06.049
Core and Pancharatra: Drona and Drishtadyumna, two warriors stained with blood, shone brightly. When Dristadyumna loses his chariot, Bhima takes him away.
Dhritarashtra spoke:
Sanjaya, tell me how Droṇa, the great archer, and the son of Panchala, who is also the son of Prishata, encountered each other in the battle.
Sanjaya, I believe that fate is ultimately more powerful than human effort. This is evident where Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, could not defeat the Pandava in battle.
Bhishma, when enraged in battle, could destroy all worlds, both animate and inanimate. How could he not defeat the Pandava in battle with the might of Sanjaya?
Sanjaya said:
Listen, O king, stand firm and witness this dreadful battle. The Pāṇḍava cannot be defeated, not even by the gods along with Indra.
Drona, with his sharp arrows, engaged in battle with Dhrishtadyumna and struck down his charioteer from the chariot with a well-aimed arrow.
Enraged, he then struck the four horses of Dhrishtadyumna with four excellent arrows, O lord.
Then Dhṛṣṭadyumna, with a smile, pierced Droṇa with ninety sharp arrows and said, "Stay, stay."
Then, the glorious Bharadvaja, with an immeasurable soul, once again covered the unforgiving Dhrishtadyumna with arrows.
He took a dreadful arrow aimed at killing Pārṣata, which was as potent as Indra's thunderbolt, resembling another rod of death.
O Bharata, there was a great uproar among all the soldiers when they saw the arrow fixed by Bharadvaja in the battle.
There, we witnessed the extraordinary bravery of Dhṛṣṭadyumna, who stood alone in the battle like a steadfast mountain.
He cut off that shining arrow, which was approaching terribly like his own death, and indeed released a shower of arrows on Bharadvaja.
Upon witnessing the challenging feat accomplished by Dhrishtadyumna, all the Panchalas, along with the Pandavas, cried out in unison.
Then, the valiant warrior, eager for Drona's demise, hurled his spear with great speed, which was adorned with gold and cat’s eye gem.
Bharadvaja, with a smile, suddenly hurled the golden-adorned spear that was approaching, splitting it into three parts in the battle.
Upon witnessing the fall of power, the valiant Dhṛṣṭadyumna unleashed a barrage of arrows towards Droṇa, O king.
Drona, the greatly renowned, skillfully warded off the shower of arrows and cut off the bow of Drupada's son in the midst of the battle.
In the battle, the greatly renowned and strong warrior, with his bow broken, sent a heavy mace made of mountain essence to Drona.
The swiftly released mace aimed to kill Drona, and there we witnessed the remarkable valor of Bharadvaja.
Because of its lightness, he swung the gold-adorned mace and then sent it towards Pārṣata.
The well-sharpened, yellow, golden-feathered arrows, sharpened on stone, pierced his armor and drank his blood in the battle.
Then, the great-minded Dhṛṣṭadyumna, taking up another bow, attacked Droṇa in the battle and pierced him with five arrows.
Then those two warriors, stained with blood, shone brightly, O king, like the blossoming Kimshuka trees in spring.
Angered, Droṇa, at the forefront of the battle, attacked and once again cut down the bow of Drupada's son.
Then, the immeasurable soul covered him, who had a broken bow, with arrows having bent joints, like a cloud covers a mountain with rain.
He shot an arrow that knocked the charioteer off the chariot seat. Then, using four sharp arrows, he killed his four horses.
He let out a lion's roar in the battle and roared. Then, with another arrow, he severed the bow from the hand.
He, having his bow broken, chariot destroyed, horses and charioteer killed, descended with a mace in hand, showcasing his great valor.
O Bharata, he swiftly shot him down with arrows from the chariot, and it seemed as if it was a marvel, as he had not yet descended.
Then he, with his strong arms and great strength, took up a large shield adorned with a hundred moons and a shining, divine sword.
He charged at Drona with great speed, intent on killing him, just as a lion in the forest targets an intoxicated elephant for prey.
There, O Bharata, we witnessed the extraordinary valor, agility, skill in weaponry, and strength of Bharadvaja's arms.
When he stopped the son of Prishata with a rain of arrows, even the mighty one could not advance in the battle.
There we observed Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the great chariot-warrior, standing firm and skillfully warding off the arrows with his shield, fully prepared for battle.
Then the mighty-armed Bhima suddenly rushed to assist the great-souled Parshata in battle.
He struck Droṇa with seven sharp arrows, O king, and then swiftly placed Pārṣata on another chariot.
Then King Duryodhana commanded the Kalinga forces, well-equipped with a large army, to protect Bharadvaja.
Then, O lord of people, the great army of the Kalingas quickly advanced towards Bhima under your son's command.
Drona, the best among charioteers, left the land of the Panchalas and engaged in battle with the elderly Virata and Drupada. Meanwhile, Dhrishtadyumna approached Dharmaraja on the battlefield.
Then a fierce and terrifying battle began between the Kalingas and the great Bhima, which was destructive to the world and instilled fear with its dreadful form.
