भीष्म-वध पर्व — धृष्टद्युम्न और द्रोण का युद्ध

Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, tell me how that great bowman Drona and the Panchala prince, the scion of the Prishata race, fought with each other in that great battle.

When Shantanu's son, Bhishma, could not escape the son of Pandu (Arjuna) in battle, O Sanjaya, I consider Destiny to be supreme over exertion.

When enraged in battle Bhishma could destroy all the mobile and immobile creatures; O Sanjaya, why could he not then escape the Pandava (Arjuna) in battle with his great prowess?

Sanjaya said O king, hear about this fearful battle. The son of Pandu (Arjuna) is incapable of being vanquished by even the celestials with Indra at their head.

With various kinds of arrows, Drona wounded Dhrishtadyumna and he cut down his charioteer from his place on the car.

O sire, the angry warrior, (Drona) also with four arrows, wounded the four excellent horses of Dhrishtadyumna.

The brave Dhrishtadyumna also wounded Drona with nine sharp arrows, exclaiming “Wait" "Wait".

Thereupon the greatly powerful and high souled son of Bharadvaja (Drona) covered with his arrows the angry Dhrishtadyumna.

He then took up a terrible arrow for the destruction of the Prishata prince. It resembled in force the thunder-bolt of Shakra. It looked like a second rod of Yama.

O descendant of Bharata, seeing that arrow aimed by the son of Bharadvaja, all the troops cried "Oh" and "Alas".

But we then saw the great prowess of Dhrishtadyumna. He stood immovable like a mountain in that battle.

He cut down that terrible and blazing arrow which was rushing towards him like his own death. He then poured a shower of arrows on the son of Bharadvaja.

Seeing that very great difficult feat achieved by Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchalas and the Pandavas were all filled with delight. They, again and again, sent forth loud shouts.

Then with the desire of killing him, that greatly powerful prince shot at Drona a dart of great force adorned with gold and Vaidurya gems.

Thereupon the son of Bharadvaja smilingly cut down into three parts that dart adorned with gold and gems that was coming towards him with great force.

O king, having seen his dart thus baffled, and greatly powerful Dhrishtadyumna poured a shower of arrows on Drona.

Then that great car-warrior, Drona, baffling that shower of arrows, cut off the bow of the son of Drupada at a favourable opportunity.

When his bow was thus cut off in that battle, that highly and illustrious warriors hurled on Drona a mace with the firmness of a mountain.

Having been thus hurled by his hand, that fearful mace flew through the sky for the destruction of Drona. Then again we saw the wonderful prowess of Bharadvaja's son.

He baffled that mace decked with gold, and having baffled it, he shot at the Prishata prince many sharp arrows well tempered, and furnished with golden wings. Penetrating the armour of the Prishata prince, they drank his blood.

Then the illustrious Dhrishtadyumna took up another bow, and with all his strength he wounded Drona with five arrows.

Then those two foremost of men, covered with blood, looked as beautiful as the Kinshuka flowers in spring.

Then that high-souled hero, (Drona) cut down his bow and with countless arrows covered the Prishata prince (Dhrishtadyumna) on all sides as clouds shower rains on a mountain.

He felled his adversary's charioteer from his place, he also cut down his four horses with four sharp arrows. With another arrows he cut off the leathern fence of Dhrishtadyumna's hand.

When his bow was thus cut down again, when he was thus deprived of his car and when his steeds were thus killed and his charioteer overthrown, the Panchala prince, displaying great prowess, jumped down from his car with a mace in hand.

But, O descendant of Bharata, before he could come down from his car, Drona cut down his mace into may fragments. It was a wonderful feat.

Then the mighty armed Panchala prince took up a large and beautiful shelf decked with hundred (golden) moons and also a large sword of excellent make.

He, then with great impetuosity, rushed towards Drona with the intention of killing hiin, as a hungry lion runs towards a mad elephant in the forest.

Then we again saw the wonderful prowess of Bharadvaja's son, wonderful was the lightness of hands in using the weapon, and also his strength of arms. He alone checked the Prishata prince with a shower of arrows. Though he possessed great prowess, he could not proceed further.

We then saw that the great car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna stood where he was. He warded off those showers of arrows using his arms with great dexterity.

Then the greatly strong and mighty Bhimasena soon came there with the desire of helping the Prishata prince in that combat.

O king, he wounded Drona with seven sharp arrows. He soon took up the Prishata prince on a car.

Then king Duryodhana asked the ruler of Kalinga to go to the rescue of Bharadvaja's son with a large number of troops.

O lord of men, then those countless Kalingas rushed against Bhima at the command of your son.

Then that foremost of car-warriors Drona abandoned the Panchala prince and met Virata and Drupada both together.

Dhrishtadyumna then went to support Yudhishthira in battle. Then a fearful and hair stirring battle was fought.

Between the Kalingas and the illustrious Bhima, a battle which was fearful and all destroying.