धृतराष्ट्र उवाच यत् तदा प्राविशत् पाण्डूनाचार्यः कुपितो बली। उक्त्वा दुर्योधनं मन्दं मम शास्त्रातिगं सुतम्॥
Dhritarashtra said When the wrathful preceptor endued with prowess, having addressed my Duryodhana, who (even) acts in opposition to my commands, thus entered into the Pandava army.
प्रविश्य विचरन्तं च रथे शूरमवस्थितम्। कथं द्रोणं महेष्वासं पाण्डवाः पर्यवारयन्।॥
How did the Pandavas oppose that mighty bowman, the heroic Drona, who having entered it (i.e., the hostile army) was moving about (the field of battle) stationed on his car.
केऽरक्षन् दक्षिणं चक्रमाचार्यस्य महाहवे। के चोत्तरमरक्षन्त निघ्नत: शात्रवान् बहून्॥
(And) when the preceptor was engaged in the terrible slaughter of the enemy in that great battle, who did protect the right wheel (of his car) and who the left?
के चास्य पृष्ठतोऽन्वासन् वीरा वीरस्य योधिनः। के पुरस्तादवर्तन्त रथिनस्तस्य शत्रवः॥
Who were the heroes that guarded the rear of that warrior engaged in fight? Who were the enemies that were stationed in front of that carwarrior?
मन्ये तानस्पृशच्छीतमतिवेलमनार्तवम्। मन्ये ते समवेपन्त गावो वै शिशिरे यथा॥
It seems to me that the experienced an excessive cold chill ill-suited to the proper season or I think they shivered like cows exposed to frosts.
यत्प्राविशन्महेष्वासः पञ्चालानपराजितः। नृत्यन् स रथमार्गेषु सर्वशस्रभृतां वरः॥
When that unvanquished and mighty wielder of bow and that foremost of the wielders of weapons, dancing on the track of his car, entered among the Panchalas.
निर्दहन् सर्वसैन्यानि पञ्चालानां रथर्षभः। धूमकेतुरिव क्रुद्धः कथं मृत्युमुपेयिवान्॥
Consuming all the forces of the Panchalas like an angry comet, how did that foremost of the car-warriors, meet with death?
संजय उवाच सायाह्ने सैन्धवं हत्वा राज्ञा पार्थः समेत्य च। सात्यक्श्चि महेष्वासो द्रोणमेवाभ्यधावताम्॥
Sanjaya said Having killed the king of Sindhu in the evening Partha saw the king (i.e. Yudhishthira) and then united with the great bowman Satyaki he advanced against Drona himself.
तथा युधिष्ठिरस्तूर्णं भीमसेनश्च पाण्डवः। पृथक्कमूभ्यां संयत्तौ द्रोणमेवाभ्यधावताम्॥
Then Yudhishthira together with the Pandava Bhimasena joined by their separate squadrons soon rushed against Drona himself.
तथैव नकुलो धीमान् सहदेवश्च दुर्जयः। धृष्टद्युम्नः सहानीको विराटश्च सकेकयः॥
Similarly, Nakula endued with intelligence and Sahadeva difficult of being conquered and Dhrishtadyumna with his army and Virata together with the Kekayas.
मत्स्याः शाल्वाः ससेनाश्च द्रोणमेव ययुयुधि। दुपदश्च तथा राजा पञ्चालैरभिरक्षितः॥
And the Matsyas and the Shalvas with their own divisions advanced against Drona for battle. protected by the Panchalas, Drupada.
धृष्टद्युम्नपिता राजन् द्रोणमेवाभ्यवर्तत। द्रौपदेया महेष्वासा राक्षसश्च घटोत्कचः॥
The father of Dhrishtadyumna, O king, marched against Drona. Those mighty wielders of bow viz., the (five) sons of Draupadi and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha.
ससैन्यास्ते न्यवर्तन्त द्रोणमेव महाद्युतिम्। प्रभद्रकाश्च पञ्चालाः षट्रसहस्राः प्रहारिणः॥
Followed by their own troops proceeded against the highly resplendent Drona. The Prabhadrakas and the Panchałas, numbering sixty thousand (efficient) smiters.
