04.053
Arjuna said.
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)
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)
Bhāradvāja, long-armed, possessing great brilliance and strength, known throughout all worlds, was glorious. (04-53-3)
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)
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)
Forbearance, self-control, truthfulness, non-cruelty, straightforwardness—these and many other qualities are found in that best among the twice-born. (04-53-6)
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 said.
But, when Arjuna thus spoke, the king of Virāṭa urged those gold-adorned horses towards the chariot of Bhāradvāja. (04-53-8)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Then Droṇa and Arjuna, both of great strength, embraced each other, and seeing the mighty army of the Bharatas, trembled repeatedly. (04-53-13)
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)
Having saluted, the mighty-armed son of Kunti, Arjuna, destroyer of enemy heroes, spoke this conciliatory and gentle speech.
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)
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)
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)
Then the powerful Droṇa, with a thousand arrows, covered the chariot of Pārtha, and then quickly displayed a weapon. (04-53-19)
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)
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)
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)
"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)
Those two invincible heroes, great chariot-warriors, enraged and having come close, covered each other with showers of arrows. (04-53-24)
Then, fiercely, Bharadvāja, having drawn his great golden-backed, formidable bow, fought against Phalguna (Arjuna). (04-53-25)
He covered the radiance of the Sun with radiant, stone-polished nets of arrows directed toward Arjuna's chariot. (04-53-26)
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)
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)
The powerful one destroyed the showers of arrows of Bhāradvāja quickly with arrows released from his bow; it seemed truly marvelous. (04-53-29)
Arjuna, known as Pārtha and Dhanañjaya, moving on his chariot and splendid to behold, simultaneously displayed all weapons in every direction. (04-53-30)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Then, in the sky, many beings, like golden-feathered arrows with bent joints, moving aloft, are often seen. (04-53-36)
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)
Thus, those two heroes, releasing great arrows made of gold, made the sky appear covered as if with meteors. (04-53-38)
The arrows of both, adorned with crane and peacock feathers, looked like lines of swans flying in the sky during autumn. (04-53-39)
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)
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)
Those two enraged heroes, adorned in battle, engaged in combat, invoked divine weapons alternately in the fight. (04-53-42)
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)
Displaying Indra’s weapons, himself fierce and of mighty valor, he covered the sky with many arrows from his quiver. (04-53-44)
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)
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)
There was an intense fight between those two enraged, lion-like men, both intolerant, just as between gods and demons. (04-53-47)
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)
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)
Then, from the arrows released by Arjuna striking the bodies, a sound was heard like thunderbolts falling on mountains. (04-53-50)
Then, O lord of men, elephants, chariots, and horsemen, all smeared with blood, appeared just like blossoming kiṃśuka trees. (04-53-51)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
At that time, as Arjuna continually fitted arrows, released them, and took them up, not even the slightest gap was seen. (04-53-60)
Thus, while the very fierce and fast missile-battle was ongoing, Pārtha (Arjuna) sent forth other arrows, even swifter than before. (04-53-61)
Then, hundreds of thousands of arrows with curved joints fell all at once near Droṇa's chariot. (04-53-62)
O best of the Bharatas, when Droṇa was being showered with arrows by Arjuna, a great outcry arose among the armies. (04-53-63)
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)
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)
But Aśvatthāma honored that act with the heart of the great-souled one and greatly angered Pārtha. (04-53-66)
He, overcome with anger, rushed at Pārtha in the battle, pouring forth thousands of arrows like the rain-filled cloud Parjanya. (04-53-67)
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)
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)
