07.163
Sanjaya said:
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.
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.
Duḥśāsana, the charioteer, and the soldiers did not realize quickly that Sahadeva had taken the head.
When the horses were not restrained and moved as they wished, Duhshasana realized that the charioteer had lost consciousness.
He, being an expert in handling horses, restrained them himself in battle and fought skillfully and swiftly, proving to be the best among charioteers.
His actions were revered by both his allies and enemies in battle. Even with his charioteer slain, he roamed the battlefield fearlessly.
Sahadeva, however, showered sharp arrows on those horses. Tormented by the arrows, they quickly fled in all directions.
He, entangled in the reins, let go of his bow. However, while still engaged with the bow, he once more released the reins.
Mādri's son attacked him with arrows through the gaps. Meanwhile, Karṇa, wishing to protect your son, arrived on the scene.
Vrikodara then skillfully shot three arrows at Karna, hitting him on the arms and chest, and let out a roar.
Karna turned back like a serpent that had collided. Then, a tumultuous battle ensued between Bhima and Radheya.
They both, like enraged bulls with eyes turned, charged at each other with great speed.
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.
Bhimasena, with his mace, swiftly shattered the pole of Karna's chariot, and it seemed like a marvel, O king.
Then the valiant Radheya, taking Bhima's mace, hurled it at the chariot, but it was shattered by another mace.
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.
Due to her fall, Bhima's large flag toppled, and his charioteer was struck unconscious by the mace.
In a fit of rage, he shot eight arrows at Karna, targeting his flag, bow, and quiver, O Bharata.
Then, once more, Karna swiftly struck down the deer-colored horses with his chariot arrows, along with both the charioteer and the rear guard.
Bhima, whose chariot was destroyed, climbed onto Nakula's chariot, just as Krishna, the subduer of enemies, would ascend a mountain peak.
Thus, O King, the great warriors Droṇa and Arjuna, teacher and disciple, fought with great skill, having prepared their weapons for battle.
By the swift joining of the chariots and the battle, they bewildered the eyes and minds of men.
All the warriors, both ours and the others, stopped as they witnessed the unprecedented battle between the teacher and the disciple.
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.
A great battle took place between Drona and the Pandavas, O great king, for the sake of flesh, resembling hawks fighting in the sky.
The Pāṇḍava, smiling, quickly countered whatever actions Droṇa took in his desire to defeat Kunti's son.
When Droṇa could not distinguish the Pāṇḍava, he manifested a weapon, showcasing his expertise in the path of weaponry.
Dhanañjaya struck down the weapons of Indra, Paśupati, Tvaṣṭṛ, Vāyu, and Varuṇa, which were released from Droṇa's bow.
When the Pāṇḍava properly destroyed his weapons with weapons, Droṇa then showered Arjuna with supreme divine weapons.
Whenever he employs any weapon against Arjuna with the intent to win, Arjuna counters each of those weapons.
Drona, even when being struck by Arjuna's divine weapons properly, worshipped Arjuna in his mind.
O Bhārata, he considered himself superior on earth, believing that his disciple was better than all the weapon-knowers everywhere.
Despite being restrained by Arjuna, in the midst of the great souls, he endeavored and smilingly prevented Arjuna with affection.
Then in the sky, thousands of gods, celestial musicians, sages, and groups of perfected beings stood, eager to witness the event.
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.
In that place, hidden words repeatedly moved, praising Drona and the noble Partha, as the weapons were unleashed, lighting up all ten directions.
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.
The teacher Droṇa and the Pāṇḍava were exceedingly fond of each other, and no weapon could distinguish between them.
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.
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.
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.
The great king, upon seeing those two distinguished men, remarked on the beings that were both hidden and visible, appearing in groups.
Then, the wise Drona unleashed the Brahma weapon, causing distress to Arjuna and the concealed beings on the battlefield.
Then the earth shook along with its mountains, forests, and trees. The fierce wind blew, and the oceans were also agitated.
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.
Then Arjuna, remaining calm, countered the weapon with the Brahma weapon, and everything was consumed, O king.
When neither side can reach a conclusion, the battle becomes chaotic and disturbed.
O lord of men, nothing was discernible once more when the intense battle between Drona and the Pandavas began.
The sky was filled with nets of arrows like clouds, and no one could fly through it at that time.
