07.012
Core and Pancharatra: Arjuna assures Yudhisthira he will sacrifice his own life, but will not allow Drona to capture him. By midday, Drona disperses Pandava army led by Drishtadyumna.
Sanjaya said:
Upon hearing about the capture of Yudhishthira, the soldiers roared like lions and sounded their conches and arrows.
O Bharata, Dharmaraja quickly learned all that had happened through his trusted ones, regarding the intention of Bharadvaja.
Dharmaraja, after assembling all his brothers and the entire army, addressed Dhananjaya with these words.
"O tiger among men, you have heard today what Drona intends. Ensure that it does not come true by establishing the right policy."
O enemy-scorcher, Drona indeed promised an end. That gap was fixed in you by him with his infallible arrows.
You, O mighty-armed one, must fight today after me, so that Duryodhana does not achieve his desire from Drona.
Arjuna said:
Just as I should not kill the teacher in any way, similarly, O king, I do not intend to abandon you.
Even in such a situation, O son of Pandu, I would sacrifice my life in battle; I would not recognize you as my teacher, nor would I ever abandon you.
O king, having captured you in battle, Dhritarashtra's son desires something. However, he has not achieved that desire in this world in any way.
Even if the sky with its stars were to fall and the earth were to shatter, Drona would not capture you as long as I am alive, certainly.
Even if Indra himself, along with gods or demons, assists him in battle, he will not be able to defeat you.
O King, as long as I am alive, you need not fear anyone, even those superior to Drona, the greatest among all warriors.
I do not recall speaking falsely, nor do I remember any defeat. I do not recall having left any promise unfulfilled.
Sanjaya said:
Then, O great king, conches, drums, mridangas, and trumpets were sounded together in the residence of the Pandavas.
The Pandavas, known for their greatness, let out a lion's roar, and the sound of their bowstrings echoed through the sky, creating a very terrifying atmosphere.
Upon hearing the sound of the conch from the noble Pandava, the musical instruments in your armies also began to play.
Then, O Bharata, the arranged armies of both sides slowly approached each other, ready to engage in battle.
Then a fierce and terrifying battle began between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, as well as between Drona and the Panchalas.
The Srinjayas, despite their efforts, could not penetrate Drona's army, O king, as it was well-guarded by Drona.
Similarly, the chariot warriors of your son could not withstand the Pandava army, which was being protected by Arjuna.
Let your calm army be mutually protected, completely asleep as if it were night in the fully blossomed forest kingdom.
Then Rukmaratha, O king, shining like the sun, set out with his army and moved within the battle formation.
The Pandavas and the Srinjayas, out of fear, perceived him, who was raised with a chariot and swift in battle, as if he were many.
The terrible arrows released by him spread in all directions, terrifying the Pandava's army, O great king.
At midday, enveloped in hundreds of rays, just as the sun was visible, so too was Drona seen.
O honorable one, none among the Pandavas can face him when he is angry in battle, just as demons cannot face Mahendra.
After bewildering the army, the mighty Bhāradvāja swiftly dispersed Dhṛṣṭadyumna's troops with his sharp arrows.
He blocked all directions and surrounded the Pandava army with crooked movements, crushing them where the son of Prishata was.
