The fight of Drona

Dhritarashtra said When in that fierce fight, the son of Bharadvaja had shattered the host of the Pandavas and the Panchalas, did any one else approach him for battle?

Alas, seeing Drona stationed in battle, like an yawning tiger or an elephant with rent temples prepared to sacrifice his life in light, clad in coat of mail, proficient in all modes of warfare, that illustrious bowman, that foremost of men, that producer of apprehensions in his enemies, grateful, devoted to truth, always desirous of doing good to Duryodhana, alas seeing him stationed at the head of his forces, did any one meet him with a praiseworthy determination for fight, determination that invests Kshatriyas with renown, that cowards cannot form and that distinguishes the foremost of men? Relate to me, O Sanjaya. Who were those heroic warriors, that encountered the son of Bharadvaja, seeing him stationed at the head of his army?

Sanjaya said Sceing the Panchalas, the Pandavas, the Matsyas, the Srinjayas, the Chedis and the Kekayas, fly from the field having been broken in their ranks by the shafts of Drona. Seeing them thus routed by those thick showers of swift-falling arrows discharged from the bow of Drona, like frail barks driven adrift by the surging bellows of the mighty main. The Kauravas uttering many loud war-cries and with the sound of many other musical instruments, impeded the fight of the chariots, the elephants and the men (of the hostile host) on all sides.

Beholding them (the routed army), king Duryodhana standing in the midst of his own troops and surrounded by his own kinsmen greatly delighted, smilingly said these words to Karna.

Duryodhana said Behold, O son of Radha, the ranks of the Panchalas shattered by the shafts of Drona, the resolute bowman, like a herd of wild deer frightened by a lion.

Meseems they will never again seek to fight, in as much as they are now broken by Drona like mighty trees broken by the tempest.

Afflicted by the gold-winged shafts of the ilustrious Drona, they are flying away by diverse paths; and they seem to whirl round and round.

Impeded by the Kauravas and by the highsoulcd Drona, they are huddling together, like a herd of elephants encompassed in conflagration.

Like a tree penetrated by a cluster of bees, they are being pierced by the keen-pointed arrows of Drona; they are huddling together as they are hastening away from the field of battle.

O Karna, there the highly enraged Bhimia, forsaken by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas and surrounded by my own warriors, affords great joy to me.

With certitude, that foo! today beholds the world full of Drona. Surely that son of Pandu a has today become hopeless of his life and his kingdom.

Karna said Never will this mighty-armed hero abandon fighting so long life will remain in him; nor will this foremost of men brook the car-cries of others.

I think also, that the Pandavas, brave. endued with might, learned in the use of weapons and invincible in battle, will never be routed in battle.

Remembering the woes inflicted on them by our attempts at poisoning ard burning them and by our defeating them at dice, as also bearing in mind the hardships they had to undergo in their exile in the woods, the Pandavas, I think, will never abandon battle.

Already the mighty-armed Vrikodara of immeasurable prowess, has turned back; this son of Kunti will now certainly slay many foremost of our car-warriors.

He will slay crowds upon crowds of our host, using his sword, bow, darts, iron mace and horses, elephants, men and chariots as implements for striking.

Car-warriors headed by Satyaki and the Panchalas, the Kekayas, the Matsyas and specially the Pandavas, are following him (in battle).

Those mighty car-warriors, brave, endued with strength and prowess, are again urged on to battle, by the wrathful Bhima.

Those foreinost of the Kurus desirous of supporting Vrikodara and surrounding Drona on all sides, like the clouds surrounding the sun.

Inspired with a singleness of purpose, they will surely afflict the unprotected Drona of resolute vows, like flights of insects about to die afflicting a burning lamp.

Accomplished in the use of weapons, certainly they are capable of encountering the son of Bharadvaja. I consider the burden now devolving on him to be very heavy.

Let us then swiftly repair to the spot where Drona is stationed. Let not the Pandavas slay Drona, like a pack of wolves slaying a mighty elephant.

Sanjaya said O monarch, hearing the words of the son of Radha, king Duryodhana, with his brothers rushed where the car of Drona was.

Then there arose a mighty uproar caused by the Pandava warriors, who actuated by the desire for slaying the unsupported Drona had all returned to the field, riding on best steeds of various colours.