संजय उवाच पञ्चालानां ततो द्रोणोऽप्यकरोत् कदनं महत्। यथा क्रुद्धो रणे शक्रो दानवानां क्षयं पुरा॥
Sanjaya said Then Drona effected a fierce carnage in the ranks of the Panchala troops, like the enraged Shakra causing a great slaughter amongst the Danava troops in days gone by.
द्रोणास्रेण महाराज वध्यमानाः परे युधि। नात्रसन्त रणे द्रोणात् सत्त्ववन्तो महारथः॥
O mighty monarch, the enemies of Drona all mighty car-warriors and possessed of great strength, though thus slaughtered by his arrows, did not shrink in fear from him.
युध्यमाना महाराज पञ्चालाः संजयास्तथा। द्रोणमेवाभ्ययुयुद्धे योधयन्तो महारथाः॥
Then those mighty car-warriors, the Panchalas and the Srinjayas, engaged in that battle, O king, rushed upon Drona's self.
तेषां तु च्छाद्यमानानां पञ्चालानां समन्ततः। अभवद् भैरवो नादो वध्यतां शरवृष्टिभिः॥
Slaughtered with arrows and darts and trying to encompass Drona on all sides, the yells they uttered were terrible and loud.
वध्यमानेषु संग्रामे पञ्चालेषु महात्मना। उदीर्यमाणे द्रोणारे पाण्डवान् भयमाविशत्॥
Then beholding the slaughter of the Panchalas by the high-souled Drona and seeing his weapons enshroud all sides, the Pandavas became frightened.
दृष्ट्वाश्वनरयोधानां विपुलं च क्षयं युधि। पाण्डवेया महाराज नाशशंसुर्जयं तदा॥
Beholding the profuse destruction of horses and foot-soldiers in the battle, the Pandava troops, O king, became hopeless regarding their victory.
कचिद् द्रोणो न नः सर्वान् क्षपयेत् परमास्रवित्। समिद्धः शिशिरापाये दहन कक्षमिवानलः॥
"Is not Drona that warrior well-versed in the use of cxcellent weapons going to consume us all, like a raging conflagration consuming a heap of straw at the expiration of the winter season?
न चैनं संयुगे कश्चित् समर्थः प्रतिवीक्षितुम्। न चैनमर्जुनो जातु प्रतियुध्येत धर्मवित्॥
None can now even look at him in battle. Knowing the rules of fair combat even Arjuna will not now fight with him." (Even thus did they talk with each other).
त्रस्तान् कुन्तीसुतान् दृष्ट्वा द्रोणसायकपीडितान्। मतिमाश्रेयसे युक्तः केशवोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत्॥
Then beholding the sons of Kunti dismayed and afflicted by the arrows of Drona the intelligent Kesava ever solicitous of the welfare
नैष युद्धे न संग्रामे जेतुं शक्यः कथञ्चन। सधनुर्धन्विनां श्रेष्ठो देवैरपि सवासवैः॥
This foremost of all wielders of bows and arrows in incapable of being vanquished in battle by any one, one excepting the gods with Vasava at their head.
न्यस्तशस्त्रस्तु संग्रामे शक्यो हन्तुं भवेभिः। आस्थीयतां जये योगो धर्ममुत्सृज्य पाण्डवाः॥
When he lays aside his weapons in battle, he may be slain even by men. O you sons of Pandu, abandoning virtue, do you therefore now bctake yourself to contrivances for securing victory in battle.
यथा वः संयुगे सर्वान् न हन्याद् रुक्मवाहनः। अश्वत्थाम्नि हते नैष युध्येदिति मतिर्मम॥
Before Drona drawn by horses of golden colours succeeds in slaying us all. I think, if Ashvatthaman be killed, he will desist from fighting.
तं हतं संयुगे कश्चिदस्मै शंसतु मानवः। एतन्नारोचयद् राजन् कुन्तीपुत्रो धनंजयः॥
Let some one among us therefore tell him that Ashvatthaman has been slain in the battle, But O king, Kunti's son Dhananjaya did not accept this advice of Krishna.
अन्ये त्वरोचयन् सर्वे कृच्छ्रेण तु युधिष्ठिरः। ततो भीमो महाबाहुरनीके स्वे महागजम्॥ जघान गदया राजन्नश्वत्थामानमित्युत। परप्रमथनं घोरं मालवस्येन्द्रवर्मणः॥
Others approved of it. Yudhishthira accepted it with much reluctance. Then the mighty-armed Bhiina, O monarch, slew with his mace, a terrible prodigious and foecrushing elephant called Ashvatthaman belonging to Indravarman the ruler of the Malavas.
