07.030
Core and Pancharatra: Ashwatthama kills Nila, a prominent Panchala warrior.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
तेष्वनीकेषु भग्नेषु पाण्डुपुत्रेण सञ्जय। चलितानां द्रुतानां च कथमासीन्मनो हि वः ॥७-३०-१॥
Sanjaya, in those armies shattered by the son of Pandu, how was your mind as they moved and ran?
अनीकानां प्रभग्नानां व्यवस्थानमपश्यताम्। दुष्करं प्रतिसन्धानं तन्ममाचक्ष्व सञ्जय ॥७-३०-२॥
Sanjaya, tell me about the difficult task of reorganizing the broken troops that you have seen.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
तथापि तव पुत्रस्य प्रियकामा विशां पते। यशः प्रवीरा लोकेषु रक्षन्तो द्रोणमन्वयुः ॥७-३०-३॥
Nevertheless, O lord of the people, desiring your son's favor, the heroes of the world followed Drona to protect his fame.
समुद्यतेषु शस्त्रेषु सम्प्राप्ते च युधिष्ठिरे। अकुर्वन्नार्यकर्माणि भैरवे सत्यभीतवत् ॥७-३०-४॥
When the weapons were raised and Yudhishthira arrived, he refrained from performing noble deeds, appearing as if truly afraid.
अन्तरं भीमसेनस्य प्रापतन्नमितौजसः। सात्यकेश्चैव शूरस्य धृष्टद्युम्नस्य चाभिभो ॥७-३०-५॥
O lord, between Bhimasena of immense energy, Satyaki the hero, and Dhrishtadyumna, there was a fall.
द्रोणं द्रोणमिति क्रूराः पाञ्चालाः समचोदयन्। मा द्रोणमिति पुत्रास्ते कुरून्सर्वानचोदयन् ॥७-३०-६॥
The cruel Panchalas encouraged each other by shouting "Drona, Drona," while the sons of the Kurus urged everyone, "Do not harm Drona."
द्रोणं द्रोणमिति ह्येके मा द्रोणमिति चापरे। कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च द्रोणद्यूतमवर्तत ॥७-३०-७॥
Some were calling out 'Drona, Drona', while others were saying 'Not Drona'. The game involving Drona was unfolding between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.
यं यं स्म भजते द्रोणः पाञ्चालानां रथव्रजम्। तत्र तत्र स्म पाञ्चाल्यो धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ धीयते ॥७-३०-८॥
Whenever Droṇa approaches the chariot group of the Pāñcālas, the Pāñcāla prince Dhṛṣṭadyumna is always there to confront him.
यथाभागविपर्यासे सङ्ग्रामे भैरवे सति। वीराः समासदन्वीरानगच्छन्भीरवः परान् ॥७-३०-९॥
In the terrifying battle, as the sides were reversed, the heroes confronted heroes, while the cowards retreated to others.
अकम्पनीयाः शत्रूणां बभूवुस्तत्र पाण्डवाः। अकम्पयंस्त्वनीकानि स्मरन्तः क्लेशमात्मनः ॥७-३०-१०॥
The Pandavas stood firm against their enemies, causing the armies to tremble as they recalled their own hardships.
ते त्वमर्षवशं प्राप्ता ह्रीमन्तः सत्त्वचोदिताः। त्यक्त्वा प्राणान्न्यवर्तन्त घ्नन्तो द्रोणं महाहवे ॥७-३०-११॥
They, driven by righteousness and modesty, overcame their anger and sacrificed their lives, returning to slay Drona in the great battle.
अयसामिव सम्पातः शिलानामिव चाभवत्। दीव्यतां तुमुले युद्धे प्राणैरमिततेजसाम् ॥७-३०-१२॥
The clash was as fierce as that of metals and rocks in the tumultuous battle, fought by the radiant warriors with immeasurable valor.
न तु स्मरन्ति सङ्ग्राममपि वृद्धास्तथाविधम्। दृष्टपूर्वं महाराज श्रुतपूर्वमथापि वा ॥७-३०-१३॥
O great king, even the elders do not recall such a battle, whether they have seen or heard of it before.
प्राकम्पतेव पृथिवी तस्मिन्वीरावसादने। प्रवर्तता बलौघेन महता भारपीडिता ॥७-३०-१४॥
The earth seemed to tremble as if burdened by the weight, involved in the hero's downfall due to the great multitude of forces.
