07.163
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
tato duḥśāsanaḥ kruddhaḥ sahadevamupādravat। rathavegena tīvreṇa kampayanniva medinīm ॥7-163-1॥
Then, in a fit of anger, Duḥśāsana charged at Sahadeva with such intense speed of his chariot that it seemed as if the earth itself was shaking.
tasyāpatata evāśu bhallenāmitrakarśanaḥ। mādrīsutaḥ śiro yantuḥ saśirastrāṇamacchinat ॥7-163-2॥
The son of Mādrī, known as the tormentor of foes, swiftly shot an arrow that cut off the head of the charioteer along with his helmet.
nainaṃ duḥśāsanaḥ sūtaṃ nāpi kaścana sainikaḥ। hṛtottamāṅgamāśutvātsahadevena buddhavān ॥7-163-3॥
Duḥśāsana, the charioteer, and the soldiers did not realize quickly that Sahadeva had taken the head.
yadā tvasaṅgṛhītatvātprayāntyaśvā yathāsukham। tato duḥśāsanaḥ sūtaṃ buddhavāngatacetasam ॥7-163-4॥
When the horses were not restrained and moved as they wished, Duhshasana realized that the charioteer had lost consciousness.
sa hayān saṁnigṛhyājau svayaṁ hayaviśāradaḥ। yuyudhe rathināṁ śreṣṭhaś citraṁ laghu ca suṣṭhu ca ॥7-163-5॥
He, being an expert in handling horses, restrained them himself in battle and fought skillfully and swiftly, proving to be the best among charioteers.
tadasyāpūjayankarma sve pare caiva saṃyuge। hatasūtarathenājau vyacaradyadabhītavat ॥7-163-6॥
His actions were revered by both his allies and enemies in battle. Even with his charioteer slain, he roamed the battlefield fearlessly.
sahadevastu tānaśvāṃstīkṣṇairbāṇairavākirat. pīḍyamānāḥ śaraiścāśu prādravaṃste tatastataḥ ॥7-163-7॥
Sahadeva, however, showered sharp arrows on those horses. Tormented by the arrows, they quickly fled in all directions.
sa raśmiṣu viṣaktatvād utsasarja śarāsanam। dhanuṣā karma kurvaṃs tu raśmīns punar utsṛjat ॥7-163-8॥
He, entangled in the reins, let go of his bow. However, while still engaged with the bow, he once more released the reins.
chidreṣu teṣu taṃ bāṇairmādrīputro'bhyavākirat। parīpsaṃstvatsutaṃ karṇastadantaramavāpatat ॥7-163-9॥
Mādri's son attacked him with arrows through the gaps. Meanwhile, Karṇa, wishing to protect your son, arrived on the scene.
vṛkodaras tataḥ karṇaṃ tribhir bhallaiḥ samāhitaiḥ। ākarṇapūrṇair abhyaghnan bāhvor urasi cānadat ॥7-163-10॥
Vrikodara then skillfully shot three arrows at Karna, hitting him on the arms and chest, and let out a roar.
saṃnyavartata taṃ karṇaḥ saṅghaṭṭita ivoragaḥ। tadabhūttumulaṃ yuddhaṃ bhīmarādheyayostadā ॥7-163-11॥
Karna turned back like a serpent that had collided. Then, a tumultuous battle ensued between Bhima and Radheya.
tau vṛṣāv iva saṅkruddhau vivṛtta-nayanāv ubhau। vegena mahatānyonyaṃ saṃrabdhāv abhipetatuḥ ॥7-163-12॥
They both, like enraged bulls with eyes turned, charged at each other with great speed.
abhisaṁśliṣṭayostatra tayorāhavaśauṇḍayoḥ। abhinnaśarapātatvādgadāyuddhamavartata ॥7-163-13॥
There, between the two warriors who were closely engaged and skilled in battle, a fierce mace fight ensued due to the continuous fall of arrows.
gadayā bhīmasenastu karṇasya rathakūbaram। bibhedāśu tadā rājaṃstadadbhutamivābhavat ॥7-163-14॥
Bhimasena, with his mace, swiftly shattered the pole of Karna's chariot, and it seemed like a marvel, O king.
tato bhīmasya rādheyo gadāmādāya vīryavān। avāsṛjadrathe tāṃ tu bibheda gadayā gadām ॥7-163-15॥
Then the valiant Radheya, taking Bhima's mace, hurled it at the chariot, but it was shattered by another mace.
tato bhīmaḥ punargurvīṃ cikṣepādhirathergadām। tāṃ śarairdaśabhiḥ karṇaḥ supuṅkhaiḥ susamāhitaiḥ ॥ pratyavidhyatpunaścānyaiḥ sā bhīmaṃ punarāvrajat ॥7-163-16॥
Then Bhima hurled his heavy mace at the charioteer once more. Karna skillfully pierced it with ten well-feathered arrows and then with more, causing it to return to Bhima.