भीमसेनस्तु सव्रीडमुपेत्य द्रोणमाहवे। अश्वत्थामा हत इति शब्दमुच्चैश्चकार ह॥
Then Bhimasena approaching Drona with a little bashfulness began to exclaim to the top of his voice “Ashvatthaman is slain."
अश्वत्थामेति हि गजः ख्यातो नाम्ना हतोऽभवत्। कृत्वा मनसि तं भीमो मिथ्या व्याहृतवांस्तदा॥
The elephant known by the name of Ashvatthaman having been slain, Bhima spoke of Ashvatthainan's death. Knowing the true fact in his mind, Bhima then spoke what was false.
भीमसेनवचः श्रुत्वा द्रोणस्तत् परमाप्रियम्। मनसा सन्नगात्रोऽभूद् यथा सैकतमम्भसि॥
Drona having heard this very dis-agreeable words of Bhimasena and he having reflected upon them in his mind, his limbs as if began to dissolve like sand in water.
शङ्कमानः स तन्मिथ्या वीर्यज्ञः स्वसुतस्य वै। हतः स इति च श्रुत्वा नैव धैर्यादकम्पत॥
But knowing fully the prowess of his own son, he soon came to regard that news as false and therefore hearing of his slaughter he did not become unmanned.
स लब्ध्वा चेतनां द्रोणः क्षणेनैव समाश्वसत्। अनुचिन्त्यात्मनः पुत्रमविषयमरातिभिः॥ स पार्षतमभिद्रुत्य जिघांसुर्मृत्युमात्मनः। अवाकिरत् सहस्रेण तीक्ष्णानां कङ्कपत्रिणाम्॥
Soon recovering his senses he became comforted, as he recollected that son was incapable of being assailed by the enemy. Rushing upon the son of Parshata and impelled by a desire to slay that brave warrior who was destined to be his slayer, he covered the former with thousands of sharp arrows furnished with wings of the Kanka feather.
तं विंशतिसहस्राणि पञ्चालानां नरर्षभाः। तथा चरन्तं संग्रामे सर्वतोऽवाकिर छरैः॥
Thereupon twenty thousand illustrious carwarriors of the Panchala clan, covered him, thus careering on the field, with numerous shafts from all sides.
शरैस्तैरचितं द्रोणं नापश्याम महारथम्। भास्करं जलदै रुद्धं वर्षास्विव विशाम्पते॥
O ruler of men, covered as he then was with those arrows, we could not seen that mighty car-warrior Drona, even as men cannot seen the sun covered when it is with clouds during the rainy season.
विधूय तान् बाणगणान् पञ्चालानां महारथः। प्रादुश्चक्रे ततो द्रोणो ब्राह्ममस्रं परंतपः॥ वधाय तेषां शूराणां पञ्चालानाममर्षितः। ततो व्यरोचत द्रोणो विनिघ्नन् सर्वसैनिकान्॥
Then blowing off all those arrows of the Panchalas and with a view to effect the death of these heroic Panchala warriors, the mighty car-warrior Drona, the afflicter of hostile troops, invoked into existence a Brahma weapon. At this time he looked resplendent like a blazing fire without a streak of smoke.
शिरांस्यपातयचापि पञ्चालानां महामृधे। तथैव परिघाकारान् बाहून् कनकभूषणान्॥
He then cut-off, in that great battle, innumerable heads of Panchala warriors as also their mace-like arms wearing golden ornaments.
ते वध्यमानाः समरे भारद्वाजेन पार्थिवाः। मेदिन्यामन्वकीर्यन्त वातनुन्ना इव द्रुमाः॥
Thus slaughtered by the son of Bharadvaja the royal warriors the began to fall down on the earth, like so many trees up-rooted by the force of the tempest.
कुञ्जराणां च पततां हयौघानां च भारत। अगम्यरूपा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा।॥
Miry with the flesh and blood of all the elephants and horses fallen in the battle, O Bharata, the earth appeared to he impassable.
हत्वा विंशतिसाहस्रान् पञ्चालानां रथव्रजान्। अतिष्ठदाहवे द्रोणो विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन्॥
Having slain twenty thousand car-warriors of the Panchalas, Drona stood on the battlefield like a blazing fire free from even a single curl of smoke.
