Dronabhisheka Parva — The victory of Arjuna

Sanjaya said Seeing that army of yours thoroughly routed in battle, O monarch, Vrishasena endued with prowess, single-handed, began to protect it by means of the illusion of this weapons.

In that battle numerous shafts discharged by Vrishasena flew in all the ten directions of the compass, piercing men, horses, cars and elephants.

Like the rays of the sun, o king, mighty arrows of blazing effulgence shot by him, began to fly (on all sides).

O monarch, pierced by him car-warriors and cavalry began to fall down suddenly on the ground, like trees broken by the hurricane.

That mighty car-warrior felled in battle, O monarch, large divisions of steeds, car-warriors and elephants, by hundreds and thousands.

Seeing him career along through the field of battle, like one fearless, all the monarchs uniting together encompassed him on all sides.

The son of Nakula by name Shatanika charged Vrishasena and pierced the latter with ten Narachas that could penetrate into the very vitals.

The son of Karna, in return, sundered his bow and cut down his standard. The sons of Draupadi desiring to rescue their brother, rushed towards him.

Soon with their arrowy showers they made the son of Karna disappear from the view. Thereupon car-warriors headed by the son of Drona charged them, removing the shower of their arrows.

o monarch, these warriors (headed by Drona's son) speedily covered over the mighty car-warriors namely the sons of Draupadi, with arrows of various description like clouds pouring their contents on a mountain.

Prompted by their affection for their sons, the Pandavas quickly encountered them (assailants), being followed by the Panchalas, Kaikayas, Matsyas and Srinjayas, with their arms uplifted.

Then commenced a fierce and sanguinary and hair-stirring engagement between your army and the army of the sons of Pandu like that between the celestials and the Danavas.

Thus the heroes among the Kuru and the Pandava hosts, wrought up with wrath, fought with one another looking furiously at one another and nourishing (deadly) hatred for one another.

The bodies of those warriors of immeasurable prowess in consequence of their being inspired with wrath, appeared like those of the feathered chief (Garuda) and of the mighty serpents fighting in the skies.

The scene of action with Bhima. Karna, Kripa, Drona and Drona's son and Parshata and Satyaki, appeared effulgent like the alldestructive sun that rises (at the time of the universal annihilation).

Then there ensued a dreadful battle, like that between the celestials and the Danavas, in which mighty warriors engaged with mighty antagonists smote down one another.

Thereafter the host of Yudhishthira, setting up a noise loud as that of the (agitated) ocean, fell to slaughter your host, of which the mighty car-warriors have fled.

Then seeing the (Kaurava) host thoroughly shattered and excessively mutilated by the enemy, Drona exclaimed-'You need not fly, Oheroes.'

Thereafter that hero owning chest-nut steeds, inflamed with rage, like an elephant bearing four tusks, penetrated into the Pandava ranks and rushed at Yudhishthira.

Thereupon Yudhishthira pierced him with shafts, keen-pointed and furnished with feathers of the Kanka bird, Drona also cutting his bow in two charged him with great impctus.

Thereat the protectors of Yudhishthira's car-wheels namely Kumara, the glory of the Panchala races, resisted the rushing Drona, like the beach opposing the swelling sea.

When Drona the foremost of the regenerated ones was seen to be held in check by Kumara, there were heard sounds of carcries and exclamations of Excellent, excellent etc.

Then in that baitle, fierce Kumara. wrought up with ire, pierced, with a shaft, Drona on the chest; and then repeatedly uttered roars like those of the lion.

Then that highly puissant and indefatigable Kumara of great lightness of hands, having held Drona at bay in that battle, pierced him with thousands of shafts.

Thereafter the foremost of the twice-born one (Drona) slew Kumara that protector of Yudhishthira's car-wheels who was brave, of illustrious vows and well-versed in the use of weapons and mantras.

Then that foremost of the regenerate ones, the son of the Bharadvaja, became the protector of your army, having penetrated into the centre of the Pandava host and coursing on all directions. son

Piercing Sikhandin with twelve arrows, Uttamaujas with twenty, Nakula with five and Sahadeva with seven. Yudhishthira with twelve and the sons of Draupadi each with three, Satyaki with five and the ruler of the Matsyas with ten arrows.

