07.079
Sanjaya said:
Your forces, upon seeing the best among the Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas, and Kurus, hurried forward with the desire to conquer the enemies, and similarly, Arjuna did the same.
The great chariots, painted in gold and resembling tigers, resounded as they illuminated all directions like blazing fire.
O lord of the earth, with golden-backed bows that are difficult to look at, making incomparable sounds like those of angered serpents.
Bhūriśravāḥ, Śalaḥ, Karṇaḥ, Vṛṣasenaḥ, Jayadrathaḥ, Kṛpaḥ, Madrarājaḥ, and Drauṇiḥ are the best among charioteers.
The eight great charioteers, appearing as if they were drinking the sky with their horses, shone in all ten directions like tigers adorned with golden moons.
They, enraged and with chariots thundering like clouds, surrounded all directions and Arjuna with sharp arrows.
The bright horses swiftly carried the great charioteers, illuminating all ten directions with their brilliance.
The best of horses, born in Ajān, swift and originating from various regions, including the mountains, rivers, and Sindhu, were present.
O king, the best of the Kuru warriors, your son, eager to protect, swiftly surrounded and attacked Arjuna's chariot from every direction.
The best among men, having taken up the great conches, blew them, filling the sky and the earth along with the oceans, O king.
Thus, Vasudeva and Dhananjaya, the best among all beings, blew their conches, which were the finest on earth. Devadatta was blown by the son of Kunti, and Panchajanya by Keshava.
The sound produced by Devadatta, carried by Dhananjaya, enveloped the earth, sky, and all directions.
Similarly, the conch Panchajanya, blown by Lord Vasudeva, resonated with a sound that surpassed all others, filling both heaven and earth.
In that dreadful situation filled with noise, it instilled fear in the timid and increased the joy of the brave.
O King, the drums, kettledrums, large drums, and mridangas were being sounded and played many times.
Renowned as great charioteers and well-wishers of Duryodhana, the intolerant and angry great archers, kings from various regions, were protectors of their own armies, reacting to that sound.
In their anger, the mighty warriors and great charioteers blew their large conches, preparing to counter the actions of Keshava and Arjuna.
Your army was filled with the sound of conches, causing agitation among the chariots, elephants, and horses, making them unsteady, O lord.
The sky, as if employed by heroes, echoed with the sound of conches and became greatly disturbed, as if it was resonating with the sound of thunder.
The great sound echoed in all directions, O king, terrifying the army as if it were the end of an era.
Then Duryodhana, along with eight great warrior kings, surrounded the Pāṇḍava to protect Jayadratha.
Then Aśvatthāmā attacked Kṛṣṇa with seventy-three arrows, and Arjuna with three arrows, also targeting the flag and the horses with five arrows.
Arjuna, exceedingly enraged, struck with hundreds of arrows, as if Janardana was pierced.
The valiant warrior pierced Karna with twelve arrows and Vrishasena with three, and also cut Shalya's bow along with the arrow in his hand.
Śalya, having taken another bow, pierced the Pāṇḍava, while Bhūriśravā attacked with three arrows that had golden feathers and were sharpened on stone.
Karna, Vrishasena, Jayadratha, Kripa, and the king of Madra attacked Arjuna in battle with their respective numbers of arrows: thirty-two, five, seventy-three, ten, and ten.
Then, Drona's son showered sixty arrows on Arjuna, seventy on Vasudeva, and again five on Arjuna.
The tiger among men, with white horses and Krishna as his charioteer, smiled and pierced them all, demonstrating his dexterity.
He pierced Karna with twelve arrows and Vrishasena with three, and then cut off Shalya's bow at the grip during the battle.
He pierced Saumadatti with three arrows and Śalya with ten. He also struck Drauni with eight sharp arrows resembling flames of fire.
He struck Gautama with twenty-five arrows, the Sindhu prince with a hundred, and then Drona's son again with seventy arrows.
Bhūriśravāḥ, in his anger, cut off Hari's whip and struck Arjuna with seventy-three arrows.
Then, Arjuna, with his swift and sharp arrows, angrily stopped the enemies, just as a mighty wind disperses the clouds.