तथैव च पुनः क्रुद्धो भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। वसुदानस्य भल्लेन शिरः कायादपाहरत्॥
Thereafter filled with rage, the puissant son of Bharadvaja, lopped off the head of Vasudana from his trunk, by means of a bhalla.
पुनः पञ्चशतान् मत्स्यान् षट्सहस्रांश्च सुंजयान्। हस्तिनामयुतं हत्वा जघानाश्वायुतं पुनः॥
He then slew five hundred Matsyas, six thousand Srinjayas and then again ten thousand elephants and ten thousand steads.
क्षत्रियाणामभावाय दृष्ट्वा द्रोणमवस्थितम्। ऋषयोऽभ्यागतास्तूर्णं हव्यवाहपुरोगमाः॥
Then beholding Drona stay on the field for the extermination of the Kshatriya race, the following Rishis headed by the God of Fire approached him.
विश्वामित्रो जमदग्निर्भरद्वाजोऽथ गौतमः। वसिष्ठः कश्यपोऽत्रिश्च ब्रह्मलोकं निनीषवः॥ सिकताः पृश्नयो गर्गा वालखिल्या मरीचिपाः। भृगवोऽङ्गिरसश्चैव सूक्ष्माश्चान्ये महर्षयः॥
They were, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Goutama, Vasistha, Kasyapa and Atri, the Sikatas, the Prisnis, Garga, the Valikhilyas, the Marichipas, the Vrigus, the Angiras and other mighty sages of subtle forms; these all were desirous of taking Drona to the region of Brahma.
त एनमब्रुवन् सर्वे द्रोणमाहवशोभिनम्। अधर्मतः कृतं युद्धं समयो निधनस्य ते॥
All these then addressed Drona, that ornament of battle, into these words-'You are fighting wrongly, the hour of your death has come.
न्यस्यायुधं रणे द्रोण समीक्षास्मानवस्थितान्। नातः क्रूरतरं कर्म पुनः कर्तुमिहार्हसि॥
Cast away your weapons, O Drona and look at us standing before you. Hence-forward it behoves you not to perform cruel acts like these.
वेदवेदाङ्गविदुषः सत्यधर्मरतस्य ते। ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण तवैतन्नोपपद्यते॥
You are learned in the Vedas and their auxiliaries and devoted truth and righteousness specially you are a Brahman, so these acts do not become you.
त्यजायुधममोघेषो तिष्ठ वर्त्मनि शाश्वते। परिपूर्णश्च कालस्ते वस्तुं लोकेऽद्य मानुषे॥
Lay aside your weapons, shake off the pale of error that hangs over you and betake yourself to the eternal path (of virtue). Today, the days of your earthly habitation have been numbered.
ब्रह्मास्त्रेण त्वथा दग्धा अनस्त्रज्ञा नरा भुवि। यदेतदीदृशां विप्र कृतं कर्म न साधु तत्॥
You have today consumed with your Brahma weapon many men who are ignorant of the use of weapons. This act which you have done is not at all praise-worthy.
न्यास्यायुधं रणे विप्र द्रोण मा त्वं चिरं कृथाः। मा पापिष्ठतरं कर्म करिष्यसि पुनर्द्विज॥
O Drona, quickly lay you weapons aside in this battle; do not hesitate O twice-born one, you should not perpetrate such sinful acts any longer.
इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा भीमसेनवचश्च तत्। धृष्टद्युम्नं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य रणे स विमनाऽभवत्॥
Having heard these words of the sages, as also the words of Bhimasena and also beholding Dhristadyumna stand before him in battle, Drona was dejected at heart.
संदिह्यमानो व्यथितः कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्। अहतं वा हतं वेति पप्रच्छ सुतमात्मनः॥
Burning with grief and extremely pained, he then inquired of king Yudhishthira the son of Kunti whether his son was really slain or not.
स्थिरा बुद्धिर्हि द्रोणस्य न पार्थो वक्ष्यतेऽनृतम्। त्रयाणामपि लोकानामैश्वर्यार्थे कथञ्चन॥
Drona knew it for certain, the Pritha's son would never tell a lie, not even for the sake of getting the earth of the three worlds.
तस्मात् तं परिपप्रच्छ नान्यं कञ्चिद् द्विजर्षभः। तस्मिंस्तस्य हि सत्याशा बाल्यात् प्रभृति पाण्डय।।४४
For that reason, that foremost of the regenerate ones questioned Yudhishthira in exclusion of every body else. Since the days of the latter's boyhood, Drona had hoped to hear truth from him.