tasyāḥ pratinipātena bhīmasya vipulo dhvajaḥ। papāta sārathiścāsya mumoha gadayā hataḥ ॥7-163-17॥
Due to her fall, Bhima's large flag toppled, and his charioteer was struck unconscious by the mace.
sa karṇe sāyakānaṣṭau vyasṛjatkrodhamūrchitaḥ। dhvaje śarāsane caiva śarāvāpe ca bhārata ॥7-163-18॥
In a fit of rage, he shot eight arrows at Karna, targeting his flag, bow, and quiver, O Bharata.
tataḥ punastu rādheyo hayānasya ratheṣubhiḥ। ṛṣyavarṇāñjaghānāśu tathobhau pārṣṇisārathī ॥7-163-19॥
Then, once more, Karna swiftly struck down the deer-colored horses with his chariot arrows, along with both the charioteer and the rear guard.
sa vipannaratho bhīmo nakulasyāpluto ratham। hariryathā gireḥ śṛṅgaṃ samākrāmadariṃdamaḥ ॥7-163-20॥
Bhima, whose chariot was destroyed, climbed onto Nakula's chariot, just as Krishna, the subduer of enemies, would ascend a mountain peak.
tathā droṇārjunau citramayudhyetāṃ mahārathau। ācāryaśiṣyau rājendra kṛtapraharaṇau yudhi ॥7-163-21॥
Thus, O King, the great warriors Droṇa and Arjuna, teacher and disciple, fought with great skill, having prepared their weapons for battle.
laghusandhānayogābhyāṃ rathayośca raṇena ca। mohayantau manuṣyāṇāṃ cakṣūṃṣi ca manāṃsi ca ॥7-163-22॥
By the swift joining of the chariots and the battle, they bewildered the eyes and minds of men.
upāramanta te sarve yodhāsmākaṃ pare tathā। adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ paśyantastadyuddhaṃ guruśiṣyayoḥ ॥7-163-23॥
All the warriors, both ours and the others, stopped as they witnessed the unprecedented battle between the teacher and the disciple.
vicitrān pṛtanāmadhye rathamārgān udīryataḥ। anyonyam apasavyaṃ ca kartuṃ vīrau tadaiṣatuḥ ॥ parākramaṃ tayor yodhā dadṛśus taṃ suvismitāḥ ॥7-163-24॥
In the midst of the armies, the two heroes maneuvered their chariots in various paths, attempting to outdo each other with anticlockwise movements. The warriors were astonished by their valor.
tayoḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ droṇapāṇḍavayormahat। āmiṣārthaṃ mahārāja gagane śyenayoriva ॥7-163-25॥
A great battle took place between Drona and the Pandavas, O great king, for the sake of flesh, resembling hawks fighting in the sky.
yadyaccakāra droṇastu kuntīputrajigīṣayā। tattatpratijaghānāśu prahasaṃstasya pāṇḍavaḥ ॥7-163-26॥
The Pāṇḍava, smiling, quickly countered whatever actions Droṇa took in his desire to defeat Kunti's son.
yadā droṇo na śaknoti pāṇḍavasya viśeṣaṇe। tataḥ prāduścakārāstramāstramārgaviśāradaḥ ॥7-163-27॥
When Droṇa could not distinguish the Pāṇḍava, he manifested a weapon, showcasing his expertise in the path of weaponry.
aindraṁ pāśupataṁ tvāṣṭraṁ vāyavyamatha vāruṇam। muktaṁ muktaṁ droṇacāpāttajjaghāna dhanañjayaḥ ॥7-163-28॥
Dhanañjaya struck down the weapons of Indra, Paśupati, Tvaṣṭṛ, Vāyu, and Varuṇa, which were released from Droṇa's bow.
astrāṇyastrairyadā tasya vidhivaddhanti pāṇḍavaḥ। tato'straiḥ paramaidivyairdroṇaḥ pārthamavākirat ॥7-163-29॥
When the Pāṇḍava properly destroyed his weapons with weapons, Droṇa then showered Arjuna with supreme divine weapons.
yadyadastraṃ sa pārthāya prayuṅkte vijigīṣayā। tasyāstrasya vighātārthaṃ tattatsa kurute'rjunaḥ ॥7-163-30॥
Whenever he employs any weapon against Arjuna with the intent to win, Arjuna counters each of those weapons.
sa vadhyamāneṣvastreṣu divyeṣvapi yathāvidhi। arjunenārjunaṃ droṇo manasaivābhyapūjayat ॥7-163-31॥
Drona, even when being struck by Arjuna's divine weapons properly, worshipped Arjuna in his mind.
mene cātmānam adhikaṃ pṛthivyām api bhārata। tena śiṣyeṇa sarvebhyaḥ śastravidbhyaḥ samantataḥ ॥7-163-32॥
O Bhārata, he considered himself superior on earth, believing that his disciple was better than all the weapon-knowers everywhere.
vāryamāṇastu pārthena tathā madhye mahātmanām। yatamāno'rjunaṃ prītyā pratyavārayadutsmayan ॥7-163-33॥
Despite being restrained by Arjuna, in the midst of the great souls, he endeavored and smilingly prevented Arjuna with affection.