And rushing at the foremost warriors of the Pandavas in due order, he (Drona) agitated the warlike host in that battle. Then desirous of capturing the of Kunti namely Yudhishthira, he (Drona) charged him.

Thereupon, 0 monarch, Yugandhara opposed the mighty car-warrior, the son of Bharadvaja, who was inflamed with rage like the ocean swelling with the tempest.

But Drona, having pierced Yudhishthira with close-jointed shafts, overthrew Yugandhara from his niche in the car with a broad-headed arrow.

Thereupon Virata and Drupada, Kekaya and Satyaki and Shini and Vyaghradatta, the prince of the Panchalas and Sinhasena ondued with prowess. These and many other warriors, desirous of rescuing Yudhishthira, impeded Drona's path by scattering innumerable arrows.

Vyaghradatta, the prince of the Panchalas, pierced Drona with fifty whetted arrows; as thereupon, O monarch, the Pandava host uttered a loud shout.

Sinhasena also having quickly pierced the mighty car-warrior Drona, suddenly, out of delight, broke out into a laugh, inspiring terror into the hearts of the mighty car-warriors.

Thereupon expanding his eyes and twanging his bow-string and making a loud sound by striking his arms with his palms, Drona rushed upon him (Sinhasena).

Then Drona of great prowess putting forth his energy, severed the head of Sinhasena decked with ear-rings also that of Vyaghradatta, with a pair of broad-headed shafis.

Then with the shower of his arrows having crushed the inighty car-warriors of the Pandava host, he stood near the chariot of Yudhishthira like the all-destroying Death himself.

When Drona of regulated vows reached the vicinity of Yudhishthira, O monarch, loud cries of 'The king is slain' were uttered by the warriors of Yudhishthira's army.

Then the soldiers, beholding the prowess of Drona said, "Today the royal son of Dhritarashtra will attain the fruition of his desire.

This very moment Drona, having captured in battle the son of Pandu, will, being transported with joy, surely return to us and to the son of Dhritarashtra.

When your soldiers had been thus conversing, the mighty car-warrior, the son of Kunti (Arjuna) rushed there with impetuosity, resounding the welkin with the rattle of his car and

Creating, by the carnage he caused, a river, of which the water consisted of blood and the eddies of cars; which was stagnant with bones and corpses of brave warriors and which conveyed creatures to the regions of the departed.

Having crossed that river having the myriad shafts for its forth and abounding in fishes consisting of lances the son of Pandu came there crushing the Kurus with his speed.

Thereafter the diadem-decked Arjuna suddenly charged Drona's division, covering it with net-work of mighty arrows and stupefying therewith the warriors that followed Drona. Nobody was able to perceive any interval between the swift placing of the arrows on the bow-string and their discharge by the wellrenowned son of Kunti.

Neither the cardinal quarters, not the welkin, nor the conclave dome, nor the earth, could be seen any longer, O monarch; everything then appeared to be a continuous mass of arrows.

Then when the wielder of the Gandiva had caused a 'palpable darkness' in the field of the battle with his shafts, nothing, O monarch, could be distinguished.

At the setting of the sun at that moment, and at the enveloping of the earth with dusk, neither foe nor friend could be distinguished any longer.

Thereupon Drona and Duryodhana and others began to withdraw their forces. Considering his enemies to be inspired with terror and unwilling to carry on the fight.

Vibhatsu also slowly withdrew his own divisions; then the Pandus and the Srinjayas and the Panchalas highly delighted began to praise the son of Pritha (Arjuna), with agreeable words, like the Rishis praising the Sun. Thus having vanquished his foes Dhananjaya, filled with rapture and accompanied by Keshava, retired to his own camp, bringing up the rear of his whole army.

Seated in the terrace of his excellent chariot adorned with emeralds and rubies and diamonds of the first water and with the costliest specimens of gold, silver, corals and crystal, the son of Pandu shone like the moon in the heavens adorned with the stars. costliest specimens of gold, silver, corals and crystal, the son of Pandu shone like the moon in the heavens adorned with the stars.