ततो निष्पाण्डवामुर्वी करिष्यन्तं युधां पतिम्। द्रोणं ज्ञात्वा धर्मराजं गोविन्दो व्यथितोऽब्रवीत्॥
Meanwhile, O king, Govinda knowing that Drona, that foremost of all combatants, could sweep away the Pandavas off the face of the carth, was very much dejected and then addressing Yudhishthira he said
यद्यदिवसं द्रोणो युध्यते मन्युमास्थितः। सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते सेना विनाशं समुपैष्यति॥
"If influenced by rage Drona fights only for half a day, then I tell you truly, your troops are sure to be destroyed.
स भवांस्त्रातु नो द्रोणात् सत्याज्ज्यायोऽनृतं वचः। अनृतं जीवितस्यार्थे वदन्न स्पृश्यतेऽनृतैः॥
Save us from Drona; under the circumstances as the present falsehood is better than truth. Speaking falsehood for the sake of saving a life one does not become a sinner.
तयोः संवदतोरेवं भीमसेनोऽब्रवीदिदम्॥ श्रुत्वैवं तु महाराज वधोपायं महात्मनः।
When they both were thus speaking with each other, Bhimasena said-"As soon as, O king, I heard of the means by which the illustrious Drona might be slain.
गाहमानस्य ते सेनां मालवस्येन्द्रवर्मणः॥ अश्वत्थामेति विख्यातो गजः शक्रगजोपमः। निहतो युधि विक्रम्य ततोऽहं द्रोणमब्रुवम्॥ अश्वत्थामा हतो ब्रह्मन्निवर्तस्वाहवादिति।
Putting forth my prowess in battle, I immediately slew a mighty elephant resembling that of Shakra, belonging to Indravarman, the Chief of the Malavas who were standing in your army. I then went to Drona and told him, 'Ashvatthaman has been slain, O Brahman; desist from fighting.'
नूनं नाश्रद्दधद् वाक्यमेष मे पुरुषर्षभः॥ स त्वं गोविन्दवाक्यानि मानयस्व जयैषिणः।
Indeed, O foremost of men, the preceptor Drona did not believe in the veracity of my assertion; desirous of victory as you are, accept the counsel of Govinda.
द्रोणाय निहतं शंस राजशारद्वतीसुतम्॥ त्वयोक्तो नैव युध्येत जातु राजन् द्विजर्षभः।
O monarch, inform Drona that the son of Saradvat's daughter is dead. Thus spoken by you that foremost of the Brahmanas will cease to fight.
सत्यवान् हि त्रिलोकेऽस्मिन् भवान् ख्यातो जनाधिय॥ तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा कृष्णवाक्यप्रचोदितः।
O ruler of men, you are well-known in the three words for your truthfulness." Having heard these words of Bhima and influenced by the counsel of Krishna.
भावित्वाच महाराज वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे॥ तमतथ्यभये मग्नो जये सक्तो युधिष्ठिरः।
And owing to the inevitability of Fate, O king, Yudhishthira decided to say, what he was called upon to say. Afraid of speaking lies, but anxious to obtain victory, Yudhishthira.
अव्यक्तमब्रवीद् राजन् हतः कुञ्जर इत्युत॥ तस्य पूर्वे रथः पृथ्व्याश्चतुरङ्गुलमुच्छ्रितः।
Clearly said that Ashvatthama was dead, adding indistinctly the word elephant after the name Ashvatthama. Ere now the chariot of Yudhishthira had remained at a height of four fingers' breadth from the earth's surface;
बभूवैवं च तेनोक्ते तस्य बाहाः स्पृशन्महीम्॥ युधिष्ठिरात् तु तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा द्रोणो महारथः।
After he had uttered that lie his steeds touched the earth. Hearing these words from the lips of Yudhishthira, Drona that mighty car-warrior.
पुत्रव्यसनसंतप्तो निराशो जीवितेऽभवत्॥ आगस्कृतमिवात्मानं पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। ऋषिवाक्येन मन्वानः श्रुत्वा च निहतं सुतम्॥ विचेताः परमोद्विग्नो धृष्टद्युम्नमवेक्ष्य च। योद्धु नाशक्नुवद् राजन् यथापूर्वमरिदम्॥
Overwhelmed with grief on account of the supposed death of his son, gave way to despair. Hearing the words of the sages, great offender against the illustrious Pandavas. Now hearing that his son had been slain he became completely senseless and filled with anxiety at the sight of Dhristadyumna, O monarch, the chastiser of foes was not able to fight as before.