07.161
Sanjaya said:
In the last third of the night, a battle ensued between the jubilant Kauravas and Pandavas, O lord of the people.
Then, Aruna, who precedes the sun, stole the moonlight and made the sky appear red as if it was dawn.
Then, Drona, with his army divided, launched an attack on the Somakas and Pandavas, accompanied by the Panchalas and led by Duryodhana.
Upon seeing the divided Kurus, Madhava addressed Arjuna, saying, "O Savyasacin, I will make these Kurus your rivals from the left."
After permitting Madhava, Dhananjaya instructed to proceed, and then turned left towards the great archers, Drona and Karna.
Understanding Krishna's intention, the conqueror of enemy cities approached Bhimasena, who was at the forefront of the battlefield.
Bhima said:
Arjuna, Arjuna, listen to my words truly, O fearsome one. The time has come for which warriors are born.
If you do not achieve what is better at this time, you will act cruelly, being in an unexpected form.
O Arjuna, the best of warriors, achieve freedom from debt through valor, truth, prosperity, righteousness, and fame. Break through the enemy's ranks and accomplish these tasks.
Sanjaya said:
Arjuna, encouraged by Bhima and Keshava, skillfully maneuvered to encircle the enemy, surpassing the defenses of Karna and Drona.
As the battlefield approached, burning the warrior chiefs, the valiant warriors, having shown their valor, strove but were unable to stop it, as it grew like a fire.
Then Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni, and the son of Subala attacked Arjuna, the son of Kunti, with a barrage of arrows.
O King, having disregarded the weapons of all the best weapon-knowers, he covered them with showers of arrows.
Quick-handed Dhananjaya, having countered the weapons with his own, pierced all his enemies with ten sharp arrows.
The dust was raised, along with rain and a shower of arrows; simultaneously, a great darkness and a terrible sound arose.
As the army moved, neither the sky, the earth, nor the directions were visible. Everything was enveloped in dust, creating a scene of utter confusion, as if everything had become blind.
O king, neither you nor we were aware of each other; it was by that intention that the kings engaged in battle.
O king, the charioteers, having lost their chariots, approached each other and became entangled by their hair, armor, and arms.
The scene showed horses and charioteers lying dead, with the charioteers motionless as if they were alive, but they were actually stricken with fear.
The horses were seen lying lifeless, embracing the slain elephants as if they were mountains, along with their riders.
Then, having approached from the battle, Drona stood in the northern direction, like a smokeless fire.
Upon noticing that he had retreated from the front lines to a solitary spot, the Pandava armies were shaken, O lord of the people.
Upon seeing Drona, who was shining with splendor and blazing like energy, the enemies trembled, moved, and withered, O lord.
The demons, seeing him calling the enemy army like a broken elephant, did not praise him as they would Indra.
Some were disheartened, some high-minded individuals were angry. Some were astonished, and some were indignant.
Some kings crushed the tips of their hands with their own hands, while others, overcome by anger, bit their lips with their teeth.
Some wielded weapons while others crushed arms. Yet others, self-sacrificing and mighty, followed Drona.
The Panchalas, though especially afflicted by Drona's arrows, were arrayed in battle, O king, despite being greatly pained.
Then Virata and Drupada approached Drona in battle, moving intensely and proving difficult to conquer in the war.
Then, O lord of men, the three grandsons of Drupada and the Chedis, who were great archers, attacked Drona alone in the battle.
Drona, with three sharp arrows, killed the three grandsons of Drupada, and they fell to the ground, lifeless.
Then Droṇa, the great chariot-warrior from the Bhāradvāja lineage, defeated the Cedis, Kekayas, Sṛñjayas, and all the Matsyas in battle.
Then, King Drupada, filled with anger, showered arrows upon Drona. O great king, Virata also joined the battle.
Then Drona, known for crushing his enemies, skillfully used two well-aimed arrows to send Drupada and Virata to their demise, the abode of Yama.
Virata, Drupada, and the Kekayas were slain, as were the Chedis, Matsyas, and Panchalas. Among the three heroes, the grandsons of Drupada also met their end.
Upon witnessing Drona's actions, Dhrishtadyumna, overwhelmed with anger and sorrow, pronounced a curse amidst the charioteers.
May he be destroyed by his own sacrifices, warrior duties, and Brahmin responsibilities. Today, Drona may be released, or he may turn away from Drona.
Thus, having made a promise to them, the Panchala prince, known for destroying enemy heroes, advanced with his troops towards Drona amidst all the archers. Meanwhile, the Panchalas attacked Drona from one side, while the Pandavas attacked from their position.
Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni, the son of Subala, and the brothers, as the main chiefs, protected Drona in the battle.
Despite their efforts, the Panchalas could not face Drona, who was being protected in battle by the great souls.
There, Bhimasena, in his anger, chastised Dhrishtadyumna with harsh words, addressing him as 'O lord' and 'O bull among men.'
Born in the family of Drupada, the greatest master of all weapons, what warrior would dare to face the enemy standing before him?
"Who would abandon the act of killing a father and son, especially after having sworn an oath in the king's assembly?"
Droṇa, with his own brilliance, is like a blazing fire, consuming the warriors with his arrows as fuel for his bow.
"In the past, he completely destroyed the army of the Pandavas. Now, standing here, witness my action as I go directly to Drona."
After speaking thus, the enraged Vrikodara (Bhima) charged into Drona's forces, scattering your troops with his unyielding, fully drawn arrows.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pāñcāla, entered the great army and approached Droṇa in battle. Then, a great tumult arose.
O king, we have neither seen nor heard of such a battle before, as the great rising happened at sunrise.
O dear, the chariots were seen attached, and the bodies of the beings were killed and scattered.
Some are going elsewhere on the path, harassed by others; others are turned away from behind, and others are struck from the sides.
The intense battle became extremely terrible, and then, as evening approached, the sun set quickly.
