07.129
Core and Pancharatra: During the dreadful night battle, the enraged Pandavas and Srinjayas together launched an attack on Drona as the fierce combat continued.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
यत्तदा प्राविशत्पाण्डूनाचार्यः कुपितो वशी। उक्त्वा दुर्योधनं सम्यङ्मम शास्त्रातिगं सुतम् ॥७-१२९-१॥
When the teacher, who was angry yet self-controlled, entered the Pandavas' camp, he addressed Duryodhana, calling him his son and a transgressor of the scriptures.
प्रविश्य विचरन्तं च रणे शूरमवस्थितम्। कथं द्रोणं महेष्वासं पाण्डवाः पर्यवारयन् ॥७-१२९-२॥
Having entered the battlefield and moving around, how did the Pāṇḍavas manage to surround the heroic and great archer Droṇa?
केऽरक्षन्दक्षिणं चक्रमाचार्यस्य महात्मनः। के चोत्तरमरक्षन्त निघ्नतः शात्रवान्रणे ॥७-१२९-३॥
Who defended the southern flank of the great teacher? And who defended the northern flank while striking down the enemies in battle?
नृत्यन्स रथमार्गेषु सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। धूमकेतुरिव क्रुद्धः कथं मृत्युमुपेयिवान् ॥७-१२९-४॥
Dancing on the chariot paths, the best among all warriors, like an angry comet, how did he meet his end?
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
सायाह्ने सैन्धवं हत्वा राज्ञा पार्थः समेत्य च। सात्यकिश्च महेष्वासो द्रोणमेवाभ्यधावताम् ॥७-१२९-५॥
In the evening, after killing Jayadratha, Arjuna met with the king, and along with Satyaki, the great archer, they rushed towards Drona.
तथा युधिष्ठिरस्तूर्णं भीमसेनश्च पाण्डवः। पृथक्चमूभ्यां संसक्तौ द्रोणमेवाभ्यधावताम् ॥७-१२९-६॥
Thus, Yudhishthira and Bhimasena, the Pandavas, swiftly advanced towards Drona, each leading their separate armies into battle.
तथैव नकुलो धीमान्सहदेवश्च दुर्जयः। धृष्टद्युम्नः शतानीको विराटश्च सकेकयः ॥ मत्स्याः शाल्वेयसेनाश्च द्रोणमेव ययुर्युधि ॥७-१२९-७॥
Similarly, Nakul, the wise Sahadeva, and the invincible Dhrishtadyumna, Shatanika, Virata, along with the Kekayas, the Matsyas, and the army of Shalva, advanced towards Drona in the battle.
द्रुपदश्च तथा राजा पाञ्चालैरभिरक्षितः। धृष्टद्युम्नपिता राजन्द्रोणमेवाभ्यवर्तत ॥७-१२९-८॥
Drupada, the king protected by the Panchalas, and the father of Dhrishtadyumna, advanced towards Drona, O king.
द्रौपदेया महेष्वासा राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः। ससेनास्तेऽभ्यवर्तन्त द्रोणमेव महाद्युतिम् ॥७-१२९-९॥
The sons of Draupadi, who were great archers, along with the demon Ghatotkacha and their armies, advanced towards the illustrious Drona.
प्रभद्रकाश्च पाञ्चालाः षट्सहस्राः प्रहारिणः। द्रोणमेवाभ्यवर्तन्त पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम् ॥७-१२९-१०॥
The Prabhadrakas and the Panchalas, numbering six thousand warriors, advanced towards Drona with Shikhandi leading them.
तथेतरे नरव्याघ्राः पाण्डवानां महारथाः। सहिताः संन्यवर्तन्त द्रोणमेव द्विजर्षभम् ॥७-१२९-११॥
Thus, the other great warriors among the Pandavas, collectively, turned back towards Drona, the esteemed teacher.
तेषु शूरेषु युद्धाय गतेषु भरतर्षभ। बभूव रजनी घोरा भीरूणां भयवर्धिनी ॥७-१२९-१२॥
As the heroes went to battle, O best of the Bharatas, the night turned dreadful, heightening the fear among the timid.
योधानामशिवा रौद्रा राजन्नन्तकगामिनी। कुञ्जराश्वमनुष्याणां प्राणान्तकरणी तदा ॥७-१२९-१३॥
O king, at that time, it was inauspicious and fierce for the warriors, leading to death and ending the lives of elephants, horses, and men.
तस्यां रजन्यां घोरायां नदन्त्यः सर्वतः शिवाः। न्यवेदयन्भयं घोरं सज्वालकवलैर्मुखैः ॥७-१२९-१४॥
During that dreadful night, jackals howled all around, signaling intense fear with their fiery mouths.
उलूकाश्चाप्यदृश्यन्त शंसन्तो विपुलं भयम्। विशेषतः कौरवाणां ध्वजिन्यामतिदारुणम् ॥७-१२९-१५॥
Owls were seen, ominously proclaiming great fear, especially dreadful in the Kaurava army.
ततः सैन्येषु राजेन्द्र शब्दः समभवन्महान्। भेरीशब्देन महता मृदङ्गानां स्वनेन च ॥७-१२९-१६॥
Then, O King, a great tumult arose in the armies with the loud sounds of drums and mṛdaṅgas.
गजानां गर्जितैश्चापि तुरङ्गाणां च हेषितैः। खुरशब्दनिपातैश्च तुमुलः सर्वतोऽभवत् ॥७-१२९-१७॥
The environment became tumultuous everywhere with the roars of elephants, neighs of horses, and the sounds of hoofbeats.
