Goharana Parva — The retreat of Drona

Vaishampayana said After Kripa had been taken away, the irrepressible Drona, having red horses, taking up his bow to which an arrow had already been set, rushed towards Arjuna of white horses.

Seeing near him the preceptor moving on in hi golden chariot, Arjuna the foremost of victors, addressed Uttara saying

May you fare well, O charioteer; take m before Drona's army, on whose high standard appears the emblem of a golden altar and around which flags are streaming, whose car is drawn by red, big, highly beautiful, trained, pleasant-looking and quiet horses of the colour of coral and having copper-coloured faces.

Of large arms, great energy, endued with beauty and strength, the powerful son of Bharadvaja is known in all the worlds for his prowess.

In intelligence he is like Shukra, and in the knowledge of moral laws like Brihaspati. He is equally well-read in the four Vedas, and follows the Brahmacharya mode of life.

All the celestials weapons with the means of their withdrawal, and the entire science of archery always reside in him.

Forgiveness, self-control, truthfulness, disinclination to injury and straight forwardness these and various other accomplishments always live in that twice-born one.

I wish to fight with that great one in battle. Therefore, O Uttara, take me soon to the preceptor.

Thus accosted by Arjuna, Virata's son urged the horses adorned with gold towards the car of Bharadvaja's son.

Drona rushed with great force towards Partha, the son of Pandu, the foremost of carwarriors, who was advancing like a mad elephant rushing at another such.

Drona then blew his conch, the sound of which resembled that of a hundred trumpets. And the whole army was agitated thereat like the ocean.

Beholding his excellent red horses mixing with those (of Arjuna) white as swans and fleet as the mind in the encounter, all people were filled with surprise.

Beholding those car-warriors, in the field of battle, the preceptor and disciple, Drona and Partha, both endued with prowess, irrepressible, learned, high-minded and greatly powerful, engaged with each other, the huge army of the Bharatas continually trembled (in fear).

Reaching Drona's car by his own, the mighty car-warrior and highly energetic Partha was filled with joy, and smiled.

Saluting him, the mighty-armed son of Kunti, the slayer of hostile heroes, said in sweet and becoming words.

Having spent out the term of our exile in the woods, we wish to take revenge. O you irrepressible in battle, it does not behove you to be always angry.

O gentle one, I will not strike you unless you strike me first. This is my determination. Do what you like.

Thus addressed, Drona discharged at him more than twenty shafts. But the light-handed Partha severed them all before they could fall down on him.

Displaying his weapons the energetic Drona soon covered Partha's chariot on all sides with thousands of arrows.

As if to work up Partha with anger, that one of incomparable energy covered his horses of silvery hue with sharpened and Kankafeathered arrows.

When the encounter thus took place between Drona and Arjuna, they equally discharged in battle fiery arrows.

Both of them were equally illustrious and equal to the wind in speed, equally conversant with celestials weapons and gifted with great energy.

When they spread a net-work of arrows, they bewildered the kings. And all the warriors, that were present there, were filled with wonder.

(They all) admired Drona who quickly shot arrows, exclaiming “Well done! well done! Who else can fight with Drona in battle except Phalguni (Arjuna)?

Surely the duty of a Kshatriya is very hard, since he fights with his preceptor.” Thus did the people, stationed in the battle field, say.

Worked up with anger those two longarmed heroes, confronting each other, and each capable of vanquishing the other, covered each other with arrows.

Then inflated with anger, the son of Bharadvaja, drawing his huge bow plated with gold and hard to be severed, struck Phalguni.

Then shooting at Arjuna's car a goodly number of sharp arrows, bright as the sun, he covered the rays of the sun.

That mighty car-warrior of large arms wounded Partha with sharpened arrows, as the clouds discharge showers on a mountain.

Taking up the best of bows, the celestials Gandiva, capable of destroying enemies and carrying a heavy weight, the son of Pandu delightedly.

Shot a number of variegated golden arrows; and that energetic (hero) baffled the downpour of shafts made by Bharadvaja's son.

And speedily discharged arrows from the bow that appeared as wonderful. Moving about in his car, Dhananjaya the son of Pritha, worthy of being looked at.

Displayed his weapons simultaneously in all the quarters. He converted the sky, with his arrows, into one (expansive) shade.

Drona was not visible (like the sun) enshrouded mist. Thereupon covered on all sides with excellent arrows, he appeared.

