07.139
Core and Pancharatra: Duryodhana re-arranges his army to protect Drona, while Drona makes an advance towards Pandavas.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
prakāśite tathā loke rajasā ca tamovṛte। samājagmuratho vīrāḥ parasparavadhaiṣiṇaḥ ॥7-139-1॥
In the world, which was both illuminated and shrouded in dust and darkness, the heroes gathered, intent on mutual destruction.
te sametya raṇe rājan śastra-prāsāsi-dhāriṇaḥ। parasparam udaikṣanta paraspara-kṛtāgasaḥ ॥7-139-2॥
The warriors gathered on the battlefield, O king, armed with weapons, javelins, and swords, and glared at each other, each having wronged the other.
pradīpānāṃ sahasraiśca dīpyamānaiḥ samantataḥ। virarāja tadā bhūmirdyaurghrahairiva bhārata ॥7-139-3॥
O Bharata, the earth was illuminated all around by thousands of shining lamps, resembling the sky adorned with planets.
ulkāśataiḥ prajvalitai raṇabhūmirvyarājata। dahyamāneva lokānāmabhāve vai vasundharā ॥7-139-4॥
The battlefield was illuminated by hundreds of blazing firebrands, making it seem as though the earth was burning in the absence of its inhabitants.
prādīpyanta diśaḥ sarvāḥ pradīpaistaiḥ samantataḥ। varṣāpradoṣe khadyotairvṛtā vṛkṣā ivābabhuḥ ॥7-139-5॥
All the directions were brightly lit by the lamps everywhere, resembling trees surrounded by fireflies on a rainy evening.
asajjanta tato vīrā vīreṣveva pṛthakpṛthak। nāgā nāgaiḥ samājagmusturagāḥ saha vājibhiḥ ॥7-139-6॥
Then the heroes were arrayed among heroes, each separately. Elephants gathered with elephants, and horses with steeds.
rathā rathavaraireva samājagmurmudānvitāḥ। tasminrātrimukhe ghore putrasya tava śāsanāt ॥7-139-7॥
The chariots, truly the finest, arrived filled with joy at the onset of the dreadful night, as commanded by your son.
tato'rjuno mahārāja kauravāṇāmanīkinīm। vyadhamattvarayā yuktaḥ kṣapayansarvapārthivān ॥7-139-8॥
Then Arjuna, O great king, engaged with speed, smashed the army of the Kauravas, destroying all the princes.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
tasmin praviṣṭe saṁrabdhe mama putrasya vāhinīm। amṛṣyamāṇe durdharṣe kiṁ vā āsīn manas tadā ॥7-139-9॥
When my son's army was entered in that excited state, what was going through the mind of the invincible and intolerant one at that time?
kim amanyanta sainyāni praviṣṭe śatrutāpane। duryodhanaś ca kiṃ kṛtyaṃ prāptakālam amanyata ॥7-139-10॥
What did the armies think when the enemy tormentor entered? And what did Duryodhana consider to be the appropriate action at that time?
ke cainaṃ samare vīraṃ pratyudyayurarindamam। ke'rakṣandakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ ke ca droṇasya savyataḥ ॥7-139-11॥
Who were the warriors that advanced against this hero, the foe-tamer, in battle? Who protected the right flank and who stood on the left of Drona?
ke pṛṣṭhato'sya hyabhavanvīrā vīrasya yudhyataḥ। ke purastādagacchanta nighnataḥ śātravānraṇe ॥7-139-12॥
Who were the heroes standing behind him as he fought, and who went ahead to slay the enemies in battle?
yatprāviśanmaheṣvāsaḥ pāñcālānaparājitaḥ। nṛtyanniva naravyāghro rathamārgeṣu vīryavān ॥7-139-13॥
The powerful and undefeated great archer entered the land of the Panchalas, moving like a dancing tiger among men on the chariot paths.
dadāha ca śarairdroṇaḥ pāñcālānāṃ rathavrajān। dhūmaketuriva kruddhaḥ sa kathaṃ mṛtyumīyivān ॥7-139-14॥
Droṇa, in his wrath, destroyed the chariots of the Pāñcālas with his arrows, resembling an angry comet. How did he then meet his end?
avyagrāneva hi parān kathayasyaparājitān। hatāṃścaiva viṣaṇṇāṃśca viprakīrṇāṃśca śaṃsasi ॥ rathino virathāṃścaiva kṛtānyuddheṣu māmakān ॥7-139-15॥
You describe others as calm and undefeated, even when they are slain, dejected, and scattered. You also praise my charioteers who have been rendered without chariots in battles.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
droṇasya matam ājñāya yoddhukāmasya tāṃ niśām। duryodhanō mahārāja vaśyān bhrātṝn abhāṣata ॥7-139-16॥
Understanding Drona's opinion and eager to fight that night, King Duryodhana addressed his obedient brothers.
vikaṛṇaṃ citrasenaṃ ca mahābāhuṃ ca kauravam। durdharṣaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ ca ye ca teṣāṃ padānugāḥ ॥7-139-17॥
Vikarna, Citrasena, and the mighty-armed Kaurava, along with the invincible and long-armed ones, and their followers.
droṇaṃ yattāḥ parākrāntāḥ sarve rakṣata pṛṣṭhataḥ। hārdikyo dakṣiṇaṃ cakraṃ śalyaścaivottaraṃ tathā ॥7-139-18॥
All the valiant warriors, being attentive, protect Drona from behind. Kritavarma guards the right flank, while Shalya takes charge of the left.
trigartānāṃ ca ye śūrā hataśiṣṭā mahārathāḥ। tāṃścaiva sarvānaputraste samacodayadagratḥ ॥7-139-19॥
Your son urged all the remaining great charioteer heroes of the Trigartas forward.