ततः समभवद्युद्धं सन्ध्यायामतिदारुणम्। द्रोणस्य च महाराज सृञ्जयानां च सर्वशः ॥७-१२९-१८॥
Then, O great king, a very fierce battle occurred at twilight between Drona and the Srinjayas, spreading everywhere.
तमसा चावृते लोके न प्राज्ञायत किञ्चन। सैन्येन रजसा चैव समन्तादुत्थितेन ह ॥७-१२९-१९॥
The world was shrouded in darkness, and nothing could be seen. The army and dust had indeed risen all around.
नरस्याश्वस्य नागस्य समसज्जत शोणितम्। नापश्याम रजो भौमं कश्मलेनाभिसंवृताः ॥७-१२९-२०॥
The blood of the man, horse, and elephant mingled together. We could not see the dust on the ground, as it was shrouded by confusion.
रात्रौ वंशवनस्येव दह्यमानस्य पर्वते। घोरश्चटचटाशब्दः शस्त्राणां पततामभूत् ॥७-१२९-२१॥
At night, the mountain echoed with the terrible crackling sound of falling weapons, as if a bamboo forest was burning.
नैव स्वे न परे राजन्प्राज्ञायन्त तमोवृते। उन्मत्तमिव तत्सर्वं बभूव रजनीमुखे ॥७-१२९-२२॥
O king, neither their own nor others' actions were understood as everything became like madness enveloped in darkness at the onset of night.
भौमं रजोऽथ राजेन्द्र शोणितेन प्रशामितम्। शातकौम्भैश्च कवचैर्भूषणैश्च तमोऽभ्यगात् ॥७-१२९-२३॥
The dust of the earth, O King, was settled with blood, and darkness approached adorned with golden armors and ornaments.
ततः सा भारती सेना मणिहेमविभूषिता। द्यौरिवासीत्सनक्षत्रा रजन्यां भरतर्षभ ॥७-१२९-२४॥
Then that army of Bharati, adorned with jewels and gold, appeared like the night sky filled with stars, O best of the Bharatas.
गोमायुबडसङ्घुष्टा शक्तिध्वजसमाकुला। दारुणाभिरुता घोरा क्ष्वेडितोत्क्रुष्टनादिता ॥७-१२९-२५॥
The scene was chaotic, filled with the noise of a flock of jackals and crowded with banners of power. It resounded with terrible and frightful howling and shouting, creating an atmosphere of dread.
ततोऽभवन्महाशब्दस्तुमुलो लोमहर्षणः। समावृण्वन्दिशः सर्वा महेन्द्राशनिनिस्वनः ॥७-१२९-२६॥
Then a great, tumultuous, and hair-raising sound arose, enveloping all directions, resembling the thunderous roar of mighty Indra.
सा निशीथे महाराज सेनादृश्यत भारती। अङ्गदैः कुण्डलैर्निष्कैः शस्त्रैश्चैवावभासिता ॥७-१२९-२७॥
At midnight, O great king, Bharati appeared, adorned with armlets, earrings, necklaces, and weapons, shining brightly.
तत्र नागा रथाश्चैव जाम्बूनदविभूषिताः। निशायां प्रत्यदृश्यन्त मेघा इव सविद्युतः ॥७-१२९-२८॥
There, the elephants and chariots adorned with gold appeared at night like clouds with lightning.
ऋष्टिशक्तिगदाबाणमुसलप्रासपट्टिशाः। सम्पतन्तो व्यदृश्यन्त भ्राजमाना इवाग्नयः ॥७-१२९-२९॥
Spears, maces, arrows, clubs, javelins, and swords were seen falling, shining like fires.
दुर्योधनपुरोवातां रथनागबलाहकाम्। वादित्रघोषस्तनितां चापविद्युद्ध्वजैर्वृताम् ॥७-१२९-३०॥
The army, led by Duryodhana, moved forward with chariots and elephants, resembling clouds, accompanied by the thunderous sound of musical instruments and adorned with flags that flashed like lightning.
द्रोणपाण्डवपर्जन्यां खड्गशक्तिगदाशनिम्। शरधारास्त्रपवनां भृशं शीतोष्णसङ्कुलाम् ॥७-१२९-३१॥
Drona and the Pandavas, like a storm, wielding swords, spears, maces, and thunderbolts; with arrows and streams of weapons, amidst intense cold and heat, creating a chaotic scene.
घोरां विस्मापनीमुग्रां जीवितच्छिदमप्लवाम्। तां प्राविशन्नतिभयां सेनां युद्धचिकीर्षवः ॥७-१२९-३२॥
They entered the terrible, astonishing, fierce, life-destroying, and unfordable army, very fearful yet desiring to fight.
तस्मिन्रात्रिमुखे घोरे महाशब्दनिनादिते। भीरूणां त्रासजनने शूराणां हर्षवर्धने ॥७-१२९-३३॥
At the onset of that dreadful night, the loud noises instilled fear in the timid while boosting the morale of the brave.
रात्रियुद्धे तदा घोरे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे। द्रोणमभ्यद्रवन्क्रुद्धाः सहिताः पाण्डुसृञ्जयाः ॥७-१२९-३४॥
During the dreadful night battle, the enraged Pandavas and Srinjayas together launched an attack on Drona as the fierce combat continued.
ये ये प्रमुखतो राजन्न्यवर्तन्त महात्मनः। तान्सर्वान्विमुखांश्चक्रे कांश्चिन्निन्ये यमक्षयम् ॥७-१२९-३५॥
O king, those great souls who turned back in front were made disheartened, and some were led to the abode of Yama.