द्रोणमेवाभ्यवर्तन्त पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्। तथेतरे नरव्याघ्राः पाण्डवानां महारथाः॥
With Shikhandi at their head, marched against Drona. Similarly (numerous) other foremost of men and mighty car-warriors on the side of the Pandavas.
सहिताः सन्यवर्तन्त द्रोणमेव द्विजर्षभम्। तेषु शुरेषु युद्धाय गतेषु भरतर्षभ॥
O best of men, jointly proceeded against Drona. O best of the Bharatas, those warriors having proceeded for the fight.
बभूव रजनी घोरा भीरूणां भयवर्धिनी। योधानामशिवा रौद्रा राजन्नन्तकगामिनी॥
The night became dark increasing the terror of the cowards. (And) that dismal (night) O king, proved destructive of (numerous) warriors.
कुञ्जराश्वमनुष्याणां प्राणान्तकरणी तदा। तस्यां रजन्यां घोरायां नदन्त्यः सर्वतः शिवाः॥
And it then prove fatal to elephants horses and men. On that bitchy dark night jackals setting up (terrible) yells everywhere.
न्यवेदयन् भयं घोरं सज्वालकवलैर्मुखैः। उलूकाश्चाप्यदृश्यन्त शंसन्तो विपुलं भयम्॥ विशेषतः कौरवाणां ध्वजिन्यामतिदारुणाः। ततः सैन्येषु राजेन्द्र शब्दः समभवन्महान्॥
And with their gaping mouths all ablaze indicated dreadful terror. Specially greatly terrible owls, screaming from the standards of the Kauravas, foreboded dreadful terror. Then, O king of kings, there arose a tumultuous uproar from among the troops.
भेरीशब्देन महता मृदङ्गानां स्वनेन च। गजानां हितैश्चापि तुरङ्गाणां च हृषितैः॥
(Mingling) with the loud beat of drums and sound of cymbals, the grunt of elephants and the neigh of horses.
खुरशब्दनिपातैश्च तुमुल: सर्वतोऽभवत्। ततः समभवद् युद्धं संध्यायामतिदारुणम्॥
And the noise of hoofs (that uproar) spread everywhere. Then there took place an awfully dreadful nocturnal battle.
द्रोणस्य च महाराज संजयानां च सर्वशः। तमसा चावृते लोके न प्राज्ञायत किंचन॥ सैन्येन रजसा चैव समन्तादुत्थितेन ह। नरस्याश्वस्य नागस्य समसजत शोणितम्॥
Of great king, between Drona (on one hand) and all the Srinjayas (on the other). In consequence of the night being enveloped in darkness and of the dust raised by the soldiers nothing could be discerned. The blood of men, horses and elephant mingled together.
नापश्यम रजो भौमं कश्मलेनाभिसंवृताः। रात्रौ वंशवनस्येव दह्यमानस्य पर्वते॥
Stupefied with unconsciousness as we were we did not see any dust on the earth. Like the (creaking sounds) of a burning bamboo forest on a mountain during a night.
बभूव रजनीमुखे। घोरचटचटाशब्दः शस्राणां पततामभूत्। मृदङ्गानकनि दैर्झर्झरैः पटहैस्तथा॥
There arose a dreadful clanging noise of the clashing weapons. In consequence of the sounds of Mridangas, Anakas, Vallakis and Patahas.
फेत्कारैर्हेषितैः शब्दैः सर्वमेवाकुलं बभौ। नैव स्वे न परे राजन् प्राज्ञायन्त तमोवृते॥
And of the thundering shouts, of the combatants and the neigh (of steeds), O lord, everything was in utter confusion. O king, on account of darkness gathering fast, friends could not be distinguished from foes.
उन्मत्तमिव तत् सर्वं भौमं रजोऽथ राजेन्द्र शोणितेन प्रणाशितम्॥
And at that night every one became as if seized with madness. O king of kings, then the dust on earth (soon) disappeared on account of (the profuse) flow of blood.
