07.171
Sanjaya said:
Upon seeing Bhimasena enveloped by the weapon, Dhananjaya used the Varuna weapon to counteract its energy.
No one could see him because he was concealed by Varuna's weapon, and the lightness and covering of Arjuna's brilliance made him invisible.
Bhima, with his horses, charioteer, and chariot, was enveloped by the weapon of Drona's son, appearing like a fire placed within a fire, adorned with a garland of flames, and was difficult to behold.
O king, just as the lights move towards the western mountain at the end of the night, so did the arrows move towards Bhimasena's chariot.
Bhima, along with his chariot, horses, and charioteer, was engulfed by the fire conjured by Drona's son, O respected one.
Just as the fire, after consuming the entire world with all its moving and non-moving beings, would enter the mouth of the Lord, so did the terrible weapon envelop everything.
Just as the sun enters the fire, so did that light enter and was not perceived at all.
Seeing the scattered weapon aimed at Bhima's chariot, and Drona's son being unchallenged in battle.
The armies of the Pandavas, having laid down their weapons and being unconscious, were led by Yudhishthira, and they turned away from those great warriors.
Arjuna and Vasudeva, both of great splendor and hastening, jumped down from the chariot and rushed towards Bhima.
Then, those two mighty warriors, using illusion, entered the energy born from the power of Droṇa's son's weapons.
Then, the two Krishnas laid down their weapons, and the fire born of weapons was extinguished by the application of Varuna's weapon and their own prowess.
Then, Nara and Narayana forcibly pulled Bhima and all his weapons to pacify the Narayana weapon.
As he is being drawn back, the son of Kunti, a great chariot-warrior, roars loudly. Meanwhile, the terrible weapon of Drona's son becomes increasingly difficult to overcome.
Vasudeva questioned him, "What is this, O son of Pandu? Despite being restrained, O son of Kunti, if you do not desist from battle."
If these descendants of Kuru could be conquered by battle, we too would fight here, and so would these great warriors.
Your men had already descended from the chariots. Therefore, you too, O son of Kunti, should quickly get down from the chariot.
After speaking thus, Krishna descended from the chariot to the ground, breathing heavily like an enraged elephant, his eyes red with anger.
When he was pulled from the chariot and the weapon was laid on the ground, the Narayana weapon, known for tormenting enemies, became calm.
In that calm state, by the prescribed method, then in the unbearable splendor, all directions and sub-directions indeed became pure.
The auspicious winds blew gently, calming the animals and birds. The vehicles were in high spirits, and so were the warriors, O lord of men.
In the midst of that terrible radiance, Bhima appeared at night like the wise Sun rising, O Bharata.
The remaining forces of the Pandavas stood there confidently, as the weapons had ceased, with the intent to kill your son.
With the army in position and the weapon thwarted, King Duryodhana then addressed Drona's son.
Ashwatthaman, quickly use this weapon again. The Panchalas are indeed ready once more, eager for victory.
Ashwatthama, addressed by your son, O venerable one, sighed deeply and said this to the king, feeling very sad.
O king, this weapon does not return or occur twice. If it returns, it will undoubtedly kill the user.
Vasudeva employed this counteraction to the weapon. Otherwise, O king, the enemy's slaughter in battle was certain.
It is better to face defeat or death than to achieve victory. These enemies, once conquered, are as good as dead when they abandon their weapons.
Duryodhana said:
O son of the teacher, if these two weapons are not used, then those who kill the teacher should be killed by others using weapons, O best among those skilled in weaponry.
O three-eyed one, divine weapons may reside in you, and even if Indra himself wishes, he cannot release you when you are angry.
Dhritarashtra spoke:
When the weapon was countered and Droṇa was deceitfully killed, Duryodhana asked Aśvatthāmā what he would do next.
Upon seeing the sons of Pritha ready for battle and the Narayana weapon unleashed, advancing at the forefront of the army.
Sanjaya said:
Upon learning of his father's demise, the one with the lion-tailed banner, filled with anger and casting aside fear, charged towards Pārṣata.
The bull among men, having charged with twenty small ones, swiftly pierced the bull among men with five.
Then Dhṛṣṭadyumna, O king, attacked Drona's son, who was blazing like fire, with sixty-three arrows.
He struck down the charioteer with twenty arrows that had golden feathers and were sharpened on stone, and also hit the four horses with four sharp arrows.