tato'ntarikṣe devāśca gandharvāśca sahasraśaḥ। ṛṣayaḥ siddhasaṅghāśca vyatiṣṭhanta didṛkṣayā ॥7-163-34॥
Then in the sky, thousands of gods, celestial musicians, sages, and groups of perfected beings stood, eager to witness the event.
tad apsarobhir ākīrṇaṃ yakṣarākṣasa saṅkulam। śrīmad ākāśam abhavad bhūyo meghākulaṃ yathā ॥7-163-35॥
The place, once filled with celestial beings like Apsaras and thronged with Yakshas and Rakshasas, transformed into a magnificent sky, once more enveloped by clouds.
tatra smāntarhitā vāco vyacaranta punaḥ punaḥ। droṇasya stavasaṃyuktāḥ pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ ॥ visṛjyamāneṣvastreṣu jvālayaṭsu diśo daśa ॥7-163-36॥
In that place, hidden words repeatedly moved, praising Drona and the noble Partha, as the weapons were unleashed, lighting up all ten directions.
naivedaṃ mānuṣaṃ yuddhaṃ nāsuraṃ na ca rākṣasam। na daivaṃ na ca gāndharvaṃ brāhmaṃ dhruvamidaṃ param ॥ vicitramidamāścaryaṃ na no dṛṣṭaṃ na ca śrutam ॥7-163-37॥
This battle is not of human, demonic, rakshasa, divine, gandharva, or brahman origin; it is certainly supreme. This strange wonder is something we have neither seen nor heard before.
ati pāṇḍavamācāryo droṇaṃ cāpyati pāṇḍavaḥ। nānayorantaraṃ draṣṭuṃ śakyamastreṇa kenacit ॥7-163-38॥
The teacher Droṇa and the Pāṇḍava were exceedingly fond of each other, and no weapon could distinguish between them.
yadi rudro dvidhākṛtya yudhyetātmānamātmanā। tatra śakyopamā kartumanyatra tu na vidyate ॥7-163-39॥
If Rudra were to split himself into two and fight himself, then a comparison could be made there, but nowhere else does such a comparison exist.
jñānamekasthamācārye jñānaṃ yogaśca pāṇḍave। śauryamekasthamācārye balaṃ śauryaṃ ca pāṇḍave ॥7-163-40॥
The teacher embodies concentrated knowledge, while the Pandava possesses both knowledge and yoga. Similarly, the teacher holds concentrated valor, whereas the Pandava is endowed with both strength and valor.
nemau śakyau maheṣvāsau raṇe kṣepayituṃ paraiḥ। icchamānau punarimau hanyetāṃ sāmaraṃ jagat ॥7-163-41॥
These two great archers, though capable, may be defeated in battle by others; if they desire again, they may be killed along with the gods in the world.
ity abruvan mahārāja dṛṣṭvā tau puruṣarṣabhau। antarhitāni bhūtāni prakāśāni ca saṅghaśaḥ ॥7-163-42॥
The great king, upon seeing those two distinguished men, remarked on the beings that were both hidden and visible, appearing in groups.
tato droṇo brāhmamastraṃ prāduścakre mahāmatiḥ। santāpayanraṇe pārthaṃ bhūtānyantarhitāni ca ॥7-163-43॥
Then, the wise Drona unleashed the Brahma weapon, causing distress to Arjuna and the concealed beings on the battlefield.
tataś cacāla pṛthivī sa-parvata-vana-drumā। vavau ca viṣamo vāyuḥ sāgarāś cāpi cukṣubhuḥ ॥7-163-44॥
Then the earth shook along with its mountains, forests, and trees. The fierce wind blew, and the oceans were also agitated.
tatas trāso mahān āsīt kurupāṇḍavasenayoḥ। sarveṣāṃ caiva bhūtānām udyate 'stre mahātmanā ॥7-163-45॥
At that moment, a great fear arose among the armies of the Kurus and Pāṇḍavas, and indeed among all beings, as the weapon was raised by the noble one.
tataḥ pārtho'pyasambhrāntastadastraṃ pratijaghnivān। brahmāstreṇaiva rājendra tataḥ sarvamaśīśamat ॥7-163-46॥
Then Arjuna, remaining calm, countered the weapon with the Brahma weapon, and everything was consumed, O king.
yadā na gamyate pāraṃ tayoranyatarasya vā। tataḥ saṅkulayuddhena tadyuddhaṃ vyakulīkṛtam ॥7-163-47॥
When neither side can reach a conclusion, the battle becomes chaotic and disturbed.
nājñāyata tataḥ kiñcitpunareva viśāṃ pate। pravṛtte tumule yuddhe droṇapāṇḍavayormṛdhe ॥7-163-48॥
O lord of men, nothing was discernible once more when the intense battle between Drona and the Pandavas began.
śarajālaiḥ samākīrṇe meghajālairivāmbare। na sma sampatate kaścidantarikṣacarastadā ॥7-163-49॥
The sky was filled with nets of arrows like clouds, and no one could fly through it at that time.
