathamantikāt॥04-53-62॥
Then, hundreds of thousands of arrows with curved joints fell all at once near Droṇa's chariot. (04-53-62)
avakīryamāṇe droṇe tu śarairgāṇḍīvadhanvanā। hāhākāro mahān āsītsainyānāṃ bharatarṣabha ॥04-53-63॥
O best of the Bharatas, when Droṇa was being showered with arrows by Arjuna, a great outcry arose among the armies. (04-53-63)
pāṇḍavasya tu śīghrāstraṃ maghavān samapūjayat। gandharvāpsarasaś caiva ye ca tatra samāgatāḥ ॥04-53-64॥
But Indra completely honored the swift weapon of the son of Pandu; and the Gandharvas, the Apsarases, and all who were assembled there also did so. (04-53-64)
tato vṛndena mahatā rathānāṁ rathayūthapaḥ। ācāryaputraḥ sahasā pāṇḍavaṁ pratyavārayat॥04-53-65॥
Then, accompanied by a great host of chariots, the chief of the chariot-warriors, the teacher's son, suddenly stopped the Pāṇḍava. (04-53-65)
aśvatthāmā tu tatkarma hṛdayena mahātmanaḥ। pūjayāmāsa pārthasya kopaṃ ca asya akarot bhṛśam॥04-53-66॥
But Aśvatthāma honored that act with the heart of the great-souled one and greatly angered Pārtha. (04-53-66)
sa manyuvaśamāpannaḥ pārtham abhyadravad raṇe। kirañ śara-sahasrāṇi parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān ॥04-53-67॥
He, overcome with anger, rushed at Pārtha in the battle, pouring forth thousands of arrows like the rain-filled cloud Parjanya. (04-53-67)
āvṛtya tu mahābāhur yato drauṇis tato hayān। antaraṃ pradadau pārtho droṇasya vyapasarpitum॥04-53-68॥
But the mighty-armed Arjuna, having surrounded, allowed the horses a gap from where Drauṇi was so that he could retreat from Droṇa. (04-53-68)
sa tu labdhvāntaraṃ tūrṇam apāyāj javanair hayaiḥ। chinnavarmadhvajaḥ śūro nikṛttaḥ parameṣubhiḥ॥04-53-69॥
But he, having found an opening, quickly escaped with swift horses; his armor and banner severed, the hero was struck down by excellent arrows. (04-53-69)