घूर्णतो हि बलौघस्य दिवं स्तब्ध्वेव निस्वनः। अजातशत्रोः क्रुद्धस्य पुत्रस्य तव चाभवत् ॥७-३०-१५॥
The sound of the mighty force, whirling as if it had stopped the sky, became like that of your angry son, Ajatashatru.
समासाद्य तु पाण्डूनामनीकानि सहस्रशः। द्रोणेन चरता सङ्ख्ये प्रभग्नानि शितैः शरैः ॥७-३०-१६॥
Droṇa, moving through the battlefield, scattered the thousands of Pāṇḍava armies with his sharp arrows.
तेषु प्रमथ्यमानेषु द्रोणेनाद्भुतकर्मणा। पर्यवारयदासाद्य द्रोणं सेनापतिः स्वयम् ॥७-३०-१७॥
Amidst the turmoil caused by Droṇa's extraordinary feats, the general himself approached and surrounded Droṇa.
तदद्भुतमभूद्युद्धं द्रोणपाञ्चाल्ययोस्तदा। नैव तस्योपमा काचित्सम्भवेदिति मे मतिः ॥७-३०-१८॥
In my opinion, that battle between Drona and the Panchala was so wonderful that no comparison could be made.
ततो नीलोऽनलप्रख्यो ददाह कुरुवाहिनीम्। शरस्फुलिङ्गश्चापार्चिर्दहन्कक्षमिवानलः ॥७-३०-१९॥
Then Nila, resembling a blazing fire, consumed the Kuru army with his arrows that sparked like flames, burning the forest-like battlefield.
तं दहन्तमनीकानि द्रोणपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। पूर्वाभिभाषी सुश्लक्ष्णं स्मयमानोऽभ्यभाषत ॥७-३०-२०॥
Drona's valiant son, smiling, gently addressed him who was destroying the armies.
नील किं बहुभिर्दग्धैस्तव योधैः शरार्चिषा। मयैकेन हि युध्यस्व क्रुद्धः प्रहर चाशुगैः ॥७-३०-२१॥
Nila, why do you need many warriors burnt by fiery arrows? Fight with me alone, strike in anger and with swiftness.
तं पद्मनिकराकारं पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणम्। व्याकोशपद्माभमुखं नीलो विव्याध सायकैः ॥७-३०-२२॥
Nila shot arrows at the one who had the appearance of a cluster of lotuses, eyes like lotus petals, and a face resembling a fully bloomed lotus.
तेनातिविद्धः सहसा द्रौणिर्भल्लैः शितैस्त्रिभिः। धनुर्ध्वजं च छत्रं च द्विषतः स न्यकृन्तत ॥७-३०-२३॥
Drona's son was suddenly pierced deeply by him with three sharp arrows; he cut off the enemy's bow, flag, and umbrella.
सोत्प्लुत्य स्यन्दनात्तस्मान्नीलश्चर्मवरासिधृक्। द्रोणायनेः शिरः कायाद्धर्तुमैच्छत्पतत्रिवत् ॥७-३०-२४॥
Nila, leaping from the chariot with his excellent shield and sword, aimed to seize Dronayana's head from his body, much like a bird swooping down.
तस्योद्यतासेः सुनसं शिरः कायात्सकुण्डलम्। भल्लेनापाहरद्द्रौणिः स्मयमान इवानघ ॥७-३०-२५॥
Drona's son, with a smile, severed the beautiful-nosed head adorned with earrings from the body of the one who had raised his sword, using an arrow, O sinless one.
सम्पूर्णचन्द्राभमुखः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः। प्रांशुरुत्पलगर्भाभो निहतो न्यपतत्क्षितौ ॥७-३०-२६॥
With a face like the full moon and eyes resembling lotus leaves, the tall figure, like a water lily bud, was struck down and fell to the ground.
ततः प्रविव्यथे सेना पाण्डवी भृशमाकुला। आचार्यपुत्रेण हते नीले ज्वलिततेजसि ॥७-३०-२७॥
The Pandava army was thrown into great confusion when Nila, who possessed blazing energy, was slain by the teacher's son.
अचिन्तयंश्च ते सर्वे पाण्डवानां महारथाः। कथं नो वासविस्त्रायाच्छत्रुभ्य इति मारिष ॥७-३०-२८॥
All the great warriors of the Pandavas were thinking about how Indra would protect them from their enemies, O respected one.
दक्षिणेन तु सेनायाः कुरुते कदनं बली। संशप्तकावशेषस्य नारायणबलस्य च ॥७-३०-२९॥
On the southern side, the strong warrior causes destruction to the army, including the remnants of the Saṃśaptakas and the Nārāyaṇa forces.
