Ghatotkacha-Vadha Parva — The close fight

Sanjaya said The field of battle, which had been before buried in darkness and dust, being thus lighted up (by the lustre of those lamps, heroic combatants, desirous of slay-ingone another, encountered one another (in battle).

Taking up their lances, swords and (other) weapons and encountering one another, they looked wrathfully at one another in battle, o king.

With thousands of lamps shedding their lustre all around and placed upon golden steeds adorned with gems and fed with fragrant oil.

And with the lamps sent down by the celestials and the Gandharvas which were more lustrous and brilliant, the field of battle, O Bharata, looked as beautiful as the firmament studded with planets and stars.

The field of battle, lighted up by hundreds of blazing brands, looked resplendent. Indeed, the earth seemed to be on fire like what happens at the time of universal destruction.

All the points illuminated by the light of) those lamps all around, looked (beautiful) like trees teeming with glow-worms on an evening of the rainy season.

The, O monarch, brave warriors engaged with brave warriors. Elephants encountered elephants, horsemen (encountered) horsemen.

and car-warriors joyfully engaged with one another, during the dreadful night at the command of your son.

Terrific, (indeed) was the clash of the two armies, (each) consisting of four (kinds of) forces. Then, 0 great king, Arjuna, vanquishing all the kings (on your son's side), began quickly to destroy the army of the Kauravas.

Dhritarastra said What, (O Sanjaya) became the state of your minds when, filled with rage, the invincible one (i.e. Arjuna) entered into my son's army?

What did (my) forces do then when that sorcher of foes penetrated into them? (And) what course, (best) suited to that occasion, did Duryodhana think to adopt?

What chastisers of foes opposed (the career of) that hero? Who were they that protected Drona when Shetavahana entered into our army)?

Who were they that protected the right and the left car-wheels of Drona? Who were those heroes that protected the rear of that hero when he was engaged in fighting?

Indeed, when that invincible, puissant and mighty bowman, endued with the valour of a tiger, penetrated into the midst of the Panchalas, dancing as it were along the track of his car and destroying his enemies in battle, who were they that came to his front? How did Drona who consumed large troops of cars of the Panchalas.

Like a wrathful meteor, meet with his death? You always describe my enemies as cool, unvanquished.

Cheerful and impetuous in battle. But, O Sanjaya, you do not speak so of my warriors. You speak of them as slain, pale and routed and of my car-warriors as (always) made carless in the battle?

Sanjaya said Aware of the intentions of Drona as desirous of fighting during that night, Duryodhana, O mighty monarch, addressed his obedient brothers.

(Namely) Vikarna, Chitrasena, Suparsa, Durdharsha and Dirghabahu and all their followers sayingद्रोणं यत्ताः परक्रान्ताः सर्वे रक्षन्तु पृष्ठतः।

O powerful (heroes), all of your carefully protect Drona from the rear. Let the son of Hridika (protect) his right car-wheel and Shalya the left.

Then your son commanded all the survivors of the heroic Trigarta warriors to place themselves in the van (saying).

The preceptor is of benevolent disposition and the Pandavas are trying their utmost (to slay him). United together you will protect him while he will be engaged in destroying his enemies in battle.

Drona is powerful in battle, is endued with nimbleness of hand and is puissant. Not to speak of Pandavas united with the Somakas, he is competent to vanquish even the very gods in battle.

United together and exerting your very best in (this) dreadful engagement, all of you protect Drona from that invincible and mighty car-warrior Dhristadyumna.

I do not find any one among the warriors of the Pandavas except Dhristadyumna, that is capable of defeating Drona in battle.

I therefore think we should apply our whole heart and soul to protection of the son of Bharadvaja. (If) protected (by us) he will gradually destroy the Somakas as well as the Srinjayas.

When all the Srinjayas, (placed) in the van of the (Pandava) army will be destroyed, the son of Drona will undoubtedly slay Dhristadyumna in battle.

Similarly the great car-warrior Karna will vanquish Arjuna in battle. (And) I will myself destroy Bhimasena and others clad in mail in battle.

The remaining Pandavas, destitute of energy, will be easily subjugated by (my) warriors. My success, then, will last for a long time.

Therefore protect (carefully) the mighty car-warrior Drona in battle." Thus addressing (his soldiers), your son Duryodhana, 0 foremost of the descendants of Bharata.

Then cominanded his army (to act in obedience to his orders) during that dreadfully dark night. Then, O most exalted of Bharatas, took place a battle.

Between the two armies, both desirous of victory, O king, Arjuna, (then), began to sorely assailed the army of the Kauravas and Arjuna, with numerous (sorts of) weapons. (And) in that engagement the son of Drona began to cover the Panchala king and the son of Bharadvaja, the Srinjayas, with straight arrows. (And) O Bharata, as the armies of the Pandavas and the Panchalas (on one side) and that of the Kauravas (on the other).

Fell to destroying one another there arose a dreadful uproar. Neither ourselves nor those who preceded us, had (previously) witnessed such a furious and dreadful battle as took place during that night.