शातकौम्भैश्च कवचैर्भूषणैश्च तमोऽभ्यगात्। ततः सा भारती सेना मणिहेमविभूषिता॥
(Then), on account of the golden armours and the ornaments (worn by the warriors) the gloom was dispersed. Adorned with gems and gold the Bharata army then.
द्यौरिवासीत् सनक्षत्रा रजन्यां भरतर्षभ। गोमायुबलसंघुष्टा शक्तिध्वजसमाकुला॥
Looked like the firmament studded with stars during the night, О foremost of the Bharatas. (That field of battie) with maces and standards lying scattered all over, resounding with the howls of the Jackals.
वारणाभिरुता घोरा क्षवेडितोत्क्रुष्टनादिता। तत्राभवन्महाशब्दस्तुमुलो लोमहर्षणः॥
Grunts of elephants and ringing with the striking of arms and shouts (of the combatants) appeared dreadful. Then there arose a great and tumultuous uproar, causing the hair to stand on end.
समावृण्वन् दिश: सर्वा महेन्द्राशनिनिःस्वनः। सा निशीथे महाराज सेनादृश्यत भारती॥ अङ्गदैः कुण्डलैर्निष्कैः शस्त्रैश्चैवावभासिता। तत्र नागा रथाश्चैव जाम्बूनदविभूषिताः॥
And filling all the points like the roar of Mahendra's thunder. (A.d) great king, at that night the Bharata army illuminated with the Angadas, ear-rings, cuirasses and with the weapons could be (clearly) seen. There (on the field of battle) elephants and cars decked with gold.
निशायां प्रत्यदृश्यन्त मेघा इव सविद्युतः। ऋषिशक्तिगदाबाणमुसलप्रासपट्टिशाः॥
Looked like clouds with lightning playing upon them during the night. Swords, darts, maces, scimitars, clubs, lances and axes.
सम्पतन्तो व्यदृश्यन्त भ्राजमाना इवाग्नयः। दुर्योधनपुरोवातां रथनागबलाहकाम्॥
Looked like blazing sparks of fire when they fell. Duryodhana was the precursory wind, cars and elephants were the clouds,
वादित्रघोषस्तनितां चापविद्युद्ज्ञैर्वृताम्। द्रोणपाण्डवपर्जन्या खड्गशक्तिगदाशनिम्॥
Sounds of musical instruments were the thundering noise, bow and standards were the lightning flashes; Drona and the Pandavas were the clouds, swords, darts and maces were the thunder.
शरधारास्रपवनां भृशं शीतोष्णसंकुलाम्। घोरां विस्मापनीयमुग्रां जीवितच्छिदमप्लवाम्॥
And shower, both very hot and cold, of arrows and of (other) weapons were the gusts of wind-of that dreadful, marvellous and fierce (army) which was fata) to life and from which escape and not at all possible.
तां प्राविशन्नतिभयां सेनां युद्धचिकीर्षवः। तस्मिन् रात्रिमुखे घोरे महाशब्दनिनादिते॥
desirous of battle, warriors entered fearlessly into that host at that dreadful night resounding with numerous sounds.
भीरूणां त्रासजनने शूराणां हर्षवर्धने। रात्रियुद्धे महाघोरे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे॥
And when that awfully terrible and fierce nocturnal battle was raging which struck terror into (the minds of) the cowards and increased the joy of the valiant.
द्रोणमभ्यद्रवन् क्रुद्धाः सहिताः पाण्डुसृञ्जयाः। ये ये प्रमुखतो राजन्नावर्तन्त महारथाः॥
The Pandavas and the Srinjayas united together rushed furiously against Drona. (But) O king, all those who confronted that highsouied one.
तान् सर्वान् विमुखांश्चके कांश्चिन्निन्ये यमक्षयम्। तानि नागसहस्राणि रथानामयुतानि च।॥
Were driven back and some were sent to the abode of Yama. Thousands of elephants, ten thousands of car-warriors.
पदातिहयसंघानां प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च। द्रोणेनैकेन नाराचैर्निर्भिन्नानि निशामुखे॥
Millions of foot-soldiers and hundreds of millions of horses were pierced with shafts by Drona alone at that night.