ācāryo hi susaṃyatto bhṛśaṃ yattāśca pāṇḍavāḥ। taṃ rakṣata susaṃyattā nighnantaṃ śātravānraṇe ॥7-139-20॥
The teacher is indeed well-prepared, and the Pāṇḍavas are very attentive. Protect him as he strikes the enemies in battle, being well-prepared.
droṇo hi balavānyuddhe kṣiprahastaḥ parākramī। nirjayettridaśānyuddhe kimu pārthānsasomakān ॥7-139-21॥
Drona, being strong, swift, and valiant in battle, could easily conquer even the gods, let alone the sons of Pritha and the Somakas.
te yūyaṃ sahitāḥ sarve bhṛśaṃ yattā mahārathāḥ। droṇaṃ rakṣata pāñcālyāddhṛṣṭadyumnānmahārathāt ॥7-139-22॥
All of you, being united and very attentive great warriors, protect Droṇa from the great warrior Dhṛṣṭadyumna of the Pāñcāla clan.
pāṇḍaveyeṣu sainyeṣu yodhaṃ paśyāmyahaṃ na tam। yo jayet raṇe droṇaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnādṛte nṛpāḥ ॥7-139-23॥
In the armies of the Pandavas, I see no warrior who can defeat Drona in battle, except for Dhrishtadyumna, O kings.
tasya sarvātmanaā manye bhāradvājasya rakṣaṇam। sa guptaḥ somakānhanyātsṛñjayāṃśca sarājakān ॥7-139-24॥
I believe wholeheartedly in the protection of Bharadvaja. With his protection, he would be able to defeat the Somakas, the Srinjayas, and their kings.
sṛñjayeṣvatha sarveṣu nihateṣu camūmukhe। dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ raṇe drauṇirnāśayiṣyatyasaṃśayam ॥7-139-25॥
Then, among the Sṛñjayas, when all have been slain at the front of the army, Aśvatthāmā will undoubtedly destroy Dhṛṣṭadyumna in battle.
tathārjunaṃ raṇe karṇo vijeṣyati mahārathaḥ। bhīmasenamahaṃ cāpi yuddhe jeṣyāmi daṃśitaḥ ॥7-139-26॥
Thus, Karna, the great warrior, will defeat Arjuna in battle. I, too, with determination, will overcome Bhimasena in the fight.
so'yaṁ mama jayo vyaktaṁ dīrghakālaṁ bhaviṣyati। tasmādrakṣata saṅgrāme droṇameva mahārathāḥ ॥7-139-27॥
"This victory of mine will be evident for a long time. Therefore, O great warriors, protect Droṇa alone in the battle."
ityuktvā bharataśreṣṭha putro duryodhanastava। vyādideśa tataḥ sainyaṃ tasmiṃstamasi dāruṇe ॥7-139-28॥
After speaking thus, your son Duryodhana, the best among the Bharatas, commanded the army amidst the dreadful darkness.
tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ rātrau tadbharatarṣabhaḥ। ubhayoḥ senayorghoraṃ vijayaṃ prati kāṅkṣiṇoḥ ॥7-139-29॥
Then, O bull among the Bharatas, a terrible battle commenced at night between both armies, each desiring victory.
arjunaḥ kauravaṃ sainyam arjunaṃ cāpi kauravāḥ। nānāśastrasamāvāpair anyonyaṃ paryapīḍayan ॥7-139-30॥
Arjuna and the Kauravas' army, along with the Kauravas, engaged in fierce battle, tormenting each other with a variety of weapons.
drauṇiḥ pāñcālarājānaṃ bhāradvājaśca sṛñjayān। chādayāmāsatuḥ saṅkhye śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ॥7-139-31॥
Drona's son, Ashwatthama, and Bharadvaja's son, Drona, showered arrows with bent joints upon the king of the Panchalas and the Srinjayas during the battle.
pāṇḍupāñcālasenānāṃ kauravāṇāṃ ca māriṣa। āsīnniṣṭānako ghoro nighnatāmitaretaram ॥7-139-32॥
O sir, a dreadful tumult arose from the armies of the Pandavas, Panchalas, and Kauravas as they clashed with one another.
naivāsmābhirna pūrvairno dṛṣṭaṃ pūrvaṃ tathāvidham। yuddhaṃ yādṛśamevāsīttāṃ rātriṃ sumahābhayam ॥7-139-33॥
Neither we nor our ancestors have ever seen such a terrifying battle as that night.