Like a burning mountain. Beholding his own chariot enveloped in the battle by the shafts of Partha.

He, drawing his excellent bow making a sound like that of clouds, took up a huge weapon like a wheel of fire.

Then Drona, ornament of an assembly, discharged sharpened arrows. Then arose a sound like that of bamboo's when set on fire.

That of immeasurable energy enveloped all the quarters and the lustre of the sun with gold-winged arrows discharged from a variegated bow. one

Those arrows, with depressed knots and golden wings, when they passed through the sky, looked like so many birds.

The arrows shot from Drona's bow touching one another by the wings appeared like one long-extending row of arrows in the sky.

Those heroes, then shooting their golden arrows, enveloped, as it were the welkin with a downpour of fire-brands.

Decked with the feathers of Kanka birds, these arrows looked like a number of cranes wandering in the autumnal sky.

Then there ensued a highly terrific encounter between the high-souled Drona and Arjuna like that between Vritra and Vasava.

They wounded each other with arrows shot from bows drawn to the highest stretch like two elephants assailing each other with their tusks.

Those two angry heroes, ornamenting the battle-field, fighting according to the practice, showed many celestials weapons in due order.

one Arjuna, the foremost of victors, warded off, with sharp arrows, the sharpened arrows shot by the foremost of preceptors.

Showing many weapons to the spectators, that of dreadful prowess speedily enveloped the sky with many arrows.

(Beholding) Arjuna, the foremost of men, of fierce energy, discharging celestials weapons in that great battle and killing (soldiers) the foremost of preceptors and warriors Drona, played with Arjuna with arrows of depressed knots. And warding off his weapons with his, Bharadvaja's son fought with Arjuna. Then there ensued an encounter between those two foremost of men, worked up with anger and striking each other, like that between the celestials and demons. Arjuna repeatedly warded off with his own, the weapons Aindra, Vayavya and Agneya discharged by Drona. Shooting sharp arrows, those two great heroes converted the sky, with a shade. Coming down on the bodies of the enemy's heroes, the shafts, discharged by Arjuna, made a sound like that of thunderbolt striking against a mountain. Then, o king, the elephants, cars and horses, covered with blood, looked like Kinsuka trees crested with flowers. And in that encounter between Drona and Partha, the field being filled with arms adorned with variegated bangles, mighty car-warriors' golden coats of mail, banners struck down, and warriors slain and assailed by Partha's shafts, the army were terrified. And moving their bows capable of bearing stain, they covered each other with shafts. O foremost of Bharatas, there took place a great encounter between Drona and Arjuna like that between Bali and Vasava. Then with arrows of depressed knots shot from the bows fully drawn, they struck each other even at the risk of their lives. There was heard a voice in the sky speaking highly of Drona.

Drona has performed a difficult feat for he fights with Arjuna, of great energy, firmhanded, irrepressible and an afflicter of foes.

The conqueror of the celestials and Daityas and of all mighty car-warriors. Beholding in battle Partha's certain aim, training, lightness of hand and the range (of his arrows), Drona was stricken greatly with wonder. Then taking up with his hands the celestials bow Gandiva, the energetic Partha, O foremost of Bharatas, drew it. Beholding the downpour of his shafts coming down like a swarm of locusts, they, all filled with wonder, exclaimed “Well done! well done!" Even the very air could not penetrate into the space intervening between his arrows.

The on-lookers could not mark any cessation between Partha's taking up arrows and shooting them.

In that dreadful battle of quickly discharged weapons Partha, speedily and more speedily, shot arrows.

Then simultaneously hundreds and thousands of arrows with depressed knots came down upon the car of Drona.

O foremost of Bharatas, beholding Drona entirely enveloped with shafts shot by the holder of the Gandiva bow, the army set a mighty lamentation.

Even Indra spoke highly of the lighthandedness Arjuna in the discharge of arrows, as also the Gandharvas and Apsaras who came there.

Then encircled by a vast array of cars, the mighty car-warrior, the son of the preceptor obstructed Partha.

Though greatly enraged with him, Ashvathama praised in his mind that deed of the high-souled Arjuna.

Then possessed by wrath, he encountered Partha in battle and discharged at him a downpour of arrows like clouds discharging their watery contents.

Then turning his horses towards Drona's son, Partha offered Drona an opportunity to retreat.

Securing an opportunity, he too, with his coat of mail and banner shattered, and wounded with great arrows, quickly went away on his swiftly-coursing horses.