08.015
Dhritarashtra said:
You have spoken of him before as a great hero, renowned in the world. However, you did not mention his deeds in battle, O Sañjaya.
Please narrate in detail the valor of the hero today, including his education, influence, strength, measure, and indeed his pride.
Sanjaya said:
You consider Drona, Bhishma, Kripa, Drauni, Karna, Arjuna, and Janardana as the best in archery, having completed their knowledge, in battle.
He sees himself as equal to Karna and Bhishma, and does not wish to see himself as inferior to Vasudeva and Arjuna.
Pāṇḍya, the foremost among kings and the best among all warriors, destroyed Karṇa's army as if he were death itself, feeling insulted.
The army, led by Pandya, was in a state of chaos, with its chariots, horses, foot-soldiers, and elephants moving in a disordered manner, resembling the spinning of a potter's wheel.
The Pāṇḍya warrior, using his arrows, thoroughly scattered the enemy forces, who were left without horses, charioteers, and flags, and whose weapons were scattered, just as the wind scatters the clouds.
The destroyer of enemies, using a thunderbolt, killed the protectors with feet, elephants with struck trunks, and weapons adorned with banners and flags.
The Pulindas, Khasas, Bahlīkas, Niṣādas, Andhras, and Kataṅgaṇas, equipped with power, javelins, quivers, horse riders, and horses, were also present.
Pandya defeated the fierce and battle-hardened southerners and Bhojas, rendering them lifeless with his arrows.
Upon witnessing the fourfold army attacking Pāṇḍya with arrows in the battle, Drauṇi, remaining calm, approached with even greater composure.
The best of the fighters, having addressed him sweetly and dancing fearlessly, called out with a smile.
O king with eyes like lotus petals, you are the chief bearer of weapons, renowned for your strength akin to a thunderbolt, and the foremost in strength and valor.
You appear intensely like a great cloud, stretching your arms with a great bow, grasped by fists holding weapons.
"With showers of arrows and great speed, I see no other hero than myself to oppose your enemies in battle."
O fearful Hari, you, with your terrible strength, disturb many chariots, elephants, foot-soldiers, and horses as if they were groups of deer in the forest.
The great sound of the chariot echoed through the sky and the earth. At the end of the rainy season, it seemed as if the destroyer of crops was filling the seat with radiance.
Touch the sharp arrows from the quiver, resembling serpents, and fight alone with Tryambaka as Andhaka once did.
Upon being told thus, and having said so, "Strike!", Karna struck, and Malayadhvaja pierced Drona's son.
Aśvatthāmā, known as the best of teachers, smilingly struck the Pāṇḍya king with arrows that were extremely fierce and resembled flames of fire, targeting the vital parts.
Then Ashwatthama swiftly dispatched nine other sharp arrows, adorned with peacock feathers, joined with a tenth one.
Pāṇḍya, with his five sharp arrows, swiftly cut down five of them. Four vehicles were struck and quickly became lifeless.
Then Pāṇḍya, radiant like the sun, cut the stretched bowstring after severing the arrows of Droṇa's son with sharp arrows.
Drona's son, known as the enemy-killer, bent and strung his bow, then sent thousands of arrows from Pandya, filling the sky and all directions with a dense shower of arrows.
Then, Pandya, the bull among men, knowing that the arrows released by the great-souled Drona's son were inexhaustible, countered them.
The enemy skillfully cut down the arrows sent by Drona's son and then drove away his wheel protectors with sharp arrows.
Then, observing the enemy's agility, the son of Droṇa, with his bow curved in a circle, released a shower of arrows, akin to how the brother of Pūṣā would do.
Drona's son hurled eight chariots with eight oxen, carts, and weapons during the eighth part of the day, O gentle one.
He was like death itself, angry like the destroyer at the end of time. Whoever saw him there mostly became unconscious.
Just as a rain-cloud at the end of summer rains down upon the earth, covering mountains and trees, the teacher's son rained arrows upon that army.
Drona's son released a formidable shower of arrows. However, using the Vayavya weapon, he swiftly blocked it, and the Pandya wind roared in triumph.
Drona's son, with his roaring banner adorned with sandalwood and aloeswood like the Malaya mountain, cut down and killed four horses.
He killed the charioteer with a single arrow, cut the bow with a crescent-shaped weapon, and shattered the chariot into pieces, creating a sound like a great thunder.
Drona's son, having countered and cut off all weapons with his own, did not kill the enemy who had arrived, as he had no desire to do so in battle.
The lord of elephants, excellently equipped, quickly approached the shelter with strength, stood in the middle like a great mountain peak, and Hari roared mightily.
He, the lord of mountains, released the spear that resembled the sun's ray with great effort and anger, quickly oppressing the elephant for the teacher's son, roaring.
Adorned with the finest jewels, diamonds, and gold, along with garments, garlands, and pearls, he joyfully shouted repeatedly that Drona's son was killed, as he pierced the excellent body ornament.
The great forest, with a brilliance like that of the sun, moon, planets, and fire, was struck by Indra's thunderbolt and fell shattered to the ground, just like a mountain peak would fall to the earth.
Then, filled with supreme anger, he blazed up as if struck by the foot of the king of serpents. He took up fourteen arrows, resembling the staff of death, which were destroyers of friends.
He attacked the elephant's feet with five blows, the king's arms and head with three, and the followers of the Pandya king, the great charioteers, with six, all with the brilliance of the six seasons.
The king's long and round arms, anointed with the finest sandalwood and adorned with gold, pearls, gems, and diamonds, fell to the ground, writhing like serpents struck by Garuda.
The head and face, radiant like the full moon, with wide, coppery eyes filled with anger and an elevated nose, shone on the earth with its falling earrings, resembling the moon situated between the branches.
The king's son, having completed his education and duties, approached your son. Surrounded by friends, he joyfully honored him exceedingly, having conquered the forces like Viṣṇu, the lord of the immortals.