Having pierced through, Drona's son roared, shaking the earth as if he was taking away the lives of all beings in the great battle.
The strong son of Prishata, skilled in weapons and having exerted himself, rushed towards Drona's son, determined to defy death, O king.
Then the son of Panchala, known for his immeasurable soul and being the best among charioteers, unleashed a torrent of arrows upon the head of Droṇa's son.
In the battle, Drona's son, filled with rage, covered his opponent with arrows and struck him ten times, recalling the slaying of his father.
Drona's son, using two well-sharpened razors, cut down the flag and bow of the king of Panchala and attacked along with others.
In the great battle, Drona's son made this, the chariot of Vyashvasu. In his anger, he covered all his followers with arrows.
The army of the Pāñcālas, overwhelmed by a barrage of arrows, fled in confusion and distress, O lord of the people.
Seeing the warriors disheartened and Dhṛṣṭadyumna afflicted, Śaineya quickly urged them towards the battle against Aśvatthāmā's chariot.
He attacked Aśvatthāmā with eight sharp arrows. Then, striking again with twenty arrows of various forms, he wounded the intolerant one. He also pierced the charioteer and four horses with four arrows.
Drona's son, deeply pierced and marked, yet impatient, smiled and spoke to Yuyudhana.
I am aware of your approach, O slayer of the teacher, but you will not be able to frighten him, as he is already seized by me, and indeed, you yourself are also caught.
After speaking in this manner, Aśvatthāman launched the finest arrow, shining like the sun's rays, towards Sātvata (Krishna), just as Indra hurled his thunderbolt at Vṛtra.
He pierced through that, and the arrow with its quiver entered the earth, penetrating it and breathing like a serpent entering a hole.
He, with his armor shattered and heroic spirit, was pierced by arrows like an elephant. Having released his bow and arrows, he bled from numerous wounds.
He sat blood-soaked on the chariot seat, quickly taken away by the charioteer from Drona's son to another chariot.
Then, the warrior, known for scorching his foes, struck Dhṛṣṭadyumna right in the middle of his eyebrows with another well-feathered arrow that had a bent joint.
The son of Panchala, having been deeply pierced before and greatly afflicted afterwards, collapsed in battle and took refuge in the flag.
O king, the five heroic chariots of the Pandavas rushed with great speed, like a lion attacking an intoxicated elephant.
Arjuna, Bhimasena, Vriddhakshatra, Paurava, Yuvraja of the Chedis, Malava, and Sudarsana attacked from all directions with five arrows each, maintaining an equal assault.
Drona's son, with twenty-five serpent-like arrows, simultaneously cut through those arrows.
Drauni attacked Paurava with seven sharp arrows, Malava with three, Partha with one, and Vrikodara with six.
Then, O king, all the great charioteers attacked Drona's son at once and individually with arrows that had golden tips and were sharpened on stone.
The prince shot twenty arrows at Drona's son, while Arjuna shot eight, and all others shot three each.
Then, Drona's son attacked Arjuna with six arrows, Vasudeva with ten, Bhima with ten and a half, and the prince with four, cutting the bow and the banner with two arrows. Again, after piercing Partha with a shower of arrows, Drona's son let out a terrible lion's roar.
As Drona's son released his well-sharpened, yellow-tipped arrows from all directions, the entire earth and sky were filled with these terrible-looking arrows, creating a fearsome sight.
The fierce warrior, with three arrows, simultaneously severed the arms and head of the seated Sudarshana, whose chariot shone like Indra's banner and whose strength was comparable to that of Indra.
He struck down the descendant of Puru with the power of his chariot, cutting the chariot into pieces with arrows. Then, he severed his arms, which were smeared with excellent sandalwood paste, and finally, with a broad-headed arrow, he severed the head from the body.
The young man, beloved of the Cedi prince, adorned with a garland of blue lotuses, smiling, swiftly shot arrows like blazing fire, delivering death to his enemies along with his horse and charioteer.
After defeating them in battle, the valiant son of Droṇa, the leader of the warriors, joyfully blew his mighty and invincible conch.
Then, in fear, all the Panchalas, along with Bhimasena and Pandava, abandoned Dhrishtadyumna's chariot and fled in all directions.
Drona's son, Ashwatthama, attacked the scattered Pandava army from behind with a swift and relentless shower of arrows, resembling the unstoppable force of time.
The warriors, being slain in battle by Drona's son, were terrified and thought of him everywhere, O king.
